Chapter 303
Chapter 303
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 303
Chapter Title: Wrapping Up (1)
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Emotions, mana, and life force.
According to Merlin, all three originated from the soul.
'Of course, it's not certain. It's just a hypothesis. Training the body can strengthen life force, and there are theories that mana originates from the body, mind, or brain.'
Merlin listed countless possibilities, emphasizing repeatedly that his words were merely one hypothesis.
Even so, Oliver found himself intrigued.
Back when he'd just escaped the mines and was following Joseph, he'd heard something similar from him.
'Anger, sorrow, hatred... Emotions are like a kind of energy born from the soul.'
However, being intrigued and accepting it were two different things.
Oliver posed a question.
He asked what connection there was between emotions and mana combining to amplify power, and the idea that both stemmed from the soul.
Merlin replied.
'If—and purely if—both mana and emotions are rooted in the soul, then combining them isn't just adding forces together.'
In that moment, Oliver grasped what he meant, and Merlin soon confirmed his understanding.
'Combining mana and emotion brings you one step closer to the soul, the source of power. That means not just getting stronger, but elevating your very level.'
Oliver accepted it immediately.
In truth, blending mana and emotion didn't just make the power stronger—it gave it a will, a desire.
Examples abounded.
Greed Flame and Hunger devoured everything greedily, extending their lifespan and bulk.
Fury Thunder and Fury Wind unleashed all their might like venting rage, utterly demolishing foes.
This might be even more fascinating than the raw power boost...
'Come to think of it, Puppet's artificial souls were also a mix of life force, emotion, and mana... I mimicked that too. Wasn't easy.'
Oliver recalled the small amount of artificial soul he'd created to fight Bathory and Duncan, then turned to see the zombie dolls—Black Mage, Sniper, and Duncan—mixed in with the Fighter Crew, cheering wildly.
They were minions made from life force and emotion, referencing Puppet's research, but one step above regular minions: the Childs.
Like Greed Flame, Fury Thunder, Fury Wind, and Hunger, they screamed with will and emotion.
"Kill it! Kiiill it!!"
"Rip its eyes out!!"
"Guard... Raise your guard! Guard!"
First, inside the Black Mage zombie doll, perched on the arena fence cheering; Second, in the Sniper doll, gripping his gun trembling, ready to shoot if needed; Force, in Duncan, arms crossed watching calmly but occasionally shouting advice.
Incidentally, their cheers were for one of the two eat-bag monsters fighting in the arena: Big Mouth.
"The smaller one's your eat-bag, Mr. Dave?"
A man beside Oliver asked. A city official... no, now the Minister of the Interior for the city, Paul Carver.
He'd foreseen and resolved the ABC incident that shook Landa, earning recognition from the councilors and landing the new ministerial post.
It was big news in both the light and shadows.
Everyone speculated on the impact of a capable city official like Carver becoming a key Interior Minister in Landa.
A moment that truly highlighted his reputation.
Yet surprisingly, he'd come to X District in disguise himself to meet Oliver.
"Yes, that's right. The one a head smaller is my eat-bag, Big Mouth."
"It has a name?"
"Yeah, it asked for one."
Oliver answered, recalling when Big Mouth had begged for a name.
"Heh... Fascinating. I've heard black magic items gain stronger egos the better their performance, but asking for a name?"
"Oh, how'd you know?"
"Ah, with the promotion, I've been studying up to match... But giving it a name means you've grown pretty attached, huh."
Oliver pondered.
"Hmm... Probably?"
"But... you okay with this? Looks like it's losing to me."
Carver pointed to the arena.
As he said, Oliver's Big Mouth was struggling against the new eat-bag crafted by Smith, the black magic artisan who'd made Big Mouth.
Whether due to its larger size, the new eat-bag overwhelmed Big Mouth in strength, not just pummeling it one-sidedly but hoisting it for a Military Press Slam.
Gurgle! Gurgle! Slam!!
A horrific crash into the concrete floor, and the eat-bag roared in triumph, flexing its arms.
"Grrrrrr—!! Grruk!!"
The Fighter Crew members who'd come to watch cheered wildly, and the eat-bag basked in it, arms spread wide.
Quite intriguing. He'd thought eat-bags only cared about money...
Maybe ask Ivan or Smith later.
"Kuhahaha!! Get up!!"
"You! If you lose! It's our! Turn!! Kah-! Get up! Please!!"
As Big Mouth staggered away, unable to fight back, the Childs in the zombie dolls screamed cheers.
Pure sincerity. So much so, they'd jump in to help if they could.
He'd noticed it before, but Big Mouth and the Childs really got along well.
The Interior Minister Carver asked.
"Curious, but why bring out the zombie dolls when it's not even combat?"
"Well... Big Mouth asked to bring them along for fights?"
"Ah, I see."
"Yeah, they've been down lately, hard to refuse."
It was true.
Since hearing about expanding Big Mouth's capacity, the Childs complied when pulled out for corpse handling or blood elixir work, but the overall mood was glum.
Even when Oliver made extra food as thanks, they gazed silently, eyes shining with inexplicable betrayal, fear, resentment.
He couldn't fathom why.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"Pardon?"
"No offense to you, Mr. Dave, but I've heard eat-bags or black magic creatures can harm even their owners. Especially stronger ones."
"Yes, that's true."
"So, a huge Big Mouth or Childs controlling zombie dolls—aren't they risky? If they hold grudges, they might turn on the owner."
Carver hit the nail on the head.
Smith had warned repeatedly about the dangers when Oliver commissioned the big eat-bag, and Merlin had mentioned creature risks once.
They could kill their own master.
Oliver thought briefly before answering.
"Probably... it'll be fine."
"Any basis for that?"
"Not really. They've never harmed me so far."
"That's fortunate then. I've heard they won't attack if the master's stronger."
"Yeah, that's what I learned. Though it's a bit disappointing."
"Pardon?"
"It'd be interesting if Childs moved on their own judgment."
A calm but radical statement that froze Carver's expression briefly.
Normally, it'd seem like typical superhuman arrogance or bluff, but from Oliver, it rang utterly sincere.
He'd thought it before—his thought process wasn't normal.
"Ooooh!! Is it over?!"
A sudden cheer drew Carver and Oliver's eyes back to the arena.
There, a battered Big Mouth desperately crawled away, pursued by the eat-bag aiming to finish it.
The eat-bag, victory assured, slashed a thumbs-up across its throat in gesture.
Cornered Big Mouth gurgled "Grr... Grrrh..." on all fours, fleeing to a corner.
"Hmm, looks like I need a new eat-bag. Want to name it?"
"If it asks. But probably not needed."
"Pardon?"
At Carver's question, Second tossed his sawed-off shotgun to Big Mouth.
Oliver was surprised. It was Second's prized gun—even Oliver's request to borrow it got a pouty refusal.
Yet he'd thrown it willingly for Big Mouth.
Spotting it, Big Mouth snatched the gun with surprising agility for its size and aimed at the eat-bag.
"...Grruk?"
Bang!!
"It shot?!"
The familiar boom drew shocked cries from the Fighter Crew, as if foul play.
Undeterred, the Childs cheered wildly, and Big Mouth charged the gut-shot eat-bag, unleashing pent-up frustration.
"Gruk! Gruruk!! Gruk! Grururuk!! Gruk! Gruk!! Gruruk—!!"
No one but Oliver understood Big Mouth's words, but the raging fury and sorrow were clear.
Well, with its master—who it'd been with since the fixer days—demanding a deathmatch, it was natural.
Lacking finesse, Big Mouth vented with crude punches, kicks, and shotgun blasts.
Once sated, per the Childs' cries, it hoisted the foe into its massive maw.
"Grrrrr............"
"It lived! Lived!!"
"Swallow it! Yeah! Swallow!!"
"Good Big Mouth. Nice Big Mouth."
The defeated eat-bag thrashed, but the gunshot hindered resistance, and it ended swallowed whole by the smaller-headed Big Mouth, like a calf in a snake.
Elated by victory, the Childs swarmed Big Mouth.
Second fired everywhere in joy, sending Fighter Crew fleeing in panic.
"Grruk...?"
"Up! Up!"
"Heave! Heave!"
In overwhelming glee, the Childs hoisted and tossed Big Mouth skyward.
As it peaked and fell, Force in Duncan muttered in realization.
"Wait..."
Big Mouth plummeted. The Childs in zombie dolls couldn't support the weight and got crushed beneath.
"Grrruk!"
"Ow! Move!"
"My gun! Ass! Off! Gun! Ass!"
"........."
A heartwarmingly chaotic scene. Oliver smiled contentedly, congratulating Big Mouth.
"Impressive, Big Mouth. I believed in you."
But Big Mouth and the Childs stared wide-eyed at Oliver, radiating disbelief, contempt, scorn.
Carver noticed and half-joked.
"Heh, they might turn on you yet."
"Yeah, looks possible."
Despite the grim jest, Oliver remained serene.
He genuinely wouldn't mind if it happened.
"Anyway, thanks for the show. My turn to repay."
Carver pulled a file from his coat.
"This is...?"
"Latest on Arc Orphanage. Came to deliver it."
Oliver took it, scanning the contents.
Funding status and updates.
"Honestly, not great."
Carver said; Oliver nodded.
Per the docs, prolonged finances might force sending kids to other orphanages, early independence for older ones.
Having lived it, Oliver knew the dangers: bullied/starved/beaten in others, or overworked to death too young.
"Couldn't secure operating funds again?"
"Seems so. God's mercy infinite, but money's finite."
Oliver nodded unwittingly.
"...Faster than expected."
"Don't mind. Just want you indebted—no pressure, but feel it."
"...Joking?"
Carver chuckled.
"Half joke, half serious. Want good ties with you. For the city too."
Like his first proposal, sincere—though calculated, no malice.
A healthy pact for safety and gain.
Minds change, but for now, fine.
"No rush. Think a week—"
"—I accept."
"Pardon?"
"The city's informal alliance."
"...Serious?"
"Yes. You said no burden, so seems good."
"True. Won't awkwardly pressure you."
"Thanks. One request?"
Carver straightened seriously.
"Speak."
"I'll fund it—can the city donate just enough regularly to Arc Orphanage? On my behalf."