Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 408

“Get out of the way, you morons!!”

“I won’t let anyone blocking my path get away with it!”

Crackling!!

As soon as the race began, the competition for the lead was fierce.

Transcendents [individuals with supernatural abilities] riding on the backs of beasts were targeting the tires of the vehicles running alongside them, while conversely, participants in armored vehicles were aiming for the beasts’ legs.

Almost simultaneously, dazzling magical light erupted from various points on the road, and explosions began to occur.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The noise of nearly a hundred transcendents speeding down the middle of the road at once was deafening.

Even though the commotion was far beyond what would be considered loud for the middle of the night, there were no complaints from the surroundings.

A lawless zone where explosions and brawls could break out at any time.

In the outskirts of the city, which were practically extraterritorial, there was nothing to hinder them.

Crunch!

The moment the starting signal sounded, blood splattered everywhere, a fishy smell of blood spread, and vision blurred.

In the middle of the road, they were constantly speeding forward while indiscriminately swinging long weapons and firing cannons.

Lenok, adjusting his visor, slowly leaned his body forward.

‘Davi.’

[Triple ignition of the magic core engine.]

The voice of the cybernetic spirit flowed through the earpiece. At the same time, the bike vibrated violently, emitting a fierce roar.

[6th gear acceleration activated. Balance correction calculation complete. Automatic driving algorithm completely overhauled.]

Whoosh!

[Full speed ahead. Here we go!]

It transformed into a streak of light, darting through the chaotic barrage.

Screech!!

The surrounding scenery instantly changed from points to lines, and the field of vision narrowed as if converging, so that only the road ahead was visible.

Even though he was holding onto the throttle tightly, the resistance was so overwhelming that it felt like he would be blown backward.

Lenok lowered his body as much as possible, clinging to the bike, and raised the shield above his head to deflect the oncoming wind.

Whoosh!

[Hoo…]

A light sigh escaped from behind the visor. Once he got used to the bike’s speed and adapted to the inertia, he finally began to see the surrounding scenery.

Unlike the other competitors who had fallen behind after fighting for the lead as soon as the race started, there were a few who had cleverly adjusted their speed, avoided collisions, and gotten on track.

Thump, thump, thump!

A lancer [a mounted soldier with a lance] riding on a unicorn, moving its four legs like crazy, was speeding down the road.

Swoosh!

A sorcerer with the lower body of a snake, flicking its tongue, was diving under the road and leaping as if swimming.

There were also riders on bikes like Lenok, as well as spiritists who had settled on spirits without legs.

As if they had made a promise, they were aware of each other’s presence and wary, but none of them immediately attacked each other.

Having witnessed firsthand the scene where more than half of them had fallen behind due to collisions as soon as the race started.

They were planning to focus on gaining speed until they were firmly in the lead.

[Turn left towards the 75-degree intersection on the left. Brake activation 43%. Center of gravity adjustment calculation complete.]

Whoosh…!

A curve suddenly appeared on the road that had been going straight endlessly.

The automatic driving algorithm, completed through Davi’s calculation ability and Lenok’s auxiliary magic, naturally lowered Lenok’s body to the opposite side.

The brakes, applied through delicate calculations, tilted the monster bike’s body along the road according to the inertia, and it rotated.

The thick tires of the bike slid on the asphalt, sending out fierce sparks.

Screech!!

The bike, which had not lost any of its previous speed, began to quickly overtake the other competitors who were slowing down and balancing on the curve.

“What kind of sense of balance is that…!!”

“He’s out of his mind. Is he planning to take such a gamble from the start?”

“He might be a rider specially hired for the race. Grab him!”

An extreme balancing act where, if he made even a small mistake, it wouldn’t be strange for him to crash headfirst into the side of the road.

The expressions of the others, who had been taken aback by the unusual drift, changed, and they hurriedly began to gather their magic.

Unless it was a simple coincidence, if he were to change direction while maintaining acceleration so delicately, it would become impossible to catch up with Lenok.

Before that, they had to tie him down and put him in check to make Lenok aware of them.

[Kwoooarr!!]

The eyes of the wolf, which had been panting right next to Lenok, turned bloodshot, and it lifted its front paw, which had been moving quickly, and struck the bike’s rear wheel.

Bang!!

The beast’s sharp senses, putting a check on them while it was difficult to even step on the ground with its four legs.

It wobbled for a moment, then quickly regained its balance and sped off with its master.

Lenok’s bike also shook violently once, leaving a long S-shaped scratch on the road.

Whoosh!

In the meantime, two vehicles that had caught up with the bike began to close in on Lenok from both sides,

Two competitors, consisting of an armored vehicle and a jeep, began to squeeze and crush Lenok’s bike.

Screech!!

“Sorry, but the first checkpoint isn’t far away.”

A middle-aged man in the jeep on the right smiled with a thick cigar in his mouth.

With his other hand, which was not holding the steering wheel, he aimed a hand cannon at Lenok’s visor and pulled the trigger.

“Guys like you who show off your skills need to have their spirits crushed beforehand.”

Bang!!

The moment the cannon’s muzzle spat fire, Lenok’s head swayed once.

The man smiled with satisfaction and was about to push the jeep directly into the bike to crush it when.

[A cigar made in the Edinal Mine. It’s a mixture of asbestos and herbs, then adjusted with a drug.]

“…What?”

The man’s face hardened at the chilling tone that came from behind the visor.

The visor, which had been turned to one side, slowly turned back to face the man directly.

The moment he realized that his face was pale in the black visor’s goggles, Lenok spoke.

[It’s not my taste.]

Whoosh…!!

A blue booster flame erupted from the right side of the bike Lenok was riding.

The intense firepower was directed not at the road surface, but at the top of the jeep’s driver’s seat.

Whoosh!

The booster’s flames that erupted from the fire pit completely burned the cigar the man was holding, and spread brightly, engulfing his head.

“Aaaah!!”

The jeep, filled with hot flames, staggered and crashed into the armored vehicle that had been checking Lenok next to it, and flipped over.

Behind it, the beasts and half-humans that had been running in succession kicked it, crushing it and splattering blood on the road.

Thump, thump!

“Get out of the way!!”

“The checkpoint is right in front of us!!”

A mobile bridge began to come into view as the width of the road narrowed sharply.

It was the only way to cross the river that cut through the downtown area.

Abandoned vehicles and containers were scattered everywhere on the bridge, blocking the way.

Because the width itself was not very wide, it was impossible to maintain speed while bumping into each other.

They had to either take the lead much faster than the others, or slow down and keep their order.

Naturally, even the participants who had not been involved in the lead competition until now began to engage in fierce hand-to-hand combat, colliding their vehicles and beasts with each other.

Boom! Boom!

“Kaaah!!”

“These damn beasts…!!”

Although they were pushed back by the four-wheel drive that used engines in terms of speed, the beasts, which were much more flexible in terms of endurance and hand-to-hand combat, intervened and rubbed their bodies.

The way they forced their way between the bikes and vehicles with their front paws, creating space, and bit the tires with their claws and teeth was unbelievably cunning.

Thud, thud, thud!!!

Metal, beast flesh, and the magic of spirits were mixed together and crushed on the bridge, with blood and oil splattering everywhere.

In the middle of a melee where it was difficult to see even an inch ahead, Davi began to calculate the route.

[Prediction of the movement of 44 nearby entities completed. Automatic driving algorithm pattern changed.]

[Complex driving rush hour.]

[Commute is hard activated!]

[What?]

The moment Lenok questioned the absurd naming, the bike holding the throttle began to twist erratically in place, shaking its body left and right.

Lenok’s body, barely holding onto the handle with the help of magic power, shook back and forth, moving exquisitely to avoid the competitors, the beasts’ claws, and the snake’s tail.

Whoosh!!!

The bike, which had escaped the hot air that made it difficult to breathe properly, quickly passed through the bridge and sped off.

[Hoo…!!]

[Turn left in a moment. Go straight until the next guidance!]

Davi’s cheerful voice came through the earpiece.

Lenok stared blankly at the interface installed below the bike’s throttle and sighed.

[…Okay.]

The image of a baby fox running diligently through a field appeared on the screen.

Next to it, as if it were some kind of taxi meter, the distance and speed were written and quickly increasing.

Was it because he was excited to use the automatic driving algorithm after a long time?

As long as he could take the lead and get into the rankings, it was something Lenok could consider.

Thinking that, Lenok once again pressed his upper body tightly against the bike and pulled the throttle all the way.

He had swallowed two strong painkillers for this race today.

He didn’t know who would be waiting at the end of the race, but since he had started the job according to Sebastian’s information, he had to do his best.

The monster bike, having shaken off the other competitors, began to roar loudly on the dark road.

* * *

“A newcomer is in the lead?”

“It’s a participant named Victor. He’s riding a unique type of bike.”

“Photo.”

The request was quickly fulfilled.

The body of the bike speeding down the two-lane road was clearly captured.

The voice muttered as soon as it saw the bike.

“It looks similar to the thing that Kyeon-rye used to ride.”

“Perhaps because of that influence, the number of people using similar products in the outer districts has increased significantly recently. It’s highly likely to be one of them.”

“Who’s his backer?”

This race, hosted by the Grimoire Gang, only allows participants who have been reliably identified.

It was not uncommon for new participants who had heard rumors to participate in the race, but it was just as difficult to stand out in this race, where they would use any means necessary.

The subordinate, who had been flipping through a few pieces of paper, answered.

“It’s a wine company. There are a few product lines that have been released, but it’s not a very famous place.”

“It’s a disguise.”

The voice, having quickly come to a conclusion, laughed.

There was no way that a mere wine company would have hired such a skilled rider.

Beyond simply being skilled in curves and drifting, the way he broke through the melee on the mobile bridge showed a level of experience that even the gang’s bikers did not possess.

“And with the name Victor… He’s blatantly aiming for it. Is he trying to advertise that he’s connected to Otterble?”

“Should we stop him?”

“Leave him alone.”

The leisurely voice stopped the subordinate who was about to move.

“But there’s no need to just watch a participant who could break the game…”

“The fact that he participated in the race quietly means that he has something to talk about with us. If he gets into the rankings and completes the race, it won’t be too late to talk then.”

“…”

“Just make sure he doesn’t stray too far from the pack. If he notices our true intentions and tries to play tricks, it’ll be on his side.”

This race hosted by the Grimoire Gang was not an ordinary race.

They had explained that they should not fail to arrive within the time limit, nor should they leave the race route, but conversely, the race should not end too quickly either.

They had not told the participants of the race, but they had to compete fiercely together towards the destination until the very last moment.

Beep!

The subordinate who had received the call answered after a short time.

“I don’t think that will happen.”

“What?”

“Victor has already reached near the turning point.”

“…”

This time, even the voice was speechless.

The subordinate asked again.

“Should we stop him?”

The answer did not take long.

“…Send a signal to the pacemakers.”

* * *

As soon as he passed through the vertically rising mobile bridge and drove a little further, the surrounding environment changed drastically.

Just by driving along the pre-guided race route, the surrounding road suddenly sank downwards, and he entered the underground area rapidly.

The thick steel body was speeding into the unfinished subway station.

Lenok, who had crushed the ticket gate partition standing in the inner cavity with his bike, flicked the throttle.

Bang!!

He bounced off the debris that fell with a light vibration and slid down the stairs leading to the deeper underground.

The stairs, which had been built a long time ago, were crushed by the weight and impact of the bike, turning into a smooth slope.

Lenok quickly checked the interior of the train station with his magic sense and nodded inwardly.

‘Traces of the undeveloped district expansion plan. The construction is too well done.’

The appearance of the ticket gates and stairs, which were too well maintained to be considered ruins in the outer district that no one used.

Was it a place that was completed during the development plan, then abandoned immediately after the plan was scrapped and fell into the hands of the underworld?

At first glance, it was just an empty space that seemed to have no one there, but Lenok did not miss the presence of the red eyes that occasionally shone in the darkness.

A sharp murderous intent that they didn’t even try to hide, and an even more fishy smell of blood.

‘Is this the vampires’ territory?’

Although it started in the outer district occupied by the Grimoire Gang, it was natural to trespass on other people’s territories as they went around the outside of the mega-city and returned to the undeveloped district.

They didn’t seem to be in a good mood, but they didn’t attack him and just watched quietly, perhaps because they had agreed in advance.

Lenok ignored the gazes of the vampires and fearlessly descended the stairs, reaching the entrance of the train station.

Screech!!

The smooth marble floor was crushed by the bike’s drift, scattering dust.

According to the pre-notified route, he had to go down to the lower part of the station and cross the rails.

Lenok, who glanced back, adjusted his helmet and stepped onto the rails that were carved out at the lower part of the station.

Bang!!

The wall next to the underground rail was smashed, and four figures quickly descended through the gap.

“Hey young man, how about playing with us for a bit?”

Thump, thump, thump, thump!!

Four bikes, modified to expose their frames, relentlessly chased after Lenok.

In between, four men and women approached, making the rough bodies of their vehicles, which were wrapped in all sorts of weapons, barbed wire, and stakes, rumble.

The man running in the front grinned and said to Lenok.

“It’s a bit scary to drive into such a dark rail. I was waiting for a friend to go with me.”

[…I saw their faces before the race started.]

The fact that they were saying such things when they had appeared together as a group of four meant that they had not approached with good intentions.

[The fact that they deviated from the route without hesitation and came to interfere means that they were not pure participants from the start.]

Lenok glanced at the wall they had smashed and nodded.

A passage for officials inside the tunnel. If they had followed Lenok through a route that was impossible without being familiar with this area, there was only one possibility.

“If someone who is so quick-witted tries to get ahead alone in a race, that won’t do.”

The four riders, smirking, drove their bikes and surrounded Lenok.

One of them tapped Lenok’s bike from the side and muttered.

“It’s a competition, a competition. It’s not a race made for you to stand out alone.”

“You’ll have to slow down a bit until the others arrive. Please understand.”

Although they were speaking in a sly manner, they were ready to draw their weapons at any moment if Lenok did not slow down.

The fact that they were approaching without hesitation and tapping Lenok’s bike was also to find out the extent of his combat ability, disguised as Victor.

Were they riders from the gang’s side to organize the abnormalities that occurred during the race and make the race run smoothly?

But Lenok, after glancing at them, nodded as if he had understood something.

[Asking me to match my speed in a race, that’s a funny thing to say.]

“What?”

[It seems like there’s a problem if the race ends too quickly?]

“…!!!”

There was no answer.

Thwack!!

The blade that popped out from below the throttle that Lenok was holding pierced the shoulder of the rider who was tapping the bike in an instant.

“Kaaah…!”

Before the flustered riders could react, a built-in shotgun that popped out from next to the saddle fired.

It pushed the blade that had pierced the rider’s shoulder deeper and blew off his entire arm.

“Aaaah!!!”

The rider, who had lost one arm in an instant, fell off his bike and disappeared.

“Jake!! You bastard!!”

Two of the desperate riders pushed their bodies into Lenok’s bike from the front and side, but were instead pushed back by the difference in size.

Bang!!

The riders barely managed to stop, almost crashing into the tunnel wall next to the rail.

After being pushed back once in a physical fight, they could not approach easily and instead tried to occupy Lenok’s head and sides by riding along the wall.

“Don’t go in directly!! Crush him from afar!!”

“Shoot him!! If you burst his tires, it’s over!!”

Skillful driving that kept the bike close to the wall with the wind pressure of high speed.

Even so, the skill with which he held the submachine gun hanging on the back of the bike and fired it was considerable, even to Lenok.

Even if they could not directly interfere with Lenok, it was enough to stop the bike from gaining speed and slow down the pace.

Even the moment he used his hands to get rid of them was nothing more than an interference in this urgent moment.

Thump, thump, thump, thump!!

‘They’re catching up.’

The heavy vibration sound heard from hundreds of meters away.

The competitors who had been running in the lead with Lenok but had fallen behind for a moment were closing the distance and pushing him.

Whoosh!!

A huge water spirit, which had approached like a slip with the moisture swirling around the tip of his nose, appeared in an instant.

The spiritist riding on it looked down at Lenok and smiled.

“It seems like you don’t know much since you’re participating for the first time, but the Grimoire Gang isn’t that fair or sportsmanlike.”

[…]

“The public goods that are offered as prizes for the race are pre-agreed upon goods. This is just one way to supply those goods with a proper justification.”

[What are you trying to say?]

“Regardless of your skills, the rankings can be determined by who your backer is.”

The spiritist said that and shrugged his shoulders.

“You look like someone who used to be good at something, but I’m telling you in advance so you don’t feel too wronged.”

Was this what the man who had first ridden the tank meant when he said that those who participated for the first time could not win the race?

Even if they did not directly interfere with the results of the race, interfering with the process was something that violent organizations like gangs were more than familiar with.

But Lenok, even though he understood that fact very well, shook his head leisurely.

[There isn’t only one way to get ahead in a race.]

“…What?”

Whoosh!!

The voices of the riders who had been looking down at Lenok and shouting triumphantly disappeared as if buried in shock at some point.

Along with the gruesome sound of bones and flesh being crushed and shattered, a huge steel body crushed them and sped off.

Boom! Boom! Boom!!!

[Subway control authority takeover complete.]

A faint headlight shining in the darkness.

But its speed was so rough and ferocious that it could easily catch up with all the participants who had been running on the rails so far.

A huge subway train began to chase after them, running like a shot from behind.

[If I get rid of all the competitors, that’s a victory, isn’t it?]

Lenok nodded as he watched the faces of the participants who had stepped onto the rails turn pale.

[It’s what I’m best at.]