"After we leave, you will be the chief apprentice of this Wizard Tower, standing on your own.
I believe within a year or two, or at most three years.
You will also be promoted!"
Everyone tacitly avoided discussing Melina's matter, only congratulating Roy.
Olen and Balu seemed to have reconciled with Sophia, treating Roy more kindly, as if their previous conflicts had never existed.
They told Roy many things about being an Elite Apprentice and left him with some apprentice insights and connections.
As an Elite Apprentice, one doesn't need to recruit followers or keep enforcers.
But sources of information and various helpers are definitely necessary.
Balu even introduced several of his mistresses to Roy, trying to pass them on to him.
Roy accepted his goodwill but politely declined the mistresses.
Sophia mentioned Celine: "She no longer has her apprentice status. If possible, I'd like you to take her on as your subordinate.
Whether it's managing tasks for you or guarding in battles, her strength as a Grand Knight can be useful."
Roy was surprised: "Aren't you taking her with you?"
Sophia said, "I no longer have a mentor myself; my future is uncertain."
"Alright then," Roy considered for a moment and agreed.
Later, they discussed matters concerning official Wizards and what comes after stepping into the Star Sea.
Only then did Roy understand the true meaning behind Sophia's earlier words about "no longer having a mentor" and "an uncertain future."
"The Seven Towers Alliance is not a conventional nation but an organization joined by many Great Wizards based on Wizard Towers.
From the beginning, it was seen by other planes and worlds as a band of roving pirates.
As more Great Wizards stepped into the Star Sea, their strength grew, gradually developing into a Wizard organization, and then into an alliance of organizations, eventually forming a federation.
Those Great Wizards used the resources they plundered to build Wizard Towers, nourishing the World's Will, and gradually reached their current status, making a name for themselves externally under the banner of 'Wizarding Civilization Vizel'..."
So, internally, it's called the "Seven Towers Alliance."
Locally, no one questions this title.
But in the outside world, in front of countless civilizations and races, it must be the renowned Wizarding Civilization Vizel!
"This force has grown increasingly powerful, nurturing countless successors.
But as is well known, plundering and colonization breed resentment and resistance.
With the rise of Plane Wars, they finally hit a snag, namely the Arcane Empire Alliance led by Achini La.
Legendary Mages also stepped into the Star Sea, standing against us.
Various races and civilizations joined their respective camps, with the war raging for thousands of years, affecting myriad worlds.
Even Mount Paradise and the Nine Layers of Hell were involved..."
Roy nodded silently.
"The frontlines have always been very tense, but what's truly in short supply are outstanding talents—those who can face ten thousand alone, even change the entire course of the war—senior Wizards, Great Wizards, not low-level Wizards who are mere cannon fodder.
So many young successors, just after being promoted, have to leave their homeland for brutal trials.
The aim is to cultivate one or two qualified individuals among thousands of mediocre Wizards.
If our generation can't make it, then we'll keep trying in the decades, even centuries to come!
From level one to level two, level two to level three, and even advancing beyond level four...
The treatment gradually improves, the resources we can enjoy become more abundant, but the responsibilities we shoulder also grow heavier.
I truly don't have the capacity to take care of Celine anymore, so I can only leave her here to fend for herself."
Sophia continued to explain.
"All three of us have received the conscription notice and will be leaving soon."
Olen took a sip of his drink, trying to sound casual.
"She's going to the World of Magic Puppets, Misolda.
I'm heading to the elven realm of Munira.
Balu is going to the main battlefield in the world of Achini La.
Heh, all high-magic worlds where the strongest might reach the level of a deity, with plenty of demigod heroes and legendary mages at the top, and countless high-level, mid-level, and low-level mages below..."
Although he spoke with a smile, there was inevitably a hint of bitterness in his eyes.
"Don't be so pessimistic. As new Wizards, our usual tasks are just patrols, guard duties, production, and manufacturing.
If we're lucky and get assigned to a relatively stable colony, we might even live like local kings, carefree for a lifetime."
Balu said with a touch of hope.
"Come on, those cushy and safe positions are only for those with connections.
When our teacher was still around, we might have had a chance to fight for them a bit.
But now, they'll definitely assign us the toughest, most exhausting, and most dangerous tasks."
Olen was more pessimistic.
"The key is to keep climbing up, to seize every opportunity to grow."
Roy listened and gradually understood that those who climb up are the ones who matter, while those who don't are just stepping stones, mere cogs in the machine.
After Sophia became a Wizard, she left Celine behind, seemingly heartless, but in reality, she still had a soft spot.
Otherwise, as a Grand Knight, Celine could have been cannon fodder in low-intensity battles, just a tool.
Sophia had spent a lot of money on Celine, and she could have made Celine risk her life.
"By the way."
At this moment, as if to repay Roy for taking in Celine, Sophia casually dropped a crucial piece of information.
"Melina's sister, Elena, is someone who seized the opportunity to grow.
That girl was really lucky; just by hooking up with an Abyssal Lord, she skyrocketed!
That's equivalent to a high-level existence of a third-level Wizard!
It's said she even has the potential to go further and become a Demon Overlord, and when that happens, her status will surely rise..."
"That's how Summoners are. If they're lucky and form a contract with a powerful being, they succeed."
Olen and Balu also sighed.
"But those Abyssal Lords don't work for free; they'll collect souls in the future!
Her future... tsk tsk, she might end up reincarnating in the Abyss as a Succubus!"
"Not necessarily. The demon might be using the Summoner as an anchor to invade the material plane."
"Either way, Elena is already almost like a deity. The World's Will won't allow such a dangerous individual to return."
Roy felt a chill run down his spine.
How did it come to this, where defeating the small one brings out the big one?
However, after hearing the information that Sophia and others had inadvertently revealed, Roy temporarily set his worries aside.
Elena had paid a certain "price" in her pursuit of power.
She couldn't return here.
Roy forced himself to remain calm, took a sip of his drink, and inquired about something.
"Do you know about a strange face that grows on a person's chest?"
This question was asked on behalf of Olinda.
(End of Chapter)