Chapter 17

17. Storm (1)

As the sun set in the evening.

A massive six-wheeled truck was driving on a road in Wainham.

This truck, which ferried goods between Randa and Wainham, was large and sturdy, and its cargo area could be modified for convenience, allowing it to be used as a cargo truck or a transport truck for people.

Indeed, as if to prove this, a few junior disciples, including Oliver, were riding in the truck.

“Even though I’ve already explained it, I’ll go over it again! The opponent we’re going to fight is a wizard!!”

In the truck’s cargo area, the man at the front said.

The man was an employee A, a subordinate of the pharmacist, with a T-series submachine gun slung over his shoulder.

The junior disciples, who had been dragged there without knowing why, were all startled by the sudden news.

Going to fight? And against a wizard?

Seeing their reactions, the man at the front, employee A, said,

“Oh, damn... You didn’t hear anything at all?”

One of the junior disciples said,

“What do you mean, going to fight? What’s this about?”

“Just as you heard. There are some guys who attacked us, including you, right? They’re a bunch of scoundrels from Randa, and a few of them are wizards.”

“No way... Why would wizards come here? Aren’t they all incredibly rich?”

“Yeah... This is all wrong. Something’s wrong.”

“How could this happen all of a sudden without any warning...”

“Oh my God...”

The junior disciples murmured, revealing their unease. While it might be embarrassing for black mages to act this way, considering that most of them were between 16 and 19 years old, it was somewhat understandable.

Moreover, they knew how to use black magic, but their skills were not yet sufficient for actual combat.

However, employee A, as if he didn’t want to give them any leeway, shouted,

“Shut up, all of you! I was trying to treat you with some respect as black mages, but what are you mumbling like idiots? We’ve already talked to your boss! If you want to live, fight with us! Got it?!”

Everyone fell silent, as if their spirits had been crushed.

Except for Oliver, who quietly raised his hand.

“...What?”

“What exactly do you mean by ‘wizard’?”

Employee A, who had been frowning, relaxed his expression and looked at Oliver as if he were a fool, even glancing at the other junior disciples with a “What’s wrong with this guy?” look.

When everyone shrugged, employee A spoke.

“So, wizards are guys who use magic. Not black magic, but original, real magic... Damn, why am I explaining this?”

Original? Real magic? As Oliver was about to ask more, another junior disciple interjected.

“But, are they really wizards? I mean, why would wizards come here to fight us?”

“I don’t know. I’m just repeating what I heard. Anyway, they say there are wizards on the other side, and that’s why we’re bringing you along.”

Although they still didn’t understand what wizards were, they could clearly see their companions’ fear.

Employee A stopped talking and went to a wooden box in the corner, opening it.

Inside were pistols and knives.

“The boss said you’re still lacking in firepower, so he prepared these weapons in a hurry. Everyone, take one.”

The juniors in front took the guns one by one. There was some minor bickering as they tried to get the more powerful-looking ones.

Oliver watched the scene as if it had nothing to do with him and quietly asked Peter, who was very tense, next to him.

“What do you mean by ‘original’ and ‘real magic’?”

Peter looked at Oliver with a “Are you serious?” expression. After all, in a situation where they might die, asking such a question seemed odd.

“...It’s exactly what it sounds like. Black magic is a kind of imitation, a derivative of real magic.”

Oh... Oliver was amazed.

To think that the black magic he found strong and beautiful was just a derivative of magic. He wanted to know more.

“Please tell me more.”

“...Are you really curious about this in this situation? We’re about to go into battle, and we might all die. Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“No, I am afraid of dying.”

He was sincere. Oliver was also afraid of dying and didn’t like pain.

However, his curiosity about black magic and emotions was even greater. Like a moth drawn to a flame.

This made Peter even more astonished by Oliver.

“You’re really... amazing.”

“Thank you...? So, will you answer?”

At that moment, the truck stopped.

A voice from outside urged them to get out, and Oliver and Peter had no choice but to stand up and leave.

As Peter was getting out, he answered,

“If I survive and come back, I’ll answer you.”

“Hmm... Yes, I understand.”

***

When they got out of the truck, they saw senior and intermediate disciples getting out of other trucks.

They seemed much more relaxed than the junior disciples, probably because they were with Andrew.

In addition to them, there were twenty gang members with shotguns, assault rifles, and baseball bats, and a group of black mages they had never seen before.

Peter explained to Oliver that they were from the Anthony and Dominic families.

“Other families?”

“Yes, there are two more families in Wainham besides ours. The Anthony family is over there, and the Dominic family is over there. They specialize in manipulation and disease, respectively.”

Oliver saw a man in a trench coat and another in a leather work outfit.

“Manipulation and disease?”

“Ah, you haven’t learned about them yet? Manipulation is about controlling people, animals, or corpses, and disease is about enhancing or weakening the body. That’s the general idea.”

Oliver nodded happily, pleased to learn new knowledge.

He wanted to go up to the people there and ask about manipulation and disease, but Andrew was talking to them, so he couldn’t.

Although he couldn’t hear what they were saying, it seemed to be a very serious conversation.

At the same time, a murmuring conversation could be heard from one side.

“Are they really wizards? Otherwise, three families wouldn’t gather like this, right?”

“Maybe the pharmacist asked for help?”

“I don’t know...”

“I just hope we don’t get assigned to a dangerous mission.”

Everyone was scared, but then Andrew, who had finished talking, approached them.

As soon as he got close, he opened a test tube and cast black magic on everyone.

[Listening Ear] [Whispering Mouth]

A thin black light entered everyone’s ears and mouths.

“T-this is...?”

“Don’t worry. This is just in case there’s something urgent to tell me. If you need to, you can use this to talk to me.”

“““Oh...”””

Some people were impressed. After all, he was Joseph’s protégé and the second-in-command of the family.

Andrew briefly explained the situation.

“You’ve probably heard on the way, but we’re going to fight now. Against the attackers who ambushed us a while ago.”

One of the junior disciples cautiously raised his hand.

“Sir, are we really going to fight wizards?”

Andrew was silent for a moment, and everyone tensed up.

“...Yes.”

“Oh...”

A frightened voice escaped. Then, Andrew spoke firmly.

“Don’t be afraid! They say there are wizards, but only three. And those three are just scoundrels who were kicked out of the magic tower. So there’s no need to be afraid. The rest are just thugs from Randa and third-rate gangs gathered here... On our side, we have twice as many people, and three black magic families united. So we can’t possibly lose.”

Andrew’s confident words relaxed the junior disciples. He then drove the point home.

“Moreover, the Anthony family has already released rats to scout the enemy’s base. They know how many troops there are and where the traps are. It’s already a won battle. You just need to go where you’re told and provide cover.”

“Go where we’re told? Sir, are you not going?”

“I’m not going there, but I’m going in a different direction.”

Andrew drew a rough map in the air with a black light. The map resembled a closed-down industrial area.

“This factory is the enemy’s base. You need to go to the main gate with those guys and draw their attention.”

“Then, where are you going, sir?”

“I’m going to the back gate with these guys to attack from behind. It’s a feint. The wizards will likely observe the situation and move, so we’ll catch them off guard and ambush them. If we all open fire at once, the wizards won’t stand a chance.”

In other words, Andrew would take on the most troublesome wizards.

The junior disciples pretended not to notice, but their faces brightened.

If Andrew dealt with the wizards, their chances of survival would skyrocket.

Andrew, as if he knew what they were thinking, asked,

“Is that better now?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Still, I can’t just send you alone. I’ll send this guy with you. Follow his orders as if they were mine.”

Andrew pointed to a senior disciple standing nearby. Everyone responded.

“““Yes!”””

As the senior disciple was about to lead the junior disciples, Andrew grabbed Oliver’s shoulder.

“You’re coming with me.”

“Huh?”

Peter asked,

“Why? You’ve given us a senior member, so you should give us one too. This guy is the most useful among you. Is there a problem?”

Peter couldn’t say anything. While logically it wasn’t entirely wrong, he was also afraid of Andrew’s