Warlock Apprentice

Since coming to the Demonic Fiend Laboratory, Labu had always stayed by Kolares’ side, diligently learning how to be a researcher.

In Labu’s plans for the future, even if he couldn’t become a Demon Hunter, he still wanted to become an outstanding researcher, standing on the frontlines of the fight against Demonic Fiends. This wasn’t just a matter of righteousness—for Labu, it was a responsibility. A responsibility to protect Originheart City, and to protect his dearest younger brother.

Thus, Labu kept forging ahead on the path to becoming a researcher.

However, what he didn’t expect was that just when he thought he was drawing closer to the position of researcher, fate suddenly threw him a sharp curve.

”...That’s how it is. You can take today to clear your mind. Tomorrow, we’ll take you to undergo the Inheritance Ceremony,” Frode said to Labu.

Although Frode had explained the situation to Labu in great detail, Labu still couldn’t quite wrap his head around it. To have him accept the World Will’s inheritance and gain the ability to guide the Demon Hunters’ path forward?

What even was the World Will? And what was this ability? Labu’s mind was in a daze. He wanted to ask Frode more questions, but the answers he received were vague and ambiguous.

Having said his piece, Frode prepared to leave. When he reached the door, Labu called out to him again.

”Lord Tyson... why, why...” Labu’s eyes were filled with confusion. ”Why me?”

”I would like to know as well why the World Will chose you,” Frode replied before turning to leave the room. As his footsteps faded into the distance, his figure gradually disappeared.

Inside the room, Labu remained in a state of doubt and bewilderment. He had originally thought his future was clear and mapped out, but now, it all seemed shrouded in Mist once more.

He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before his mentor, the always-caring researcher Kolares, walked into the room. ”Oh? You’re not busy analyzing data? What a rare sight to see you slacking,” Kolares quipped.

Labu looked up at Kolares in confusion. ”I don’t know what I’m supposed to do anymore...”

Kolares cast a puzzled glance at Labu. ”What’s wrong?”

After a moment of hesitation, Labu recounted Frode’s words. However, he didn’t share any specific details, only vaguely expressing his inner turmoil.

After hearing this, Kolares adjusted his glasses, his face showing a hint of perplexity. ”It doesn’t sound like a big deal to me. It’s just a change of role, that’s all. You’re still on the frontlines against the Demonic Fiends, and you’re still protecting those who matter most to you. So what’s there to worry about?”

”I used to be a recorder for the Demonic Fiend experiments. Now I’m being reassigned as an experimental researcher. Isn’t it essentially the same thing?”

After hearing Kolares’ perspective, Labu lowered his head without saying a word. Yet, behind the fringe of his bangs, his once-confused eyes seemed to gradually clear and sharpen...

Night had fallen. Angel stood atop the Sky Tower, gazing down at Originheart City. The city below was now illuminated by the soft glow of lights, and the streets had grown much quieter.

Before the Authority of Celestial Alternation was instated, Originheart City’s residents had their rest periods, but their schedules were erratic. Now, with the regular shift between day and night, people’s biological rhythms seemed to have returned to their old ways: working at dawn and returning home to rest at night.

Watching this scene, Angel’s emotions were complex. Originally, he had created the Wilderness of Dreams as a fallback plan for Jon, yet somehow, the Wilderness of Dreams now seemed increasingly like a real world. This unintentional success was a strangely unique experience.

Angel couldn’t quite describe what it felt like to be a creator in this seemingly godlike way. Yet he had an inkling that this experience would bring endless benefits to the path he would tread in the future.

While Angel silently observed the nightscape of Originheart City, a sound came from behind him—the opening of a door.

Frode stepped onto the open terrace, having opened the door to the balcony.

”You’ve already spoken to Labu?” Angel asked without turning around.

”Yes.” Frode shared the details of his conversation with Labu.

Angel nodded after listening. He had instructed Frode to present the granting of Authority as an Inheritance Ceremony and to attribute the source of the inheritance to the World Will—all in order to diminish Angel’s own presence. In the Wilderness of Dreams, Angel could play the role of an absolute god, but aside from feeding his vanity, this position brought little else. Rather than being thrust into the spotlight, he preferred to remain in the shadows and quietly observe.

After finishing the conversation about Labu, the moon had already climbed to its zenith.

Angel’s third day spent accompanying Toby had also come to an end. While his own progress that day had been modest, Toby had achieved good results.

Like yesterday, Toby had only defeated the Extreme Resentment Thoughts four times. However, today, Toby only entered the House of the Heart five times and failed once, so his success rate had improved yet again.

According to Toby, that single failure was merely due to over-eagerness and carelessness. He was confident that tomorrow, he wouldn’t fail even once.

With this hopeful belief, the fourth day arrived.

Angel remained in the Wilderness of Dreams. While Toby began his trial in the House of the Heart, Angel turned his attention to Labu’s ”Inheritance Ceremony.”

The ceremony was held in the puppet theater of Originheart City.

Originally, the puppet theater in Waterford was a venue mainly for puppetry performances. Back when Angel was experimenting with the Dream Conch, he had accidentally pulled the theater into the Wilderness of Dreams. Since there were no puppeteers or puppet-makers, the theater had been left unused.

Later, after the Sin Hunting Group was established, the unused puppet theater was repurposed as the group’s headquarters to avoid wasting space.

When Frode brought Labu to the puppet theater, a number of people were already present, including Sir Sabel, who had already undergone Fusion with a Demonic Fiend, Sheriff Tullas, City Lord Monroe, and other members who had passed the Sin Hunting Group’s preliminary selection, as well as researchers from the Demonic Fiend Laboratory.

If Labu were to gain the Authority of the Mist of Sin, his abilities would be tightly aligned with the Sin Hunting Group, making it impossible to conceal. Thus, having these people witness this pivotal ceremony in advance was seen as a necessary move.

Everyone gathered in the outer circle, leaving only Frode and Labu to walk along a candle-lit carpet straight toward the altar in the center.

The altar had originally been the mechanical stage of the puppet theater, but it had been temporarily transformed into a ceremonial platform for the Inheritance Ceremony.

Under the gazes of everyone present, Labu did not appear flustered. His eyes were filled with determination as he approached the base of the altar. Frode stopped and pointed to the towering altar. ”From here on, the path is yours alone to walk.”

On the surface, this statement simply meant Labu would ascend the altar by himself. But everyone knew it held a much deeper meaning.

Choosing to ascend the altar was equivalent to choosing to inherit the Authority of the Mist of Sin, as well as taking on an immense responsibility.

This path was likely to be a lonely one, one that might not be understood by others, a road that only he could walk alone.

Once he made this decision, there would be no turning back.

Labu closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. When he opened them again, his eyes shone with divine clarity. Before him seemed to appear the image of his brother Lado, and... Shanni’s gentle smile.

Labu’s gaze grew firmer. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, ascending the altar one step at a time until he reached its highest point.