Kano and Bobby

"Taylor, don't you go learning from Bobby and becoming so lazy. He's already useless. In my eyes, he's no different from dead. If you're like Bobby, when will our grand ambition of unifying the entire Wizard Civilization and the Endless Worlds ever be achieved?"

As Taylor and Bobby talked, a dark voice brimming with murderous intent rang out in Taylor's mind, as though it wanted to destroy, dissect, and slaughter everything.

His name was Kano. He was an alternate personality born after Taylor used the Mild Mechanized Mind spell to vent all sorts of dark thoughts, murderous urges, irritability, and other negative emotions from his studies and experiments, mixing them with his spiritual power.

The lazier voice was named Bobby. He was another alternate personality born from Taylor's laziness, reluctance, indolence, embarrassment, and a whole series of other emotions during his studies and experiments, mixed with spiritual power.

Kano and Bobby's birth made Taylor feel less lonely, but it also gave him even more headaches.

Kano made Taylor feel as though he had Danzo with him at all times. At the slightest provocation, he wanted to start slaughtering people or put someone on an experiment table and cut them open. Sometimes, he even offered Taylor advice, complaining that Taylor was too weak.

Bobby, on the other hand, made Taylor feel as though he had Kizaru around. Every day, he only knew how to say things like, "How scary," "How excessive," and "That's monstrous." Whenever there was nothing to do, he encouraged Taylor to rest and slack off.

Taylor felt like he must have committed sins for several lifetimes to end up with these two things.

"I never said I wanted to unify the entire Wizard Civilization... and unify the Endless Worlds too? Why don't you just fly into the sky?"

"How terrifying, Kano. Am I already dead in your heart? Hehehe~~~~"

After getting dressed and pushing open the door, Taylor continued refuting Kano in his mind as he walked down the road.

Kano was furious at those words devoid of ambition, and he roared.

"Taylor, why are you still so weak?! As Wizards, every living being should be equipment on our experiment tables! You disappoint me too much, Taylor!"

After hearing Kano's words, Taylor answered without even thinking.

"There's absolutely no need for that. If I want materials, I can just get them myself. What does that have to do with unifying the Endless Worlds? Wouldn't that be troublesome?"

"Taylor, you'll regret this!"

"Kano, I'm the primary consciousness!"

"Ohohoho~~~~ How terrifying~~~~"

Ignoring Bobby, who was slacking off at the side, Taylor felt refreshed after his usual verbal sparring with Kano and headed out. He suddenly remembered that today, he was supposed to follow Taifas to a Wizard's Botanical Garden for a mission.

They were only collecting Sleeping Spores. Calling it a mission was really just an opportunity to broaden their horizons.

Taylor also had his own considerations regarding the arrangements for the two personalities. He had seen a method in his puppet studies for anchoring spiritual power to puppets.

Kano was too dark and irritable. In the future, dirty work—sabotage, massacres, large-scale dissections for materials, and so on—could be handed over to him. He liked those dark things anyway.

Didn't Bobby like being lazy? Taylor could have him study Construct Puppet techniques. As long as the puppets were good enough, Bobby could slack off. As long as his puppets could get the job done, that was enough. With that condition, Taylor believed Bobby would definitely work hard to develop puppets for the sake of his own leisure time.

Moreover, with Bobby's personality, he was quite suitable for holding down the rear in the future. One could serve as the black glove, the other as the white glove, while Taylor would focus on exploring planes and acquiring knowledge. The three of them would form a perfect trinity.

As soon as he arrived at the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, Taylor noticed Taifas bouncing around energetically in front of the office manager.

"Taylor, my good brother, I knew you wouldn't just watch me go to that dangerous Botanical Garden alone. Just as expected, you're coming with me."

The moment he saw Taylor, Taifas began dancing with excitement and took one huge step straight toward him.

"Let's make this clear beforehand. I'm doing this for the points, not to keep you company."

"And besides, isn't the Botanical Garden basically no different from an amusement park to you?"

Looking at Taifas's big face, Taylor curled his lips in disdain.

"Whatever. But Taylor, I recently got some news. Lord Krite, the youngest Level 1 Wizard in the White Tower Alliance, is planning to take on an apprentice. He'll only take one person as his assistant in puppet and Construct Puppet research. I think you should give it a try."

As the two walked along the road, Taifas suddenly remembered some information he had recently learned and immediately spoke to Taylor with a serious expression.

"Lord Krite..."

Taylor knew quite a lot about Wizard Krite. Basically, every Wizard Apprentice proficient in Elemental Golems, or even those who had studied Construct Puppets, had heard of Krite's great name.

Wizard Krite was not only the youngest Level 1 Wizard, but he also had profound research into Elemental Golems and Construct Puppets. Before he had even become a Level 1 Wizard, he had already completed most of a Construct Puppet.

That alone was enough to prove Krite's deep foundation of knowledge and ingenious use of Wizard Runes. After becoming a Level 1 Wizard, Krite completed the Construct Puppet and used it to defeat a powerful Fire Element Level 1 Wizard in a one-on-one battle.

For a master like that in the fields of Elemental Golems and Construct Puppets, Taylor felt it was necessary to study under him properly. Especially now that Taylor was working hard to combine Wizard Runes with magic runes, having such a knowledgeable teacher to guide him would make mastering Wizard Runes much easier.

Apprentice Library

Looking at the increasingly aged Oak, Taylor could also feel the passage of time. That old man who could casually wave his hand, summon a gale, and fling a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice away had grown old as well.

Oak, seated behind the counter, noticed the emotion and pity in Taylor's eyes. Dissatisfied, he took the pipe from his mouth and knocked it hard against the table.

"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that, kid? Don't be fooled by the extra wrinkles on my face. Living another ten years or so won't be a problem at all."

As he spoke, Oak deliberately puffed out his chest, putting on an appearance of still being strong and healthy.

But deep down, he understood that he was already old. He said he could live another ten years or so, but in reality, five or six years would probably be about enough.

Over the eight or nine years he had spent with Taylor, Oak had gradually come to understand many things. Perhaps he had grown old, but he had become a little more sincere in the way he treated Taylor.

Whenever Taylor lacked certain experimental materials, Oak had specially found ways to help collect some for him. He had also selflessly sold many of his treasured possessions to Taylor at dirt-cheap prices.

The fact that Taylor had become a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice with five improved spell models at eighteen was also greatly due to Oak's help.

Taylor did not waste words after entering. He had come to inquire about information, though the last time he had entered the Apprentice Library had been half a year ago.

"What's going on with Wizard Krite's apprentice selection? How come I haven't heard anything about it recently?"

"Krite..."

Upon hearing that familiar name, Oak picked up his pipe, took a deep drag, and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke before speaking with a nostalgic expression.

"Krite was one of the earliest genius Wizards I invested in. Just like you, I gave him quite a few things—Wizard tools, Wizard materials, and some auxiliary items for spiritual power."

Oak seemed to know what Taylor was about to say and spoke directly.

"I know about Wizard Krite looking for an apprentice too. Actually, if you hadn't shown up soon, I would've gone looking for you. You ungrateful brat, the last time you came was half a year ago."

Hearing that, Taylor shrank his neck somewhat awkwardly. Oak rolled his eyes at him, then finally dropped a bombshell.

"I know you're very interested in both Elemental Golems and Construct Puppets, so I specifically mentioned you to Krite. He said he would keep an eye on you. As long as your performance isn't too terrible, the apprentice position will be yours."

As for what Oak had paid in exchange for that so-called attention, he did not say, and Taylor did not ask. He simply gave Oak a very solemn bow.

"Old man Oak, I'll always remember the help you've given me. Once I become a Wizard, I'll definitely do everything I can to repay you."

"Heh, then hurry up."

Just don't wait until I'm dead...

Dear readers, I wonder whether everyone is satisfied with this kind of setting. If you have any suggestions, I can make improvements based on them. I hope everyone can help promote it, add it to your collections, and give it more recommendation votes. Thank you all.