#048. Where Malice Gathers (5)
“Instead of money, you can do me a favor later. That way, we’ll each owe each other one favor—fair, don’t you think?”
“…….”
A favor for a favor.
Thinking about it, there couldn’t be a clearer or more straightforward arrangement.
Ray nodded.
“Alright.”
“Yeah. I won’t ask for anything unreasonable.”
That was how Veronica ended up at the abandoned factory, burning through her brain cells.
Of all things, the first magic circle she had ever encountered had to be this absurdly intricate and massive.
This side uses transformation elements… and over here… if I just look a little closer, I think I can figure it out.
The mana vibrations coming from all directions were enough to make her head spin.
If it weren’t for the diagram Ray had provided, she wouldn’t have even been able to grasp the shape of the magic circle yet.
“You don’t have to push yourself too hard.”
“I can do it. Really. Yeah.”
“Then I’ll come back a little later.”
Analyzing a magic circle required a foundation of theoretical knowledge.
Because of that, Ray’s innate sensitivity to mana wasn’t much help this time around.
After Ray left, Veronica took a moment to catch her breath and look around.
Zzzt—! Zzzzt—!
She saw a crowd of children gathered by the window, small sparks flying between them.
Suddenly, she remembered what Yulta and Molphin had excitedly said when they came back from playing outside.
“You know Ray-hyung! They say he’s the boss of the northern district!”
“Yeah! I saw some big, scary-looking guys bowing their heads to greet him!”
The two siblings couldn’t hide their excitement, their eyes sparkling.
Was it that boys their age were obsessed with strength and power?
It must be true. I haven’t asked him directly yet, though.
When she first arrived at the abandoned factory, she was startled.
There were kids with intimidating builds swarming around.
“Don’t be scared. They’re here to help with the work. Looks like they got here first.”
Following Ray, she cautiously stepped inside, keeping an eye on her surroundings.
As she nervously examined the magic circle, a few kids hesitantly approached her.
“Ray-nim told us to come and help if you need anything…”
At that moment, she realized something.
They were also keeping an eye on her.
“It’s okay! I’ll call if I need help!”
She felt a little more at ease.
Since they were Ray’s friends, she couldn’t treat them carelessly.
“Yes! Understood! Madam! Please call us anytime if you need assistance!”
“We’ll be standing by. Madam.”
Madam?
The girl flinched slightly.
The children had picked up the term from eavesdropping on the streets.
Seeing Veronica call Ray so casually, they must have thought she was his girlfriend or someone equivalent.
Strictly speaking, “Madam” was a term used respectfully for someone else’s wife or lady of high status.
“Now…”
“Yes? What is it, Madam?”
Veronica’s face turned red.
Too timid to correct them about her relationship with Ray, she said nothing.
Still, being called “Madam” didn’t sound too bad—no, not bad at all.
Me, a Madam!
Without realizing it, her posture straightened.
With an elegant flourish, she raised her notebook like a fan to cover her mouth and pointed gracefully to the floor.
“Ahem. Could you measure the distance from here to there?”
“Yes! Madam!”
It had nothing to do with analyzing the magic circle.
“Hmm. Could you check the temperature of this section too?”
“Understood! Madam!”
Again, entirely unrelated to the magic circle.
Regardless, Veronica embraced her role as “Madam” with gusto, maintaining the act even now.
Tap. Tap. Tap!
As workers passed by, she instantly replaced her slouching posture with refined poise.
In that state, she continued her thoughts.
The activation point is clearly here. If I can just figure out how the elements in this section are combined, I’ll unlock the entire structure.
Her head felt overheated, but she refused to give up.
She knew better than anyone that effort and persistence were her greatest weapons.
How much time had passed?
“Got it!”
A triumphant cry erupted.
The anxiety and frustration that had filled her vanished in an instant, replaced by pure elation.
But that joy soon turned to embarrassment as she realized everyone was staring at her.
“Ah…”
Her face flushed.
She’d unconsciously shouted too loudly.
“S-sorry! Please, everyone—get back to work!”
Veronica flailed awkwardly to redirect their attention.
Ray approached and spoke.
“Did you figure it out?”
“Ah, yes! You wanted to know when the magic circle activates, right?”
Having shed her “Madam” persona, Veronica fanned her flushed face and accepted Ray’s notebook and pen to jot down a complex formula.
“Exactly 49 hours and 12 minutes from now. So, two days later at 2:30 PM.”
The timing aligned closely with Ray’s expectations.
The man’s return was scheduled for 2:00 PM.
He’ll check if Cedric and the kids are all present when he arrives.
Then, just before the magic circle activates, he’ll slip away alone.
Other possibilities existed, but the core plan wouldn’t change.
“Can you alter the activation time?”
“Hmm… Theoretically, yes. But I’d need to try it first.”
Veronica added cautiously, studying Ray’s expression.
“Can I ask what you’re planning? This magic circle looks extremely dangerous…”
Pure white mana bloomed from the girl’s vessel, taking the form of a small sun that radiated gentle light.
An irresistibly beautiful sight.
Ray found himself momentarily entranced.
Why does her concern for me take this shape?
When Veronica worried about others—elders or siblings—this phenomenon never occurred.
He’d confirmed it multiple times.
“What I’m planning…”
Ray’s lips moved in a dazed murmur.
His goal was clear: eliminate the man.
After much deliberation, he’d concluded that negotiation or half-hearted suppression wouldn’t work.
The best option was removal.
And this magic circle, capable of erasing everything in its vicinity, presented the perfect opportunity.
Interrogation is the best way to gather information, but…
The basement might still hold clues.
Any missing details could be collected in the next sector.
“I’m not forcing you to answer. I just thought I could help…”
The immediate problem was whether to tell Veronica.
Even if he explained, her assistance would be limited to analyzing the magic circle.
In two days, only the man and he would be here—the ideal conditions for success.
Others would only interfere.
Yet a question arose.
“Are you worried I’ll get hurt?”
If he hinted at the truth…
If he made Veronica worry more…
“Yes. Dangerous things can get you hurt.”
Would that little sun become even more beautiful?
At the entrance to the northern scrapyard, piled high with rusted metal, stood a boy with a crossbody bag.
Snow-white hair and skin.
A face of elegant contours.
His striking beauty clashed starkly with the decayed surroundings, like a painting from a different genre.
Yet oddly, he didn’t feel out of place.
His aura saw to that.
Piercing cold eyes and an icy expression.
The raw edge of a street survivor overlay his refined appearance.
“…….”
After staring at the town with dry eyes, he glanced at his wristwatch.
[1:57 PM]
It’s almost time.
As he looked up, a coat-clad man approached in the distance.
The vivid yellow excitement and anticipation in the man’s vessel were unmistakable even from afar.
Thud. Thud. Clank.
The two emotions drew closer and stopped right before their eyes.
“Huh? What? You were last time…”
“I came to greet you.”
“To greet me? Heh heh.”
The man laughed as he looked at Ray, who bowed his head respectfully.
The emotions in the vessel flickered like small flames, mirroring the man’s heaving chest. It seemed he wasn’t entirely displeased that someone had come to escort him.
“Alright. Let’s go. Is everyone gathered?”
“Yes. They’ve completed their relocation and are waiting at the hideout. Everyone is awaiting your arrival, sir.”
Ray recited his prepared lines and briefly raised his gaze. Among the myriad emotions swirling in the man’s vessel, not a trace of wariness or hostility could be found.
Just like last time.
Even at such close proximity.
The man didn’t strike Ray as particularly cautious or meticulous. If anything, he seemed recklessly careless by Ray’s standards. Even the plan to gather sacrifices on the magic circle using Cedric contained numerous flaws upon closer inspection. Given the magic circle’s precision and the plan’s significance, this carelessness was a glaring, fatal mismatch.
But it made sense.
No one in this world was perfect—everyone carried flaws. Whether trivial or catastrophic like this, it was a conclusion Ray had reached through years of observing people.
It also explained his recent doubts after reading theological texts at the bookstore.
「God remains unseen by our eyes. Nor has He ever been witnessed. Yet through the lens of faith, His existence becomes undeniable…」
The book compiled countless theories about divinity. With dozens of convoluted essays, Ray hadn’t finished it all. But a common thread ran through what he’d read: an omnipotent God created the world and molded humans in His image.
Facing these words, an old conviction stirred deep within Ray.
「…Humans are imperfect animals.」
A question arose: If God were truly all-powerful, why create flawed beings? Using a factory analogy, God seemed capable only of producing defective goods.
Didn’t this contradict omnipotence?
Ray remembered a dictionary entry and shelved the book.
「Contradiction: The inconsistency between words and actions.」
His world operated on strict logic—such contradictory texts weren’t worth his time.
The man’s voice jolted Ray back to reality.
“Is this the right path? Doesn’t match the direction I took before.”
“It’s a shortcut.”
“Ah, right. You rats know these alleys better than I do.”
They’d walked considerable distance with no hideout in sight—unsurprising, as Ray deliberately led them astray to waste time.
2:08 PM.
The magic circle would activate at 2:27 PM.
「Advancing the activation by minutes is my limit. The elemental bonds are too dense for further manipulation.」
Ray had devised multiple plans to eliminate the man, one now executable with Veronica’s aid. The strategy was simple: stall in the abandoned factory and escape moments before activation.
The power gap between them was insurmountable, but Ray trusted he’d endure until the critical moment. He’d focus solely on evasion, incrementally reducing the required stalling time.
‘He still believes activation occurs in 30 minutes.’
The actual trigger came three minutes sooner—a discrepancy that would drastically alter outcomes.
「Three minutes. Understood.」
「…You accept this so readily? What if I miscalculated the circle’s adjustments?」
Veronica’s concern was expected. She couldn’t fathom his easy trust in her crucial role; he couldn’t grasp her self-doubt.
「Veronica. You’re brilliant.」
「……。」
Ray hadn’t judged her capabilities lightly. Her magical knowledge rivaled elders—confirmed through lessons and fieldwork.
「I trust you.」
The circle’s control matrix had been perfectly modified per her instructions. Every variable
Thinking...Okay, let's dive into this. The user wants a proofread version of the translated text, ensuring it's grammatically correct, fluent, and natural in English. They also want to maintain the original style, especially keeping sentences separated as in the Korean text.
First, I'll check the chapter title. The original is "두 감정은 점점 가까워지다 눈앞에 멈췄다." The provided translation is "The two emotions drew closer and stopped right before their eyes." That seems accurate. I'll keep it as is.
Next, looking at the dialogue. The original has short, abrupt lines which the translation mirrors. For example, “응? 뭐야? 너는 저번에….” becomes “Huh? What? You were last time…”. The structure matches, so that's good.
I notice a line in the translated text: "Ray took the lead and turned at the fork in the road.\Sure enough, beyond piles of scrap metal loomed roof abandoned factory; seeing this sight made him close mouth again without saying anything else aloud..." There's a missing space after the period and a run-on sentence. I'll fix that by splitting it into two sentences for clarity, matching the original's structure.
Another part: "Ray delivered his prepared lines and glanced up briefly." The original uses "흘긋 시선을 들었다," which is more like a quick glance. The translation is accurate here.
There's a line about the magic circle activation time. The original mentions 2:27 PM, which is correctly translated. The note about pushing the time forward is also well-translated, maintaining technical terms like "elemental bonds."
In the dialogue between Ray and Veronica, the use of 「quotes」 is kept, which is consistent with the original. The emotional tone seems preserved, especially in parts where Veronica expresses doubt.
I'll check for any untranslated parts. The Korean text uses terms like "마법진" (magic circle), "아지트" (hideout), and "곡도" (a type of sword, translated as "kodachi"). These are correctly adapted or kept as is with context.
Cultural terms like "보스" are translated to "boss," which is appropriate. Names like "레이" (Ray) and "베로니카" (Veronica) remain unchanged as per instructions.
There's a line where the man threatens to throw Ray into the river: “사지를 찢어 강바닥에 던져 버리겠다.” The translation is “I’ll tear your limbs off and throw you into the riverbed.” That's accurate and maintains the violent tone.
In the action scenes, sound effects like “챙!” are translated to “Clang!” which is appropriate. The flow of combat is kept tense and fast-paced, matching the original.
I'll ensure that each sentence in the Korean text is a separate line in the translation, avoiding merged sentences unless necessary for readability. For example, splitting "Ray took the lead..." into two sentences to match the original's structure.
Finally, check for grammar and punctuation errors. Fix any missing spaces, commas, or periods. Ensure that dialogues are properly enclosed in quotes and paragraphs are correctly separated.
Overall, the translation is solid, but needs minor adjustments for sentence structure and punctuation to align with the original's formatting and ensure natural flow in English.
The two emotions drew closer and stopped right before their eyes.
“Huh? What? You were last time…”
“I came to greet you.”
“To greet me? Heh heh.”
The man laughed as he looked at Ray, who bowed his head respectfully. The emotions within the vessel flickered like small flames, mirroring the heaving of the man’s chest. It seemed he wasn’t entirely displeased that someone had come to escort him.
“Alright. Let’s go. Is everyone gathered?”
“Yes. They’ve completed their relocation and are waiting at the hideout. Everyone is awaiting your arrival, sir.”
Ray recited his prepared lines and briefly raised his gaze. Among the myriad emotions swirling in the man’s vessel, not a trace of wariness or hostility could be found. Just like before. Even at such close proximity.
The man didn’t strike Ray as particularly cautious or meticulous. If anything, by Ray’s standards, he seemed dangerously careless. Even the plan to gather sacrifices on the magic circle using Cedric contained numerous flaws upon closer inspection. Considering the critical nature of both the magic circle and the plan itself, such carelessness was a fatal mismatch for someone in his position.
But it made sense. Perfect humans didn’t exist—everyone carried flaws. Whether trivial imperfections or fatal weaknesses like this, it was a conclusion Ray had reached after years of observing people.
It also explained his recent doubts after reading theological texts at the bookstore.
「God remains unseen by our eyes. Nor has He ever been witnessed. Yet through the lens of our inner faith, His existence becomes undeniable…」
The book compiled countless hypotheses and theories about divinity. With dozens of arcane treatises beyond his comprehension, Ray hadn’t finished it all. But a common thread ran through every passage he’d managed: God was an omnipotent creator who fashioned humans in His image.
When Ray encountered these words, an old conviction stirred deep within him.
「…Yet humans are imperfect creatures.」
A question burned: If God were truly all-powerful, why create flawed beings? The analogy struck him—a factory producing nothing but defective goods. Didn’t this contradict the very concept of omnipotence?
Ray remembered a dictionary entry and shelved the book.
「Contradiction: The state where words and actions lack coherence.」
In a world governed by strict logic, such inconsistencies held no value.
The man’s voice shattered his reverie.
“Is this the right path? Doesn’t look like the way I came last time.”
“It’s a shortcut.”
“Ah, right. Your crew knows these streets better than I do.”
They walked considerable distance with no hideout in sight—unsurprising, as Ray deliberately led them astray to buy time.
2:08 PM.
The magic circle would activate at 2:27 PM.
「Advancing the activation by minutes is my limit. The elemental lattice is too dense for further manipulation.」
Ray had devised multiple plans to eliminate the man, one now executable with Veronica’s aid. The strategy was straightforward: stall in the abandoned factory until moments before activation, then escape alone.
The chasm between their combat abilities was undeniable, but Ray trusted he’d endure until the critical moment. His focus would be pure evasion, incrementally reducing the required stalling time.
‘He still believes activation occurs in thirty minutes.’
The actual trigger came three minutes sooner—a discrepancy that would prove decisive.
「Three minutes. Understood.」
「…You accept this so readily? My adjustments could be flawed.」
Veronica’s concern was expected. She couldn’t fathom his easy trust in her crucial role, just as he couldn’t comprehend her self-doubt.
「Veronica. You’re brilliant.」
「……」
Ray’s confidence wasn’t unfounded. Her magical knowledge rivaled any elder’s—verified through countless lessons and field tests.
「I trust you.」
The magic circle’s control matrix had been perfectly modified per her instructions. Every variable accounted for, every possibility calculated. While absolute success couldn’t be guaranteed, Ray aimed to maximize the odds.
“Hey, lieutenant! When do we arrive? Some shortcut—this is slower than my original route!”
The man’s irritation surfaced.
‘Enough delay.’ They’d already gained seven minutes beyond the planned detour.
“My apologies. I may have misjudged the earlier turns. But this fork is definitely correct.”
Ray led them through the junction. Beyond scrap metal piles rose the derelict factory’s roof. The man swallowed whatever complaint he’d prepared.
Crunch. Crunch.
Their path now faced the factory’s sealed iron gates. As the imposing structure loomed closer, the man’s excitement visibly intensified.
“Knew you’d rally the troops. That hunger for power was obvious from our first meeting.”
Uncontrollable smiles dripped from the corners of his upturned lips.
“All thanks to your guidance, sir.”
Ray delivered the rote response while monitoring the man’s state. The plan required him entering the factory—any hesitation at the threshold would spell disaster. Contingencies existed, but complications multiplied risks exponentially.
“Quiet inside. Everyone holding their breath for me?”
Fortunately, the man detected nothing amiss. At least until his hand gripped the rusted handle.
Skkkkreeeeee—
The shriek of metal accompanied the door’s gradual opening. Darkness pulsed within, punctuated by flickering crimson gemlights.
“Behold! Your master has arri—”
The man’s grin died. No disciples awaited—only emptiness and dancing shadows.
Three events occurred near-simultaneously:
The man whirled, channeling mana.
Thud!
Footsteps echoed as Ray closed the distance, knife flashing.
Clang!
Forearm met blade in a shower of sparks, the clash throwing both combatants apart—man deeper inside, boy toward the entrance.
“You! Explain this treachery!”
While the man froze to assess, Ray moved.
Skreeee—!
Reinforced muscles screamed as he hauled the massive door shut. Dwindling light sliced through the narrowing gap until—
Clang!
Darkness swallowed the space. Something lunged from behind. Ray crossed his arms.
Chaaang!
Metal-enhanced forearms repelled the kodachi’s edge.
“Blocking… with bare arms?!”
Ray pivoted, driving a spinning kick into the man’s abdomen.
Thoom!
Magic-augmented force sent the man skidding across the floor. Perfect strike.
The darkness hindered only those reliant on eyesight. Through mana-charged veins, Ray perceived living targets as glowing outlines. His hands found the pre-hidden chains.
Clink. Clink.
Hastily looped through door handles, the bindings wouldn’t hold long—but didn’t need to.
Whoosh!
Light flared behind him. The man stood surrounded by floating fireballs, face twisted demonically.
“Where are the brats?”
Fury dripped from his words, though Ray noted minimal damage from the kick.
“Ten seconds. Explain. Fail, and—”
Bzzzzt!
“I’ll tear your limbs off and throw you into the riverbed.”
The count began.
10. 9. 8…
Ray stood motionless, analyzing the vessel before him. Crimson mana raged against its confines like superheated steam—the perfect distraction.
‘He still doesn’t realize the circle’s been altered.’
But more provocation was needed.
Ray’s blade flashed upward, tip aimed between furious eyes.
“Walter. By the boss’s order—I’m here to eliminate you.”
