Episode 29: Ghost Mansion (4)
“Sid!!! Damn it, Flash of Light!”
“Kieeeek!”
Watching the boy being eroded by the red mana moment by moment, Ruel grew anxious.
He fired a massive lump of light and hurled it at the horde of wraiths, but the ones swirling around and encasing Sid didn’t even flinch.
“Kiyaak!”
“Kieeeek!”
The wraiths burst into flames like moths to a torch.
Yet seeing no signs of retreat, Ruel’s expression hardened.
“Damn…!”
It had already been several minutes since Sid had been caught.
By now, it wouldn’t be strange if his body had been completely taken over.
Whenever the boy was visible through gaps in the wraiths’ ashen cloth, the teacher’s face contorted further.
‘If I had known this would happen, I should have brought a return scroll!’
The young teacher’s pupils trembled behind his glasses.
Self-reproach was useless now.
Who could have known something like this would happen?
An outing meant to clear Sid’s mind had turned into immense danger.
* * *
[Hope Bank Loan Service]
[Welcome to Hope Bank Loan Service. Regardless of the borrowed amount, this product accrues 1% interest per week. The repayment period is one month. If exceeded, collateral will be collected. The set collateral is as follows: the customer’s possessed mana.]
‘Ugh.’
The “Loan Service” appeared before Sid’s eyes.
He had seen this form many times before, but he could never get used to it.
It was a critical situation—the crystal orb was draining his mana.
Nevertheless, our meticulous protagonist did not neglect to read the contract.
Truly impressive… no, admirable.
“One percent interest per week, and the period to return the mana is one month?”
Squinting, the boy examined the passbook’s loan service.
The “collateral” clause stating it would be collected if the mana wasn’t returned within a month caught his eye.
Collecting mana I don’t even have?
As expected, the suspicious boy let nothing slide.
“Miss, stop! About this collateral. What’s this collateral labeled ‘your possessed mana’? How can you collect mana I don’t have? Suspicious!”
[It is merely a formality with no significant meaning. You may think of it as potential confirmed based on your body’s information. Please take out the loan quickly.]
“Hmm?”
The passbook answered as if it had been waiting.
Having faced a stream of meticulous questions until now, it seemed prepared this time as well.
But at the word “potential,” Sid tilted his head.
If it was potential that could be collected, did that mean he couldn’t use it now?
The boy continued his negotiation with the passbook.
“Then just give me my potential mana instead of a loan! Our Miss is the best!”
[Potential refers to an arbitrary possibility determined by our service. It is not mana that can actually be used. Please take out the loan quickly. Time is of the essence.]
[
The suggestion to use the collateral directly didn’t work.
Instead, the passbook pressed Sid by mentioning the remaining time.
It was indeed a critical situation, just as she said.
Still, Sid did not back down.
Partly because he became sensitive whenever contract issues arose, but the more he was pressed, the deeper his suspicions grew.
“No way! If it’s mana you can collect, why can’t I use it? Is that ‘potential’ thing actually my soul? Is that why you’re beating around the bush? Miss, you’re a demon, aren’t you? A demon after my soul!”
[Do not throw a tantrum. When have I ever lied to you?]
“Then lend it to me for free! I’ll pay it back within the week. Given our relationship, right?”
[Impossible. Monetary transactions should not be made even between parent and child.]
“What’s money!”
[I am referring to mana. Please take out the loan. Remaining mana is 237 coins. It will be depleted within 30 seconds.]
“Ah, I don’t know! I don’t trust you, Miss! I might trust you with anything else, but I really can’t trust a loan!”
One trying to force a loan, and one unable to trust.
The passbook and Sid clashed.
The thought flashed that agreeing hastily could lead to irreversible consequences.
“…….”
A brief silence fell between them.
Even to the passbook counting down in seconds, Sid remained firm.
An unstoppable game of chicken.
In times like these, the one with the weaker heart lost.
[…Very well. We will offer a first-time, one-month interest-free loan. If repaid within one month, we will not touch the collateral or interest. Please take out the loan quickly. How much do you wish to borrow?]
Begging him to take the loan.
Even with reversed power dynamics, such cases were rare.
A smile spread across his face at the offer to waive the interest; even a mere 1% weekly interest was no joke.
Soon, one index finger was raised above the hand caught in the red mana.
The boy’s first loan.
The winner is Sid.
“Enough to smash that thing!”
[Approved.]
Thump…!
With the passbook’s loan approval, fierce light burst forth.
Soon, the massive mana gushing out coiled around Sid’s circle.
And the mana passing through his circle was sucked into the crystal orb.
Like a torrent destroying a crumbling bank.
It could only be described as an overwhelming force.
‘Great!’
[Details] Withdrawal
[Amount Withdrawn] *116 (Mana Drain)
[Amount Deposited]
[Balance] *23 (Arenga Mansion)
[Details] Withdrawal and Deposit
[Amount Withdrawn] *23 (Mana Drain)
[Amount Deposited] *999
[Balance] *1,021 (Arenga Mansion)
[Details] Withdrawal and Deposit
[Amount Withdrawn] *137 (Mana Drain)
[Amount Deposited] *9,999
[Balance] *9,773 (Arenga Mansion)
[Details] Withdrawal and Deposit
[Amount Withdrawn] *1,876 (Mana Drain)
[Amount Deposited] *999,999
[Balance] *997,923 (Arenga Mansion)
[1,000,000 mana coins have been deposited normally.]
“Go!!!”
With explosive mana, Sid clenched his fist.
Such was the fierce momentum that the tentacles wrapping around the boy swelled.
Soon, with a thud!, tremendous mana surged toward the crystal orb.
Slosh, slosh!
The churning mana traveled through the tentacles toward the crystal orb.
By the time it realized it wasn’t absorbing, but being one-sidedly “barraged,” it was already too late.
“Wha… what……? What the……!!!”
“This is the ‘Cash Headbutt’ the Miss taught me, you bastard!”
Clack!
The startled crystal orb stopped the mana drain.
But Sid’s hand wouldn’t let it go.
Ferocious mana was sucked in through the grasped hand.
1,000 coins… 2,000 coins… 3,000 coins……
Just like when burning level cards.
Pouring mana repeated over and over.
The mana gulped down as if a funnel had been shoved down a throat.
Crack, craack!
“Ah… no! The transfer isn’t…”
[…finished yet! At this rate, the crystal orb will—!]
“It’ll break, idiot!”
Sid’s talent donation did not stop.
Spending money like water—no, spending mana like water—this was what that saying meant.
The crystal orb squirmed with red mana, trying to resist.
But with the mana pouring in moment by moment, it seemed to struggle even controlling its tentacles.
Thud! Kuung!
Finally, control over the tentacles was lost, and Sid became free.
And as Sid had predicted, from the excessive mana inflow, the crystal orb began to crack with a snapping sound.
[Stop… stop!]
Sticky mana seeped out from between the cracks.
Having lost control over Vain as well, the crystal orb released the emaciated man.
Soon, Vain collapsed unconscious, and a one-on-one battle between Sid and the crystal orb began.
Though it was a fight that was practically already over.
Snap! Crack!
[Where is all this mana coming from! Stop, stop!!!]
“You said you were the ruler of magic! Eat it all! Eat more!”
[Kuaaaack!]
The crystal orb’s pitiful scream leaked out.
Ruell and the wraiths were also astonished by this sight.
“Huh?”
Amidst swirling red mana, the boy gripped the crystal orb, and from his grasp flowed the orb’s miserable shrieks.
Of course, to Ruell, who knew nothing, it looked as if the crystal orb was seizing Sid’s body.
The curly-haired man shouted without realizing the situation had reversed.
“No… no! Sid!”
[Details] Withdrawal
[Amount Withdrawn] *9,782 (Crystal Orb Gift)
[Amount Deposited]
[Balance] *487,988 (Arenga Mansion)
A huge number, “500,000 coins,” flashed through the boy’s circle.
An immense ecstasy flowed through the stream of mana stimulating his entire body.
He wasn’t even using great magic, yet he was letting this much mana flow away!
For Sid, who had only spent “pennies” until now, such luxury brought enormous joy.
“Break!!!”
Finally, the time came for the protagonist of this mess to snap in half.
Sid focused, feeling the mana churning in his forearm.
The remaining mana was 300,000 coins.
It was an amount he had never possessed before, but it was enough.
[No… no!!!]
Crack, smash!
Finally, the watermelon-sized crystal orb snapped and crumbled.
Half-broken pieces and powder-like crushed fragments.
In the moment the debris flowed over Sid’s hand, an enormous storm of mana burst from within.
Kwaaang!
Red smoke exploded and spread in all directions.
Smoke seeped out through the broken windows, and fluttering wraiths were caught in it.
Realizing something unusual had happened, Ruell adjusted his glasses.
Due to the explosion, cracks had formed in his lenses as well.
“What… Sid! Sid!”
[It does not end like this!]
Hwiing!
Through the dispersing smoke, a thin strand coiled around Sid.
Its elongated, wriggling form hinted at a dragon, the “Lord of Mana.”
“Huk!”
When the startled Sid opened his mouth, the creature’s last struggle began.
The dragon’s mana rushed fiercely into the boy’s mouth and nose.
It was the crystal orb’s futile struggle to make the boy its new host.
“Damn it!”
Cursing in a way unbefitting of him, Ruell grasped a magic circle.
A silver flash, wrung from all his remaining mana, settled in his hand.
Watching his student being eroded by the dragon, the teacher grew desperate.
His eyes shone with the resolve that he must save his student.
But unfortunately, Ruell never got the chance to step in.
Sid’s protector wasn’t Ruell alone, was he?
[Unfortunately, this customer has already signed up for a product in advance. There are no vacant rooms.]
[What?]
A subtle voice reached the ears of the mana that had entered the boy.
It was a sinister voice that seemed to be mocking.
‘Heh… serves you right…!’
In his fading mind, two wills clashed.
The dragon trying to seize its host, and the Miss who had been cohabiting with him for two months.
With the passbook’s cheeky tone as the last word, the mana that had entered his body bounced out futilely.
Its inability to continue speaking conveyed its bewilderment.
Its next target was Ruell, who held magic in his grasp.
In a situation where mana was dispersing by the second, the creature’s voice also grew desperate.
[Then hand over your body!]
“Sacred Holy Light!”
Paang!
The moment the mana rushed in, a colossal light exploded.
Pushed back by the Holy Light, the red mana was driven into a corner.
Yet its power still remained; the remaining mana forced itself together and screamed.
Its stubborn gathering like the eye of a typhoon was impressive.
[I… I do not fall! I am the ruler of magic, the essence of magic! My name is…!]
Kwakwang! Wangchang!
The roof collapsed just as the dragon’s final cry erupted.
Fragments rained down chaotically.
Between them stood a boy with his back to the moonlight.
The boy who had been waiting for the Dungeonization to clear had a shining entrance.
“Brother! I’m back!”
“Leir?”
By the time Ruell raised his head, the mansion’s Dungeonization had already stopped.
The surroundings had returned to their previous state.
Leir, who had burst through the roof, conjured six magic circles.
“Breath of the fish, root of the mountain… tendon of the bear!”
An unfamiliar incantation spilled from the boy’s lips.
Following his cry, the six magic circles merged into one.
It was powerful enough to startle the dragon watching from below.
[Th-that magic is…?]
A combination unthinkable for a twelve-year-old’s magic.
Ruell, who had been protecting the collapsed Sid, also gaped.
Soon, the magic Leir created struck the dragon’s mana.
“Gleipnir!”
- To be continued in Episode 30 -