Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 398

A hologram of a human body displayed both eyes awakened with magic eyes. Magic circuits spread evenly through the optic nerves, distributing the output and reducing the load.

[This is why single-eye awakeners are relatively unstable compared to dual-eye awakeners. The more frequently you use your magic eye, the more strain is placed on one optic nerve, leading to a situation where the body can’t withstand it.]

Oliviera continued.

[The best approach isn’t to alter the magic eye itself, but to manage the excessive output. Instead of trying to drain or suppress the overflowing power, it’s better to gradually transfer it elsewhere.]

“So, awakening the magic eye in my right eye is the solution…”

Unlike other magic eye holders, Lenok’s magic eye is like a mirror reflecting his inner world.

Therefore, it’s natural that the magic eye’s output becomes stronger as Lenok’s inner world becomes more solid.

The power flowing from Lenok’s inner world, which had found its answer and direction in the Labyrinth of Jintun [a place of trials or self-discovery], had grown to the point where it could no longer be handled by just one left eye, causing it to malfunction and break down.

However, the fact that there were no particular abnormalities in Lenok’s body or eyes was because Lenok’s magic eye was thoroughly based on his inner world.

Oliviera didn’t know exactly how Lenok’s magic eye had awakened, but she was accurately pinpointing the cause of the problem and its solution.

“Frankly speaking, what you’re saying sounds like a pipe dream.”

Except for the fact that the solution was too radical.

Lenok looked up at the hologram with his arms crossed and said,

“It’s not like I haven’t tried to awaken the magic eye in my other eye.”

After realizing that the magic eye’s ability was connected to his inner world and that its effectiveness was beyond imagination, Lenok had consistently tried to awaken the magic eye in both eyes.

However, unlike the first time when he awakened the magic eye following Iola’s magic flow, he couldn’t achieve any positive results.

The ability of the magic eye was closer to a constitutional power, completely different from a mage’s spellcasting ability, so it wasn’t something Lenok’s talent could easily reach.

Every time he met a magic eye holder, he tried to arbitrarily stimulate his eyes while imitating the magic flow of both eyes, but he only strongly felt the side effects of mana poisoning.

“Awakening a magic eye isn’t something that can be done at the will of a mage, so I don’t know if you can call that a solution.”

If the excessive output of the magic eye itself is a side effect caused by Lenok’s inner world becoming stronger, then the magic eye to be awakened in the right eye must also be connected to Lenok’s inner world in a different way to reduce that output.

Could the answer to awaken the right eye, for an ability that can’t be controlled at will, let alone determine its power, be a normal answer?

‘Should I contact Balak O’edon? I did get a hint about the special forces, but…’

While Lenok was thinking that he might have to contact the Ability Awakening Special Forces, which deals with innate abilities such as superpowers,

Oliviera turned around without hesitation.

[Follow me.]

“…What?”

There was no answer.

Whooong!!

The huge book where the laboratory was located folded up in an instant and stood vertically, and the two people caught in between sank deep down, reaching the edge of some stairs.

The huge book was located inside a glass sphere with a radius of hundreds of meters. The gloomy basement landscape existed below that vast book.

How could such different spaces exist while being in the same crystal?

Unlike the laboratory that folds and stores space through bookmarks, the existence of a basement hidden behind that space.

That meant Oliviera was also using the concept of the imaginary dimension itself and applying it to the real world.

Whioooo…!!

Unlike the warm scenery of the laboratory, the air in the basement was cold and gloomy.

As Lenok shrugged his shoulders at the cold wind, Oliviera, who had walked down the stairs, said,

[Even before the megacity was built, there were countless wars.]

“…”

[Many powerful people died and left only their remains. What’s stored in this basement is part of the evidence of that repeated mistake.]

Only then did Lenok’s expression slightly change as he realized what Oliviera was talking about.

“Wait, that means…”

Before Lenok could finish speaking, she gestured, and the huge metal barrier that filled the cold basement began to vibrate greatly.

Kugung!!

As cracks appeared between the barriers, a hidden space revealed itself.

The chilling cold emanating from beyond the opened barrier. The artificially created ultra-low temperature felt cold, as if it were artificially preserving something.

Lenok, who followed Oliviera into the space, slightly opened his mouth.

Arms and legs, eyes and hair, and all sorts of human body parts floating between huge glass tubes.

Not only were there corpses without lower bodies, but there were also the remains of men and women with intact limbs and corpses with only their heads left.

The aura of death that settled in this space, where only a faint vibration sound echoed without any noise, made the whole scene even more eerie.

“You’re insane… Did you organize this many human specimens for research?”

[The remains of those with rare constitutions or those who were born with powerful abilities are valuable data and assets in themselves.]

Oliviera replied in an indifferent voice.

[Among the assets and treasures I possess, these are the most valuable and precious items.]

“…It’s very dangerous to hide these remains. The city council would go crazy if they found out.”

Even the Balkan city government, which is almost indifferent to crimes in the outer districts and the shadows, is extremely strict about handling the corpses of high-ranking transcendents [individuals with extraordinary abilities].

In this world where various spells and science are alive, there are many ways to manipulate human corpses and lives.

[When I awakened the Seven-Colored Treasure Magic Eye, I had no intention of being picky about any method. If I couldn’t solve the madness before I was consumed by power and went crazy, I would have self-destructed.]

“…”

[You have no answer.]

A faint smile began to mix in her telepathy as she looked back at Lenok through the veil.

[Surely you’re not going to say you’re disappointed in my humanity now? I don’t think someone with that much talent and skill would be bound by such trivial morals.]

“…No.”

Lenok slowly shook his head.

“It’s just that I think I know why you changed so much at some point.”

[……]

As if she hadn’t expected that answer at all, Oliviera closed her mouth instead.

After a long silence, she chuckled and started walking again.

[…Did you go and meet an old sorcerer? I can guess what he said, so I won’t ask any further.]

“…”

[But if you meet him again, I’d appreciate it if you could tell him to watch his mouth.]

As expected, Oliviera still remembers Grisha properly.

Lenok confirmed that fact, but he didn’t ask any more about what had happened in her past.

Right now, he had to focus more on the things she was showing him than on that.

[As I said before, I’ve organized the remains of those with unique constitutions or innate abilities in this basement.]

She said as she stood in front of a shelf with three glass tubes lined up.

[Among them, there are also transcendents who possessed particularly powerful magic eyes. What’s organized in this category are the remains of magic eye holders who had reached the Saint-level.]

“This is…”

Lenok stood in front of it and quietly swallowed his breath.

Three different types of eyes floating in different glass tubes.

It was because those eyes were turning their gazes as if they were alive and looking down at the two of them.

[The one on the far left is the ‘Big Dipper Magic Eye’ possessed by the great warrior of the Southern Blood Spirit Clan. It’s a bloodline ability passed down through the clan, and it’s said that they can borrow the power of the stars to glimpse the future.]

Like a star shining between two transparent pupils, a radiance flickered.

Oliviera began to tell stories about the magic eyes as she walked between the glass tubes with a calm voice.

[The one in the middle is the ‘Measuring Magic Eye’ possessed by a space-type artificer from the Machine City. It had the ability to accurately measure and tailor space itself to absolute coordinates. The power of the magic eye was so extreme that it could cut and connect space just by looking at it.]

“…That’s not even an eye.”

Lenok was speechless as he looked closely inside the glass tube.

It wasn’t an eye, but a half-torn human head that was floating between the glass tubes.

On the retina of the eye, which was well-preserved among the remains, various patterns of shapes were floating.

Was it to preserve the remains intact as much as possible to store the magic eye?

Even so, it was natural that its appearance looked too gruesome.

[And the one stored on the far right is the ‘Outer Thunder White Magic Eye’ possessed by the commander of the central city of Ars Nova. It was the ability of a great noble who had lived for decades with only one eye.]

Unlike the previous two cases where both pairs were completely preserved, only one eye was left in the third glass tube.

However, its golden pupil seemed to be no less than the other two magic eyes.

All three magic eyes were truly extraordinary treasures with both unusual history and potential.

Lenok, realizing how rare and valuable each of these magic eyes was, clicked his tongue without saying a word.

“If you’re the chairman of the cartel, you can collect these kinds of treasures and stash them in the basement. That’s really amazing wealth.”

[I only collected samples in the process of conducting magic eye research, I’ve never used them. A magic eye is something that only shows its true value after being directly transplanted, and I had no intention of replacing my own eyes.]

It was an arrogant statement, but Lenok understood.

The Seven-Colored Treasure Magic Eye she possessed was the power that symbolized Oliviera Ron Maze and the core that made her reach the 8th level Archmage.

Even though he didn’t know exactly what kind of power the magic eye that emitted seven colors of light had, it was certain that it was by no means inferior to the three magic eyes gathered here.

[I’ve collected a few more magic eyes, but these three are the only samples that are in the best condition and suitable for your level.]

Oliviera said with her arms crossed.

[I’ll choose one of the three magic eyes and transplant it into your right eye.]

It was a very unconventional proposal, but Lenok wasn’t surprised.

From the moment Oliviera brought him here and showed him the magic eyes, he had guessed that she would make such a proposal.

[Then, without you having to try to awaken the magic eye, you’ll naturally be able to divide and handle the output. Your magic eye, which has lost its cracks, will also grow naturally.]

“…”

[Since you’ve decided to cooperate with the cartel at your own expense, I also intend to give you a corresponding reward.]

She continued in a slightly softened tone.

[I’m also well aware of your talent and power, and I don’t want that power to go in the wrong direction in this city. I believe there’s enough room for us to join hands if there are areas where we need each other.]

Certainly, just by dealing with the 3rd Director Ayun appropriately and taking care of troublesome matters, it was rather beneficial for Lenok to be given a rare type of magic eye.

Considering that magic eyes themselves are items that can’t be obtained with money on the market, and that the higher the grade or ability, the more they are treated as almost relic-level artifacts, Oliviera is being generous at this point.

Is it to confirm that even though she is sitting at the same negotiating table as Lenok, it is still she who is giving a generous reward?

“I’m sorry, but that’s not the answer I want.”

However, Lenok agreed with Oliviera’s words, but eventually slowly shook his head.

“I don’t feel like throwing away a perfectly good eye and transplanting someone else’s eye. If I was going to replace my body parts like that, I would have done it a long time ago.”

He had suffered countless hardships due to the shackles of the penalty on his body, but even so, Lenok had never once thought of modifying his body or transplanting body parts.

Talent is ultimately a power that is influenced by both the mind and the body.

No matter how crude and weak the body is, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s the vessel that most perfectly embodies Lenok’s talent and shackles.

Lenok had no intention of breaking the balance with such clumsy methods of human modification or transplantation.

He had already realized that the probability of breaking free from the shackles with such artificial replacements was very low.

[I only gave you an answer that corresponded to your question about the magic eye.]

Oliviera naturally loosened her arms and replied.

[If you didn’t like the proposal, there’s nothing I can do. It’s been a long time since I’ve dealt with a mage who has raised the power of the magic eye to this level, but it seems there’s nothing more I can do.]

It was natural for Lenok to think that way.

Even though she had brought him to her hidden laboratory, showed him samples of magic eyes, and offered a solution, if he refused, she would think that she had done her best.

However, despite her answer, Lenok immediately shook his head.

“Even if it’s not these three types of magic eyes, there’s still one more magic eye left, isn’t there?”

[…What?]

Before answering that, Lenok silently met Oliviera’s eyes, which were hidden behind the veil.

From the beginning, the only magic eye Lenok had in mind was one.

Only then did Oliviera, who realized what the mage in front of her was thinking, slowly tilt her head.

[Surely, you…]

“The matter with the 3rd Director is done. I never intended to get anything from you with just that.”

It was because if it was Oliviera’s eyes, who had reached the realm of an Archmage and fully mastered the power of the magic eye, it was almost certain that it would be deeply connected to her inner world.

It wasn’t simply a magic eye with a large scale or strong power that was needed.

What Lenok wanted was to investigate and study the manifestation process of a case like his, where the magic eye’s ability itself was strongly connected to the mage’s inner world.

And there was only one person in this city who had the power that met Lenok’s conditions.

“The Seven-Colored Treasure Magic Eye that you, the chairman, possess. I want to propose a new deal in exchange for letting me study that.”