Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 645

Executor (3)

The architect of the Ascension Gate was Atermeyer.

He was the mastermind behind the supreme project that staked all the possibilities of the Machine City, Machina—the very person who designed the gate.

A researcher who disappeared when the plan failed, his name erased from Machina’s history.

Mayah was saying that Atermeyer’s name originally belonged to the Doctor.

‘…I see.’

Though unexpected, Lenok quickly accepted the fact without much agitation.

Come to think of it, there was quite a bit of evidence that the Doctor was Atermeyer or an equivalent being.

The way Mayah and the Doctor seemed to know each other from before in Pandemonium.

The Doctor’s interest in investigating and researching information from the old world.

And even the fact that the statue he made existed as replicas throughout the Machine City, Machina.

It was clear that the Doctor had once conducted research on the old world in this Machine City.

And considering the Doctor’s capabilities and genius in Pandemonium, it wouldn’t be strange at all if he had been directly involved in the design of the Ascension Gate, beyond just a research position.

But the reason Lenok hadn’t thought the Doctor was Atermeyer, even knowing all that, was because Lenok didn’t think the Doctor was the type of person who would be tied to one place and devote himself to a large-scale project.

Although he moved according to the Commander’s words, the Doctor’s plans and methods were quite different and independent even within Pandemonium.

Lenok hadn’t thought that such a person had once been in charge of the design part of the Ascension Gate project as a member of the Machine City.

[That’s not a lingering attachment of mine, Mayah. I can’t agree with that statement.]

The Doctor laughed from beyond the blood gate that Mayah had created, his voice having turned cold.

[All I did was design the theory of the Ascension Gate into a feasible blueprint. I put conditions on Jura’s Scales [a type of contract] and matched the price, didn’t I?]

“…….”

[I didn’t think the failure of the plan would lead to the void of the old world, but not stopping at the point of not reaching it isn’t my lingering attachment.]

The Doctor’s answer was mixed with a faint cynicism.

[The idea of extracting meaning from beyond the emptiness was wrong from the start. Everyone knew this problem would arise. What’s the point of fixing it now?]

Tap, tap….

The Doctor muttered along with the sound of something being tapped languidly.

[It’s just repeating a task that won’t end with just one try, Mayah… It’s far from the fundamental answer you’re looking for.]

Knowing how strongly Mayah was fixated on the failure of the Ascension Gate, he didn’t hesitate to mock it head-on.

He didn’t seem to feel any responsibility or burden for the gate’s failure, but rather seemed to think it was a natural outcome.

Rather, listening to the Doctor’s words, it almost seemed like he was trying to dissuade Mayah from interfering in Machina’s affairs at this point.

Lenok, who had been silently listening to the conversation between the two from behind, lit up his eyes.

‘He participated in the Ascension Gate project through some kind of deal, but he wasn’t interested in the result?’

But even so, the fact that the Doctor designed the gate itself didn’t disappear.

The Doctor seemed to think his contribution to the plan was minor, but Lenok, on the contrary, was realizing the extent of his capabilities from that answer.

What did it mean to design the theory of the Ascension Gate into a feasible blueprint?

The genius of quantifying and bringing into the realm of calculation and research the mental images, ideas, and possibilities that do not exist in form.

What the Doctor was talking about was the culmination of a talent that had reached the extreme of theorization, something that even Lenok couldn’t be sure he could imitate.

It was no coincidence that he was remembered as the designer of the Ascension Gate even at this point when the name Atermeyer had been completely forgotten in this city.

It was clear that the Doctor’s ability played a key role in the process of concretely designing the plan.

The Doctor’s words openly pointed out and mocked the failure of the Ascension Gate.

But instead of getting angry at the Doctor’s words, Mayah silently looked at the blood dripping from her forearm.

The dripping blood rose up and transformed into the shape of a gate, connecting the Doctor and her will, but it wouldn’t last long.

At this point, where it was revealed that the Doctor himself had no intention of directly intervening, she had to leave at least a minimal result.

The words she had to say were decided.

“Hermes is one of the very few Ascended who has been with a Godslayer.”

[Godslayer?]

“Even if it’s not to fix this, we need to watch the causality. Am I wrong?”

[…….]

The Doctor, who had been silent, laughed.

[…I see. Was someone listening? It would have been easier for each other if you had said it sooner.]

“…….”

Mayah didn’t answer any further, but Lenok immediately realized what the two were talking about.

Hermes was one of the extremely rare old-world beings related to the Commander.

That’s why Mayah was telling the Doctor that it was necessary to watch the progress, even if it wasn’t to fix the failure of the Ascension Gate.

However, the reason she referred to the Commander’s existence as a Godslayer was just a simple message to prevent Lenok from knowing the Commander’s identity.

The Doctor had instantly read the intention of those words and had subtly noticed Lenok’s presence.

[Alright. If that’s the reason, then it can’t be helped.]

A change of attitude that was so refreshing that it was awkward compared to his previous dissuading attitude.

Mayah also nodded as if she had expected such a reaction from the Doctor.

“The time we can maintain contact isn’t long. If you have anything to say about the gate, tell me quickly.”

[What to say… Ah, I see.]

The Doctor seemed to ponder for a moment, then laughed as if he had realized something.

[I happen to have some information about the old-world Ascended in my database. Let me explain about Hermes.]

“…You have information about Hermes?”

[Hermes Oroknier. The chancellor of a fallen nation, the ghost of steel, the commander of platinum. An Ascended who researched the boundaries between matter and non-matter and obtained qualifications by transcending hierarchies based on mass formulas.]

The Doctor continued speaking quickly in a flat tone without waiting for an answer.

[A commander of unmatched power, said to have possessed a military force like a legion. It seems he was an outstanding war proxy, with his achievements in the old world’s history spanning decades.]

“…….”

[A cold and mechanical personality. Five countries destroyed. One civilization collapsed. He was once revered as a god, but he didn’t seem interested in having followers.]

Lenok thought about whether there was a being like Hermes in WORLD 2.0 after hearing those words, but there was no boss or character that came to mind.

Was he a Transcendent who existed after he stopped playing WORLD 2.0?

Mayah also fell into thought after hearing those words, and remained silent with a complex expression.

The Doctor neatly ignored the reactions of the two and muttered as if looking into an old book.

[He obtained the qualifications to challenge Ascension, but he has never officially challenged Ascension. But among the Ascended of the old world, no one has ever attempted…]

The Doctor’s words, which had been reading down, stopped abruptly.

“Doctor, what’s wrong?”

[Heh heh… I think I know why Hermes’ ego was present beyond the gate. He had no intention of transcending the world from the beginning.]

The Doctor, who had let out a low laugh, answered.

[I roughly know what to do. There’s a setup I left near the Machine City. I’ll send you the coordinates, so take care of the rest.]

“Alright.”

Mayah replied coldly and slowly rubbed her forearm.

“I’ll hear the rest after everything is over.”

[As you wish. But don’t get too deeply involved in the void of the old world. As you know-]

The Doctor, who had paused for a moment as the blood gate slowly closed, whispered.

[We are already with the most dangerous possibility in that old world.]

In that instant, the corners of Mayah’s mouth twitched faintly. As if it was awkward to be called that.

“Possibility…”

[It’s not our job to judge the value of the old world. Don’t forget that.]

The Doctor’s voice, muttering in a strange tone, faded away, and the sound of footsteps grew distant.

Small footsteps as if he was turning his back and walking away from beyond the gate.

[Everything exists in the realm of calculation under an absolute standard. The rest is…]

The Doctor’s message echoed quietly beyond the fading presence.

Mayah listened to those words, then slowly rubbed her forearm to stop the bleeding and withdrew the blood magic.

With a blank face, she turned around and nodded lightly towards Lenok.

“I’ve received the coordinates. Let’s move for now.”

But instead of answering those words, Lenok stared at her intently and said.

“I understand that you want to stop Hermes. You think this is one of the predetermined failures.”

“…….”

“Then why do you need my help instead of stepping in directly?”

“Along with the failure of the Ascension Gate…”

Mayah said that, then faintly distorted the corners of her mouth.

As if it was unbearable just to mention that fact.

After a moment of silence, she slowly opened her mouth.

“I made a covenant with the Scales and relinquished all authority. Interference with the core systems, including the Machine City Ex Machina, is forbidden to me.”

“Scales?”

“Jura’s Scales. It’s a type of quantified contract created by reinterpreting Geass [a type of binding power] in the central city of Ars Nova.”

Mayah explained as if it were nothing special.

“Because the contract is made through the medium of a corrupted phase, it acts as a prohibition that only high-ranking transcendents can pay the price for.”

“You want to refrain from intervening as much as possible due to the prohibition, is that what you’re saying?”

“It’s not me who suffers from the backlash of the contract.”

Mayah’s eyes, staring at Lenok with her arms crossed, sank coldly.

“It’s the very value that the contractor put on the Scales, the most precious and obsessive value.”

“…….”

What she valued most was the safety of the Machine City, or something of equivalent value.

She was indirectly saying that if she broke the prohibition and interfered excessively, the Machine City itself could be destroyed.

“If I were to try to face Hermes directly, I might end up helping him instead. I want to avoid that at all costs.”

As an exile, she had been stripped of all authority to interfere with the system, so she wasn’t even allowed to approach it.

Even so, Mayah was secretly back in this city, trying to stop Hermes, who was trying to turn the whole city upside down.

That was proof that even after being abandoned by this city, Mayah was still dwelling on and constantly remembering Machina’s failure.

“Hermes’ existence is one of the most fatal and dangerous variables among the various variables we had assumed when preparing the plan.”

Mayah, who had quickly finished stopping the bleeding and cleaning up the traces, said.

“A mind that has been devoured by the ego of a qualified Ascended can no longer be considered human. It’s just a part that moves to bring out its true self, according to the encroached memories.”

“…….”

“Before I was exiled, I wanted to prepare thoroughly for the dangers associated with him…”

Perhaps those words weren’t meant to seek Lenok’s understanding.

Her words were the kind that could never be understood without knowing Mayah’s history and circumstances to some extent.

But that was why Lenok understood why Mayah had returned to Machina at this point.

She hadn’t fixed the failure of the Ascension Gate or found a way to fundamentally solve it.

But because she had thought that something like this might happen someday, she had returned to Machina to fulfill her responsibility for her failure.

Outside the city, she was an outlaw who committed sacrifices, slaughter, destruction, and ruin,

But back in Machina, she was still a guardian and executor who was responsible for the city.