Ray is confused with himself, holding onto a fragile foothold and trying to maintain his grip to avoid falling. From below, he hears Anderson's laughter, which makes him sweat from fear. The dark atmosphere of the night adds to the horror, making it feel like a scene from a psychopath movie.
Anderson shouts to Ray from below, "Do you need help? I can assist you if you want, aha-ha-ha-ha-ha," he taunts.
Ray remains silent and chooses not to respond to the mockery. Besides, he doesn't have time for that.
Anderson is clearly belittling and underestimating Ray. Because anyone else, besides Anderson, would think the same way in this situation. All the other criminals whisper among themselves, discussing what Ray is actually doing. They don't understand his actions because they believe what he's doing is useless. Unlike Ray, who doesn't care about anything else and is focused on finding a way out of this situation.
Tch... Isn't there another way? I look like a monkey in this situation.
Come on, anything will do, fireball! Freeze! Wind cutter! Aha-ha-ha-ha-ha, I must look like a madman hoping to use magic.
Unfortunately, Ray can't use magic at all. Besides, he was never explained the concept of magic in this world. Just reciting unclear incantations without complete information about magic is a futile act.
While Ray struggles in the middle of a 20-meter-high palace wall full of cracks, Anderson below is enjoying the spectacle.
Suddenly, Anderson reaches out his right hand towards Ray and utters something under his breath, "level 2 magic... Tenebrae obscurus... Momentary blindness."
Suddenly, Ray's vision goes dark, causing him to panic. He unintentionally covers his face with both hands while falling from the height, unable to see anything. In the midst of his fall, he realizes that he was climbing and wonders why his hands are on his face. It's at that moment that Ray realizes he's falling.
With desperation in his heart, he gives up on everything around him.
Damn it... Just kill me already... I don't care about this life anymore...
When Ray feels hopeless, Anderson catches him with both hands.
"Are you hurt?" Anderson asks gently.
Ray is puzzled by Anderson's attitude towards him. He doesn't understand why Anderson caught him when he was about to fall. And even though he's currently blind, he can still feel the warmth of Anderson's kindness.
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson," Ray says.
What did I just do... Am I thanking him? Me? Thanking him?
"Oh, it's no problem. It's only natural for us humans to help each other. I'm just doing what 'that person' did for me before. Saving..."
"Saving?"
"Yes... I saved you, and you were saved by me."
"I was saved?"
"Yes, that's right, and I am your savior."
"Yes, you're right, you are my savior!"
Ugh, disgusting... Why is my mouth speaking on its own... Ugh... What's wrong with me? I can't control my body anymore. Damn you, Anderson! What have you done to me, you crazy bastard!
Anderson lowers Ray, whom he caught with his hands earlier.
Ray stands directionless because he still can't see anything.
Anderson places his hand on Ray's shoulder and directs Ray's gaze towards him.
Slowly, Ray regains his lost vision and sees Anderson smiling warmly at him.
Ray immediately approaches Anderson and hugs him as if hugging someone he loves.
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson! Thank you, I don't know how my life would be if you hadn't saved me just now!"
Ray sheds tears of genuine happiness.
You damn bastard, why isn't my body responding to what I want? What is this? I can't control myself anymore. Damn you, Anderson! What have you done to me, you fucking bastard!
"You're welcome. It's only right for me to save someone in need."
Oh yeah, by the way, you should do something as a token of gratitude for my kindness, right?"
"That's right, so what should I do?"
Ugh, this stupid mouth, don't listen to him, my foolish self!
I don't know why, but I'm starting to respect him. What a disgusting feeling... It's clear that he's an evil person who wants to kill me, but this sense of respect is deeply rooted in my heart...
Anderson smiles wickedly after hearing those words from Ray, who can no longer control his own body.
"Ahahaha, I knew this would be fun. Hello, you who are inside, you must be disgusted because you can't control your own body, right?"
I knew it was this damn bastard who did it. Let me go, you damn bastard!
But what can I do after I'm free from this situation...
Besides, there's nothing I can do...
"Okay, now you have become a good child, now you answer my question honestly. You ran away after I asked you one thing earlier.
You shouldn't do that, you know. It's called being naughty. After answering this question, you must be punished by death, right, Ray?"
"Why should I be punished by death?"
"It's because you violated the rules I made. I told you to answer my question first, right? Although I might have released you after you answered all my questions."
Anderson smiled and laughed in his heart.
You damn bastard, even if I stay there and answer all your questions, you'll still end up killing me!
This psychopathic bastard has a sweet mouth... Why am I acting like a little child who sees his superhero idol?
Ray answers with a smile of happiness on his face, "Yes, Mr. Anderson, but is death painful?"
"It's a little painful, but bearable. It's also to erase the sins you've committed against me. Do you want your sins to be erased, don't you?"
Anderson smiled and laughed in his heart.
"Yes!" Ray answers with a smile.
Ugh... That's enough, stop this. Hearing myself say all those words makes me sick and disgusted.
Anderson smiles wickedly and enjoys manipulating Ray's mixed-up thoughts.
Ray's mind is divided into two parts. In the deepest part of his heart, he hates everything Anderson is doing. But his mind has been manipulated by Anderson's hidden power, without Ray's knowledge. Ray is unaware that he himself is the one who genuinely respects Anderson. Everything he says and does so far is his own desire. He's just unaware of it and thinks that Anderson has taken over his body.
But in reality, Anderson never took over Ray's body. He only manipulated Ray's mind and made Ray believe that Anderson is actually a good person.
What is happening to Ray right now can easily be done by Anderson. Besides, initially, all of Anderson's accomplices, who now seem like his followers, were in the same situation as Ray.