Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 670

“……What on earth is going on?”

“No, I didn’t even pull it, but suddenly it started trying to open on its own.”

Even Ibelin seemed to have no intention of it, as she took her hand off the lever, but the box wouldn’t close.

“I just grabbed it and pulled, and then something kept pouring out, and it won’t stop.”

Even as she spoke, an unknown green light poured out from under her feet.

Around them, other people picked up the shining objects with slightly excited expressions.

“Hey, hey, look at the magic power contained in this!!”

“But it doesn’t seem to be piling up as much as I thought?”

“It seems to be disappearing under the ground.”

“Now that you mention it, it feels like the ground is shaking a bit……”

Milla, who had picked up something sparkling from the floor, tilted her head.

“This isn’t a gem.”

“Not a gem?”

“It has a bit too much magic power, and it feels kind of squishy……”

Milla, who had been fidgeting with her fingers while frowning, widened her eyes as if she had belatedly realized something.

“……A seed?”

At that moment, the ground of Lenok’s mansion garden began to writhe greatly, and vibrations started to occur from below.

Krrrrrr!

All sorts of plants and vegetables sprouted from the ground, with the random box and people beneath them.

Thud, thud!

Amidst the mountains of vegetables, huge trees sprouted everywhere.

The trees, laden with various fruits and vegetables, gathered and instantly transformed Lenok’s mansion into a lush orchard, a true miracle.

“Abooboo!!”

“Sh, sh*t…… Vegetables are falling from the sky!!”

The rain of vegetables and fruits falling from the sky quickly filled the garden, piling up into hills as high as mountains.

Thud, thud, thud!!!

People fled from the waves of vegetables surging everywhere.

Even the faint figure of a spirit rolled between the piles of fruit.

“Everyone, get out of the way. You’ll get healthy!!”

“……Wait, isn’t that a good thing?!”

[Become an organic spirit~]

Lenok silently watched the extraordinary scene unfolding in the mansion garden before turning his gaze to Ibelin.

Ibelin, who had quietly put down the lever, was sweating profusely.

“……”

Whether this should be considered good luck or bad luck, it seemed that the person with the worst luck among the group had been decided from the start.

* * *

“Number 23, bay leaf shape. Magic residue.”

“Number 41, purple avocado. No magic.”

“Number 59, withered tree root. Strong magic……”

The mansion garden was bustling with a chaotic atmosphere.

People with something sparsely sprouting on their heads were lining up in front of Lenok.

With a slightly dazed expression, they put down the items they were holding, and after Lenok made a judgment, they took them back.

Lenok checked the tree root that Wayan had picked up and recorded it in a ledger.

“This root isn’t quite artifact level. Can you take it to the organic matter classification?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Me too, here.”

“This fruit looks close to a panacea [a cure-all]. Put it on the potion storage rack for now.”

Wayan threw the tree root he had brought into a makeshift warehouse piled up like a mountain in one corner of the garden.

Jenny, who had returned after him, yawned and placed the fruit on the storage rack.

Old branches and roots, leather and fruit, even unripe plants that had not yet taken the shape of vegetables.

“……Huh?”

Wayan, who had a bunch of leaves hanging on his head, tilted his head.

“I thought everyone was happy a moment ago, saying they had hit the jackpot…… Why is it like this?”

Clearly, when Ibelin pulled the lever and shiny things were pouring out, everyone thought they would be happy.

But when they came to their senses, they were struggling to sort and classify the items piled up like mountains all over the garden.

And each of them was a hill of vegetables and plants imbued with unknown magic power.

“It is true that something very amazing happened, Wayan.”

Felix answered with a sullen voice as he passed by him.

“Most of the crops here are rare species not found in the existing ecosystem.”

“Oh……”

“It’s just that it wasn’t the kind of…… instant fortune we were expecting.”

Even on the beak of the bird-headed giant carrying a head-sized fruit, a flower of unknown species was blooming.

Not only that, but the unknown flowers and plants that had grown on the shoulders and heads of the people working in the garden.

What Ibelin Marcia had pulled out of the random box were not gold, silver, or luxurious artifacts.

They were all seeds of plants and vegetables with very strong growth potential.

As soon as they poured into the garden, they began to germinate everywhere, bearing fruit and taking root, growing everywhere.

Lenok’s mansion had instantly turned into a lush forest.

“……”

Ibelin, who had initially had a triumphant expression, couldn’t even lift her head properly and was pulling out the roots of the plants that had taken root in the garden.

“How strong is her obsession with vegetarianism……”

“Her will must be as strong as her skills.”

“Was she planning to turn us all vegan…… It’s terrifying.”

“N, no.”

Ibelin, who received the indescribable gazes of others, desperately denied it.

“I do think it would be nice if other people knew the charm of vegetarianism…… but I wouldn’t wish for that even in a place like this!”

Even though Ibelin raised her voice in protest, no one believed her words.

They only kept their distance with a slightly different kind of wary gaze than before.

Lenok watched the people bickering with each other, chuckled, and put down the ledger he was holding.

“I don’t know what Ibelin’s true wish is, but it’s probably not a lie.”

“Not a lie?”

[Can you say that after seeing this scene?]

The makeshift ascension gate that Lenok had prepared had a tendency to twist the user’s wishes slightly.

If so, then the scene of the mansion that had become a mess was also part of Ibelin’s wish.

Isn’t it because Ibelin Marcia’s desire for vegetarianism, which she wished for while pulling the lever, is stronger and greater than anyone else here?

However, Lenok looked back at Ibelin, who seemed a little dejected, and nodded.

“I also thought at first that Ibelin was too lucky…… but this is beyond a level that can be explained by luck.”

Lenok said as he picked up a tree root that was still sprouting from under his feet.

“Reacting to Ibelin’s tendencies or nature, it brought out a large amount of the target before her wish.”

“I didn’t know that the tendency to be a vegetarian was such a strong nature.”

At Jenny’s sullen reply, Felix turned his gaze to Ibelin as if he had remembered something.

“Ibelin, is it possible that maintaining a vegetarian diet is a kind of precept [a rule or principle] that you must follow?”

“……”

“You don’t have to answer if you’re worried about it.”

Although he used the word precept, Felix was asking if Ibelin’s vegetarianism was an act close to a geas [a magical compulsion] or a ban.

If it was a geas or a ban placed on an 8-level extreme ability user, it would be enough to react first from the random box, taking precedence over Ibelin’s wish.

However, Ibelin quietly shook her head with a somewhat uneasy expression.

“……No. It’s just a personal preference. How would a field agent survive if they made dietary habits a condition?”

“That’s true……”

Ibelin is an agent and a sniper specialized in solo operations.

Naturally, supplies, including food, would often be procured locally during operations.

It would be highly inefficient for her to put a geas on her diet and keep the conditions.

Lenok looked at the people who were lost in thought and silently turned his gaze to Ibelin.

Lenok already had some idea of why this kind of result was drawn from the random box.

“……”

Regardless of what his wish was, Dylan pulled out the heart of the Church from beyond the ascension gate.

That was because Dylan’s origins worked as a strong connection to the ascension gate.

If the large amount of seeds that Ibelin had pulled out were not related to her wish.

Then, conversely, wouldn’t it be because it was related to Ibelin’s origins, birth, or lineage?

‘The personal information recorded in the agent database was that she was from the Eastern Foreign Tribe…… I should investigate further.’

Is there something strongly related to the seeds or plants of the old world in Ibelin’s origins or lineage?

Perhaps her personal preference for a vegetarian diet is also related to that.

However, Lenok did not immediately advise Ibelin on this matter at this place, but kept his words to himself.

Just like he did with Dylan, it would be better to talk about personal origins or secrets when they were alone.

“Ban. What are you going to do with that thing now?”

Felix, who had approached from behind Lenok, asked, placing his hand on Lenok’s shoulder.

“I glossed over it to the others, but that’s not something that can be explained by existing magic, is it?”

Felix whispered quietly, lowering his voice.

“It’s not an artifact that gives you what you want, its principles and functions are twisted beyond belief.”

“……”

“The source of most of the items that poured out is so hard to guess…… What did you see in the Machine City?”

In that short time, he had sensed that the items were unusual and guessed that they might not be from this world.

Perhaps Felix had already realized that this item was related to the ascension gate.

But the reason he didn’t say that word out loud now, even though he knew it, was to be considerate and mindful of Lenok.

A judgment that only Felix, with his excellent insight and mature experience, could make.

“No, you don’t have to answer. But promise me that you will definitely dispose of it after the party is over.”

Felix nodded, making eye contact with Lenok with a clear gaze.

“If the existence of this item were to leak out…… the city government would try to get their hands on it no matter what.”

Rather than suspecting Lenok, he was worried about the repercussions when the city council found out about the existence of this item.

That wasn’t wrong.

If they found out that Lenok had obtained the ascension gate, the Central Council or Ex Machina would definitely react aggressively.

“I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

Lenok smiled lightly as he tilted his glass.

“Thanks to Ibelin, I think I’ve achieved all the goals I had for making that thing today.”

“……What do you mean?”

“To put it simply……”

Lenok tapped the ledger he had placed on the table and nodded.

“It means that enough data has been collected.”

The reason why Lenok gave items to his acquaintances using the makeshift ascension gate was not simply out of goodwill.

Lenok’s real purpose was in this very situation of extracting data from the makeshift ascension gate.

‘Kaiser said that he needed to secure the heart of the dragon using the makeshift ascension gate.’

Lenok thought as he watched the people moving busily.

‘But I can make a makeshift ascension gate, but I don’t know its principles or how to operate it. Then……’

The only way is to collect as many samples as possible, study the regularity, and learn how to operate the makeshift ascension gate through that.

The reason why he gathered people and made them use the gate once was to attract his companions to the power of the ascension gate.

In other words, it was a service equivalent to a free one-time draw ticket.

Lenok was building up samples of how the ascension gate worked with the help of others.

Through that, he was planning to study how to use the gate to reach the other side of the old world void.

Since the people gathered here had different origins, ranks, abilities, and races, they could function as various variables in the research process.

Which magic power reacts more sensitively to the operation of the ascension gate, and which rank of ability user is more suitable.

What kind of wish must one have to draw out items with a certain theme from beyond the gate.

Today’s gathering was a testing ground to extract such data directly in practice.

“Well, I thought it was strangely lax for something Ban was doing……”

“It was all an arrangement to use us.”

“You have to buy us drinks again after we’re done with this.”

The people grumbled, but they followed Lenok’s words and quietly started the work of classifying the plants again.

Lenok, with a glass of wine in his hand, watched them from behind with satisfaction.

“Very pleasing. It’s a very desirable scene for a researcher.”

[Actually, you just didn’t want to collect samples alone, so you caused this.]

While grabbing the tail of the spirit grumbling in his arms, Wayan, who was carrying a large bundle of purple vegetables, walked over, staggering.

“Ban, where should I put this eggplant-like thing?”

“Eggplant?”

“Yeah. I really hate these vegetables, but the magic power inside seems to be considerable?”

Lenok listened to his words and carefully looked at the vegetables that Wayan had collected.

Indeed, the vegetables he had picked were unusually concentrated with magic power compared to other crops.

Perhaps the shape of the eggplant itself was suitable for containing magic power.

“Okay. That’s perfect.”

Lenok grabbed Wayan’s shoulder, who didn’t even want to touch the eggplant, and sat him down in his place.

“I’ll leave the rest of the classification and recording work to you. I’ll give you a generous reward.”

“W, what?”

“I have a lot of other things to do.”

He had to start dismantling the random box to erase the traces, and he also had to check on Dylan’s condition, who had lost consciousness.

Although other people were helping with the cleanup, Lenok had to finish the aftermath himself.

There were many things to do besides classifying and recording the crops right away.

However, Wayan stuttered as if he was flustered by Lenok’s words.

“E, ex…… If that’s the case, there are smarter people than me……”

“Your magic sensitivity is the best among all the people gathered here. I told you that, didn’t I?”

“……”

“In this kind of classification work, your judgment is the most accurate. It’s not comparable to others.”

Wayan’s magic sensitivity was a tremendous talent, comparable to Lenok’s.

Even though other aptitudes such as magic manipulation, recovery, and capacity could not keep up with it.

His sense of feeling and resonating with magic was almost close to Lenok’s sensitivity.

There was no need to say how powerful and rare that talent was.

That was why Lenok had suggested several growth methods that could maximize Wayan’s magic sensitivity.

Wayan had accepted that advice and grown rapidly, becoming a top-ranked talent within the company.

However, Wayan’s expression was somewhat clouded when he heard Lenok’s words.

“Ah, well, I don’t really know these days.”

Wayan glanced at Lenok and sighed before answering.

“Even if it’s sensitivity, all I do is perceive magic power. I don’t know how to go further.”

“……”

“I feel like I need something more to complete the rank……”

He had been growing in the direction of making the most of his magic sensitivity talent, but was he saying that he felt like he had hit a wall before reaching level 7?

While Lenok was lost in thought, Suyeon, who was walking over with a handful of leaves on her shoulder, asked.

“Come to think of it, isn’t Ban at a level where he should have disciples by now?”

“……Disciples?”

“Even though he’s much younger, his skills are already at an unattainable level.”

Suyeon said as if it was nothing unusual.

“I think it’s strange that you haven’t even considered it until now.”

“Ah, I’ve thought about it sometimes.”

Jenny added from the side.

“I thought you were secretly raising a few people, but I guess not?”

“……You guys think I can raise disciples like I’m handling equipment.”

Lenok retorted as if he was dumbfounded.

“I have no intention of secretly being a teacher. But that’s right. In the first place……”

Because he had been working as an assistant professor at the university and teaching undergraduates, he had never thought about it.

But for a magician with Lenok’s rank, taking on disciples was not a strange thing in itself.

Apart from simply passing on magic and continuing the system, having excellent disciples also made the magician’s research much easier.

Of course, in this world where the ending is already decided, raising disciples might be a meaningless thing in itself.

But Lenok thought that even if there was no time, there was meaning in the act of promising the future.

“Ahem, ahem.”

“……?”

The people, who had removed the sparse leaves on their heads, straightened their clothes, and approached Lenok’s side.

Milla subtly handed Lenok a crumpled bill.

“Ban, I’m not smart, but I’ve had a very good sense since I was young.”

“What?”

“I’m sure I’ll be good at learning magic too.”

“……”

While Lenok was silent, not understanding the sudden words, Belber, who was hugging a large slime, cleared his throat.

“Ahem, ahem, as a stock investor, the profit and loss calculation and asset management skills I’ve trained are not entirely unrelated to a magician’s aptitude……”

[That guy should be checking the temperature at the bottom of the Laver River, but he’s talking nonsense.]

Manson scoffed at Belber and immediately intervened.

[Ban, as a multi-body adapter, I can use multiple bodies to learn various types of magic……]

It was as if Lenok was choosing disciples at this very moment, and the people were subtly showing off their magical aptitudes.

Even Felix, Ibelin, and Jenny were watching with interest.

Above the heads of those people, a faint spirit flew around, whispering unknown prophecies.

[Line up, you clueless organisms~]

[If you praise the fox, I’ll secretly send you to the front of the line~]

“……”

Only then did Lenok realize the situation and let out a small sigh as he got up from his seat.

It seemed that he would need some time to scold the spirit who wanted to have a maknae [youngest member] rather than a disciple.

“Disciples……”

Lenok was lost in thought and casually glanced around.

At that moment, the other people straightened their backs and began to watch Lenok’s every move.