Chapter 322
Chapter 322
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 322
Chapter Title: Lake Village (1)
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“That guy's got surprisingly good fashion sense, unlike his looks. Over the top, even.”
It was 8:50 PM. Kevin said this as he spotted Oliver waiting in front of the door.
The reason was that Oliver was dressed far too impeccably for a mere personal aide to a professor.
And understandably so—Edith had carefully selected the outfit after hearing all about Oliver's circumstances.
Suit, shoes, belt, wristwatch—everything was top-notch.
It wouldn't pale in comparison to Kevin's own attire.
What was even funnier was how natural Oliver looked despite the flashy getup.
Usually, if the person didn't match the clothes' level, it ended up looking awkward, like the outfit was wearing the person. But Oliver showed no such signs.
As if he were born to it.
Oliver asked, noticing Kevin sizing him up.
“Does it look a bit weird, Professor?”
“Nah, not really weird. Just too well-dressed for a regular staffer... That Edith must hate me or something.”
“He dislikes pretty much everyone... Should I change into something else?”
“Something else?”
“Yeah, I brought a few regular suits.”
“No need. Flashy beats plain any day.”
Kevin said that, then joined up with the researchers Derek and Felix. They arrived at the social hall on the hotel's top floor.
Like the guest rooms, the hall itself looked brand new and lavish. Not just that—the temperature, humidity, and even the faint fragrance in the air were all perfect.
Just being there lifted your spirits.
The hall was already packed with wizards in crisp suits and glamorous dresses.
“As flashy as expected.”
Derek muttered under his breath.
True to his roots in the prestigious Redhill family of the Agni Elementary School, he seemed to recognize most of the guests.
Meanwhile, Oliver and Felix were clueless and frustrated. Derek noticed and kindly explained—voluntarily, even.
“Those folks over there are the renowned professors from Roculli University. The ones chatting are from central continent wizard families... Oh? The One Master of the Blood Magic Elementary School is here too?”
Derek pointed to a man with blood-red hair. Despite his high position as One Master, the man looked quite young.
“That's the Blood Magic Elementary School's One Master?”
“Yeah. Haven't seen him in ages myself. As the head of a new school that's only been around a bit over ten years since splitting from the Life School, he doesn't do much public activity.”
Derek marveled but shrugged it off and continued his explanations. Felix and Oliver followed along like tourists, scanning the guests as he described them.
He said most attendees held high positions, and sure enough, they all possessed vast, high-quality mana.
It gave an indirect sense of the Life School's influence.
“Ah, some folks from our Magic Tower are over there too.”
Derek pointed to a group gathered in one corner of the hall.
Oliver spotted a few familiar faces he'd seen from afar or passed by while working at the Magic Tower.
But the most recognizable was Philip, who had given him a ride today.
Despite being well into old age, his towering height and build gave him an unmatched presence. People flocked to him like moths to a flame, creating a dense crowd.
Proof of the immense influence he boasted about.
In the midst of entertaining them jovially, Philip spotted Kevin—who couldn't blend in anywhere—and waved him over enthusiastically.
“Kevin! Over here!”
A booming voice that didn't fit the refined hall. Yet, thanks to his natural charisma and presence, no one frowned. They were just surprised he'd taken Kevin under his wing.
“General.”
Kevin approached calmly and greeted Philip with proper respect.
And unlike their first meeting, Philip returned the greeting formally, without jokes.
He loved humor but knew when to rein it in.
“Good to see you. Real good, now that we're here... Let me introduce him, everyone. Colonel Kevin. No, wait—Master Kevin Dunbara of the Magic Tower, currently serving as a professor. Those of you working at the Tower know him, right?”
Philip smoothly introduced Kevin to the group he'd been chatting with.
Kevin bowed politely in response, and the others reciprocated out of respect for Philip.
Thanks to that, Kevin—who'd been lingering awkwardly on the edges despite entering the hall—finally blended in, chatting with the others.
Philip was someone whose thoughtfulness grew on you the more you saw.
‘Hm?’
In the midst of the conversation, Oliver sensed an incongruous mana approaching and turned his head.
Chilling, perhaps?
At the end of his gaze, the crowd parted like the sea, revealing an elderly woman.
Her shining silver hair neatly combed back, she stood tall and regal despite her age.
Following her were Yareli and several female wizards who appeared to be her attendants.
“Ah, One Master Tilda! Long time no see.”
Philip approached the old woman first with his usual casual demeanor and greeted her.
The silver-haired woman called Tilda returned his greeting.
“Long time no see, General Philip.”
Two people with contrasting auras. Yet Oliver could sense the mutual respect between them.
“Never thought I'd see you here, Lady Tilda. Did you get an invitation like me, by any chance?”
“Yes.”
“Heh, Tedore must've prepared something impressive. Are the other One Masters here too?”
“Not all. The Gaia Elementary School's One Master is avoiding public appearances and sent a proxy. The others... Ah, have you met him, by chance?”
‘Him’ was vague, but Philip understood immediately.
“Looks like he's not coming, unfortunately... Kevin!”
Philip suddenly barked Kevin's name. Kevin approached with a hint of discomfort.
“He said he's not coming, right?”
“Yes, that's correct, General... Hello, One Master Tilda. Pleasure to meet you.”
Kevin answered Philip's question, then greeted Tilda politely.
He observed the formalities, but Kevin harbored unease toward her, and Tilda showed her own discomfort, though in a different vein.
Perhaps it was inevitable. Kevin had mentioned that to join the Magic Tower, he'd thoroughly crushed the Scardi School's master— Yareli's father and Tilda's family member.
Tilda eyed Kevin briefly before returning the greeting.
“Pleasure to meet you... I heard from Yareli that your lessons were quite excellent.”
“I merely did what needed doing... Master couldn't attend due to personal research. He asked me to pass on his regards.”
“Research?”
Tilda, who had maintained a cold expression, furrowed her brow slightly in surprise.
She seemed shocked that Merlin was conducting research.
“Heh, him doing research... I'm curious what it's about myself.”
As Kevin moved to reply, a new voice cut in. Young and vibrant.
Everyone turned to see wizards from Roculli University.
Oliver's gaze went straight to Rose—and stuck there.
She was the only one from Roculli he knew, and the only person in the hall whose emotions he couldn't read.
However, everyone else's attention went elsewhere entirely.
To the woman at the front of the group who had spoken, it seemed.
Her demeanor suggested someone of considerable status.
‘But she's pretty young.’
Oliver thought as he examined her appearance.
That wasn't all that caught his attention. Her sudden intrusion startled everyone.
Kevin, always composed; Philip, so expressive; Tilda, with her icy aura—they were all too shocked to speak.
Oliver had no idea what could cause such a reaction.
Fortunately, Philip cleared it up soon enough.
“Could you be... Dean Dezhe Durans of the Life Alchemy Department?”
“Yes, that's me.”
“Heh... You look even younger than I remember.”
Philip marveled, and Dezhe Durans responded with a smile tinged with superiority.
Surprisingly, the woman named Dezhe Durans was 64 this year.
She looked no older than her early thirties... Half her actual age.
Oliver could understand why the wizards who knew her real age were so shocked. Youth was a blessing even the most talented wizards couldn't easily reclaim.
As if to prove it, the once-calm hall rippled like a stone dropped in water.
Philip, Tilda, and other Magic Tower heavyweights who'd been exchanging greetings suddenly swarmed the dramatically rejuvenated dean of Life Alchemy for conversations.
Like chicks chasing their mother.
The hall grew rowdy, defying the convention of light greetings on the first day. Naturally, all eyes turned to the Life School and Life Alchemy Department's achievements.
The pamphlet had mentioned body modification for lifespan and youth extension, but no one had expected this level.
‘Though that's only natural.’
The hall sparkled with intense curiosity and various shades of desire. Oliver unwittingly glimpsed those emotions.
“Whew... Much better.”
A short while later, Oliver said as he stepped out of the hall.
He wasn't uninterested in the wizard who regained youth or the technique behind it, but given his current status and situation, he figured he wouldn't get satisfying answers. So he left.
Indeed, when a wizard directly asked if it was the Life School and Life Alchemy Department's achievement, Dezhe merely said she'd reveal details at the official announcement with Tedore.
Thus, Oliver waited for an opportune moment, got Kevin's permission, and slipped out without delay.
Better to investigate other curiosities than watch something intriguing yet unknowable for now.
Like the lake that produced mana-infused mist, for instance.
“The fog's thick as ever.”
Oliver muttered as he descended the hill from the hotel.
Since it was a car road unfit for walking, it took quite a hike to reach the village below.
The low-lying village had even denser fog than the hotel, compounded by darkness, making visibility poor.
Perhaps because of that, the streets were deserted.
Well, Oliver wasn't here for people, so it didn't matter much.
Step. Step. Step.
Despite the limited visibility, Oliver followed the path to the lake from the pamphlet's map, using the hotel as reference.
The lake was a tourist attraction, so it was clearly marked, with a main road leading there—no chance of getting lost.
He felt occasional gazes from inns or houses along the way, but otherwise encountered no issues or oddities. Passing through dense woods, he reached the lake.
Even from afar at the hotel, he'd known the mana it held was extraordinary. Up close, it was more than that.
Not quite ice-field levels, but substantial.
Enough for Oliver to extract and use freely.
Looking closely, the village outskirts were untouched—perhaps natural areas with minimal human interference held the most mana.
“Hm?”
As Oliver examined the massive mana-laden lake and its surroundings, something caught his eye.
Focusing his black mage's vision intensely, he saw multiple water veins piercing deep beneath the lake bottom.
Water veins where the lake water flowed. They extended in all directions, enveloping the entire village.
No matter how he looked, they weren't natural...
Instinctively, Oliver pulled out the pamphlet and pen, confirmed his position, and began drawing lines on the map.