(16) The human mind is mysterious

Without noticing, the purple sun had vanished from the horizon. However, the plaza did not grow dark even then. 

The street lamp, which was the same as the oil lamp used in the olden day, was lit by someone, while everyone was engrossed in the story. 

The street lamp was a simple oil lamp suspended from the rim of a glass bowl and covered by a ventilated metal cowl. The craftsmanship was not too bad.

Mangrel on the other hand had seen the local soldier walking around, lighting the lamp around the area. He was vigilant of his surroundings, he kept an eye on the area around him, even while hearing the story. 

Almost more than half of the people went forward and placed green and white jades, the currency of this continent, on the cloth the narrator placed before him. Busking or street performances were ordinary no matter where it seemed. 

Receiving money as gratuities, the narrator was happy internally. He might be a cultivator, but he was just a bottom feeder in that society. 

"That was an amazing story right?! Sigh, the earth overlord could even create a mountain to guard against snow avalanches!" Meren spoke with his face red in excitement. He was a true story lover.

"Yeah, it's amazing how strong a cultivator is! It's almost like they could do anything!" Devis appeared to be the same as Meren. 

"And, and the part where he defeated those foul demonic cultivators was amazing too." Javine waved around her hand as if punching someone. 

Everyone joined in the conversation, talking about the story with vigor. They couldn't help but daydream. 

Mangrel secretly shook his head hearing them. In the end, they just believed and heard what they wanted to. Many things were filtered off in their head. 

'Hmph, because of their greed, the cultivator brought a disaster upon the world. But this point is being ignored by almost everyone, really the human mind is mysterious. Well, if it were me, I would have decided to explore with no hesitation too.' 

Mangrel replied Perfunctory to any question directed at him. Not moved by the story, He just maintained a lively expression and joyful tone, not exposing his inner cold and cynical thoughts to anyone. 

The narrator did not stick around for long, once he received the gratuities, in the form of tons of money. 

With the atmosphere calming down slowly, people started leaving the plaza one by one. Many parents were also present, to ensure the safety of their children. 

Mangrel and the others stood a meter away from a lamp. A dull yellow light released by the lamp blanketed the area and the people in it. 

The pedestal in the middle of the plaza entered Mangrel's eyes. The pedestal appeared to be still in the process of construction, it was made to host a statue or something similar. 

Mangrel's eyes glazed with sharpness, identifying the material used in the pedestal.

Heavy earth rock, an earth material. From the one used, it appeared to be rank one. 

No one around the plaza noticed the peculiarity of the pedestal, just thinking of it as a normal thing. 

Mangrel collected his gaze and spoke naturally. 

"Right, Veneir, Why did your brother not come to hear the story? I have not met him for a long time, so I wanted to meet him too." 

Hearing Mangrel's question, gloominess flashed by Veneir's eyes, going unnoticed by everyone, excluding Mangrel. 

"He is not feeling well recently, so he is resting in the house. You can come to meet him if you want to, I am sure he would be happy too!" Veneir replied happily, while worry occasionally gleaming through her face. 

'Is that the reason she appears so pale? She must be giving her share of food to her brother too.' Mangrel had noticed Veneir's abnormal condition at a glance but didn't think deeply about it. 

"Alright, I will be sure to drop by. Tell him to rest properly." Mangrel did not say anything long, wanting to end this topic here. 

"Your brother is sick? Tell him to not move around in the sun anymore."

"I will give some of my food, please give it to him," Devis said with worry all over his face. 

It was normal for beggars and vagrants to get sick frequently, so even the others were not surprised, they only showed their worry verbally. They did not think catching a fever to be a huge thing, preemptively thinking that Veneir's brother will recover soon. 

Mangrel did not have the same mindset. From Veneir's action, it appeared that it was not as simple as it was portrayed.

'I should just watch from the sidelines for now. Getting involved will do me no good.'

Not long after, everyone began moving to their habitat. 

Mangrel walked with Meren, on the sidewalks covered in dim yellow light. He looked at Meren from the corner of his eyes.

Of all the people who were related to the past Mangrel, Meren was the easiest to control. 

"Meren, what do you really think about that story?" Mangrel asked as if interested. 

Meren heard Mangrel, entering a deep state of contemplation. 

"What do you think...?" Meren answered a question with a question. 

Hearing Meren's voice, Mangrel smiled slightly, looking at the purple sky above which was filled with stars. 

"I thought that... If I was a cultivator I could be free from this place." Mangrel spoke with a hearty face and sincere voice.

Meren froze in his tracks hearing Mangrel. He had exactly the same thought too!

Why did he have to live in such a revolting place? 

Why was acquiring even a single meal so hard every day? 

Why did the people out of the alley treat him with disgust? Just why?!

He has never done anything that could warrant such a reaction. It was like this from the day he was born, which means his birth was the problem itself!

Today, hearing the story narrated in the plaza, Meren could not help but think. 

If he became a cultivator, Wouldn't he be treated with respect too? Just like the hero in the story!

This thought rooted into his head, not leaving no matter what he did. 

"I...I actually thought the same thing too..." Meren said with sudden joy in his heart. He did not think Mangrel would have the same thought as him. 

Mangrel hooked his hand over Meren's shoulder, finding kin. 

"Let's become a cultivator together then, I am sure that we will be treated with respect by everyone." Mangrel was all smiles while stating this in a joking manner.

He had long deduced Meren's mindset, using that to his advantage, making him a pawn would be the easiest. 

'Still, just one pawn isn't enough.'