Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 786

The conversation between the two, with just a few words, drew the attention of the entire strict prison.

“Extend your hand. I’ll give you a simple fortune reading.”

“Ah, I understand.”

Feeling the gazes pouring in from all directions, Lenok leaned against the prison wall, arms crossed.

Lenok naturally grasped the giant’s outstretched hand and instantly checked the flow and pattern of the magical power within him.

After pretending to ponder for a moment, Lenok nodded and suddenly asked,

“You suffered a major injury about 10 years ago. And three years ago, you met a connection that surpassed your previous achievements and gained knowledge, didn’t you?”

“How…!!”

It was just a matter of forcibly peering into the flow of magical power with intuition and guessing the time of major changes, but Lenok didn’t even blink as he spoke again.

“It’s a month with more opportunities for profit than loss. If there are bad things, use this time to sort them out.”

“I will keep that in mind!!”

“It’s a time of good flow, so don’t be too greedy. You’ll be talked about a lot, so be careful and watch your words.”

“Be, be careful and watch my words……”

The giant repeated Lenok’s words as if trying to memorize them, then began to subtly gauge the situation.

The giant rummaged around and took out a faded pearl, carefully placing it across the bars.

Judging by the moisture on it, it seemed to be something he had obtained near the Headrain River.

“Um, elder. I don’t have any money to pay you right now, so if this is okay……”

“I didn’t expect to receive a proper payment in a place like this.”

Lenok shook his head.

“I just want you to keep your mouth shut quietly while you’re here. You can do that much, right?”

“Ah, I understand.”

The initial conflict started because Lenok was noisy, but now, conversely, the giant was being scolded—a bizarre situation.

However, the giant didn’t get angry; instead, he bowed his head and tried to remember the words Lenok had just told him.

Only when he saw the giant obediently returning to his cell did the priestess turn her gaze with a look of disbelief.

[Are you saying you’re going to use the power of the great revelation in this way?]

“Didn’t you say you’d find a way to help?”

Lenok nonchalantly tapped his ring, not even batting an eye as he retorted.

An invisible barrier spread out from the cell, beginning to block out sound.

After confirming that the white ghosts patrolling the prison corridor showed no reaction, Lenok turned to the priestess and said,

“Revelations about people aren’t bad either. It might be useful for making things easier.”

[Revelations were not originally meant for that kind of inspiration.]

The priestess tilted her head, still not convinced.

[More than that, didn’t the words you just used to captivate that non-believer contain too much information that wasn’t in the revelation?]

Unlike Lenok’s words, the priestess knew that only a small part of the facts could be confirmed through revelation.

Through the power of revelation, Lenok had only confirmed the superficial fact that the giant had started a business with a man with a developed lower jaw.

But Lenok, with just that, seemed to see through the giant’s situation, hitting the mark, and even mixing in strange horoscopes to shut the giant up.

When the priestess expressed her confusion, not understanding the situation, Lenok scoffed.

“I don’t trust the power of revelation. Considering it’s a power subordinate to the church, isn’t that obvious?”

[…….]

“However, I do know that it shows fragmented images, transcending the past and future.”

Lenok glanced at the giant over his mask and said,

“Once you grab a starting point that sounds plausible, you can then adjust the details by observing the other person’s reactions.”

The reason why he was imprisoned alone in this prison despite starting a business with a partner recently.

It must be because something went wrong with the business, and he took action to make up for the losses.

Once you grasp the context, you can then observe the changes in expression and magical power to adjust the detailed information.

The series of actions and words that seemed to foresee the giant’s past were all close to impromptu improvisations.

Only then did the priestess, understanding Lenok’s explanation, open her mouth blankly, looking speechless.

[Then, the things you said earlier about physiognomy and financial luck…….]

“It’s all a complete lie.”

Lenok replied.

“However, if he has a memory of being betrayed by a partner, I thought he would like words that portray him as a trustworthy person.”

[…….]

They don’t believe what they should believe, but what they want to believe.

The heart of a person cornered doesn’t move rationally.

Even if a horoscope is made up of a little truth and countless lies, if there are words they want to hear, they won’t try to doubt it.

[Using revelation but not relying on its mysteries…….]

The priestess, who had been pondering for a long time after hearing Lenok’s explanation, said,

[In a way, you understand the essence of the doctrine more deeply than the followers of the Order.]

“……Maybe so.”

Lenok agreed.

The reason why Lenok uses the power of revelation so skillfully and is free from its influence.

The reason why he shamelessly uses revelation more than the priestess and wields it as if it were his own ability.

It was because Lenok also suspected that the power of revelation was essentially a power derived from the head of the Order.

If the fragments of omniscience sent down through the outer sea are the power of that transcendent being that Lenok knows.

It was only natural that Lenok could use the power of revelation more freely and skillfully than the priestess.

If he continued to share the priestess’s power like this, Lenok might be able to wield revelation as his own power.

However, Lenok didn’t say any of those thoughts to the priestess; instead, he ridiculed the Order’s behavior and changed the subject.

“I’ve been watching the lies your Order spouts for quite a while. I think I’m doing a pretty good job of imitating them.”

[No. Our faith is based on a real god, and that fact is clearly stated in the doctrine.]

The priestess answered firmly.

[We don’t deceive our followers with empty promises or beliefs. You still have the wrong idea about the Order.]

“Well, I don’t think that’s quite the case.”

Lenok sneered.

“Are you saying that you can keep all the promises written in the doctrine while misusing human sacrifices like that?”

[…….]

“It’s a forbidden art created to pull in nonexistent results. That in itself is completely different from the word ‘promise.’”

The Order was a group of fanatics specialized in human sacrifice and forbidden arts, more so than any other group on the continent that Lenok knew.

It was only natural that he couldn’t agree with the priestess’s words that there were no lies or deceptions in the doctrine.

However, instead of getting angry or agitated at Lenok’s words, the priestess calmly replied,

[Faith exists to sever the cause and effect of misfortunes that individuals cannot resist. It may not be understandable to a non-believer, but—]

“It’s better to give sermons in front of your followers.”

Lenok cut off the priestess’s words and released the barrier that had been blocking out the surrounding sounds.

“I’ll listen to the debate about the doctrine later. It seems like there’s something we need to do right now.”

It was because the other prisoners, who had been observing the situation, had become increasingly interested in the conversation with the giant and were now calling out to Lenok one by one.

Lenok turned his gaze irritably toward a man who was particularly loud.

“Hey, fortune teller!! Can’t you hear me?!”

“You’re noisy.”

Lenok retorted curtly and glared in that direction.

Despite being in handcuffs, he had a disheveled appearance. Irregular magical power flowing within him.

Traces of multiple catheter insertions on his wrist, and conversely, a complexion that didn’t look like a drug addict.

This time, there was no need to use the power of revelation.

“I have nothing to say to a disgraced magician addicted to gambling, so get lost.”

“Wh, what……”

The prisoner, startled, slipped while banging on the bars with his handcuffs.

Lenok laughed mockingly at the sight.

“Don’t talk to a fool who sold off his own magic system and squandered it on gambling; it’s bad luck.”

“Y, you… you bastard……”

The prisoner trembled but couldn’t retort, just gripping the bars.

His bizarre behavior of shutting up a prisoner who had been shouting for a long time with just two words.

It was almost a given that the other prisoners who had been watching would become interested and start talking to him.

“……Did a real fortune teller come in?”

“He’s a strange one. I’ve never seen a fortune teller outside as skilled as him.”

“There’s a rumor that the more prickly and shameless they are, the more real they are; maybe it’s true.”

Most of the people imprisoned in this prison were those who had been detained for trying to enter Yorta.

Apart from the fact that most of them were low-quality criminals, they were all similar in that they were stuck here, killing time.

It was only natural that their attention was drawn to Lenok’s unusual behavior.

“Hey, can you take a look at my fortune too? Even something small is fine.”

“Do I have to pay you separately or something?”

“The guys locked up here don’t have the right attitude when asking for favors.”

Lenok chuckled and slowly gestured around.

“Get in order, you fools. I think I need to prepare myself mentally to look into your unpleasant criminal histories.”

* * *

After that, Lenok began to use the power of revelation to pretend to read the prisoners’ fortunes, completely captivating them.

“Your family has suffered a great disaster. Did you try to solve it because they were possessed by a ghost?”

“H, how did you know…… I haven’t told anyone!”

“You probably made the symptoms worse by trying to solve it with shoddy exorcism charms. It’s your own fault for not seeking out a professional.”

“Is there a way, is there a way!”

“Find a shaman or a military spirit master in Yorta who has experience with possession. Experience is more important than skill in this case.”

“Ohh!!”

The prisoner, who already trusted Lenok’s words implicitly the moment he mentioned his family.

Lenok said expressionlessly, watching the prisoner fidgeting as if he wanted to escape right away.

“You have a good flow, so you should be able to find the person you need. Try not to mess things up by getting excited later.”

“Th, thank you……!!”

[…….]

Watching the prisoner, who was moved as if he had received lifelong advice from baseless platitudes, the priestess looked down at Lenok with a strange expression.

“Fortune teller. This is a Dragon Well tea that I’ve been saving, it’s very effective in preventing frostbite……”

“It’s a tonic made by boiling the horns of an Igasu [a mythical beast]. I have a problem I’m worried about these days, just a piece of advice……”

From all over, they were offering tonics that were good for the body and carefully handing over items they had been hoarding through the bars.

Charms to prevent the cold were layered on the bars, and all sorts of disposable items were piled up at their feet.

It hadn’t even been a day yet, but this bizarre situation where the gazes and treatment toward Lenok had changed drastically.

“Your sincerity is worth considering.”

Lenok accepted such praise as if it were natural, and without any hesitation, he piled up the items he had received inside the cell.

The priestess, who had half given up, looked down at the scene and asked,

[You. Our purpose is not to gather the faith of non-believers in this prison, is it?]

The priestess said,

[Shouldn’t we head to the memorial tower as soon as possible, before that night walk starts anew?]

“……”

Instead of replying to that, Lenok glanced around.

The scene in the cell, which had become much busier in just one day than when Lenok had first entered this prison.

They were either trading to get payment for Lenok or exchanging the fortunes they had already received from Lenok to confirm the contents.

However, instead of being swept away by such an atmosphere, Lenok stared at the frozen bars and muttered,

“Although it’s called a prison, don’t you think the security is too lax?”

[Yes?]

“Even if we ignore the lukewarm attitude of the white ghosts guarding the prison, isn’t the placement of the prisoners strange?”

[…….]

“If it’s obvious to me, there must be some among those locked up here who have noticed it.”

Lenok chuckled, leaving the silent priestess behind.

“Wait a little. I think we’ll be able to escape this place by tomorrow anyway.”

Just before looking into the Immeasurable using the power of revelation, Lenok had already confirmed the principle of this Frost Monarch’s Tomb prison.

The existence of a very strong cold wind that runs through the entire prison and a huge passage from which that wind blows.

All that remained was to deduce where that passage was located in this cold and vast prison.

While pretending to read the prisoners’ fortunes and observing the surrounding flow, Lenok had already confirmed the situation.

“Fortune teller. This is the payment I promised earlier. If it’s not enough as payment……”

“Put it away. I don’t intend to receive any more payment. And don’t call me a fortune teller.”

“Then?”

Lenok looked at the old prisoner who asked back with a strange smile.

He had memories of working as an engineer in Machina and accessing the Ascension Gate more easily than expected.

As a result, thanks to the reputation he had built as Lyman, he was able to quickly clean up and get out even after the work was done.

Although his schedule had changed since he was imprisoned in Yorta, Lenok still sensed that he could control this situation.

“It’s hard to fully express the favor I’m bestowing upon you with just such a title.”

[…….]

“Since I’m telling you what you don’t know and offering solutions, isn’t that the realm of faith? So from now on, call me—”

Leaving the priestess, who was looking at him as if she was dumbfounded, Lenok slowly stood up while still in handcuffs.

Lenok, tilting his head under his hood, turned to look at the surrounding prisoners and gave a cold smile.

“Call me a prophet.”

In this city that has its origins between the material and spiritual realms, and that goes between the outer and inner worlds, the lies that Victor had to tell were already decided.

If he had solved all sorts of conveniences by acting as an engineer in Machina, this time—

Should he try playing the role of a pseudo-cult leader?