Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 316

The most crucial part of the mobile fortress attack operation was to seize control of the strategic weapon after reaching it alone.

To achieve this, someone had to infiltrate the fortress through this chaotic front line.

While many might possess bodies and stamina more suited for infiltration than Lenok, he was the only one who had acquired the most suitable ability for this task.

That’s why Lenok had convinced his companions with the promise of a solution and, after a brief delay, had begun his solo operation.

Whirr!

He wrapped the extracted mana thread around the fortress leg’s wall.

After confirming it was securely fastened, Lenok slowly began to shorten the length of the mana thread.

Simultaneously, Lenok’s body began to climb the fortress wall.

He occasionally stepped on the fortress wall with his feet, then reattached the mana thread higher up, repeating the action.

Increasing his speed to a level that wouldn’t strain his body, he quickly began to gain altitude.

“Hoo…”

As soon as he climbed several dozen meters, his ears went numb, and his breathing gradually became shallow.

All he could feel was the vibration from the relentless barrage of artillery fire from the fortress.

Using public magic [magic accessible to anyone], he meticulously adjusted the surrounding pressure and temperature, continuing his ascent without stopping.

Davi, peeking out from under the hem of his coat, spoke.

[Something is a bit off.]

“What do you mean?”

[The fortress’s maintenance condition is quite different from what we expected.]

Upon hearing that, Lenok looked at the leg of the fortress he was standing on.

A steel support that could easily accommodate ten people standing in a row.

The faint magical glow flickering between the joints made it seem as if this massive fortress was a living, breathing entity.

But Davi’s point wasn’t about that.

Lenok’s gaze calmly settled.

“…The fortress’s exterior is much more dilapidated than I thought. Is that what you mean?”

[That’s right, Master.]

If it was a fortress that had been guarding the front lines for 20 years, one might expect its facilities and exterior to be worn and dilapidated, but the reality was different.

The Defense Force’s mobile fortresses were strategic weapons that were most thoroughly maintained on the outer front lines, and were fortresses in motion.

Naturally, the Defense Force would spend most of their maintenance time on the fortress’s facilities and checkpoints.

However, even considering that, the current state of the fortress was excessively dilapidated.

As if it had been abandoned for a very long time.

“…”

Unsettling assumptions flashed through Lenok’s mind.

But before he could dwell on those thoughts, a series of loud shouts came through his earphones.

The desperate screams were almost unbearable, even with the volume already turned down.

At the same time, reports from the leaders of each team began to pour in.

[This is Ilya. Near the reactor coolant facility. Encountered a level 7 physical ability user…!! Presumed to be Major General Alban.]

[Major General Jelich is waiting at the rear gate of the fortress. Combat… seems unavoidable.]

[Six colonels have appeared near the main road. We’ll try our best to hold out, but we might not be able to prevent the formation from collapsing!]

[Mechanical beings with bizarre appearances have been spotted in all three directions. It’s highly likely they are Gearsides forces.]

As if they had agreed beforehand, the main forces of the Defense Force appeared simultaneously at all three entry routes.

This was clear evidence that they had also assessed the allied forces’ strength and were responding in all directions.

What did it mean that they had come out like this instead of hunkering down inside the fortress and stalling for time?

[We don’t have much time.]

“Right.”

Lenok, having dropped his burnt-out cigarette, reached into his coat.

Watching the light of the cigarette fall to the ground a hundred meters below, Lenok lit a new one.

“We should start before it’s too late.”

The mana thread, which had been endlessly clinging to the fortress leg, finally reached its end.

Without hesitation, he pulled the mana thread.

Whirr!

In an instant, Lenok’s body shot upwards, passing over the leg and heading towards the top of the fortress.

A perfect position where the rain of artillery fire falling towards the ground was avoided.

Thud!

The coat, covered in dust, landed on the fortress and rolled.

“Ugh…!”

He could have used magic, but he didn’t.

He had given up on using a bike to climb the fortress to minimize his presence and noise.

If he had managed to sneak in this far using only mana threads and public magic, which consumed the least amount of mana and were difficult to track, he had to do his best until the end.

He suppressed the cough that escaped through the dust and stood up.

The object he had used to support himself was a pile of unidentified supplies wrapped in damp cloths.

There were easily thousands of such supply boxes, each the size of a car, piled up nearby.

“Haa…”

Only then did Lenok slowly look around and sigh silently.

A vast deck, as if dozens of ships had been connected together.

Its width alone was so vast that it could cover the entire downtown area near the satellite city.

Far below, over a hundred meters in the air, the scene of the fierce battle was faintly visible.

He was now looking down at the countless artillery barrages that he had been looking up at just moments ago.

His task was clear.

“Davi, is the scan complete?”

[It’s not easy due to the magnetic storms nearby. I can grasp the general structure, but it will take some time to fully understand the internal structure.]

“We don’t have much time. We need to move.”

It was clear that the current location was at the edge of the fortress deck.

It wouldn’t be too difficult to find the direction towards the center while observing the path he had taken.

Lenok quietly suppressed his mana and began to walk.

With items like the Nicks emblem, the shadow coat, and the druid’s amulet, it wouldn’t be too difficult to deceive the eyes of the command soldiers guarding the Defense Force’s fortress control room.

The presence of Lieutenant General Trepen was a concern, but it would be enough if he could just reach the server room where he could interfere with the central system.

Whoosh…!!

The cold wind blowing from the high altitude relentlessly battered Lenok’s body.

Pressing down on his coat collar, Lenok quickly surveyed his surroundings and nodded.

“Indeed, the supplies around here show almost no signs of use. They’re quite old, but practically brand new.”

[They share the same characteristics as the fortress’s exterior.]

“It’s clear that the supplies on the deck have been through the same place as the fortress. But if the fortress facilities themselves are this severely deteriorated…”

[Master, it would be faster to find a way inside the fortress first.]

Davi quickly broke Lenok out of his thoughts.

[If we search the internal circuit control room, we’ll be able to find the cause of this phenomenon quickly.]

“I suppose so. But something…”

Even while pondering, Lenok quickly moved to find a way into the fortress from the deck.

Among the large cannons and countless military weapons like tanks and fighter jets on the deck, there wasn’t a single person in sight.

Like the empty landscape of the satellite city, there was an eerie absence of people near the fortress deck.

Only the sound of artillery fire pouring towards the ground echoed across the deck.

Lenok’s feet moved faster than the questions in his head.

“Found it. One of the passages leading down from the fortress deck.”

Click!

A gate with a number written in bright yellow paint for easy visibility.

But it was discolored and peeling, making the number barely visible.

It was locked, but if he opened it and went inside, he could infiltrate the fortress.

However, instead of forcing the door open right away, Lenok stared at the discolored paint.

“…”

[Master?]

“Even if other facilities are neglected, the gate that is most visible when moving between decks is also poorly maintained.”

[…]

“The fact that the gate number is barely visible isn’t just a matter of poor maintenance, it’s a level of negligence that could disrupt command and control. This… it’s clear that something has already happened within the Defense Force.”

The fortress’s scenery he had encountered so far quickly flashed through his mind.

The unknown fragments scattered between his memories were piecing together like a puzzle, heading towards a single answer—

“Not so fast.”

Someone pressed a cold blade against Lenok’s back.

“That area is restricted to authorized personnel only.”

“…”

“It would be best if outsiders turned back now.”

A voice that felt somewhat relaxed even in this urgent situation.

But the mana contained in that tone was incredibly robust.

Without showing even a hint of fighting spirit, he conveyed his intention to fight more clearly than anything else.

The identity of the opponent was clear.

“…That’s a rather inappropriate statement for the situation.”

Lenok slowly turned around.

“Do you really want me to turn back?”

“That’s just what I’m saying. Let’s not get too serious.”

A gray-haired man in his mid-30s with a rough scar over one eye.

The epaulet on his shoulder was adorned with a single star.

With the other major generals appearing on different battlefields, the identity of the person in front of him was clear.

One of the three major generals at the top of the Defense Force Command.

Among them, Major General Barclay, known for his most robust temperament and activity, was standing in front of Lenok.

“In this harsh military life, we have to throw out jokes to survive, right?”

“Military life… does that include those guys waiting over there?”

Lenok said, slightly turning his head.

On the foggy deck, countless laser pointers, which had not been visible when he passed by, were now painting Lenok’s coat red.

The faint glow of the visors. The elite command unit guarding the fortress deck, their forces had appeared on the deck and surrounded him from all sides in the blink of an eye.

What did it mean that the presence, which couldn’t be sensed even with mana detection, had appeared in such numbers in the blink of an eye?

Lenok soon realized the answer.

“It seems there are several hidden passages under the fortress deck.”

Looking at Barclay’s face, Lenok rummaged through his coat.

“You were aware of my infiltration, but you waited until you could form a formation?”

“That’s right. I had heard some rumors about your actions.”

The major general nodded.

“The ‘Iron Wall’ of District 49. A mage, with a considerable force under his command, who enjoys acting alone. I thought there was a chance, but I didn’t expect you to move so boldly.”

Barclay chuckled.

“To think you would try to climb the fortress wall and attack the deck. Do you know that all military equipment is coated with mana interference prevention?”

“…”

“I can’t believe you came this far without knowing that… but business is business.”

Click!

He slightly twisted the blade he was holding.

“Let’s both do our best.”

A large blade with a massive blade, as big as Barclay’s physique.

The red yarn tassel hanging from the end of the handle was striking.

Lenok stared at the silver blade for a moment, then lit another cigarette and asked.

“Do you have any intention of surrendering?”

“What?”

“Major General Barclay Yagert of the Defense Force Army. I heard that you are the most reasonable among the three major generals who follow Lieutenant General Trepen.”

“…”

“The city councilor and the deputy director of the agent are watching this operation with interest. It’s impossible for Lieutenant General Trepen to avoid responsibility for this, but they might be able to cover up one of the generals under him.”

It wasn’t an empty statement.

The opponent was a major general of the Defense Force Command. Moreover, a Saint-level swordsman who had already reached a considerable level.

He had to conserve as much mana as possible while fighting Barclay here to be able to exert his full strength when facing Lieutenant General Trepen.

Even if that wasn’t the case, if Trepen was listening to this conversation, he could create an opportunity for internal strife depending on Barclay’s attitude.

Either way, it wouldn’t be a bad option for Lenok.

“If you cooperate with us and open the way to the fortress’s central control room, we can guarantee your safety until the end of the operation.”

The light of the laser pointers flickered erratically through the spreading smoke.

“It won’t be difficult to save your life and escape.”

“…This is a bit different from what I heard.”

Barclay looked at Lenok, who had a cigarette in his mouth, with an amused expression.

“I heard you were a mage crazy for fighting, but you’re much more composed than I thought.”

“What’s your answer?”

“It’s an interesting offer, but I refuse.”

Barclay shook his head with a wry smile.

“I don’t particularly like what I’m doing now… but it was bound to happen someday.”

“…”

“The commander just needed someone to push his back. I’ve known that for a long time, but I didn’t stop it. Now I’m paying the price.”

It was a calm statement, but what could be seen inside was not an acceptance of death.

It was just a judgment to calmly accept the situation and then find a way out.

“Even if you die being swept up in that futile ambition?”

“That’s why I’m working like this now, to avoid dying.”

Barclay grinned and slung the greatsword he was holding over his shoulder.

“If we eliminate you in this abandoned city and succeed in the operation, we’ll somehow manage. All the soldiers remaining here have accepted the lieutenant general’s decision.”

“…”

“So, don’t do anything unnecessary and just offer your neck.”

As the smile on the major general’s lips turned cold, intense mana began to rise from the bottom of the greatsword’s blade.

“You know that nothing will change now, right?”

“I suppose so.”

Lenok nodded.

The moment the smoke from the cigarette in his mouth mixed with the surrounding fog and turned infinitely cold.

“Hearing that, I’ve also prepared myself.”

Crack!!!

In an instant, massive ice shards rose on the fortress deck.

A conjuration magic of the ice type that condensed the surrounding fog.

A massive cone, large enough to cover one side of the deck’s gate, instantly covered the piles of supplies on the deck.

“Fire!!”

Following Barclay’s command, dozens of command soldiers who had been waiting simultaneously pulled their triggers.

Tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu-tu!!

Not just simple assault rifles, but dozens of soldiers with heavy machine guns befitting the command soldiers guarding the fortress deck.

The firepower of the barrage they unleashed was too much to block with mana alone.

Large ice shards flew out haphazardly, scattering ice chunks everywhere, and in an instant, the thick wall was eaten away, revealing the mage behind it.

In the brief moment when the distance between them could be gauged.

Barclay, who had slowly slid the greatsword off his shoulder, moved.

Swoosh!!

Even though he was holding a heavy weapon, his movements were barely visible.

The moment he lowered his stance and readjusted his grip, the sharp blade had already cleanly cut through the massive ice shard.

A dark flash flew diagonally, deeply cutting through the mage’s figure that would be present beyond it.

Kugugugung!!!

The massive ice shard, split in half, collapsed onto the deck, and a cold frost swept through.

“Oh, dear.”

Only then did Barclay realize his mistake and frown.

The flesh that appeared to be the mage’s corpse was nowhere to be seen beyond the ice shard.

Instead, frost storms fluttering from all directions began to cling to the limbs of the command soldiers.

“M-Major General!!”

“My body won’t move!”

“Is there anyone who can start a fire!”

“Damn it, at this rate…!!”

Kwaaaang!!

A massive shockwave suddenly erupted among the struggling command soldiers, sweeping away everything on the deck.

“Aaaaaaack!!”

Desperate screams. The Defense Force soldiers, whose frozen limbs were shattered, lost their combat abilities and fell into a near-death state.

Even the strong bodies of the command soldiers guarding the fortress deck were helpless against the mana-infused cold.

However, Barclay’s gaze was fixed on the direction from which the shockwave had come, rather than the command soldiers who were dying.

One of the tanks that had been abandoned without an owner suddenly opened its muzzle and fired a heavy shell.

A sudden friendly fire incident, the possibility of it being a coincidence was impossible. There was only one conclusion he could think of.

“…This is the worst. Did he plan this far ahead?”

Clatter…!!

The tanks that had been scattered haphazardly on the deck slowly turned their muzzles.

A fighter jet that had been covered in dust began to move, rolling its wheels, and started to dash haphazardly across the fortress deck.

Du-du-du-du-du-du!!

Kugugung!!

The tank shells that were running around everywhere relentlessly pounded the deck, and the small missiles attached to the fighter jet’s wings fell and exploded.

Kwaaaaaaaang!!

Flames bloomed red on the deck where the frost storm was raging.

Cold and hot winds alternated, painting the sky above the fortress red and blue.

It didn’t take long for everyone in this place to realize the abnormality.

“Damn it, everyone fall back!!”

“No matter what, don’t give up the center of the deck!!”

“T-There’s nowhere to run!!!”

Barclay, with a slight frown, took the lead, swinging his greatsword and shouting.

“Those who can move, help the wounded nearby!”

Whoooong!!

The heavy sword wind that was released at the same time as he laid the greatsword down suppressed the nearby explosions and impacts, opening a path.

“All snipers with scopes, change your viewing angles and find the Iron Wall!”

Barclay’s face gradually hardened at the constant barrage of explosions.

Even though they were the ones who had initially caught the opponent off guard, they were being toyed with as if they had been waiting for the fight to begin.

It was almost as if the Iron Wall had set the stage and was waiting for them.

What made Barclay most uneasy was Lenok’s intention, who had not yet revealed himself even after scattering their formation so thoroughly.

If there was something more important for the Iron Wall to worry about than killing him and the command soldiers and breaking through the gate—

Clatter…!!

That ominous feeling turned into certainty the moment he looked at one corner of the fortress deck.

The ground interception turrets installed on the fortress deck.

Some of the thousands of turrets that had been firing at the ground began to turn their heads in a different direction.

The direction of those muzzles was towards the 8-lane highway where a fierce battle had been taking place, near the rear of the Defense Force’s main force occupying the highway.

At the same time as Barclay’s face hardened as he looked at the turrets that had begun to aim at their own allies instead of the enemy.

Lenok’s calm voice echoed.

[Acquired control of 240 omnidirectional turrets of the mobile fortress. Analyzing 338 additional turrets.]

“…Shit.”

[Changing firing targets. Full barrage towards the Defense Force’s main force.]