Chapter 1: Wizard
On the green grassy slope, a figure darted out of the forest.
At first, he was jogging, then gradually quickened his pace, and finally slowed to a leisurely walk.
After walking for a while, just as he was about to reach the lake at the bottom of the slope, he finally stopped.
"Hooâhooâ"
"I'm already this tired after just a few steps; this body is far too weak."
Luo Nan stood by the lake, panting heavily, complaining, and taking off his shoes.
He tied his two deerskin boots together by their laces and hung them around his neck, then forcefully rolled up the hem and sleeves of his cumbersome robe, before carefully stepping into the water in front of him, one step at a step.
As the icy cold lake water covered his ankles and slowly enveloped his calves, Luo Nan cupped some water and splashed it on his face, immediately feeling so comfortable that his entire body relaxed.
At this moment, a boy's reflection shimmered and swayed on the rippling water.
Chestnut hair, thick eyebrows, high nose.
His features were not bad, but his eyes were dull, his skin lusterless, his face swollen, and he had two particularly noticeable dark circles under his eyes, giving him an impression of being bloated, decadent, almost lewd.
"This is... he must have rewarded himself too much in the past."
"Clapâ"
Luo Nan slapped the water, dispersing his reflection, then slowly turned and walked towards the shore.
On the shore by the lake grew a lush green walnut tree, surrounded by wild reeds. Luo Nan lay down under the walnut tree, hands clasped behind his head, looking at a few black goats leisurely grazing on the distant hillside, lost in thought.
By now, it had been three days since he transmigrated.
The body he transmigrated into belonged to someone also named Luo Nan, Ronan Damien, a young master from an Earl's family in a kingdom.
Because he was accidentally found to possess the potential to become a Wizard, his family sent him thousands of miles away to the current Wizard gathering place to study.
Unfortunately, this fellow's aptitude was not good, and he himself was not diligent. After half a year, he was still lingering at the doorstep of becoming a Wizard, living a truly miserable life.
If he hadn't transmigrated into Ronan, barring any accidents, in a few more months, the original body would have been forced to pack up and leave.
Thinking of this, a strong sense of melancholy inevitably arose in Luo Nan's heart.
He wished he could have transmigrated half a year later; by then, the original body should have already returned to his Earl's territory.
After taking over the nest, he could have enjoyed the leisurely life of a noble young master, riding horses, drinking tea, and playing cards with his personal maid every day.
"Born at the wrong time, indeed."
Luo Nan sighed deeply, sat up, and put his shoes back on.
Today was his first official attempt to leave the house since transmigrating. He planned to cross the hill in front of him to explore the forest ahead and thoroughly map out the nearby area.
But just as he took two steps forward, the few black goats that had been grazing on the distant hillside suddenly scattered and ran wildly as if startled.
The next second, two small figures appeared in Luo Nan's field of vision.
One in front, one behind, chasing each other swiftly, with dazzling flashes of light erupting in between.
"Holy crap!"
Luo Nan's pupils constricted, and his expression immediately became tense.
Without much hesitation, he immediately turned his direction one hundred and eighty degrees and ran away.
Fragmented memories flashed through his mind.
At the very center of the Hoddadam Wizard gathering place was the Hordam Wizard Academy.
The entire Academy was under the Protection of a huge runic array, peaceful and harmonious, a paradise for cultivation and living.
Outside were various markets and living areas built attached to the Academy. Although they were outside the Protection of the runic array, they were usually managed by Academy Wizards, and order was relatively stable.
However, the area where Luo Nan was currently located, the wilderness at the border between the Town and the forest, was already outside the "safe zone." It was unmanaged, and naturally, there were no rules to speak of.
On ordinary days, Wizards would choose this area for duels, killings, revenge, and treasure hunting.
Luo Nan had only heard about it before, but he didn't expect to actually encounter it today.
As he was about to run into the forest, Luo Nan glanced back hastily and happened to see one of the two figures on the distant hillside slowly collapsing to the ground.
His heart tightened, and he immediately dared not look again, only burying his head in the hood of his robe and sprinting forward according to his memory, wanting to stay as far away as possible from the conflict in front of him.
It couldn't be said that Luo Nan was timid.
Mainly, he was currently just a small Level One Wizard Apprentice, the lowest of the low in the Wizard World.
Moreover, so far, he hadn't even learned a single zero-level spell. If he were to fight someone, he would be pure lamb to the slaughter.
If you have no strength and encounter a powerful Wizard starting a fight, why wouldn't you run? Stay there and wait to be shaken to death by the aftermath?
Luo Nan rushed past bushes, dirt slopes, and muddy pits... twisting and turning through the secluded forest until he stopped in front of a tall, dense oak tree.
Thick, old vines grew and entwined around the oak tree, and nestled among the vine-wrapped branches was a small grey wooden house.
This was Luo Nan's "home."
The wooden house was built on the tree to prevent wild beasts in the forest, and the house itself had almost no Protection capabilities.
But seeing his own small house, Luo Nan still felt a certain sense of security, more or less.
The Treehouse was a good seven or eight meters above the ground. Without even catching his breath, Luo Nan grabbed a vine hanging from the tree and grunted as he climbed up.
When he reached the Treehouse, he fumbled under his neck for a brass key.
"Click," "Bang!"
He quickly opened the door, slipped inside, and then forcefully closed the door.
The small house was hot and humid, and a faint musty smell permeated the air.
Even with a window, the room remained dimly lit due to the obstruction of the leaves and vines outside.
Inside the dark, quiet small house, Luo Nan leaned against the wooden door, panting heavily, his heart pounding like a drum.
He quickly thought, what if the Wizard on the hillside finished killing and came to silence him? Should he escape quickly? Where? Is there still time?
He kept thinking wildly until his heartbeat gradually calmed down. Luo Nan then let out a breath, fumbled his way to the table in the middle of the room, grabbed the kettle on the table, and gulped down several mouthfuls of water.
"Scratchâ"
Flint struck, sparks flew, and a candle was lit.
The dim candlelight quietly illuminated Luo Nan's melancholic and gloomy face.
Nothing was happening now, and it was highly unlikely that anyone would come to kill him, but the recent near-crisis experience still made him restless.
It had descended upon him without warning, caught off guard!
He was lucky to avoid it this time, but what about next time? The time after that?
Such incidents were not uncommon in the wilderness, and the personalities of every killer Wizard were different. What if he encountered someone temperamental and bloodthirsty?
Luo Nan's expression changed, and he suddenly seemed to make a certain decision.
"Move! I'll move to the Town tomorrow!"
But after he rummaged through his belongings and found all his possessions, he counted them... and could only reluctantly abandon the idea.
In fact, the original owner had left behind quite a bit of wealth, being of noble birth, but the currency circulating in the Wizard World was magic stones, and secular gold and jewels had no value here at all.
All of Luo Nan's magic stones combined couldn't even make up one, and to live in the Town's residential area, the rental deposit alone required one low-grade magic stone.
As for the Academy area?
The student dormitories there started at one magic stone per month for accommodation.
"Unless I choose to sell the things I brought out of the Academy."
Luo Nan's mood was heavy.
Selling his Inheritance meant completely abandoning his identity as a Wizard, giving up this path. What would be the point of him staying here then? He might as well just buy a boat ticket and go back home.
"Forget it, I'll just endure it."
"Although the Treehouse Area is dangerous, many people live there. If I'm careful, go out less, and interact with fewer people, danger might not necessarily fall upon me..."
Luo Nan could only comfort himself this way.
After a frantic run, emotional ups and downs, and the dark, stuffy atmosphere inside the small wooden house, Luo Nan's tense nerves relaxed, and he suddenly felt sleepy.
His eyes closed, and he fell into a deep sleep.
