Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 249

Furnace (3)

Furnace (3)

Tower 1 served as a warehouse for the magic tower’s assets, while Tower 2 housed laboratories for mages.

Tower 3 was dedicated to storing ancient books and practice areas, and Tower 4 provided living quarters for the mages.

The central tower, the core of the magic tower, stood at the heart of the four surrounding towers.

Geoniss had opened all these facilities to the two city delegations, but he had kept the most crucial secret location hidden from their view.

Lenox gazed up at the sky from the bridge connecting Towers 2 and 3.

‘The top of Tower 2, the closest point to the sky.’

Below the bridge, lava continued to boil, with endless smoke and haze swirling around.

Despite standing in the deepest part of the volcano, Lenox felt no heat.

However, the external environment, beyond the tower’s barrier, was a chaotic mix of ash, dust, and heat, making it difficult for even Lenox’s magic detection to function properly.

The haze seemed to subtly obscure a specific area of the void.

Although the sky was not clearly visible due to the torrent of ash and dust, one thing was certain.

At the center of the five-pronged magic tower, or more precisely, hundreds of meters above the central tower, something was concealed.

Whoosh!

Lenox immediately cast a levitation spell on his collar, lifting himself and ascending against the hundreds of meters of altitude.

[Reverse Gravity]

His body swayed in the hot wind rising from below. After casting a reverse gravity spell, he managed to roughly stabilize himself.

As soon as he stepped outside the barrier, he felt his breathing become labored, but after layering shields, it was no longer a significant issue.

Only after rising high enough to reach the clouds, beyond the crater, was Lenox able to confirm the identity of what had been hidden in the invisible void.

A massive stone slab, seemingly several tens of meters in radius.

It appeared they had mined the bedrock near the volcanic area and were using it as a foundation for the secret place.

“They’ve cast a powerful illusion, using the hot winds and haze of the volcanic area as a medium. By using the environmental conditions so exquisitely, they can conceal their existence even from magic detection…”

Whioooo-

As he stepped onto the stone slab, the constant noise from inside the crater vanished, replaced by a strange wind sound.

Between the night sky above the clouds, under the moonlight, another huge tower stood tall.

Though not comparable to the five towers inside the crater, it was at least five stories high.

Lenox entered the tower without hesitation.

After passing through the empty first floor and climbing the spiral staircase, he found hundreds of books placed on a beautifully crafted bookshelf.

A cozy space was created by using the refined skin of a rare beast as a carpet.

But more than that, what immediately caught his eye was that all the hundreds of books in this spacious study were exuding a dense magical power.

‘Grimoires [books of magic].’

Books that simply contain magical theories hold little value among mages.

Knowledge contained in books without power, even if directly written and specified, is ultimately of little significance.

However, books that not only deal with truly high-level magical theories but also contain knowledge that has been directly contemplated, researched, and acquired are different.

The phenomenon where the thoughts of the mage who wrote the book are infused into it, transforming it into a powerful artifact.

A type of spell artifact that becomes more famous or powerful than the author himself over time.

Lenox had only ever seen such books in auction houses, Aris’s laboratory, or the Cartel’s executive vault.

As if compelled, Lenox approached the study, picked up a thick book within reach, and exclaimed in admiration.

“An upper-grade book containing knowledge comparable to a military officer… It’s worth keeping it separate and hidden away.”

Lenox muttered to himself, quickly opening other books and immediately beginning to read them.

There were even books that explained theories on the premise that the reader was a mage of level 6 or higher, capable of fundamentally changing the nature of magic power, and assumed the development of a magnetic field as a given.

All of these theories discussed the application and development potential of unique fire-type magic, but Lenox had already completed the hierarchy in electric-type magic on his own, making it easy to understand.

Instead, he focused on confirming the theories that had been vaguely conceptualized in his mind directly in the books.

Of course, it was a realm that Lenox could have reached someday if he had spent time steadily using and researching fire-type magic and yearned for it in practice.

But how precious was the opportunity to shorten that time and cost with just a few books?

Changes in the nature of fire-type magic, precautions and anomalies when casting unique magic due to it, and leaving future research topics for future generations.

The case of a mage who failed to build a domain because the image of the flame and lava he held inside was altered while living in the volcanic area for his entire life.

Conversely, records of a great mage who reached the realm of a grand mage with the image of a formless flame in his heart.

All of it was the kind of knowledge that Lenox had yearned for more than anything in the past.

How other mages had grown, what worries and hardships they had faced to reach their realms.

Things that might have filled the loneliness of Lenox, who had felt a faint sense of kinship even with the mages he had faced as enemies.

“…”

It’s quite ironic.

Things that were hard to get when he truly wanted them only came into his hands after he had reached a certain level and had somewhat relieved his regrets.

He wanted to stay there and keep turning the pages, cherishing that time and emotion, but… Lenox put aside his regrets and got up from his seat.

The strange smell that had been spreading since he first entered the tower.

Even Lenox, whose sense of smell could not even properly distinguish cigarette smoke, could not fail to notice the terrible stench coming from beyond the study.

“Hoo…”

It was too alien to be a sign of life, yet it was extremely clear.

He grabbed one corner of the study and pushed it, and the bookshelf rotated lightly, revealing a hidden space beyond it.

In a dimly lit solitary room illuminated by moonlight, there were dozens of beds, and everyone was lying on them.

The people were staring blankly at the ceiling, breathing slowly.

Judging from the magic power they exuded, they seemed to be mages of considerable level, but most of them had their magic flow tangled, as if they had not regained their senses for a long time.

The people’s faces were of all ages and genders, but some wore particularly noticeable attire.

Old men in antique robes and muscular giants in traveler’s clothes. They were likely members of the Council of Elders and the missing delegates from the Mechanical City.

Most of the unconscious people had lost an arm or a leg, and there were clear bite marks on the severed areas.

Lenox took a short breath as he realized what it meant.

“What’s going on here?”

A cold voice, like ice rolling, was heard from behind him.

“…”

When he slowly turned his head, he saw Geoniss leaning against the stairs with his arms crossed.

“I opened all the magic towers, but I never gave you the authority to enter the hidden secret place.”

After saying that, Geoniss picked up one of the books that Lenox had spread out on the floor and read it through.

“A study on the multi-chant deployment sequence for heat flow control… A nostalgic title.”

“…”

“There was a time when I was buried in these grimoires, concentrating on research and training.”

Geoniss muttered.

“Everyone said that I would become a new rosary [a powerful mage who serves as a pillar of the magic tower] for him, and that I might inherit my master’s tower someday.”

He said that and chuckled as if he couldn’t help but find it funny.

“I foolishly believed those words.”

Lenox stared at Geoniss for a while, then slowly turned his head.

“Is that the reason why you haven’t reached the realm of a complete Saint [a mage of the highest level]?”

“…”

This time, Geoniss closed his mouth.

During the duel he had with him in the practice area of the 3rd magic tower.

In the battle that ended at the same time as he opened his new magic eye, Lenox had recognized that there was something immature about Geoniss’s magic.

Completing the hierarchy is proof that the mage himself has perfectly mastered all the applications of the nature change he uses.

It is also a qualification to project one’s own firm image through the nature change of space.

However, Geoniss did not use any nature change in his duel with Lenox.

That was probably because Geoniss himself could not perfectly control the power of nature change.

It is by no means a phenomenon that a mage who has reached level 7 in a proper way can show.

The answer that can be thought of is probably…

“I’ve seen a few people who have forcibly raised their own achievements through restrictions or geas [magical oaths or compulsions].”

Lenox’s cold gaze turned towards Geoniss’s chest.

“But it’s the first time I’ve seen a sorcerer who has forcibly raised his level itself in such a way.”

“…Ha.”

Geoniss let out a hot breath.

His left eye, which had taken off his monocle with a trembling hand, was completely faded, unlike what was seen through the glasses.

“I trusted my master.”

He spoke in succession, as if he couldn’t bear to have his biggest weakness exposed.

“Even when I hit a wall at the end of the military rank, I firmly believed the advice to put a restriction on myself and overcome the wall. But soon after, I realized.”

He clenched his fist.

“The restrictions placed on oneself are a privilege only for monsters who challenge ascension… Recklessly putting on shackles is no different from eliminating the stepping stone for growth.”

“…”

“Thanks to that, I lost my left eye and was reduced to a cripple who can’t use magic unless I’m near the magic tower. I’m not even a rosary candidate. My master only thought of me as a dog guarding the house!!!”

Was that why Geoniss was so agitated when Lenox opened his magic eye in his left eye?

What would his feelings have been when he looked at Lenox, who had awakened new possibilities in the very eye that had lost its light forever?

Lenox, who had been staring at Geoniss, who was unable to control his emotions and was shouting, said.

“So you contacted Pandemonium [a shadowy organization].”

“…”

At Lenox’s words, which he threw out casually, Geoniss stopped talking.

When you think about it, it’s a simple matter.

Why were the members of Pandemonium able to so easily seize control of the furnace?

Why aren’t the other members of the Council of Elders showing up?

Where did the missing people who were increasing in number in the magic tower disappear to?

Isn’t the answer to all of this here?

Lenox knows well from the Cartel’s case that even the security of the magic tower, which has been maintained for hundreds of years, is helplessly powerless against a knife stabbing from the inside.

All of these things that have happened so far are ridiculously simple under one assumption.

Geoniss Berbaine had joined hands with Pandemonium.

The eyes of his turned head shone eerily.

“It’s a shame. I thought you, of all people, would understand my feelings.”

“…”

“After gathering information from Vulcan, I was able to be sure. The time when your activities disappeared in the mega-city and the time when Ibelin Marcia visited the magic tower coincided… If you know that there are not many people with more skills than a military-ranked mage who can lend power to an agent.”

“Hmm.”

“I didn’t know that you had such a deep knowledge of ice magic… But I was sure when I saw that you had found this secret place. The sensitivity alone is definitely at the level of a Saint. Then there is only one answer.”

“You’ve done a lot of background checks.”

Lenox nodded and admitted it readily.

It was Ibelin’s idea to hide his identity just before visiting the magic tower.

Since he hadn’t even changed his magic power pattern, it wouldn’t have been strange if he had been caught at any time.

Geoniss’s lips twitched at Lenox’s unperturbed attitude.

“Well, it’s fine… It doesn’t matter who you are.”

Geoniss said, slowly spreading his arms.

The grimoire he was holding fell to the floor miserably.

“What’s important is that you are a mage skilled enough to temporarily block even the heat of the furnace. That’s all.”

“…”

“Through a deal with Pandemonium, I got the chance to break the curse that my master put on me. They said that if I bring one thing, they can release the geas that I put on myself.”

Only then did Lenox realize why Geoniss had told him his situation, and he frowned.

“Damn it, don’t tell me that the item of the deal is…”

“Yes.”

Geoniss’s eyes shone sharply.

“The central furnace, where all the capital and technology of the Western Continent branch are concentrated… I will regain my freedom in exchange for the most precious treasure of the magic tower.”

Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]

Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]

The Genius Wizard who takes Medicine, 약먹는 천재마법사 약먹는 천재 마법사
Status: Ongoing Author: Native Language: Korean
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In "Genius Wizard Takes Medicine," the protagonist, an avid gamer, meticulously crafts the ultimate wizard character in the game "World" by maximizing magical abilities and accepting numerous disadvantageous traits. However, he suddenly finds himself transmigrated into this very character—a prodigious talent who cannot survive a single day without relying on drugs. Set against a cyberpunk fantasy backdrop, the story blends action, adventure, and intricate magic systems, inviting readers to explore a world where extraordinary power comes at a significant cost.

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