Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 919

Chiiiiiiik!!

Each time the dark red lava dripped, irritating noises and heat haze rose.

A lava lake, pooled in the center of the dark cavern, radiated intense heat.

The waterfall of heat pouring down from above maintained and formed the shape of a lake that shouldn’t exist under natural circumstances.

The 18th floor of the Machine Core Palace, the deepest part, the Furnace of the Abyss.

“Lord Palace Master.”

On a metal platform at the edge of the lake.

A woman in a suit stood with her hands respectfully clasped, and spoke.

“The tempering is ready. You should stop coughing now to cool down.”

[……Hmm, has it already been that long?]

At that moment, a languid voice echoed from the middle of the massive lava lake.

Thud!!

A complex metal sphere shot up from the lake, and beneath it, a normal human body appeared.

As the metal sphere that replaced his head rotated, the body below his neck slowly walked across the lake.

A bizarre sight, seemingly unaffected by the heat of the lava that could melt even metal.

Chiiik!!

He walked out of the lake, lava chunks dripping between his arms and shoulders.

With a flick of his hand, he shook off the remaining heat and put on the robe that had been prepared.

As he sat on the armchair next to the lava lake, the woman in the suit approached and carefully began to caress the metal sphere.

“I will adjust it in the order of Reverse Gold, Auspicious Raft, Stop Cruelty, and Silk Technique.”

The Machine Core Palace, which manipulates techniques that control the bias of metal.

However, the technique is very delicate, complex, and can only be established under an organic balance.

To wield the contradiction of ‘bias’ within the laws of the technique, the caster must be aware of the perfect balance.

‘Tempering’ is the process of periodically adjusting the caster so that they can correctly perceive this balance.

Because human thoughts and judgments are never neutral, they are biased and flawed.

It is the process of hammering and refining the contents of the mind in the heat beyond limits to correct them properly.

It was clear evidence that the techniques of the Machine Core Palace no longer functioned as a power for humans.

Clatter!

Black, silver, gold, and red metals mixed and rotated, emitting a strange noise.

Olinic, the One-Eyed Brain, who had entrusted the adjustment of the sphere to the woman’s touch, let out a soft sigh.

[I’m tired, Laquin. I feel even more tired these days.]

“If you hadn’t given two sparks to Chun-beon, you could have rested more comfortably in the furnace,” Laquin, the woman, replied calmly.

“The spark of the Strange Flame and the color of the Thought Spring. They were too valuable to give to a rootless mage.”

[Laquin… I told you it couldn’t be helped.]

Olinic replied in a slow, drowsy tone.

[If I hadn’t intervened, the showdown between Chun-beon and Gyeon-roe would have been delayed much longer than scheduled. In the worst case, it might have dragged on until before the meeting.]

“……”

[He was a cautious man, not like a pyromancer. He wouldn’t have moved before calculating his chances of winning. In fact, the prowess he showed during the showdown was truly astonishing, but…]

Olinic shrugged.

[They say the success or failure of human endeavors is determined by the heavens. It was a little lacking for a mage who opens the sky and calls down lightning.]

“I saw the underlings discussing the outcome of the fight at the time,” Laquin replied calmly.

“They said that if the thought entity hadn’t interfered, the outcome might have been different.”

[Oh, really?]

“Of course, I scolded them and locked them in the Golden Chain Room for a week as punishment…”

[……]

At Laquin’s answer, which seemed to indicate she didn’t understand, Olinic raised his gaze with a bewildered look.

[No, Laquin. I was asking what the conclusion was. Did you lock them up for a week without even listening to the end?]

“They said they were just discussing an argument that was trending on the deep web. It didn’t seem worth listening to.”

[Hmph… I thought it wasn’t wrong, so I was going to listen to the details.]

“Excuse me?”

[That showdown was deliberately settled with room for more. It seems there are still many insightful people in the shadows.]

At Olinic’s casual remark, Laquin’s expression slightly hardened.

“…Are you saying that the two mages agreed on the outcome beforehand?”

[I don’t know the specific circumstances. Who knows what kind of conversation took place within Chun-beon’s domain?]

Olinic said, resting his head on Laquin’s hand.

[However, it’s clear that they prioritized their own goals over the immediate victory or defeat. Chun-beon wanted his master, and Gyeon-roe wanted to eliminate the thought entity, so the agreement must have been quick. That’s why the conclusion was reached so quickly after the domain expansion.]

“In that case…”

[You thought it was a pity that I gave the sparks of the Strange Flame and the Thought Spring to Chun-beon, but I think that if it wasn’t now, I wouldn’t have been able to use them in this way.]

Olinic muttered.

[The Strange Flame had become a wicked power for adjustment, and the spark of the Thought Spring would eventually belong to her. It was enough to give it away before its value dropped and use it as a catalyst to accelerate Chun-beon’s actions.]

“I don’t think it was a power that would lose its value so easily, as you say.”

[That’s also true. Chun-beon probably didn’t feel like she had tested its performance to the fullest.]

Olinic said leisurely.

[If it didn’t burn everything and something remained, it wouldn’t be strange for the flames to rise again from the ashes.]

Laquin’s expression changed slightly as she belatedly understood Olinic’s words.

“…Are you perhaps anticipating a rematch between the two archmages?”

[Well, it’s not something I can control right now. However, even if there was one defeat, it’s clear that their talent is comparable to Gyeon-roe’s.]

Woo-oong!!

At the same time as Laquin released her hand, Olinic’s sphere rotated violently, quickly finding its place.

Through days of tempering and adjustment, the technique was refined, and perfection was found in the lava lake.

Olinic, who had risen from his seat wearing his robe, looked down at Laquin and smiled.

[If even that defeat left room for more, wouldn’t there be a chance to use it again someday?]

“It’s hard to imagine. I don’t think it’s likely that the paths of such monsters will cross again.”

[Well, maybe.]

Olinic didn’t bother to argue against Laquin’s blunt denial.

Instead, he slowly raised his hand and drew up his magic power.

At that moment, the entire Furnace of the Abyss began to shake violently.

The metal parts that wrapped around the entire furnace resonated with his will, swirling and rising into the air.

The Extreme Bias Golden Chain.

Zero-Form Full Wheel Golden Sphere.

Kugugugugu!!!

Hundreds of thousands of metal parts swirled and assembled in the air, transforming into a massive metal sphere above the lava lake.

A smooth metal sphere with complex cracks and circuits densely engraved on its surface.

Pat!!

The moment Olinic took a light step, his figure instantly appeared on top of the massive sphere.

The moment the rotation speed of the sphere that replaced his head and the Full Wheel Golden Sphere rotating beneath his feet became the same.

Clatter!

The metal sphere instantly pulled Olinic into the sphere, enveloping him and emitting intense magic power.

[It’s time, Laquin. Let’s get ready to go out.]

Olinic muttered, a cold glint in his eyes through the metal sphere.

[Depending on how that lightning mage treats the other strong individuals at the meeting, I’ll be able to know for sure this time.]

* * *

“For someone who’s rumored to be holed up in their lab, you’re quite diligent.”

In a massive library filled with layers of old books and ancient documents.

Lenok, passing through bookshelves much taller than himself, asked as he walked along a hazy veil.

“You secretly came out to watch the last fight, and now you’ve taken up outings as a hobby?”

Oliviera’s personal laboratory.

A secret sanctuary created by dividing an area only allowed to level 8 extreme ability users.

It had been a while since he had come to this laboratory, which changed into various spaces depending on its purpose, like folding and unfolding the pages of a book.

[You’ve become quite rude since I last saw you.]

Oliviera, who was caressing an old parchment beyond the veil that swayed between the bookshelves, scoffed.

[It’s ridiculous to see you running around, forgetting all the favors you’ve received.]

“Enough with the insults, let’s talk about the meeting,” Lenok said, sitting on a pile of books and taking out an inhaler.

Instead of a lit cigarette that could cause sparks, he vaporized and inhaled a liquid made by mixing several medicinal herbs.

Chik, chik-

Lenok, grimacing at the foul taste, didn’t let go of the inhaler and asked.

“You seem quite relaxed for someone who contacted me through Virgil. Are you perhaps planning to attend this time?”

[There were too many embarrassing things to face the proud losers now.]

Oliviera sneered.

[I’d rather watch your antics one more time, it feels more beneficial.]

“That doesn’t sound very credible, considering you called me here at this time.”

Is there someone among the attendees of the meeting that Oliviera is reluctant to face directly?

She was indirectly hinting at it, but it was likely related to the grudges from the civil war.

Lenok shook his head calmly.

“I expected you wouldn’t come out directly. What are you planning?”

Lenok didn’t expect to be able to find the leader himself with Oliviera’s magic eye.

If she were to attend the meeting, he was going to ask her to track down the leader’s trail, but perhaps she had no intention of attending the meeting directly in the first place.

However, Oliviera’s next words were somewhat unexpected for Lenok.

[I’m planning to send a proxy.]

“A proxy? That’s not like you.”

Lenok frowned.

“You said you’d put up a siege barrier over the entire satellite city, so you’d try to block out any variables through magic. In fact, it’s highly likely that entry will be prohibited unless it’s a manifestation body equivalent to yourself.”

[Don’t worry, I have no intention of getting your help even if you don’t say so.]

Oliviera said in a leisurely voice.

[I’ve already prepared the necessary personnel. Even if it’s a meeting under the name of Anathema, it’s not difficult for me to bypass the procedures.]

“It seems there’s someone among the board of directors who can do that. Well, Virgil would be a good choice…”

If Oliviera, who has the magic eye of the Seven-Colored Treasure, is determined to manipulate things, nothing is impossible.

If she uses a high-ranking vampire like Virgil as a proxy, it might be possible to bypass the rules, given the nature of the ritual site where the entry of corpses is allowed.

Lenok said that, but he didn’t actually expect all the extreme ability users to participate directly.

Lenok, who was trying to find someone at the meeting, had no reason to do so, but surely someone would be scheming or manipulating things to safely gain an advantage.

“If you’ve already prepared the method and the personnel, why did you call me?”

[……]

Instead of answering, Oliviera tossed the old parchment she was holding over the veil.

The parchment that rolled out from beyond the hazy veil fell at Lenok’s feet.

Lenok picked it up and unfolded it, revealing the image of a goat shedding tears of blood.

“……”

[There are not many names left among the nobles of Ars Nova that maintain their lineage.]

Lenok frowned at the shape of the symbol, which didn’t try to hide its ominousness, and Oliviera spoke.

[Anathema is one of the very few names that still holds significant status and power among them.]

“…You were talking about Armas von Anathema.”

Lenok nodded.

He had remembered the name since he heard it from the necromancer.

The Eyes of Annihilation. A level 8 dragon mage. A hero of the civil war.

He had heard many modifiers, but the reason Lenok remembered the name so vividly was not for those reasons.

The necromancer’s attitude, as if the name Anathema itself had meaning.

That was what made Lenok feel a strong sense of unease.

“Is this blood-weeping goat the symbol of Anathema?”

[The reason why that name still holds power is surprisingly simple.]

Oliviera said.

[It’s because Anathema was a noble family that was exiled from the central city. It happened before the fall of Ars Nova, so it was ironically able to maintain its lineage.]

“……”

[But even such a trivial coincidence is an invaluable cause and destiny in this world.]

Oliviera’s eyes, which had completely turned towards Lenok from beyond the veil, flashed.

[It’s a deal, mage.]

Oliviera said.

[Contact Anathema and bring back a part of his body.]

“…That’s absurd.”

Lenok laughed, finally realizing what Oliviera wanted.

“You want me to bring a part of Anathema’s body during the meeting? Do you think that’s possible?”

[Although it has faded over time, Anathema’s talent and privileges are real. It’s a pure crystallization of causality that remained undamaged even during the fall of the central city.]

“Why do you need that?”

[What I’m trying to do is a miracle that can’t be expected to succeed without that kind of lucky causality.]

“……”

Oliviera’s gaze shone intensely.

[I’m not trying to get your understanding. Of course, I’ll pay a fair price.]

“A fair price.”

Lenok scoffed.

“It’s completely different from the Dead Rise. You know that, right?”

Capturing Paysha Grisburn, the ghoul of the Dead Rise, was something he had to do even if Oliviera hadn’t asked, because she was an enemy he had to defeat.

She was an opponent he would inevitably clash with in the process of building the magic tower, so he had just taken action in that process.

If it was a deal to bring a part of Anathema’s body, whom he had never met, the price Lenok had to receive would have to be very substantial.

“Even though I’m going along with the meeting, it’s essentially adding another task.”

Lenok inhaled the smoke through the inhaler and tilted his head back.

“I’ll have to check the success fee in advance, and I’ll have to get a down payment this time. If I don’t like even one of them, it’s off.”

[Do you think I’d just sit back and do nothing while moving a picky mage like you?]

“You’re going to pay the price yourself?”

[Of course.]

Oliviera smiled.

[If you succeed in this, I’ll personally help you go straight to the Outer City.]

“……”

Lenok’s expression disappeared from his face.

The rainbow-colored eyes that had been watching Lenok from beyond the veil curved into a smile.

[You seem to be beside yourself with joy.]

“…That’s an interesting answer.”

Lenok, who had put down the inhaler he was holding, stood up and smiled.

“I haven’t said anything about the Outer City.”

[Didn’t you consult with Sinclair’s Thought Spring about that?]

“Thought Spring…?”

Sinclair’s Magic Tower. If he consulted with someone about Kundara, could she be referring to Clarice Richelieu?

A mage who was a teacher to Aris Richelieu wouldn’t have carelessly spread that fact around.

While Lenok was wondering how she had found out, Oliviera said.

[To enter Kundara, you have to forcibly adjust the timing when the orbital period of the stars is distorted.]

“……”

[I can advance the timing that you would normally have to calculate by observing the rotation of the stars with my power.]

Come to think of it, Clarice had also mentioned the term orbital period.

She had said that there would be a change in the orbital period based on the barrier of the central front.

Lenok’s expression changed slightly as he recalled that far.

“Wait, could it be…”

[I’ll tell you the truth that the Thought Spring couldn’t say because of the laws of the long-lived species.]

Oliviera smiled.

[The barrier that currently blocks Ars Nova is the work of Kundara. If you take this fact as a down payment, would that be an answer?]