Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 352

Instead of being concerned about Jaun’s reaction, Lenok quietly pondered.

‘What should I do…’

She knew that Jaun had obtained some unknown opportunity, rapidly accelerating his own achievements.

Considering the rumors Lapis had mentioned, he probably allowed a spirit or thought form with far greater achievements than himself to temporarily inhabit his body, using a shortcut to break through his limits.

She had already confirmed it in the previous battle, but it was clear that he had gained considerable power in the process.

Putting aside Jaun’s knowledge and abilities, if she monitored him closely, wouldn’t she be able to find out which collaborator he had lent his body to?

However, even as Lenok felt her curiosity about Jaun’s secret growing, she ultimately decided to refuse.

‘Ivelin is here. There’s no need to try to gain additional advantages at the cost of her displeasure.’

If she were alone, she could engage in a psychological battle, trying to gauge when this madman might betray her, but Ivelin was different.

Although she had left the decision to Lenok, Ivelin’s nature would not approve of joining hands with a wanted man like Jaun.

She didn’t think the situation was so urgent that she had to join forces with Jaun, even if it meant ignoring her preferences.

For now, they should continue to break through the labyrinth, and it wouldn’t be too late to worry after they encountered a wall they couldn’t overcome together.

Just as Lenok was about to answer, intending to reject Jaun’s proposal, a fierce wave of mana erupted from the corridor Jaun had come from, sweeping in all directions.

KWAHAAAA!!!

The torrent of mana, swirling and surging through the chamber, rushed towards the three of them in an instant.

A pressure that would instantly crush and obliterate any mediocre mana user.

The intense force was more than enough to recognize that the owner of this mana was a considerable expert.

Amidst the surging torrent, Jaun faintly frowned.

“Damn it… That persistent bastard. I thought he’d give up soon, but he’s still chasing after me?”

“If someone is following you, then let’s postpone your answer for later.”

Lenok, who had quickly processed the situation, replied.

Jaun’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Oh, so you’re testing the waters?”

“If you don’t intend to fight here, you should also flee from the owner of the mana that’s approaching, shouldn’t you?”

Lenok chuckled.

“You didn’t mention that you made an enemy inside the labyrinth either. So, we can consider your proposal a little longer.”

“….”

At those words, Jaun narrowed his eyes and stared at Lenok.

“You’re much more cunning than I thought. Where did you come from and what were you doing?”

“Is there time to be curious about that now?”

Even at this moment, a fierce mana was rapidly approaching from beyond the crossroads.

If Lenok and Ivelin were to join forces with the other side and try to kill Jaun, the situation would become much more troublesome.

Jaun, who had been glaring at Lenok with a displeased expression, reluctantly nodded.

“Fine. Then let’s talk again later.”

Without any hesitation, Jaun stood before another crossroads and tossed the gem he was holding into the air.

As the gem emitted a dazzling flash as if it were burning, his figure vanished from the spot.

As if on cue, someone burst out from the spot where Jaun had disappeared.

THUD!!

“Damn it, did I miss him!!”

“….”

“This was the chance to catch and kill that monster…!!”

The man, with a look of despair, slammed his fist into the ground.

His appearance, adorned with a dazzling silver armor, was unmistakably that of a knight.

Following the man, dozens of knights appeared in succession. Lenok belatedly realized who they were.

They were the ones who had been observing the situation from the outskirts of the canyon, without getting involved in the fierce battle that had lasted for three days near the labyrinth.

Each of them was a considerable expert, and their organization was not to be underestimated, so Lenok and Ivelin had also been watching them quietly. Who would have thought they were chasing Jaun?

The man quickly composed himself, stood up, and approached Lenok and Ivelin.

“I apologize for the disturbance. I’ve caused you trouble.”

The man, who readily offered a handshake to the two, introduced himself.

“I am Dane of Kabahim. I came to the labyrinth to prevent ruffians like Jaun from taking possession of the Ascendant’s relics.”

Kabahim. Lenok had heard that name before.

A city-state located in the northwest of the continent. Its history was quite old, and it was said that it had even been a monarchy in the past.

The existence of a knight order in the city-state was probably due to its history as a kingdom.

There were rumors that it was a region that produced many outstanding warriors, and as the rumors said, the level of the knight order was indeed considerable.

All of them were experts who knew how to control their own mana, and Dane, who led them, seemed to be looking towards the realm beyond the Saint-level.

The mana he had unleashed to hold Jaun back was not something even Lenok could disregard.

His youthful appearance, which did not match his skill, was also proof that his true level had reached the end of self-modification.

Ivelin, too, sensed an unusual power in Dane’s mana and stared at him with a sharp gaze.

Dane, unfazed by their gazes, spoke.

“I know what you two did before entering the labyrinth.”

“….”

“To collapse a snow mountain and cause an avalanche. The idea and decision were bold, but what’s more surprising is the versatility to make it happen.”

Lenok noticed that Dane’s gloved hand was naturally resting on the hilt of his sword and subtly stepped back.

She had fought countless superhumans and powerful individuals, but this was the first time she had faced a swordsman of this caliber.

How fast and sharp would be the first strike of a knight who had concentrated all his achievements into a single sword?

However, despite Lenok’s wary reaction, Dane turned his back with a faint smile.

“Thanks to you, we were able to enter the labyrinth easily, so I’ll let it slide this time. But don’t be too greedy.”

“What do you mean?”

“If Jintun really failed to ascend and left his legacy in this world, it should belong to someone who is truly qualified.”

Dane, who had turned his back, slightly raised his head and looked back at the two.

His eyes, hidden in the darkness, scattered a cold, white chill.

“I hope the Azure Eye will also make a wise choice.”

“….”

Following Dane, the other knights also cast heavy gazes without a word and disappeared towards another crossroads.

The knight order, having chosen the exact crossroads where Jaun had disappeared, vanished from sight. Only after confirming their disappearance did Ivelin let out a small sigh.

“Haa… It’s not easy to go back.”

“He’s a belligerent person. It will be difficult to avoid a fight if we meet again.”

The reason Dane had retreated without drawing his sword was not because he had received help in entering the labyrinth.

It was because he judged that it would be pointless to waste his strength against the two of them now, while they were still wandering on the outermost edge of the labyrinth.

It was a confidence that was only possible with an immense certainty in his own power.

“At least, it’s clear that he has a grudge against Jaun Odis. We need to find a way to use that relationship appropriately.”

“We’re not far from the first gate, are we? Will it be possible?”

After cross-referencing the journals of the explorers who had died on the outskirts of the labyrinth, the distance from here to the gate was not far.

However, Lenok grinned and raised a finger.

“Of course. I couldn’t say it until just now… but I succeeded in attaching a tail to both Jaun and Dane.”

“…What?”

“It was easier to act because they readily engaged in conversation. Especially Jaun, he seemed to know a lot about the labyrinth, so if we use him well, we might be able to find out his secret.”

She had thought it was strange that they had let Jaun go so easily, but from the beginning, she had been planning to follow him and steal his secrets.

Lenok’s idea of attaching a tail to two 7-level Saint-level ability users was absurd, but what was even more surprising was Lenok’s mana manipulation ability that had actually made it possible.

“To boast about your information advantage in front of me… I’ll suck your marrow dry.”

Ivelin looked up at Lenok with a bewildered expression as she let out a sinister laugh.

* * *

[Didn’t I tell you not to do anything reckless?]

“What are you talking about? My calculations were perfect.”

Jaun retorted as he quickly ran through the dark labyrinth corridor.

Even with a thick robe and countless pieces of equipment for battle and exploration, his breathing remained steady.

A talented individual who possessed both the powerful gem technique and the body of an excellent warrior.

Knowing that he was a vessel excellent enough to possess two powers that were not easily compatible, the voice was lending its power to Jaun, who had not been able to overcome the wall.

[Those two just now. If you had fought, you would have lost with a high probability. You didn’t make a deal with me to die in a mere labyrinth, did you?]

“…I knew about Hyungung’s skills, but was that mage’s skill that high?”

[That’s why I told you not to stop gathering information about the Azure Eye… Don’t you feel anything even after testing their skills just now?]

The voice, resonating from near Jaun’s heart, sighed.

Jaun frowned deeply.

“Hey, do you know how hard I’ve been running around? I went into the heart of Kabahim to fulfill your deal, and I’m still being chased by those damn knights. I don’t have time to worry about things on the other side of the continent.”

Even now, he could feel the sharp mana following him from the dark corridor behind him.

However, even though he could clearly see Dane’s intense mana, neither Jaun nor the voice paid any attention to it.

[Let’s continue with what we were talking about.]

Rather, the voice simply turned its attention back to the original topic.

[He is the Flame Heat Mage who appeared in the autonomous region two years ago and single-handedly subdued the drug lord of the Demon Realm. There is no known information about his past, but his skills are said to be outstanding, and the Lighthouse Keeper went to great lengths to bring him in.]

“….”

[Considering the scalability of the Flame Heat Technique, he is the worst opponent to fight in this labyrinth. I know your way of speaking is terrible, but as long as there is room for negotiation, don’t do anything to incur their displeasure.]

“Hmm…”

[How can you not know the trends of the continent when I, who just woke up in this era, do?]

Advice mixed with a faint sneer. If it were anyone else, he would have crushed their head without a second thought and turned them into a pulp.

However, even though Jaun openly heard such a sneer, he only frowned and did not make any particular retort.

What would be the point of harming his own body? The opponent was a monster that did not feel any physical pain anyway.

Instead, Jaun listened to what the voice had said and turned his thoughts in another direction.

“If that annoying mage is that useful, I need to think about how to use him in this labyrinth.”

[I told you that he wouldn’t be an easy opponent.]

“I don’t necessarily have to make the plans. After all, to pass through the gates of this labyrinth, they will eventually have to move as well. If I take advantage of that gap, I can gain a counter-benefit.”

[Haa… I have a lot of worries. How long are you going to act like you know everything with the knowledge I’ve given you?]

The voice spoke as if scolding a child. Jaun was annoyed, but he tried his best to suppress his emotions.

The house-sized gem he had obtained while exploring the ancient ruins in the northwest.

When the resentment trapped inside the gray glow had spoken to him, he had never imagined that it would become such a useful collaborator.

In the process, he had given up a part of his body and exchanged restrictions and deals, but without the voice’s advice and knowledge, he would not have been able to come this far.

He remembered the last incident in the megacity. Even the face of the mage named Ban.

The sight of him breaking through a realm he could not reach so easily.

Rather than feeling jealousy and inferiority at that sight, he had been afraid, which was why he had left the vicinity of the megacity and been pushed all the way here.

But it was different now. Now that he had completed the hierarchy of the gem technique and was looking towards the realm beyond it.

And after obtaining the Ascendant’s relics and moving to a different dimension.

“I need to stop by Balkan once this is over.”

[You can worry about that after you safely escape this labyrinth.]

Jaun chuckled at the voice’s words.

“Don’t worry. Can’t you tell from this situation? We’re almost there.”

Jaun, who had stopped in the middle of a dark spot in the corridor, glanced into the darkness of the corridor he had passed through.

Even now, he could feel Dane chasing him at an incredibly fast speed from behind, but it didn’t matter.

Now that he had arrived here safely, no pursuit would be of any significance.

WOOONG!!

He placed his hand on the fifth brick below the outer wall of the corridor and rotated his mana. Three times to the right, once to the left.

Finally, as he infused the memorized incantation, the corridor wall flipped over, completely overturning the spot where Jaun had been.

THUD!!

Jaun, who had instantly entered the inside of the wall, raised his head and looked up at the enormous staircase in front of him.

“The information you’ve given me has never been wrong so far. We have an overwhelming information advantage in this labyrinth.”

The voice had not explicitly stated which era it was from, but it was clear that its history was well over hundreds of years.

Otherwise, there was no way it could know Jintun’s Hanghasa Labyrinth, which had been created hundreds of years ago, so well.

No, perhaps it wasn’t just that it knew the labyrinth well, but that it had known Jintun directly.

Jaun vaguely thought about it, but he was patient enough not to ask the voice directly.

He roughly guessed that the voice would have to be willing to tell him directly.

“Don’t worry. I will definitely be the first to obtain the Ascendant’s relics in this labyrinth.”

Jaun’s figure, leaving behind the knight order in confusion outside the corridor, quickly disappeared up the stairs.

In the swirling maze with different thoughts and purposes.

But no one noticed that a faint strand of mana was sparkling between Jaun’s clothes.