Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1018

Signpost (6)

“The Gabihaeng, having broken through the first gate and ascended, is moving towards the Western Front at an incredible speed.”

The warm sunlight poured in through the window. A gentle breeze blew through the gaps.

A silence that made the fierce battle and chaos feel like a lie.

The search party’s military ward, located near the gate city.

Lenok, leaning against the bed, was listening to Bernard’s explanation.

“1048% mana compression rate. Estimated speed of over 120 km/h. After bypassing the gate city, it’s leaving no survivors.”

“……”

“Currently, all forces and fronts within 20 km of the Gabihaeng are being forcibly retreated and evacuated. The Azure Eye [a powerful organization] is reportedly using the lighthouse to cooperate.”

Bernard, with bandages all over his body, swiped the tablet he was holding and spoke.

“The ecosystem near Paradox Blue is already in a state of annihilation. At this point, we have to consider the massacre in the gate city as something the Underworld King himself restrained.”

Two days after Myung, who had slaughtered all the transcendents chasing Lenok at the gate, had left.

Lenok was still recovering in the ruined gate city.

Civilians who had evacuated were returning to the city, and the search party was patrolling the vicinity of the gate.

The only way to hear about the movements of the central front was through the information Bernard brought from outside.

“It seems you haven’t stopped gathering information even after the Gabihaeng left.”

“I got in touch with one of the Pioneer members.”

Bernard shrugged.

“It’s someone I haven’t heard from in years, but it seems they’ve become interested in this matter. It’s information I learned by exchanging information about the gate with them.”

“……”

“Once we enter the boundary of the Lost Paradise, observation itself will become difficult. This might be the last chance to guess the end point of the Gabihaeng.”

Bernard turned off the tablet and placed it on the bed.

“Thinking about it now, the Underworld King might have known about Jinwa’s intervention from the beginning. I didn’t think he would even use the existence of the Ascendant as a means, but it might not have been difficult for that black magician.”

“I see……”

“Well, was that not very impactful for the great mage who stopped the Gabihaeng, even for a moment?”

It wasn’t that there were no survivors in the place where Myung’s Gabihaeng had passed.

Those who were on that battlefield would have witnessed the moment when Lenok forcibly opened the [Gate] and stopped the Gabihaeng.

Apart from the massacre committed by the Underworld King, the reputation of the Thousandfold, who had blocked the Gabihaeng, was already growing incomparably.

“Thousands of people watched you risk your life to stop the Gabihaeng.”

Bernard, clasping his hands together, said with a serious expression.

“The forces directly and indirectly involved in this incident won’t be able to touch the gate for the time being, regardless of the damage. They’ll have to consider public opinion because of the justification that contrasts with your actions.”

“……”

“The restoration of the gate city is almost half done. It’ll be almost finished in a few more days.”

Kugugung…!!

As the mage chanted a spell and stretched out his hand, the half-destroyed building regained its balance and stood up.

Those who appeared to be search party members carried dozens of thick steel bars on their backs and climbed the hill.

The ruins, which had been devastated by the battle with the Grafting Sorcerer and the Underworld King’s Gabihaeng, were almost nowhere to be seen.

A bizarre scene where nearly half of the gate city had been restored to normal.

With the power of transcendents and magic, it would only take a few days to restore a small city with a population of hundreds of thousands.

“The Gabihaeng doesn’t return to the place it left, so it’ll be safe from the Underworld King for the time being. As long as the [Gate] functions, the city will operate normally again.”

Bernard said, turning his gaze out the window.

“In a way, things have become easier for us as a result. We should say we were lucky.”

“Luck, huh……”

Could it really be called luck?

Myung, who killed the powerful enemies chasing Lenok, who was exhausted from fighting the Grafting Sorcerer, and turned the direction of the Gabihaeng himself and disappeared.

Could it really be said that he gifted all these results to Lenok without anticipating them?

Myung’s answer, which had changed even the end point of the Gabihaeng and tried to leave something for the future, was still clear even after several days.

Myung’s words were not wrong.

Because one realization was more important than hundreds of explanations, the answer that Lenok found himself could shine so brightly.

If it had been an answer based on the wishes and prayers of others, could Lenok’s kaleidoscope have been so innocent?

The answer is valuable and meaningful because it is drawn directly by Lenok’s own power.

The answer is within Lenok from the beginning.

Knowing that-

“Evan. Are you awake?”

Bang!

Angel, with a crutch, walked into the hospital room.

Like Bernard, he was pale with bandages all over his body.

Angel must have gone through a lot to survive on that battlefield as well.

Angel, who had put down the crutch he was holding, leaned against the wall and gestured with his hand over his shoulder.

“Someone from the Ability Bloom Corps has come. They say they have something to say about this matter.”

“From the Corps?”

The damage suffered by the large forces that form a part of the central front in the gate city is not something that can be easily overlooked.

However, at this point when the events in the gate city have been made known throughout the central front, it is difficult to intervene in the gate again.

In particular, I thought that the Federation or the Corps would not move first, but surprisingly, the Corps is taking action.

Lenok, who had been lost in thought, noticed Angel’s subtly stiff expression and asked.

“It’s someone you know. Isn’t it?”

“Yes. If you know them, you know them, but……”

Angel nodded with a reluctant look.

“They’re not on the side that’s trying to kill us, at least. But… they’re someone whose thoughts I couldn’t understand even in the past.”

“……”

“Angel, didn’t you say you were going to contact Vulcan, not the Corps?”

“Well, that’s…”

Angel scratched his cheek at Bernard’s question.

“The chairman and his partner said that they’re each doing research, so we might not have to rush it.”

“Partner?”

Was he deliberately not mentioning Kyeonrye’s name, considering the medical staff who were listening?

However, I can guess what Angel meant.

Lenok said, removing the connector attached to his arm and getting up.

“Let’s stay in the gate city for one more day. I’m going to meet the Ability Bloom Corps right now.”

* * *

Leading Bernard and Angel, I immediately left the private room in the ward.

The search party members who were patrolling the hallway saluted as soon as they saw Lenok.

“Mr. Evan. There’s a guest in the reception room.”

“I’ll guide you right away.”

“Do that. But……”

Lenok, looking at the search party members’ subtly stiff faces, asked.

“It seems the guest from the Corps this time is quite a famous person.”

“……”

The tension was so palpable that the members guarding the ward couldn’t hide their expressions.

If they had simply been suppressed by magic or mental power, their reaction would not have been like this.

Rather, it seemed like they were indirectly intimidated by their reputation or social status.

That meant that the guest who had visited the ward was a considerable figure, enough to overwhelm the search party.

“Mr. Evan, you haven’t been active in the central area for long, so you might not know, but…”

The members, who were slightly hesitant, spoke carefully.

“They’re one of the most famous ability users in the Ability Bloom Corps.”

“Their public reputation isn’t bad, but it’s said that their abilities are very cruel.”

“Please be careful.”

Click!

Guided by the search party, I entered the reception room, and a gust of wind blew through the wide-open window.

As Lenok turned his gaze to the wind entering his patient gown, a woman sitting inside stood up.

“Ah, you’ve arrived.”

A woman with neatly combed blonde hair cut to her shoulders.

She was dressed quite simply, considering she was the rumored person who had made the members nervous.

As Lenok stared at the woman, she bowed politely to Lenok.

“Evan Martinez. It’s an honor to meet the hero of the gate city.”

“You’re saying things you don’t mean.”

“No, I mean it.”

As Lenok sat down opposite her, the woman also sat on the sofa with a smile.

“I have no intention of making false statements to someone who killed the Grafting Sorcerer.”

“……”

“Let me introduce myself.”

The moment the woman snapped her fingers, a small business card fluttered and fell onto Lenok’s lap.

“Second Seat of the Ability Bloom Corps. I’m Eredis Javelin.”

The woman, sitting upright, spoke quietly.

“Although I am lacking, I am in charge of representing the Aphelia Seat in the Ability Bloom Corps.”

“That’s interesting.”

Lenok said, picking up the business card.

“Does being the Second Seat mean that you’re the third strongest innate ability user in the Ability Bloom Corps?”

“The Aphelia Seat hasn’t been directly involved in the field for quite some time.”

Eredis said calmly.

“I am the Corps’ no. 2.”

“……”

I didn’t know if she was admitting it or refuting it.

For someone who claims to be the second-in-command of the Ability Bloom Corps, her tone was very polite and calm.

As Lenok glanced at Bernard, he nodded with a reluctant expression.

“Ah? Well… I didn’t have much interaction when I was in Pioneer either. I think it’s probably right?”

“……”

Eredis’s reaction was to stare at Bernard without saying anything.

While Bernard was sweating profusely at the sight, Angel, who was standing behind Lenok, spoke.

“Eredis is the most powerful ability user in the Ability Bloom Corps. It’s not a lie.”

“Were you an acquaintance?”

“Rather than an acquaintance…”

Angel smiled wryly.

“If you fight together a few times, you’ll get to know them whether you like it or not.”

“……”

Does that mean she’s a powerful figure with unmatched power even within the Corps?

Eredis must have recognized Angel as well, as she quietly turned her gaze.

“Angel, it’s been a while.”

“It has.”

“How is Vulcan? Are they doing well?”

“I don’t know……”

Angel trailed off.

It seemed like he didn’t want to reveal his feelings to this woman named Eredis.

Eredis, who had been staring at Angel, turned her gaze back to Lenok.

“Let’s get back to the main point. The reason I came here today is to apologize to Mr. Evan on behalf of the Ability Bloom Corps.”

“Apologize?”

Having said that, Eredis stood up abruptly and bowed at a right angle to Lenok.

“The independent and deviant actions of the Corps’ 13th Seat, Loebeid Ouler, and his subordinate extermination squad. I sincerely apologize in the name of the Ability Bloom Corps. I am truly sorry.”

“……Don’t bow.”

I didn’t know if she was stiff or very businesslike.

She didn’t seem like an emotionless machine, but this was a rather unique type of human.

If I had to categorize her, she was more like a….

“Are you from Kabahim?”

“Pardon?”

Eredis, who had blinked her eyes, answered belatedly.

“No. May I ask why you thought so?”

“No, it’s fine to ignore it.”

Lenok said, waving his hand.

“So, did you come all the way here just to apologize?”

The deal that Lenok and Bernard had made to recover the remains of Michal Zhelich.

However, at the same time as killing the Grafting Sorcerer, the Corps betrayed Lenok due to Loebeid’s intervention.

And Myung appeared and swept away the entire gate city, forcibly bringing the situation to a temporary end.

The death of the Grafting Sorcerer. The restart of the Gabihaeng. The deaths of over thousands of mana users that occurred in the process.

Due to the damage caused by the combination of two misfortunes, the forces trying to seize the gate have completely disappeared in this situation.

However, the Ability Bloom Corps had not completely withdrawn from this matter.

Unlike Loebeid, the faction that was friendly to non-ability users had contacted them to try to mediate a reconciliation.

Eredis was here as a member of the faction within the Corps that was friendly to non-ability users.

“First of all, I would like to express my gratitude for recovering the remains of the Third Seat, Michal Zhelich.”

Eredis said calmly.

“Regardless of his betrayal, his unique innate ability was a power that the Corps could never overlook… an ability that should not have fallen into the hands of the Grafting Sorcerer under any circumstances.”

“There’s something I want an explanation about.”

Lenok said, adjusting the IV needle in his wrist.

“The reason the Sorcerer was able to ‘graft’ Zhelich’s right brain onto himself was ultimately because of Zhelich’s own cooperation. It was a measure that minimized the brain’s rejection.”

Lenok, who had dismantled the grafting technique through Uroboros, had a relatively clear understanding of the potential and limitations of the grafting technique.

The grafting technique is a technique that only works if you have a relatively complete understanding of the target you are trying to graft.

That was probably the reason why the Grafting Sorcerer, Abesta Chapman, was so excellent as a surgeon, and why the operating principle of the grafting technique was created that way.

If you want to graft a human body, you must know the body part you are trying to graft well.

However, the human brain is a complex organ that has not been fully elucidated by the science or medicine of this world.

Therefore, Lenok knew that without Zhelich’s own cooperation, the Grafting Sorcerer would not have been able to obtain immortality so easily.

“Why did Michal Zhelich betray the Ability Bloom Corps himself? Didn’t the Corps know that he truly wanted to die?”

“As you may know, the Third Seat, Zhelich, is not a founding member of the Corps. He has been experimented on and suffered in various organizations and forces.”

Eredis answered.

“The reason we were able to keep him in the Corps was because the Corps promised him that we would not interfere with him.”

“Does that mean that the Corps’ power was so lacking that they had to keep Michal Zhelich, even like that?”

“No. It’s the opposite.”

Eredis smiled and shook her head at Lenok’s sharp question.

“It’s because there is no significant loss in the current power of the Corps, even without binding him with troublesome restraints.”

“……”

A confident answer that seemed arrogant.

However, Lenok was vaguely aware that Eredis’s answer was not wrong.

Most of the executives of the Corps that Lenok had faced were undoubtedly well-known figures in the central area.

Even if we consider the potential of Balak Ohedon, the power of Loebeid, who was only the 13th Seat, was unexpected for Lenok.

Although he met a terrible death at the hands of Myung, on the other hand, it meant that he had survived until the end in that chaotic battlefield.

If Myung hadn’t swept the ground instead of Lenok at the end, there was a high possibility that Loebeid and his subordinate extermination squad would have regrouped and returned alive.

If that were the case, it might have been the opposite of Eredis, who was friendly to non-ability users, who had come to see Lenok now.

During the chaotic and fierce battle of the first gate.

While reflecting on how vast the possibilities that Myung had arranged at the end were, Eredis cleared her throat.

“Ahem, if you understand, may we move on to the next item?”

“……Speak.”

It seemed like she thought the silence was longer than expected, but even considering that, her attitude towards Lenok was quite cautious.

Was this reaction simply out of concern for the injured, or was it to treat the Thousandfold who had killed the Grafting Sorcerer?

“Currently, the remains of the deceased Loebeid Ouler and the extermination squad members have been recovered by our side. Originally, it is customary for deceased Corps members to be taken to headquarters for cremation, but…”

Eredis said, making eye contact with Lenok.

“Considering the situation in the gate city, we cannot handle it according to the customs of our Corps.”

“……”

“The extermination squad will be disbanded and reorganized under the Corps, but if Mr. Evan wishes, we are willing to hand over their bodies. What would you like to do?”

“Hmm……”

The corpses of the dead Corps’ ability users.

To be honest, I’m not very interested in the forbidden arts of handling corpses. I’ve never been very conscious of the possibilities that arise from such techniques.

However, among the corpses of Loebeid and the ability users who died now, there must be those who were directly hit by Myung’s black magic.

Even though the Gabihaeng has gone elsewhere, is there a reason to hand over the traces to the Corps?

“Did you say that it was customary to take the remains to headquarters for cremation?”

“Yes.”

“Then cremate them.”

Lenok said, grabbing the IV stand and getting up.

“However, I will handle all the processes directly in front of my eyes.”

“Pardon?”

“I will keep the customs of the Corps, so that there will be no more talk about this matter.”

Lenok asked, looking down at Eredis.

“Do you agree?”

“I also agree that the location is not important, but…”

Eredis, who had trailed off, nodded and stood up.

“Okay. If that’s what Mr. Evan wants, I will handle the promise of the Third Seat as well.”

“Promise?”

“Didn’t the Third Seat, Zhelich, promise you something?”

Eredis said, moving her feet.

“The ritual weapon, the Wandering Star (熒惑星) [a celestial body, often Mars], I will hand it over to Mr. Evan right here.”

* * *

The spirit realm where colorful spirits frolic.

A huge water palace located on a lake.

“It’s over. It took much longer than I thought.”

A woman, lying in the middle of the magnificent palace’s audience chamber, yawned.

A youthful face that didn’t even look like an adult yet.

However, her expression and gestures were extremely languid, not befitting her age.

At the same time as the woman got up, the robot standing behind her turned on.

[It seems the battle at the first gate is over.]

Following the woman who was walking down the palace corridor without answering, the humanoid robot asked.

[Fairy Sorcerer. What was the result?]

“Chapman lost. It seems like he was completely pushed back in the firepower battle?”

[Hmm.]

Towards the robot whose answer had slowed down, the woman called the Fairy Sorcerer said languidly.

“Even though they fought within the territory, the result is like this, it’s a bit unexpected. Was he from the Watcher?”

Splash!!

Every time the woman took a step, a path of water unfolded, assisting her steps.

The woman, who walked barefoot on the lake in the center of the palace, muttered.

“It seems that Lapis Palshier was raising a monster. If this is the case, we might have to change our response to the Azure Eye.”

[What about the battle data? With your technique, you can record it using the eyes of the fairies, can’t you?]

“I did record it, but I don’t know if it’ll be useful.”

The Fairy Sorcerer, who had answered indifferently, stretched out her hand and said.

“More than that, let’s deal with this matter first, Atermeyer. The item is ready, right?”

Whoosh!!

A huge lake located in the center of the water palace.

A mysterious-shaped tank located in the center of the lake.

Inside the tank, a [right brain] that seemed to belong to someone was floating.

While the robot carefully took out the tank containing the right brain, the woman with her arms crossed asked.

“Doctor, the fact that you’ve come means that the host is ready, right?”

[Abesta Chapman was an individual with unparalleled talent and aptitude among sorcerers of the same level.]

The robot answered.

[So, I’ve been looking for a body to hold his spirit and soul for a long time… but surprisingly, I was able to find a candidate nearby.]

“Nearby?”

[The patients who were kept in the ‘operating rooms’ he left in various parts of the continent. Among them, there was a very suitable host. It will take some time, but there will definitely be no problem with adaptation.]

“So, who is that host?”

[It’s Juice Master. Have you heard of him?]