Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 996

Rumble…!!

The secret chamber on the top floor of the Hwacheong Pavilion was heating up intensely.

The mere presence of the Tower Master caused the temperature of the air to rise rapidly.

Bernard and Angel were sweating profusely, while the Tower Master leisurely observed them.

“A Pioneer searcher and a Cryokinetic ability user, huh? Either way, they’re just innate ability users bound by inferior talents.”

Sizzle!

As he dipped his finger into the teacup, the tea in the Tower Master’s hand instantly heated up.

The Tower Master, unfazed, took a long sip of the boiling tea and asked Lenok,

“Do you understand why high-level mages despise innate abilities?”

“……”

“Unidentified powers and laws are meaningless. There’s a clear difference between relying on innate talent and being forced to rely on it.”

Whoosh…!!

The air in the room continued to heat up, and parts of Angel’s body began to melt away like water.

A sadistic glint flashed in the Tower Master’s eyes as he looked at Angel.

“Those guys’ talents have no lower limit. They’re destined to fall and crash, always hitting rock bottom.”

“Well, there are also innate abilities that more easily approach the essence that’s difficult to access through theory.”

Lenok said, putting down his teacup.

“You should know that there are abilities in the world that reach transcendence in ways different from spellcasting.”

If spellcasting was superior to innate abilities, there was no way that Oliviera Ron Maze would have abandoned magic and chosen the Magic Eye. [Magic Eye: A unique innate ability that grants enhanced perception and insight.]

It was an undeniable fact that innate abilities possessed potential comparable to spellcasting.

Moreover, Lenok, who was directly using the Magic Eye, did not agree with the Tower Master’s words.

Angel leaving the unit and working under Oliviera was also because she agreed with the answer she had chosen.

The Tower Master also snorted as if he was reminded of someone by Lenok’s words.

“I don’t intend to argue over a few exceptions. It would be a meaningless discussion in this setting.”

“……”

“However, the fact that the Grafting Artificer shares a similar view with the main body is good evidence.”

The smile on the Tower Master’s lips seemed to twist strangely for a moment.

“That crazy bastard is the very anomaly that represents the power of the Order of Mages.”

“The Grafting Artificer, huh? Shall we talk about that?”

Lenok adjusted his posture.

“If the unit didn’t make a mistake, it’s true that the Azure Eye Watcher was supposed to come to the Hwacheong Pavilion today. But it’s strange that you’re here.”

“……”

“Why you replaced the Watcher, or if there was some kind of deal with the Azure Eye.”

Lenok’s gaze deepened as he looked at the Tower Master.

“I think you need to explain that first.”

From the point where he failed to meet the Watcher, it was obvious that the plan discussed with Bernard had gone awry.

However, to know where the plan went wrong, he had to get an answer from the Tower Master.

How he came to this place instead of the Watcher. Why he knew Lenok would come.

“You seem very impatient. I suppose you have a reason to be.”

However, the Tower Master only smiled mockingly at Lenok and did not readily answer.

“If one is at ease in the face of the Grafting Artificer’s life domain, then that person is not qualified to be a mage.”

“……”

“Although he is a mage of the Order, I am keenly aware of how extraordinary his talent is…”

The Tower Master’s voice, as he muttered to himself, was tinged with a faint sense of frustration.

Even the master of one of the most renowned towers on the continent felt a sense of defeat against the Grafting Artificer.

It was hard for Lenok, who knew that the Tower Master even handled the ancient combustion magic, to believe.

However, Lenok did not show any of these feelings and slowly raised his magic power.

“Tower Master. I know you have business with me.”

Whoosh…!!

Flames quietly rose from Lenok’s clenched fist.

“Since we both handle Flame Heat magic from the same origin, it’s natural that you’d be curious.”

“……”

Lenok spoke softly to the Tower Master, who was silently watching his flames.

“However, I have things to do at the gate. If you have something you want, why don’t we discuss it and come to a conclusion right away?”

“Hehehe…”

The Tower Master, with a wry smile, put down his teacup and slowly rose from his seat.

With his hands behind his back, the Tower Master walked to the balcony on the top floor and looked down at the stage set up on the stairs.

“You’re not like the previous Tower Master of this tower after all. If you had an enemy in the tower, you wouldn’t speak like that.”

“……”

“I wondered if my master, whom I sent away with my own hands, had returned. I feel like a fool for having such high hopes…”

Was he saying that he came to confirm whether Lenok was one of the previous Tower Masters of the Magic Tower?

To be obsessed with the traces of the master he killed in the process. This guy is definitely not a good person.

Lenok, who had been listening to the Tower Master’s words with a blank face, gestured slightly to Angel and Bernard.

“……”

Understanding the gesture, Bernard and Angel quietly began to move towards the exit.

The Tower Master, who had been lost in thought with his eyes closed, said as he grabbed the balcony with both hands.

“The reason I came here is because the Azure Eye Watcher entered the operating room earlier than scheduled.”

“What?”

“Because of that, I was handling the Watcher’s vacant schedule. In the process, I learned that a Flame Heat mage who had left the Azure Eye had arrived in the gate city.”

The Tower Master, looking at the hardened Lenok with a mocking gaze, said,

“What do you think I should do after learning this fact?”

“……”

The news that the high-ranking Azure Eye Watcher, who was scheduled to be hospitalized as a patient, had entered the operating room earlier than scheduled.

The fact that the Tower Master was handling the schedule booked by the Watcher in the process, what could be the reason?

An answer that was missing the decisive reason why the Tower Master was doing such a thing.

“You want something from me.”

Lenok, rising from his seat, met the Tower Master’s gaze.

“What answer do you want to hear?”

“That’s right. What do I want…”

The Tower Master, with a light laugh, slowly moved his feet.

“Do you know why the Flame Masters of the Blayver Magic Tower remain at level 7?”

“……”

“The seventh is completion. The eighth is called transcendence. But transcending the hierarchy does not necessarily lead to good results.”

The Tower Master spoke softly to Lenok.

“The eighth extreme is a realm reached by breaking down an already completed hierarchy. Its instability is incomparable to other hierarchies.”

“So now you want to tell me what a great mage is like.”

“What I want to say is that the difference between a Saint and an Extreme is not that great on the journey to the central city.”

The Tower Master, turning his body and sitting on the upper seat, rested his chin on his hand.

“The domain is a power that is difficult to use on a rapidly changing battlefield. Transcending the hierarchy does not necessarily mean that the spellcasting will advance. Sometimes, a thoroughly trained and completed level 7 mage is more useful than a broken level 8 mage.”

The Tower Master’s red eyes were fixed on Lenok.

“Just like you met Jintun in the Endless Labyrinth, surpassing other level 8 transcendents.”

“……”

“That’s why I’ve been careful to ensure that the Flame Masters don’t take unnecessary risks, but… your existence has made me acknowledge an exception.”

“An exception?”

“Your flames touched my heart more than the dozens of disciples I’ve personally taught. I don’t think I’ll ever see a mage as pleasing to my eyes as you.”

The Tower Master, looking down at Lenok with a noble expression, said,

“So, I swear on my hierarchy in this place. If you join the tower under me, the ninth Tower Master position is yours.”

“…!!!”

Bernard and Angel, who had been quietly listening to the conversation in one corner of the room, inadvertently gasped.

Even the veterans who had survived for decades in the Ability Awakening Unit could not hide their agitation.

How groundbreaking the Tower Master’s proposal to Lenok was.

They knew all too well that the Blayver Tower Master was not the type of person to make such an offer to others.

“It’s a noble task to inherit the history of the great tower, but you’ve already proven your qualifications with results.”

The Tower Master, taking a step closer, opened his other hand in front of Lenok and tilted his fingers.

“The task of inheriting a flame that has not been extinguished for hundreds of years. The brilliant and great inspirations that can be obtained in the process…”

Flames of different colors and shapes flickered between the Tower Master’s fingers.

A warm, light green flame. A flame as hard as a stone. A sky-blue flame that emitted a sharp aura.

Flames of rare shapes that Lenok had never seen in his life as a Flame Heat mage.

“If you’ve made a name for yourself in Flame Heat magic, you’ll know how valuable these [Flames] are.”

The Tower Master, as if knowing that Lenok would be interested in the flames, naturally placed his hand on Lenok’s shoulder and said,

“It’s a power that you can easily obtain if you become the Tower Master. All that’s needed is a simple verification to see if you’re truly a talent suitable for the tower.”

“What kind of verification are you talking about?”

“Shall we start by leading the Superheat Unit in the central front and gaining achievements? It won’t be a burden. Just burn everything that stands in your way, like you’re doing now.”

The Tower Master quietly tilted his head and whispered as if coaxing him.

“But this time, you’ll be wearing the name of the Magic Tower, not the Azure Eye.”

Was the Blayver Tower Master, who had been pushed out by the Grafting Artificer and lost his position as the gate manager, here to recruit Lenok into the tower?

Evan Martinez was officially a level 8 Flame Heat Archmage.

It was not strange for the Tower Master to move personally to scout such a high-ranking mage.

It was definitely a gamble worth trying, even at the risk of offending the Grafting Artificer.

“Sorry, but I’ve already received so many similar recruitment offers that I’m sick of them.”

Lenok, rubbing his neck, chuckled.

“I wouldn’t be interested even if you offered me the Tower Master position right now, so it’s hard to be satisfied with such vague words.”

“Are you saying you’re going to refuse the honor of leading the tower’s name on the battlefield?”

“The name of the Magic Tower, huh?”

However, Lenok smiled bitterly at the Tower Master’s words and raised his gaze.

Lenok, meeting the burning red eyes, asked,

“Isn’t that just you wanting to pass on the work you used to do with the Flame Masters to me?”

“……”

“You’ve given it all sorts of justifications, but the truth is that you’re short on manpower to work for the tower.”

“Hmph…”

The Tower Master sighed.

“I was relieved to hear that you had a major clash with Chiglet in Vulcan, but it seems that you heard strange things from that child.”

“……”

“This is disappointing. Even after becoming a level 8 Archmage, you can’t even distinguish such lies properly?”

“Lies? Are you talking about the reason you’re offering me the next Tower Master position?”

Lenok’s eyes shone coldly as he looked at the silent Tower Master.

“You explained it grandly, but it’s because I’m a mage who survived the fight with Gyonroe, right?”

“…That’s…”

“You were disgraced by Gyonroe and lost your position as the gate manager. Is there any other reason why you’re making me an offer now?”

At Lenok’s question, which directly hit the mark, a quiet silence filled the room.

“Hmm, even when I offer you good words, you can’t understand what I’m saying.”

The Tower Master spat out a cold answer with a smiling face.

“You should have known that my consideration not to question your origin and background in appointing you as the next Tower Master included such implications.”

“……”

“If we were to follow the procedures one by one, shouldn’t we start by questioning where you learned the tower’s Flame Heat magic?”

The Tower Master’s eyes, which were looking at Lenok, were no longer smiling.

“A thief who stole and learned the tower’s magic dares to… object to my decision?”

“And you made a promise to appoint such a thief as the next Tower Master.”

Lenok shook his head with a smirk.

“I know what kind of trick you were planning. You were going to appoint me as the next Tower Master, but you weren’t going to give a definite answer as to ‘when’ you would hand over the Tower Master position, right?”

“……”

“From the beginning, you didn’t even think about stepping down from the Tower Master position. You were just going to tie me down in a suitable position and use me.”

Lenok, slowly stepping back, rubbed his wrists and said,

“Just like the other Flame Masters you used up and discarded like consumables.”

“Hehehe. It seems that you’ve stolen more than just the tower’s magic.”

The Tower Master burst into a hearty laugh.

“To know so much about the tower’s secret history, does that mean you also know about the Solar System?”

“……”

“I see. That’s it… The reason why your flames can’t be contained in the Locked Flame Bead was ultimately that.”

[Calamity Garment]

The moment he took a step forward, a mournful flame rose from under his feet.

Whoosh…!!

The Tower Master, instantly wrapping his whole body in a cloak of flames, slowly opened his clothes and muttered,

“You were an outsider who received magic from one of the previous Tower Masters.”

Koooh…!!

A ring of flames engulfed the room and burned fiercely.

Bernard and Angel, their faces pale from the heat, were pushed out of the room as if they were being chased away.

Angel, panting and stepping back, hurriedly took out a terminal from his pocket.

“C-crazy…!! Is it really going to happen here…!!”

“Angel, get out of here!!”

Kwahhh!!

The surging flames rose as if trying to grab Angel’s hair, and Lenok reacted at the same time.

The pure white flames that rose from behind Lenok blocked and suppressed the Tower Master’s flames.

Kwaaaang!!

Red and white flames mixed and spewed out beyond the windows of the Hwacheong Pavilion. The night sky of the black market glowed brightly.

“W-what is it?!”

“It’s a fight. At the Hwacheong Pavilion…!!”

The merchants and passersby who were going through the black market checked the place where the flames had risen and their faces hardened.

The commotion that occurred at the Hwacheong Pavilion, which was often used as a meeting place for large forces.

Everyone was aware that this situation was a disaster caused by a clash of high-level transcendents.

“Everyone in the black market, run away!!”

“Protect your lives until the search team arrives!!”

Puhwaaaak!!

At that moment, the flames that spewed out from both sides of the pyramid rose into the night sky and rotated like a small sun.

It was as if someone was trying to clear the darkness of this battlefield in advance before the battle.

The terrified people simultaneously threw away the things or food they were holding and began to run away.

“A war has broken out in the gate city!!”

“No, no…!!”

“The Artificer, the Grafting Artificer is coming…!!!”

“That’s unexpected.”

Lenok, looking at the chaotic black market below the window, said,

“Considering that you were the manager of the gate, you should have restrained your power to avoid being noticed by the Artificer.”

“It’s night, outsider. It’s the time when the power of the veil becomes stronger and the environment changes drastically.”

The Tower Master pointed to the sky of the black market with a cold smile.

“The magic fluctuations under the veil are not observed from the outside. If it’s just about catching an outsider who has violated the tower’s rules and making him reveal his secrets, there’s nothing to be concerned about.”

“The Artificer had a better sense of perception than any other mage I’ve seen. Can the veil really block what’s happening here?”

“It’s okay. He’s probably busy dealing with patients in the operating room right now.”

The Tower Master, with a relaxed smile, changed the color of the flames he slowly raised and said,

“The work of dissecting and extracting the body of a high-level transcendent requires immense concentration. No matter how much of an Artificer he is, there’s no way his attention can reach this far.”

“I see. The Artificer doesn’t have the time to pay attention to this…”

Lenok’s eyes, slowly turning towards the Tower Master, sank coldly.

“How do you know that the Grafting Artificer is operating on a patient right now?”

“……”

The surgery takes 24 hours.

However, no one knows exactly when the Grafting Artificer starts the surgery after bringing the patient into the operating room.

Even Bernard did not try to guess the time, but rather suggested a way to enter the operating room with the Watcher.

If the Tower Master was confident that he could avoid the Artificer’s eyes, it must be because he had some kind of connection that allowed him to be aware of the Artificer’s movements.

Could it be possible because the Tower Master had previously managed the gate as the Artificer’s former manager?

Now that the plan to contact the Watcher had gone awry, Lenok was intuitively aware that he had to dig into that part right here.

“Well, that’s not an answer I can give to an outsider.”

The Tower Master did not answer that question. Instead, he just raised his hand with a strange smile and wrapped it in magic power.

Whoosh!!

He wore a cloak of flames and combined the two flames that stretched out to create a small flame ball.

A strange form as if he was constantly receiving flames from the sun on the spot.

The Tower Master, who had quickly taken a stance, raised his gaze as if looking down on Lenok and asked,

“Is that all you have to say?”

“…It wasn’t in the plan to fight the Tower Master, but if it’s something I have to do, then I have no choice.”

Lenok, with a wry smile, slowly raised his magic power.

“The secret you know about the Artificer. And even the [Flames] you hold.”

The figures of the two mages, silhouetted against the night sky, were engulfed in flames and blazed.

“I’ll take everything from this place.”