Chapter 258
Chapter 258
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: Gap (1)
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"Oh, I had no idea there was a place like this."
Oliver said as he looked at the arena set up beneath the party hall.
It resembled the illegal fight club in District X, but cleaner and more refined.
"Sapphire provides all sorts of facilities to cater to our guests' various pleasures... Shall I hold your coat?"
Jane offered her arm to Oliver, who was taking off his outer layer before stepping into the arena.
"Ah, thank you."
"No need to thank me. If anything, I'm the one who feels bad."
Jane meant it.
She felt a twinge of guilt for turning Oliver into a spectacle.
"I'm not sure why you'd feel bad. Like I said earlier, I expected something like this."
"Even so... I'm Dave's friend. It feels like I'm using a friend for my own gain, you know?"
Jane gestured around with one hand as she spoke.
She wasn't exaggerating.
Swept up in Seamus's instigation and the surrounding atmosphere, a sudden event had formed, drawing the attention of the numerous tycoons at the party.
Not just the lucky nouveau riche who'd struck it big, but nobles from outlying lands, established businessmen and asset holders who'd built their reputations in Landa—all of them.
It wasn't easy to pull that off. They all had different statuses, mindsets, and interests.
Yet a fight—a somewhat vulgar topic—had brought them together, and even garnered their interest.
"What did that woman say?"
"Her name's Jane, sir. She's indebted to Lady Miranda."
"An investor?"
"She's still green, but seems to have flashier connections than expected. Word is she brought in a black magician to fight that wizard over there. The fixer's been making waves lately."
"They close?"
"Isn't that just how men and women are?"
"Why are they fighting?"
"Rumor has it a Magic Tower student insulted the woman, and the black magician slapped him with his glove and challenged him to a duel."
"That's not what I heard."
"Does it matter? We're just here for the show."
"Who do you think wins?"
"They say the fixer's skills are top-notch, but you can't underestimate a Magic Tower student, right?"
There were some misunderstandings, but for an investor like her who thrived on connections, this was a boon.
Depending on how Jane played it, she might turn it into something very useful.
Just like Seamus, who'd stirred up the fight in the first place.
"Haha! Long time no see. Everyone doing well?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Heard you've been doing great too, Seamus."
He roamed the party hall, drawing eyes with his booming, jovial voice as he spread word of Dave and Derek's fight, naturally pulling some of that attention to himself.
Oliver had wondered why he'd pushed the fight so hard, but now he thought he knew.
To maneuver like that, calculating this much in such a short moment... Impressive. Worth learning from.
"Miss Jane."
"Yes?"
"To be honest, I'm not angry or upset about this... I'm actually impressed."
"Really?"
"Yes. I was blown away by Mr. Seamus's savvy. He turned a brief argument into the most advantageous situation for himself."
Jane glanced at Seamus, who was receiving investment fueled by his instigation of the fight.
"Of course, some might not see it as praiseworthy, but as a businessman chasing profits, I think it's admirable. In my opinion."
"What are you getting at?"
"I wish you'd do the same, Miss Jane. That's one of the things I like about you."
"You mean being sly?"
"No, working toward your goals. And if you succeed later, help me out a bit."
"...Hoo, fine. I won't pretend to overthink it. I'll focus on my own business. So you do the same, Dave—keep your eyes on the prize."
"Yes, I can't afford to get distracted against a wizard."
"No, not like that."
"Pardon?"
"Beat him senseless. If you win looking cool, it'll save face for me and Seamus."
Once enough people had gathered, Seamus excused himself, grabbed a microphone, and climbed into the arena.
His crisp footsteps echoed across the solid stone platform as he stepped up.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The murmuring party guests around the arena fell silent one by one, fixing their eyes on Seamus.
Oliver had sensed it from their first meeting—he had a natural talent for commanding attention. Truly versatile.
It wasn't just hype—it rang true enough.
Tuxedoed gentlemen with silk top hats, noblewomen in feathered headdresses, female druids, mercenary captains with golem prosthetics on both arms—many of the invited guests were genuinely curious about this matchup.
All eyes turned to Oliver, who met their gazes and said,
"I'm not the leader of Fighter Crew. No, really. I'm not. They're them, and I'm me."
The spectators ignored him. Seamus even brushed it off casually.
"Doesn't matter. We're just here to have fun. No one's gonna misunderstand."
He lied shamelessly. As Oliver opened his mouth to argue, Seamus quickly introduced the next fighter.
Seamus pointed to the opposite side from Oliver, drawing all eyes there—including Oliver's.
The red-haired Derek was climbing up, coat off like Oliver, but Yarelli Iceeye stood beside him.
Interesting. Derek's not direct lineage, so fine, but Yarelli's a direct heir from a solid family—her grandmother's an Archmage—yet here she is... Something going on?
Oliver found himself studying Yarelli.
She looked worried, saying something to Derek, who shook his head as if it was fine and stepped into the arena.
He glared at Oliver, clearly displeased with the situation.
Well, he never wanted to participate in the first place.
Oliver recalled how Seamus had forced Derek into the fight.
Planning to run now that I've set the stage? You sure? Go ahead if you want, but word'll spread that the Magic Tower student chickened out. Forget investments— you'll tarnish the Tower and your school's reputation... I'm seriously worried for you. Can you handle it?
Disguised as concern, it was blackmail. Derek had no choice but to accept.
Otherwise, his standing at the Tower would crumble.
Seamus shouted cheerfully.
Oliver answered affirmatively, while the irritated Derek nodded curtly and subtly spread his mana.
Seamus heard them and exited the arena. A mana barrier simultaneously enveloped its edges.
Definitely higher quality than District X's illegal fight pits.
——BOOM!!!!
The arena erupted in an explosion the instant Seamus declared the start.
The blast rocked the entire platform slightly, startling the party guests.
They'd heard of wizards' power, but witnessing it firsthand was rare.
Oliver was impressed too.
To combine two spells for this much power.
Manipulated oxygen density with mana, then ignited a small flame for the explosion... Impressive. Maximized power and range for the mana cost.
Oliver undid the shadows cloaking him, blooming like a flower in full splendor.
"Whoa... Look! He's unharmed! Untouched in that explosion!!"
One spectator exclaimed in awe, and the others stared at Oliver in shock.
Surviving the arena-filling blast seemed to hit them hard.
Derek, the attacker, was taken aback too.
He looked surprised to see Oliver shrouded in shadows.
As if he hadn't expected him to withstand it.
But only for a moment.
Unlike their previous clash, Derek calmly reset his battle stance instead of letting emotions take over.
Probably Kevin's doing.
Kevin had trained Derek focusing on mindset and thinking over techniques.
Indeed, after observing Oliver—who showed no intent to strike first—Derek whipped up wind with mana gathered at his fingertips for a preemptive assault.
A sudden gust blasted upward from the ground, hurling scattered pebbles and dust at Oliver.
Oliver reflexively shielded his eyes, and in that instant, Derek unleashed over a dozen fireballs.
Timing, speed, quality, quantity—all excellent. He'd clearly improved.
Impressive.
With incantation, Oliver's shadow stretched like squid tentacles along the fireballs' paths, surging up to neutralize them instantly. Not brute force, but targeting the spells' formula weak points to dismantle them.
He'd grasped the basics sparring Derek before, then refined it fighting Bartoli.
That's how you nullified my Ravenous Flame.
Oliver recalled Bartoli shredding it with blood blades.
Blood magic resisted Ravenous Flame by nature, but Bartoli's skill was undeniably superb.
Stunned at first, but he'd learned from it—a profitable lesson.
"What... the hell was that?"
Derek asked, eyes wide with shock.
He wasn't alone.
From regular party guests to Yarelli and other wizards—all gaped in astonishment.
As if witnessing an impossible feat.
Oliver replied plainly, as always.
"I targeted the formulas' weak points to neutralize the spells themselves. Not easy, but more doable than expected."