Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1076

The Extra Life Vessel was obtained by using all of the Spring of Aitalon and sacrificing the life force contained within the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl. It wasn’t a relic that increased Lenok’s maximum lifespan, but rather one that granted him an extra life within his remaining time. An artifact that allowed him to divide his lifespan and postpone death once.

However, as soon as Lenok heard Maleon’s words, he understood why this had happened. If, in the process of converting the life force contained in the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl into lifespan, it was impossible to increase Lenok’s maximum lifespan and it had to be converted in another way. If all the remaining spring water was used up to achieve such a result, then he could understand what had happened now. However, the fact that this was the case was nothing more than a bitter conclusion for Lenok.

‘Even using the Sanctuary of Kundara, it’s impossible to increase my lifespan itself.’

Even when he obtained the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl, he knew that things wouldn’t be easy. The penalty of [Premature Genius] that Lenok had chosen himself, and the talent he had gained as a result, were by no means light. In fact, if it hadn’t been for Alogon’s words, Lenok wouldn’t have had any expectations about converting his lifespan in the first place. However, he never imagined that even the sanctuary that was supposed to convert lifespan would show him reality in this way. A dry declaration that the time remaining for Lenok was fixed and could not be changed. An unchanging result as if the time remaining for Lenok was his origin and a part of him.

As Lenok, holding the Life Vessel, lowered his head, Maleon looked flustered. “……Oh, it seems you’re more disappointed than I thought. Did I make a needless consideration?” The dragon-headed giant, who had been pacing around as if flustered, patted Lenok’s shoulder with his thick hand. “Well, the Spring of Aitalon is originally for long-lived species, so it may not work properly on short-lived species. So don’t be too disheartened……” “……” “Well, still, if it acts as an extra life as you and I predicted, wouldn’t that be valuable enough?”

“Even if this has the ability of a Life Vessel as you say, the chances of me being able to use it for its intended purpose are not high,” Lenok said in a quiet voice. “If I’m in a crisis where I have to use this, it’s likely that I’m in a situation where it’s difficult to survive by sacrificing just one life.” “……” “In the first place, what exactly does it mean to gain an extra life? Does it mean that it takes the damage I would have received, or is it a method of reviving me after I die using the Life Vessel?” Lenok, who had lifted up the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl that had turned into a small reliquary, shook his head. “How long does it take to revive? What is my condition after the Vessel activates? Is the damage limited to the physical body, or does it include the soul?” “U-um……” “I don’t know anything. It only gives me one more chance, so it’s impossible to experiment to find out its abilities. I’ve essentially gained a chance to gamble by sacrificing all the life force contained in the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl.”

No matter how thoroughly you prepare and prepare for the worst, you can’t leave a way to escape in every situation. At least, the Transcendent Beings that Lenok had faced so far were not opponents that could be defeated with such a half-hearted resolve and posture. If Lenok was in a crisis where he had to use the Life Vessel, it was highly likely that the opponent would be a monster that he could not win against even if he used it. In a situation where he did not know the exact operating principle of the Life Vessel, it could not be said to be as successful as he had expected.

“……I’m sorry. I didn’t know things would turn out like this,” Maleon, who had turned gloomy, slumped his shoulders. “If I had known this would happen, I should have gathered more information about the Spring of Aitalon before meeting you. It might have been a waste of your Wish-Fulfilling Pearl……” “……” “Hmm…… Ah, that’s right!” Maleon pondered for a moment before slamming his fist into his palm. “Give me the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl. I’ll refill it with the same amount of life force that Alogon put in!!” “……” “I won’t be able to convert your lifespan until the Spring of Aitalon refills, but I can still fill the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl to the same level as before you tried to convert it.” Maleon, who had turned around with his eyes sparkling, stretched out his hand towards Lenok. “I’ll compensate you for ruining today’s work. How about it?”

“……The life force contained in my Wish-Fulfilling Pearl was the amount that the Eight Great Dragon Kings had directly poured in for nearly 100 years,” Lenok said, as if dumbfounded. “You’re going to use your lifespan to fill my Wish-Fulfilling Pearl?” “It was my proposed plan and the favor I was trying to give. If things go wrong, it’s only natural that I take responsibility,” Maleon said with a grin. “100 years of time, if it’s the result of my choice, I can pay it as a price. That’s what it means to be responsible.” “……” “So give me the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl. But what was the method of converting my lifespan into life force? It’s been so long that I can’t remember the feeling……” Maleon, who had stretched out his thick hand towards Lenok, was experimenting with how to draw out life force while extracting magic power. It was not just empty words, it seemed like he could spit out life force in front of Lenok right away.

Lenok, who had been staring at Maleon with a sullen expression, shook his head and turned away. “It’s okay. I don’t need it, so stop.” “Huh? You don’t need it even after using up all the life force in the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl?” “It’s not like I wasted the life force in the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl for no reason. It doesn’t matter,” Lenok said, raising the Life Vessel above his head. “I was skeptical, but the Life Vessel itself is definitely an artifact of great value. That’s enough.” “Hmm, but……” “It’s a consumable item created by drawing nearly 100 years’ worth of life force from the Eight Great Dragon Kings. It’s impossible to get more results than this right now,” Lenok said. “In the first place, it might have been my greed to try to increase my lifespan by taking the life force of others.” “……”

At Lenok’s calm words, Maleon also closed his mouth without a word. As a long-lived species who lived longer than others, it would have been difficult for him to sympathize with what Lenok was saying. However, Lenok was not simply disappointed with the Life Vessel. In fact, considering that he had used a power that was not his own, the Life Vessel was clearly a good enough reward. The disappointment Lenok felt was ultimately the result of realizing the reality that he could not fundamentally touch the penalty. Regardless of the practicality of the Life Vessel, he had no intention of denying that he had obtained a good artifact. It would be strange to pretend that the Life Vessel was useless now and receive Maleon’s life force. Maleon also seemed to agree with Lenok’s words, and slowly calmed his magic power.

“Well, if that’s what you want……” “In the first place, this isn’t the time for you to be wasting your energy on something like this,” Lenok said, throwing the words as if passing by, looking at Maleon. “Even if you try to ascend with all your might, wasting your life force will only lower your success rate.” “……Huh?” What did it mean that Lenok was starting to care about the success or failure of the ascension ritual? The moment Maleon, who had realized this, raised his gaze with a surprised expression. “Ban, could it be?” “As long as I participate in the plan, failure is not an option. I will make sure that you succeed in your ascension no matter what,” Lenok, who had put the Life Vessel into his sleeve, turned around. “I will make you an Ascended Being.”

* * *

[Master. This is different from what we agreed on.] “Agreed?” After deciding to cooperate with Maleon, Lenok decided on the time and place to meet again and immediately parted ways. Since Maleon himself had hosted the Five Hundred Roads Tournament, he couldn’t leave his position for long. Even to take responsibility for handing the winning prize directly to Lenok, there would be things to take care of. He passed through the bustling courtyard and out the back gate. He walked around the streets where people were passing by, naturally heading to a place where there were no people. Lenok, who was stroking Davi’s head as he grumbled in his arms, asked. “Was there something we missed about this?”

[Is there any need to give the magic circle of the organism called Jindun to someone else?] Davi said, dangling in Lenok’s arms. [Master is the successor who directly learned barrier magic from that organism, so can’t Master just use that magic circle?] “……” [Let’s try it, Ascended Being.] Davi’s eyes, looking up at Lenok, sparkled with motivation. [If that big dragon can use it, there’s no way Master can’t, right?] “Is that even possible?” Lenok said, pressing down on Davi’s head with one hand. “The ascension magic circle that Jindun left behind is not something that makes the user an Ascended Being. In the first place, there’s no way it would work in such a convenient way.” [Huh.] “If that were possible, Jindun would have been a level 9 Ascended Being himself, and he would have created a magic circle that could turn other level 8s into level 9s. Don’t you think something is strange?” [Then what is it?]

“As Maleon explained, the magic circle helps with the forced activation of the ascension ritual. To be precise, it’s more like systematizing the process of reaching level 9 in the form of a formula.” Lenok’s gaze, looking down at Davi, sank deeply. “But for a great mage like Maleon, that alone would be enough to gain an opportunity.” “……” “Even though he had transcended his level, the depth and stability of his will were beyond imagination. He had been stabilizing his level while staying at level 8 for a very long time.” The madness, unstable mental state, and rapid emotional changes often seen in level 8 extreme ability users. However, Lenok had not felt any of these symptoms from Maleon while discussing the plan during their conversation. Proof that the silver dragon, called the most talented great mage in Kundara, had accumulated such outstanding achievements and experience. It was proof that even after transcending his level and embarking on his own path, he had not lost his initial intention and had constantly stabilized his foundation.

“He is a superhuman who would have challenged level 9 someday, even without Jindun’s magic circle,” Lenok muttered, touching Davi’s ear. “He has a chance of succeeding even without my help. Rather, that’s why it’s worth cooperating with what he’s doing.” [So, it would be better if Master took that part and became an Ascended Being instead……] “This is not a benefit or right that someone must take first. It’s closer to the opposite,” Lenok replied. “What Maleon is trying to do is an extremely reckless gamble that less than ten people have officially succeeded in this world. He’s going to take the risk and experiment first, so why would I refuse?” [……Hee.] “There’s no need to be the first to use Jindun’s magic circle. I just need to watch how he ascends and leave room to use the magic circle.” Lenok raised his head. “That’s why I’m cooperating with Maleon. It will be of great help not only to follow him into the Nine Calamities [a dangerous and mysterious realm], but also to watch the process of him becoming an Ascended Being.”

“……” “It’s a great mage of a similar level to me challenging level 9. There won’t be many opportunities to see such a spectacle throughout the continent.” After Cheongyeon and Jindun died, leaving behind their respective regrets, and after Pyeonram woke up from his long sleep. Has there been a new being who has reached level 9 in this world? Even the countless strong and skilled people on the central front, and the monsters of Pandemonium, had not challenged such a feat. The birth of a new Ascended Being, which was hard to hear news of anywhere on the continent, was only possible in Kundara at this moment. If he could watch that feat right next to him and steal that feeling and knowledge, it would be a profitable deal for Lenok.

[In short, you’re going to leave all the dangerous work to the dragon and Master is just going to steal the know-how.] Davi, who had been listening to Lenok’s explanation quietly, nodded vigorously as if he had finally understood. [I was worried that you were cooperating with a dangerous plan, but it was just what Master always does. I’m relieved!] “……It’s not like I’m trying to get something for free, the deal that Maleon proposed was about that in the first place. What have you been listening to?” Lenok, who had pulled Davi’s tail, replied while listening to the spirit’s scream. Perhaps because he was a spirit born based on a strong artificial intelligence, his summarizing ability, which was becoming sharper day by day, had no filtering at all. “However, if I cooperate with Maleon, the time I spend teaching the Five Hundred Roads will be reduced. I’ve gained quite a bit of material benefit from being a teacher, so it’s a shame.”

[But isn’t that why you went to the Five Hundred Roads Tournament and met that dragon?] “That’s true, but……” Lenok thought for a moment and chuckled. “If I have a career of teaching the Five Hundred Roads and creating an Ascended Being, it wouldn’t be strange to be remembered as a legendary master until this city disappears.” [Puhut.] Davi, who couldn’t help but burst into laughter, said. [Let’s go back to the manor quickly and brag to the organisms that are receiving Master’s teachings. I want to see Master being worshiped by those old organisms!] “Worship? In the first place, you……” The moment he was about to scold the electronic spirit, who seemed to be vicariously enjoying himself through Lenok, from some point on. Swoosh!! Red blood splattered down at Lenok’s feet as he turned the corner of the alleyway. The speed at which the blood was falling was so fast that even the soles of Lenok’s shoes were soaked. However, Lenok, while looking at the pool of blood that had soaked his shoes, did not pull his feet away, but instead glanced at it.

Swoosh……!! The blood that had soaked his shoes retreated as if time was rewinding, slowly retreating. A strange sight where the blood itself, which had fallen under his feet, contained a will and retreated as if pushing Lenok away. Lenok, who had confirmed that the floor had returned to its original state in an instant, finally raised his gaze. “It’s been a while.” “……” A girl with blood-red eyes stood in the middle of the alleyway, with her hands on her hips. The figure of the Blood-Soaked Princess, stepping on a carpet of crimson blood, looking at Lenok with a blank face. Lenok chuckled as he looked at her. “It seems like you needed quite a bit of time to sort out your thoughts.” “……” “Or is there another reason why you’ve appeared in front of me again now?” Perhaps annoyed by Lenok’s words, which seemed to be asking even though he knew the reason, the girl’s eyes momentarily turned sharp. However, the girl, who had been glaring at Lenok, soon relaxed her expression and shook her head.

“So, you met Maleon.” “……” “Seeing that you walked out fine even after meeting him, it seems like you’ve decided to cooperate with his plan.” Swoosh!! The Blood-Soaked Princess turned her head and tilted her head, and blood gushed out, creating a splendid door. The Blood-Soaked Princess, who had created a door connected to the Blood Shadow Palace in an instant, asked Lenok. “The price for the Blood Letter Contract. You remember that you haven’t given it to me yet, right?” “……” “Follow me. There’s no need to hide it anymore.” “What do you mean?” “What will happen after a new Ascended Being is born in Kundara. Aren’t you curious?” The Blood-Soaked Princess asked, her red eyes shining. “What is hidden in the Nine Calamities. What is the Ten Tubes [a place of great importance] where Kaise is enshrined.” “……” The girl nodded as she looked at the silent Lenok. “If you have the Blood Letter Contract, I can tell you now. I’ll explain it to you.”