Chapter 250: Implication |
The magic formation on the Mental Realm was complete.
Although it hadn’t yet been put into practice, Saul recalled the state he’d just been in—every step had flowed smoothly, executed with clean precision, completely unhindered.
It was as if he had drawn it hundreds, even thousands of times before.
“Next is refining the Grinding Sound Fruit. Supposedly, all it takes is a simple juice extraction. Honestly, you could just eat it raw.”
Saul shook the flute-like fruit in his hand. Air passed through it, producing a series of low, whimpering sounds.
Extracting the juice was easy, but to maximize the fruit’s calming effects, Saul chose a more complicated method of processing.
He got so caught up in the task that he nearly missed the time he had arranged to meet Wright. Fortunately, Little Algae was as reliable as ever.
He quickly pulled out the mask hidden deep in the cabinet and hurried toward the main gate.
The mask did have some effect in repelling wraiths, but the unbearable stench it emitted made it incredibly difficult to wear.
Saul could barely tolerate it for even a minute. Worse, the stench would linger on his body for an entire day afterward.
Still, being able to repel wraiths was a useful ability. What Saul didn’t quite understand was why Wright would also compete for the mask.
Given how often Wright operated outside the tower, he shouldn’t be lacking in such tools.
Pushing open the bronze gate, Saul immediately spotted Wright holding his doll.
It was still the same doll from a few days ago, but dressed in a new outfit—no longer a maid, but now a noble young lady.
“He’s not trying to use that thing as payment again, is he?” Saul frowned at the sight of the doll, already feeling uncomfortable.
Thankfully, throughout the ensuing trade, Wright never brought it up.
“This is the mask you mentioned?” Wright asked, accepting the parcel the mask was wrapped in, puzzled why such a small item was packed in a large wooden crate.
Upon opening the crate, he discovered a glass box inside, sealed with wax.
“Are there any usage restrictions or taboos?”
Saul thought for a moment, “Not exactly taboos—just that it smells awful. I recommend opening it only after you return to your dorm.”
Wright sniffed a couple of times, but Saul had sealed it tightly, so no scent escaped.
Still, Wright didn’t mind.
The more powerful and rare a magical artifact was, the more likely it carried some hidden drawbacks.
Just like how people must brave unknown dangers to become wizards, magical tools often came with their own forbidden aspects.
Wright didn’t open the box to check—he trusted Saul.
With their exchange complete, Saul, eager to return and continue his experiments, took the initiative to say goodbye.
But just before he left, Wright extended an invitation to venture out again.
“When will we go out on a mission again? I still miss our adventure in Hanging Hands Valley,” Wright said, rubbing his nose.
Really?
Saul chuckled, “Do you miss the Head Monster, or the wraiths?”
Wright gave an awkward laugh, “Haha… Well, the process was a bit dangerous, but we were lucky to survive. Plus, we came back with a three-masted ship and six living prisoners. Who wouldn’t envy that kind of haul?”
“We’ll go if we get the chance,” Saul said casually, retreating behind the bronze doors.
As he closed the door, he caught sight of Wright still standing in the dim corridor, staring straight at him. His gaze had suddenly grown murky and unreadable.
He was holding that nearly life-sized doll, and bit by bit, black mottling was spreading across his entire body.
Clack!
The door shut completely.
Still leaning against the door, Saul furrowed his brows in doubt.
“Something’s off with Wright,” he muttered, the smile on his face fading. “He’s been intentionally avoiding me lately, but this time he was strangely… enthusiastic. That’s a big shift. Could something have happened to him?”
Sensing something was amiss, Saul had insisted on using credits for the trade. Credits were a registered, virtual currency—no room for tampering.
Even so, Saul couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
Just as he stepped into the second storeroom, a sudden lightbulb flicked on in his mind.
“Wait a minute!” Saul slapped his hand down on the nearby stack of boxes. “There were only five prisoners captured back then. Wright, who was in charge of guarding them most of the time, should remember that even more clearly than I do.”
Why had he said six?
Those five apprentices from the Land Drifters had only been First or Second Rank. After returning to the Wizard Tower, Saul hadn’t paid them much attention. He’d only heard that the Land Drifters never came to ransom them, and that several of them had died not long after.
“Did he forget? But a Third Rank apprentice—unless he traded his brain to advance—shouldn’t make such a mistake. As for a slip of the tongue… Hmm, even less likely.”
Puzzled, Saul pushed open the second storeroom door.
Billy and Herman stood tall and alert before him.
“Six people… there’s one extra!” A cold shiver raced down Saul’s spine. “Was it a mistake? Or… has someone infiltrated the Wizard Tower? Was Wright secretly passing me a message?”
Five minutes later—
“So you suspect someone from the Land Drifters has entered the Wizard Tower?” Yura’s black silhouette sat on Saul’s long table, legs swinging casually.
“It’s just a suspicion. Maybe I’m overthinking it. But if someone has snuck in, they might’ve already taken control of Wright. That’s probably why he tried to hint at me.”
After careful consideration, Saul decided to report to Tower Master Gorsa. After all, Gorsa had once said that external dangers were the Wizard Tower’s to handle.
The Land Drifters were backed by a powerful Second Rank wizard—there was no way Saul could save Wright on his own.
And the fact that Wright had chosen such a subtle way to relay the message likely meant he was hoping Saul’s backer—Gorsa—would step in.
If it were just a Third Rank apprentice in danger, the Tower Master might not care. But now that the enemy had infiltrated the tower itself, there was no way Gorsa would sit idly by.
What Saul hadn’t expected, though, was that it wasn’t Gorsa who appeared in the storeroom—but Yura.
Still, Saul didn’t show the slightest hint of disappointment.
“How interesting. They actually managed to reach into the Wizard Tower.” Yura seemed completely unbothered by Saul’s report, even a little excited—like a child spotting an ice cream truck.
“I’ll go check it out.” She started toward the door.
Saul quickly stopped her, “You’re just going to barge in like that? Shouldn’t we inform the Tower Master first?”
Yura slipped past Saul’s arm, leaving a hole in her black silhouette.
She looked down at it in mild surprise, “Your newly modified body is fascinating. It’s like a natural counter to soul bodies!”
Still, though she said that, she didn’t seem the least bit afraid.
In fact, as she spoke, the black silhouette automatically filled itself back in.
Back when Saul touched the library administrator Agu, his body hadn’t absorbed the man outright—he still had to use his soul tendrils to devour.
Compared to wraiths, Yura’s shadow form seemed even less stable. But her spiritual energy was massive—she didn’t care about that kind of loss.
Clearly, the Tower Master had put a lot of effort into her.
“Gorsa patrols every night. He’s busy. I’ll go instead.”
With that, Yura melted into the ground beneath her.
After she rushed off to stir up trouble, Saul knelt down and touched the floor where she had vanished.
It was still solid and hard, leaving no trace of magical waves or spiritual residue.
Yura seemed able to slip effortlessly through the Wizard Tower’s interlayers, completely unafraid of whatever dangers might lurk there.
Did that mean she was part of those interlayers herself?
(End of Chapter)
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