A Wizard’s Secret

Soon enough, a group of horse riders hurried from the distance. Sitting astride the horses were Spell Casters dressed as Wizards. They were the melee Wizards of Boulder City, famous far and wide, who possessed gallant battle strength.

“Lady Phillie, what happened here?”

At the head of the group was a Wizard who wore bright silver armor. His gaze took the measure of Merlin and Wizard Darknight, following which he became more alert.

Lady Phillie, who was in the horse carriage appeared calm, and said slowly, “Wizard Putsy, earlier, on the road, I faced with Spell Casters sent by Weston of Tagan City who wanted to kill me. Thank goodness Wizard Merlin and Wizard Darknight happened to pass by and rescued me, so I was able to narrowly escape with my life. Since Wizard Putsy has arrived, I’ll hand this over to you. We’ll head back first. I still want to thank Wizard Darknight and Merlin personally!”

“Tagan City is really getting more brazen! As long as Lady Phillie is fine, all is well. Both Wizards, we give thanks for rescuing her. You’ll receive the friendship of all of Boulder City!”

Wizard Putsy bowed slightly, presenting to Merlin and Wizard Darknight a gesture of courtesy. Following that, Wizard Putsy led his group to surround Lady Phillie’s carriage, giving her strict protection. It looked like Lady Phillie held a high position in Boulder City.

“Both Wizards, there’s still a distance before we reach Boulder City. Why don’t you both board the carriage?”

Lady Phillie parted the curtains and said to Merlin and Darknight. However, Darknight shook his head slightly. “Why don’t you go in, Master, and I’ll follow behind. I can guard against these melee Wizards as well!”

Merlin bobbed his head. It was true that although Lady Phillie was fearful of his threatening presence, and would not dare reveal the truth, one should not let down one’s guard around these melee Wizards. With a Fourth-level Wizard like Darknight keeping watch, Merlin could be at ease.

Therefore, Merlin did not hesitate and immediately boarded the horse carriage.

It was warm inside the carriage, and there was also a fragrance, allowing one to feel calm and relaxed. As soon as Merlin entered, he saw that the wide eyes of the young girl in Lady Phillie’s lap fixed upon him curiously without wavering.

“How do I address Sir Wizard?”

Lady Phillie appeared easygoing and relaxed as she inquired softly.

“Merlin!”

Merlin answered calmly, following which he lightly shut his eyes and said not a word. Before ascertaining the situation in this dimension, Merlin was not about to divulge any information to anyone other than his slave who had signed a contract, much less ask more questions on his own initiative.

This was because, in the process of inquiry, it was likely that he would reveal information which could expose his own identity. After all, Merlin’s method of “arrival” was far too inconceivable and had already roused some suspicions in Lady Phillie.

Nonetheless, Lady Phillie was merely the president of a trade alliance in a small city and did not have extensive worldly experience. Naturally, she did not know the indication of Merlin’s method of arrival.

Lady Phillie merely perceived a dark, cold force emitting from Merlin all over his body. This was a Spell Caster who was dangerous and formidable and must not be provoked lightly.

It was the little girl in Lady Phillie’s lap who stared steadily and curiously at Merlin. To be more accurate, she was staring at the black cat Didimoss on Merlin’s shoulder.

The black cat Didimoss sprawled quietly on Merlin’s shoulder, looking very strange.

“Didimoss!”

Merlin used a special method to convey a message to Didimoss, and Didimoss gave a slight, full-bodied shiver of delicious languor, using the same special method to reply, “What is it?”

“Didimoss, how are you feeling now? That impact of entering a new dimension was not a small one. Even I’m slightly injured.”

Merlin was injured indeed but not heavily. He was considered extremely lucky to survive for someone like him who was merely a Fourth-level Spell Caster. No matter how powerful he was, he would not dare set foot rashly into a new dimension.

Merlin had been injured but as he looked at Didimoss, the cat did not seem to be injured.

“I’m now a half-spirit. Even a greater impact would not cause me much harm. This is an all-new dimension. Although there are no gods here, we must be cautious and prudent. We’ll decide our next move after determining the situation here.”

Didimoss was no longer just a spirit of the Runic Magic Circle. After a thousand years of transformation, he was a half-spirit whose intellect was on par with an adult human. If fate allowed, he might even possibly metamorphose into an actual creature of blood and fresh, with a real living body.

This was the final goal that all spirits aimed for – to become an actual living being. This was because only then could they cultivate in the same way Spell Casters did.

Otherwise, it would be like this. The black cat Didimoss was merely unafraid of physical attacks but had no method of attacking, and would never advance in the slightest.

…

The horse carriage was not that fast. It was about after an hour when it gradually stopped, and clamorous sounds came from outside.

Merlin parted the curtains and saw that the sky had turned to dusk. All around him were wide streets. Although the sky was turning dark, there were still peddlers who were beginning to prepare snacks, calling out to peddle their fare.

This was completely different from what Merlin had seen in the Kingdom of Blackmoon. There, once it was night, the main streets would become deserted, patrolled by city guards. If they saw anyone wandering around, the guards would approach them and interrogate them meticulously.

However, when it turned dusky night here, it became even more bustling and crowded.

As if sensing Merlin’s puzzlement, Lady Phillie smiled, and revealed all manner of charm as she said softly, “Wizard Merlin might not know that Boulder City is a city of commerce. There are many merchants, customers, and even Spell Casters who come and go. Therefore, no matter whether it’s day or night, Boulder City is just as busy.”

“Oh? The current prosperity of Boulder City must surely be thanks to, in no small part, Lady Phillie’s efforts.”

Merlin had vaguely guessed that it must be due to this Lady Phillie who, having an outstanding mind for business, slowly squeezed her competitor, Tagan City, to the extreme, causing Tagan City to have no choice at last but to pay a huge price, inviting Darknight to kill Lady Phillie.

Lady Phillie smiled but did not say anything. Instead, she led Merlin down the horse carriage.

Before them was a small building with three floors. The architecture was somewhat similar to the shiny, modern buildings of Merlin’s previous life, and it was different from the ancient castles of the Kingdom of Blackmoon. Merlin realized that it was because this was a style unique to this dimension.

After all, each dimension had its own unique style.

“Wizard Merlin, Wizard Darknight, you’ve had a long continuous journey and must be tired. The servant girl will bring you to your own rooms on the second floor.”

Merlin nodded, following which they parted from Lady Phillie, and directly went to the second floor.

The room was luxuriously decorated but it still retained a soft, warm touch, causing one to feel relaxed. However, Merlin did not relax in the slightest. He immediately summoned Wizard Darknight to his room for he had to understand the general situation of this new dimension.

“Master!”

Wizard Darknight stood respectfully before Merlin. As a Fourth-level Spell Caster, he knew more than Lady Phillie. Although Wizard Darknight could not surmise Merlin’s true identity from the strange way that he had appeared, he knew that it could not be that simple.

However, now that he had become Merlin’s slave, of course, he would not dare investigate the truth behind Merlin.

“Darknight, tell me, do you know if there are gods in this world?”

Merlin might as well ask directly. He was not afraid that Wizard Darknight would guess his real identity. Merlin possessed the contract with Darknight, whose life was in Merlin’s grasp at all times. Even if Darknight learned of something, Merlin did not need to worry at all.

“Gods?”

Darknight was visibly astonished, and he looked at Merlin evasively, following which he quickly lowered his head, becoming submissive. He had the faint idea that Merlin’s identity was of utmost mystery. Perhaps Merlin was a powerful Wizard who came beyond the heavens, like in the legends.

As he thought about this, Darknight found it even harder to calm down. Wizards beyond the heavens had always been unparalleled in their powers, able to bring an endlessly catastrophic existence to the world. Now, he had encountered one.

However, just as Merlin had planned, Darknight was now already his slave. Even if Darknight truly knew Merlin’s identity, he was not of much threat to Merlin.

“Master, do you mean those wicked gods?”

“Wicked gods? Let’s assume that I meant that. Explain in detail.”

Merlin did not know what was actually going on in this dimension, and could only slowly gain an understanding from Darknight’s words. In particular, Merlin needed to learn more about the gods.

“Master, the wicked gods ruled the entire world over two thousand years ago. At that point, those wicked gods used Normies as slaves, forcing them to believe in them. They even have to offer tributes, and the entire world was shrouded in the sinister shadow of the wicked gods.

“Thereafter, the Great Wizard Mogan arrived. After a war spanning a century, Wizard Mogan finally defeated the wicked gods, saving the entire world!

“Upon defeating the wicked gods, the Great Wizard Mogan felt that Normies were far too weak, and so bestowed us with some spells and Spell Models, guiding us to become Spell Casters. Then, he established the Glorious Palace. All those who had become Ninth-level Spell Casters could go to the Glorious Palace and accept a test. If they passed the test, they would become the Glorious Wizards of the Glorious Palace!

“According to rumors, in the Glorious Palace, the Great Wizard Mogan would appear from time to time, personally educating those Glorious Wizards, leading them in their growth to become on par with Wizard Mogan. Therefore, almost all Spell Casters, once they reached the Ninth-level, would participate in the test of the Glorious Palace!”

Wizard Darknight described in detail the matters regarding the gods as well as the Great Wizard Mogan who had defeated the wicked gods. Merlin knew very well that he must be a powerful Legendary Wizard.

Wizard Mogan even built the Glorious Palace, the name of which resembled the Glorious Land. He must be a Spell Caster who had come from the Glorious Land. After knowing all this, Merlin did not need to understand anything else.

So much for wicked gods, and the Great Wizard saving the world – all these were nothing more than propaganda. Since Wizard Mogan had defeated the gods of this dimension, naturally, he would spread propaganda freely. In this manner, he made the entire world understand that everything was completely under his control.