Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: New Master (1)
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“......”
“......”
“......”
“......”
When Oliver returned to the sausage factory, everyone came out to greet him.
But that didn't last long. The moment they saw him, they all fell silent.
It was only natural, perhaps.
He had walked all the way from Landa to Wineham, after all, leaving him in a wretched state.
His face and hands were caked in grime and dirt, turned pitch-black, and his clothes were soaked in sweat and dust, little more than rags.
His sturdy shoes were only slightly worn, but overall, Oliver looked no better than a half-starved beggar.
After a long silence, someone finally spoke up.
“Oh, Oliver? What in the world...”
“I didn't know how to get here from Landa... so I just walked. It was a straight road, so I didn't get lost.”
Such a perfectly natural answer. No one could bring themselves to press him on it.
Not even about where Joseph and Andrew were...
Everyone instinctively sensed something was off, but just then, Marie stepped forward.
“Um, for now... how about washing up first, Oliver?”
“Ah... yeah, that sounds good.”
Oliver touched the back of his hand and his face as he spoke. After days of walking without rest, day or night, he was in no shape at all.
Even Oliver, who was oblivious to such things, could see it.
Following Marie's lead to the showers, he paused midway and addressed the high-grade, mid-grade, low-grade, and temporary disciples.
“Oh, right. Sorry, but is everyone busy?”
The disciples exchanged glances before one replied.
“N-no... not really.”
“Then, I'll wash up quick and come back. Could you all gather together? Everyone, no one left out. Is there a good quiet spot?”
“I think the workshop would be best.”
“Alright, then like Marie said, please gather in the workshop? I appreciate it.”
With that, Oliver left.
No one dared object.
As Oliver had asked, the workshop filled not just with formal disciples but even the temporary ones.
While Joseph was away, he had been the head of the Family. Even so, the unease lingered.
He had gone to meet Joseph and returned alone after so long.
No, that wasn't even the real issue. The problem was coming back by himself.
They kept quiet to avoid a fuss, but the high-grade and mid-grade disciples huddled and whispered among themselves.
“What the hell is going on? Where's the Master?”
“No idea. Maybe he went on another trip? You know he loves taking off suddenly.”
“What about Andrew, then? Even if he left on a trip, he wouldn't just send Oliver off walking like that, right?”
“W-well...”
They didn't know the details, but everyone instinctively felt something had gone terribly wrong, murmuring restlessly.
But that lasted only a moment. When Oliver emerged after a quick shower, they all shut their mouths.
“Thanks for waiting, everyone.”
Oliver had a bag slung over his back.
A closer look revealed it was the money bag he'd taken when he went to meet Joseph.
Sure enough, opening it revealed stacks upon stacks of bills.
Oliver dragged a table over and dumped the bills from the bag in a heap.
“...!!!”
Everyone was stunned speechless at the fortune—a sum most people might never see in their lifetime.
“Marie, could you sort this for me? Nice and neat, stack by stack.”
“Ah... y-yes, got it.”
Marie, frozen in shock, nodded awkwardly at his request.
“Sorry, but could a few of you come with me?”
Those still staring at the bills exchanged glances and followed him one by one.
A short while later, they returned with even more stacks than he'd dumped.
“...!!!!!!”
Everyone screamed silently in shock, while Marie's hands moved busily amid the pouring bills.
This repeated several times. Soon, the bills overflowed the table, piled high.
Oliver surveyed them all in that state. Joseph's words had been true.
Bundles of cash emanated mana, alright. Everyone was glued to them, eyes burning with greed, fear, anticipation, and more.
One high-grade disciple asked in a trembling voice.
“Wh-what... what is all this...?”
“Uh... it's from the secret safe in the Master's room.”
Everyone gasped in horror.
The Family had many rules, but the most ironclad was never to touch Joseph's possessions.
Especially not the books in his study, his work tools, or his money.
Anyone who broke that rule, intentionally or not, vanished without a trace one day.
“N-no way!! Are you insane?! Stealing from the Master's safe?! You're crazy!”
He recoiled as if he'd unwittingly been dragged into a crime.
The others reacted similarly, to varying degrees—except for Marie, the only one keeping her cool.
Oliver calmly raised a hand.
“Everyone, please calm down...”
“Calm down?! How?! If the Master finds out, he'll kill us all! You know that!!”
“No, that won't happen. He's already dead.”
“How would you kno—huh?”
Those trembling in fear froze as if doused in ice water.
They stared at Oliver with dumbfounded expressions.
Oliver stayed silent, giving them time to fully calm down. Soon, a high-grade disciple recovered and asked.
“Wh-what do you mean? The Master is dead? By whose hand?”
“Mine... I killed him.”
Oliver's calm reply. Everyone flinched back.
Reactions varied.
Some scowled as if at a bad joke, others cowered in fear, and some refused to believe... or outright denied it.
Only Marie's eyes gleamed.
The high-grade disciple spoke.
“...Lies.”
“It's not a lie. It's the truth.”
“Then show proof. That you killed the Master.”
“...Do I need proof?”
“Of course! You spout something this insane without bringing any evidence?!”
“Ah... oh! You're right.”
Oliver scratched the back of his head as if realizing his mistake too late.
The sight was utterly chilling.
Emotions pushed to the brink in this absurd situation, everyone breathed raggedly, sweat beading on their brows.
Oliver scratched his head thoughtfully, then spoke up abruptly.
“...Even so, he helped me out, so bringing his head to show off feels wrong. And walking around with a severed head seems like a bad idea anyway.”
“Then why did you murder the Master!!”
A high-grade disciple finally screamed, emotions at their limit.
Everyone else edged away in fear. A fight could break out any second.
Only Oliver remained calm, facing him squarely.
“I regret that part too. I didn't want to kill the Master. He helped me... and there was so much I could still learn from him.”
A hint of regret laced his calm tone, but it felt less human and more alien, sending chills down spines.
“But believe me. I had no choice.”
“Why not?”
Marie spoke up, having watched quietly. Her eyes held trust in Oliver.
“He tried to kill me. Well, technically, to sacrifice me.”
“Sacri... fice?”
“Yeah, to a demon, he said. Andrew was already offered up, and probably a bunch of others I don't know about. Oh, his own master too. He told me he sacrificed him.”
The horrific truth poured out in utter calm, the disconnect plunging the disciples into terror beyond shock, faces draining white.
Like livestock realizing they were livestock by looking in a mirror.
Then someone weakly denied it.
“...Lies. Why would the Master...?”
“To get stronger, I think. The stronger the sacrifice, the greater the power... That's why he took us in—”
“—That makes even less sense! The Master came down to Wineham alone, wiped out a whole Family, and built this place single-handedly. No matter how much of a genius you are, how could you beat someone like that?”
“You're right, he was strong. I nearly died... but I got lucky.”
After a moment's thought, Oliver gave what seemed the most fitting answer.
His consistent demeanor was striking. Astonishingly, despite no solid proof, people began to believe him bit by bit.
Joseph was dead. By Oliver's hand.
Overwhelmed by the tidal wave of events, no one could act. Oliver clapped his hands.
“So, can I say a few more words?”
Silence answered. Oliver continued.
“I'm not planning to leave here for now. There's still so much I want to study.”
He pointed toward the study.
“So I'll stick around and keep learning, but I figure that might make things uncomfortable for you all. Some of you hate me, after all.”
A few flinched.
Even simple consideration from Oliver felt alien, eerie. Terrifying, even.
“This money... it's the Master's wealth, but he doesn't need it anymore. If anyone doesn't want to stay with me, feel free to take your share and go.”
“...Huh?!”
Everyone echoed in shock. Oliver replied, surprised.
“Me leaving would be tricky... too many books in the study. Too much to ask?”
“No, not that—the money, you're just giving it away...? For real?”
“Uh... yeah. Master's gone anyway. Why not split it? Or not?”
The conversation's focus felt oddly off-kilter.
The disciples stared in disbelief.
These people once dreamed of becoming powerful black mages like Joseph, building their own Families and living large.
Power, money, influence... the forms differed, but the core was the same.
They only thought of hoarding more, never sharing.
Oliver's offer—the one who felled Joseph—was a shock. Maybe a ploy to weed out dissenters.
Then Marie raised her hand.
“Oh, Marie wants to leave? Let's see, one, two, three...”
“No, Oliver. I have a question.”
“Ah, right? What is it?”
“What happens if we stay?”
“...Well? Just keep doing what we were?”
“With the Master... no, Joseph gone, something's bound to happen. This peace was partly held by his strength.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Once word gets out his master's vanished, someone will test us. Could even spark a war.”
“That... would be awkward.”
“Exactly. To avoid that mess, you—the one who beat Joseph—need to become the Family's new Master.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Oliver looked stunned; Marie was resolute. Her eyes sparkled.
Oliver scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“But... I don't even know what I'd have to do.”
“Lead the organization and teach us. Like Joseph did. If you want free rein over the study books, become our Master.”
Oliver approached Marie and stared into her face.
Not exactly threatening, but oppressive to her and onlookers alike.
After a moment, he replied.
“...Well, if it has to be that way... sure...”
Marie let out a relieved sigh, smiling brightly.
Oliver had no idea why she was so thrilled.
Peter cut in.
“I-I think I know what we should do.”
“Hold on.”
Oliver raised a hand to silence Peter, then spoke again.
“What about the rest of you? Stay or go?”