The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

”It’s a deal!”

Zack Antuun let out a breath, snatching the Wizard Card and Wizard’s Ring into his hand.

’Keeping your back straight all the time is exhausting. Sometimes you have to bend a little, just to rest, so you can keep it straight for even longer.’

He thought there was a lot of truth to that saying.

’Worst case, I’ll just ignore Wang Ya Harak next time. He can’t possibly trick me again.’

.....

「Maple Forest.」

A figure in a black Wizard Robe walked along a small stone path. In his hand, he held a sphere that was entirely black and covered in all sorts of strange Spells. A faint white luster coated its outer surface, seeming to resonate with Wang Ya himself.

For some unknown reason, the Black Core was acting strangely today. Through his Eye of Truth, he could see the Black Souls within had begun to run rampant, slaughtering and devouring one another.

As time passed, countless Black Souls were devoured by more powerful ones, causing the strength of the individuals to increase at a startling rate. But this wasn’t what Wang Ya wanted. He needed to use his Eye of Truth to analyze how the Black Core could aid his Dream Infinite Genome.

’Perhaps Rilis is up to something, trying to make the Black Core even more dangerous. That way, when I unseal it, I’ll have to face the most savage Black Souls imaginable.’

A smirk played on his lips. ’But I’m afraid she’s in for a disappointment.’

The Illusory Dream Wizard’s figure materialized on Heart Dream Island. As usual, he was sitting in his chair, sipping afternoon tea.

’Though I have no idea how he manages to drink tea while wearing a mask.’

Wang Ya greeted the Illusory Dream Wizard as he always did and brought some New Year’s gifts with him.

He placed a gift on the table—a wooden box, decorated with paint and tied with a ribbon.

”Teacher, it’s been a while.”

”It seems you’ve brought trouble with you again.”

The Illusory Dream Wizard had, of course, noticed the Black Core in his hand. The expression beneath his Wooden Mask was one of weary resignation.

’This boy certainly knows how to take advantage of the opportunities given to him.’

But for the gift’s sake, he would let it slide this time.

’As for whether there’ll be a next time... we’ll see.’

The Illusory Dream Wizard tapped a finger lightly on the table. The Black Core floated from Wang Ya’s hand to hover above the tabletop. Under the control of an invisible force, the outer layer of the seal—the Dream Power—was instantly shattered.

The next moment, a flood of Black Spells gushed out like a tide. Inky splashes mixed with countless Spells shot out, carrying an ominous, evil aura.

’This must be one of the tricks Rilis prepared.’

Inside, the process of the Black Souls devouring one another wasn’t over yet. Sensing the Witchcraft Seal was broken and freedom was just outside, they madly and greedily tried to squeeze their way out of the Black Core.

See it, eat it. They were so, so hungry!

Then they saw Wang Ya Harak and, opposite him, the figure in the Yellow Wizard Robe and Wooden Mask.

With their minds already corrupted and their emotions twisted, they pounced without a second thought, clouds of black smoke billowing out to envelop the entire table.

A flash of pity appeared in Wang Ya’s eyes. ’These things have no idea what they’re up against.’ Even the Black Spells that existed within the Black Core began to shrink back into it as if in fear.

One of the Black Souls, humanoid in form and incredibly tall, would have been a muscular giant over two meters tall among humans. Its Soul Power was also the strongest.

It took the initiative and charged toward the Illusory Dream Wizard. It hovered in the air, brandishing its fists menacingly before smashing them down.

’So brave,’ Wang Ya remarked internally.

The next instant, an icy aura coiled around the scattered Black Souls. They froze solid, unable to move. Even the ones suspended in midair were no exception.

The Illusory Dream Wizard’s figure suddenly began to flicker, shifting in and out of sight as if he had grasped some unknown, nearly imperceptible vibration.

Only another Dream Wizard who had reached an extremely profound level on the same illusory plane would be able to perceive and capture it.

Curse Witchcraft, Soul Witchcraft—no matter how they varied, they all stemmed from the same root and were inextricably linked to Extraordinary Spiritual Power and the Conscious Dream Realm.

By the same token, a Black Wizard could more easily detect a Dream Wizard’s methods.

This was why a calmed-down Rilis had been able to break through Wang Ya’s Illusion Demon Domain so quickly.

And deep within the Soul Body of the largest Black Soul, inside its Soul Core, one of Rilis’s eyes was observing everything.

This wasn’t a real eye, of course, but an application of some form of Curse Witchcraft. It even possessed a special Ability: staring at a target for more than five seconds allowed her to cast a Curse Witchcraft using the dark Spells within the Black Core as a medium.

The victim’s fate was a miserable one: their entire body would rot away over three agonizing days until they died.

Rilis’s hatred for Wang Ya Harak far exceeded such a simple curse.

She saw Wang Ya’s figure appear, which proved he had undone the Witchcraft Seal.

This thrilled her. Just as she fixed her gaze on his figure, preparing to cast the Curse Witchcraft... she realized that at some point, Wang Ya Harak in his black Wizard Robe had transformed into a figure wearing a Yellow Wizard Robe.

He wore a painted Wooden Mask, somewhat similar to the Red Face Mask that Wang Ya wore.

She loathed masks.

”Little one from the Natural Ring Tower, you seem to be harboring some discontent.”

Rilis’s face instantly stiffened. She stared at the figure in the Yellow Wizard Robe as if she had just seen a ghost.

’You’ve got to be kidding me...’ But she knew she hadn’t misheard. He had spoken. That person was speaking directly to her.

She could even feel his gaze fixed upon her.

’This is the unique perspective from my Curse Witchcraft! How could someone possibly talk to me through it? This has never happened before!’

DRIP!

Wherever her real body was, a drop of cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

A chill shot down Rilis’s spine.

”Aah!”

She screamed, frantically severing the visual link—even going so far as to gouge out her own right eye.

It was the very same eye that had been inside the core of the Black Soul.

’An eye can be replaced at any time, but if I lose my life, then everything is truly gone.’

’What a fucking joke!’

’An Official Wizard! He has to be an Official Wizard... That bastard, Wang Ya Harak! He actually gave my Black Core to an Official Wizard!’

In the face of such a being, the methods she took so much pride in—her uncanny Curse Witchcraft—were nothing more than children’s tricks.

He could see right through her with a single glance, and she was in real danger of dying.

This meant her Black Core was well and truly gone for good.

”Wang Ya Harak, I hate you! I will kill you!” Somewhere in a primeval mountain forest, Rilis frantically tore at her robes, venting her fury. She didn’t care in the slightest that she was exposing her fair skin, revealing tantalizing glimpses of her body.

Her eyes were filled with grief, indignation, and humiliation. She pressed her right hand to her heart, as if she could still feel the phantom pain of being run through.

She, the great Natural Spirit, a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice! When had she ever suffered such a humiliating defeat, especially at the hands of a mere Level 2 Wizard Apprentice?

If word of this got back, she feared every Wizard in the entire Natural Ring Tower would laugh at her.

On top of her mission failure, it was even possible that her status as a Natural Spirit would be revoked.

She would never allow that to happen.

’The only option I have left is *that* plan.’

Rilis’s eyes turned cold. Her plan was to spread the word of Wang Ya Harak’s power, his cunning, and the threat he posed to the Natural Ring Tower.

She would destroy Wang Ya Harak by building him up.

’A Level 2 Wizard Apprentice who can face a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice head-on and win.’

’A monster like that will probably give those big shots a few sleepless nights.’

’If I do that, my own problems will seem much smaller. All the attention will be focused on Wang Ya Harak.’

’At the very least, I’ll be able to keep my title as a Natural Spirit.’

”I’ll get my revenge for this sooner or later, Wang Ya Harak. You just wait.”

”You’d better not leave the Dark Land for the rest of your life...” Rilis bit her lip, drawing blood.

.....

PS: I need to rest for a bit, going to take a nap. The next Chapter will probably be up around four or five. I’m already at eight thousand characters for the day.