Chapter 440: Teaching Plan |
Just as they were about to leave the forest and enter the small town nearest to the Wizard Tower, Saul’s carriage brushed past another single-passenger carriage.
The driver of the other carriage instinctively looked over.
The hat on his head was suddenly knocked off, and a white mushroom wriggled desperately on top of his head.
The driver’s expression changed, and he shouted toward the gradually receding two-person carriage, “Lord Saul, is that you?”
The two-person carriage didn’t come to a full stop, but its speed slowed. Seeing this, the driver quickly turned his horse around and gave chase.
Due to the sharp turn, the person inside the single-passenger carriage almost got flung out the window.
However, the anger that had just surfaced on his face disappeared when he heard the name the driver shouted.
He leaned halfway out the window, gripping the frame and yelling, “Senior Saul! The Kenas suddenly invaded the Kema! The border is in chaos with heavy casualties! Duke Kira is being besieged by several Second Rank wizards...”
As he spoke, the carriage caught up. But to his surprise, the one driving Saul’s carriage was a woman.
She lifted her chin and glanced over casually, saying, “The Tower Master has already left for the Kema Duchy. Your news is outdated.”
“Really?” The pursuing apprentice was momentarily stunned, then let out a long sigh of relief.
With the Tower Master stepping in, even the strongest Second Rank wouldn't stand a chance.
He withdrew into the carriage and told the driver ahead, “You did well, but no need to chase any further.”
But the driver still kept shaking the reins, trying to draw closer to Saul’s carriage.
“Lord Saul, are you heading out on a journey?” When the driver managed to pull up alongside Saul’s carriage window, the mushroom-headed driver asked anxiously.
“So it’s you.” Saul finally stuck his head out the window and saw the familiar face of the driver—along with the anxious, wildly-swaying mushroom on his head.
“Yes, I might be gone for a long time,” Saul replied with a smile.
He was a bit puzzled how the mushroom driver had figured out he was going on a long journey.
The driver became even more anxious. “Then, my lord, please let me drive for you! It’s a long road ahead…”
He glanced at Herman, who was sitting in the driver’s seat. “You might need a more professional driver. That wizard there could then be freed up to help you with other matters.”
Saul’s final destination was Borderland. Though he planned to visit other places along the way, the driver following him could very well die on the road.
Saul didn’t answer right away. Instead, Ann sat across from him, rested her arm on the window and propped her chin up, saying, “We’re not going on a sightseeing trip, you know. People can die any time on the road.”
The driver said anxiously, “That’s alright, my lord. If anything happens, I’ll just hide. You don’t even need to save me if it’s dangerous!”
Ann’s eyes lit up. She darted back into the carriage with a whoosh. “Master, let’s take him along! This guy’s ability to hide makes him practically invisible!”
Saul looked up and met Ann’s eyes. “It’s true. I’ve noticed that too, but I never figured out why. Do you know the reason?”
Ann grinned slyly. “I’ve seen a case like this. Most ordinary people die quickly after being parasitized by demonic creatures, but a few lucky ones adapt to their parasites and even feed them back, forming a mutually beneficial state. This driver is probably one of them. The mushroom parasitizing him is weak, but extremely resilient and practically unnoticeable—one of those lifeforms that might survive even a natural disaster!”
“Wow! I want that kind of ability too,” Herman exclaimed as he finally brought the carriage to a halt and scooted over, clearly making room for the mushroom driver.
The mushroom driver quickly and steadily stopped his carriage, then looked toward the apprentice inside.
“Go ahead, go ahead,” the apprentice in the carriage didn’t object in the slightest. He was quite happy to seize this chance to associate himself with Saul.
After all, it was usually very hard to even catch a glimpse of this Tower Master’s personal student.
Ann still leaned on the carriage window, grinning. “Thanks, kind sir. Are you specialized in fire elements?”
The apprentice left alone in the carriage brightened and nodded eagerly.
Ann extended her hand, and a small crack opened in her palm.
A dark red, speckled egg, barely larger than a thumb, was squeezed out.
With a gentle shake of her palm, the egg landed in the apprentice’s hand.
“A Fireflame Owl Egg. But you’ll need a corpse to hatch it—so don’t delay!”
The apprentice was overjoyed. He had seen the Fireflame Owl listed in the registration hall before, but the credits needed to exchange for one were too high—he could only admire it from afar.
Who would’ve thought he’d get one today, just like that?
“Thank you! My name’s Philly, I’m a Second Rank...” He looked up, trying to build more rapport, but saw the mushroom driver had already scrambled onto the driver’s seat across from him, urgently driving the carriage away.
As if debt collectors were hot on his heels.
Ann casually waved at Philly and ducked back into the carriage.
Philly held the Fireflame Owl egg, still in disbelief. Then he suddenly remembered something. “Right, I need to find a corpse quickly to hatch it... I recall it doesn’t necessarily have to be a human corpse. Large beasts work too...”
Thinking that far, Philly suddenly froze.
Wait... he could’ve sworn... the girl just now took the egg out of her body?
Cold sweat instantly dotted Philly’s forehead.
…
Saul’s carriage passed through the small town near the Wizard Tower without stopping, heading straight for the lakeside cottage he had rented in the outskirts.
There were still some of Saul’s belongings there that needed to be brought along.
With a familiar and skilled driver, things were much easier. Saul only had to mention it once, and the mushroom driver quickly steered the carriage to the destination.
Outside the lakeside cottage, several of Little Algae’s fragments were still stationed. As soon as they arrived, Little Algae bounced over to retrieve them.
While the others were busy packing, Little Algae ran back to Saul with two items.
A slightly crumpled letter.
And a damp notebook wrapped in a plastic cover.
“What’s this?” Saul took the two items.
Little Algae: “……”
Little Algae: “Abba abba abba…”
Agu walked over with a stack of books in his arms. “Master, I recommend teaching Little Algae to read and write. It can leave fragments everywhere, and each fragment retains a bit of awareness—making it a great surveillance tool. But if it finds something important and can’t describe it to you precisely, its monitoring ability will be compromised.”
“Hmm.” Saul looked at the items in his hand and nodded. “True. Even though I can receive some vague impressions through our mental link, written language would be much more accurate. Its mouth structure isn’t suited for speech, so literacy is something we’ll have to prioritize.”
Saul had already planned to make Little Algae the monitoring system of his Wizard Tower.
Compared to the fragments of resentful spirits inside the Black Iron Coffin, he naturally trusted Little Algae more for now.
Ann tossed aside her work and ran over excitedly. “Haha! I can teach it Necro-Whispers!”
Morden followed up, “I’m pretty good at Noah script.”
Agu chuckled, practically pushing up imaginary glasses. “My studies are quite broad.”
Just like that, as they chatted, they finalized an education plan to raise Little Algae’s literacy.
Little Algae didn’t have eyes, but judging from how its head swayed left and right, peeking around indecisively…
It must be very happy, right?
(End of Chapter)
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