Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 961

Forbidden Arts (17)

Anathema’s residence, buried beneath the sewers of Sector 55.

A massive temple buried beneath the residence, and at its center, the forbidden artifact.

Lenok, who had encountered Ermong at the entrance of the maze-like temple, smiled and raised his hand.

“Even after making such a fuss in front of me, you still haven’t learned your lesson.”

[Ice Confinement]

Crack!!

Solid rings of ice seized Ermong’s arms and legs, freezing them in place.

Lenok, looking down at Ermong who was crumpled inside the ice coffin, crossed his arms.

“Still pretending to be Jaun Odis, huh? You must really like that body.”

“Ban, do you know him?”

“He’s an ancient black magician.”

Lenok answered Felix’s question as he approached.

“A wraith that possesses and leeches off human bodies, now affiliated with Pandemonium.”

“Pandemonium? This idiot is a member of Pandemonium?”

Paysha frowned in displeasure, glaring at Ermong.

“I met him once before because of the Underworld King, but things got messed up, and I couldn’t kill him then.”

Lenok, who had been staring at Ermong with a cold gaze, smiled.

“Seeing you appear before me again, it seems you’re losing your attachment to life.”

“Haha, hahahaha…”

Ermong gave an awkward laugh at Lenok’s cold words, avoiding his gaze.

“Well, you see, there’s a story behind it.”

“A story that ends with you dying by my hand?”

“No, no, no!!! Please, think about it.”

Ermong desperately began to plead at Lenok’s indifferent reply.

“I know great mages who aren’t bound by the flow of time might not understand, but for me, returning to this city is a very rare occasion.”

“…”

“Despite Pandemonium’s inhumane labor demands, I’ve been trying to avoid the Balkans all this time, so shouldn’t I be praised for that?”

“What the hell is this crazy bastard talking about?”

Paysha asked, dumbfounded, but Lenok was realizing the passage of time through Ermong’s words.

He had encountered Bagon, who claimed to be a disciple of the Underworld King, and Ermong not long after returning from the Machine City.

Considering what Lenok had experienced since then, it wasn’t a lie that it had been a long time for Ermong since he had been in the Balkans.

From his perspective, it might even be unfair that he ran into Lenok as soon as he returned to the Balkans.

“And seriously, why is a great mage so diligent? Don’t you have something like a day of rest?”

Ermong, who had keenly noticed that Lenok’s reaction wasn’t that sharp, immediately started grumbling.

“If you’re a tower lord, shouldn’t you be giving lectures at the academy, showing off your face, wasting time on personal research, and taking some kickbacks from your disciples?”

“I can see how you usually think of other mages.”

“Ban.”

Felix said with a displeased expression.

“This guy seems to have already forgotten what he was trying to do to us.”

“He’s pretending to forget.”

“…He seems like a con artist who’s mastered sophistry.”

“That’s an accurate assessment.”

Clank!

Felix raised his hammer.

“I’ll smash his head in.”

“Whoaaaah!! Help me!! Please save me!!”

Felix approached Ermong, who was struggling and begging for his life, with his hammer raised.

His body was bound by the ice rings, and he was rubbing his hands and feet together, tears welling up in his eyes.

However, Lenok knew that Ermong’s outward reaction didn’t fully explain his existence.

“It hasn’t even been a full day since Anathema’s death was officially announced.”

Lenok said, watching Ermong struggle from behind Felix, with his arms crossed.

“The fact that you’re here means you must have obtained information about the mansion and moved immediately after the meeting.”

“…”

At that moment, Ermong’s frantic struggles suddenly stopped.

Lenok, seeing this, smiled and asked.

“Where are the others and what are they doing?”

“…Haha.”

Ermong tilted his head back and quietly muttered.

“I guess my acting was too clumsy, wasn’t it?”

Kwaang!!!

At that moment, the binding of ice that held Ermong exploded, and a flash of light erupted.

A powerful flash that was so intense that Felix, who was swinging his hammer, had to deflect the shockwave.

Behind the burst of light, Ermong stood up with a perfectly fine complexion.

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember ever shedding tears since I took over this body.”

“…”

“It seems like even my tear ducts are drying up since I’m borrowing the body of a friend who never had any tears or blood in the first place.”

Ermong, adjusting his collar, winked at Lenok.

“I’ll be taking Anathema’s treasures. They’d be more useful to us impoverished criminals than to a great mage who grew up without any hardships, wouldn’t you say?”

“You’re not the one who gets to decide that.”

Lenok raised his hand.

“First, I’ll capture and kill you, then I’ll check the faces of the guys moving with you.”

[Self-Shadow Chant]

[Fluttering Thunder]

There was no warning.

From the shadow of Lenok’s raised hand, a silent, rotating thunderbolt was launched at supersonic speed.

It pierced through Ermong’s forehead at an invisible speed.

Kwaaaang!!

The thunderbolt that pierced Ermong’s body caused the temple walls made of gravity stones to collapse like dominoes.

In an instant, one side of the wall was completely destroyed, and a tingling thunderbolt lingered over the ruins.

Crack, crackle…!!!

The signs of lightning only settled down after all the destruction was over.

“Crazy…”

Even Paysha, who was watching, felt a moment of chills at the unrealistic speed of the chant.

The power of the specialized spell, which twisted the fragments of lightning to maximize its penetrating power, was impossible to defend against head-on.

However, even after blowing Ermong’s head off with a single gesture, Lenok’s expression did not change.

“Puhaha!! I, I’m alive.”

As expected, Ermong’s corpse stiffened and shattered, and a new Ermong rolled out.

Ermong, who was lying flat on the floor like a frog, looked at Lenok with a servile smile.

“Now, you understand, right? You can’t kill me inside this temple.”

“It’s a gem technique.”

The gem technique Ermong was using was the power of Jaun Odis, the original owner of that body.

It was a very useful technique that changed its abilities and systems depending on the gems used, proportional to the demanding condition of having to use and discard expensive gems as consumables.

Ermong must also know this, which is why he hasn’t discarded Jaun Odis’s body and is still using it.

“Are you using the temple’s gravity stones as a medium for the technique?”

“The purity of the gravity stones that Anathema collected in the temple is so high. Inside this temple, I can spam the technique without worrying about mana consumption.”

If there are enough catalyst gems, the mana consumption used for the gem technique is virtually negligible.

If the entire temple can be used as a material for the technique, it’s no wonder Ermong is showing confidence in front of Lenok.

“The original owner of this body has a lot of karma, but there’s a reason why I can’t throw it away.”

Ermong grumbled as if he had been waiting for this.

“It’s not cost-effective, not cost-effective at all. If you’re going to switch bodies, at least there shouldn’t be a performance downgrade, right? Surprisingly, there aren’t many friends who satisfy that kind of ride quality.”

“You’re talking like you’re switching cars.”

“Come on, then.”

Ermong, who had extended one hand and beckoned to Lenok, declared.

“How long do you think you can keep fighting me, who keeps surviving like a leech!”

“…”

Considering how confidently he was speaking, the content of his declaration was very modest.

Even in a blessed environment where he could use the gem technique without limit, he didn’t spout nonsense about being able to win against Lenok.

Ermong’s wise judgment, who was very aware of his own limitations.

“He’s an interesting guy. He says such shameful and servile things so confidently.”

Paysha muttered with a curious expression, gripping her spear.

“I’ve heard that Pandemonium is full of crazy people, but seeing it in person is something else.”

“Ban, the opponent is deliberately stalling for time.”

Felix nodded with a profound look.

“I’ll deal with him, so you should retrieve the forbidden artifact as soon as possible.”

Even to someone who didn’t know about Ermong, it was obvious that he was trying to hold Lenok back by spouting nonsense.

That was because Ermong didn’t enter this temple alone, but with other companions, and they were carrying out a ‘job’ to steal Anathema’s legacy in Ermong’s place.

In that case, wouldn’t it be more reasonable for Felix and Paysha to take care of Ermong while Lenok retrieved the forbidden artifact?

“If there had been any meaningful progress in stealing Anathema’s artifact, he wouldn’t have even shown his face in front of me.”

However, Lenok smiled and shook his head at Felix’s words.

“The very fact that he appeared first, drew attention, and provoked me means that he wants me to head to the temple first.”

“…Does that mean?”

“Either the resistance of the temple where the forbidden artifact is stored is stronger than expected, to the point that they need my help…”

Lenok took a step forward, stretched his arm out to the side, and muttered.

“Or they weren’t aiming for the forbidden artifact in the first place.”

Whirr!

As he stretched out one arm to the side, he simultaneously chanted two different types of magic.

The cold flames created by combining Fire Creation and Ice Wheel burst from Lenok’s fingertips.

The blue flames began to melt the gravity stones in all directions, collapsing the walls and ceiling.

Creation-Type Unique Magic: Alchemy Application

Dual Forging

[Azure Flame]

Kwaaaaaa!!!!

As the gravity stones in the temple melted following the cold flames that Lenok had unleashed, Ermong’s complexion changed completely.

“W-wait, wait a minute!!!”

“If you’re using a technique that uses gravity stones to stay alive, then all I have to do is melt all the gravity stones around you.”

Lenok smiled and reached out his hand towards Ermong.

“Shall we see how many more hidden cards you have left?”

“Uwaaaah!! I’m sorry! I don’t have any!!”

The moment Ermong screamed pathetically and rolled around on the ground.

Crack!

A path of cold ice spread across the floor, and someone grabbed Ermong by the collar at an incredible speed and slid away.

Screeeech!!!

The person who barely avoided the blue flames sweeping through the corridor raised their gaze.

“Soryu!!”

Ermong called out his name as if he had been waiting for him, and began to grumble.

“Damn it, you’re late!! I almost died.”

“You’re just busy flapping your mouth all day.”

Soryu, who had stood up, looked down at Ermong with a cold gaze and replied.

“Can’t you even do a simple task like guarding the outer perimeter of the temple properly?”

“Simple task? Does this look like a simple task to you? This is a matter of life and death here!!”

Ermong shouted loudly while lying on the floor.

“Then you deal with that mage or do whatever you want.”

“…Fine. That’s why I came out myself.”

Soryu’s cold eyes turned towards Lenok, who was standing far away.

“Don’t spam your techniques. If your abilities are read in front of that man, we might all die here.”

“It seems like we’ve already scraped the bottom of the barrel and our true colors have been revealed.”

Soryu ignored Ermong’s grumbling and slowly began to walk.

Crack…!!

As he scattered cold air, his entire body was covered in white frost.

Paysha, seeing the strange sight of sharp blizzards moving as if they were alive, slung her spear over her shoulder.

A member of Pandemonium and a royal of Kabahim. The possessor of innate ice-type abilities.

Lenok smiled as he watched Soryu walk towards him with a blank expression.

“You’re acting very confident for a thief who broke into a vault.”

“Let’s make a deal, Kyunroe.”

Soryu said, looking at Lenok with a cold gaze.

“There’s something I want to tell you about this matter.”

“A deal, huh?”

Lenok tilted his head slightly.

“That’s not what you should be saying right now.”

“Currently, the space-time of this temple is unstable, and the effects of mana and thoughts are suppressed.”

Soryu said, unfazed.

“That’s because the forbidden artifact, which lost its master when Anathema died, is going berserk.”

“Berserk?”

“The fully automatic activation of a manipulation technique that doesn’t use a mana conductor. Just that alone is causing the surrounding space to randomly repeat teleportation and collapse.”

Soryu’s gaze turned cold as he glanced at the gauntlet stored in the center of the temple.

“According to the doctor, that’s a forbidden artifact made using the bloodline of an Ascendant [a being of immense power] as a material.”

“…”

“Even if it’s not the Ascendant himself, it’s a forbidden weapon made by grinding down a talent and vessel comparable to him. In this situation, it’s difficult to even move through the temple normally.”

The bloodline of an Ascendant.

Soryu didn’t mention anything more, but Lenok seemed to know who that Ascendant was referring to.

While Lenok was lost in thought at the unexpected information, Soryu spread out both of his hands as if he had been waiting for this.

“Now that Anathema himself is dead, there are two things needed to suppress the teleportation and collapse of space and approach the forbidden artifact.”

Thud!

A grumpy toad and a ring that scattered cold air appeared in Soryu’s hands.

“A cursed artifact that eats away at resentment and curses and spits them out as mana [Curse Maw]. A relic with the highest level of mystery in the ice system [Ice Artisan].”

Soryu said, raising the toad and the ring.

“Both are powerful artifacts, but the important one is the Ice Artisan. It has the ability to engrave the user’s name on the ice crystal and grant the ‘Blessing of the White Snow’.”

“…”

“By using the Ice Artisan, we can suppress the random space teleportation within the temple, and if we feed the mana conductor to the Curse Maw, we can obtain the forbidden artifact.”

“That’s a long explanation.”

Lenok asked.

“So, what is it that you want to say?”

“I’ll help you retrieve the forbidden artifact using these two items.”

Soryu said with a blank expression.

“In return, I’d like you to let us leave safely this time.”

“…”

“I didn’t think that the ownership of Anathema’s legacy would be transferred to you as soon as the meeting ended. I was planning to take the items before the ownership was decided, but for such a cautious Sleinch, the decision was unbelievably fast.”

“So, you want to ask for permission to back out now?”

“I don’t want to fight you. Can’t we just move on by cooperating in retrieving the forbidden artifact?”

“Hey, ice guy. Do you really want to die?”

Kwaang!!

Paysha slammed her spear down on the ground, glaring at Soryu.

“Why are these thieves who broke into someone else’s vault acting so cocky?”

“…”

“I don’t know where you learned to beg for your life, but why are you so stiff-necked? Are you some kind of royalty or something?”

“Ooh.”

Ermong exclaimed in amazement.

“How did you know-”

Thwack!!

Soryu suddenly threw ice at Ermong’s face for his ill-timed and inappropriate remark.

Soryu, leaving Ermong who had fallen down covered in frost fragments, turned his gaze towards Lenok.

“I’ve been observing the barrier and the space-time collapse patterns that have been unfolding in the temple since yesterday. It could be helpful.”

“…”

“If you want, I can make a vow with a Geass [a magical contract] right here.”

“I see.”

Lenok tilted his head and smiled.

Certainly, if a superhuman like Soryu, who was so quick-witted, helped with the temple’s capture, things might become easier.

If they fought in this place, risking the collapse of the temple, they might not be able to retrieve the forbidden artifact intact.

Lenok, who had slowly walked towards Soryu, said.

“There’s no need for a Geass. I’ll ask you one question, so answer it.”

“What is it?”

“The Curse Maw and the Ice Artisan you mentioned.”

Lenok asked, looking at the artifacts placed on either side of Soryu.

“Are those artifacts that you obtained in this temple, not originally yours?”

“…”

At that moment, Soryu, who had been maintaining his composure all along, closed his mouth.

He had been answering without hesitation as if he had anticipated Lenok’s reaction, but he seemed to be at a loss for words for the first time.

Ermong’s expression, who had been chewing on the ice in his mouth, also changed subtly for a moment.

Felix, realizing that the opponent’s reaction was unusual, raised his hammer and asked.

“Ban, what does that mean? Are those artifacts originally from this temple?”

“I don’t think an organization like Pandemonium would be satisfied with moving without any gains.”

Lenok said, looking at Soryu’s fingertips.

“I thought that the fact that you’re proposing this deal to me means that you’ve already obtained a meaningful harvest and are trying to back out.”

“…”

“You showed the Curse Maw and the Ice Artisan and explained the method, probably because you wanted to make it seem like those items were yours from the beginning, but…”

Crack!

Following Lenok’s movements as he slowly loosened his neck, electricity flickered across his shoulders.

“If you had the means to retrieve the forbidden artifact from the beginning, you wouldn’t have been doing this all day. It seems like I’ve guessed the answer correctly.”

The Curse Maw and the Ice Artisan. Both of those artifacts were originally sealed inside Anathema’s temple.

Soryu and Ermong hadn’t been working for days to obtain the forbidden artifact from Anathema’s temple.

They had already obtained the artifacts they wanted in the first place, and they were moving to take the forbidden artifact as well.

“…The Ice Artisan was originally a national treasure used as the seal of the Kabahim dynasty by the previous king.”

Soryu said quietly.

“If we’re talking about legitimacy, it belongs to me, not you who killed Anathema. It’s meaningless to even discuss ownership-”

“That’s not something a prince who was defeated in the succession war and exiled should be saying.”

“…”

This time, Soryu’s expression lost its composure and showed a faint crack.

“That’s not information that could be known from Ermong’s slip of the tongue.”

“Did you expect no one to know your identity while working as a member of Pandemonium?”

Lenok smiled as he looked at him.

“You’re not in a position to talk about legitimacy while openly using the bloodline abilities of the Kabahim dynasty.”

“…”

“It’s admirable that you hid the truth and fabricated a deal on the spot to survive this situation, but-”

Lenok’s eyes, which met Soryu’s gaze, flashed fiercely.

“That doesn’t seem like a reason to keep you alive.”

Ice-Type Unique Magic

[Ice White Pillar]

[Combined Flower]

The ice horns that erupted from beneath his feet instantly impaled Soryu’s body and shot upwards.

Kwaaaang!!!

“Nooooooo!!”

The eerie ice horns proved that the deal Soryu had proposed had completely fallen apart.

Ermong, who was belatedly screaming, cleared his throat as he noticed Paysha staring at him.

“Well, it was a sinister plan that a banished prince would come up with. I was completely fooled too, you know.”

“…”

“Although it’s a bit late, can this poor black magician who didn’t get anything from this whole thing go home now?”

“…”

“…”

A quiet silence flowed between the two.

Ermong jumped up and ran away as fast as his legs could carry him, and Paysha raised her spear.

“Stop right there, you blabbering bastard!!”