Chapter 308 - 144: Each Brilliant in Their Own Way
「Five days later, deep within the Feng Enliso Mountain Range, in the heart of the Northern Continent.」
A perpetual mist shrouded the sky. Dozens of castles, large and small, were scattered across the mountainside. On the signs by the castle gates, one could faintly make out some Gonzalez words: ’Ghost Soul School Research Center. Danger. Keep Out.’
Each castle housed a research group, such as the Kristan Wizard Research Team, the Kokron Great Wizard Research Institute, and the Brise Red Moon Theory Research Institute...
A young man in a white suit, with center-parted black hair and gold-rimmed glasses, stood waiting quietly at the main entrance, holding a black box.
"Siegal Bint?"
At that moment, a sound like grinding gears rang in his ears.
"That’s me," the young man said, dipping his head slightly. Despite facing empty air, he maintained a decorous posture, bowing with a smile. "I’m here on behalf of the Siegel Newspaper to visit Dean Josue. I have an appointment."
"Come in. Dean Josue is waiting for you at the No. 18 Wizard Research Team."
"Understood."
Siegal let out a small sigh of relief. Even though it wasn’t his first time here, his heart still pounded with tension when faced with these Wizards, who spent their days dealing with Extraordinary phenomena like Undead Creatures, machinery, flesh, and the red moon.
Following the voice’s guidance, he walked straight towards the stone steps on his left.
’The Wizards of the Ghost Soul School must be obsessive-compulsives.’
On the stone stairways and flagstone paths that wound between the castles, the trees on either side were perfectly symmetrical, regardless of species. Even when the species differed, the Wizards of the school would find ways to prune them into identical shapes.
Take the vines and thorn bushes, for example. Since the stems of the thorn bushes were thinner, they had been woven together to match the thickness of the vines. Their flowers were snipped off, and a special Magic Potion was applied to ensure both sides maintained the exact same growth rate, thickness, and length...
The stone stairways were no different. Every step was identical in length and height. The Wizards had even gone to the trouble of setting up Rune Arrays at the corners, just so that anyone climbing them wouldn’t perceive the slightest change in angle.
BOOM!
As Siegal climbed, his head bowed against the incline, a deafening explosion erupted from a nearby castle.
"No. 44, Kristan Wizard Research Team, an accident has occurred. Modification Department, proceed to collect the body. Oh, Wizard Kristan is unharmed? Then the Modification Department can stand down..."
Hearing the clear note of disappointment in the grinding voice, Siegal’s hand trembled. He gave himself a silent pep talk. ’The goal is to not die here. I absolutely cannot die here!’
Before long, he finally stood at the entrance of Castle Number 18. He took a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his sweat, adjusted his clothes, put on a smile he had practiced countless times, and stepped inside.
’I wonder what kind of person Dean Josue is. Hopefully, he’s easier to talk to than Sheldon the Great Wizard was, back at the apprentice administration office.’
’Okay, stay calm. Survival is victory. It’s all for the gold!’
Siegal stood at the castle entrance and waited for a moment before a young Wizard in a black robe with messy hair came out, glaring at him with a look of annoyance.
"Tutor Josue is waiting for you. Follow me!"
"Thank you."
Siegal showed no sign of complaint, respectfully following him inside.
The entire castle’s layout was similar to Castle No. 31, which he had seen before. At the entrance stood dozens of Undead Creatures of various shapes, gnawing on some bones.
Rumor has it the bones were purchased from the Undead World, specifically to help the Undead Creatures increase their power.
The Wizards of the school referred to the entrance area as the ’Undead Depository’—a place where the undead could park themselves, so to speak, complete with their own rations. Apparently, the Undead Creatures were quite pleased with this arrangement.
Such a welcoming place, isn’t it?
The young Wizard led him to a spacious office deep inside the castle. He knocked and said, "Tutor Josue, the person you were waiting for is here." He then added, "If you have no further instructions, I’ll return to my unfinished research."
"Oh."
The one called Dean Josue sat in a large, high-backed chair with his back to the door. Without turning, he waved a withered, bloodless arm.
The young Wizard took the gesture as his dismissal and turned to leave. As he went, he muttered, "Remember, you only have one hour."
’An hour?’
’That’s enough.’
A smile formed on Siegal’s face. He stood respectfully by the door and spoke in a calm, measured tone, "Respected Dean Josue, I am Siegal Bint of the Siegel Newspaper. Please forgive the intrusion..."
He was cut off by Dean Josue before he could finish. "I want to know the recent news concerning our Wizard Apprentice... hmm, our Wizard."
"You are referring to... the one named Wei’en, the Mutated Mage?" Siegal asked cautiously.
"’Mutated Mage?’" Josue clicked his tongue. "Who gave you permission to use such a term for a distinguished Honorary Mage of our Ghost Soul School?"
"Hon-Honorary Mage?"
Siegal froze for a second, his mind racing. "My apologies, I misspoke. I will begin my report on Wizard Wei’en immediately."
"Hmph." Dean Josue let out a noncommittal grunt, a clear signal for him to continue.
Siegal relaxed slightly, quickly pulling out the various newspapers and notes he had prepared and began to recite their contents.
"First, from the Shetland Kingdom Gazette, which two days ago published a report on the disaster in the Caster City State. The entire Kingdom is in mourning and expresses its deepest regrets over the loss of Count Ernst in the incident."
"It condemns the Abyssal Sect for their attempt to summon a Demon Commander via a sacrificial ritual in the Caster City State. Fortunately, they were thwarted by the Dawn Guardian Knights. Thank the Dawn."