Genius Warlock

is it, Master?”

“Black magic? Ha…well, it’s similar to Black Magic.”

Oliver tilted his head again. 

The conversation was subtly out of focus, and Oliver didn’t dig deep into it.

Oliver paused for a moment, then opened his mouth carefully.

“Master.
Then, is my work over here?”

Oliver asked Joseph who was putting the money back into the bag.

“For now? Why?”

“Then, can I go back?”

“Why? Why are you trying to go back already?”

” I thought it would be inconvenient for Master if I stayed without anything to do, Or, is there anything for me to do here, Master?”

“Yeah, of course, there is.
I’m going to pick up Andrew tomorrow and I need someone to help me.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll stay.”

“That’s good…but before that, there’s one more thing I need you to help with.”

“Tell me, Master.”

“You should have a grand dinner with me today.”

Those words were not a figure of or a metaphor.

  

In the evening, Joseph bought Oliver a decent suit, and he was taken to a restaurant.

Then they sat down together in the best seat overlooking the beautiful scenery outside.

“You look pretty good when you dress up like this.
Is it uncomfortable?”

“Slightly.”

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Oliver answered, glancing at the suit he wore for the first time.

It wasn’t really that uncomfortable, but it felt like his posture was restricted according to the clothes.

“I’m glad that’s the case…Ah, Just bring me the usual, Joey.”

After ordering the Waiter, Joseph looked back at Oliver.

The two looked at each other silently, and after a while, Joseph opened his mouth.

“Oh my gosh…Why are you so quiet today? Even when we first met, you kept on asking a lot of questions.”

“… I’m sorry, Master.
I was so excited back then.”

“No, no.
I’m not scolding you, I’m just asking if you have anything to say.
When you’re alone with me, you can say anything.
Ask a question or even flattery will do…”

Oliver recalled the children who used to flatter the supervisor in the mines in the past.

“Today, Master… you look cool?”

“My head’s spinning.
I’m not really asking you to flatter me.
Also, why did you ask with a question mark at the end?”

“I’m sorry, master.”

“Ha…really, ask me anything.
For example, when I brought you to the family, why did I just leave you as an informal disciple? Although you didn’t ask this, hasn’t this always been in your heart?”

“I think there must be a deep … meaning.”

“Yes, that’s how flattery works.
And you’re right… Come to think of it, I never really gave you a proper class since there was a lot of work.
Thinking that I have prepared this place today, so answer me.
What do you think is the basic qualification for being a warlock?”

Oliver was lost in thought when asked a sudden question.

The qualification… 

It was a difficult question for Oliver, who easily became a Warlock.

“Aspiration.”

“Right!”

Joseph said while snapping his fingers.

“It’s the aspiration.
The reason doesn’t matter… Whether it’s a desire for money, power, or black magic.
A desire for something.
That’s the greatest quality of a Warlock.”

“…if so, then why did you take in Marie and Peter?”

“Why? Did you hear something?”

“Yeah… I just happened to hear it.”

Joseph leaned thoughtfully on the back of his chair.

“…I remember.
Marie lived in a place where the filth of a dye mill was pouring out.
She almost got herself raped when I first met her?”

“Was she scared?”

“Yeah, they were neighborhood thugs.
I was just passing by, so I saved her.
At that time, the poison in her eyes was impressive.
She didn’t have much talent, but she had a great desire for power, so I bought her.”

“… I see.”

Oliver said numbly.

Joseph spoke again as if lost in memory.

“Peter lived in a single room with three other family members besides his family, and every day was hell.
Thanks to that, he had a great desire for success and he also had some talent, so I took him in.”

Oliver nodded and asked.

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“Then… Are the other disciples also similar?”

“Yes.
The more desperate they are, the more eager you are to learn black magic and the more you can immerse yourself in it….
But you lacked that.”

“Pardon?”

“A desire for black magic.
You thought it was fun and was willing to learn, but you thought nothing more.
What can I say… There was no other way.
So I put you in as an informal disciple.
I thought you might fall into despair when you got pushed around.
But, it didn’t work out.”

“Sorry for my incapability, Master.
I will study hard.”

“Then….., if Andrew returns and asks you for the position of Direct Disciple again, are you planning on offering it?”

“Yes, all I need is to learn black magic……”

“That’s not possible.
A warlock is all about power.
Power is Absolute.
A person who easily yields his place to others, no matter how talented he is, he will soon be eaten.”

“…Did Master become a warlock that way?”

“What?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.
I asked a question without permission… I was curious.”

“Did you ask how I became a warlock?”

“Yes, please forgive me if I made a mistake, Master.”

“Well, not to that extent… Actually, Like you, I was picked up by my master and I became a warlock.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah.
I learned how to run a family from my master.
And at first, I wasn’t a very enthusiastic disciple.
I was satisfied in life without begging or stealing.”

“then…”

“Because I got to see a wider world.
That’s right, this hotel.”

Joseph exaggeratedly stretched out his hands and pointed to the hotel.

“When I came to this hotel while helping my master, it was the first time I knew that there were such wonderful places in this world.
And I also learned a sad fact.”

“What is that Master?”

“If I live like this, neither during this life nor after death, I would never be able to taste this world….So I tried to become a capable warlock like my Master, this is how I became a great warlock.”

“Then, Master must have developed a passion for black magic after coming to this hotel.”

“Yes! That’s right.
I decided to become a great warlock by any means.
And, God helped me.”

It was ironic. 

Oliver wondered how God helped Joseph to become a warlock. 

“…if it’s okay with you, may I ask how your master taught you?”

At that moment, Joseph’s emotions flickered as if that question stabbed him at his sore spot.

“that….”

“You must have been waiting, Sir.
The food has arrived.”

A waiter appeared just in time. 

He skillfully put down the plate.

On a pure white plate, there was a dish of white fish with a dipping sauce, which smelled very good.

Joseph patted his mouth.

“First eat, let’s talk after eating, I’m hungry.”