Chapter 249
Chapter 249
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 249
Chapter Title: Business Trip Return (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Elder?”
Oliver spoke as he spotted Merlin, who had appeared like a ghost. He hadn't noticed him at all, not when or how he'd shown up, leaving him utterly flustered.
“It's been a while.”
“Yes... How did you appear like that?”
Merlin briefly looked away from the report and opened his mouth with a very serious expression.
“I've secretly planted devices all over the Magic Tower that let me appear stylishly and out of nowhere, anytime, anywhere.”
“......”
“......”
“...I'm kidding. Why are you looking at me so seriously?”
Though Merlin denied it, Oliver couldn't easily believe him.
Something told him the old man was perfectly capable of it.
He'd suddenly appeared in Martel's secret lab, after all.
“More surprising, though. I never knew you and Yareli were acquainted.”
Merlin brought it up out of the blue. Oliver glanced back at the door before turning to Merlin again.
“We're just on nodding terms. I'm attending Professor Kevin's classes.”
“Ah, that. I heard about it too. Thanks to her, other students flooded Kevin's classes, throwing his plans way off track.”
Oliver nodded in agreement.
Kevin had originally planned to minimize classes this semester and focus on personal research.
Things had gone according to plan at first.
Everyone thought Kevin's classes were so unpopular they'd be canceled—even Kevin himself.
But when Yareli from the Scardi Minor School showed interest, everything flipped 180 degrees.
Other students followed her lead and signed up, filling every class to capacity and beyond.
'Of course, Kevin's choice to take them all on without refusing played a part too.'
“She's quite the impressive little lady.”
“Yes, I agree.”
“Huh? You agree without knowing what I meant by impressive?”
“Weren't you talking about how she brought a ton of students to Professor Kevin's classes? Everyone in the Magic Tower... they're all so full of themselves, so wielding that kind of influence isn't easy.”
“Not wrong there.”
“Were you thinking of something else, Elder?”
“Well, yeah. I know that little lady better than you do.”
It seemed Merlin and Yareli had some personal connection.
“Then what did you find impressive about her?”
“I could tell you, but don't you have something more pressing? I've got my own business here, and I can't field your endless questions one by one.”
“Ah...”
Oliver let out a sigh and withdrew his previous question.
From leaving the mines, staying with Joseph's Family, and venturing out as a fixer, he'd learned questions came with limits.
Factors like the situation, location, the question's value, and the answerer's patience and stamina.
It was a personal disappointment, but Oliver had grown accustomed to the rule.
He could now prioritize his questions accordingly.
Naturally, anything about Yareli ranked low. It was just fleeting curiosity.
“May I ask something else, then?”
As he canceled and prepared to ask what really mattered, Merlin raised a hand to stop him.
“First, let me ask mine. I came here to satisfy my own curiosity... Can you humor me?”
Oliver nodded readily.
Merlin was his master, after all, temporary or not.
“Of course, Elder. Go ahead.”
“I heard about your exploits at Mountain Face.”
Oliver nodded. Merlin had already mentioned having friends who whispered updates to him multiple times.
“Yes.”
“I was thrilled my temporary disciple made such a splash, but on the other hand, it struck me as foolish. There's a time and place for showing off strength... Tell me, what on earth possessed you to pull off such a troublesome feat?”
Oliver understood what he meant.
As Kevin had said earlier, his achievements at Mountain Face weren't exactly beneficial.
His plans to quietly read books and audit classes in the Magic Tower had crumbled, drawing everyone's eyes.
'Especially the Life School...'
If he'd been an ordinary employee, it might've been fine, but as a black magician, the scrutiny was far from good.
Depending on circumstances, it could even harm Kevin or Merlin, who had hired him.
“Well... I didn't plan for it to blow up this big.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I was already trapped in the lab by then, so I had to take them down to escape.”
“So you didn't notice anything suspicious at all? Be honest. For my sake.”
Oliver paused at those last words, sinking into thought.
“Hm... To be honest, I had some suspicions before entering the lab.”
“I see. They say the Batory Family's disguises are so flawless even seasoned mages can't spot them.”
“Yes, the disguises were excellent. Using hoods instead of leather masks made them even better, and consuming the target's blood let them mimic mana flow, memories, and behavior, making them hard to distinguish... But do you know about the Batory Family?”
“I've never seen them myself, but my master's master's master's master did.”
“Ah... In that case, I have some questions about the Batory Family. Could you answer?”
“Later. My turn now. Anyway, you noticed—so why didn't you bail midway? Curious about their true nature?”
“That was part of it, but since I was there, I figured I'd resolve it. As a mere employee, I couldn't just go around saying a black magician had taken over the lab on a hunch, right?”
Merlin nodded in agreement.
“Hm... Fair point. You'd just get called crazy the moment you opened your mouth.”
“Exactly. Since I'd been made acting professor, I thought it'd be best to handle it. And leaving it half-resolved could've caused major damage to nearby labs and the village.”
“Oh? Didn't know you cared that much about people. Color me surprised.”
“What can I say? It was my job too, so two birds with one stone... But may I ask why you're inquiring about this?”
“Can I be frank?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
“Your head fascinates me. I've been keeping an observation journal on you as a hobby lately—this is just for reference material.”
“.......”
“Kidding. Don't look at me like that. I'm your master, temporary or not. It hurts.”
“Ah, sorry.”
“Jokes aside... Truth is, I came to check if you'd cleaned up neatly afterward. Kevin might cling to me like a drowned rat if he gets in hot water—better to prepare in advance, no?”
“Ah... It really does sound like a black magician mentor-disciple relationship.”
“That's the kind of talk that'd get you stoned in the Magic Tower. But not wrong.”
Merlin chuckled.
Oliver couldn't tell if it was a joke or serious.
“So... What do you think of the report?”
Oliver asked Merlin, who had reached the final page.
He slapped the finished report down on the desk.
“It's fine... Nothing major to nitpick. They might gripe about hiring an outside fixer without permission, but that's within acting professor authority—no issue. Though there is one concern.”
“What is it?”
“A report can fool them, but the site can't lie. Not sure if it'll hold up. The Life School will inspect the chimera lab, and if anything seems off, they'll come after you.”
“You don't need to worry much about that. I manipulated the traces to match the report—burned and smashed everything with fire magic.”
“Good, if so. But labs often have Root Nets secretly monitoring the whole place for security. Not sure about that. If you need help—”
“—No need to worry about that either.”
“...Got proof?”
“Yes. Like you said, there was a Root Net covertly recording the entire chimera lab. I erased it. Should be fine.”
“...Sorry, I must not understand—did you say you erased the records stored in the World Tree?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Accessed the World Tree and deleted them.”
“I see... Accessed and deleted. Mind if I ask one more? Why didn't you mention you could access the World Tree?”
“Well? You never asked.”
“Are you insane?”
“Pardon?”
Oliver flinched at Merlin's sudden accusation and asked back in confusion.
“Why frame it like my fault for not reporting properly? 'You didn't ask.' Of course not—we don't ask for what should be reported automatically.”
“I didn't know it needed reporting.”
Merlin started to say something, shook his head, closed his eyes, and sighed.
“Sigh... If you'd reported it, I could've gotten you hired far more comfortably and safely in the Magic Tower. What a shame.”
Merlin deflated. To console him, Oliver spoke up.
“I'm satisfied with my current life, so no need to feel bad.”
“Not what I meant. Gods... Well, better late than never? When did you first access the World Tree? Right after handling mana?”
“Close, but no.”
“...?”
“I accessed it right after first meeting you. Remember?”
“Of course. You lied and said you were a restaurant server.”
“Yes. And you briefly explained what the World Tree was. Recommended a book too.”
“I remember.”
“I read it, then tried accessing one at the boundary between U and V Districts.”
Merlin's expression subtly hardened, as if hearing nonsense that defied logic.
“That's when you started using mana?”
“No, that came much later.”
“Then how the World Tree? You're no druid.”
“Right. So I connected with emotion.”
Oliver honestly shared his experience, and Merlin's face crumpled further. Hard to read his emotions, but he seemed a bit shocked.
“Care to elaborate?”
Oliver explained how he'd accessed the World Tree.
After finishing the book from Merlin, wondering why emotion-based access didn't work, he experimented.
“I expected failure, but it succeeded. Pretty amazing.”
Merlin nodded.
“Yeah, truly amazing. Makes me want to study it... Anyway—”
“—Sorry, Elder. Can I ask questions now? I've got some too. If you yield, I'll answer more thoroughly after.”
Oliver said, mindful that Kevin would return soon.
Reviewing the report and aligning stories would take time. He needed to ask now.
Merlin, aware of that, agreed.
“Fine, disappointing but your story intrigues me... What's your question?”
“First, about the Batory Family.”
“Specifically?”
Oliver thought briefly.
“Info on the head, Batory, and the Family overall.”
“Broad. Hm... From what I know, Batory was originally a mage from a decently prominent family in the central continent. Quite the charming lady too.”
“You knew her?”
“My master's master's master's master did. They exchanged a bit.”
“Ah...”
“Anyway, the family head back then was impressed by her talent, ability, and foresight. Though she ended tragically like most central continent mages.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Rumors spread of her obsessing over black magic, devouring people, even dealing with demons—family collapsed overnight. Everyone presumed dead... But a decade or so later, a black mage appeared in the underworld. Skilled enough to fight flesh cooks without joining the Black Hand.”
“That was Batory?”
“Yeah. Not official, but blood magic traits matched. Active across the sea, so not huge in Seland here, but a big shot there.”
'...And you took down that big shot.' Merlin left it unsaid.
Oliver pressed on, curiosity unquenched. Like the red notebook he'd looted from Batory.
“Do you know the Batory Family's main revenue or business?”
“Revenue? Business? Sure. They mainly sell blood magic-based drugs, as far as I know.”
“Drugs based on blood magic?”
“Yeah. Called 'Blood Elixirs'—restores health and vigor for men, youth's blessings for women. Customers are continent nobles, royals, tycoons. Probably some in Seland too.”
“Who are the main clients?”
“Anyone filthy rich, for sure.”
“Filthy rich...”
“Why ask?”
“Wondered if it ties to the Mountain Face raid. Another question okay?”
“Fire away.”
“In the chimera lab fighting the Batory Family, I saw a secret lab... Interesting specimen.”
“What?”
“Chimera with a cow's head and human body. Labeled Improved Human-C03. Know anything? Seemed important.”
Merlin fell silent.
“...Think I'd know that?”
“Yes. Feels like you do.”
Oliver answered without hesitation. No evidence, just gut. And his gut was right.
“You know mages fall into superiority complexes?”
Oliver nodded.
The world's most advanced city reeked of it, light and shadow alike. Working in the Magic Tower made it clearer.
Mages saw themselves superior to commoners—degrees varied, but universal.
“The Life School's worse than others. Systematic too.”
“Yes, I know.”
“So they go beyond claims. Like designing perfect societies with mages at the center.”
Oliver recalled the female black mage's words. The Life School dreamed of a systematized world.
“More details?”
Merlin checked the clock and shook his head.
“Later. Too complex for a quick explanation... Like your World Tree thing.”
Disappointing, but Oliver nodded. Better to hear it properly.
“Last question then. Kevin'll chew me out for showing up unannounced.”
“Then ask the one you're dying to know.”
“The best ones always come last.”
“Do you know about the Tick-Tock Doomsday Theory?”