Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 74

The water sprayed on the floor froze in the blink of an eye, and thick ice spikes shot up, aiming directly at Alice.

[Fireball]

Alice, with a calm expression, released three fireballs, instantly melting the ice Lennox had created.

On the surface, it looked like a simple exchange of attacks exploiting elemental weaknesses, but both Lennox and Alice knew better.

The ice wasn’t so easily made that it would melt from ordinary heat, and the fireballs weren’t so weak that they would disappear after merely melting ice.

The two’s gazes, as if by agreement, turned back to the melting water on the floor, and almost simultaneously, two streams of magic power descended once more.

Crack!

Two paths of ice, rising from a single puddle, intertwined and fiercely aimed for each other’s heads.

‘It was called a Binding Art. It was definitely like this…’

The flow of magic power, which he had briefly witnessed, naturally formed in Lennox’s mind, and his own magic power began to follow.

Lennox’s cold air, initially pushed back, gradually caught up with Alice’s momentum, and then, conversely, grew in size to overwhelm her.

“……!!”

At that fierce surge, Alice’s magic power, with raised eyebrows, instantly turned even colder.

The cold air, intertwining in a double helix, froze all the moisture in the air, greedily seeking each other, drawing it up from the source.

Crackling…!!!

Boom!

The cold air from both sides, fiercely rotating and clashing, finally reached the ceiling and formed a huge pillar of ice. Only then did the two withdraw their magic power, as if by mutual agreement.

“……..”

Lennox, seeing the cold, frosty tree that had bloomed in front of the auditorium, quietly put down the water bottle he was holding.

The others, who had been staring blankly at the surreal scene, belatedly came to their senses and began to applaud wildly.

Wowwwww!

Invitation

‘This is the feeling…. I think I roughly understand.’

Lennox thought, slowly clenching and unclenching his fist.

As if not wanting to let go of the sensation he had grasped.

He had fought other mages a few times before, but frankly, their magic was not up to Lennox’s standards.

Or it was at a level that Lennox could imitate with common magic.

However, the magic Alice used was different.

It was a high-level unique magic that encompassed not just one attribute, but the entire element itself.

Just by observing the flow of magic power, there was something to learn.

It was something that could never be realized simply by studying theories, but was closer to the raw realm of practical experience.

‘She’s dividing the flow of magic power into four branches and using multiple branches by linking them as needed. Is it a method of controlling multiple attributes at once by inducing property changes?’

It wasn’t an efficient method for Lennox, who used various types from the start, to follow, but the concept of taking a different approach to magic power operation from the beginning and linking them only when using magic was worth researching.

‘If it’s just a Binding Art, I might be able to try it right now, but…’

If he did that here, Alice wouldn’t leave Lennox alone.

While Lennox was lost in thought, Alice, who had straightened her disheveled shirt, walked towards him.

“Ahem.”

Was she thinking that she had gotten carried away without realizing it?

Alice, with an awkward expression, cleared her throat and extended her hand.

“Thank you for cooperating in the demonstration for our students.”

“……It’s nothing.”

“Indeed, you have the skills to be brought directly from Dyke. Especially the control of magic power at the end, I was a little surprised. That kind of control is a precision that can never be achieved without someone’s tutelage….”

Someone’s tutelage, he had been receiving something similar in the library recently.

“If it’s not too much to ask, may I know which school you belong to?”

“You probably wouldn’t know even if I told you.”

Lennox replied smoothly without hesitation.

“It’s not famous, and there’s not much exchange with the outside world, so it hasn’t become very well-known.”

“I see.”

As if noticing Lennox’s intention not to answer, Alice said that and didn’t press further.

Lennox, looking down at Alice’s graceful figure, was lost in thought.

It was brief, but it was closer to an unconscious analysis of the opponent he had fought with magic power.

Precise magic power control and composure that didn’t waver even when facing rough magic in front of him.

The flexibility to observe and respond to terrain features at a similar level to Lennox.

And even the stable and diverse use of elemental unique magic.

‘There’s nothing to criticize.’

The conclusion Lennox came to after a brief thought was that.

Alice Richelieu was definitely the strongest mage among all the mages Lennox had seen, excluding the Ascended [beings who have transcended normal limitations].

She must have also adjusted the aftereffects, considering her surroundings.

If her skills were represented by a level, what would it be? Only after directly competing with magic power could Lennox guess her skills to some extent.

‘Even if I take it low, it would be above level 5. Being a university professor is not an easy task.’

While Lennox was lost in thought, Alice seemed to have something to say as well.

She asked with a slightly embarrassed expression.

“May I ask what kind of cigarettes you smoke?”

It was an absurd question.

“Why that… ?”

“No, that…”

She trailed off, as if it was difficult to answer.

“It’s because you seem similar to someone I know. I must be mistaken.”

“………”

Lennox was speechless.

Apart from the fact that the answer was so absurd, it was because he seemed to know who she was talking about.

In the meantime, Manya, who had come up to the auditorium, quickly approached Lennox and whispered.

“Mr. Ban, you can come down now. We’ll take care of the rest of the schedule. The president is waiting for you.”

Lennox nodded as if he had been waiting.

“Okay. I’ll go down.”

He gave a quick, vague answer and made eye contact with Alice.

She also gave up as if she couldn’t help it and nodded, turning her back.

A short but intense encounter. But at the end of it, what she asked was a question completely different from what Lennox had expected.

Could it be that the promise in the library held a more significant place in her heart than he thought?

It was something he couldn’t know now.

Lennox cleared his thoughts and turned his head towards the two people waiting for him below.

He had a rough idea. Dustin wouldn’t have asked Lennox to do this just because he was short of useful mages.

Especially considering the confrontation with a skilled mage like Alice Richelieu, it was more likely that there was another purpose than just Dustin’s own satisfaction.

For example, the skills Lennox had just shown would have a huge impact on the company officials who were watching this place from somewhere…

The prediction was not wrong.

Dustin, who had brought him to a vast office that used an entire floor and sat him down, slightly lowered his head as soon as he sat down.

“I’m sorry about earlier. It was difficult to ask for your understanding because of the situation.”

“Are they the board members?”

At Lennox’s answer, Dustin flinched as if surprised.

“……Panoa was right, you are an outstanding person. Yes, the board members gathered in one place for the first time in a while, taking the Lavatenon University field trip as an opportunity. I needed to show them the cards I had in reality.”

Dustin added that he apologized for not telling him in advance because it was a hastily prepared schedule, and Lennox shook his head.

“It’s enough if you keep your promise to reduce one request with this.”

“I’ll definitely guarantee that. I’ll also deposit the success fee you’ve earned so far into your account.”

Dustin glanced at Panoa, and she immediately nodded.

“So, was it helpful? It was a bit difficult to deal with the professor who led the students from that university, but I hope it was worth it.”

Lennox subtly showed off, and Dustin nodded as if he had been waiting.

“Of course. Don’t you know who Alice Richelieu is?”

“…Other than that she’s a skilled mage.”

“She’s a representative of the Sinclair Magic Tower, one of the geniuses who reached the position of a level 6 military mage at a young age. Her will is so firm that she’s focused on nurturing younger generations, but originally, it wouldn’t be strange if she had been called to the Magic Tower and taken a position.”

He thought she was an excellent mage, but was she really a level 6 expert?

“She may not be very famous to people who don’t know magic, but including her appearance, she’s a well-known figure that those who know her know. Anyway, showing a demonstration that seemed equal against such a mage is very meaningful.”

Dustin smiled proudly.

“It will have a significant impact on the shareholders, and if we do well, we can even induce internal strife in the board of directors. You did a good job, so the rest is up to us.”

“Rather than that, I hope you focus on future projects. All of this will be useless if we don’t settle things in the 40th district.”

At the pointed remark, Panoa’s face, who was standing next to him, momentarily stiffened, but Dustin laughed it off.

“That’s a sharp point. But it’s not wrong. To be honest, I admit that I started by underestimating the outer districts to some extent.”

“………”

“However, that’s my fault for not preparing the manpower suitable for the plan, not Panoa’s mistake. I hope you understand that much. I don’t want your trust with her to weaken in this matter due to my personnel mistake.”

As Dustin said that and winked at Panoa, she quietly lowered her head.

“She’s really taking care of all the work necessary for this project. Taking away a part of the weapons business that’s already established in the 40th district and us entering that position means that we have to appease some of the political figures who were funding it. While also being mindful of the collaboration with other companies we’re currently maintaining, we’ve lost sight of what’s really important.”

‘He talks too much.’

Who in the world is without circumstances?

To be cold, Lennox had no interest in how hard Dustin and Panoa were working and suffering.

Or did Dustin think that a mage who didn’t know the ways of the world would sympathize with their situation?

The first to notice that Lennox’s gaze was gradually turning cold was not Dustin, who was talking, but Panoa, who was watching his expression.

She pretended to look at the wristwatch she was unconsciously touching, and then immediately whispered to Dustin.

“President, it seems like it’s almost time for the meeting with the board members. It’s time to get up from here…”

“…..Ah, has it already gotten that late? I talked too much.”

Dustin said that, cut off his words, and jumped up from his seat.

He picked up the clothes he had hung on the armrest of the chair and very naturally made eye contact with Lennox.

“Anyway, I’ll make sure to compensate you for what happened today. Thank you for making time. But everything I said was sincere. I hope you know that.”

Lennox quietly watched Dustin’s back as he left the office, leaving Panoa behind.

“………”

Panoa, seeing Lennox’s appearance, said as if making an excuse.

“The president didn’t say those things to make excuses for the initial operation. However, if you understand that it’s something that happens because the perspective of someone who focuses on internal affairs and the perspective of a practitioner are different….”

“How touching.”

“……Yes?”

“Let’s go back.”

It was interesting.

Rather than the ridiculous excuses that Dustin and Panoa were spouting, it was the unusually strong bond of trust between the two.

Clearly, Dustin didn’t realize where Lennox was feeling annoyed until the moment he stood up.

Yet, as soon as he heard Panoa’s words, he realized that the conversation was wrong and immediately left the scene.

The fact that a president leading a group can instantly accept the opinion of the planning team leader is not because Dustin’s abilities are lacking, but because he trusts Panoa as a person more than that.

And that must be related to the wristwatch she touches whenever she is under mental pressure.

Lennox stood up from his seat, not forgetting that fact and remembering it well.

When the time comes to part ways with Dyke, the personal trust between these two people is likely to be helpful.

Panoa looked suspicious at Lennox, who was strangely compliant, but she thought it was for the best and quietly lowered her head.

“…..We will finish our schedule within three days and start the third operation. We need to cut off the limbs while Cigar Bang is still out of his mind.”

“Now that Platon has turned, there’s only one place left.”

“Yes.”

Panoa nodded.

#

The now familiar smell of the studio apartment.

After a quick wash, Lennox went to the kitchen and began to take out the nutritional supplements he had lined up in the cupboard one by one.

Lennox’s obsession with health was still there.

No, it was becoming more intense as he accumulated more money.

The enormous amount of money he had earned by working with Dyke on consecutive operations had at least made him not hesitate to shop online.

The number of nutritional supplements he had bought one by one whenever he had time had now exceeded ten.