Chapter 651: Fatigue

Rosburn stepped out of the door.

Seeing him, Oliver felt a wave of relief for the first time.

The anxiety and fear that had piled up in his heart washed away.

Thanks to this, his mind, clouded by worries and doubts, became clear again.

“Rosburn…”

Oliver called out to the boy in front of him.

With determination in his voice, the boy answered.

“Yes, teacher.”

“…Are you alright?”

“…Yes! I am… alright.”

Rosburn took longer to answer than Oliver did. It was a strange response. ‘I am alright.’

It sounded as though he was implying that he was the only one who was alright.

Even when asked if he was okay, his response still carried a shade of guilt, fear, and regret.

For a moment, anxiety tried to climb up Oliver’s spine and invade his mind again.

It wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

It felt odd. It wasn’t like this in the past.

He never used to be swayed by emotions like worry, fear, relief, or anger.

At the orphanage and in the mines, there was perhaps a trace of regret, but nothing more.

Because without expectations, there was no disappointment, and without worry, there was no relief.

He could accept everything as it was.

The only thing that concerned Oliver back then was survival.

But now it was different, even Oliver, who was usually numb, could feel it.

Oliver realized just how much he had changed.

In such a short time, a few years seemed both long and short.

This fact was clearly displayed on Oliver’s face, and when Rosburn saw it, worry flickered across his own expression.

A subtle crack had formed on Oliver’s otherwise mask-like face.

“Are you okay, teacher? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Rosburn’s worried question snapped Oliver back to reality.

“It’s nothing… More importantly, Rosburn.”

“Yes, teacher.”

“Why are you here right now?”

With his concerns about Rosburn eased, Oliver’s mind cleared, and a natural question arose.

As far as Oliver knew, Rosburn should be at Ark Orphanage with Yareli and Derek. They were supposed to be safe there.

When asked this question, Rosburn’s emotions began to stir again.

Bad memories seemed to resurface, bringing with them fear and dread, followed by sorrow, guilt, confusion, embarrassment, and distress.

Something had definitely happened, but it seemed difficult to put into words.

Seeing Rosburn’s reaction, Oliver felt a sense of foreboding creep up on him again, and he recalled his visit to Ark Orphanage.

A large orphanage located on the outskirts of the village,

Headmaster Amelin repairing the roof,

Children playing energetically, proudly speaking of Templar Joanna,

Some warm, hearty meals,

A late-night conversation with the Headmaster.

All these memories flashed through Oliver’s mind in an instant.

They were, in a sense, pleasant memories.

Perhaps because of that, Oliver asked Rosburn once more what had occurred, but just then, a familiar third voice interrupted.

“I brought him here.”

It was Kevin’s voice.

Kevin Dunbar, Merlin’s apprentice, a professor of the Elemental Faction at the Tower of Magic, and a former military sorcerer.

Upon hearing his voice, Oliver naturally turned his head and saw Kevin standing on one side of the mansion.

He looked like he had been through something, wearing only a shirt and pants, unlike his usual well-dressed self.

Considering that he was normally more meticulous about his attire due to his status as a member of the Red Ones, this was not something to ignore.

“…Professor Kevin.”

There were many things he wanted to ask, but ironically, there were so many that he couldn’t ask anything at all. He could only call Kevin by name.

As if he could read Oliver’s emotions, Kevin ordered Rosburn to head upstairs.

“Go up there and help Yareli.”

“Ah…”

Rosburn let out a surprised sound and looked at Oliver.

When Oliver nodded, Rosburn finally complied and headed upstairs, with Pandora following after him.

Once Pandora and Rosburn disappeared up the stairs, Oliver questioned Kevin.

“Did something happen to Yareli and Derek?”

Kevin did not answer immediately but fell silent in thought.

His pause suggested he needed to organize his thoughts rather than that he found the question difficult.

This made Oliver worry even more.

If it were something trivial, there would be no need to think over the answer.

After what felt like both a short and long silence, Kevin finally spoke.

“Is that all you’re curious about?”

A short question, but one with many implications.

After a moment of thinking, Oliver answered.

“There’s more.”

“Then ask.”

“I want to know everything that’s happening right now.”

Having confirmed that Rosburn was safe, Oliver answered.

The information he had was fragmented, and to make the right decision, he needed a complete picture of what had happened.

As if understanding his thoughts, Kevin nodded and suggested they sit down in the chairs in the living room.

This meant the explanation wasn’t going to be short.

Once Oliver sat down, following Kevin’s lead, Kevin fetched two cups and a bottle of alcohol from the corner, placing them on the table and pouring the drinks.

The liquid splashed into the cups.

After Oliver took a sip, Kevin began to explain.

“When you left for a little while last night, Roderick acted immediately. He led two-thirds of the Holy Knights stationed in the City to the place where the Dark Sorcerers were.”

“I’m aware of that.”

“Didn’t you notice anything odd?”

“Sorry?”

“The fact that he moved right when you left means he was watching you. Isn’t it strange that you didn’t catch on?”

Kevin’s question was sharp and to the point.

Oliver’s eyes had become sharper after dealing with countless strong individuals like the Flesh Cook, Fen, and The Burned One.

They were so sharp that he could even monitor the entire City if he wished.

Thanks to this ability, he often accidentally peeked into people’s emotions, and sometimes, he could even grasp their intentions through those emotions.

In hindsight, it was strange.

He had carefully stepped away without anyone noticing, yet Roderick immediately showed up. It didn’t make sense.

If they had monitored him that closely, he should have noticed it.

“Well, in any case, after Roderick’s departure, I was placed under watch by the Holy Knights because you suddenly went to where the Dark Sorcerers were.”

“I apologize for that.”

“It’s fine. Soon enough, the Pied Piper showed up, making everything else irrelevant.”

“I heard about that.”

Oliver replied.

“I was told by the Sister on my way here. She served as an attendant to Archpriest Roderick.”

“Then I suppose this will be a quick conversation. How much do you know?”

Oliver immediately answered Kevin’s question.

The Pied Piper arrived in the City with over a hundred children, leading them along the main road.

The remaining Holy Knights in the City were dispatched to stop him, and the army was ready to mobilize, but as soon as the flute’s sound echoed, they fell into disarray.

“I heard the soldiers began attacking each other. Is that true?”

Kevin nodded.

“A few military magicians tried to resist using magic, but they were either injured or killed by their comrades.”

“And I also heard the children in the City were kidnapped at that time.”

“Heh, did the Sister even tell you that?”

“Yes, she mentioned that while the adults were unconscious, the children were enchanted by the Pied Piper and abducted.”

“She gave you the local version of the story.”

“Sorry?”

Confused by Kevin’s statement, Oliver questioned him for clarification.

“The parents of the children weren’t unconscious.”

“Then…?”

“There’s no ‘then’ about it. While the children were enchanted by the Dark Magic and led away by the Pied Piper, their parents were fully conscious.”

This was so bafflingly different from what Oliver had learned that he paused to process it.

“Aren’t people normally supposed to stop something like that?”

“When it’s the Pied Piper doing the kidnapping?”

“But surely some people must have tried to intervene?”

“I’m sorry to tell you, but people aren’t that brave. Many can’t do anything as their children are taken right in front of them. At best, they’ll pretend not to see it or feign unconsciousness.”

There was a strange trace of empathy in Kevin’s voice.

“So, what the Sister said… was it…?”

“She just used the local way of saying it. It’s a longstanding euphemism in the Central Continent, you see. It’s easier for people to cope if they say the adults were unconscious while their children were taken rather than admit they were fully aware. It suits their conscience and dignity better.”

Oliver finally began to understand.

The Pied Piper had been taking children for hundreds of years.

In other words, over these centuries, countless children on the Central Continent have been continuously abducted by him.

“In theory, every house has likely lost a child at least once. Every generation.”

In light of that, it made sense that the Sister, who had spoken with sincerity, wasn’t lying.

Oliver’s Warlock’s Eye skill could see emotions, but it didn’t reveal objective truth.

If the target genuinely believed in a false fact, or subconsciously thought it was true, the Warlock’s Eye would see it as sincere.

The Warlock’s Eye saw through emotions, not truth.

“But weren’t there still some who tried to find the children?”

“Those were just people overwhelmed by guilt afterwards. It’s not uncommon to see.”

Again, a touch of sympathy colored Kevin’s voice.

“How did the Holy Knights react?”

Oliver felt like he already knew the answer but still asked.

Sometimes the process was more important than the result.

“At first, they tried to stop the Pied Piper.”

“But in the end, they didn’t?”

“You already know, don’t you?”

Kevin could see through Oliver’s thoughts, and Oliver didn’t argue.

Oliver had learned through his experiences in Randa that while the Holy Knights’ duty was to protect humans and the world from evil, such ideals didn’t always hold up.

There are always exceptions to the rule.

The City’s agreement between the Pater Church and Randa City was one of those cases. The Pied Piper was no different.

“Some Holy Knights confronted the Pied Piper while the soldiers were overcome by his music, but they all perished.”

Oliver wasn’t surprised by this, as he had already expected it.

“And those who didn’t intervene, are they safe?”

“They’re unharmed, like me. I intended to fight, but when the spirits didn’t respond, I gave up immediately… Will you blame me for that?”

Kevin asked quietly, and Oliver shook his head.

“How could I blame anyone when I wasn’t even there? Besides, I know the power of the Pied Piper. I fully understand.”

Kevin fell silent for a moment.

“…There’s more to say, but to summarize, the Pied Piper was too strong, and no one could stop him. Instead, people were forced to make a choice.”

A choice? Oliver thought he knew what it was.

“He promised no further harm if they pretended not to see the children being taken, but threatened to kill everyone in the City if they resisted.”

“They chose the former, didn’t they?”

Oliver guessed, given the still-intact City and the people who survived.

“It was a realistic and wise decision. It’s better than everyone dying. Hallways, this isn’t a rare thing here… Though, this time might be a bit different.”

“How’s it different?”

“Because this time, the Holy Knights and the army stationed here were directly affected… The Pater Church and the Kingdom have always been cautious to avoid such situations, but this time they were caught off guard. What happens next is anyone’s guess. The Kingdom might be fine, but the Pater Church will have to find a way to recover from this disgrace.”

Oliver noticed a shift in Kevin’s message.

Up until now, Kevin had been explaining what had just happened, but suddenly he was predicting the events to come.

“Do you have something you want to say?”

“Why not leave for Randa as soon as possible?”

Just like that, Kevin abruptly suggested.

“Just like that? What about your agreement with Archpriest Roderick?”

“Haven’t you already settled the matter with the Dark Sorcerers?”

“How do you know that?”

“If you went, then it’s resolved.”

Kevin responded as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“And even if it wasn’t, the Dark Sorcerers aren’t the main issue now. The Pied Piper has emerged, and ignoring him isn’t an option anymore. Leaving now won’t change anything.”

Kevin’s words flowed easily, as if he had rehearsed them.

Upon reflection, Oliver realized that it wasn’t a bad idea.

When a major problem arises, smaller issues tend to fade away unaddressed.

This seemed to be one of those situations.

“…Thank you for the advice, Professor. But you haven’t yet told me the most important thing.”

“…”

“I asked why Rosburn is here. By all rights, he should be at Ark Orphanage.”

“…The Pied Piper left the City, and I went there using a spatial magic item. I had left one with Yareli just in case.”

“Ah…”

“I immediately transported there… Fortunately, Rosburn was safe.”

Oliver paused. Emotions flickered across Kevin’s face.

“What about the others? Yareli, Derek… And the orphanage?”

For the first time, Kevin closed his eyes.

He had never done that before while having an important conversation.

“…Come with me.”

Kevin opened his eyes, stood up, and led Oliver to a room on the second floor.

Inside were Templar Joanna, who was wrapped head to toe in bandages, and Yareli, Rosburn, and Pandora taking care of her.

At that scene, Oliver instantly knew something had happened at Ark Orphanage, and a sense of discomfort settled over him.

Someone was missing.

“Professor… Where is Derek?”

For the first time, Kevin sighed. It was a sigh mixed with several emotions.

“…He’s dead. He died trying to stop the Pied Piper.”