Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 40

#040. Old stories and links (2)

rainbow.

The three letters that could be said to be the boy’s current purpose itself awakened all the nerves in his body just by pronouncing them and ringing in his ears.

“Mercred owns part of the rainbow?”

“Yeah. That might be a story that interests you.”

“But isn’t a rainbow just a band that appears in the sky?”

I have never actually seen a rainbow.

But through various related stories, I have come to feel similar feelings to natural phenomena such as clouds, rain, and snow.

‘Natural phenomena are beyond human control.’

It was hard to picture in my head that humans could possess such a natural phenomenon.

“Of course, the seven-colored bands in the sky are the most popular hypothesis about the rainbow. But just because one hypothesis gains ground, it doesn’t mean all the others are completely meaningless. There are other theories that are just as attractive and plausible as the seven-colored bands.”

The old man used his telekinesis to make the ring float before his eyes.

The ring, which had begun to rotate slowly, shone dazzlingly under the sunlight streaming in from outside the window.

The old man said, staring at the red gem on the ring.

“One of them is the hypothesis that rainbows are jewels.”

“Is it a jewel?”

“Yes. A single jewel that breathes great life into the world.”

A very faded and old story began to flow out from between parched lips.

“It is said that long ago, the landscape of the world was very different from what it is now. The sky was always blue and the land was bountiful.”

The reason was clear.

This was because at the center of the first city built by humans, there was a jewel that emitted colorful and splendid light like a prism.

The light of the rainbow made the land fertile and healed the sick.

People’s bodies were filled with abundant strength, and there was no need to starve or fight, so it was truly a paradise.

The boy asked a question.

“What is paradise?”

“It may sound unfamiliar. Well, it’s not a word that’s used very often. Paradise means a world where everyone lives a rich and happy life.”

After hearing the explanation, the boy had a big question.

‘A world where everyone is happy?’

That was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life.

Even if ten grandmothers Viola worked together to create a story, it wouldn’t be as absurd as the meaning of the word paradise.

I didn’t have the ability to define exactly what happiness was.

But there was one thing I knew for sure.

That is because happiness is an emotion that is very difficult to feel compared to other emotions.

‘Also, I’m not sure, but it seemed like it was possible to steal it.’

One day, I witnessed a man being robbed while returning home after receiving his paycheck.

The emotion that was supposed to be happiness was filling up the man’s vessel as much as it was leaning in the robber’s vessel.

Then the boy thought.

Isn’t it true that the total amount of happiness spread in the world is fixed, and people live by taking and being taken from it?

‘Not everyone can be happy.’

The boy couldn’t admit it.

The definition of happiness given by the elderly.

I was tempted to argue back for a moment, but the old man’s subsequent words soon made me realize that I didn’t need to.

“But happiness did not last forever. Several forces emerged to monopolize the rainbow, and during a long war, the rainbow was split into seven fragments and scattered across the world.”

Since then, the world’s abundance has rapidly declined.

Cloudy air and overcast skies.

A barren land where nothing grows no matter what you plant.

As time passed, the world became what it is today, and the jewel’s whereabouts became unclear.

“But you shouldn’t believe it so blindly. It’s just a story that has been passed down.”

“Still, it’s a story that has some credibility, right? Among the hypotheses about rainbows.”

The old man smiled brightly.

“How about a story about a city-sized turtle that lives under the Elton River and spits seven-colored streams of water from its mouth?”

“… … .”

“Or maybe you’re flying through the sky, with seven lights in your wings….”

“No. I think you can stop there.”

I didn’t have enough life experience to be able to easily make judgments about things I didn’t know much about.

But for some reason, it felt like such creatures shouldn’t exist in the world.

The old man chuckled at the boy’s serious expression and said.

“Okay. Back to the original story, what do you think I’ll say next?”

“Does Murkred have one of those rainbow pieces?”

“Yes, that’s right. The red jewels that regular members of the organization carry around are just small crumbs of that piece.”

Murkred and the Rainbow Fragments.

Although nothing has actually been proven, the old man believed there was an undeniable link between the two factors.

“When I was studying rainbows, I once paid money to obtain a red jewel that was said to have been used by a member of Murkred’s organization.”

The old man of the past immediately noticed that it was not a ready-made product.

Because it was something I had never seen before in any other sector.

“The charging stone is only used as a support. Not only is the amount of mana it can hold limited, but the quality of the mana is also low. It is not often used unless you need to squeeze out all the mana.”

But the red gem was different.

It boasted an excellent quality that was almost excessive for a charging stone.

“It’s still nothing compared to the mana of the ring, but I thought it would be a big help. When I thought about how they could continuously supply these items to the members of the organization, a theory about rainbows came to mind.”

The theory is that the rainbow is a jewel that emits mana along with infinite light, and that it is currently divided into seven fragments and scattered somewhere.

“If you think about it that way, the method of supplying red jewels makes sense to some extent. When I looked into it, there were quite a few people who thought the same way as me.”

But there was one condition.

Or the red piece of the rainbow is so large that even if part of it breaks off, it wouldn’t be noticeable.

Or, it can be infinitely proliferated by having the detached parts be restored.

Only in this way could we continuously supply charging stones to the members of the organization.

“It was a convincing hypothesis, but I didn’t delve deeper into it. Murkred was a notorious organization even back then, and I wasn’t the type to take risks when I was young.”

I heard an unexpected story at a completely unexpected time.

But Ray wasn’t surprised, and reflected on the information given to him to assess his current situation.

The man in the basement.

It is not known whether he was actually a member of the executive branch, but it is almost certain that he was affiliated with Murcred.

‘And the story that rainbows are jewels is just a hypothesis.’

It was thought to be worth investigating.

Ray added the keyword “Mercred” to the items he was going to investigate in the future.

“You look like you’re already planning something.”

Ray raised his head at the sound of the old man’s voice.

“It looks like you’re about to jump into something very dangerous. I don’t think it’ll be of much use trying to stop you. Don’t you think so?”

The old man smiled bitterly at Ray’s quiet nod.

Although they had only known each other for a short time, the old man had already come to know a lot about the boy.

Words and actions that do not go around in circles.

Sharp eyes and a brain that doesn’t match her age.

‘And as much as his talent for magic is solid, his self-confidence is also solid.’

I am not the type of person to be swayed or greatly influenced by what other people say.

No amount of advice will stop the boy from doing what he wants.

‘It would be greedy to try to stop it.’

As the boy took more risks, the chances of his magic being lost to the world also increased.

A cautious and thorough boy would have to figure it out on his own, but even taking that into account, the world was a place seething with all kinds of malice and hostility.

‘What a pity.’

Anyway, there was nothing else he could do as he was about to die without being able to get out of bed.

All I can do is teach them magic to protect themselves and satisfy their curiosity about the world.

The old man took the ring back and gave it back to Ray, saying:

“Yes. I will respect your wishes. I think I have told you everything I know about Murkred. Is there anything else you are curious about?”

Ray looked at the ring he had received for a moment, then looked back at the old man and asked.

“The strengthening and exploitation magic on the ring. Can they be removed?”

*

Squeak──

Veronica opened the door, appeared, walked calmly over, and sat down next to Ray.

“We have a new student today. I guess I’ll have to go over some basic explanations again. Veronica, is that okay?”

“I’m fine.”

The old man nodded and continued his story while looking at Ray.

“All magic starts with forming a circle. You can use magic with mana that exists in the air or is stored in a charging stone, but there is a risk of mana poisoning in doing so.”

A ring around the heart.

A type of container that stores mana.

That was the definition of a circle.

“The mana in the air is purified as it flows into the circle. The types of elements contained at this time vary depending on the individual’s characteristics. In other words, there are limits to the types of magic that each person can use.”

For example, the three rings that the old man has are mostly occupied by the elements of maintenance, blocking, union, and earth.

It’s not that there weren’t other types of elements, but their proportions were very small.

Because of this, to Ray’s eyes, almost the entire ring appeared to be tinged with gray-white and brown mana.

‘The basement man’s mana was mostly red and yellow.’

The man created fire and made his limbs hard as metal.

In the end, the story was that the fighting style that each wizard could use as their main skill would differ depending on the amount of mana stored in the ring.

Ray thought.

I want my ring to contain mana of a color that will be most helpful in combat.

“The method of making a circle is simple. Veronica, can you explain it to me?”

“Yes. First, gather mana in your hand. A familiar type that you can handle as well as possible.”

Woof─

Veronica drew out a blue glow of mana from the air and placed it on her hand.

“Next, send the collected mana down along your arms to your chest area.”

A small ball of mana the size of a marble slid down the girl’s arm and landed on her chest.

“And then circle it around your heart.”

The blue orb began to slowly circle around the girl’s heart.

Like a satellite orbiting a planet.

“Increase speed without stopping.”

As the orbital speed increased, a blue trail began to form around the heart, which at one point appeared to resemble a ring.

Sweat began to form on Veronica’s forehead.

While everyone held their breath.

The moment when the speed of the marbles reached its limit.

“ah.”

Veronica lost control of her mana and the orb disintegrated into smoke and disappeared.

Veronica, who had been speechless for a moment with a blank expression, moved her lips a few times and spoke in a voice that seemed as if everything was fine as possible.

“If you do this, you have failed to create a circle. You should not have lost mana until the end.”

Because the mental power was so exhausted, the feeling of fatigue that was lingering could not be hidden.

“Don’t be too discouraged. You’re definitely getting better every day. If you keep this momentum, success won’t be far away.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Veronica also felt that success was really coming closer.

But I was anxious.

It was because of the anxiety that his grandfather might pass away before he could create the circle.

‘I really want to show you how to use magic by completing the circle.’

Grandpa Graham was a benefactor.

A benefactor who saved her and her siblings from an orphanage with no future.

Contrary to rumors, there was no abuse or human trafficking.

Rather, in addition to providing me with sincere care, he taught me many things necessary for living in the world.

It was natural that Veronica and her two younger siblings would follow Graham as if he were their own grandfather.

“How about it? Can you give it a try?”

“yes.”

Ray answered as if he had been waiting for the old man’s words, then closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated.

It felt like every nerve cell in my body was awakened, and I could feel the delicate sensation of mana touching my skin.

And when I focused my attention on my pupils and raised my eyelids again.

“… … .”

Before the boy’s eyes spread out a sea of mana, rippling with countless colors.

A world that no one can glimpse.

It was a world of another dimension that only the boy could perceive.

“At first, most people don’t know what elements they are familiar with. For your first attempt, do whatever feels comfortable to you─.”

The old man’s words were not continued.

The boy, who had already taken action, was sending the mana he had gathered down to his chest.

Familiar and easy to handle mana.

From the boy’s point of view, it was a condition that applied to all mana except for a few colors, so it didn’t really matter which one he chose.

Woof─

The mana that reached his chest in an instant began to run in a circle around his heart.

And in just a few seconds.

Woooo …

It reached an uncontrollable speed.

At first glance, it seemed several times faster than what Veronica had attempted.

“Ha, Grandpa, what is this…?”

The old man remained silent despite Veronica’s urgent voice.

He just stares at the boy’s ring with his usual calm and composed face.

‘It’s within the range that my grandfather had predicted.’

Veronica was able to breathe a sigh of relief.

As someone who has been immersed in magic his entire life, he also has knowledge about these types of unexpected situations.

The girl regained her composure as she followed the old man.

Woooo …

And the old man who was watching the ring.

‘What is this?’

I was confused.

A cold sweat ran down my back.