Sorry, but I cant say.

The demon contract sword would probably activate if he did.

Who did this to you Ray-san?

As far as I know its the demon emperor Elio.

Elio is just a puppet. My guess is its the unidentified mazoku who runs this clinic. Judging from this situation Im pretty certain that hes involved with Avos Dillheavia.

Ray walked over to a chair and carried it back to Misa.

Seeing Misas suspicious face he just smiles thinly and indicates for her to sit down.

Misa calmly takes a seat.

Shame you got involved.

Misa laughs at Rays words.

Youre wrong.

Ray looks at Misa like hes asking what she means.

Its you Ray-san. You got dragged into the battle between the royals and the unification faction. Im the one thats sorry.

Was it an unexpected line? Rays eyes widen.

I didnt think Id be the one apologised to.

Thats because youre softhearted Ray-san.

Im no such thing. Im a liar.

Making a little joke he smiles his usual refreshing smile.

If the two factions werent fighting my mother would have died long ago.

That may be so.

Its thanks to the mazoku thats taken over this clinic that Sheilas condition has gone into remission.

If not for the quarrels between the two factions Avos Dillheavia would have had no use for Rays mother.

..May I ask something?

Unfortunately I cant tell you what you want to know.

No, its about your mother.

My mom?

It seems he wasnt expecting that.

I dont think anything you hear will help you.

Why not tell me then?

Misa laughs and smiles at Ray who smiles wryly like hes defeated.

Youre pretty strange to ask such a thing at a time like this.

Shes not your real mother?

Correct. I was originally born in the Iesta family.

Isnt that a prestigious family of magic users?

Thats right. In the Iesta family, they hand secret magics down from generation to generation. Children born in the Iesta family can use magic right away but for some reason, I couldnt inherit their magic.

Its a kind of origin magic to pass magic on to your children. It works by the parents sharing part of their origin with their child but there are rare occasions where it doesnt work. The usual reason is that the childs origin is being influenced by a stronger magic already in their origin.

An example would be someone under the influence of Reincarnation <Silica>.

I who spoiled a magic that had been passed down from generation to generation was branded a failure and cast out.

When were you cast out?

I was about 5 years old or so. Honestly, I didnt know what to do. In my home town, the Iesta family held total power so no one would help me. The family expected me to die. I wondered the town with nothing to eat and after a few days, I collapsed and couldnt move. At that time a single person reached out their hand.

Ray-sans mother?

Ray nodded.

She took me home and prepared a warm meal and a bed and just let me stay there. But with that, my mother bought the anger of the Iesta family upon herself. They threatened to fire her if she fed me again. My mother never kicked me out and eventually, we moved to a city where the Iesta family couldnt reach us.

Your mother is a kind person Ray-san.

When Misa said that Ray smiled happily.

When I got older I asked her why she helped me.

What did she say?

My mother was abandoned by her father as well. He was part of the royal faction and my mother is a half spirit. I think you can guess why she was abandoned.

Misa nodded with a sad face.

If it became known that someone from the royal faction had a child of mixed blood they would be finished. Thats why they abandon their own children to save their own necks.

She said thats why she would never let go of someone who was abandoned.

Misa gently nods.

My mother raised me like I was her own flesh and blood but her body is weak by nature. Without knowing the cause her magical power is steadily decreasing and her origin is becoming thin. She finally developed spirit disease and hasnt woken up for over a year now.

If magic power is steadily decreasing then usually theres an abnormality in the origin thats making the magic unstable but in Sheilas case, her origin is normal.

I visited a number of clinics and finally arrived here.

He must have thought if they could maintain this state of remission then he could strike a deal.

When me and Misha met him that time I wonder if that was when the deal was made?

..Unforgivable Misa mutters. Her resentment can plainly be seen.

.Taking your mother as a hostage, threatening you, to force others against their will.I will absolutely never forgive them!

Ray smiles a troubled smile and says

Thank you for being angry for me.

Ray turns around and heads out of the door.

Sorry. he said over his shoulder and left the room.

Authors note: Arnos is always eavesdropping.