Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 776

Thump, thump!!

The sight of a giant bug dashing through a humid swamp.

Several slender legs moved busily, gliding across the swamp like a water strider on a lake.

A cargo hold, like a swaddling cloth, hung below the bug’s belly, and a dozen or so people were inside.

Inside the roughly shaking swaddling cloth, the passengers looked around with wary eyes.

Lenok, among them, leaned against the swaddling cloth, examining a map.

With a shadow robe pulled deep over his head, he munched on a paprika sandwich with one hand.

‘Once I cross the swamp and reach the upper reaches of the Headrain River, the preparations will be complete.’

After getting off the train, Lenok had easily reached the swamp, his intended destination, and was able to find and board a means of transportation nearby.

He had heard that the swamp had no railway connections, so a unique means of transportation was necessary, but even for Lenok, riding a living water strider was a first.

Thanks to this, he had some time to spare during the journey, giving him time to review his future plans.

Of course, there was a minor commotion where he had to interrogate the passengers who had tried to steal Lenok’s ring on the train, but what happened after the Guide’s ghost devoured the other ghosts was only a natural consequence.

At least, Lenok had never considered letting go of someone who had pointed a knife at him.

‘The problem is that I haven’t decided how to cross the river…’

After interrogating the passengers in the same cabin, he had learned a few ways to cross the river.

However, Lenok still had no idea which option would make it easier to enter Yorta.

Information about the Headrain River was not well-known, and information had only been passed by word of mouth among those who traveled to and from the military city.

In the end, it seemed that he would have to check the Headrain River himself and undergo the ‘inspection’ that passed through both the material and spiritual realms to make an educated guess.

“Hmm…”

He closed his eyes and leaned his head back between the swaying swaddling cloths.

Even though he had taken motion sickness medicine, his stomach churned from the vibrations every time the water strider moved.

Even minor inconveniences that he usually dealt with using magic felt incredibly significant at times like this.

It was a time when Lenok often realized how much he relied on the versatility of common magic in his daily life.

That was why he had decided to compile this realization into a thesis and publish it.

Lenok’s expression became complicated as he looked down at the half-eaten sandwich, but he quickly regained his composure.

‘Let’s focus on the goal first.’

The first priority was to find the traces of Kaise Bajur and the Black Consumer Project.

And to solve the curse of metamorphosis placed on the guardian spirit, he needed to investigate the Yorta Memorial Tower.

In addition, learning the Avatar Technique to properly gain the ability to create clones was also essential.

The problem was that all three goals could not even be attempted without touching the most important secrets and origins of the military city.

Kaise. Memorial Tower. Avatar Technique.

There was no way that any of these themes would not be considered important in Yorta.

That was why Lenok had concluded that he had to go to Yorta himself.

‘Considering what happened with Madrich Onion, I should investigate the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons [a recurring supernatural event] and check on the Guide’s ghost as well.’

Thinking that, Lenok glanced up.

[Oooooh…]

Perhaps the commotion in the cabin had been the catalyst.

Even now, the Guide’s ghost was circling above Lenok’s head, voraciously devouring the stray ghosts around the swamp.

Chomp, chomp!

The Guide, who was not even in human form, chewed and swallowed the stray ghosts, letting out a satisfied sigh.

What was unusual was that no matter how many stray ghosts he devoured, no stray ghosts followed behind the Guide.

And the passengers riding the water strider didn’t even notice this.

A somewhat different reaction than when he consumed the ghosts of other passengers.

In the first place, what did it mean for the Guide to guide souls in the Night Parade of a Hundred Demons?

‘Considering the commotion at the Lavatenon Necromancy Department, it’s probably right to assume he had this ability from the start.’

During the agreement with the Magic Tower when he was using Evan’s identity, the spirit that appeared during the Necromancy Department’s project demonstration was extremely afraid of the Guide’s soul.

He had quickly intervened because of the excessively violent reaction, but there must have been that much power in the Guide.

‘It’s something I got to cross into Yorta, but it’s a more unusual relic than I thought. I have to be careful…’

Either way, if it was a process that fit the original purpose, it would be great, but he also had to keep in mind the possibility that things wouldn’t go smoothly.

At least, almost none of the journeys and plans that Lenok had experienced had gone as smoothly as he had hoped.

Lenok sighed softly and was about to fold the map of the Headrain River and put it in his pocket when.

“Th, that…”

A young man who had been sitting blankly next to him opened his mouth, looking at Lenok.

Lenok, who had quickly pulled up his robe, replied in a cold tone.

“What is it?”

“Not eat… not going to eat it?”

“…”

His gaze was fixed on the paprika sandwich that Lenok had left half-eaten.

He seemed hungry, judging by the drool dripping from his mouth.

He glanced at the others, but they were only looking at him warily and didn’t seem to want to intervene.

All of those who were crossing the swamp using the water strider’s swaddling cloth as a cargo hold were skilled in their own right.

They were people with desperate circumstances that forced them to ride on the belly of a bug through a swamp teeming with monsters.

A somewhat different situation than when he left for Makina.

After some thought, Lenok tossed the sandwich he was holding to the young man.

“Wh, whoa!”

The young man hurriedly caught the sandwich with both hands and began to eat it.

Lenok wasn’t that hungry, and he had plenty of food stored, so there was no reason to save it.

Since there would be no one who knew Lenok near Yorta, there would be no trouble no matter how he acted.

‘Deciding what identity to use is also a problem.’

He had obtained the Guide’s ring under the identity of Victor, so it would be right to use Victor’s name.

In fact, Lenok had not worn a mask, but he had come wrapped in a shadow robe.

However, if he needed force in Yorta, it might be more convenient to act under the identity of Van.

If he planned it carefully, it wouldn’t be impossible to operate in Yorta under Van’s identity, which made it even more difficult to decide.

‘If I quickly learn the Avatar Technique, it might not be difficult… but it’s a plan that I can’t guarantee.’

Thinking that, Lenok silently watched the young man eating the sandwich in front of him.

But the young man was gobbling down the sandwich when he suddenly bowed his head and started to vomit.

“Ugh, ugh… It’s terrible!!”

“…”

“There’s no, no meat… why would you eat this?”

Lenok sighed as he watched the young man, who was making a face and sticking out his tongue.

Just as he was about to ignore the young man and try to sleep, an annoyed voice came from across the way.

“Hey. You need to clean up what you left behind.”

A middle-aged man with a grumpy expression was frowning.

Judging by the tight-fitting leather armor and equipment, he was a scout. A Pathfinder, it seemed.

“The swaddling cloth is getting dirty. Clean it up properly.”

“…”

“Can’t you hear me?”

Only then did Lenok realize that the man’s words were directed at him, and he raised his gaze.

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Because you gave that idiot food. Would a moron who can’t even speak properly understand a conversation?”

The man retorted.

“I let it go because he was eating a sandwich without meat, but the smell of vomit leaves a strong trace. You’re responsible for cleaning it up.”

“…”

Was he saying that he had to clean up the vomit to avoid leaving a trace?

If he was worried about the monsters living in this swamp, it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Judging by the reactions of the other passengers, they seemed to be thinking the same thing.

Lenok nodded.

“I will. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Instead of apologizing, hurry up and-”

At that moment, the man’s head seemed to snap forward, and he fell face-first into the vomit.

Thud!!

He screamed and convulsed, rubbing his face on the floor of the swaddling cloth.

It was a bizarre sight, as if he was being forcibly controlled by someone’s hand.

While the others were silent, watching the scene, Lenok muttered coldly.

“Instead, I’d like to pass the responsibility on to you, I hope you’ll understand?”

“Aaaargh!!”

The man, who had gotten up with his face covered in filth, pulled out a sharp dagger from his waist.

“You bastard, I gave you a warning, but you don’t know your place…!!”

Thwack!!

At that moment, a long thorn that had popped out from under the swaddling cloth pierced the man’s groin.

“Huh?”

A single blow that pierced between his legs, tore through his intestines, and split his heart.

The man, unable to say a word, poured blood from his orifices and slumped over.

Those who realized that the thorn that had killed the man in an instant had sprung up from under the swamp stood up.

“M, monster!!”

“Damn it, did they already follow the scent?!!”

“Protect the water strider. We need its help to cross the swamp!!”

[Kieeeek!!]

Those riding in the swaddling cloth projected magic in all directions to protect the water strider, but it was already too late.

A praying mantis-like bug that had come down from a tree used the scythe on its hand to cut the water strider in half.

The bug, its head and body separated, collapsed, and the swaddling cloth hanging below its belly plunged into the swamp.

Glug, glug!!

The monsters swimming under the swamp bit into the swaddling cloth as if they had been waiting, and blood gushed out as if they were biting into grapes.

The only ones who survived were a few people who had escaped the swaddling cloth at the same time as the mantis appeared and climbed onto the bug’s back.

“Y, you…!!”

A woman, unable to contain her anger, grabbed Lenok by the collar.

“The water strider died because of you. What are you going to do about this?”

“Let go of my hand.”

Lenok replied coldly.

“Unless you want your head split open.”

“What?”

Swish!!

At that moment, the head of the mantis that had been rushing at the woman from behind was cut in half.

The corpse, dripping with dark green fluid, fell into the swamp, and other monsters began to devour it again.

Crunch, crunch!!

It seemed that they preferred the corpses of other monsters to humans.

Stunned by what had happened in an instant, the woman quickly let go of the robe.

Someone who was surveying the situation from the top of the dead bug’s head said.

“It wasn’t the robe that caused this. There’s a smell of blood coming from over there.”

‘Blood smell?’

“Someone spilled blood near the swamp first. There are a lot of monsters gathered nearby.”

“I, I know…”

At that moment, the young man, who had been sitting blankly on the bug’s back, muttered.

The woman, seeing this, stepped back in horror.

“Oh my god! Why is this bastard still alive?”

“…”

While Lenok was silently watching the young man, the young man smiled brightly and pointed in one direction of the swamp.

“Over there, someone I know. I know them.”

“…You know someone in this swamp?”

“I’ll take you there. Someone I know.”

At the young man’s words, the others hesitated for a moment, and the woman burst out in anger, as if she was dumbfounded.

“Do you believe that? Let’s think about how to escape!!”

“Escape? How are we going to escape from here?”

The man standing on the bug’s head said.

“It’s still a long way to get out of the swamp. If we want to cross the swamp without the water strider, we have to jump on the trees. Can you do that?”

“Th, that…!!”

As he said, monsters like mantises were dripping saliva and looking at them from the trees.

If they abandoned the water strider and climbed up the trees, they would surely be attacked.

“If this person’s acquaintance is fighting over there, it might be better to cooperate with them…”

“If they’ve come this far, they must have a way to cross the swamp.”

When the conversation reached that point, the others seemed to have made up their minds as well.

With the bug dead, it was impossible to cross the swamp normally.

Since things had turned out this way, everyone was thinking that they should cooperate with the other side to find a way.

“If a fight broke out to the point of spilling blood, their numbers must have decreased. We might be able to board with this many people.”

“If not, we can kill them and take it…”

“Shhh.”

It was something that should be assumed, but it wasn’t something to discuss now.

All of the passengers were working together to move in the direction the young man had pointed.

Lenok, who had been standing silently on the bug’s corpse, also moved with the group.

“Be careful, be careful…”

“If you get monster fluid on you, it won’t come off. Be careful not to step on it.”

The group, carrying the struggling young man, barely moved to the source of the blood smell.

As they got closer, the scent of blood grew stronger.

It seemed almost certain that this blood smell, not the commotion that had just occurred, had attracted the monsters.

Swish, swish!

The sight of a small island in the swamp. The sight of several corpses lying dead on it.

They were in such a terrible state that they were barely recognizable, whether they had been torn apart by monsters or not.

While the group was silent, the woman, her face pale, looked around and muttered.

“Hey, is this… right?”

“…”

“Is this right? Why are they all dead!!”

The woman grabbed the young man by the collar, her voice sharp.

“Where’s your acquaintance? If you lied, I’ll kill you here!!”

“No. This is right.”

The young man smiled brightly, still being held by the collar.

“To live, we need food.”

“…What?”

Crack!

At that moment, the young man’s head exploded and transformed into the shape of a huge monster.

It swallowed the upper bodies of the group standing nearby in one gulp.

Crunch, crunch!!

The monster’s crushing power was as fast as lightning, and human flesh was torn away without resistance.

However, only Lenok, who had been standing among the group, was still alive and well.

“…”

It wasn’t that Lenok had dodged any attacks or blocked the teeth of the young man who had turned into a monster.

The young man had simply avoided Lenok and killed and devoured the other members of the group, as if he had intended to.

“You, gave me a sandwich.”

The young man, whose head had only turned into a grotesque monster, said, stammering.

“I’ll let you live. Run away.”

“…”

Was he saying that he wouldn’t kill him here because of the favor of the sandwich Lenok had given him?

But instead of running away, Lenok looked at the young man for a moment and said.

“I thought you were a monster who spoke human language, but that’s not it.”

“…I said, I’ll let you live?”

Even as he said that, the young man was approaching, gnashing his teeth.

As if unable to control his appetite, he opened his mouth wide towards Lenok’s head.

Looking at the blood foam stretched out between his teeth, Lenok shook his head.

“The fable of the beast that repays a favor is only good to watch. I don’t want to be the subject of it.”

“M, meat…”

The young man’s reason quickly disappeared from his eyes.

“You, sandwich… I’m more hungry…”

“It’s hard to maintain your reason, isn’t it? It must be hard to endure.”

Lenok said, as if he understood.

“At least, everyone I’ve seen from your kind was similar. They’re not consumed by madness, but they’re influenced and follow it willingly.”

“U, ugh…!!”

“The strongest betrayal and contradiction are contained in the taboos committed by one’s own will. That’s far from the instincts that monsters feel.”

Not noticing the unusually kind tone of his voice, the young man rushed at Lenok.

“You gave it to me… make me food!!”

Thump!!

Unable to resist his appetite, the monster’s head swallowed Lenok’s entire body from head to toe.

He shook his throat wildly, swallowing him whole without even chewing properly.

“Ooh, oh…!!”

Leaving the young man, who was screaming and writhing, people began to appear one by one from the surroundings.

Swish…

Uniformed in white cloth and with blank, stiff faces. Each of them held a weapon and slowly approached the young man, making eye contact.

Just as the people were about to thrust their weapons into the writhing monster.

Crack, crack!!

Red lines were drawn all over the monster’s body, and then it exploded into dozens of pieces of flesh.

Boom!!

Lenok’s voice echoed from within the monster’s corpse, which had been torn apart in a gruesome state.

“It’s not just monsters that lose their minds and crave human flesh.”

“…”

“Human body transformation that deviates from the principles of magic. Cannibalism based on human sacrifice. Strength not limited to hierarchy.”

Lenok, who had walked out, said, looking at the people who had changed their expressions in surprise.

“Aren’t those all characteristics of the apostles you create?”

With that, Lenok turned his gaze to the clothes of the newly appeared people.

The material was white cloth. Simple decorations and uniform clothing.

The shape of the robes, which were somewhat familiar, was very similar to that of the group Lenok knew.

“I thought I should check why you’re here.”

Lenok chuckled as he watched the retreating followers.

“The Guido Order. What are you doing in this remote place against monsters?”

The source of the blood smell in the swamp, the place that had attracted the monsters.

It was the priests of the Guido Order who had been hiding there and waiting for the group.

“…You seem to know about our order’s origins. As you said.”

Among the followers who had made eye contact with each other, someone stepped forward with a smile and put their hands together.

“We needed an apostle, so we were creating one. Perhaps this is something that you, a follower, would also be interested in.”