Chapter 631: After a Night Passed

The sudden appearance of the prince… wasn’t all that unexpected.

The people in the hospital room were surprised to see the prince, but it was because he arrived earlier than expected, not that he came at all.

This was because Prince Albert was insistent on meeting with Dave before leaving.

‘Did you say you won’t leave?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘I’m afraid it’s risky to stay in this city. There might still be some dangers lurking around.’

‘It doesn’t matter. I can’t leave without thanking the person who saved my life. The honor of the Royal Family depends on it.’

The usually obedient prince, who often followed the advice of the Royal Secretary and his entourage, was stubborn this time. Surprisingly, the prince won.

It was, in some ways, a natural outcome.

Though the Royal Family had lost much of its power over time through compromises and negotiations, it was still the Royal Family. The name itself held a power that was difficult to challenge.

And so, hundreds of people like the Druid, Central Council members, various civil servants, and the prince’s entourage had to stay in Randa indefinitely.

Likewise, those who came to visit the patient earlier, such as Archive’s Merlin, intermediary businessman Forest, The Selectors’ Marie, investor Jane, Fighter Crew’s Joe, Minister of Internal Affairs Carver, and Tower of Magic professor Kevin, all had to respectfully leave the hospital room.

‘When can we discuss the school?’

As they were leaving the hospital, Minister of Internal Affairs Carver was the first to speak.

The school Carver mentioned was none other than the Dark Magic school to be established in the Tower of Magic, known as the Bright School. Kevin and Forest reacted to this.

The young Red Ones wizard who represented the Tower of Magic and the old intermediary working with Dave both seemed receptive.

They exchanged glances and answered simultaneously.

‘We can do it right away.’

‘Anytime works for us.’

The City’s minister, the intermediary, and the Tower of Magic’s outsider professor.

Normally, these three wouldn’t be meeting like this together.

It was a scene made possible because of Oliver’s involvement.

‘Then, shall we head to a nearby café I know and start things off lightly? I have other business to attend to afterward, and I also need to deal with the Pater Church.’

Kevin and Forest both agreed. The City’s officials were overwhelmed with handling the chaos and damages in Randa.

Thus, the three men excused themselves and moved away, with a few others following behind.

Among them were Unner, Yareli, and Derek from the Tower of Magic, as well as Marie, Joe, and Al from the Redevelopment Union.

They each had different reasons but wanted to listen in on the discussion about the Bright School, so they followed Kevin and Forest as their attendants.

They were practically acting as attendants anyway. The rest, Merlin, Rosburn, and Jane, were left standing alone in the hallway.

Although they looked a bit lonely, it couldn’t be helped.

Merlin didn’t get involved in issues like these, and Rosburn and Jane were outsiders.

Then, unexpectedly, Jane suddenly called out to the departing group.

‘Wait a moment.’

Her voice was loud and clear, yet pleasant to the ears, causing Carver, Kevin, Forest, and the others to stop.

Many eyes turned to Jane.

Forest asked with a worried tone.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘Hehe, don’t worry too much. Even though my hair is pink, I won’t throw a tantrum or insist on following you.’

After making that clear, Jane scanned the people in front of her.

There was the Minister of Internal Affairs Carver in the center with Kevin and Forest on either side, and Unner, Yareli, Derek, Marie, Joe, and Al just behind them.

Jane pointed her finger at one of them.

‘Could I have a moment of your time?’

***

‘Hmm, what’s going on?’

Oliver thought to himself.

He had only just awoken and was processing the situation when the prince entered. Reflexively, he greeted, ‘Hello, Your Highness.’ and then suddenly everyone else left the room.

As a result, Oliver, the prince, and the Royal Secretary were the only ones left in the hospital room.

What was this all about? They weren’t close at all.

In this sudden situation, he didn’t know what to say and kept quiet, while the prince just stared at him without speaking.

An awkward silence filled the room until someone finally broke it.

It was the Royal Secretary.

‘Show respect to the prince.’

He spoke with authority, standing like a shadow behind the prince.

Still recovering from the aftereffects of his injury, Oliver finally registered what was happening. He tried to get up from the bed.

‘Ugh.’

But he failed due to the pain that shot through his body as soon as he tried to stand.

Seeing this, the prince stopped him.

‘It’s fine, please remain seated. Miller, you too, enough.’

The Royal Secretary bowed at the prince’s regal command, while the prince turned his gaze back to Oliver.

After a brief pause, he finally spoke.

‘I came as soon as I heard you were awake.’

‘Thank you for coming… But you arrived so quickly. I just woke up.’

‘As I mentioned before, our Royal Secretaries are exceptionally capable. They can bring any information quickly.’

The Royal Secretary smiled confidently.

‘I should have left immediately, but I wanted to wait and personally thank you for saving me.’

‘Thank you.’

‘No, it’s I who should thank you. Thanks to your disciple, I wasn’t harmed at all.’

‘Disciple?’

‘Joe from New Gentleman, Fighter Crew. Isn’t he your disciple?’

‘Ah… I did teach him some Dark Magic.’

Oliver subtly tried to downplay the idea of Joe being his disciple.

Even after years in Randa, having been taken in by Joseph and learning so much, the words ‘disciple’ and ‘master’ still felt uncomfortable to him.

It was overwhelming.

‘At any rate, I’m glad you’re safe.’

The prince studied Oliver in silence for a moment before speaking again.

‘…Is there anything you desire?’

‘Pardon?’

‘Something you want. I can’t repay you with just a thank you. You saved me, a prince, from the Pied Piper and protected the lands of the United Kingdom. I’ve already informed the Royal Family of your deeds through our communication devices, and I’ll provide a detailed report when I return. You’ll receive a reward fitting your contributions. So if there’s anything you wish for, please let me know.’

It was a fair offer, but Oliver hadn’t thought about it. In fact, he hadn’t thought about it at all.

He took a moment to consider it. Something he wanted?

‘Hmm… No, nothing.’

‘Nothing?’

‘Yes.’

A short and simple exchange. The prince looked confused.

‘Humility is a virtue, but so is honesty.’

‘I’m sorry, but it’s not humility. I really have nothing I want. I already got everything I wanted in Randa City.’

Oliver explained the agreement he got with the City and the Tower of Magic to establish the Dark Magic School.

‘Ah… That’s quite the reward. But still, there’s nothing else?’

‘No, nothing else, Your Highness.’

After hearing the same answer again, the prince frowned slightly in frustration before turning to the Royal Secretary.

‘Miller, please step outside for a moment.’

‘Your Highness? What do you… I must stay by your side.’

‘I appreciate you looking out for me, but it’ll be fine. There’s no danger here, is there?’

‘However—’

The Royal Secretary tactfully refused the prince’s order, out of concern but also as if he had received someone else’s instructions. It was becoming unclear whether his true job was to protect or to watch over.

The prince and the secretary continued exchanging words until Oliver eventually interrupted.

‘Mr. Miller?’

Oliver called the Royal Secretary by name.

‘I apologize, but could you please step outside for just a moment? My body isn’t feeling well.’

‘This is—’

The Royal Secretary, Miller, hesitated mid-sentence.

Oliver’s body, or more precisely, his shadow, emitted an oppressive aura that momentarily pushed against the secretary.

Though the pressure only lasted a brief moment, it was enough. The Royal Secretary clamped his mouth shut like a Druid.

‘I ask for your understanding. I’m just a patient, after all.’

With Oliver’s polite request, the secretary wiped his forehead and respectfully stepped back.

The prince, seeing this, looked at Oliver with a hint of surprise.

‘You have such abilities?’

‘I don’t like using them, but it seemed you had something to say… Please feel free to speak now.’

As Oliver finished speaking, the prince dropped his usual stern facade slightly and sat down on a nearby chair.

In that moment, he appeared like a young boy his age and yet, at the same time, not.

There was simply too much weight on his shoulders for him to be just a boy.

‘Honestly, I’m a bit bewildered.’

‘Bewildered about what?’

‘Everything you do… It’s almost suspicious.’

Oliver remained silent, listening as the prince continued.

‘There were similar events in the New Continent, but back then, you were just an employee. All you did was assist the Holy Knight in their mission.’

‘Yes, that’s true.’

‘But this time, it’s different. You saved my life, the life of a prince. And now that you ask for nothing in return, it’s more unsettling than it is gratifying.’

‘May I ask why it unsettles you?’

‘Because I’m a prince. When I receive help, I have to give an appropriate reward. If I don’t, it becomes a debt.’

The prince felt grateful to Oliver, but the situation itself was weighing on him.

Oliver pondered why the prince was acting this way.

It was likely due to his environment rather than his personal nature.

After all, he was a prince. Even at a young age, he had to constantly act like an adult, read the minds of those who approached him, and hide his true emotions.

Oliver hesitated for a moment.

‘What’s wrong?’

‘There’s something I’d like to say, but I’m hesitant to do so.’

‘Feel free to speak. There’s no one else around.’

The prince gave his permission.

‘To be honest, the reason I helped you wasn’t because you were a prince, but I still don’t know how to react. I knew things would get complicated if something happened to you, but I didn’t help just because you were a prince.’

The prince furrowed his brow. He was skeptical of Oliver’s words.

‘Then… Why did you help me?’

‘Simply because you were someone I knew and I was able to help. Isn’t that what most people do?’

The prince was stunned by the answer, which was neither expected nor conventional.

To say he aided the prince of the world’s most powerful nation, and the second in line to the throne, just because he knew him and could help…

The prince had no idea how to respond to such a bizarre statement.

But it didn’t end there.

‘Besides, Your Highness, you’re still in your early teens… It’s normal to help a young boy without expecting anything in return, isn’t it?’

The prince tried to argue but found himself at a loss for words. It was not entirely incorrect. But that didn’t make it easier to accept.

‘…I’m still a prince.’

‘I know. But you’re also still a boy. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I respect you. I don’t think I could do what you’re doing.’

Oliver thought of all the times he’s seen the prince.

The overwhelming attention and pressure surrounding him. The way he tried to fulfill his duties. It was a situation Oliver couldn’t even imagine enduring.

‘So please, don’t worry. Just because I helped you a little doesn’t mean I’ll expect something in return. I hope that you’ll stop worrying about it.’

‘….’

The prince was at a loss for words.

Joy, unfamiliarity, confusion, hope, doubt, and burden. His heart and mind were in turmoil from these emotions.

Oliver could see the prince’s emotions and thoughts and wondered what to do.

Letting the prince leave might not cause any problems, but it felt wrong to just push aside a boy already carrying so much burden.

As he contemplated, a good idea came to Oliver.

‘Swish’—’thud.’

Oliver used some of the remaining magic power in his body to retrieve his leather case from the corner of the room.

He opened the case and took out Big Mouth, placing it on the floor.

Big Mouth began to swell up like rising bread dough, sprouting eyes and limbs.

The prince, seeing this for the first time, shivered with goosebumps and took a step back.

‘Guruk?’

Fully raised, Big Mouth looked curiously at the prince, tilting its body. Oliver made a request.

‘Big Mouth, can you get that for me?’

The vague phrase ‘that.’ But Big Mouth, who had consumed countless Greedy Bags and grown smarter after defeating so many in Bean City, understood instantly.

‘Gwaaaa!’

‘Ugh.’

Big Mouth regurgitated a card right onto Oliver’s bed. The prince, unable to hold back, let out a shrill sound at the sight.

Paying no mind, Oliver picked up the card and handed it to the prince.

‘This is…’

‘The reward you gave me, Your Highness. The deed to the secret vault in Land Bank.’

‘I remember, from the New Continent.’

‘Can you put this paper in that vault for me? Without anyone knowing.’

Oliver pulled out a piece of magically imbued paper from his leather case and handed it over.

The prince, who had seen it once before, asked again.

‘Why?’

‘I want to do it myself, but I’m not sure when I’ll visit the capital next. Would it be too difficult for you?’

‘That’s not it… Secretly?’

‘Yes, I’m a bit shy, you see. This is the only favor I would ask of you.’

The prince seemed to grasp Oliver’s sincerity and fell silent.

He simply took the card and the paper Oliver offered and tucked them inside his coat.

‘I’ll ask my nanny to do it discreetly… I never expected such a request.’

‘You’ve been a great help to me.’

With that, Oliver and the prince’s conversation ended.

The prince had a look of disbelief on his face as he rose from his seat.

‘Well then, I must be going now. I need to leave soon… By the way, are you going to dye it again?’

‘Dye it?’

‘Yes, your hair…’

The prince trailed off, pointing to the side of his head. Oliver then used his magic to gather moisture from the air and create an ice mirror.

In the ice mirror, his previously dyed hair had now turned completely white again, with the bleached area spreading further.

***

‘Is this the first time we’ve met here?’

In the Crossroad Hotel’s restaurant, Jane spoke.

As expected from a hotel famous for its desserts, the table was overflowing with cookies, cakes, ice cream, and all sorts of signature treats.

‘Yes, you ordered just as much last time too.’

Marie, who was seated across from Jane, reminisced.

It was during a conversation with Oliver that the pink-haired woman suddenly showed up and joined them, buying some desserts.

‘Ah, I apologize. I was a bit overbearing back then, wasn’t I?’

‘Not at all. You’re the same right now. So can we get straight to the point?’

Marie responded curtly, sounding almost rude.

However, it was hard to blame her.

She had planned to assist Forest in a task that could benefit Oliver, only to be dragged here by Jane’s unexpected request.

On top of that, Jane and Marie weren’t particularly close.

Realizing this, Jane offered an apology.

‘I’m sorry. But I really need to ask you something, Marie.’

‘What is it?’

‘What do you think of Dave?’

Marie froze.

It was too sudden, too unexpected, and far too sensitive a question.

‘What exactly do you mean by that?’

‘I want Dave to be happy… Sincerely.’

‘…’

‘But I’m afraid I can’t do it on my own. It’s sad, but true… That’s why I need the help of someone more knowledgeable and like-minded.’

‘…What exactly do you want?’

‘How much do you know about Dave? My instincts as a woman tell me you know quite a bit.’

‘How much do you know about him yourself? You wouldn’t be asking this if you didn’t know anything.’

‘I heard he’s a prince. When I was kidnapped by Fingers… Can we work together?’