Chapter 50: Harvest (Part 1)
Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Harvest (Part 1)
"The attack strategy, the contingency plan, the specialized potions... Your preparations are far too thorough."
Farrete’s expression kept changing as he listened to Andre.
’What kind of Witchcraft Apprentice is this?’
He’d reviewed all of Andre’s files multiple times. If he hadn’t, he would have sworn Andre was an assassin from some clandestine organization.
’He’d thought of everything. Even why the Potion should be sprinkled on the bedding, and how to prevent the Black Wizards from resisting or escaping the poison’s reach. Andre had considered it all.’
’Such an ability... could a High Level Wizard Apprentice who’s only been at the academy for a few months really be capable of this kind of planning?’
A flicker of doubt crossed Farrete’s eyes as he looked at Andre. But the moment he remembered Andre was majoring in Demon Pattern Study, the suspicion vanished.
’Of course. Everyone who studies Demon Pattern Study is a monster!’
"Since you’ve completed your missions and returned to the academy, I’m sure you’ve learned a great deal. For now, go and practice the Meditation Technique your teacher left for you."
With that, Farrete vanished from sight.
"I have other matters to attend to. I’ll come find you again in a few days."
Those were Farrete’s parting words to Andre.
Hearing this, Andre shrugged. He put away everything he had gathered over the past four months in the Black and White Forest and turned toward the Wizard Inheritance Hall.
Just as Andre reached the entrance of the Wizard Inheritance Hall, Radak appeared before him.
"Master!" Andre exclaimed upon seeing Radak.
"You’ve changed a great deal in these four months."
Radak nodded, his expression one of deep satisfaction as he looked at Andre, who had been gone for four months.
The immaturity he had when he first entered the academy was gone. In its place, he projected an air of profound composure.
It was the kind of presence one only gained after a significant shift in mindset, and it proved that Andre was now taking great strides on the path to becoming a true Wizard.
"Master, Potato hasn’t caused you any trouble these past four months, has he?"
Andre glanced over at the Earth Elemental Bear hiding by the entrance to the Wizard Inheritance Hall, a hint of worry in his eyes.
The creature had grown a bit. It was now 10 centimeters taller than when they had left the Secret Realm.
The price for this growth had been the vast resources Andre had poured into raising him.
"The little one was very well-behaved. He didn’t give me any trouble at all. You, on the other hand... Farrete sent you to the Black and White Forest for four months."
"And in four months, you didn’t send back a single message. You had me worried for quite some time."
Radak followed Andre’s gaze to look at Potato.
A rare smile graced his lips as he looked at Potato, but his expression turned stern as he turned back to scold Andre.
’His only disciple, gone from the academy for so long without a single magical message, not even a verbal one. Is this still my disciple?’
"Master, it all happened so suddenly! I didn’t have the materials on me to send a message!"
Seeing the anger begin to surface on Radak’s face, Andre hastily explained, shifting all the blame onto his senior, Farrete.
"ACHOO! ACHOO! Who’s talking about me!"
Farrete, who had just returned to the Law Enforcement Court, couldn’t stop sneezing. He had a vague feeling that something bad was about to happen.
"I’ll deal with Farrete myself. As for you, how are your studies in Demon Pattern Study coming along?"
Radak held out his hand toward Andre, ready to test his student’s progress.
’In Radak’s eyes, Demon Patterns were the very foundation of being a Wizard.’
’A Wizard who couldn’t even master the most basic Demon Patterns would never be able to reach greater heights.’
"I finished reading these four books during the past four months."
Andre retrieved four books from his Storage Ring. These were the very same books Radak had chosen for him when he had first become his disciple.
"Have you truly mastered them?" Radak asked. With a wave of his hand, the four books flew from Andre’s grasp and into the Wizard Inheritance Hall.
Radak’s standard wasn’t simply reading them once. He expected the contents to be fully absorbed and applied with ease.
"I’ve more or less mastered them. But I haven’t had much chance for practical application. The conditions in the Black and White Forest were just too harsh. Even in the settlements, they rarely sold the materials I needed."
At this, Andre started complaining to Radak.
’In his mind, the Black and White Forest was a place where those who had offended both Black Wizards and White Wizards went to barely cling to life.’
’Even so, he’d thought that since the Black and White Forest was still home to many Official Wizards, there should have been plenty of Wizarding supplies available.’
But after spending four months there, Andre realized he was completely wrong.
None of the Official Wizards in the Black and White Forest were willing to interact with others.
Whenever they encountered one another, they treated each other as enemies, openly radiating hostility to intimidate the other party.
Andre had witnessed this exact scene countless times over the past four months.
Often, two Official Wizards would meet, stand off for a moment, and then simultaneously back away from each other.
Of course, there were some in the Black and White Forest who were willing to talk.
But every single one of them had a heart as black as night.
So, after four months in the Black and White Forest, Andre had done little more than hone his spellcasting and combat skills. All his other learning was purely theoretical, and he hadn’t made a single friend.
"Once you’ve learned the theory, the application isn’t difficult."
Instead of berating him further, Radak nodded in satisfaction and looked closely at Andre’s eyes.
"Your eyes... they’ve changed, haven’t they?"
At Radak’s words, Andre blinked.
His eyes had originally been a beautiful amber, but now, a faint ring of purple was appearing around his pupils.
The violet hue was so faint it was easy to miss, and could even be mistaken for some kind of eye ailment.
But Radak, who knew of Andre’s unique Ability, understood. This was the result of Andre’s Eye of Truth growing stronger.
"You noticed, Master," Andre said, scratching his head sheepishly.
"So, what can those eyes of yours do now?"
Radak asked, his curiosity piqued.
"Now, by observing the flow of Magic Power within a target, I can identify their weaknesses and determine what kind of Witchcraft they specialize in."
Andre finished, giving Radak a simple description of his Eye of Truth’s current capabilities.