Chapter 432: The News (2)
"Yes, if it's not an issue, may I return to Landa first?"
At Oliver's request, Kevin placed the documents he was holding onto the desk.
"...What's the reason? Is there something urgent?"
Kevin's question made Oliver pause briefly before shaking his head.
"Uh... It's not urgent."
"So, there is something going on. Can you tell me what it is?"
Oliver nodded and began explaining right away—it was about the redevelopment project for District X that he had heard about from Jane.
After listening carefully to the explanation, Kevin tilted his head in puzzlement.
"That's strange. We've been away from Landa for a while, but does this really make sense? Redeveloping District X?"
It was a reasonable doubt, as it was common knowledge in Landa that District X was an area that couldn't be redeveloped. The reason was the Development Opposition Committee, which had even caused the city authorities to give up on any attempts to clear the area.
Oliver cautiously offered his opinion on the matter.
"It might be related to me."
"To you?"
"Yes, somehow, I ended up seeking permission from the Development Opposition Committee to do some construction... Just for one or two buildings."
As he listened, Kevin massaged his temples as if he were starting to get a headache.
It seemed like an exaggerated response, but it was indeed an appropriate reaction since what Oliver was saying essentially broke one of Landa's long-standing rules.
"...I'd like to ask for more details, but let's leave it at that for now. It sounds like a long story."
"Thank you. I’ll explain later."
"Please do... So, are you planning to return to Landa and carry out this redevelopment project?"
"No, I just want to go back and find out what's going on."
"Find out?"
"Yes... I’m curious, and I feel a bit restless. I thought focusing on something else might help... I apologize, but could you grant me permission?"
Oliver wanted to leave behind official duties just out of personal curiosity and unease, yet Kevin did not dismiss Oliver's words lightly. He listened carefully and pondered.
This was a natural reaction because Kevin knew Oliver well and had observed his attitude during missions. Even if Oliver himself didn’t realize it, he might have been in a rather serious state.
Thinking along those lines, the conclusion was simple.
"Go ahead."
"Are you giving me permission?"
"There isn't anything you need to do right away, after all."
"Thank you."
Oliver, who had been feeling oddly down ever since the disturbance caused by the Flesh Chef, looked relieved. Seeing this, Kevin felt confident in his decision.
"Just in case, how do you plan to get back?"
"I was thinking of using portal magic. I’ve already set up a portal in my residence for quick retreats or returns."
"As expected, I’m glad I asked... Don’t use the portal. Take a ship, even if it takes more time."
Oliver let out a disappointed sigh. It wasn’t impossible, but he had wanted to return quickly.
"May I ask why?"
"You're officially recorded as having traveled overseas by ship. How did we get here?"
"By ship."
"Exactly. So, if you were to wander around Landa without any record of your return entry, what do you think would happen?"
"...Would it be serious?"
"Depending on the situation... At the very least, it could cause some trouble. You’re both a Tower employee and a black magic user, after all. So, no matter how urgent, you should follow the rules."
Oliver nodded. It was indeed the correct approach; the rules had to be followed.
"Understood. I'll take the ship. Can I leave right away?"
"Right away? ...Well, do as you please. Though, Yareli might be disappointed."
"Yareli?"
"Yes, she mentioned she would come to see you after finishing her 'hero duties' and was asking where you were... She has some free time this evening. Why not meet with her before leaving? It seems like she has something to say."
The thought that Yareli wanted to see him made Oliver think. For about 0.9 seconds.
"I’ll be coming back to Landa anyway, so we could meet then."
Oliver spoke with the same nonchalant attitude as when he had left Jane and the steak behind at the hotel.
...
"Haa..."
Late in the evening, Yareli entered the guest room provided by Roculi University, closed the door, and leaned against it with a deep sigh.
That sigh conveyed just how tired she was—physically and mentally.
To be treated like a hero despite doing nothing of note was exhausting beyond words.
All she had done during the disturbance was follow instructions and had been caught off guard by Deziche Durans' sudden attack.
If it hadn’t been for Zenon's timely arrival, she would have faced serious danger.
Yet, despite that, she was being praised as a hero who defeated numerous black magic users and uncovered the Flesh Chef's plot to save the citizens.
It felt truly uncomfortable.
It was Zenon who discovered the plan, and it was Zenon who had informed others about it. Though it wasn't her intention, she felt as if she had stolen his credit, and it left her in a very unpleasant mood.
"If only you could have waited just a little longer..."
Thinking of Zenon, who had returned to Landa ahead of her, Yareli murmured to herself.
Kevin had mentioned that something had come up, and it was truly unfortunate. Their paths had diverged by mere hours.
If he had waited a bit longer, it would have been better, but she wondered what had been so urgent.
'Or... perhaps it's for the best,'
Yareli thought to herself after a moment of hesitation. It was because she had so many questions for Zenon and things she wanted to say.
For instance, how he knew Puppet, why Puppet informed him about the Flesh Chef's plan, what he knew about Puppet, and whether the Flesh Chef was indeed defeated by the Archive while Zenon did nothing.
She also wanted to express her gratitude.
When she was rescued from Deziche and the other enemies, she hadn’t had a chance to thank him properly, nor had she apologized for expressing her gratitude belatedly.
'And for making presumptuous remarks about him not having a place to rest...'
There was just so much she wanted to say to him. It might actually be better for her to sort out her thoughts first.
It was indeed strange.
Ever since being born into the Ice-Eye family and taking on the role of successor in place of her father, Yareli had always approached interactions with people by calculating every detail. But this time, it felt a little different. How could she put it? It didn’t feel as exhausting. Rather, it was almost...
...
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
Suddenly, a communication signal sounded. Yareli pulled out the communication device hidden between her chest.
It was a direct line to her grandmother, a secret communication device custom-ordered at great expense from Hermes Corporation.
As soon as she answered, the device emitted a clear voice, fitting for the price she had paid.
[How have you been?]
“Yes, Grandmother... I've been following the schedule you mentioned.”
Indeed, Yareli's act of playing the hero, which she wasn’t keen on, was due to the orders of both the Tower of Magic and her grandmother.
It was to elevate the reputation of both the Tower and the Ice-Eye family.
[I’ve heard. You’re doing well.]
Yareli’s grandmother, Tilda Ice-Eye, the Archmaster of the Skadi Sub-School, praised her in a voice that was as cold and dry as ever.
It was the kind of praise one could only receive when achieving results beyond expectations.
[Thanks to your efforts, our family and the Sub-School are once again gaining attention at the Tower of Magic.]
Yareli nodded, her response mechanical.
Despite her seemingly cold exterior, Tilda Ice-Eye had a heartfelt devotion.
It was to restore the glory of the family and the Sub-School.
After relocating to Landa, the Ice-Eye family had become firmly established as a prestigious family through many years of achievement, but that was all in the past.
When they were forcibly integrated into the Elemental School by Merlin before the creation of the Archive, the family's status had significantly declined, now being considered just one among many respectable families.
Though she always appeared composed, thanks to her patience and cold rationality, Tilda Ice-Eye had made it her life's greatest goal to escape this situation and regain the family's former glory.
It was for this reason that she had even cast aside her own son when he didn’t meet her expectations.
Reflecting on the present situation, Yareli, with her mind turning cold, asked a question.
"But Grandmother, why are you contacting me here? If you had something to say, you could have reached me through the university."
Indeed, that would have sufficed. The secret communication device was used strictly when necessary to avoid any risk of exposure.
[I contacted you this way to verify something. It concerns a separate mission I assigned to you.]
"A separate mission...?"
[You truly don’t know? I’m talking about Dave.]
Yareli realized her oversight. Apart from establishing her achievements as part of the Tower’s vanguard at Roculi University, she had another mission.
It was to monitor and report any unusual activity related to Zenon, Merlin’s disciple.
There was much to report, from Zenon's battle with the Son of Angels to matters concerning Puppet. But the most important thing to report at the moment...
"...There is nothing to report at this time."
[...I see.]
When Yareli answered firmly, her grandmother didn’t press any further.
After all, Yareli had already been doing her job well.
In the end, Tilda Ice-Eye, the Archmaster of the Skadi Sub-School, said she appreciated Yareli's efforts and ended the communication. Yareli then turned off the device and put it back in its place.
Yareli asked herself why she had withheld information from her grandmother.
The answer seemed to come to her as she walked over to the vanity in the room, took off her glasses, and looked at herself in the mirror.
Her eyes, imbued with a cold aura.
Under normal circumstances, she would never do this—staring into the mirror with her magic eyes unrestrained. It was dangerous since her eyes could freeze even herself.
Yet, surprisingly, for the first time since her eyes awakened, Yareli could look directly at her own reflection without fear.
Her eyes had stabilized.
It had been that way ever since Zenon placed his hand on her head.
...
Ding-dong. Ding-dong.
At 30th Street in District T, the door to Forest Restaurant opened.
As Oliver entered, the familiar chime of the restaurant's bell rang out.
It was a comforting sound, unchanged despite all the time that had passed.
However, some things had indeed changed. For example, the restaurant was now busier than ever.
Although it had always been a popular spot, now it was more than that. It was bustling to the point of overflowing, not just among the locals of District T, a working-class neighborhood, but also with patrons from beyond the area.
The tables on both the first and second floors were packed, proof of just how busy the place was. As a result, the usual waitstaff didn’t come to greet the customers immediately.
Oliver entered the restaurant on his own without waiting for any assistance from Al or the other staff members.
“Isn’t that... Dave?”
“Huh? Wait a minute... It does look like him.”
“What happened to him? Why does he look like that?”
“Did he catch some kind of disease?”
Several customers in the first-floor hall, who were regulars like problem-solvers, mercenaries, information brokers, and others involved in the underground world, whispered as they recognized Oliver.
Their surprise was understandable. Oliver's appearance had changed significantly due to the lingering effects of the Flesh Chef’s famine disease, leaving him gaunt. Fortunately, he had managed to rest well on the way back, avoiding looking like a walking corpse.
As the murmurs about Dave spread, even the businessmen and investors dining on the second floor turned to look at Oliver, showing similar surprise.
Yet, Oliver paid no mind to the stares, making his way toward Forest. He had already grown used to such reactions after experiencing them multiple times on the ship and at Roculi University.
However, there were still a few people who caught his attention—those who looked at the emaciated Oliver with a sense of opportunity or a glint of ambition in their eyes, as though they had found a weakened adversary.
“Dave?”
As Oliver was about to reach the second-floor hall, someone came to greet him.
It was Al, the ace staff member of Forest Restaurant, who usually greeted him.
Al, who typically maintained a professional demeanor and rarely showed emotion, seemed visibly disturbed upon seeing Oliver’s sunken cheeks.
Oliver spoke as if nothing were wrong.
"Hello, Al... May I speak with Mr. Forest?"