Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 259

The Remnants of Fanaticism (2)

Pablen Archwood.

He was a fourth-year student, about to graduate, who had picked a fight with Lenox on his first day as an assistant professor. During the academic conference, he had even tried to kill Lenox, only to have half of his magical power stolen in return.

It was said that he had a great deal of influence among the undergraduates due to his background and connections, but since the conference, he had become completely subservient to Lenox.

“What is it?” Lenox asked with a cold expression. Archwood flinched and entered the lecture hall.

After checking once more to make sure no one was listening, Archwood spoke cautiously, “Well… about the matter you mentioned before…”

Come to think of it, he had told Archwood to report anything suspicious happening within the university right away.

Given his extensive network and his position as a graduating senior who was quick to hear rumors, it was the best way to make use of him.

Perhaps because Lenox hadn’t been at the school for a while, Archwood’s expression was noticeably dejected.

“Speak.”

“Recently, two students from the Necromancy Department were expelled. But the reason was quite unusual.”

“What was the reason?”

“The reason for their expulsion was that they were accused of conducting a vassalage ritual of the Guido Order.”

“…”

“It seems they were caught performing a ritual prescribed by the Order in the Necromancy Department’s laboratory. The department immediately held a meeting and decided to expel them.”

He had been looking for traces of the Order to find time-based magic, but he never expected to hear about it at Lavatenon.

If they were directly conducting the Order’s vassalage ritual, they must have been formal priests of the Order.

Lenox tilted his head slightly and asked, “Their identities and residences? Is there a way to confirm them?”

“It’s a very sensitive matter, so I only know their names… but Priscilla might know more details.”

“…Priscilla?”

Archwood shrugged. “One of the two expelled students was Priscilla’s roommate.”

“…”

He had never expected to get anything out of Archwood, but he was actually getting help from him in this way.

However, Lenox didn’t show any of that on the outside and frowned.

“Is that all?”

“I found out about something that the department and the Necromancy Department are trying to keep quiet…” Archwood protested, glancing at Lenox. Lenox chuckled.

“I don’t know where the courage you showed at the conference went.”

“…”

If Lenox had been weaker in magic manipulation, if he hadn’t understood the magnetic field to some extent at that time.

The positions of the two could have been the exact opposite of what they were now.

Archwood was only lowering his pride now to get back the magic he had lost.

Treating him the way he had treated Lenox at first would be enough.

Lenox spoke to Archwood with a cold expression, “There’s no way you don’t have connections in the upper grades of the Necromancy Department. You know their names, but you can’t find their residences?”

“The Necromancy Department is the most active in terms of transfers, leaves of absence, and withdrawals among all the departments in Lavatenon. There are many studies that require prior preparation, and it’s said that they often can’t move for half a year while working on results.”

“…”

That wasn’t wrong. Even Craig Tillion, who had tried to summon some of the monsters from the outer sea using black magic and necromantic rituals, had spent months preparing with dozens of black mages and programming before he was about to produce results.

“Just this month, more than ten students have withdrawn, and more than twice that number have applied for transfers. Because of that, it’s not common for students in the same department to maintain close relationships.”

“Hmm…”

Considering the unique nature of the Necromancy Department, it seemed that there were limitations to obtaining information.

In the end, Lenox just threatened Archwood to gather information somehow and sent him away.

Since he couldn’t expect any more information from Archwood, it would be better for Lenox to move himself.

“Priscilla…”

It was fortunate that he had built a relationship with her as Evan.

It didn’t matter. If it was this time, she would probably be in the dormitory, so he could just ask her directly.

-Priscilla, you say? She went home today because she had some business. She won’t be back until the end of the week.

“…”

Only after hearing the bewildered voice of the dormitory supervisor did Lenox finally get up.

“Do they have home visits in this world too?”

* * *

It was a slightly late weekend morning.

Lenox, who had passed through a quiet alley where birds were singing, adjusted the glasses he was wearing.

Children playing without a care in a corner of the alley. People walking their pets. Families sitting in the park, chatting.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary residential area, but for Lenox, who knew how meaningless the word ‘security’ was in this city, it felt a little different.

A residential area where people who were willing to pay for the invisible value of security gathered.

The tranquility of this street, located between the bustling areas of the 20s, was the result of money and investment.

It was clear that Priscilla lived in a good family environment.

“The address they gave me was around here…”

Lenox, standing in front of a two-story house painted in light brown, rang the doorbell. The front door opened, and someone tumbled out.

Something that landed in the yard without a care, got up like a zombie, scratched its head, and opened the gate.

A loose tank top and rough blue hair. Sharp eyes that were impressive… a familiar face.

Mila, a mercenary from the Antares Office and an acquaintance of Lenox, was standing there.

“Yo~ Nice to meet you. Are you our Sila’s homeroom teacher?”

“…”

When Lenox just stared at her face without replying, Mila pouted and offered a handshake.

“I’m Lyudmila. Just a mercenary. Oh, maybe you magicians don’t like handshakes? My hands are clean, though.”

Seeing her smack her hands on her pants while smacking her lips, Lenox quickly put on a smiling face.

“Of course not. I’m also glad to meet Priscilla’s sister. I’m Evan Bailen.”

He never expected that Priscilla’s sister would be Mila.

They had the same hair color, but their personalities were so different that he had never thought they were related.

Perhaps it was because Lenox had never thought that connections from the shadows and relationships from the light would overlap.

Come to think of it, it wasn’t that strange. If it was Mila, who was treated as a main force in the Antares Office, her income would be considerable.

It was just hard to imagine that the connection would continue here with Priscilla.

Since he didn’t have much to talk about with Mila, if he just played the role of an assistant professor well, it would be enough.

Mila casually led Lenox into the house.

On the sofa in the spacious living room, someone with a towel over their face was lying comfortably, taking up the sofa.

A weak voice flowed out from between the animal pajamas and the towel.

“Ah, sis… I forgot to tell you. A guest might come this afternoon. They said they had something to ask about the Penia matter…”

“They’re already here?”

“…”

The movement of the pajamas, which had been kicking its legs on the sofa, stopped abruptly.

The towel covering her face slid down, and Priscilla, who was lying upside down, and Lenox’s eyes met.

Lenox grinned and waved his hand. “Priscilla, nice to meet you.”

“Kyaaaaaaak!!”

It didn’t take long for the house to be turned upside down with an ear-splitting scream.

“Sis, are you crazy!! I told you not to let guests in without permission!!”

“No, what’s the big deal… They said you’re a school teacher, can I just leave them outside? If you get a bad grade because you’re hated, what about the tuition I paid with my precious money?”

“He’s not that kind of person!!”

Priscilla, huffing, quickly ran into her room.

Lenox, looking at the large bump on Mila’s head, laughed.

“Priscilla is a very excellent student in the Elemental Department, so you don’t have to worry.”

In fact, she had scored nearly perfect on the midterms of the Introduction to Elemental Studies and the fluid system theory exam, which Lenox and Aris had graded.

That was proof that she was not neglecting the basics of being a mage. Aris had also been quite pleased with Priscilla’s grades.

Priscilla was definitely not a student who would waste her tuition.

“Oh, is that so? Actually, I know, but I just said it.” She picked her nose and sat on the sofa, taking out a beer from a small refrigerator under the table.

She popped the can open with one finger, took a swig of beer, and offered it to Lenox.

“Would you like a drink?”

“…I’m on duty.”

“Ah, right. Sorry.” She smacked her lips as if embarrassed and took another gulp of beer.

The laughter coming from the TV was filling the silence.

When Priscilla didn’t come out, Mila twisted her body with an awkward expression.

Lenox knew from the beginning that she was the type of person who couldn’t stand this kind of atmosphere, but she wouldn’t be like that.

Unable to bear it, she opened her mouth again first.

“Well, if you’re an assistant professor at Lavatenon, you must be very skilled.”

“I’m very lacking.” Lenox said, uttering empty words. Mila grinned.

“That can’t be true. You’re very humble. Are other magicians like that?”

“…”

When Lenox closed his mouth at the difficult question, Mila realized her mistake and lowered her head slightly.

“Ah, sorry. Actually, I’m a mercenary, so I’ve met a few magicians… but it’s rare to find really skilled magicians.”

“I see.”

“Of course, I have a friend who’s a genius, but that guy is a very annoying type.”

“…”

Was it a delusion that Lenox felt like he knew who Mila was talking about?

Unaware of Lenox’s thoughts, Mila started grumbling with a beer in her hand.

“He’s the type who waves his hands around with a ‘I can do anything~’ expression, and since he actually does, I can’t say anything. He always says things that are hard to argue with. I guess all smart people are like that.”

“If he’s that excellent, I’d like to meet him sometime.” Lenox said with a smile. Mila also chuckled but drew a line.

“Hey, it’s hard to do that without telling him.”

“…I guess so.”

Mila, realizing that the conversation had become a bit of a mess, smacked her lips.

“Sorry. I was just talking to myself. I heard that he started a business recently, but I haven’t been able to contact him, so I was just talking behind his back.”

“No. It’s okay.” Lenox nodded obediently.

He wondered what she would say when he wasn’t there, but this was nothing more than a bit of affection.

Since he hadn’t seen her face since the Arashark expedition, Lenox could understand to some extent.

“Maybe if you contact him, he’ll be happy to use… I mean, greet you.”

“Huh?”

“Yes.” While Lenox was vaguely brushing off Mila’s drunken question, the door opened and Priscilla appeared.

She sat across from Mila in a neat shirt and pants, and as soon as she smelled the alcohol, she sighed softly.

But instead of saying anything to Mila, she immediately turned her head towards Lenox.

“Assistant Professor Evan.”

“Priscilla. I’m sorry to bother you on a weekend like this.”

“No, it’s okay. You said you had something to talk about regarding the Penia matter… would you like to move to another place?”

“No. It’s okay. If it’s Priscilla’s guardian, it’s fine.”

Priscilla didn’t say anything even after seeing Mila take out a beer in front of a guest.

It was probably because she didn’t want to nag her sister more than she wanted to be polite right now.

Lenox had only seen a small aspect of the sisters, but he could quickly guess that they had a good relationship.

They would probably keep a secret even if they heard sensitive information.

“So, you can stop pretending to be drunk now. It’s not like there’s anything wrong with Priscilla.”

Mila was pretending to be drunk and staying here because she wanted to hear what they were going to talk about with Sila.

“…”

Mila’s eyes, which had been slightly unfocused, focused, and her slightly smiling expression turned expressionless.

She leaned back on the sofa as if lying down and tilted her head slightly forward and said, “Our magician… you’re too perceptive. Or was my acting too clumsy?”

“I just thought that a mercenary wouldn’t get drunk from just one can of beer.” Lenox replied leisurely.

“…I see. That’s a reasonable deduction.” Thud!

Mila, who had stood up, said with a glint in her eyes, “It’s enough to make you look closer to this industry than a nerdy magician.”

“…”

In an instant, a sharp tension flowed around them.

Just as Priscilla was about to step in to resolve the situation, Lenox spoke first.

“Would there only be innocent magicians in a place run directly by the city government?”

At the same time, Davi, who had appeared on his shoulder, curled his front paws and emitted a powerful wave of electricity.

Fzzzzzz…!!!

The jamming waves emitted by the cybernetic spirit instantly covered the mansion and neutralized only specific equipment.

Lenox, looking at Mila’s dumbfounded expression, smiled with his chin resting on his hand. “So, let’s turn off the security recording equipment for a while and have a sensitive conversation.”

It was natural for Mila, a mercenary, to install recording devices to prepare for intruders in her home.

“…Damn it, do you know how many millions of cells it cost to install that?” Mila’s voice, replying like that, was slightly tearful.

“If it’s a trivial matter, you’d better be prepared.”

“You don’t have to worry about that. It’s a matter involving the Guido Order.”

“…!!” Seeing the drastically changed expressions of the two sisters, Lenox immediately got to the point.

Aris’s absence. The appearance of the Order. The seemingly intentional expulsion.

Perhaps there wasn’t much time.

This matter needed to be dealt with as quickly as possible.