Chapter 308
Chapter 308
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 308
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest (1)
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Night 9:25 PM.
Oliver came out of the Magic Tower.
Originally, he got off work at 9 PM, but stopping by the library to grab a book he wanted to read took an extra twenty-five minutes or so.
By the time he got home, it'd probably be past 10 PM.
'Hmm... No, maybe before 10. Roads won't be jammed at night.'
Figuring on roughly 10 PM arrival, he'd probably crash around 11:30 or midnight.
Light workout, shower, reading, reviewing humor books, checking the corpse doll—Shaemus's status, and acclimating Child-Third to it.
For about two weeks, Oliver had diligently worked as Xenon Bright, personal staff to a Magic Tower professor, but he hadn't neglected his main gig.
He'd processed most of the corpses he'd collected so far—including Druid Shaemus—into corpse dolls or modded zombies fit for their roles, and was training Child-Third to adapt to the corpse doll—Shaemus.
He'd considered handing it off to First, but hogging a high-performance corpse doll on just one felt unfair, so he'd given it to Third—who'd conveniently lost his (Rag, Rag2).
Seemed smarter strategically and for research to spread them around.
Incidentally, Third was struggling to adjust to the new corpse doll, just like First.
'Still, getting the hang of it bit by bit.'
On top of that, Oliver had slotted First into the corpse doll—Bartory to crank out blood elixirs.
Even working him 18 hours a day (legal hours, rest excluded), it was barely enough for Edith.
'Gotta get that item I ordered from Iwan soon to boost efficiency... Or brainstorm a new production method?'
Only three days' vacation. Doubtful if he could pull it off, but messing around for kicks didn't sound bad.
Plus, handy reference from the [Potion Manufacturing Process: Beginner Introduction] he'd just borrowed.
'Huh?'
Deep in thought, Oliver sensed a presence and twisted away.
One of the pack of young guys he'd nearly bumped yelled. Drunk as hell, his speech slurred beyond comprehension.
"Watch where yer goin', ya bastard! Wanna die...!"
Not a familiar face, but Oliver knew the type. Magic Tower student.
Wearing the cloak that proved it.
He spat a couple more curses at Oliver, then staggered off with his equally wasted buddies.
They were hammered, but a glance around showed they weren't alone.
The entertainment district around the Magic Tower was rowdy like a full-blown street festival.
Usually buzzing, but now several times worse. Lights everywhere, noise nonstop.
First-floor taverns and coffee houses: students drunk on booze and brawls.
Second-floor restaurants and clubs: lavish banquets and parties.
Third-floor terraces: couples tangled up, locking lips.
Young guy and girl students... wait, scratch that. Looked like a female professor and male student. Eh, happens.
Street was hopping, anyway.
"Feels like every Magic Tower student's out... What day's this?"
Oliver muttered, eager to hustle through the chaos, when someone hailed him.
"Excuse me, sir."
A sultry, honeyed voice that could charm the pants off anyone. Oliver ignored it, kept walking.
"Excuse me!"
Sharper tone this time. Oliver finally halted.
"Did you... call for me?"
"Yes, you there, sir."
"Ah... I'm no sir."
Oliver sized up the woman as he replied.
Early twenties at a glance, topped with a gaudy hat.
Skin snow-pale, cleavage-baring dress cinched by a reddish leather corset—figure popped like nobody's business.
Classic man-killer getup.
But something else pinged Oliver harder.
"...Not sir, then what?"
"Hmm... Call me Xenon. Xenon Bright. That's my name."
"Ah... Nice to meet you, Xenon. Rare for a guy to give his real name to a woman like me. Fun."
"What kind of woman is a lady like you?"
Oliver asked straight. She just flashed a playful grin, no answer.
"Hehehe... Naughty one. Like playing games?"
"Games? ...Sorry, not following. You need something from me?"
"Maybe? ...Slow night. Keep a girl company?"
"Hmm... Sure."
Oliver mulled it a beat, then nodded.
She beamed—not matching her vibe at all—and popped to her feet.
Acting, but seamless. Fooled most folks easy.
Oliver followed her into some off-schedule alley.
Deep in the shadows, crowds gone, he spoke to her back.
"This far in should do for business, yeah?"
"My, looks can deceive—impatient type."
"Sorry. You seemed antsy too."
"Ahaha... Sharp eyes for a quiet guy. Read my mind, did ya!"
She yanked a long hatpin from her hat, lunged at Oliver.
Blinding speed, but Oliver clocked the black magic Deep Sleep enchantment in that split second.
Graze it, and you're out.
Deep Sleep
Induces instant sleep on contact
Oliver pooled mana fluidly in both hands, swatted the pin aside, and snapped a fist at her face.
Whoosh-!
She dodged with killer reflexes.
Familiar pace, moves. Bartory's disciple, no doubt.
Bartory the blood mage who'd ghosted the Life Studies lab at Mountain Face.
Wondered why here, why him—but no time to dwell. She didn't just evade; mana flared at her fingertips, slammed into the wall.
Mana raced across the surface.
Brick-and-cement spikes erupted, boxing Oliver front and back, pinning him like a caged bird.
One thing clear: no kill intent. Least not yet.
Proof? Hatpin toss skipped vitals.
Pin incoming, Oliver wavered—counter or not?
Aware of eyes afar.
Finally, trusted the Magic Tower student, dropped guard. Good call.
Cast by Yareli
A familiar voice echoed from afar, and snow-white ice snaked along the ground like a fortress wall. Mana burst right before Oliver, birthing a massive ice barrier.
Her pin? Didn't even graze him.
Not done yet.
Yareli iced her soles, skated in slick, gathered mana, slammed palms to pavement. Vast reserves detonated, blanketing everything in frost.
Cracklerackleracklecraaaack!!
Freezing the area solo? Tough. And she spared Oliver's zone—precise control amid chaos.
Gruff exterior, thoughtful core.
"Hmph!"
The presumed Bartory disciple sparked flames in both palms, met Yareli's spell head-on.
Mana-wrangled fire melting ice.
Flashback: Mountain Face brawl with Willes.
'Roles flipped.'
Then: they had numbers, ice side. Now: extra headcount here, ice again.
But focus now.
Oliver's gut screamed: expose her, headaches galore.
Mountain Face fallout gazes returning? Reinvestigation? Pass.
End it quick, before escalation. Faster than Yareli's ice glide.
Mana-fist through spikes, then full-force ice wall smash.
Boom!! Thick barrier shattered; shards pelted the woman.
Distracted by Yareli, she ate ice harder than rock.
Oliver leg-sprung, closed gap in a blink, emotionless haymaker to her gut.
Pang-!
Crack rang out; she rocketed back, pain signaling retreat.
"Fall back."
Yareli vaulted skyward, hurled ice magic.
Mana load, formula: no basic spell. But her foe matched it.
Saw it coming, mana-burst flames neutralized Yareli's toss barely. Hands to ground, mana surge.
Multiple stone spears erupt
Brick-cement-dirt spears popped up, spearing at Oliver and Yareli.
Yareli marveled at the skill split-second, pegged her as pro, steeled to nab her.
Dodge over clash. Glanced back—Oliver?
Worried if he'd evade; he didn't react much, so ice magic it was.
Fingertip mana boom, chill blast—not wall-castle, but vast ice sheet silencing spears.
Masterful as ever.
Oliver safe? Ice pillar kick, vaulted the spear wall, onward.
Futile.
She'd bolted during Yareli's defense.
Yareli's magic ace, but no chase.
Oliver nailed it. Yareli hopped back, disappointment shining, eyes complex on him.
"Thanks for the backup, Yareli."
Oliver broke ice first.
"What're you doing here?"
"Heading home post-shift. Lady said quick business, tagged along... You?"
His eerie calm pinged Yareli's suspicions.
"...End-of-term party."
"Ah..."
Oliver got it now. Post-midterms, district flooded with rowdy students. Finals done? Party harder. Natural.
"But how'd you end up here...? Thanks for the save, though."
Another query from Oliver.
Not weird per se. Alley near-ish entertainment strip, but not that near.
No coincidence for party-Yareli.
She explained.
"Saw you."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Passing street, you hand-in-hand with her into the alley."
Straight talk. Oliver probed.
"Spotted her as a mugger?"
"Nah. Not a mugger."
"Huh?"
"Robbers hit drunk Tower kids this hour, sure. But that skill level? No way. Figured colleague."
Oliver blinked at the curveball.
"Colleague? ...Why think that?"
"...You scream suspicious."
Yareli laid it bare, no filter.