Chapter 70: The Youth Who Offers Respect (1)
Ray had a general understanding of what emotion purple mana represented.
It seeped into people's vessels when they witnessed someone accomplishing difficult tasks that others couldn't easily achieve.
It was the same emotion he'd often seen in Niles' subordinates when they looked at Niles, or when Sector 49's children looked at him.
Later, he learned the name of that emotion through a dictionary:
「Respect」
「The feeling of holding another's personality, ideology, or actions in high regard.」
Of course, reading the definition didn't mean he fully grasped the emotion itself.
'After all, it's not something I've personally felt.'
It resembled a dim silhouette - perceivable in overall shape yet hiding its true form.
Whoosh—!
The purple mana, having completed its covert movement, halted before Michael's vessel.
It strained to push inward but collided against the vessel's unyielding surface.
Repeated attempts yielded the same result.
'Useless.'
Michael belonged to the same category as Philip or Veronica - those incapable of artificially manipulating emotions.
What determined this classification?
Ray tried deducing but found insufficient data for a convincing conclusion.
As Ray pondered this, Michael bowed his head.
"Thank you for kindly answering my sudden questions, Ray-nim. If I may impose further..."
"Where is the Mag Tower?"
"Pardon?"
"The Mag Tower. You implied earlier I'm not from there. Where is it located? What does it do? Is it related to the City of Mages?"
Having resolved the other's doubts, it was now Ray's turn to satisfy his curiosity.
Under the barrage of questions, Michael stammered nervously:
"P-please, one at a time. First, the Mag Tower is an institution for training mages located in Sector 35."
"It's essentially an educational facility," he continued calmly. "Though admissions are strictly talent-based, keeping numbers low."
"How do upper sectors differ from lower ones?"
"Well... I haven't visited many areas, but upper and lower sectors show stark contrasts in environment and facilities."
"Such as?"
The persistent interrogation made cold sweat trickle down Michael's back.
Was this genuine curiosity?
About such fundamental matters?
It contrasted strangely with Ray's formidable magical prowess, as if he'd never visited an upper sector.
'Clearly not upper-middle class. Lower sector native? Someone who's lived their whole life in one area?'
Questions bloomed in the vessel's corners.
Nevertheless, Michael answered thoroughly, enabling Ray to gather considerable information:
Sector intervals narrow along the Elton River
Upper sectors resemble proper cities rather than zones
Mages remain rare even in upper sectors
Each sector has its manager and administrator, civil servant-like figures
Sectors operate as semi-autonomous city-states from Sector 35 onward
"My adoption by Representative John occurred in Sector 36, making the differences acutely apparent."
At John's name, the purple mana in Michael's vessel violently expanded.
"The world holds no equal to such a man!"
The swollen mana sphere trembled before bursting spectacularly.
Purple fragments cascaded like starlight across the vessel, only to regroup and repeat the cycle.
Fascinated, Ray observed while asking:
"You respect him greatly."
"Of course! No one matches Representative John's integrity or dedication to bettering the world."
Michael's voice swelled with pride.
"I was a Sector 36 street orphan until John-nim took me in during a relief distribution. His support later enabled my Mag Tower enrollment."
After graduating, he became Kernel Water's exclusive mage.
"The Representative works tirelessly to improve society through donations, charity events, and relief efforts."
「"The world teems with thirsty and hungry souls,"」 Michael quoted, eyes shining. 「"Those with means mustn't look away - sharing is our duty."」
These words had shaped his very soul.
"My life owes its meaning to him. He's like a father to me."
Ray tilted his head, recalling the emotions he'd sensed in John's vessel at the hotel.
"He doesn't seem the type..."
The murmured words made Michael's eyebrows twitch.
"What did you say?"
"I don't understand."
"Explain."
Ray consulted his mental dictionary:
"Donations mean giving without expectation. Relief distributions too. But the John I saw wouldn't do such things."
"......"
"Did he receive something in return from beneficiaries?"
Michael's face crumpled.
The purple mana sphere ceased exploding as crimson mana began seeping around it.
"Do you comprehend your own words?"
Fury bled through his voice.
"Were the recipients his friends? Friends help each other freely—"
"Representative John doesn't seek compensation for his kindness!"
The thunderous shout drew stares from pedestrians.
"Wait, those hawks—! Their size...!"
Three intimidating hawks materialized above Michael, wings beating violently.
Their beaks clacked like blades being sharpened.
Tak! Tak!
Metal helmets obscured their eyes, with specially crafted sheaths covering claws and beaks.
The triple wingbeats whipped Michael's coat about.
"Apologize. Now."
His teeth ground audibly.
But Ray wasn't listening.
'They emerged from his coat... What spell enables this?'
Scientific curiosity overrode danger.
"Refuse, and my familiars will shred you like paper!"
The purple mana dominating Michael's two Circles (proof of his post-John enlightenment) pulsed.
Ray recalled Graham's words:
「"Manipulation and control specialists are rare. They command loyal beasts from ordinary animals to deadly magical creatures."」
These hawks showed no loyalty.
Their vessels brimmed with rage, pain, and resentment.
Chain-like mana tethers bound their legs to Michael's hands - forced subjugation.
"By the gods, what are those?"
"A fight?"
Crowds gathered at a safe distance.
Michael bit his lip but pressed on:
"Final warning..."
"I've said nothing wrong."
Thud!
Ray leapt aside as a hawk folded its wings and bulleted through his former position.
Screech! Crash!
The raptor carved a crater in a plaza statue's chest before circling back.
No natural hawk possessed such speed or destructive power.
'His Circle contains red mana too - enhancement magic.'
No time for analysis.
Two remaining hawks targeted vital points.
Screeeech! Thwip!
Ducking and weaving, Ray transformed the plaza into an obstacle course.
"AAAAAH!"
"Run!"
The morning-lit square emptied instantly, leaving only two mages and three raptors.
"You lowborn wretch! What could you possibly understand?!"
Michael's vessel flashed purple and crimson.
As respect and rage intensified, the aerial predators grew fiercer.
Crash! Boom!
Steel beaks shattered pavement with each strike.
Paradoxically, Ray's sole emotion was fascination.
'So this is beast control magic.'
His gaze locked on the purple mana threads between Michael and the hawks.
The applications seemed endless:
Aerial sector surveillance
Rodent infiltration for intelligence
(Sensory sharing required advanced mastery)
'If my Circle had purple mana...'
Though color manipulation could gather some, quantity couldn't compensate for quality.
Ambient mana proved too inferior.
His appointment time approached.
Decision made, Ray channeled mana from his ring.
