Chapter 249: Maester Rad

“Isn’t betting on religion too serious, even though Gerald had been affronting?” The noblewoman frowned in slight displeasure at Marni’s condition.

Setting aside the importance of faith in this world where gods exist, members of most churches must pay a certain price when they convert to another religion, or be subject to a particular penalty involving divine retribution.

That was the case even for the mild God of Harvest, Marcolo.

The Harvest Church’s doctrine asserted that the flesh and blood of every believer was composed of food bestowed by their god, which was why believers would have to present objects related to Marcolo such as statues when they leave—along with a third of their blood, a symbolic act of ‘returning unto the grace of the God of Harvest’.

“Milady, I’m fine with his condition.”

On the other hand, Gerald was certainly convinced that Marni was trying to bluff his way through this, intent on using a serious bet to stop Maester Rad from verifying his wares with his detection.

There was certainly no way he would relent after ‘seeing through’ that ploy.

“I don’t mind!” he added. “In fact, I couldn’t have it any other way!”

The noblewoman didn’t try to stop Gerald since the knight himself said so, and presided over the two as a witness while they signed a deed over their bet.

And when everything was completed, Maester Rad eventually arrived—while dragging his feet.

One should mention that despite being an advanced sacred skill, detection was not an ability exclusive to any church—instead, almost every believer of every church could learn it. There were also many scholars who theorized that detection was a manifestation of the Authority belonging to Quark, the Foundation of The World and one of the Trinity, even utilizing that aspect to reverse-proof the existence of the Trinity.

Still, it was incredibly difficult to learn detection—one would have to read through and memorize over a hundred tomes on natural history, which was a reason why not many could claim mastery over the skill.

Besides, learning an advanced sacred skill mostly depended on divine grace, an opportunity that was given and not sought. And since most people would simply choose to use such a chance to learn more powerful sacred skills, valuation proved unpopular.

Moreover, unlike other sacred skills that only needed the user to keep their faith in their god strong and level up through a steady stream of pious acts, improvement in detection made it the only skill that required learning of new knowledge. That was why many individuals who were once keen on learning detection would eventually change their minds like so:

‘I’ve already learned so much natural history that I could be a master of evaluating treasures. What the heck do I need detection for…”

***

Maester Rad was in his eighties and looked appropriately old. His face, full of wrinkles and his baggy skin left him looking especially older than the other elderly folk back on Earth.

Only his eyes were sharp, completely lacking the muddled quality in other elders.

“Greetings, Maester Rad!” Gerald saluted him with utmost respect.

After all, Maester Rad was an astrologist whose strong reputation elevated him beyond the mundane. Even if another nation would eventually occupy Lancaster, they would treat him as an important person.

And having reached such heights, gestures of ordinary courtesy had also become meaningless. He only gave the noblewoman a slight nod before asking straightforwardly.

“Where are the wares that require detection? I still have my studies to attend to.”

Him being here to help detect something was already giving face to the aristocrats connected to the Mayor. Mutual flattery? No way!

Meanwhile, Gerald quickly moved after a gesture from the woman, and promptly led the old man to a small rack he was using to display his wares. He even slid a high-and-mighty look, who appeared unmoved.

Maester Rad paid the young knight’s behavior no heed, and merely glanced at the first of the three items.

“This one’s a red halberd coral.” The old man said just after a moment.

So, it really wasn’t a Gray Fjord Coral!

Gerald was beside himself in excitement, but the old man interrupted just as he was about to turn to Marni.

“Red halberd corals have the highest quality amongst all scarlet corals, and this specimen’s refinement and its quality is quite rare! It only grows in the complicated yet mysterious region of the Gray Fjord… but this one has a richer color, its texture denser and more evenly spread, making it quite different from normal red halberds. In fact, it wouldn’t be an issue to classify this one as a new subspecies named the Gray Fjord Coral!”

The old man murmured in wonder. “Its value definitely surpasses any scarlet coral of the finest quality! I don’t know about other places, but this would sell for around eleven or twelve Abbys when I was still staying at the capital of the Valla Empire.”

Gerald’s words faded just as it was about to leave his mouth.

What? Wasn’t it just a plain red coral? How could it be that valuable?

But before Gerald could react, the old man had already turned to Marni’s second ware.

“This one…” Even without detection, the old man’s eyes were showing sparkles that did not match his age. “To think that I would see such immaculate elven art as I live and breathe! It’s so different from the sculpting of the enslaved elves of old… it is overflowing with freedom and joy, just like the wind… unbelievable…”

“What about the material?” Gerald couldn’t help asking, realizing that it wasn’t a counterfeit.

“Material? Well… it resembles wood, but it feels completely different from and common wood to the touch… This…”

The old man cast detection again at Gerald’s words, and was left stunned. “Lunawood… to think that there is still such wonderful material in this world. This item might well be worth its weight in gold!”

Gerald felt a chill inside.

‘Really?! There actually is something that improves your health while you sleep?’

And once again before he could say another word, the old man impatiently turned toward the last ware in the display rack—the large purple pearl.

However, the old man did not say a word after using detection, and merely kept silent.

Gerald felt that he might have a chance just then, and couldn’t help moving closer and ask, “Maester? What about it? Is it really a Violet Pearl plucked from a giant clam?”

The old man, however, completely ignored him and instead promptly turned toward the noblewoman. “Which great merchant is selling these wares? Where is he? If he’s unavailable, could you please pass my message that if he may dignify my old face, I shall have this pearl—a hundred Abbys!”

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