[{"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-73":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},1380713,1828,"Chapter 73: First Glimpse at Career Planning","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-73",73,"\u003Cp>Having just witnessed the death swing firsthand, Saul really wanted to shake his head. He couldn’t understand why he had suddenly become such a hot commodity today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What exactly was the value of a soul-related talent that made both Anze and Rum—two people he was meeting for the first time—extend their olive branches?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, thinking back to Big Pink—now more appropriately called Tower Master Gorsa—it seemed that he too had taken an interest in Saul because of this very soul-related aptitude. That thought helped Saul steady himself a little.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naturally, he wasn’t going to switch allegiances so easily, especially after killing Sid, Rum’s once-trusted aide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who knew whether, once he lost his value, they'd come to settle that old score?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet… Rum’s offer seemed a lot more sincere than Anze’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Saul remain silent, Rum reached behind him and pulled out a few sheets of paper, his eyes scanning the text.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Actually, before Kaz brought you here, I had already looked over your file and spoken with the person who did your initial evaluation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum gave a wry smile and gave the sheets a light shake. He held them up with two slender fingers, showing them to Saul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul looked at the words in front of him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul (Family unknown, likely none)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age: Twelve\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Perception: Low-Mid (Scattered)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suggested Majors: Dark, Light\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Aptitude: High (Specific level requires further evaluation)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical Aptitude: Likely Low (Testing unavailable due to fainting; assumed to be unnecessary given high mental aptitude)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall Assessment: Aptitude Low-Mid, No (crossed out) some potential for training. Possibly suitable for specific special roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Approved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, in order to pass the test, Saul had taken the risk of pushing his mental energy to the limit—so much that he passed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no idea whether that helped, but the diary had said doing so would let him survive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was already his turn. He had no time to think—he had to gamble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul had never really understood how exactly he passed the test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now it seemed that the person who wrote the evaluation hadn’t planned to approve him at first… but then, for some reason, changed their mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum noticed the way Saul was studying the page and gently flicked the stack of papers. The top sheet fluttered down, revealing the one underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was another evaluation report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was also for Saul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul (Family unknown, likely none)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Age: Ten\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Perception: Low-Mid (Scattered)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suggested Majors: Light, Earth\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Aptitude: Mid\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical Aptitude: Low\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Overall Assessment: Poor aptitude, not worth cultivation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rejected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recommended reassignment as servant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul’s eyes slowly widened. The paper dropped away, and Rum’s large face moved in closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, can you explain how a servant’s mental aptitude jumped from ‘mid’ to ‘high’ in just two years?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Rum’s gaze boring into him, Saul felt like something was squeezing his brain—his thoughts were stiff, frozen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mouth opened involuntarily, but it took a few seconds before any sound emerged—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After speaking the first words, Saul found his head clearing somewhat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook off the fog and gave Rum an innocent look.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mentor Rum, I really don’t know. Maybe they just… got it wrong back then?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum’s face froze for a second, then he shot Saul a glare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul quickly added, “Actually, it’s like this—I once accidentally offended your student, Senior Sid.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really had stumbled upon Sid looking for something in the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He beat me within an inch of my life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Actually, he had beaten him to death. “Within an inch” was putting it lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My head was bleeding all over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his life ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When I woke up, aside from basic life skills, I couldn’t remember much from before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because he had crossed over from another world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I really… don’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That part, at least, was the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His sincerity seemed to give Rum pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum found himself wondering—could a person’s brain really evolve after severe trauma? Was it worth testing this theory somehow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Saul was blinking innocently, while thinking to himself,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did my mental aptitude skyrocket because I crossed over? I remember in some novels, it’s said that the soul of someone who’s traveled through time and space becomes incredibly strong. So maybe mental strength is tied to the soul?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the red hardcover book slowly floating over his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or is this all thanks to the diary?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was still a blind spot in Saul’s knowledge, so he gave up guessing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across from him, Rum didn’t seem to come to any clear conclusion either. He simply tossed the last piece of paper to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, that’s not the point anyway.” Rum leaned back, resting both hands on his round belly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It jiggled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s clear from both evaluations that the attribute you should major in is Light.” Rum tapped his own chest. “And the sorcery I specialize in just happens to be Water and Light.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Light was the element he had the highest perception for.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul finally understood: during the test, when that other senior had casually written down “Light,” it was because that was his strongest affinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… Saul clenched his left fist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the body modification, he could now use the artificial skin—crafted from the plastic bone in his left arm—to enhance his sensitivity to dark-element particles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he were tested again now, Dark would probably be his strongest element.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had already embarked down this path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum seemed to notice Saul’s inner hesitation. He lightly tapped Saul’s left hand with his fingertip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I can tell—after your body modification, your affinity with Dark has grown considerably.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul looked down at the pale gray tips of his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They trembled slightly, and he withdrew them into his sleeve.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum went on, “It’s fine to keep majoring in Dark if that’s your current direction. But you need to understand—what a wizard chooses as their primary attribute doesn’t just affect the type of magic they learn. It also determines their future area of research and study.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you choose Dark, you’ll be working closely with corpses and ghosts for the rest of your life. If you choose Light, it’ll be more about energy and spirits.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re just a First Rank apprentice right now—the very beginning of your journey as a wizard. There’s no need to rush into a lifelong decision just because you’ve made some early progress.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Make your decision before you choose your Locator. Of course, some wizard do change their primary attribute later on, but the road becomes much harder.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum’s thoughtful explanation had a real impact on Saul—it even caused a flicker of doubt to form in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—Saul heard that word: “Locator.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The doubt vanished. Replaced by certainty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the Diary of a Dead Wizard in his possession, how could he ever choose anything else as his Locator?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The diary’s attribute—wasn’t it obviously Dark?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Saul didn’t let his thoughts show. He put on a conflicted expression and asked Rum, “But… weren’t you angry earlier about me killing your assistant?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum gave him a cold, distant smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s because most wizards care far more about value than relationships or emotions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You passed my test, Saul. In fact, you exceeded my expectations. That’s far more important than revenge—or venting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul looked at Mentor Rum. The man met his gaze calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He probably wasn’t lying. Or didn’t need to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mentor Rum, may I ask… what exactly is a Locator?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Locator?” Rum folded his long hands over his chest, fingertips touching, as if pondering how to answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Locators are normally something Second Rank apprentices learn about. But since your mental strength is already high enough, I’ll give a simple example.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rum raised one finger and pointed toward the far end of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul turned around and saw he was pointing at the only window in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sunlight still streamed in—quiet and warm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were pretty moved just now when you saw real sunlight. It’s true—First Rank apprentices rarely get the chance to go outside. So while you can… take a good look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1354,"2026-06-05T22:22:08.871Z",1,"novelbin.me","7dd9c19bb92b3631385b3a23636de480332044727c82556e0573fe0e4197b063","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-320","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-319",1037,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdiary-of-a-dead-wizard-cover.jpg"]