Genius Warlock

Chapter 298

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Knock, knock.

Oliver tapped on the door, hoping for a response.

Silence filled the air, and Oliver patiently waited before attempting another knock.

Knock, knock.

Once again, the door remained silent. Oliver maintained his composure and knocked once more.

This repeated several times.

Finally, Derick, consumed by apathy, annoyance, misfortune, and self-pity, erupted from his seat and forcefully swung the door open.

"Ah, enough...!"

Derick, typically neat and tidy, now sported disheveled hair and a slight beard, revealing his face to the world.

Upon seeing Oliver, a hint of surprise flashed across his face.

It was as if he hadn't expected to see that particular face, as if he believed he had a scheduled visitor.

Regardless, Oliver greeted him.

"Hello, Mr. Derick."

Perplexed by the situation, Derick rubbed his eyes in silence before uttering a question.

"...Why on earth are you here?"

Derick, his mind hardened by the weight of negative emotions, inquired with a strained voice.

It wasn't entirely surprising. There was little reason for Oliver and Derick to cross paths.

"I've come to deliver a message from the professor."

"...Professor Kevin?"

"Yes, he mentioned that you've missed too many classes. Normally, that would result in a fail, but he's willing to consider it if you start attending and take the final exam."

Derick pondered for a while, his eyes bearing dark circles, before shaking his head.

The grip of negative emotions influenced his thinking.

"...Don't lie."

"Pardon?"

"I said, don't lie."

"I assure you, I'm not lying."

Oliver spoke the truth.

After Oliver conveyed his intention to meet with Derick and arrange his return to class, Kevin offered the concession.

He believed that in order to persuade someone, you needed at least a bargaining chip.

"Why do you think I'm lying?"

"Because that professor despises us. And not only is he sending an employee, but he's also granting such a concession? It doesn't make sense."

"While he may be strict, he doesn't hate you... well, he might have a slight dislike, but he doesn't lie."

Oliver recollected Kevin's usual demeanor and corrected his words.

However, it appeared to have little effect.

Derick radiated disbelief, mingled with a glimmer of hope and fear.

The fear of failure.

As these emotions peeked through, Derick recoiled like a man threatened by fire, and his determination wavered.

"...Regardless, I don't care. You can leave now."

Derick attempted to nonchalantly shut the door.

Confronted with such a demeanor, Oliver unconsciously asked a question, driven by his curiosity. The question escaped his lips before he could stop it.

"What are you so afraid of?"

Oliver's words pierced directly into Derick's vulnerable spot, causing him considerable pain. Filled with anger, Derick forcefully swung the door open, his face inches away from Oliver's.

His imposing height and physique had no impact on Oliver.

"What did you just say?"

"I asked why you're so afraid."

Unfazed by Derick's rage, Oliver remained calm.

"I apologize if I upset you. However, I genuinely can't comprehend."

"What can't you understand?"

"To my knowledge, during the time you attended the professor's class, your skills improved dramatically. I don't understand why you've suddenly become so passive... I thought you were remarkable."

"What do you know to speak like that?"

"I occasionally observe you in the professor's class and review the evaluations he gives to his students. It's written there that your skills have steadily improved."

That was an undeniable fact.

Derick didn't hold Kevin in high regard, and the feeling was mutual. However, Kevin acknowledged Derick's ability, talent, and unwavering determination.

"I, too, believe you are excellent."

Oliver spoke, recalling his encounter with Derick.

Those who witnessed their clash only remembered the vast difference in skill, but Oliver remembered Derick's growth and unyielding spirit.

It was genuinely impressive.

Yet, perhaps due to the lingering negative emotions within Derick, he rejected Oliver's words and struggled to misinterpret them.

Flames and scattered mana filled the air.

Derick became flustered, and Oliver capitalized on that momentary lapse to close the distance.

Using both Tonfas as shields, he approached swiftly.

Zha-zha-jak-!!

Despite his flustered state, Derick thrust his longsword at Oliver as he closed in. Oliver formed a shield with both Tonfas, deftly deflecting the attack, and closed the distance even further.

He then choked Derick's neck with the Tonfa handle, lifted one leg, and knocked Derick down.

Derick lost his balance and fell.

He immediately discarded the useless longsword, drew a dagger from his back waist, and attempted to stab Oliver. However, Oliver had anticipated this move after reading Derick's emotions.

BAM!

When Oliver swung his Tonfa like an axe, the dagger fell helplessly from Derick's hand, and the other Tonfa was pressed against the unarmed Derick's neck.

It was clearly the end of the match.

Apart from the bet, Derick's pride may have been wounded, and he should have been angry. However, instead of anger, relief radiated from Derick.

"...So, the rumors are true."

"What rumors are you referring to?"

"You... the rumor that you're a mercenary or an experiment that the professor picked up during his war wizard days."

Oliver tilted his head at the unexpected words.

‘Huh? Well... isn't that technically correct? I met the professor for the first time during his war wizard days, and I was working as a solver at the time.'

Although not entirely accurate, it was a somewhat fitting story.

Derick continued speaking.

"If that's not the case, then it doesn't make sense for you to be so strong. The story that you're a lazy kid from a wealthy family doesn't make sense either."

"What do you mean by a lazy kid from a wealthy family?"

"Only those who pay their way into the Tower spend their vacation like an employee of the professor."

"Ah..."

"What's your true identity?"

Derick inquired, but Oliver simply shook his head.

"Sorry, but it appears that I've won the bet?"

Derick shook his head.

"Hey, do you know how the outcome is determined in a wizard's match without a referee?"

"No?"

"One side surrenders or is completely incapacitated!"

Derick shouted and released the mana inherent in his body, engulfing himself in flames, swiftly getting up.

He pushed Oliver away with a powerful burst of flame, and then took the opportunity–

–Thud!!

However, instead of achieving his goal, Oliver countered by striking Derick's side with his Tonfa, narrowly avoiding the intended target. This move was made possible by expelling mana from his body to counteract Derick's firepower.

"Ah, thank you for the lesson."

Derick winced in pain.

He attempted to cast magic once again, reigniting his fighting spirit, but Oliver preemptively disrupted the spell by striking the gathering mana source with his Tonfa, then struck Derick's leg with another blow.

Thump!

There was a dull sound. Thankfully, nothing broke, but it caused considerable pain.

While not an easy skill, Oliver had acquired the know-how while training with the Joseph family and the fighter crew.

The technique of inflicting pain while avoiding major injuries.

Oliver struck Derick's back, limiting his mobility, then targeted his shoulder when he attempted to counterattack, and finally aimed at his side, which had recovered.

Derick's body contorted in pain.

Oliver looked down at Derick and felt awkward. He had to knock him out because Derick wasn't the type to surrender, but he wasn't sure how to accomplish that without causing harm.

Striking his head could prove fatal... Eventually, after careful consideration, Oliver decided to continue striking Derick until he surrendered.

Thump! Thwack!! Bang! Boom! Thud-!!

After a prolonged assault, when Derick was exhausted, he asked a question.

"Why... did you hide your skills to this extent?"

"First, let's knock you out, and then we can talk... Ah..."

Oliver halted his attack when he noticed Derick's emotional state. Derick no longer possessed the will to fight.

It wasn't broken by fear or pain; rather, it seemed like he had accepted something.

"Um... I didn't exactly hide them. I merely acted according to my position and role."

"...You seem familiar with this kind of training. Have you done it often?"

"Um... a little?"

After contemplating for a while, Oliver answered. In truth, he had a prior arrangement to do it again tonight—with the Fighter Crew in District X.

(To be Continued)

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