He showed considerable interest and enthusiasm for Oliverâs teaching method.
This was quite an unusual reaction from him, someone who normally didnât get surprised easily.
Oliver elaborated on his unique teaching method in response to this reaction.
He mentioned focusing on self-improvement through individual practice, but also providing assistance to gain a feel when there were obstacles.
Kevin asked a question.
âWhat do you mean by helping to get a feel?â
âBy making slight physical contact, I allow them to indirectly experience it⊠Itâs somewhat similar to having someone hold you from behind while you ride a bicycle.â
Oliver spoke without any false modesty or arrogance, expressing his thoughts straightforwardly.
Although it was an effective method, it was different from holding a bike.
However, Kevinâs reaction was slightly different from what was expected.
He was more surprised than Oliver thought, casting doubt.
As if he had never heard of such a thing.
âI⊠I donât quite understand.â
âIs that so?â
âYes, this is the first time Iâm hearing about such a case.â
Kevin was sincere, and Oliver was slightly surprised.
Hearing it for the first time⊠Although he hadnât thought deeply about this ability, he hadnât expected such a reaction.
Especially from Kevin, who he thought would have a broad knowledge and would at least know something similarâŠ
Though it seemed exaggerated, Kevinâs reaction was genuine, and he was greatly shocked and amazed by what Oliver had said. It was as if he had discovered something incredible.
When asked about it, Kevin cautiously opened his mouth.
ââŠThough I canât assert it rashly as itâs not an area I know in detail, my personal opinion is that itâs remarkable.â
âIs it?â
âYes, because it can dramatically improve the efficiency of education.â
Improving the efficiency of education dramatically⊠That didnât seem wrong.
After all, he had expedited the growth of the Joseph Family and the Fighter Crew using this method.
âHmm⊠Thinking about it, it seems Iâve made quite a good use of it?â
Looking back on the smooth educational process, Oliver glanced at his hand.
Kevin spoke to Oliver, who was lost in thought.
âDo you have any specific cases where you used this method for training? Iâm not doubting you.â
He was sincere again. Kevin believed everything Oliver said.
âI canât speak specifically, but there have been two instances.â
Oliver deliberately didnât mention the Joseph Family and the Fighter Crew.
Though they hadnât promised not to discuss it, he felt it would be impolite to bring it up unilaterally.
Fortunately, Kevin didnât dig further.
âI see⊠Are there any training records or documents?â
âNo, there arenât.â
âThatâs unfortunate.â
âI find it slightly regrettable too.â
Oliver sincerely spoke. He had belatedly realized how important training records were in the process of teaching Magic Tower students.
After a moment, Kevin opened his mouth again.
âHmm⊠then, can you test it on me? I want to see it for myself as itâs a new case.â
Oliver contemplated briefly, then condensed mana at his fingertips and flicked it.
With a snap, two spells activated simultaneously.
One was a silence spell to prevent any sound from leaking out of the room, and the other was a sensor spell to alert of any approach.
While they didnât mean much to Oliver, who possessed the Warlockâs eye, he took the precaution just in case.
âIf you donât mind, could you please extend your hand?â
Kevin extended his hand without hesitation.
Oliver then extracted the emotion from the test tube in his pocket and placed it in Kevinâs hand.
âDo you feel anything?â
âNo. Iâm not a warlock, you know.â
Upon hearing the answer, Oliver placed his own hand over Kevinâs.
This was his first time in such a case, so he was skeptical whether it would work, but well, there was no loss in trying.
âOh⊠It works.â
A moment later, Oliver spoke.
The intangible, smoky black emotion that had been between Kevinâs hands transformed into a circle under Oliverâs guidance.
ââŠâŠWow.â
Kevin uttered in amazement.
âWhat is this?â
âThis is one of the basic training I learned when I was serving my master.â
âBasic training?â
âYes, just as wizards handle mana, warlocks must know how to handle emotions. First, they check whether they have the eye to see emotions, then they learn extraction, and control.â
Oliver recollected his past experiences.
About two or three years ago? It wasnât that long ago, but it felt like a considerable amount of time had passed.
âItâs interesting⊠Iâve faced warlocks on the battlefield and in cities, but Iâve never thought about their training methods.â
âIs that so?â
Oliver asked back in surprise.
In the case of Oliver, he himself had a lot of interest in the training methods of wizards.
That was one of the reasons he readily accepted when Merlin told him to go to the Magic Tower.
But if you think about it calmly, it could have been obvious.
Comparing wizards and warlocks on the same level was a stretch.
It wasnât about who was superior. Oliver no longer thought that way.
However, in terms of the scale and systematic nature of the organization, wizards were still far ahead.
Having indirectly observed the organizational power at the Magic Tower, Oliver thought so.
âWhatâs next?â
Oliver, distracted by his thoughts, was questioned by Kevin.
Gathering his thoughts, Oliver moved on to the next step.
âYou start creating more complex shapes.â
Oliver manipulated the emotion through Kevinâs hands to change its shape.
From a circle to a square, triangle, star, cone, spiral, and even spider webâŠ
âI taught them something like this. Most of them caught on quickly⊠Can you feel it?â
Kevin responded by manipulating the emotion himself.
Surprisingly, despite being a wizard who had never handled emotions before, he was able to control the emotion quite adeptly.
âOh, excellent. You also have talent in this.â
âWellâŠ?â
Kevin responded with a questioning look.
His lack of confidence was puzzling, but Oliver cheered him on.
âNo, at least from what Iâve seen, you seem to have talent. Itâs rare to see someone handle it so directly.â
Kevin stared at the emotion moving in his hand, seemingly unmoved by Oliverâs words.
ââŠâŠAnd whatâs next?â
âOnce you can control the emotion properly, the next step is to manipulate it more quickly.â
Oliver held up his index finger to the back of Kevinâs hand and once again took control of the emotion.
The emotion in Kevinâs hand morphed freely, like a living, shapeless creature, tracing a certain flow.
It was so quick that it was difficult to follow with the eyes.
âHowever, whatâs important here is not just the speed, but also accurately forming the shape.â
âOkay, I understand⊠Itâs similar to mana.â
âOh⊠I agree. Although magic and black magic seem very different, in my personal opinion, they seem to have a connection.â
Oliver responded enthusiastically. It was delightful to hear a wizard agree with a thought he had harbored for a long time.
However, Kevin only stared at Oliver without any particular response.
âDid I say something wrong again?â
âNo, itâs not that. But can you apply this to magic?â
âIâm not sure about that. After all, this is my first time teaching a wizard.â
While it was a correct response, the somewhat audacious reply seemed to perplex the listener.
Fortunately, Kevin had become somewhat accustomed to Oliver and was not so shaken.
âGood. Then, test it on me.â
â⊠Can I do that?â
âOf course. I would rather like to ask for it.â
âAh, well, I will gratefully conduct the experiment.â
Oliver held up his hand in response, and then placed it on the back of Kevinâs hand.
â⊠But are there any spells you canât cast?â
Oliver asked belatedly, remembering a crucial fact.
Kevin was a wizard of the Magic Tower. Moreover, he was a Master.
The rank following the Grand Master and the One Master was the Master.
It was absurd to indirectly teach magic to such a person.
Kevin also seemed to realize this fact just now, and hesitated for a moment.
âWell⊠Spatial magic?â
âIâm not very good at that either⊠What about ice or air magic?â
âI can use all elemental magic. The proficiency difference is all. The same goes for pure magic.â
âAhâŠâ
Oliver exclaimed looking at the too-competent Kevin.
Being too competent was a hindrance. It was a tricky situation. In the midst of this, a good idea suddenly crossed Oliverâs mind.
âExcuse me.â
Oliver again embraced Kevinâs hand.
âWhat are you trying to do?â
âJust wait a moment.â
Oliver focused his mind and controlled Kevinâs mana through the back of his hand, causing a small flame between his hands.
âThis is-â
â-not an ordinary flame.â
Kevin interrupted Oliverâs explanation.
âItâs Willesâ flame.â
âDo you know each other?â
âNo. I just heard rumors when I was a war wizard. Thereâs a guy who uses a malicious flame that sucks up mana⊠But youâre using it now.â
âI worked together on the last trip, and I just copied what I saw then.â
Oliver casually said it was nothing, but Kevin was confused.
He had been interested in the spell and researched it, but he couldnât achieve significant results. But Oliver had implemented this by merely imitating it, a casual response.
However, what was even more shocking was that he was teaching this to Kevin.
The fact that he understood this complex spell and the subtle tricks by just touching hands⊠He couldnât figure out what to say.
âDo you understand? The spell and the trick to handle it.â
Oliver asked, and Kevin answered.
â⊠I think I understand.â
As if to prove his words, Kevin carefully controlled the flame that could even engulf the spellcaster.
It was a bit clumsy, but considering it was his first time handling it, it was quite impressive.
âThank goodness⊠So, can I help the students Iâm currently in charge of with this method?â
âDo you plan to help them from start to finish?â
Oliver shook his head.
âNo, not that. Iâm just going to help them a little with the parts theyâre struggling with. If they canât make a circle, Iâll show them how to make one to get a feel for it. The rest they have to learn on their own.â
âI kind of get what youâre saying⊠Did you teach the other warlocks the same way?â
âYes.â
ââŠIâm just curious, why did you teach them that way? It would have been faster and easier if you taught them this way from the beginning.â
ââŠ? I just helped them with their efforts, wouldnât that be missing the point?â
Oliver answered with a face as if he couldnât comprehend what Kevin was trying to say.
âSo what did he say?â
In the library inside the mansion, Merlin asked while looking for a book.
âIt was the same as before. He asked if he could use that method to help hardworking students, including Felix. He said that if he helped a few hardworking students, it would motivate the others.â answered Kevin.
âThatâs not a bad idea, mate. So, what was your response?â
âI told him to wait a little. I said I need to ask your opinion.â
âMy opinion?â
âYes, arenât you the person in charge of this?â
âAnd if anythinâ goes wrong, ya reckon youâre gonna pretend ya donât know?â
Merlin joked, but as always, Kevin didnât play along.
Especially, this time even more so.
âIsnât this not a matter of joking?â
âIs that so?â
âYes. I certainly said that we should face various situations, but this is⊠beyond imagination.â
Kevin, who had prepared for some disturbance, said so. Because it was really beyond imagination.
âFrom the way youâre talkinâ, it seems Daveâs talent is truly tremendous.â
âMaster⊠Talent for people means being stronger than others, or running faster. Itâs not a term to use when flying in the sky.â
It was a remark that might seem exaggerated to a stranger, but Kevin, the actual person, did not think so. This was a restrained expression.
âItâs not like Dave simply knows the trick. From what Iâve seen, itâs something beyond that.â
âWhat?â
ââŠI never thought I would use such an emotional expression, but itâs like sharing the talent⊠No, this is wrong too. To share means to give away whatâs yours. But heâs simply granting it⊠like a blessing.â
âThatâs not like you at all.â
âI think so too. However, thereâs no other way to express it.â
Kevin told his honest thoughts.
To be able to teach the trick of using high-level magic through just one intervention could only be described as a blessing, or a miracle.
âIf Dave decides, he has the skill to build a school with a history of hundreds of years or a Tower with a history of decades in a short period of time⊠Do you still not know what his identity is? Does it have anything to do with the prophecy and apocalypse, the chronicles of the Archive, and the book about Demons you are rummaging through now?â
At Kevinâs questioning, Merlin answered after a moment of thought.
âIâm not sure, but Iâve come up with a few hypotheses.â
âWhat is it?â
âIâll tell you later. Theyâre just hypotheses.â
Kevin tried to protest, but seeing Merlinâs expression, he gave up.
It was a face he hadnât seen in a long time, the same expression when he officially inherited the Archive.
ââŠIs it very serious?â
âIt could be serious, or it could not be. Any matter becomes a bloody comedy when ya look at it from afar.â
ââŠDave asked if there was a way to contact you. He wants to meet Master.â
âMe?â
âYes, he said he has a question about the World Tree. What should I tell him?â
âHmm⊠thatâs good news, mate. Iâve got somethinâ to check too, so I was reckoninâ âbout droppinâ by again. Itâll be good for us to catch up and sort out our questions. Iâll chat âbout the traininâ then. Ya can bugger off now.â
Merlin finished his words and took out an old book from the bookshelf.
The title <The Sleeping Princess in the Forest> was engraved on the bookshelf.