Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 540

Lenox and his group immediately activated the transmitter and relayed the information they had gathered to Keegan.

[Are you saying that the magic particle exposure is a side effect of the anomaly inside the zone…?]

Keegan’s response indicated he was quite shocked.

[Certainly, despite my constant inquiries about the exposure phenomenon, I never received a response. I thought it was to hide the incident that occurred inside the zone…]

“That’s not wrong, Grimes.”

Kyulbaek said, looking around with his hands behind his back.

“The exposure phenomenon itself is indeed a result of the space-time distortion process. To explain the cause, they would have had to disclose the space-time research itself in Zone 25.”

[…I know that Mr. Azlan has served as a senator several times.]

“I don’t know exactly what happened in Zone 25, or what aftereffects are still plaguing this city.”

Krode laughed.

“However, I personally have a problem that I must solve, and I knew that the clue was inside here.”

[……]

Kyulbaek’s white eyes shone coldly.

“The reason I participated in this operation is not for any other reason. Otherwise, there would be no reason for me to step forward and recruit other team members, would there?”

“You only knew there was a clue, but you didn’t know the specific cause.”

Kyulbaek nodded at Ilya’s words.

“Half-baked knowledge and advice are worse than none at all.”

“The problem is that with the facts we just grasped, there’s a possibility that we need to change the goal of the operation itself.”

Lenox said, looking at the display case that had been warped and separated by the time distortion, while leaning on his staff.

“Entering the power plant to stop the exposure phenomenon and stopping the space-time distortion phenomenon are two completely different things.”

“Hmm, it’s certainly not a problem that can be solved by repairing the coolant or fuel rods.”

Felix also agreed with Lenox, groaning.

Since the exposure phenomenon is occurring through space-time distortion, it is impossible to achieve the goal of this operation unless the cause is resolved.

The problem is that directly manipulating the concept of space-time is something only possible for monsters that transcend hierarchies [beings of immense power beyond normal classifications].

Even excluding Lenox, who has learned how to directly interfere with space, the possibility of solving this problem would be greatly reduced if it weren’t for Kyulbaek, who has reached level 8.

“Should we be thankful that it’s not a situation where we can’t do anything at all?”

“If we retreat from here, we don’t know when we’ll be able to enter the restricted area again.”

Felix said.

“It’s not too late to find the area where the power plant is located, enter it, check the situation, and then make a decision.”

“I’ve checked the satellite photos I received in advance several times, but there’s no similar terrain in this area at all.”

“That means we have to go deeper into the zone to find the power plant’s location.”

“It would be good to split up and move in four directions like before.”

Kyulbaek, who had been watching the two talk, also added his opinion.

“Since we don’t know how long the exposure inside the zone will last, we need to explore a wide area as quickly as possible.”

“……”

Of course, Lenox has no intention of giving up this operation now that the goal has changed.

The restricted area is one of the no-go zones where the traces of the Black Consumer Project are most heavily concentrated.

If it’s a place that even the city council has given up on and isolated, there’s a high probability that the secret Lenox desires is left intact.

The aftermath of the project that led to the destruction of the central city of Ars Nova.

Lenox had to keep moving to confirm that secret directly and come up with a better answer.

“Ban, are you okay? If you feel burdened by moving alone, it would be better if you were with one of us…”

“No, Krode Azlan is right.”

Lenox answered, picking up his staff.

“It’s reasonable to spread out in all directions and explore as wide an area as possible. There’s no reason to waste time unnecessarily.”

“I heard that you’re not in good condition. If you overdo it while acting alone…”

“I think the same, Ban. It’s different from the evacuation route. We don’t know what’s waiting for us inside the restricted area.”

Felix agreed in a heavy voice.

“I don’t think we should leave the only force that can play a rear guard role alone any longer.”

“……”

“I’ll go with Ban. Is everyone okay with that?”

Ilya nodded immediately at Felix’s words.

“I mainly take on missions that allow for solo operations in the Cybrid Echo [a specialized unit or organization]. I have no problem with it.”

She is a Saint-level ability user who can freely handle five ultra-vibration spears, and also possesses powerful mobility.

She is a special agent who specializes in hit-and-run guerrilla warfare and is specialized in getting out of most situations on her own.

Rather than being with someone, she is a style that shows her strengths without any reduction when she moves alone.

Kyulbaek, who had been listening to the three of them talk, spoke in a slightly disappointed tone.

“It seems that I’m already confirmed to move alone.”

“…Mr. Azlan. Isn’t that obvious?”

“It’s sad. Even though I’m the oldest among us, no one is worried about me…”

“I’m sorry, but who would worry about an level 8 superhuman-”

“Well, as long as we can still communicate with the manager through the transmitter, there won’t be any major problems.”

Kyulbaek coughed and subtly turned his gaze away at Ilya’s dumbfounded response.

“Let’s proceed with the search until we find a terrain similar to the satellite photo of the power plant.”

“If we go too deep into the zone, we might lose contact, but what should we do in this case?”

“Let’s inform each other of our entry before we lose contact.”

Lenox answered.

“It would take too long to report every time communication is lost. It’s better to leave it to our own judgment.”

“I agree.”

“What if we encounter survivors in the restricted area?”

Silence fell.

“Since we can’t determine whether the survivors are enemies or allies, I don’t think we need to set guidelines here.”

Kyulbaek said, with his hands behind his back while holding his spear.

The smile on his face looked particularly white.

“Likewise, wouldn’t it be better to act according to the situation on the ground?”

“That’s not wrong, but…”

“Then let’s start right away.”

After sharing their current location through the four people’s transmitters, they each take the necessary equipment and move.

In front of the abandoned mart, only the distorted cracks caused by the time distortion were emitting a faint noise.

“……”

Lenox glanced at Kyulbaek’s receding back and immediately followed Felix.

* * *

Lenox and Felix immediately entered the west side of the downtown intersection.

Given that there was an abandoned mart nearby, it was obvious that a residential area or facilities were located nearby.

It’s not difficult to find traces using the two people’s magic detection.

In the middle of a cold street where only dust and ashes have accumulated for decades.

The buildings on the street were damaged as if they were about to collapse at any moment due to the side effects of the exposure phenomenon occurring all around.

The asphalt on the road they were stepping on was so severely weathered that it was crumbling into powder.

Felix, who was carrying his battle hammer, looked around and opened his mouth.

“Ban, look here. There’s a dead person.”

“……”

The corpse’s appearance was so striking that it could be easily confirmed even without Felix specifically pointing it out.

It was a miserable sight with only bone fragments left on the whole body, as if it had been trapped in the space-time distortion.

However, one of the remaining living legs is preventing the body from completely turning to dust.

A bizarre scene where life and death coexist, skipping over decades of time.

Felix asked.

“…Do you think there will be any survivors?”

“No.”

Lenox answered.

“Even if there are survivors, they would have left the restricted area a long time ago. The manager himself would know better.”

After a moment of silence after hearing that answer, Felix said.

“I see… You also thought the manager was a survivor from Zone 25.”

“If you don’t think of the manager after seeing this phenomenon, that would be more strange.”

The space-time distortion phenomenon. And the face of Keegan Grimes, where the faces of a young man and an old man coexisted.

It would be more suspicious if the other team members hadn’t yet connected those two elements.

“Is this operation itself made up of people from the restricted area…? It’s heartbreaking.”

Felix also quickly regained his senses and began to actively explore the surroundings.

“…Certainly, the evidence of the space-time distortion phenomenon is stronger now that we’ve entered the zone. Look over there.”

Among the old and weathered buildings on the street, there are many more buildings or walls that shine like new.

Landscapes that have been frozen in time, almost unchanged from decades ago.

Such landscapes, which were only occasionally visible on the outskirts of the zone, have now clearly begun to increase their frequency and range.

A botanical garden that is vividly preserved in one corner of the ruined street.

A TV screen that is still working properly outside a dilapidated display case.

The landscapes that have not yet lost their color and time are becoming stronger as they head into the street.

“…We’ve arrived.”

The scene of a clean downtown area that shone brilliantly as if it had just been built and left untouched, unfolded before the two of them.

A contradiction where the scenery of ruins and a splendid downtown area contrasted with a blurred boundary line.

From here on, there is no way to avoid the space-time distortion. At least, they would have to give up the exploration if they didn’t directly enter the distorted area.

Felix gripped his hammer with a tense look.

“What happens if we completely enter an area where time is distorted?”

“There won’t be any major problems right away.”

Lenox answered.

“A superhuman who has completed the seven hierarchies [a high level of power] has a strong resistance to external environmental changes. Even if they can’t interfere with space-time, they won’t be easily swayed by changes.”

Is that why all the team members in this operation were made up of ability users of Saint-level or higher?

“However, you have to be careful if you stay in a distorted space for a long time. If your internal magic power can’t withstand the rapid changes in the process of returning to the original time and you start to be exposed…”

“Okay. I understand. I don’t think you need to say any more.”

Felix said, sending an entry signal to Keegan through the transmitter and starting to walk.

“Then let’s go.”

Chiiiiing!!

A ringing sound, as if countless crystals were colliding and falling, was heard in their ears, and the surrounding scenery slowly changed.

Passing through the cold and chilly ruins, the inside of the distorted space where time was frozen was warm and even humid.

It wasn’t just the effect of the weather, but a sensation as if the heat of the people who actually existed in this space was still present.

Chijik-

[Mr. Magat, have you entered the distorted space?]

Felix immediately raised his call device at Kyulbaek’s voice.

“Yes, Mr. Azlan. We are still in contact.”

[It seems that it will be difficult for me to reach you from now on, so I am contacting you in advance.]

“……”

[I tried to contact Ms. Ilya in advance, but it seems that she has already gone deep into the area, so be careful.]

Kyulbaek said in a slow voice.

[Perhaps if the transmitter is working properly, Manager Grimes will be able to receive our personal screens with a time difference, but it will be difficult to communicate with each other.]

“It will be difficult unless we find an area inside the zone where time returns to normal.”

[In fact, we should assume that the possibility is low.]

Krode continued.

[I’ll check one last time, but as soon as you find the location of the power plant, return to the point where you can be contacted. If the others haven’t returned in the process, re-enter the direction the team members have gone. I will repeat this process as long as my stamina allows. Is that okay?]

“Of course.”

[Good. Then I wish you good luck.]

Click-

Lenox, who had been listening to the two of them talk while looking at Felix, opened his mouth.

“Ilya’s entry speed is faster than I thought. Considering her cautious personality, it’s unexpected.”

There was no answer.

“……”

Pat!!

Lenox, feeling a sense of eeriness from that fact, turned his head sharply.

Felix, who had been receiving a call next to Lenox just a moment ago, was gone.

No, even when using magic detection, there was no sign or reaction as if he had evaporated from the spot.

“This is…”

Was Lenox attacked, or did something happen to Felix?

If you had to consider the possibilities, it would be the latter, who doesn’t have target designation resistance, but Lenox thought it was neither.

If they had made a move at the moment the two of them completely entered the distorted space, they shouldn’t have given Kyulbaek a chance to contact them.

The situation itself was highly likely to be unrelated to anyone’s intentions or thoughts.

Lenox thought so and naturally leaned on his staff and slowly walked through the splendid downtown area of the restricted area.

‘Inside the distorted space, there’s no need to worry about exposure. The problem is rather the location of the power plant.’

A warm landscape that was nothing short of beautiful.

However, the terrible silence in which no sound could be heard only added to the sense of incongruity.

A silence that was so quiet that it felt like his ears were going deaf.

Lenox’s eyes sank coldly.

‘It’s a coincidence, but it’s not a coincidence. If the space-time distortion goes beyond a specific area and affects the events that happened at that time…’

At that moment, quiet footsteps echoed from behind Lenox.

Thud.

A sound of stepping on the ground with soft cloth, not shoes or bare feet.

It wasn’t Felix, Ilya, or Krode.

It was a completely different presence from them, yet it gave Lenox a sense of familiarity.

Before Lenox could turn around, a stern tone fell like a thunderclap.

“Slowly turn around and state your affiliation and name.”

“……”

“You are a person whose participation has not been confirmed in this situation. If you cannot reliably guarantee your identity, I have no choice but to consider you an enemy and attack you on the spot.”

A voice he had heard before.

A magic pattern that remained in his memory.

It wasn’t a survivor from the restricted area. It was someone Lenox definitely knew.

However, even though Lenox clearly felt it, he couldn’t easily turn around because of the feeling that he couldn’t approach it with certainty.

It wasn’t because Lenox’s acquaintance was walking around alive in the restricted area.

It wasn’t because he had become hostile to him without Lenox realizing it.

It was because the voice Lenox was hearing now, the aura emanating from that body, and the life reaction that remained in his memory. All those clues.

It was something that belonged to someone who should never have been there.

“Can’t you hear me?”

The voice became more and more rigid and cold as Lenox didn’t move.

“I’ll give you three seconds to decide. If you don’t make a decision within that time…”

“……”

“I, Parden McQueen, will take responsibility and have no choice but to eliminate you on the spot.”

That was it.

Lenox could no longer hold back and turned his gaze back.

Standing across the cold street was an old monk wearing an old robe.

A bizarre appearance with an unknown tattoo densely engraved on his bronze skin, holding a long yellow staff in one hand.

However, the magic power flowing from that body and the unique ascetic atmosphere belonged to an opponent that Lenox could never forget.

Parden McQueen, the 1st president of the Cartel [a powerful organization].

A defrocked monk of the Stania Monastery, who followed Oliviera Ron Maze into the secular world and became her right-hand man.

And finally, a level 7 Saint-level sorcerer who betrayed her and met his death directly at Lenox’s hands.

The opponent that Lenox had first deployed his self-resonance field against and brought to his end.

A dead man who should have certainly turned into a handful of ashes was standing here as if it were natural.

With a strong and vibrant appearance as if he had become at least decades younger.