Warlock Apprentice

On the elongated dining table, an elegant candelabra carved with banshee patterns burned with a golden-yellow flame, and a faint fragrance drifted through the air.

In front of Angel lay ornate ceramic tableware, filled with vibrantly colored delicacies.

Across from him, both Little Six and Helen had similar setups, though Helen’s meal appeared lighter, as though specially prepared.

Initially, after healing Helen’s spiritual power injury, Angel had planned to leave. However, Helen seemed to feel indebted to Angel, yet lacked an adequate gift to repay him. As a result, she tried to keep him around—at least for a meal.

Angel contemplated briefly and ultimately decided to stay.

First, he didn’t want Helen to be burdened with feelings of indebtedness, and second... Toby had woken up.

During their time aboard the Cloud Conch, Helen had learned Toby’s preferences like the back of her hand.

She promptly offered dried fish, and Toby, who hadn’t smelled the scent of the ocean in ages, drooled so much it ran down one of Angel’s shoulders.

Amidst the flickering lights, Angel ate a small amount casually before stopping. He placed a bowl of rich ocean-flavored soup in front of Toby, who dug in without hesitation—switching between munching on salty dried fish and bending over to sip the fragrant fish soup. From start to finish, Toby never lifted his head. The only sound in the otherwise silent room was Toby’s slurping.

Little Six remained quiet throughout, stiff with nervousness. Having already expended all her courage earlier to stop Angel, she now said nothing at all, eating in complete silence.

Helen wanted to say something, but the quiet ambiance comforted her, evoking memories of their time aboard the Cloud Conch. She didn’t want to disturb this rare tranquility.

It was Angel who broke the silence after finishing his meal, looking at Helen across the table: ”How are things at Shaloo Ridge?”

Helen thought for a moment and replied, ”There are a few things I don’t like, but overall, it’s been okay. Si Man takes good care of me.”

Mentioning Si Man brought a trace of sadness to Helen’s eyes.

”What don’t you like?” Angel raised a brow. Although Helen’s statement seemed positive overall, her phrasing suggested dissatisfaction first, followed by a concession. Clearly, her unhappiness with Shaloo Ridge was more pronounced than she let on.

Helen opened her mouth but hesitated, as casually criticizing Shaloo Ridge—her affiliated Witcher Organization—felt inappropriate.

As Helen struggled internally, Little Six suddenly spoke up, ”Is it because of the transplant issue?”

Helen looked at Little Six in surprise, ”How do you know?”

”Si Man told me. She warned me before—when chatting with you—to avoid mentioning the topic of transplants.” Little Six revealed the matter, thinking that Angel’s wisdom might help Helen resolve her inner turmoil.

Helen’s expression confirmed Little Six’s assumption.

Transplant issue? Angel pondered briefly, seeming to grasp something. ”Is it related to the modification project of Shaloo Witches?”

Helen fell silent for a moment before nodding.

”As expected,” Angel’s eyes flashed with understanding.

Seeing both Helen and Angel lapse into silence after mentioning the ”modification project,” Little Six’s curiosity was instantly piqued. Hesitating for a while, she finally asked, ”What is the modification project?”

After a brief hesitation, Helen explained, ”...At Shaloo Ridge, everyone must undergo flesh transplantation and modification. That’s the modification project.”

”Flesh transplantation and modification?” Little Six frowned. ”That doesn’t sound inherently bad.”

The human body, after all, has its limits. Comparatively speaking, humans rank on the lower end of physical capabilities among many species.

To surpass these limitations, Wizards have devised numerous methods—such as integrating bloodlines or transplanting organs. Most Wizards engage in such practices. Even Sanders, despite his human appearance, has numerous internal organs that no longer belong to humans.

From the perspective of Wizards, modification and transplantation wouldn’t seem like a big deal.

Moreover, judging by Helen’s tone, the modification process appeared to include professional assistance, which was quite a privilege. Many people seeking transplants can’t even find skilled specialists.

Helen understood Little Six’s reasoning but shook her head. ”Indeed, modification and transplantation aren’t inherently bad, but...”

”But it doesn’t come from your own volition,” Angel completed Helen’s unfinished thought. ”Am I right?”

Helen nodded.

At Shaloo Ridge, all transplantation procedures were carried out by the Shaloo Witch, entirely according to her whims, without any consideration for personal agency. This was something Helen struggled to accept.

Little Six was beginning to understand. When the modifications aren’t born of personal choice, it’s certainly hard to reconcile. After all, who could tolerate being a beauty-seeking woman but having the ugly organs of a Magical Creature forcibly transplanted into her?

Of course, this was merely Little Six’s personal opinion. She couldn’t help but look at Angel, wondering about his perspective. Since Angel was aware of the modification project, what would he make of it?

Angel: ”In the Southern Domain Wizard World, there are two highly renowned Carabits, both of whom are women and embody the Carabits’ intrinsic passion for biological research.”

”Currently, one resides in the Demon Sea Area, and the other is in the Abyss.”

”These two individuals are the Basket Witch of Shaloo Ridge, also known as the Shaloo Witch; and the second is a member of the Research and Development Institute, nicknamed ’The Graft Maniac,’ called Dong La.”

From Angel’s perspective, the assessment of these two figures was straightforward.

From a technical view, Dong La far surpasses the Shaloo Witch. Despite her abrasive personality, Dong La’s membership in the Research and Development Institute speaks volumes about her technical proficiency.

However, in terms of humanity, while the Shaloo Witch is similarly twisted and misanthropic, regularly engaging in Nightmare Creature modifications, she seemed less aggressive toward her own people within Shaloo Ridge.

In this regard, the Shaloo Witch was at least somewhat more reliable than Dong La.

Angel shared his views: ”However, the Shaloo Witch’s transplants are always done on a whim. Even though they won’t harm you, they might not suit you.”

Helen, being deeply involved, struggled to see the bigger picture. Angel’s higher-level perspective helped her perceive the underlying issue, offering her a fresh sense of clarity.

Moreover, avoiding transplants wasn’t entirely impossible. According to Si Man, if one reached Second Level Apprentice status and had mastered specific Tricks while undertaking extensive preliminary preparations, one could handle rejection reactions during transplantation. Helen could potentially request permission to travel once she achieved Second Level Apprentice status, delay transplantation until becoming an Official Wizard, and return when the process could be avoided.

However, opting for this route meant forgoing Shaloo Ridge’s resources—and it wasn’t guaranteed that she’d have the chance to advance further.

It required careful deliberation.

Helen nodded and said, ”I understand.”

Angel could also offer Helen protection—for instance, using his status to negotiate with the Shaloo Witch. Still, this was ultimately Helen’s life. Angel could help her once, but he couldn’t live it for her.

Additionally, considering the Shaloo Witch’s erratic nature, even if Angel used his connection to the Research and Development Institute to negotiate, she might temporarily relent but could secretly leave behind a hidden issue for Helen during the transplant.

Thus, whether to compromise or to fight for freedom at all costs, the decision remained solely Helen’s to make.

After finishing their discussion about the modification project, Angel shifted the conversation to other topics.

As long as the subject didn’t touch on Shaloo Ridge’s core matters, Helen was happy to engage.

Still, in Helen’s responses, Si Man’s name appeared frequently. Every time she mentioned Si Man, a shadow of sorrow would cross her gaze.

Eventually, Helen looked at Angel, hesitating before saying, ”My lord, I...”

She stopped herself mid-sentence. She wanted to ask Angel to help Si Man but realized there was no link between Angel and Si Man. Making such a sudden request might provoke dissatisfaction.

Moreover, Angel had already healed her selflessly. Asking for more would be pure overreach.

Even though Helen kept her request unspoken, Angel understood her sentiments perfectly.

He thought for a moment before saying, ”Why don’t you tell me about Si Man? I’ve heard she was abducted, and if this happened near the vicinity of Sky Mechanical City, I could speak to the Enforcement Squad on her behalf.”