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“Is there anything about this personnel you are dissatisfied with?”
Terence Roar, wearing gloves, posed this question in the exclusive gymnasium reserved for first-class passengers on the passenger ship. Terence Roar, rumored to be the boxing champion of the Magic Tower, moved with the agility of a feather, skillfully adjusting the distance between himself and Oliver. He was quick to exploit any openings, delivering punches with finesse.
Nevertheless, the resulting sound was far from gentle.
Thud!!
Oliver, without any magic or black magic affecting him, successfully defended against Terence’s punches and replied.
“No, I don’t have any complaints. It’s just that the personnel feels familiar.”
And he wasn’t mistaken.
Oliver and Kevin, Terence and Yareli… They were individuals who had briefly collaborated in Lake Village.
“It may seem like they made a hasty decision without much thought, but they chose quite carefully.”
Terence moved swiftly, resembling a bee, as he closed the distance with Oliver and threw another punch.
His formidable yet precise fist approached like a swarm of bees, but Oliver, employing the techniques Terence had imparted earlier, evaded and parried.
The sounds of the wind being sliced and heavy impacts reverberated throughout the gym.
‘There’s definitely a difference.’
Oliver contemplated while skillfully evading and blocking Terence’s assaults.
While Joe had introduced him to some aspects of close combat, there was undoubtedly a contrast.
Terence’s style was more methodical and refined, making it all the more menacing.
Wham━!
Contrary to his previous teachings, Terence changed tactics and struck Oliver’s side.
From the ribs to the chest, neck, and the top of his head, Oliver experienced excruciating pain that sent tingles through his brain, but he remained standing and launched a counterattack.
“Is that so?”
“Of course!”
Timed with his counterattack, Terence delivered a counterblow to Oliver’s face.
His vision briefly blurred, replaced by a sharp but momentary pain, soon giving way to a heavy ache.
With unsteady steps and an uncontrollable upper body, Oliver assumed the stance Terence had taught him, while Terence, following his earlier instruction, unleashed a barrage of punches to press Oliver.
Thud! Bang!! Crash! Thud!!!
“First of all, we are all experienced hands from Lake Village. There is a big difference between having had the experience even once and not at all! Plus, Kevin and I are war wizards! Perfect for this kind of thing!!”
Despite the considerable physical exertion required to punch someone, Terence appeared far from fatigued and continued to speak. It was painful.
“Moreover, I’m almost an outsider to the Magic Tower, and Kevin is one of the masters without real power! We can’t promise anything to Rokuri University. You get what I’m saying!?”
Oliver nodded as he blocked Terence’s punches.
He comprehended the message being conveyed.
This group served as an advance team sent out before Rokuri University could provide substantial support. In reality, they acted more like scouts, ostensibly assisting the university while secretly assessing the local situation.
The questions revolved around whether they could effectively subdue Human-meat Chef, establish the Magic Tower’s presence on the frontlines, secure a victory, and quickly garner recognition.
From that standpoint, this personnel seemed suitable.
Both Kevin and Terence were skilled, but they lacked the authority to make unilateral decisions or promises.
It was fitting to cooperate with Rokuri University to an appropriate extent and grasp the dynamics between Rokuri University and Galos.
“So, does Ms. Yareli have the same reason for going?”
At the moment Terence shifted his shoulder, Oliver swiftly lowered himself.
Terence threw a hook, and Oliver, diving to Terence’s side, evaded and grabbed his back.
Terence turned his head abruptly, and Oliver seized the opportunity to launch an unrelenting punch at Terence’s face.
To Oliver’s surprise, Terence’s body exhibited the toughness and resilience of a tire, despite lacking the magical enhancements that Oliver possessed.
It was pure muscular strength, and as a result, Oliver’s punches failed to land any significant hits before he was swiftly counterattacked.
Bang!!
Oliver experienced a club-like blow that sent him crashing onto the floor of the ring.
“No… Do you want to say it, or shall I?”
Terence spoke, directing his gaze beyond the ring. Oliver followed his gaze to see Yareli and Kevin standing there.
“Ms. Yareli? Professor?”
A sweat-soaked Oliver called out to Yareli and Kevin while lying on the mat.
Yareli greeted Oliver with a nod before explaining her reason for joining the mission.
“My reason for going is different from Colonel Terence and Professor Kevin.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, precisely because… my family is familiar with many people, including the Galos wizard family, businessmen, and politicians. That’s why I’m going.”
Kevin chimed in.
“If you want to investigate the local situation separately, you need to know someone from there.”
“Don’t Colonel Terence and Professor Kevin have anyone?”
“Neither Kevin nor I lack connections in Galos, but we’ve mostly been on the side of killing those from Galos, like in colonial wars. So, there are complications in getting help from there.”
Terence approached Oliver and extended a helping hand, pulling him up from the floor.
“Ah… I see.”
“Do you have any complaints about coming with us?”
In response to Yareli’s question from outside the ring, Oliver shook his head.
“No, I was just wondering if it wouldn’t have been better if people like Ms. Unna and others from that side had come along too.”
“They were rejected because they can’t be fully trusted yet. For this mission, it’s better to minimize variables… But why are you suddenly learning boxing?”
Kevin inquired, looking puzzled. It was unexpected for Oliver, a skilled individual, to request Terence’s instruction in close combat like boxing.
While not entirely unusual, it did pique Kevin’s curiosity.
After hearing the question, Oliver thought for a moment.
He recalled his encounter with Elder Bartolomeo from the Anti-Development Committee in District Z.
The elder was formidable, particularly in close combat, where Oliver found himself outmatched.
Their clash with identical quarterstaffs resulted in Oliver’s attacks being consistently blocked, while his defenses were effortlessly breached.
In a life-or-death struggle, Oliver would have been defeated, as evidenced by the quarterstaff that had torn through his black suit.
“Human-meat Chef faction mostly specializes in close combat. I asked for training to prepare for that.”
Terence, removing his gloves, answered.
“I wonder how effective crash course training can be, but, well, it’s better than doing nothing. You learn quickly anyway.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Terence shook his head.
“It’s not a compliment, just stating facts. Even though you’ve already mastered street fighting, you absorb what I teach right away. It seems you’ve got a knack for fisticuffs too. If you buckle down and train properly, you could make a living off fighting alone.”
An exaggerated assessment, but what surprised Oliver was that Terence’s words were genuine. Unlike Kevin, he was cheerful and cheerful, but he was serious about these matters and never joked.
Both Kevin and Yareli were well aware of this aspect of his personality.
“Thank you for the compliment. And thank you for teaching me.”
“That’s alright. I just wanted to loosen up a bit… But if you’re going to learn something, wouldn’t it be better to learn a weapon? Like a sword, for example.”
“A sword…?”
“Yeah, if you’re looking for a weapon to use with magic, a sword is usually good. It combines well with magic, isn’t bad for carrying, and is convenient to wield in a fight.”
Magic and swords… Oliver couldn’t help but think of Willes, one of the leaders of the Kell Liberation Army, who primarily used flame magic and a sword. It might not be a bad idea…
“Thank you for the suggestion, but I’ll have to decline.”
“I don’t mean to insist, but is there a reason? It’s a better method after all.”
Oliver thought of the Fighter Crew’s founder and Bathory from Mount Pace.
He recalled the times when heads had been severed.
An inexplicable aversion washed over Oliver as he responded.
“I don’t like swords because they’re too sharp.”
“Too sharp…” Terence frowned, struggling to comprehend this answer. It sounded as if someone were saying they disliked drinking water because it quenched their thirst, completely nonsensical.
Curious if there was some hidden meaning, he glanced at Kevin, who shared the same Master, but Kevin remained silent, seemingly aware of the underlying reason.
“That’s right indeed.”
Kevin chimed in as he climbed into the ring, retrieving a small stick from his chest—a quarterstaff that had been reduced in size using a reduction spell.
“You don’t use a sword because it’s too sharp?”
“Not that. That it’s better to learn weapon skills… Zenon.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Let’s have a match.”
***
Whoooom━!
Amidst the sound of lapping waves and the cries of seagulls, a heavy, artificial noise echoed.
It was the sound of the passenger ship’s horn, and with that sound, the massive vessel docked at the harbor, disgorging a multitude of passengers with diverse intentions—business, tourism, emigration, and escape—resembling a swarm of ants.
Terence’s cheerful voice cut through the bustling crowd.
“You said you’ve hardly ever traveled abroad, right? How is it?”
“It hurts.”
Oliver replied earnestly. Considering that he had spent the entire voyage on the passenger ship enduring direct hits from Terence and Kevin while learning boxing and staff-fighting skills, the pain was quite understandable. However, it wasn’t all bad; the bruises and injuries could be treated with diluting potions. Though a dull ache still lingered, it was bearable.
Terence chuckled once more.
“Does it hurt that much?”
“Yes, indeed, both of you are strong.”
It was an obvious observation. Both Kevin and Terence were exceptional wizards who had garnered significant reputations during their stints as war wizards. Furthermore, even without their wizard titles, they were individually formidable.
Weak individuals wouldn’t last long as war wizards.
“Yeah, wouldn’t survive. No matter how skilled in magic, if the body is weak, it can’t endure the harsh military life and living abroad. That’s why those not sturdy tend to shift towards resource exploration or serve as military magic consultants, while tough guys like Kevin and me get dispatched to the field… Now that I think about it, it seems a bit unfair?”
Terence paused, pondering this notion with a tilted head.
Kevin interjected.
“Let’s stop the chatter there and be alert. We’re in Galos now.”
“Why? Worried that Human-meat Chef will attack us already?”
“No, I’m talking about getting pickpocketed by petty thieves. Galos’ pickpockets are notorious. I don’t want such a tiring incident.”
Considering Kevin’s earnest words, Oliver found himself puzzled.
“Aren’t there many pickpockets in Landa as well?”
“There are plenty in Landa too, but Galos is especially worse.”
Yareli, who had been quietly following, synchronized her steps with the group and naturally joined the conversation.
Terence playfully retorted.
“You talk as if you’ve met a lot of pickpockets. A daughter from the noble magic family of Issai shouldn’t have any ties with the backstreets teeming with petty thieves.”
“Isn’t that the same for you, Colonel Terence?”
Terence burst into laughter upon hearing her response. It made sense, as Terence hailed from the Roar family, an independent noble lineage separate from the Magic Tower.
His recent journey on a private passenger ship during the last Lake Village conference with General Philip was a prime example.
While he belonged to a collateral branch rather than the main family, he was no less privileged than Yareli. Naturally, he had no encounters with pickpockets either.
“That’s because in Landa, the further you are from the downtown area, the better the public order. In lower-class residential areas, petty thieves are as common as cockroaches, but from the middle-class areas up, you barely see them. And in upper-class areas, they’re virtually extinct. The police beat them down on the spot.
“So it’s not like that in Galos?”
Instead of directly answering Oliver’s question, Kevin gestured ahead at the cityscape.
The port city of Lengkal in Galos.
“Ah…”
Oliver uttered a sound as he caught sight of Lengkal.
Kevin explained that petty thieves in Galos were often backed by the Millieu, a unified criminal organization in Galos, which made them more troublesome than those in Landa.
While the Crime Firm typically avoided such criminal activities, being a business enterprise, the Millieu had no qualms about theft and robbery, maintaining organized groups of petty thieves without geographical restrictions.
To demonstrate his point, in the corners of the harbor, young boys who resembled petty thieves lurked like mice.
‘And there really are a lot of actual rats too.’
Oliver couldn’t help but notice the rats that were quite common on the harbor streets.
Over the damp, grey gravel pathways, rats with dark grey fur fought over scraps of food, squeaking at each other.
Then, a carriage rolled over them, crushing the rats, and more rodents swarmed to devour the carcasses of their own kind.
“Ugh. I feel like throwing up. Disgusting rats…”
“First, let’s go to the bank to exchange currency…”
“What? Why isn’t it coming out?! Hey, secretary, what’s going on?”
“Hi, hiiik…! So, sorry, sir. I’ll contact them right away…”
“Hurry up, move it, you idiot!”
“Honey! I want to go to the Sobee Department Store quickly. I need a hat, shoes, perfume-“
“-Alright, alright. I’ll buy it for you with the money I’ve worked hard for, so stop nagging.”
“Oh, I love you!”
Oliver, Kevin, Terence, and the other passengers who had disembarked with Kevin couldn’t contain their excitement as they set foot in a foreign land.
The harmonious cacophony of the bustling crowd filled the air.
Being Galos’s port city, Lengkal felt more developed than Halfway, where they had disembarked during the last conference. While it had its share of grime, strange posters, and graffiti smeared across the walls, with carriages clattering by, it still exuded an air of advancement compared to Halfway.
‘Not quite Landa, but… A feeling in between Halfway and Landa?’
Kevin and Terence exchanged words at a busy intersection where the dispersing crowd spread out like baby spiders.
“We’re going to catch a carriage or taxi and head straight to the train station, right?”
“Yeah, but let’s go a bit further out to catch one. It looks tough to get one here.”
Kevin surveyed the surroundings as he spoke, and indeed, it appeared challenging to secure a carriage or taxi at that spot.
There were far too few of them in comparison to the number of passengers.
Moreover, the taxi drivers and coachmen didn’t seem particularly eager to work diligently. Some were openly taking swigs from liquor bottles, while others were engaged in arguments with customers requesting rides.
Whether it was an attempt to drive up prices or simply a reluctance to work at that moment, it was unclear.
‘Huh? But what about those purple jackets…?’
Oliver noticed the men who were standing guard around the taxi drivers and coachmen.
Their attire clearly indicated affiliation with the civilian faction supporting Galos’s affluent class.
Their presence was somewhat puzzling. It seemed as though they were monopolizing work in a specific location, resembling a gang exerting control over a particular area.
“Ah, there you are.”
Just as they were about to follow Kevin to search for transportation further ahead, an awkwardly accented Royal language reached their ears.
Turning towards the source of the voice, they spotted two men.
“Hello? You’re from the Magic Tower, aren’t you?”
“Who are you?”
“Ah, apologies for the late introduction. We’re from Rokuri University, Alain-“
“-Erad.”
“We will be escorting you.”
(To be Continued)
CH 394-403 (Vs Human-meat Chef Part1) $3CH 404-413 (Vs Human-meat Chef Part2) $3CH 414-423 (Vs Human-meat Chef Part3) $3CH 424-433 (Vs Human-meat Chef Part4) $3434~ $1/chapter
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