Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 177

“No, it’s more than that….”

Lenok checked the three firearms he had shrunk to key-chain size with magic, then continued. “I’m curious about how invested you are in this. To be honest, talk about the sky opening up is just too far-fetched.”

His sharp gaze turned to Grisha. “Let’s be realistic. If you keep doing what you want, you’ll eventually clash with Pandemonium. What’s the benefit of going that far?”

It was different from when he was a clueless newbie.

Lenok now had a rough idea of how ridiculously powerful Pandemonium was.

The moment he first encountered Crocken, he understood why Dylan had been so desperate and how miraculous it was that he had even considered struggling, following Lenok’s words.

Despite being a criminal organization that roamed freely across the continent, there were no concrete facts known about them, except for their name and a few members.

Balkan, the largest city in the eastern part of the continent. The fact that Crocken, a high-ranking member of the organization, could roam around its inner districts like it was his own home, without any significant restraint, was proof of their status.

Crocken Asilus and the black magician had shown a martial prowess that deserved both fear and respect.

Whose side was Pandemonium on? What in the world did they want in this endless world?

If the world’s ideologies were splitting into two, and the moment to choose a side was approaching, before that moment became unavoidable, Lenok needed to hear both sides.

As if Lenok’s words had hit the mark, Grisha’s lips tightened for a brief moment.

“For someone so young, you’re awfully bold.” She gave a brief wry smile, then silently picked up the pipe she had been holding in her mouth.

“A sorcerer’s mind isn’t good enough to calculate such gains and losses. I’m just helping Lapis to finish what I’ve seen and experienced.”

“What you’ve seen and experienced?”

“Those who get involved with Pandemonium can never escape them.” Grisha said in a cold voice. “They clash, oppose, or get sacrificed… and sometimes, they even become one of them.”

“That’s….”

“To prevent such things, I’ve been traveling the continent, looking for those who have had similar experiences.”

“……”

In other words, she was acting as a personnel manager, selecting those who would join the Eyes of Azure.

The fact that she had picked a fight with Lenok right away, and that Lapis hadn’t actively stopped it, was also part of this plan.

“Evan, please join the Eyes of Azure.”

“……”

“Everything has changed since the ‘Extinction Ritual’ incident that the black magician Craig Tillion attempted. The boundaries of the world are blurring, and the monsters wandering the outer seas have begun to move. Before the sky opens and hell descends, we must stop those who are fueling this conflict.” Grisha said.

“People who are no less skilled than you are gathering under one banner. The young head of the Bellaha family, the archer of the Emerald Gem, the hounds of Arbeloa… Several magic towers and research institutes have also promised to cooperate with us.”

“The Eyes of Azure will continue to grow in strength with a consistent will, and we will not refuse anyone with talent and ability. You can also become one of us.”

Her intense gaze held a conviction beyond simple belief. That gaze, which had no doubt about what she was doing, was in stark contrast to the indifferent and languid attitude she had shown so far, making it all the more striking.

Only then did Lenok realize why Lapis had brought Grisha along on this mission, and he chuckled. She had said she was traveling the continent doing similar things. As a personnel manager, she was in charge of persuading Lenok to join the organization.

“As I said before, it’s hard to give you an answer right away.” He slowly stood up and replied.

Grisha’s intense belief had momentarily swayed Lenok, but he had no intention of falling for it.

“I’m going to judge this situation and act based on what I see and feel for myself. It’s too early to act just by listening to you.” Lenok said with a grin.

“What if Pandemonium isn’t that different from you, just like your leader?”

“……Where’s your certainty that what you see and hear is right?”

“Hmm? I’ve never thought about that.” As he answered Grisha, he looked down at the cliff below, where a strong wind was blowing.

The strong wind stung his skin, but the autonomous territory government building below was still clearly visible. What Lenok was trying to do was the same. No matter how much he wavered, he had never once forgotten what he wanted.

“I’m just working for what I want… Whether the deal I made with you will help that decision remains to be seen.”

“Tch, I was trying to get you in the mood, but you’re quite stubborn.” Grisha sighed and grumbled, as if she thought it was hopeless after Lenok’s firm answer.

“Damn it, fine. I could have made a really good position for you if you joined now, but you’re ignoring an adult’s advice, so you’ll see. Don’t regret it later.”

“I don’t know how old you are to call yourself an adult.”

“I don’t know. I haven’t counted since I passed a hundred.”

“……”

Lenok looked up at Grisha with a dumbfounded expression. Her face looked like she was in her 20s or 30s, but it was amazing that she could still grumble like a child even after being that old. He usually showed some respect to the elderly, but he didn’t feel like doing that for Grisha.

Lenok sighed and looked up at the sky. “Okay. It’s getting dark. Let’s leave when the moon is full.”

Lapis had said that she had already informed the head of the relic department, but it was impossible to just walk in and out of the vault with their faces exposed. It was wise to target the night when security was relatively low and quickly retrieve the item from the vault.

As Grisha watched Lenok, who was trying to rest with his eyes closed until then, she grumbled. “The world is a funny place. A seasoned magician like you, ending up in Aris Richel’s lab….”

“……Come to think of it, Lapis also mentioned Professor Richel. Do you know something?”

“Oh?” At Lenok’s words, Grisha grinned as if she had caught something good. “You, who wouldn’t even open your mouth unless it was about Pandemonium… Why, do you have a secret you want to know?”

“A secret I want to know?” Lenok chuckled. Why she was interested in those who didn’t have the same magical talent as Lenok, and why she stayed at the university instead of returning to the Sinclair Magic Tower. He was curious about the situation, but he didn’t have any great attachment to it, because there was no chance that Lenok would ever be in the same position as her.

Grisha, as if she had read the answer in Lenok’s expression, let out a hollow laugh and said, “Well, it’s not that big of a deal, so I’ll tell you. Our side also had an eye on her, trying to scout her. The Sinclair Magic Tower is known for being very proud, but we thought it was possible with her, who refused to return and was focusing on nurturing the next generation. I was also personally interested in Aris Richel’s talent.”

“And?”

“So, I contacted her a few times through our connections… and she gave me a very meaningful answer. I was personally very surprised. I never thought she would be such a strong-willed person….”

“……”

Grisha grinned as she saw Lenok’s expressionless face. “I’ll leave the rest for the Watcher Evan to hear.”

“You… you have a natural talent for teasing people.”

“Hehe, just kidding. It’s not that important. It’s just that I found out how much that professor cares for her people? That’s why I was more interested….” Grisha said, looking at Lenok with a meaningful expression.

Lenok frowned slightly and shook his head. “……Just so you know, if you even breathe a word about Professor Richel, a map will arrive at Pandemonium.”

“Hey, do you think I’d do such a cowardly thing? No, do you even understand what I’m saying?” Grisha retorted, looking dumbfounded, then burst into a hearty laugh.

“Hehe… You’re a really annoying guy. The way you think, and it seems like our personalities are completely different.”

“Then it would be better for us to quietly shut our mouths and wait. But why do you keep talking to me?”

Grisha chuckled and replied. “To be honest, it’s a little fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with someone like you. The way you talk so casually to me, it’s quite amusing.”

Lenok didn’t answer. To be honest, he also had some expectations. It was the first time Lenok had ever gone into the field with a sorcerer of this caliber. A sorcerer who was at least level 7. Moreover, she was a master who had imprinted the scenery of her mind onto her self-domain [a personal dimension created by a powerful sorcerer]. It wasn’t that he didn’t know any strong people, but he had never worked with them like this, except when facing them as enemies.

Of course, Grisha had come with Lenok to persuade him, and she knew that it was better to end this quietly for this mission… What would it feel like to work with a sorcerer who wasn’t holding him back?

Time passed. Lenok, who had been closing his eyes, got up without looking at his watch. His internal clock had been completed a long time ago.

“Let’s go down.”

“Okay.”

The two sorcerers jumped off the cliff at the same time. Whoosh! Just before reaching the ground, they cast anti-gravity magic to float their bodies, and at the same time, activated Nix’s emblem to conceal their life signs. Now, no one in this area would be able to detect their presence.

Grisha also casually pulled up her magic power for a moment, covering her face, and started walking ahead. With just that, the guards patrolling around the government building didn’t recognize them at all. Was it some kind of perception-blocking spell?

As he was about to move his feet, thinking that, a cool voice came from the shadows of the government building wall. “I have a question for you two.”

“……”

“It will only take a moment. I don’t intend to take up much of your time.” As he said that, a young man with dark red hair, easily recognizable even in the dark night, walked out of the shadows. Dressed in an antique-looking martial uniform that didn’t fit in with the surroundings, he exuded a very neat atmosphere. A quiet and calm impression, with not even a sound of breathing.

The young man, looking at the two who had stopped walking, quietly smiled. “I had no intention of bothering night visitors, but judging by your auras, I can’t easily let it pass.”

At the young man’s soft voice, Lenok and Grisha exchanged glances silently. Nix’s emblem that Lenok used, and Grisha’s perception-blocking spell. Considering their magic power and magic manipulation abilities, a normal sorcerer shouldn’t even be able to confirm their existence. The fact that the young man had spoken to them at this moment proved that he was a very skilled sorcerer.

Lenok exchanged glances with Grisha and quickly thought. Judging by the fact that he hadn’t noticed Grisha’s level, it was unlikely that he was a stronger magician than Lenok or her. However, his attitude itself seemed much more cautious than Vizen, a magician from the same magic tower.

Lenok replied with a friendly smile. “Please, speak. If it’s something we know, we can answer you.”

“Good. Actually, I’m looking for someone, but he’s so clumsy and reckless that it’s hard to find his trail. I’m ashamed to say that I’m making inquiries myself.” The young man slowly removed his smile and said. “His name is Vizen… Do you happen to have any idea?”