Creak, creak.
As Oliver extended his spine, a rejuvenating noise resonated in the room.
Upon glancing at the tipiece, he realized it was already half past six in the evening.
His gaze shifted towards the mountain of books on one end and the barren bookcase waiting to be replenished on the other.
The daunting task of sorting and shelving all those volus lay before him, a mission he had to complete single handedly by the next day's dawn.
"Certainly. Others have already contributed by bringing in new books and taking away old ones, so it wouldn't be fair to expect them to assist with the final touches. You'll need to arrange everything from here onwards."
The statent seed both justifiable and unjust at the sa ti, yet Oliver refrained from arguing.
There were two primary reasons for this.
First, despite the situation, the librarian's words held so truth, and second, he had sowhat foreseen this predicant.
On the first day, Kevin had cautioned him about the likelihood of being taken advantage of.
However, not everything was negative.
Imrsing himself in the task allowed him to fret less about Joanna's affairs and Puppet's enigmatic remarks.
Oliver attempted to concentrate on the brighter side and maintain an optimistic outlook.
After all, securing a position at the tower itself was a serendipitous turn of events, so enduring a bit of adversity was insignificant.
"Actually, it's quite enjoyable."
"What's enjoyable?"
His murmuring was interrupted as soone spoke up while he tried to return to his task.
It was Kevin Dunbara, the tower professor who had employed Oliver.
With his ruddy complexion and ticulously styled black hair, he had seemingly entered unnoticed and was now standing in the corridor.
"Professor, have you arrived? How did the eting go?"
"Not good, I have another eting tomorrow. They appear hesitant to grant a substantial budget."
"I see. What brings you here?"
"You left a note ntioning you'd be assisting here, didn't you?"
That's right. Before the librarian whisked him away, Oliver had penned a mo and left it on his desk.
It was courteous to leave a note indicating one's whereabouts when stepping away.
"Oh… I didn't intend for you to co. Did I make a mistake?"
"No, I just stopped by to see what you were doing. I was curious why you hadn't returned, even though it's well past closing ti… As expected, you have quite a workload. What about the others?"
"They went ho."
"Did they leave all the work to you?"
"Um, yes, but I joined the work late, so I agreed to handle the final organization. It seems only fair."
"Because of the caller?"
"Yes… I plan to retrieve one from the managent office tomorrow and set it up. I'll complete the remainder of the tasks you assigned to before lunchti and place them on your desk."
His statents were genuine, not an attempt to make excuses. Thanks to Forrest's excellent guidance and his own habit of reading nurous books, Oliver was quite proficient in his work.
"I didn't co to pressure you. I ca to apologize."
"Pardon? What do you an…"
"The caller issue, and all the books I handed to you were from a year ago. I acquired them as they were distributed in the undergraduate program, but it's my fault for not verifying them. I apologize."
Taken aback by these unexpected words, Oliver bowed his head.
"No, it's fine."
"No, I must apologize. Regardless of their position, individuals should perform their duties properly, and I failed to do so this ti. I apologize."
In that instant, Oliver perceived a sense of resolve or determination in Kevin's emotions.
The reason for apologizing to Oliver was not simply because he was sorry, but because he had violated the rules he had created himself.
"….Understood. Then, I will gladly accept your apology."
Oliver imdiately resud his work. After checking the mo he received from the librarian, he inserted the book into the designated position.
Kevin still looked at him silently, as if he had sothing more to say.
"Do you have anything else to say, Professor?"
Kevin sat down on a nearby chair, spreading his mana to check the surroundings, and asked bluntly.
"…Aren't you angry?"
"What do you an?"
"The whole situation. Soone as skilled as you should be angry about receiving such treatnt."
Kevin's words contained so sincerity.
They had fought with their lives on the line, so Oliver seed to know Kevin's skills, and Kevin knew Oliver's skills.
Oliver's skills were at least at the professor level, aning he was a Master.
A Master, following GrandMaster and One Master.
Even at the Master level, Kevin, who had almost no equal, fought on par with Oliver, aning Oliver was at least an upper-level Master.
Extraordinary skills considering age and social status.
Even considering the situation where such a skilled person had to hide his identity, it was only natural to be angry about the unfair treatnt, but there was no such emotion to be read from the warlock in front of him.
Rather, he seed to be enjoying it.
"Um… should I be angry?"
"Usually, yes."
"Usually, huh… I'm sorry, but I don't know."
"Why is that?"
"I think I'm already receiving more than enough treatnt."
"Really?"
"Yes, I've been curious about the Magic Tower for a long ti."
"…?"
"I happened to obtain diaries and logs of people from the Magic Tower and read them."
"……."
"But soon I realized I couldn't enter the Magic Tower. Due to factors such as birth, talent, social status, and credit that are difficult for to deal with… But then I got in like this. I'm just grateful for that."
"Even though people here ignore and harass you?"
"I've been harassed at the orphanage and mine. At least they don't pinch until I'm bruised here, so it's fine. Organizing books is also fun."
"You're quite positive."
"I don't know if it's positive, but thank you for seeing it that way."
Upon receiving the response, Kevin stood up from his seat.
He appeared as though he was preparing to depart, but instead, he channeled his mana and carefully placed the book that Oliver was trying to organize back onto its proper spot on the bookshelf.
This task required Kevin to concentrate and apply a spell that harnessed physical prowess. Though it was a fundantal skill, executing it with precision demanded significant discipline.
"Professor?"
"It's because of my mistake that you're taking on this task, so let just help you out this one ti."
"Ah… Thank you. But is it okay to organize it like that?"
"Why do you think it's not okay?"
"I thought books were precious and should be carefully organized by hand. The other librarians and staff mbers also organized them by hand."
"That's just because they don't have the skills. If you can, it's okay to organize them like this. It doesn't damage the books."
"Ah…"
As soon as he heard the answer, Oliver drew up the mana stored in his body and stretched it toward the books piled up on one side.
"Wait, if you do too much for the first ti…"
Kevin fell silent as he observed Oliver's impressive display of skillful book control. Oliver had managed to levitate all the books in midair with precision and stability, arranged at the perfect angle.
Swish- swish- swish-
Oliver snapped his fingers according to the list he received from the librarian, and hundreds of books moved swiftly and inserted themselves into the bookshelf.
It was a great help to imitate the way rlin had used books in the past.
The work that should have taken at least five or six hours was finished in no ti.
Looking at the organized library, Oliver asked Kevin.
"Is this okay?"
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Swoosh!
A wilderness with nothing but snow and rocky mountains.
Unbelievably, a luxurious mansion was built on top of the highest rocky mountain.
It was a mansion where one would doubt if anyone lived there, but surprisingly, there was an old man in the mansion.
He paused his research in the laboratory and had a conversation.
"That's quite interesting. That young lady is applying for your class. It's highly unlikely she would have any good feelings toward you."
[Yes, I find it strange too. But since she applied, I have no intention of rejecting her.]
rlin nodded as if he had expected it.
It was very much like Kevin. He never backed down, whether it was a test or a fight. Well, if he showed a weak side, everyone would try to devour him, so it was a natural attitude.
Even if it was rlin, all he could give was an opportunity.
"Takin' on three classes instead of the planned one, ya must be bloody busy, eh?."
[Even though the plan has changed, I intend to get a lot of class budget in return.]
"It won't be easy. Should I help you a bit?"
[Please don't say sothing you don't an.]
"Hehehe. As expected, ya know pretty well. I don't plan to get involved personally. Officially, I'm retired, ya see."
[Yes, officially.]
"Instead, I have so interesting material for ya. I'll chuck it your way."
[Interesting material? Is it a backdoor deal?]
Kevin quickly grasped the situation. The backdoor material rlin ntioned was extracted from the journal Oliver had obtained in the past.
"Yeah, mate. It's sothin' I stumbled upon by chance. Folks these days got such big egos, ay."
[Hmm… In that case, I'll appreciate it.]
rlin burst into laughter. But it was only for a mont.
As the laughter faded away, a mont of silence ensued, and then rlin's serious voice flowed out.
Now it was not a private conversation, but an official one.
"How’s the task I gave ya going?"
The task referred to observing Oliver. After all, the reason rlin sent Oliver to the magic tower was to keep an eye on him from afar.
[I’m still observing him.]
"Found anything?"
[Other than not coming in sotis because of the Solver work, there's nothing particularly noticeable. In general, he is diligent and competent.]
rlin admired in silence. Kevin, who possessed talent and diligence, was strict with himself and just as strict with others, rarely giving complints.
If he said Oliver was competent, it ant that he was truly competent, not only in terms of job performance.
[The most noticeable thing is his ntal state. I've felt this from the beginning, but he doesn't get agitated or angry in most situations.]
"His ntal state is indeed different from others."
[Honestly, I don't think it's just at that level.]
Kevin spoke with such seriousness that it could be felt even through the communication device.
"Could you be more specific?"
[Hmm… I'll tell you after observing him more. It's hard to say anything easily right now.]
"That's a good answer. It's better to observe as much as ya can, unless it's bloody urgent."
[Yes… But I've been hearing so noise since earlier, what are you doing?]
"Ah, I was just havin' a crack at a simple experint to find out sothin'. Let's wrap up the call for now, mate."
[Yes, understood.]
The communication was cut off abruptly.
rlin imdiately lowered the communication device and looked ahead.
In front of him was a containnt experint box with multiple sealing spells, and inside was a small entrance to hell, suppressed by nurous mana.
…Fizz! Crackle…!
The tiny entrance to hell, the size of a grain of rice, was slowly breaking the spells that would immobilize most wizards.
It would be dangerous to delay any longer.
rlin remotely controlled his mana, imbued into the experint box, and clenched his fist.
Yellowish magical chains intertwined, wrapped around the spherical entrance to hell, and crushed it.
The entrance to hell vanished like dust.
It may not have looked like much, but the faint sweat on rlin's forehead told how dangerous it had been.
rlin looked at the test tube he had received from Dave in the past. Inside, a faint black emotion was contained.
It was Dave's emotions.
"I have no idea how to handle this."
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Vroom—Crash!!
Inside District X, at a crossroads with a giant stake. There, so warlocks were sparring, risking their lives with each move.
"Don't worry. You won't die."
Oliver, who had quickly closed the distance, thrust his quarterstaff again.
Joe barely managed to block the threatening attack with his arms.
Kwa-Kwak-Kwak!
The black-suited quarterstaff rcilessly wore down Joe's fully ard defense.
The difference in the power of black magic was too great; had he not blocked it, he would have been thrown against the wall.
"Phew…!"
Joe, controlling the black armor on his arms, grabbed Oliver's quarterstaff and stretched it out.
Then he shouted.
"Now! Attack all at once! Let's try to land at least one hit!"
"Uwaaaa!!!"
One of Joe's colleagues, of the sa rank, charged at Oliver, swinging a knife covered in black magic.
The intention was to really cut him. However, it didn't matter whether they harbored such feelings or not. It was more than insufficient for Oliver.
Oliver held his quarterstaff firmly as he deftly removed one hand and adorned the black armor on his forearm, effortlessly deflecting the attack. It was a defensive maneuver that Joe had taught him, but the ease with which Oliver executed it was astounding. It made one wonder if he had always possessed such remarkable skill.
Ching—!!!
The sharp sound of tal scraping echoed as Oliver instinctively countered the attack, parrying the blade effortlessly and throwing a light punch. Despite its seemingly gentle force, the black magic imbued in Oliver's strike was enough to knock out his opponent instantly.
"Ugh…!"
With a single counterattack, the fifteen fighter crew mbers surrounding Oliver hesitated and held back from advancing.
Despite having the nurical advantage, they were intimidated by the vast skill gap between them and Oliver. These were individuals who had endured the harsh realities of living in the slums.
"Uh… everyone? What are you all doing?"
Oliver spoke up.
"Isn't this a good situation to attack ?"
His quarterstaff was held by Joe, restricting his movents, so it wasn't wrong to say that.
"Since this is training and not a real fight, you should charge at as much as possible."
It was neither mockery nor provocation nor insult; it was simply the truth.
Oliver spoke like a teacher encouraging a student who wasn't paying attention in class.
"I'm controlling my strength, so you probably won't get hurt too badly."
"Probably?"
"Well, we've got potions over there, so even if a bone breaks, you'll be fine."
Oliver pointed to a basket of potions piled up on one side.
It was a gift from Murphy, a sort of bribe to get along with Oliver.
"Soon, you'll have to prove your skills to the Cri Firm, so shouldn't you practice as much as possible while you still have ti? Unfortunately, since Mr. Forrest and I made a promise, you all have to work hard whether you like it or not… Didn't you promise?"
A promise. As soon as the word was ntioned, Joe shivered with fear and shouted.
"Everyone, attack! Before we're all screwed! If we slack off, he'll hit us even harder! Hurry up and attack!!"
At those words, Owen, who was on Joe's team, charged at Oliver with an iron club covered in black armor.
Owen was unrivaled in strength among the fighter crew mbers.
It wasn't sothing that could be deflected like before.
"Uwaaaaaah!!"
Owen scread as he lifted the iron club, and Oliver, still held by Joe, lifted his quarterstaff and used Joe to block Owen's attack.
Joe looked at Oliver with a surprised expression.
"Wait a second, shi—"
——Bang!!
Before he could finish speaking, Joe was struck by Owen's iron club, sent flying, and slamd into the wall in the distance.
Owen, who had struck Joe, was surprised.
"Joe…?"
Dumbfounded, Owen looked ahead and saw the quarterstaff flying toward him.
Bang!!
After the training was over, Oliver approached Forrest, who was in the corner.
"How long did it take?"
"8 minutes and 42 seconds."
Forrest checked his watch and replied.
"If you add up the ti they spent hesitating, they managed to hold on for just under 8 minutes."
"That's still impressive. They couldn't even last 5 minutes before."
It was true.
After completing basic black magic training, Oliver conducted intensive training primarily with the higher-ranking mbers of the fighter crew.
Most of them couldn't even withstand 5 minutes.
Even considering Oliver going all-out on purpose, it was a pitiful gap.
However, as a result of diligently sparring every day, the ti they could endure had increased by about 1.5 tis.
"Good. With a little more effort, they might be able to last 10 minutes."
"Assuming they don't kick the bucket before then."
Forrest said, looking at the fighter crew mbers beyond Oliver.
They all couldn't even properly stand due to being beaten by Oliver.
It was a true irony – their attacks were more ferocious during training than when they fought for their own survival.
"Their skills are improving rapidly, aren't they?"
Forrest couldn't deny that point and nodded.
To Forrest, who had seen many decent Solvers, the skills of the fighter crew's higher-ranking mbers had improved to a rather satisfactory level.
In particular, Joe could now use Oliver's original black magic, Black Suit and Black Armor, to a certain extent, making him a match for most solvers.
Joe's friends, Sam and Owen, also actively developed their unique skills, resulting in noticeable improvents.
"At the rate we're going, I’m sure the Cri Firm will be happy. Sure, they might not be on par with the wizards from the Magic Tower or those flush security agencies, but they'll definitely hold their own in Landa's underworld."
"Um… That's true, but I'm planning to teach them as diligently as possible during the training period. Once the training is over, I plan to focus on my own work again."
Forrest nodded silently.
Sotis Oliver seed selfless in his help, but at other tis he drew a surprising line. This made it both comfortable and difficult to deal with him.
"So, are you planning to do more training?"
"I'll do it a bit later. I think everyone needs so rest now."
"Agreed."
Forrest replied, looking at the exhausted fighter crew mbers.
"So, what's next for you? You don't seem like you're planning on taking a break."
"How did you figure it out? I have so business to attend to."
"Business to attend?"
"Yes."
As Oliver answered, he picked up a huge hamr wrapped in bandages.
It might have been an illusion, but the hamr seed to quiver like a living creature.
"I have a question I want to ask."
(To be Continued on May 08(MON))
OR
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