Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2819: Infinite Sustenance Glitch

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Three Mischief Encampment, Limitless Celestial Blood Fate Rule Domain

”Where do you think you’re going?”

The Field Marshal through her starry eyes sensed that the Emissary of Light’s attempt to teleport and reacted instantly. She vanished from atop Lil’Baem’s head and reappeared in a blur, driving her fist through the emissary again and again, punching clean holes through him and disrupting the teleportation mid-cast.

My soul pupils caught it too, but she was faster. It seemed her seclusion training had paid off. Not only had she broken past the limits of the card world, her martial prowess had advanced by leaps and bounds. No wonder the Emissary of Light had been waiting obediently for Karl in the gray mist. She might have completely overpowered him, yet failed to kill him because of his faith-based abilities.

As the Emissary of Light’s body began to heal, the Field Marshal summoned a massive red sword from her grimoire and drove it straight through his skull. The blade carried a vampiric effect. Once lodged into the victim’s flesh, it refused to loosen, tightening its hold as it fed on his blood. His body was forced into a constant cycle of regeneration while his mind remained shattered.

Cruel. But effective. He should have stayed put instead of trying to run.

”We’re killing him,” I said, subtly trying to climb onto Lil’Baem’s head. Each time I got close, she shifted just out of reach, moving her head a foot away as if she could read my intent.

”Huh?” Corey and the Field Marshal stared at me, stunned. They couldn’t understand it. I had forgiven the two who played a part in young Wyatt’s parents’ deaths, even given them a second chance. So why not the Emissary of Light? To them, it made no sense. Then again, most of what I did rarely did.

I didn’t explain myself to the Field Marshal or Corey, but I had my reasons for wanting the Emissary of Light dead. I didn’t understand his faith. Like anyone else, I was wary of what I couldn’t comprehend.

I wonder if with enough faith, he might resist the Primordial Calamity Daughter gem. Worse, he might even use that same faith to seize control of it. I didn’t think it was likely. But I didn’t know. And not knowing was reason enough.

”How do we kill him? According to him, we can’t—so long as even one of his followers still has faith in him.”

The Field Marshal didn’t question my decision. She simply moved on to execution. Unfortunately, that part was complicated. The Emissary of Light wasn’t just powerful, he was effectively immortal.

”How about feeding him to a snake?” I glanced at Lil’Baem, figuring she might enjoy a powerful meal like the Emissary of Light. An immortal being like him would be a feast for her. Lil’Baem bared her fangs the moment our eyes met. Clearly, it was a no.

”I suggested the same,” the Field Marshal said, shaking her head, almost disappointed. ”But Corey wouldn’t agree.”

”Are you two out of your minds?” Corey snapped, glaring at both of us. ”Why do you keep trying to feed her human flesh? She sees me as her mother. That makes it cannibalism. What did she ever do to you two?”

She stood protectively by her baby snake, clearly done entertaining the idea. Once could pass as a joke. Twice might be a lapse. But three times? That was a pattern, and she wasn’t having it.

”Are you sure? Even if Lil’Baem eats him, he won’t die. Which means she’d have a lifetime supply of card demigods, right there in her stomach. Yes, the way you put it, it does edge into borderline cannibalism... but are you really willing to give up an infinite food glitch?”

I knew most of the money Corey earned from trading in the devil merchant code went into feeding Lil’Baem and keeping her hunger in check. If she ever slipped into a frenzy, she wouldn’t hesitate to attack the city. It wasn’t just about keeping her full, either. She needed proper nourishment, and that didn’t come cheap.

She had tried relying on dungeons, but to satisfy Lil’Baem’s appetite and nutritional needs, they had to be SS-rank or higher—and those didn’t come cheap. Not to mention, even if she was willing to pay, there simply weren’t many such dungeons available. And to make things worse most of them were tightly controlled by the Southern royal family, designated as strategic resources.

Because of these expenses, Corey couldn’t even afford a better protection array for her family. She’d had to come to me, almost pleading, just to get the desolate dimension array formation Gideon Grim once used so she could pass it on to them.

I had actually planned to offer Lil’Baem a proper salary. After all, she was indirectly working for me. But Park asked me to hold off unless either Corey or Lil’Baem came forward and asked for fair compensation themselves. She believed it would teach them an important lesson: friendship and business don’t mix.

According to her, Corey had grown complacent, and Lil’Baem had reached the age where she needed to start learning the basics of how any functioning society works.

I couldn’t say I was surprised. Park carried most of the workload. Corey only stepped in when it was time for their side hustle on the devil merchant code or when things got interesting. Before, the burden had been entirely on Park. Now, at least, she had Agony to share it.

Even so, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy. I’d been in her place once. Working with Corey wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

”Fuck you, Wyatt. I didn’t want to bring this up, not with our friendship on the line—but you need to pay Lil’Baem a proper salary. She’s pulled her weight many times over. It’s only fair she gets paid for everything she does for you. Also, don’t you dare bring up the employment contract, I’m your slave not Lil’Baem.”