Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 1278

[Attention passengers. Welcome to the Onslow Seaport Terminal.]

[The Onslow Passenger Terminal is one of the largest maritime train platforms in the Eastern Continent, pioneering and managing routes across the continent…]

[The maritime train business, which began in the waters near the Sea of Understanding, now has branches throughout the continent, providing services.]

Beep-

“One first-class ticket for the maritime train to Matif. Confirmed.”

He pushed his luggage through, passed the gate, and boarded the train.

A massive train, floating and stationary on the blue waves, blew its horn.

Boooooo-

A luxurious and overwhelmingly vast maritime train, resembling several huge ships lined up in a row.

As if announcing the departure time, countless passengers boarded the train floating on the sea, accompanied by a slow, rhythmic thrum.

Expensive sports cars and luxury sedans lined up from all directions, entering the holds of each train car.

Among them, Lenok, who boarded the luxurious first-class train car at the very front, comparable to a cruise ship, let out a small sigh.

“It’s so chaotic. How long has it been since I’ve used a terminal like this….”

Onslow, a medium-sized city located near the Philemon Autonomous Territory.

Unlike other floating islands under the rule of the Autonomous Territory, it doesn’t have any special products or herbs, but it boasts the largest area of all the floating islands.

As a result of focusing on the maritime train business, which dramatically reduced maintenance costs by utilizing the property of magical objects floating near the Sea of Understanding, it hit the jackpot.

Now, it has firmly established itself as the largest passenger service platform in the entire Eastern Continent.

While waiting for the train to depart, announcements were constantly broadcast through the speakers above the seats.

[The train will depart soon. Passengers, please sit in your seats, fasten your seatbelts, and follow the instructions…]

[Passengers. I am Moriel, the chief conductor of the maritime train to Matif.]

The day after deciding to depart for the Four Heavenly Demon Realm.

Lenok had settled his other affairs, disguised himself as an ordinary civilian, and arrived at the Onslow Passenger Terminal.

To enter the Demon Realm, he had to first travel directly to the vicinity of the central front line.

It was the fastest means of transportation he chose to reach the vicinity of the central front line border area.

‘The chances of it being like when I went to Kundara are low, right?’

The memory of getting caught up in the head warlord’s attack after getting a ride on Torben’s Magic Tower when heading to Kundara was still vivid.

He had avoided using the sea route ever since he happened to encounter the Order Alliance Lord on the inner route of the Western Continent.

The procedures he was going through after a long time were a bit cumbersome, but now that he had come this far, he had some time to catch his breath.

Thinking so, Lenok took out a tablet from his bag and turned it on.

Since he had time on the way, he was thinking of checking the power rankings he hadn’t seen last time.

As if waiting for it, Davi connected the tablet to the network with a slightly excited look and accessed the post link.

[Title: Eastern Continent Superhuman Power Ranking 2.1]+245976

Whether it had been updated several times since he first saw it, the title of the post and the number of comments had changed.

He skipped past the other rankings and looked through the top-ranked list on the last page.

The names on the ranking list hadn’t changed, and familiar names were visible.

[10th. Pseudo-Star Betagron. Level 8 Magical Engineer. Affiliated with the Designers.]

=The best military engineering expert on the continent.

=After entering the ranking as a Slayer of Apostles, he attempted large-scale military experiments several times.

=Succeeded in creating a pseudo-forbidden weapon ‘Ferocious’ using the remains of the Apostle as materials, rising in the rankings.

=Currently on a forbidden exploration in the Eastern Continent.

……

[7th. Conqueror Baitan. Level 7 Trait-Type Ability User. Lord of Wargear.]

=A warlord conquering cities near the coast of the Eastern Continent.

=Conquered 7 city-states. Beheaded all five level 8 superhumans who ruled those cities.

=Succeeded in grasping the hierarchy at the point of conquering 10 city-states and recorded it.

=Possesses a growth-type trait ability that uses beheading as a trigger.

……

[4th. Black Art Victor. Level 8 Manipulator. Pandemonium.]

[3rd. 3rd Apostle Hughes. Level 8 Martyr. Guido Order.]

[2nd. Ezekiel. ? Level ????. Affiliation Deleted.]

[1st. Adamant Thunder Ban.]

“……”

The ranking was not much different from when he had seen the power ranking before.

If there was anything noteworthy, it was that a title Lenok had never heard of had been newly added before Victor’s name.

“Black Art, huh….”

Perhaps it was a title that had settled on Victor among the titles circulating in the world, and it was updated in the ranking.

However, Lenok, who had heard about the ranking from Naouise Pen, could not help but look at the power ranking with a different perspective than before.

The knowledge used to determine the Eastern Continent power ranking was provided by the Dark Archive and the Answerer himself.

However, it was not Naouise Pen who determined the ranking and made the evaluation, but the result of another transcendent being involved.

If someone among the transcendent beings existing in the outer continent is creating this ranking with the help of the Answerer, what is their purpose and identity?

‘Considering the Answerer’s words, it is likely that they are from the second world….’

The second world was the period when the struggle between the Ascended was the most intense throughout the three cycles.

Therefore, it is a fact that he acknowledged that the transcendent beings who existed in the second world were accustomed to the act of determining the superiority of power.

However, even so, one thing that bothered him was what kind of beings the transcendent beings who succeeded in ascension in the old world actually were.

He still did not know how they succeeded in ascension and existed in the present world, nor what their purpose was.

In the end, all that Lenok had in his hands were the original evaluations and analyses of the author written in this power ranking.

Since there was still time left after boarding the train, it would be better to check the other ranking lists that he had not checked at that time.

Thinking so, Lenok silently lifted and looked at the other top-ranked list that he had skipped over at that time.

[5th. Fusion Art Master. Level 8 Fusion Art User. Order Alliance.]

=The Alliance’s rising star currently receiving the most attention on the Eastern Front.

=Uses a unique technique that combines bloodline abilities and elemental magic.

=A direct descendant of the three great noble families of the central aristocracy. One of the successor disciples of the Alliance Lord.

=Was a strong candidate for the position of Great Art Master, which became vacant due to the death of the Grafting Art Master, but declined for unknown reasons.

……

[3rd. 3rd Apostle Hughes. Level 8 Martyr. Guido Order.]

=A major force under the Guido Order. The third Apostle who serves the ‘Smasher,’ the end of the outer sea. Has the appearance of a young boy.

=A meritorious subject who has existed as an Apostle since the early days of the Order. Known for being violent and mentally unstable.

=There are many records that he was in charge of one-on-one battles among the Apostles during the Holy War.

=Seemed to be focusing on attacking the central forward base, but recently appeared in the Eastern Continent and is listed in the ranking.

‘A descendant of the three great nobles. A meritorious subject of the Order….’

Lenok’s eyes narrowed as he saw the names of the Order Alliance’s Fusion Art Master and the Guido Order’s 3rd Apostle, which could not be overlooked.

The top-ranked transcendent beings of the Alliance and the Order, which are composed of all sorts of bizarre monsters and transcendent beings.

Among them, the existence of a rising star who was a candidate for the Great Art Master and an Apostle who was ranked third.

Clearly, these were among the most dangerous transcendent beings currently considered in the Eastern Continent.

Although there was no possibility of encountering them since the Four Heavenly Demon Realm that Lenok was heading to was closer to the southern part than the eastern front, it was necessary to remember their names and information.

And, above all-

[6th. Trampling Flame Evan Martinez. Level 8 Flame Heat Magician. Unaffiliated.]

=The strongest flame heat-type archmage on the Eastern Front. Successor of the Ascended Jin-Doon. Slayer of Apostles.

=Attended the Dead Rise Parade. Refused and resigned immediately after succeeding to the fourth commander position.

=After clashing with the Marshal who returned to the Legion, he burned down a part of the 2nd Command and retreated. His whereabouts are unknown since then.

=His ranking rose to 3rd due to the deletion of higher rankings. Later, it was lowered to 6th considering the situation of the parade.

“……”

He had expected it, but Trampling Flame’s name was also on the ranking.

Since he had appeared at the parade under the identity of Trampling Flame, there was no way the ranking author would not consider this.

The actions added to the existing description written by the author, as well as the analysis of them, were written in more detail below.

=A target for recruitment by organizations attacking the central front line. It is presumed that he has contacted the Agency.

=There are many rumors that he is preparing to participate in the attack on the central front line after clashing with the Legion.

=It is presumed that he has recently adjusted and modified his abilities, including flame heat magic, on a large scale.

=Sensed a decline in his reputation in the center due to the defeat at the parade. Reflected in the ranking order.

The ranking was still the same as before, 5th, but the new content written below was not very positive.

It was not surprising that Trampling Flame’s evaluation was being updated again, considering the events of the parade.

However, the part that Lenok was concerned about in the ranking was not that issue.

‘He knows about the Agency. As expected….’

Except for Euphria Aosel, who directly witnessed it from the side, no one knows that Lenok contacted the Agency under the identity of Trampling Flame.

Nevertheless, the fact that this information was posted on the power ranking itself must mean something in some way.

Considering the identity of the author that he had previously inferred, it was also true that he kept paying attention to it.

‘Where should I start?’

It was obvious that the transcendent beings who succeeded in ascension were monsters who had reached an uncharted realm.

Now that he properly understood that the Megido core that the Commander had given him was the item needed to meet Ethan Bajur, it was even more so.

Because he knew that there was a next step only after ending the project and concluding Kaise’s ending.

If the ‘Ethan’ that the Commander mentioned was still somewhere in the Four Heavenly Demon Realm, Lenok would-

“You seem interested in the power ranking.”

“……”

Before he knew it, an old gentleman sitting in the next seat was turning his gaze this way.

Ignoring Lenok’s lack of response, the old man turned his head and spoke with a smiling expression.

“It’s the hottest topic in the communities of the four continents these days. It’s quite famous, isn’t it?”

“……Is that so?”

“Of course. The topic is so great that rankings benchmarked from other continents have been popping up like mushrooms.”

The old man smiled.

“However, there are many controversies because no one can keep up with the information power of the original, but the Eastern Continent power ranking, which is directly posted by the original author, is different. No one is not interested after a new version comes out.”

“……”

Well, the ranking author was using related information directly from Nox Biblio [a vast library of knowledge], so it was only natural.

Even as Lenok was thinking that, the old man, who had glanced at the list reflected on the tablet, smiled.

“Were you looking at the evaluations of Trampling Flame and Black Art? They are the two people with the most controversy in the current power ranking. You have a good eye.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not very familiar with that field….”

“Is it Black Art, who achieved great feats while losing in the subjugation battle, or Trampling Flame, who once had an equal match with Adamant Thunder? Isn’t the public’s reaction very fierce over which one is superior?”

“……”

Even with Lenok’s words that were openly trying to distance himself, the old gentleman’s reaction was very persistent.

Was it because there were not many people in the first-class seats in this vast maritime train? Or was it because he heard Lenok’s muttering?

As if he had no suitable opponent except for the woman who was asleep wearing sunglasses in the distance, the old gentleman kept talking to Lenok.

“It’s even more controversial because Black Art was ranked 4th and Trampling Flame was pushed down to 6th. Especially since Pandemonium [a chaotic organization] has so many fanatical followers, I think that’s why it’s becoming more of a hot topic….”

[It seems like they are not just looking for a conversation partner, but just an organism that is very interested in the power ranking?]

‘…….’

“Ahem, this is a secret I’m only telling you here… Actually, I think it’s right that Black Art is ranked higher.”

The old gentleman, who had not asked anything, confessed his opinion first with a slightly awkward expression.

It seemed that the old gentleman had already built up a sense of intimacy with Lenok in his mind as a conversation partner to discuss the power ranking.

“When determining this kind of ranking, you have to give priority to relatively recent activities… and objectively speaking, isn’t it true that Black Art’s activities were far superior to Trampling Flame’s?”

“……”

The old gentleman smiled kindly as he saw Lenok pause.

“It is true that Trampling Flame faced Adamant Thunder to save the Lighthouse Keeper, but as a result, the duel between the two ended in a result closer to Trampling Flame’s defeat. Considering that Black Art and Adamant Thunder did not come to a conclusion in the subjugation battle, wouldn’t that be a clear difference?”

“……”

“In the first place, it has been known since before that Trampling Flame’s magical ability does not reach Adamant Thunder’s. Although it is a characteristic of flame heat-type magic, it requires time to warm up and is more specialized in wide-area bombardment than one-on-one battles, which is not compatible with lightning magic….”

“Hey, old man.”

At that moment, a sharp voice was heard from the seat across from the old gentleman.

The woman who had been lying down as if asleep until just now took off her sunglasses and glared this way.

A sharp and even flamboyant impression. A strangely elegant blue eye.

The woman, who had swept back her blue roll hair that came down to her shoulders, stood up from her seat.

The woman, who had walked down the train aisle that was moving for a while, stopped in front of the seats where Lenok and the old man were sitting.

Looking closer, the woman, whose unique flamboyant impression was more vivid, stared down at the old man and said.

“I don’t know what kind of nonsense you two have been talking about since a while ago.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m getting old and becoming more meddlesome….”

The old gentleman finally came to his senses and coughed awkwardly.

He must have been aware that he was too excited and talked too much.

He was relieved that the seats were a little far apart, but it seemed that their conversation was heard all the way there.

The old man, who had returned his body to its original position, bowed his head as if apologizing to the woman.

“I was not paying attention to the other passengers and was rude. I will be quiet from now on so that it doesn’t bother you-”

“There’s no way Trampling Flame is weaker than Black Art, so his ranking can’t be lower.”

“……Excuse me?”

It took a while before the old man, who had bowed his head politely, asked again.

The woman looked down at the old man with a sharp gaze and said as if scoffing.

“Trampling Flame is a transcendent being who single-handedly defeated the Alliance’s Grafting Art Master. Do you think a criminal from Pandemonium would be able to win if they faced each other head-on?”

“……That’s.”

“If the two of them fought properly, Black Art would be running away all the time, and that so-called magic user would be completely burned to ashes. Take back what you just said.”

While Lenok was speechless at the extreme remarks that he had never expected to come out of her mouth, Davi shook his head.

[That one is just the same kind of organism.]

“……”