Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 360

“Heh heh heh, well… I guess I lost this time.”

Jaun said, raising his middle finger at Lenok.

To think that he would have seen through the possibility that the block was forcibly hidden the moment he discovered Jaun’s presence.

The decisive mistake that led to Lenok taking the block was distancing himself from it.

He had tried to keep his distance from the block to avoid suspicion, but he never imagined that Lenok would notice it so quickly and counterattack.

The mage that Evelyn cherished and brought along seemed to be much smarter than he had thought.

“You better run away before I catch up. Next time, both of you-!”

*Pat!*

Evelyn smiled broadly, a rare sight, as she confirmed that Jaun’s figure had been teleported to the ground.

“That was refreshing. Let’s go quickly!”

“The calculations are complete. Let’s depart immediately.”

Lenok immediately stepped lightly on the remaining blocks with Evelyn and opened the gate.

*Screeeak!*

The first gate they had properly passed in this labyrinth.

The moment they stepped into the space beyond, as light shone, the noise that had filled the chamber vanished, and a cold silence greeted Lenok again.

*Whoooosh…!*

“This is…”

“It’s unusually desolate for a path to the third gate.”

Lenok said, taking out his monocular from his pocket.

An endless series of giant arched bridges.

There were easily hundreds of these massive bridges stretching out in the dark void.

The sight of the bridges connected in the darkness, centered on a vast backdrop that seemed to form a miniature universe.

The cold wind blowing from the void made them swallow involuntarily.

“Let’s go.”

Lenok said.

“I think I have a rough idea of which path Maiya chose.”

Lenok’s gaze was fixed on one of the bridges to the right.

The sight of discarded tufts of fur was particularly clear.

* * *

*Thud!*

Jaun, who had been looking up at Lenok’s figure disappearing beyond the gate, let out a hollow laugh.

“Heh, shit…”

He spat on the ground and glanced up at the knight standing before him.

Dane’s face was filled with a cold murderous intent. His hands gripped his sword, showing no sign of weakness.

The Watchers, Jiel and Rapper, who had been facing Dane until just now, also subtly checked the direction of his murderous intent and stepped back.

They had only been holding Dane back for the sake of the two who had gone ahead, and they had no intention of getting involved in their personal vendetta.

If he was focusing on Jaun to the point of ignoring the Watchers who had been hindering him, it must be a deep-seated grudge.

It wouldn’t be bad for the Watchers if the two fought and ended up in a mutually destructive outcome.

*Wooooooong!!!*

The chamber vibrated loudly with the mana that the four Saint-level ability users were rotating.

In the center of the storm, at the heart of the fierce battle where everyone’s attention was focused, Jaun spoke to Dane.

“Hey, aren’t you frustrated?”

“…”

“If you think about it, we were all played by that mage. If we fight here, it’s just going to play out the way that bastard wants, you know?”

Jaun didn’t wait for an answer and looked around, speaking quickly.

“Do you see the guys gathered in this maze? Where do you think the real heavy hitters are, besides the ones gathered here?”

“…They’re probably waiting for their chance after passing through other gates.”

Dane replied in a cold voice.

“Their priority isn’t the Ascendant’s life or death, but the artifact he possessed.”

Of course, they weren’t the only 7th-level Saint-level ability users gathered in this labyrinth.

Various skilled individuals who had heard the rumors from all over the continent were likely lurking within the labyrinth, waiting for an opportunity.

But why were they observing the situation instead of actively participating in the infighting in this chamber?

Jaun, as well as Dane, had already figured out the reason.

“It’s enough if someone else confirms the Ascendant’s death… Rather, they probably think that the real battle will begin the moment the artifact’s location is discovered, and they’re conserving their strength.”

Dane said, adjusting his grip on his sword.

“The paths out of the labyrinth are limited. They’re maintaining a speed that won’t fall behind the main group of entrants, waiting for the decisive moment.”

“No, you son of a bitch, are you going to be so frustrating even though you know that?”

Jaun pounded his chest, looking like he was about to explode.

“If you know that, shouldn’t we pass through the gate quickly? If we want to get our hands on the artifact among those monsters, we need to get ahead first, you moron!”

Others didn’t seem to have noticed yet, but Jaun had been watching Lenok and Evelyn’s conversation while hiding in the chamber, and he knew who the truly threatening competitors were.

At first glance, Evelyn, who was at the core of the party, was only following Lenok’s instructions.

It was that mage, Evan, who was actually making the decisions and determining the direction.

If Hyun-gung, a veteran who had experienced all sorts of hardships in a mega-city, was entrusting the decision-making in the operation to him, there was no need to think about how sharp Evan’s judgment and intuition were.

So far, they had been able to get through easily with the help of the voice’s knowledge, but they had been overtaken by Lenok due to a moment of carelessness, so it wouldn’t be strange if something like that happened again.

But Dane didn’t budge at Jaun’s persuasion and slowly raised his mana.

“Breaking through the labyrinth. It’s important. Especially when I think about my knights who died here.”

“Yeah, you son of a bitch!!”

“But the royal tomb’s legacy that you stole is worth more than their deaths.”

*Hoo*

Dane said, twisting his shoulder and disappearing from his spot as if he had been extinguished.

[Taihoe Sword Training]

[3rd Style: Battle Perimeter]

[Strong White]

*Sweeek!!*

A sound as if the air was splitting and tearing apart.

A white sword light opened its eyes amidst the distorted haze, as if space was bending.

Before Jaun could react, the dazzling sword light that had torn apart his upper body tore apart his limbs.

*Chwaaaak!!*

Without even looking back at Jaun’s corpse, which was scattering blood, Dane extended his blade towards the void beyond and quietly growled.

“I will not listen to the words of a rogue who stole the remains of the late king. I will make you pay for your sins with your life here.”

“Really, this is why you shouldn’t make so many enemies…”

With those words, the corpse that had been torn to shreds disappeared like a haze.

Jaun, who had walked out of the darkness with a deep sigh, smacked his lips.

“It’s all my fault, so I have to accept it.”

A transparent gem skull appeared on his thin hand that had brushed past the inside of his robe.

*Kiiiiiing!!*

The gem skull froze the surrounding air just by appearing, and began to emit cold mana in all directions.

It was an unusual artifact that all the superhumans who were fighting in the chamber had recognized for its strange pressure.

But Dane’s eyes flared with intense sparks as he looked at it.

“How dare you…!!”

*Paaaaaaat!!*

The brilliant blue gem embedded in the left eye of the gem skull emitted a dazzling light,

And immediately after, it created a huge pillar of light that surrounded Jaun’s body.

“I clearly told you to stop.”

*Kuwahhhhhh!!*

Jaun, who had raised his mana amidst the rotation of dozens of pillars of light, grinned.

“If you keep acting like this, I have no choice but to take this out.”

“Do you really think you’ll be safe even after turning the entire kingdom into your enemy!!”

“It’s just a small city-state anyway.”

The mana flowing from Jaun’s body froze coldly and began to stiffen the air.

*Crack crack crack!!*

Jaun moved his feet through the rapidly solidifying space and muttered coldly.

“If you don’t want to cooperate, then die. Let’s end it here.”

* * *

*Vroooom!!*

Lenok was riding his bike with Evelyn on the back.

Hundreds of long bridges floating in the dark void.

The two of them had chosen the path that seemed to be the one Maiya had chosen and were going straight ahead.

Perhaps the fact that she had dropped tufts of fur was a trap, but it didn’t matter much.

If they thought it was a trap, they could always cross to another bridge. There were a few meters of distance between the bridges, but it wasn’t a problem.

Rather, the appearance of a new guest speeding madly on the bridge right next to them was definitely a much bigger concern for Lenok and Evelyn.

“Kyahahahaha!!”

“We caught up, you bastards!”

“Die, die!!”

Two or three bridges away from the one Lenok had chosen, superhumans on an off-road armored vehicle with studs were aiming bazookas on their shoulders at them.

It was a mystery how they had managed to bring an armored vehicle this deep into the labyrinth, but what was even more surprising was the powerful mana contained in the gunpowder weapons they were using.

Evelyn nodded as she spotted the skull mark on the back of the armored vehicle.

“It’s the Headrow Warlords. They’re a resistance group that operates near the mega-cities. They’re famous for the rumor that most of their members are addicted to drugs, and it’s probably not entirely wrong.”

“…So, they’re friends from the same hometown.”

As Lenok replied with a disgruntled expression, the people with tattoos all over their faces burst into laughter and pulled the trigger.

The missiles fired from the muzzle flew up and began to crash into the bike and various parts of the bridge.

*Kwaaaang!!*

Lenok clicked his tongue, holding onto the shaking bike tightly.

“It was too smooth, wasn’t it? It’s time to work.”

“No, even so, isn’t it too strange?”

Evelyn, who had instantly turned to a cold expression, glared at the armored vehicle and spoke quickly.

“The fact that they caught up to us means they broke through the second gate, but instead of Jaun or other monsters, those guys arrived first.”

“…”

“If those guys who don’t seem to have any thoughts matched the order of the blocks and caught up to us, then there’s something fishy…!!”

*Kwaaang!!*

Evelyn stopped talking and quickly lowered her head as the explosions of the continuous barrage of firepower rained down.

Lenok quickly turned his gaze, replaying Evelyn’s words in his head.

The explosions of the missiles were something Lenok could block and deflect with his shield, but the problem was the weak durability of the bridge.

*Thud thud thud…!!*

If the bridge’s durability was so easily shaken by the bike’s intense movements, it would be impossible for it to withstand the firepower of a bazooka for long.

As expected, the bridge that Lenok was speeding on was rapidly collapsing behind the bike.

The gangsters in the armored vehicle, who were watching the scene from a dozen meters away, cheered.

“We did it!!”

“As expected, the first strike is the best, you bastards!”

“Snipers like you should just die!!”

“Fall and die quickly!!”

Evelyn, who was glaring at them coldly, took out an arrow from her back.

“Should we silence them first and then think?”

Lenok shook his head at Evelyn’s words as she unfolded the short bow on her left arm and strung the bowstring.

“No. It’s too late.”

“…What?”

“The speed at which the bridge is collapsing is much faster than I thought.”

*Thud thud thud thud!!!*

The bridge, unable to withstand the impact, collapsed behind the bike, instantly eliminating the space for the bike to run.

At that moment, Evelyn, slightly flustered, grabbed Lenok’s neck and tried to get off the bike.

“It’s okay.”

Lenok braked and dropped the bike into the collapsing bridge.

*Whoooosh!!*

“Kyaaak!!”

As Evelyn let out a clumsy scream and hugged Lenok’s neck, Lenok instantly extended his mana threads.

*Chwararararak!!*

Connecting the falling vehicle and the intact bridge next to it with mana threads. The bike, which had swung like a swing under the bridge, quickly escaped the collapsed bridge.

*Wheeeing!!*

The bike, which had floated for a long time in the void under the bridge, balanced itself in the air and soared upwards.

Lenok calculated the timing with his mana sense and cut off the mana threads at the exact moment.

*Whoooosh!!*

The bike, which had soared into the air, quickly approached the bridge where the armored vehicle was speeding.

The gangsters, who realized that the huge shadow of the bike was cast over their faces, opened their mouths wide.

*Ujijijijik!!*

The monster bike, which had fallen directly onto the armored vehicle, crushed the gangsters inside the vehicle.

*Vroooom!!*

The bike moved forward, using the completely wrecked armored vehicle as a stepping stone.

Evelyn patted Lenok’s shoulder, impressed by the sight of the armored vehicle being crushed in one move.

“Good job!! How are you so good at driving!”

“It’s the result of consistent practice.”

[Master, acknowledge the working hours of the electronic spirit!]

Lenok ignored Davi’s voice, which was protesting from his pocket, and casually brushed it off.

“Certainly, as you said, Evelyn, there seems to be a reason why those guys appeared just now.”

He pulled the throttle harder once more, and the bike immediately began to speed forward.

“Let’s put some distance between us first and then think about it.”

* * *

After smashing the armored vehicle, Lenok and Evelyn had been speeding for about 10 more minutes before stopping.

The existence of the first enemy they had encountered in this void of bridges.

There must have been a reason why they were able to catch up to Lenok and Evelyn in such a short time.

“The speed of the armored vehicle right before the collision was around 150 km/h.”

Evelyn said, sitting on the edge of the bridge.

“Even if they were stepping on the accelerator to the max to chase us, it’s still too slow compared to a bike.”

“…Are you able to gauge that with your eyes? A bowman’s dynamic vision is truly amazing.”

To be able to compare the speed of herself and the armored vehicle and estimate the objective speed during that chaotic 3D maneuver.

The strangeness of physical ability users was completely different from the abilities of mages.

Evelyn smiled awkwardly and continued.

“We left long before them, we were much faster, and we almost never stopped. The fact that they caught up to us at that speed is strange.”

“It’s not like I don’t have any guesses.”

Lenok nodded.

“What if, even if we’re heading to the same destination, the arrival time differs depending on which bridge we choose?”

“What do you mean?”

Lenok turned his gaze, ignoring Evelyn’s puzzled look.

“There’s no need to say it long. Let’s go to different bridges and measure the time.”

Lenok said, taking out his phone from his pocket.

“I think the reason why free movement between bridges is allowed is right here.”

The two of them immediately went to a bridge a few meters away and returned after waiting for one minute.

“One minute. How long did it take you?”

“…There was no need to measure.”

Evelyn looked at Lenok, who had returned to the bridge, with a dazed expression.

“It hasn’t even been 10 seconds here.”

Lenok nodded.

“I see. Let’s experiment a few more times.”

After that, Lenok and Evelyn focused on measuring time while crossing several bridges nearby.

Only after measuring the time of the original bridge they had chosen, which had been restored, was Lenok able to be certain.

“The bridges in this space exist in different timelines. The difference isn’t constant and keeps fluctuating. The bridge they chose was moving faster than the one we chose.”

That was why the gangsters had managed to catch up to the two of them despite starting much later than Lenok.

Evelyn’s face hardened as she realized the true meaning of those words.

“Wait a minute, then… that means…”

“Those gangsters weren’t the next ones to pass through the gate. It’s been a while since the second gate was opened, and there might already be other people running on these bridges.”

Lenok smiled bitterly and got on his bike.

“I had a hunch, but it was indeed a matter of luck. Even if we choose a bridge with a fast timeline right now, there’s no telling when the bridge’s timeline will slow down…”

*Vroooom!!*

He pulled the bike’s throttle repeatedly and sped down the bridge again.

Evelyn, who had gotten on the back of the bike with a slightly pale face, shook her head.

“Discontinuity of space and time… Can a being that can overlap those laws in one space be called a human?”

Space is fluid, and time is relative.

There is no absolute reference point, and the gap can only be measured by comparing oneself to one’s surroundings.

Jindun had succeeded in implementing the hypothesis that was established to understand the principles of the world in his labyrinth.

That meant that Zygis Ithernoer was truly creating an independent otherworld within this labyrinth.

Is challenging the Ascension only possible by engraving this level of task and law into one’s will?

The Ascendant’s labyrinth, which even a 7th-level superhuman who had completed self-modification and completed their rank was shocked by.

But Lenok slowly shook his head despite Evelyn’s words.

“They are human. They are challenging this absurd feat not to be the world and human, but to be human and the world.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Well…”

Instead of answering, Lenok silently took out his monocular and placed it over his magic eye.

“That’s why I wasn’t careful about choosing a bridge here.”

The scenery of hundreds of bridges visible through the monocular.

The image of the illusion that had been guiding Lenok was reflected on all of those bridges.

Hundreds of old men’s illusions were each crossing a bridge and looking back at Lenok.

A clear will that now felt eerie. But Lenok could feel something there.

“Let’s go to the end. There’s really not much left until the end of the labyrinth.”

“But is it okay to keep that bike out?”

Evelyn, who had climbed onto the back seat and leaned against Lenok, asked.

“That’s something you used under the identity of Ban. If someone remembers it, it will be difficult to maintain your dual identity.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

*Click, click!!*

As soon as he finished speaking, the bike’s exterior parts rotated as if they were being flipped over, creating a completely different streamlined curve from the original bike.

*Thud!!*

“I modified it to have four custom exteriors. It’s a prototype, so the capacity isn’t large, but it’s enough for now.”

“Oh, I see…”

While Evelyn scratched her cheek with an embarrassed look, Lenok turned his head and muttered.

“But you’re not wrong. Evan Bailon’s identity is too flimsy as it is.”

Lenok replied, yanking the throttle.

“That’s one of the identities I created when I first arrived in this city, and it was relatively cheap.”

“…”

“It’s a coincidence that I’ve brought that name this far, but honestly, it’s dangerous… I need to ask Lapis or Grisha for their understanding and change it.”

“It would be difficult to easily gain the reputation of defeating the drug lord anywhere else, are you going to give that up too?”

Lenok burst out laughing at Evelyn’s words.

“That’s a funny joke. You didn’t mean that seriously, did you?”

Neither Lenok nor Evelyn were the type to cling to the fame in front of them.

The reason why he had built up his achievements under the name of Ban and quickly gained recognition was only as part of Lenok’s efforts to find the space-time artifacts or relics he wanted.

If it wasn’t for those special circumstances, Lenok didn’t really welcome the fact that there were many people who recognized him.

Moreover, he had faced the drug lord under the identity of the flame mage ‘Weizen’, who he had disguised himself as at the time.

Only a few people knew that it was the mage Evan who had done it, and it shouldn’t spread in the future.

But Evelyn didn’t laugh despite Lenok’s words.

“Are you going to change the name Ban too?”

“…”

Lenok closed his mouth.

“If you hide like that… then working together like this will be over.”

A voice mixed with deep regret. Evelyn’s expression, who had turned her head, was not clearly visible.

But Lenok vaguely understood what she was saying.

Evelyn had also noticed that the name Ban was also a pseudonym.