#031. The Unquenched Ember (1)
Creak— creak—
The wheelchair rolled forward on its fire-warped wheels. Its passenger was Cedric, unconscious, while Ray pushed it, gripping the handles. Beside them, Philip occasionally glanced at Cedric, matching his pace.
Thud—
“…….”
Dozens of boys followed behind. They kept a cautious distance, their faces etched with confusion and tension, clearly intimidated by Ray.
Thud— thud—
Their footsteps varied slightly, but their thoughts were the same:
“How did Ray and Philip survive the fire, and in such perfect condition?”
“Philip was definitely a patient. How is he walking on two legs now?”
“Could Cedric, who was terrifyingly strong, really have been defeated?”
Their thoughts were a tangled mess. It felt like trudging through a murky dream.
Thud— thud—
Everything was shrouded in doubt. Anxiety and confusion bloomed.
Yet, no one dared to break away from the procession and flee. Not a single person had done so since leaving the fire scene.
Thud— thud—
It wasn’t just that they had nowhere to return to; fundamentally, it was because of the impression Ray had left on them earlier.
Everyone present knew it.
Their fates now rested in the hands of the boy walking ahead.
The procession entered the eastern junkyard and continued deeper without pause. Hotel kids scavenging through piles of scrap metal noticed the group and whispered among themselves.
“Isn’t that Philip?”
“Today’s the day of the duel. Is it over already?”
“But those kids following them….”
“Oh no….”
The kids’ faces hardened as they realized who the group was.
Cedric’s gang wasn’t under contract with the hotel. They were a source of terror on the streets, always picking fights and throwing punches whenever spotted.
Though Philip and Ray were at the front, the deep-seated fear ingrained in them didn’t just vanish.
“H-hide! If they remember our faces, they might come after us later.”
“Yeah. Don’t make eye contact.”
The hotel kids quickly hid themselves among the scrap metal piles.
Cedric’s gang was equally restless.
“…….”
They all watched Ray nervously. After all, it seemed like this “Hunter” had some kind of relationship with Philip, the hotel operator.
They couldn’t help but fear that some punishment for their past actions might be coming their way.
When they arrived at the hotel entrance, Ray turned to address the gang.
“Everyone, wait here. Don’t move until I give further instructions.”
Squeak──
The massive iron gate opened.
Just as Ray was about to step inside,
“Wait.”
Philip stopped him.
“Can I talk to them for a moment?”
nodding toward the gang.
Ray nodded in agreement.
“Aren’t you coming in? You planning to stay stuck out here?”
Movement stirred at the back of the gang.
Several kids stepped forward—hotel kids who had fled the duel arena as attendants. Their steps were timid, heads bowed low as if bearing great guilt.
The hotel kids were just as confused as Cedric’s gang.
But their foremost emotion was guilt over abandoning Philip.
Ray’s eyes glinted with interest at the guilt swirling in the children’s vessels.
Guilt was a rare sight in the slums. Morality and ethics often eroded over time, hindering survival.
“It’s okay. You don’t need to apologize so much.”
Philip’s gentle words shook the guilt in their vessels.
“Come here.”
Slowly, the guilt’s volume shrank.
Its color began to fade.
“This is your home, isn’t it?”
The children approached with trembling steps, then hugged Philip and burst into tears.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have left you behind.”
Philip patted the backs of kids much larger than himself. Suppressing his own choked emotions, he turned to Ray.
“Is it alright if they come in too?”
The hotel belonged to Philip, not Ray. The question was unnecessary.
Moreover, the kids fleeing the duel arena first was irrelevant to Ray.
There must be an intention behind asking me this.
Ray’s assumption was correct.
Philip’s actions had purpose.
Initially, Philip had seen Ray as merely a skilled fighter.
But after several encounters, that perception had completely changed.
Bold betting proposals.
Mysterious magic used today.
Ray exceeded imagination.
How long would he stay in Sector 49?
What plans did he harbor?
With limited information, one thing was clear:
The street’s power balance will shift.
Perhaps even the very order of the streets would change.
The waves Ray would create weren’t mere ripples—they’d likely become a tsunami.
Yet one concern remained:
Power alone can’t maintain control forever.
Rule through fear inevitably breeds backlash.
Even Cedric’s gang would’ve crumbled soon without today’s events.
…Ray’s methods were brutal.
Though only toward enemies.
Still, such behavior could instill fear in his own subordinates, causing harm.
Thus:
We need to highlight his humanity. To some extent.
Balance was key.
Having resolved himself, Philip spoke.
“Can you forgive these kids?”
He sought Ray’s permission in front of everyone.
“Do as you will.”
“Thank you for allowing it.”
Murmurs spread through Cedric’s gang.
─Is the Hunter… taking over the hotel too?
─They ran away. I thought he’d punish them.
─Maybe we could also…
Squeak── Thud!
The hotel swallowed the children—Ray, Philip, and the attendants.
Then it sealed its gates as if nothing had happened, leaving only Cedric’s gang behind in the open.
No one broke the silence or left.
Under a sky deepening into crimson, hope and unease churned in the boys’ chests.
Unprecedented chaos erupted in the hotel.
Kids swarmed like wasps around the wheelchair heading to the infirmary.
“Th-that’s Cedric!”
“Is Philip cured?”
“Did we win the duel? Who are those kids outside?”
The sight of Cedric—once a symbol of terror—wheeled in unconscious was shocking.
“Serves him right. Look at that wreck.”
“The Hunter must’ve won. Feels satisfying seeing him like this.”
Many kids glared and cursed at Cedric.
Despite being fellow hotel residents, he’d oppressed them most harshly on the streets.
Amid the buzz, the wheelchair reached the infirmary.
Creak— clunk.
“How do we move him? The entrance is too narrow for the wheelchair.”
“Let’s carry him limb by limb…”
As kids debated transportation methods,
“Step back.”
Ray lifted Cedric effortlessly from the wheelchair.
The crowd gulped at how easily he hoisted someone of similar size—unconscious—without strain.
Thud. Thud.
Ray laid Cedric on a bed in the infirmary, then closed the door after Philip entered.
Creak— clunk.
Muffled chatter seeped through the container walls. The soundproofing was poor but sufficient for conversation.
The two boys sat.
Philip spoke first, unable to tear his gaze from his restored limbs.
“About the magic you used in the duel… May I ask how it worked?”
“…….”
Ray remained calm.
He hadn’t planned to reveal his magic easily, but Philip seemed trustworthy—sharp-minded and discreet.
Still, he saw no need for detailed explanations.
“What you saw is what it is. I can use magic.”
A reply that explained everything and nothing.
Ray fell silent.
“I see.”
Philip nodded. He vaguely understood Ray’s reluctance to share more.
Pushing further would be unwise. Better to wait until their relationship deepened.
As Philip prepared to change topics, Ray spoke first.
“Let’s settle the accounts first.”
“Ah, right.”
Ray upended a bag onto the table, spilling grimy bills and coins. A notebook slid out—records of bettors’ names and amounts, kept by the bookie.
Ray flipped through pages, calculating.
“Total bets: 4.24 million shillings. My cut: 1.82 million. Yours: 2.31 million.”
The remaining 110,000 shillings belonged to Jaeper or Lawson’s gangs. With few betting on Ray besides himself and Philip, the split was straightforward.
Philip examined the notebook.
“Accurate. You’re quick at math.”
“I’ve had practice.”
They divided the money into two piles. Ray pushed part of his share toward Philip.
“I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“Our base burned down. I need help finding a new place. Abandoned factories are common, but few are in good condition.”
He added:
“Also handle purchasing furnishings. This is the fee. Tell me if it’s insufficient.”
“…….”
Philip stared at the money. He’d been planning to bring up the base anyway.
“Of course I’ll find you a place. And furnish it. But I can’t take this.”
He added his own money to the pile and pushed it back.
Ray frowned.
Refusing payment was puzzling, but Philip adding his own funds was baffling.
“Why?”
“The split’s wrong. Today happened because of you. You should take more.”
“…….”
Ray tilted his head, then slid the pile back.
Swish.
Philip pushed it back.
Swish—
Ray returned it.
Swish—
Swish—
“…….”
“…….”
Ray removed his wristwatch, staring at Philip while flexing his fist.
Philip flinched but held firm.
Swish—
“…I don’t understand.”
Ray muttered, eyeing the returned money.
Why? He could’ve taken more by staying silent.
He glanced up.
Philip’s vessel again showed golden and pink mana, with golden still not dominant.
He isn’t greedy for money itself.
Yet Philip meticulously accumulated funds for some purpose.
Why…?
A thought struck him.
There’s white mana mixed in too.
Is he worried about me, not Cedric?
To Ray, “worry” had two definitions:
The desire to protect someone.
Giving without expecting gain.
Philip’s actions fit the second.
“Are you… worried about me?”
“W-worried?…”
Philip genuinely panicked.
Me? Worry about you?
You’re the strongest in Sector 49. Who am I to worry?
If anything, I should worry about those who’ll face your fists.
He mentally mourned for Jaeper and Lawson’s gangs before answering.
“Not worried. I just think this split is fair.”
Ray’s brow furrowed.
“Then what do you gain?”
“Hmm…”
Philip found Ray remarkable yet peculiar—his speech and actions resembled a seasoned adult’s, yet he struggled to grasp others’ motivations.
As if he followed a mental formula for human behavior, perplexed by deviations.
After pondering, Philip said:
“Think of it as an investment.”
“Investment?”
“Yes. I expect future returns. If you strengthen your group with these funds, the hotel can operate more stably.”
Following this explanation, Ray finally understood—clear, goal-driven actions felt intuitive.
“Good. Now, next—”
Knock-knock! Knock-knock-knock!
A frantic knock interrupted.
The door opened, revealing a pale-faced boy.
“J-Jaeper and Lawson are here! With all their thugs!”
