Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 291

#291. People of the Old World (1)

Holographic letters and numbers appeared on the stage.

[Imagine School]

[Total voting score 1249 points]

[Average score 9.992 points]

"oh my god…."

“Huh, I kind of expected it, but I never thought I’d actually get a score like this.”

Even very high-quality presentations received scores in the low 9s, and even those were very rare, occurring only once or twice a year.

But it's 9.992 points.

It was an unprecedented score in history.

The office workers felt dizzy, but also relieved that they had not received a perfect score.

That was the last bit of pride that those at the top of the magic world had to protect.

In fact, if we just look at the theory of imagination, it was enough to get full marks.

You can break the limitations of existing magic rules and combine elements in a free manner?

If that theory doesn't get full marks, then what theory deserves full marks?

But then my pride kicked in.

Full marks for someone who isn't even an adult, and who claims to be from outside the walls.

Although I felt strong antipathy, it was a reasonable judgment to give full marks considering that it could be disadvantageous in future interactions.

So I entered full marks into the panel.

In the hope that someone else, not yourself, will give you a low score.

In reality, the game of wits seemed to have been a success, as no one actually got a perfect score.

Gustav, who had been staring blankly at the hologram, came to his senses and spoke.

“I never thought I would see such a score in my lifetime. It’s unprecedented. In fact, it’s almost like a perfect score… but it’s really unfortunate that it’s not actually a perfect score. I think one person gave it a score that wasn’t perfect. Could you tell me why?”

The office workers in the audience looked at each other busily.

They were equally curious about who had the courage to give it a score that wasn't full marks.

The answer to the question came from the podium, not from the audience.

“It’s a theory that still has a lot of room for improvement. That’s why I gave it a 9 instead of a 10.”

Everyone looked forward quickly.

The owner of the voice was Ray.

His calm gaze was directed towards an empty audience seat right in front of him, and judging by his remaining mana, he could tell that he had entered his score through the panel there.

Ray continued speaking, not paying attention to the bewildered looks.

“I’m also an office worker. I know that I have the right to grade my own presentation.”

“That’s true, but….”

Gustav couldn't hide his embarrassment and trailed off.

If the office manager is the presenter, he or she either enters the score for his or her presentation in advance or enters the score at the same time as everyone else after the presentation.

Usually, a perfect score of 10 was given.

No, not usually, but definitely.

Because it was a matter of pride and self-esteem as a school of thought, separate from its influence.

But you gave it 9 points on purpose?

That was the moment when everyone on set realized that the boy's thoughts and actions were outside the realm of what they could have predicted.

"ah…."

"this…."

I also learned one more fact.

That means all the office workers except the boy gave full marks.

*

A few days later, in a wide open space in Sector 11.

Dozens of wizards in overalls were busily moving about, expanding the magic tower.

“This way! Lift it this way!”

“Watch out! That’s right! The 7th floor is finished!”

Judging by the large construction magic equipment installed here and there, it was clear that it was a fairly large-scale construction project.

While the work was in progress, the construction manager arrived at the site, and the manager gave a report and then asked cautiously.

“Excuse me, sir… Is this correct? Going up from the 5th floor to the 22nd floor in one go? We’ve handled hundreds of requests, but this kind of extreme expansion has never happened before, right?”

His concerns were natural.

The height of the magic tower increases in proportion to the points that the school accumulates in the academic society.

However, since scores usually go up gradually, it was common for the floors to go up one or two floors per year even in the case of successful schools.

The manager smiled meaningfully at the manager's cautious expression.

“Don’t worry. I just finished checking with the association.”

“Oh…! What did you say?”

“I received confirmation that there will be no problems with the expansion of the Imaginary Tower. They even issued a permit.”

“Huh, so it looks like all those rumors that are causing a stir in the city are true.”

The manager let out a sigh.

There were a lot of rumors.

The head of the Imaginary School is really a young boy.

Also, at this conference, a theory with content close to revolution was presented.

All the schools in the city were busy internally electing their own exchange students.

“There are also rumors that the leading meta and academic schools have reached the point of extinction. I don’t know what happened at the conference. And what kind of theories were announced….”

“I heard through a whisper that the theoretical topic is imagination.”

“Huh? You mean imagination?”

“I don’t know the details either. When the exchange between Imagination and other schools begins, information will probably be gradually revealed.”

The director, looking at the tower under construction, said with a satisfied smile.

“Anyway, we just have to enjoy this huge construction project.”

“Yes! That’s absolutely right! I’m finally getting my salary that’s been overdue for over a year! I’m saying goodbye to the days of having to skip meals with hard bread every day!”

As they were firing off celebratory fireworks in tears, a savior appeared with a halo at the entrance to the vacant lot.

After receiving the status report amidst the warmest hospitality, Ray looked up at the magic tower.

The extension frame was completely erected, allowing us to gauge the height it would be when completed.

'It feels higher than I thought.'

If the 22nd floor is like this, how huge would the Harmony School's magic tower be that is said to have over 100 floors?

While I was absorbed in that sentiment for a moment.

Ray muttered without looking away.

“Don’t you have something to tell me?”

“… … !”

The man standing next to Ray flinched in surprise.

As a special agent of Nilla's Information Center, they trained in stealth magic to the extreme for covert operations, so that most people could not detect their presence.

“… Since when have you known?”

“Since the first time I came here.”

“I was waiting for you because you seemed to be deep in thought… but it seems like it wasn’t necessary.”

The man handed me an expensive envelope sealed with wax, bowed, and left.

Jiik─

Inside the envelope were documents containing the requested information.

[Information Classification – Special]

[Keywords – Murkred, Doctor, Mask, Sunglasses, Nearly 2 Meters Tall, Bandaged Skin, Red Jewel]

[A person of the corresponding impression was found in the Dark Alley in Sector 17.]

Dark Alley.

It was a kind of giant back alley where dangerous people who didn't belong to any school in the city flowed in.

[According to the statements of six witnesses, the codename Doctor was believed to have been looking for a scientist in Dark Alley.]

[The four residents who encountered the doctor in the process are showing a blank look as if they have lost all emotions. The cause is unknown. No traces of mana can be felt. They are continuing their previous actions as if they are reproducing habits imprinted on their bodies.]

[Information about the scientist is attached as a separate document at the back.]

scientist.

Ray moved on to the next document to confirm that it was the person he had in mind at that moment.

Attached to the very top was a small note written in Neela's handwriting.

[Originally, you had to charge information about scientists, but since the customer is handsome, they are adding it as a service, so you should know?]

Ray took off the note, threw it roughly behind him, and checked the information.

[Scientist, a figure who has recently become rapidly known within Dark Alley.]

[It is estimated that it appeared in Dark Alley about 4 months ago.]

[The magical engineering products he produces and distributes on the black market are sold at high prices, overwhelming existing products.]

[The representative items are firearms used by suspects in two recent terrorist attacks.]

'You are exactly the person I thought you were.'

Ray continued reading the documents.

[It is known that he sets up a workshop deep in Dark Alley, rarely shows himself to the outside world, and responds to clients through servants.]

[According to the statements of three witnesses, the scientist has the appearance of a dwarf. It is not yet confirmed whether it is fantasy magic or the real thing.]

Dwarf.

It was a moment when the scientist gained strength from the hypothesis that he might be Rael, who had survived from ancient times.

'… If you think about it that way, there's enough common ground between the two characters, the doctor and the scientist. They're both guardians of the old days who guarded the rainbow fragments.'

I felt like I needed to meet a scientist just once.

As I thought about that, a sentence written at the bottom of the document caught my eye.

[This morning, a huge fire broke out in the scientist's workshop. According to the statements of four witnesses, a person presumed to be the doctor was seen at the scene. Currently, the workshop on 17-9 Street is completely burned down, and the scientist is missing. Agents are continuing to track down the doctor and the scientist.]

“… … .”

It seems that the doctor met the scientist and did something about it.

After leaving the vacant lot, Ray took the train and went to Sector 17.

We entered a dark back alley that seemed to be less managed than the downtown area and moved quickly.

'On the attached map, here it is on the left.'

Ray walked confidently down the alley and arrived at the same place he had passed five minutes ago.

'It was the right, not the left.'

Ray nodded and started walking again, arriving at the same place he had passed by ten minutes ago.

…the complexity was beyond imagination.

When Ray stopped moving for a moment and seriously thought about how to move forward while breaking down all the walls.

Jeokbuk─

I felt a stealthy presence approaching me.

Ray sighed in relief and lured the rascals to a remote area, turning them into people on the border between life and death.

And then he held out a map to one of them who had deliberately left both legs intact and spoke.

“Guide me.”

“Yes, yes?”

"guide."

“Oh, I see!”

The rascal began to guide the way, feeling embarrassed and trying to survive.

I thought, trembling with fear at the ominous murderous aura I felt behind my back.

Where on earth did this monster come from, able to subdue seven battle-worn 3rd circle wizards without breaking a sweat?

“Uh… but this place on the map is… .”

“Do you know this place?”

“Yes, I know. There are probably few residents of Dark Alley who don’t know him. He’s a person who has been making a lot of money recently by distributing all sorts of goods on the black market.”

Even inside the walls, money had absolute value.

There were many who coveted the scientist's property, but the workshop was equipped with all kinds of security devices, so everyone was just whetting their appetites.

“But just yesterday, there was a fire in that workshop. The flames shot up into the sky, making it seem like daylight had come at dawn.”

The fire was so intense that the janitor even gestured to explain.

“Didn’t you hear any sound of fighting?”

“I, I’m not sure about that. The scientist’s workshop is very secure, with no windows on the outside.”

While I was asking various questions, a ruined workshop appeared before my eyes.

All that is visible is black ash and the remains of a skeleton.

The area was deserted and deserted, and he said it was because residents had already swept through the area in the morning to find something to pick up.

“Well, now that the directions are over, can I go?”

“You can go.”

"thank you!"

“If you don’t care about your life.”

The scoundrel who was trying to escape with all his might stopped walking with a face that looked like he was about to cry.

Ray walked slowly through the rubble, lost in thought.

'According to Madame Philia, the doctor's current goal is to go to the sealed ruins and absorb the power of the old being.'

Could that have something to do with why the doctor sought out the scientist?

What happened between them last night?

Is the scientist dead?

If he were alive, where would he go?

And then.

───.

I felt a faint presence.

It was under the floor I was standing on.