Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 382

A corner of Pandemonium, a black magician known as the Underworld King.

What does it mean that this monster, who not only reached level 8 but also hunts down the strong of the same level across the continent, has appeared on this train?

‘Damn it…’

I thought I had become accustomed to facing monsters that exceeded the norm, but that only made the gap between Lenox and this man even clearer.

A chilling magical power that is incomparable to the other transcendent beings I met in the labyrinth.

Yet, a faint presence that makes it uncertain whether he even exists in this place.

What level has this black magician, who coexists with two contradictions in one space, reached?

However, Lenox realized that he couldn’t ignore the words he spoke as much as Myung’s appearance.

Right now, Lenox is not only maintaining Evan’s identity but also using disguise magic to avoid unnecessary gossip at the train station.

Yet, Myung’s attitude of appearing right in front of Lenox and mentioning the Cartel’s affairs.

Isn’t this something that could never happen without certainty about Evan and Van’s identities?

Myung, unconcerned by Lenox’s attitude, looked down at the newspaper and said,

“Frankly, I didn’t like that man, Zygis Ithernoer, very much.”

“……”

“Like all the Ascended Ones, he was a foolish man who was obsessed with his own ego, even with the power to turn the world upside down. Or rather, was that why he was qualified to challenge ascension?”

Myung muttered, stroking his chin with a calm expression.

“The reason for the existence of the Transcendent Ones was a question that had no answer, but now I feel like I understand it a little. If both Chun-Gyeon and Jin-Dun, who were relatively moderate Ascended Ones, chose death on their own… what would others think?”

The black magician slowly turned his gaze to Lenox and smiled.

“Do the other Ascended Ones truly want to connect the timelines of the world?”

“…I don’t know what you’re trying to say.”

Lenox opened his mouth with a stiff expression.

“Do you want to have a discussion with me about the meaning and concept of ascension?”

It’s not that Lenox doesn’t know enough to not understand what Myung is saying now.

However, it was difficult to guess the intention behind suddenly appearing in front of Lenox and telling him such stories.

If Myung doesn’t intend to fight or deal with Lenox in this place, what is it that he wants to say?

Myung looked at Lenox’s expression and then chuckled.

“Time flows so quickly. I think that even more when I see you.”

“……”

“So, maybe that’s why I feel so happy whenever I have these opportunities. Now, I don’t have many chances to chat with talented juniors.”

His unique prickly tone is still the same.

“What did you do to Evelyn?”

Lenox asked quietly, raising his magic power.

“I need to know what you mean by twisting the way back.”

Although Evelyn doesn’t show it, Lenox knows that she may have already reached a realm beyond the hierarchy.

Completing the seven stages of self-modification and moving beyond them is a transformation of completion that is accepted in different meanings and ways for everyone.

That’s why he understood that even if she had truly reached level 8, she might not show it on the outside.

For such Evelyn to walk into this train without noticing, and even prevent her from returning.

No matter how powerful a black magician Myung is, this was not a situation that made sense.

However, Myung chuckled while fiddling with the newspaper he was holding.

“Don’t worry. I don’t have enough time to pick a fight with Hyun-Gung now.”

“……”

“But if it’s not a fight, but just playing around, it’s enough to do some groundwork.”

At the same time as Myung ran his finger along the table, a long shadow stretched out, reflecting the scenery outside the train car.

Evelyn, searching between the train cars for the conductor, and the train car distorting strangely behind her.

“It’s not Hyun-Gung herself, but the space and timelines in the vicinity that are being stretched out. Unlike spatial distortion, changes in the timeline are not easily noticed by superhumans who rely on perceived time.”

“…!!”

Myung said, carefully watching Lenox’s twitching mouth.

“It’s a useless trick in actual combat, but it’s useful for buying time like this. I was able to master it after suffering a few times.”

“Manipulating the timelines in the vicinity… is just a useless trick?”

“You’ll understand when you can handle it yourself.”

Myung shrugged.

“Interfering with time as a result is tricky, so you have to set the stage well. It’s okay if you’re just stretching the timeline a little like now, but if you go beyond that, you have to walk a tightrope between the balance of cause and effect.”

“……”

“It’s only working because Hyun-Gung doesn’t have the will to fight. If she sharpens her senses a little, she’ll notice the abnormality right away. That gap in perception is also an important factor in terms of dealing with time. Because time is ultimately a relative concept.”

Myung, who explained what he had done as if it were nothing, continued.

“To be honest, it’s not very efficient, but it’s a necessary process for everyone. After all, in order to reach the end of this non-circulating space-time, you’ll need the corresponding knowledge and understanding.”

Myung’s words, speaking of the conclusion in a calm tone. Is he also aware of the Ascended Ones’ prophecy that there may be no next time?

Lenox smiled bitterly as he realized that the magic power emanating from Myung’s body had become even more blurred.

It was because he could tell that Myung’s power had not weakened, but rather had melted deeper into an even more unknown chaos.

“The monsters of Pandemonium really transcend common sense… How can they continue to get stronger even after reaching that point?”

“The fact that you clearly recognize that is proof that you are qualified.”

Myung replied.

“There are many who know that the balance, order, and end of the world are near. But among them, there is a need for someone who can pursue a non-existent future.”

“……”

“That’s also why we don’t pursue organization or useless unity.”

Myung leaned back in his seat and turned his gaze out the window.

“If you agree that there is only one meaning left as the end approaches, then even conflicting wills are just a process for a single purpose.”

“…You sound similar to your leader. Are you planning to continue this Zen dialogue until the end of the world?”

After all, the fact that Myung occupies a corner of Pandemonium is possible because he agrees with the leader’s thoughts to some extent.

In that sense, the series of conclusions he muttered casually shared some meaning with the leader’s words, which felt somewhat hollow.

Myung chuckled at Lenox’s words.

“Come to think of it, you said you met the leader. It doesn’t seem like it was a pleasant meeting?”

“……”

Seeing Lenox’s face grimace instead of answering, Myung nodded as if he understood.

“It’s not surprising. Sometimes I wonder what the leader is thinking… But I didn’t expect you to be working with the Eyes of Azure and the Hand.”

Myung put down the newspaper and asked.

“I didn’t think you’d like the answer the Lighthouse Keeper gave.”

“Well… I’m still not sure.”

Lenox replied, maintaining a calm expression.

“I just decided that cooperating with the Watchers was the best option for this matter.”

“Even at the risk of revealing your secrets?”

“……”

At Lenox’s sharply changed expression, Myung waved his hand.

“Don’t overreact like that. I didn’t come after hearing the story from the leader. I was just trying to confirm the suspicions I had.”

“Suspicions?”

Myung smiled, clasping his hands together.

“I’ve been thinking since the drug lord in Phileon fell. You don’t know, but the ritual magic that Dominic Cavaro used is deeply related to me… That’s why I made a detour to the North Continent after everything was over.”

So, he reached this point by finding his own answer in a different way than the leader.

Myung seemed to want to say that the leader wasn’t someone who talked so easily, but he didn’t seem to realize that his words made him even more eerie.

“It’s amazing that you’ve been hiding with that flimsy identity. You’ve changed the patterns of all the magic you use and even manipulated your alibi to maintain a double identity.”

He muttered indifferently, fiddling with the worn newspaper with his fingertips.

“But no matter how hard you try, you can’t hide that specialness. Do you know that?”

“…What do you mean?”

“The creativity, willpower, and mental strength that are most needed for us sorcerers… A unique personality that appears when such talents reach their peak and combine with each other.”

Myung said, looking directly into Lenox’s eyes.

“The singularity created by the combination of your talents will ultimately make people curious about its origin.”

“……”

“Was it level 5 or 6 when I first saw you? A talent that completed the hierarchy in less than 5 years and is now trying to surpass it…”

Myung nodded, smiling contentedly.

“As expected, my eyes were not wrong. That’s why the leader specifically pointed you out and left a message.”

“What do you want?”

Lenox realized that there was no point in denying it any longer.

If the leader had noticed the similarity in the process of exhausting his strength at the end of the labyrinth, it couldn’t be helped.

If he was exposed to the leader of Pandemonium for having a conversation with Jin-Dun, it was a price he had to pay.

However, if they realized that Lenox had ambiguously placed his feet on both the Eyes of Azure and Vulcan, there would be more than one person who would bother him in the process.

He wanted to ask what Pandemonium was thinking about that part, but Myung stepped back and shook his head.

“Nothing.”

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter if you join the Eyes of Azure and become a Watcher, or if you move with the Lighthouse Keeper. My decision won’t change.”

He said that and reached into his pocket, placing something next to the newspaper.

A mask made of a transparent material that shone black.

It was a thing that shone faintly as if it were made of obsidian.

“This is my last offer, Van.”

Myung said, resting his chin on the table while looking down at the mask.

“Join Pandemonium.”

“……”

“It doesn’t matter where you want to be, what you want, or what you desire. We have things to do, and we need your talent.”

Myung continued, looking at the silent Lenox.

“There are more and more things to do as the end approaches. I want to entrust you with some of the things that are difficult for me to handle alone. To be honest, I’m already starting to get a little tired.”

“Come to think of it, that magic power…”

Myung’s magic power, rubbing his temples as if tired, is much fainter than when they met before.

Lenox realized that it was not simply because his power had weakened, but rather because he had achieved much higher accomplishments than before.

Just like the rumor that the Underworld King had destroyed a city among the Watchers,

He must have hunted down the rulers of the city and further raised his level and achievements.

It was an obvious fact, but even among the transcendent beings of the same level 8, there was an immeasurable difference in their level and combat ability.

And the black magician resting his chin in front of Lenox was one of the monsters called the Underworld King even among those transcendent beings.

Myung seemed to have noticed the thoughts contained in Lenox’s gaze, and he waved his hand with a hollow laugh.

“Don’t look at me like that. It’s not something I achieved purely with my own power. Even before I reached level 8, I was already… well, let’s stop here.”

Myung, who had inadvertently brought up various stories, stopped talking and turned his head.

“It seems like Hyun-Gung has found her way. Let’s just make this one thing clear.”

The shadow of a familiar doll is reflected beyond the window of the train car.

Evelyn is returning faster than expected, breaking through the path that Myung had twisted in some way.

“We don’t care if you hide your identity or conceal your reputation. If necessary, it’s not difficult to protect your secrets. All we want is your talent and ability.”

Myung lightly stroked the mask, got up from his seat, and walked through the quiet train car aisle.

“If, after listening to what I’ve said so far, you’ve changed your mind even a little… go to the church in the 21st district development complex.”

At the same time as he took a step, Myung’s body scattered and disappeared like smoke.

Amidst the traces that scattered and disappeared outside the rapidly running train, only Myung’s last words lingered in the air.

“There will be someone there to greet you.”