Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 881

“Thirty disposable ignition stones, 6.2 million cel.”

In the dimly lit room where the old light flickered, only a greasy voice echoed quietly.

A plump man was placing various items on a round table, like one you’d find in a gambling den.

Renok, sitting across from him, watched with a blank expression.

“Ten Allamite flints, 8 million cel. Three small magic igniters, 7.8 million cel.”

“……”

“Twenty-five Girard custom lighters, 4.5 million cel. One Alpha Cell cartridge flamethrower, which was already paid for in kind.”

Click, click.

The man, showing Renok the lighters by turning them on and off, proving they worked, bent down under the table again.

“Tobacco leaves directly sourced from the plant city of Laravelli. A limited quantity of 20 grams, only used in the highest grade cigars.”

Each time the man spoke, various items appeared and disappeared on the table, emitting strange odors.

Even the plump man, who was showing the items, slightly frowned at the smells.

“Painkillers, stimulants, hormone suppressants. Fire-resistant skin anesthetic. Magic projection prevention cream. And finally……”

Thump!

A sturdy metal arm guard, designed to be worn on the forearm.

What was unique about it were the several angled pipes extending outward, resembling exhaust vents.

“A combustion array device made specifically for pyrokinesis [the ability to control fire with the mind]. It’s a used item that’s been through five owners and modified eight times.”

The man explained.

“It’s designed to insert a tube into the body and forcibly expel heat. But be careful with the output control.”

“……”

“The performance is top-notch, but if you use it wrong, it has enough suction to expel flesh instead of heat… Hey, are you listening to me?”

The man asked, looking suspicious at Renok, who remained silent.

His gaze, which had been fixed on the table, seemed completely unfocused.

“Ah, my apologies.”

Only after the man finished speaking did Renok’s eyes slowly regain focus.

Cold sweat was trickling down Renok’s forehead as he glanced at the man.

“I have trouble maintaining focus for long periods. I was listening, so continue.”

“……You don’t look so good. Where do you keep your mind?”

“It’s more of a problem that it’s somewhere else.”

“What?”

“It’s nothing. More importantly, you managed to get this.”

He naturally placed it on his forearm, and it tightened and stuck as if adjusting to the wearer’s size.

Whoosh…!

The exhaust vents vibrated slowly, emitting heat, and a heat haze rose from his forearm.

Renok stroked the exhaust vent on his forearm and chuckled.

“I requested it, but it’s not something that’s usually available on the market.”

“That’s right. It’s even harder to find because there aren’t many devices made specifically for psychics [people with supernatural abilities].”

The man said, wiping away sweat.

“The price went up because of that, so keep that in mind. Including the commission, it’ll probably be-”

“Here.”

Clunk!

Renok placed a heavy pouch on the table and pushed it towards the man.

“Check the amount first. If it’s correct, we’ll end it here.”

“……Alright.”

The man hesitated, then pulled the pouch towards him and opened it. His face showed a slight surprise before he quickly closed it.

“No need to check further. How much extra did you put in?”

“Enough to keep your mouth shut about this deal.”

“……”

Renok stood up, leaving the silent man, and began to store the equipment piled on the table into his coat.

Click, click!

He took out a cigar, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a lighter.

It had been a while since he lit a cigarette without using magic, so his hand was a little clumsy.

“I’m not saying to keep it a secret forever. I don’t expect that much.”

Renok said, collecting the medicines piled on the table.

“It’s the cost to keep this information from other brokers or the deep web for about two weeks. Let me know if it’s not enough.”

“……I see.”

While the man glanced down at his wrist, Renok gathered his things and stood up.

As Renok was about to leave the room, the man suddenly asked, as if something had just occurred to him.

“You don’t seem like one of my acquaintances, but you seem quite familiar with this kind of transaction.”

“……”

“You’ve also gathered a lot of ignition equipment. Are you going to set something on fire?”

“……That’s right. I’m planning to start a very big fire.”

Renok chuckled and turned his gaze.

He stopped just as he was about to leave the room, casually leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

“There’s plenty of kindling in this city. All I needed was a spark.”

“……”

“I wasn’t sure about preparing the equipment, but I think I’ve at least finished the minimum preparations. I can call that fortunate.”

Whoosh!

A small flame appeared on Renok’s hand as he took out a disposable ignition stone and clenched it.

But even after the ignition stone was quickly used up, the flame remained burning in his hand.

Renok’s eyes, which had been staring at the burning flame, shone coldly.

“Especially after meeting a broker who betrays you after finishing the job.”

“……!!”

The moment the man’s face changed drastically upon hearing those words, Renok swung his hand.

The small flame spun and struck the table, and the entire room began to burn as if it had exploded.

The man screamed in agony as the flames clung to his body, rolling on the ground.

“Ugh, ughhh…!!”

Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump!

Immediately after the screams, someone began banging on the door from outside.

Thump!

The sound grew more intense, as if they were trying to break down the door, but it didn’t budge, as if it had been solidified.

The moment Renok grabbed and released the doorknob, the door hinges had all melted, sealing the gap.

“It seems no one was supposed to come to this apartment complex today, but we have a guest.”

Renok smiled as he turned towards the door.

“Then I should open the door for them. I can do that much.”

Whirr!

Renok’s magic circuit, forcibly expanded by absorbing external magic, vibrated violently.

He mixed his will with the wildly surging magic, transforming it into the true essence of fire.

Renok placed his fingers on the solid iron door and swept them down.

The flames that erupted from his fingertips split apart like opening eyes, unleashing a dazzling barrage.

Pyrokinesis Unique Magic

[Exploding Fireball]

[Dual Manifestation – Bifurcation]

[Red Hunter’s Vision]

[Direct Burn]

KABOOOM!!!

The red light pierced through the door and shot through the corridor beyond like a laser beam.

Renok twisted his wrist as if turning a key, gripping the burning flames, and the beam exploded and engulfed the corridor.

[Aaaah!!]

[It’s hot, it’s hot…!!]

The screams of the mercenaries, who were burned to death without even seeing Renok’s face properly.

Only after their desperate cries had completely disappeared did Renok turn back towards the burning room.

“It seems I bought your day for this transaction, but it’s a strange thing.”

Renok chuckled, leaving the broker trembling with a pale face, and pointed to the door.

“Y-you bastard…!!”

Renok stepped on the broker’s head as he crawled on the floor, and asked.

“Did you think it would be more profitable to have me captured here so you could collect the bounty?”

“D-don’t be ridiculous!”

The broker gasped for breath, his head pinned under Renok’s foot.

“Do you think I’d break the code for that…!! I wouldn’t be able to do business in this city if I did!!”

“Then?”

“It’s because of you!! You’re fighting that man without knowing your place!!”

The broker desperately shook his head, even as his neck was being crushed.

“Do you think you can win against that mage!! Don’t talk nonsense. It’s impossible…!!”

“……”

There was an undeniable fear mixed in the broker’s voice as he shouted.

“Rather than die at the hands of Kyunroe, I’d rather…!!”

“You were going to kill me here and offer me up instead? That’s ridiculous.”

Renok shook his head, taking over the broker’s words.

“If you wanted to avoid getting involved, you could have just refused the deal from the start. Why are you acting like you had no choice?”

“Ugh, ughhh…!!”

Whirr!

When he activated the array device on his forearm, the pipes vibrated violently, emitting hot air.

Instead of letting the magic that had flared up run wild until his blood boiled, he forcibly expelled it to lower his body temperature.

It was originally an auxiliary device made for high-level pyrokinesis users who couldn’t even control their own abilities, but it was definitely useful for Renok now.

“But you didn’t tamper with the equipment. I guess you didn’t want to ruin your plan if I noticed…”

Renok touched the heated exhaust vent and slowly brought it to the broker’s face.

Whirr!

“Kaaaaaah!!”

The broker screamed and convulsed as the hot air was blasted onto his face.

“I’ll let you live for now since you got rid of a troublesome task.”

“Kill me, kill meee!!”

Renok removed the exhaust vent just before the broker’s breath was about to give out.

He squeezed out a bit of the fire-resistant skin anesthetic he had just bought from the broker, and the convulsing body slowly regained stability.

Renok nodded, confirming the situation, and stood up.

“The effect is certain. Then…”

Click, click!

He fiddled with the portable lighter in his hand and stood in front of the blacked-out window.

Even without closing his eyes, he could sense the dense presence of various fierce presences nearby.

Renok tossed the lighter in his hand and chuckled as he drew up his magic.

“Shall we begin?”

* * *

KABOOOM!

One side of the old apartment building exploded, and a fierce flame shot up into the sky.

A figure fell from the end of the long, trailing red light and quickly ran along the wall.

“There he is!”

“He killed the broker and escaped. Open fire!!”

The shooters, who had been waiting on the opposite building and on the ground, simultaneously aimed their guns and pulled the triggers.

In an instant, a deafening barrage of gunfire echoed through the middle of the street.

Ratatatatat!

But the target didn’t fall, despite the thousands of bullets that were fired. Instead, he seemed to accelerate.

The other shooters were amazed at Renok’s speed, as he seemed to use the flames scattering behind him as a propellant.

“How is he so fast…!!”

“Damn it, is that guy really a mage?”

“We can’t hit him with the current firearms. Even if we slightly adjust the trajectory, he goes out of the aiming range…!!”

“Deploy the suppression unit. We need to narrow his path so the shooters can hit him!”

Clack!

At the same time, a dozen black figures simultaneously blocked Renok’s path and descended vertically down the apartment wall.

The superhumans, wearing fire-resistant suits and respirators, gripped their weapons as they looked at Renok.

“Blue Eye. Pyromancer.”

“Who are they?”

The moment Renok frowned, the woman at the front drew a sharp sword.

KABOOM!

The blade swung by the woman collided head-on with Renok’s figure, which was falling like wildfire.

The apartment wall cracked and caved in, and as his center of gravity was thrown back, the woman spoke.

“An arrest warrant has been issued for attempted assassination of Deputy Mayor Amy Weinstein. Please give up your resistance and come with us.”

Clack!

Renok glanced at the sword light flashing as it collided with the flames and asked.

“So you’re the righteous warriors. Did you team up with the broker because of the bounty?”

Not the mercenaries of the underworld, nor the special task force of the city council.

They were the recognized superhumans of the righteous side, who had been living in seclusion under the code of conduct, like the Gate of Innocence.

Judging by their disciplined aura and magic, they must be a group of superhumans who focus on martial arts training.

As if Renok’s words were correct, a faint admiration seemed to mix in the woman’s voice.

“I respect your ability to understand the city’s ways and act accordingly in just a few days. Your insight to accurately distinguish your opponents even in this situation is remarkable.”

Even as he was sliding down the building wall against the flow of gravity, he didn’t lose his fighting spirit.

The woman’s eyes flashed sharply above her respirator.

“I acknowledge that you are an outstanding mage in both martial and magical arts, but you cannot defeat Kyunroe.”

“……!!”

Whoosh!

With a graceful sword dance, she quickly deflected the irregularly exploding flames.

The blade moved smoothly like flowing silk, instantly cutting off his foothold and forcibly disrupting his balance.

Her swordsmanship was so graceful that she could mark Renok’s accelerating run in such an unstable environment.

The other warriors also closed the distance towards Renok as if they had been waiting, and quickly forced his body to stop.

Screech!

The woman spoke as they stopped just before falling off the edge of the old apartment wall, where a dozen people were precariously balanced.

“How about you formally respond to the arrest warrant, clarify this matter, and discuss how to retrieve the Lighthouse Keeper? This is purely advice given out of concern for you.”

“I don’t know what nonsense you’ve been spouting since earlier. Why do you think I’m going to fight Kyunroe?”

“Because all of your actions so far point to that future.”

The woman answered, slowly adjusting her grip on her sword.

It was a strange sight, with everything tilted except for her posture as she stood vertically on the building wall, maintaining her balance.

“Collecting information by searching hideouts, deliberately exposing your actions to deal with pursuers, procuring equipment through a broker. Aren’t these all the actions of a warrior preparing for a final battle?”

“……”

“I sympathize with your responsibility to fulfill your duty even after losing your master, but it’s futile. He’s not the kind of person who would spare a challenger.”

“I see.”

Renok smiled.

Pyrokinesis Unique Magic

Nature Transformation Manifestation

[Linked Fire]

[Innate Flame]

Whoosh!

At that moment, a hot flame flared up around Renok and rapidly surged in all directions.

The burning footprints he had left behind as he ran at a right angle along the apartment wall.

Following the flames left on the wall, the apartment wall began to catch fire.

It was a strange phenomenon, as if flames were left behind instead of footprints where he stepped.

A large-scale, wide-area fire magic that used all the flames burning along the footsteps on the apartment wall as a catalyst for the incantation.

[64-Layered Ignition: Overload]

Kukukukukukukuk!

The illusion of the surrounding scenery turning bright red appeared.

The moment they realized that it wasn’t just an illusion, but that the entire space was actually becoming a huge vortex of red flames.

[Heavenly Fire Descent]

[Fire Vortex Heavenly Slip]

The flames that had wrapped around the old apartment, using it as kindling, turned into a huge firestorm dozens of meters in size and began to rotate violently.

Kuwahhhhhhh!

The warriors, who were barely clinging to the apartment wall, were flung away like toys by the intense heat.

“Too late.”

Whoosh!

Renok’s body had already vanished like a wisp of flame, escaping the restraints.

“Eek…!!”

“Stop him!!”

The warriors turned to catch Renok, but the speed and intensity of the wind seemed to tear and burn their flesh.

“Mage…!!”

Kaang!

Even in the midst of all that, the woman, who had skillfully avoided the areas with strong heat, caught up to Renok and thrust her blade in reverse.

He used the array device on his forearm as a shield, and the blade slipped between the exhaust vents, causing a violent shower of sparks.

Clack!

But the woman quickly caught up to Renok even as they were falling, and shouted, unable to hide her dismay.

She immediately understood what Renok had just said and what that huge fire vortex meant.

“You’re insane. Are you planning to forcibly increase your power by using this city as kindling…!!”

“It’s a pyromancer’s privilege.”

Renok smiled as he pushed the blade away with a stiff shoulder while falling.

“Do you still think I’m challenging a fight I have no chance of winning?”

“……You.”

The woman’s gaze, which was fixed on Renok, calmed down endlessly.

She sensed that Renok’s words, which he had just declared, were not empty boasts.

Perhaps he could really survive alone and face Kyunroe directly at the end of this city.

“I heard that you were single-handedly guarding the Lighthouse Keeper, but you’re no ordinary mage. What have you been doing in the Blue Eye to have such confidence-”

[That’s enough.]

Whoosh!

At that moment, a blurry, distorted dark green light cleanly separated the two of them.

The center of the heat, hot enough to melt their eyes. A battle where they were falling from a height of dozens of meters and colliding with the ground.

A green shadow that had fallen precisely at that point of intersection, immediately wedged itself between the two and drew up its magic.

He turned his body, holding a black arrow in reverse in one hand and carrying a heavy barrel that looked like a huge coffin in the other.

Swoosh!

Renok’s figure was unable to withstand the rapidly changing inertia and was flung out of the heat and disappeared.

The woman, trapped between the barrel’s protective barrier, immediately recognized the identity of her opponent and shouted.

“Hyungung…!!”

[I’ll take care of that mage.]

Ivelin flicked her green eyes and gestured lightly to the woman.

[Stay out of it. I’ll take the lead.]

* * *

A back alley where a firestorm dozens of meters in size could be seen in the distance.

Renok, who had fallen onto a field of scattered garbage, slid for dozens of meters.