Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 31

#031. The Unquenched Flame (1)

Kkirik─ Kkirik─

The wheelchair rolled forward on its fire-damaged wheels.

The passenger was Cedric, who had lost consciousness, and the person holding the handlebars and pushing the wheelchair was Ray.

Beside him, Philip occasionally glanced at Cedric and matched his pace.

Hit─

“… … .”

Dozens of boys followed behind.

They were following each other at a certain distance, as if expressing their fear of Ray, and their faces were clearly filled with confusion and tension.

Hit— Hit—

The gait was slightly different.

But the thoughts in our heads were all the same.

“How did Ray and Philip survive the fire, and look so unharmed?”

“Philip was clearly sick, so how is he walking on two feet?”

“Could it be that Cedric, who was so terrifyingly strong, really fell?”

My thoughts were not organized at all.

I just feel like I’m going through a sticky dream.

Hit— Hit—

Everything is questionable.

A blossoming anxiety and confusion.

Still, no one broke away from the line and ran away.

Not a single person was found during the considerable distance they traveled away from the scene of the fire.

Hit— Hit—

It was partly because there was nowhere to return to even if I ran away, but fundamentally, it was because of the influence of what Ray had shown me before.

Everyone in the room knew.

Now their fate lies in the hands of a boy walking ahead of them.

The procession that entered the eastern garbage dump continued deep into the depths without stopping.

The hotel kids, who were wandering around the scrap heap, noticed the line and started murmuring.

“Isn’t that Philip?”

“Today is the day of the duel. Is it over?”

“But those kids following me… .”

“oh my god….”

The faces of the children who realized the identity of the line hardened.

Cedric’s gang has no contract with the hotel.

A feared figure who would always pick fights and throw punches if caught on the street.

Even though Philip and Ray were in the lead, the fear engraved deep in their bones did not go away.

“Su, hide! They might remember your face and harm you later.”

“Yeah. Who, don’t make eye contact.”

The hotel kids hid themselves among the piles of scrap metal.

Cedric’s gang was also restless.

“… … .”

Everyone looked at Ray.

Anyway, the hunter seemed to have some kind of relationship with the hotel owner, Philip.

I couldn’t help but be afraid.

That they will not face any punishment for their past actions.

Ray arrived in front of the hotel and looked back at the group.

“Everyone, stand by. Do not move until told to do so.”

Squeak──

The huge iron door opened.

The moment Ray was about to take a step.

“wait for a sec.”

Philip stopped him.

“Is it okay if I talk to you for a moment?”

Philip nods towards the gang.

Ray nodded.

“You’re not going to come in? Are you going to stay stuck there?”

There was movement at the back of the group.

A few children came to the front.

They were the hotel kids who followed me to the arena as attendants.

He was walking with a very timid gait and his head bowed as if he had committed a great sin.

The hotel kids were confused.

Just like Cedric’s gang.

But the emotion that came first was guilt for running away and leaving Philip behind.

Ray’s eyes turned towards the children’s dishes with interest.

Guilt was an emotion not easily found in the slums.

Morality and ethics have a detrimental effect on survival and often wear out over time.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to be so sorry.”

Philip’s warm words greatly shook the guilt in the children’s bowls.

“Come here quickly.”

The volume is slowly reduced.

The colors also begin to fade.

“This is your house.”

The children approached with trembling steps, hugged Philip, and burst into tears.

“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have left you.”

Philip patted the backs of children who were much bigger than him.

Likewise, I suppressed my emotions as much as possible and looked back at Ray and asked.

“Is it okay if we go in together?”

The hotel is owned by Philip, not Ray.

Actually, it was a question that didn’t need to be asked.

Also, the fact that the children left the arena first was a problem that had nothing to do with Ray’s position.

‘I wonder what your intention was in asking me that question.’

Ray’s thoughts were correct.

There was a reason for Philip’s actions.

At first, Philip thought of Ray as simply a kid with good fighting skills.

But after a few meetings, my thoughts completely changed.

A bold proposal regarding betting.

The mysterious magic used today.

Ray was more than I could have imagined.

How long will you stay here in Sector 49?

What are you thinking and what are your plans for the future?

Although information was limited, one thing was clear.

‘The power structure on the streets will change.’

Perhaps the order of the streets itself may change.

The waves that the boy named Ray will cause are more likely to be tidal waves than small ones.

But the part that concerns me is…

‘Power alone cannot sustain power for long.’

Rule by fear is bound to backfire at some point.

Even if it weren’t for today, Cedric’s gang would have shown their creaks in the near future.

…Ray’s hands were cruel.

Of course, this was limited to enemies.

In any case, such an appearance could have a negative effect by creating fear in the subordinates that Ray leads.

because.

‘We need to bring out the human side. To some extent.’

Harmony is important in anything.

Philip, who had made up his mind, opened his mouth.

“Can you forgive these guys?”

I asked Ray’s permission in front of everyone.

“Do that.”

“Thank you for your permission.”

A murmur spread among Cedric’s gang.

─The hunter… is eating the hotel too?

─You said you ran away. Since you’re a hunter, I thought you’d punish me somehow.

─If we do well, we too… … .

Squeak── Boom!

The hotel swallowed the children.

Ray and Philip.

And only the attendants.

After that, he kept his mouth shut as if nothing had happened.

Only the children of Cedric’s gang were left alone.

They just looked at each other and no one broke the silence or left their seats.

Under the sky turning a deep crimson.

A small sense of hope and anxiety surged through the boys’ hearts.

*

There was an unprecedented commotion in the hotel.

Wheelchairs on either side of the road leading to the infirmary.

The children swarmed like bees and made a path.

“Oh, it’s Cedric.”

“Is Philip feeling better?”

“Did you win the duel? What are those guys out there?”

The sight of Cedric, who was synonymous with fear, being brought in in a wheelchair was shocking in itself.

“It looks great. It’s a total mess.”

“It looks like the hunter won. It makes me feel so relieved.”

There were quite a few children who gave Cedric bad looks and cursed him.

That was because Cedric was always the one who persecuted them the most on the streets, even though they came from the same hotel.

Amidst mixed opinions and speculations, the wheelchair arrived in front of the infirmary.

Kkirrik-knock.

“How do I move it? The entrance is too narrow for a wheelchair.”

“First, divide the arms and legs… .”

Children approaching in wheelchairs and discussing transportation methods.

“Step back.”

Ray lifted Cedric out of the wheelchair.

Everyone gasped in awe at the sight of him lifting an opponent of similar build, who was unconscious, without any effort.

Bruise. Bruise.

Ray entered the infirmary and laid Cedric on the bed.

And then he closed the door after making sure that Philip had followed him in.

Squeak─ bang.

The commotion outside could be heard dully beyond the container walls.

The soundproofing wasn’t all that great.

But it wasn’t enough to interfere with the conversation.

The two boys sat on chairs.

It was Philip who spoke first.

“I used magic in the arena. If you don’t mind, may I ask what happened?”

Philip asked, unable to take his eyes off his own limbs.

It was still a wonder that my body was in good condition.

“… … .”

Ray was calm.

I originally didn’t intend to reveal the fact that I use magic easily, but I thought it would be okay if the person I was dealing with was Philip.

Since he is quick-witted and values trust, he probably won’t go around spreading rumors.

But that doesn’t mean I have any intention of telling the whole story in detail.

“It’s just as I saw it. I can use magic.”

It was a sentence that explained everything while explaining nothing.

After that, Ray was silent.

“I see. I understand.”

Philip nodded.

I had a vague idea that Ray was reluctant to reveal his information.

It would be better not to ask any more questions.

Because it might upset your feelings for no reason.

It would be wise to wait for the other person to speak first after the relationship has progressed a few steps further.

When Philip was about to move on to the next topic of conversation, Ray spoke first.

“I would like to settle the account first.”

“Oh, okay.”

When Ray flipped his bag over on the table, dirty bills and coins came pouring out.

There was a notebook included, with the names of the people who bet and the amounts written down in neat handwriting.

It was the betting manager’s thing.

Ray slowly turned the pages and calculated the distribution amount.

“The total bet is 4.24 million shillings. My share is 1.82 million shillings. Your share is 2.31 million shillings.”

The remaining 110,000 shillings went to Zephyr or the Rotson gang.

This distribution was possible because there were almost no people who had bet money on Ray, other than Ray himself and Philip.

Philip took the notebook from Ray and looked through its contents.

“That’s correct. Your calculations are very fast.”

“It’s not something I’ve never done before.”

The spilled bills and coins were distributed to either side of the table.

Ray said, pulling off a piece of his own dummy and pushing it towards Philip.

“I have a request to make.”

“What kind of request?”

“The hideout burned down. I need you to find a place to move to. There are a lot of abandoned factories, but there aren’t many that are in good condition.”

Ray added.

I would also like you to take care of purchasing furniture for me to bring into the new location.

“This is a commission fee. If it’s not enough, let me know.”

“… … .”

Philip looked at the pile in the middle of the table.

I was about to bring up the hideout story anyway.

“Of course I can help you find the hideout. Of course I can also buy the items to bring inside. But I can’t accept this.”

Philip added his own money to the pile to make it bigger, then pushed it back towards Ray.

Ray was puzzled.

I didn’t understand why he refused the money, but I understood even less why he added his own share to it.

“Why?”

“Because the distribution was wrong. Everything that happened today was possible thanks to you. You should have a lot more money.”

“… … .”

Ray tilted his head and pushed the stack of money back towards Philip.

Swish.

Philip also pushed Ray back again.

Swish─

Ray also turned back to Philip.

Swish─

Swish─

“… … .”

“… … .”

Ray took off his watch from his wrist and looked at Philip, rubbing his fist.

Philip flinched for a moment, but did not give in.

Swish─

“… I don’t quite understand.”

Ray muttered as he looked at the pile of money coming back towards him.

Why bother?

If you had just let it go without saying anything, you could have made more money?

He glanced up.

In Philip’s bowl, golden mana and pink mana appeared together again this time.

‘This time too, the percentage of golden mana is not high.’

I don’t have much greed for money itself.

But that doesn’t mean that Philip took care of the money.

I have been saving money diligently whenever I have the chance for some purpose.

But why… … .

Suddenly a thought crossed my mind.

‘I also see white mana in the bowl.’

I wonder if you’re worried about me and not Cedric.

Ray had two definitions of worry in mind.

The desire to protect one’s opponent.

The desire to give without gaining anything in return.

By Ray’s standards, Philip’s actions now fall under the second definition.

“Are you worried about me?”

“Uh… I’m worried… .”

Philip was genuinely embarrassed.

Am I worried?

Who? You…?

‘You’re probably the strongest among the 49th sector street kids, so who would worry about anyone? I don’t know if I’m even qualified to worry.’

If you’re worried, you should worry about the kids who will be treated by your fists in the future.

Philip gave a brief moment of silence to Zephyr and the Lawson gang.

And answered.

“I’m not worried. I just think that’s the right way to distribute it.”

Ray’s forehead furrowed slightly.

“I don’t know. If you’re not worried, what’s in it for you to do the distribution that way?”

“hmm….”

Philip thought Ray was the most amazing and unique child he had ever met.

Most of his words and actions were as skillful and flawless as those of an experienced adult.

However, in certain areas, he showed an immature side that was above average.

In particular, I had a hard time understanding the other person’s motives for their actions.

It was as if he had a formula in his head for how people should behave, and he questioned anything that deviated from it.

Philip thought for a moment and then said.

“How about thinking about it this way? I’m investing in you.”

“invest?”

“Yes. You are expecting some kind of profit in the future. If you use the investment funds to strengthen the group, the hotel will be able to focus on its business in a stable manner.”

After a brief explanation of the investment, Ray was able to fully understand Philip’s motivations.

Actions that are clear about what you want.

That way felt much more intuitive.

“Okay. Then, next topic….”

Knock knock! Knock knock!

It was then that an urgent knock was heard.

The door opened and a boy with a frightened face appeared and said,

“Je, Zephyr and Lotson have appeared! Boo, boo, leading all of your men!”