Chapter 73: Redemption in Flames

The flames lighting up the night sky reminded Felix of the war he had experienced in the Ark during his previous life.

In the later stages of the game, players had begun developing their own "cities." Several well-known guilds collaborated to construct settlements—even without mobile cores—inviting both NPCs and other players to reside there. These player-run cities had their own laws, levied taxes, and even operated personal banks. Anyone who wished to move had to withdraw funds from the local bank and painstakingly transport them to a different settlement.

Felix had visited these major player-built cities—some accommodating over a thousand residents—many times. On more than one occasion, he had witnessed hostile players launch raids, setting cities ablaze. The scenes back then looked all too similar to what now lay before his eyes.

Half the district was engulfed in fire beneath the shroud of night.

And there were screams.

Tara Street was already consumed by flames. Wooden houses lining both sides crackled under the intense heat, scorched debris collapsing to the ground in waves.

Felix wasn't the only one at the intersection. Several nearby Victorians had gathered as well.

Humanity revered fire—for it had once saved them, allowing them to cook food and survive. But they feared it just as much, because fire could consume everything. The current inferno was not a source of warmth—it was pure destruction.

Several Victorian officers were shouting orders, trying to maintain order and urging citizens to retreat, keeping them away from the burning street.

"Something's not right," Degenbrecher said, standing beside Felix. "On the way here, I didn't see a single attempt to extinguish the fire."

"...I noticed," Felix replied quietly.

"What do you plan to do, Boss?"

"Find a section where the fire isn't too strong—we're going in to look for survivors."

Felix tapped a few buttons on the arm-mounted console of his gear. A dozen drones lifted into the sky. Fortunately, he hadn't removed their water-spraying functions during his last modifications.

At the same time, he shook the water bottle strapped to his waist and popped the lid open.

"Muelsyse? Are you there, Muelsyse?"

In response to his voice, the clear water inside began to shift and swirl. Moments later, a tiny version of Muelsyse emerged from within, stretching and yawning.

"What is it now, Felix?" she grumbled. "I just finished writing a report—wuwuwu, Kristen is so mean to me... Why doesn't this poor elf get a helper too...?"

"We'll talk about Kristen later," Felix interrupted gently. "Look at this first."

The miniature Muelsyse floated up, turned, and finally saw the glowing inferno rising into the sky.

"Can you do anything about the fire?" Felix asked.

She didn't take long to answer, but her expression turned grim. "It's too big. I also sense traces of Originium arts… This may not be an ordinary accident."

Felix and Degenbrecher exchanged a look, their expressions tightening.

"Can you at least help us clear a path?" Felix asked.

Muelsyse nodded solemnly. "I can."

The two didn't linger at the entrance for long. Instead, they slipped through a side alley, approaching the blaze from a narrower path. Muelsyse returned to her adult form and ran alongside them, her expression somber.

Overhead, the ranger drones began to release a fine mist into the air.

With a wave of her hand, Muelsyse gathered the scattered mist into a focused stream. The droplets condensed into a pressurized water column, sweeping through the alley and clearing a temporary path through the heat.

Degenbrecher sighed. In a situation like this, her martial skills were useless. If only Green Flow Knight were here, she thought bitterly.

Muelsyse's face was tight with concentration. At some point, a staff made of water had formed in her hand. Liquid flowed along its length, alive and writhing. With a flick, it surged forward, engulfing the flames in front of them.

"Luckily, these are just residual flames. The source of the fire—the place where it was cast—is deeper in the center of the street… I can't reach it in my current state," she said regretfully, a trace of guilt in her voice.

Felix took her hand briefly and gave it a light squeeze.

"We just need to do what we can."

Charred bodies began to appear along the street. Their forms were twisted, scorched to the point of resembling burnt logs. Their mouths were agape in silent agony. Many had likely rushed out in a panic, hoping to douse the flames or flee, only to find themselves trapped in even fiercer fire outside.

Degenbrecher remained silent. Muelsyse could hardly bear to look.

There were too many people in need of rescue—too many to save in such a short time. Gritting his teeth, Felix increased the ranger drones' output, commanding them to release more water mist. He urged Muelsyse to harness and direct every drop. But against the wall of flames before them, even that felt desperately insufficient.

Given a choice between saving one person or saving many, people would naturally choose the latter. But here and now—even saving one had become agonizingly difficult.

They reached No. 5 Oak Avenue.

Felix remembered—this was Mandragora's residence.

The rangers directed their water mist toward the building as Muelsyse focused a column on the first floor, pushing back the blaze enough to allow them to approach.

Two families lived on the first floor. One door stood ajar, and two Taran lay sprawled across the floor inside—barely conscious, their bodies limp from smoke inhalation. They were barely breathing.

The other door remained shut. Without hesitation, Felix raised his foot and kicked. The mechanical enhancement in his body gave him enough strength to punch a hole straight through the doorframe.

Degenbrecher stepped forward, drew her sword, and slashed downward—splitting the door in two.

Inside, a man lay collapsed in the living room, and a woman lay motionless in the corridor. Their faces were blackened with soot, their condition uncertain—perhaps still alive, perhaps not.

From the bedroom came the sound of frantic, desperate crying.

Debris blocked the way forward. The ceiling above had collapsed—the second floor had burned through and fallen directly onto the living room below, burying everything.

Muelsyse began suppressing the flames with precise bursts of water, while Degenbrecher unsheathed her blade and moved in to clear the rubble.

Felix rushed forward, shouting as loudly as he could:

"Mandragora! Mandragora! I'm Pioneer—!"

---

Few minutes earlier.

Mandragora stirred in her sleep, roused by a pungent smell. She awoke with a series of sneezes and coughs. The once-dark room was now bathed in a red glow from the fire outside the window. The entire building groaned and creaked ominously, while screams echoed from every corner.

"Dad! Mom!"

"Are you okay?"

Her father opened the bedroom door, visibly relieved to see that her room had not yet been touched by the flames.

"It's on fire. We're going to check the front door. Be good and don't run around, okay?"

Her mother, still in her pajamas, knelt down and gave the frightened Mandragora a warm hug. She gently stroked her daughter's short black hair and whispered soothingly, "It's okay, it's okay. We'll definitely escape."

"The front door is burning," her father called out, his voice tinged with fear. He wiped the sweat from his face anxiously. "What about the back door? There's a sewer there—we might be able to hide."

Flames crawled across the living room ceiling, the wood groaning and collapsing in chunks. Her father's face went pale. In the next instant, he shoved Mandragora's mother out of the way, only to be struck by a falling beam. He crashed to the floor, his clothes catching fire instantly.

Her mother wailed. Even though she often cried in private, she always greeted Mandragora with a smile—no matter how hard life was, as long as they had each other, she made it seem bearable. She never let Mandragora see her sorrow.

But now, she cried with a grief so raw it tore the air.

"Mother…"

Tears welled in Mandragora's eyes as she clung tightly to her mother's legs, sobbing.

The ceiling above the corridor began to collapse as well, like the sky itself was crashing down upon them. Her mother wiped her tears away, knelt before Mandragora, and said between sobs, "Escape through the bedroom window. You're small—you can squeeze through. Then head toward the water."

"I hope you meet the right person someday... and find your own little happiness."

Her mother's voice trembled. "Forget Tara—"

A loud crash from above cut her off. She didn't finish the sentence. Instead, she looked deeply at her daughter, her eyes full of love. She kissed Mandragora gently on her soot-covered forehead, then pushed her into the bedroom and closed the door behind her with finality.

"Mom! Mom!"

Mandragora heard the crash behind the door. She pounded and pushed with all her strength, but it wouldn't open.

She gritted her teeth as tears streamed down her face. She didn't want to cry—but the pain was too much. The tears spilled out like broken pearls.

That morning, she had smiled as she said goodbye to her father. They'd even had a rare dinner with delicious meat. It had been such an ordinary day—so why?

Why had it all been torn away?

Mandragora choked on her sobs. She had never asked for much—only to live happily with her family. That was all. So why? Why did they have to take away the only treasure she had?

She coughed from the thickening smoke. Wiping her tears, she looked toward the window. The opening was narrow—but just big enough for her to squeeze through.

But even if she escaped... how was she supposed to live?

Who could she rely on in this land?

Who would save someone like her—someone completely worthless?

"—Mandragora! Mandragora! I'm Pioneer—can you hear me?"

Mandragora quickly wiped away her tears, but she couldn't stop crying again. Choking back sobs, the little girl shouted, "I'm here, Pioneer Brother! I'm in the bedroom!"

The loud shouting made it hard for her to breathe. She collapsed to the floor, coughing and crying as she looked toward the door.

"Get down low! Don't breathe in the smoke! Stay near the bed—we're clearing the debris. Don't block the door."

"I understand, Pioneer Brother."

Mandragora tried to steady her breathing, though her chest felt tight and her head throbbed. Still, she stared at the door, as if the person behind it was a hero who had come to save her.

After a few tense breaths, a flash of sword light split the door in two. Mandragora slipped into a daze. Tear stains marked her cheeks, but the corners of her mouth lifted slightly. She saw the golden dawn she had always dreamed of.

Ah… Pioneer Brother. The look in his eyes when he rescued her—so eager, so filled with joy. It was as though he wasn't saving her, but being saved himself. As though saving her was his greatest happiness.

That expression was so full of warmth it made Mandragora smile. Really... could saving someone like her make him that happy?

She no longer felt afraid of the future. In the next moment, she was wrapped in a warm embrace, and Mandragora closed her eyes with relief.

"She must have temporarily passed out," Degenbrecher said as she checked Mandragora's condition. Drawing her sword again, she carved an opening in the bedroom wall. Felix and Muelsyse quickly moved in.

After only a short distance, they reached the underground sewer. The fire hadn't spread here, and they let out a collective breath of relief.

"Check everyone for injuries," Felix said.

Degenbrecher shook her head. Though she had been close to the flames and felt some discomfort, a teammate skilled in Originium Arts—specifically water—had protected her. She hadn't been hit or burned.

Felix's injuries were also minor—just some reduced durability in his mechanical power legs. With a little maintenance, they'd be as good as new.

Muelsyse, being composed of water, was entirely unharmed.

Felix carried Mandragora in his arms like a princess. Looking at Degenbrecher and Muelsyse, he asked, "She'll be alright, won't she?"

Muelsyse stepped forward to examine her. "She's inhaled smoke and has a fever… She needs medicine as soon as possible."

"Alright. Let's head back."

Felix glanced back at the burning streets of Tara. In the distance, the flames still roared, and if he listened closely, he could almost hear the cries and screams coming from within.

He turned away reluctantly and muttered, "We can't save everyone."

"Damn Officers of Victoria," Degenbrecher spat bitterly.

Even now, no fire brigade had arrived. She knew exactly what Officers of Victoria was up to. Their methods were no different from those of the corrupt Chamber of Commerce.

Barbarism had simply disguised itself with the cloak of civilization. And now, the coat had been unzipped, hung neatly on a hanger—revealing bared fangs once more.

Felix had some medicine in his bag—thankfully, since no pharmacy would be open at this hour.

When they returned to the hotel, they found the lobby filled with alarmed guests. Most were tourists, huddled in panic, discussing what to do. None of them noticed Felix and the others as they passed through.

Back in the room, Felix gently laid Mandragora on the bed. Muelsyse performed a quick examination. Though she was a graduate from the Department of Ecology, she now stepped into the role of a doctor.

Meanwhile, Degenbrecher went next door and found the frightened Senomi. She wrapped her in a comforting hug.

---

"How is she?"

"Her fever is still high—it needs to be brought down. For the sake of her long-term health, she should take an antipyretic."

Felix retrieved the medicine from his bag and tried to give it to Mandragora, but the girl gritted her teeth tightly and refused to open her mouth.

Muelsyse used the Originium Arts to manipulate water, gently prying her mouth open and helping the pill go down. Then, she conjured an ice pack from water energy and floated it onto Mandragora's forehead.

Only after finishing everything did she finally let out a sigh of relief. Felix collapsed silently onto the sofa, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. The events of the night had left both of them with an indescribable fatigue.

Not long after, Degenbrecher entered Felix's bedroom with Senomi. Felix raised his eyebrows slightly. Senomi twisted her fingers nervously and whispered, "I was scared... When I saw the fire, all of you were gone..."

Felix didn't say much. He simply reached out his hand, and Senomi instinctively moved closer, allowing him to gently pat her head.

Then, her gaze fell upon the girl lying on the bed, and she exclaimed, "It's Mandragora."

"Master... what happened to Mandragora?"

"She just needs rest."

Felix sighed softly. "Everything will return to normal tomorrow... Senomi, from now on, Mandragora will be your sister. So you must take care of her."

"Master... I understand."

'I suppose... Mandragora's parents would have wanted her to be happy too.'

Those golden eyes looked out at the fire still burning in the distance—its reflection flickering and slowly igniting something deep within.