As Ethan was observing his surroundings, the door slid open silently.
Three figures entered the room one after another.
Leading them was a tall man dressed in a deep black robe, with a dark red runic badge embroidered on his collar.
The second was a woman with a gaunt frame, wearing a grayish-white robe tied with a dark red belt. Her face was pale, almost bloodless, while her lips were a startling, eerie shade of deep purple. Her eyes were light gray, with a faint ring of golden patterns circling her pupils.
The last person was short, wearing a dark green short robe that revealed arms covered in tattoos. His eyes were strange, with amber-colored vertical pupils that narrowed instinctively when he looked at people, much like a reptile.
The man in the black robe spoke first. "We are Enforcers from the Academy Enforcement Department: Forest Statue Wizard, Death Cry Wizard, and Chaotic Eye Wizard."
He paused, his gaze settling on Ethan's face once more.
"Ethan Leo, Grade Five Aptitude. You only entered the academy fifty days ago, yet you've already completed your Wizard Tongue studies and even exchanged for a meditation method."
Ethan bowed slightly. "You flatter me, my lord."
Forest Statue Wizard didn't acknowledge the compliment. He simply walked to the chair by the wall, sat down, and jerked his chin toward Ethan. "Hmph. Tell us everything."
"Yes."
Ethan stood straight and recounted the events from start to finish.
He began with accepting the mission, followed by his arrival at the mine where he discovered the intelligence was completely wrong—over four hundred Human-Faced Wolves were besieging the site.
He described the ambush after clearing the pack, how Raymond and the other three were killed on the spot, and how he fought back in desperation, killing six of the attackers and capturing two before returning to the academy.
He told the story at a steady pace, including what needed to be said while leaving out a single word of what didn't.
"I see," Forest Statue Wizard said, standing up. "You are not permitted to leave for the next few days. The academy will investigate."
"Yes, I understand."
The three Wizards said nothing more and turned to leave.
The metal door slid shut silently, and the room returned to silence.
Ethan stood there for a moment, and only after confirming there was no movement outside did he sit back down on the metal bed.
The bed was hard, but it didn't matter.
He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.
He wondered if this display would leave a good impression on the academy.
Although he had acted like a cold, cruel madman on the Life-and-Death Stage, the act of carrying his classmates' bodies back to the academy surely had to count for something, right?
Most people in Blood Bone Tower lacked compassion, but being heartless didn't mean they were brainless. A freshman who could fight and kill—and who would bring his teammates' bodies back—was far more valuable in anyone's eyes than the trash who only thought of saving their own skins.
Besides, those four corpses weren't carried back for nothing.
Raymond and the others might be dead, but they weren't necessarily without connections. Any apprentice who could survive to the second tier in Blood Bone Tower had some degree of a network. Since he brought them back, those connections might not be moved to tears of gratitude, but at least they wouldn't treat him like he didn't exist.
In the worst-case scenario, even if he gained nothing else, the act itself served as a brand.
"Ethan Leo is a man you can count on; he really steps up when things get real."
"If things go south, even if you die, your remains won't be left to rot."
In a place like Blood Bone Tower, strength was paramount, but reputation was equally important.
No one wanted to team up with someone who would sell out their teammates at a critical moment, and no one dared to trust their back to a coward who would run away.
The image of him walking out with four corpses on his back would spread throughout the academy soon enough.
This was not a losing trade.
Ethan pushed the thoughts aside and continued his meditation.
Two days later, in the early morning, the metal door slid open once again.
Forest Statue Wizard walked in and stopped in front of Ethan. "The investigation is complete. You were right. The mission intelligence for the Sgor Mountains mine in Gold and Silver County was indeed tampered with, and those eight were indeed apprentices from Lost Forest Academy. The academy will handle the aftermath."
He pulled a dark gray card from his sleeve and held it out to Ethan.
"As of today, you are free. These are the rewards for the mission."
Ethan took the card and glanced down at it.
The material was neither metal nor wood; it felt warm and smooth to the touch, with faint silver runes flowing across its surface.
"This is an Academy Credit Card containing five hundred magic stones. It includes your payment for the mission and a reward for the intelligence you brought back. The academy is never stingy about such matters."
Ethan tucked the card into his storage ring and bowed slightly. "Thank you, my lord. I only did what I had to do."
Forest Statue Wizard waved a hand dismissively and left the room without another word.
Ethan pushed open the metal door, and the moment he stepped outside, he paused, slightly surprised.
Not far from the door was the building for the Logistics Area.
"All this time, I was right next to the logistics office," Ethan muttered, heading toward the main hall.
A white-haired old man sat behind the counter, scribbling in a thick ledger.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and glanced at Ethan's face.
"What do you want?"
"Wizardry models."
"Fine."
The old man reached under the counter and pulled out a palm-sized black stone tablet, placing it on the table.
Runes flowed across the tablet's surface, and after a few breaths, rows of text and patterns emerged, floating in mid-air.
【Cantrip Model Directory】
【Offensive】
Fireball: 20 magic stones
Wind Blade: 20 magic stones
Ice Spike: 20 magic stones
Lightning: 25 magic stones
Acid Splash: 18 magic stones
Stone Bullet: 15 magic stones
Thorn Pierce: 15 magic stones
......
【Defensive】
Stone Skin: 25 magic stones
Water Curtain: 22 magic stones
Air Shield: 28 magic stones
Bone Armor: 30 magic stones
Mana Shield: 50 magic stones
......
【Utility】
Light Body: 20 magic stones
Detect Life: 15 magic stones
Night Vision: 10 magic stones
Light: 5 magic stones
......
Ethan's gaze scanned the list, finally stopping at the top few rows.
"Mana Shield, fifty magic stones..." he muttered. "The price difference is huge."
"Of course it is." The old man leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Mana Shield is a pure energy shield. It isn't tied to any specific element, so it can be used in any situation, and its durability is high. Things like Stone Skin or Bone Armor look cheap, but they all have flaws. Stone Skin slows you down, Bone Armor is vulnerable to fire, and Water Curtain can only block ranged attacks. You get what you pay for; that's true everywhere."
Ethan nodded. "I understand. Does learning these cantrips have anything to do with elemental affinity?"
The old man raised an eyelid to look at him. "Of course it does. What's your affinity?"
"I haven't tested it yet."
"Then test it first." The old man reached under the counter again and pulled out a fist-sized crystal. It was transparent, with fine golden lines flowing inside. "Come here."
Rate on N.U.
