[{"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-88":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},1380743,1828,"Chapter 88: Exposed","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Saul didn’t wait for Kongsha’s answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that he really expected one anyway.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving her room, he continued upward, passing through dimly lit corridors and ignoring the whispers from the shadows. He headed straight to the fourteenth floor of the West Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dorm 1416.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Senior Byron’s new home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard apprentices could choose to move to the corresponding floor after their promotion, or stay put if they didn’t want the hassle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most chose to move—after all, the hardware facilities differed a lot between floors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was Saul’s first time visiting Byron’s dorm, and it was late at night. He didn’t know if Byron was already asleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You couldn’t expect all apprentices to be night owls like Kongsha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next second, the door opened inward on its own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?” Saul poked his head in, seeing no one in the living room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stepped inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The place was a mess, like the owner had half-finished unpacking and then gone to bed. Many boxes were open, their contents untouched. Others were stacked so high they blocked the view of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Byron? Byron?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul figured he wasn’t home. With the mental power of a Third Rank apprentice, he couldn’t possibly sleep through all that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he wasn’t home, and the door wasn’t locked… could it have been left open intentionally for him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul stepped forward, “climbing mountains and crossing seas” until he found the workbench hidden behind a pile of boxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The workbench was just as cluttered, covered with all sorts of things. Only a palm-sized clear space was left at the center, with a letter sitting on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the letter were the words: For Saul’s eyes only.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still such ugly handwriting,” Saul muttered, shaking his head. He picked up the letter and unfolded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It read:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This paper can only be touched by Saul. If anyone else touches it—don’t bother reading, go find the antidote. You’ve got 10 seconds left to live.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul, I’ve received my first Third Rank apprentice mission and will be away for a while. I still owe you 8 credits. If you’re in a hurry, you can take the red potion on the table as compensation. If not, wait till I get back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, I don’t have many friends in the tower, and no one owes me favors. I can’t ask anyone to look after you, so take care of yourself. I hope you’ll still be alive when I return. If you die, well… guess we’ll call the debt even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hopefully I’ll complete my first mission successfully and come back alive. If you’re worried I won’t, go ahead and take the red potion as collateral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s all. Goodbye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh right, if one of your friends finds this letter instead, you can tell them it’s not poisoned. No antidote needed. If it’s not your friend… well, too bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still owe you 8 credits — Byron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After reading, Saul couldn’t help but laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d never told Senior Byron that countdown joke, yet the guy had come up with it himself. Despite looking like a total dope, sometimes Byron was surprisingly sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul had originally come to ask Byron about spirit resin, but that clearly wasn’t happening now. He could only hope Byron returned safely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He left the red potion untouched, letting it sit where it was. He didn’t even check what it was, afraid he might not be able to resist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul casually destroyed the letter and left the dorm, which looked more like a garbage heap than a living space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the hallway, the dorm door closed itself again. Saul was sure that after tonight, it wouldn’t open so easily anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Byron’s gone too. Looks like I’ll have to ask Senior Mark tomorrow instead. Though he knows I’ve done body modifications, he doesn’t know the materials I used. He probably won’t connect it to spirit resin.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul turned, ready to head back to sleep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, he noticed something odd—his shadow on the ground looked like it had grown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something long and thin flicked past the back of his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately alert, Saul froze and readied his incantations and potions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He slowly raised his left hand, reaching toward the back of his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the while, his peripheral vision kept a close eye on his shadow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his hand finally touched the skin at the base of his neck, he felt… nothing unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His shadow hadn’t changed either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was it just my imagination? Or has the thing already left?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He entered a semi-immersive meditative state, scanning his surroundings. No signs of unusual spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, he didn’t let down his guard, cautiously leaving the Third Rank apprentice dorm area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only when he returned to his own dorm did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Walking around the tower at night really is dangerous. With Kongsha and Byron both gone, I’d better stop wandering late at night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After lunch the next day, Saul hurried to Mentor Kaz’s lab to look for Senior Mark and buy some knowledge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to push open the door, he heard voices from inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It’s good you’re willing to work hard. If your uncle had been a little more diligent, he wouldn’t have left the tower at thirty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll keep working hard, Senior Cole. Um, can I assist you with your experiments?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I suppose that’s fine. You already worked here with Mark, so you’ve got experience. Saves me the trouble of finding someone new.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you so much, Senior Cole!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No need to thank me. Working with a cute girl like you will definitely improve my mood.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Saul walked in—and saw the Second Rank apprentice named Cole, his hand resting on Angela’s shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole was a bit chubby, with a warm smile on his face. He looked gentle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angela kept her usual bright smile, seemingly unaware that anything was off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noticing someone enter, Cole casually pulled back his hand and nodded at Saul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is Mentor Kaz’s lab. What do you need?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello, Senior. I was looking for Senior Mark. He’s not here anymore?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Angela gently reminded Cole that Saul was also under Mentor Kaz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole raised an eyebrow, then his smile brightened even more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So you’re Saul, the First Rank apprentice the mentor values most now.” He walked over to Saul. “Mark’s gone on a field mission. I’m handling his work now. If you need anything, you can ask me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He seemed quite enthusiastic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul politely thanked him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks, Senior. But I was just returning something to Senior Mark. Since he’s away, I’ll wait till he’s back. I’ll take my leave now—goodbye.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cole looked a bit disappointed Saul was leaving so soon, but didn’t stop him. He just invited him to come by whenever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul offered some polite words, glanced briefly at Angela standing silently behind Cole, and left the lab.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in the hallway, Saul felt a bit lost. Overnight, the three seniors he was most familiar with had all left the tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had no choice but to go to the library and search blindly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The library was nearly empty. Whether borrowing or returning books, everyone there moved quickly, unwilling to linger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Saul entered, he noticed the anxious middle-aged man who usually sat on the left was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did someone trigger that “holographic projection” again?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you here to borrow books?” a haughty voice called from the right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saul turned and saw a young man of about eighteen or nineteen, chin tilted up, looking down his nose at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’re borrowing, go in. If not, get lost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking closer, Saul realized the arrogant youth looked nearly identical to the anxious middle-aged man from before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1291,"2026-06-05T22:22:08.871Z",1,"novelbin.me","ecbd80241a73f48a04da31d073ea80f4b219e67ecda3761b3e5cb8beeec335ae","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-335","diary-of-a-dead-wizard-chapter-334",1037,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdiary-of-a-dead-wizard-cover.jpg"]