Overlord: Welcoming the Birth of the King
Chapter 77: Divergent Techniques - Magic Accumulation and Comprehend Magic Acquisition

Master Belorui gazed at Tang Zheng with a trace of anticipation hidden deep within his slightly cloudy eyes. Through the conversation between his disciple and Tang Zheng, he could sense Tang Zheng's keen interest in scroll crafting—this alone was sufficient for him.

At this age, being able to use second-tier magic meant that reaching third-tier magic proficiency was practically guaranteed. There was even a significant possibility of attaining fourth-tier magic capabilities!

Teachers always favored talented and intelligent students.

"To create a magic scroll, aside from crafting the scroll itself, the equally crucial aspect should be how to infuse magic into the magical scroll, right?" Tang Zheng inquired.

"Correct," Master Belorui nodded, appearing disinclined toward unnecessary chatter. He picked up the parchment scroll crafted earlier by the middle-aged mage and spread it across the table.

"A complete scroll-crafting technique requires not only producing a scroll capable of bearing magic but also enchanting the scroll."

As he spoke—

"Magic Accumulation."

Whoosh!

A layer of pale blue magical radiance shimmered across the parchment's surface like rippling water.

Immediately after, Master Belorui raised a finger and pressed it against the scroll's center, simultaneously channeling magic while explaining:

"The next step is infusing magic, allowing the scroll to absorb the spell you wish to record. This demands precise magical control."

"In simple terms, it's about channeling your normal spellcasting process into the scroll. The most critical techniques are stability and focus—otherwise, any mistake could cause an explosion."

Despite his words, Master Belorui performed the entire process with remarkable ease.

Centered around his finger, magical patterns spread rapidly across the scroll as if possessing a will of their own.

Tang Zheng glanced past the information appearing on his interface, observing the intricate magical designs on the scroll before blinking.

The spellcasting process?

Wasn't magic supposed to be released simply by expending mana?

Moreover!

Tang Zheng watched Master Belorui's entire procedure.

This was completely different from scroll crafting in YGGDRASIL!

Within the Great Tomb of Nazarick, there were NPCs specialized in various auxiliary professions.

Titus, the Chief Librarian of the 10th Floor's "Ancient Library," possessed production-class crafting specialties, excelling in creating scrolls and books.

Materials were somewhat similar to this world—different tiers of magic scrolls required corresponding tiers of parchment.

For instance, 10th-tier magic scrolls required dragonhide parchment. The members of Ainz Ooal Gown had once mobilized en masse to hunt dragons for this very purpose.

After the Great Tomb's arrival in this world, due to the scarcity of high-tier materials, Ainz had imposed restrictions on material consumption. He tasked Mare to collaborate with Chief Librarian Titus to research this world's scroll crafting.

Chief Librarian Titus didn't enchant scrolls but instead consumed gold coins to inscribe magic circles onto them, using these circles to absorb spells.

The result was inevitable failure—this world's materials couldn't withstand magic beyond the third tier.

These two distinctly different scroll-crafting methods—

To describe them—

One used gold coins to craft magic scrolls (very game-like).

The other used enchantment to create magic scrolls (very Western fantasy).

Tang Zheng felt an odd sense of dissonance yet simultaneous fascination.

From the Six Great Gods to the present, spanning centuries, this world's humans had indeed forged their own path.

As Tang Zheng watched the magical patterns visibly spreading across the entire scroll, a strange sense of familiarity struck him.

Wait!

This feeling was... Mana Channeling?

Leaning forward, Tang Zheng scrutinized the process, his eyes widening slightly.

Wasn't this an application of "Mana Channeling," one of the Magic Swordsman class's passive skills?

Moments later—

With a flash of blue light—

The scroll automatically folded shut, completing a second-tier magic scroll now resting before Tang Zheng.

Master Belorui remained composed, retrieving from his cluttered desk a sheet of paper covered in intricate symbols and text.

"Try using this scroll," he said softly, placing the paper before Tang Zheng.

Tang Zheng's eyes brightened as he grasped the newly crafted scroll and crushed it. Blue light flashed as the scroll disintegrated into shimmering stardust, releasing the spell contained within.

Comprehend Magic!

As Tang Zheng's gaze swept across the paper's complex symbols, information flooded his mind. Though he still couldn't read the text, he intuitively understood its meaning—it recorded a specific point in time.

"My disciple at the counter mentioned you needed a magic item capable of translating text. No such item exists here," Master Belorui said, the wrinkles at his eyes lifting as his aged yet vigorous voice carried a smile.

"However, I happen to know a text-comprehending magic. If you become my disciple, I can teach you both this magic and scroll-crafting techniques."

[Skill Points: 44→42]

Tang Zheng glanced at his status panel, noting the newly acquired "Magic Accumulation" and "Comprehend Magic" skills, then fell into brief silence as he met Master Belorui's expectant gaze.

Mistaking his hesitation for indecision, Master Belorui pressed further:

"Albert planned to purchase ten second-tier parchment sheets for one silver coin—an undervalued price. That boy intended to use your crafted parchment to pass my evaluation."

Master Belorui snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with disdain before smiling at Tang Zheng again:

"With your paper-crafting skills rivaling mine, all seven hundred sheets you produced could be used for scroll crafting."

"You surely know the value of second-tier magic scrolls. The profit margin isn't merely several-fold—it's dozens of times!"

"Once you master scroll crafting, producing just a few magic scrolls could earn you wealth equivalent to years of others' labor."

His voice growing more fervent, Master Belorui continued:

"With your talent, I'm confident I could have you mastering third-tier scroll crafting within five years."

"Making you the Li Yestige Kingdom's youngest fourth-ranked Scroll Crafting Master!"

Wealth!

Fame!

The temptations Master Belorui offered were such that no ordinary person could refuse.

The room's atmosphere grew quiet once more.

"My apologies," Tang Zheng replied with a faint smile.