This poisonous miasma was headache-inducing even for Wizards and could serve as a natural defensive measure.

"HUM..."

The Gray Robed Wizard's key emitted a gentle glow, dispersing the poisonous miasma and revealing a traversable path. The group entered slowly.

This was an 'island' roughly a li in radius, higher in the south and lower in the north. Due to a lack of maintenance, the island was overgrown with various weeds and elm trees. Dead branches and rotten leaves were scattered everywhere. Only a simple, two-story building stood on it.

"There are Witchcraft Traps laid out by Adolf on the island. There aren't many, but you'll need to deal with them slowly," Arthur stated.

Arthur took out a contract. "According to the agreement you discussed, Adolf's legacy is divided into three parts, with Carl owning two of them," he stated. "Hibell holds one."

"Hmm..." His voice trailed off for a moment. "You also owe the Alliance forty-three Magic Stones. It would be best to settle the debt soon; otherwise, there will be interest," he said.

Hibell nodded. After Carl's victory, she had received timely treatment that purged the toxins from her body, but her fatigue had not entirely lifted.

"Some of the legacy has been inventoried by the Alliance, but some parts weren't as straightforward to assess and will require your own deliberation," he continued.

Putting away the contract, Arthur bowed. "If there's nothing else, I shall take my leave. If you have any questions, you can find me at the residency," he said.

With a wry smile, he added, "I'm not as fortunate as you, lacking an island of my own to live on."

"Thank you for your trouble, senior." Carl bowed. "Allow me to see you out."

By the time Carl had escorted Arthur away and returned to Adolf's wooden house, Hibell had already finished inventorying the inheritance. She was clearly more familiar with Adolf's collecting habits than Carl was.

"'Demonized Items, witchcraft, various books, as well as Magic Stones, Gold Coins, and all sorts of materials for refining potions,' she listed. 'There are seventy-two Magic Stones in total. If you don't have an urgent need for them, I'd like to borrow fifty for now,' she proposed. 'I'll compensate you for the extra share from other assets.'"

She needed to repay her debts, and her body also required Potions for recuperation, leaving her short on Magic Stones for the time being.

Carl had no objections; he was more interested in other things anyway.

"'Witchcraft and books can be copied, so in theory, everyone gets the same. It's not a matter of me getting two shares to your one. For everything else, I'll take eighty percent, and I have the right of first choice,' Carl asserted. 'Any objections?'"

Hibell frowned. "Carl!" she exclaimed, then sighed. "I'm grateful that you saved my life, but this... it makes my gratitude feel awkward."

"'Let's stick to the facts,' Carl replied, his expression unchanging. 'I won't take advantage of you, sis, but I won't give away what I'm entitled to either.'"

"..." Hibell's gaze fell. "Fine!" she conceded.

"'Additionally,' Carl continued, 'Tim's Magic Wand and his possessions are my spoils of war. They won't be divided with the tutor's legacy.'"

"'Also, this island is part of the inheritance, so I claim two-thirds of it.'"

"'Naturally,' Hibell shrugged. 'Anything else?'"

"'Not for now,' Carl mused. 'I'll let you know if anything else comes to mind.'"

Hibell was speechless. When she had been at her most helpless, Carl had cared for and aided her; he had even saved her life in a duel to the death. The gratitude she felt had unknowingly transformed into a special kind of emotion. Once this emotion became entangled with material interests, she found herself resisting it, even loathing it.

How could it be like this? This wasn't like she'd imagined at all!

Looking at the serious, calculating Carl, Hibell's expression turned cold. She sat back down in her chair, pouting, clearly rather unhappy.

Carl, acting as if he hadn't noticed, said eagerly, "Alright, if that's settled, let's divide the inheritance."

Adolf's most important legacy was, of course, 'Jina.' She was a magical servant crafted by an Official Wizard—a woman whose soul was imprisoned within a painting. 'Jina' knew everything about Adolf and was an efficient housekeeper, her only limitation being that she couldn't move. If given authorization, she could even control the Witchcraft Traps. She had also managed the library for many years and could recall information from its books, saving one the trouble of searching through them.

"So..." The woman in the painting, 'Jina,' looked at Carl and said with a smile, "You must be my new master then?"

"'I remember when we met over a year ago, you were still so inexperienced. It's truly hard to believe...'"

She had wondered which of Adolf's former apprentices—Tim, Hibell, or others he had taught—would become her new master. But she had never guessed it would be Carl.

The woman in the painting extended a hand, saying respectfully, "New Master, please channel your spiritual power into the painting frame."

"Mm." Carl stepped forward and did as instructed, asking casually, "Jina, do you possess true life?"

"..." Jina shrugged. "Regrettably, no," she replied. "'I have no memories of my previous life, no understanding of sadness, nor the taste of love. I am just a blank soul,' she confessed with a smile, showing no hint of distress."

No. She simply did not possess such an emotion as sadness.

Besides Jina, the woman in the painting, Adolf also possessed a Wizard Robe, a pendant, and a bracelet. All were Demonized Items!

The Wizard Robe was blessed by elemental sprites, providing a certain enhancement when casting natural witchcraft while worn. The pendant could slightly increase spiritual power. The bracelet was enchanted with Zero-Circle Magic—Water Vortex.

After some discussion, Carl received the Wizard Robe and the pendant, while Hibell took the bracelet. He hadn't chosen the bracelet because his body sometimes grew larger, at which point the bracelet would break. He was already tired of the nuisance of having to remove his rings every time he transformed. The Wizard Robe presented a similar problem, but it could be improved by incorporating elastic Magic Materials.

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