Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Prutt bade farewell with an indifferent expression, his half-lowered eyes revealing embarrassment and an unwillingness to abandon his ambitions.

Hilbert didn’t even bother to stand up to see him off... This guy’s skin is quite thick, give him a little sunshine, and he will surely shine brightly.

Speaking of which, he really is from the same school as West.

One wonders how Katmanta, who always seemed so aloof and serious, managed to nurture such a student?

Normally, shouldn’t students learn their teacher’s style?

Take Ruth’s students for example, they are domineering yet protective, and when they need help, they first seek their own kind... And they fully understand the concept of mutual benefit, they may not be entirely above scheming, but they wouldn’t let the other party incur losses.

Let’s put it this way... they align more with the traditional mage’s mindset, they won’t account for undisclosed values of the other party, but they certainly wouldn’t make a deal that the other party knows would be at a loss.

Snatching a bargain and accepting a lavish gift are two different matters... No one gives things for free unless they think they can gain more from you in return.

Moreover, magic is their greatest pursuit in life, and they wouldn’t let trivial benefits constrain them.

Even if such mages aren’t kind-hearted, since they understand that everything comes at a price, they still maintain a baseline.

Prutt and West are somewhat different... and Prutt is a bit worse. It’s no wonder he can’t advance to an Eighth Ring Mage given his shallow mindset.

So, perhaps, even if not apparent on the surface, the inner malice can still be sensed by those who have long-term interactions?

West, however, is slightly more normal; although not particularly successful, at least he understands social cues.

Hilbert was entirely aware of Prutt’s purpose in seeking him out, yet he dared to bring something that appeared valuable but was entirely irrelevant without knowing what Gilbert actually required, or the special effects of the spiritual power restorative potion.

Heh~

The most important thing is, he never considered why Gilbert would be entirely unconcerned about the dissemination of that information.

Hill thought Prutt was overly anxious because he didn’t want to be assigned to pursue the Iron Dragon... Tsk~ Prutt has stayed by Katmanta’s side for so long; could he have discovered something?

Perhaps, like the relationship between the Sia Tower and his teacher is too close, or there are even students from Katmanta’s legitimate line within the Sia Tower?

Otherwise, why would he target a manual with minor benefits for mages but primarily useful during the apprentice stage?

Hill knew how the news spread out.

Based on the timing, the Hainarson Clan should have made some progress by now... and this family that appears impermeable is, in fact, riddled with holes.

Gilbert didn’t intend to manage too much; rather than making the family seem invulnerable, it would be better to let those who know nothing live their lives with dignity.

When the Hainarson Clan was placed in that position, Gilbert was fully aware of the dangers the family would face.

Later, when he went to restructure the array of Ulrich’s branch’s residence and reinforce the family’s library defense, the Hainarson people had nothing left unknown to the outside world apart from the items stored in their strange objects.

And everyone understood that these storage tools had been inspected by the Sia Tower; although they did contain resources, they weren’t valuable enough to entice an archmage.

As long as Gilbert, sheltered by Ruth, was alive, no one would scheme... That refers to those high-level mages capable of clandestinely peeping into the Hainarson Clan.

Low-rank mages may have the intention, but not the means.

Hilbert knew very well that Ulrich, who had always paid attention to the two apprentices, had been silent lately because he likely returned to revise his standard runes.

Gilbert, his nephew, truly hoped to relieve some of his overburdened uncle’s pressure in the past, though, due to limited talents, he didn’t become a mage, but his foundation was actually laid well.

Meaning, he didn’t need to remember many runes within his mental sea.

Over the years, he never gave up his daily meditation, so his mental sea never fully solidified... As long as apprentices maintain their meditation at intervals, they can prevent their mental sea from withering.

Anyway, without hopes of advancement, meditation can sometimes be an ordeal for these apprentices.

Facing futile efforts, even the firmest individuals might choose to give up; thus, Ulrich’s behavior is truly rare among apprentice mages in their fifties.

But perhaps witnessing Gilbert’s difficult struggles filled Ulrich with profound anguish, so he persisted until now.

Hence, he found a slim chance of survival... Normally, apprentice mages in the world could become low-rank mages through prolonged contact with spell energy, but the world’s elemental energy is quite stagnant. If becoming a mage weren’t everyone’s dream, if all children didn’t have the opportunity to learn spells... The Magic Tower highly values children, otherwise, so many mages wouldn’t appear.

Yet, the realization that those without sufficient Aptitude have no chance of becoming a mage has taken root, so apprentice mages live quite a decadent life... Producing more offspring is their norm.

It is just that in this world, women are relatively scarce, and females with mage aptitude are extraordinarily precious, which keeps gender relations on the surface seemingly equal.

As for reality... From Prutt daring to bring a potion that wouldn’t be useful to Gilbert until who knows how many years later for an attempt at deception, also considering he wasn’t qualified to even mention Carpenter’s name, the truth is evident.

The physical disparity would only amplify under food scarcity due to innate conditions.

The world’s superficial balance is maintained because the Magic Tower essentially supports ordinary people to the greatest extent, even though it requires mages’ noble status.

Although reality is harsh, there’s no way to blame anyone.

But once the balance is breached, as in the current state of the Tower of Dark Enigma, mages would undoubtedly choose to protect themselves first.

Hill always felt that the demise of the Tower of Dark Enigma was the Sia Tower’s attempt at testing the world’s limits.

It’s not just about whether mages still possess their independence and unwillingness to rely on others... When humans get pushed to the edge, the likelihood to fight back desperately or become complete puppets of others can’t even be calculated by the knowledgeable Great Devils.

Additionally, it’s the world’s will—has it truly dissipated completely?

The defensive tower incident, the presence behind the Sia Tower, although they could see the vague hand in existence, they could also see its weakness, and how it was about to fade into nothingness.

Devils are indeed adept at gradually corroding a world.

But from the moment Hill entered this world and started cultivating Russell, and when Gilbert’s soul was taken away by the Styx, the world’s remaining will probably began to slowly converge again.

It’s just, it can no longer exist independently.

After all, Hill won’t compete with Styx for a world biased toward the laws of destruction, so it will inevitably be reared by the Styx.

As for what will become of Russell afterward... so far, the child is merely passable in Hill’s eyes.

Hill is skilled at recognizing others’ merits and offering appreciative glances, but it doesn’t mean these merits can touch his heart and make him take Russell as his true student.

Over all these years, there are only very few who can truly reach his heart.

Though he is very kind, he is actually quite indifferent.