Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 413

“From Balkan?”

“Yes. The life signs of Ayun, a baptized believer, have ceased.”

“Hmm…”

A somewhat indifferent response. Nevertheless, the man delivering the report didn’t stop speaking.

“Despite joining the church at a late age, her aptitude was considerable, and she was being considered as a missionary candidate. I believe a thorough investigation into the cause of her death is necessary.”

“Are you kidding me? What do you think sending our people to that city will accomplish?”

“……”

The man fell silent at the response laced with thick sarcasm.

“That’s a crime-ridden area where strange powers are running rampant, enough to cause Bishop Martinez’s sudden death. I don’t want to bother with such a rebellious city that rejects our doctrines.”

Rumors were rife within the Eastern Continent branch of the church that missionary Walter Martinez, who had been dispatched to Balkan, had failed to overcome the adversities and died even after successfully summoning an apostle [a high-ranking religious figure].

To fill the void left by the capable bishop, the 2nd Apostle himself had come to select new missionary candidates.

As a result, hundreds of promising believers died at once, causing a significant blow to the church branch’s power.

“If we just forget about such a demonic place, they’ll probably sort themselves out by fighting amongst themselves. It’s hard to just stand by and watch if it’s a lawless area where order doesn’t exist… but it’s still a city, right?”

The voice spoke with a sinister chuckle.

“If they want to survive, they’ll prune themselves in some way. We’re just there to watch from the sidelines and pick up the scraps. It’s not like we want to draw attention by sending our people into that den of evil.”

“That’s…”

“Especially since we’re already pulling resources to develop the central front, let’s not unnecessarily increase our workload unless it’s a direct order from the church headquarters. Got it?”

Despite never having visited the city, his insight into the situation of the sprawling metropolis was precise.

The intuition that recognized what happens when immense power is concentrated in one place was not something that could be gained from mere experience.

Even though the church treated its believers like tools to be used and discarded, it was precisely because of this that they were able to judge the situation without being blinded by immediate losses.

In that sense, the words of the man, the head of the Northeastern branch of the church, were flawless, even as they lightly dismissed the report.

“It’s an order that came directly from the 2nd Apostle’s line.”

“……”

“The recent movements near the city, including Balkan, are unusual, so we need to establish a new sphere of influence inside the city as quickly as possible and reorganize the personnel…”

“Hey, you should have said that first!”

Squeak!!

The branch head, grumbling as she rose to her feet, had sticky blood dripping down her legs, staining her pants.

With her hands on her hips, she sighed and looked up at the sky blankly.

“Damn it… I thought I could rest a bit after this was over, but it was just a pipe dream.”

The apostles, the core force leading the church and moving directly under the orders of the Pope, were all monsters with ferocity comparable to strategic weapons.

Among them, the 2nd Apostle, who was active in the field, held a special meaning for the believers.

Unlike most of the single-digit apostles who couldn’t properly control their madness and were wandering between ideals and reality, he was the second to start following the Pope, yet he still roamed the continent, getting involved in all sorts of matters.

It was no exaggeration to say that there were almost no believers who didn’t feel his consideration and touch in both big and small matters.

The head of the Northeastern branch herself didn’t have any particular feelings about the 2nd Apostle, but she also knew that there was no way to ignore his orders.

“Get ready to leave. I’ll depart right after I finish my ablutions.”

The branch head, shaking off the blood on her body, patted the man standing in front of her on the shoulder and walked past him.

“Huh? Are you really thinking of going yourself?”

“Why are you asking if you know? What do you think is the meaning behind our great Apostle giving the order to me, the head of the Northeastern branch?”

The branch head laughed.

“Geographically, the Southern church branch is much closer, but the fact that he contacted this side means… our great Apostle knows how I feel about you.”

“……”

“Whatever. I think I roughly know what the apostles are thinking now… If our role is to establish the doctrine where it’s needed, then we must follow it.”

What does it mean to understand the will of an apostle who was born as a human and chosen by the Pope?

Could it be said that her excellence lies in the fact that she recognizes this properly, yet doesn’t reveal that specialness?

Though they are dismissed as foolish fanatics and called objects of fear and misunderstanding, the number and magnitude of talents within that belief are undoubtedly immeasurable.

And one of the particularly special talents within that powerful and vast church was preparing to head towards the giant city.

* * *

Lenox was sitting by the sunlit window, leisurely looking out at the street.

If it were something he had to handle alone, he wouldn’t usually waste time like this, but when circumstances didn’t allow, there was no choice.

Especially if it was an issue that required the active cooperation of others, not just Lenox himself.

In that sense, the blacksmith Palmer from the Machine City was definitely a difficult person to work with.

Clank, clank.

The constant sound of metal friction and muttering behind him.

“This won’t do.”

“……”

“Damn it, this isn’t it either. The circuit connection is completely wrong. It’ll be difficult to control the output like this.”

Bang!!!

Finally unable to bear it, Lenox turned his head slightly.

“How about accepting the proposal and compromising a little?”

“No, no!!”

Palmer shook his head and shouted.

“For me, who left the Machine City, to steal the blueprints of Machina [a fictional city] through someone else…!! That’s impossible!!”

“……”

It had been 30 minutes already. Lenox suppressed a sigh and turned his gaze back to the window.

The reason why he had met the blacksmith Palmer, whom he wouldn’t have sought out unless he had a specific reason, after a long time.

It was to finish several things that needed to be done before meeting Madrich Onion.

Recently, Lenox had confirmed the location of the gathering place where Madrich’s Military Orders were converging, through the power of his new magic eye and several preparations.

Since he wouldn’t waste the Military Order of a gang boss like Grimoire, the location where that Military Order was recovered was likely the area where Madrich’s main body was located.

In the process, there was a commotion in adjusting the power of the magic eye with Oliviera’s help, but he had succeeded in finding the coordinates, at least roughly.

Except for the fact that the location of the coordinates was outside the city, it was definitely a satisfactory gain.

‘Outside the city…’

In terms of distance, it wasn’t that far from the giant city. However, considering the terrain and environment, it was natural for Lenox not to be careless in his preparations.

Accepting Madrich’s proposal and entering his territory was not a problem in itself.

However, Lenox knew that he had to finish all the information and preparations he needed to know before going.

Ordering Palmer to modify new equipment was part of those preparations.

It was because he had succeeded in obtaining some useful information while searching the Gearsides database.

Among them, what Lenox found was the design combination for custom personal firearms that had been recently updated in the Machine City Machina.

The data he had obtained in the process of dealing with the defense force Lieutenant General Trepen and chasing down the Gearsides researchers contained the blueprints for firearms that were being developed.

Therefore, Lenox tried to entrust the work to the person who could best implement the design to the best of his knowledge, but,

Palmer was stubbornly refusing the request, using the excuse that he was not qualified to see the design.

“If you don’t intend to accept my request, I’ll be on my way.”

Lenox glanced at his watch and got up from his seat.

“I thought it was a reasonable deal in exchange for sharing the principles of the design, but since it has come to this, I think I’ll have to entrust the work to another craftsman.”

Palmer wasn’t the only craftsman in the outer districts who handled firearms.

Although there was a problem with trust, now that Lenox had an opportunity to greatly upgrade the firearms he possessed, it wasn’t the time to be picky.

However, upon hearing Lenox’s words, Palmer jumped up from his seat like lightning and stood blocking the door of the workshop.

“No!! Are you thinking of showing the secrets of the Machine City to someone else so carelessly!”

“…If that’s the case, shouldn’t you be criticized for showing the design to Palmer in the first place?”

“Th, that’s… I may have left the city, but my heart is still in Machina’s workshop, so it’s okay.”

“Then you can accept my request.”

“But how can I forget my duty and dare…”

“……”

[Is this eccentric and ill-tempered organic being trying to play games with Master?]

Even Davi, who had been dozing off in his arms, was annoyed by the stagnant conversation with Palmer.

However, Lenox roughly guessed why Palmer could only express himself in this way.

‘Palmer isn’t the type to be obsessed with the reputation of the Machine City. Maybe it’s because of his pride as a craftsman that he doesn’t want to look at the design I’m giving him so readily.’

[Then what are we supposed to do?]

‘I think he wants us to add an irresistible proposal or reason.’

[…Humans are truly bothersome creatures.]

Lenox chuckled inwardly at Davi’s sigh.

Pride is ultimately a mind that works with a mix of various complex emotions.

It’s far from rational or cold judgment, but in a way, it’s one of the important psychological defense mechanisms that make people more human.

Perhaps because he had the reason of a magician who was more rational than anyone else, Lenox didn’t think that pride was useless.

‘The problem is that I need a plausible lie to persuade Palmer. In the first place, even the route I obtained the information from is unofficial…’

Lenox finding the personal firearm design category was merely a byproduct of Davi reversing the Gearsides database.

Even that information wasn’t something he had in his hands right away, but a gain he had obtained in the process of organizing the chaotic mass of data that had accumulated inside her with Davi.

As such, it was difficult to explain to Palmer how he had obtained this design.

‘Machine City… Gearsides… That’s it.’

Lenox, having thought of a plausible excuse, leaned towards Palmer and said.

“I didn’t want to say this, but… actually, I received this design directly from an executive of the Machine City.”

“Wh, what did you say…?”

“Do you know about Maiya Lenslit?”

There was no need to say which way Palmer’s reaction was leaning.

Lenox was sure that he had hit the nail on the head and began to rattle off the lie he had prepared in advance without even pausing for breath.

“I received permission from her and acquired the design during the request process. It’s practically the same as having official permission from the Machine City.”

“Th, that’s definitely… but, the, the proof…”

Instead of saying anything more, Lenox divided his magic power into three strands, floated them up, and then rubbed them at different speeds, piercing a nearby water bottle.

Crack!!

“Maiya Lenslit’s technique, who was called the best executive of Machina. I saw it from the side and learned a similar version. Would this be enough proof?”

In reality, he had never been taught the technique by her, but had only fought and bickered with her before finally reaching a compromise, but what did it matter?

The day she would come to the giant city and tell Palmer the truth would never come.

Lenox, having confirmed that Palmer’s expression was on the verge of completely falling for it, smiled confidently.

“I have a lot of work I want to entrust to you. How about we at least check if the design is really the real deal?”

“Sh, should we…?”

Palmer, glancing at Lenox, reached for the data chip on the table.

Next to him, Lenox kept pouring out words that would entice him.

“As far as I’ve checked, there’s also a system that adjusts the cylinder pressure with the recoil of a shotgun. There’s also a way to weaponize rifle casings and a method of forcibly increasing the space optimized for spellcasting… Aren’t you curious?”

The story about Maiya was a complete lie from start to finish, but the story about the design was definitely true.

From new attempts to completely overhaul the functions of shotguns, rifles, and revolvers, to new heavy weapon designs that Lenox might need.

In the past, he couldn’t carry many firearms due to the limits of his magic power and the capacity and weight of shrinking magic, but now that he had absorbed the magic power of the labyrinth and increased his vessel, the situation was different.

It wasn’t just magic that consumed a lot of magic power and was large in scale that could be helpful in battle.

If there was judgment and speed to unleash the right firepower in the right place, efficiency could be more important than the size of the firepower being unleashed.

Apart from constantly researching magic and raising his own level, Lenox had no intention of neglecting the equipment he possessed.

“Let’s start by increasing the muzzle of the rechargeable shotgun to three, if we use it in conjunction with the magic power rotation I just showed you, we can create similar results with high efficiency… Aren’t you curious?”

No further answer was needed.

Palmer was already holding the data chip in his hand as if someone was going to take it away.

“…Come back in a day.”

He nodded, his voice hoarse.

“If you leave your equipment, I’ll take care of it neatly in the way you want.”

“Understood.”

Palmer was already lost in the new design. Lenox left the workshop with a satisfied smile.

When he took out his phone and checked his messages, he received a message from someone he had been waiting for.

A new project. Achilles and Madrich Onion. The cooperation of the Cartel and Dyke and the control mechanism that encompasses them all.

There was one more person he needed to get help from to finish all of this.

Considering the existence of the Military Order mage he had to face from now on, he couldn’t delay even for a moment.

That’s what Lenox thought as he immediately opened and checked the message.