Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1259

The Ascended, Biseok.

Lenox had heard that name a few times while investigating the project.

An Ascended who cooperated with the expulsion of Anathema and acted as an authority. A transcendent who visited Kundara Gugeop and left traces.

Among the Ascended, he was said to have a unique origin and a very peculiar personality, enjoying traveling the outer continents.

It was said that communication was impossible through ordinary means, but that it was possible to communicate and borrow power by following specific procedures.

He had only occasionally heard the name, but he had hardly left any traces or appearances in this world-

‘Biseok’s soul is inside this tachi…’

Whoosh…!!

Lenox, who had been staring at the tachi emitting an eerie aura, spoke in a nonchalant voice with his arms crossed.

‘That explanation doesn’t sound very credible. If it were a relic containing that level of power, it should have reacted when its owner died.’

‘…’

‘I’ve seen Songha fight a few times, but I’ve never felt any special power from his tachi. What’s the reason?’

Songha was a swordsman who had mastered all the sword techniques of the Shiegeomjong [a renowned sword school] with Ethan Bajur and reached level 8.

However, Lenox had never felt any particular sense of incongruity from the weapon he possessed, rather than from Songha himself.

It was surprising that Songha’s tachi was a weapon with a self, but the fact that it contained the soul of an Ascended was a different matter altogether.

In the first place, if a soul with that level of power existed as a weapon, wouldn’t it have intervened in some way when Songha died?

As Lenox had watched Songha die in front of Baragan, it was true that he did not find the Doctor’s words credible.

‘Biseok is an unusual being among the Ascended, and a transcendent who has been in charge of contracts and promises since the days when Ars Nova [a historical organization] was still in existence.’

However, the Doctor calmly explained without particularly refuting Lenox’s words.

‘According to specific procedures, he lends his power to those who seek him, and as proof, he shares his soul.’

‘…Shares his soul?’

‘That tachi is an object containing a part of Biseok’s soul, and proof that he cooperated with the project… It’s like a materialized sign of a contract.’

The Doctor looked at the silver-white tachi that was diagonally embedded in front of Lenox.

‘Originally, the power that should have returned to Biseok himself at the time of the contract’s subject’s death is only being held back by Highrea’s ability. In fact, it’s an object that shouldn’t exist at this point.’

‘…’

‘If we have captured and retained an intangible asset that cannot exist as spoils of war with our abilities, wouldn’t that in itself be considered the creation of new value?’

Highrea’s talent was the talent of duality, observing both sides of all things simultaneously.

Did that mean that he had forcibly held a fragment of the soul that should have returned to Biseok in this world?

However, Lenox focused on judging the value of the tachi in front of him, rather than how that was possible.

‘Biseok’s soul…’

Kaise had once said that he had succeeded in borrowing Biseok’s power during one of his repeated regressions.

That probably meant that Kaise had obtained the ‘contract’ procedure to borrow Biseok’s power.

If so, this tachi was proof that Biseok had lent his power to the project according to the contract, and-

‘Does that mean it’s the only medium through which we can attempt to communicate with Biseok at this point?’

‘That’s a very accurate question.’

The Doctor smiled.

‘The reason Songha had Yubaek among the leaders was probably for other reasons as well. Yubaek’s spirituality may have helped control his superpowers, or it may have been an excellent weapon in itself.’

‘…’

‘But regardless, the greatest value of this weapon is clearly related to the Ascended. We have the ability and knowledge to utilize that fact.’

In fact, Songha’s tachi had not broken even when hit head-on by the Avatar’s lightning, so neither possibility was an unlikely guess.

Even as Lenox was lost in thought, the Doctor’s explanation continued without a hitch.

‘I know this because I obtained related information while digging into the operation system. Through that, I had pre-selected the supplies and relics that could be recovered with our abilities after the subjugation war.’

‘You pre-selected the relics that could be recovered?’

‘The other equipment recovered in this settlement is the same. I guessed that the Magic Tower would not prioritize the recovery of artifacts related to forbidden arts or human sacrifice, so we were able to achieve meaningful results. In a way, you could say we were lucky.’

Contrary to his modest answer, Lenox realized at that moment that the Doctor’s judgment had been accurate.

The moment the Avatar was massacring the superhuman soldiers of the Legion with the power of a Kwon-sa [a powerful warrior], Lenox was also rushing to prepare for the final battle.

In the brief moment when Lenox’s attention, which had not been taken off the battlefield, was distracted, Highrea and Chebien, led by the Magic Tower, took the relics that they would not prioritize.

If they had changed their policy and acted as soon as they saw the Avatar’s power, it was not strange that Pandemonium had achieved its own results in the rapidly changing battlefield.

Rather, the fact that they had achieved such results while being on the side of the defeated Legion made one guess at the Doctor’s competence.

‘We will have to disclose the recovered relics and determine ownership later, but this is definitely one of the most valuable relics from that battlefield.’

The Doctor asked.

‘Victor, would you agree to take this, as you made the greatest contribution in the subjugation war?’

‘…’

Instead of answering, Lenox stared at the silver-white tachi that was diagonally embedded in front of him.

The blade was so long that it was taller than Lenox himself, and the area was a large, deformed tachi.

Beyond the transparent silver-white blade, faint shadows flickered as if they were meeting Lenox’s gaze.

Yubaek. A weapon whose name, meaning ‘flowing soul,’ was perfectly suited to it.

‘If you’re not going to take it, can I take it next?’

The vampire, perched on the chandelier in the art gallery, gave a sinister smile.

‘I’m not as good as that monster manipulator, but I was there until the end of the subjugation war. If you consider my contribution, I’m not unqualified, am I?’

‘…’

‘Sarin. I didn’t know you would covet this weapon.’

While Lenox ignored her, the Doctor asked in a leisurely tone.

‘Due to the nature of vampires using blood flow acceleration, weren’t you only using weapons made of your own blood?’

‘There are restrictions due to the shackles of blood, but that doesn’t mean I can’t use other weapons at all.’

Sarin shrugged nonchalantly.

‘It’s unnecessarily big, but it’s still a sword, so it’s not a weapon I can’t handle. The fact that it contains the soul of an Ascended is also interesting.’

‘…’

‘Above all, taking the sword that Songha used to the Blood King’s Castle has a special meaning.’

The vampire, resting her chin on her hands on her knees, smiled and met Lenox’s gaze.

‘Personally, I’m quite interested, so if you’re okay with it, how about we give Yubaek to us in exchange for a suitable price at the Blood King’s Castle?’

‘You and that guy have been making ridiculous suggestions since a while ago.’

Lenox’s cold retort caused Chebien’s doll to stop moving slightly.

‘If you want something, tell me what you can offer first. Did you think I would readily accept your offer just because you mentioned the name of the Blood King’s Castle?’

‘Oh my, I’m sorry. As a True Ancestor like me, I’m bound by restrictions, so it’s difficult to talk about the abilities of the Blood King’s Castle unless it’s in the form of a transaction.’

Sarin smiled and tilted her head.

‘I can’t say specifically, but it’s something that helps with bloodline abilities or changes in constitution. Let’s just say it’s a kind of power that artificially grants racial characteristics that can never be obtained with individual power.’

‘…’

Upon hearing those words, Lenox momentarily stopped the magic power he had been drawing up.

Lenox also seemed to vaguely know what Sarin was referring to.

Sarin, as if she had expected Lenox’s reaction, smiled pleasantly and waved her hand.

‘You’re right. It’s an object of immense value, especially for a special-type sorcerer with a twisted talent like you. It might even be an object that can change your rank.’

‘…’

‘You’re not a swordsman anyway, are you? Even if you receive a great tachi as compensation, it would be difficult to use it effectively, wouldn’t it?’

Sarin said in a subtle voice, as if coaxing the silent Lenox.

‘Instead of taking it just because you believe in Biseok’s name, it wouldn’t be bad to take compensation that would definitely help your sorcery.’

‘You’re mistaken.’

Lenox said with a cynical tone, crossing his arms.

‘It’s not because I’m not a swordsman that I was worried about where to use Yubaek.’

‘Huh?’

‘I was just thinking about how much to value it at this point.’

Lenox’s eyes flashed behind his obsidian mask.

‘I hesitated for a moment, but there’s no reason not to take it. Get out of the way.’

‘…Get out of the way?’

The moment Sarin didn’t understand those words and tilted her head, a sinister presence was felt behind her.

A sound like worn-out clothes brushing against each other. An inhuman presence that even she, a True Ancestor vampire, had not noticed until just before.

At the same time as Sarin turned her gaze with a sinister expression, something covered in a black robe brushed past her.

Swoosh-

‘…!!!’

A giant with a hooked nose wearing an old robe, with eight arms extending like a spider below the chandelier, was a bizarre sight.

The members who were watching momentarily drew up their magic power and were on guard, but belatedly realized its identity and stopped.

‘Wait, could it be…’

‘The one we summoned from the labyrinth…!!’

The special-type artificial summon that Victor had summoned just before deploying his domain in the center of the 49th district labyrinth, the tailor of the imaginary dimension.

The members who had remained until the end of the battlefield remembered that figure and flinched, and the hooked-nosed giant moved.

[Hehehe…]

Slowly letting out a gloomy laugh, he wrapped his eight arms around himself and crawled down to the ground like a spider.

In the center of the silent art gallery lobby, the hooked-nosed giant slowly reached out, hanging upside down.

The moment he reached out his thin, gray hand and grabbed the silver-white tachi that was diagonally embedded in front of Lenox.

Clank.

[…Heh.]

At the same time, the laughter that the tailor had been letting out subsided, and a sinister silence flowed.

Clank, clank.

The silver-white tachi shook as if rejecting his touch between the tailor’s thin fingers.

However, Lenox watched the scene and said calmly in a modulated voice.

‘Since souls have no form, a spirit weapon is ultimately an object that has solidified and fixed a soul into a specific form.’

‘…’

‘It only has the form of a tachi because it had an owner named Songha, but it can change its form depending on its owner. And if that owner is not a human but a summon that represents the essence of sorcery-‘

Lenox tilted his head.

‘Wouldn’t it naturally take the form most suitable for the sorcery I use?’

Clank, clank, clank!!!!

Bang!! Clatter!!!!

In the tailor’s hand, the tachi shook more violently, and the silver-white light on the blade became more intense.

Each time the tachi shook more violently, the shape of the blade was crushed and scattered to the left and right, losing its original form.

The tailor, who had gripped the handle so tightly that the veins on the back of his hand could be seen, forcibly pulled the tachi out of the ground.

Whoosh!!!

A silver-white mist spread out like an explosion, filling the vast lobby hall.

In the thick mist, the tailor’s huge figure swayed slowly.

A hunched figure wearing an old robe and looking down at the ground. Several arms dangling under the robe.

And a huge silver-white object slung diagonally over his shoulder-

‘…A scythe?’

Whoosh!!!

The wind blew and the mist cleared, revealing the tailor holding a silver-white great scythe.

A hooked-nosed giant wearing a robe, holding a huge scythe and chuckling, looking like a personification of death.

[Guhhhhhh…]

Every time he snapped his fingers while letting out a gloomy laugh, the great scythe slung over his shoulder moved smoothly, cutting through the mist.

Each time, a chilling whisper and a ghostly cry that seemed to caress the soul gently landed on his shoulder and disappeared.

At the bizarre yet overwhelming sight, the members were speechless, and Lenox, who was watching, nodded.

‘Now it’s a more suitable form.’

‘…’

Only then did the members, who understood the meaning of what Lenox had done, mutter in disbelief.

‘Did you change the form of the spirit weapon from a tachi to a scythe… I can’t believe it…’

‘From the beginning, you were planning to have your summon use it instead of yourself?’

‘Hoo…’

While Chebien, Highrea, and Ermong were making sounds of admiration, the Doctor nodded.

‘I see what kind of feeling you wanted. Well, it’s not strange that the form of a weapon made of souls can be changed.’

‘…’

‘However, it’s interesting that you chose the form of a scythe. Even considering that it’s for a summon to use, it’s not an efficient form. Is it a personal preference?’

As the Doctor said, the scythe is not a mainstream cold weapon among the weapons used by superhumans.

It has a difficult usage method of swinging and cutting by pulling, and surprisingly, its range is not long compared to its size.

There is a contradiction that it has to be cut by pulling from close range, but it is difficult to deal with if the opponent approaches first.

It is difficult to use without the ability to control the distance to maintain a gap that is neither far nor close, and Lenox had rarely met a superhuman who used a scythe.

However, the reason why the scythe was chosen as the form of the weapon to be given to the tailor was vaguely guessed.

‘The more difficult the form of the weapon, the stronger the image is due to its uniqueness.’

Lenox said, looking up at the tailor carrying a huge death scythe.

‘I think it was judged that this ‘harvesting’ form was appropriate for maximizing the function of my sorcery.’

‘…Why are you talking as if you didn’t decide it yourself?’

‘As the Doctor suggested, we’ll take Biseok’s soul fragment.’

Lenox ignored Sarin’s question and moved his feet.

‘I’ll be adjusting the sorcery, so you guys finish the remaining settlement on your own.’

The weapon made of Biseok’s soul fragment, Yubaek, was a spirit weapon without a form.

He had changed it into the form of a scythe and put it in the tailor’s hand, but it needed to be adjusted to be used properly.

That would be enough time for the other members of Pandemonium to finish the settlement of the subjugation war.

Poof!!

At the same time as Lenox turned away without answering, he teleported and disappeared to the other side of the lobby corridor.

Lenox’s figure, having jumped over the art gallery stairs in space, arrived at the roof of the building in an instant.

With the half-destroyed scenery of Bairuitz behind him, Lenox was about to summon the tailor again when-

Click.

The roof door opened behind him, and someone walked out.

‘Victor.’

‘…’

Highrea, holding a rosary in one hand, stood on the opposite side of the art gallery roof.

Did Highrea follow him out at the same time as Lenox left the settlement place?

Highrea approached Lenox, who had glanced at her, and carefully opened her mouth.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt. But there are a few things I want to say about this settlement.’

‘Where are the others?’

‘By now, the Doctor is probably taking care of the settlement instead.’

Highrea answered calmly.

‘In terms of distribution, he is the next priority after you in this subjugation war. The other members won’t have any complaints either.’

‘…’

Although not comparable to Victor, the Doctor’s contribution in planning and opening the Ascended Gate in the labyrinth was also enormous.

If he distributed the results of the subjugation war instead of Highrea, the other members would not be able to raise any objections either.

However, Lenox read her purpose from Highrea’s answer and asked.

‘You have something else you want to tell me.’

‘That’s right.’

Highrea, who had readily agreed, approached Lenox.

Highrea, leaning against the railing overlooking the ruined satellite city, was silent for a moment before opening her mouth.

‘The Iron Chain Dragon King has expressed his intention not to receive any spoils from this settlement.’

‘…’

‘He said he didn’t participate with the intention of sharing the belongings or relics of short-lived species. So, I’m going to give his share to you. Is that okay?’

‘It seems that there is still a surplus even after all the members here share the results of the subjugation war.’

‘Most of the spoils have been recovered by the Magic Tower, but as the Doctor said, there were equipment and relics that they did not prioritize recovering.’

Highrea nodded.

‘Artifacts made with forbidden arts or human sacrifice… Certainly, the Adamantine Magic Tower is not very interested in that. It was clear from our side that they were not prioritizing those items in the recovery operation.’

‘…’

‘We couldn’t bring powerful war weapons like Primo Alert or Enginium Fortress, but there are equipment and parts that can only be recycled here. We plan to revive their functions with the help of the Doctor.’

As much as Lenox avoids forbidden arts and human sacrifice, his colleagues in the Tower also tend not to handle items related to taboos as much as possible.

Moreover, items made with forbidden arts are mostly difficult to store or dispose of unless they are used directly.

Naturally, it was not strange that those types of items were pushed to the back of the list in the recovery operation of the spoils of the subjugation war.

In the first place, Lenox’s participation in the interim settlement was also aimed at checking if there were any items that had been missed among the items that the Tower had not recovered.

‘Is that all you wanted to say?’

‘No. What I wanted to say was the next thing. The reason we are settling the results of the subjugation war now is because of the next plan.’

Having said that, Highrea slowly turned the rosary in her hand and closed her mouth.

A strange atmosphere, as if she was hesitating for a long time and choosing her words before saying something.

She glanced at Lenox and carefully opened her mouth.

‘As you may have heard… the Underworld King and Jinwa clashed in the Lost Paradise. After a battle that lasted for three days and nights, the Underworld King was defeated.’

‘…’

As soon as he heard those words, Lenox’s presence sharpened, but Highrea flinched but did not stop speaking.

‘If you were recommended by the Underworld King, you would have known. But there is a fact that I need to tell you about it.’

‘Tell me.’

‘…Just before the Underworld King entered the Lost Paradise, he left his legacy in the central front.’

Lenox’s breath, which had been slowly shaking under his robe, stopped.

Highrea watched Lenox’s reaction and whispered quietly.

‘The ‘fruit’ that he tried to achieve through the Gabi Flight [a specific operation] and failed… We are estimating that it is still remaining near the Lost Paradise.’

‘…’

Only then could Lenox understand why Highrea wanted a private meeting with him.

She was not trying to give Lenox special treatment or ask for his understanding regarding this settlement.

The information that Highrea wanted to give Lenox first, before the other members, was-

‘The commander’s permission has been granted, and we are already recruiting members.’

Highrea looked up at Lenox and asked.

‘Pandemonium’s next plan will be an operation to recover the Underworld King’s legacy from the center. Victor, I want to put you on the entry list first, is that okay?’