Chapter 54

Wouldn't just watch the excitement and get himself dragged in, right? Oh right, I can't go back now anyway, so that's good, that's good; even if I wanted to join the fun I couldn't reach it, Luge mocked himself.

It would be nice if there were a spell to clean up dust, he thought.

Simply clearing out a space, he sat down again and took out the Black Book, turning to the new chapter of the Magic Mark Meditation Method.

After promoting to a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice, this was still the first time he had opened this old friend that had accompanied him the longest. It was no longer the initial stage of just starting to catch worms; back then he had solved the food problem but didn't know how to practice spells or meditation methods, a period of pure Kobold time where besides eating he just slept, yet instead he was even more inseparable from this Black Book, all day either going out holding it or carrying it on his body, or using it as a dining table, a pillow, or a sleep aid.

He looked at the newly opened section; the old friend indeed did not disappoint him.

The Black Book's new page mentioned the Temporary Spell Slots granted by the Magic Mark Meditation Method; this way of pre-storing spells, releasing them at zero cost instantly when used, is possessed by all Third Generation Meditation Methods, and this page mentioned the special aspect of the Magic Mark Meditation Method: when promoting to an Official Wizard, one can abandon these Temporary Spell Slots created to improve a Wizard Apprentice's survival ability that can only store Zero-Circle Spells, and there will be an extremely high probability of obtaining a unique First Circle Composite Spell.

Composite Spells are a relatively rare type of spell to begin with.

When promoting to an Official Wizard, one gains a First-Circle Spell Slot, and must find a desired First-Circle Spell to solidify.

And once this rare Composite Spell is successfully born, it will directly solidify onto the First-Circle Spell Slot. Because the birth of this Composite Spell occurs during the process of promoting to an Official Wizard: a Fifth-Rank Wizard Apprentice possesses five Magic Marks, and when promoting to an Official Wizard the Magic Marks merge into one, and the five Zero-Circle Spells temporarily stored within them will fuse into a First Circle Composite Spell during this merging process.

The Black Book writes that the success probability depends not only on the Wizard Apprentice's degree of control over spells, but also on the compatibility between these five spells.

At the end of this page there is also a small tip: the spells usually stored in each Temporary Spell Slot should preferably not be swapped out; use and replenish the same ones repeatedly, as if feeding the Magic Marks with the same spells, so that when becoming an Official Wizard the chance of obtaining a Composite Spell can be increased.

Luge read this page carefully from the beginning once more, then put down the Black Book.

Thinking that he might be able to save the trouble of searching for a First-Circle Spell. Moreover, ever since he had Temporary Spell Slots, he had never swapped the spells stored within them; the first Magic Mark has always been Bull Strength, the second Magic Mark is Magic Skin Technique, and after each use he would find an opportunity to store them again as soon as possible.

Perhaps some Wizard Apprentices would think a Composite Spell obtained this way carries too much uncertainty; even if one obtains a unique spell, one bears the risk of not having chosen it by one's own will, but for Luge this is truly already a very good choice.

Because this is a First-Circle Spell; do not underestimate this point — for other apprentices finding a desired First-Circle Spell may merely take some effort, but for a little Kobold with no fixed abode and no channels to acquire knowledge, this is the best gift, the finest present the old friend Black Book has delivered.

While calculating the spells he has mastered or is about to master, he looked at the following content.

For instance, regarding the selection of five Zero-Circle Spells, this seems early for him — after all he has only been a Second-Rank Wizard Apprentice for a few days — but with the point about putting spells into Temporary Spell Slots for more use and not swapping them frequently, he must participate in advance rather than wait until he is a Fifth-Rank Wizard Apprentice to handle it.

After all, he values this First-Circle Spell more than a normal Wizard Apprentice; this may well be the only First-Circle Spell he will ever have in hand when he reaches that step in the future.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he began trying to master new Runes and conduct Meditation Training.

Of course, here he only dared go half-strength, not daring to use full strength; after meditating for a while he had to recover and rest.

Striving to maintain his principle of never stopping daily meditation.

He discovered that actually keeping meditation training sustained for a set time each day, and resting after Spiritual Power receives training stimulation and grows, is better and more stable; like he did before, meditating continuously day and night was actually somewhat an impatient, self-destructive rush for quick results, and doing so long-term is not a good thing.

Several rounds of not-fully-satisfying meditation ended; Luge put his things away and took out a Fat Meat Worm.

Seeing that teacher take clothes out of thin air from her ring, he just now also took out his Storage Bag and hung it on himself.

Thump thump thump!

"Young Master, dinner is already prepared."

The old Butler's polite voice sounded from outside the door.

Luge was sitting on the ground, neck craned back, mouth open, about to stuff the plump meat worm into his mouth.

Food prepared too? He blinked.

Recalling the previous experience of going to class, there seemed to be no danger at all.

He backhanded the worm meat into his Storage Bag.

A Young Master's life? This Kobold will have a taste today too.

Pushing the door open and stepping out, the old Butler was already waiting there; seeing him come out, he bowed slightly as before.

Walking silently all the way, Luge walked quite relaxed.

Ever since learning there were most likely only the three of them as living beings here, he no longer felt that specially anxious, looking around cautiously wherever he went like before.

A spacious dining hall Luge had never seen before appeared before his eyes — not that he hadn't seen a dining place this large, but he had never seen one with only a single table placed in the middle; at the table's side there was already a figure, precisely that dedicated, unwavering mentor.

Led by the old Butler, walking past from the side, he saw her face was dark.

Luge had a premonition that things were bad; he might face a situation even worse than gnawing worms in his room.

Just as Luge was randomly thinking and finding his own seat.

The old Butler suddenly turned his head, looked toward that teacher, only to see her also startle, hurriedly stand up and give Luge a simple nod, and then under Luge's surprised gaze, not until he sat in the host seat did she sit down again, and she did not draw the old Butler's attention again.

Luge rubbed his gurgling stomach, glanced at his mentor's complexion beside him, and still felt anticipation rise.

Soon a plate of gray dust and rotten mud was placed before him.

The moment before he was still worried he wouldn't be used to the utensils; this moment he silently put them down.

"Young Master, not to your appetite?" the old Butler asked caringly from the side.

Luge could only nod.

"I'm a bit unwell, want to go back to my room to rest."

He steeled his courage and said this sentence; this was still the first time he had formally conversed with this old Butler.

The Demon Dice was already ready to be taken out and gambled at any moment.

"I will send you back to your room now; please keep this well and drink a sip when unwell."

The old Butler bowed at his right hand side, caringly fished out a silver bottle emitting a faint glow of potion, placed it before Luge — one look and it was clearly high-grade goods. The mentor silently beside him also instantly cast a scorching gaze.

Seems this Ancient Castle doesn't only have dust and junk, he thought.

(Chapter End)