Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 784

Ghostly Journey (11)

The first basement level of the Spirit Tower, the Great Tribunal.

Eerie ghost cries and the screams of possessed spirits echoed, creating a strong sense of disharmony.

Simultaneously with calling upon the tower’s spiritual records, a massive ghost ship smashed through the void and charged in.

Gooohhh…!!

“……”

However, Lenok vaguely knew who this ship belonged to and why it had appeared here now.

“There are many powerful military sorcerers, but only a very few monsters possess the will of a ship that overlooks the entire sea.”

The boy, perched on the wreckage of the shattered altar, said while looking at Lenok with a sharp gaze.

“Among them, there is only one elder who has achieved the feat of leaving an archetype [a spiritual imprint or essence] in the Spirit Tower.”

Whoosh…!!

A chilling coldness brushed down Lenok’s spine and disappeared.

Before he knew it, the boy’s face had completely lost its smile.

“Masked one. Why is the scent of Onion mixed in the shadows of your soul?”

“……”

Madrich Onion, an 8th-level military sorcerer.

A powerful superhuman who reigned as the chief justice of the great city of Balkan and the executioner of the Great War.

Part of his ghost fleet, which was like his signature move, had appeared in this place.

Swish…!!

On both sides of Lenok, who stood with his arms crossed, dozens of rusty scythes lined up.

As if imprisoning a sinner on the execution ground, dozens of White Ghouls surrounded him and let out indescribable moans.

Bizarre screams echoed in unison, as if in chorus, matching the presence of the ghost ship that had appeared in the center of the courtroom.

“Great Judge. It seems like a problem that doesn’t even need to be considered.”

The seven spirits standing next to the boy began to voice their opinions for the first time.

The inquisitors, who had reappeared on the shattered altar in the form of blurry spirits.

They glared at Lenok with a somewhat overbearing gaze mixed with deep concern.

“The viewing of the Spirit Tower is within your authority, but calling up Onion’s records is a different matter entirely.”

“……”

“Aside from tolerating the Guide’s soul until the Night Parade, shouldn’t this matter be reported to the Soul Pacification Court?”

“The upper levels of the Spirit Tower don’t have the leeway to consider variables outside the city right now. They’ll probably just pressure the lower levels to handle it.”

The boy shook his head as if annoyed and replied.

“I absolutely hate having my authority reduced by leaving the decision-making to those old spirits for no reason.”

The Soul Pacification Court.

The Spirit Tower located in the center of Yorta. Is that what they call the core leadership spirits residing in the upper levels of the tower?

Looking at the implications, it was a word with a strange meaning, but there was no time to pay attention to that right now.

“Even so-”

“I will not hear any objections.”

The boy, the Great Judge, dismissed the others’ words and waved his hand, causing the altar that had collapsed in that spot to begin to be restored.

Kugugugu!!

The altar that had risen again, surrounding the ghost ship, and the Great Judge who stood on its throne, looked at Lenok and said.

“There is only one thing I want to hear. What is the relationship between the Guide, Onion, and the past of Yorta?”

Whoosh…!!

Beyond the boy’s spirit, who was perched on the throne, a huge shadow that could not be compared to his small spirit seemed to be cast.

“If you cannot explain him, I will have no choice but to cut off your finger to take the ring, split your soul, and throw it into the river below.”

“……”

Before answering those words, Lenok quietly looked around.

The boy’s eerie declaration and the inquisitors glaring at Lenok from behind.

Dozens of White Ghouls surrounded the ghost ship and screamed, and a damp humidity pressed down like a fog.

Depending on what answer he gave, the goals he had planned in Yorta could be greatly shaken.

However, even knowing this fact, Lenok did not panic or hesitate.

Rather, in a cold voice, he simply asked a question back to the boy’s interrogation.

“Why should I bother explaining Madrich Onion’s achievements?”

“……What?”

Looking at the boy who asked back with a dumbfounded expression, Lenok slowly touched his mask with his arms crossed.

Since he had arrived in this city under the identity of Victor, it was actually easiest to deal with this situation.

Immediately after hearing the explanation about the Spirit Tower’s archetype, Lenok had assumed the worst possible scenario.

It was Lenok himself who had killed Madrich Onion and heard about the Black Consumer Project from him.

Considering the strong connection between Onion and Yorta, he had a hunch that this could happen in the worst case scenario.

But even so, the reason why Lenok had released the target designation resistance and allowed the archetype to be summoned.

Even if traces of Onion appeared, he was confident that he could use him as an excuse to lead the situation in his favor.

‘Madrich Onion is one of the very few people involved in both the Black Consumer and the Night Parade plans.’

Lenok thought as he looked around at the cold courtroom.

‘There are so many people involved that it’s impossible to deduce which side he’s on.’

Unlike when Lenok faced him, Onion’s prime and actions were focused on the past, decades ago.

Night Parade and Black Consumer.

Not only did he participate in the projects that risked the fate of the two cities, but he also held an extremely special position as a key player.

Even if you only count the two project members who had deep exchanges with Onion in the process, the number would reach hundreds.

Even if you only consider the Black Consumer side, there are countless monsters from various organizations such as Oliviera, Parden McQueen, Gilleon, and Claude Azlan.

If you take into account those who were directly affected by Onion’s actions, the scope would increase several times over.

That is why Lenok knew how to deal with it immediately after hearing the explanation about the ritual object.

There was no need to prove his connection with Onion in this place and to talk himself hoarse trying to claim his innocence.

He would simply urge them to speculate on their own.

“Don’t misunderstand the situation, Judge.”

Lenok, who let out a cold smile from behind his mask, said.

“The reason I’ve been listening to you so far is because you said you’d provide a new ritual object instead of hiding the Guide’s Ring.”

“……”

“Think about Onion’s ship on your own. Did you really believe that I would kindly explain my situation just because of this one ship?”

“What nonsense are you spouting in this solemn courtroom…!!”

“There’s only one thing I can say about this matter.”

Ignoring the inquisitor who was having a fit, Lenok looked straight at the silent boy and said.

“I also came to this city because of the Night Parade, and Onion’s work may not be unrelated to it.”

“……”

“If you are not satisfied with this answer and want meaningless questions and answers, then from that point on-”

Whoooong…!!!

At the same time as Lenok said that and pulled up his magic power, the faces of the spirits standing on the altar hardened.

Lenok, who lavishly scattered his unique, unsettling magic power, smiled.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to respect Yorta’s laws either.”

A cold silence flowed.

Even though they knew he was openly avoiding the answer, they could not even make a proper rebuttal to his detached attitude.

As Lenok had thought, the ghosts of Yorta could not determine which city Lenok was related to.

There was no reason to say at this point what his relationship with Onion was or what influence he had on his life.

Ambiguous questions rather than clear answers make people imagine more.

‘Onion is a person involved in the Night Parade. If I act out that connection here, there is a possibility of reaching the core much faster than planned.’

Lenok, who had boarded the deck of the ghost ship, turned his gaze.

‘It’s a gamble worth taking, considering the risk. It’s not like there’s no way to resolve the suspicion even if I’m suspected.’

Even if all of these measures do not work in the worst case, if he finds and learns the Incarnation Technique in Yorta, he can completely resolve the suspicion.

Since he knows about the existence and origin of the Incarnation Technique and how to learn it, the risk that can be assumed is extremely low.

That is why Lenok thought that he could rather use this variable to his advantage in his journey in Yorta.

“Hmm… Judging by what you’re saying, it seems like you really did meet Onion.”

The boy also did not seem to have gained any certainty from Lenok’s words, and muttered with an ambiguous expression.

“I thought that perhaps the Guide’s spirit was affected, and there might be an error in the Spirit Tower’s records.”

“……”

“Well, fine.”

The boy, who had been looking at Lenok with a complicated expression, nodded.

“Anyway, it is true that the will left by Onion was summoned through your body and soul.”

“Great Judge!!”

“Therefore, this ship is yours as I have declared. But-”

Even though the flustered inquisitors called out to the boy, the boy rather looked at Lenok and asked.

“In order to receive Onion’s legacy, you will have to serve the sentence he received before leaving Yorta. Do you agree?”

“……Sentence?”

“55 years of imprisonment in the Frost Lord’s Tomb on the 5th basement level of the Spirit Tower.”

The boy said nonchalantly.

“It is the punishment given to a meritorious person of the Night Parade and a failure who erased his own merits.”

“……”

“If you do not agree to this decision, I will have no choice but to withdraw all the discussions we have had so far.”

Is he saying that he can only receive the ghost ship if he serves a 55-year sentence in the prison located on the 5th basement level of the Spirit Tower?

A strangely realistic sentence for a big shot like Onion.

Perhaps it was a formal punishment made as a political decision within Yorta.

However, Lenok pondered for a moment and then grabbed the helm of the ship he was on with his hand.

Crackling…!!

With the illusion of magic power penetrating the entire ship, its size began to shrink rapidly.

“……!!”

Looking at the spirits who were looking at this place with surprise, Lenok turned the direction of the miniaturized ship and nodded.

“I will.”

Apart from the fact that the ghost ship had appeared in front of Lenok, there was no reason to abandon this thing.

Furthermore, taking over Onion’s sentence meant that he might be able to take over the position he held in Yorta during his lifetime.

Considering that, at least for Lenok, being imprisoned was not a penalty at all.

The boy also accepted Lenok’s decision as if it were natural and nodded to the White Ghouls who were lined up.

“Take him to the 5th basement level.”

[……Your Grace.]

“……”

Lenok did not answer even to the priestess’s call.

Instead, he simply raised his gaze from behind his mask and looked at the boy looking down at this place.

The boy also did not avoid Lenok’s gaze and stared intently at him with a smiling expression.

That detached reaction that he would not avoid a challenge if he wanted one.

Lenok intuitively realized from that relaxed attitude that the boy was a spirit with very powerful strength.

The Great Judge who oversees the entire gateway of Yorta and determines the direction in which souls will go.

If he is in charge of the city’s entire inspection, he must be a spirit with tremendous authority even within Yorta.

‘There’s no need to fight now.’

Unless they don’t let him into Yorta at all, or they plan to kill him here.

Apart from the fact that Lenok’s reaction and actions were unexpected, the boy’s reaction was more lukewarm than he had thought.

He doesn’t like the Guide’s Ring and Lenok’s existence, but he doesn’t seem to consider it that important either.

For now, it seems like he is waiting for the new Night Parade to be completely over, so there is no need to object to that decision.

Lenok thought so and slowly killed his thoughts and leaned back on the boat.

Splash!

Lenok’s figure being dragged through the huge hole in the courtroom wall that had been made when the ship appeared.

“Great Judge.”

While the boy was looking at Lenok’s back, another inquisitor who had been silent until now cautiously asked the boy.

“Recently, there was news that Madrich Onion had passed away in Balkan.”

“……”

“Can you confidently say that this matter is not related to him?”

“Well… Just like us, I don’t think Onion would have been greatly bound by the death of his body.”

The boy replied with a face that was impossible to read.

“Besides, he seemed very familiar with manipulating Onion’s ship. He freely manipulated the size of the ship, didn’t he?”

“……”

“If the will that Onion left in the Spirit Tower reacted, it means that the person was either deeply influenced by Onion’s ideology….”

The silent boy then muttered with a strange smile.

“Or perhaps, wasn’t it because Onion was influenced by him?”

* * *

Swoosh!!

The place where the White Ghouls, who had been walking on the river for a while, stopped was a crude pier that was hard to call a building.

Beyond the narrow deck where only one boat could barely dock, there were only dozens of frozen prisons.

Swaaaa…!!

A huge prison filled with a coldness that chilled to the bone.

Is this the Frost Lord’s Tomb that the boy judge was talking about? A place where guilty souls are imprisoned and serve their sentences?

Following the guidance of the White Ghouls, as he entered the deepest prison, the frozen door slammed shut and emitted a chill.

Clank!!

Immediately after, the entire bars froze coldly and began to emit a coldness that was so cold that it was difficult to touch with bare hands.

The White Ghouls, who had been silently staring at Lenok from beyond the prison corridor, slowly moved away and disappeared.

Only after the unpleasant presence had left the prison and completely disappeared did Lenok look around the prison and shake his head.

“What an annoying facility.”

The temperature inside the prison was so low that even the floor was covered with thin ice, making it impossible to sit properly.

There was not even enough space to lie down, and it was only unclean because it had not been cleaned properly.

[I can feel a bit of coldness as well. It’s not an ordinary prison.]

The priestess turned her gaze as if she had felt something around the prison.

[It seems like a prison that affects the soul itself….]

Despite saying that, the priestess herself did not seem to feel cold at all.

Rather, if Lenok did not protect his body with magic power, he would freeze to death before the priestess.

Lenok, who roughly swept the prison floor with his foot, replied.

“It’s a change in the nature of military sorcery.”

[Military sorcery, you say.]

“They amplified the coldness felt in the process of manipulating souls and refined it into a branch of attributes.”

[……]

“It doesn’t matter. Now that I’ve secured a ship and a ritual object, there won’t be any problems moving around inside Yorta.”

Lenok said, sitting on the prison floor and leaning comfortably against the wall.

“The only thing left is how to escape this prison.”

[……So you didn’t intend to serve your sentence and leave after all.]

“Did you think I would serve a sentence that someone else received?”

Of course, Lenok had no intention of being stuck here for decades as the Great Judge had said.

From the beginning, the reason he accepted the offer was because he was confident that he would escape and go to the upper levels of Yorta at any time.

“But whether it’s a coincidence or not. This is….”

Lenok, who was looking at the handcuffs on his hands, chuckled and tilted his head back.

In Makina, he was imprisoned after everything was over and he was held accountable for his crimes, but in Yorta, he was going to prison from the start.

The order itself was different, but the irony was that the things he had to do were the same.

Lenok, who felt a strange emotion at that fact, pushed his mask up with one shoulder, and the priestess asked.

[If we are to be precise, it was a misstep not to have a clear understanding of the power of your ring. Won’t there be a problem if things continue like this?]

“I’ll take care of it myself. Don’t interfere.”

[……]

The priestess closed her mouth with a dumbfounded expression at those words, but what she said was not entirely wrong.

In fact, Lenok himself did not think that the Guide would be treated so subtly in Yorta.

‘Come to think of it, there seemed to be a sign….’

During the Lavatenon Agreement, the spirit of Yorta that the professor of the Necromancy Department had summoned showed an extremely hostile attitude towards the Guide.

At that time, he thought it was simply due to personal grudges or the abilities of the Guide.

But if it was because the Guide’s soul was being treated as a traitor in Yorta, it would make sense.

[Your Grace. Are you listening to me?]

Of course, the priestess’s soul that was in the ring was also too precious to throw away right now.

Lenok thought so and slightly raised his eyelids from inside his mask.

“I’m listening, so be a little quiet. I’m tired from talking so much earlier.”

[……You seem to have a thicker skin than I thought. Even the followers of our church are not this thick-skinned.]

“If I had to be precise, I’m very sensitive and delicate.”

[……]

The priestess shook her head silently as if she felt it was a ridiculous answer, but Lenok had not lied.

There was no reason to explain it, so he simply tilted his head back and asked indifferently.

“I’ll listen to advice on how to escape this place. Have you finally decided to cooperate, even if it’s late?”

[I believe I mentioned the function of revelation before.]

The priestess glanced around and said.

[From the moment we entered Yorta, my spirituality has stabilized rapidly, and I think I will be able to keep my promise.]

“……You’re saying you can use the function of revelation now?”

[Yes. I think I will be able to identify the internal structure of the Spirit Tower and provide information that will be helpful in escaping this place.]

“Hmm, is the soul of a fanatic who was like a burden finally going to be helpful for once?”

[……]

However, instead of focusing on those words from Lenok, the priestess silently looked at Lenok.

Lenok belatedly noticed that strange reaction and frowned.

“What is it now? Do you want to make a deal again this time?”

[There is something I want to check first using the function of revelation. It is one of the most important reasons why we came to Yorta.]

“……”

[The Immeasurable (無間) [a concept of infinite space or dimension] on the top floor of the Spirit Tower, which observes the flow of all curses on the continent.]

Looking at Lenok, who had unconsciously stood up, the priestess asked.

[I am going to use the most powerful revelation to look inside. Will you help me?]