Kobold Wizard's Journal

Chapter 218 The Answer and the Desire

Ruger imagined that the person in the book, upon seeing the ruins where a wizard had lived, would abandon his centuries-old beliefs.

If it were a fictional adventure novel, the person might have explored ruins and found treasure. But judging from Raiden's tone, it wasn't a novel meant for amusement; it was the life and perseverance of a wizard. This wizard might have traveled in some kind of alchemical flying machine, and perhaps spent most of his journey in uninhabited seas, persisting for a thousand years only to discover traces of another wizard's past. This might seem ridiculous, but Ruger believed that wasn't the main reason he gave up.

If someone else has already done it, there's absolutely no problem doing it again yourself.

Ruger believed that there was another, more discouraging situation: the answer might have already existed, such as the Supreme Council. The wizard recorded in the book who attempted to explore the Endless Sea was certainly a person above the level of a formal wizard, but had not yet reached the level of a true powerhouse.

Many things, including life on Earth, which Ruger has always been concerned about, and even what he talked about with old Lenser—whether this world is a junkyard or a prison for so-called sinners—may have definite answers in the eyes of truly high-level beings.

As Vito said, becoming a wizard must have a purpose that one has already realized or is not yet aware of. As a person who grows up and lives in this world, knowing the truth of this world can be considered a goal, and also a reasonable and inevitable instinctive desire.

Perhaps that wizard had thought the same way, but the truth of the world was too lofty and vast, and he didn't know where to begin. So he looked up at the sea in front of him, set sail, and enjoyed the solitude along the way. He meditated and cultivated in his alchemical flying device while searching for the end of the endless sea.

The night is deep.

Ruger poured himself another cup of tea. He felt that he could accept something he couldn't enjoy immediately once he learned to appreciate it.

Of course, if he had to choose, he would still choose fruit tea.

He pretended to blow on the cup, then took a sip, even though he wasn't afraid of it being too hot to drink.

He savored the taste while glancing at Vito.

Since discussing magic, Vito has become more at ease, sitting there and openly using the Ear Planting spell. He had arrived here a few days earlier than Ruger and the other two, and it seems he had been wandering in the mountains and forests, planting a large number of artificial ears around the rabbit's house.

But Ruger still couldn't understand why someone seeking revenge against a dark wizard would solidify such a spell. This not only weakened him during his wizarding apprenticeship but also slowed his progress towards becoming a full-fledged wizard. Vito was an intelligent man, and precisely because of this, Ruger was even more curious—not just about Vito's situation, but also about why doing so would bring such powerful gains. Yes, powerful gains; Ruger was convinced that this choice inevitably led to a powerful future.

The three chatted idly for a while, and then took turns resting.

Leiden chose to take a nap, and even brewed some tea before going to sleep. When it was Ruger's turn, he chose to close his eyes and meditate, as did Vito.

The three of them didn't rest for long, and it was still dark when they finished, all to maintain a good state of mind.

Wizard apprentices don't get tired easily unless they use their brains a lot or cast spells; they can go for days without sleep without any problem.

creak-

The sky, which was originally dark, turned into daylight in an instant with the sound of the door hinges turning.

Ruger looked up.

“Looks like it had insomnia tonight, or at least didn’t sleep very well,” Vito said, noticing the looks on the faces of the two beside him. “It’s Tuzel, that big rabbit. The end of night and day here is determined by its sleep. It’s a strange and perverse quirk of that wizard from back then, so everyone in this rift knows whether the rabbit is asleep or not…”

“I suspect there must have been many interesting stories between them back then,” Ruger said.

The two laughed at this, and Leiden raised his hand to adjust the campfire.

Seeing him adjust the campfire, Ruger immediately stood up and stretched, a signal that he was about to leave. Raden always did this when he was about to leave but didn't want to extinguish the fire; Ruger had seen it many times and recognized his habitual way of handling the fire. The "departure," of course, meant going to investigate the rabbit hut.

Even though Vito was very friendly and they got along very well, the two of them still wanted to see for themselves if they could.

Vito didn't take it seriously.

The three quickly arrived at the edge of the woods, where the house in the clearing was indeed open.

But there was no sign of the rabbit.

"It's usually eating around this time. In the past, wizard apprentices gave it many seeds to please it. It successfully planted some things with a spiritual aura in the house using well water as food. Although it doesn't die even if it doesn't eat... Of course, that was when it could still use its power to influence the selection. Now, no apprentices would bother with it anymore..." Vito said with a smile in a low voice.

This guy eavesdrops here every day; aside from some particularly secretive matters, he's probably trying to become the person who knows the most about rabbits.

Ruger suspected that the guy had left the fake ear beforehand at their campfire.

He must have overheard his conversation with Leiden and realized they were also unexpected guests, which is why he ran over with such a delighted expression. Furthermore, he had anticipated that his spells, which he used in front of the two of them, would eventually be exposed. By proactively revealing that it was a solidification spell, he could provide a plausible explanation and gain more trust.

"Squeak!"

The magical pet poked its head out from the side and let out a soft cry.

"Don't stray too far from me, don't wander off, go a little deeper than usual," Luger said to Squeak at his feet.

"squeak!"

With a squeak, it shrank back underground and disappeared.

Ruger had already noticed that there were quite a few wizard apprentices nearby.

Rabbit Tuzel carried a wooden object under its arm to the outside and unfolded it into a recliner. Seemingly unaware of its surroundings, it lay down casually, put its hands under its head, and began to close its eyes and doze off.

Ruger suddenly found it very interesting. All around were trees, but many wizard apprentices were hiding there, all quietly watching a strange rabbit sleep, and no one was leaving on their own.

During the night shift, he asked Vito, and it seemed that even though several powerful wizard apprentices with great reputations had arrived, and many people had already received the news or were deliberately spreading it, they hadn't managed to scare anyone away.

"what!"

The rabbit yawned and stretched.

"How boring! I couldn't stop you from barging into my house, so you all underestimate me, Tuzel. I'm your great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather..." The strange rabbit leaped up from the recliner, inexplicably enraged, and threw the chair away. He continued, "I really can't stop you anymore, but... if I'm willing to sacrifice a little, just a tiny bit, I can get someone in ahead of time! At least one person!"

"So, is there anyone who wants to make a deal with me? Stand by that well in advance and wait for that stupid well to light up. All you have to do is give up one chance to ask a question and ask me that one short question."

Rabbit Tuzel opened his mouth, pried open the teeth with both hands, and then struggled to pull them out from the root of his teeth until his eyes turned red. A golden key was finally pulled out.

(End of this chapter)