Chapter 254
Chapter 254
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 254
Chapter Title: Party Invitation (2)
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Oliver helped Child adapt to the zombie doll named Batori.
His help amounted to little more than supporting its body so it could move or chatting about various things to identify areas for improvement.
But that didn't mean it was pointless.
In the process, he learned one interesting fact.
It was that the time it took for Child to control a zombie doll varied depending on the doll's quality.
For instance, a zombie doll without any notable abilities, specialties, or traits could be freely manipulated the moment Child entered it. On the other hand, one with a diverse array of abilities, specialties, and traits—especially deep ones—took considerable time.
He had sensed something like this before, but Batori's case was particularly extreme, confirming it definitively.
This was crucial information for using zombie dolls.
Oliver jotted it down in his notebook and speculated on the reason.
'Probably because the corpse has a lot of complex information for Child to process...'
Not certain, but he tentatively concluded as much.
Though it was belated to mention now, Child sometimes wielded the zombie doll's specialties, movements, and techniques better than the original owner.
Amplifying original abilities two or three times through coordination between zombie dolls was a prime example.
Rather than merely channeling techniques through the zombie dolls as intermediaries, Child seemed closer to learning their abilities and assimilating them as its own.
They might look the same, but they were distinctly different. If it was the latter, Child held boundless potential.
The more zombie dolls it used, the more techniques and abilities it could acquire and accumulate proportionally.
This naturally sparked another question.
Like whether Child could train itself through zombie dolls to learn new techniques.
In some cases, it might not even need to rely solely on the zombie doll's quality.
Oliver quickly noted this, formed a hypothesis, and outlined specific research methods to test later.
He desperately wanted to dive into it right away, but other tasks prevented him.
Such as turning the female black mages into zombie dolls or returning to work at the Magic Tower.
"So, this fixer Will—was that really the first time you met him?"
In the Life Magic School tower of the Magic Tower, Oliver faced three mages in conversation. Strictly speaking, it was more like an interrogation.
"Yes, we met at the Outpost."
"How did you meet?"
"By chance, while looking for fixers to accompany us."
"By chance?"
"Yes."
Oliver answered curtly.
The three Life Magic School mages who had formally borrowed him through procedure looked dissatisfied.
They eyed him silently, suspicion flickering—something felt off, but not enough to voice outright.
"...But as a professor's proxy, how did you think to hire a fixer? Did Kevin tell you to?"
"No, that was my judgment. I'd heard the road from the Outpost to Holland was dangerous. Both Professor Kevin and the mages from the Outpost branch warned me. I thought it was fine under the school rules... Is there a problem?"
Oliver knew better than anyone there was no issue, but he asked anyway.
The Magic Tower rules clearly stated it.
A professor's proxy held delegated authority. Naturally, they could exercise discretion to hire external help, bearing responsibility if issues arose.
The three mages exchanged glances and moved on.
"...Is there any way to verify this fixer Will's identity?"
"The report covers—"
"We've read the report. We want to hear it from you."
Oliver bowed his head amid their anxious, guarded response.
"I'm sorry... Since he operates in the Northin community, you could check there."
"The Northin community is out. It's incredibly insular, full of paranoid layabouts who lie through their teeth."
"I'm sorry, but that's all I know."
Another mage interjected.
"That's the problem. Why hire a fixer you barely knew? With all the thieves eyeing the Tower's rare knowledge... You could've requested one from the Outpost branch."
"I'm sorry about that too. No one told me, so I thought I had to handle it myself."
This was also true.
He'd heard details about transportation via portal magic to the Outpost, but no one explained safety.
Not even the Life Magic School folks who'd asked Kevin for help.
In the end, the mages fell silent again.
Dragging it out would just embarrass everyone.
"...Next topic."
"Yes."
The three grilled Oliver in detail about events en route to Mountain Pace and at the research lab.
As if checking for fabrications.
Fortunately, after rehearsing with Kevin multiple times, Oliver stuck to the report and dodged all trap questions.
Their suspicions gradually faded.
"...That's all on the lab."
Oliver finished recounting his time there. Nothing to nitpick.
"You really shattered the wall with fire magic and scorched the floor?"
"Yes."
"Hm... Not an ordinary talent. Did you see anything odd at the lab? Or the fixer touching the World Tree?"
"We separated briefly midway, so not everything, but nothing like that while we were together. What exactly do you mean by 'odd'?"
"Nothing. Forget it."
The Life mages withdrew the question and murmured among themselves.
He couldn't hear well, but they seemed to conclude no issues.
"We heard you out. Questions answered— you're dismissed."
"Thank you."
Oliver rose politely. As Kevin predicted, no major problems. Time to return to the Elemental School tower and work—
"Hold on."
"Yes?"
The prickliest, most suspicious Life mage stopped him.
He hadn't dropped his doubts till the end.
"One last question."
"What is it?"
"I heard the train you were on got ambushed by Northin bandits. True?"
"...Yes."
"And you shone there?"
"Ah... It wasn't that impressive."
"A criminal with a 30 million bounty isn't unimpressive. Turns out most of the gang were skilled mana users—even the military struggled. Who trained you?"
"Sorry, but is this work-related?"
"Not exactly, but answering might clear misunderstandings."
"What misunderstandings?"
The Life mage couldn't respond to Oliver's question.
It was too forced.
Regardless, Oliver had earned merits at the Tower, and the Life School had benefited.
Pushing too hard might draw odd looks to them.
Factions in the Tower checked the Life School.
Illegal human experiments could be brushed off if exposed, but collusion with a black mage? That'd be trouble.
Mages would condemn it.
'Maybe even involving the Pater Church...'
Oliver spoke at the right moment.
"Sorry, but I can't answer. Professor Kevin told me not to discuss personal matters... If he permits, I'll answer then. My apologies."
The troubled Life mages nodded only after Oliver cited Kevin first.
He bowed again and left the interrogation room.
Outside, an excessively clean, wide corridor greeted him, patrolled by Life School students shooting him glances of curiosity, displeasure, suspicion, and annoyance.
Their pride and exclusivity far exceeded other schools.
Judging lingering pointless, Oliver hurried out of the Life School tower.
The investigation room was near the main gate, so he exited without wandering.
"Still, why do I keep getting oddly tangled with them...?"
Looking back at the tower—wide base narrowing upward like a grotesque cone—he muttered.
The Life School's design was as unique as the Elemental School's. Made him wonder if it meant something.
"Hm... No idea."
Oliver glanced at his watch, tearing his eyes from the tower.
Late already, but hustling might allow cleanup. He hurried to his tasks.
"Ah... Good work, everyone."
In the corridor outside the Elemental School's magic combat training room, Oliver bumped into students finishing class.
Like Kevin's usual lessons, [Magic Combat Basics] was grueling; many students were sweaty, singed messes. Some had bruises.
Others looked pristine, barely participating.
'They skipped proper involvement again?'
Oliver thought, eyeing the laggards at the back. Mostly poor performers.
"Hello, Xenon."
Yarely, at the front like a rep, returned his greeting. Her training gear was as tattered as ever.
Oliver thanked her and stepped aside. A few wary students nodded as they passed.
Some, like Derek, still ignored him, but post-Mountain Pace, greetings increased noticeably. Satisfactory.
After they passed, Oliver entered the training room.
Kevin was inside, tidying with mana.
"Talk go well?"
Kevin asked without looking, sensing Oliver via his precise, vast mana emission.
'Willeth used that too. Should I learn it? Relying only on eyes might bite later. Mana drain's an issue, though...'
Oliver pondered their skill.
"Xenon?"
"Ah, sorry, Professor. Got lost in thought... Life School ended without issues."
"Good?"
"Yes. Suspicions linger faintly, but much reduced. No big problems expected."
"I see... Got it."
Kevin's response was plainer than expected.
He accepted Oliver's report without question.
"That's all?"
"Pardon?"
"You said you had something to report after the Life tower."
"Ah, thank you. Could I leave early this Friday? Around 2 or 3 PM."
"This Friday?"
"Yes, personal errand."
"Funny. I have business that day too, planning to leave then. Do as you like."
"Thank you for accommodating."
"Not accommodating. I have plans anyway."
"Still grateful. I'll handle cleanup now."
"No need. Almost done... But answer my question?"
"Question? Yes, go ahead."
"You passed students on the way out?"
"Yes, looked like another intense lesson."
Oliver recalled Derek and Yarely's wrecked gear.
"Anything you want to say or ask me?"
"May I?"
"If I ask."
"Hm... Honestly, your classes are excellent, but the benefits don't reach everyone equally."
He thought of the clean students.
Zealous with high standards, Kevin poured effort into standouts like Yarely or Derek but skimped on the weak or unmotivated.
Oliver wouldn't dare criticize—he'd favored the strong-willed in Joseph's Family too.
Aware, Kevin nodded.
"Spot on. Midterm approaching, but I can't micromanage dozens."
"With such numbers and skill gaps, it's inevitable."
"Agreed. Can't ignore the stars either... So, want to help? Take the low performers."
"Me?"
"Yes. Assist me with the strugglers?"
"...Possible?"
"If I say so."