Chapter 639: Airship

Burke Post, head of the Administration at the Tower of Magic.

He’s a talented magician, but because of his position, he also has a strong bureaucratic side. Besides Merlin and Kevin, he was the only one at the Tower of Magic who was kind to Oliver.

Ironically, it was his bureaucratic nature that made him so.

He believed that if Oliver established the Dark Magic faction, the power of the administration, which had been in charge of cleanup within the tower, could grow stronger.

Ironically again, when Pater Church mentioned idol worship and pressured Oliver, it was Burke who lent a helping hand.

‘You’re going to follow Knight Priest Roderick alone? That’s nonsense!’

The reason was simple.

Personal greed, the unique situation of receiving support from Pater Church, Oliver’s title as the Hero of Randa, and the city’s proposal to help Oliver.

It was simply too late to back out abruptly.

Although Burke didn’t help out of self-sacrifice, everyone in the Tower of Magic knew he subtly sided with Oliver.

In the first place, being able to even suggest establishing the Dark Magic faction was only possible because Burke allowed it.

Backing out just because it felt uneasy? That would be a foolish act.

The city, which wanted to use the Hero of Randa to quell an unprecedented invasion, wouldn’t agree.

Neither would many people in the Tower of Magic simply accept that.

Especially if it was as taboo as idol worship.

Thus, there was only one solution.

Intervene more actively to clean up before bigger problems arise.

So Burke assigned Kevin to assist Oliver.

The first reason was that Kevin’s background made it an easy task to delegate. The second was that Kevin was a representative of the Tower of Magic in helping establish the Dark Magic faction. The third reason was that both were Merlin’s disciples.

Though it seemed reasonable, it could be an annoying situation for Kevin.

So Oliver apologized to Kevin in the waiting room at the top of the tower, where the airship was boarding.

“I’m sorry, Professor. I’m afraid I dragged you into this mess.”

Kevin, sensing his sincerity, readily accepted.

“It’s fine. I’m used to it anyway. I agreed to help in exchange for additional funding.”

He said this like any normal person, but Kevin meant it.

Since Kevin was already deeply entangled with Oliver, it was natural for him to go. Securing additional funds in the process was just a bonus.

It also helped his career. Officially, it was a support request from Pater Church.

Besides, he personally intended to follow Oliver anyway.

In any case, while the reasons were complex, Kevin was true to his word and fine with it. Knowing this, Oliver felt slightly relieved.

“That’s a relief… But why are the two of you here?”

Oliver wasn’t asking Kevin this time but Yareli Iceeye and Derek Redhill.

They were two students of the Tower of Magic. They were also among the first Oliver got acquainted with after Kevin hired them.

But it wasn’t Kevin who answered Oliver.

“Do you have any complaints?”

“We volunteered.”

Oliver tilted his head.

It was partly because Derek used formal speech and partly because Yareli said they volunteered.

Volunteered? Why?

“I can’t speak informally to the future head of a faction.”

“The Elemental Faction’s wizards suggested it might be beneficial to join. I’ve also collaborated with Xenon many times… so I volunteered.”

Hearing their replies, Oliver instinctively looked at Kevin.

Kevin nodded.

Oliver then spoke frankly.

“I appreciate your volunteering, but there’s really no need.”

“Isn’t it polite to be grateful in situations like this?”

Derek complained.

Someone else chimed in.

“Yeah, usually, you say thanks.”

Everyone, including Oliver, turned their heads in the direction of the voice.

They saw a large man in priestly robes, with a nun in a black habit and four Holy Knights in plain clothes trailing behind him.

One of them was someone Oliver knew.

Galahaut.

A Holy Knight who had tried to hunt down Marie in Wineham and fought against Oliver.

Though his characteristic blank expression didn’t reveal much, Oliver was glad he didn’t bring Marie along.

If Marie ran into Galahaut, it would be difficult for Knight-Priest Roderick to pretend not to notice.

Facing a potentially disastrous situation, Oliver’s mind buzzed for a moment, but Knight-Priest Roderick pulled him back to reality.

“Usually, you say thanks. Saying it’s fine can be interpreted as saying you don’t need help from people like them.”

“Ah…”

Oliver let out a brief sigh at Roderick’s sharp remark and then apologized to Derek and Yareli. Thankfully, they accepted his apology.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Roderick, a servant of the Father in Heaven.”

Though Roderick introduced himself humbly, Derek and Yareli had already heard of him.

They respectfully greeted him.

From their manner, Oliver could sense the power of Pater Church.

Even in Randa, where Pater Church’s influence was weak and where the wizards resisted the church’s authority most, everyone reacted the same when a Knight-Priest greeted them…

It made Oliver realize that, despite claims of a new era, Pater Church’s prestige remained high.

Which made sense. It was an organization that served God, even though it wasn’t exactly what Oliver had imagined.

“There’s no need to be so formal with me. I’m the one asking for help. Besides, we should get going soon. The departure time is approaching.”

“Departure?”

“The airship. Isn’t this the airship terminal?”

Even after hearing his answer, Kevin, Yareli, and Derek tilted their heads.

They had expected to board an airship, but they assumed it would be a private one.

It was common knowledge that someone of Knight-Priest rank would own a private airship.

Especially someone like Roderick, who was a leader among the Knight-Priests and the Treasurer of the Holy Emperor’s Palace.

Kevin, Yareli, and Derek weren’t wealthy or extravagant wizards, but they understood societal norms.

Which explained why only Oliver wasn’t particularly surprised.

“There’s only a first-class airship available at this hour.”

Roderick pulled out two tickets from his pocket. They were expensive first-class tickets, and it was only then that Kevin, Yareli, and Derek fully understood.

“Were you disappointed that it wasn’t a private airship?”

“No,”

Roderick was leading into saying something grand, but Oliver, still utterly innocent, cut him off with a quick answer.

First-class was plenty luxurious for Oliver.

However, the more perceptive Kevin immediately chimed in, ignoring Oliver.

“It is surprising that the Treasurer of the Holy Emperor’s Palace doesn’t own a private airship. Usually, the palace would provide one.”

“I declined. You see, those who manage money are usually reluctant to spend it. Instead, I’m using it for something else—letting the Convent use it.”

Oliver looked at the nun in the black habit.

“They’ve devoted everything to God. Giving them an airship is the least I can do.”

“How devout of you.”

Kevin said it without a hint of belief. After all, Roderick hadn’t given up the airship out of pure devotion.

Through the Warlock’s Eye, Oliver could see it, and since Kevin had also opened the Warlock’s Eye thanks to Oliver, he had likely seen it as well.

Not that it mattered at the moment.

“Anyway, let’s head out. There are quite a few of us, so I reserved two first-class cabins.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“No need to be thankful. I have a slightly awkward request. Xenon and I will share one cabin, so the rest of you will have to take the other.”

There were four in Oliver’s group and six in Roderick’s.

Two would occupy one cabin, while the remaining eight would be crammed into the other.

It was an unreasonable arrangement.

However, Kevin was more concerned about the pairing than the arrangement.

“Do you have something to discuss with Xenon privately?”

“You’re straightforward. Yes, I do. There are conditions he conveyed to me through Armand before accepting.”

Conditions. At that word, Kevin looked at Oliver, and Derek and Yareli also seemed surprised.

Oliver rarely set conditions.

“It seems there was a misunderstanding. It’s not a condition; it’s a request.”

Derek and Yareli were even more surprised, and Kevin was no exception.

They thought Oliver had agreed reluctantly, but it turned out he had stipulated conditions through the Knight-Priest.

Understanding the situation and Oliver’s intentions, Kevin consented.

“I see. Alright.”

“Of course, I don’t mind if you join.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m just an assistant in this matter. It’s not my place to decide.”

Kevin finished speaking and looked at Oliver.

He was subtly asking Oliver to take responsibility and make the decision. It was a perfectly reasonable reaction, and Oliver responded accordingly.

“I think it would be better if I handled this.”

***

The airship terminal was constructed to allow the stable takeoff and landing of airships.

Most of the lower and middle floors of this towering skyscraper were occupied by duty-free shops, restaurants, and other high-end entertainment and commercial facilities.

After all, most airship clients had a certain level of wealth.

However, the most crucial part of the airship terminal was the very top floor.

It was at the rooftop where airships could take off and land.

Dozens of airships departed and arrived here daily, and the airship carrying Oliver, Roderick, and the others was no exception.

A distinct hissing sound echoed as the airship began to ascend. Meanwhile, Oliver and Roderick’s group boarded the luxurious first-class cabin purchased with offerings and started their conversation.

The topic? The conditions under which Oliver would aid Roderick.

“It’s not a condition; it’s a request, your highness.”

“It sounded more like a condition to me.”

Condition or request, the debate was minor, but in any case, the condition (or request) was this:

They would assist the Holy Knights, but instead of killing warlocks under Pater Church’s control, they would detain them and offer some aid to those who needed it.

In other words, it was what Oliver had done with Armand’s support in Gallos.

Oliver had communicated this intention to Knight-Priest Roderick through Armand.

Under the guise of a request.

“Frankly, I wonder if a Knight-Priest’s request can be called a request.”

“Oh, isn’t a request from a Knight-Priest still a request?”

Oliver wasn’t completely ignorant of Roderick’s implications, but he pretended not to notice.

After all, you can’t get mad at a fool who knows nothing.

It was a conversation technique he had learned in Randa.

Roderick chuckled.

“I can’t tell if you’re really innocent or just pretending to be.”

“…I think it’s a reasonable condition. Although warlocks are targets of extermination from Pater Church’s perspective, hasn’t it been proven in Gallos that some warlocks can follow order even under Pater Church’s shadow?”

“The central continent and Gallos are very different places—more barbaric and brutal.”

Roderick said this, then opened a bag on one side of the first-class cabin and handed Oliver a bundle of papers.

The papers contained information, organizational hierarchies, and crimes of infamous warlocks operating on the central continent.

“Human trafficking, organ trade, murder, looting, kidnapping, human sacrifices, and so on, most of them have committed numerous crimes.”

“So, you’re saying the rest are better?”

“Not much better.”

“Just a little better, then.”

“Such actions could lead to misunderstandings.”

“But with your highness helping, it’ll be fine.”

Oliver didn’t back down one word.

Instead of being displeased, Roderick found this intriguing.

“You seem a bit different from when you were at the Tower of Magic. Am I mistaken?”

“Back then, I was undecided about going, but now I’m thinking about what to do once I get there…. I don’t intend to act against your highness’s orders. I just think it’s better to shed less blood.”

“Sometimes shedding blood is necessary to eliminate unrest and establish order.”

Just as Oliver was about to respond, Roderick cut him off.

“Besides, we don’t even know how many among them are worth helping.”

Oliver looked at the papers Roderick had given him again.

The crimes of the central continent’s warlocks were detailed there.

Although ordinary crimes were horrifying, the central continent’s warlocks committed even more heinous ones, and the records were so detailed, including photographs, that it all felt very real.

It seemed that there weren’t enough Holy Knights on the central continent, yet the records were quite thorough.

“The nuns helped a lot.”

“Nuns?”

The image of the nun in the black habit flashed through Oliver’s mind.

“They collected this. They do a lot of volunteer work in the central continent, like medical and material support, and gathered this information in the process.”

“Is that so?”

“If the priests are the brains and the Holy Knights are the shields, the nuns are like mothers who comfort the marginalized and forgotten. Did you think Pater Church’s influence came solely from authority?”

“I understand what you’re saying. Nevertheless—”

“—Let’s wait and see.”

Roderick made a final suggestion.

“Let’s go to the central continent and observe the situation. We’ll decide then whether to act according to your will or mine. I think I’ve made enough concessions.”

Whether or not he had really made significant concessions didn’t matter because he was a Knight-Priest.

Oliver didn’t want an unnecessary argument, so he agreed for the time being.

After all, even if something was decided now, it could change once they got there.

Once the issue of the conditions (or requests) was somewhat settled, Roderick transitioned into small talk.

“By the way, I’m a bit surprised.”

“Surprised by what?”

“That you care so much about these warlocks from across the sea, people you’ve never even met.”

Oliver thought of the warlock Walter Meyer, who had come to him for help.

A warlock who had kneeled before Oliver, a stranger, and begged for his life.

“It’s not that I care. Since we’re going anyway, I just thought it would be better to go in a positive direction. Think of it as picking up a lost wallet.”

“A wallet?”

“Even if you don’t go out of your way to find the wallet’s owner, you would return it if you saw someone drop it, right?”

“Nowadays, people don’t usually return lost wallets.”

“Then I’ll return it instead… If you don’t mind, may I be excused for a moment?”

“I don’t mind, but why? To the bathroom?”

“There’s something that’s been bothering me.”

Without waiting for a response, Oliver, who had been surveying not just the first-class cabin, but the area outside it with his Warlock’s Eye, spoke.

Since Roderick saw no reason to stop him, he agreed.

Oliver expressed his gratitude and stepped out of the cabin, walking down the corridor.

The corridor was as clean and extravagant as one would expect for first-class, and at the end stood Derek, tall with striking features and red hair.

“Derek.”

“Is your conversation with the Knight-Priest over?”

“More or less. Why are you out here, Derek?”

“Even first-class is cramped with eight people around.”

“Ah, sorry about that.”

“…And there’s something else I wanted to say.”

Derek’s words carried many unspoken struggles. When asked what it was, Derek confessed.

“To be honest, I didn’t come here with pure intentions.”

Oliver wasn’t surprised.

Having the Warlock’s Eye, Oliver already knew that both Derek and Yareli had other motives for being here.

“So you knew all along.”

“I apologize. I know it’s rude, but I couldn’t help myself. Even though I try to be mindful, it’s not easy.”

It sounded like an excuse, but it was sincere.

The Warlock’s Eye, which sees through emotions.

It seemed as natural as breathing, so Oliver didn’t realize it was rude at first, but he tried to be careful.

However, he still hadn’t managed to break the habit.

It was as natural as breathing.

Fortunately, Derek wasn’t offended. He was actually rather accepting.

“Well, I kind of expected you to know, but it’s typical of you not to say anything… Damn it, can I speak my mind?”

“Of course.”

“Since I’m Kevin’s researcher, they told me to follow you and keep an eye on you. To find out if you have any connection with Pater Church, weaknesses, or hidden skills. Anything useful.”

Derek continued, despite the absurdity of the situation.

“I think they want to either keep you in check or use you. I don’t need to explain why, right?”

Merlin’s disciple who intended to establish a Dark Magic faction within the Tower of Magic, the Hero of Randa who fought against the Pied Piper.

Derek was right—no explanation was needed.

“Can I ask who ordered it?”

“After the match at the party, my family’s financial support stopped, but they proposed supporting me again.”

He remembered now. It was an event to attract investment from the wealthy.

There, Oliver unintentionally spoke about the inefficiencies of the Redhill Family’s power plant, where Derek belonged, and ended up dueling with Derek.

The one who won was Oliver.

“It’s in the past, don’t worry about it.”

Derek was sincere. The regret, humiliation, and resentment from that time had dissipated.

“Is it okay to tell me that?”

“…I owed a debt in Lake Village too.”

Derek hesitated for a long time before overcoming his embarrassment and speaking.

There was gratitude and admiration for Oliver in his words.

He could understand the gratitude, but admiration? That was hard to comprehend.

Bzzz.

A steward carrying wine entered the room.

He seemed to be delivering the wine ordered by a customer and politely asked for permission.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Derek and Oliver instinctively stepped aside.

As the steward thanked them and carefully passed by, Oliver asked a question.

“Mr. Derek.”

“Yes?”

“Is it common for a skilled Dark Magic user to work as a steward?”

In that instant, everything in the hallway, including the air, froze. The steward injected his body with Dark Magic of the Disease category, strengthening himself. He then pulled out a blade hidden in a wine bottle sheath and lunged at Oliver.

The blade, likely a Dark Magic item itself, was infused with a deadly poison.

“That was close.”

Oliver caught the blade with his index and middle fingers, relieved.