Chapter 140 – Light and Shadow (Three)

“Whoa, shit! You scared me!”

“What, what the hell! Where did you come from?”

“Th-there was definitely no one beside us just now?”

The sudden voice of a boy.

The three street vendors who had been deep in conversation jumped in fright.

Upon confirming the other party’s appearance, they let out a sigh of relief.

“What, it’s just a kid.”

“I thought the Order people had overheard us.”

“Kid, you shouldn’t startle adults like that. That’s bad manners. Shoo, shoo.”

Ray turned his gaze aside.

Looking at the three stalls lined up in a row, he pulled a high-denomination bill from his pocket.

“So you’re a customer.”

“I knew it from the start—that plain outfit can’t hide the air of nobility.”

“I knew too. I was just pretending not to. Yes, young master. What are you curious about?”

The adults, who had been acting as apostles of annoyance and unfriendliness, instantly transformed into serial salesmen.

Ray bought a large balloon from stall number 1 and asked,

“Was that sphere on the trailer earlier the Artificial Sun?”

“Oh my, thank you. Yes, yes, that’s right. That sphere that looks like it would cause a catastrophe if rolled down the street is the Artificial Sun.”

Ray then bought a clump of candy from stall number 2 and asked,

“You’re going to float that into the sky?”

“Yes, that’s right. According to the priests, they said it would drive away all the shadows covering the world, replacing the current sun that’s weakened and often hidden by clouds.”

The merchant quickly gave change and continued.

“They said a world where everyone can live happily without any worries will come. That… what was it called? Para… Para…”

“Paradise.”

“Yes! That’s it! It’s an unfamiliar word, so I couldn’t think of it for a moment.”

Ray next bought a teddy bear from stall number 3.

“Um… I don’t attend the church, so I don’t have any stories to share…”

“Refund, please.”

Ray left the vendor, who had a crestfallen expression, and returned to stall number 1.

Picking up a cotton candy, he said,

“Is floating the sun into the sky a metaphorical expression?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure, but it didn’t seem like a metaphorical expression. I often heard the priests talk about floating that sphere using Magic.”

Ray tilted his head.

The sun he knew was an object that emitted light so strong you couldn’t look directly at it.

‘First of all, the light needs to be strong to drive away shadows.’

Unable to hold back, he expressed his doubt.

“But that sphere earlier wasn’t emitting any light at all.”

“Ah, that’s…”

“I’ll tell you! I know that story well!”

Ray moved to the front of stall number 2, from where the answer came.

The vendor from stall number 2 put the snacks Ray pointed to into a bag and said,

“That’s why the Order is looking for someone. A Saintess to breathe light into the Artificial Sun.”

“A Saintess?”

“Yes. I don’t know the details either, but sometimes Order people walk around the streets holding strange devices like detectors.”

Ray nodded and took the bag of snacks.

And then, casually.

“Aren’t you curious about anything other than the Order?”

He moved to the front of stall number 3.

“Do you happen to know about the Rainbow?”

“Huh? The Rainbow? I don’t really…”

“Then that’s fine.”

“Ah, ah! Wait…! Just buy one thing…!”

After several rounds of purchases and questions and answers.

‘Artificial Sun, Saintess, Day of Judgment.’

Ray could roughly outline the group called the Order.

“If you’re interested, I recommend attending a service yourself. Weekend services are open even to non-believers.”

“I’ll think about it.”

After finishing the conversation, Ray left the front of the stalls.

‘I have too much stuff.’

His arms were full of balloons, dolls, candy, snacks, chocolate, and more.

Of course, he hadn’t bought these things because he needed them.

It was just that, in trying to interact with people without relying on artificial emotions, he ended up making purchases.

‘How should I deal with this?’

If he moved around carrying this, he’d clearly become the Pied Piper, trailed by a line of greedy kids from the streets.

After briefly looking around, Ray spotted someone on a bench in the plaza.

Tap-tap-tap—

He quickly walked over and placed everything he was carrying into the other person’s arms.

“Wow! Are you giving all this to me?”

It was the kid who had tugged on his sleeve during the Order’s procession.

Leaving the surprised mother and child behind, Ray resumed his movement.

Tap— Tap— Tap— Tap—

As the numbers attached to the streets increased, the scenery rapidly deteriorated.

The emotions people held also became as gloomy as the ashen sky.

Everything was fading in color.

From polychrome to monochrome.

Then, at a certain moment, when he detected a foul smell brushing past the tip of his nose.

“……”

The boy knew.

He had entered the Slum.

Tap.

He paused briefly to look at the map.

The Slum was almost blank.

In a way, it was natural.

Given the Slum’s characteristics—indiscriminate building creation and expansion, and even well-traveled paths suddenly blocked—

mapmaking was nearly impossible.

‘Maybe for a small Sector like number 50, but for a large-area Sector like number 36, it would be even worse.’

Ray asked a passerby nearby.

“What’s the quickest way to the Black Market from here?”

A man who appeared to be a Slum resident pointed to an alley with a corpse-like gesture.

Ray entered the alley.

‘I can hear the clustered voices of people coming from over there.’

He wound through the ant-nest-like maze of alleys, guided by intuition.

At the end, as he emerged from the alley.

“Take a look!”

“You there, CEO! Looking for something?”

Countless stalls of all shapes, endlessly spread along the ground and buildings, and.

“So, I’ll buy this first…”

“That shop earlier seemed much cheaper?”

The countless crowds passing in front of them.

Ray moved through the gaps in the crowd, carefully observing the scene.

‘It’s not too different from what I imagined.’

A large market formed in the Slum.

That was the impression Ray got.

If there was anything special, it was that slightly… no, very interesting items were scattered everywhere.

Also, the constant solicitation and the many people moving along the main road created a peculiar liveliness in the air.

“From Sandworm scales to Ghost Beetle powder! We have everything!”

‘Sandworm scales?’

“Essential for travel! We handle traveler’s Magic tools!”

‘Traveler’s Magic tools?’

“Medicine that makes you grow 8cm in a day if you take it!”

‘Height-increasing medicine?’

Each time the merchants’ cries reached him, the boy’s head swiveled around.

He quickly regained his composure.

‘Is it Bewitchment Magic?’

He stared intently at the area near the merchants’ hearts, but no Rings were visible.

“We just have cat treats!”

‘Cat treats?’

Squeak.

Instantly, the boy’s head, which had been turning, snapped back to its original position.

…The Black Market.

A place where you couldn’t let your guard down for a single moment.

Not only were there many eye-catching items, but the proportion of people with black Mana in their Vessels was also significantly higher compared to other streets.

Malice.

Intent to scam.

Intent to steal.

Or intent to rob.

There were many possible interpretations.

Ray pulled his hood lower and quickened his pace.

Carefully examining items as he passed wasn’t necessarily a bad choice.

But he had a top priority to achieve here.

‘I need to find a Card Technician.’

Only then could he retrieve the money belonging to John and Skyle inside the card.

First, he needed to confirm the total amount of funds he would have before he could plan his spending.

“Selling dimensional bags that can hold anything!”

“Legendary kitchen knife that cuts steel like tofu! For sale!”

Ray shook off the merchants’ Bewitchment Magic and moved quickly.

As the Nostra Clan Operatives had said, shops or booths related to cards weren’t hard to find.

The problem was that they were all closed.

「Those Amon bastards are wiping out Card Technicians in the Black Market. Either recruiting them or killing them. One of the two.」

「They’re trying to cut off our funding. So even if they rob cards, they can’t use them.」

The Nostra Clan in the northern part of the Sector.

The Amon Family in the eastern part of the Sector.

The two organizations were in conflict.

The other two organizations in the west and south were similarly fighting each other, so they couldn’t pay attention to the north and east, he’d said.

‘It doesn’t seem like I’ll find an open one even if I keep walking like this.’

The Black Market formed a Ring-like shape around the outskirts of the Sector, boasting a very wide area.

But with this level of thoroughness, it seemed like the operation had already been carried out across the entire Black Market.

As he walked, lost in thought, a gun shop caught Ray’s eye.

Creak—

Opening the old glass door and entering, the smell of metal and gunpowder wafted over.

“A young customer.”

A middle-aged man cleaning a shotgun behind the counter spoke.

“An errand? Looking for something?”

“……”

There were a few customers inside the shop.

Ray looked around at the guns filling the walls and display cases, recalling Philip’s request.

「I need a gun. A handgun type that fits perfectly in my hand and can be carried in my pocket. I couldn’t bring the one I used because I had to reduce luggage.」

After the war in Sector 46 ended, and while the Magic Circle was being prepared, Philip hadn’t been idle either.

With the help of the Operatives, he had acquired a decent level of driving and shooting skills.

「I should be able to protect myself at least.」

It was a valid point.

Usually, he conducted Sector investigations with Veronica, but this was a 30-series Sector, not a 40-series.

Given the larger area, more dangers would be distributed, and situations where he had to act alone could arise.

Ray pointed with his finger at the type of handgun Philip had mentioned.

“That one.”

“Manicarov No. 3. A good piece, famous for its generous 12-round magazine and lack of jams.”

“Give me a magazine box with it.”

“I can give you as many as you want. But first, let’s see the money.”

Ray placed several bills on the counter.

The shop owner held the bills up to the light, then took the handgun Ray mentioned from the display, placing it on the counter along with a magazine box.

“It’s a new face. Doesn’t look like you’re here on an errand for some organization. Buying it to use yourself?”

Click-clack!

Ray instantly loaded the magazine and completed the assembly with the gun.

The shop owner admired the skilled ability but also slipped his hand under the counter where a loaded gun was, preparing for any contingency.

“Not for me. It’s for a friend.”

“Hmm… Most kids like you buying guns are either on someone’s errand or saving up desperately to buy one for revenge.”

Creak.

The shop owner’s gaze fixed on Ray’s finger resting on the trigger.

With a hand that had grown damp, he gripped the gun handle under the counter and said,

“Whatever it is, you should be careful, kid. The world won’t be as easy as you think.”

It was a kind of warning.

If you’re thinking of doing something foolish now, you’d better give up early.

“……”

“……”

A brief silence.

The moment the boy’s and the shop owner’s gazes met directly.

Swish—!

Ray’s hand holding the gun rose like lightning.

The shop owner also quickly drew his gun, but at the same time, he realized he was too late.

‘What kind of speed is that…!’

In that fleeting moment, he sensed death.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three gunshots rang out in succession.

The shop owner, who hadn’t even gotten his finger on the trigger, stared blankly at the scene unfolding before him.

“This is… what…”

The boy hadn’t shot at him but at the three customers inside the shop.

All three had their foreheads precisely pierced, collapsing to the floor in the very posture of trying to pull guns from their clothes.

Squelch.

Ray, stepping in a pool of blood, used his foot to push aside a bag that had fallen nearby.

Then, tools for opening a safe came tumbling out.

“You should be careful. The world isn’t easy.”

Ray said.

Looking at the safe visible in the small room beyond the counter.

After finishing the conversation, Ray left the gun shop with quick steps.

「I usually spot would-be robbers in advance. Guess I’m getting old. Thanks to you, I kept my life. I’ll give you that gun and ammo for free. And I promise to give you wholesale discounts every time you come from now on.」

That kind of talk was utterly unimportant to Ray.

「More than that, if you know anything about the current market situation, I’d like to hear it.」

「Market situation…? What kind…?」

「Whether there are any Card Technicians operating.」

The shop owner’s expression hardened the moment he heard “Card Technician.”

「Don’t you know anything?」

「In these turbulent times, it’s not a good topic to bring up… But since you helped me, I’ll tell you in detail.」

The story continued, and as expected.

All the Card Technicians in the Black Market had been taken away or killed by the Amon Family.

The few remaining ones weren’t operating either, keeping an eye on the Amon Family’s movements.

A warning was added.

「Right now, it’s better not to casually bring up Card Technicians in the Black Market. You might be mistaken for one of Nostra’s Gang and targeted by Amon’s people.」

The Black Market was a gray zone, not belonging to any organization’s territory.

But not all stalls and shops could be said to be purely individual.

「There are definitely places closely connected to each organization. Places that act as both businesses and outposts.」

In other words.

The eyes and ears of each organization were spread throughout the Black Market.

‘Especially, he said there are positions that could almost be called territories.’

The course of action was decided.

If someone had swept away all the items that were in place.

Tap-tap— Tap-tap— Tap-tap—

All he had to do was go to where that someone was.

The boy’s emotions, boiling up in an instant.

Crackle!

Responding to it, the Gem’s Mana scattered bright yellow sparks into the surrounding air.