Chapter Four: Transformation

Hughes opened the box containing the red fruit, ate two according to the chip's count, then picked up his iron sword to practice. He swung the sword repeatedly, feeling a current of energy coursing through his body.

"This gradual, steady increase in strength feels incredible."

"Chip, analyze the requirements for becoming a knight."

"Beep. The necessary condition for becoming a knight is to have either strength or constitution reach 3.0 in order to trigger life energy."

"Analyze how long it will take me to awaken life energy," Hughes instructed the chip.

"Beep. At the host's current rate of cultivation, it is estimated that the host's constitution will break through 3.0 and awaken life energy in eighteen days."

"Eighteen days, huh? That's already quite fast," Hughes thought, feeling he could wait that long.

He returned to the castle and exchanged his sword for a dagger. He intended to head into the woods to catch black-scaled snakes. According to his predecessor's memories, these snakes were still quite common here. They were nonvenomous and could be found in any dark, damp place. However, they were small, rarely growing beyond the length of an adult's forearm, and few people bothered to catch them.

Hughes wandered through the forest, stopping now and then. Eventually, he spotted a black-scaled snake on a tree trunk. It was only as thick as a thumb, jet black from head to tail, even its eyes were black, giving it a strange appearance.

He carefully approached, drew his dagger, and stabbed fiercely at the snake’s head. The snake was instantly cut in two, its body still writhing. Hughes used his dagger to further mangle the snake until it was a bloody mess, then extracted its gall bladder.

Looking at the gall bladder in his hand, Hughes gritted his teeth, steeled himself, and tossed it into his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, a bitter, fishy taste exploded in his mouth. He forced himself to swallow despite the nausea.

"Beep. Host has ingested black-scaled snake gall; constitution is increasing slowly."

"For the sake of improving my constitution, I can endure this. Let’s continue," Hughes said indifferently.

With the dagger in hand, he continued hunting black-scaled snakes in the woods. In less than an hour, he’d filled a cloth bag with their gall bladders. This was a good haul—enough to last him for some time. Satisfied, Hughes returned to the castle.

Cultivation was a monotonous routine, but Hughes didn’t see it that way. Every day, he woke and began his cycle: training, eating, training, eating.

His strength grew noticeably.

"Tomorrow… Tomorrow I’ll break through and awaken life energy as a knight. But I wonder when Father will return."

Count Clay had been gone for over half a month. He’d sent a soldier back once with word that he’d be delayed and instructed Hughes to stay inside the castle as much as possible. Hughes didn’t know why, but he obeyed—after all, it made it easier to focus on training.

At noon, Hughes locked himself in his room, sensing that his life energy was about to awaken.

He sat cross-legged on the floor. Dark red impurities began to seep from his body. He could feel himself undergoing a metamorphosis, preparing to break free from his cocoon. A new power was brewing within him.

"Chip, display my stats."

"Beep. Hughes Bruch: Strength 3.2, Agility 2.8, Constitution 3.1, Status: Healthy."

Hughes opened his eyes, noticed his clothes stained red by the impurities, and clenched his fist. A faint glow enveloped his hand. He stood, his bones crackling, feeling taller and lighter all over.

"So this is life energy," Hughes marveled at the power surging inside him. "My strength now surpasses Uncle Rayl's. Only real combat experience is lacking."

Awakening his life energy filled Hughes with joy.

He tidied himself and stepped out, realizing it had already grown dark.

On the street, a troop of soldiers marched slowly. The clanking of their armor echoed as they moved, and the moonlight glinted off bloodstains that were still fresh, as if they'd just come from a brutal battle—an unsettling sight.

From inside, Hughes heard hoofbeats. He stepped outside to see Ellie approaching. "Young Master Hughes, the Count has returned to the castle. He asked me to fetch you."

"I understand. I’ll go right away." Hughes hurried down the stairs, eager to see his father—though even more eager for the ring. Having witnessed the power of knights, he was now even more curious about the legendary wizards.

Candlelight flickered over Count Clay’s weathered face, revealing deep fatigue. His knife and fork hung in midair, as if he were lost in thought. Only when Hughes appeared did the Count snap out of his reverie.

He looked at Hughes, his expression calm but inwardly astonished by the dramatic change in his son over the past month.

The Count rose and motioned for Hughes to follow him to the study.

They climbed the dim staircase in silence, their footsteps echoing through the castle.

Inside the study, they sat facing each other.

"It seems you've devoted much effort to your training in my absence. I can tell you’re quite different from before," the Count observed, scrutinizing Hughes.

Hughes didn’t answer, but instead produced a ring from his pocket.

At the sight of the ring, a look of realization crossed the Count’s face. He stared at it for a long time before speaking.

"You've heard of wizards?" the Count asked calmly.

"Wizards? I’ve read about them in books," Hughes replied, careful not to reveal too much.

"All the legends about wizards are true. Throughout the entire Continent of Golent, from the royal family to the nobility of each fief, all have some connection to wizards."

"Father, is this ring a wizard’s artifact?" Hughes had long known of the existence of wizards, but to hear it confirmed from his father was still astonishing.

"This ring is indeed a wizard’s item. Years ago, I saved an injured wizard who gave me this as a token. He told me it was a pass into the Wizard Academy—the Shadow Circle. That’s the symbol engraved on the ring."

Suppressing his excitement, Hughes listened quietly, knowing the matter wouldn’t be so simple.

"I once sent people to investigate this academy. It truly is a wizard’s school. Supposedly, every five years they hold tests on the Death Coast at the northernmost city, Soto. If you pass, you can enter the academy and become a wizard. But there’s been an issue—the Shadow Circle hasn’t appeared at Death Coast for twenty years. However, a friend in Soto sent word that wizards will be testing there in a month. That’s why I called you here."

"What do you think? I want to send you there. If you’re qualified to become a wizard, with this ring, entering the academy will be easy. It would be a great boon for you and for the entire Bruch family."

"I want to go, Father. I will become a wizard—I won’t let you down."

"Good. I’m glad you understand. It was worth losing so many soldiers to get those things for you."

Seeing doubt on Hughes’s face, the Count returned the Shadow Circle ring to him.

"Keep this ring safe and tell no one about it," he warned solemnly.

"My trip to the Southern Ridge mines lasted so long because, though I thought it was just a band of outlaws causing trouble, it turned out a small family was behind it."

"What surprised me most was that the family had connections to a wizard. I investigated and confirmed it, but I didn’t learn their strength."

"Are you all right, Father?"

"I’m fine. It was only a wizard apprentice—just a bit stronger than a regular person. I killed him with one blow," the Count said, clearly in good spirits.

"A wizard apprentice?" Hughes echoed, puzzled.

"Before becoming a wizard, one starts as an apprentice. Only by passing that stage does one become a true wizard," the Count explained.

"How are wizards ranked, Father?"

"I don’t know. Ordinary people like us only have the faintest understanding of their world. All I know is that apprentice comes before official wizard."

"But that apprentice I beheaded was worth something—he was carrying over twenty magic stones."

"Magic stones?" Hughes asked, hearing the term for the first time.

"They’re the currency wizards use to trade. Over twenty magic stones is no small amount. Tomorrow I’ll have someone bring them to you. Take them to Soto—you’ll need them at the Shadow Circle."

"That’s enough for now. Go back and rest. I’m exhausted after so many days of toil," the Count said wearily, waving Hughes toward the door.

"Yes, Father. Rest well," Hughes replied softly, then quietly closed the study door behind him.