Chapter 461: The Golden Shaman (2)
The Golden Shaman who turns people into gold.
Among the many common legends on the New World, this one stood out to Edith the moment she heard it; she had a rough idea of what it was. Although it was only a clue, it was enough.
“Damn it...”
“Is something bothering you?”
Oliver asked Edith, who was cursing under her breath. Edith stared at Oliver for a moment without immediately responding. For some reason, he seemed displeased.
“...Why are you asking? You can already see my emotions, can't you?”
Edith's displeasure was plain for all to see. Although his tone was mixed with annoyance, the statement wasn't incorrect. Oliver had sensed the shift in Edith's emotions.
“I thought it would be polite to ask.”
“That damn politeness. That’s why people hate Black Magicians. Who would like someone who can see right through them?”
The sudden rebuke was sharp. Yet, apart from that, Oliver found it refreshing. He had always thought people disliked Black Magicians because they used humans as materials and were easily associated with demons, but Edith’s point was also valid.
“Annoying. Even after being cursed at, you're not upset; instead, you're nodding as if you learned something.”
“I actually did learn something. Thank you for the lesson.”
Oliver expressed his gratitude to Edith, who had told him a small but interesting fact. The fact that his thanks were sincere, not sarcastic, made Edith even angrier.
“Could it be that your irritation has something to do with the legend of the Golden Shaman?”
The Golden Shaman.
A figure in New World folklore, alongside figures like the Sack Grandpa, Fish-Man, Siren, Bisque Doll, Boogeyman, and the Nutcracker. According to Edith, it was said to abduct lazy people and turn them into gold. Initially, Edith had dismissed it as a rumor created to motivate laborers with paltry pay.
However, now Edith's expression showed a strange mix of emotions—shock, unease, and a sense of discomfort.
Oliver couldn’t help but be curious as to why Edith was reacting this way.
After a long silence, Edith finally spoke.
“...There is something that comes to mind.”
“What is it?”
“But I can’t say just yet. It’s only a vague feeling.”
Although Oliver wanted to press for details, he sensed that Edith’s emotions were firmer than he had anticipated, so he couldn't push any further. Instead, he guided the conversation in a more productive direction.
“Aren’t you thinking about going back to Landa?”
“What kind of nonsense is that?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. I just thought that, given the circumstances, returning would be the wisest choice.”
Oliver’s suggestion was not unreasonable. Given the already unfavorable situation compared to the noble faction, and the fact that Claude, a major shareholder, had sided with them, there was little that the traditional capitalist group or the newly rich could do.
Shareholder meetings were all about numbers, leaving little room for miracles. And now a Red Warlock was trying to summon a demon?
Whether the summoning succeeded or failed was uncertain, but with nothing to gain at the moment, returning to Landa seemed like the most prudent option.
Edith asked back, “Do you think I’m going to retreat?”
“Um... No, I don’t think you will.”
Oliver read Edith’s emotions as he answered. He had no intention of backing down. His determination extended beyond mere greed for money or obsession with profit; it seemed to stem from a kind of conviction.
“Exactly. I won’t back down. My pride won’t allow me to just run away without getting anything out of this. Especially not to people whose only achievement is being born... What about you? Are you planning to run?”
“Are you asking me?”
“Yes, I’m asking you. You told me to tuck my tail between my legs and run away like a dog. So, are you planning to run? Are you afraid of the demon?”
It was a simple question, but it had much to consider.
After thinking it over for a moment, Oliver answered.
“Um... To be honest, I am afraid.”
“What?”
“The demon. I encountered one before, and it was terrifying.”
Oliver recalled the demon he had seen at Joseph’s secret altar and Gallos’ mechanical tower.
“You’ve met a demon before?”
“Yes, though only indirectly—just a shadow of one.”
Oliver remembered the demon that appeared as an old man on a horse made of corpses and another that was a misty figure of indeterminate gender. He instinctively knew they had not physically descended into this world but were merely projections.
Even so, the experience had made Oliver acutely aware that he could never hope to confront such beings, no matter how hard he tried.
Despite both demons addressing him politely, they still inspired overwhelming fear.
“Unbelievable. You’ve actually seen a demon’s shadow, yet... No, perhaps, considering who you are, it’s not so strange.”
Edith accepted Oliver’s unlikely story more easily than expected, though he showed no intention of leaving.
“As I said, while I am a Black Magician, I’m afraid of demons. I don’t think I can ever truly confront one.”
“Does that mean you’re going to run away?”
“No, not at all. For one, I made a promise to you, Edith. Besides, I’m also curious to see what happens if the demon is actually summoned.”
“You’re truly insane.”
Edith remarked with heartfelt conviction. Although Oliver was genuinely scared, he was also sincerely curious, which could only be explained as madness.
Oliver, unfazed, added, “And I also have some personal business.”
“Oh, that’s right. You mentioned having some business in the New World. I didn’t ask because I wasn’t interested, but what is it?”
“There’s someone I want to meet.”
“Hah... Who exactly did you come all the way here to see?”
Oliver replied, “Her name is Joanna, a Holy Knight.”
“...A Holy Knight? Joanna?”
Edith furrowed his brow, showing doubt. It was the same reaction as others had given.
“Yes... Do you know her?”
“Of course. She’s quite famous around here. They call her the valiant and merciful saint. Why do you know her?”
“Yes, we met by chance, and I have something I want to discuss with her... But don’t worry. I won’t act on my own until your business is finished.”
Oliver reassured Edith, knowing that since they were under a contract together, any problems that arose while meeting Joanna would also trouble Edith. He planned to wait until the current matters were resolved.
Yet, instead of expressing concern, Edith seemed more intrigued.
“What do you want to discuss?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m asking what you want to discuss. For a Black Magician to seek a Holy Knight’s counsel, it must be something unusual, right?”
“It’s not hard to explain, but it may bore you.”
“Whether it’s boring or not, I’ll decide. Go on, tell me. Depending on your story, it might even help you resolve your issues faster.”
Edith spoke, and after confirming his emotional state, Oliver began.
“The story is rather long, but it starts with the redevelopment project in X-District...”
...
Oliver began explaining everything that happened, including the situation with Nora and her brother during the redevelopment project. He also talked about the indifference and selfish grief he had experienced throughout.
When he finished, Edith spoke.
“I don’t understand a single word of that nonsense.”
Edith’s response was sincere. He seemed genuinely bewildered and frustrated, as if he couldn't make sense of Oliver at all.
“So, you're saying you’re seeking advice from a Holy Knight because you feel nothing after killing the woman’s brother who tried to poison you? And you also want to check on how she’s doing?”
“In summary, yes.”
“This is absolutely insane...”
Edith proved his feelings by grabbing the strong liquor on the table and taking a swig straight from the bottle.
Oliver silently watched, and Edith, seeing his gaze, burst out in exasperation.
“Everything you’re saying is complete nonsense!”
“Is it?”
“Yes, it is. The brother of that woman, Nora, died in the course of business. Why should you feel guilty about it? As a Fixer, your job is to kill or be killed. If someone dies, it’s their fault for not being up to the task. If they didn’t want that, they shouldn’t have taken the job!”
Oliver agreed. The death of Nora's brother, Nico, had indeed occurred during his work; there were no personal feelings involved, and both of them had simply been doing their jobs. Even if the outcome had been reversed, it would have been unfortunate, but he doubted he would have held any particular grudge.
“And yet that girl tried to kill you, didn’t she? Without even considering the people her brother had killed. That’s why I hate women—they’re brainless! And now you want to feel guilty for that? What kind of freak are you?”
Edith’s anger flared up. However, it wasn’t just ordinary anger; it almost felt like he was getting angry on Oliver’s behalf.
Oliver sensed a misunderstanding and corrected it.
“Oh, Edith, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. I’m not doing this for Nora. I do want to apologize to her, but that’s purely for my own selfish reasons.”
“Your own selfish reasons?”
“Yes. I’ve made arrangements to ask her to wait for an apology and even found ways to offer her some help, but fundamentally, my actions are driven by self-interest. I... I want to empathize more.”
Oliver hesitated as he explained the last part, awkwardly waving his hand in the air like a child struggling to articulate something difficult.
But one thing was clear: all his current actions stemmed from a selfish desire to experience empathy and emotions. It was no different from the selfish sadness he had felt when he realized he couldn’t truly understand Nora’s grief.
Edith asked, not in a mocking tone, but with genuine curiosity.
“Why do you want to empathize with that?”
“Sorry?”
“I’m asking why you want to empathize. You have power. You’re one of the strongest people I’ve seen, considering your age and potential, perhaps the strongest. With such power, why? Why would you be interested in that kind of thing? You could just ignore it and do whatever you want.”
Edith was sincere. After all, he himself had lacked power.
In his youth, his kindness had been trampled on, and to prove that his goodness wasn’t weakness, he had committed terrible acts. If he had possessed even a fraction of the power Oliver had, perhaps things would have turned out differently.
Oliver replied, “I’m not entirely sure. It’s difficult to explain in concrete terms... I suppose I want it because I simply do. But I do have a hope. If I could come to understand empathy, maybe I could grasp the meaning of the beautiful light I seek.”
Oliver tapped his left chest.
“Beautiful light?”
“Yes. That’s the reason I ventured out into the world in the first place.”
Since he had previously mentioned seeking out a beautiful light, Edith didn’t ask what it was. Instead, he posed a different question.
“And what will you do if you understand this beautiful light? Hm?”
“Well, maybe I could sincerely apologize to Nora.”
“...You’re insane. Your words are all over the place.”
“Are they?”
“Yes, completely nonsensical. You’re wasting the blessing of your talent, and you’re wasting my time, too.”
Edith spoke in his usual sarcastic tone, but oddly enough, he didn’t seem entirely serious.
“Let’s stop wasting time here before I lose my temper completely... I’m going to meet Kenny.”
“Kenny, as in the founder of Prometheus Corporation who’s stepping down from his executive role?”
“Yes. There’s something I need to confirm with him. In the meantime, you should investigate the place I mentioned.”
“What exactly am I looking for?”
“There are rumors that Prometheus Corporation is dealing with demons to turn Red People into magic stone ore. That’s the source of the Golden Shaman legend. Of course, it’s not certain... but try to find some evidence.”
“...Understood.”