Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 108

“I’ve been thinking a lot about what you said about talent back then, but I still don’t really get it.”

Wayan said, sniffing his nose.

“Magic sensitivity and all that stuff is too difficult for me to understand.”

“Is that so?”

“But after running around trying to save the captain… I think I kind of get it now.”

“…”

“I realized what I wanted to do and why I’m so attached to this.”

Woo-oong…!!

As he spoke, a slow, blue magical energy began to rotate around Wayan.

It was a completely different force than when he visited Jenny’s bar before. It was so powerful that it wouldn’t be much weaker than Dray’s.

Has he grown this much in such a short time?

“I can perceive the surrounding magic a little better, so there are more things I can do.”

As Wayan clenched and unclenched his fist, a rich magical energy erupted like a fountain.

The young man, who had been calmly observing it, clenched his fist tightly, and the magic that had risen into the sky disappeared in a dazzling vortex of light.

Just by realizing his own talent for magic sensitivity, his magical power and control ability were all rapidly increasing.

Even if it’s a talent that’s only prominent in one area, if it far exceeds the norm, the overall magical ability tends to rise accordingly.

It was an unusual growth that Lennox had never seen in anyone else, but he understood.

Just like he had recognized back then. It was that much talent, that much potential.

Even if he couldn’t match Lennox himself, Wayan was a genius who was also developing his talent in a different way.

“I’m grateful to you. I’ll definitely repay this debt someday.”

“…Okay. I’ll make sure to collect it later.”

Just Wayan’s existence alone made it seem beneficial to maintain a relationship with the Creamgal Office.

As he chuckled and replied, Wayan seemed to relax and started talking more.

“If you have time, come visit my neighborhood. It’s on Bella Street, and there are a lot of good people there. There are also many kids who want to do similar work as me, so I can introduce you to them later.”

“Wasn’t that place famous for its food? I’ll stop by sometime.”

Lennox had a casual conversation with Wayan and then leisurely left the office.

It was a half-day that was worth the considerable time invested.

“…”

He glanced back at the Creamgal Office as he walked away.

It was a coincidence, but aside from Dylan, the Creamgal Office was the second group he had formed a connection with.

Lennox didn’t want to think about how far this relationship could go, but it was certain that maintaining a friendship with a capable mercenary wouldn’t be a bad thing.

How far Dray could rise with his office, and how strong Wayan could become.

No one knew where Lennox would be at that time.

Magic is…

Step, step.

The sound of footsteps echoed in the deep darkness.

It was heavy but rhythmic, and massive but full of power.

And the only one who maintained such momentum here was Craig.

“Elder…”

“…Hector.”

“The test of the improved formula is complete. If we inject the subject with the suggestion and finish the summoning ritual, we can check the results.”

A haggard face, with all the moisture sucked out by the hot desert air.

The faces of those who had left the city, trusting only in him, were still full of faith.

Craig couldn’t stop his heart from aching as he looked at them.

“Okay… Tell me when you’re ready. I’ll personally observe and check the progress of the experiment.”

“Understood. Oh, and…”

Hector said, turning around, then spoke as if he had remembered something.

“More supplies have arrived from Falcion. It feels like they keep sending us things we don’t really need…”

“I know.”

Craig nodded.

“The first experiment is nearing its end, so they probably want to show off as much as possible before we check the results.”

Since deciding to cooperate with Falcion, there has been no shortage of supplies due to the items they send.

Abundant supplies and steadily progressing experiments.

Even though everything was going according to the initial plan, Craig couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

Perhaps it was because the first step of this whole thing was flawed from the start.

He thought he was prepared for everything when he refused the City Council’s persuasion, but it was hard to stop his resolve from wavering like this sometimes.

He shook his head and erased the wavering thoughts.

He shouldn’t leave any regrets on the path he has already taken.

Even if it was a path soaked with the blood of innocent people.

Hadn’t he sworn to throw everything away?

He just hoped that the path he was walking now would be a path to the next step, not a path of regret.

“The preparation for the deployment of the ‘domain’ you mentioned is complete. Let’s move to the labor camp.”

“…Okay.”

Where Craig had been.

Engraved on the lower side of the empty space.

The thick roots of an old tree were twisting emptily.

#

A dark basement.

In a dingy corner of the room where rusty water dripped from the ceiling and the hinges creaked in the gust of wind.

Lennox and Hina were staring at a man who was groaning, his whole body tied up.

“Where’s Evelyn?”

“…Are you calling the team leader by her first name like she’s your friend? You’ve got some nerve.”

Hina shook her head as if she was dumbfounded.

“She’s probably busy with a tug-of-war with the City Council right now. It’s one thing to reduce our authority, but if they cut our budget, we’re screwed.”

“Wasn’t that part agreed upon in advance? That doesn’t make sense either.”

“Even a mere mutt will start to struggle after realizing their position is in danger.”

In short, it meant that Reisen, realizing that the agents’ movements were suspicious, was desperately trying to cut their budget on his own.

Hina’s remarks were a bit excessive compared to Lennox’s thoughts, but it was enough to understand that she held some kind of grudge against Reisen.

Instead of delving into the details, Lennox immediately turned his gaze to the scene in front of him.

“So, what are you planning to do with this guy?”

The operation that took place at the Trade Center.

The one sitting there was the impact-type mage that Lennox had captured himself back then.

He had knocked him out and handed him over to the agents, then forgotten about him, but it didn’t seem like they had killed him yet.

“All the preparations for the operation are complete. All that’s left is to gather the team members we hired at the operation site.”

Hina answered calmly.

“However, I’d like to get a confirmation from this mage one last time.”

“You need cross-verification.”

“Yes. We’ve been throwing various interrogations at him so far, but he’s a pretty skilled mage, so his mental defenses are quite strong. It wouldn’t be a big problem to kill him right away, but… I think it’s better to proceed with as little uncertainty as possible.”

“Hmm…”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand that way of thinking.

That way of handling things, wanting to proceed with a life-threatening task without leaving even a shred of doubt, was quite familiar to Lennox as well.

However, it made him chuckle because it seemed like Hina O’Neil was blatantly showing how she thought of Lennox.

He got up from his chair and replied.

“Okay. I’ll let it slide just this once.”

“…Huh?”

If they were the city government’s hounds, they would have at least a dozen torture experts under their command, so how could they not open the mouth of a level 4 mage?

Hina was now suspecting that Lennox was colluding with a terrorist organization just because he had kept that mage alive.

By checking whether he could interrogate the mage himself or not.

He slowly raised his magical energy and looked down at her.

The long, blue light that pierced through the dark room scanned her whole body.

“Evelyn, who hired me directly, wouldn’t do something like this, so this must be your own decision. I can understand that.”

“I don’t know what you mean…”

“But if you doubt me one more time, the deal is over.”

Of course, the reason Lennox accepted the collaboration with the agents was to find Craig by borrowing their power.

However, on the surface, the reason Lennox was cooperating with Evelyn was that he owed her a life debt. Not for the sake of the grand organization called the agents.

If Hina O’Neil had properly recognized Lennox’s superficial circumstances, she wouldn’t have done this.

Considering her ignorance, he would move once according to her intentions.

That was all.

Lennox, having confirmed that Hina was clearly shrinking back and avoiding his gaze, turned his head.

He took out a cigarette and kicked open the door of the small room.

Thud!!

Even though his eyes were covered and his limbs were tied to a chair, he couldn’t be deaf to the noise.

The mage’s movements, who had heard the annoying sound, became violent, but there was no particular resistance.

Lennox immediately removed the blindfold from the mage’s eyes and met his gaze.

The mage blinked a few times, looked around, and then slightly frowned when he recognized Lennox.

“…Damn it, is it you again?”

“Long time no see.”

“Damn it, I thought you’d kill me quickly, but why are you dragging me around like this? Do it properly.”

Lennox chuckled at his tone, which was no different from before.

An indifference that felt like it wasn’t his own problem.

However, the heart that was alive and breathing here was definitely his own.

The fact that he could maintain his composure even in this dead-end situation was definitely his innate nature.

Maybe he would have become a much better mage if they had met somewhere else.

That’s why Lennox said to him with a smile.

“Hey, I don’t know how it sounds, but… I don’t dislike a nonchalant guy like you that much.”

“…What the hell are you talking about?”

“So, let’s make this easy. When I can kill you easily.”

No matter how much the situation changes and becomes blurred, Lennox never misses the essence of the problem.

The mage tied up in front of him was just a member of a terrorist organization called Falcion.

He must have killed dozens of innocent people, and he must have looted, plundered, and destroyed without a second thought.

Lennox’s conscience wasn’t thick enough to feel guilt or responsibility towards such a moron.

“What are you talking about since a while ago… Ugh!!”

Kwaaang!!

No further answer was needed.

He extended the impact magic from below and struck him directly.

The mage’s body, which flew like a piece of paper, crashed into the wall and splattered blood.

“Cough, cough!!”

Looking down at the mage who was panting roughly, Lennox leisurely lit a cigarette.

“Tell me where your boss is hiding. Where is Zaun Odis?”

“Heh, heh heh…”

The mage, who let out a sinister laugh, spat out.

“Fuck you, you bastard.”

Kwaaang!!

With those words, the mage suddenly unleashed his magical energy and rushed at Lennox, as if it was a lie that he had been helplessly beaten until now.

Until now, he had been saving his magical energy just in case, but the moment he confirmed Lennox’s attitude, he completely gave up the possibility of surviving.

A decision that was extremely inefficient as a mage, unable to save his last move and wait for an opportunity.

However, Lennox was somewhat pleased with his spirit.