Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 509

Even with Soryu and Sabrina gone, the Aegis members focused on confronting Lenok instead of pursuing them.

Lenok had intended to leave Sabrina to Soryu, who was less combat-capable, and then follow them after holding out for a while. However, this situation felt extremely out of place.

Considering that the information about Pandemonium hadn’t been properly relayed to Aegis, and that Lenok’s existence and abilities were unknown, there was only one answer.

The Aegis members here were tasked with holding Lenok back and minimizing variables in this operation.

The fact that they had been trying to talk to Lenok and probe his identity was also part of their effort to reduce variables.

The lack of reaction when Lenok tried to kill the green visor meant that keeping Lenok here was more important than anything else.

They wanted to reduce the variables in the operation inside the theater at all costs.

Once Lenok understood this, his course of action was clear.

“I’ll go first.”

[Hold him……!!]

The crimson visor, realizing that Lenok had seen through their intentions, shouted sharply.

The shadow robe collapsed to the ground as if it had crumbled.

*Whoosh!*

At the same time, a black figure was violently pulled by magic threads, dashing towards the theater.

Leaving the youth with broken limbs behind without hesitation, the other two immediately chased after Lenok.

Lenok and the two visors clashed fiercely in the corridor leading to the dressing room at the back of the grand theater.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

Sharp metallic collision sounds echoed, and the three figures brushed past each other, scattering across the ceiling and walls of the wide corridor.

A heavy thud reverberated as if a massive stone was bouncing off the corridor walls.

The magic threads, spread like spiderwebs throughout the corridor, constantly stretched and contracted, slicing through dusty props and boxes.

The crimson visor gritted his teeth, watching the shadow robe figure darting at the end of the corridor.

‘We lacked too much information!’

He knew that he shouldn’t give a single opening to a special-type mage, especially one with such a difficult manipulation ability.

But he never imagined that a mage with such combat prowess would also possess mobility that surpassed even Aegis members.

‘It’s not just manipulation. That mobility can’t be explained unless it’s a completely different spell or ability……!!’

If the opponent was a mage who could handle two special-type abilities at once, they might have to revise the entire operation.

This ambitious plan was designed to eliminate Pandemonium’s high-ranking executives and seize their achievements.

They couldn’t let a single variable ruin the lucky opportunity they thought they had gained through an informant.

Thinking this, the crimson visor channeled her magic and rushed forward, pushing herself to the limit.

*Chirrrk……!!!*

With a faint tinkling sound, her body turned ghostly and passed through the dressing room wall.

She appeared right next to the shadow robe and slammed it down violently.

*Kwaaaah!*

[Haa, haa……!!!]

[Master Spirit!!]

[Focus!!]

At the same time as the brown visor grabbed the shadow robe, countless mounds of earth rose up, tightly binding the robe.

However, the crimson visor’s expression was far from relieved, even after using her full ability to chase Lenok.

Rather, she gritted her teeth, watching the robe shrink to the size of a fist inside the earth mound.

[It was a dummy. Damn it……!!!]

Since when? Maybe they had been completely played from the start.

Was he making gestures to draw their attention, and then acting as if nothing was wrong while emptying the contents and hiding inside the robe?

What made it even more unsettling was that they couldn’t even tell when he had started acting and disappeared inside the robe.

His presence, speech, voice, actions, and expressions. They thought they hadn’t missed a single movement.

[This can’t be…….]

Listening to the brown visor’s despairing monologue, the member called Master Spirit stood up.

[Contact the Foreign Legion. We’re joining the main force.]

[But, if we request reinforcements in an operation that we’ve been conducting on our own…….]

[Look at how things are going. We’re already far from the original plan.]

Master Spirit muttered in a cold voice.

[Moreover, now that they’ve discovered our informant? The real operation that the main force is supposed to carry out could be ruined. We need to move quickly!!]

[…….]

The brown visor listened to those words and stared at the fragments of the robe buried in the earth mound.

As a user of earth-based spells, he was an expert in spells used for restraint and binding.

Especially the spell he had just used on Lenok was a high-level spell that could extend the binding downwards, not just physically holding the body.

And through that binding spell, the fragments of the shadow robe were slowly disappearing, like water flowing through sand.

The decision didn’t take long.

[Understood. I’ll contact the two people waiting outside Bairuitz.]

* * *

The two figures quickly entered the theater through the dressing room.

Lenok climbed onto the transmission tower on the roof of the theater and silently looked down at the two members.

“…….”

He had removed his body and hidden his presence, leaving only the robe behind, right after subduing the green visor.

It happened the moment their attention was drawn to the impact and weight of the carapace shield, not any other words or gestures.

Of course, Lenok didn’t think he could deceive the Aegis members until the very end.

He was prepared to be discovered immediately after the pursuit, to disperse their forces and reduce unnecessary effort.

But he never expected that they wouldn’t notice his dummy until the very end.

Lenok himself hadn’t anticipated that.

The reason why even a veteran special forces member, a skilled warrior with plenty of combat experience, couldn’t quickly realize the truth.

Lenok had an idea of what the cause was.

‘My presence has changed slightly since I directly faced the Outer Gods. It must be because of that.’

The ritual of revelation that Archbishop Izel Naidri had personally conducted.

There, Lenok had been offered as a sacrifice but had instead drawn the attention of the Outer Gods and rejected their offer.

Since then, Lenok had been aware that his life signs and magic patterns were becoming increasingly difficult to detect.

It wasn’t that there was something wrong with his magic manipulation ability or his sensitivity.

It was just that his presence, life signs, and other traces like his aura were gradually changing from what they used to be.

Even if he disguised his magic pattern and slightly altered his life signs, he couldn’t hide the fact that his overall presence had changed.

A faint inspiration, as if he was slowly moving away from being human.

A phenomenon that seemed to make him more like them after looking beyond the dark sea and clearly remembering the presence of the Outer Gods.

The reason why the Aegis members had missed Lenok without being sure until the end.

The somewhat strange phenomena that had occurred repeatedly in front of the Doctor’s Eight-Armed Idol should also be seen as part of that.

Was his own mind changing in a different direction without Lenok’s knowledge?

Not being able to fully recognize and control such changes was not something he preferred.

“…….”

However, instead of rushing to find out about what had happened to his body, Lenok put on the shadow robe that had returned to his hand and slowly stood up.

In any case, he had shaken off the pursuers who had been directly marking him.

Normally, he would have to return to the other members inside the theater and report the situation, but Lenok didn’t intend to rush.

No matter how excellent the Aegis members were, Lenok didn’t think that the Pandemonium members would be defeated so easily.

All the members of Pandemonium were talented individuals with clear special skills, regardless of their terrible organizational skills.

They were all veterans who had survived countless battles and crossed the line of death to join.

Above all, there was Maiya Lenslit, who was none other than the best executor of the Machine City, Machina, and an 8-level physical ability user.

A monster who was not only powerful but also well-versed in blood magic, and had reached the extreme of experience and judgment.

Even if it wasn’t Lenok himself, there was virtually no chance that this Pandemonium settlement would fail.

As expected, by the time Lenok arrived at the main hall of the theater, the situation had already reached a stalemate, far from a victory or defeat.

[This crazy old man……!!]

“Hehe, the taste of blood is quite special…….”

The Blood Old Man, who was licking blood while fighting a bloody battle with a gray visor, holding onto his blade.

*Thud! Thud! Thud!*

[Die.]

“What the hell is this? The magic flow is a bit strange?”

Vernon, who was drinking alcohol while observing his opponent, even while being beaten by a yellow visor.

Chebien, who was holding onto two members and pulling out all sorts of weapons from under his doll’s body, and Soryu, who had returned to the main hall of the theater, were blocking the other members’ attacks.

The Aegis members, who were at the front, were building the battlefield, while the purple and jade visors, who were at the rear, were providing support with their spells.

Unlike the magic that was raging everywhere and the theater that was exploding, there was no fierce atmosphere.

Unlike the Aegis members who had started the operation, Pandemonium’s response was somewhat lukewarm, and the battle was just dragging on.

Among the battles that were taking place in the main hall, corridors, back doors, and ceilings of the theater, there was one battlefield where the most intense clash was taking place.

“Khaaaak!!!”

Beksaja and Rogier, roaring incessantly with their eyes turned red, were pushing their opponent.

And the black visor, who was calmly looking at the idol while receiving their attacks.

The lion giant and the werewolf were rushing in, scattering terrifying magic from both sides, and the black visor was standing alone, receiving all of their attacks.

The shockwaves that the 7-level or higher physical ability users were unleashing with all their might were shaking the half-collapsed theater.

Lenok, having confirmed the superhumans who were fiercely fighting in front of the idol that had grown several times larger, turned his gaze.

“Doctor.”

He fell from the roof of the theater and landed directly on the idol’s shoulder.

The fur ball that was wriggling at the top of the idol turned its gaze at Lenok’s voice, which had appeared right next to it.

“Victor, you’re late. Soryu said you’d be back soon.”

“There’s an informant. Someone who knew our information in advance and leaked it…….”

Lenok stopped speaking after saying that much.

The Doctor, who was listening to his words, had no reaction.

“You already know.”

“Well, it’s obvious.”

The Doctor chuckled.

“If an operation that was so accurately targeted at us was based on coincidence, I would have been disappointed.”

“…….”

If the Doctor was saying this much, then perhaps the others were also aware to some extent.

That was why Lenok immediately understood the situation and changed the subject.

“It seems that a foreign legion that hasn’t participated in the operation is waiting outside Bairuitz. If we need to protect the idol, we should get out of here as soon as possible.”

“Oh ho.”

“What is it?”

The Doctor, who received Lenok’s expressionless gaze from behind his mask, said.

“I thought you weren’t interested in Pandemonium at all, but you’re much more proactive than I thought.”

“This isn’t the time to be making useless comments.”

“Is it because you think my idol is that valuable?”

“…….”

That wasn’t wrong.

The information about the old world that Lenok had obtained through the idol’s ability in this settlement was quite satisfactory.

And he was willing to participate in similar settlements in the future.

At least, the Doctor and the idol had to be fine for them to be able to conduct such settlements together next time.

“Now that things have turned out this way, I’d rather ask you. Since it’s just us, let’s be honest.”

The Doctor’s fur ball wriggled and pointed to all sides of the theater hall.

“Who do you think the informant is?”

“…….”

“Of course, it’s hard to rule out the possibility that you betrayed us and shamelessly brought the news of the informant, but that’s why I want to hear your opinion.”

“You want to hear my opinion? That’s a joke.”

Lenok laughed sharply.

“You’re not trying to test me with a conclusion you’ve already made, are you?”

Just like Lenok, the Doctor must have been guessing who the culprit was from the moment he realized there was an informant.

The fact that he was asking a question at this point was nothing more than an attempt to probe Lenok’s thoughts.

As expected, the Doctor only let out a few strange laughs and didn’t answer any further.

As if he didn’t care if he didn’t want to talk.

It was an attitude that didn’t seem to place much importance on the informant’s identity or purpose.

Because the organization called Pandemonium was created and maintained so loosely, the informant must have sold information to Aegis without much burden.

Thinking about that, it wasn’t difficult to guess who the culprit was.

Lenok, who had been staring at the Doctor, turned his gaze away.

“If we only think about the information about the informant, we would first think of the person who doesn’t bear the most risk in this situation.”

“Oh ho.”

“The puppeteer, Chebien. He’s still just putting out one puppet and holding out, isn’t he?”

“So, he’s the informant?”

“No.”

Lenok shook his head.

“Chebien would also know that, so it’s unlikely that he would betray us in this way. It’s more natural to see it as an attempt to induce suspicion in that direction.”

“Then?”

Just as Lenok was about to open his mouth to tell the Doctor, *Whoosh!*

The black visor, who had been silently fighting Beksaja, disappeared from his spot and pierced through Turan’s chest.

*Pshhh……!!!*

The lion giant’s flesh was torn away, and his blood and flesh scattered everywhere.

The area near the idol’s knees, where he had sat cross-legged, was instantly covered in blood.

“Kha ha hak!!”

However, Beksaja Turan, as if such an injury was nothing, raised his arm and struck the visor, even with his heart pierced.

*Kwaaang!*

With that force alone, a shockwave swept through the main hall, pushing away the lined-up seats and platforms.

“You’re in the way……!!”

Rogier, who had struck the head of the lion giant who was scattering blood and going berserk, jumped over Turan and rushed towards the black visor.

However, the black visor didn’t even pay attention to Rogier and jumped over him, instantly standing in front of the idol.

The black visor stood in front of Maiya, who had her arms crossed and her mouth shut in a fleeting moment.

The Doctor, who also felt an unusual aura from him, glanced at him.

“A high-level of black magic. Who taught you?”

[…….]

“It’s rare to have the talent to be able to fight Turan head-on and also master black magic to that level.”

The Doctor laughed, leaving the visor who didn’t answer.

“I happen to know a pretty good black magician, and if you agree, I can introduce you. How about it?”

At those words, not only Lenok but also several members of Pandemonium frowned.

They knew that the black magician the Doctor was talking about was a monster that couldn’t be compared to anyone here.

“What the hell……? Are you trying to just wipe out Bairuitz?”

Sabrina’s muttering was proof of the black magician’s status, as it wasn’t impossible.

However, instead of listening to those words, the black visor looked around silently, next to Turan, who had retreated while clutching his chest.

About half of the members who had entered the theater with him were still in battle stance.

The other members were just watching them from a distance, like they were watching monkeys in a zoo.

Unlike the Aegis members, most of the Pandemonium members didn’t have much intention of fighting hard from the start.

[…….I thought I could make Maiya Lenslit move. I was wrong.]

After a moment of silence, the black visor spat out in a hoarse voice.

[I was so focused on blocking the variables that I misjudged the power of the main force. It was a failure from the start.]

The visor’s gaze turned to Maiya, who had been guarding the front of the idol without moving even once.

Two corpses of members who had been cut in half at the waist were lying like trash at her feet.

“Hey, who are you talking about moving or not moving…….”

[I will eliminate all the forces here and start again.]

At the words that casually called the name of the most outstanding executor, Chebien was about to scoff and ridicule him when the visor took out a small signal device from his pocket.

[Broken Arrow. I know you’re listening. Start.]

“Hahaha, Broken Arrow. This guy has watched too many movies!!”

Vernon laughed as he drank from his bottle.

“No matter who you bring as an external force, it’s ridiculous to say that you’re going to eliminate this situation-”

*Thud!*

At that moment, Vernon suddenly turned his body to the side with all his might, stopping mid-sentence.

Immediately after, something black and long popped out of Vernon’s left shoulder.

It pierced through his collarbone and shoulder blade, went under his armpit, and got stuck in the crack in the floor.

A single shot that was so gruesome, it was as if Vernon had been impaled alive and hung there.

The expressions of the other members who were watching also changed completely in an instant.

A perfect snipe that even Vernon, the target, hadn’t noticed until right before impact.

There was a completely different being from the Aegis members they had faced so far.