Genius Wizard Takes Medicine [EN]: Chapter 970

Forbidden Arts (26)

“W7, switch to the second palace direction. Occupy G1 through 7 in sequence.”

Clack!

As Lenok placed a black stone on the board, the white stones flipped over to black, filling the board.

“That’s my 49th win.”

“Aaaah!!”

As Lenok, sitting at a table overlooking the training grounds, withdrew his hand, Belver screamed.

“As promised, I’ll take the 200,000 cell pot from our 500-stone bet.”

“No, don’t!”

Belver frantically grabbed Lenok’s sleeve and clung to it.

“You cheapskate. You have so much money, are you really going to take a mercenary’s allowance…!!”

“But you were the one who suggested the money bet in the first place.”

Lenok, firmly shaking off Belver’s grip, picked up two bills and smiled.

“I’m actually a bit short on cash these days. I’ll use it gratefully.”

“Don’t lie!!”

Along with Belver’s desperate cry, the others watching also wore displeased expressions.

Mila, who was munching on a chicken skewer with her hands in her jumper pockets, grumbled.

“You should at least try to be subtle about your act. Who would believe the Master of the Magic Tower is broke?”

“Business isn’t always about making a profit, you know.”

Lenok, nonchalantly stuffing the bills into his shirt pocket, replied.

“Of course, all the profits from the tower are being reinvested to build a stable environment for the Magic Tower.”

“Hmph, who would believe such an obvious excuse?”

“That’s right. It’s a lie.”

Lenok, admitting it readily, put on a solemn expression.

“So, let’s end the annual salary negotiations for the Antares Office, which we’ve been increasing every quarter, today.”

“I’m sorry, boss!!”

“We’ll make sure that the incompetent stock trader never talks nonsense again!”

Jenny, who had been watching from the side, shook her head with a pathetic look.

“You guys are so in sync. Did you rehearse or something?”

“Sincere feelings don’t need practice.”

“If only you couldn’t talk…”

Jenny sighed deeply and filled in the blank spaces on the payment documents as she asked.

“So, why are you suddenly gathering people to play board games?”

District 49 of the megacity Balkan. The training hall located at the back gate of the Impregnable Magic Tower.

The open space, originally used as the company’s training ground, is now used in conjunction with the expansion of the Magic Tower.

The midday sun poured down on the training hall, which was made of a transparent dome, and shouts of training echoed from the training grounds.

It was a rare day off from the Magic Tower’s work.

Lenok had gathered the mercenaries and freelancers he knew and was suddenly teaching them Othello.

[Aruururung~]

The cry of a pure white baby dragon, lying on the platform while scratching its belly.

Listening to the guardian spirit’s languid babbling, many people were engrossed in Othello.

On the platform set up to avoid the shade, Othello boards and stones were placed, and people were sitting around each board.

Clack!

“Wayan, did I win this?”

“No. We still need to see. Wait.”

“There are no more stones to flip on the board…”

A conversation between Wayan and Dylan, who seemed doubtful about whether they understood the game properly.

[Homa. Gongbak. Gakgung. The terms are all different, but the rules for controlling the rotation and reversal of the stones are the same.]

“Manson is right. The rules vary from district to district, but they can be reversed at any time depending on the arrangement.”

Manson, who quickly grasped and applied the rules, and Suren, who was teaching the rules while playing the game together.

Mila and Belita also peeked at the board and began to play Othello one by one.

Perhaps because it was Lenok’s order, everyone was much more active in the game than expected.

Jenny, who was looking around with a displeased expression, asked.

“I understand it’s training, but is this really helpful?”

“Othello is a strategic board game created by Jintun, and its foundation is closely related to barrier magic.”

Lenok said.

“In other words, learning Othello itself is the fastest way to learn the knack of magic circles.”

“……”

“The basics of the Uroboros magic system that I taught you can also be quickly mastered through Othello.”

Lenok nodded to Jenny as he said that.

“As I said, Jenny, you don’t have to do it. This is special training for those who are relatively slow in mastering the magic system.”

“……No. I can’t not do it when everyone else is doing it.”

Jenny shook her head and glanced sideways.

“However, I had something to talk about with Jordan…”

“……”

Tatyana and Jordan, sitting face to face across the game board directly behind Lenok.

“D83 reversal. L11 rotation. Construction complete from R4 to 19.”

“J99 non-accumulation. B4 life or death. Reoccupy section c103 by adding the center and the long gate.”

They were looking at the board with extremely focused faces, without making eye contact.

The only time they opened their mouths was to exchange moves and explain the changes in the stones.

“Something amazing is happening…”

“Is this Othello? Then what have I been playing until now?”

It was not strange that Tatyana, a war mage who had been active on the central front for a long time and was the top disciple of the Magic Tower, was good at Othello.

However, it was something Lenok had not expected that Jordan, who was not even a high-level superhuman, was so good at Othello.

He was not just playing the game, but was putting up an equal fight with Tatyana, a level 7 mage.

Mila also exclaimed in admiration with a surprised expression.

“I didn’t know the bartender grandpa was this good at games.”

“Gakgung in reverse order from H33 to 44.”

“Vertical flat sky from F19 to I19.”

Clack! Clack!

Every time Tatyana and Jordan placed a stone, the right corner of the board repeatedly flipped between black and white.

The two were stubbornly targeting only one section, as if they had no interest in other areas.

“Why aren’t they placing stones anywhere else?”

“Because the key points are concentrated in the right section.”

Suren, who had finished his game with Manson, naturally answered Belita’s question.

“The moment you occupy that area, the advantage will naturally extend to other areas, so there’s no reason to divide your forces.”

“……Is it like fighting over a strategic point on the battlefield?”

“That’s right. But there are only a limited number of places to put stones.”

Clack!!

At the same time as Tatyana placed a white stone, the right corner flipped to white.

But conversely, this time the left corner was completely covered in black.

As if they had made a promise, Tatyana and Jordan’s eyes met.

“Old man. You’re pretty good.”

Tatyana, staring intently at Jordan’s face, gave a deep smile.

“This isn’t just about knowing how to play. You weren’t a high-level sorcerer in the past, were you?”

“You are very skilled, Ms. Chiglet.”

Jordan smiled gently at her.

“At this level, you wouldn’t be embarrassed by a match anywhere.”

“Well, yeah. I was the best among my peers in the tower.”

Tatyana nodded readily and picked up a stone.

“I’ll win this time, so let’s play again next time.”

“I see. I’d like to give you a handicap this time, but…”

Jordan smiled.

“Since Ban is watching, I can’t do it carelessly.”

“What?”

Clack!

At the same time as Jordan placed a black stone, all the white stones lined up on the edge flipped to black.

Tatyana paused for a moment at the white stones that had built a territory by claiming nearly half of the board.

Jordan, who had placed the stone, said.

“If you count, it’ll probably be exactly half plus one point.”

“……”

“It’s not your mistake, Ms. Chiglet, but because I had the black stones, so please don’t be discouraged.”

“I see. It was a mistake to play second without knowing the old man’s skills?”

Tatyana nodded belatedly and smiled.

“It’s fun. That was a good provocation. It’s making me a little heated.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“Let’s do it again.”

“No, I have something to talk about with Ban…”

Jordan glanced this way, but unable to resist Tatyana’s insistence, he sat back down at the board.

“……”

While Jenny was watching the scene with a dumbfounded expression, Belver sat down in front of Lenok again, panting.

“Ban. Raise the stakes. This time, let’s start with 400,000 cells.”

At Belver’s action of boldly taking out four bills, the other mercenaries immediately scolded him.

“Belver, are you crazy? Your opponent is a great mage.”

“Why are you trying to win against Ban?”

“No, but Ban said he’d give me a 20-move handicap!”

Belver also raised his voice as if he had something to say.

Belver, pointing to the board with a slightly excited look, said.

“Of course, I can’t compare to Ban’s skills, but if Ban doesn’t do anything for 20 moves, how can I not challenge him? Are you all cowards?”

“……”

At his confident words, the other mercenaries, including Mila, were silent, as if they didn’t completely disagree.

After all, a 20-move handicap in a board game was unheard of for them.

“It’s natural to take risks when investing. How big is 20 moves!!”

Belver seemed to think so too, as he straightened his shoulders and confidently pushed the stakes forward.

“Even if I attacked Ban with a weapon, if Ban gave me a 20-move handicap, I’d have a chance of winning.”

“Do you want to die?”

“You’re crossing the line because we’ve been too lenient.”

“……”

At Belita and Mila’s cold retorts, Belver quietly shut his mouth.

“I’d like to help with the training until the end, but I have a lot of work to do. I’m sorry.”

Lenok smiled as he watched Belver, who was holding the black stones with a gloomy look.

“So, I’ve prepared some tools separately for the training.”

“Tools?”

Thud!!

As he tapped his coat sleeve, a large tablet fell onto the platform of the training hall.

A white search window was blinking on the touch screen, which was lit up with the power on.

“A tablet…?”

“Is this a tool to help with Othello training?”

“It’s a search AI that I recently created. I’m running a site on the deep web.”

Lenok said, picking up the tablet.

“I thought that if I created a site and threw it out there, it would spread by word of mouth, but the underground network is not that easy.”

“……”

“Isn’t this the age of self-promotion? First, I need to start by promoting and spreading it to the employees of the Magic Tower.”

“No… what kind of search AI.”

Jenny and Mila looked dumbfounded at Lenok’s answer.

“If you don’t say anything about making something like this and just throw it out there, it’ll naturally be buried.”

“Do you want a viral campaign or something? There are plenty of companies that do that. Should I do it for you?”

“No, I entrusted the promotion to a famous heavy uploader…”

Lenok cleared his throat and said quietly.

“It seems that they were all treated as clickbait and buried because they were overdoing the promotion. The public opinion became so harsh that I decided to try a different method.”

“……”

[…….]

While everyone was speechless at the absurd explanation, Davi twitched his tail as if he had been stung.

Lenok pinched the plump spirit’s tail lightly and said nonchalantly.

“The promise is the same as before. If you win against the AI in Othello, I’ll acknowledge that you’ve won against me.”

“……Are you telling us to play Othello against a search AI?”

“Of course, you can use it for searching purposes as well. After all, I’m introducing it to you here for performance testing and promotion purposes.”

Lenok looked around and nodded with a smile.

“As I promised Belver, I’ll give you a 20-move handicap to start. And if you win against the AI-”

The reason why the mercenaries and freelancers gathered here were so diligently learning Othello.

The reason why Belver recklessly bet money and asked Lenok for an Othello match.

It was because of the single condition that Lenok had mentioned when he gathered people under the guise of training.

“I’ll grant you one wish, no matter what it is.”

“……”

Granting a wish.

Despite Lenok’s absurd assertion, like a genie in a lamp, no one laughed at his words.

An 8th-level great mage. The owner of the only Magic Tower in the megacity.

Everyone knew that if such a person was determined to use his position and abilities, he could literally make anything happen.

“A wish…”

“You really mean you’ll grant anything?”

“Anything within my power.”

Lenok nodded.

“I’ve granted a similar request to Felix before, so you can check with him later.”

“Ah, then I have one question.”

Belita raised her hand and smiled awkwardly.

“By any chance, the random box you showed us before. Can we use it again?”

“Random box?”

Lenok, who had asked back without thinking, realized what Belita was talking about and nodded.

“You mean the portable ascension gate. Of course.”

“Really?”

“If you win against the AI with a 20-move handicap, I’ll even give you a free pass to use the portable ascension gate.”

“……!!”

Just by winning an Othello match, he would allow them to use that mysterious artifact as much as they wanted, not just once.

The hand movements of Tatyana and Jordan, who were moving across the board, became more cautious.

The mercenaries who were listening also sat back down in front of the board and the tablet with serious expressions.

Even if it wasn’t the portable ascension gate, everyone understood that Lenok was planning to give them a definite reward for their training.

Lenok, seeing the quiet training grounds, nodded with a satisfied look.

“Even if it’s not a wish, I’ll personally prepare rewards for those who show progress in their Othello skills, so I hope everyone will do their best.”

He had started teaching the Uroboros magic system but had left it unattended, but if the Magic Tower was to function properly, he would eventually have to teach and pass on the magic system in some way.

Lenok had realized that Othello was helpful in the transmission of the magic system, which had been sluggish, while playing Othello with Ars Nova’s strong AI, Heiberg.

Since there was a learning method guaranteed by the nobles of the central city, Lenok didn’t need to rack his brains to come up with an educational method.

Of course, no one here would be lazy in the training that Lenok had set, but with the reward of granting a wish, everyone would be burning with enthusiasm.

‘I also need to visit the universities and research institutes regarding the development of public magic… I have a lot of work to do.’

Just dealing with the work that had been put off after the summit was enough to keep him from resting for a long time.

The gains and benefits that Lenok had obtained through various identities were not just material benefits.

Acquiring useful knowledge and inspiration and using it to suit the surrounding environment also required a considerable amount of time.

Even the two artifacts he had obtained from Anathema’s residence had not yet been fully researched.

Lenok left the training grounds and headed to the basement of the training hall.

Click!!

In the training room, which was full of exercise equipment, there were makeshift shelves and a laboratory table.

A grumpy poison toad croaked on the laboratory table, and Felix was standing in front of it.

“Hoo…!”

He was pulling up his magic power while one of his hands was bitten by the toad.

The magic power of the coming tide flowed into the mouth of the curse maw [a creature that consumes curses], and the toad chewed on the magic power and spat it out.

Peisha, who was standing next to him, collected the liquid that the toad spat out into a test tube.

“Damn it, it’s so disgusting…!!”

Even while complaining, she closed the test tube and placed it on the shelf.

Felix, who was catching his breath and trying to get the toad to bite his hand again, turned his head when he found Lenok.

“Ban?”

The bird-headed giant, who was stroking the toad’s head as it burped and held it in his arms, moved towards Lenok.

“You seem to have become quite close.”

“It’s only interested in eating curses and grudges, but it’s not a mindless construct.”

Felix said, rubbing the curse maw’s chin.

“It likes it when I scratch its chin like this.”

[Kkueeeek.]

“……”

It was impossible to tell whether it was a dying scream or grooming, but Felix seemed to see something different.

Peisha, shaking a test tube next to the workbench, said indifferently.

“Hey, mage. As you said, I’m purifying and extracting the magic power of the coming tide. Are you going to test it right here?”

“No, I’m going to deal with the things I put off a few days ago first.”

“What?”

“I’ll have to test it when the curse maw is hungry like it is now.”

Lenok, taking out a ring that scattered cold air, placed it on his palm.

“There’s no reason to pass up the opportunity to uncover the secret of the power used by the Kabahim Dynasty.”

The Ice Seal. The national treasure of the Kabahim Dynasty and the seal symbolizing the royal family.

The reason why Soryu was able to use this artifact so skillfully was because the ring itself was made for the Kabahim royal family.

If it was not a legitimate user, it was an artifact that could curse rather than bless.

However, the reason why Lenok was trying to investigate the Ice Seal again in this place, even though he knew that, was different.

Considering the target designation resistance, he wouldn’t be cursed in the first place, but the curse maw was next to him.

Even if the Ice Seal rejected Lenok and cursed him, he could have the curse maw eat it and see the reaction.

Peisha, who had heard Lenok’s explanation, shook her head in a horrified manner.

“You’re going to scrape the bottom of the barrel for secrets… Were you so upset about losing the forbidden weapon?”

“If you’re going to talk nonsense, would you please leave the training room? I think it’ll be a distraction to my concentration.”

Lenok, raising the ring, chuckled.

“Wait in front of the training room door. Don’t let anyone in.”

“Bullshit. I’m not some dog guarding the house.”

“As I said, if I fail, it’s your turn next.”

“……”

Peisha and Felix, with their faces crumpled, left the training room and locked the door.

Even if it was Peisha, Felix wouldn’t have taken Lenok’s request lightly.

Saaak…!!

The moment he put on the ring, his body became cold, and he felt a chill as if the surface of his skin was freezing.

Frost settled on his arm, freezing coldly, and wrapped around his neck over his shoulder.

The moment he realized that it was in the form of a cold armor that wrapped around his whole body.

Click!!

The jewel of the ring rotated and opened to both sides, turning into a small seal.

“……”

It was the first time he had seen the shape of the seal properly, but he remembered how Soryu had used this seal.

The moment Lenok pressed the Ice Seal on his wrist, he felt an attractive force pulling his consciousness from inside the ring.

He was stopping it with his target designation resistance ability, but the attractive force was not from hostility or thoughts.

He released the resistance and closed his eyes, quickly sending his consciousness into the ring.

Whoosh!!

A snowstorm raged in the snowy mountains. Icebergs moved between the crevasses, and avalanches erupted.

A contradictory world that was constantly turbulent, yet no sound could be heard.

Even though everything was frozen, Lenok did not feel any cold.

This was because this was not a real reality, but a space of consciousness where intangible wills entered.

At the top of the frozen snowy mountain, a huge stone monument made of ice stood tall.

Whioooo!!!

The monument, which was erected like a transparent crystal tombstone, was densely engraved with someone’s name.

A strange form that seemed to record the names of those who had visited this place.

Below the monument, a huge ice knight, covered in frost, was kneeling.

“……”

A physique several times larger than an ordinary human.

It seemed difficult to even move, as ice and frost had formed on his armor and hardened.

The knight had been guarding the monument for a very long time, frozen in time.

The moment Lenok approached right in front of the knight.

A blue light flashed between the helmet, and a heavy telepathic voice flowed out.

[The Ice Domain is not originally a sanctuary allowed to outsiders.]

Paah!!

The snowstorm that had been raging from all directions exploded and receded, and the sky instantly cleared to blue.

In the middle of the quiet snowy mountain, the frost that had formed between the helmet fell off as the knight raised his head.

Thud, thud thud!!

[However, you have rejected the fate given to you and sought this place with your own will.]

“……”

[Fate of the end. And the end of fate.]

The knight’s eyes, flickering like will-o’-the-wisps between the helmet, slowly met Lenok’s.

[What do you desire in this abandoned sanctuary?]

“……You’re not just an ordinary spirit.”

Lenok’s expression faintly hardened as he looked at the knight.

The consciousness world entered through the Ice Seal, the national treasure passed down through the Kabahim Dynasty.

The abandoned sanctuary called the Ice Domain. The strange message mentioning fate and the energy flowing from the knight’s body.

All of that was pointing to a single possibility that he had not expected at all.

“Could it be that the Kabahim Dynasty… made a contract with an Outer God?”