So, you’ve stumbled into Isaac’s Wares in Bakbattahl. You probably just wanted some curative or a quick ferrystone, but instead, you got a shopkeeper who can barely see the gold in your hand. He’s obsessed. He’s squinting at an old book and rambling about a ritual that’s going to fix his family’s finances forever. This is the start of Short Sighted Ambition, and honestly, it’s one of the most messed-up quests in all of Dragon's Dogma 2.
Most side quests in this game are pretty straightforward—go here, kill that, get paid. But Isaac’s story is a trap. If you follow his instructions to the letter, you are going to witness a genuine tragedy. I’m not talking "oh no, he lost some money" tragedy. I’m talking about "his wife and daughter literally turn into piles of salt" tragedy.
If you want the best outcome—or if you're just curious about how to get that one-time nuke of a spell—you need to be smart about how you handle this merchant’s mid-life crisis.
How to Start Short Sighted Ambition
You can't really miss this one if you spend any time in the Battahl region. Just head to the mercantile ward in Bakbattahl and buy literally anything from Isaac. He’ll fumble the transaction because his eyes are failing.
Basically, he's been pouring over a grimoire called On the Transference of Souls 1. He thinks it's the key to alchemy and wealth. First, he’ll ask you for a Ripened Quince. This part is easy but annoying. You can find quinces on bushes all over the Battahl desert. To get a "ripened" one, you just have to keep a regular quince in your inventory for a day or two.
Don't wait too long, though. If it sits there for three days, it turns into a rotten quince, and Isaac won't want it. Once he eats the fruit and his eyes clear up (temporarily), he’ll tell you he needs the second volume of that book.
The Checkpoint Rest Town Choice
This is where things get real. Isaac sends you to find On the Transference of Souls 2. You’ll find it at Ibrahim’s Scrap Store in the Checkpoint Rest Town. It costs 2,000 gold.
As you leave Isaac’s shop to go get it, his wife, Esmerelda, and his daughter will stop you. They are worried. They know Isaac is losing his mind. They beg you not to give him the book.
Here is the fork in the road:
- The "Good" Ending (Forgeries Save Lives): Buy the real book from Ibrahim. Then, immediately ask Ibrahim to forge it. The forgery will be called On the Transit of Souls 2. Give Isaac the forgery.
- The "Bad" Ending (The Salt Incident): Give Isaac the real On the Transference of Souls 2.
If you give him the real book, he takes it upstairs and tries to perform the ritual. His family follows him, begging him to stop. He chants the spell. It works, but not the way he thought. His wife and daughter are instantly transmuted into sand/salt. Isaac, now completely broken, wanders off into the desert, and his shop closes forever.
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Why You Actually Want the Forgery
Beyond just being a decent person, giving him the fake book is objectively better for your playthrough.
When you give him On the Transit of Souls 2, the ritual fails. Isaac is disappointed, but he’s alive, and more importantly, his family is alive. He realizes he was being a fool and goes back to being a normal shopkeeper.
Wait a few days and go back to his shop. He will actually sell you On the Transference of Souls 1 for 2,000 gold. Since you kept the real On the Transference of Souls 2 (because you gave him the fake one), you now have both volumes.
The Ultimate Reward: Celestial Paean
In your inventory, you can combine Volume 1 and Volume 2 to create a unique item: the Celestial Paean grimoire. This is a one-time use item that casts the ultimate Mage Maister spell. It’s a massive buff that recovers stamina and reduces damage taken for your whole party. It is a literal life-saver during late-game boss fights like the Medusa or a Drake.
Dealing with Hugo (The Post-Quest Hustle)
If you did accidentally (or intentionally) get the bad ending where Isaac’s family dies, his shop remains empty. However, this actually ties into another quest called Off the Pilfered Path.
If you’ve helped the young bandit Hugo find a new life, you can tell him about the vacancy at Isaac’s old shop. Hugo will take over the stall, and you’ll have a merchant back in that spot. It’s a nice way to salvage a dark situation, but honestly, it’s much easier to just use the forgery and keep everyone in Bakbattahl happy.
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Actionable Next Steps for the Arisen
If you're currently standing in front of Isaac or Ibrahim, here is exactly what you should do to maximize your rewards:
- Check your fruit: If you have a quince, make sure it’s "Ripened" but not "Rotten" before talking to Isaac. If you have a Pawn with the "Logistician" specialization, take the fruit out of their inventory so they don't craft it into something else.
- The Forgery Fee: When you get to Ibrahim’s Scrap Store, make sure you have at least 4,400 gold—2,000 for the book and 2,400 for the forgery.
- Double-check the name: Before handing the book to Isaac, hover over it in your inventory. Ensure you are selecting On the Transit of Souls 2. The titles are nearly identical.
- Rest to Reset: After giving him the fake book, sleep at an inn or on a bench for at least two full days. This triggers his "retirement" from alchemy and allows him to put the first volume up for sale in his shop inventory.
- Combine and Save: Once you buy Volume 1, combine it with the real Volume 2 immediately. Keep that Celestial Paean grimoire in your storage for the Unmoored World or a particularly nasty fight; don't waste it on a group of random goblins.