Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 168

It must be because the research institutes directly under the city government prioritize convenience over in-depth research.

They produce items ranging from simple, consumable explosive charms to antennas that can cast concealment spells in specific areas or act as communication devices.

Lenok wasn’t joking when he said he would take all of them.

It was uncertain whether taking all of this would even cover his worth.

Of course, even without compensation, he would have helped protect the train, but he had no intention of refusing the offered items.

Whether she knew this or not, Kasia walked beside Lenok and said,

“You’re a much stronger mage than I thought.”

“……”

“I saw what you did to change the train’s direction. You must be a user of unique magnetic magic… With that kind of power, you either belong to a magic tower or have a natural talent for unique magic.”

She said that and took out a business card from her pocket, handing it to Lenok.

“I can’t show my face here due to circumstances, but since you already know my affiliation, there’s no need to hide it.”

[Carlyle Research Institute, Senior Researcher]

[Akasha Rubenil]

Akasha… It seems that the name Kasia was just a modified version of her real name.

“If you ever visit the research institute, I can show you various projects we’re working on. A mage of your caliber would be highly valued by the director.”

“Hmm, that’s really…”

It was a scenario he never wanted to imagine.

Although he did have a secret desire to visit and see what kind of technical support they were providing to Lavatenon University.

Akasha seemed like she wanted to say more, but she was satisfied with just handing over the business card and turned away.

It seemed that she was planning to enter the autonomous territory with another guide, as she was sent there under the orders of Director Baila.

Only after watching her walk away did Lenok properly check the path to the autonomous territory.

Koo-oong-

“……”

The endless expanse of the plateau.

The scenery that seemed to stretch endlessly to the horizon suddenly stopped abruptly, replaced by a sheer cliff.

Beyond the thick fog, the full view was obscured, but everyone knew that its height easily exceeded tens of meters.

The sea beyond this cliff, located at the northeastern tip of the continent, was called the ‘Sea of Understanding’.

The special updraft blowing from this place creates a powerful lift with only a very small amount of magic power.

And, the area created by the characteristics of the Sea of Understanding is-

“It’s my first time seeing it in person.”

“Oh my god, there really are islands floating in the sky…”

The floating island archipelago, the Philemon Autonomous Territory.

The ‘special terrain’ of the autonomous territory that Jenny and Jordan had mentioned was all due to this, and the reason was immediately understandable.

The archipelago of countless islands floating in the air above the sea was a strange and mysterious sight that Lenok had never seen before.

Islands covered in vegetation floated above the clouds, and streams of water falling from various islands slowly disappeared into the thick fog.

Even Davi peeked out of his pocket and looked up at the sky; it was such a beautiful sight.

[It’s a magnificent view.]

“……”

Because of this scenic beauty, it was once called the end of the world a long time ago and was used as a place to observe the end of the world approaching from the outer sea, a site with deep historical significance.

That’s why the ‘lighthouse’ where the Heavenly Eye Madrea Falsier resided was also located here.

“It would have been nice if I had just come to enjoy the sights…”

There were many things to do.

He had to find the location of the drug lord’s vault and, at the same time, meet the next lighthouse keeper and hear an explanation about what was happening now.

Was it a coincidence that two issues overlapped in the autonomous territory?

How far this matter would spread, and whether it would be good or bad for Lenok, was something he would only know after facing it directly.

Suppressing his complicated feelings, he looked up at the sky.

The serene scenery of the floating islands silently captivated Lenok’s gaze.

* * *

“Okay, everyone coming to the autonomous territory, please come this way!”

A large building located at the edge of the cliff.

A young man wearing a hat began to explain to the people in front of a building with a unique exterior that looked like a highway rest stop that had been remodeled with a different landscape.

Looking around, it seemed that many people were visiting the autonomous territory, besides those who came by train from Balkan.

Perhaps this was because the entrances to the autonomous territory from the outside were fixed.

Thinking about it, it was somewhat understandable why Balkan was not recklessly engaging in war with the autonomous territory.

Considering the unique environment of the floating island archipelago and the Sea of Understanding, where one could only enter using special means of transportation, a war with the autonomous territory would likely unfold completely differently from existing patterns.

“Especially those who are visiting for the first time, please listen carefully to what I say!!”

While he was thinking, the young man’s explanation continued.

As he pressed a button on the remote control, the screen was lifted, and a metal object about 2 meters in size appeared from behind.

A sleek, streamlined shape that looked like a mix of a fish and a fighter jet.

On both sides of the metal object, which seemed to be designed to minimize air resistance, were small, fin-shaped wings.

Floating Island Archipelago (1)

“This object you see now is a small airship created in the Philemon Autonomous Territory to travel between islands. Due to the environment of the autonomous territory, where objects can be lifted high with little magic power, it is a very efficient means of transportation used only in this sea. In the autonomous territory, this airship is called a ‘Wing Boat’.”

The young man said that and skillfully climbed onto the Wing Boat, grabbing the steering wheel.

As the airship gently lifted off the ground, exclamations burst from the mouths of the people who saw it.

“I can’t hear any sound.”

“It started as soon as he grabbed the steering wheel; it’s definitely convenient.”

People who saw the Wing Boat for the first time were busy observing the airship, while those who had already visited the autonomous territory once were just watching the scene boredly.

On the other hand, Lenok was observing the Wing Boat driven by the man with an interesting gaze.

To be precise, the operating principle of the magic power circulating inside the airship.

‘They said that a large lift can be obtained with little magic power, and it seems that it’s not a lie.’

The amount of magic power circulating inside the Wing Boat was very small, but the propulsion force emitted from under both wings was really faint.

But even with that faint propulsion, the Wing Boat was floating in front of him with dozens of people on board.

‘Considering that there is no particular change in gravity around here, it seems that only the propulsion using magic power responds to that unique updraft…’

Certainly, the natural phenomena occurring here were unique because of the terrain.

While Lenok was carefully observing the Wing Boat to find out if there were any hidden secrets in the airship, someone suddenly spoke to him from the side.

“Is it your first time seeing a Wing Boat?”

A young man who looked about the same age as Lenok. He had brown hair swept back and was wearing a suit with a cane, which was impressive.

He looked at Lenok, smiled leisurely, and spoke in a generous voice.

“Well, then it’s understandable that you’re so surprised. It’s still a difficult area to understand for those who don’t have a sufficient understanding of magic.”

“……”

“I’m Weizen. I’m from the Blaver Magic Tower.”

The Blaver Magic Tower… It was a famous place known as a group of mages who studied fire-type unique magic.

Unlike other magic towers that mostly kept their whereabouts secret, it was a famous magic tower that was well known to the citizens of Balkan.

Recently, they had been increasing their activities by declaring that they would send their affiliated mages out into the world, and was the young man named Weizen also part of that?

Lenok shook hands with Weizen, who was reaching out, and nodded.

Regardless, Weizen continued to talk on his own.

“…So, to explain the principle of how the Wing Boat, which was directly developed in the autonomous territory, works… If you think about it, it’s also related to the propulsion force that can be obtained through fire magic…”

He talked a lot. If he just listened and understood the gist, it seemed that he had considerable pride in his affiliated magic tower.

Since he had already figured out the operating principle of the Wing Boat, there was no reason to listen carefully.

That thing was completely unusable unless it was in the special environment of this autonomous territory.

He had been briefly observing the airship, but the conclusion remained unchanged.

Well, he wasn’t the only one who had similar thoughts, and there must have been countless people who had thought of making a small airship that moved with magic power.

Rather, if he used the powerful propulsion of fire magic that Weizen was talking about, it might be possible to make an airship…

‘This is something I need to think about.’

While he was talking, the young man who was riding the Wing Boat in front finished his explanation.

To use the Wing Boat, you had to pay a certain rental fee and rent it for the duration of your visit to the autonomous territory.

In fact, this Wing Boat acted as an entry permit for outsiders visiting the autonomous territory, and it seemed that outside visitors whose rental period for the Wing Boat had expired were automatically expelled from the autonomous territory.

Lenok watched as other guests paid and rented one Wing Boat each.

He had already understood the gist, but if possible, he wanted to see what kind of updraft they were riding when they flew far away.

“Actually, I came here to find a rare herb called the Flame Grass, and I thought that I might be able to find its cultivation site in the autonomous territory, which is said to be a treasure trove of all kinds of medicinal herbs.”

“……”

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Even at Lenok’s calm reply, Weizen smiled and reached out his hand once more.

“I don’t know why you came to the autonomous territory, but if you’re a first-time visitor, there will be many things you’re not familiar with. I can help you with the parts you’re lacking.”

Weizen said that and smiled with a friendly face, but instead of taking his hand, Lenok stared at his face.

At first glance, he seemed to be maintaining a kind attitude, but his true intentions were different.

From the moment he first spoke to Lenok, he made a judgment that he lacked an understanding of magic. And the unreserved attitude that he assumed that his help would be accepted as a matter of course.

He seemed polite, but his arrogance disguised as confidence was evident in his attitude and actions.

This sense of incongruity, which was not very familiar but seemed to have been seen somewhere, was something Lenok was well aware of.

The final battle against the Cigar Bang gang.

In the battle against Eden, a mage from the Thorben Magic Tower, he had deeply felt his nature, hadn’t he?

Perhaps the sense of superiority that the mages of the magic tower had was subtly expressed in this way.

“The price?”

“……Excuse me?”

“What is the price you get for helping me? You don’t seem like the type to give favors for no reason.”

At Lenok’s words, Weizen’s lips twitched for a moment.

Lenok smiled faintly because he felt like he could see through all of his feelings.

He judged and concluded other people’s abilities without any hesitation and expressed it, but on the contrary, he was very sensitive to being the subject of evaluation.

He thought of himself as a person with deep thoughts and patience, but in reality, his self-esteem was very high.

If he was someone who had crawled up from the gutter like Lenok, he wouldn’t be upset by such trivial words or show it on his face…

Weizen’s attitude was more clumsy than the freelancers of Balkan.

“Hmm, well, it’s not like I’m doing this for a big price.”

Weizen, who had quickly composed himself, cleared his throat.

“It’s just that I thought I should help you as a mage since you seem to not know much about magic.”

Weizen said that and looked at Lenok’s eyes, who was smiling faintly.

“If you really want to give me a price, even the ornament on your coat collar would be fine.”

“……”

Lenok looked down at the ornament he was talking about and chuckled.

The Nix emblem that he had directly stolen from Irina Pesfield.

Weizen had recognized that item and was asking Lenok for it as compensation.

It was nonsense, but Lenok responded calmly.

“I’m sorry. This ornament is the only inheritance my parents left me.”

“Ah… I see.”

“I don’t know what kind of effect it has, but I don’t think I can give it to a mage. I think it would be better if we parted ways here.”

Lenok said that and walked past Weizen towards the noticeably reduced line.

The amount needed to rent a Wing Boat for a day was 100,000 Cell.

He didn’t know how long he would have to stay here, so it would be better to set a generous time limit.

He could feel Weizen’s gaze following him from behind, but Lenok didn’t care and immediately booked ten days and grabbed the steering wheel of the Wing Boat.

It was time to leave for the autonomous territory.

* * *

“Did the conversation go well?”

At the words of another mage who had approached him slyly, Weizen frowned unpleasantly and replied.

“Not at all.”

“Oh dear…”

“I thought I could easily persuade him, but he was more wary than I thought. He mentioned a deal first, so it seemed that he wasn’t a complete novice.”

Lenok’s expression as he looked at the Wing Boat with a curious expression made it seem like he didn’t know anything about magic.

And on top of that, he had an ordinary appearance with no magic power felt on the outside.