NOVPUB
Chapter 32: 032: Are you interested...?
Hot-tempered Reo was the first to speak: "This has happened several times already, we can’t let it slide any longer. If word gets out, people will think the Shadow Tower is easy to push around."
Calvin exhaled a smoke ring, speaking lazily, "Bring me the corpse to use as fertilizer."
Saros added, "Leave the soul for me."
Codinos grumbled, "You’ve all taken something; what’s left for me?"
The remaining two, Sirena and Erodion, didn’t speak, but the former’s silence and the latter’s cruel smile made their stances clear.
Erodion glanced at Codinos: "Have we figured out who exactly is responsible for this?"
After the last apprentice abduction, Erodion had assigned someone to begin the investigation. The wizard carrying out the task happened to be one of Codinos’s former apprentices.
All eyes turned towards Codinos, even the usually indifferent Sirena raised her chin for once.
Black Wizards occasionally infiltrated White Wizards’ territories to abduct apprentices for experimental materials, but such incidents typically targeted small, powerless Wizard Organizations. Targeting a behemoth like the Shadow Tower was exceedingly rare.
Everyone was curious—who was gutsy enough to provoke them? n𝚘𝚟pub.𝚌o𝚖
Codinos said, "A guy named Morris. We don’t have concrete details on his identity yet, only that he works on soul and necromancy research. His base is rumored to be near the Shadow Swamp. His strength is unclear, but considering his lack of a reputation, he might be a newly ascended wizard."
Erodion nodded, pondering for a moment before speaking decisively: "Alright, who’s going?"
"I will."
Sirena, who had been silent up to this point, volunteered. "I’ll take care of it."
Everyone frowned. If this madwoman got involved, there wouldn’t even be a complete body left to work with. At that point, what use would materials even be?
Codinos hastily interjected, "There’s no need to trouble..."
Sirena shot him a cutting glance, her voice icy: "Do you want to fight me over this?"
"Uh..."
Codinos went silent immediately.
The rest also refrained from speaking. It wasn’t worth offending this woman over the scraps of a broke Black Wizard with little wealth to begin with.
Erodion scanned the group. Seeing no objections, he nodded: "Alright then, Sirena, go prepare."
Sirena didn’t speak, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
Erodion continued, "That’s enough about the Black Wizard; now let’s discuss the apprentice involved in this incident."
"An apprentice?"
Codinos was taken aback, as were the others, their expressions filled with puzzlement. Why bring up an apprentice in a meeting of this level? Was it someone with the bloodline of a top-tier family?
Erodion nodded. "Yes, an apprentice. The reason I bring him up here is purely personal—I’m interested in him."
With that, Erodion recounted the events that had occurred in the Corrupted Forest.
Shortly after the incident in the Corrupted Forest, the Tower had sent people to investigate.
An apprentice, not even part of the Inner Ring, had managed to turn the tables under desperate circumstances, killing a Black Wizard Apprentice equipped with a High-level Apprentice Grade alchemy creation. This extraordinary occurrence was immediately reported by the investigating apprentices, and through successive layers of reporting, it eventually landed on Erodion’s desk.
In this Dark Forest, the Shadow Tower’s spies were everywhere—especially in areas like the Corrupted Forest, which was technically a protected zone and under tight control.
Every blade of grass, every magic plant, and every magic creature in the area bore countless ties to the Tower.
Although Richard had disrupted the Witch Array, temporarily disabling the border, the Tower’s spies had meticulously recorded everything that occurred in the Corrupted Forest.
Through these records, Erodion had learned nearly everything about the incident in the Corrupted Forest.
"...and that’s about it." Erodion concluded his explanation.
The wizards stared, dumbfounded.
Codinos’s jaw dropped exaggeratedly, "Am I hearing this right? This apprentice, while being hunted, deliberately fled into the Corrupted Forest, lured the Black Wizard Apprentice inside, and then used the magic plants there to eliminate the enemy?"
He couldn’t help but ask, "How did he manage that? Could he identify all those magic plants and creatures?"
Erodion replied, "He’s a very well-behaved and diligent apprentice, always focused on his studies. He’s already memorized all the general knowledge textbooks given to apprentices, and he’s become highly proficient in the basics of magic plants and creatures."
The wizards widened their eyes even further.
Reo exclaimed, "That’s incredible!"
General knowledge wasn’t considered a particularly vital subject—most apprentices barely put in any effort, knowing they could learn it gradually as they delved deeper into the Wizard World. Teachers’ expectations were merely for apprentices to pass the basics.
An apprentice like Lynch, who had memorized the general knowledge curriculum and mastered it to such a degree, was rare—perhaps not unprecedented, but certainly extraordinary.
Erodion said, "In light of his outstanding performance, I propose granting him the Warrior Feather as an additional reward. According to the rules, this requires the approval of all seven of us. What do you think?"
Calvin nodded. "He’s a promising talent. He deserves it."
Codinos agreed. "It’s been ages since we’ve seen such an exceptional apprentice—one who combines bravery and wisdom. Let’s give it to him."
Reo praised, "Well done!"
The remaining members, Sirena, Saros, and Grich, expressed no objections, and the proposal passed unanimously.
Erodion asked, "Alright then, does anyone here take an interest in him?"
Aside from Sirena, everyone showed eager curiosity.
In just two and a half years, the apprentice had mastered all the general knowledge courses, cultivated and modified numerous peculiar magic plants and creatures, and demonstrated cool-headedness in a crisis—ultimately defeating a far stronger opponent and surviving against all odds.
Wisdom, courage—such a combination, paired with such exceptional performance, was seldom found in an apprentice.
Codinos was the first to ask, "Which bloodline is he from?"
Talent was all well and good, but knowing the apprentice’s origins was crucial. The intricate web of alliances in the Wizard World meant that recklessly recruiting someone could invite disaster.
Erodion answered, "A Muggle."
This was the term used for any apprentice from the Mortal World, referring to those without wizard bloodlines and who hailed purely from mortal origins.
"Huh?"
Codinos blinked in surprise. "A mortal?"
The wizards were incredulous.
The Tower’s management of apprentices was fairly lenient; most adopted a "just enough to pass" mentality when it came to studying. Only apprentices from influential Wizard Families, who understood the importance of proper training, generally solidified their knowledge to such a degree.
Because of this, the wizards had assumed the apprentice must belong to some Wizard Family.
Calvin asked, "Then what made him decide to memorize the general knowledge textbooks?"
Erodion explained, "Nothing special. He simply heard a lecturer say, ’This is important knowledge; study it thoroughly, and ideally commit it all to memory.’"
The wizards fell into speechless silence.
Reo muttered, "That’s almost too obedient."
Erodion sighed, "Alright, that’s the situation. Going back to the topic—anyone interested in taking him on?"
No one spoke, but the eagerness on their faces had faded completely.
Calvin exhaled another puff of smoke and said, "A lot of apprentices show promise when they first enter the Wizard World, excited by everything new. But as time wears on, they grow lazy, indulgent, and stop striving. Let’s wait and see."
Erodion didn’t insist, nodding in agreement. "Alright."
After a pause, he added, "The Crimson Moon is almost upon us. Whether the next thousand-year cycle sees us lead or the Black Tower Alliance will depend on what we do now. At this juncture, I hope everyone can broaden their minds and be more accommodating."
"Standing still is not an option."
