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“Nice to meet you all. I am Zenon Bright, working as a personal staff member for Professor Kevin.”
After attending the party with Jane, Oliver, who had returned to work at the Magic Tower, greeted the students politely in the training room located in the elemental tower.
The recipients of his greetings were students taking Kevin’s <Basic Magic Combat> class, roughly about thirty in number.
They looked at Oliver, each with a frown on their face.
The students’ faces displayed a wide range of emotions, including shock, denial, irritation, anger, humiliation, and many others. Such reactions were only natural given the circumstances.
Despite their diminished combat abilities, to the extent that they struggled to keep up with Kevin’s lessons, it was important to remember that they were still genuine students of the Magic Tower.
And, it was not strange to take it as humiliation, as Oliver, who was neither affiliated with the Magic Tower nor a wizard, would guide them instead of Kevin.
‘The tower’s people all have strong pride.’
Oliver glanced at the students.
Despite a considerable time passing since he greeted them, they did not show any significant reaction.
They seemed still in shock.
‘Um, I accepted it after much consideration too.’
To put it mildly, Oliver pondered all weekend whether to accept Kevin’s proposal.
While being able to interact formally with the Tower’s students was a bigger advantage than he thought, there were as many disadvantages.
‘Not to mention the increase in work, I could attract unnecessary attention.’
Still, after much consideration, Oliver accepted Kevin’s proposal.
Though it came with risks, it seemed wrong to pass up an opportunity to gain a new experience.
‘Um, I am lucky. Professor Kevin said I could leave anytime if I didn’t feel good about it. But, I must do my best in the task I’ve undertaken.’
With the excitement of being able to have a new experience, Oliver focused the energy on his eyes while pondering how to best assist these students.
As the sight of a warlock became stronger, he could catch not only see the superficial emotions of the students but also a deeper sense of their feelings.
To put it in a metaphor, seeing not just the flower and stem but the root as well?
There were students who were extremely angry at the sudden situation and lost their motivation, students who had no interest, and on the contrary, there were those who harbored resentment, burning with a sense of humiliation and anger.
The latter could be said to be the best so far.
Although it wasn’t a positive emotion, they had not given up and ignited their motivation regardless of what happened.
‘The problem is how to persuade them to work together… Would it suffice to explain that I am in a supporting role, helping build basic strength and control mana from the side?’
Oliver, who was unfamiliar with the art of persuasion, was considering the most effective approach when someone unexpectedly offered assistance.
Just then, one of the students raised a question.
“Um… Mr. Zenon.”
Oliver shifted his gaze in the direction of the voice and immediately recognized the face of the student.
It was a face he knew well.
Like Kevin, Oliver had made it a point to familiarize himself with the students’ faces and had a general understanding of their personal backgrounds.
“Ah, your name is… Felix, right? From the Gaia School?”
“Yes… that’s right.”
“Yes, what would you like to say?”
Oliver asked with a bit of anticipation.
He didn’t know much about Felix, but he has seen how diligently he participates in class.
Felix hesitated for a while before opening his mouth.
“….Can I speak honestly?”
“Of course. I’d even appreciate it.”
“Honestly, it’s very hard for me to accept this situation. It makes me angry.”
His words were sincere, and Oliver asked with pleasure.
“What’s the reason?”
“…. We admit that we, who are here, do not have the skill to follow Professor Kevin’s class, still, we are formal students of the Magic Tower and are wizards. On the other hand, Mr. Zenon… No. Of course, I’ve heard that you’ve recently done a great job for the Magic Tower and caught the train robbers, but this is hard to accept.”
When Felix finished speaking, all the students around him shone with feelings of agreement and satisfaction.
The same was true for Oliver.
“I am very grateful for your honesty.”
“Huh?”
“I said thank you for being honest… First, let’s get one thing straight. I don’t intend to teach you overstepping the professor. I’m just here to help you a little with the training that the professor has given. Don’t think that I’m teaching you, just consider that I’m assisting you.”
Oliver spoke, mixing truth and lies appropriately.
Oliver’s role was to assist them to perform the training assigned by Kevin, but Oliver had the right to change the training volume and method by exercising his discretion.
‘You need this much discretion to work.’
Kevin said that. But Oliver did not immediately tell this fact.
Oliver’s goal was to interact with the students, not to overstep and teach.
‘Those who really need help, I can think about it then…..’
Just when Oliver seemed to be satisfied with his persuasion, another student raised his hand.
“Can I ask a question?”
“Ah, yes, please speak.”
“Ultimately, we have to do basic training, then, we can do it ourselves, there’s no need for Mr. Zenon, is there?”
“That’s right, but the professor asked me to help you on the side, check the training volume, and write a related report… The professor does not ignore you. He’s just short of time.”
“What exactly is the training content?”
“The main content is to build basic physical strength needed for magic combat and to systematize and master the flow of mana and spells.”
“Do you, Mr. Zenon, have enough skill to help the professor and keep a record of such things?”
The student who spoke shone with doubt and various negative emotions.
It was a universal feeling held by Magic Tower insiders towards outsiders.
Fundamental distrust and contempt.
Oliver asked to confirm.
“Can I ask a question too?”
“What?”
“Can you tell me whether you can’t trust me as a person, or can’t trust my skills? If it’s the former, I’ll report to the professor and look for another way, if it’s the latter, I’ll persuade you.”
Whether it was an unexpected remark, not only the student who had just spoken, but other students also showed signs of embarrassment.
He hesitated and replied.
“I hope you don’t misunderstand. It’s not that we don’t trust the professor’s staff… It’s just that we doubt whether a person who is not a wizard can properly help us.”
“So it’s the latter.”
Oliver confirmed. There was no discomfort in his voice. He even welcomed the current situation.
He had found a way to persuade.
Oliver pulled out a mana potion from his pocket and drank it, then rummaged through the magic bag in the corner and took out a Tonfa.
It was made of steel with mana conductivity, and he had received it as a teaching aid by asking Kevin.
A student asked at the unfamiliar sight.
“What… are you doing now?”
“I’m trying to prove something.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m proving that, even though I don’t have mana and am not a wizard, I can still assist in basic training. Could one of you come forward?”
Oliver said it just as he normally would, with the Tonfa in his hands.
And that made it more ominous.
When none of the students volunteered, Oliver spoke again.
“We don’t have a lot of time. Could you please come forward quickly?”
“Did the students make you angry?”
Upon returning from the Basic Magic Combat class, Kevin asked right away.
“No, on the contrary, they were good students.”
“Really?”
“Yes, they actively expressed their opinions, which helped me in persuading them.”
“Are you saying that persuading involved striking with a Tonfa?”
“I didn’t beat them up, we had a match.”
Oliver spoke confidently. Because it was indeed a match.
To make them believe in Oliver’s skills.
When Oliver mentioned this, Kevin was flabbergasted and speechless.
“Um, did I make a mistake? Given the train incident, I thought it would be okay to show a bit of my skills……”
“No, there’s no problem.”
Kevin shook his head.
“The class itself is designed like that, so as long as it’s not severe, they can accept a certain degree of injury.”
“That’s a relief.”
“But don’t get them seriously injured or disabled.”
“….? Of course, I understand that.”
“That’s a relief… I thought you had lost your temper because you beat up the students.”
“I’m sorry if I gave you that impression. I thought the best way to show them my skills was to have a match… Thanks to that, they agreed to my help with basic physical strength training and mana control.”
“That’s trustworthy.”
“Thank you… But, can I ask if there’s something going on, Professor?”
“Why do you ask?”
“It seems like you’re in a bit of a bad mood. And it seems like there’s something else you’re curious about.”
“Hmm… Can I ask? It might be related to your personal life.”
“If I can answer, I will, and if it’s difficult, I will ask for your understanding.”
“Good… then, let me ask. You attended an investment party hosted by Sapphire last Friday, right?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
“I heard a rumor.”
“A rumor?”
“Yes, a rumor that Derick of Redhill, a prestigious family from the Agni faction of the Magic Tower, was humiliated by a warlock at a party hosted by Sapphire.”
“Ah….”
Having encountered Edith and learned a secret about the Book, Oliver found himself momentarily forgetting about it.
“Humiliated?”
“It means a very big disgrace among disgrace.”
“No, I’m not asking about the word ‘humiliation,’ but why was Mr. Derick humiliated? He was really impressive.”
Oliver spoke sincerely.
In terms of magic application, combat posture, attitude, and other aspects, Derick had achieved a remarkable level of progress that was incomparable to his past abilities.
Despite his continued emotional nature, he displayed remarkable control through patience and rationality, consistently exploring different attack strategies to overcome his opponent.
This demonstrated the immense effort and dedication Derick had put in over time.
Consequently, Oliver could not comprehend how such progress could be seen as a disgrace.
“You might see it that way from your perspective, but people have a narrower viewpoint than you think. So they only see what’s right in front of them. The majority only saw a pathetic figure, unable to make a warlock move an inch.”
“An inch? ……Ah.”
Oliver exclaimed again. Thinking about it, it did seem like he hadn’t moved an inch.
“Is that serious?”
“Well, it was enough of a shock to make him skip class.”
Oliver slightly tilted his head. He didn’t understand.
“That much?”
“I would normally dismiss it as fussing, but to be honest, it’s quite painful. To a student of the Magic Tower, disgrace is fatal, and it’s even more so in front of outsiders.”
“Isn’t it normal to lose while fighting? Moreover, it was just a friendly match.”
“That might be the case for you, but not for the Magic Tower and the guests at the party. There are several representatives of Landa, and the Magic Tower is certainly one of them.”
“I understand that.”
“The reason the Magic Tower is mentioned is not just because of knowledge and wealth. It’s also because of power. That’s why everyone says that even an average solver can’t touch the student of the Magic Tower. You know that much, right?”
Oliver nodded.
After becoming a solver, he had heard such stories many times, and he also knew the treatment a wizard, especially a Magic Tower graduate, received.
However, there was still a part that was hard to understand.
“Professor, no offense, but isn’t Dave, the solver, also a well-known solver? Then there shouldn’t be any problem, right?”
“That excuse might work for a regular student, but it’s a different story for a member of the Redhill family. They are not a prestigious family per se, but they have their own history and reputation. But if a member of such a family loses to a warlock, especially at a party attended by the rich people of Landa, it’s not the same.”
Oliver was surprised by the strict conditions, but soon regained his composure.
He had seen such stories a few times in the diary of the Lightning Wizard and Audrey.
Even so, it felt slightly different when it actually happened.
“More than anything, the timing was bad. Right in the middle of the new power generation investment being prepared by the Redhill family, this happened. Rumors spread, and not only did new investments stop, but people who promised to invest also withdrew their money.”
“Um…….”
Oliver was surprised.
Although it wasn’t intended, it seemed like Derick had run into a more difficult situation than expected because of him.
“Could Student Derick possibly be kicked out of his family?”
“Who knows? I don’t like to speculate on other families’ affairs. However, he won’t be expelled easily.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, his skills are exceptional. Despite his shortcomings, he is receiving expectations from his family…….”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
“Is it?”
“Yes, I did my job, but I’d feel sorry if he suffered too much.”
Kevin stopped speaking and looked at Oliver closely.
“Did I say something wrong again?”
“No, you’re just too carefree. You should be more worried about yourself.”
“Worried about me?”
“Yes, you might not have intended it, but in the end, you disgraced not only the Redhill family but also the Magic Tower. Wizards have strong pride.”
Oliver immediately understood what he was saying.
“Do you mean the Magic Tower will retaliate?”
“I’m just saying to leave that possibility open. The Magic Tower has become sensitive to its authority these days. There are many people keeping them in check, such as the city’s security bureau, Warlocks, and Crime Firm’s fighter crew. So, be careful. Building a reputation in Landa is similar to stacking blocks. If you make a mistake, they’ll collapse.”
“I understand what you’re saying. I’ll be careful.”
“That’s it, the point of my advice. Develop a habit of being careful, both inside and outside the Magic Tower. This city does not swallow only the weak……. That’s it for now,” said Kevin as he took out his documents.
Oliver, as a private staff member Kevin, thanked him for his advice and was about to leave the professor’s office.
As he reached for the door handle, Oliver suddenly became curious.
Last Friday, many students, including Derick and Yareli, attended the investment party, and he wondered what Kevin did at that time.
He was sure he said he also had some personal affairs.
Oliver stopped and asked.
“Professor, can I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
Kevin spoke as he continued his paperwork.
“Where did you go last Friday?”
“I had a meeting with military officers and arms dealers. For my research.”
Kevin continued his work and spoke, as if it was nothing special.