This wizard only wants to take students

Chapter 39: Risk and Resolve

Taking on a long-term assignment away from the academy wasn’t a burden for Lucien—it was a golden opportunity. Only by stepping out of the scrutiny of the formal wizards could he finally operate with true freedom.

If he could use this chance to break through and become a formal wizard, then when he returned to the academy, he wouldn’t just rise to the top—he’d no longer need to conceal his ambitions.

After all, the difference between a Level-3 apprentice and a formal wizard might seem like a thin line, but in terms of status, it was a world apart.

One is a wizard; the other, merely an apprentice.

At least within Greybone Academy, no one dared—or even bothered—to pry into a formal wizard’s secrets. Even the high-and-mighty headmaster focused more on winning them over than commanding them.

This made the prospect especially enticing for Lucien.

He wasn’t someone burning with ambition. Frankly, the idea of ruling over his little domain inside the academy, teasing students for fun or quietly whiling away years in a lab, didn’t sound half bad.

From that angle, as long as he could avoid the risks involved, this mission could offer far more reward than danger.

With that thought, Lucien glanced at Carly, who was still visibly anxious, and gave her a gentle smile. “Alright, don’t overthink it. Relax…”

“Lucien… Mentor… I—I want to go with you!” Carly had been holding it in, and finally blurted out the words in a dry, awkward rush.

Lucien chuckled.

“I… I’m strong now too!” Carly puffed up her tiny chest and gave her bow a couple of swings, though her voice still lacked confidence.

“If there’s an enemy, I’ll just… I’ll shoot them! One arrow!” As she watched the smile on Lucien’s face, her own dropped slightly, her cheeks flushing.

Only now did she realize—everything she’d learned, every bit of strength she had, had come from him.

Lucien knew better than anyone what she was truly capable of.

“Alright, we’ll pause the rest of today’s potion experiments. When you get back, don’t forget your daily training and meditation,” Lucien said, reminding her gently.

He had his own preparations to make for the mission.

“I…” Carly opened her mouth, wanting to say more.

“Also, pack your things. We might be gone for quite a while this time,” Lucien added, glancing at her.

Carly blinked.

Then it hit her—and her head shot up, eyes sparkling with excitement. To her, this wasn’t some dangerous, mandatory assignment—it was an adventure, a rare chance to travel.

“Yes, sir! Thank you, Mentor Lucien!” she replied with enthusiasm.

[Carly’s admiration for you has grown. Respect +20]

Lucien: ???

Watching Carly dart off like a little whirlwind, Lucien couldn’t help but shake his head.

He quietly closed the door, activated the protective ward around his study, and sat back down, fingers drumming softly on the table as he sorted through the mission’s details. His brow furrowed.

“If only this mission had come three months later… even half a year would’ve been better.”

Lucien sighed.

This felt like a case of meeting the right opportunity at the wrong time. His current strength left him in a tight spot—but with just a few more months of training, he could’ve handled the risks much more comfortably.

The dangers on Kossay Island, after all, weren’t outrageously severe.

From what intelligence they had, when Greybone Academy dispatched formal wizards to investigate, the enemy didn’t engage—instead, they went into hiding and even erased their tracks.

That caution suggested they weren’t especially powerful. Maybe they’d reached the threshold of becoming a formal wizard, but if so, they were barely scraping by—a gatekeeper type at best. Not the kind who could go toe-to-toe with the real elites.

If they were strong, they wouldn’t need to hide. In fact, Greybone Academy might’ve welcomed them with open arms, even offering them Kossay Island as a personal domain, just to bring them into the fold. No one would’ve batted an eye—not over a few apprentices.

But clearly, the other side wasn’t confident—not against formal wizards.

Unfortunately, their hesitation didn’t apply to someone like Lucien, a mere Level-3 apprentice.

“All fear stems from insufficient firepower,” Lucien muttered with a self-deprecating smile.

Right now, he had only solidified 94 mental sigils. According to the Greybone Meditation Method II, that technically still placed him at Level-2 apprentice.

If he could push his mental strength to 180 sigils or more, he’d reach the revised method’s definition of Level-3—and at that point, his mental sea would expand dramatically, and the quality of his power would leap forward.

By his estimate, reaching 180 sigils would make him the equivalent of a formal wizard’s gatekeeper. He’d have no reason to fear the mission’s dangers.

Even 140–160 sigils would give him a major power boost, enough for him to survive most encounters.

But the real issue was time.

By academy rules, once a student receives a compulsory mission, they get only one month at most to prepare.

“Using conventional methods, I could maybe push to 100–105 sigils before departure, but that still feels too shaky to face what might be on Kossay Island.”

“And those other two Level-3 apprentices assigned to this mission? If they don’t slow me down, I’ll consider it a win.”

Lucien narrowed his eyes. He knew how flexible a wizard’s moral compass could be. Without a strong binding contract, no one would willingly risk their life for a teammate. Most would rather flee at the first sign of trouble—and if someone else bought them time to escape? So much the better.

“I don’t have time to play it safe anymore,” Lucien thought, and in that instant, his eyes hardened with resolve.

He had originally planned to grow gradually, to avoid drawing unnecessary attention. But now, he had no choice—he’d have to rely heavily on potions and external aids to rapidly enhance his strength in a short period of time.

(End of Chapter)