Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 926

As Slane finished speaking, the attendees of the meeting began to move to prepare for the ritual.

They divided into those who would directly participate in the ritual to gain abilities and those who would assist, trading benefits among themselves.

The fighting spirit that had enveloped the ritual site had somewhat subsided with Kyolbaek siding with Lenok.

Perhaps it was because the other level 8s didn’t want to reveal their full power in a place where everyone was watching.

“Then, as promised, I’ll take the southwest trigram.”

“The north trigram. It has a larger capacity compared to the other axes of the magic circle. It’s best if someone who can handle it takes it.”

“It’s a shame that the west trigram went to Gyeonrye first. It had the most suitable capacity and was likely to have good spiritual energy…”

Ollinic, Rage, Tillion, and others who decided to participate in the ritual stepped forward one by one to organize the situation.

Those who refused to participate from the start, including the superpowered giant and the red-haired man wearing a mask, only occasionally joined the conversation.

Watching this, Lenok could guess why Slane had focused most of the meeting’s content on the manifestation ritual.

Just by discussing and cooperating on the ritual’s progress, the exchange between level 8 superhumans, which had been almost nonexistent, was now taking place.

He must have judged that by simply explaining the ritual and urging participation, the exchange, which was the purpose of the meeting, would naturally follow.

‘Slane, was it? I don’t remember hearing that name…’

With Jenny’s help, he had received the data lost during the civil war, but there were too many powerful individuals whose names were unknown.

Considering the size of the megacity, it was impossible to know all the superhumans, but a mediator like Slane must have been a figure with an unusual reputation.

It would be easier to get information from Kyolbaek or Feisha, who he was at least acquainted with, later.

Lenok, who already possessed a magic circle, didn’t need any other preparations; he just needed to head to one of the eight axes of the Postnatal Trigram Magic Circle [a specific type of magic circle].

Just as Lenok was about to leave the ritual site, a familiar telepathic voice reached him from behind.

[The hearing. I watched it with great interest.]

*Clatter!*

A thin man with a metal sphere rotating instead of a head. Ollic, who had finished his agreement with the others, smiled and greeted Lenok.

[You don’t kill people easily, you say. Anyone can make such a bold statement. It was a perfect summary of your ambiguous nature.]

“Did you come to mock me?”

*Thud!*

At Lenok’s retort, Kyolbaek, who was standing next to him, firmly slammed his spear down.

The loud noise caused the other attendees to turn their heads, and Ollinic shrugged as if he couldn’t help it.

[It was praise close to admiration. It’s a pity that my sincerity wasn’t conveyed.]

“It sounds like a mockery close to ridicule.”

[A thousand defeats are regrettable, but I can accept this much. More than anything…]

Ollinic’s expressionless gaze seemed to turn towards Kyolbaek, who was standing next to Lenok.

[Not only did you return the Turyeon Gate guardian in one piece, but you’re also using him like a servant. If you’re a man, that is.]

“…”

Ollinic didn’t even try to hide his provocation.

However, Kyolbaek quietly nodded at Ollinic’s sarcasm.

“It’s been a while, Ollinic.”

[Of course, it has, Azlan. It’s been 25 years since you met me with a clear mind.]

“…”

[You condemned and ridiculed our ways, saying that we shouldn’t avoid madness like that. Do you remember?]

Ollinic asked in a joking tone.

[So, I wonder if the esteemed guardian has honed his martial arts and attained a noble spirit.]

“I was foolish. It was only after my murderous intent reached my granddaughter that I could finally admit that I was broken.”

Kyolbaek said calmly.

“I won’t make excuses. I was wrong. I broke a long time ago and stopped here.”

“…”

“I’m not in a better state now, so I’m keeping my distance from the Turyeon Gate. If I had to put it simply, I’ve only returned to before I couldn’t turn back time.”

Claude Azlan was able to escape madness because Lenok had regressed his mind with Kaise’s pocket watch.

It wasn’t a solution to the fundamental problem, but only a return to before it got worse.

Kyolbaek understood that fact better than anyone.

“Now, the place where I should be is here.”

Claude raised his spear and pointed to Lenok’s side.

“It’s next to my benefactor, who can put an end to me even if I break down again, so I don’t go astray anymore.”

[A benefactor who can put an end to you…]

Ollinic’s tone became thin.

[Is that man able to give you a more perfect resolution than what we talked about?]

“What’s the point of saying it?”

“…”

Kyolbaek smiled, and Ollinic fell silent.

Ollinic, who had been staring at Kyolbaek silently, slowly turned around.

[If you’re satisfied with having more time to regret, then I have nothing more to say.]

“Thank you for your concern.”

Ollinic didn’t respond to Kyolbaek’s calm greeting.

Instead, he nodded towards Lenok as if to greet him and left the ritual site first.

Belatedly, Kyolbaek added, as if explaining to Lenok.

“Ollinic is skilled in manipulating metal, and I received help from him due to an old connection. This spear is also a weapon made in the Gisu Shrine’s furnace.”

“I know.”

“…”

“Seeing you pathetic losers comforting each other is truly tearful.”

Feisha mocked from behind Lenok, as if she had seen something very amusing.

“If a failed guy and a guy who’s going to fail get together and lick each other, does it offer some comfort?”

“…Grisban.”

Kyolbaek turned to Feisha with a clouded expression and shook his head.

“There’s no need to deny it. You’re also seeing a similar end through me.”

“Ha! What nonsense.”

“What Ollinic said while laughing at us wasn’t wrong. Didn’t you and I both have the spirit to challenge the heavens with a single spear?”

Kyolbaek, standing in front of Feisha, looked up at the sky with his hands behind his back.

“But the human heart cannot be fully contained in a spear. Just as I did, you will also face an end where you go mad, unable to recognize even those close to you.”

“That’s an absurd thing to say. Do you think I transcended the hierarchy without even that resolve?”

A sharper sneer appeared on Feisha’s lips.

“You broke your mind and hierarchy to pursue power, and yet you wanted a peaceful death? Did you think you could lie in bed and close your eyes while your grandchildren watched?”

“…”

Feisha relentlessly mocked the silent Kyolbaek.

“If you abandoned one thing, you should have given up another. If you wanted more than that and didn’t want to give up even one thing, isn’t that just greed, old man?”

“Grisban. Should I shut your mouth like I did at the meeting?”

When Lenok opened his mouth with a bothered expression, Feisha finally shut her mouth.

No matter how strong she was, she didn’t want to have her face slammed into the floor by magic again.

Lenok sighed softly at Feisha’s appearance, still not hiding her murderous intent as she glared at Kyolbaek.

“I don’t know how Edan Bajur put a leash on a mad dog like you. Your way of speaking is so terrible that you stab people with the tip of your tongue, it’s a wonder you’re still alive with all your limbs intact.”

“It doesn’t change anything even if a weaker guy than me holds a grudge.”

Feisha sneered.

“Do you think those who can’t even take care of themselves would have the guts to harm me?”

“That’s why you acted without knowing your place, got defeated by me, and ended up in this state.”

“…”

Feisha, who had become speechless, gritted her teeth.

“If we fight again, the result will be different. Next time, I will definitely…”

“It’s time. Let’s move.”

Kyolbaek cleared his throat and moved, following Lenok, who didn’t even pretend to listen.

They rose above the open ceiling of the ritual site and walked out into the ruins of the satellite city, where darkness had fallen.

Passing through the area where white sand was piled up, Lenok approached the flight zone where he had acquired the magic circle.

Feisha, with a flushed face, followed behind Lenok, continuing to mutter.

“And don’t compare Bajur-nim to the likes of you. In the first place, you can’t even compare your ability to lead an organization…”

“Wait.”

The moment Feisha’s face was horribly distorted after being openly ignored twice.

Lenok stopped walking and immediately turned his gaze towards a corner of the ruins.

“Someone’s there.”

*Thud!*

Immediately after, something heavy jumped out from a collapsed building and approached Lenok at an incredible speed.

*Dudududu!*

A mechanical spider with eight legs moving at high speed and red eyes flashing.

The moment Kyolbaek blocked Lenok and strongly gripped his spear, raising it.

*Clank!*

The back of the mechanical spider opened wide, and someone poked their face out from inside.

“Ah, you were here. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find you before the ritual.”

“…”

Lenok nodded after confirming the face of the person who came out from the mechanical spider’s back.

“One of the attendees who was at the ritual site. What’s the matter?”

A frail old man. One of the superhumans who showed interest when Slane explained Anathema’s innate abilities.

He seemed like a non-combat superhuman on the surface, but his spirit was quite significant, so Lenok remembered him.

At Lenok’s words, the old man nodded with a relieved expression.

“Oshuto Duris. A humble craftsman.”

“…Duris?”

“Oh, it seems you know us.”

When Lenok questioned the familiar name, Oshuto nodded.

“It’s been over 20 years since I handed over the workshop to my son and retired, but I had to attend this meeting because of an old connection. It was a troublesome matter.”

“…”

There were many famous workshops on the continent, but only a very few were renowned for making artifacts.

The Duris Workshop was one of the most elite workshops, famous for making top-tier artifacts used by high-level superhumans.

Wasn’t the Nix insignia that Lenok used to erase his presence also a product of the Duris Workshop?

“Bringing subordinates isn’t allowed.”

Feisha, who was standing blankly behind them, asked in a prickly tone.

“Where did you hide that hideous mechanical spider?”

“I just made it myself.”

“What?”

Oshuto answered nonchalantly to Feisha’s words.

“I made it using discarded metal and electronic parts nearby. It wasn’t difficult because the sand mixed in the parts didn’t damage the equipment.”

“…”

The mechanical spider that Oshuto was riding was a multi-meter-tall, eight-legged walking weapon comparable to a tank.

In particular, the mobility it had just shown was extraordinary, enough to make even Kyolbaek wary for a moment.

And he was saying that he didn’t just secretly bring and hide a riding device with such performance, but that he had made it himself just now.

Kyolbaek also understood the meaning of those words and was slightly impressed.

“You seem to be a very skilled craftsman.”

“What do you want?”

“It’s a bit embarrassing to ask such a favor on our first meeting, but would it be alright if I accompanied you during the ritual?”

“What?”

“After watching the meeting earlier, the atmosphere seemed unusual.”

Oshuto said, clearing his throat awkwardly.

“It’s not that I’m not tempted by Anathema’s innate abilities, but it seems like returning safely from the meeting is the priority.”

“Of course, I’m not offering this for nothing. After the meeting, I can have my son commission any artifact you desire from the workshop.”

When Lenok didn’t respond, Oshuto added slyly,

“Considering that all work at the Duris Workshop is booked three years in advance, I believe this is a pretty good offer.”

It was quite an unexpected proposal for someone attending the meeting, but Lenok understood Oshuto’s reasoning.

He must have felt significantly threatened by the tense atmosphere among the attendees during the meeting.

Instead of directly participating in the ritual to gain benefits, he wanted to stay under Lenok’s protection.

His long experience must have led him to guess that the most dangerous time would be during the ritual itself.

“…Alright. However, you must stay well away before the ritual begins.”

The reward was quite generous compared to the offer.

Since his identity was clear and credible, there was no reason to worry about unnecessary betrayal.

Oshuto immediately agreed.

“I understand. From your perspective, you might think I’d try to interfere with the ritual.”

“Damn it, another useless burden…”

Paysha grumbled, but Lenok ignored her and immediately led Oshuto forward.

The mechanical spider that Oshuto had created was not only specialized for mobility but also capable of clearing white sand and ruins.

Thump!!

Clatter!!

[By the way, seeing you in such an open space, you really are young.]

Oshuto said as he manipulated the mechanical spider to clear the path ahead.

[I didn’t realize it when I heard the rumors, but your talent is truly something to envy.]

“That’s not something a master craftsman should say.”

[It’s not like I dreamed of working in a workshop since I was young. When I was younger, I wanted to be a mercenary traveling the world.]

Oshuto said, as if recalling an old memory.

[Now I know there’s always someone better, but I can’t help but regret not having tried it.]

“It’s better to keep it as a regret.”

Lenok gestured with his eyes towards the spear wielders on either side of him.

“Here are two examples of people who lived as they pleased and got their noses caught in their own karma.”

“Heh heh…”

“…Shit.”

Kyolbaek gave a wry smile, and Paysha made a face as if she had bitten into a bug.

Oshuto, clearing his throat awkwardly, quickly moved the mechanical spider to clear the path.

Thump!!

[We’ve arrived. This must be the western axis of the magic circle assigned to you for this manifestation ritual.]

The vast flight zone where Lenok first encountered another superhuman in the satellite city.

A pillar of light soared between the runway split by the battle with Habek and the half-destroyed airport facilities.

The Post-Heaven Eight Trigrams Magic Circle [a complex, eight-sided magical formation] that surrounded the entire satellite city of Etanok.

One of the axes that controlled the west among the eight directions of the magic circle.

[Then, as promised, I’ll wait behind the flight zone for the ritual to begin. Good luck.]

Oshuto disappeared through the passages of the airport facilities, and Lenok turned his gaze towards Kyolbaek and Paysha.

“Paysha, monitor the outside from the city outskirts. Azlan, I’ll leave Oshuto Duris to you.”

“What the hell, why do I have to do this menial task-”

“Are you suspecting Master Duris?”

“I don’t think that man is a high-level sorcerer capable of interfering with the ritual. However, it’s clear that he has a hidden motive for asking me for protection.”

Lenok glanced in the direction where Oshuto had disappeared.

“If he’s planning to use us, he’ll pay the price, but we need to be careful.”

“Hmm… I understand.”

Kyolbaek nodded and stomped his foot, his figure instantly landing on top of the distant control tower.

Paysha, even while annoyed, moved her position outside the runway, and Lenok finally stood before the pillar of light.

“Now, then…”

After raising the rotating Eight Trigrams Magic Circle behind him, he slowly stepped into the light.

As he entered, his mana was consumed, and the speed of the magic circle’s rotation increased. The pillar of light that had soared into the sky bent and stretched across the night sky.

Whoosh…!!

The eight pillars of light that had risen from all over Etanok bent against the sky and intersected in the middle of the city.

The focal point of the light, intersecting from eight directions, struck the ground, landing on the altar of the ritual site that had revealed its ceiling.

Koo-ooo-ooo!!

Lenok, having completed the hand seals and stepped out of the pillar, spoke to Kyolbaek.

“I’ve started the ritual. Now, we just need to wait for Anathema’s body to manifest on the altar of the ritual site.”

“…”

“Azlan?”

Even if he was standing on the control tower, he couldn’t have missed it, but there was no response from Kyolbaek.

Lenok frowned and immediately used Blink [a teleportation technique] to ascend to the top of the control tower.

“…Ban. It seems something unusual has happened.”

Claude Azlan finally turned his gaze with a strangely stiff face.

He, who had been watching the back of the facility while his white robe fluttered, said,

“As you said, I was watching Master Duris’s posture, but even after the ritual ended, he hasn’t moved from that spot.”

“…”

Kyolbaek asked with a serious expression,

“Isn’t that quite different from the attitude of someone who wanted our protection?”

“…Let’s check.”

Lenok said that and headed towards the maintenance area behind the airport facilities with Kyolbaek.

Among the sand-covered parts and scrap metal, the mechanical spider sat with its eight legs folded.

Its red eyes were glowing as before, but it didn’t react even when Lenok approached.

Lenok, raising his mana and standing right in front of the mechanical spider, asked,

“What about life signs?”

“I don’t sense any. But that was the case from the first time Master Duris appeared.”

“It’s a workshop that creates top-tier aura-blocking artifacts like Nix’s emblem. It’s not strange, but…”

However, it was strange that it didn’t react even though Lenok and Kyolbaek were so close.

Was the desire for protection just an excuse, and did he run away, leaving only the mechanical spider behind while the ritual was in progress?

Clank!

Kyolbaek, raising his spear, asked,

“I can split that spider’s head open right now.”

“…No. Wait.”

Lenok, narrowing his eyes, slowly approached the mechanical spider.

He silently climbed onto the mechanical spider and extended his mana threads to open the cockpit.

Clank!!

The mechanical spider showed no resistance or movement even as the seat opened.

“…”

However, Lenok’s expression, looking down at the cockpit, had become much colder than before.

Kyolbaek’s expression, who belatedly checked the inside of the cockpit, also stiffened slightly.

“This is…”

The figure of Oshuto Duris was sitting, gripping the control stick.

The old man, with a look of relief on his face, had a coin-sized hole in his forehead, with blood and brain matter mixed and dripping down.

Below his feet in the cramped cockpit, his bodily fluids had pooled, emitting an unbearable stench of death.

The former owner of the Duris Workshop, an 8-level master, was dead.

The moment Lenok opened his mouth to say something about that fact.

“Damn it, Fortify!!!”

KWA-AA-AAANG!!!

A tremendous roar erupted from the other side of the runway, along with Paysha’s sharp voice.

“Something’s coming from outside. Prepare!!!”

[Squeeeeeeak…!!!!]

From the other side of the white sand desert, a strange shape rippled like a wave.

Thousands of monsters, seemingly made by clumping flesh together, were running towards the city in a group, trampling the desert.

* * *

Thousands of monsters, sprinting across the desert with indescribable, bizarre screams.

The monsters, seemingly forcibly created by clumping human flesh together, densely covered the desert outside the satellite city at an incredible speed.

Thud thud thud thud!!!

They approached the runway area in an instant, stepping on grotesque forelimbs and hindlimbs that looked like a mix of human hands and feet.

[Squeeeeeeak!!]

[Squeak!!]

[Gurgle…!!!]

They screamed incessantly, like pigs being slaughtered or people being strangled.

Paysha cursed and raised her spear.

“These monster bastards aren’t affected by the siege barrier. What are they?”

[Squeeeeeeak!!!]

She burst a charging mass of flesh with a light thrust of her spear, like a balloon.

Pop!!

Blood, flesh, muscle, and bone exploded, and Paysha was drenched in the bodily fluids.

Paysha, her whole body instantly soaked in blood, licked her lips and grinned.

“They look like shit, but their blood tastes just like a human’s. Interesting bastards.”

Whoosh!!

The wind created by twisting and swinging her spear instantly pushed back the masses of flesh.

Crack crack!!

Crunch crunch!!

“That’s more like it, you bastards!!!”

Paysha laughed as she crushed more than a dozen monsters between the cracks in the runway with a single gesture.

“Come on, you vermin. I’ll kill you all myself!!!”

Along with her sharp shout, gruesome sounds of tearing flesh echoed from the other side of the runway.

Kyolbaek, watching the scene from afar, tilted his head with a troubled expression.

“This is a strange thing. What on earth is going on…”

At the same time as Anathema’s manifestation ritual began, an 8-level master died, and an unidentified attack began from the city outskirts.

Furthermore, it was impossible to even guess who had killed the master or who was behind the attack on the satellite city.

While Kyolbaek was pondering the anomalies that had occurred almost simultaneously on both sides of the airport, Lenok reached out towards Oshuto’s corpse and said,

“Azlan. You need to go to the ritual site and deliver the news.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve started the manifestation ritual, but it will take time to complete. At least until Anathema’s body manifests, we need to protect this place.”

“So, I should focus on helping you protect this place right now…”

“No, we need to know who is attacking the city right now. This is a bigger problem than I thought.”

Lenok bent down and rubbed the pool of blood under his feet.

The fight was so intense that the remains of the flesh monsters Paysha was killing were already flowing this far.

Lenok, gripping a lump of blood with his gloved hand, stared at it with a sunken gaze.

“It’s the result of synthesizing living human flesh, leaving only the most basic instincts and removing their intelligence. It’s not something that can be done easily, regardless of its grotesque appearance.”

“…”

The human body and mind are much more fragile than one might think.

Even a small shock can lead to death, and most organs stop functioning and die the moment their connections are severed.

To synthesize human flesh with different genes and blood types and still keep it alive, as is happening now, requires much more delicate skill and know-how than one might think.

“If a force is so skilled at playing with the human body like this, isn’t it obvious who’s behind it?”

Leaving the surprised Kyolbaek behind, Lenok turned his gaze towards the outside of the city.

“The Order is involved. They’ve been watching this place since before the meeting started.”