After the lengthy yet concise tale about Mattel came to an end, nothing significant had changed.
Oliver steered the car tirelessly towards their destination, with Yareli in the passenger seat, asking pertinent questions to Oliver.
These inquiries delved into his childhood, his experiences within the warlock family, and the events following his adoption by Merlin.
On each occasion, Oliver provided a mixture of fact and fiction.
For example, he recounted his time in the orphanage and his laborious days in the mines with honesty, but he adorned his accounts of life in the warlock family and his apprenticeship under Merlin with embellishments.
He concealed the fact that he had killed his master, Joseph, and ascended to the head of the family. Instead, he claimed that he formally acquired his mana abilities after being taken in by Merlin.
It turned out to be a rather pleasant time. As they conversed, time passed more swiftly than expected, and Oliver even discovered new information while answering Yareli's questions. For instance, what Oliver considered his ordinary life in the orphanage and his grueling toil in the mines under the guise of employment shocked Yareli.
For Oliver, who had deemed such a life as normal, Yareli's reactions were quite intriguing. Unquestionably, although they inhabited the same country, their worlds were entirely distinct. Yet, upon reflection, perhaps that wasn't so unusual.
In this era of magic and industry, various fields had made astonishing progress. Simultaneously, the world had grown so vast and intricate that understanding one another had become increasingly challenging.
This was because people were individuals, and regardless of how closely one observed, the scope of what they could truly comprehend was limited, especially when interacting with individuals from different backgrounds.
Hence, even this exchange was a valuable experience for Oliver. He had the opportunity to glimpse the perspective of someone who had lived in a completely different world.
‘In some ways, Miss Yareli could be considered more of a ‘lady' than Miss Jane,' Oliver thought as he observed Yareli's astonished reactions to his accounts. Jane had also become a prosperous individual in Landa, but her childhood had been rather harsh.
Yareli inquired once more, "So, were most of the disciples in the warlock family either sold or picked up off the streets?"
"Yes… Of course, I wasn’t in every family, but that was the case in the one I belonged to,"Oliver replied, reminiscing about his time with Joseph's family. Suddenly, he found himself thinking about Marie.
"I asked each of them how they ended up there, and all of them said they were either picked up by the master or sold."
"Ah…"
Yareli was visibly taken aback, struggling to find words.
"Were you under a different impression, Miss Yareli?"
"Yes? Ah… To be honest, what I learned was different. I thought they all became warlocks out of their own desires and ambitions."
"Ah, that’s partly true."
"Yes?"
"Even though they were sold or picked up, becoming a warlock was their own choice. They did it to gain the ability to protect and sustain themselves."
Oliver explained, recollecting Marie, who became a warlock to gain strength, and Peter, who learned the skills to create pills for wealth. Each of them had different circumstances, but they all viewed becoming a warlock as their sole means of survival.
"But isn’t it dangerous to become a warlock?"
Yareli's argument held some validity. Becoming a warlock did indeed subject one to persecution, and inherent dangers accompanied that path. However, she seemed to overlook a crucial aspect.
"I think they would have considered it dangerous regardless. Most were orphans or sold into it, and if they didn’t become warlocks, they would have to spend their lives as laborers within the family. If they didn't like that, they would have to run away, but the streets are also dangerous. They had neither money nor a place to stay."
Oliver reminisced about the grueling existence of the lower-ranking disciples in the family. At the time, he hadn't fully comprehended it, but in hindsight, it was undeniably harsh.
The lower-ranking disciples who didn't receive proper education were condemned to endless labor in the sausage factory. Only a select few had the privilege of receiving lessons each year. Those who couldn't improve their skills during these lessons were consigned to years of unpaid sausage-making.
Yet, they couldn't rebel or escape because they had no other alternatives. Devoid of money, shelter, or a means to survive independently, their sole path to survival lay in becoming a warlock.
‘So, they were all very diligent for that reason…'
Oliver reflected on the family members from his past, both before he left and during the period when everyone toiled tirelessly.
"Anyway, that's why everyone wanted to become a warlock on their own accord."
"I… didn't know that."
"Really?"
"Finding out that there's such a reason for becoming a warlock is a bit shocking."
Yareli displayed a trace of embarrassment, stemming from her previous lack of knowledge.
"You don't have to think too much about it. There could be exceptions. In my case, although I was led by my master's hand, it was my will to become a warlock. Even if my livelihood or safety were guaranteed, I would have chosen to be a warlock."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I had a great interest in black magic… So what I'm saying is, people are different, so you don't need to blame yourself. I also had prejudices against wizards."
Yareli expressed interest. "What kind of prejudices?"
"I thought that all Tower wizards lived a life of luxury, were arrogant, and were deeply involved in human experiments."
"Is there a reason you thought so?"
"In the streets of Landa, they say all wizards are arrogant, wealthy, and engage in human experiments. However, after working at theTower, I realized that's not entirely true."
Indeed, that was the reality. While wizards may have appeared arrogant from the outside, they also carried deep-seated insecurities and had little leisure. Within the confined confines of the Tower, students were compelled to compete fiercely with one another, making their behavior somewhat understandable.
Within the competitive environment of the Tower, only a minority enjoyed leisure; the majority existed under substantial pressure. However, the outward arrogance displayed to outsiders often served as a defense mechanism or a form of compensation.
Moreover, while it was true that some individuals within the Tower were affluent, there were also quite a few who were not. Even in Landa, the wealthiest city in the world, poverty was not nonexistent; on the contrary, it was quite prevalent.
"Also, I thought everyone was deeply involved in human experiments, but it doesn't seem like that's always the case."Oliver remarked, casting a glance at Yareli. She responded.
"There are voices of moderation within the Tower as well. They say we should keep things in check."
"Yes, exactly. That was my prejudice and misconception. I learned otherwise by working as an employee. It's interesting."
Yareli regarded Oliver as if she found him exceptionally fascinating.
"That's impressive."
"What are you referring to?"
"You have a strong mentality. I've hardly seen anyone as positive and mentally strong as you, except for Zenon."
"It's interesting. I had a similar feeling about you, Miss Yareli."
"……?"
"I heard about what happened between Professor Kevin and your father."
"…Are you talking about the duel Professor Kevin had with my father to enter the Tower?"
"Yes, I also heard about the outcome."
Oliver cautiously broached the subject, concerned that Yareli might react with anger. Thankfully, she did not.
She simply exuded a sense of bitterness.
"I don't know much since I don't have a father, but I do understand that it must have been a sad and difficult situation. I learned about it… Yet, you still enrolled in Professor Kevin's class."
"……"
"If it's not rude to ask, may I know why you chose to attend Professor Kevin's class? It seems like an awkward relationship."
After a brief silence, Yareli gazed intently at Oliver.
"…Can I ask why you're asking this question?"
"I'm just curious."
Upon hearing this response, Yareli looked ahead, contemplated for a moment, and then decided to speak.
"…Because he's talented."
"Pardon?"
"Professor Kevin. Despite being a Red-man Wizard, he attained the position of a master solely through his skills. He's also, although everyone pretends not to know, an official disciple of the Archiver. That's why I thought there's a lot to learn from him, and I enrolled in his class."
Her sincerity was evident. Yareli was genuinely sincere.
It's not that she doesn't have any feelings for Kevin, but regardless, she acknowledged Kevin's skills for surviving in unfavorable conditions.
"And while it's known that my father lost to the professor and was ousted, it wasn't solely because of that. Although it was the decisive factor, he was already targeted by the Grand Master… by my grandmother."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. My father was a talented wizard with excellent skills, thanks to the training from our family. But aside from that, he was unable to control himself. He was arrogant and conservative, yet in his personal life, he was very liberal. He wielded power beyond his authority and increasingly clashed with my grandmother. Then Professor Kevin appeared and defeated my father and his close associates, draining them of their power."
"Is this political maneuvering?"
"I'm not sure. I was young at the time… Anyway, my father is also responsible for what happened to him. That's why I don't hold personal grudges against Professor Kevin. I enrolled in his class because I believe there's something for me to learn. For me, for my family, and for the Skadi faction."
Yareli spoke with unwavering conviction and sincerity. She was genuinely committed to putting aside past grievances and focusing on her future and the future of her organization.
Looking at the determination she held, Oliver said, "Miss Yareli, you're also beautiful."
***
Suddenly, a hush fell over the car. As soon as Oliver complimented Yareli's resolve, her eyes widened behind her glasses, and she closed her mouth, a mix of perplexing emotions crossing her face.
He wanted to inquire about her reaction, but upon seeing Yareli's discomfort, Oliver chose to remain silent.
Yareli, too, remained wordless, and they drove in silence. After several long hours of quiet, they finally arrived in a region of lush meadows known as Ark.
Galos was renowned for its expansive plains, and the reality matched the description. While their journey through dense forests and mountains limited their view on the way to Ark, in Galos, the scenery stretched as far as the eye could see.
"It's really expansive," Oliver remarked, as if it were his first time in a foreign land.
"Galos is a vast plain with only hills and no mountains. This is a common sight here."
"Oh, you're well-informed."
"You don't only learn magic at the Tower. Also, we sometimes come to Galos for exchange programs. Although not as much as our kingdom, it's a great nation."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it has a vast land, large population, and fertile soil. It's a land blessed by the gods."
"Oh, that's fascinating. I read that phrase in a book once. It said this land is blessed with all the world's abundance and wonders."
"What book did you read it in?"
"A humor book. It said that to balance things out, God filled this magnificent land with Galosians… It was a funny joke."
Yareli regarded Oliver in silence, her expression unreadable.
