Chapter 100

Felix was expected to dismiss the compliment casually, but instead, he shook his head with a grave expression.

“Not only nobles or renowned warriors would react in the same way. Such a sharp yet stable mana is a rarity. It would be wise to remember that it can easily earn you favor.”

Whether they are born into a blessed family with special mana or belong to an organization that systematically shares and passes down the knowledge of mana, both groups hold significant social status in this city.

“I’ll remember it, though it may not have much significance.”

Even without considering the nobles who are inherently of noble birth, becoming part of a warrior group without natural talent is an arduous task.

This level of rarity can be compared to encountering a wizard affiliated with the magic tower.

Of course, there are powerful individuals like Dylan and Mila who are not part of such groups, but no one underestimates the importance of systematic talent honing.

However, upon hearing Lennok’s words, Felix immediately shook his head.

“You haven’t met them yet, but you will soon encounter quite a few. If you continue to progress as you are now, eventually...”

“......”

“I heard about a useful wizard from Dylan just yesterday, and already there isn’t a single person in our office who doesn’t know your name. If you possess such talent and discernment, more opportunities will come looking for you.”

“Are you offering me a scouting opportunity?”

When Lennok asked this, Felix laughed as if it were absurd.

“Hahaha...!! If I intended for you to join our office, you would have seen my face on the day you first met Dylan. Skilled wizards are always welcome, but I’m not so shameless as to persistently recruit... at least, it’s impossible for me.”

He said this, looking down at Lennok, and chuckled.

“But since you seem to get along well with Dylan, let me give you some advice. If you like him, you should keep your distance from those with corrupt characters.”

“...Thank you for the advice.”

“Dylan or Mila may have already told you, but come visit our office sometime. Antares is curious about you.”

He engages in extremely logical and coherent conversations, contrary to his initially intimidating impression.

Perhaps he possesses as much intelligence as he has physical training.

This is quite different from the typical image that comes to mind when you think of a “birdbrain.”

Considering that he unabashedly calls Antares by name, unlike other mercenaries from the office, it seemed evident that he was not an easy opponent.

Observing Felix, who disappeared with Mila grumbling that he had been talking to himself too much, Lennok concluded his contemplation and turned around.

Was it a mere coincidence that a mercenary from the mercenary office was in the botanical garden at the same time?

Unless the two were enjoying a date in the sunny place crowded with citizens, their purpose for visiting here would not be different from Lennok’s.

‘Does this mean the Antares office is also a customer of the orchard...?’

Is it a sale or a purchase?

Lennok couldn’t immediately gather the information, so he stored it in a corner of his mind and proceeded directly to the orchard.

⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩

The violet fog still fills the basement below.

However, unlike before when he couldn’t see anything, Lennok’s eyes now begin to perceive more.

The composition of the mana, the structure of the barrier.

Beyond the essence of the purple fog obstructing his vision, the moment he becomes curious about what lies within, fragments of an answer start to unveil naturally.

There’s a faintly visible stall up ahead, and the silhouette of someone seated there.

And it was strikingly different from the old man he knew.

But as the fog dissipates and reveals its form, it becomes apparent that it is the same old man’s face as before, unchanged.

The old man, chewing on a pipe, looks up at Lennok’s face and exposes his yellow teeth with a grin.

“Oh, who do we have here?”

“It’s been a while.”

“A pleasant face has arrived. Please, take a seat.”

His reputation has certainly grown since his last visit, so he anticipated a different reception, but he didn’t expect it to be so overt.

The old man behind the counter, graciously pulling out a decent chair for Lennok to sit, displayed an excessive level of sycophancy.

‘I also need to consider the side effects... This is challenging.’

If the effects were potent, the side effects would be severe. Conversely, if the side effects were mild, the effects would be unsatisfactory.

Items that strike a balance between the two are either rare or exorbitantly expensive.

Rather than seeking various functions, it was best for Lennok to choose one desired effect and find an item with fewer side effects within that scope.

After much deliberation, Lennok ultimately selected two ypes of cigarettes, Double Scarlet and Feather Fall, as initially recommended by the old man.

These cigarettes made the body feel lighter upon inhalation and had a significant doping effect, similar to the prohibited substances commonly used among track and field athletes.

Whether such increased agility would be useful in actual combat was questionable, but it was preferable to relying on potent pain relievers like Defiler-2.

There were valuable lessons learned from his battle with Beck Clinton.

No, in fact, what Lennok was currently doing was preparing to face superhumans specializing in physical abilities.

In that decisive moment that determined victory or defeat, he wanted to avoid being hindered by his frail body.

Of course, he painfully realized that this alone couldn’t solve the underlying problem.

Wasn’t it necessary to secure victory in the present to hope for a better tomorrow?

For Lennok, there was no victory worse than defeat.

This precarious tightrope walk could only be sustained on the assumption that Lennok would emerge victorious from every battle he faced.

Just as the world didn’t always align with their wishes, there had been several instances where he nearly faltered, but he managed to persevere so far.

“You have a complex expression on your face,” remarked the old man, packing cigarettes into a case while glancing up at Lennok.

“A talented wizard like you must have your own reasons for seeking out such things. I understand.”

“...”

“But you know, don’t you? These are not items you can simply categorize as medicine and ignore. They’re more like balloons inflated by selecting only one positive effect of a medication. If misused...”

With a ‘pop,’ the old man spread his arms wide and emitted a chilling laugh.

“Be cautious. I hope to see you return in good health next time.”

His initial pitiable appearance had vanished. He swiftly changed his demeanor as soon as his business seemed concluded.

It appeared to be nothing more than a form of amusement for the old man.

Rather than retorting, Lennok merely smirked once and promptly left the orchard.

There was nothing more pointless than wasting time contemplating the old man’s words. Lennok had come to understand this by now.

The warning given might not have been entirely empty, but it wasn’t genuinely driven by concern for Lennok either.

It was merely a change in attitude designed to observe his reaction, for a fleeting moment of pleasure.

Perhaps this very approach was the best way to survive in this city.

Rummaging through a handful of cigarette cases in his bag, Lennok swiftly pulled out one and lit it.

Double Scarlet.

Unlike the Feather Fall he had purchased for intensive use during battles, this product served as a substitute for Cash Burn.

He had contemplated switching due to developing a tolerance to the drug, but the thought of completely transitioning to a new product after leaving Cash Burn made him uneasy.

Would his body deteriorate further? Would it interfere with his daily life?

These minor yet oddly significant concerns were worries he didn’t have to entertain or fret over when escaping the factory.

But with the acquisition of more things, Lennok found himself naturally pondering these matters.

Was he afraid of change? No, that wasn’t it.

Ever since opening his eyes in this world, the only emotions Lennok had experienced were a sense of strangeness and fear.

Therefore, he shouldn’t hesitate.

The more he observed the joyous faces of families in the botanical garden, the colder Lennok’s expression became.

He had grown accustomed to assuaging himself alone.

Lennok’s figure swiftly dissolved among the crowd.

(TO BE CONTINUED)