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Knock. Knock.
Oliver knocked on the door.
A moment later, a curt voice came from beyond the door.
"Come in."
As soon as permission was granted, Oliver opened the door and entered, where he could see Kevin sitting in the professor's office.
Usually, he was always busy sorting out documents or preparing for the next class, but today, he seemed to be sitting quietly as if he had finished work earlier than usual.
‘Looking at the documents piled next to him, it seems like he has dealt with everything. That's unusual.'
Oliver, who knew Kevin's way of doing things — not delaying, but not rushing either — was puzzled. What was going on?
"Did you wrap things up well?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm talking about <Basics of Magic Combat>."
"Ah… Yes, and it seems to have ended well. There were no big disappointments or regrets from anyone."
"I wonder if that's a good thing."
Oliver agreed with that.
No reaction meant that it didn't matter whether Oliver was there or not… No, it meant that there was no motivation or attachment to the class itself.
It was quite unsatisfactory. It would have been better if they had shown some anger or emotion.
"Did you use your teaching methods with Felix?"
"Yes, I helped him just a little."
"How little is ‘just a little'?"
"Um… I just pointed out where he usually stumbles. I believe with a little practice, he should be able to use the sequential flow of mana you mentioned quite easily.”
Sequential flow of mana.
It was a kind of mana exercise developed by Kevin, not an officially registered training method in the Magic Tower.
It emphasized agility and flexibility by controlling the flow of mana according to a certain pattern and speed, more than the stabilization and maximization of mana.
This was the basis for the quick casting and flexible changes of mana, maximizing the efficiency of magic combat. It seemed trivial, but it was quite difficult, and the students who were currently training with Oliver couldn't fully implement it.
"I'm curious about that. I'll have to check it out later.”
"Are you going to check it out yourself?”
"At first, I'll have to ask someone coming in your place. I'm also busy.”
"Um… Professor, if it's okay, can I ask who will be coming in my place?”
"Are you worried?"
Kevin leaned forward with his hands clasped.
It seemed like a relaxed posture, but it created a significant amount of pressure.
Oliver, however, didn't notice.
"Yes."
"If you're worried, you shouldn't have taken a leave like this."
"I'm sorry."
Oliver just apologized. He didn't say anything more. Although there were circumstances, it was ultimately an excuse.
The reward that he could get from this mission was more attractive than his duties in the Magic Tower or commitments with the students.
There was nothing Oliver could say even if Kevin criticized him.
"But I like that you didn't make any excuses… Is your personal matter very urgent?”
"I'm not sure… but there is a high possibility."
"Can you tell me specifically what it is?"
"Um… no."
"Anyway, I can find out if I want to."
It was not bluffing, it was real. The boundary between the light and shadow side of Landa is blurred, so a professor of the Magic Tower should be able to figure out what a back-alley solver is doing.
But Oliver shook his head.
"I'm sorry. It doesn't seem right for me to talk about it with my own mouth.”
First, as a solver, Oliver answered while considering the basic rules he had to maintain. Kevin could find out, but at least not through his own mouth.
"Well, we can't help it… Let's focus on what we have to do now and talk about that later."
Kevin finished speaking and pulled out a piece of paper from a pile of documents next to him.
It was a professor's personal staff vacation request form, and Kevin's signature was already written in the professor's signature line.
Oliver thanked him and reached out to the professor's personal staff vacation request form on the desk.
"It's impressive that you still get 80% of your salary when you take a vacation due to personal reasons."
"People stay here despite being dissatisfied with life in the Tower because there's a reason."
Oliver nodded in agreement. Life here was tough, but it was definitely better than Landa, which had no safety net.
‘The larger the scale, the more money and authority.'
Even though he was still an employee, Oliver thought as he indirectly felt the size of the Tower and the flow of money operated here.
Then he had a sudden question.
Merlin seemed to have a very high hierarchy in the Tower, but why did he leave somewhere himself?
He could just order someone else.
Indeed, Merlin said he had many such people.
Could it be that something big or important had happened that Merlin had to move himself?
Even if it had nothing to do with him, Oliver was curious.
"Professor. You said the elder left somewhere today. If it's not rude, can I ask where he went?"
"Do you think he reports to me every time he goes somewhere?"
Kevin asked back, expressing a sense of absurdity.
Recalling Merlin's usual appearance, Oliver replied reflexively.
"Um… No."
"Right."
Having heard the answer, Oliver started to fill out the vacation application form again.
He signed [Zenon Bright] in the signature line and wrote [personal circumstances] as the reason.
Lastly, he filled in the period. He didn't know when it would end, so he left the end part blank.
Even though it was a prohibited act, it was not impossible if the professor permitted it.
"Alright, I will submit this."
Kevin checked the document and said. His eyes sharply scanned the document.
"Thank you for your consideration. Well, I will leave work first."
Kevin nodded, and Oliver bowed and went outside.
As he reached for the doorknob, Kevin suddenly spoke.
"A pure magic faction wizard who knows me will come."
"….Pardon?"
"He will take your place. He's a war wizard and quite capable. So, don't worry and go."
Kevin spoke with slight, but definitely existing kindness and consideration.
Oliver thanked him again.
"Thank you again for your consideration. I will try to return as quickly as possible."
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Oliver applied for an official vacation at the Tower and secured some free time.
However, it was not a time he could afford to relax.
It was merely time to prepare before starting the mission.
First, Oliver visited the black market to receive the guns and other items he had ordered, returned home, and took care of the corpse dolls.
It was to be able to cope according to the characteristics of Shamus's subordinates that Forrest had identified.
Oliver thought his skills had improved considerably, but he had no intention of being complacent.
Especially, having experienced the rare power of the druid.
‘Powerful body, a mysterious power different from mana, strong Life-force.'
Each of them was burdensome, but especially, the danger was immeasurable if they were many. Especially, in this place where one could die with a minor mistake, regardless of individual skills, such preparations were necessary.
After making a simple modification, Oliver proceeded to conduct several experiments and training sessions with the corpse dolls and Child.
He hadn't found an opportunity to practice due to being busy, but now, a chance had presented itself.
‘It might be better than expected.'
This is what Oliver thought after the experiments and training. He felt that he might be able to pinpoint the enemy's intentions.
Of course, it wasn't just the combat preparation he had done.
He also read a book that Merlin had given him, called "The Evolution Theory of the World Tree."
The book, which Merlin had handed over as if anticipating, was intriguing and had some nerve-wracking contents.
Whether it was a coincidence or due to Merlin's inherent intelligence, it contained interesting hypotheses about the future predictive ability of the World Tree based on the accumulation of information, which Oliver had been curious about.
‘The more you use the World Tree, the more information accumulates, leading to the birth of an artificial will… It's surprising and interesting. I'd like to research this alone if I have spare time.'
This is what Oliver thought as he read the book Merlin had given him.
Despite seeming quite old, the content was quite revolutionary and interesting, even plausible.
It was to the point of feeling sorry for receiving it instead of a breakfast meal.
However, he couldn't neglect his duties. Oliver also dealt with tasks that needed to be handled in advance and made other preparations.
For example, he handed over the blood elixir that Child-First had made all day to Edith in advance, and visited Forrest to hear about his separate investigation.
He couldn't just rely on the client's information.
Even though he was busy without a moment to sit, it wasn't particularly strenuous or difficult.
‘But this is hard and complicated.'
That's what Oliver thought, looking at five letters.
They were letters sent by the children he had helped in the secret laboratory of Mattel, including Rosbane.
The letters were still enclosed. Oliver felt a desire to rip open these letters and read the contents.
In fact, this desire was so strong that his hand moved slightly toward the envelope.
Swish. Swish. Swish. Thump.
Like a snake, Oliver's fingertips reached the letter.
He could have pulled it open right then, but Oliver retracted his hand.
If someone saw him, they would frown, wondering what he was doing over a single letter. But there was nothing Oliver could do.
Merlin, who had brought the letters, had told him something.
‘Why did he tell me not to read it immediately?'
Oliver wondered, recalling Merlin's expression when he handed over the letter.
When he received the letter sent by Rosbane's group, Oliver tried to rip it open immediately, but Merlin stopped him.
‘Don't open it yet. It wasn't given to be read immediately.'
Oliver didn't understand. Telling him not to read after giving him the letter. When he voiced this, Merlin explained again.
‘I want to read it too. The cute kids asked me to deliver it, and I want to be the first to read it… so don't read it until I come back.'
He didn't understand at all what he was talking about.
It was sent to Oliver, but he wanted to read it too.
Oliver had questioned it once more, but he couldn't have a proper conversation with Merlin.
He simply said he was demanding such a right as a delivery fee for bringing the kids' letters.
‘And I couldn't refuse.'
Oliver thought as he looked at the letter.
After all, it was thanks to Merlin that Rosbane and the other kids had the leisure to write letters.
‘They safely exited Mattel and he even found them a place to stay…'
Even though Merlin's request seemed unreasonable, it wasn't entirely so.
If it hadn't been for Merlin, there would have been no way to receive the letter, and there was also the option of not passing it on at all.
Nevertheless, Merlin respected the children and Oliver and did the postman's work.
For now, Oliver decided to be satisfied with the fact that he had received the letter.
‘But why do I want to read this letter so much?'
Oliver questioned the unfamiliar feeling he was experiencing.
Maybe it was because of what Merlin said…
In the past, Merlin had said that it would be hard for Rosbane and the other children to adjust to the Elemental school branch.
He said that they had become capable of using mana due to the secret experiments of the Life School, but they were twice as late compared to other children.
‘…But now they're adjusting well. Like a miracle.'
Merlin's words were recalled.
Surely, he said that Rosbane and the other children were adapting well.
It was impossible to tell whether it was true or false because of the thick magical wall, but Oliver instinctively knew it was true.
Because he knew Merlin wouldn't play such a prank.
Indeed, it was amazing.
All the children, including Rosbane.
Despite experiencing great difficulties and being placed in a strange environment, they not only adapted well to their new life but also wrote letters. It was genuinely remarkable.
Rosbane kept his promise.
‘See you… See you again, Teacher. I'll come to see you in a way that isn't shameful.'
Rosbane's forgotten shout echoed in his ears.
Even after parting, he didn't care… It was their part from then on.
But as soon as he received the letter, the memory came up as fresh as if it had happened yesterday.
It was a truly strange feeling… just like when he met Kent again.
"Yeah, bear with it, bear with it."
At the end of his pondering, Oliver gathered the letter and put it back into his pocket.
One way or another, it seemed he had to keep his promise to Merlin.
After all, he had the letter on the condition of making that promise.
"And he said it was okay to read it when I really can't stand it."
It was a strange condition, but Merlin made such a condition, and Oliver accepted it, advising himself several times a day.
Whether he could stand it or not.
"I can still bear it… If I really couldn't stand it, it wouldn't have been this hard."
Oliver realized anew how weak he was to curiosity.
He could bear the pain, cold, and hunger, but curiosity was hard to bear.
If he didn't know, he might give up for a moment, but that wasn't the case either.
‘I wish I had somewhere else to focus…'
Oliver thought, and his wish was granted.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Just then, a pager in Oliver's arms rang.
It was a pager received from Forrest through Paul Carver, and a specific address was displayed on the rectangular screen.
Oliver moved immediately.
(To be Continued)
OR
$5/month6 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$15/month12 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month19 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$45/monthAll advance chap + 6 chap/week
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