Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Conversation (1)
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Dark night, back alley.
Oliver was sitting there, waiting.
Due to the battle that had raged throughout the night, no one had come near this area—but that didn't last.
The low hum of an engine reached his ears, followed by headlights sweeping through the alleyways.
"Here?"
"Yes."
The car pulled to a stop, and two people got out, conversing as they did.
Both voices were familiar. It was Marie and James, one of the Pharmacist's subordinates.
"Here he is."
"Ah... damn it, it really happened. I thought it was bullshit."
James, his face masked, looked at Oliver with a stunned expression.
To be precise, he was staring at the group of holy knights piled up behind Oliver.
"Hello, James."
Oliver stood and greeted him.
James returned the greeting tensely, then gazed in disbelief at Joanna and her subordinates sprawled on the ground.
"Uh... are they all dead?"
"No, just asleep."
"Asleep? Whatever, don't explain... How the hell did a black magician take down holy knights...? But why didn't you kill them?"
"I didn't want to."
"Huh? You didn't want to? Those guys were trying to kill you."
"Still didn't feel like it. Besides..."
"Besides?"
"Killing a holy knight would cause problems, right?"
Oliver recalled the conversation he'd overheard from the Dominic Family.
Even those bold folks had considered fleeing the city if they killed a holy knight. He didn't know the details, but there would be repercussions.
James didn't deny it, confirming it wasn't wrong.
"Well, fair point. Things would get way messier if a holy knight died... But letting them go like this is problematic too. So what's your plan?"
Oliver glanced at Joanna, deep asleep under his spell.
"Who knows? Thought I'd try talking first."
"Talking? Convince her not to hunt you down?"
"Something like that. Plus, I've got some personal questions."
"I'm dead serious here, don't take this the wrong way... Are you insane? She's a holy knight, you're a black magician. It's cat and mouse. How do you even talk?!"
"We exchanged a few words when we first met... So maybe conversation's possible?"
"Oh, God."
James invoked the divine. Quite the irony.
No matter the line of work, people called on God in tough spots. Seemed fair enough.
"How do you plan to persuade her? I'm curious."
A third voice cut in unexpectedly. But it was familiar too—the Pharmacist himself.
"Boss..."
"It's fine. They're sleeping soundly, out of sight."
The Pharmacist casually removed his mask and approached Oliver, ignoring James's protests.
"Asking again. How do you intend to convince that girl? She didn't strike me as the reasonable type."
"Hm... No idea, really. Haven't thought it through."
A brazen response. Yet the Pharmacist didn't get angry; he just chuckled, amused.
"Sounds like you. Alright, scheming's my specialty anyway... First off, one thing clear: you weren't supposed to engage the holy knight. If you'd just fled as I said, this could've ended peacefully. Foolish move."
Marie bristled at that.
"Pharmacist, that's too harsh. Oliver isn't your subordinate. 'Do as I say'? Besides, these guys aren't the type to give up if you run!"
She seemed angrier on his behalf than for herself.
James started to speak, but the Pharmacist silenced him with a hand.
"My apologies. I misspoke to my valued partner... But I'm aggrieved too. I didn't mean just run—I wanted you to buy time. Did you think I'd sit idle while my precious client crumbled?"
Marie looked puzzled, while Oliver kept his usual neutral expression.
The Pharmacist turned to her.
"What's wrong, miss? Surprised? I've been negotiating with the Pater Church on my end—asking them to call off their holy knight."
"Is that even possible?"
Oliver asked, genuinely surprised. From what he'd seen of Joanna, it seemed unlikely.
"Every organization has weak spots, especially one over two thousand years old. This dispatch never made sense. Send a prized holy knight to this backwater over some Filterette sales? A genius prodigy at that? No, doesn't add up."
"Genius?"
"Yes, a genius. Raised in the main church, they say. Unwavering faith and will. Proof? She crushed Dominic and Anthony in an instant. Those aren't pushovers."
"I see."
"So, a genius like her sent our way? It's our rivals—unhappy with our growth—bribing her, plus some politically ambitious folks needing results. She's a sacrificial pawn."
"Got it."
Oliver nodded without much reaction.
"Anyway, capturing without killing is a godsend. Killing her would've been irreversible, but now we've got leverage for talks... She's a failure for some powerful people, after all."
"Not fully getting it... What's the point?"
"We'll use her to negotiate with the Seland branch head. Claim the black magician's been purged, hand over a fat bribe, and get them to back off. Keep her a few days? But no more harm."
"Yes, doable."
The Pharmacist grinned at the crisp reply.
"Quick answer, I like it... One more thing?"
"Sure, go ahead."
"Whatever, I'm helping you here. Call it a gesture of goodwill?"
"Goodwill?"
"Friends help each other when needed..."
Oliver silently looked between the Pharmacist and Joanna.
A long pause later, he replied.
"...Sure."
Safe house owned by the Pharmacist.
Oliver was there, along with Marie, high- and mid-grade disciples, and the Pharmacist's subordinates including James.
They monitored the holy knight and her group while the Pharmacist negotiated with the Pater Church.
Tension had eased somewhat from the initial nerves.
Don't misunderstand—not complacency over time.
A more solid reason.
"Fuck, you can really see every room at once?"
James muttered while practicing emotion extraction, sweat beading on his brow from the effort.
"Yes, a bit disorienting, but I can check them all."
Oliver replied, one eye closed.
He had synced his vision with minions watching the bound holy knight in her solitary cell, plus servants monitoring her subordinates.
Three minions loaded with Wrath Boom and three with Hate Bullets ensured their good behavior.
James succeeded in extracting an emotion.
"Impressive... Handling a whole team's worth solo. Me? Still struggling to extract."
The emotion stabilized in James's hand, but his focus wavered, distorting it.
Oliver touched James's hand with a finger, aiding indirectly.
"Like this. Feel it?"
"Yeah. Thanks."
"No problem... You couldn't extract at all recently, but now you can. Keep at it, you'll get there."
"Thanks... Wish I were dumb enough to believe that... Ngh!"
James refocused.
"Good. Hold that state."
"How long?!"
"As long as you can."
"It's tough!"
"You'll be fine."
"Fine how?!"
As James and Oliver bantered, someone knocked.
"Marie?"
"Yes, Master. May I enter?"
"Yes."
She opened the door carefully.
"I have a report."
"The holy knight's awake?"
Oliver asked—he'd seen it through his minions.
Marie blinked in surprise, then nodded grimly.
"Yes."
"Hm... Can she talk?"
"No will to, but physically able."
Oliver nodded mechanically. Not bad.
"Sorry, James, got business. Can you practice alone?"
"Sure... But damn curious—what're you gonna talk about with the holy knight?"
"No idea."
"You're not thinking of touching her, right?"
"Touching? What do you mean?"
"I mean, you... Never mind. My bad."
James waved it off, but called Oliver back as he turned to leave.
"Sorry to bug you, but answer. Too curious. Why spare the holy knight? Why talk? There must be a reason."
Oliver paused, thought, then spoke.
"She was beautiful..."
"Beautiful...?"
"Yes."
"Well, yeah, but... Into faces? Forget it, my fault for asking. Talking to you warps my brain."
"Does it?"
"Yes! Just don't cause trouble."
"Got it. Good luck."
Oliver left James and headed downstairs with Marie to the basement cell.
From the second floor, past hallway and first floor. Disciples and subordinates bowed respectfully to Oliver.
Some genuine; Oliver reflexively asked Marie.
"Why's everyone like this?"
"What do you mean, Master?"
"Being... nice to me."
"Because you're the great black magician who felled a holy knight alone."
"Really?"
"Yes... I swear, it's huge. Truly."
Marie was sincere. Fair enough—the Dominic Family sought fame killing one, so yeah, big deal.
"Well, they're strong, so maybe."
Oliver said lightly, unaware of the feat's weight.
Who could blame him? He was the one who'd done it.
"Master."
"Yes, Marie?"
"May I ask something?"
Oliver stopped, sensing her seriousness.
"Go ahead."
"What was that in the sewers?"
The mysterious black magic that subdued the holy knight's group instantly.
Absolute darkness dominating space, neutralizing foes in a breath.
Oliver dimly recalled it, tried replicating, failed.
Probably needed his own emotions as fuel.
"No clue."
"...Really?"
"Yes."
"......"
Silent Marie.
Oliver eyed her.
"Why ask?"
"......I know nothing."
"Pardon?"
"I know nothing about you, Master."
"......? I don't know much about you either."
"......Right."
Oliver checked her emotions.
Hard to grasp, but regret, disappointment, sadness toward him.
Normally ignored, but he remembered her saving him in crisis.
"Hm... Let's talk later."
"Pardon?"
"About who I am, who you are. I owe you."
Marie bit her lip, bowed, silent.
Seemed pleased; Oliver couldn't fathom why. Inscrutable.
"Sorry, can I go now?"
"Yes! Sorry for taking your time."
"No. You saved my life. Rest up."
She bowed; Oliver entered the deepest basement cell.
"Greetings?"