Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 340

Whoooosh!!

Northern Highlands. The second base newly relocated by the Blue Eye.

Looking out at the blizzard raging outside the wide corridor window, Lenox muttered,

“The wind is cold.”

“It’s the Northern Continent, and a highland close to the polar region,” Grisha, standing behind Lenox, yawned and replied.

It felt like they hadn’t met in quite a while, but she and Lenox didn’t bother with any special greetings.

As a long-lived race that had lived for hundreds of years, her sense of time was quite different from others.

“But this is just the process of returning to the original climate as the power that covered the area weakens. The temperature has been dropping for a month, so it will probably get colder.”

“Is that why you decided to move the base in this way?”

Lenox’s gaze, cast out the window, stretched dozens of meters down to the distant ground.

The place where this conference room and the new base were located was dozens of meters above the ground. And this scenery was something that looked familiar to Lenox.

To prepare a new base for the Blue Eye, Lapis had summoned one of the autonomous territory’s floating islands whole and made it into a base.

“But I didn’t know such a thing was possible. I thought the floating island clusters could only exist in the ‘Sea of Understanding’.”

The updrafts rising from the strait called the Sea of Understanding allow objects with magical power to float much more efficiently than in other areas.

However, Lapis ignored the special nature of that environment and succeeded in summoning one of the floating islands in the autonomous territory to the Northern Highlands, thousands of kilometers away.

The size of the floating island itself was quite small compared to the clusters Lenox had seen in the autonomous territory, but it was large enough to accommodate about thirty watchers.

“It’s a makeshift measure made by roughly mixing various tricks with the Lighthouse Keeper’s abilities,” Grisha said with an indifferent expression.

“To be precise, we are only designating and summoning the framework of the floating island that exists in the autonomous territory. We are creating another island by adding soil and snow procured locally to the framework that receives the power of the updrafts in the Sea of Understanding.”

“So, you’re not completely completing the summoning formula, but just vaguely maintaining its shape. Who is bearing the magic consumption?”

“I’m maintaining it by linking my main power. Can’t you tell?”

“……”

Lenox stared at the bronze-skinned shaman with a dumbfounded expression.

Just maintaining a spell of this scale without completing it was already monstrous, but she was maintaining a healthy complexion even after adding the weight of the snow and soil of this snowy field.

Moreover, Grisha had even used her magnetic field, [Southern Barbarian Sea Mirror], the moment she appeared to save Lapis.

He knew that she possessed an overwhelming main power that was impossible to gauge, but he had not expected it to be this much.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I’m not maintaining all of this with just my main power,” Grisha read Lenox’s gaze and chuckled.

“Shamanism is originally a technique that finds shortcuts using all sorts of restrictions and triggers, and it’s more specialized in preservation and maintenance than creation. Because we have found a different point of arrival than magic, shamans like me have been able to survive until now.”

“It’s definitely at a level that can’t be explained by such words…”

He understood that such a ridiculous thing was possible for a shaman who had lived for over hundreds of years.

Perhaps Grisha herself was acting as the engine and power source of this floating island, changing its direction and moving it like the captain of a ship.

If so, it was also understandable why she was not by Lapis’s side when Lapis summoned Lenox.

“So, you’ve been fighting the transcendents who have gathered in this area for a month for that?”

“……”

Grisha stared at Lenox’s face at his words, then smiled.

“Come to think of it, you haven’t heard any explanation. You probably don’t even know that we’ve been gathering and doing this for over a month.”

“I know that the transcendent who was hiding in the innermost canyon of the snowy field has moved. And that organizations that noticed that fact are moving one after another.”

“Oh.”

“However, what I don’t understand is… why no one is trying to approach the inside of the snowy field rashly. If everyone here has gathered for the purpose of meeting the transcendent, it’s obvious that the person who moves first will be at an advantage.”

Lenox said that and turned his gaze towards Grisha.

“I think I’ll have to hear the reason why from now on.”

“…Let’s talk about that at the meeting.”

Grisha slightly avoided his gaze and put the pipe she was holding into her pocket.

“Since you’re here, I was planning to briefly summarize the current situation and goals. What exactly do we need to do to meet the transcendent who has settled in this snowy field? You don’t know yet, do you?”

When Lenox nodded, she skillfully clapped her hands.

“That’s right. Lapis will explain that part well. Let’s go inside and think.”

As Grisha said that and was about to take Lenox to the conference room, Lenox stopped walking.

“Wait a minute, let me have one more before going in.”

“No, we just had one together before coming in.”

“I won’t be able to smoke for a while once the meeting starts. I need to replenish beforehand.”

“You’re talking like you’re charging a battery… Okay, just hurry up and go.”

Grisha’s words were not wrong.

In fact, the drugs that Lenox inhaled through the cigarette were helping this weak body move like a normal person.

He had explored all sorts of ways to alleviate the penalty he had incurred as the price of his talent, but in the end, only drugs remained in his hands.

He could only hope that this opportunity would present a new direction to break free from this tiresome cycle.

As Lenox thought that and was about to leave the mansion corridor on the floating island.

Bang!!

He encountered watchers who were opening the door and entering.

“Ah…”

Instantly, Lenox activated his magic sense and quickly scanned the watchers in front of him.

There were about ten people. Men and women, and their attire was varied.

They all looked somewhat tired, as if they were worn out from continuous battles. Judging by their neat appearance compared to their expressions, they must be returning after finishing their maintenance.

A subtle gaze mixed with goodwill and caution. An ambiguous attitude that was not sure if they were allies.

It was an awkward distance to exchange greetings.

Lenox roughly nodded his head and passed the group, grabbing the doorknob.

They were faces he would see again in the conference room anyway. Even if they were from the same Blue Eye, they would not be working together, so there was no need to introduce himself.

Thinking that, he was rummaging through his pocket to take out a cigarette when.

“You’re Evan, right?”

A watcher standing at the end of the group stopped Lenox.

“Can we talk for a moment?”

“……”

Lenox turned his head slightly while holding the doorknob.

A man with a neat face was looking at him. The other members of the group had also stopped walking, following the man.

But since no one was surprised, it seemed like they had already talked about it beforehand.

Before answering, Lenox once again carefully examined the man who had spoken to him.

He had heard that they had been operating in this snowy field for over a month, but his attire itself was very neat.

But more than that, what caught his eye first was the core of magic that was firmly solidified inside him, slowly rotating.

It was proof that the man standing in front of him was a level 7 Saint-level ability user who had just completed his rank.

‘Seeing it like this, it’s quite refreshing…’

Almost all of the level 7 powerhouses Lenox had encountered so far were old and experienced powerhouses who had already bloomed their talents to their limits.

The presidents of the Cartel were also all veterans who had reached level 7 at least 20 years ago.

Of course, he had heard that there were also talents who had just reached level 7 among the high-ranking executives of the Cartel, but he had never actually seen them.

Except for himself, it was almost the first time he had seen a transcendent who had just completed their rank.

“…Are you not going to answer?”

“Ah, I’m sorry.”

He was lost in thought and forgot to answer.

Lenox said that, but he didn’t stop reaching into his pocket.

Seeing the other watchers flinch at that simple gesture, Lenox took out a cigarette from his pocket.

“But can we talk while I have a smoke?”

* * *

A small manor located behind the mansion.

They had brought soil and snow from near the snowy field and added flesh to it, and they had even planted trees around the mansion.

Lenox, who let out a hollow laugh at the trivial detail, put a cigarette in his mouth and lit it.

Chiiik!

“Haa…”

Behind Lenox, who was exhaling smoke, a dozen watchers surrounded him, waiting for his words.

It was a situation that wouldn’t be strange if it looked somewhat threatening.

But it was the watchers who were stiffening their expressions with tense faces.

No one was foolish enough to doubt the skills of the Flame Heat Magician who had single-handedly subdued the Drug King of the Demon Realm.

A distinguished person whom the Lighthouse Keeper, who had brought them into the Blue Eye, was trying to keep by his side at this point, even at the risk of danger.

Everyone vaguely guessed that he was not an ordinary magician.

Lenox roughly guessed the thoughts of those watchers and chuckled.

He wondered if the newly joined watchers were trying to assert their seniority, but it seemed that Lapis had filtered out the stupid ones.

Lenox looked around and carefully examined a surly-looking man who was staring blankly at him.

Confirming that his gaze was directed at the cigarette Lenox was holding, Lenox rummaged through his pocket and took out a new cigarette.

“Want a smoke?”

“…I won’t refuse.”

“Gerrick!!”

A sharp-looking woman tried to stop him, but the man called Gerrick readily accepted the cigarette Lenox handed him and put it in his mouth.

“Oh…!”

“How does it taste?”

“…It’s the taste of home. It’s incredibly stable.”

“……”

To talk about the taste of home with a custom-made product that Lenox had made himself.

As if noticing Lenox’s thoughts, the young man of level 7, who had been lost in thought until now, opened his mouth instead.

“Gerrick is a werewolf. It seems that among the ingredients of the cigarette you’re smoking, there’s an herb that is cultivated in his village.”

Herbs… Among the various materials he had experimented with while making cigarettes through alchemy, there were also types of herbs cultivated in Gerrick’s village.

But instead of showing that thought, Lenox turned his gaze towards the young man.

“It seems like you’ve finished organizing your thoughts?”

The young man did not answer Lenox’s words.

Instead, he walked forward and held out his hand to Lenox.

“Rens Avilon. A level 7 curse shaman. I used to belong to Legios, and now I work for the Blue Eye.”

“The Order Alliance? I’ve heard of it.”

Lenox roughly grabbed his hand and shook it, replying.

“I heard it’s one of the most powerful shaman organizations in the central front. You managed to think of leaving even after completing your rank.”

“I thought of leaving because I completed it.”

Rens smiled bitterly.

“That was the trigger that made me realize that the path the Alliance was taking was different from what I wanted.”

“……”

“Chasing after the glory of Ars Nova [a reference to a new art or movement] is not the answer I want. I came here hoping for a more realistic alternative.”

Saying that, Rens raised his head and met Lenox’s gaze.

“It’s not just me. All of the watchers gathered here have agreed with Lapis’s opinion and decided to spend their remaining time in that direction.”

“I see.”

“That’s why I wanted to tell you our position in advance.”

“Position?”

“I acknowledge your achievements and skills in single-handedly subduing the Drug King. And that we came this far because we learned about the existence of the Blue Eye thanks to you. But I hope you don’t try to control us with that achievement and time.”

Rens’s eyes shone with firm resolve.

“The trust that Lapis has in you is a given. But I hope you don’t interfere with her thoughts, believing in that.”

Lenox laughed with an absurd expression.

“You’re talking as if I’m going to manipulate Lapis from behind.”

“I know you’re not that kind of person. But a Saint Magician, especially someone as strong and opinionated as you, will influence those around you in some way. Am I wrong?”

“……”

“Hyun-Gung, Ivelyn Marcia. A strong and wise person. Once you know why such a strong person decided to join, you can’t help but be wary of you.”

Rens slightly nodded his head after seeing Lenox’s expressionless face.

As if he was relieved after seeing the reactions so far.

“I hope this organization doesn’t turn into an organization for you, not for Lapis. That’s all I wanted to say.”

“That’s a pointless request.”

The other watchers flinched at the cynical answer, but Lenox smiled, seeing through those reactions.

“But you’re much more logical than the ignorant fools. I roughly understand what you mean.”

“……”

“Let’s talk about the rest at the meeting.”

The other watchers’ expressions slightly softened at Lenox’s much softer answer than expected.

Rens’s words had some persuasiveness, but what transcendent would like a request to be careful about exerting influence in this powerful organization?

Considering Evan’s skills and temperament that they had heard about, his attitude was much more docile than expected.

Was it because he wasn’t interested in others in the first place, or was it because he didn’t react unless he was touched first?

At least it seemed that he was showing some respect to the other watchers.

Just as Lenox was about to walk inside the mansion, fiddling with the end of the burnt filter.

The werewolf, Gerrick, who had been concentrating on burning his cigarette without saying a word until now, spoke.

“The watchers’ thoughts are all different.”

“……”

“There are definitely those who think favorably of what you’ve accomplished, but there are also those who are more wary of you than us.”

Gerrick’s steadfast eyes calmly stared at Lenox.

“It will be roughly determined at this meeting, but I will support you.”

“Gerrick, you really…”

“Are you going to keep doing this alone?”

Despite the other watchers’ reproaches, Gerrick spoke in a blunt tone.

“He let me smoke a good cigarette, so he’s a trustworthy person. It’s worth working with him at least once.”

“Damn it, that’s why you can’t communicate with beasts…”

“Someone should probably stock up on cigarettes in advance so that this guy doesn’t change his mind.”

Lenox, who was watching the watchers bickering and heading to the conference room, turned around with a smile.

Such a conversation itself was possible because they thought of each other as comrades fighting under the same banner.

In that respect, the Blue Eye that Lapis had newly created did not seem to be a very weak organization.

At the meeting that would begin now, he would meet and evaluate the true power of the Blue Eye and the rest of the watchers.

“So, stop hiding and come out now.”

“…Did you know?”

Lenox snorted as he looked at Ivelyn, who appeared from behind a tree with an awkward smile.

“I know what you’re thinking, but if you had intervened there, the situation would have become even stranger. You know that, right?”

“Of course, of course. It’s hard to say that there are no factional fights even in the agency.”

Ivelyn, who had slipped behind Lenox, answered nonchalantly.

“I was just thinking if the fact that I joined the Blue Eye would cause trouble for you…”

“Trouble?”

“Yeah. Not all watchers responded to this summons, but I can’t say for sure that there are no strange people.”

Ivelyn vaguely glossed over that and immediately grabbed Lenox’s sleeve.

“You’ll find out the details at the meeting. Let’s go in.”

“Ah, right. I forgot to give you this.”

Lenox said that and took out a shrunken case from his pocket and handed it to Ivelyn.

Vegetables he had bought at the market. A gift that had been cut and processed into easy-to-eat sizes.

“…What is this?”

“I bought it at the market. It won’t be as good as the crops you grow yourself.”

As Lenox said that and slightly turned his head, Ivelyn finally realized the identity of the gift and smiled softly.

“What, I didn’t know you would take care of things like this?”

“If you’ve been in this snowy field for a month, it would have been difficult to get vegetables.”

“……”

“I think your condition is also an important factor in the operation.”

It wasn’t a lie.

He knew that Lenox had influenced Ivelyn’s decision to join the Blue Eye to some extent.

On the way back from the Blaber Magic Tower’s Western Continent branch, if he hadn’t confessed that Ban and Evan were the same person, would Ivelyn be standing here now?

Knowing that to some extent, Lenox couldn’t shake the feeling that he owed her a debt of gratitude.

This gift was just a small reward for her kindness.

Even though he knew it was an unresolvable debt, Lenox wanted to do at least what he could for her.

Ivelyn, who had been looking down at the vegetable container Lenox had given her for a while, slightly raised her head.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing much-”

The moment Lenox said that and turned his head, Ivelyn suddenly held something out in front of his eyes.

“What is this?”

“Since I received a gift, I wanted to give you a gift too.”

“…A gift?”

“As you said, it was difficult to get vegetables in the Northern Continent, so I’ve been picking and eating the plants that grow in the snowy field one by one. I’ve been collecting and storing only the types that can be consumed.”

“Hmm…”

Usually, if you can’t get vegetables, wouldn’t you just be satisfied with simple rations or meat? How many people would pick and eat the roots of weeds growing on the ground because they can’t eat vegetables?

He had never imagined that she would have been picking and eating the tough weeds growing all over the snowy field.

Ivelyn spoke cheerfully, as if she was handing over a precious treasure.

“I’ve carefully selected the ones that taste good for you. Try one.”

That wasn’t the reaction he had originally expected… Lenox tilted his head like that, but without a word, he chewed on the leaf of the plant she was handing him.

Ivelyn, who was holding the case Lenox had given her tightly with both hands, asked with a face full of anticipation.

“How is it?”

“……”

Lenox realized for the first time that he could lose control of his expression just because of his sense of taste.