Chapter 82
Clayton couldn’t hide his surprise at what he was seeing. A growing curiosity stirred in him as he observed the frail deer before him. Its body was nearly transparent, giving it a ghostly, otherworldly appearance.
From the murmurs around him, he gathered that the deer was female—and pregnant. Yet the most striking feature was the large, menacing antlers jutting from its head, an unusual sight for a creature in her condition.
Apparently, this was a crystal deer—a light-attribute magical beast known for its rarity and immense value. This species was prized for its wide array of magical traits. It possessed sacred, light-based abilities beneficial to all forms of life—humans, monsters, even plants.
Nearly every part of its body held value: the antlers, blood, milk, meat—even its waste was used as a potent fertilizer. Magical farmers, breeders, and healing mages all dreamed of raising a crystal deer. But due to their rarity and fragile nature, few ever got the chance. And even fewer could afford it.
Even a low-tier, one-star crystal deer like the one in front of Clayton would normally be worth around 4,500 low-grade magic crystals—two to three times the price of other magical beasts in its class.
Despite its natural beauty, the creature now looked more like a sickly alien than a majestic beast.
But what truly shocked Clayton... was the aura.
Its symptoms mirrored his own.
The same strange energy, the same suppressed pressure—it was identical to the mysterious illness he’d carried for years.
That realization rooted him to the spot. He stood there, silently observing, hoping that by understanding this creature’s condition, he might uncover something—anything—that could help him heal himself.
Though he appeared healthy, Clayton had been suppressing his illness for a long time. He’d managed to keep it at bay thanks to his recent advancement to Two-Star Apprentice Mage, along with scrolls, herbal teas, and rare incense.