Drug-Eating Genius Mage – 4



“hmm….”

It was in the middle of the night that Lennok groaning from the burning thirst opened his eyes.

The room was already covered in darkness and nothing could be seen.

Lennok barely got up from his seat holding his throbbing head fumbling along the wall with his hand and reaching for the switch.

Only then did the room become brightly lit and the scene of the hotel room appeared before my eyes.

I find a raised sink in the small kitchen turn on the water and drink it in frantically.

As my thirst was quenched I took a breather and was about to get up but the feeling of nausea welling up made me grab the sink again.

“Wow!!”

Since the only thing I ate and drank all day was smoke from the beginning of the year all I got was bitter gastric juice.

Lennoc holding his head that felt like it was about to break finally lay down again on the bed in the middle of the room.

My head is pounding like crazy and the muscle pain I feel throughout my body feels like my joints are tearing apart.

My whole body is shaking and my limbs are sticking out in strange directions. The abdominal pain and nausea that wreak havoc on my organs continue to squeeze my body like a rag.

“…Is this a side effect?”

When I think about how hard it was to die while working at the factory it was definitely not painful like this.

I’ve never done drugs in my life but the aftereffects are probably like this.

Even as the ceiling spun Lennok instinctively realized that he would not be able to let go of this tobacco for a while.

Because I couldn’t give up the only way to temporarily make my weak body move like a normal person.

When I came to my senses my stomach ached from not being able to eat anything for over twelve hours.

Lenok crawled to open the refrigerator door in the corner of the room opened the canned food inside and ate all the contents with his bare hands.

It tastes vaguely like finely ground meat but compared to the food served at the factory it’s no different from a feast.

After filling my stomach to a certain extent I feel sleepy again.

The few nights he couldn’t sleep due to insomnia were seriously eroding his spirit.

In the end Lennok was only able to wake up the next day when the hotel phone rang loudly.

[There is one hour left until the scheduled check-out time. Would you like to extend your reservation?]

“….is it so.”

[200000 for Leeteuk’s accommodation. 20000 cells of canned consomme flavor that a customer ate yesterday. There will be a total of 220000 cells. Since you paid 100000 cells in advance you can pay 120000 cells to the counter within today.]

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Since one canned food costs 20% of a day’s lodging it’s a shame to go overboard when it comes to price gouging.

Lennok laughed and threw the phone away.

Even after sleeping all day my body is still heavy but it is still much better than when I first escaped.

Lennok struggled to get out of bed and counted the money he had.

“130000 cell… After paying for the hotel all I have left is 10000 cell.”

It’s been less than 24 hours since I learned about this world’s currency unit but I have a rough idea of ​​how much it is.

It also means that nothing can be done with only 10000 cells.

Realizing that he couldn’t stay in this state for even one more day Lennok immediately stood up.

After escaping I had my first goal.

I needed money.

Cash Raising

I went into the shower room and thoroughly scrubbed my entire body. This is my first time washing my body since I woke up here.

Only after soaking my entire body in water do I stand in front of the sink. Only then was Lennok able to look at his own face properly.

“…….”

Bulky eyes and flowing black hair. Deep dark circles and pale lips. Skin so pale that the blood vessels show through.

I guess I should say it’s fortunate that the bridge of my nose is sharp.

Lennok who was looking down at his thin thin body like chopsticks because he couldn’t eat properly let out a laugh.

The condition was so bad that it was difficult to recognize him to the point where I wondered if he was the same guy I had created in the character selection window.

I grabbed the razor blade that was lying on the sink and cut off all the messy hair.

After completely cutting off his head his appearance was completely different from the first time and he started to look more nervous than gloomy.

Lennok stared at the mirror for a moment and nodded in satisfaction.

Even at this level it would not be easy for the supervisors to recognize Lennok.

I thought I had already lost track of them but I still needed to be cautious.

Lennok who had put on his baggy supervisor’s civilian clothes took out all his belongings and spread them out on the bed before moving.

About 130000 cells worth of cash. A pistol and five bullets. Fifteen bundles of tobacco stolen from the supervisor’s bedroom.

He has long since changed out of the work clothes he used to wear at the factory and his car keys were thrown inside when he abandoned the car so this is all Lennok has now.

Lennok sat on the bed lost in thought.

What do you need to live in this world where you know nothing?

The first one has already been decided.

However there were more than one issue to think about before making money.

“No matter how much you think about it… it’s impossible to make money legally.”

In this world Lennok is nothing more than an illegal immigrant without even a proper identity.

I don’t know if there was a way to legally become a citizen in this city and even if such a means existed it was all about time and money.

An act bordering on luxury for Lennok who doesn’t even have enough money for tomorrow’s lodging.

In the end there is only so much you can do.

Even in a situation where food expenses are difficult Lennok’s brain steadily comes up with a method and presents reasonable possibilities.

There are endless ways to save money that don’t necessarily have to be legal.

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Even if you go beyond the rules there are many things you can do as long as your morals and conscience allow.

With his magic it wasn’t difficult to beat up criminals wandering around the city’s abyss and steal their money.

“It’s the best plan under the current circumstances.”

Although it is difficult to become a steady source of income it is suitable for raising funds right away. After making up his mind Lennok immediately got up from the bed.

If you want to catch fish you first have to head to a place with a lot of water.

Lennok left the room after scooping up everything he had put on the bed in his arms went down to the lobby paid for today’s lodging and came out.

Go into the shade to avoid the strong sunlight.

He started to feel dizzy and out of breath but Lennok suppressed the urge to smoke a cigarette.

‘You have to endure it.’

If you start making it a habit to eat tobacco just because it’s difficult right now there’s no way to prevent your body from being destroyed in the long run.

Moreover if you start taking tobacco now there will be a time limit before side effects begin to appear.

If it wasn’t urgent I had to refrain from smoking as much as possible and move with a sober mind.

Lennok who had been watching hundreds of people wandering the streets in the shadows turned his head.

I had no idea where to go but as I sat down I started to feel a direction.

‘It’s over there.’

In the city center where countless life reactions intersect Lennok’s natural talent catches a faint strand of magical power.

A dark sticky smell of magic rising from a corner of the city.

Although it was his first time feeling this sensation Lennok instinctively realized that this was the magical power of those who live in darkness.

The magic power of criminals who live in the city by sucking the blood of others in the shadows.

It was a place that suited Lennoc perfectly.

Following the trail of magic we arrived at a chaotic street filled with huge entertainment districts gambling houses all kinds of street vendors and abandoned construction sites.

At the corner of the street a sign saying “Area 49” was thrown down.

Neon signs and flashy lights that annoy your eyes surround you everywhere and an awful perfume that stings your nose and acrid smoke rises from everywhere.

Even in the middle of the day this darkly shadowed street was full of people trying not to make eye contact with each other.

Lennok was not surprised by the atmosphere which was completely different from the downtown area of ​​the Balkan city.

There is no need to try to understand the side effects and harmful effects that exist behind the growth of a megacity that has developed by embracing all kinds of industries and capital.

Just as flies attract where money flows. It was a common occurrence even in the world where Lennok lived.

The attitude of going beyond the level of not being interested in each other and completely widening the distance and turning off each other is being conveyed from all directions.

Occasionally a few people gather in groups and chat in a quiet place but most of them just go into buildings whose purpose is unknown and disappear.

However there is no way to eavesdrop on their conversations. Especially for Lennok.

I took a seat on a street corner raised my magic power and concentrated it on my ears. Even without anyone teaching me the series of processes felt very natural.

In an instant my hearing became more sensitive and I began picking up sounds from all directions.

Lennok leaned against the street wall and paid attention to all the sounds coming from inside the building.

“They’re looking for an agency to lobby for the selection of a construction company for the 17th development district. “The condition is to split 8 to 2.”

“An engineer who was testing Falmouth’s new AI for operating errors in an unarmed state has gone missing. “I will hire a replacement soon.”

“I would like to request Druids to participate in the greenbelt reduction plan. T9 I’m thinking of stealing an endangered species.”

There are many stories going around that seem dangerous and lucrative just by listening to them but I have no intention of getting involved in a situation that I don’t immediately understand.

Quickly ignore unfamiliar words you hear around you and broaden your scope.

Just as Lennok thought his senses expanded rapidly immediately surrounding the entire street and absorbing the sound.

It had only been a week since he started using magic properly but Lennok’s magic control ability had already far surpassed his perception ability.

Skip any dialogue that seems ridiculously dangerous or overly difficult.

Occasionally there would be a space where there was a barrier and Lennok’s magic could not enter but he did not even look at it.

What you need to look for is a case that is simple enough for Lennok to intervene in and that will make money without leaving any repercussions.

It is about fishing for capital in the urban jungle far away from the shadow of laws and regulations.

By the time his magic reached a damp alley where a street and a sewer intersected.

[I told you to bring the stolen money quickly. Can’t you hear me?]

“…I found it.”

Lennok’s eyes flashed and he walked quickly.

An unknown back alley filled with moisture.

In the remote crevices of the factories where damp water trickles down the floor and the smoke blowing out from the ventilation fans does not go away.

Two men were mercilessly kicking a person who was lying on the floor.

puck! puck!

“…What did I say?”

The man who was kicking ahead lit a cigarette with trembling hands.

“I told you that if you do this well there won’t be any problems. But why do you steal so much money and then say nonsense about losing it? uh?”

“It’s not a lie… It really disappeared along the way…”

Wow!!

The head of the older man who was making excuses with a face covered in blood jerked back.

Another man standing next to the man who couldn’t overcome his anger and was flailing his arms and legs shook his head.

“There is no answer. “If you add up the money this guy brought you’ll be able to pay this month’s installment…”

“Whoa whoa… It’s the third time. “This time that dwarf really won’t let me go.”

“Let’s do it like this.”

The man’s eyes glowed dangerously.

“Let’s screw up one person and sell their organs.”

My colleague grinned.

“You agree with me.”

Both eyes turned to the fallen man at the same time.

The moment the man realized the meaning his complexion turned pale.

“Ugggggggguk!!!”

“Baby ga ga ga!!”

Suddenly the two men closed their eyes and started shaking all over.

Lennok stuck his head out from behind the men who had collapsed convulsing and foaming at the mouth.

Before he knew it he had a cigarette in his mouth.

“hmm.”

A blue electric current was flashing from both his hands.

“It works very well.”

It’s the most basic bolt magic but it’s more than enough to stun two people.

Lennok ignored the man’s blank gaze looking up at him and began searching the arms of the two fallen people.

An ordinary person might not know this but I didn’t even feel any remorse at the thought of robbing the wallet of an attempted organ trader.

They take all the cash out of the two people’s wallets and mercilessly collect the watches and accessories they had hanging around.

Finally I was rummaging around in my arms looking for something useful when I caught something hard in the arms of the man who had been aggressively kicking me earlier.

“What is this?”

When he pulled it out the older man got scared and fell to the ground again.

“Hi! “Please don’t aim this way!”

It was made of metal with a design similar to that of a fountain pen and when I pressed the button in the center I could hear a rotating sound as if an engine was running inside.

Moreover the faint light of magic leaking out between the circuit-like patterns engraved on the surface did not seem to be an ordinary object.

“This is an illegally modified Dyke laser cutting machine. It’s a monster-like object that can even pierce steel plates. “If someone gets hit they just cut it to pieces…”

“hmm…..”

Do the gangsters of this world carry these things as weapons?

‘If the purpose is cutting it would be more convenient to use magic…’

Lennok thought about it but eventually put a cutter that resembled a pen in his arms.

There are only five bullets left in his pistol. The more means of self-defense the better.

Lennok who had packed everything he needed stood up and looked at the man who had not yet run away.

Of all the things that were happening on this street I chose to intervene in cases that seemed as simple and straightforward as possible but wouldn’t it be right to completely dispose of the witnesses?

“If I faint will my memories disappear?”

The man trembled as Lennok muttered that and brought electricity to his hand.

“I will never tell anyone!!”

“It’s easier said than done.”

The man asked with a frightened face at the cold reply.

“If there is anything you want….”

“It’s been a while since I came to this city.”

Lennok grinned.

“I’m looking for a job.”

library

Lennok put together a tired expression as he watched the back of the man hurriedly disappearing across the alley.

I thought about killing him to silence him but even though Lennok had become colder than before he was not cruel enough to kill innocent people.

He didn’t hesitate at all when he killed the supervisors who had brutally abused him at the factory but this time things were a little different.

I have a separate business card so if any trouble arises due to this matter it is not too late to visit.

The anger of the awakened gangsters would skyrocket but up to that point Lennok had no part-time job.

As I left the damp alley I took out the stolen money and counted it.

“…Not bad?”

He said he was making up for the lack of money to pay the installments and it seems like he was holding on to quite a large sum of money.

Adding up the amount of money the two had about 700000 cells were in Lennok’s hands.

At this rate even after deducting various incidental expenses I would be able to stay at the hotel for about four more days.

For someone who has just ripped off the back alley thugs it can’t be anything other than a good harvest.

Lennok took the money and immediately left the red-light district and bought some new clothes at a nearby clothing store.

The clothes he was wearing right now didn’t fit Lennok’s physique so much that they just stood out.

A suitable shirt and jeans. At this level I didn’t think I would stand out anywhere with my clothes.

Returning to District 49 Lennok took a walk around the street and found a shabby pharmacy that barely had a sign up.

When the door opened the scruffy pharmacist lifted his head helplessly to check on the customer.

“sleeping pills. “How much do you need for a week?”

The pharmacist answered slowly.

“150000 cells.”

Lennok’s eyebrow twitched at the price exceeding his expectations but he calmly handed over the money and received seven bags of pills.

It was a necessary item to solve the insomnia that plagued him all night long.

Lennok who realized how painful it was to stay up all night unable to sleep at the factory had no intention of experiencing that pain again.

I’ve confirmed that smoking a series of cigarettes can make you sleepy but it’s foolish to risk the side effects of chain smoking just to sleep.

Although doping was repeated out of necessity actions that put too much strain on an already weak body had to be avoided as much as possible.

Once I secured the necessary funds and the means to sleep properly I felt free to think.

Lennok left District 49 and headed straight to the main downtown area where most people flocked.

After asking directions from people I met I arrived at a large library located at the end of a downtown area. The entire 10-story building was used as a place to store books and data.

Lennok shook off the cigarette smell from his body and took a seat in the library.

The first thing to look for was not various information about this world but knowledge about magic.

‘The important thing is to develop my magical abilities as much as possible. You can put everything else aside after that.’

A lot of things had happened since he woke up here but Lenno clearly remembered the penalty that hit him.

A variety of bad traits used to add additional abilities to magical talents using the karma system.

Among them ‘Jaein Park Myeong’ is the most fatal.

An extreme trait that reduces one’s entire lifespan and creates a life-limited life in exchange for one’s talent.

‘When I think about it now it’s strange that such a characteristic even exists.’

Since it is a lifespan-related characteristic applied to game characters without lifespan would anything have changed if I had noticed something strange there?

There is no point in regretting it now.

In the end because of that Lennok had only one goal.

Surviving.

We need to find a way to extend his time melting away like a short candle.

And the talent closest to the answer was in his hands.

‘Magic related to time… Among them the highest level unique magic series may have a way.’

A unique magic (Sinister) that I wanted to learn when playing the Magic Musketeer but could not learn it due to the nature of my job.

Lennok knew very well how powerful and great his magical talent was and he also guessed what process was needed to utilize it properly.

Fortunately the magic-related category used the entire 8th floor so many books and data were organized there.

Lennok took out all the books he thought were introductory books and began reading them voraciously.

‘How to feel magic power how to store it in the body the dangers of magic control ability fifteen things you need to prepare to use magic…’

These are contents that have no meaning to Lennok who awakened his magic power in three days and began using magic.

Boldly skip it.

I read the book frantically flipping through tens to hundreds of pages at high speed.

The bookshelf which was turning with the sound of paper fluttering suddenly stopped at the last chapter.

‘Magic power pattern. There was also this concept.’

It was a concept he knew but didn’t have to worry about when playing the Demon Musketeer character so Lennok concentrated his mind and read the book.

From the moment magic power is awakened a magic power pattern is created for the wizard and this is left behind like a trace every time magic is used.

According to the book the pattern is called the wizard’s fingerprint and it is stated that once it hardens it is impossible to change it.

‘However it is meaningless because magic power can be adjusted in particle units for archmages of level 8 or higher… What level is level 8?’

In WORLD 2.0 where Lennok was playing the Magic Musketeer the levels of wizards were divided not by level but by the grade of ‘Sinister’ that could be used.

Therefore it was difficult to get a sense of what level 8 exactly meant in this world.

In any case since it is unfamiliar knowledge that Lennok has not seen in the game it is necessary to examine one’s own magical power pattern directly.

‘Spread your palm place the index finger of your other hand in the middle and let the magic flow through.’

When I moved my magical power as instructed in the book the magical energy flowing through my fingers spread to my palm and began to draw a truly consistent pattern.

Lennok who was watching with a curious expression the three spirals crossing and swimming in his palm turned strange.

This is because the moment I moved my magical energy little by little the spiral flowing through my palm completely flipped over and turned into dozens of diamond shapes.

“……”

When I moved my magic sideways again this time countless concentric circles appeared and wet my palms.

Soon Lennok realized that he could freely change the pattern of magical power as he imagined.

I don’t know the exact extent but this current state alone is proof that he has the magic control ability at the level of an archmage.

Considering the fact that only three days had passed since he awakened his magical powers it was ridiculous.

‘One talent is certain.’

okay. Given such a weak body wouldn’t it be normal for his talent to be sky-high?

Feeling strangely comforted by that fact Lennok threw all the introductory books he had brought into the library’s return box.

Although I have only seen one volume I can guess what is contained in the introduction.

Lennok’s excellent memory already allowed him to remember most things in photographic perfection.

From now on I planned to select and review only books on common magic and unique magic.