Chapter 156 – Rainbow, Sun, Rain (Two)

Ray was sitting across from Binjin at a table with the stone tablet between them.

‘Why did I try to break the tablet?’

Breaking the tablet wouldn’t have revealed the next part of the story.

It was a dangerous act that could have made him lose the clue about the rainbow.

‘It was irrational. Unreasonable, inefficient, illogical, and…’

As the boy reflected on his actions, attaching every word he’d seen in the dictionary, he soon realized one fact.

‘Did I snap in the moment?’

He lowered his head to check his Vessel.

But since the situation had already passed, no other emotions remained there.

However.

If his guess was correct.

‘I felt anger.’

And naturally so.

In itself, that wasn’t particularly surprising.

The boy had become aware that the muscles forming his emotional lines had strengthened during his journey.

He knew that emotions like curiosity and excitement could well up even without conscious effort.

But feeling the emotion commonly called irritation… this was the first time.

‘I can get irritated too.’

His breathing quickened.

His heart pounded.

Who would he get irritated with next?

Ray, thinking about opportunities to wield this new emotion, first grabbed the reins of his mind and focused on the stone tablet before him.

The rainbow that fell to the ground.

The sun that fell following the rainbow.

If he felt irritated by the story that was cut off midway, it was proof that he had been that immersed.

‘I was drawn in without realizing it. That’s what it felt like. Like an old adult telling a story to children…’

Ray soon found the appropriate word to encapsulate that feeling.

‘A fairy tale.’

Questions lined up.

What happened to the rainbow and sun that fell to the ground after that?

Was there another stone tablet with the next part of the story somewhere in the Wasteland ruins?

Who carved the story onto the stone tablet, and for what purpose?

‘According to Curiosa and Binjin, stone tablets have an extremely low discovery frequency compared to other artifacts.’

In other words, the tablet was rare.

It was highly likely not something an Ancient Era person carved for mere amusement.

An object with intent.

…Intent.

Generally, writing is used to convey information.

Like the books he always used to acquire various and valuable information.

‘Was the intent to convey some information through this fairy tale?’

Aimed at a specific person?

Or at an unspecified multitude?

The thought suddenly occurred to him.

Like the notebook earlier, could he also sense emotions from the Ancient Script on the stone tablet?

Ray immediately concentrated his mind.

And.

“…….”

He could face countless emotions, presumed to belong to the one who carved the text.

Longing, gratitude, respect.

Worry, regret, pity….

There were many types, but one emotion was at the very core.

An overwhelming positivity was felt, to a degree incomparable to any emotion he had experienced so far.

However, it was so unfamiliar that he couldn’t identify the emotion.

‘What is this…’

As Ray stared at the tablet, he noticed something.

Light was seeping from the Ancient Script carved in intaglio.

────.

As if awakening from a long slumber.

As if answering the boy’s perception.

But the light was too faint to properly discern its color.

As he concentrated his mind further, he could see a grayish-white Mana covering the Ancient Script, in a state akin to being dead.

It was a part he hadn’t noticed because its color was similar to the tablet’s.

‘I need to look more closely.’

The moment Ray reached out to pull the tablet closer.

Creak.

The tablet moved away from his hand.

Raising his gaze, he saw Binjin holding the tablet preciously in his embrace.

Ray spoke.

“You don’t need to worry. I have no intention of breaking the tablet.”

“Yes. Of course I know that.”

His words said one thing, but his eyes said, I don’t trust a liar Elf like you.

“I won’t break it.”

“Yes. Of course you won’t.”

His words said one thing, but his eyes said, There is absolutely no negotiation with a terrorist like you.

“I said I won’t break it.”

“Yes. I’m sure you won’t.”

Is it now?

The timing to get irritated?

Ray created a wind stronger than usual and knocked over the chair Binjin was sitting on.

Whoosh! Crash!

Meanwhile, the tablet floated gently and landed safely in front of Ray.

Ray concentrated his mind and swept away the grayish-white Mana covering the characters like dust.

It was stiff like cement, but not difficult for Ray, who had made much progress.

And soon.

──────!

He could see a single color of Mana shimmering brilliantly over the Ancient Script.

It was purple Mana.

A strong sense of déjà vu.

Simultaneously, an unfamiliar strangeness.

…Have I seen Mana of this color somewhere before?

For now, it seemed the purple Mana before his eyes was the identity of the overwhelmingly positive emotion he felt from the Ancient Script.

Then a voice was heard.

“But, what exactly is the content that makes you act this way?”

Raising his head, he saw Binjin, who had tidied his fallen body and was sitting back down.

“Perhaps bad memories about the Ancient Era came to mind because of the tablet’s content?”

“…….”

He couldn’t tell Binjin the true content of the tablet.

There was a possibility he was in league with the monocle-wearing Wizard who had sought Sector 50 aiming for the rainbow.

“It contains an Ancient Era recipe.”

“Huh?”

“It’s a dish similar to today’s pork cutlet. It says long-term consumption enhances Ring rotation.”

Binjin’s eyes changed.

He zealously wrote down the catastrophic recipe Ray dictated.

“And it says the sauce must be dipped. Not poured over.”

Binjin frowned.

“Oh my, there’s one major flaw in this perfect elixir recipe. The sauce should obviously be poured over…?”

Sensing Ray’s gaze, Binjin slightly lifted his buttocks from the chair.

“…….”

“…….”

A brief battle of nerves ensued.

The moment Binjin, confirming nothing would happen, placed his buttocks back on the chair.

Whoosh! Crash!

He fell over.

Climbing back onto the chair he righted, Binjin said,

“Ggeung, you seem to enjoy pranks quite a bit. Anyway… I’ll guide you to the next location. I need to discuss the procedure, the most important purpose of today’s visit.”

Ray followed Binjin to the center of the tower.

It was a wide space that seemed deliberately left empty.

“The mentioned procedure will be conducted here. Here are the materials. I think you can listen to the explanation while reviewing them.”

Ray received a thick binder from Binjin.

“As you know, elements contained within a Ring have the property of firmly clumping together with others of the same series. In other words, for arbitrary Elemental Fusion, Mana must first be released outside the body. But using this procedure….”

A procedure that changes the Ring’s property, maintaining the elements within the Ring in a constantly mixed state.

The densely packed formulas in the materials and Binjin’s explanations about them were theoretically quite plausible.

“Currently, the floor is empty, but if you, Wizard-nim, consent, we plan to immediately begin creating the Magic Circle for the procedure. Also, to explain….”

While listening to the explanation, Ray split his attention to examine the space.

First, the floor….

‘It’s not empty.’

There was no Magic Circle.

However, complex lines of Mana, presumed to be traces of a previously used Magic Circle, covered the floor.

They were lines of such faint concentration that perception itself was practically impossible.

But the boy felt and saw them.

‘That looks like an added line for camouflage, and this line stretches all the way to connect over there…’

Soon, Ray could identify a single, familiar, and enormous pattern.

It was a type of Magic Circle he had already experienced once in Sector 49.

‘An Exploitation Magic Circle.’

The scale was slightly smaller than last time, but it was definitely an Exploitation Magic Circle.

He continued his search but could find no traces of any Magic Circle other than the Exploitation Magic.

Instead, there was another discovery.

‘That is…’

Only a specific section of the concrete floor had Mana shimmering on it.

Thump.

His heart began to race.

He knew what that was.

It meant there was something interesting and fun inside, so hurry up and come open it—in other words, it was called Locking Magic.

And.

Ray could indeed feel immediate interest.

Because a familiar fragment of Mana was being sensed from beneath the floor.

‘The Mana fragment I attached to Khan.’

One of Binjin’s disciples he had seen in Amon’s office.

When destroying his Ring, he had habitually attached a small fragment of Mana to his body.

That fragment was being sensed.

Right beneath his feet right now.

He sharpened his inner sight further.

He could confirm that only a specific section of the floor was slightly raised compared to the rest.

‘A passage.’

According to Binjin, Khan had left for a farm to recuperate.

Even thinking to the maximum… it didn’t seem likely there was a farm beneath here where he could enjoy the rest of his life.

Rather, there existed another reasonable inference possible in the current situation.

‘Interesting.’

Ray asked Binjin, who was in the middle of his explanation.

“Why are you going through so much trouble to perform this procedure on me?”

“…So the daily visits, ah, yes. The reason I want to perform the procedure for you, Wizard-nim.”

Binjin explained calmly, as if he had prepared for this.

“I am a scholar researching the Ancient Era. Therefore, if you, Wizard-nim, head to the ruins and recover your memories, it would be a most welcome event. I could receive help for my research.”

But the path to the ruins is extremely perilous, and he cannot accompany due to managing his disciples.

Therefore, instead of accompanying, he intends to perform a procedure that can increase your own power.

“I believe it’s a mutually beneficial matter. Additionally, I recommend visiting a Mercenary office before you depart. It’s not uncommon for Expeditions heading to the ruins to be recruited there.”

“Good advice. It certainly would be mutually helpful.”

Binjin’s sincere expression and voice.

But Ray saw through what lay behind that mask without reserve.

He once again organized the definite information he had gained from observing Binjin’s emotional changes in his mind.

‘First, the existence of the procedure method is real.’

However, the materials and explanations are all fake.

Binjin never intended to perform the procedure on him in the first place.

Everything was merely bait and acting to lure in a victim for the Exploitation Magic.

But the interesting fact was that, despite clearly having a plan to harm him, Binjin’s malice had been consistently inactive.

‘Why?’

Emotions don’t lie.

Unless it’s a case of perfectly deceiving one’s own perception itself.

Conversely, does he think the Exploitation Magic will actually help me?

Feeling deep interest, Ray asked.

“How long will it take to prepare the Magic Circle for the procedure?”

Binjin slightly covered his mouth with his hand, unable to hide an irrepressible smile.

“Do you have an intention to undergo the procedure?”

“I don’t see any particular reason to refuse.”

“If we start preparations today… I can promise you’ll be able to receive the procedure within ten days at the latest.”

“Ten days. That’s too long.”

Seeing signs that Ray might change his mind, Binjin hastily added.

“If we increase work hours, it’s possible within a week.”

“A week. That’s fine.”

Binjin, letting out a sigh of relief, said.

“Then let’s tentatively set the procedure date for one week later, November 10th, and I’ll inform you if there are any changes.”

“Good.”

Afterwards, Binjin continued with a few more explanations about the procedure.

Watching the emotions contained in the other’s Vessel, Ray thought.

‘It seems correct that he thinks the Exploitation Magic will be helpful to me.’

It wasn’t a world where intent was important.

No matter how good the actor’s intentions, from the receiver’s standpoint, it could be like poison.

To Ray, Binjin’s actions were merely harmful.

‘…Well, it doesn’t matter much.’

If his prediction was correct.

The harm would very likely take a bilateral form anyway.

Paying attention to the subtle vibrations felt beneath the floor.

The boy thought so.