Chapter 292: Chapter 292 Big Shot (4)

Ravigion, where more than half of the kingdom’s population resided.

Although the upper class lumped everyone who lived here as commoners, there was still a wealth gap in Ravigion.

Explorers, self-employed business owners.

These people lived in the center of the city, near the plaza, where the security was good and the living environment wasn’t bad.

But…

‘She lived in a place like this when she was younger.’

…things were different once you left the main street and entered the back alleys.

Poor security where the guards’ eyes couldn’t reach.

Old and dilapidated buildings, divided into dozens of rooms.

Shared bathrooms and kitchens.

Even the barbarian inn, which cost 500 stones a night, was in the outer district, not here.

“…….”

I entered the alley, following Raven, and the residents looked at me with wary gazes.

It was similar to my experience in Bifron.

They were just wary, no one tried to pick a fight with me.

They actually avoided making eye contact.

‘Geez, have you never seen a barbarian before?’

I realized how harsh Raven’s living environment was, feeling a renewed appreciation for the advantages of being a barbarian.

Because this wasn’t the crowded main street.

They probably knew I was following Raven.

‘But no one is doing anything…’

Right, it’s none of their business?

Well, whatever. I wasn’t planning to keep Raven here for long anyway.

Creak. Thud.

Raven entered a building and closed the door.

I didn’t even realize it was her house at first.

It was just a door on a wall.

‘Should I wait for a bit?’

I leaned against the wall and waited.

Raven’s mother appeared about 20 minutes later.

It wasn’t difficult to recognize her.

Her hair wasn’t as shiny as Raven’s, and she was much taller, but her face was identical.

“Are you Arrua Raven’s mother?”

“Yes… Wh, who are you…?”

She didn’t look young enough for me to call her a former beauty.

She was probably in her late twenties at most?

Then she had Raven at a young age?

I stared at her, feeling a strange sensation, and Raven’s mother asked me with an anxious expression.

“Did she cause trouble again…?”

“Let’s go somewhere else and talk. This place isn’t very… pleasant.”

“…Okay.”

I took her mother to the main street.

And we entered a tea house.

“Don’t worry, I’ll pay.”

“Okay…”

I felt a strong sense of dissonance as we talked.

Her face was identical to Raven’s, but her tone and everything were completely different.

“Order anything you want.”

“…….”

“I’ll order if you don’t.”

It wasn’t difficult to order without her help, thanks to my experience in the ‘friend gathering’. And our order soon arrived.

But neither of us touched it.

Damn it, where do I even begin…?

“Let’s clear up the misunderstanding first. I’m not here to scold Raven for causing trouble.”

“Yes? Then…”

“I’m Raven’s friend.”

“Friend…? Her?”

“Barbarians don’t care about age.”

“I, I see…”

Her mother nodded, although she looked dubious.

I could roughly tell what kind of person she was.

The complete opposite of Raven.

“I saw a bruise on her face when we met earlier.”

“Ah…”

Her mother’s face turned pale, as if realizing why I was there.

But did she feel indignant?

“That’s… none of your business.”

She had been too scared to speak, but now she was drawing a line.

It was true.

It was a crazy world where you were executed if you didn’t pay your taxes.

It wasn’t a big deal for parents to discipline their children. No, it was actually considered strange to criticize them for it.

But…

“None of my business? Don’t use difficult words.”

I was a proud member of the barbarian tribe who didn’t understand such things.

“If my friend was hit, I would take blood revenge.”

Her mother flinched as I said it calmly. Well, she probably had never heard the words ‘blood revenge’ before.

It seemed like she was just working in a kitchen.

“…So what do you want from me? Do you want me to stop hitting her? Is that it?”

“No, let go of me.”

“What do you mean?”

“You know, don’t you? Raven has the potential to become a great mage.”

“…Because she’s his blood.”

Her mother bit her lip.

Her eyes were filled with hatred.

It seemed like she was thinking of her husband who abandoned their family…

But it wasn’t my concern.

“Send her to the Magic Tower.”

“I can’t afford it.”

“I’ll pay for everything.”

“…Why would you do that?”

“I just… feel like it.”

Raven’s mother was silent for a long time at my answer.

And then she muttered something strange.

“She’ll abandon me.”

Huh?

“She’ll look down on me after becoming successful. And then she’ll leave for her own world. Just like he did, because she’s his blood…”

Ah…

“Isn’t this wrong? Why is her life so easy? She’s my daughter, but I’ve never met anyone who helped me like that. But… but why is she…”

Her words were filled with resentment and frustration.

“Come to think of it, I don’t even have any talent. I was slow at learning. But she’s already learning and using magic at that age.”

Her targets were her husband and daughter, but it was ultimately about her life.

I just listened to her.

Trauma from her husband’s infidelity.

Her hatred was complex and deep-seated.

After some time…

“Are you done?”

I asked, and she answered.

“Okay. I’ll send her to the Magic Tower. She’s nothing like me anyway, except for her face. I’ll feel better if she’s gone. Yes. I want to… be happy too.”

“Then it’s settled.”

I got up and paid as soon as the conversation was over. I tried to give her some money, but she refused.

“I don’t need it. The Magic Tower sent someone a few days ago. They said they would support her if I sent her there for a test. I guess she caught their eye since she was using magic at such a young age.”

“…I see.”

“Isn’t it strange? I’ve spent my entire life working for just this one room in this shithole.”

Raven’s mother then staggered towards her house in the back alley, and I watched her leave.

I didn’t feel any pity.

But…

“What was the point of my life?”

…her last words lingered in my mind.

__________________

Time passed quickly after that.

Raven’s mother took her to the Magic Tower as promised, and she was acknowledged for her talent after a few days of testing.

For reference, I was able to hear about the process in detail from Raven, who came to the library every other day…

“You’re saying you joined the Artemion School…?”

“Yeah, that old man likes me. He doesn’t even look down on me for being young.”

So Auril Gabis was right?

I thought the future might change if I sent her to the Magic Tower at such a young age…

‘Come to think of it, I don’t even know when she entered the Magic Tower in my original timeline…’

I thought she would have been at least ten years old.

After all, Raven said she wanted to become an administrative mage when we first met. I thought something must have happened that changed her mind.

“But why that expression?”

“It’s nothing. Anyway, that’s good. You’re in the Magic Tower now.”

“…I’m a bit worried. Can I do it?”

“You’ll become a great mage. I guarantee it.”

“Hehe, really?”

Anyway, our conversation wasn’t just about the Magic Tower, we also talked about her family.

She said her mom had suddenly become nice.

It seemed like her mother didn’t tell her about our meeting.

“Then I’ll be going. Ah, and I can’t come here anymore. I have to live in the Magic Tower from tomorrow.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to come either.”

“Why?”

“Something came up.”

I had to go down to Noark with Amelia tomorrow. And we probably wouldn’t be able to come back until we achieved our goals.

“…I see.”

I gave Raven one last piece of advice before we parted ways.

“Don’t speak informally to people in the Magic Tower. Be careful.”

“Huh?”

“No, to anyone. There’s no need to make enemies.”

“…I’m not scared of anything.”

“Even if you’re not scared, just do it. Not only will you make enemies, but even those who want to be your friends will run away. You’ll be alone if you keep acting like that.”

“Are you… also upset with me?”

Raven asked cautiously, and I hesitated for a moment before answering that I was a bit upset.

Did she sense something?

“Okay. I won’t do it anymore.”

“You won’t?”

“…Yeah.”

Finally, she’s acting like a kid.

“But shouldn’t you be going now?”

“Yeah…”

We finished our last conversation and left the library.

And we parted ways with an open-ended promise.

“See you later!”

Geez, did you sell your honorifics?

I chuckled and answered,

“Yeah, see you later.”

Although she probably wouldn’t even remember me.

____________________

I went to one place after Raven left.

I had finally accepted it.

‘Right, I can’t save Dwarkey…’

The Leathlas Church orphanage.

I stood there for a long time, unable to open the door.

I wanted to go in and talk to Dwarkey one last time, but I didn’t see the point.

After some time…

“Mr. Enche…?”

…someone called me.

“Emiren?”

It was the woman I had met while volunteering.

We had a strange conversation at the after-work party.

“What brings you here?”

“Actually… my son is here.”

…What?

“Things worked out, so I can finally take him home. Thank you so much. If it weren’t for you, I would have kept hesitating.”

My body stiffened as I instinctively sensed the truth.

But I had to confirm.

“Is your… son’s name Liol?”

Liol ‘Wobu’ Dwarkey.

And ‘Wobu’ Emiren.

“Oh, yes.”

Emiren nodded in surprise.

So Dwarkey’s middle name was from his mother’s name.

“Um, but how did you know?”

“He just… looks a bit like you.”

“Huhu, is that so? Well, you did talk to him a lot.”

Emiren smiled at my words.

But could it be that she wanted to go get Dwarkey more than talk to me?

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Ah, right…”

Emiren quickly said goodbye and entered the orphanage. I stood there frozen, like a statue.

Various thoughts swirled in my mind.

After a few minutes…

Thud.

I jumped over the orphanage wall.

Dwarkey was in his usual spot, reading a book under the shade of a tree.

“Oh! Hello.”

Dwarkey greeted me.

“Yeah… It’s been a while.”

“What brings you here?”

“Just… passing by.”

“…?”

Dwarkey tilted his head, but he didn’t seem wary, perhaps because we had spent some time together.

Swoosh.

I looked through the window of the building.

I saw Emiren handing a stack of documents to the staff member at the desk.

It finally sank in.

Dwarkey would be living with his mother now.

And she would tell him stories about the sea.

He would become an administrative mage, but he wouldn’t be able to let go of his dream and would enter the labyrinth.

And…

[Thank you all for being my companions.]

…he would die.

‘Is it… all because of me?’

I felt a deep sense of responsibility.

And at the same time, I felt like a speck of dust in the universe.

A sense of powerlessness washed over me.

And then a rebellious desire arose.

Wasn’t it too late?

If I did something now, could I prevent that future? Yeah, if I kidnapped him now, something would change.

‘Damn it.’

But my body wouldn’t move.

I kept seeing Emiren’s face, who had come to me for courage.

I kept hearing Dwarkey’s voice, reminiscing about his mother.

‘What should I do…?’

Would the future really change if I did that?

What if my actions didn’t affect the outcome, and I just took away his happy time with his mother?

Clench.

My hand clenched into a fist, and a small hand covered mine.

It was Dwarkey’s.

“It’s big… Ah, I’m sorry. For touching you suddenly.”

“…You don’t have to apologize.”

“Do you think I can also be that big someday? Big enough to protect someone precious?”

I answered, trying to endure.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Even though he was skinny and small.

“You’ll become a great person.”

Greater than me.

No, greater than anyone I’ve ever seen.

___________________

I ran away and jumped over the orphanage wall again.

And I watched the orphanage from the alley.

Creak.

The orphanage door opened, and Dwarkey and Emiren came out.

“Why are you my mom?”

“That’s… a long story. Let’s go. You’ll understand when we get home…”

“…….”

They awkwardly held hands and walked away.

And…

“Goodbye, Dwarkey.”

…I just watched them leave.