Chapter 47: Where Malice Gathers (4)
Whoosh──!
The fingernail-sized gemstones emitted light so intense they could be seen from dozens of meters away.
An overwhelmingly sinister aura.
Cedric stood speechless under the oppressive pressure, his mouth agape.
What is this?
How could it float mid-air?
This was undoubtedly magic, just as Ray had described and demonstrated.
'Th-this looks dangerous.'
The ominous atmosphere made Cedric instinctively turn to Ray, seized by an urge to flee.
"……."
Ray's face remained its usual impassive mask.
Cedric felt sudden awe.
How could someone stay so perpetually calm?
Though they'd lived together, Cedric now realized Ray transcended any definition of an ordinary street urchin.
Those emotionless white eyes carried an almost magical quality, their mere gaze imparting unnatural calmness.
With slightly steadied nerves, Cedric timidly asked the man:
"M-may I ask...what this is?"
"Heh heh. No need for fear. These are the same gems adorning your ring. They suppress ailments and amplify vitality."
The man's smile bloomed fully now.
"You're talents who'll shape our organization's future. Such support is only proper, even if this isn't our permanent base."
"I see. Thank you for your consideration, sir!"
"Good. Remember gratitude. And don't touch the gems - the barrier prevents approach anyway."
"Yes! Understood!"
After final inspections of the magic circle and factory interior, the man strode toward the exit.
He turned halfway, addressing both:
"I'll take my leave. The boss awaits my report. And that ring-" His gaze pierced Cedric's finger.
"-Guard it like your life. Especially until I return in three days."
The icy stare and lowered pitch transformed advice into threat.
Cedric jerked a nod, shoulders trembling.
Silence reclaimed the space as the man departed.
Cedric watched Ray still studying distant gems:
"So...what now? What's his plan?"
"We investigate. Return to the hotel first. I'll examine these before joining you."
"Got it."
Creaaak-clang!
Alone, Ray approached the nearest gemstone.
Crimson mana fountainned from it, cascading down to soak into floor patterns that spread throughout the derelict factory.
Atmospheric mana simultaneously siphoned back into the gem, replenishing its reserves.
'So this is how charging stones are utilized.'
The floor sigils and floating gems formed an endless energy cycle - an infinite magical reactor.
Ray observed without touching.
Transparent barriers encased each gemstone, and recklessness seemed unwise with the device's purpose unclear.
He ascended stairs to a second-floor walkway along the walls, stopping at the clearest vantage point.
Below, the factory floor blazed with intricate crimson geometry - a complex magical array beyond any he'd seen.
"……."
Though clearly magic-related, his knowledge proved insufficient for deeper analysis.
Fortunately, one person might explain this device.
Rustle.
Ray retrieved notebook and pen.
Flipping past handwriting exercises, he began meticulously replicating the floor patterns.
Though memorization sufficed, visual documentation served better for consultation.
After completing the scaled sketch, Ray descended.
He lingered, watching the pulsating sigils, before finally leaving.
Next morning.
The old man stared at the notebook, then broke the silence:
"Related to that Mercrad executive?"
"……."
Ray marveled.
How had he known before any explanation?
Was this too magic?
The arcane world held infinite possibilities - perhaps even mind-reading spells.
'I'll ask about that magic later. No time now.'
Ray nodded.
"Yes. He came to our new base. Drew patterns with mana, installed red gems - charging stones - at each node."
The old man closed his eyes, organizing thoughts.
After ten seconds, he reopened them:
"You're in graver danger than imagined. This is a magic circle."
"Magic circle?"
"Correct. A formula amplifying spell potency and range exponentially with equal mana. Requires precise expertise to construct, yet..." He trailed off.
"...This is flawless. At least in the drawn form. Such perfection suggests equally precise elemental alignment and gem placement."
As he spoke, the old man secretly marveled at Ray.
Magic circles inherently concentrated dense mana in tight configurations.
Reproducing one flawlessly from observation was like distinguishing individual threads in densely woven cloth by touch alone.
'Unless he already knew this circle...'
But Ray lacked formal magical education.
This could only be another facet of his innate genius - as if he visually perceived mana itself.
Before this realization fully formed, Ray's voice interrupted:
"So each spell has corresponding circles?"
"Theoretically, yes. But practicality limits their use to specific magic types."
"Then this circle is..."
"Life Drain magic. Identical to your ring's enchantment, but magnified."
"Covering wider area with greater power?"
"Precisely."
The elder elaborated:
When activated, every lifeform within would perish, their vitality converted to mana.
"Produces ultra-concentcentrated mana, but unusable by humans."
"Why? Shouldn't concentrated mana be better?"
"Unclear scientifically, but life-derived mana carries extreme toxicity. High risk of magical corruption."
Ray nodded, forming his own understanding.
'Humans live through emotions.'
Emotions - the core driver of human existence in Ray's observation.
They fueled laughter, tears, rage. Every action stemmed from emotional undercurrents.
Yet emotions' harms outweighed benefits:
Clouding judgment.
Inciting irrationality.
Corroding mental resilience.
Emotions were poison - medicinal in careful doses, but inherently toxic.
'I once thought emotional numbness advantageous for survival.'
Though now striving to broaden his emotional range, that core belief remained.
Humans accumulated emotional dregs throughout life.
Mana distilled from such beings would naturally inherit this toxicity.
"The corrupted mana can't be purified through ordinary rings. Typically used for fueling creatures or empowering artifacts."
"Artifacts...including charging stones?"
The old man could tell that the boy was thinking the same thing as him.
"In theory, nothing is impossible. Though I’ve never heard of anyone trying to enhance a charging stone—a tool with inherent functional limitations."
"..."
"But if it’s something like that ring we saw last time, the story might change."
Ray recalled the words the man had left with Cedric yesterday:
"Do not lose the Absolute Ring under any circumstances. Especially not until three days from now, when I return."
The long chain of reasoning reached its conclusion.
The man’s goal was to sacrifice street children to enhance his charging stone.
"So. What do you plan to do?"
Silence followed.
After organizing his thoughts, Ray asked:
"If someone stands on the magic circle, will they die regardless of who they are?"
That early afternoon.
Inside an abandoned factory in the northern junkyard.
Twenty boys wandered around with welding tools and large steel plates.
"Ray-nim, should we seal all the windows here too?"
"Leave no gaps. Ensure the only exit is the iron door."
Zzzt—! Zzzzt—!
Sparks flew from the edges of steel plates covering the windows. As the light inside dimmed, Ray remembered his request from two hours prior:
"Get me welding tools and steel plates."
True to form, Philip had proven capable. He’d secured all necessary equipment and personnel within two hours. Welding was a high-level skill even among experienced workers at their hotel, leaving only four skilled welders present. The rest were Ray’s subordinates assisting with preparations.
"A little higher!"
"Can you hand me that?"
Philip would have laughed aloud if he’d seen the scene.
"Unbelievable. Those hulking brats waiting meekly for orders beside the hotel kids? Never thought I’d live to see this. Guess you really do witness everything if you live long enough."
Ray circled the second-floor walkway, inspecting the progress.
"It’s too complicated!"
A shout echoed from below.
Not far away on the first floor, a red-haired girl glared at the ground as if trying to bore holes through it. Ray descended and paused behind Veronica, who groaned like a tormented scholar.
"How many elemental layers are here? What even…"
She remained oblivious to his presence, too absorbed in her thoughts.
If I speak normally, she won’t hear me.
Closing the distance, Ray raised his voice slightly:
"You can give up if it’s too difficult."
"Kyaah!"
Veronica whirled toward him, lost her footing, and teetered backward. Her crimson hair fluttered as her body tilted toward the ground—too fast to catch.
Whooosh—
A gust of wind cradled her from behind, reversing her momentum and lifting her upright.
"Whew… Thanks. That was close."
Veronica exhaled in relief while marveling at Ray’s magic. How could he cast so swiftly and precisely? Using the same mana capacity, he’d already surpassed his grandfather’s skill.
"It’s not remarkable."
"…Anyone would panic if you sneak up and talk like a ghost!"
She hesitated, unsure whether to feel grateful to the person who’d caused her stumble.
Who made me almost fall? Oh…
A realization flashed through Veronica’s mind. Her eyes lit up, lips curving into a smirk.
"Were you pranking me? Do you think we’re that close now?"
"..."
This was far from the truth. He’d only wanted to ensure she heard him. Pranks ranked among humanity’s most incomprehensible behaviors in Ray’s view.
"Not exactly…"
"I didn’t take you for the prankster type."
"That’s not—"
"I’ll stay vigilant! Who knows when you’ll strike next!"
"..."
Ray mentally added a note about Veronica:
The bookstore girl selectively hears only what she wants during conversations.
"Oh! What did you say earlier?"
"About the magic circle analysis. You can quit if it’s hard."
"It’s not hard at all! I’ll never quit!"
Veronica had begun analyzing the magic circle upon arriving at the factory an hour prior. Ray recalled his morning conversation with the old man at the bookstore:
"The framework is clearly a siphon spell. But activation triggers and conditions vary by caster—you’ll need to examine the site directly."
"As you see, I can’t venture out anymore."
"Take Veronica. She’s inherited nearly all my knowledge. She’ll help."
The final statement mirrored Ray’s own thoughts—he’d already considered asking her.
"Your grandfather’s asleep now? Um… Could you… analyze the magic circle…?"
Veronica had blinked in surprise but agreed without hesitation.
"Alright. I’ll be ready by the time you return."
While Ray’s request played a role, her intellectual curiosity proved equally motivating.
When Ray returned after briefing Philip, he held out a stack of bills.
"What’s this?"
"Payment."
Veronica stared at the money before meeting his gaze.
"Solving everything with money is a bad habit. I’m helping because we’re friends."
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. Through the mana in his vessel, Ray sensed her faint anger and hurt.
He couldn’t understand.
Another crack formed in his worldview.
"You don’t need to pay me. I can’t accept this much."
Why?
Philip had reacted similarly. Why?
In Ray’s experience, everyone loved money. No one refused it unless it was dangerous or dubious. Was that the issue?
"It’s not tainted. You can take it."
"Really, it’s fine."
"..."
Debts must be repaid.
Whether through gratitude or retaliation.
"I want you to accept it."
"You’re the most stubborn person alive."
You’re one to talk.
Their brief tug-of-war ended when Veronica noticed Ray’s insistence resembled compulsion more than mere stubbornness—a need to balance scales.
After a pause, she suggested:
"Hmm… What if we do this instead?"
