Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 213

#213. World Tree (1)

Ray, who had received the jewel from Grinne, concentrated his mind.

Inside the jewel.

In the green mana threads that tangled and wiggled like roots, I felt a pulse and movement like a living thing.

‘The main ingredient is the element of growth and expansion.’

The associated emotion is curiosity, which spreads like vines everywhere.

And the bond and sense of belonging that grows as we support each other.

Curiosity was an emotion that boys naturally had.

A sense of belonging and solidarity were also feelings that I had acquired to some extent through my friends, including Philip and Veronica, and through the shelter that was the annex.

Woohoo───!

The green mana of the jewel, which resonated with the emotions brought up by the boy, permeated the land of the area.

Soon something amazing happened.

On the ground where the snow had been cleared, sprouts began to sprout, and in an instant, they bloomed and grew into seedlings.

It looked like a small garden had been formed around three people.

Veronica turned around in place and exclaimed in admiration.

“Wow…! This is my first time seeing growth magic up close…! The book said that it wasn’t very efficient and was just a supplementary life magic…! But now it felt like time had been fast-forwarded…!”

Grinne stood there with a blank expression on his face and muttered.

“With Ray’s help, it might really be possible….”

Tears ran down his cheeks.

Bright purple mana sparkled in small dots in her bowl.

“Ah! Ah! Mr. Greene, don’t cry!”

“No, don’t worry. I’m not crying because I’m sad. I just suddenly feel a pang in my heart. As I told you before, when I came out of the last forest, I brought seeds of various plant species with me.”

It is said that while Greene traveled the human world in search of a place to sprout the World Tree, he also scattered and planted seeds of other plant species here and there.

“But this is the first time I’ve seen the life that the seed contained come out into the world. I haven’t had time to stay in one place because I’ve been looking for new forest candidates.”

Ray expressed his doubts after hearing Greene’s words.

“Can’t you use growth magic too?”

“You can use it. However, I can’t make normal types of vegetation grow this fast, not the vines that I mainly use in battle, which have a fast growth rate. My ability to manipulate the mana of the life stone is not up to this level. Oh, thank you.”

Grinne wiped his tears with the handkerchief Veronica handed him.

He blew his nose and then added:

“It’s not just me. Probably no elf in the Last Forest can handle the mana of the Life Stone as well as you, Ray.”

“Are the elves immature?”

“No. I think it’s right to say that Raynim has an ability that is beyond compare. After all, all elves are born with a high affinity for mana.”

The atmosphere has calmed down to some extent.

Veronica turned her head to look at the garden, then realized something and said with a worried look on her face.

“But these flowers and trees. If we leave them alone, won’t they eventually wither and die from the black rain that falls from the sky? Hmm, I think it would be good to make a roof or something.”

Grinne rummaged through his belongings and took out the seeds of the World Tree in his hand.

“This kid will do the roofing job. I’ll have to try, though.”

“Are you trying?”

“Because the World Tree is not a tree with an ordinary personality.”

Grinne continued her explanation, using magic to dig up the dirt to create a space for planting seeds.

“The World Tree grows very slowly. It grows very slowly, as if it were stuck in a rift in time. However, it has a very long lifespan, and there is no set limit to its growth. It is said that the World Tree in the last forest has been there for 5,000 years. It is large enough to cover an average human sector.”

The seeds floated from my palm and headed towards the dug hole.

As the seeds descended, Greene’s voice became somewhat gloomy.

“But the World Tree does not live forever. No matter how long a life is, it will eventually reach its end. The World Tree in the last forest is dying. It is weakening. Even if all the elves join forces to infuse the mana of the lifestone, it is not enough to stop the weakening. It cannot be reversed. The mana of the lifestone only encourages growth, and does not extend the fundamental lifespan of the target.”

The atmosphere became heavy.

The boy and the girl could not interrupt the woman’s words.

“The World Tree will leave us. The last forest plants that have lost their roof will die of illness as they are hit by the black rain. It is the fault of the elves who have become stagnant in the forest. We should have started preparing for the future a little earlier. It is not far away. In less than 300 years, the empty space of the World Tree will weigh heavily on us.”

Ray, who momentarily doubted his ears, interrupted Greene’s monologue.

“wait for a sec.”

“Go ahead.”

“300 years?”

“That’s right. The World Tree has less than 300 years left to live.”

Ray was rarely confused.

“There are still 300 years left.”

“There are only 300 years left.”

“Why only 300 years?”

“Well, 300 years is a short period of time that cannot even encompass the entire life of an elf.”

What the heck, am I weird?

I turned my head at that thought, but Veronica also had a puzzled look on her face.

Suddenly, I remembered a conversation I had with Grinne in the past.

“I can help you with your work, but only after we’ve achieved all of our goals. I can’t guarantee how long it’ll take. It could be a year, two years, or, in the worst case, several years.”

“Hmm? That’s it? Wait a minute, then.”

“… … .”

It seems that the elves’ sense of time is much more extensive than expected.

As if reading my thoughts, Greene said:

“Even if it weren’t for the time difference between humans and elves, 300 years is a short period of time by the standards of the World Tree. 300 years is not enough time for it to grow to a size that can form a forest. In that amount of time, maybe.”

Grinne turned his head for a moment to look around the mansion grounds and concluded his speech.

“Just big enough to cover the entire place. That’s probably the limit. But with Ray’s power, I think things could change significantly.”

It was the moment when the seed was about to settle into the hole.

“By any chance! Can I transplant already grown sprouts instead of seeds?”

Veronica’s scream.

The seed stopped in mid-air.

“It doesn’t matter. It would be better if we could save the seeds of the World Tree. There aren’t a lot of them, but they’re not a lot either.”

“Well, since we’re going to plant it anyway, I think it would be better to give a bigger piece of land to the friend we were raising. Just a moment!”

Veronica ran to the annex and soon came out holding a small flower pot.

The world tree, which had been planted three months ago but was still only a small sprout, was carefully transplanted into the ground.

Greene said, staring blankly at the sprout.

“I felt it the last time I saw it, but the sprouts are in really good health. It’s as if they’ve been getting plenty of good sunlight.”

“Whenever I had time, I put it by the window and let it get some sunlight.”

“No. Something more than that… like the light source was right next to me… um.”

Greene’s long ears perked up.

I thought about it, but I couldn’t solve the question.

Wooooowow──!

The green mana of the jewel poured down like a waterfall over the sprouts of the world tree.

At first, nothing happened.

But Veronica could tell from the delicate yet powerful flow of mana that Ray was exerting extreme concentration.

Then, at some point.

Kkuddeuk!

The sprouts began to grow rapidly.

A stem that grows upwards quickly and becomes long and thick.

Branches stretching out in all directions and green leaves sprouting above them.

After the green mana infusion stops.

“Wow…!”

“Amazing!”

A huge tree stood before my eyes.

It was almost as tall as a two-story mansion.

“As expected, my expectations for you, Lord Ray, were not wrong! You were able to grow the World Tree to this extent in such a short period of time!”

“… … .”

In contrast to Greene, who was beyond thrilled and excited, Ray felt a bit disappointed.

‘My head is spinning. This is the limit for now. I thought I could grow more at once. This is definitely different from the other plants I’ve grown before.’

Judging by Greene’s reaction, this seemed like a great deal.

However, I was left with a great sense of dissatisfaction as I felt that I had not even fully drawn out half of the power of the green jewel.

… a greater emotion was needed that could communicate with the green mana.

Ray immediately asked a question.

“Greene, you said that elves have a strong sense of belonging?”

“They are very strong. They live by prioritizing the life of the group over the life of an individual.”

“Where is the last forest?”

“It’s in the last place.”

“Where is the last place?”

“It’s almost the end.”

Ray, who was wondering if he could win if he fought Greene, noticed a singularity in his eyes.

The leaves of the World Tree, swaying in the wind, were all a transparent green, showing the other side.

“The color of the leaves… … .”

“Oh, that’s what you mean. The leaves of the World Tree have the property of transmitting light. They use only as much as they need, and amplify the remaining sunlight and scatter it on the vegetation under their territory. That’s why the last forest isn’t dark. On the contrary, it’s very bright.”

“… … .”

Ray suddenly became curious.

What would a world tree that had grown even larger look like?

*

Work continued day and night in Curiosa’s space.

Ray spent almost every hour of the day drawing, and whenever his mental power recovered, he would infuse the World Tree with green mana.

Kkuddeuk! Kkuddeuk!

After an initial surge in growth, the world’s population has slowed.

But Ray never missed a single day of mana infusion.

The World Tree, which had steadily expanded its territory, had become large enough to sufficiently protect the garden next to the annex.

The black rain could not penetrate the transparent green leaves.

Additionally, previously polluted soil gradually regained its color within a certain radius of the World Tree.

And then again a few days later.

“I’ve done it! Me! This! Finally! Human victory! Human victory!”

The space route was completed, and preparations for the journey were quickly made.

Ray said while looking at the market.

“I’ll do the driving. Jang, stay behind and focus on learning the mansion’s business with the servants.”

“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”

Ray then looked at Curiosa and said.

“Curiosa, stay here too. If an enemy appears, we need someone to respond immediately.”

“Huh, even if you don’t say anything, I plan on staying. If I get dragged away, there’s no way of knowing how much more I’ll be forced to do.”

I plan on calling you if necessary.

Ray didn’t bother to bring it up.

There were three passengers on the bus.

Yourself, Veronica, and Greene.

However, since the bus and the mansion were always connected, it was virtually as if the entire group was on board.

“If anything happens, come through the space line and let me know.”

“Just disappear quickly. I don’t want to see your face.”

The bus left the mansion gate, leaving the grumbling Curiosa behind.

And right then, it had to stop.

Because a man was blocking the road not far ahead.

“Hey, Ray. There’s a strange person blocking your way.”

“You’re holding something in your hand. Is it a letter? In a red envelope?”

Unlike the two who were expressing doubts, Ray had already intuited the other person’s identity.

Expressionless face. Awkward posture.

New clothes with no trace of having been worn.

And, above all,

…a vessel without any emotions.

“… Homunculus.”

Beings believed to be the doctor’s test subjects.

At that moment, the man opened his mouth and spoke loudly.

“Don’t tell me any more.”

Suddenly, men with similar appearances appeared from a nearby alley and followed suit, speaking in even voices.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

“Don’t tell anyone.”

The number reached a dozen or so.

“Do not approach any further.”

“Do not approach.”

“Do not approach.”

“Do not approach.”

“Do not approach.”

Ray pressed the button to open the bus door.

Pusheeeeee──

“Don’t leave this place.”

“Don’t leave.”

“Don’t leave.”

“Don’t leave.”

“Don’t leave.”

The moment Ray stepped outside.

─────.

Emotions began to bloom in the empty vessels of the homunculi all at once.

Ray looked around with dry eyes at the anger and malice surrounding him.

At the end of it.

“Is that what the doctor sent me?”

He said this as he looked at the man blocking the road.

The homunculi all stopped talking.

Silence and calm came over the area.

within.

Hit— Hit—

A man approached with awkward steps and handed Ray a letter in a red envelope.