Wizard: I Have a Cultivation System-Chapter 60: Othilia’s Gift

Lawson reined in his horse, glancing down at Murphy from his high perch. He deliberately urged the packhorse forward half a step, its hoof nearly touching the toe of Murphy’s boot.

"Move aside, Groom," Lawson’s voice was cold. "Don’t block my way."

Murphy silently took a step back, bowing his head in a submissive gesture, but his mind was in turmoil.

’Lawson actually has Supernatural Power?’

’Or is he just tainted by it?’

’No! The Life Energy of followers and Knights is a type of Supernatural Power in itself, but this particular power didn’t belong to the Knight system he knew. Instead, it felt closer to the essence of Black Light, yet it also seemed vastly different.’

’Could it be another Witch?’

Watching Lawson’s retreating figure on horseback, Murphy mused to himself.

’It seems this supposedly peaceful Black Wood Forest Outpost is a place of roiling undercurrents and trouble.’

’Should I find an excuse to leave early and avoid this potential trouble for now?’

’Forget it. I chose option two. If I just keep my head down, I shouldn’t run into any other trouble. Otherwise, how could I complete option two?’

Just like that mission in the Twilight Mountain Range—it was incredibly dangerous, enough to get a Knight killed, yet he came out of it alive and well.

After Lawson handed his horse to the outpost’s groom and left, Allen sidled up to Murphy and said in a low voice, "Don’t take it to heart. Once you become the Stable Master, you won’t have to put up with this kind of nonsense."

Murphy couldn’t help but ask, "What makes you so sure?"

Allen gestured with his chin toward Arthur, who happened to be passing by, and said with a knowing wink, "Isn’t it obvious? Lord Arthur values you so much, he even thought of you first when choosing a son-in-law. The position of Stable Master will be yours sooner or later."

Murphy looked at Allen’s "I-know-everything" expression, then glanced over to see Arthur looking their way, and was momentarily speechless.

He shook his head and turned to tend to the horses, leaving Allen standing there with a smile.

It was a smile mixed with smugness, envy, and jealousy.

...

On a hidden hill about three kilometers from Baron Duval’s Castle, Bishop Alberto stood before a makeshift altar.

Since leaving the castle that day, he had not returned to his diocese as everyone assumed. Instead, he had set up camp here with a few loyal Assistant Priests, secretly preparing for this ritual.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the oak leaves, casting dappled specks of light on his white robes, which were embroidered with a crescent moon and stars.

In the center of the altar lay a heavy Holy Scripture. The Moonlight Stone embedded in its silver cover glowed with a soft halo in the night.

In addition to ancient prayers, the pages were also marked with various pieces of intelligence gathered recently, written in special silver ink.

Bishop Alberto’s long fingers brushed across the pages of the Holy Scripture. His gaze swept over the fine annotations as he mused to himself.

’The castle kitchen’s salt consumption has increased by ten percent in recent months, yet they haven’t been seen curing more meat.’

’The water level in the castle well has risen by five percent compared to previous years, but the rainfall during the same period is the same as usual.’

’The washerwomen have found that the bedsheets from the Baron’s chambers are harder to clean of stubborn stains than usual.’

’The apples stored in the cellar are rotting half a month earlier than in previous years.’

’...’

’...’

Years of experience told him that a true Dark Walker would never expose themselves so easily.

These "Traitors" were like startled wild rabbits, fleeing at the slightest disturbance.

’The inexplicable increase in salt...’ The Bishop’s fingertip tapped this line of text as he pondered. ’Salt can purify and protect. Is it for that faint aura of negative energy in the stables? But if someone important were truly hiding in the stables, they would never leave such an obvious trace. Besides, the "Traitors" are so cunning; if I were to investigate, I might be led into a trap.’

’The water level rising for no reason... that defies the laws of Nature. But considering Othilia’s tricks with machinery, perhaps this is a sign of her power. However...’

The Bishop’s gaze grew profound. ’Even if it’s not misinformation, and they really are hiding there, it doesn’t matter. Even if the "Traitors" are using the trick of hiding in plain sight, they will have nowhere to run before the [Star Origin Tracing] ritual.’

’Stubborn stains... a sign of residual negative energy...’

’Fruit rotting prematurely... a symptom of Life Energy being abnormally drained...’

’...’

’...’

Bishop Alberto lifted the Holy Scripture with both hands and began to chant the prayers within.

As the ancient syllables echoed in the night air, the words on the pages seemed to come alive, the silver ink flowing and glittering in the moonlight.

The silver candles around the altar flared to life in response, projecting a spiritual image of the Baron’s Castle and its surroundings into the night sky.

A clear scene appeared above the Holy Scripture. The Black Wood Forest was shrouded in a thin aura of darkness, while a much denser darkness churned in the direction of the stables.

The Bishop’s brow furrowed slightly. He stared at the image and chanted, "With the Holy Scripture as my proof, and the stars as my witness."

As the Bishop chanted, the Holy Scripture trembled in his hands. The silver text on its pages flowed like water, weaving all the intelligence clues into a net of light.

The outline of the Black Wood Forest Outpost gradually appeared at the center of the net, the very nexus of all cause and effect.

Meanwhile, the stables, which had been thick with darkness, were relegated to the very edges of the net of light.

"I’ve found you."

Bishop Alberto said softly, a flicker of Black Light in his eyes.

...

In a garden in a quiet town far to the South, a girl of about fourteen or fifteen was leisurely enjoying her after-dinner tea.

The girl was exceptionally beautiful. Her long, raven hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her skin seem as white as snow.

She wore a black Pearl satin ribbon in her hair. Her knee-length dress was adorned with burgundy bows and puffed sleeves, its hem overlaid with embroidered tulle. She paired this with white lace stockings and black round-toed leather shoes.

Her slender fingers gently held a porcelain cup as she sipped her black tea, her posture impeccably elegant.

Beside her, her maid, Chris, stood quietly in a lavender silk dress. Not far away, two Knights in full Plate Armor stood guard like statues.

Suddenly, the girl’s movements paused for a moment, the porcelain cup spinning gently between her fingertips.

She lifted her gaze toward the Northern Territory, a profound smile gracing the corners of her lips.

"Chris," the girl’s voice was as clear as a silver bell, "don’t you think our esteemed Bishop Alberto is a bit too foolish? To only now discover the gift I left for him?"

She gently set down her teacup, the lace on her cuffs catching the sunlight with a soft sheen. "Or is it that there are simply too few Wizard Apprentices in the Northern Territory that no one has tried to approach that Source of Negative Energy? What a shame. If I had known, I wouldn’t have wasted it like this."

Chris bowed slightly and replied respectfully, "Your Ladyship is wise. Although Bishop Alberto is a master of rituals, his insight is far inferior to yours."

"The trap you laid was so exquisite that he has only just now noticed it. As for the Wizard Apprentices in the Northern Territory..."

"They are indeed unworthy of the gift you so carefully prepared."

Hearing this, the girl let out a light laugh like a string of silver bells, her voluminous skirt swaying gently with her movements. "You have a point, Chris."

She picked up her teacup again, her gaze still fixed on the Northern Territory, a sly glint in her eyes. "Let’s just wait and see how our dear Bishop deals with this gift."