Chapter 560: Jane (2)
"Hmm..."
The words about stabilizing Gallos and legalizing black magic made Jane exclaim with uncharacteristic admiration.
It wasn’t a superficial response to please her audience but a genuine reaction, indicating her surprise.
Seeing her lively gaze filled with interest and curiosity, it seemed he had made a wise choice in explaining it to her.
"Ha... Sir Armand, the Paladin Priest, really is an influential figure, isn’t he? Only someone like him could propose something beyond the imagination of ordinary people."
"Thank goodness. I was starting to wonder if it was just me who found it strange."
"Don’t worry. I think it’s strange too, and most people probably would. Who would go so far as to try making black magicians a legitimate part of society? But..."
Jane paused to emphasize her point.
"...there's a possibility. And that’s the important thing."
"Do you truly believe that?"
"It’s not impossible, at the very least," Jane confirmed.
"Sir Armand’s reasoning is quite persuasive. Even though we praise this era as a golden age of humanity—an age of magic and industry—it’s also an era where the numbers of black magicians are at their peak."
Her words were true. Interestingly, despite being the most advanced and prosperous era in history, certain intellectuals considered this time as a new dark age.
The reasons were clear: unprecedented levels of poverty, massive wealth disparity, wars, and a surge in the numbers of black magicians.
"Most of the public isn’t aware, but the number of black magicians is at an all-time high. Even if people don’t openly admit it, plenty of experts feel limited by how effectively force alone can suppress them. Given that, if a giant figure like Sir Armand were to take the lead, the legalization of black magicians wouldn’t be entirely impossible."
After finishing, Jane covered her mouth with her hand, lost in thought.
As an investor, she seemed to be contemplating how such a change might affect business opportunities, showing a depth of insight she hadn’t had when he’d last seen her.
It was surprising. Despite this change, she was still investing in orphanages and welfare facilities.
As Oliver looked on, admiring Jane, she turned to him with bright eyes and asked, "Did you accept?"
Pure curiosity. Oliver paused briefly before replying.
"...No."
"Oh..."
Jane let out a sigh tinged with disappointment. She quickly suppressed the emotion, cautiously observing Oliver’s expression.
"If you don’t mind, may I ask why?"
Oliver opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
Ever since his conversation with Armand, he couldn’t clearly pinpoint the reason himself, as if his thoughts were obscured by a thick fog.
Noticing Oliver’s hesitation, Jane didn’t press him. She simply waited patiently.
It felt as if she were saying that he could choose to tell her or not; either would be fine.
After a long silence, Oliver finally spoke.
"...Because I lack confidence."
“There’s no need to force yourself to talk.”
“No, I actually want to… I want to tell someone.”
Jane responded with a smile, her expression filled with pure goodwill. Seeing her sincerity made Oliver feel a bit more at ease as he continued.
“I declined because I doubted I could accomplish something so immense.”
"Hmm... To be honest, it is an enormous task. Filling the position of the Flesh Chef, as they say, but in reality, it’s about reshaping the black magician society under the support of the Pater Church. The benefits from that would be unimaginable."
"Yes, even I can foresee that much."
"So you declined? I can’t say I don’t understand. For me, it’s just a matter of calculating profit and loss, but actually carrying it out is another issue."
Jane sided with Oliver as she spoke.
"Enormous interests come with proportional risks and scrutiny. Even if Sir Armand supports you, it’s uncertain how the Pater Church as a whole might react, and magicians wouldn’t be too friendly. They disdain black magicians as fake practitioners, so they might even see it as an insult, possibly a threat... Considering everything, declining isn’t a bad option. Pioneers tend to be the first ones to get hit."
Oliver, who had been looking out over the lake, turned his gaze to Jane.
Though born an illegitimate child of Edith, she had secured part of his inheritance and didn’t settle there, pushing herself to become something greater, eventually succeeding.
In many ways, she was different from him.
"Maybe... I declined because I found it bothersome."
"Bothersome?"
"Sir Armand said as much. He suggested that I probably refused because I found it bothersome."
"Hmm... And what do you think?"
"Well... I don’t know. I’m not sure if I declined because I found it bothersome or because I genuinely thought it was beyond me. It just... feels uncomfortable."
"Why does it make you uncomfortable?"
"It feels too grand and important, like it doesn’t suit me. I think someone... more special should handle things like that, don’t you?"
"That sounds odd to me."
Jane, leaning against the fence, looked at Oliver with a more relaxed expression than before.
"In that case, don’t you think it suits someone like Dave?"
"..."
Oliver fell silent. He felt both happy and unsettled by her words, as if they somehow didn’t match him.
Noticing his reaction, Jane offered a subtle smile.
“Did my comment bother you?”
Oliver shook his head.
“No, I’m not bothered. In fact, I’m pleased.”
“Really?”
“Yes, hearing that from someone like Miss Jane is gratifying.”
"...I’m confused. Are you genuinely innocent, or just pretending to be?”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Anyway, you say you’re pleased, but you don’t seem like it. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you weren’t happy. That might hurt my feelings, you know.”
“Apologies... It’s just, it doesn’t feel like a word that suits me. ‘Special.’ It sounds embarrassing to hear.”
“Do you genuinely believe you’re not special? Truly?”
Until now, Jane had held back from pressing Oliver too strongly, but this time she asked with a firm tone, determined to address the issue directly.
Surprised by her sudden change in demeanor, Oliver answered nonetheless.
“Even though I’ve established myself as a fixer and set up a business in District X—”
“—Ah. Hold on.”
Jane raised both palms and shook her head.
“That’s not what I’m talking about. I know how strong and capable you are, Dave. Building your reputation as a fixer and setting up a business in District X has become quite famous. If I were you, I’d probably be giving motivational talks, a legend of success in Landa. You’d rake in billions with just one lecture.”
Jane even made an exaggerated gesture to lighten the mood as she joked.
“And I’ve heard the rumors spreading through Gallos too. A new ‘Finger’ is emerging, the reincarnation of the Flesh Chef... It’s an amazing story. Especially considering your age. The term ‘special’ fits you well. But!”
Jane raised a finger for emphasis.
“The kind of special I’m talking about is a bit different.”
“...How so?”
Jane lowered her finger and shrugged.
“Dave was the first person I ever cursed at. Do you remember?”
“Yes. When we were aided by Mr. Kent. Back then, Miss Jane yelled, ‘You bast—’”
Oliver perfectly replicated the string of expletives Jane had unleashed back then.
“...Son of a—! That’s too detailed; you didn’t need to remember it all.”
Jane, slightly embarrassed, added a bit of humor by cursing again.
“That was the first time I ever cursed at someone, especially a man. Do you know why?”
“No, why?”
“For one thing, it’s how I was raised. Women like me are taught how to please men in case we don’t inherit any assets. Most men don’t like women who curse.”
“I don’t mind it, Miss Jane.”
Jane blushed slightly and gave a faint smile.
“And secondly, I don’t like cursing personally. When I do, it makes me feel too much like Edith.”
Oliver nodded unconsciously. There was a similarity between Jane’s demeanor when she cursed and Edith’s.
“So I never cursed, not even around other women, let alone men. But with you, I did.”
“Well, it was the situation.”
“Yes, but I could do it because you said I could be comfortable. Thank you. It was one of the most refreshing moments of my life.”
She spoke with genuine sincerity as she looked back on that day.
“Up until then, my only plan was to get some portion of Edith’s inheritance and scrape by living off of that. I spent my days in frustration.”
“I understand. But now, you’ve become an investor acknowledged by everyone. That’s impressive.”
“Yes, I think I’m quite impressive, too. At least, no one would dare criticize my abilities in front of me anymore... and that’s thanks to you, Dave.”
“Me?”
Not fully understanding, Oliver was about to respond when Jane firmly interrupted.
“Ah! This is something I’m the judge of, so don’t even try to deny it.”
“I’m not quite sure why it’s because of me. Is it because I helped you out before, Miss Jane?”
“Well, that did play a part. You helped me at crucial times. But that’s not the whole reason... It’s because you recognized me, Dave.”
“I did?”
“Don’t you remember? At the auction house, you told me I wasn’t some pitiful or shameful person.”
“Yes, I remember that.”
Jane smiled.
“Even back then, you said I was great, and that I had qualities better than yours. You also said my cheerful effort was admirable.”
“Yes, I remember saying that, too.”
“No one has ever spoken to me like that before, not to an illegitimate girl raised by the Sisterhood.”
“...”
“Because of that, I started to feel like maybe I could do it too. Like if I tried, I could accomplish something. Now, take a look at my emotions. See if I’m lying.”
“...You’re being sincere.”
Jane chuckled softly.
“So, at the very least, you’re special to me, Dave. And I’d guess others might feel similarly… That’s why you should think of yourself as a little more special. If you can’t respect yourself, how can you respect anyone else?”
“That’s wise advice.”
“I learned it from you... So, by the way, could you avoid acting like you did earlier at the party?”
Jane quickly added, as if a sudden impulse had made her say it.
Realizing her own words, Jane hurriedly spoke again before Oliver could respond.
“Oh, but please don’t misunderstand. I’m not mad. I would never be upset about something done on my behalf. Really, it’s not that.”
Oliver reassured the flustered Jane.
“I understand.”
“...Thank you. Please forget what I just said. I was only saying it because of my selfishness... Just... please forget it.”
Watching Jane, Oliver recalled the moment he had lashed out at a man during the party and asked quietly.
“...Did it disappoint you?”
“No, not at all...! Honestly, it was pretty satisfying. But I do like the usual Dave more.”
Jane admitted, blushing slightly.
“Someone who’s courteous, who uses formal language consistently, and treats women like me without prejudice... Above all, someone who always respects boundaries… That’s what I like about you. Men who possess great strength rarely manage that. They don’t feel a need to. But I don’t care for that.”
“...”
“That’s why I said what I did... Though, of course, it’s entirely up to you in the end. Selfish of me, isn’t it?”
Instead of replying, Oliver reached out with his left hand, grasped the quarterstaff, and used it to pull Jane gently around the waist, drawing her close.
Startled, Jane’s eyes widened as she suddenly found herself in his embrace, unable to say anything. In the next instant, Oliver stomped his foot hard on the ground.
“...!”
From the lake, there was an indescribable sound as a shadowy figure splashed out of the water.
A fish-human hybrid, with a human-like body, a fish head, and webbed hands...