“Book?” Saul blinked, then pulled a thin silk-bound book from his satchel. “This book was from you?”
“Yes. A Guide to Corpse Refinement. I thought the knowledge there would guide you to take an interest in the soul. I didn’t expect you to start dabbling in body modification instead.”
“Big Pink’s even stronger than Mentor Kaz!” A realization suddenly struck Saul. “And he values me.”
But the appreciation and attention came so vaguely and unexpectedly that it left Saul a little uneasy.
Another thought surfaced: “At first, Mentor Kaz clearly didn’t want to deal with me, but the next day he told me Sid would be away from the tower for a month. I thought Kaz was just erratic and unpredictable… but it turns out he had Big Pink behind him! And Big Pink—he helped get Sid out of the way and gave me time to grow.”
All at once, a flood of odd moments from his time with Kaz resurfaced in Saul’s mind.
But Big Pink seemed to think Saul hadn’t understood what he meant.
“Saul, body modification only offers short-term gains. What you should really be exploring is the soul.”
A split opened in the bandages across Big Pink’s chest. Two fingers reached in and plucked out another silk-bound book.
Another book.Big Pink held it out to Saul.
“Take a look at this one.”
Saul hurried to take it. The pages were filled with elegant cursive handwriting.
Speculations on Soul Vessels
“If it’s too difficult, you can study it alongside the corpse book. I think you’ll gain a lot. I’m also hoping you’ll come up with some new insights.”
In that moment, Saul felt like he was back in the corporate world.
Boss, I’m a newbie! I don’t have anything insightful to contribute yet!
“Understood, sir. I’ll study it carefully.”
“No need to rush. This stuff could keep you busy for a few years.”
Saul held the book gingerly, afraid he’d tear it with even the slightest pressure.
At the same time, he was nervous—
Because he was… about to complain again.
If there's a problem, go to your backer.
“But, sir, the reason I’ve been risking my life learning body modification is because I want to get out of danger as soon as possible.”
He paused there.
He needed to watch Big Pink’s reaction to decide how to phrase what came next.
Big Pink’s silver eyes calmly watched him, patiently waiting.
Saul swallowed and continued. “I have an enemy. He’s far stronger than me. If I don’t grow quickly, it’s only a matter of time before I die at his hands.”
But Big Pink merely looked up—at the ceiling.
Saul followed his gaze but saw only a pitch-black wall.
“Saul, there’s one thing you need to understand.”
Saul immediately looked back at him, listening intently.
“Powerful enemies. Frightening spells. Bizarre spirits… Saul, what’s truly terrifying is the unknown.”
“When you walk the path of a witch one day, you’ll understand. Compared to the dangers of studying wizardly, the death threat from a Second-Rank apprentice is nothing.”
Saul’s eyes widened.
Big Pink even knew who his enemy was!
But Saul wasn’t really a twelve-year-old child. He wouldn’t be lured by some vague promise.
If you want to eat the pie, first you have to make sure you don’t starve before getting to it.
He didn’t know how dangerous wizardly studies could be, but he did know—if he couldn’t take care of Sid, there was no future to think about.
Big Pink had refused to help him deal with his enemy directly.
Disappointing, but not unexpected.
“I understand, sir.”
Big Pink looked down at Saul’s head. “Why’d you stop calling me Big Pink?”
He didn’t wait for Saul’s reply before continuing, “Use knowledge as a tool, not a goal. You’re already strong. Don’t lose yourself in the modifications.”
With that, Big Pink rocked forward on his toes and slowly wobbled past Saul. “Think it over. Oh, and don’t tell anyone you met me.”
Saul hadn’t understood a word of that last part. He blinked and turned around to ask—
But there was only a wall.
A wall?
He froze. Looking back again, he found himself standing in front of Dorm Room 603.
He was… back?
How familiar!
Don’t tell me “Don’t say you met me” is a spell trigger for teleportation?
With Big Pink gone, there was no catching up to him.
Saul could only quietly return to his room, still holding Speculations on Soul Vessels.
The hourglass clock on the wall showed it was already 1 a.m.
No wonder the dormitory halls were so empty.
He placed both Corpse and Soul book on his desk side by side, still unable to figure out why Big Pink helped him, had Kaz teach him, and even came personally tonight to advise him.
Talent scouting?
Heh.
“Soul…” Saul repeated the keyword of the night.
“Knowledge is a tool, not a goal. My goal is to survive, to become a powerful wizard—not knowledge.”
He still couldn’t make sense of it, and finally gave up.
“As someone from the bottom, better focus on the basics first. If it really comes down to it, next time I see Big Pink, I’ll just ask him to spell it out.”
He had just put the two books away—he really couldn’t concentrate at the moment—when he heard someone knocking on the door.
Knock! Knock-knock!
The sound was loud, forceful.
For some reason, Saul could hear urgency—and a hint of fear.
He went to the door. “Who is it?”
“…Mm.”
Senior Byron?
Saul opened the door—and it really was him.
Byron didn’t immediately enter. He glanced cautiously into the room.
“It’s just me,” Saul said quietly.
Byron immediately slipped inside.
Once Saul closed the door, Byron slashed his throat with his finger.
“I got your signal, but…” His pupils trembled. “I didn’t dare go.”
Only then did Saul remember that he had crushed the third vial—his signal for help from Byron.
Each vial cost thirty credits. One life-saving rescue? A hundred. Expensive stuff.
“I wasted thirty credits tonight,” Saul said darkly.
“Who was your enemy? And how are you still alive?”
Byron could still feel the lingering fear.
He had been standing in the hallway on the second floor of the East Tower. One turn was all it would’ve taken to reach the ramp.
He knew Saul was in danger. He’d promised that even if it was just to retrieve the body, he’d go.
But that one step—he just couldn’t take it.
The mute giant next to him had shifted positions for the first time—curling into a corner, head down, arms over his head, shaking with his butt in the air.
It looked ridiculous, but Byron didn’t even feel like laughing. Honestly, he wanted to copy the pose himself.
The nameless fear had kept his right foot in the air, left foot planted, for several minutes.
Then, suddenly, everything returned to normal.
His leg had gone numb. He nearly fell.
After a while, he finally worked up the courage to go up the ramp but there was no Saul.
He didn’t know if Saul had made it out alive.
Against something that terrifying, not even a body would’ve been surprising.
Byron returned to his room in silence.
He was about to advance to Third-Rank Apprentice. He had once felt powerful—he’d even made plans with Saul to go on adventures together after graduating.
But tonight’s experience left him lost again.
He might be advancing soon, but in the face of that kind of fear, he was still just as weak—as if nothing had changed.
He had stood silently in his room until midnight before finally summoning the courage to come check if Saul had returned. To see if he was still alive.
He hadn’t expected that after facing something that terrifying, Saul looked like nothing had happened.
“Oh,” Saul answered calmly, “bit of a misunderstanding. That wasn’t an enemy tonight.”
“Who was it?” Byron asked immediately.
“You really want to know?”
“No!” Byron jerked his head away. “I don’t want to know.”
His face twitched violently.
As if trying to flee from his own skin.
Watching Byron tremble in fear, Saul couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for him.
At the same time, he once again confirmed—Big Pink was someone even scarier than their mentors.
It wasn’t hard to guess who Big Pink really was.
But Saul didn’t want to tear through that veil. Once pierced, he might have to face blood and death directly.
He was still young. He couldn’t carry that burden yet.
But Big Pink’s words had made one thing clear—
Compared to Big Pink, compared to the mentors, Sid wasn’t really a threat at all.
Big Pink may have refused to deal with Sid directly, but he had always been watching Saul.
Since that was the case, instead of tiptoeing around and bracing for future retaliation, maybe it was better to draw this trouble out now.
He really was already strong!
Yep. Big Pink said so.
(End of Chapter)