Wizard With Daily Task Panel!-Chapter 69: Master Servant Bond!

At the same time, in the confines of the ship's cabin, Merlin was busy at work. He carefully placed Alfonso into his space ring, then produced four purple crystals from his robe. With deft movements, Merlin began to absorb the floating wisps of divine essence into the crystals, watching as the gas was drawn in like a vacuum.

The transmagic circle was quick. As the divinity filled the purple crystals, they began to glow, shifting from purple to a rich, pure gold, their power condensed and concentrated into an object of incredible value.

Merlin turned to Leonard, handing one of the now golden crystals to him. "Here is your reward," he said smoothly, the weight of the crystal in Leonard's palm somehow making the air feel heavier.

Though Leonard had little understanding of what divinity truly was, the very presence of the crystal was enough to tell him that it was something of immense value. He had no doubt that what he now held could change everything, if he knew how to wield it.

"After all," Merlin added with a wry smile, "I used your statue to communicate with Methys. This divinity is a rare and precious material. Even for most wizards, it's something to be guarded carefully." Merlin's tone turned more serious. "You'd do well to keep this secret. If anyone finds out you have even a trace of divinity, you'll find yourself facing some serious trouble."

Leonard nodded in understanding, the crystal still warm in his hand as he placed it carefully into his space ring, sealing it away.

Merlin gave a dismissive wave, signaling the end of the exchange. "The lab has been cleaned up. Come to my lab at the same time tomorrow," he instructed, his voice now distant, as if his mind was already moving on to the next task.

Leonard turned and left the wizard's room, heading back to his own quarters. Despite the excitement swirling within him, he managed to quell his curiosity for the moment. First, he needed to check on his alchemy laboratory.

Inside the cool, dimly lit space, he carefully removed the divine crystal from his ring. The moment the crystal emerged, the two iron earthworms that had been quietly resting in the corner of the lab stirred. They crawled toward him, their movements erratic, almost as if they were drawn to the crystal itself. The air around Leonard seemed to vibrate with an intense energy, and the bracelet on his wrist buzzed with desire, transmitting the emotions of the earthworms directly to him.

"Master, what is this?" David's voice trembled as he looked at the divine crystal, his body shaking with an unfamiliar hunger. Leonard could see his familiar's eyes dilating, a clear sign that David was feeling a powerful attraction toward the crystal, one that went beyond mere curiosity.

"How do you feel?" Leonard asked, studying David's reaction closely.

"I... I don't know. It's like... this crystal is calling to me. I can't explain it, but it feels like my whole body is being pulled toward it." David's breathing was heavy, and his voice was shaky, as if the very essence of the crystal was pushing him toward something primal.

Leonard watched as David struggled to suppress the overwhelming desire. The sight of David's reaction was unsettling. The divine crystal, filled with the essence of a god, clearly had a profound effect on creatures with blood, especially one like David, who had undergone such an intense mutation.

But why didn't Leonard feel the same pull? He wondered, turning the crystal in his hands, watching how it glowed in the dim candlelight, casting a deep gold reflection across his dark eyes. There was something about the crystal that called to him, but in a way that felt distant, almost out of reach.

"Let me study it more closely," Leonard muttered to himself, though he couldn't deny the curiosity gnawing at his mind. David closed his eyes, forcing himself to shut out the powerful attraction. His body trembled with the effort to resist.

Leonard examined the crystal with a renewed sense of focus. Divinity was a rare and potent material, and though he didn't have the expertise to study it properly yet, that didn't mean he couldn't learn. Directly bestowing divinity upon a creature was the most basic form of its use, and Leonard understood that it could lead to unpredictable consequences. He needed to know more.

His fingers gently brushed over the silver-gray ring on his index finger, which flashed with a subtle light. With a thought, the magic crystal vanished, absorbed back into his palm, hidden away for now.

For the next several days, Leonard continued to assist Marlin with his experiments. As expected, much of his work was auxiliary, nothing more than simple tasks like preparing materials or peeling certain ingredients. But there was no denying the curiosity that simmered inside him. He longed for the chance to lead his own experiments, to truly dive into the mysteries of wizardry. However, it was clear that only when he was the one initiating the experiments would they be counted as "tasks" toward his progress.

Despite his growing interest, Leonard found the other wizards on the ship less than inspiring. As word spread that he was working with Marlin, he was bombarded with invitations, temptations, and even veiled threats from those who hoped to sway him to their side. But to Leonard, the offers were laughable. He knew that none of them had anything on the support Marlin offered him. With the power and influence of one of the ship's most formidable wizards backing him, Leonard had no need to concern himself with the petty schemes of others.

The experiments with Marlin took a fascinating turn when the wizard began working on a potion that could cause a blood mutation, similar to the one David had undergone. This new version of the potion, however, was an advanced model, one that could create lizardmen with far more specialized abilities.

Aquatic lizardmen could breathe underwater and dive to depths that most sea creatures would never dare approach. Gliding lizardmen possessed thin, bat-like wings that allowed them to soar through the air. There were also stone-skinned lizardmen, whose toughened hides made them resistant to low-level spells, and even invisible lizardmen, capable of rendering themselves nearly unseen.

Marlin was not simply creating a potion; he was crafting an entirely new form of life, one tailored to survive in the most extreme environments imaginable. The possibilities were endless, and Leonard couldn't help but marvel at the scope of Marlin's work. But as he watched, a nagging thought lingered in the back of his mind. If the power of divinity could create such creatures, what other secrets might it unlock? And what role would Leonard play in the experiments yet to come?

There were numerous types of mutant lizardmen that Marlin was experimenting with, each with its own specialized traits. From the basic, mindless warriors to more advanced variants, the possibilities seemed endless. But it wasn't just about creating a cheap army of disposable soldiers. Leonard began to realize that Marlin wasn't just looking to develop war machines. No, this was something far more ambitious. Marlin was creating an entirely new race, one with a diversity of forms, each suited to different environments and challenges. The low production costs only added to the scale of the project, making it all the more fascinating.

But none of that truly concerned Leonard. His role was simple: he was an assistant, and his job was to follow instructions. He didn't delve into Marlin's motives or purpose in crafting these creatures. That was beyond his scope.

As the experiments continued, Marlin kept nothing from Leonard. The young apprentice absorbed knowledge as he worked alongside the wizard, and it wasn't long before he understood the full process behind creating these mutant lizardmen. Marlin, noticing Leonard's sharp aptitude, was quick to offer praise.

"I must admit," Marlin said, his tone a mixture of admiration and surprise, "you have a real gift for mutation studies. It's rare to come across someone with such natural talent. You could go far, Leonard. If you focus on one area, you'll be able to earn magic stones far more easily than most once you're at the academy."

Leonard blinked, curious. "Magic stones?"

Marlin smiled, as though explaining something simple. "Yes, magic stones. You'll need them for almost everything at the academy, advanced courses, research materials, cultivating followers, even gaining access to planes beyond this world. Magic stones are a currency, Leonard. Don't underestimate their importance."

"Followers?" Leonard asked, perplexed.

"Yes," Marlin replied. "Cultivating followers or servants. Whether you're developing other planes or conquering them, you'll need people to serve you. A wizard can't handle everything alone, especially not when you're focused on deepening your understanding of magic. You'll need trustworthy subordinates to help manage your territories and resources."

Leonard began to understand. Wizards, while incredibly powerful, were often consumed by their research. Managing the mundane tasks of running a kingdom or a world would distract them from their true calling. They needed others to carry the burden. In many ways, the most trusted servants would become vital parts of their power structure.

It suddenly clicked why many wizard apprentices Leonard had encountered over the past months seemed to carry servants with them. These servants, often raised from childhood, had specialized skills; combat prowess, intelligence, and sometimes even magical abilities. Before these apprentices had fully developed their powers, their servants acted as bodyguards or support in their quests for knowledge.

The true challenge, Leonard realized, wasn't in giving power to these servants. It was in ensuring their loyalty. That's where things got tricky. Power was easy to bestow; loyalty was something else entirely.

"So," Marlin continued, "wizards developed contracts, master-servant bonds, to ensure loyalty. Without something like that, your servants might eventually betray you, especially once they've gained power of their own."

Leonard nodded, reflecting on his own relationship with David. Though David had become someone he trusted, Leonard wasn't naïve enough to believe that trust couldn't be broken. He believed in proving loyalty over time, not just in feelings or words.

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As the conversation shifted, Marlin gazed out the window. "The ship is about to reach its destination. We'll be there in two days," he said, almost casually.

Leonard nodded, his thoughts flickering back to his agreement with Angele. The clock was ticking, and he had much to prepare for. "I understand."