Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1001

The Third Seat of the Ability Awakening Corps. The immortal Michael Jellich.

A psychic with an immortality ability based on super regeneration, and a superhuman who was captured by the Conjunction Master and dissected alive.

Jellich, whom even Bernard did not expect to survive, was still alive.

Even with his whole body dissected, he was still alive, with only half of his brain remaining in a tank.

[I see. So you came at Bernard’s request~]

The left brain in the tank shook, slowly emitting mental waves.

[That’s a commendable fellow. Well, he was always polite to me even when he was the youngest in the Pioneer.]

“……”

[I used to give him pocket money when I had some to spare, and he hasn’t forgotten my kindness. I feel somewhat rewarded.]

“This isn’t the time to be making such comments.”

Lenok, with a dumbfounded expression, looked at the brain chattering in the tank and asked,

“Even if you’re immortal, shouldn’t you be dead by now? Why are you still alive with only your brain left after being dissected?”

[What, did you want me to be dead? Well, I guess that’s understandable. Who would want to take a toy that lost to the Conjunction Master?]

Jellich chuckled, making his left brain bob up and down.

[Sorry, but I’ve been through worse than this in my life. This is nothing to me.]

“……”

[It’s been a while since I became numb to pain and death. I might even be secretly hoping for it… Uwahaha, just kidding!]

Jellich, who had made a pointless joke to himself, said,

[It’s not that I want to die, but being alive in this state isn’t entirely my will either. It’s what you’d call an unauthorized bodily possession and embezzlement by others.]

[There’s no such crime in continental law.]

[Hmm? What did you say?]

“It’s nothing.”

Lenok, who couldn’t resist the retort, gently stroked Davi and glanced inside his coat.

“If your body was dissected by the Conjunction Master, where are your other body parts?”

Lenok immediately corrected his question.

“No, how can you have such high-level communication with me with only half of your left brain?”

Even if he could accept that Jellich, with his immortality, was still alive with only his brain remaining.

It was definitely strange that he was talking to Lenok with only his left brain after half of it was cut off.

Although the cerebral cortex is important for the operation of psychic abilities, it was strange that he was so intact.

[That’s because the left brain plays a much larger role than the right brain in understanding and expressing language.]

However, Jellich’s answer was much more detailed than expected.

[There’s no difference in receiving and understanding information, but it’s the left brain’s job to create the output.]

“……”

[I don’t know why the Master only cut and kept my left brain, but it’s not strange that I’m communicating with you like this.]

The left brain seemed to be staring at Lenok.

[Rather, your existence is more mysterious to me. You’re not even part of the corps, yet you’re so sensitive to a psychic’s mental waves… If I hadn’t heard your explanation, I would have thought you were a very powerful innate ability user captured by the Conjunction Master.]

“Captured by the Master?”

[The Conjunction Master has a habit of collecting and dissecting those with potential or rare talents.]

Jellich replied in a bitter tone.

[That’s why I ended up like this after losing to the Master. My ability is quite unique even among the special types, so I’ve been through quite a lot.]

“By ‘been through a lot,’ are you talking about cooperating with the cult’s immortal experiments?”

[…Hmm, it seems you’ve heard about that from Bernard.]

At that moment, the left brain’s reaction seemed to slow down momentarily.

For Jellich, the immortal experiments were a more unsettling experience than the current situation.

Lenok, who had just looked at the devastation left in the operating room, found it hard to believe.

“I know that the immortal experiments were a project to create a body for the cult leader.”

Lenok’s eyes shone intensely as he gripped the tank.

“What happened there? Did you meet the cult leader directly in exchange for cooperating with the immortal experiments?”

The immortal experiments were the cult’s human experiments to create a body for the cult leader who could not remain in reality.

Wasn’t Dylan O’Casey of the Antares Mercenary Group a victim of that experiment?

Considering Dylan’s absurd regenerative ability, it was easy to guess how powerful the immortality the cult was pursuing through the immortal experiments was.

And it was clear that Jellich played a role as a specimen in that process.

If he could uncover the details of that experiment, he might be able to adjust Dylan’s regenerative ability and restore him.

Conversely, it might even be possible to copy the regenerative ability itself and grant it to Lenok.

[You know a lot about the immortal experiments. That’s a secret that even those involved in the experiments can’t easily mention…]

However, Jellich hesitated at Lenok’s request and couldn’t easily answer.

[I’m sorry. I don’t know much about the specific process of the experiments. I only provided my body information for the experiment.]

“……”

[At the time, there were several specimens close to immortality, including me. There were True Ancestor vampires, Seven Calamity long-lived species, and even phantom species who had mastered life-extension techniques.]

“There were other specimens in the experiment besides you?”

[The immortal experiments tried to combine the biological information of such specimens to identify the laws and apply them to the human body. I also feel responsible for the victims who were created in the process, but…]

Jellich rotated his left brain with an uncomfortable expression.

[How should I put it? I couldn’t go against the cult at that time. To be precise, I believed in the cult leader that much.]

“……”

[There aren’t many beings in this world who can claim to be gods. Even if it failed, if they had tried to save the world… I just thought they could give me salvation too.]

The mental waves of Jellich, who had been lighthearted all along, felt heavy and sinking.

Was the salvation that Jellich tried to obtain through the immortal experiments that desperate for him?

He says he doesn’t want to die, but the mental waves Jellich emits seem to harbor a wish that contradicts that.

As Lenok was lost in thought, Jellich added something as if he had remembered something.

[Ah, if you want to know about the immortal experiments, go to Lalabelle. I heard that the specimen of the World Tree located there determined the success or failure of the experiment.]

“The World Tree of Lalabelle?”

Was he talking about the plant city located at the edge of the continent?

Lenok had also only heard about the name of another city-state through Druid or Raphael.

[It’s a divine tree with the most powerful life force on this continent. It’s the navel of the star that even the Ascended [beings who have transcended human limitations] coveted but couldn’t get their hands on.]

Jellich said, as if recalling a memory.

[I think I heard something more about the experiment… but I can’t remember well because only half of my brain is left. Puha-ha!!]

“……”

Indeed, it seems he’s not in his right mind, probably because he only has half a brain.

While Lenok was shaking his head at Jellich’s bizarre joke, the left brain, after clearing its throat, floated and rotated.

[I have nothing more to say. If you want regenerative ability, you can take my body. I’ll allow that much as the owner.]

“That’s absurd. Do you think you’re in a position to claim ownership of your body right now?”

[Hmm? But didn’t you come to the operating room to defeat the Conjunction Master?]

Lenok was momentarily speechless at Jellich’s words, which immediately hit the mark.

[If the Master dies and I find my right brain, I can regenerate on my own. I’ll live this miserable life again.]

“……”

[Well, I don’t want to die either, so I’ll cooperate with you. Until you defeat the Master, I’ll stick by your side and guide you through the inside of this terrible life zone.]

The left brain said, shaking its body.

[Even though my whole body was dismantled by the Master, I’m the owner of a strong mental fortitude who never lost consciousness even once. I can tell you everything I’ve seen and heard. How about it?]

“No matter how I think about it, that doesn’t seem like a miracle that can be explained by mental fortitude…”

Lenok muttered suspiciously, but changed his mind and raised his magic power towards the tank.

“Okay. I’ll accompany you until I find what I want in the operating room.”

[Goal? Isn’t defeating the Master your goal?]

Whoosh!

At the same time as Lenok gestured towards the tank, the tank containing Jellich’s left brain floated into the air.

As he moved, carrying the floating tank, the tank naturally followed.

[Oh, this energy… you’re a mage.]

The left brain in the tank exclaimed in admiration.

[To have such a sensitive reaction to mental waves and still choose magic instead of psychic abilities. It seems the support force Bernard brought is a very blessed mage.]

“Enough with the useless talk. More importantly, there are things I want to ask about your condition.”

As he left the cluttered embalming room, the hallway moved away from Lenok little by little.

The appearance of the operating room, where even the direction and width of the crossroads were constantly changing.

He had wondered if it was possible after contacting Jellich, but it seemed that the Conjunction Master had not yet noticed the anomaly.

“Why do you think the Master cut your brain in half and kept it?”

Lenok asked as he walked down the hallway.

“If he wanted to study immortality, there’s no reason to cut and keep the left and right brains. It would be best to scan the cerebral cortex in its entirety to study the ability.”

[Well. Maybe he was worried that I might regenerate on my own in that freezer?]

The left brain answered, bobbing up and down.

[If my brain is divided, the psychic ability won’t work properly. Maybe he wanted to neutralize me before starting full-scale research.]

“…No. I don’t think that’s it.”

Lenok muttered, lost in thought as he walked down the hallway.

“A mage like the Conjunction Master has plenty of ways to stop psychic abilities. There’s no reason to divide the brain and keep only one side separately.”

[Hmm?]

“The Master wasn’t trying to study your immortality. Rather, I think he was trying to use your right brain in a completely different way.”

The way Jellich’s brain was stored was far from how a research specimen would be stored.

Keeping only the left brain separately in the refrigerator meant that the right brain was useful right now.

Lenok, who suddenly raised his gaze, immediately started retracing his steps.

“Could it be that the surgery the Master is performing on the patient right now…”

The moment Lenok realized this and returned to the second anesthesia room where he had woken up.

A mechanical announcement echoed from the speaker on the ceiling of the anesthesia room.

[Two minutes until the incision site is sutured. Connect the magic circuit sequentially with 25 seconds to spare.]

[First patient surgery completed today.]

“…!!”

The surgery on the first patient that the Conjunction Master was in charge of was over.

In terms of time, it was about 15 minutes. It seemed that he had finished the surgery by simply suturing the incision site.

If Lenok was caught leaving his position at this point, the Master would definitely try to capture Lenok within the zone.

There was no time.

Since he hadn’t found the fragments of the barrier, he had to decide how to move against the Master right now.

“…Okay.”

[Evan Martinez?]

Leaving Jellich floating above the tank, Lenok headed towards the operating table where he had been tied.

He sat on the operating table in the anesthesia room and snapped his fingers, and the loosened belt tightened around Lenok’s body again.

At the same time, he released the target designation resistance that he had activated.

Lenok, who had returned to the way he was when he was first captured by the Master, turned his gaze towards Jellich.

“Michael Jellich. If you’re immortal, you won’t die even if you go into a subspace, right?”

[…What do you mean by that?]

“The Conjunction Master will be back in the anesthesia room soon. If he finds you, he’ll immediately notice the anomaly.”

Lenok said with a blank face.

“I’ll open a subspace for you, so hide there. Otherwise, you won’t be able to hide your mental waves from the Master.”

[Hide? That’s originally-]

Ignoring Jellich’s answer, Lenok gestured, and a small spatial rift opened below the tank, instantly swallowing Jellich.

A basic subspace created by Lenok while practicing manipulation techniques.

He had created the subspace inspired by Agneta, but its achievement was not yet high.

It was only big enough for one person to barely fit, but it would be enough for temporary use like now.

Considering the Master’s transcendent sensitivity, this was the best option for now.

Crack!

At that moment, the wall of the anesthesia room cracked open, and the Conjunction Master walked in.

He looked around the anesthesia room, wiping his gloved hands with a dry towel as if he had just washed them.

“Hmm…”

The Master’s eyes, which flashed indifferently between his surgical cap and mask.

He looked around the anesthesia room without a word, then slowly moved his feet with both hands raised.

He passed the silent Lenok and stood in front of the unconscious Master of the Magic Tower, who had his head bowed.

“……”

“I think we’re on the same level, but…”

The Master, who had tilted the unconscious Master’s chin and flipped his eyelids, opened his mouth.

“I can’t understand what the Archmage is thinking. Should I record that as part of his personality?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why did you bother to knock the Master of the Magic Tower unconscious again?”

The Conjunction Master’s eyes spun around as he looked at the silent Lenok.

“The amount of anesthetic I administered to the Master of the Magic Tower should have worn off about 12 minutes ago. Even if we allow for a 2-minute margin of error, he should have regained consciousness right after I finished the first surgery.”

“……”

“You used the anesthesia room’s facilities to forcibly knock the Master unconscious. I can guess what you were trying to do…”

The Master of the Magic Tower was laid on the operating table, and the Conjunction Master tilted his head as he checked the pulse on his neck.

“The change in body temperature, which was maintained at 75 degrees immediately after anesthesia. The change in heart rate. Considering the tolerance to the newly administered anesthetic-”

The Master, who slowly turned to Lenok, asked,

“Were you stealing the [Ember] that the Master of the Magic Tower possessed while I was gone?”

“……”

Just by briefly diagnosing the unconscious Master’s body, he had already figured that out.

However, Lenok was not shaken by the Master’s words, which immediately hit the mark.

‘He doesn’t know that I recovered Jellich’s left brain yet.’

The Conjunction Master was aware that Lenok had touched the Master of the Magic Tower, but he did not know that Lenok had found Jellich.

That was because, apart from Lenok releasing the target designation resistance, exploration or clairvoyance was not allowed against Lenok.

If the Master didn’t notice that Jellich’s left brain was missing, there was room to use it.

Lenok, having made his decision, slowly opened his mouth.

“You knew about the Ember even though you’re not a Flame Heat Mage.”

“I’m also interested in maximizing the firepower that reaches the ultimate through preheating.”

The Master replied indifferently and slowly approached Lenok.

“I also know that the Flame Heat Archmages who have reached the pinnacle are looking for a new Ember to burn instead of their own (self-energy).”

Unlike a special type mage, his understanding of Flame Heat magic was abnormally high.

Should he judge that the Conjunction Master, as a great mage of the alliance, possessed profound insight?

“Since being captured in my zone, you’ve been spending time stealing the Master’s Ember…”

The Master’s eyes, looking down at Lenok, narrowed.

“That’s not the behavior of a mage who has given up on his life. It’s preparation to live and plan for the next time.”

“……”

“You’re not going to answer? Okay, that’s not important anyway.”

The Master snapped his fingers, and the operating table where Lenok was tied began to move as if sliding.

Screech…!!

The inner wall, which had been wriggling, split open, and Lenok and the Master’s figures moved inside the zone as if they were flipped over.

A spatial movement that completely exchanged the position coordinates inside the operating room.

The moment Lenok frowned at the unrealistic change of position that didn’t even feel like speed.

“Case 29541. Opening Main Operating Room 1.”

Whoosh!!

Before he knew it, Lenok was lying in a pure white room with dazzling lights.

A space that was more massive and vast than any room he had seen in the operating room so far.

Complex machines located all around the operating room aimed at Lenok, who was lying on the operating table.

Click!

The Conjunction Master pulled a lever on the wall, and the machines that had been turned on all turned their heads towards Lenok.

“Pressure adjustment. Magic power synchronization. Mana resistance cancellation. Maximum resonance. Preparation for the third auxiliary power room.”

At the same time as red markings were engraved on Lenok’s body, markings popped out between the aiming lines and measured the values.

At the same time, dozens of graphs and data began to be displayed on the screen next to the operating table.

“Open the database. Sequentially enter the special notes mentioned from now on in the remarks column.”

The Master, who was wearing transparent gloves on both hands, looked down at Lenok with an indifferent gaze and said,

“Watcher of the Azure Eye. The last master of the Hangasa Labyrinth. Successor of the Ascended Jintun’s barrier technique. An 8th-level Flame Heat Archmage.”

“……”

“Current time is 2:42:14. Starting the examination of Evan Martinez, the Thousandth.”

Click!

The Master’s eyes, who had wiped the needle of the ampoule in his hand with disinfectant, flashed.

“Let’s see what’s dwelling inside that body.”