Green grass slopes, a figure dashed out of the forest.
At first, it was a jog, gradually turning into a brisk walk, and finally a leisurely stroll.
After walking for a while, as he was about to reach the lake at the bottom of the slope, he finally stopped.
"Huff——huff——"
"Just ran a few steps and I'm this tired, this body is really too weak..."
Ronan stood by the lake, breathing heavily, complaining while taking off his shoes.
He tied his two deerskin boots together with the shoelaces and hung them around his neck, then rolled up the hem and sleeves of his cumbersome robe, and cautiously stepped into the water in front of him.
When the cold lake water covered his ankles, slowly enveloping his calves, Ronan scooped up some water and splashed it on his face, immediately feeling so comfortable that his entire body relaxed.
At this moment, on the gently rippling water surface, a youth's reflection swayed and shifted.
Chestnut hair, thick eyebrows, high nose…
His facial features weren't bad, but his eyes were lifeless, his skin lackluster, his face puffy, and two particularly noticeable dark circles under his eyes, giving off a bloated, despondent, almost sleazy aura.
"This is.. probably because I've been over-indulging myself too much lately..."
"Slap——"
Ronan slapped the water, scattering his reflection, and slowly turned around to walk back to shore.
A lush walnut tree grew on the lakeshore, surrounded by wild grass. Ronan lay down under the walnut tree, his hands cushioning the back of his head, pondering as he watched a few black goats grazing leisurely on a distant hillside.
Reflecting on it, this was already his third day since traversing to this place.
This body he transmigrated into also bore the name Ronan, Ronan Damien, and was the son of a noble family in the Earl's Domain.
Due to fortuitously being identified as having the potential to become a wizard, he was sent by his family to this wizardry congregation place to study.
Regrettably, this fellow's aptitude was not great, and he did not strive harder, so after almost half a year, he was still hovering at the doorway of wizardry, leading a miserable life.
If not for Ronan's soul possessing this body, in a few more months, the original body would likely have been forced to pack up and leave...
Thinking of this, Ronan couldn't help but feel a strong sense of sorrow.
If he could have transmigrated half a year later, by that time the original body would probably have returned to his family's Earl's Domain.
After usurping the original body, he could have savored the life of a noble youth who rode horses, drank tea, and played poker with personal maids every day.
"Wrong timing indeed…"
Ronan sighed deeply, propped up his body, and started putting on his shoes again.
Today was his first attempt to venture out of the house since transmigration; he planned to cross the hill in front of him to explore the forest beyond and thoroughly survey the surrounding area.
But he had barely walked a few steps forward when the black goats on the distant hillside, which were grazing before, suddenly dispersed and began running wildly.
The next second, two small figures appeared in Ronan's field of vision.
One chasing the other rapidly, with dazzling bursts of light occurring in between.
"Holy shit!"
Ronan's pupils constricted, his expression turning tense instantly.
Without much hesitation, he immediately turned around 180 degrees and bolted.
Memories flickered rapidly through his mind.
The center of the Hoddam Wizards' gathering place was the Hoddam Wizard Academy.
The entire academy was under the protection of a massive Rune Formation, peaceful and idyllic, an earthly paradise for cultivation and residence.
Outside were markets and living areas of varying sizes built around the Academy. Although these were outside the protection of the Rune Formation, the order was relatively stable under the management of Academic Wizards on normal days.
However, the area Ronan was in now was where the town met the forest, already outside the "Safe Zone." No one managed it, and naturally, there were no rules.
Typically, wizards performing PK (player killings), seeking revenge, or treasure hunting would choose this area.
Ronan had only heard of it before, but he didn't expect to actually encounter it today.
Just before he ran into the forest, Ronan glanced back hurriedly, only to see one of the two figures on the distant hillside slowly collapsing to the ground...
His heart tightened, and he dared not look any longer, instead burying his head in the hood of his robe and sprinting forward from memory, trying to get as far away as possible from the conflicts in front of him.
Ronan couldn't be said to be cowardly.
Rather, he was just a small Level 1 Wizard Apprentice in the Wizard World, belonging to the very bottom rung.
Furthermore, up to now, he hadn't even mastered a single Zero Rank Spell. If he were to fight someone, he'd just be a sitting duck.
Why wouldn't he run when encountering powerful foes who start killing? Why stay and wait to be killed by the residual impacts?
Ronan darted past bushes, hillocks, and mud pits... zigzagging through the quiet forest until he stopped in front of a large, lush oak.
The oak was intertwined with thick old vines, among the vine-wrapped branches sat a small grey wooden house.
This was Ronan's "home."
The wooden house was built on the tree as a protection against the forest's wild beasts, but the house itself had almost no protection.
However, seeing his own small house, Ronan felt a semblance of safety in his heart.
The tree house was seven or eight meters off the ground. Without even catching his breath, Ronan grabbed a vine hanging from the tree and clambered up with great effort.
Once he got to the tree house, he fumbled beneath his collar and pulled out a brass key.
"Click," "Bang!"
He quickly unlocked the door, slipped inside, and then forcefully closed the door.
The cabin was hot and humid, with a mild scent of mold permeating the air.
Even though there were windows, the light remained dim due to the leaves and vines outside blocking it.
In the dark, quiet cabin, Ronan leaned against the wooden door, breathing heavily, his heart pounding like a drum.
His mind raced: What if the Wizards on the hillside finished killing and came to silence him? Should he escape immediately? Where to? Is there still time?...
He continued to contemplate anxiously until his heartbeat gradually stabilized, Ronan then exhaled and groped his way to the table in the middle of the room, grabbing the water jug on it and gulping down several mouthfuls of water vigorously.
"Scratch-"
Sparks flew as he struck the flint, and a candle was lit.
The dim candlelight quietly cast upon Ronan's melancholic and gloomy face.
There was no trouble for now, and it was likely that no one would come to kill him, but the close brush with danger still made him restless.
With no forewarning, it had descended upon him...
He had been lucky to avoid it this time, but what about next time? The time after that?
Similar incidents weren't uncommon in the wilderness, and each Murder Wizard had different temperaments; what if he came across one that was capricious and bloodthirsty...
Ronan's expression changed, suddenly as if he had made a certain decision.
"Move! I'll move to the city tomorrow!"
But when he rummaged through all his possessions, counted them... he could only helplessly abandon the thought.
Though the original owner of the body had left behind quite a treasure, as he was of noble descent, in the Wizard World, the circulating currency was the Magic Stone—mundane gold and jewels had little value here.
Ronan's entire possession of Magic Stones didn't even amount to one piece, and just the deposit for renting in the town's living area would require one Low-level Magic Stone.
And the Wizard Academy's area?
The dormitory there started at one Magic Stone per month.
"Unless I choose to sell the items I took from the Academy."
Ronan felt depressed.
Selling his inheritance would mean completely abandoning his identity as a wizard and relinquishing this path. Then what was the point of staying here? He might as well just buy a ship ticket and go back home.
"Never mind, I'll just endure."
"Although the Tree House District is dangerous, there are also many who live there; just be extra careful, go out less, interact with people less... the danger might not necessarily befall me."
Ronan could only console himself in this manner.
After a frantic run and an emotional roller coaster, plus the oppressive gloom inside the cabin, Ronan's tense nerves relaxed, and he suddenly felt sleepy.
His eyes drooped, and he soon drifted into a deep sleep.