[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-diary-of-a-dead-wizard":3,"chapter-diary-of-a-dead-wizard-diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-5":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Diary of a Dead Wizard",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1380376,1828,"Chapter 5: Slipping Through the Cracks","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-5",5,"\u003Cp>\"Next.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A voice came from the front of the line. The boy in front of Saul gave him one last glare before turning around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul only shot him a cold glance, memorized his face, then shifted his attention to the front.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the group moved forward, Saul was able to see the people at the front of the line.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two individuals sat behind a table. There were some objects laid out on it, but from this distance, Saul couldn’t make them out clearly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a little while, there were only five or six people left in front of him. At some point, three or four more had lined up behind him, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were probably servants like him, dragged in to make up the numbers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…This kid’s magical aptitude is garbage, and his mental strength is even worse. Completely worthless. How did he even get selected?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A young man at the front suddenly raised his voice in anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My talents are average, but I hope you’ll show some leniency, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was blatant bribery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But to Saul’s surprise, the young man, clearly just a wizard apprentice himself, took the offering and still sneered, “A single magic crystal? So this is how you’ve coasted through so far? You really think all wizards can be bought?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The boy’s usual tactics had failed, and his smile froze on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t mean it that way, sir.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tried to explain, but the apprentice suddenly flicked something with his thumb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From Saul’s angle, it was hard to tell where it landed on the boy’s face, or maybe into his mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, Saul witnessed a scene he’d never forget for the rest of his life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chubby boy’s body froze, then melted like a candle into a puddle of liquid. Within that puddle, you could faintly make out his facial features and limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man beside the wizard apprentice clicked his tongue. “Ugh, how disgusting. Would have just sent him to work as a servant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul’s heart sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was a servant, too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the long-silent hardcover book suddenly flew up before Saul’s eyes and fluttered open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[May 25th, Year 314 of the Lunar Calendar\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ve finally snuck into the ranks of the apprentices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But you forgot how you became a servant in the first place. You failed the magical aptitude test back then—Do you really think that a few years later, you’ve suddenly got potential?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Laughable. Absolutely laughable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You laughed yourself to death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I thought!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul stiffly followed the line as it moved forward, hearing nervous whispers behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he took the test as-is, he wouldn’t pass either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from the contents of the hardcover book, there was a good chance he’d be exposed and die laughing—literally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul glanced down at his left hand, hidden in the shadows of his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It might be enough to scare off other servants or even a steward, but it certainly wouldn’t intimidate wizard apprentices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Should he bring Kongsha’s name?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he thought that, more lines appeared in the hardcover book:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because you failed the magic test and your servant status was revealed, Sid interrupted the test and tried to kill you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a desperate moment, you brought up Kongsha. Sid fell silent and let you go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After completing the remaining two tests, you managed to become a low-level wizard apprentice, and that very night, you luckily turned into a pile of bones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least then, your left hand didn’t seem so out of place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So even bringing up Kongsha wouldn’t work?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear once again gripped his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could he do to pass the test?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he tried to quit now, all that awaited him was death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t need the book to tell him that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every step forward felt like one closer to the abyss—he was about to fall in!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Think. Think. There has to be another way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul’s eyes stayed locked on the table that was getting closer and closer, focusing on the testing instruments laid out on top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closely observed the testing procedure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each candidate had to go through the tests from left to right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the far left was a black crystal orb used to test magical aptitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The orb had to be pressed against the forehead. The more transparent it became, the greater the candidate’s potential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center was a wooden doll carved to look like a little girl, lifelike except for the hollow black pits where her eyes should’ve been.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Testers had to stare into those hollows. The more the doll moved, the stronger their mental energy was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The final test involved a paintbrush dipped in paint, used to assess elemental affinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Candidates had to draw a circle on a blank sheet of paper. The paint would automatically change color, and the apprentice would then announce two elements, which a man next to him would record.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul nervously watched the two people's test process. They also got by with money like fat boy, both of them passed the test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Saul noticed that both looked utterly drained afterward, pale and exhausted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them could barely stay on his feet after finishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wasn’t totally sure yet, but since he now had an idea and the hardcover book hadn’t popped up again. Saul decided to go for it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no choice left but to risk it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The number of people in front of him dwindled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, it was his turn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lazy-looking young man lounging in the chair let out a cold chuckle the moment he saw Saul’s face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Does he know me?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul’s heart skipped a beat, but his face showed fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Begin,” the wizard apprentice drawled, pointing lazily at the black crystal orb on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Obediently, Saul reached out—not for the orb, but for the paintbrush used to test elemental affinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the apprentice could say anything, Saul gripped the brush tightly in his right hand and quickly drew a trembling circle on the paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The freshly drawn circle was pitch black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul put down the brush and held his breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice didn’t look pleased, but after squinting at the paper, he didn’t say anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly, the black circle began to change, several colors appeared, though the longest section was barely the length of a pinky and still black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rest was a chaotic mess of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, gold, white, all the colors at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh.” The apprentice let out a chuckle. “A bit greedy, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul could hear the mockery but only lowered his head in submission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Dark element… As for the rest, I can’t even tell what the second strongest is. Nick, just write down whatever.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man beside him, Nick, nodded and scribbled: Dark element, Light element.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The apprentice, who Saul now realized was definitely the Sid mentioned in the book, burst out laughing. “Dark and light? Opposing elements? You’re really just writing anything, huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nick said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once Sid stopped laughing, Saul reached for the wooden doll.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared into the empty hollows where the eyes should have been, watching closely for any movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me, help me, help me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A string of whispers began in Saul’s ears—fast and faint, just enough to pull him in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more he listened, the more jumbled the voices became. Soon, the message began to shift.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Help me, help me… Kill me… Kill me… Help me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul felt dizzy and disoriented.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, that’s enough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sid’s voice snapped in his ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Saul didn’t move. He let his mind sink fully into the whispers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I said enough! Do you have a death wish?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul jolted, snapped out of it. He lifted his head, first glancing at the doll—its tiny wooden arms were raised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he looked up at Sid, who was now standing, face twisted in anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Sid could say another word, Saul rolled his eyes back—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—and collapsed in a dead faint.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1330,"2026-06-05T22:22:08.591Z",1,"novelbin.me","4631cc1915bb5de769a20c7340f3bedce8da3ec7e966fa8a64303ce8cd8e1107","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-6","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-4",1037,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdiary-of-a-dead-wizard-cover.jpg"]