Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 526

“Creates a new path in the sky…” Someone, as if echoing Lenox’s words, murmured and then asked,

“Do you fully understand how difficult and challenging that aspiration is?”

“……”

“How much manpower and capital have been invested to establish air routes spanning the entire megacity, and how valuable and significant the resulting achievements are.”

Even as he spoke, his voice grew increasingly stern.

“I don’t want to hear such words from someone who doesn’t understand that fact. Furthermore, to make such a statement questioning the fairness of the expo in this setting?”

From the second-floor seating area where the judges were located,

Karasco, the Air Force Commander sitting in the front, spoke with a glint in his fish-like eyes.

“If you fail to produce results that match that level of confidence, you will have to bear considerable disadvantages.”

As the Air Force Commander and the one who had received countless investments from the city government, he couldn’t help but be displeased by Lenox’s words.

Lenox somewhat understood his feelings of responding so sharply.

As well as the gazes of several judges who appeared to be from research institutes, sharply watching and checking him.

Conversely, some of the elderly individuals who seemed to be senators were merely looking down at Lenox with languid eyes.

They might think they were unilaterally observing Lenox from behind the curtain, but in truth, they themselves were the ones truly trapped by the information gap at this moment.

Lenox, certain of that fact, slowly turned his back.

“I understand.”

He reached for the magitech engine placed on the stand he had brought with him and asked,

“Then, may I begin the demonstration?”

As Lenox said that, he took out the outline of his second thesis from his pocket and placed it on the platform.

“…Of course. However, there is one thing we must do before that.”

At the same time as Karasco’s reply came, the curtains of the first-floor seating area, which had been closed, began to open wide.

From the second-floor seating area above the platform, where light slowly began to enter, Karasco’s voice, laced with laughter, echoed.

“We also have a duty to inform the citizens of Balkan about what happened at this expo.”

“……”

“The renowned genius researcher from Lavatenon University. Surely, such a genius can proudly showcase their achievements in front of many people, can’t they?”

The curtains that had been covering the area opened, and from within, dozens of murmuring voices began to be heard.

A faint warmth created by the overlapping body temperatures of people coming and going.

Sitting in the first-floor seating area that had been hidden were the figures of hundreds of people.

“This is…”

Separate from the exhibition taking place in the city hall plaza, the demonstration taking place inside the building was also nominally open to the public.

However, sensitive secrets such as military security were selectively judged by the judges to determine whether or not to disclose them.

Although not much is disclosed, some of those participating in the expo also gather at the city hall.

Citizens who came out of boredom, officials watching this place with sharp eyes, and researchers who participated in the expo but did not have the qualifications to demonstrate.

Not only that, but dozens of cameras with lenses flashing from the back of the first-floor seating area were capturing the scene on the platform and broadcasting it to the city hall plaza.

Lenox looked back at the cameras flashing towards him, then quietly smiled, realizing Karasco’s intention.

“…A pointless act.”

What did it mean that they had decided to reveal Lenox’s presentation before the judging was even over?

Karasco, displeased by Lenox’s words, had broadcast Lenox’s presentation to the outside world right there and then.

A unilateral decision made without seeking the consent of the other judges. The fact that no one protested that decision was proof that Karasco’s responsibility and weight were considerable.

It was clear that Karasco had a significant influence on the predetermination of the winner of this expo.

If he made a mistake here, or if it was revealed that the results of his thesis were not satisfactory, Lenox’s reputation as a researcher would plummet to the very bottom.

Even if he finished the presentation properly, it would be a break-even situation. If he made a mistake, it could be a considerable loss for Lenox.

Karasco, wanting to put Lenox under such pressure, had abruptly revealed Lenox’s presentation to others from the very beginning.

“Are they starting again? It took a bit longer than I thought.”

“They said they’d choose whether to reveal it after the judging. There must have been some presentations that we missed.”

“If they’re doing a demonstration directly at the city hall, they must be amazing researchers, I’m excited…!!”

Citizens chatting in various parts of the seating area, and experts quietly whispering while carefully observing Lenox.

Lenox listened to their voices for a moment, looking around at the people.

He couldn’t see the entire seating area, but by combining it with the magic detection that he had deliberately limited, he could make some guesses.

Mila and Felix of the Antares Mercenary Group, whom Lenox had greeted earlier. Mages from the Magic Tower who had followed the presenters, government officials,

Looking around at the audience, he stopped his gaze when he found someone among them.

“……”

Even in the dark seating area, although wearing thick sunglasses and a beret, the familiar black bob could not be hidden.

It was as if he could see the green eyes he remembered beyond the dark sunglasses.

She was munching on popcorn, looking up at him with an excited expression, and then hurriedly turning her gaze away when their eyes met.

The archer who had been pouring down monstrous bombardments in Bayreuth just a few days ago was at the expo to watch the presentation.

‘…Ivelin knows that I am Evan.’

Evan of the Adamantine Corps and the Azure Eye. Lenox had directly explained to Ivelin that the two were the same person and sought her cooperation.

Ivelin had also believed that fact and joined the Azure Eye following Lenox, hadn’t she?

However, regardless of Lenox feeling indebted to her for that fact, he had not expected her to come see him in person at this time.

Ivelin had never deliberately sought out Lenox’s public identity before.

If there was a change of heart, it must be due to the series of events that had occurred in Bayreuth.

Could it be that she had perceived a sense of incongruity regarding Lenox’s identity in the process?

He thought that he had not revealed any traces when he faced her as Victor, but Ivelin might have sensed something with the familiarity she had gained from working with Lenox for a long time.

However, Lenox immediately denied that possibility after his thoughts reached that point.

If she had really given any indication that she was acting out of suspicion, she would have contacted him immediately, regardless of this expo or anything else.

With Ivelin’s straightforward personality, she would not have hesitated to ask questions about matters related to Pandemonium.

Lenox’s speculation became firm at the sight of Ivelin, who was glancing around while still diligently munching on popcorn.

‘…Maybe she just wanted to see the expo.’

There was no time to dwell on it for long.

Because the gazes of hundreds of people began to focus at once on Lenox, who had just stepped onto the platform, and the magitech engine placed next to him.

“That man must be Assistant Professor Bylon. He works at the research lab at Lavatenon University, right?”

“My uncle works at the research institute, and he says he’s a huge celebrity.”

“I know Professor Aris Ritchelen, but is that person also that famous?”

“They say his thesis has made a huge contribution to energy-related research. It’s said to be at a level that overturns existing theories.”

Naturally, citizens who were not experts did not have a high understanding of not only theses but also formulas and magic.

They were only aware of the fact that such technologies and magitech research improved their lives.

The reason they came to see the expo today was simply to take the opportunity of the holiday designated by the city government to see the amazing technologies.

If he were to present a complex theme related to entropy in this setting, the little interest they had would quickly disappear.

However, Lenox silently took a sip of the bottled water placed next to the platform, then immediately grabbed the microphone and stepped forward.

“Hello. I am Evan Bylon, a researcher working under Professor Ritchelen at Lavatenon University.”

A brief applause.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to present my thesis at this expo. Let’s get to the main point.”

Lenox said that and pulled the magitech engine placed next to him to the front of the platform.

The engine, still faintly vibrating and emitting a faint smoke, had not yet stopped operating.

“That’s the thing that other researchers have brought out a few times.”

“It doesn’t look like anything special…”

Ignoring the chatter of the other spectators, Lenox continued to speak.

“What I will introduce is the manipulation of entropy in mana arrays. It is a theoretical concept that artificially interferes with the particle arrangement that indicates disorder, thereby controlling the diffusion speed.”

“……”

“The core theory of my thesis is not to go against the spreading flow itself, but to artificially control the diffusion speed by organizing the mana array. Through this, we can temporarily cause confusion in the physical laws applied to the object.”

Silence fell.

It was because no one in that place immediately understood the outline of the thesis that Lenox had explained in just three sentences.

No, it wasn’t that no one understood.

In the seating area, there were people whose expressions were gradually changing as they belatedly understood what those words meant.

It didn’t matter. Lenox also had no intention of ending this presentation with just a few words like that.

“What does that mean?”

Lenox smiled at the question from someone sitting in the front row.

“Simply put, by controlling the diffusion speed of the mana array… it means that we can artificially reproduce specific physical laws.”

At that moment, he had the illusion of hearing a sound as if someone in the second-floor seating area was secretly gasping.

Ivelin, who was mixed in with the audience, had already forgotten to chew her popcorn and was staring at Lenox.

Lenox looked at the still bewildered audience, then finally glanced at the cameras that were broadcasting this scene to the outside of the plaza.

Then, he threw the water bottle he was still holding onto the floor.

Splash!!

“Kyaa!!”

“The water splashed, what are you doing?”

“No, isn’t the engine going to explode if it touches water? At this rate…!!”

A puddle of water formed in front of the platform in an instant, and people became agitated as the water splashed into the seating area.

However, Lenox, unconcerned about them, immediately pushed the engine’s output to its limit.

Whirrrrrr!!!!

The engine, which had reached its output limit in an instant and was glowing red-hot, began to emit flashes of light that mixed mana and electricity.

In that instant when the entire air, including the seating area, seemed to tremble from the shock, people closed their mouths and leaned back slightly.

Lenox suddenly pushed the stand on which the engine was placed.

The obvious thing that would happen if you threw an overheated engine into the water.

“Kyaaa!!”

Right after the audience screamed, closed their eyes tightly, and lowered their heads.

Whoosh!!

At the same time as an unknown engine sound, the auditorium fell into a quiet silence.

“Wh-what…”

“It didn’t explode?”

“…Do you see that?”

The engine, which was burning brightly, did not plunge into the puddle of water and create a huge splash.

Only the engine, quietly floating above the puddle with a faint glass-like glow, was visible to everyone.

Receiving the gazes of hundreds of people, the magitech engine was floating leisurely in the air above the puddle.

Lenox stood in front of the audience and took a mop from under the auditorium, pushing the puddle of water to the side.

Whoosh…….

As the puddle of water was pushed away, the engine began to glide along with the puddle.

“It’s flying…”

“Is it floating on the water?”

“Is it possible for an engine to float in the air like that on its own?”

“Isn’t it using magic or a spell?”

“…No.”

Ivelin, who had been staring blankly at the scene, unconsciously murmured at the audience’s words.

“That’s not magic or a spell.”

Lenox did not use any magic or spells to float that engine.

Just by pushing the output to its limit and operating it, he had succeeded in creating an artificial updraft of mana on the water, causing the engine to float.

And Ivelin knew very well what kind of phenomenon this unique updraft of mana was occurring in.

The Philemon Autonomous Territory, where the Azure Eye’s main base was located.

“The floating island clusters located in the Sea of Understanding.”

The phenomenon of the ground and objects floating due to the extremely light and efficient updraft of mana that only occurs there.

Lenox had succeeded in artificially reproducing and showcasing the updraft that only occurs in the Sea of Understanding at this very spot.

“It is possible to achieve this effect by artificially controlling the engine’s output pattern. The output loss that occurs in the process is almost negligible.”

Lenox, who had grabbed the microphone again, said while pushing the puddle of water with the mop in his other hand.

A strange sight of the engine continuing to float along with the puddle as it moved.

Watching the audience’s gazes move back and forth following Lenox’s gestures, Lenox opened another water bottle on the platform and poured it onto the floor.

As the amount of water increased, the engine that had been floating in the air rose higher, reaching the eye level of the second-floor seating area.

“Since it is a reproduction of the phenomenon mimicking the updraft of the floating island clusters, the floating ability naturally increases as the amount of water increases.”

Despite rising relatively quickly, the engine’s movement was very stable.

It was hard to believe that it was floating on an artificially formed updraft, with such quiet and stable flight.

What this meant, and how valuable the composition of this theory was. There was no way the old monsters of the Central Council wouldn’t recognize it.

Ignoring the judges who were staring blankly with their mouths open, unable to take their eyes off the engine’s movement, Lenox grabbed the engine that had risen into the air with all his might.

“This is not the end. If you amplify the engine’s output beyond its limit and temporarily release the output limit, like this…”

Whoosh!!!!!

At that moment, the puddle of water that had been soaked under the engine rotated, scattering a glass-like glow, and surged into the engine.

At the same time as the phenomenon of the water at his feet being sucked into the engine, the engine’s vibration sound changed to a quiet one for a moment.

Whoosh…!!

The bodies of the audience members who had been staring blankly at Lenox began to float one by one.

“Huh?”

“W-wait a minute!!”

“What on earth is this…!!!”

From the front row of the first-floor seating area, people’s bodies began to float and hover in place as if they were riding a wave.

The updraft, resembling a glass-colored glow, was supporting the entire space, pushing people’s bodies up above the chairs.

The silvery-white wave that burst out from the center of the engine was spreading subtly into the seating area, granting the same floating ability as the engine.

A mysterious sight, as if they had completely escaped the influence of gravity, was being broadcast to the plaza through dozens of cameras.

The sight of hundreds of people floating in the air, flailing their arms and legs.

Lenox, floating in the seating area, smiled faintly as he looked at the people who couldn’t take their eyes off him.

“I call this phenomenon ‘buoyancy resonance’.”

“Commander Karasco.”

At that moment, one of the senators who had not said a word until now in the second-floor seating area spoke for the first time.

An elderly noblewoman who had been silently watching the judging with indifferent eyes.

At the same time as she called Karasco for the first time, the judges’ gazes all focused on her.

The noblewoman spoke without even turning to look at Karasco.

“Stop the external broadcast of Assistant Professor Bylon’s presentation right now.”

“…Excuse me?”

“Commander, don’t you understand yet? That’s not just some parlor trick that imitates flight techniques.”

The noblewoman slowly turned her head.

Her aged eyes were shining with a clear, deep purple light.

“We may be witnessing the demonstration of the most perfect anti-gravity technology in history. Do you truly not understand what this means?”

“…!!!!”

The technology related to the Air Force that the city government had tried so hard to monopolize.

Something that far surpassed the results of the investments and research that had been attempted to secure the air superiority of Balkan was being exposed to tens of thousands of citizens in real-time.

Only then did Karasco’s expression, who had been blankly watching Lenox’s presentation, twist horribly as if he had swallowed poison.

With lightning-fast movements, he took out his cell phone from his pocket, made a call, and shouted.

“Stop the broadcast right now, this is an order!!”

[The broadcast system is not stopping, it’s as if the entire camera control program has been hacked…!!]

“Damn it!!!”

Something was seriously wrong.

From the moment he started broadcasting Lenox’s presentation, from the moment he was displeased by Lenox’s proposal.

Perhaps from the moment he made the deal to predetermine the theme and winner of this expo.

“No, no… this isn’t right…!!!”

Karasco, sensing that fact, couldn’t bear it and jumped up from his seat, running out of the second-floor seating area.

Even as he did so, tens of thousands of citizens gathered in the city hall plaza were blankly watching Lenox’s presentation being broadcast on the giant screen.

[Stable floating ability regardless of the environment.]

Lenox’s calm voice, carried by the cameras and microphones, echoed loudly throughout the plaza.

[Mana consumption efficiency that surpasses the fuel efficiency of flight techniques.]

The expressions of hundreds of people who had been floating with bewildered expressions, enjoying this situation of being freed from the influence of gravity, were captured by the cameras.

Clunk, clunk, clunk!!

Not only people, but also all sorts of props and objects such as chairs, ladders, and bags in the first-floor seating area began to float and hover powerfully in the air.

[A new means of transportation that was not allowed in the skies of Balkan.]

Whoosh…!!

Filling the vast space of the city hall lobby, countless objects and people floated leisurely, as if singing in chorus.

While everything was floating upwards as if rebelling against gravity, only one person remained on the ground.

Lenox, standing with both feet on the ground at the center of the grand buoyancy resonance phenomenon, which overwhelmed and encompassed even the technology and research achievements of the existing Air Force, looked at the camera while holding the microphone.

As if trying to make eye contact with the tens of thousands of people watching the screen.

[With this second thesis, I intend to present a new route to all the people living in Balkan.]

Only Lenox’s voice echoed quietly in the silent plaza.

[A route called the skyway.]