Neighbors

"Dr. Quill, it looks like he's trying to escape."

"Oh?"

At Floris Hospital, a nurse pushed open the office door and reported Sean's movements to Quill.

"He contacted the Crobel Club and found out where patient C1445 went before."

"Where was that?"

"The Black Berry Rainforest."

"Interesting."

Quill, dressed in a white lab coat, stood by the window, teasing the crow in its cage. His smiling face was reflected in the window's blue glass as he asked with interest, "Does he want to find the Spring of Enlightenment?"

"Probably." The nurse paused, then added hesitantly, "There's something I've never understood. Why did the Vice Dean let him go? His admission paperwork was already done."

To maintain stability and demonstrate the faith's tolerance and mercy, they generally didn't go after people without magic, even if they'd awakened their perception. As long as they didn't become actual witches, they were given a chance.

But Sean had come to them of his own accord. He wouldn't be going against the Lord's teachings.

Besides, they weren't going to kill Sean. They only wanted to give him a change of scenery. That didn't conflict with using his novels to find more potential witches. Under their direct supervision, Sean might even write more efficiently.

However you looked at it, there was no reason to let Sean leave and lose a performance bonus.

Quill chuckled. "Do you really think the Vice Dean was the one who let him go?"

The nurse froze. "Wasn't he?"

Quill smiled and shook his head, then let the subject drop.

"If he wants to find the Spring of Enlightenment, let him look... After all, it's his freedom."

"Shouldn't we stop him?" the nurse asked.

"Why would we stop him?"

Quill spoke gently. "You need to learn to let go of your urge to help others and respect their fate."

Knowing that becoming a witch would send him plummeting into an abyss, yet still choosing to follow in his good friend's footsteps... Whatever else you could say, he had courage.

Did Sean think that having magic would let him escape Quill's grasp?

That was a little naive.

And besides...

"The Spring of Enlightenment isn't easy to find," Quill said.

The Black Berry Rainforest was one of the largest virgin forests in the world, covering roughly 1.1 million square kilometers. It had long been a sacred destination for wilderness survival enthusiasts. Every year, people set out from all over to seek thrills in the rainforest, but few ever became witches.

The Spring of Enlightenment lay deep in the rainforest. First, they would have to face the vast, dangerous wilderness.

Sean was merely a frail, reclusive writer. In Quill's eyes, his physical fitness was no better than that of an underage girl. Whether he could survive in the primeval forest—or how many days he'd last—was anyone's guess. They might not even need to lift a finger. Sean could die along the way all by himself. It would be a pity, really.

"He isn't going alone."

The nurse said, "He bought a lot of outdoor survival gear to keep himself safe and signed up for a tour leaving in two days."

Quill's hand paused as he teased the crow. "Such as?"

The nurse replied, "Condoms."

Quill: "?"

The nurse earnestly explained the item's survival uses to his boss. "They're cheap and portable, and they're great for survival. You can use them to carry water, keep things dry, or tie one tight as a bandage to stop bleeding. Fill one with water and shape it into a ball, and it can work as a magnifying glass to start a fire. Or blow it up and wrap it in a towel to use as a pillow. It's even more comfortable than a regular pillow."

Quill looked back at him, rather surprised. "You seem to know a lot about this."

The nurse replied without a change in expression, "I learned after I went out last time and my wife found a box of condoms in my pocket when I got home."

Quill: "..."

Whatever.

It didn't matter.

"What else did he buy?"

"A new handgun and a bulletproof vest."

"A bulletproof vest?"

Quill asked in surprise, "Didn't Burg and his people put him on the blacklist?"

The law clearly stated that anyone convicted of a serious crime or worse could never buy or use body armor again. In their country, body armor was more tightly regulated than ordinary guns and ammunition. They weren't worried about you being too aggressive. They were worried you wouldn't go down after one shot.

"He asked someone in his reader group to buy it for him," the nurse said.

Quill laughed in spite of himself.

Mr. Sean really was cautious.

He was going with a tour group and asking an online acquaintance for help.

He had a beautiful neighbor who was practically throwing herself at him, but instead of asking her, he had to go out of his way to find someone else. Was he afraid she'd give him a fake vest?

It was clear Sean was taking the Spring of Enlightenment seriously and preparing carefully. He'd considered everything, even the possibility of getting shot once he became a witch.

Unfortunately, it wouldn't do him much good.

Effort didn't always lead to success.

Because they had armor-piercing rounds.

"If Sean really finds the Spring of Enlightenment and becomes a witch..."

"Then kill him."

That was their bottom line. It could not be crossed.

Quill opened the cage and held out his right hand. The Smell Crow, its feathers black as ink, perched on his finger. He handed it to the nurse. "I'll give them a heads-up in a moment. Take it with you. It'll help you confirm whether Sean has magic."

After drinking from the Spring of Enlightenment, many people saw a crow with brilliant, multicolored feathers and thought they had glimpsed the world's true colors. They were more excited than anyone. Little did they know, the Smell Crow's feathers only changed color when it sensed a sufficient fluctuation of magic.

So when they saw the Smell Crow, that meant they had become prey.

No one could escape.

Two days later.

Ten in the morning.

The outskirts.

Sean, up early, hadn't even eaten breakfast before arriving on time at the agreed meeting spot with the club members.

Since they were heading to a primeval forest, everyone had brought at least a few dangerous "contraband" items, such as guns, compound bows, and large animal traps. They wouldn't get past security unless they paid extra.

It was clear no one had that kind of money. They had two options. The first was to bring nothing and buy what they needed in a town near the Black Berry Rainforest. They might end up paying 450 for a box of fifty poor-quality handgun rounds, nearly ten times the regular price, and only good for self-defense at close range.

After all, it was a "scenic area."

The other option was to drive themselves and bring whatever they wanted.

To protect both their lives and their wallets, they discussed it in the group chat and chose the latter. Together, they pooled their money and rented three spacious SUVs from the club.

The drive from Holkodo to the Black Berry Rainforest was about 980 kilometers. If the roads were good, they could get there in two days.

"Looks like everyone's here?"

Gennardo was the leader of this expedition. He had extensive wilderness survival experience and had once lived alone on a deserted island for eighteen days without any tools. He seemed completely unbothered by the chilly autumn air, wearing only shorts and a tank top, his muscular arms covered in pale scars.

"Everyone in the cars, come on out and introduce yourselves," Gennardo called. His skin was bronze from years in the sun. When he grinned, his bright white teeth stood out, making him seem likable.

But Sean had already been fooled by appearances twice. Now, a smile like that put him off.

He instinctively took two steps back, keeping a relatively safe distance between them.

Gennardo noticed his movement and how wary he seemed. Thinking they might have met before, though he couldn't recall when, he studied Sean's handsome face for a moment and ventured, "Have I tried to pick you up before?"

Sean: "?"

This time, he took three steps back.

The people resting in the cars got out one after another. A middle-aged man who'd been smoking nearby also came over. There were seven of them in total, including Sean and Gennardo, and Sean already knew one of the women.

She had elegant curls like golden waves. Her languidly colored dress and tightly cinched waist accentuated her fiery figure. Two thin straps rested on her shoulders, holding up the dress along the line of her collarbones. Below the low neckline was a magnificent bust, full of knowledge and ready to burst forth.

The woman took off her sunglasses, tossed her hair, and shot Sean a flirtatious glance.

"What a coincidence, handsome. I didn't know you liked outdoor sports too."