Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 478

The Earth Running on the Sea (1)

An island that moves, drifting along the sea outside the continent.

It uses living humans as altars, piling them up and setting them ablaze to create a massive beacon.

Hundreds of people wander among them, offering prayers. And several times that number of people move around the island.

The scale of the island is astonishing, capable of accommodating nearly thousands of people, but is it even possible for it to be moving on the sea in such a state?

However, Lenok couldn’t help but reflect on the environment as much as the shocking sight unfolding through the hologram before his eyes.

‘An earth running on the sea…’

The existence of a mirror reflecting the will to exist, which he had confirmed in a paper just before coming here.

He thought it was close to a Zen koan [a paradoxical riddle used in Zen Buddhism to provoke enlightenment] and was planning to visit the lighthouse of the floating island cluster, but he never expected to find a clue at this point.

Was it a coincidence that he had gained this information because he had a foot in various organizations and powerful figures, picking up information from various places?

“I’ve heard related stories before.”

While Lenok was lost in thought, Lapis mumbled, slightly biting her lip.

“It was said that the fundamental reason why the Cult is not bound by supply and distribution across the continent might be outside the sea.”

“……”

“The Far East branch of the Cult of the Returning Path. I never thought it would appear in the Sea of Understanding at this point…”

“Because of the intangible barrier surrounding the outside of the island, it was difficult to enter without being detected.”

Lyza shrugged and continued.

“We had no choice but to swim along the outer edge and only look at the visible parts, so the rest is just a rough guess. From the sea level, the Cult’s temple-like structures weren’t even visible properly.”

“I wanted to force my way in and check it out right there, but I thought I should report the situation first.”

As the twins finished speaking, a chilling silence fell over the conference room.

It was clear that the news brought by the observers of the Western Continent branch was a much more serious problem than expected.

Grisha laughed in disbelief, arms crossed.

“The fact that the news was brought by the Western Continent branch, of all people… I guess it’s lucky that someone wanted to see the floating island cluster.”

“The important thing is that the Far East branch tried to approach the Sea of Understanding, even at the cost of revealing their location.”

Lapis, who had quickly finished thinking, coldly murmured.

“We need to investigate first, as we cannot confirm how much power is deployed in the Far East branch.”

“But isn’t the fact that they approached the Sea of Understanding first mean that they are already prepared for a conflict?”

“If they were planning to target the floating island cluster, they would have moved a long time ago. It’s more likely that they have other intentions.”

At this point, no one was suggesting that additional reinforcements were needed.

Considering the terrain of the Far East branch that the observers had seen and heard with their senses, too many people could easily be detected by the Cult.

If they haven’t realized that the Eyes of Azure have noticed their existence, they had to thoroughly exploit that fact.

At most, the observers who had just returned from the Sea of Understanding were the maximum. Or it would be better to reduce it even further.

Lapis must have come to the same conclusion, as she quickly tapped the table.

“Leppard is right. We will aim to investigate the Cult’s purpose and confirm the power of the Far East branch.”

“What about the composition of the operation team?”

“Let’s keep it to no more than three people.”

At Grisha’s words, Lapis continued as if she had been waiting for it.

“All the observers gathered here have been working alone, and I think it’s inevitable that they are awkward with coordinated operations. In that case, a small team that guarantees individual activity radius without hindering each other would be appropriate.”

“……”

The twins and Lyza also looked at each other and shrugged, as if they had nothing to say.

They were people who had continued their individual activities without belonging to an organization even after completing their individual hierarchies.

Even after joining the Eyes of Azure as observers, it wouldn’t have been common for them to seek help from others in the process of carrying out missions for the lighthouse.

And the moment their skills or talents exceeded a certain point, sometimes the presence of others could feel like a hindrance… Lenok knew this feeling quite well.

Sometimes, Lenok had felt that frustration not only with superhumans weaker than himself, but also with superhumans who were stronger and more intelligent than him.

However, he had never tried to expend much emotion on such a series of processes because he had not forgotten that there were times when he had to join hands despite those various shortcomings, frustrations, and conflicts of opinion.

Even the skilled members of Pandemonium he had worked with not long ago had quite a few areas where they didn’t work well together, but no one had complained about the process of leading the operation as a team.

It was the same. The observers sitting in this conference room would not be completely unaware of that either.

If the situation allowed, they would have had experience working with others from time to time.

A small elite team had to infiltrate the Far East branch of the Cult of the Returning Path. Who would be in charge of that team?

Lapis was never the kind of leader who would pass on the decision and responsibility of such an operation to others.

“Dreyfus-nim, Leppard, and Pio. Would all three of you be okay with this?”

“Huh, just me?”

Unlike the others who were roughly agreeing, Pio looked bewildered and pointed at himself.

Lyza was not suitable for an infiltration operation, but it was unexpected that only one of the twins, Pio, was chosen.

Lapis immediately explained the reason.

“Dreyfus-nim, of course, and Leppard, who uses primal faith, and Pio’s transformation techniques are the most suitable for the purpose of infiltration.”

“Well… the abilities we use are different. Then, I guess it can’t be helped.”

Pio and Gio smacked their lips at the same time, as if they were disappointed.

“It would be better if we could go together. Lapis, you know, we-”

“I know. But in this operation, if the minimum force is met, survivability should be prioritized.”

Lapis cut off their disappointment sharply.

“More than anything, the most important thing is to find out the power of the Far East branch, which has been veiled until now.”

“It might be difficult to succeed with just one attempt.”

Grisha added her opinion.

“It’s a place whose location and identity have never been revealed before. If they have shown themselves at this point, it means they are aiming for something significant or a price…”

“I will leave the judgment on that entirely to you. Please confirm which of the two goals, the Cult’s purpose and power, is more important, or even if it is impossible to judge.”

Lapis continued without hesitation.

“The Far East branch could not have failed to anticipate a conflict with us. Nevertheless, I have no intention of letting them get away with approaching the Sea of Understanding.”

At that moment, Gapseon, who had been listening to Lapis’s words without saying a word, opened his mouth.

[I respect your judgment in breaking through the path to the front line with the power of the Eastern main force. I will gladly cooperate in this operation.]

“Thank you. Then, as quickly as possible…”

[However, in my personal opinion, I believe that one more team member will be needed for this operation.]

“…Who are you talking about?”

Even Lapis, who had been making decisions and planning the operation with a sharp edge, could not ignore what Gapseon was saying, regardless of the other observers’ opinions.

It was not just because he was an 8-level extreme ability user, but because she knew he was an old monster who had lived for a long time and accumulated a lot of knowledge and experience.

He had been known for his notoriety for his bizarre behavior in the Western Continent, but he was a neutral party whose actions had their own reasons.

If Gapseon, who had not said anything, was trying to add to the operation, it was advice that could not be ignored.

While Lenok was thinking that, Gapseon suddenly turned his gaze and began to stare at him.

[……]

“……”

Lenok slightly frowned at the ominous gaze that seemed to have a reason, and Lapis smiled awkwardly.

“Well, um… Evan-nim is only a helper who is helping us, and he is not an observer, so…”

[I saw that a barrier was built all around the Trama Mountains. It was surprisingly sophisticated.]

“……”

[It was comparable to the barrier surrounding the Far East branch. His help is essential for this operation.]

Gapseon’s claim directly contradicted Lapis’s words.

At that moment when Lapis slightly lost her composure, having been so firm until now, Lenok opened his mouth.

“As Lapis said, if it’s just to investigate the Cult’s power, there doesn’t seem to be a need to unnecessarily increase the number of people.”

“……”

“You wouldn’t want my help because you can’t break through the barrier built on the outskirts of the island, would you?”

Lenok asked, tilting his head slightly and staring at Gapseon.

“If there’s another reason, I’d like to hear it honestly here.”

Lapis had only asked him to act as an advisor, but Lenok was aware that he had to lend a hand if necessary.

Especially in a situation where he might face a direct conflict with the Cult of the Returning Path, it was difficult to back out.

Since he thought there might be a clue related to the rate of existence projection on the island, Lenok didn’t have much resistance to moving himself… but…

At this point, he was thinking of testing Gapseon’s reaction by putting a spoke in the wheel.

It seemed that Gapseon had been planning to take Lenok on the operation from the moment he first saw him.

It was not surprising.

In the Western Continent, even after meeting Victor, Gapseon had mentioned Evan’s name and seemed to be concerned about him.

However, it was a different story whether Lenok would go along with Gapseon’s intentions.

Just as Lenok was thinking that and was about to get up from his seat without waiting for an answer.

[The pattern of the great barrier built on the island was surprisingly similar to the one newly installed in the Valley of the Shattered.]

“……”

[As someone who deals with talisman magic, I am also well-versed in barrier magic. If my eyes are not mistaken, it must be a technique that originated from the same source.]

Lenok momentarily made eye contact with Lapis and let out a small sigh.

Lapis would not doubt it because she knew that Lenok had inherited the barrier magic of Jintun, but that was not the important fact.

A Jintun barrier similar to the one Lenok used was built in the Far East branch of the Cult.

What did this fact mean?

It was proof that one of the legacies of Jintun that had flowed out of the Infinite Labyrinth was in the hands of the Far East branch.

And it meant that the power of that legacy was so great that it covered the entire moving island.

[Do you know that, compared to the apostles who died in the central front, new apostles have not been born within the Cult at an unusually high rate?]

“……”

[Even if they threw apostles driven mad as bombs, the fact that their valuable special forces have decreased does not change.]

Gapseon points to the shimmering haze writhing at the top of the tower built on the hologram’s summit, using humans as altars.

[This blurry thermal image is not an error. It is proof that beings with such powerful forces that even the output of a memory regeneration artifact cannot capture them were clearly in that place.]

The shape of the altar is visible to all the observers sitting in the conference room.

[If such beings are gathered in the Far East branch island, which is presumed to focus on supply, and are protected by a powerful barrier, and if that place happens to be outside the territorial waters of the Sea of Understanding, wouldn’t that have a meaning beyond what is visible?]

“…I see what you’re thinking.”

Lenok let out a small sigh and nodded.

Gapseon’s words were very concise, but at least they were not so difficult that he could not understand their meaning right away.

“Does it mean that the Cult is conducting a ritual to create apostles, centered on the Far East branch?”

[To be precise, it is the work of imbuing the will of the end into a vessel with suitable talent to create an incarnate. They are holding a ritual to select apostles.]

A chilling coldness emanated from beyond the talisman mask.

Gapseon quietly murmured in a cold voice.

[It is well known that the Cult needs the revelations of a priestess to select apostles. Then, it can explain why they were conducting the ritual in hiding like this,]

“……”

[Is this enough of an answer as to why your help is needed?]

* * *

“That’s the place.”

As he felt the salty sea breeze, Lenok took out a pair of binoculars from his pocket.

Focusing on the horizon, he could see something faintly swaying through the haze.

The rising air currents raging over the Sea of Understanding, and the traces of a great barrier exquisitely hidden between them.

Even though he couldn’t feel any sign or presence of the island, he could clearly recognize the presence created by the Jintun barrier magic.

Only then did Lenok realize that Gapseon’s words were not false and let out a small sigh.

Among the vast Jintun barrier magic, there are not many patterns of great barriers that cover the entire scale of an island.

It was not strange that Gapseon had recognized the similarities with the pattern of the great barrier that Lenok had built and had asked for his advice.

“Um, can you even see the island with those binoculars?”

“……”

At Leppard’s voice, which sounded genuinely curious, Lenok quietly lowered the binoculars he was holding.

“Leppard, you really don’t know anything.”

Pio grinned and put his arm around Lenok’s shoulder.

“High-ranking magicians tend to use tools with elegance. You should understand with a broad mind.”

“I see… I was short-sighted.”

Lenok ignored Leppard and Pio, who were talking nonsense, stood up and shook off the sand.

The edge of the vast sandy beach.

The outer edge of the eastern continent’s coastline, the end of the sea trench leading into the Sea of Understanding, the territorial waters of the autonomous region.

“Evan, how is it? Is it possible to infiltrate the island without breaking the barrier?”

“Didn’t you say there would be no problem when we got close?”

Lenok replied quietly.

“Let’s start by crossing the Sea of Understanding first.”

“That’s not wrong.”

“How did you cross the sea when you arrived at the Far East branch last time? Did you make a raft or something?”

The image was only faintly visible on the horizon through the binoculars.

No matter how short it was, it was thousands of meters away.

However, Pio tilted his head with a bewildered expression at Lenok’s question.

“No? I just swam.”

“……”

“Gio and I took turns carrying each other, so it didn’t take long. The rising air currents made it easy to float.”

Leppard nodded as he listened to Pio’s words, as if he had had a similar experience.

“It’s the same for me. It wasn’t difficult if I left my body to the flowing water.”

“As expected of a dog, you’re good at swimming.”

“…I don’t dislike water.”

Lenok pondered as he looked at Leppard’s face, which had become awkward as to whether he should be angry or not.

‘Lyza said that there didn’t seem to be any surveillance below the sea level…’

That might not be simply because the Cult’s security was lax, but because of the structural limitations of the moving island itself.

What if the way the island moves or its operating principle itself made it difficult to pay attention to the area below the sea level?

Lenok quickly came to a conclusion and nodded.

“Cut down a few useful trees near the sandy beach.”

“Huh? Why logs?”

“Are you planning to build a wooden bridge or something?”

“Crossing the sea and approaching the island is not everything.”

Lenok said that and turned his gaze towards the sandy beach.

“If that’s really a moving island, then there will be a weak point that is easy to exploit. It’s better to target that.”

“…Okay. It’s not difficult to bring a few trees.”

Leppard turned around silently, and Pio smacked his lips and swung his arms around, then said as if he had remembered something.

“Evan, can you spare some time before we start the operation?”

“What?”

At the same time as Lenok turned his head, Pio held out his hand towards Lenok.

“I need your biometric information to clone you, and I need some time to measure it.”

“…Clone?”