NOVPUB
Chapter 40: 007: The Library and the Revenge Mark
"Finally got it approved!"
Walking along the path to the library, Lynch was visibly elated.
For Outer Ring Apprentices like him, the Tower’s library could only be accessed as an occasional reward. If one wanted unrestricted entry, they had to apply for a key.
Applications were reviewed every three months, but the review process was shrouded in mystery. What criteria they used, Lynch had no clue. He had applied several times before but never got approved. Eventually, he gave up, deciding to wait until he achieved Inner Ring Apprentice status before trying again.
However, this time, with certain materials he needed to consult in the library and the results of the Tower Apprenticeship Exam still not announced, Lynch submitted an application on a whim—and to his surprise, it got approved.
"Too early, they won’t approve. Too late, they won’t approve. But when I’m almost done needing it, they choose to approve—seriously..."
"No, wait."
"I bet they already know I passed the exam, which is why they approved it. Damn it!"
Lynch was left speechless.
Passing through the residential area, Lynch arrived at the eastern side of the Inner Ring, where a small forest sprawled. It felt like an urban park designed to give people a retreat from the bustling city.
In the heart of the forest lay a tranquil lake. At its center stood a small island, crowned by an enormous ancient oak tree. Its sprawling branches and leaves covered the entire island, resembling a magical realm straight out of a fantasy novel where treasure might be hidden.
As Lynch approached the lakeside, he removed a brass key tied around his neck with a thin cord. The key was as long as an index finger.
He dipped the key into the lake and gave it a few swirls.
"Whoosh!"
The tranquil lake surface swirled into a vortex, and a square stone slab, barely big enough for one person to stand on, rose up from the lakebed.
Lynch stepped forward to stand on the slab.
"Splish splash!"
The water surrounding the slab began to boil. A group of tiny, palm-sized creatures with human bodies and fish tails swam up to the slab, their delicate tails fluttering vigorously as they propelled the slab toward the library.
These were Mermaid Lake Demons, a type of Fairy Species. Don’t be deceived by their adorable appearances; they were far from being pushovers like Corrupted Tree Demons. Their power rivaled that of mid- to high-level apprentices. When enraged, they could rip apart an entire cow in seconds.
The library, after all, was a core sanctum of the Tower. To guard such a treasure trove of knowledge, the Tower had implemented numerous safeguards.
The floating stone slab and Mermaid Lake Demons were merely the visible protections. Hidden defenses, such as magic arrays placed throughout the forest, ensured that no unauthorized stranger could step even a single foot toward the lake’s center.
Carried forward by the Mermaid Lake Demons, the floating slab glided across the lake and soon reached the heart of the island.
The scene that greeted Lynch’s eyes was a lush green field speckled with vibrant, otherworldly flowers of various hues. A series of oval-shaped stone slabs formed a pathway leading from the lakeside to the base of the massive tree in the distance.
At the center of the tree’s immense trunk, which required several people to encircle, was a large, round oak door. The door was covered in intricate magical engravings. As it detected someone approaching, the heavy, solid door slowly swung inward.
"Did the wizards finally fix this door?"
Previously, the door used to open outward—and with considerable speed. If you weren’t careful, you could be smacked into the air. Lynch had barely dodged it on his last visit. A solid oak door... getting hit? Yeah...
No one would want to experience that.
Stepping through the door felt like crossing the boundary between realms—from the nature-infused forest into a grand temple of knowledge.
The space inside was vast, with towering bookshelves arranged like a mighty labyrinth. Countless tiny points of light drifted through the air, casting a gentle glow over the dark interior.
These lights moved in response to Lynch’s gaze. When he stopped at a bookshelf to inspect its spines, the lights would gather around him to provide ample illumination. Once he left, they would scatter into the darkness again.
"Light Elves..."
The first time Lynch had entered the library, he had been utterly fascinated by these magical creations known as ’Light Elves.’
"Spiritual Imprint... Spiritual Imprint..."
"Where is it?"
This time, Lynch was looking specifically for knowledge about Spiritual Imprints.
During his return from the Corrupted Forest, while being questioned as an apprentice, he had mentioned the black smoke that had erupted from Richard’s body upon his death and the mark that appeared on his chest. That was when he learned what it was.
A revenge mark.
Allegedly, it was a creation of a neutral wizard organization called the Golden Carriage. When a person marked with it met an untimely end, the mark would appear on their killer.
Other wizards could then claim a bounty by killing the bearer of the mark and delivering their head to the designated recipient specified by the original mark-holder before their death.
The bounty varied depending on the price at which the mark was purchased—like an unusual form of life insurance, except with a rather twisted method of payout.
Lynch had no idea who would bother to purchase a revenge mark for Richard, but he certainly didn’t want to live every day looking over his shoulder for bounty-hunting Black Wizards. He needed to get rid of it as soon as possible.
In fact, he had reported the matter to the Tower as soon as he returned. The wizards there had brushed him off, saying they would look into it.
He had brought it up again while consulting Leonard, but the latter seemed unconcerned, vaguely promising to send someone to handle it. Yet, three months later, Lynch hadn’t seen any developments.
"This Leonard... he’s way too unreliable," Lynch muttered in exasperation.
What Lynch didn’t know was that he had been overly harsh on Leonard in this case. Shortly after Lynch’s departure that day, Leonard had meticulously reviewed the report and confirmed the revenge mark had originated from the recent incident. He had promptly delegated the matter for handling.
The true problem lay with the person Leonard had assigned...
...
Shadow Tower, Third Church.
Graham Scuzzi, the mid-level apprentice who had clashed with Lynch not long ago, was idly tinkering with a newly "borrowed" Biological Culture Dish at his desk. He’d gotten it for free from a friend.
Though the item was worth barely a hundred magic stones and entirely useless for someone specializing in elemental magic like him, Graham was still particularly pleased—because he hadn’t spent a single penny. A purely freeloaded treasure.
As a Tower Inner Apprentice and a member of a Wizard Family, Graham’s income wasn’t low. But his nature drove him to love small gains. Whether it was precious materials worth thousands of magic stones or simply splitting the bill for a meal with a friend, he delighted in petty exploits.
Graham’s principle: take every advantage, big or small. Enjoy every free meal.
So,
When Leonard had assigned him to help Lynch deal with the revenge mark and provided the necessary materials, Graham didn’t hesitate to pocket the supplies for himself. As for the apprentice’s troublesome mark?
A mere Outer Ring Apprentice who couldn’t even afford Inner Ring housing? This guy had just lucked into a big fortune. Even getting a day pass to the Tower was the peak of his lifetime luck. Would he dare to step into the Tower to lodge a complaint?
An apprentice in the office asked, "Graham, aren’t you afraid? Even ignoring orders from the mentor—my god, you’re bold. What if the guy complains..."
"Pfft—wishful thinking."
Graham scoffed, digging at his ear with his pinky. "I already checked. That brat’s just a Muggle. He only got summoned by the mentor to collect a Black Wizard bounty, nothing major."
"He’s just a lucky Muggle. His lifetime’s worth of good fortune ended here. Complain?"
"Let him get in first, then we’ll talk!"
