Derick Redhill, with his flaming red hair and tall stature, walked heavily among the guests at the party.
His towering height, vibrant hair, and distinctive features stood out even among people dressed in expensive clothes and adorned with jewelry.
Aware of the attention he was drawing, he only opened his mouth again after confirming that all eyes were on him.
"Hey, warlock. What do you think you know about magic that you're blabbing away?"
Oliver could not respond. Not because he had nothing to say, but because he was shocked.
Who would have thought that he would meet a familiar face here?
But then again, it might not be so surprising.
After all, it was said that students from the magic tower were frequent attendees. It might even be natural to find a familiar face.
‘Could it be, Professor Kevin too?'
With a flicker of hope, Oliver quickly scanned the surroundings with the eyes of a warlock.
Familiar emotions appeared before him, but unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Kevin was not in sight.
"Well, aren't you going to answer?"
Derick approached him again, asking if he was being ignored.
He seemed quite upset about Oliver's casual discussion about magic.
"Ah, I apologize."
"I didn't ask for an apology. I asked what you know about magic. Have you learned magic somewhere?"
Oliver nearly mentioned working at the magic tower, but just managed to hold his tongue.
After all, he was currently Dave, the solver from Zone T, not Zenon Bright, a personal staff member of a professor at the magic tower.
"Um… No."
"Then why are you talking nonsense, without knowing anything?"
An irritated Derick had gradually moved right up to Oliver's nose. It was a clear provocation.
It seemed to be a great offense for a warlock to debate about magic.
The other wizards attending the party were clearly delighted by Derick's actions, proving this point.
‘Ah… It must have been quite a displeasure to convince the wealthy here to invest, everyone must be feeling the same frustration.'
While jotting down this new fact in his mind, Oliver was pondering how to get out of this situation.
Causing a scene might harm not only himself but also Jane, who had invited him.
Indeed, Miranda seemed displeased with the situation, looking at it with dissatisfaction.
Just as he was about to apologize once again, someone interjected between Oliver and Derick. It was Jane.
"Mr. Wizard."
Jane spoke with her characteristic soft courtesy.
At her appearance, Derick stepped back a few paces.
"I understand your displeasure, but we asked first, so please quell your anger… Dave was merely responding to our question."
Derick looked at Jane, his expression showing his displeasure.
"… And who are you?"
"My name is Jane. It's a pleasure to meet a student from the magic tower."
At the sight of Jane, Derick looked around.
The reason he ceased his hostile actions towards Oliver was not due to Jane's intervention, but his awareness of the onlooking crowd.
"You…..what did you say your name was?"
"It's Dave."
"Dave…… Ah, I've heard of you. A solver who's been making a name for himself lately, right? That's probably why you're at this kind of party."
"I'm not that great."
"I know. Even if your name is known, it's only at street level. You wouldn't be hiding behind a woman otherwise. Like a coward."
"Pardon."
As Derick spat out venom at Oliver, Jane stepped in with a flushed face.
"Your words are getting too much."
"……What did you say?"
"I said your words are too much…. We were wrong to discuss magic in front of the wizards, but you also came to get investment. It's not your place to interfere with who we ask for advice. Above all, everyone here is a guest who has been invited. Treat guests with appropriate manners."
Jane spoke strongly, which was unlike her. But it was still logical and calm, not emotional.
Derick felt angry at Jane's bold attitude.
It was a bit strange.
Derick was very polite when dealing with Yareli or other female wizards…… Apparently, he was not kind to all women.
Oliver was about to step in in case of any possible trouble, but Shamus moved a step faster.
"-Our Jane is right. She's right."
Like at the time with Murphy, Shamus casually put his arm around the other person's shoulder.
He was definitely behind Oliver, but somehow he had moved behind Derick. His skill and movement in hiding his presence were quite surprising.
"What the…?!"
Derick was surprised.
He tried to shake off the arm, but couldn't move under the force of Shamus.
Even Derick, who had a sturdy physique, did not give the impression of being physically inferior anywhere.
"Phew……. I need to exercise."
Shamus said, applying strength to his arm, and Derick couldn't resist under the pressure of Shamus's arm.
Derick felt humiliated and embarrassed, but showed strong vigilance at the same time. He had realized that Shamus was a powerful figure.
"Who are you……?"
"Who? I'm a street-level solver like that guy. Well, the difference is that I'm a successful ex-solver businessman, and I'm not a warlock, I'm a druid."
As if to prove it, Shamus pointed to the small antlers on his head. Derick was greatly surprised to see this.
"Horns……?!"
"Haven't you ever seen a horned druid? Well, they're all doing penance in the forest……. Have a good look, but can you answer my question?"
"What is……"
"Why do you speak with such a stiff head when you come begging for money to the true social elites gathered here in Landa? Where does this confidence come from?"
A few guests at the party chuckled faintly at Shamus's characteristic bluntness.
"Everyone knows the wizards who come here are tight-fisted about money."
Derick tried again to shake off his arm in humiliation, but Shamus's arm did not let him go, as if it were an old tree root.
Shamus continued his words, holding Derick lightly as if he were an adult holding a child. He was very relaxed.
"Above all, I think what that guy said makes sense. That thermal power generation has reached its growth limit. I have some wizards under me, so they are studying this and that.”
"The ones who fell off from the magic tower-"
"Hey! Isn't it the same for everyone here? If the money runs out, if you don't get sponsorship, you get kicked out……. Listen, young friend. Anyone can become miserable at any time, so you have to be humble. That way, you'll attract less laughter if you fail later."
Shamus cut off Derick's words, and the guests at the party laughed louder than before. Oliver was quite impressed.
Anyone can be miserable, so you have to be humble…… It seemed like a pretty good saying.
Shamus opened his mouth again.
"But it's true that it would be unfair to you to end the conversation like this. In that sense, I suggest. Why don't you prove it once? Whose words are more correct."
"Do you want a debate here?"
"Heh heh heh heh……! Being from the magic tower, you have a lot of naive sides, huh? A debate? There's a more certain way in Landa! That is, to prove it with power!!"
***
Shamus drew strength from his abdomen and spoke loudly.
Unable to understand what he was saying, Oliver tilted his head, and Derick also frowned.
However, apart from that, all the guests at the party who were listening to the conversation showed interest and curiosity.
It was similar to when a fight broke out in a bar.
"You want me to fight the warlock now?"
Derick shouted, shaking off Shamus's shoulder somehow. It was closer to Shamus letting him go, though.
"Yes, Landa is a city that speaks through its skills. The stronger one must be right."
It was a logically absurd statement, but surprisingly, the guests at the party agreed, nodding their heads. Their desire to watch a fight contributed to this.
Oliver found personal interest in this situation.
A party where not only the wealthy of Landa, but also many high-ranking individuals like wizards and nobles were said to come, yet aside from the gilded exterior, the atmosphere was not significantly different from a typical bar.
Drinking, chatting, sizing each other up, distinguishing hierarchy, and relishing in watching fights.
Of course, he wasn't condemning this. It was just interesting….. to the point where he thought it was good to come.
Shamus, like stoking a flame, elicited the response of the party guests with his unique cheerful voice, and the guests also responded willingly, stripping off a layer of etiquette.
‘There are those who want to see the disgrace of the wizards, those who just enjoy the disturbance. There are also those who want to confirm something. The reasons are diverse…… Huh?'
Oliver turned his head at the sensation of his dress being tugged. Jane whispered with a worried expression.
"……Are you okay?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"This situation."
Jane pointed at Shamus, who was inciting a fight, and the people who were crowding in response.
The center of the party had unknowingly become here, and the topic of conversation had changed to who would win if a renowned student from the Magic Tower and a solver known in the back alleys fought. There were even people making bets.
"If you ask whether it is a pleasant and good situation, it isn't, but it isn't a bad situation either. It is just so-so."
"Really?"
"Yes…… I've heard of such cases before. Before going to the auction house held by Crime Firm and the Subureptor Museum."
"Ah……."
Indeed, it was like that.
Landa is a city dominated by violence. The upper class of the city without their own force resolved their lack of force by hiring bodyguards with personal force.
Although rare, even the bodyguards occasionally fought among themselves. Therefore, he was somewhat prepared for it.
Business is business, after all.
"Of course, if Miss asks not to fight, I won't fight."
"Me?"
"Yes, for now, because I was hired by Miss Jane."
At that statement, Jane's eyes wavered for a moment, and then she laughed.
"Hahaha……. You're always consistent."
Just as Oliver was about to respond, ‘Is that so?', he heard Shamus's voice thundering.
"Hey, Dave! It seems like the wizard from the Magic Tower wants to back out, don't you have something you want to say?"
"Me?"
"Yes, it's not easy to attract this much attention here. Don't you have something to say as the leader of the Fighter Crew?"
"Um, now that you mention it, I do."
"Oh, what is it? Let's hear it."
"I'm not the leader of the Fighter Crew."
The faces of those who were anticipating Oliver's words turned into ones filled with questions.
That's because those who caught up with the news knew that Warlock Dave brutally killed the leader of the Fighter Crew and usurped his position.
"What did you say?"
"Just as I said. I don't know where the misunderstanding started, but it's all a misunderstanding. It's true that I gave a little help to the Fighter Crew, but they're not my subordinates, they're just the Fighter Crew. I'm not their leader, nor am I allied with Crime Firm. I'm just a solver……. Oh, I feel a bit relieved now that I've said it. I was a little uncomfortable because it felt like I was deceiving others."
When Oliver finished speaking, the heated atmosphere cooled down slightly.
Shamus had a dumbfounded expression, and Jane seemed to accept it, nodding calmly.
Several women who seemed to be in the same group asked Jane, but Jane just skillfully responded that she would answer later.
Oliver wondered if he had spoken wrongly, but decided not to regret it.
Judging by the reactions, what he said now was right. Shouldn't misunderstandings be cleared up before they deepen?
"So, are you too scared to fight with the student from the Magic Tower?"
Miranda, who had been silently observing, spoke up for the first time.
Everyone in the place stopped murmuring and looked at her, showing how much influence Miranda had here.
Naturally, Oliver had to answer.
"Fighting is always scary. You might even die….. But I think I can at least have a match. If Miss Jane, who invited me here, allows it.”
As Oliver pointed at Jane in response, all eyes turned to Jane.
(To be Continued)
OR
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