Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 831

“Video footage leaked on the deep web?”

I thought it would be difficult for the events in Yorta to leak to the outside world, but someone managed to capture the situation in a video during that brief time?

Lenok, who was about to reach out towards the screen, suddenly lowered his head as if his breath had caught in his throat.

“Are you okay?”

Highrea turned back with a strange expression as Lenok coughed lightly and bent over.

Highrea offered Lenok the mug she was holding.

“If you’re having trouble breathing, drink this. It’s Dragon Lotus tea, it helps with mental stability.”

“……I don’t need it.”

“It’s expensive… last time, even the Professor came and drank some.”

“Professor?”

“……No, it’s nothing.”

Highrea mumbled vaguely, but Lenok understood the situation as soon as he heard those words.

The Professor’s human form had visited Vulcan during the third paper presentation.

He must have visited Highrea then and spent some time with her.

Leaving Highrea, who shrugged and stepped back, Lenok recalled the conversation he had just had with the Professor.

The fact that Myung was at a critical crossroads and that a decision was imminent.

The destruction he had caused while traveling across the continent was being defined as a ‘gravitational flight,’ and it had allowed Myung to have a destiny beyond what was given to him.

It was certain that this was an inevitable consequence of the family lineage Myung was born with.

‘I should visit the Gravediggers once….’

During the meeting at the Pandemonium, he had heard that Baegon, who claimed to be Myung’s disciple, was originally from there.

The name of the group that was related to Myung’s bloodline and worshipped him like a god.

They might know what Myung wants and where he can be found.

However, Lenok first focused on checking the screen that Highrea had displayed.

He needed to see what the video footage that had been leaked on the deep web was about.

If there was any information that could expose Lenok’s actions, he had to take action through Davi.

“This is the post. It’s quite noticeable because of the high number of views and comments. It’s already at the top of the board.”

“……”

Even though it was a board where only Diamond-level members of the deep web could comment, there were already hundreds of comments on the post.

[Title: The Reason Why News About Yorta Has Not Yet Been Released to the Public]

Below the eye-catching title was a large video file that took a long time to load.

The video started playing the moment the play button was pressed.

Splash, splash!!

The camera screen, submerged in water, shook and then flipped over, surfacing above the water.

The camera, barely perched on the surrounding debris, struggled to lift the screen upwards.

At that moment, thousands of silver strands of magical power were falling like stars in the dark sky.

Fwoooosh!!!!

They wrapped around the soaring memorial tower, drawing countless lines.

They intertwined like a net, surging and crashing, and between the strands of magical power, two figures clashed.

[Can you see it?]

[It’s not one person.]

Voices whispered around the camera, saying that there was more than one person.

Two figures clashed and collided on the screen, scattering massive aftershocks around them.

The clash was almost instantaneous.

But even that was enough to shake the tower precariously, as if it would collapse, and to shake the screen and the water.

Fwoosh!!

The figure wrapped in magical power slid diagonally across the ground for dozens of meters and formed a hand seal.

Zzzzt, zzzzt!!

The video glitched and changed abruptly, skipping ahead to another scene.

Gray lightning struck from the dark, cloudy sky.

And the shape of the memorial tower, crushed by an immeasurable light, collapsed.

[The memorial tower… is collapsing….]

Crack!!

The video ended with someone’s trance-like mutter.

“How was it?”

Highrea, who had been sitting across from Lenok and looking at the screen, turned her head.

“It seems like a lot more happened than you described. Don’t you think?”

“……”

However, instead of responding to Highrea’s words, Lenok was tapping his mask with a troubled expression.

He hadn’t expected the events in Yorta to be completely buried, but he hadn’t anticipated that the moment the tower collapsed due to the clash with Kroken would be captured on video.

‘I don’t know if it’s bad luck or good luck.’

The video was taken from such a distance that neither Lenok nor Kroken’s figures were clearly visible.

He was wearing a mask, and it was taken from so far away, so there was no need to worry about Lenok’s identity being exposed.

The fact that the video stopped with noise was probably due to the backlash from Lenok using the Ouroboros magic system [a magic system that manipulates life force].

It was true that a sensitive issue had been leaked, but at least it wasn’t a video that would cause problems if shown.

Normally, he would have immediately noticed such filming, but at the time, Lenok was pushed to the brink of death, so he didn’t notice.

Highrea, seeing Lenok’s reaction, asked with interest.

“Judging by your reaction, it seems like you didn’t know about this video either. Do you have any idea who filmed it?”

“Roughly.”

Lenok answered, pressing his throbbing temples.

“The video started from underwater. It’s probably a video taken by the prisoners who escaped from the underground of the Headrain River.”

The video started underwater, and there were more than one or two voices heard near the camera.

Since the Yorta leadership had agreed to keep Lenok’s existence a secret, there were only a limited number of possibilities for the video to be leaked now.

Those who were not internal to Yorta but were close enough to the tower to witness and film the incident in the city.

Most likely, it was the work of the prisoners who escaped from the underground prison after the tower was destroyed by Kroken’s intrusion.

If they were so blinded by immediate money that they leaked this video on the deep web without worrying about the consequences, it could only be them.

“Prisoners trapped under the Headrain River….”

Highrea muttered with a displeased expression.

“Then it would be difficult to track down and delete the video leaker.”

“It’s a useless effort. What’s the point of deleting the original now?”

Lenok said, taking out an ampule from his pocket and injecting it into his side.

Lenok, who had regained his composure by injecting a new dose of painkiller, said.

“That’s enough, scroll down the post a bit more.”

Lenok said, shaking his head wearily.

“I need to check what the people who saw the video are saying.”

As he said, the other members were already enthusiastically commenting below the video.

└The file extension is mkk? That’s only used for memory extracts. This smells very dangerous.

└Even L-grade electronic drugs aren’t this bad. It seems like someone important has come to a humble place.

└I can’t resist this. I’m saving it and going to watch it.

After the comments that were like a pilgrimage, the impressions of those who had watched the video continued.

└Hey, isn’t this related to those organization guys?

└Definitely. It’s the manipulation mage who recently joined Pandemonium.

└I shouldn’t have watched it. Does anyone know how to delete the viewing history from this account?

└If you haven’t seen it, hurry up and click. If the video is this interesting, that psycho will find it soon.

The situation was divided between those who ran away after watching the video and those who ignored the danger and started a serious discussion.

However, the comments discussing the video exchanged much more sensitive and delicate information.

└Pandemonium attacked Yorta and destroyed the memorial tower? The world is going crazy.

└Dead Rise released related information. Those who heard the news must have already moved. I think the embargo was lifted too late.

└The official statement released by Yorta doesn’t mention Pandemonium. They did the job and cleaned up the mess.

└A crude video is the only evidence… That means Pandemonium cleaned up the mess very well.

It seemed that many people already understood how the situation was unfolding.

Evidence that there were many forces among the so-called ‘experts’ active on the deep web who were quick to respond to news from the center.

However, many of the comments were more focused on the visual shock of what they saw on the screen.

└That’s enough, let’s watch this part again. Do you see the manipulation technique recorded from 7 to 13 seconds at the beginning of the video?

└If you have something to say, write it quickly. Before that crazy guy comes and deletes everything again.

The thousands of silver strands of rain that wrapped around the memorial tower and fell.

Most of the people who watched the video seemed to be more impressed by the existence of the magical power strands than the collapse of the tower.

Even if they couldn’t confirm who destroyed the tower, the magical power strands were clearly captured on camera.

└I’ve never seen a manipulation mage handle magical power strands like this. This isn’t a talent that can be defined by skill or technique.

└I showed it to a manipulation mage I know, and he said it was a manipulation. No, not that kind of manipulation.

└A video that a manipulation mage suspects is a manipulation. This is very rare.

There were not only trivial comments but also serious reactions discussing the movement and output of the magical power strands.

└That’s not wrong. It’s not something a human body can do to manipulate so many magical power strands at the same time.

└What are you talking about? Does that mean that guy isn’t human at all?

└Maybe his mind isn’t human. What’s certain is that a human’s sense of time can never handle so many magical power strands.

└Are you a manipulation mage? How do you know that?

“Hmm….”

“Victor, what’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just about the sense of time….”

Lenok chuckled as he read the comments.

“It seems like there’s someone in Vulcan who has a pretty deep understanding of manipulation techniques.”

If they knew what Lenok had realized after interacting with Agneta, it meant that there was a manipulation mage who could understand Lenok’s skills, at least in the theoretical field.

Indeed, there must be many eccentric people hidden in this megacity that even Lenok doesn’t know about.

Even as Lenok thought that, new comments were being posted in real-time below the post.

People who had just come to watch the video, and people who had already watched the video several times, recording specific time periods and analyzing unusual signs.

“Whenever I look at the deep web, I’ve always wondered, the comment reactions and view count updates are abnormally fast.”

Highrea asked curiously.

“Considering the nature of the deep web, it wouldn’t be viral or view count manipulation, but I don’t know why it’s like this.”

“The people who leave comments here also know that this post won’t last long.”

Lenok replied.

“So they want to see the reactions and opinions of the people gathered here before this post disappears.”

“……Ah, so they’re trying to get information in advance before the board explodes?”

“Can’t you tell by looking at this?”

Lenok laughed as he looked at the comments being posted on the post in real-time.

└Look at the movement of the tower being wrapped around at around 10.7 seconds of the video. The ends of the magical power strands are being split and attached to the walls of the tower to act as supports.

└He’s directly manipulating thousands of magical power strands and imbuing them with his will. It’s an unrealistic technique.

└There are almost no parts where the magical power manipulation is erratic. The technique operation is so stable that it’s hard to believe he’s a special type mage.

└How can you use the most sensitive manipulation technique in combat like this?

└There’s a rumor that Pandemonium only takes on particularly important tasks. If it’s this level, it’s not just a rumor.

The scene of analyzing the movement of the magical power strands in the video frame by frame and discussing in real-time whether it was possible.

Highrea, who had been scrolling through the comments, asked.

“Are you going to be okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Inquiries about you have started coming in through Pandemonium’s internal lines. They’re asking if they can borrow your abilities.”

Highrea glanced at the deep web and said.

“A skilled manipulation mage is a valuable asset anywhere. Even if they know your personality, they want to work with you-”

Highrea suddenly covered her mouth with one hand and coughed.

“Ahem, excuse me. What I meant was that the level of interest will increase that much.”

“……”

“A powerful and outstanding special type mage is not an object of affection. There are far more people who want to be wary and keep them in check.”

Highrea said, touching the magic-powered screen in front of Lenok.

“You should be careful. I can help with internal organizational communication, but if word spreads like this outside….”

“I’ll take care of it. Mind your own business.”

“……”

Highrea shook her head as if she was dumbfounded by Lenok’s words, but Lenok also had his own reasons for confidence.

From the beginning, he knew that it was impossible to hide Victor’s actions in this incident.

Even if some of Victor’s abilities or talents were leaked through the video now, it was a situation he had anticipated to some extent.

Above all, he had a cunning partner who was always on the deep web, looking for opportunities.

If it was about erasing traces or inferences, Davi could handle it more reliably than anyone else.

Lenok thought that and stroked Davi’s head inside his robe.

“Make sure there are no traces left. Got it?”

[Don’t worry, Master.]

Davi smiled and replied to Lenok’s quiet whisper.

[I’ve been working hard to create multiple accounts for this kind of situation!]

“……What?”

The moment Lenok didn’t understand the words and asked back.

Zzzzt!!

The comments that had been continuing below the post began to distort with bizarre noise.

The comments, which had been turned into unrecognizable noise, all changed into a specific form at once.

[La la la~ La la la~]

The image of a baby fox jumping around on the post with a cheerful hum.

Hundreds of comments were crushed and twisted, and then transformed into the image of a fox covering the comment section.

“……”

While Lenok was speechless and staring at the screen, new comments started to appear below the comment section as if they were having a seizure.

└F*ck, that guy is here.

└Isn’t this psycho still gone?

└Please, don’t delete it yet, I haven’t seen all the comments.

Even the comments that were being posted in real-time were quickly deleted and turned into the image of a fox running around.

[La la la~ La la la~]

Bloop. Bloop. Bloop.

Before he knew it, the comment section was filled with thousands of lively foxes, with no text at all.

The video posted on the post was already blocked, and even the play button had turned into a fox’s head, singing a cheerful song towards this side.

At the same time, new posts were being registered on the board without a break, pushing this post down.

The posts that were being uploaded without a break were all interesting posts with different topics and videos.

And the nicknames of the members who uploaded those posts had two words clearly stamped on them.

[Fox_lover]

“……”

Among the posts that quickly filled the entire board, even the posts of other members complaining disappeared.

└Someone please ban that guy.

└Are you an idiot? Where is the ban function on the deep web?

└He’s a guy who hacks the deep web for fun, who can stop him. Give up.

The atmosphere of the deep web, which was cursing and grumbling, but already seemed half-resigned.

Judging by the reaction, it seemed that this was not the first time this had happened.

While Lenok was unable to hide his bewilderment and was silently staring at the screen, Highrea said as if she had suddenly remembered something.

“Ah, I’ve seen that account before. He’s a famous heavy uploader on the deep web.”

“……Heavy uploader?”

“He uploads data or secrets that he doesn’t know where he got them from, and he’s famous as a hacker who freely changes site rules such as upload limits and data capacity.”

Highrea shook her head at Lenok’s question.

“His hacking skills are definitely amazing, but no one knows which organization he belongs to. He’s such a notorious troublemaker that I found out about him on my first day of accessing the deep web. The most unique characteristic among them is….”

Highrea looked at the comments and posts being deleted in real-time and smiled awkwardly.

“He’s a crazy guy who deletes all other posts or comments so that only the posts he uploads get attention.”

“……”

Only then did Lenok quietly close his mouth, realizing who the ‘psycho’ mentioned in the comments was referring to.

[Hehe… Now Master knows how hard I’ve been working to manipulate the emotions of the organisms on the deep web, right?]

Davi’s transmission, chirping proudly as if he had accomplished something great, was faintly heard.