Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: Not a Coincidental Meeting (1)
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Mage Tower Administrative Department.
This was a sort of independent division unaffiliated with any particular school of magic, established in the tower's early days to ensure the insular magical factions didn't lose sight of the tower's original purpose.
Of course, as a department meant to support the various schools, it wasn't particularly large in scale—but that didn't mean its role or authority was insignificant.
It had the power to allocate a significant portion of the budget to promote cooperation and exchange between the factions that sought to maintain their isolation, while preventing excessive competition and conflict. On that basis, it could mediate disagreements between schools or urge them to collaborate.
Kevin's current visitors were probably operating in that same vein. Probably.
"As I mentioned, this is a request from the Alchemical School, the School of Life, and the others."
Whitney, a staffer from the Administrative Department, said to Kevin.
She presented a far more polished and impeccable appearance than her colleagues, her expression cool enough to instinctively intimidate those she faced.
It had little effect on Kevin, though. He responded with the same curt, businesslike demeanor he showed to men, women, young, and old alike.
"So, why me, of all people? Semester's already started... What am I supposed to do about my classes tomorrow?"
He had a point. The department's request involved visiting and inspecting a research zone in Northland—nothing like a quick trip to a neighboring sector.
Northland lay north of Seland, practically on the opposite side of the continent from Landa. Round trip would take considerable time.
Asking a professor currently handling classes for such a task flew in the face of common sense.
"...I know it's a difficult request. That's why we're planning to provide as much transportation support as possible."
"You're dressing up the obvious. Isn't providing transportation and other necessities a given when you're asking someone to do a job?"
Her momentum faltered at his perfectly valid retort. But Kevin pressed on.
"And even with transportation support, won't it take at least a week? The research zone's deep in Northland, and they haven't installed portal devices there for security reasons."
"......"
"Portals can only get you to the Northland border. After that, it's trains, carriages, or walking. If you're unlucky and run into transport issues, it could take over a week... Did you think I wouldn't know that?"
Kevin glared at Whitney with eyes tinged in anger as he grilled her.
Not emotional rage, but fury rooted in reason and logic.
Whitney's face betrayed her embarrassment, but she forced a calm tone as she replied.
"Yes, that's precisely why we've judged your help necessary. As you know, that research zone hosts a considerable number of our tower's research facilities."
"A place teeming with beasts and herbs. Low population density means less prying eyes."
"Exactly. That's why it houses facilities like the Alchemical School's potion lab and the School of Life's chimera lab, among others."
Oliver, who had been standing quietly in one corner of the professor's lab like a piece of furniture, fell into thought. The mention of the School of Life's lab brought Matel's secret underground facility to mind.
"......"
"There are researchers there, of course. Quite a few of them. But starting last month, one or two have been steadily going missing."
"Couldn't it just be ordinary disappearances?"
"We've searched, but there's no sign of that. No traces at all."
"Then just send regular mages."
"We've dispatched them twice already. They were checking the labs one by one in the zone when contact suddenly cut off."
Kevin's demeanor shifted from annoyance to a flicker of interest and seriousness the moment he heard that.
"If even mages sent from the tower are vanishing, shouldn't you dispatch a full-scale search party?"
"The damage isn't that extensive yet. And if we move in force, it gives the Central Council ammunition to pick a fight."
"......"
"But no matter how minor, damage is damage. We can't ignore it, so we're turning to you, Professor Kevin. You've served in Northland, so you know the area well, and you earned great merit suppressing the rebels there, didn't you?"
"Just a few months."
"But you're the most recent veteran. The professors from the other schools have sent similar requests. Please, help us just this once."
Whitney pulled several letters from the document folder she carried, offering them up.
The mana-infused wax seals and the blue and red stripes on the envelopes gave them an air of luxury.
"Fancy envelopes."
"Of course, this request isn't mandatory. But if you help, the other professors will all be grateful."
Kevin stared piercingly at Whitney's face—perhaps reading into the hidden implications—before answering.
"...I'll think about it."
Whitney gave a quiet bow, seemingly satisfied with the response, and left.
As she turned, her eyes met Oliver's, but she passed by as if she hadn't seen him.
Click-clack. Click-clack. Click-clack.
The footsteps faded, silence filling the void.
Oliver, who had come to deliver the books Kevin ordered, pondered whether to announce himself in the quiet or just leave them silently.
"...What do you think?"
Kevin asked abruptly.
"Maybe it's best to just leave the books quietly and go."
Kevin gave Oliver a subtle look at his reply.
"...Did I mess up?"
"It might not be a mess-up coming from you... What do you think of that request?"
Oliver blinked in surprise. Kevin never asked his opinion on matters like this.
Whatever the reason, Oliver thought it over carefully before answering earnestly.
"For starters, there's no issue under tower regulations."
Oliver recalled the Tower Regulations book he'd read in the past.
Tower professors were professors, yes—but also mages affiliated with the tower. With proper justification and agreement, they could be mobilized this way. They could even be ordered with coercive force, but the procedures for that were incredibly convoluted.
"Right, no issue per regulations. So, should I accept the request?"
"No."
Oliver answered immediately.
"Requesting a professor's help is fine by the rules, but that also means refusing is no problem at all."
Kevin nodded faintly, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
"Correct. Not a wrong word there. That's why the department 'requested' rather than ordered... What happens if I accept?"
Oliver replied without hesitation.
"They'll account for your absence with class cancellations or have another professor cover."
"Exactly. That's what they're after."
"Them?" Oliver asked, puzzled.
"Professor, forgive me for presuming, but the staffer who just left didn't come with ulterior motives. She may not be fond of you, but her need for help was genuine."
"She's just a staffer. The 'them' I mean are whoever put her up to making the request."
"Who would that be?"
"Someone who dislikes me. With enough power and influence, they can manipulate things indirectly like this."
Kevin waggled his fingers casually, like a street puppeteer working a marionette.
"You do have sharp eyes, but don't rely on them too much. There are people in this world who hide themselves and move the pieces on the chessboard to shape it."
It wasn't idle talk—it carried real weight.
Suddenly, Oliver recalled what Merlin had told him. The tower had become less a research and educational institution and more a political arena...
As Oliver started to apologize for his shallow thoughts, Kevin spoke up, his voice uncertain.
"Of course, I could be wrong. Maybe it's just my paranoia... Northland's a rough place, so they might genuinely want a capable mage dispatched."
"Is it that bad?"
"Yeah. It's more governed by customary law and clans than rational systems—a barbaric spot... The kingdom's administration only reaches the railroads and mining towns. Step outside those, and you'll run into highwaymen or dangerous beasts pretty regularly."
Oh... Oliver leaned in despite himself, intrigued. The same allied kingdom, yet such stark differences.
Actually, on second thought, it wasn't that strange.
Even Landa and its surrounding cities showed variations in life and culture. A distant place like Northland differing was only natural.
"Anyway, it's a dilemma... They've gone so far as sending letters, so they really want me gone. Refuse, and they'll paint me as a coward or irresponsible shirker."
Kevin shook one of the unopened envelopes—like handling not a gracious letter, but a meticulously crafted noose.
Watching him, Oliver quietly raised his hand.
"What?"
"First, thank you."
"For what?"
"Sharing this with me. I've learned and seen more because of it."
Oliver spoke his mind honestly. Kevin furrowed his brow. He'd shared all that to gauge reactions with varied info, but the kid took it purely at face value.
"If it's not too much, may I ask a question?"
"...Go ahead."
"If you go, another professor might take over your classes. Is that what you dislike?"
"Obviously. It's my class."
"But you didn't want the class in the first place, right?"
"You can't just shirk what you hate. Sometimes you have to give your all to the things you dislike for the sake of your goals."
Ho, intriguing words. Even more intriguing was the brief spark of emotion in Kevin's eyes—beautifully complex.
It sparked curiosity. What was Kevin's goal? The one that drove him to excel even at magic, the tower, and classes he loathed.
"So, you want to keep teaching while brushing off this request without issue?"
"Greedy, but yeah?"
"Hm... What if I went?"
"What?"
"What if I went to that research zone? As your proxy."
Oliver's proposal was straightforward.
Kevin would continue his classes at the tower, while Oliver handled the Administrative Department's research zone inspection.
There was no regulatory issue. Unless it was urgent, professors could delegate to trusted staff or personal disciples per the rules.
Of course, the professor bore some responsibility if problems arose, but crucially, Kevin could fulfill the request without interrupting classes.
Oliver suggested it would help Kevin more than him just handling chores around the tower.
Kevin, clearly caught off guard, pondered briefly before accepting readily.
Decision made, he immediately notified the Administrative Department.
They expressed dissatisfaction over the communication device, but when Kevin invoked the rules in his signature calm-yet-pressuring tone, they backed down.
No issue per tower regulations.
And so, Oliver packed some travel funds, the tower-issued pass, and ID guarantee, preparing to depart.
Before he left via mana portal, Kevin advised on Northland precautions.
Northmen in villages and towns often disliked kingdom folk, so watch for scams or rip-offs.
Outside settlements, beware wild animals, Kel rebels, and highwaymen.
Northland's unique poverty and the Northmen's belligerence bred numerous, brutal bandits.
And now, aboard the train, Oliver gazed out the window at one such product of that poverty and ferocity.
"Stop the train right now...!!"
A muscular brute wielding mana, perched atop a modified vehicle, bellowed with a double-headed axe slung over his shoulder.