Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 703

An overwhelming victory against Peisha Greeceburn.

However, Lenox knew that this was the result of forcibly manipulating luck.

An unrealistic streak of good fortune where jackpots burst more than ten times every time the slot was spun.

Lenox, rolling a Pentarect-made die [a die made by the Pentarect company] in one hand, fell into thought.

‘So far, it’s going as planned.’

The Pentarect he received from Myeong was an item that recognized the surrounding situation in real-time and transformed into the most efficient form.

That’s why Lenox had always thought about how to use the Pentarect and had experimented with it in various places.

The casino was a place where it was relatively easy to control the direction of the Pentarect’s transformation.

‘It’s difficult to control luck, but it’s not impossible in a place with a clear purpose like a casino.’

If you use the Pentarect in this place, where people blindly cling to gambling, probability, luck, and possibility, it almost certainly becomes an item that corrects luck.

Lenox used that to forcibly adjust his luck the moment he faced Peisha, and he knocked down Peisha’s character by unleashing a series of absurdly good fortunes.

‘The problem is from now on.’

He had no intention of running away from the start against Peisha, who was furious at the unreasonable defeat.

The reason he threw out such an obvious provocation was to keep her in this game and extract information.

The problem was that the performance of the item that controlled luck was only close to one-time use.

The luck amplified through the Pentarect transformation was only for the first time. Moreover, it was a power that only applied to simple devices like slot machines.

At this point, when the item’s effect had worn off, whether he could capture Peisha’s interest was up to Lenox.

Before his thoughts could end, the game that had restarted ended.

*Bang!!*

[2P WIN!!]

Contrary to before, Lenox lost.

In the game that had restarted due to Peisha’s coercion, Lenox was continuously losing to Peisha.

While looking at the points being settled after the game, Peisha leaned her head next to the game machine.

“Hey, are you not playing properly?”

*Pheeing…!!*

The killing intent she shot out barely missed Lenox, and the guests standing behind him fainted, foaming at the mouth.

“Kkeureureuk…!!”

“…I’m out of points now.”

Instead of responding again, Lenox pretended to subtly back away.

Even without doing so, the points he had gained from Peisha had run out due to the continuous losses.

However, Peisha, as if annoyed, grabbed a handful of brown chips and threw them at Lenox.

*Chwarak!!*

“T-this is…!!”

The sight of her scattering chips worth more than 5 million cells each [currency unit] without a care.

While the other guests were in shock, Peisha nodded at Lenox.

“Insert them. We’re going to play again.”

An overbearing attitude that did not allow for refusal.

Lenox, who had been silently looking at the chips, slowly nodded.

‘I roughly understand.’

After filling in the experience that was lacking in the first few plays while competing with Peisha, he could see why this game was so popular in Talkerverse [a virtual world or game setting].

It seemed like the luck element of gambling was the main focus, but the reality was completely different.

The spinning slots adjusted the odds according to the situation, and the adjusted odds were designed to determine superiority or inferiority based on judgment and psychological warfare.

Even though he was putting in coins and touching the console, it felt like he was directly fighting a superhuman in front of him.

That’s why he could understand why Peisha was so angry at the unreasonable first defeat.

‘It was a game made for high-ranking superhumans from the start. No, rather…’

Should it be called a game made to experience the high-speed battles of high-ranking superhumans?

The psychological warfare and strategies that take place in superhuman battles are not limited to the realm of calculation or judgment.

Reading each other’s minds, and sometimes inducing them, making even low probabilities a high possibility.

Peisha stared only at Lenox and said.

“If you play carelessly one more time, I’ll kill you. Got it?”

“…I will.”

He understood that the essence of this game was not just about luck or gambling.

If the way of playing had parts that corresponded to the battles of high-ranking superhumans, there was something Lenox could do as well.

Lenox, whose match was set, operated the console in a completely different way than before.

*Kung!!*

*Chareureureureu!!*

The offensive and defensive commands were exchanged at a speed that was incomparable to before, and the slots spun.

Even though the points floating above each other’s heads were decreasing rapidly, the health of the two characters was barely decreasing.

Scores of attack opportunities were consumed and disappeared, and a density of strategies and judgments that exceeded that number were exchanged.

The exchange of offense and defense was so fierce that dozens of slots spun simultaneously around the character each time a command was entered.

*Chareureureuk!!*

The slots that appeared everywhere, to the point where the character could not be seen properly, calculated the probabilities dozens of times and moved the character.

“Oh, oh…”

“What on earth is this…!!”

The people watching from behind stared blankly with their mouths open at the endlessly spinning slots.

Even the servers working in the gambling hall stopped in their tracks with surprised expressions to watch the game.

Peisha smiled.

“I knew you could play properly.”

And suddenly, the movement of the character Peisha was controlling changed drastically.

The character, who had been mixing attack and defense commands appropriately, began to spam attack commands while completely ignoring defense.

[Low. Low. Mid. Low. High. High.]

*Dudududu!!!*

[Invalid. Cancel. Activate. Activate. Activate. Activate. Invalid.]

Over the dozens of slots that had been covering the screen, another set of slot judgments covered it again.

The situation where the character they were controlling was not visible at all, and only the judgments according to the commands were running in a row.

They had to control the character and clash judgments purely based on memory and prediction.

“Oh ho, you’re keeping up?”

“…”

The disconnect where the slot’s judgment could not keep up with the character’s control.

This barrier of slots that completely blocked the screen and the character’s appearance needed for control.

Peisha had intentionally caused that and was continuing the game relying on her memory.

She probably remembered all the commands and judgments she had exchanged with Lenox so far.

She continued the game by connecting predictions and commands to the invisible character’s movements.

The moment the opponent failed to keep up even for a brief moment, she would unilaterally allow her attack commands.

However, even knowing that fact, Lenox continued to hammer commands into the game machine without any response.

[Activate, Cancel, Invalid, Invalid, Invalid, Invalid, Invalid, Invalid.]

As if a key and a lock were meshing, the hit judgments all turned invalid, and the game continued.

“Hahahaha!!”

Peisha, who was sitting across from him, burst into a sharp laugh.

“What, what’s going on?”

“Are they still playing even though the game machine is broken…”

“How are they still playing the game when the slots are spinning like that?”

The expressions of the people watching the two play from the side turned blank as they could not understand the situation.

On the contrary, those who understood how the game was progressing became quieter and quieter.

“That’s insane. That’s…”

“Let’s watch a little more and run away immediately.”

“I agree. We shouldn’t stay here long.”

“…”

*Pabababak!!*

The strategy of mixing attack and defense was over, and a brawl where they hit each other while ignoring the damage they were taking.

‘Is this the last one?’

Lenox accurately remembered how many attack points he had consumed in this game.

Peisha, who was beating Lenox, must also be aware of it.

No matter who wins, there will be no next round. This game is the last one.

Even the spectators who did not understand what was happening widened their eyes as they watched the health bars rapidly depleting.

“Oh, oh…!!”

Hundreds of slots and judgments spinning on the screen.

The health being depleted and the majestic music resounding.

The moment the health of the two people, who had been maintaining a state of equilibrium, simultaneously reached the end and finally tilted to one side.

*Pajik!!*

The screen that Lenox and Peisha were looking at turned completely black.

“…”

The two people stopped their hands, which had been operating the console almost simultaneously.

The people who had been quietly watching started to murmur.

“What, what… is it over?”

“Usually, after the game ends, it shows who won.”

“I don’t know… maybe an event comes out after pouring in this many points…”

Behind the people whispering, the manager, who had rushed over, bowed deeply in front of the two people, almost folding in half.

“I-I’m really sorry!!”

“…”

“It seems that the game machine has stopped due to a playing memory overload. We will fix it immediately!!”

The screen did not stop because of some special event or hidden piece.

The game machine had simply crashed because it could not handle the load just before the two people were about to decide the winner.

Only then did the spectators understand the situation and start throwing chips at the manager with angry expressions.

“Does that make sense, you crazy bastard!!”

“How are you managing the gambling hall that a new game machine is turning off here!!”

“I’m sorry…!!”

The manager started to fix the game machine in a hurry with the technicians he had brought.

Lenox, who had put down the console he was holding, raised his gaze and chuckled.

“Was it a misunderstanding?”

Lenox’s guess that it indirectly implemented the battles of high-ranking superhumans was a misunderstanding, and it might have been a bug that used the game machine’s malfunction.

However, even so, Lenox was certain that the game he had just played with Peisha in front of him was real.

She was not an existence that could be described as an average superhuman or warrior.

She was a soldier who had not only obtained a transcendent rank and completed self-modification but had also found a new self and trained herself in countless battles.

An existence that had lived a more dense and desperate life than the combined time of all the people in this gambling hall.

*Deureureuk!*

Peisha, who had gotten up from her seat, ignored the manager and slowly walked towards Lenox.

She leaned against the machine with one hand and quietly looked down at Lenox.

“I have a very good memory.”

Peisha said.

“So, I never forget good memories or bad memories.”

“…”

“In that sense, the game just now was very fun. I think I’ll keep thinking about it until I go back to Talkerverse.”

She smiled as she looked at Lenox, who was quietly staring at the screen with the console down.

“I’d like to settle the score even if I had to use all the chips in the casino… but I have something to do today.”

“Something to do?”

“Two days later. Come here at the same time and wait.”

Peisha, who had slowly lowered her head towards Lenox’s ear, whispered.

“Then, in the name of Peisha Greeceburn, I’ll turn a blind eye to the fact that you received treatment from Murphy.”

A completely unexpected point.

Before Lenox could say anything about that, Peisha left the casino without any regrets.

* * *

A building rooftop where the wind blew.

Lenox, standing with the city’s dazzling night view below his feet, was looking at his cell phone.

On the screen was a crude internet newspaper that did not even have a proper form.

This site, which was solely for the purpose of information delivery, only dealt with the latest news from the shadows of the 40th district.

And there were a few articles that caught Lenox’s eye with particularly large letters.

[Massacre at a bank on the outskirts of the 47th district.]

“…”

Lenox silently flipped through a few more articles with a sunken gaze.

[The number of victims is over 500. A major change in the district organization is expected…]

[The time of death of more than 300 people matches to the second. The culprit is presumed to be a high-ranking superhuman…]

[Bruises without any intervention of spells. The on-site coroners are suggesting the existence of a superhuman physical ability user…]

[Among the victims witnessed at the scene at the time, only the body of the arena manager has not yet been found…]

Lenox’s finger, which had been flipping through the screen, stopped abruptly.

The Deadrise’s Ghoul [a member of the Deadrise organization], who enjoyed killing people, had disappeared with only the manager.

Could it be that her visit to the gambling hall was not just to enjoy the game?

He thought it was just a whim, but there was a clear purpose in Peisha’s movements.

Dabi noticed Lenox’s intention and quickly searched the database to bring up the data.

[I’ve taken the manager’s personal information from the 47th district office. His identity was suddenly created 10 years ago, and since then, he has been living in the 40th district.]

“He was probably from Deadrise.”

[…Those violent organisms?]

Lenox said that and recalled the last conversation he had with Peisha.

When Peisha said she would spare Lenox, she did not mention anything about Lenox’s identity or skills.

Instead, she talked about the vampire doctor, Murphy, who was giving Lenox a checkup, and said she would turn a blind eye to it.

What could be understood about Peisha from that fact?

‘Murphy said he used to work as a medical staff for Deadrise.’

Peisha did not recognize that Lenox was a half or a great mage called a Fortress.

She had somehow found out that Lenox had been treated by Murphy and thought that Lenox was from the same Deadrise as her.

Nevertheless, instead of recruiting or welcoming Lenox, the reason she said she would ‘turn a blind eye’.

“Peisha has no intention of gathering the remaining Deadrise forces in Balkan.”

Lenox muttered as he put his cell phone in his pocket.

“She was planning to kill all the Deadrise related people in the city from the start.”

[…]

Lenox did not know why she was massacring the same Deadrise related people.

However, it was true that he had confirmed at this point that the Ghoul had a clear purpose other than the satellite.

“Two days…”

Considering that she told him to come back to the casino in two days, it could be seen that she was planning to finish everything within two days.

Then, Lenox also needed to come up with a different method to find the satellite factory.

“Dabi.”

[System check is complete. Surveillance system takeover complete.]

*Hwioooo!!*

The time was close to midnight. The night sky with stars twinkling brightly was revealed above the rooftop where the cold wind was blowing.

Lenox sat on the edge of the rooftop and slowly raised his magic power while looking at the constellations.

*Kiiing!!*

As he forcibly accelerated his consciousness with magic power, the night sky that had appeared above Lenox’s head rotated around him.

A fantasy where the stars in the night sky rotated in circles and seemed to overlap and shine, drawing countless rings of light.

Lenox quietly called out someone’s name at the end of it.

“Lapis.”

The answer was heard not long after.

Among the rotating constellations, a calm, whispering voice echoed.

[…Evan?]

A communication method that uses the constellations of the night sky to move the celestial sphere and contact the lighthouse keeper’s thoughts.

During the incident in the Hanghasa Labyrinth, Lenox had contacted Lapis through this method and was summoned to the North Continent where the labyrinth was located.

Lenox remembered what had happened at that time and tried to contact Lapis directly with his thoughts at the right time.

“It’s the first time since the Far East branch of the Order.”

[It’s really Evan. There are not even five people who taught me this method…]

The voice, which had hesitated for a moment as if flustered, soon called out to Lenox with a delighted tone.

[I was worried because I couldn’t reach you for a long time. I was only hearing news from Ivelyn from time to time… You’re safe.]

“A lot has happened.”

Lenox, who answered that, asked back.

“Did the cleanup of the Far East branch go well? There might have been a problem because you couldn’t recover Amrita’s body.”

[Thanks to Evan’s help, I’m safely traveling across the sea. I’m becoming the most secretive and free eye.]

Lapis said.

[I finished building the fifth lighthouse a while ago, and now I’m observing the central front.]

The power of the lighthouse that came to observe the barrier triggered the deal between Deadrise and the Blaver Magic Tower, leading to the present.

However, conversely, if he borrowed the power of the lighthouse, he could also figure out how they were trying to make the satellite.

Lenox had contacted Lapis to use the lighthouse to find the location of the satellite factory.

“I have a favor to ask because of that.”

Lenox said.

“Deadrise is making a satellite that illuminates the central front. I want to know the location, can you lend me the lighthouse?”

Lapis did not answer. She just remained silent as if she was thinking deeply about something.

Not long after, her transmission echoed as if she had realized something.

[I see. So…]

“…”

[Evan. You don’t need to ask me. If it wasn’t for Evan’s help, the lighthouse itself wouldn’t exist.]

Lapis said softly.

[If I can repay you for your contributions so far, I would be happy to help.]

“…If you tell me the location, I’ll go there myself.”

Lenox said that and slightly opened his eyes and raised his magic power.

“I’ll explain the details when I get there.”

[Ah, but it’s impossible to tell you about the lighthouse. Rather, I should have contacted you in advance.]

“…”

[I want to tell you in person. Can you open your mental barrier just a little?]

An unusual reaction.

A sense of incongruity that could not be felt from the previous Lapis, and a slightly different way of speaking.

The moment Lenox silently removed his magic power so that Lapis’s thoughts could settle.

[Sight. I’ll borrow it for a moment.]

A completely different landscape began to unfold before Lenox’s eyes.

*Paaaah!!!*

The surrounding scenery changed from a midnight rooftop to a bright flower garden under a bright sky.

A beautiful scenery spread out over a gently sloping hill.

Even though the scenery he was looking at had changed, the warm breeze seemed to caress Lenox’s senses.

Lenox, who belatedly realized how Lapis was showing him this scenery, was inwardly impressed.

‘Is this the authority of the lighthouse keeper?’

An unrealistic ability to forcibly synchronize with the scenery Lenox was looking at and overlap it with Lapis’s own location.

Such a skillful synchronization of vision that he could not have imagined from her when they first met.

The sensation was so strong that it felt like he was really standing in the middle of this flower garden.

“…”

Lapis’s figure was not visible even though she had synchronized her vision. Lenox, who had been pondering, slowly moved his thoughts through the flower garden.

As he walked through the smooth, colorful hill, something began to appear beyond the flower garden.

White and transparent crystals. On the carefully crafted, long crystal, someone’s name was engraved.

Like a tombstone made to commemorate the deceased.

“…”

A graveyard of more than hundreds of transparent crystal tombstones erected among the flower garden.

In the middle of it, a woman with blue hair was standing with her back turned.

She was wearing a pure white dress and was standing still, holding a flower in her hand.

It was difficult to even tell if she was breathing, and the life force felt from her was extremely faint.

“Lapis.”

Lenox, who was standing silently behind her, slowly called out her name.

Lapis quietly said without turning to look at Lenox.

“You asked to borrow the authority of the lighthouse, but that’s impossible.”