Chapter 102 (2/2)

“You can stop talking nonsense now, I will never believe you and I don’t need you to find the Scrolls of Enlightenment. I’ll do it myself.”

These scrolls may be very powerful, and perhaps they really could help people to ascend to the Legendary level, but so what? Link had the help of the gaming system, so he would never encounter an insuperable stumbling block where he couldn’t advance further. As long as he kept completing the missions he was assigned to, he would continue to earn more Omni Points that would help him get stronger. So, why would he do something so risky as releasing Darris?

Seeing Link’s cold and indifferent attitude, the fear Darris’ heart melted and turned into boiling hatred. The resentment of the words from his mouth constantly spray out. The contempt he held inside him then exploded into a flurry of bitter words.

“I curse you!” he started saying. “I curse you to a life of loneliness! I curse you to be betrayed by the people you trust the most! I curse yo—”

Snap! Without wasting his breath, Link struck Darris’ neck and knocked him out.

Curse? That might work in scaring ordinary people. But to a Magician, curses were nothing more than the last innocuous barks of a dying dog.

Soon, the East Cove Magic Academy’s front gates came into view. Link could make out from afar that the gatekeeper Vincent was basking in the sun in his garden.

Vincent had not noticed them yet.

To avoid causing a commotion, Link had long halted the Wolf Storm spell, then he used Magician’s Hand to carry Darris into the gates of the East Cove Magic Academy.

When they entered the gates, Vincent finally noticed the blackened and burned body of Darris. He rose from his chair and rushed towards them.

“Link, who is this hapless man? What happened to him?” asked Vincent.

Link bowed respectfully at Vincent as he always did, then said, “When I found him, he told me he was Darris, the Magician Bale’s chief disciple. But you can see how bad his condition is yourself, so I’m not sure if he really is who he claims to be. Mr. Vincent, what should I do?” Link thought it was wisest to only inform the highest officials in the East Cove Magic Academy of what Bale and Darris were up to. There was no need to spread the news to the others.

Vincent was stunned when he heard the name. Darris? Isn’t he the young gifted Magician of the East Cove Magic Academy? But how did he get into such a ghastly state?

He was almost completely disfigured and unrecognizable, so it was not certain at all if this man truly was Darris. But if it really was him, then he must’ve been attacked by an unimaginably powerful Magician. But who in the Girvent Forest would have the audacity to attack a Magician from the East Cove Magic Academy? This turned out to be a grave situation after all.

Vincent thought that it was much too serious for him to handle, he must bring the matter up to the dean. “You wait for me here,” he told Link. “I must report this to the dean!”

Although it was Link’s intention to inform the dean of Bale’s and Darris’ involvement in black magic, still, he couldn’t let Vincent go to the dean now. The dean had never met Link and he never suspected Bale. If it all came down to his words against Bale’s, Link feared the dean would completely dismiss everything he said as nonsense. Furthermore, if they acted too hastily, the news might get leaked to Bale and he could easily escape before they got to him.

It was even possible that Vincent might think of doing Bale a favor and notify Bale of the situation first.

And that was just one of the possibilities of how things could go wrong. There were countless other ways where problems might arise.

But Link was prepared for all of it. He took a step forward, and held on to Vincent.

“Mr. Vincent, wait, I think it’s better not to inform the dean yet. We shouldn’t let anyone else know either, in case it was all a misunderstanding. This person might not really be Darris after all, and that could cause a huge problem.”

Vincent realized he was acting too rashly. Link was right. When he considered it carefully, it was indeed unwise to go straight to the dean. He was the gatekeeper, if this turned out to be a mistake, it would cast him in a bad light—and he wouldn’t want that!

He was satisfied with his current position as the gatekeeper, where the work was easy, and he got to put on airs too. He was planning to work in this position until the last day of his life, if possible. He wouldn’t do anything that might put his position at a risk.

“What should we do, then?” asked Vincent.

“Isn’t the Magician Moira the dean’s favorite disciple? She’s kind and gentle, so I think you’d better find her first. Even if this turned out to be a mistake, I’m sure she won’t blame you. If it isn’t a mistake, then she could promptly report the incident to the dean without delay, don’t you agree?”

Vincent slapped his thigh immediately as he heard Link’s explanation.

“You’re right, I’ll go find Moira now!” he said.

He hurried into the academy and went straight to Moira’s Mage Tower.