Genius Warlock-Episode 234
Although it wasn't his intention, Oliver decided to form a partnership with Willes..
Honestly, it didn't seem like a bad offer..
Although there were some differences in the details, the goal of Oliver and Willis was ultimately to solve the disappearance case in Mountain Face, so it might be beneficial if they helped each other..
No, maybe Oliver would benefit more.…..
It's not something to brag about, but digging into problems and guessing to find out the hidden story was far from Oliver's specialty..
The next morning, Oliver had breakfast of potato soup and bread provided by the village with Willis and the truck driver, and then they were on their way..
It was better to solve the problem as quickly as possible..
‘Also, personally, I think it would be better to hurry. I'm concerned about the Hall family in Holland being uncooperative..’
Oliver couldn't explain specifically, but he got on top of the truck with an uneasy feeling that was hard to ignore..
Perhaps thanks to filling up the fuel and applying oil between parts, the truck went up the mountain road more powerfully than when it first came up..
While climbing up for a while, Oliver suddenly realized one thing and opened his mouth..
“Hmm... But it's interesting..”
"what?”
"This is a deep mountain valley, but there is a road for cars, even if it is rough..”
That was correct.
Although the road was barely able to accommodate a small truck, it was quite surprising that there was a road deep in the mountains with few people..
The cost of this type of construction is also considerable... .. At least it wasn't a burden that could be afforded in a village nearby..
Of course, it is possible that the administration here built it, but the likelihood of that happening is very low..
Kevin and the other people in the Magic Tower branch said that the Northland-Kingdom administration does not spend money unless it is mining-related infrastructure..
Then there was only one answer.
“By any chance, was it built in a magic tower??”
Oliver instinctively asked towards the driver's seat, and the driver with his eyes open answered after a moment of silence..
“..…Yes, I heard it was built to transport food and supplies needed for the research institute..”
Oliver nodded..
"This is so fun.”
“What's fun?”
Wallace, who was listening to Oliver, asked, and Oliver answered happily. Conversation was always fun. In particular, the pleasure of sharing opinions was doubled..
"He said it was fun to see in person the story he heard at the Magic Tower..”
"Shall I guess what I heard at the Magic Tower? The magician's research and experiments bring happiness to people as a result and process, so take pride in it and do not give in to any criticism or trials.?”
oh… . it matched exactly.
On days when he didn't have much work to do, Oliver followed Merlin and Kevin's advice and took another class. In the class, in addition to countless magical theories, he was able to hear the same story as before..
Wizards are the central beings who have led the golden age of mankind, so they should not give in to any difficulties, difficulties, criticisms, and ridicule, but believe in their own path and continue to challenge themselves..
Those words left a lasting impression on Oliver as well. Of course, it was a little twisted, but whatever..
"Yes, that's right. how did you know?”
“There are a lot of wizards out on the streets these days, I heard it from them. They're all guys who are anxious to brag about themselves..”
"Oh, is that right??”
"Even though you're an employee, I guess you don't know much about the circumstances of the Magic Tower? These days, it's probably because of the fierce competition, but it keeps flowing out onto the streets..”
"sorry. I was hired by Magic Tower this year..”
"aha… .. this year?”
Willes asked, his eyes shining..
“yes."
"Um, how did you get the job? I think there's something interesting to say..”
"I can’t tell you in detail… .. sorry.”
"No, it's okay. Everyone has their own secrets... .. But let's go back to the main topic. Did you say earlier that people here have improved their lives thanks to the Magic Tower??”
“hmm… .. I don't know if life has gotten better, but I think I've gotten help with transportation..”
A feeling of denial crept into Willes's emotions. Signs that you do not agree with Oliver's wishes.
However, contrary to expectations, Willes did not immediately deny Oliver's words. No, I went further and agreed with some of it..
"Yeah, that's not entirely wrong. It is true that thanks to the arrival of the Magic Tower Research Institute, a road was built here and transportation became easier..”
"Do you agree??”
“Just look at one aspect of transportation..”
“What about the other parts??”
Willes thought for a moment..
"hmm.… . Honestly, I think it's done more harm than good to the people who live here..”
Sincerity.
“.…Can I ask why??”
"Originally, Mountain Face had two to three times as many villages as there are now. However, because of the environment, including the herbs and animals here, they tried to build a research center at the Magic Tower. For reference, most of the places that were good for research institutes had villages… .. What do you think they did at the Magic Tower??”
"Wouldn't they have offered to pay compensation and relocate??”
Oliver answered based on what he saw in Landa. Redevelopment usually proceeds like this..
"that's right. They offered me compensation and asked me to leave. They offer an absurd amount of money and unilaterally ask us to leave the land where our ancestors have lived. People refused... .. What do you think it was like after that??”
"hmm.… Wouldn't they have offered more money??”
"You misunderstood the point. Money isn't the problem. It's true that the compensation was small, but there are more important issues than money..”
"what is that?”
"It's like pride, pride, identity..”
"hmm.… I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand.?”
“Well, I understand. It might be hard for people from the city to understand. However, it is quite important to the people who live in places like this. It is your own land that you have lived on for generations. It's more than just a place to live. You could say it's a kind of root. like who i am.”
Oliver tilted his head at the unknown words. It was a strange feeling. He seemed intelligible but had a hard time hearing it..
Willes spoke again..
“....But the magic tower did not understand or try to understand this and asked me to leave. They brag about how helpful the research they will do here will be for human history..”
"If you don't mind, would you mind if I share my personal thoughts? You may feel a little offended, but.”
“say it.”
"As far as I know, thanks to the potions and medicines developed here, more people have been able to obtain medicines at cheaper prices. The poor or workers at construction sites. I saw it through people’s words and newspapers. Well then, isn't that true to some extent??”
"The reason the Magic Tower established a research center here is not for the world, but for their own benefit. He helped people by selling medicine, but in the process, he made technological and financial gains. It's never free... . Even if we make a hundred concessions for the benefit of everyone, can we just carelessly ignore the rights of a few people who lived here? … .I’m not criticizing, I’m asking..”
Although he was not without anger, Willes controlled it with reason and calmly asked Oliver, and Oliver was lost in thought instead of answering..
Although there was a distance from Landa's way of thinking, which considered creating personal profit as the most important virtue, this was also an interesting story for Oliver..
"Of course, that doesn't mean there isn't something like that here. This is also a place where people fight with axes and swords several times a month over money. But that doesn’t justify the Magic Tower’s actions..”
"Umm… . So, how did you convince the village? Now that we have a research institute, isn't it true that we've finally reached an agreement??”
"It's not an agreement. The magic tower filed a lawsuit and took it away..”
“A lawsuit?”
"okay. At the Magic Tower, the public interest of Mountain Face was highlighted and a lawsuit was filed with the kingdom's court, saying that it was not right for the village to live as it pleased. It is illegal for people to live here. The kingdom's courts accepted it..”
“oh… ..Is that possible??”
"It was possible. And of course, the trial ended with Magic Tower winning. It was a fight that couldn't be won in the first place..”
“what is the reason?”
"While the Kingdom and the Magic Tower were on the same side, the Kel tribe, the indigenous people here, were just a nuisance. Well, the fact that the villagers didn't have money to hire a lawyer also played a role... . Thanks to this, we were unable to properly rebel, and all the villages that overlapped with the research center site were forcibly demolished, forcing us to leave the land we had lived in for generations and move to another village or go down to Holland. A place where you work 12 to 16 hours a day..”
As Willes finished speaking, he drank water from the bucket. He was calm on the outside, but angry on the inside..
What was impressive was that his anger was not emotional, but rational anger stemming from irrationality..
After drinking all the water, he asked a question..
“….Do you have any questions? I think you're very curious..”
“Yes, then why weren't the villages I stopped by earlier and other villages demolished??”
"It didn't overlap with the lab paper. Research labs also need workers to do small tasks. For example, a hunter who will catch experimental animals, or a herbalist who will dig up herbs... .. The villagers also gave in because they thought they could avoid the disaster..”
"Well, that's fun..”
“okay?”
“Oh, sorry. I just meant that the phenomenon itself is interesting. The Magic Tower lab came in, and this is what happened in the process... ... It's kind of interesting to me. Can I ask one more question??”
"what?”
"Well, it doesn't seem like the villagers around here have a very good feeling about the Magic Tower Research Institute, but there seem to be some who are friendly, so why is that like that??”
"Time has passed, and right now I am making a living off of the work provided by the research institute..”
"....?"
"It's surprisingly common. Even if it seems like people never forget their grudges, in reality, they forget them easily. Especially if you don't have power. So even if everything is taken away, if you only get a part of it back, you will be at a loss... . That's scary. And then forget about it later. Who is the original owner of this land and where are his roots?.”
Willes said with emotion in the last part. Shining with sincere feelings of fear and concern..
“….I'm not sure, but I think I vaguely know what it means. thank you for your kind reply.”
At Oliver's gratitude, Willes was surprised to realize that he had said too much..
It seemed like he said more than I thought..
“.…This is a little unfair..”
"what do you mean?”
"I'm the only one talking. We're helping each other because we all need something, so it's unfair for me to be the only one talking about it, right? What should I talk about??"
"Well, you're not wrong. Well then, let me tell you a joke.?”
“Suddenly a joke?”
“It's a very funny joke..”
“..…Okay, let's hear it. say it.”
"Hmm, hmm… . Three men were playing poker in a bar. One is Kel, one is Kingdom, and the last one is Landain. These three people-”
“-Arrived at the next town!”
The driver shouted through the eye sockets in the front driver's seat..
Oliver looked silently in the direction of the driver..
***
Oliver and Willes got out of the truck when they reached the second village..
The second village was more exclusive than the first, but as soon as Willes took out the sign, that attitude was shed..
Willes immediately went to see the old woman, the village chief, and despite her haggard face, the old woman urgently explained the village's condition..
This village was no different from the previous village..
Rather, the number of missing people was higher, and most of them were children, so it could be said that the situation was more serious..
"Is there anything strange??”
"There are a lot... . Strange beasts are occasionally seen. Like watching over a village. Honestly, it feels more like a monster than a beast. There is also a story about a ghost wandering around at night..”
"Ghost…?”
"yes. They say it looks like a female ghost... Anyway, when the sun goes down, no one can even go out of the village..”
Although it was only a day away from the previous village, the severity of the situation was even more serious..
Villagers who lost their children looked to Willes as their last hope and begged him to help, and Willes calmed them down and promised to resolve the issue. I mean it seriously..
"I need to look more into the surrounding villages..”
After talking with the village chief, Willes approached Oliver and said:.
"I'm thinking of checking out the surrounding villages as well, so why don't you move too?.”
"Yes, but can I go??”
"There are a few villages nearby. If you strengthen your body with magical power and run, it won't take that long..”
Strengthen your body with magical power and run... .. Oliver thought for a moment and took out a map from his arms..
It wasn't anything special, but the research lab in Mountain Face was roughly indicated, so Oliver checked the location of this town and then searched for nearby research labs..
"If you don't mind, how about visiting the lab instead of the village??”
“laboratory?”
"Yes, I don't think I'll get much information even if I go to another town, but I think it would be better to go to the research center.."
Willes didn't object to whether it was a bad idea..
“Where are you going??”
"There is a herbal medicine research center nearby. How about starting from here??”
Oliver said, showing the map..
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