Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 317

#317. Side story 1. Collapse (1)

Hello. I am the author. It has been a while since the main story was completed.

In the main story, the second half of the story progressed in the following order: (1) Ray meets Dr. Viola, (2) Ray goes on a journey to visit all sectors alone to establish his identity, and (3) he returns to Sector 28, gives up his powers, and creates a rainbow in the sky.

The content of the side story will likely be mainly comprised of the story between (1) and (2), where many parts were omitted for fear of breaking the flow.

I would like to write the stories of the supporting characters, such as Joshua, Curiosa, Blue, and Greene, along with the main character Ray's actions as much as possible.

As a writer, I can't think of anything more gratifying than having readers enjoy reading my work.

Well then, let's start the side story!

*

Sector 22, the president's office at the Association Tower.

On the large desk in front of the window were stacks of papers so high that the person sitting there could not be seen.

Boom! Bam!

Boom! Bam!

A hand flipped through the documents, stamping them with a sinister gesture.

How much time has passed like that?

thud!

Gustav, the owner of the hand, put an end to the last document.

“Whew, these jingling papers, what I started in the morning is finally finished by the time the sun sets… .”

He leaned back in his chair with a deep sigh and an exhausted look.

When I turned my head to look outside the window, the sun was already setting.

And far away, at the end of the horizon.

A towering tower could be vaguely seen rising above the skyscrapers.

The undisputed number one in the city.

It was the magic tower of the Imaginary School.

“It’s already been a year since then… ”

Gustav checked the calendar and muttered in a sentimental voice.

A year ago.

A white-haired boy who came to the association out of the blue to request the establishment of a new school.

If it weren't for the introduction by the manager of the Listoa office, with whom I was close, I would have kicked him out without even looking.

Because it was not the first or second time I had seen young Thunderbolts, intoxicated with themselves and their magic.

But that couldn't be done.

When the boy raised a blue flame that radiated cold air from his palm.

He could only freeze in shock.

"Seo, I will approve the establishment."

It was only after a long time that he opened his mouth.

From then on, things were smooth sailing.

The boy who founded the school presented a new theory called imagination at a regular conference, causing a tectonic shift throughout the magical world.

“… and we started to spread the theory to the city through monthly exchanges.”

imagination.

The power to combine any elements regardless of their compatibility or properties.

The city's people were excited by the unknown power that could overcome the limitations of existing magic, but not everyone could wield its power.

Even I was like that right now.

Over the past year, despite all the effort put in, haven't we ultimately failed to bring our imagination to fruition?

Gustav muttered, staring at his palm, where the opposing elements were repelling each other.

“…a power that only those who are honest with their own feelings can manifest.”

According to the boy, it was so.

I will be honest with my feelings.

I will keep my pure desires.

That is the primary condition for the development of imagination.

“It’s impossible for a human being like me, it’s impossible.”

A bitter laugh escaped.

As an adult, the first thing I learned when I entered society was how to hide my emotions.

Having lived my entire life wearing masks for different times and places, I no longer even remember what my real face looked like.

okay.

How could a person like that be honest about his feelings now?

Even the pure aspirations of childhood have become unrecognizable as they age.

"The exchange members will be limited to those who have not yet reached adulthood or those who have just reached adulthood."

After all, the boy's words had a clear meaning from the beginning.

Those who have become adults and have begun to wear masks to hide their emotions are unable to develop their imagination.

Of course, there are cases where flowering occurs well past adulthood, but these are extremely rare.

Gustav had no such issue.

“… … .”

It's such a shame.

But, well, what can you do?

Giving up and stepping back when faced with an impossible task is also a wisdom that comes with age.

Rustle.

Gustav, who had come out of his trance, got up from his seat and grabbed his coat and bag.

Sitting in the office and staring at documents all day made my head feel heavy.

Now that I've finished my work for today, there's nothing more relaxing than going home and having a drink in front of the fireplace.

“Hmm, hmm, hmm.”

A hum that comes out on its own.

Just then the secretary opened the door and came in.

She nodded, walked over to me with brisk strides, and placed the thick stack of documents she was holding in her arms on the desk.

thud!

Gustav asked, rolling his eyes.

“What is this?”

“Here’s a new patent application. You need to read it all through and sign it off by today. Um, uh, why the stamp all of a sudden… Ah! You’re going to start work right away!”

“No, I’m thinking of taking a picture of your face.”

“Huh? Gyaaak!”

The secretary ran away from the president, who was chasing her with a murderous look on his face.

At that moment, the crystal ball on the desk flashed.

As Gustak approached and manipulated it, the face of the guide on the first floor appeared.

“What?”

─That's right, a guest has arrived. He came to see the president of the association.

Gustav frowned.

“There aren’t any guests scheduled to come today, are there? You came to see me out of the blue without any prior arrangements. You have no manners at all. Just tell me to get out of here. I need to go back and rest today, so I can’t meet you.”

The tour guide was unable to sit still due to the fiery shouting.

─I'll talk to you myself.

─Huh? Oh, no. But, even so, the procedure… The president of the association will be angry.

─It's okay.

Another face appeared in the crystal ball, accompanied by some conversational sounds.

─It’s been a while, Chairman.

A boy with hair as white as snow.

It was Ray, the owner of Imagination.

─I have something I want to discuss, but is it difficult right now?

Gustav was the one who had no intention of making a wrong choice, no matter who came looking for him.

Well, except for one person.

“…Okay. Come up.”

Before long, the office door opened and Ray appeared.

“How have you been?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you in person. You’ve been so busy. Was the last time we saw each other at the regular conference?”

The secretary quickly set up the tea and retreated to the door while Gustav was momentarily distracted by his conversation with Ray.

“Well then, have a nice time!”

Squeak─ bang!

Ray tilted his teacup.

He asked, looking at the pile of papers on the desk.

“It seems like there’s more paperwork than when I came last time.”

“It’s all thanks to you. Isn’t it?”

Gustav answered with a smile.

It is an undeniable fact that the workload that the Association had to deal with increased explosively after the spread of imagination.

As the existing framework of magic was completely broken, patent applications for new magic began to pour in.

Also, because of this, all the systems and regulations that had previously been in effect in the city were being overturned on a large scale.

Ray, who understood Gustav's meaning, smiled faintly.

“But won’t other work be reduced? I heard that these days, there are almost no disputes or conflicts between schools.”

“Haha, that’s true too.”

Rather than trying to keep other schools of thought in check, it was much more beneficial to spur research that grafted imagination onto their main theories.

Ships that had been stuck in narrow lakes were sailing out to the wide ocean in search of new waterways.

Horok.

Tilting his teacup, Gustav stared at Ray.

'It definitely feels a little different compared to when I first saw it a year ago.'

He even threw out some jokes.

The actions felt much more lively.

So to speak, it feels like the range of emotional expression has expanded a bit.

'The magic prayer has also grown. I think it was 5 circles last time I saw it.'

Former No. 1 school of thought.

Khan, the office manager of the Harmony Tower.

Today, at the drinking party, my close friend spoke excitedly about Ray.

"The measuring device exploded! Boom! Boom! Several at a time! I've never seen anything like it before! According to the researchers, there was absolutely nothing wrong with the measuring device! In other words, that meant that there was no set growth limit for Director Ray!"

He also said that he trained at the Fountain of Mana in the basement of the Harmony Tower and quickly rose to the 5th Circle.

But that was already half a year ago.

… Then what about now?

'Maybe I've reached the 6th circle, which no one has ever reached before.'

I know it's ridiculous.

But the boy is different from other people.

It was true that I began to have expectations while still being skeptical.

“But didn’t you say there was something you wanted to discuss?”

“… … .”

Ray didn't answer right away.

I looked at the waves in the teacup and lost myself in thought for a moment.

─────.

The rings surrounding the heart glowed softly in response to the owner's emotions.

The number is seven.

The rainbow fragments that were finally recovered from Redran and Viola were in a ring-like state.

“You…! Why…! Why didn’t you kill me…!”

“Ahh… I’ve been waiting for you… for you. Here… for a very long time… .”

Meeting Redran and Viola.

A few days had passed since then, but I was still confused.

Am I a rainbow?

Or is it a boy named Ray?

Although I hadn't completely sorted out my thoughts and feelings yet, I had decided to do what I had to do.

And the first thing to do is.

“To tear down the wall surrounding the city.”

“Phew─!”

Such an unexpected statement.

Gustav spat out the tea, and the tea drops flowed down through the air, blocked by Ray's defense.

“Does spitting out the tea just now have anything to do with tea ceremony etiquette?”

“No, it’s not that it makes sense, I’m just surprised… What did you just say? You’re going to break down the wall?”

“Yes, the wall. We can’t keep the wizard’s city hidden from the world forever. We’ll also remove the distortion field that prevents outside views.”

Gustav wiped his mouth with a handkerchief.

As soon as the embarrassment subsided, my head started to pound.

The boy he knew was the type to do whatever he had to do, and at the moment, this statement did not feel like a joke at all.

“May I ask why you suddenly think that way? Is it because you come from outside the walls?”

“It has nothing to do with that.”

"then?"

“Originally, humans lived together in one place. They didn’t divide each other by fences, but as the same species.”

“Is that all?”

Ray shook his head.

He said, tilting his teacup quietly.

“I also want to see the magic spread outside the walls.”

Gustav had a blank expression on his face.

After washing my face with both hands and coming to my senses, I said:

“I get what you’re thinking, but it’s not that simple. The disappearance of the boundary between inside and outside the wall means that the two worlds will be integrated, and that will entail tremendous changes.”

That wasn't the end of it.

“You must be aware of the contempt and discrimination against those living outside the walls. To be honest, there are probably many who would not be happy about tearing down the walls.”

Ray asked back.

“Even if I give orders in the name of the Imaginary School, which is number one in the hierarchy?”

“Everyone who knows knows that there are a lot of purebloods in the higher schools. It won’t be easy.”

The higher a person's position in a city, the more elitism there becomes.

This naturally leads to a sense of superiority over those outside the walls.

Gustav's story continued on and on, but Ray ignored it all.

“I’ll take care of persuading you. Just make sure you give me a place to present at the next regular conference.

“Ugh… .”

Gustav groaned.

Then, in one corner of the office, I discovered a shelf displaying liquor.

“Yes! Didn’t you become an adult this year? How about having a drink and talking slowly? Ah! Since you lived outside the walls, you might have had a drink before becoming an adult.”

Ray's gaze followed Gustav to the shelf.

Whiskey, vodka, brandy, gin, etc.

Outside the walls, unfamiliar brands of alcohol that I had never seen before were shining brightly.

Well, it wasn't difficult.

“I’ve had it a few times. I like it.”

“As expected, you have a refreshing personality!”

Gustav smiled inwardly.

Although his opponent is a magical genius who only appears once in a thousand years, he is essentially a boy who has just reached adulthood.

The difference in experience and inner strength due to the passage of time was something that could not be caught up with.

Once you've gotten them drunk, you'll have them sign a pledge to never mention the destruction of the wall again.

'I don't mind if by some chance I end up continuing to drink.'

This body was the city's best drinker, having won the Hakpa drinking competition for seven consecutive years.

braided!

The glasses clinked.

And exactly two hours later.

“Kueu …

Gustav was lying face down on the table, drunk and passed out.

And a dozen or so empty bottles of liquor on the table.

“… … .”

Ray, who was looking at Gustav, stood up from his seat without any hesitation.

I felt a little, no, a lot of regret.

That is, he himself could not take it.

But what can we do?

The non-biological detoxification ability of one's own stomach operates regardless of one's will.

'I think we should continue the conversation another time.'

Anyway, my thoughts won't change.

There was a time when I was contemplating whether to go back like this.

Something caught my eye coming out of Gustav's front pocket.

It was a multipurpose magic pad.

I took it and turned it on.

As an administrator pad, it had the ability to send messages to all schools.

"oh."

I thought I knew Gustav's intentions.

Why are you giving permission directly? You prepared this indirect measure.

Get drunk first.

So that the pad can slip over slightly.

Ray looked at Gustav and nodded, saying that he understood what you meant, then moved his fingers to type the sentence.

Dadaak, dadadak─

[We would like to inform you that the first presenter for the next regular conference will be Ray, the office manager of Imagination Tower.]

[Agenda: Regarding the destruction of the wall that separates the inside and outside.]

[Are you sure you want to send it? Y/N]

My finger fell towards the button.