Ch 81
#081. Curiosa (1)
Ray immediately turned around.
A ghostly white mask—one that evoked images of specters.
Black cloth stretched from behind it, wrapping around the figure's entire body. The moment Ray registered the sight, he grabbed Veronica's wrist and pulled her back.
The masked figure ignored Ray's reaction, continuing to stare at the sky. "I should've caught it, but I couldn't even begin to try."
Was it a man or woman? A child or adult? The voice was utterly alien, impossible to place. Who was this? How had they approached unnoticed? The clearing had been empty except for Ray and Veronica.
"Had you attacked, you'd have shattered like an ice sculpture," the figure mused aloud. The mask bore two black circles for eyes and a single line for a mouth—like a child's crude drawing. No visible holes; how could it see?
"Ah, yes. This matter is equally important." Finally, the mask turned toward Ray. "No matter how I look at it, this makes no sense. You're no homunculus, yet you maintain this emotionless state. What are you, boy?"
The figure advanced with threatening steps, forcing Ray and Veronica to retreat. "And you manipulated human emotions earlier."
"..."
"That's impossible—unless you're the Doctor."
What was this? The Doctor? A homunculus? The speaker seemed to know all their secrets. Ray studied the figure's vessel with intense curiosity.
"Oh? Now there's emotion...?"
...The ratio is abnormal.
Lavender mana filled the vessel—an unnatural phenomenon. It felt exactly like when Ray had infused artificial emotions into Skail, then later flooded his vessel with golden mana through natural emotions.
"And you have the ring too. How is this possible?"
Suddenly, the mask began rotating—upside down.
"I-It's spinning! Like a dartboard!"
Veronica looked ready to faint at the grotesque sight (no visible neck bones). Ray tensed for a different reason: Four Circles.
『Average mages stay at 1st Circle their whole lives. Only luck and skill grant 2nd Circle.』
Michael's words echoed. Tower graduates averaged 1st Circle; professors, 3rd. 『Beyond that... I've heard the Tower Head is 4th Circle.』
Walter (2nd Circle) had been Ray's strongest opponent—yet this foe was 4th Circle. No chance of winning. They could die here if the figure chose... but Ray felt no fear. Remembering the lavender mana's corresponding emotion—curiosity—he saw an opportunity.
Thud.
Their backs hit mercenaries' vehicles—no further retreat. "If fighting starts," Ray whispered, "run to our car and drive us out."
"...Okay."
The mask stopped rotating and glared down. "Answer me, boy: How did you get Walter's ring?"
Walter—proof this figure was connected to Merkred. The ring must have tracking magic. Ray hadn't exposed it since Sector 48; the figure couldn't have seen it physically.
"Playing mute? Speak now or suffer."
"..."
"I said ANSWER!"
"..."
A pause—then eruption: "Answer me answer me answer me ANSWER NOW BEFORE I RIP YOU APART!"
The voice boiled over; each word made the body jerk like a drug addict—mana addiction, just like Cedric and Walter's emotional instability.
"If you don't answer now—"
"Kill me."
"What?"
"Try it if you dare."
Silence. Then: "You... don't even... know your place..."
Killing intent erupted from the mask, smothering the area—so thick breathing grew difficult. Veronica (clutching Ray's sleeve) paled—until his hand grasped hers. Her breathing steadied as he spoke calmly through the pressure:
"I know my place: I'm the only one who can answer your questions."
"..."
"Kill me, and those answers die with me."
Ray was certain—the lavender mana represented curiosity (a craving for new knowledge). At this magnitude, the figure was desperate enough to go mad for answers—like Skail compulsively hoarding under golden mana's greed. It wouldn't harm him while he held its answers hostage.
"Why hesitate? Afraid of losing your precious questions?"
The figure trembled before unleashing an ear-splitting roar:
HOW DARE YOU—!
KNOW YOUR PLACE—!
SUCH ARROGANCE—!
A gale erupted as nearby cars levitated and crumpled toward a central point.
Crunch! Crack! Crrrack!
The killing intent grew thicker.
But.
"It's not an empty boast."
The boy remained unfazed.
"Earlier, you spoke as if reading my emotions. Do I seem like I'm making baseless boasts?"
"......"
Time passed in silence.
As the killing intent dissipated, fist-sized scraps of metal that had been a vehicle moments ago clattered to the ground.
"You... you...!"
Breath came out in violent gasps.
Shoulders rose and fell with tremors.
But that was all.
Seeing his opponent wouldn't attack further, Ray knew his prediction had hit true.
The emotional state was extremely unstable.
To show such violent reactions from just a little provocation...
Then the next words to say were already decided.
"I'll ask the questions. You'll answer them."
"You dare question me?"
"If you don't like it, there's always the option of killing me right here."
Grrrind──!
The sound of teeth grinding so hard they might shatter echoed through the air.
The waves of anger rapidly rose within the Ghost Mask's vessel.
And just before the total anger could surpass the total curiosity─
"You should answer. If you answer me, I'll answer you too."
"......"
The anger hesitated.
Subsided slightly.
Curiosa seemed to think for a moment before speaking:
"Are you proposing an exchange of questions?"
"Exactly."
"How absurd. Fine. I don't know what you're curious about, but if I answer one, you'll answer─"
"The exchange rate is 4 to 1."
"Quick on the uptake, aren't you? Fine. If I answer one, you'll answer four─"
"The opposite."
"You little shit."
Curiosa's anger exploded like a volcano again.
"If the ratio doesn't suit you, I can adjust slightly. 3 to 1. Anything lower is absolutely unacceptable to me too."
"......"
The anger subsided again.
After weighing the situation in silence, Curiosa exhaled roughly and spoke:
"Huuu... Fine. What are you curious about, brat?"
The 3 to 1 ratio was more than satisfactory for Ray. He'd expected 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 initially but deliberately started high to test the waters.
"First, take ten steps back. Don't come any closer than that."
Curiosa obediently complied.
Ray checked Veronica's condition briefly before turning back to Curiosa.
'This is an opportunity to gain information.'
While he hadn't anticipated this situation developing, it was clearly an opportunity - especially for information about Merkred.
So long as he maintained control of the conversation's flow...
"First question. Reveal your identity."
"Curiosa. The Walter's ring you possess - that Walter was an executive of Merkred."
The answer came before Ray could mention lies wouldn't work.
Curiosa shrugged.
"Let's not waste each other's time. Lies won't work between us anyway. When you can read emotions, spotting falsehoods is child's play."
Ray stayed silent for a moment before saying:
"My real name is Zepher."
"You fucking brat! I said those kind of lies are a waste of time!"
Clearly Curiosa could detect his falsehoods.
'He can definitely sense the emotional tremors within my vessel.'
Though barely perceptible, faint emotions lingered in the boy's vessel - remnants from using magic.
Moreover, anyone lying would inevitably show emotional tremors in their vessel - an unavoidable physiological phenomenon for living beings.
"My real name is Lotson."
"......"
"My real name is Humphrey."
"......"
"My real name is Pale."
"Brat. Final warning. You'd best not test me further."
Ray decided this confirmation was enough.
He mulled over the name revealed:
'Curiosa.'
One of the children's names from the photo found in Walter's basement.
Just now mentioned as a Merkred executive too.
Had all those children become Merkred executives?
Ray organized this information mentally while continuing:
"Good that we don't need worry about lies between us. Second question: Where did you appear from suddenly? Were you watching me all along?"
"My hiding place was John's shadow. I observed every moment John met with you - though at the end I jumped to another corpse's shadow."
"Third question: What was your purpose hiding in John's shadow?"
"Under organization orders - tracking Blue."
"Blue?"
"Questions over now, insolent brat."
The exchange rate was 3 to 1.
Ray nodded.
"Fine. Ask your question."
"Where to begin... So many curiosities... Hmm... Yes. This question will do."
The spinning Curiosa stopped and asked:
"How exactly do you possess Walter's ring?"
Though anticipated from Curiosa's mutterings earlier, Ray hesitated briefly.
'I might as well have killed Walter myself... And Curiosa and Walter were fellow executives.'
Comrades by another name.
What reaction would revealing this truth provoke?
Normally - furious outrage demanding vengeance for a fallen comrade.
The anger would surely surpass all curiosity.
But recalling one crucial fact, Ray steadied his breath and parted his lips:
"I killed him."
