Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 73

After listening to Lennox’s words, Nicole, who had been lost in thought, nodded.

“We’ve severely underestimated the value of a half-mage. I didn’t expect you to already be receiving artifacts as compensation. I thought we could recruit a skilled mage at a low price…”

“No, sis. You don’t have to be so blunt…”

“Can’t you tell? It’s better to be honest with someone like him. It’s better than trying to deceive him clumsily.”

Mao-ren seemed like he wanted to say something more, but he quickly shut his mouth at Nicole’s sharp gaze.

It seemed that Mao-ren’s intentions had played a significant role in the Platon Office’s attempt to recruit Lennox.

When they first met, he seemed to be putting on an act, but it turned out that he was genuinely interested in Lennox’s abilities.

Before Lennox could finish his thoughts, Nicole picked up her handbag and stood up from her seat without any hesitation.

“I’ll take my leave for today. It’s not like this is our only chance.”

So, she was done with all the talk she needed to have with Panoa. She was a very hasty person in many ways.

As she was about to leave the office, pulling the hesitant Mao-ren along, she turned her head as if she had remembered something and added,

“Oh, there’s one more thing I should mention.”

“What?”

“I don’t know what you think about the work you’re currently doing, but the path Dyke Corporation is taking right now isn’t very smart.”

“……”

“It’s not wrong to jump into the fray first when things are chaotic due to the agreement with the Autonomous Territory, but the frontrunner always bears a considerable risk.”

Nicole said that with a chilling smile.

“Who knows if Dyke will end up being the ones to take advantage of the position they’ve created.”

“You’re stating the obvious.”

However, Lennox replied indifferently, as if he didn’t need to think about it.

“I know what you’re trying to say, but aren’t you just making the obvious sound profound?”

“……”

Nicole smiled meaningfully and then opened the door and disappeared. Lennox quietly watched the closed office door and sipped the remaining coffee.

He could roughly guess what her intentions were in saying that.

She was probably trying to shake him up in various ways and gauge his reaction.

However, despite being disappointed with Dyke Corporation’s handling of things, Lennox didn’t think they were so clueless or incompetent.

After all, they were a huge corporation that had crushed other competitors in this dog-eat-dog city and proudly established themselves in the inner districts.

Extending their reach into the 40s district was clumsy, but expanding their business was something they had been doing since their founding.

At least until this project was over, it was right to believe and act that way.

Seeing Panoa enter through the door, Lennox also stood up from his seat.

She wouldn’t have called Lennox just for a meeting with the Platon Mercenary Office.

He had received the Enac Phil artifact today, so he knew he had to deal with some troublesome matters.

Demonstration

“This is Mr. Ban, an external advisor newly recruited from the headquarters’ planning team. Please give him a warm round of applause!”

Wowwwww!

As soon as the unknown emcee finished speaking, enthusiastic cheers erupted.

“……”

At the far end of the auditorium, filled with hundreds of people.

Lennox, standing in front of the small stage, picked up the microphone and was lost in thought.

He had received a guarantee of compensation from Panoa for this, but his mind was in a mess because he had come up on stage without being properly prepared.

The emcee continued.

“Mr. Ban, the external advisor, has formed a deep relationship with the headquarters by demonstrating his outstanding magical skills and excellent work abilities. I believe he will be a good role model for the Lavatenon University students participating in today’s headquarters field trip, and we will conclude today’s tour after hearing a brief word of encouragement. Please welcome him with applause!”

It was a cliché, but the response was very enthusiastic.

Lavatenon University, a familiar word to Lennox. Wasn’t that the school where a certain professor he knew worked?

It was rare to see a mage working for a company, so he could understand the reaction to some extent.

Only after hearing the applause did Lennox sigh and turn on the microphone.

The talent of a mage calmed Lennox down even in such unexpected situations.

He adapted the lessons about academics he had heard on Earth, gave appropriate words of encouragement, and quickly finished his speech.

“…I hope you all realize that talented mages like you are needed in various parts of society. Thank you.”

He came down to the back of the auditorium, listening to the applause that was much louder than before.

Perhaps because he had come down with the wireless microphone still in his hand, the other employees who were waiting nearby were startled and politely took the microphone from Lennox.

The other employees now understood how Lennox was being treated in this company.

A VIP whom the head of the headquarters’ planning team cherished and who appeared in person for all sorts of matters.

The rumor that he was a key researcher participating in important in-house projects was also widespread.

As he handed the microphone to an employee, Lennox turned his head to look for Panoa.

She and a well-built middle-aged man were walking together from behind the thick curtains.

Lennox stared at her and opened his mouth.

“I got a guarantee beforehand, but you’ll have to make sure I get paid properly for this.”

Instead of her answering, the man who had stepped forward extended his hand towards Lennox.

“I’m sorry about this. I was wondering how to conclude the in-house field trip that the headquarters was conducting, and I ended up borrowing the mage’s help.”

The man smiled faintly and continued.

“I’m Dustin Goodman. I’m in charge of the company’s management, though it’s not much.”

“…I’m Ban.”

Was this lively man the president of the huge Dyke Corporation?

Lennox reluctantly accepted the handshake, but he still intended to say what he had to say.

“I didn’t want to ruin the event, so I did it, but I need to be properly compensated for what I just did.”

It was a bad move to show his displeasure and break the deal right there.

Especially considering that he still had things to do with Dyke.

However, Lennox’s personality wouldn’t allow him to just let it go without saying anything in this situation.

“I understand.”

Dustin said with a bright smile.

“Was it three more times that we can work together with you, Mr. Ban?”

“……”

“Let’s count your appearance today as one of those requests. Today’s field trip for Lavatenon University was that important to me.”

When Dustin said this much, Lennox had no choice but to listen to him.

If it was intentional, Dustin was a great negotiator.

It wasn’t something that could be achieved just through effort to make the other person listen to the story even while giving up some of his own benefits.

In any case, he was reducing one of the five requests from the contract, so there was no reason not to accept it.

Lennox shrugged and replied.

“If you put it that way, I have nothing to say. Should I go back out to the auditorium and answer the students’ questions?”

“As expected, a skilled mage has a sharp eye. You’re exactly right.”

“……..”

He felt like he was being drawn in.

Even while thinking that, Lennox had no choice but to go back out to the auditorium.

President Dustin had asked if he could demonstrate how skilled a mage employed by the company was in front of the students.

“I enjoyed your speech earlier.”

It was to a certain professor who had directly led them.

“It’s really impressive that you’ve been training in magic in such difficult circumstances. I’m also in a position to teach students, but I wonder if I’ve been too focused on my research and haven’t paid enough attention to the students who need to learn.”

Familiar blonde hair and blue eyes.

A calm yet kind tone.

A cool voice and a composed expression that suited it well. A woman Lennox knew well was standing there waiting for him.

“……”

“Is there a problem?”

“…No. I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”

At the random excuse, Alice bit her lip as if slightly offended.

“Well, I understand that you’re confident in your skills if a big company like Dyke is recruiting you. But I won’t show a shameful appearance in front of the students either.”

Alice spoke as if her skills were lacking, but Lennox didn’t feel like laughing even after hearing Alice’s words.

In fact, Lennox wasn’t even sure if he could win against her in a head-on fight right now.

He could tell just by looking at the magic Alice often used when teaching Lennox in the library.

Magic power and control ability, responsiveness and rotation speed. There was nothing lacking in her deep understanding of magic theory.

Regardless of status, Alice Richelieu was already complete as a mage.

If they were to seriously aim for each other’s lives and raise their magic power, Lennox would have to give it his all.

‘It’s a demonstration, so…’

Wouldn’t it be enough to show some flashy magic?

In the first place, he didn’t know what level the university students gathered here were, and Lennox didn’t know how the demonstration would be conducted.

He just had to adjust it appropriately so that no one got hurt.

Lennox glanced at the students looking at the two of them and immediately raised his magic power.

[Lightning Cracker]

Fwoosh! Fwoosh!

As he clenched his fist tightly and then spread his hand wide, small particles of light created inside his fist spread into the air.

After a short time lag, the sparkling particles burst out in an instant, scattering blue electric fireworks in the air.

It was a magic with a strong visual effect but not much power, and Lennox could directly control the amount of magic power to limit the range.

It wasn’t very practical, so he hadn’t used it before, but it seemed perfect for a situation like this.

Until Alice responded with a much higher level of magic after seeing Lennox’s first move.

[Water Infusion]

Suddenly, a turquoise magic circle unfolded in the air, and dozens of water droplets that popped out from the inside instantly swallowed the particles that Lennox had spread.

The particles that had not yet burst disappeared as they were eaten by the water droplets, and the current that had already burst and was falling towards Alice was received and flowed into the air.

“……..”

Lennox’s eyebrows twitched as he realized that his first magic had been completely suppressed.

Come to think of it, this was the first time he was showing off magic while facing a mage as skilled as her.

He was being taught by her in the library, but he wasn’t in a position to use magic.

But if he was in Ban’s face, it was a different story.

Lennox wanted to see more of her unique magic.

Just by watching the refined movement of her magic power, something was clicking inside Lennox.

‘Should I try a little more?’

There was no harm in letting out a little of the curiosity that was welling up here.

The Dyke officials watching from below wouldn’t want it to end here either.

Having made a decision, Lennox immediately raised his magic power once more.

It was difficult to show off eye-catching magic without causing great damage to the surroundings.

In the first place, the magic and tactics he used were specialized in completely changing the board and manipulating the battlefield as he wanted.

But if he used his head properly, there was nothing he couldn’t do.

He placed his left hand, filled with magic power, in the air as if he were rubbing it.

Thump!

[Aerosol Jet]

As if ripples were forming on a calm pond, a huge wave appeared in the air, and then a huge mass of air was shot towards Alice.

A strong wind blew, enough to ruffle the hair of the other people sitting in the auditorium.

Alice responded again.

[Air Binding]

Crackling…!!!

The moment the rapidly expanding air current in the air came into contact with the magic circle that Alice had thrown, it rapidly contracted and returned to its original state.

She had stabilized and eliminated the spray mass by disrupting the flow of air and reversing it.

Ice magic…. The attribute she chose in that situation was one thing, but more than that, he was more interested in the magic Alice was using.

Unique magic that he was facing for the first time. As he directly saw and faced its reality, he began to feel a tickling sensation in his chest.

If he watched a little more, if he hung out with her a little more.

‘I might be able to copy it?’

He picked up the water bottle that had been placed on the stage to quench his thirst, splashed it on the floor, and immediately poured his magic power into it.

[Frost Control]

Whoosh!!