Chapter 304
Chapter 304
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 304
Chapter Title: Wrapping Up (2)
----------------------------------------------------------------- “A donation?”
“Yes.”
Carver asked in surprise, and Oliver answered. Carver stared at Oliver for a moment before nodding.
“Yes, I understand. If you just provide the funds, that’s not difficult at all.”
“Thank you. Here.”
As if he’d been waiting, Oliver pulled a bankbook from his pocket. It was the success fee from the ABC commission, containing 10 billion Randa. A staggering sum that no one could touch without special abilities, innate business acumen, or incredible luck. Oliver handed this fortune over to Carver without hesitation.
“Please donate exactly the amount the orphanage needs. No more, no less… And if the money runs out, let me know.”
“Hmm… Yes, got it.”
Carver paused before replying, prompting Oliver to ask.
“Are you curious why?”
“Honestly, it’d be weirder if I wasn’t.”
He had a point. From any angle, a black magician showing interest in a demoted holy knight and her orphanage was bound to seem suspicious.
“You’re right. Well, the reason is—” “No need to explain.”
Carver cut him off—not casually, but with clear intent to drop it.
“This city is complicated, and the people here have complicated circumstances. Having worked as a civil servant, I know that better than anyone. So unless it’s absolutely necessary, I try not to pry into others’ affairs. It’s less stressful that way.”
“Ah…”
“All I care about is the city’s prosperity and those who help it. As long as you’re not an obstacle, I don’t mind what interests you have, Mr. Dave. Even if I’m curious.”
He meant it. As Oliver had sensed before, Carver had one of the clearest, most upright senses of purpose among anyone he’d met in Randa. A conviction, even.
“Just promise me one thing?”
“Of course. What is it?”
“If something comes up that could harm Randa, tell me in advance. It’s not that I don’t trust you, Mr. Dave, but the future’s unpredictable… I know it might sound petty, but if you suddenly cause damage to Randa, I won’t stand by idly.”
Carver was earnest. He also fully understood the weight of his words.
“I promise. If I think I might harm Randa, I’ll let you know. And…”
“...?”
“I don’t think you’re petty at all, Mr. Carver. I think you’re remarkable. I respect you.”
Oliver meant it. Such responsibility and resolve weren’t common. Aware of that, Carver’s emotions wavered slightly—with joy at being acknowledged and respect for the one saying it.
“…Thank you. Then, I’ll discuss the details with Mr. Forrest.”
“Yes, please do.”
With that, Carver bowed politely and left the building. Jo approached immediately, as if he’d been waiting.
“Is the talk over?”
“Yes. Were you waiting for me, Jo?”
“Yeah… Did you form an unofficial alliance with the city?”
“Yes, we did. It didn’t seem like a bad deal, and Mr. Forrest said it’s best to accept. Refusing might make them suspicious instead.”
Jo nodded in understanding but couldn’t hide his dissatisfaction. Noticing it, Oliver asked.
“You’re not thrilled about it?”
“Well… No, I’m not being insolent. It’s just, being from here, I can’t trust the city folks.”
Ah… Oliver got it. District X had declined due to councilors siphoning budgets, followed by misfortunes and the city’s indifference. On top of that, trust in the city varied by district in Randa. Wealthy front districts trusted it, while poorer back ones didn’t. It made sense. The rich enjoyed the security and benefits; the poor didn’t. As Carver said, Randa was a profoundly complex city.
“Maybe they have their reasons?”
Oliver tried seeing it from the councilors’ side. Few people cared about others’ messy situations. Jo seemed to understand but not accept it, his expression conflicted. Perhaps that’s why he changed the subject.
“Hmm… If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me when I can ask for more training? Not just the newbies—some veterans want check-ups from you too. I know it’s a hassle, but if you could…”
Jo, uncharacteristically, beat around the bush with his request.
“It’s no hassle. I learn from you all too, so don’t feel bad about it.”
“Thank you.”
“Just give me two weeks?”
“Two weeks?”
“Yes, I have some things to handle.”
It wasn’t a lie. Time flew like water, and finals were approaching. Oliver was swamped with Magic Tower duties alone. Preparing exams was work, but so was grading, paperwork, scheduling post-break classes, research applications, and more miscellaneous tasks. The ink and paper costs alone were substantial. Jo nodded, disappointed but accepting.
“Yes, understood. I’ll wait that long.”
“Don’t just wait—use the two weeks to fill this out?”
Oliver pulled a file from his pocket. Jo took it and examined it.
“This is…?”
“A test list. Run the physical tests as listed, assign grades, note each person’s specialty field and black magic skills… Including ones they’re unsure about.”
“I don’t know much, but it’s systematic.”
Jo was spot on. Following Kevin’s advice, Oliver had visited the Pure Mana School Tower’s library, studied training books, and adapted them. Adapting meant swapping mana and magic for stamina and black magic, but still.
“Oh, don’t do it alone—divide it among the section leaders.”
“Any reason?”
“You all need to learn how to train people. If you keep recruiting.”
Too true for Jo to argue. They couldn’t keep asking Oliver for every newbie batch.
“Hmm… Got it.”
“Something wrong? You seem uncomfortable.”
“Ah… It’s just, some guys can’t read, so I wonder if they can handle this.”
“Ah…”
Oliver realized with a gasp. Fighter Crew had many illiterates. More than many—most were. Not unusual. Reading required proper education. Oliver himself had been illiterate just a few years ago. ‘I learned thanks to Marie… Wonder how she’s doing?’ Oliver thought of Marie suddenly. Their meeting and parting weren’t joyful, but memorable. She hadn’t shown up in Randa despite time passing, so she’d kept her promise…
“Mr. Dave?”
“Yes?”
“What’re you thinking about?”
“Sorry, zoned out. What’s up?”
“Well, can we just have the literate ones do it? Illiterates can’t even start.”
“Ah… Yeah, fair enough. But one more request?”
“What…?”
“Have everyone in Fighter Crew learn to read.”
“Read?”
“Yes. They can’t do anything without it. They need literacy.”
“Sorry, but we’ve got no teachers. The ones who can read barely do, not enough to teach.”
“Ask Mr. Forrest.”
“Pardon?”
“Mr. Forrest. Al from the restaurant and the other staff can all read and are great teachers.”
Oliver recalled the restaurant work and farm over three years, plus jokes. The staff handled customers well, and Al especially had teaching talent. He’d even made notes on restaurant farm jokes. Oliver repeated the request to ask Forrest for help. Jo hesitated, then nodded.
“Ooh…”
In the [Basic Magic Combat] final exam, students exclaimed in unison.
Astonished by Derek’s match unfolding before them.
He’d just won his tenth straight bout cleanly, showing no fatigue.
Undeniably so.
Despite his long absence, he displayed even more impressive skill than before.
“Professor was right. He’s much improved.”
Oliver commented on Derek.
His raw power matched their last fight, but his style had changed drastically.
Before, powerful fire magic was main, others secondary. Now, he used everything situationally.
In firepower trades, he’d bait tough opponents into close range and subdue with sword alone, no special spells.
Against close-range experts, he crushed with high-output fire.
For balanced foes, he mixed sword and fire variably to disrupt, then finished. Derek fought broader and more efficiently now.
“That one’s no pushover either.”
Kevin said, watching the next match busily.
Felix was competing there, holding his own well.
They’d thought he’d barely keep up with Kevin’s classes, but he’d absorbed lessons quickly, pressuring with Gaia School’s sturdy, heavy magic.
Manipulating arena stones into walls, heavy projectiles, or weapons.
Not flashy like Kevin’s flames, but the walls’ solidity and one-hit potential choked opponents out.
“He’s calm.”
“And fast.”
True. Felix barely moved, seeming slow, but he reacted instantly to spells with defense or counters.
Before, lacking this, he’d fallen short despite mana and spell levels. Huge progress.
‘They’re all envious…’
Oliver thought, watching students observe Felix’s match.
They were the ones who’d trained basics with him and Felix but hadn’t grown much this semester.
Recently, they’d hinted wanting the same help Felix got, but Oliver refused.
They hadn’t mastered basics like stamina or mana flow—what he could teach.
‘Too bad. If they’d followed like Felix from the start, I’d have helped. Elder said to do as I please.’
By Kevin’s grading, most would rank low.
‘Regrettable, but unavoidable.’
Oliver graded Felix’s match, scribbling. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Then Kevin spoke up.
“What do you think of Derek and Felix’s improvements?”
Kevin didn’t chat during work, so this wasn’t casual.
After pondering, Oliver replied.
“Derek got stronger by trimming excess; Felix by filling gaps.”
Kevin looked satisfied—right answer.
“And that one?”
Kevin nodded to the third arena.
Yatelli Iceeye stood there, having frozen and subdued her opponent with ice magic.
“Hmm… She’s strong with perfect balance from the start?”