Kobold Wizard's Journal

Chapter 191 Agreement and Bloodline

Ruger had been speculating about the woman's identity, and the first person he thought of was old Lenther's former lover. Perhaps old Lenther was a handsome young man before he became a dog-headed creature. Moreover, wizards' aesthetic standards are often more powerful than their magic, so even if old Lenther was a dog-headed creature a long time ago, anything is possible.

The old staircase, which usually creaked and groaned, was unusually silent thanks to Ruger's lightness technique.

He listened intently the whole way, but heard no conversation.

Old Lenser was sitting quietly alone at the dining table on the third floor, with a prepared dinner laid out on the table, as if waiting for him.

Actually, we should have finished eating by this time normally.

He came down a little late.

Old Lenser, lost in thought, noticed his arrival and raised his large dog head.

"My clever and brave nephew, come and try your uncle's cooking."

Old Lenser greeted him warmly, even though just two days ago the two of them had made a bet about who would be in charge of the meals, and even tossed Sun Coins to guess heads or tails.

As Ruger walked toward the dining table, he pricked up his ears and looked around furtively.

Old Lenser finally couldn't help but roll his eyes.

When Ruger sat down, he raised his glass.

“This toast is to my beloved nephew,” said old Lenser.

The two clinked glasses, drank it all in one gulp, and then began to feast on their food.

The flavor and richness have inevitably declined, but it's still passable, Luger thought.

His undisguised expression while tasting the food naturally did not escape old Lenser's notice.

In fact, some ordinary wizards who are not bloodline modifiers, or even a few individuals with special bloodlines, who don't have a strong need for food, may even choose to take a life-sustaining potion on a daily basis. After taking the potion, they can eat only one meal every few dozen days without any problems, allowing them to concentrate more on their spellcasting and experiments. On the other hand, some higher-level wizards don't do this. As they travel further on the path of transcendence, food becomes one of the few ordinary pleasures, and it's not just a simple pleasure, but also a form of recognition and status.

Seeing Ruger's expression, Old Lenser began to eat while talking about things related to food in the wizarding world.

This is also Luger's favorite time, as it's both fun and educational.

“Actually, you should still remember one of the clauses in the contract,” Old Lunser said, then changed the subject.

"Are you going to insist that he is your nephew?"

Ruger kept stuffing meat into his mouth. Those satiating potions were for anyone who wanted to eat them. The key to learning was to balance work and rest. How could he force himself to give up eating? Besides, although he wasn't a bloodline modifier, for a dragonborn kobold, those potions would probably require several bottles at a time, and might even hinder physical growth.

“It’s the one after that, and of course this one is also very important…” Old Lunsel put down his cutlery and picked up his wine glass again.

"You must not deliberately cause trouble for the other party?" Ruger asked.

Old Lenser nodded.

“What I’m saying is that you did very well back in Bloodfortress, so I, old Lunther, won’t be any worse. Even without this, I won’t cause you any trouble. Just keep focusing on your own work and don’t worry about today,” old Lunther said. “Just remember, you are my nephew.”

As Ruger ate, he glanced at old Lenser. He was confident that Lenser had witnessed his thirst for knowledge over the past few days, so there was no need for him to press him further. The old dog would inevitably say something more, and it would be difficult to appease him without revealing some valuable information.

“I have an agreement with certain people…” Old Lunser said carefully.

"The beautiful lady from earlier in the day?"

Ruger began to slurp the soup down with a spoon. Old Lenser nodded.

“My situation is rather special. I am a bloodline wizard, a bloodline modifier, but not a pure bloodline modifier. Of course, it may not be considered too special, after all, there are all kinds of people in the City of Burning Blood,” Old Lunser said.

The old man's meticulousness in describing problems has struck again, Ruger thought.

“In the agreement, if I have offspring that need to be nurtured, the agreement can be extended. In general, you are just a way for me to buy time. It’s a relatively friendly agreement, so you won’t be in danger,” Old Lunser said. “Like most bloodline wizards here, I am also preparing to resolve my bloodline issue, and the agreement is related to that.”

Old Lenser continued, "If I can resolve my own problem before the agreed time arrives, then everything will no longer be a problem. But if I fail, I will have to leave here and, as agreed, have the other party help me resolve this fatal bloodline problem."

"Can the other side successfully resolve this?" Luger asked.

"If nothing unexpected happens, it is very likely to succeed," said old Lunsser.

Ruger understood that this meant there was a 99% chance of success, but he was still very doubtful.

“If it can be successful, why not go with the person you agreed to meet?” Ruger asked.

In this City of Burning Blood, this is something countless people dream of. First, it can save their lives, and then they can try to take another step on the path to transcendence. Countless bloodline modifiers rack their brains here, year after year, trying to solve their own bloodline problems.

“Our agreement was to start from the day I arrived in the City of Burning Blood, for a period of one hundred years, with a limit of one hundred years,” old Lunser said. “I’ve been here for over seventy years, almost eighty. I know her; she’s always in a hurry. So I guessed she might arrive before ninety years, but it’s earlier than I expected, less than eighty years. Luckily, you’re here. I hadn’t originally planned to find myself a nephew so early. It was just because of that disgusting joke from that guy next door, Nuondo, that I found one on a whim. I never thought it would come in handy…”

“As for why I don’t go with her, that’s naturally due to my own calculations and confidence. I’ve been preparing for this for seventy years! I’m sure I can succeed,” Old Lunser said. “Because if I fail, I’ll have to go with her. Let me tell you a little more. If I choose to resolve my bloodline problem that way, I’ll be trapped there. That’s also part of the agreement, and it’s also the way to resolve my bloodline collapse. I might have to stay there for thousands or even tens of thousands of years… There’s not even anyone to talk to there.”

Looking at old Lenser's rolling eyes and his pursed mouth, Ruger could easily imagine how old Lenser must have been trapped in that kind of place, enduring loneliness.

However, it sounds like Old Lunser's strength will improve significantly after the bloodline issue is resolved; otherwise, even with a special bloodline, he wouldn't be able to live for thousands or tens of thousands of years.

"So, the one who made the pact just believed it?" Ruger pointed to himself, then to old Lunser.

“No need to worry, I can’t lie to them. She knows that, so she easily believed me. Hehe, but I figured that out twenty years ago,” old Lunsser said smugly.

Ruger looked at old Lunser, who was chuckling, and thought, "So that gentle and quiet lady isn't old Lunser's old lover?"
The sounds of fighting could still be heard from time to time outside, but the uncle and nephew were used to it.

In the past few days, some of those who went to Blood Fortress to collect treasures have cleverly returned at night. This has led to other people, who also think themselves clever, raiding at night. However, these raids are usually conducted outside the city, with only a very few reckless individuals escalating the situation inside. Although this place is generally uninvolved and unregulated, it is teeming with wizard apprentices, and accidentally provoking anyone can be a troublesome affair.

Ruger and old Lunser were not worried at all. Ever since the old wizard of Bloodfortress forced them out last time, a statue flew out of this alley and no one dared to cause trouble here. Even the customers who came to buy goods were polite and dared not make a fuss when selecting goods.

Sure enough, the sounds of fighting that had been coming from afar suddenly stopped as they approached.

"Those guys probably see this area as a good place to shake off their pursuers in a desperate situation," Ruger thought.

“My dear uncle, as your closest nephew, I should at least know something about your modified bloodline to make it seem more real, right?” Ruger said.

This is something he's always wanted to know.

“Hmph, prying into other people’s solidified spells and bloodline modifications is considered a serious offense. Don’t do such a stupid thing in the future, or people will hold a grudge,” Old Lunser said. “However, it’s normal for relatives to know a little bit. My bloodline isn’t afraid of being targeted by others because most people have never seen it.”

Since Old Doghead can say that, then basically no one has ever seen this thing, Luger thought.

Old Lunser lowered his voice mysteriously and said, "The main body is a strange creature from outside this world, a Nightmare Hound! Of course, my bloodline is not this, but a kind of demon hound that has been fused and modified with it and extraordinary creatures from this world. It is a truly unique bloodline."

One of a kind? One of a kind for over a hundred years and still only a level five wizard apprentice? Ruger thought to himself.

Moreover, Luger recalled that he could occasionally sense a hint of demonic energy in old Lenser when he was in a bad state. In that case, his uniqueness was quite mixed. Conversely, as long as it was mixed enough, it would inevitably be unique.

(End of this chapter)