Chapter 244: Smack! |
Saul made his way back to the first floor of the East Tower without running into anyone familiar.
He returned smoothly to the second storeroom. Confirming that there was still stock of Obsidian Amber, and seeing that it was still early, Saul sat back down at the lab bench and continued reading the book he hadn’t finished that morning.
"How to Choose the Right Locator for You."
The author, Barbara, believed that a wizard’s Locator was a means of self-control and restraint, so before selecting one, one should first understand oneself.
However, this step proved difficult for Saul.
Because of the missing memories from both his previous and current lives, Saul’s sense of self was also incomplete.
But he wasn’t discouraged. Nor did he intend to follow the book to the letter.
At present, aside from the Dead Wizard’s Diary, he couldn’t possibly choose any other magical item as his Locator.
First of all, after the experience at Ralph’s Manor, Saul had already confirmed that the diary definitely had the ability to stabilize his consciousness.
So really, Saul didn’t need to choose a Locator at all.
His Locator had long since been determined.
What he needed now was to find a direction and method to connect himself to the diary.
“How can I deepen the connection between the diary and myself?”
Saul unconsciously drew circles on the paper.
Anything related to the diary could only be theorized in his mind.
“If I skip the first step, then right now, I should regard the diary and myself as a single entity.”
“In other words, the diary is part of my self.”
Saying it out loud felt rather presumptuous, especially considering Saul couldn’t even touch the diary at this point.
“Wait a minute…” Saul’s eyes suddenly widened. “I have touched the diary before. In that cave in Hanging Hands Valley, to defeat the wraith Morden, Senior Byron helped me construct a metal realm. At that time... I even used the diary like a brick!”
But he also remembered that he couldn’t open the diary then, and had been forced to rely solely on its “physical” properties.
“Maybe I should build a mental realm again!”
“Although even if Senior Byron can help me construct it, having one’s consciousness separated from the body is still very dangerous. I have to find a way to minimize the risk.”
Saul thought it through.
Whenever he existed as pure consciousness, his emotional state became extremely cold, extremely extreme.
Bloodthirsty. Quick-tempered.
Too easy to be corrupted.
“Maybe I can try stabilizing my own consciousness.” Saul pounded his left fist into his right palm, having made up his mind. “Alright. Tomorrow I’ll go buy the ritual formation for building the mental realm from Senior Byron.”
“As for stabilizing the consciousness, stabilizing the soul... I remember seeing relevant experimental records in the Tower Master's private library on the 19th floor. I can go check them out tomorrow too!”
…
Just as Saul had locked onto his next goal, Wright was also returning to his dorm, carrying his doll.
Compared to everyone else’s, Wright’s dorm was unusually lively.
As soon as the door was pushed open, several maids could be seen either sitting or standing inside.
They were dressed in the same maid outfit as the doll in Wright’s arms, but even more revealing.
When they saw their master return, they immediately swarmed forward.
“Lord Wright.”
“Master!”
Soft voices surrounded him from all sides, but Wright wasn’t in the mood to respond to these adorable girls.
Suppressing his voice, he tried to speak gently. “I have business to attend to right now. You all should leave first.”
The girls exchanged glances. None of them showed any dissatisfaction, and obediently put on heavy cloaks and left Wright’s dorm.
Once the dorm door was closed, the doll in Wright’s arms suddenly moved.
She nimbly hopped to the floor, then turned around and—
“Smack!”
—slapped Wright across the face.
“You!” Wright kept his voice low, eyes blazing with fury.
“Useless.” The delicate female voice came from the doll’s slightly parted lips. “He rejected the gift, and you’re not going to explain? Who the hell have you touched?”
Though the doll’s movements were slightly stiff, her way of speaking and train of thought were just like a living person.
A bright red handprint appeared on Wright’s face, but he just flexed his jaw and the mark vanished.
Suppressing his anger and forcing his voice into calmness, he said, “It’s your fault the product lacked appeal. Don’t blame me for failing to make the recommendation. And besides, you insisted on coming with me. It’s no wonder he misunderstood.”
Even within the dorm, the two still communicated using message spells, wary of being overheard.
The doll couldn’t make subtle facial expressions—only her eyes spun rapidly.
“Maybe he’s too young and hasn’t yet tasted a woman. But judging by his demeanor, could he already have given up on physical desires?”
“Mm…” Wright recalled Saul’s new form. “In just a few short months, he’s undergone another transformation. Totally unexpected, and very risky. You can’t sense it because you’ve suppressed your spiritual perception, but I can clearly feel the vitality from him.”
“Saul isn’t truly heading down the death magic path. He hasn’t fixed his appearance either. In fact, he’s grown a few centimeters taller.”
“Good.” The doll paced back and forth. “Then, once the other orders arrive, deliver another doll to him. He’ll surely accept it this time, right?”
But Wright shook his head firmly. “No. If we try to give him another doll before he asks for it himself, it’ll definitely raise his suspicions.”
The doll blinked. “Suspicious? Of that 14-year-old brat?”
Wright sneered, “Everyone who’s underestimated him is either dead… or has suffered terribly.”
The doll frowned. “And you?”
“If I hadn’t been caught by you people a month ago while out on assignment, do you think I’d dare face him again? He’s that person’s student.” Despite his frustration, Wright kept his voice as low as possible.
The doll relented slightly but still didn’t want to let Saul go. “Fine. Then we’ll find a way to give him a ‘fortunate encounter’ next time he’s outside. We must place a construct core near him. This guy is protected so tightly by your mentor—he must be incredibly valuable.”
Wright closed his eyes, hiding the complicated emotions in them, seeming to tacitly approve the doll’s plan.
…
8 p.m.
It was once again the quietest time in the East Tower.
Some of the bolder apprentices had not yet left the tower, while other dangerous anomalies had yet to appear.
Kujin arrived right on time at the East Tower’s first floor, outside the bronze gates, carrying both the Shadowfeathers mentioned at the exchange meeting and the Seed of Malice he had nurtured for over three years.
It wasn’t that he wasn’t anxious, but he feared arriving too early and Saul not showing up—if something happened while he was waiting alone, it’d be trouble.
Ever since losing his position managing the second storeroom, his status among the Third Rank apprentices had plummeted, and many who’d disliked him before began causing him trouble.
Most frightening of all, the same symptoms that had once affected Ferguson were now appearing on his own arm.
Nerve death. Muscle rot.
If he didn’t treat and conceal it carefully, the stench of rotting flesh could fill the entire hallway.
But the pain, the stink, and even the daily inconveniences were nothing compared to the threat of death.
The arm’s decay was only the initial rejection response from the unstable Locator. If he couldn’t recover using Obsidian Amber in time, the rot would likely spread all the way to his chest cavity.
And by then, he wouldn’t feel pain anymore.
Unless he was unlucky enough to become a wraith—forever trapped in the agony of the moment just before death.
At exactly 8:00, the bronze gates opened as expected.
Saul appeared at the entrance, holding a small box in his hands.
To get this item out of the storeroom, he’d had to use a few tricks.
For a time, he’d been “locked in” the second storeroom. Whenever a task came up, he had to contact Keli to deliver goods.
Because of this, he had obtained the right to write with a transmission pen.
Even now, the Tower Master hadn’t revoked that privilege.
So Saul carefully wrote “Obsidian Amber” on paper and successfully took the item out through the storeroom doors.
If not for this authority, he might’ve had to rely on Kujin to smuggle the item out instead.
After all, Kujin had smuggled things before.
Outside the gate, Kujin’s eyes lit up as he stepped forward eagerly.
“Let me see what you’ve got first,” Saul said, raising a hand to block him, expecting Kujin to show sincerity first.
Kujin wasn’t in a position to argue. He had no choice but to comply, pulling out the two precious items from his robe and carefully handing them over to Saul.
Saul accepted the two metal boxes and examined them closely.
Materials related to dark elements were always stored in special containers of similar composition, to prevent unintended mutations from external interference.
(End of Chapter)
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