Chapter 40 – Old Stories and Loops (Two)

Rainbow.

The three letters that were the boy’s very purpose at this moment stirred every nerve in his body just by being spoken and ringing in his ears.

“Mercread possesses a part of the Rainbow?”

“Yes. I thought it might be a story you’d find interesting.”

“But isn’t the Rainbow a band that appears in the sky?”

He had never actually seen a Rainbow.

But through various related stories, he had come to think of it as something similar to natural phenomena like clouds, rain, or snow.

‘Natural phenomena are beyond human power.’

The idea that a human could own such a natural phenomenon was hard to picture.

“Of course, the seven-colored band that appears in the sky is the most prominent hypothesis about the Rainbow. But just because one hypothesis gains prominence doesn’t mean all others completely lose their meaning. There are theories just as fascinating and plausible as the seven-colored band.”

The old man used Telekinesis to float the Ring before his eyes.

The Ring, beginning to slowly rotate, shone dazzlingly under the sunlight seeping through the window.

The old man stared at the red gemstone set in the Ring and spoke.

“One of them is the hypothesis that the Rainbow is a gemstone.”

“A gemstone?”

“Yes. A single gemstone that breathes immense vitality into the world.”

A story, terribly faded and ancient, began to flow from between his parched lips.

“In the distant past, they say the world’s landscape was vastly different from now. The sky was always blue, and the land was abundant.”

The reason was clear.

Because at the center of humanity’s first city stood a gemstone that emitted a colorful, brilliant light like a prism.

The light emitted by the Rainbow made the land fertile and raised the sick.

It filled people’s bodies with overflowing strength, and with no reason to starve or fight, it was nothing short of a Paradise.

The boy asked a question.

“What’s a Paradise?”

“It might be an unfamiliar word. Indeed, it’s not a commonly used term. Paradise refers to a world where everyone enjoys a prosperous and happy life.”

Hearing the explanation, the boy was filled with great doubt.

‘A world where everyone is happy?’

That was the most absurd thing he had ever heard in his life.

Even if ten Grandmother Violas combined their efforts to create a story, he doubted it could be as fantastical as the meaning of the word ‘Paradise’.

He didn’t have the ability to precisely define what the emotion of happiness was.

But there was one thing he knew for sure.

That happiness was an emotion much harder to feel compared to others.

‘Also, it seemed possible to steal, though I’m not certain.’

He had once witnessed a scene where a man returning after receiving his wages was robbed.

The emotion presumed to be happiness drained from the man’s Vessel and filled the robber’s Vessel in equal measure.

At that time, the boy thought.

Perhaps the total amount of happiness scattered in the world is fixed, and people live by stealing and being stolen from.

‘Not everyone can be happy.’

The boy couldn’t accept it.

The old man’s definition of happiness.

For a moment, he considered refuting it, but the old man’s following words soon made him realize it wasn’t necessary.

“But that happiness didn’t last forever. Various forces arose seeking to monopolize the Rainbow, and after a long war, the Rainbow shattered into seven fragments and scattered across the world.”

After that, the world’s prosperity rapidly declined.

Murky air and a sky covered in dark clouds.

Barren land where nothing would grow no matter what was planted.

As time passed, the world became its current state, and the whereabouts of the gemstone became unclear.

“But you shouldn’t believe it too fervently. It’s just a story that’s been passed down.”

“Still, it’s a story with some credibility, right? Among the hypotheses about the Rainbow.”

The old man gave a wry smile.

“What about the story of a city-sized turtle living under the Elton River that spews streams of seven-colored water from its mouth?”

“……”

“Or the one that flies through the sky and shoots seven-colored light from its hindquarters…”

“No. I think that’s enough.”

He wasn’t experienced enough in life to easily pass judgment on matters in an unfamiliar field.

But for some reason, it seemed such creatures shouldn’t exist in the world.

Seeing the boy’s serious expression, the old man chuckled and said.

“Alright. Let’s return to the original story. What do you think I’ll say next?”

“That Mercread possesses one of those Rainbow fragments?”

“Yes. Correct. The red gemstones carried by ordinary Operatives are just tiny splinters of that fragment.”

Mercread and the Rainbow Shard.

Although nothing had been proven, the old man believed there was an undeniable link between the two elements.

“Back when I was actively researching the Rainbow, I once acquired, for money, a red gemstone said to have been used by a Mercread Operative.”

The old man of the past immediately realized it wasn’t a mass-produced item.

It was something he had never seen anywhere in other Sectors.

“Charging Stones are, after all, merely auxiliary. They have a limit to the amount of Mana they can hold, and the quality of the Mana is also inferior. They aren’t commonly used unless you need to squeeze out Mana to the extreme.”

But the red gemstone was different.

It boasted a quality so excellent it was almost excessive to call it a Charging Stone.

“Although still incomparable to a Ring’s Mana, I thought it would be a significant help. Wondering how they could continuously supply such items to their Operatives reminded me of one hypothesis about the Rainbow.”

The hypothesis that the Rainbow is a gemstone that emits infinite light and Mana, and is currently divided into seven fragments scattered somewhere.

“Thinking that way, the supply method of the red gemstones became somewhat understandable. I found there were quite a few others who thought the same.”

There was a condition, however.

Either the red fragment of the Rainbow had to be so enormous that losing a piece wouldn’t be noticeable.

Or the severed parts had to be capable of infinite reproduction through restoration.

Only then would it be possible to continuously supply Charging Stones to Operatives.

“Anyway, it was a plausible hypothesis, but I couldn’t delve deeper. Mercread was already a notoriously dangerous organization back then, and even in my youth, I wasn’t the type to take such risks.”

He had heard an unexpected story at a completely unexpected time.

But Ray wasn’t surprised; he assessed his current situation by reflecting on the given information.

The man in the basement.

Whether he was truly an Executive was unknown, but it was almost certain he belonged to Mercread.

‘And although the story of the Rainbow being a gemstone is just a hypothesis…’

It seemed worth investigating.

Ray added the keyword ‘Mercread’ to the list of things he would investigate.

“You already have a face that’s planning something, I see.”

At the sound of the old man’s voice, Ray looked up.

“It seems you’re about to plunge into something very dangerous. Trying to stop you would probably be useless, wouldn’t it?”

Seeing Ray nod quietly, the old man gave a bitter smile.

Though their time together was short, the old man had already grasped much about the boy.

Direct words and actions.

Eyes full of gunfire and a mental agility beyond his years.

‘And as firm in his own convictions as he is talented in Magic.’

He wasn’t the type to be swayed or heavily influenced by others’ words.

No matter what advice he gave, he wouldn’t be able to stop what the boy was going to do.

‘Trying to stop him would be greedy.’

As the boy took risks, the chance of his own Magic, painstakingly passed on, being lost to the world also increased.

The cautious and meticulous boy would probably manage on his own, but even considering that, the world was a place boiling with all sorts of malice and enmity.

‘What a pity.’

Anyway, there was nothing else he, bedridden and soon to die, could do.

Only teach him Magic to protect himself and satisfy his curiosity about the world.

The old man retrieved the Ring and handed it back to Ray, saying.

“Alright. I’ll respect your wishes. I think I’ve told you everything I know about Mercread. Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

Ray looked at the Ring in his hand for a moment, then looked back at the old man and asked.

“The Enhancement Magic and Exploitation Magic on the Ring. Can they be removed?”

Creak──

Veronica, who appeared opening the door, approached with calm steps and sat next to Ray.

“Since we have a new student today, I suppose we need to go over the basic explanation again. Veronica, is that alright?”

“I’m fine with it.”

The old man nodded and continued, looking at Ray.

“All Magic begins with forming a Circle. You can use Magic with Mana existing in the atmosphere or stored in a Charging Stone, but in that case, there’s a risk of Mana addiction.”

The ring encircling the heart.

A sort of container for storing Mana.

That was the definition of a Circle.

“Atmospheric Mana undergoes Purification as it flows into the Circle. The type of element contained at this time varies depending on the individual’s traits. In other words, the types of Magic each person can use are limited.”

For instance, the elements occupying most of the old man’s three Rings were Maintenance, Blockade, Binding, and Earth.

It wasn’t that other types of elements were absent, but their proportion was extremely small.

Thus, in Ray’s eyes, almost the entire Ring appeared dyed with Mana of grayish-white and brown hues.

‘The man in the basement had mostly red and yellow-hued Mana.’

The man created fire and made his limbs hard like metal.

Ultimately, it meant that the primary combat style a Wizard could adopt depended on the Mana contained in their Ring.

Ray thought.

He hoped his own Ring would be filled with Mana of hues most helpful in fighting.

“The method of creating a Circle is simple. Veronica, can you explain it once?”

“Yes. First, gather Mana in your hand. A familiar kind that you can handle well.”

Hmm─

Veronica sifted blue-hued Mana from the atmosphere and placed it above her hand.

“Next, send the gathered Mana down your arm to the chest area.”

The lump of Mana, the size of a small bead, slid down the girl’s arm and arrived at her chest.

“And then circle it around the heart.”

The blue bead began to slowly circle the girl’s heart.

Like a satellite orbiting a planet.

“Keep going and increase the speed.”

As the orbital speed increased, a blue trajectory began to be drawn around the heart, and at some point, it started to look like a single Ring.

Beads of sweat began to form on Veronica’s forehead.

Amidst everyone holding their breath.

The moment the bead’s speed soared towards its limit.

“Ah.”

Veronica lost control of the Mana, and the bead decomposed like smoke and vanished.

With a despondent face, unable to speak for a moment, Veronica moved her lips a few times and then spoke in a voice trying its best to sound fine.

“This means you failed to create a Circle. You mustn’t lose control of the Mana until the end.”

The fatigue seeping through, due to the extreme mental exertion, was impossible to hide.

“Don’t be too disheartened. You’re clearly improving every day. At this rate, the day of success isn’t far off.”

“Yes. I think so too.”

Veronica also felt that success was suddenly much closer.

But she was anxious.

Because of the fear that her grandfather might leave this world before she could create a Circle.

‘I really want to show him me using Magic after completing the Circle.’

Grandfather Graham was her benefactor.

The benefactor who took her and her siblings out of a hopeless orphanage.

Contrary to rumors, there was no abuse or human trafficking.

Instead, he provided devoted care and taught them many things needed to live in the world.

It was only natural that Veronica and her two younger siblings came to follow Graham like a real grandfather.

“So, what do you think? Can you give it a try?”

“Yes.”

Answering as if he had been waiting for the old man’s words, Ray closed his eyes for a moment and concentrated.

With a feeling as if every nerve cell in his body was awakening one by one, the sensation of Mana touching his skin seemed to be felt in minute detail.

And when he focused his nerves on his pupils and lifted his eyelids again.

“……”

Before the boy’s eyes spread a sea of Mana undulating in countless, innumerable hues.

A world no one else could glimpse.

A different dimensional world only the boy could perceive.

“Most people don’t know which element they’re familiar with at first. For your first attempt, just do as you feel comfortable, skillfully─”

The old man’s words couldn’t continue.

The boy, who had already sprung into action, was sending the gathered Mana down to his chest.

Familiar and easy-to-handle Mana.

From the boy’s perspective, that condition applied to all Mana except a few hues, so it didn’t much matter what he chose.

Hmm─

The Mana, arriving at his chest in an instant, began to run in a circle around his heart.

And within a few seconds.

Hmmmmm───!!

It reached an uncontrollable speed.

A speed that, at a glance, was several times faster than what Veronica had attempted.

“Ha, Grandfather, this is…?”

Despite Veronica’s urgent voice, the old man said nothing.

He just watched the boy’s Ring with his usual calm and composed face.

‘This must be within the range of situations Grandfather predicted.’

Veronica could feel relieved.

As expected of someone who had spent a lifetime immersed in Magic, he also possessed knowledge about such unexpected situations.

The girl regained her composure, following the old man’s lead.

Hmmmmm───!!

And the old man, watching the Ring.

‘What in the world.’

Was panicking.

Cold sweat ran down his back.