Chapter 103 – The Place Reached Against the Current (Five)

Beyond the curtain was a ward.

Fizzle—

Under dim white lights.

Dust mixed with concrete powder floated acridly.

“Huuu… huuuk….”

“Hyung… it hurts… sob… it hurts so much….”

With every toss and turn of the injured, the rusty bed frames creaked.

Some had lost a limb.

Others had skin hideously blistered.

Or turned a rotten, bluish-purple, as if dead.

“They’re all victims of Magic. We’ve done first aid, but without a proper doctor….”

Colin spoke in a bitter voice.

It wasn’t that there were no doctors or individuals with medical knowledge within the Sector.

It was just that the Opposition Faction, with their overwhelmingly large occupied territory, had secured all such personnel.

Truthfully, even if a doctor came, it was questionable if they could save these lives.

The wounds these people had suffered were fatal injuries that would make anyone think of death.

“With Magic… can such severe injuries be healed?”

“I think it’s possible.”

Colin’s cautious question.

Ray, with a deeply shocked expression, looked at Veronica walking between the beds as he spoke.

The red-haired girl’s Vessel was filled with worry several times greater than what she usually felt upon seeing the unfortunate.

‘The power of Magic is also proportional to emotion.’

The factors Ray had identified that determined a spell’s power were threefold.

The associated emotion.

The amount of Mana used in the spell.

And the caster’s proficiency.

Most of Veronica’s Rings were filled with White Mana, the core element of Healing Magic.

Furthermore, Veronica had recently improved her proficiency significantly through repeated use of Healing Magic —though the primary cause was mostly a boy who treated his body like a racing car tire.

Emotion. Mana quantity. Proficiency.

They might not all be at their maximum, but they were certainly at a level that couldn’t be ignored.

So the boy was also curious.

‘If Veronica uses Healing Magic with all her might, what level of effect would it have?’

Then, Veronica’s White Mana began to surge.

“It would be better to close your eyes.”

“Huh? Wha, wha—?”

Colin, who had been flustered looking at Ray and Philip, who for some reason were now wearing sunglasses, was—

Fwaaaah—!

—blinded by the light that flooded his vision.

“W-wait, what is th—.”

Squinting and flailing, Colin soon fell silent as he realized a change was occurring.

As the light diminished, the groans of the injured were fading.

When the light finally disappeared and Colin opened his eyes, he couldn’t hide his astonishment.

The blistered skin had returned to normal, the swelling at the wounds had subsided, and the blood that had been seeping incessantly through the bandages had stopped.

It couldn’t be said they were completely healed, but there was a tremendous improvement, visible even to the naked eye.

Haaaa—

Huuuu—

The faces of the injured, once contorted in pain, were now peaceful, and their breathing had also eased.

“This is Magic….”

While Colin was still reeling from the shock, Ray stood up from his seat.

With quick steps, he moved and caught Veronica from behind as she collapsed.

“D-did I do well?”

Veronica looked up at Ray with an exhausted smile and asked.

The girl’s Rings were completely empty.

The worry that had filled her Vessel to the brim had also diminished considerably.

“Tell me I did well, quickly.”

The girl pinched the back of the boy’s hand.

She seemed to feel proud of what she had done and wanted that confirmed.

Ray looked down at the pain on the back of his hand and spoke calmly.

“You did well.”

While thinking that now he could push his body even harder in battle.

A satisfied smile spread across Veronica’s face upon receiving the praise.

Ray helped Veronica return to her seat and sit down.

Drrrrr—

And as he closed the curtain, he said,

“Now we can talk, right? We don’t even need to move.”

From beyond the curtain, the only sounds were peaceful breathing.

“I had no idea the power of Healing Magic was like this. Especially since I’ve never once seen the enemy Wizards use it.”

Colin spoke with a face full of awe.

Ray thought that was somewhat to be expected.

The type of element contained in a Ring was presumed to vary depending on the Wizard’s disposition.

White Mana, the core of Healing Magic, filled the Rings of those with great consideration or concern for others.

It didn’t seem likely that those who committed crimes lived with such feelings in their hearts.

‘It’s not that the possibility of White Mana existing in their Rings is entirely nonexistent.’

Anyway, the type of element contained in a Ring only reflects the disposition at the specific moment the Ring was created.

If a person who was kind in the past created a Ring at that point, they could possess White Mana itself.

Of course, even if they used Healing Magic with it, it wouldn’t be very efficient.

One of the factors that amplifies a spell’s power is emotion.

Those who have forgotten worry and consideration wouldn’t be able to use Healing Magic effectively.

“Niles Hyung was like a father to me.”

Having moved past the lingering awe of the Healing Magic, Colin slowly began his story.

“His depth of thought was different. It was hard to believe he was only a year older than me. Brook… that bastard probably thought of Hyung as a father too. At least back then.”

Niles, Colin, Brook.

All three were street orphans, and he said they first met as enemies, each leading different Gangs.

“It was a life-or-death war every day. It was unavoidable. On the streets, the moment you’re looked down upon is the moment you get devoured.”

As if in agreement, Philip nodded.

The victor of the long war was Niles, and the Gangs were unified into one.

“Both Brook and I showed strong resistance at first. But it didn’t take long to realize Niles Hyung was a person of a different caliber than us. After that, we followed him sincerely.”

After that, the three stayed together.

They formed an organization to realize Niles’s ideals and ran tirelessly towards that goal.

And at the moment when everything was on the verge of success…

“…that incident occurred.”

Niles was attacked by remnants of a hostile organization and fell into the Elton River.

A search was conducted, but not even a body could be found, and the man they had followed for half their lives did not appear even after months had passed.

“Everyone outwardly denied Hyung’s death. But subconsciously, everyone acknowledged it. That he had been swept downstream, to a place where he could never be found again.”

Bang—!

That was the moment Colin slammed his fist down.

The glass covering the table cracked with a crack.

“But, Brook, that son of a bitch… Grinds teeth… I understand now. Him opposing the existing policy as if he’d been waiting for Hyung to disappear, his strangely obsessive focus on building his own faction all along… all of it, everything.”

The drops of blood falling from his fist seemed to go unnoticed by him.

His Vessel seethed with a vicious rage.

“He was calculated. Or, in a way, maybe we were the fools. We were at odds over ideology, but we never thought he would attack his own comrades.”

Having successfully secretly brought in external forces, Brook ambushed the Loyalist Faction within the same Hideout.

The defenseless Loyalist Faction was driven into the streets and brutally slaughtered.

“More than half of the Loyalist Faction died then. Yes, at the hands of those who were comrades until yesterday.”

Blood dripped.

On the Sector map spread over the table.

It flowed, tracing the pen marks along the streets, like a long river.

“Once again… I formally request. Wizards, could you help us?”

Colin’s earnest plea.

Ray turned his gaze to Philip and Veronica.

“I’ll follow your opinion.”

“Right. You’re the leader.”

The two left the choice entirely to Ray.

‘Ray said himself he hardly feels emotions.’

‘But just listening to the story, he seems like a mentor-like figure. Wouldn’t it be like the feeling I have for my grandfather?’

In a way, it was respect.

They thought the person named Niles must hold special meaning for Ray.

But Ray, who was actually given the choice, showed a lukewarm reaction.

‘Am I missing something?’

The thought that he should help Colin still didn’t come to him.

However, what bothered him were the feelings of regret and lingering attachment Niles had shown when talking about Sector 46.

Regret and lingering attachment.

He hadn’t known before, but now he knew.

When sadness was drawn up, the two emotions that appeared alongside it were precisely regret and lingering attachment.

「If only I had run a little faster.」

「If only I had arrived at the underpass earlier.」

「If I had, wouldn’t Niles and the underpass children have avoided death?」

When something unachieved was left in the past.

That’s when regret and lingering attachment appeared.

‘Niles also left something behind in Sector 46.’

That fact was certain.

But even after listening to Colin’s story about Niles, he couldn’t discern the identity of that ‘something.’

Am I missing something?

Is there something I failed to grasp?

“May I give you an answer by tomorrow morning?”

“Yes. Of course!”

At Ray’s words that he would consider it, Colin’s face brightened considerably.

Colin then finished with a brief explanation of the current war situation to aid Ray’s decision.

“If you need anything during your stay, please let us know. There are hardly any shops open on the streets, so it’ll be faster if we procure things for you rather than you going out.”

The group left the office with Colin.

Outside, Operatives had gathered like a flock of birds.

“So it’s true Niles Hyung was alive? Then why didn’t he come back? And those kids….”

“They could really be Niles Hyung’s sons, right? The white-haired one has a similar vibe to Hyung.”

“Nonsense. You just said it yourself. White hair.”

“Hair color doesn’t have to follow the father’s side. Ah! Hyung! You’re out!”

Gazes converged all at once.

Dozens of pairs of eyes looked at Colin and the group, with the most lingering on Ray.

“Hyung, what on earth happe—.”

“I’ll explain only once, so listen carefully. Make sure to convey it well to those not here. We don’t have the leisure to gather everyone, whether from the alert team or patrol teams, to explain.”

Ray subtly interjected into the conversation.

“Is it okay to look around the Hideout?”

“Huh? Ah, of course! The space for you to stay is upstairs; I’ll guide you in detail later.”

The group excused themselves, receiving Colin’s polite farewell.

“I’ll go move our car to the front of the Hideout. It’s certain we’ll be here until tomorrow morning, after all.”

“It shouldn’t be dangerous since we’re bringing it from nearby, but just in case, I’ll go with you.”

Philip and Veronica opened the opposite entrance of the building and went out.

Ray, who briefly watched the spot where the two had disappeared, turned and walked between the concrete pillars.

Step.

—Can’t we just shoot them dead? Thinking about how these bastards were hit by Magic…!

—Hold on. Hyung said once they regain consciousness, we’ll start the interrogation.

Step.

—When you go up to the warehouse, bring that thing down for me.

—What thing?

—You know, that thing.

Step.

—Hey, over there.

—Ah, the ones Colin Hyung brought in earlier….

Cement crumbs rustling underfoot.

The low voices of conversations coming from around.

Not all personnel had gathered to hear Colin’s story.

The rest were scattered throughout the Hideout, doing their own tasks.

“…….”

How to put it.

Compared to the war situation where they were being miserably pushed back, the atmosphere wasn’t particularly serious or subdued.

Rather, the air filling the concrete space had a peaceful and even cheerful aspect.

Some personnel were seen playing cards or arm wrestling at tables, and laughter was occasionally heard.

But their actual emotions were different from how they appeared.

Their Vessels were each filled with fear and a sense of being lost.

Tap— tap— tap—

He continued walking without paying it mind.

It was to find what Niles had left behind in Sector 46.

Tap— creak—

Tap— creak—

He went up and down the stairs.

He examined every nook and cranny of the building.

‘He said this building was also the place where the three of them first made the Hideout after merging their Gangs in the past.’

Colin had said that.

Later, after forming the Nisohwa organization, they moved the Hideout elsewhere, but the three would still often visit this place to reminisce.

‘So I thought I might discover something.’

Tap— creak—

Tap— creak—*

Just like that, having gained nothing, he came back down to the first floor.

“Thank you so much for healing Jeker!”

“Thank you. If it weren’t for the Wizards, Colin Hyung wouldn’t have returned.”

“W-well, strictly speaking, we weren’t the ones who saved him….”

Ray found two flustered chicks surrounded by a flock of eagles.

Burly, imposing figures.

Faces that seemed at odds with sociability.

With such men surrounding them, even knowing they weren’t enemies, the psychological pressure seemed considerable.

“Ah, over there!”

Philip’s finger pointed as he discovered Ray.

As the Operatives swarmed towards Ray, Philip and Veronica let out sighs of relief.

“Wizard, thank you for saving Colin Hyung.”

“We heard Niles Hyung was alive in Sector 50.”

It seemed the story about Niles had been conveyed to everyone.

Emotions of sorrow, longing, regret, and the like were surging within the Operatives’ Vessels.

As if to avoid dampening the mood, it was admirable how they restrained themselves from exploding with such a volume of emotion.

‘…But the anger is much smaller in size than I expected.’

As Ray calmly continued the conversation, he soon learned one fact.

“…If it weren’t for those Hedderborn bastards back then, Niles Hyung wouldn’t have fallen under the bridge.”

That fact was that Colin had not told the Operatives about Brook’s betrayal.

Why?

If he revealed the truth, wouldn’t it further stoke the Operatives’ anger towards Brook?

He didn’t quite understand, but since Colin must have had his reasons, he didn’t mention it.

Outside the window, the sun was setting.

The group ate with the Nisohwa Operatives, played cards, and shared conversations with the common denominator of Niles.

“You learned to fight from Niles Hyung?”

“He wouldn’t even pretend to teach us, saying we wouldn’t be able to use it even if we learned!”

The Operatives were curious about what kind of life the man they had followed lived before his death.

And they treated the group with familiarity, as if they had known them for a long time.

“But are you really not Niles Hyung’s son?”

“This bastard still can’t let go of that idea.”

“The vibe is similar, though. What, when we were young, Niles Hyung was also a calm and serious man around Ray-nim’s age.”

“His personality changed a lot after becoming an adult. He also opened his eyes to women.”

“Huh?”

“I still remember. Mary from the general store, Serena from the brick house on 12th Street, Julia from the stall, Kaylee from the shoe factory, and also….”

“Madam Februn from the Februn Bakery.”

“Huh?”

“He dated seven at the same time. When he was 19.”

“That’s a legend.”

“Here, Ray-nim might be the same once he passes adulthood. Kehehe. You look different from us guys with our faces all messed up.”

“Huh?”

Veronica swung her head back and forth like a ping-pong ball with each turn in the conversation, causing earthquakes in her pupils.

“Damn it! Ray-nim! You’re not using Magic, are you?!”

“How is it that I can’t win even once? It’s like you’re reading all my cards.”

“Ray-nim, have you played poker elsewhere before?”

Philip looked at Ray, who was winning consecutively at poker by reading the opponents’ emotions, with the face of someone who had discovered a tremendous business idea.

Ray, having thought of more things to ask about Niles, spoke.

“By the way, where is Colin right now?”

“Ah, if you mean Hyung, he went up to the roof to get some air a while ago.”

Ray realized at that moment.

There was still a place in this building he hadn’t been to.