How to Handle the Black Dog
Mages who could use magic like Morian but hadn't received proper education or training in the knowledge and skills required for a mage were commonly called wild mages in the mage tower.
They lacked basic common sense about mana, how to handle materials used in spells, the laws applied in casting magic, or methods for manipulating mana. Only after receiving training in the tower and either graduating like Suhyun or officially joining the tower did they earn recognition as proper mages.
Even though Morian knew next to nothing about magic beyond her own abilities, she could tell that Nautilus wasn't a normal artifact. After mastering the mysteries of shadows, darkness was like limbs to her—she could sense even the finest details within it using mana, without needing light.
Through constant training to feel the surrounding darkness, she'd developed a habit of peering into dark pockets to see what was inside. Even as she entered Nautilus, she sensed the shadows around her, and thanks to that, she detected the vast external darkness enveloping the surprisingly spacious interior of Nautilus.
Morian could sense farther and more precisely the denser the darkness. The perfect blackness of Nautilus's empty internal spaces let her feel farther than ever before, yet she still couldn't detect an end to it.
"With this many people, maybe I should give them a big room."
While Morian was awestruck by the immense interior of Nautilus, Suhyun pondered as he looked at her and the orphans. Should he just think of them as Morian's family, hand them a big house, and let her take responsibility? Or establish an orphanage in Nautilus? After mulling it over, Suhyun sent a message to Daiyen.
Yeah.
If you leave them with the mage, she'll have to manage them herself, which takes a ton of effort and makes it hard to boss her around. Better to set up an orphanage and hand it off to someone else.
Suhyun nodded at Daiyen's reply, glanced around Nautilus's interior, and led the wide-eyed, slack-jawed kids—missing their front teeth—toward an empty space.
Descending from the entrance connecting Nautilus's interior to the outside led to a wide plaza, with a major road radiating from its center. The roads were named after the head and tail directions: head-side road, tail-side road, right-side road, and left-side road.
The head-side road led to the bridge and the area where Suhyun, Daiyen, Lucy, and other Nautilus leaders lived—what the residents called the executive district.
To the left were massive warehouses for the Nautilus trading company, smaller ones for specific uses, and stables housing the horses that pulled their wagons.
To the right lay residential spaces for Nautilus residents, along with convenience facilities like bathhouses.
Finally, the tail-side road housed a brewery, woodworking shop, and similar facilities for processing raw materials onboard even while Nautilus moved.
As Suhyun headed down the right-side road, residents who hadn't gone outside spotted him and greeted him warmly or bowed in respect. They were all connected to him directly or indirectly, and since he often resolved their issues personally, the people of Nautilus held him in high regard.
Suhyun returned their greetings and reached the end of the road, where a door stood. Nautilus's interior still had plenty of empty space beyond it—nothing but vast emptiness. The door was barred to prevent accidents from curious residents. Opening it revealed... nothing.
Morian flinched upon visually confirming the darkness she'd sensed until now, then jolted even harder as she felt mana moving within it. If her own mana was like water in a small cup, this was a mighty river.
That enormous mana was freely reshaping metal, stone, and wood to build houses in the dark void. As someone who could sense darkness, Morian precisely detected new structures emerging in what had been pure emptiness. She was overwhelmed by Suhyun's magic—the sheer volume of mana and his effortless control in creating something from nothing.
"This should be enough space."
Suhyun pushed back the door blocking the end of the passage to make room for an orphanage, then opened the door to the newly formed empty room. Recalling a school dormitory, he created a living room; bedrooms with bunk beds, desks for studying, ample bathrooms; a separate office for caregivers; a kitchen for meal prep; and even an indoor playground. Satisfied with his handiwork, the orphanage was complete.
Morian, Lucy, and the orphans gaped in shock, forgetting to swallow as they watched the building construct itself in real time. Furniture assembled from wood pulled from his inventory—beds, desks, wardrobes—doors installed seamlessly. It was mesmerizing.
"What are you waiting for? Rooms are first-come, four per room."
At Suhyun's words, the quick-witted kids dashed to their preferred rooms. Quiet ones chose inner rooms; energetic ones grabbed spots near the playground. Some explored the orphanage, others curiously tested the slide and seesaw.
"Lucy, introduce the kids to Nautilus. You, come with me."
While Lucy showed the children around Nautilus, Suhyun took Morian to the temporary jail holding the Black Dogs. It was little more than tying them up in an unused warehouse, but Nautilus's warehouses—built by Suhyun himself—were as sturdy as any prison.
The Black Dog, who woke early thanks to his magic resistance, pounded the wall with all his might, but it only scratched slightly. Staring at the unyielding surface, he muttered to himself.
"What the hell is this?"
It looked like common limestone, but its durability was worlds apart. He could gouge holes in real limestone with his claws—he'd scaled such buildings before—but he gave up trying here.
Structures built with Suhyun's unique ability inherited enhanced base durability influenced by his power, plus magic suited to their purpose. The warehouse holding the Black Dogs had durability boosts and auto-repair enchantments, though the Black Dog didn't know that.
Who enchants a damn prison? Even small rooms required vast mana and materials to enchant, plus ongoing maintenance costs. He just figured it was some ultra-tough stone resembling limestone.
I need to get out before these bastards wake up.
Fellow gang members or not, the Black Dog felt no loyalty. He'd sacrifice them in a heartbeat if it meant escape.
Damn, shoulda learned human sacrifice rituals...
The Black Dog wasn't just a thug. He was an experimental subject modified by a black mage, now serving as a subordinate delivering more subjects. With a monster Bakest's heart transplant into his dog beastman body, he hadn't gained the full intended power but exceeded normal beastmen in strength and magic resistance.
His black-furred dog beastman form had matched the heart by chance, letting him survive. The black mage, needing thugs to supply test subjects, made him gang boss.
"Last chance."
Severing his binding ropes with claws, he crouched, ready to lunge and escape when the door opened. Hearing footsteps approach, he tensed...
The door swung open. Claws bared like Bakest's, he charged.
Ferocious as a monster, but not enough for Suhyun.
"You're already busted."
Sensing the prepared mana enveloping him, Suhyun swung his hand at the charging Black Dog. A simple motion, but infused with the essence of Golden Crow's Sleight.
The technique bound the target's body with one's mana on contact and snatched their mana. Mobilizing his own mana, Suhyun neatly captured both the Black Dog's hands—mid-ferocious charge—and shook him out like laundry.
Pang!Kwang!
A light slap of air, then the Black Dog slammed mercilessly into the floor.
"Gah!"
Internal shock made him vomit blood. Suhyun kicked his head, splattering it onto a fainted thug's clothes.
Ughhh!
His monster-heart-reinforced organs were tough, but without falling techniques, the laundry-shake slam ruptured them in agony.
Meanwhile, Morian was deeply impressed by Suhyun's handiwork. As a pickpocket mage, she respected his magic, but utterly toying with the foe like this? Pure admiration.
"Wanna learn?"
Morian's head bobbed furiously at Suhyun's question, eyes glued to Golden Crow's Sleight.
"Be good, and I'll teach you. Pretty damn useful."
Luring her like an uncle tempting a niece, Suhyun eyed the pooling blood and controlled it mid-air with magic.
Looking down at the Black Dog bleeding from the mouth, Suhyun spoke.
"All done puking?"
"Kuhk! Who the hell are you? What grudge do you have against me to do this?!"
"Hilarious, right? A guy who tormented innocents his whole life gets pissed the second it's his turn."
"Totally. He beats people and robs them for no reason, but when it's him, he wants an explanation. Gross."
"You... you! Ungrateful pickpocket bitch, I was nice to you!"
"Betrayal? Did naming yourself Black Dog make you as dumb as one? Stabbing extortionists ain't betrayal—it's justice."
Morian smirked, teasing him. For the first time, she was glad to be under Suhyun. She never got why powerless punks joined Black Dog and strutted around—having a strong backer to bully with felt great.
No pity for the bleeding Black Dog. How many orphans vanished or died beaten under him? Everyone knew it was his doing, even if his thugs took the fall.
"Alright, Black Dog bastard. Who's your boss?"
"Boss? What're you talking about?"
"Stubborn mouth. Should I beat him more, mage?"
"Know any torture methods?"
"Torture needs methods? Just keep hitting till they spill, right?"
Suhyun grinned uncle-style at Morian cutely swinging a shadow club, then taught her.
"Torture follows two rules: keep 'em alive, keep 'em sane."
Morian listened intently—practical gold.
"Gotta keep 'em alive to hear anything, sane for straight answers. Beating muddles the mind—they babble nonsense."
Demonstrating, Suhyun summoned fire to burn the Black Dog's shoe.
Kwaaaah!
Shrinking leather fused to flesh in searing pain, piercing his skull. Fire scorched only the shoe—but the foot inside blistered fully. Tears streamed; drool mixed with blood.
"See what that does?"
"Looks brutal."
Even to Morian, he seemed in hell. The daily-braggart Black Dog wailed like a baby, unable to clutch his foot.
Suhyun chuckled. "Fear peaks before it hits. Tell him the other shoe's next—he'll dread reliving it."
"Ah! Burn the other before he spills!"
"Right. Black Dog, ready to talk?"
"Ughhh."
Brain-melting pain garbled his reply. Suhyun torched the other shoe.
Kwaaaah!
Both feet aflame, he bawled newborn-style. Morian ignored it.
"Won't he toughen up after this pain?"
Contradicting the fear tactic, she asked. Suhyun grinned.
"Tell him to walk hot sand next. Think he'll clam up?"
"Aha!"
Luckily, he spilled before sand duty.
"Kuhk... May I crawl on all fours to guide you to the filthy black mage's hideout, with permission to ask if that's acceptable?"
After beatings revealed the black mage's identity, location, orders, and other underlings, Suhyun permitted the dog-crawl guide. Tears of joy streamed.
Witnessing magic-like torment, Morian vowed never to defy Suhyun. Even a black mage couldn't torment this viciously.