Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 476

“This deep part of the Trama Mountains is one of the mystical places formed by the convergence of nearby ley lines,” Lapis said.

“If I build a new lighthouse here using my Lighthouse Keeper abilities, I can observe the outer sea through the celestial sphere powered by the ley lines.”

“…”

“By gathering all the earth’s energy, I will illuminate the night sky and create a vast barrier that connects the constellations, covering every night in the world.”

Choosing a mystical place or a famous spot where the continent’s ley lines converge, building a new lighthouse, and operating it with the power of the ley lines.

Replacing the lighthouse’s light, which should originally be activated and amplified by the Lighthouse Keeper’s abilities to illuminate the outer sea, with the power of the mystical place to mass-produce it.

What would happen if such lighthouses were newly built all over the continent and the power illuminating the night sky was bound together?

Even if it couldn’t perfectly replace the Ascended’s mission, it would be able to stop the movements of the approaching end from beyond the outer sea.

“We cannot prevent the end where the cycle of causality ends and life and death stop,” Lapis continued quietly.

“However, if we can protect the world from both inside and out by using the night sky as a gateway, we will surely find a better answer than we have now.”

Not only the lighthouse in the Autonomous Territory but also the entire night sky would be included in the lighthouse’s observation range, and the sea of stars would be maintained to coexist under the laws of causality.

In a way, this plan goes beyond inheriting the mission of the Heavenly Gaze [a powerful, ancient entity], Madrea Palsier, and is a plan that would expand it even further.

In a game where some open the sky to the outer gods and worship them, while others try to kill them, Lapis has found her own meaning.

By endlessly expanding the work that needs to be done as a Lighthouse Keeper, she is trying to broaden the cycle of causality even a little in the face of destruction.

It was the Lighthouse Keeper’s own declaration to promise all life in this world more time than what is destined.

Only then did Lenok realize how Lapis had managed to persuade the powerful eccentrics of the Western Continent to join her side.

Pandemonium, the Church, or the leaders of the Central Front could not sympathize, but countless powerful individuals had not found a proper way to survive.

The answer Lapis chose was a grand plan that could encompass even those neutral forces, a plan that only she could possibly achieve.

She acknowledges and accepts that the Lighthouse Keeper alone can no longer carry on the mission of the Heavenly Gaze.

Instead, she borrows the power of others to build new lighthouses all over the continent, and with that light, she illuminates the outer sea beyond the world, postponing destruction.

It is a task that adds a very small meaning to the already finished cycle of causality.

It wasn’t hard to imagine how much time she had spent explaining and convincing others of this.

She devised a plan that only a Lighthouse Keeper could accomplish, and yet, she managed to turn it into tangible results and put it on track.

She built the power and influence to make the plan of building new lighthouses, which was just a pipe dream when she started, a reality.

In a way, what she had done was different from what Lenok had done so far, but in essence, they were similar.

While Lenok was lost in thought, Lapis quietly looked at the darkening night sky and then turned her head.

“What I want to show Evan isn’t here. Shall we go to the celestial sphere?”

Lapis said, naturally leading Lenok to a huge hollow below.

Many times more watchers than those in the valley were busily moving around the spire that rose in the middle of the hollow.

The area was never quiet due to the noise of combat training and material production taking place on one side of the wide open space.

“You’ve practically concentrated your capabilities here.”

“This is the first step in the plan to build a lighthouse in a mystical place. We needed to concentrate all our capabilities here,” Lapis replied, waving her hand at the watchers looking up at them from below the hollow.

“The celestial sphere, which is responsible for the core functions of the lighthouse, doesn’t work unless sufficient power is supplied… We had to put in extra effort, especially for that.”

“The fact that you designated and shared the Valley of Shattered Waves as a common area was also for that reason.”

Lapis smiled mischievously.

“From the moment the entire mountain range came under our control, no one can pass through the valley without being seen by us.”

From the moment the Eyes of Azure seized the internal passage of the Trama Mountains, any force heading to the Central Front through the Valley of Shattered Waves would be under surveillance.

It was a way to prepare a foothold for advancing to the Central Front, and at the same time, it could also serve as a way to monitor the latecomers who were slower than the Eyes of Azure.

Following the Philemon Autonomous Territory, she was planning to continue her activities by making the second lighthouse her core base.

Lapis’s words that she was not immediately advancing to the Central Front but creating a bridgehead for it were not empty words.

As they descended the stairs that spiraled down the hollow wall, Lenok began to see familiar faces one by one.

“It’s been a while, Evan.”

“Aren’t you too late? This work is already done.”

“Leave him be. Lapis was so insistent on showing it to him last…”

“I heard you were quite busy in Balkan.”

“You still haven’t been caught working with us? You’re quite talented.”

Watchers who had been with him in the labyrinth, like Sunmyung and Lens, and even warriors he had met in the Autonomous Territory, greeted Lenok.

While some greeted Lenok, others commanded their watchers to go out of the hollow, and still others returned busily and entered the spire.

The scene inside the spire, located inside the hollow, seemed even busier.

“The mission assignments for this area are not being properly delivered. We need to deal with the variables that are interfering with communication and connect…”

“The construction of the boundary line around the mountain range isn’t finished yet. We don’t have enough watcher forces to send there.”

“We need war to occupy new, decent mystical places. Stabilizing the lighthouse is the priority now.”

“That’s not wrong. Since the lighthouse in the Autonomous Territory was breached once, we need to thoroughly check the barrier there…”

Watchers were holding discussions in a large conference room, with a map of the vast highlands of the Eastern Continent spread out.

Some were calculating the terrain implemented in holograms with all sorts of measuring tools, while others were questioning the overall plan, such as the deployment of watcher forces.

Even though Lapis was not present, people were constantly exchanging opinions in every corner of the conference room.

That meant that various operations and personnel were simultaneously contributing to the expansion and construction of the Eyes of Azure’s power.

Lapis looked back at Lenok and smiled awkwardly.

“Everyone is excited because the second lighthouse plan succeeded faster than expected.”

“It seems you’re already looking for candidate sites to build new lighthouses.”

“Many watchers have seen for themselves what can be done from the moment the second lighthouse was built.”

Lapis said, naturally standing in front of a thick iron door at the end of the hallway.

As if recognizing her presence, the firmly constructed door opened smoothly as if guided by an invisible force.

Kiiing…!!

A circular room that was more vast than any other space in the spire.

Holograms that looked like constellations were rotating on the dark night sky on the ceiling, and cold mist was wetting their calves and scattering a chilly coldness below the floor.

And in the center of the room, a huge celestial sphere floated quietly.

The light flowing from the outer surface of the celestial sphere illuminated the entire room in a circle, projecting the entire night sky into the room.

This was the celestial sphere that illuminates the outer sea, which only those who have inherited the mission of the Lighthouse Keeper can produce, manage, and possess.

It was the observation device of the mission, created to illuminate the dark sea and face the scenery beyond it.

Lapis, who had approached, placed her hand on the celestial sphere and opened her mouth.

“The meaning of building a new lighthouse. In other words, it’s like expanding the concept and meaning of a lighthouse in this world.”

“…”

“As the concept of the lighthouse expands, it is natural that the vessel and abilities of the Lighthouse Keeper also expand in proportion.”

Lapis gently stroked the celestial sphere, looking at the dolphin spirit playing above her head.

“In fact, from the moment we started the stabilization work of the celestial sphere, different abilities and memories than what I inherited from my grandmother have been flowing in continuously.”

At the same time, the magic power that had been transferred through her hand resonated, creating beautiful starlight between her fingers.

Lenok realized that it was the power that had moved him from the lowest level of the lighthouse to the top in an instant.

Perhaps it was that, within the vicinity of the lighthouse, she was able to use greater and more diverse abilities than she possessed.

“The memories and knowledge of those who inherited the position of Lighthouse Keeper before the Heavenly Gaze… The more new lighthouses we build, the more we will know and be able to do.”

It is said that the position of Lighthouse Keeper before the Heavenly Gaze was inherited by Ascended [beings of immense power] with a mild disposition in turn.

Just as Jintun had done to Lenok in the past, perhaps the Lighthouse Keepers had also found a way to pass on their memories and abilities to their successors in their own way.

It wasn’t that she was saying she would stop the sky from opening without any promise or guarantee.

It was just that it was a task that was difficult to even attempt before the Eyes of Azure’s power had grown to this level of influence and talent.

Lenok thought so and took a step forward, lightly tapping the end of his sleeve.

At the same time, a huge bundle of scrolls popped out from inside his coat. It was a huge papyrus that was much taller than Lapis.

“Kyaa?”

Lapis, startled, took a step back, and at the same time, the dolphin spirit caught her body.

Lenok spread the papyrus wide and placed it on the floor where the celestial sphere was floating, then began to form hand seals with both hands.

Paat!!!

At the same time as Lenok dropped his magic power onto the papyrus, a complex barrier was engraved on the paper as if painting with ink.

The Spell Weapon Papyrus Argenteus, which he had obtained in Jintun’s labyrinth.

It was now used to directly memorize Lenok’s Blink Spell, but it was originally an artifact created to easily construct and memorize barriers.

As he painted magic power on the papyrus and made hand seals, the barrier that was built following his movements was smoothly projected onto the floor and rotated.

Uuung!!

The barrier that had filled the room and was glowing suddenly rose from the floor and gracefully wrapped around the celestial sphere.

The complexly engraved barrier vibrated on the outer surface of the celestial sphere and then melted away as if it had never existed.

While Lenok dusted off his hands and collected the papyrus, Lapis, who had approached and touched the celestial sphere, said in a surprised voice.

“The magic power of the celestial sphere is much more stable than before… Evan, is this perhaps…!?”

If it was a spell and technique that could stabilize the Lighthouse Keeper’s celestial sphere by directly touching it, wouldn’t it have to be a spell of at least the same Ascended?

Lenok nodded.

“It’s Jintun’s barrier technique.”

“…!!”

Lapis gasped, her face pale.

Lenok revealed one of the secrets he had been hiding to her in a calm tone.

“I met Jintun at the end of the Hanghasa Labyrinth and inherited his barrier technique.”

“Evan, that’s…!!”

“I thought you would have guessed already. After all, I was the only one who was sane until the end in the labyrinth.”

“That’s true… But I didn’t expect you to inherit the barrier technique, not just an artifact…”

Lapis said, looking restless.

“It’s too dangerous for you to tell me this… If other people find out, the situation will be too…”

“I was going to tell you separately when I was proficient enough in the barrier technique.”

Lenok said, making eye contact with Lapis.

“It’s thanks to you that I was able to meet Jintun and hear his last words, in a way.”

“…”

“I understand that your plan to build new lighthouses is effective.”

“Then, then…!!”

“However, I cannot become a watcher.”

As Lenok cut her off sharply, Lapis’s expression changed back to a gloomy one.

Lenok chuckled at her expression.

“Since I have inherited the spell of another Ascended, I cannot be bound to the Eyes of Azure. Instead, I will cooperate with the Eyes of Azure’s plan.”

It wasn’t for nothing that Lenok revealed the story of inheriting Jintun’s barrier technique at this point.

It was also important to stabilize the magic power and output of the lighthouse through the barrier technique and protect it from external variables.

It was also to create a justification that Evan could not formally receive the job of a watcher because he had inherited Jintun’s barrier technique.

In a situation where the Eyes of Azure was growing rapidly, this much justification was needed to keep a proper distance and work with the Eyes of Azure.

In addition, according to Lapis, what she wanted was to draw a great barrier on the constellations of the night sky using the lighthouses all over the continent.

When else would be a better time to subtly mention that he knew how to use Jintun’s barrier technique like now?

“Since I came all this way, I don’t intend to just listen to a brief explanation and go back.”

Lenok stood up and looked down at Lapis with a smile.

“If you prepare the necessary catalysts, I will help you build the lighthouse barrier. Is that okay?”

* * *

After that, Lenok spent time building barriers around the celestial sphere and the lighthouse, guided by Lapis.

He combined security barriers and blocking barriers in the celestial sphere, the barrier, the entire mountain range, and key locations in the Valley of Shattered Waves, building and stacking them up.

A great barrier was created so that the barrier formations created in various parts of the mountain range resonated and sublimated to a scale that covered the entire lighthouse.

It was not yet comparable to the Moon Barrier directly created by the Heavenly Gaze, but the precision was not inferior because it was used by Lenok, who had fully inherited Jintun’s barrier technique…

The watchers who were watching Lapis and Lenok walking around the lighthouse were surprised by the level.

“I didn’t know that Evan had awakened such advanced barrier techniques…”

“Look at how much area he has worked on in just one day. The construction speed is unbelievable.”

“At this rate, we don’t even need to invite the Stania Monastery. It looks much more stable than what the monks there use.”

The watchers clicked their tongues as they looked at the magic light that was faintly spreading below the lighthouse.

They did not recognize that it was Jintun’s barrier technique because Lenok changed the magic pattern he used, but there were quite a few watchers who were knowledgeable enough to know the level.

“Now I understand why Lapis wanted to call Evan last.”

“If he’s a mage who can handle that level of barrier technique, it’s wise to entrust him with the work after the operation is over.”

“No, Evan is an exceptionally skilled combat mage among us. It’s not for nothing that we found him in the Valley of Shattered Waves.”

“That barrier mage was originally a war mage? There must be a reason why he’s too busy to even come to the lighthouse.”

“…”

Somehow, it sounded like his reputation was rising here and there even though he hadn’t said anything, but Lenok ignored it and focused on building the barrier.

It was because Lenok himself had not had many opportunities to use Jintun’s barrier technique to his heart’s content.

The barrier technique created with the talent and insight of an Ascended can reach the point of confining and manipulating the concept itself, like Jintun, if handled to the extreme.

Lenok had not yet reached that level of barrier technique, but he was aware that this technique he had inherited from Jintun could be used in a wide variety of ways.

If it weren’t for the disadvantage that it required various catalysts and time to draw the barrier and maintain the spell, the power of the barrier technique was that it could be applied to virtually all fields and spell systems.

Lapis followed Lenok very carefully, constantly guarding her surroundings while he was building the barrier.

She was probably worried that the information would leak out, knowing that what Lenok was using was Jintun’s barrier technique.

“Is it almost done?”

“Ah, yes! Actually, it’s more than enough compared to the plan…”

Lapis mumbled in a slightly embarrassed voice and lowered her head.

“I’d like to ask you to do the underground hollow below the spire.”

“Okay. After that’s done, I’ll hear about this operation.”

“…Yes?”

Lenok chuckled at Lapis’s slightly flustered face.

“If you simply wanted to explain all this, you wouldn’t have called me at this point.”

“…”

“I thought you requested reinforcements now because you thought you needed help, didn’t you?”

Lapis is one of the people who knows the most about Lenok’s combat capabilities, even if indirectly.

If she, who was already somewhat wary of Lenok, had made up her mind to call him to this place, it wouldn’t end with just one thing to do.

Unless it was a problem that required Lenok’s power, like the drug lord or the Hanghasa Labyrinth case, there was no way she would call him at the end of the Valley of Shattered Waves attack.

Lapis then touched her cheek with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“Is it that obvious on my face?”

“So-so.”

“That’s… It’s nothing.”

Lapis, who had paused with an expression that seemed like she wanted to ask something, sighed softly and changed the subject.

“Among the watchers who went out to explore the mystical places, there is a team that has reported both the highest-level results and dangers.”

“Highest level?”

“I haven’t heard the full story yet, but I’d like Evan to be present at the meeting with them.”

Lapis said, then suddenly raised her eyes.

“Ah, it seems they’ve arrived.”

At that moment, a noise like hundreds of pieces of paper rustling began to echo from somewhere in the sky.

Charrrrruk!!!

At the same time as a light breeze blew from the sky of the mountain range, hundreds of bright yellow pieces of paper fluttered and began to draw a huge circle.

Unknown hieroglyphs were densely written on each and every yellow piece of paper.

The moment Lenok’s eyes narrowed as he realized that it was the shape of a familiar talisman.

The circle formed by the pile of talismans slowly began to descend from the sky towards the summit where the lighthouse was located.

Chwararak!!!

The closer it got to the ground, the more intense the rotation of the pile of talismans became, and the radius of the circle narrowed and began to clump together.

The circle, which had been nearly tens of meters in diameter, narrowed and turned into a door-like shape that could fit one person.

The moment the bright yellow door, made by compressing the pile of talismans, landed in the front yard of the lighthouse.

Bang!!

The door opened wide, and three or four people quickly walked out of it.

“So, isn’t the problem the attempt to attack from the front in the first place?”

“Are you saying we should have just secretly checked and left?”

“There were mountains of corpses. We had to check it, how could we just pass by it?”

“Let’s report to Lapis and think of another way…”

All the superhuman beings who walked out with a noisy conversation were exuding an unusual aura.

The group was walking towards the spire of the lighthouse without hesitation, not caring about the other watchers who were looking at them.

Among them, Lenok closed his mouth as he identified the man who was walking behind with his hands behind his back, covered in talismans all over his body.

Gapseon. The level 8 talisman master who had saved Jebyeok’s life at the end of Kaius in the Western Continent.

The eccentric who had said that he would join as a watcher under Lapis’s will had appeared in the Eastern Continent in person.

Gapseon’s gaze, who was quietly looking around the crystal tower while wearing a talisman mask, stopped precisely on Lenok at some point.

[…]

“…”

For Lenok, it was a strong sense of déjà vu that felt like it wasn’t the first time.

Gapseon was the same, as he seemed to be tilting his head behind the talisman mask where his expression could not be seen.