Kobold Wizard's Journal

Chapter 398 Similarities and Differences

If the death of a world takes all the beings born in that world with it to their predetermined fate, then even if one survives through their own strength and the favor of the underground world, it is merely a matter of prolonging life. Thus, the definition of death would be quite peculiar: the death of a world.

Ruger thought that some things that were weak enough, or that didn't have much consciousness, might actually survive after falling into the underground world. After all, a burial or a corpse needs something to be there, like flowers and plants on the rocks.

So what is this deathly bond?

Are more powerful beings more closely connected to the world?

Ruger's ability to make this guess was also related to that old dog, Old Lenser. After all, the last time he experienced the magic sequence being told to him as a story, Old Lenser mentioned in casual conversations about this world that some species, such as certain strange subterranean beasts, were thrown over here like garbage. In that garbage dump theory, they evolved into their current form.

Of course, wizards are involved in everything. Ruger believes that even powerful creatures that are barely surviving will be discovered and dealt with by wizards, either to help them survive and observe them, or to use them to reproduce and study, creating new species or strange monsters in experiments.

"Don't run around, little ones... that's not something you should be involved in..."

A figure, hiccuping from alcohol, emerged from the house at the feet of Luger and Mahama.

Ruge looked at Mahama, who simply shrugged.

He came out through the bedroom window; obviously, the big guy didn't leave the room normally either.

The footsteps below indicated that the wizard Zorn, whom we hadn't seen for days, was coming out of the hall. This wizard had likely spent the night in a peculiar posture, scratching his chest hair.

"Lord Zorn."

Ruge and Mahama bowed respectfully to the figure.

Zorn stretched his shoulders and neck, then pointed at the two of them.

Ruger suddenly felt a reaction from the Demon Hunter badge on his body.

"Assisting a registered local wizard in ascending to higher realms through a special ascension ritual, successfully suppressing the demon, and calming the unexpected events that occurred during the ritual, counts as a demon-hunting incident, completing a documented demon-hunting operation..."

The wizard Zorn said lazily, scratching his chest hair.

Mahama also noticed the strangeness of the Demon Hunter Badge, and looked at it blankly while holding it in his hand.

Ruge glanced at Mahama.

"It is the sorrowful god of this island, Lord Kurt, whose ascension process took some interesting little twists and turns," he said casually.

He wasn't surprised by Zorn's behavior of sharing benefits with Mahama, but he was slightly surprised that this incident had been counted as a demon-hunting event.

You should know that they only need to complete three demon-hunting events to choose to become a demon-hunting wizard who travels around at will or stays in a cave and doesn't know anything about the world. As long as they complete a certain number of demon-hunting events or accept a designated commission when the assessment comes, they can also refuse any summons from the Holy Tribunal or below. As for the small sacrifices on the merit stone, Ruger thinks they are worth it.

Of course, there was another significant loss besides the merit stone, which the chubby wizard didn't explicitly mention that day, but the wizard apprentices present should all have realized it.

That is internal promotion. Whether it's within the Witcher Wizards or the Holy Tribunal, choosing freedom means saying goodbye to certain things within the wizarding forces.

Hearing Ruge's casual explanation, Mahama nodded.

"Lord Zorn."

Luger leaped down and landed in front of Zorn.

He took out a bottle.

Zorn's sleepy gaze was immediately drawn to the bottle in his hand. "This is a gift from my teacher from that brief meeting," Ruger said respectfully, observing Zorn's reaction. "But he left in such a hurry that day that he didn't say what it was or what its purpose was. Before he left, my teacher said that if I had any questions, I could ask the learned Lord Zorn..."

"Your teacher is Emmanuel Caputo?"

Zorn stared at the contents of the bottle, then glanced at Luger, who looked respectful.

Ruger twitched his ears and nodded in agreement.

Judging from his previous behavior, the wizard Zorn did not recognize his teacher, and the two were definitely not acquainted. Now that he can even say his name, it is clear that Zorn did not go drinking during his disappearance, Ruger thought.

"Lord Emmanuel, have you been staying in the abyss all this time?"

Zorn the wizard scratched his chest hair and spoke.

"Probably so. I don't know much about the teacher's movements either. I'm too weak to keep up with the teacher."

Ruger replied respectfully.

Zorn didn't ask anything more, but looked at the bottle in his hand.

"This thing should be the filthy spring in the abyss. It is everywhere, but it is said that it can only be found in certain specific layers. To find it in other layers of the abyss, you can only rely on luck. It is a material of considerable value. Its real value is in nurturing demons. Its greatest value is in being consumed in experiments, rather than in directly nurturing demons that have already grown and been born. Simply feeding them to nurture them would be no different from feeding them more flesh and blood of subterranean beasts..."

Zorn took out a bottle of liquor, and while talking, he took a couple of sips, the brown liquor splashing down his chin onto his chest hair.

"Moreover, it has a time limit. After leaving the abyss, it will continue to change and eventually become nothing more than a pool of foul-smelling blood."

As he spoke, Zorn took another big gulp of water, as if quenching his thirst after waking up.

Mahama also listened attentively to his explanation.

"Thank you for your guidance, sir. You gave me two bottles of this filthy spring. This bottle is my reward for your guidance. I believe you would agree. Please accept it."

Ruger twitched his ears and said respectfully.

Zorn the wizard paused for a moment, then smiled slightly.

“I happen to have some ideas. I’ll need this in the experiments to come. Your teacher… that Lord Emmanuel, seems to have guessed what I’m going to do and what he’ll think. It’s an unpleasant but admirable thing,” Zorn said with a smile, waving his hand as the bottle disappeared from sight. “You can ask me another question, a pre-reserved opportunity to ask.”

"Thank you, sir."

Ruger said with a smile.

Mahama, on the other hand, was somewhat surprised, astonished that Ruger actually had a teacher, a teacher who didn't even teach spell sequences, a teacher whom the wizard Zorn had to address with honorifics.

Ruger naturally noticed the respectful way the wizard Zorn addressed his teacher, and his heart clenched for a moment, but thankfully the outcome was good.

The three of them stood in the courtyard, looking together at the strange sight falling from the sky. It looked like a piece of shattered glass had been slanted in. From certain angles, it appeared as a black object, but as it fell or the viewing angle changed, it would sometimes appear as a kaleidoscope of colors.

“Meditation, spells, whatever you do, the outside world is none of your business. The destruction of a world is imminent, which is both exciting and saddening. There may have been beings on that thing that were not much different from you, but your fates are completely different. You just need to do what you are supposed to do…” Zorn suddenly said in a low voice.

Ruger knew that the so-called "not much difference" did not refer to age, but rather to the level of the extraordinary beings who were weak.

(End of this chapter)