Chapter 20

20. Rest? (1)

[My name is Rossburn. I am writing this diary to reflect on my life. I was born in the slums of V District in Randa. Although I have escaped that life, I still remember that hellish place...]

Rustle.

[...That's how I was taken in by a mage and was able to leave the terrible slums. It must have been the happiest moment of my life...]

Rustle.

[...Due to such discrimination, life in the mage tower was unbearable. Still, I resolved to endure it. I have talent, and I have a family that believes in me...]

Rustle.

[...That's how I was abandoned. Though they said it that way, I was ultimately abandoned. After leaving the place that used to be my home, I thought about it dozens of times, but the conclusion was always the same. I was abandoned.]

Rustle.

[...I swear. I will succeed by any means necessary and take revenge on those who belittled and mocked me...]

Rustle.

[...Finally, I heard some good news. It's about the city of Wingham, which is next to Randa. This city, which is commonly known as part of Randa, is actually a den of black mages who produce large amounts of magic drugs and supply them to Randa. I will make this my first stepping stone.]

Rustle.

Rustle.

Rustle.

Rustle.

"...What are you reading?"

Mari, who had approached without him noticing, asked. She had her hands politely folded.

"A diary."

"A diary?"

"Yes... It was obtained from a mage."

"Oh..."

Mari, unsure of what to say, fell silent for a moment before asking again.

"Is it... interesting?"

"Not really."

"Then, why are you reading it?"

Oliver slightly turned his head to look up at Mari.

"Out of curiosity."

"Really?"

"The owner of this diary... before he died, he emitted a beautiful light. Something I had never seen before... I thought I might find out why by reading this diary."

"Oh... I see. Did you find the reason?"

"No, I didn't. There's nothing particularly special... But why are you here?"

In response to Oliver's question, Mari smiled slightly and said,

"Well, I have something I want to tell you."

"?"

"I've finally been promoted to a junior disciple."

Oliver showed no particular reaction. Mari, looking slightly disappointed, made a bitter face.

"Many intermediate disciples died in the last battle, so a large number of junior disciples were promoted, and I got to fill one of the vacant positions."

"Oh... Congratulations?"

"No... I just wanted to come and thank you, Oliver."

"Me?"

"Yes! Thanks to you, I definitely improved as a junior disciple. The master was impressed."

"The master?"

"Yes, while checking the abilities of the temporary disciples, he noticed that my skills had significantly improved and asked how it happened. I told him that you helped me, and he was very impressed."

Joseph knew... At first glance, it didn't seem like a particularly serious matter, but Oliver had a bad feeling about it. He couldn't pinpoint exactly what, but it felt very unsettling.

The contradiction of aiming to cultivate powerful black mages without proper education, and the connection to making disciples fight and check each other, was unsettling, though he couldn't articulate it specifically.

While lost in thought, Mari added,

"And there's even better news. It's not certain yet, but I'm almost sure of it."

"What is it?"

"It seems you will soon become a senior disciple."

A sudden announcement. For Oliver, a junior disciple, to become the second-in-command of the family.

But considering the circumstances, it wasn't that strange.

A few days ago, the battle with the mages was more intense than anyone expected, and the families of Joseph, Anthony, Dominic, and the alchemists all suffered significant losses.

It reminded everyone of how threatening mages were, especially the electric mage who moved back and forth, causing great damage to everyone.

Joseph's family, for instance, lost their second-in-command, Andrew, and many of their carefully trained intermediate and advanced disciples.

Survivors said it was a level where total annihilation wouldn't have been surprising.

However, thanks to Oliver, they achieved a miraculous victory, and this significantly enhanced Oliver's presence, not just within the family but to everyone.

Replacing the injured Andrew? It wasn't that strange.

Mari, looking puzzled, asked,

"Aren't you happy? As a senior disciple, you can receive training from the master at any time and use the library."

"...No, I'm happy. It's just that other intermediate and advanced disciples might not like it."

"Ha ha, well... Of course, they might not like a sudden promotion, but you are an exception. Your skills are overwhelmingly superior, and Andrew's faction is almost completely wiped out."

That's right. Most of the black mages who died in the battle with the mages were supporters of Andrew.

Andrew brought almost all of his supporters to eliminate Oliver, but ironically, it backfired, and he lost everything in an instant.

Even if some supporters remained, would it matter?

Andrew, the core of the faction, had lost an arm and was lying with severe burns all over his body.

Recalling this, Mari said,

"Effectively, there is no one left in the family to check you. By skill and merit, the vacant senior disciple position is yours. I sincerely congratulate you."

Mari seemed genuinely happy, as if it were her own achievement. Oliver found her attitude curious but didn't ask.

He wasn't particularly curious, and he sensed no plot or scheme in her emotions.

So, Oliver asked a different question.

"Mary, can I ask you something?"

"Y-Yes? Oh, yes! Please ask. I'll tell you anything I can."

"You said you came here six years ago, right?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Then, who was the senior disciple at that time?"

"Andrew. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious. So, was Andrew always the senior disciple?"

"Well... I'm not sure. I've never really been curious about it."

"Then, have any other disciples suddenly disappeared?"

"Um... I think if you look, you'll find a few. Sometimes people run away after gaining necessary knowledge or stealing money."

"Have you seen it happen?"

"Seen it happen?"

"People running away."

"No, it would be hard to see someone run away, wouldn't it?"

"True."

Mari, looking puzzled, asked,

"Why are you asking about this?"

"Just... curious."

***

After some time passed.

As Mari said, the vacancies after the battle with the mages were quickly filled.

Mari became a junior disciple with ease, and Peter, who had been a room leader, was promoted to an intermediate disciple. Everyone was happy.

However, as Mari said, Oliver did not become a senior disciple. Instead, he skipped the intermediate stage and was promoted directly to an advanced disciple.

This was also an exceptional treatment, but no one opposed or complained.

Given Oliver's demonstrated talent and achievements, it wouldn't have been strange to make him a senior disciple.

On the contrary, those who were hostile or jealous disappeared, and people started trying to impress Oliver.

It wasn't that strange. Although Andrew was still alive, he had lost an arm and suffered severe burns all over his body.

Even illegal healers said he would survive but live in pain for the rest of his life.

Thus, the disciples, despite a slight loss of pride, approached Oliver to curry favor with the future power.

"I'll do this."

A man, with a servile smile, said to Oliver.

Currently, Oliver was working on extracting herbs with steam.

It was a basic task of mixing herbs in a set ratio, boiling water, and checking the temperature, but Oliver insisted on doing it himself.

Although it was an intermediate disciple's domain, he knew that learning from the basics would prevent problems later.

Sweating from the physical labor, Oliver said,

"No, it's fine."

"Ha ha, but..."

"No, really, it's fine."

When Oliver refused, the man, looking embarrassed, stepped back.

He pretended to be fine but seemed displeased.

"Ha ha, if you need any help, just call me."

"Yes, thank you."

Oliver replied mechanically.

With the intruder gone, he resumed his work.

After extracting the herbs, he placed new herbs on the rack and added more water when the water level dropped.

He also checked the water temperature periodically, and Oliver checked the status every 30 minutes. It was a simple task but required precision.

"Are you managing well?"

Peter quietly approached and asked.

Oliver, checking the concentration of the herb extract, replied,

"Yes."

"..."

"..."

"Is there something you want to say?"

"Oh, yes. The... master is calling you."

"Now?"

"Yes."

Oliver tilted his head. The master, who had been busy with the mages and had been giving him tasks, was now calling him.

He couldn't refuse, so Oliver nodded and headed to the master's room.

"Wait a moment."

"Why?"

"You need to go to Andrew's room, not the master's. He's there. I'll take over here while you're gone."

"...Yes, I understand."

Oliver answered without much thought and went to Andrew's room.

It was Andrew's private room, now effectively a hospital room. When he opened the door, the distinctive smell of a patient filled the air.

"Have you come?"

As soon as Oliver entered, Joseph, who was nursing Andrew, spoke.

"Yes, I heard you called me."

"Yes. Are you managing well with your work?"

"Yes, I enjoy it."

It was true. Learning the process of making filigret was a pleasure.

"I'm glad to hear that. It's a good attitude. However, some of the others seem scared. I guess seeing a mage in action would do that."

"...May I ask a question?"

"Go ahead."

"Previously, you said that black magic is stronger than regular magic... So, shouldn't there be nothing to fear?"

Joseph raised one corner of his mouth.

"You seem dull but sharp in unexpected ways. Yes, I did say that when I first brought you in. Indeed, such black mages exist. Like a piper or a cook... However, many are not. Do you know why?"

"No."

"Mages receive systematic training with vast resources in the open, while black mages grow on their own in the shadows. Therefore, on average, they are less skilled than mages."

"Yes, I remember. That's why the master took us in."

"Exactly. Specifically, he took in talented ones like you. I heard from others that you single-handedly defeated the mage."

"Yes... It was luck."