Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 330

#330. Side story 2. The girl in the marble (6)

“This is inside the snowball. I’m sure of it.”

“No, wait a minute.”

Curiosa was taken aback by Ray's words.

And then I was once again struck by how convincing that statement sounded.

No matter how you looked at the transparent barrier visible in the distance in the sky, it looked like the surface of a snowball.

That is, not a compact size that fits in your hand, but an overwhelming size that covers the sky and the horizon.

…is this possible?

“… No matter how much I think about it, I just can’t understand it, even with my common sense, which is based on the perspective of a very ordinary wizard.”

“There are several possibilities. Our bodies have actually shrunk and entered the snowball. Or what we see around us is an illusion indistinguishable from reality.”

This little guy could also be a fantasy.

Curiosa suddenly reached out to pinch Ray's cheek.

Whoosh! Bam!

Ray said, dodging easily.

“Slow down. Next time, I recommend aiming for a more unexpected timing.”

“… … .”

Curiosa was trembling.

At first, it didn't seem like an illusion.

That strangely irritating way of speaking wasn't something that could be imitated through fantasy.

“Is it possible that the manifestation of the restoration magic itself was wrong?”

“That’s not it. There was nothing wrong with the formula, and there was nothing wrong with the process of combining elements.”

In other words, the magic itself was manifested normally.

That fact suggested one thing.

“The variables came into play.”

“Variable… .”

There were two variables that influenced the manifestation of restoration magic.

The total amount of memory contained in a medium.

And the subject's current psychological state.

“That means there were that many memories embedded in the snowball.”

“… … .”

“The scenery unfolding around you right now is probably a result of your current state of mind and Snowball’s past memories being mixed together.”

Should I like it or not?

Curiosa became unknown.

It seems that the snowball was a more precious object to his past self than he thought.

But because of that, the very manifestation of magic became distorted.

'No matter how I look, there is only wilderness around me.'

Is this a result of my current state of mind and my past memories being mixed together?

What kind of thoughts did I have as a child?

Curiosa, who had been staring blankly at the desolate landscape, came to his senses and spoke.

“I think it would be a priority to walk around the area and figure out what kind of place this is. And also figure out a way to get out.”

“You probably know a way out of here, don’t you?”

Me? How do I get out?

Ray, who had read the meaning contained in Curiosa's silence, added an explanation.

“I mean, the you of your childhood, your past.”

*

Ray and Curiossa ventured into the wilderness under the blazing sun in search of clues to escape the snowball.

From a distance, the sight of them silently advancing through the sandstorm looked like that of a noble pilgrim.

If you look at it from a close distance.

'fu*k, fu*k, fu*k!'

A fierce battle was taking place.

Phew! Phew!

My feet sank deep into the sand.

Eagle eagle!

Because the sunlight was completely absorbed by the black cloth, my body was becoming like a dumpling in a steamer.

When I was roaming the wilderness using magic, I never thought that things that were nothing special would come as such heavy shackles!

“Gasp, gasp, I’m dying… The world’s greatest relic explorer is dying… .”

─Goodbye! I'm going to go now!

While trying to make an emergency escape, Curiosa glared at Ray, who was walking ahead.

The guy's feet didn't sink into the sand and he didn't even break a sweat.

Ray stopped dead in his tracks and looked back.

“How are you so sane?”

“I usually work out.”

No, I don't think it's a problem of that level.

“If it’s too hard, why don’t you take off the black cloth? Then you’ll be able to bear the heat a little better.”

“… … .”

That couldn't be possible.

This is a space without mana.

The illusionary magic that had been in place was also removed, so the moment the cloth was removed, the burns were completely revealed.

“No. That can’t be happening.”

“I don’t care about your burn marks.”

“Even if you’re okay, I’m not okay.”

Ray didn't make any more suggestions because he respected her choice.

Instead, he muttered quietly.

“The north wind blew with all its might, but failed to strip the traveler of his clothes. But when the sun beat down with its bright rays… .”

“Gyaaaaaaah!”

Ray stepped aside to avoid Curiosa, who was twisting her body here and there, perhaps because the story was interesting.

Movement resumed.

The vast wilderness seemed endless no matter how far I walked.

Although oases appeared a few times in between, they were all mirages, teasing Curiosa's parched throat.

Iron fist!

“I can’t go any further! Just kill me!”

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Curiosa lay down.

“I think we just need to go a little further. Something has appeared over there.”

“What the heck! It’s got to be another damn mirage! Huh…?”

It was a cabin.

Just sitting there in the middle of the wilderness.

The location was very suspicious, but the characteristic shimmering of a mirage was not visible.

Could it really be this time…?

Bam!

Curiosa, who had no strength left, rose from her seat and dashed furiously toward the cabin.

And arrived at the door.

Knock knock! Bang bang bang! Boom bang bang!

“Anyone like… water…! Shade…!”

Curiosa, who had been testing the limits of her endurance in a short period of time, lost consciousness and fell down as if it were her last spark.

Squeak-

The door opened late.

A girl dressed in exploration attire appeared.

“Who are you? Huh…?”

The girl was startled when she discovered the black monster at the foot of the stairs, and then her eyes met with Ray's, who arrived shortly after.

"who are you?"

“I’m Ray.”

“I’m Noah.”

“I am a great wizard.”

“I am a great explorer.”

A strange war of nerves ensued.

Although she didn't say anything, Ray could tell at a glance that the girl was Curiosa from her younger days.

Yeah, that's right.

Because the girl's bowl was overflowing with uncontrollable purple curiosity and exploration.

*

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Curiosa drinking water without hesitation.

Eight jugs of water were already flowing out from under her feet and were still flowing down her throat. The mystery of the human body was truly amazing.

Kkwaduk! Kkwaduk!

“Phew… .”

The last water bottle, which had its energy drained, fell to the floor, crushed.

Clap clap clap!

“Oh.”

"oh."

The girl clapped her hands.

Ray also hit it from the side.

Only then did Curiosa come to her senses, clear her throat, and speak awkwardly.

“I feel like I couldn’t show myself because I was in such a hurry to get a drink. Anyway, thank you. Thanks to you, I survived.”

“What! Of course we should help those in need. This is the first time I’ve found someone stranded in such a dangerous place.”

The girl smiled brightly.

A pure smile like a flower in full bloom.

Curiosa lost consciousness for a moment, then came to her senses and fell into thought.

'It's just like the kid said.'

In this fantasy world, there were other people besides us.

That person is also someone I strongly suspect to be myself as a child.

“Do you live here alone?”

“I live alone. Oppa, but why are you speaking informally to me?”

'hmm.'

Was this what I looked like when I was little?

To be honest, I don't remember.

Perhaps due to the side effects of the doctor's experiments, old memories were hazy.

After suffering burns all over his body, he changed his job to become a mirror destroyer.

“I am an adult.”

“I’m 13 years old.”

However, there was one piece of undeniable, decisive evidence.

That was the fact that the Curiosa candidate in front of me had the same hair color as this one.

Disheveled lavender hair.

It was so splendid that it took my breath away.

But Curiosa, like any ordinary, exemplary adult who is full of doubts, did not easily come to a conclusion.

Can we assume that this child is me as a child just because they have the same hair color?

Maybe he is not related to me at all, and his hair color is just a reflection of my current memories…

“I am the ghost of sector 50.”

“I’m famous as the Cookie Slayer of the Seanless Orphanage!”

'hmm.'

… it seemed right to me as a child.

The conversation between the boy and the girl continued.

“Cookie Slayer?”

“Yeah. No matter where the director hid the cookies, I found them all and destroyed them! Treasure hunting is a basic quality for an explorer!”

'ah.'

Cookie Slayer.

It was one of the few fragments of his childhood that he kept, a phrase he repeated obsessively without even knowing its exact meaning.

So that I don't lose the string of the past that I have.

But I didn't know there was such a reason.

And that was the moment.

Several related memories flashed back to Curiosa's mind.

"Search it thoroughly! The bastard is carrying a large load in his arms compared to his body size! He couldn't have run far!"

"Huh, you broke into the director's office and committed theft? Are you really the Cookie Slayer of the Seanless Orphanage?"

"This scent, this feel, Etang's cookie set number 4. This is definitely the real deal. I never thought you'd actually get this."

"Okay, I'll accept the deal. Here are the 20 cleaning exemptions I promised."

"ah."

Now I could be sure.

The girl in front of me was my younger self.

"Who am I?"

I have spent countless hours struggling and agonizing over the answer to that question.

But.

The condensed entity of 'me' that would be the answer to that long-standing puzzle was appearing right in front of me.

How I have longed for a moment like this.

Tears welled up in my eyes without me knowing.

Even though his face couldn't be seen because of the mask, the moisture in his voice couldn't be helped.

“I believe you. You are right.”

"yes?"

“I am Curiosa, what is your name?”

“… My name is Noah.”

“Noah, Noah, Noah. That’s my real name.”

Noah was very embarrassed by the sight of Curiossa repeating her name for a long time.

He slowly moved to the side and whispered softly to Ray.

“Oppa, that girl is weird.”

“You have an eye for people.”

Whether Ray agrees or not.

Curiosa continued to question her younger self without paying attention.

“Do you have a favorite food?”

“What are your usual hobbies?”

“I wonder what your relationships with your friends were like.”

“Do you remember where you were born?”

It's like it's going to tear apart your soul.

“Uh, uh… What do I like…?”

Noah was very confused at first.

There was also a slight fear in the bowl.

But still, I thought that Curiosa wasn't a bad person, so I answered the question.

And then.

“It was a really disgusting orphanage!”

Later, he got so excited that he started listing things he hadn't even asked about.

Is that the original personality?

Or maybe it was because the person I was talking to was my future self.

But one thing is clear.

“Yeah, that’s it… That’s it… .”

As the story unfolded, Curiosa nodded her head as if in a trance.

As if I had received a revelation from God.

With a gesture that at first glance seemed almost pious.

The bright and confident energy that her past self exuded was a quality that made her feel relieved and admired as a curiossa.

“Oh! Look at my mind! The guests came over and I was so excited that I was talking about myself! I’ll get some tea!”

Noah opened the inner door and disappeared into a room that was presumed to be the kitchen.

Squeak─ bang!

"…good job."

"what?"

Curiosa looked around at Ray.

“I’m glad I used the memory restoration magic. That’s the real me. That’s the real me I’ve been searching for all this time.”

Curiosa was silent for a moment, then spoke again in a regretful voice.

“It’s true that my past self is different from my current self. Hobbies, tastes, habits, manners… none of them match. I, I have changed so much. I have been living as a monster of emotion called curiosity, obsessed with the Doctor.”

A hand stretched out from the black cloth.

After picking up the cookies on the plate and returning to my place, I soon heard a sound behind the mask.

Rain, rain.

“… … .”

Ray looked at the remaining cookies.

Bright blue, peppermint chocolate flavor.

It was a snack that Noah was eating a few at a time throughout the story.

no.

When Veronica usually did business like that, she refused, saying that it tasted like something eaten by devil worshippers.

“That’s the flavor you don’t like.”

“Wow, wow, from now on, wow, I’ve decided to like it. Wow…”

Curiosa trembles while eating cookies.

The sight was reminiscent of a vehicle being filled with the wrong type of fuel.

“Urgh… Ugh… It’s delicious.”

“… … .”

“The fragrance spreads in my mouth… I love the peppermint chocolate flavor… I love it so much…”

“… … .”

“Guweweeek!”

Ray didn't understand Curiosa's actions.

Because it seemed like an act of trying to force the present 'me' to fit the past 'me'.

also.

"I, I have changed so much."

I didn't agree with what she said either.

Ray looked at the lavender emotions contained in Curiosa's bowl and thought.

She hasn't changed at all.