Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 882

Whoosh…

The trash heap blazed, sending up plumes of acrid smoke.

In the smoke that completely obscured the view, Ivelin slowly lowered her stance, leaving Renok where he had fallen.

“Haa… How did things end up like this?”

Squatting down, Ivelin swept a hand across her face and muttered. Her expression was filled with worry, a look that didn’t suit her usual demeanor.

Renok, having raised his upper body, instinctively covered one of his ears. He needed to block Particia’s ears, who was in the ring, to speak to Ivelin.

“How much time do we have?”

“Three minutes. We need to clean up here and leave within that time,” Ivelin answered quickly.

“I’m not back in public service, so I can’t monitor the movements of other forces. They’ll be looking for you soon.”

“I see.”

“Putting aside the attempted assassination of Deputy Mayor Wynston, what are you going to do about Lapis’s situation?” Ivelin asked immediately, not waiting for Renok to speak.

Ivelin bit her lip slightly and looked at Renok with a piercing gaze.

“Why at that point… why did you make that choice?”

“…Calm down. You won’t hear anything if you’re that agitated,” Renok said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Three minutes. Within that time, he had to explain the situation to Ivelin and make her understand the decision he had made. Renok quickly organized his thoughts and began to speak.

“Deputy Mayor Wynston betrayed us immediately after entering District 19. He never intended to show us the inside of the restricted area from the start.”

“…”

“I was put on the wanted list for clashing with the deputy mayor while escaping. I’ve half-destroyed his mind, so there’s virtually no chance of the pursuit being called off.”

Renok activated the array device on his forearm and released the heat.

“So, I just decided to entrust the matter to someone who wouldn’t cause any trouble.”

“That’s… really absurd,” Ivelin muttered, unable to hide her bewilderment.

“That’s a grand way of saying you just dumped a troublesome task on your other identity.”

“…That’s a bit of a harsh way to put it. It was a delicate division of labor, considering the necessary aptitudes for each task.”

“…”

Ivelin was about to say something with a flustered look, but she shut her mouth tightly. She made a desperate effort to endure, then sighed softly and nodded.

“Okay, I understand. Rather than running away and waiting for the wanted notice to be lifted, you’re going to create a bigger problem to make it fizzle out?”

“If we use the notoriety of Kyonroe to obscure the essence of the matter, even the Central Council won’t be able to avoid having their attention diverted,” Renok said as he stood up.

Renok met Ivelin’s gaze and said with a serious expression, “All that’s needed is for me to settle this situation myself.”

“…Settle it.”

At that moment, Ivelin’s expression turned serious. “If you’re so confident, does that mean you’ve mastered the Incarnation Technique?”

“…”

“To intervene and exist in different spaces and times, you have no choice but to create another version of yourself. There are very few techniques that can do that.”

Ivelin, who knew both Van and Evan, seemed to have already guessed how Renok was simultaneously revealing his two identities.

“Come to think of it, you were very interested in the Incarnation Technique that Leppard used in the Hanghasa Labyrinth.”

Ivelin checked the time on the terminal on her wrist and spoke quickly. “You said it was difficult to learn at the time due to various problems. But you eventually succeeded in learning it?”

“The Incarnation Technique that Leppard uses is a miracle based on faith, so the system is a bit different,” Renok replied.

“But it’s true that I got inspiration from that. It also helped me organize my thoughts in many ways.”

“Ah, so you didn’t learn it from Leppard?” Ivelin’s eyes turned sharp for a moment.

“Oh, then where did you learn the technique? Did you perhaps go to Yorta, which is rumored to be the source of the Incarnation Technique?”

“…”

Only then did Renok realize that Ivelin’s question was a highly condensed leading question, and he subtly turned his gaze away.

Perhaps because she had known Renok for a long time, Ivelin’s intuition seemed to have become unusually sharp lately. If he was even a little careless, he would be stabbed by her sharp tongue like an arrow.

Ivelin glared at Renok with a displeased look, then shook her head with a deflated expression. “Haa… I’m sorry. Actually, I have no right to say anything about this.”

“…”

“It was me who left Lapis behind and left first. You also had no choice… no, but did it have to be this way?!” Even as she tried to blame herself for her mistake, Ivelin couldn’t understand the idea of throwing Kyonroe and Evan into the mix at the same time.

“About 40 seconds left,” Renok said, smiling as he took the hand she offered and stood up.

“Can you explain why you haven’t been in contact all this time?”

“There will be a top-secret meeting inside the Balkan soon.”

“…”

“They seem to be gathering 8th-level supreme ability users to discuss something, and I was summoned to the Upper House because of that.”

“A meeting…”

“…I’m sorry. It’s my fault after all,” Ivelin’s expression momentarily clouded with a faint sense of guilt. She must be blaming herself for not being able to step in until things had gotten this bad, after leaving Renok in charge of security.

However, Renok had no intention of dwelling on Ivelin’s mistakes at this point. Ivelin was also a bowman who had reached the 8th level, transcending the hierarchy. Even if she was idle after being fired from the agency, no one would treat her power and status lightly.

It was only natural that she was forcibly summoned due to the meeting and that she was unintentionally absent. Rather, if she had stayed to help Renok instead of responding to the summons, she would have been suspected and the situation would have become more complicated.

“Then those drones that came with you…” At Renok’s words, Ivelin nodded.

“They are the scheduled participants of the meeting. After the discussion was over, they started talking about you, so I joined in.”

As the smoke gradually cleared, he could feel people approaching quickly from the surroundings. Other drones were heading this way, following the point where Ivelin had landed. There wasn’t much time.

Renok patted Ivelin’s shoulder and whispered quietly, “Lapis is in the Magic Tower. If you contact her, you’ll know where to go.”

“…”

Although he had placed Lapis in the tower under the identity of Kyonroe, Renok had no intention of letting Lapis escape the tower alone and head to the citadel. From the beginning, he had thought that there must be a reason why Ivelin hadn’t been in contact, so he knew that she would definitely contact him later. From the start, Renok had decided what to entrust to this bowman.

“I’ll leave the timing to you. Can you do it?”

“…What do you think of me?” Ivelin smiled wryly and tilted her head. “A diversionary tactic is basic for an intelligence agent. Don’t worry.”

“Good,” Renok smiled, took a step back, and tapped his chest. “Not too hard. Can you do that?”

“Well, I can’t guarantee that?” Ivelin smiled playfully and raised her fist. “There might be a little bit of emotion mixed in, so be ready to take it…!!”

At the same time, Ivelin channeled magic into her fist and punched Renok in the solar plexus.

Paah!!

As Renok received Ivelin’s fist with both hands, a violent shockwave erupted, sending Renok’s body flying away at lightning speed. At the same time, the wind pressure cleared the acrid smoke rising from all directions, and other drones who had found Ivelin immediately landed beside her.

“Ivelin Marcia…! Are you alright?” A woman who had brought the drones called out urgently, leaving Ivelin standing with her fist clenched in one hand.

“I’ve contacted the operations room. We’re calling the medical team right now…!!”

“…We don’t need a medical team. It’s already over,” Ivelin slowly took her hand away and turned around, her expression having changed to a calm one. She looked back at the alleyway where Renok had disappeared with a rather sharp gaze and nodded. “He ran away that way, so narrow the encirclement. I did hit him, but I don’t think the impact will be that great.”

“…What about you?”

“I’m done here. I have something to do,” Ivelin then smiled wryly and turned to leave. “I don’t know if this is right, but I have to see the task I asked you to do through to the end.”

* * *

Phew…!!

Renok’s body, scattering smoke from all over, flew into the alleyway and flashed in place. Flash, flash!! He repeated spatial teleportation in place as if light was flickering in the air. He instantly regained the center of gravity and balance of his body, which had been thrown off balance.

Click!!

“Hoo…”

A huge vortex of fire, using the entire old apartment complex as firewood. Now, the magnificent flames were almost invisible, far away in the outer construction zone of District 45.

Renok slowly gathered himself among the crude steel structures that had been half-built and abandoned, and the piles of concrete where dust was flying. “My senses are slowly returning.”

The magic power that had been out of control while increasing the maximum magic power with the magic power of the outer sea was beginning to be controlled little by little. It wasn’t at the level where he could completely control all the overflowing magic power according to his will, but at this level, he might be able to chant teleportation between battles.

As Renok thought that and put a cigar in his mouth and held a lighter, Particia’s voice was heard.

“Kyonroe of the Balkan… I’ve only heard vague rumors, but he really was an unbelievable monster,” Particia, who had been watching the situation from inside the Guide’s Ring that Renok was wearing, spoke to him when there were no eyes watching.

“I’ve hardly ever heard of a human species that wields such a vicious status.”

“…”

“There are plenty of powerful superhumans and outstanding geniuses, but how can all the humans who face you mention that magician with chills and fear…” Her voice, which flowed out quietly while emitting light from within the ring, was noticeably subdued.

“Can we really save Lapis-nim?” It wasn’t the fear of death, but the fear of failure. Someone’s strength or viciousness is sometimes more palpable when heard than when faced directly. If all the humans he met in the largest city on the continent predicted a miserable end, it was inevitable that anyone would waver. Even Particia, who had lived for a long time as a long-lived species, was unsure, so what about this magician?

Particia was worried not about herself, but about the magician who was walking through the darkness of the city with her.

“You can’t expect success from the start in anything,” Renok replied, bringing the flame of the lighter to the end of the cigar in his mouth. “I don’t think Lapis was sure of the future when she established the Azure Eye [a secret organization] with the will of the Heavenly Eye. It’s the same with this matter.”

“That’s…”

“When we actually meet Kyonroe, things might go easier than we think. We won’t know until we get there, right?” Renok smiled. “Although the details were all different, the things I handled in the Azure Eye were mostly like that. Don’t think too negatively.”

“…”

Particia didn’t answer that. She only remained silent for a long time, seemingly in deep thought, before finally speaking with difficulty. “You’re a strong person. To be able to say that even in this situation…”

“…”

“I think I can understand a little why Lapis-nim trusted and relied on you so much, even though you’re not a Watcher [a person with the ability to see the future].”

“…Well. I’m not that trustworthy,” Renok smiled wryly. He knew better than anyone that he wasn’t as solid a human being as Particia had perceived, or as much as Lapis trusted him.

“After all, the reason things have gotten so twisted is because Lapis trusted me and entrusted the task to me. I’m just picking up the spilled water.”

“Trust should not be determined by the trivial success or failure of a task,” Particia’s voice, which had been shaking 불안하게, was now calm and stable.

“I couldn’t do that in the past. I couldn’t fully trust the master I served, and I abandoned my hometown because I couldn’t even bear the consequences.”

“…”

“A human who can’t live for more than a few decades is wiser than a spirit that has lived for hundreds of years. It’s ridiculous, like the answer that Kundara chose…” Outer City Kundara. What had happened in that city where long-lived species gathered to live in order to avoid destruction? Like the word “Outer Calamity,” perhaps they were really waiting for everything to end outside of fate.

However, instead of questioning Particia about Kundara right away, Renok raised his gaze. An endless dark alleyway. A girl with fluorescent hair, clearly visible even in the darkness, was standing alone, looking at Renok. A small figure and a bizarre appearance with a huge glaive [a polearm with a blade on the end] on her back that didn’t match her height. The girl, who had a long spear shaft that far exceeded her height loosely slung over one shoulder, asked, “Are you done with your sentimental act?”

“…”

Behavior that didn’t match her appearance in every way. But Renok knew who this girl was.

“It’s been a while since our chairman and that vampire guy disagreed, but at least I agree with Virgil’s opinion,” Thud!! When she grabbed the huge glaive and slammed it down, a light shockwave rippled across the ground, sweeping the dust away.

“Even if the city is in chaos, how can we just let go of the guy who set fire to our business and ran away? You think so too, right?”

“…The area I passed through was an old apartment complex where people hadn’t set foot,” Renok retorted, puffing out smoke. “It doesn’t seem to have much to do with the business you’re talking about.”

“No, it’s a business,” Merilda, the third head of the Cartel [a criminal organization], a hybrid of a beast species and a master of weapon technology, retorted. “The plant-based drugs we were cultivating in that apartment complex. If you add it all up in money, it’s quite a large scale.”

“…”

“We turned a blind eye to the brokers using it as a meeting place, which meant that it should look like a place where people live so that it wouldn’t get caught by the authorities. It’s a problem if things turn out like this.”

At the same time as Merilda gestured, red laser sights flashed in the dark alleyways. Renok realized that it was the scope of the execution unit that was secretly operated within the Cartel, and the moment he turned his body.

Bang!!

A bullet grazed Renok’s shoulder and immediately pierced the sign behind him. Crack! The solid iron pillar melted down as if it were boiling immediately after being hit. A magic-embedded incendiary bullet that can be used in a rifle. It also has a strong heat that can melt the target completely.

“I won’t say much. Get out of our area,” Merilda shook her head. “There’s no point in demanding compensation from crazy guys like the Watchers. I’ll let you live if you just leave this city without burning anything.”

A 7th-level Saintly Ability user who has completed the hierarchy. A military organization within the corporate alliance led by the Cartel’s executives. A big shot who has most firmly maintained the reputation of the Three Heads in the shadows of the Balkan.

However, Renok shook his head at Merilda’s fierce threat. “That’s not it.”

“What?”

“If you were moving because of the business, there’s no reason to provoke me. Aren’t you trying to stop me from digging into the nearby area?” Renok’s smile, looking at Merilda, became blurry for a moment. “It looks like you’re trying to stop me from heading to Kyonroe’s Magic Tower.”

“…Tsk,” Merilda clicked her tongue with an annoyed look and muttered a curse. “That’s why I hate smart bastards. It makes me feel like I’m the only fool who was acting.”

If it was Virgil who moved the Cartel’s forces, including Merilda, he could understand the situation. Virgil was one of the executives within the Cartel who knew Van well. He knew that Kyonroe was suffering from considerable injuries from a long battle, and that he wasn’t just crazy. From Virgil’s point of view, it wouldn’t be strange for him to try to intervene to prevent any unforeseen variables from occurring if Van fought Evan now.

Renok had immediately seen through the fact that the story about the business was just a meaningless pretext.

“Yeah, Virgil said exactly that,” Merilda, who had stepped forward with her spear shaft, glared at Renok and said. “He said I shouldn’t let you meet Kyonroe. He said you’re a magician who came back alive from a very dangerous war.”

“…”

Renok’s expression changed slightly at Merilda’s words. The things that Renok had handled as Evan Martinez had mostly happened far away from the Balkan, so not many people would know about them. Has Virgil already grasped some information about that part?

“To be honest, I still don’t know if you’re that kind of magician…” Thud!! When she raised the glaive and grabbed it tightly, a strong wind blew out from around Merilda. Merilda’s weight itself increased rapidly in place, creating the illusion that the ground around her was bending.

Swoosh! Merilda, who swung her smooth blade as if cutting through the wind, said, “The chairman didn’t say anything, so I guess I’ll just do it.”

“…”

“So, are you going to fight me, or are you going to get lost?” Renok glanced behind Merilda and smiled subtly. “I’ve already faced a warrior who is good at handling weapons.”

“What?”

“I’m tired of doing it twice.” Whoosh!! At the same time as Renok took a step forward, flames burst out from behind him as if they were being sprayed. The four intensely burning flames split into four directions like wings of fire, pushing Renok’s body forward.

Kwaaaang!!

Renok’s body accelerated at an incredible speed and passed by Merilda.

“Hey!!” Merilda, flustered, immediately reacted and swung her spear shaft, chasing after Renok. “Stop right there, you bastard!!”

* * *

District 21. An old church located in a dilapidated back alley. A quiet chapel where no one sets foot. A nun with her eyes covered by a blindfold was sitting in front of the pipe organ.

“Yes. The search in this area is over. The police won’t be coming for a while,” she gently pressed the keys of the organ, making the pipes sound. The nun opened her mouth only when the sound was passing through, matching the tone to a regular rhythm.

“I’ve dealt with the traces of magic power and thoughts that remained as you said. Even the investigators sent by the City Council didn’t notice.”

[It’s a magic power shielding technology recently developed at the Elabine Magic Tower,] at that moment, a deep male voice echoed from beyond the pipe organ. A strange phenomenon in which they exchanged their intentions through the medium of the organ. The doctor said in a pompous voice.

[Since it hasn’t been officially announced at the academic conference yet, it would be difficult for even the City Council investigators to notice.]

“But why are you telling me to stay in District 21 even after doing all this? Even if the traces are discovered, we can just move our residence. It’s not difficult.”

[District 21 of the mega-city is an area that has not been redeveloped and remains due to its unique topography,] the doctor replied. [It’s located on the border between the central and outer districts, so there’s no meaningful investment, and conversely, it’s not completely excluded from development. It’s an awkward place.]

“Then…”

[But it’s the best place to watch the show that will unfold in this city from now on.]

“A show?”

[Watcher Evan Martinez. I met him once before in the Hanghasa Labyrinth.] Tap, tap. The doctor’s voice seemed to sink deeper from beyond the organ. It was a tone that slowly recalled the memory, as if he was lost in deep thought.

[A human who inherited the will of the Ascendant in the Cradle of Jintun. And a monster that has placed a very large restriction on the movements of the Order.]

“…”

[I don’t know if he has talent comparable to Kyonroe, but the karma that man has obtained is no less than that of the crazy magician.]

“That’s…”

[There are hardly any opportunities to publicly see a situation where magicians who have reached this level clash with each other.] The doctor’s voice, which was making the organ sound, was mixed with an unmistakable laugh.

[Hairea. Prepare the thoughts of Agilon. Open the mock ritual space and summon the other members of Pandemonium.] The doctor whispered. [The extravagant plan that Daymus presented, whether it’s really something that should be tried at least once. The events that will unfold in this city will prove it.]