Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 445

Before Lenok could even speak, Dreyfus turned his gaze back.

*Fwoosh!!*

The sphere of talismans floating above the two men shattered, and Jebyeok’s body slowly descended from within.

Jebyeok’s body, which had been covered in wounds, was now miraculously healed.

It was obvious that Gapsun had been deliberately stalling for time, healing Jebyeok in case Soryu couldn’t give up on him and attacked.

Jebyeok, his muscular upper body exposed through his torn royal robe, remained silent with his head bowed.

[It wouldn’t be hard to guess where your time stopped today…]

“……”

Gapsun shook his head as he looked at the silent Jebyeok.

[Don’t cling to wicked spirits, and look at reality. How long do you think you can live as you please?]

“…That’s absurd. You, who have lived far more selfishly than I have, are giving me a lecture.”

Yannicus Barbaria let out a low laugh.

“If you want to talk like that, save my grandson right now. Make that rascal who’s still watching my disgrace kneel before me.”

Despite his quiet tone, his words were sharp as knives.

It was only natural that the old monster’s pride, who had almost given up his life without choosing either the artifact or his grandson, was shattered.

However, Gapsun, knowing this, still rebuked him firmly.

[The reason I took you in today was because, despite your weakened state, I didn’t think you were someone who should die in a place like this.]

Gapsun said, taking out a small paper doll from his pocket and throwing it to Jebyeok.

Dreyfus spoke as he watched Jebyeok naturally grasp it.

[I heard you turned down the Lighthouse’s calls several times. They must still be waiting.]

“…Now, this Barbaria is supposed to bow his head to the Eyes of the Azure [a powerful organization]?”

[There are more than just you.]

“… !”

[They don’t gather because they share the same goals. It’s just that those who understand each other’s different desires eventually gather under one banner.]

Jebyeok remained silent at Gapsun’s calm words.

Dreyfus spoke as he watched Jebyeok slowly turn around.

[It’s not too late yet. The Lighthouse Keeper will be waiting for your decision.]

There was no reply. He simply bowed his head and carefully picked up the corpse of his dead grandson.

Between affection and hatred. It was his grandson whom he had resented until the moment of his death, but he was still his remaining blood relative.

Gapsun didn’t add any more words.

[…I hope you make a careful choice.]

*Fwoosh!!*

Jebyeok’s body turned into a streak of light and disappeared beyond the field.

Was he planning to return to Kaius and recover from his injuries and the aftermath of this incident?

His departure without even a word of farewell clearly showed how arrogant Jebyeok was.

And the fact that Gapsun was trying to bring such a man into the Eyes of the Azure meant that he held the man in high regard.

In the end, Yannicus Barbaria left without showing any response or emotion.

Lenok had a strange feeling that he would see that arrogant man again in another place.

[It’s not uncommon for those who have reached the higher ranks to suffer from excessive mental and physical enhancement.]

Gapsun suddenly spoke to Lenok, who was staring blankly at the spot where Jebyeok had disappeared.

[He just gave up on everything knowing he couldn’t live long. But his skills are reliable. If he joins the Eyes of the Azure, he will be a great help.]

That was not wrong. There was no reason to doubt Jebyeok’s capabilities, who had held out in a 3-on-1 battle with a weakened body while being held hostage, and even pushed back.

If Soryu hadn’t played with his grandson’s life at the end, the battle would have unfolded differently.

However, now was not the time to express his feelings about what Gapsun was saying.

“…I don’t know why you’re telling me this.”

Lenok, adjusting his mask, turned his head towards Gapsun and retorted in an unpleasant tone.

“I have no interest in whether Yannicus Barbaria lives or dies. You know that too.”

After all, Lenok was here as a space-type mage belonging to the Demonic Citadel [a rival organization].

Even if the opponent was an 8th-level extreme ability user, if they belonged to the Eyes of the Azure, it was right not to be friendly.

However, the problem of how to escape from here was something he had to start thinking about now.

However, Gapsun burst into laughter despite Lenok’s lukewarm reaction.

[Well, you don’t have to be so wary. I don’t intend to capture and kill you here. I don’t have time for that.]

Gapsun, who had uttered such a chilling statement without a care, tilted his head slightly.

As he did, the hundreds of talismans attached to the mask he was wearing swayed, drawing faint trajectories.

[In the talisman arts I use, I believe that a great law circulates every 45 years.]

“……”

[That’s why I can roughly tell if the person I’m facing has gone through that cycle once.]

Lenok, understanding the meaning of Gapsun’s words, narrowed his eyes behind his mask.

He couldn’t understand the exact meaning of the talisman arts, but the meaning of what that eccentric was saying was very simple.

He was saying that he knew that Lenok was a mage who was not even forty years old.

[Young, so young… To be a space-type special ability user and not even be forty years old. I’ve spent a lot of time in this field, but I’ve never imagined such talent.]

The red eyes drawn on the talisman-covered mask glowed mysteriously.

[It’s hard to believe that such talent has only now come to light and entered Pandemonium [a chaotic realm].]

Silence fell. The atmosphere was slowly heating up with tension.

In the sharp air, as if walking on a knife’s edge, Lenok also slowly began to draw up his magical power.

‘It’s different from Jebyeok. I can escape.’

Gapsun was clearly a much more powerful mage than Jebyeok, but it was unlikely that he possessed the same mobility as Jebyeok.

Unlike Jebyeok, who was an 8th-level physical ability user, the magic Gapsun used was talisman arts that created a mobile fortress using talismans as a medium.

If so, it was only natural that his mobility was inferior to that of a physical ability user.

‘Since Jebyeok has returned, the blockade of Kaius must have been lifted. If I collect Tucker’s belongings, call for transportation at the right time, and return to Balkan…’

It was a bad move to fight Gapsun here and engage in unnecessary attrition warfare.

From Lenok’s point of view, who also had a foot in the Eyes of the Azure, there was no need to eliminate the watchers by siding with the Demonic Citadel.

Rather, it was desirable for the two forces to reveal their inner thoughts and maintain a balance of power.

However, Gapsun opened his mouth before Lenok could finish his calculations and take action.

[It’s a pity, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Eyes of the Azure.]

“…What?”

[If anyone remains in the end and can look forward to the next time, that would be good enough.]

Dreyfus said, slowly walking backward.

[In that sense, I have a different opinion from the Lighthouse Keeper… but that child said he would handle it, so I’m just moving as he wishes.]

With that, the talismans that made up Gapsun’s entire body began to scatter and flutter into the air.

At the same time, the majestic wall of talismans behind him slowly disappeared.

Even though a clear presence was definitely felt within the mass of talismans, no human form could be seen anywhere beyond the talismans that had scattered into thousands of pieces and fluttered in the air.

[I suspected you might be a spy from the Order of Mages, but if that were the case, you would have tried to do something in some way. It’s enough to have confirmed that.]

“…The Order of Mages?”

[There must be a reason why young mages like you are only now appearing in the world.]

A raspy voice whispered through the talismans, completely ignoring Lenok’s words.

[I heard that there is a young mage at the Lighthouse who has broken through the labyrinth and faced the Jundun.]

“Wait, that can’t be…”

However, Lenok immediately understood the meaning of those words and broke out in a cold sweat behind his mask.

[Was it Evan… I’ll go to the Lighthouse myself this time and see if you can be a good match.]

“……”

[If there’s a chance. Let’s meet again on a pleasant day.]

With those words, Gapsun’s entire body shattered into talismans.

*Chwararararak!!*

The scattered pieces of talismans circled in the sky before disappearing as if nothing had happened.

A high-level talisman art that was difficult to guess the principle of even while watching it with his own eyes. Was it a form of moving the caster’s body?

Although the conversation had taken an unexpected turn due to the opponent’s strange nature, it was clear how powerful Gapsun was.

The main force of the Eyes of the Azure in the Western Continent.

Were such monsters moving for the Lighthouse in branches different from the autonomous territory headquarters commanded by Lapis?

He had guessed that there was more to it than met the eye while working with the Eyes of the Azure, but he never expected to encounter such an eccentric and powerful figure in a place like this.

What method did they use to bring powerful superhumans who had been wandering the Western Continent to join the Eyes of the Azure one by one?

What was even more surprising was the attitude of those who had already joined, like Gapsun, actively persuading people like Jebyeok to join the organization.

Even Jebyeok seemed to be swayed by the persuasion of an extreme mage like Gapsun, not Lapis herself.

He had guessed that Lapis had a sharp eye, but this was beyond his imagination.

He headed towards the field where the bodies of his dead teammates were scattered, hiding his presence and organizing his thoughts.

‘Gapsun suspected that I was a spy from the Order of Mages.’

All he knew about Lenok was that he was a young space-type special ability user.

But if he thought of the Order of Mages and suspected him with just that information, there could only be one reason.

It would be impossible unless there was a mage in the Order of Mages who directly handled the space-type magic system.

‘And he already knew Evan’s name. Of all people…’

It was not strange that Evan’s name, who had dealt with the drug lord and broken through the labyrinth, was known within the Eyes of the Azure.

Even if the information was well concealed at the time of dealing with the drug lord, it would be impossible to hide the labyrinth incident in which many powerful people participated.

The problem was that Gapsun was comparing Evan and Victor on the same level as young talented mages.

If Gapsun, who had only seen Victor for the first time, was acting like this, then perhaps the other watchers and members of the Demonic Citadel would be no different.

Perhaps the day might come when he would have to play both Evan and Victor at the same time in front of everyone.

Lenok sighed softly at the depressing speculation that made his head ache just thinking about it.

“Haa…”

It was fortunate that there were some gains from this incident.

The situation had become complicated as he encountered unexpected strong opponents one after another, but as a result, he had achieved his initial goal.

Lenok stared at the Tears of the Archangel, the radiant gem in his hand, and then slowly turned his back.

It was no exaggeration to say that not a single thing had gone according to the original plan, but in the end, Lenok had obtained the relic of the Old World.

He would have plenty of time to think about how to deal with it.

It was time to return to Balkan.

* * *

He searched through Tucker’s belongings, who had died, and found a long-range communication device.

He found a few communication numbers that had been contacted relatively recently in the communication log in the device, and when he called them, he was able to find the person he wanted from one of them.

[You want me to come now? Well, it’s different from the promise, but the payment was made in advance, so I understand.]

*Bwoooom!!*

Tucker and the other colleagues must have used other means of transportation to get to Kaius.

It was only natural that the person in charge, Tucker, would have the contact number of the relevant person.

A heavy truck, different from the jeep Lenok had ridden here, arrived shortly after.

A middle-aged man who got out of the truck scratched his belly and narrowed his dull eyes as he looked at Lenok.

“Somehow, the faces and numbers seem to have changed since the first time…”

“……”

“No, were you wearing this mask in the first place…? Well, it doesn’t matter.”

The man yawned and gestured to the back of the truck before getting back in.

“Get in quickly. I’m a bit busy because I have to stop by somewhere on the way back.”

“…Okay.”

Without a word, Lenok got into the back of the truck, and the driver immediately set off.

The truck quickly moved away from the field where Tucker, Rick, and Olga’s corpses were scattered and in a mess.

In the back of the cargo area, where a few people could sit, Lenok looked at the back of the driver’s head with an interesting gaze.

Even though he had contacted him with Tucker’s communication device, the driver didn’t ask where he was.

He couldn’t have failed to see the corpses scattered on the field. Was he pretending not to see them, or did he really not see them?

It was clear that this truck was being operated in a more mysterious way than he thought.

‘No, is it not a big deal now…’

Even if the driver tried to play tricks and attack Lenok, he could just crush him to death on the spot and find another means of transportation.

Now that he had obtained the Tears of the Archangel, the things Lenok had to worry about had greatly decreased.

All that was left was to report to Hylea that he had completed his mission and decide how to dispose of the Tears.

How to return to Balkan was not a big problem.

Lenok leaned his back against the cargo area of the truck and quietly exhaled.

Originally, he had planned to check the famous powerhouses of the Western Continent through Davi, but it was not as easy as he thought.

“…Haa.”

As the tension in his body was released with the thought that the operation was over, fatigue rushed in.

Fortunately, Lenok didn’t have to fight with all his might, but even if that wasn’t the case, it was true that the operation had gone wrong and all sorts of chaos had occurred.

How many times had the simple plan of robbing Jebyeok’s vault and escaping grown far beyond what was expected?

Considering the intervention of Gapsun, an 8th-level watcher of the Eyes of the Azure, at the end, it was no wonder that Lenok was suffering from considerable fatigue.

‘I need a smoke… I can’t help it.’

It was impossible to smoke a cigarette now that he was wearing a mask.

Lenok rummaged through his pockets and chewed and swallowed a few of the elixirs he had stolen from Jebyeok’s vault that were most helpful for recovering from fatigue.

He felt a tingling sensation in the back of his head and his vision cleared up a bit.

Since the truck driver didn’t seem to be in good condition, he shouldn’t let his guard down.

However, perhaps because his body was exhausted from fatigue, or because he had gotten into the warm cargo area of the truck, the time around him felt like it was flowing slowly.

*Zzzzzzz…*

With a grating noise like a tape rewinding, he felt like his consciousness was stretching out.

Was this a sign that he was falling asleep?

Lenok raised his hand to lightly tap his cheek, but he was a step too late to see his own hand in his vision and immediately realized.

No, that wasn’t it. It wasn’t a delusion, but his senses themselves were gradually slowing down.

“…!!!”

Only then did Lenok, realizing that he was not simply sleepy but that the time around him was actually slowing down infinitely, open his eyes wide.

Not manipulating time and space, but an acceleration of consciousness so fast that it was impossible to guess the proper speed.

Lenok had experienced this phenomenon a few times before.

During the cartel’s executive meeting, didn’t this phenomenon occur at the moment when Myung directly appeared in front of Oliviera?

“You look very tired.”

The moment he noticed, the man was standing in front of Lenok.