Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 640

“The Meister has been murdered!!”\n\n”Find the Hermes Council Member. Now, immediately!!”\n\n”Close all the passages of the Mind Chamber. From now on, no one is allowed to leave this place!!”\n\nThud! Thud! Thud!!!\n\nA deserted island with a vast jungle. Inside the Mind Chamber of the underwater barrier.\n\nSoldiers in suits and holding firearms are running around, conducting a search.\n\nThe atmosphere is not just urgent, but also savage and desperate. They, too, are aware that an irreversible incident has occurred in the Mind Chamber.\n\nRadars and magic detectors activated by the soldiers are constantly rotating, probing every corner of the Mind Chamber.\n\n”Hoo…”\n\nLenox slowly walked, avoiding the soldiers’ paths while maintaining a magic that concealed his presence.\n\nAn unusual landscape with transparent glass domes and huge conveyor belts scattered throughout the island.\n\nHowever, Lenox, having directly looked into the Ascension Gate, knew the reason for this place’s existence.\n\nThe legacy of the Ascension Gate is a passage that extracts and pulls out information from the already destroyed Second World in solid form.\n\nThe mechanical city of Makina had prepared a space called the Mind Chamber using that power, randomly extracting information and artifacts from the Old World.\n\nThey trade the relics of the Old World using the law of the Iron Rule at the gate existing on the lake.\n\nAnd they classify the relics obtained in this way on a huge conveyor belt leading to the outskirts of the island.\n\nThey divide and classify Old World literature, music, creatures, and technology according to standards, value, and category, and store them.\n\nWhen the barriers open at each section of the mechanical city, they empty the collected personnel and materials and replace the manpower.\n\nThe existence of the Mind Chamber itself was not to store the relics of the Old World, but a space to produce and extract them.\n\nHowever, Lenox’s eyes, staggering as he walked, were still deeply sunken as if he were dreaming.\n\n’The Commander…’\n\nThe Godslayer of the Old World.\n\nHe never thought he would find out that the name Hermes was pretending to look for referred to the leader of Pandemonium.\n\nAnd that fact indirectly suggested more fatal and complex secrets to Lenox.\n\nFirst, coincidence. Second, necessity. Third, destiny.\n\nWhat does it mean that the Commander knows that word?\n\nHow did his declaration to shoot and kill a god to postpone destruction come to fruition?\n\nWas he truly one of the transcendents who reached this world looking for the ‘next’?\n\n”…”\n\nNothing is certain.\n\nHowever, it is also clear that the memory he faced beyond the gate was not a lie.\n\nThe trajectory of the life he had lived, the not-so-short life, the lost times were fitting together like a puzzle.\n\n’But… there is a fact that cannot be explained by that alone.’\n\nFocus slowly began to return to Lenox’s eyes, who was constantly recalling memories and agony within himself.\n\n’He said he would find another way, not ascension. But…’\n\nHe created an organization called Pandemonium, and he exists as a transcendent while reversing the time of the world.\n\nThat is strong evidence that, contrary to his words that he would find another way, the Commander ultimately chose ascension and moved on to the next.\n\nEven though he killed a god and reached ascension, he is still yearning for something else in this world.\n\nUnless Lenox knows that, he will no longer be able to understand the Commander’s existence.\n\nFortunately, there was still a way left.\n\n’Hermes. He definitely knows more than what I saw.’\n\nIf Hermes is the memory itself left by the ascendant of the Old World, then researching that existence alone could reveal other memories and secrets.\n\nThe difference between the memory Lenox saw beyond the gate and Hermes, who has become the memory itself.\n\nLenox was planning to find Hermes again and question him thoroughly about that fact.\n\nClick!!\n\nThe core design code of the Ascension Gate was already copied and acquired by Davi the moment he returned after seeing the memory.\n\nAll that remains is to reach Hermes at the top of the mechanical city of Makina through the results accumulated as a craftsman and the information acquired from the underwater barrier.\n\nBut before that, there was still one thing left to do.\n\n’It was said that a Meister named Oason tried to repair the End of Teremer himself.’\n\nLenox’s eyes darkened as he quickly recalled the conversation between the Meisters [master craftsmen].\n\nLenox remembered that someone among the Meisters who had shown interest in the Old World’s magic rifle he had repaired at the selection ceremony had tried to fix it properly.\n\n’If so, there is a high possibility that the magic rifle exists in the area Oason was in charge of. Since I plugged in the Penterect [a device that interfaces with relics], if I find the exact location…’\n\nKwaaaang!!\n\nA huge explosion occurred from the other side of the island, and smoke began to rise in various places.\n\nThe faces of the soldiers who confirmed the direction of the island where the explosion came from changed completely.\n\n”Th, the special prison where the test subjects are kept…!!”\n\n”Divide the squads and suppress them!! They won’t be in their right minds, so suppress them as quickly as possible!!”\n\nTest subjects. It must be the word referring to those who were used to extract the relics of the Old World by paying a price to the gate.\n\nThinking about Boyan’s memories, most of them were people who volunteered for this work in exchange for huge sums of money or compensation.\n\nThey gathered those who did not feel any resistance to having their memories taken and used them to extract information from the Old World.\n\nAnyway, this gap where the soldiers’ forces began to disperse in all directions is an opportunity.\n\n”Hoo…”\n\nLenox, who injected another ampoule of stimulant with a trembling hand, leaned against the glass dome wall and started walking again.\n\nThe dome that the Meisters were in charge of must be an important area located in the center of the island.\n\nIt would also be in the area that handled material relics that the craftsmen could directly touch.\n\nConsidering that the 12F area where Lenox infiltrated disguised as a soldier was in charge of creatures, it is likely to be far away from that area.\n\nIf he calculates the island’s terrain and the conveyor belt’s path through that, and selects the necessary candidates-\n\nDing!!\n\n”It’s this way.”\n\nThe clock-shaped device he had made to track the location of the Penterect began to react for the first time.\n\nA huge semi-circular glass dome draped under the shade of dense bushes.\n\nInside, a huge conveyor belt is constantly rotating, sending various items.\n\nHowever, perhaps because there are no soldiers who should be helping the Meisters classify the equipment, the equipment is blocked and falls to the floor inside the glass dome.\n\nWhirr!!!\n\nA neat wooden workbench located at the edge of such a glass dome.\n\nThe appearance of an old musket leaning on it.\n\nCrash!!\n\nThe moment Lenox smashed the glass dome without hesitation and tried to pick up the musket inside.\n\n”…”\n\nLenox, who had stopped his hand, quietly turned his gaze to one side.\n\n”I’ve been waiting for you.”\n\nA pale old man, not even hiding his blood-soaked appearance, was sitting there, gasping for breath.\n\nSitting on a chair with both hands on his knees, trembling.\n\nLenox, who easily recognized the identity of the other party, muttered.\n\n”Was your name Oason…”\n\n”I thought you would come here.”\n\nOason muttered with difficulty, as if squeezing out words.\n\n”The other Meisters each sought ways to survive, but I have no next. In that case, I just decided not to leave any regrets.”\n\n”…”\n\nRegrets.\n\nInstead of answering that word, Lenox looked at Oason’s trembling side.\n\nBloodstains falling down with every breath, beyond the level of sticky blood.\n\nHe had already suffered an irreversible injury while escaping from the Old World’s spirit that Hermes had summoned.\n\nOason, knowing that he would not live long, was convinced that Lenox would come here and was guarding this place alone.\n\nLenox, sensing something in that action, asked.\n\n”What do you want?”\n\n”You came to get the End of Teremer, right? Take it.”\n\nOason pointed to the musket with a trembling hand.\n\n”Instead, I would like you to do me one favor, Lyman.”\n\n”…”\n\n”While working on repairing this relic, I found out that there is an unidentified part inside.”\n\nOason said with difficulty, looking at Lenox leaning against the glass wall with his arms crossed.\n\n”If you were able to repair the musket at the selection ceremony, I thought it was because of this part. That’s why I thought you would definitely come to get this musket someday…”\n\nOnly then did Lenox realize the reason why Oason had recognized his identity.\n\nOason did not notice the flaws in Lyman’s identity itself or his alibi.\n\nHe only recognized that the Penterect was an unusual object, and believed that Lenox had repaired the musket through it.\n\nTherefore, he thought that if there was someone who came to recover the musket at this point, it would be Lyman himself, no matter the reason.\n\n’Interesting. Is this the way of thinking of a craftsman who is a Meister?’\n\nHe doesn’t care about the alibi, magic pattern, disguise, and habits that Lenox created to hide his identity.\n\nHe only thought and inferred as a craftsman, making and repairing equipment, thinking of someone who would think about this part like him.\n\nOason’s words, which were based on vague imagination and speculation, ironically pierced the truth of the identity that Lenox had created.\n\nHowever, Lenox coldly asked without showing such feelings on the outside.\n\n”So?”\n\n”…Who you are is not an important matter now.”\n\nOason said that, and took out something from his arms with a trembling hand.\n\nA small vial the size of a finger. The clear sky-blue liquid shimmering inside is impressive.\n\nOason, who slowly placed the vial on the workbench, said with difficulty.\n\n”It’s an antidote that can undo the curse on Nasisa’s body. Can you deliver this to her?”\n\n”…”\n\nLenox did not answer and stared at the vial.\n\nNasisa had not yet regained consciousness since the assassination attempt.\n\nThis was not only because the injury she suffered was quite serious, but also because of the unknown curse formula contained in the assassin’s bullet.\n\nThat Oason has an antidote for such a curse formula…\n\n”You were the one who instigated the assassination of Nasisa Solmer.”\n\nOason nodded with difficulty.\n\n”She tried to keep the use of the Ascension Gate’s relics in check. It was difficult to ignore Nasisa, who had a strong voice within the War Hammer faction. So…”\n\n”Is it an item using the curse formula of the Old World?”\n\n”Yes… Hermes gave it to me.”\n\nIt was not a lie that Hermes had mentioned the culprit of the Nasisa assassination case to the Meisters.\n\nBeyond simply questioning, Hermes himself had given Oason the method of assassination itself.\n\nLenox thought so and quietly picked up the vial.\n\nHe puts the old, dusty musket in his arms and recovers the Penterect attached to it.\n\n”Hoo, I’m sorry for asking for a difficult favor…”\n\n”There’s no need to be sorry, let’s just call it a late trade.”\n\nLenox replied, looking at Oason, whose breath was fading, with a calm gaze.\n\n”You must have calculated and asked me for a favor as well.”\n\nSince Hermes betrayed the Meisters, there is a high possibility that he will spread the fact that Oason tried to assassinate Nasisa.\n\nThat’s why Oason deliberately waited for Lyman, who was an outsider, and tried to ask him to treat Nasisa instead.\n\nIf he had made such a request to other Meisters, the fact that Oason himself had instigated Nasisa’s assassination would have spread.\n\nIf that happened, even after Oason’s death, his disciples or children would suffer the consequences.\n\nIf he’s lucky, Oason’s charges will be buried, and even if he just treats Nasisa, the possibility of those left behind suffering will decrease.\n\nLenox had already seen through that fact, so he was not very grateful to Oason.\n\nOason, as if he understood those words, smiled bitterly and slowly nodded.\n\n”Th… that’s… right… that’s… enough…”\n\nThe old man’s hand, which had been clutching his side where blood was dripping, slowly lost its strength.\n\nAt the same time, Oason’s breath, which had slumped against the chair, completely stopped.\n\nOason’s eyes, who had died as if falling asleep in his seat, stared blankly at the empty air, losing focus.\n\nLenox silently looked at the scene, then placed his hand on Oason’s head and pulled up his magic power.\n\nAmong magic, sorcery, and necromancy, there are formulas that forcibly extract fragments of memory by reversing the brain of the dead.\n\nHe doesn’t think there will be a problem, but it would be better to erase the information about Lyman and the conversation they had now.\n\nAfter finishing the simple measures, Lenox stroked his forehead, closed his eyes, and turned around.\n\n”The path to the outermost edge of the island. Guide me through the fastest route possible.”\n\n[Route calculation complete!]\n\nDavi, as if understanding Lenox’s thoughts, quickly marked the coordinates to the outer edge of the island’s coast where Lenox had woken up.\n\nSwaaaah!!\n\nLenox, who had taken out a probe ship over the calm artificial coast, quickly checked that there was no internal or external damage and immediately boarded it.\n\nThe moment he was about to go straight to the end of the coast and use Kaise’s pocket watch ability at the end of the invisible barrier.\n\nDavi, as if sensing something, retreated the probe ship with all its power, moving away from the edge of the barrier.\n\nKuuung!!\n\n[Master!!]\n\n”Yes. The water pressure…!!”\n\nEven though he hadn’t escaped outside the barrier yet, an intense water pressure that seemed to crush the probe ship was detected.\n\nThe moment Lenox realized that and pulled up his magic power, the entire underwater barrier began to rotate counterclockwise as if it were a lie.\n\nAt the same time as the transparent coastal scenery was distorted, a huge gear cliff appeared beyond it.\n\nKu-gwa-gwa-gwa!!!\n\nWith a deafening roar, the barrier opened wide, creating a wide sea path leading to the middle of the deep sea.\n\nThe impact of the barrier opening forcibly rotates the surrounding seawater, creating a sea current that allows one to escape the influence of water pressure and rise to the ground.\n\nIt must be a passage designed to allow ships carrying personnel working in the Mind Chamber to safely enter the barrier.\n\n”This is…”\n\nThe moment Lenox slightly opened his mouth after confirming the meticulously designed waterway that prevents seawater from entering the barrier.\n\nA sharp mechanical transmission echoed loudly through the waterway.\n\n[Confirmed on-site violation of the highest security protocol. Securing the suspect on the spot by proxy of Ex Machina’s authority.]\n\nKuurururuk…!!\n\nAt the end of the tens of meters of waterway, a shark the size of a house was swimming upside down, scattering intense ultrasonic waves.\n\nIt is glaring at Lenox with eerie red eyes, but what is more eye-catching than that is its bizarre appearance comparable to its size.\n\nHalf of the shark is made of machine, and the other half is made of smooth fins and body, a bizarre shape.\n\nAs if a living animal had been modified into a combat weapon, sharp and eerie steel and the body of a beast.\n\nAnd on top of such a shark’s head, a human upper body was grafted as if coexisting.\n\nA muscular steel body. Waving his hair while holding a trident several meters in size in one hand.\n\n[4th Corps Deep Sea Corps Commander of the Mechanized Corps. Triton Neseus Okeanos.]\n\nThe magic power emanating from the body created by the fusion of shark and human vibrates the entire sea.\n\n[According to the emergency martial law, by the authority of the corps commander, you are arrested on 12 special felony charges, including urban insurrection.]\n\n”…”\n\n4th Deep Sea Corps of the Mechanized Corps.\n\nLenox’s face hardened as he realized the meaning of those words.\n\nA military group in charge of the defense of the mechanical city of Makina, and a military organization that never interferes with internal affairs of the city.\n\nA central defense department that is only allowed to intervene in external conflicts or conflicts equivalent to war.\n\nIn terms of a small elite, it is not comparable to the executive agency, but the firepower of a corps created to go to war far exceeds that of the executive agency.\n\nThe fact that the highest alert is being issued at the underwater barrier is clear evidence that the mechanical city of Makina has begun to prepare for war.\n\nMoreover, what does it mean that the opponent is the commander of the 4th Deep Sea Corps?\n\nLenox’s gaze quickly scanned the true form of the corps commander who identified himself as Triton.\n\n’The magic power…’\n\nThe magic power felt is around the level of a 7th level Saint.\n\nHowever, the magic power flowing from that body is mixing with the surrounding seawater, amplifying its size like crazy.\n\nKu-gwa-gwa-gwa!!!\n\nSimply in terms of output, the speed and impact are comparable to the 8th level.\n\nAs befits the name of the Deep Sea Corps Commander, he is the possessor of a talent that can draw out his combat power beyond its limits in this sea.\n\nOr a monster who fused his body with a shark to obtain the power that suits him.\n\n[Master…!!]\n\nA high-ranking superhuman specialized in deep-sea mobility and combat. No, can that even be called the same human in the first place?\n\nThat figure that has surpassed the hierarchy using magic engineering and bioengineering is literally a monster that has reached the pinnacle of the mechanized corps.\n\n[Considering the remaining output and durability of the probe ship, combat is…]\n\n”I know.”\n\nThe extreme environment where only the opponent can exert their full power.\n\nFighting in the sea thousands of meters below, where even movement is not possible, is tantamount to suicide.\n\nLenox answered that and quickly twisted the barrel from his arms and took out the equipment.\n\nClank!!\n\nThe old, dusty musket. The End of Teremer, which he received from Oason.\n\nA relic of the Old World, a dedicated equipment for a magic rifleman. And an artifact that the Commander himself carried around.\n\n’I haven’t been able to adjust it properly yet, but…’\n\nNow that he has returned after seeing Hermes’s memories, Lenox understood exactly how to use it.\n\nThe moment he transforms the Penterect, plugs it in, and pours magic power into it, the shape of the musket is reversed and changed on the spot.\n\nCharrrrrk!!\n\nNot the shape of a lizard that he showed at the selection ceremony, but a sharp and solid harpoon gun that resembles a long blue marlin.\n\nThe moment he twists the long harpoon gun inside the probe ship, takes a stance, and shoulders it, the compassion of the archangel begins to shine.\n\nKiiing…!!\n\nIn the blink of an eye, the inside of the probe ship is mixed with white and ultramarine magic light, and Lenox muttered.\n\n”I’m going to get rid of it in one go. Please assist with the calculation.”\n\n[I’m ready!!]\n\nIf time is wasted here, a significant portion of the gains made inside the underwater barrier will lose their meaning.\n\nClank!\n\nThe tip of the harpoon gun accurately aimed at the shark’s head of Triton swimming far away.