Dear little master brother,
Hope this letter finds you well.
Your big brother figured you’d head to Caugust City after leaving the Wizard Tower, so I left this letter here especially, to ease your worries and help you along.
In the event that Gorsa lost the battle at the Wizard Tower, I imagine you would have found a way to escape. To avoid being hunted, you'd surely take the risk of entering the Borderland. Before that, though, you’d need to gather so essential supplies here. If that were the case, you’d be receiving a different letter—along with a little gift I’ve prepared for you.
But since you’re reading this letter, then let first congratulate you on gaining a Third Rank ntor.
Though that guy’s really stingy. In the end, he tattled on , which forced to temporarily leave Stat.
That said, for a mber of the Glare Family, becoming a Third Rank wizard focused on the light elent also ans leaving the western region. Without a high-rank wizard around, the Wizard Tower’s ceiling is just too low for you. You’ll likely head to the neutral Bayton Academy, or perhaps even venture into the Borderland.
Wherever your final destination may be, Caugust is a fine place to pass through.
Caugust is a wonderful city right now, especially for true wizards. It’s midsumr—lush greenery, blossoms everywhere. I imagine you’re enjoying a pleasant study session on so rooftop or in a cozy little courtyard.
But really, such a laid-back life doesn’t suit soone like you, does it?
So, as the victor of the Wizard Tower battle entering Caugust, I simply had to prepare a grand gift for you.
Hope you like it, and hope it adds a bit of new joy to your life~
Your loyal, understanding, and tattled-on-by-Gorsa big brother,
Kist
After reading the letter, Saul had a strong urge to tear it up on the spot.
“This guy really is true to his word—now that he sees I’m safe, he’s determined to stir up trouble for . What ‘grand’ gift? More like grand trouble!” Saul grumbled in his heart.
“Master?” Agu, as a consciousness bound to the diary, more or less understood Saul’s unusual relationship with Kist.
That man—sotis a help, sotis a foe. His true intentions remained unknown.
“It’s nothing. We’ll stick to the original plan. If things get too ssy, we just leave Caugust.”
Can’t even refuse a gift you don’t want?
Just as Saul finished speaking, the letter in his hand began to disintegrate into fine dust.
This phenonon had happened once before—Saul didn’t stop it.
But this ti, the mont the letter fully burned away, a streak of black shadow suddenly shot out from it and dove straight into Saul’s mind.
Seeing this, Agu and Ann were both shocked and rushed over to check Saul’s body.
To their surprise, Saul only froze for a few seconds before coming to and waving a hand at them. “It’s fine.”
Turns out that black shadow had entered Saul’s ntal realm and gone straight into the diary floating within.
The diary flipped open, turning directly to Lokai’s page.
That page had only a sliver of energy left, and the last words written on it were already faint and nearly illegible. Yet the black shadow barged in like an unruly guest, utterly ignoring the delicate scrawls, and began to write directly on the darkened page.
[The master of Caugust planted a tree. My tender little master, don’t you want to make that tree your own?]
A tree?
Saul imdiately thought of the giant tree Little Algae had discovered underground.
Could it really be a tree?
If it had drawn Kist’s attention, it definitely wasn’t ordinary.
However...
“You entered the diary at will? This can’t be your complete soul, can it?”
[Of course not. This is rely a consciousness I control—one that believes it is . I’ve nad this spell I Killed Myself. If Master likes it, I can teach it to you soday. Originally, if I’d captured the Nightmare Butterfly, I could’ve refined this spell even more. But since you wanted to keep it, I’ll leave the butterfly to you.]
“You controlled soone else's consciousness just to leave a ssage? Has Kist grown that powerful?” Saul felt mostly wary when it ca to Kist. If he could, he’d rather have the guy under the diary’s absolute control, like Penny.
Unfortunately, that was just wishful thinking for now.
[Who I am and who is —what does it matter? Master, that little tree beneath Caugust is growing quite well. If you want to steal it, you'd better hurry! Its owner isn't to be trifled with, but I believe the master of the diary wouldn’t care about that, right?]
Saul’s mouth twitched. He couldn’t help cursing, “The hell I wouldn’t care! Caugust City is under Bayton Academy, and they’ve got Second Rank wizards! I’d have to be insane to go poking a hornet’s nest like that!”
Saul ca to Caugust just to find a stable place to lay low and gather supplies—not to stir up trouble.
[Alright, alright. Why is Master so afraid of dying? Only by getting closer to death can you get closer to the diary!]
Saul pursed his lips. He had to admit—with the diary, he could avoid many dangers.
But in his view, a wizard should take risks in pursuit of knowledge—not for thrills.
At the mont, Saul had no desire for the tree hidden beneath Caugust.
That would only disrupt his current plans for advancent.
[What a sha. My grand gift, and Master doesn’t want it. But if you can’t steal the tree, you could always pluck a few fruits.]
“What do you an by ‘fruits’?”
[Wraiths. A whole lot of wraiths.]
Saul folded his arms and leaned back.
Now that did scratch an itch.
Whether it was for enhancing his soul fishing or strengthening his ntal battlefield, or for modifying the consciousnesses within the diary—he needed soul fragnts.
And wraiths happened to be one of the best sources for high-quality soul fragnts.
Saul had originally planned to venture into the death-soaked Borderland to gather enough wraiths or resentful spirits. He hadn’t expected this seemingly prosperous Caugust to be crawling with them.
And since Kist had gone out of his way to point it out, it certainly wasn’t just a few stray ghosts.
“Well, that’s not bad. But where am I supposed to find the wraiths?”
[Hmm? Are you sure you want to ask ? I do know where they’re most concentrated~]
Saul imdiately shut his mouth.
Right—never ask him. Even if he tells the truth, he’ll definitely point Saul toward the most dangerous and haunted spot of all.
Probably sothing to do with that tree.
[If you’re not going to ask, then let’s end this exchange here. I don’t know anything else anyway.]
The last line appeared clearly on the blackened page.
Even though the hypnotized consciousness Kist used still had plenty of energy, the page it resided on shattered without rcy.
Saul faintly heard Lokai’s terrified scream.
Unfortunate, and helpless.
Like an insect on the road, crushed under a passing carriage without ever being noticed.
The diary closed, and Saul gained another na for his list of black pages.
Saul sat back in the sofa, deep in thought. After a while, he smiled and shook his head.
“Kist probably ant to give a choice between the tree and the wraiths—so I’d compare the two and pick the safer path of harvesting wraiths.”
“And even if I saw through it, I’d still choose to hunt wraiths in the end. After all, they’ll be easier to deal with here than in the Borderland.”
“Everything he does seems to be pushing to grow faster…”
With that thought, Saul stood up and headed out.
“Master?” Agu and Ann stood as well, confused.
Saul paused in his steps and gave a quick command, “You two keep following the original plan.”
“As for … I’m leaving the city and coming back in disguise.”
“I’m off to claim the other gift Kist left behind.”
(End of Chapter)
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