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#093. Crying Woman (3)
The expressions on the children’s faces were erased.
Dozens of eyes staring at me without even moving a muscle.
Philip and Veronica felt a chill down their spines for a moment.
“You guys, did you come to pick us up?”
One of the children spoke first.
It was Yeren, the leader of the Dnaine gang, who was listed on the missing persons list.
Philip answered, relieved that the conversation was possible.
“That’s right. Melom and Dnain are looking for you. No, it’s not just them. There are others who are worried about you too…”
“No need. Go back. We like it here.”
“uh…?”
The other children all nodded at Yeren’s words.
“That’s right. We have no intention of going back.”
“Madam Lenia treats me well. She gives me delicious meals, teaches me how to read and write, and dresses me in nice clothes.”
“It’s nothing compared to when I was living on the streets. Hmm.”
There was continued praise for Madame Lenia’s character and the virtues of mansion life.
What was surprising was that Petro, who had been kidnapped just last night, also showed the same behavior.
“Even Petro… It’s strange how he changed like that overnight.”
Veronica whispered.
Ray and Philip were of the same opinion.
“What did Madame Lenia do to you… no, what kind of conditions did she set for you? Giving you clothes, a place to stay, and feeding you without any compensation? I really don’t understand it.”
The children’s faces immediately turned fierce at Philip’s question.
“No way! There are no conditions!”
“Be careful what you say. Madame Lenia is a good person. She literally takes care of us with a warm heart.”
Some children were so excited that they got up and banged on the table.
“Oh, okay. Calm down for now. I made a mistake.”
Philip’s apology calmed the children down and they continued talking about Madame Lenia and the mansion.
“I don’t want to disappoint Madame Lenia. I want to make her happy.”
“Me too. I hope the mansion lasts a long time.”
The happiness and satisfaction on the children’s faces was real.
At least in the eyes of Philip and Veronica.
Afterwards, Mrs. Lenia, who had gone to get tea utensils, returned, and the meal was finished.
“It was delicious!”
“Thank you for the food today! Madam! It was so delicious!”
The children dispersed to do their assigned tasks, such as doing laundry, cleaning, and washing dishes.
The table was cleared, leaving only Madame Lenia and her party in the restaurant.
One by one─
“How was it? Did everyone enjoy their meal?”
A question for everyone.
But Madame Lenia’s eyes were fixed on Ray.
In the conversation that followed over tea, questions were mainly directed at Ray.
“Have you liked magic since you were little?”
“Do you have a favorite food?”
“I wonder how you’ve been doing on the streets.”
Every time Ray answered or beat around the bush, the questions came back multiplying.
It was endless, as if he wanted to know everything about Ray.
‘The emotions I see now are regret… and obsession… .’
Ray answered the questions while checking his wife’s feelings.
It wasn’t some new kind of emotion that was being reflected.
Regret and obsession were feelings that existed even when looking at the other children gathered at the restaurant.
However, the volume of the two emotions that Madame Lenia was holding as she looked at herself now.
‘… much bigger. Compared to when I see other kids.’
Why is that?
Why does this difference occur?
What is the difference between me and other children?
“I guess I’ll have to stop talking for today. I have some work to do. If it’s okay, would you like to have another meal together tomorrow?”
This question was actually directed at Ray.
There was no reason to refuse.
Because we learned very little about Madame Lenia and the mansion from our conversation today.
“Yes. Let’s have dinner together tomorrow too.”
“Okay. I’ll prepare more delicious dishes tomorrow.”
Mrs. Lenia smiled and saw the group out of the mansion.
The group returned to their lodgings, each with their own confusion and questions.
In particular, there was a sense of regret in Philip’s bowl.
It was an unconscious feeling.
The resentment that someone who could be a mother does not show interest in oneself.
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But even I didn’t know the reason for that sadness.
“I don’t understand. No matter how comfortable the mansion life is, it doesn’t make sense to change your mind in an instant like that. Even Petro was looking for the kids who went missing with him just yesterday. How can you ignore the kids you used to live with?”
Philip added, scratching his head.
“You said you were a wizard. Are you saying that? You’re manipulating the minds of children and controlling them.”
“Well… I’ve never heard of magic that controls people’s minds. I didn’t sense any traces of mana in the kids either.”
Veronica answered, hugging Nero who was waiting outside the mansion.
And then he looked at Ray as if to confirm his words.
“Veronica is right. Madame Lenia didn’t use magic.”
“So you’re saying that all the kids voluntarily chose to live in the mansion?”
“That can’t be it.”
Ray stopped walking.
He turned around and looked at the mansion.
“There was no emotion in the children’s bowls.”
*
The children’s bowls that Ray saw contained no emotions whatsoever.
From the moment we first met at the restaurant.
All the way until the very end of the meal.
“But your actions didn’t seem like that. You were laughing and getting angry. Did I see things wrong?”
“That’s not it. All 18 of them did it.”
When Ray saw the children’s empty bowls, the first thing that came to mind was his own bowl.
‘I was just like my usual self. A completely empty vessel.’
But there was a clear difference.
The children acted as if they had emotions even though they did not.
That too, quite naturally.
What on earth is going on?
It was clear that Madame Lenia had played some trick on the children.
‘…if it isn’t magic.’
There was only one possibility that came to mind.
Murkred and the Doctor.
The character of the doctor was said to have the ability to manipulate other people’s emotions.
But that was only fragmentary information, and in reality, it could have had abilities far beyond that.
For example, removing emotions and making them like dolls.
“… … .”
It was hard to shake off the thought that this incident might have something to do with the doctor.
‘It would be nice if we could get more information about the doctor from Curiosa, though.’
I haven’t seen Curiosa again since our last meeting.
Unlike the other officers, Walter’s ring could not be used to locate him.
When resetting the binding magic on the ring, it would have been manipulated so that its own existence cannot be tracked.
Ray could also be sure.
Curiosa must be hiding somewhere, watching us.
‘If you put your mind to it, you can call it.’
However, exchanging information with the guy beyond the questions and answers in the empty lot was a very risky undertaking.
The moment your curiosity drops below a certain level, he will attack you without mercy.
Any further information exchange would be at least possible when we have the military power to fight on equal terms with the guy.
It had to be that time.
*
Lunch the next day.
The group returned to the mansion.
We sat around the banquet table and began eating with Madame Lenia and her eighteen children.
“Isn’t street life difficult?”
Mrs. Lenia still had many questions for Ray.
“You’ll teach me that later. I learned it from my wife.”
“Okay. Today’s division of roles is….”
The children continued to eat their meals, conversing calmly.
Veronica looked around at the children and gave Ray a puzzled look.
‘I can’t see Dinaine!’
Last night, another person went missing.
It was none other than the leader of the gang, Denaine.
‘That’s right. Ray confirmed it. The red light that swallowed Dnaine also headed towards this mansion.’
Philip was equally embarrassed.
I was thinking that the kidnapped Dinaine would show up at dinner today like Petro.
“… … .”
Ray used binding magic to confirm Dnaine’s location.
Denaine’s presence was still in a room not far away.
It was one of two things.
Or lost consciousness.
Or were in bondage.
‘What is the purpose of kidnapping children?’
If, like Walter, his purpose was to absorb the life force of children to increase his own strength, it would have been easy to understand.
But there was no ill feeling in Mrs. Lenia’s eyes as she looked at the children.
Although there was a hint of anger and hatred, it was not directed at those present.
“Would you like to try this? It’s a dish I prepared especially for you.”
Then Mrs. Lenia served food to the group’s plates.
It was a pork dish with fresh vegetables that looked like it would make anyone’s mouth water, but none of the other kids were touching it.
‘It contains sleeping pills.’
Ray noticed it right away.
It was something that could be known even without the feelings of regret and worry reflected in the wife’s bowl.
This was because the gang’s information network had reached them that his wife had visited the pharmacy yesterday.
“Metalfen? Curotinol? Just regular fever reducers and headache relievers? Why did you buy these?”
“That’s right. You didn’t look sick yesterday. Do any of the kids have a cold?”
Ray answered.
“It’s a sleeping pill.”
“uh?”
“You can make a sleeping pill by crushing it and using some groceries from the general store. It’s a method that’s often used in back alleys.”
Common sleeping pills sold at pharmacies are not very effective and are only good as sleep aids.
However, the sleeping pill made through illegal means was so powerful that it made you fall asleep within a few dozen seconds of taking it, and it also caused you to lose your memory.
That’s why it’s nicknamed ‘Blackout.’
‘But how…’
A small question arose.
How does Madame Lenia know the knowledge of the back alleys?
On the outside, she appears to be a noble lady from an upper-class family.
“Come on, everyone. It tastes worse when it gets cold.”
“… … .”
Madame Lenia’s subtle urging continued.
Ray stared blankly down at the piece of meat he was forking over.
‘The sleeping pills are probably in the sauce. Most likely.’
I was used to this kind of thing.
Blackout has been used and manufactured directly, and has also been the target of many uses.
I also knew how to respond.
‘You can take medicine that has resistance ingredients in advance.’
white.
A drug that neutralizes the ingredients contained in Blackout.
Likewise, it could be easily manufactured by combining certain medicines from a pharmacy and a few food items from a general store.
And before coming to the mansion, the group had all eaten White.
“Come on, come on. It’s delicious.”
Madame Lenia’s voice was small but loud.
Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet, and all the children were looking this way.
Philip and Veronica also noticed that there was a sleeping pill in the dish and were waiting for Ray’s decision.
‘… to get information from Madame Lenia.’
The most intuitive method would be subjugation through force.
But I felt reluctant.
Because the opponent can’t guarantee victory with a 2-circle wizard?
Because of the principle that you won’t retaliate unless the other party shows malice first?
Because Curiossa might be watching this situation from somewhere?
Not all of them.
It was simply because there was a possibility that Madame Lenia was Philip’s mother.
‘Although, considering all the circumstances, the probability of that happening is extremely slim.’
Still, Philip could not give up his foolishness.
Foolishness, or in other words hope.
Ray didn’t want to crush Philip’s hopes.
Even if it is so insignificant that it is not even noticeable.
‘… … .’
And the boy suddenly felt uncomfortable with his own thoughts.
‘You don’t want to trample on it? Why?’
If you want to save time and improve work efficiency, using force is the right way to go.
Even if you don’t show any malicious intent first, simple subjugation is possible, and if you cooperate with Veronica, your chances of winning are quite high.
Philip is also already convinced that the possibility that his wife is his real mother is extremely slim.
But why.
Why do I feel like I don’t want to trample on Philip’s foolishness, but rather want to respect it?
“… … .”
The boy was somewhat confused.
But for now, it was clear what had to be done.
Sigh.
I dipped the meat into the sauce and brought the fork to my mouth.
There was a need to respond to the number prepared.
Anyway, in order to get closer to the other person’s true self.
Jilgeong!
The moment I bit into the piece of meat, the rich meat juice and sweet sauce spread throughout my mouth.