Chapter 81: Sorry, I Already Know How

“Will… Will Wizard Gorsa allow you into the Wizard Tower?” the butler asked with some concern.

“Our Bloodthorn family just lost our only heir. Are we not even allowed to pay a visit?” Ralph’s expression darkened at the mention of Gorsa. “Sid’s father would have sold the book to anyone, but he had to sell it to the Wizard Tower. Gorsa has been a Second Rank for a long time. His foundation is far beyond mine.”

But blaming the dead now was pointless.

“In any case, we need to first find out who has the diary. Anyone who doesn’t know the method can’t read its contents, even if they’re holding it for now,” Ralph narrowed his eyes. “I’ve cut all my ties now. My own grandson died at the hands of the diary’s current owner. The bond of death between me and the diary is strong enough. Once I retrieve it, I’ll definitely be able to read what’s written inside!”

Ralph’s expression twisted into something between a smile and a grimace. “Once I successfully decode the diary, I’ll be able to become a Fourth Rank… a Great Wizard, just like my ancestors!”

The butler kept his head lowered in silence.

Originally, his master had planned to wait until young Sid acquired the diary. Then, when the boy couldn’t use it and returned to the estate to look up ancient texts, the butler would step in.

But now the plan had changed. The young master was dead, and the diary had fallen into someone else’s hands. The master would have to act personally.

The butler didn’t know what use the diary held, but he knew that his master had spent most of his life chasing after it and had killed every blood relative in the process.

It was his master’s life’s pursuit. So the butler would support him without question.

Today’s “Basic Knowledge of All Things” class had gathered a crowd of apprentices again. Even those who’d skipped out to slack off or study other subjects had shown up.

When Saul appeared once more in the public classroom, many people—including seasoned First Rank apprentices—were secretly observing him.

If, in the past, his future had looked grim after a Second Rank senior openly threatened him, now things were different. After placing first in the recent test, and receiving a personal invitation from Lokai, president of the Mutual Aid Association, people were forced to reevaluate Saul.

Saul ignored the burning stares and walked into the classroom expressionlessly.

He immediately spotted Keli sitting in the back row and headed her way with his bag in hand.

Keli was seated at the outermost spot of the second-to-last row. Upon seeing Saul, she scooted one seat inward.

“How many zero-tier spells do you know now?” she whispered before he even sat down.

“More than you, that’s for sure,” Saul replied bluntly as he took his seat.

Keli felt like she’d taken ten thousand points of damage but she had no choice but to believe it.

After all, the reason she’d managed to learn three zero-tier spells was thanks to Saul’s “coordinate method.”

The more she thought about it, the more amazing that method seemed. Had she paid him too little?

But… she wasn’t planning to pay more.

The first class—Basic Knowledge of All Things—passed quickly. Saul spent it frantically cramming common knowledge.

The second period was a Meditation class.

Unexpectedly, Monica, who had only shown up for the very first lesson and hadn’t been seen since, returned to teach today.

As usual, she held the leash of the lizard responsible for scraping away her charred dead skin. Dressed in a silk gown that accentuated her figure, she walked to the center of the classroom.

Many apprentices quickly moved from the corners of the room toward the center.

It was rare to have a chance at one-on-one instruction from Monica.

She let go of the leash, allowing her little lizard to roam freely, and stood in the center with one hand resting casually on her hip, emphasizing her slim waist.

“It’s been three months now. I assume those of you who’ve put even a little effort into meditation have already made decent progress in increasing your magic, yes?”

Monica swept her gaze across the room. Everyone was seated on cushions, looking up at her.

“So then, has anyone reached a magic value above 20 joules?”

Only Keli raised her hand without changing expression.

“Oh, not bad,” Monica nodded at her. “What about 15 joules?”

A few more hands went up around the room.

Saul, sitting quietly next to Keli, had only increased his magic by one joule since the test. He now had 14.

After waiting a moment longer and seeing no more hands, Monica sighed.

“Now that you’ve experienced your first test, you should have some idea of the kind of life you’re in for. No one in the Wizard Tower will push you to learn but if you fall behind, you’ll pay the price.”

Saul noticed the mood growing heavier among the students. Even Keli bit her lip in unease.

Did something happen after Kaz took him away yesterday?

“Although Anze tested you by counting the number of spells you’d mastered, which may have seemed harsh, only apprentices who’ve grasped a certain amount of magic are useful to the Wizard Tower.”

Monica stepped forward and began strolling slowly through the classroom.

Each apprentice she passed felt a massive pressure—as if a storm were about to strike.

“I want you all to understand something: the Wizard Tower is not a wizard academy. Here, knowledge comes at a price. If you can’t handle any of the work assigned by the tower, if you make no contribution, then in the end, you’ll repay the tower’s nurture with your own body—as nourishment.”

Hearing this, Saul had a realization: Gorsa’s Wizard Tower isn’t an academy—it’s a company. These periodic tests aren’t school exams—they’re more like… performance reviews?

Just then, Monica happened to stop beside Saul and Keli.

She suddenly pointed to Keli. “Since your magic is the highest, let me see how you meditate.”

Following her instructions, Keli opened her meditation book, set out her crystal orb, closed her eyes, and settled into a calm expression.

Even under Monica’s watchful eye, she quickly entered a deep meditative state.

After observing for a while, Monica nodded and told her to stop.

“What’s your name?”

“Keli, Instructor Monica.”

“Keli’s meditation is very standard. She’s also good at blocking out external distractions and entering a fully immersive state quickly.”

After offering a few words of praise, Monica turned her head naturally toward Saul.

“Well then, Saul—let me see your meditation too,” she said, calling his name with precision.

“Yes.” Saul had a good impression of Monica, since she had once hinted at the element he was naturally attuned to.

He began meditating skillfully, entering a deep state no slower than Keli.

But the next second, Monica suddenly took his meditation book.

Startled out of his concentration, Saul looked up at her in confusion.

Monica held the book between two fingers, lightly waving it in the air with a mischievous smile.

“Using a crystal orb and meditation book is the most basic form of full immersion. But sometimes, you’ll need to meditate under emergency conditions, without the luxury of tools. In such cases, you’ll have to rely solely on your mental strength to enter a semi-immersive state.”

Monica smiled down at Saul. “Saul, try meditating without the book or the orb.”

“Uh…”

Under Monica’s obviously playful gaze, Saul gave a quick demonstration of a “one-second semi-immersion.”

The speed and efficiency of it stunned Monica, who had been fully expecting a flustered mess. Her lips twitched.

When Saul emerged from the brief meditative state, Monica no longer smiled. She looked at him with a complicated expression.

“Instructor Monica?”

Without answering, she turned and walked back to the center of the classroom. Two arcs of lightning suddenly exploded from her body, charring her arm and left cheek.

Yet her clothing remained untouched—likely due to some special artifact.

“Alright,” Monica finally spoke again, having calmed down. “You see? It’s very simple. Just do it like Saul did. Now, everyone try meditating.”

All the apprentices: “…”

Keli leaned over and whispered quickly to Saul, “She’s mad.”

Saul also felt like Instructor Monica was a bit upset. But why?

Was it because he learned on his own?

(End of Chapter)

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