"Entrusting an Orphan"?!

"Toby!" Gloria raised her hand, and the seabird perched atop Angel's hair fluttered its wings and landed in her palm.

"Ever since Toby was born, he has stayed by my side. He was a new life I accidentally synthesized, using an ordinary seabird as the primary material and mixing in various phantom spirits and precious materials. Since his birth, I have tried every possible way to recreate the circumstances from that time, hoping to create another similar Magic Beast, but nothing came of it. You could say Toby is one of a kind." As Gloria spoke, she looked at Toby with unusual tenderness in her eyes.

"All these years, Toby has remained by my side. Though he does not possess special powers like other Magic Beasts, he is highly intelligent. By now, Toby can understand human speech, and the capacity of his spiritual power is already comparable to that of a Wizard Apprentice."

By this point, Angel vaguely sensed that Gloria intended to "entrust an orphan" to him.

"The Barbie Restaurant travels through various regions year-round in search of ingredients. With my protection, Toby would naturally be safe. But this time, I have reached the threshold of advancement. For a Gourmet Wizard to advance, vast amounts of unique ingredients and spell formulas are needed. I have swept through the Southern Region for hundreds of years. Though there must still be some omissions, I have basically incorporated it all into my own system. Even so, I have still not gathered enough for advancement."

"So this time, I have decided to leave the Southern Region and venture into more distant lands, or perhaps even into the unknown planes. I never considered it before. But this threshold has trapped me for over a hundred years. If I still cannot find a direction, I fear I may never have another chance in the future. So this time, I have decided to take the plunge."

As Gloria spoke, she used a soundproof barrier. Only Angel could hear her.

"This journey is fraught with danger at every turn. I cannot guarantee Toby's safety, so while I am away, I hope Toby can stay with you."

After Gloria finished speaking, she stared straight at Angel. Truthfully, she had many options. She could leave Toby at the Candy House, or entrust him to a close friend. But after she explained her intentions to Toby, he refused to stay anywhere and stubbornly insisted on following Gloria. After much coaxing and persuasion, Toby reluctantly chose someone.

And that person was not any of Gloria's friends, but someone Toby had met only once: Angel.

Though she did not know why Toby had chosen Angel, Gloria thought of Sanders' regard for him, Angel's character, and the achievements he might attain in the future. In the end, Gloria did not object. Knowing that Angel would leave with Sanders tomorrow, she had come to the Bauhinia under cover of night.

Toby had understood Gloria's words as well. His bright little eyes looked at Angel, seemingly waiting for his answer.

Angel: So it really is entrusting an orphan. It may not be for a lifetime, but it is close enough...

With one pair of large eyes and one pair of small eyes fixed on him, Angel truly wanted to refuse. He himself was lost about the road ahead. Heaven knew why Sanders wanted to take him as a disciple. Heaven knew whether he could satisfy that bargain-bin mentor. Heaven knew what awaited him at Savage Cave.

Angel had not figured out any of these questions.

But the one asking him was Gloria, a "true wizard" whom even Sanders had called "worthy of respect."

Flora had also told him to maintain a good relationship with Gloria.

Thinking of this, Angel gritted his teeth. Forget it, things had already come to this. No matter how bad it got, it could not get much worse. Even if he failed to satisfy Sanders, perhaps with Toby mediating between them, Sanders would show Gloria some respect and not make things too difficult for him.

"Alright. I will take good care of Toby until you return, ma'am."

Seeing the expression on Angel's face as though he were marching to his death, Gloria burst out laughing.

"Do not make it sound so solemn. You are making it seem as though I am using my power to force you." Gloria smoothed down her hanging hair. "Do not worry either. Toby is actually very easy to care for. Once you return to the mainland, you will not even need to worry about his meals. He will find a way to deal with them himself. And Toby is very smart. With him helping out, perhaps he will end up taking care of you instead~"

After Gloria finished speaking, she looked at Toby in her palm for a long time without looking away.

The atmosphere gradually fell quiet.

It was clear from Gloria's behavior that her bond with Toby was truly profound.

Angel felt a little envious. In the world of mortals, he had his mentor and his brother. But after entering The World of Wizards, would he encounter someone with whom he could share life and death, someone bound to him by deep affection?

After an unknown amount of time, Gloria finally slowly put away her sorrowful expression. With a gentle lift of her hand, she released Toby.

Toby circled above her head for a long while.

"Go."

Toby hesitated for a moment, then slowly flew above Angel's head and landed once more in his old spot.

My hair is a mess again... Once we get back, I have to correct this bad habit of his!

Gloria said, "Until I return, I will have to trouble you."

With that matter settled, Gloria naturally prepared to leave. Before she did, however, she left Angel a capsule-shaped soft bubble.

"This is a spatial soft pouch brewed from microorganisms living within the crystal walls of planes. It can hold a large quantity of items. However, it is single-use. Inside are some of Toby's daily necessities, as well as your reward for helping me care for him. Just crush the soft pouch, and you can take everything out."

After saying that, Gloria was about to leave.

At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open, and Alan walked in from outside, rubbing his eyes with a dazed expression.

—While Angel had been speaking with Moro earlier, Alan had brought Irene back to his room.

"Grandpa, Irene is already asleep. Do we still need to... Huh, who are you?"

Gloria had not cared much when Alan suddenly barged in. He was only a child. But when she glanced at him, a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

"Is he your grandson?" Gloria pointed at Alan and asked Moro, who stood to one side.

Moro thought Gloria was blaming Alan for his recklessness, and he nodded in terror. "Yes, he is my grandson, Alan. My lady, my grandson is young and does not know any better..."

Gloria waved her hand, cutting Moro off.

"I am asking you, what change occurred when your grandson underwent his talent test?"

"A change?" Moro muttered in confusion. "The change was 'something from nothing.' During Alan's talent test, he saw a piece of black bread appear on the empty plate before him."

Something from nothing was one of the most common changes recorded in the Abyras Talent Compendium Yearbook.

"Something from nothing? I do not think so." Gloria smiled and pulled out a metal badge from who knew where. Engraved on the badge was a small wooden cottage hidden in the Forest, while the reverse bore a relief portrait of Gloria.

"This is my badge from the Candy House. If you are willing, you may take my badge and send him to the Candy House... After all, among the Gourmet Wizards of the Southern Region, if the Candy House claims second place, no one would dare claim first..."

Gloria had already made herself so clear. How could Moro possibly fail to understand?

Alan had the talent to become a Gourmet Wizard? Moro looked at the fair, plump, adorable little fatty. This grandson whom he had always doted on actually possessed the talent to become a Gourmet Wizard?

Thinking back on Alan's usual interests, he was either eating or looking for something to eat.

Even when he had been immersed in the Mirage caused by the Barbie Restaurant today, Alan had not been controlled by his appetite into doing anything excessive.

Moro had never given these signs much thought before. He had only assumed his grandson was growing and that eating a little more was good. But with Gloria's slight hint, did those clues not all point to Alan's talent...

Sure enough, those inside the situation could not see it clearly.

After Gloria left, Moro's heart began to twist in conflict.

Should he send Alan to the Candy House to become a Gourmet Wizard?

Though Gourmet Wizards belonged to the mysterious side, they had always been weak in the Wizarding World because their combat strength was low. Many Wizard Apprentices who followed the gourmet path failed to advance to Formal Wizards and had abysmal combat ability, so they simply attached themselves to stronger people and became their cooks. Their status might not be low, but neither was it particularly high.

Alan had gourmet talent, but he did not necessarily have to take this path. It all depended on his own choice.

With Gloria's recommendation, Alan would at least not become an unnoticed nobody at the Candy House. But on the path of gourmet magic, becoming a powerhouse was far too difficult. Moro did not want his grandson to end up becoming someone else's cook.

What a headache!