Family (3)
Chapter 38
Ray confidently claimed that Locust was surely heading to the orphanage, but deep down, he hoped his guess was wrong.
The baron’s territory didn’t have the resources to handle Locust right now.
If Locust had attacked the orphanage out of vengeance for losing his subordinates, a tragedy would have been unavoidable.
Ray kept urging Matthew, who rode alongside him.
When Ray arrived at the orphanage with the knights, what he saw was Karen sobbing in the middle of the playground while being watched by others.
“Why is she like this?”
Looking around, Jimy and Didier were unharmed, and the soldiers were patrolling the orphanage with normal expressions.
After dismounting from his horse, Ray learned the situation from Jimy.
“Was it because Luna’s parents showed up and took her away?”
Ray felt a headache coming on.
There were just too many kids in this world who didn’t act like proper parents, whether in his past life or this one.
“Jimy, did you just let that happen?”
“Well, I needed justification to interfere. Luna herself said she wanted to go home with her mom and dad—what was I supposed to do about that?”
“You should’ve held onto her until I came back. And why is Karen crying?”
“When Luna and her parents tried to leave, the other kids rushed over to stop them.”
“And?”
Jimy recalled the earlier conversation between Karen and Luna.
Karen had grabbed Luna’s wrist and shouted.
“Luna! Why are you suddenly doing this? You promised you’d stay with us!”
“…The promise is canceled. My mom and dad came to take me home.”
“That’s bad people! Ray said so!”
“No, it’s not. Karen doesn’t understand. She has no mom or dad.”
“…What?”
“I do have a mom and dad. I’m different from you guys. So let go.”
Hearing Jimy’s story, Ray pressed his temples and chuckled bitterly.
“So she told Karen not to hold her back, right? Was that Luna speaking?”
“Yeah.”
“Geez, this is frustrating.”
Believing Luna as a friend, Karen clenched her fists and cried bitterly.
“I’m cutting ties with Luna! If she comes back, I’ll never accept her again!”
Ray helped Karen up and consoled her.
“Luna probably didn’t mean it. Don’t take it too hard.”
“But Luna made fun of me for not having parents!”
“Karen, sometimes even having parents can be worse than not having them. Luna might have envied that you don’t have parents.”
“I don’t believe that. I’m cutting ties with Luna!”
“Don’t do that. I’ll bring her back so you two can talk again.”
“Are you going to bring Luna back?”
“Of course.”
Ray quickly grasped the situation.
Locust had recruited Luna’s parents to quietly take her away.
However, with his schemes in Dinor exposed and all his subordinates wiped out, the factors restraining him had disappeared.
Things didn’t need to get complicated anymore.
If Luna had resisted and stayed, Locust would have come to burn down the orphanage himself.
‘Did Luna leave on her own to protect the orphanage from Locust?’
Ray looked at Jimy.
“Jimy, I trust you. Did you figure out which way Luna’s parents went?”
“It’s obvious—they’re heading to the Sigini Mountain Range.”
“Locust must be there too. His scheme in Dinor failed, so he’s likely planning to grab Luna and flee the area.”
Of course, this was just Ray’s speculation.
To others, it simply looked like a child reunited with their parents and left the orphanage—a completely natural and problem-free event.
The knights advised the count.
“Lord Count, you should return to the manor. There’s much to deal with.”
“Locust has already fled to another region. We need to organize a formal pursuit team with the empire’s support.”
“No.”
Ray shook his head.
Most of the knights frowned, but someone had to speak up.
“Locust used Luna’s parents to take her. We need to immediately go to the Sigini Mountain Range, rescue Luna, and defeat Locust.”
“I can’t take this nonsense anymore,” Jenkins seethed coldly.
“The lord’s leniency has encouraged your insolence.”
Ray understood Jenkins’ anger.
That Locust was targeting Luna was merely Ray’s unsubstantiated claim.
The knights must have been exasperated too.
With Locust long gone and mountains of cleanup work ahead, some brat kept stepping forward and spouting nonsense.
“It’s the nature of commoners. Once they receive mercy, they forget gratitude and keep pushing boundaries.”
Jenkins continued venting his rage.
The count no longer restrained Jenkins.
Ray had no choice but to admit it.
Luna simply left the orphanage holding her parents’ hands. That was all.
The count and knights had decided to wrap things up here, and no matter how eloquently Ray argued, he couldn’t change their minds.
Jenkins gripped his sword hilt and warned.
“I’m not ignoring your contributions, but if you continue to lose perspective and spout nonsense, even if the count forgives you, I won’t…”
“Ah, fuck.”
Ray spat on the ground.
“Hey, if you’re mad, let’s fight.”
Caught off guard by the sudden curse, Jenkins froze.
“What?”
“Stop talking nonsense and let’s settle this like men. Come on, attack me. Or should I go first?”
“This insane…!”
Kung!
Ray kicked off the ground.
Accelerated by Overdrive, his body stretched like gum, even out of the knights’ sight.
A flash erupted from Ray’s drawn sword.
Without fully comprehending the scene before him, Jenkins reflexively drew and swung his sword.
Their sword auras clashed.
Crack!
“?!”
Jenkins staggered significantly.
He was overpowered by the aura.
By the time Jenkins realized this unbelievable fact, Ray had already closed the distance.
Spinning, Ray kicked Jenkins in the abdomen.
Poom!
Kwang Tang!!
Jenkins tumbled awkwardly on the ground.
Though only kicked and protected by armor, Jenkins lay face down in the dirt, unable to move a finger.
Not just Jenkins, but all the knights guarding the area stared wide-eyed, frozen stiff.
Except for Mohamed, everyone momentarily lost sight of Ray’s movements.
Their brains overheated, struggling to process what their eyes had seen.
“Lord Count.”
Ray threw his sword aside.
The sword, engraved with the crest of the Philips family, embedded itself at the count’s feet.
Kneeling, Ray bowed his head.
“On my life, I beg you. Luna is in danger. Please help one more time. I will never forget your kindness.”
The count didn’t understand.
Why would someone with unparalleled talent destined for history risk everything for someone they barely knew?
So he asked.
“Why are you going this far?”
Ray laughed.
No matter how much he talked about the end of the world or legendary orphans, would the count care at all?
So he gave a simple answer.
“Because she’s my family. Do I need any other reason?”
“…”
Silence fell.
Various emotions flickered across the faces of the count and knights before disappearing.
That single word “family” lingered heavily in their hearts like a stone creating ripples.
Jenkins spat sand as he stood up.
“It’s impossible.”
“What’s impossible?”
“Even if all your assumptions are correct, how do you plan to find Locust? He’s a high-ranking mage, and the Sigini Mountain Range is vast. Right now, we have no way to track him.”
“It’s fine.”
Ray was confident.
“Luna will guide us.”
*
Luna walked silently with her parents.
The orphanage grew further and further away.
Upon entering the Sigini Mountain Range, Georgia appeared to guide Luna’s family.
Listening to the jingling of the money pouch tied to her father’s waist, Luna imagined.
How much did they sell me for this time? More than last time, perhaps?
I hope they got a fair price. It seems my heart is considered valuable among mages.
Luna kept walking. The dark giant loomed closer.
Soon, Luna was reunited with the man who taught her wind magic.
“It’s been a while.”
The man, whose sclerae were stained black, clapped his hands vigorously to welcome Luna.
Though trying to appear calm, the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably due to overwhelming joy.
Jingle!
The money pouch dropped in front of Luna’s parents.
Collecting the pouch, they turned away without even looking at Luna.
“My name is William. Some call me Locust.”
With a roar, a beast-like black spirit emerged from the air.
Luna’s parents screamed in terror upon seeing the spirit up close.
Luna stood still, listening to the sound of her parents being torn limb from limb.
Locust, or William, wore a melancholy smile.
“Though our plans in Dinor failed completely, I’m not in a bad mood. After all, I’ve obtained you.”
Luna realized once more something she already knew.
Judging by how he tore her parents apart, Locust seemed to have no intention of winning Luna’s heart.
What mattered to him was Luna’s body.
In a way, it was fortunate.
Since he was honest about his intentions, Luna didn’t need to anxiously guess or feel uneasy.
Hummm!
Luna’s magic circle activated.
Seeing the massive circle enveloping Luna, Locust sighed appreciatively.
“Ah… magnificent.”
Locust’s eyes glazed over like those of a drug addict.
Luna seized the opportunity.
The runes in her circle began forming.
Instead of complex calculations, she repeatedly inscribed and compressed a simple fire spell to its limit.
Uncontrolled mana surged wildly.
As soon as a small flame ignited, it erupted into a storm of fire.
Whooshhh!!
Caught off guard by the unexpected disaster, Georgia panicked and burned to death.
The remains of Luna’s parents consumed by the spirit also turned to black ash.
The uncontrolled mana began consuming its master. Blisters started forming on Luna’s hands.
Ecstatic laughter burst from Locust.
“Hahahaha!”
Mana radiated from Locust’s body.
The wild flames were compressed into a sphere and froze solid.
When Luna attempted to inscribe new runes in her circle, Locust’s mana surged in and sealed her circle.
Locust shouted.
“You can do it. With you, I can achieve it! Through you, I will become truly worthy of the title ‘Lord’!”
Masters-level warriors and grand mages.
Strategic weapons capable of overthrowing nations alone.
Tying these together earns one the title of Lord.
Locust finally gained confidence that he could reach that elusive level.
“Wonderful. Truly wonderful! However, we need to curb your power before leaving.”
It’s inconvenient to have her randomly unleashing fire.
A black storm formed in Locust’s hands.
He planned to sever her limbs preemptively.
The concentrated mana immobilized Luna.
Recalling when Ray summoned her, Luna remembered.
‘Don’t reveal your power anywhere except in front of me.’
Ray had warned her and added,
‘Luna, just in case… If your life or your friends’ lives are in grave danger, don’t hesitate to use your power. I’ll take care of the aftermath.’
Luna had asked then what to do if she encountered a crisis she couldn’t handle alone.
Ray had given a simple answer.
‘Set fire. Make it as spectacular as possible. Let it be visible beyond the horizon.’
And he promised to come running. No matter how far away, he would rush to her side.
And save her.
A brilliant sword aura sliced through the approaching black storm near Luna’s face.
Clang clang clank!
Splitting the storm, Ray shattered the mana prison holding Luna.
Catching Luna as she fell backward, Ray blocked the renewed black storm and stepped back forcefully.
Dripping blood from his joints, Ray grinned widely.
“It took you long enough to show up.”
Pointing his sword at Locust, Ray unleashed his emotions.
“Because of you, I’ve shrunk five centimeters, you bastard. You’re dead.”
“…This is absurd.”
Lost for words, Locust muttered.
A kid showing up alone, wielding sword auras, then suddenly laughing maniacally and cursing—none of it made sense.
But his task was clear.
“Know who you’re messing with?”
“After all the trouble you’ve caused, are you seriously asking that?”
“Yet you came alone?”
“Who says I came alone?”
Surely someone wouldn’t attempt a boss raid alone.
Ray wasn’t here to fight but to watch.
Swoooosh!
Thick green sword auras erupted from all directions.
Realizing he was surrounded, Locust’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Pulling Luna into his arms, Ray declared.
“Locust, you’re dying here.”
Baffled, Locust soon burst into mocking laughter.
“You ignorant country boys think bringing a few knights can do anything to me?”
The dark giant manifested in reality.
Simultaneously, countless dark spirits descended and covered the ground.
Over a hundred dark spirits began rippling with darkness.
“Looks like you don’t know why I brought only a few subordinates yet still terrified an entire empire.”
Roaarrrr!!
The highest-ranked dark spirit roared toward the enemies.
“All of you will die here.”
His nickname is Locust.
A high-level mage who reached the 7th circle and the strongest dark spirit user feared by the empire.
“I am the Undying Legion.”
“Undying?”
Ray chuckled.
“Hey, did you know? Spirits bleed too.”
