Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 608

The Selection Ceremony (1)

The evidence of an incident caused by a scion of power.

Was Renok’s calm handling of the test, even after learning that he was tasked with cleaning up the mess, unexpected?

The old man, who had maintained a somewhat solemn demeanor until just now, seemed to relax for a moment.

“The political situation in Machina is truly chaotic,” the old man muttered, quietly tapping the table.

“Those who should be leading the city under the strict rule of steel are now being consumed by cleaning up spilled failures and mistakes.”

“Councilor,” the attendant standing behind him quickly interjected, but the old man paid no mind.

Was it self-deprecation that even an X Machina councilor had to go out of his way to clean up after a higher-up’s blunder?

For someone who had his hidden secret so blatantly exposed by Renok, the old man didn’t seem particularly interested in covering it up.

“I don’t know yet if you have outstanding skills as a craftsman,” the old man’s eyes flashed sharply.

“But your intuition in grasping the essence of a situation and seeing right through it is better than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

“……”

“And someone with such a sharp mind wouldn’t embarrass me at the selection ceremony.”

“Then…?”

The old man looked at Renok, then lightly gestured to the attendant standing behind him.

A woman with a cold expression took something from her waist and handed it to Renok.

A screwdriver with an impressive jade-colored handle.

It was basically shaped for tightening and loosening screws, but the blade was sharp enough to be used as a knife in certain situations.

“…What’s this?”

“It’s an item given to each participant in the Meister Selection Ceremony,” the old man said, nodding to Renok.

“It’s a kind of certificate that you’re participating in the selection ceremony.”

“……”

Is it because it’s a ceremony to select a Meister [Master Craftsman] that the certificate is also issued in the form of a tool?

Instead of adding anything to that, Renok quietly took the screwdriver and put it inside his coat.

“Come to think of it, we haven’t introduced ourselves yet,” the old man said, extending his hand slightly.

“Geldrich Langmuir. I’ve been serving as a councilor of the X Machina Supreme Council for 20 years.”

“I’m Lyman,” Renok said, using the name Isabella had prepared for him, and shook his hand.

Langmuir grasped Renok’s hand and spoke solemnly.

“From now on, you will represent the Machine Heads in the selection ceremony. But this is something that should never happen publicly, so be careful not to let any false rumors spread.”

“Understood.”

The idea of representing the Machine Heads faction didn’t really sink in, but if it was a measure to participate in the selection ceremony, there was nothing he could do.

Since he didn’t know much about the Machine Heads in the first place, Renok didn’t attach much significance to the faction either.

“Are there any other craftsmen from the same faction participating besides me?”

“Of course. But you won’t have any interaction with each other,” Langmuir replied.

“As participants in the selection ceremony, they are all proud and renowned craftsmen. They might even be displeased that they have to participate in the selection ceremony with a craftsman of unclear origin like you.”

“……”

“Why, are you already losing confidence?”

“No, it’s more like…”

Renok shook his head.

“I was just thinking about what urgent circumstances would make it necessary to include a craftsman like me in the selection ceremony, even knowing that.”

“……”

Langmuir fell silent at Renok’s blatant answer, not even trying to hide the fact that he suspected the Machine Heads faction.

The old man, who had been wearing a hollow smile, leaned towards Renok with a serious expression.

“You have guts. You’re truly a talent too good to remain a craftsman.”

“I appreciate the compliment, but…”

“I understand why Executive Isabella recommended you. Would you consider joining my secretariat?”

“……”

He hadn’t expected to be scouted here out of the blue, but Renok bowed his head slightly.

“I’m going to do my best in the upcoming selection ceremony for now.”

As he responded appropriately, emphasizing his craftsman’s spirit, the old man nodded as if he understood.

He had been a little excited after seeing Renok’s work, but he too must not forget his original purpose.

After Renok left, Langmuir spoke to the attendant who was silently cleaning up the remains of the crushed pistol.

“He said his name was Lyman, right?”

“He’s been missing for several years and recently returned to the city, according to the records. Should we dig deeper?”

Langmuir nodded immediately at the attendant’s question.

“He’s smart enough to immediately uncover the truth behind the murder committed by the Governor’s son. He has plenty of potential uses, even if he’s not a craftsman.”

“……”

“The selection ceremony is only a few days away. Let’s watch how he moves there first, and then consider whether to promote him later.”

* * *

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A grand drumbeat, resounding like a slap on the belly.

Renok stood silently in the middle of a huge stadium, where lights flashed incessantly.

In his hand, he held only a single screwdriver that could be held with one hand.

The people standing around him were all different in appearance, but they were all standing with a blank look, holding a single screwdriver like Renok.

A mechanical announcement echoed rapidly from the speakers hanging from the stadium ceiling.

[This year, we have gathered craftsmen from all over the machine city who have been recognized for their skills.]

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The drumbeats echoed in succession. No one in the stadium opened their mouths.

Most of them were calmly closing their eyes and taking deep breaths or concentrating, as if waiting for what was about to happen.

The announcement continued without waiting for a response.

[Since three Meisters [Master Craftsmen] have passed away in the maintenance, modification, and manufacturing sectors, this ceremony will verify qualifications by summing up the scores in all three areas.]

Clank!

As the stadium walls opened, a huge display case, hundreds of meters long, appeared.

What was placed in the grand display case that filled the wide space were small piles of parts and broken equipment.

[In the manufacturing, modification, and maintenance sectors, each of you will choose one item and present your results to be scored. The completed results will be donated for the benefit of the machine city residents, so please do your best for the development of the city.]

‘Is it a volunteer concept? They’ve used their heads well.’

Most skilled craftsmen are either expensive or have strict conditions for taking on work.

They’ve called these craftsmen to an event called the Meister Selection Ceremony and created a justification for borrowing their talents almost for free.

[As you all know, regardless of the title of Meister [Master Craftsman], those who receive good scores in the selection ceremony will be awarded certificates according to their grade for five years. We hope you will do your best, and now, let’s begin.]

‘There’s almost no unnecessary formality. I guess it’s fitting for an event for craftsmen.’

Like the craftsmen Renok had met in the megacity, perhaps it was a prejudice, but people who worked with equipment tended to have somewhat eccentric personalities.

As they had gathered such people in one place, the selection ceremony was brief and quick, considering its scale and importance.

“It’s finally starting. I thought I was going to die of boredom.”

“I don’t understand why we need a place where we all gather and waste time like this.”

At the same time as the announcement, the craftsmen began to move, grumbling.

Renok also followed them and observed the parts and broken equipment placed inside the display case.

The display cases with parts and equipment were separated, and each display case with equipment had a small score sheet attached to it.

‘The piles of parts are for the manufacturing sector, and the equipment has score sheets attached for the modification or maintenance sectors.’

In other words, there was no upper limit to the scores given to the results in the manufacturing sector, but the scores that could be received in the modification or maintenance sectors were fixed.

It wasn’t strange that they gave higher scores to creating something completely new than to working on something already made.

However, it seemed quite clear that Renok, who was almost completely ignorant of the manufacturing sector, would not be able to get high scores there.

Clang, clang, clang!

In one corner, some craftsmen had already taken over an empty workbench and were hammering iron.

Renok was about to pass by those craftsmen when he realized that the tools they were using to hammer the iron were screwdrivers and stopped in his tracks.

A bizarre scene of silently hammering iron with a thin screwdriver imbued with magic.

“What are you making right now?”

After being ignored by several craftsmen who were engrossed in their work nearby, one of them finally glanced up and replied.

“You’re young. It seems like it’s your first time at the selection ceremony.”

“Yes.”

“If a craftsman is going to work, they need tools, don’t they? I’m making a hammer and tongs.”

“……”

Only then did Renok realize that the role of the screwdriver he had been given was more important than he had thought, and he opened his mouth slightly.

“So… I have to make the necessary tools myself with just this one screwdriver and participate in the selection ceremony.”

“You’re quick to understand.”

“…Isn’t this practically not a test of a craftsman’s ability?”

To have to hammer metal with a single screwdriver to make the necessary equipment.

This was closer to a gimmick that would be tried on a variety show than a stage to test a craftsman’s ability.

However, the craftsman shook his head as if he was used to Renok’s question.

“Originally, they used to distribute standard work tools fairly at the selection ceremony.”

“But why is it like this now…?”

“Every selection ceremony, there were complaints from craftsmen that they didn’t like the tools, so the rules were changed to have them make their own tools and use them.”

“……”

Renok, speechless, stared blankly at the stadium lights.

Was it because the standards and preferences for the equipment used by craftsmen were too picky that the rules were changed to have them make their own equipment?

It was an absurd reason, but on the other hand, it wasn’t something he couldn’t understand.

Even Renok had always been meticulous about the fine-tuning of the firearms and artifacts he used.

The craftsman seemed to think he had explained everything, ignored Renok, and began to focus on making his own tools.

Clang, clang!

Using the screwdriver like a chisel, he hammered and shaved the iron, eventually creating a plausible hammer and blade shape.

Renok didn’t leave the craftsman’s side and watched him, then opened his mouth as if he had just thought of something.

“It would be better to switch the hand you hold the equipment with to your left hand.”

“…What?”

The craftsman looked up at Renok as if he were crazy, but Renok continued to explain without paying attention.

“It seems like your left hand has stronger grip than your right hand, so wouldn’t it be better to switch the hand you hold the equipment with to the one with the stronger grip?”

“Hey, what do you know about my metalworking, young man…”

“I think you had a major injury to your right foot once.”

“……”

The craftsman, who was about to snap back with an unpleasant expression, seemed to be at a loss for words at Renok’s next words.

Renok looked down at the craftsman’s shoes and said.

“The angle of the foot you’re stepping on next to the workbench is excessively twisted, and you’re supporting your posture by twisting your knee. Because there isn’t enough force in your toes, you’re forcing your heel to bear the weight.”

“…I had a major injury three years ago. But how did you know that…?”

“If you were injured despite the presence of the footrest, it’s likely that you dropped the equipment on your own foot. It’s proof that the grip of your right hand isn’t strong enough.”

Leaving the speechless craftsman behind, Renok looked around the craftsman’s hands.

“If your grip isn’t strong enough even when using magic, wouldn’t it be best to switch the hand you use?”

“……”

“If you hammer iron without putting force on your foot, the forging won’t go as you want it to. If you want to get good results in the selection ceremony, you should switch your stepping foot and the hand you use.”

“…It’s not a problem that can be easily said. How can I change a habit I’ve maintained for my whole life overnight?”

The craftsman, who had seemed to be persuaded as if he was being sucked into Renok’s words, suddenly came to his senses and shook his head.

“I appreciate the advice, but that’s enough. I have things to do.”

“No, I think there’s a good solution.”

After saying that, Renok picked up a piece of old mirror shard from a nearby display case and placed it diagonally in front of the craftsman.

The mirror reflected the craftsman’s entire body, looking somewhat sullen.

The moment he secretly infused magic into the mirror in front of the craftsman, who was looking at Renok with an uncomfortable expression.

Keeeng…!!

“Ugh…”

The craftsman staggered for a moment at the ringing in his head, then looked down at his hands with a strange expression.

“Wait a minute…? What’s this?”

“Human senses are based on strong perceptions as much as reality. That’s why we believe that non-existent senses exist, and we feel pain through them,” Renok said.

“When treating phantom pain, we sometimes reduce the pain by causing a confusion of senses through a mirror. While you’re standing in front of this mirror, it will feel like your senses are flipped left and right.”

In reality, he didn’t stop there and put a simple self-suggestion on the craftsman, but since he wasn’t a magician right now, Renok didn’t bother to mention that.

The craftsman, who had realized that his body balance was more comfortable after switching the screwdriver to his left hand, closed his mouth.

Only then did the craftsman realize why Renok had placed the mirror in front of him, and he looked at Renok with a dumbfounded expression.

“I see. So, this will allow me to work with the sensation of using my right hand while using my left hand.”

“Since the strength of your left arm and the grip of your left hand are different, you’ll have to adjust the details yourself, but I don’t think that will be difficult.”

“…Why are you doing this for me?” the craftsman asked with a serious face.

“It’s too much for just telling me the rules of the competition. No, I’ve never even heard of a craftsman who could give this kind of advice in the first place.”

“Of course, I’m not helping you without expecting anything in return,” Renok said, shaking the screwdriver in his hand.

“I don’t have much knowledge about making things and working with iron.”

“…Don’t tell me?”

“If it’s okay with you, could you make the tools I’ll use in the selection ceremony for me?”

In the Meister Selection Ceremony, there are no rules or restrictions other than submitting the results in three areas within the given time.

Perhaps it’s to thoroughly evaluate the abilities of craftsmen with unique talents and qualities.

From the moment he realized that he had to make his own tools to participate in the selection ceremony, Renok had no intention of making them himself.

Choosing a craftsman who was struggling with a problem nearby, giving them advice, and finding a solution.

The way Renok would show his strengths in the selection ceremony was decided from the beginning.