Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 136

“I heard it’s been almost two years since you’ve taken a new researcher into your lab, Professor… You should really stop giving useless charity to students.”

The other party, likely someone who had risen through the ranks like Aris, spoke without hesitation.

From pointing out Aris’s actions to the very tone of her voice, everything was incredibly direct.

It seemed they had known each other for some time, and she knew Aris was quite a kind person.

Though it sounded like a reprimand at first, thinking about it the other way around, it almost seemed like she was worried about Aris.

“It’s such a waste of talent to let it be consumed by your kindness. The Sinclair Magic Tower keeps calling you back, isn’t it time you gave up your stubbornness and returned?”

“I appreciate your words, but…”

“And that friend standing idly in the back, I hope he understands what’s going on.”

Silence fell over the group at Byla’s direct words.

Just from the force of her words, it seemed like she wanted to kick Lenok out of the place right then and there.

“………”

Instead of replying, Lenok simply ignored Byla’s sharp gaze that was fixed on him.

Someone could be a good person to one, but conversely, a bad person to another.

She might have said those words out of concern for Aris, but to Lenok, it was nothing more than a low-level provocation.

Rather, Lenok became interested in the very peculiar magic power flowing within her body.

A distinctly different flow from other magicians, an irregular flow that seemed to be cut off in places.

Unless it was a unique constitution she was born with, such a magic flow was impossible unless a magician was somehow broken.

While lost in thought, Aris slowly opened her mouth.

“Director of the Research Institute. Evan is a researcher whose abilities I have personally taken note of, and I invited him to join my lab.”

“A researcher?”

“The talent to be interested in magic and conduct research isn’t only given to high-level magicians.”

“But, that’s–”

“And I will absolutely not stand by and watch someone I’ve chosen be insulted.”

The Academy (3)

A quiet silence fell over the group at her resolute declaration.

Aris calmly accepted the concentrated gazes from around her and spoke again slowly.

“I hope everyone else will keep this in mind as well. If anyone lays a hand on my researcher, I will not stand idly by either.”

Everyone stared blankly as Aris swept her abundant blonde hair to one side and strode ahead.

No one could object to her confident and beautiful demeanor, and they quietly cleared the path.

Lenok scratched his cheek as he walked behind her.

In a world filled with thorough transactions and calculations of gains and losses, Lenok was confident that he could manage his relationships more cleanly than anyone else.

Not losing out, returning what he received, and making sure to get his due was not a difficult task.

But how should he respond to favors without expectation and trust without a deadline?

How long could this strange relationship continue, where one side unilaterally benefits while the other doesn’t seem to mind?

If a situation arises where he has to answer for this moment later, how should Lenok respond?

It was unknown.

But at least for now, he had to repay the trust Aris had shown him.

Before passing by Byla, Lenok whispered softly into her ear.

“There aren’t many ways to treat the phenomenon of magic disruption.”

“……What did you just say?”

“The purple bruise forming below your Adam’s apple and the magic power pooling at the back of your head, making it difficult to move properly. Your left pinky finger is congested and swollen, and your nail is starting to become abnormally hard to the point where it’s difficult to cut. Your slightly unbalanced gait… Isn’t that proof that the imbalance of magic power has started to affect your physical functions?”

“………”

He never thought he would use the results of his relentless theoretical studies with Aris here.

In reality, he had only seen through Byla’s internal magic flow and deduced the corresponding physical abnormalities, but he could imagine how Lenok would appear from her perspective.

At least while he was Aris’s researcher, Lenok intended to only show his prowess in the theoretical aspects.

And this much would be enough to shut Byla up and greatly help reverse the relationship between Aris and her.

Leaving her stiff expression behind, Lenok immediately moved on.

Would Byla swallow her pride and come to Lenok for advice?

Or would she just stop provoking him?

Being able to put a renowned research director in debt over a health issue wasn’t a bad deal.

Either way, it was clear that it would be a good choice for Lenok.

The demonstration site wasn’t far away.

“This is…”

“This is the place chosen to demonstrate the battlefield control technique. Is there something bothering you?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

Lenok vaguely brushed off Aris’s question, but his gaze quickly searched for Archwood.

It seemed he was having similar thoughts upon seeing this place, as he made direct eye contact with Lenok.

“………”

It was only natural that a slight crack appeared on his smiling face.

Lenok smiled as he watched Archwood, who was sweating and subtly averting his gaze.

It was a strange coincidence.

The forest chosen as the demonstration site for the academy was the very place where Lenok had knocked Archwood unconscious yesterday.

Perhaps it was because the dead trees made it easy to change the terrain without any problems, and it was also a suitable place to test the power of the technique.

It wouldn’t be strange if the blood clots he had coughed up were still somewhere here.

[Then, we will proceed with the demonstration of the technique right away. Everyone here must be very busy, so let’s aim to confirm just one thing.]

As the young man in a gown standing at the front of the group raised his hand, his clear voice echoed far and wide.

[The battlefield control technique, the concept of occupying a specific area and increasing the power of the technique, we spent all night discussing it yesterday, didn’t we? But in any case, the important thing is just one. That is, how much amplification power does the technique have.]

[Everyone has agreed that there will be no progress in the future unless we calculate its effectiveness through several demonstrations. What’s the point of talking so long? Let’s start right away.]

No sooner had the young man finished speaking than others behind him quickly came forward to the field and began fiddling with various instruments.

Looking at the direction of the magic power moving in the distance, it seemed they were aiming to install a magic circle using specific equipment and mass-produce it.

‘It doesn’t seem efficient.’

If they were really developing this magic circle to use in the war with the Autonomous Territory, then their direction was wrong from the start.

Even the magnetic field that Lenok and Craig used was difficult to use due to its environmental construction magic circle characteristic, compared to its overwhelming efficiency. How could they efficiently operate this in a battlefield that changes all the time?

A thoroughly organized battlefield.

It didn’t seem like it would be very effective unless it was an arena where they honestly fired magic at each other.

Or perhaps, the magicians gathered here had something else in mind.

While he was lost in thought, the demonstration began.

Those who seemed to be the young man’s assistants installed the magic circle and entered it, raising their magic power.

Woo-oong!!

They simultaneously cast magic towards the dead forest, each making hand seals and chanting.

It was a somewhat unfamiliar sight to Lenok, but that was probably how other ordinary magicians used magic.

The moment three streams of fire emitted from the three people’s hands passed through the area where the magic circle was deployed.

Kwaaaang!!

The flames expanded explosively, completely burning the dry trees.

“……..”

The power of the magic was impressive, but the amplification rate was considerable.

Enough to overturn Lenok’s previously skeptical opinion at once.

Other magicians standing around also seemed surprised, and murmuring began to be heard here and there.

[Did you see that! It’s better than expected!! We will continue the demonstration!!]

While listening to the young man’s voice trembling with excitement, Aris turned her head.

“This is strange.”

“What do you mean…”

“It far exceeds the amplification rate that was proposed at the academy yesterday. If it was this much, there’s no way the organizers wouldn’t have said anything…”

She frowned slightly and looked around as she said that.

“I suspect they’ve been up to something.”

Instead of answering, Lenok looked at the young man’s face, who was excitedly shouting in front.

It seemed that the benefits gained from the demonstration results of this academy were considerable, as he had a face that looked like he was about to fly away with joy.

If they had tampered with the demonstration results, wouldn’t they have managed their expressions more calmly than that?

The young man seemed too busy enjoying the sudden miracle.

Lenok carefully observed the area where the magicians were pouring magic for a while, and then realized something and let out a sigh.

“…Ah.”

The location where the magicians had installed the battlefield control magic circle overlapped with the area where Lenok had deployed his field yesterday.

Due to the nature of the magnetic field that occupies the entire space, the magic power used would inevitably be deeply embedded in the surroundings, and they had installed the magic circle right there.

Even now, he could feel the magic power Lenok had left behind under their feet.

“Haa…”

He sighed and scattered all the remaining magic power.

Whooo-oong…

“Oh, uh?”

“The magic suddenly…”

The flames that had been burning fiercely just a moment ago quickly died down.

The bewildered magicians desperately waved their hands, but the same amplification did not occur again.

[P-Please wait a moment. It seems there’s been a slight setback in the demonstration, but it will be resolved soon.]

The young man said that and quickly urged his assistants, but in the end, the miracle did not happen even after more than 10 minutes.

The young man’s expression was terribly distorted. The greater the joy from an unexpected result, the greater the frustration and despair.

[T-This can’t be… It was definitely working just a moment ago…]

Aris stared at them for a while and then turned her back.

“Evan, let’s go. It’s a waste of time anymore.”

“Understood.”

[P-Please wait!!]

The young man desperately tried to hold onto the magicians who were turning away, but no one was unaware of the fact that the meaning of the academy that had been gathered had disappeared.

Lenok glanced around and was satisfied that no one had noticed what he had done.

As for his magic manipulation ability, Lenok’s skill was already transforming into something beyond recognition.

Except for Archwood, who was walking right behind him, looking at him with a face as if he was looking at a monster.

“………”

The relaxed smile he had when he first got off the train was nowhere to be seen, and he was busy watching Lenok with a haggard complexion.

He probably didn’t realize that Lenok had manipulated the magic, but he wasn’t stupid enough not to know that this incident was related to Lenok.

Instead of saying anything, Lenok gave him a faint smile.

“…!!”

Archwood flinched and averted his gaze.

He probably couldn’t even guess what kind of magician Lenok was, or why he could do such a thing.

He would have no choice but to tremble with anxiety and keep his mouth shut.

That was all Lenok wanted.

#

The academy ended quickly, and the magicians who had gathered from different places dispersed.

Lenok, who had boarded a new train at the old station near the fortress, sat in the same compartment with Aris.

“It was a waste of time after all.”

Aris said with a small sigh.

“I had some hope since it was led by the Blarand Magic Tower, but it’s still not enough to replace the magnetic field. There’s enough theoretical discussion, but if the level of the magicians who execute it cannot be uniformly standardized, then it’s practically useless.”

Lenok did not miss the moment Aris mentioned the magnetic field herself.

“The magnetic field, you say…”

“Ah, have you not studied that far yet?”

At Lenok’s natural question, Aris gave a brief explanation of the magnetic field.

A level 6 or higher magician. An environmental construction magic circle that is only allowed to a very few talented individuals.

It is a concept of building an optimal base for the caster, which not only amplifies the power of commonly used magic but also enables the use of higher-level techniques.

“It would be faster to see it once than to explain it in words.”

Aris said that and stretched out her white hand into the air.

Lenok paused, feeling a familiar sensation of magic power, and stared at her face.