Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1064

The game of the long-lived, wagering their lifespans as stakes.

And Lenok’s victory in the match against Alogon, winning by a half-point in the final tally.

The fish-men, who had been watching the game board with bated breath, widened their eyes in disbelief.

“A, Lord Alogon…”

“How could he lose to a short-lived species?”

Even at this moment, the white stones on the board seemed to outnumber the black ones.

Since Alogon had been in a dominant position from the start, it was natural that there were more white stones.

However, despite this, in the Ohbaekro [a type of Go game] score tally, Lenok’s black stones had won by a half-point.

A trivial and seemingly meaningless phase that Alogon had overlooked while placing his stones.

Lenok had used the space on the board that he had passed over, to create a situation where he barely exceeded Alogon’s score.

Everyone knew that it was not a coincidence, that it was not something that was simply possible through luck.

Just as Lenok had explained at the end of the game, he had gathered each small phase and grown them to the point where he could finally achieve victory.

In all those phases that Alogon had ignored, Lenok had seen a way to win.

In this game where lifespans were at stake, he had realized through this one match that he had gained an advantage in calculation against a long-lived species.

“…Defeat.”

However, as if unable to accept it, Alogon raised his hand and roughly slammed the board.

KWAANG!!

With that one gesture, the black and white stones on the board were flung into the water.

With his veined fist on the board, Alogon, glaring at Lenok with his deep blue pupils, said,

“Place the Ruyi Pearl [a magical pearl that can store lifespan] on the board, short-lived one.”

“…”

“I will add my time to your Ruyi Pearl right now.”

“More than that, I’m curious where your Ruyi Pearl is.”

Lenok asked, glancing at the Ruyi Pearl placed on the shelf.

“I thought there was no need to ask when we first started the game, but shouldn’t you also take out your Ruyi Pearl?”

“In the Ohbaekro bet, it is only you, a short-lived species, who needs to be verified as having a sufficient lifespan.”

Alogon growled.

“Or did you think that I, who rules the Kundara Sea, would not even have the time to give to you?”

“Even if you are a long-lived species, you are not an immortal being after all.”

Lenok replied, placing the Ruyi Pearl on the board with a calm expression.

“If you are close to your death, you might not have much lifespan left, just like humans.”

“…”

Alogon did not answer that.

He just glared at Lenok with a vein throbbing in his forehead, and slowly reached out towards Lenok’s Ruyi Pearl.

THWACK!

The Dragon King, who had strongly grasped the Ruyi Pearl, then began to draw up his magic power and clutched it as if to break it.

At the same time, a blue life force, like the sea, began to quickly fill the transparent Ruyi Pearl.

As Alogon himself had mentioned, when he filled it with 10 years’ worth of life force, the life force contained in the Ruyi Pearl exactly doubled.

Seeing the Ruyi Pearl, which contained a total of 20 years of life force, emitting an even more mysterious light, Lenok raised his hand.

“Let’s continue.”

At that moment, the black and white stones that Alogon had sent flying began to fly back one by one from the other side of the current.

KURURUK!!

Lenok’s skill in skillfully manipulating the currents of the deep sea, picking up the stones that had fallen in all directions.

While Alogon was watching Lenok, who had already understood the knack of water manipulation and was skillfully moving the currents, with a chilling gaze,

Lenok, who had skillfully divided the black and white stones, placed the Ruyi Pearl on the shelf and said,

“This time, let’s bet 20 years of lifespan.”

“…”

“You said it yourself, you’re not thinking of backing out now, are you?”

“You only say things that are so arrogant that I want to tear you apart and kill you.”

Alogon said that, and then thrust his hand back into the white stones.

“I’ll show you that this victory was not entirely due to your skill.”

***

The Dragon Palace in the deep sea, as silent as if holding its breath.

In the center of the audience chamber, where the water pressure was pressing down, the two people sat facing each other, taking turns placing stones.

Each time the white and black stones moved across the board, only one person’s face hardened.

The moment the stones were filled and flipped on the board, the silent Dragon Palace fell into an even deeper silence.

“T-the total score is 3 points…”

In the silence that seemed to stop the breath, the fish-man who had been called out as an attendant stammered.

“T-the black’s victory…”

“…”

Another defeat for Alogon.

In the middle of the quiet palace, Alogon, who had been staring at the board with a hardened face, stretched out his hand.

WHACK!!

He grabbed Lenok’s Ruyi Pearl, which was placed on the shelf, and forcefully poured his life force into it as if venting his anger.

Alogon, who had instantly poured 20 years’ worth of life force into Lenok’s Ruyi Pearl, said,

“Again.”

Alogon glared at Lenok with his eyes flashing.

“Start. Clear the stones and organize the board!!”

“Didn’t you say that clearing the board was the role of the loser earlier?”

“…!!!”

“Well, fine.”

Lenok, who had smirked at Alogon, slowly began to organize the board.

“It’s a game where 20 years of lifespan is at stake, so a short-lived species can do some chores.”

“…”

“Shall we continue?”

The game continued without delay, with the lifespans increasing exponentially.

Alogon, who had elevated himself using even his mental power, and Lenok, who was holding the stones without using magic.

However, it did not take long for the outcome to be decided again.

“5 points difference. The black’s victory.”

“Again.”

Alogon continued the game without delay.

“7 points difference. The black’s vic-”

“Again!”

Before he knew it, Alogon had stopped talking about doubling the stakes.

“9 points difference. The black’s…”

“Again!!!!”

The attendant’s voice gradually slowed down.

“11 points… difference…”

“Again. Again!!!”

The scores being tallied continued to change, but the outcome did not change.

The more they played the game again, the more the difference in their scores continued to widen.

The attendant who was helping with the tallying no longer announced the scores directly.

“…The black’s, victory.”

“…”

None of the fish-men in the deep sea could open their mouths any longer.

With expressions that were so hardened that it was impossible to describe, they could only wish that this moment would pass as soon as possible.

“…”

After the game, which he had lost by a 15-point difference, Alogon did not speak any further.

Alogon was silently staring at the board, and Lenok was fiddling with the black stones on the opposite side.

“You.”

After a long time, Alogon raised his gaze.

The blue scales that had sprouted on his skin were proof of how agitated he was right now.

Evidence that Alogon’s emotions were shaking so violently that he could not even maintain his human form.

“How much longer are you going to make a fool of me?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The score tally in Ohbaekro is usually set to an even number, and it’s rare for it to be an odd number.”

Alogon, whose skin had turned blue as if he would turn into a water dragon at any moment, said.

“To maintain the score difference as an odd number and widen the gap every time the game ends, is it even possible unless you are mocking me?”

“…”

“Even the great sorcerers of Ars Nova did not play Go like this. This is from the beginning…”

Alogon asked, gritting his teeth.

“Short-lived one. What were you doing outside the barrier?”

“The fact that you’re asking that now is proof that you don’t deserve to win this game, isn’t it?”

Lenok tilted his head.

“Although you’re hiding to avoid the ending, I didn’t know you’d be this uninterested in the outside world. Are the other long-lived species similar?”

“…”

“Are you not going to answer? Well, fine.”

Lenok said that and grabbed the Ruyi Pearl.

Because the stakes had not been increased from the middle, the lifespan contained in the Ruyi Pearl had not increased dozens of times.

However, even so, after repeating the game more than six times, the lifespan contained in the Ruyi Pearl had far exceeded 100 years.

The Ruyi Pearl, which had been close to a glass bead with no power, had also completely changed its form accordingly.

GOOOOO…!!

Surrounded by sparkling lights like a small star, it floated into the air on its own and slowly rotated.

The life force surging from within the Ruyi Pearl rotated within the bead, changing the texture of the Ruyi Pearl itself.

A bead that was no longer a bead, but a mysterious jewel and orb, exuding its presence.

Alogon, who was watching it, gritted his teeth and said to the attendant standing next to him.

“Bring my Ruyi Pearl.”

“…Lord Alogon.”

The attendant stammered with a surprised expression.

“I-if you draw on the power of the Ruyi Pearl, the stability of the deep sea area will be greatly weakened. If you make a mistake-”

“Do you intend to make me say it twice?”

Alogon glared at the attendant with a chilling gaze.

The attendant, whose face had turned pale, could not say anything and disappeared behind the audience chamber.

“Let’s play one more time while the attendant brings my Ruyi Pearl.”

“…”

“And, this time…”

Alogon, who had been gritting his teeth and agonizing in front of the fish-men, threw the white stone he was holding at Lenok.

WHOOSH!!

At the same time as Lenok caught the white stone, Alogon pointed to the black stone.

“I will make the first move. Take it.”

“…I will.”

Ohbaekro is a game where two players take turns placing stones.

Therefore, it is an implicit agreement that the black stone, which makes the first move, is in the position of the inferior.

The fact that Alogon placed the white stone and held the black stone was the same as admitting that he was below Lenok in this game.

Even if it meant abandoning his pride for a moment, was he trying to play Go with Lenok on an equal footing at all costs?

THWACK!!

Unlike before, Alogon, who had even put down his explosive anger and was concentrating with all his might.

Without being obsessed with lifespan, without even giving up his pride as a long-lived species, he was focusing on the game in front of him.

A dragon king who was violent, fierce, and looked down on humans like insects, but was sincere in the Go game made by such humans.

Lenok, who was not looking at the board but was staring at Alogon, said while holding the white stone,

“There are several major flaws in the water manipulation you use.”

“…What?”

“While your overall power and scale are quite formidable, it seems you’re trying to be subordinate to the attribute rather than controlling it.”

Lenok, having placed the white stone, gazed intently at Alogon.

“Perhaps it’s because you bear the name of a Water Minister, but you seem excessively fixated on water as a medium.”

“Short-lived species. You should be focusing on the game, not spouting nonsense-”

“Water Minister Technique. Its magic efficiency drops drastically when used outside of water, doesn’t it?”

“……!!!”

Lenok’s question seemed completely unrelated to the current situation.

However, at those words, Alogon froze as if his heart had been pierced.

“The efficiency decreases by about 80%. So, using the technique outside of water means you can’t even achieve half of its potential.”

“You, how did you know that-”

“This game created by Juntun is, after all, designed to read the caster’s proficiency with their techniques.”

Lenok said, looking down at the Go board.

“Jutiya is right. If you play against the same opponent several times, you start to see something beyond just their style.”

“…….”

“The origin of the technique, beyond the caster’s proficiency and aptitude. I’ve never paid much attention to it, thinking it was just mind-reading…”

Lenok tilted his head and looked at Alogon, asking,

“It’s especially clear with the central nobles, or you long-lived species. It must be because you’ve been using Ohbaekro [a type of Go game] in a different way.”

“…….”

“That’s why you’ve never been able to beat me in any of our matches so far.”

Lenok said nonchalantly, leaving Alogon speechless.

“Even if I just mix impurities into the stones you place, it drastically reduces the power, just like your Water Minister Technique.”

“…That’s.”

“Six points difference. I’ve won.”

While Alogon was in shock, staring blankly at the Go board, Lenok placed a white stone and asked,

“Do you still think it was a coincidence?”

“…….”

Alogon didn’t answer any further.

The fish-men of the deep-sea region, who had been watching the game, also squeezed their eyes shut and turned away.

‘It’s over.’

At this point, the difference in skill between Lenok and Alogon had become clear to everyone watching the game.

Because everyone understood that Lenok had perfectly grasped the Water Minister Technique, and that Alogon, who used the Water Minister Technique as his style, could not defeat Lenok.

Using the Water Minister Technique, which can only exert its power in water, in Ohbaekro, its power drastically decreases just by mixing impurities.

Now that Lenok had directly pointed this out and broken his will to fight, there would be no more games in this place.

However, Lenok had also gained quite a lot from this game, so it didn’t matter much.

‘I’ve gained about 100 years’ worth of lifespan, huh?’

Just as Lenok nodded to Oliviera, who was watching the situation from afar.

“From the moment you stole the essence of the Water Minister Technique in the first game, the result was already decided…”

Alogon, who had been looking at the Go board, raised his gaze.

“I admit it. I lost.”

“…….”

“Because of my petty pride, I failed to recognize how skilled you are.”

Alogon’s voice, as he spoke, had lost its previous ferocity and was now low and subdued.

Alogon slowly placed his hands on his knees and stood up, then pointed outside the audience chamber with one hand.

“I’ll help you leave the deep-sea region. The exit is that way.”

“I’d like to know how the lifespan stored in the wish-fulfilling orb can be used.”

Lenok asked.

“It would be difficult for a human like me to use the lifespan stored here as it is, right?”

Although he had obtained a considerable amount of lifespan from Alogon, Lenok was not easily excited, knowing that.

He thought it was unlikely that the lifespan stored in the wish-fulfilling orb could be directly converted into Lenok’s lifespan.

However, what Lenok was focusing on was the fact that the lifespan of long-lived species was being used as currency in Kundara [a mythical realm].

If lifespan was being used as currency, as Alogon had said, then the lifespan Lenok had obtained now would be of considerable value even in Kundara.

However, Alogon’s answer was slightly different from what Lenok had expected.

“Among the sanctuaries of Kundara, there are places that convert the lifespan stored in the wish-fulfilling orb back into lifespan.”

“…Convert?”

The choice of words was something that could only come from someone who was used to treating lifespan like currency.

Alogon said calmly.

“I’ve never used it myself, but I’ve heard that such a place exists somewhere in the Eight Calamities…”

“…….”

“If you really want to extend your short lifespan, try finding that sanctuary in Kundara yourself.”

Alogon’s face, as he glanced at Lenok, had become noticeably gaunt in a short time.

“Even if you are a short-lived species, with your skills, you should be able to reach the Seventh Calamity without much difficulty.”

“You’re talking as if I have to find a way to enter Kundara myself.”

Lenok crossed his arms.

“If I pass the criteria set by Pohyeol, wouldn’t you move the deep-sea region to guide me to Kundara?”

“Because you people ‘cut’ the barrier and disrupted the space-time of the other side, it’s currently difficult to pinpoint Kundara’s location.”

Alogon frowned unpleasantly.

“To resolve this, we’ll have to either capture the one who cut the barrier and erase the effects of their technique, or find another way to intervene in the barrier.”

“…….”

“Now that I know you are the exception Pohyeol wants, I won’t stop you. But don’t expect me to guide you.”

Does that mean that even Alogon himself cannot return to Kundara until the person who cut the other side of the barrier is captured?

Having heard that far, Lenok shook his head in disbelief.

“You knew from the beginning that I wasn’t the one who cut the barrier. And yet, you used that as an excuse to pick a fight with me?”

“Since you people invaded the space-time of the other side at this time, it was clear that you were related to that person.”

Alogon stared at Lenok with his blue eyes.

“But seeing that one hasn’t even shown his face in the deep-sea region, it seems you weren’t in league with him either.”

“…….”

“Go. I don’t want to see your face anymore. You’ll be guided out by my attendants.”

Alogon, looking down at the scattered Go board with a complicated expression, turned his back abruptly.

“I think I need some time alone to think.”

“…….”

Lenok, who had been wondering whether to tell Alogon about Carnis, closed his mouth and turned to leave.

It would only provoke Alogon to bring up Carnis at this point, unless the conversation had been smooth from the beginning.

Guided by a Water Minister attendant with gills on the back of his neck, he leaves the Dragon Palace.

He lets his body drift with the flowing water, following the attendant as he ascends through the dark sea.

Splash!!

The attendant, who had risen above the crashing waves of the deep-sea region, bowed to Lenok, who followed behind.

“If you go that way, you should be able to reach the path of mist again.”

“…Okay.”

Together with Oliviera, who remained silent, he turned away from the attendant and began to walk.

The direction of the crashing waves. Beyond the endless horizon, a hazy beach was visible.

Beyond the deep-sea region, behind the thick path of mist.

“Ah.”

The Under-Lord was standing there, looking at Lenok with a smile.

“You’ve finally come out. I thought my neck would break from waiting.”

“…….”

The boundary of the region where the waves of the deep-sea region ended and the path of mist began.

The Under-Lord’s presence, watching Lenok from a distance that was beyond the Dragon King’s senses.

[…Ha.]

Lenok, with a blank expression, looked at the Under-Lord, ignoring Oliviera’s sneer, and asked,

“Were you waiting for me to come out of the region?”

“I never imagined you’d be in the deep-sea region of the Eight Great Dragon Kings in such a short time.”

The Under-Lord smiled with a troubled expression, shaking his head as if there was nothing he could do.

“The Water Dragon King is known to have a very impulsive personality among the long-lived species, you made an imprudent choice.”

“…….”

“Seeing that you came out empty-handed, it seems you didn’t gain much. So, may I guide you again?”

The Under-Lord’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Lenok.

“I, too, am not entirely pleased with this anomaly while guiding you, Ban.”

Even though it was the Under-Lord himself who had separated Lenok and Oliviera in the space-time of the other side to observe their reactions,

The Under-Lord’s words subtly pointed out that Lenok had not gained anything from the deep-sea region.

However, instead of getting angry at the Under-Lord’s sarcasm, Lenok was thinking about why he was acting this way.

If the Under-Lord, who had been quite relaxed when they first met, seemed more sensitive than before-

‘He’s agitated.’

He probably didn’t think Lenok would use the Pentarect [a magical artifact] to find the deep-sea region of the Water Dragon King.

Moreover, he probably didn’t expect Lenok to walk out safely without fighting Alogon.

If the Under-Lord was becoming sensitive because of Lenok’s actions, which exceeded his expectations despite being planned by himself.

It must be because the Under-Lord is quite obsessed with finding the Celestial Technique.

That’s why he appeared in front of Lenok as soon as he came out of the deep-sea region, trying to guide him again.

This time, to induce Lenok to use the Celestial Technique himself.

“…….”

If he followed the Under-Lord’s guidance again, he would inevitably be led by the Under-Lord’s intentions.

At first, he had been observing the situation to see how the Under-Lord would guide and test them.

But now that he had finished the Ohbaekro match with Alogon and completed the minimum administrative procedures necessary to enter Kundara-

Lenok also had a choice.

“Alogon. Are you listening?”

“…Yes?”

Ignoring the Under-Lord’s question, Lenok turned his gaze towards the sea of the deep-sea region he had just walked out of.

“This is the one who ‘cut’ the barrier and disrupted the space-time of the other side.”

“…….”

“From now on, I’ve decided not to care what happens near this region.”

Lenok said in a cold voice.

“Instead, let’s make a deal that you won’t interfere with what I do either. How about it?”

There was no answer.

As soon as Lenok finished speaking, the sea of the deep-sea region began to churn, casting a huge shadow under the waves.

KWAHAAAA!!!

The sea of the region shook violently, and a huge water dragon soared up with a grand whirlpool.

The Water Dragon King’s massive body, covered in blue scales, began to glare at the Under-Lord with his blue pupils.

The Under-Lord, belatedly realizing the situation, turned his gaze towards Lenok with a face that had lost its smile.

“…You.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

Lenok smiled with his arms crossed.

“But it’s unfair to be framed for something I didn’t do.”

“…….”

He cannot use the Celestial Technique to go to Kundara while being watched by the Under-Lord.

But even if he is forcibly separated, the Under-Lord will try to monitor Lenok anyway.

A clever move that can only be made at this moment when the Under-Lord and the Eight Great Dragon Kings, the path of mist and the deep-sea region overlap.

Lenok had decided to pass the Under-Lord on to Alogon and buy time to use the Celestial Technique.

“I hope you can resolve any misunderstandings with the Eight Great Dragon Kings.”

Lenok waved his hand, looking at the Under-Lord’s expressionless face.

“Thank you for guiding me so far.”

“Kyonroe…!!”

The Under-Lord’s words were cut short.

At the same time as the water dragon was drawing up magic power, the huge wish-fulfilling orb in its mouth began to rotate.

A wave of blue magic power swept away the place where the Under-Lord was standing.

KWAHAAAA!!!!