#089. The Missing Children (3)
Ray's crimson mana reached the vessels of the two leaders.
Unlike usual, he used mana from his ring rather than ambient mana.
The thought was that using raw mana during emotional infusion might expose them to mana poisoning.
Though that’s never happened before.
Still, nothing good could come from exposure to ambient mana.
Whooom──!
The crimson mana that had burrowed into their vessels clung to the leaders’ rage.
Fueled by it, their swelling anger quickly overwhelmed any hesitation.
“Last warning. Stay down. Unless you want a repeat of last time’s beating.”
“Stop yapping and come at me, you loudmouthed shit!”
Amid the charged atmosphere, Melom and Dnain suddenly felt uneasy.
That fucking cockroach…! Wait… Did I always hate him this much?
This bastard keeps dredging up ancient history…! Why? Why does he disgust me so much today?
They’d always been rivals.
Ready to exploit any weakness and seize territory in a heartbeat.
But with too much to lose and neither showing vulnerability, they’d avoided direct conflict until now.
Even today, they’d planned to trade threats, save face, and walk away.
After all, their real goal was extorting money from that arrogant white-haired outsider.
So why—
I’ll tear him apart.
That bastard’s spawn deserves death.
—did their fury burn so relentlessly?
A ceaseless message throbbed in their minds:
Drive your fist through that fucker’s face. Now.
“Diiieeee! Kill them aaaall!”
Dnain erupted first.
“Quit staaalling! Fucking wipe them ooout!”
Melom roared back, refusing to be outdone.
Silence gripped the vacant lot for a heartbeat before erupting into panicked murmurs.
“B-boss? Seriously? We’re really doing this?!”
“W-why now?! You always said fighting’d cost us more!”
Having strictly followed their leaders’ conflict-avoidance policy, the underlings reeled at this sudden declaration of war.
“Deaf or what?!” Dnain bellowed. “Kill them all! Now! Every last one!”
“Move your asses!” Melom screamed. “Slaughter them! Anyone who hesitates—I’ll crush them myself!”
At their leaders’ roars, the startled underlings charged at each other with thunderous cries.
“Raaahhh!”
“Die, you bastards!”
What began as hesitant clashes soon escalated.
As injuries mounted and tempers ignited, the skirmish exploded into an all-out brawl.
“Aaaagh! My arm—my arm!”
“You fuckers! How dare you—?!”
Screams and curses filled the air.
The stench of blood and sweat vibrated through the atmosphere.
Craaack──!
Clubs splintered on impact—or limbs.
Tangled arms and legs.
The scene was pure chaos, the deafening noise leaving ears numb.
And one step removed from this maelstrom…
Ray observed calmly.
The boy’s gaze focused on the battle’s heart—
Where the most vicious fighting raged.
—Die…! You fucking…!
—I know… what you…!
Melom and Dnain fought like rabid strays.
They targeted eyes and ears without hesitation, exploiting every stumble to attack feet and legs.
A street brawl devoid of technique, yet their ferocity rivaled seasoned fighters.
But Ray’s focus lay elsewhere.
The rage is dissipating.
The crimson mana within the leaders’ vessels shrank rapidly, like deflating balloons.
A backlash after reaching critical mass and exploding.
Nodding in satisfaction, Ray watched Melom and Dnain’s mental states stabilize.
—You…! I’ll…!
—Just… try…!
Though distance blurred their words, their visible fury faded fast.
Their venomous glares softened; their punches grew hesitant.
…I don’t want to fight anymore.
…Why am I fighting?
Seeing their nearly depleted anger, Ray knew it was time to intervene.
He stepped slowly into the fray.
“You bastard! What’re you—? Huh…?!”
Those who swung at Ray stared blankly at their weapons cutting empty air.
He merely walked through the battlefield—yet every attack missed.
Thud.
Ignoring the confusion, Ray reached Melom and Dnain.
“You think I don’t know you kidnapped my crew?!”
“Bullshit! You snatched ours! Sold them to Polterne, breaking street law! You fucking traitor!”
The previously distant accusations now rang clear.
Kidnapping? Ray’s interest flickered.
Thud.
He took another step, slipping between them as if he’d always belonged there.
Whoosh—! Snap!
Whoosh—! Snap!
Fists from both sides froze in Ray’s grasp.
“What…?”
“You…?!”
The leaders panicked momentarily before yanking at their trapped hands.
But as if enchanted, their fists stayed locked.
Trembling limbs.
Faces flushing crimson.
“L-let go, you bastard!”
“F-fuck you! Who do you think you are?!”
They roared to salvage pride—until Ray tightened his grip.
“Aaaagh! My hand—!”
“M-my bones! They’re cracking—!”
They collapsed to their knees, pinned by their own suspended fists.
W-what inhuman strength…!
Did I really think I could take this monster?!
Cold sweat drenched Melom and Dnain.
In streets where strength ruled, their judgment was swift:
This arrogant white-haired outsider was a predator far beyond their league.
A voice cut through their terror:
“Calmer now?”
“H-huh?”
“What?”
“Your anger’s gone. Right?”
The leaders stared blankly, unable to comprehend.
…Gone?
"Are you asking if my anger's gone? What kind of..."
If I had to answer based on the words alone, the anger had subsided. When I looked at my opponent, I didn't feel as heated as before. Rather, what filled my mind now was the sense of crisis and dizziness from having recklessly started this fight. But once a war breaks out, there's no backing down.
'A man's got his pride.'
'If you show weakness once, it's over.'
Beyond personal feelings, there remained significant unresolved issues between our gangs. So the answer was clear: The anger hadn't subsided.
"......"
"......"
But why couldn't I bring myself to say it? My fist still throbbed with terrible pain, and my opponent seemed to be waiting for me to say the anger was gone.
"Answer."
At Ray's urging, Melom and Dnain glanced at each other.
'You say it first. Say your anger's gone.'
'No, you first, you bastard.'
They'd follow if the other spoke first, but neither would show weakness even if it killed them. Ray helped mediate their disagreement by tightening his grip.
"Agh! Okay okay! It's gone! All my anger's gone!"
"Gaaah! Ugh! N-no anger! W-was never angry! Won't ever be angry! W-we're actually friends!"
The answers exploded simultaneously. The two gang leaders now dangled helplessly from Ray's hands as everyone froze at this absurd spectacle.
In the silence, Ray spoke: "If the anger's gone, make up."
"Make up...?"
"With this bastard here?"
Ray nodded, remembering his days living with the kids under the bridge. Fail, their leader, always made fighting siblings reconcile properly: "Even if they seem fine outwardly, resentment might remain. After any fight, ensure proper reconciliation."
This was similar - it was a fight too.
Emerging from his thoughts, Ray repeated: "Make up."
"S-sorry. M-my bad."
"M-me too. S-sorry. I-I'll apologize."
The gang leaders spoke awkwardly while staring at each other - anything to escape this monster's grasp, though they weren't sure what exactly they were apologizing for.
"Good job."
"N-now could you maybe let go...?"
"Y-yes please! The pain's driving me crazy!"
Ray nodded and was about to comply when—
'Ah.'
A memory flashed through his mind - something he'd forgotten. Fail always made them do one last thing after reconciling: "We're family. Don't forget."
Namely, hugging while exchanging "I love yous."
●
Some underlings charged to save their leaders - about as effective as running into a typhoon. They were all instantly knocked flat by Ray's blows. The situation resolved quickly.
Minutes later, dozens of boys including Melom and Dnain knelt before concrete cylinders where Ray's group sat. "...So search the sector using these keywords. Useful information will be rewarded," Philip continued explaining.
The dazed gang leaders nodded vacantly - physically present but mentally still reeling from earlier events. Never imagining they'd say "I love you" first to another man rather than a girlfriend...
'Not how I planned to use those words.'
'Sorry mom - your son's first "I love you" went to a dude.'
As they wept internally:
"With over 100 members per gang, the sector search shouldn't take long," came a startling statement.
"Uh...we can't spare all our guys for this," one objected.
"Same here. We're stretched thin already..."
The summary: Both gangs had members disappearing recently. Each suspected the other was kidnapping their orphans - selling their own kind when desperate?
"You heartless bastard! Met with Polternei members recently - think we didn't notice?"
"Bullshit! That meeting was for planning district assignments! Our kids are vanishing too!"
"Smokescreen! Playing victim to avoid suspicion!"
As Melom and Dnain growled at each other, Ray asked quietly: "Any clues from investigations? Timing patterns? Victim traits?"
After some thought, the leaders shared details:
"At first we thought they'd passed out somewhere. But weeks passed..."
"Not kids who'd desert. Got nowhere else to go."
Seventeen missing total. Eventually they paired everyone, but partners still vanished mid-shift.
"Portley! Your partner Tommy disappeared recently, yes?"
A boy stood up: "Yeah. Coming back from work. Talking one moment - gone next. Saw him enter an alley... followed, but he'd vanished in a dead end."
Veronica whispered: "Could be magic."
Ray nodded: "Anything else about that night?"
Portley frowned then remembered: "Red glow. I think I saw...a red glow in front of Tommy."
