Chapter 351
Chapter 351
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 351
Chapter Title: A Place I Want to Visit (2)
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“You want to go to an orphanage?”
“Yes, that's right, sir.”
Oliver replied to Merlin, who was opening multiple portals to evacuate the surviving wizards from the academy.
Considering the tricky conditions of portal magic and its enormous mana consumption, he should have been focusing all his attention on the spell, but Merlin carried on the conversation as if it were nothing.
“You've always said the most absurd things, but this one's especially ridiculous. You do know how serious the situation is right now, don't you?”
“I'm sorry. That's why I'm asking you.”
As he answered, Oliver glanced at the wizards who were shooting him sidelong looks.
They were the high-ranking wizards—like Philip and Tilda—who had been talking inside the tent. They pretended not to notice, but they were watching Oliver closely.
Proof that he was getting under their skin.
It seemed they still couldn't fully accept that Merlin was keeping Oliver around because of his talent.
“Hmm... Which orphanage do you want to go to?”
“Pardon?”
“There must be one you have in mind. There are plenty of orphanages in Randa, after all.”
“Ah... Yes, that's right. There's a specific one I want to visit. The Ark Orphanage in the Ark region.”
“You might not have heard of the orphanage, but you know where Ark is. It's practically the next town over.”
He was right.
The Ark region was on the outskirts of Galos. It wasn't exactly next door, but it wasn't far either.
That's why he'd made the request.
“Why do you suddenly want to go there?”
Merlin, still casting spells while talking, turned his whole body toward Oliver as he asked.
It wasn't meant to intimidate; he was genuinely curious about why Oliver wanted to visit.
“Well... Just a moment.”
The moment Oliver started to refer to Joanna, confusion hit him.
He didn't know what to call her.
He couldn't define their relationship or even his own feelings toward her.
She was definitely someone he was grateful to.
'Thanks to her, I was able to leave that world.'
But at the same time, there was disappointment... something like that.
'Though things changed later on.'
Oliver thought back to how Joanna had suggested human experiments on wizards to the higher-ups and ended up assigned to the New Continent.
His head felt a bit muddled.
“Hmm... It's where someone I know grew up.”
“Someone you know?”
“Yes... That seems like the most accurate way to put it. Someone I know.”
Oliver answered, picturing Joanna. “Someone I know.” It fit perfectly—nice and neutral.
A normal person might have scolded him for talking nonsense, but Merlin just looked Oliver over carefully before asking another question.
“What business do you have there?”
“Nothing specific. Since we're already here, I just wanted to stop by.”
It was utterly ridiculous.
In this emergency, for the guy at the center of all the controversy to ask to go off on his own for no good reason...
By all common sense, it was a request that shouldn't be made—or granted.
The problem was that both the one asking, Oliver, and the one considering it, Merlin, were anything but common.
“Well, no helping it then. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
“Is that really okay?”
Kevin, who had been listening quietly from the side, asked as if he couldn't believe it.
He wasn't the only one reacting that way. Some of the nearby high-ranking wizards cautiously asked Merlin the same.
“No, what are you talking about, Archmage...? That man—”
“—is my disciple.”
Merlin told the wizard who was challenging him.
His voice was plain, devoid of irritation, anger, authority, or pressure—just straightforward.
Oddly enough, that's what made it carry even more weight.
It was hard to argue with.
The wizards who had been nitpicking fell silent all at once. Instead, the atmosphere grew tense.
It might not matter much since this wasn't a social event, but in these times when they needed close cooperation, it wasn't exactly welcome.
Then, Philip, who had been watching quietly, suddenly spoke up.
“Xenon. Mind if I ask something?”
“Are you talking to me?”
“Yeah. I know where the Ark region is. It's relatively close. Relatively speaking... How do you plan to get there?”
“I'm going to walk.”
Oliver answered without a hint of hesitation. He'd walked from Randa to Wineham before, so it didn't seem like a big deal.
“That'll take a few days, won't it? You might get ambushed by bandits on the way.”
“Yes, I know.”
“He's clearly not right in the head. I like it... Do you happen to know how to drive?”
“Yes, I do.”
Oliver replied. He'd learned for about half a day when he'd taken Murphy's job to deal with those truck hijackers.
He hadn't driven since fleeing with Miss Jane.
“Then take this.”
Philip pulled a small box from his pocket and took out a car model the size of his palm.
Oliver could tell it wasn't just a toy.
He'd seen something similar at the port.
Snap!
Philip snapped his thick fingers, releasing the magic on the car. It returned to its original size.
Just like the one at the port.
The difference was that the port car had been luxurious blue with gold lion emblems—gaudy as could be—while this one was all black and rugged-looking.
Honestly, it looked more like an armored vehicle than a car.
“It's a custom job from B Company. The body, windows, tires—everything's specially reinforced. It can take bullets, most bombs, even magic. Plus, it's got a Gatling gun.”
“A Gatling gun?”
“Yeah. Press the black button on the center fascia, aim with the steering wheel, and fire. Next to it are buttons for guided bomb launch, magic shield, and camouflage smoke. Be careful with them.”
Surprisingly, Philip was serious. The car was loaded with hidden weapons, including the Gatling gun.
Kevin asked, dumbfounded.
“Uh... Mind if I ask why it has a Gatling gun and all that?”
“Because it's a man's dream.”
“Ah...”
“Don't worry, it still drives fine. Functions perfectly. You should get there in about a day.”
Oliver asked.
“It looks expensive. Are you sure you want to lend it to me?”
“Not lending. Consider it payment for the drinks.”
Philip said heartily.
He'd planned to give it as payment for the drinks he'd gotten before going to mess with Theodore.
A custom special vehicle from the top luxury car makers.
It might not be much for the Roer family's wealth, but to Oliver, who didn't think that way, it was astonishing.
“Is that okay?”
“I'm not as rich as the Archmage, but I'm well-off enough. Don't worry about it. I just want to settle the tab properly. Good or bad, the Roer family doesn't live in debt.”
With that, Oliver accepted the car without protest.
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Oliver bowed politely in thanks, and Philip, looking pleased, spoke again.
“But I agree with them on this.”
He gestured to the wizards who had opposed letting Oliver go.
His expression showed calculation, but unlike the usual self-serving kind, it was mixed with goodwill.
“Either way, sending you off alone doesn't look good. We should assign someone to keep an eye on you... That sound okay?”
Philip looked at Merlin, who nodded in agreement.
Appearances mattered in these things. Sending Oliver off alone wouldn't look right.
Kevin, having grasped the situation, said.
“In that case, I'll go with him.”
“No can do, Major Kevin. You're at the center of the controversy too. It'd look weird.”
“Then who do you plan to send?”
“Hmm... Terence, you up for it?”
“Me? Sure, doesn't matter. I can think of it as a stroll. If it's an order—”
“—We'll send someone from our side.”
Just as Terence was about to be assigned as Oliver's watcher, Tilda cut in with a cool voice.
Everyone turned to her in surprise at the unexpected timing and words.
“If we're sending an escort, it should be someone from our side for fairness.”
She was right.
It wouldn't make sense for Kevin to go with Oliver, and Philip and Terence—who were subtly favorable toward him—weren't suitable as watchers either.
Someone from Tilda's side, who had been objectively critical, would look better for optics and trust.
The question was who...
“Yareli will go.”
Tilda pointed to her granddaughter. Everyone looked at Yareli beside her, and she spoke with resolve.
“Yes, I'll go.”
“Are you ready?”
As Kevin asked, Oliver pulled out a map and such from his bottomless pouch and replied.
“Yes, all set.”
“I don't know what you plan to do there, but please don't cause any trouble. No one wants more problems here.”
“Yes, sir. I won't cause a scene.”
Oliver promised, and Kevin nodded before heading off with Philip, Tilda, and the other high wizards through the portal Merlin had opened.
Once only Merlin remained, Oliver thanked him formally for the favor, and Yareli, standing beside him, bowed politely to Merlin as well.
She seemed to hold the Archmage in high regard.
Merlin acknowledged their thanks and stepped into the portal. The vibrant purple gateway closed its entrance and faded away like a dying ember.
Thus, Oliver and Yareli were left alone.
Just like when they'd sneaked into the basement together to rescue the wizards.
“Thank you, and sorry.”
Oliver bowed formally to Yareli.
“Sorry for what?”
“You had to stay behind because of me. I'm sorry.”
“Oh... Don't worry about it. I chose to stay. Plus, you've helped me too.”
Yareli spoke sincerely, without pretense. The situation was unexpected, but she didn't seem unhappy—maybe even a little glad.
Oliver didn't know the exact reason, but it was welcome news.
“Glad to hear that. Shall we head out then?”
Oliver pointed to the car Philip had given him.
Yareli nodded and got in the passenger seat, while Oliver took the driver's.
It had been years since he'd driven—or maybe it was the high-end car—but he hesitated for a moment. Fortunately, old memories came back, and he soon got the vehicle moving.
The car smoothly left Lake Village and hit the road, fast but steady.
“You drive well.”
After a silence in the cabin, Yareli spoke up.
Oliver replied.
“Thanks. It's been a while, but glad I managed.”
“Really? How long?”
“Hmm... About two or three years ago? I drove while escaping with Miss Jane. That was my first time, and this is only the second.”
“Miss Jane... Who's that?”
“A friend.”
“A friend?”
“Yes. We met on a fixer job... Ah, I probably shouldn't say more. It's work-related.”
Oliver recalled his professional ethics as a fixer and asked for understanding.
Thankfully, Yareli nodded understandingly, though she seemed a bit bothered.
“...Two or three years ago? That's quite a while.”
“Yes.”
“How'd you end up friends?”
“Hmm... We agreed to be friends at a party we both attended. It was a fun day.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I made two friends that day. It was memorable.”
“Ah... So is the person from the orphanage—the reason you're visiting—one of those friends?”
“Pardon?”
“The reason for the orphanage visit... Isn't it another friend?”
“Ah... No. That's a different friend. The acquaintance is just an acquaintance. Why do you think that?”
“Just... seeing you go visit like this. If it was just someone you know, it wouldn't be so easy... Could you tell me who it is?”
“Curious?”
When Oliver asked, surprised, Yareli wiggled her fingers in the air, looking awkward. Her emotions seemed a bit mixed.
“Hmm... Honestly, a little. Is that okay?”
“...Sure, why not? It's not a commission. And it's related to the Matel case too.”
“The Matel case—you mean the conversation with Karl?”
“Yes.”
Yareli's eyes shone with genuine curiosity.
“Who is this acquaintance?”
“A holy knight.”
Oliver answered as he smoothly navigated the curving road.