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Chapter 47: Baba Sha
Brandon signaled for the Gargoyle to release its grip, and he and Chael landed softly on a grassy meadow atop the hill. Nestled quietly within the still woods was a crooked, two-story wooden shack—resembling something out of a slum. Faint, yellow candlelight seeped through the cracks between the weathered planks.
"My lord, is this really the place you spoke of for 'leveling up'?" Chael asked skeptically, rubbing his sore wrists after being clutched by the Gargoyle’s claws. He eyed the dilapidated structure with clear doubt. "Not to question your judgment, but this looks more like one of those hovels where witches from Brunson dwell."
"You’re not wrong—it is the home of a witch," Brandon confirmed calmly.
"Ah, witches do have their ways of temporarily boosting power," Chael mused.
"But temporary strength is too fragile," Brandon countered.
"Then perhaps necromancy? It’s a desperate measure, I’ll admit. Dealing with those lower-world fiends isn’t easy, though I do know a few tricks to deceive them—though I’ve never tried them myself—" Chael trailed off as they approached the cabin.
"Chael, remind me to tell you about that next time. For now, we’re here to make a deal," Brandon interrupted.
"A deal?" Chael echoed, confused.
By then, Brandon had already reached the door. He paused, tensing his body as he steadied his breathing. Only he knew the truth: the witch named Baba Sha who lived here was merely a front. When noble families designed their castles, they often included secret escape tunnels. Goran-Elsun, the original owner of Usson Castle, had been a staunch conservative who made many enemies in political circles. His castle's tunnel stretched far from the densely populated areas all the way to this hilltop.
Baba Sha, once Goran-Elsun’s wizard advisor, naturally guarded the exit of the tunnel. This fact had only been uncovered during the Second Black Rose War when players repeatedly failed to capture Usson Castle despite prolonged sieges against Madara. They eventually discovered the secret by studying the castle’s blueprints.
As for Baba Sha herself—a Level 32 witch—Brandon was quite familiar with her. Back when he was leveling up in Ridenburg, this was the only shop selling mystical items. In his inexperienced early days of gaming, he’d gambled recklessly and lost a fortune to the old hag.
But that wasn’t important now. What mattered was how he would subdue this Tier 1 wizard to ensure the success of their plan. One hand remained firmly on his sword hilt, his fingers icy cold from tension.
After a brief hesitation, Brandon rapped three times on the tilted wooden door, which bore two uneven cracks.
From upstairs came a sharp, elderly voice: "Who’s there? Come back during the day if you want a reading."
"I’m not here for readings. I bring something of interest," Brandon replied evenly.
"Do you understand the rules of doing business with me?" the voice responded after a pause.
"I have what you need, witch," Brandon said confidently.
"Is that so? You’d better hope it’s worth my time—or I’ll rip out your heart and feed it to my dogs!" The shrill voice descended rapidly down the stairs, accompanied by hurried footsteps.
The door creaked open, revealing an ugly, wrinkled face. The witch peered at him through murky eyes beneath her hood. "Speak quickly," she snapped.
Without hesitation, Brandon unsheathed his sword and pressed it against her throat. The sudden move shocked everyone—even Chael, who stared in disbelief. Was this really how deals were made?
Brandon’s entire body was taut like a coiled spring, and once the deed was done, he felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His breath hitched slightly, and his hand trembled around the hilt. If Baba Sha had reacted even a fraction of a second faster, she could have obliterated him with any number of spells.
Fortunately, it seemed the old crone had grown complacent, relying on her status as a Tier 1 wizard to dismiss him as just another lowly Iron-rank swordsman. Perhaps she believed she still held the upper hand even with a blade at her neck—but for Brandon, the outcome of this confrontation had already been decided.
Chael, meanwhile, was utterly stunned. Escaping prison or confronting an earl suddenly seemed trivial compared to this moment. As soon as Baba Sha opened the door, he recognized her as a Tier 1 wizard—a high-ranking magic user capable of crushing him tenfold. Yet his lord had immediately placed a sword at her throat.
"What do you think you’re doing, boy?" Baba Sha demanded, her tone icy and piercing.
"Before your left pinky completes the third motion of its incantation, my sword will pierce your heart. Witches claim the heart is the source of life, linked to the magical energy triangle—I’ve always wanted to test that theory," Brandon replied coldly. "If I were you, I’d stop this foolishness immediately."
His words caused both Baba Sha and Chael’s expressions to shift dramatically.
Chael realized the witch had been casting a spell—one so subtle and advanced that he hadn’t noticed until Brandon pointed it out. How had his lord detected it?
For Baba Sha, the shock was even greater. A swordsman with no trace of magical energy had instantly identified her spellcasting technique and pinpointed exactly which segment of the incantation she was on. Had the world turned upside down?
"What do you want?" Her voice softened as fear crept into her mind.
"Duke Goran-Elsun seems to lack allies in the capital. Allowing the Earl to use Usson Castle must be due to the latter’s proximity to the king. So why throw away your life for a stranger?"
Though Brandon sounded confident, his hand gripping the sword trembled ever so slightly. He scrutinized every detail of Baba Sha’s movements and gaze, wary of any tricks. Even wizards of Levels 30 or 40 should hold no secrets from him—but his low Perception stat left him guessing.
This was a battle of nerves—and Baba Sha’s face shifted again. "What are you talking about?"
"My request is simple. Swear upon your birth star and lend me the secret passage beneath Usson Castle—for one use only. I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone."
Baba Sha stared at Brandon as though he were a monster. The existence of the secret passage was known only to herself and Duke Goran-Elsun—not even his closest aides or family were aware. How did this young man know? Could he be the duke’s illegitimate son?
"And if I refuse?"
"I don’t wish to kill you."
Realizing she had no room to negotiate, Baba Sha relented. Trembling, she extended her finger toward the constellation of the Witch King Constellation to swear an oath—but Brandon shook his head.
"Baba Sha, isn’t your birth star Hydra?"
The witch shuddered violently. How did he know? She gazed into his dark, penetrating eyes, feeling as though all her secrets lay bare before him. A witch’s birth star was her greatest secret, shared only with those she trusted most—like Goran-Elsun. Now, Baba Sha began to suspect Brandon was far more mysterious than she’d imagined. Without further resistance, she solemnly swore upon her birth star.
Only then did Brandon exhale, realizing his back was drenched in sweat. Lowering his sword, he turned to Chael. "Go to the shelves inside. Take the scroll on the far right of the first row, the box in the middle of the second row, and the three vials on the far left of the third row. Don’t touch anything else."
Chael was utterly awestruck. Earlier, he’d flattered Brandon by calling him enigmatic, but now he truly believed his lord possessed some unfathomable depth. Meanwhile, Baba Sha felt as though she’d fallen into an abyss. This young man knew precisely which items on her shelves were valuable and which were decoys laced with malicious curses—secrets known only to her.
When Chael opened the box, he gasped in delight. "These are elemental crystals, my lord! Spend some time absorbing them, and you can use them directly!"
But Brandon shook his head, picking up the three dusty vials from the bottom shelf. "Do you know what these are?"
Even Baba Sha looked puzzled. She didn’t know what was inside the vials, but her instincts as a high-level witch told her they radiated magical energy—hence why she’d kept them, despite the thick layer of dust accumulated over years. Potions were dangerous; whether poison or enhancement, improper usage could prove fatal.
Magic was powerful, mysterious, and perilous.
Chael examined the vials briefly before shaking his head.
"These are mana potions. How can you not recognize them?" Brandon chided, brushing off the dust to reveal a pale blue liquid beneath.
"Impossible!" Both Baba Sha and Chael exclaimed in shock.
"Why are you so surprised? They’re just mana potions. Now, answer me this: if these three vials quadruple your mana pool—ignoring changes in spell potency—what level of wizard would you approximate yourself to be?"
"Mid-tier wizard," Chael replied dryly.
"Precisely. That’s what I mean by the three metrics. For the duration of these potions’ effects, you become a mid-tier wizard. Right now, you’re still an apprentice. Understand?"
Chael nodded instinctively, though his mind reeled. Mana potions were as valuable to wizards as gold was to common folk, products of advanced alchemy nearly as rare as holy water. He’d only read about them in scrolls—yet here Brandon casually handed them over.
Brandon then picked up the long parchment scroll from the top shelf. "This scroll contains the secrets of how ascetics sharpen their blades by compressing air along the edges. Skills are part of attributes. These are the three metrics. Do you see now why we’re here to improve ourselves?"
"Mastering a skill takes time. Will cramming at the last minute really help, my lord—" Chael began, but stopped abruptly as Brandon skimmed the scroll and tossed it aside. It hit the ground with a hollow thud, and Brandon stood motionless for a few seconds. Then, without warning, he swung his sword toward the doorway. With a sharp crack, the wooden frame splintered, sending fragments flying outward more than ten meters before landing.
Chael’s jaw dropped in disbelief.
Brandon frowned. Learning this skill had cost him 153 skill points—a staggering amount, even for a mid-tier ability. Forum posts claimed mastering it required reaching Level 25, which would demand an astronomical amount of experience. Still, he deemed it worthwhile. In his past life, he’d learned barely a dozen mid-tier skills, half of which were class-specific. This scroll represented one of the closest opportunities he’d missed due to bad luck early in the game.
Regardless of their next steps, acquiring this skill was essential—and conveniently located here.
Lowering his sword, Brandon turned to Baba Sha. "I’ll borrow these items. No objections, right?" Though phrased as a question, it was essentially theft. But given the witch’s dubious character, Brandon felt little guilt.
To his surprise, Baba Sha collapsed to her knees, bowing deeply with her forehead touching the ground. "The Black Prophecy foretold that only the Dragon of Darkness could see through all of a witch’s secrets. Any trickery is futile before you—you perceive hearts and comprehend all things. O’ the Ancestor of Minarian, you’ve returned—"
This time, both Brandon and Chael froze in astonishment.
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