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#091. Crying Woman (1)
The mana that was being injected into the lock suddenly shot out.
‘… there’s a locking spell.’
It didn’t seem possible to get in through the front door.
Then should I climb over the wall?
He glanced upward.
Above the gate and the wall, there was a dense wall of barred structures that looked like they would hurt quite a bit if stabbed, to keep out intruders.
‘That’s not a problem.’
Metallization can help prevent any abrasions to the skin.
The only problem was the height.
The gate and the wall were so high that even a leap of explosive power could not overcome them.
“… … .”
There doesn’t seem to be anything around that you can step on.
While I was walking around the mansion, keeping my voice quiet, wondering if there was another way.
“Gasp… Huh… I barely caught up.”
“Whew. My heart feels like it’s going to burst.”
Philip and Veronica appeared from behind.
“You arrived sooner than I thought.”
“Ugh… Veronica too… ugh… can use strengthening magic.”
“Whew… It’s not as effective as what Ray uses. I only have a few strengthening elements to use. Whoa. And there’s a difference in stamina as well.”
One of the lowest percentages in Veronica’s Ring was red mana.
On the other hand, in Ray’s case, red mana took up the largest proportion within the ring after pink.
“Usually, ugh… I should have exercised a bit.”
“That’s right. Phew. I didn’t have much to do when I was in the bookstore.”
While the two were catching their breath, Ray told them what he had discovered.
“So Petro is in the mansion now?”
“Since Ray said he felt the ripples of mana, it’s definitely magic. It’s definitely not a ghost, for sure, really. It’s probably some sort of movement magic.”
Petro’s presence was still unmoving inside the mansion.
“It’s not dead.”
If the breath had stopped, the binding magic would have become undetectable at the same time.
“Hmm. Are all the kids who disappeared so far here?”
“I think it’s highly likely.”
While Philip and Ray were talking, Veronica, who had been examining the lock, shook her head and stepped back.
“Hmm… The circuit is too complicated. I don’t think it’s a magic that I can solve at my current level.”
The meeting went back and forth.
Who is the owner of the mansion?
Why do they kidnap children?
What happened to the kidnapped children?
Due to the lack of clues, no definitive conclusions can be reached.
“Pile up things and climb over the wall?”
“It might be dangerous to go in directly. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”
“Like looking at it from afar with a telescope?”
“All the windows are covered with curtains.”
I couldn’t even think of a proper way to safely investigate the mansion.
That’s when Veronica came up with the idea.
“How about trying this?”
*
An hour later.
In the dorms, inside Ray’s room.
“Your role is important in finding the missing children. Please take good care of me, Nero.”
Veronica was holding a cat in her arms.
Yellow eyes. Black fur.
It seems like he really likes the place he’s being held in, showing his belly and even wagging his tail.
It was a cat that was napping on the table outside the inn, and as soon as it saw Veronica, it stretched and came down to rub its head on her leg.
“It’s strange. It looks like a guy who’s been handled by a person, but he acts cute as soon as he sees me.”
“Ever since I was little, animals have followed me around. Ray, would you like to try using your ministry magic?”
Ray nods.
Soon, purple mana rose from his palm and connected to Nero’s body in the form of a chain.
There was no immediate change in Nero’s behavior.
Golgolgolgol─
Just licking the fur and making a pleasant sound like before.
However, when Ray moved Mana and gave orders, he turned his head or lifted his feet in response.
“Lay, would you like to try sensory synchronization now?”
Sensory synchronization.
It was a magic that shared all senses, including sight and hearing, with the servant.
“It would certainly be safe. If you don’t go in yourself, but instead have the cat look around the mansion.”
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Philip nodded and reached out to Nero’s head.
Hahah─!
He quickly pulled his hand away from Nero’s front kick and made a vain face.
What? Why only me?
I want to stroke it too.
While Philip was feeling extremely aggrieved, Veronica stroked Nero’s back to calm him down.
Ray concentrated and slowly used sensory synchronization.
I already knew how to use it, as Michael had shared it with me.
But the problem is.
“It’s not working out well.”
Sensory synchronization was not only a high level of difficulty, but also required a long-term emotional connection with the servant.
That is, a sense of bond had to be formed.
“I see. You said you tried it a few times last time. So, can you try it this time?”
Veronica handed over the notebook.
Every page was filled with formulas.
“This is….”
“I improved the formula for sensory synchronization that I heard from Rayne. It makes sensory synchronization possible even with relatively shallow bonds.”
Veronica’s bowl showed both anticipation and worry.
In general, it was nearly impossible to improve upon an already established magic formula.
Because the combination of elements is already designed to form an optimal combination.
Although some improved formulas have emerged, they were only possible after extensive research and experiments.
Nevertheless, Veronica tried to improve the formula.
─I want to help Ray.
With that in mind.
I poured out all the theoretical knowledge I had learned from my grandfather, all the while crossing the wilderness.
─Well, wouldn’t it be right to put these elements in this ratio here? No, if you think about it the other way around…
Of course, as I did that, I became completely absorbed in the process of improving the formula itself.
Anyway, the number of formulas Veronica completed was 48.
“The improved formula is based on the elements of control and connection. The parts that have been modified are….”
Ray turned the pages quickly as he listened to the explanation.
“We won’t be able to test everything today, so give yourself plenty of time….”
“This is it.”
“huh?”
“Combination number 38. This is it.”
Ray had already closed his eyes.
What was visible through the closed field of vision was not the pitch-black darkness of before. It was the world that Nero saw reflected.
‘So this is what my face looked like.’
Since I rarely look in the mirror, seeing myself from an outside perspective felt awkward.
“Me, really? Did I really succeed?”
─Me, really? Did I really succeed?
The voice sounded double.
It seemed as if the sounds he was hearing and Nero’s were overlapping.
“Have you really tried all the combinations already?”
“that’s right.”
Veronica couldn’t hide her surprise and excitement.
Who would have dared to expect this?
In just a few minutes, we tested dozens of combinations.
‘That’s not a normal combination either.’
These were combinations woven with delicate and sophisticated proportions that did not allow for even the slightest mistake.
It required great concentration as well as skill in handling mana.
“Wow, wow, wow! I really can’t believe it. I tried my best, but I didn’t know that some of it would actually work out!”
Veronica, unable to control her excitement, jumped up from her seat.
For a moment, Nero landed on the floor and the vision tilted, and Ray jumped Nero back onto the table to return the vision.
And said.
“That’s right. It’s the formula you came up with.”
It was half true, half false.
All of Veronica’s formulas were ineffective.
However, Ray completed the final formula by modifying the best formulas among them.
The designer is Veronica.
The finisher is himself.
But there seemed to be no need to reveal that fact.
Let me tell you why.
‘Because that way you can see more emotions.’
Nero could not see other people’s emotions through his eyes.
But the view was reversed, and there was something I could see on the contrary.
That was the expression.
A bright smile bloomed on the girl’s face.
The colorful emotions that are buried above it.
They made the boy lose his mind for a moment.
For a long time.
For quite some time.
*
The next morning.
An alley away from the mansion.
“Nero. Have a safe trip. When you return after completing your mission, a great reward will be waiting for you.”
Philip said, waving a stick of cat treats at Nero.
Hahah─!
But all that came back was a sharp warning sound.
“… You seem to hate me. Why?”
“Really? I don’t think there’s any particular reason to dislike it. Was it your first impression that wasn’t good?”
“I’ve been trying so hard to be friendly with you since yesterday. But I feel like I’m being rude for no reason.”
Philip grumbled.
Rather, it was Ray who succeeded in becoming close to Nero last night.
“I heard that the rate of sensory assimilation varies depending on the level of intimacy with the servant, that is, the sense of bond.”
Following Veronica’s words, Ray tried to become friendly with Nero.
“Come near, greet him with your eyes, and wait. When Nero greets you, pat his head. Slowly extend your hand.”
「… … .」
I did have some doubts.
Can I become friends with Nero?
The animals of the sector treated this place as a large boulder that could be moved.
There was no particular wariness or display of intimacy.
Ray thought the reason was because he was a human without emotions.
The source is unclear, but I heard that animals are very sensitive to human emotions.
“Say hello in your head. Hello. I’ll say hello properly. Nice to meet you.”
「… … .」
“You’re so pretty. I want to be your friend, like this.”
“You are so pretty.”
“Ah, no. Not while looking at me. But, inside, while looking at Nero!”
It was my first time trying something like this.
And the result is.
Dreaming.
“Nero greeted me with his eyes!”
“When I said hello, it didn’t even flinch! That cat is so cute!”
Nero greeted him with a nod.
He didn’t stop there, he climbed onto Ray’s lap and made a grunting sound.
‘… Something like that happened last night.’
It was the first time Ray had seen an animal react so lively.
The exact reason was unknown.
I can only guess that it might have something to do with the recent exploration of some emotions.
Anyway, that’s it for now.
Nyaa──
The level of shared feelings with Nero was not bad.
“… … .”
Ray slowly blinked in greeting at Nero, who was looking up at him from the steps.
As if expressing gratitude for lending us your sight and other senses.
Then Nero blinked.
Nyaa──
He rubbed his head against Ray’s chin, then turned around and headed toward the mansion.
Ray closed his eyes.
A field of vision a few levels lower than a human’s height unfolded before my eyes, slightly shaking up and down.
────.
Silent, soft footsteps.
The gate that comes closer with him.
Nero, lowering his body, passed through the gap under the door and leisurely entered the garden.
Large and small plants were visible around.
Cut sections of branches or leaves that had turned black were noticeable.
‘There is someone in charge.’
It was different from what Melom and Denain said.
According to the two people, this mansion had been uninhabited for quite some time.
Gun gun gun!
The scenery ahead suddenly got closer.
Nero, who discovered the dogwood, started running.
No, that’s not it.
Ray hurriedly grabbed Nero and made him enter through the open window.
“Nyaaaa …
A cry thick with discontent and regret.
But I had no choice but to finish the mansion investigation quickly.
The scenery before my eyes changed into a hallway half-lit by sunlight.
The decorations and paintings placed here and there were not even dusty, giving the impression that they were well maintained.
At that time.
“Ahahaha──!”
“Hahahahaha──!”
I heard laughter.
At the same time, Nero’s vision began to rise along with the feeling of his waist being grabbed.