Genius Wizard who sees Rainbows- Chapter 70

#070. The Young Man Who Pays Respect (1)

 

 

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I had a rough idea of what kind of emotion the purple mana represented.

It appeared when witnessing someone accomplish a highly difficult task that others could not easily achieve.

In such moments, people’s vessels absorbed the purple mana.

And—

‘It was often seen in the members of Niles’ organization when they looked at Niles. It also appeared in the children of Sector 49 when they looked at me.’

Later, I learned the name of this emotion through a dictionary.

**”Respect”**

**”An emotion that holds another person’s character, thoughts, or actions in high regard.”**

Of course, just reading the definition didn’t mean I fully understood what respect was.

‘After all, it’s not an emotion I’ve personally felt.’

It was like a dark silhouette.

I could perceive the general shape, but the true form remained hidden.

*Wooong—!*

The purple mana, having moved discreetly, stopped in front of Michael’s vessel.

It pushed forward, trying to enter, but was blocked by the solid surface of his vessel.

Even after multiple attempts, the result was the same.

‘It’s no use.’

Like Philip or Veronica, he was someone who couldn’t artificially adjust his emotions.

What was the deciding factor?

I tried to deduce it, but the sample size was too small to reach a satisfying conclusion.

As I was feeling disappointed, Michael lowered his head slightly.

“I suddenly came to ask you questions, yet you kindly answered them. Thank you, Ray. If it’s not too much to ask….”

“Where is the Magic Tower?”

“…Pardon?”

“The Magic Tower. Earlier, you mentioned that I didn’t seem to be from there. Where is it located, and what kind of place is it? Is it related to the City of Magicians?”

I had resolved his curiosity, so now it was my turn to satisfy mine.

Overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, Michael stammered.

“W-Wait, I’ll answer one at a time. First, regarding what the Magic Tower is—”

He calmly began his explanation.

The Magic Tower was an institution that trained magicians, and it was located in Sector 35.

“It’s essentially an educational institution. However, only those with talent are selected, so the number of students isn’t large.”

“How are the upper sectors different from the lower ones?”

“Well… I haven’t been to many places myself, but there is a clear difference in the environment and facilities between the upper and lower sectors.”

“How so?”

Michael felt a cold sweat trickle down his back under my persistent and aggressive questioning.

Was Ray really asking out of curiosity?

Such basic information?

It was a stark contrast to my astonishing magical prowess—almost as if I had never been to the upper sectors before.

‘He definitely isn’t from the upper middle class. Could he be from the lower class? Someone who has spent his entire life in just one sector?’

Doubt sprouted in his vessel.

Regardless, he continued answering to the best of his ability, allowing me to gather a considerable amount of information.

As one traveled upstream along the Elton River, the sectors became more closely packed together.

The upper sectors were structured more like cities rather than districts.

Magicians were rare even in the upper sectors.

‘And each sector has a sector leader and a manager.’

They were akin to government officials.

Thus, each sector had autonomy and functioned as an independent, self-governing city.

“This phenomenon starts precisely from Sector 35. Since I was taken in at Sector 36 by Representative John, I could clearly feel the difference.”

The moment Michael mentioned John’s name—

The purple mana in his vessel rapidly expanded.

“There really isn’t another person like him in the world.”

The mana swelled into a round sphere, trembled violently, then burst apart.

The fragments of purple mana scattered throughout his vessel like stardust.

Then, they gathered again at the center, forming another sphere that exploded repeatedly.

Fascinated by the phenomenon, I couldn’t take my eyes off it as I asked:

“You must respect him a lot.”

“Of course. There’s no one as upright and dedicated to making the world a better place as Representative John.”

Michael continued speaking, his voice and eyes brimming with pride.

“I was born in the slums of Sector 36, an orphan wandering the streets. I was taken in by Representative John during a food distribution. Thanks to his support, I was able to enter the Magic Tower.”

After graduating, he became an exclusive magician of Kernel Water.

“Representative John strives to make the world a better place.”

Donations, charity events, free food distribution—

Michael had always stayed by John’s side during such activities.

*”The world is full of the thirsty and the hungry. In such a reality, we must not turn a blind eye but share and give. That is the duty of those who have.”*

John’s words resonated deeply in Michael’s soul, shaping his values.

“It’s no exaggeration to say my life was made whole because of him. He is like a father to me.”

As I listened, I tilted my head.

Considering the emotions I had seen in John’s vessel at the hotel, it was difficult to believe that he had consistently carried out acts of charity and free distribution.

“…He doesn’t seem like that kind of person.”

I muttered without realizing it.

Michael’s eyebrows twitched.

“What did you just say?”

“It doesn’t make sense to me.”

“What doesn’t?”

I recalled the meanings of the words I had read in the dictionary.

“Charity means giving something without expecting anything in return. The same goes for free distribution. But the John I saw didn’t seem like the kind of person to do that.”

“……”

“Did he perhaps receive something in return from those he helped?”

Michael’s face twisted in anger.

The round sphere of purple mana ceased exploding, and a sinister red mana started seeping out.

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

His voice carried barely contained fury.

“Were John and the recipients of his charity friends? That would make sense. Friends help each other with—”

“Representative John does not perform good deeds expecting anything in return!”

His voice thundered through the square, drawing the attention of passersby.

“W-Wait… Look over there.”

“That’s a… hawk? And it’s huge….”

Where had they come from?

Three imposing hawks flapped their wings menacingly in the air above Michael’s head, their beaks clicking ominously as if preparing to strike.

*Clack! Clack!*

Each wore a metal helmet that covered its eyes, and their talons and beaks were fitted with sharp, specially-made covers.

The wind from their six wings caused Michael’s coat to billow.

“Apologize immediately. For the words you just spewed.”

*Clench.*

Michael ground his teeth.

But I wasn’t listening to him anymore.

‘Those hawks appeared from inside his coat. What kind of magic is that?’

A new curiosity ignited within me.

“If you don’t apologize right now, my familiars will tear your body apart like a piece of paper.”

Michael’s two-circle mana was mostly comprised of purple mana.

‘His circles were formed after meeting John, right?’

Circles reflected the owner’s disposition at the time of their completion.

It was clear that his respect for John had been immense back then.

‘And the elements contained in his purple mana are…’

Control, domination, connection, assimilation.

Ray recalled Graham’s words.

But these familiars didn’t seem particularly loyal.

The emotions within the three hawks’ vessels were predominantly negative—anger, pain, and resentment.

Each of their legs was bound by chains of mana extending from Michael’s hands.

That was likely why they were being forcibly controlled.

—

*”What in the world is that?”*

*”Is there a fight breaking out?”*

A murmur spread among the onlookers.

Though they maintained a distance, wary of the tense atmosphere between Ray and Michael, their curiosity kept them from straying too far.

Michael bit his lip, clearly troubled by the situation.

However, his anger over Ray’s words seemed to outweigh his concern, as he made no attempt to dispel his familiars or retreat.

*”This is your last chance. Apologize—”*

*”I didn’t say anything wrong.”*

In that instant—

**Tap!**

Ray kicked off the ground.

One of the hawks folded its wings and straightened its body, shooting forward like a bullet. It tore through the space where he had stood just moments before.

**Screech! Boom!**

Ray turned his head slightly.

The hawk had already flown far off, and now it circled back after having punched a massive hole through the chest of the central plaza statue.

This wasn’t speed or destructive power a mere hawk should possess.

Clearly, Michael wasn’t the only one benefiting from enhancement magic.

*“It makes sense—his circle contains red mana as well.”*

There was no time for prolonged thought.

The other two hawks were already attacking.

**Screee!**

Their beaks and talons, laced with clear hostility, aimed directly for his vital points—his eyes and throat.

**Screech! Whoosh!**

Ray twisted his body, ducking and weaving through the plaza.

*”Aaaaah!”*

*”Run, run!”*

The bystanders scattered in a panic.

As the grim morning sunlight illuminated the square, only two magicians and three birds of prey remained.

—

A voice rang out from behind him.

*”A mere lowborn like you—what could you possibly know about him?!”*

Michael’s vessel flared with purple and red mana.

Respect for John.

Rage toward Ray.

As those emotions swelled, so too did the ferocity of the predators in the sky.

**Boom! Crash!**

Everywhere their steel beaks struck, the stone pavement shattered, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air.

Amid the chaos, the only emotion Ray felt was, ironically, deep fascination.

*”So this is how summoning magic is used.”*

His eyes remained fixed on the purple mana chains connecting Michael to his birds.

Summoning magic seemed immensely practical.

With the ability to control animals, one could accomplish feats impossible with the human body alone.

Like sending hawks soaring over an entire sector for reconnaissance.

Or slipping a rat into a secure location to gather intelligence.

Of course, achieving sensory synchronization with a familiar required reaching a certain level of mastery.

*“If only my circle contained purple mana…”*

If it did, he could attempt summoning magic himself.

It was possible to synthesize a small amount of purple mana through color adjustment.

But that wouldn’t be enough to perform summoning magic at a satisfactory level.

*”And ambient mana in the air is too low in quality to be of any real help.”*

The thought left him feeling somewhat regretful.

The appointed time was approaching.

For now, he needed to wrap this up.

Drawing mana from his circle, Ray prepared to act.

 

 

 

 

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