Warlock Apprentice

“It’s not like you have a good name among people before,” said Angor. “The next time you go there, remove your helmet and let people look at your face. That will free you from random haters, I’m sure.”

“Why’s that?”

“Because sworn knights do not use violence against helpless women and children.”

When Torras would like to question what those words meant, he was interrupted by Sunders’ cold voice from behind.

“This is the soul you found from the dark dimension?”

Angor nodded.

“A decent one indeed. Pure, concentrated soul energy. No signs of proper training, but he surpasses common level-2 apprentices already… Any Soul Manipulator would want such a servant.”

“He used to be a deadly undead. I used my revolver to turn him back. Here, professor,” Angor said as he handed over his research papers regarding Torras’ condition.

Sunders didn’t need to read the papers because he already knew how Angor’s gun worked. He asked to see Torras because Torras was supposedly the first person who used the rumored Mystery item. While it was true that Lucas successfully made some wonderful predictions, he was hardly the “user” of his own skull. It was Torras who got his hands on the skull later and triggered its power.

Sunders asked Torras several questions about the item, hoping to learn something useful.

Angor saw Sunders’ serious attitude and wondered if his professor was aiming to find the item as well.

Sunders nodded. “The others have no clue where to look, whereas we know something they do not. That’s a big advantage. When Maya returns from the Brilliance Plane, I’ll take you back to Brute Cavern and talk to her, by which time we can give it a try.”

The skull was said to be a tactical-level weapon that held unlimited value. Sunders would never deny the fact that he also wished to get it. It might take hundreds of years for the “predictions” to come true, but this was not a problem for wizards who have prolonged lives.

“What does Torras mean, he needs to find someone in Foundation City?”

“Oh. That’s the ‘new project’ I meant to tell you, sir.”

“That’s how you got your right hand to be further affected, I take it?”

Angor nodded. The dream wasteland did involve the blond stranger.

Foundation City… Sunders pondered. Don’t tell me Angor entered the Nightmare Realm all by himself, found a place called “Foundation City”, and ran into the shady individual, which was probably Shava?

“One question then. Which matter do you think is more problematic right now? The missing treasure or this new project of yours?”

“Huh? Well, the missing treasure, probably. After all, the whole world is looking for it.”

Angor thought Sunders meant to ask whether his dream wasteland would affect the wizarding world in any way. For now, he did not foresee any immediate consequence caused by it.

“Why do you need to come all the way to the Abyss?” asked Sunders.

“I… It’s about my previous teacher, sir. He needs help.”

Sunders raised an eyebrow. He once promised to Angor that he would provide assistance for this matter.

“You want me to help him?”

Whether it was saving or killing people for revenge was a trifle in the views of wizards. Sunders truly hoped that Angor only dealt with these insignificant things from now on so that he wouldn’t receive any heart conditions due to too much shock.

Again, he was both disappointed and startled by what Angor said next.

“I still want to cure his illness, sir. But note that Jon’s a little different…”

Different?? Sunders got a bad feeling as his eyelids twitched.

“You see, he came from another world.”

Wait for it… I can take it. I’m ready. Sunders pinched his nose bridge.

“We heard Mister Mara speaking in Barbie’s Restaurant, that Jon is a pure-blooded human, right? It was true. Jon is a human. A human from another world.”

If this was revealed to the public, they would be upsetting both the Supreme Cult and a whole bunch of wizards who always believed that humans were only native in the wizarding world.

Sunders felt his breaths becoming rapid again.

He should have known. Talking to Angor was like riding a roller coaster that reached all the way to heaven but without a brake.

And people had been believing that he found a very modest student…

“Do you know what will happen if another soul hears about this?”

“Yes. I think.”

“Wizards who value practical experiences like me will be fine with it. But academism wizards who see their books as their absolute gods and Karabits who are all crazy about biological research will have you devastated when trying to get their hands on that teacher of yours! And even I can’t shield you from them. Do NOT tell it to anyone, for any reason you may have!”

“But… A wizard, I mean, two of them, already knew.”

Sunders threw his hands in the air. Again, he wanted to simply get out of here and leave the young man in front of him to fate.

Slowly, Angor explained what happened at his home, using illusions, including the stances of Thewis and Eureka, and Jon’s current state.

“How in the world did you get Goman King’s national treasure into the mess…” Sunders facepalmed.

Though this was almost nothing compared to what Angor had been stirring up.

“… I cannot tell you whether I can revive Jon for sure without seeing him first. But I’ll try.”

Sunders would do his best, both because Jon was Angor’s dear teacher and that Jon was a precious “specimen”.

“If what you said is all true, Thewis and Eureka are busy enough keeping themselves away from trouble. But that will change sooner or later. I’ll find time and talk to them.”

Angor released a long breath of relief. Getting Sunders to cure Jon’s condition was his most important task for coming to the Abyss. It seemed he was not disappointed.

Next, Angor wanted to tell Sunders more about the dream wasteland. But Sunders stopped him.

“Hold on. Someone’s looking for me.”

Sunders took them out of the Gravity Garden, asked Angor to wait in his room, and left.

It was Kanter outside, who brought a message for Sunders.

“Sennefer asked to see you. It seemed the Demon Castle next door is unnaturally increasing its defenses.”

Sunders frowned. “Did our target decide to pass through here?”

“It’s hard to tell. But it’s an important sign. As we feared, the Overwatch Base might be the true ‘front line’ of the coming war.”

The “target” they mentioned referred to the descendant of a certain Grand Demon. According to a piece of prophecy, this “target” would recently travel past level 3, and Monkey’s plan was to capture it.

However, there were many tunnels at level 3 used for traveling to other levels. This was why wizards have established eight forward operation bases all over level 3.

As they believed, the Demon Castle couldn’t have shown signs of big activities without a reason. If the demons were tightening their defense, they were probably welcoming an important figure. Of course, the “target” was such an important figure.

Sunders silently cursed the untimely event.

“Samantha already went to level 4 on a scouting mission. Sennefer meant to gather up the best fighters in the base,” said Kanter.

“I’ll be there right away.” Sunders nodded. “By the way, where is Dura right now?”