Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 163

Jorden placed his hand on Lenok’s shoulder.

The shield didn’t repel his hand.

“So, after you return from the Autonomous Region, make a decision.”

“What decision are you talking about?”

“Jenny is planning a completely new business with you at the forefront. It’s highly likely to significantly change the landscape of this street. Those who remember the name of Kaise will likely harbor resentment rather than welcome her decision.”

Business, huh? Lenok’s eyes also turned cold at the words he couldn’t ignore.

Everything changes little by little, and this life won’t flow as we please forever.

To become something more than a simple freelancer in this dark street, someone’s decision was ultimately needed.

Jorden had just presented Lenok with a turning point.

Plan (3)

Lenok was now roughly aware.

That the unidentified man named Kaise was once a tremendous monster who held the dark side of Balkan in his hands.

And that Jenny had grown up under such a Kaise.

If she were to move beyond her role as a simple broker and start a new business, there would be many who would see it as more than just a business expansion.

Jorden was giving him a heads-up before things got serious, before Jenny could confirm his intentions.

If he wanted to continue working as a freelancer, it would be best to step back soon.

Lenok silently exhaled a long stream of smoke.

The wispy cigarette smoke that gathered on the dark ceiling of the bar slowly dissipated into the cold air.

The chilly morning, when even a breath would turn into visible vapor, was gradually fading.

Winter was passing, and spring was coming.

It was the first season he was experiencing since opening his eyes in this world.

If he successfully completed his work in the Autonomous Region, perhaps the weather would clear up completely.

It was a good season to start something new.

Lenok met Jorden’s gaze and replied.

“The requests from Dyke and the agent.”

“………”

“If I hadn’t thought about it, I wouldn’t have started. That’s all.”

If he had intended to remain a freelancer, he would have rejected all offers from Dyke Corporation that day.

Wasn’t the reason he had gone out of his way to cooperate with the agent and deal with the black mages himself to gain something more than mere fame?

Lenok hadn’t said anything to her, but he had already revealed his intentions to Jenny through his actions.

That he wouldn’t be satisfied with just this.

That he was willing to do anything to climb higher.

“I see…”

Jorden smiled with a relieved expression.

“I’m glad it was just an old man’s worry. I wasn’t too long-winded, was I?”

“………”

The relationship between the broker and the freelancer, which had started as a mere partnership, had somehow come this far.

One year was not a long time, but it wasn’t a short time either.

They couldn’t reveal everything and trust each other completely, but they respected each other’s boundaries and accepted each other’s credibility in business matters.

They were qualified enough to become partners beyond just being a client and a customer.

“Let’s talk in detail after we return from the Autonomous Region.”

Lenok, who had stubbed out the cigarette he was holding in his mouth, adjusted his coat and grabbed the doorknob of the bar.

“We’ll have plenty of time to think.”

The Philemon Autonomous Region.

A month ago, he wouldn’t have felt anything when he heard about this region… but now it was different.

Wasn’t the place where the next Lighthouse Keeper had promised to meet him at the recent academic conference the Autonomous Region?

It was a region that was being watched due to the risk of war with the giant city of Balkan, and it was known as an outpost where the Heavenly Hound, Madrea Falsier, had nested, but the reality was probably more complicated.

Did she know?

Now, only one thing was curious.

The next Lighthouse Keeper. If she was the granddaughter of the Heavenly Hound, she must have inherited at least some of the ‘eyes’ that the Heavenly Hound possessed.

With the Heavenly Hound’s eyes that had seen the future and the end, how far was that woman looking ahead?

Does a predetermined future exist?

“…Hoo.”

Lenok, who had been looking out the window with his arms crossed, inadvertently chuckled.

It was a question he couldn’t ask, and shouldn’t ask.

Because in the end, Lenok wouldn’t be satisfied with any answer he received.

“Something happened?”

“Yes?”

Raul, who was bending over right next to him, said.

He was wearing thick gloves on both hands and was carefully touching something.

The rainbow-colored gem attached to the Archangel’s Compassion was placed on the old workbench, shining brilliantly.

Around it, Davi was floating around restlessly.

“Your aura is very sharp.”

Raul, oblivious to the spirit’s behavior, calmly levitated the gem with magic and continued.

“It’s as if you’ve just killed someone. It’s not a good thing.”

“A job…”

Lenok replied with a wry smile.

“It wasn’t anything special.”

“Then were you thinking about what you have to do from now on?”

“………”

The street of District 44, where the enchantment-type black mages were located.

Lenok had come to Raul for the first time in a while to process the artifacts he had obtained from the exploration team.

Before leaving for the Autonomous Region, he wanted to dispose of useless artifacts to turn them into money, and to check the abilities of useful items and equip them.

It wasn’t too difficult for Lenok to check the abilities contained in the artifacts with his own eyes, but it would be more certain to have them checked by an expert.

As a result, Lenok was able to obtain a huge sum of over 3 billion cell, as well as Nix’s insignia that confused life reactions, a ring that could charge spare magic power, and a dagger with a curse spell.

After losing the laser cutter during a designated request, he had been lacking in auxiliary weapons for close combat, and the items left behind by Irina Pespield were quite helpful.

‘With this much money, I won’t have any money problems in the Autonomous Region.’

It was more money than the house he was currently staying in.

Even if he were to buy elixirs with this, he could get a fairly high-grade one.

But more important than that was the rainbow-colored gem in his hand.

The magic power that faintly flowed from his wrinkled hands carefully lifted the gem and placed it on the silver staff.

A pair of wings rose on both sides of the staff.

When the gem was placed in the empty space at the center and its position was slowly adjusted, a soft wave emanated, illuminating the room.

Fwoosh…!!

A strange wave in which various power sources, including magic power and main power, were harmoniously mixed.

It was proof that the relics created in that era were not simply made up of a single spell system.

“It’s done.”

Raul, who had sweated profusely in that short time, straightened his bent back and let out a deep sigh.

“The adjustment is complete. Looking at the structure of the relic, it seems to have been originally designed to be detachable… but whether the old functions have fully returned is not something I can do.”

“Thank you.”

Lenok said that and took the staff from Raul.

Whoosh…!!

A length slightly smaller than his forearm. The wings that rose along the smooth, streamlined decoration fluttered softly in response to the wave.

The way it floated and emitted a warm glow, as if it were alive, was even awe-inspiring.

Raul, who was watching the scene from the side, quietly admired it.

“It’s an amazing relic no matter how many times I see it. It must have been a masterpiece created by a very skilled craftsman who poured their soul into it.”

“…I guess so.”

“It’s also a relic of the extremely rare Holy Light series… I’ve heard that there are many abilities that have not yet been revealed, but with your talent, you’ll soon achieve results, won’t you?”

“………”

Certainly, the wave emanating from the staff was emitting a holy light, but Lenok knew.

Tools are just tools. He shouldn’t give them too much meaning.

Considering that Irina, who had pierced the heart of a member with a magic sword, had used this relic without any hesitation, tools ultimately don’t choose their owners.

It was good to gain power other than magic, but conversely, he had to be wary of relying too much on it.

‘That being said, the teleportation ability is worth exploring further… I’ll have to experiment with this myself.’

Lenok thought that and tucked the staff inside his coat.

A wide double coat. That’s why it was somewhat helpful in storing various items, including revolvers.

He didn’t have enough magic power to cast shrinking magic on the relic yet, so he had to endure the inconvenience of carrying the Archangel’s Compassion.

[Hmm…..]

While restoring the relic to its complete state by connecting the rainbow-colored gem and the staff, Davi, who had unintentionally lost the gem, flew around with a sulky look.

Lenok chuckled as he watched her flying around where his gaze reached, unable to directly express her dissatisfaction.

After all, it was impossible to fully draw out the relic’s abilities without Davi, so he intended to leave the task of handling the Archangel’s Compassion to her, as he had always done.

If he could closely coordinate with Davi in the process, it wouldn’t be too difficult to use it in battle.

Lenok paid Raul for his work and got up from his seat.

“Thank you for your help.”

“What, I’m just grateful if you bring me these kinds of artifacts. It’s been a while since the city government’s checkpoints were lifted, but it will take time for the commercial district of District 44 to be reactivated. It’s a relief if even customers like you come.”

Raul escorted Lenok to the door as he left the shop.

A hazy sky. The weather was gloomy, as if it would rain at any moment.

It would be best to go back before it rained.

Just as Lenok was about to turn around, pulling up his coat collar, Raul’s low voice came from behind him.

“I’m sorry I can’t help you much as a black mage.”

“It’s alright.”

The Archangel’s Compassion, true to its name, was a relic armed with powerful auxiliary spells and Holy Light abilities.

Even if they didn’t bring up the old-fashioned compatibility between black mages and priests, it was likely that Raul would be less efficient in helping with this part.

“But I’ve heard about similar relics. I once heard about a series of ancient relics that shared the name ‘Archangel.’ I think it’s probably not unrelated to the staff you brought.”

Raul said that and quietly looked down at the Archangel’s Compassion.

“If you’re thinking of uncovering the hidden abilities of the relic, it wouldn’t be bad to turn your attention to the Church. They pretend to be virtuous ascetics on the outside, but they’re rumored to be more treacherous than anyone else on the inside.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

The Church, huh?

Wasn’t that the name for the sphere of influence formed mainly by those who were born with Holy Light abilities?

They nominally took the form of a nation, but he had heard that their foundation was a colony not much different from a giant city.

If he remembered Raul’s words, he might have to visit them someday.

It would be good if Davi could fully awaken the relic’s abilities before that, but things don’t always go as planned.

Lenok then exchanged a few words with the old man and turned his back.

Now that he had converted the artifacts in his possession into cash and equipped the useful ones, the preparations were almost complete.

All that was left was to receive the refined data from Jenny and depart.

As he was leaving District 44, he reached for his phone, but lowered his hand at the sharp gaze he felt around him.

“A mage from District 49… what are you doing here?”

“Has there been any work for him to come to this area recently?”