Chapter 283 – Hat Under the Tree (Three)

The lights flickered a few times before returning completely to normal.

“Haha, it seems the auction got too heated, so the auction house is providing a short break.”

“That’s right. I was startled when all the lights suddenly went out, but it was a considerate gesture.”

The flustered people joked to settle the atmosphere.

“……”

Philip was still staring blankly at the opposite side of the auction seats.

The boy’s deep brown eyes.

The brown-haired woman reflected in them.

The woman whose gaze had met his in the instant before the blackout had, at some point, moved her seat closer to the auction stage and was intently watching the children trapped in the cage.

Philip’s lips moved dryly.

“Maybe…”

“Maybe?”

“Maybe… she might be my mom.”

Ray followed Philip’s gaze and looked at Obsess.

The identical eye color and hair color.

Why had he only noticed this now?

It was a fact he had never connected because he had simply considered her as one of the Doctor’s subordinates.

Watching the intense excitement and anticipation swirling in Philip’s Vessel, he thought.

‘Philip doesn’t know Obsess is an Executive of Mercread.’

Objectively speaking, the probability that Obsess was Philip’s mother was slim.

There wasn’t just one or two women in their thirties in the world with brown hair and eyes.

But still, on the off chance, the very off chance that Philip’s hope was correct…

“……”

It was better to know the uncomfortable truth from the start, as it would be much less shocking than finding out belatedly.

Having organized his thoughts, Ray spoke.

“She’s an Executive of Mercread.”

“…What?”

“Her name is Obsess. She’s the person I met before, in the Last Forest.”

Philip’s face went blank again.

Various complex emotions bloomed hazily like smoke in his Vessel.

“My apologies, it seems there was a brief issue with the power supply. On behalf of all of Tenenbaum, I apologize. Now, let’s continue the auction, carrying on the earlier heat─”

Chzzzt─ Chzzzt─

It was then that a voice, accompanied by static, came from the broadcast device on the ceiling.

[As of this moment, all of Tenenbaum has been seized by us, the Resistance. Everyone inside the building is considered a hostage. Anyone who moves from their seat without permission will be considered an enemy and shot. Please adopt a posture of valuing your precious lives.]

The voice cut off abruptly afterwards.

People began to murmur.

“What? The Resistance?”

“Have you heard of them?”

“No… I haven’t…”

“I’ve heard rumors. They’re a radical group of lowlifes demanding the dismantling of the Wall. But to have seized this place now… what in the…”

Scream!

A scream from outside the entrance prevented that sentence from being finished.

Then the door burst open, and about twenty people rushed in and began indiscriminately firing their guns inside.

Ratatatatat──!

“Kill about half of them! Make an example so the rest will be obedient! While more hostages give us an advantage in negotiations, the damage could be greater if we have rebellious ones!”

Gunshots and screams echoed from all around.

Philip, who had hidden his body behind a chair with Ray, let out a ragged breath.

“Wh-what in the world is this? Didn’t you say there was a terrorist attack on the train last time too? Are these kinds of violent incidents everyday Inside the Wall?”

“Maybe so. First of all, the Resistance is a name I’m hearing for the first time too.”

Saying that, Ray peeked his face slightly above the chair.

The terrorists were armed with all sorts of equipment flowing with Mana, like radios and shock-absorbing vests, and their main weapon, the gun, also fired Mana as ammunition.

An item with the same principle as the one used by the group that attacked the train.

‘It was said to be an item made by some scientist.’

Perhaps it was being released in large quantities in places like the Black Market.

In any case, it was clear these were items not yet widely known Inside the Wall.

People who thought they were ordinary guns and deployed Wards were being pierced and killed.

“Ghk… What…! A gun of all things…!”

“Kyaaah! Save me!”

“I, I won’t resist!”

Amidst the scene of utter chaos.

Ray, just in case, cast Enhancement Magic on Philip and said.

“Don’t move from here, absolutely.”

“O-okay.”

Ray’s legs sparked with electricity as he kicked off from his spot.

His destination was the auction stage.

Amidst the hail of bullets, it was to secure Orea’s Tears and prevent them from being damaged.

And in his rapidly changing field of vision, Ray could see another person sprinting towards the auction stage.

‘Obsess.’

She too was aiming for Orea’s Tears on the podium.

Ray’s speed was incomparably faster, but Obsess was in the seat right in front of the stage, arriving at the foot of the podium by a hair’s breadth first.

Just before grabbing Orea’s Tears.

Bang!

A bullet passed through the iron bars of the cage and embedded itself at the feet of the trapped children.

The children under the Bewitchment Magic showed no reaction, but it was different for Obsess, who witnessed the sight.

“You damnable humans…! How dare you…!”

In an instant, an enormous amount of rage surged in her Vessel, and gritting her teeth, she flung her body towards the terrorists.

“Wh-what’s with her all of a sudden!”

“That crazy bitch! She’s shooting at us!”

“It’s Magic! Bewitchment Magic!”

Every time Obsess’s figure darted swiftly yet precariously across the battlefield, the enemies began firing their guns at each other.

The number of sentient beings that could be simultaneously controlled with Bewitchment Magic, no matter how hard one tried, could not exceed a single digit.

That absolute tenet of the magical world did not apply to the current situation.

Obsess’s Vessel.

The immense emotions of possession and obsession were abnormally amplifying the power of the Magic.

Ray arrived at the podium and grasped Orea’s Tears in his hand.

“……!”

In that instant, a sensation like lightning striking his spine shot through him, and hundreds of images flashed through his mind.

The memories of Blue absorbed at the lake.

All the memories related to the crimson gemstone among them had revived.

The extreme moment passed.

“Haa.”

Ray exhaled the breath he had been holding as if emerging from deep water.

The memories shining brightly like stars in his mind, flaunting their existence.

But now was not the appropriate time to examine them.

He immediately charged into the battlefield.

The Mana from the Rings in both legs, having sprinted, manifested as Magic at his feet according to Ray’s will.

[Terrain Manipulation]

Kugugugug──!

With each step, cracks formed in the floor and spread throughout the entire auction hall.

An illusion as if a massive earthquake had occurred covered the area.

Ray had already learned all the Magic registered in the Association’s compendium.

One of them, Terrain Manipulation, was exhibiting power different from its original form after undergoing modifications based on imagination.

“Th-that’s impossible. Th-this is Terrain Manipulation? That Magic used only at construction sites, what in the…”

“I can’t move… Ugh!”

The enemies’ legs sank into the floor, their postures collapsing, and each time, they lost consciousness to Ray’s arriving hands.

And besides Ray and Obsess, there was another person overwhelming the enemies using Fire Magic.

The man in the ghost mask who had not participated in the auction and had only been observing the situation.

Thud!

With the last enemy, the situation was resolved in an instant.

After confirming Philip’s safety, Ray approached the man in the ghost mask and spoke.

“You seem like someone who could provide an explanation for this situation.”

The reason he asked was that the emotions of bewilderment and doubt contained in the man’s Vessel were not significant.

As if he had somewhat anticipated a situation like this unfolding.

The man who removed his mask caught his breath and spoke calmly.

“First, thank you for your help in subduing the terrorists. I am Leon, the deputy manager of Tenenbaum. The situation is urgent, so I’ll speak frankly.”

The identity of the terrorists, as heard in the broadcast, was the Resistance.

A radical group composed of those from Beyond the Wall, advocating for the collapse of the Wall.

“Their full-scale activities haven’t been going on for long, I believe, but they are causing much chaos throughout society. Attacking the wealthy, destroying major buildings, and so on. One could say it’s the accumulated, pent-up dissatisfaction of those from Beyond the Wall finally exploding. The discrimination and contempt they usually face are beyond words. There are also not a few cases of them being brought here as slaves outright.”

Leon’s voice gradually sped up.

“Anyway, I had ascertained that a spy from the Resistance had infiltrated Tenenbaum and was conducting a secret investigation. But, it seems I was too late. The situation has escalated like this without a chance to act. Their infiltration capability seems to have been beyond my expectations.”

“……”

“Ray-nim, I know it’s presumptuous, but could you help me?”

Ray gave him a look asking how he knew his name.

“How could I not know? I’ve been keeping an eye on you as the person who’s been sweeping up Tenenbaum’s merchandise lately. In fact, I had suspected you might be a spy for the Resistance…”

Leon glanced at the scattered bodies of the defeated Resistance members and continued.

“…It seems that was a groundless suspicion.”

Then, a broadcast flowed out.

[This is a message being broadcast both inside and outside Tenenbaum, so listen carefully.]

[Twenty minutes from now, the explosives installed throughout all of Tenenbaum will detonate. If you don’t want to see hundreds of hostages buried in the debris, it would be best to meet our demands by then.]

[Our demands are as follows. First, release all our comrades currently imprisoned.]

[Second, destroy the Wall and deactivate the Distortion Field covering the entire city to eliminate the distinction between Inside and Beyond the Wall.]

[Third, execute Maxman, the representative of the discriminatory faction.]

[That is all. Also, if intrusion from the outside is detected, the detonation device will be activated immediately, so we advise against any foolish tricks.]

Chzzzt.

The voice cut off abruptly.

Leon spoke urgently.

“Regardless of whether the demands are met, the likelihood of them detonating is high. Judging by the pattern of these guys so far.”

“I think so too.”

Ray fell into thought for a moment.

First of all, having secured Orea’s Tears, the initial purpose for coming to the auction hall could be considered achieved.

‘Getting Philip out alone won’t be a problem.’

But the problem was Obsess, who stood before the cage with a dazed look, showing no intention of moving.

She would likely remain in that state for hours until the wave of emotion that had surged subsided.

Also, something else was on his mind.

“By any chance, are there more children captured from outside in the auction hall?”

“Yes, it’s a deeply shameful matter, but there are a considerable number.”

The moment Ray’s choice became clear.

“I’ll help.”

“Thank you…! That will be a tremendous help…!”

With a grateful expression, Leon continued his explanation calmly and quickly.

“First, we must retake the control room. The probability is high that the leadership with the detonation device is there. Also, it’s a place from which all of Tenenbaum’s facilities can be operated, so if used well, it can help separate the enemies spread throughout and rescue the hostages.”

At that moment, Philip, who had been hesitantly watching Obsess, approached and said.

“Control room… that’s a very military-base-like name.”

“It is, in fact, a building that was used as a military base, I believe.”

“Huh… really?”

Leon gave a brief explanation.

According to transmitted information, it was a building built by Dwarves of the Ancient Era, imitating the Elves’ World Tree.

“That’s why the top of Tenenbaum is shaped like branches spreading in all directions, I understand.”

“I just said it offhand, I didn’t think it would actually be true.”

Ray listened to the conversation and thought quietly.

Perhaps this building was also designed by Rael.

“I will guide you to the control room. The management area on the top floor has a labyrinthine structure, so reaching the desired location is difficult if you’re not familiar with the way.”

After hearing the short briefing, Ray followed Leon out the entrance.

Beep─

Crash!

The CCTV on the ceiling that turned its head was immediately destroyed without even capturing Ray’s face.