Chapter 58: Change and the Unchanging

"You're already dead?" Luge said.

The youth smiled and nodded.

"I died a long time ago; among nobles it's called a parting. Old Yi Ze'er knows it too, but he forgot again," the youth seemed rather helpless, "I don't like his current state. In his youth he was my father's close friend, but he couldn't keep up with my father's steps. His talent was very poor; he only reached his later level with my father's help, and lived some more years until I was born. He became this ancient castle's butler to take care of me, this congenital weakling who cannot touch supernatural power..."

Luge listened silently, not interrupting; it seemed this young man also had a strong urge to pour out his heart.

Thump thump thump!

A knocking sound rang out.

That steady, unchanging rhythm revealed the visitor's identity.

"Young Master, I have brought dinner to your room."

The old butler's voice from outside the door made Luge tense for an instant, but seeing the youth's calm demeanor beside him, he relaxed again, simply reset the bed, and went to open the room door.

The youth likewise followed beside him.

"Young Master, please maintain a pleasant mood and enjoy your dinner."

The familiar meal cart was slowly pushed in by the old butler.

"He used to say this often too. Father said he was old, not as witty as before, but he only looks aged; my father is the one who's actually older. Father said in their past expeditions, Izer was a lively man who would sing loudly during rest, and even fart stinkily in his face. He sometimes caused trouble due to his unrestrained nature and got taught a lesson with fists by the captain."

The youth suddenly spoke, genuinely startling Luge.

But he quickly discovered that even brushing past, that youth, the true Young Master, standing beside the old butler and speaking, still had absolutely no effect.

"With his strength, he should actually be able to see me..."

The youth and Luge together watched Old Butler Izer's departing figure, until the room door closed with a creak from its hinges.

"Actually I died not long after arriving at the Abyss with the ancient castle. On the day I truly died, he glanced at me — of course at me in this state, not that corpse. At the time a servant outside called his name; he turned his head, said two sentences, and when he turned back he could no longer see me, and had completely forgotten that I had already died."

The handsome youth said with a smile, as if he had long grown accustomed to the old butler's ignoring him.

"You should know, I want to leave here." Luge said.

"Yes, that is precisely what I ask you to do. We will each get what we want; everyone will be very happy." The handsome youth spoke composedly.

Luge adopted an all-ears posture, his eyes bright as if looking at a golden key that could open a great door.

The youth seemed very satisfied with Luge's cooperative attitude as well.

"Please take my corpse out — not out of the ancient castle, but burn my corpse with magical flame at the ancient castle's inner gate." The youth said.

"Just like that?" Luge pinched his nose, pushing up his monocle, expressing suspicion.

To tell the truth, he was a bit afraid of being played, so he secretly cast Stinking Skin Spell, then deliberately asked once more.

"The rest I will handle. These years I've also used the ancient castle to accumulate some power," the youth said, his figure beginning to blur, "You just need to do this, and I will definitely let you out. Trust me, the Steel Family never reneges on a promise."

Luge hurriedly nodded, watching the youth fade and disappear bit by bit.

"I'm leaving. With this tooth you can find my corpse when you reach the library. I cannot stay here too long; as long as you hold this tooth, I can appear near you."

The youth vanished completely.

Luge held the tooth, sensing no malice.

He suddenly thought of a question: why magical flame? He still didn't know any spell that could produce flame.

He took out the Spirit Heart Potion, thought a moment, and put it back.

He still had a sharp tool that could accelerate spell learning speed. He hooked the Abyss Bedroom Space, took out another storage bag; inside were the notes of that wizard apprentice who died by his hand. That fellow could be called quite proficient in Fireball Technique, and should even have solidified Fireball Technique in his spell slot — a casual wave of his hand let Luge experience the closest brush with death.

Attempting to master new spells was his favorite thing besides meditation and fine food.

He did not completely rely on that apprentice's few notebooks, but still took the most basic orthodox version taught in books as his foundation. Following what was written in that apprentice's notes, the Fireball Technique he grasped underwent a bit of modification: after hitting an enemy it explodes more cleanly and neatly, not conducive to igniting the enemy.

A fifth-level apprentice's modified spell drawing on multiple references, plus the insights and research process of the modification; the other was the most basic stable version organized by countless people, so stable that casting even during mental breakdown is not easy to fail. Comparing the two, he read with relish, and his progress speed at one point was not weak compared to drinking Spirit Heart Potion.

Of course, if he drank the potion simultaneously, that would be another luxury version story.

His previously planned work-rest balance cultivation plan broke its promise again.

Hungry eat worms, tired endure spiritual boiling, combined with regular meditation recovery — in this dust-filled room interior he transformed into a greedy fish swimming on spell knowledge as food; pity that right now there is still no ocean belonging to him.

Only that old butler's appearance could make him temporarily stop swimming.

Even facing the succubus's probing gaze, he still silently researched spells.

The Young Master's matter — he only selectively told the succubus some of it.

He is a gentle kobold.

"If that's the case, you'll find it hard to reach the library. Since Old Yi Ze'er deliberately doesn't see him, he would also subconsciously avoid letting others see him, avoid letting others know of the Young Master's death — naturally he wouldn't let anyone approach the library either." The succubus propped her elbow on the table corner, glanced at him, and said lazily.

Luge opened his eyes at those words.

"I have a method, but it needs that silver potion you got that day. I think you haven't used it yet — after all, you only pretended to be unwell that day." She said.

"You don't want to leave here anymore?"

Luge swung his legs, looking at her. That bottle had no spiritual annotation; he still planned to go back and consult the Half-Man, ask what that thing actually was.

"Of course I do," the succubus said languidly, "that's why I need that potion, to bring us closer to success."

Luge didn't waste more words, handed over the potion. The succubus happily accepted, directly stuffed it into her storage ring, as if afraid he would go back on his word.

Worth mentioning: these past few days the succubus has already been able to return to her own room to rest.

Luge guessed what she could do, and it happened within these few days — change brings opportunity.

"If we get out, will you invite me to your world as a guest? My Wizard Adult." The succubus said again.

(Chapter End)