Chapter 172 – Place of Stay (Two)

The disciples of the mansion learned the truth about Binjin through Ayla’s words.

“…So Binjin raised us as disciples to use us as sacrifices for his Exploitation Magic.”

At first, they couldn’t believe it.

It meant they were essentially no different from livestock in a slaughterhouse.

But the traces of the Exploitation Magic Circle left in the tower, the testimony of Basel of the Amon Family who now followed Ray’s orders, and other evidence.

With multiple pieces of evidence appearing before their eyes, they had no choice but to accept the truth.

“The master… no, that damn bastard was trying to kill us.”

“I… I thought I could live happily if I just became a wizard.”

Anger, betrayal, shock, confusion.

Bitter emotions spread fiercely.

Especially Ain, who had fallen into a panic and couldn’t regain his composure.

“I… I kept saying I would protect my Noona……”

Yet, in reality, he hadn’t blocked a single threat to his Noona.

He hadn’t known she was being beaten by Binjin every day.

He hadn’t known their parents’ deaths weren’t an accident but due to Binjin’s scheme.

He hadn’t known his Noona had chosen sacrifice to protect him.

…And to such a Noona, he had even waved with a smiling face, telling her to leave well for the Mage Tower.

He couldn’t lift his face due to self-loathing and shame.

And.

“Thank you, Hyung.”

In proportion to that, the emotion that bloomed was deep gratitude toward Ray.

“If it weren’t for Hyung… I might never have seen my Noona’s face again. I’ll repay this debt for the rest of my life.”

Following Ain, all the disciples bowed their heads toward Ray.

It was fair to say that virtually all members of the mansion owed Ray a life debt.

If Binjin hadn’t been stopped, they too would have eventually met the fate of turning into lumps of Mana on the Magic Circle.

Shooo──

The rain still poured down.

The disciples, wearing raincoats, cleaned up the scene alongside the surviving operatives of the Amon Family.

─You son of a bitch, you died well.

─Do you know how much mental anguish I suffered because of the words you spat out?

Spit was spat upon Binjin’s coldly stiffening corpse, and thick raindrops fell upon the tower debris being cleared away one by one.

Ayla approached Ray and asked in a dazed voice.

“What… should we do now?”

At her words, all the disciples who were working pricked up their ears.

They too were extremely curious.

What would become of their futures?

It was the anxiety that bloomed in their chests the moment they recognized Binjin’s death, and a question they wanted to voice.

Binjin had been a Compass-like existence, guiding them from the dirty life of the streets to the shining life of a wizard.

That Compass was broken.

Although the needle’s direction had been wrong from the start… the owner of the foot that stomped and shattered the Compass was that boy.

─A student of the Mage Tower… probably not, right?

─Didn’t you see the Magic earlier? He’s not an ordinary kid.

─From the start… he might not even be the same age as us.

It was also true that such fears assaulted their minds.

Perhaps the boy was no different from Binjin, or maybe an even worse existence.

Amidst everyone’s focused attention, the boy spoke quietly.

“Do as you please.”

“We… as we please?”

“Yes. Whether you stay or leave.”

The victor takes everything from the vanquished.

That was one of the major laws constituting the boy’s world.

According to that law, the tower, the artifacts, the mansion, and the disciples being trained could all be considered spoils of war.

…Clearly, the boy of the past would have felt no need to correct that thinking.

But the boy, who had accumulated many experiences and relationships during his journey, now knew.

The fact that people and objects were not things that could be treated equally.

In other words.

“Decide for yourselves.”

Ray had no intention of taking the mansion’s disciples as spoils of war.

“If you choose to stay at the mansion, you can live as before. If you choose to leave, take money equivalent to the work you’ve done under Binjin’s instructions and go out.”

Unexpected words from Ray caused a stir among the disciples.

Not only was he giving them a choice, but they never dreamed he would even offer money if they left.

Then, a child who mustered courage approached nearby and asked Ray.

“Then… what will those who choose to stay at the mansion do to live?”

After a moment of thought, Ray parted his lips and answered.

“They’ll learn Magic from me.”

After giving a few instructions to Ayla and Basel, Ray left the mansion and moved his steps toward the inn.

Shooo───

Due to the heavily falling Black Rain, all shops were closed, and no pedestrians other than the boy were visible on the streets.

Squelch─ Squelch─

Rainwater pooled in puddles splashed against the boy’s feet, spraying black foam into the air.

Before long, two familiar faces were reflected in the boy’s emotionless eyes.

Veronica and Philip, who had been standing in front of the inn, hurriedly ran over, held up an umbrella, and spoke.

“What if you get caught in the rain! Are you hurt? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“Did the plan succeed? Seeing you return safely must mean it succeeded, right?”

Ray gazed at the shining white worry and sky-blue self-love emanating from the two people’s Vessels and said.

“I’m not seriously hurt anywhere. The plan succeeded.”

“You don’t even have enough Mana left to wrap a Mana barrier around your body? You know how harmful the Black Rain is to the body…!”

“…….”

Ray silently stared at his own drenched body.

He had plenty of Mana.

Also, there were plenty of ways to avoid the rain without wrapping a Mana barrier around his body.

Nevertheless, the reason he got caught in the rain was simply.

‘Because I am a human without self-love.’

The realization about Blue Mana had given the boy the gift of a third Ring, but it had also brought disappointment.

A being incapable of loving itself.

Although he didn’t realize it, getting caught in the Black Rain could be seen as a kind of rebellious psychology and self-harm.

“Let’s go inside and talk first. Wash your body with warm water!”

“Right, it’s best to rest first. You must be very tired.”

Veronica and Philip each grabbed one of Ray’s arms and pulled him toward the inn.

“…….”

Ray somehow felt the disappointment fading away while simultaneously feeling his body grow warm.

As if someone had left a small ember in the corner of his heart.

It was a sensation he had felt when finishing his tasks and sitting encircled by the children under the bridge and inside the tent.

And.

It was also a sensation he had felt when surrounded by Veronica, Ayla, and Ain at the restaurant.

As he was being dragged along, Ray suddenly parted his lips.

“Veronica, Philip.”

“Yeah?”

“Let me tell you.”

“I… want to make a family.”

The children stopped right there.

In the long silence, Philip and Veronica’s bewilderment was clearly evident.

Philip wore an expression analyzing why Ray would suddenly say such a thing.

Veronica wore a face plunged into shock, her pupils trembling.

Then, too confused, she asked in a state of not even knowing what she was asking.

“How many sons and daughters?”

“Sons? Daughters? I don’t really know about that, but as many as possible would be good.”

“As many as possible… I understand.”

Veronica with a determined face.

Afterward, the three passed through the inn courtyard toward the entrance.

After hesitating for a long time, Veronica whispered secretly to Philip, away from Ray.

“Philip, how do you make a baby?”

“……?”

Philip gave a look asking if she was serious.

Soon realizing Veronica was serious, he looked around and whispered in a low, hushed voice.

“It’s a fact hard for kids our age to know, but since you’re my friend, I’ll tell you. Listen carefully. Babies are brought by Rockdeer biting them if a man and a woman hold hands and sleep all night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, really. Interlocking fingers is important. The Rockdeer checks how much the couple loves each other by seeing that.”

“I, I see. I had no idea at all.”

Somehow… she felt like she was being tricked, but knowing nothing, Veronica could only keep her mouth shut for now.

She thought she should probably ask Unni Ayla about it later too.

Afterward, Ray returned to his room, washed his body, and changed clothes.

Towel-drying his hair, he headed straight to the room where Veronica and Philip were.

As he sat down, Nero, who had been on Veronica’s lap, hopped over to his lap.

‘…The efficiency of Familiar Magic is also proportional to intimacy.’

As he repeatedly stroked its fur, a purring sound was heard.

Philip, who had reached out his hand beside him and almost got bitten, made a wronged face.

“…Why is it always me.”

Shooo───

The sound of rain coming from outside the window.

In the silent air, Ray opened his mouth.

“Binjin is dead.”

Binjin. Exploitation Magic. Lacria. Spirit.

Ayla. The mansion disciples. The Amon Family.

The explanation of the events that occurred at the mansion continued calmly.

Parts explained briefly before were detailed, and stories he hadn’t had a chance to tell until now were also told.

One of them was the story about the wizard with the Monocle and Ray’s revenge.

“So, because of that wizard, all the children you lived with died.”

“That person named Niles from Nisohwa, whom you mentioned before, also passed away then… I’m learning this for the first time.”

The previously unknown side of their friend’s story evoked considerable regret.

Of course, the person concerned was merely composed.

“So, an examiner from the Indigo Dawn Society will come to Binjin’s mansion a month from now.”

Philip received Ray’s words.

“If we capture them, we can probably learn a lot about that organization. It might also be an opportunity to make contact with that wizard named Indiago.”

Ray nodded.

“Right. But I don’t intend to wait idly for a month. I think if we visit the Ruins we originally targeted during that time, the timing will be just right.”

This time, Veronica took up the conversation.

“By joining the Expedition departing in three days, right?”

“Right. Can you show me the booklet again?”

Veronica took out and opened the recruitment and notice booklet she had previously extorted from the mercenary office.

“Here, this page.”

[Notice]

[Gaiol, a Ruins explorer with 8 years of experience.]

[Discovered a marker pointing to an undiscovered Ruins at coordinates 412. 32, northeastern outskirts of the Sector.]

[According to the marker, the Ruins is estimated to be located at coordinates 877. 129.]

[However, cannot guarantee the Ruins actually exists at that location. The path there is expected to be extremely dangerous; cannot guarantee life.]

[But promises immense wealth to live lavishly for a lifetime if successful.]

Although it was content read before, he checked once more in case there was something missed.

‘Interview through Gaiol, staying at the Matterfold Inn on 27th Street.’

The interview hadn’t been conducted yet.

Because they hadn’t known how the decisive battle with Binjin today would turn out.

‘Departure is three days from today’s date.’

They needed to pass the interview first, but considering the tasks to handle before leaving the Sector, the time couldn’t be called very leisurely.

In other words.

It meant they had to move very busily from now on.

Early the next morning.

The rain still fell, but as if signaling the end of the rainy season, its intensity was gradually weakening.

Pang! Pang!

Ray, who had shaken off his white umbrella once, opened the mansion door and entered.

“…….”

He was slightly surprised.

Because all members of the mansion were lined up in a row, waiting.

“You don’t need to be so formal. I’m not Binjin.”

Even with those words, the disciples only exchanged glances and didn’t particularly relax their tense postures.

Then Ayla stepped forward.

“Welcome, we were waiting.”

“Has everyone decided?”

‘Decided’ meant whether to leave the mansion or not.

If they stayed at the mansion, they could help with the Amon Family’s work as before and learn Magic from Ray.

If they left the mansion, they could leave through the main gate with an amount of money unimaginable for a street orphan.

Ayla nodded and said.

“Decided, everyone has.”

“Good. Then those who decided to leave, come forward first. I need to calculate the time spent at the mansion and pay the money.”

Ray took out a leather pouch.

Ayla said firmly.

“No, that’s not necessary. Because no one decided to leave.”