#091. The Weeping Woman (1)
—
The mana that had been flowing into the locking mechanism was suddenly repelled outward.
‘…There’s a locking spell on it.’
It seemed impossible to enter through the main gate.
In that case, should he climb over the wall?
He glanced up briefly.
Above the gate and walls, densely packed iron spikes jutted out, clearly designed to prevent intruders. Getting impaled on them would undoubtedly be painful.
‘That won’t be a problem.’
By using Metallization, he could prevent any scratches on his skin.
The real problem was the height.
The gate and walls were so high that even a powerful jump with explosive force wouldn’t be enough to clear them.
“……”
There wasn’t anything nearby that could serve as a foothold either.
As he silently circled the mansion, suppressing his presence and contemplating alternative methods—
“Huff… Huff… We finally caught up.”
“Phew. I thought my chest was going to explode.”
Philip and Veronica appeared from behind.
“You arrived faster than I expected.”
“Huff… Because Veronica… Huff… can use enhancement magic.”
“Pheeww… But it’s not as powerful as what you use, Ray. There aren’t many enhancement elements I can wield. Phew. And there’s also a difference in stamina.”
Among the elements in Veronica’s mana ring, red mana had the lowest proportion.
For Ray, on the other hand, red mana was the second most abundant in his ring, right after light pink.
“I should have exercised more… Huff.”
“Yeah. Back at the bookstore, there wasn’t much reason to move around.”
While the two caught their breath, Ray explained what he had discovered.
“So Petro is inside the mansion right now?”
“If Ray sensed a disturbance in mana, then it’s definitely magic. Which means it’s not a ghost, for sure. It’s probably some kind of teleportation magic.”
Petro’s presence remained stationary inside the mansion.
“He’s not dead.”
If he had died, the binding spell would have disappeared as well.
“Hmm. Could all the missing children be here?”
“It’s highly likely.”
While Philip and Ray discussed, Veronica examined the locking spell and shook her head.
“Hmm… The circuit is too complex. It’s not something I can break at my current level.”
A discussion followed.
Who was the owner of this mansion?
Why were they kidnapping children?
What had happened to the kidnapped children?
There weren’t enough clues to draw any definite conclusions.
“What if we stack objects to climb over the wall?”
“Going in directly could be dangerous. We don’t know who we’re dealing with.”
“What about observing from afar with a telescope?”
“All the windows are covered with curtains.”
There didn’t seem to be a safe way to investigate the mansion.
That was when Veronica proposed an idea.
“What if we try this instead?”
###
An hour later.
Inside Ray’s room at the inn.
“To find the missing children, your role is crucial. I’m counting on you, Nero.”
In Veronica’s arms was a cat.
Golden eyes. Black fur.
It seemed quite comfortable in her embrace, lying on its back and flicking its tail lazily.
It was a stray cat that had been napping on an outdoor table at the inn. The moment it saw Veronica, it stretched and trotted over, rubbing its head against her leg.
“That’s interesting. It seems used to people, but still, it’s rare for a stray to be that affectionate right away.”
“Animals have always liked me since I was little. Ray, can you try using a familiar-binding spell on it?”
Ray nodded.
A moment later, violet mana flowed from his palm and linked to Nero’s body in the form of chains.
Nero showed no immediate reaction.
Purring—
It simply continued grooming itself contentedly.
But when Ray moved his mana to give a command, the cat reacted accordingly—turning its head, lifting a paw, and so on.
“Ray, now try using sensory synchronization.”
Sensory synchronization.
A spell that allowed a mage to share all senses—sight, hearing, and more—with their familiar.
“That’s definitely a safer option. Instead of going in ourselves, we can have the cat scout the mansion.”
Philip nodded and reached out to pet Nero’s head.
Hiss—!
Nero swiped at him with a paw, forcing him to quickly withdraw his hand, looking bewildered.
“What the heck? Why only me?”
I wanted to pet it too.
As Philip sulked, Veronica stroked Nero’s back to calm it down.
Ray focused his mind and carefully activated sensory synchronization.
He had already learned the technique from Michael.
But the problem was—
“As expected, it’s not working well.”
Sensory synchronization was not only highly advanced but also required a deep emotional bond between the mage and the familiar.
In other words, a connection needed to be established.
“I see. You mentioned you’ve tried it a few times before. Then, how about trying this instead?”
Veronica handed him a notebook.
The pages were filled with intricate magical formulas.
“This is…”
“I modified the sensory synchronization formula based on what you told me. I adjusted it so it can work even with weaker bonds.”
There was a mix of anticipation and anxiety in Veronica’s expression.
Normally, modifying an established spell formula was nearly impossible.
The elemental structure was already designed for optimal efficiency.
Occasionally, improved formulas did emerge, but only after extensive research and experimentation.
Despite that, Veronica had attempted a modification.
—Because she wanted to help Ray.
Pouring every bit of magical theory she had learned from her grandfather, she had worked tirelessly throughout their journey.
—Hmm, would this element work better in this ratio? No, maybe if I reversed the logic…
Of course, she had also gotten absorbed in the process itself.
In the end, she had completed 48 modified formulas.
“All the modifications are based on the elements of control and connection. The variations come from…”
As Veronica explained, Ray flipped through the pages at a rapid pace.
“We won’t be able to test all of these today, so let’s take our time and—”
“This one.”
“…Huh?”
“The 38th combination. This is it.”
Ray had already closed his eyes.
Instead of the usual darkness, a new sight unfolded. He was seeing the world through Nero’s eyes.
‘So that’s what my face looks like.’
Since he rarely looked in mirrors, seeing himself from an external perspective felt oddly unfamiliar.
“W-Wait. Did it actually work? Already?”
—W-Wait. Did it actually work? Already?
Her voice echoed, overlapping.
It seemed he was hearing with both his own ears and Nero’s at the same time.
“Did you really test all the formulas just now?”
“I did.”
Veronica was visibly astonished.
Who could have predicted that he would go through dozens of formulas in mere minutes?
‘And these weren’t just simple formulas.’
They required an incredibly precise balance of elements, leaving no room for error.
Not only did it demand skill in mana control, but also an exceptional level of concentration.
“Wow, wow, wow! I can’t believe it! I tried my best, but I never expected one of them to actually work!”
Unable to contain her excitement, Veronica jumped up.
At that moment, Nero landed on the floor, causing Ray’s vision to tilt. He quickly made the cat jump back onto the table to restore his view.
Then he spoke.
“Yes. It’s your formula.”
In truth, that was only half true.
None of Veronica’s formulas had worked.
But among them, the most well-crafted ones had served as a foundation, which Ray had then modified to create the final working formula.
She was the designer.
He was the finisher.
But there was no need to reveal that.
The reason was simple—
‘This way, I get to see more emotions.’
Through Nero’s eyes, he couldn’t see people’s emotions.
But there was something he could observe instead—
Expressions.
The radiant smile on Veronica’s face.
The blend of emotions shining through.
For a moment, Ray found himself mesmerized.
For quite a long time.
***
## The Next Morning
An alleyway, some distance from the mansion.
“Nero, have a safe trip. Once you complete your mission, an incredible reward will be waiting for you.”
Philip waved a stick-shaped cat treat at Nero as he spoke.
Hiss—!
But all he got in return was a sharp sound of hostility.
“…I think it hates me. But why?”
“Who knows? You don’t seem like someone a cat would dislike. Maybe it’s just a bad first impression?”
“I’ve been trying so hard to get close to it since yesterday. Now it’s just a matter of stubborn pride.”
Philip grumbled.
Ironically, it was Ray who had successfully bonded with Nero overnight.
*”The synchronization rate of senses depends on the level of intimacy between the mage and the familiar—in other words, their bond.”*
Following Veronica’s advice, Ray had made an effort to befriend Nero.
*”Approach it slowly and make eye contact. Wait. If Nero accepts your greeting, then gently reach out and pet its head.”*
*”…….”*
Doubt crept in.
Could he really form a bond with Nero?
Animals in Sector treated him as nothing more than a moving rock.
They neither feared him nor showed any affection.
Ray had always assumed the reason was because he was a person without emotions.
He had heard somewhere that animals were highly sensitive to human emotions.
*”Try greeting it internally. Say: Hello. I’m properly introducing myself. It’s nice to meet you.”*
*”…….”*
*”You’re really beautiful. I’d like to be friends with you.”*
*”You’re really beautiful.”*
*”No, no! Don’t say it while looking at me! Say it to Nero, in your mind!”*
It was his first time attempting something like this.
And the result—
*Blink.*
*”Nero responded to your eye greeting!”*
*”It didn’t even twitch when I greeted it! This cat, honestly…!”*
Nero had accepted his eye greeting.
Not only that, but it even climbed onto Ray’s lap and purred contentedly.
‘…That happened last night.’
For Ray, it was the first time an animal had ever shown such affection toward him.
The exact reason remained unclear.
Perhaps it had something to do with the few emotions he had recently unlocked.
Whatever the case, as of now—
*Meow—*
The synchronization with Nero’s senses wasn’t bad.
“……”
Ray slowly blinked at Nero, who was looking up at him from his feet.
A gesture of gratitude for lending him its sight and other senses.
In response, Nero also blinked.
*Meow—*
After rubbing its head against Ray’s foot, Nero turned and set off toward the mansion.
Ray closed his eyes.
A perspective much lower than a human’s, swaying slightly with movement, unfolded before him.
────.
Silent, light footsteps.
The mansion’s entrance gradually grew closer.
Lowering its body, Nero slipped through a gap beneath the gate and entered the garden with ease.
Various plants, both large and small, came into view.
Blackened branches and pruned leaves indicated recent care.
‘Someone’s maintaining this place.’
That contradicted what Melom and Dranine had said.
According to them, no one had lived in this mansion for quite some time.
*Trot, trot!*
The scenery ahead suddenly zoomed closer.
Nero had spotted some silvervine and started running toward it.
No, not there.
Ray quickly stopped Nero and redirected it toward an open window.
*”Myaaaoooow—!”*
A cry thick with disappointment and frustration.
But there was no choice if they wanted to finish investigating the mansion quickly.
The view shifted to a dimly lit corridor, partially illuminated by sunlight.
The decorations and paintings scattered throughout were dust-free, reinforcing the impression that the mansion was being maintained.
And then—
*”Ahaha—!”*
*”Hahahaha—!”*
Laughter echoed.
At the same moment, Nero’s body was suddenly lifted, and Ray’s vision rose along with it.
