-- Leon! Leon! --

A voice echoed in my head.

I slowly opened my eyes. Kayin was kneeling beside me, shaking my shoulder. I was lying on the ground near the lake.

So that glowing liquid really was a drug…

I groaned and sat up, shaking off the dust from my clothes.

- What are you doing here, Kayin? - I asked.

-- I decided to start looking for my mom. But when I passed by, I saw you lying here. What happened to you? --

- Nothing. Just roaming around. Are you sure your mom is here? This village is 40 minutes away from ours. -

-- Since my dad died, she used to come here at night and return in the morning. But two days ago, she didn't come back. That's why I came to this village to look for her. --

I glanced at the two glowing bottles on the ground, picked them up, and stored them in my system inventory. I should get rid of these later.

- Let's head back to Arci's place for now. We'll look for her tomorrow. -

-- No. I'm searching for her now. --

I sighed. - Fine. Let me help. -

I expanded my detection magic to cover a 2,000-meter radius. This would drain a lot of mana, but it would ensure I detected anything unusual in the area.

Nothing out of the ordinary except the mage from earlier he's with the man named Archie.

I can sense Them. Once I see a person, I can identify them using my detection magic, i have this unique skill to identify their mana.

I glanced around and spotted the three stone figures from earlier, the dagger-wielding men I had trapped.

I should dispel the earth binding. I hope they're still alive.

I lifted my hand, and the stone crumbled away, revealing the three men.

The moment they saw me, they turned and ran.

Kayin's eyes widened. -- I know those guys… They came to my house before. They were looking for my mom. --

- Come on, let's follow them. -

Kayin and I took off after the men, but they moved quickly, they leaped across tree branches like Ninjas . Within seconds, we lost sight of them.

Of course, that doesn't matter.

I activated detection magic and quickly pinpointed their location. As expected, the three of them had regrouped with the mage and Archie.

- Kayin, come closer. -

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I extended a thin-layered barrier around him, then did the same for myself.

Next, I manipulated the barriers to make us float into the air. This way, we could fly straight to their hideout instead of wasting time running.

There's just one problem.

Now that I was airborne, my detection magic was useless. It relied on earth vibrations to track movement and mana of all things in the surroundings. I could switch to wind-based detection, but that would drain too much mana.

No matter. I had already memorized their hideout's location. Once we landed, I'd reactivate my detection magic.

I glanced at Kayin. Unlike Stink, he looked surprisingly calm.

- Kayin, we're heading to their hideout now. -

No response.

- Kayin!? -

I turned to check on him, he was completely unconscious.

- Sigh… -

I cast water magic and splashed his face.

He waked up, coughing.

- You good now? -

Kayin looked down. His eyes widened in horror.

Then he screamed.

- Hey, chill! You're not falling. We're flying. - I reassured him.

He looked around, still breathing hard, but slowly regained his composure.

-- So you can even fly… Magic is awesome. --

- Yeah, it is. -

With that, we immediately flew near their hideout.

As we approached their hideout, I noticed several small bodies of water filled with the same glowing slimes. Not only were there multiple ponds, but even small puddles contained them.

I suspect these slimes are the main ingredients for the drugs. Is this even legal?

After several minutes of flying, we decided to land near one of the ponds that also had the glowing slimes.

I quickly cast my Detection Magic and sensed their hideout inside a nearby cave.

Kayin, do you have a picture of your mother? - I asked.

-- Picture? What is that? -- He replied, confused.

Oh right, they don’t have photographs in this world. I should introduce the concept—I might get rich.

We walked slowly toward the cave and sneaked inside.

I could sense a lot of people inside. This might be a large drug organization. We hid behind crates filled with glowing bottles, concealing ourselves.

Using Detection Magic, we avoided the people nearby and continued exploring the cave. The cave was unusually bright, filled with glowing crystals that emitted light as strong as LEDs.

There were guards roaming and patrolling the area, but luckily, they didn’t notice us when we entered.

I spotted a large opening leading to the next part of the cave, so we decided to move deeper. This area had fewer guards, but there were four doors in the wall. Outside the doors were barrels filled with colorless, dead slimes. People were going in and out, carrying barrels of live slimes. This must be where they extract the liquid from the slimes essentially, a drug factory.

Kayin, stay close to me. If these people find us, there’s going to be a big commotion. - I warned.

Kayin!? - I looked behind me and realized Kayin was missing. Then, I heard a sudden scream. - Sigh -

I rushed toward the scream, which came from a large open area inside the cave. Kayin was being held by two men. The area was filled with people lying on the floor, dancing, singing, rolling around, and talking to the air—clearly under the influence of drugs.

-- MOM!!! -- Kayin shouted.

I looked and saw his mother, also drugged, staring into nothingness and talking to the air.

The two men dragged Kayin to the ground.

-- Don’t resist, boy! You’re not allowed here. Get the hell out, and stop crying! -- One of the men barked.

-- What’s this commotion? -- A fat man entered the scene.

The two men dragging Kayin immediately bowed.

-- Big Boss, this kid snuck in. I think his mother is one of the addicts. -- One of the men explained.

-- Let the kid go. He can’t do anything anyway. -- The Big Boss said.

The men released Kayin, but suddenly, Kayin pulled out a small dagger and attacked the Big Boss. - What did you do to my mother!! - He scratched the Big Boss’s face with the dagger.

-- You’re a dumb kid. I let you go, and this is how you repay me? -- The Big Boss said, then slapped Kayin.

I have to admit, that was a dumb move.

-- Kill that kid. Grind his body and feed it to the slimes in the pond. And tell the gatherers to harvest the slimes it’s almost morning. If those slimes are hit by sunlight, it’s over. -- The Boss commanded as he walked away.

-- Yes, BOSS! -- The two men replied, then tied up Kayin.

Kayin kept screaming, -- MOM!!! --

His mother didn’t notice him or care. She was deep in psychosis. At least she’s alive thought she was among the villagers who had died.

I needed to help Kayin first, then cast a barrier around his mother so I could carry them both out of here.

I launched myself at the two men, using my body covered in a barrier to tackle one of them. I immediately cast Wind Magic to push the other away and then cast a barrier around Kayin.

Suddenly, a group of five men walked by and noticed what was happening.

-- AN INTRUDER!!! -- One of them shouted.

I sensed people rushing toward our location.

- Kayin, go get your mom. I’ll knock these guys out so we can leave. -

-- Oh, look who's here again the child. -- Archie said. -- Beware of that child; he’s a mage. --

The fat man entered the scene again. -- What the hell is this!? You all gathered here just for two children? --

-- BOSS, that’s the child who killed the slimes in the lake. He’s the one I told you about earlier. -- Archie explained.

-- So, this is the mage you mentioned. -- The Boss replied. -- What’s your name, young mage? My men here speak highly of you and your power. How about working for me, huh? I’ll pay you double... no, triple what I pay them. -- The Boss offered.

-- Triple, BOSS? He’s just a child! -- Archie interjected.

-- Shut up, Archie. You’re a grown man, and you couldn’t even defeat this child. You’re in no position to tell me how much I should pay him. Not to mention, you still owe me big for failing to protect the area I assigned you. -- The Boss snapped. -- So, what do you say, my child? Care to join this old man in his small business? --

You mean join your drug empire? No, thanks. -

-- Fine. I don’t need that child anymore. Everyone, kill both of them and include all the addicts here. They’re useless anyway; they have no money left. Kill them, grind their meat, and feed them to the next batch of slimes. I’m going home now. Archie, you’re in charge here. If you handle this properly, I’ll triple your salary. -- The Boss said as he walked toward the exit.

-- YES, BIG BOSS!! -- Archie shouted, then turned to me with a smirk. -- Maybe you defeated five of us before, but what can you do against fifty of us? --