#148. Inferior Beings (1)
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“…I introduced you as a mage tower student from an upper-class background.”
While Binjin was speaking beside him, Ray’s gaze remained fixed beyond the iron bars of the mansion’s front gate.
*‘There’s something .’*
It wasn’t visible, but he could sense something heavy moving across the inner lawn.
With rather agile speed.
And accompanied by the creaking of metal.
As Binjin infused mana, the tightly shut iron gate swung open to both sides.
**Creeeeak──**
A security spell.
Ray stored the type and ratio of mana Binjin had used in his memory.
“Let’s head in for now. A meal is being prepared inside.”
He walked alongside Binjin down the path toward the main mansion building.
He listened to the sound of the gate closing behind them and took in the surrounding scenery.
*‘It’s much bigger than it looked from the outside.’*
The property itself was vast.
A wide lawn—its color preserved by magic—stretched across the front yard.
Next to the mansion stood a tall cylindrical tower, easily over ten stories high.
*‘He said he lives with his students. That must be the training ground…’*
Just as Ray continued his observation—
**Thud-thud-thud──**
The ground rumbled from the far side of the lawn.
Something had appeared from behind the mansion and was running toward them.
“Ah, I forgot to mention. There’s no need to be alarmed—”
Binjin had started to speak, but seeing that Ray’s expression didn’t seem alarmed in the slightest, he closed his mouth.
A blank expression at a glance.
But in his eyes was intense curiosity.
The creature that was galloping toward them on all fours, tail wagging, was—
*A dog?*
Ray tilted his head.
It certainly looked like a dog.
But as the distance closed, he began to notice something odd about its appearance.
**Hiss—**
Hot steam hissed from its nose.
**Clank! Clank!**
Every time its thick legs struck the ground, the clashing of metal echoed.
**Woof! Woof-woof-woof!**
Its barking sounded highly artificial.
“Kelley, you rascal. Stop. This is a guest, not a thief.”
Binjin extended his palm forward.
At once, the creature that had been charging at Ray, baring its fangs, halted on the spot and assumed a calm posture.
**Pant— Pant—**
Even while sitting, it was nearly eye level with Ray.
As the mechanical dog panted with its tongue out, Ray asked:
“Its name is Kelley?”
“Yes. It serves as a guard dog for the mansion.”
It was no ordinary dog.
With every part of its body—from its eyes to its snout—composed of intricate and sophisticated machinery, no one would call it ordinary.
Judging by its size alone, it more closely resembled certain other animals Ray had seen in books.
*A bear, was it? Its size looks about the same.*
Though its form said otherwise.
Kelley fetched a branch when Ray threw it, and even offered a paw when prompted—behaving just like a model dog.
Ray couldn’t help but remark,
“It’s just like a dog.”
“Yes, just like a dog.”
“Seriously dog-like.”
“Extremely dog-like.”
“Is it mass-produced?”
“Excuse me? By mass-produced, you mean…”
“Like those rickshaws on the street—something produced in quantity?”
Colored mana flowed through Kelley’s body like it did in rickshaws.
The mana fusion took place not at pedals but in the core, yet the black smoke it emitted was the same.
Residual mana—visible only to Ray.
At Ray’s question, Binjin burst into laughter.
“Ha ha! No, it’s not a mass-produced product. A company capable of making something like this doesn’t exist in this era. Unless a dwarf-run company still exists—though I doubt it.”
“A dwarf?”
“Yes, though I imagine you know more about them than I do.”
Binjin glanced at Ray cautiously before continuing.
“This must be another of the memories you’ve lost. Dwarves, like elves—your own race—are known to be extinct. They were highly skilled and lived underground, often referred to as *Underfolk*.”
“You’ve never met one yourself?”
“No, I haven’t. Anyway, Kelley is a kind of artifact I discovered in some ruins. After much effort, I was able to restore its functions. It’s truly a masterpiece of ancient technology.”
*A masterpiece of ancient technology.*
It made sense.
Kelley’s construction was far more complex than anything like a rickshaw.
*‘At first glance, it seems capable of autonomous decision-making like a living creature.’*
He wondered what principle it operated on.
He wanted to take it apart and examine it, but feared he might get bitten.
“Still, it’s curious. Kelley has never been this friendly with anyone but me, its registered owner…”
Ray noticed the expectant look in Binjin’s eyes.
*—Perhaps… did seeing Kelley trigger any memories of the old era?*
It was that kind of look.
Not wanting to disappoint, Ray patted Kelley’s sturdy head and said:
“I feel like… there were a lot of real animals back in the old days.”
“Really! I never knew that!”
Binjin looked genuinely moved as he pulled out a notebook and took notes.
The two sent Kelley away and resumed their walk toward the mansion.
“……”
Ray was deep in thought.
The sense of discomfort he had felt before entering the mansion wasn’t caused by Kelley.
The subtle unease that clung to his skin hadn’t disappeared.
*‘Either the mansion… or the tower.’*
Something was lurking.
In one of the two places.
While lost in thought, they reached the main entrance of the mansion.
**Creeeak─**
As the door opened—
“Welcome.”
“Welcome.”
“Welcome.”
“We welcome your visit.”
Binjin’s students, who had been waiting inside, bowed in unison.
They ranged in age from early teens to early twenties—easily about thirty in number.
“Hm-hmm.”
Clearing his throat, Binjin stepped forward and amplified his voice with magic.
“As I said yesterday, the second son of Rockfell Chant—a prestigious magitech firm—is visiting our mansion today. He is also the top-ranked entrant of the Mage Tower, which you all admire so much. Consider this a kind of exchange. Both the Mage Tower and Rockfell Chant agreed to this special visit, so treat him with due respect.”
Dozens of gazes fixated openly on Ray.
Envy. Jealousy. Admiration.
Longing, reverence, curiosity—
Emotions of all kinds swirled murkily in their vessels.
“Class B, you’ve already seen his face. I conducted a surprise battle exercise yesterday disguised as an attack. Be grateful to Hailer Rockfell here, who earnestly faced you despite your poor skills.”
Binjin turned his head and glared at the group on the right. Those receiving his gaze quickly lowered their heads.
Ten students who had fought Ray in the clearing yesterday—eight of their vessels now held trembling navy mana.
And then—
“Clicking tongue—Pathetic.”
With Binjin’s rebuke, the navy mana visibly expanded and trembled more intensely.
Ray observed the scene with growing interest in his eyes.
He was familiar with navy mana.
He’d seen it countless times in the slums.
He saw it when facing Allager in Sector 46, too.
The emotions tied to Allager’s deep navy mana were:
*Mockery. Scorn. Contempt. Superiority.*
In short—feelings of looking down on others.
But now, it appeared differently.
When navy mana took the shape of shackles like this—
*Inferiority. Self-loathing. Depression.*
In short—feelings of looking down on oneself.
Those who hated and distrusted themselves carried navy mana.
The interesting thing was, even the other students who weren’t being scolded also had navy mana in their vessels.
*Even their teacher, Binjin, too.*
As if that emotion were their default state.
It was deeply unnatural.
Only three people here had no navy mana.
*Myself, and…*
The blue-haired brother and sister in Class B.
Their vessels held mana of different hues instead.
The sister’s was blue.
The younger brother’s was sky blue.
Rare colors—ones Ray had not yet identified the associated emotions for.
As he studied their vessels closely, Binjin’s voice rang out again.
“Ayla, you especially should be ashamed. You’re the only 2nd Circle student, and yet you remain stuck in Class B because you fail to demonstrate your skills.”
The blue-haired girl, Ayla, hung her head even lower.
“At first, I thought you were a genius of the century. Reaching 2nd Circle at such a young age. But what use is it if you can’t wield your mana properly? And last class, you…”
As Binjin’s scolding continued, the emotions in Ayla’s vessel tangled and mixed—turning black.
Then—
The completed black mana encroached on the blue, staining it with its own color.
The blue was gradually turning navy.
Ray’s brow twitched ever so slightly.
*‘No. That’s not good.’*
He couldn’t let such a rare specimen be lost so easily.
Ray quickly interjected,
“We should probably eat soon.”
“Ah? Ah! Yes. My apologies. I’ve wasted time with needless chatter.”
As the scolding ceased, Ray checked Ayla’s vessel.
The black mana had weakened, and the blue was slowly reclaiming its original hue.
**Snap!**
Binjin snapped his fingers, and a tall young man stepped forward.
“Is the meal ready?”
“Yes, it’s prepared in the 4th-floor private room with… the menu you requested.”
He was one of the three students who had entered Amon’s office yesterday.
Perhaps it was because he had witnessed his peer’s circle being shattered.
He kept sneaking fearful glances at Ray.
“You can begin eating as soon as you go up.”
Nodding, Binjin gestured toward his students.
“Return to your tasks. Lazy, pathetic, inferior beings.”
With that, the nearly thirty students dispersed throughout the first floor.
Ray followed Binjin and the lead student up the central staircase.
**Step─ Step─**
The mansion had four floors.
At each landing, Ray could see long, empty hallways extending to either side.
“This place is pretty big. Do you not employ any servants?”
Ray asked.
Binjin chuckled as he answered.
“Ha ha, I could certainly afford servants. I have personal wealth and receive considerable support from the Amon Family in return for various services. But I deliberately make the students do all the household tasks. It builds self-reliance—prepares them to be self-sufficient wherever they go.”
According to his explanation, the students were all children from the streets with no family ties.
He’d collected them from back alleys and orphanages after detecting magical potential.
“I don’t care what kind of plant those seeds become. But ultimately, I hope they’ll grow into ones that can withstand black rain or sandstorms. You know better than I—this world is full of malice.”
A fair point.
Even now, malice was easily found all around them.
While listening, something occurred to Ray, and he changed the subject.
“By the way, I didn’t see Khan earlier.”
“Ah, you mean the one who foolishly challenged you yesterday.”
After a pause, Binjin replied.
“Khan and I had a long talk last night. Regretfully, after much consideration, he decided to leave the mansion. He understands well that a place like this—an institute for nurturing mages—isn’t somewhere for someone who’s lost all potential. He left this morning.”
“If he left… where to?”
At that question, Ray’s gaze shifted to the tower visible through the window.
“To a small farm I own in Sector 40. He’ll work, eat, and sleep in a bed each night. Though he’s lost the dream of magic, it’s still a far better life than on the streets.”
In some cases, he said, the destination could be the Mage Tower instead of a farm.
If a child showed exceptional talent, he’d write them a recommendation.
“Seeds with potential should be watered in better environments. At the Mage Tower, they receive systematic education and—being a Tower graduate—gain recognition wherever they go.”
“……”
“That’s what the disciples call it among themselves: graduation for those going to the tower, and vacation for those going to the farm.”
As we chatted, we arrived at a private room on the fourth floor.
A click.
The door opened, revealing a neatly decorated room.
“…….”
Looking out the huge window at the tower in front of them, Ray had a hunch.
There it was.
