Harris is fifty-four years old this year, an intermediate-level sixth-level magician, good at water magic, and also has some extraordinary accomplishments in potions. Another interesting fact: he is the same age as the current emperor of the empire, Cantos the Great, at fifty-four years old, and coincidentally, his birthday is the same day as the Great Lancer.
Mage Harris is a mild-mannered person—compared to other magicians. Most magicians are paranoid, like to close themselves up to pursue the mysteries of magic, hide in the laboratory and tinker with all kinds of strange things all day long, are not good at communicating with people, and are tired of most mundane things.
Unlike Harris, after he became a qualified magician, he stayed in the Magic Union all the time. He became one of the few magicians on the mainland who was hired by the magic union as a deacon mage. Working in the magic union has some great advantages, such as being able to get the latest news of the magic union, using the channels in the union to get some good and cheap magic materials, as well as a free laboratory, and the magic union in the magic union. Ancient magical texts can also be read at will, using their authority.
However, there are gains and losses. This truth is irrefutable. As a deacon mage, Harris must devote part of his energy to completing some of the work in the union, although most of these tasks are easy: there are now a total of twenty deacon magicians in the magic union. Teacher, according to the order, each magician must take one to two days a month to work in the union, handle some daily affairs, and also devote part of his energy to teaching in the magic academy, and teach those magic students the basics of magic Theory and Potions.
But although there are twenty deacon mages in the union, most of the mages are not interested in these mundane jobs, and there may be some people who will do their best to teach in the academy, that is just hoping to find one or two excellent seedlings . But in the daily work of the magic union, everyone is very slack.
The chairman of the magic union, Archmage Rafael, in order to prevent the hired mages from being lazy and slack in their work in the union, made a rule that every hired deacon mage, if there are three absences from lectures or work in the union, will Being punished for one month's disqualification from the union magic literature review, this barely made everyone's attitude towards work a little more serious.
But even so, the magic union offered favorable conditions, and few truly powerful magicians were willing to work for the union. Those who were truly strong and masters still pursued freedom like idle clouds and wild cranes. Most of the deacon mages in the magic union now are of the intermediate level.
Harris' job in the union is mainly to teach potions, and he must spend two days a month in the union office to handle official business. His magic power has reached the top level of level six. According to the current situation, in the next three years, he may have the opportunity to advance to level seven and become a senior magician. But it depends on luck, and also requires a lot of time to practice.
Recently, he has considered whether it is necessary to resign from the appointment of the deacon. After all, if he can become a high-level magician before the age of fifty-five and get the title of "Great Magician", it will be a great opportunity for any magician. It's a very honorable thing, it's just that His Excellency Rafael, the chairman of the Magic Union, helped him quite a bit back then, but he couldn't open his mouth for a long time because of his face.
Today is the time when Harris is on duty as a deacon and mage. He boredly signed a few documents about purchasing a batch of magical medicinal materials in the office, and closed the door to prepare to meditate for a while. At this moment, someone disturbed him.
The guy who came into the room called himself "Dodoro". Harris seemed to have some impression of this name. He felt his forehead for a while before he remembered the name.
The guy who came in originally claimed to be a magician, and Harris' attitude was quite polite, but when he remembered who this guy was, his face immediately became hard: it is this guy, it is a shame in the magic world. what!
"What?" Harris listened impatiently to Dodoro's narration and frowned: "Mr. Dodoro, are you here to ask the Magic Union to restore your reputation?"
"Yes." Dodoro looked very respectful when he faced Harris, this respect was not like he pretended to be when he was facing a turtle: "Dear Sir Harris, about the debts I owe, I already have them. Enough money to repay, I will handle all these things well, my request is, ask the magic union to restore my honor as a magician... After all, I have qualified formal magician qualifications, and I am still a magic academy graduates."
"I'm sorry, I can't agree to your request." Harris frowned: "Just a few months ago, the things you committed caused a lot of trouble for the Magic Union. According to the Magic Union's regulations, for your Dishonorable behavior brings shame to the honor of the union, and the union has officially disqualified you as a magician. This is the unanimous opinion of the union deacon committee, so... I have to regret to inform you that your qualification as a magician has been revoked. , we tried to recover your magician badge, but we were unable to find you."
Dodoro's expression was a little embarrassed. At that time, he had already absconded in debt and ran to the wildfire...
"That's it." Harris waved his hand impatiently: "According to the magic union regulations, you can apply to regain the qualification of a magician, but according to the punishment system, you must skip the assessment, so... If you want to apply, then We will arrange an assessment within one month after submitting the report again.”
After speaking, Harris looked at the gate with his eyes, which meant: If there is nothing to do, please get out of here.
leapfrog test
Dodoro was dumbfounded.
The leapfrog assessment means that whenever a magician is punished for violating the rules of the magic union and his official qualification as a magician is cancelled, if he wants to regain his qualification, he must re-assess, but when the assessment is made, the You must skip the exam. And this leapfrog rule is to jump two levels!
That is to say, in the current situation of Dodo Luo, his original qualification of a first-level mage has been cancelled, so if he wants to return to the ranks of magicians, he must go directly to the "third-level mage"!
What a joke! !
In the first-level examination, you had to work hard to pass the test, so let yourself go directly to the third-level examination? ! If I had the third-level strength, would I still be so miserable? !
But... If you don't take the test, then you won't have the official qualification as a magician...
Although strength belongs to strength, a real master can not care about the nominal level, as long as your strength really reaches the seventh and eighth level, no matter whether he officially gives you a formal badge or not, your strength is there anyway...
But for a grass-roots magician like Dodoro, a formal rank title is extremely important.
First of all, the official magician can receive a handsome allowance from the magic union every year (he also intends to use this money to redeem himself from Char.) Then, only those who have the qualification of the official magician level, Only then can you enjoy the magician's treatment in the branch of the magic union of the church all over the empire, such as free room and board, as well as free use of the magic circle of the branch of the magic union, and you can buy magic materials at a very low price ( A considerable part of the magic materials are contraband on the mainland, and can only be bought in the magic union. Although there are also on the black market, the price is much higher, and the supply is very small and unstable.)
In addition, only legal magicians recognized by the magic union can enter the magic union to read some magic documents. For a lonely ghost like Dodoro who has no teacher, it is necessary to further improve his strength. less link.
The most important point: only the official magician recognized by the magic union also has legal immunity and legal protection in the empire! ! Magicians who commit ordinary crimes can be exempted from legal impunity and protected by law. This is also extremely important for a grassroots figure like Dodo! Back then, when he was able to flee from the imperial capital to Yehuoyuan alone, it was with a magic badge that the thieves and robbers along the way did not dare to provoke him.
Dodoro's face was extremely ugly. He looked at Harris and saw that the big man seemed impatient. Dodoro hesitated again and again, and finally showed a hint of absoluteness on his face, and said hoarsely: "Then... Mr. Harris , can I choose... Trial!"
"??" Harris was stunned, he sat up subconsciously, and couldn't help but glance at the guy in front of him.
Trial? He actually chose to try
Judging from the previous records, this first-level magician named Dodo Luo is a cowardly, cunning and greedy guy with little courage. It is precisely because of this that he has caused such a great reputation for the magic union. question.
Now this guy... how did he become so kind? !
"You really decided to try?"
"Yes." Dodoro took a deep breath.
A strange color flashed in Harris' eyes.
※※※
When Dodoro came down the stairs, his expression was as if he had been declared a terminally ill patient.
After walking down the steps, I saw that in the hall, Xiaya was looking at a magician.
But seeing the other party's face clearly, Dodo Luo couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
"Yi? Bidaldo?!"
Bidaldo was thinking about how to get rid of Xi Ya when he was suddenly called. He looked up and saw Dodoro coming down the stairs, with a surprised expression on his face: "Ah? It's you, Dodoro!"
Dodoro strode down and hugged Bidaldo enthusiastically, as if they had met old friends, but although the two embraced enthusiastically, they separated instantly after hugging, and Dodolo pinched Bidaldo's hand. With one wrist, the hand was reaching into Dodoro's left pocket, and Bidaldo snorted and grabbed Dodoro's other hand, the fingers of that hand had reached into Bidaldo's waist. a sac...
The two of them looked at each other, and they both laughed a little with ulterior motives. They laughed at the same time. After they separated quickly, it was as if nothing had happened. The expressions on their faces should be calm and calm.
"Haha! It's actually you, I can't think of a day when we will meet again!"
"Bidaldo, you look really good, it seems that your magic power has improved a lot recently."
Xia Ya next to him was stunned. Seeing that the two of them were smiling and hiding their knives, they couldn't help but ask, "Do you know each other?"
"Of course." Duoduo said with a haha: "This Bidaldo is my classmate at the Magic Academy! We are very good friends."
Saying that, Dodoro's eyes twitched. Bidaldo felt a lot of guilty conscience because he had Xi Ya by his side, but he still secretly gave Dodoro a fierce look.
Xia Ya was amused, it seems that these two guys are really "good friends".
"Since it's an old friend's reunion, then we must find a place to have a good drink."
Bidaldo said immediately: "Not bad! To celebrate your return to the imperial capital, I invite you! I know a tavern is quite good."
After a pause, Bidaldo looked at Xi Ya: "But this gentleman... Are you... "
Dodo Luo hesitated for a while, looked at Xi Ya, Xi Ya sighed and smiled: "Well, I am the samurai squire of Master Dodo Luo."
Dodoro immediately cast a grateful look, and then raised his chin high at Bidaldo.
In the circle of magicians, being able to use their own samurai squires is a symbol of status.
Bidaldo was stunned for a moment, but then he sneered in his heart. Samurai squire? Do not make jokes! It's fine if it's someone else, but Xiaya, Bidaldo knows how vicious this guy is. This Dodo Luo is similar in strength to his own. How can he be qualified to recruit such a powerful squire
But what... After looking at Xi Ya, Bidaldo sighed. When he met this guy, he was unlucky. Take them away first, then go outside and find a chance to get rid of it.
Fortunately, it seems that this witcher named Char has no intention of revenge...
Backed by Xia, Dodoro put on a stand in front of Bidaldo, and walked out of the door of the Magic Union with his head held high. After the three came out, Dodoro deliberately told Bidaldo some of the past events of the year. There was a gun and a stick in the middle, but Dodoro had Xi Ya by his side, Bidaldo didn't dare to be arrogant, and even if Dodoro made a few sarcastic words, he didn't dare to reply, but it made Dodoro feel very happy, and he just felt that he had a fight with this guy. After so many years, I finally raised my eyebrows today.
After walking out of the magic union, crossing the central square and exiting the cathedral, and after coming outside, Xiaya took the opportunity to drag Dodoro and deliberately walked a few steps slower, and said in a low voice, "What does this guy have to do with you?"
Dotolo said in a low voice, "Hmph, grab a meal to eat."
Immediately, Dodoro briefly explained a few words. It turned out that the two graduated from the Magic Academy at the same time, and they both had limited talents and low achievements in the field of magic, but their temperaments were despicable and shameless, greedy and cunning. In order to make a living, the two could only find a way to deceive some inexperienced little nobles and fat sheep in the imperial capital, cheating to eat and drink, and to survive.
But the imperial capital is so big, and the two have the same way of making a living. It is inevitable that there will be some friction and collision. Occasionally, when they encounter some fat sheep that both of them like, they secretly fight with each other, and secretly destroy each other. After a few years, they will Forged a lot of resentment. It's just that Bidaldo has more forbearance than Dodoro. In the end, Dodoro succumbed to the disadvantage most of the time, and Bidaldo was fortunate to worship under a real magician, while Dodoro was He was a bachelor, and he lost too much momentum. Gradually, he was crowded out by Bidaldo, and he couldn't get along. In the end, he couldn't even make a living, and absconded in debt, and Bidaldo's "credit" was also in it.
When Xia heard it, she couldn't help but be amused, and then whispered about her experience of knowing Bidaldo. Dodoro stared at it, and a thought came into his heart, and he deliberately said indignantly: "What a guy! He bullied him so much back then. I, forget it, actually dare to deceive you, Master! This time, I must teach him a good lesson!"
Xia Ya snorted and glanced at Dotolo: "You want to take revenge, but you want to lie to me to give you a head start. That's a no-brainer. You practiced that life spell yourself, and just took him to try it out."
"This, that life magic will consume life force, I'm worried..." Duodoro flinched a little, Xia glared: "Nonsense, since you changed this power, you never use it, are you waiting for it to grow moldy? This? I don't dare to use it, and I can't bear it, what are you doing with your life in exchange for strength!"
Saying that, he pulled Dodoro to catch up with Bidaldo, who was walking in front. Bidaldo was thinking hard in his heart, thinking about taking the two to that tavern, where there were many friends he knew, and The other three members of Wangcheng Sixiu were also there, and they would provoke them at that time. In the imperial capital, after all, he was a local snake, and there were so many people at that time that he just happened to avenge Yehuoyuan's revenge.
The three of them left the church on horseback, and they talked along the way. Xia asked about the progress of Dodo Luo's work in the union, Dodo Luo's mood suddenly fell, and he sighed heavily: "Alas... they need my magic. Teacher qualification, so I have to go through a trial!"
"Trial?"
"Trial!!"
Hearing this sentence, Char and Bidaldo spoke at the same time, but Char was puzzled, while Bidaldo was surprised.
"What is a trial?" Xia asked, while Bidaldo looked at Dodoro suspiciously: "You... You really chose the trial?"
Dotolo snorted: "My qualifications as a magician have been cancelled, and you won't know it in the imperial capital, so why pretend to be so surprised."
Bidaldo smiled and said, "Old friend, don't say that. No matter what, you and I have known each other for many years, and seeing you in distress makes me feel bad." As he spoke, he secretly said in his heart: When I knew you were disqualified, Lao Tzu drank three glasses of wine to celebrate that day.
Dotolo snorted, ignored this guy, and explained to Xia Ya: "Trial is a special assessment method in the magic union for magicians who are punished for violating regulations. For me, if I want to restore my reputation, To restore my qualifications as a magician, in addition to re-accepting the leapfrog assessment, the only way is to accept the trial. The so-called trial is that within the magic union, some tasks announced in some unions will be released, generally speaking It is an application for some needs from various branches of the magic union, such as a shortage of certain magic materials, or where there is a raging monster that needs to be pacified... There are many levels of difficulty in the task. If you are lucky, the task of trial may be I just want you to go somewhere to dig a few ordinary magical ore, or collect some magical plants. If you are unlucky, maybe you will be sent to destroy the advanced monsters that are raging somewhere... ah... "
Xia was stunned for a moment, and Bidaldo next to him was a little gloating: "If you can choose a trial, you can choose three kinds of tasks at one time, and then the testee himself chooses the one that he thinks is the least difficult to complete. Unless... you are lucky. No, the three quests drawn are all very difficult... Well, Todoro, looking at your appearance, I'm afraid the quests won't be too difficult!"
Although he was holding back his smile, the smile lines on his face had already piled up.
Dotolo snorted and took out three parchment scrolls from his arms.
"These are three tasks I randomly selected... ugh..."
As he said that, his frowning expression aroused Xi Ya's curiosity. As soon as he took it, he quickly pulled the first one away...
Just when he started to pull it apart, Duoduo suddenly changed his face and shouted: "Don't! Don't open it!!"
But he was too late!
Xia Ya's subordinates moved too fast, and unfolded the scroll immediately, a silver light flashed on the wooden shaft of the scroll, and then the handwriting on the scroll soon flashed silver light!
Char took a look and saw a simple sentence written in Majik on the parchment. And after this line of words flashed silver light, flames jumped up in the corner of the scroll, and the parchment scroll was instantly turned into ashes in the flames. Xia Ya was startled, and quickly let go, only to see Dotaro beside him with wide-eyed, ashen face, staring at Xia Ya.
"Yi? You... why is your face so ugly?"
Dodoro rode on the horse, his body swayed, and he wanted to cry without tears: "You... You can't open it! Once you open it, it means you have accepted the task... It's over! It's over!! The scroll has been triggered, and the magic contract has come into effect. Heck... I had my name signed with a magic seal on it when I came out!"
Bidaldo next to him finally couldn't help laughing: "This... This brother, you are moving too fast. There are three kinds of tasks drawn. When picking, I can read it once, and after taking it back, I can carefully consider it, and after I decide to choose one of them, I can open the selected scroll. Once opened, it means that the magic contract takes effect and is irreversible..."
Seeing Duoduo's expressionless face, Xia also realized that she was probably in trouble, and frowned, "I'm sorry... Well, is this task difficult?"
Duoduo said with a sad face: "The three tasks are all difficult, I originally wanted to spend some time thinking about it carefully to see which one might be accepted in the end, maybe... In the end, I simply gave up the trial, as long as the scroll has not been opened, it can still be returned. go back, now..."
Xia Ya scratched his head and said with a shy smile: "This... Can I still go back now? If it's too difficult, I'll accompany you back and tell them to cancel the trial."
Bidaldo interjected: "Cancel... Well, it's not impossible. It's just that it's not compulsory to choose a trial, but once the contract takes effect, if you want to cancel it again, or if it can't be completed, Then even if the mission fails, and once the mission fails, according to the regulations of the magic union, the tester will not be able to obtain the qualification of a magician for eternity..."
Dodoro listened and glared at Bidaldo, who rolled his eyes: "Old friend, it's useless for you to be angry with me, it's not that I took your scroll..."
Although Xia Ya usually beats and scolds Dodo Luo at will, but after all, Dodo Luo is his person. He was too fast just now and caused trouble for this guy. He was also a little embarrassed. In this way, I will help you complete this trial... If it really doesn't work, the magician is inappropriate. Well, this triggered the scroll of the contract, what is the mission?"
Dotolo swallowed and said in a low voice, "Request: Ten taroes for the devil's kiss. Time limit: 100 days."
His face was quite unwilling, and he gritted his teeth: "Actually, if you really think about the other two tasks, the degree of difficulty may be slightly less... Alas, don't say it! You have already opened this anyway, let's talk about the other two It doesn't make any sense."
"Magic kiss taro?" Xia Ya thought for a while: "What is this? Is it difficult to find?"
When Bidaldo heard the name next to him, his eyes widened immediately, he looked at Dodoro up and down, he couldn't help taking a breath, and blurted out, "Magic kiss taro? You actually got it. The mission of the magic kiss taro? Oh my God! Duoduo, I can't believe that after so many years, your luck is still so bad!!"
Xia Ya was a little impatient, and glared at Bidaldo viciously: "Shut up Lao Tzu! One more word, and I'll knock out your mouth full of teeth!"
Then he looked at Dodo Luo: "Is this magic kiss taro hard to find?"
"Well, it's not difficult to find. It can be said that its location is very clear, and almost any magician knows where this kind of thing grows."
"Uh... Then, it must be very dangerous? It must be a very dangerous magical plant with great lethality?"
"Neither." Dodoro sighed: "Magic kiss taro is a very beautiful flower. This kind of flower itself has no lethal power, but it has a magical effect. On human skin, flower stems can grow in human skin, and then extract the host's own emotions at the same time, and the flowers will bear fruit. For example, if the host happens to be in a state of panic, the fruit will be full of fear The spiritual power. If you are a brave warrior, you can bear the fruit of courage. And there are other fruits, such as hatred, joy, sadness... and so on, the host's emotions, the fruits are different. The fruit can be used in spiritual magic, it is a very precious magical plant.”
"Then why do you look like you're going to die..." Xia Ya was a little puzzled: "It's not hard to find, and it's not dangerous."
"This..." Duoduo gritted his teeth: "The magic kiss taro, everyone knows where it grows, but where it grows, it's a little difficult..."
"Where is it?"
Dodoro gritted his teeth: "The Territory of Chaos... the territory of the elves, and... there is only such a thing in the territory ruled by the black elves."