Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

”Of course, I know. Isn’t that what makes it truly interesting?” Anenep let out a clattering laugh. ”It’d be best if the source’s Origin Power is infinitely strong. We just need to eliminate its will, right?”

”...You’re far more ruthless than I am.”

BUZZ... BUZZ... BUZZ...

At that moment, a black trophy in a corner of the laboratory began to ring.

”Who would dare contact us at a time like this? Let me see which bastard wants to become a test subject...”

Anenep pressed the communicator’s button. Light and shadow flickered, and a skull—not identical to theirs, but made of the same material—appeared.

”Tsk.” Anenep looked at the head, seemingly disappointed at losing an opportunity for a free test subject. He sighed. ”Boras, it’s your good student, Josue. He’s looking for you.”

Boras had also noticed the caller. He walked calmly to the communicator and waited silently for the other party to speak.

”Teacher,” Josue said, unaware that he had just skirted the edge of death. Looking at the two Skeleton Mages on the screen, he bowed respectfully. ”I have good news to report to you.”

”Speak.”

”Anomaly 337 has agreed to join our Feng Enliso Research Center.”

A flicker of interest entered Boras’s tone. ”And his research project?”

”The fusion and modification of undead and machinery. It isn’t in the field of runes, which you were hoping for.”

”Did he offer any improvements for the Corpse Explosion Skill and Blink Spell?”

Josue hesitated for a moment before answering truthfully, ”No.”

’He knew his teacher’s temperament well,’ Josue thought. ’He had a deep fixation on anything new and unknown, and Wei’en’s Magic happened to be both.’

”You didn’t tell him a Legendary Wizard has taken an interest?”

”Well, no.” The red glow in Josue’s eye sockets dimmed slightly as he tried to cover for Wei’en. ”As you know, he’s just an anomalous Wizard who has only recently reached this rank. He still has a long way to go before becoming a Legend...”

”He’s an Intermediate Mage.”

”What?”

Boras said coolly, ”He has already been promoted to Intermediate Mage. I believe Advanced Mage won’t be far off.”

Josue cursed inwardly. ’A careless mistake.’ He hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. ”Teacher, I still think we should let him acclimate for a while first. As you know, he comes from a background as a low-level Intelligence Officer. He doesn’t have a strong sense of belonging with us Specters.”

”Oh?” Boras tilted his head, seeming somewhat surprised. ”Are you worried I’ll turn him into research material?”

”This...”

”Boras, it seems even your student knows what an awful personality you have. Gahaha!” Anenep, enjoying the show from the sidelines, waved his two crystalline hands to fan the flames.

”His situation is rather special,” Boras said, unmoved. He looked at Josue, whose head was bowed in silence, and explained coolly, ”The last time he was promoted to Wizard, the Ice Castle failed to detect any data from him.”

”Huh? What?”

Anenep and Josue were both stunned. ”Then why...”

”It’s an inference based on the Knowledge Scrolls he redeemed,” Boras’s tone softened slightly, but grew more serious. ”You should both be aware that this is the first such case since the monitoring system was established at the start of the New Era.”

”Is the reason for it known?”

”Not at the moment. However, I speculate that he’s hiding some secrets—the kind he most likely doesn’t want us to discover.”

Josue opened his mouth, wanting to speak up for Wei’en, but seeing the grim expression on his teacher’s face, he ultimately decided to keep quiet.

Anenep rubbed his skull, clucking his tongue in wonder. ”Compared to the other anomalies, this one is clearly off the charts.”

”That’s why I was hoping he would return to us Specters. With us here, we would have countermeasures for whatever is causing his abnormality. But now...”

At this, Boras shook his head and made his decision. ”Since things are as they are, strengthen our contact with him. Provide him with all support at the level of a Great Mage.”

”A Great Mage?”

”I don’t want to repeat myself.”

”Yes, Teacher!”

Josue hadn’t expected such a turn of events. He thought his teacher would forcibly demand Wei’en return to the Northern Continent; this was the best possible outcome.

”Also,” Boras added after a few seconds of thought, ”assign Teresa to his research institute. I want to observe him a while longer.”

”Teresa?”

Josue was startled. ’But isn’t she the one who...’

”Just do as I say. You can handle the arrangements for the other personnel.”

”I understand, Teacher. I...”

Before he could finish, Boras cut the connection and turned back to his equipment.

Anenep asked with a wry smile, ”So willing to part with her? Teresa is your favorite student, isn’t she? Didn’t you always want her to be your assistant?”

Boras ignored him, waving his hand to summon a new Werewolf. ”Continue the experiment.”

Anenep ground his teeth, completely exasperated with this senior who had reached the Legendary rank before him.

”...You’d better not be planning anything nasty.”

「Meanwhile」

Josue, who was in the Feng Enliso Mountain Range, had a faint look of confusion on his skeletal face, which should have been expressionless. He couldn’t figure out the intention behind the Boras Legend’s arrangement.

’Teresa... She is no obedient Wizard...’

’Ah, forget it. At least we successfully got Wei’en Mage to join the Research Center. I’m sure with his abilities, he can handle these minor issues.’

Josue roused his Spirit, then rushed out in a hurry. He still had to prepare things for Wei’en Mage: personnel, equipment, materials, a location—not a single thing could be overlooked!

...

...

「At the same time」

Wei’en was unaware of the events that had transpired after he agreed to join the Feng Enliso Research Center. He was currently looking over a piece of parchment.

”The Intermediate Mage stage is also one of accumulation. After becoming familiar with one’s magical and innate abilities, one must use their current knowledge as a core to continue expanding their knowledge base and further strengthen their power.”