Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Call (2)
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Oliver entered Joseph's room according to the letter's instructions.
The most luxurious room in the basement, but Oliver showed no interest and went straight to the indicated spot.
Right next to the bed.
There was a small drawer and a lamp powered by a magic stone.
Oliver set the lamp aside as the letter instructed and grunted as he shoved the drawer to the side.
Sure enough, just as the letter described, a small safe appeared at the base of the wall.
"Hm..."
Oliver pulled out the letter again to check the password.
"4... 7... 8... 19... 24... 2... 41... 5..."
The dial in the center of the massive metal hunk clicked and whirred before finally snapping open with a sharp clack.
A gap formed in the solidly locked safe door, and when he pulled it open, neatly stacked metal storage boxes came into view.
Oliver grabbed the number 3 box and pulled it out.
It slid smoothly, as if oiled.
Very long—so long the end wasn't visible—and the slender compartment was packed tight with high-denomination bills.
The amount in just one box was a fortune most people couldn't amass in a lifetime.
But Oliver didn't get excited or even flinch at the sight of it. He mechanically stuffed the money into the prepared bag.
"Thirty stacks of 100,000-Landa bills... One, two, three..."
The bundles piled up quickly, soon filling the bag.
"...Twenty-nine... thirty."
After packing it all, he triple-locked the backpack.
It was quite heavy, but if it hadn't been high-denomination currency, it would've been a real hassle.
Oliver pushed the metal box back into the safe, closed the door, and returned the drawer and magic stone lamp to their original positions.
Exactly as before. Then he slung the bag over his back, secured the straps around his torso, and headed out.
When he emerged from the factory, Marie, Peter, and the other disciples were gathered.
"...What's this? Everyone's assembled?"
One of the high-grade disciples answered.
"Ah, the Master is heading out on orders, so we figured seeing him off together is the polite thing... No issues, right?"
Oliver patted himself down.
"Yeah, all good..."
At that moment, Marie approached cautiously and straightened the wrinkles in his shirt, jacket, and pants.
She then carefully placed a newsboy cap on his head.
"This way, you won't stand out."
Oliver touched the hat and nodded once.
Time to go.
"Follow me. The truck's waiting just up ahead."
The truck in question was the Pharmacist's. He happened to be heading to Landa anyway, so Oliver was hitching a ride.
Oliver started to follow, but a sudden question made him pause.
"Mind if I ask something I'm curious about?"
"Pardon? What..."
"Does the Master usually send people on money errands like this? And with such a huge sum?"
The high-grade disciple and the others who'd come to see him off exchanged glances.
They all tilted their heads, as if it was the first time.
"...No. Normally, he has you take just what's needed. In real emergencies, he wires it through the bank or has it sent by mail."
Hm... Unusual, then.
Another high-grade disciple chimed in.
"But the situation itself is special, right? So maybe that's why."
Not wrong. They'd left in the first place to treat Andrew's severe injuries.
Money running short made sense, and wiring or mailing that much would've been impractical.
It could've drawn unwanted attention.
Oliver nodded, satisfied enough, and moved on.
"...Makes sense. Well, I'll be off. Take care, everyone."
"Yes, safe travels."
"““Yes, safe travels.”””
Oliver headed to the truck waiting at the main gate.
The six-wheeler he'd ridden to fight the mage, with a black tarp over the cargo bed.
"......"
Unsure how to climb up, Oliver stared blankly at the cargo bed for a moment.
He was relatively short, so there weren't good footholds. After pondering, he said resolutely,
"Any ladders around?"
"Grab my hand."
A third voice cut in abruptly.
He looked up to see a man in the cargo bed.
The man extended his hand again.
"I said grab it."
Oliver did, and the man hauled him up with brute force.
"Been a while, huh?"
The man said. Oliver studied his face and soon recalled who he was.
Employee A—the Pharmacist's underling.
The guy from the truck when they'd gone to fight the mage.
"Ah, hello."
Memory jogged, Oliver greeted him. A smile spread across the man's angular face as he gestured to a seat.
"Sit first. Not much room thanks to the cargo, though."
To prove it, Employee A plopped down casually on a stack of goods.
Oliver followed suit, sitting on the cargo.
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
"Wow, this is awkward."
Employee A stared at Oliver for a long stretch before blurting it out.
Oliver didn't get what was awkward, but the man kept talking.
"You always this quiet?"
"Not really. I just don't talk if there's nothing to say."
"Why?"
"The supervisor didn't like it."
"Ahh... Right. You guys are mostly the silent type, huh? But that's all in the past now, isn't it? You're the number two in a black magic outfit these days."
"No. Andrew's still number two. He's recovering."
"That guy's getting pushed out anyway, right? He got wrecked by the mage, but you won. It's all about skill, yeah?"
"...You know your stuff."
"What, you pick up on your group's deal when you're in ours. Even without that, I've seen a lot of the world. Met all kinds."
Employee A's emotions rang true enough. A bit of bravado, but within reason.
"So my knowledge is vast as the sea, shallow as a fingertip. Ended up settling here eventually."
"Why?"
"...Curious about that?"
"A little."
"Haha, funny guy... Lots happened. Got older, nearly died a few times. So I wanted to settle somewhere safe. Makes me jealous of you, in a way."
"Me?"
"Yeah, for real. Don't get the wrong idea—I'm not scheming. You saved our asses. If you hadn't cleaned up behind, the mage would've wiped us. Regular guns couldn't compete firepower-wise."
Employee A's feelings were sincere. A touch of envy mixed in.
"Why jealous?"
"Hah, you messing with me?"
Oliver's blank reaction made Employee A frown.
"You really don't know?"
"No."
"Ah... You're serious? You're jealous 'cause you're a goddamn genius at black magic."
"Am I?"
"This kid... I saw how you fight. Still dream about it sometimes. Dozens of black blades raining like arrows, the whole area exploding... You just joined not long ago, right? That's genius. Life on easy street?"
Oliver didn't react much. Or rather, his reaction was underwhelmed.
Easy street... The term meant little to Oliver.
His main interest had always been survival, and lately, black magic and beautiful lights had been added.
Nothing else mattered.
Money or power as Employee A described didn't move him.
Seeing Oliver's non-reaction, Employee A sighed in exasperation.
"Sigh... That genius composure? Or are all geniuses like that?"
"Sorry, I still don't quite get it... You mean you're jealous because I use black magic?"
"Yeah... Kinda. No need to lug around guns anymore."
"Then you could do it too."
"Employee? Oh, right, didn't tell you my name... But learn black magic? What kinda talk is that? Think I got talent?"
"Who knows?"
"Damn... You tell me to learn it without knowing?"
"Better than not doing it."
Oliver said it offhand, but Employee A's eyes widened slightly, a sly smile creeping on.
"What, you gonna teach me?"
"If the Master allows it."
"...For real?"
"Yes."
"Weird. Black mages and mages alike hoard their knowledge, just sucking the marrow dry."
"Is that so? Ah... But there's a condition."
"Knew it... What?"
"You seemed to know a lot about mages when we met. Could you teach me what you know?"
"What?"
"About mages—"
"—No, wait. You're serious? Not joking?"
"Yes."
Employee A stared hard at Oliver, then said gravely,
"I just know a bit more than most about mages."
"That's plenty. Or other stories if not."
"...Deal. We'll talk more later."
Oliver nodded. Employee A mirrored him with an odd expression.
"Alright, we're here."
How much time had passed? Employee A lifted the tarp slightly and said.
Through the gap, Landa's scenery came into view. Oliver examined it closely to adapt to the new environment.
First, the massive roads clogged with cars.
Far flashier and more numerous than in Wineham.
But the differences didn't end there. Airships cruised the skies regularly,
and beneath towering, elongated skyscrapers, bizarre crowds swarmed in droves.
Compared to the desolate, enemy-like Wineham, it was like a roach nest.
And unlike Wineham's shirt-and-pants folk, people here wore flashy outfits overall.
Silk-hatted cape dandies, goggle-eyed men, hulks with mechanical arms, women in tight dresses accentuating their chests, men with crosses strapped to their backs.
A whole other world.
"You look shocked."
Employee A said, as if guessing.
"Yeah... So many people."
Oliver said, eyeing the densely packed lights with no gaps.
"Obviously. This city's grown by devouring surrounding towns and countryside. Like a nation within the nation."
"You know it well?"
"Sure, lived here."
"Then—"
As he started to ask more, the truck pulled to the shoulder, and a voice came from the cab.
"We're here. Get out."
"Heh, guess it's time to part ways."
Employee A said.
A bit regrettable, but orders were orders. Oliver nodded.
As he went to climb down, Employee A reached out.
"Wasn't boring on the way. Let's pick up that talk later."
"...Yes. Thanks for the ride."
Oliver clasped his hand and replied.
As they finished shaking and he pulled away, Employee A gripped it again.
"Oh, by the way—I'm not 'Employee,' it's James. James. Call me James from now on."
"Ah, got it."
"Your turn. Tell me your name."
"Pardon?"
"I know it, but wanna hear it from you... What's your name?"
Oliver stared at James's face for a long moment before answering.
"Oliver."