Genius Wizard who sees Rainbows- Chapter 178

#178. Wasteland (5)

—

Gaiole approached with a calm stride and offered praise.

“I’ve heard the story. I wasn’t looking in that direction at the time, so I didn’t witness it myself, but they say you took down a sandworm on your own using magic. That’s quite the feat, wouldn’t you agree?”

The surrounding team members nodded in agreement.

“It’s a shame I didn’t get to see it myself. But it’s hard to believe a 1st-circle mage could have done such a thing—are you sure you’re not at least 2nd-circle? Or perhaps even 3rd, like the rumors?”

With a smooth change of subject, Gaiole posed the question in a tone full of subtle insinuation.

There was suspicion in his gaze.

And a vessel brimming with wariness.

Ray got the impression that Gaiole wasn’t too pleased about a powerful newcomer appearing in the expedition team.

‘Seems like he’s wary of losing his footing.’

With that in mind, and under the expectant gazes of all those around him, Ray gave a small nod.

The atmosphere burst into excited admiration.

“Why have you been hiding your skills?”

“You seem more proficient in combat than Miss Grine, who’s a 2nd-circle mage herself.”

Amid the cheers, Ray studied Gaiole’s reaction.

Though he wore a smile… the bowl of emotions betrayed his displeasure with the situation.

After that, the members dispersed to rest and regroup. Gaiole and Demper remained behind to speak.

“Demper, could you take point when we breach the next nest?”

“Yes. I can do that.”

Demper hesitated, then asked,

“But isn’t it difficult to drive and give commands at the same time? Wouldn’t it be better if you sat up front with me and focused solely on assessing the situation and issuing orders…?”

“Haha, I appreciate the concern. But this isn’t my first year doing this. No need to worry.”

“…Understood.”

Ray caught sight of a particular emotion flitting busily around Demper’s bowl.

Suspicion.

*“Do you think Gaiole is someone we can trust?”*

Those words had awakened something that had long been slumbering.

Judging by how deeply it was etched, it was a feeling that had existed in the vessel for a long time.

There was no need to forge and insert artificial emotion—just a slight nudge had been enough.

“Ray, I’ll be counting on you for the rest of the expedition as well.”

Gaiole extended a handshake and left.

“……”

Demper opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, no words came out. He quietly walked away.

Watching them go, Ray asked Veronica,

“What do you think?”

“Hmm? About what?”

“Those two.”

Understanding the intent behind Ray’s question, Veronica took a moment before answering.

“I’m not entirely sure yet, but… Mr. Demper doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“Because he treats you like a proper lady?”

“Well, yeah… wait! That’s not the only reason. During our conversations, there were moments when I could feel a sort of innocence in him.”

Ray nodded and then turned to Jang.

“What about you, Jang? What do you think?”

“Uh… may I speak frankly?”

“Yes, please do.”

Jang hesitated for a while before replying.

“I feel the same way about Mr. Demper as Miss Veronica. But Gaiole… It’s just a gut feeling from dealing with many people, but there’s something off about him. His words and actions are too flawless—it makes him feel unnatural.”

Ray stayed silent, and Jang quickly added,

“S-sorry. I may have spoken out of turn.”

“No, there’s nothing to apologize for. I feel the same way.”

With that, Ray turned his gaze elsewhere.

Madam Grine and her disciples were looking their way, but the boy kept his eyes locked with only one of them.

“We’re heading out!”

Once rest and maintenance were done, the expedition resumed its journey.

Vrooooom──!

Over the next two days, they passed through several sandworm habitats—and each time, casualties occurred.

“It’s unfortunate, but Rotten and Kedmon acted independently, ignoring orders.”

Each time, Gaiole delivered a speech to calm the expedition’s anxiety, all while reinforcing his authority.

The members’ trust in him grew deeper by the day.

And that was only natural.

In an expedition mostly made up of new recruits, Gaiole—with his eight years of experience—was the one person they could absolutely rely on.

But he wasn’t the only one earning trust.

“Thank you, Mage.”

“You saved us again…!”

Ray was becoming a central figure in the team alongside Gaiole.

Each time they crossed a sandworm nest, he played a vital role—and thanks to unlocking Binjin’s memories, he continued to share valuable insights.

“You said during the interview that this was your first time, but you sure know a lot about sandworms.”

Gaiole’s wariness grew each day, and eventually, he began showing his discomfort outright.

On the third day—

As they passed the fourth sandworm nest:

*Two sandworms are approaching underground. They’ll erupt to the surface in about fifteen seconds—evade to the left.*

Receiving the transmission from Gaiole atop the bus, Ray stared out at the terrain.

A single sandworm was chasing them on the surface at a perilous distance.

‘And two more underground.’

They must have been quite deep—there were no telltale signs of the ground swelling.

Though the earth trembled violently, the cacophony of surrounding noise made it impossible to locate them based on sound alone.

But that didn’t matter.

Ray had a much more reliable way of detecting them than vibrations.

His eyes, fixed on the ever-flowing ground, reflected the hues of mana.

It was the mana coursing through the sandworms racing underground.

Just like when he had sensed Laqria beneath the tower’s basement.

The only difference now was that, with his 3rd-circle advancement, his ability to sense mana beyond obstacles had improved even further.

‘Evade to the left, huh?’

The two underground sandworms were approaching from the right.

If they followed Gaiole’s instruction, they’d walk straight into an ambush.

‘So he *is* uncomfortable with me.’

Ray wasn’t surprised—he had more or less expected this.

He quickly descended to the first floor and gave Jang a direct order.

“You heard the transmission, right? Don’t go left—go right.”

“Yes, understood.”

With a stern expression, Jang turned the wheel hard to the right.

And the next moment—

BOOOOM──!

With a deafening roar, a sandworm burst from the ground, just barely missing the side of the bus.

Not long after—

────!

Another vehicle at the rear of the formation flipped over under a sandworm attack.

After escaping the nest, the expedition stopped beside a rocky mountain to take inventory.

As always, Gaiole encouraged the members, then approached Ray.

“My apologies. Looks like the sensors glitched for a moment. That could’ve ended badly because of me. I sincerely apologize.”

He bowed his head.

His voice was filled with genuine regret and remorse—but it held no sway over the boy.

Because the boy was focused on the bowl overflowing with Gaiole’s sense of failure.

‘He must’ve planned to get rid of me during this crossing.’

Being young had its perks.

People were careless enough to show their true colors so easily.

…It might be time to stop traveling with Gaiole.

With that thought, Ray opened his mouth.

“It’s fine. It was the machine’s fault, not yours. And I’m still alive.”

Below his bowed head, Gaiole’s lips curled faintly.

With dusk falling, the camp was soon abuzz with activity.

Fires were lit, meals prepared, and tents pitched.

There was a faint sense of camaraderie now, with friendly chatter bubbling here and there.

Darkness fell quickly over the sky like a black curtain.

────.

Silence.

Second floor of the bus.

Ray gently adjusted the position of Veronica’s pillow.

“Mm… Ray… hand… so Rockdeer can… bring it back…”

She mumbled in her sleep and shifted slightly.

‘Bring back what?’

Ray briefly pinched her nose to stop her breathing, then straightened up and turned his head.

He checked on Jang, fast asleep from exhaustion, then stepped out of the bus.

Crackle─ pop─

A large bonfire blazed at the center of camp.

The vehicles were arranged in a circle, forming a crude wall.

No one was around.

Except for the one person standing by the fire.

“Your turn?”

“Ah, first night watch, right? Mages usually get assigned the fewest shifts.”

“That’s right.”

“Well, good luck. Let me know if you need anything—I’ll be right inside.”

“I will, if necessary.”

The previous watch bowed and disappeared into the tent beside the van.

Ray sat in a folding chair and leaned back.

“……”

Above, faint stars sparkled in the black sky.

The farther they got from the sector, the thinner the clouds became.

Even the black stains left by the rain were becoming fewer.

…The star-filled sky seemed to be blaming the Black Rain on humanity.

Crackle─ pop─

As the fire flickered, the boy sat quietly, thoughts drifting to those whose vessels had been filled with starlight.

And then—

“……”

He sensed a gaze shooting from somewhere near the vehicles.

He closed his eyes and stilled his breathing.

How much time passed like that?

Rustle.

Footsteps behind him.

“…Mage?”

A soft voice followed.

The person halted momentarily, then approached with soundless steps.

And at that moment—

Whoosh─!

Ray sprang up like lightning, slipped behind the figure, and locked their neck with his arm.

At the same time, he kicked their knee, brought them to the ground, and lowered his stance.

He whispered coldly in their ear.

“Must not have done much during the day, huh? Roaming around wide awake like this.”

The captive gasped,

“Ray, why are you doing this?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking that? Gaiole?”

Ray extended his free hand toward the item Gaiole held.

Gaiole resisted, trying to keep it from being taken, but he couldn’t overpower Ray’s magically enhanced strength.

“You were going to feed *this* to me?”

“N-no! It’s medicine for a chronic illness, I swear.”

Gaiole remained unnervingly composed.

He seemed to believe he could talk his way out of this.

“Funny. I’ve never seen you take it before. What illness do you have?”

“My respiratory system is weak. I can barely breathe with your arm around me. Cough! Cough! Please, let me go so I can take my medicine.”

“Oh, sure.”

Ray pried open Gaiole’s mouth and dumped the entire bottle of pills inside.

“Gghk! Cough!”

“Interesting. People usually want *me* to take the pills—not swallow them themselves.”

Ray kept forcing Gaiole to swallow as he spoke.

“According to Demper, not once has your expedition returned with double-digit survivors.”

“Gghk!”

“You march forward sacrificing inexperienced members for your own safety, then keep only essential people to maximize your gains—isn’t that right?”

“Gghk!”

“My growing influence must’ve disrupted your plan, so you tried to eliminate me. If you’re already trying to take out a 2nd-circle mage, the Wasteland crossing must be nearly complete.”

Clink!

The empty pill bottle hit the ground and rolled.

Freed from Ray’s arm, Gaiole braced himself on the dirt with both hands, gasping for air.

Then he screamed.

“Somebody! Somebody help me! Get me out of here!”

But there was no response from the vehicles.

There was just a terrible silence.

It was inevitable.

The soundproofing and distortion spell had been unleashed at the same time as Gaiole’s approach.

Ray bent down on his knees to get eye level with Gaiole, trying to figure out what to do with him.

Then something he felt drew his gaze back.

‘…….’