Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Although saying this felt a bit like self-consolation, Felix strangely felt a faint sense of relief: although his biological father was not a good person, most of the bad deeds he committed were under someone else’s orders.

At least he wasn’t the first target whenever someone had a malicious thought.

It sounds pitiful, but Felix originally didn’t have much affection for Rolando, so it was just alright.

Insignificant people—just let go of the little grievances you harbor in your heart... even the disgust of being treated as trash by your own father... you just don’t bother with him.

Rolando’s fate was bound to be bad regardless of whether he was willing to take that potion.

But Felix estimated that he would take it anyway... before Gilbert announced his return, Rolando, having figured out what he’s been doing all this time, would definitely hurry to swallow the potion.

So, his little schemes, really, everyone knows how to react, yet he still dares to call himself smart?

It’s only because the benefits of Black Rice Town aren’t enticing enough for mages to trade the clean air of the Magic Tower that he can still act like he’s ’doing well’ today.

Hmm... Felix blinked while looking at the library right in front of him... maybe it was hearing too much heartfelt praise from nobles in Dark Enigma Town that made Rolando feel omnipotent?

Mages’ greatest reliance is still their spells, otherwise Rolando might have soared with that terrifying arrogance.

Felix walked into the library expressionlessly, returning every glance of scrutiny, whether genuine or fake, with the most venomous looks... after all, taking that potion turns you into a half-madman, whether good or bad, in a madman’s eyes everyone wants to kill... Felix could act genuinely, every ounce of disgust and murderous intent truly came from within.

Ha~

Feeling those panic-stricken gazes, Felix instead swept them with a skeptical glance... wasn’t it said that the suspiciousness after taking that crappy potion would be severe?

Then let him judge if the dodging in those eyes was real or fake, those who know the truth wouldn’t genuinely panic at his seemingly crazy behavior.

Heh heh~ It seems he overthought—those who know the truth wouldn’t appear within his sight... likely evaluating him from afar.

After all, there couldn’t be mages above intermediate level near the Apprentice Tower and library.

And from Nanali’s behavior, this matter was still quite a big secret—not everyone was supposed to know.

That didn’t matter; he just wanted to vent the suffocating frustration stirred by Rolando... a reality anyone would admit to—his blind mother, his brainless father.

Tsk~ Madmen’s world is really interesting!

After venting a bit of anger in the library and displaying a half-madman’s rational state, Felix decided to stroll in the garden between the library and the Apprentice Tower.

Taro leaves might not taste good, taro flowers might lack flavor, at least they add a bit of color, right?

Dark green is a color too!

Seeing those official apprentices of his age who used to utter some half-true sarcastic remarks at his ear now avoiding him like he’s toxic, Felix suddenly felt that a madman’s life was not bad.

With arms crossed, he sat silently on a remote bench with good visibility yet concealed him well... only visible from the left side... and closed his eyes to ponder: perhaps, that could be his persona going forward?

Anyway, even claiming he’s not mad, probably no one would believe him.

Felix reclined on the bench, contemplating the suitability of being a madman for hundreds of years... regarding living longer, Felix who had a fairly good understanding of his talents dared not think too much.

Hmm?

He suddenly flipped onto his side, leaping behind the bench.

Felix certainly knew there were insects in this world... but high-level apprentices naturally bore magical energy, unless it was a bloodthirsty flying insect that grew from feeding on mage blood, nothing could touch him.

But such insects, the Isolation Array of the Tower of Dark Enigma should hold them at bay.

Felix indeed felt somewhat frightened: was there something he did wrong that was discovered?

Then his panic quickly eased in the familiar yet unfamiliar aura of the insect... unfamiliar because he definitely hasn’t exchanged this magical imprint, yet familiarity came from the aura responding to the most well-known magical imprint from his lineage.

During nights full of tossing and turning after consuming that potion, worrying and fearful, Felix always comforted himself by touching Carpenter’s magical imprint: as long as he hasn’t betrayed the family or harmed Carpenter’s relatives, his cousin would pull him up whenever possible.

At least, wouldn’t let him die quietly.

Felix furrowed his brows, still letting the insect circling around him land on his hand... in this Tower of Dark Enigma, if it was from the same lineage as Carpenter, it might be none other than Archmage Gilbert.

But if the aura harmonized to the extent of complementing each other, it could only be Russell.

When Gilbert suddenly entered a phase of secluded cultivation, Felix heard many murmuring that Russell must have become a mage.

This isn’t unfounded speculation—as everyone knows, to control the Magic Tower’s arrays, one must become an official mage... previously, Gilbert had never taken a student.

But, how quickly has this guy been able to use a level one spell so... proficiently?

Though wanting to claim he couldn’t identify anything initially because he’s only an apprentice and couldn’t see through official spells, Felix suppressed that jealousy-driven bitterness and acknowledged the other’s extraordinary talents.

After all, this was an Illusion Technique.

Generally, mages after progressing wouldn’t start learning Illusion Techniques... even if Russell had the ambition, he’d first learn Prophecy Spells that were more beneficial to his future magic learning.

Even though he hadn’t officially started spell learning yet, Felix knew: level one to three spells truly were like one ring.

And Prophecy Spells are basic for threading this ring, especially Arcane Sensitivity and Appraisal Magic to assess whether an object possesses magical energy.

Appraisal Magic is manageable, it can wait a bit, but Arcane Sensitivity is a must-learn.

After all, this world is certainly quite dangerous.

Meaning Russell probably learned three spells... how long has Gilbert been secluded?

And based on Felix’s knowledge of Russell, that guy always liked Protection Spells, previously self-learned to create protective arrays... tsk, the more he thought the more bitter he felt, he almost didn’t want to read this impeccably fashioned Flying Insect Message!

After a few minutes of silence, climbing up from the ground and surveying the surroundings to ensure no one cared about his seemingly mad appearance,

Felix squeezed his fist, finally dejectedly laying back on the bench, using spiritual power to touch that message: he felt he could hear Russell’s mocking laughter.

Ha!

Thinking Felix wouldn’t figure out why Russell used his magical imprint to send a message?

If Felix wasn’t familiar to the bone with Carpenter’s aura, he absolutely wouldn’t recognize where the message originated.

If that were the case, Russell could straightforwardly inform Carpenter... not needing to overly concern about Felix, who pretty much didn’t care that much about her as a brother!

That boy always... had no noble intentions!