Chapter 93 – The Weeping Woman (Three)

The children’s faces were devoid of expression.

Dozens of pupils staring fixedly this way without even a twitch.

Philip and Veronica felt a sudden chill run down their spines.

“You’re here to take us back, right?”

One of the children spoke first.

It was Yeren, the action captain of Denine’s gang, whose name was on the missing persons list.

Feeling relieved that communication was possible, Philip answered.

“That’s right. Melom and Denine are looking for you. No, not just them, but others are worried about you too…”

“No need. Go back. We like it here.”

“Huh…?”

At Yeren’s words, the other children nodded in unison.

“Right. We have no intention of going back.”

“Madam Renia treats us well. She gives us delicious meals, teaches us to read and write, and dresses us in nice clothes.”

“It’s incomparable to life on the streets. Mhm.”

Praise for Madam Renia’s character and the merits of mansion life continued.

The surprising thing was that Petro, who had been kidnapped just last night, was also showing such behavior.

“Even Petro… To change like that overnight, something’s strange.”

Veronica whispered.

Ray and Philip were of the same opinion.

“What has Madam Renia done to you… no, what kind of condition did she impose? The idea of clothing, sheltering, and feeding you without any price, I honestly don’t quite understand.”

At Philip’s question, the children’s faces instantly turned fierce.

“No way! There’s no condition like that!”

“Watch your words. Madam Renia is a good person. She genuinely cares for us with a warm heart.”

Some children were so excited they even slammed the table and stood up.

“Ah, okay. Calm down first. I misspoke.”

At Philip’s apology, the children calmed their anger and resumed talking about Madam Renia and the mansion.

“I don’t want to disappoint Madam Renia. I want to make her happy.”

“Me too. I hope the mansion lasts a long time.”

The happiness and satisfaction that appeared on the children’s faces were genuine.

At least, from what Philip and Veronica could see.

Later, Madam Renia, who had gone to fetch the tea set, returned, and the meal concluded.

“Thank you for the meal!”

“Thank you for the meal again today, Madam! It was so delicious!”

The children scattered to their assigned tasks like laundry, cleaning, and dishwashing.

As the table was cleared, only Madam Renia and the party remained in the dining room.

Clatter─

“How was it? Did everyone enjoy the meal?”

A question directed at everyone.

But Madam Renia’s gaze was fixed on Ray.

Even in the conversation that continued over tea, the questions were mainly directed at Ray.

“Have you liked Magic since you were young?”

“Do you have any favorite foods?”

“I’m curious how you’ve managed on the streets.”

Each time Ray answered or evaded, the questions doubled and returned.

As if wanting to know everything about Ray, they were endless.

‘The emotions I see now are regret… and obsession…’

While answering the questions, Ray observed the Madam’s emotions.

It wasn’t a new kind of emotion.

Regret and obsession were emotions that had also existed when looking at the other children gathered in the dining room.

However, the volume of these two emotions that Madam Renia harbored while looking at him now.

‘…is much larger. Compared to when looking at the other children.’

Why.

Why did this difference occur.

What is the difference between the other children and me.

“I think we should end our conversation here for today. I have things I need to do. If it’s alright, shall we have another meal together tomorrow?”

This question was also essentially directed at Ray.

There was no reason to refuse.

Because today’s conversation had yielded almost no information about Madam Renia and the mansion.

“Yes. Let’s have a meal together tomorrow too.”

“Good. I’ll prepare even more delicious dishes for tomorrow.”

Madam Renia smiled and escorted the party outside the mansion.

As they returned to their lodgings, each carried their own confusion and their own questions.

Especially, Philip’s Vessel was occupied by a sense of disappointment.

It was an unconscious emotion.

Disappointment that a person who could be his mother showed no interest in him.

But even he himself did not know the reason for such disappointment.

“I don’t get it. No matter how comfortable mansion life is, it doesn’t make sense to change their minds so instantly. Especially Petro, who was just yesterday searching for the other missing children together. Can he just ignore the kids he used to live with like that?”

Philip added, scratching his head vigorously.

“She’s a Wizard, right? Could it be something like that? Manipulating and controlling the children’s minds?”

“Hmm… I’ve never heard of Magic that controls people’s minds. And I didn’t sense any Mana traces from the kids either.”

Veronica answered while picking up Nero, who had been waiting outside the mansion.

And she looked at Ray as if seeking confirmation of her words.

“Veronica is right. Madam Renia didn’t use Magic.”

“So you’re saying all the children chose mansion life voluntarily?”

“That can’t be.”

Ray stopped walking.

He turned his body to look at the mansion and said.

“Because the children’s Vessels didn’t contain a single emotion.”

The children’s Vessels that Ray saw contained no emotions whatsoever.

From the moment they first met in the dining room.

Until the moment the meal ended, the entire time.

“But their actions didn’t seem that way. They laughed, got angry too. Maybe you saw wrong…”

“That’s not it. Because all 18 of them were like that.”

Seeing the completely empty Vessels of the children, the first thing Ray thought of was his own Vessel.

‘It was like my usual self. A completely empty Vessel.’

But a clear difference existed.

The children acted as if they had emotions despite having none.

And very naturally at that.

What in the world happened.

It was clear that Madam Renia had used some trick on the children.

‘…if it’s not Magic.’

One possibility came to mind.

Mercread and the Doctor.

It was said that the person called the Doctor possessed the ability to manipulate others’ emotions.

But that was only fragmentary information; in reality, he could have abilities beyond that.

For example, removing emotions to turn people into dolls.

“……”

The thought that this incident might be connected to the Doctor was not easily shaken off.

‘It would be good if I could get more information about the Doctor from Curiosa, but…’

He hadn’t encountered Curiosa again since their last meeting.

Unlike the other Executives, he couldn’t locate her using Walter’s Ring either.

When resetting the Binding Magic on the ring, she probably manipulated it so her own Presence couldn’t be tracked.

Also, Ray was certain.

That Curiosa was definitely hiding somewhere, watching this situation.

‘If I wanted to, I could probably summon her.’

But exchanging information with her beyond the questions and answers in the clearing was a high-risk endeavor.

The moment her curiosity was resolved below a certain level, she would mercilessly attack.

Additional information exchange should happen only when he possessed military strength to contend with her on equal footing.

That time had to come.

The next day at lunch.

The party visited the mansion again.

Gathered around the banquet table, they began the meal with Madam Renia and the 18 children.

“Isn’t life on the streets difficult?”

Madam Renia still directed many questions only at Ray.

“I’ll teach you that later. I learned it from the Madam.”

“Good. Today’s role assignments are…”

The children still conversed calmly while eating.

Veronica, who had glanced around at the children once, sent Ray a panicked look.

‘Denine isn’t here!’

Last night, another person had gone missing.

None other than the gang’s Captain, Denine.

‘Right. Ray confirmed it. The red light that swallowed Denine also headed towards this mansion.’

Philip was equally panicked.

He had thought the kidnapped Denine would appear at today’s meal like Petro.

“……”

Ray checked Denine’s location using Binding Magic.

Denine’s Presence was stationary in a room not far away.

It was one of two possibilities.

Either unconscious.

Or restrained.

‘What’s the purpose of kidnapping the children?’

If the purpose was to absorb the children’s life force to increase her own power, like Walter, it would have been easier to understand.

But Madam Renia’s Vessel when looking at the children showed no malicious emotions.

Although emotions of anger and hatred were glimpsed, they weren’t directed at those present here.

“Would you like to try this? It’s a dish I specially prepared for all of you.”

Then Madam Renia served food onto the party’s plates.

A pork dish with fresh vegetables, a sight that would make anyone’s mouth water, but a dish none of the other children were touching.

‘There’s a sleeping pill in it.’

Ray realized instantly.

Even without the emotions of guilt and worry reflected in the Madam’s Vessel, he could know.

Because the fact that the Madam had visited a pharmacy yesterday had come through the gang’s information network.

「Metaalphemine? Curotinol? They’re just ordinary fever reducers and headache medicine? Why did she buy these?」

「Right. She didn’t seem sick yesterday. Is someone among the children catching a cold?」

Ray answered.

「It’s a sleeping pill.」

「Huh?」

「Crush them, and using a few groceries from the general store, you can make a sleeping pill. It’s a method often used in the back alleys.」

General sleeping pills sold at pharmacies have low effects, being little more than sleep aids.

But sleeping pills made through illicit methods boast powerful performance that induces sleep within tens of seconds after ingestion and even causes memory blackouts.

Hence the nickname ‘Blackout.’

‘But how…’

A small question arose.

How did Madam Renia know back alley knowledge.

Outwardly, she only appeared to be a noblewoman from an upper-class family.

“Please eat. It loses flavor when it gets cold.”

“……”

Madam Renia’s subtle urging continued.

Ray stared intently at the piece of meat he had speared with his fork.

‘The sleeping pill is probably in the sauce. High probability.’

He was familiar with such things.

He had both made and used Blackout himself, and had also been targeted with it many times.

He also knew the countermeasure.

‘Just take a medicine containing resistance components beforehand.’

White.

A medicine that neutralizes the components of Blackout.

Similarly, it could be easily made by combining specific medicines from the pharmacy with a few groceries from the general store.

And before coming to the mansion, the party had all taken White.

“Come on, please. It’s delicious.”

Madam Renia’s voice, though quiet, sounded loud.

Unnoticed, the surroundings had grown quiet, and all the children were looking this way.

Philip and Veronica too, having realized the sleeping pill was mixed in the food, were waiting only for Ray’s decision.

‘…To get information from Madam Renia.’

The most intuitive method would be suppression through force.

But he felt reluctance.

Because the opponent was a 2nd Circle Wizard and he couldn’t guarantee victory?

Because of the principle of not retaliating unless the opponent shows malice first?

Because Curiosa might be watching this situation from somewhere?

None of those.

Simply because the possibility existed that Madam Renia was Philip’s mother.

‘Considering various circumstances, the probability is extremely slim, but still.’

Yet Philip couldn’t let go of his attachment.

Attachment, in other words, hope.

Ray didn’t want to trample on the hope Philip harbored.

Even if it was a size so insignificant it wouldn’t even be noticeable.

‘……’

And then the boy suddenly felt a sense of incongruity with his own such thought.

‘Don’t want to trample? Why?’

To save time and consider efficiency, using force would be correct.

Even if she hadn’t shown malice first, simple suppression is possible, and with Veronica’s cooperation in a joint attack, the chances of success are sufficiently high.

Also, Philip himself had already accepted that the possibility of the Madam being his actual mother was extremely slim.

But why.

Why does he feel this desire not to trample on Philip’s attachment, to respect it.

“……”

The boy was somewhat confused.

But what needed to be done in the current situation was clear.

Plop.

He dipped the piece of meat deep into the sauce and brought the fork to his mouth.

He needed to respond to the prepared number.

After all, to approach the opponent’s true form.

Chomp!

The moment he chewed the piece of meat, rich meat juices and sweet sauce spread in his mouth.