Chapter 300
Chapter 300
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 300
Chapter Title: Return to the Magic Tower (1)
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Scritch. Scritch. Scritch…
In a secluded corner of the Elemental School tower at the Magic Tower, inside a professor's private office.
Oliver was stealing a moment to write his report.
The report was none other than on Eve, which he planned to share with the Moirae faction.
They hadn't been able to secure Eve because of him, so they'd asked him to at least share the intel, and Oliver had gladly agreed.
That was the kind of existence Eve was to those versed in the World Tree.
'Well… I don't regret it, though.'
Oliver recalled that moment.
The instant he'd defeated Shamus and connected to the World Tree.
The formless energy cluster known as Eve had been bound so tightly it bordered on malice.
Like prey caught in a spider's web.
In human terms, not even free to twitch a finger.
Naturally, Eve couldn't endure it and begged Oliver for release the moment she saw him.
Like someone drowning who cries out to anyone for help.
[…And so I freed her.]
Scritch. Scritch. Scritch… Oliver continued writing the report.
About how he'd used his will to break the bindings the druids had set, and in exchange, asked Eve to secure ABC damage logs and data on Shamus.
It had been quite the memorable moment, so Oliver wrote without pause, pen flying across the page.
"Hmm… Should I include that too?"
Suddenly, the scratching sound stopped.
He was debating whether to write about Eve's state after being freed and what he'd done next.
Once released, Eve reveled in her freedom, savoring a brief joy and relief—but it truly was just brief.
She soon unleashed a fierce hostility. Hostility toward humans.
Oliver had been startled by the abrupt shift, but he quickly guessed the reason.
According to the World Tree Evolution Theory Merlin had given him, Eve's feelings toward humans depended on the information she'd accumulated—liking them if it was positive, hating them if negative.
And evidently, Eve fell into the latter category.
'Is that why Shamus bound her so tightly? Or did the binding make her angry?'
Oliver belatedly pondered why Eve had been so furious.
She'd been ready to kill if she could.
After some thought, he decided to include it in the report for now. To mull it over as he wrote.
[After that, I…]
—Knock. Knock.
He was about to describe confirming Eve's state and his actions when a knock sounded at the door.
Oliver instinctively looked up, peering through the door with his black mage's eyes to check the person outside.
It was someone he'd never seen before, with pure, vast mana.
Knock. Knock.
The knocking came again.
Oliver called out to wait a moment, slipped the half-finished report into a drawer, and approached the door.
He opened it to find a sturdy man, about 180 cm tall, with well-defined muscles.
His hair was slicked back with pomade, and unlike the clean-shaven standard mages, he sported a short beard.
But it wasn't unkempt—quite neat, with its own stylish flair.
"You're Xenon Bright, Kevin's personal assistant?"
The man bluntly confirmed Oliver's name. Oliver answered reflexively.
"Yes. And you are—"
"—Terence of the Roar family. Nice to meet you."
Introducing himself as Terence, he shook Oliver's hand with a warmth uncharacteristic of a Magic Tower mage—both in manner and emotion.
His movements were swift, grip strong.
But what stood out more were the cufflinks on his sleeves.
They bore an engraved roaring lion. It felt vaguely familiar…
"You okay?"
Terence asked.
Oliver snapped back.
"Ah… Nice to meet you too, Sir Terence."
"Drop the 'sir'! Just Terence is fine. Glad you're happy to meet me. Do you know who I am?"
"Honestly, no clue."
"Kevin didn't even mention my name? He's so consistent."
Surprisingly, Terence referred to Kevin casually, and meant it sincerely.
"Are you close with Professor Kevin?"
"Close? He even asked me to cover for you."
Cover. That clicked for Oliver—this was the man Kevin had called as a substitute during his leave for the ABC incident.
'He said it was a skilled field mage, and he wasn't kidding.'
Oliver thought, reappraising Terence's physique and the high-quality mana permeating his body. Even at a glance, he was no amateur.
"Don't stare too hard. I know I'm handsome, but guys aren't my type."
Terence said, half-joking, half-serious.
"Ah… Sorry. I'd heard about you indirectly from Professor Kevin, but I didn't expect to meet you like this."
"Me neither… That lone wolf Kevin hiring an assistant. So I came out during my leave to see what kind of guy you were. Looks like it wasn't a waste."
Terence eyed Oliver intently, a satisfied gleam of curiosity fulfilled in his eyes.
"What do you—"
—Whoosh!
Terence threw a punch, stopping it right before Oliver's nose.
A blindingly fast strike, infused with mana—packing real power.
The wind alone whipped Oliver's bangs back.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
"…Too fast?"
Oliver lied. It was quick, sure, but he hadn't dodged because there was no real intent to hit.
Luckily, Terence bought it and laughed heartily.
"Ha! My punch is pretty fast, huh? I was even the Magic Tower boxing champ back in the day."
"There's boxing at the Magic Tower?"
"Of course. Physical training's key for mages too. Your body has to handle the mana. Especially for the Pure Mana faction—"
—Whoosh!!
Terence struck again, this time with no intention of stopping.
Thwack!
Oliver tilted his head while deflecting the punch sideways, altering its path.
Even through mana protection, his palm stung. The boxing champ claim wasn't bluffing.
"Hoo…"
Terence, mid-swing for another, saw Oliver's guard and let out a quiet sound of admiration before relaxing.
His satisfaction shone again as he wagged a finger at Oliver.
"Rumors must be true."
"Rumors?"
"Yeah. Word is Kevin brought back a mercenary or test subject from the battlefield. Not just hot air, huh?"
Hmm… Oliver wasn't sure how to respond. Derek had said something similar, but he'd brushed it off—now it seemed he couldn't anymore.
"…No?"
"…Yeah, no idea what you mean."
"Or maybe Kevin's disciple?"
Terence pressed closer, prying relentlessly without dropping his suspicion.
It was getting burdensome, but at least there was no malice.
"Mind if I ask why you're so curious?"
"Just intrigued. Kevin traveling with someone? That's why I took this hassle during my leave."
"If that's why you helped me out during vacation, I just feel sorry for you."
A familiar voice echoed from the outer corridor. Kevin.
"Oh, make some noise when you walk?"
"Don't want to hear that from a guy throwing punches at someone else's assistant unprovoked."
"I swung knowing you'd dodge."
"What if I couldn't?"
"Tragic accident… Fine, sorry. Hey, Xenon. Sorry for the sudden punch. Forgive me?"
"Curious? Sure, I could."
"Oh ho! This guy's got some bite too."
Terence laughed genuinely at Oliver's retort.
Kevin didn't, but Terence seemed unfazed.
Watching them, Oliver asked abruptly.
"Are you two close?"
"No."
"Yep."
Kevin and Terence gave opposite answers.
Terence spoke in his usual upbeat tone.
"Hey… That's harsh. We're battle comrades who crossed life and death together."
"Did you come to the Tower just to rile me up?"
"Partly. But the main reason's to lure you away from this mismatched professor gig and into soldiering, where you belong. Thoughts?"
"Mandatory service was enough soldiering for me."
"Can't force it then. Uncle really wants you, though… No joke, he could slot you into your dream posting."
"Pass. Not interested in being a chess piece."
Kevin's response was firmer than expected, and Terence, who'd been jovial, took a step back.
Oliver didn't know the details, but their emotions suggested a serious matter.
"Fair enough… Anyway, joke's over. Here's this before I go."
Terence pulled a file from his coat and handed it to Oliver.
As he took it, Oliver asked.
"What's this?"
"Student status checks while I was in charge. Fitness, mana, spell levels, and improvements. Honestly, not great overall."
Oliver skimmed the file. As Terence said, it evaluated the students with suggested fixes.
Standard format like Kevin's, but quality slightly superior.
"Obviously. He learned from us."
Terence clapped Kevin's shoulder amiably. Kevin responded coldly.
"Hand off."
"Got it."
While they bantered, Oliver quickly reviewed the file. It looked solid.
"Hmm… Could I learn this too? The training evals and methods."
"Join the army, and I'll teach you."
Terence smoothly produced a poster from his coat.
It showed a portly gentleman in a bowler hat pointing forward, declaring: Your Country Needs You.
Striking ad. Left a strong impression.
Then Kevin snatched the poster from Oliver's hand, folded it neatly, and said.
"Or just read military training books in the Pure Mana faction library."
"Sure, that's an option… But hands-on is way better. Want that sharp uniform? Contact us."
Terence handed the poster back.
Kevin shot him a look; Terence grinned and backed off.
After Terence left, Oliver asked.
"A friend?"
"Just someone I ran into a few times during service."
"Ah… Got it. He seemed so friendly toward you, Professor, I thought so."
"Nonsense… Anyway, get ready to move."
"Move?"
"Yeah. Basic Magic Combat class is starting soon. Time for you to take over again."