Chapter 260 – Watchmen (Two)

The vortex of green and yellow mana spiraling around Ray.

It was far too small compared to the vortex of Spirits that soared up to the Akrassium ceiling.

But when the two phenomena collided.

Crunch—!

The two spirals, rotating in opposite directions, drove their fangs into the massive flesh of the enemy.

Crunch-crunch-crunch—!

They burrowed, tore, and surged upward.

The raging torrent of the two spirals, coiling and ascending around the vortex.

Along their path, the Spirits’ vortex began to unravel.

Crash-crash-crash-crash—!

Like threads of warp and weft coming undone one by one.

In an instant, with a tremendous roar.

And as the two spirals, having devoured the enemy’s entire body, reached the ceiling.

Flash!

They flooded the field of vision with light, generating a massive mana storm across the area.

Items on the shelves were pushed and fell like thunder.

A fierce wind madly whipped the hems of clothing.

In the swept-up commotion, only one being remained standing unscathed: the boy.

“…….”

Ray gazed with indifferent eyes at the hundred or so Spirits lying motionless on the passageway.

They weren’t dead.

Because Spirits could not be extinguished unless their internal cores were struck.

He could have done it if he wanted, but he deliberately controlled his strength because he had many questions to ask.

The Spirits panted heavily, shifting between physical bodies and mana-formed bodies.

[Too… strong….]

[Humans are… violent, as expected.]

[Unbelievable.]

[He must be a thief who came to steal from the warehouse.]

It seemed their hostility wasn’t solely because he was an intruder.

The Spirits’ words hinted at animosity toward humans in general.

[I’m not a thief. Of course, I didn’t get the owner’s permission to enter, but I have something to find and take….]

Come to think of it, he did sound like a thief.

[I planned to use it and put it back.]

Only groaning sounds were heard; no answer came from the Spirits.

Ray condensed the Gem’s Mana into bead-like forms and scattered them.

[……?]

[What….]

[This is…?]

The Spirits’ eyes, sensing the beads fallen before them, simultaneously clouded with doubt and wariness.

[To recover your strength. It seems you don’t even have the energy left to absorb Atmospheric Mana.]

[You, what’s your scheme?]

[Humans can’t be trusted.]

[You’re trying to trick us again.]

The Spirits said.

While munching on the beads.

[We’re already eating them.]

[…….]

The Spirits were extremely flustered.

Their minds thought it was mana given by an enemy, but their bodies wouldn’t listen.

Soon, their eyes widened.

[This is…?]

[Primeval Mana.]

[How on earth did you get this mana?]

The mana forming the Spirits’ bodies instantly became vivid.

Rising with lively gestures, the Spirits approached Ray as if entranced, then flinched and stopped.

Extreme delight and wariness.

The two conflicting emotions were causing great confusion among the Spirits.

Then Ray asked.

[Primeval Mana?]

[Yes, the original mana that existed before the world was polluted by war.]

The Spirits showed great emotional agitation, murmuring among themselves.

[Has the environment outside Akrassium finally normalized?]

[Then that little human might be a guide sent to retrieve us.]

[But he’s a human. That means outside, Redran is still….]

Familiar words were heard sporadically, but it wasn’t a story he could fully comprehend.

Ray summoned two gems onto his palm and said.

[I don’t know if Primeval Mana means what I suspect, but the source of the mana I gave you is here.]

[Rainbow Shards!]

[Goodness! Rainbow Shards!]

[And two of them at that!]

Ray scattered mana again with a knowing gesture toward the extremely excited Spirits.

And exactly five minutes later.

Sitting in place, stroking the Spirits climbing all over his knees, shoulders, head, and entire body, he was able to hear the detailed story.

[Yes, that’s right, there. Your hands are warmer than I thought. Originally, there was no mana in the world. It appeared after the Rainbow descended.]

[I like the nape. No matter how much we ate, no matter how much other races used Magic, mana was never in short supply.]

[Stroke my back. Right, because mana continuously gushed from the fragments the Rainbow left behind.]

The Spirits, disarmed, let out pleased cries.

Ray could tell that his long-held speculation was correct.

The origin of the substance called mana was gems.

And his speculation that the low-quality mana floating in the atmosphere now was the result of the Gem’s Mana rusting and becoming tarnished over a long period.

Ray continued asking questions to guide the conversation.

[The Rainbow Shards that supplied mana to the world were scattered everywhere because of the war, right?]

[Originally, it was a single gem shining with seven Hues. When the war broke out, the Guardians divided and took them.]

Originally one.

Perhaps that was why the gems resonated so strongly toward each other.

Anyway, the shattered gems could no longer perform their function of supplying mana to the world.

And the remaining Atmospheric Mana rapidly deteriorated due to the war.

Spirits, who needed to continuously absorb high-quality mana to sustain their lives, began losing their place.

[I heard some found a home in the sky, but not all Spirits could do that.]

[Most of the rest had to live on the ground. We learned that forests had the ability to purify mana, but by then, most forests were already destroyed.]

And it was at that point.

That other races, including humans and Elves, invented the concept of the Circle.

[I heard they modeled it after the recorded appearance of the Rainbow.]

[It’s a device that purifies and contains Atmospheric Mana. Since Magic couldn’t be used with polluted mana, it was a countermeasure.]

[I know it was first invented in the Red Citadel.]

[It should be considered essentially invented by humans. Most residents of the Red Citadel were human.]

Spirits, who couldn’t create Circles, began making Contracts with the humans of the Red Citadel.

In exchange for lending their power.

They would receive a supply of mana from the Circle.

They knew the residents of the Red Citadel were followers of Redran, who instigated the second war by sowing discord among the other Guardians.

But it was a choice they had to make for survival.

[What about your case?]

[We made a Contract with Rael.]

The Spirits burrowed deeper into the boy’s body as they spoke.

A gesture tinged with a distant longing for Primeval Mana.

[Rael sought a keeper for the warehouse for the Rainbow. We supported him.]

[Akrassium also serves a role similar to a Circle. It purifies external mana and continuously supplies it inside.]

When Ray raised his head, the Spirits on top of him tumbled down.

The white ceiling of Akrassium changed colors at regular intervals.

And each time, mana of the same Hue could be seen gushing inside.

A question arose.

[Where is Akrassium located?]

[We don’t know either.]

[We only know it’s in a very distant place where Redran cannot find it.]

The Spirits poured out words as if receiving compensation for their years of silence.

[And we also received a procedure from Rael to extend our lifespans.]

[The Contract period. It’s until the Rainbow returns.]

[If the Rainbow had returned, the outside world would have regained its original state. Then there’d be no need to stay here.]

Ray, who had been listening calmly, parted his lips softly.

[That must have been hard.]

Enduring for so long.

After a brief silence.

The Spirits answered.

[Not necessarily. A Spirit’s sense of time is quite different from a human’s.]

[He worried about us.]

[The humans I know aren’t like this.]

[So, how is the situation outside? Has the Rainbow returned?]

Ray shook his head.

It was a short motion, but it sufficiently conveyed the meaning.

[I see. It seems there’s still a long way to go.]

[Do you happen to know a way to recognize the Rainbow?]

[I don’t know. I think Rael mentioned something about it.]

[Any Spirits who might know?]

[I don’t remember.]

[Me neither. It was too long ago.]

The Spirits, murmuring in response to Ray’s questions, expressed a forgotten doubt.

[But who are you?]

[You don’t seem like a bad human.]

Ray explained the situation.

The existence called Doctor, presumed to be the Red Guardian, Redran.

The organization called the Indigo Dawn Society, seemingly connected to Doctor, and their ambition to engulf the world.

And.

[I came here to find a way to stop the Dawn Society. And, like you, I wish for the Rainbow’s return.]

The Spirits’ murmuring continued.

[The outside world’s conflicts still haven’t ended.]

[They do end. When one ends, two conflicts arise in its place, that’s all.]

[But the White Card, wasn’t it only usable by the Rainbow?]

[Well? Did Rael make a mistake in the design?]

The Spirits, exchanging glances, tumbled down from Ray’s body in a rush.

They lined up in front and asked with a respectful gesture.

[By any chance, are you the Rainbow?]

[……]

It was a little, no, quite bewildering.

It was a question he’d never heard before, and one he’d never even considered until now.

‘Me, the Rainbow?’

The first thought was that he couldn’t possibly be the reincarnation of such an immense being.

He was just a child with a slightly exceptional ability to handle mana.

Even reviewing his past, there seemed no basis to presume himself the Rainbow’s reincarnation.

If forced to fit the situation, it wasn’t entirely impossible, but that was…

‘Close to far-fetched.’

The probability of being the Rainbow’s reincarnation.

The probability of not being the Rainbow’s reincarnation.

The latter was overwhelmingly higher.

Like the probability of Grine passing by jerky without taking it versus the probability of her not.

[I am not the Rainbow.]

His tone was definitive.

However, the boy was unaware.

That in his subconscious, a small fragment named possibility had already embedded itself, emitting a faint glow.

Perhaps, I, really…

The Spirits showed a puzzled expression despite Ray’s curt answer.

[He says he’s not.]

[Are you really not?]

[I think he is.]

[There must be an error in Rael’s system. It’s been made for an incredibly long time.]

[I’m not sure.]

Opinions varied, but there was a common point of agreement.

[You don’t seem like a bad human.]

[You’re quite different.]

[Sorry, we misunderstood.]

It was the fact that the boy had been chosen by the green and yellow, two fragments.

And judging by the Spirits’ unique senses, he was a fairly trustworthy person.

[Is Doctor really Redran?]

[How is he still alive?]

[We can’t rule out the possibility.]

The current situation was not covered by Rael’s regulations, so it was decided to allow the removal of stored items at their discretion.

Ray was guided to where the Magic equipment was stored.

During the move, the Spirits incessantly asked Ray questions.

And they also engaged in a light discussion about the possibility of Ray being the Rainbow.

The 152nd row shelf they arrived at shortly was in a location where he would have wandered for a long time if he had searched alone.

Ray understood and tested the functions of the equipment through the Spirits’ explanations.

‘…This is incredible.’

Some enhanced mana output.

Others increased elemental affinity.

Some accelerated Magic casting speed.

Or had Magic like body enhancement or Wards permanently enchanted onto them.

Gloves, staves, crystal orbs, boots, etc.

Equipment that would boost combat power just by being worn were lined up on the shelves by type.

Their performance was so outstanding that it was incomparable to anything circulating in the market now.

And the quantity was so large it could be considered supplies prepared for an army.

[What kind of item are these gloves?]

[I don’t remember.]

[We don’t remember every single item.]

When he put on the black silk gloves, they soon turned transparent and disappeared.

He intuitively felt he understood their function.

Ssskrt—!

He took out a knife and pressed hard, but not a single drop of blood came from his palm.

‘With this, I can save mana for Metallization.’

And.

Whoosh!

Despite using the same amount of mana as before, the Fireball grew more than twice as large.

…The equipment of the Ancient Era far exceeded expectations.

With this, he thought he could sufficiently contend with the Dawn Society, but…

[Can you also tell me how to use the metal dolls on row 8?]

Ray wasn’t satisfied there.

He moved with quick steps and arrived at row 8.

[I’ve fought the same kind of dolls in Ruins. They had Magic immunity, Wards passed through, and also…]

The Spirits shook their heads after hearing Ray’s continued explanation.

[Those are a different model. These require direct operation. You register as a user, inject mana, and control them.]

[The old ones had a malfunction probability and were all discarded, I think. Seems some remained.]

The dolls currently on row 8 were all new models, they said.

They had the drawback of requiring direct control, but their functionality was greatly improved.

[The operation is very difficult. Usually, one Wizard handles one doll.]

[Rael could operate up to 5 simultaneously at most?]

[In my memory, it was 4?]

Ray followed the Spirits’ explanation, closed his eyes, and focused his senses on the mana.

And, before long.

Flash!

A vivid light ignited in the eye position of the doll closest to him.

[Yes, control them one by one like that…]

The Spirits’ words couldn’t continue.

Because the light was spreading sideways, upward, in all directions.