Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 366

“Aaaack!!” He screams desperately as he sprints. Magic power whirls madly throughout his body, adding strength to each step he takes. Jaun’s body, having accelerated to an incredible speed, began to catch up to Lenok in an instant. Lenok in the lead, Jaun catching up, and Maiya running at the very back. However, Lenok, who is closest to the gate, is infinitely slow, while Maiya is the fastest. In that fleeting moment between the two, Jaun catches up to Lenok, and Maiya catches up to him. ‘…Wait.’ A question popped into Jaun’s mind. Then, where did that giant arrow that the guy was riding go? [Run!!] Fwoooosh!! No answer was needed. The giant carapace spear, which had been slammed down from the sky, was now being slammed down right on top of Maiya’s head, who had begun to catch up to Jaun. A weight that was hard to imagine for a long, thin arrow. Maiya’s body, which had tried to receive it lightly with one arm, was slammed straight down below her legs, letting out a roar. Kwaaaang!! “Ugh…!!” The support on the floor of the bridge caved in, and Maiya, crushed under the carapace spear, gritted her teeth. There was no way that the spear, which had been miraculously thrown into the air, would have covered Maiya. She was also aware that all of this was orchestrated by the mage running ahead. “Evan…!!” Maiya, glaring up at Lenok with a chilling gaze, staggered to her feet. She was already not in her best condition due to the continuous battles and the backlash from forcibly shaking off Balak. Her exhausted body, which had been consuming magic power without proper rest in the labyrinth. Her skills and condition had deteriorated since she stepped down from her position as an Executor. However, Maiya also rose from her spot, leaving behind all the excuses that were holding her back. It was not too late yet. The radiance seeping through the faintly opened gate was not yet Lenok’s. “Damn it…!” Lenok, glancing back and realizing that Jaun hadn’t been hit and that Maiya had gotten up, clicked his tongue faintly. He had hoped to take down Jaun as well, but he had to be satisfied with having temporarily tied up Maiya, who had the best mobility in this place. The chronic lack of mobility. And now, the magic power that was truly running out. With the gate open just a few dozen meters ahead, there was only one option Lenok could choose. Lenok turned his head and began to run towards the gate. Wooowoong!! He strengthened his entire body with magic power, risking the side effects of mana poisoning. Ignoring the pain as if his instep was burning, he bent his knees. The speed at which he ran began to increase, but he couldn’t help but be caught up by Jaun. Because his physical abilities were so poor, the efficiency of physical enhancement through magic power was not easily achieved. ‘30 meters to the gate…!’ Could he reach the gate first while maintaining his current advantage? Again, no matter how much he thought about it, wouldn’t Ivelin have been more suitable for this kind of thing than Lenok? Even in this moment as he runs, panting for breath, many thoughts flash through his mind, but his legs do not stop. “Evaaaaan!!” Jaun, who was constantly calling out to Lenok from right behind him, and Maiya, who was sprinting with a chilling expression from further behind. Stopping here was not just about falling behind in the race. It was to give meaning to all the time he had spent trying to reach the end of this labyrinth. It was to seize the opportunity that Ivelin had given him at the last moment. Lenok gritted his teeth and ran. “Haa, haa…!!” His whole body felt like it was burning, and his chest felt as if it was being strangled. He was panting so hard that it was difficult to even breathe properly, and the sweat pouring down like rain kept obscuring his vision. Every time he pushed himself to the end of such harsh pain, he was reminded of the moment he first opened his eyes in the factory. That day, when he was so precarious, unable to confirm or guarantee any future or possibility. The moment he stole a car and escaped from the factory without knowing anything. It was no different then or now. Lenok was always ready to answer the question, risking everything to grasp a better future. It didn’t matter if what was waiting beyond this door was not a transcendent being who knew all the answers. He knew that maintaining such an attitude towards life was more important than a thousand talents and ten thousand lucky chances. He only hoped that he could get an answer before all this time he had been yearning for ended. His thoughts were fading, and he was on the verge of losing his mind. But his body kept moving. He could run more. In front of the pure white gate connecting the sky and the earth, the figures of three people running at different speeds. The three figures, with completely different reasons, processes, and results, disappeared into the gate almost simultaneously. Clank!! Immediately after, the gate, which had been faintly open, closed and did not move as if time had stopped. * * * Ivelin nodded, watching the whole process from behind. “That’s enough.” She was relieved, even though she knew that she would not be able to meet the Ascended directly. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to meet Jintun herself. It was said that he would ask questions and bestow gifts to the person who woke him from his slumber beyond the cradle. Even if it wasn’t such material compensation, facing a transcendent being beyond the mortal realm would have been a valuable experience for her. However, the reason why Ivelin switched places with Maiya instead of Lenok at the last moment, even though she knew this, was because she had a vague idea of how much Lenok wanted to meet Jintun and the answer he was seeking beyond that. It would be more appropriate to give the opportunity to Lenok, who was standing at that crossroads, rather than to her, who had already made a decision and deviated from the path. She had made a selfless choice that surprised even herself, but she felt rather relieved. [You foolish woman.] A furball, panting for breath, spoke from Ivelin’s feet. It was trembling as if it was about to die, using its last strength to convey its master’s message. [To throw away the opportunity to meet the Ascended… Do you know what that means?] “Well… I don’t really know.” Ivelin chuckled at the doctor’s words. “I usually ask our lighthouse keeper about that kind of thing.” […] “You’ve been talking to Evan all the time, and now you’re suddenly interested in me?” [I can’t deny it.] The doctor readily agreed to her sharp reply. [It’s hard to believe that someone as skilled as you would give up on finding answers now. Yet, you gave up the opportunity to grasp that fragment… I’m interested in the principle behind your actions. Can you tell me?] “That’s funny. You’re curious about that even when you’re about to die?” [This life is not mine anyway. I’m just watching everything in the labyrinth through the eyes of a life that is homologous to me…] The furball, spitting up blood, trembled as it spoke. [It’s a shame that I can’t be with you until the end, but Maiya will finish the job without making any mistakes. She, who has no greed or desire in this matter, will be able to stand before Jintun. That’s enough.] Ivelin’s eyes turned cold at those words. “Right. You called it human sacrifice. You’re saying you’ve been watching all of this by using other people as sacrifices.” […] “I heard there’s a guy in Pandemonium who particularly likes this kind of forbidden art. That must be the person called the doctor.” Having worked as an agent for a long time, she had consistently urged the city council’s upper echelons to gather information about Pandemonium. As a result of using the information power of the megacity to constantly check the identities of Pandemonium members active throughout the continent, Ivelin was able to reach the doctor’s identity. [As expected… you’re sharp. You’re too good of a talent to be tied down under the lighthouse keeper. Don’t you think so?] “What do you want by going this far? Are you now greedy for Jintun’s treasures?” Even as Ivelin said that, she knew that it was unlikely that they were acting out of simple greed. Most of the cases that Pandemonium was involved in were related to relics or traces of technology from the old world. Most of them were not related to material value or money. Could it be that there were old world items among the relics that Jintun possessed? Even considering the special environment of the labyrinth, it was clear from her long experience that it was unusual for Pandemonium members to be so active. [Well, it’s not just for that reason. I’m also quite interested in the way the Ascended exists.] “……” [Going through this labyrinth is a process of acquiring the proper cause and effect to meet him… It can be said to be a departure for those who cannot meet him otherwise.] “…What the hell are you babbling about?” [Well, what could it be?] Instead of answering Ivelin’s question, the doctor let out a low laugh. [I’d like to talk more, but the end is approaching… Let’s talk about the rest next time.] The frequency of the furball’s twitching decreased significantly, and the blood flowing out began to cool. [Of course, if you can safely escape this labyrinth.] She took a deep breath and stopped moving. Ivelin stared at the furball with an expressionless gaze before turning her body. More than a dozen superhumans were glaring at Ivelin with fierce expressions. Balak, as well as other high-level Saint-ranked ability users. Highly trained high-ranking superhumans. There were many reasons why she was the target of the hostility of everyone who had overcome all sorts of difficulties to reach this place. The sniping that had been consistently attempted in the snowy mountains, the race to the third gate where they were toyed with as if they were being mocked. The anger of those who had been reduced to mere spectators, unable to participate in any of it, was now directed entirely at Ivelin. “Hoo…” Ivelin, letting out a small sigh, reached for the ballista that was placed right next to her. The giant crossbow that had just carried Lenok and Ivelin away. It was a combination of her longbow and Lenok’s bike parts. After neatly separating her longbow, she kicked the remaining bike parts and dropped them below the bridge. Kooong!! The bike’s exterior had already been modified, but these internal parts and systems were known to be the property of Ban. It was unavoidable to eliminate any possibility of someone recognizing Ban’s double identity. Clank! Ivelin, with her longbow slung over her shoulder, stopped in the middle of the bridge and cracked her neck. Balak, a gravity-type superhuman who had been watching her from the side, let out a hollow laugh. “You’re out of your mind. You don’t think you can block the gate alone, do you?” “……” Instead of answering, Ivelin fiddled with the arrows at her waist. The smile naturally disappeared from Balak’s face as well. He sighed and said, creating a wave of gravity in his hand. “Look… To be honest, I don’t want to be enemies with an agent. I also know very well that a bowman like you can be very annoying if you’re determined.” “So?” “So, it would be nice if you could get out of the way. I need to check if my partner has safely passed through the gate, don’t I?” Balak muttered as he slowly walked forward. “And I’d like to see if I can get inside beforehand.” Since the three had entered the gate first, the opportunity to confirm Jintun’s safety and have a conversation with him had disappeared. However, if they could enter the cradle even belatedly, wouldn’t they be able to get their hands on ownerless relics or lucky chances? Those who had gathered in this labyrinth were all desperate enough to risk their lives for such a glimmer of hope. Ivelin chuckled at the words that were close to a threat. “Sure. Try if you can.” “Thank…” Fwoosh!! A black flash pierced the forehead of the attendant standing right next to Balak. The speed was so fast that it could not be seen properly. Balak laughed as he checked the arrow shaft that had been hammered into the head of the attendant who had fallen over with his eyes rolled back. “Don’t do this. It’s not fun. If you keep doing that, I’ll have no choice but to… crush you to death?” Ivelin also laughed. “Sorry, but it’s an important moment for my partner too. I can’t let you get in the way.” “……” Click!! Ivelin, fiddling with her waist and counting the number of arrows left, slowly pulled the bowstring. “Come on. I’ll play with you until that door opens again.” * * * “……” “Aris, what’s wrong?” “No, it’s nothing.” In a vast library filled with old books. Aris, sitting by the window where sunlight was seeping in, turned her head at the voice calling her. “Remember, you have to attend the Terama Academic Conference in half a day?” “Yes, of course.” “I’ll go ahead, so prepare in advance. There are many people who are curious about the papers you have presented in Balkan.” “……” Aris secretly frowned at the words of the elder of the magic tower, who was talking as if they were having a pleasant party. She had brought it up first for her own purpose, but she was beginning to feel that it was meaningless to attend the conference and show her face. Instead, she tried to focus on the strong sense of déjà vu that had just flowed into her mind. “Lenok…” The name of someone that faintly leaked out. It wasn’t just because she wanted to see him or missed him. It was because the presence of someone who had been clearly present until just now had suddenly become faint. The answer Aris had chosen was not a turning point that simply completed herself. A scene that could only be truly completed with the existence and will of someone else, not just herself. That was why Aris was able to clearly recognize Lenok’s ambiguous state, which was close to his absence. Lenok’s situation was ambiguous, as he was alive but his existence could not be confirmed. “……” She looked out the window with a troubled expression and silently lowered her gaze to the book in her hand. It was foolish to dwell on things that were out of reach. That was why she had come all this way to create a way to reach someone who was out of reach. The work she had to do now was decided. In the afternoon of the dusty library. The sound of pages turning echoed for a long time. * * * Lenok opened his eyes to the shock that was roughly pounding in his head. The first thing he felt as soon as he opened his eyes was an unknown liquid entering his nose. He immediately tried to get up, but he lost his balance and slammed his head down again. Thud!! “Huh…!!” Splash, splash!! The sound of water in his ears, the wet liquid covering his face. “Haa, haa…!!” Lenok, who had belatedly regained his senses, raised his head sharply. “Where is this…?” A space filled with pure white light. Under his feet, calm water was constantly flowing, soaking Lenok’s fallen body. It was only after staggering to his feet that he realized that it was water that was overflowing up to his ankles. A vast space that stretched endlessly. A space filled with pure white light, with a calm stream of water constantly flowing somewhere.