Chapter 73: First Glimpse at Career Planning

Having just witnessed the death swing firsthand, Saul really wanted to shake his head. He couldn’t understand why he had suddenly become such a hot commodity today.

What exactly was the value of a soul-related talent that made both Anze and Rum—two people he was meeting for the first time—extend their olive branches?

Still, thinking back to Big Pink—now more appropriately called Tower Master Gorsa—it seemed that he too had taken an interest in Saul because of this very soul-related aptitude. That thought helped Saul steady himself a little.

Naturally, he wasn’t going to switch allegiances so easily, especially after killing Sid, Rum’s once-trusted aide.

Who knew whether, once he lost his value, they’d come to settle that old score?

And yet… Rum’s offer seemed a lot more sincere than Anze’s.

Seeing Saul remain silent, Rum reached behind him and pulled out a few sheets of paper, his eyes scanning the text.

“Actually, before Kaz brought you here, I had already looked over your file and spoken with the person who did your initial evaluation.”

Rum gave a wry smile and gave the sheets a light shake. He held them up with two slender fingers, showing them to Saul.

“Your test results… were very strange.”

Saul looked at the words in front of him:

Saul (Family unknown, likely none)

Age: Twelve

Mental Perception: Low-Mid (Scattered)

Suggested Majors: Dark, Light

Mental Aptitude: High (Specific level requires further evaluation)

Magical Aptitude: Likely Low (Testing unavailable due to fainting; assumed to be unnecessary given high mental aptitude)

Overall Assessment: Aptitude Low-Mid, No (crossed out) some potential for training. Possibly suitable for specific special roles.

Approved.

Back then, in order to pass the test, Saul had taken the risk of pushing his mental energy to the limit—so much that he passed out.

He had no idea whether that helped, but the diary had said doing so would let him survive.

It was already his turn. He had no time to think—he had to gamble.

Saul had never really understood how exactly he passed the test.

Now it seemed that the person who wrote the evaluation hadn’t planned to approve him at first… but then, for some reason, changed their mind.

Rum noticed the way Saul was studying the page and gently flicked the stack of papers. The top sheet fluttered down, revealing the one underneath.

It was another evaluation report.

And it was also for Saul.

Saul (Family unknown, likely none)

Age: Ten

Mental Perception: Low-Mid (Scattered)

Suggested Majors: Light, Earth

Mental Aptitude: Mid

Magical Aptitude: Low

Overall Assessment: Poor aptitude, not worth cultivation.

Rejected.

Recommended reassignment as servant.

Saul’s eyes slowly widened. The paper dropped away, and Rum’s large face moved in closer.

“So, can you explain how a servant’s mental aptitude jumped from ‘mid’ to ‘high’ in just two years?”

With Rum’s gaze boring into him, Saul felt like something was squeezing his brain—his thoughts were stiff, frozen.

His mouth opened involuntarily, but it took a few seconds before any sound emerged—

“I don’t know.”

Rum: ?

After speaking the first words, Saul found his head clearing somewhat.

He shook off the fog and gave Rum an innocent look.

“Mentor Rum, I really don’t know. Maybe they just… got it wrong back then?”

Rum’s face froze for a second, then he shot Saul a glare.

Saul quickly added, “Actually, it’s like this—I once accidentally offended your student, Senior Sid.”

He really had stumbled upon Sid looking for something in the library.

“He beat me within an inch of my life.”

Actually, he had beaten him to death. “Within an inch” was putting it lightly.

“My head was bleeding all over.”

And his life ended.

“When I woke up, aside from basic life skills, I couldn’t remember much from before.”

Because he had crossed over from another world.

“So I really… don’t know.”

That part, at least, was the truth.

His sincerity seemed to give Rum pause.

Rum found himself wondering—could a person’s brain really evolve after severe trauma? Was it worth testing this theory somehow?

Meanwhile, Saul was blinking innocently, while thinking to himself,

Did my mental aptitude skyrocket because I crossed over? I remember in some novels, it’s said that the soul of someone who’s traveled through time and space becomes incredibly strong. So maybe mental strength is tied to the soul?

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the red hardcover book slowly floating over his shoulder.

Or is this all thanks to the diary?

This was still a blind spot in Saul’s knowledge, so he gave up guessing.

Across from him, Rum didn’t seem to come to any clear conclusion either. He simply tossed the last piece of paper to the floor.

“Well, that’s not the point anyway.” Rum leaned back, resting both hands on his round belly.

It jiggled.

“It’s clear from both evaluations that the attribute you should major in is Light.” Rum tapped his own chest. “And the sorcery I specialize in just happens to be Water and Light.”

So Light was the element he had the highest perception for.

Saul finally understood: during the test, when that other senior had casually written down “Light,” it was because that was his strongest affinity.

But… Saul clenched his left fist.

After the body modification, he could now use the artificial skin—crafted from the plastic bone in his left arm—to enhance his sensitivity to dark-element particles.

If he were tested again now, Dark would probably be his strongest element.

He had already embarked down this path.

Rum seemed to notice Saul’s inner hesitation. He lightly tapped Saul’s left hand with his fingertip.

“I can tell—after your body modification, your affinity with Dark has grown considerably.”

Saul looked down at the pale gray tips of his fingers.

They trembled slightly, and he withdrew them into his sleeve.

Rum went on, “It’s fine to keep majoring in Dark if that’s your current direction. But you need to understand—what a wizard chooses as their primary attribute doesn’t just affect the type of magic they learn. It also determines their future area of research and study.”

“If you choose Dark, you’ll be working closely with corpses and ghosts for the rest of your life. If you choose Light, it’ll be more about energy and spirits.”

“You’re just a First Rank apprentice right now—the very beginning of your journey as a wizard. There’s no need to rush into a lifelong decision just because you’ve made some early progress.”

“Make your decision before you choose your Locator. Of course, some wizard do change their primary attribute later on, but the road becomes much harder.”

Rum’s thoughtful explanation had a real impact on Saul—it even caused a flicker of doubt to form in his heart.

But then—Saul heard that word: “Locator.”

The doubt vanished. Replaced by certainty.

With the Diary of a Dead Wizard in his possession, how could he ever choose anything else as his Locator?

The diary’s attribute—wasn’t it obviously Dark?

Still, Saul didn’t let his thoughts show. He put on a conflicted expression and asked Rum, “But… weren’t you angry earlier about me killing your assistant?”

Rum gave him a cold, distant smile.

“That’s because most wizards care far more about value than relationships or emotions.”

“You passed my test, Saul. In fact, you exceeded my expectations. That’s far more important than revenge—or venting.”

Saul looked at Mentor Rum. The man met his gaze calmly.

He probably wasn’t lying. Or didn’t need to.

“Mentor Rum, may I ask… what exactly is a Locator?”

“Locator?” Rum folded his long hands over his chest, fingertips touching, as if pondering how to answer.

“Locators are normally something Second Rank apprentices learn about. But since your mental strength is already high enough, I’ll give a simple example.”

Rum raised one finger and pointed toward the far end of the room.

Saul turned around and saw he was pointing at the only window in the room.

Sunlight still streamed in—quiet and warm.

“You were pretty moved just now when you saw real sunlight. It’s true—First Rank apprentices rarely get the chance to go outside. So while you can… take a good look.”

(End of Chapter)

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