#036. The Place Where the Fire Went Out (1)
It was a massive, yet instantaneous realization.
‘The reason I can’t get stronger is because of my environment.’
The kids at the hotel didn’t put much effort into changing their reality. Most of them just went with the flow, living day by day as it came. There was no way they could positively influence each other while living together.
‘…….’
As long as he stayed here, he’d never grow stronger no matter how much time passed.
His decision and actions were swift. Cedric packed only the essentials and left the hotel in the dead of night. And he never returned.
The harsh street life began again, but he tried desperately not to let his resolve crumble. He deliberately frequented areas crowded with rival gangs to provoke fights. If they didn’t react, he’d throw the first punch himself. It became an endless cycle of daily brawls.
‘Why’s this bastard picking fights every damn day?’
‘Right? Can’t even fight worth shit.’
But no matter how much he fought, he always ended up beaten half to death without improving. As seasons changed, the wounds on his body and mind only deepened.
It would be a lie to say he never missed the hotel’s comforts.
‘If I went back now… wouldn’t the kids welcome me with smiles?’
He agonized but shook his head. His pride wouldn’t allow it.
Instead of returning, Cedric chose another path – hating the hotel children.
I’m different from all of you.
I refuse to settle. I’ll live on my own terms.
Only through this self-delusion could he justify his aimless, fruitless existence.
‘I’m nothing like you trash.’
These repeated thoughts bred emotion, and those emotions fused into blind hatred.
“Seeing you made me want to kill you. It was like staring at my pathetic past self.”
Perhaps because he’d anticipated this to some degree, Philip looked only mildly surprised rather than shocked. After a pensive silence, he asked another question:
“I knew about your losing streak. The stories reached me. But then… it stopped.”
“……”
“Instead, rumors spread. That you crushed Taylor with monstrous strength and became East District’s boss. What happened?”
As Philip spoke, Cedric’s gaze grew distant, seemingly recalling the past.
“The moment my efforts finally bore fruit. All that daily training and fighting…”
Cedric explained how a man had approached him collapsed in an alley.
“I’ll never forget that fateful encounter. That person—”
“Did they give you this?”
Ray cut in, holding up a ring.
Cedric’s pupils dilated violently.
“M-my ring! Where did it—?!”
He shot up from his seat, face flushing crimson.
“Th-that’s… that’s mine!”
He stammered, eyes locked on the ring in Ray’s palm. Though desperate to grab it, he didn’t dare confront Ray.
“Technically, it’s not yours. You received it from that man who sought you out.”
“How did you… hmpf!”
Cedric clapped a hand over his mouth. The reaction confirmed most of Ray’s suspicions.
“That man’s a Mercred executive who visits your hideout weekly.”
“……”
“This ring’s why you became gang leader.”
“How… how do you know…?”
“Not everything. I’ll learn the rest now.”
Ray locked eyes with Cedric.
“What did he say when giving you this?”
This wasn’t mere curiosity. The basement man reportedly checked gang numbers regularly and would return soon. Ray needed intelligence.
Abandoning the gang now would waste my efforts.
The leadership position was hard-won. Moreover, the man might possess better magical tools. Defeating him could grant all the basement’s treasures – crucial assets given Ray’s current lack of gear and intel.
“Speak quickly. I detest wasted time.”
“Y-yes.”
Cedric steadied his breathing and began his tale.
“…Another losing day. I lay in a filthy alley, back against the wall, face swollen.”
“……”
“Then he found me. His first words still haunt me.”
“Which were?”
“He said I looked full of rage. Like gunpowder ready to explode. He wasn’t wrong – I hated everything back then.”
A question-and-answer exchange followed between the man and Cedric:
‘What fuels this anger?’
‘Myself. I hate myself so much it hurts.’
The man pressed for details. Overflowing with emotion, Cedric confessed everything – his thirst for strength, his hotel departure, his street wanderings.
‘No matter how hard I try… I was born weak—’
‘Now now, that’s not true.’
The man chuckled mysteriously, examined Cedric’s body, then gripped his wrist. After seconds, he released it.
‘Move your arm now.’
‘…What?’
Cedric obeyed – and gasped.
‘This… how…?’
‘A vile disease weakened your muscles. I’ve cured it.’
Unprecedented power surged through him. Cedric grabbed the base of a nearby dumpster and lifted.
‘…!’
One side of the massive bin rose effortlessly – something he couldn’t have budged normally. It felt surreal, making him nod like a puppet to the man’s following demands:
‘Never remove this ring. It prevents relapse.’
‘Form a gang – 66 strong, healthy members. Succeed, and greater rewards await.’
Refusal was unthinkable. Leading a gang had been his lifelong dream.
Ray pondered.
The flow matches my predictions.
The man likely cast enhancement magic while examining Cedric. The ring’s red mana probably maintained the spell by reacting to his anger.
‘Disease suppressor’ my ass.
Having worn the ring himself, Ray felt no special effects. While not an expert, he’d never heard of muscle-weakening diseases.
A lie to keep Cedric dependent.
The result? Mana addiction warping Cedric’s emotions while empowering the ring. Combined with the basement letter’s mention of “sacrifices,” the man’s motives became clearer.
“Your strength didn’t come from cured illness.”
“What?”
Ray gathered red mana in his palm. Though inexperienced with enhancing others, failure seemed unlikely. He aimed his hand at Cedric.
“What’re you—”
Hummmm
The undulating mana seeped into Cedric’s body.
“How’s that?”
“H-how? I’m not wearing the ring! Why do I feel…?!”
Cedric’s shock mirrored his first encounter with the man.
“Magic. I cast a spell on you.”
“Magic…?”
Ray conjured flames above his palm, briefly explaining:
“Mana exists. It can ignite fires or enhance strength.”
As he spoke, the red mana flowing through Cedric gradually faded until vanishing completely. Cedric’s face fell as the power dissipated.
“Impossible… Magic? That can’t…”
After initial denial, Cedric finally accepted reality.
“So… my efforts meant nothing? No matter how much I trained… This was my limit? Just… magic? Then I… I’ll lose to you too… Go back to being…”
“Unnecessary.”
Cedric lifted his bowed head.
“What?”
“No need to revert. Obey me faithfully, and I’ll give you something far better than that ring.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
Cedric bowed deeply to Ray before exiting the office.
Creeak – thud.
Philip turned to Ray.
“You’re really making him lieutenant? Letting him keep managing the gang?”
“Yes. I won’t invest much time in them. Though I’ll handle critical matters.”
Ray’s price for mercy was imparting combat techniques.
‘You’ll teach me? Like what you used in our duel?’
‘Yes. Proper technique overcomes strength disparities. Footwork, joint locks – that sort.’
Cedric nodded frantically, recalling the duel.
Nod. Nod. Nod. Nod. Nod.
‘Stop nodding.’
‘S-sorry.’
He had no reason to refuse. Given he’d thought it was over, Ray’s mercy felt like a blessing.
“You said you’ll leave the sector after finishing business here.”
Philip nodded, then added after a pause:
“Thanks for looking after my friend. And coercing Cedric with rewards rather than force was brilliant.”
Ray tilted his head. He’d simply offered training for convenience – to let Cedric handle gang disputes.
His body’s already trained. Just needs combat sense.
Cedric’s efforts weren’t entirely wasted. Though his intentions weren’t obvious, Philip’s praise intrigued him.
“Brilliant? How?”
“Pure force has limits.”
At Ray’s confused look, Philip elaborated:
“Crushing opponents through fear works – you get immediate compliance.”
“……”
“But it’s not optimal. They might resent you and retaliate.”
This contradicted Ray’s worldview – he’d always used terror to subdue enemies.
Yet I’ve never suffered memorable retaliation.
If it happened, maybe the fear wasn’t extreme enough.
“I think pure force works best. Fear paralyzes defiance.”
“Not wrong, but not universally true. More importantly, fear alone can’t earn true loyalty.”
“Then what does?”
“Appropriate rewards. Like offering Cedric training. The carrot alongside the stick.”
Though unconvinced, Ray couldn’t dismiss it – Philip excelled at handling people.
As Ray mulled this over, Philip – suddenly avoiding eye contact – began stashing magazines from under his bed into a safe.
