Chapter 1

### The Genius Black Mage Yellow Coffee

#### 1. The Chosen Child (1)

The 19th century, an era known for both magic and industry, saw humanity achieve unprecedented progress. Forests were cleared to lay railways, airships soared in the sky, and cars roamed the streets. Not only that, but the economy flourished, the population exploded, and numerous colonies were established. Some even said that this was the golden age of humanity.

Yet, there were always places that were overlooked. This small mining village was one of them. The village, which didn't even have a proper name, was a nondescript place where various outcasts of society gathered. Among them, the most marginalized were the children.

Most of the children were orphans, and their backgrounds were similar. They didn't know who their parents were, and they were sent to orphanages to receive government subsidies. They were raised until the age of 14 and then sold to this mining village under the pretense of employment and independence. Technically, this was illegal, but no one cared. Such practices were far too common.

As a result, the children all looked the same. Their faces were blackened from the mines, their eyes lifeless, and their bodies emaciated. It might sound harsh, but they were more like human-shaped gears or screws, existing to be squeezed to their limits and replaced when they broke.

However, just as there are always outliers, there was one peculiar child in this place. His name was Oliver.

At first glance, one might tilt their head in confusion. There was nothing particularly unusual about him. In fact, he was even more so. Smaller and thinner than the other children, Oliver's skin was pale, making him look like a living corpse. If he were to die tomorrow, no one would find it strange. He was a pitiful child.

Ironically, these very traits were what made Oliver peculiar. When he was first sold to the mine, about three years and four months ago, he was even more wretched due to being mistreated by the director. Everyone, from the mine supervisor to the workers and other children, predicted he wouldn't last three months. Some even placed bets on when he would die.

Indeed, Oliver fell ill within a week of arriving. His condition was so severe that he couldn't even breathe properly, and his body was boiling like a kettle. Miraculously, just as they were about to dig his grave, he recovered.

Strangely, other children who had been fine until recently began to fall ill and collapse.

And that wasn't all. Oliver had several other peculiar traits that were hard to explain. Despite his dullness, he had an uncanny ability to sense when the angry supervisor was coming and would avoid him. When he became the target of cruel pranks by other children, the perpetrators would soon fall ill and die.

Moreover, the fierce guard dog that watched over the children would cower in fear in front of Oliver, and the mice that infested the mine and the dormitories would disappear from wherever Oliver worked or slept.

These peculiar phenomena led to Oliver being treated like an ominous object, shunned by everyone. However, Oliver himself didn't care. His interest wasn't in making friends or being loved.

All Oliver wanted was to survive as long as possible in this mine. He had no grand purpose. It was a simple obsession with life, similar to how ants and insects struggle to survive. For Oliver, who had been raised in an orphanage and worked in the mine, survival was all that mattered. However, everything changed with the arrival of a visitor one day.

***

*Whoo-*

It was the middle of the workday, and the sound of a steam whistle, which shouldn't have been heard, echoed through the mine. The children, working in the dark and suffocating coal mine, lifted their heads with difficulty. Only Oliver, who was digging in a corner, continued to work without a care.

A moment later, a fat man descended the rusty ladder. He was the supervisor who oversaw the children.

"Attention! Everyone, attention! Gather outside immediately!"

A child with a face blackened by coal dust asked fearfully, "Sir, what's going on...?"

"What's going on? A visitor has come after a long time. They're looking for diligent workers, so come out and greet them! Hurry up! Move it!"

At these words, the children, who had been wearing dead expressions, showed a faint smile. Why wouldn't they? If they were chosen, they could escape this hell.

This was a kind of irregular event, the only hope in this hopeless mine.

The children, who had looked like corpses, stopped their work and climbed the rusty ladder to the surface. The ladder creaked as they pushed and jostled each other to be the first to climb. Only Oliver stood apart, watching the commotion.

There was no particular reason. His emotions were dead, his soul broken. Oliver had never felt joy, expectation, or hope since he was born. This was why he remained so calm, and perhaps this was why he had survived so far. False hope was a poison.

The stronger children climbed the ladder first, followed by the smaller ones. Oliver, naturally, was the last to climb, and as a result, he got the worst spot at the back.

"Ugh, it's blinding..."

"It feels like we might live a bit longer now."

"Cough. Cough."

The children, who hadn't seen the sun in a long time, chattered excitedly. Sunlight was a luxury in the mine. Suddenly, a muscular man appeared in front of them. He was the tyrannical site manager, accompanied by a fierce guard dog and a cigarette in his mouth.

"Quiet. Don't make a fuss in front of the guest."

The site manager's guard dog barked fiercely, and the children huddled together in fear. Only Oliver stood calmly. Then, a man appeared quietly.

"Attention! This is the guest who has come today. He's looking for diligent and kind workers, so be polite."

The children, as if on cue, closed their mouths and looked at the guest. The man was middle-aged, with a kind expression and a neatly groomed mustache. His clean coat and derby hat suggested he was quite wealthy.

This was a good omen. A kind and wealthy man... He would surely take them to a better place. Oliver saw it a bit differently, though.

The site manager asked the guest, "Would you like me to recommend some children?"

The usual well-behaved workers smiled faintly. The guest shook his head.

"No, I'd like to choose myself."

The guest then pulled something out of his coat. To everyone's surprise, it was a chocolate bar. A chocolate bar!

The children, who had only ever seen chocolate wrappers, were excited.

"What do you think this is?"

The guest asked suddenly. The children all tilted their heads. What was this? Did he think they didn't know what chocolate was because they worked in a mine? They were puzzled by his intent.

Then, a quick-witted boy raised his hand first.

"It's chocolate!"

The boy smiled slyly. He was certain this was a test to find the most proactive and enterprising child. However, his prediction was off.

"Any other opinions?"

The guest's indifferent response disappointed the first boy. No one sympathized with him. Instead, they raised their hands like vultures, eager not to miss their chance.

"Me!"

"I know!"

"Me! Me!"

"I'll answer! Sir!"

"Please, me...!"

Like pigeons gathering around bread crumbs, the children shouted and raised their hands. Except for Oliver.

Instead of raising his hand, Oliver was puzzled. Chocolate? What was that? Oliver looked at the guest's hand holding the chocolate. Clearly, it was a chocolate bar, but something else caught his eye.

It was a black light. A small, round black light at the tips of the guest's fingers.

The guest was gathering the black light from inside his body and forming a circle with it. This was a significant shock to Oliver.

People had black light inside them, but he had never seen anyone manipulate it like this.

While Oliver was processing this new information, the other children were being called to answer the guest's question.

"Good, you answer."

"Yes! It's an opportunity."

*Wrong!* The guest pointed to another child.

"It's the future. A better future!"

*Wrong!* The guest pointed to another child.

"It's hope. The hope you give us-"

*Wrong!* The guest pointed to another child, and then another, and another.

The children who were called gave various creative answers, but none satisfied the guest.

Soon, all the raised hands were lowered, and the children, whose hopes were dashed, looked dejected. Some even cried. The guest, however, only muttered in disappointment.

"Hmm... Not here either?"

At that moment, someone quietly raised their hand. Everyone's attention turned to them.

"Huh? Oh, you... What do you think this is?"

A question asked without any hope. The last, most inconspicuous child, Oliver, answered.

"A circle."

".... What?"

"A circle, sir."

".... A circle? Not a square?"

"Yes, sir. How did you do that?"

The guest smiled without saying a word.

***

The deal was quickly made.

The guest handed a heavy-looking bundle of money to the site manager, who, without even asking the necessary questions as a guardian, handed Oliver over to the guest.

The children, looking resentful, returned to the mine, while Oliver followed the guest, or rather, his new master, out of the mine.

Unlike the other children, who tried to be polite and grovel to make a good impression, Oliver boldly asked a question.

"Um... Master? How did you do that?"

"What?"

"This. Is this how you do it...?"

As he spoke, Oliver raised his finger. To the average person, it looked like nothing, but the guest could see it. A small, black light was forming at the tip of Oliver's finger!

Indeed, Oliver had simply imitated what the guest had done just by watching. And he did it without much difficulty.

The guest's lips slowly curled into a smile, a very unsettling one.

"How long have you been able to do that?"

".... Just now. I've seen it since I was young."

At Oliver's answer, the guest suddenly stopped and looked at him.

"My name is Joseph. I am a great black mage and your new master from now on. You will serve me."