Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 411

Past midnight, beyond the early hours, nearing the pre-dawn twilight. Several figures, having struggled up the bluish asphalt, were panting heavily. “Haa, haa…” Not all the racers who participated had been caught in Lenox’s rampage and killed. Some had cleverly hidden to avoid the worst, or prioritized survival over their immediate ranking. And a very few skilled individuals had managed to survive their direct competition with Lenox. These survivors were now gathering at the gang headquarters to finish the race, albeit belatedly. “Damn it, why was there such a drug-fueled monster at the end of the race…! ?” “We need to take it up with the gang… this isn’t what we agreed to!” Though they grumbled and complained, they weren’t stupid enough to not understand the situation. Having been utterly defeated by a biker named Victor, whose name wasn’t even well-known, it was unlikely they’d receive the promised public resources. Still, to avoid the penalties the gang had openly declared, they were taking the time to gather at the finish line. “…” Among them, a bronze-skinned lancer, carrying a wide-eyed leopard, was also focused on walking, his mouth tightly shut. Until, that is, the acrid stench of blood suddenly filled their nostrils. “Wait, what’s this…?” No superhuman present was so weak as to not sense such a clear sign of death. The racers, quickly exchanging glances, hurried to the gang headquarters. They were speechless at the sight of the bloodbath overflowing from inside the headquarters, where corpses were displayed on the walls. “Crazy… how could the Grimoire gang…?” The sight of countless gang members, riddled with holes and tongues lolling out, was gruesome. The participants’ faces turned pale at the sight of their convulsing bodies, still clutching their weapons. Amidst all this, only the lancer carrying the leopard followed the traces of magic with his gaze. “…I see. If they were up against a monster like that, it’s understandable.” “What?” “Look over there.” As the bronze-skinned youth gestured, the others’ gazes turned towards the battle unfolding deep within the gang headquarters, in the inner courtyard. “Uwaaaahhh!!” The Grimoire gang boss roared, swinging a thick greatsword. And before that blade, sharp flashes of light flickered incessantly. Even the surviving gang members, weaving through the vortex of electrodes that connected the fragments of those flashes in the darkness. Sparks flew from the clash of strikes and sword light, suddenly growing in size and illuminating the surroundings. Fwoooosh!! In the midst of it, the face of the mage, tilting his head, was clearly visible. A black-haired youth in a rider jacket, with a cigarette in his mouth. His appearance was slightly different from what they’d heard, but everyone knew there couldn’t be two electro-mages of that level in this world. Behind the lancer carrying the leopard, a series of low curses escaped. “It was Kyeon-Roe!!” “Damn it, to think we were racing with a monster like that…!!” “His bike riding skills were insane.” “Why are they fighting? He won the race, didn’t he?” “Be quiet.” The lancer said without turning back. “Kyeon-Roe is fighting. Do you even understand what that means?” “What’s that…?” If they didn’t even intend to understand, there was no need to pay them any more attention. Instead of replying, the lancer focused on watching Lenox’s movements in the distance. Even in the short time that the others were making a fuss, blades and magic tore through the air dozens of times, scattering a chilling murderous intent everywhere. Amidst the waves of attacks that could tear a body apart, the mage didn’t move a single finger carelessly. He deflected the skewers coming down on his head with a shield, countered the axe blades striking his back with electricity. And in the moment he touched the blade that came right up to his face and twisted his head, snapping it. Kagagagak!! All the murderous attacks that had been rushing towards Lenox lost their direction and were scraped away. Only bluish sparks flew incessantly, showing that they hadn’t even grazed the mage’s collar. “Kuhak…!!” “Don’t interfere with the boss!!” “Time it!! Watch the magic carefully!!” “Damn it, is that even possible…!!” Even while they were cursing and shouting conflicting orders, the gang members knew what they had to do. They would harass and distract whenever the boss’s breathing faltered, and provide fire support from all sides, hoping for a chance. However, Lenox’s movements, reading and reacting to all their intentions and attacks, were simply too perfect and concise. “As expected…” He forgot the weight of the leopard he was carrying, mesmerized by Lenox’s movements. He blocked attacks that were shot at the back of his head without even turning around. It wasn’t just blocking and enduring with a shield, but rather, he was countering attacks with bursts of electricity. That was proof that he was perfectly skilled in controlling balance and power, as much as parrying one spear with another. The rumor that one of the top fighters in the outer districts of the megacity was an electro-mage was not an exaggeration. Every time he carefully watched Lenox’s concise yet eerie movements, he gained something. Amidst the chaotic and noisy attacks of the gang members, each concise flash of light steadily reduced their numbers. It didn’t take long to realize that they were pieces of screws held in the mage’s hand. Peeing!! “Uwaaaahhh!!” One by one, wind holes began to appear in the foreheads of the gang members who had exhausted their strength and power. The sticky blood that splattered under the feet of the survivors as they moved. The heavy corpses that tripped them up with every step only served to sharpen the others’ minds. Dududududu!! Every time a dozen superhumans unleashed their magic against a single mage, the area shook as if it were being bombed, and heated up. Amidst that, the flesh and corpses of the already dead gang members scattered chaotically. The survivors of Lenox’s initial attack used the corpses of their dead comrades as shields and obstacles, rolling through the puddles of blood. A desperate battlefield where the living desecrated the dead to survive even a little longer. The other participants stared blankly at the carnage that had unfolded at their destination, their mouths agape. “The gang… is being annihilated. They’re going to be wiped out.” “That so-called berserker, the best in the outer districts… what a futile end.” “Then does that mean we survivors win this race?” Behind the back of a gang member who was screaming desperately, a bright blue flash of light flickered. [Great Net of Lightning] [Azure Company Thunder] The azure light that bloomed in the dark night sky rotated and scattered like flower petals, extending its power in all directions and striking the ground. Kwaaaang!! In response, the parts of armored vehicles that had fallen everywhere were electrified, amplifying the range and power of the electricity. A vast electric field that covered the entire area was created, crushing and shattering everything that resisted within it. Eeezzzzzz!! The eerie sound of flesh burning and then being crushed to pieces. As Lenox wielded his magic, the voices that had been screaming at the top of their lungs faded away, and only their echoes swirled like hallucinations in the ears of the survivors. In the midst of the trance-like battle, the gang members were cut down one by one by sharp counterattacks that pierced through unnoticed. The man’s greatsword, which he had been swinging madly, stopped abruptly after he realized that not a single gang member was left standing beside him. Lenox looked up at the man’s face and said. “I’ve been thinking about what it means to become a military order.” “Hoo, hoo…!!” “It’s not just about entrusting one’s existence to the laws of military order magic. It’s a much more spiritual concept.” “Kkeueueuk…!!” Over a hundred screw parts were embedded like studs on the skin of the man, who had stopped moving, hindering the movement of his muscles. Hot blood flowed down the skin and skull where the screws were embedded, covering his whole body in red. Lenox nodded as he watched him, unable to move properly with his whole body fixed by the screw pieces. “If you haven’t used your microcosm [a personal manifestation of power] until this point, it’s probably because your master didn’t allow it. In that case, military order magic must be a power that starts from offering one’s inner self to the caster.” The boss of the Grimoire gang. It would be strange if the leader of an organization that occupied two outer districts of the megacity wasn’t a Saint-level ability user. However, the man who had been wielding the greatsword in front of Lenox had not deployed his microcosm even at this moment, with screw pieces embedded all over his body. It wasn’t because of a pathetic desire to hide his vision even when his life was in danger. Surely, it was because someone who had seized his inner self had not allowed him to use his microcosm. That meant that the military order mage that Lenox was targeting was also aware of the series of battles that had taken place in this plaza. “So, if you’re watching, why don’t you come out now?” Lenox asked, looking at the man who was trembling and stopped. “Before I find your military orders hidden all over this city and turn them into the same kind of specimens.” [That’s a difficult task.] At that moment, a cold transmission came from the mouth of a gang member who had fallen at Lenox’s feet. At the same time, another gang member far away continued the words. [It’s too barbaric and violent a way to convey a message. It’s not my preferred method.] A hollow voice with a hint of faint cynicism. “…” [But it’s been a long time since someone has sought me so desperately, even in this way. Then I shall respond.] Crack…!! The morning sky slowly began to dawn. Below it, dozens of corpses began to rise like totems, circling around Lenox. Lenox looked around and chuckled. “It’s not a good time for ghosts to appear. The sun is rising.” [Oh, do you enjoy being bound by such superstitions?] Each time the voice answered, the corpses circling around Lenox lost their power one by one and fell back to the ground. Even the already dead were used as a means to convey his will, then discarded, a cruel nature. It was completely contradictory to what he had said earlier, but neither of them bothered to point it out. It was only natural that the moral compass and standards of violence of an old monster who had lived for over a hundred years were twisted far differently from those of ordinary people. [I’ve heard the stories for a long time. That there’s a blood-crazed mage roaming the outer districts of the city… I dismissed it as a common rumor.] The voice paused for a moment, then asked in a playful tone. [Now it seems it wasn’t just an exaggerated rumor.] “…” Why Lenox didn’t have an escort, why he had gained combat power that surpassed a warrior as a mage. It was tiresome to explain the reasons and clear up misunderstandings, so Lenox simply kept his mouth shut. But perhaps his indifferent attitude was even more to his liking, as a faint chuckle echoed among the corpses. [Yes. You must be of that caliber to dare to say you’ll have a conversation with me. It won’t be a regretful meeting. Shall we have a dialogue?] “Kkeureureureuk…!!” The corpses, already dead, fell over, groaning and screaming in pain. But even that ugly sight was nothing compared to the calm tone that seemed to rise from the shadows. The man who had judged the outlaws who ran rampant in the Balkans hundreds, thousands of times, the head of the megacity’s judicial system, asked. [Young mage of Dyke. Are you aware that many are tired of your rudeness?] “This wouldn’t have happened if you had appeared sooner and solved the problem.” Only then did Lenox take out a cigarette from his pocket, put it in his mouth, light it, and smile. “Nice to meet you, Madrich Onion. It’s our first time meeting in person.” * * * Military Order. A form of controlling a power called spirit, which is not real as it is bound to the flesh, and using it as the basis of a spell. It uses a different power source than magic, but its roots are the same, yet it is a system distinct from spells like magic or sorcery. Even those who use the same military order have significant differences in their spells and styles. That’s why those who use military order magic gathered to create the ancient city of Yorta. Standing at the forefront of the way of handling spirits, representing them, and with a history as old as magic, it is a kind of primitive yet sophisticated traditional study. And Madrich Onion was one of the extreme-level ability users who had mastered military order magic for decades. “For someone with your power to choose a race using gangs as a way to replenish your military order, it’s incredibly crude.” Lenox laughed in front of Madrich, who looked down at him without a hint of wavering. “Anyone who has even heard of the concept of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons [a Japanese folklore concept of a procession of supernatural creatures] would easily realize the secret hidden in this race. Do you have a reason to replenish your military order to such an extent?” The race hosted by the Grimoire gang, offering public resources from the city government as rewards. There was no reason why anyone wouldn’t question the fact that it started at midnight and continued until just before dawn, with the participants being strictly predetermined. But the fact that this race has been maintained until now is proof that those who noticed, like Lenox, have been thoroughly dealt with. It didn’t need to be said whose hands the people secretly dealt with by the gang ended up in. But even after hearing Lenox’s words, Madrich answered without any change in tone. [Rather, it can be said that one must have the insight and intelligence to notice that much to be qualified.] “What?” [It’s one of the common misconceptions of those who are ignorant of military order magic.] Madrich laughed from within the man’s body, which was slowly hovering in the air. [Squeezing the spirits of incompetent fools only produces dirty dregs. Those who are complacent with reality, with their greasy spirits and flesh, are only useful in the forbidden arts of human sacrifice.] “…” [To be subservient to a caster as a spirit means that the person also touches the caster’s source and shares their desires. It means entrusting one’s entire existence to the military order. Even if that act itself is not entirely voluntary, it is natural to focus on quality over quantity.] Only then did Lenox understand what Madrich was saying, and he let out a hollow laugh. “You deliberately structured the race to be similar to the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons and were waiting for those who noticed the anomaly. You’ve been selecting only those relatively superior individuals to become your military orders?” [Completing the night parade is the same as performing a ritual to become a military order. Among them, those who are intelligent and brave enough to notice the anomaly and raise objections to the gang can be said to have met the minimum requirements.] Madrich said. [This was the only way to replenish my military order in this land where spiritual aptitude is relatively lacking. When I was collecting and judging sinners during the long wars, my power never ran dry… but nothing ever goes as planned, does it?] As he said that, the man’s arm creaked and lifted. The direction of his gesture was towards the other race participants who were watching the situation from the back of the plaza. Before Lenox could react to his intention, Madrich, using the man’s body, clenched his fist. Whoooosh!! The gray gale that blew from all directions grabbed the participants’ shoulders and snapped their heads. “Keok…!!” Crack!! The sight of those who were instantly killed without being able to resist, their limbs held in place. Madrich, who had taken the lives of dozens of onlookers in an instant, shook his hand and clicked his tongue. [Look. It’s dirty and worthless. The spirits of the others who died by your hand are no different. They only scream at the living as simple grudges.] “…” He had simply gathered the spirits of the gang members Lenox had just killed and poured them out like a wave. Just by being in the hands of a skilled military order mage, the grudges attacked the living on their own, strangling and twisting their necks to death. [A life like a disposable item… isn’t it deplorable? The value of existence is determined from birth, like a shackle that cannot be escaped. The military order magic is a noble ritual that gives meaning to such miserable beings.] He turned his gaze back to the silent Lenox and said. [I will give you the opportunity to escape that shackle. Would you like to learn military order magic under my dominion?]