Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 516

Bulge, bulge, bulge!!

Logier’s features contorted wildly, swelling as if they would burst from their sockets.

At the same time, the inner image that had been in harmony with his overflowing magic collapsed and reversed like a lie.

Kururururuk!!!

As if the food he had eaten was not properly digested and was rising up his esophagus, the cells throughout his body exploded and shattered, scattering outside his skin.

All the achievements he thought he had made by swallowing, absorbing, and digesting the magic user were disappearing like a lie with Lenok’s one word.

The loss of power, like sand grains quickly flowing and disappearing between his fingers.

“Huuuuh…!!!”

The huge, swollen werewolf’s physique shrank in an instant, and the black, glossy fur turned into a pathetic gray.

Logier, looking pathetic as if he had lost decades’ worth of energy at once, crawled on all fours in front of Lenok before collapsing.

A chilling sensation, as if all the energy and magic in his body were being completely drained by a tumor inside him.

Logier twisted his body and screamed desperately.

“No, no…!!! This can’t be…!!!”

“You should have suspected it at least once. Don’t you think so, werewolf?”

The obsidian mask emerged from the slowly rising shadow robe, and a smooth finger adjusted the mask.

Beyond the mask, which tilted slightly as if looking down at Logier, the magician’s eyes shone coldly.

“Why was it so easy to steal magic from a sorcerer? Why was it so easy to digest the magic user into your microcosm [a personal, self-contained magical space]?”

Lenok muttered, grabbing the werewolf’s head and lifting it.

“You were excited. You were agitated. You were intoxicated by an awakening that didn’t suit you, and you even forgot to assess the situation.”

“Kill, kill him…!!”

Thud!!

Lenok, after binding Logier’s snout with magic threads and slamming him into the ground, said,

“In that respect, you’re certainly no more than a beast.”

Lenok’s magic, which Logier thought he had devoured and digested, had never been out of his control for even a single moment.

Could Lenok’s magic, with its transcendent aptitude for magic manipulation and control, ever be devoured by someone’s microcosm?

The reason Lenok waited, even though he could have shattered Logier’s body the moment he activated his microcosm.

It was because Lenok wanted something more valuable than Logier’s death.

“Thanks to you greedily chewing and swallowing magic, I can feel the deepest part of your inner image as if it’s within my grasp.”

From Lenok’s right eye, black light was already flowing down like mist.

“It’s as if I can pull it all up and see all the memories and inflammation.”

A new ability of the right eye, which instead of suppressing the opponent’s power, makes it go berserk and breaks it down.

By making Logier’s inner image go berserk through the ability he used when destroying Amrita’s sanctuary, the Sea Bottom Crescent Moon, he extracts all the memories contained within.

“A double agent with a foot in both Pandemonium and Aegis. You got into this mess because you were being presumptuous, but…”

Lenok laughed.

“Still, you probably know a little more than others. I’ll take all those memories and knowledge from here.”

“You bastard, you were playing with me from the start…!!!”

Only then did Logier realize that the battle just now was a deliberate act from the beginning, and he glared at Lenok with bloodshot eyes.

But Lenok, as if he had expected Logier’s reaction, avoided his gaze and lowered his head.

“You asked me earlier why I didn’t immediately inform the Doctor as soon as I realized your identity. The answer is simple.”

Lenok whispered quietly into Logier’s ear.

“Because I’m just like you.”

“…!!!!!!!”

The final trigger to shake the opponent’s thoughts and inner image and exploit their weakness.

The moment Logier opened his eyes wide and tried to say something.

Lenok thrust the magic thread between the werewolf’s eyebrows.

A single strand of current that passed through the magic thread instantly pierced Logier’s head, forcibly shutting down his consciousness.

Fzzzt!!

* * *

“Logier is a double agent?”

[To be precise, a double spy? Or a double agent? I guess it’s something like that.]

Maiya frowned at the Doctor’s words coming from the communicator.

“I don’t understand.”

[Looking at his actions, I can roughly guess. If he were truly on one side, his behavior wouldn’t be so ambiguous. It’s a common disgrace seen in those who weigh their gains.]

“No, that’s not it… What’s the point of doing something like that?”

Maiya said, looking around the dark satellite city.

“Does any gain from being a double agent in this organization even exist in the first place?”

Pandemonium does not hide most of the plans they carry out with their own hands.

They do not deny the results of destruction, murder, crime, and chaos that occur in the process.

Pandemonium, which started as a criminal organization and has never deviated from its essence.

How meaningless is it to infiltrate the organization to steal information from such Pandemonium?

Maiya is cooperating with Pandemonium for her own purposes, but she already fully understood the way the organization works and its essence.

If there is truly information or plans that should not be known, they are handled by monsters like the Commander or Myeong, and only the results are shared.

Even the operation in the Well of the Handbook was so exposed that other organizations knew its beginning and progress.

It’s the same.

No matter how deeply you infiltrate, the information you can know can also be known from the outside, and the information you cannot know cannot be known even in death.

Maiya herself is not yet sure of the essence of this organization, so what could Logier gain by taking such a risk?

But the Doctor laughed loudly as if he found Maiya’s words amusing.

[I didn’t expect such naive words to come from your mouth. It must be because you haven’t even considered such a possibility?]

“What?”

[He wasn’t trying to steal information from Pandemonium for profit. It’s closer to borrowing external power to participate in the settlement.]

The Doctor whispered leisurely through Maiya’s earpiece.

[Was it called the Special Task Force Aegis? What if he borrowed their power to obtain relics from the old world, participated in the settlement, and leaked information about the settlement in return?]

The Doctor continued to add words as if imagining it was a very interesting thing.

[Think about it. If Logier were truly on the side of either Aegis or Pandemonium, why didn’t he do anything at the point of conflict?]

“……”

[Rather than trying to gain something special on the spot, he was more focused on subtly getting out of the situation.]

Click, click.

The Doctor’s voice echoed amidst the unknown mechanical sounds coming from the earpiece.

[If he thought that participating in the settlement itself was a gain and didn’t want to ruin his position, then all his ambiguous actions can be explained.]

“He thought that participating in the settlement itself was a gain?”

Maiya laughed sharply as soon as she heard those words.

“That’s absurd. Doesn’t he even know the essence of the operation?”

[That can’t be. Logier would also know what possibilities the Commander is considering. There’s no way a fool who can’t even think that much could play the role of a double agent.]

“Then?”

[However, he was just a pitiful beast who couldn’t help but be drawn to the prey that was shaking in front of his eyes.]

The Doctor’s words were mixed with a faint sneer.

[In the end, the Ajin [a race of human-animal hybrids] are hopeless. With a few exceptions, they all possess an uncontrollable bestiality. That instinct eventually becomes the teeth that pierce their own necks.]

“……”

[Personally, I think that imperfection is very attractive, and as such, it is a racial trait that should be preserved as a precious specimen…]

Even as the Doctor spoke, unknown noises were regularly echoing from the communicator.

[Okay. The adjustment of the spell backlash is roughly finished… The information that the Apostle’s spell has been sealed is also an important issue for us. Victor did a great job this time.]

“He’s dangerous. He knew Logier was targeting him, but he never panicked or showed it.”

Maiya said, starting to walk down the deserted street.

“Only someone who is extremely accustomed to this kind of thing can react like that. If Logier had chased him, the result would have been obvious.”

[Huhu, you’re not wrong. Just looking at the information he requested in this settlement, it’s clear that he knows much more than we thought.]

The Doctor laughed.

[It means that he didn’t just join the organization and participate in the Well operation right after receiving Myeong’s recommendation. Agneta’s message is also like that, it’s very interesting…]

“Interesting?”

[Wouldn’t it be more fun to have a friend with many secrets left than a werewolf whose true colors have been revealed?]

“……”

Jijik, jijik…!!

The communication with the Doctor began to cut off little by little as Maiya moved.

Even while predicting that the communication would be completely cut off soon, the two did not stop talking.

[Anyway, the necessary causal adjustment values have been collected to some extent in this settlement. Next time, we might be able to take action.]

“I’m not interested.”

[Perhaps the machine city you so desire could be included in that candidate group.]

Maiya stopped walking on the spot as soon as she heard those words.

The Doctor added in a cheerful voice, as if understanding her feelings.

[It means that we can try to reproduce the failed Ascension Gate project with our own hands. Isn’t that very interesting?]

“You, right now…”

[Of course, the purpose is completely different from what the machine city was pursuing, but you might be able to reach the goal you’ve been searching for so much.]

The voice coming from the communicator became blurry.

Maiya was about to bring her hand to the earpiece she had unconsciously put in her ear, but the Doctor did not wait for her.

[Whether the failure of the Ascension Gate was really a coincidence, or if there was more meaning to it. I hope we can check it out ourselves next time.]

The communication was cut off without even a word of greeting.

Maiya, who had been holding her hand to her earpiece for a long time, took it out without any regrets and lightly crushed it.

Crack!!

The Doctor is not someone who would contact her through the same communication to convey unnecessary words.

Considering that, the earpiece given to her is completely useless at this point.

It’s just a useless burden when she thinks about what she has to do from now on.

Maiya thought so and slowly turned her gaze.

In the dark night streets of the satellite city, a thick fog that seemed endless had already settled in.

Saaah…!!

The communication with the Doctor being cut off is not simply a problem with the communicator.

The overwhelming force flowing from the front is cutting off all the flows in the vicinity and forcing isolation.

Lenok thought that Maiya was staying behind until the end, keeping Ivelyn in check, based on his experience in the Hanghasa Labyrinth, but what she was waiting for was not Hyun-gung.

Someone who had not shown himself even once until the operation was completely over, while only scattering a subtle presence.

One of the two foreign forces who participated in this operation, and a monster with power that was by no means inferior to Ivelyn.

Maiya had sensed the identity of another superhuman and was still waiting for him in this city.

Because she knew that a single resolution would be much cleaner than running away from him.

Whoosh!

“I have been waiting for you.”

What appeared as the fog cleared was a young man in a pure white robe.

His white hair flowing down along his tilted head, and the pure white spear shaft stuck haphazardly behind his back.

With his hands clasped together neatly, his head bowed towards this side with his eyes closed, he looked very neat.

But Maiya could fully recognize the destructive force flowing from beyond.

An 8th-level extreme ability user. Moreover, a rare martial artist who wields a long weapon called a spear.

His noble figure, as if not a single stain had touched his whole body, shone dazzlingly even in the middle of the night.

His noble realm and skill, his spirit and unique appearance and attitude. It is difficult for two people like this to exist under the same sky.

Maiya’s lips curled up sharply.

“I had a feeling, but I never thought you would lend a hand to this kind of operation.”

“It’s been a while, Lord Renslit.”

“The lifting of the ban on the Code of Conduct must have been significant. I never thought an old monster who wouldn’t even stick his head out of the city would come for a walk to the satellite city. The world has really changed a lot.”

They say he does not tolerate even a speck of filth in every moment he lives, hence the name, Innocence (潔白) [meaning ‘purity’ or ‘innocence’ in Japanese].

The power of the light that was bound by the Code of Conduct in the giant city of Vulcan. One of the monsters that represents its power.

An 8th-level extreme ability user, and a spear master who has reached the realm of a great master.

He is a member of the [Fighting Refinement Gate (鬪鍊門)] [a martial arts school], which boasts the strongest power among the martial arts schools that are working hard to train superhumans in Vulcan’s light.

One of the old monsters who has also served as a senator of the City Government Central Council and an internal advisor.

In terms of age alone, he was at a similar level to Maiya, a big shot who was hard to believe had participated in this operation was standing here.

It shows how much the city government invested to successfully complete this operation.

But Innocence only smiled a pure white smile, even knowing that.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not because of that. If it’s just about helping the operation, it would be enough to leave it to that child, Marcia.”

An age that casually belittles Ivelyn Marcia.

“Then?”

“It’s because of you, Maiya Renslit.”

Innocence, who had released his clasped hands, took a step forward and naturally stretched out his hand.

Kiiing…!!

At the same time, the white spear shaft that had been stuck behind his back popped up as if it had been bounced and was naturally caught in his hand.

Not just manipulating the spear shaft with the power of magic, but a realm where he controls the will contained in his beloved weapon as if breathing.

At the same time as he gently grasped the pure white spear shaft, a strong wind pressure burst out from Innocence’s body.

Kuooh!

Just by holding the spear shaft with both hands and lightly turning it, the surrounding air rotated like a windmill and spread in all directions.

As the hot frictional heat mixed with the cold night wind, it raised the temperature of the surroundings.

The pure white spear master, standing at the center of the heat source, smiled at Maiya.

“I was so happy when I heard that the best executor of the machine city would appear here.”

“……”

“I think it’s fate that I can finish the unfinished match from that time. You and I are also bound by various restrictions… But today, this night, we will be free.”

“It’s a waste of time. I’m not interested in past matches…”

Maiya was about to say that, but then she stopped and chuckled.

Does she, who is obsessed with the failure of the past Ascension Gate, have the right to say these words?

It doesn’t matter anymore.

If this old monster, who is crazy about fighting, has been waiting for her, ignoring all the operations, then she has no choice but to give him the minimum treatment he deserves.

Maiya sighed and said at the same time as she took a half step back.

“Five minutes. Is that okay?”

But Innocence smiled purely white as if he had been waiting for those words.

“It’s enough.”

The will that rose purely white in the darkness stood upright like a giant pillar.

* * *

Kwaaaaah!!!

“…It’s noisy over there too.”

Lenok, who witnessed the huge white pillar bursting out in the night sky, turned his gaze slightly.

A collision of magic outside the norm that even Lenok could not easily judge.

It must be the battle between Maiya and one of the foreign forces that has not yet appeared.

Lenok had no time to turn his attention to that side, although he had no idea why Maiya was still staying and handling things.

Lenok, who had pulled his hand out of Logier’s mouth, which was drooping with his eyes rolled back, got up from his seat.

Between Lenok’s gloves, which were soaked with saliva, was a black-dotted crystal ball.

The eyeballs of the new god, which had been distributed in order according to the Doctor’s orders.

Lenok had used the crystal ball that Logier possessed as a vessel to contain Logier’s overflowing memories.

Since he had collected mainly the intense memories that had accumulated in his inner image relatively recently, there would be useful memories or information among them if he investigated them calmly later.

“It ended faster than I thought. It helped that I deliberately shook him at the end.”

If it hadn’t been for that level of shock, it would have been difficult to cook Logier so quickly.

Lenok briefly looked back at what he had done and shook his head neatly.

A double agent with a foot in both Aegis and Pandemonium.

A double agent who no one would suspect even if he was swept away and disappeared in this situation.

That’s why Lenok had been engaging in the battle from the beginning with the intention of extracting information from both Pandemonium and Aegis through him.

He had not only worked longer than Lenok in Pandemonium, but he was also a cadre-level force who had clearly contributed to training Aegis members to some extent.

In any way, he has a very high possibility of having useful information for both organizations.

As soon as Lenok guessed Logier’s existence, he realized that fact and was thinking of taking one last big harvest at the end of this interim settlement.

“All that’s left is fine-tuning. Should I get out of Bairuts and finish it?”

Since he couldn’t know if the desired memories were contained in the crystal ball, he needed to check them by comparing them directly with Logier’s memories.

There was still a little work left to do before killing Logier right away.

Clunk, clunk!!

Looking up at another train approaching from the opposite side, he pulled out the magic thread and tied up Logier’s unconscious body.

[It’s a relief that we made it on time.]

“The reaction was better than I thought. I almost missed the timing if I had made a mistake.”

Lenok said, looking back at Logier’s unconscious body.

The body of the unconscious werewolf was shrinking and turning back into a human form.

Dabi watched the scene with a curious look.

[I’ve read a paper that says that Ajin are on average closer to humans than beasts, so I guess that’s true.]

“Otherwise, there’s no way he would have turned into a stronger wolf form when he digested my magic.”

Lenok answered, rubbing his stiff body.

“Because he is closer to a human, he was closer to the strong beast he desired. I don’t know if Logier himself knows that fact, but…”

The fact that he had reached this level without thoroughly processing his own talent is proof of how outstanding Logier’s potential is.

On the other hand, it also becomes easier to be exploited by an opponent who can see that gap.

All that was left was to hide until the effects of the painkiller wore off, recover his condition appropriately, and return to Vulcan.

Even without that, he was already extremely fatigued from fighting several battles with a body injured from the battle with Amrita.

Should he close his eyes for a moment when he gets on the train? Lenok thought, and the moment he turned his head towards the train that had just appeared.

He met a pair of gleaming green eyes.

“……”

[……]

Clank, clank!!

On the quickly passing train. Someone covered in a black suit was on the roof, looking down at this side.

A thick visor that covered up to the tip of his nose. A black-green suit that covered his whole body. Ebony hair swaying in the cold night wind.

While the attire itself was similar to that of Aegis members, the force emanating from his body was on a different level.

A faint life reaction that was so faint that he could not perceive his presence at all, even while looking at him with both eyes.

Even so, an unknown chilling coldness was approaching without any reduction.

With the eyes of a hunter, which were completely different from those directed at Lenok, emotionless and cold, as if coldly observing the enemy.

Lenok muttered unconsciously, receiving the archer’s gaze that seemed to be calmly observing the enemy with his whole body.

“This wasn’t in the plan…”