Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 32: A Small Problem

Thinking about the prospect of teaching another person magic was quite interesting to Raze, but as he thought about it more, he realized there were larger problems to consider. While he was the only one who knew his secret, he could control himself. Who knew how others would react if they learned of magic, especially since right now even someone at the top of the initial stage would be able to best him in a fight like Beatrix, and there were plenty above that.

This also brought up the initial trust factor. If Raze suddenly taught her magic, wouldnʼt she ask questions? And if she eventually found out that Raze wasnʼt her real brother, there was a chance of betrayal, something he had already experienced too much in his previous life.

”On top of that, for some reason, the Clan leaderʼs words keep hitting me in the head. I have no idea if this body had betrayed his own family or not? If it is the case, then it would have meant the original owner of this body would have wanted Safa dead as well.”

This was a long shot because he wondered why his body would react a certain way when looking at his sister if that was the case. But there was another possibility.

”Safa survived that day as well. If the Clan leaderʼs suspicion is on point, then there is a good chance that day, everyone was meant to die in the family apart from Safa, and there was a chance that she could be the one that plotted to kill her own family.”

For now, he couldnʼt do anything rash until he solved those problems. Eventually, Sonny and Kron had returned to the room, both of them with half-hearted smiles. They didnʼt know what was the best face to have in this type of situation; not many people did.

”Raze, there is some business I have with the Red Brigade while I am here,” Kron stated. ”Sonny will be staying here with your sister. So I wanted to ask if you wished to come with me or stay here until we head back?”

Standing up from the floor, it looked like Raze had made a decision, but he actually had something else in mind. ”Can I explore the town on my own?” Raze asked.

”But, Raze, we canʼt do that, you know that there are people after you?” Sonny said. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

”I know,” Raze clenched his fist. ”But canʼt I make my own decisions? I mean, you guys are going to let me go after a year anyway, right? If I canʼt protect myself now, then how is it going to be different in a yearʼs time?

”Besides, I want to live and explore my life a bit. Say I turn sixteen, leave the temple, and get stabbed in the back. Or letʼs say I stay at the temple, and something like what happened to Safa happens to me, only that I end up dead.

”So I get to live a few days more but trapped in a temple of all things? Look, I know you guys have done a lot, protecting Safa, but Iʼm my own person; you donʼt need to babysit me.”

Both Kron and Sonny looked at each other; they knew Raze was making sound arguments.

”Youʼre right,” Kron said. ”You can make your own decisions. We can only advise you on your journey. You know, Raze, you sound more and more like a Pagna warrior by the day. We will leave together when the sun starts to set.

”If you travel in the city, stay in crowded places, and try to always be within a hundred meters of a clan member if possible. They will help you out if need be.”

The convincing was a lot easier than Raze thought, and he was thankful for that. Otherwise, for him to progress, he would have had to consider leaving the temple and trying to find a new place of shelter.

After leaving the physicianʼs place, Raze walked around outside for a while. He was passing most of the shops, having a peek here and there, but he was mostly trying to check and see if there was anyone following him.

”It wouldnʼt be much of a surprise for them to have put someone on me,” Raze thought. ”Itʼs a good way for them to catch their target as well if they needed to, but it seemed like the two of them were too busy involved in their own things to do that.” It was good news for Raze.

Heading all over the place, Raze had eventually stopped outside a shop with barrels outside. It was filled with all sorts of different equipment, old machinery, sewing kits, and even had weapons here and there.

People were coming in and out with items and coming out with Coin.

”This is it,” Raze said, his hands on his side. ”A pawn shop. These are the type of places that have connections. Since nowhere is selling Beast crystals, itʼs most likely an item that not everyone can find a buyer for, but a pawn shop has to have contacts with experts from all over the place.

”Not only that, but pawn shop people are complete scum. Theyʼre always trying to undervalue the worth of oneʼs items and might even claim that some items are fake, yet still buy it off you. These are the type of people I need.”

Raze waited until he could see that the shop was empty. Since the town wasnʼt full of people in the first place, the shop would have around one customer or so every hour. Entering through the front door, the shop was even more disorganized on the inside.

There were helmets hung up on the wall with pieces of armor, jewels placed in cabinets and tables on the side. On the other side, was a man who had a pear-shaped body, a small top but a large belly and bottom.

He had his trousers up fairly high just above his belly button and a long winding mustache. He actually stood out quite a bit among the other people who Raze had seen so far.

”I donʼt deal with time wasters here; if you have no money or nothing of value, then shoo!” the man said.

Raze wasnʼt offended, based on his basic temple clothing and his age. Most people would be considered time wasters. With a smile on his face, he glanced back behind him to make sure no one else was inside the shop. Then, pulling out a crystal from his hand, he placed it down on the counter. A clinking noise was made as the crystal hit the glass.

”Hey, if you damage my shop, youʼre paying for it even if I need to use your body!” The man shouted, and his mouth soon opened wide as his eyes sparkled, and his head tilted back.

”Is that a... a power stone?” The man said in amazement.

ʼPower stone?ʼ Raze thought. ʼIn his world, they called them beast crystals, but he supposed it was quite normal for other places to have different names for these things.ʼ

”It is,” Raze confidently answered. ”Iʼm looking to sell this, and believe me, I know its worth, so donʼt try to scam me with this. If you do, my boss will be very upset.”

It would be hard to believe that a non-Pagna warrior and a person so young had gotten their hands on this ʼpower stone.ʼ So Raze had come up with a backstory that would hopefully make sure the man didnʼt try anything.

He had brought out a magnifying glass and was looking at the crystal carefully. ”Are you sure you know its worth, kid?” The man replied. ”If you did, you wouldnʼt have brought it to a place like this, and your ʼbossʼ” The man made bunny ears with his fingers saying this word. ”Wouldnʼt have sent you here of all places.

”In a small town like this, there are only two things you can do. You can have it sent off to an auction, but they will take a percentage of your earnings. Having just one isnʼt worth your time. Or you would have to have a connection with the clans to try and sell something like this.”

Now it made sense why no one was publicly selling power crystals. Sonny had explained how the crystals could be used to make Qi pills, so only the Pagna warriors had a use for them, and it was far too small for a town for the rich merchants to look for power crystals here, especially a clan that didnʼt even own a portal.

”Iʼll tell you what, kid. I know someone who will buy this from you. Let me just give him a call, and heʼll be here in a moment. You donʼt mind waiting, do you?” the man asked.

With no other solution, Raze nodded, and he took the crystal off the counter before the man could take it away. The two looked at each other in the eye for a moment, while the man went out the back.

ʼWait a moment, call? Do they have phones here? This place really is a mix of technology, isnʼt it? I guess it will be a landline-like service, though, rather than a mobile. Probably only a few places have one; not even Kron has one at the temple.ʼ Raze thought.

After waiting a few minutes, the door opened, and a large-headed, bald man had entered. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt that showed the outside of his large muscular arms, and he was around six feet tall.

ʼI donʼt have a good feeling about this,ʼ Raze thought.

As soon as the man had entered, he had closed the door and pushed in a button on the handle. A clicking sound was heard, and a large smile appeared on his face.

”Kid, why donʼt you take this as a free lesson,” the pawn shop owner said. ”I donʼt know where you found that power stone from, but having something so valuable in your hands is just going to make you a target.”

Raze stood there in the center, his fists shaking. ʼI thought something like this could happen. It was a variable you always considered, Raze; just take a deep breath.ʼ

After taking a deep breath, Raze opened his mouth. ”Just let me walk back out that door, with the crystals in my hand, and no one has to get hurt.”

The large man and the shop owner just started to laugh. The large man immediately rushed over and grabbed Raze up by the collar, lifting him up in the air.

”Hand the crystals over now!” he shouted.

His body sunken, not saying a word, Raze lifted his hand and opened his palm, pointing toward the manʼs face.

His lips were quivering, his body shaking, until he finally opened his mouth. ”DONʼT TOUCH ME! DARK PULSE!”

The magic gathered around his hand, and before the man could react, the pulse went out and had gone right through the manʼs head, making a large hole. His body fell over backward, dropping Raze onto the ground.

”What the... you killed him, you killed him, what the!” The owner was looking for a way out of the place; he started to run out the back, but Raze was already on his feet and had his hand pointed at the owner.

”Dark Pulse.”

The attack left his hand and went right through the ownerʼs body and through his heart, dropping him to the floor.

”Ah, crap!” Raze said, scratching his head. ”What do I do now?”