Chapter 330
Chapter 330
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 330
>Chapter Title: Fair and Square
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The Magic Tower or the Decullan Family.
He pushed his worries about the future aside for now.
Whichever he chose, there was something that needed handling right away.
……3rd-year student cafeteria, 1st floor cafe.
“What is it?”
Evelyn narrowed her eyes slightly at the blunt boy’s question.
Having spent her life dealing with merchants, this rough attitude was nothing but unpleasant to her.
But even if she felt that way inside, her response was practiced.
“How about we take it slow over a drink…… What do you say?”
“Do whatever.”
Hickster nodded and stood from his seat. Evelyn started to follow, but he shook his head.
It wasn’t long before two drinks were placed on the table.
“So, what is it?”
“You haven’t even touched your drink yet. How’d the exam go?”
“Fine.”
“I hear martial arts majors do mostly practical exams starting in the 3rd year?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not much of a talker, are you?”
“No need to be.”
“……”
The conversation just wouldn’t connect.
They were total opposites.
[See? Now you get why I hit him, right?]
[Shut up already, please.]
‘Damn……’
Aster, hiding his presence right behind them and watching the scene, twitched his cheek at Evelyn’s sharp retort.
‘Even she’s flustered.’
Anyway.
Aster watched the awkward silence settle between them with detached amusement, reminding himself of the purpose of this meeting.
The goal was simple.
A meeting with the Gale Wing Mercenary Corps leader.
‘Ideally, it wraps up nicely.’
From his recent additional investigations, he’d learned that the Gale Wing Mercenary Corps’ popularity was through the roof.
Their current contract ended at year’s end, and groups were already scrambling to snag the next one.
That’s why connecting through Hickster was the easiest route.
‘Though whether we sign depends on the terms.’
More options were always better, no matter how it shook out.
As Aster thought that far, the conversation resumed.
“Looks like you’ve had enough of your drink.”
“Yeah, uh…… sure.”
“So, what’s this about?”
At Hickster’s curt question, Evelyn gave up on further small talk.
She knew it was pointless.
“You’re joining the Gale Wing Mercenary Corps, right? I didn’t investigate or anything. Just heard it through the grapevine.”
“Don’t care. Wasn’t hiding it. So, this is about Gale Wing?”
“Yes. It’s just……”
Evelyn trailed off, tilting her head.
Hickster had extended his hand.
Wondering what it meant, she stared at it blankly until he spoke soon after.
“Drink money.”
“……Pardon?”
“Meal voucher works too.”
“……”
Evelyn replayed his words to confirm she’d heard right. Accepting reality, she pulled a silver coin from her pocket and handed it over.
“Keep the change.”
“Got it.”
Hickster pocketed the silver.
What kind of guy is this? she thought, but Evelyn smoothly schooled her expression and got back to business.
Straight to the point.
“I want to meet the Gale Wing leader. Could you set it up?”
“Meet my uncle? Why?”
“I have a commission. And it’s probably…… something that’d interest Gale Wing too.”
The immediate job was guarding Arafurgin lands, but Evelyn had it all planned out.
She knew what a group like Gale Wing wanted and what conditions to offer to hire them.
So she figured sealing the deal was a given once they met. But there was a catch.
‘Will he…… actually set it up?’
From their brief chat, she’d gotten a read on Hickster.
Who would’ve thought he’d even take drink money.
Petty enough to rival Aster—maybe even surpass him.
[Wanna hit him? Huh? You get it now, right?]
[I said shut up.]
Evelyn ignored Aster’s snark and quietly watched Hickster mull it over.
Of course, she wouldn’t give up if refused here, but it’d make things tricky, so she was on edge.
Yet for some reason.
It didn’t take long for him to speak, and his answer was surprisingly……
“Sure.”
Positive.
“Perfect timing. Free this weekend?”
“I’ve got time, but……”
“My uncle’s visiting Hazen anyway. Setting up a quick intro shouldn’t be hard.”
……What? This?
Evelyn’s eyes twitched faintly.
It was too easy.
She’d hoped for easy, but not this easy.
Of course, it wasn’t free.
“But there’s a condition.”
“A…… condition?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind……?”
Hickster’s condition was simple.
“Aster.”
“Yes?”
“Set up a meeting with him.”
In other words.
“I’ll arrange with my uncle. You arrange with Aster. No Damian. That’s my condition.”
* * *
After the meeting with Hickster wrapped up.
Aster and Evelyn headed to a quiet bench in a deserted spot to talk.
“What…… do you think he’s after?”
“Dunno……”
Hickster’s condition was unexpected.
Arranging a meeting with Aster in exchange for one with the Gale Wing leader?
“Still holding a grudge?”
“Seemed pretty petty.”
“But still?”
Think about it.
Aster was at the academy right now. Anyone could just show up to meet him anytime.
If it was revenge, he could’ve challenged him to a duel whenever.
“Maybe it’s this? He said no Damian……”
“Trauma?”
“Yeah, rumors say he couldn’t stand Damian until last year. But think about it. When Aster was at the academy, was there ever a time he was away from Damian?”
“Plenty?”
“I couldn’t even track him then?”
“Huh……”
Now that she mentioned it, she was right.
At the academy, he was usually stuck to Damian, and otherwise off on errands.
Meaning, from Hickster’s view, the environment made challenging him impossible.
“But even so?”
The scales didn’t balance.
Even as Magic Tower Master, to Hickster, Aster was just a lucky street rat who’d wormed into the academy.
A street rat versus a top-10 mercenary leader.
Equating those meetings for a trade?
“Still weird, right?”
“Totally.”
So they pondered, but no clear answer emerged.
Hickster’s demand was just that unreasonable……
“So, what’ll you do? Accept?”
“Hmm.”
Aster let out a groan.
Truth was, the answer was set.
“Have to, don’t I?”
Not asking for money—just a quick meet.
And above all……
“He wants to get hit? Might as well oblige.”
“……Again?”
Evelyn paled like she was done with it, but Aster nodded like it was obvious.
“Kids grow by getting beat. And…… you get it now too, right? He deserved it.”
“……”
Evelyn didn’t reply.
No retort either.
The entrance ceremony two years ago was one thing, but seeing Hickster today, she couldn’t deny it.
She just made a plea.
“……You have to meet the Gale Wing leader, so go easy.”
“But why’re you so fixated on Gale Wing?”
“……Huh?”
“Kalia’s an option too, but you act like it has to be them.”
“Did…… I?”
Evelyn tilted her head.
But unlike her innocent expression, her stomach churned.
Her first step in building slush funds was securing a trading partner.
And she saw Gale Wing as less picky than Kalia.
Kalia brimmed with fondness for the Magic Tower, while Gale Wing would mostly be indifferent.
Mercenaries—if nothing harmed them, they’d look the other way even if things seemed off.
Anyway.
“So, when should we meet?”
“……Tomorrow after classes.”
And so the date was set.
Two years ago.
A meeting that might become revenge for that fateful entrance ceremony.
* * *
The day before the weekend.
As academy students dragged their fatigue back to the dorms, one boy headed to a shadowy corner of the grounds.
Nearing two meters tall.
Bear-like build.
It was Hickster.
“……”
Hickster walked with calm, sunken eyes.
That gaze held a chill like a warrior before battle—not fierce, but icy.
Why wouldn’t it?
……Two whole years.
The day to end the pain.
That day.
There was one boy.
- Hey, classmate. You’re messing up. How about calling it here?
Arrogant tone.
- Prefer not to talk it out?
- Yeah.
- Alright then.
The guy casually blocked his punch, then just as casually accepted the duel.
At first, he thought he could crush him easily.
The body looked frail, untrained, and this was a martial artist’s domain up close.
But the result?
- Wow, you’re tough.
One-sided toying.
And?
- Cheers.
Faint cheers in his ears as he blacked out. Thunderous roars from the students.
Humiliation.
After that, everything changed.
Word spread he’d lost a fistfight to a mage, so his brother immediately shrank his standing, and vassals turned away one by one.
Not that he minded.
Young patriarch’s position.
Even the patriarch seat—he’d never cared.
He could’ve held on, but Hickster saw no need to fight the pressure.
Something more important mattered.
What was it?
- Raaagh!
That fist stretching toward his charging self. The monstrous power within.
And…… its path.
That’s when Hickster felt the wall.
‘……Can I catch up?’
He couldn’t even understand feeling a wall from a non-martial artist mage’s strike.
But one thing was clear.
‘I have to surpass it.’
Only then could he move forward.
Blocking Damian wasn’t really about trauma.
He wanted a fair duel, no interference. ……Though trauma played a part too.
If he could shake the wall, arranging a meet with his uncle, the Gale Wing leader, was nothing.
Not sealing a contract—just showing his face.
Anyway, the arranged spot.
“……”
Hickster reached the deserted clearing and closed his eyes.
Steadying his heart.
A voice came soon after.
“Early, huh?”
Gruff tone.
Hickster faced Aster like one before the wall he must climb, steeling his resolve.
And spat out the words he’d held for two years.
“Duel.”
“Sure.”
As expected?
Aster replied nonchalantly.
But Hickster’s follow-up caught even Aster off guard.
“Let’s fight fair and square—with fists.”
“……”
Aster thought.
‘This…… lunatic?’
A martial artist dueling a mage with fists. And calling that fair and square.
A chill wind blew between them.
A very…… chill wind.