Last Wizard King's SSS-Level Magic system in Modern World
Chapter 48: A Test - Part 1

Chapter 48: 48: A Test - Part 1

"Your first assignment. There’s an artifact I need retrieved. It’s dangerous, but valuable. And since you’re so eager to prove your worth, you’ll handle it personally"

Lazario said, gesturing to the display.

Liam’s stomach dropped. He barely knew how to navigate a fight with his system’s help, let alone deal with whatever this assignment entailed. But his system, as usual, had perfect timing.

[Assignment received: Retrieve the Relic of Lunaris from Site Theta. Estimated difficulty: Extreme. Recommendations: Avoid combat, rely on stealth, and gather information before proceeding.]

Liam’s lips pressed into a thin line as he read the prompt.

"Extreme difficulty? Great,"

He muttered under his breath, earning a curious glance from Lazario.

"What was that?" Lazario asked sharply.

"Nothing. Just... appreciating the opportunity. Where exactly is this Site Theta?"

Liam said quickly, forcing another smile.

Lazario’s expression darkened slightly, as if he found Liam’s eagerness suspicious.

"You’ll receive coordinates and details from my people before you leave. But let me be clear—this isn’t a test you can afford to fail. The artifact must be retrieved intact, and I don’t care what it takes to get it."

Liam nodded, keeping his face neutral even as anxiety churned in his stomach. Lazario didn’t seem like the type of man who tolerated failure, and Liam wasn’t eager to find out what happened to those who disappointed him.

Lazario gestured toward the door.

"You’re dismissed. Prepare yourself. You leave at dawn."

Liam stood and made his way out of the room.

The hallway outside was dimly lit and eerily quiet, with only the occasional sound of footsteps echoing in the distance. He exhaled sharply once he was out of Lazario’s sight, leaning against a wall to steady himself.

"Great. Just great. Kidnapped, threatened, and now sent on a suicide mission. Could this day get any worse?"

He muttered.

The system chimed in, its tone as neutral as ever.

[User is advised to remain calm. Current survival probability: 48%. Successful completion of the mission will raise this probability significantly. Chances of successfully running away: 80%]

"Forty-eight percent? That’s not exactly reassuring. I guess I will run away once I get the chance."

Liam hissed under his breath.

The system didn’t reply, leaving Liam to stew in his frustration. He pushed off the wall and began walking, his mind racing with thoughts of how to survive this ordeal. He needed to come up with a plan—a real one.

As he passed through the corridor, he couldn’t help but notice the strange symbols etched into the walls. They pulsed faintly with magic, giving off a sense of unease. This place... it’s like it’s alive, Liam thought, shivering slightly.

His wandering eventually brought him to a small, secluded lounge where he found a few of Lazario’s subordinates gathered. They looked up when he entered, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and amusement.

"Hey, you’re the new guy, right? Good luck. First assignments here are usually a bloodbath."

One of them said, smirking.

Liam frowned, unsure whether the man was joking or being serious.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he muttered, sitting down in a corner.

The group laughed, but Liam ignored them, his mind preoccupied. He needed information—about the artifact, about Site Theta, and about Lazario’s organization. But who could he trust in this place?

No one! And that was why Liam had to rely on his own to look for a way to get away.

______

"This dark collar. Tsk, this is the reason I cannot run away or rampage around. Why did it have to be a magic-detecting collar that would knock me out as soon as I try anything funny? I will need a key to remove it safely."

The collar was the reason behind Liam’s compliance and subdued nature. In the end, his instincts turned out to be right, and Liam was lucky he had not resisted the offer.

He might have a lot of magic and even be able to control it to some extent, but in the face of medicine and his human body, Liam was still helpless. He had to consider what he could do for now.

"Still, my chances of successfully running away are 80%. That means there must be a way for me to get this collar off me."

Liam sighed as he followed the group of four on this first assignment. He felt like the odd one out as he walked behind the group.

The other three seemed to know each other, and they were even conversing among themselves. Liam felt like the odd one out.

Liam reluctantly followed the group, keeping a deliberate distance from them.

His instincts told him to stay out of their way, especially since they all seemed to have an established camaraderie he wasn’t a part of.

Liam could sense the tension in the air, though it wasn’t entirely clear whether it was because of the mission or his presence.

What unnerved him more was the piercing gaze of the supervisor, Kieran.

The man’s sharp eyes seemed to follow Liam’s every move, scrutinizing him with an intensity that made it impossible to relax. Liam tried to appear nonchalant, but the weight of the attention was suffocating.

The others in the group had clearly noticed Kieran’s focus on him, and it was starting to cause friction.

Selene, the icy woman with a no-nonsense attitude, threw him a sharp look every now and then, her lips pursed in silent disapproval.

Rowan, the youngest of the group, muttered something under his breath, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Must be nice to get the boss’s full attention."

Rowan quipped just loud enough for Liam to hear.

Selene scoffed.

"If he messes up, it’s on Kieran. Let’s see how long that lasts."

Liam bit back a response, choosing to remain silent. He didn’t ask for this attention, and it was the last thing he wanted.

Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Kieran’s watchful eye wasn’t just caution—it was curiosity.

But why me?

Liam wondered as the group pressed forward into the unknown.

_____

It would help if you could buy privileges tomorrow. I want to try hitting the win-win goal. 500 unlocks = 1 bonus Chapter. 100 GT= 1 bonus Chapter.