Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 605

Crackling, crackling…!! The magical power that had been flowing like flames in the air converged into a single point, rotating counterclockwise. As the gathered magical power transformed into a massive sphere of light, it illuminated the workshop. It wasn’t just that the magical power had gathered at one point; it was also suspended precisely above the artifact that Isabella was holding. Whoooom!! A bizarre sight as a huge sphere of light rotated inside the four blades that were spread out like an umbrella. Magical power seemed to melt from the surface of the sphere of light, slowly seeping into the artifact. Fwoooosh!! A spectacle as Isabella’s own magical power began to grow in size and become bloated. Isabella and Ujat stared blankly at the artifact in their hands, unable to speak. “I removed the parts that cause frequent malfunctions in the amplification device and changed the built-in amplification function to an external form,” Renok said, slowly lowering the sword that was aimed at his neck. “It seems to be working well.” “This is… impossible.” Those were the first words Isabella muttered. “Unless it was an artifact designed from the beginning to have its functions externally implemented, how could you take a function already designed for internal operation…!!” If it were an artifact that simply manipulated and released magical power, it wouldn’t be strange for the function to manifest outside the artifact. However, how could a function designed to amplify magical power inside the artifact through internal parts and circuit design be extracted to the outside and still function normally? It would be like the astonishment of making a flashlight’s light appear in the air above the bulb, not inside it. It wasn’t just a deviation from existing common sense; it was a modification that completely overturned the foundation of magical engineering that had existed until now. However, instead of answering Isabella’s words, Renok reached out again towards the amplification device she was holding. “If normal operation has been confirmed, would you please return it? I need to finish the detailed adjustments now.” “…Can you explain?” Isabella quietly stopped the device and obediently handed the amplification device back to Renok. Ujat also remained silent, watching Renok work. Renok, who had connected wires to the workbench to charge it with magical power, said while fiddling with the artifact. “The parts designed by Master Clark Renslit are too precise and complex, so even if they were repaired in the same way as he did, they would eventually break down again.” “…” “I won’t be in this workshop every time it breaks down, and I don’t think you’d want to ask me for repairs to that extent.” He slightly changed the direction of the gears, created and blocked a few new circuits, and forcibly adjusted the flow of magical power to be expressed. “In that case, I thought it would be much more efficient to imitate the magical power flow of the already completed artifact and modify it to be implemented externally.” “How is that even possible?” Ujat asked unintentionally, then lowered his head with a somewhat embarrassed look. “Ah, I’m really sorry for my rudeness earlier. I never imagined that you would go beyond repairing the artifact and extract the function itself into an external implementation…” “The ability to amplify magical power itself is actually a technology that cannot be implemented very efficiently with current magical engineering technology. Unless you use a large-scale magical power plant or a particle accelerator, it is impossible to use it by equipping it,” Renok explained casually. In the first place, the amplification of magical power is not as simple as it sounds. Although magical power is treated as one of the most basic and essential forces in this world, increasing the total amount of power itself goes against the law of equal productivity. However, magical power is not a force that can be explained in the realm of physical laws or calculations, and it has many variables as it is greatly influenced by strong will, emotions, or special conditions and environments. “The reason why an amplification device with this level of efficiency could be miniaturized and made portable is because the artifact is originally made with a geas [a magical binding or oath] that operates on the condition that it is used by an individual named Isabella.” “…” “It is possible to amplify by forcibly bending the flow of magical power itself using the power of the geas. I have only moved the endpoint of the magical power flow created by that geas to the outside.” Clark Renslit probably wasn’t able to handle the geas easily without any cost either. Even Renok was only able to handle the power directly after digging into Gye Baek, who was born as a corrupted Ascended through the geas. Perhaps the strong emotions and will for his lover, Isabella, were contained within this device as a condition of the geas. The rumor that the equipment made by artisans with their hearts becomes masterpieces that can never be made again was not an uncommon legend in this world. “Even so, it is undeniable that transferring the internal magical power flow of an artifact completely to the outside is unrealistic,” Isabella said in a subdued voice. “Clark assumed over 3,000 types of magical power flow distributions when designing this device. To not only capture and observe all those magical power flows one by one but also to handle them almost simultaneously…” Even if the principle of the artifact itself was not modified, but only the magical power flow was moved to the outside, it is the same. Unless the magical power flow inside the device is understood more perfectly than the creator and adjustments are made that surpass it, it is impossible to make it work with the magical power flow changed. Isabella was also very clearly aware of what kind of miracle Renok had shown through her artifact. However, even though Renok knew that she had noticed that fact to some extent, he nodded calmly. “I was lucky.” “…” At Renok’s words, Isabella briefly met eyes with Ujat and slowly nodded. Then, Ujat took out a heavy bundle from inside his robe and placed it directly on the workbench. Thud!! The sound of something heavy falling, just from hearing it. To have been carrying such an object all this time without showing any signs of difficulty, and even to have drawn a sword and pressured Renok, was quite something. While Renok slightly raised his eyebrows at that fact, Isabella said, “This is ten times the amount of gold bars that were originally agreed upon.” “…Gold bars, you say?” “The artisans I’ve dealt with usually prefer physical goods rather than money.” She carefully took the artifact that Renok had handed back and looked up at Renok. “I thank you once again for servicing the artifact and the music box.” “I’m glad I could return it to you in good condition.” “Oh, I forgot, but may I ask you one thing?” Isabella asked as she prepared to leave with Ujat. “Regarding the maintenance of the amplification device, it shouldn’t be difficult to have it handled by another workshop now…” “As far as I know, the artisan who used this workshop was someone else.” “…” “I’m curious if you know why the owner changed in the meantime.” Renok quietly raised his gaze and stared at the backs of Isabella and Ujat, who had turned away. They seemed to be hurrying to leave, not paying much attention to the conversation they had just had, but Renok knew. He knew that the two of them were on edge about the answer to the question Isabella had just thrown out. Was it not just to repair the artifact that they had subtly revealed their status as Executors [law enforcement or special agents]? Depending on how Renok answered here, someone’s fate and life might change. Realizing that fact, Renok quietly answered, not too late. “No. The owner of this workshop has not changed.” “Then?” “I am just occupying and using the workshop without permission. I am just being rude without getting permission from the owner.” “…” “If there is any problem, I will take full responsibility. I’m sorry.” Renok quietly confessed his fault, even though Isabella and Ujat had not said anything. If other people had seen this scene, they would have wondered why he was suddenly confessing his faults to a guest. However, Isabella and Ujat were not flustered or puzzled by Renok’s answer. As if they had expected to hear such an answer to some extent, they simply shook their heads with an indifferent look, their backs turned. “Artisan. Calm down. We didn’t ask that to blame you,” Ujat said, patting Renok’s shoulder with a now gentle expression. Perhaps it was because he remembered how he had been embarrassed after threatening Renok with a blade earlier. “It doesn’t seem to be our business, so I hope you can resolve the issue of the workshop’s usage rights with Master Mauzer. It’s absurd that a skilled person like you can’t get work because you don’t have a workshop.” “…” They hadn’t said a word about Mauzer, but they acted as if they knew about Mauzer as a matter of course. They had come here knowing from the beginning that this workshop was under Mauzer’s name, not Renok’s. In the process, they must have suspected that Renok was an outsider who had come from outside the Machine City and his connection with Mauzer. If Renok had not honestly confessed to the unauthorized occupation of this workshop, or if he had failed to repair the magical power amplification device successfully, it would have been difficult to have a good outcome. However, because he had fulfilled both tasks beyond their expectations, there was also an opportunity to gain something. As if reading Renok’s thoughts, Isabella turned to Ujat instead of leaving the workshop immediately. “No matter how I think about it, the payment is a bit insufficient for the cost of repairing the artifact.” “I think so too.” “I didn’t expect that the amplification device would be so perfectly modified and the problem solved. I think we should pay a little more.” At Isabella’s calm answer, Renok slightly stepped back and waved his hand. “There seems to be no reason to add personal opinions to a transaction that has already ended. I appreciate the thought, but I would like to politely decline.” “You may not know this, Artisan, but we are people who live off the city’s resources,” Ujat said with a smile. “If we unnecessarily gain an advantage in a transaction, we might get caught later. You don’t have to feel burdened.” “…” Perhaps it was because the Executors were also a position close to being civil servants of the Machine City. It wasn’t that Renok couldn’t understand what they were saying, but he didn’t want to get deeply involved with the Executors right now. Not only had he not become sufficiently accustomed to working as an artisan, but he also hadn’t properly obtained information about the room that Kaise had hidden. In this situation, if he got entangled with the Machine City’s leading investigative agency, it wouldn’t be strange if Renok’s flimsy disguise was exposed. It was more advantageous to leave a good impression on the Executors and cleanly withdraw. Having made that decision, Renok leaned against the workbench, pretending to be relaxed, and joked appropriately. “Well, if you’re really concerned, I’d just like you to spread the word among your acquaintances that this workshop is delicious and good.” “Rumors, you say?” “Since you two also came here through an acquaintance’s introduction, word of mouth must be important in this workshop district, right?” If the acquaintances of the two Executors were those with similar positions or skills, they would surely come to Renok to request equipment modifications or maintenance, and if he could receive payment for that, it would rather align with Renok’s goals. One of the goals Renok had in mind while working as an artisan was to receive information in exchange for such conversations. It was necessary to increase contact with the key figures of the Machine City, Machina, as much as possible. However, instead of being flustered at Renok’s words, the two Executors exchanged glances and smiled strangely, as if they had been waiting for it. “…?” Just as Renok paused slightly at that reaction and quickly turned his head, Isabella took out a small business card from her pocket and handed it to him. “Since we’re on the topic, there’s a position I’d like to introduce you to,” Isabella said, turning to Renok with an indifferent voice. “In the Machine City, there is a ceremony held regularly to invite skilled artisans to compete their skills and be given a glorious name.” “…A ceremony, you say?” “Meister [Master Artisan].” Isabella said quietly, as if cutting off the words. “That name, given only to the best artisans in the Machine City. Have you ever thought about wanting to have it?”