Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 609

The Selection Ceremony (2)

The massive stadium where the Meister Selection Ceremony is being held.

Unlike the empty spectator seats, the VIP section at the top of the stadium is brightly lit.

In the warm, inviting VIP room, dozens of screens displaying the current situation are simultaneously lit up.

Over a dozen people watch the artisans working in their own ways.

Among them were some who looked like ordinary humans, but there were also many cyborgs with modified bodies and even robots that were not human at all.

“Is that the artisan recommended by the executive branch for this selection ceremony?”

Isabella lowered her head at the stiff voice coming from beside her.

“Yes, Councilor Brahms.”

“Hmm…”

A middle-aged man with a stern face, stroking his beard with a displeased look.

His broad shoulders, which could not be hidden even by his suit, and the muscles peeking out from his shirt sleeves, gave an idea of his physique and the extent of his training.

The side of the man’s face was completely replaced with machinery, emitting an inorganic metallic sheen.

Brahms, who had been watching Renok fidgeting on the workbench through the screen, finally spoke again.

“Disappointing.”

“…”

“To see him unable to even lift a lump of iron properly. He seems weak. It would be better to be stubborn and foolish. To stand in front of the flames all day, one must have a strong spirit, wouldn’t you say?”

“We have strived for fairness to meet the standards as much as possible.”

Isabella replied without batting an eye.

“There will be no results that deviate from the rules of X Machina.”

“Are you trying to side with the machine heads now?”

Brahms asked, not hiding his sarcastic tone.

The machine heads of the scholars. The steel hearts of the warriors. The war hammers of the artisans.

It was an undeniable fact that Isabella, the executive officer, was closest to the steel hearts among the three factions that divided X Machina, which led the machine city.

Likewise, Councilor Brahms, who belonged to the steel hearts, was subtly mocking Isabella for trying to maintain neutrality despite her background.

“He is not the only one we have prepared. There are already artisans selected to achieve at least minimal results in the selection ceremony…”

“I know that you personally picked him a few days before the selection ceremony.”

Isabella closed her mouth.

Brahms glanced at her and slowly stroked his chin.

“If he causes problems, you will have to take responsibility for it as well.”

“…Understood.”

Even as she saw Ujat’s fist clench beside her, Isabella maintained a calm demeanor.

She understood that showing an emotional reaction rashly would only give the steel heart councilor more ammunition.

After the failure of the Ascension Gate, X Machina was divided into three factions.

The executive officers, too, were gradually being swept away by the directions divided into head, heart, and hammer.

In the process, it was still undecided which side would ‘reorganize’ this massive machine city in the right direction.

But even so, no one was unaware that bringing in even one more skilled artisan and Meister [Master Craftsman] into this city was the right thing to do.

There was a reason why the Meister Selection Ceremony, which was merely an honorary position in the past, had become so grand.

“Hmm…”

But even as Brahms was threatening the executive officer, the other Meisters filling the VIP seats paid no attention.

Rather, as if pushing Brahms away from the screen, the Meisters gathered one by one.

“Ugh…!! W-What’s going on?”

“Councilor Brahms, step aside for a moment. Can’t you see the screen properly?”

“That fellow is quite noticeable among the other artisans.”

Brahms, realizing that some of the Meisters who were participating as judges in this selection ceremony were watching Renok, asked with a slightly flustered expression.

“D-Do you like that artisan’s skills?”

But even so, the Meisters brushed off Brahms’ question with a nonchalant attitude.

“Look at that. If you have eyes, that is.”

“It hasn’t been long since the selection ceremony started, but he keeps talking to the other artisans.”

As he said, Renok, visible on the screen, was constantly talking to other artisans near the workbench.

Every time Renok said something, the expressions of the artisans he faced were filled with surprise, and then changed to a reluctant acknowledgment.

And then, they transformed into workers who moved in unison as if following Renok’s gestures.

Seeing Renok using more than four artisans like his own workers in an instant, Councilor Brahms also closed his mouth with an indescribable expression.

“Isn’t it interesting? To be able to so easily gain the cooperation of the artisans in such a short time.”

“Councilor Brahms knows well how proud and obsessed with their own results the artisans who are skilled enough to participate in the selection ceremony are.”

Several Meisters stroked their chins with an intrigued look.

“From the start, the deadline is tight, and because of their strong pride, they don’t cooperate well with each other even without any special regulations. For them to voluntarily help a young man like that, isn’t his skill very intriguing?”

“Hmm…”

The reason why there are no other regulations in the Meister Selection Ceremony other than submitting the results on time is not to encourage collaboration or assistance among the artisans.

Time is so tight that they can barely manage their own submissions. The pride of an artisan who is high enough to participate in the selection ceremony.

The pressure of knowing that senior artisans who are already superior to them are watching the process and judging.

Even without such regulations, most artisans are well aware that organized collaboration is meaningless.

But Renok, knowing this, spoke to other artisans as if it were natural, persuaded them, and gained their cooperation.

It must be because the meaning of the words Renok spoke conveyed something to them that was above the tight time and pressure.

“It’s a pity that the microphone performance isn’t good enough. I’d like to hear even a fragment of what he said to persuade them.”

“Look at that. At first, he seemed to be listening to explanations about iron ore, but now he’s actually choosing metals for the other artisans instead.”

Renok, who at first seemed to be receiving help from the artisans, began to teach and help the cooperating artisans instead.

What was even more ironic was that even in this busy situation, the artisans were quietly listening to Renok’s explanations, nodding, and moving to find the metals they needed.

“Please take a closer look at what kind of ore Artisan Lyman is handling.”

One of the relatively younger Meisters kindly pointed to the screen and explained.

“Shape-memory alloy Foldring. It is a metal that can only be handled by those who know how to touch, maintain, and adjust the flow of magic within the ore. It is a new material developed by the Black Palace Workshop less than a month ago, and no information has been released to the outside.”

“…”

“It is something that is difficult to even touch unless you are an artisan with a naturally high sensitivity. That artisan recognized it and chose to process that metal.”

“Foldring is one of the future metals expected to be responsible for the miniaturization and weight reduction of artifacts. It requires considerable skill just to specify the deformation and recovery forms caused by magic and maintain them.”

Attention gradually began to focus on the conversation the Meisters were having at the end of the VIP seats.

“There are a few things in the world that attract attention and interest just by knowing how to handle them.”

“It’s like you’ve already won half the battle just by knowing what you’re good at. His eye for choosing metals is already good enough to pass.”

Brahms, watching the screens that the VIPs were looking at switch to Renok’s, quickly cleared his throat.

“Ahem, of course, I intend to respect the Meisters’ judgment, but giving extra points for mere observation is…”

“…”

While Brahms was struggling to continue his words, Renok left the workbench and immediately began to move.

“Oh, has he finished making all the tools now?”

“The speed is much faster than I thought.”

“Good. I wonder what kind of things he will make and show us… Huh?”

The eyes of the Meisters, who were watching Renok approach the display case with interest, widened.

This was because Renok, who had passed the display case where the materials and hardware needed for equipment production were placed, headed straight for the display case where broken equipment and artifacts were piled up.

* * *

‘The production field is outsourced.’

That was the first conclusion Renok came to after learning how the Meister Selection Ceremony worked.

‘I am ignorant about metallurgy, and I don’t have the skills or strength to handle metal. It’s not something I can do to make usable equipment with just lumps of iron.’

Although he is acting as an artisan, Renok’s abilities are far from the virtues that a superhuman in the production field should possess.

Of course, if he used his intuition and sensitivity as a magician who had reached the extreme, he could somehow follow and learn the artisan’s metallurgy.

But what meaning would that have in this competition to select a Meister?

Simply knowing how to handle iron and make equipment is of no use.

What this selection ceremony requires is to achieve outstanding results in three fields befitting the position of Meister.

Therefore, Renok had decided to boldly pass on the results of the equipment production field to other artisans and focus on the repair and modification fields.

‘I’ve decided what to modify in the modification field. The problem is what kind of equipment to repair…’

Modification and repair may seem similar in process, but their goals are completely different.

Modification is about improving the performance of existing equipment or modifying the functional direction of the equipment itself.

Repair is closer to restoring the state of broken equipment to its original state.

Just like Renok had modified Isabella’s magic amplification device, depending on what kind of equipment you touch, repair can be more difficult than modification.

It’s a simple task, but it means you have to choose the equipment well.

Fortunately, the broken equipment displayed for the repair field submission had scorecards attached to each, making it easier for Renok to make a decision.

‘Magic Dispersion Mirror Ball. Repair score 56 points. It’s not difficult, but I need a higher score if I exclude the production score.’

Renok pondered as he quickly passed through the display case and walked through the stadium.

‘Spirit Vision Scope. It’s difficult to fix unless you adjust and replace the lens magnification one by one, but the score is only 65 points… Wrong.’

Renok also walked deep into the display case, examining high-scoring equipment that he could potentially work on.

Form-Light Gathering Line Cannon. A high score of 82 points and relatively vague problems. Hold for now.

Triple Folding Medium Piston. The cause of the broken joint is clear, but the hassle of having to make the necessary parts yourself to repair it. 77 points. Out of consideration.

Small Magic Nuclear Fusion Reactor. The score is a whopping 94 points. But the technology required to manufacture the equipment has never been made public.

The equipment with problems that Renok’s knowledge could fix was either low in score or required a lot of time.

The equipment with high scores was mostly severely damaged, or the prior knowledge and technical barriers required for repair were very high.

As Renok pondered, he passed through the display case with a screwdriver in his hand, and then stopped in his tracks at the magic flowing from inside the display case.

“…Artifacts?”

Near the deepest display case in the stadium. It was because artifacts, not just simple mechanical equipment, were lined up in a row.

The shapes of the artifacts, which were emitting clear magic that could not be hidden even in their broken and damaged state.

Unlike complex mechanical equipment, they often took the form of simple necklaces or ornaments.

[Cleave’s Necklace. 112 points.]

[Arolbein’s Despair. 125 points.]

[Artificial Star Thunder Sphere. 138 points.]

Unlike the somewhat intuitive names of the mechanical equipment, the names were vague and conceptual.

Among them, there were some items that had become artifacts while retaining the form of mechanical equipment, but there were also many that did not.

Not many artisans came to this display case to look at the equipment, but their eyes were all fierce.

Perhaps these were the artisans who actually had the skills to aim for the title of Meister in this selection ceremony.

Amidst the sharp gazes that seemed to be wary of Renok, who had arrived late, Renok walked through the display case and stopped in front of the equipment located in the last display case.

A mountain of spoils, overwhelmingly larger and more massive than other display cases, in this huge and magnificent stadium.

In front of this mountain of a display case, which had no scorecards or even a name, only less than ten artisans were lingering.

“This is…”

“You’d better give up, young friend.”

As Renok muttered blankly, a soft voice from behind him stopped him.

A hunched old man with a gentle-looking face was looking up at him.

“If you don’t want to waste the few chances you have, don’t touch the things over there.”

“…Why?”

“The equipment over there, you see that they don’t even have names or scores properly written on them?”

The old man nodded with a nonchalant and indifferent look.

“It’s rumored that they are the treasures of the Mind Star Gate, which stores the most valuable and oldest relics in the machine city. They are equipment that even current Meisters cannot touch.”

“…”

“Leaving aside other parts, it’s a space prepared for artisans aiming to become a Meister in the repair field. If you fix something that can’t be fixed, you’ll be recognized for your achievement and get a high score.”

The old man lowered his voice slightly and looked around as he continued.

“I saw you handling the Foldring alloy. You don’t have to push yourself. Once the selection ceremony is over, the workshops will try to recruit you. Be patient and wait.”

He had seen Renok using other artisans like subcontractors to handle various metals.

It seemed that the old man already knew what kind of metal he was handling and choosing in the process.

But instead of nodding obediently to the old man’s persuasion, Renok stared at the old man’s appearance.

“You…”

The moment the old man slightly raised his shoulder as if uncomfortable with the gaze, Renok opened his mouth.

“You’re wearing a wristwatch.”

“Hmm?”

“Unlike repair, artisans who go through the production or modification process usually don’t wear anything on their arms. It’s because it interferes with strenuous work.”

Before the old man could react, Renok spoke again.

“Looking at the way the collar of your shirt is arranged, you’re wearing a shirt that is as good as new, but only one shoulder is strongly wrinkled. It means you haven’t moved for quite a long time in a tilted posture…”

Renok said, slightly turning his gaze.

“Considering the time the selection ceremony started, it seems you haven’t moved from here since the event started.”

“…”

While the old man was at a loss for words, Renok, who continued to look around, moved without hesitation.

“If you were working hard at the end of the stadium without moving, and yet you were watching what I was doing from a distance of thousands of meters, there is only one possibility.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

The old man, who had been acting nonchalant, stopped speaking the moment he saw Renok boldly pull out a long object from the last display case.

A beautiful telescope emitting a brilliant rainbow-colored glow.

As if revealing that it was an extraordinary treasure at a glance, it was emitting a unique light even in this stadium with dark lighting.

“Equipment with the ability to see thousands of meters away from where you are sitting. And you were repairing something in this display case, weren’t you?”

Renok smiled as he stroked the telescope he was holding in his hand.

“It turns out you were an artisan aiming for results in the repair field like me.”

“…Put that down while I’m being nice.”

The old man’s face, which had finally revealed his true colors, darkened ominously.

“Were you trying to persuade me to leave and reduce the competition?”

“The Pavaya’s Thousand-Mile Mirror is something that a young artisan like you shouldn’t touch carelessly.”

The old man shook his head as if he couldn’t help it.

“I just didn’t want to see a clumsy artisan like you mess up this space and interfere with my work.”

“…”

He didn’t want other artisans to even find out that he was aiming for the Thousand-Mile Mirror, so he had noticed Renok’s approach and put the Thousand-Mile Mirror back in the display case.

He couldn’t sympathize with his tenacious obsession, but he understood the old man’s intentions in giving Renok advice and pretending not to know.

The ancient relic called Pavaya’s Thousand-Mile Mirror.

Renok, who had lightly triggered magic synchronization and finished the internal exploration, nodded.

“It’s an item used to look into the cracks of non-existent spaces by adjusting the magnification of the lens in different spatial axes.”

“…What?”

Renok smiled as he looked at the old man, who was looking back at him with a more surprised expression than ever before.

“It’s equipment that is difficult for anyone to even attempt to repair unless they are an ancient species born in the imaginary dimension and capable of tightrope walking between spaces. It’s definitely not something I should touch.”

“Y-Yes. I don’t know how you found out about that. Just quietly…!!”

“But, at least I can try to repair it so that no one else can repair it.”

Perhaps it was because he was sure that Renok was not bluffing because he knew the principle of the Thousand-Mile Mirror.

The old man’s face collapsed easily, to the point of being pitiful.

“N-No… Please don’t do that… I’ve been working for a very long time to get that Thousand-Mile Mirror…!!”

“Then, would you help me with my treasure hunt in this display case?”

“…Treasure hunt?”

Before answering that question, Renok took out a broken spear shaft from inside the last display case where he was standing.

“This spear fragment. It’s an artifact containing the magic of ‘Arrival’. And the concentration of magic is still quite strong.”

“…”

“This display case is exhibiting some of the treasures that the machine city has collected and stored for a very long time.”

Renok asked, shaking the Thousand-Mile Mirror at the silent old man.

“Isn’t it a big loss for an artisan to choose something to repair without looking at all the items gathered here?”

From the beginning, Renok was not interested in the Pavaya’s Thousand-Mile Mirror that the old man was trying to repair.

That’s why Renok was going to take advantage of the old man’s weakness, who was trying to exclude him from the competition, and have him investigate the relics piled up in this display case instead.

At first glance, the old man was an artisan who had participated in the selection ceremony several times, aiming for Pavaya’s Thousand-Mile Mirror. He was likely to be well aware of the relics on display.

Realizing Renok’s words belatedly, the old man frowned slightly and sighed.

“…I’ve completely messed up. I understand. But it’s not very likely that there will be a valuable relic that is also in good enough condition to be repaired in this display case.”

“You don’t have to worry about that.”

Renok said, quietly reaching into his pocket and taking out a jet-black cube.

The shape of the cube, constantly changing and transforming as if blooming from within.

“Because it’s definitely there. We just have to find it.”

A medium artifact that he received as a gift from Myeong, with the ability to reproduce results from other spatial axes at random by injecting magic.

The Pentarect was reacting in front of this display case for the first time in a long time.