Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 804

The Incarnation of the martial artist and the priestess of the Order recognized each other’s presence beyond the spirit realm, where senses do not exist.

The Incarnation silently gazed at the priestess, who stood there blankly.

Lenok heightened his magical perception, silently observing the forms of the two spirits.

He knew what it meant to show his Incarnation to the priestess.

And the priestess seemed to understand everything just from that.

[…I see.]

Without surprise, anger, or fear, she simply clasped her hands and prayed.

Her prayer was not directed at the Incarnation standing before her, but at someone else.

[I understand. If that is your will.]

(……)

Leaving the Incarnation that silently looked down at her, she slowly turned her gaze towards Lenok.

[Using my abilities, I will take you to the In-Between, beyond the spirit realm.]

As the priestess gestured, the soul of the guide surged from the ring and stood before her.

The Incarnation protecting Lenok, and the spirits of the guide and the priestess standing on either side of him.

Three spirits, each with a different presence and radiance, surrounded and protected Lenok.

[The vast flow of souls in the spirit realm is the karma of Yorta… The souls abandoned after the failure of the Night Parade have accumulated, forming a sea of resentment.]

The priestess placed the guide’s spirit in front and began to pray with her hands clasped.

[Therefore, I intend to create a new Night Parade here, centered around the guide’s existence, to cross the spirit realm.]

At that moment, the guide’s spirit began to move against the waves of souls.

Taking a few of the spirit soldiers behind him, he moved against the countless currents.

Kugwagwagwa!!

The waves of souls, detecting impurities, tried to erase his existence. But the guide’s spirit began to emit an even more intense and clear will.

The priestess reached out towards the guide and said,

[If we use the spirit of the fallen guide as the starting point of the ritual, and recreate the Night Parade here-]

Kieeeing!!

Slowly, the number of spirits following the guide began to increase little by little.

From dozens to hundreds, from hundreds to thousands.

The spirit soldiers, falling from beyond the waves of souls flowing through the spirit realm, followed the guide as if possessed.

In an instant, countless souls lined up, creating another current.

Oooooooo!!!

The song that the souls all together seemed to be singing echoed in his deafened ears.

The souls, wandering the spirit realm without any intelligence, gathered following the guide, forming a huge procession.

And in this spirit realm where no sensation could be felt, the moment a new path was created and opened.

The five senses, thought to be lost beyond the spirit realm, began to return.

Hwaaaak!!

Before he knew it, Lenok was standing on a huge bridge shining with the light of souls.

A bridge of souls that existed as meaning and standard, beyond the vast emptiness where nothing could be grasped.

What constructed that bridge was the very existence of the spirit soldiers, endlessly walking and singing following the guide.

A bridge connecting the material realm and the other side of the spirit realm, created with the hope that it would become the answer to the next destination.

That was the purpose of Yorta’s Night Parade.

Hwaak!!

The moment he stood on the faintly shining bridge of souls and looked around, the priestess’s spirit landed beside Lenok.

[Let us go.]

“…A priestess of the Order.”

Lenok, who had silently looked back at the priestess, shook his head and chuckled.

“It’s not a talent granted to humans. Even if you were born with the qualities of a priest, can you reproduce Yorta’s Night Parade to this extent on the spot?”

It was the guide’s spirit that constructed the bridge of souls and led the Night Parade, but it was only the power of the priestess, Seina Naidre, that initiated and presided over the ritual of the Night Parade.

Gathering thousands and tens of thousands of souls to create a huge current, and reorganizing them to become one meaning.

Organizing intangible concepts and procedures that cannot be explained in words into an existing law and implementing them in the form of a ritual.

But he never imagined that she would be able to imitate and reproduce even Yorta’s Night Parade, not just the Order’s rituals.

The talent of a priestess of the Order, who presides over all the rituals within the Order.

It was an overwhelming and noble talent that could handle not only the Order’s rituals but also all other rituals.

The priestess, at Lenok’s words, briefly lifted her gaze and looked at the bridge of souls she had created.

[As the High Inquisitor explained before, the Order and Yorta once held the same thing in their hearts.]

“……”

[Apart from the essence of the Night Parade, its form and method are somewhat similar to the Order’s rituals.]

The priestess said as she slowly stepped onto the bridge.

[Having traveled the city with you and glimpsed the failure of the Night Parade, I was able to imitate it, albeit crudely.]

“That’s…”

That was not a level that could be explained by the humble words of being crude or imitating.

The Ascension Ritual that had been attempted by gathering all the power and assets from across the entire city of spirit soldiers.

The fact that she could imitate it by reorganizing the spirit soldiers with only the talent and will of one priestess.

Even though she used the guide’s spirit as a starting point, where could there be a talented person who could do such a thing in the first place?

Even if the direction and magnitude of her talent could not be compared to Lenok’s, her talent as a priest was on par with Lenok in terms of rarity.

Only then did Lenok realize why the Incarnation had tried to summon the priestess’s spirit to this place.

That the priestess, Seina Naidre, would do her best to help Lenok only after seeing his Incarnation.

The Incarnation had known it from the beginning.

[Actually, I knew from the beginning.]

The priestess, who had muttered quietly, turned her gaze.

[The fact that I arrived in this city in this way may be the result of what that person arranged…]

“……”

[The lack of the unpleasantness often felt by apostates, your talent that had no end in sight, and the sudden sense of déjà vu.]

She lifted her head so that Lenok could not see her face and muttered.

[Even the fact that I was so skilled at handling the power of revelation… it all had a reason.]

Indeed, as soon as she saw Lenok’s Incarnation, she had realized everything.

The fact that Lenok and the head of the Order were connected by an inexplicable bond.

The pale halo that surrounded him as if protecting him was very similar to that of someone the priestess served.

And even the fact that the priestess had vaguely guessed it.

Only after confirming the already existing fact, the doubts and suspicions that had been buried deep in her heart surfaced and added meaning.

Even though the priestess did not want to accept that fact, she thought that this moment might be the result of his arrangement.

Therefore, she used her granted abilities to the fullest to open a path in this spirit realm for Lenok.

“What do you think?”

Lenok inadvertently asked the priestess that question.

The connection that existed between him and the head of the Order. Lenok’s existence mixed with absolute faith.

He wanted to understand what the priestess of the Order thought about it.

“…Are you disappointed because it’s different from what you expected?”

No, that’s not it. Only after asking that question did Lenok realize his true feelings.

Lenok was trying to see through the priestess how the people around him would think.

He wanted to know how those who believed in and relied on him would think when he took off all his masks and told them the truth someday.

He was worried that they might be afraid, disappointed, or angry. He had inadvertently wanted to ask about their feelings.

He had vowed to not rely on anything and find the answer alone, but even with the absolute reason of a magician, his heart did not move as he wished.

Even if he tried not to expect, he expected, and even if he tried not to rely, he relied.

And somewhere in his heart, he was already comforted by that fact alone.

[…I don’t know. I have never sent faith while thinking about such things.]

The priestess said just as Lenok, realizing his true feelings, inadvertently swept his mask.

[And now, the situation is not favorable to give you the correct answer to your question.]

“……”

As she said, the priestess’s spirit was shaking precariously as if it would disappear from this place at any moment.

Like a candle that was running out of life, it flickered and shook faintly, scattering.

The priestess’s spirit, which had not wavered for a moment while with Lenok, was immediately losing its will and presence.

No matter how great the priestess’s talent as a priest was, it was an enormous burden to preside over the Night Parade alone and create a bridge connecting the spirit realm.

Moreover, wielding her abilities as a spirit after losing her body was a feat that far exceeded the priestess’s granted capabilities.

[Your Grace, I don’t have much time left.]

The priestess’s spirit, which had become even fainter than the bridge of souls, smiled faintly as she looked at Lenok.

[As promised, will you help me fulfill my mission for that person?]

“……”

The last mission that Seina Naidre was carrying out as a priestess.

As she had promised Lenok before, she was planning to fulfill her last role beyond the In-Between.

What was the driving force that moved her even after being cursed by the Ascendant’s words and dying, and wandering the nine heavens as a spirit?

He mocked and belittled faith that was misguided as fanaticism, but Lenok now understood how powerful and dangerous that will was.

Before he knew it, the guide’s spirit had gone far ahead of them, turning into a faint light in the distance.

At the other end of the bridge, which was connected by gathering countless souls, the space of the spirit realm was folding, and it could be seen that it was connected to a huge black entrance.

The entrance to the In-Between, which passed through the spirit realm through the reverse gate and came out to the boundary of the material realm.

After arriving at Yorta, returning to the memorial tower, and after a long time, he finally stood before it again.

After escaping the conflict with the Spirit Soldier City and arriving at the ghost dragon’s fortress, obtaining the Incarnation Technique, and coming back here again.

He could only hope that he would now find the meaning he had been seeking beyond this.

He could only hope to obtain the purpose he had not yet achieved and the knowledge he did not know.

The moment Lenok, who had slowly taken a breath, passed by the priestess and stepped into the entrance of the In-Between.

Whiooooo…!!

Lenok was standing inside a dark cathedral where a dry wind was blowing.

“……”

The scenery of a vast and immense cathedral, the width and area of which could not be estimated.

Countless candles flickered precariously in various places on the floor and walls, illuminating the surroundings.

A lonely and quiet space, as if no one had touched it for a very long time, let alone the presence of people.

Was this the ancient sanctuary that observed the flow of all curses on the continent? The interior of Yorta’s In-Between?

The appearance of a cathedral as if it had been built to offer prayers to someone.

The shapes of countless candles placed inside.

Lenok, who was slowly walking into the cathedral, stopped walking as he looked at the candles illuminating the surroundings.

[The Weakening of Orokne]

[The Aging Curse of Maldion]

Under the quietly melting candleholders, something was written on each small nameplate.

[The Resentment of Headwing Eldersar]

[The Contamination of Edmon’s Transfer Ritual]

[Onion’s Seventh Soul Seal]

“……”

Ominous words written on each candleholder’s nameplate.

The shapes of concepts defined by all sorts of negative words such as curses, as well as resentment, regret, and contamination.

The candles with nameplates burned with different sizes and lights, slowly illuminating the cathedral and lighting the fire.

The priestess’s spirit, which had become much fainter than before, muttered from behind Lenok.

[All the candles that illuminate this place… are words that refer to the curses observed in the In-Between.]

Countless candles illuminating the cathedral.

Did that mean that each of those candles was the result of visualizing the curses observed at the boundary between the material realm and the spirit realm?

Lenok silently looked at the candles, then slowly increased his walking speed and began to traverse the cathedral.

If this sanctuary was observing and reporting all the curses and resentments of the continent, then the curse of metamorphosis must also exist somewhere.

The curse of metamorphosis that was placed on the guardian spirit beast. Would it be enough to find its name and extinguish the candle?

As Lenok thought that and inadvertently moved towards the center of the cathedral.

Hwaak!!

Under the chapel of the vast cathedral, he stopped walking after discovering something surrounded by countless candles.

Kuuuuung!!

A huge black throne, emitting a faint light, surrounded by countless candles.

An overwhelming size that could be mistaken for a sculpture tens of meters in size, as if it had been made for a giant, not a human.

At the very back of that huge throne, a man was sitting weakly, as if he was about to collapse.

“……”

On top of that body, which was leaning as if asleep, were dozens of thick chains of souls.

Thick chains that would be used to moor a ship were binding the four sides of the throne and connecting the entire space of the In-Between.

On top of the dozens of chains, tens of thousands of talismans were densely covering them, creating a powerful seal that could be felt at a glance.

[…You were here.]

The priestess’s monologue as she looked at the figure as if choked.

Only after hearing those words could Lenok be sure of what he was facing.

The scenery he had once seen while peeking into the In-Between beyond the memorial tower.

The figure of a corpse that was as still as if time had no meaning, yet remained as if it had been engraved in the space itself.

The Ascendant’s arrival.

Lenok had finally faced the corpse in the center of the sanctuary of the In-Between, the cathedral.

[Finally, the promise we made… Your Grace?]

Ignoring the priestess’s words, Lenok walked towards the Ascendant’s corpse.

Lenok, who had moved to the place where the Ascendant’s remains were best visible, hidden by countless piles of chains, raised his will.

Woong!!

In response to that will, Lenok’s Incarnation appeared and stood right in front of the Ascendant’s remains.

[What… are you trying to do?]

Lenok immediately answered the priestess’s question, who had felt a sense of unease.

“It’s to see if I can give meaning to the Ascendant’s remains in this place, from the moment I saw the Incarnation’s appearance.”

[…You mean giving meaning to the vessel…?]

Lenok’s answer did not return.

Instead, as if responding to the caster’s will, the pale Incarnation slowly began to walk towards the Ascendant in Lenok’s place.

The Incarnation, which had passed through the chains of mist without any problem, stood in front of the Ascendant’s remains and lifted its gaze.

Paahhh!!

The Incarnation disappeared as if it had seeped into the Ascendant’s remains.

[…!!!!]

The priestess gasped at the completely unexpected reaction.

And the moment Lenok, who had his arms crossed, watched the scene and nodded.

“……”

The Ascendant’s remains, which had been sleeping with its eyes closed.

Its heavy eyelids slowly trembled and began to move.