This wizard only wants to take students

Chapter 38: Lucien’s Thoughts

Lucien looked at Carly and slowly shook his head.

Then he unfolded the mission scroll and carefully examined its contents.

[Mission] Investigate the Disappearance of Apprentice Elno Shea
[Description] Elno Shea, the stationed wizard on Kose Island, has been out of contact with the Academy for six months. During this time, the Academy sent witchcraft apprentices to investigate, but all attempts failed. According to reliable information, the last sighting of Elno Shea was near Lockby Village, next to the Zibal Forest on Kose Island…

[Requirements] (Complete any one to fulfill the mission; to be carried out jointly by the three assigned apprentices):

Investigate the mystery behind Elno Shea’s disappearance and resolve the underlying supernatural cause.

Take over Elno Shea’s position on Kose Island for three years to ensure uninterrupted supply of Moonlight Moss.

“Hah.” Lucien closed the scroll and let out a soft breath.

Carly still looked like she wanted to say something, but Lucien interrupted her.

“This is a compulsory mission, so don’t argue anymore, Carly.”

Carly fell silent.

Within the Greybone Academy, the hierarchy was strict. Apart from the mysterious and unreachable Headmaster at the top, the ranks consisted of Official Wizards, Level-3 Apprentice Wizards, and the weaker lower-level apprentices—forming three distinct classes.

Perhaps Level-3 apprentices looked high and mighty to the weaker ones, playing the role of the exploiters. But in front of Official Wizards, Level-3 apprentices were just the exploited. The clearest sign of this was the compulsory mission assigned every three years—once scheduled, it could not be refused.

Of course, due to the contract’s constraints, the Academy wouldn’t assign suicidal missions—like sending an apprentice to confront an Official Wizard from another faction.

But many of these regulations had loopholes. Take Lucien’s mission for example—it looked simple on paper and adhered to the rules.

However, in reality, this investigation was a death trap for a regular Level-3 apprentice. Normally, such a task should be led by an Official Wizard to ensure safety.

The missing Elno Shea was only a seasoned Level-2 apprentice. His strength merely matched that of a Level-3 apprentice thanks to years of experience and two compatible magic tools. In truth, he might have been even weaker than Apollo, who had previously fought Lucien.

But that wasn’t the point. The real issue lay in the casually mentioned line: “The Academy sent witchcraft apprentices to investigate, but all attempts failed.”

Based on what Lucien had learned, three Level-2 apprentices had already gone missing, and one Level-3 and one Level-2 apprentice had died on Kose Island!

Even Official Wizards had been alerted.

Just recently, Wizard Heli personally went to investigate Kose Island. After searching for over a month, he found nothing suspicious and had no choice but to return.

Yet because Kose Island produced the rare resource Moonlight Moss, the Academy was unwilling to abandon it.

With no Official Wizard willing to sacrifice themselves to be stationed there, the Academy decided to assign three Level-3 apprentices to form a mission team and investigate.

If no results were found, they would have to stay on the island for three years, to ensure that the disappearance wouldn’t affect the island’s operations.

But everyone understood—the danger on Kose Island hadn’t disappeared; it had merely been hidden or relocated.

If it had relocated, the mission team would just be exiled to the remote island for three years. But if it was hidden…

That would be troublesome.

After all, the danger that had killed a fully prepared Level-3 apprentice—without even a chance to send a message—had to be at least the peak of Level-3 strength, if not outright Official Wizard level.

Lucien and the other two apprentices were clearly being used as elite cannon fodder—sent out to “step on the landmine.”

“We depart in a month, huh? Still some time left,” Lucien muttered, exhaling again. When he saw Carly’s eyes starting to water, it felt like she was about to hand him a bouquet for his sacrifice.

He gave a stiff smile and lightly knocked on Carly’s head.

This time he used a bit more force—just enough to make her tear up.

“Ugh…” Carly covered her head.

“It’s just a field mission. No need to be so pessimistic,” Lucien said, gently rubbing her head. “And who knows? This might actually be a good thing for me—better than staying in the Academy.”

Carly looked at him, thinking he was just trying to comfort her.

But she was wrong.

Lucien meant what he said.

Because he wasn’t just any Level-3 apprentice—he was a reincarnated outsider from another world.

When Lucien first transmigrated into this world, he had taken over the body of a severely injured Level-3 apprentice. Using his system’s powers, he recovered—appearing to others like a lucky survivor who had miraculously healed.

No one suspected anything unusual.

But if his strength suddenly started soaring like a rocket, some Official Wizards might become suspicious.

If his system’s secret got exposed, Lucien imagined himself dissected on a wizard’s table—or worse, shared among several curious Wizards, preserved like a specimen.

So unless he could avoid the gaze of the Official Wizards, Lucien would have to hide, acting like a normal apprentice, and eventually find a backing Official Wizard—accepting both protection and harsh, unequal terms.

If he chose to lie low, he’d stay safe, but his progress would slow down. And then… what about the threat from Norian?

Lucien didn’t believe any future sponsor would go to war with another Official Wizard just for his sake.

Besides, Lucien didn’t want to sign such contracts.

Because once signed, it would be like a five-year indentured servitude—with heavy restrictions and constant pressure.

(End of Chapter)