Chapter 273 – The City of Wizards (Two)

Whooosh──!

The cold winter wind of the desolate wasteland slowly began to hold the breath of spring.

Even as the seasons changed their garments at the year’s starting point, no great transformation visited the barren landscape.

The budding of new life.

The scent of grass spreading with a pulse.

The earth was far too barren to hold such things.

What changed was, at most, the length of day and night and the temperature.

But the beginning of this spring was different.

“Look at this here!”

“Sprouts! They’re sprouts!”

Green grasses were raising their heads from the earth in various parts of the Sector.

Even if they were smaller than a single finger joint and not numerous.

“This can’t be…”

“Really, the land’s vitality is truly beginning to recover.”

The residents were moved.

The spring breeze, encountering feelings of joy and emotion as it wandered the Sector, turned its body and headed towards a place radiating a strong warmth.

Wheeee──

The place it arrived at held a massive sphere emitting a dazzling white light.

And dozens of priests standing in a line before it.

The area seemed to be under control, as no other people, including residents, were in sight.

Thump.

The priests knelt on one knee in a formal bow, and a red-haired girl walked out from among them towards the sphere.

It was Veronica.

Eyes with a captivating gaze and red lips.

The Order’s splendid ceremonial robes and jewelry.

Her usual youthful appearance was nowhere to be found, evoking an aura of sacredness that went beyond mere nobility.

Veronica, who had stopped walking, placed her hand on the Artificial Sun.

Then.

Oooooom──!

The light of the Artificial Sun, whose power had been depleted by the flow of time, began to regain its original intensity.

As Veronica returned, Solite, who was at the head of the line, stood up and bowed his head.

“You’ve worked hard, Saintess.”

“Not at all. It’s something I should naturally do.”

Veronica, who had been looking up at the pale sky where no Black Clouds were present, parted her lips.

“The range reached by the Artificial Sun’s light. You said it only covers this place and two adjacent Sectors, right? Is it because my power isn’t perfect?”

Her voice carried a hint of gloom.

Because there were Sectors up to number 50, and those who suffered the most from the Black Rain could be said to be the residents of those lower Sectors.

How could she encourage them?

After thinking for a moment, Solite spoke.

“I think you need not be impatient. The Saintess is already doing a great thing for the world.”

A great thing.

It was indeed true.

Veronica, who usually strongly imagined and desired to heal those suffering from illness due to the Black Rain.

The girl had become able to use the White Mana of the Ring to heal any kind of Black Sickness.

It was a situation where she performed miracles dozens of times daily for the sick who flocked to the Order.

“Moreover, those converting to the Order or volunteering for service are gradually increasing. I think we just need to gradually extend our reach to places the light cannot touch.”

With the appearance of the Saintess, the Order’s standing had actually become more solid than before.

The hands of support reaching out from various places had also increased significantly.

Perhaps feeling a bit better from Solite’s consolation, Veronica quietly nodded.

Then, seeming lost in thought for a moment, she spoke.

“But my power alone is insufficient. I think the Rainbow must also return. For the world to completely return to its original scenery.”

“The Rainbow’s reincarnation, you mean. I think there’s a possibility that is Ray-nim.”

“Huh?”

“Don’t you like Ray-nim, Saintess-nim?”

“Eh? Yes? Y-yes?”

Instantly, her face turned red as if about to burst.

It was the moment the magic of the Saintess’s nobility dissolved, and she popped back into the original Veronica.

“Is that not the case?”

“Uh… Ah, no, ah… Yes.”

Veronica, who had been denying it, realized Solite could see through the lie with his eyes and answered in a voice that seemed to shrink.

“It is said the Sun loved the Rainbow and followed it down to the earth. The one you love is Ray-nim. Considering that and the miraculous-like things Ray-nim has usually shown, I think it’s a sufficient possibility.”

“…….”

“Though, he himself seems completely unaware of it. Perhaps it would be a good method for you to have a serious conversation with him sometime.”

A long while later, Veronica, with the redness having subsided a bit, spoke in a voice carrying a hint of complaint.

“But Ray is so busy these days. I don’t even know exactly what he’s doing.”

A few days after the war with Yeomyeonghwa ended, Curiosa arrived at Sector 28 driving the bus.

「Arrogant brat! Look at the achievements I’ve accomplished!」

She had secured spatial stones by visiting various Ruins and pioneered additional Spatial Paths inside the bus.

Thanks to that, she could now freely travel not only to the settlements of the Elves and Dwarves and the mansion in Sector 37, but also around the Sector 30s area.

“Though it’s been a while since I last saw his face too, I understand he is most preoccupied with what can be done with the Element of Creation.”

“Is that so.”

At that moment, a newspaper carried by the wind flew and covered Veronica’s face.

“Pfft.”

The moment she reflexively brushed the newspaper away, a photo filling the front page in large print caught her eye.

It depicted a quiet street, a boy holding a bouquet full of sunflowers.

“Ray…?”

Veronica, who had muttered in a daze, checked the article title.

[Not only a Saintess, but a Saint also appears.]

The article’s content mainly consisted of eyewitness accounts and analysis data about a white-haired boy creating and scattering jerky made of light in the slums.

“…Ray-ya.”

Just what are you doing?

And at the same time.

Ray was walking the streets with Philip.

“‘A white-haired boy scattering jerky in the slums…’ This isn’t you, is it?”

Ray, who had been handed the newspaper by Philip, checked it briefly and spoke.

“That’s right.”

“Creating jerky and scattering it…?”

“I’m experimenting with various things.”

Ray had been using the Element of Creation extracted from the Artificial Sun to create various objects.

From small things like flowers and jerky to large furniture or weapons.

If he concentrated his mind highly, even complex objects like cars were possible.

‘There is no limit to what can be created.’

Only his own imagination and his ability to handle the Element of Creation itself had limits.

That was the reason Ray carried a sketchbook, endlessly drawing something, and endlessly creating something with the Element of Creation.

The more he did so, the boundary of his ability gradually expanded bit by bit.

The literature on imagination preserved in Akrassium was also of considerable help.

“Anyway, it’s surprising. Meeting after a long time, Veronica has become the Saintess, and Ray can use magic to create anything.”

“Nothing’s changed. I am me, and Veronica is Veronica.”

At Ray’s nonchalant tone, Philip let out a short laugh. He really felt he was exactly the same.

“Yeah, that’s right. I am Philip.”

“No. I am Philip.”

The front of Ray’s coat wriggled, and a fox face popped out.

It was the fox Spirit, Philip, whom Ray had brought from the settlement at its request to tour the human Sectors.

The human Philip let out a hollow laugh.

“Why did you give it the exact same name as me?”

“I gave it without thinking.”

“Any thoughts of changing it?”

“Grr, no. It is a precious name given by Ray-nim. I have no intention of changing it.”

“No, it’s confusing.”

“Ray-nim, this person is a fake. I am the real Philip. Grr.”

“This is driving me crazy.”

The voices of the two Philips arguing back and forth.

And feeling the warmth carried by the wind and the lively atmosphere of the streets, Ray thought.

It seems like a not-bad everyday life.

A few more days later, Ray took the wheel of the bus, which had been resupplied.

“For now, I’m going to the City of Wizards alone. Veronica is still very busy performing her role as Saintess.”

Gerard in the passenger seat quickly answered upon hearing Ray’s cool voice.

“Yes, for now, I am greatly satisfied returning with the hope seen in the world Beyond the Wall.”

Ray nodded and immediately stepped on the accelerator to depart.

Not long after, they left the Sector and emerged into the wasteland, where they could see Blue running towards the distant sky.

Before leaving, Blue asked.

[Is there any returned memory about a method to recognize the Rainbow’s reincarnation?]

The answer was ‘No.’

The memories of past Blues absorbed from the lake were tangled in an indescribably complex manner, and he was carefully unraveling them from the outside in.

[Still, I’ve been able to revive a few memories recently.]

[What kind?]

[Memories concerning the Purple Guardian.]

Originating from the memories of the first Blue, they allowed observation of the Purple Guardian’s peaceful daily life before the war.

For instance, the sight of her sitting Blue on her lap and basking in the sunlight in the forest.

At some point, Ray realized he was feeling an inexplicable sense of déjà vu from that woman in the memories.

It felt as if he had seen her somewhere in reality.

“…….”

Breaking free from his thoughts, Ray spurred the bus onward.

Vroooom──!

He drove through the hazy dust that rose day and night without distinction.

In less than two days, they could reach the wasteland beyond Sector 26.

‘Is it because we’re moving out of the Artificial Sun’s area of influence?’

The cleared sky was being covered again by Black Clouds.

When the vehicle had driven a fair distance, Gerard took out a device resembling a compass and spoke.

“From here on, I will guide you. Without a direction finder, finding the city’s exact location is─.”

“Not needed.”

It truly was so.

A massive, multi-colored Mana barrier was revealing itself beyond the horizon.

How long did they drive like that?

Screech! Psshh─

Ray stopped the bus, got out, examined the Distortion Field, and soon reached a conclusion.

‘I think I understand why the Pope didn’t notice the existence of this Distortion Field.’

What was cast here was not just Distortion Magic.

There were dozens of types of magic installed, such as suggestion-type magic that unconsciously made one avoid approaching, or security-type magic that blocked external Mana interference.

And all of them with near-perfect precision.

With this, even the highest-level Wizard would only perceive an empty wasteland.

“L-let’s go together!”

Gerard, holding the direction finder, hurriedly followed him out and couldn’t hide his surprise upon seeing Ray standing precisely before the Distortion Field.

“Ah, no, how on earth did you know the location of the Distortion Field?”

“…….”

Instead of answering, Ray asked.

“It’s certain there’s no problem with outsiders entering the City of Wizards, right?”

“Yes, no problem. In principle, residents Beyond the Wall neither know about nor can enter the existence Inside the Wall, but in chaotic times like these, the chains of rules are creaking a lot.”

After speaking, Gerard took out an unidentified orb from his pocket and infused it with Mana.

Ooom!

With the generated light, the Distortion Field in the area rippled and lifted, revealing a portion of a massive fortress wall.

Gerard entered through a small side door next to the main gate and soon came back out, saying with a laugh.

“The talk went well. We can drive in.”

“Money?”

“Yes, a little, no, a lot was slipped in. In fact, I had to use most of the remaining assets of our Ristoa School… but I think it’s cheap as the cost of transporting hope to the city.”

Gerard saw not only Veronica but also Ray as a seed of hope.

Seeing him use magic ignoring formulas, he could intuit with a thrill.

‘Perhaps.’

Perhaps this boy might be the one to end the endless conflict and competition between Schools.

Vroom vroom─

The bus, started again, passed through the wide-open fortress gate and went inside.

Creeeak─ Thud!

The fortress gate closed again.

And the Distortion Field quickly restored itself.

The empty wasteland left behind.

There, the wind carrying warmth brought from Sector 28 was slowly blowing.