Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 687

The Witch and the Magic Tower (2)

‘Blaver Magic Tower’s Five-Strand Rosary, Tatiana Chiglet.

A war mage well-known for her artillery tactics in the Central Front, and a veteran mage who has survived countless battlefields.

Even with the shocking news that such a Witch of Firepower was now fleeing the Magic Tower, Lenox wasn’t particularly surprised.

He had known for quite some time that she felt disillusioned with the Magic Tower’s affairs and was trying to leave the Ivory Tower [a metaphor for the Magic Tower, suggesting isolation and detachment from the real world].

In fact, she had tried to quit the Rosary [a term referring to a specific group or rank within the Magic Tower], but under the orders of her master, the Tower Lord, she was thrown away as a discard in the Well of the Handbook operation [a likely reference to a dangerous or undesirable task].

During that process, she was once captured by Seyna, a priestess of the Order, and almost became an apostle [a follower or disciple of a religious figure].

Lenox, under the identity of Pandemonium Victor, had been watching her experiences little by little.

Although it wasn’t outwardly apparent, the rift between her and the Magic Tower must have deepened to the point of no return.

Therefore, Lenox was naturally more interested in the item she had taken with her when she left the Magic Tower, rather than the fact that Tatiana had left.

‘The previous Magic Tower Lord’s Phoenix Hall…’

The Phoenix Hall. Moreover, it was the possession of the previous Magic Tower Lord.

Even at a glance, it seemed to be an extraordinary treasure.

Furthermore, if Tatiana was being pursued for running away with it, it must have immense value.

However, Lenox’s expression was ambiguous as he quickly scanned her appearance.

‘……I don’t sense anything special.’

He didn’t know who the previous Tower Lord of the Blaver Magic Tower was, but he must have been a monster who had transcended the ranks and reached the level of 8 or higher.

If it was an item left by such a great mage, it was natural for it to be radiating an unmistakable magical power or aura.

However, there was no trace of such a thing in Tatiana’s appearance as she leaned against an empty seat, looking exhausted.

Of course, Tatiana was also a mage who had completed her rank, so she was quite skilled at concealing her magical power, but at this distance, she couldn’t escape Lenox’s senses.

If Lenox’s sensory perception couldn’t detect it, it meant that she either didn’t have it from the beginning or that the method of concealment itself transcended common sense.

And in Lenox’s opinion, the latter seemed more likely.

‘To hide a powerful artifact, a procedure closer to sealing rather than concealment is necessary. If Tatiana is being pursued, she wouldn’t have that much leeway.’

“Ban, that…”

Jenny, having also noticed the people subtly moving around Tatiana, quickly spoke to Lenox.

However, Lenox, aware of the situation, quietly nodded.

“Let’s wait and see for a bit.”

“Don’t you know her?”

“……I need to know what their purpose is for coming here first.”

If they were within a distance that Lenox could gauge inside Jenny’s bar, he could intervene immediately no matter what happened.

If those who were approaching from all directions after recognizing Tatiana’s presence were in their right minds, they wouldn’t attempt to fight.

Meanwhile, Tatiana placed a simple order with Jorden and began to sip her drink.

Instead of rashly surrounding Tatiana, the people approaching her simply took positions at a distance and watched.

In the meantime, one of the young men who had been chatting at the next table very naturally moved to sit across from her.

“Hey, sis, do you have a moment?”

Tatiana raised her red eyes from beneath her drooping hair.

The young man, undeterred by her indifferent reaction, pulled out a small photo from his pocket.

“It’s a satellite factory that Tentacion is secretly building. There’s a big reward for stealing the satellite’s engine parts list.”

“……”

“We need a mage. Would you like to come with us?”

The young man, who had naturally ordered another glass of whiskey and was sipping it, grinned.

“I’m a former soldier, you know. I can tell just by looking. You’ve been on the battlefield for a long time, haven’t you?”

“……”

“War mages are treated well everywhere. They’re familiar with operational concepts, adapted to organizational activities, and have incredibly quick situational awareness.”

He whispered as he pulled out a platinum coin from his pocket.

“They’re the best talent for this kind of operation. I was looking for someone like you. I’ll give you a generous cut, so let’s work together.”

A quick and simple explanation of the operation, and a cool attitude of offering the contract fee first without hesitation.

Even in this neighborhood full of swindlers and outlaws, it was an offer that was hard to find fault with.

If she had come to this bar looking for work, there would be no reason to view it negatively, as it was an excellent request.

However, Tatiana only continued to sip her drink, even after hearing the young man’s words.

“The military dagger at your waist.”

After a long pause, she finally opened her mouth, leaving the young man waiting patiently for an answer.

“A skull with three heads hanging from it. It’s the symbol of the Cerberus Corps’ massacre unit, isn’t it?”

“……!!”

“An unofficial special unit that specializes in massacre and looting operations. It’s not a famous place, but I remember it because the emblem is unique.”

Tatiana rubbed her temples with a tired expression and waved her hand.

Her red eyes glowed darkly.

“I’ve even caught and killed a few of them myself.”

“……I think there’s some kind of misunderstanding.”

The young man quickly looked around and replied.

“I’m not part of the corps anymore, and I haven’t participated in many operations. I’m a different kind of person than you think.”

“……”

“They say that the new satellite has the anti-gravity engine technology developed in the Balkans pushed to its limits. Aren’t you interested?”

The young man was trying to persuade her by revealing some information that should only be disclosed after joining the operation.

It was impossible unless he felt a great potential in the red-haired mage sitting in front of him.

However, Tatiana only gave a cold sneer at the young man’s words.

Instead, she looked at the skull emblem on the dagger, specifically at the three glowing red eyes, and said,

“They say they put a red kill mark on the skull for every 100 people they kill.”

“……”

“It’s been out of fashion for a long time, even on the battlefield, to show it off so proudly. Do you know that?”

Evidence that they had slaughtered at least 300 people on the battlefield.

However, the Cerberus Corps was particularly notorious for cutting off the heads of the people they killed and carrying them around to keep count.

Even in the war-torn battlefields where all sorts of atrocities and death were rampant, the murderers who cut off the heads of others and carried them around for their own notoriety were always treated like trash.

She was subtly mocking the young man, implying that he was deeply involved with such a corps.

“……Heh heh.”

The young man, who had been silent, suddenly let out a low laugh.

His expression, which had been smiling brightly, seemed to crumble and twist for a moment.

In a voice that had suddenly calmed down, he said,

“There aren’t that many guys who know so much about us.”

“……”

“Sis, you’re from the Central Front, aren’t you?”

At the same time as those words, the young man flicked his hand, and a dagger fell onto the table like lightning.

Thud!

The blade of the dagger, which had been driven diagonally into the table in front of the woman’s glass, trembled.

“Enough, just choose. Are you going to refuse?”

The young man’s eyes gleamed as if they wouldn’t allow any answer other than acceptance.

It wasn’t just that he wanted to work with her, but that he wanted something more than that.

However, she didn’t care about such a murderous gaze and tilted her glass towards the table.

“Hey, do you know what I used to do on the battlefield?”

Sizzle…!

Flames rose and curled around the dagger, licking the alcohol that was flowing across the table.

Whoosh!

Watching the dagger melt away on the spot, the woman grinned.

“I found it quite fun to incinerate trash like you.”

The young man’s expression twisted. At almost the same time, both of them raised their magical power.

The other customers in the bar, who had been chatting, also turned their gazes from various places, looking somewhat surprised.

In the midst of the tense atmosphere that was about to explode, with only one table between them.

“One bourbon whiskey, as you ordered.”

Someone who had approached the table was shaking a glass in their hand.

Clink!

At the same time as placing the glass in front of the woman, the magical power that the young man and woman had raised scattered and disappeared as if it were a lie.

“……!!”

The young man squirmed at the magical power that had been forcibly suppressed and disappeared by an unknown will, not his own.

Lenox, who had sat down next to the woman as if nothing had happened, smiled and said,

“On the rocks.”

“……Kenloe.”

The young man, recognizing his opponent, gritted his teeth and managed his expression.

The young man, forcing a smile, quietly said,

“We were still talking among ourselves.”

“So?”

“……I’ll order another snack, so could you please leave for a moment?”

“I think there’s something I need to hear first.”

At Lenox’s words, the young man’s fingers twitched slightly.

Lenox quietly leaned forward, looking at the young man.

“Is that all you have to say after taking out a weapon in my establishment?”

“……Y-Yes.”

The young man agreed with difficulty.

“It was a mistake to take out a weapon in the bar. I’m sorry. I’ll make sure to compensate you later.”

“Leave.”

“But Ban, I still have something to say…”

Clack!

The moment he tapped his staff once, the young man shut his mouth.

Lenox said, looking at the scene,

“I think I’ve said everything I needed to say.”

“……”

The young man didn’t answer any further.

It was only later that he realized that he had tried to persuade a mage who had a more bizarre reputation than the Central Front’s massacre unit.

Even if Lenox suddenly blew the young man’s head off in this place, nothing would change.

Only more people would click their tongues at the fact that Kenloe had added another strange feat to his resume.

It was a miracle that he had been able to have a normal conversation with a madman who could explode at any moment.

Realizing this, the young man picked up his half-melted dagger and stood up from his seat without a word.

He left the bar immediately with the others who seemed to be his companions, who had been sitting at the next table.

The bar was filled with an awkward silence.

Soon, as the others lost interest and started talking again, it quickly became noisy again.

As Lenox watched the scene, he heard a quiet laugh from beside him.

The red-haired woman, her face slightly flushed with alcohol, was tilting her head as she looked at Lenox.

“Were you watching from the beginning?”

“……”

“You didn’t seem like this before. Has that much time passed?”

At the woman’s words, who was smiling as she shook her glass, Lenox finally replied to the woman.

“A lot of things have happened.”

“Yeah, I guess so…… I can tell just by looking at you now.”

After saying that, the woman lightly raised her magical power and pushed the glass up as if it were bouncing between them.

“It seems like it’s been quite a while since I gave you the hint…… I didn’t expect you to come looking for me at a time like this.”

Lenox’s eyes shone sharply as he looked at the red-haired woman.

“Tatiana Chiglet. Have you decided?”

* * *

Lenox called Jenny and introduced her to Tatiana.

“Ban, it’s been a while since you brought a guest. Did you finally decide to help our bar’s sales?”

Jenny, who had thrown out a lighthearted remark first, offered a handshake.

“Call me Jenny. Ban’s friend?”

“To be precise, a friend of a friend.”

Tatiana smiled and lightly grasped Jenny’s outstretched hand.

As soon as Jenny lightly held her hand, she nodded.

“You’re a former soldier. A war mage?”

“……Oh, you can tell right away?”

“The atmosphere, and the way you shake hands without exposing the back of your hand, is famous in this business.”

Jenny, who replied as if it were nothing, put down the bottle of alcohol she had brought and said,

“It’s not because of the calluses, so you can rest assured.”

“Hee…… You’re quite funny.”

Tatiana smiled and turned her gaze towards Lenox.

“If you’re a broker, you must be well-versed in the news outside. Have you heard of me?”

Jenny nodded.

“I know you’re a mage who made a name for herself in the Central Front. They call you the Witch of Firepower, right? Ban mentioned it briefly before…”

“I met her briefly during the process of cleaning up the Blaver Magic Tower’s affairs.”

Lenox explained simply to Jenny, keeping his gaze fixed on Tatiana.

“Around the time I went on a business trip to help the agent… Time-wise, it was right after I dealt with Parden McQueen.”

After investigating the Blaver Magic Tower’s Western Continent branch with Evelyn, he had faced Tulan the White Lion and Gionis, hadn’t he?

In the process, the elders of the Western Continent branch of the Magic Tower had died, and Tatiana, who had been dispatched late, had taken over the cleanup.

At the time, Lenox, who had recognized that Tatiana was feeling disillusioned with the Magic Tower’s affairs, had told her to come to him if she wanted a new job.

Tatiana, who had been quietly listening to Lenox’s words, grinned.

“You have a good memory. You remember it that clearly?”

“Why are you being so surprised?”

Lenox, holding his glass, leaned lightly against the garden wall and stared at her.

“What do you want to say? Or have you really decided to collaborate with me now?”

“……”

Tatiana, who had downed the whiskey she was holding, slowly nodded.

“Yeah… I’ve come this far, so I should be honest. I need help.”

“What’s the matter?”

“Do you know anyone among the high-ranking officials of the Magic Tower?”

“……High-ranking officials of the Magic Tower?”

Tatiana turned her gaze towards Jenny.

“I heard you’re an excellent broker. It doesn’t matter if it’s from your connections. I need to secretly contact a mage at the Magic Tower’s leadership level.”

“I’m sorry, but that’s not our area of expertise in the first place.”

Jenny scratched her cheek.

“In the first place, you’d know more about the Magic Tower’s connections than we do.”

“If I contact them through my own channels or contacts, traces will be left.”

Tatiana replied with a slightly subdued expression.

“I need an unofficial channel. At least if I can directly contact a mage who is qualified to be the Tower Lord’s successor…”

“A mage who is qualified to be the Tower Lord’s successor? What are you talking about?”

Jenny laughed and shook her head.

“It’s easier said than done. You know how strict the conditions are in academia for the Magic Tower’s preservation. You should know better than anyone else, right?”

“……”

“The depth to be able to create your own sect, the recognition of more than three Magic Towers, and a clear legitimacy that no one can deny… Wasn’t that industry as meticulous about lineage as the imperial nobles?”

“That’s right.”

Tatiana nodded.

“But there is definitely someone among the high-ranking officials of the Magic Tower who wants the item that proves that legitimacy.”

“……”

“Those who have the ability to build a new Ivory Tower, but are waiting for the right time due to various shortcomings.”

Only then did Jenny’s expression slightly harden as she understood Tatiana’s words.

“……This is a bit of a dangerous story. If we’re not careful, we could end up making enemies of a large Magic Tower.”

Tatiana didn’t answer. Jenny’s gaze became sharper.

“No, you’ve already made enemies, haven’t you? Right?”

She was able to accurately grasp the situation with just a few words of conversation, without knowing the full context.

Jenny seemed to be more skilled at understanding and reacting to this situation than Lenox, who had heard Hairea’s message.

“Ban, what are you going to do?”

Jenny, who had been looking at Tatiana with narrowed eyes, glanced at Lenox.

“In my experience, in these cases, the situation escalates much faster. If we don’t refuse, things could get out of hand.”

“……”

Lenox was silent instead of answering.

Perhaps taking that silence as an answer, Jenny sighed softly and reached for her laptop.

“Okay. I’ll see if there are any unofficial channels for mages who are currently qualified to be the Tower Lord’s successor. However, you’ll have to make contact on your own.”

“I will.”

“Hoo, no matter how many people I know, how am I supposed to secretly contact a high-ranking official of the Magic Tower…”

“There are names I know. Can I ask you to investigate those first?”

“Write down the list. The Magic Tower they belong to, their rank, gender, and age. Oh, and their place of origin too.”

“W-Wait a minute… I’m not used to computers… This is…”

Tatiana was sweating profusely as she clumsily pressed the keyboard with her index finger, while Jenny was rapidly requesting the information she wanted.

“Come to think of it, I just thought of something.”

Lenox, who had been silently watching the scene from behind, opened his mouth.

“I received approval from the Central Council’s Senate to establish a Magic Tower three days ago. Would that work?”

At that moment, the voices of Jenny and Tatiana, who had been exchanging opinions while tapping on the laptop, suddenly stopped.

Clang!

The glass that had fallen from Tatiana’s hand broke, and whiskey spilled onto the keyboard, but Jenny didn’t get angry.

Like people who had heard an absurd and nonsensical lie, the two of them blankly turned their gazes towards Lenox.