Chapter 146 – Misunderstanding (Two)

Clear sky. Clean rain.

Yet a rainbow fallen to the earth.

‘And the seven Guardians who protect the seven colors of the rainbow, and the Magic Kingdom.’

Various keywords danced chaotically in the boy’s mind.

They were all stories he hadn’t heard from Curiosa, and a strong curiosity began to stir in his chest.

Ray spoke in a meaningful voice.

“Hmm… A rainbow divided into seven colors possessing immense power.”

“Yes. I believe it refers to a direct physical entity rather than some grand metaphor. The seven colors of the rainbow could be places, people, or objects.”

An object possessing immense power, having physical form.

It was a moment that added credibility to Binjin’s story.

Because it aligned with aspects of the hypothesis the boy had strongly considered—that the rainbow was a gem.

A small excitement blossomed in his heart.

It felt like fragmented pieces of information were overlapping, gradually revealing a tangible form.

‘And the part about outstanding individuals from each race being selected as Guardians….’

…Does that mean other non-human races exist besides humans and elves?

Just then, Binjin’s voice was heard.

“But, Wizard-nim, are you truly someone who experienced the Ancient Era…?”

Perhaps because he had only been listening to the story, a small light of doubt had formed in Binjin’s Vessel.

Continuing the lie didn’t seem like a big problem.

Binjin’s knowledge about elves and the Ancient Era was deep, but it ultimately belonged to the realm of hypothesis and speculation.

‘He seemed to want to keep getting confirmation from me.’

In other words, his knowledge…

Wouldn’t carry as much weight as the words spoken by someone he believed to be an actual elf.

The initiative was on this side.

Thinking that, he opened his mouth.

“The Ancient Era, I experienced it. So I was quite surprised listening to you. I didn’t know there was a human who knew this much about that time.”

Binjin’s face brightened.

The doubt contained in his Vessel diminished, and feelings of excitement and anticipation swelled.

“Hoho. Yes, I am a person with such profound knowledge. But I truly didn’t know you were a survivor of the Ancient Era. Meeting an elf is a lifetime fortune, but to meet someone who also experienced the Ancient Era…! By any chance, could I ask you to share stories about that time? Anything is fine—culture, environment, anything.”

Ray shook his head while looking at Binjin, who was panting.

“Unfortunately, I don’t remember much.”

“Yes…?”

“I recently woke from sleep.”

“What do you mean…?”

“You said you studied elves quite a bit and are confident. Surely you don’t know?”

Ray’s meaningful line.

Binjin’s doubt and suspicion, which were about to expand, hastily shrank.

“Ah, ah, no! I know! Yes! That’s right! When elves sleep, their memories become unclear!”

What does he know?

It was just something blurted out.

“Right. As you know, elves periodically enter long hibernation. There are active and inactive periods.”

“Yes, of course I know.”

So what.

“Sleep can be as short as decades or as long as centuries. When they wake, previous memories become hazy. It’s an unavoidable thing. In my case, the memory loss is quite significant.”

The lies continued skillfully.

Since he fundamentally had no talent for imagination or fantasy, it was a story slightly adapted from a fairy tale Grandmother Viola had once told him.

“So I don’t have many memories about the Ancient Era. You said the Ruins are remnants of the Ancient Era, right? That’s also why I want to go there. I’m hoping I might find information about my past.”

Even so, the story flowed out surprisingly smoothly, even to himself.

As if it were content stored deep in his memory.

…Probably some advice Philip had given him once also played a part.

「Ray, in life, there are times when you must confront things head-on with agitation and fabrication. Let me give you a tip for those times.」

He said if you really want to deceive someone, you should even exaggerate the lie to a degree where you might think it’s too much.

A clumsy lie only invites the other person’s suspicion.

That seemed right.

“Ruins… memories… past… Yes, that’s right. R-right.”

Seeing how the doubt and suspicion in Binjin’s Vessel were now suppressed by immense confusion and couldn’t move an inch.

If he told a story with some solid framework here, he could probably convert all that confusion into belief.

“But there is one clear memory.”

“Ooh…! What memory is it?”

“What the world was like during the Ancient Era when the Magic Kingdom prospered.”

“Th-this is something I don’t know either. If you tell me, I will listen attentively.”

Ray briefly imagined what the Ancient Era might have been like, as much as possible.

An era of unimaginably powerful Magic and the prosperity it brought, beyond what one could conceive of now.

…The emotions people held probably weren’t that different from now, though.

“A world where no one suffered from illness.”

He recalled a girl who had lost her protector.

“A world where no one had to part with their loved ones.”

He recalled a boy who had been separated from his mother.

“A world where no one fought and everyone got along.”

He recalled a man who had no choice but to kill a longtime friend.

“So.”

While Ray’s words continued, the two men opposite him held their breath.

“A world where everyone enjoyed happiness.”

The boy recalled a certain word he had seen in the encyclopedia.

It was Paradise.

Amon and Binjin had other schedules, so the gathering ended after the meal.

The two offered to cancel their next appointments, but Ray had no intention of forcing their actions unreasonably.

While the hierarchy was clear, they were nominally in a cooperative relationship.

Instead—

“Tomorrow, I am scheduled to be invited to your mansion, so be aware of that.”

“Huh? Ah! If you visit, it would be my honor!”

—He received an invitation.

Binjin said he currently resided in a mansion on the outskirts of the Sector with his disciples.

The boy’s goal was the various research materials, including those from the Ancient Era, that were clearly present there.

‘Still, the most important thing will be to sound him out about the Wizard with the Monocle.’

After thoroughly confirming there was no possible tailing, Ray moved toward the lodging.

As soon as he exited the underpass midway, his pupils and hair returned to white.

‘Why did the Magic Kingdom, which enjoyed such prosperity, perish?’

Many unorganized thoughts rose and disappeared repeatedly in his mind.

Why did the rainbow fall to the earth?

The statement that it split into seven seems to correctly refer to gems.

Then, did the Guardians protect the gems of each color?

While engrossed in thought.

Tap.

Before he knew it, he had arrived in front of the lodging.

“Krrrruuuung── Krup, Kruung.”

Jang was sitting in the rickshaw seat, hunched over the handlebars, snoring with a strange sound.

It seemed Philip and Veronica had finished their business first and returned.

Swish.

Ray lifted Jang’s outer garment, which had slipped down, back onto his shoulders.

‘If he gets sick, it’ll hinder his rickshaw driving.’

It was November, when chilly winds began their activity.

Telling him to wake up and go inside to rest would be useless.

He had already stubbornly refused the morning offer to get him a separate room.

‘He’s stubborn in strange ways.’

Ray didn’t realize that thought applied to himself as well.

Fwoosh!

He conjured several small flames near Jang’s face and body.

His hair, singed by the heat, began to curl, but Ray didn’t notice and headed into the building.

“Ah! Ray’s back!”

“Any injuries? Any injuries?”

Philip and Veronica, who were in the men’s room, greeted Ray.

They hadn’t been back long, as they were taking out and organizing the items they bought on the table.

Thud!

From Veronica’s bag, a book as thick as the Cromwell Encyclopedia was taken out.

“It’s a Great Plant Encyclopedia. The sprout that grew in our pot wasn’t in the guidebook we got before. I thought maybe a bigger encyclopedia would have it, so I bought it. No… Ray, yeah, even if you look at me with those eyes, I won’t lend it. Encyclopedias are for filling your head with knowledge, not for hitting people’s heads and blowing away the knowledge they already have.”

Next, Philip placed a bundle of vehicle catalogs.

“I gathered them all from the vehicle dealerships around. We don’t know yet how much our budget will be, but we can probably choose from among these.”

Ray took the catalogs and examined them.

Sedans, jeeps, trucks, buses—all sorts of vehicles were showcased, organized by performance, purpose, and price range.

Flip— flip—

But it seemed nothing quite caught his fancy, as Ray’s fingers flipping the pages showed no sign of stopping.

Then.

Flip.

He stopped on one page.

“Uh, does that look okay?”

Philip, who had been growing anxious that bringing the catalogs was in vain, asked in a brightened voice.

“No, I wish it were bigger than this.”

“Uh… bigger than that? How much?”

The opened page already showed a bus of majestic size driving on a wilderness road.

“About 5 times.”

“…….”

“And it would be good if it had something like a cannon attached to the side for attacks.”

“…….”

“And just in case, it would be great if it could be driven even at the bottom of a river.”

“Uh… hmm…”

Ray.

Society has agreed to call that a tank, not a car…

…No, well, if that’s what you want, what does it matter whether we call it a means of transport or a combat weapon?

‘Our Ray, do whatever you want.’

He held back an affectionate chuckle, but on the other hand, he understood Ray’s words.

According to Curiosa, the path to the Ruins was extremely treacherous.

「The Ruins are usually located very far from Sectors. You have to cross uncharted wilderness without paved roads. Not to mention unruly monsters, but also strange magical phenomena…」

It was a statement meant to scare Ray, but it had no effect.

The one whose face turned pale and trembled was only Veronica.

…Anyway.

Considering Curiosa’s warning, it would be best to choose a vehicle for crossing the wilderness that was as sturdy and multi-functional as possible.

Next, Ray began to speak.

As they listened to the story of what happened at the Black Market and the Amon Family office, Philip and Veronica’s expressions and emotions changed moment by moment.

“The kids… will they be okay?”

“Hmph, anyone who dares pick a fight with our Wizard-nim deserves to be taught a lesson.”

Regarding the fight with the kids, they showed worry and smugness.

“That’s a relief. So that means we can use the cards for now!”

“You’re going to pick them up in two days? I’m really looking forward to how much is inside.”

Upon hearing about meeting the Card Technician, they felt relief and anticipation.

“Ray is as handsome as an elf!”

“Hmm! Teaching you to lie was worth it.”

Hearing that he had deceived the other party into believing his identity was an elf, they felt proud.

Philip summarized Ray’s story once more.

“So, in summary, while staying in Sector 37, you’ve gained the ability to give various orders to the organization with the greatest influence in the east. And tomorrow, you’re visiting that Wizard Binjin’s mansion.”

Philip was impressed.

It meant they had achieved tremendous gains less than a day after arriving in a new Sector.

“Then we can conduct Sector inquiries through those Operatives. If the Amon Family’s influence expands, the scope of possible inquiries will expand too.”

“Right, that’s what I was thinking when I gave the orders and came…”

While Philip and Ray were enthusiastically discussing future plans.

“Ray, about that story earlier—the rainbow that fell to earth and the Guardians.”

Veronica, who had been lost in deep thought alone, spoke.

“By any chance, could that person called Doctor be a Guardian?”