novelnext Chapter 44 Going to a Wider World
Chapter 44 Going to a Wider World
No one knows how much Cassius paid to get to where he is today.
She was originally the daughter of a prominent marquis family in the south of the empire.
When she was ten years old, her family lost in a brutal political battle.
Her family was invaded overnight by mages under the enemy's command. After the defeat, the family members were stripped of their marquis status, banished from the city, and exiled to remote areas.
She was the only one who was sent away from the family by her parents because a kind priest discovered that she had a natural affinity for the element of light, and she became a mage apprentice.
From that moment on, Cassius fully understood one thing:
So-called noble bloodlines, wealth, and even morality are all fragile in the face of absolute magical power.
The power of the mage is the only truth in this world.
To climb the ranks, she meditated day and night; to acquire resources, she could grovel before those fat, burly guild elders.
Everything she did was to become a person at the top of power, an elder of the Mage Guild.
She is 45 years old this year.
Although the gift of light has given her the ability to maintain her youthful appearance, making her look like a beauty in her thirties, the sluggishness and dryness of her magical circuits during late-night meditations serve as a constant reminder:
The cruelty of time cannot be stopped even by magic.
She has only just entered the fourth-tier [Archmage] realm.
If I can't make any significant contributions to the guild in the next few years, I'm afraid I'll only ever be stuck here, ending up like Hamelin, living out my days in a remote border town like Silver Town as a resident mage advisor.
Now, the opportunity has arrived.
She never imagined she would be able to get involved in breaking the ancient forbidden technique, the [Earth Core Furnace Array].
After all, she majored in the light element and knew nothing about the fire element. She originally intended to give this incomplete scroll to Hamelin for research.
But this boy, who didn't even have a mage's badge, casually said...it might be possible to repair it?!
Cassius was completely smitten.
Once the core furnace is cracked, the harsh winter environment of the North can be completely resolved.
Such a massive contribution, enough to change the map of the empire, will surely impress the Guild Council!
Before long, she will be able to advance to the fifth rank [Grand Magister], and even move towards the sixth rank [Sage].
Cassius suppressed his inner joy, maintaining his composure and elegance, and looked intently at Rom, asking:
"Young man, I believe in your talent."
"So, in exchange for repairing the formation, what do you want?"
Romú, however, seemed to have already prepared his answer.
He looked directly into Cassius's eyes, his tone calm:
"I need to enter the Mage Guild headquarters. Promise me that first, and then we can discuss repairing the array."
In fact, with Luo Mu's current abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for him to pass the test in Red Dragon City.
But what he needs is a qualified guide.
Although he took Jack as his underling, the kid was only a second-tier mage, while Cassius was different; she was a mage who had been established in Red Dragon City for many years.
In this way, he could access more "spell databases" and even the Church's "light element spells".
He needs the complete code for more spells to elevate his system privileges.
He wanted to know if he could crack the system's secrets when he elevated himself to the highest system privileges, even to the point of being able to compile the system itself.
A secret about why I came into this world.
...
However, Cassius's smile faltered slightly.
"You're going to... Red Dragon City?"
Looking at the calm-looking young man in front of her, a sense of unease began to rise in her heart.
She instantly grasped the implications.
no…
This boy's talent is truly extraordinary.
Once he steps into the power vortex of Red Dragon City, where factions are rife, his brilliance will shine as brightly as a giant torch in the night.
At that time, the old monsters in the guild and the heads of the major magic families will definitely rush to win him over.
If Rom escapes her control and is taken away by the guild's higher-ups, wouldn't she be handing over the [Earth Core Furnace Array], which could change her fate?
Why would someone lower themselves to come to this freezing cold to endure Hamelin's sarcastic remarks? Wouldn't they just be doing all the work for someone else?
"Taking him there is too risky..."
Cassius thought to himself, "But even if I don't take him, he'll go to Red Dragon City on his own sooner or later..."
Just as Cassius frowned.
"Creak—"
The dilapidated wooden door behind them was slowly pushed open.
Hamelin, wearing his old coat and leaning on his oak staff, came out with faltering steps.
The old monk stepped between the two.
He gave Romü a long look, then turned his gaze to Cassius.
"Cassius".
"I'll just consider what happened back then a misunderstanding... I, an old man, won't hold it against you."
Before Cassius could react, Hamelin took a deep breath and said solemnly:
"But I want you to take him to Red Dragon City and let him take the test! I want you to use all the resources in your guild to protect him."
From now on, he is your student.
Cassius was taken aback when he heard Hamerlin's suggestion, but then he was overjoyed.
Yup!
If Rom were to join the guild as an outsider, it would indeed be difficult to control him, and he could be taken over by other factions.
But now, Hamelin is actually going to entrust Romulus to him...
"good!"
Cassius, fearing Hamerlin might change his mind, readily agreed.
"Mr. Hamelin?"
Luo Mu was stunned; he truly hadn't expected the old man to suddenly pull this stunt.
How did I get kicked out of the sect?
Even though Hamelin didn't teach me anything, you old man can't just make decisions on your own!
Hamelin turned his head, looked at Rom, and forced an ugly smile.
"I heard everything."
I'd be perfectly content to spend my life here in Blackrock Town, living out my days in comfort. I'm just your mentor; there's nothing more I can teach you.
The old man reached out and patted Rom's shoulder, his eyes slightly red:
"You belong to a wider world, go forth!"
"Go to Red Dragon City and let those blind fools see the disciples I, Hamelin, have trained!"
After saying that, Hamelin turned his head away from the two of them.
"Cassius, Rom is in your hands. If anything goes wrong in Red Dragon City, I'll make you pay! I'll burn Silver Town down!"
Having said that, Hamelin looked away without another glance, and limped slowly toward the stone house, leaning on his wand.
"Great! Boss...we can go back to Red Dragon City together!" Jack, who had been eavesdropping behind the door, jogged over, rubbing his hands together with a joyful expression.
Elena was also filled with anticipation upon hearing the news, and was genuinely happy for Rom.
However, Rom ignored the two people beside him and simply watched the figure walking towards the stone house.
In my memory of more than a decade, the old man's back had never looked so hunched.
In this world, even fathers and sons often turn against each other for money and power.
But this stubborn old man silently protected his apprentice, who had no magic powers, for fifteen years.
Rom took a deep breath of the cold air.
As a modern person who is used to searching for the optimal solution in code all year round, he doesn't quite know how to express the deep bond between master and apprentice.
He silently opened the system's control panel.
【Fire Gathering Formation 2.0】
【run…】
"Buzz—"
As Luo Mu walked around, several small fire-gathering arrays ignited around the stone house, quietly connecting according to the direction of the underground demonic veins.
The small fire array, which was originally burning only inside the house, suddenly lit up brightly.
A steady and persistent warm current, centered on the stone house, silently enveloped the entire courtyard, completely isolating it from the wind and snow outside.