Genius Warlock-Episode 129
"hmm..… . Would you like some coffee??”
The old man in the bookstore asked.
Oliver, sitting at the table in front of the store, politely declined..
"No, thanks.”
"I'm not okay, so just eat it..”
With those words, the old man brought out a kettle and poured black coffee into an old cup. Then he poured some whiskey on top..
“Ugh…. . Why did you suddenly ask that question??”
The old man in the bookstore sat across from me and asked.
"So why are you asking me now whether I am a wizard? You didn't ask until now.?”
"I didn't really have a reason to ask until now, but now I have something I want to ask. I'm sorry for suddenly.”
“like… .. I'm curious. It's interesting. I really wonder what the warlock would ask of this old wizard..”
"...!"
"Why are you so surprised? The only things that increase as you get older are wrinkles and wrinkles..”
The old man sipped his coffee as if it was no big deal..
He was not at all surprised or embarrassed by this situation, he was just calm..
"under.… . So, what are you curious about? I'm not a great person, but I've lived for a long time and have some miscellaneous knowledge. I will answer to the best of my knowledge..”
You're not a great person. Those words raised a small question in Oliver..
Although it was only a moment, the magic felt from the old man was impressive..
Including Lightning Wizard, Magic Tower Student, and Magic Hypertrophy Duncan..
His magical power was more massive than anyone else's, and at the same time, it was pure and calm. However, he has controlled his magic so well that he can't see anything now..
That he isn't a great person. It was difficult to tell whether it was a lie or a truth because emotions could not be read properly..
Normally, he would have considered it, but Oliver had more urgent matters, so he skipped this part..
“….Do you know anything about Mattel??”
"Mattel?... It's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Why are you doing that??”
"Someone I know is there now.”
"Who do you know??”
"Do you remember that I bought a book that said it would teach me how to write??”
"Remember… . Inn worker. It was an impressive memory. It was interesting to see who the warlock was helping. By any chance, was that some kind of experiment??”
".....no. I really just helped..”
"Right. What is the child's name??”
“This is Rossburn. And now he's gone to Mattel. He sponsors me as a student… ..Do they really implement such a policy at Mattel??”
Instead of answering, the old man took another sip of coffee..
“hmm… .. I will ask you the opposite. What do you want to hear? Comfortable lies, inconvenient truths. what do you want to hear.”
“? ....Of course, I want to hear the truth.”
"Ho, is that so? Just surprising. Most people want a lie that makes them feel comfortable..”
Oliver frowned, not understanding. Who in the world wants lies more than the truth??
"Are you sincere??”
"exactly. young friend. The truth is uncomfortable and cruel, and most people can't handle it. By no means is it a bluff. It's contradictory, like people long for a brilliant empire but don't want to be an invader. That's why I find the truth uncomfortable. Like a thorn stuck in my neck.”
“..…I don't quite understand what you mean..”
"You seemed like it... .. I will ask you the last question. I really want the truth?”
"yes."
"If so, I will teach you. Probably, he was taken as a test subject..”
"It's an experiment.?”
"exactly. Experiment… . By any chance, do you know anything about Mattel??”
"I roughly heard it. It is a research institute under the School of Life, which has influence in the medical and military sectors..”
"That's not wrong, but that's just the outer layer of the onion. Onion Center is conducting research on eternal life..”
“Eternal life?”
"exactly. Eternal life. Literally living forever..”
For a moment, Puppet's words came to mind..
The wizards here also study demons and even make deals with them..
"Why study eternal life??”
“? Let me ask you the opposite. Are you asking why I study eternal life? This is an area that people with money and power are naturally interested in..”
"Is that so?”
"Very much so. Eternal life and youth are what everyone who has achieved everything that can be achieved in the human realm wants... but it's a bit perplexing. No one has ever asked that question before..”
"okay..… . But what does researching eternal life have to do with taking Rosburn??”
Tap-tap- The old man in the bookstore tapped his temple..
"To exchange this.”
“..…The head?”
"Brain to be exact. More precisely, it changes the information in the brain..”
"Information in the brain?”
"exactly. chamberlain.....”
The old man in the bookstore took Oliver's hand..
"I'm transferring the information in my head to yours. As you can see, my body is old, but you are young, aren't you? If my memories and knowledge are transferred to you and you take ownership of my body, I will be able to enjoy the blessings of youth and life to that extent..”
"Is it possible?”
"It's not possible yet. The brain is a more complex and delicate thing than the civilization that humans have built up over thousands of years and the magic that can even change the weather. But it is true that we have reached the experimental stage..”
The old man let go of Oliver's hand and continued..
"It is currently the most intensively researched area in the life sciences. We tried to strengthen the human body itself, but it turned out to be impossible. So, I chose to change my body as an expedient method. I also think that's more likely.”
Oliver thought for a moment..
".....Do children who are experimented with die??”
"Well, I'm stupid so I don't know. I guess it would be worse than dying. Death is returning to God's embrace, but that's... .. Neither dying nor living..”
That was correct. Transferring a wizard's brain information to children did not kill the original owner's spirit..
You end up in a state where you neither live nor die. What on earth is that like??
And what was even more questionable was how this experiment was being carried out in the middle of the city..
..…No, honestly it wasn't a question..
I already knew from various sources that wizards conduct experiments on humans..
an open secret.
But what can I say… . hmm..… . Yeah, he was a little weird to say that Ross Byrne went to places like that..
It's hard to explain, but it felt different knowing someone I knew was there..
Why was Rossburn taken away??
The old man in the bookstore asked.
“….What do you plan to do??”
"yes?”
"I asked what you plan to do... .. The reason you came all the way here and asked me is because you care. Do you want to go rescue him? A friend named Rossburn..”
Oliver was troubled by the sudden question..
“hmm.… . well. Wouldn’t that be a bit much? There's no reason for me to go rescue them in the first place..”
"Well, that's true. It is safe to say that the Magic Tower organization is above the public power in this city. There is no way your young friend could do something that neither the police nor the National Guard can do. There was no need to save him in the first place..”
Oliver nodded. That was correct.
Although he could not know specifically what kind of place the Magic School was, Oliver was able to vaguely guess its size and power..
If human experiments were conducted in the middle of the city, they would have been enormously influential, and it was highly likely that they would also have many powerful people..
Even a strong man like Duncan was ultimately pushed out of the magic tower competition..
This was not Oliver's area. Oliver is.
"Thank you for answering my question. I didn't buy anything, but I'll make it up to you later. In that sense, can I wake up first??”
"Of course. I want to go back home?”
"Yes, I plan to stop by one more place before that..”
"Where is it?”
"A cathedral.”
***
Inside the dark cathedral.
Oliver yawned, rubbing his sleepy eyes..
For several days now, I have had to reduce my sleep and wake up several times. Eventually, fatigue set in..
It's been a long time since I felt this tired..
Is this the first time since leaving the mine??
Well, I didn't know it was fatigue at the time. She was always tired, so she thought it was normal..
That was just a year ago. But now it feels so far away.
Tweet——
There was the sound of the church door opening. When she turned her head, a priest holding a candle and a woman with her entire body covered came in..
The priest stepped aside as if to make room, and the woman approached in stride..
she looked a little angry.
"It's shocking.”
Oliver bowed his head and apologized at the woman's quiet words..
"sorry. Paladin.”
"I told you this because I said you were a serious person. But, you're calling me again less than a day after we broke up? Do you think it will be easy for me to get out? What on earth do you think of me??”
Oliver apologized again..
"I'm sorry for suddenly calling you so late. Paladin. However, I did not call you Paladin lightly. Of course, I didn't sing it just for my personal curiosity. Could you please listen to me for a moment??”
At Oliver's request, Joanna thought for a moment and then sat in the front seat..
".....What did you call me for??”
"I called the Holy Knight because I had something to ask him for help. To be precise, I am reporting it.."
"help? .… Report it?”
"yes. A magic research institute has taken a person in for experimentation. Human experiment.”
"......."
"Paladin?”
"yes?”
"Ah, you are listening. A wizard took a person for the purpose of biological experiments. A boy about fifteen years old... .. I need help from a paladin..”
"…Somewhere?”
"This is the Mattel Research Institute under the School of Life..”
"...Are you sure??”
“? ….Yes, I asked the wizard just in case. And it seems certain.”
"It seems certain... . Is there any evidence??”
“yes… .. There is no evidence. That's beyond my abilities. But it's almost certain.”
"I can't investigate just by saying that much..”
“? I don't really understand. Why can't I investigate? Isn’t it okay to find out once??”
“….It's not that simple.”
“….Isn't it simple? You didn't investigate well at Weinham, did you??”
Oliver never meant to be sarcastic. I was just really curious..
I honestly didn't understand..
What Oliver asked for was just an investigation for an unexpected situation, but he was acting defensively as if even this wasn't possible. He was more diligent than anyone else when investigating Pilgaret..
Is it really a bigger sin to sell pilgerettes than to experiment on living organisms? ...no, that wasn't it.
Even though Oliver said he lacked common sense, he knew that experimenting on living organisms was a bigger crime than selling pilgerettes..
Ethical or whatever..
In that case, shouldn't a paladin take action??
They are the shield that protects humanity and the weak..
The incomprehensible answer further fueled Oliver's curiosity..
"Paladin?”
“..…In Landa, there are rules that we must follow according to the city agreement..”
"Paladin. I'm talking about a child being subjected to biological experiments. It's not a city compact..”
"Listen. Because it's not a simple story.”
"......."
"It is the job of a paladin to prevent wizards from deviating, but not Landa. According to the agreement between the church and Landa, our paladins only crack down on demons and warlocks and do not have the authority to investigate wizards..”
Oliver scratched his cheek..
"Why??”
".…It's a complex political issue. It's not something I can explain..”
"Aren’t the denominations a religious group? But why politics?"
Those words made Joanna furious and she turned her head..
Whether intentional or not, Oliver had dishonored the church, so it was a natural reaction for her..
But the moment Joanna saw Oliver's expression, she froze..
It was because he had the same calm expression as usual, but for some reason he had an aura that overwhelmed people..
So much so that even faithful Joanna cringed..
"......."
"......."
"......."
"......."
Inside the cathedral, a silence as heavy as lead has arrived..
Oliver, who was looking at Joanna silently, became depressed..
"hmm..… . Paladin?”
“..…yes.”
"I'm just asking, just in case, if you can't get help from the church, can you do it on your own??”
"Are you alone??”
"Literally alone. I think you can recognize him based on his status as a paladin and his power. If it doesn't work out... .. I will help you too.."
Joanna thought for a moment and closed her eyes..
“….It's impossible.”
"It's not impossible. All you have to do is make up your mind..”
"No.”
"Why??”
“….If you do something like that, you will be caught by the church, and if you do it wrong, you might lose your Holy Knight position..”
"I don't understand. In the first place, a paladin is a shield that protects humanity and the weak. How can I get punished for doing my job? Even if you get punished, what's the point of not being able to do your job and keep your position? I don't understand at all now-”
“-It's noisy!!”
Joanna jumped up and shouted..
Her voice was so loud that it echoed throughout the empty cathedral..
"If I can't do my job as a paladin, my younger siblings will end up living the same miserable life as before! Or we'll all be scattered! .… Don't talk nonsense if you don't know much.!”
Joanna was so excited that the mask of faith she had always seen fell away..
She was out of breath with excitement, her face was flushed, and her eyes had some unexplained tears..
A look that any decent man would sympathize with. But Oliver didn't do that. It was quite the opposite..
He had the same calm expression as usual, but was much more indifferent..
"Now that I think about it, you said that the orphanage can only receive support after the paladin becomes a paladin.?”
"....is it so.”
"If a paladin does his job, his younger brothers may go hungry, wear shabby clothes, or possibly be sold into the mines. But he won't die... ..but the kid at Mattel might die.”
Joanna kept her mouth shut and was silent..
".....I read the scriptures."
"......."
I don't understand it, but there was also an interesting story. Have you read the story of the shepherd and the sheep??”
"..…Please stop it.”
"The shepherd prayed to God and received a flock of sheep..”
"..…stop.”
"Then one day, the shepherd lost a sheep. A small, skinny, unsightly sheep..”
"......."
"One day God asked where the sheep was and he answered that the shepherd had lost it. If he tried to find it, he would end up losing other healthy sheep as well... . Do you know what God said?”
Joanna closed her eyes tightly, feeling guilty as if she had committed a sin. She was very distressed, but still she was silent.
silence.
"under..… . haha."
The sound of laughter slowly echoed inside the cathedral where there were only two people..
A very low and sinister laugh.
Joanna looked at Oliver without realizing it, hearing a laugh that was ordinary yet far from ordinary, and he was laughing..
A laugh that seems to ridicule and ridicule all morality, ethics, law, faith, courage, and humanity..
Although it looked ordinary on the outside, I could tell that Joanna's smile was anything but ordinary..
Just looking at it gave me goosebumps and was scary enough to make me break out in a cold sweat..
So much so that I even forgot to breathe for a moment..
Oliver said, getting up from his seat..
"Still ask for it.”
"....yes?"
"God said so. To the shepherd. Still, ask for it... I don't understand it, but I thought it was a beautiful word..”
"......."
"I thought God was amazing. This may sound strange, but I mean it. Gangsters, merchants, priests, paladins, rich, poor, children, adults, women, men all looked to him when they were in difficult situations... .. What can I say, he seemed like a very equal person. But, I guess it wasn't.”
With those words, Oliver took out a book from his arms. It was a scripture given to Joanna as a gift..
"We'll give it back to you. I don't need it anymore.”
Joanna could not refuse and accepted the scriptures Oliver offered her..
Immediately after that, Oliver turned around and walked out of the cathedral..
Although she didn't say anything, Joanna had a feeling that she would never have to face Oliver again..
Joanna called him and stopped him..
"where are you going now?”
“...I plan to go home and sleep. I'm very tired today.”
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