"Uh… His name is Gavin, right?"
Half past eight in the evening.
This was the question that Joe asked Oliver, who had just arrived at District X.
Joe looked at the man standing behind Oliver.
He was an unremarkable Caucasian man in his thirties, who was none other than Kevin. Kevin, who was disguised with the magic of the pure magic faction.
Although it was initially suggested that he wear a leather mask, Kevin refused and used magic to hide his appearance. He said it was disgusting to have a black magic item made by peeling human skin.
"Yes, he is someone I recently met, and I've been teaching him black magic as he's been of help to me. If it's alright, can I teach him here with you? It seems to be more efficient… Ah, Gavin, this is Joe, a senior member of the Fighter Crew. Please say hello."
Kevin, who used the pseudonym Gavin, politely greeted Joe as Oliver had asked.
"Nice to meet you."
"Ah… nice to meet you?"
Joe, quite against the rumors spreading in the back alleys lately, greeted him with good manners.
Having recently signed an exclusive contract with Crime Firm, he was attracting significant attention as the new rising power in the back alleys.
Using a unique form of black magic, he had dismantled a foreign gang alliance outside Landa, killed many infamous solvers who opposed Crime Firm, and even recently faced off against Pinkman and killed two of its executives.
Despite his reputation for extreme cruelty, he was surprisingly courteous to Kevin in disguise.
Kevin soon realized that this was because of Oliver.
Even without using his newly-acquired warlock's eye, he could tell that Joe was mindful of Oliver's mood.
What was interesting here was that he didn't simply follow Oliver for power or money, like most people in the back alleys.
He followed Oliver himself. His gaze and minor body movements made it clear.
A rare influence in the back alleys.
And not only Joe was under this influence.
All the other Fighter Crew members who were training their stamina, learning black magic, and learning letters from a Red skin man, they felt the same way towards Oliver.
As proof, the atmosphere of the place changed just by Oliver showing his face.
A positive tension filled the space, as if soldiers were receiving a triumphant general.
It was a difficult influence to create. And Oliver was exerting it. Effortlessly.
"……."
Kevin silently observed Oliver.
"Extracting emotions?"
"Yes, Joe. As you know, we need to practice extracting from humans too, don't we? But I can't practice that part if I teach one-on-one. So, can a few of you help Mr. Gavin practice?"
The more he listened, the more outrageous the request seemed.
Extraction of emotions might be harmless if done in small amounts like blood donation, but it's still uncomfortable to be extracted…
However, surprisingly, Joe of the Fighter Crew accepted without hesitation.
It was quite remarkable.
People in poor areas with bad security are usually scared of such proposals due to their survival instincts.
Being in an environment where they could die if they seem even slightly weak, they had no choice. But Joe willingly accepted.
It was one of three things.
Either he felt an overwhelming fear of Oliver, had something to get from Oliver, or had tremendous trust in Oliver.
None of these were easy, especially the last one, which was almost impossible.
Oliver, who had been conversing with Joe, turned his head towards Kevin and asked politely.
"Mr… Gavin?"
"Huh?"
"Could you wait for about an hour… no, an hour and a half? I think I need to take care of the Fighter Crew members first."
Kevin, who understood what he was saying, readily nodded.
It was Kevin who was regretful about the current situation, and he also wanted to take a personal look around.
When Kevin said he would wait as long as it takes, Oliver expressed his gratitude and moved with Joe.
In the meantime, Kevin decided to carefully look around.
To see what District X was like, the worst except for the Y and Z districts.
***
An hour and a half later, Oliver returned on the dot as he had promised.
Kevin, who had returned 10 minutes earlier and was waiting, welcomed him.
"Are you back?"
"Yes, Mr. Gavin. I apologize for the delay."
Kevin looked at his wristwatch and nodded.
"No, exactly an hour and a half. You're right on time…… Was there more work than you expected?"
Oliver nodded.
Firstly, Oliver provided basic black magic training to the newbies who had recently joined the fighter crew, and formally taught the black magic they would learn in the future, showing the process to executives, including Joe, and demonstrating how to train warlocks.
Conducting two classes at the same time.
Though it was a more strenuous process than expected, Oliver's work was not over yet.
He reviewed the test items assigned last time, evaluated the overall level of the Fighter Crew members once again, roughly determined what to supplement, and even recorded it.
In addition, he also checked the black magic of executives and members who felt growth limits, including Joe, and gave advice on the spot about improvement and growth possibilities.
It was quite impressive to finish in just an hour and a half.
"You're really amazing."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah."
"Oh……. Thank you. Professor, I mean, Mr. Gavin. I feel good hearing such words from you."
Oliver responded to Kevin's compliment, which was earnest and competent despite giving tough grades as a professor.
However, Kevin was just expressing his pure personal impressions, not intending to please anyone.
While Oliver was busy for an hour and a half, Kevin, as Oliver's companion, was able to look around, explore the surroundings, and see various things.
For instance, the Fighter Crew, who trained systematically according to military-like discipline.
At this point, the thing to note was not their discipline, but their training structure.
Temporary discipline could be established with overwhelming charisma or power, but a systematic training structure was a completely different issue.
Typically, organizations in slums lacked such systematicity, so even if a powerful individual appeared, there was a clear limit to their growth, but the Fighter Crew had a fairly systematic system that could be compared to that of Magic tower.
Although it was still at the baby steps level, that alone could be deemed impressive.
Training in squads of eight, evaluation items that could systematically manage their training, training and black magic practices based on evaluation items, and so on…
Even unusually for the slums, several people were learning to read and write in a group.
They were learning to read– A system that could not be built by head-banging on the bare ground without learning from anyone.
Kevin mentioned this and asked if it was Oliver's work.
"Yes……. It's not grand, but I simply referred to your [ Magic Combat Basic] class and the training manuals referenced from the Elemental and Pure Magic Tower libraries."
Sincerely, Oliver replied, not with the false humility favored by the clumsy geniuses of the magic tower, but sincerely.
Indeed, as Oliver said, the current Fighter Crew training was just at the level of reference.
Test basic fitness and black magic, training to supplement what is lacking… They only took the simple skeleton, but even so, it was amazing.
Rather, it could be said that it was even more amazing to bring only the necessary basics without adding awkwardly.
It meant that he knew what was the most effective.
He thought he was only talented in magic or black magic, but his brain was just as good.
‘Come to think of it, even though his behavior and thinking were stifling, he was capable of getting things done.'
Kevin belatedly thought of Oliver, who was good at paperwork, tasks, cleaning, research, making coffee, and more.
It was scarier than he thought.
The innate power and talent of an individual, and the inexplicable characteristic of being able to give talent to others, can establish a large organization. The guy was understanding, applying, and implementing various tasks as well as systems.
In the past, Merlin told Oliver that if he put his mind to it, he might be able to create a school with hundreds of years of history or a Tower with decades of history by himself. It seemed that he was not wrong about that.
No joke, Oliver might be able to create an organization comparable to a Tower on his own if he had any ambition or will. And in a short period of time.
Overwhelming individual power, the influence that captures the dangerous gangsters in District X, the ability to give talent. Plus, the brain to build a system… It was more strange that it didn't happen.
The reason such a situation did not occur was because he had no will or thoughts to do so.
It was not a joke, it was a chilling story.
Just a semester as a tower staff member and he was this far. Now he understood why his master Merlin entrusted Oliver to him.
He felt like he was being devoured just by being around him.
"Mr. Gavin? … Mr. Gavin? … Professor?"
Oliver called Kevin, who was lost in thought.
When Kevin finally came to his senses and replied, Oliver asked,
"Are you okay? Is there a problem?"
"No … Nothing special. Just something to think about."
"Do you have any difficulties?"
"Not a difficulty … It's just interesting. I see some fighter crew members learning to write from a red person in that building."
"Oh … Are you talking about Mr. Al? He's an employee at the restaurant I often use. He's teaching the fighter crew how to write at my request."
"Uh … Why did you ask him to teach the fighter crew how to write?"
"It's nothing special. They couldn't do anything because they didn't know how to write … In my opinion, the city should provide public education to teach all citizens at least how to write. For the development of the entire city."
Oliver spoke based on his experiences and insights obtained through the newspaper.
It coincidentally matched the claims of progressive scholars, like Merlin and Kevin, for example.
"Interesting idea … but what were you trying to say?"
"I have a proposal. Would you be able to hear me out if it's okay?"
"What is it?"
"Would you, if it's okay, not just today, but regularly learn black magic here?"
At the unexpected proposal, Kevin asked, "What's the reason?"
"There's no particular reason. I just thought, since I'm teaching black magic here, it would be more efficient in many ways if you also learn here. We can save each other's time."
Oliver spoke his mind honestly, and Kevin didn't think it was a bad idea either.
He didn't know if learning together would be more helpful than learning alone, and he could watch and observe what Oliver was doing here right next to him.
"…Okay."
"Thank you. Then, let's get right to the lesson. There are people here to help."
Kevin looked at the tips of Oliver's fingers. The members of the Fighter Crew, including Joe, were standing there.
Those who volunteered themselves as teaching materials.
"Let's try extracting their emotions once. Just a little bit at first… As you get used to it, gradually increase the amount until you can extract it in one breath at a risky level."
Oliver clearly stated the content and goals of the practice.
"Why does the last part sound a bit risky?"
"It's a bit risky, but it should be okay."
Oliver, without any change in his expression, uttered the terrifying words.
(To be Continued)
