140. Contractual relationship
Oliver, who was in the deep darkness, slowly opened his eyes.
As if he had slept for a while, his mind was hazy but refreshing. There, the whole body was pleasantly warm. Where the hell is this…
Oliver raised his arm and looked at himself.
He was lying naked in a large bathtub, not wearing a single thread.
The color of the water was odd. Judging by the flow of magical power, it looked like a mixture of potions.
“yes····?”
Oliver got up and looked around.
First time seeing the space. It was more like a laboratory than a bathroom.
I groped for what had happened, but unfortunately I couldn’t remember anything.
I was so tired, and probably because I slept for a long time, my brain was filled with only noise like a broken communication device.
All I can vaguely remember is talking to someone.
It was only the memory of sitting on the sofa with a table in between in an alien space where all sides were black and talking with someone.
‘And I ate warm milk and cookies… Chocolate cookies. What did you talk about?’
At that moment, he felt dizzy, and Oliver crossed his arms.
I thought it would be good if anyone could explain this situation now. Then, just in time, a voice was heard.
“Oh, are you awake?”
When I turned my head, I saw Merlin coming into the entrance.
He was holding a towel and clothes and, above all, he was well-dressed.
It was a unique form of mixing a suit and a robe, and the sleeves and hem were decorated with gold.
But it wasn’t awkward. On the contrary, it even matched that figure as if it was the real one.
“Are you old?”
“exactly. Seeing you recognize me, it doesn’t seem like there’s a big problem with your head. Don’t you remember anything?”
Oliver stood there and tried to remember.
Fortunately, seeing Merlin, the scattered pieces of memories seemed to come together little by little.
“·······I fought an old man. I want to check my worth.”
“I would have liked to have told you first about how I helped. Hearing those stories, I must be a bad person… Well, the bad guy is right.”
As a joke, Merlin smiled and spoke again.
“Is there anything else you can remember?”
“I had a fight with an old man. And I was unilaterally teased.”
“…well, that’s right.”
“Then I smoked a pilgaret…. I can’t remember anything after that. I think I surrendered because it was hard, right?”
“…that’s right. Well, don’t worry, you’ve satisfied me enough. If I had been disappointed in the first place, I would have dumped it in that icy land and came alone. How about your body?”
Oliver looked at himself. Fatigue went away to wash away, and the wounds from the battle were completely healed.
Although the scars from the orphanages and mines remained faint.
“it’s okay.”
“Good luck. A little more soak, though. Don’t brag about the stuff that’s loose between your legs.”
Oliver looked between his legs and said.
“no. You can come out now.”
“That’s not what I mean. If you take that bath once, you’ll get hundreds of millions of dollars, so it means more soaking. It’s not worth it.”
As soon as he heard those words, Oliver immersed himself in the bathtub up to his neck.
“Hundreds of millions?”
“exactly. I used top quality potions and herbs. Thanks to this, it is effective for years old fatigue and minor skin diseases, skin whitening, wrinkle improvement, age spots removal, back pain, arthritis, and constipation. Expensive, but the effect is real.”
Oliver believed it. In fact, Oliver’s health was the best he’s ever been.
“thank you.”
“Well, don’t thank me too much. You don’t just do it.”
“Do I have to pay?”
Merlin grinned at that. like it’s really funny.
“It doesn’t look like it, do you think you’re afraid of money?”
“Yeah, if it’s hundreds of millions, you have to work for at least a few months.”
“Hmm····. Don’t worry about money. If it’s money, I also have it so I don’t run out. Instead, I want to be rewarded with something else.”
“When you say something else, what do you mean?”
“For now, how about taking a break and talking? It’s not urgent.”
Oliver nodded.
Merlin said, leaving the clothes and towels he had brought on the table.
“Soak for an hour or two more, then change into these clothes. My original clothes became rags and I threw them away.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Then take a break. I will see you.”
“Here, old man.”
Oliver called Merlin to come out.
“What?”
“Can you feel the touch and taste even in your dreams?”
“dream? As far as I know, no. Did you have any dreams?”
“No, no.”
***
As Merlin said, Oliver soaked in the bathtub for an hour or two before heading out.
My head was spinning because I had been in the hot bath for a long time, but soon the blood returned. As Merlin said, it was expensive, but the effect seemed to be certain.
Oliver wiped himself with a towel, changed clothes, and went outside.
The inside was so wide that I had no idea where to go, but luckily, the wooden doll-golem guarding the front door bowed as if to guide me.
“Then, please.”
The wooden doll-golem looked up in surprise and then nodded and started walking. Oliver followed after him.
After walking down the long hallway for a while, the wooden doll-golem stopped in front of an old-fashioned door. Then he bowed his back slightly as if to enter, beckoning.
Oliver opened the door as instructed.
When I opened the door and went inside, I saw a huge library with many books on the wall.
Oliver looked around in admiration.
As I looked around, there were not only many books, but also various types of books. Not just the field, but the language and even the time zone.
“Is that great?”
Said Merlin, who was sorting books on the other side. Unlike before, he had changed into clothes that were comfortable for activities.
“Yes····. I have never seen so many books in my life. That’s why it’s called an archive?”
Merlin said, sorting out the book.
“Similar, but slightly different.”
“okay····. Would it be okay if I could help you organize the books?”
“After all, you are polite for a young man these days. These days, I just look at things with a blank slate… Then can you help me?”
Merlin magically lifted a pile of books and handed it to Oliver.
“Hey, put it in section E. According to the number on the book.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Oliver answered, went to where Merlin said, and began to put the book.
I unconsciously looked at the title of the book.
“…the correlation between social institutions, the economy, and the poor?”
“Why is it strange? Is there such a book in the wizard’s library?”
Merlin in the distance asked.
“no····. I was just curious what the book was.”
“As the title says. This book deals with the relationship between social institutions, the economy, and the poor. It is a special medicine for the treatment of insomnia.”
Oliver nodded and put the book down. I read the next book.
“The necessity and justification for colonization?”
“It is a book as its name implies. A book that explains why colonies should be built, and why it is justified. Writers these days tend to give names a little rudely… By any chance, do you know what a colony is?”
Oliver nodded. I learned from the newspaper and Jane.
“Yes.”
“Then, please explain.”
Merlin paused and asked, not sorting out the books.
“Well····. Isn’t it a foreign country or land governed by the United Kingdom?”
“Hey, it’s not exactly accurate, but it’s pretty accurate…. Do you know how colonies are formed?”
Oliver answered, recalling what Jane had said.
“With advanced culture and sincere diplomacy?”
“her. her. her····. Well, that’s not wrong either. It is true that it is through advanced culture.”
With those words, Merlin pretended to shoot a gun.
It seemed far from the peaceful transfer of sovereignty that Jane was talking about.
“Then what is true diplomacy?”
“Consider dissatisfied internal forces or protect the rights and interests of existing vested interests. Governing requires a certain amount of spontaneity, so it treats the few in the colony well. Not clever.”
“…Then, what about the rest of the people?”
“Exploit. It’s like pressing grapes with a grape press.”
“Is that so?”
“exactly. You conquered it for that.”
Oliver thought and asked.
“…they say that they promote belief and trust by implementing beneficial policies to protect their sovereignty. Is that false?”
“No lies. For example, in the country of Adin, there is a barbaric system that punishes people with flogging if they fail to pay their taxes. We improved it and banned it.”
“Oh, that’s good.”
“Instead, seize the land.”
“…isn’t it better?”
“I don’t know that either. Most of those who had been deprived of their land either starved to death or wandered elsewhere, unable to inquire.”
“Did you see it for yourself?”
“exactly. Since then, War Mage has been released. Thanks to you, I was able to see and learn a lot.”
“ah·····. IM jealous.”
Oliver said without realizing it.
“I can see and learn a lot…. I knew it from the beginning, but recently I learned that there are a lot of things I don’t know.”
“You have learned a lot. There is no greater learning than realizing one’s own folly. In that sense, I have a suggestion for you.”
“A suggestion?”
“exactly. Don’t you want to learn magic from me?”
“···········?”
Oliver frowned and remained silent. An awkward silence lay in the study room.
“I’m sorry, can you answer me? It’s disappointing.”
“ah·····. Sorry, old man. But, I wonder if I heard it wrong. Are you teaching me magic?”
“exactly. Is it very strange?”
“Honestly, yes. As far as I know, I’ve heard that they don’t teach magic except for wizards belonging to the Magic Tower or the Order.”
“It’s not wrong. Knowledge is precious. You can’t teach a dog or a cow. That’s why I don’t plan to teach you for free.”
“then····?”
“Allow me to do a simple experiment on you.”
“Experiment?”
“exactly. It’s not like I’m going to slit my stomach like a frog. I’m just going to do a few tests. maybe.”
“What test?”
“Until that point, I can’t answer. Do it or not, but answer me.”
At Merlin’s words, Oliver pondered for a long time before asking a question.
“So, are you saying that you will be my teacher in return for my experiments?”
“You are a teacher…. Well, that’s what it is. If you teach me magic, you are a teacher.”
“I’m sorry, but I will decline.”
Merlin’s eyes widened. As if this answer was not expected.
“Did I hear right now?”
“Yes, old man.”
Merlin’s reaction was more of curiosity than anger.
It was a bit difficult to guess because he couldn’t see his emotions because he was surrounded by a magical wall, but he seemed to be curious.
“her···. That’s amazing. May I ask what the reason is? I don’t think you’ll just turn down opportunities for learning because of your personality. Do you feel uncomfortable being the subject of an experiment?”
“No, it is not. On the contrary, I would be grateful if I could learn magic that much.”
“Then why? It may sound like an old man brag, but there are quite a few who seek my teaching. It’s the young friend’s freedom to refuse, but I want you to tell me why.”
“Can I be honest with you?”
“Of course. If you are not honest, you will feel worse.”
“Then let me be honest. If I were to have an old man as a teacher, I would have to follow the old man’s orders, and that’s a little on my mind.”
“Are you the type of person who doesn’t like to listen to orders?”
“no. However, there may be some things in those orders that I don’t like. Then I wouldn’t obey, that would be breaking my promise to the old man. So I declined because I thought it would be better not to create such a situation at all.”
Upon hearing Oliver’s answer, Merlin looked surprised, as if he had seen an idiot, and then suddenly began to laugh. like it’s very funny.
After laughing for a while, Merlin opened his mouth.
“ah·····. I’m sorry. I don’t see anyone in my life who doesn’t seize the opportunity for that reason. To be honest, I’m stupid.”
“sorry.”
“Well, how about doing this?”
“Yes?”
“If there is anything I can do for you, I will recommend it. Without orders… Then you don’t have to follow it unconditionally. are you proposing How are you?”
“It’s good for me, but…. Would you mind?”
“I am also interested in testing you. There are already plenty of friends to ask for chores. Let’s just set the rules and build a relationship. Then I will help you with your problems.”
“Is it a problem? What are you talking about?”
“Rossburn and the other kids. Even though you rescued them from the abyss, that doesn’t mean their sales have improved. A wide, scattered orphan with nowhere to lean on.”
At that moment, Oliver was slightly shocked.
That was correct. Although the children got out of the worst situation, it wasn’t the end. The children needed a place to stay.
Merlin asked, just in case.
“Are you going to feed them all?”
“No, not that.”
“her! To answer so quickly… Well, maybe that’s a good thing. Even so, it would be a bit odd to drive the children out into the streets, so I’ll take care of it for you. To be precise, I entrust it to an institution that I have a connection with.”
“Is the institution related to wizards?”
“exactly. It would be terrifying to see children abused by wizards be entrusted with another wizard, but what’s the point? The reality is that if you don’t have the power, your choices become narrower. Any problem?”
Oliver thought for a moment and shook his head.
This was the best. If they went to an orphanage, they would soon become self-reliant, and they had no other place to trust. A moment came to mind, but it seemed a bit inappropriate.
“Then, I will gratefully accept the elder’s suggestion.”
“Finally, we have reached an agreement. From now on, I will speak comfortably. First of all, write a contract.”
“A contract? Do the original wizards write contracts?”
“No, but in the case of you and me, it’s better to do it because we both put conditions on each other, isn’t it? Just like words have no form, they change over time. A contract is required to be certain.”
“Oh, I see····. So, can you add one more? There is one more thing I want to learn from you.”
“Oh my gosh, you are so blatant. Something?”
“Can you teach me about the world? A world wider and more numerous than I was taught.”
Merlin made a strange expression. It was not well differentiated, but it seemed satisfied.
“If that’s the case, there’s no need to write it down.”
“···Yes?”
“Look around for yourself. It’s the best way to know the world. The world you learn through someone’s mouth is not the real world. It’s a fabricated world.”