Stonefish, the Mental Radiation Held in the Highest Esteem by Knights

Though the figure was not tall, among a group of knights, his bearing stood out in particular.

"Lord Wizard Nova."

Leo had not expected to see Nova aboard a knightly vessel.

Nova stood on the ship, his gaze shifting slightly as he looked at Leo. "Danville, we meet again. It seems you have grown quite well at the Esmond Gathering."

"Your mental energy is already approaching a wizard's level."

"It appears you chose Potionology as your discipline. There is a faint scent of herbs about you."

"Did you also study the Battle Mage discipline? You have taken potions from the Battle Mage system; your body clearly bears signs of potion-based modification."

For a moment, Leo felt his scalp prickle.

He had not expected Nova to see straight through his path of growth the instant they met.

Other than Arcane Hand, which Nova had made no judgment about, he had basically assessed everything else.

One had to know that Nova was several hundred meters away from him at that moment.

Yet with a single glance, he could see through Leo's approximate level and abilities.

Leo said helplessly, "Lord Wizard Nova, a wizard as sharp as you truly makes one's heart go cold."

Nova smiled and shook his head. "You think it is impressive that I can see all this?"

"In truth, it is nothing remarkable. When you have walked a little farther down the wizard's path, as I have, you too will be able to see through the cultivation path of Wizard Seedlings like yourself at a glance."

Leo shook his head.

To reach the realm Nova described, even with the illustrated handbook's help, Leo truly did not think it would be easy.

Moreover, for some reason, Nova gave Leo a very strange feeling.

According to the counter elf at Woodpecker Hut, he had only become a wizard a few years ago.

Yet in Leo's eyes, Nova was like an old man who had lived through long ages. His breadth of knowledge could scarcely be described merely as talent. Leo could only attribute it to his love of reading.

"Come up." As Nova spoke, he lightly waved his right hand toward Leo.

A pair of bird wings sprouted from either side of Leo's shoes.

The wings began to flap, and Leo rose into the air.

Leo's body was somewhat stiff at first as he hung in midair.

After all, at such a height, if he fell, even a Prossian's physique would be injured.

However, Leo did not dwell on it for long. He soon landed on the ship and stood before Nova.

The instant he landed on the deck, the bird wings on his shoes immediately dispersed.

Leo looked at Nova.

As he examined Nova from up close, what Leo felt most keenly was the gap in their mental energy.

If Leo's mental energy was a cup of water, then Nova's was a long river. They were not on the same level at all.

Nova said, "Well? Compared to when we first met, can you see more clearly what I am made of now?"

Leo shook his head. "Not only can I not see through you, but because I myself have grown, I have discovered that the gap between us is only growing larger."

"Being able to understand that the gap has grown larger proves that you are improving rapidly."

Nova said it without concern.

At that moment, a rough male voice rang out. "Nova, is this a student from your gathering?"

Beside Nova stood two other figures clad in long robes.

One was slender, their face hidden beneath the hood of their robe.

The other was a burly man with well-defined features and an expressionless face, like a stone that never smiled.

It was this burly male wizard who had spoken.

"No, merely a Wizard Seedling I happened to know before."

Upon hearing that Leo was a Wizard Seedling, the burly man lost interest in him.

His gaze swept over the badge on Leo's chest, his eyes stirring slightly before the change vanished.

No matter how high Leo ranked among this generation's Wizard Seedlings, he was still only a Wizard Seedling, beneath notice.

The burly man said, "Nova, let us return to the matter we were discussing."

"Regarding my research experiment..."

Nova and the burly man began discussing it.

Once Nova began discussing it, he seemed to completely forget Leo was standing nearby. He neither introduced him nor paid him any attention.

Standing to the side, Leo did not feel the awkwardness of being ignored. Instead, he took the opportunity to listen to the experimental topics these wizards normally discussed.

Though he listened carefully, Leo could only vaguely understand that what they were discussing was related to a phenomenon involving something called "photoreactive materials."

The illustrated handbook did not react to the topic they were discussing either.

Clearly, merely listening to their discussion did not provide enough knowledge for the illustrated handbook to form an illustration.

Still, it was rare to encounter wizards of Nova's level engaged in discussion, so Leo continued doing his utmost to follow their conversation. Whether he gained much or little, there would always be something to gain.

While the two discussed, the slender wizard beside them occasionally chimed in as well.

From the three of them talking, Leo learned the other two's names.

The slender wizard was a woman named Fula.

The burly male wizard was named Kamon.

"Lord Wizard Danville."

At that moment, Aifel's voice came from nearby.

"Regarding the hunt for the sea monster, we are preparing to hold a discussion. I wonder whether you are free now."

Hearing this, Leo thought for a moment before saying, "All right, I will go over now."

Leo's thoughts were gradually failing to keep up with the discussion among Nova and the other two. There would not be much to gain from continuing to listen.

Aifel led Leo to a room inside the cabin.

Besides Leo, there were three others present. Two were seated, while one stood.

Of the two seated figures, one wore a white wizard's robe, while the other wore silver-white armor.

The standing man was John, dressed in silver-white armor.

When John saw Leo, his expression was complicated.

Aifel said, "Lord Wizard Hughes, Kairila, this is Lord Wizard Danville."

"Lord Wizard Danville, these two are the main participants in this sea monster hunt. Like you, Wizard Hughes is a Wizard Seedling from the Tower of Dawn."

"Kairila is my deputy."

Kairila glanced at Leo and said, "Aifel, I told you before: though you found wizards, if they have not condensed a Spiritual Seed, not only will they be unable to help us, they may even cause us trouble."

Compared to Aifel, this knight named Kairila was considerably more brusque toward Leo.

When John saw Kairila's attitude toward the two of them, he failed to notice the fleeting delight that flashed across his face.

Nor did he notice that whenever Leo was looked down upon, he would unconsciously feel pleased inside.

Hearing this, Aifel said, "Kairila, you should know that most of the time, those who accept missions from our knight order are Wizard Seedlings like them."

Kairila slammed her large hand down on the table and said roughly, "Fine. Though they cannot compare to true wizards, they will do in a pinch. They are indeed a little stronger than the ordinary knights on our side."