Genius Wizard who sees Rainbows- Chapter 100

#100. The Place We Ascended To (2)

 

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A blinking arrow that turns into a dot.

That meant a Murcred executive was in Sector 46.

“This is making me really nervous.”

Philip swallowed hard.

So far, only two Murcred executives had appeared.

Walter, for instance, had taken quite a bit of effort to bring down.

That was when Ray’s skills were weaker than they are now, but still.

And as for the more recent encounter in the clearing with the individual named Curiosa—

**”We can’t win. Even in the most optimal conditions, our chances are 0 percent.”**

**”It was terrifying. Black, huge, and its eye shape kept changing.”**

**”What do you mean, ‘black and huge’?”**

**”It was just… black and huge.”**

—It was clear that they were an overwhelmingly powerful existence.

Ray, reading Philip’s anxiety, spoke.

“There’s no need to worry too much. We have the advantage of making the first move.”

“Ah, well, that’s true.”

The binding magic in the rings had been altered by Curiosa.

They could now detect the executives’ locations, but the reverse was not true.

That meant they could locate the enemy first, assess their strength, and devise a strategy accordingly.

“Depending on the situation, we might not have to fight at all.”

“We can just pass them by? Didn’t Curiosa say we had to take down the executives for the Doctor to appear?”

Veronica, holding Nero in her arms, approached them and asked.

Philip scowled the moment he saw Nero.

“That arrogant cat…”

“He’s not a cat. He’s Nero.”

“He’s laughing at me. I swear.”

“Right, Nero?”

While Philip growled, Ray looked back at the road they had driven down and answered Veronica’s question.

“I’m starting to think that might not be entirely true.”

Philip and Veronica turned their attention back to him.

“What do you mean?”

“Philip, what comes to mind when you think of a ‘boss’?”

“Uh… The highest-ranking person in an organization. In my terms, the top administrator?”

Ray nodded.

“Exactly. The person who has to react immediately to every conflict and issue the organization faces. That’s the only way it keeps running.”

“……”

“But the Doctor doesn’t seem to be doing that.”

Ray continued.

“After Walter died, I stayed in Sector 49 for quite a while. But the Doctor never showed up.”

“Hmm…”

“Even after encountering Curiosa twice, I never saw any reaction that seemed to come from the Doctor.”

“Now that you mention it, that does make sense.”

“In fact, the only time I found traces of the Doctor was when I met Madame Lenia, who had nothing to do with Murcred.”

There was more supporting evidence.

The Doctor visited executives every few years, issued a massive batch of orders, and then disappeared—never appearing again until the next cycle.

That was the impression they had.

It seemed the Doctor left the organization’s management entirely to the executives, focusing instead on pursuing his own unknown goal elsewhere.

“That’s why Curiosa’s suggested method isn’t guaranteed to work.”

Even if they eliminated Murcred executives, there was no guarantee the Doctor would appear.

Therefore, rather than fighting, negotiating for information about the Rainbow might be the wiser choice.

If their opponent exhibited emotional instability like Walter or Curiosa, that could be something they could exploit.

Thus, their priorities were clear.

First, they had to determine what kind of person the executive in Sector 46 was.

—

As they entered the sector, the group immediately noticed something strange.

“The streets are eerily quiet.”

“Yeah…? Did something happen here…?”

The city was silent and still.

Most shops and stalls had their shutters down or were covered with cloth.

The few people walking about moved with urgency, as if someone were chasing them.

Philip and Veronica unconsciously tensed up at the uneasy atmosphere permeating the streets.

**Step— Step—**

In the heavy silence, their footsteps sounded even louder.

At first, they thought it was just one part of the city.

But as they scouted for a place to stay, they realized the entire sector was like this.

“……”

Ray’s calm eyes scanned his surroundings.

Shattered windows in various shops stood out.

Side mirrors of parked cars were broken, and damaged streetlights flickered ominously.

It wasn’t just the outskirts of the sector having unusually poor security—the damage ratio was too high for that.

And more than anything…

**’There aren’t any children in the streets. Not a single one.’**

Shoe shiners. Newspaper boys.

Errand runners. Match sellers.

The lowest rung of the street hierarchy belonged to orphans.

Whether they got to eat that day depended on whether they could work, so they never left their posts.

If they did, another gang would claim their territory.

Each group, regardless of size, always left at least a few members behind to maintain their hold.

Yet, there wasn’t a single child in sight.

“…A war.”

“It’s a war.”

Ray and Philip murmured in unison.

“A pretty large-scale one, too, huh?”

“Yeah. Given the size of this sector, for this many streets to be this quiet…”

Ray and Philip had the same thought.

The thick tension in the air was a familiar kind to the two boys who had lived on the streets for years.

“…War? You mean the kind I’m thinking of? A gang war?”

Veronica asked cautiously.

She had grown up in an orphanage before being taken in by Graham.

She didn’t have detailed knowledge or firsthand experience of street wars like the others.

“Yes. That war.”

Philip nodded.

“And judging by the atmosphere, it’s not just some small-time skirmish between minor gangs.”

Ray agreed.

Gang wars usually took place within the territories they controlled.

But nearly every street they passed carried this thick tension.

**‘This is a war between large organizations.’**

Naturally, one particular organization came to mind.

**”Still, the group I led wasn’t small. It was big, actually.”**

Niles was not exactly a man without boasts.

He claimed to have had seven lovers.

He boasted about taking down twenty thugs barehanded.

None of his lies were malicious, but they were frequent.

**”We had control over more than three-quarters of the sector, and we were still expanding. Back then, we had well over 200 members.”**

However, there was one habit Niles had.

He never exaggerated when he smoked.

**”I went through a lot to build that. I was young, full of energy and ambition. My subordinates were capable, too.”**

As he spoke, Niles exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.

In the murky river beneath the bridge, the man’s complicated expression and the boy’s unreadable gaze were reflected.

**”But that’s all in the past. I left that place behind, so I have no regrets. Whatever happens to them now isn’t my concern.”**

A lie.

Ray wasn’t great at reading facial expressions, but he was better than anyone at reading emotions.

The feelings overflowing from Niles were regret and lingering attachment.

“……”

Ray pushed the thoughts aside.

Niles had drifted down the Elton River to Sector 50 over a year ago.

He couldn’t be certain that the organization still existed.

Street gangs were constantly fighting, rising, and falling.

But Ray had a hunch.

Niles’s organization was still standing—stronger than ever.

**‘Because it was Niles who built it.’**

With that thought, Ray continued to explore.

To operate in this sector, they needed to understand the situation.

But the street children, the best source of information, were nowhere to be found.

**‘We’ll have to investigate firsthand.’**

Ray paused for a moment before turning around and speaking.

“I think it’s best if we split up to gather information. Philip, Veronica, you two head toward 32nd Street. I’ll check the opposite direction.”

“Got it.”

“Alright.”

The two nodded and disappeared down the street.

They weren’t going too far, and with Veronica’s magic, there wasn’t much risk involved.

**Tap—**

Ray set off once more.

Aside from the orphans, the ones most familiar with the state of the streets were the merchants.

He intended to ask them directly, but finding an open shop wasn’t easy.

As he walked through the eerily silent streets, Ray noticed something.

**‘There are no lookouts.’**

During a gang war, it was standard practice to place lookouts on rooftops to monitor enemy movements.

Yet, there wasn’t a single lookout on any of the buildings.

There was only one possible explanation.

One side had already gained such an overwhelming advantage that they didn’t even need lookouts.

**‘…The war might be ending soon.’**

That was actually good news. It meant fewer restrictions on their activities in the sector.

At that moment, a sound caught Ray’s attention.

**Bang—!**

A gunshot.

A sound so distinct that it could never be mistaken for anything else.

Ray’s head snapped toward the direction it had come from.

Beyond the square, deep inside an alley leading to the next street.

─────.

The gunshot cut through the air like a sharp blade, shattering into fragments beneath the sunlight.

Its echoes rang in his ears.

Ray stepped toward the alley, focusing his senses.

Faint voices and hurried footsteps came from within.

**‘A fight is happening.’**

Drawn toward the sounds, Ray instinctively moved forward.

—There…! Get him…!

—It’s just… one guy…! Don’t let him escape…!

The voices, once distant, became clearer.

Then—

**Tap!**

A man burst out from the alley, brushing past Ray as he ran.

“There he is! Drive him that way!”

“Don’t let him escape! It’s just one guy!”

A group of pursuers followed close behind, passing Ray in the process.

Some even locked eyes with him, but the moment was brief.

—Catch him…! Don’t let him get away…!

—No more… losses…!

The voices faded as the chase continued.

Ray remained where he stood, quietly watching the alley where they had disappeared.

“……”

What caught his attention was the tattoo on the fleeing man’s neck.

A single flower, struggling to bloom, covered in thick, sticky fluid.

**Nisoha (泥咲華).**

A flower that blooms in the mud.

Niles had the same tattoo on his right shoulder.

This was unexpected.

If Niles’s gang—Nisoha—was involved in this war, Ray had assumed they were on the winning side.

**‘They’ve already gained too much distance.’**

Glancing around, Ray leaped onto a trash bin beside a building’s wall.

**Tap!**

Using a series of ledges and signboards, he swiftly climbed up to the rooftop.

He moved to the opposite edge and looked down.

—Push him further! Corner him!

—If he escapes, we’ll have to go through hell again!

From above, he had a clear view of the fleeing man and his pursuers.

Ray leapt across rooftops, following them.

Then—

—You bastard! *Huff… Huff…*

—*Huff… Huff…* Damn, he sure runs fast. Are we sure he got shot?

The tattooed man was backed into a dead-end alley.

His pursuers, catching their breath, came to a stop before him.

Without hesitation, the man pulled out a knife and pointed it at them.

—Come at me if you’ve got the guts, you bastards!

Despite his injuries and being cornered, the man showed no sign of fear.

In fact, it was the pursuers who hesitated, reluctant to rush him.

—Tch. You were all so eager a moment ago, but now you’re scared?

—Don’t fall for it. We don’t need to take risks.

—Yeah, let’s take him down with minimal damage.

As Ray observed, he noticed something else.

**‘The tattoo… he’s not the only one with it.’**

Every single person below bore the Nisoha tattoo.

**Internal conflict?**

Or was it a deception, a fake tattoo meant to confuse their enemies?

As Ray considered the possibilities, the pursuers all drew their guns and aimed at the man.

**Click. Click.**

—Let’s see if you can keep running your mouth when you’re full of bullet holes.

The tattooed man bit his lip hard.

Then, as if spitting out his resentment, he spoke.

—You bastards… Mark my words. Until the day you die, remember this: everything Niles built—everything he left behind—you’ve destroyed it all.

**Niles.**

Without hesitation, Ray leapt down.

The moment the triggers were pulled and gunshots rang out.

 

 

 

 

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