Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 236

‘The easiest way would be to steal the essence from other magic towers. But it’s hard to find a good opportunity.’

While there’s hardly any interaction with the Thorben Magic Tower, except for Eden, the leader of the Sigger Bang gang, Lenox’s achievement in his unique lightning-based magic was enough to manifest in his mental landscape [a personal domain of power].

Lenox was currently learning the Blaber Magic Tower’s unique flame-based magic, but this achievement was only something he had learned from the young mage who assisted Weizen and the Drug King. It was hard to say that he had the same deep understanding as he did with his lightning-based magic.

Even though he had obtained his mental domain in a truly ingenious and absurd way, his worries only seemed to increase rather than decrease. Ultimately, this meant that to fully utilize the domain he had created, he needed to become more proactive than he was now, when he was minimizing risks.

Reaching the pinnacle of magic was one of the most certain ways for Lenox to break free from his shackles. However, to race towards that end, he needed to gather far more diverse experiences and turning points, and open up new possibilities.

‘I don’t know if I’ll get results that match changing my course of action. I did think it was something I would have to do someday, but…’

If he continued to maintain a passive position, all that would fall into Lenox’s hands would be the rewards that others had already seized. He had to go out and find what he wanted first.

Lenox also knew what the most certain method was. He just needed to accept in his mind that he had to prioritize his desires over safety now. He had succeeded in grasping the necessary possibilities. Now it was time to move forward a little more.

There was no need to worry for long. It would be enough if Lenox didn’t forget the path he had walked so far, no matter where he stood. Having finished his contemplation, Lenox immediately got up from his seat. Since he had come this far, there was one more thing he wanted to resolve.

* * *

The place he naturally arrived at, wearing a long cardigan, was a rather neat workshop. It was a nondescript space without even a proper sign, but Lenox didn’t hesitate and immediately moved forward. As he tapped on the wall, listening to the loud drilling sounds coming from inside, a stout middle-aged man came out. It was Palmer, the blacksmith he had met while handling matters for the Dyke Corporation.

“It’s been a while,” Lenox asked with a smile, and he yawned and scratched his belly. His eyes were swollen, as if he had just been fast asleep.

“What brings you here?”

“I heard you moved your workshop, so I stopped by while handling some business.”

It definitely felt different from the cramped, run-down room that looked like it was about to collapse. It wasn’t that big, but it definitely had the form of a workshop now. Palmer’s income wouldn’t have changed much, so it was reasonable to assume that the Dyke Corporation was giving him considerable support. As Lenox naturally pulled out a chair and sat down, Palmer grumbled but took off his gloves and sat opposite him.

“Is that all you have to say after suddenly showing up without any notice?”

“Aren’t we close business partners? Panoa would be disappointed to hear that.”

“……”

Looking at Palmer, who kept his mouth shut, it seemed certain that she had helped him in the process of setting up his new workshop. Palmer subtly changed the subject.

“I’ve heard the rumors. You had a big showdown with the Cartel guys, right?”

“Those rumors have spread?”

“Good job. Those old timers need to be shaken up once in a while. My hometown couldn’t do that properly, and it just stagnated.”

If he kept listening to Palmer’s story, he might end up spending endless time. Feeling a bad premonition, Lenox immediately got to the point.

“You know I use firearms.”

“Ah, I vaguely remember. I thought it was a strange hobby for someone with that kind of skill to like gunpowder weapons.”

“……”

“Come to think of it, I think I once looked at your revolver… was that right? I don’t remember things I did when I was drunk.”

“I’m here for a similar reason this time.”

Lenox said, reaching towards his left wrist. Thump! In an instant, a revolver and a shotgun grew in size and popped out onto the table. Palmer’s eyes turned serious as he naturally reached out and touched the two guns.

“Hmm… they’re crap.”

“……”

“The revolver’s barrel is cracked, and the cylinder is so worn out that the oil has dried up. And what’s with the shotgun? The muzzle is melted and stuck. Did you just fire it point-blank at a target?”

“That’s correct.”

This time, Palmer closed his mouth. Lenox also subtly turned his gaze away. It wasn’t that he hadn’t paid attention to the maintenance of his guns, but it was also true that he had been using his equipment roughly. It wasn’t wrong to say that he hadn’t paid much attention to the durability of his equipment, trusting in his shooting support magic.

Until now, he had been holding out by simply pouring magic power into the cracked barrel and cylinder, but he couldn’t leave it like that forever. Until now, he had been relying on shooting support magic and hadn’t replaced his equipment, but just as his magic had changed, he needed to replace his equipment as well.

“I want to know if there’s any room for further modification of this equipment. If not, I’d like to commission the production of new equipment.”

“Give up on modifications.”

Palmer answered sharply. “How long are you going to keep using these old things? Let them rest now. Let them have some peace.”

“……”

Lenox sighed, seeing Palmer, who seemed overly immersed in the guns’ perspective.

“I’d like to, but… I can’t just spend money on new products that aren’t much different, can I?”

“It looks like you bought these from Gun & Barrel, but there are a truckload of guns that are better and more efficient than these. What nonsense are you talking about?”

“If they’re already completed products, there’s not much difference for me.”

“What?”

“If I need strong firepower, there are plenty of other means.”

Lenox said, raising his magic power and tapping his finger on the table. Saaah… The cold air flowing from between his five fingers instantly took a clear shape and turned into a small sculpture. The old man, seeing his own familiar face on the sculpture, had a blank expression.

“The important thing isn’t filling the firepower, but how well it can harmonize with the magic I use.”

As Lenox’s magic level increased, the difference between the firepower created through pure spells and the firepower using guns became extreme. If he were to compare firepower, there weren’t many techniques that could compare to pure elemental spells. However, even if he didn’t compare them in that way, there were plenty of merits to using guns.

Rather, considering that firepower magic was comparable to tactical weapons like artillery or missiles, they weren’t even comparable in the first place. Significantly less magic consumption compared to pure spells. A structure that allows for abnormally fast attack speed and rapid fire. And the relatively low difficulty of customization to the user’s liking.

If he mixed that well with the shooting support magic that Lenox used, it was possible to create an attack pattern that surpassed the spells of most mages. The problem was that Lenox had never had equipment that matched his level. Basically, the magic gunner in WORLD 2.0, which Lenox had played, not only used shooting magic but also thoroughly modified both the gun and bullets for magic.

Until now, he had been forcibly applying shooting support magic to ordinary guns and bullets due to circumstances, but now he could thoroughly adjust them and get proper equipment.

“I’ve tried firing magic directly through the muzzle or imbuing spells directly into the bullets before… but I haven’t seen much effect.”

“That’s right. In the first place, there’s no way a mage like you would turn their attention to guns, not other artifacts… That’s proof that it’s a reckless thing to do.”

Palmer said. “Basically, all the materials that make up a gun need to have a certain level of magic conductivity, and at the same time, they need to have resistance to the continuous shock and heat. Just that alone would skyrocket the production difficulty and cost, and if you start customizing after deciding on the spells you’re going to put into the gun…”

“It would be difficult.”

“It might be much better to look for gun-shaped artifacts or relics.”

“But wouldn’t it be fun?”

Palmer closed his mouth and looked up at Lenox without a word. Seeing Lenox smiling faintly, he tilted his head slightly and said, “You… you’ve changed a bit. Fun, I never thought I’d hear those words from you.”

“It’s the strongest motivation for artisans like you.”

“……”

Now Lenox could understand a little bit. A motivation that doesn’t simply move with efficiency and reason. He understood that such things played a rather important role in human life, not just in his head but in his heart. Perhaps Palmer had caught a glimpse of that aspect in Lenox, who spoke such words without hesitation. He scratched his beard and grinned.

“Well, fine. If other guys asked me like this, I would have kicked them in the butt, but… making a gun for a mage like you sounds pretty fun when I think about it.”

“That’s a relief.”

“But I’m only making one new one.”

He said, picking up the tattered revolver. “The shotgun has too many parts to touch, and there’s not much to do except pump up the power, so it’s not fun. I’m accepting this request because you’re sticking to the inefficient equipment called a revolver. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

It wasn’t for nothing that Lenox had been using the revolver as a secondary weapon until now. If he used loading acceleration or rapid-fire related support magic, he could offset the revolver’s disadvantages to a considerable extent, and he thought it was the perfect equipment to imbue each bullet with different magic. Until now, he hadn’t seen much merit in that, but now that he had alchemy, it was different.

There were still many things to do, and there were countless ways for Lenox to become stronger. He had no intention of choosing one and sticking with it. To seize the opportunity to choose itself. That was the meaning of the way of life Lenox had decided on.

* * *

-There are a few designated requests, what do you want to do?

“What do you mean?”

After finishing his business, Lenox spent some time at a bar and then left District 49. It wasn’t common for Jenny to call and ask his intentions after belatedly realizing that Lenox had left, but it meant that she had become even busier recently. Even while focusing on managing her business, she was asking Lenox about freelance work, so it seemed she really had no intention of giving up her broker job.

-I forgot to mention it because you took the wanted posters earlier, but there are a few clients looking for you.

“Clients…”

-It seems the rumors have really spread in the last month.

A faint smile spread across her voice over the phone. -The number of miscellaneous requests has decreased significantly, but the value of the clients has increased.

It meant that as Lenox’s reputation and position rose, only clients who matched that level began to make requests. After thinking for a moment, Lenox shook his head.

“Reject all simple designated requests. As I said before, I only want to accept requests related to space-time artifacts or spells.”

-Are you sure? Even if we exclude other clients, Valitz Corporation contacted us directly.

“……”

Valitz Corporation. It had been a while since he had heard that name. Recently, there had been almost no reason to get involved, but wasn’t it the largest conglomerate that had reached out and succeeded in the most businesses in this huge city? If an opponent he hadn’t met while handling so many requests was contacting him now, there must be an incident and compensation to match.

Lenox hesitated for a moment, but at that moment, he felt the scenery of the street distorting faintly and stopped walking. A clock that was somehow unnatural. In addition, the sense of speed around him rapidly decreased, and his sense of time became faint. Lenox knew this feeling. An alien landscape as if only his consciousness was accelerating madly, leaving everything else behind. The prelude to a monster running through another timeline.

Click! Lenox, who forcibly twisted his neck to break free from the interference, held the phone and said, “I would hesitate if it was Valitz, but… I can’t. I still have things to do.”

-……What do you mean?

“Even though it seems like the Cartel’s business is over, there’s someone who played a decisive role in between.”

-…….

“I didn’t expect to meet them again so soon, but I need to hear what they’re thinking.”

Only then did Jenny, who had noticed something in Lenox’s words, say in a trembling voice, -Wait, Ban… who are you talking about right now?

Click!!

“You’re a bit talkative than I thought.”

A voice coming from right behind Lenox. It was a lackluster, somewhat unmotivated tone without any particular characteristics, but Lenox had never forgotten that timbre.

“You shouldn’t go around spreading our story like that.”

“Our?”

Lenox turned his head to look at the other person and chuckled. “That’s a word that doesn’t suit you and me at all.”

An appearance that didn’t reveal his age. A somewhat delinquent attitude. An ordinary complexion that made it impossible to guess his background, even though he was standing casually in the middle of the street. Looking at this ordinary figure in a black shirt and pants, who could imagine the name of Pandemonium from this man?

Myeong smiled at Lenox. “Last time wasn’t a situation to talk.”

“……”

“Shall we move somewhere else for now?”