Chapter 330

Chapter 330

The Magic Tower or the Decullan Family.

For the moment, he pushed aside his anxieties regarding what lay ahead. Whatever path he decided to take, there was a pressing matter that demanded immediate attention.

Third-year student dining hall, first floor.

“What do you want?”

Evelyn narrowed her eyes slightly at the boy’s blunt inquiry. Having spent her entire life interacting with merchants, she found this abrasive demeanor highly unpleasant. Yet, despite her internal irritation, she delivered her carefully rehearsed reply.

“Why don’t we relax and discuss it over a drink… What do you say?”

“Do what you want.”

Hickster gave a nod and rose from his chair. Evelyn moved to follow him, but he signaled for her to stay put with a shake of his head. It wasn’t long before two beverages were placed upon the table.

“So, let’s hear it.”

“You haven’t even taken a sip yet. How did your examinations go?”

“Fine.”

“I was under the impression that martial arts students pivot mostly to practical testing starting in their third year.”

“You don’t talk much, do you?”

“No need to.”

The dialogue simply refused to flow. They were complete opposites.

‘Damn it……’

Aster, who was concealing his presence directly behind them to monitor the situation, twitched his cheek at Evelyn’s sharp internal plea.

‘Even she is losing her composure.’

In any case, Aster watched the awkward quiet that settled over the pair with an amused detachment, reminding himself of why this gathering was taking place. The objective was straightforward: secure a meeting with the commander of the Gale Wing Mercenary Corps.

‘It would be best if we could lock this down smoothly.’

According to his recent investigations, the reputation of the Gale Wing Mercenary Corps was skyrocketing. Their current contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the year, and various factions were already pulling out all the stops to secure their next term. Because of this, using Hickster as a bridge was the most direct path.

‘Though whether a deal happens depends on the stipulations.’

Having more choices was always advantageous, regardless of the ultimate outcome. As Aster weighed these thoughts, the conversation at the table started back up.

“It seems you’ve drunk enough by now.”

“Yes, ah… indeed.”

“So, what is the purpose of this?”

Faced with Hickster’s dry interrogation, Evelyn abandoned the meaningless small talk.

“You are affiliated with the Gale Wing Mercenary Corps, correct? I didn’t probe into your background or anything; I simply caught wind of it.”

“Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t a secret. Is this regarding Gale Wing, then?”

“Yes. It’s just that…”

Evelyn trailed off, tilting her head. Hickster had suddenly thrust his palm forward. Lacking any context for the gesture, she stared at him blankly until he broke the silence moments later.

“Beverage money.”

“……Excuse me?”

“Meal vouchers are acceptable as well.”

Evelyn repeated his words internally to ensure she hadn’t misheard. Accepting the bizarre reality of the situation, she retrieved a silver coin from her pouch and presented it to him.

“Keep the change.”

“Understood.”

Hickster slid the silver into his pocket. What a strange character, she thought, but Evelyn quickly smoothed over her expression and returned to business. Straight to the point.

“I require an audience with the leader of Gale Wing. Could you set that up?”

“A meeting with my uncle? What for?”

“I have a contract to offer. And it is likely… an affair that Gale Wing would find highly lucrative.”

The immediate task involved safeguarding the Arafurgin territories, but Evelyn had calculated every detail. She understood exactly what a faction like Gale Wing desired and what terms would successfully recruit them. Consequently, she believed finalizing the arrangement would be a certainty once they met face-to-face. However, there was a catch. Would he actually facilitate it?

Following their brief interaction, she had formed an impression of Hickster’s personality. Who could have anticipated he would demand pocket money for drinks? He was petty enough to rival Aster, perhaps even eclipse him.

Evelyn tuned out Aster’s internal sarcastic commentary and silently observed Hickster as he weighed the request. Naturally, she wouldn’t throw in the towel if he turned her down here, but it would certainly complicate her plans, leaving her anxious.

Yet, for some reason, he didn’t take long to break his silence, and his reply was unexpectedly positive.

“Sure.”

“The timing is perfect. Are you available this upcoming weekend?”

“I have open time, but…”

“My uncle is scheduled to visit Hazen regardless. Setting up a brief introduction shouldn’t be an issue.”

……What? Just like that?

Evelyn’s eyes twitched slightly. This was far too effortless. She anticipated some compliance, but not to this degree. Of course, it wasn’t without strings attached.

“However, there is a stipulation.”

“A… stipulation?”

“Yes.”

“What sort of condition…?”

Hickster’s requirement was basic.

“Aster.”

“Yes?”

“Organize a meeting with him.”

To put it plainly.

“I will handle things with my uncle. You handle things with Aster. Keep Damian out of it. That is my stipulation.”

Once the discussion concluded, Aster and Evelyn relocated to a tranquil bench in an isolated area to debrief.

“I don’t know…”

Hickster’s condition was entirely unpredicted—trading a meeting with Aster for an audience with the commander of Gale Wing.

“Is he still harboring a grudge?”

“He struck me as incredibly petty.”

“But even so?”

Consider the facts. Aster was currently residing at the academy. Anyone could approach him for an encounter whenever they pleased. If revenge was the goal, he could have challenged him to a confrontation at any moment.

“Could it be due to this? He specifically excluded Damian……”

“A psychological trauma?”

“Yes, whispers suggest he couldn’t stand being around Damian until last year. But think about it. Back when Aster was actively roaming the academy, was there ever a period where he wasn’t side-by-side with Damian?”

“Hardly ever?”

“And I couldn’t even corner him back then?”

“Huh……”

Now that she articulated it, the logic held up. Within the academy grounds, he was practically attached to Damian, and during any other time, he was away running errands. Meaning, from Hickster’s perspective, the circumstances made a challenge impossible.

“But even so?”

The scales were heavily unbalanced. Regarding the Master of the Magic Tower, to someone like Hickster, Aster was merely a fortunate street urchin who had managed to slip into the academy. A drifter compared to a premier mercenary commander. Equating those two meetings as an equal trade?

“It remains bizarre, doesn’t it?”

“Completely.”

They pondered the matter further, but no definitive explanation presented itself.

“So, what is your move? Will you agree?”

“Mmm.”

Aster let out a low groan. In truth, the decision had already been made.

“I have to, don’t I?”

He wasn’t requesting funds, merely a swift confrontation. And above all else…

“If he wants to get beaten to a pulp, then we might as well give him what he wants.”

“Again?”

Evelyn turned pale as if she wanted no part in it, but Aster nodded as though it were the most natural conclusion.

“Children mature by taking a few hits. And… you understand now as well, right? He earned it.”

Evelyn offered no reply, nor did she attempt to argue. The orientation ceremony from two years prior was one thing, but witnessing Hickster’s behavior today made it impossible to deny. She simply offered a quiet plea.

“……You still need to meet the leader of Gale Wing, so don’t go overboard.”

“Why are you so single-mindedly focused on Gale Wing anyway?”

“……Eh?”

“Kalia is a viable alternative, yet you behave as though it absolutely has to be them.”

“Did I…?”

Evelyn tilted her head innocently. But beneath her neutral facade, her mind was racing. Her initial phase in generating illicit funds required securing a reliable business associate. She viewed Gale Wing as far less meddlesome than Kalia. Kalia held a deep reverence for the Magic Tower, whereas Gale Wing remained largely detached. Mercenaries, provided their profits remained unharmed, would look the other way even if circumstances appeared highly irregular.

“In that case, when should the meeting take place?”

“……Tomorrow after our lectures.”

The date was locked in. Two years later, a confrontation was set that could serve as retribution for that fateful orientation ceremony.

The evening prior to the weekend.

As the academy students dragged their exhausted bodies back to the dormitories, a lone figure navigated toward a shadowed, isolated sector of the grounds. Standing nearly two meters tall with a build reminiscent of a bear, Hickster walked with measured paces, his eyes cast downward.

That gaze radiated a piercing chill, akin to a soldier steeling himself before a skirmish—not raging, but frozen solid. And why wouldn’t he feel that way? Two long years had passed. Today was the day to erase the lingering humiliation.

On that day, there had been a boy.

• “Hey, friend. You’re making a mess of things. Why don’t we call it a day?” *

An arrogant tone.

• “Would you rather not discuss this?” *

• “Yeah.” *

• “Fine by me, then.” *

The individual deflected his strike with utter nonchalance and subsequently accepted the challenge with equal indifference. Initially, he believed he would demolish him effortlessly.

• “Wow, you’re quite durable.” *

A completely one-sided match.

• “Cheers!” *

Faint whistling echoed in his ears as consciousness slipped away, accompanied by the booming cheers of the onlookers. Pure degradation.

Following that event, everything shifted. Word spread like wildfire that he had suffered a defeat in a fistfight against a mage. Consequently, his brother stripped away his standing immediately, and the family retainers abandoned him one after another.

Not that he particularly cared. The status of the young family head, even the patriarchal seat itself, had never truly mattered to him. He could have endured the fallout, but Hickster saw no point in fighting the societal pressure. Something far more vital occupied his mind.

What was it?

Raaagh!

That fist accelerating toward his charging form. The monstrous strength coiled within it. And… his personal path.

It was in that exact instant that Hickster had collided with an insurmountable wall.

‘……Can I ever close that gap?’

He couldn’t even comprehend what it meant to face such a barrier from the strike of a mage who didn’t even study martial arts. Yet one reality remained absolute.

‘I must break through it.’

Only by doing so could he advance. The reason he avoided Damian wasn’t actually due to psychological trauma. He desired a pure conflict, completely devoid of outside interference… though the past humiliation did play a minor role. If he could fracture that wall, coordinating an introduction with his uncle, the commander of Gale Wing, was a trivial price to pay.

Regardless, he arrived at the designated barren location and closed his eyes, steadying his heartbeat. Shortly after, a voice cut through the quiet.

“You’re early, aren’t you?”

A brusque greeting.

Hickster turned to face Aster, looking at him as though squaring off against the very mountain he was destined to scale, reinforcing his resolve. He then spat out the single word he had harbored internally for two entire years.

“Duel.”

“Sure.”

As expected, Aster delivered a casual confirmation. However, Hickster’s follow-up request caught even Aster off guard.

“Let’s settle this cleanly, using only fists.”

Aster stared at him, thinking to himself: Is this… absolute madman serious?

A martial artist demanding a fistfight with a mage, while proclaiming it to be a fair contest. A biting wind swept across the space between them—an incredibly icy breeze.