Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 701

Tap, tap.

The sound of a clock ticking echoed, coinciding with a strange sensation of consciousness returning.

Lenox severed his connection with Pandemonium and immediately left the mock ritual space, returning to reality.

A quiet office, devoid of people.

Lenox slowly removed his obsidian mask, leaned back in his chair, and touched his forehead with one hand.

“A subjugation operation, huh.”

Lenox chuckled softly to himself.

The irony of Victor volunteering for an operation organized to deal with Ban.

However, Lenox was certain that rather than pretending not to hear and backing out at this point, it was better to jump directly into the fray.

Having decided to build the magic tower, it was virtually impossible to control all the repercussions.

In that case, it would be easier to control the situation if Lenox directly intervened in the process.

The problem was that unless Lenox had two bodies, it would be difficult to play both Ban and Victor at the same time.

“I need to learn a clone magic quickly…”

Lenox, having put away his obsidian mask, stared blankly at the scroll on his desk.

The highest-level sealing technique of Radiant Magic, ‘Wheel Fortress Construction,’ which he had obtained by requesting it from Oliviera.

Even though he already possessed the Barrier Art of Jintun, the reason Lenox had asked Oliviera for the incantation of this magic.

It was because this magic was the only way that could directly connect to all the results Lenox wanted.

‘The most necessary thing for me in Radiant Magic is [Radiant Body], which creates a clone of light… but Oliviera wouldn’t have given it to me.’

Oliviera had given the incantation of Wheel Fortress Construction only because she thought it was necessary to capture Peisha alive.

If Lenox had directly asked for Radiant Body, she would have likely ignored him.

However, the reason Lenox had specifically asked for Wheel Fortress Construction first.

It was not only because the Barrier Art of Jintun was difficult to maximize its effectiveness without setting it up in advance.

But fundamentally, Wheel Fortress Construction and Radiant Body were magic that operated on the same principle.

Both magics were at the highest level of Radiant Magic, shape magic that converted the diffuse reflection of light into a real concept and constructed it.

Therefore, if he studied Wheel Fortress Construction deeply, he would likely be able to understand the principle of Radiant Body as well.

Lenox had made a move that looked a bit far ahead, aiming to go beyond just capturing Peisha and also learn the principle of Radiant Body.

‘At this point, when I can’t go to the Military City right away, the only clone magic worth trying is Radiant Body.’

It’s not that Lenox hadn’t tried clone magic while going through various identities.

However, Lenox’s transcendentally strong self-identity and mental abilities simply did not allow the existence of other beings besides Lenox.

That was why, despite observing excellent clone-type ability users like Glen or Armand, he had not been able to achieve any significant results.

In fact, a transcendent identity that would never allow any other derivative existence except for Lenox himself.

That was why Lenox had tried to obtain Radiant Body of the Radiant Magic system, rather than other techniques or abilities.

He thought that if he didn’t directly touch Lenox’s body by applying the diffuse reflection of light, it might be possible to indirectly project a clone.

‘It’s a very different feeling from obtaining an avatar, but this alone will greatly increase what I can do.’

Even if he couldn’t move in completely different space-times, it would be enough if he could show different identities at the same time in the same space.

It would be helpful not only in establishing various alibis at the same time, but also in combat.

After studying the principle of Wheel Fortress Construction in his office for a while, Lenox looked at the clock and got up, leaving his office.

A regular check-up time with the vampire doctor, Murphy.

Normally, he would postpone or skip the appointment, but today there was something he needed to go and check in person.

* * *

After receiving Murphy’s examination, Lenox quickly dealt with the backlog of work.

He ordered the delivery of catalysts and magic tools that were up for auction at almost half the price.

He secretly extended the submission deadline for the integrated master’s and doctoral thesis at Lavatenon University by using the dean’s authority.

After checking the location of the new mansion that was scheduled to be moved to, he inspected the security barrier placed in the new laboratory.

On the way back, he chewed down a paprika sandwich he had made himself.

“…”

Lenox felt his hand holding the sandwich tremble slightly and smiled bitterly.

His arm was numb.

It wasn’t just because of the bitter taste of paprika lingering in his mouth or the fatigue gnawing at his whole body.

The aftereffects of forcibly activating Ouroboros, using the Ninefold Return Martial Arts against Malasia and Merilda, were belatedly catching up.

[Master…]

Davi, who noticed Lenox’s condition, whispered in a worried tone.

Lenox silently stroked Davi a few times and took out a painkiller, chewing it down.

As he swallowed the painkiller along with the sandwich, he felt the sensation in his arm dull and the pain subside.

Lenox slowly massaged his elbow and fell into thought.

‘It’s difficult to pinpoint the cause even with Murphy’s help.’

After learning the counterattack technique [Eight Sceneries] derived from the Ninefold Return Eight Forms from Rancia.

Lenox intuitively realized that this was a kind of shortcut to physically activate Ouroboros.

The Ouroboros magic system, which could only be used after a long preparation, time-consuming incantation, and pushing intuition to the limit.

The fact that it could be imitated simply by following a few movements of martial arts.

The Eight Sceneries thus realized was a degraded power compared to the real Ouroboros, but it was powerful enough to forcibly twist the direction of real power.

‘There’s no problem with imitating martial arts through the manipulation of Touin [a type of energy manipulation] and magic power. But…’

Although he was learning martial arts from Rancia, the coordination of the body was not something that could be cultivated in an instant.

Therefore, the method Lenox chose to use Eight Sceneries right away was to manipulate his own body with magic power.

By mixing the manipulation technique with ‘Touin’ taught by Claude Azlan, he could connect his creaking body to the posture of Eight Sceneries.

In that state, the golden concentric circles manifested through the mysteries of Ninefold Return.

A counter-technique that created an illusion as if dropping an invisible water droplet in the air, causing ripples.

The reason Lenox used Eight Sceneries in the battle with Malasia and Merilda was to confirm whether it was a forced activation due to magic power manipulation.

The problem was that the aftereffects of forcibly manipulating his body to use Eight Sceneries were not negligible.

Lenox quietly stroked his stiff fingers and shook his head with a smile.

“As expected, I can’t use it for long by force… my body can’t handle it.”

A sensation that was different from the penalty given to Lenox or extreme fatigue, a convulsion that seemed to distort the senses themselves.

Even if he used various shortcuts, he could not properly create a single martial art with this fragile body.

If he used Eight Sceneries through forced magic power manipulation, instead of naturally assuming the posture, the aftereffects would be severe like now.

After several experiments, Lenox recognized these aftereffects and tried to find the cause by getting a check-up from Murphy, but he couldn’t figure it out.

After using it twice in a row in the battle with Malasia and Merilda, Lenox had already come to a conclusion.

‘I have no choice but to refrain from using it unless it’s urgent.’

A secret plan to save his life. If you think about it, it’s like getting a much higher version of the technique he taught Jenny.

It was hard to believe that he had obtained such a technique while learning Pilates, but Lenox still thought it was unlikely that Ninefold Return was the original form of the Ascended’s martial arts.

‘If it was an association deeply intertwined with Return, others wouldn’t have ended up like this.’

Return was an Ascended [a being of immense power] who was so insane and corrupted that even Lenox knew his name.

If even a little of his intention remained in the form of martial arts, Rancia would not be sane.

It would have been impossible to pass it down in its complete form.

Rather, it was more likely that some mystery in Ninefold Return had touched on Lenox’s unknown potential.

The problem was that this phenomenon, which he had learned about by chance, was likely a physical ability that was far from Lenox’s original talent.

It was difficult to control because it was not his original talent, but that might be why it felt more powerful than expected.

“Martial arts. The power of a martial artist…”

It’s not that he doesn’t have any thoughts at all.

The problem was that he couldn’t properly grasp whether it was a talent that existed entirely within him.

Or whether it was a harbinger of destruction that existed in this world, stained with distortions and shortcuts.

“…”

At a time when the research on the Five Laws of the Fate’s Balance and the Mass Formula was not yet finished, wasn’t it just that his capabilities were overflowing?

The more he thought and worried, the more they increased, and there was always only a beginning, never an end.

Sometimes he thought that not thinking might be the answer, but he was worried that even that was a conclusion he had come to by thinking.

While walking with such thoughts, Lenox stopped for a moment when he saw the commotion in the distance.

“…A gambling house?”

District 47, the outskirts of the port. The usually quiet street was unusually crowded with people at this time.

A large-scale underground gambling house that had opened just a few days ago, with its doors wide open and various events taking place.

The dazzling lights, music, and intense heat could be felt all the way to where Lenox was standing.

‘It’s a bit different from the feeling that was popular in this area before.’

As someone who worked in the shadows, Lenox knew what kind of atmosphere gambling houses, arenas, and auction houses had.

From Lenox’s perspective, the gambling house that had opened here now was completely different in its feeling and the facilities it had imported.

It was probably because the format and system of this gambling house had been imported from a city other than Balkan.

Normally, he would have passed by without much thought, but there was a reason why Lenox was contemplating the existence of that gambling house.

“A casino…”

A few words Freya had mentioned about Peisha during the Pandemonium meeting.

She was so fond of gambling that she was called a gambler, and she was usually holed up in Tokerphuz.

“…”

After some thought, Lenox walked past the people gathered in front of the casino and naturally entered the gambling house.

“Welcome, sir.”

A server who was carrying drinks nearby winked and greeted him.

Lenox, who was silently looking around, asked with a blank face.

“I haven’t seen this casino before. Is it recently opened?”

“Yes, it is.”

The server nodded at Lenox’s words.

“Tokerphuz in the Western Continent, which leads the entertainment culture. It’s one of the places that directly imported technology and facilities from that city.”

“Tokerphuz technology?”

When he was working in Pandemonium, he had received an invitation from the clown to come to Tokerphuz directly.

He knew it was a city obsessed with entertainment, a place devoted to gambling and betting, but he never expected that they would have imported the facilities.

As Lenox seemed interested, the server looked around and secretly took something out of his pocket and handed it to Lenox.

A small chip that shone like a clear sky blue.

In terms of unit price, it was easily worth over 2 million cells [currency].

“I’m not supposed to give this out, but I’m making an exception because you seem interested, sir.”

Lenox chuckled as he watched the server wink and disappear leisurely.

It was a transparent sales tactic, but not many people would be upset by this even if they knew it.

What customer would dislike a server who thought they were worth more than 2 million cells?

It was like giving a pretty big stake for free, but it was also proof that this gambling house was aggressively attracting customers.

Lenox took the chip and slowly walked into the gambling house.

“I’m not really interested in gambling…”

He had participated in a few lotteries unintentionally, but Lenox had hardly ever gambled himself.

Complex psychological warfare, various strategies, the courage to rely on reckless odds, and the madness of throwing a winning move.

These were all things that Lenox had tasted more than enough in life-or-death battles.

He had come in on a whim, thinking that he might find something, but he had no intention of spending time and using the chip.

With that in mind, Lenox tickled the chin of the spirit who was sleeping soundly in his arms.

“Davi.”

[…Mmm.]

Davi, who woke up rubbing his sleepy eyes, peeked out from Lenox’s arms and looked around.

Since the purpose was to look around casually, there was no need to hold the chip for a long time and arouse suspicion.

Since the server had given him the chip, it might look suspicious if he left without using it.

It was better to pretend to be a newbie who didn’t know the situation and quickly get out of here.

“Find the game board with the lowest odds here-”

“Waaaaa!!”

At that moment, Lenox stopped speaking at the sound of cheers echoing from the other side of the gambling house.

The figure of a woman with a blank expression, with a pile of chips stacked in the middle of the gambling house.

The onlookers surrounding her were all excited, unable to take their eyes off the hand gestures pulling the machine.

Charrrr!!

Every time she pulled the slot, the jackpot burst and a wave of chips poured out.

The onlookers were busy picking up chips under the feet of the expressionless woman.

“…”

It was a scene that could be easily dismissed as a customer who had hit a jackpot. However, Lenox’s expression had already turned blank as he looked at her.

On the surface, she had a plain impression with no particular features, but her gaze, as she casually looked around, was sharp and even eerie.

A level where experience and mentality were materialized and leaked out of the body, which could not be explained by simple momentum.

As soon as he faced that eerie pressure, Lenox was sure who she was.

A soldier who was known for her love of gambling in the Central Front.

A personality that loved the facilities and entertainment of Tokerphuz so much that she was holed up there.

Peisha Grisburn had appeared in District 47.

Despite the loud cheers, the woman picked up only a few of the most expensive chips among those that had spilled on the floor and immediately moved her position.

She approached the huge mechanical equipment lined up along the wall of the casino and, without hesitation, inserted the chips again.

The onlookers followed her, rising up and starting to murmur again from behind.

Lenox, who was silently watching the scene, chuckled as he looked at the chip in his hand.

“…Alright.”

Lenox fiddled with the chip and slowly moved towards her.