Genius Wizard who sees Rainbows- Chapter 59

#059. Companions (2)

—

Ray continued speaking, ignoring the interruption.

“I’m planning to gather information about the Rainbow while traveling through various sectors. And based on the latest intel I’ve obtained…”

Ray took out a ring with a red gem embedded in it from his pocket.

“The man I fought might be a high-ranking member of Murcred.”

Veronica’s face tensed as she saw the ring.

“That’s…”

Veronica’s parameter shot up.

The term “Veronica Parameter” was a term Ray came up with after reading some math books. It measured the degree of white mana filling Veronica’s “vessel.” It was ranked from “Safe,” indicating no worry, to “Blindness,” where the vessel was completely flooded with white light—divided into five stages.

Another unit Ray often used was Viola Meter, which measured the absurdity of a story.

Currently, Veronica’s parameter was at…

*Alert.*

Stage 3, indicating a significant amount of worry.

Ray spoke to reassure her.

“No need to worry. I won’t use it unless it’s an emergency.”

“So, you *would* use it in an emergency?”

“If it’s a situation where not using it would mean death, of course I would.”

“…”

Veronica pouted, clearly displeased but unable to argue against the logic.

“You *did* say last time that you wouldn’t use it. I should’ve made you sign a contract. This is why you can’t trust people’s promises—”

Ray ignored her grumbling and continued.

“There’s a strong theory. The Rainbow is a gem containing infinite mana, currently split into seven fragments scattered across the world.”

The story was becoming more intriguing. Philip leaned in closer.

“And it’s quite famous among mages that Murcred’s boss possesses one of these fragments. The red blood stones their members carry are likely pieces of it.”

“So, you’re saying you’ll continue investigating the Rainbow, focusing on Murcred and the gems?”

“Exactly, Philip. That’s correct.”

Ray nodded and concluded.

“So, moving forward, traveling with me might put you in extremely dangerous situations. Your lives could even be at risk.”

He paused briefly, expecting to see fear growing in the two.

However, after a few moments, there was no noticeable change in their emotions.

…?

As Ray silently questioned this, Philip shrugged and said:

“I figured as much. I didn’t think this would be a comfortable journey.”

“Your life might be at risk.”

“I’ve already come close to dying a few times. Once, thanks to you, at that abandoned factory.”

Philip grinned, and Veronica chimed in with her concerns.

“Everything else is fine, but *that ring*! Please, only use it if it’s absolutely, truly necessary.”

What’s this?

Their reactions weren’t what Ray expected.

Both of their vessels now brimmed with pale yellow mana—a glow of courage.

And not just ordinary courage; it was vivid and radiant, surpassing the norm.

‘I’ve seen this color before.’

Veronica had displayed it when she leaned out of a window to confront Zephyr’s gang. Philip had shown the same hue when he ran into a burning hideout to rescue Kedrick.

It was a unique kind of bravery.

‘They’re not fearless by nature, but in critical moments, they summon unwavering courage.’

Ray came to a conclusion.

“I understand your determination. I’ll do everything I can to protect you and help you achieve your goals. I’ll give it my all.”

His tone was serious, even more so than usual.

Bringing Veronica and Philip along as companions was a decision Ray made after much consideration. He was well aware of the drawbacks of having a group:

Limited freedom of movement.

Increased exposure to danger.

Reduced autonomy in decision-making.

Ray, who had taken responsibility for the children under the bridge, knew these challenges well.

Still, he chose to bring them along.

‘The benefits outweigh the risks.’

Even accounting for the disadvantages.

“So, I’d like you to assist me as well. Lend me your knowledge and skills.”

Ray explained the roles he envisioned for them.

“Which means you want me to handle the finances and negotiations?” Philip asked.

“And you want me to guide you in magical matters?” Veronica added.

Hearing Ray articulate this made them feel at ease. It clarified the doubts they had when he first extended the invitation:

*“Why bring us along? Wouldn’t it be easier to travel alone?”*

Their unspoken questions were now answered, leaving them relieved.

Philip and Veronica then shared their personal goals.

“I’m searching for my mother,” Philip began. “She left to earn money when I was six.”

He vividly remembered the day she left, in a park under overcast skies:

*“Philip, I’ll save up money and come back. Until then, you have to wait here, okay? My love, my son.”*

The colors of that day, his mother’s trembling voice, her tear-filled eyes, and even the scent of the biscuit in his hand were etched into his memory.

“She promised to come back.”

Philip knew deep down that his mother might have intended to abandon him from the start. He also acknowledged the grim possibility that she might no longer be alive.

“Still, I believe in her words.”

Despite the odds, he clung to hope.

“The reason I’ve been saving money is so that, when she returns, we’ll never have to part over money again. But now, I think it’s time for me to find her. Thanks to you, Ray, I have the chance.”

His voice was steady, filled more with longing than sadness or worry—emotions dulled by time. Surprisingly, it was Veronica who burst into tears.

“How could you… that’s so… so sad! Sob!”

“It’s not that sad…”

“Philip, you made her cry. You fix it.”

“Waaaah! Moooooom!”

Eventually, after crying for a long time, Veronica finally shared her goal.

“My goal… is to complete my grandfather’s research. He was working on a thesis about the black rain.”

Not much was known about the black rain.

Its cause was unknown, and its frequency and occurrence zones were so erratic that they defied prediction.
Even its composition showed no difference compared to regular rainwater.

The only certainty was that black rain caused diseases alongside discoloration of the ground or skin—diseases that current medical technology could never cure, including Eternal Sleep Syndrome.

“Grandfather began his research after contracting Eternal Sleep Syndrome. He gathered all possible materials and devoted himself to studying it, staying up every night. Back then, he could remain awake for relatively long periods.”

The old man’s research didn’t yield significant results.

It wasn’t just that his time was limited—there were virtually no prior academic studies on the subject to build upon.

Black rain, strictly speaking, fell under meteorology.
The core of meteorology was gathering statistical data from numerous samples.
But the continent was vast, the distances between sectors were far, and travel was relatively restricted. Nobody had the means to collect sufficient data.

Perhaps someone had tried, but it was clear that no one had achieved results significant enough to present to the academic community.

“I want to complete the research and repay my grandfather, who took me in,” Veronica said in a subdued voice.
“And… I hope no one else dies from black rain like my grandfather did.”

Analyzing black rain and finding treatments for diseases like Eternal Sleep Syndrome were the reasons Veronica had left the bookstore.

**Black rain…**

Ray recalled the golem he had seen in Sector 50.

When the golem moved, mana from its surroundings gathered into its core.
The combined mana, over 30 types, emitted vibrant lights, and the golem’s pace accelerated to more than double.

*And then, the mana in the core became increasingly murky, eventually turning black.*

It seemed natural. Mixing such a variety of mana would inevitably result in a single, definitive color—jet black, like coal or oil.

Mana completely dyed black transformed into an invisible black smoke that rose into the sky.
The golem repeated this cycle endlessly, constantly releasing black smoke toward the heavens.

*Could that smoke be related to the black rain?*

Ray debated whether to share this with Veronica but reached a decision.

*…No, not yet. The connection between the rain and the smoke isn’t certain. Speaking too soon might only confuse her research.*

It would be better to provide information when the situation became clearer.

After hearing Veronica’s story, Philip nodded.

“I’ll do my best to help. I’m not knowledgeable in this field, but I might be able to contribute in some way.”

“Thanks. Let me know if I can help you in return,” Veronica replied.

The two exchanged glances and then looked at Ray.

As the leader of the group, they seemed to be asking for a word from him.
Ray, who had been considering resuming their meal, spoke quietly.

“Alright. Helping each other is the way to go. Think of it as a transaction—help for help. There’s no better calculation.”

Veronica and Philip felt a sense of solidarity in his words.
They thought their relationship with each other was quite special.

Although they hadn’t spent much time together, the density of the experiences they had shared was remarkably high.
Rather than being bound by mere camaraderie, the clarity of what each wanted from the other provided a greater sense of stability and belonging.

It felt like a kind of shared destiny.

Philip felt his chest swell with emotion, and Veronica experienced the same feeling—like a tiny boat was floating within her.

Philip extended his palm above the central campfire and said, “Looking forward to working together.”

Understanding the gesture’s intent, Veronica quickly placed her hand on top of his.
“Me too.”

Ray spoke up.
“Are your hands cold? I can stoke the fire.”

“Uh… no, that’s not it.”

Philip, caught off guard by Ray’s unexpected remark, was flustered—no, outright embarrassed.
The gesture was meant to signify teamwork and mutual trust. He hadn’t expected someone to be unfamiliar with it.

After briefly explaining the meaning of the hand gesture, Philip asked, “You didn’t have something like this in Sector 50?”

“We did. But the gestures were a bit different, I think.”

Clapping hands or shouting cheers to build solidarity—
To Ray, such human behavior was one of the most incomprehensible things.

*It’s a waste of energy, no matter how small the action. It doesn’t magically enhance physical abilities.*

Still, this time, he decided to set that thought aside.

“Ray…. Our palms are getting hot. I think they’re going to burn,” Philip remarked.

Since his companions wanted him to join, Ray slowly extended his hand and placed it on top.

The warmth spread between their palms, and the faint unease lingering in Philip and Veronica’s expressions gradually disappeared, leaving no trace.

Above them, the stars of a night sky—clearer than those in the sectors—watched over the trio of young travelers.

—
—

The vehicle continued to run, and the journey stretched on.

“Philip… is it the sixth day today?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe the seventh?”

Leaning against their seats, Philip and Veronica stared out opposite windows. Their eyes looked hollow.
No matter how awe-inspiring the scenery, when it stretched on unchanged for days and nights, it became suffocating.

Their unkempt hair and grimy skin, unwashed for days, testified to their accumulated fatigue.

A voice came from the driver’s seat.
“It’s the ninth day. Today makes nine.”

“Ugh,” they both groaned.

Had it really been that long?
The unchanging scenery had warped their sense of time.

“If only we had a map, we could estimate the distance to the next sector,” Veronica sighed.

“I’ve never heard of anyone having a map,” Philip replied.

“Maybe in a wealthier sector?”

In lower sectors, residents had no concept of the land’s expanse or the world’s structure. Survival left little room for such musings.

Ray, listening to their conversation, interjected.
“We should be close. It took ten days to travel from Sector 50 to Sector 49. I doubt there’s much difference.”

With renewed hope, Philip and Veronica straightened their posture.

At the same time, they felt admiration for Ray, who bore the responsibility of driving without showing any signs of strain.

It was almost robotic, the way he performed his task without emotional fluctuation.

A sudden thought crossed Philip’s mind.

*Ray is pretty stoic, but… could he actually be a robot?*

What if his insides were made of machinery?
Maybe he’d peek into Ray’s mouth while he slept one day…

Glancing at Ray’s right profile, Philip seriously considered it before shaking his head.
*I must be exhausted to think something so ridiculous. Ray, a robot?*

Turning his gaze forward, Philip silently wished for a change in the scenery.

And then—

“Huh…?”

A low rumble shook the ground, and a massive dust cloud began to rise on the horizon.