Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Russell was bewildered with a hint of panic... What does Master Gilbert mean by this?

Hilbert glanced at him: ”Don’t overthink it, in the study of spells, your own integration and understanding are what’s most important.”

”I can teach you, but only after you have seriously self-studied, explaining the parts you genuinely can’t grasp.”

”But if you can rely on your own deductions to understand these parts, then your comprehension of the laws will always be a bit more fitting to yourself than what I teach.”

”That’s why, when mages are led into the realm of spells, even when taught by the same master, the spells they employ vary greatly, because their understanding differs significantly.”

”However... once your understanding of the laws is tainted by my color, in the future, finding your own path might require a significant detour.”

”To avoid regretting your current choices in the future, you must exert your utmost effort, understand?”

Russell pressed his lips together and nodded seriously.

”So, don’t teach Carpenter’s illusion technique,” Hill advised him further, ”In other categories, it might indeed be difficult for her alone, you can give her hints, but for illusion technique, she must grasp it through her own understanding.”

”You’d better only show her where her spell appears fake, but not teach her how to avoid such falseness.”

Russell nodded quickly: ”I’ll tell Carpenter. Although she relies on me a bit, she still understands the need for personal effort in matters concerning life and future.”

Hilbert gestured him over: ”Come here.”

Russell was a bit surprised, but he slowly walked up to the high platform near the floor-to-ceiling window, drawing closer to Gilbert.

”This is the central hub of our Side Tower, all the magic arrays here can be activated through it.”

”Also, the little puppets that serve you daily, the intelligent assistants, are commanded through it as well.”

”Every 15 days, you must set a new work schedule for them; otherwise, the seemingly smart puppets will directly go on strike.”

”Except for those only responsible for cleaning up.”

”Here, it’s the kitchen puppet... Although we don’t have many types of food here, if you don’t want to eat bread and Light Spirit Water every day, you must finalize the schedule yourself.”

”Teacher?” Russell felt a bit panicked.

”Don’t worry, I’m just giving you management permissions,” Hilbert smiled slightly, ”Such daily trivial matters shouldn’t be my job. Alas, I used to have no suitable students to entrust.”

”As my first official mage student, Russell, this is what you deserve.”

”From now on, these tasks will be yours to arrange.”

”Currently, the isolation and defense arrays are set at the mid-level stage... After all, the Tower of Dark Enigma is still safe.”

”If any emergencies arise, you just need to pull up this semicircular ring inside the drawer to switch the hub above to high-level mode.”

”This could cause great harm to those outside, so avoid pulling it open unnecessarily.”

Russell bent down, staring at the semicircular metal ring resembling a base layer decoration against the back of the drawer... it was meticulously engraved with patterns: ”I’ll be careful.”

”Put your hand here.” Hill pushed down the second drawer side panel: ”This panel can only be opened by me. Even with usage qualifications, if you try to move this, the array will directly judge you as an intruder and revoke all your privileges, understand?”

Russell nodded cautiously, carefully placing his right hand on the metal plate adorned with dizzying patterns.

”Even though you use your hand, the array records your aura and spiritual power; the hand is merely a medium agreeing to connect.” Hilbert explained softly, ”Just like you and Carpenter, only need to touch the crystal ball outside to gain rights to live in the Side Tower.”

Then he tidied the second layer drawer again and opened the first layer: ”I have activated the retreat mode; generally, no one will disturb you.”

”Rest assured, as long as I’m alive, no one will openly move against the Hainarson Clan, not to mention Ulrich has sufficient defense measures.”

”Therefore, Tower of Dark Enigma... Mm... you two just stay put.”

”For now, those big figures won’t be back anytime soon, that dragon is enjoying its play!”

Although confused by Gilbert’s vague remarks, Russell still nodded solemnly: ”I will definitely take good care of myself and Carpenter during the teacher’s rest.”

Hilbert couldn’t help but chuckle: this kid is truly airtight, even at this time, he resolutely doesn’t say he will manage the Side Tower belonging to Gilbert.

Though a bit overly cautious, in this world, such personalities indeed live longer... even if the World Master changes later on.

After all, the world’s nature has become like this, even if one survives Asmodeus’s calculations, this world can’t escape the fate of lifelong companionship with devils.

Living life recklessly like Hill, one really can’t teach Russell how humans should protect themselves from harm in this brutal world; it’s best he understands being all-rounded by himself.

Hill’s actions aren’t meticulous, he simply relies on strength and knowing more than others to be secure till now... Compared to Aesces, this world, which gave him a sense of crisis, made him realize this point deeper.

Moreover, although always claiming to be cautious and careful, Hill actually understands his own nature is quite like an Earth Bear.

Adult bears in the forest, while cautiously guarding against wolves and tigers that could harm them, their walking manner at normal times... those who have watched animal planet know.

”The Side Tower doesn’t matter, your and Carpenter’s lives are more important.” Hilbert thought for a bit, but still worried this child might choose to confront when facing sudden events, ”The future of Tower of Dark Enigma... you know, in the end, this place must be forsaken.”

”If really necessary to activate the highest protection, remember to follow the array’s command with Carpenter into the safe room, I will wait for you there.”

Russell suddenly looked up: ”But if that happens, teacher’s Mental Sea...”

Sure enough, Hilbert shook his head: ”Damage to the Mental Sea, recovering actually takes just a moment; when the potion is consumed, the result is known.”

”The reason for taking so long is simply to enhance the mage level.”

”Things will become more chaotic later, a level 11 mage, simply put, is still 5-ring, incapable of enduring certain troublesome matters.”

”If you can reach 7-ring before entering the Tower of Dark Enigma, even if barely achieved, it can facilitate many things.”

”Why am I telling you this, understand?”

Russell pressed his lips together before answering seriously: ”I understand, the moment I detect trouble, I’ll activate the array immediately, absolutely not attempt to see if I can endure.”

”Even if someone from the family comes looking for me, I absolutely won’t leave the Side Tower for them.”

Hilbert looked at him approvingly: ”I’ve discussed my plans with Ulrich; he won’t allow anyone to bypass him to disturb me, so you should understand, what kind of entity would come into the Magic Tower to find you?”

”Should... I act?” Russell suddenly gritted his teeth, ”Teacher, keeping them... is it really okay?”

”Ignore them.” Hilbert said coldly, ”Their fate was sealed the moment they left the family.”

Russell lowered his head, his gaze at the ground still somewhat fierce.

This child is actually quite resentful of the inevitable betrayal about to occur.

Or rather, even knowing those people will definitely act foolishly, Russell still hopes they can be smarter... in this regard, he shares some similarity with Gilbert; though willing to give up, he still wishes they won’t compel him to abandon them.

Watching Russell’s departing figure, Hill’s foot lightly tapped a few times on the platform, suddenly a circular hole appeared where his reclining chair was... Hill swiftly slid down while semi-reclining.

Recently, Hill naturally wasn’t idle.

Gilbert, though a good Array Master, has a rather rough understanding of various mechanisms and traps... this world was truly thoroughly cleansed by Asmodeus.

Recently, he also researched carefully, even though there are many ancient magic books, and everyone claims their Magic Tower’s history is ancient... But people who truly witnessed thousands of years of history, practically none exist.

Including Tower of Necromancy.

It’s simply a joke.