Chapter 313
Chapter 313
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 313
Chapter Title: Interview (1)
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Elemental School Tower, temporary interview room.
"...My goodness. What did you do?"
Kevin stared at the coffee cup in his hand and asked.
Oliver, who had brewed the coffee, replied.
"I brewed the coffee, sir?"
Kevin looked at Oliver in disbelief.
"You brewed this?"
"Yes... Did I make some kind of mistake?"
Kevin shook his head. It was genuine, not just politeness.
"No, the coffee tastes better than I expected."
"Ah, thank you. I learned from some girls I know, and then I looked at some books and tweaked a few recipes to suit my taste."
"That's surprising... That you even know some girls, and that you have a sense of taste."
Kevin meant every word.
He couldn't imagine Oliver having personal ties with women, and the fact that he'd put thought into the coffee's flavor was astonishing.
This was a guy who, when busy, just wolfed down plain bread.
"I met the girls through work, and I drink coffee from time to time myself... Why not make it tastier if I can?"
Tastier.
It was such a natural, obvious desire, but hearing it from Oliver made it sound utterly alien.
Like a wolf or lion sprinkling pepper on its fresh kill.
Unaware or uncaring, Oliver calmly asked,
"Is there anything else you need?"
Kevin shook his head at the question.
"No. Now go outside and send in the students from the list one by one."
Oliver nodded, gathered the list of research applicants, and stepped out of the interview room.
Outside, there was a chair and desk for Oliver, and opposite them sat or stood students waiting their turn.
All were students enrolled at the Magic Tower, applicants for Kevin's research lab.
There were about fifteen of them.
It seemed like a lot, but apparently not really.
Many students applied to labs to build experience, connections, skills, or just to earn money.
Popular professors could get three-digit numbers in a single batch.
Compared to that, Kevin's applicants weren't that many.
Though considering he was a red-hot celebrity, it wasn't exactly few either.
Anyway, Oliver sat in his chair and called out the students from the list one by one.
"Mr. Jim. Are you here?"
Screeech... click.
The fifth applicant emerged from the interview room.
His name was Serge, from the Gaia Elementary School faction.
Until moments ago, he'd been confidently reviewing anticipated questions.
But in just a few minutes, he came out drained and exhausted.
Of course, he pretended to be fine on the surface, but inside, emotions like bewilderment, shock, and self-loathing were embedded like bruises everywhere.
'Same as the first four.'
Oliver thought as he watched Serge trudge away more feebly than before, then called the next one.
It was someone unexpected.
"Mr. Derek. Are you here?"
At Oliver's call, Derek rose from where he'd been hiding among the crowd and strode forward confidently.
A few applicants blocking the narrow hallway shrank back upon seeing his face and made way.
Clack. Clack. Clack.
Derek halted in front of Oliver, his shoes echoing authoritatively.
"Not surprised at all, huh?"
"I was when I first saw you."
After sitting down and calling the first applicant, Oliver had scanned the list and observed the candidates with his Black Magician's Eye.
That's when he spotted Derek and Felix.
Felix was one thing, but Derek's presence was a mild surprise.
"Hiding among the applicants?"
"You have the list, don't you?"
Derek nodded as if it made sense.
Oliver said politely to him,
"You can go in now, Mr. Derek."
Derek nodded in acknowledgment and entered the interview room as instructed.
He seemed noticeably softer in demeanor than when they'd first met.
Click.
As Derek closed the door behind him, the interview began.
With soundproofing magic in place, Oliver couldn't hear what was said inside.
But using his Black Magician's Eye, he could glimpse the emotions of the two inside.
The eye allowed all-around vision with enough training, not just straight ahead.
Fortunately, Derek—having attended one of Kevin's lectures—seemed to be faring decently.
Kevin's emotions weren't tinged with disappointment, and Derek's confidence held steady in harmony.
'Well, he was a top student. Confidence fully restored... Something must've happened.'
Oliver pondered even as he focused on his duties.
Luckily, the waiting applicants' chatter satisfied his curiosity.
"Derek. So he got kicked out of the family after all? Wasn't he supposed to help with the family business or research?"
"Nah, not kicked out. His family's still paying tuition and dorm fees. Just cut back on the extras."
"Redhill family's been tight on cash lately. That firepower plant investment tanked..."
"So Derek's on his last legs too?"
"Shh, watch your mouth. At the end-of-term party last time, he overheard some guys badmouthing him and went to their gambling den—knocked out over ten by himself."
"I heard twenty."
"Ten or twenty, keep quiet if you don't wanna get humiliated. Guy's temper's still as fiery as ever."
Apparently, Derek's pride had been restored by reaffirming his strength. Good for him.
Confidence in one's abilities was a great thing.
Oliver overheard other snippets too—mostly about money, despite all being students.
What to call it... The Magic Tower seemed affluent yet impoverished at the same time.
Screeech... click.
Moments later, Derek emerged, the first to exit with unwavering confidence—both outwardly and inwardly.
He gave Oliver a nod of greeting with his eyes before leaving.
Oliver returned it and called the next applicant—another familiar face.
"Mr. Felix. Are you here?"
By the time the eighteenth and final applicant finished, the afternoon had nearly vanished.
The seasonal semester student sorting would have to continue tomorrow.
No regrets, though—no rush in the schedule.
Oliver helped Kevin tidy the interview room lightly, then packed their things.
"Good work today, Professor. I've got all the bags."
Oliver said, slinging the document bag over one shoulder.
"You too. Let's head back."
Oliver matched Kevin's pace.
Piercing Kevin's emotions with his insight, Oliver asked,
"Were the interviews disappointing?"
"Honestly, a bit."
Kevin answered candidly.
"Not totally disappointing, though."
"You mean Mr. Derek and Mr. Felix."
"...How'd you know?"
"My eyes are pretty sharp."
Kevin nodded, reminded once more that Oliver was a black magician.
"Yeah, those two were decent. At least they'd read my papers and knew what I'm researching... So today wasn't a total waste. Thought it was just idiots applying."
"Congratulations... May I ask why you're suddenly recruiting researchers? I figured you'd handle vacation research alone."
"That was the plan. But circumstances changed."
"Circumstances?"
"Yeah. Hiring students gets you extra research funds—indirect financial support. Plus, it boosts the lab's ranking."
"Ah... So hiring more is better?"
"Ideally, but I'll stick to the minimum. Too many leads to inefficiency and safety issues."
Oliver got the gist.
Hiring for a lab required more caution than expected—not just for efficiency or finances, but safety too.
Some hires stole research data for other professors or personal gain.
It was one of the Magic Tower's backroom dealings, recorded in the lightning mage's diary and Edry's logs.
Great magic research was valuable, after all.
Recalling that, Oliver tilted his head.
"Then wouldn't it be better not to hire any? All things considered?"
"Not necessarily. With seasonal semester duties thrown in unexpectedly, I need manpower for simple tasks to meet deadlines."
Ah... Oliver realized anew that he'd landed Kevin with unplanned seasonal duties.
"Sorry about that, Professor... Really."
"It's fine. I'm not one to only make losing deals... Anyway, what's your schedule like after this?"
Oliver checked his watch before replying.
"It's 3:54 now. Plan to finish the morning's student sorting by 6 PM, then head home."
"And after that?"
"Yes, personal business starting at 8:30 PM."
It wasn't a lie.
Lately, he'd resumed teaching Fighter Crew in X District.
Currently, Oliver was teaching black magic basics to new recruits, and foundational black magician training to the thirty-six executives.
He was also running basic physical training via pre-made evaluation sheets, and literacy lessons for their growth—but Joe and Al handled that, so no worry there.
"8:30? Mind if I ask what?"
Oliver replied cautiously to Kevin's question.
"It's not a huge secret, but it's personal, so it'd be awkward to share."
"I've noticed this before—you pry into others' business but clam up about your own."
"Ah, sorry if it came off that way. It's not just my business; others are involved."
"Doesn't quite convince me, but you're holding the cards, so I'll let it slide."
"Holding the cards?"
"Remember our deal?"
Oliver remembered the deal with Kevin clearly.
Oliver would teach him black magic to fuse mana and emotions; in exchange, Kevin answered Oliver's personal questions.
As Oliver nodded, Kevin continued.
"Teach me steadily, even if just an hour or two a day from now on. Paperwork can wait."
Oliver glanced at his watch. It read exactly 4:00.
"Hm... How about eating dinner early and starting right after? We've got leeway until 7 or 7:30."
Oliver spoke without considering his own break time at all.
It was time he could take or leave.
Kevin inwardly welcomed Oliver's unexpected eagerness, though he didn't show it.
"That work for you?"
"Yes. If we're doing it, I want to do it right. You okay with that, Professor?"
"Sure... Let's clock out, grab a light meal at a restaurant, then head to my place."
"Your place?"
"Can't do that training here in the Tower."
"Ah..."
Oliver let out an exclamation at the obvious truth.
"I've got a training ground at home, so no worries."
"Even a training ground at home?"
"I'm a Magic Tower professor. That's basic property."
"Ah... I see."
"More importantly, what'll we start with?"
"Basic training after a test."
Oliver answered flatly.
About an hour later, Oliver forcibly shoved emotions into Kevin's eyes.
Kevin groaned in pain.
"Grrrrrrgh...!"
"Yes, yes. You're fine. You're fine."
End of Chapter 313. Interview (1)