Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 334

The day after meeting Aris, Lenok began to tackle the pile of pending tasks.

These were schedules he had postponed after receiving Aris’s call. He had cleared his schedule, prepared to give her a considerable explanation about the matter, but things don’t always go as planned.

“…”

Lenok was slightly surprised by Aris’s decision, but he didn’t dwell on it much. Aris Richelieu, as Lenok had observed, was someone well aware of the weight of her duties and responsibilities. If such a person were to temporarily step down from her professorship and return to the Magic Tower, there must be a good reason. If it was merely a postponement, Lenok could wait. Aris had waited much longer for his answer, after all.

“Potion crafting is done, alchemy lab enhancement, business plan review, transfer of shares approved… Davi, what else is there?”

[Review of the lab relocation plan, replenishment of used reagents, and the production of extra tobacco for the year. Equipment maintenance is left.]

Davi, who was lounging in the toad house, could handle the role of a scheduler without Lenok’s specific orders. Lenok, sitting on the workbench, leaned back and pondered.

“Considering the schedule, moving right away would be impossible, and the reagents were already ordered. Even if tobacco production can be done anywhere…”

[Where are you going?]

“The modified charging shotgun I left with Palmer. It’s about time I picked it up.”

As he became more skilled in alchemy, making tobacco by combining reagents was no longer difficult for Lenok. While he couldn’t say he had found the perfect prototype for himself, he had succeeded in replicating effects similar to those of products on the market. There wasn’t much left to do.

He went straight to Palmer’s workshop to see the completion of the shotgun he was working on. Despite grumbling, he faithfully assembled the parts of the shotgun that Lenok had personally carved and created.

“Where on earth did you get these materials?”

Koo-oong!!

The charging shotgun placed on the workbench emitted a weight that was on a different level than before.

“It’s surprisingly hard for something that isn’t metal, but it’s ridiculously heavy. Using such materials for shotgun parts, you’re not right in the head either.”

“It can’t be helped.”

Lenok smiled and lifted the shotgun with one hand, causing Palmer’s expression to change strangely.

“If you want to increase the power without going through a complex process, the only way is to increase the durability of the gun itself.”

“Hmph, the power of that shotgun is already complete. How are you going to increase the firepower from there?”

“It’s not difficult. I’ll apply three separate changes to the nature of magic to cause repulsion.”

Click!!

Lenok, having cast a weight reduction spell, held the charging shotgun and infused it with magic.

Weeeeeeeng!!

Inside the shotgun’s barrel, three different types of magic began to rotate simultaneously.

“It’s difficult to perfectly control the direction and it’s inefficient, but if it’s just about pushing it in the direction the muzzle is pointing…”

Kugugugugu!!

At that moment, the air inside the workshop began to swirl and rotate around the shotgun Lenok was holding. Unidentifiable equipment hanging on the wall fell to the floor, and the window frames shook as if they would break.

Palmer nodded with a pale face.

“Okay, I get it. Stop it, you crazy bastard!!”

“If the barrel and cylinder that can withstand the impact are sturdy enough, it’s entirely possible.”

As Lenok said that and instantly dispersed the magic, Palmer shook his head and slumped into a chair.

“If you want that kind of power, why don’t you just carry around a cannon?”

“It’s not like I haven’t thought about it, but it’s the same in that it needs constant maintenance. In that regard, I quite like this shotgun.”

Lenok smiled as he used a shrinking spell to store the shotgun in his sleeve.

“The efficiency of the charging system itself is quite excellent, and there’s a lot of room for utilization depending on the user’s capabilities. It’s a product worthy of being called a special order from the Machine City.”

“…Alright. Just go. I’ll send you the bill after I estimate it.”

With a tired face, Palmer waved his hand. After that, Lenok purchased various equipment such as wires, daggers that could be stored on the wrist, and camping kits from Palmer’s workshop before leaving.

According to Lapis’s summons, the place he had to go to now was the snowy fields of the Northern Continent. It was definitely a region where there was a high possibility of camping outdoors.

“Now, what else do I have to do… That’s right.”

Before going to the last place he had in mind, Lenok simply bought a bunch of fresh vegetables from a nearby vegetable store.

“Did Evelyn like celery? I think she often ate carrots and cucumbers.”

He would likely meet Evelyn in the Northern Continent. Since she had gone there almost a month earlier, the chances of her having access to fresh vegetables she liked were low. Since he was taking various things anyway, it wouldn’t be difficult to bring a gift for Evelyn. Thinking that, Lenok bought vegetables that were easy to cut into small pieces and store, then cut them simply and packed them into a container.

[I always think, but that agent has a very strange diet.]

“…”

[To maintain nutritional balance, you need to balance meat and vegetables well.]

“You’re right. But that’s rich coming from you.”

Lenok sighed as he looked down at Davi, who was not only stealing electricity from the toad house but now also sucking the battery of Lenok’s phone. The time Lapis had given him for the summons was tomorrow. Time was running out.

Lenok looked down at the luggage he had packed in advance, checked the time, and got up from his seat. There was one last place he had to visit before heading to the Northern Continent.

* * *

Beep- Beep-

A large hospital located in the 20th district. Among them, a VIP room located on the top floor. The figure of a bird-headed giant lying on a spacious single bed was visible through the glass window. Felix Magath, with his eyes closed, was in such a terrible state that it was hard to find an uninjured spot on his body. His injuries were so severe that blood was seeping through the bandages wrapped around his entire body. The beak, which had been straight, was cracked and broken, exposing the bright red flesh.

Next to Lenok, who was silently standing outside the glass window, Dylan spoke calmly.

“They say it will take about a month for him to regain consciousness.”

“…”

“I heard the story. That crocodile geezer put our chief in this state, right?”

Dylan chewed his lip behind his wrestler mask.

“Damn it, I should have gone with Mila too.”

“Chief Felix’s judgment wasn’t wrong.”

At that moment, a woman who had entered the hospital room answered Dylan’s words. A cold-looking bob cut. She was a beauty with a neat appearance, but her expression was stiff, giving her a chilly impression.

“You two have been called to various places recently by the director’s orders, so it was necessary to keep some power in reserve in case of an emergency.”

“Deputy Director…”

“Or are you saying you don’t trust my judgment in approving his decision?”

“Haha…”

Dylan, who was sweating profusely under the sharp gaze of the woman called the Deputy Director, subtly backed away.

“Come to think of it, I forgot to bring a get-well gift for Felix. This is a problem. I’ll be right back.”

“What?”

Lenok didn’t even have time to stop him. Ignoring Dylan, who had disappeared from the hospital room in an instant, the Deputy Director immediately turned her gaze to Lenok.

“Kyonroe, right?”

“…”

She didn’t wait for Lenok’s answer and extended her hand first.

“Stella Grienne. I’m the Deputy Director of the Antares Office. I’m managing the office in place of the director who is away.”

“Ban. I’m a freelancer.”

“Thank you for not forgetting to look for our member. I never thought you would come to visit, but you’re a much more compassionate person than I thought.”

“…Well, rumors are not to be trusted.”

Lenok said that and subtly turned his head towards Felix. Visiting him was planned, but he didn’t expect that he would still be unconscious. Considering that the battle with Kraken was fierce, but there were no serious injuries during the battle, he thought he would have recovered by now… Considering that Hina, who was seriously injured at the agent headquarters he visited before coming here, had recovered enough to walk, this situation was unnatural. The only thing he could think of was…

“Kraken Asilus.”

Stella, who was looking up at Lenok’s back, said.

“You came to hear about that old man, right?”

“…”

“Shall we sit down and talk?”

Stella said that and sat down on the sofa placed against the hospital room wall, crossing her legs. She took out a tobacco stick from her pocket and naturally put it in her mouth. The moment Lenok faintly frowned, Stella said as if making an excuse.

“It’s an e-cigarette. It’s just something that emits vapor.”

Come to think of it, it wasn’t something that burned with fire in the first place. The appearance looked closer to an electronic device.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“…”

Lenok, sitting opposite Stella, who had her mouth shut, asked.

“The battle hammer that Felix had. Is this injury now due to the magic contained within that hammer?”

“…What?”

“Kraken Asilus said that the magic was from the ‘Arrival’. And the name ‘Arrival’ is…”

Since returning to the city, he had invested some time to find out about that name. If Kraken was interested enough to get his hands on it, it was definitely knowledge that Lenok should also look into. The result was that there was a person who used that name more than 200 years ago. And that man failed to ascend and returned to dust. The ‘Arrival’ that Felix and Kraken mentioned was the name of a 9th-level ascender [a powerful mage who has reached the ninth level of magical ability] who was now dead.

“If it’s the backlash from using the posthumous magic of such an existence as a weapon, it’s understandable that Felix is still suffering from the aftereffects. It’s also why Kraken, who wasn’t obsessed with any weapon, got his hands on that hammer.”

Stella, who was looking at Lenok with a slightly surprised expression, muttered.

“That old man’s mouth has gotten a lot looser since I last saw him. I never thought you would know about that, let alone Felix.”

“…”

“Before settling in this city, I traveled.”

Stella said while puffing out smoke.

“There were people who wanted to see all the mysteries of this world with their own eyes and confirm the coming end.”

“…”

“Many things happened during the long journey. And everyone changed.”

Silence flowed.

“As Ars Nova [a powerful magical organization], which seemed like it would last forever, collapsed, those who sensed that the end was near began to move. I saw and heard many things, but it was inevitable that the answers they came to would diverge.”

“And the answer of you who followed Antares is this mercenary office.”

He could tell without having to say it. The magic emanating from Stella, who was sitting with her legs crossed in a neat posture and tapping her e-cigarette, was more powerful than any words. A 7th-level Saintly Ability user [a mage who has reached the seventh level of magical ability], who had completed the seven stages and become the embodiment of change herself. It was impossible to guess how long that calm, deep, and submerged aura had been honed. However, at the end of the slow-flowing tide, as if time had stopped, there was a faint trace of distortion and mutation. Has she already decided how to take the next step?

The Deputy Director of the Antares Office was a wielder of power comparable to the executives of the Cartel [a powerful organization]. The power of the office, which had Antares, Stella, and Felix, was comparable to the Three Heads [the three most powerful figures in the city]. But if there was a reason why they had been quietly hiding as a mercenary group instead of moving in the forefront of the shadows…

“The posthumous magic of the Arrival is one of the ancient relics obtained during that journey. Weapons made by processing the remains of a famous berserker from hundreds of years ago… It has power that even a 7th-level Saintly Ability user would covet, but the aftereffects are also strong.”

She glanced at the other side of the glass window and muttered. Her gaze at Felix, who was unconscious, was filled with undisguised concern.

“So, that item was taken by Kraken Asilus…”

“Of course, the director and I were against the use of that relic. Felix using that hammer was his way of avoiding an unavoidable situation, just like back then.”

Stella’s eyes flashed sharply.

“Kyonroe, you also felt indebted to that fact, so you came to us like this, didn’t you?”

“I feel guilty.”

“…”

Stella, who had been hit right on the mark, shut her mouth.

“There’s no need to show me such emotions. I didn’t come here to blame you. If the physical aftereffects are the problem, I also think I should respect Felix’s choice.”

“Then…”

“But I need to hear what Antares wants and desires, and what he has been waiting for until now.”

Lenok and Stella’s gazes collided in the air at the same time.

“I only met that man once. It was before I had completed my stage.”

“…”

“With that kind of power, what is he still waiting for and desiring? What is he trying to do and where is he going after leaving the mercenary group he created?”

Lenok, touching the left sleeve of his coat, said.

“He asked me what answer I wanted on the day the sky opened. Now it’s my turn to ask him.”

“…That’s a request I can’t grant.”

Stella shrugged her shoulders.

“You know what kind of person Antares is. I only see his face a few times a year. What do you expect from someone who wanders around the continent every day?”

“…”

Looking at Lenok, who had closed his mouth, she nodded.

“Since you said you wanted to make an appointment, I’ll tell him when the director comes. Antares likes you, so you’ll hear from him soon.”

“No.”

Lenok shook his head despite Stella’s answer.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t have much time either. I need to talk now.”

“So, the director is now…”

The last destination before responding to the summons. He didn’t come here just to visit Felix. If not today, such an opportunity would not easily come to Lenok or him. An 8th-level Extreme Ability user [a mage who has reached the eighth level of magical ability]. The head of a mercenary group that is among the top in the city’s shadows. An existence that remembers many things and waits for the right time.

Lenok was planning to meet Antares again and confirm his true intentions.

“Do I have to say it myself that Antares is here right now?”