#002. Boy on a pile of scrap metal (2)
The rain that had been pouring down in small drops turned into a torrential downpour and began to hit the world.
Swaaa …
All the dirt in sector 50 was washed away.
The old stains of shabby buildings.
There are also bloodstains and dirt marks on the road that cannot be erased.
And for a moment, the raw emotions that the people at the bottom have for each other.
Bee… Beein…
Rainwater, laden with all sorts of filth, flowed into the drain.
And it flowed into the Elton River, which runs through Sector 50.
The winding river split into several tributaries, one of which flowed into the lowest part of Sector 50.
The tributary passed under a bridge.
And the side channels under the bridge.
There was a worn-out tent there.
“Wow. Ray. You came just in time. You almost got drenched in the rain.”
“Looking at the gray-haired boy who had just entered the tent, another boy inside said:
“Yeah. The weather seems strange these days.”
Ray said, shaking the water droplets off his clothes.
The blood that had splattered from knocking Ron down had already been washed away.
A dim lamp lit inside the tent.
There were children of various ages gathered around.
Ray found his seat and sat down.
Pale, the leader of the group, asked everyone.
“How was everyone’s day?”
The children took out the objects they had in their arms and gathered them in the middle.
Soiled coins and banknotes.
Canned food and biscuits.
The coupons used at grocery stores were reflected under the lamp.
The money and food the children earned by walking the streets and doing activities such as shining shoes, selling newspapers, and begging.
Ray also took something out of his bosom.
It was more than all the other kids had collected.
“Wow! As expected from Ray!”
“You gave scrap to the golem and got this back? That’s amazing. It didn’t accept the stuff I gave him.”
Ray said nothing.
No one knew but himself that the Golem could only receive magical items that had residual mana flowing through them.
That would be the case, since he was the only one who could see mana in sector 50.
Ray didn’t bother to bring up the topic of mana.
He have learned from extensive experience that being different from others usually results in disadvantages rather than advantages.
Pale said in admiration.
“Thanks to Ray, I’ll be able to avoid hunger a little today. I’ll keep the money in the safe. I’ll go to the grocery store tomorrow and buy some food. And I’ll share the food I’ve collected right now.”
Pale distributed the food starting with the youngest.
Realizing that there wasn’t enough food for everyone, Ray got up from his seat quietly.
Rustle
And he sat down at the entrance to the tent.
Food was scarce.
As always.
It wasn’t easy to find scrap metal with mana flowing through it.
It took all day to get just enough food for today.
Growling…
The sound of the stomach
He didn’t care.
One of the most important things for a boy to survive in the slums is his physique.
It was more efficient for the younger siblings, who were still growing, to receive nutritional food rather than for him, who had already grown to a certain extent.
Even so, the chances of survival would be extremely low.
If you’re lucky, you’ll end up as a drug dealer or meat shield for a third-rate gang.
Growls…
Ray still felt that he had a duty to support this group.
Because he owe them his life.
“Look! There’s someone here!”
It was a cold winter day.
That time, he was wandering around the city without even realizing that he had frostbite on his feet, and he collapsed.
These children saved him from getting buried in snow.
They took him to their house under the bridge, warmed his frozen body, and treated his frostbite with expensive medicine. He doesn’t know where they got it.
‘I thought it wouldn’t be so bad to just die.’
There was no particular reason to die.
But that doesn’t mean there’s any reason to live in such a desperate way.
In that situation, he unintentionally extended his life.
Ray, who couldn’t feel emotions, had a few rules he set for himself to follow in order to adapt to human relationships.
Pay back what you receive.
Whether it’s repayment or retaliation.
That’s why Ray has been supporting this group for nearly a year.
“… … .”
Ray glanced away.
Food distribution was still in full swing.
In the children’s hearts, colorful mana was seeping in and out as if playing hide-and-seek.
The second reason he supported this group.
The point was that he could observe other people’s emotions right next to him.
Pale and the children showed more emotional changes than anyone Ray had ever met.
The sight of thick, deep-colored mana moving gave Ray great satisfaction.
Mana movement according to emotions.
It could be said that Ray was the only one who felt interest and curiosity in this area.
And.
“Ray. You should take your share.”
These kids didn’t treat him like a monster.
Ray stared blankly at Pale, who sat next to him.
Pale, the leader of the group.
A boy of the same age as himself.
“Actually, you almost collected all of the food.”
That’s what he thought at first.
The reason they treat him so kindly is because he is a great help in gathering food
But after observing for some time, it turned out that wasn’t the case.
Pale and the children treat him like a human being.
They treated him as if he were a strange, emotionally insensitive person.
They showed no signs of fear or disgust.
Ray opened his mouth.
“I’m not hungry.”
Growls…
” I don’t think it’s hunger.”
“… … .”
He felt no pain from hunger, but he couldn’t control the reaction of his every organ.
Ray accepted half of the biscuit that Pale offered.
The two boys looked out of the tent together, chewing biscuits.
Swaaa …
Pale suddenly asked.
“Do you know about this, Ray?”
“About what?”
“About the rain falling now.”
“It’s falling.”
“It’s black.”
“Yes, it is.”
“That’s because the wizards used a lot of magic.”
“… … .”
“They said that wizards live in lower numbered sectors.”
Wizard.
It was a being known to cause mysterious phenomena using mana.
However, it was only a rumor, and no one in Sector 50 had actually seen the wizard.
Ray answered dryly.
“That could be the case.”
“I really believe that wizards exist. You can tell just by looking at the golem. It must have been sent by a wizard somewhere.”
“It could just be a machine.”
“No. It must be moving by magic.”
Pale’s eyes lit up.
Ray agreed with Pale’s words, although he didn’t show it.
When the golem moved, the surrounding mana was drawn into its heart.
And then it mixed together and rose up as black smoke.
‘Mana must be like fuel.’
Smoke rising into the sky.
Black rain is falling heavily now.
It was thought that the two factors might not be unrelated.
The conversation was interrupted for a moment by the sound of rain.
The two boys continued eating while looking out at the hazy scenery.
Shoooooo──
“The rain has let up a bit. It’s still pouring heavily ,though.”
Ray nodded.
As Pale said, the rain had weakened.
From heavy rain to torrential downpour.
The sun was slowly setting and the day was getting dark.
Conditions were perfect for activity.
“Huh? Hey! Where are you going!”
Pale shouted as he watched Ray pull out an old raincoat and put it on.
“I’ll go out for a bit.”
“Where are you going again when it’s raining like this.”
“Watch the river carefully. If it overflows the railing, the tent will be completely submerged.”
Ray zipped up his jacket, pulled his hood down, and walked out of the tent without giving anyone a chance to stop him.
Swaaa …
The tent quickly receded behind him.
He climbed the riverbank and entered an alley.
He quickly cross the street he came from.
There are no pedestrians visible.
The shops also closed early.
The reason was simple.
Today is a day with black rain.
There is a story that if you get hit by this rain, you will get sick.
It’s not a completely baseless story.
In fact, people who worked in the rain for long periods of time had their organs turn black when they died.
Also, blackened ground could be easily found throughout Sector 50.
Todo─ Todododo─ Todododo─!
Black raindrops pounded the raincoat incessantly.
It was reminiscent of the occasional gunshot heard in the streets due to inter-gang strife.
But not a single raindrop splashed on Ray’s face.
A thin film of blue light was tightly wrapping around Ray’s entire body.
Mana of three or more colors existing in the atmosphere.
When he pulled out a specific mana and mixed the colors, this was the result.
He didn’t know the specific principles.
He can’t help but say that it works if he just do it.
Ray thought this phenomenon was what people called ‘magic’.
As he walked quickly, lost in thought, the street numbers changed.
From 17th Street to 18th Street.
There wasn’t much difference in the scenery because the entire area was a slum.
However, the types of organizations occupying the streets have changed.
An organization led by the black-haired Niles.
An organization led by the crippled Hector.
The biggest forces dividing sector 50.
From now on, it was Hector’s territory.
He moved through the buildings, alleys, and bushes, keeping a close eye on his surroundings.
Before long he reached the outskirts of the city.
As he descended the hill, he discovered two buildings surrounded by chain-link fences.
It was the Hector organization’s building.
One is a food warehouse.The Other is a guard post.
He knew that on rainy days, all the guards would go gambling at the guard posts.
Ray moved along the barbed wire in a familiar manner and crouched down in a bushy area.
A broken barbed wire fence was visible.
Large enough for one person to pass through.
Also, the back wall of the food warehouse was right next to it.
Ray reached out and pulled out the bricks that made up the wall one by one.
It was the result of months of sprinkling concrete dissolver between the bricks.
A small hole soon appeared in the wall.
Ray entered the building by passing through a series of holes in the wire mesh and walls.
It was dark all around.
Hurrrah!
A small flame appeared on the hand.
This was also a magic that Ray knew how to use.
Ray had a few formulas to combine mana of different colors.
With the right mix of colors, he could create small orb of light or float small objects in the air.
However, there were some colors that were difficult to handle.
For example, the red mana needed to create flame.
Ray thought.
‘If only I could feel the emotions corresponding to red mana better.’
Wouldn’t that create a bigger flame?
Because mana flows to where emotions are.
A small flame revealed the outlines of surrounding objects.
Shelves lined up along the walls.
Boxes stacked on top of them.
Ray took several large cans from the box in the back corner and put them in his jacket.
This amount should be enough for the family to last for tomorrow and the next day.
‘Should I take a few more?’
Ray, who had been thinking about it, shook his head.
He shouldn’t get greedy.
There was a risk of being caught.
Four cans at a time.
It was a quantity that had been confirmed to be safe through the past dozen or so experiences.
Since food was replenished periodically in the warehouse, it was not a problem to take only a little bit at a time.
That’s when it happened.
Tadaaa-
He heard footsteps running toward him.
He extinguished the flame and turned around immediately.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh!
Something sharp passed right in front of his face.
“What? Did you avoid this?”
The voice that followed was heard.
“You idiot. Can’t you catch that one?”
“The food-eating rat has finally shown itself.”
The voice was not from one person.
Three in total. Members of Hector’s organization.
They seemed to be hidden behind pillars and boxes.
Shhh!
Ray continued to move his body to avoid the knives flying towards him like snakes.
They’re tracking my location correctly.
They’re probably wearing some sort of night vision goggles or something.
He once saw Hector’s crew bring in a truckload of high-end equipment.
Ray knew what that meant.
‘war.’
Hector was preparing for war.
“What the heck. How can you not be able to catch that kid?”
“Swing it around a bit, you idiot.”
“Fuck! You try to catch it.”
“It feels like he’s watching our every move.”
A panicked voice echoed through the warehouse.
Shhhhhhhhhhhh!
Ray dodged the knife at a distance that seemed to be measured with a ruler.
At the same time, he pointed his right elbow forward and plunged into the arms of one of the members of the organization.
“Ugh!”
Clang!
The knife rolls on the floor.
He lunged towards the next target without stopping.
“This kid! He knows exactly where we are!”
The organization members’ guess was correct.
In pitch-black darkness.
Ray’s eyes were looking at the brightly shining mana contained in the opponent’s body.
Red, as red as blood.
A green color reminiscent of a deep swamp.
‘They’re angry. And flustered.’
-Slash!
“Fuck! How the hell do you avoid it!
Mana also spread throughout the body through the blood vessels via the vessel in the chest.
If he read the flow, he can easily predict his opponent’s next move.
It served as a sort of night vision device.
“Ugh!”
Thud!
The differences in physique and strength were overcome by technique.
All the members of the organization fell down at Ray’s feet.
Just as Ray was hurriedly trying to escape the warehouse through the hole.
Kwakwang──!
Squeak─ Boom!
The door flew open with a lightning strike.
Someone’s long shadow was cast in the warehouse.
