Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 213

Prescription (1)

“I was planning to deal with the Cartel executive we met last time in this way. It’s just that a president-level figure suddenly appeared and mediated, which complicated things.”

From the moment he completely subdued Iola with his magic eye, Renok had no intention of killing her in the first place.

While he wouldn’t have minded killing her on the spot to vent his anger, he thought it would be more efficient in the current situation to capture her alive and extract information.

However, unlike last time, Virgil’s intervention and the subsequent muddling of the situation were why Renok was now using the Pure Land Mantra.

“In that sense, it was quite lucky that such a high-ranking executive was moving alone. In the worst-case scenario, I was even considering blocking the roads and dealing with armed forces…”

Belita clicked her tongue at Renok’s nonchalant words.

“Girard Ogette is a slaughterer who specializes in solo operations, even among the Cartel’s top executives. As you’ve seen firsthand, he causes a lot of trouble here and there due to his unique appearance and bizarre personality, but there’s no doubt about his skills.”

“In the mercenary world, he’s well-known as a madman to avoid when encountered as an enemy in operations. Although his external activities have decreased since being appointed as a Cartel deputy, he’s not usually an opponent who would so easily expose his weaknesses.”

“Hmm…”

The two spoke calmly, but there was an undeniable hint of admiration mixed in.

And since most of that admiration was for the power of the magical artifact Renok used, the Pure Land Mantra, Renok nodded in satisfaction.

‘With this level of performance, it will surely work on higher-level opponents as well.’

He had activated it a few times for testing, but this was the first time he had used it directly in combat, making him even more satisfied.

While dismantling the Cartel’s cooperative businesses, he had prepared this plan as a backup, just in case, but there had been no opportunity to use it until now.

That was because Girard was the first Cartel executive to pursue Renok so persistently.

Moreover, it was possible because he was a deputy-level member with such bizarre abilities and preferences that he preferred to act alone.

If he had tried to subdue Girard by properly defeating him, it would have taken tens of times more time and resources, but the Pure Land Mantra was a powerful magical artifact that froze a specific space and bound the target entirely the moment it was activated.

As it was an item used by the Heavenly Sage Madrea Palshier until just before she became an Ascendant [a being who has transcended mortal limitations], there was no doubt about its power.

Girard seemed to have been enhancing his physical abilities by doping himself with his own blood through changes in the nature of his internal mana, but there was nothing he could do inside the magical artifact that blocked resistance in space.

Renok carefully observed Girard’s appearance, stroking his chin silently.

‘This is the first time I’ve bound someone of this caliber with a spatial magical artifact. I need to remember the related phenomena and mana flow well.’

Considering that it takes at least 10 seconds to activate the Pure Land Mantra, a case where the opponent is so perfectly defeated might not come easily.

This was only possible because he had planned and preheated the artifact, with the power to completely overwhelm the enemy, like Belber.

Somehow, instead of the time-based spells or artifacts that Renok desperately wanted, spatial relics and artifacts kept falling into his hands, but Renok did not neglect his research into spatial spells.

Although they are classified into completely different categories, space and time are ultimately two axes that are intertwined on one axis and make up the world.

Understanding one might lead to reaching the other.

“Ren. So, what are you going to do? Personally, I think it would be better to kill him cleanly while he can’t resist.”

“Personally, I recommend starting by auctioning off Girard’s belongings. There are quite a few guys who hold grudges against him, so you could get a pretty good price even if you sell off a limb.”

While Belita kicked Belber in the shin for saying things that sounded like they came straight out of a gang or criminal organization, Renok made a decision.

“Belber’s suggestion sounds interesting, but for now, let’s aim to lock him up in a suitable place and interrogate him.”

Renok grabbed Girard by the hair and lifted him up.

The dazed, frozen eyes didn’t move at all.

“If he’s a high-ranking executive who belongs to the Cartel’s management proxy, he must know a lot.”

“He won’t open his mouth easily.”

Belita said with a worried expression.

“Considering that he gets stronger when he bleeds or gets hurt, physical torture won’t work either.”

Indeed, once the Pure Land Mantra was removed, even properly restraining him would be difficult.

“Don’t worry about that.”

But Renok smiled as he slammed Girard’s head into the ground.

“I’m also quite skilled at torturing mana users.”

* * *

Huff, huff!!

Sweat dripped from Virgil’s upper body as he bent his arms and pressed his body close to the ground.

The thick chains binding his body restricted the range of his muscle activity and placed an enormous burden on him, but Virgil continued his workout silently.

Three system windows floated above his head as he focused on his exercise with his head bowed.

[1: SOUND ONLY]

[3: SOUND ONLY]

[4: SOUND ONLY]

[4: Virgil. You’ve heard the story, right?]

“……”

[4: Girard was captured alive by a mage named Ren. This is a much bigger problem than that psychopath dying at his hands.]

“……So?”

[3: Hey, why are you answering like that?]

An unpleasant voice echoed in succession.

[3: You’re the one who decided to oversee this matter, Virgil. Then you should do your damn job properly. Our businesses that have been smashed are slowly exceeding five, are you just going to leave it like this?]

“If you guys are thinking of handling it, go ahead.”

[3: What, you bastard?]

Even at the high-pitched cursing, Virgil silently focused on the stimulation of his muscles as he answered.

“The reason I’m in charge of this matter is because a person in charge was needed until the report was submitted to the chairman. I did tell the chairman the whole story, but I have no intention of getting directly involved in this.”

[1: What does that mean?]

When Number 1 spoke for the first time, Virgil slightly raised his head and smiled.

“The chairman had completely forgotten about Zenith until I directly reported it. But it’s clear that we were the ones who made the first move. That means one of you three started the trouble, right?”

[…….]

“I don’t know if it’s one or two, but it can’t be all three. Finish what you started yourselves. I can’t believe I have to say this. Surely you don’t think you can just slip out of responsibility now?”

It had not yet been revealed who had smashed Zenith’s bar, but if they checked which side the Cartel members who participated in that operation were aligned with, the conclusion would be reached quickly.

After that night when he faced Ren directly to save Iola, Virgil had long since given up on the idea of fighting Ren directly.

“That mage named Ren. He’s strong. At least, he’s a much more dangerous man than you think.”

[4: He’s just a freelancer…]

“Even if you don’t know about Zenith and the others, it won’t be easy to catch and kill a mage of that level. After planting an indelible grudge, you won’t be able to catch him, and the same thing will happen again, and it’s clear where the damage will be reflected in your performance reviews, isn’t it?”

This time, the others all shut their mouths.

In the end, the problem stems from the simple fact that the Cartel has much more to lose.

The damage that the Cartel can inflict on the opponent is different from the damage that Ren alone can inflict on them.

Even knowing that Renok’s intention is to make the Cartel aware of this perspective and hesitate to act, they have no choice but to be taken advantage of.

“It would be different if their business had fully established itself and was expanding, but you chose the wrong time to interfere. I don’t know whose mistake it was, but they have to pay the price.”

[3: This bastard is really pushing it.]

The voice became sharp.

[3: You’re just putting your name on it, and if one of us who made a mistake fixes it, you’ll just take the credit?]

[1: Merilda. Stop it.]

With a heavy voice, the harsh cursing stopped abruptly.

The monitor labeled 1 continued.

[1: Virgil, I understand what you want to say. For now, since Girard was nominally the proxy of the business I was managing, I will take care of the aftermath first.]

“……”

[1: But this is ridiculous in itself. How many years has it been since we had such a lack of consensus among ourselves… Your provocative behavior is clearly also responsible for that.]

“I admit it.”

[1: If things don’t go well, you should be prepared for the responsibility of your line’s executives, not just you. The girl you cherish, Iola, shouldn’t just get away with it either. Oh, I heard she hasn’t fully recovered yet?]

Virgil’s eyes, which had been lowered, flashed sharply, but no one noticed his gaze.

Long after the meeting ended, Virgil stood up, his body drenched in sweat.

He threw the thick chains onto one of the exercise equipment nearby and muttered as he covered himself with a towel.

“It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that Zenith was targeted at this time…”

Even if it looks like a mistake at first glance, all the events that are happening now are occurring in a way that subtly forces appropriate justification and unilateral benefits on Ren and Zenith.

To be precise, in a way that continuously and surely diminishes the Cartel’s power.

No matter how grand a mistake it is, if the damage accumulates so precisely, it cannot be a coincidence.

“Someone has turned their back on the chairman.”

There was a traitor within.

A change in the internal order of the organization that had never changed for decades.

From Virgil’s point of view, that was a much more important matter than the existence of a mage named Ren who was resisting the Cartel.

* * *

[Didn’t Jenny come?]

“……The situation wasn’t favorable. She asked for my understanding.”

As Renok began to actively dismantle the Cartel’s businesses, Jenny and Jordan were being even more careful about their official movements.

Especially after Jordan was kidnapped and almost killed, the two had no choice but to refrain from any actions that could weaken the protection of the mercenary group, including Drey.

Jenny would have accompanied Renok on such matters if he had asked, but Renok didn’t push it that far.

[I see. That’s a bit of a shame. I wanted to see her face before the end.]

Renok smiled faintly at Yakseon’s words.

“The councilor will not forget her face. Even because of Kaise’s memories, you will remember her.”

[I know.]

Yakseon stared up at Renok’s face and said telepathically.

[But you will completely forget that she, who had grown up as Kaise’s blood relative and lived as if she were dead, was changing little by little after meeting you.]

“……”

[Memory is a record of time… Forgetting means losing that time entirely. My time has been stopped for a very long time.]

Yakseon smiled at Renok’s bitter face.

[Well, it’s not something you need to worry about. Just the fact that you made Dominic Cabaro unable to recover is enough of a miracle for me in this not-so-short life. Isn’t it greedy to ask for more than that?]

There didn’t seem to be even a trace of regret on Yakseon’s face as she said that.

Was this how she had sent off countless patients who had interacted with her in this way?

Trapped in a cycle created by her own foolishness, her time was only bound to the past, never moving.

Although it was something she started to improve her medical skills, all the moments of experience and memory would disappear like bubbles along with sending off her patients.

Therefore, Renok should be more vigilant than sympathetic towards her.

Even geniuses who take steps towards impossibly distant places can collapse in vain, not even seeing the ground right in front of their feet.

The trajectory of an old woman’s life was shining more than ever.

[This is the last work created by a foolish old woman before she forgets all those grudges.]

Yakseon said that as she pushed a long wooden case in front of Renok.