278th Episode
The Sea.
Lea had never seen the sea in her entire life.
In fact, most of the residents living in Phillip’s County had never seen it either.
Naturally, Lea whined incessantly about wanting to see the sea, which she had only ever read about in books.
Bella also wanted to see the sea with Lea.
However, Ray had sternly warned them not to wander around outside carelessly, leaving Bella in a difficult position as she tried to console Lea.
Seeing this, Jimy decided to take Lea and Bella to the seaside.
Upon arriving at the beach, Lea was overwhelmed by the sight of what seemed like an unimaginably vast lake. Her mouth dropped open in awe before she began running around excitedly.
With Lea full of energy, Jimy and Bella chased after her for quite some time.
“Lea, do you want to try swimming?”
Even in the dead of winter, Lea insisted on entering the sea.
Despite Bella repeatedly telling her it was absolutely unsafe, Lea kept heading towards the water, insisting she’d be fine.
As a result, Jimy had to continuously pull her back from the sea and move her onto the sand.
Before they knew it, the sun had dipped below the horizon.
Though still full of energy, Lea eventually agreed to return home when Bella persuaded her.
“It’ll be dangerous once it gets dark. Let’s go back.”
“Will we come again tomorrow if we go back today?”
“Not tomorrow.”
“Then I won’t go!”
“Lea, are you going to keep being stubborn?”
Lea continued to protest, unwilling to leave.
Meanwhile, Jimmy frowned slightly as he overheard their conversation.
A group of young men had gathered nearby and started chatting loudly among themselves.
Jimmy tried to ignore them but soon noticed a stone flying towards him.
For a moment, Jimmy wondered if it was truly just an ordinary stone.
*
Ben could enhance his physical strength using mana, a skill he learned from an acquaintance. It wasn’t particularly advanced, but it allowed him to exert powerful force a few times.
Drunk, Ben used this technique to throw a rock he was holding.
He threw it indiscriminately at anyone, and the rock flew toward what appeared to be a frail-looking old man.
Fortunately, it seemed the rock would hit its target smoothly.
Ben was confident that the old man would scream in pain and roll around on the beach after being struck.
And then…
Clang!
The old man caught the flying rock with one hand.
Ben and his group threw a few more rocks, but soon realized something was off and stopped.
The light stretching out from the setting sun created backlighting.
Due to the backlight, Ben’s group couldn’t clearly see Jimmy’s appearance.
They merely assumed he was a frail old man based on the silhouette revealed under the backlight.
However, at some point, the silhouette of the man they thought was frail began to appear like a giant.
Ben’s group instinctively realized they had messed up.
“Hey, hey…”
Judging that they had meddled with the wrong person, a few members of Ben’s group turned around…only to be startled.
An unfamiliar young man was walking steadily toward them from the opposite side of the shore.
It was Ray.
Ray pressed his temples as he looked at Ben’s group.
“I thought something like this might happen…”
But it happened much sooner than expected.
Activating his Core while approaching Ben’s group, Ray asked,
“Who sent you?”
“Damn it…!”
One member of Ben’s group ignored Ray and tried to flee.
However, as he ran past Ray, his body lifted into the air before crashing backward into the sand.
Ray had kicked his calf, breaking it, and then moved closer to interrogate Ben’s group.
At that moment, Ben, who was still somewhat drunk, shouted,
“Do you know who I am?!”
“…?”
Ray was momentarily taken aback.
What is this guy…? Is he really going to reveal his identity willingly?
Feeling emboldened by Ray’s perplexed gaze, Ben gained confidence.
Ben’s uncle wasn’t one of the higher-ups among the guards, but he did have enough influence over them that the townsfolk had to tread carefully around him.
Believing in this, Ben was about to boast further but stopped when Ray displayed a strong sense of hostility.
“Alright, explain. Who are you?”
“…Choke, choke!”
Overwhelmed by Ray’s imposing presence, Ben lost his composure.
Soon, Ben and his group fainted, foaming at the mouth and collapsing one by one.
With the situation resolved, Ray was left confused once more.
“…What is this?”
Meanwhile, Jimmy, who had been observing the situation, cautiously approached while staying alert.
After confirming the unconscious members of Ben’s group, Jimmy asked Ray,
“What happened to these guys? Did you kill them?”
“No, they don’t seem dead… I didn’t do anything, but they suddenly fainted.”
“Suddenly? Did they eat some poison or something? …No, it doesn’t seem like poison.”
“Not poison… But, Jimmy, what did these guys just throw at us?”
“A rock.”
“Huh?”
“Just a pebble, I tell you.”
Jimmy showed the pebble he was holding.
Ray furrowed his brow.
“Is there any magic inscribed on it or is it poisoned?”
“Check it yourself.”
Ray carefully examined the pebble Jimmy handed him.
It was just a regular, ordinary rock.
“…What kind of people are these?”
Both Ray and Jimmy stared bewilderedly at the unconscious individuals.
Lea watched the scene curiously, sticking close to Bella.
*
The Count of Osiris felt a severe headache coming on.
Around the previous evening, some lunatics had attacked refugees.
Had they attacked inconsequential commoners among the refugees, the matter could have been quietly swept under the rug.
But these crazy individuals had targeted someone very close to Ray.
Unbelievable, reckless fools.
The Count of Osiris muttered various curses under his breath before bowing his head to Ray, seated across from him.
“My apologies.”
“No, it’s alright. There’s no need for such formality, my lord.”
After waving his hand dismissively, Ray asked the Count,
“So, these attackers… It doesn’t seem like they specifically targeted anyone, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Upon hearing the news, the Count immediately ordered an investigation into the attack.
Following the Count’s orders, soldiers scoured the territory throughout the night, and the investigation concluded rather quickly.
This attack wasn’t a crime deliberately planned against Ray’s acquaintances.
It was an impulsive act by a few disgruntled residents of the Osiris Countdom venting their frustrations against the refugees.
“The testimonies all align, and the circumstances suggest the same.”
Apparently, they had simply targeted some isolated refugees by the sea and ended up encountering three specific individuals.
If they had intentionally aimed to harm Jimmy, Bella, and Lea, they wouldn’t have resorted to throwing ordinary stones.
Ray let out a hollow laugh.
“Ah, this is ridiculous…”
The situation was absurd, not just to Ray but also to the Count of Osiris.
“What punishment would you like to impose on the criminals?”
“From my perspective, I’d prefer not to spill too much blood. Aside from the main instigators, please be lenient with the rest.”
“Yes, understood.”
“I’m not speaking metaphorically; I mean exactly that. I don’t want the atmosphere to become unnecessarily hostile.”
“I understand your meaning.”
Since it involved commoners attacking other commoners, the matter could have been resolved with light labor sentences according to Ray’s wishes.
However, the attackers unfortunately targeted Jimmy.
Although Jimmy usually dressed modestly, he was undoubtedly a noble of the Empire.
Moreover, he was a noble capable of rising to prominence in the imperial capital should he choose to.
Given that these individuals assaulted a noble of the Empire with mere stones, someone’s head needed to roll to uphold the dignity bestowed by the Emperor’s title.
This wasn’t something Ray could easily prevent, nor was there any real need to forcefully intervene.
“Well then, I shall take my leave.”
“Yes, I’ll ensure measures are put in place so this doesn’t happen again.”
Thus, the conversation between Ray and the Count of Osiris concluded.
Exiting the reception room, Ray gazed outside through a window in the corridor, lost in thought.
Until recently, Ray had tried to avoid exposing himself publicly as much as possible.
However, that became impossible the moment he held Moros in the Imperial Capital.
Ray didn’t regret his decision at that time, but even so, it left him feeling extremely uneasy.
Currently, it was impossible to conceal Bella and Lea’s identities.
Anyone who obtained information about them would naturally take interest in the two.
Some might attempt to exploit them, while others might target them.
Although this attack was purely coincidental, the next one might not be.
There was no definitive solution, so Ray would have to remain vigilant moving forward.
Of course…
After Ray’s death, the value of Bella and Lea would diminish, allowing things to return to how they once were.
However, since they had already been ‘recognized’ by influential powers, Bella and Lea would need substantial protection even after Ray’s passing.
“…”
Ray, I’m afraid.
I’m afraid you’ll ask me to take responsibility for Bella and Lea until the end.
With a rough voice, Jimmy had pleaded thus.
Do you trust me, Ray?
Do you believe that I will protect the people you cherish most in your stead?
Luna had questioned him sharply with a cold tone.
Ray remained unable to answer both of their questions.
But ultimately… he would kneel and beg for their sacrifices and goodwill.
Contemplating the vision of his future, Ray sighed deeply.
To alleviate his suffocating feelings, he took in the scenery beyond the window, where Karen happened to be walking down the street.
Ray observed her silently for a moment before muttering to himself,
“Is she hitting puberty now?”
*
“Hum-hum~”
Ropheiren hummed a tune as he entered the laboratory.
The smell of blood wafted through the air even before he reached the lab, but Ropheiren paid it no mind.
Whether it came from demons, humans, or other races, blood mostly smelled the same—only differing in whether it was fresh or decayed.
Without a second thought, Ropheiren stepped into the lab and froze.
“Huh…? Why is this thing still alive?”
Staring at the transparent barrier separating him from the specimen, Ropheiren tilted his head.
“Master.”
“…Hmm.”
“Where did you acquire the object embedded there?”
“…From Alimo.”
Alimo.
The place where Luna had embedded Meteo into the ground, causing calamity.
Ropheiren wore a troubled expression.
“Isn’t this somewhat dangerous?”
The word “dangerous” carried multiple meanings in Ropheiren’s statement.
Luna agreed with Ropheiren’s assessment.
“…It’s dangerous.”
And furthermore…
“It’s useless.”
Luna’s brows furrowed slightly.
Target (3)
