Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 884

Fwoooosh!!!

A massive stone wall, dozens of meters high.

The outer wall of the dam, which should have been holding back a vast amount of water, was cleanly cut out in a perfect circle.

The cross-section looked as if it had been completely vaporized by contact with a giant sphere, burning and bubbling, with the materials melting and flowing down like lava from the intense heat.

Chiiiiiiik!!

A grating noise, as if the sky and earth were melting simultaneously. Acrid smoke endlessly billowed before their eyes.

Thud!!

A wolf covered in soot emerged from the wreckage of the completely dried-up waterway’s inner walls.

The wolf, glaring at the burning ground with a fierce gaze, bared its teeth and suddenly roared.

“Damn it… Hey, Angel!!”

“I’m here~”

Angel, whose lower body was melting like water, was precariously hanging from the top of the dam’s outer wall, waving his hand.

Beside Angel, Lauder was calmly adjusting his martial arts uniform.

The two of them descended the slope of the dam’s outer wall, looking back at the lava boiling all around them with a look of disgust.

“Where’s that mage bastard?!”

“He ran away a long time ago. What were you expecting?”

As expected, Renok had long since disappeared somewhere.

Angel, who had collapsed powerlessly, muttered while looking at the devastated landscape of the half-destroyed dam.

“It seems like he never intended to fight us properly from the start.”

“My prediction was completely wrong.”

Lauder gave a wry smile and completely folded the scroll he was holding.

“To gain that level of mobility and martial prowess, I thought he must have placed conditions and restrictions on his spell, like a geas [a magical restriction or vow]. It seems he’s a much more capable mage than I thought.”

“It’s all because you were pointlessly explaining things, giving him room to react.”

Meryl, who had transformed into a giant mythical beast, glared at Lauder, scraping the concrete with her claws.

“That incantation to increase power by explaining the principles of the spell. Did you really have to do that in front of that mage?”

Lauder, a curse mage, was very skilled at controlling the power of his spells by placing restrictions and constraints on them, due to the nature of the system he used.

The fact that he had spoken directly about Renok’s flame magic just before restraining him was also a means of increasing the power of the curse through a kind of geas.

However, Meryl was pointing out that this had given Renok room to react.

“If I hadn’t amplified the power of the curse that much, I wouldn’t have been able to set the stage in the first place.”

Lauder calmly replied to Meryl’s sharp criticism.

“Not only me, but many high-ranking mages naturally use a certain level of incantation as if it were second nature. You saw Evan Martinez showing a similar reaction, didn’t you?”

“……”

“The judgment that I needed to increase the power of the spell by placing this level of restriction to make it work against the opponent is in the realm of intuition. How strongly a geas works depends on individual differences, so it’s difficult to explain logically.”

Lauder tapped his temple with his finger.

“However, one thing that bothers me is that Martinez seemed very familiar with geas in the way he handled magic.”

“Familiar with geas?”

“Compression and release of spells, attenuation and amplification. He understands how to handle magic power to make it powerful under specific conditions, and he uses it by transforming it in various situations.”

Lauder muttered, lost in thought.

“But if his magic power manipulation was perfect, there would be no reason to use it with so many conditions. I wonder if he’s in a position where it’s difficult to control his power for some reason…”

“That’s ridiculous. That monstrous sun-creation magic is the result of difficulty controlling his power?”

Meryl frowned, as if she couldn’t believe it.

“That had some of the most intense scalability I’ve ever seen among amplification secret techniques. If we had been a little late in our judgment, we would have all died.”

A collection of enormous heat that was hard to believe had been unleashed by a single mage.

An unrealistic miracle of creating a sun with a human body and dropping it here.

If they had been a little late in creating distance and escaping, everyone gathered here would have been in danger.

That a mage who used a technique with such power at the perfect timing to crush the situation all at once would have difficulty controlling his own power.

However, none of those present realized that the words just spoken had momentarily touched a fragment of the truth.

Lauder also shrugged, as if he wasn’t sure.

Meryl, who had returned to her human form, looked at the cell phone that was constantly ringing in her arms with a disgruntled expression.

“The secretariat is being flooded with calls. Other guys must have watched that makeshift sun too.”

“They want the data.”

“At this point, we’ve achieved the goal of exhausting him, even if we couldn’t stop him, so isn’t that okay?”

“What? Exhaust?”

Meryl scoffed as if she was dumbfounded.

“It seems like you don’t know anything about flame-type spells. Do you think a flame mage of that level would be exhausted by a fight like this?”

“Meryl. You didn’t know much either until you got involved in the Dead Rise operation last time.”

“Shut up!”

Meryl said, hitting Angel’s empty head like ice.

“The more you fight, the more powerful flame-type magic becomes. The goal is to constantly burn fuel to stoke the fire.”

“……”

“Considering the form of the magic core that guy used earlier, he’s probably planning to use all the battles taking place in this city as a stepping stone.”

Meryl’s expression, who had returned to her girlish appearance, was unusually stern.

“That guy is really planning to go head-to-head with Gyonroe.”

“Hmm…”

Lauder heard those words and looked back in the direction Renok had disappeared.

It didn’t take long for a strange smile to form and disappear on his expressionless face.

“That might be useful in its own way.”

“What?”

“If we can’t stop him anyway, shouldn’t we find a way to use him to our advantage?”

* * *

The port located in District 47.

It was a place that was somewhat familiar to Renok, who had escaped through the gap created by the evaporation of the dam.

Splash!!

Renok, dragging his tired body, reached the vicinity of the port and quietly climbed onto the pier.

With a flick of his wrist, he blew away all the moisture from his body and calmly walked through the desolate port.

Hiding his body among the containers piled up everywhere, Renok leaned against the driver’s seat of a forklift that had stopped loading cargo.

“Hoo…”

When was the last time he visited this area?

He had played a game with Peisha Greeceburn, the commander of the Dead Rise, for gambling purposes.

This was the first time he had set foot in this area since then.

It was probably because District 47 itself was mostly set up as an environment for related businesses.

Renok slowly tapped his throbbing chest and fell into thought.

‘Now that I’ve activated the Red Star System, I need to use my time more tightly.’

The Red Star System, an amplification secret technique that increases the power of magic by shaping preheated flames into a magic core.

Another possibility that Renok had created by combining the ultimate flame magic with the barrier technique of Jintun [a fictional technique or style].

However, from the moment he activated the Red Star System, it was tantamount to giving up the control of magic power that he had barely been maintaining.

‘It’s an extreme activation method that maximizes magic power and creates a turning point outside. There are no limiters other than controlling the number of cores.’

From now on, he could only use all magic at near maximum power unless he borrowed a medium like a lighter or a flint.

It was a strange phenomenon that occurred because he had stabilized the magic power that had been fluctuating unstably between 1 and 100 by setting it all to 100.

‘First, I need to deal with the guys moving to secure Lapis’s safety…’

By moving Evan and Gyonroe’s identities simultaneously within Balkan, he would solve the wanted order and Lapis’s ascension ritual at the same time.

A means to achieve Renok’s own goal of witnessing the qualifications for ascension.

As he continued to ponder this, Renok was about to close his eyes for a moment.

Click.

“……”

He opened his eyes at the sensation of a cold gun barrel touching his temple.

Before he knew it, dozens of superhumans were surrounding the forklift where Renok was sitting.

A menacing crowd staring intently at Renok from all directions, not distinguishing between container boxes, ships, and yachts.

“…I’ll ask first.”

Renok slowly took out a cigar from his pocket and asked.

“What’s your affiliation?”

“You’ve got some nerve.”

A middle-aged man with a long mustache said with a sneer.

He was carrying a long howitzer on his back, aiming it as if he would blow up Renok along with the forklift.

“Is that important when you’re being chased like a pig being slaughtered all over the city?”

“It is important.”

Renok nodded, and someone among the people who were looking at each other opened their mouth.

“Bloodweave Fleet. We’re merchants.”

“So, you’re human traffickers.”

“……”

The atmosphere around them turned menacing at Renok’s words, which immediately hit the core.

Renok looked back at those people and gave a gloomy smile.

“Looking at you gathered at the port, you probably use ships to transport stolen goods, and you’ve joined hands with the navy, who are more corrupt than the defense forces. Judging by the fact that I haven’t heard of your name, is this a newly established organization?”

“What does an outsider know…!!”

“Ah, my apologies.”

Renok raised his hand, stopped him, and laughed.

“I was a little relieved to think that the firewood I can burn to my heart’s content has finally taken the bait.”

“What?”

It was true that things had been delayed due to his unexpected encounters with acquaintances, but that wasn’t the picture Renok had drawn.

The fundamental reason why he had been wandering around the outer districts while deliberately showing his face with a wanted order.

Wasn’t it to make sure that everyone watching could clearly see the process of Evan Martinez growing stronger in this city?

The meaning of burning Balkan was not a trivial story limited to structures or facilities, but a calculation that included the value of the lives of those who were aiming for Renok after hearing the wanted order.

And, the human trash that could be burned without any hesitation in this city was as plentiful as the stars in the night sky.

Just like the human traffickers standing right in front of Renok now.

Whoosh!!

At that moment, the sky over the port lit up brightly, and then began to glow endlessly red.

Everyone gathered here momentarily raised their eyes at the strange phenomenon, and then could never lower them again.

Kugwagwagwagwa!!

A huge ship, blazing fiercely, was falling down on top of Renok’s head.

At the overwhelming sight, everyone stopped, unable to say anything.

“I have a lot to do before I reach the Magic Tower.”

Renok muttered, looking at the light of the sun rapidly approaching the ground.

“I won’t go easy on you guys.”

“Wh, what nonsense-!!!”

“Are you planning to die here together!!”

[Eight Flames World]

[Infernal Flame Abyss]

Kwaaaaaaaa!!!!!

* * *

Gyonroe’s Magic Tower, located in District 49.

The floor area where business departments that had directly moved in for the item business were located.

A woman with navy blue hair was busily walking around between them.

“This item works on a mysterious principle. A safety device that only activates after the power is turned off.”

Click.

“A magic signal flare with a built-in button… It’s convenient, but wouldn’t this make the catalytic reaction too slow?”

Woong!

“Ah, I’ve seen it in the center. I heard it’s an artifact that can compress volume only for pure water. It hasn’t been commercialized yet because it can’t solve the weight problem-”

“Um, Lady Lapis…”

Lapis, who was looking at the items with a curious expression, was followed by her attendants, who were sweating profusely.

One of the Magic Tower’s managers, after watching the situation, cautiously spoke to Lapis.

“The Tower Lord has allowed you to move around, but it’s difficult to touch items that are being traded in the market.”

“Why is that?”

“Well, some of the items here are not entirely owned by the Magic Tower…”

“Hmm…”

Lapis tilted her head as if she didn’t like it, and then smiled brightly.

“I don’t want to.”

“Yes?”

“It was Gyonroe who kidnapped me and locked me up in the tower without my permission.”

“……”

“I don’t know when I’ll die at his hands, so can’t I at least satisfy my curiosity?”

“That…”

While the attendants were stammering, unable to say anything, someone grabbed Lapis’s collar from behind and lifted her up.

“That’s enough.”

“Oh?”

A sturdy physique with broad shoulders. Above it, the head of a sturdy eagle soared.

Felix was standing there, holding Lapis by the scruff of her neck with one hand.

“These people don’t know anything about this matter. You won’t get anything out of them by harassing them like that.”

“I have no intention of blaming them. Aren’t you misunderstanding something?”

“Misunderstanding?”

Felix’s eyes flashed intensely as he stared at Lapis.

“Are you talking about how you were running around the tower like you were having fun, trying to find loopholes in the barrier?”

“……”

“Your actions in the center were too profound to pretend to be naive. Rather, that might be why you can imitate an innocent child.”

“Did it look like that?”

Only after hearing Felix’s calm admonition did Lapis’s expression slowly change.

The cheerful atmosphere instantly subsided, and her face also returned to an expressionless one.

“That’s a shame. I was just trying not to cause any concern.”

“……”

“Sir Felix…”

“Go ahead.”

Felix said without looking back at the hesitant attendants.

“I’m watching the lighthouse keeper. I’ll call you when it’s time.”

“You’re planning to lock me up in that underground chamber again.”

“Although there is a promise from Ban, I cannot allow access to all the secret places of the tower.”

Felix nodded as Lapis tilted her head and spoke.

“Please stay in a designated place for about half a day every day. I would like to ask for your understanding regarding this matter.”

“……”

Lapis looked at Felix with her sky-blue eyes without any answer.

Her transparently shining eyes seemed as if they were about to see right through Felix’s inner self.

However, Felix did not avoid her gaze and calmly met it.

“You want something.”

Lapis asked.

“A wish for someone else, not yourself. Do you want to borrow the power of my ability?”

Did she see through in a short time that the lighthouse keeper’s ability of precognition was needed to change the future of Antares [a fictional place or concept]?

Clearly, it was proof that Lapis was the successor who had inherited the power and mission of the lighthouse keeper in the most legitimate way.

“…That’s right.”

Therefore, Felix honestly admitted it instead of trying to hide or conceal it.

“But I have no intention of using that as a condition for a deal. Regarding this matter, I intend to follow Ban’s decision thoroughly.”

“……”

It was not Felix’s job to bring up the story of Antares now.

At this point, when he had not yet heard the full story of this matter from Ban, he should refrain from rashly interfering with Lapis’s decision.

If Lapis hadn’t brought it up first, Felix would not have said a word about it from the beginning.

“I’ve seen many people while walking around the tower.”

Lapis said, staring silently at Felix.

“Regardless of the standards of good and evil, various people were staying in this tower and getting along in their own way.”

It had already been several days since she had been trapped in the tower, and in the meantime, she had seen several people related to the tower.

The various people she had met, including Jenny and Felix, did not seem to be evil at all.

Rather, their cheerful and boisterous behavior had an appealing aspect to Lapis as well.

However, while feeling sorry for Lapis’s situation, they were all thoroughly following the decisions of the mage named Gyonroe.

Lapis wanted to know where the emotions and motivations that came from the discrepancy in their actions were coming from.

“Why is a warrior with such firm standards as you working with that mage?”

“That’s an interesting question. Well, Ban is certainly not a good person.”

Felix laughed out loud at those words.

“In a sense, it’s true that he has a much more eerie side than the rumors. But even so, Ban is still human.”

“Human, you say?”

“He challenges impossible goals, and even while trying to catch up with his unfulfilled heart… he still tries to share the same emotions as us.”

Felix’s expression changed to a wistful one for a moment.

“Having gone through the great pilgrimage once, I can tell. It’s proof of his effort to not let go of his humanity while reaching transcendence, something that ordinary people like us can’t even dream of.”

“……”

Felix smiled at Lapis, who had closed her mouth.

“I think that’s what proves Ban’s character. How can I leave someone who is trying so hard not to let go of himself?”

Even after transcending the hierarchy and becoming an 8-level archmage, Ban had not changed.

He did not change even after crossing the line between life and death hundreds of times and returning alive from countless battlefields.

However, Felix knew that the immutability he felt every time he faced Ban, that unchanging nature, was not something that was easily given.

He knew that he was trying to stay the same as he was at the beginning.

Lapis also understood Felix’s words and let out a cold sigh.

“Can you be satisfied just by watching?”

“I’ve never thought about it that deeply. If I had to put it into words…”

Felix gave a wry smile.

“I believe in him.”

“……”

Even while reaching out to the sky, he is trying to keep his feet on the ground.

He knows that if he lets go of himself even a little, if he loses his balance and collapses even once, it will be irreversible.

And that mindset of valuing and protecting that value is the essence of why Felix trusts and follows Ban.

It was the power that he had from the moment he first met Ban, the nature of humbly accepting the process, not the result, and the attempt, not the achievement.

“Was that a sufficient answer?”

“…No. I cannot agree with the process of not choosing any means.”

Lapis shook her head.

“I don’t want even this moment of being kidnapped and forcibly bound to be an answer from that man.”

“I understand.”

“However, I agree that even such a mage should enjoy the time given through the postponement of destruction. So…”

Lapis obediently put down the item she was holding and slowly stood in front of Felix, nodding her head.

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Felix smiled and guided Lapis to the underground chamber.

Felix said as he walked along the slope where there were no stairs.

“Your guardian spirit seems to be quite fond of you. It will be very happy if you spend time with it.”

“It’s too energetic. It’s hard to play with it for long.”

“That’s good. If we tire out the lighthouse keeper, she won’t have time to think useless thoughts.”

“Is it okay to say that in front of me?”

Lapis smiled wryly and looked back at Felix before the door to the chamber closed.

“Still, I’d like to hear it someday. What is the strong wish that a warrior who survived the pilgrimage would have for others?”

“That’s enough for me.”

Felix smiled and turned his back.

He closed the door to the chamber and contacted the attendants, asking them to take his place.

Thud!!

A wide obsidian chamber illuminated by a soft light.

[Gyaoo~]

A pure white baby dragon, who had been sleeping soundly on its back, rushed out as soon as it saw Lapis.

However, Lapis’s eyes, as she stroked the spirit beast licking her hair, were calmly sunken, unlike before.

“……”

The precognitive ability that Lapis possessed was not simply a power that enhanced her own vision and transmitted it to the past and future.

It was the power to turn any space, coordinates, concepts, or objects that her gaze had once touched into a real ‘eye’.

It was the qualification that should be given to the lighthouse keeper who used the lighthouse as her eye to observe the outer sea.

And, the reason why she had gone around various places in the tower and met various people, even while deliberately troubling the attendants-

Chijik, chijijik…!!

As she closed her eyes and concentrated, the gaze of another person was reflected beyond her eyelids.

Through the eyes of an attendant standing nervously at the back of a large hospital room, she looked at Jenny and others standing in the center of the room.

In the center of the sickbed, a man wearing a wrestler’s mask, his whole body in tatters, was lying down powerlessly.

“Jenny!”

The figure of a bird-headed giant burst into the hospital room.

Felix, who had taken Lapis to the underground chamber, had immediately heard the news and come to the hospital room.

“Dylan collapsed and came back?!”

“Yes. It seems he went out on his own and clashed with a mage named Evan.”

The moment Lapis heard Jenny’s words, her heart sank greatly.

“Lapis.”

Whoosh!!

At that moment, darkness split beyond the obsidian chamber, and a green light flashed.

Ivelyn, who had walked out holding a visor in one hand, whispered, bringing her finger to her lips.

“Be quiet for now. Are you listening?”