Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1276

Dark Play (3)

Naoise Penn was a level 9 necromancer who had successfully transcended to the second world. However, as the price for his existence in this world, he constantly absorbed knowledge and left it behind as records.

His maintenance of the Dark Archive and his continuous collection and translation of old-world grimoires were also part of this endeavor.

Remembering the questions and answers they had exchanged before heading to Kundara, Lenok could guess why he was observing the mortal realm through a human body.

Even what to ask a transcender who had surpassed the second world.

“I haven’t been looking at the posts on the deep web often, but there are still a few things I’ve been able to figure out.”

“……”

“A collection of information that no one on the continent can easily access. The existence of records that encompass information and knowledge that no transcender can fully know.”

Lenok moved his feet, watching the back of the employee who had stopped writing.

“There were evaluations and analyses containing transcendence that were almost omniscient. Just like you leave records in the mortal realm through this archive, proving yourself and making yourself exist.”

The Dark Archive. A necromantic archive that collects and translates all records and information about necromancy existing in the present and old worlds.

Having understood the operating principles of the archive through the events with Kabahim, Lenok understood how Naoise Penn managed the archive.

That the records he left behind did not stay in the archive but constantly flowed out into the mortal realm and spread was also a result intended by the lich before him.

That the series of phrases that shook the central network, including the power rankings, were by no means unrelated to this transcender.

“If you need a price to exist as yourself in the third world, I can guess why you did such a thing. But there is one thing I’m curious about.”

Lenok, who had approached behind him, tilted his head, stepping over a hill made of stacked books.

“Power rankings. Don’t you think that’s too blatant a term for an ancient transcender like you to think of and write down?”

“……Well.”

The lich, who had slowly put down the pen he was holding, said calmly.

“But the struggles of the transcenders that took place in the world I was born in were far more blatant and brutal than that.”

“……”

“Even those who had gained qualifications had to fight other ascenders to reach the next level. Great transcenders were dying in wars all over the continent.”

Beyond the face of the librarian who turned his gaze, the afterimage of an empty skull could be seen.

Beyond the empty skull facing Lenok, an endlessly dark light flowed out.

“Ranking transcenders, comparing their powers and authorities, and discussing their victories and defeats is so natural to me… I’m not sure how to answer your question.”

“……”

Lenok could also understand what kind of mind he had given this answer with.

The ascender he had faced in Kundara, the thoughts of the Seonjong [a sect of ascetics], had also spoken about the second world in a similar tone.

A hell of a world where even ascenders only killed each other, waged wars, and fought like madmen to reach the next level.

In that place where the whole world was like a single solitude, he was an answerer who had reached ascension in a different way from others.

Even without borrowing the knowledge of the archive, he was more than familiar with comparing and ranking superhumans.

“So, you mean that creating power rankings and spreading knowledge about them was natural for you.”

“Whether it was done by one side or the other, the purpose and essence of the matter would not have changed much.”

The transcender smiled.

“The means of what you mentioned were mine, but the will was not entirely mine.”

“……What?”

“I’m not in a position to consider all possibilities and pursue the structure right now. I’m not in a position to have the infinite diversity and do many things at the same time like you.”

The lich turned his gaze.

“All I can do in this world right now is to organize and translate knowledge and pass it on to those who seek the archive… To that end, I have been repeating various attempts by borrowing the karma of others.”

“……”

“In the process, an existence similar to me cooperated to spread knowledge and added their authority, so it wouldn’t be strange for you to ask me about that fact.”

Naoise Penn’s answer that he had passed on the basic knowledge of power rankings through interaction with another being.

He had recognized the fact and provided the information, but the entity that carried it out was not just the transcender alone.

That the existence was one of the transcenders who existed in a similar way to the transcender.

“In the process of creating the power rankings… are you saying that another transcender intervened and carried it out?”

“Translation is the process of connecting two different cultures and languages.”

Naoise Penn opened his mouth leisurely.

“It’s the process of connecting concepts that existed in different timelines, as I briefly discussed with you before. Do you remember?”

“……”

“But records don’t always have to exist in the form of textbooks or letters. Likewise, knowledge is not unilaterally conveyed or passed on.”

The lich smiled, slowly writing a name on a book with the quill he had picked up again.

“Whenever I pass on the knowledge of the archive to the mortal realm in any way, those who recognize it spread the knowledge to others and record it in their own way. That’s how feedback is constantly generated and circulated in this closed world.”

“……”

“That’s possible because we ultimately have a desire to know each other, and it’s natural for living beings to feel such emotions. Because there is the unknown, there is the concept of omniscience, and because we want omniscience, we can value the act of exploring the unknown.”

He stopped the hand that had been slowly moving the pen, and after changing the name for the last time, he closed the book.

The lich, holding the translated grimoire of [Lacerating Evil, Piercing Deceit], turned his body towards Lenok and said.

“By passing on the knowledge I have translated, meaning is created in the finite process of moving towards results, so isn’t this also part of a great pursuit?”

“……”

Just by spreading the knowledge existing in the archive to the world, new feedback is generated in the closed third world.

Naoise Penn’s answer that he is managing the Dark Archive because the pursuit is continuing through that cycle.

However, since his goal is to spread and connect knowledge, the transcender does not move alone when intervening in the karma of the mortal realm.

Because the act of spreading records and knowledge is ultimately impossible alone.

However, the true meaning of the answer that the transcender had interacted with another transcender in the process-

“What exists outside the continent… is not just abandoned land or a frontier, after all.”

Lenok’s gaze cooled down.

Because he knew where this transcender, who was facing Lenok in the Dark Archive, was actually residing in reality.

Beyond the sea of understanding, the incomprehensible land that exists outside the continent. The back of the star where non-human concepts run wild, dominating and subjugating.

“Are the answerers who have succeeded in ascension like you… wandering the outer continent to avoid being entangled in the karma of the mortal realm?”

“Well. It might be better for you to check the answer to that yourself.”

Naoise Penn let out a faint smile.

“Just like the Cheondun [a type of powerful being] you’re looking for did.”

“……”

In an instant, the conversation between the two stopped, and an empty silence descended.

If Kroken Asilus had headed to the outer continent with the guide of the fisherman.

If even a monster like Kroken had tried to confirm something in the unknown realm in the process.

Surely, he had gone to meet the extraordinary transcender residing outside the continent ‘directly’.

Another reason why Lenok revisited the Dark Archive to find the traces of the transcender.

The moment the transcender answers the question that he was sure of but had not yet brought up.

Naoise Penn had known from the beginning why Lenok had come to the archive.

“…If you have no intention of hiding anything about Kroken, there’s no need to hesitate any longer.”

Lenok said in a calm voice.

“Why did he go to Balkan as soon as he returned from outside the continent? Is it related to meeting you?”

“You know well about his origins.”

The lich smiled.

“He was born on the line, and he is one who can only live by stepping back. It is extremely rare for an existence born in such a way to bind themselves.”

“……”

“He acknowledged and accepted that fact a long time ago, but he wasn’t happy about it. Coming to me was also part of that…”

The dark light of the skull, which was letting out a chuckle, flickered darkly.

“The fact that he returned after recognizing what you had done must also be because he sensed that the time to keep his promise was near.”

“Promise, in the first place, Kroken-”

“The reason he returned to Balkan is because of a promise he made with the head of the oldest family.”

“What…?”

“A long time ago, he made a deal with him on the premise of one request.”

A promise made with the head of the oldest family.

Lenok’s body stiffened at the unexpected words.

Because Lenok could also sense who the head of the family the transcender was referring to was the moment he heard it.

Could it be that before his death, Myung had made a deal with Kroken and left a request for him?

If so, then the reason he returned to Balkan and took Ermong was to participate directly in the operation to recover the legacy of the Underworld King-

“Actually, this kind of secret history is not something I should tell you directly.”

The lich, leaving the frozen Lenok behind, said leisurely.

“Although your existence is tied to the promise, the motives and emotions are their own… It’s a ‘record’ that shouldn’t be told arbitrarily.”

“……”

“But even so, the reason I make an exception is because you are a very unique person among all the seekers who have existed in both worlds.”

The lich chuckled, looking at Lenok who was lost in thought.

“You have many questions you want to ask, but the questions you actually form with words are directed more towards emotions and motives than clear answers. That’s proof that you already know what’s truly important.”

“……”

“Yes, because you are focused on the moment without being obsessed with the result… Isn’t that why you are no longer asking about that?”

Lenok silently turned his gaze towards the direction the lich’s quill was pointing.

Because Lenok had already recognized what was placed in that direction.

[Fate Seal: Àΰú¿ªÀü]

The title of the book was written in half understandable characters and half incomprehensible characters.

A ‘future record’ that Lenok himself had written and left in this archive sometime in the past.

Sealing fate. Because he had vaguely reached the answer about that unknown meaning in Kabahim.

“You were able to exist here because you sealed the fate of an ascender and made it a vessel.”

The lich said.

“You were able to come into being as a result because you reversed the karma of the ascender and made it the cause.”

“……”

“Now, in the far reaches of the outer world where everything has vanished… would there have been an answer beyond the timeline that transcends even the past and the future?”

Kuooh…!!!!

In an instant, a terrifying thought exploded from beyond the shadow of the employee who had turned his back.

Just by calmly stating the knowledge he knew, the essence of the transcender was revealed from beyond time and space, pressing down on the surroundings.

Each time, the employee’s body and the lich’s skeletal form overlapped as if they were superimposed in one space-time, shaking as if they would disappear at any moment.

Whoosh!!

Then, as if it were a lie, the lich, who had calmed his presence, slowly turned his body around.

“The answer is unknown. All the endings of this world are still buried beyond the veil of the stars.”

“……”

“In that sense, I believe that you will be the answer to the ending, and conversely, the despair that makes all that effort meaningless.”

Tap, tap.

The employee, who had placed the [Automated Calculation Formula of Otomeus] and the [Record of the Demonic Realm] in front of Lenok in turn, wore a blank smile.

“Because there will be no ending that indicates the fate of the end and the end of fate as much as that.”

“……”

“Wouldn’t even the moment you confirm whether you are a success or a failure be a joy that surpasses all the moments we have existed so far?”

“…Yes.”

Lenok answered.

“Surely, either way, it won’t be long.”

He knew.

That the end was approaching at the point where he recognized the destination of the long journey that had no end.

That Lenok’s end was also near the moment he faced the place where the journey, whose direction and trajectory were unpredictable, would end.

Surely, the ending would be decided in a very fleeting moment and would wrap everything up.

What choice Lenok would make at that time to face the end of this world.

Naoise Penn had only spoken in clear words and pointed out the fact that Lenok had vaguely recognized.

Following Lenok, who was slowly raising his gaze, the darkness that filled Nox Biblio collapsed.

“I express my gratitude for everything you have answered even though I did not ask…”

Lenok said quietly, sensing the farewell.

“Next time, I will come to return all the borrowed books.”

“It was very enjoyable to meet a quiz enthusiast after a long time. If there is a chance, let’s meet again.”

The transcender raised his hand and greeted Lenok, looking at him with an expressionless face.

The light of the skull flickering in the darkness reflected Lenok with a strange regret.

“If you have a next time left.”

Kwaaaaaa-!!!!

At the end of the darkness that was detaching from space-time, everything lost its form and collapsed.

The tens of thousands of bookshelves that had been endlessly spread out, the guests and skeletons who had been wandering through them.

The grimoires and parchments that had been scattered haphazardly flew and raged like a storm.

And then, the moment everything became a handful of shadows and peeled away in front of the transcender.

Lenok, who had returned to the reading room of the dark library, slowly opened his eyes.

“……”

Whoosh!!!

The librarian who had been organizing books next to Lenok until just before was nowhere to be seen.

Only the full moon, which had reappeared beyond the night sky after the lunar eclipse, was brightly illuminating the reading room.

On the return counter where the moonlight was falling, three books borrowed from the archive were placed side by side.

[Lacerating Evil, Piercing Deceit]. [Automated Calculation Formula of Otomeus]. And [Record of the Demonic Realm: Ethan Bajur].

Parts to complete the abilities and techniques obtained in the past.

A formula to assist the calculation of the extreme lightning he currently possesses.

A means to head to the Demonic Realm, which he had decided to be his next destination.

“…Okay.”

Lenok, who had been silently looking at it for a long time, reached out and picked up the book.

The research on Lacerating Evil, Piercing Deceit and the Automated Calculation Formula did not have to be done right away.

But he should check what kind of story is written in the Record of the Demonic Realm right away.

Thinking so, Lenok was about to open his notebook to read the record when-

Click.

Lenok stopped his hand when he realized that a strange lock was hanging between the notebook pages.

“…A seal?”

The shape of the lock, which seemed to be made by twisting the leaves and stems of plants to prevent the notebook from being opened.

It has a rather unique shape, but it is a kind of very high-level sealing device.

It must have been insured to prevent information from being damaged and to prevent anyone from opening it.

The shape of the seal that did not exist when he took out the journal in the Dark Archive.

Is it a kind of seal that does not exist in the consciousness space but exists as part of the record in reality?

[No, this is a scam!]

“Well…”

While listening to Davi’s indignant voice, Lenok was lost in thought.

“He is a transcender who enjoys and makes it his task to spread and pass on knowledge. It’s not his way to trick people by making it impossible to open the borrowed books.”

Although the information of the Demonic Realm that he had gone all the way to the archive to borrow was in danger of being a bust, Lenok was thinking about something else rather than getting angry.

The owner of the archive might enjoy tricking visitors with quizzes, but he was not the kind of person who would play tricks in the process of lending books.

“This seal is likely to have been placed by Ethan Bajur, who wrote the record, not the transcender. If you think about that, there’s a reason I can guess.”

[Then?]

“If there was an unsolvable seal on the record, the transcender would have told me that fact in advance, or he would have released the seal himself and translated it. But the fact that he didn’t do that means…”

Lenok muttered.

“That I… already have the key to unlock the seal?”

Fwoosh!!

At that moment, a red light exploded from Lenok’s chest, filling the reading room.

A brilliant and heavy glow of flames that was so intense that it dyed even the moonlight of the night sky crimson.

[Eekyaaak?!!]

Davi, who had been curled up in his chest, jumped up and climbed onto Lenok’s shoulder and onto his head.

[W-what, what is it?!!]

“…I see.”

Lenok, stroking Davi, who was trembling with fear, slowly reached into his chest.

Lenok’s gaze deepened as he took out and grasped the pulsating red sphere of light.

“From the beginning… was this a gift given for this purpose?”

The core of the biological warship Megiddo, which he had obtained from the Yukragui Hwangma Realm [a specific realm or location].

The flame of courtesy that the commander had given to Lenok was reacting to the seal of the record.

Kiiiiiing!!!!

With a sharp ringing, the notebook of the record and the core of Megiddo resonated with each other and changed at the same time.

The seal that had been wrapped around the record melted away by the heat of Megiddo and began to be absorbed into the core.

At the same time, a series of clear characters appeared on the core.

[12-Step Security Authentication Completed: 6th Strategic Weapon of the Imperial Family of the Ars Nova Empire]

[Outer Beast Giant Ship Undead Sun Ship Megiddo (מגידו)]

[Pioneering Landing Assault Warship Form Open]

[Demonic Realm Exploration Ship Hull Route Open]

Kuooh…!!!!

The flames flickering inside the core that Lenok had lifted changed from a huge sailing ship to a warship, shaking.

As if changing to explore and pioneer extreme environments, new functions and forms were opened, and the operation method was imprinted in his mind.

At the same time, Lenok, who understood the value and reason for the existence of that ability, silently raised his gaze.

The true meaning of the ‘necessity’ that the commander had left for Lenok, that he would need the core of Megiddo to meet Ethan Bajur.

“To gain knowledge about the Demonic Realm, a byproduct obtained from the Demonic Realm is needed… It’s ironic.”

Lenok said, watching the core of Megiddo, which was glowing intensely in his hand and slowly changing its form.

“From the beginning, it seems that this power was a prepared ability knowing that I would head to the center.”