Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1073

“I heard about you from Oliviera, but you’re much more brilliant than I expected.”

Lenok and the pure white snake’s massive form sat facing each other across a wide platform.

The pure white snake’s scales, as it flicked its tongue, shimmered like hard, beautiful jewels.

Just by coiling there, it created a strange sense of dissonance, as if the light around it was distorted.

The snake, looking down at Lenok with its reptilian pupils, spoke slowly in the voice of an old woman.

“To find a way to prove yourself in this city without passing the Trials of Terror, I can’t help but admire your idea.”

“If you’re talking about not following Kundara’s rules…”

“No. I’m talking about your wisdom in circumventing the rules set in Kundara.”

The snake cut off Lenok’s words and replied.

“This city has presented a way to live based on the Nine Terrors [a dangerous and chaotic region], but if you are not a long-lived species, there is no reason to follow that path.”

“……”

“In that sense, your decision not to cling to the Trials of Terror is absolutely right. Or rather, should I say it’s much closer to the essence?”

The snake, flicking its tongue with a satisfied look, said,

“Regardless of the era, those who see things differently from others often engage in eccentric behavior. You have a fascinating and interesting talent.”

Is it actually evaluating Lenok highly for not passing the Trials of Terror?

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to cling to it, but rather that he chose a method that seemed like he could use Ohbaekro [a game or skill].

This snake, claiming to be an acquaintance of Oliviera, seemed to like that fact even more.

‘It has a very unique type of sorcery.’

Contrary to its pure white and clean appearance, the air around the snake was truly acrid.

Just by breathing, it could kill and wither plants and animals, and even the magical power flowing through its body was poisonous.

‘A very powerful poison… Is it a sorcerer who burns magic itself and converts it into poison?’

“Where is Oliviera now?”

“She’s healing in my nest.”

“……Healing?”

“I didn’t bother to hide it, so I assume you’ve guessed, but I am a sorcerer who handles extreme poison.”

The snake said.

“Poison can become medicine depending on how you control its quantity. If you use its extreme properties in the right place, it’s possible to kill diseases and wash away harmful energy, not just life.”

The snake’s pupils looked down at Lenok.

“That child had too many impurities in her body during the process of altering her own system. So, it was necessary to cleanse that hierarchy once.”

“That’s…”

Was one of the reasons Oliviera accepted Lenok’s proposal and headed to Kundara to heal her body with the help of this snake?

It’s absurd that she’s focusing on healing instead of gathering information, but if this snake was sent to compensate for that, it’s not something that can’t be understood.

At least, at this point, it was certain that this snake was not lying.

Thinking that far, Lenok’s expression hardened as he raised his gaze.

“Okay. I’ll believe what you say about that.”

“Heh heh… You’re finally being a little honest.”

At Lenok’s words, the snake flicked its tongue as if it was in a better mood.

“I heard you were a great sorcerer who was so calm that you seemed arrogant, but now I see that Oliviera’s assessment was spot on.”

“If you’ve known Oliviera for a long time, you’re probably not a kind long-lived species either.”

Lenok retorted.

“From the moment you appeared and said these things, it was probably a ploy to test my reaction.”

“……”

“So, what exactly do you mean by a way to enter the Nine Calamities?”

Lenok, looking up at the snake with a cold gaze, asked.

“That you have to become an Ascendant, even for a moment. It’s a proposal you couldn’t make unless you knew about my current concerns.”

From the moment he obtained the information that Kaise’s body was hidden in the Nine Calamities, Lenok’s concern was one thing.

The Nine Calamities was a space that only Ascendants of level 9 could enter.

To pass through the Nine Calamities using the orthodox method, Lenok himself would have to gain the qualifications and become an Ascendant [a being who has reached a higher level of power].

Attempting an ‘ascension’ here, which would be insufficient even after thorough preparation, was close to suicide.

‘Even if I miraculously succeed and reach level 9, I won’t be able to handle the aftermath.’

Even if he was lucky enough to gain the qualifications and become an Ascendant, the high-ranking long-lived species of Kundara would surely notice.

In the worst case, it wouldn’t be strange if the other Eight Dragon Kings guarding the borders of Kundara moved to secure Lenok’s safety.

Lenok, in his unstable state as a newly ascended Ascendant, would not have the time to hide that fact, nor the strength to fight.

Therefore, Lenok had completely ruled out the option of directly reaching level 9 and passing through the Nine Calamities.

In the end, to pass through the Nine Calamities and find Kaise’s body, he would have to use a shortcut, not the orthodox method.

Could this snake, claiming to be an acquaintance of Oliviera, provide Lenok with such a means?

“There is something called the Elixir of Ascension.”

The snake said.

“Elixir?”

“It’s something that temporarily puts the one who consumes it into a state similar to an Ascendant.”

“……”

“To cut to the chase, if you take that elixir, you can safely pass through the Trials of the Nine Calamities.”

The snake said, with a meaningful look as if gauging Lenok’s reaction.

“You’ll be able to enter the sanctuary of the Nine Calamities as you wish.”

“……Are you trying to play word games with me about the meaning of ascension?”

As soon as he heard those words, Lenok’s expression hardened.

Lenok, with a cold expression, looked down at the snake and said,

“Reaching level 9 means literally gaining the qualifications to challenge ascension. It’s not a concept that can be obtained with a mere elixir.”

“……”

“It’s a gamble where you can’t guarantee success even if you rewrite yourself entirely. Are you saying that you can succeed with the help of others, just by taking one pill?”

In the Third World, there were only about ten Ascendants who officially reached level 9.

And Lenok, who had met Ascendants, knew better than anyone how unrealistic the achievement of level 9 was.

A reckless gamble where you can’t be sure if you can reach it even after burning everything you have.

They are beings destined to break down and rush towards destruction even after gaining the qualifications and reaching level 9.

Monsters who have gained transcendence by being devoured by their own answers instead of gaining the qualifications to give an answer to the end.

It is a realm that can only be reached after deeply understanding and accepting oneself, and then being deeply consumed.

As far as Lenok knew, the only being who could make others like that was the Cult Leader, throughout all the worlds.

Could the Elixir of Ascension really imitate a ‘coincidence’ that was superior to the Cult Leader?

As soon as Lenok heard the snake’s words, he was certain that it was impossible.

However, the snake did not get angry even after hearing Lenok’s skeptical words.

Rather, it seemed to find the answer even more interesting, and it just flicked its tongue quickly.

“You already have a clear understanding of what ascension is.”

“……”

“Perhaps you even have an idea about how to gain the qualifications.”

The snake’s eyes flashed as it looked at the silent Lenok.

“Yes, if you know the direction you need to go and don’t cling to it, you might be the one who will step up to transcendence someday. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”

“What do you want to say?”

“The Elixir of Ascension is not something that makes the consumer an Ascendant.”

The snake flicked its tongue.

“It’s closer to forcibly inducing a ‘status ailment’ similar to an Ascendant in the consumer.”

“……”

“The important thing is not to become an Ascendant, but to reach the Nine Calamities.”

The snake grinned.

“Either way, if you just pass through the Trials of the Nine Calamities, it’s the same as achieving your desired goal, isn’t it?”

“……The elixir’s ability itself is to induce a status ailment similar to an Ascendant in the consumer?”

Lenok put his chin in his hand and fell into thought.

“It’s hard to believe. In the first place, that’s not a medicine, but…”

A status ailment similar to an Ascendant, does that mean there is a symptom that level 9 transcendents commonly suffer from?

In the first place, the fact that such a status ailment can be artificially induced in the consumer is not the effect of a medicine.

“That’s right. The Elixir of Ascension is not some artificially manufactured drug.”

The snake said, as if it had noticed Lenok’s thoughts.

“It’s an extreme poison made by rotting the inner core of a dead Ascendant. What I’m recommending to you is also an effect close to the side effects of that extreme poison.”

“Made by rotting the inner core of an Ascendant, that’s…”

“Why do you think it’s me, not another long-lived species, who is explaining and introducing the Elixir of Ascension?”

The snake grinned at Lenok’s question, surprised by the snake’s unexpected explanation.

“That’s because I was directly involved in the creation of that poison as a poison sorcerer. That’s why I can offer you this method today.”

“……”

“If you understand, let’s continue the story. Currently, the Elixir of Ascension is not in the hands of a specific long-lived species or superhuman.”

Only the snake’s voice echoed clearly outside the quiet manor.

“Instead, it will be presented as one of the prizes at the Ohbaekro Tournament held in the Sixth Calamity in two days.”

“……A prize at the Ohbaekro Tournament?”

“A long-lived species, considered the most talented great sorcerer in Kundara’s history, is very fond of Ohbaekro.”

Just as Lenok made a puzzled expression at the sudden words, the snake said with a smile.

“He’s a great sorcerer with a unique status in the city, but because he likes Ohbaekro so much, he regularly holds tournaments to gather people.”

“……”

“His status and authority are so great that he can directly open the Elder Council’s vault as a prize for the tournament.”

The snake’s pupils flashed as it looked at the silent Lenok.

“The Elixir of Ascension is in that Elder Council’s vault. If you accept my proposal, it’s something you’ll have to get your hands on.”

“……I see.”

Only then did Lenok, realizing the meaning of the proposal the snake had made, smile wryly and tilt his head.

Why playing Ohbaekro well is a condition. Why he was sought out after hearing Oliviera’s words.

“You want me to participate in the Ohbaekro Tournament and get the Elixir of Ascension?”

“I can prepare the authority and procedures to participate in the tournament. All I need is your consent.”

The snake flicked its tongue leisurely.

“How about it, will you try it, thinking it’s just the ramblings of this old man?”

* * *

[Now, we will begin the Kundara Elder Council’s Ohbaekro Tournament!]

A splendid pavilion made from old, ancient trees.

In the wide courtyard where cherry blossoms fluttered, Lenok stood with hundreds of people.

When a curly-haired boy on the platform opened his mouth with a fan in his hand, his voice echoed to the opposite side of the pavilion.

[Ah, as always, today’s Ohbaekro Tournament is to determine the best Ohbaekro players from all over Kundara-]

[As a result of the Elder Council’s efforts to encourage the challenges of the elders who pass the Trials of Terror-]

[Like Angron of the Fire Blossom Clan who recently achieved success, we will select and reward a player with outstanding skills……]

Formal and ceremonial compliments that are exchanged before the start of the tournament.

Listening to the explanation while standing among the bustling crowd, it already felt exhausting.

However, Lenok waited for the boy’s words to end while trying to shake off his tired expression.

[The knight who wins the tournament will be specially allowed to open the Elder Council’s vault located in the Eighth Calamity, so please do your best-]

[We will now reveal the bracket!]

Whoosh!!

Along with the boy’s words, a huge scroll unfolded behind the platform, revealing a bracket with hundreds of names written on it.

The bracket was a tournament format, randomly pairing participants who had completed their application and registered their identities in advance.

Lenok, who found his name registered as [Ban] in it, let out a chuckle.

‘It seems that snake did a good job.’

As Lenok headed to his designated seat following the bracket, he looked around.

‘I expected it, but the number of high-ranking long-lived species is considerable. Is the tournament itself just a way to provide a reason to gather and play Ohbaekro?’

If the Trials of Terror can be passed through Ohbaekro, it would be something that Kundara would welcome if long-lived species played Ohbaekro and improved their skills.

Therefore, it can be understood if they are holding a tournament and offering rewards to give long-lived species a reason to play Ohbaekro.

As the more skilled a player is, the more likely they are to be good at Ohbaekro [a strategy board game], it was only natural that high-ranking long-lived species would participate in the tournament.

Lenok, having found his place on the bracket, slightly bowed his head upon discovering his opponent was already there.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

“……”

A middle-aged man sat with his arms crossed, eyes closed, in front of the Go board.

He didn’t even nod, let alone respond to Lenok’s greeting.

Just as Lenok was about to say something while scratching his cheek, the man opened his mouth.

“In the cold world of competition, unnecessary words are a luxury.”

“……”

“Mixing words will only imbue the Go board with meaningless emotions.”

The man’s eyes snapped open as he firmly grasped a black stone.

“Let’s begin. I’m ready.”

“……”

This man, after spouting something as if he had realized some great truth, naturally took the first move.

Lenok was so distracted by his bizarre way of speaking that he barely noticed the oddity.

With a bewildered expression, Lenok picked up a white stone and nodded, sitting across from him.

“Understood. Let’s start right away.”

“I feel sorry for you, young friend, but let’s finish this quickly.”

*Thwack!*

The man placed the black stone down without hesitation.

“There’s no time to feel sympathy for all the opponents we have to face from now on!”

* * *

“The white side wins with a total difference of 80 points.”

“……”

The middle-aged man stared blankly at the Go board, looking completely dazed.

“It was a good match. See you next time.”

Lenok slightly bowed his head to the man before getting up from his seat.

He walked past the players still engrossed in their matches, and found the boy on the platform, listlessly fanning himself.

“Hey.”

“Ah, yeah. What is it?”

The boy turned his head with an annoyed expression.

Lenok spoke to the boy politely.

“I won my match, but where should I go now?”

“……Huh? You’re already done?”

The boy looked bewildered, craning his neck to look at the spot where Lenok had been playing.

Seeing the man’s slumped back, the boy changed his expression to a smile and rubbed his hands together.

“Ah ha~ You must be a skilled player. You’ve come to the right place.”

*Swish!*

The boy took out a brush, dipped it in the ink placed at his feet, and drew a large X on the bracket on the scroll.

Having quickly erased the match he had just won from the bracket, the boy nodded as he connected the bracket with his brush.

“Okay, real-time update complete. You can proceed to the next match~”

“……”

It seemed strange from the moment he started drawing the bracket on a scroll, but this tournament was being run in a completely analog way.

Well, considering the age of the long-lived species participating in this tournament, it wasn’t that strange….

“I don’t mind, but is it okay to connect the bracket as you please?”

“Ah, so you’re a first-time participant in the tournament.”

The boy scratched his cheek.

“I thought you all knew and skipped the explanation, but I’ll tell you more about how it works.”

“……”

“Ahem, basically, we match you up based on the number of wins you’ve accumulated. You don’t get eliminated right away after one loss, but the more wins you have, the faster you advance to the higher rounds.”

“So it’s to make sure the participants play as many matches as possible.”

“That’s right. Isn’t that the goal of all the elders who participate in the tournament anyway?”

The boy said, fanning himself.

“It’s quite popular because you can get a rematch with someone you lost to, or you might lose to someone you beat before. You know, those long-lived species who have lived for hundreds of years are all very vengeful?”

“……”

This boy didn’t seem like the right person to be in charge of running this kind of tournament.

Perhaps sensing that Lenok’s reaction was unusual, the boy belatedly waved his brush with an awkward expression.

“U-um, anyway, just tell me the results after each match, and I’ll match you up with someone with a similar number of wins. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years, you know~”

“……20 years?”

No matter where he went in this city, the sense of time felt different, and he still hadn’t gotten used to it even after a few days.

Lenok shook his head and moved on, watching the ink being applied to the bracket on the scroll.

‘If I don’t have to put too much effort into calculating the score, I should move faster.’

He had taken some time with his first opponent to overwhelm him with the score difference, but it seemed that simple wins were more important than the content of the match.

If winning by 80 points or half a point had the same result, there were plenty of ways to shorten the time.

“I won.”

“Yes. You came quickly. Next~”

“Please update the bracket.”

“I’ll let you know right away!”

“Next match?”

“……Yes. There happens to be an open opponent on the bracket.”

“Next.”

“……”

The boy, who had been staring at Lenok as he came up to the platform with a bewildered expression, asked.

“Participant, isn’t this the fifth time you’ve come up to the platform to ask for a new match?”

“Yes.”

“……It’s only been an hour since the tournament started.”

“The opponents I’ve faced so far haven’t been worth playing for long.”

Lenok answered calmly.

“So I finished them quickly.”

“……”

This time, the boy’s playful expression turned serious.

“I’m sorry, but I’m going to go talk to the opponents you played against for a moment.”

“Are you suspecting me of using unfair methods?”

“……Since you’re a first-time participant in the tournament, I’ll just do a quick check.”

“Understood.”

As soon as Lenok gave his permission, the boy went around the pavilion, asking the opponents various questions.

He would ask something, cover his ears and wince, and then return with a bewildered expression.

The boy looked up at Lenok with a sullen expression and said.

“Um, all five of the opponents who played against you said that you used sorcery…?”

“……Huh?”

“They’re all saying that you should be disqualified right now…”

“……”

Lenok was momentarily speechless at the unexpected response.

“That man did not use sorcery in the match.”

A deep voice echoed from behind the boy.

“He merely induced the opponent’s attacks to speed up the game, and then adjusted his score to win by just enough when the minimum score was possible.”

“……Huh?”

“If you look at the matches he played, you’ll see that every match was won by half a point. Isn’t that right?”

Just as the flustered boy was about to turn his head, a thick, silver hand landed on his shoulder.

A tall Dragonkin [a humanoid dragon], who had been standing behind the boy, bared his teeth and said.

“In other words, he’s an extremely, extremely, extremely skilled Ohbaekro player.”

“……”

A tall man with a dragon’s head, his entire body covered in dazzling silver scales.

Even in this tournament filled with all sorts of long-lived species, he stood out with his flamboyant yet sharp appearance.

The boy, belatedly recognizing the Dragonkin, was startled and bowed deeply to the man.

“L-Lord Maleon…!!”

A noble being who even the boy, who had been rude to all the high-ranking long-lived species gathered at the tournament, was terrified and respectful towards.

Other long-lived species, belatedly recognizing the silver dragon, also greeted him politely on the spot.

“Lord Maleon. Have you been well?”

“Jorj of Bultak greets the Silver Star!!”

“Lemei of Hyeono pays his respects to the Lord.”

From the aura he exuded and the way he was treated, he was clearly no ordinary long-lived species.

Among all the long-lived species Lenok had encountered in this city, he was undoubtedly the most noble being, a Dragonkin.

And among them, he must be one of the powerful figures of Kundara at the top.

However, the Dragonkin called Maleon didn’t pay much attention to the greetings around him.

Instead, he simply patted the head of the boy who was bowing beside him and stepped forward.

Just as Lenok turned his gaze at the friendly gesture, the Dragonkin grinned and said, crossing his arms.

“As you’ve heard, I’m Maleon. Would you like to play a round of Ohbaekro with me?”

“……”

“To truly know a man, one must compete directly with him.”

The man who called himself Maleon smiled as if he was in a good mood.

“It seems that the elders gathered at this tournament are not your match anyway. I’ll be your opponent myself.”

“That’s……”

Even though he knew how Lenok had quickly finished his matches, he was casually proposing a match.

Confidence in his own skills. A keen eye for recognizing and acknowledging his opponent.

A bizarre attitude of choosing his opponent as he pleased, without being bound by the rules of the tournament.

‘……Could it be?’

“I’m sorry, but if you’re not an opponent registered on the bracket, I’ll have to decline.”

Lenok smiled and shook his head.

“Since I’m participating to win the tournament, I don’t want to waste my energy unnecessarily.”

“Hmm, considering your skills, you don’t need to worry about such things… Then how about this?”

Maleon shrugged.

“If you win against me, I’ll give you the tournament prize regardless of the subsequent matches.”

“……”

“I’ll personally open the treasure vault of the Elder Council located in Palgeop. I have the authority to do that.”

A bizarre proposal that was so absurd it was almost ridiculous.

But what was even more surprising was that the boy who was listening next to him didn’t raise any objections to that statement.

Proof that the words of this Dragonkin, who was mentioning the tournament prize in front of Lenok, were not empty words.

“You’re no ordinary participant.”

Lenok’s eyes sharpened as he realized this.

“Who are you?”

“Me?”

Maleon laughed at Lenok’s question.

“The leader of the Eight Great Dragon Kings. The chief councilor of the Elder Council of Palgeop.”

“……”

“And the organizer of this tournament, and…”

Maleon’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Also, someone who is trying to enter Gugeop [a higher realm], just like you.”