Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 83

Lennox was trying to draw a clear line between these two sides, but often, a mage’s logic and emotions clashed, and there was nothing he could do about it. The mage’s talent for handling everything efficiently and surely sometimes took precedence over the morality Lennox originally possessed. Recently, after experiencing a series of intense battles, he realized that his methods had become crueler without him even noticing. “…I should move soon.” He was already considering moving to set up a separate laboratory, and now his decision was firm. The amount he received from Panoa, plus the additional compensation, should provide him with a decent amount of money. It seemed like he needed to find a good place soon.

Rising Fame

“Please put the luggage there.”

“Understood.”

“The kitchen is over there, so the refrigerator will have to be carried in separately.” After the unfortunate incident, Lennox immediately decided to move. He had earned a decent amount of money from the deal with Dyke, and he saw no reason to stick to a studio apartment while having to worry about unnecessarily rude neighbors. District 30. It was a simple apartment complex with a two-room setup, just one extra room, but Lennox was satisfied. In the small park in front of the building, families were taking walks, and in the playground in the distance, young children were running around, indicating that the area was safe. Just listening to the laughter of the children under the setting evening sky made him feel at peace. He knew that the peace and tranquility those people enjoyed were not his. He also knew that it was uncertain when he would ever grasp it. Still, just looking down at that scene for a moment gave Lennox a strange feeling. “It’s all done.” “Thank you for your hard work.” Even if it was when he was acting as Van, there was no reason to be stiff while moving as Evan Bailen. Lennox offered the movers a drink each, politely thanked them, and sent them on their way. “Alright, then….” Large appliances like the refrigerator and big furniture like the desk had already been placed, but the rest of the furniture was Lennox’s responsibility. This was especially true since he had bought things like a sofa, TV, desk, and chairs after moving to a bigger place. Naturally, with his trembling arms, nothing was possible. After idly spending time with a cigarette in his mouth, strength naturally returned to his arms and legs, and he began to feel a bit more lively. “Let’s do it.” The very reason he moved to a two-room apartment was to separate his living space from his research space. The rewards and magical materials Lennox had collected through various requests, the various memos and notes he had jotted down whenever he had time, and even Eden’s research journal. Rather than meticulously organizing, he focused on dividing the space and sorting the items. By the time he finished cleaning, it was already dark outside. “Hoo….” When he lived in the studio apartment, he would hear all sorts of noises when he came home late at night. The sound of dogs barking, shouting, and sometimes even gunshots were not surprising in that neighborhood. But now, even without properly installing soundproofing magic, everything was eerily quiet. Lennox felt that alone was enough to make him not regret moving. ‘But I can’t let my guard down.’ He quickly became tired from moving his body, but he couldn’t forget to set up a barrier around the place. Soundproofing magic, security magic, various traps, and alarms to guard against intrusion. Since it was something he had done before, the work was finished much faster. Unlike before, now that his understanding of enchantment magic had deepened, even Lennox himself found it hard to find any flaws in the barrier surrounding his house. Only then did Lennox finally take a breath, take a shower, and immediately lie down to sleep. It was another unfamiliar ceiling. How much time had passed since he first escaped the factory, passed through the old hotel, and arrived here? And how much had happened? The determination he had made while vomiting in the shabby washbasin had not faded, but he couldn’t help but realize that he was different from who he was back then. “…………” Change is not a bad thing. Likewise, the changing appearance of Lennox was not something to be taken negatively. Lennox believed that as he took a sleeping pill with a familiar hand.

#

The rumors about the electric mage in District 49 spread quickly. Perhaps it was because the screams of the collapsing Siger Bang, a sizable gang, were so loud. It was only natural that the way people looked at Lennox changed. Up until now, only those who knew him as a promising freelancer recognized him, but now, it seemed like more people recognized Van’s face, or was it just his imagination? Considering the stinging gazes that pierced the back of his head, it didn’t seem like it was just his imagination. “That’s him.” “He doesn’t look that special….” “The brokers who have worked with him are full of praise. It’s not just empty hype.” “He’s been scouted by the mercenary office several times… He might be pickier than we thought.” “………” The residents of District 49, who had previously seemed to pay him no attention, occasionally turned their heads to check Lennox’s face, as if they were trying to memorize his appearance. Some looked at him openly from close by, while others cast faint glances from afar. Even among them, there were those who exchanged information beyond what the gossips were saying. “…He’s not an ordinary electric mage.” “I heard he’s used other types of attributes as well.” “There’s a possibility that he belongs to a very old and prestigious mystic tower.” “Can we extract information?” Rather than being surprised or afraid of the appearance of a skilled newcomer, they were calmly assessing the pros and cons and calculating what they could do as partners. If Lennox ever had to work with other freelancers in the future, he would probably be working with people like them from time to time. Thinking that, Lennox naturally headed to Jenny’s bar. “You’re here. I’ll give you a glass of whiskey, so wait a moment.” Jenny, who was buried in her laptop and couldn’t even lift her head properly, and Jordan, who was silently shaking a shaker next to her, were now a familiar sight. Lennox took a seat across the bar and asked Jenny. “You seem very busy.” “Who do you think is the reason for that?” Just from her curt reply, he could quickly tell what was going on. Lennox smiled wryly. “If you hadn’t rejected all the requests that came in for Van in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened. The inquiries coming in through the deep web are about to make my laptop explode.” “……..” She didn’t say anything, but it seemed like she was dissatisfied with Lennox refusing requests when the opportunity was there. Lennox understood Jenny’s feelings. If the gains he had made in this operation had not been so great, Lennox would have at least pretended to look at the requests without much hesitation. However, the enlightenment and research journal he had obtained from the battle with Eden were an unexpected stroke of luck for Lennox, and he had no intention of letting this good fortune slip away. Now that he had confirmed that he could steal the essence contained within unique magic without actually learning it, what Lennox needed to do was not to be swayed by immediate money, but to re-examine his own skills. Once all the work Lennox had in mind was finished, there would be no need to even row when the water came in [a metaphor for effortless success]. It didn’t seem like it would take too long for him to create his own current [a metaphor for his own momentum]. “What about the data I asked for?” “Here it is.” Instead of Jenny, Jordan picked up a thick file and handed it to Lennox. “…Thank you.” “I don’t know why you suddenly became interested in black mages, but you should be careful.” Jordan replied quietly. “They have integrated into society through a very long compromise, but fundamentally, they are people who use the manipulation of the source of life as a driving force for their development.” “……..” “I’ve felt it very clearly after working with them a few times. If you’re someone who can’t understand that way of thinking at all, it’s fine, but if not, you’ll be surprisingly easily influenced.” “Don’t worry too much.” Lennox said with a wry smile. “I don’t plan on quitting this job anytime soon.” “Okay. I won’t say any more.” Jordan really did just say that and shut his mouth. He probably knew that talking for too long would just lead to unnecessary chatter. He realized once again that he was a man qualified to run a business with the impatient Jenny. ‘Anyway, with this body, there’s nowhere else I can go.’ He hadn’t really felt it much because he had been fighting warriors who used melee combat as their weapon instead of mages, but he was once again convinced in the battle with Eden. Lennox’s talent was dangerous. Like a bomb that could explode at any moment, his overflowing intuition and inspiration, when met with a strong stimulus, would go wild and spread in all directions, beyond Lennox’s control. How much of Eden’s magic had Lennox faced at that time? Could any mage in this world see someone else’s unique magic and assemble the same magic on the spot? If other mages were to find out about his talent, would they purely bless his abilities and insight? Or would they try to find out his secret by any means possible? He still couldn’t say that he knew the world well, but the answer to that question was obvious. Unless it was someone he really trusted, it was right to hide it as long as he could, at least until Lennox had the power to match his talent. Wasn’t he trying to overcome that fear by taking these steps and working hard to become stronger? While thinking that, he was putting the data Jordan had given him into his bag when suddenly, the outside became noisy. If it had been someone’s death cry or a gunshot, as usual, no one would have paid attention. However, the faint sound of military boots coming from the entrance of the bar was enough to stimulate people’s nerves. Moreover, it even stirred up unnecessary memories for Lennox, who had never seen the military in this area. “……..” “What’s that noise?” It wasn’t that they were trying to enter the bar, but it seemed that a group of people were passing by, and even that was a rare occurrence. No one in this area was unaware of the danger of moving around in groups. If they were acting like this while knowing that fact, then they must be people with enough arrogance or qualifications to do so. Before answering Jordan’s question, Lennox greatly amplified his magic power and quickly extended it outside the bar. His magic control ability, which had greatly improved due to the battle with Eden, far exceeded his previous detection range, taking control of an area spanning several kilometers, and delivering the information transmitted within it to his five senses in detail. Clear visual information, as if he were facing it directly, flowed into the back of his head, and he saw dozens of people passing by in front of the bar. Bulletproof vests tightly wrapped around their bodies. Helmets that obscured their faces and rifles on their backs. However, their gait was quite unstable compared to their gear, and their breathing was irregular. Lennox nodded as he confirmed the emblem of the Vulcan City Government on their chests. “They’re city government officials.” “Officials?” What business would officials have coming all the way here? Fortunately, there was a part that he could guess. Hadn’t Ivelyn, whom he had met at the market, given him information? “I heard a rumor that the city government was conducting inspections on the outer districts. I think this might be part of that.” “Inspections…” Unusually, Jordan’s face was serious. “I heard they’re targeting sorcerers who are doing business without a permit. It probably won’t have much to do with this bar.” Of course, even with Lennox’s overly detailed explanation, Jordan didn’t bother to ask about the source of the information, but his clouded expression didn’t clear up. After pondering for a while, a heavy voice came from his mouth. “It seems like the city government is serious this time. This is going to give us a lot to think about.” “…Is it that serious?” Lennox, who didn’t know much about the extent of the inspections, just took it as it was, but the fact that officials were touring the outer districts in a group was a strange thing for Jordan. “In the decades I’ve worked here, this has never happened even once. It must be the result of the city council’s strong will. I don’t know what they’re aiming for, but it’s clear that they want something in this area.”