Chapter 765: Oliver

Step.

Step.

Step.

A boy and a man walked side by side through the Verdant Forest, which was darkening as dusk settled.

The path underfoot was barely visible, and they could have easily tripped, but the two chatted calmly without any signs of concern.

“What she said is true.”

“Are you talking about Sleeping Beauty?”

“…Yes.”

Kevin nodded slightly with confusion.

The confusion likely came from the conflict between Kevin as an individual and Kevin as the Archive.

Kevin, who never met Sleeping Beauty, and Kevin the Archive, who remembered her.

This contradictory sensation was a kind of initiation that all new Archives experienced.

Kevin honestly shared his confused feelings with Oliver.

“It feels strange. I don’t know her, but it feels like I do.”

“You’ll get used to it soon.”

“Because you’re helping me?”

Kevin asked, rubbing his freshly shaved cheek.

Originally, there had been a crack on his cheek due to abusing the Archive’s power,

but Oliver had erased and healed it with a mere snap of his fingers, just as he had granted Sleeping Beauty’s dream. It happened effortlessly.

Yet, the one who wielded this overwhelming power simply shook his head.

“No, I only healed your body. Nothing more. Absorbing the Archive’s power is your own capability, and I only mentioned that a person like you could definitely manage it… although it might take a little time.”

Oliver added a comment about how it would take time.

Kevin didn’t deny it.

Though Kevin was an exceptional wizard, he was still a little lacking in fully absorbing the Archive’s power, and no one knew this better than Kevin himself.

“Of course, if you want, I can help. Shall I?”

“You’re asking because you know I’ll refuse, aren’t you?”

“Naturally.”

Oliver used both thumbs to push up the corners of his lips into a forced smile.

Though the smile was artificial, Kevin couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh.

“I think I preferred you in the past. You’re kind of annoying now.”

“Oh, that hurts.”

“It’s a joke.”

Kevin replied jokingly, and Oliver widened his eyes slightly as if surprised.

Kevin, joking? Oliver had thought Kevin had no sense of humor.

Anyway, the two walked silently for a moment before resuming their conversation.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Crunch.

“Anyway, within a few years, nations will be at war. Not just in the Central Continent, but elsewhere too.”

“Are you referring to Gallos?”

Oliver asked, as if he already knew. Kevin nodded.

“Yes, Gallos’ greatest rival, the United Kingdom, is in massive turmoil. The Capital is burning, and a new religion is taking root amid simultaneous apocalypse and salvation. What’s your take?”

“Marie must be struggling a lot.”

“You’re a nice guy, but you’re a terrible boss.”

“Maybe that’s part of my charm.”

“The Royal Family is also in chaos. The Queen and the First Heir have both died. And not in just any way either.”

“I believe the Second Heir will handle things well.”

“Gallos will expand its colonies as much as it can, and if possible, they’ll take over. Of course, it won’t be easy.”

Oliver noticed Kevin’s genuine tone.

He sincerely believed this, and Oliver agreed.

The key to colonial control was the Holy Power of the Pater Church.

That power, which weakened magic and rendered dark magic useless, had been crucial both physically and ideologically for colonial control. But it was gone now.

As dark magic spread among the lower class, it created a more favorable environment for rebellion, making future conquests and control far more difficult.

“But Gallos won’t give up easily. Colonies have grown beyond economic benefits; they are now political and ideological matters. They’ll spill any amount of blood to protect them.”

“Perhaps, and their own blood will be among it. Maybe then they’ll learn something.”

Crunch. The sound of footsteps stopped.

Kevin had halted, with pure white snow brushing past his eyes.

It wasn’t just the snow. The surroundings were completely white, and a frozen, vast land stretched beneath their feet.

Somehow, while walking through the forest, they had naturally crossed into the Land of Ice.

It was there that Kevin asked.

“What if, even after losing their blood, they still foolishly refuse to stop?”

Oliver responded.

“That would be a sad and tragic thing.”

“Harsh words.”

“But you’ll step in before that happens, won’t you, Professor?”

Oliver gently tapped Kevin’s hand, as if asking a child to run an errand.

Given their age difference, it was a peculiar sight, yet oddly, it felt natural.

Though Kevin was the older one, he felt no shame or humiliation. Instead, only a sense of responsibility and burden.

“Your Gluttonous Pouch and Zombie Puppets keep calling for you, saying to bring back the scoundrel who ran off after leaving them with such a heavy duty.”

“I think they have a fair point.”

“I’d like to do the same, but I can’t, which is a shame.”

“Why?”

In the cold wind and falling snow, Kevin leaned in slightly and whispered.

“Because the prophecy isn’t fully complete yet. The Prince of Hell will open the door, and the true Son of an Angel will descend… this prophecy hasn’t been fully realized.”

Kevin spoke with certainty.

Although Unbent Knee had distorted and contorted himself to become the Prince of Hell, it was nothing more than a mockery.

From Kevin’s perspective as the Archive, it fell far short of fulfilling the prophecy.

No matter how convincingly a fake presents itself, a fake is still a fake.

Which is why Kevin was so concerned. He could vaguely grasp the shape of what was to come.

“Are you really all rig-”

Kevin started to speak but abruptly closed his mouth.

Oliver had raised his hand and looked at him softly.

That single gesture and glance conveyed more than a hundred words, and Kevin decided not to worry any further.

“My apologies. I’ll zip it.”

“Then, would you walk with me a little longer? The path ahead is still long, and it’s lonely to walk alone.”

“I’m not into taking walks with men, but sure, why not.”

“? You’re not into walking with women either, right? You’ve never really-”

“-Just shut up.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. It makes things even weirder. Just stay quiet.”

Thinking he had hurt Kevin unintentionally, Oliver complied and remained quiet.

Thanks to that, the journey remained almost silent, but fortunately, Kevin softened and spoke again before long.

“The Tower of Magic has stabilized somewhat. The damage Puppet caused was severe, and it’ll take quite some time to recover to its original state.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“On the flip side, now that so many of the previous ruling powers are gone, it’ll be easier to get rid of the deep-rooted problems that were impossible to address before. It’s not quite impossible anymore, just excruciatingly difficult.”

“Will you take care of it, Professor Kevin?”

Kevin shook his head.

“No, I’ll be leaving the Tower of Magic soon.”

“Is that alright?”

“Why wouldn’t it be? The Archive didn’t belong to any single magical organization to begin with. The only reason I stayed at the Tower of Magic all this time was because the Archive’s judgment told me to, and well, that judgment wasn’t wrong.”

Kevin stared intently at Oliver.

“But not anymore?”

“Yeah. The reason to stay is disappearing.”

“So, where will you go next?”

“I’ll visit all the Traditional Factions. The wounds that Puppet left are too big.”

The Traditional Factions.

They were magical institutions older than the Tower of Magic, which could be considered their predecessor.

Though now, they had lost not only their prestige to the Tower of Magic but had also been toppled over by Puppet’s invasion, leaving them in quite a mess.

“Are you planning to restore them?”

“Yes. You’re surprised?”

Surprised…? Honestly, it was surprising.

While Kevin was indeed a wizard, he was also someone who had suffered greatly because of magic.

Granted, he had saved the Tower of Magic more than once in the past, but traveling far to aid those distant magic institutions was not a natural course of action.

He explained why he was doing something unnatural.

“Because I’m the Archive… The Archive holds a uniquely distinguished position in wizard society because of moments like these that we lend a hand.”

“Are you fulfilling your duty as the Archive?”

“Precisely. It’s the perfect kind of revenge. Although sometimes I do wonder whether it would just be easier to wipe out the lot of them.”

Kevin’s voice trailed off briefly as he gazed at the massive crevasse in the distance. Then, he resumed.

“…But I don’t intend to do that.”

“Can I ask why not?”

“Because it’s too easy. Destroying and killing is simple. As long as there’s power, nothing else is needed. No patience, no care, no conscience. But the chaos it leaves behind causes others to bleed. Since wizards cornered would turn to robbery, it’s too easy for someone like the Archive to make such a decision. Every conclusion should align with one’s position.”

Kevin stopped a few dozen meters from the crevasse and looked at Oliver.

“So, go do the duty that comes with your position.”

“Aren’t you going to ask what or how I’ll do it?”

“I trust you no matter what you’ll choose. Why ask?”

Kevin replied with unwavering trust.

That brief yet clear answer was enough for Oliver. He extended his hand.

“It would’ve been a dull walk alone. Thank you for walking with me.”

Kevin shook Oliver’s outstretched hand.

“It was nice not to be bored… Will we meet again sometime?”

“…If the opportunity arises.”

With that, Oliver let go of his hand as a gentle breeze swept by, causing Kevin to vanish.

In the hand that had shaken Kevin’s, Oliver now held a pocket watch. Or rather, something that resembled a pocket watch.

It was the item Merlin had acquired after defeating the sea monster. The same item that once belonged to Fen, who had declared himself the Prince of Hell.

Crunch.

After placing the watch-like item inside his robe, Oliver walked towards the massive crevasse up ahead.

Though it appeared to be a crevasse to the naked eye, it was, in fact, the entrance to a secret base.

Whose secret base could it be?

The answer was simple.

It belonged to a being that wasn’t human.

“Of course, it’s an entirely unsuitable place for Lilith.”

Oliver spoke, gazing at Lilith, now standing before the entrance.

Possessed by the Zombie Puppet made from the Flesh Cook’s younger sister, Gretel, Lilith exuded feelings of fear and concern, blocking Oliver’s path.

She was more aware than anyone else that she stood no chance of stopping him.

What made it all the more interesting was that her fear and concern weren’t for herself but for someone else—for another existence, specifically.

In any case, if that weren’t the case, she wouldn’t be standing in the Land of Ice, where the World Tree couldn’t root.

Oliver greeted her.

“Hello.”

“Ah, h-hello.”

Lilith, unlike the first time they had met, was now timid as she greeted him back.

It wasn’t surprising.

The one who had unintentionally created her had now fully awakened. Lilith understood this better than anyone.

Still, she gathered her courage. Maybe it was because she was scared that she could be brave.

“Are you here to meet him?”

“If by ‘him’ you mean Puppet, then yes. Is he down below?”

Oliver pointed to the hellish ice cave at the heart of the Land of Ice—a place that no human could reach.

Pandora didn’t deny it. Despite knowing how pointless lying would be, she still tried one last plea.

“Can’t you just leave him?”

Oliver didn’t respond.

Pandora continued.

“He’s already grievously injured and can’t do anything anymore. I swear it.”

Lilith cringed as she spoke the word “swear.”

After all, what could she even swear upon?

Though she was a Spirit, she wasn’t a creation in the hands of a god, and she had bitten the hand of her own creator more than once.

It was laughable to think someone like her could swear by anything.

Oliver didn’t laugh. Instead, he asked.

“Puppet is precious to you, isn’t he?”

Lilith hesitated before answering.

“…When you left me behind, he was the one who found me and helped me. He’s like family to me.”

It was an honest and sincere answer, which made Oliver look apologetic.

“Someone once told me I’m a terrible boss. I think I’m the worst creator too.”

“…I hold no grudge. For someone like you, it must seem trivial. I just ask for mercy-”

“-I’m sorry.”

Oliver curtly interrupted her words.

“I can’t grant that request. I have a punishment that fits Puppet perfectly. So, could you please move aside for a moment?”

Before Lilith could respond, Oliver raised his quarterstaff and struck the ground, and Lilith vanished from the spot.

It was entirely against her will.

She had been forcefully relocated by Oliver, who now strode down the now empty entrance of the crevasse and stood before Puppet, whose body was thoroughly burnt.

“Greetings.”