Chapter 1990 Night of Swan Lake <TOC> Chapter 1992 Worries of Youth
Translator: SumTLMan
This was a hall that seemed to epitomize luxury.
The wine-red curtains trimmed with gold, the chandeliers of crystal fluorescence, the tapestry rugs depicting epic tales, the mysterious black candlesticks whose material one couldn’t discern, and the celestial fabric strewn overhead, each element testified to the lavishness of the hall.
It was similar to what Kudou had read about in books, those traditional noble salons built at great expense to showcase one’s heritage.
As Kudou marveled at the sudden change in his surroundings, the tinkling of a piano and the warbling of a song suddenly rose nearby.
Looking up, Kudou saw a troupe of teacup musicians frolicking around the chandelier. Adorable teacups had sprouted slender limbs, playing the piano, tooting flutes, with performers swaying to the music.
One moment, it felt like a noble’s salon, and the next, it seemed to transform into a magical cottage from a fairytale.
Unsure of what exactly was happening, Kudou turned his gaze to the redhead man not far away.
Before, the man with fiery hair stood at the entrance of a cramped room; now, he lounged on a mahogany upholstered sofa, leaning casually against the armrest as if he were in his own home.
“Examiner?” Kudou, with a swift move, flashed and appeared on the coffee table in front of the redhead, looking puzzled: “Is my initiation test taking place here?”
Angel, seeing Kudou standing in a porcelain plate, retained his simple and somewhat naive expression. Standing amidst the grandeur of the magical house, it seemed as though he himself was a delicacy prepared for the place.
Thinking this was some sort of initiation test, Angel couldn’t help but chuckle.
Angel initially wanted to tease Kudou along, but seeing his earnest face, eyes filled with determination and desire, decided to put aside the mischievous thoughts suddenly sprouting in his mind.
“Kudou, this isn’t some kind of initiation test. First, look clearly at who I am.” As Angel finished speaking, every inch of his muscles began to wriggle.
Kudou took a few steps back in fear of the sight before him, accidentally stepping on a spoon at the edge of the plate and sitting down right in the middle of it. Unaware, he tried to move back further but was blocked by the upright handle of the spoon.
It took Kudou a while to realize what had happened. He stood up, and with a quick flash under his feet, he was ready to flee. However, before he could make a move, a pale blue Magic Hand grasped him firmly.
“I remember you being quite brave; when did you become so overly cautious?” Angel, controlling the Magic Hand, forcibly turned Kudou’s face around.
Forced to look at the ‘monster’ behind him, Kudou was startled. The weird, wildly running muscles were gone. Instead, sitting before him was a handsome, blond man, straddling between youth and adulthood, possessing both the freshness of a morning sun and the mature steadiness of noon.
Kudou didn’t recognize the red-haired man from before, but the blond man before him was more than familiar.
“Pa pa… Lord Pat!” Kudou’s face lit up with joy, but the next second, as if afraid of being deceived, he asked, “Are you really Lord Pat? Or is this just an illusion?”
“Indeed more cautious than before, it seems you’ve been through a lot lately.” Angel didn’t explain but simply snapped his fingers, and a high-rise building illusion appeared beside Kudou.
Kudou was more than familiar with this high-rise building. When he was in Angel’s bracelet, the entire Kulakuka tribe lived in this building.
This was something others wouldn’t know. Thus, the man before him was indeed Wizard Pat!
Once Kudou confirmed Angel’s identity, his initial joy quickly shifted to something else. Seemingly remembering something, the surging emotions in his heart transformed into words, rising to his throat.
Just as Kudou was about to express his emotions, he suddenly stopped himself. He wasn’t sure whether he should share his burden with Angel, after all… it really wasn’t Angel’s concern.
However, Kudou didn’t realize that his fluctuating expressions, swinging between joy and conflict, were all being observed by Angel.
In his mind, Angel mused, “It seems, just as Liana said, Kudou is hiding a heavy burden.”
After a while, when Kudou didn’t speak up, Angel took the initiative to ask, “I came to see you because there are some things I want to ask. But before I do, I’m curious why you initially thought I was some sort of examiner?”
Kudou, who had been moving between various adventure groups during this time, was also aware of the outside world. He knew that Angel had advanced to a formal wizard and was no longer an unknown entity. Even with Angel’s gentle questioning, Kudou didn’t dare to take it lightly.
“I submitted an application to join the Tiger Armored Adventure Group the day before yesterday, and they arranged to meet me here today. So, initially, I mistook you for an examiner from the Tiger Armored Adventure Group,” Kudou said, his face filled with embarrassment as he lowered his head.
Angel: “You’re just at the beginning stages, not even a mid level apprentice yet. The spells you can perform are only discounted zero level spells. Your main goal should be to practice, not to embark on adventures.”
“Of course, adventuring isn’t wrong, but you should know it comes with great danger. With your current level, I doubt you could even defeat a mortal knight. What foundation do you have to take on such risks?”
The Savage Grottoes do support apprentices in adventuring, otherwise, the Mission Hall wouldn’t offer so many outdoor tasks. But the minimum threshold for taking outdoor missions is usually at least a peak level apprentice because only after reaching this level do apprentices learn more spells and gain a certain level of outdoor survival strength.
Before reaching the peak of level one, even if desperate for money, one would generally take on missions within the organization.
Certainly, this is just a customary guideline. There are also regular first level apprentices who venture into the wilderness; although they may not take on wilderness tasks directly, they can join an adventure group, effectively bypassing the ironclad rule. Evidently, Kudou finds himself in such a situation.
Angel: “You must be aware of Vonman, right? I’ve heard he’s quite the sensation at Sky Tower recently, almost becoming the public enemy of apprentices.”
Kudou nods; although he hasn’t visited Sky Tower yet, he’s well aware of Vonman, the novice butcher.
“He’s also a talent I led into the Savage Grottoes, even entering the extraordinary world later than you. But now, his strength has surpassed yours by a notch, and he might soon ascend to a second level apprentice.” Angel: “If you continue to mingle with the adventure group, you’re likely to fall further behind your peers.”
Kudou, head bowed, exudes disappointment: “But, but I’m really short on money. Only by joining an adventure group can I quickly acquire magic crystals.”
Chapter 1990 Night of Swan Lake <TOC> Chapter 1992 Worries of Youth