Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1150

Following Aron Byger, the lord of Cabahim, Lennok stood before the [Back Door] at the old castle outside the royal capital.

A shortcut to open the interdimensional sanctuary on the other side of the [Door] and peer into its deepest recesses.

However, the sanctuary he encountered within was unlike anything Lennok had anticipated.

Koo-ooo-ooo!!!

A massive black circle rotated beneath a shattered sky. Below it, an endless stream of black tears flowed.

The black liquid, falling like tears, stained and defiled the broken sanctuary.

A colossal knight’s figure leaned back on a black throne that had sprung up in the center. Inside the armor, a black sphere rotated as if it were a heart.

“That is…”

He knew it.

That massive knight was the remnant of the ‘dead god’ that Lennok had encountered in the conscious world after acquiring the Ice Artisan.

But back then, that knight had clearly stood on a frozen, snowy mountain, guarding a massive tombstone.

The black halo that unfolded before his eyes, and the shape of the throne that was plunged into its center, were landscapes that Lennok was seeing for the first time.

In the instant that Lennok was rendered speechless by the sight of the sanctuary, which he had not expected but still felt a strong sense of déjà vu,

“Prestige Domain, Mandala.”

Aron, who had stepped out beside him, said as he gathered his magic power.

“A false sanctuary symbolizing eternal circulation and innocent change. A miracle that contains the one and only essence that never changes, even as it endlessly transforms.”

“…”

“It is proof that he, who possessed a more destructive origin than any transcendent, tried to create and produce something.”

His double pupils were fixed, as if possessed, on the slowly rotating black halo.

“The remnants of his great failure, where he tried to forge the next by even changing his own origin, are there.”

The undisguised awe in Aron’s low voice was palpable.

It seemed he was demonstrating how highly he regarded the Ascendant, Half-Palace, with just this one sentence.

However, Lennok could not immediately respond and remained silent, even to Aron’s words, who seemed captivated by the Mandala.

It wasn’t because he didn’t understand the meaning the moment he heard the explanation about the Mandala.

It was because he immediately grasped its implications.

The one and only essence that does not change even in innocent change.

Was it a delusion that the power Half-Palace tried to realize as a false sanctuary looked surprisingly similar to Lennok’s Kaleidoscope?

If an Ascendant who took a failed future as his fundamental image had tried to ‘create’ instead of destroying something in the end.

Lennok-

“The [Door] that exists in the underground of the royal capital is a miracle created by human hands, among the less than ten [Doors] left in the world. Therefore, the Mandala is nothing less than a power that allows us to glimpse its origin.”

Aron’s expression, as he looked at the broken sanctuary, turned cold.

“Even the fact that the death of an Outer God is contained within is just one of those miracles. Therefore, I-”

Aron took a step forward towards the prestige domain beyond the [Door].

“I will take the arrangement left by the great Ascendant and overturn even the predetermined fate and ending.”

“…No.”

Lennok mumbled blankly.

“That’s not an arrangement…”

The moment he faced the landscape of the prestige domain and heard Aron’s explanation, Lennok knew.

The remains of the ‘dead god’ kept in the center of the Mandala. The black sphere that was in place as if replacing its heart.

That thing, which rotated like a black hole and sucked in sight, light, and will, was the core that made up the prestige domain, Mandala.

It was the will itself that Half-Palace had left behind to fully preserve the remains of the ‘dead god’ in this world.

A failed work of a manipulator who pursued the same thing as Lennok in the end, even though the form, ability, and direction were different.

He could understand even without an explanation.

That was the essence of the manipulation technique left by Half-Palace. A ‘domain’ that a transcendent who had reached the pinnacle of the special trait system had bent his technique and left in reality.

If he could get his hands on the Mandala and understand its construction principle, Lennok might be able to use his prestige domain and manipulation technique.

Rather than certainty, it was a vague intuition. Rather than belief, it was an ambiguous feeling. But-

Kugugugugu…!!!

When Lennok looked at it, ‘it’ also looked at Lennok.

When he looked beyond the [Door], the other side of the [Door] also looked at Lennok.

He could tell.

Just like when he drank the elixir of ascension in Kundara and obtained the corrupted branching point.

Just like when he opened the [Door] to send the soul of the Seonjong [a sect of warriors] to a failed future, he was close.

When he looked back, it was always watching Lennok from a distance that seemed within reach.

Like this, as if it would come to Lennok and be caught right away if he reached out his hand-

Woo-woo-woo-woong!!!!

The moment Lennok unconsciously reached out his hand, the darkness located in the center of the Mandala began to fluctuate and resonate.

The sphere, rotating as if replacing the heart of the dead god, explosively amplified the darkness within and covered the domain.

The expansion of darkness that started from the center of the Mandala violently reversed and overflowed as if it would cross the [Door].

Koo-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!!!

“…!!”

A massive wave of darkness explosively overflowing from beyond the [Door].

A bizarre shape as if the prestige domain of the Mandala was trying to reverse the door to ‘return’ to Lennok.

At the intense flood of darkness, Lennok’s face hardened, and the knights who were watching grabbed their swords with surprised expressions.

Aron grabbed the violently fluctuating [Door] with one hand, his face expressionless.

Kwaaaang!!!!

The moment he grabbed the spatial rift of the door with his bare hand, an intense shockwave burst out and shook the lobby of the old castle.

The recoil that violently struck Aron’s entire body quickly scratched his body and stretched backward.

Due to the shock, the old walls and floor of the castle shook and made a loud noise as if they would collapse at any moment.

“Your Majesty!!”

“It’s dangerous…!!”

“No. Everyone, step back.”

The knights, who had drawn up their magic power, immediately stepped forward, but Aron calmly raised his hand and stopped them.

“I will do it myself here.”

Kwajik!!

At the same time as he applied force, the shape of the [Door] held in Aron’s hand distorted as if it would break.

However, Aron did not care and grabbed the violently fluctuating door and pressed it down.

The moment the magic power that exploded from Aron’s entire body covered the surroundings and pressed down on the space.

The spatial rift of the door forcibly closed in front of Lennok’s eyes, and a violent explosion erupted.

Koo-gwa-gwa-gwa-gwa!!!!

“Kuh…!!”

An intense amount of light that turned the view white.

Even the knights who were restless had to draw up their magic power and endure the recoil that swept through the lobby.

Those who were watching the explosion that erupted from the center of the old castle either fell down or planted their weapons on the ground and held their ground.

Debris fell from the collapsed ceiling of the old castle, and the inner walls of the corridor shook and collapsed like dominoes.

“That’s it for now.”

However, Aron stood calmly in the center of the raging storm, looking at the place where the door had been with an expressionless face.

Aron, who was rubbing his neck with one hand and turned around nonchalantly, looked back at the knights who had been pushed back from all directions and said.

“I succeeded in peeking into the sanctuary without awakening the dead god by using the shortcut to open the back door, but it is still impossible to enter it.”

“…”

“Perhaps we will have to repeat trial and error like this and find out what the problem is.”

“That’s an extremely violent magic power operation.”

Only then did Lennok realize what Aron had done and muttered as if he was dumbfounded.

“Did you forcibly press down on the rift of the [Door] to close it? How much innate magic power do you have…”

What Aron had just shown was an art of overlaying will on magic power and converting it into actual physical force.

Through that, Aron grabbed the space of the rampaging [Back Door] and forcibly pressed it down to stabilize it.

How much magic power would it take to do such a thing by putting his will into magic power without using a technique or image?

“Well. It may not be as irrational as you think.”

However, even after hearing Lennok’s words, Aron turned around with a strange smile.

“All the power and fuel of the country are nothing less than the property of the royal family. I am just enjoying what I deserve as the lord of Cabahim.”

“…What?”

The moment he heard those words, Lennok understood the meaning of what Aron had mentioned and hardened his face.

Aron’s destructive magic power operation, which had been impressive from outside the old castle. The strange aftertaste of impurities mixed in between.

It was because he could immediately understand what Aron was trying to imply through the words he had explained.

‘Could it be that he is not purely using his own magic power or will, but drawing power from all over Cabahim?’

If Aron was drawing on the country’s magic power and fuel as the lord of Cabahim, its limit would far exceed the level allowed to a single superhuman.

If there was no limit to the magic power of an 8-level superhuman, especially one with the talent of duality, then Aron’s power within the kingdom should be considered virtually on par with a demigod.

Kugugugugu!!!

Aron’s magic power density was so strong that the air seemed to become heavy enough to make it difficult to breathe just by standing next to him.

Even though it was clear that he was drawing on an enormous amount of magic power and will, the bottom of Aron’s inner self was not easily visible.

However, Aron shook his head as if it was nothing, even with the storm of magic power and will that was endlessly overflowing from his body.

“I thought it would be enough to draw on the fuel of the royal capital, but it consumes much more magic power than I thought. If I repeat trial and error like this, I will definitely run out of magic power.”

Click!!

As Aron said that and snapped his fingers, the knights who had been waiting around began to move.

The knights who had been guarding from all directions changed their positions and adjusted their positions as if surrounding the entire old castle.

Several dozen knights stood on either side of Aron and stopped walking as if making way for him.

Aron, who had turned around without any regrets, looked at Lennok and nodded.

“I will adjust the output and return to draw more magic power. You should also take a rest.”

“You already had a countermeasure prepared in case the plan failed.”

Lennok asked, looking at the knights who were moving busily.

“Did you not think it would succeed from the beginning?”

“The fact that we peeked into the sanctuary on the first attempt is nothing less than a miracle.”

Aron said slowly, looking at Lennok.

“Even if I guided you, I had already assumed the possibility that you would not be able to recognize the [Back Door] or have difficulty controlling it.”

“…”

“But instead of having difficulty controlling it, you immediately understood the concept and even approached the Mandala… The bloodline of Half-Palace is truly a monster-like talent.”

Aron, who had climbed to the top of the stairs, looked down at Lennok with a gentle gaze.

“Indeed, choosing you was definitely not a wrong decision in this matter. Please continue to do well, as you are now.”

Even though he had explained the plan to Lennok, it seemed that Aron himself had not assumed that it would succeed in one go.

Rather, the fact that they had peeked into the sanctuary on the first attempt seemed to be a satisfactory result for Aron.

“Oh, great bloodline.”

The knights who had approached Lennok spoke cautiously, leaving Aron, who was disappearing to the upper part of the old castle, behind.

“We have cleaned a room inside the old castle that has not collapsed. Please rest there for today.”

“…”

“While you are resting, the 6th Knight Order will assist you.”

The knight who had taken off his helmet bowed politely to Lennok.

Perhaps it was because they had been watching what Lennok was preparing inside the old castle with Aron.

The attitude of the knights who were guiding Lennok to the room inside the old castle was truly polite.

Click!!

A dark room with old carpets. Even the simple meal prepared on the bed and table inside.

However, Lennok felt his sensitivity react as soon as he entered the room and chuckled.

‘Dabi.’

[Yeah, it looks like they’re watching, right?]

From a distant place where it was impossible to even perceive with the five senses, someone was detecting Lennok’s presence.

It was not mixed with murderous intent, but conversely, it was not the kind of gaze that was trying to protect or escort Lennok.

Having thought that far, Lennok took something out of his arms and dropped it on the bed.

Thud!!

A Chebien doll [a type of magical construct] with the physique of an adult male. A substitute that he had received before starting the operation.

He pushed the doll into the bed inside the room, decorated its face with magic, and infused it with magic power.

It would be difficult to find anything unusual by just sensing Lennok’s presence from the outside.

Lennok, who had taken Dabi out of his arms and laid it on the bed, whispered quietly.

‘React if they call you from outside. Can you do it?’

[I’ve done it once before. There’s no problem.]

To be precise, that was why he was worried, but Lennok did not show it and got up.

The moment he brought his hand to his face, looking at the fox spirit lying on its back in the bed and waving its front paws.

Whoosh!!

The camouflage magic that had been covering his entire body was dismantled, and the obsidian mask and shadow robe appeared.

Lennok’s presence completely disappeared from inside the thick robe, and his magic power itself became infinitely cold.

‘About half of my magic power remains. There should be almost no problem using the manipulation technique.’

He deeply pressed down the black robe, adjusted his mask, and quickly checked his condition.

Even while pulling out a magic thread and wrapping it around his wrist, and checking the socket on his waist, Lennok’s expression was coldly sinking.

‘It’s a good time to investigate the secret that Aron is hiding.’

Even though he had succeeded in opening the door and peeking at the remains of the dead god, Aron was not surprised or angry at the fact that he could not enter the sanctuary.

As if Lennok’s entry into the sanctuary itself was bound to fail.

As if it was ‘predetermined’ that he could not enter the sanctuary right now.

Lennok did not miss that subtle but unavoidable sense of incongruity.

‘There must be some other condition needed to enter the sanctuary. Aron knows that but is hiding it from me.’

As the clown had mentioned, it had become clear that Aron was trying to push forward with this plan while hiding something.

If so, he had to find out what Aron was hiding about the [Door] here.

Lennok thought so and quickly organized the situation.

‘At this point, there are three goals.’

First. To investigate the [Door], understand its principle, and find a way to control Lennok’s rampaging lightning magic.

Second. To check whether it is possible to recover the prestige domain of Half-Palace, Mandala, which exists beyond the [Door].

Third. To succeed in the [Door] capture operation of Pandemonium and steal the remains of the dead god.

‘The rotation time of the knights patrolling inside the old castle is approximately 25 minutes.’

Tap!!

He put his foot inside the narrow window frame, took stimulants and painkillers, and loosened his body.

‘In the meantime, I will explore the old castle and aim to find the secret that Aron is hiding.’

He had been prepared for things not to go smoothly from the moment the apostle of the Order intervened from Tokerphos.

In the end, there were facts that Lennok could only find out by checking and digging into them himself.

Pat!!

At the same time as he leaned his body forward, he used blink [a teleportation technique] to jump through space.

He hung a magic thread on the wall and rotated as if bouncing off, accelerating along the shadows inside the old castle.

Lennok, who had climbed onto the wall in one go, turned his gaze towards the knight who was guarding in the pouring rain.

Swaeak!!

Blink before the knight, who had sensed a presence, could turn his gaze.

He perfectly surpassed the sharp senses of a physical ability user and headed towards the spire near the outer edge of the fortress.

Swaaaaaaaash!!!

He leaned against the sharp ornament at the end of the spire, hanging a magic thread, and looked down at the desolate scenery of the old castle in the darkness.

The rain was flowing down his robe and obscuring his vision, but Lennok did not care and took out his golden eyes.

Click.

The artifact that Lapis Palshier had gifted him when he removed Lennok from the Blue Eye, the Eye of Heavenly Grace.

The moment he held the relic, which functioned as the thirteenth lighthouse by its very existence, and slowly raised it.

The Eye of Heavenly Grace spun in Lennok’s hand and turned towards the wide courtyard inside the old castle.

“…”

Nothing could be seen in the courtyard where muddy water was boiling, except for discarded trash or rotten wood debris.

Then, what the eye was pointing at was not the ground that could be seen with the naked eye, but the area below it.

The underground of the old castle, whose existence Aron had never mentioned to Lennok.

Paat!!

Lennok’s figure, which had been hanging on the spire, disappeared as if erased from the air.

Lennok, who had teleported inside the fortress, hung upside down on the ceiling and flew using a magic thread.

At the same time as he activated magic detection, he confirmed the existence of the stairs leading to the underground and changed direction.

Kagak…!!

Each time he used blink repeatedly, a faint popping sound burst out in the air and jumped through space.

He used the technique, aiming for the perfect moment when he would not be caught by the senses of the knights patrolling inside the fortress.

Immediately after, he completely erased his presence and killed the aftertaste of magic power, leaving no trace.

The moment he reached the underground staircase without stepping on the stairs, piercing through the increasingly strict security as he headed inside the old castle.

Koo-woong!!!

Lennok stopped in his tracks, facing the rusty bars that blocked and sealed the way from all directions.

“…”

A corridor that was full of rust and damp with sticky moisture, like a huge sewer.

Bars were densely embedded in every passage that ran through it, blocking the way.

‘A prison?’

An ominous and ominous atmosphere like a prison for imprisoning criminals, not an old castle or fortress.

Inside the bars, there were bone fragments or rotten flesh that were presumed to be human.

Leaving behind the cries that could be heard from the corridor submerged in darkness, Lennok moved his steps.

“…This is.”

Beyond the bars embedded between the corridors, there were still living humans.

People who were lying down covered in blood and excreting waste, as if they had been whipped all over their bodies.

Only then could Lennok be sure that the old castle was being used as a prison to imprison prisoners.

Was it because such a prison was hidden in the underground facility that no human presence was felt outside the old castle?

“Ugh…”

“Aaaack…!!”

“It hurts, it hurts…!!”

The prisoners, who did not notice Lennok’s presence, were screaming with cries mixed in. The smell of blood and stench that stung the tip of his nose.

The moment Lennok quietly calmed his magic power and tried to go deeper into the darkness of the corridor.

“…Mask.”

A faint voice, as if it would break, echoed from the prison right next to him.

“Pandemo, nium’s… thief…”

A hoarse voice as if his vocal cords were dried up. But it was definitely a grating tone he had heard before.

A man with disheveled hair, lying sprawled out in a blood-soaked shirt and pants.

“Why are you… here?”

“…You are.”

Only then did Lennok, who remembered the voice and face, turn his gaze.

The person who could call Victor, who was wearing an obsidian mask and a robe, a ‘thief’.

The owner of the giant’s fortress that he had visited to steal the ring of the guide before leaving for the military city of Yorta.

A watcher of the Blue Eye and a survivor of the Giant Soldier Corps. An 8-level physical ability user and the younger brother of the current king of Cabahim-

The Grand Duke of Cabahim, Jillian, was glaring at Lennok, covered in blood in the prison.

“Jillian?”

“Ah, that’s right… The fact that you’re here underground means…”

Jillian, who coughed weakly, smiled crookedly.

“Were you one of the fools who came here because of my brother, Aron?”

“…”

“It’s better this way… Don’t just stand there blankly, come closer and untie this.”

Koo-woong!!!

The chain, as huge as Jillian himself, that was tied to his right arm fell with a heavy sound.

Jillian, who shrugged his shoulders weakly while gesturing with his chin at the chain, looked at Lennok and said.

“If you help me escape, I’ll show you what Aron has hidden in this underground… How about it?”