Kara was, without a doubt, an enthusiastic yet somewhat awkward businesswoman. Upon discovering Martin's talent for enchantment, she wasted no time in offering to support him, promising that if he ever needed help in the future, she would be there. Of course, there was a catch: if she needed enchantments, Martin would be obliged to assist her in return. It was a classic case of mutual benefit.

  Debbie quickly grasped the dynamics of this relationship and felt a surge of happiness for Kara's friendship. Networking was essential for anyone aspiring to run a magic shop, and this connection would prove invaluable.

  "I read in an encyclopedia that orcs are often viewed as simple-minded warriors, but Kara seems different," Martin remarked as they walked back to the magic shop.

  "My grandfather mentioned her," Debbie replied. "She is indeed different from the average orc. She's too intelligent, which is why her people ostracized her."

  Martin nodded, recalling how cleverness was often frowned upon among orcs. They prized strength over wisdom, and any orc who exhibited too much intelligence was deemed an outcast.

  As they made their way back to Anthony's magic store, they encountered several pedestrians. Word had spread about Martin's return, and the locals greeted him with enthusiasm, eager to learn the details of his disappearance. Rumors swirled about his adventures, with exaggerated tales of a handsome swordsman who had helped him escape. Martin found himself recounting stories filled with embellishments, exhausting the limited vocabulary he had at his disposal.

  However, as they passed by Busca's shop, Martin noticed a commotion. A crowd had gathered, and city guards were emptying the premises of Busca's belongings. The atmosphere was charged with gossip and shock—Busca, known for his shady dealings, had been taken down by the very swordsman whose reputation now overshadowed Martin's own.

  Martin’s thoughts drifted to the space ring that Busca had possessed. "If Busca had treasures stored in that ring, I need to learn how to unlock its secrets," he thought, determination sparking within him.

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  Later that afternoon, Martin delved into the intricacies of enchantment magic. He made a conscious decision not to rush into repairing the magic matrix on Effia's long sword just yet. Instead, he focused on deciphering the space matrix from the cracked ring he'd acquired.

  As evening approached, he continued his attempts to breach the space matrix, understanding that the key lay in mastering nine magical characters he had yet to comprehend. He sensed that unraveling the mysteries of the ring could lead to a deeper understanding of magic itself. However, he soon realized that the three elements—space, darkness, and light—were much more complex than the other twenty-three characters he had encountered.

  After a long night of fruitless effort, fatigue began to weigh on him, prompting him to finally retire for the evening. As he began to undress, he stumbled upon the magic crystal he had retrieved from the magic hall—an item he had completely forgotten about.

  This was no ordinary crystal; it was a magical core extracted from a mana beast. According to his readings, magic crystals were unique in that they could store information. Their beauty also made them highly sought after, but Martin had assumed this particular crystal was just a basic one—something taken from a first-order mana beast.

  Now, as he examined it closely, he realized something remarkable. He could delve into the crystal with his mental energy, much like accessing a USB drive.

  "This magic crystal is like a USB stick," he mused, noting its substantial storage capacity. If he compared it to USB drives from his previous world, this crystal could hold the equivalent of 128 megabytes of data. In this world, such a storage capacity was invaluable, as typical first-order magic crystals could only hold a single magic matrix and had a maximum capacity of 1 megabyte.

  Yet, the true treasure lay within.

  "This is the interpretation of the magic characters!" he gasped, astonished.

  The crystal contained detailed explanations of thirty-two magic characters, each occupying at least 2 megabytes of space. While one could learn magic characters from books, the most effective way was through direct spiritual communication with another magician. Additionally, magicians could imprint their own insights into the crystal, allowing others to benefit from their knowledge.

  With this magic crystal, he essentially had a senior magician teaching him directly. It was worth at least one hundred gold coins—perhaps even more. Martin couldn't help but chuckle as he recalled his earlier surprise at finding this item. "The Mage Guild is truly generous!"

  This crystal not only offered him the chance to master the thirty-two magic characters but also provided deeper insights into magic itself. Most notably, it contained valuable information on the space magic matrix, suggesting that its previous owner had been highly skilled in that area.

  With renewed determination, Martin thought, "This is exactly what I need." The exhaustion of the previous night dissipated, replaced by a surge of energy and focus. He was now more confident than ever in his quest to unlock the secrets of Busca's space ring.