《Crown Prince Sells Medicine》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 As I stumbled along the Yanghwa Bridge, I found myself wishing for a novel-worthy experience, but I soon regretted that thought. Despite my career as a doctor, I had to close my clinic after only three years and was now drowning in debt. I never imagined I would end up in such a dire situation. Little did I know that my life was about to take a dramatic turn. I had no inkling that I would fall from the bridge and find myself reborn as the crown prince in a novel. Nor did I expect to find myself trembling as I supported the back of a vampire or driving a stake into the heart of a dragon. And to top it all off, I would be revered as a god in the world of the novel. It was impossible to predict what awaited me as I stood on that bridge, yearning for something extraordinary. But the events that followed were beyond anything I could have ever imagined. [The HP (Health Points) has been activated.] [Through medical treatment, you can receive HP support from your internal organs.] [Acquired HP can unlock skills and summon Phantom creatures.] [Current HP: 0] Ugh, its hot. Haneeun stirred from his slumber, unsettled by the unfamiliar notification sound and the sweltering heat. Was he still under the influence of alcohol or suffering from a severe hangover? Perhaps it was possible. Had Haneeun dozed off on the Yanghwa Bridge, he would have been met with an intense chill, for it was bitterly cold in the middle of winter. No, in fact, he I fell. A shiver ran through Haneeun as he realized that he had fallen from the bridge. He had not meant to plunge into the darkness below; he had only been overwhelmed by a sense of suffocation. Drunk and frustrated, he had clutched the railing tightly and screamed, only to lose his grip and tumble over the edge. I must be submerged in the freezing Han River, Haneeun thought to himself as he realized he had met an unexpected demise. Fear coursed through him, but to his surprise, he did not feel the expected chill. Instead, he felt a strange heat and relief that the water wasnt too cold. A faint smile appeared on his lips until he heard a strange voice whisper, Your Highness, calling out to him with concern. Your Highness, are you awake? It didnt stop there. A soft hand gently shook his shoulder, causing confusion to take over his mind. Was he still alive? Had emergency services arrived and pulled him out of the water before he sumbed to death? Of course, its South Koreas 119. A chuckle of relief escaped Haneeun as he realized that he didnt die. Although the thought of the debt he had umted while running his traditional medicine clinic was daunting, it was better than the alternative of dying. He knew that he could start again and work hard to ovee his financial burden, as long as he was alive. Lets do better this time. Haneeun firmly resolved to work hard and start anew in order to pay off his debt. With determination in his heart, he opened his eyes, only to be disoriented as the scene before him Huh? The scene in front of him was not the Han River, and the person in front of him was not an emergency responder. Your Highness! Can you see me? A foreigner, who looked like a handsome blend of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise, was shaking him with tears in his eyes. Startled, Haneeun asked, Uh, who are you? The middle-aged mans face fell, and his voice cracked as he replied, Sniff, sniff Your Highness, dont you remember me? I will continue to follow you. After all, I am your personal physician! Haneeun sensed that something was amiss, and he initially suspected it could be a prank. But as he observed the mans genuine tears, he knew it was not a joke. If this was acting, he could win the Daesang or even the Academy Award. Furthermore, the surroundings looked unfamiliar to him. Its indoors, and its very fancy. Where is this? The interior was ostentatious, and the room was spacious, raising questions about its location. Gardin, as the man introduced himself, noticed Haneeuns confusion and exined, Your Highness, do you remember? This is your bedroom. I left for a moment while you were writing in your diary When I came back, you were vomiting blood and passed out. Haneeun was perplexed. But why does he call me Your Highness? I dont understand. Haneeun was bing more and more confused. Despite his confusion, he tried to remain calm. Still facing the weeping man, he said, Excuse me, could I have some water? Here it is! Even before he finished his sentence, the man swiftly offered him a ss of water. The ss was decorated with gold, silver, and even precious stones. . Haneeun was struck by the luxurious appearance of the ss and noticed that the diamond embedded within it appeared authentic, not a mere cubic zirconia. The handle appeared to be made of 24k gold, leaving him speechless. However, his thirst took priority, and he epted the ss of water, drank it. By chance, Haneeuns gazended on arge mirror situated some distance away. . He saw a young man with a strange and pale appearance staring back at him, holding a ss that was all too familiar one with a 24k gold handle and a diamond that looked different from a cubic. As he admired the ss in the mirror, he took a sip of water and choked on it .Phew! As he choked on the water, Haneeun spat it out, causing both him and the man in the mirror to expel a significant amount of water simultaneously. Your Highness! Gardin was taken aback and quickly fetched a towel to wipe the corners of Haneeuns mouth and the front of his clothes. Haneeun, on the other hand, was transfixed on the mirror, where the reflection of Gardin was also seen wiping the mouth of the young man in the reflection. Thats me? Contrary to what he initially thought, Haneeun realized that he was not a middle-aged man in his forties but a young man in his early twenties. The young mans appearance looked strangely familiar, and Haneeun was certain that he had seen it somewhere before .Raciel Adria Magentano. A realization struck Haneeun he remembered where he had seen the young mans face before. It was a character in the novel he had been reading until that afternoon, Emperor of the Devils Sword, known as the Devil Sword Emperor. The young mans appearance matched the illustration of the Crown Prince in the novel perfectly, to the point where it seemed as if the illustration hade to life before him. Haneeun couldnt believe what he was experiencing was he really Raciel now? Despite feeling like it was too surreal to be true, he couldnt deny the vivid and realistic sensations he was experiencing. The realization that he was now the prince in the novel filled him with a sense of liberation from the weight of his financial troubles caused by the copse of his Oriental medicine clinic. Ha, hahaha, hahaha. He felt as if he had hit the lottery jackpot while walking down the street and couldnt help butugh with excitement. As he jumped up, the world suddenly spun around him, causing him to lose his bnce and copse onto the bed. He couldnt determine if it was due to anemia or dizziness, but he was unable to stand and had to sit down. Ugh? Your Highness! Startled, Gardin quickly supported him. Ugh, why? Haneeun couldnt understand why he was feeling so weak all over his body. Despite being in his early twenties, he felt lethargic and weaker than he did in his forties. Wait a minute. ording to the novel Devil Sword Emperor, Prince Raciel is not the protagonist but a background character who appears briefly at the beginning of the story. He had suffered from a disease since childhood and eventually died at the young age of 22, after groaning in bed. After his death, the empire was thrown into turmoil due to the Great War, and the real protagonist walks the path of a true hero amidst the confusion. This was the introduction of the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Lets summarize. So, I have reincarnated as a weak prince who suffered from an illness and died early in the early part of the novel. Despite bing a member of the royal family, Haneeuns feeling of flying high suddenly sank, and he realized that he may be in a difficult situation if the novels story is urate. Whew. This is really it. After half an hour, Haneeunno, Raciel, the silver-haired prince, stood before the mirror, gazing at his own reflection. Its amazing. The sight of his own reflection in the mirror left Raciel in awe. It was difficult for him to believe that he had actually been reincarnated as the prince Raciel Adria Magentano, and that the person he was looking at was really himself. But thats not important. Raciels face contorted into a frown. Despite his newfound status as a prince with power and wealth, none of it mattered if he was going to die soon. In fact, the more he learned about his situation, the more dire it seemed. Gardin. Im 21 years old now, right? Yes, Your Highness. As a 21-year-old, if he followed the plot of the novel I have less than a year to live. The realization weighed heavily on him, and he let out a deep sigh. He couldntprehend how he ended up in this situation. This isnt any novel. How did he be a character in a novel? He couldnt figure it out. But there was one fact that was certain. For once, I have a high status and can livefortably. But there was a big obstacle. Its not even a year until I die. Raciel sighed as he recollected the early events of the novel, but he was thankful for his excellent memory that allowed him to remember most of the details. Raciel was a prince and received all the medical treatment of the royal family. Despite receiving the best medical treatment and blessings from the priests, all of which were generously provided by the royal family, Prince Raciel in the novel was unable to recover from his illness and eventually sumbed to it. So theres only one answer. Despite knowing that the medical treatments here had failed Prince Raciel in the novel, he did not even consider relying on them to save his life. He came to the conclusion that there was no hope of survival with the avable medicine, even with the help of excellent priests. He refused to ept his fate as a mere character in a novel, destined to die young and leave behind all the riches and privileges that he had inherited. Instead, he resolved to take matters into his own hands and try everything he could to save himself. Fortunately, he had the knowledge of oriental medicine, a technique that had never been tried in this world before. Phew. Gardin? Yes, Your Highness? Raciel addressed Gardin, I need you to go out and get some acupressure needles for me. Any size will do, just get as many as possible. Gardin was taken aback by the request, Pardon, Your Highness? Raciel smiled inwardly and silently resolved to take matters into his own hands. As a dying prince, he couldnt rely on the medicine avable to him. He needed to improve his own health by restoring his vitality, strengthening his nourishment, and enhancing his energy. From now on, he will take care of his own body. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Can you get me some needles? Any size will do, just as many as possible, Raciel requested. Gardin appeared startled and confused by the request, causing Raciel to suppress a bitter smile. He didnt feel the need to exin himself further as he would reveal the purpose soon enough. Is a request not sufficient? Do you require me to phrase it as an order? Gardins reaction was instant as Raciel poked him slightly, prompting him to run out at lightning speed. Raciel took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. First, I need to diagnose whats wrong with this body, he thought, knowing that understanding the problem was crucial before starting any treatment. As he slowly took his pulse, he unconsciously eximed, Tsk, due to the confusion that suddenly surged through him. What kind of pulse is this? He experienced a sense of disorientation, feeling as though he had lost his sense of reasoning. He had never encountered such a pulse before, and the more he examined it, the more confused he became. The pulse was far from normal; it was terrible. He imagined all the possible negative scenarios, starting with its uneven rhythm. The pulse would suddenly stop while beating smoothly, and at times, it would not fill up ten breaths before stopping again. These were typical symptoms of daimai (), a serious condition. However, the problem was that it was not the end of it. Even among the symptoms of daimai, there is also an irregr pulse mixed in. It suddenly gets faster and stops, which is the symptom of chokmai (). This indicated a fever in the organs, and in addition, he could feel peculiar pulses that were lined up in his hand like Vienna sausages. From bubimai (), eosangmai (), tansaekmai (), haesaekmai (), okrumai (), hayumai (), jaktakmai (), eondomai (), jeondumai (), to machokmai () Wow. Is this really the level of difficulty in treating this? A deep sigh escaped him as he realized that the situation was far worse than he had anticipated. All the unique pulse symptoms, known as sipgwemai (), were present. Any one of these symptoms alone was an indication that the patients life was in danger, but he could feel all of them intensely andpletely, leaving no room for exception. This is not just an early death package. As a practitioner of traditional Korean medicine, he had felt numerous pulses before. Nevertheless, this was the first instance he had encountered a case like this. How is this possible? He couldnt fathom how such chaotic pulses could exist in one body. Was it even possible? Logically speaking, it was impossible. However, the problem was that it was a true story. Raciel gazed at the mirror ced beside the bed and saw a frail-looking face staring back at him. Tsk tsk. No wonder you couldnt even live for a year. The early development of the novel Devil Sword Emperor shed into his mind. The book depicted the story of Prince Raciel Adria Magentano, whose illness was never revealed. Several doctors tried to diagnose his condition, but their efforts were in vain. Eventually, they all gave up, unable to uncover the root of the disease. Some even spected that it was a curse brought about by magic. But I really dont know about this one either. If there was at least one area that was definitely problematic, he could focus on tracking and treating the disease rted to that area. But now? Everything is just not good. There is no ce which works normally. With the current situation, it was beyond ridiculous. Raciel couldnt help butugh involuntarily. In retrospect, life in Korea hadnt been easy either. That damn loan. I thought I could pay it off easily. Recalling thest few months he spent in Korea, Raciel trembled involuntarily. Initially, everything had seemed perfect after he opened an oriental clinic in histe thirties, despite taking out a substantial loan. He believed he could pay it back quickly and was confident that he could do it in no time. It felt like he had everything in the world. It was a good location. Located in a primemercial area at the heart of a new city in the metropolitan area, his clinic upied the second floor of a decent building. Despite the high rent, he thought it was still manageable. Surrounded by apartmentplexes and with enough foot traffic passing by, he didnt worry too much initially. However, his confidence and belief were shattered in an instant. If it werent for Corona. A global pandemic struck, causing a significant decrease in the number of people seeking treatment at his traditional Korean medicine clinic. However, that wasnt the only problem. Two patients who visited the clinic were diagnosed with COVID-19, and the news quickly spread through social media. It was the final blow, and no patients came to the clinic anymore. The ie was almost nonexistent, making it challenging to pay the loan interest and building rent. The once-advantageous location became a fatal blow due to the high rent during the pandemic situation. Eventually, the traditional Korean medicine clinic went bankrupt, leaving Raciel with only a massive loan debt of 7 billion won sounds in 7 octaves. I barely managed to get out of that situation. It appeared that the situation had be even more chaotic than before, causing Raciel to let out a deep sigh and snap out of his reverie. While he had faced financial distress in Korea, he was now confronted with a crisis of survival. If I continue like this, Ill end up having a meeting with the Grim reaper at lightning speed. If he continued down this path, he was certain that he would not survive. Raciel knew he had to take action and find a way to cure himself. Otherwise, he would end up in a critical state of illness that he had never experienced before in this unfamiliar world where he had no connections. I hate that. I want to live. I will survive and grumble every day. Regardless, Raciel had no regrets about leaving Korea behind. He had lost both of his parents during his teenage years and had no siblings or rtives to rely on. He didnt even have a girlfriend, leaving him with nothing but a mountain of debt. But still Wonho, Eunsu, Ill live well here, you jerks. Raciel bid farewell to his only friends in Korea and reaffirmed his determination to survive. Just then, Gardin returned with more positive results than expected. Hoo, hoo-uk! Your Excellency? As instructed, I brought all the needles. THUD! As he dropped a bundle, Gardin eximed with excitement. Inside the package were hundreds of needles, far more than Raciel had initially imagined. . Your Highness? Hmm? I have brought the needles as ordered Uh-huh. I ran around as much as I could to bring as many as possible I see You did well. Thank you! Could you open the bag for me? I would like to choose some needles. I will do so with respect. Shhh Gardin flipped the bag open, revealing a collection of needles of varying sizes. They upied the table, sparkling and shimmering in the light. Raciel carefully selected the thinnest and smallest needles from the bunch. I guess these will do As he selected the needles, Raciels breathing becamebored. He couldnt help but worry. I never thought I would have to use such big needles for self-acupuncture, really. The needles used for acupuncture in a Korean traditional medicine clinic are not the same as regr needles. They are much thinner and have a slightly rounded tip to minimize pain. In contrast, the needles Raciel chose now were much thicker, almost resembling clubs inparison. Despite this, he was confident that they would still be suitable for administering acupuncture. With careful precision, Raciel picked out the needles and sterilized their tips with a candle me. Was this behavior unusual in this world? Excuse me, Your Highness? Yes? I know this may be rude, but what are you nning to do with those needles? asked Gardin, looking a little hesitant. Raciel smiled as if it was nothing to worry about. Its simple. Im going to prick myself a little with these needles. In the novel, Raciel received numerous treatments but ultimately sumbed to his illness. The medicine and blessings of the priests proved to be ineffective. As a result, something else must be done to avoid the same fate. Thankfully, Korean traditional medicine may hold the key to his survival. It is a medical practice that is notmonly found in this world. This gave Raciel a ray of hope to cling to. Lets start with acupuncture for now. It takes time and preparation to get the herbs. So, this is probably the best I can do right now. When Raciel made up his mind, Gardin was taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. Excuse me, your Highness? Whats so surprising? I said Im going to prick myself. Just a little. Its okay. I wont die. Your Highness! With a look of despair etched onto his handsome face, Gardin quickly dropped to his knees and began pleading. Please, Your Highness! You cannot harm yourself in such a way! You are the one who will continue the royal line. You may be physically and mentally exhausted from your illness, but this kind of self-harm is not the answer. Your Highness! Please, calm down and I think you should calm down instead. Buuuttt Your?! Shooshh! Dont be so surprised. Im not self-harming, But, Your Highness? Tsk, enough already. Thats the end of it. Despite Gardins pleading, Raciel cut him off. However, Gardin didnt back down easily. In fact, his expression as he looked up at Raciel was almost fierce. Sensing the need to clear up any misunderstandings, Raciel erased his smile and said, If I dont do this, I will die. Umwhat? Thats why Im doing it. Whatdoes that mean? I appreciate your concern as my doctor, Gardin. But just this once, can you trust me and watch over me? Your Highness If theres a problem, I wont do it again. Instead- He spoke firmly, his words piercing through like a wedge. If everything goes well, can you keep trusting me from now on? Gardin was almost convinced by Raciels words. He couldnt quite put his finger on it, but something about Raciel had changed since he had woken up earlier. His way of speaking, his actions, expressions, and gaze were all subtly different. Gardin wasnt sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing, but he sensed that Raciel was more determined and resolute than before. At least he doesnt have that hazy look in his eyes anymore, like before. Raciel was looking directly at Gardin with a clear and resolute gaze, something that Gardin had never seen before from the weak and powerless Crown Prince. It was perhaps because of this newfound determination that Gardin ultimately epted Raciels words. Since you put it that way, I will follow your orders, Your Highness. Okay. Thank you. With a sense of satisfaction, Raciel smiled, feeling as if he had climbed a small mountain. However, he knew that this was just the beginning. He carefully took the first needle in his hand, knowing full well that his whole body was a mess. Despite this, he had already decided on where to ce the needle. Of course, the first point to start with would be the Lung Meridian. Raciel recalled the location of the vein he had examined earlier, even though his entire body was in a state of disarray. Out of all the issues guing him, the most pressing concern was undoubtedly his respiratory system. First of all, I need to make sure my breathing isfortable. Raciel recognized that breathing was the most fundamental bodily function, and without proper airflow, the body couldnt gain the necessary strength tobat any illness. Therefore, he believed it was best to begin with the Lung Meridian, which is the starting point of the Twelve Regr Meridians and is most closely rted to the lungs. Whew Raciely down and took a deep breath to steady himself. With the needle in hand, he carefully positioned it at the top of his left vicle where it connects to the shoulder. He then moved the needle below the supravicr fossa, six cun away from the midline, to the outermost part of the anterior midline. This was where the lung meridian met the pericardium meridian, and the most crucial point for treating respiratory and bronchial issues, as well as chest pain. Taking a deep breath, he inserted the needle into the Zhong Fu point (CV1), the central point of the chest. TUT Raciel carefully inserted the needle into the Zhong Fu point at a depth of 5 pu (3.96 millimeters or 0.156 inches), feeling a sharp pain from the thicker needle. Oof. Ding-dong! Suddenly, a clear and unexpected sound rang out, like the ringing of a bell, piercing through his eardrums. Simultaneously, an unexpected message appeared in front of his eyes. [Your body has received a pleasant stimtion due to your urate acupuncture.] [Your internal organs have begun to function a little better due to your urate acupuncture.] [Your lungs have awakened.] [Your lungs send you a thumbs up.] [Your lungs have donated 100 HP to you.] Chapter 3 Chapter 3 [Your lungs have awakened.] [Your lungs send you a thumbs up.] [Your lungs have donated 100 HP to you.] [Current HP: 100] .What? Raciel identally blurted out a question after having inserted a needle into his central vein on his own. Suddenly, a peculiar message appeared in front of his eyes. What is this? I havent taken any drugs. Despite his attempt to avert his gaze, he was unsessful as the message followed his every movement, resembling an experience within a virtual reality game. What in the world is this? Despite his confusion, Raciels doubts dissipated upon hearing the concerned voice of Gardin. Your Highness? Are you alright? As he turned around, he saw Gardins already pale face. It resembled a worried mother hen who had ced her chick in water. Is he really that concerned? Raciel chuckled softly. Im fine. I told you, its nothing. But Your Highness, the needle Shh. Let meplete what I was doing. Raciel silenced Gardin with a simple gesture and proceeded to pick up the second needle. He found the precise location just above the central vein within his corbone and took aim without any hesitation. With a swift motion, he pierced the needle. Thunk. A sharp sensation reached the Unmun acupoint (), the second point along the bronchial and lung meridian. Simultaneously, Raciel observed the new message materializing before his eyes. Ding-dong! A crisp and melodic sound echoed as he punctured the Unmun acupoint. Soon after, a series of messages emerged in front of him, one following the other. [You have urately stimted the Unmun acupoint.] [Your bronchi received a refreshing stimulus.] [Your symptoms of bronchial asthma have slightly eased.] [Your chest tightness has slightly relieved.] [Your lungs look upon you favorably.] [Your lungs have donated 100 HP to you.] [Current HP: 200] As expected, another message appeared before Raciels eyes. . Curiosity now outweighing his initial surprise, Raciel wondered what this new message could possibly mean. His interest piqued, he picked up the third needle and took aim. Next is the Tianfu acupoint. Located on the upper forearm, three inches below the elbow crease, and on the outer corner of the biceps brachii muscle, was the Tianfu acupoint. Raciel poked the acupoint to a depth of 5 pu. Thunk! Ugh. Raciels eyebrows twitched as he recalled the sensation of poking his own forearm with a needle while sober. Despite the difort, he couldnt help but notice the appearance of a new message before his eyes. Ding-dong! [Your cough symptoms have slightly subsided.] [Your lungs exhale in joy.] [Your lungs have donated 100 HP to you.] [Current HP: 300] Once again, another message appeared before Raciels eyes, confirming his suspicion that it was neither a delusion nor a hallucination. Well, if it means something, lets keep stimting and see. We might be able to find out the more urate meaning of this message and use it in some way. Afterward, Raciel began to concentrate more on the sensation and poked the Xiabai acupoint with a sense of achievement. Thunk! This acupoint ismonly stimted when experiencing chest pain, nausea, difficulty breathing, or coughing. As expected, when Raciel stimted the acupoint, the tingling sensation in his throat began to subside slightly. However, there was one issue that still troubled him. Gardin? . Raciel turned his head to the side and noticed Gardin kneeling down and muttering something fervently. He wondered if Gardin was praying. Lets continue with the stimtion. Thunk! Without being deterred by Gardins worry, Raciel proceeded to poke the Chize acupoint. This acupoint is situated between the elbow crease and the biceps brachii tendon, within the hollow between the folds on the inside of the elbow when it is bent. Agh. The pain this time was truly intense, causing Gardin to grimace in difort. Feeling a tinge of guilt, Raciel asked, Huh? I poked myself, why are you the one feeling pain? W-well, I was just watching Instead, can you sterilize the needle tip that Ive chosen with a candle instead of praying? Y-yes, Your Highness. As Gardin stumbled to sterilize the needle using a candle me, Raciel continued to poke the Gongzui acupoint. Thunk! Thud! Thunk! However, he didnt stop there and swiftly proceeded to poke several more acupoints in session, including the Lieque () acupoint where the tendon of the thumb passes on the lower arm, the Jinggu () acupoint near the radial artery on the wrist, the Taiyuan () acupoint on the wrist, and the Yuzhe () acupoint on the outside of the base of the thumb. Raciels uracy was impable as he made no errors in his poking. Finally, after a long time, a message appeared before his eyes. Ding-dong! [Your skilled acupuncture is providing stimtion to various acupoints.] [Your lungs have rxedfortably.] [Your lungs are looking for a massage chair.] What the fuck? Why are you looking for a massage chair? And why isnt it giving me any HP this time? Feeling a sudden surge of anger, Raciel grabbed the eleventh needle with precision and took aim at the Shao Shang acupoint. This acupoint is situated 0.1 cun outside the base of the thumbnail on the exterior side of the thumb. To put it simply, this is the well-known spot that grandmothers press when someone has an upset stomach. Thunk! It was at that moment [You have sessfullypleted the appropriate acupressure technique for your left lower abdomen and reproductive system.] [Your lungs perform a tap dance of cheers.] [The rhythm of the tap dance awakens yourrge intestine, the conductor of the conduction system, in sync with your lungs.] [Yourrge intestine makes a pleasant grunt in rhythm.] [Yourrge intestine donates 100 HP to you.] [Your lungs donate 200 HP to you.] [Current HP: 600.] Hmm? In addition to the lungs, therge intestine too? One message after another kept appearing, indicating that they had donated HP to Raciel. However, the influx of messages didnt stop there. [You have reached the HP threshold required for skill activation.] [You can now select/unlock your first skill.] [The avable skills are based on your current knowledge/abilities in the field you possess.] [Would you like to view the list of avable skills?] [YES / NO] . Raciel was taken aback and blinked in surprise and amazement. It was a strange situation to receive points from his own organs and use them to unlock a new skill. Despite this awkwardness, Raciel managed to keep hisposure. Well, if you think about it, bing a character in a novel is already like the end of the game. Realizing that he should not be surprised by the level of strangeness anymore, Raciel made a decision to take advantage of his time wisely. With this determination, he selected YES. [The list of avable skills is being disyed.] The message expanded like a scroll in front of him. 1. Palpation 2. Acupressure 3. Moxibustion 4. Cupping 5. Decoction preparation 6. Herb Identification 7. Herb Exploration 8. Tincture Brewing 9. Medical Billing 10. Asrahan Core Technique Phew. To Raciels surprise, the list was indeed real. Moreover, there were more skills listed than he had expected, causing him to burst outughing involuntarily. These are all things I used to do for a living in Korea, except for one. His eyesnded on the bottom of the list, where a skill named the Asrahan Core Technique caught his attention. Suddenly, memories from the novel Devil Sword Emperor flooded his mind. The Asrahan Core Technique was a powerful technique that was exclusively passed down to the direct descendants of the Magentano royal family. Legend had it that it was jointly created by the renowned grandmaster Javier Asrahan and his disciple Lloyd Frontera around 300 years ago. Well, now Im a prince, so I must have learned the Asrahan Heart Method when I was young. Unfortunately, Raciels poor health due to illness prevented him from utilizing the technique, and thus, it made sense that the skill was merely listed as avable to him. But now is not the time to choose that skill. Raciel shook his head. The Asrahan Core Technique was forbat purposes, and he had no need to fight anyone at the moment. He needed to choose his skill carefully because his opponents were diseases, not people. After a deep consideration, he made up his mind. Number 1, Palpation. The foundation of any treatment is diagnosis, and its uracy is crucial in prescribing and treating patients effectively. [You have selected Skill Number 1, Palpation.] [Skill Activation Cost (1st time): 500 HP] [500 HP will be consumed.] His HP was greatly reduced, and messages continued to appear. Ding Dong! [Your knowledge and experience in Palpation have been unlocked as a skill.] [Skill Name: Palpation Lv.1] [Diagnoses the rough health condition by touching the subjects pulse. The pulse results can be easily verified through the Basic Comprehensive Medical Examination Form.] Okay. Basic Comprehensive Medical Examination Form? Raciel moved his right hand to check his pulse on the left wrist. He focused, and then the skill was activated automatically. Ding Dong! [Starting Palpation.] [Scanning] [3 2 1] [Palpation results are out.] [Please refer to the below.] Raciel followed the instructions and a simple form appeared in front of him. [Basic Comprehensive Medical Examination Form] [Subject: Raciel Adria Magentano] [Race: Human] [Gender: Male] [Age: 21 years old] [Height: 176.2 cm] [Weight: 53.3 kg] [Blood Type: Rh+ O] . This body is worse off than I imagined. Raciel felt a sense of despair as he looked at the examination form. As the skill level is still low, the results of each item are disyed briefly. [Cardiac Function: F] [Pulmonary Function: F] [Liver Function: F] [Spleen Function: F] [Renal Function: F] [Overall Five Organ system Function: F] [Stomach Function: F] [Small Intestine Function: F] [Large Intestine Function: F] [Urinary dder Function: D] [Meridian Function: F] [Overall Six Bowels Function: F] [Conclusion: Severe prognoses were identified in all items. Signs of multiple organ failure, acute pneumonia, and myocardial infarction were found. There is a detected risk level of immune deficiency. The patient has a serious nutritional deficiency. No nutrients are currently being absorbed. It is rmended to consume food that is not hard on the digestive system.] It was an enormous result in many ways, but it wasnt the end of it. Looking at the bottom of the examination form, Raciels mouth went dry as if his saliva was twisting. [Expected lifespan: 91 days] Fuck. Swearing involuntarily, Raciel looked at the countdown timer in front of him. Rather than feeling fear or despair, seeing the actual number made him even more determined. Im not going to die that easily. Me, who even met and tested negative for COVID-19 with two confirmed patients at the clinic, he grumbled. With a sharp exhale, Raciel made up his mind and proceeded to remove the needles one by one from the 11 acupuncture points on his left vicle, arm, and thumb using his right hand. He did so in a deliberate and precise order. Ill survive. Ill definitely survive, he thought, determined to enjoy the sweet life of being a noble to the fullest. He burned with the resolve to do everything in his power to live. Finally, as he removed thest needle, Ding-dong. As if responding to his determination, a message appeared: [Your expected lifespan has increased by (+)1 day.] TRIVIA:
  1. The characters Javier Asrahan and Lloyd Frontera are characters from the authors previous work The Greatest Estate Developer.
  1. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the term six bowels refers to the six fu organs. These organs include the galldder, stomach, small intestine,rge intestine, dder, and the San Jiao (Triple Burner), which is considered a functional organ that regtes the cirction and distribution of fluids in the body.
Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Living with a predetermined end date can evoke feelings of mncholy. The sensation of taking each step towards an inevitable demise, with no means of declining or dying it, is a sentiment that is difficult to grasp for those who have not undergone it. This theme is ubiquitous in dramas, movies, and other forms of media. Despite the various depictions of a life with a deadline, Raciel believed that individuals who have cared for a terminally ill loved one may have a better understanding of the experience. In Korea, Raciel had personally witnessed this phenomenon when his father battled with an incurable illness, and the family had toe to terms with his passing. But this is [Your expected lifespan has increased by (+)1 day.] [Estimated lifespan: 92 days] Gulp. Raciel involuntarily swallowed the dryness in his mouth, as he couldnt believe what he was witnessing before his very eyes. The realization that something he thought waspletely impossible had materialized left him stunned. Is this really happening? Despite witnessing it firsthand, he struggled toe to terms with the reality. He was now the patient with a limited lifespan, as confirmed by examining his pulse with a medical skill. The diagnosis revealed that he had a mere 91 days left to live, which was shorter than the duration of a standard mobile phone contract. Although it was difficult to ept, the prognosis was undeniable. Has my life expectancy increased thanks to acupuncture? Was his acupuncture that great? Raciel didnt think so. Its just acupuncture thats usually given to ordinary patients at a Korean medicine clinic, but done a little more carefully. Nevertheless, there was no denying the effectiveness of acupuncture. His breathing had noticeably improved, and the wheezing, reminiscent of a damaged flute, had diminished considerably. Lets try it again! Like a spring gushing out from a deep mountain, the motivation that had been sleeping deep in his heart burst forth. Have all the needles been sterilized? Yes, Your Highness. But are you going to pierce yourself again? Of course. Come here. Hurry. Raciel urged Gardin and received eleven new needles. After assuming the correct position once again, he held the needle with his left hand and inserted it into the right side of his body, targeting the UB 13 acupoint, following the same order and depth as before. Thud! Thud-thud! Thud! He worked methodically, starting from the central point (Zhongbu) meridian, moving on to Arm Yin (Unmun), Heavens Circle (Cheonbu), and Converging at the Throat (Hyeopbaek), while appropriately stimting each point along the way. Finally, he thoroughly pierced the Small Intestine meridian without skipping any. Then, a message appeared in front of his eyes. Ding-dong! [You havepleted your acupuncture treatment targeting the right half of your bodys UB13 acupoint.] [However, your body is still struggling with excessive acupuncture.] [At your current physical level, acupuncture is rmended once every 3 days.] [Your internal organs show resistance to excessive and overly aggressive acupuncture.] [The lungs are cringing due to excessive stimtion.] [The lungs mental state is evaporating with a sobbing sound.] Uh-oh. Raciel had overlooked a crucial aspect of acupuncture it was not a panacea. The process of stimting nerves and blood vessels with needles demanded a certain level of physical strength from the patient, which was why many people experienced needle fatigue during treatment. However, in his case, his body had no strength to begin with. It was as if the energy residing in his body was equivalent to the meager happiness index left in hastily poured sweet and sour pork sauce. Hoo, huff. Raciel experienced a faint dizziness, which indicated that his body was indeed experiencing strain, as the message had warned. He took a deep breath and carefully removed the needles. Simultaneously, he quickly performed mental calctions in his head. Lets summarize. If the content of that message is true, acupuncture does have an effect. My life expectancy increased by one day. But theres a downside. I can only use it once every three days. Acupuncture once every three days. If his life expectancy increases by one day each time, he could postpone his death by about a month. But thats not enough. He couldnt be satisfied with just dying death. A more reliable method is needed. Or, I could build up my strength to receive acupuncture every day. Then, he could increase his life expectancy every day. He would be able to push back death significantly. To do that Elixirs are the best! The solution seemed obvious when it came to rejuvenation and energy restoration, elixirs were undoubtedly the best choice. Ill eat more meals and take elixirs as well. Ill consume everything that is good for my body while gradually exercising. Then, he could break free from the confines of his weak physical state. He began to contemte the details of his n, considering what type of decoction he should prepare and how he could acquire the necessary medicinal herbs. Thinking and reviewing the early development of the story, he spent the night exploring, searching, and contemting. The dawn broke, and as soon as Raciel woke up, he raised his hand to inspect it. . In the faint morning light filtering through the window, he stared intently at the back of his hand, but something was missing. The scar that had once been etched in the center of his hand was no longer visible. It was a scar I got while going for a walk with Jindol. Therge creature in its exuberance had scratched Raciels hand with its w, leaving behind a scar that remained visible in the center of his hand. However, as he inspected his hand now, he noticed that the scar was entirely gone, and his hand was perfectly smooth. Moreover, it was a delicate and beautiful hand that had never suffered any hardships. I had a hunch, but its real. Upon waking up, Raciel entertained the thought of waking up in his room in Korea, and he had even hoped for it in his dreams. However, as expected, it was merely wishful thinking that didnt materialize. Tsk. Raciel was now confident that what he was experiencing was not a delusion or a dream. He had indeed be Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano and was now living his life. However, with only 91 days left to live, he was still faced with the harsh reality of his limited lifespan. Sigh, my fate. Annoyed, Raciel reached out. Beside the bed, within reach, there was a small golden bell. Jingle-jingle. As he rang the bell, a rustling sound came from the other side of the bedroom. After some fumbling and groaning, Your Highness? Did you call for me? The sound of Gardins voice drifted into the room from the auxiliary chamber located on one side of the bedroom. His voice sounded sleepy, indicating that he might have been in a deep slumber. Raciel chuckled and said, Are you awake now? Despite your appearance, you seem to have quite theck of conscience. Eh? Lack of conscience? As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and emerged from the auxiliary room, Gardin wore a bewildered expression. A grumble formed at the corner of Raciels mouth. You have a handsome face and youre tall. You look quite perfect. Just by looking at your appearance, you seem to be wless in every way. Th-thank you. Thank me? Im currently scolding you. Yes? Youre my attending physician, right? Taking care of my health is your job. But youre sleeping inter than your patient? Ah, well, thats Gardins expression immediately became flustered, indicating that he was overwhelmed by the truth. Raciel said to him, Of course, I know. You must be tired too. Youre exhausted from taking care of me all day. But in an hour, the sun will rise. If youre a proper attending physician, and if the patient youre looking after is in critical condition, its a basic courtesy to check on the patients condition around this time. Youre absolutely right. I apologize. Gardins handsome middle-aged face was tinged with guilt. Raciel felt a bit sorry inside. Sorry for scolding you first thing in the morning, Gardin. But it couldnt be helped. After all, Gardin was his attending physician. He couldnt just let him neglect him and sleepfortably in the early morning. Considering my remaining life span, I could experience a high fever, seizures, or breathing difficulties in the early morning. The majority of ailments often intensify between nighttime and early morning, which is evident from enduring a dreadful cold or flu. Despite the potential inconvenience to his attending physician, he knew it was essential to ensure that Gardin remained alert and attentive during those critical hours. With this in mind, Raciel cast an apparently piercing stare. From now on, no more oversleeping. Make sure to wake up before me and check on my condition. Understood? I will keep that in mind, Your Highness. Gardin acquiesced and bowed his head, indicating his agreement with Raciels request. For the time being, this arrangement would suffice. Raciel knew that Gardin was a faithful and trustworthy man. Even in the early part of the novel Devil Sword Emperor, it was like that. There was never a detailed description of Gardin. However, indirectly, by looking at the development and events of the novel, one could tell that Gardin was a loyal person. Prince Raciels illness worsened day by day. Initially, there were quite a few attending physicians, but one by one, they left their positions. No, actually, they escaped. Most of the attending physicians must havee to the realization that there was little hope for the prince, regardless of the level of treatment or care they provided. No matter how sincere their efforts were, his life expectancy remained limited. Once this realization dawned on them, the physicians would concoct various excuses and reasons to abandon their post, staging a mass escape to avoid the inevitable oue. They, too, were afraid of death. When a royal family member dies, the attending physician who was in charge also bears the responsibility and gets executed. As a result, only Gardin, who used to be an assistant physician, was left as the attending physician. The most honest. The most loyal. The person with the greatest sense of responsibility ultimately took all the responsibility and faced a beheading in one shot. That was the sad ending he met. Raciel raised his head. Gardin, who was uneasy due to his untimely morning scolding, and he himself, who had possessed a frail body in a strange world, felt truly fortunate to have such a loyal subject. If I want to execute the n I madest night such a loyal subject is essential. No matter what he did. No matter what kind of crazy thing he pulled off. He needed someone who would trust and follow him, like Gardin, who was right in front of him. So, Gardin? Yes, Your Highness? I have a task for you. What kind of task? Why? Are you already worried and scared? Are you afraid Ill make you do something strange likest night? Sigh. Instead of looking at me with such strange eyes, just nod your head. Nod nod. Gardin, who was watching his cue, nodded his head. Raciel couldnt help but smile. To reassure you in advance, Im not going to do anything strange. Really? Of course. But, Your Highness. Hmm? Last night, you harmed yourself with a needle, didnt you? It wasnt self-harm. Still, you poked your neck, shoulders, arms, and hands with a needle. It wasnt like that. I was scared. Do you know what your expression looks like right now? Whats wrong with my expression? Its the same as when you told me to bring needlesst night. So, are you worried about me? Yes, Your Highness. Are you afraid Ill do something crazy? Yes, Your Highness. Tsk. Its okay. You dont need to worry about that. I wont make you do anything strange or crazy. Really? Of course. Raciel snorted. So, I wanted to ask you, in this pces food storage, besides regr food ingredients, are there any toxic ones? Yes? If its something special Ingredients for making poison. Of course, we have those. This is the pce, after all. Right. That makes sense. Then, do you have monkshood root? Yes. Its a good ingredient for making poison. Great. Its good for the body. Bring it to me. What? Bring it. You cant be serious. Yes. Im going to eat it. Raciel beamed with a radiant smile, intending to instill a sense of confidence and positivity. Gardin, on the other hand, appeared overwhelmed with emotion, his expression conveying a sense of concern and uncertainty, as if wondering how to handle this unpredictable and entric prince. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Monkshood. A beautiful ornamental nt with purple flowers. However, in reality, it is a poisonous nt with deadly toxins in its roots. As a result, it has been used in the production of numerous poisons. In ancient Athens, Greece, possession without permission was punishable by death. In Joseon, it was widely used as a medicinal herb. Its toxicity has even been utilized in modern times. A representative example The Monkshood Murder Case that urred in Japan in 1986es to mind. Anyway, the toxicity of Monkshood has been thoroughly proven throughout history in both the East and the West. There is a good reason why Gardin is now throwing a mad look in Raciels direction. Your Majesty? Yes? May I check if you have a fever? I have a slight fever, but its not severe. But, Your Majesty. Yes? You must not let go of the rope of hope yet. I havent. Life is beautiful, Your Majesty. I know that. Life is precious. I know. So, Your Majesty, please never say that you will consume such a malicious poison again, okay? I dont want to. I will eat it. Your Maaajesty! Ah, oh. You surprised me. Raciel furrowed his brow. Gardin, do I look that miserable? Thats not the case, Your Majesty. However- However? I cannot stand by and watch as you give up on everything and destroy yourself. It is my duty and responsibility. Im doing this to help you fulfill your duty and responsibility. Thats sophistry, Your Majesty. Youre resorting to self-harm with a needle, and now even attempting poison suicide! Sigh. Its not self-harm. Its not poison suicide. Its part of the treatment. Your Majesty, please. I will weaken and control the toxicity and turn it into medicine. What? Enough with the small talk. Bring it to me. I give you 5 minutes. Your Majesty. If yourete, I will really harm myself. ! One, two Sn, sniffle! In the end, Gardin, who had been holding back, began to sob. Honestly, he couldnt understand. The crown prince he served had be strange. To be precise, things started to get really strange after waking up from a faintst night. The way he spoke changed. His gaze and expression were somehow different. He used to be grumpy, but at least he didnt do crazy things sniffle. How did ite to this? They say peoples personalities change when theyre about to die; could it be that? But this is too extreme. Everything changed so suddenly. In the middle of the night, he demanded arge number of needles. He even went so far as to heat the needles in a candle me and pierce his shoulders and arms. The most striking part of it all was He made a face like he was feeling something(?) while being pierced with the needles! Yes. Its certain. Hes enjoying self-harm. He has sumbed to the pleasure that pain provides. He has crossed the river of no return. Your Majesty! Gardin swallowed his tears sincerely. He didnt know that a long battle with illness could ruin a person so much. He felt inadequate. He should have taken better care of the crown prince. He knelt with a heart filled with endlessmentation. Your Majesty? Please, could you change your mind just once? No. I have no intention of changing my mind. Go away. Your Majesty, please. Sigh Gardin, who was now on the verge of tears. Seeing him like that, a deep sigh escaped from Raciels mouth. It seemed that no matter how forcefully he tried to persuade him, he would not listen, even if a knife were held to his throat. In the end, Raciel shared some knowledge with Gardin. Gardin. Yes, Your Majesty. Listen carefully now. Ill tell you the reason why Im looking for the Monkshood. Yes? As you know, Monkshood has a deadly poison in its roots. In some foreignnds, the root is ssified into two types, and the one I intend to consume is theteral root that grows from the mother root, also known as Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata in Latin. Theteral root, you say? Yes, theteral root. It contains arge amount of aconitine-based poison. This substance stimtes and paralyzes the brainstem and peripheral nerve endings. It causes the parasympathetic nervous system to run wild and ultimately stops the heart. Gulp. Gardins Adams apple trembled up and down. Raciel calmly continued his exnation. But I know how to neutralize and control the toxicity. Dont ask me how I know. I have no intention of revealing it. You mean neutralizing the poison? Yes. In thenguage of a foreign country, the process is called paozhi (). Paozhi By going through this process, I can utilize the toxicity of theteral root as a medicine suitable for me. Is that true? Of course. Do you think I would lie? Raciel chuckled softly. Suddenly, Raciel recalled the days when he ran an oriental medicine clinic in South Korea. Back then, he asionally prescribed theteral root as a medicinal ingredient. Of course, theteral root at that time had been processed by a professionalpany. Fortunately, I know the paozhi methods in detail. Not just one, but several methods. So thats why Im asking you to bring it. Are you convinced now? Your Majesty. Yes. To be honest, Im not convinced at all. Its knowledge Ive never heard of before. I dont know where it came from or if its a reliable fact. But But? If, as you say, we can use it as a medicinal ingredient will it definitely help your health? I cant be 100% sure about any medicine. Thats the nature of medicine. But at least I believe it wont harm me. I think this should be an answer by now. Yes, Your Majesty. Then what is your answer? As youmand, I will bring the Monkshood. Gardin made up his mind. In fact, he knew the Crown Princes recent health condition better than anyone else. It had been deteriorating day by day. He had not taken any medicine. It was a desperate situation. If only he could If it was possible He wanted to try everything, even grasping at straws. Maybe thats why. Paozhi. Is it worth trying at least once? He wanted to have a little hope. He wanted to try at least the smallest attempt. But once the paozhi process is over, I should try it first before the Crown Prince to ensure its safety. Only after that would he allow the Crown Prince to take the medicine. With a determined look in his eyes, Gardin left the bedroom. It was about 10 minutester when he returned with an armful of Monkshood roots. Your Majesty, I brought all of them since I wasnt sure how much you wanted. You did well. Now, bring tworge basins, clear water to fill them, and a bag of salt. Are these the items needed for the paozhi process? Of course. Please wait a moment. The preparations were smoothly made. Tworge basins filled with clear water were ced in the middle of the bedroom. Thats when it started. Now, dissolve the salt in the water. How much should I dissolve? A lot. When you say a lot? Keep pouring until I tell you to stop. Understood, Your Majesty. Swoosh! Gardin poured a lot of salt from the bag. Raciel personally dipped his finger in the water and tasted it to check the salt concentration. Now, lets soak everything. Yes, Your Majesty. Ssh, ssh! Gardin diligently immersed the Monkshood roots andteral roots in the saltwater. The work didnt end there. Raciel called in the servants of the pce. He handed each of them a piece of paper. From now on, you must thoroughly search the garden of this pce. ? The servants appeared bewildered as they contemted searching the expansive garden. Their puzzled expressions seemed to inquire about the purpose of such a task. It was reasonable for them to be confused, given the enormity of the pce garden. To put it in perspective, it wasparable in size to a South Korean administrative district or even The Garden of Morning Calm in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi-do, which Haneeun had visited with a former crush. Furthermore, the garden also served as a hunting ground for the royal familys amusement, making it potentially evenrger. Raciel looked around at the servants and said, You each have a piece of paper, right? There should be a drawing on it. You just need to bring the nt that looks exactly like the drawing. He divided the servants into two groups. He sent one group to the western part of the garden, a dry area created by magic. You will bring the whole shrub that looks exactly like the drawing. On the other hand, he sent the other group to the east. It was a forest connected to the mountainside, where spring was maintained all year round by magic. You just need to bring the grass that looks like the drawing. He didnt forget to give a special incentive to the two groups of servants as he sent them off. Its fine if it takes a few days. However, I will give a lump of gold as a reward in the name of the Crown Prince to the one who brings me what I want first from each group. So, everyone do your best. ! The servants eyes widened. Thanks to such a bold investment, satisfactory results were obtained in just half a day. That evening, Raciel looked at the medicinal herbs the servants had brought with satisfaction. Ephedra, Adiantum Ephedra () is a shrub that grows naturally in dry areas such as northern China and Inner Mongolia. Adiantum is a grass that spreads heart-shaped leaves in the damp shade of trees in mountainous areas. I never thought these would actually be in the garden. He had sent the servants just in case, thinking it would be great if they were there. It was like trying his luck with a lottery ticket. And yet, such unexpected results were obtained. It went well. Really well. Ephedra and Adiantum. Both were medicinal herbs that had been widely used in Korea. From that moment on, Raciel worked even harder and ordered Gardin around. Hmm, the ingredients have been thoroughly soaked in saltwater? Yes, Your Highness. So, what should we do now? Im not sure, Your Highness. What do you mean, not sure? Just do what I tell you. What should I do? Take out the ingredients and spread them by the window. In a sunny spot. Yes, Your Highness. Chak chak chak! Gardin diligently spread the ingredients. After half a day passed and evening came The ingredients have dried well in the sun. Now what? Do I just do what Your Highness tells me? Of course. Soak the ingredients again. Excuse me? Put them back in the saltwater. Plop. Cham bang cham bang! Gardin soaked the dried ingredients back in salt water. And when morning came Gardin, take out the ingredients and spread them out. Yes, Your Highness. Chak chak chak! When night came Soak the ingredients. Yes, Your Highness. Cham bang cham bang! When morning came Spread them out. Yes! Chak chak! When night came again Soak them. Yes! Cham bang cham bang! Raciels assiduous hand movements were mirrored by Gardinsmitted efforts as they worked together seamlessly like a finely tuned machine. After five days of meticulously soaking and drying the ingredients in salt water, a transformation was finally starting to be evident. Good. Raciel clenched his fist as he looked at the ingredients dried in the sun. Salt crystals had formed all over the surface of the ingredients, and they had be considerably harder than before. He was finally convinced. Its done. The preparation wasplete. So, now I can make the decoction. He eliminated the harmful elements from the ingredients, extracting the medicinal properties of both Ephedra and Adiantum. He then started to concoct a decoction that would blend the ingredients in a harmonious manner. At this point, Raciel was unaware that the decoction he was creating, Mahuang Fuzi Xixin (), would lead to an unforeseen oue. This unexpected effect would unveil the Hidden skill of the Magentano Royal Family, which he never anticipated or could have imagined. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Your Highness, really are you sure youll be alright? The royal kitcheny vacant. Within the abandoned culinary chamber, Gardin gulped down his parched saliva. Observing Gardins poorly concealed unease in his inquiry, Raciel offered a subtle grin. Hmm, still not reassured? Well I understand. Its hard to feel at ease. This is, after all, used in poison. Isnt it? Raciel picked up the root. Unlike before, its surface was now covered in hardened salt crystals. It was thanks to diligently soaking it in saltwater and drying it in the sun for the past few days. However, Gardin still couldnt feel at ease. No, to be honest. He was so anxious that he spent thest few days tossing and turning in his sleep, biting his nails. Will this really not cause a big problem? He felt uneasy every now and then. Even if His Highness seemed knowledgeable about the root, even if His Highness exined the mysterious terms, even if His Highness swallowed that poisonous root No! The mere thought of it made him dizzy. It felt as if the ensuing tragedy was vividly ying out before his eyes. His Highness effortlessly drank a bowl of poison. His Highness seemed to smile as if he was alright. But then, His Highness vomited blood Your Highness-! Ah, geez. You startled me. What now? What is it this time? I apologize for saying this now, but could you please reconsider once more? Reconsider? What? The root. Ah, this. Why? No matter how much I think about it Its okay. I wont die. Your Highness! Ugh, thats so loud. My ears are about to fall off. Raciel held back a bitter smile. He was about to boil the medicine using the properly prepared and cleaned root. However, Gardin, who had cooperated well so far, was now causing a fuss. Of course, Raciel could understand why he was acting like this. Hes still uneasy. It wasnt unreasonable. The root was indeed an ingredient in poison. From Gardins perspective, it must have been extremely worrisome. Raciel cleared his throat. Gardin. Yes, Your Highness. Actually, I anticipated that you would react this way, so I thought of a methodst night. A method? What is it? If I make medicine with this poisonous root, would you be willing to try it before me? Of course. Your Highness? Ah. Why are you looking at me like that? Ah, just surprised. Raciel was genuinely surprised. He didnt expect Gardin to nod without even a second of hesitation. In truth, it was just a question he asked. Asking if Gardin would be willing to try the medicine before him. To check if it was toxic or not. Then, wouldnt Gardin also feel relieved? Wouldnt he willingly help with the preparation of the medicine? Thats what Raciel thought when he asked. Well, this is also a way to check Gardins reaction. How loyal he is to him. How dedicated a person he is. Raciel wanted to see that. There would be many situations in the future where he would need to rely on Gardin. But I really didnt expect him to nod without any hesitation like that. He was honestly a little surprised. Raciel asked Gardin, Really? Are you willing to try the medicine first instead of me, to check if its toxic? Yes, Your Highness. Are you serious? Of course. That sincere gaze. Hes for real. Phew. It was a bit flustering. And also, he was grateful. Raciel tried to hide his feelings. Good. Now you feel a little more at ease. Dont you? Yes, I feel a bit relieved. Finally, Gardin smiled faintly. He truly felt relieved. Even if the worst-case scenario urred, the one to suffer due to the poison would be himself, not the Crown Prince. Alright. Now, just watch what I do from there. Understood, Your Highness. Gardin stepped back. Raciel smiled faintly at Gardin. He was amazed and grateful. Of course, despite his gratitude, he had no intention of letting Gardin drink the medicine first. Why would I let him have that? Im going to lick up everyst drop myself. He would refuse such a gesture. Raciel had intended to quickly consume the medicine in one gulp, even before Gardin had the chance to step forward and offer it to him. This had been Raciels n all along. Well, since Gardin has been deceived, its a sess. With Gardin no longer in a state of panic or likely to interfere, it was time for Raciel to proceed with his nned task. Lets see. Raciel looked around the kitchen. Most of the items needed for preparing the medicine were more or less avable. A ss container of suitable size. The processed poisonous root. Cleaned Ephedra. Dried Adiantum root. And even clear spring water freshly scooped from the flowing spring. And thest ingredient is me. Raciel inhaled deeply to steady himself. As per the age-old manuscripts, three types of dedication were essential when handling herbal remedies. The dedication of the physician who rmends and readies the treatment. The dedication of the caretaker who diligently brews the concoction. And the dedication of the patient who consumes the remedy with unwavering trust, regardless of timing. These forms of devotion must unite and execute their specific functions for the infusion to achieve its intended purpose. Now is the time for me to y all three roles. Prescribing himself, brewing, and even self-one-shot. Lets give it a try. Determined, Raciel set to work on preparing the decoction. Hebined the medicinal ingredients with clear spring water in a ss container and brought it to a vigorous boil over high heat (). Then, he reduced the heat () to prevent the liquid from overflowing and carefully simmered it until less than half of the original water remained. Raciel brewed and watched over the decoction as slowly and consistently as possible, taking breaks when necessary to catch his breath but keeping his eyes wide open and guarding the fire for over three hours. Thankfully, he did not faint during this process. I did it. Raciel smiled, enduring dizziness. The medicine had been properly brewed. It was thepletion of the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction (). However, he didnt let his guard down. He waited for the residue in the ss container to settle. Then he scooped up the clear liquid on top and poured it into a cup. Naturally, Raciel did not consume the decoction immediately. Instead, he sat down on the floor and waited. Perhaps due to the extended waiting period, Raciel suddenly burst intoughter upon noticing Gardins concerned gaze directed toward him. Gardin, if you have something to say, say it. Dont just blink your eyes from the side. Your Highness? Yes. Im not sure if I dare to ask this question, but Go ahead. Well, it seems like youve finished brewing the medicine. Yes. So? Should I drink it now? No, not yet. Raciel shook his head. Anxiousness appeared on Gardins face. Your Highness, have you changed your mind? You said earlier that you would let me try it first to test for toxicity Gardins face was filled with seriousness. Seeing his expression, it seemed that his earlier words were indeed sincere. Ha. Really. Raciel couldnt help butugh. Gardin still had a resolute look in his eyes. There was no deceit in that gaze. Raciel felt both reassured and pity at the same time. Tsk, tsk. Thats why you died so miserably in the original work, my friend. In the original work Devil Sword Emperor, Gardin stayed by Crown Prince Raciels side until the end as his personal physician. Originally, he wasnt the main physician. He was an assistant to the real physician. Yet he remained until the end. And he was executed for the death of the Crown Prince he served. It was the consequence of being held ountable for that death. Steadfast, loyal, reliable, and faithful. Without tricks or deceit, simply innocent and devoted to fulfilling his role. That seemed to be the essence of Gardin. Such a person should seed. Thinking of the futile end Gardin met in the original work, Raciel felt a bitter taste in his mouth. In fact, it was often the case in the world. It wasnt any different in South Korea. For a diligent, silent, and responsible person to seed, its like a dream. Its such a rare story that it feels like a fairy tale. In reality, those who are more cunning and resourceful have a much better chance. That was the reality. If you live diligently and silently, fulfilling your responsibilities you would only end up being a silent and voiceless tail that gets cut off. Just like Gardin in the original work, disappearing under the executioners de. Raciel smiled bitterly. Sigh. Never mind. Why are you so extreme, my friend? Pardon? Stop testing dangerous things yourself. If you really think its dangerous, there are other ways. Other ways, you say Like feeding it to a frog or a rat. Ah! Right? Should I catch a rat right away? Wait a little bit. This medicine is supposed to be taken after cooling. Is it? Originally its supposed to be taken after cooling. Especially the decoction with Aconitum. Originally you mean? Yes. Thats why Im waiting for it to cool down enough. What now? What are you curious about this time? You just said originally Oops. Raciel quickly spoke. I saw it in a dream. Lately, every night, a wizard with the energy of a great sagees to my dream and teaches me how to handle medicinal herbs and how to maintain health with acupuncture. Is that enough? In a dream you say? You might not believe it. But I think youll believe me. Thats why Im telling you. Im giving you a heads-up, but youre the only one who should know. Understood? Yes, Your Highness. I understand. He spoke with a somewhat strict tone. Gardin lowered his head with a devastated look on his face. Did I give myself away? I need to be careful. Gardins loyalty was probably directed not at him, but at Crown Prince Raciel. Therefore, he must always be Crown Prince Raciel. But he was careless just now. He said it as if he knew oriental medicine well. He must be careful next time. As Raciel thought this, he checked the decoction. In the meantime, the cup had cooled down enough. Good. Please let there be efficacy. So that I can extend my current life. Raciel reached out, hoping and praying. He didnt give Gardin a chance to interfere. He quickly picked up the moderately cooled cup. Brought it to his lips. Tilted it. Gulp! Ah! Gardin let out a startled cry as Raciel consumed the entire decoction in one swift motion, without any hesitation. As the liquid went down, Raciel felt a tingling sensation piercing through his throat. It was at that moment Ding-dong! A clear notification rang. And then [You have consumed Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction, prepared in the correct method.] [Mahuang and Xixin stabilize the bronchi, soothing sore throat symptoms. It supports antipyretic, expectorant, and anti-cough actions.] [Fuzi eliminates cold and pain and actively supports metabolism.] [Fuzis proper cardiotonic action ensures smooth cirction in the heart.] [The smooth stimtion awakens the king of the five internal organs and six bowels, the heart.] [The royal bloodlines hidden power, Asrahan Core Technique, which had been engraved in your heart but was unused due to your weak constitution, is awakening.] Trivia: Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction, also known as Ma-Huang and Aconite Decoction with Asarum, is a traditional Chinese herbal form used to treat conditions such as fever, coughing, shortness of breath, and other respiratory issues. It consists of four main ingredients: Ma Huang (Ephedrae herba), Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi ramulus), Fu Zi (Aconiti radixteralis preparata), and Xi Xin (Asari herba cum radix). This decoction ismonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been used for centuries to help alleviate respiratory symptoms. Chapter 7 Chapter 7 [The royal bloodlines hidden power, Asrahan Core Technique, which had been engraved in your heart but was unused due to your weak constitution, is awakening.] Raciels eyes gradually widened as a bold message emerged before him. It was inevitable. Asrahan Core Technique? In the original work of this world, Devil Sword Emperor. The Asrahan Core Technique was a special mana method used only by the Magentano royal family in that story. It was said to be a method created about 300 years ago. A grandmaster who left a longsting mark on history. Javier Asrahan, was it? He was said to have co-created it with his master, Lloyd Frontera. Since then, it became the Magentano royal familys technique passed down only to their direct descendants. So, it has been passed down to me as well. No, to be precise, it must have been imnted in this body, Raciels body. Because Raciel is the crown prince. The legitimate sessor to the royal family. But up until now Although he possessed the technique, he couldnt use it at all due to his weak constitution. However, things have changed now. The message that appeared before his eyes informed him that the Asrahan Core Technique was awakening and bing entirely his. Ding dong. [Asrahan Core Technique skill has been unlocked.] [Skill name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Stage: Single Circle Lv. 1] [Absorbs surrounding mana. Processes/amplifies the absorbed mana through a circle created around the heart. The amplification rate increases significantly as the number of circles increases.] [Mana amplification rate: 120%] [HP required for the next level up: 1,000] [Current HP: 100] Keeiing-! Oooh. As the circle began to spin, Raciel experienced a sensation akin to a smooth donut rotating around his heart. Is this mana? With each breath, a peculiar force was absorbed into the rotating mana circle. It seemed to be drawn in from the surrounding air and amplified within the circle, flowing through Raciels meridians. As a result, a surge of vitality coursed through his body, a sensation he had never experienced after entering Raciels weakened body. It feels like having a shot of iced Americano on a morning when I cant wake up. Due to the Core Technique, the mana circle rotated automatically, but it was also within Raciels capability to exert some control over it. It was a process simr to learning how to walk or ride a bicycle for the first time, and Raciel awkwardly attempted to adjust the rotation of the mana circle. Though it was a clumsy effort at first, his control gradually improved. Ill need some practice. Raciel enjoyed the initial sensation of the circle with a curious feeling. However, during that time. Kuuuung! Huh? The spinning circle hesitated. And suddenly. Kiaaaaaa-! It began to spin wildly. It was sudden and unexpected. Neither intended nor desired. An intense pain gripped his heart as if it was about to burst. Ugh! The suddenness of it all left Raciel incapable of even screaming. He found himself unable to draw breath or clutch at his chest, with only bulging veins in his neck betraying the intensity of his distress. What? Why was this sudden paining? Why did it feel like his heart was being torn apart? He couldnt understand the reason for the circles frenzied rampage. It was an incredibly sudden phenomenon. What, what is this? The spinning circle seemed to have a mind of its own, no longer following its original pattern. Initially, the circle had been a wide, generous ring of mana that encircled the heart, but now it had changed. It had be too small, ensnaring the heart within its confines. It was not merely trapped, but something more ominous than that. At this rate my heart will burst. The circle pressed down on the heart with a tightness reminiscent of a noose around a sinners neck or a predator tearing into its preys throat. It seemed to be squeezing and rotating, as though it intended to rip the heart apart with its unrelenting pressure. Ku Hah! Raciel struggled to stave off panic as a cold sweat broke out, causing his vision to blur uncontrobly. Through the haze, he could make out Gardins faint figure, seemingly shouting something at him. Was he asking why this was happening? Was he checking to see if Raciel was okay, his grip tight on his shoulder? Tsk. It wasnt just Gardin that was rmed. Ding-dong. [The mana circle is excessivelypressing the heart.] [The development bnce between the mana circle and the heart is mismatched.] [The heart is on the verge of fainting.] Messages mixed with screams wereing from various organs, including the heart, but they flickered and disappeared amidst the blurring of Raciels vision, leaving him feeling dizzy. Nevertheless, this confusing sensory input allowed him to surmise the root cause of his sudden predicament. The development bnce between the mana circle and the heart is mismatched? In retrospect, it was clear that the Asrahan Core Technique had just awakened, triggering the mana circle to reveal its presence and begin rotating. However, the circles size was unnaturally small; instead of generously encircling the heart like a doughnut, it now pressed against it with a forceful tightness, akin to an infinitesimally small ring pressing against a finger. Development state Bnce Wait a minute. An idea slowly surfaced. It was a hypothesis. In terms of development state, the physical heart has fully grown but the circle hasnt? Amidst the agony, Raciels consciousness grew hazy, and his heart began to beat irregrly. Despite the clear signs of a heart attack, his mind continued to race with thoughts. Yeah,e to think of it, its natural. The original owner of this body, Raciel, was a crown prince. He was the emperors eldest son since birth. But the Asrahan Core Technique is a secret art passed down only to the direct descendants of the imperial family. Indeed, it was mentioned in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. The message that appeared when he first obtained the Asrahan Core Technique also said so. The secret art of the imperial family, which had been engraved in his heart but couldnt be used due to the weak constitution, was awakening. So, Raciel was born as a crown prince and inherited the Asrahan Core Technique, the imperial familys secret art, shortly after birth. Perhaps the emperor himself engraved the circle in the heart of newborn Raciel. As it had been done for generations of the imperial family in a ritual-like manner. Raciel would have acquired the Asrahan Core Technique right after birth. But the problem arose afterward. Raciel had a congenital weak constitution. He was suffering even before he opened his eyes. It was said that he had been tormented by illness throughout his life. But with such a body, could he have used the Asrahan Core Technique? No. That wouldnt have been possible. With a body weakened by illness, there would have been no chance of using the Core Technique. So, the mana circle that should be activated when using the Core Technique It had never been rotated before. No, not even once, since it was installed in his infancy. Literally, this circle had spent its entire life in a semi-forced dormant state. Thats why it hadnt grown at all from its size and shape. But in the meantime, Raciels body grew, and only his heart became bigger. So, the bnce is off. Thebination of an adult heart and an infant circle was absurd, rare, and ironic. However, the chaotic party that this unlikely duo was currently throwing in Raciels chest was enough to bring tears to his eyes. I have to do something. Raciel realized that if he remained in this state, he would not survive. This was no joke; it was a grim reality. Unlike the original Raciel, who had passed away peacefully without awakening the circle, his situation was different now. Having activated the circle, he needed to take action to bnce his heart and the circle; otherwise, he would soon be booking a heart attack ticket and start discussing his future with the King of Hell. Think. Juste up with something. Raciel racked his brain, focusing intently on the cause of his predicament and desperately searching for a solution to the problem. He clung persistently to the idea, determined to find a way to bnce the heart and the circle. Finally, after much contemtion, he came to a conclusion: there was ultimately only one way to achieve this delicate bnce. Since he cant reduce the size of the heart Erge the circle! As soon as Raciel discovered the solution, he abandoned all attempts to calm the frenzied rotation of the circle. On the contrary, he encouraged it to spin even faster, with a rough, breathless, fierce, and violent energy. He increased the circles speed with a single goal in mind: to forcefully expand its size using centrifugal force. It was a risky gamble, with his life hanging in the bnce. Kaaaaaa-ak! Ugh! The heart was ensnared within the circle, causing an immense surge of pain to course through Raciels body. It was so intense that he nearly lost consciousness, but he knew that doing so would mean the end. So he forced himself to endure and persevere, pushing through the agony. Was it just because he had a high tolerance for pain? No. My chest it hurts. Its incredibly painful. But,pared to the pain in my chest when the Korean Oriental medicine clinic was going bankrupt, this is nothing! He recalled the most recent memory of heartache. It was the memory of the time when the oriental medicine clinic was going bankrupt due to the coronavirus situation. Because two confirmed cases visited the inte cafes and social media chat rooms and rumors spread throughout the neighborhood patients stoppeding nobody came to the clinic, just sighing deeply even developed hair loss! No matter how painful it was. Would it hurt as much as it did then? Yet the rent and loan interest was taken out well. I wanted to hold onto anyone, to beg someone, but I couldnt. After moving out of the leasehold apartment and into a monthly rental room, I tried to make ends meet damn, my leasehold. Raciel couldnt recall how much he had cried alone while packing up his leasehold apartment. But, the pain he felt in his chest now Its not even painfulpared to then. Back then, my heart felt like it was being torn apart! Gritting his teeth, Raciel realized that the pain he was experiencing now was nothingpared to what he had endured before. Thus, he resolved to withstand any amount of pain that the expanding mana circle might bring. Mana circle? Do you know what it feels like when your business is failing? Do you know the pain of self-employed people in Korea? With a fierce growl, Raciel directed his determination towards the spinning circle, as if biting down on it with his willpower alone. He endured the seemingly eternal pain, the circles rotation beyond its limits, and the agony of it expanding and tearing under the centrifugal force. Through sheer perseverance, he held on until, eventually, the circle responded to his efforts. Kaaaaaa-! Crack! With a sudden breaking sound, the circle expanded, bringing a sense of liberation to the previously oppressed heart. The pain vanished as if it had never existed, reced by the smooth, ss-like rotation of the circle. Kiiiiiing The rotation of the circle was now akin to a well-tamed beast or a well-maintained engine, promising to provide immense power whenever needed. As Raciel opened his eyes to this new sensation, a flood of messages appeared before him. Ding-dong! [You have perfectly bnced the development of your heart and mana circle.] [Your mana circle has been contracted in a dormant state for a long time. Therefore, normal utilization was absolutely impossible.] [However, you have sessfully torn and expanded the mana circle with brilliant intuition, bold execution, resolute will, and indomitable perseverance.] [In this series of processes, your mana heart has gone through a very rare growth phase, forcibly tearing and expanding ording to the owners will.] [By this unique and remarkable growth history, a special attribute is granted to your mana circle.] [You have acquired the unprecedented Mana Circle Slot in history.] The messages shone like bright lights, filling Raciels sight as he read through them. Finally, he realized the magnitude of this moment it was a historic sess, a life-or-death gamble that had paid off in the form of a massive jackpot. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 [You have acquired the unprecedented Mana Circle Slot in history.] A message illuminated Raciels field of view, akin to a radiant beam of light. It marked a pivotal moment, signifying the sessful oue of a perilous wager. Simultaneously, it conveyed a victorious message, reporting the acquisition of an unforeseen, substantial reward. Mana Circle Slot? What on earth is that? Raciel kept an eye on the following messages. [Your Mana Circle has acquired a kind of empty space, a void, in the process of forcibly tearing and expanding ording to the users will.] [This void has evolved into a storage space, a slot, that can contain matter and mana.] [You will equip one slot in one circle.] [The storage space of the slot expands as the level of the circle increases.] [The slot can be filled by consuming through the mouth.] [Slot 1 has been opened.] [Slot 1 is empty.] [Slot 1 maximum capacity: 10 liters] [Slot 1 current storage capacity: 0 liters] . Reading the message, Raciel tilted his head. Storage space? Slot? But the capacity is 10 liters? Its like a game inventory or item slot. He recollected some of the games he yed on asion. Drawing from his experience with game inventories, he made an estimated conjecture regarding the meaning of the message. So, an inventory was literally created in my circle? It seemed so when he thought about it. By eating something, he now had a space that could store a whopping 10 liters. As he thought about it, various ways to utilize it flooded his mind. This might be He wasnt sure if he had obtained a more incredible potential than he initially thought. For example, within the slot of this Mana Circle At that moment Um, Your Highness? Raciels ears caught a trembling, apprehensive voice. Tracing the source of the sound, he pivoted his head in that direction. There stood Gardin, on the verge of tears. Perplexed about whether everything was alright or if something had gone awry, his countenance and eyes resembled those of an individual who had just dropped their freshly acquired and activated smartphone on a tile floor. In response, Raciel offered a faint smile, reassuring him that the smartphone was secure(?). Yes, what is it? Um, are you alright? As you can see? Earlier, you seemed to be in terrible pain. My throat was just clogged for a moment. Your throat you mean? Yes. Raciel responded casually to alleviate any anxiety. I drank the decoction too hastily. The herbs got stuck. The herbs got stuck? Yes. Didnt it look that way? No. It didnt look that way. Well, then it cant be helped. But, Your Highness. Why do you keep asking? You definitely looked like you were in a very critical situation. Im fine. Cant you see? Im perfectly alright now. But Eventually, Gardins voice trailed off, and he shifted his focus to the vacant cup. It was the cup that once held the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction. Was he reproaching himself? It appeared as though he believed that he should have drunk it before Raciel. Sigh, its making him worry again. Raciel let out a faintugh. Anyway, I drank it first because its a good thing. Even if it was a little strange, would I have drunk it right away? So dont worry. If its really dangerous, even if you refuse, Ill force it down your throat. Yes? Theres no use in refusing. Ill forcibly open your mouth, put a funnel in, and pour it in. Y-yes? I hope youll be as loyal as you are now. If you understand, clean up here. Ill go to the bedroom and rest first. Oh, and Yes? Thank you. Y-yes? If you didnt understand, never mind. Wondering he shouldnt have said it, Raciel hastily left the kitchen and retreated to his bedroom. There, he became lost in thought about the Mana Circle Slot he had acquired earlier, deeply concerned about how to best utilize its potential. It said the storage capacity was 10 liters. Within that capacity, I can store matter mixed with mana. Of course, the way to fill it Consumption. In other words, I can fill it by eating. The message that hade to mind earlier had clearly informed him of that. So lets start by experimenting if it really works. Raciels method of experimentation was straightforward he would determine something by eating it. As he pondered this approach, a sudden thought crossed his mind, prompting him to scan his bedroom for something suitable to consume for the test. Eventually, he settled on arge crystal bottle filled with water. Water would be perfect for this experiment. It was easily obtainable, not disgusting or burdensome to consume, and had a high LD50, making it safe to drink inrge quantities. LD50, thats important. Especially now, when I have to try consuming arge amount. LD50 stands for Lethal Dose 50% and is a measure of toxicity used to determine the dose of a substance (such as a chemical, drug, or poison) that is lethal to 50% of the poption or test subjects within a certain time frame. Theres also the concept of LD100, but thats rather imprecise. For example, the amount of poison that leads to death may vary among individuals because their constitutions are slightly different. In cases where a substance is only evaluated based on LD100, a tragedy could ur if someone drinks 800 milliliters, assuming it is safe because the lethal dose is 1 liter, only to sumb due to their bodys constitution. This is precisely why LD50 is utilized instead to provide a more urate measure of a substances toxicity and avoid such tragedies. Its like a value that says, roughly, at this point, the probability of death is 50%, and if you dont die, youll at least suffer a lot, be a vegetable, or be semi-paralyzed, so be careful. Put simply, if youre fortunate, consuming it maynd you in the emergency room or intensive care unit. If youre not, youll be sent straight to the morgue and high-five the King of Hell. This holds true for all substances, including water, which has an LD50. For an average individual weighing 60 kilograms, the LD50 for water is roughly 5.4 liters, equivalent to 90 grams of water per kilogram of body weight. So, with my current weight, the LD50 for water would be roughly 3.9 liters. Raciel estimated the capacity of the crystal bottle by sight. It seemed to be About the size of a 2-liter PET bottle. Perfect. Thatll do. Raciel felt relief wash over him as he considered the unlikelihood of any harming to him if he drank the entire contents of the bottle. As he picked it up, he noticed his arm trembling and brought the bottle to his lips, tilting it slowly. Just holding this makes my arm tremble. Oh, this weak body. He grumbled, trying not to spill a single drop. Gulp, gulp! Cool water flowed down Raciels throat as he activated the Asrahan Core Technique. With the ease of giving an order, hemanded the Mana Circle. I want to store the water Im drinking now in the slot. Then, the Circle immediately responded. Kiiiing-! The Circle began to spin cheerfully. The rotation generated suction power, which sucked up all the water that was going down his esophagus into his stomach. Oh? Ooh? Raciel found the experience fascinating. Despite clearly drinking a substantial amount of water from the bottle, he gulped it down without taking a breath, and his esophagus seemed to send the water down without a single drop reaching his stomach. The water is being absorbed entirely into the Circle. The message was true. After draining the contents of the bottle, Raciel ced it down, now empty. Despite having consumed approximately 2 liters of water, he didnt feel full in the slightest it was an amazing sensation. Feeling like a hippo with a thirst for water, he desired more. With renewed determination, he left his bedroom and began to explore the other rooms connected by the hallway. Eventually, he discovered a living room, where he found four additional bottles of water. Perfect. Lets fill the remaining 8 liters. Determined to see the experiment through to the end, Raciel picked up another bottle and began emptying it without hesitation. After finishing the initial 2 liters, he added 2 more and continued to consume the water. Despite having consumed a significant amount already, he felt no abnormality in his body or sense of fullness. Encouraged, he continued to one-shot another 8 liters of water. Ugh. To be honest, Raciel felt a bit proud of himself. When in his life had he ever consumed 10 liters of water in one go? If I had, I would have died. LD50 or whatever, my stomach would have burst. A sudden recollection from his past flooded Raciels mind. He remembered a tradition where he was from, upon receiving a promotion, individuals were required to drink water. It was considered a bad habit to one-shot water from a pitcher containing at least 3 liters. However, nobody seeded inpleting the task, as after consuming roughly 1 liter, the overwhelming scent of water would cause them to run to the bathroom and release a torrential downpour akin to Niagara Falls. Raciel was no exception to this in the past. But now its different. I drank 10 liters and theres no burden at all. I dont feel full, and theres no water filling up my stomach. The 10 liters of water he had just drunk were stored directly in the Circles slot. Lets move on to the next stage of the experiment. He returned to his bedroom and went to sleep as if nothing had happened. The next day, he didnt drink any water all day long. Instead, he slowly learned how to use the Circles slot. When I feel thirsty like this. Kiiiing.. As Raciel slowly rotated the Circle, the response was immediate. Ding dong! [Releasing stored water from the Circle slot into your body.] [Please set the release amount.] 0.1 liters. [Releasing 0.1 liters of water into your body.] [Current storage capacity of slot 1: 9.9 liters] Kiiiing-! As the Circle rotated in the opposite direction, the water stored within was released into Raciels body with the aid of mana. The water flowed along with the mana, circting through his blood vessels and being delivered directly to his bodys cells. Within moments, his thirst was quenched. Wow. Im like a camel. A human camel. Raciel mused over whether this was how camels felt, storing water and nutrients in their humps to survive wandering through the desert. He continued to use the Circle slot whenever he felt thirsty, which prevented him from experiencing thirst throughout the day, even if he didnt drink a single drop of water. As time passed, he gradually learned more about the properties of the Circle slot, such as the fact that he couldnt store a mixture of different foods or substances within it. It can only store water if its water, or food if its food. Not even one menu per person, tsk. But hmm, how do I empty the slot all at once? Midnight had once again arrived, enveloping Raciels quiet bedroom in darkness as he was lost in thought. I have a rough idea of how to fill and use the slot, so now I want to try putting the elixir in it. But how do I empty it? He couldnt release all the remaining water into his body at once. There was just too much water for that. Theres still 8.5 liters left. If I released all of it into my body, Id die instantly. So either he had to consume it slowly over time or find a way to remove it all at once. . A possibility suddenly urred to Raciel as he thought about the Asrahan Core Technique, which was frequently mentioned in the novel Devil Sword Emperor and its unique characteristics. Its a Core Technique specialized in mana absorption, amplification, and emission. That was the characteristic of the Asrahan Core Technique. It might be possible with amplification and emission. Lets try it. Raciel rose from his seat and stretched out his hand, focusing his concentration as he activated the Asrahan Core Technique. Kiiiing.. As Raciel reversed the rotation of the Circle, it responded immediately, as if it had been waiting for hismand. He focused his concentration and determined to release all of the remaining water stored within the slot outside his body. Kiiiing-! Suddenly, the reverse rotation of the Circle intensified, causing the mana contained within to stir. The 8.5 liters of water resonated with the mana, resulting in an amplification of the water as it mixed with the mana. [The stored substance in the Circle slot is amplified.] [Releasing the stored 8.5 liters of water.] As the water and mana amplified, it condensed into a potent form and followed the rush of the Circle, surging through Raciels heart and sprinting through his blood vessels. Poooong-! In a sudden burst, the 8.5 liters of condensed water were explosivelyunched in a sphere, shattering the crystal bottle his palm was pointing at instantly. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Crash-! In an instant, a luxurious crystal bottle shattered into fragments. Raciel had not evene into contact with it. The bottle had been resting on the table when a sizable orb of water erupted from his palm and struck it. He stood there,pletely bewildered. What, what is this? He had simply intended to release water from his hand, assuming that if he channeled mana, it would flow out smoothly like tap water. Thus, he had readied an empty bottle to catch the water without any spige. However, instead of a controlled flow, a water bomb had exploded, shattering the bottlepletely. Heh, is this for real? Despite being the one responsible for the chaos, he couldnt bring himself to believe the oue. He just stood there, staring nkly at the bedroom, which was now inplete disarray. Water had flooded the entire room. An explosion of over 8 liters of water had pushed the table aside, leaving the floor and bed drenched. Water had even sttered onto the ceiling. But it wasnt just water that had sprayed everywhere. Ah Raciel recoiled suddenly, wincing at a sharp pain in his foot. He had stepped on a tiny crystal shard that was embedded in his foot. Oh, shoot. The bottle had fragmented sopletely that the entire room was strewn with crystal ss shards. Not a single spot in the bedroom had been spared, and the floor sparkled in every nook and cranny. Some of therger pieces had even be lodged in the walls. Seeing this caused him to shudder involuntarily. If he had been struck by those shards, he would have suffered serious injuries. As he pondered how to go about cleaning up the mess, something unexpected urred. Your Highness, the Crown Prince! Boom, crash! Both doors swung open at the same time. One led to the inner room of the bedroom, from which Gardin hastily emerged with a groggy expression. The other door led out to the hallway. Your Highness! Are you alright? Over ten guards burst into the bedroom, their faces taut and their swords at the ready. Gardin, who had emerged from the inner room, and the guards who had charged in, wore identical expressions upon taking in the disordered scene. Huh? They must have rushed to the scene upon hearing the sound of an explosion. Perhaps they thought it was an attack on the Crown Prince or an assassination attempt. In any case, they must have envisioned a dire situation when hurrying over. However, here he stood, unscathed, amidst a bedroom that was flooded and inplete disarray, with ss shards littered everywhere. It was no wonder they were having difficultyprehending the situation. What should I say? Raciel felt a moment of awkwardness, as though he had been caught engaging in some ndestine mischief. Moreover, it was challenging to provide an honest exnation of the situation. I reached out, and the water bomb stored in the circle amplified and exploded, resulting in this mess. Im sorry for startling you while you were workingte at night, haha. Saying that would be even weirder. No, it would be perfect for being treated as a madman. After some thought, he came up with a somewhat usible excuse. Uh, the thing is, I got angry for a moment. Yes? The guard captain replied with a tense expression, prompting Raciel to respond with an awkward smile. In a fit of anger, I just swung a bottle filled with water and struck it against the table. Your Highness? Thats how this happened. Im sorry. . There was a moment of silence from both the guards and Gardin. Regret began to set in swiftly. Doesnt it work? Tsk. I admit its a pretty clumsy excuse. Attempting to exin that the Crown Prince had suddenly be so overwhelmed with emotion that he had swung a ss bottle, breaking it and causing chaos in the middle of the night, seemed like a far-fetched and inelegant exnation. Tsk. They wont believe me. No one would believe such a thing. Now, how should I dodge this It was then The guard captain bowed his head. Its alright, Your Highness. Huh? Are you injured, Your Highness? Well, aside from being pricked by a ss shard on my foot, not really. Please wait a moment. There are many ss shards over there, so we will safely escort you to this side. Ah, um, okay. Raciel felt awkward. The guard captain had epted his exnation too readily. Why? How? Raciel was unable toprehend the situation fully. Was it because of his status as the Crown Prince and a member of the royal family, or was there some other exnation? However, there was no time to delve into the mystery. The captain of the guard strode over, crushing the ss shards beneath his military boots, and lifted Raciel up. He then carried him to a secure location. Since this ce is a mess, we will take you to the second bedroom. Sir Gardin? Please check His Highnesss foot before we move. Ah, yes. Following that, everyone became upied with various tasks. The guards inspected the bedroom thoroughly to ensure there were no remaining hazards. Gardin removed the ss shard from his foot and applied medicine, perspiring heavily. Meanwhile, Raciel had to swallow his doubts. Tsk. My excuse was obviously so clumsy. Yet everyone seemed to believe him without any suspicion. Was this the convenience of being royalty? Well, lets chalk it up to good luck. Following the guard captains guidance, Raciel moved to the second bedroom. Lying in an unfamiliar bed, his eyes darted around. He tossed and turned for a while, thinking about the earlier incident. What was that? The sensation of the mana-fused water bomb exploding. The feeling was still vivid in his palm. No, it wasnt just the palm of his hand. From the circle in his heart to the surrounding blood vessels, the manas torrent raced through his shoulders and arms, amplifying, exploding, and erupting. It was a refreshing sensation, as if his insides had been cleared. It was a feeling he wanted to experience again if he had the chance. Raciel decided to sleep for now. He might cause another ident if he kept thinking about it. He forced his eyes shut. He still had many more important things to deal with. For now, it was more urgent to improve this cursed constitution of his. He tried to remind himself and fell asleep. And at the same time, he made a n. Having thoroughlypleted the performance tests for the circle slot, he pondered and strategized how to use it for his own treatment. Eventually, he fell asleep. The next day dawned. As soon as he opened his eyes, Raciel called for Gardin. Im going to boil the medicinal decoction. You know, likest time, clear out the kitchen. Indeed, the royal status was convenient. With just amand, everything was swiftly prepared. The setup for boiling the decoction was quicklypleted. In the empty kitchen, he prepared the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction as he did before. However, this time, the quantity was a bit more thanst time. A bit more, or rather, a lot more. Exactly 10 liters were prepared. The Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction, divided into arge water bottle, waited for a while to cool down. He spoke to Gardin, Gardin, can you step outside for a moment? Yes? Your Highness? Please, just step outside the kitchen for a moment. Um, Your Highness? Gardin had been anxiously fidgeting beside him the whole time he was boiling the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction. He was like a parent who had left their child by the water or someone who suddenly remembered they left the gas stove on while getting their hair done. Your Highness, I am sorry to say this, but If youre sorry, dont say it. But, Your Highness Its just for a moment. I have something to do on my own. Now he was going to drink all 10 liters of the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction in one shot. It was clear that Gardin would be shocked if he saw it. But, Your Highness, I am extremely worried. Hmm, is it because of this? He pointed to the bottle containing the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction. Gardin nodded. Last time you suffered after drinking it, didnt you? That was because I clogged up. But this time, youve prepared even more thanst time, so So youre worried? Yes, Your Highness. Its fine. I have something to test, so I prepared more. Ill drink a little, and throw the rest away. He pointed to the water hole in the corner of the kitchen. Only then did Gardins expression slightly rx. Is that so? Of course. You dont really think I would drink all of this, do you? Indeed. It would be quite unreasonable for someone to drink all of that from amon-sense perspective. Thats right. Its absurd. Yes, only aplete fool with an empty head would do such an ignorant thing. Your Highness? Get out! He forcibly chased out the startled Gardin. He closed the kitchen door and picked up the bottle. The Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction rippled. He chugged it down. Gulp by gulp, 1 liter, 2 liters, 5 liters, and finally, all 10 liters. Ugh. Urk. The Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction filled the circle slot. It started from that moment. Very little by little. Throughout the day, in small sips. He opened the circle slot from time to time, urately injecting the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction into his body. It was like a special IV drip running 24 hours a day. The effect was immediately apparent. Ding dong! [Your Heart cheers.] [Your Lungs dances.] [Your Large intestine jumps rope with its longitudinal muscle.] [Your Heart has sponsored 100 HP.] [Your Lungs has sponsored 200 HP.] [Your Large intestine has sponsored 100 HP.] [Current HP: 500] The awakened organs all cheered and sponsored HP. However, Raciel was not satisfied. I need to increase my life expectancy. Only then could he say that he had seen a definite effect. He continued to turn the circle slot. Without leaving any gaps. Without overdoing it. He administered the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction. During that time, the organs had to endure unexpected hardships(?). [Your Heart grumbles.] [Your Lungs grumbles.] [Your Large intestine grumbles.] [Your organs are getting tired of the Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction.] At first, such messages were asional. Later, even the grumbling conversations of those guys appeared as messages. [Heart: Hey, youngest, whats todays side dish?] [Large intestine: Its Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction, brother.] [Heart: So, whats tomorrows breakfast side dish?] [Large intestine: Its Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction, brother.] [Heart: ] [Large intestine: It seems like tomorrows dinner is also Mahuang Fuzi Xixin decoction.] [Heart: So, are you okay with that?] [Large intestine: Hehehe.] [Heart: You blockhead.] However, Raciel did not yield to the organsints about their side dishes. Rather, he turned the circle slot even more meticulously and tenaciously. Thus, five days, ten days, and fifteen days passed, and finally, the long-awaited message appeared. Ding dong! [Your estimated life span has increased by (+) 50 days.] [Estimated life span: 133 days] I did it! It happened just as he was about to enjoy his dessert after dinner. Then, he unexpectedly received the wee message. Unable to contain his joy, Raciel shouted. However, his outburst was so sudden that the maid attending to his meal was startled. Huh? Along with an urgent voice, the surprised maid identally dropped the cup she was about to ce on the table. Crash! The cup shattered and honey water spilled everywhere. Ah Raciel froze. It was his sudden outburst that had startled the maid, causing her to make a mistake. He felt sorry for her and wanted to ask if she was okay. However, before he could ask, the maid reacted first. I, I am terribly sorry, Your Highness! With a pale, terrified face, the maid prostrated herself on the floor. However, her shoulders trembled like willow branches. It was strange. Whats going on? Its just a broken cup. Is it really worth apologizing like that, as if shemitted a grave sin? Perhaps it was due to the respect and fear for the royal family. However, the fear the maid exhibited seemed excessive. Feeling puzzled, Raciel reached out his hand. To reassure her. To tell her it was not a big deal. He tried tofort the maid. However, for some reason, the maids face turned even paler at his constion, and she broke into a cold sweat. I, I made a mistake. I will make sure this never happens again, Your Highness. But please, not the same whipping asst time Her desperate plea was akin to begging a cruel tyrant. She nearly sobbed as she made her plea. Upon hearing this, Raciel was startled. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Scolding with a whip? Raciel was taken aback by the maids unexpected plea. What? Scolding with a whip? Its just a broken ss from dropping a single cup. Just a little spilled honey. Worrying about a whipping for such a small mistake, the maidservanty t on the ground. Raciels expression hardened. Could it be? Raciel, the Crown Prince and the owner of this body. Did he ever whip the maidservants? Judging by the maids frightened attitude and reaction, it might be true. He asked to confirm. Have I ever whipped you? Please say no. Please tell me Im not that kind of trash. He desperately wished inside. Did his wishe true? N-no, Your Highness. The maidservant shook her head vigorously. Your Highness has never personally held a whip. Huh? Raciel has never personally held a whip? Wait a minute, could it be? Then, by any chance Did I order someone else to do it? . Really? Ah, it was only because I had made a mistake. Im sorry, Your Highness. Feeling interrogated by him, the maids face grew more and more sullen. Raciels expression also hardened even more. So, its true. He couldnt believe it was actually true. Raciel had ordered others to whip the maidservant. Crown Prince Raciel. He thought he was just a sickly and weak person. What have you done? A myriad of questions arose. He looked at the maidservant again. Let me ask you one more thing. What mistake did you make at that time to deserve being whipped? Th-that was Its okay. Tell me. I identally sshed water What? On your highnesss sleeve I sshed water, and the sleeve got wet Wait a minute. Are you saying you were whipped just because you identally sshed a little water on my sleeve? I-Im sorry. Goodness. Looking at the maids attitude, it seemed she was not lying. It was absurd and unbelievable. What kind of person were you, Crown Prince Raciel? Suddenly, the novel Devil Sword Emperor came to mind. In that novel, Crown Prince Raciel was just a minor character who appeared briefly in the beginning. As a result, his presence and mentions were limited. There were no detailed descriptions of his daily life or how he was perceived by those around him. His character was simply summarized as being frail, suffering from various illnesses, and eventually dying young. This was why he had only envisioned him as a pitiable, sickly character. However, when he uncovered a deeperyer and caught a glimpse of his more intricate persona Was he more of a trashy person than I thought? Seeing the maidservant trembling in fear over a small mistake, he could somewhat guess how Crown Prince Raciel must have been in his daily life. He felt bitter and clicked his tongue. Enough. Stop begging and get up. I wont scold you with a whip. What? Didnt you hear me? Get up. The maid stood up at the speed of light. However, she still seemed frightened and continued to nce nervously in his direction. Im fine, so just clean up the broken ss and go. Ah, yes, Your Highness. The maid hurriedly moved, looking slightly bewildered by the surprisingly (?) easy forgiveness. Raciel, watching her, couldnt help but say a word. Dont hurt yourself by cleaning up hastily. STARTLE! The hand of the maid, who was about to pick up the broken ss in a hurry, flinched. You can use a broom. What are you going to do if you hurt yourself while trying to clean up with your hands? I apologize, Your Highness. I almost dirtied the precious floor with my filthy blood. No, thats not what I meant I wont let my blood spill on the floor even if Im bleeding, Your Highness. Thats not what Im saying Please, just not the whip Thats not my intention In the deepening misunderstanding, only the desperate sweeping continued hastily. Finally, the maid, who had cleaned up the broken ss and spilled honey, hurriedly retreated like the wind. No, she fled. She even tearfully expressed her gratitude when he told her there was no need to bring more honey. Her fleeing figure conveyed the demeanor of someone escaping from a madman who had imprisoned her. Crown Prince Raciel, what on earth He became curious at this point. Fortunately, there was someone left nearby who could answer his questions. Gardin. Yes, Your Highness. You called? Yes, I did. But the thing is Yes, Your Highness. Why are you looking at me with such a strange expression? It wasnt an exaggeration, but the look in Gardins eyes as he looked at him was quite peculiar since a while ago. It was like the gaze of someone who witnessed an unexpectedly heartwarming sight. For some reason, that bothered him even more. And one more question. Why was that maid like that? Um, wasnt she moved by Your Highnesss magnanimity and retreated? Tsk. Dont give me that sugar-coated talk. Yes? Even that maid said so earlier. She said I had ordered others to punish her with a whip. Yes, she did. Actually, Ive been very sicktely, and my memory is a bit jumbled. Thats why Im asking. It wasnt a huge mistake, and it was just because a few drops of water sshed on the sleeve. Yes, it was. So Im asking again, have any of the other maids or servants experienced simr incidents? Your Highness. Answer my question first. Yes, they have. Were they also punished with a whip? Did I order that? Yes, Your Highness But, we believe in you. Believe? In what? Because there were rumors that you were generous and benevolent in your childhood. So youre saying I wasnt like that when I grew up? No, thats not your fault. Then? It was the wicked disease that tormented you and made your mind foggy. Tsk. Thats just an excuse. No, Your Highness. Gardin vehemently denied what he said and shook his head. But still, that seemed like a usible yet sugar-coated statement. Raciel frowned. To be honest, my memory has declined a lottely because Ive been unwell. I cant remember past events well. So I want to hear the details. Yes, Your Highness. What kind of person was I? To you, the maids, and the servants here. Of course, Your Highness Tell me objectively. Dont lie. Ill check with others too. If theres even a little lie, then Ill boil a strange potion right in front of you and gulp it down? Yes? The contents of the potion will depend on my mood. Your Highness? Now, tell me. What kind of person was I? That, that is The effect of the self-hostage threat (?) was tremendous. Gardins mouth opened up smoothly. After about half an hour of conversation, it was over. Amidst the abundance of testimonials and first-hand reports, objective assessments, and contemtion, Raciel was able to arrive at a dispassionate conclusion. Crown Prince Raciel was a hypersensitive and tyrannical boss. He wasnt fundamentally a bad person. He was said to have been quite decent during his childhood. But he became more and more sensitive as he suffered from the disease. At first, he seemed to be getting a little sensitive, but eventually, he crossed the line too often. Gardins testimony portrayed Crown Prince Raciel as an epitome of hysteria, with a tendency to get infuriated at the slightest provocation. He was known to yell loudly, hurl objects, and express various forms of irritation. His wrath extended to the point of ordering the whipping of maids and servants, although he did not execute the punishment himself, delegating the task to other servants. As a result, the pce staff was constantly on edge in the presence of the Crown Prince, fearful of inciting his anger and enduring severe consequences. Crown Prince Raciels authoritarian behavior and hysterical outbursts were of an enormous magnitude. He punished them for breathing too loudly. He didnt let them sleep for two days because he heard a sneeze while sleeping. He starved chefs, servants, and maids for a day and a half because one type of sauce was missing during a meal. He even pped them for not wanting to hear the rustling of clothes. What a person. The absence of any form of resistance or rebuttal against the tyrannical behavior of the royalty made it even more unbearable for those who were oppressed by it. It was the worst. Now he understood the reaction of the maid he had seen earlier. He also recalled the guards who had easily believed his crude excuses that night when he had identally set off a water bomb while testing the Circle Slot. At that time, I made an excuse that I broke the bottle because I was angry. But Crown Prince Raciel had been doing such things since before. Thats why the guards naturally believed my excuse. Ironically, the excuse he had made was the usual behavior of Crown Prince Raciel. A bitter smile escaped him at this peculiar coincidence. But on the other hand, there was something he couldnt understand. But Gardin. Yes, Your Highness. Ive heard what you said. Thank you for being honest. But, theres still something Im curious about. Please ask, Your Highness. Well, I can understand why other servants and maids are afraid of me. But why are you not? Yes? I mean, when I think about it, you said I acted so harshly. But so far, you havent seemed to be intimidated or afraid of me. Its because I believe in Your Highness. What? Gardins response came without a moments hesitation. It was absurd to hear. Believe? What in me? Well, originally you were a kind person So? I believed that once I cured your illness, you would return to your former demeanor. Recently, my belief has begun to be rewarded. Rewarded? Your recent behavior, Your Highness. I dont know how youll take this, but youve changed. Youre changing. It started the day you were writing in your diary, then coughed up blood and fainted. Ah, that day? That day would be when he entered Raciels body. However, Gardin, who didnt know that fact, spoke with a somewhat emotional tone. Since that day, Your Highness, you have changed. Your speech and actions have be a bit rough and outside of etiquette, but you havent shown irritation toward me or the servants and maids. Not once. Hmm. So you liked it? It was heartwarming. Heartwarming? Im still grateful to the heavens. You should be grateful to me, not the heavens. Thank you, Your Highness. Thats right. Thats it. Anyway, youre happy that Ive changed? Of course, Your Highness. Even if I hurt myself with a needle or something, right? Well, that Or if I boil poisonous herbs and take a shot, right? You must be so happy, Gardin. Gardins face crumpled, but upon closer inspection, it presented an unusual spectacle. Despite the circumstances, a slight, affectionate grin persisted at the edge of his mouth. Maybe Im the same. It seemed likely. Although he teased Gardin like this, he was grateful. How could he not be grateful in front of the sincerity shown by such a loyal person? Raciel tried to hide his true feelings andughed mischievously. Phew. Anyway, what a mess during the meal. Lets finish eating the bread. By the way, Gardin, have you had dinner? I havent eaten yet, Your Highness. Do you want to eat together? Pardon? Here, it seems like there will be some bread left. Your Highness, I Just take it. Raciel sliced a piece of bread in half and handed it over to Gardin, who hesitated upon receiving it. Observing Gardins hesitation, Raciel couldnt help but smile. At that moment, he made a silent promise to himself. He swore that the Gardin in the novel, who met his demise by remaining faithful, would not suffer the same fate in reality. Raciel pledged to ensure that neither of them would perish, nor would they be unjustly med and sentenced to death. They would survive, no matter what it takes. The very next day, the emperors summon arrived at the pce. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 Your Highness, the Emperor has summoned you. In the early hours of the morning, a surprising message made its way to Raciel. Just as he was preparing to begin his day and engage in his habitual self-analysis, Gardin delivered the news to him. Huh? Why? Well, that is Gardin hesitated before continuing. It seems that word of Your Highnesss escapades has reached His Majestys ears. My escapades? If it was about his escapades, could it be? Yes, its probably what youre thinking. You didnt tell him about my actions, did you? No, I did not. Gardin hurriedly shook his head. There are many eyes and ears in the pce, so it is likely that someone spoke about Your Highnesss escapades no, the act of piercing your own body with needles or brewing your own medicine and taking it, which eventually reached the pce. Damn. Raciel clicked his tongue. Escapades, indeed. But there must be more to it than just that. A sensation stirred within him. An inkling lingered. It transcended a mere request to meet and discuss his peculiar recent actions. It carried a weight that surpassed mere curiosity, for a mere invitation to the pce would not suffice. Ill find out when I go. A sudden recollection flooded Raciels mind, reminding him of the initial plot and setting of the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Simultaneously, the image of the emperors character at the storys outset resurfaced in his memory. The emperor was a strict man, like a lion. Both to himself and those around him. Naturally, his own son was not exempt from such scrutiny. The emperor had a habit of subjecting his sons, particrly the eldest and heir, the crown prince, to continuous trials. The purpose was to determine if he was truly deserving of ascending to the throne. Was he genuinely capable of fulfilling that role? The emperor tirelessly scrutinized, assessed, and appraised his son. He resembled a lion that nudges its cubs off a precipice to gauge their resilience. However, what fate awaited the original novels Crown Prince Raciel? Hepletely failed to meet those expectations. Despite being a crown prince, his physical and mental constitution remained feeble. His fragility was so pronounced that he resorted to arrogance as a faade to conceal his vulnerability. There was a mention of the emperor being disappointed in his weakness. And it was about two months before the crown princes death when the emperor summoned him for thest time. That must have been around this time. In the novel, Crown Prince Raciel proved incapable of answering the final summons. His state had deteriorated beyond repair, rendering him immobile and confined to his bed. Despite being practically carried to the carriage, his journey to the pce was cut short. Before reaching halfway, he sumbed to the severity of his condition, vomiting blood and ultimately being transported back to his residence. As a result, Raciel was stripped of all his powers as the crown prince. The turning point urred on that fateful day. The emperor relinquished any hope in Raciel, bestowing the crown prince title upon another son who had sessfully ascended the precipice. This oue stemmed from a detached process of meticulous examination, judgment, and evaluation. But now The situation has changed. Quite a bit. He wasnt bedridden like in the novel. He could easily visit the pce. Raciel stood up. Then I should go. Prepare the carriage. Yes, Your Highness. The subsequent proceedings unfolded seamlessly. Apanied by his entourage, Raciel embarked on a regal journey aboard a Rolls-Royce-ss royal carriage. After approximately an hour of travel, they reached their destinationthe grand pce. They traversed through expansive gardens, climbed numerous staircases, navigated corridors, and explored various corners. Eventually, Raciel found himself standing in the presence of the emperor, Asterion Testarossa Magentano. Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano pays his respects to His Majesty, the rightful ruler of thisnd. As he attempted to recall the lines from the novel, Raciel instinctively performed a graceful bow. Was it his demeanor that captured attention? Within the gaze of the emperor, who had habitually held a disdainful view of his feeble and delicate eldest son, a faint spark of intrigue flickered. Asrahan Core Technique? Unbeknownst to himself, Emperor Asterion muttered quietly. He couldnt suppress it. The Asrahan Core Technique. A ndestine art solely bestowed upon the direct lineage of the royal household. When the crown prince was but an infant, the emperor had personally embedded the technique within his tiny heart. Yet, owing to his inherent fragility, the crown prince had never been able to harness the power of this technique. But why did I just feel the resonance of the technique? Those who wielded the Asrahan Core Technique possessed the ability to perceive the resonance of others techniques. The emperor himself was a proficient practitioner, having attained a mastery level represented by a double circle. Without a doubt, the resonance he had just sensed emanating from his eldest son corresponded unmistakably to the Asrahan Core Technique. Could it be? As Emperor Asterion fixed his gaze upon Crown Prince Raciel, his scrutiny intensified. He meticulously observed his sons pallid countenance, making a concerted effort to detect any trace of resonance within him once again. Regrettably, despite his earnest attempts, the emperor failed to perceive any encouraging indications from his feeble eldest son. Was it an illusion? A glimmer of disappointment danced in the emperors eyes. The resonance he believed he had momentarily sensed had now dissipatedpletely. The pitiable state of the crown prince remained unchanged. With an emaciated frame that appeared exceedingly fragile, the crown prince seemed as if a single touch could cause him to crumble. His gait and gestures bore no semnce of strength. Hisplexion, beyond being pale, held an eerie pallor, and even the color of his lips conveyed a wretched hue. In essence, the crown prince resembled an archetypal patient, and not merely any patient, but one teetering on the precipice of critical illness, with little hope for recovery. Tsk tsk. Momentarily perplexed, the emperors thoughts swirled in a haze of uncertainty. The faint glimmer of hope he had clung to had seemingly clouded his judgment, leading to this confusion. Regret and disappointment mingled within him, prompting a disapproving click of his tongue. Realistically, given the crown princes feeble and ailing physique, it was impossible for him to awaken the formidable Asrahan Core Technique. Such a mastery was not to be trifled with, and the crown princes frailty rendered him ill-equipped to wield its power. Why did it have to be him? A heavy sigh escaped the emperors lips. Out of all his children, it was his eldest son who found himself in such a woeful state. He had once chosen him to be the rightful sessor, tasked with leading the empire, but now he struggled to even manage his own frail body, let alone govern a realm. Countless attempts at healing spells proved futile. The blessings and protection of the clergy held no discernible effect. Numerous doctors who had been assigned to him had relinquished hope and departed. The message was clear. There was no remedy. No solution could be found. The crown princes lifespan seemed tenuous at best. This reality was reflected in the departure of countless doctors, fleeing like rats from a sinking ship. Do you have no future? Contemting the past, the question arose: Had he erred in initially selecting the second child as the rightful sessor? A steely resolve settled in the emperors gaze as he scrutinized the crown prince. He posed the inquiry, not as a father would, but as an emperor would, and not directed towards a son, but towards the crown prince himself. Did you have a tolerable time at the Star Pce? Yes, Your Majesty. The emperors eyes hardened even more, displeased with the answer. I heard it was a bit different, though. As the crown prince continued to bow his head, the emperor addressed him in a voice that carried both gentleness and firmness. His words were aimed at the crown princes lowered countenance. I heard youve been behaving strangely at the Star Pcetely? Why dont you answer? Thats because I heard you were harming yourself. Did a sense of embarrassment ovee him? The emperors stare grew not only austere but also suffocating as he observed the crown princes silent demeanor. Youve pierced needles into your own body and even drank poison. Its truly pathetic and disgraceful. Can you still call yourself a descendant of the royal family? I heard youve been harsh on those below you. It must have been because you were struggling, because you were weak. But now, youre even turning that weakness against yourself. Why did you show such behavior, unable to withstand the mere physical hardships and letting your spirit crumble as well? It proved to be displeasing. His heir, who had never disyed a dependable countenance since childhood. His foolish conviction that the heirs weakness would somehow improve over time. And further foolishness, the inability to release that delusion until this very moment. Resentment and regret intertwined within him, with no outlet for release. These emotions infused his voice, rendering it cold and cutting. You must not be like that. You are the proud bloodline of the royal family, and a member of the royal family. Therefore, at any moment, even if your body and mind are copsing. Regardless of how rotten and decayed it may be within. At the very least, on the surface. You must not lose your dignity and grace. So, even until the moment you die. Do not make a scene, at least. Do you understand? Crown Prince Raciel remained silent. No, he did not offer a response. Rather than answering, he inwardly expressed his disapproval with a quiet click of his tongue. Huh. Look at what that old man is saying. The words spoken seemed somewhat absurd toprehend. With an air of great dignity, he expounded on the importance of the royal familys honor. Yet, upon closer reflection, the true meaning of his words became questionable. Its just telling me not to tarnish the family image and to live quietly until I die. Is it truly appropriate for a father to utter such words to his son? If the original Raciel had heard that? He would have been extremely hurt. If he had heard those very words emanating from the mouth of his father, who was none other than the emperor, then indeed, it would have been so. However, that was not the case for him. At least its not my father. The emperor was technically Raciels father, not his, to him he was almost like a strangeran old man he had encountered for the first time that day. Perhaps it was due to this disconnect that Raciel remained unaffected by the emperors harsh words. Despite the pouring torrent of harshness, Raciels mindset remained unblemished. Also, if your health bes a problem and you cannot bear the weight of the throne, shouldnt you make a wise decision? A wise decision? Raciel slightly furrowed his brows. Thats harsh. Everything he had said so far was just a formality, and it was to bring up the topic from now on that he called me. Somehow, he had a feeling. Ultimately, his intuition proved to be precisely urate. I will not beat around the bush. If you cannot bear the weight of the throne, isnt it also a virtue to yield it to someone more suitable? Yes? I mean, give the Crown Prince title to your younger brother, the Second Prince. The Emperors one-sided words continued. Think about it. It would be a decision that benefits both you and everyone else. Moreover, this is my consideration. Consideration. If he were to decline, would it result in the Crown Prince title being stripped from him by imperial decree and bestowed upon the Second Prince? Such a scenario appeared increasingly probable. The emperors previously unwavering gaze, fixed sternly upon him, softened ever so slightly. What do you think? Raciel sealed his lips. The propositionor rather, the pressurehade abruptly. Yet, he remained unruffled. The key to maintainingposurey in a twofold approach. Firstly, his background as a traditional Korean medicine doctor yed a significant role. There were often elderly patients who threw out unexpected words. In this vast world, there existed all kinds of individuals. They would inquire about his love life, probing when he intended to marry. Such intrusive questions weremonce, particrly among the elderly who frequented the traditional Korean medicine clinic. Some, in their moments of cognitivepses, would treat him as their own son. Others perceived him as a long-lost lover. Raciel even encountered individuals in their nies who called him Dad. He had even assisted in changing the adult diapers of those who didnt actually require such aid. Having encountered these situations countless times, he had developed an automatic mental fortitude. Perhaps this resilience was shared among all self-employed individuals in South Korea, who grappled with the diverse array of people they encountered. The current circumstance was no exception. Well, its a bit surprising, but its not enough to break my judgment. Raciel lifted his gaze, meeting the unwavering stare of the emperor. Despite the emperors continued stern expression, there was an unmistakable discernibility to the underlying intention behind that prating gaze. This newfound rity served as the second reason why Raciel remainedposed, unaffected by the situation at hand. If I were just Crown Prince Raciel, I would have been flustered. I would have been shocked by an unexpected situation and stumbled. But Im not. I know your intention because Ive read the novel. This kind of situation was not in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, so I know it even better. The situation had deviated from the narrative of the novel. The emperors intention had been unveiled. Whaty ahead? All became lucid, unveiled, andprehensible. In that moment, a smile of unwavering assurance formed at the corner of Raciels lips. And then, he uttered a single sentence that caused the emperor to recoil in surprise. Chapter 12 Chapter 12 I am sorry to say this, but I must decline. The Crown Princes voice resounded magnificently throughout the vast pce. The Crown Prince, who had always been sickly and weak, had never been able to stand confidently in front of his father, the Emperor. But today was different. It wasnt just his voice that had changed. What? The Emperor involuntarily recoiled, taken aback by the refusal thatcked any semnce of humility or hesitation. It was a blunt and outright rejection. Never in his wildest expectations did he anticipate such a refusal from his own son, especially considering the fragile nature of the Crown Prince. When summoning the Crown Prince today, the Emperor had never fathomed receiving such a resolute response. No, this was a response unlike any he had ever encountered throughout his entire life. What did you just say? He sought confirmation once more, hoping for a different oue. Yet, the response remained unwaveringly consistent. I said, I cannot ept your proposal, Your Majesty. The Emperors initial surprise at the unexpected disy of assertiveness from the Crown Prince quickly dissipated, giving way to a hardening of his expression. Anger flickered within his eyes. Decline? My proposal? Yes, thats right. The Emperors understated wrath, akin to a simmering lion, was palpable. The veiled intensity resonating in his voice was evident. All of these feelings were sharply discerned by Raciel, but he didnt waver, responding with an unwavering nod. His decision to refuse remained unaltered. In fact, it couldnt be. He had assessed that epting would simply be not right. Of course. The Emperors proposal wasnt in the original story. This situation wasnt in the novel either. But theres no reason to panic. I can clearly see why hes acting this way. Indeed, that was the situation at hand. The Emperor had put forth a proposition for the Second Prince to assume the role of the Crown Prince. Raciel, perceptive as ever, could discern the rationale and underlying motives behind this proposal. Its simple. He wants to give the Second Prince a more legitimate pretext. In truth, transferring the position of the Crown Prince was not a challenging task. To be frank, obtaining consent from the concerned parties on this side was unnecessary. The matter could be effortlessly resolved through the Emperors authoritativemand. But the reason he insists on rmending me to yield the position is to save face for the royal family while granting the Second Prince more power and legitimacy. This side ought to submit and acquiesce, for that is how they should graciously relinquish the position of the Crown Prince. Its like a PR effect for both domestic and foreign audiences. The eldest son, who acknowledged the existence of his more capable brother and willingly yielded his position out of benevolence and virtue, and the deserving brother who received the Crown Princes position from such an eldest son Thats the usible picture they want to paint. If events unfold in this manner The royal family can uphold its dignity by removing the Crown Prince from his position. Additionally, the Second Prince will be regarded as a capable individual, able to assert his rightful im to legitimacy and the true lineage. It can be viewed as a rather favorable political advertisement, a form of propaganda that serves the interests of the royal family. Besides, it would be better if I yield rather than forcibly take the Crown Princes position from me and give it to the Second Prince. What if they were to seize the Crown Princes position without obtaining consent from this side? What if the Second Prince were to ascend to the role of Crown Prince through such means? Such a turn of events would undoubtedly alter the entire situation. Raciels perception of this potential oue was crystal clear. Both this sides and the Second Princes image would bepletely different from the yielding scenario. The eldest son who had his Crown Princes position taken away due to health issues, and the Second Prince who seized it Thats the image. In essence, the Second Prince would be associated with the image of a usurper. Undoubtedly, the Emperor would not desire such a tarnished reputation for his chosen sessor. The legitimacy of the Second Princes im would bepromised. This burdensomebel would follow the Second Prince relentlessly, casting a shadow over his entire life. The Emperor wants to avoid that. Raciel lifted his gaze, directing it straight towards the Emperor. The Emperor, visibly consumed by genuine anger, met Raciels unwavering stare. Yet, within the depths of the Emperors gaze, a subtle undercurrent of anxiety could be discerned. Of course, hed be anxious. Im still weak and pitiful, I look unqualified, but Im not showing any signs of dying while barely hanging on. Suddenly, the early chapters of the novel shed through Raciels mind. During that time, Crown Prince Raciel faced a much more critical state than his present condition. Following a severe nosebleed while writing in his diary, his health deteriorated rapidly. He became bedridden, unable to even rise from his sickbed, and it was evident to all that his days were numbered. Consequently, in the original storyline, the Emperor never made such a proposition. There was no need for it. The Crown Princes position could naturally pass to the Second Prince, considering Raciels impending demise. But now? The situation had undergone a significant shift. Its because of me. Raciel concealed his inner shrug, a silent acknowledgement of his efforts. He had been tirelessly striving to avoid the grasp of death. Carefully nourishing his body with healthy food, diligently adhering to his medication regimen, and persistently practicing self-acupuncture. Consequently, his physical condition far surpassed that of Crown Prince Raciel depicted in the original story. Of course, I havent escaped the temporary nature of life yet, but at least I can walk on my own two feet and y the role of a human being. That is likely the reason. The Emperors fleeting expressions of impatience and disappointment directed at Raciel became apparent. Do you really not understand my consideration? The Emperors voice grew weightier, carrying a tinge of anger and disappointment. Abination of regret and reproach flickered within his gaze, washing over Raciel. Although you are weak and sickly, I still had faith in you. I believed that, at the very least, your spirit wouldnt bepletely broken and that you would retain a minimum level of wisdom and ability. But it seems my expectations were wrong. His voice turned frigid, akin to a chilling breeze cutting through the air. It felt as though he was metaphorically casting his own child off a precipice. Harsh words followed suit, delivering their stinging impact. Its disappointing. Truly disappointing. So, is the mere title of Crown Prince that important to you? Was that position, which youd likely never use in your lifetime, so tempting? So, do you have to smear the faces of me and the royal family, and inconvenience many others to feel satisfied? Why dont you answer? Is that really what you want? Now, the Emperors gaze resembled an icy expanse, akin to a frozen rink. Though he believed his proposal to be an act of consideration, the resounding rejection seemed to deeply disappoint him. Raciel forced down a bitter smile, sensing the weight of the situation. Tsk. Just because I rejected once, hes bashing me with bone-breaking force. In all honesty, Raciel yearned to wholeheartedly ept the Emperors proposal. In reality, it would have been the path of least resistance, offering a sense offort and ease. Of course. Whats the point of being an emperor? I have no confidence in doing it well. After all, he was nothing more than a failed oriental doctor from South Korea, a simple and ordinary individual named Lee Haneeun. Just an average person who spent his free time indulging in movies, novels,ughter, and games. But an Emperor? He didnt believe he stood a chance, not in the least. What kind of emperor would I be? I dont have confidence. Its perfect for ruining a country. Thats precisely why. Raciel had no desire to be an Emperor. If possible, he wished to relinquish the position of Crown Prince as well. He simply longed to revel in the status and wealth of the royal family, living a carefree life akin to an unemployed building owner. Naturally, the proposal being offered by the Emperor held tremendous allure. But if he were to ept that proposal? Everything would crumble. Not just himself. Not just the royal family. But the entire empire. And it all hinged on the Second Prince, the one ted to inherit the Crown Prince position. Was the Second Prince unfit due to stupidity or wickedness? No. In his own way, the Second Prince was intelligent, diligent, and capable. This fact had been emphasized numerous times in the novel, Devil Sword Emperor. However, the issuey in the fact that the Second Princes intelligence, diligence, andpetence were all qualities suited for a time of peace. In the novel, the Second Prince was quite a decent guy. He had the potential to be a great ruler. If the era of peace had continued, he would have been. He would have at least been an average emperor, recorded in history. But Before long, the era of war would arrive. Raciel was well aware of this impending turmoil, thanks to his thorough reading of the novel. He knew of the chaos and cmities that would befall the empire, the agonizing downfall it would endure, and the wretched fate that awaited the Second Prince. He possessed aprehensive understanding of it all. The Second Prince was not suited for the era of war. No, he was the worst. The intelligence,petence, and diligence that had served well during times of peace proved ineffective in the face of an impending era of war. Because he was an indecisive cliche king. Hesitation in crucial moments, the failure to seize timely opportunities, and ultimately being confronted with irreparable circumstancessuch was the pitiful portrayal of the Second Prince in the novel. Raciel refused to let the empire crumble in such a manner. If the empire and royal family copse the rock I rely on will also disappear.. He had to continue his journey as a member of the royal family. That was the best life n. For that to happen, the empire had to remain strong and undamaged. However, the Second Princecked the capability to safeguard the empire during the impending war-ridden era. Raciel couldnt entrust the position of Crown Prince to such an individual. In order to protect the privileged life he had painstakingly attained, the illustrious golden spoon, or rather, his royal spoon, he could never relinquish the Crown Princes position to the Second Prince. Raciel reached a resolute decision. What should I do then? Raciel cast a fleeting nce at the Emperor. The Emperors intense gaze remained fixed upon him, unyielding and relentless. Honestly, it weighed heavily upon him, creating a considerable burden to bear. Ha. A fake from the very beginning. Despite being the Emperors son, Raciel was, in truth, an imposter. He harbored a slight concern that divulging too much might inadvertently expose his true identity. But by remaining silent in this manner The situation would unfold exactly as the Emperor desired. Ultimately, the position of Crown Prince would be bestowed upon the Second Prince. Sigh. Theres no choice. Raciel subtly manipted his facial muscles, consciously rxing his tense cheeks and allowing his lips to soften. With a deliberate motion, he ignited the engine of his tongue, preparing to deliver his response. I feel wronged. Wronged? Yes, Your Majesty. He nodded affirmatively. With unwavering certainty shining in his eyes and reflecting in his expression, he spoke, Of course, as you said, I am physically weak. But my spirit is not broken. I havent lost my wisdom and charisma either. Thats why I refused your proposal. What? The truth is, the position of the crown prince is not important to me. I have no greed or attachment to this position. Instead, I have greed and attachment to other things. What other things? Yes. The prosperity of the empire and the well-being of the royal family. For the sake of his life as royalty. You hold on to the position of crown prince because you value those things? Thats right. Ha. If you hold on to the position of Crown Prince with that weak body of yours, do you think the empire will prosper and the royal family will find peace? Of course, thats what I believe. Ha. Ha ha. The Emperor chuckled, a sound that escaped his lips for the first time. Yet, it was not augh filled with goodwill or warmth. How pathetic. Truly pathetic and despicable. Is the position of Crown Prince so precious to you? As Ive told you, its not the position of Crown Prince thats precious, but the prosperity and well-being of the imperial family. You manage to sound convincing until the end. Its not just my words that are convincing. What do you mean by that? Id like to make a suggestion. A suggestion? Yes. Go ahead. The Emperors gaze intensified, exuding a formidable aura befitting the ruler of the empire. However, Raciel stood firm under the weight of that pressure. In his past struggles, thendlord of themercial building where his clinic was located had been far more terrifying and burdensome than the Emperor. Maintaining aposed poker face, Raciel proceeded to bring forth the suggestion he had been meticulously preparing ever since he first rejected the Emperors offer. Please give me and the Second Prince the opportunity to prove who can better bear the weight of the Crown Princes position. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 Hmm. The emperors hand gently cradled his chin, lost in thought. All departed, leaving the grandeur of the throne room unupied. With an air of sovereignty, the emperor sat upon his throne, subtleughter escaping his lips. Between myself and the second prince Asking for an opportunity to prove who is more qualified. Hehe, huh. The emperors mind dwelled on his recently departed eldest son, Raciel. The echoes of his sons words reverberated within him, growing more astounding with each recollection and contemtion. There was no choice but to ept it. Did that child ever have such a side? Unfazed by the rulers authority and the weight of his influence, Raciel boldly confronted him. His unwavering confidence allowed him to hold his ground, standing tall and locking eyes with the emperor. What added to the astonishment was that Raciel did not resort to aggression throughout the ordeal. Usually, one would struggle against authority and pressure. They would cross the line in their defiance. That would be the typical reaction they should show. Contrary to expectations, Raciel remained remarkablyposed. He disyed no signs of defiance, but rather exuded a sense of tranquility. Not a single tremor betrayed hisposure. He steadfastly held his ground, maintaining a calm and rational demeanor in the face of mounting pressure. It was as if the weight of the moment didnt burden him at all. Even going as far as a counter-proposal. Initially, he had anticipated the boys swift surrender. He had assumed that his proposal would swiftly crumble before him. Yet, it proved to be quite the opposite. Not only did the boy not yield, but he also surprised him with an unexpected counter-proposal. An opportunity to prove qualifications. The resonance of Raciels voice lingered in the emperors mind, vivid and clear. The calmness in his eyes, devoid of any agitation, conveyed a profound confidence that his counter-proposal would find eptance. If you allow it, in a fortnight, I will duel the second prince in swordsmanship. It was he who had caught off guard, causing him to lose hisposure. The sheer absurdity of it all was overwhelming. Swordsmanship? As soon as he asked, Raciel answered. Yes, Your Majesty. I am currently under suspicion due to my weak body and frail strength. They say I cannot protect the crown princes position, that I cannot bear the weight. So, I want to prove that those suspicions are wrong and that I am qualified. Do you want to show your health and strength? Yes, Your Majesty. I want to face the second prince in a sword duel. Do you think you can win against the second prince? It is said that one must try to know the length and shortness of things. How unreasonable. You should know that the second prince is the holder of the Single Circle of Asrahan Core Technique and has been trained in swordsmanship by a famous knight since childhood. Yes, I am aware. Then you must also realize that youve been sickly since childhood, unable to even run properly, let alone learn swordsmanship. Of course. And yet you want topete with the second prince and prove your qualifications? Yes, Your Majesty. It seems unlikely that you can evenst five minutes. Again, we wont know until we try. Are you that confident? Yes. To me, it seems reckless. Please be indulgent, for I have my own thoughts on this. Is that so? Yes, Your Majesty. As soon as his eldest son responded in that manner, a suspicion began to form within him. He sensed that the child was intentionally orchestrating this scenario, making a proposal that he knew would inevitably lead to his defeat. Embracing this realization, he nodded his head with a sense of satisfaction. Very well. I ept your proposal. I will decide the location of the duel and notify you. In 15 days, as you wish, prove your health bypeting with the Second Prince in a sword duel. However, the condition of thepetition is not victory, but enduring without falling for 5 minutes. What? Consider it a small gesture of kindness from me. Undoubtedly, it was an act of benevolence. In truth, it was an unavoidable oue that the eldest son would be unable to surpass the Second Prince. In fact, it would be considered a miracle if he could endure even for a mere five minutes. I wonder if he can hold out for even 1 minute or even 30 seconds. Lost in contemtion, the emperor muttered under his breath. Before long, he shook his head with a heavy sigh. The oue of this duel was certain, with the inevitable triumph of the Second Prince. It was an undeniable conclusion, and it seemed highly likely that Raciel had been well aware of this fact right from the start. Such thoughts consumed the emperors mind. Heh, I must have underestimated you. Your determination has never wavered. A sense ofprehension washed over the emperor as he contemted Raciels true intentions. The eldest son had purposefully opted for a fair duel to concede the session instead of epting the emperors lenient concession. It became clear that Raciel had nned to intentionally lose in an unimpeded duel, thereby passing on the position of Crown Prince to the Second Prince. In doing so, Raciel aimed to bestow upon the Second Prince not only symbolic authority but also a more legitimate im to power You have chosen to sacrifice yourself, havent you? With a heavy heart, Emperor Asterion tightly gripped the armrest of his throne. Aplex smile formed on his lips, a mixture of emotions. Pride welled up within him. His eldest son, who had often disappointed him and been deemed a lost cause, had independently made this remarkable decision. It brought immense satisfaction and a surge of pride. Simultaneously, a tinge of sadness lingered. The circumstances were tragic. His astute eldest son, the one who should have rightfully inherited the throne, could not do so in reality. Furthermore, the fact that his son had embraced the notion of self-sacrifice was heart-wrenching. From the perspective of a father, not just an emperor, it amplified the sorrow. Unbeknownst to the emperor, however, he was entirely misconstruing Raciels true intentions in that moment. In other words, Raciel was now Sacrifice my ass. Why should I lose? I have to win, no matter what. Seated inside the carriage en route to the pce, Raciels lips curled into a sly smirk. The memory of his recent encounter with the emperor yed vividly in his mind. He reyed the words spoken by the emperor, finding amusement in them. The more he pondered, the more hisughter bubbled forth. It was irresistible. That guy seemed to have misunderstood my proposal. Proposing a sword duel with the Second Prince, Raciel witnessed an initial disdainful reaction from the emperor. However, to his surprise, a warm smile gradually emerged on the emperors face. The pride evident in his eyes towards Raciel was an added bonus. Perhaps the emperor interpreted Raciels proposal as a grand act of self-sacrifice, adding to his appreciation for it. Probably so. In a peculiar manner, it turned out to be advantageous. Being misunderstood in such a way brought a certain level offort. Thanks to this misunderstanding, the emperor readily embraced Raciels proposal. Yet, it appeared that the emperor was not the sole individual who held misconceptions. On the evening following the meeting with the emperor, an unexpected visitor arrived at the pce. It was none other than the Second Prince. Its been a while, brother. No, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Actually, I heard some unbelievable news today I was worried, so I came straight to you. Your Highness? Tsk. Raciel expressed his frustration with a click of his tongue. There was no doubt about it. The person who had suddenly appeared before him in the pce was unmistakably the Second Prince. He bore an uncanny resemnce to the depiction in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. However, it appeared that this individual, too, harbored a significant misconception regarding Raciels proposal. Worried? About what? Raciel responded with his characteristic bluntness, not one to mince words. The Second Prince took a seat across from him, wearing a sincere expression on his face. Im worried that youre pushing yourself too hard. Pushing myself? Me? Yes. Pushing myself, on what? You dont have to go that far. A sword duel? When I heard the news I felt afraid. Whats there to be afraid of? Arent you already struggling because of your illness? So, youre worried that I might copse while preparing for the sword duel? Your Highness. No, brother. What? Although Im sorry to say this, you know the oue, dont you? Oue? Yes. Youll win? If the duel actually begins, theres no other way it could turn out. Well, I guess so. Raciel nodded in agreement. Indeed, it was a duel for the coveted title of Crown Prince, a position that demanded unwaveringmitment and determination. There was no space for half-hearted kindness or concessions in such apetition. With that understanding, the Second Prince pressed on, continuing their conversation. As you know, there will be no change in the oue. Sacrificing your health for such a result I cannot bear it. You dont have to do that. You dont have to make such a sacrifice for me. Actually, I know. I just met His Majesty a while ago. He also had a simr idea. He said that you deliberately held a difficult duel to grant me greater legitimacy through the duel. I dont want that kind of sacrifice. Im not happy at all. Your Highness? Huh. What? Is it because you cant trust me? What do you mean? After handing over the position of the Crown Prince to me. In case I harm you or purge you, if youre trying to create a political debt for me You dont have to worry about that. I swear I will never harbor any ill will towards you. I wont even think about keeping you in check. I will just embrace the greater responsibility in the position you have passed on to me and devote myself only to my duties. So, if you doubt me I never doubted you. Raciel swiftly interrupted the Second Prince, putting an abrupt halt to his words. As he listened, it became apparent that the Second Prince was plunging deeper into an ocean of ceaseless misunderstandings. Whew. Everyone has such strong misunderstandings. The emperor and the Second Prince. Their interpretations of the duel proposal were starkly divergent, residing inpletely different realms of understanding. I have no intention of losing, tsk. Given Raciels sickly appearance and frail disposition, to the point where he struggled to get through each day, it was only natural that no one anticipated him to emerge victorious in the duel against the Second Prince. Such expectations were par for the course. However, Raciel simply snickered in response. I understand how you feel. Raciel truly grasped the essence. In the novel, Theodor Palermo Magentano, the Second Prince was depicted as a genuinely admirable character. He possessed sincerity, intelligence, and a strong sense of responsibility. Among the cast of characters, he stood out as one of the few who genuinely mourned the loss of Crown Prince Raciel. If only he had responded properly to the great war, that would have been nice. A character who had met a tragic fate due to his inability to fulfill his most crucial role. That was the Second Prince Theodor in front of him. Gazing directly at Theodor, Raciel spoke, Anyway, its an irreversible situation now. I made a proposal to His Majesty, and he epted it. But now you want to cancel it? Ridiculous. Your Highness Go back. I want to rest. Are you really going to choose such a futile sacrifice? Lets see on the day of the duel. With a dismissive wave of his hand, Raciel signaled the guards to courteously escort the Second Prince out of the room. As the Second Prince made his retreat, he cast a pitiful nce in Raciels direction. The bitter smile on Raciels face deepened, further influenced by the presence of Gardin, who had been discreetly searching through the rooms corners. Gardin? Yes, Your Highness? What are you doing? Ah, as you can see, Im packing things. It wasnt a lie; Gardin had indeed begun tidying up his personal belongings within the room. Raciel arched an eyebrow inquisitively, intrigued by Gardins unexpected behavior. Packing things? Yes. What kind of things? Moving things. Moving? Yes, Your Highness. Exin. Ah, thats because youre going to have a duel with the Second Prince in a fortnight, right? Thats right. Yes, so when the duel is over, the position of the Crown Prince will be passed on to the Second Prince, and then you will no longer be the Crown Prince So, Ill have to pack my things from this Star Pce, where the Crown Prince resides, and move to another pce? Yes, Your Highness. Aha. So youre packing in advance? Yes, Your Highness. Gardin wore a proud expression on his face, exuding an air of aplishment. It was almost as if he was silently proiming, Did I not do an excellent job? Wow. Our Gardin is so well-prepared and thorough, huh? Very impressive, right? Thank you, Your Highness. Yeah, well. But what should I do? Pardon? If I win the duel, I might have to fire you, Gardin. Pardon? I said, Ill fire you. Yes? Choose. Should I fire you from your job or cut off your head? But, Your Highness? Huh. What? Its okay if you fire me or cut anything. However- However? Isnt it too much for you to have a sword duel considering your physical condition? Tsk. Today seemed to be a day rife with misunderstandings. Even Gardin seemed caught up in the same pattern. Raciels disappointment was evident as he cast a disapproving gaze at Gardin and clicked his tongue in frustration. Whats too much? Im going to win. Really? I have a way to win. A grin spread across Raciels face. Enduring for a mere five minutes in a duel against the Second Prince. It was a means to shatter everyones expectations in that encounter. With confidence, Raciel revealed the secret n he had harbored from the very start. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 I wont tell you. Yes? I said I wont tell you. Gardinpsed into silence. The situation was fraught with tension for the Crown Prince, suddenly finding himself in a standoff with the Second Prince. The trepidation overwhelmed him like the bountiful harvest billowing across the azure ins during a year of plenty. Such anxiety was only natural. The Second Prince was far from an easy adversary. Indeed, even by normal metrics, he was an elite, a challenge to even belittle. Yet, the lean and frail Crown Prince, who had been grappling with sickness his entire life, asserted that he held the key to vanquishing the formidable Second Prince. Hope flickered within him for a fleeting moment. After all, he was the Crown Prince. There had to be something. He must have spoken with purpose. He yearned for even a tiny glimmer of hope. However, the subsequent words that fell from the lips of the Crown Prince were utterly heartrending. I wont tell you. Why should I tell you that? Your Highness? Yes, what? Its okay. Its alright to say that you dont have confidence in winning. No one will me you. How dare they me you. In this Star Pce, no, in the entire Empire, who doesnt know about Your Highnesss situation? Isnt that right? He made every attempt to offer sce to the Crown Prince. He exerted himself. In the face of an utterly absurd and disadvantageous confrontation, just how desperate must the Crown Prince have been? Thus, it fell upon him to providefort and unwavering support. As the Crown Princes personal physician, it was his duty. Gardin clenched his fist, steeling himself, and spoke with fervor, pouring out his thoughts. However, the Crown Princes response was naught but a disbelieving chuckle. What do you mean, isnt that right? Thats not it at all. Yes? Its fine. I wont lose. Ill win. Of course, I cant guarantee it yet, and the odds of losing are still slightly higher, but there is a chance to give it a shot. There is a small possibility of winning. Isnt that enough? Doesnt that give you some relief? No, not at all. Tsk. Because Your Highness said youd reveal the secret to defeating the Second Prince, but then you didnt. I didnt? Yes, I thought you might be bluffing. Tsk, tsk. Then should I reveal my trade secret? Yes? Gardin flinched. Trade secret? The Crown Prince continued. Think about it. To anyone, it seems like I would lose to the Second Prince. Even if I were someone else, I would think the same. But I have a secret strategy to try in this confrontation. A special method. But would I casually mention such a method beforehand? Ah Do you get it now? Yes, Your Highness. Thats right. A leaked secret is no longer a secret. If the Second Prince hears the news and prepares, it would only ruin me. Isnt that right? Thats true. But, just- Just? I feel upset. What? As the Crown Prince raised his eyebrows towards him, Gardin replied with a disheartened expression. Its as if, Your Highness, you think that if you reveal the secret now, I would go around bbing about it. Im not that loose-lipped. Hehe, our Gardin, is that so? Yes, Your Highness. So, youre upset? To be honest, yes, Your Highness. Will you get upset if Im honest twice? Of course not No, I mean, Your Highness. Tsk. Forget it. Im going to sleep. Check on me before I go to bed. Understood, Your Highness. Gardin struggled to conceal his expression. It was one of concern. His Highness is bluffing. To anyone observing, it appeared to be a confrontation in which the Second Prince could only emerge victorious. Yet, he brazenly asserted the existence of a secret to securing victory. But did that secret truly exist? Maybe, no. Gardin inwardly shook his head. No matter how deeply he pondered, and even when viewing the situation through the most optimistic lens, he couldnt fathom a path to victory for the Crown Prince. He couldnt discern any hidden secret. No, it appeared that there had been no solution from the very start. The Second Prince has an imposing physique and has been trained in swordsmanship under great masters since childhood. I heard that he has already surpassed the level of a knight candidate. At that level, an ordinary person would not dare to confront him. But the Crown Prince? He doesnt even have the physical strength to match an ordinary person. How can he win The Crown Prince, his countenance still marked by calm poise. Witnessing his bearing, Gardin had to suppress the sigh that threatened to spill from him. He felt a tempest brewing within his heart. The early morning arrived. As he woke up, the sky greeted him with a canopy of dark clouds that mirrored his somber mood. However, there was a subtle change in the Crown Princes demeanor. Ah, Gardin, are you awake? If youre up, please step out for a moment. Yes? Theres a guest here right now. Unexpectedly, a stranger had made their way into the Crown Princes bedroom. Gardin couldnt help but inwardly tilt his head in curiosity. A visitor? This early in the morning? Already? It was the moment when the eastern sky was gently transitioning into a pale hue. And yet, at this early hour, an unexpected visitor had arrived at the Crown Princes pce. What caught Gardins attention even more was the peculiar appearance and attire of the visitor. He appeared remarkably ordinary and unremarkable,cking the distinctive air of nobility. In fact, one might even describe him as someone who toiled tirelessly, drenched in sweat from day to day Hes the royal pce cksmith. I called for him. Really? It seems youre still half-asleep. Make room for now. I have a request for him. Ah, yes, Your Highness. He was unceremoniously ushered out of the bedroom, as if being swept away by an invisible force. Gardin nced at the guards, silently inquiring about the situation through his eyes. In response, one of the guards simply shrugged and provided a curt answer. Its indeed the royal pce cksmith. What in the world could the Crown Prince possibly want with the royal pce cksmith at this early hour? A wave of curiosity and confusion washed over Gardin. He pressed his ear against the firmly shut bedroom door, straining to hear any sound. But there was nothing. No, there was something, but it was barely perceptible. It felt like he could discern some noise. Or perhaps not. It was as faint as the gentle brush of wind against a snails shell. It seemed as though the most crucial words were deliberately elusive, as if a single leafs thickness was separating them. Was it a figment of his imagination or something deliberate? But as he tapped his feet impatiently, Detecting an odd sensation, Gardins gaze wandered and he found himself locked in an unexpected stare-down with a nearby guard. Ahem! Cough! He awkwardly retracted his ear from the door. In that moment, he made a firm resolution. I shouldnt be so curious. Ill have to casually ask the cksmith when hees out. Somehow, the summoning of the cksmith in the early morning, coupled with the present circumstances, hinted at a request for something to be crafted. Could this be the very secret to defeating the Second Prince that the Crown Prince had mentioned the previous night? The possibility appeared quite usible. And that was precisely why Gardin felt consumed by worry. Why did he request something to be made? I dont know what it is, but he shouldnt attempt something strange or cause unnecessary trouble that could worsen his health. He fervently hoped that it wasnt anything of that nature. If it turned out to be a reckless or perilous endeavor, he resolved to intervene and put a stop to it. With this determination in mind, he made a solemn vow to investigate further and patiently waited for the cksmith to emerge. However, just as he was preparing for the cksmiths appearance, an unexpected urrence unfolded. From the far end of the hallway, a figure hurriedly approached. It was the head steward of the pce. Head Steward? What brings you here so early in the morning? It wasnt solely the head stewards urgent expression that caught Gardins attention. Even the substance of his words conveyed a sense of urgency and importance. What else could it be? Its a big deal, Sir Gardin. Just now, His Majesty announced something unbelievable. Unbelievable? Well, its about the duel between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. His Majesty has announced the location of the duel. The location? Why would that be an issue? Its the Lloy-Javi Bridge. Can you believe it? The bridge is located in the center of the capital city, where thousands of citizens will be watching the duel. Really? Gardin was taken aback upon hearing the head stewards response. The order to have a duel on the Lloy-Javi Bridge thats too cruel. This location was the most secluded part of the imperial pce. Since early morning, the Second Prince, Theodore, had been seeking an audience with the Emperor, his own father and the ruler of the empire. And now, he stood before him, clenching his fist tightly. The source of his clenched fist was none other than anger. I could understand your eptance of my brothers proposal to duel me Because it was what he wanted, because he chose to sacrifice himself, and for a greater purpose I could understand that. But, even so, this is not eptable. What do you mean, not eptable? The emperor posed a weighty question. Theodore lifted his head in response. Do you really not know? The Lloy-Javi Bridge That bridge is located in the heart of the capital. I know. Then, do you know that countless eyes and ears of the capitals citizens will be focused on the bridge where the duel will take ce? Of course. The emperors reply came without a moments hesitation. It carried an air of annoyance, as if he were wondering why such an obvious question was being asked. Besides, the Lloy-Javi Bridge is thergest bridge in the capital. With a wide space, it is quite convenient for a duel. Your Majesty. It was a decision made after considering everything you just said. No, I wish it would be like that. I want as many people as possible to witness this duel and keep it in their hearts. That is my intention. But its too much. No matter how much my brother has chosen to sacrifice himself, do you have to go this far? Do you really have to make him a political scapegoat in front of everyone? I made that decision because it is the path that will give you a stronger legitimacy. I dont need legitimacy gained in such a way. It may not be necessary for you, but it will be needed for the empire. Father! I am the ruler of this empire before I am a father. I am responsible for the lives of hundreds of millions of people who have devoted themselves to the empire, rather than being a father to two sons. And now, you are being led by petty blood ties and trying to deviate from the greater purpose. Your Majesty Thats enough. Theres no need to hear more. The stability of the empire is more important than the petty blood ties. Through this duel, your heart will be burdened for several years, but in exchange, a more solid session structure will be established, allowing the empire to enjoy stability and prosperity for decades. Isnt that a small price to pay for Raciel, even if he suffers in front of everyone? Theodore nibbled on his lower lip. The emperors unwavering gaze remained fixed upon him. In that very instant, Theodoreprehended that none of his appeals would have any effect. The emperor would not be swayed by any entreaty or resentment; instead, he would calmly witness his brothers downfall before the eyes of all. Such was the nature of politics. Brother. Suddenly, the image of the crown prince he had encountered the previous night shed across Theodores mind. He hadnt held any particr admiration for him as an individual. After all, they were merely half-brothers who shared the same father. Furthermore, the crown prince had been gued by illness since childhood and had never truly fulfilled his duties as a prince. However Theodore had never anticipated that he would find himself in a position to usurp his brothers position like this. I had hoped for a more moderate way. Not like this. Even if they were destined to face each other in a confrontation, it would have been tolerable if it had been limited to just a few nobles. Yet, instead, it was set to unfold before tens of thousands of citizens, forcing his brother to crumble in their presence. In that moment, Theodore was overwhelmed by an immense wave of pity for his sibling. Im sorry. I have no other choice. Since His Majesty has no intention of changing the decision, I must With a clenched fist, he withdrew from the emperors presence. Brother, once the confrontation begins Ill make sure you dont suffer, and that your honor is protected as much as possible Ill end it as quickly and cleanly as I can. The Second Prince firmly resolved himself. Little did he know that at this very moment, while he harbored his desperate determination, Raciel was actually embracing the emperors decision with open arms. Of all ces, on that bridge? With thousands, tens of thousands of people watching the confrontation? If that was the case then all the better. A contented smile adorned Raciels face. Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Are we going to fight on that bridge? I rather like that. Raciels lips curled into a sly grin. What if the Emperor hase out like this? It only fuels his desire to emerge victorious. Yet, Gardins contemtions appeared to diverge slightly. Your Highness. This is really too much. No matter how its your decision Isnt this too cruel? Gardins eyes welled up with tears as he tightly clutched the sleeve of his robe. Your Highness. You should not do this. How about returning to the pce immediately? Return to the pce? Why? Why? To meet His Majesty. And after I meet him? Ask him to cancel todays decision. Or at least, ask him to reconsider. Who knows, His Majesty might change his mind. Do you really think so? Yes? Unfortunately, I dont think so. What do you mean by that? I mean the duel on the Lloy-Javi Bridge, where tens of thousands of imperial citizens can watch. Do you think His Majesty made that decision on a whim? No, absolutely not. Then It means its a decision with political intentions and purposes. Naturally, this entails broadcasting his own defeat to the entire empire. It serves the purpose of engraving the perception that the Second Prince is a more suitable leader for the days toe. Consequently, the Second Princes legitimacy will grow even more formidable. People might sympathize with the loser, but they will hesitate to let that loser rule them. Such is the nature of human hearts. Irrespective of the oue of the duel, it holds no significance. Even if the loser elicits sympathy andpassion, they remain branded as the defeated. People will not embrace a loser as their leader. Conversely, the victor of the duel will be bestowed with immense legitimacy. The problem is that everyone except me expects the Second Prince to be the winner. A bitter smile graced his lips as he pondered upon it. The Emperor, the nobles, the citizens, the Second Prince, and even Gardin standing beside him not a single soul held even the tiniest bit of faith in his potential for triumph. Well, at least theres no pressure. In truth, a sense of exhration surged within him. He was resolute in shattering everyones anticipation of his impending loss. That was the catalyst. With 14 days remaining until the appointed duel, Raciel wholeheartedly dedicated himself to prepare for the fateful day. Three times. If I just block the Second Princes attack three times, then I win. He had a secret weapon at his disposal. His own calctions and foresight. Using these, he gradually bolstered the fundamental stamina required for three defenses. He did not need an extraordinary level of stamina. Only three times. Just enough to withstand three attacks without faltering. Hu, huff. Initially, he strolled along the pce corridor. Deliberately unhurried, he maintained a steady pace, never pausing, for a duration of 20 minutes. He aplished his goal. Afterward, he took a 5-minute rest before resuming his walk. The time extended to 25 minutes, then 30 minutes, gradually increasing. Consequently, his feeble legs becameden with the ache of muscr fatigue. Ah! The following morning marked the onset of a tormenting ordeal of muscle agony. His thighs, hamstrings, inner thighs, and even his buttocks resounded with excruciating pain. Each time he attempted to sit or stand, involuntary groans escaped his lips, and his legs trembled unsteadily. The pinnacle of this ordeal arrived when he confronted the challenge of descending the stairs. Unfortunately, his bedroom happened to be located on the second floor. Geez, this sucks. Is this how bad my fitness is? Just because I walked a little more in the corridor for a day? Nevertheless, giving up was never an option. The defense strategy he envisioned against the onught of the second princes attack demanded formidable lower-body strength. If my lower body is weak or stiff, its over. I wont be able to deflect or withstand any impact. Hence, he had to diligently cultivate his lower body strength to its utmost capacity without dy. At least to a levelparable to an average person. In pursuit of this goal, he walked tirelessly, over and over. Descending to the first floor of the star pce, he ventured into the garden. Amidst the breathtakingly beautiful and sunlit surroundings, he trudged forward, gasping for breath, resembling an elderly man. Oh, damn it! Naturally, he made sure to maintain a nourishing diet throughout this process. Given his delicate health condition, he couldnt simply indulge in indiscriminate meat consumption; his digestion was too frail for such fare. He directed the star pces chef to grind and boil all the food into a hearty soup. With each meal, he ate to the point where his belly felt ready to burst. He filled his circle slot with nutritious soup. And then, he resumed his walking routine. He walked, rested, walked again, stumbling at times, and then rested once more. During this arduous journey, it wasnt just his lower body muscles that cried out in agony. Ding dong! [You are overworking and torturing your body. Excessive torture may lead to a worsening of your illness.] [All parts of your body areining about the sudden increase in workload.] [They want regr hours. They want a beautiful life with evenings. Please respect your bodys work-life bnce for health.] Shut up. Ding dong! [Your internal organs have sent you a message.] [Heart: Hey, bastard! Were all dying here!] [Lungs: Th wa ck] [Large intestine: I bet youd like it if I just let go, wouldnt you?] Shut up He silenced the cascade ofining thoughts that bombarded his mind relentlessly. He found himself in a dire predicament. The second prince was far from being a foe to be underestimated. Indeed, even with his secret weapon or any other preparations, assuring a definite victory proved to be a formidable challenge. I just want to give up. Such thoughts gued his mind frequently, a consequence of the tremendous strain his body endured. Yet, he couldnt allow himself to sumb to them. No. If I lose here, the second prince will inherit the throne and hell ruin this country. The alternative would be either perishing amidst the chaos or surviving only to face a life of destitution. Such a fate would be far more dreadful than a peaceful death in bed. That was not the oue he desired in the slightest. I definitely refuse. Whenever the temptation to give up crept in, he clung to this steadfast thought. He persevered, walking, resting, and nourishing his body with the mana-infused soup from his slot. In the evenings, he sought relief from the strain in his lower body muscles through acupuncture, ensuring a deep and restful sleep. Day after day, the count increasedone day, two days, five days With the passage of time, his steps grew more resolute. As his strides steadied, the burden on his physique diminished. Enhanced stamina allowed him to venture on lengthier journeys. The extended walks engaged a greater array of muscles, consequently strengthening his tendons and sinews. Finally, when the 13th day dawned. Huff! Huff! Gradually, he regained the ability to run, taking small strides of progress. Furthermore, he received unexpected messages. Ding dong! [You have consistently performed exercises that push the limits of your physical capabilities.] [During this process, you have consistently engaged in ideal forms of rest and nutrition intake, which has slowly improved your health status.] [As a result, your cardiovascr endurance has slightly improved.] [Your hearts rank has increased.] [Heart Rank: F -> D] [Your heart can maintain a steady heartbeat for 10 seconds even in situations that exceed the physical activity limit.] [Your lungs rank has increased.] [Lungs Rank: F -> D] [Your lungs can withstand and maintain respiration for up to two instances of strong impact to the chest and abdomen without losing breath.] [Your heart has sponsored 100HP.] [Your lungs, very happy, has sponsored 200HP.] [Current HP: 800] Huh? Raciel abruptly halted his run, his eyes widening in astonishment. The message conveyed an elevation in the ranks of his heart and liver, along with an unexpected boost to his HP sponsorship. It was akin to an unforeseen gift, a delightful surprise that caught himpletely off guard. If its a gift like this, its always wee. A contented smile graced his lips. There was a peculiar satisfaction derived from subjecting his body to such torment. But it wasnt solely the ranking of his heart and liver that had transformed. Pulse diagnosis. Ceasing his panting, he employed the Pulse Diagnosis skill. Amidst the rugged rhythm of his pulse, a gratifying message emerged, like a warm wee. Ding dong! [Basic Comprehensive Examination Form] [Subject: Raciel Adria Magentano] [Species: Human] [Gender: Male] [Age: 21 years] [Height: 176.3 cm] [Weight: 58.9 kg] [Blood Type: Rh+ O] Phew, Ive gained weight again. The numbers, while still not particrly impressive, showcased a notable improvement. He had grown 0.1 cm taller, and his weight had increased by over 5 kilograms. Im gaining weight. Ive also put on a little muscle. He appeared somewhat more substantial than before. If he had previously resembled a minuscule speck of dust, invisible even under a magnifying ss, he had now ascended to the level of being yfully referred to as a nuclear anchovy. Its the day before the match now. Ive met the minimum requirements. Three defenses for triumph. Dedicated preparation for three defenses. He exerted himself, perspiring profusely, giving his utmost effort. Thus, the moment had arrived to scale the pinnacle of his readiness. Gardin? Uponpleting hisst exercise, he summoned Gardin. Bring me some liquor. Only the strongest ones. Excuse me? What do you mean, excuse me? Isnt there any liquor in the pce? Of course, there is- But? Why are you looking for liquor at this hour? Obviously, Im looking for it to drink. Excuse me? Gardins eyes widened, and he hastily responded. Yo-you mean to drink liquor? Yes. So pick out the best and bring it to me. Only the strongest ones, carefully selected. What? Why? What are you going to nag about again? Crown Prince. Yes. I was taught that no matter what hardships or adversity one faces, one should always hold a single flower of hope in their heart. What does that mean? Who taught you that? My father. Hmm, he left you with a great lesson. But Im not really interested in flowers. Sorry. Its not about flowers, its about living with hope. I am sufficiently hopeful and optimistic. Your Highness! Whoa, you startled me. No matter how worried you are about tomorrows match, no matter how scared you are, to drink liquor! And only the strongest ones at that! My ears hurt. Speak gently. No, thats what Im saying. Your Highness, I know. You know what? Your desperate struggles over the past few days. Oh, lower body and stamina exercises. What about them? Surely you must have been trying to shake off your fear by working hard and sweating like that. Ive seen and felt the desperation in your struggle, the desperate attempt to glimpse hope even in despair. I dont think I was that desperate. Thats how it felt to me! So? Ivee to respect you a little! Even in the face of an inevitable future! Even as you approach a predetermined defeat! How noble you seemed in your efforts not to fall apart! Do you realize this? Uh, not really sure. But I know! Hey, I said my ears hurt. So, Your Highness! Dont break down now. You cant drink strong liquor. No. Even if tomorrows match is frightening, keep up the will youve shown so far and meet your defeat honorably, Your Highness! Honorable defeat? I dont want that. But Your Highness, even if you lose, the dignified I said I wont lose. Excuse me? Im going to win. Gardin, in the midst of making a plea, suddenly halted and directed his gaze towards the crown prince. Involuntarily, a gasp escaped his lips. The countenance on the Crown Princes face mirrored within his own eyes. I need to win, so I need it. Bring all the strongest liquor. It wasnt the countenance of someone preparing for an honorable defeat, but rather that of someone scheming for a shrewd triumph. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Morning arrived, but Gardin abruptly awoke just before dawn. .Hmm. Even after his slumber, his body remained weary. His head weighed heavily, and his eyelids felt rigid. What kind of dream kept me up all night It was a tumultuous dream, fierce in its intensity. The night had been filled with perplexing and restless dreams, causing him to feel anything but refreshed after his sleep. On the contrary, he felt even more fatigued than the previous night. Phew, what should I do today. With a sigh, he rose from his bed, knowing he had no other option. Today marked the day when the Crown Prince, whom he served, would face off against the second prince. And he will probably lose. Defeat seemed highly probable. The oue appeared almost certain. No, it was unavoidable. The thought weighed heavily on him, casting a gloomy shadow. In many ways, it ignited anger within him. How could such an unjust situation persist? Was it fair to subject a patient to such cruelty, despite Crown Prince Raciels slightly delicate health? As a fellow human being. As a physician dedicated to healing. He harbored a fundamental uncertainty about the righteousness of this treatment. Consequently, he endured a restless night, tormented by vivid and agonizing dreams. No, I cant greet His Highness with such a drained look. I need to pull myself together. Strength! Strength! Smack! Smack! He delivered a firm p to his cheeks, revitalizing himself. A surge of energy seemed to fill the void within him. He recollected the events of the previous evening. His Highness also resisted the alcohol in the end! Thats how it unfolded. On the eve of thepetition. Crown Prince Raciel issued an unexpectedmand. He requested alcohol. Not just any alcohol, but the most potent variety avable. It was a shock. A patient asking for alcohol. He vehemently objected. He pleaded, insisting it was not the right course of action. Even in dire circumstances, the Crown Prince should not allow himself to unravel. He appealed with desperation in his heart. But the Crown Prince remained steadfast. He refused to yield. He stated it was an order. If he was not toply, he should depart from the pce. His resolve was unwavering, unlike anything he had disyed before. In the end, he reluctantly carried out themand, his heart heavy with sorrow. He selected the most potent alcohol stored within the pce and delivered it to the Crown Princes chamber. And then he was expelled from the room. I thought His Highness was finally copsing. It was a scene filled with pity. It evoked a deep sense of sadness. How long had he stood outside the bedroom door, hesitant? When he finally received themand from His Highness to enter, he practically burst through the door with lightning speed. And it was in that moment that he made a startling discovery. All the seals on the bottles were broken. And just one sip was missing from each. From all the bottles. The sight was akin to the sky crumbling down upon him. The alcohol he had reluctantly procured per the princes request was no ordinary drink. It was a notorious liquor known to render even the most experienced drinkers unconscious with a mere sip. Yet, the Crown Prince had sampled each one of them. Given his delicate health, it was akin to a deliberate act of self-destruction. Filled with rm, he promptly assessed the princes condition. But surprisingly The Crown Prince didnt appear drunk at all. No, he didnt even smell of alcohol. Initially, disbelief consumed him. To remainpletely sober after consuming such potent liquor was inconceivable. It defied all reason and possibility. Thus, he feltpelled to question the prince directly. Your Highness? Hmm. What? Are you alright? Cant you see? Im perfectly fine. Did you resist? Well. I suppose you could say that. The princes nonchnt shrug and smile contradicted the demeanor of someone who had consumed alcohol. In that moment, a wave of relief washed over him. He didnt drink it. He almost did, but then he threw it away. Could he have discreetly disposed of it through the window? That seemed to be the only usible exnation for the situation at hand. Contemting this possibility, a bittersweet sense of pride welled up within him. He must have been in great distress. Wanting to drink under such pressure, he opened the bottle, looked at the moonlight outside the window, and after long contemtion, he shook his head and poured the alcohol out the window. Maybe he repeated this ritual multiple times. Thats how deeply troubled he must have been. Nevertheless, he persisted until the very end. As expected, our Crown Prince. I believed in you. With a renewed sense of pride and contentment, Gardin extended his hand towards the doorknob. He turned it, allowing the side door to swing open, revealing the Crown Princes chamber. However, as he stepped inside, his expression froze in disbelief. Huh? Youre up? Why are you so surprised? The side door stood wide open. Beyond it stood the Crown Prince, but he appeared markedly different from before. In other words, the Crown Prince was Is this your first time seeing me with this? Crown Prince Raciel extended his arm, gesturing towards this. In his hand, he held a magnificent, sparkling shield. Why are you holding a shield? Why, you ask? Because its the thing Ill use in todays duel. That thing? Yes. Thats why I ordered it from the cksmith in advance. Just in time, the finished product arrived. Im testing it out. SWISH SWISH Raciel maneuvered his arm, causing the shimmering shield to reflect light from various angles, creating an intriguing spectacle. To begin with, the shield was impressivelyrge in size. It took on a rectangr shape, measuring approximately 50 centimeters in width and a staggering 120 centimeters in height. However, what caught his attention was the long rectangr hole positioned at the top, spanning about a foot in width and 3 centimeters in height. When the shield was held for protection, this opening aligned perfectly at a height and position that allowed for discreet glimpses beyond the shield while maintaining vision. The peculiarity didnt end there. Another substantial handle was located inside the shield near the top. It was a handle situated in a ce he had never seen before. This is great. The fit is better than I thought. They pretty much followed my order exactly. His Highness the Crown Prince beamed with contentment. Witnessing that smile, Gardin was suddenly jolted back to reality. Isnt it heavy? At first nce, the size of the shield was undeniably absurd. One would naturally assume it to be quite heavy. How could the Prince, who possessed a physique more delicate than the average person, effortlessly lift such a sizable shield? Actually, its not too bad once you hold it. Its not just simple iron. I asked the cksmith for it specifically. You specifically asked To make it sturdy and as light as possible. Light? Yes. So I guess they poured in a lot of various rare metals. Ah It was at that moment that Gardin grasped the reality of the situation. If the shield were a mere iron construct of such dimensions, it would easily weigh around 7-8 kilograms. The Crown Prince would have struggled to handle it properly. However, if they had lightened it by incorporating numerous rare metals, the narrative would be different. Roughly speaking, um, it seems to be a little less than 2 kilograms. The weight, given its size, was remarkable. However, at that instant, Gardin experienced a peculiar sense of discordance. Was it due to the shield appearing lighter than expected? Or perhaps because it possessed an incredibly striking aesthetic? No, it wasnt either of those reasons. There was something profoundly unusual about witnessing the Crown Prince wielding the shield. Why? Why does the Prince look so natural holding that? Upon reflection, it was an odd urrence. The Crown Prince Raciel, as Gardin knew him, had been gued by illness throughout his entire life. He rarely engaged in wielding weapons such as swords and shields. Yet, what about the Crown Prince standing before him now? This would be the first instance of him grasping such a sizable shield, yet he did so with an innate ease. His actions with it were natural, as if he were a cook wielding adle or a carpenter handling a saw and hammer. In short, it appeared far toofortable and familiar. It wasnt just in the way he held it either. Even his subtle movements and overall demeanor seemed to align effortlessly with the shield. Its as if hes been living with a shield for a year or two. Therefore, the enigma grew even more perplexing. However, there was no time avable to unravel the mystery. Lets go then. Interrupting his thoughts, the voice of the Crown Prince broke through. Yes? Gardin instinctively responded. In response, the Crown Prince let out a chuckle. We have to go to the duel. But its still very early? There are things to prepare for. The princes smile widened once again. We should assess the surroundings of the Lloy-Javi Bridge where the duel is to be held. How spacious is the area? Is the terrain even? Which direction does the sunlight blind the eyes? Where will the spectators gather and create a ruckus? By examining these details in advance, youll be better prepared for unexpected variables during the actual match. It may increase your chances of victory, even if only slightly. Dont you agree? Your Highness? Yes, what is it? Oh, its nothing. Gardin stumbled over his words, his sentence trailing off. In that moment, he almost asked without realizing it, Have you truly not given up hope yet? Whew, I almost made a rude remark. The Crown Prince likely foresaw the oue of todays duel. It was a contest he stood no chance of winning, regardless of his efforts. He must have been well aware of his impending defeat. Yet, despite the circumstances, the Crown Prince was giving his all. It would be incredibly impolite to casually inquire about whether he had not given up hope. Gardin swiftly regained hisposure, masking his thoughts behind aposed expression. Understood, Your Highness. Then Ill hurry up and pack. Packing? Things like emergency treatment tools and bandages. Thats good. Just hurry. And so, they gathered their belongings and departed from the pce. Eventually, they reached the Lloy-Javi Bridge, the designated site for the duel. Constructed approximately 300 years prior by the legendary civil engineer Lloyd Frontera, andmissioned by King Alicia, the Lloy-Javi Bridge exhibited an awe-inspiring magnificence that exceeded all expectations. This, its totally like the Gwangan Bridge style, isnt it? Raciel couldnt help but feel genuinely taken aback. The size of the bridge surpassed his initial expectations. Furthermore, it was a suspension bridge, adding an extra element of astonishment. To make matters even more remarkable, an immense crowd had already assembled in the vicinity. With just a nce, it was evident that the number of people easily reached the thousands. Its a local spectacle. The citizens disyed eyes brimming with anticipation. Men engaged in animated conversations, their excitement palpable. Women exchanged nces filled with intense interest. Meanwhile, the children, oblivious to the significance of the event, joyfully darted around. They had undoubtedly gathered here to witness his impending defeat. They hade to observe the monumental spectacle of the Crown Princes loss and the subsequent transfer of the crown prince title to the Second Prine. Everyone must be thinking Im going to lose. Raciel drew in a deep breath and carefully surveyed the battleground. Meanwhile, the nobles took their designated seats on the elevated tform as time ticked away. On the opposite side of the bridge, the Second Prince Theodor also settled into position. Before long, the Emperor made his grand entrance. Simultaneously, the atmosphere shifted, steeped in solemnity. The sight of tens of thousands of citizens falling into silence, bowing their heads in reverence, was a sight that even Raciel found awe-inspiring. The Emperors voice reverberated through the hushed air. The content of his speech was predictable. Today, at the behest of Crown Prince Raciel, this duel was to transpire. Through this battle, which would determine the future of the empire and the royal lineage, they sought to discern who was most fitting for the throne and so on. Therefore, if the duel begins and Raciel endures for 5 minutes, he wins. If not, victory goes to the second prince. The two princes stood poised for a fair and impartial duel, observed by the assembled multitude. The Emperors solemn promation resounded,manding the attention of all present. Throughout, an eerie silence permeated the atmosphere, as if suspended in collective anticipation. Simultaneously, a shared realization dawned upon the minds of the onlookers. Indeed, this duel would effectively serve as an abdication ceremony for Crown Prince Raciel. Even the Emperors speech carried the weight of an implicit deration of his abdication. Tens of thousands of citizens. Hundreds of nobles. Even the Emperor himself, delivering his address. They all harbored the same sentiment. They cared little for the impending defeat that Raciel would inevitably face. They were indifferent to the suffering and humiliation he would endure. Their collective interest was singrly focused on one thing. How magnificently the second prince would showcase his worth. How he would forge a tale of honor and intrigue to be recounted for generations toe. Every eye brimmed with anticipation and every heart beat in expectation. Hence, until this very moment, none could have fathomed the profound shock that the oue of this duel would unleash upon them all. Start the duel. Finally, the deration reverberated throughout the air. The two princes converged at the center of the bridge. The sh ensued. It was in that very moment. Tens of thousands of citizens. Hundreds of nobles. Even the Emperor himself, attentively observing the duel. Even the second prince, wielding his sword with determination. Soon, a collective notion began to take hold in the minds of all present. Something had gone awry. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 Themencement of the duel had arrived. The resounding voice of the emperor reverberated solemnly, capturing the attention of scores of nobles and a multitude of citizens, all fixated on a singr point. In that moment, both the crown prince and the second prince stood poised, their presencemanding. Anticipation hung in the air, the question lingering: Who would make the initial move? Perhaps, it was assumed, the second prince would take the initiative. Just as this assumption settled in the minds of onlookers, A sudden, unforeseen metallic ng pierced the expanse of the grand bridge. ng! Upon the floory a forsaken de, none other than the iron sword clutched by Crown Prince Raciel for the duel. Had it slipped from his grasp while defending against the second princes onught? No, it was a deliberate release, a calcted act by the Crown Prince himself. Nay, he had cast it aside. You couldnt possibly be giving up on the duel? Theodor, the second prince, arched an eyebrow, his emotions torn between relief and disappointment. So, my brother chose the less strenuous option after all. The crown prince, his half-brother, was undeniably a kin burdened by affliction. The weight of wielding a de against such a sibling in this very circumstance was undeniably daunting. Hence, the surge of relief. Yet, intertwined with that relief, lingered a sense of disappointment. Aftering this far, to show such an image, especially in front of so many people His brother must have been gripped by profound fear within such a predicament. The magnitude of pressure must have been immense. Heprehended that. However, the circumstances appeared far from favorable. The imperial lineage, by exhibiting a semnce of surrender and retreat prior to the duel, exhibited a crack in the armor of the royal familys honor. So what should I do? Should he endeavor to persuade and assuage his brother, away from the prying ears of others? Should he reim his sword, resuming the duel, even if only for appearances sake, in order to safeguard the dignity of the royal lineage? It appeared to be the course of action to take. Having reached a resolution, Theodor turned his gaze towards his brother. He was on the verge of tenderly persuading him. However, in that very moment, he bore witness to an unforeseen spectacle. Swoosh. His brother, Raciel, who had forsaken his sword, shifted his right hand. He firmly sped the handle at the shields apex, while his left arm rested upon the inner armrest, stabilizing the shields center. Stepping back with his right foot, he anchored himself firmly to the ground. It was an unwavering battle stancea stance that paradoxically exuded both defensive prowess and remarkable proficiency. The instant Theodor, the second prince, beheld this sight, realization washed over him. His brother had not surrendered the duel in the slightest. His act of relinquishing the sword was, in fact, a deliberate choice, a concentrated strategy. He gives up on the clumsy attack. Instead, he seems to pour all his energy into aggressive defense. Upon contemtion, it became evident that it was a prudent decision. His brother had never acquired the art of swordsmanship. Attempting to confront him with inept swordy would only result in an inevitable defeat. Thus, he had opted to endure the onught using a formidable shield, nullifying his attacks. This duel does not end with winning or losing. Its a duel where victory is decided by whether my brother can withstand me for 5 minutes without falling. Rather than an inept offense, his half-brother had opted for a particr form of defense. The second prince silentlymended his siblings astute decision. Excellent judgment. So I will make sure to end this duel as quickly as possible to put you at ease. Swoosh! Theodor unsheathed his practice iron sword. Simultaneously, his entire demeanor underwent a transformation, a shift in momentum. Kiiiiing! The heart of the second prince thundered within his chest. A circle around his heart beat wildly. The imperial familys concealed might, the formidable Core Technique, transformed into a primal beast, awakening every fiber of the second princes being. It urged him forward,pelling him to shatter all defenses and consume his adversaries whole. In that very moment, the second princes foot descended upon the ground with a resounding stomp. Thump! The charge and the sword strike converged in perfect unison. His body became the instrument of the sword, guided by itsmanding presence. With a fluid yet forceful motion, he executed a downward strike, harnessing the entirety of his weight. This will be the end. The second prince exuded unwavering confidence. He believed it to be the final blow. There existed no conceivable means to halt it. No matter the size or strength of his brothers shield, it was an inescapable truth that it would be unable to impede it. Not a shred of doubt entered his mind. Its not a strike that can be blocked simply by trying. It stood as an undeniable reality. His physique towered over his brothers. Inparison to his siblings fragile and diminutive frame, his own was remarkably robust. He exerted an overwhelmingbination of weight, muscr strength, speed, and even harnessed mana. What would be the oue if such an attack collided honestly with a shield? Inevitable copse. The sword might be intercepted by the shield, but the body concealed behind it would crumble. The arm, unable to withstand the impact, would shatter. The knee, unprepared for the tremendous shock, would buckle beneath the strain. If only his brother managed to maintain his ground, it would be a relief. The second prince earnestly yearned for it. Please, just dont fall backwards. Just kneel! He desired to spare his brother, a scion of the imperial bloodline, from a shameful copse before the eyes of all. Thus, he opted for a devastating downward strike. Even in defeat, he sought to maintain his dignity, to gracefully kneel in ce. In his own manner, it was a strike borne out of consideration for his brother. However, his consideration was unexpectedly met with betrayal. Swoosh. Just as the sword neared the shield, a subtle shift altered the angle of the shield. Huh? The second princes pupils quivered. Yet, there was no opportunity to alter the swords trajectory. His de collided with the shield as originally intended but quickly slipped off, scraping the surface before veering off to the side. Kwakakakak! ! The weight, muscr strength, speed, and mana that permeated the sword none of it effectively transferred to the shield. His de merely skimmed the nted surface of the shield and glided downward, unable to deliver its full force. Did he deflect it? The downward strike? The second prince stood in utter astonishment. How? Deflection was no simple feat. It demanded precise timing and a wless angle. It was an intermediate technique that necessitated mastery over the elbow, shoulder, and scap joints to effectively manage the impact during the moment of deflection. Yet, his half-brother, the Crown Prince, executed it wlessly. The eyes that peered at him above the shield spoke volumes. The Crown Princes vibrant, animated, and fiery gaze unmistakably conveyed his aplishment. It wasnt a coincidence. He came to a realization. It was almost unbelievable. Yet, undeniably true. The second prince gathered the fleeting surprise that had momentarily surfaced. But that doesnt mean the oue of the match will change. Thump! A surge of strength coursed through his hand that grasped the sword. His de, previously deflected and gliding downward, resumed its path with renewed ferocity. Simultaneously, Crown Prince Raciel clenched his teeth, determination etched upon his face. Ugh, hes tougher than I thought. Raciel exerted strength into both hands firmly gripping the shields handle. However, he sensed ack of sensation in his attempt to apply force. Numbness tingled through his palms. Yet, it wasnt solely his palms affected by this numbness. His right wrist and forearm, grasping the upper handle of the shield, his left arm and shoulder supporting its weight, and even his waist and thighs experienced the same tingling sensation. It had urred merely from deflecting a single downward strike, but the effect was evident. Hes much stronger and faster than I thought. More than I expected. Or maybe it was because his own body was rtively weak. Or maybe it was both. But I can do it. Its not beyond what I can block. Thump! Once again, he clenched his teeth tightly. In an instant, memories from over a decade ago flooded his mind. He had been a student at a medical school, but unlike his fellow ssmates, he did not pursue a career as a public health doctor after graduation. No, it was unnecessary for him. He had already fulfilled his military service obligations before entering medical school. I didnt want to do that either However, he had been left with no other option. It was a result of his familys circumstances. Nheless, during his youthful years, brimming with vitality, he recalled the time he was conscripted into serving his country. Back then, he had served as abat policeman, chosen for his respectable physique to wield the shield. It was thanks to that role that he had grown acquainted with the aluminum shield he had utilized at the time. He had perspired profusely while carrying around the nearly 7-kilogram shield, enduring its weight. It was tiresome. The grueling training. Shield inspections. Frequently deployed to quell protests. He had intercepted a myriad of objects with his shield. It was not limited to mere timber or pipes; spears and baseball bats were among the basic items. He had firsthand experience of deflecting an array of tools and objects, each showcasing the ingenuity of human creation. Hammers, nunchucks, ss bottles, bricks, picture frames, chains, bars, bamboo swords, dog waste bags, and many more. In fact, Ive blocked rubber ducks and anchovy sauce with a shield! He let out a sharp exmation as he swiftly retreated. Bringing the shield down with force, he thumped it against the ground. He lowered his center of gravity as much as possible, assuming a sturdy stance. His right hand gripped the upper handle, while his left hand secured the central handle. Supporting the inner surface of the shield with his left shoulder, he exerted his entire weight to press the shield firmly towards the ground. In an instant, a powerful impact struck the underside of the shield. Screech! Immediately following the deflection of the initial downward strike, the second princes sword arced horizontally, aiming for the lower section of the shield. However, in that precise moment, Raciel masterfully twisted the angle while leveraging his body weight to support the shield. It was as if he sought to repulse and reject the iing strike, employing his entire being. Thump! Both the shield and Raciels body were nudged half a step to the side. Yet, that was the extent of it. He managed to maintain his stance without faltering, thanks to deftly diverting more than half of the impact from the sword strike to the side. ! The second princes eyes widened in sheer astonishment. However, Raciel was notpletely unharmed. Simultaneously, a flicker of pain crossed Raciels squinted eyes. Well, I deflected it but oh, it hurts. His entire body tingled with sensation. Beyond the aching muscles and strained joints, it seemed as though his very energy was being drained away. It was more than just a mere perception. This is the power of the Core Technique. As he deflected the initial downward strike. When he sessfully blocked the subsequent lower strike. In those crucial moments of impact, he sensed an unsettling drain on his mana. Familiar with this sensation, he recognized it all too well. It was a phenomenon frequently mentioned in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. The characteristic of the Core Technique, mana absorption. The Asrahan Core Technique, the royal familys closely guarded secret. This unique method specialized in the maniption of mana, allowing for its absorption, amplification, and discharge. Its remarkable capabilities were prominently showcased inbat, particrly in the disruption and absorption of the opponents mana with every precise sword strike. And at this very moment, it was unfolding before his eyes. Ugh.. A wave of nausea washed over him. Recollections of a technique frequently depicted in martial arts novels shed through his mind. However, this particr method, capable of siphoning mana even amidst shes of weapons, seemed even more ruthless. Yet, it was precisely due to this brutality that a glimmer of hope emerged within a corner of his heart. The momentum of mana absorption is much stronger than I expected. Then I can do it. I can make it. With steely resolve, Raciel suppressed the queasiness surging within him, directing his focus towards the second princes impending third attack. The second prince was already closing in, charging with unwavering determination. Whoosh! The second princes diagonal sh descended with a resounding force. Just as anticipated. The second prince, portrayed as a diligent and righteous character in the novel, lived up to his description. He made no attempts to trip Raciels legs or dislodge the shield. His sole intent was to overpower his opponent in a fair and honorable contest. And for that, Raciel was grateful. He perceived it. He sensed it. The precise timing to defend and deflect the impact. And the opportune moment for mana absorption upon collision as well. This is thest chance. This is the third and final. Raciel knew he could not endure any longer. His fragile body had already surpassed its limits. Therefore, he had to give his all in this final defense. He had to rely on the stamina and lower body strength he had diligently trained. The carefully crafted shield that he had meticulously prepared. And even thest-minute preparations he hadpleted the previous night. Now, in this very moment, he had to pour every ounce of his being into this endeavor. Right now! Thump! The second princes diagonal sh descended upon the shield. In that critical instant, Raciel swiftly twisted the shield, aiming to repel the attack. Just as he had done in the previous two defenses. He sessfully deflected the impact. And in that very moment, the second princes Core Technique infiltrated his body. It mercilessly plundered and absorbed his mana, akin to an invading force seeking to seize control. Yet, he did not resist. Rather, he flung the doors wide open. He activated the circle slot. [Activating the discharge function of slot 1.] [Please set the amount of discharge.] 0.2 liters! Simultaneously, his circle slot swung open wide, unleashing an immense discharge of the stored substance within. Squeak! A deadly liquor, potent enough to leave even the most seasoned drinkers unable to maintain theirposure with a single sip. The very same liquors that Gardin had hesitated to present the previous night. Raciel unleashed a devastating concoction, a merciless blend of twenty such lethal liquors, and handed it over. The second princes Core Technique greedily absorbed the explosive liquors in one gulp,pletely defenseless against its effects. And in that very moment Cough H? The second princes internal organs unexpectedly began an impromptu liquor party of their own, causing havoc within his body. TRIVIA: All male South Korean citizens are required to serve in the military for at least 21 months. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, including doctors who are working in public health. Public health doctors are considered to be essential personnel, and they are therefore exempt from military service. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 In the novel, Devil Sword Emperor, the Second Prince was depicted as The Model Student. He exhibited unwavering diligence, unwavering dedication, a strong sense of righteousness, and remained untainted by corruption. His rtionship with alcohol, however, was rather feeble, as he rarely indulged and found himself easily affected by its effects. Raciel remembered. In the original Devil Sword Emperor, he got drunk only once. It was when he was facing death. A scene from Devil Sword Emperor reyed vividly in his thoughts. It was the tumultuous moment when the empire teetered on the brink of copse. In this scene, the Second Prince found himself unexpectedly thrust onto the imperial throne, gazing upon the engulfing mes that devoured the once glorious Imperial Capital, Magenta. A heavy silence enveloped him as he mourned silently, his hand clutching a humble cup of alcohol. The beverage was far from potenta mere ss of ordinary wine. Yet, its effects were profound. With each sip, the Second Princes senses dulled, his mind clouded by the intoxicating drink. It was during this state of inebriation that he met his tragic demise, falling victim to the invaders onught. This fateful moment marked theplete copse of the Magentano Empire in the novel. Anyway, the lesson I got from there was clear. You cant handle your alcohol! Tremendously! Gulp! Cough! Why h? Raciels internal outcry echoed as the Second Princesplexion abruptly flushed crimson, disying his inner turmoil. His eyes mirrored a bewildered state, betraying a mixture of emotions. But it didnt end there. His once steady legs faltered, losing their strength. With unsteady steps, he began to stagger, akin to a drunken crab navigating uneven terrain. Its done! With a firm grasp on the shields handle, Raciels hand tightened, his anticipation mounting. He could feel the satisfaction coursing through him, knowing that his carefullyid trap had struck its intended target wlessly. The timing of the Circle Slot releasing the liquor bomb was good. Raciels meticulous nning came to fruition as he skillfully synchronized his actions with the Second Princes advancing Asrahan Core Technique. Recognizing the opportune moment when the prince was engrossed in absorbing mana, Raciel swiftly activated the Circle Slot. Without hesitation, he unleashed the stored contents within the slota precisely measured 0.2 liters of Potent 20 kinds Liquor Bomb. In essence, the Second Prince unknowingly consumed a potent ss of Liquor Bomb in a single gulp, unwittingly sumbing to the absorption prowess of his Asrahan Core Technique. This is what I prepared for. Last night. Ignoring the shock of Gardin. In an instant, a recollection from the previous night flooded his mind. Gardin had expressed astonishment upon receiving the unusual request to procure potent liquor, yet Raciel remained undeterred. The potent liquor was an absolute necessity for his n. Determined, Raciel took it upon himself to gather the strong alcohol, meticulously blending a sips worth from approximately twenty distinct bottles of various spirits. This concoction, known as the Liquor Bomb, was swiftly consumed in a single swallow, its effects expertly harnessed and stored within the Circle Slot. And because of that Its working for sure. WOBBLE! Huh? Theodore, the Second Prince, found his legs entangled, causing him to stumble precariously. With great effort, he somehow managed to regain his bnce, narrowly avoiding a full-blown fall. Utter confusion consumed him, pushing him to the brink of madness. What is this? What on earth is happening? A whirlwind of confusion engulfed him as he grappled with the inexplicable situation unfolding before him. The dizziness that had ovee his being left him bewildered, unable toprehend the reasons behind his disorientation. It wasnt just his legs that rebelled against hismands; his entire body seemed to have a mind of its own. The world around him spun, blending the sky and the ground into a disorienting blur. Perplexity clouded his thoughts; he was utterly clueless. The unfathomable nature of his predicament eluded his understanding, plunging him into a state of uncertainty. The impending loss of consciousness loomed over him, intensifying his distress. Why on earth why? He engaged in a duel with his brother, solely focused on the task at hand. His intent was to strike his brother, who sought refuge behind a protective shield. Triumph was within his grasp as he neared the brink of victory. When I hit the shield something He assimted it, the Asrahan Core Technique, from the opposing force. There was a peculiar attraction, a pull exerted by that absorption. It was no ordinary mana; it bore an otherworldly essence. In the aftermath, it proliferated uncontrobly within him, akin to the detonation of a bomb. Why why is this happening to me? Amidst the confusion, disarray, and bewilderment, the Second Prince tenaciously clung to his sword. I must not fall. He must have been deceived by an enigma beyond hisprehension. It seemed as though he had been struck by an unexpected assault. That was why his head spun, leaving him disoriented. The Second Prince made a desperate attempt to regain control of his thoughts. After all, this was a du contest where his brother could outmatch him, and where he might endure a blow or two. Such was the essence of a duel. With this realization, his tumultuous emotions subsided slightly, allowing his once-blurred objective to regain rity. I will win. Today, he would triumph in his duel against his brother. He would knock his brother down in less than 5 minutes. He would earn the acknowledgment of the people. He would receive cheers from millions of citizens in the Empire. He would emerge as the rightful Crown Prince. That was the path for him, the royal family, the Empire, and even for his brother suffering from disease. So I will win. ng! The Second Prince struggled to contain a sensation so exhrating. With a forceful stomp, he steadied himself upon the ground. Though his movements remained unsteady, He pressed forward with determined strides. And there, at the culmination, stood Crown Prince Raciel. Huff! Inhaling deeply, he elevated his sword, its edge worn and dull. With a swift motion, he propelled the sword towards Raciel. ng! The sh of sword against shield reverberated through the air. Raciel faltered, his bnce disrupted. The Second Prince unleashed the power of the Asrahan Core Technique. It assimted Raciels mana, yet hidden within that absorbed energyy another formidable force, ready to detonate. Well, another one-shot! Wont you back out? Just when Raciel was grinning wickedly behind his shield, [Releasing 0.1 liters of stored content in the circle slot.] Simultaneous with the dispensation of the liquor, a message materialized. Second Prince Theodor found himselfpelled to ingest 0.1 liters of the potent concoction whilepletely vulnerable and devoid of defenses. Cough! H! Theodors countenance flushed an even deeper shade of crimson. His eyes appeared on the verge of popping out, almost bulging from their sockets. Inadvertently, he staggered backward, his grasp on the sword nearly slipping away. W-what H! Sniffle! Theodor grappled with a profound sense of confusion. His body seemed to defy hismands, barely responding to his intentions. It felt akin to being afflicted by a potent poison. Theck ofprehension extended beyond Theodor himself; even the bystanders were perplexed by the unfolding events. Why is the Second Prince behaving like that? I I dont know. He looks as if hes drunk, doesnt he? That seems true but he cant be. He was fine just a moment ago. He didnt drink any alcohol. Well, youre right Citizens shook their heads, wearing expressions of bewilderment and confusion. The nobles mirrored their sentiments, equally perplexed by the unfolding circumstances. Why is the Second Prince behaving like that? Well, Im not sure Could he have been hit by an unexpected strike when we werent looking? No, that doesnt seem to be the case. The Crown Prince has only defended, without any counterattack. Could it be then Do you have a suspicion? Shield arts. Excuse me? From what Ive heard, those highly skilled in shield arts can redirect the impact from a defensive collision back to the attacker. Elite mercenaries who have survived a lifetime on the battlefield use such techniques. Are you suggesting the Crown Prince is using such a technique? No, that cant be. Its impossible. Thats why Im confused. . Yes, I feel the same. Confusion pervaded the nobles, and the citizens mirrored their perplexity. The duel had barelymenced, with only a few shes, yet the Second Prince already faltered greatly. Such an unfamiliar sight caught everyone off guard. No one had foreseen this turn of events, leading all observers to a unanimous realization: something was amiss. However, amidst the shared thoughts, Emperor Asterion harbored slightly divergent musings. Somethings strange. Positioned on the bridge, the Emperor observed the duel intently. His gaze narrowed, revealing a mix of suspicion and astonishment flickering within the slender aperture of his eyes. Raciel, the Asrahan Technique, was it real? The Emperors attention shifted towards Raciel, his gaze honing in on the emblem adorning Raciels chest. Despite the considerable distance between them, even in its subtle manifestation, he could unmistakably perceive the emanation of Asrahan Core Technique energy. It resonated within hima palpable connection that only those acquainted with the Asrahan Core Technique could senseradiating from the rotating circle. Its certain. Its clear. He Had he concealed this all along? A lump formed in the Emperors throat as he struggled to swallow. In an instant, a recollection flooded his minda memory from two weeks prior. It was the day when he summoned Raciel to the Imperial Pce and presented a proposition: to renounce his title as Crown Prince and yield the position to his younger brother. On that very day, as he attempted to suppress Raciel, the Emperor had briefly sensed the unmistakable energy of the Asrahan Core Technique emanating from him. I thought it was just a delusion. The Emperor had always believed that his eldest son, who had been gued by illness since childhood, could not have awakened such a formidable technique. He had dismissed it as a fleeting illusion, a mere product of his own desperate wishful thinking. Yet, now it became apparent that he had been mistaken all along. It was he who had erred in judgment. Even at this distance, even in a ce where the energy of so many people is mixed The resounding resonance of the rotating circle reverberated intensely, stirring a surge of emotions within the Emperor. Unconsciously, his fist clenched, mirroring the escting intensity of the duel transpiring on the bridge. The situation had undergone aplete reversal. Whoom! Whooom! A massive shield swung through the air, wielded by the seemingly frail and diminutive Crown Prince, Raciel. Undeterred, he relentlessly pressed forward, employing abination of pushing, swinging, stabbing, and striking with his shield. With each assault, the Second Prince staggered backward. Though he held a sword in hand, it proved utterly ineffective in offense, merely swung as a feeble attempt to halt the Crown Princes advance. The one with the shieldunched fierce attacks, unrelenting and relentless, while the one with the sword found himself retreating under mounting pressure. The citizens and nobles of the empire, enveloped in profound silence, bore witness to this perplexing spectacle. Amidst the vast crowd, an eerie stillness prevailed. Through this surreal and hushed atmosphere, only the harsh sound of Racielsbored breaths reverberated across the expanse of the bridge. Ha! Haa! His breaths came in ragged gasps. The weight of the shield bore down heavily upon him. Suddenly, the sky transformed into a yellow hue. The limitations of his stamina had prematurely seized his legs, yet Raciel refused to yield. Damn this poor stamina! Thinking Id give up! With unwavering determination, he pressed on. He tightened his grip fiercely around the shields upper handle. Whoom-! Originally, shields served as defensive weapons, a function they fulfilled since their inception in human history. However, in the modern era, shields had reached their pinnacle of evolution. This pinnacle took the form of the shields top handle. One could truly understand its potential by merely grasping it once. The instant you fix your left arm and hand on the original middle handle and firmly grip the top handle with your right hand, you gainplete control over the shield. It transforms into a versatile tool capable of pushing, stabbing, striking, swinging, deflecting, and even piercing, all at yourmand. Its almost like a saddle if were talking cavalry! Or perhaps like aputer mouse. Or even an automatic gear shift in a car. This newfound option elevated the utility of the shield to an entirely different dimension. Of course, Raciel was a master in utilizing the top handle. His proficiency was honed through mandatory military service in South Korea, thrusting him into battles against his will. Countless sweaty days contributed to his expertise. Haa! Haa! Hoo! Breathing as if on the brink of bursting. Driving his unsteady legs forward. He continued to advance, pressing onward relentlessly. He pushed and struck with his shield. Whenever the Second Prince resisted with his sword, Raciel effortlessly deflected it. Seizing the opportunity created by the deflection, he thrust his shield into the vulnerable gap. He relentlessly pressed the struggling Second Prince, driving him further into desperation. Finally, the Second Princes back met the railing of the bridge. He had been cornered, with nowhere left to retreat. As the cold touch of the iron railing made contact with his back, a momentary rity washed over the fogged eyes of the Second Prince. Hic! Haa! He teetered on the brink of losing consciousness. Yet, the Second Prince somehow managed to summon the remnants of hispetitive spirit. He clung to the thread of determination he had nearly lost, gripping the swords handle with even greater intensity. With every ounce of his strength, he resisted his brothers relentless onught with the shield. Haaah! Despite his staggering state from intoxication. Despite teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. At that very moment, the model student, the Second Prince, unveiled the fruits of his arduous and unwavering training. Swish! In a fleeting moment, the Second Princes sword regained its sharpness, cleaving through space with a menacing aura. Like the w of a predatory beast, it surged towards Raciels head. However, in that very moment, Raciel vanished. He swiftly dove into the embrace of the Second Prince, propelling his body forward. Shaaa. The swords trajectory grazed Raciels hair, narrowly missing its mark. Within the embrace, Raciel had even discarded his shield, casting it aside at some point. With one hand firmly gripping the Second Princes waist, the other hand pointed directly at his vital spot. At that precise moment. Whirrr-! From the palm of Raciels hand, aimed at the Second Princes vulnerable point. Amidst the ongoing fierce battle. Amidst Raciels resolute breaths. The ten liters of liquor he had stored within the circle slot were unleashed. The liquor bomb surged forth, striking the Second Princes vital spot with brutal force. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Kiiiiing-! A low, guttural growl emanated, resembling the sound of a heart in turmoil. A distinct message reverberated within the ears, clear and resolute. The rotation of the Circle abruptly reversed. The mana contained within the Circle slot awakened. The ten liters of liquor housed within the slot resonated with the mana, their energies entwined in perfect harmony. And then, with a surge of power, they were unleashed. [The substance stored in the Circle slot isunched.] Magnified and intensified. Intensified andpressed within the confines of the Circle slot. It erupted forth from the heart. It raced through the pulsating veins. And atst. Boooom-! A concentrated torrent of ten liters of liquor erupted forth, instantaneously expanding. It collided with pinpoint precision, striking the Second Prince Theodor square in the sr plexus. Cough! In an instant, everything changed. Theodors eyes widened in sheer disbelief, but there was no time left to respond. Ah Was this the sensation of being struck in the sr plexus with an enormous hammer? His strength drained rapidly from his limbs. His body folded inwards involuntarily, and even his feet lost contact with the ground. I have to fight back he struggled to think. Yet, it was an impossible feat. Through his fading vision, he caught a glimpse of his fallen sword. The trusty practice iron sword he always wielded was slipping from his grasp, descending towards the ground. He desperately wanted to reach for it again. But he couldnt. I am hisst thought trailed off. And just like that, the consciousness of Second Prince Theodor was abruptly severed. His body, struck by an unforeseen concoction of spirits, was violently hurled and tumbled five paces away. tter! Bang! The fallen Second Prince and his abandoned iron sword cast a haunting silence across the vast arena. The only sound that echoed was the hushed murmurs of disbelief. Every voice seemed to have been stifled by the overwhelming shock that engulfed the spectators. The hundreds of nobles present. The thousands of citizens gathered. Even the Emperor himself. No one dared utter a word. What is this? A collective realization dawned upon them. Something was amiss. It was inconceivable that the Second Prince, rather than the fragile Crown Prince, had sumbed to defeat. Yet, some even entertained audacious thoughts, desperately trying to rationalize the unexpected turn of events. Yes, that must be it. Ive heard the Second Prince is both diligent and considerate. He must be orchestrating this momentary setback to grant his brother the honor of a struggle. Isnt it obvious? Ah, that sounds usible. Perhaps he will rise unscathed, as if nothing had urred, and assert his dominance over the Crown Prince? Exactly! It makes perfect sense. If he were to win too easily, one-sidedly, he might feel remorse for his brother, the Crown Prince. Yes, indeed. Our Second Prince is undoubtedly different from us. A man of intellect and deep contemtion. Their murmurs swelled, each individual constructing their own narrative to make sense of this unprecedented situation. This reality cannot be real. There must be a grander purpose behind it, an exnation for this bewildering situation. Everyone conjectured, inferred, and convinced themselves in their own unique ways. However, there was one exception among themthe Emperor himself. His eyes widened in sheer astonishment, unable toprehend what had just transpired. What was that could it be the Grand Artiction? Emperor Asterions eyes twitched with disbelief. He couldnt fathom it. Not only had he witnessed it firsthand, but he also sensed the resonance of mana through the Asrahan Core Technique, amplifying the unfathomable nature of the event. The surge of mana was undeniable. It undeniably erupted from Raciel. However, the force it carried surpassed any typical mana eruption he had ever encountered. I have never heard of such a thing. No, the only semnce is to Explosion. Explosion. That technique was an immensely powerful and advanced aspect of the Asrahan Core Technique. It involved a cataclysmic amplification of mana by colliding multiple Circles and channeling it into a concentrated point of release. Yes, it was akin to Explosion. But Raciel? The Emperors brow furrowed deeply. He couldntprehend it. To execute Explosion, one must possess at least three Circles. Two are collided, while the remaining one safeguards the heart from the recoil. But does Raciel possess a triple Circle? No, it was inconceivable. The Emperor shook his head. Thest known user of a triple Circle was the Emperor two generations ago. Yet, Raciel, who had endured a chronic illness for over two decades, disyed such transcendent abilities. It seemed utterly impossible. Moreover, if what Raciel employed truly was Explosion, Theodors body would not have been hurled away. The Emperor pondered, considering the implications. Instead of being flung aside, it would have been impaled instantaneously. Regardless of armor or any defense, his body would have been pierced through, leaving a fist-sized hole. Thus, what Raciel used just now was not Explosion. The Emperors contemtion deepened as he sought the answer. What exactly did you do? A faint tremor coursed through the Emperors eyes as he observed Raciels actions. Raciel, within his line of sight, moved forward with measured steps. Step by step, He dragged his weary body, one step at a time. Raciel drew closer to the fallen Second Prince. The eyes of the nobles and citizens fixated on this scene gleamed with anticipation. Their gazes shimmered with misconception. They believed they were about to witness a heartwarming spectacle. The Second Prince, who had pretended to be struck by a surprise attack to save his brothers honor. And the elder brother, approaching the younger sibling who had willingly taken the fall for his sake. What kind of touching and uplifting moment would unfold between them? Perhaps the elder brother would lift the fallen prince, a gesture of gratitude for his selfless act. The younger brother would respond with a warm smile, continuing the fierce yet reverentpetition between them. At least, thats what everyone assumed. But then SLAP! Raciels palm struck the cheek of the fallen Second Prince. Hey, are you there? Hey. Wake up, wake up. SLAP!SLAP! Two, three crisp sounds reverberated across the bridge, instantly enveloping the massive suspension bridge and its surroundings in a suffocating silence. Oh, I might have not controlled my strength well. Hey, hey. Try to regain your senses. SMACK!SMACK! Huff! Thats right, good boy. Ah, this kid is weaker than he looks. The Second Prince, his eyes fluttering open amidst a fit of severe coughing. At the sight, Raciel finally felt a sense of relief. It was a relief that he had delivered a decisive blow. Yet, the problemy in the blows effectivenessit had worked all too well. I didnt know he would faint from just that. On the surface, it may not have seemed like much, but its power was noughing matter when used at close range. If it had been even slightly stronger, it could have ruptured the unfortunate Second Princes galldder. Raciel surveyed his surroundings. He removed his own cloak, rolling it up to serve as a makeshift pillow for the Second Princes head. Meanwhile, the Second Prince, now having stifled his coughs, slowly began to open his eyes. I am. Dizziness consumed him. His stomach churned. Yet, his entire body burned with heat. His pulse throbbed, pounding relentlessly in his ears. It resembled the sensation he experienced as a child when he identally took a sip of alcohol, mistaking it for water. It felt as if his entire body was weightless, suspended in the air. Haha Hahaha. Do you find it funny? Heh, really. Youre seriously drunk. Just wait a moment. Raciel extended his hand. He removed the Second Princes boots. Gently, he applied pressure to the Taichong point, also known as Liver 3 or LV3, on both feet. This acupoint is located at the junction where the first and second metatarsal bones meet, specifically at the top of the foot where the bases of the big toe and the second toe intersect. This is the spot for relieving a hangover. The Taichong point holds great significance as the starting point of the Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin (), the final pathway among the twelve meridians. Its location makes it particrly influential in regting liver function and promoting bnce within the body. Okay, like this. Raciel exerted firm pressure on the Taichong point of the Second Prince, even though hecked acupuncture needles. With all his strength, hemenced an intense session of acupressure. Squeal! Instantly, the Second Prince disyed a vivid and immediate response. Huaaack! The prince contorted his waist, as if he were convulsing in intense pain. Undeterred, Raciel persisted with the acupressure, gradually easing the tension in the Taichong point. Simultaneously, he employed his skill in palpation, assessing the subtle rhythms within the princes body. [Initiating Palpation.] [Scanning.] [3 2 1] [Palpation results are avable.] [Please check the below.] Ding Dong! [Basic Comprehensive Medical Examination Form] [Subject: Theodor Palermo Magentano] [Race: Human] [Gender: Male] [Age: 19] [Height: 184.1 cm] [Weight: 71.3 kg] [Blood Type: Rh+ A] Theprehensive analysis disyed a list of the robust Second Princes physical attributes, showcasing his exceptional numbers. From heart function to lung function, liver function, and various other areas, all the measurements indicated perfect health. However, Raciels focus wasnt solely on the princes physiological specifications. His attention shifted, ncing at theprehensive findings that appeared below. [Comprehensive Findings: The body is extremely healthy and bnced in all items. However, a high blood alcohol concentration is detected due to excessive drinking at present. It is rmended to intake arge amount of fluids and take appropriate rest.] As expected. With unwavering focus, Raciel fixated on theprehensive findings, even as he maintained the pressure on the Taichong point. He persisted, pressing it firmly until his fingers grew numb. Gradually, a bruise emerged on the dorsum of the Second Princes foot, evidence of the intense acupressure. And then, atst, two lines of text were appended to theprehensive findings section. Ding Dong! [The subject is currently receiving acupressure on the Taichong point, improving blood cirction. The strong concentration of alcohol in the subjects blood is gathering at the Taichong point.] Raciels eyes sparkled with satisfaction. Good. This was the moment he had been patiently waiting for. Without hesitation, he activated the Asrahan Core Technique. Kiiiing! The Circle began to spin, generating a steady flow of mana. It intensified the stimtion of the Taichong point, and in conjunction, Raciel applied firm pressure to the Fuliu point along the Ren Meridian. The effect was immediate. Huuack! Gulp! The Second Prince expelled a mouthful of bitter bile, a vile liquid imbued with the unmistakable odor of alcohol. In an instant, the flush on the princes face disappeared, vanquished by theplete dissipation of alcohol. Huh? Theodor, the Second Prince, blinked in confusion. Despite the lingering ache in his feet and renal region, he felt a peculiar sensation. What is this? I I Only moments ago, he had been drowsy, as if under the influence of alcohol, experiencing bouts of dizziness. The pain in his stomach was unbearable, as if it were being turned inside out. Yet, now, that difort was swiftly fading away. His mind grew clearer, and the fog of intoxication lifted. It was all thanks to the Crown Princes soothing foot rub and the purging of his stomach contents. Startled, Theodor sat up. Excuse me, I am Shush. The Crown Prince looked at him with a peculiar smile. Wait. If you want to alleviate your hangover properly. Hangover, he said. What could that mean? Theodor hadnt consumed a drop of alcohol, yet moments ago, he had stumbled about as if intoxicated. And why did the Crown Princes hands, currently massaging his foot, bring both pain and relief? Could it be the flow of mana he sensed coursing through them? In an instant, Theodors eyes widened. Excuse me, brother, is this possibly Asrahan Yeah. Right. How on earth How? Just ate bloomer in utilizing it. Only now did Theodor cautiously survey his surroundings. His gaze fell upon his trusty sword, lying far away, its hilt marked by his own sweat. It was unmistakably his own sword. Beyond that, he saw the guards rushing toward him. Behind them, a crowd of onlookers stared in disbelief. The Emperor himself clenched the armrest of his throne, his expression tense. An eerie silence hung in the air. As if no one could fathom the situation. The atmosphere was pervaded by an overwhelming stillness, a profound tranquility. And then, realization struck Theodor like a lightning bolt. Did I by any chance, lose consciousness? Why? Is it hard to believe? Its okay. Honestly, I cant believe it either. Excuse me Yes? Brother, theres blood on your forehead. This? Ah, it was from the inside of the shield, when you struck me with your sword earlier. Are you alright? Yeah, better than you, I guess. The Crown Prince casually wiped the blood streak from his forehead with his sleeve, his smile faint. In that fleeting moment, Theodor caught a glimpse of the immense weariness concealed beneath that smile. Others might not notice, but Theodor, facing that smile directly, could discern it. My brother fought with all his might. Finally, a sense of embarrassment washed over him. Was it because he was defeated by the Crown Prince, despite thetters inherent fragility? No, that wasnt it. The Crown Prince, despite his weak constitution, had poured his entire being into the fight, exerting himself to the fullest for the sake of victory. And how had Theodor approached this duel? I was arrogant. Just like everyone else. He had beenpletely certain, without a shred of doubt, that victory would be his. He had carried himself as if sess were predestined. All he desired was to spare his brother the humiliation before everyones eyes, to salvage whatever dignity and honor remained. He had been consumed by arrogance and pretense, believing he could swiftly bring an end to the match. Never once did he entertain the thought of his own defeat. So, thats why I lost today. There was no room for excuses. The more he looked back, the more embarrassed he felt. His brother had fought pouring everything he had with his frail body. He did not even boast after his victory. He embraced the pain of the loser rather than tasting the joy of the winner. Before dering his victory amidst cheers, he chose to take care of him, who had copsed unconscious. He himself massaged his foot. Something he could have ordered his subordinates to do. He bestowed his kindness without any hesitation. I was A person far inferior to the Crown Prince, no, his brother. And he didnt even realize that he had been unconsciously belittling his brother all this time. The second Prince Theodor felt truly repentant and embarrassed. He had no choice but to acknowledge the Crown Prince. He conceded in his heart and got up. To uphold the honor of the victor. To preserve the dignity of the defeated. He got up with his still staggering body and knelt on one knee. He bowed his head to the Crown Prince in front of everyone. I, Second Prince Theodor Palermo Magentano, formally acknowledge that I have been defeated in the duel with Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano, in front of His Majesty the Emperor and all present today. His deration was filled with genuine respect and gratitude. In that moment, as Theodor directed his earnest promation towards Raciel, an unexpected message appeared before Raciels eyes. Ding Dong! [Your patient, Theodor Palermo Magentano, who received your hangover treatment, is sincerely expressing his gratitude.] [You have sessfully treated someone other than yourself.] [This small yet significant first achievement gives you a new skill.] [Medical Billing skill has been unlocked.] [Skill name: Medical Billing Lv.1] [It automatically activates when you have sessfullypleted treatment for a patient. You can extend your expected lifespan by receiving a certain proportion of lifespan that has increased due to your treatment. This settlement rate will increase as the skill level rises. (The lifespan being settled is not deducted from the patients expected lifespan, but is an additional bonus lifespan.)] [Current settlement rate = 2000 : 1] Chapter 20 Chapter 20 [Skill name: Medical Billing Lv.1] [It automatically activates when you have sessfullypleted treatment for a patient. You can extend your expected lifespan by receiving a certain proportion of lifespan that has increased due to your treatment. This settlement rate will increase as the skill level rises. (The lifespan being settled is not deducted from the patients expected lifespan, but is an additional bonus lifespan.)] [Current settlement rate = 2000 : 1] Huh? Raciels eyes grew wide with astonishment as a message abruptly materialized before him. Its contents surpassed his wildest imaginings and took himpletely by surprise. What is this? While attempting toprehend the message, an onught of additional messages continued to materialize before him. [Medical Billing (Lv. 1) skill is activated.] [The patient Theodore Palermo Magentano has benefited from an extension of 0.5 days of his expected lifespan through your hangover treatment. ordingly, you will receive a bonus lifespan equivalent to 1/2000 of 0.5 days.] [The calcted lifespan is too small.] [The minimum unit of lifespan that can bepensated is 1 day.] As Raciel witnessed the steady stream of messages, he began to grasp their overall meaning, albeit in a broad sense. Despite this, he remained overwhelmed and stunned by their contents. Suddenly, a realization dawned upon Raciel as he discerned the messages true significance. Am I receiving a lifespan aspensation? By treating patients? The patients expected lifespan increases through my treatment, and my lifespan also increases at a certain rate? Moreover, the lifespan was not subtracted from the patients expected lifespan. It was imed separately as a bonus. So I no longer need to struggle with self-treatment? A gradual realization swept over Raciel, slowly illuminating the tremendous implications embedded within. The weight of this newfound understanding caused Raciels lips to tremble involuntarily. Nice. Seriously nice. I was running out of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction anyway. I was continuously pondering how to write other prescriptions. No, I was skeptical whether I could extend my expected lifespan. In all honesty, an overwhelming sense of fear gripped Raciels being, intensifying with each passing moment. As the physical vessel of the Crown Prince, Raciel bore the weight of an ominous curse, with a mere few months remaining in his expected lifespan. Every day brought forth a profound weakness that permeated his entire being, leaving his body in a state of disarray. Despite tireless efforts, the cause eluded him, shrouding his deteriorating form in an imprable mystery. Each part of Raciels body felt irreparably damaged, as if it had been destined for an inevitable demise, beyond the scope of any remedy. Even after repeated treatments it felt like pouring money into a bottomless bank ount. Regardless of the copious amounts of Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Decoction he diligently supplied to his body, or the periodic adjustments made through acupuncture, Raciel couldnt shake off the realization that these measures were merely temporary solutions. In fact, he began to perceive a diminishing effect over time, as if his body had adapted to the decoctions ingredients. This realization fueled his worry. Could he truly continue extending his lifespan? How much longer could he endure in this manner? Was survival even possible, defying the narrativeid out in the novel? Doubts gnawed at him, and anxiety swelled within his being. Perhaps, in a bid to distract himself from the fear induced by these uncertainties, he threw himself even deeper into preparing for the uing duel, immersing himself in the tasks at hand. But that worry is solved, with this. He no longer needs to struggle to treat his poor health without medicine. He just has to treat others. Help those who are ill. Take care of those who are injured. And if he treats patients this way? I receive a bonus lifespan equal to their increased lifespan. With determination coursing through his veins, Raciel tightly clenched his fist. In that moment, he caught sight of a new path, shimmering before him like a beacon of light. A me of hope, unlike any he had ever experienced before, suddenly ignited within his heart. However, that was not the only source of hope that graced his presence. Medical Billing I remember seeing it in the initial skill activation list. It was certainly so. It was during the first skill activation. There was a Medical Billing skill in the list of skills that could be activated at that time. But he had chosen the Palpation skill. The reason was simple. I thought Medical Billing was nothing special. To bepletely frank, Raciel initially dismissed the notion of the Medical Billing skill, perceiving it merely as a means to collect medical fees. Being the Crown Prince, financial concerns held little weight for him, and he deemed it unnecessary to give the skill a second thought. I thought it was unnecessary to receive pennies for medical fees from others. But the medical fees werent money. Little did Raciel anticipate that the seemingly mundane Medical Billing skill held a remarkable secret. Unbeknownst to him, its true nature entailed receiving bonus lifespan aspensationa concept that had never crossed his mind. The realization hit him like a wave, and he couldnt fathom the profound sweetness and significance thaty within this skill. It offered him the precious gift he desired most desperatelyan extension of his dwindling lifespan. What about the other skills? Raciels mind retraced the memories of the skills that had been presented to him on that fateful list. The things I saw then Palpation, Acupressure, Cupping, Moxibustion, Decoction Preparation, Herb Identification, Herb Exploration, Tincture Brewing, Medical Billing, Asrahan Core Technique things like that, I guess. Among these, he had acquired Palpation, Medical Billing, and the Asrahan Core Technique. What about the remaining ones? They wont just be themon Acupressure, Cupping, and Moxibustion I know. Just look at Medical Billing. I suspect the remaining skills I havent activated yet have sweet features that I cant even imagine now. That seemed likely. Ill activate one whenever I get the chance. Raciel meticulously organized his thoughts, mapping out his future ns and reigniting his determination to excel. However, his introspection was abruptly interrupted by amanding voice that reverberated through his ears, demanding his attention. Why arent you responding? The weighty, dignified tone snapped Raciel back to reality, pulling him out of his thoughts as he lifted his head. Before him sat the Emperor, resolute and poised on his throne, with a slightly elevated chin and a prating gaze that bore into Raciel,den with countless inquiries. Did you employ the Asrahan Core Technique during the recent duel? Yes, I did, Raciel promptly replied, sensing the gravity of the Emperors question. The Emperors countenance grew even sterner upon hearing his response. How? I am not entirely certain, Your Majesty. Youre uncertain? Yes, Your Majesty, Raciel evaded, fully aware that he was being evasive. Sometimes, excessive honesty can prove detrimental. He couldnt possibly admit, I pricked myself with self-acupuncture and consumed a decoction, and my internal organs rewarded me with skill activation points. Raciel discreetly surveyed his surroundings, realizing that everyone had dispersed in the meantime. The once bustling Lloy-Javi Bridge, teeming with a dense crowd, nowy deserted. Countless people who had gathered earlier had vanished, and buildings along the riverside road remained tightly sealed, devoid of any signs of life. The Emperors authority is truly formidable. He dispersed all those who had gathered, Raciel contemted inwardly. Consequently, only he and the Emperor remained on Lloy-Javi Bridge, with the Imperial Guard and attendants stationed at a distance. He must have something to say to me. Raciel spected, inadvertently swallowing a dry gulp. Thankfully, the anticipated wait was brief as the Emperor, after a momentary silence, spoke again. Yes. On the day of your birth, I personally engraved the Asrahan Core Technique into your heart. The Emperors gaze fixated upon Raciel, revealing a peculiar emotion lurking within. Was it remorse, or perhaps satisfaction? Raciel couldnt discern the truth, for the Emperor was renowned for his inscrutable countenance. The Emperors words continued to pierce through the air, carrying a distinctck of warmth. However, even though you were unable to utilize it until now, you finally brought forth the Asrahan Core Technique to disrupt my ns and my mood, didnt you? Silence hung in the air as Raciel absorbed the weight of the Emperors statement. It was far from friendly or conciliatory, leaving Raciel patiently awaiting the Emperors next words. A promise is a promise, and a duel is a duel. Today, you emerged victorious against me. As you proposed and I epted, you have won todays duel, and I shall not strip you of the Crown Prince title bestowed upon you. However The Emperors gaze grew colder, and his voice turned more austere. I shall continue to observe you closely. The throne should be entrusted to those capable of bearing its weight. I will perpetually harbor doubt and subject you to tests to ascertain whether you possess the ability to rule. Do you understand? Raciel remained silent, his eyes locked onto the Emperors unwavering stare. As a mere human being, he couldnt help but find the situation somewhat twisted. Look at what this old man is saying, Raciel mused inwardly, finding the Emperors tant expression of doubt and scrutiny less than desirable during this particr asion. Yet, despite the unsettling emotions bubbling within him, Raciel refused to let them sway his resolve. On the contrary, heposed his thoughts and recalled the narrative of the novel, Devil Sword Emperor. Within the early chapters of the novel, certain events transpired, including the fate of the Emperor. That old man he sumbs to illness a stroke. It happened suddenly, without any forewarning. Despite the Emperors sturdy and robust nature, he was rendered helpless before the sudden onught of a cerebrovascr disease. During a hunting expedition meant for the royal familys entertainment, while aiming an arrow at a sprinting deer, the Emperor copsed. He never rose again, left paralyzed in the aftermath of a stroke caused by a blocked blood vessel. Thus, the Emperors demise arrived less than a year after the death of Crown Prince Raciel. That event marked the beginning of the great empires decline. That cant happen. Raciel firmly decided, shaking off the internal turmoil. The Emperors fall would pose an issue not only for Raciel personally but also for the stability of the entire empire. I have a lot of work to do from now on. Medical Billing skill I just gained. I need to use it properly. But to focus on that? The Emperor needs to stay sturdy and healthy in his position. But what if the Emperor were to falter? Raciel would find himself thrust into the responsibilities of governing the state, leaving him with limited time to attend to his patients. The acquisition of the Medical Billing skill would go to waste, as he would be unable to utilize it effectively. At longst, Raciel had obtained a valuable skillone that he couldnt bear to waste before his life came to an end, nor could he risk being driven to death through excessive pce duties. He steadfastly refused to ept such a fate. Consequently, it became imperative for the Emperor to maintain good health. With his conclusion reached, Raciel opened his mouth to speak. Your Majesty, you should not neglect your sword training, he asserted. The Emperors brows furrowed, caught off guard by Raciels unexpected remark. What do you mean? the Emperor inquired, his toneden with confusion. Having just delivered a stern warning to his eldest son, urging him to be more cautious in the future, the Emperor found himself facing an abrupt admonition from Raciel. I recently heard that you have been neglecting your sword practice due to your focus on national affairs. Such a situation should not be allowed. It is essential for you to engage in physical activity to maintain your stamina and alleviate muscle stiffness, Raciel exined. The Emperor remained dumbfounded, unable to fully grasp the implications of Raciels words. And you should increase your consumption of vegetables, Raciel continued. Silence hung in the air as the Emperor struggled to process Raciels unexpected advice. And if possible, I implore you to quit smoking, Raciel added. The Emperors disbelief grew with each word spoken by his son. Are you saying this to me? the Emperor questioned, his tone tinged with a mixture of astonishment and incredulity. It is merely a small concern and a gesture of sincerity on my part, Raciel replied, his voice resolute. Huh. The Emperor couldnt help but let out a chuckle. It was absurd. Here he was, gued by an unknown illness, with a bleak future in terms of inheriting the throne, uncertain of how long he could keep up the facade of being human. And now, he was offering such thoughtless advice, pretending to care about his health. It felt shallow and pitiful. Are you attempting to evade my counsel with such a careless admonition? the Emperor retorted, his chuckle fading away. An undercurrent of anger and disappointment seeped into his voice. From that point onward, the Emperors scolding persisted for what seemed like an eternity. Raciel, in the face of the reprimands, simply lowered his head and responded with a meek yes, yes. How long did the scolding continue? The Crown Prince must not forget my warnings and admonitions, the Emperor finally concluded. I will heed your words, Your Majesty, Raciel replied, his voice filled withpliance. With his punishment delivered, the Crown Prince withdrew. Tsk, the Emperor clicked his tongue, alone in the aftermath. He was far from satisfied. Above all, he detested the desperate mindset Raciel had disyed during the duel. If you rashly use it with an unprepared weak body, there could be a big ident. Tsk tsk! Why was his eldest son so desperate? And what was that mana outburst that defiedmon sense? I hope he isnt misusing the technique, the Emperor mused, gued by constant worry. He knew he had to take action. A visit to the Star Pce was imminent. He would personally examine his condition, paying careful attention to every detail. Then perhaps he would find some sce. Really. Hes such a weak fellow, the Emperor muttered, closing his eyes tightly. But even in the darkness behind his eyelids, the image of his sons desperation remained vivid. It felt as if those images were constantly pelting his irond heart with small pebbles of hope, each one causing a sting. A child who had lost his mother moments after birth. A child gued by illness throughout his life. Is such hope in vain? the Emperor whispered, shaking his head on the throne. The sigh that escaped the Emperors lips was not just that of a ruler; it was the sigh of a father. My father also had a stroke. The sound of the carriage reverberated as it made its way back to the Star Pce. Raciel sat in silence, gazing out of the window, although the emerald ss obscured his view, reflecting only his own unfamiliar face. Memories began to resurface, fragmented and relentless. Among them was a glimpse of his high school days. Skipping evening self-study to hang out with friends. Receiving a sudden call from his mother. The memory of racing desperately to the hospital. Why couldnt you quit smoking With a sigh, Raciel dispersed the fragments of those memories. He adjusted his future ns in his mind as the carriage finally arrived at the Star Pce. Weeee-! Ah, geez. That surprised me. Gardin greeted him with the most exuberance (?) as soon as he stepped off the carriage. Raciel scowled. Youre doing this on purpose, right? Hmm? To scare me. Right? No, Your Highness! Why would I do that? These are tears of genuine joy! Oh my, the way you defeated the second prince I truly didnt expect it sob! How difficult it must have been for you. How challenging it must have been. Your Highness, you are truly remarkable. Your Highness? Thats enough. Im tired. I need to rest. I have a lot to do starting tomorrow. Huh? You have a lot to do? Im going to collect a hefty medical fee. ..Pardon? Gardin tilted his head in confusion. Of course, he wouldnt understand the meaning behind those words. Raciel nned to utilize the medical billing skill to earn a significant bonus lifespan. At this point in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, there is a patient whom he can undoubtedly treat. Furthermore, that patient is so young that the extension of their expected lifespan is bound to be tremendous. Do you happen to know someone named Demian? Demian Is that a persons name? Yes. Im sorry, Ive never heard of that name before. Gardin furrowed his brow. A name so insignificant that it meant nothing to him. Of course, you wouldnt. A faint smile graced Raciels lips. Gardin and the others in this world would not know. But he knew. He had encountered the name Demian Cayenne hundreds, thousands of times while reading the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Demian Cayenne. He was the original protagonist of this novel. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Demian Cayenne. Raciel must have read that name hundreds, if not in the thousands. He has seen dozens of his illustrations. Naturally, since he is the real protagonist of this novel, Devil Sword Emperor. A guy who ovees numerous adversities and hardships, and eventually bes the emperor. Recalling the novels contents, Raciel found himself transported back to a time of great struggle for his Oriental medicine clinic. The pandemic had pushed it to the brink of bankruptcy, leaving Raciel devoid of dreams, a future, hope, or answers. In those deste moments, the sce Raciel discoveredy within the pages of novels. It became his sole source of pleasure, a way to endure the haunting emptiness of the clinic where foot traffic had dwindled to nothing. So, he delved into the world of novels, a realm that hadnt captivated his interest before. To his pleasant surprise, the experience surpassed his expectations. Among the multitude of works he encountered, some didnt quite resonate with his taste, but there were others that proved to be life-altering. One such work was Devil Sword Emperor. Devil Sword Emperor became a recurring presence in Raciels reading repertoire,pelling him to read it multiple times over. His devotion went beyond mere consumption, as he joined a fan club dedicated to the novel. He eagerly shared and discussed organized settings, delving into the nuanced and hidden meanings embedded within the storys twists and turns. Late-night keyboard battles with fellow club members became a norm as they dissected and interpreted the novels double-meaning developments. It was all thanks to that. Demian, I know exactly where you are and what youre doing right now. Demian, possessing immense talent, found himself unable to glimpse the light. He was ensnared in the depths of the underground world. The reason was simple. Its because of the addiction that causes the withdrawal symptoms. Demian Cayenne finds himself entangled in the clutches of a potent opioid painkiller. The relentless battles he faces each night exact a toll, leaving him to endure their grueling aftermath. Dependent on the painkiller to cope with the consequences, Demian remains trapped in the underworld, unable to break free from its grip. Such is the current plight of Demian Cayenne, confined by these circumstances. Surely thats the case. Hell continue in that state for the next two or three months. ording to the original development of the novel. Raciel reminisced about the early stages of the novel Devil Sword Emperor, where the situation surrounding Demian was shrouded in darkness. However, a transformative event soon unfolded, altering the course of his circumstances. The catalyst for change emerged with the untimely demise of Crown Prince Raciel. The passing of the crown prince had a profound impact on the Imperial Capital, ushering in a rapid shift in dynamics. The second prince assumed the role of the crown prince and made earnest efforts to solidify his position. He bolstered the crackdown on illicit establishments and criminal organizations, leaving no corner untouched. A change that could be called a butterfly effect. Amidst this turning tide, a glimmer of opportunity emerged for Demian. It provided him with a chance to break free from the clutches of the underground organization that had bound him, liberating him from the darkness of addiction. Astonishingly, the demise of Crown Prince Raciel became an unexpected stroke of fortune in Demians journey. But what about now? Sorry. I dont n on dying for you. As Raciel reviewed the settings, a bitter smile concealed his face. In the current phase of the novel, Raciels condition should have reached a point where he could barely walk unaided. Each passing day should have brought him closer to his deathbed. However, contrasting this dire state, Raciel now thrived with newfound vitality. He not only regained the ability to walk effortlessly but could even run with a lightness in his step. The bouts of blood vomiting that gued him in the past were now a thing of the past. Although he remained aware of his limited time left, he had discovered means to extend his expected lifespan. So its already very different from the early development of the novel. If Raciel doesnt die there will be no change in the early underground world of the novel. The profound butterfly effect triggered by Raciels demise will fail to permeate the depths of the underground. Consequently, the pivotal chance that Demian had encountered would cease to exist. In this scenario, Demian would be devoid of any opportunity to break free from the clutches of the dark underground world. He might not be able to shake off the shackles of addiction and continue to deteriorate until he dies. Indeed, it is highly probable. Life, despite its absurdity and ridiculousness, often unfolds as a sequence of seemingly coincidental butterfly effects. Well, thats how it is. Someone bes a billionaire thanks to Bitcoin which he bought without thinking 10 years ago and forgot about. Someone bullied a new employee so much that they made them cry. Then, tofort the employee, they bought them drinks after work Three yearster, they realized they were calling the employees mother mother-inw. And what about himself? As fate would have it, he stumbled upon a rmendation for the novel Devil Sword Emperor on a novel site. Intrigued, he delved into its captivating pages, bing an ardent fan. Now, he finds himself harnessing the elements and settings within the novel to his advantage. Anyway, if things go as they are, Demian cant get out of the underground world. His dazzling talent and whatnot are tied up there. He would probably die in a few years as an addict. His bright future would all fly away. But what if I save him? What if I cure his addiction? Raciel could turn someone who cant live for a few years into someone who can grow oldfortably. Literally, his life expectancy would increase by dozens of years. Then I can also use my Medical Billing skill. I can receive a bonus lifespan proportional to 1/2000th of his increased life expectancy. For example, if his life expectancy increases by 50 years through Raciels treatment? Its a total of 600 months. Roughly 18,000 days. And 1/2000th of that? I can receive a bonus lifespan of 9 days. 9 days. Some might say, Just that? But when you think about it, its an enormous amount of time. Its not like he would be treating just one person. I can treat dozens of people at once. For example, people in the same situation as Demian there. Then the calction changes. He could receive a bonus lifespan of dozens of days all added up. Besides, thanks to reading the novel, I know what kind of addiction Demian is suffering from, and how I can treat it. This is almost like getting extra lifespan for free. Raciels face beamed with satisfaction. The treatment method is explicitly outlined. He undoubtedly has the ability to cure him. Its undoubtedly a clear win-win situation. With conviction, Raciel lifted his head. So theres something I need to prepare. Yes? Gardin, who was still bewildered, tilted his head. You mean preparation? Mugwort. Yes? Prepare mugwort within 3 days. The amount would be about a full bag. But it cant just be any mugwort. It would be perfect if you could find mugwort that has grown by the sea, receiving the sea breeze. I dont understand what you mean, Your Highness. Ill give you three days, so find it. . Is three days too long? Should I make it two days? No! Alright. I trust you. He was serious. Gardin was the sole individual he could rely on, though he preferred not to express it overtly. It felt too cheesy. Absolutely. It has to be mugwort that has grown receiving sea breeze. Make sure its stocked in the Star Pce warehouse within three days. If its the faithful Gardin, Raciel had full confidence that he would handle itpetently. Having ced his sincere trust in Gardin, Raciel could finally bring an end to the exhausting day and find sce in rest. Three days passed, and Gardin did not betray his trust. Your Highness! I got it! This is the mugwort that grew by the sea! In the early morning, Gardin arrived with a sizable bag. To his relief, it was brimming with mugwort. Im d that there is mugwort in this world. The condition is quite good, too. This enabled him to make seamless preparations for Demians treatment. And once again, two eveningster. Hemenced his actions. Lets go. Yes? Gardin tilted his head in confusion at the Crown Princes sudden announcement to leave. The timing seemed overly ambitious. Its dark outside, and its almost time for you to go to bed, where do you want to go? Could it be that he wanted to take a nighttime stroll in the garden? Gardins gentle assumption shattered when the prince smiled. Im going to meet Demian. Yes? I asked you a few days ago, remember? If you knew Demian. Yes, you certainly did, but. Im going to meet him now. Raciel responded as if it were the most natural thing in the world, leaving Gardin puzzled. Excuse me for asking, Your Highness, but who exactly is this Demian? Youll understand when you see him. Hes a person whom Raciel absolutely must win over and who will be the strongest in this world. It will make things easier for him in the future. With this in mind, Raciel spoke. First, put this on. Raciel handed some clothes to Gardin, whose expression turned puzzled upon recognizing them. This is formal attire? Thats right. I have mine too. Only then did Gardin realize btedly. It wasnt that he hadnt noticed, but the Crown Prince was already dressed in a tuxedo and coat. Moreover, he had even put on a dark brown wig. As if he were trying to conceal his identity. Where are you nning to meet this Demian? Theres a ce. A bad ce. That was the extent of his answer. Following the Crown Prince out of the Star Pce, Gardin soon found himself in a familiar location. This is the Sorentino Garden? Yes, its one of the 10 most famous restaurants in the Imperial Capital. You know it well, dont you? Yes, Im a regr here. Good. Lets go in. What on earth was the Crown Prince nning to do at this restaurant? Moreover, what made this particr spot a bad ce? Following the princes lead, Gardin took a seat at the table. It was a restaurant he frequented. But with the Crown Prince It felt strangely unfamiliar. Even the Crown Princes attitude, ordering from the waiter, was the same. Pasta without sauce, steak without the blood drained, and grape wine that wont get one drunk even if consumed without stopping. All before the moon rises. Is that possible? Of course, its possible. When can it be served? Do you want it now? You cant eat it for me, can you? Then please rise. I will guide you. The waiter responded cautiously, his careful demeanor evident. The Crown Prince rose casually, as if everything were normal. Caught up in this mysterious atmosphere, Gardin hesitated but eventually stood up, hastily following the Crown Prince. What was that order just now? It was the procedure to gain entry to a secret ce. . Gulp. Gardin involuntarily swallowed hard. Something was definitely happening here. It wasnt just a feeling. The peculiar conversation between the Crown Prince and the waiter a while ago, the cautious attitude of the waiter afterward, and now this strange situation where they were being guided somewhere. This restaurant had such a ce? A secret ce. Despite being a regr, Gardin had no idea. However, the Crown Prince acted so naturally, as if he had known about it all along. In fact, Raciel was well aware of the restaurants secret. Thats a relief. Everything is just as it was in the novel. Walking behind the waiter, Raciel breathed a sigh of relief. He wondered what would happen if reality deviated from the novel. But by following the code and procedure outlined in the novel, they seemed to have obtained a free pass. Thus, following the waiter, they ventured deeper into the restaurant. They passed through a door reserved for staff use and navigated through several corridors and staircases. Finally, they reached a door that led to the basement. The second entrance greeted them. Inside here is where our restaurants special sauce is made. Im sorry, but the recipe cannot be disclosed, and no outsiders are allowed, so please turn back. Five burly men blocked the door. Raciel smiled at them faintly. Well, how about we go for a meat feast together then? Im sorry. Im a vegetarian. How about grazing together in a pasture? Pass. With a creak, the heavy door swung open. The staircase leading to the basement was revealed. Gardin and Raciel descended on their own. Flickering torches lined the walls, emanating a peculiar heat. The distant cheers grew louder. Whats down there What is this ce? Gardins trembling voice echoed from behind. To be honest, Raciel felt a twinge of nervousness too. He had only read about this ce in the novel; it was his first time actually visiting. But he pretended to be calm. Pretended to know this ce well. He shrugged his shoulders and bluffed. I told you. A bad ce. With that, he opened the door at the bottom of the stairs. Beyond the door, a vast space stretched out before them. At the center of the bustling crowd stood a towering iron cage. On the stage, stained with smears of blood and filled with the fervor ofbat, a man holding a sword like a canine fang stood amidst the intertwined cheers and sighs of the spectators. That man was exactly in the diatorial arena. The man Raciel had been looking for. The real protagonist of this novel. The underground diatorial arenas tyrant. It was Demian Cayenne. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 Demian was there. In that space suffused with weariness, he stood inside a cage, the burden of exhaustion evident. Demian tightly gripped a lone sword, resembling a vignt canine. Exactly the same. Raciels initial impression upon seeing him aligned perfectly with the illustrations from the novel. Demians towering height, well-proportioned physique, sleek ck hair, sealed lips, and disinterested gaze sweeping across the crowdall matched precisely. Fortunately, the duel hasnt started yet. Raciels thought surfaced at that moment. ng! Rumble! The cage bars swayed heavily. Gradually, the ground on the other side started to open. Creeeeak In the midst of the silent spectators and gamblers, a nted underground tunnel emerged, resembling a cave. From within the tunnel, an unknown growl reverberated. Grrrr! A beast? No. If it were merely a beast, the growl alone wouldnt send shivers down ones spine. It couldnt have turned the faces of countless spectators pale beyond the bars, plunging them into a chilling silence. Thump, thump. Troll. Amidst a feeble moan, an imposing silhouette unveiled itself. Standing at around 3 meters tall, bulging muscles and tendons pulsated beneath its dark gray skin, reminiscent of armor. Between its torn lips gleamed yellow fangs. Yet, the most captivating feature of all were its red eyesdevoid of reason, filled with primal animalism and savagery. The troll roared, unabashedly exhibiting its destructive frenzy. Rooooaaar! The bars trembled. The deafening sound was agonizing. Hes supposed to fight that? Demian of the Colosseum. Raciel had already encountered a simr diatorial match in the novel. However, the disparity between reading about it and witnessing it firsthand was akin to understanding love through the inte versus experiencing it. This is no joke. No ordinary beast could emanate such pressure. The trolls presence and grandeur were overwhelmingly immense. In reality, the troll was enormous too, well exceeding 3 meters in height. Its bulky frame consisted entirely of muscles, reminiscent of the hulking figures seen in famous movies. At that moment Tug, tug. Someone beside Raciel pulled at his sleeve. He turned to find Gardin, his face drained of color. Y-Your Majesty? Gardins trembling lips quivered as he inquired, What is that? What is happening here? Youll see. So theyre sacrificing that poor man Gardins horrified gaze shifted towards Demian inside the cage. You mean theyre offering him as food for that troll, and were here to witness it? This is Gardin seemed to have a grave misconception. However, Raciel remained silent. If that unfortunate man Gardin is looking at were to die, the novel would have ended here. There was no time for such words. The troll had initiated its charge, bellowing with a thunderous roar. Rooooaaar! Thud thud thud! Thump! The charge was unbelievably swift. Hwooooah-! In a sh, the troll leaped over 5 meters, its massive arm resembling a pir swinging towards Demian. Whoosh-! The trolls w sliced through the air, hurtling towards him. The speed was so astonishing that an ordinary person wouldnt have had time to react. But Demian was no ordinary person. Swoosh. He didnt even take a full step. Just half a foot. With a simple maneuver, he evaded the trolls swing, leaning his body back and ducking his head. It was a narrow escape, leaving a gap barely wider than a piece of paper. Groargh? The trolls eyes widened in surprise. It had anticipated tearing off the fragile humans head with a single blow, yet it found nothing but empty air. Rage surged within the troll as it realized its failure. Groooargh! That marked the beginning. The troll unleashed its merciless onught. Groaaargh! Groargh! Its arms swung wildly, delivering blows, scratches, swipes, uppercuts, waves, smashes, jabs, kicks, stabunching one attack after another. But nothing changed. Demian stood his ground, not taking a single step, not budging an inch. Can a human do that? Raciel couldnt fathom what he was witnessing. Once again, he was reminded of why Demian had reigned as the strongest human of his time in the novel. From the very beginning he was different. A devilish talent. No, to call it a talent would be an understatement for such extraordinarybat skills. And the untamed instincts thatplemented his talent and prowess. Comparable to the legendary Grandmaster Javier Asrahan, hailed as the greatest swordsman in history, Demian Cayenne possessed a demonic talent for swordsmanship. Raciel recollected the details. Yes, it was mentioned in the novel. Demian stepped into the underground arena for the first time at the age of 17. Within just three months, he defeated all the existing diators and became the champion. Demian was truly invincible. A string of astonishingly undefeated victories. Within a year, numerous challengers lost their lives or were left crippled by his de. Eventually, the challengers themselves dwindled. It was inevitable. Anyone who dared to challenge him was fated to fall. No one had the audacity to face him. The odds set by the gamblers became meaningless. Around that time Demians opponents were no longer human. He faced beasts, hordes of goblins, and even trolls like today. He battled ferocious creatures of all kinds. Even the betting on his fights shifted. For example, wagers were ced on how many wounds Demian would sustain while fighting a troll. Then, Grooargh! The trolls anxious roar snapped Raciel back to reality. He looked up. The troll, intent on crushing Demian with its entire body, charged towards him, reaching out with both arms. Perhaps trying to grab and tear him apart. But in that moment Ssspt. It happened in the blink of an eye. A sharp, cold sh of light sliced through the space between Demian and the troll, once and for all. And that was it. Groargh? The troll, attempting to grab hold of Demian, recoiled, emitting a strange sound as its movements froze. Its eyes widened, filled with disbelief and unease. That single moment turned out to be itsst. Thud! A surge of blood. The trolls head cleanly severed, along with both of its arms. Groan! With its neck and arms gone, the troll buckled at the knees. The trolls renowned physical regeneration? It could only dream of it now, as its heart had been pierced wlessly. Thunk As the colossal body of the troll crumbled, silence pervaded the stadium. No cheers erupted. No, the spectators were too stunned by the sudden turn of events. Some covered their gaping mouths, while others widened their eyes in disbelief. The cheers came a beatter. Wow! Blood spurted, excitement ignited. The furnace of fanaticism. The savage cheers of the crowd filled the stadium. Gamblers experienced mixed fortunes, resulting in a cacophony ofughter and shouts. However, Demian was already making his way out through the iron bars. The cheers and screams were directed at him. Words of nder, praise, and curiosity. Yet, he appeared indifferent to it all. Was it merely because he was cool? Certainly not. Raciel shook his head inwardly. Others may not understand, but he does. He knows the struggles Demian faced at this moment, the desperation he felt. Now was the time to act. Gather your thoughts and follow me. Raciel nudged Gardin. Huh? Yes? Yes! Gardin, previously pale and disoriented, hurriedly followed. Raciel maneuvered through the bustling crowd, the chatter of numerous voices reaching his ears. Ha. I thought he would at least sustain some injuries today. Demian, you mean? Of course. He was up against a troll, after all. Well, I actually bet that Demian would have two wounds. Hehe. Both of us lost today. Even though his opponent was a troll, I thought something unexpected might ur, but it turned out just as I predicted. The grumbling of the gamblers echoed in his ears. Listening to their remarks, Raciel inwardly chuckled. These people have no idea that Demian is the protagonist of this world. They see him as nothing more than a wretched existence in an underground arena. They are oblivious to the fact that he is the person who will save this world from the clutches of war. They have no inkling that he will rise to be the emperor of a vast empire in the distant future. In their wildest dreams, they would never imagine it. Demian is far more remarkable than they realize. A sense of pride welled up within Raciel as he savored the knowledge that he alone possessed this understanding. It was akin to knowing a hidden gem of a restaurant that remained undiscovered by others or being the ultimate fan of a rookie who would eventually be the biggest star in the world. However, just as he basked in his solitary pride, an unexpected conversation caught his attention among the gamblers. But let me ask you something. Have you heard about the recent rumor, the Crown Princes Overpowering Theory? Pfft! Raciel nearly spat out in surprise. Maintaining his indifferent facade, he perked up his ears to listen to the gamblers discussion. The conversation unfolded before him. The Crown Princes Overpowering Theory? Ive never heard of it. Tsk tsk. How can you be so slow in keeping up with the news? Before you me me, why dont you enlighten me? Ill buy the drinks tonight. Fair enough. So, the Crown Princes Overpowering Theory is You must have witnessed the confrontation between the Crown Prince and the Second Prince on Lloy-Javi Bridge a few days ago, right? Yes, I did. It ended in quite an unexpected manner. Thats right, it was quite memorable. Especially the Second Princes reaction after his defeat. The Second Princes reaction? He fainted. Yes, he did. And when the Crown Prince barely touched the unconscious Second Princes foot the Second Prince screamed. You saw that, didnt you? Ah, yes. I certainly did. Do you recall the Second Princes demeanor afterward? Ah. You do remember. Yes. He suddenly rose to his feet, dropped to one knee before the Crown Prince, and conceded defeat, unprompted. So, could it be Youre onto something. Exactly. The grip strength of the Crown Prince, who had briefly touched his foot surpassed all expectations. I see. I see? What I see? Raciel yearned to interject and join their conversation immediately. Yet, regardless of his inner turmoil, the gamblers discussion flowed uninterrupted. With that astonishing grip strength, the Second Prince must have felt as if he were in hell. He likely sensed a genuine threat to his life. Perhaps he thought, if I continue to challenge him, I might truly die. Its possible that he knelt and admitted defeat due to that sense of crisis. That does make sense. It was more than just a defeat. It was a renouncement of his dream for the position as the Crown Prince, an abandonment of his path to bing the emperor. Exactly. The Crown Prince possesses a grip strength so terrifying that itpels others to swiftly relinquish their aspirations of bing emperor. Wow. I had always heard that he was a frail individual gued by chronic illness. How could he possess such Does this mean the Crown Prince has been concealing an extraordinary power all along? Thats the crux of the Crown Princes Overpowering Theory. Tsk. Lets just leave. He was too upied to entertain such nonsense. There was no time to waste on idle chatter. Raciel swiftly maneuvered through the bustling crowd, navigating towards a corridor tucked away in one corner of the arena. It led to the diators waiting room. Naturally, there were guards stationed to regte ess to the area. However, this posed no obstacle for Raciel. Silently, he handed each guard a generous sum of gold. The guards regarded him with stern eyes, seemingly questioning his attempt at bribery. But the value of the gold was far too significant to harbor suspicions. Thus, he acquired a seamless passage into the hallway. The innermost section of the corridor. The rarely ventured waiting room located at the far end. That was where Demian resided. Recalling the novels contents, Raciel took a deep breath. Now, this is crucial. He was about to meet the novels protagonist. With his heart inexplicably pounding, Raciel organized his n, meticulously reviewing the details he retained from the story. What Demian required most at this moment. What held the utmost urgency for him? Raciel needed to showcase his ability to fulfill those needs. To aplish that with a 100% sess rate Excuse me. Creeeak. Boldly, he swung open the door to the waiting room. Inside stood Demian Cayenne. Perhaps he was in the midst of wiping away the trolls sttered blood from his face. He cast a casual nce through the towel covering his features, his expression questioning: Who are you? What do you want? Yet, Raciel did not respond to that gaze. Instead, he strode forward with determination. He suppressed his racing heart. Reaching out, he picked up a bottle of medicine from the nearby table. Turning towards Demian, he offered a knowing smirk. Apanying it was a punchline he had carefully crafted. Tsk tsk. Its a shame. Why are you resorting to such cheap painkillers? Can you even get a good nights sleep with those? What? Demians eyebrows twitched. A flicker of irritation emerged in his cool gaze. Raciel concealed his satisfaction. Thats it. A fresh beginning for their first encounter. Chapter 23 Chapter 23 It hurts. Demian pondered the cause behind it. Was it due to the grudges held by those wounded by his sword? Or the lingering effects of relentless training, leaving no room for rest? Perhaps it was because his purse remained empty despite his struggles in battle. One thing was certain: when the pain struck, he desperately needed medicine. Some called it painkillers, others deemed it a cursed drug. But who is he Demian wondered, as an unfamiliar man entered the waiting room, clutching the container of medicine. Moreover, he spewed nonsensical remarks while eyeing the contents. Tsk tsk. Its unfortunate. Why settle for such cheap painkillers? Can you find sce in these? What? Demian Cayenne felt taken aback. This man was a stranger. How had he managed to enter the room? Was he an arena official? He didnt give off that impression; rather, he seemed dubious at first nce. Demian struggled toprehend. Who are you? he asked, his gaze growing cold. The mans response came swiftly. I am someone you will need. Are you here to sell medicine? Demian queried, considering that possibility. Many diators endured pain, and painkillers became an integral part of their lives. Consequently, there were individuals who sought to deceive by iming to possess superior medication for diators. As expected, the stranger nodded readily. Well, close enough. Your intuition serves you well. Demians interest waned. He had already encountered enough of these individuals and saw no reason to entertain him further. A scowl formed on his face. Leave before I sever your wrist. Set the medicine down. If its about medicine I have plenty, you think? Are you satisfied with such cheap medicine? Really? What the hell are you Demian began, growing increasingly irritated. I didnte here to spout nonsense. Ill kill you. Then youll never be rid of that tingling pain at the back of your head for the rest of your life. Typically, the symptoms start at the ipital region. Numbness and tingling spread to the back of your neck and head. The pain may extend to your entire cranium and even reach your shoulders. When its severe, the pain radiates to your forehead and the corners of your eyes, following the path of your temples. Your skin breaks out in goosebumps, and you perspire profusely. The agony bes unbearable, as if your eyeballs are about to burst. Strangely, the pain arrives in waves, repeatedly tormenting you. Its a hellish experience where the hope of relief is shattered, only for the torture to persist. How Demian faltered, shocked by the uracy of the mans description. How do I know? Raciel smirked. How would he know? Because he read the novel. So I nearly recited the sentence describing the symptoms word for word. For the first time, Demian, who had been irritable throughout the encounter, disyed a flicker of reaction. It was a promising development in their conversation, or so it seemed. So this is the moment? Raciel resolved to be even more audacious. Raciel donned a triple-embossed steel te across his face, exuding an air of shamelessness. Such symptoms, so evident. Its trauma, anemia, renal deficiency causing circtory disruption along the neck vein. Thats what it is. But you never even consider addressing the root cause of the pain. Thats why you continue to suffer like this, relying solely on narcotic painkillers. Is a painkiller truly medicine? No, absolutely not. This is a recurring pattern. There are quite a lot of people subtly suffering in the same way as you. Raciel expressed genuine regret, clicking his tongue. The foolishness of only looking for painkillers when in pain. It wasnt only Demian to me. In retrospect, he had seen a lot of cases like this in Korea too. They would search for painkillers whenever pain struck, juggling the responsibilities of raising their children and working. The high costs of big hospitals often deterred them, leading them to rely on painkillers and patches to endure, inadvertently exacerbating their conditions. So what Im saying is, can you simply cover up spilled soup on the floor with a nket and call it done? No. If youre in pain but refuse to address the underlying cause, relying solely on these narcotic painkillers, youll only suffer more. Isnt that true? If you have a voice, answer, you pitiful and foolish person. Demian felt an uncontroble surge of anger. He was on the verge of exploding in rage. He felt unjustly used. He was merely following his usual routine, seeking rest after defeating a troll. He had only considered taking medication to alleviate the customary post-battle pain. And now, this stranger he had never seen or heard of before had not only barged into the waiting room but alsomenced lecturing him. Why me? Demian channeled his bubbling doubts, absurdity, and sense of unfairness into a single interrogative word. Who the hell are you to say such things? Who was this person? Toe all the way here. And to act like this. If he failed to provide a satisfactory answer this time, Demian vowed to unsheathe his sword and strike him down. The madman responded. The Crown Prince. Seriously. Demians fingers tightened around the hilt of his sword, his patience wearing thin. But then, to his relief, the man before him broke into a wide grin. Just kidding. Im actually an envoy sent by Kusman. Kusman? Yeah, your promoter. You should trust me by now. Demian loosened his grip on the sword slightly, and Raciel breathed a quiet sigh of relief to himself. Phew, it worked. Kusman. That was the name of Demians promoter, known only to those closely associated with the arena. Of course, the arena needs a promoter. To put it simply, the promoter acted as a middleman for the underground arena. Just like real estate agents connect tenants andndlords, or publisher management connects authors and tforms, the promoter connected diators with the arena, organizing their match schedules. In return, they took a 30%mission from the diators fight fees. Promoters also provided amodation for the diators, along with training facilities and various amenities, for a fee. Thats the issue. The cruel part about promoters, unlike real estate agents or publishers, is that they provide addictive painkillers. Addictive painkillers. That was the major problem. diators always needed pain relief. Promoters, under the guise of controlling the supply, sold addictive painkillers at exorbitant prices. Thanks to this, most diators cant save money no matter how much they fight. They spend the majority of their ie on buying expensive addictive painkillers. No, most can barely avoid falling into debt. The diators fought. The diators shed blood. And all the money went straight into the promoters pockets. But there were no diators who could break free from this vicious cycle. By the time they realized the injustice that ensnared them, they were already addicted to addictive painkillers. Raciel remembered more details, particrly scenes from the novel Devil Sword Emperor featuring Demians exclusive promoter, Kusman. The dialogues, the narratives. The situations Demian encountered. He amalgamated all this information in his mind. Mixing and processing it, he constructed a believable lie and loaded it generously onto his tongue, which had finished its warm-up exercises. And he unleashed it. Mr. Kusman mentioned earlier that youve beenining. Lately, youve developed resistance to this medication. So it seemed Mr. Kusman also had a headache. Since this painkiller is supplied to other diators he manages, its difficult to provide arger quantity. Its not the season for harvesting opium poppies, so its challenging to obtain extra stock. You probably heard about this from Mr. Kusman, right? What exactly are you trying to convey? That there is an alternative method to alleviate your pain, separate from relying on this painkiller. A new approach? Can you provide it? Thats precisely why I am here. Sent by Mr. Kusman? Is that the truth? Yes. And what is the cost? You can discuss that separately when you meet Mr. Kusmanter. I have already received my share of the fee. He pretended to be indifferent. He really acted as if Demians promoter, Kusman, had sent him so convincingly that Demian couldnt help but scrutinize Raciel. Something felt amiss. The way he spoke, it didnt seem like he belonged to their side. But what was even more peculiar was that this individual knew about his connection with promoter Kusman. That was the most baffling part. Only the diators who signed a contract and key personnel in the diatorial arena should be aware of Kusmans existence. Yet, he casually mentioned Kusmans name. Not only that, he even referenced specific incidents that had urred between Demian and Kusman. Suddenly, a memory from a few days ago resurfaced in Demians mind. It was the evening after he had triumphed over twenty goblins in the arena. He had approached Kusman, requesting more painkillers. He had mentioned that the medication hadnt been as effective recently. He had been having trouble sleeping. But Kusman had appeared displeased. He had exined the challenges in obtaining extra stock these days, as it was difficult to divert it from the allocations of other diators under his management. With it not being the season for opium poppy harvesting, acquiring additional supply had be a struggle. But that conversation this person just repeated it word for word. The meaning became clear. He truly was the person dispatched by Kusman. Finally, Demian set his sword aside. So, are you telling me that you have brought a new medicine that isnt a painkiller? No. Raciel grinned mischievously. His ambitious deception had proven sessful. With unwavering conviction, he had crossed the line. You cant rely on medication to ovee the pain youre enduring. Trust me, you must address the root cause. The cause If its removed, does that mean the pain wont return? Yes. You seem to be making that guarantee too easily. Why dont you verify it for yourself? What method are you referring to? Raciels yful smile grew wider. First, remove your shirt and lie down. What? You need to undergo treatment. Dont worry, it wont endanger your life. Are you afraid? Of course, thats Well, I insist that you take it off. Demian regarded him skeptically while Raciel casually met his gaze. Eventually, Demian sighed deeply andplied. He removed his shirt, revealing his sleek and well-developed upper body adorned with numerous scars. How many times had he fought in the underground arena? His body bore the evidence. However, Raciels focus was not on Demians muscles or scars. Instead, he zeroed in on a distinctive mark etched on Demians left back. The mark branded in the arena. The mark of a diator. As I suspected, its there. Just as described in the novels illustration. That mark was the underlying cause. It served as the origin of the excruciating pain that tormented Demian in the earlier part of the story. The ipital neuralgia he experienced was merely a symptom that manifested as a consequence. Raciel quicklyposed himself, masking his expression and gaze before speaking again. Why are you staring nkly? Lie down on the bed. Rx and let go of your tension. Thats the only way we can begin the treatment. Are you nning to give me a massage or something? Demian questioned suspiciously as hey down. Its not that, Raciel replied, his smile carrying meaning. The mark engraved on Demians back. It needed to be eradicated. However, it couldnt simply vanish. Cutting it with a knife or peeling off the skin would be futile. It held a curse within. To eliminate that curse, there was only one method. Since it was seared with a hot iron, it must be heated in the same manner, like this. Raciel reached into his pocket and pulled out the secret weapon he had prepared for this moment. It was a mysterious, dark green substance, about the size of half a fist. Tapping the bed with his palm, he presented it with a cheerful beam. Wee, is this your first time experiencing moxibustion? Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Moxibustion Moxibustion involves the application of a moxa stick to specific points on the body, which is then burned to provide thermal stimtion. This therapy offers various benefits, including raising body temperature, promoting blood cirction, and stimting the corresponding blood vessels, organs, and endocrine nds in the targeted area. These effects can boost immunity. Moreover, Moxibustion can help alleviate pain, paralysis, and spasms by calming overexcited nerves. Essentially, it acts as a concentrated thermal pack applied to a localized area,monly used for relieving muscle pain. In the case of Demian and his glossopharyngeal neuralgia, moxibustion proves to be the perfect solution. Raciel smiled subtly as he prepared a moxa stick for the session. However, his intention went beyond treating the neuralgia alone. I need to break the curse embedded in that brand. As heid eyes on the brand engraved on Demians back, its shape reminded him of the illustration from the novel, Devil Sword Emperor. Suddenly, the novels content resurfaced in Raciels mind. The brand is a symbol of the diators contract with a promoter, signifying their affiliation. But in reality, its a malicious control method used on the diators. The brand was more than just a mark indicating the diators affiliation; it concealed a small magic circle. Embedded within the magic circle was a curse. When the branded persons blood cirction became active, the curse would be triggered after an hour, causing excruciating pain. In essence, after a fierce battle, they were destined to endure unbearable suffering. Not just Demian, but all the other diators too. However, no one realized that the brand was the source of their agony. They couldnt fathom it, attributing the pain to mere battle aftereffects and relying on painkillers to cope. Living in deception. Dying in deception. Everyone remained oblivious. Their hard-earned money was squandered on painkillers or handed over to the promoter, plunging them further into debt. Every day, they fought and fought. They earned money, yes. But instead of saving, they rued debts. Sigh. Its just like my own experience of working hard but only umting debt in my ount. Recalling his painful memories from South Korea, Raciel momentarily sumbed to self-loathing before delving deeper into the novels intricacies. Nevertheless, the brand is the crux of the issue. ording to the novels contents, harming the brand proved futile. Even if they peeled off the skin bearing the brand, it made no difference. That makes sense. Theyre diators, constantly sustaining injuries. If the brand could be rendered useless by a simple sword scratch, it would lose its purpose in less than a month. The more he pondered, the more sinister it seemed. The brand reflected the promoters intention to exploit the diators until their demise. Yet, removing it wasnt entirely impossible. Burning it with intense heat. Both the brand and the curse were engraved with heat. Thus, they could be eradicated by subjecting them to the same intensity of heat. In fact, it was the only viable method. But what about Raciel himself? Scalding the human body with heat was a familiar practice for Raciel. No, it was more than familiarity. I do it every day. That was moxibustion. Alright, dont be afraid. Just rx. As Demiany face down, Raciel positioned the moxa stick on the back, precisely on the brand etched in the left scap region. The moxa stick had a rounded cone shape, significantlyrger than the standard size, ensuring a powerful effect. Demian winced as he felt a sensation on his back. Whats happening? Dont worry, it wont kill you. . Are you afraid? Of course not. But- But? I still have my doubts about the effectiveness of such a peculiar treatment. Do I appear to be a fraud to you? Naturally. Demian curled the corners of his mouth. The object you ced on my back looks like a bunch of crushed, dried grass. I doubt if cing such a thing on my back will ease my pain. Ah, I see. Satisfy your curiosity through your own experience. Raciel chuckled mischievously as he lifted the candle from the table. He brought the flickering me in contact with the top of the moxa stick. Alright, here we go. Here we go. Here we go. Huh? Chiieek-! The me transferred to the top of the moxa stick. Demian, who was observing, widened his eyes. What are you doing? This is how its done. Remove it immediately. But then the treatment wont be effective. . I told you to rx. Dont raise your head. Dontin. Just try to befortable. Yes, like that. Dont tense your shoulders. Hey, I am- If you have even a shred of trust in your heart, believe in people at times like this, okay? Its going to start getting hot soon. Endure it. What? And then Phwooosh-! The heat from the moxibustion stick began to spread downwards. It rapidly enveloped Demians back like wildfire. .Ugh? Demian, lying face down and ncing back, grimaced. It, its hot. Its really hot, isnt it? .What is this? Its okay. Its part of the treatment process. How can such a bizarre act be a treatment. In the ce where Ie from, even children receive this, you know? .What? Tsk tsk. Being the undefeated champion of the underground arena and all. If people found out that you cant endure a treatment that even children bravely undergo, it would be quite a mess. . Dont worry. If you endure it well from now on, I wont spread any rumors. . Demians gaze towards Raciel grew fiercer. Raciel suppressed his smirk. The fact that even children underwent such treatment was, of course, a lie. Moxibustion, its genuinely hot. Moreover, were doing it with direct fire, which makes it even hotter. In reality, there were mainly two methods of applying Moxibustion. The indirect method and the direct method. The indirect method involved using rings or stands as tools ced on the skin, and the moxa stick was then burned on top of these tools. This method resulted in less pain and a lower level of heat. The intense heat from the therapy stick was mitigated by the tool ced in between. This made it more popr and essible. If this were a game, it would be the easy mode for beginners. On the other hand, what about the direct method that Demian was undergoing? There were no tools in between. The moxa stick was ced directly on the skin, fully exposed to the raw heat. It was hardcore therapy for the brave. Of course, its extremely hot. Its continuously searing the skin with a burning object. And particrly for Demian? He would feel it even hotter. There were numerous reasons for that. Demian possessed almost all the conditions that would make the therapy feel hotter when undergoing it. In general, individuals with high levels of nervous energy tend to experience it as hotter. Demian? Hes witnessed bloodshed and faced death on a daily basis in the arena. Hes likely a PTSD patient. Naturally, hes always on edge, so he will perceive the heat as extremely intense. But that wasnt all. Raciel spoke with a hint of sympathy(?). Even though it will be quite hot and challenging to endure, what can we do? Typically, physically robust people feel it as hotter. Gruuk. Usually, men feel it hotter than women. Hoo. And the younger, the hotter. Especially around the age of twenty. Its at its worst within this age range. Hoo, Huuk. And youve just had a fight, so youre slightly tired, right? Unfortunate. It tends to feel the hottest when youre a bit fatigued. The weather doesnt help either. On a cloudy day like today, the therapy feels even hotter. Damn. Oh, right! Additionally, its hotter in the afternoon than in the morning, and its even hotter if you receive the therapy at night. Just like now, in the middle of the night. Please. And, Im sorry to say, when the therapy is applied precisely on the acupoints, it feels slightly less hot. But today, its being applied to an area that doesnt directly correspond to the acupoints, so it will feel hotter. I apologize. Please, just shut up, you maniac. But doesnt it hurt less when I talk to you? Hell, no. Is that so? Okay then. Raciel fell silent. He simply smirked and watched as the moxa stick burned brightly. Meanwhile, Demians face became increasingly contorted. And finally, it happened. So, youre really not going to say anything? Hey. Hello? Say something Do you want me to speak? See, it hurts more when I shut up. Tch. But you should appreciate this. The therapy stick wasnt made easily. What? It was made of mugwort. And not just any mugwort. We gathered those that grew by the sea, bathing in the sea breeze. Ideally, it should be aged for more than three years, but we didnt have that much time. We finely ground it with a mortar and filtered out impurities by pounding it with a pestle. We repeated this process around ten times, continuing until only the white fluff remained. Thanks to this, we produced a high-quality moxa stick, incorporating the perfect bnce of moisture, protein nitrogenouspounds, fiber, fat, ash, vonoidpounds, sesquiterpenes, alcohol, and more. What This means were burning you with a meticulously crafted stick, made with exceptional ingredients. Its done. Just lie down a little longer. The moxa stick finally burned out. Raciel carefully brushed away the ash from the burnt stick. The spot where the stick had been ced was now thoroughly reddened. It was the mark left by the therapy. Good. Its perfectly cauterized. A warm smile, reminiscent of a top-tier steak chef, graced the corner of Raciels mouth. The skin had been cooked to perfection(?). He had used an especially tightly packed moxa stick, one that burned hotter and longer than the standard variety. Perhaps an ordinary person wouldnt have been able to withstand the heat. But he had faith in Demian. Just as expected of the novels protagonist. The protagonists resilience and exceptional strength of will. Raciel had pressed forward, cing his trust in those qualities, and Demian had lived up to those expectations wlessly. It was thanks to this that they had achieved sessful results. Raciel, having tidied up the moxibustion site, spoke up. Now that its done, try getting up. Demian slowly raised his body. Fortunately(?), he didnt unleash his anger on Raciel. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed and furrowed his brow deeply. Hmm? Then, he turned to look at Raciel. His eyes were filled with disbelief, brimming with surprise. How did you my back my head Dont you feel better now? Is everything clear? Nod. Demian nodded in affirmation. He couldnt help but feel incredulous. The pain had truly vanishedpletely. The pulling sensation at the back of his head, the numbness that radiated through the entire area behind his ears, and the excruciating pain that made it feel like his eyeballs were about to burst out of their sockets. It was all gone. His head felt clear. Even after taking painkillers, he had never felt this refreshed before. It was a first in many years. How in the world? Demian gazed at Raciel. He had initially thought Raciel was nothing more than a chatan. Even when he was instructed to lie down and treated with that peculiar clump of grass, he had held such a belief. Why was he being treated on his back, which had no apparent connection to the pain in the back of his head and face? He couldntprehend it at all. It seemed as if his bare skin had been subjected to a pointless treatment. Countless times, he had contemted standing up and leaving. But since Kusman sent him, I wanted to see the oue. If the treatment yielded no results, he would break both of Raciels arms. He would ensure that Raciel couldnt walk for a while. He gritted his teeth and made a solemn vow. Yet, an unexpected oue emerged. He truly hadnt anticipated this. He was no longer in pain. Honestly, it was astonishing. Who on earth, are you? In the world of the novel, a man known as the Devil Sword Emperor ruled the continent with his singr de. But here, Demian had awakened to a new realm of moxibustion. Unbeknownst to himself, for the first time, polite words flowed effortlessly from his lips. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Who on earth are you? Demian thought he was just a drug seller. Or a quack doctor with a foul mouth. He simply assumed he was someone that promoter Kusman sent over for the sake of appearance. Unable to supply painkillers. Trying to manage the situation as his dissatisfaction grew. He thought he was just someone sent to give off the impression of See, I am taking care of you and showing our sincerity. I was thinking of showing him what real pain was if whatever this moxibustion thing is, had no effect. By breaking both of his arms. That was his firm resolution. However, after receiving the moxibustion? Something shocking urred. The pain disappeared. The constant torment in hisrynx truly vanished. This was the first time he felt so refreshed and clear. You werent just a drug seller. Demian sincerely admired him. The corner of Raciels mouth lifted. Of course not. What do you take me for? Raciel was relieved on the inside. The look on Demians face had changed from before. His gaze towards Raciel had shifted 180 degrees. He looks like someone who passed a bigpany interview after 10 years. Apparently, the moxibustion treatment had proven highly effective. More specifically, the intense heat from the treatment had damaged the brand as intended. The moxibustion I provided today was just a means to an end. The real purpose was to damage the brand using the hot heat. That was the key to todays treatmentdistorting the brands shape by causing a burn and destroying the curse embedded within, akin to a magic circle, using the heat. This intent had been perfectly achieved. Of course, its notplete yet. The brand on Demians back wasrge, almost the size of an open palm. However, the moxibustion treatment only covered a diameter of about three centimeters. Hence, at least ten or more moxibustion sessions would be necessary topletely eradicate the brand. Keeping that in mind, Raciel inquired, So, hows the area that was hurting? Its fineclean and refreshing. Its been ages since Ive felt this way. Hmm, but youre notpletely healed yet. Youll have to receive treatment a few more times. Is that so. Yes. A blister will form on the area where the moxibustion was applied. Dont pop it. It might be slightly prickly and ufortable when you sleep, given its location on your back, but bear with it. Dont overdo it and dont consume oily food until the blister subsides. Dont overdo what? Try to refrain from engaging in intense physical activities. But what about the diator fights You wont have to participate. Ill ensure that. Truly. Without a doubt. Soon, it would be taken care of. Of course, Demian was unaware of Raciels n and tilted his head in confusion. Are you going to adjust the schedule so I wont have a match? Well, more or less. Did Promoter Kusman give permission? It wouldnt have been an easy task. Demian admired, showing a sign of respect. In a genuine tone, he asked, Then, who are you? Please tell me your name. I told you earlier, didnt I? Im the Crown Prince. Pardon? Raciel Adria Magentano. . Heh. Im not joking. Raciel smirked. Demian chuckled as if he had grasped the situation. Dont worry, I understand. You must have your reasons for concealing your true identity. Its not umon in our line of work. What are you babbling about on your own. Even if we part ways now, when we meet again, please reveal your real name. Ive already told you. Not that name. Your true name. Tsk, youre surprisingly blunt. Pardon? Forget it. Anyway. Raciel locked eyes with Demian, dropping his smile for the first time. Listen carefully to what Im about to say and follow it. Tonight, no matter what urs in this diator arena, dont run or hide. Just stay here. Its the safest option. What do you mean? Dont question it. Just stay here. Soon, well meet again. Youll learn my real name and continue receiving the treatment you just had. Something Is something going to happen here? Just stay in this room and dont worry. What will happen if I break that rule? Then your moxibustion treatment will likely be terminated. The pain that temporarily disappeared wille back in full force, and youll be trapped in it for the rest of your life. I see. I swear on everything I have that its the truth. Raciel spoke with sincerity. Demian stared into his eyes, unflinching. After a while, he nodded. I understand. You, you dont seem to be just someone who simply follows Kusmans orders. Well, roughly. Raciel gave a faint smile. Internally, he clenched his fist. Its done. Sess! Fortunately, the most crucial puzzle piece of the n had been aplished. The request he made to Demianstay in the room no matter what happenswas vital. He had risked danger to meet Demian and provide the moxibustion treatment, gaining a minimum level of trust in the process. Thats the only way to get everything I want once tonights n seeds. The n he held, the grand scheme he had devised upon acquiring the Medical Billing skill, required this process to obtain unteral benefits. And now, he had sessfullypleted that process. Its done. Now onto the next stage. Raciel rose from his seat, waved to Demian, and calmly exited the waiting room. Your Highness? As soon as he left the waiting room, Gardin, who appeared to have been waiting, initiated a conversation. Eager to receivepensation for keeping silent and merely observing, he fired a barrage of questions. Your Highness? The treatment method you used on that fresh wound, what was it? And why did you approach him and lie about providing treatment This ce doesnt seem safe or legal Im quite confused about tonights situation. Well, thats to be expected. It couldnt be helped. Yes? Youll understand everything soon enough. For now, lets focus on the task at hand. Assist me. What do you mean? Look for a man with ck braided hair. Hell be fairly tall with narrow, nted eyes. Ah, I see. Gardin followed the princes instructions, although he had numerous questions. He couldntprehend what was happening tonight. Even more bewildering was the princes demeanor. Having spent his entire life in the pce, and half of it confined to bed due to illness, he would naturally have no connection to an illegal underground diator ring like this. But he seems remarkably familiar with this ce He acted as if it were second nature to him. That was peculiar. It raised suspicions, leaving Gardin utterly perplexed. Nevertheless, Gardin understood that a question was a question, and an order was an order. He carefully surveyed the diator arena, keeping the princes description of the man in mind. Inside the steel cage, tables were arranged for spectators to witness the fights. People were engaged in drinking, chatting, and smoking. Gambling was also taking ce. Amidst the crowd, Gardin noticed a man sitting alone at a table. Your Highness, I believe Ive found him. Where? Over there Gardin discreetly gestured toward the table where the man was seated. Raciels gaze followed the direction indicated. Hmm. It appeared that Gardin had indeed identified the right individual. In the novel Devil Sword Emperor, there was an illustration depicting Demian and Kusman together. The appearance of the man with braided hair closely resembled the image from the illustration. But its too early to be sure. First, he needed to confirm. Moving swiftly, Raciel left the bewildered Gardin behind and approached the mans table. Without any hesitation, he nonchntly took a seat across from him. The mans cold gaze fixed upon him. As their eyes met, Raciel felt a chill, but he didnt show any sign of it. This was a ce filled with numerous onlookers. It was unlikely that an attack would ur suddenly. He considered this fact as a form of insurance. He addressed the man. Mr. Kusman? I dont know anyone by that name. Then you must know Demian. Let me ask you something. I want to buy Demian Cayenne. Im wondering how much I should offer you to settle his debt for the painkillers, along with a cancetion fee for the contract. One hundred million Majen. Anything less wont suffice. One hundred million is more than you could earn in your entire life. Are you serious? If youre unwilling to pay, then leave. Kusmans gaze remained fixed on him. Raciel gave a faint smile. Very well, then. He had achieved his objective. This man is undoubtedly Kusman. With confirmation in hand, Raciel stood up from his seat. He exited the underground diator arena, apanied by Gardin. All the while, Kusmans gaze followed Raciels retreating figure. Shortly after Raciel disappeared through the exit, Ive never seen that man here before. Kusman muttered to himself. He snapped his fingers, and one of his henchmen from a nearby table approached. You called, boss? Hmm. Investigate that tall fellow who just tried to deceive me. How thorough should I be? Find out what he does, whether hes a spy hired by the arena or if another promoter has bribed him. If necessary, dont hesitate to use torture. And then? As usual. Disassemble him and dispose of the remains in the river. Understood. The henchman left the table. From that moment on, Kusman dismissed any concerns about Raciel. He had confidence in his henchmanspetence. The henchman was known for his ruthless methods, kidnapping anyone targeted without hesitation. With his exceptional torture skills, almost bordering on artistry, he extracted every piece of information. Three days? Perhaps even within two days. As for the audacious individual who attempted to deceive him, he didnt know whose pawn he was. However, since his henchman had targeted him, his fate was sealed. More importantly, Kusman mused, how can I squeeze more money out of Demian? Lately, the inconsistent supply of narcotic painkillers had be a headache for Kusman. Perhaps I should reduce the number of diators. I could arrange fights for the less skilled ones that they have no chance of winning. That way, Id have fewer mouths to supply the drugs to. I can focus on selling the remaining drugs to Demian and squeeze more money out of him. He earns quite a lot from his fights, after all. Satisfied with his n, Kusman raised his ss of alcohol and took a sip. But then, a sudden loud noise shook the diator arena. Boom! The entrance to the arena was obliterated, leaving no trace. The thickyers meant to muffle the noise were no match for the force that had destroyed it. Everyone in the arena was startled and stood up, including Kusman. What the hell? he thought, his eyes fixed on the spot where the entrance once stood. Gradually, a hazy silhouette emerged through the settling dust. It was a man. And strangely, Kusman found him familiar. Ugh Guh The blood-soaked man stumbled forward from the dust, taking a few steps before copsing. In that moment, a chill ran down Kusmans spine. Thats Delrick? Kusman muttered, his henchman whom he had recently sent away. How had he ended up in such a state? Who had done this to him? Then, amanding voice reverberated through the silent arena. Imand in the name of Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. As the dust began to clear, heavily armored soldiers came into view. The intricate symbols engraved on their armor identified them as members of the Magentano royal family. The Royal Guard? Kusmans eyes widened. Why are they here? In that moment of intertwining astonishment and unsettling questions, a silver-haired man stepped forward from the group of armored soldiers. Raciels voice carried an undeniable authority. Drive them all out, he ordered. The guards drew their swords. Raciel pointed directly at Kusman. Especially him. Make sure he doesnt escape. Kusmans heart sank like a 16-beat tremolo. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 Swiftly and without warning, the Royal Guards unsheathed their swords. Chaos ensued among the gamblers, promoters, and organization members who had gathered in the underground arena. Before anyone could react, the situation escted. Everyone, seize everyone present and execute those who resist!manded the resolutemander. The shing of armor echoed through the air as 150 Royal Guards pressed forward,unching an unrelenting suppression operation. Tables were overturned, people stumbled and attempted to flee, but the Royal Guards were already one step ahead. Their swords showed no mercy as they advanced, their shouts and trampling forming an imprable wall. Numerous individuals were apprehended and arrested. In the face of this seamless operation, gamblers, promoters, and organization members alike fell victim to the unfolding events. They were bewildered, unable toprehend why this was happening. Why did the Royal Guards suddenly invade the once-thriving underground arena? They were left in the dark, with no means to seek answers. Of course. How could you all possibly know, Raciel murmured, a slight smile adorning his face. He recalled the events that had transpired earlier before he left the Star Pce. It was still the afternoon, the sun hanging low in the sky. Tonight, we must mobilize all the Royal Guards stationed at the Star Pce. Pardon? The Star Pce Royal Guard Commanders eyes widened in surprise, soon giving way to a stern expression. Your Highness, the Royal Guards stationed here have been tasked with guarding the Star Pce by imperial decree and protecting Your Highness. Nevertheless, tonight they will move ording to my orders. Excuse me? There will be something they need to protect me from. Raciel didnt provide further details or objectives, merely assuring them that they would understand once they followed his orders. And that was all he said. Themander remained perplexed, but eventually acquiesced to hismand. Keeping a discreet distance, he had trailed Raciel since thetters departure from the Star Pce. Secretly, he had cordoned off the area surrounding the restaurant housing the underground arena. Thanks to this meticulous nning, Raciels predictionor rather, expectationcame to fruition. Promoter Kusman, it seems I owe him my gratitude for tailing me as anticipated. a wry smile graced Raciels lips. In truth, he had foreseen this oue. It was based on the behavior of Promoter Kusman from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Kusman was always wary, promptly surveilling anyone who could pose a potential threat. He employed trusted subordinates skilled in abduction and torture. By exploiting weaknesses or resorting to ruthless murder, he maintained his position of power. Raciel believed the same approach would apply this time. Thats why he purposely made contact with Kusman. He expressed his desire to buy Demian. He inquired about the cost. By presenting an offer that would be impossible to ept, he exposed his own presence, providing confirmation. And the oue? Exactly as anticipated. The tailingmenced immediately. Thanks to that, the Royal Guards Commander, who witnessed the events unfold, was consumed by fury. How dare someone tail a member of the royal family, especially the crown prince! And to be armed as well! his thoughts seethed. The oue was inevitable. As soon as the subordinate involved in the tailing approached Raciel, the Royal Guards swiftly subdued him. Themander wasted no time in presenting the charges to Kusmans trusted follower. Attempted assassination of a member of the royal family. That was the end. Raciel didnt need to issue any further orders. Themander, fueled by his anger, mobilized the Royal Guards with an invincible determination. They sealed off the restaurant and captured the passageway leading to the underground arena. Their advance was relentless. Now, they were indiscriminately apprehending everyone in the arena, causing chaos. This is no joke, Raciel murmured in awe as he observed the Royal Guards crackdown. Undoubtedly, they were the cream of the crop. His own experience as a military officer allowed him to appreciate their skill even more. A sense of pride welled within him. Was it because justice was being served against the underground organization today? Or because those who had been exploiting the diators were being punished? Not at all. Raciel had never been interested in dispensing justice in the first ce. That had been true since his time in Korea. He had been preupied with mere survival, juggling university and various part-time jobs while managing to study. His life had been a constant struggle to climb up from the bottom. He had never had the luxury of caring for otherspassionately. And it remained the same now. With only a few months left to live, his priority was to secure an extension. There was no time or inclination to waste on matters of justice. Hence, the reason for his pride was singr. Its done now. Almost everything is in ce. Ill soon secure aplete set of premium patients who will generously contribute to extending my lifespan, Raciel thought, clenching his fist. If things continued to progress smoothly. If he remained vignt. It would undoubtedly be achieved. However, he refused to let his guard down. The job was not yetplete. Hey, all of you, Raciel called out to three nearby Royal Guards assigned to protect him. Follow me. He led the Royal Guards into the dark passageway within the arena. The individual he needed to apprehend tonight would undoubtedly be there. Huff! Huff! Kusman panted heavily, struggling to catch his breath. Sweat poured from his body like rain. Simultaneously, he ground his teeth in frustration. Damn it! I cant believe the situation Im in. There were no signs, no indications whatsoever. Yet, the Royal Guards stormed in with a force he had never anticipated. How could that guy he muttered, recalling the individual who had brazenly proposed a preposterous deal. The guy imed he wanted to purchase Demian. Inquired about the cost. That insolent brat had provoked him, prompting him to order surveince immediately. He suspected the brat to be a pawn of another organization, a bait testing his reactions. That was his initial assumption. So he had nned to make an example out of him. Kidnap, torture, a gruesome death, and disposal of the mutted corpse in the river. His aim was to instill fear and caution in those who had sent him. But now? How how could he be the crown prince? he asked himself, unable to believe it. Initially, he couldnt fathom it, even when he witnessed it. But the Royal Guards trailing behind that brat were undeniably real. It was a situation that left no room for disbelief. Why? Why would the crown prince want to buy Demian? Why me? Why? His mind was in disarray. Amidst the chaos, the crackdown operation progressed mercilessly. The Royal Guards behind him moved with unwavering determination. Those attempting to flee were met with a gauntlet-d fist to the jaw, while resistance led to instant wrist fractures. The screams sent shivers down his spine. If they catch me its over! Thankfully, he possessed agility and an intimate knowledge of the underground arenasyout. He utilized everything at his disposalthe overturned tables, the shadows cast by extinguished lights, the iron-barred fighting stage, even the silhouette of a fleeing figure. He made full use of his surroundings to navigate through the blind spots, narrowly evading the Royal Guards detection. With that, he managed to escape the main hall of the arena. Sprinting through the dark passage towards the liquor storage, he knew salvation awaited him through a secret passage known only to key executives of the organization running the diator ring and a select few promoters. Huff, huff, just a bit farther! He needed to reach that exit. No matter how formidable the Royal Guards were, they wouldnt be aware of that passage. It was an escape route known only to a privileged few. I made it! Almost there! A glimmer of hope ignited within him. Kusman pushed himself harder, the door to the liquor storage within arms reach. A wide smile spread across his face. But just as he swung open the storage door What?! His smile shattered. What what is this? he stammered in disbelief. Swoosh! Three swords pointed directly at him. Kusman staggered backward, his heart racing. The swordsmen advanced, their figures illuminated by a faint light streaming through the open storage door. Kusmans eyes trembled. Royal Guards? How did they get here? Had they been lying in wait? As if they anticipated his arrival. At that moment I knew you woulde here. It was inevitable, wasnt it? a voice emerged from the darkness of the storage. Kusmans eyes widened as he recognized the figure slowly stepping forward. It was the same brat who had proposed the deal, now revealed to be the crown prince. Raciels grin sent chills down his spine. Do you notprehend the situation? Can you not fathom why I am waiting for you here, no matter how much you ponder? Raciel taunted. Kusman remained speechless, utterly bewildered. Raciels satisfaction grew, his smile widening. He must be utterly confused. Kusman was unaware that Raciel had read the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Therefore, he had no knowledge that Raciel had learned about the existence of this secret passage through the book. After the original Crown Prince Raciels demise, a massive fire erupted in this ce. A recollection from the novel Devil Sword Emperor suddenly surfaced in Raciels mind. The underground arena had been engulfed in mes during a crackdown operation against the underground organization led by the Second Prince. Amidst the chaos of the fire, Demian had seized the opportunity to escape through this very passage. In the process, he sustained a severe burn on his back, coincidentally where the brand had been engraved. The burn had inadvertently broken the curse of the brand, granting him true freedom. Raciel tucked this novel plot detail into a corner of his memory. He then addressed Kusman. It matters little to you why I am here. Nheless, I am disappointed, Raciel stated. Kusman remained silent, still struggling toprehend the situation. I hold a deep regard for the value of medicine, Raciel continued. I despise those who manipte medical costs. It is an act that repulses me, whether I am at the receiving end or the one perpetrating it upon others. What are you talking about? Kusman interjected, his confusion mounting. That is why I inquired earlier. How much was the cost of the painkillers provided to Demian? How much was I expected to pay? Do you not recall? Raciel questioned. Kusmans mind raced, attempting to grasp the significance of Raciels words. In any case, I made a goodwill offer. Do youprehend? It was you who spurned that goodwill. Youre spouting nonsense! Kusman snapped, his anger surging. He realized he couldnt prolong the situation any further. If he hesitated, more guards would arrive. Making a swift decision, Kusman drew two daggers from his waist and lunged ferociously at the three guards. In an instant, it was over. Crash! A gauntlet-d fist from one of the guards crushed Kusmans nose, rendering his daggers futile. Kusman couldnt even reach the guard. And just like that, it was done. Cough! Thud! Kusman crumpled to the ground, his face bloodied. Two guards aimed their swords at him. Please please, stop! Kusman pleaded, writhing like a trapped insect. But he couldnt muster the strength to rise and resist. Instead of attempting to stand and fight, he quickly knelt down. His pleading eyes met the gaze of the guards. I I made a mistake. Had the forceful blow subdued him into obedience? With his face covered in blood, Kusman began to plead. He bowed his head towards the guards, extending his hands in a desperate plea for mercy. I must have foolishly resisted with reckless thoughts. I deeply regret my actions. Please, do not continue to harm me. I will remain still and quietly cooperate. Just bind my hands, if you may, Kusman pleaded, his voice filled with a mix of fear and submission. The guards nced down at him, their eyes filled with disdain. They couldnt fathom how quickly his demeanor had changed after just one strike. They questioned whether someone could be so fickle. One of the guards retrieved a rope for binding. At the sight of this, a smirk tugged at the corners of Kusmans lips. A cruel glimmer of joy flickered in his eyes. Its done. Ive got you now. He thought of his special ability. Engaging inbat with daggers? No. That was merely a means of self-defense. His true expertisey in the art of assassination through poison. Just like now. Grind! Kusman pushed one of his lower mrs outward with his tongue. The tooth yielded effortlessly, dislodging itself from the gum. But it wasnt a tooth; it was a capsule shaped to resemble one. The moment the capsule left his gum Crunch! He bit down hard on the capsule. The device inside the capsule sprang into action. Five seconds. After five seconds, this capsule will explode. And it would unleash a deadly explosion, causing significant harm to those nearby. Upon exposure to the poison, their facial muscles would be paralyzed. Unfortunate individuals might even suffer from blindness. If luck turned against them, respiratory distress would set in, leading to their demise. Then I can leisurely make my escape! Now, he would forcefully expel the capsule from his mouth. Immediately afterward, he would roll on the ground, putting distance between himself and the guards. That would be it. The three guards, unaware of the impending deadly explosion, would be incapacitated easily. After that? He would swiftly sh the princes neck and flee through the passage. Finally Youre finished! Kusman silently counted the seconds. Five seconds. He rolled the bitten capsule inside his mouth and ced it on his tongue. Four seconds. He took a deep breath, curling his tongue. Three seconds. He aimed the capsule, now cupped by his tongue Thud! An unexpected hand intervened, blocking his mouth. ! Kusman was taken aback. He quickly looked up, his gaze locking onto the person who had thwarted his n. Prince Raciel. A sinister smile adorned Raciels face. And he uttered something even more foreboding. Oh dear, why are you trying to recklessly spit it out? Dont you know about social distancing? Huh? Kusman was stunned. Suddenly, a chilling realization echoed in his mind. This guy No way does he know everything about my secret technique? In that moment Pop! The poison capsule in Kusmans mouth detonated. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 Pew! A deadly poison capsule detonated in his mouth. Kusmans eyes widened in shock. Gasp! This couldnt be happening. It shouldnt be happening. He desperately looked upward, questioning Raciels face with his eyes. How? Impossible? Had Raciel truly anticipated his secret weapon? Did he somehow know all his ns and manage to block his mouth? Ku! Kuhuh! His tongue tingled with numbness. It swiftly transformed into excruciating pain, as if being relentlessly hammered. His tongue grew rigid. The sensation within his mouth vanished. His lips froze, and saliva dribbled uncontrobly. Even his facial muscles twitched without hismand. Damn it! Damn it! A shiver raced down his spine. The poison capsule was his specialty. No one understood its potency better than him. Kusman reluctantly epted his predicament. The dreadful poison capsule had erupted in his mouth. If he remained idle, he would lose consciousness in less than three minutes. Within 30 minutes, he would cease to breathe. In other words, he had a mere three minutes to take action and survive. Fortunately, he carried an antidote for the poison capsule, reserved for emergencies. Quickly quickly! His hand quivered as he moved. He reached into the pocket of his vest, aiming to retrieve his sole lifelhe antidote. Yet, at that very moment Thud! An unexpected hand intervened, seizing his wrist and hindering his progress. Huh? He needed that antidote! Kusman tried to shake off the restraining hand, but his armcked strength. The situation worsened when another hand emerged, delving straight into his vest pocket. And then, as if iming its rightful possession, it seized the antidote bottle! What? Kusmans heart sank. His gaze fixated on the antidote, now snatched away and drifting farther from him. It ascended, angling diagonally upwards, beforeing to a halt in front of someones face. It was Raciels face. However, Raciels mouth was agape. What? What? While Kusman remained in shock, Raciel took hold of the antidote bottle with his open mouth, staring directly into Kusmans eyes, almost tauntingly. Pop! After uncapping the antidote bottle, He promptly consumed its contents. Before Kusman had a chance to intervene, Raciel swallowed it in one gulp! No! Kusman screamed, struggling to curse through his stiffened lips. Thisson of adevil! His only hope, The lifeline for his survival, Had vanished into the depths of that mans stomach. There was no longer any glimmer of hope. Kusman writhed in despair. As his face and throat numbed, he copsed to the ground. Foam, saturated with hopelessness, oozed from his barely moving mouth. Observing this, Raciel grimaced. Ugh, its even more bitter than I expected. The antidote proved to be exceedingly bitter. Even as a former practitioner of Oriental medicine, ustomed to various levels of bitterness, Raciels expression remained sour since the moment he swallowed it. It felt as if his tongue had transformed into the sole of a foot. Nevertheless, he did not expel the antidote. To further mock the fading Kusman? Or to instill greater despair in Kusman? Neither was the case. There was a reason and purpose behind Raciel deliberately stealing and consuming the antidote. Ill utilize the Medical Billing skill. By doing so, he could effectively gain a bonus life. That was the motive behind stealing and ingesting the antidote. Thanks to his knowledge of Kusmans assassination technique, which he knew inside out, it all fell into ce. Kusman has used this technique several times in the novel. A poisonous capsule concealed in his mouth like a mr, an assassination method where he spits it out and triggers an explosion. Raciel had known from the beginning. He was aware that Kusman was feigning being hit and falling by the guards. He made his adversaries feel safe, preparing himself to expel the poison capsule. And that was when Raciel timed it perfectly and blocked his mouth, causing the poison capsule to explode inside. And I took the antidote. Kusman couldnt be allowed to administer the antidote to himself. If he did, it would imply that Kusman self-treated, eliminating any chance to use Medical Billing. Naturally, Raciel wouldnt gain the bonus life. But what if he stole the antidote from Kusman and administered it to him? That calction would also beplicated. Raciel shook his head internally. That method would hardly be recognized as him providing treatment to Kusman. Kusman is the one who created the antidote. Merely giving him the antidote he made probably wont be acknowledged as treatment from me. Raciel most likely wouldnt be able to use the Medical Billing skill. And the bonus life? Certainly, he wouldnt acquire it. That would be regrettable. Hence, he stole Kusmans antidote and swallowed it, storing it in the previously emptied circle slot. [Storage in slot 1pleted.] [Slot 1 Status] [Maximum capacity: 10 liters] [Current storage capacity: 0.01 liters] Observing the circle slot now filled with the bitter antidote, he felt reassured. Alright, lets do this. Raciel nced down at the fallen Kusman. Foam covered his mouth, and his eyes were rolled back. It seemed unlikely he wouldst half an hour in this state. I can do it. The stage was set. Now it was time to save this man and gain the bonus life. Raciel flipped Kusman over as if he were flipping a pancake. His hands moved swiftly. He felt the mans back. Between the shoulder des, below the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra, he located a point 1.5 inches from the spine on both sides. The Xinshu acupoint resided there. He applied firm pressure with the tip of his thumb, exerting all his strength. Ahhhhhhhhhh! Kusman, who had been unconscious, arched his back like a bow. As the foam he had been holding in his mouth escaped like a breath, a resounding scream escaped his lips. Raciel grinned with satisfaction. I pressed it correctly. Pressing the Xinshu acupoint created quite amotion. This indicated that the harmful Chi from the heart had umted at the Xinshu acupoint. Just like in the novel. Kusmans poison not only paralyzes the face and nerves but also affects the heart. It was mentioned that the heartbeat bes irregr and eventually stops. In other words, he deduced that Kusmans poison contained an element that harmed the heart. Therefore, he targeted the Xinshu acupoint, where the stagnant energy of the heart mainly gathered. The diagnosis was sessful. Now, lets administer the antidote. [The material stored in the circle slot is being released.] Whiiir! The circle initiated a powerful rotation. Itpressed the antidote contained in the slot, amplifying its potency. The concentrated antidote traveled through mana, from the heart to the shoulder, down the arm, and finally reached Raciels fingertips. With careful precision, he steadily pushed it into Kusmans Xinshu acupoint. Grh! Ahhh! Kusman convulsed violently. The antidote Raciel administered began to permeate the Xinshu acupoint, and through the Asrahan Core Technique, Raciel could sense the antidote gradually spreading throughout Kusmans body. Initially, the antidote gathered in the Xinshu acupoint like a well. Soon, under the intense pressure, it began to flow. From the Xinshu acupoint, it extended to the center of the torso, soothing the diaphragm before reaching the small intestine. It then branched out, traveling to the throat, both eyes, and passing through the area of the lungs. It finally reached the deepest part of the armpit. At the pinnacle of the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, there existed a point known as the Geukcheon acupoint (), considered the most superior acupoint. The antidote infiltrated the Geukcheon acupoint, spreading along the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. It passed through the Small Sea Point () in the elbow, crossed the Yin Cleft Point () and the Shenmen Point () in the wrist, until Raciel forcefully struck the Lesser Pce Point () on the inside of the palm. The shockwave reverberated through Kusmans body, expanding broadly. It echoed, screamed, and returned. Finally, it settled in the heart, coursing through the blood vessels, reaching every corner of his body. Simultaneously, Kusmans convulsions subsided, and his face regained a serene expression. Hes not dead, is he? Raciel quickly checked his breathing. Fortunately, Kusman was breathing steadily. It was then. Finally, the awaited message appeared. Ding dong! [You have sessfully treated patient Kusman with the appropriate antidote. His severe poisoning symptoms have been eliminated, and he can make aplete recovery with adequate rest, without any side effects.] [The Medical Billing (Lv.1) Skill has been activated.] It worked! Raciel eximed in joy. The n unfolded wlessly. With sparkling eyes, he read the following message. [Patient: Kusman has received an extended expected lifespan of 21 years and 2 months through your detoxification treatment. As a result, you are rewarded with a bonus lifespan equivalent to 1/2000 of 21 years and 2 months.] [The calcted bonus lifespan amounts to 3.81 days.] [The minimum unit for lifespan settlement is 1 day.] [The calcted bonus lifespan is rounded up.] [A total of 4 days of bonus lifespan have been awarded.] Chirang! A refreshing sensation momentarily enveloped Raciels entire body. A confirming message followed. [Expected lifespan: 118 days] . It had increased. The expected lifespan had genuinely increased by 4 full days. This is it! He had gained a bonus lifespan by treating someone else. Moreover, he had acquired it by afflicting a wrongdoer with an illness and then curing it. There was nothing more desirable than this. And I have effectively eliminated a potential threat. Kusman, as depicted in the novel, was an exceptionally tenacious individual. He would cling to those who posed a danger to him until their dying breath. But if Raciel had let him go today? Kusman would have remained a bothersome presence for a long time. Take him away. The guards dragged the utterly exhausted Kusman away. As Raciel returned to the arena, the punitive operation was also nearing its conclusion. He passed numerous captives along the way. And at that moment Excuse me, Your Highness? Gardin, who had been silently trailing behind Raciel, finally spoke up. Um, Im really curious about something. Go ahead, ask. Yes, Your Highness. Did you n everything that happened tonight? Yes, I did. Why do you ask? Gardin stumbled over his words, almost letting slip an expression of admiration. Our prince hes like this. He had always seen Raciel as someone frail, in need of care and protection due to his constant illness. But tonights events proved him wrong. How did he know about the basement of the restaurant? Even Gardin, a regr patron, was unaware of its existence. So how did the crown prince find out? He couldnt even begin to guess. Does being royalty give you ess to certain means? Their ess to information must differ in quantity and depth. Gardin found this idea somewhat usible and couldnt help but feel admiration. Our prince he has this side too. At some point, Raciel had begun to disy his power. He frequently surprised people, evoking their admiration. And considering the oue of tonights actions, Gardins admiration grew even stronger. An underground organization was thriving in the heart of the capital, unbeknownst to the public. It was like a festering wound, disrupting public order and security. But the prince swiftly put an end to it. Thanks to that, peace and order were restored in the capital. They had managed to create a slightly fairer society. He had a strategy in mind for that purpose. Gardins heart swelled with pride as he thought of this. Following behind Raciel, his eyes gleaming with admiration, Gardin couldnt help but feel this way. However, Raciel felt a sense of awkwardness. Hmm, Gardin, I think I know what youre thinking. He had an intuitive feeling. Gardin was misunderstanding something. He was regarding Raciels intentions for tonight as something sacred and lofty. But its not like that. A bitter smile crept onto Raciels face. He headed toward the diators waiting room. The front of the room was in disarray, with around five guards unconscious on the floor. Dozens of other guards crowded the corridor. Across from them stood Demian. Behind Demian, the diators were visible. In other words, the guards and Demian were locked in a standoff. Tsk, I told you to wait quietly. Raciel intentionally raised his voice. Could his words reach them? Demian flinched. Soon, his gaze turned in Raciels direction. His eyes twitched and widened in surprise. A smile naturally spread across Raciels face. Do you believe me now? That Im the crown prince. Did Demian nod? It seemed likely. Demian, who had been pointing his sword at the guards, lowered it. His fierce demeanor melted away like snow. A smile formed on Raciels face once again. Public interest? A just society? Perhaps this was the misconception that Gardin held. Raciel felt a tinge of embarrassment when he thought about it. In reality, he had no such lofty intentions. He had never aspired to a life of selfless dedication. He couldnt be that great of a person. He didnt even dare to hope for it. I pushed for tonights events simply to prolong my own survival. Demian Cayenne, the protagonist of the novel. The diators stood behind him. Raciel directed a brisk smile, brimming with vitality, towards themas if greeting his first patient. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Demians eyes fluttered open. Instantly, he found himself immersed in an otherworldly sight. His body had shrunk, returning him to the form of a child. Around six or seven years old, he estimated, though he couldnt be certain. But one thing was undeniably clear: the woman who should have perished stood right before him. It was his mother. Just as he remembered her from his memories, right after her tragic demise. Demian finallyprehended the truth. He was reliving that day in his dreams. This ursed dream reignited the mes within his heart. That was the day he was left utterly alone in the world. No, the day he was forsaken. He had fought tooth and nail to survive, and thats how he had persevered until now. But he had never lost sight of his purpose. That was Demians eyes reopened. This time, reality greeted him. Chirp, chirp How long had it been since he had awakened to the melodious symphony of birds? At least, it was an experience he couldnt recall from the past few years. The morning sunlight streamed in through the expansive window next to his bed, casting an unfamiliar glow. The softness of the pillows and beddings caressed his skin, and the absence of neuralgia in the morning made everything feel strangely novel. He sat up. His back twinged with a dull ache, a reminder of the Moxibustion treatment he had received the previous night. The vivid sensation grounded him in the present moment. Memories from the previous night flooded back. Yes, this is the Star Pce. The residence of the crown prince. And I came here following the Crown Prince. The memory of the Moxibustion treatment administered by the Crown Princest night resurfaced. It had been scorching, as though he was being seared with a white-hot iron. Yet, after enduring the pain, a new world had unfolded before him. The excruciating neuralgia that had gued him for years vanished. But that was not the only transformation. Last night, the Crown Prince had employed the guard unit to dismantle the underground diator ring and arrest the organizers Knock, knock. A knock sounded on the door. Soon, a polite voice echoed. Are you awake? His Highness is seeking your presence. Please dress up and join us. Countless questions swirled in his mind. Why had the Crown Prince himself chosen to eradicate the underground diator ring? Why had he personally provided treatment to Demianst night? Why had he brought the remaining diators to the Star Pce? What motivates him to bestow such kindness upon me? Curiosity gnawed at him. Doubts crept in. He had spected until he sumbed to sleep the previous night, but the answers eluded him. Thus, he yearned to inquire. Demian donned the new shirtid out on the bed and made his way outside. In the corridor, a handsome middle-aged gentleman awaited him. It was a face he recognized from the previous night. Nice to meet you. I am Piero Gardin, the Crown Princes personal physician. Demian Cayenne. Demian briefly appraised Gardins appearance. He undoubtedly recalled the man who had discreetly shadowed the Crown Prince the previous night. As someone assigned as a guard, his posture and movements seemed somewhat unpracticed, which now made sense upon discovering his role as a physician. Please follow me. I will lead the way. Demian trailed behind the man named Gardin along the corridor. Every nook and cranny exuded meticulous cleanliness. The decor was subtly luxurious, neither ostentatious nor understated, showcasing a refined elegance. It all felt surreal. The scene starkly contrasted with the suffocating stench of sweat that permeated the underground arena. Demian found himself walking ceaselessly, ascending and descending stairs, turning corners. Every now and then, he caught snippets of conversations and faint salutes from passing guards. Is that him? The diator who caused trouble for the third squadronst night? Oh, yes. Thats him, alright. He took on five guards single-handedly and managed to incapacitate three of them Its not an exaggeration, is it? Absolutely not. I witnessed it myself. You saw it firsthand? Mmm. It was remarkable. How remarkable was it? Well, lets just say it was unlike any swordy Ive ever seen. Standard techniques? They were nonexistent. There were no rules or principles, no framework that should naturally be present in swordy. So, you mean it was simply wild, undisciplined swordy? Wild swordy, perhaps. But if he can subdue three guards, who have mastered the most sophisticated swordsmanship in the empire, without killing them using such wild swordy Can you really call it wild? Well Imagine if a beast took on the form of a human and learned swordy. I believe it would look something like that. Is that apliment? Indeed. Ive heard he was the champion of the underground arena. He was? Yes, for the past 2 or 3 years, he hasnt encountered a worthy opponent. Since he had no one to fight, he started battling trolls or something. Trolls? Yes. Can a person handle them alone? Im not sure. Not many have tried. Maybe amander could. That sounds difficult. Most likely. Yes. By the way, why were they brought here? Do you think I know? Considering they brought all the other diators as well, they must have a n. But I have no idea what that n is. Ha ha. I couldnt agree more. The guardsmen who had been trailing behind gradually faded into the distance. Theirughter lingered faintly in the air. On the outskirts of their conversation, Demian wanted to interject with his own thoughts. He, too, couldntprehend why they had been brought to the Star Pce. In fact, his curiosity was probably even greater than theirs. With that in mind, he continued walking. Weve arrived. This is the ce. Gardin, who had been leading the way, came to a stop in front of a massive door. Beyond ity a spacious hall, typically used for gatherings or parties. But today was different. This is Demian scanned the hall, his gaze fixating on the fourteen beds arranged neatly with pristine white sheets. Awkwardly seated on each bed were the diators who had arrived earlier. What is this ce? What do you mean, what is it? Its a clinic. The response didnte from Gardin beside him, but from another figure. Demian turned his head towards the source of the voice. The Crown Prince stood there. He gave a slight nod in Demians direction. Take your ce quickly. We will begin treatment once everyone is assembled. Demian settled on the bed closest to the Crown Prince. Then, he gazed intently at the royal figure. Why? Why are you treating us so well? It had been weighing on his mind. Frankly, he couldntprehend it. Why had the Crown Prince gone to the trouble of concealing his identity and secretly visiting himst night to offer assistance? Why had he swooped in and saved Demian and the other diators from the arena? And why was he allowing them to stay at the Star Pce? It was filled with iprehensible aspects. Yet, the Crown Prince maintained a meaningful smile. Im in a lot of pain. Excuse me? Thats why I need you guys. Raciel raised his head as he arranged the moxa sticks that had been prepared beforehand. He nced at Demian and the other diators, observing their puzzled and somewhat anxious expressions. They resembled elementary school students waiting in a dental clinic, unsure of what to expect. And Raciel knew. Their skepticism and unease werentpletely alleviated by his kindness. They harbored suspicions about the intentions behind his benevolence. Of course. My kindness must seem out of ce. Its not like Im doing this out of the goodness of my heart like a volunteer activity. From their perspective, they probably have no idea why. Indeed, Raciels true motive was to gain bonus lifespan. The numerous diators, including Demian, were afflicted by the curse of the stigma. The neuralgia they suffered as a result was what Raciel aimed to treat, thereby umting bonus lifespan. Naturally, there were easier and quicker ways to achieve this. He didnt necessarily have to save the diators. Just go to the slums. Countless people were dying there, presenting ample opportunities for him to obtain bonus lifespan through treatment. However, Raciel had different considerations. Its too dangerous. The risks are too high. Considering the unsanitary conditions of the slums, diseases like syphilis, tuberculosis, and numerous other unidentified infections would be rampant. If he were to venture into such an environment to treat people with his frail body If I do that, Ill end up contracting all sorts of infectious diseases. Given the weakness of my body, my immune system must be at its lowest level. He couldnt take that risk. Contracting an infectious disease with his fragile constitution would be disastrous. He would die without even having a chance to try anything, left to negotiate with the King of Hell. Raciel wished to avoid such a fate. He didnt want to jeopardize his life in the pursuit of bonus lifespan. Thats why. He made a solemn vow to gradually umte bonus lifespan by safely alleviating Demian and the diators neuralgia. Fortunately (or unfortunately), their neuralgia wasnt a simple pain. It gnawed away at their bodies like a parasitic affliction. The novel had mentioned that it weakened the body over several years and disrupted the flow of mana. What if they were left untreated? After the stigma was engraved and around ten years had passed, they would be disabled. The suffering would continue until death. By saving them, Raciel stood to gain significant benefits. Most of them are in their early to mid-twenties, at most early thirties. If I can relieve them of the stigmas curse, their life expectancy will increase significantly. The bonus lifespan I would obtain would be substantial. Such calctions came naturally to him. However, he couldnt be honest about it. Who would believe him if he exined that treating others granted him bonus lifespan and that only he could see such messages? He would likely be dismissed as a lunatic. That would create problems. The diators were his patients, and he needed to alleviate their concerns. As the one providing medical treatment, it was crucial to establish trust and rapport. So, for now, I should mix in a suitable lie. It would be better to disclose a fabricated reason and purpose behind his acts of kindness. Raciel, havingpleted his calctions, moistened his lips. With shamelessness and audacity, he ced an appropriate (?) lie on his tongue, ready to deliver it. Is there really anything free in this world? Think about it. Do you believe I rescued you all out of sheer kindness and brought you to the Star Pce as a mere favor? I hope you dont misunderstand. The diators perked up, attentive to his words. A good reaction. With an inward smile, Raciel continued. As Ive just revealed, Im a bit unwell. More urately, I suffer from multiple chronic illnesses. Im sure everyone here is well aware of this fact, right? Several diators nodded in acknowledgment. The prince with the most delicate health, constantlyining about his ailments. There wasnt a person in the empire who didnt know about it. Raciel continued speaking. However, the pce doctors have been unable to manage my conditions. Despite undergoing various treatments, my chronic illnesses have only worsened over time. Thats why Ive taken it upon myself to explore alternative therapies. Now that Ive shared this much, some of you might have already guessed. Right, Demian Cayenne? It seems youve also grasped my intentions. Yes, Your Highness. Would you care to share your assumption? Is it possible that you brought us here to test a new treatment? Correct. Of course, it was an incorrect guess. Raciel chuckled with satisfaction. This was precisely the misunderstanding he had intended to create. It yed out just as he had hoped. He surveyed the diators before him. As Demian just mentioned, my n is to employ all of you as subjects for testing this new treatment. Thats why I cleared the arena and brought you here, ensuring you receive good sleep and nourishment. Consider it a reward Im offering to everyone who will dedicate themselves to the development of this new treatment. The pupils of the diators trembled slightly. They had been brought here as experimental subjects. But Raciel, unfazed by their reactions, continued with his prepared words. Ah, and theres one more thing. Someone has already undergone this test. Demian Cayenne here received the first treatment from mest night and experienced its effects. Isnt that right? Yes. Demian nodded. He nced at the other diators and spoke. I received the initial treatment, and my neuralgia has nearly vanished. The diators exchanged nces, and a few nodded. If the champion, Demian, was attesting to it, there was some credibility to his im. Sensing this atmosphere, Raciel drove his point home. So, is anyone apprehensive about starting the treatment now? No one stepped forward. A satisfied smile graced the corners of Raciels mouth. Its done. Its a sess. Judging from the diators reactions, he could be certain. They held at least a minimal level of trust in him as their physician. What came next? Now, I can proceed with the moxibustion treatment without difficulty. It was worth reiterating that moxibustion could be hot and painful. To endure it withoutint, trust in the doctor was crucial. They had to believe that enduring the pain would lead to improvement. They needed certainty that this treatment would alleviate their worst sufferings, even if it caused burns on their skin or temporary difort. Moxibustion is like a legendary panacea, akin to Albo-Seven administered during enlistment. Short-term pain. Pain that was inevitable for the sake of treatment. If they could ovee it, the realm of healing would await them. Raciel was determined to break the chains of pain that bound them through moxibustion, ultimately gaining the valuable bonus lifespan he sought. With this resolve, Raciel pped his hands. Very well, pay attention. Letsmence the treatment immediately. Everyone, remove your shirts and lie down on the beds! From that moment onward, Raciels clinic for scar removal through moxibustion began. It also marked the grand first step towards the future establishment of the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic by the crown prince himself. TRIVIA Albo-Seven is a nickname for Albo Monstera, a nt that is native to Korea. Albo Monstera is a type of Monstera nt, and it is characterized by its white markings on its leaves. Albo Monstera is a very rare and expensive nt, and the current price for an Albo Monstera with 7 leaves is about 7 million won (5,508 USD). Chapter 29 Chapter 29 Are you mentally prepared? Raciel asked. Yes, I am, the diator replied. Rx. You wont die. Okay. Alright, here we go. Huff! Chiieeeek-! The moxa stick ignited intensely, filling the air with the scent of mugwort. The diator, his muscles tense, shifted ufortably on the bed. Raciel gently tapped the diators shoulder. Its going to be a bit hot. Huuuuh. But its better than enduring the pain youve been dealing with every day. Just bear with it for a little while. The pain will be brief, but the relief willst. Ah, okay Understood. The diatory on the bed, shivering, summoning all his endurance. Raciel watched him with satisfaction and then nced around the hall. Once a spacious area used for banquets and events, it had been transformed into a temporary clinic with thirteen neatly arranged white beds. The room was filled with the aroma of burning mugwort. Ah, it brings back memories. Thirteen diators, or rather patients, lying down while receiving moxibustion. Suddenly, Raciel was reminded of his time in South Korea. The Busan Oriental Medicine Clinic he had opened, burdened with debt. A ce that was known as Booking Oriental Clinic in the localmunity. It was a respectable clinic, with several regr patients who came consistently. Until that cursed Corona situation arose, until a confirmed patient visited, until word spread like wildfire in themunity, it had been like that. In reality, he had fallen from the Yanghwa Bridge. He likely fell into the Han River. Had he been dered missing there? And what had happened to the remaining clinic? He needed to provide retirement benefits for Nurse Kim and Nurse Lee. Tsk, stop thinking about it. Fighting off the encroaching gloominess, Raciel shook his head to dispel the lingering thoughts. He no longer knew how to return. Frankly, he didnt even want to go back. There was nothing to gain by returning. So, stop thinking about it. Dont worry about it. Embrace the reality he had encountered here. Then I can enjoy a sweet life for the rest of my days. Royal life awaited him. If he could solve the issues of health and lifespan, he could enjoy a life of luxury as a royal for the remainder of his days. So lets focus. Raciel made a resolution and examined the moxa stick ced on the backs of the diator. He removed the burnt sticks and brushed off the ashes. He applied an ointment to the blisters caused by the moxibustion, using a burn ointment made from Gardins recipe. He checked the reactions of the diators who hadpleted their first moxibustion session. So, how do you feel? Where does it hurt? Um, my back is stinging. Thats because of the burn. Anything else? My head huh? The diator, who had been gritting his teeth from the heat of the moxibustion, hesitated for a moment. Initially, he had shown signs of questioning why he had to endure such torture. But after being asked that question, he paused at one point. He must have realized the change that hade over him. A smile naturally appeared on his face. How is it? Raciel asked eagerly. My head, um, feels refreshed? the diator responded, his voice filled with surprise. Doesnt it? Raciel chuckled. Huh? Yes! It really does! Whats this? Hehe? Hahaha! The diator suddenly sat up. He moved his neck around, finding the sensation unfamiliar. With both hands, he repeatedly touched his chin, cheeks, and eyes. The agonizing glossopharyngeal neuralgia that would inevitably ur unless he took narcotic painkillersthe neuralgia that had been creeping up on him until just a while ago, even as hey down for moxibustion. But after the moxibustion, it seems to havepletely disappeared. Its amazing, and nothing could be more wee. I dont feel any pain. Its been years since I felt this refreshed The diator couldnt continue his words as he was ovee with emotion. Witnessing his reaction brought a sense of fulfillment and a genuine smile to Raciels face. After all, it was gratifying to see someone relieved of their pain after receiving treatment here. Furthermore They must improve, be healthier, more confidently so. That way, theyll grant me bonus lifespans! Raciel eagerly looked forward to it with a sly smile. However, he also felt a sense of anxious anticipation. Perhaps a message would appear before him, indicating that the diators life expectancy had increased and granting him bonus lifespans. But no matter how long he waited, no such message materialized. Tsk. Maybe the first moxibustion wasnt enough. It was the same with Demian. The same applied to the other diators as well. Even afterpleting the first moxibustion on the initial day of treatment, there was no message proiming their cure. The same held true the following day when the moxibustion was administered. The diators rejoiced over their vanquished neuralgia, yet there was no sign of a cure message anywhere. As expected. Theres a mountain to climb. Only after safely traversing it can they be considered cured. Raciel had a hunch about what that mountain was. It was the withdrawal syndrome. Demian and the rest of the diators had been dependent on narcotic painkillers to numb the pain inflicted by the curse of the Brand. Currently, a total of 14 diators were undergoing treatment, including Demian. Most of them had been relying on narcotic painkillers for over a year. For some, the duration stretched to nearly seven years. They must be severely addicted. And the withdrawal symptoms will be severe. Raciel steeled himself. The diators were currently reveling in the absence of pain. However, he knew the situation would change over time. They would all suffer from withdrawal symptoms. A few days passed. On the sixth day of moxibustion treatment, Raciels predictions manifested into reality. Uuuuuck! From morning, the diators began to vomit. But that wasnt all. Theirplexions were incredibly pale or even bluish. Profuse sweating wasmon. Their stepscked strength. It was the onset of severe withdrawal symptoms. Just as I expected. Just as he had foreseen. Just like the content of the novel. Because Demian also went through the same process. In the novel, Demian escaped the diator arena during the fire incident. The fleeting joy of gaining freedom quickly transformed into immense pain. It was the withdrawal symptoms that emerged when he ceased taking the narcotic painkillers. He suffered for several days. Moreover, being a fugitive, he couldnt receive proper treatment or rest. Literally, he overcame withdrawal symptoms alone in the worst situation. How? Just with superhuman willpower. The more Raciel contemted it, the more admirable it became. Truly, superhuman willpower. If it wasnt the protagonists cheat in the novel, then what was it? Yet Raciel couldnt find fault with that aspect of the novels setting. Because right next to him, Demian was, in fact, looking far healthier(?) than the other diators. Hey, Demian? Yes, Your Highness. Arent you feeling dizzy? I am dizzy. Dont you feel nauseous like the other diators? I am nauseous. But youre not vomiting? I am holding it back. Raciel was left speechless. Demian imed to be dizzy and nauseous but managed to hold back the urge to vomit. From the outside, he appeared perfectly fine. Unless he mentioned it, he looked like a perfectly healthy individual. How are you doing it? Raciel had to ask. But as expected, Demians response was Im simply enduring it with all my might. Its a cheat. Thats how it always goes with novel protagonists. Raciel gave a wry smile. He couldnt rely on Demian as a reliable reference for oveing withdrawal symptoms. Then Ill have to implement the treatment I had in mind. He had anticipated the withdrawal symptoms and had a treatment n to alleviate them. Demian? Yes, Your Highness. Bring Sergio. As for the other diators there will be no moxibustion treatment today. Let them rest in their quarters. And remind them to drink plenty of water. Understood. Shortly after, Demian returned with a man named Sergio. Among the group of diators, Sergio had the most experience and age, somewhat resembling a spiritual leader. However, his condition was far from good. You you called for me. He trembled uncontrobly. Early spring had brought rtively warmer weather. Sergio wasnt even dressed in thin clothing. Yet the muscr, scar-riddled tough guy shivered pitifully, as if stranded on a snowy mountain in the dead of winter, wearing nothing but his underwear. Even standing seemed like a challenge for him. Raciel swiftly guided him to the treatment bed. So, youre struggling with the withdrawal symptoms? No, no Im fine. You dont look fine at all. But Ill help you feel better. You youre going to treat me? Yes, with this. Raciel produced a needle. It was the same needle he always used during his self-acupuncture practice. Sergios eyes widened at the sight of the needle. How are you going to with that Im going to prick your foot with this. Rx and lie down. Sergios face tensed with apprehension. Raciel also felt a sense of tension. Will it work? He wasnt certain. But it was his best shot. Thats why he had called for Sergio, to test if his best efforts would yield results. Sergio, among the diators, has been on narcotic painkillers for the longest period. As a result, his withdrawal symptoms are severe. Hes the most suitable candidate to determine if this method will be effective. If acupuncture works on him? If it can alleviate his withdrawal symptoms? Then it could potentially benefit the other diators as well. Raciel took a deep breath. He ran his hands over Sergios right foot. Lets go with the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. The diators were experiencing withdrawal symptoms characterized by hyperactive nerves. This manifested as cold sweats and gastric spasms. To soothe the stomach, especially the gastric nerves, it seemed appropriate to target the acupoints along the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming. The first acupoint is Li Dui (). Thud! Located on the outer side of the distal phnx of the second toe, near the nail root, was the Li Dui acupoint. It was particrly effective for neurogenic gastrointestinal disorders and nausea. Raciel lightly tapped the needle inserted into the Li Dui acupoint. He provided the right stimulus. And then Guaaah! Suddenly, Sergio let out a scream and jolted upright. His fierce hands reached out, attempting to grab Raciels neck. Ghup? There was no chance to dodge. ng! Raciel fell backward. A dull impact struck the back of his head. Sergios hands continued to grip his neck, or rather, strangle him. He climbed on top of Raciel, his eyes wide and rolling, saliva dripping from his mouth. Ghaaah! Guuah! ! Raciel struggled to breathe. He tried to shake Sergio off, but the difference in strength was too great. He couldnt dislodge him. Insane! Raciel began to panic. And then, at that moment Thud! With a dull sound, Sergios face swung around. His hand, which had been gripping Raciels neck, released its grip. Sergio copsed right then and there. Thud! Huff! Huff! As Raciel caught his breath, a hand reached out to him. Are you alright? It was Demian. Had Demian knocked out Sergio with a single blow just now? Raciel grabbed Demians hand and rose to his feet. His strangled neck felt incredibly sore. It seemed bruised. Observing Sergio, he waspletely unconscious. Perhaps due to the withdrawal syndrome Did he experience a seizure from even a minor stimulus? It was possible that the excessive stimtion had affected his blood vessels. That seemed to be the case. Raciel instinctively furrowed his brow. Such a severe seizure triggered by a mere needle prick. No, its not minor in this case. The nervous system is hypersensitive due to withdrawal syndrome. Even a small stimulus would feel like being deeply stabbed with a knife. So, what should I do? Round needles might be okay. Suddenly, Raciel thought of the needles used in acupuncture clinics. They were called round needles. They were much thinner than the needle he was currently using, and the tip was rounded. So, the pain would be significantly reduced. I need round needles. No matter how he thought about it, that seemed to be the answer. If he used round needles, the pain would be significantly less. It would likely cause lessmotion. Safer. Less painful. It should be possible to avoid excessive stimtion or impact on the blood vessels. So, should I request them from the cksmith? No, can they even make them here? Raciel pondered. He called the cksmith. It was the same cksmith who had made the shieldst time. However, this time the confident cksmith seemed troubled. Well, Your Majesty, I can make a needle as thin as a thread, but But? Im not confident in making the thickness of multiple needles perfectly consistent. The cksmith spoke in an embarrassed voice. The thickness of the needle tip and the back may vary, and there may be minute unevenness in between. Cant you make them perfectly smooth? Im sorry, Your Majesty. That I dont think I can do it unless I be a dwarf craftsman. The cksmith bowed his head. Raciel tasted bitter defeat. Even a talented cksmith couldnt match the quality of round needles made by machines in a factory. If the thickness is not constant, its a problem. Then the stimtion on the patient would also be inconsistent. Some needles would cause less pain, while others would sting sharply. It would be disastrous to trigger the same seizure as before. That cant happen. Should he try to find a dwarf craftsman, as the cksmith mentioned, even if it meant searching all over? But how much more time would that take? Im going insane. There was no time. The withdrawal symptoms would only worsen. In the worst-case scenario, the diators might start dying due to nerve hypersensitivity. So, what should I do. Raciel was enveloped in worry. But then Ding dong. [Your Five Viscera and Six Bowels have detected your stress.] [Stress is the root of all diseases and an enemy of health.] [Your Five Viscera and Six Bowels are providing advice to relieve your stress.] Um? An unexpected message appeared. Raciel looked at the message with a furrowed brow. The advice from the Five Viscera and Six Bowels came just when he needed it the most. Are they trying to give me some useless advice? He opened the message without any expectations. But its contents were a bit strange. [Heart: Need round needles? Having trouble? You should ask us then. Thats what the umted HP is for.] [Lungs: Finally Phew Exciting Huh Pa] [Spleen: Anyway, we have a great solution. It would be wonderful if you listened before your anal sphincter rxes, right?] What? That was the moment when an unexpected breakthrough urred, something he hadnt anticipated. TRIVIA: In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Five Viscera and Six Bowels are a system of ssifying the internal organs. The Five Viscera are the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. The Six Bowels are the galldder, stomach, small intestine,rge intestine, urinary dder, and triple energizer. The Five Viscera are considered to be hollow organs that store essential substances, such as blood, qi, and fluids. They are also thought to be responsible for the production of essential substances, such as blood and qi. The Six Bowels are considered to be solid organs that transport and eliminate waste products. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 What? Raciels eyes widened, taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. He had been contemting how to obtain the round needles, but now it seemed that umted HP could provide a solution to his dilemma. Whats this good idea theyre talking about? he pondered internally, seeking an answer. Before long, a response echoed within him. [Heart: Dont you remember? You received a guide on where to use the HP.] [Lungs: Huff Lets open the Book of Memories Huff its making me dizzy You guys dont smoke like this] [Spleen: If you cant remember in 3 seconds, I wont hesitate to open my pyloric sphincter, lol.] Skills, or Phantom Beasts? Raciel mused as he listened to his talking organs. The memory resurfaced, recalling the day he first awoke in this world and heard a message lingering in his ears. At that time, he was still half-asleep and disoriented, dismissing the message without much thought. However, it now appeared that it was a guiding message on how to utilize HP. Raciel revisited the contents of that message. So, acquired HP can unlock skills and summon Phantom Beasts. [Heart: Correct, lol.] [Lungs: Apuse.] [Spleen: What a waste.] The organs messages concluded there, with no further response when he attempted tomunicate with them. Raciel opened the system window, contemting his next move. Lets see. They were saying the answer lies in skills and summoning Phantom Beasts. Could the problem be solved if I develop acupuncture skills? The possibility seemed usible. Just like it was with Medical Billing. Skills held more significance than he initially realized. They possessed remarkable functions beyond simply receiving marypensation for treatments. Thanks to it, I was able to gain extra life. Perhaps acupuncture could provide a simr benefit. A powerful function that I cant even fathom right now might offer crucial assistance in resolving the problem. He proceeded to search the skill list. Ding-dong! [1. Acupuncture] [2. Moxibustion] [3. Cupping] [4. Herbal Medicine Preparation] [5. Herb Recognition] [6. Herb Search] [7. Tincture Brewing] The skills he had already unlockedPalpation, Medical Billing, Asrahan Core Techniquewere excluded from the list. Without hesitation, he made his decision. Acupuncture skill. Ding-dong! [You have selected No. 1. Acupuncture.] [Skill Development (2nd round) Cost: 1,500 HP] [Current HP: 500] [You do not meet the requirements for skill development.] [Insufficient HP.] His request was abruptly denied. Raciel steadied his shaken mindset and activated his cerebral cortex, seeking a breakthrough. Ive been saving up HP, but its nowhere near enough. What should I do then? Developing any skill required 1,500 HP, and he couldnt immediatelye up with a groundbreaking method to acquire more HP. Could the answer lie in selecting Phantom Beasts? He directed his attention to the Phantom Beasts tab next to the skill window, awaiting an immediate response. Ding-dong! [You have selected the option for Phantom Beasts Selection Draw.] [You can invest a certain amount of HP to draw a Phantom Beast.] [Strong and unique Phantom Beasts will exhibit unwavering loyalty to their summoner and provide various abilities.] [Cost for the first draw: 300 HP] [Current HP: 500] [Do you wish to proceed with the Phantom Beasts Selection Draw?] [YES / NO] Hmm, Raciel contemted, staring at the message. It was undoubtedly a low cost. Could it be because it was his first draw? The idea of possessing a powerful Phantom Beast for just 300 HP was enticing. And as the Heart mentioned earlier. Theres a way to immediately use HP. Since unlocking skills is currently impossible due to insufficient HP, maybe the solution they rmended is this Phantom Beast draw. Such an inference naturally crossed his mind. Raciel nced around. Gardin must be asleep, right? After the afternoon struggle caused by administering acupuncture to Sergio, he had spent the entire evening lost in thought. By now, it waste at night, and Gardin had retired to his room long ago. The only person likely to be awake nearby would be the guard stationed at the bedroom door. As long as I dont make too much noise, it should be fine. Raciel reassured himself. He looked back at the message window, determination in his eyes. With resolve, he selected YES. [Proceeding with the Phantom Beast Selection Draw.] Along with the prompt, 300 HP was consumed. Simultaneously, a holographic-like guidance text materialized in the air. Pa-ah! [Please specify the desired function for the Phantom Beast before the selection draw.] [The Phantom Beast candidates presented in the draw will be tailored to the desired function.] A function? There was no need to contemte it for long. A Phantom Beast capable of reliably providing arge quantity of Round Needles without being constrained by location or time, he immediately decided. Almost instantly, [Your requirements have been registered.] Whooa! The guidance was enveloped in a radiant light that transformed into three card-like forms. They appeared in a left, center, and right arrangement, each bearing brief phrases. What on earth were these? Raciel furrowed his brow as he read the phrases inscribed on each card. It seems like a riddle, he concluded at that moment. [You have been presented with three candidates from the Phantom Beast Selection Draw system.] [The three candidates reflect 100%, 50%, and 0% of your requirements respectively.] [The choice is yours.] [Once a Phantom Beast is chosen, it cannot be exchanged, returned, or refunded. Please choose carefully.] The message that appeared was crystal clear. Huh. One of the three is a jackpot, one is a half-pot, and the other is a flop, Raciel muttered to himself. However, the problemy in identifying which candidate fell into each category. What if he had bad luck? What if he ended up selecting the flop? It could mean acquiring a Phantom Beast that didnt align with his requirements at all, which would be disastrous. So, which one should he choose? Raciel crossed his arms, fixing his gaze upon the three cards. Oink Buzzer, Steel Excreter, Pooping Cactus What could they possibly represent? What kinds of Phantom Beasts were concealed behind these phrases? He engaged in deduction, guesswork, and contemtion. This was a decision that could only be made once. In order to make the best choice, he endeavored to calm his mind as much as possible. And thanks to that, the door to ideas gradually swung open. He began to discern the meaning behind the riddles inscribed on the cards. First of all, the one I can somewhat deduce is Oink Buzzer. Its either a bee that likes honey or a pig. If it were a bee It would possess a stinger that he could potentially employ for acupuncture. Especially if it provides bee venom, it would be ideal. Yet, Raciel shook his head. But if its a bee, it could pose problems. Even if it provides a stinger, a bees sting is single-use. Furthermore, a venomous sting would be painful. However, he needed a substantial quantity of Round Needles that met certain standards and caused minimal difort. So, its not a suitable option. Even if its not a bee but a pig, its still unsuitable. Raciel diverted his attention from the first candidate, the Oink Buzzer card. His gaze shifted to the second candidate, the Steel Excreter. I have no clue what that could be. Does it excrete steel instead of feces? What if the steel is incredibly thin? What if it maintains a specific thickness as it is expelled? Then, he could produce a plethora of Round Needles. However, Raciel once again shook his head. Its too uncertain. Choosing that would be a gamble. Finally, his gazended on the third card. Pooping Cactus. Could it be a nt? Is it literally a cactus that excretes? Or is it an animal that resembles a cactus? Either way, both possibilities seem to fulfill the conditions I desire. Cacti possess numerous spines. If he could utilize them, they could serve as Round Needles. Even if it were an animal reminiscent of a cactus, it would yield simr oues. Alright. Raciel made up his mind. He extended his hand towards the third card. This is my choice, Raciel dered confidently. Ding dong! [You have chosen Candidate 3: .] A message materialized before him. Simultaneously, the third card began to emit a brilliant glow. Woosh! The other two cards vanished into thin air, leaving only the radiant third card. The glow intensified, and the card flipped over, revealing an engraved ck silhouette on its back. The silhouette took the form of a round, ball-like shape. Upon closer inspection, it was covered in numerous needle-like spines. Tiny legs were visible at the bottom. Gradually, the cards glow extended into the silhouette. Crack! Snap! Sparks crackled from the card. The silhouette began to wriggle. It was as if a magic circle was activating or the birth of a new entity was being announced. Finally, something burst forth from the card. Boom! A powerful shockwave erupted, propelling a lump toward Raciel. Koko! Eh? The lump, slightlyrger than a tennis ball, hurtled towards him. Instinctively, Raciel caught it with both hands. In that moment, Raciel was taken aback. Ouch! His palms stung, as if pricked by dozens of needles. However, Raciel maintained a firm grip on the lump. Its a Phantom Beast! He had invested a substantial 300 HP to draw it. Failing to catch it properly would have made for an unfavorable first encounter from the creatures perspective. That would be problematic! I need to make full use of it in the future! First impressions were crucial. Establishing a positive rtionship from the outset would facilitate smoother interactions going forward. With this wisdom in mind (?), Raciel cradled the lump delicately, treating it as if it were a hot sweet potato. He carefully examined its appearance. The creature possessed spines as sharp as pine needles, short limbs on a squat body, and plump, firm buttocks. So, this isA hedgehog? Koko! In response to his murmured question, the creature blinked its small ck eyes and emitted a chirping sound. It then rummaged through the folds of its plump belly, retrieving a tiny piece of paper. Koko! Kooo! Are you giving this to me? Koko! The creature nodded its tiny head. Raciel epted the note and unfolded it. Under the flickering candlelight, he strained his eyes to read the minuscule writing on the note. Its too small to read Just as he squinted, attempting to decipher the text Ding dong! The notes contents appeared as a message in front of him. It served as a guidebook, providing detailed specifications and skills of the Phantom Beast he had just drawn. As he perused the contents, Raciel couldnt help but clench his fist. An overwhelming sense of joy enveloped him. The decision he had made today. The Phantom Beast he had drawn. It was an absolute jackpot. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 This is insane. The message disyed in front of Raciels eyes. He meticulously read its contents. [Kozumi User Manual] [Kozumi is an adorable hedgehog. Please take care of it with love.] [Kozumi offers unwavering loyalty to you, the summoner. A Phantom Beast is not just a pet but also a lifelongpanion. Please dont abandon it carelessly.] [Kozumi can change its size by consuming abination of two sunflower seeds.] [Red Sunflower Seed: Erges Kozumi. Maximum duration of ergement = 12 hours] [Blue Sunflower Seed: Shrinks Kozumi. Please feed it before the maximum duration of ergement is exceeded. If Kozumi doesnt consume the blue sunflower seed and remains erged for over 12 hours, it will automatically revert to its smaller form. However, it will be fatigued and unable to erge again for the next 24 hours.] [A set of two colored sunflower seeds costs 1 HP.] [Kozumi possesses various skills in both its small and erged forms.] [Infinite Spines (Lv. 1)] [Night Mushroom Assault (Lv. 1)] [Tricolor Spines Launch (Lv. 1)] Exactly what I expected from a hedgehog. It specializes in using spines. Raciel had been searching for round needles for acupuncture, not just one or two, but a substantial quantity. And now, looking at Kozumis skill list Infinite spines. Im already loving it. A satisfying smile formed on his face naturally. Clearly, the spines were infinite. Kozumi could use them limitlessly. Racielmitted the contents of the manual to memory. Meanwhile, the manual gradually vanished, reced by a small pouch that fell into his palm. Peering inside the pouch, he found the red and blue sunflower seeds mentioned in the manual. Just as the manual says. If I feed it the red one, it transforms into a giant? Raciel gazed down at Kozumi, the hedgehog in his possession. This creature had the ability to be enormous. However, he had no idea just howrge it would grow. Hey. Kokoo! Shh. Keep your response quiet. Its the middle of the night. Kooo. Good, thats good. Anyway, I have a question. Do you be bigger when you eat this? Koko. Really? How much? The plump hedgehog stood on its hind legs within Raciels palm. It stretched its tiny, seemingly insignificant arms to their fullest extent. Kooooo? That much? Kooooo! So, youre saying you be tremendouslyrge? Kooo, kooo. Hmm. Raciel truly had no idea how big Kozumi would be. But that wasnt important at the moment. Lets feed you the red sunflower seed and see what happens next time, Raciel thought, organizing his thoughts. If it truly grows to several meters tall, like an elephant, it could wreak havoc in this ce. Raciel didnt want his familiar bedroom to be destroyed due to carelessness. Instead, he needed to test something more important and urgent. Then I have another question. You know, your spines. Is it okay if I pluck them out to use? Kokooo! Its okay? Koooo. Really? Doesnt it hurt? Not at all? Koooo! Wow. So, when a spine is plucked, a new one immediately sprouts in its ce? Kookooo. Thats good. Thats your Infinite Spines skill? Koooo! Kozumi nodded its head in an incredibly cute manner. Raciel continued his questioning. Then, what is the Tricolor Spines Launch skill? Kooo? Kkooo, Koooo. Kokooo, Kooo, Kkooo! Your spinese in three different colors, and depending on the color, the intensity of the sensation when pricked is different? Kooo! Kkooo, Koooo. The white spine is mild? Kooo! And the brown one is spicy? Kooo! And what about the ck spine? Kkkooo! K-vor? Koooo! What does that mean? Kkooo, kooo. You dont know either? Kooo! Kozumi cheerfully responded, indicating that it didnt know the meaning of the K-vor of the ck spine. Well, Ill find out when I test it. He was nning to test it anyway. It wouldnt be wise to poke the diators, who were already suffering from withdrawal symptoms and experiencing severe pain, with unidentified spines. Alright then- Raciel ced Kozumi on the table. He rolled up the sleeve of his left arm and asked Kozumi in an affectionate manner. Can you give me one each of your white, brown, and ck spines? Kookooo! Kozumi energetically leaped onto all four legs on the table. It raised its round bottom high and began shaking its entire body. Koooooooo! And then Pop! Poot! Pop! Three spines wereunched. However, the firing range(?) was only about 10 centimeters. Tock, tock. Raciel chuckled as he saw the white, brown, and ck spines that had fallen onto the table. So, this is the spineunching skill. Aunch range of 10 centimeters. He examined Kozumis back, where he could see new spines already starting to grow in the spots where the previous ones had beenunched. Truly, its infinite spine generation. Thats a relief. In that case, it seemed there would be no problem for Kozumi even if he used dozens, even hundreds of spines. Feeling reassured, Raciel looked at the spines lying on the table. First, the white one, the mild vor. He picked it up. He aimed at his left forearm, whose sleeve was rolled up. The spot he targeted was the middle of the outer forearm, a space between the ulna and radius, corresponding to the boundary of the two muscle shafts in the lower forearm. The Sidu () was located there. Indeed, it was a pressure point on the Triple Burner Meridian () that epassed the nerves of the face, shoulder, and the outside of the arm. Should I try? What if the stimtion was too strong? Immediate nerve stimtion would be felt around the eyes, cheeks, behind the ears, mrs, and nape of the neck. Raciel took a deep breath and brought the white spine to the Sidu pressure point. He pricked it. Thok! He inserted it a little deeper than usual, at 0.8 chi, in time with the breath he took. I pricked it, but I dont feel anything? It was true. There was no sensation, no stimtion at all. Despite the spine being considerably thicker than a needle, that was the case. He tried twisting the spine gently just in case. Again, there was no stimtion. He even tapped the tip of the spine that remained in him. Still, no pain! Awesome! This is it. The sensation that the diators would experience would be incredibly minimal. Raciel was ovee with joy and almost shed tears. Now, what about the brown spine? Its supposed to be spicy, so it might cause some prickling sensations? He removed the white spine and picked up the brown one. He aimed for the Sidu point in the same manner. However, since it might cause difort, he pricked a little shallower, at 0.5 chi. He pricked it. Thok! Euph. Indeed, it was quite sharp. He quickly withdrew the spine. His gaze now fell upon the ck spine. What on earth could this K-vor be? He was curious, but also a bit anxious. Lets test it on someone elseter. He rejected the idea of embarking on an adventure that could cause trouble due to unnecessary anxiety. He pledged to test it on a despicable individual when he encountered one in the future. Then, he looked at Kozumi with a satisfied expression. The white spine, which had proven to be almost non-stimting, was now being supplied to him infinitely. That was enough. So, Kozumi? Kooo? Shall we embark on a grand journey? Kooo? Kozumi blinked its ck eyes and tilted its head, resembling more of a good luck charm. At the same time, Raciel felt assured. He could proceed with his ns. Now, he could do it. Morning arrived. Excuse me, Your Highness? What on earth is that? Gardin asked, feeling nervous, after finishing breakfast and changing clothes, observing the scene before him. That thing youve been carrying around since earlier a hedgehog. Oh, Kozumi? Yes? Kozumi, say hello. This is Gardin. Kokooo! Raciel proudly showed off Kozumi. Kozumi happily raised its paw. Gardin was stunned. But, justst night there was no such hedgehog Thats right. But now there is. ? I was about to go to sleep when I heard rustling from the window. I was curious, so I checked. And there he was, hanging outside the window. In the bedroom outside the window? Yes. I dont know how he managed to climb up there, but he must have gotten lost from the garden. Is that even possible? Dont you believe me? Well, to be honest If you dont believe it, ask him directly to confirm. Kooo! . Gardin fell silent. He had never seen a hedgehog respond in such a way, a hedgehog that seemed to understand human speech. What is this? Could it be a Phantom Beast? Suddenly, Gardin recalled the records of Phantom Beasts that were mentioned in the empires history. Phantom Beasts, mysterious creatures that were said to exist beyond reality. asionally, they would reveal themselves to the world. ording to legends, they would choose humans and serve them faithfully for life. Like the giant hamster that aided the genius architect Lloyd Frontera in the distant past, or the bubble snake that caused volcanic eruptions. Or the kangaroo of the legendarymander Charlotte, who developed the kingdom of Magentano into an empire. The hedgehog before him also seemed like a Phantom Beast. But how? Did His Highness acquire a Phantom Beast? He couldntprehend it. It was truly puzzling. The Crown Prince had seemingly obtained a Phantom Beast overnight without any prior indications. And yet, the Crown Prince remained calm and acted as if it were normal. The Crown Prince had changed so much from before. Is there something else I dont know? Gardin discreetly hid his perplexed expression. Meanwhile, Raciel had gathered the diators in the infirmary. You must all be suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I understand the pain youre going through. Today, we will attempt to alleviate those symptoms. Everyone, please sit on the beds and extend your legs. The diatorsplied. Some stumbled. Some endured their sickness. Others managed to lie down or sit on the beds with Demians assistance. Phew. Raciel took a deep breath and approached the first diator. It was Sergio, who had experienced a seizure the previous day while receiving acupuncture and nearly strangled Raciel. As soon as Sergio saw Raciel, he started trembling. Yesterday Imitted a grave sin, Your Highness. Did you? Do you remember what happened yesterday? Just a little Dont worry. It was because you were in pain. Lets focus on the treatment now. Raciel retrieved the white spines he had prepared in advance the previous night. Sergios gaze dimmed upon seeing them. It seems thicker than the needle yesterday You wont die. If it hurts again, you can strangle me. Raciel held up the spine. He aimed for the exact spot where he had punctured the day before. Swiftly, he inserted the needle 0.1 chi deep into the Yutai point. Thud! A white spine found its ce at the root of Sergios second toe. Raciel closely observed Sergios expression. Fortunately. There was no reaction. You see? It doesnt hurt? Yes? Ive pricked you, and youre fine, arent you? Did you already prick me? It seems you didnt feel it. Good. Just keep rxing. Just as expected. Raciel clenched his fist inwardly. He proceeded to puncture the points along the Jokyangmyeong-gyeong meridian swiftly. Thud! Thud-Thud! He targeted the Neiting (), Xiangu (), Chongyang (), and Haegye () on the toes and instep. Thud-Thud-Thud! Thud! He moved to the Pungnyong (), Hageoheo (), Jogu (), and Sanggeoheo () points on the calf. Finally, he punctured the top of the anterior tibialis muscle. Thud! The Zusanli () point was reached. From Yutai to Zusanli. These were the points where individuals with neuropathy, neurosis, and stomach neuralgia often experienced hardened lumps. The diators were no exception. Therefore, Raciel focused on treating these points. Then, he waited for a while. Hooo Sergios breathing became noticeably more rxed. Hisplexion also improved. Good. Its working. Raciel felt even more confident. He proceeded to provide the same acupuncture treatment to the rest of the diators. As expected, everyone showed simr effects to Sergio. Their breathing became easier, their overly sensitive nerves rxed, and the stomachaches and indigestion caused by neuropathy significantly subsided. And thats when it began. For three days, Raciel repeated the same procedure. Each time, the diators withdrawal symptoms noticeably eased. They walked morefortably, ate without burden, and their depleted vitality gradually recovered. Alongside their recovery, Raciel resumed the moxibustion treatment. One day, two days, five days, ten days. The clinic was filled with the scent of burning moxa sticks. In that time, the tattoos on the diators backs vanished. The curse that had been linked to the tattoos also faded away. Finally, on the fifteenth day, as Raciel removed thest moxibustion stick from the diators back. Ding Dong! [You have sessfully eliminated the chronic pain of 13 diators, including Demian Cayenne, through the appropriate use of acupuncture and moxibustion. The diators have been freed from their prolonged suffering and have escaped the risk of premature death due to the curse of the tattoos.] [The Medical Billing (Lv. 1) skill has been activated.] The time for Raciel to charge for group treatment, which he had been eagerly waiting for, had arrived. Chapter 32 Chapter 32 It was painful. Demian kept his eyes closed, feeling the burning mugwort rub against his back. Surprisingly, he found himselfughing. How could he not feel the pain when his back was being treated this way? Yet, it was a strange sensation. This pain was not unwee. It felt different from anything he had ever experienced before. Pain had been a constant part of his life. In his youth, he suffered from poverty. As he grew older, he endured the agony of loneliness. And as he gained a better understanding of the world, he faced the torment inflicted by others. To escape from pain, he took up a sword and inflicted pain on others. During those moments, he could temporarily forget his own pain. No, he believed he had forgotten it. But he hadnt. The pain, which he had mistaken for being postponed, always returned multiplied. Just like the indelible brand engraved on his back, the pain he had pushed aside came back every night, as if he were paying the price for residing in an illusion. It was a day when his soul was gnawed away. Then, he met him. Raciel Adria Magentano. Demian didnt know why the prince had sought him out. He couldnt fathom why he had readily extended his hand to him. The same thoughts crossed his mind at this moment. To heal myself Im testing the treatment method on you. When Demian had questioned why he was doing this, the answer the prince had given resurfaced in his mind. He had definitely said it. It wasnt for them; it was for himself. There was no such thing as free in this world. So, they shouldnt feel burdened. The prince even told them not to thank him. But Your Highness, you Despite saying all that, he never once cared for himself. It had be evident over the past two weeks. The prince never paid attention to his own well-being. All his focus was directed towards Demian and the other diators. He would check if their withdrawal symptoms worsened, if they slept well, if the moxa marks deteriorated, or if any signs of illness appeared. From dawn till bedtime, he would visit multiple times a day, meticulously checking on each one of them. And after confirming that everyone was fine, he would wear a satisfied smile. A smile because his experiment was sessful? No. It was a smile of pure joy. Pure satisfaction and happiness. It was akin to a farmer surveying their golden fields or a caregiver witnessing the recovery of a patient under their care. That kind of smile. Demian wanted to ask the prince what pleased him so much about them. But he couldnt. That smile, brimming with happiness. Thatughter, savoring a great sense of aplishment. Pure joy, despite no personal gain. Just by observing the prince in that state, Demian experienced an unfamiliar emotion. At the same time, Raciel himself was also engulfed by a peculiar feeling. Its here! Could this be the satisfaction of a farmer gazing at golden fields swaying with the promise of a bountiful harvest? Or perhaps the sensation of witnessing stocks that were bought without any expectations now skyrocketing, piercing through the ceiling, and reaching the pinnacle of sess in the universe? He looked up, brimming with happiness and a sense of aplishment. His gazended on the messages that conveyed the joy of a sessful harvest. Ding dong! [You have sessfully alleviated the chronic pain of diator Demian Cayenne and 13 others through acupuncture and moxibustion. The diators are now free from the torment of their long-standing suffering and are no longer at risk of premature death due to the branded curse.] [The Medical Billing (Lv. 1) skill has been activated.] This is it! His fist instinctively clenched as the messages continued to pour in, fueling his anticipation. [Patient: Demian Cayenne has gained an extended lifespan of 71 years and 9 months through your treatment. You will be rewarded with a bonus lifespan equivalent to 1/2000 of 71 years and 9 months.] But the messages didnt stop there. In fact, they were just beginning. [Patient: Sergio has gained an extended lifespan of 27 years and 1 month through your treatment. Therefore, you] [Patient: Montero has gained an extended lifespan of 23 years and 4 months through your treatment] [Patient: Pedro has gained] [Patient: Julian] Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding ding dong dong! The messages kept flooding in, and the calction of bonus lifespan went into a frenzy. The result was [A total of 79.875 days of bonus lifespan have been calcted from Demian Cayenne and 13 others.] [The smallest unit of calcted lifespan is 1 day.] [The calcted bonus lifespan is rounded.] [A total of 80 days of bonus lifespan have been calcted.] [Your projected lifespan: 171 days.] This is insane. Truly insane. Phew. The results are impressive. His lifespan had increased by almost three months in one go. And there was an unexpected reward as well. Ding dong! [You have treated a certain number of patients and received a substantial amount of expected bonus lifespan.] [Based on this experience, the Medical Billing skill has improved.] [The level of the Medical Billing skill has increased.] [Skill name: Medical Billing Lv.2] [Automatically activated upon sessfulpletion of a patients treatment. You can extend your lifespan by receiving a certain percentage of the increased lifespan achieved through your treatment. This settlement ratio increases with each level of the skill. (The settled lifespan is separate from the patients expected lifespan and is a bonus settlement.)] [Current settlement ratio = 1950:1] Great. Truly great. Raciels fist clenched once again. He had received a generous bonus lifespan, and his Medical Billing skill had levelled up. From now on, he could get lifespan at a ratio of 1/1950. So, what now? Im done with the diators. Raciel surveyed the diators around him. He had lifted the curse of the branded mark, eliminating the threat of sudden death. He had even resolved their withdrawal symptoms. He had obtained everything he could from them. That was his conclusion. Of course. How am I supposed to utilize these individuals? They may be skilled with swords, but I know nothing about who they truly are. He reflected on the contents of the Devil Sword Emperor novel. However, the diators didnt y a significant role in it. If they did appear, it was only for a fleeting moment, mere extras whose names werent even mentioned. Naturally, there was no description of their characters, personalities, or motivations in the novel. They were unknown entities, and Raciel couldnt blindly trust them. Of course, it would be nice to have these skilled fighters as my guards. But that was impossible. It was absurd to entrust his life to individuals whose backgrounds were a mystery. At least they have regained their health, and I have gained bonus lifespan. It would be ideal if we could both benefit up to this point and part ways. Except for Demian, of course. He couldnt let go of Demian, unlike the others. Demian was a swordsman with unparalleled potential. A man destined to rise to the highest ranks of the era. His talent could bepared to the legendary Javier Asrahan, known as the grand master in history. Demian was an extraordinary figure,bining the qualities of Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I cant let this guy slip away! He had to keep Demian by his side. Even if it meant allowing him to idle around, he couldnt send him elsewhere. With this determination, Raciel steeled his mind. He called Demian to the garden for a private conversation. Casually, he asked, How do you feel after receiving all the moxibustion? The areas where I received the moxibustion still sting a bit. But youre ustomed to it now, arent you? Yes. Thats good. Its also a pity. Because you wont need to receive moxibustion anymore. Pardon? The moxibustion is over. You no longer require it. Youre cured, the treatment has proven effective, and the experiment is concluded. Are you serious? Yes. Even though you were receiving moxibustion, you would still experience some neuralgia around midnight. You would wake up from sleep due to the pain, right? Yes. But thats over now too. It wont hurt anymore. Congrattions. Demian stared at him with a peculiar gaze. Was he about to express his gratitude? Raciel swiftly took action before that could happen. Wait. Before you say thank you, listen to my proposal. ? Ill be direct. Your swordsmanship has captivated me. I dont want to send you away just like that. I dont want your talent to go to waste. So, I want to entrust you as my personal escort. He presented a straightforward offer, without any tricks or gimmicks. He believed this approach was the best. In truth, there were many ways to win over Demian. Demian was on the verge of reaching the advanced level of a Sword Expert, and with that, he would soon experience Sword Master Syndrome. A stage where all senses be overly sensitive, a stage where he would struggle to control his senses, leading to a torturous bout of insomnia. Raciel could have proposed to help him ovee it, to treat his insomnia. He could have made a tempting offer. Honestly, that proposal might have been more effective. No, it definitely would have been. Demian knows his own level well. He knows that he will soon reach the advanced level of a Sword Expert and experience Sword Master Syndrome. So, if he proposed a treatment for insomnia? Most likely, Demian would choose the beneficial option. But he didnt make that proposal. The reason was simple. If I appeal to his needs and ask him to stay, he will leave when he no longer needs me. In the worst-case scenario? After oveing Sword Master Syndrome, Demian might leave because he no longer requires treatment. Thats how people are. A rtionship should not be based solely on needs. Otherwise, it will always be dependent on those needs. Im not asking you to stay out of gratitude, friendship, loyalty, or any other creepy reasons. Lets start with a practical give-and-take arrangement. I willpensate you well. Consider it a special position as my personal guard, separate from the royal guards. You will receive a higher sry and allowancespared to the royal guards, along with benefits like monthly and annual leave, and a generous pension n. .. Of course, I will provide you with an employment contract. .. If you marry while employed, you will not only receive a house but also a birth bonus for each child. Oh, and Ill guarantee parental leave as well. .. And you will have the freedom to retire whenever you wish. .. Well, those are the conditions. Take your time to think about it. See you. Raciel left Demian in silence and walked away first, giving him time to contemte. Then he waited. He hoped for a positive response from Demian. He hoped that the protagonist of the novel would choose to stay by his side. He hoped they could forge a rtionship of equals. After leaving so nonchntly, Raciel spent an anxious time alone. He tossed and turned throughout the night, unable to sleep. And the next morning, He was faced with an unexpected situation. Crown Prince! We want to protect you too! Your Highness! I can protect you even better! Your Highness! Please consider us as well! You said we would receive better pay than the royal guards! Are you going to exclude us from the generous welfare and pension benefits? We cant overlook the housing support, birth bonuses, and parental leave! Please take care of us too! In other words, the other diators, who had heard about the employment conditions through Demian, were rushing in, bombarding Raciel with pledges of loyalty. Chapter 33 Chapter 33 Your Highness, the Crown Prince! Ah, were here too! Please consider us! You treated us well, but we are ready to repay your kindness! Now that youve brought us this far, you must take responsibility for us! You promised to nurture and foster us! This situation was absurd, truly mind-boggling. Raciel stared at the diators who had gathered outside his bedroom, staging some sort of sit-in. He couldnt help but respond abruptly. Wait, foster? What am I fostering here? Are you all potatoes? Maltese dogs? Im sturdier than a potato! I can guard a house better than a Maltese! I can protect you better, Your Highness! Move aside! I will protect His Highness! If left unchecked, it seemed they would soonpete to prove who would be the best guard. Raciel sighed deeply at this nonsense. Phew. Just calm down for a moment. So, you all want to be my guards, is that right? Yes, thats correct! And apart from being treated well, youre enticed by the amplepensation and welfare benefits, right? Yes, thats Right? . The diators fell silent, as if they had tasted something sweet. Their eyes were fixed on Raciel, waiting for his response. In reaction, Raciel grinned. Haha. Look at these guys. This was absurd. It was supposed to be an ordinary day, starting with breakfast, followed by a leisurely walk for health, a steam bath, mindlessly dozing off, and so on. He had been looking forward to a fulfilling day of idle royalty. But then, there wasmotion outside his bedroom. Curiosity piqued, he stepped out to find this scene. Each one of them imed to be the best guard and insisted they could protect him more diligently than anyone else in the world. Sigh How did this happen? Raciel narrowed his eyes, observing the bustling group of diators. And there was Demian among them. Lets talk. He invited Demian into the bedroom. As soon as they were inside, Raciel questioned him sharply. Hmm. This is your doing, isnt it? Im not sure what you mean. I mean the conditions of bing my guard. Youre the one who discussed it with them, right? I didnt discuss it. I simply ryed what I heard. Ah, I see. Were those conditions supposed to be a secret? What? You mentioned it yesterday. You told me to consider the working conditions and benefits. Oh, right. I did? Yes. So, I thought about it. I pondered over it. But I couldnt easily reach a conclusion. So Dont tell me. A chilling intuition ran through Raciels mind, and as always, it proved to be urate. Yes, youre right. I did discuss it with them. Since you never kept the working conditions a secret. And theres something else. What is it? Its about the leave mentioned in the proposed working conditions. Oh, why is that? When I thought about it, something seemed off. You mentioned monthly and annual leave, as well as parental leave. But if I were to be your exclusive personal guard, who would protect you at the closest proximity when Im on leave? Of course, there are the existing royal guards. But you specifically chose me separately. You wanted a special guard who could be with you 24/7. So I pondered over it. Mentioning leave must have a deeper meaning to you. What? Not just me alone, but having multiple people taking turns to protect you would be a more efficient approach, thats the deeper meaning. I just assumed the royal guards would take over when youre not avable. What? Never mind. So you revealed all the working conditions to the diators, and thats why they rushed in this morning, causing amotion? Thats a concise summary. Well, its concise, and its quite a problem. Raciel wore a wry smile. The diators were never part of the original n. I thought it would be over once their treatment wasplete. He believed that once he secured their loyalty through the extended lifespan bonus, everything would be settled. He never anticipated that they would actively step forward like this. Well, I dont mind. It was unexpected. It was a slightly absurd situation. But it wasnt a bad feeling. Indeed. Those who openly admit that they are motivated by money and welfare benefits are a hundred times better. Friendship and loyalty. They needed to repay the favor. If they were staying for intangible reasons, it would be rather unsettling. In any case, rtionships in life are all transactional, except for a few close friends. He didnt believe in love, loyalty, or indebtedness. Especially when people spoke of such things without being family or close friends. In his experience, those were the ones most likely to betray you. It was the same in Korea, especially when I was a college student working part-time. The bosses who emphasized emotions, loyalty, and a family-like atmosphere were often two-faced. It was amon urrence. He didnt work part-time because he yearned for affection. He didnt seek loyalty there. He didnt expect to find a family in such a ce. He simply went to earn money. As long as he was adequatelypensated as promised, he was satisfied. So now, he rather appreciated the diators attitude. I will pay them well. They will protect me fiercely. Both sides need to be faithful to that. Its a win-win situation. Well, its not bad. Furthermore, if they became his guards, there would be an additional advantage. I will have my own personal army. In reality, the royal guards did not belong to Raciel. Technically, they served at the emperorsmand and were the troops of the royal family. While they usually catered to Raciels needs, in times of emergency where the emperors orders conflicted with his, they would prioritize the emperorsmands. So, I cant fully trust them. On the other hand, the diators were different. He could raise them as his own private soldiers. As long as their mutual interests were protected, they could stay together indefinitely. Raciel appreciated that aspect. The conclusion came naturally. Tell them all toe in. The bedroom door swung open. The diators rushed in. I came in first, Your Highness! I was a step behind because I assessed the risk inside the bedroom, Your Highness! I was two steps behind because I cried three times, Your Highness! Raciel tilted his head at the diators peculiar statement. Why did you cry three times? Once out of joy after receiving treatment from Your Highness! Once again upon seeing Your Highnesss face this morning! Heh heh. And thest time when I thought I wouldnt be able to see Your Highness again if you didnt ept me today! So you wont cry when I die? Well Ill be dead too! Heh heh, get that guy out of here. Raciel could onlyugh. It was the birth of the special royal guard, dedicated solely to the Crown Prince. Commonly referred as the Special Duty Squad. This is the regr report on the recent affairs of Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. In the deepest part of the Magentano royal pce, a restricted area essible only to the emperor and a few close aides, Emperor Asterion Testarosa Magentano stared at his teacup. White steam rose from the cup, amidst which the report from the chief of the emperors direct intelligence unit could be heard. First, regarding the diators that the Crown Prince brought into the Star Pce. Two days ago, all fourteen diators were appointed as the Crown Princes guards. Guards? Yes, Your Majesty. The intelligence chiefs report continued. The Crown Prince has dubbed them the Special Duty Squad and ordered them to provide 24-hour protection. Hmm. Have the diators pledged their loyalty? Yes, Your Majesty. And what reward did Raciel offer them? He entered into contracts with guaranteed sries and various benefits. Contracts? Yes, Your Majesty. It sounds grand, but it seems he has merely hired mercenaries with money. Emperor Asterion chuckled softly. Despite his critical remark, he felt a deep interest. Hes bing more and more intriguingtely. Raciel had always been a bedridden crown prince, a powerless patient who held no significance other than being the eldest son. Thats why every ten days, the report on Raciel was always a painful reminder. But it was inevitable. Every report that arrived was utterly disheartening, devoid of any glimmer of hope. For a while now, he had been confined to his bed, barely nibbling on food. His activities consisted of taking a few feeble steps before needing to rest. It was a pitiful existence, a far cry from the daily life one would expect of the Crown Prince, who bore the weight of the Empires future. The Emperor, having long given up hope, believed there was no future to be found. There were no signs of improvement, no reason to seek further hope. He had resigned himself to this reality for the past decade or so. But At some point, the Crown Prince, who hadnguished in this state, began to change. It was around two months ago, possibly when he heard the report about the prince pricking his body with a needle. He, who was always watching over the sickbed. He, who seemed to be waiting for impending death. He started doing something. He started a task. He made an attempt. He dropped the gavel. Since then, every ten days, the time to hear the report about Raciel grew increasingly captivating. He hadmissioned a shield from the cksmith in preparation for the showdown with the second prince. He exerted his strength to walk further and emptied his bowl. There were even reports of him raiding and subduing the underground organizations diator ring, active in the capital. But this time, its a military organizationprised of diators. Perhaps it was rted to the information disclosed in the previous report. It mentioned that Raciel massaged the diators backs every day. Could that have been a form of torture? Did the diators yield to that torment? No, that cant be it. There must be something he didnt know. It couldnt be as simple as buying their loyalty with money. There must have been deeper connections and understanding between Raciel and the diators. Thats good. The Emperor felt a sense of contentment. His eldest son, whom he had deemed to have no future, the child he regarded as a disappointment despite sharing his own blood, had be an object of unbearable pain, regret, and pity. Yet, the fact that he persistently strived to achieve something for himself brought the Emperor sce. The Emperors voice, as he questioned the head of the intelligence agency, carried a subtle warmth. Is there anything else to report? Well Undoubtedly, there was more. However, the demeanor of the intelligence chief seemed slightly peculiar. Perhaps that Raciel had done something absurd once again. Most likely. The Emperor found himself rather pleased. What kind of surprise would his eldest son spring on him this time? With curiosity and anticipation, he urged the intelligence chief to continue. Go ahead, dont hesitate. I apologize. Then, I shall proceed. In fact, since yesterday, His Highness the Crown Prince has What could it be? What preparations was he making to lead the Empire into the future? Or had hemenced his studies for personal growth? The Emperors heart throbbed with anticipation as he listened intently, his expression stern. At that moment, the hesitant report from the intelligence chief unfolded. He gathered all the servants, maids, and guards in the Star Pce and ruthlessly, mercilessly, and without any mercy, pricked each one of them with needles. (TO BE CONTINUED) Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Thud! The needle shifted. It prated ruthlessly, piercing through tender human skin. The stoic royal guard clenched the white sheet tightly, unaware of the difort. Urgh! Does it hurt? No, not exactly Then why are you whining? Its just a tiny needle. Even a royal guard like you. Tsk tsk. Well, its just that The royal guard blushed and replied. Its because the needle is stuck in my face, after all So, are you scared? Its not that Im scared Oh, I see. Youre afraid. Its alright. You wont die. Justining about a blocked nose. In that case, like this. Thud! Goodness! Another needle was inserted into the royal guards nostril, precisely at the Yingxiang acupoint. A satisfied smile appeared on Raciels face. Just stay like that for a moment. Dont touch the needle. Now, whos next? The next patient(?), a court attendant waiting on the adjacent bed, trembled slightly and cautiously inquired. Your Highness, the Crown Prince? Hmm. Speak. Well, do I also need to be pricked? Didnt you mention it yourself when I examined your pulse earlier? That youve been experiencing frequent stomach rumbling and excessive gas? Yes, I did mention that Then I have the perfect solution. Is there any other method besides being pricked a better way? No, there isnt. Just kidding. Why wouldnt there be other treatment methods? But this is the simplest one. Raciel raised his right hand to his shoulder. Kozumi, the hedgehog perched on his shoulder, squeaked as if anticipating something. Kozumi! He exerted force on his buttocks as he eximed. His body quivered. Swish! A single white needle shot forth and gentlynded on Raciels right hand. Raciel said, Now, take off your shoes and extend your legs. Pardon? Youre going to receive acupuncture. On my foot? Yes. The court attendant couldntprehend. He hadined about stomach rumbling and excessive gas. But why would they administer acupuncture on his foot, which seemed unrted? Is he simply trying to torment me! It certainly seemed that way. Our Crown Prince, always finding new ways to torment people. Does he now have a creative approach to it? But he held no power. Ifmanded to kneel, he knelt; if ordered to roll, he rolled. The court attendant reluctantly took off his shoes and extended his foot. As he did so, he wondered. He hadnt washed his feet separately. What if the odor angers the Crown Prince? But his worries were unfounded. The Crown Prince swiftly took a damp towel and thoroughly wiped the foot. Just as the court attendant tried to retract his foot in surprise, his ankle was caught instead. Rx. Tension isnt good for your cirction. Hes surprisingly dedicated for someone who torments others. Its a bit perplexing. The court attendant obediently rxed as Raciels hand moved swiftly. Pop! A white needle pricked the slightly fleshy area beneath the inner side of the court attendants ankle bone, at the Shangqiu acupoint. When your intestines dont get enough rest and you experience frequent gas, its referred to as a soggy stomach. Taking care of this point will help your intestines feel better. If you still feel difort after todays acupuncture, press this spot with your thumb. Understand? And before you go to sleep, if you press it with your opposite big toe for just 5 minutes, it will help. Alternate between both sides. It will improve your sleep too. Are youare you sure? Would I lie? Raciel chuckled. Leaving the court attendant with a bewildered expression, he surveyed the hall. The number of beds had increased even more than before. Numerous individuals, including Star Pce guards, court attendants, and maidservants,y or sat on them, waiting for him. Their presence reminded him of something that happened a few days ago. We need to establish a clinic in the Star Pce. Excuse me? During lunchtime on the day he formed a special alliance with the diators and established the special duty squad, Raciel discussed his ns for the future. Gardins eyes widened in surprise. What do you mean? A clinic. Dont you understand? Of course I do. Exactly. Im going to establish a clinic. Here, in the Star Pce? Yes. Raciel nodded. He stated it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I need it to survive. Excuse me? Well, in simple terms, I believe that if I establish a clinic here and heal many people, bringing them happiness, I will also find happiness. It was true. Truly and genuinely, it was true. He wanted to care for as many patients as possible. He wanted to cure their illnesses and prolong their lives. Only then could he acquire a significant bonus to his own lifespan. Wouldnt the happiness index soar? Thats a real win-win for both the patients and me! With such sincerity, he spoke. As for Gardin? His heart was pounding, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. So profound! Oh,e on. You startled me. Whats the matter? Why are you reacting like that this time? All this time! I feel like Ive misunderstood you! Misunderstood? What do you mean? To be honest, I used to think you were a selfish person! Well, I am selfish. No! I realize now that I was wrong! I think I finally understand. Ivee to realize, albeit btedly, the greatpassion and dedication to serving society that lies within your desire to establish a clinic in the Star Pce and care for many people. Well, actually No, dont deny it. I know. How could I not know? As your primary physician, I know better than anyone that youre still unwell. Yet, despite your own illness, you prioritize the pain of others Your Highness, I am truly moved! Sob! Well, let him think what he wants. Its easier for him that way. Heh, indeed. He chuckled. It urred to him that it wouldnt be so bad if Gardin continued to misunderstand him. Of course. Gardin had no knowledge of his secret. He couldnt even begin to guess about things like bonus lifespan. Its better to be seen as a selfless figure, rather than revealing everything and being perceived as a madman. The Crown Prince who puts his subjects first, even while suffering from his own illness. It seemed like a fitting title and a justifiable cause. He found himself content with the unintended misunderstanding he received. Then, by establishing a clinic, or rather, an Oriental medicine clinic in the Star Pce, I wont face opposition or rejection from those around me. Its an action with a reasonably justified purpose. Moreover such a title will attract more people. Having peoplee to him. Making theme willingly for treatment. He felt that was the most important thing. I cant go searching for them one by one. If he were to personally seek out patients each time? Firstly, it would be dangerous. Especially in the slums where many patients reside, the sanitary conditions would be abysmal. With his severely weakened immune system, if he were to wander around such ces, he would quickly be susceptible to various diseases like syphilis, tuberculosis, and more. It would be the end. Even with my super low stamina and weak physique, if I were to get infected with something like that I wouldnt be able to continue my work and would probably meet the king of the underworld for some career counseling. Ugh, lets stop this nonsense. Raciel shook his head. The issue wasnt just the danger. Going from patient to patient individually would be exhausting. And it wouldnt be efficient. He wouldnt be able to see arge number of patients at once. He would remain trapped in a situation where he barely survived on his minimal bonus lifespan. Thats a problem. Because the bonus lifespan ratio is surprisingly low. 1950 to 1? Even if I were to extend a patients life expectancy by 100 years the bonus lifespan I receive would only be 18.46 days. It would increase by just 18 days. A mere 18 days of bonus for extending someones life by a staggering 100 years. If he were to personally visit each patient? It wouldnt be profitable. In the worst case scenario, the time it takes to treat the patients could far exceed the bonus lifespan he receives. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary. I need to make the patientse to me. Besides, the Star Pce is vast and spacious, providing ample room to establish a clinic. If he pursued this idea wholeheartedly, he could even create aprehensive clinic. If he openly operated an inpatient ward? He could treat dozens, even hundreds of patients at once. It would enable him to establish an efficient system for collecting bonus lifespan. However, it wasnt all smooth sailing. He kept that in mind as he spoke. Well, if Gardin is happy, then Im happy. Anyway, Im considering running a clinic here in the Star Pce, and as a pilot program, I thought of treating our Star Pce family first. Huh? The people of the Star Pce? Yes. It will help with promotion. Promotion? Indeed. He nodded. He spoke as if it were self-evident. Think about it, Gardin. Lets say we spread the word that a clinic is being established in the Star Pce and that we will be epting patients. But will people juste rushing in for treatment? Well um ah. Do you understand? Yes, Your Highness. This is the Star Pce, after all. Exactly. It can be intimidating, especially formoners. It was a logical point to consider. This was the Star Pce, the residence of the crown prince. It was a ce that impressed visitors with its grandeur from the moment they set foot in it. But wouldmon people feelfortable visiting such a ce? It might be difficult formoners. Oh, I have a cold, should I go get treatment from the Crown Prince? How manymoners would casuallye with such thoughts? Youre right. Exactly. And what about the nobles? Pardon me? Think about it. This is the pce where I, the Crown Prince, reside. But if a certain noblees here for treatment, would other nobles view it innocently? They they wouldnt. They would interpret it as that noble trying to gain favor with you. Exactly. They would see it as a political move. Thats how nobles are. Indeed. They are inclined to attach political significance to even the smallest actions. He smiled softly. Indeed, the behavior of the upper ss tends to be simr regardless of time and ce. The nobles here would be no exception. Perhaps they would feel more burdened visiting the Star Pce thanmoners. That wont do. If that happens, there will be no oneing here for treatment, and only flies would be buzzing around. If that were the case, his n would fail. Without a solution, it would crumble and copse. There would be no calction of bonus lifespan, just like the Oriental medicine clinic he had diligently operated in South Korea, which ended up copsing due to ack of patients. I feel like Im experiencing PTSD. He quickly brushed away his negative thoughts. He gathered his resolve and spoke. Anyway, thats why effective promotion is necessary. Something like a notable case that would capture peoples attention. If such a case spreads through word of mouth, gradually, people will starting here for treatment. In that case, the results would naturally spread through word of mouth. As the word spreads, more patients woulde. More sessful treatment cases would generate even more word of mouth. Isnt that a model of voluntary viral marketing? Fortunately, Gardin seemed to grasp Raciels intentions well. So, to create the first notable treatment case that will generate word of mouth, youre nning to treat the people of the Star Pce? Thats correct. So, gather the Star Pce family immediately. That was a few days ago. Phew. Its been busy ever since. Raciel, who was taking the pulse of a maids wrist, snapped out of his thoughts. It had been quite busy since that day. He had examined the servants, maids, and other workers in the Star Pce, including the pce guards. The total number was close to 500, and he meticulously checked each one of them, providing tailored treatments. For some, he administered moxibustion, while for others, he prepared herbal decoctions. Acupuncture was the primary treatment for the majority. It had been a draining few days, depleting his physical strength. However, the problem was that the results were not as promising as he had expected. Theres no one seriously ill. Even after examining 500 people. I suppose individuals with severe health issues would not qualify for work in a pce like this. I overlooked that fact. In retrospect, it was evident. However, this obvious fact had now be a stumbling block in his n. Ugh. The problem is that everyone is too healthy. The most severe cases he encountered were athletes foot, stomatitis, mild constipation, ormon colds. From the perspective of an oriental medicine doctor treating patients, it was favorable. But from the standpoint of someone seeking to umte bonus lifespan? It was disappointing. I only gained 2 days of bonus lifespan from treating 500 people. Moreover, in this manner there wont be any notable treatment cases to generate word of mouth. A remarkable treatment case that could capture peoples attention. An impactful case. In other words, a selling point for advertising! But it seemed like such a case was not materializing. That was the main issue. Are there no seriously ill individuals After a brief morning consultation with the Star Pce workers, Raciel naturally let out a deep sigh during his lunch break. Perhaps he should consider abducting a few individuals from the slums. Various concerns flooded his mind like a dense bone broth. There was a sense of urgency that this situation could not continue. A restless feeling, hoping for the appearance of a seriously ill patient. He chewed on his sd, a mix of two emotions, and plunged into the depths of negative thoughts. But then, suddenly Wait a minute. Raciel paused. Something flickered and brushed past his mind. Gardin. He lifted his head, calling out to Gardin. Tell the head steward to prepare 500 questionnaires immediately. Um yes? Gardin tilted his head, looking puzzled. But Raciels face disyed a triumphant smile. A questionnaire for all the members of the Star Pce workers to fill out. Lets title it Star Pce Staff Family Health Status Survey or something simr. Raciel was convinced. If the Star Pce workers were excessively healthy, then surely there would be at least one seriously ill patient among their family members! Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Illnesses are prevalent throughout the world, and their urrence tends to rise exponentially with age. This fact bes apparent when we observe our surroundings. Can you find a single parent in this world who lives without any ailments? Despite their pain and difort, they endure it all for the sake of their children. These remarkable individuals are known as parents. Raciel believed that the situation would be no different here. If the employees of the Star Pce are exceedingly healthy and energetic, we should consider their families! All of them have parents, and many would have additional family members. When we consider thebined numbers, it would easily surpass a thousand. Surely, among them, there must be individuals suffering from severe illnesses. Raciel was certain of it. He turned his gaze towards Gardin. Therefore, lets keep the survey and questionnaire items as simple as possible. What do you mean? Its straightforward. We only need the respondents name, a list of family members, their gender, age, existing diseases, and symptoms. That should suffice. Is there anything else youd like to add? Oh, lets include a stern warning that if the survey responses are found to be false, the employee will be dismissed from the Star Pce. A warning? Yes. Raciel nodded. This survey was not a trivial matter; it was a genuinely necessary task. Furthermore, it posed no harm to the employees of the Star Pce. Thus, he wanted to conduct the investigation withplete transparency and uracy. ce a bold warning at the top of the questionnaire. The font size no, each letter should be as thick as an eyeball. If possible, ask them to write the warning in red ink. That will definitely grab attention. Exactly. I will ry this information as it is to Head Steward. Gardin, meticulously noting down Raciels instructions, went to find Head Steward. The subsequent process proceeded swiftly. The Head Steward was a diligent man. He promptly and faithfully executed the orders given to him. Thanks to his efforts, they were able to collect 500pleted questionnaires by the evening, merely half a dayter. Hmm, these are well-crafted. Snap! Observing the questionnaires, Raciel felt satisfied. The specifications he had requested were urately reflected. Excellent. We will distribute the questionnaires tomorrow morning, which will give our n some momentum. If they were able to identify a sick person among the families of Star Pce employees, they would capture them and provide necessary care to restore their health. These individuals would be detained within the Star Pce, receiving dedicated attention. If that happens, sess stories of their treatment will spread through word of mouth. That is all we need to achieve. The rest will follow naturally. The initial word of mouth. There would be a minority who would take an interest upon hearing about it, particrly those who are suffering themselves or have ailing family members. Especially if the patient is in a dire situation, they would be more enticed by the rumors. Among them, someone wille to the Star Pce, desperately grasping at straws. I will treat that person. Their case will be a story, spreading further and attracting more patients, like prime-time advertisements. That would be sufficient. Raciel would be able to efficiently umte his bonus lives. Then without worrying about an early demise, I will lead a life of leisure. A true royal life! It was an exhrating future to contemte. He had grown up in an ordinary family, lost his father in high school, and struggled through part-time jobs to barely graduate college. He had sacrificed dating and dedicated his entire 20s and 30s to studying and working tirelessly. Approaching the age of 40, he took a small amount of money he had saved and ventured to open an oriental medicine clinic with a substantial loan, only to face utter failure. But now, he had been granted the gift of afortable life and good food, at the very least. If only his lifespan could be extended, if only he could evade an early death. A dreamlike existence awaited him, akin to royalty. The thought made his heart race and flutter with excitement. Amidst this self-satisfaction, an unexpected, icy voice pierced his eardrums. He set aside the questionnaire and raised his head, searching for the source of the voice. There stood Demian, his countenance cold and his eyes devoid of emotion. A faint trace of discontent emanated from him. Your Highness, I am disappointed, came the unexpected remark. Raciel responded, lifting an eyebrow in curiosity, Disappointed? The reply came swiftly, May I ask, Your Highness, do you view your patients as mere tools? Hmm? Since lunch, this thought has lingered in my mind. Do you truly believe I see my patients as tools? Yes, Demian affirmed, subtly nodding. He then proceeded to deliver his scathing critique. You informed Sir Gardin that you would establish a hospital in the Star Pce, seeking to attract numerous patients through rumors and tales. Yes, I did. Your intention ismendable, truly praiseworthy. However, the current image of the Crown Prince The image? It appears as though you yearn for a patient on the verge of death to arrive, at the very least. Raciel was taken aback, rendered speechless. Ouch. A direct hit to my vulnerable spot. He couldnte up with a response to Demians astutely urate critique. In that moment, Gardin interjected urgently, eximing, How dare you spout such nonsense to His Highness! He even jabbed Demian in the ribs, attempting to silence him. You have overstepped your boundaries! His Highness surely possesses his own thoughts. You should not presume to be disappointed by guessing His Highnesss intentions based on your own assumptions! Raciel could hear every word. Gardin had whispered discreetly, but the predicament was that his whispering took ce right in front of Raciel, and this bedroom was exceptionally quiet. The amusing part was that Gardins urgent reprimand seemed to have an impact on Demian. Is that so? Demian appeared sullen. Raciel felt a twinge of embarrassment. I, actually, I didnt have any separate thoughts. Upon reflection, Demians critique was spot-on. Raciel experienced a sense of remorse. He halted Gardin, who was admonishing Demian. Um, Gardin? Yes, Your Highness? I appreciate your words, but I believe Demians criticism holds truth. Yes? Do not be too harsh on someone who is right. Hm. Uh, um, understood, Your Highness. This time, Gardin seemed sullen. And Demians gaze reverted to its icy demeanor once more. Your Highness, thats going too far. Sir Gardin just defended you. Oh my. I suggest you reconsider disappointing such a loyal subordinate. You, arent you being too harsh with His Highness! Gardin couldnt tolerate it any longer and scolded Demian. Demian became sullen upon the reprimand. What are these two up to? Raciel couldnt help but smirk. Simultaneously, he felt a sense of relief. The protagonist of the original story, Demian, the Devil Sword Emperor. It was a relief that he became a sharp-tongued presence, unafraid to offer blunt criticism and stand by Raciels side. And Gardin, an early deceased extra in the original Devil Sword Emperor. It was a relief that he, like a constantpanion, remained by Raciels side. Raciel felt genuinely grateful and fortunate. With those emotions, he grinned yfully. Sir Carrot, it seems Whip is correct, isnt he? Uh, um, I apologize, Your High huh? Sir Carrot. Does it sound strange when I call you that? . You seem to like it. Thats not it Your Highness, its not appropriate to treat a loyal servant like Sir Gardin so casually. Oh, you! Are you nning to do the same to His Highness again! .Both of you, leave. In the end, after dismissing Whip Demian and Carrot Gardin, Raciel was able to peacefully sleep. Strangely enough, it was a night filled with continuous, purposelessughter in his dreams. The next morning, as nned, the survey took ce. Raciel gathered all the courtiers, maids,borers, and guards in the Star Pce and had themplete the questionnaires. By lunchtime, he had received a whopping 500 survey responses. But why is everyone so healthy! Flip! Flip! Raciels hand flipped through the questionnaires rapidly. His bewildered eyes absorbed the contents. Everyone was in good health. It wasnt just the Star Pce workers. Most of their families were also healthy. The worst health problems were minor ailments. There were no patients with severe diseases, life-threatening conditions, or anything that would cause a stir when treated. Its not like we only recruited pce workers from long-lived families! Raciel felt a sense of despair(?). However, he hadnt finished going through all the questionnaires. His hands eagerly flipped through the remaining surveys. About 200 left, maybe flip! flip! Around 100 left, possibly flip! flip! Only 50 remaining, still flip! flip! Just 10 left, please flip! flip! As the number of unread questionnaires decreased, his hands began to tremble. Then, at one point, his hands, which had been anxiously flipping through the questionnaires, suddenly halted. Huh? He found it. His eyes sparkled. He swiftly scanned the questionnaire. Within it [Im not sure if this is something that can be written in a survey or if its a disease, but Ill gather the courage to write it. I have an eight-year-old younger brother. However, once or twice a month, he starts foaming at the mouth like hes possessed by a devil and his entire body shakes uncontrobly. We have consulted doctors, but no one has been able to determine the cause. The priest suggested that we pray fervently to drive out the evil spirit that seems to have taken hold of him.] was what was written. This must be it. Raciel had a strong intuition. He gave the order, Bring the person who wrote this questionnaire response to me immediately. The order was swiftly executed. Two hourster, Raciel came face to face with the protagonist(?) of the story described in the questionnaire. It was the eight-year-old younger brother of one of the maids. Hello there. Youre George, right? . The boy remained silent. In the end, Raciel let out a wistful smile. This child could have been an energetic, mischievous redhead covered in freckles. But now, he was visibly tense. It was only natural. He must have received an unexpected visit from the royal guards at home. As such, he must have been taken aback as he rode in a carriage to the pce. It was likely his first time seeing the pce. Moreover, the crown prince stood right in front of him, even addressing him. He must be wondering what was happening. His fear was likely overpowering his curiosity. First, I need to help him rx. Raciel crouched down. He met the boys gaze. And he took something out of his pocket. Do you like candies? This uncle, um, brother likes them. Shall I eat one first? Without waiting for a response, Raciel popped a candy into his mouth. The sweet taste filled his senses. Ah, its delicious. Now its your turn? He offered another piece of candy to the child. However, the boy hesitated and didnt eat it. Raciel didnt insist. Instead, he spoke to the child. Truth be told, I wanted to meet you today because your sister asked me for a favor. She mentioned that youve been having a lot on your mindtely. But as you know, your sister is very busy working in the pce, right? She feels sorry that she hasnt been able to listen to your concerns properly. So, Your Highness um, brother For now, just call me brother. Really. Really? Of course. But its our little secret. Dont tell those gentlemen over there, okay? If you do, they might get mad at me. No way, youre just tricking me. I promise, Im not. Really. Really? Didnt I tell you so? Leaning in closer to the child, Raciel raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence. With one arm, he gently embraced the childs small shoulders and guided them under the nearby table. In a hushed tone, he whispered, This is our secret spot. Those gentlemen outside wont be able to hear us here. What do you think? I dont think thats true. Ah, you caught me. Youre clever, George. Kids these days are really smart. But the other kids always tease me. They tease you? Why? They say Im weird. But youre not. Youre not weird at all, George. But I am. The other kids always say so. Thats strange. I wonder why they would say that. Gradually, naturally, the childs expression began to soften. He started to open up. In that moment, Raciels expertise in treating patients, honed during his time as an Oriental medicine doctor, dealing with many young patients who instinctively feared the clinic, came into y. And thanks to that, just a momentter, he was finally able to pinpoint the precise diagnosis of the child who was described as being possessed by a devil and experiencing seizures. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Oriental Medicine Clinic. In every neighborhood, there lies a traditional medicine clinic. However, it is a medical facility sought out only by those in need. Such was the state of Korean Oriental Medicine Clinics. But Raciel, formerly known as Lee Han-eeun, aimed to change that. Of course. Thats how we avoid bankruptcy! His motivations were not driven by lofty ideals of advancing traditional medicine or altering peoples perceptions of these clinics. It was simply a matter of survival, preserving the clinics ie. He needed to cover the daunting monthly rent and loan interest payments, which were as terrifying as being conscripted twice. Raciel always made an effort. Patient care was paramount. He strived to be as kind as possible, patiently lending an ear to the elderly with slow speech and movement. He never grew impatient and always listened attentively to his patients. When children visited the clinic, he paid even closer attention. Traditional herbal medicine was bitter and tasteless. Acupuncture could be painful and intimidating. Consequently, the Oriental medicine clinic was often seen as an unfamiliar and frightening ce, particrly by young patients. Raciel approached the children kindly, making sure not to be overbearing. He met them at eye level, sharing interesting stories to capture their curiosity. Naturally, the tension in the children would dissipate. He had be skilled in this technique. He employed it once again. The kids always tease me. They mimic my actions. They even mimicked you? Thats too much. They did. So, I ended up having a fight yesterday. Oh dear. You must have been upset. Raciel sympathized with him. George, the anxious little boy, pouted his lower lip. But I lost. Suddenly, I felt strange, and everything went dark. Went dark? Felt strange? Yes. Did it hurt? Not really The child shrugged. Raciel took his hand, offering warmth and support, encouraging the child to open up. Sometimes, I feel strange all of a sudden. My body feels eerie, and then I feel like Im floating in the sky and then I fall to the ground. After that, I cant move. You cant move? No, I cant. Just like that. My body trembles, goes numb, the sky feels far away, and I hear strange sounds. I scream,ugh, cry, and then Ie back to my senses. But I feel weak all over. That must have been frightening. Yeah, it was. But you managed to endure it each time? Youre brave, George. Whats the point of being brave? They tease and hit me, saying I was possessed by a devil, foaming at the mouth, and doing strange things. Its not a devil, George. .What? Really. Trust me. Racielforted George by patting his back. His words were not mere constion. They held truth and fact. While listening to the story, he discreetly assessed the childs pulse by subtly touching his wrist. Through the natural and covert application of pulse diagnosis, he gained a clear understanding. The findings were as follows. [Comprehensive analysis: The subject is generally healthy. However, signs of epilepsy caused by irregr brain waves have been detected. This may lead to a serious tonic-clonic seizure.] Epilepsy. A conditionmonly known as seizures. It was a condition where individuals led normal lives most of the time but experienced convulsions throughout their body and lost consciousness due to sudden and inexplicable surges in brain waves. The symptoms were much more distressing than one might imagine. Although it stemmed from abnormal brain waves, the pain was often misunderstood by those unfamiliar with the condition. Moreover, it turned out to be a more prevalent illness than most people realized. Raciel recalled a statistic he hade across before. It indicated that nearly one in every 100 individuals suffered from epilepsy. Even among celebrities, there were many who suffered from epilepsy. It is said that Lenin, the founder of the Soviet Union, the artist Vincent Van Gogh, and the famous author Dostoevsky also experienced epilepsy. And now, this child was also facing the same condition. I can only imagine how much pain he has been through. As Raciel looked at the child, he couldnt help but feel a deep sense of sympathy. Even in modern South Korea, individuals with epilepsy often encounter prejudice and biased views from those around them. Despite being a serious medical condition that requires care and support, there were instances where people treated them as if they were strange. Sadly, such instances were not umon. In a modern society like Korea, if this is the case, how much judgment and discrimination must this child have faced here? How much rejection, istion, and suffering had the child endured under the false assumption of being possessed by a devil? Nevertheless, its not a devil. Theres absolutely nothing wrong with you. Really? Yes. After all, I am the crown prince. I always know whats right. How? Just tell anyone who disagrees with me toe to the Star Pce. Are you going to scold them, Crown Brother? Whats with this Crown Brother? Just call me brother. Anyway, if anyone teases or bothers you with strange things, Ill give them a scolding they wont forget. So, I wont have to suffer anymore? The child asked hesitantly. Was it because this was the first time someone outside his family took his side? Raciel fell silent, sensing the childs subtle hope in that question. He couldnt provide a hasty answer. It was heart-wrenching. It was a question he didnt dare to answer definitively. Raciels expression turned slightly troubled. Its good that weve identified epilepsy. Im relieved, and I want to treat him as well. However The problemy in the fact that the childs illness was epilepsy. Raciel couldnt determine the underlying cause of the epilepsy. Had his pulse diagnosis skills, which he honed while establishing his oriental medicine clinic, fallen short? Or was it the palpation skill he acquired in this world? Even with the skill, he couldnt pinpoint the cause of epilepsy. The level of my palpation skill is too limited. He had attempted multiple times. Yet, all he could discern was the broad category of theprehensive opinion he had seen earlier. To achieve a more precise diagnosis, he would need to significantly enhance his skill level. Epilepsy can have a wide range of causes. To identify them properly Sadly, its not possible with traditional medicine alone. A thorough examination is necessary at a hospital. CT scans, EEGs, blood tests, liver and kidney function tests, urinalysis, lumbar punctures, blood cultures Not to mention MRI and PET-CT scans. All those procedures had to be conducted, and only with a specialists interpretation of the results could the cause of epilepsy be urately determined. But what about here? Its impossible. Even in Korea, when a patient with epilepsy visits his Oriental medicine clinic? You have to tell them it wont work here. Traditional medicine clinics were primarily visited for immune enhancement, improving constitution, and maintaining overall health. In cases like these, patients needed to go to arge or general hospital. Wandering aimlessly from one Oriental medicine clinic to another might dy the right time for proper treatment. As a conscientious doctor, he had always advised his patients with these words. Honestly, he felt a bit lost. Even without the necessary testing equipment How could he identify the underlying cause? And without knowing the cause, how could he provide appropriate treatment? Sigh An involuntary sigh escaped Raciel as he pondered. It was challenging to conceal such thoughts in front of the child. But then Um, brother? The childs voice called out to Raciel, snapping him out of his thoughts. He noticed something was amiss in the childs expression. I I feel strange Huh? The child, gripping Raciels sleeve tightly, had a nervous twitch at the corners of his lips. It wasnt just his lips; even his eyelids trembled irregrly, almost imperceptibly. I Im cold. His face appeared incredibly pale. It was as if he had just awakened from a terrifying nightmare or was about to descend into a harrowing one. Suddenly, the childs entire body convulsed, as if struck by lightning. Could it be? Raciel had a sense of impending doom. Uh, ugh The childs expression contorted. His eyes rolled back, and his neck jerked backward, with his shoulders tensing up. His entire body stiffened and trembled as if being electrocuted. It was a generalized tonic-clonic seizure, a manifestation of his epilepsy. Oh no. Raciel swiftly reached out, catching the child before he fell. Why now, of all times? He felt flustered. On some level, he understood. Its probably because he was suddenly called to the Star Pce and became tense. Could the childs mental state have triggered the seizure? Raciel spected as he gentlyid the child on the ground. Chaos erupted around them in the meantime. Ah, the child! Its the evil spirit. Hes possessed by an evil spirit! Crown Prince, step away! The guards and pce attendants panicked. Gardin, taken aback, shouted for them to back off. Demian gripped the hilt of his sword in silence, his eyes shining with determination. The childs sister, a maid, stifled her sobs, covering her mouth with both hands. Its dangerous, Your Highness! Stay away from the child! The pce guards rushed over, ready to snatch the child away and cast him aside, as if trying to separate Raciel from a wicked entity. Enough! Raciel involuntarily shouted. Everyone flinched. Quickly, Raciel addressed the frozen crowd surrounding him. Its not an evil spirit. Hes ill, suffering from a disease. Stop causing amotion. Stay quiet. Right now, the one experiencing the most misery and pain is this child. A patient needs care and protection. Someone, fetch a pillow. Ah, understood. One of the guards hurriedly ran off. Meanwhile, Gardin cautiously approached. Your Highness, the child appears to be in great pain. Of course. Just look at him. Indeed, Georgey on the floor, his entire body convulsing irregrly. He would tense up and then rx, repeating the cycle. Compassion filled Gardins eyes. Should we wipe away the foam from his mouth with a handkerchief? No, absolutely not. Raciel shook his head. cing a towel or anything near the mouth during a seizure could cause harm. The entire body, including the muscles in the jaw, involuntarily contract. Carelessly introducing an object could result in biting and potentially blocking the airway. So let it be. Ive positioned his head to the side, so the foam wont obstruct his airway. Should we hold down his arms or legs? No, we shouldnt do that either. The bodys nerves are in disarray. Attempting any forceful maniption or massage could cause the patient to involuntarily apply excessive pressure to the muscles. In the worst case, it could lead to muscle strain or even rupture. So what can we do. Nothing. We just need to keep a watchful eye. When the seizure subsides, hell appear as if hes fainted. Thats when we can begin taking care of him. It was disheartening to admit it aloud. The feeling of helplessness, the inability to take immediate action, was ufortable. Raciel waited for the seizure to pass, unbuttoning the childs shirt and loosening his belt. However, amidst it all, Gradually, Slowly, He sensed something peculiar in the child. Hmm? It was the flow of manathe movement of mana coursing through the childs body. He could faintly perceive the wild and tumultuous flow and path of mana, much like observing ink spreading through water. Why am I able to sense this? Initially, it caught him by surprise. But soon, he realized. The Asrahan Core Technique. The secret technique of the royal family that he had inherited. The Core Technique specialized in the absorption, maniption, amplification, and release of mana. It is said to possess a unique trait of sensitively detecting the flow of mana. The novel Devil Sword Emperor provided detailed information on this. As soon as that thought crossed his mind, Wait a minute. Realization dawned upon him. Mana was the manifestation of qi cirction. And now, through the Asrahan Core Technique, he could perceive the flow of mana within the childs body. In essence, he could precisely diagnose the cirction of qi throughout the childs body. Perhaps I might be able to identify the cause of epilepsy. There was a chance. No, he believed he could do it. With the knowledge of meridians he possessed, and the ability to understand qi cirction through the Asrahan Core Technique, what if the two werebined? Maybe, a diagnosis as urate as an MRI could be possible. If he could achieve such a diagnosis, he might be able to provide treatment for the childs epilepsy. Raciel glimpsed a glimmer of hope. Lets give it a try. In that moment of determination, Raciel gently touched the childs shoulder. He activated the circle around his heart, utilizing the maximum output. It was his first attempt at his unique Asrahan precision diagnostic method,bining it with the Asrahan Core Technique. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 Kiiing-! The activation of the Asrahan Core Technique sent the circle spinning vigorously. Raciels senses sharpened, allowing him to perceive intricate details within his body. The thumping of his heartbeat, the movement of saliva down the throat, the subtle tremors of the bronchi and diaphragmall became perceptible to him. I have qi circting in my body too. Qi, the life force, circted throughout the body, epassing every organ, limb, muscle, bone, hair, and cell. It permeated, resided, flowed, and pulsed wherever life functioned. Through the Asrahan Core Technique, Raciel sensed this mana and employed it to examine his own body. At first, he doubted the possibility, but to his surprise, it worked to some extent. Its like Ive be an X-ray using mana instead of X-rays. Or perhaps he felt akin to an MRI scanning the body using mana instead of maic resonance. Can I examine other peoples bodies in the same way? Raciel extended his hand and cautiously touched the shoulder of a child named George. He gradually increased the rotation of the mana circle. Kiiing-! The circle surrounding Georges heart spun even more vigorously, heightening Raciels sensitivity to mana. With a calm mind, he closed his eyes. Gradually, he began to perceive. I can see it. Behind closed eyelids, Raciel witnessed another realma pitch-ck world revealed by the Asrahan Core Technique. Within it, he observed flowing lights, the streams of mana circting within Georges body. The luminous mana strands marked their paths, resembling a view of cities and inhabited areas illuminated by electricity on a satellite photograph taken at night in South Korea. But as expected the flow is chaotic. Suppressing a sigh, Raciel acknowledged the disarray in the mana cirction within the childs body. It wasnt just abnormalit was catastrophic. The mana flowed indiscriminately, devoid of any prescribed pattern. Ordinarily, the cirction of qi should adhere to the principles of Yin and Yang, as well as the Five Elements. Like the air moving through the respiratory system when a person breathes, or the blood flowing from the heart through arteries, reaching the extremities, and returning via veins when the heart beatsthere should be a designated pathway for all flows within the body. But in Georges body? Raciel couldnt discern a set path. The mana ran wild, even more distressing was its excessive intensity. It was akin to a raging rapid obliterating valleys and embankments in a haphazard manner. So, this is what epilepsy looks like Observing the actual flow of qi intensified the heartache. A sense ofpassion surged within Raciel, yet he refused to let emotions consume him. This was a critical moment that demanded unwavering rationality. He was uncertain how long he could maintain such heightened sensitivity to mana. Hence, he needed to make the most of this opportunity. Focus, Raciel urged himself, his eyes gleaming. He scrutinized the unruly mana flow within the child. He traced each strand, retraced them, and conducted analysis. I must identify the flow causing epilepsy. Amidst the overwhelming brain waves, he searched for a thread that could guide him. Through the spinal nerves, he explored numerous nerve strands, observing, categorizing, and reanalyzing the entangled and twisted mana flow. He made inferences, tracked its course. And atst, he discovered it. I found it. His focus zeroed in on the side of the childs neck, where a nerve stem emerged from the medu through the jugr foramen outside the skull. It was the vagus nerve, one of the twelve cranial nerves extending from the brain. However, the mana signals flowing along that nerve were incredibly abnormalviolent, even. Zap, zap! Neural signals surged erratically, resembling sparks flying and meteors crashing down, incinerating everything in their path. The peripheral nerves convulsed under the strain of the disharmonious neural signals. Soon, a chain reaction of chaotic qi followed, rippling like a pebble thrown into a pond or a tsunami triggered by a falling meteor in the sea. The twisted and devastating surge of qi spread from the peripheral nerves to the childs medu, overthrowing the vagus nerve nucleus. The waves propagated throughout the entire brain, causing a rampage of catastrophic neural signals that affected the childs entire body. This is it, Raciel finally understood. He had discovered the root cause. Erroneous neural signals originating from the vagus nerve. They stimte the medu and the vagus nerve nucleus, resulting in a neural rampage throughout the entire brain. Raciel intensified his focus, fixating on the vagus nerve. He observed the pattern of neural signals emanating from it,mitting it to memory. Meanwhile, the frenzied flow of mana within the childs body gradually calmed down, and the symptoms of the seemingly unending tonic-clonic seizure began to subside. That should be enough. Fortunately, he had gathered all the necessary information. Raciel released his concentration, deactivating the Asrahan Core Technique. The spinning circle came to a halt. Kiiiing The mana-revealed world inside the childs body receded. He opened his eyes. The familiar outside world came into view, but something felt off. Everything seemed ovepped, as if viewed two or three times. Uh. His legs gave out, and he copsed involuntarily. Taking a deep breath, Raciel noticed cold sweat trickling down his cheeks. His hand and arm, which had been in contact with the childs shoulder, disyed the same symptoms. Am I exhausted? Unconsciously, he must have pushed the Asrahan Core Technique to its limits. Using the Core Technique for diagnosis proved to be no easy task, and he himself was still in a precarious state. Dizziness overwhelmed him. His stomach churned. Your Highness! Voices echoed around him. Raciel waved his hand to reassure them that he was fine. First, he checked the childs condition before tending to his own well-being. Fortunately, the child was safe, sound asleep as if he had fainted after the seizure subsided. Only after confirming this did Raciel nce around. The guard knights, Demian, the special duty soldiers, and the pce guards seemed close by, just a few steps away, yet they felt strangely distant. He mustered a weak smile. Bring a nket. Cover the child. Hes exhausted, and his muscles must be extremely tired from enduring seizures. Rest is crucial now. Let him sleep without disturbance. Dont move him to a bed. Keep the noise down. Nomotion. Uh, Your Highness? And I need to rest a bit myself Bring me a pillow and a nket as well. Your Highness! A voice called out, and the world began to spin. His head, chin, and the floor collided, resulting in a slightly rough sensation. The ceiling twirled, and the surroundings grew distant. Receding. Darkening. Sleep enveloped him. Soon, everything submerged into darkness. Ugh, my head. Had he fallen into a deep sleep? Raciel slowly opened his eyes. The surroundings were dimly lit, with only a few flickering lights illuminating the area around the bed immersed in darkness. And next to the bed Are you awake? Demian was there, his face unusually smooth, framed by his jet-ck hair. There was a captivating aura about him. It felt as if Raciel was encountering a protagonist he had read about and imagined in a novel. This was what it felt like to face someone and engage in conversation. Perhaps his gaze was burdensome, as Demian furrowed his brow slightly. Youve been lying down for half a day. Is that so? It must be past midnight. Yes. Sir Gardin was by your side until recently, but he went to rest. Tsk. The attending physician falls asleep while the patient is unconscious? I reassured him and sent him off. You reassured him? Yes. I knew you would wake up soon. Thinking an exnation was necessary, Demian paused briefly before continuing. I dont know the details, but well, I noticed a subtle change in your breath. A change in my breath? Yes. The scent was different. So you knew I would wake up soon? It may sound strange, but yes. That is peculiar. A chuckle escaped Raciel. It was indeed odd. Demian knew he would wake up soon because of the subtle change in his breath. No, even before that, he detected such a subtle difference. It was impossible for an ordinary person. But Demian? Possible. He was likely on the verge of bing an advanced Sword Expert. When that day arrived, he would face the so-called Sword Master Syndrome, where all senses in his body became overly sensitive. Of course, he still needs more time. That issue can be addressedter, perhaps when he truly begins to suffer from the syndrome. With his thoughts sorted out, Raciel changed the subject. What about the child? George woke up earlier, around dinnertime. He seemed very tired. I can imagine. He has been experiencing such seizures. Yes. After giving him a hearty dinner, we allowed him to sleep again. Good. Well done. But, are you sure that child isnt possessed by an evil spirit? Yes. Raciel nodded. Its not some superstitious phenomenon. Its a neurological disorder. Neurological? Yes. Fortunately, I have also discovered the cause. Thats right. He found it. Raciel reminisced about the events earlier in the daythe initial attempt at the precise diagnostic method using the Asrahan Core Technique. It was an unfamiliar and astounding experience. And the result was even more remarkable. I had hoped for it, and I actually seeded. It was as if I was peering directly into the childs body In any case, the cause of the seizures lies in the peripheral nerves. Now, there was only one treatment option. Vagus Nerve Stimtion. It required a surgical procedure performed at the hospital. The surgery involved inserting an electrode into the vagus nerve on the left side of the neck. And when this electrode delivered a small electrical stimtion to the vagus nerve That stimtion is transmitted to the brain, reducing epileptic seizures. A minor surgery with significant effects. Of course, it wouldnt work for all epilepsy patients, but it offered the potential for continuous improvement and personalized treatment by adjusting the size of the electrical stimtion. Furthermore, the post-treatment effects were minimal. In Georges case, it was even more suitable since the overactive vagus nerve was the cause of his epilepsy. There was no need for drug therapy like gabapentin, valproate, carbamazepine, or the pursuit of alternative treatments such as CBD oil or a ketogenic diet. Vagus Nerve Stimtion alone would suffice. And Raciel had already devised a way to implement Vagus Nerve Stimtion here. I thought of it just before I passed out. He thought, pondered, considered, and deduced. And finally, he figured it out. Its worth trying. There was no reason to hesitate now. Raciel rose from the bed. Lets go. Yes? Startled by his sudden words, Demian tilted his head. Observing Raciel hurriedly dressing, Demian raised an eyebrow. Where are we going in the middle of the night? To the pce. We have something to try. Just follow me. Understood. They left the bedroom together, departing from the Star pce and traversing the city streets after midnight, the distant sound of carriages echoing in the background. Finally, they reached the pce. Thank you for your assistance in the middle of the night. Please guide us to Sir Zis, the Court Magician. To Sir Zis? The pce guard, taken aback by the princes request to be guided in the dark of night, blinked in disbelief. Raciel nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Right away. Ah, understood. Led by the guard, they passed through several gardens, hallways, stairs, and corners. Here we are. They finally arrived at the residence of the court magician, Zis. Raciel opened the door and entered, causing quite amotion inside. Who, who is it! The sudden opening of the door and the influx of people startled a bearded old man, resembling a character from Lord of the Rings, who was d in sleepwear. It was Zis, the court magician. Clearly startled from a deep slumber, Raciel felt a tinge of remorse witnessing his reaction. But there was no other choice. The idea he had conceived required trying it in the middle of the night rather than during the day when everyone was wide awake. It was a request that could only be attempted at such an hour. He had to cure the childs epilepsy, even if it meant resorting to this unconventional approach. So that sessful treatment cases can spread as rumors, attracting more people to the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic, and I can receive the bonus life! His motivation wasnt driven by concern for the child or humanitarian reasons. It was purely for his own well-beingto ensure he could eat well, sleep well, and live a long and healthy life. With this determination in mind, he approached the court magician, his face disying an unyielding determination akin to a titanium steel te. Sir Zis, I havee to ask you for a favor. Can you Yes? Could you cast a lightning spell on my back, just once? Me? Zis, the court magician, who had been abruptly awakened from a deep slumber and faced with an unexpected request, found his eyes performing a chaotic tap dance of confusion and bewilderment. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Restlessness consumed court magician Zis as his pupils bounced anxiously. Me? Yes. Why? Zis was astounded. The sudden intrusion of the Crown Prince into his quarters in the middle of the night was absurd enough, but the favor he was asking for He wants me to use lightning magic to zap his back? Why? For what purpose? No matter how much he pondered, he couldnt fathom the reason. Instead, more question marks filled his mind, along with memories of his conversation with the Emperor the previous day. Raciel, that boy has been acting peculiartely. Its strange what hes up to. He remembered the grumbling voice of the Emperor. The Emperor added something like this. Hes doing all sorts of things. After the royal festival, who knows what strange things hell do next. The Emperors sigh at the end of his words lingered in Zis thoughts. Certainly, those words were filled withints andmentations, but something felt off. Despite theints and sighs, the corner of the Emperors mouth was subtly raised. As someone who had served the Emperor his entire life, Zis understood the Emperors moods quite well. He must have been satisfied, despite his grumbling, Zis thought. The Emperor was proud of the Crown Prince. He took pride in his son, and the ruler of the empire could barely contain his desire to boast, [My child has changed.] Yes, all parents be like that when they have a child. But Your Majesty, you said the Crown Prince has changed. But is this what you meant by change? Zis raised his head, finding Crown Prince Raciel standing before him. Tears welled up in Zis eyes at the sight. Why would I have to hurt you, Your Highness? Huh? Did you need my life that you came in the middle of the night? Oh, no, thats not it. Then Wait a moment. There seems to be a misunderstanding. When I asked you to zap my back with magic, I didnt mean I want to die. And I definitely dont want to be roasted to a crisp. Then what is it? Zis asked with a bewildered expression. Raciel smiled faintly. Its not a strange request, so dont worry, Zis. What I mean is, can you provide me with a consistently gentle electrical stimtion, simr to static, for at least three hours? Pardon? Do you think you can do it? Zis remained speechless. Electric magic was typically a highly destructive offensive magic. It was challenging to cast, but if sessful, it could decimate the surrounding area without much difficulty. Particrly when wielded by a high-ranking magician like himself, electric magic became a small-scale disaster in its own right. Yet now he was being asked to diminish it to the level of static electricity and sustain it consistently for three hours. Your Highness? Hmm? Do you realize how incredibly difficult what you just asked for is? Yes. Thats why I came to you, didnt I? Raciel responded as if it were obvious. And indeed, it was obvious. Its difficult. Very difficult. Controlling inherently destructive magic, reducing its power, maintaining it for an extended periodits truly challenging. It demanded exceptional precision in mana control. For instance, consider Hellfire magic that reaches temperatures close to 5000 degrees Celsius. Firing ten sts of that Hellfire versus adjusting the me to a mere 40 degrees Celsius and firing one shotthetter is overwhelmingly more difficult. If one were topare it to everyday life It might be akin to driving a vehicle. Pressing the elerator all the way was easy. But dividing the eleration into 10 or 20 levels and maintaining the RPM as intended was rtively more challenging. This was the principle that brought Crown Prince Raciel to seek court magician Zis today. Zis, you are the most renowned wizard in the empire. Thats why I came to you. Its not easy to find someone who can perform such delicate and stable mana control. Its a task I can only entrust to someone like you. , Zis remained silent. What do you think? Have your concerns eased a bit? Ahem, yes, Your Highness. However, may I inquire why you are making such a request of me? No. Im not trying to do anything harmful. Im doing this to save a life. So, will you do it or not? Raciel asked, and Zis stroked his pure white beard with a puzzled expression. Ahem! Ahem! To be honest I am starting to feel intrigued by the challenge, Your Highness. However However? Just in case What if something goes wrong with me? Yes, Your Highness. Zis expressed his unease. Raciel chuckled softly. Dont worry. I wont hold you responsible. Pardon? Even if I get hurt, it wont be your fault. Oh, if my words still make you anxious, we can have these pce guards as witnesses. ! The pce guards eyes widened. They all had the same thought. Me? They wondered, looking at the back of Raciels head. Why? But they couldnt voice their question. Meanwhile, court magician Zis nodded. Hmm, if Your Highness insists, I understand. I will give it a try. Good. Thats the right decision. Then, when should I do as you have asked? Now. Pardon? Theres no need to dy. And now is better. When the sun rises, more people will interfere. That was true. Proceeding would be difficult once daylight arrived. Despite the reduced power, the court magician would still be frying the crown prince with electric magic(?). More people woulde and bother them than the squids sold at the dawn fish market. So, right now. Right here. Ah, I understand. Zis took a deep breath. Raciel also prepared himself and sat on the floor. Lets start with a test. After all, he was about to receive electrical stimtion. The stimtion would be processed and delivered to the micro-neurology of a child. He couldnt just try it recklessly. He needed to test it first. Some level of safety had to be ensured. With such determination, he assumed his position. Slowly, he activated the Asrahan Core Technique. Kiiiiing The circle slowly rotated, preparing to receive mana and stimtion from the outside. Then, Zis spoke. Your Highness, are you ready? Instead of answering, Raciel nodded. Ziss expression turned serious. Then, I will release it. With those words, Zis crossed his hands in front of his chest. His palms and fingers intertwined and then released. He madeplex gestures, rearranging the flow of mana, bundling it, and forming a rule with knots. And then Fzzt! A small spark emerged in the air. Without time to react, it shot towards Raciel. Fzzt! Ouch! Raciels shoulders twitched involuntarily. It stung. It was about five times the sting of full-powered static electricity created by a sweater that had not received the blessing(?) of fabric softener in midwinter. But it wasnt deadly. Good. Perfect. I knew it would be like this. Zis was the court magician of the Empire, a position not earned through luck. It was a testament to being the officially strongest magician in the country. I knew you could handle a request like this with ease. In the novel Devil Sword Emperor, it was mentioned that Ziss mastery of mana control was exceptional. Believing in that description, Raciel pushed forward with the experiment. And the result was a sess. Now its my turn. Zis had lived up to expectations, and now it was Raciels turn to exert himself. Raciel increased the absorption power of his mana circle. Kiiiiing-! The rotation speed of the circle increased. The tingling sensation from the electric magic became duller as more current was absorbed and settled into the circle. I shouldnt just absorb it. The next step is processing. He created a small chunk of mana at the center of the circle, initially no bigger than a grain of rice. He filled it with the energy of the electric magic. But it wasnt just filling it; he engraved electrical signals within the chunk, creating patterns like a graph or a programmed code. He shaped the chunk of mana to emit electric stimtion in a specific pattern around it. He shaped, trimmed, and added functions. And then he observed. Pafzzt pafzzt! Like a heartbeat, thepleted chunk of mana began emitting a faint electrical signal, perfectly following the intended pattern. This Asrahan Core Technique, its aplete cheat. Raciel was surprised by his own achievement. He hadnt expected it to work on the first try. He had anticipated days of practice. But when he actually attempted it, it was easier than he had imagined. This should work. Raciel raised his head, feeling the tingling of electric magic throughout his body. He spoke as his body twitched continuously. Ststopstop! Court magician Zis looked at him with a puzzled expression. He couldnt understand what Raciel was saying. Raciel cried out again. Stop it! Do you mean stop shooting? Ye Yes! Sto Stop! Zis was startled, realizing what was being said. He immediately interrupted the magic casting. The sessful experiment hade to an end. Now, it was time for the actual treatment. When Raciel returned to the Star Pce, it was dusk, and morning was approaching. So, from now on, it might sting a bit. Sting? Yes. Raciel nodded. Perhaps due to the strange atmosphere of the Star Pce, Georges expression showed a hint of tension. I wont tell you not to be nervous. Medicines are bitter, and treatments can sting. I wont sugarcoat it. Is it very stingy? Hmm, just a little? How much? Like a yful pinch. Uh, I dont like being pinched. Have you been pinched a lot? By Lily. A friend? No. Then? My girlfriend. Raciel suddenly felt a twinge of sadness. Hoo. Betrayal. Pardon? Uh, nothing. Should we lie down first? He gentlyid the child down. He retrieved Kozumi. Kozumi, sorry for disturbing you this morning. Can you give me just one white spine? Kooo! Pop! He received a pure white spine. George, the child, stared wide-eyed at the sight of the spine. That Its okay. You wont cry just from a little prick with this, right? It looks painful If you cry, Ill tell Lily. Why? Whats wrong? And you were already pricked. Pardon? Just now, you were pricked. Didnt you notice? Raciel grinned. It wasnt that the needle wasnt there; it had already been discreetly ced in the childs neck, targeting the RenYing acupoint while they were chatting. See? I told you it doesnt hurt. Initially flustered, the child finally felt reassured. Raciel shifted his gaze and saw Court Magician Zis there. Now. Lets begin. He signaled. Zis nodded. The electric magic he had prepared was released in Raciels direction. Pafzzt! A tingling sensation traveled down Raciels spine. Simultaneously, he activated the Asrahan Core Technique. However, even then, Raciel had no knowledge of what was toe. He had no idea that the micro-nerve stimtion surgery he performed on the child that day would lead to an unexpected achievement. Chapter 39 Chapter 39I Next Zap! A tingling sensation shot down Raciels spine. He felt a controlled and weakened electric current running along his back, causing his shoulders to jerk involuntarily. Raciel clenched his teeth. Endure it, just like before. He had experienced a simr sensation earlier that morning when he had gone to Zis for experimentation. Now, he had to endure, ept, and absorb it. With unwavering determination, he began rotating the circle. Sssss The rotation of the circle surrounding his heart intensified. Its innate ability to absorb mana from the surroundings activated, and Raciel directed all its absorption power to his back. Screeee-! The absorption power of the circle captured all the mana from the electric magic stimting his back. It absorbed,pressed, processed, and transformed it into a small bead of mana, about the size of a bean. Raciel continued to tightly pack the power of electric magic into this tiny bead. It felt like charging a battery. Im like a transformer, he chuckled to himself, or perhaps a charger would be a more urate description. He found amusement in this peculiar sensation, feeling like a charger as he received the electricity (?) shot at him by Court Magician Zis, adjusting the voltage and charging the mana bead. Anyway, its progressing well. Everything was going ording to his practice. If he continued charging like this for about 30 minutes, he believed he would umte enough power. A single electrical stimtion doesnt make sense in the context of micro-neuro stimtion. It should provide a lifetimes worth of usage after one procedure. To prevent epilepsy until this child grows old and dies, continuous electrical stimtion is necessary. To achieve that, he needed to store an electrical energy that couldst a lifetime, perhaps even decades. It was undoubtedly a challenging task. But I can do it. Lets continue smoothly. With a prayer-like sentiment, Raciel charged the mana bead with electric magic. Meanwhile, time passed. Five minutes, ten minutes, and twenty minutes. The childs sister received the news and hurried over. Many others gathered as well, including Demian and Gardin, diators of the Special Duty squad, bodyguards, and a few pce maids. Everyone stood at a distance, silently watching the procedure, clenching and unclenching their fists. Fortunately or unfortunately, no one caused trouble by iming, The Court Magician is zapping the Crown Prince with electric magic! They must be curious about what Im doing. In their eyes, it must have been fascinating. The Court Magician shooting electric magic at him while he endured the shocks, inserting a spine into the childs neck. It was undoubtedly an extraordinary spectacle. And what about Raciel? He was satisfied. This is how it should be. It should be more of a spectacle. If the child could be cured through this new, fresh, and innovative method, if he could be freed from epileptic seizures The spectators present would serve as witnesses. They would spread the word that the Crown Prince had treated the child using a brilliant method, making it a lifelong topic of conversation. Whenever they met rtives, neighbors, or friends, they would discuss it. That would generate word-of-mouth promotion. What better voluntary viral marketing could there be? Raciel grinned with satisfaction. Sessful viral marketing. A promotional jackpot. He could envision the scene where numerous patients flocked to the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. He could vividly imagine himself treating them methodically and reaping significant bonus life. Ah, how fulfilling. Just the thought of it made him feel content. While smoothly charging the battery(?) Raciel continued to curl his lips into a smile. However, in the midst of this Zap! Huh? Suddenly, he felt an unusual flow of mana. At first, he thought he might have made a mistake while charging the mana bead with electricity. He considered the possibility of identally causing a voltage surge. But it wasnt that. The sensation of the strange mana flow wasnt originating from within Raciels own body. It wasing from the neck of the child, George. Zap Zap! .. Wait a minute. Could this be Its powerful. Raciel quickly focused his mind, observing the flow of mana within the childs body. And then it hit him. The micro neuro nerves in the childs neck were harboring unstable and menacing mana. As soon as he realized it Raciels brows furrowed deeply. Damn it. Things had taken a turn for the worse. The childs micro nerves. Unstable neural signals were emerging from there. The pattern of those signals felt strangely familiar. In fact, they were the same neural signals he had witnessed the day before. Specifically The explosive signals that trigger epileptic seizures. And now, feeling those signals meant? Its about to erupt. The seizure is about to start. Raciel swiftly examined the childs conditionhis breathing, facial expressions, and the movement of his pupils. ..How much longer do I have to continue this? Perhaps sensing Raciels unease or detecting something amiss, the child asked hesitantly. Raciel responded with a forced smile. Just a little longer. Were almost there, so please hold on a bit more. Can you do that? Yes. No, he couldnt. The child might not know it, but an epileptic seizure would soon take hold. At most, within 3 minutes. The childs micro nerves were bing increasingly active. Unstable neural signals were growing stronger with each passing moment. Judging by the progression, it was almost certain that the seizure would begin within a maximum of 3 minutes. In the worst case, 1 minute. Before that happened, Raciel had toplete charging the mana bead inside. The fully charged mana bead had to be inserted into the childs micro nerves. But could he do it in time? Theres not enough time. Completing the charging process would require at least 10 more minutes. During that time, the epileptic seizure would inevitably begin. Once the seizure started, any further procedures, including electrode cement, would be impossible. Should I stop now? Raciel fell into deep contemtion. With so little time remaining, he needed to make a swift decision. He shook his head. No. If I stop now, nothing will be aplished. He could sense itthe tension and anxiety the child experienced during the procedure. This mental state was stimting the micro nerves, resulting in unstable neural responses. The implication was clear. Even if I halt the procedure now, the same situation will arise when I attempt it again. The same precursor to a seizure will manifest. Perhaps, given enough time and familiarization, he could stabilize the child psychologically. But during that time, his own time would be depleted. I dont have time. Raciel had a mere 158 days of expected lifespan remaining. To soothe and reassure the child, stabilize him psychologically, seed in the procedure, wait for the word to spread, and eventually have patients flock to the Star Pce I cannot estimate how long that will take. It might require more time than his expected lifespan allowed. And that was uneptable. When his lifespan reached its end, he would die. Therefore, I must prevail now. The conclusion was clear. But the method? An idea came to mind. Raciel steeled himself and turned to Court Magician Zis. I apologize for what Im about to ask, Mage Zis. Yes? Use your lightning magic, but three times stronger than before. Your Highness? Hurry. I will exin the reasonster. But, Your Highness. I wont die from that alone. You should know. It will be extremely painful. I dont care. .. Zis clenched his mouth shut. Your Highness. His trembling eyes fixed on Raciel, filled with a mix of emotions. Was it because he was witnessing the Crown Prince enduring pain to treat a child? Was it due to the noble sight ofpassionately considering the patients suffering? Or perhaps a bitter realization creeping up his nose? No. Absolutely not. Sheesh, being royalty is tough. In all honesty, Zis wasnt particrly enthusiastic. He worried about the consequences if the Crown Prince made a mistake or misused his power. But he had no choice. He was an underling. Making a living by serving others was no easy task. And the person giving the orders was not just anyone, but the second most powerful individual in the Empire. The anguish of following orders reluctantly! The plight of an employee forced into overtime by a cruel employer since dawn! Since this wasmanded by His Highness and many are watching, nothing should go wrong. It shouldnt. Zis focused every nerve in his body to control his mana. He increased the output just enough to avoid killing the Crown Prince. Zap! The lightning magic, three times stronger, struck Raciels back. Argh! Did it feel like being hit by a taser gun? Raciels entire body convulsed involuntarily. His vision briefly went ck. Sparks filled his field of view. Again, his vision cked out. More sparks flew. The cycle repeated over and over. He felt on the verge of fainting. Raciel gritted his teeth, determined not to lose consciousness. Apassionate heart understanding the patients pain? A noble vow to save even an ordinary child? There was none of that. What stirred in Raciels heart was Ahhh! The treatment! I will seed! Absolutely! Without a doubt! Spread the word! Viral marketing! The clinic will flourish! Extra life bonus! A royal life of longevity! He was determined to seed. He would prove himself by healing the child. And then, he would reap all the rewards. Wealth and honor! Let it pour down on me! Flex! He shouted, fueled by his desires. He injected himself with boundless egoistic motivation. He pumped himself up. He summoned the courage and ignited an unwavering will for wealth, honor, abundance, and flexing. He held on tightly. He pushed his Asrahan Core Technique to its limits. Kiing-! The mana circle roared. The rotation speed exceeded its limits, drawing in mana with fierce intensity. It absorbed,pressed, amplified, and processed the energy. The charging speed for the lightning magic surged dramatically. Kiaaaa-! Zap! Zzzt! The pea-sized lump of mana began radiating a white glow. Powerful sparks emanated from it. Charging wasplete. But its not over yet! The most challenging stage was about to begin. Raciel bit his lips until they bled. He countered pain with more pain. He summoned hisst ounce of concentration. He meticulously processed the electrical signal within the charged mana lump. I cant apply electrical stimtion randomly inside the childs body. After all, the goal was to suppress epileptic seizures. To achieve that, he had to gain control over the unstable neural signals originating from the micro nerves. Those unstable neural signals are also forms of biological electrical stimtion. If I apply electrical stimtion with an opposite signal, matching the intensity and timing He could dampen the unstable neural signals within the micro nerves. I can do it. I can aplish this. He encouraged himself. Recalling the pattern of the childs micro neural signals etched into his memory, he processed an electrical stimtion signal that was theplete opposite. He embedded it within the mana lump. Done. He meticulously crafted a finely designed mana electrode,pleting it in about 40 seconds. Raciel checked the childs condition. I feel strange. The child clutched at his clothes, his face having turned pale. Raciel sensed it. Theres less than 30 seconds until the seizure begins. It was unfolding just as it had the day before. The same scenario repeated itself today. His hands moved swiftly. Hurry. He grasped the spine inserted into the childs neck and guided the charged mana electrode through it. Zap! A small, pure white electrode passed through the spine and entered the childs neck. Raciel directed its path using the Asrahan Core Technique. The cement location for the electrode is the carotid artery. He could sense the carotid artery running alongside the micro nerves. Meanwhile, the unstable signals in the micro nerves grew uncontrobly strong. 15 seconds remaining. He felt it intuitively. The seizure wouldmence in 15 seconds. His movements became even swifter. He elongated the mana electrode. He wrapped it around the carotid artery once. Carefully, meticulously, yet swiftly. It was akin to defusing a time bomb, allowing no room for error. Precisely. He maneuvered, extended, wrapped, tightened, and secured it. He refined the connection. I ugh euh? The childs eyes gradually rolled back. His limbs grew rigid. 5 seconds. Fizzt! Buzzt! The micro nerves began to go haywire. Meanwhile, Raciel hastened toplete the procedure. Euh! The childs back arched. The convulsion had begun. It spread from the nape of his neck. Like an inevitable earthquake. Like an unstoppable tidal wave. Yet, Raciel did not evade it. He moved forward with a determined resolve to halt it definitively. 3 seconds. The electrode instation wasplete. Eugh. Foam started umting in the childs mouth. 2 seconds. A pronounced pulse throbbed in the carotid artery. Euh. The childs head tilted backward. 1 second. The pulse caused the wall of the carotid artery to swell. The movement stimted the mana electrode. The activated electrode responded to the stimtion. Zap! The first electrical signal was unleashed, invading the childs micro nerves. It collided with the dominant unstable neural signals within the micro nerves. Raciel witnessed the spectacle unfold before his eyes. Fizzt! Neural signals and electrical stimtion. Two forces shed. Striking each other. Reverberating. Toppling. And ultimately neutralizing one another. The two signals offset each other upon collision. The unstable neural signals in the micro nerves were cleanly eradicated. 0 seconds. As Raciel mentally counted down to the final moment Eugh, uh, hmm uh? The tension that had seized the childs limbs abruptly dissipated. His head, once tilted back, straightened. The eyes that had rolled back returned to their rightful position. Brother? The child gazed up at Raciel with properly focused ck pupils. Gradually, an incredible smile graced his face. At that very moment, as surprise and astonishment flickered in the eyes of the onlookers A new message appeared before Raciels eyes. Ding dong! [You have pushed the Asrahan Core Technique to its limits in resisting the intense stimtion inflicted upon your body. In this process, you have sessfully shattered the confines of your own limitations.] [The level of your Asrahan Core Technique has increased.]I Next Chapter 40 Chapter 40I Next [The level of your Asrahan Core Technique has increased.] Raciels eyes were met with a new notification. The lingering numbness in his body subsided. Raciel took a moment to ease his pain, then took a deep breath, attentively reading the ongoing messages. [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Level: Single Circle Lv. 2] [It absorbs nearby mana, processes/amplifies it in a circle around the heart, and utilizes it. The amplification rate increases significantly with each additional circle.] [Mana Amplification Rate: 130%] [HP required for the next level up: 1,200] [Current HP: 200] The Core Technique had leveled up, resulting in a 10% increase in the amplification rate. But the messages didnt stop there. Ding-dong! Could there be more rewards? And his intuition proved correct. [You have excellently endured the intense electrical stimtion within a short period.] [As a result of this stimtion, the metal energy in the lungs and colon has been activated, surpassing the wood energy.] [Following the principle of Metal Conquers Wood (), the liver, which represents the wood element among the Five Viscera and Six Bowels, has awakened.] [Your liver has awakened.] [Lungs: Wee to the team, neer!] [Heart: Huh? A newbie?] [Spleen: Sple hahaha.] [Colon: Am I not the youngest anymore? Dont be scared, bro, haha.] [Your liver has contributed 300 HP as sponsorship.] [Your spleen, heart, and colon, happy about the new member, have contributed 500 HP as sponsorship.] [A birthday party for your liver is taking ce within you, granting you an additional 300 HP.] [Current HP: 1,300] Suddenly, a new member joined Raciels Five Viscera and Six Bowels. He clenched his fist. Excellent. Truly excellent! He received a substantial amount of HP sponsorship. But it wasnt just that. HP was a valuable resource that allowed him to create skills or summon Phantom Beasts. And the precious contributors of this HP were the Five Viscera and Six Bowels. Now, with the birth of a new member among these organs, Raciel would be able to receive even more HP in the future. It was an unexpected gain. Just then, another message interrupted his thoughts. Ding-dong! Hmm? The seemingly endless series of messages continued. [You have sessfully treated the patient, George, with an aggressive yet decisive approach. He will be freed from his chronic seizures and live a morefortable and stable life. In his original future, George would have resorted to alcohol to cope with the pain of his seizures, eventually developing liver disease and passing away at the age of 56. However, thanks to your intervention, the future has changed, and he will enjoy a rtively healthy old age.] [The Medical Billing (Lv. 2) skill has been activated.] Oh? [By utilizing your unique Micro Nerve Stimtion procedure, patient Georges life expectancy has been extended by 14 years and 7 months. As a result, you are granted a bonus life equivalent to 1/1950 of 14 years and 7 months.] [A bonus life of 2.69 days has been calcted.] [The minimum unit of life used for calction is one day.] [The calcted bonus life has been rounded up.] [A total of 3 days of bonus life has been granted.] [Your expected life expectancy: 161 days] This time, Raciel acquired bonus life as well. The oue exceeded his expectations. Taking a deep breath, Raciel raised his head and nced around. The first person heid his eyes upon was George, the child he had just treated. Huh? Eh? George appeared perplexed. Um, I feel strange. The child tried to leap up from his seat, but Raciel swiftly extracted the spine from his body. Observing George, he couldnt help but smile. Indeed, it must feel strange. And it did. The onset of a seizure was imminent, yet it vanished. The child examined his entire body, utterly astounded. This Its never happened before. Usually, when I get goosebumps and feel this way sparks start shing before my eyes, I break out in a cold sweat I cant move on my own, and so on. But it didnt happen this time, did it? No. And it wont happen in the future. Really? You wont have to suffer anymore. Really? Georges eyes grew increasingly puzzled, as if questioning the meaning behind Raciels words. It was as though they found it unbelievable. And rightly so. Having endured epilepsy all his life, who could easily believe that the pain would vanish overnight? Raciel gently helped the child to his feet, meeting his gaze at eye level. Locking eyes with George, he spoke carefully. I promise you. Yourepletely healed now. You wont experience any more pain. The sudden sense of strangeness leading to loss of consciousness, the copsing and convulsions without cause, being teased or avoided by other children because of itnone of that will happen again. Really? Yes. Really, really? Really, really. Raciel beamed. If Im lying, you can be the crown prince starting tomorrow. Ehem. Everyone, heed my words. Oh Raciel yfully tousled Georges hair. Laughter emanated from beneath the tousled strands. Raciel found himselfughing as well. Somehow, he felt like he could understand, even if only a little, how George felt at that moment. When I was young, I experienced a simr moment. Suddenly, a memory from when he was nine years old resurfaced. Was it during his ytime with friends in the neighborhood? He had severely sprained his right ankle, causing it to swell immensely. The pain was excruciating, rendering him unable to walk. His mother had carried him to a local Oriental medicine clinic. He couldnt recall if it was a legitimate Oriental medicine clinic or a moxibustion clinic. An elderly man with impaired vision worked there. He had inserted needles into Raciels ankle and several other points. At first, it had been frightening, anxiety-inducing, and ufortable. But after the acupuncture His ankle, which had been throbbing with pain, waspletely healed! He couldnt walk on the way to the clinic, but on the way back, he sprinted all the way home. It felt like a true miracle. Perhaps that childhood experience had influenced his decision to be an Oriental Medicine doctor. I wonder if that ce still exists. The nameless Oriental medicine clinic in the neighborhood where he had once resided. It was located under the overpass in front of Seokpo Elementary School near the Busan UN Cemetery. If possible, Raciel wished he could showcase his acupuncture skills to the old man or even learn from him. At any rate, I felt just like this back then. The sheer amazement of running home after receiving acupuncture treatment. As he gazed at Georges flushed face, the memory of his own tion resurfaced, and a smile graced Raciels lips. Moreover, there was more good news. And it was a sess. Raciel surveyed his surroundings. Court Magician Zis. Gardin and Demian. The diators of the Special Duty squad. The Star Pce guards, eunuchs, and even the maids. All eyes were fixed on Raciel and George, filled with astonishment. Among them, one person stood out the most George! A maid emerged from the crowd, her voice ringing out. As soon as George spotted her, he responded eagerly. Sister! The siblings embraced each other, filled with joy. The boy had a bright smile on his face, and the maid couldnt hold back her tears of happiness. Raciel, too, was deeply moved by the scene unfolding before him. Ah, Im one step closer. Closer to the dream of wealth and honor. He had sessfully cured the boys epilepsy, and everyone in the Star Pce had witnessed the miraculous process. They had seen him endure the electric magic and witnessed the boys impending seizure subside. They had all been on the edge of their seats, cheering him on. This moment would be etched in their memories forever. They would share this story with anyone they met, spreading it like a rumor. Have you heard? If you go to the Star Pce, your ailments can be cured! And then Raciel would heal them, earning a bonus lifespan in return. A future of longevity and prosperity awaited him. Trembling with anticipation and happiness, Raciel couldnt contain his excitement. But suddenly, without warning, his legs gave way beneath him. Thud. Huh? Was it because of the tension he had been under while performing the procedure? Was it the strain of enduring the electric magic? Or perhaps it was due to his exhaustion from staying awake day and night, assisting the Court Magician. It could have been abination of all these factors. My strength Raciel felt his energy draining away, as if the tide was receding. He couldnt recall when he had slumped down, but he noticed the concerned faces of those rushing towards him. Am I going to faint? Indeed, thats exactly what happened. Consciousness slipped away rapidly, like sinking into a deep slumber. And then, he realized. He had forgotten. He was still a patient with a fragile constitution. With a wry smile, he epted this realization. The world faded into darkness. When Raciel opened his eyes again, it was deep into the night. He stared nkly at the ceiling for a moment. Did I sleep the entire day? It seemed entirely possible. He had pushed himself too far in so many ways. After all, he was still a frail patient with a terminal illness. Your Highness? He heard a voice calling out to him. He saw Gardins face, filled with relief. Are you awake? Demian, who had been standing beside Gardin, also quickly rose to his feet. Court Magician Zis was standing behind them. Raciel couldnt help but let out a bitterugh. Whats going on? Did everyone gather around just to watch me sleep? It felt rather embarrassing. Just as he was about to voice hisint Weve been so worried, watching and hoping for your recovery, Your Highness, Gardin choked up, her voice trembling. Raciel was taken aback. What? Why? What happened? Sniffles filled the air. Isnt it obvious? Youve been unconscious for two days, and you only just woke up now. What? Two days since he had fallen asleep At first, he couldnt believe it. But when he looked at Gardin, who was truly crying, and Demian, who nodded slightly, it became clear that it wasnt a joke. Breaking the silence, Court Magician Zis spoke. I was contemting how to inform His Majesty of this situation. Tch. I shouldnt have burdened you. I apologize. No, Your Highness. I am relieved to see you safe. Zis wasnt unaffected either. His face bore the weight of exhaustion. It seemed that he had kept vigil while Raciel was unconscious, without getting any rest. It was likely. The Crown Prince who had fainted from bearing the burden of his lightning magic. A prince who hadnt awakened for two whole days. Anxiety must have gued everyone. But suddenly, a question sprang to Raciels mind. Where is George? What happened to the child? I hope he didnt have another seizure in the past two days. The answer didnte from Gardin, Demian, or Zis, but from someone unexpected. Im perfectly fine, you know? Huh? Peeking out from between Gardin and Demian was Georges small face. Seeing him, Raciel couldnt help but smile. Why are you here? Ive been bothering this gentleman, George subtly nced at Gardin, who coughed awkwardly. Then the child said, I wanted to give you this when you woke up. As he spoke, George timidly extended his hand. Raciel looked at the object in the childs hand and burst intoughter. What is this? The item George was holding out was a ne. It was a simple ne made from a string, with a roughly carved heart shape on a piece of wood. It was in and crude,cking any mour or value. Raciel suppressed a bitterugh and asked, Did you make this while I was asleep? George nodded shyly. Despite the dim candlelight, his blushing face was clearly visible. Raciel inwardly clicked his tongue. Its a bit burdensome. Truth be told, it was an extremely crude ne. Even though George had put his heart into making it, it felt embarrassing to wear such a ne around his neck. Maybe I shouldnt ept it. If he wasnt going to wear it, it would be better not to ept it. He pondered for a moment, but then said, You did a wonderful job. Raciel smiled warmly and epted the ne, gently patting Georges head. This is more amazing than any morous jewelry Ive ever worn. Really? Georges face lit up. Raciel nodded as if it were obvious. Yes, and the greatest reward I have received is your recovery. As he said this, Raciel nced around the room. Sniff! Gardins eyes welled up with tears, deeply moved by the scene. Demian and Zis smiled warmly. Even the two royal guards, who had been standing guard at a distance, were captivated by the heartwarming moment. Seeing their reactions, Raciel couldnt help but smile. Phew, good. I yed that line well. He had barely managed to tolerate the cheesiness of the moment. But it worked. After all, everythinges down to the conclusion. The end of a beautiful act of kindness, even if its cheesy, should evoke a touching sentiment. This way, the medical case would spread as a heartwarming story, bing a powerful word-of-mouth tale. Thats why Raciel happily epted the ne and even delivered a somewhat touching line. It was a sess. Now, everyone can rx. But Im a bit tired, so Id like to rest alone, Raciel said, looking at everyone with a weary expression. He then ushered them out of the bedroom. Finally, he let out a big sigh. Phew. Perhaps due to the insincere acting, he felt a strange atmosphere. Hey there, staring nkly at the ceiling for a while. Lying down, he raised his hand. The ne given by George. It was very crude, too embarrassing to wear. A pitiful and insignificant ne. He chuckled to himself,ughing quietly. Who would wear something like this Raciel murmured and turned over. Slowly, he fell asleep, with the crude and embarrassing ne hanging around his neck.I Next Chapter 41 Chapter 41I Next A day had passed, and morning arrived. Mother, Im here! This was a typical household in the downtown area of Magenta City. The pce servant, who served the crown prince, opened the front door with a joyful smile. Hearing his call, a middle-aged woman who was preparing breakfast inside was taken aback. Son? Oh my, what brings you here today? Well, Im on vacation. On vacation? Yes. But didnt you mention in yourst letter that your vacation is scheduled for next month? Oh, thats a different vacation. A different one? Yes, His Highness the Crown Prince granted me a special vacation this morning. A full five days! Oh my, how extraordinary. His Highness is truly generous. Yes, indeed. The pce servant grinned. Soon, other family members who heard themotion greeted him. The breakfast table buzzed with conversations. Well, His Highness has been acting strangelytely. Strangely? How so? He keeps offering to treat people. Treat? Like a doctor? Yes, Father. The pce servant nodded. Just like a doctor, as you said. He even treated me. Remember when I severely sprained my wrist some time ago? Ah, yes. You struggled for a while. Well, it has been a bit achy since then. It would get sore whenever I overworked or got tired. But when His Highness examined my wrist Examined it? He asked me to undress and lie down on the bed. What? I found it strange too, but I had to follow his instructions. So, Iy down. Then His Highness His Highness? He took a hedgehog spine and inserted it deeply into my wrist, the back of my hand, and shoulder. A spine? Didnt it hurt? Surprisingly, it didnt. The pce servant continued. Whats even more surprising is that a few minutes after he removed the spine, the soreness in my wristpletely disappeared. What kind of Did His Highness perform some kind of magic? I dont know. But there was another fascinating incident three nights ago. Three nights ago? Yes. Remember the maid I mentioned earlier? The one whose brother was troubled by evil spirits. Oh, I remember. I know her family. But why her? Three nights ago, His Highness treated her brother. And I meanpletely treated him. What? The familys eyes widened. Their sons story about healing his wrist with a spine was already absurd, but now he imed that the crown prince had supposedly cured a child possessed by evil spirits. Did he perhaps perform a sacred ritual to exorcise the spirit? No, he summoned the pce magician who cast lightning magic on his back. . While enduring that lightning magic, His Highness inserted a spine deep into the boys neck. . And then, the boy, who was possessed by an evil spirit, regained his senses. Is this for real? Yes, I witnessed it with my own eyes. Hahaha. The family members shook their heads in disbelief. The idea of exorcising evil spirits with lightning magic seemed too fantastical. But even more astounding words came from the sons mouth. So, Im suggesting, would you like to apany me to the Star Pce after my vacation ends, Father? Me? Yes. Youve been suffering from a bad back, remember? But why? His Highness said he would treat you. For free. He wants to treat everyone, whether they are gued by evil spirits, or sick, regardless of their social status or wealth. Is this for real? Yes. Can I really go to a ce like the Star Pce? Its fine. His Highness asked me to spread the word. Hahaha. Amusedughter filled the breakfast table. This wasnt an isted event confined to this ordinary household. Simr conversations were happening simultaneously in various parts of Magenta City. Honey! Ive been granted a special vacation! Mom, your daughter is here! Hey, are you still sleeping while your brother is on vacation? and so on. From pce servants to maids and royal guards working at the Star Pce, many of them returned to their families under the guise of a special vacation. They rejoiced with their families, sharing stories of recent events. They spread the word far and wide about the actions of Crown Prince Raciel. They spoke of how the Crown Prince had taken on the role of a healer. They imed he possessed the ability to cure illnesses and that he would be seeing patients at the Star Pce. They emphasized that he would ept anyone in need, regardless of their status or wealth. This news gradually permeated every corner of Magenta City and began to take on exaggerated forms. Did you hear? They say the Crown Prince saved a dying child. The Crown Prince? How? Well, he willingly took a full-powered lightning magic spell from the Court Magician. Why would he do that? Im not sure. But isnt it incredible? Indeed, it is. Its truly remarkable. Isnt it? All those rumors about the Crown Prince turned out to be true. He withstood the Court Magicians lightning magic and emerged unscathed its astonishing. Various stories circted at workces, shops, construction sites, dining tables, and on the streets. The Crown Prince who risked his life to save a child. The Crown Prince who bore the brunt of lightning magic for an ordinary child. Rumors led to more rumors. Therger the rumor, the wider its spread. Everything was going ording to Raciels n. Hehehe, just like this! Racielughed wickedly in the library of the Star Pce. To promote the treatment of epilepsy, he had released Star Pce staff members who witnessed the micro neuro stimtion procedure to different parts of Magenta City, disguising it as a vacation. The effect was indeed impressive. Rumors spread like wildfire, and viral marketing was in full swing. Now, it was time to prepare for the official opening of the clinic. So, are all the things I mentioned earlier going smoothly? Yes, Your Highness. Gardin, who brought news from Magenta City, nodded. We are procuring all the medicinal herbs you specified. Including Glycyrrhiza (licorice)? We are making sure to secure an ample supply of that. Good. Youre doing well. Since well need more than anticipated, ensure we dont miss a single one. Even if we have to stockpile, we must be fully prepared. I understand, Your Highness. But Hmm? I hope you dont find it impertinent to ask How did Your Highness acquire all this knowledge All this? When faced with the question, Gardin stuttered but expressed his genuine curiosity. Like using a needle to alleviate joint pain or preparing potions with unfamiliar recipes and, a few days ago, healing a child with lightning magic Im genuinely curious about it all. As a doctor? Yes, as a doctor, Im truly curious. Gardin nodded earnestly. Was it his imagination, or could he see a pure longing that couldnt be concealed lurking in the depths of his eyes? I understand how you feel. Lately, Ive been having trouble sleeping too. Ive been pondering over the medical skills that Ive suddenly started using, and no matter how much I reflect on them, I cant fullyprehend the principles behind them. Its been a source of disappointment for me as well. Disappointed. Raciel knew that feeling all too well. After all, he too was a doctor. In fact, he served as the Crown Princes primary physician. Recently, he had observed the Crown Prince treating his own body and extending his healing abilities to others. How helpless Gardin must have felt, witnessing all of this from the sidelines. It must have been frustrating for him not to understand the underlying principles behind Raciels extraordinary medical skills. I would think the same. Because hes also a medical practitioner. He could empathize. Thats why. The truth is, Ie from another world. What? In my previous world, I was known as Lee Han-eeun. I ran a small oriental clinic in my neighborhood, but it faced bankruptcy due to the coronavirus. Thats how I ended up here. The medical skills Ive been using are adaptations of the oriental medicine I practiced back then. Your Highness? Yes. I expressed my concerns genuinely. I know, and thats why I decided to share the truth with you. If you dont believe me, I would be hurt. Oh my god! Youre just trying to scare me, right? Huh? Why cant you just tell me honestly? Thats why I told you. Please dont make fun of me. Im not making fun. But what are you going to do with this information? Naturally I want to be a better doctor. And then? I want to save more people provide better care to Your Highness and And? I want to find fulfillment. Fulfillment? Just like when you treated George a few days ago, Your Highness. Or when you smile upon seeing the progress of a child under your care. I long for that sense of fulfillment as a doctor. I want to experience more moments of joy as I witness the recovery of those I treat. Gardins expression turned serious. Raciel offered a slight smile. But arent you already achieving that? Pardon? Nevermind. Lets focus on our duties, shall we? He almost said, If it werent for you, I wouldnt be as healthy as I am now. I owe my well-being to your constant support. But he held back. Oops, that would have been embarrassing. Raciel quickly shook off the goosebumps crawling up his skin. He elerated the preparations for the opening of the Star Pce Oriental Clinic. Following Gardins instructions, they secured various oriental medicinal herbs. Thankfully, although the world was different, the required medicinal herbs were avable. They may have had different names, but most of them were the same. However, the utilization of these herbs wasnt as widespread as in Korea. Licorice, cinnamon twigs, atractylodes, ginseng, poria, angelica,idium, ginger, tangerine peel, bitter orange, schizonepeta, astragalus, kudzu root, peony, and more. They managed to acquire an ample supply, practically clearing out all the herbal medicine shops in and around Star Pce. In the meantime, they hired leaflet distributors, selecting the most agile servants and providing them with leaflets to distribute. [ G R A N D O P E N I N G ! ] [Star Pce Oriental Clinic: Free Consultation Event] [Spinal Joint Correction Therapy] [Oriental Medicine Adjustment Therapy] [Facial Paralysis Treatment Service] [Acupuncture Treatment Only] [We Can Cure Any Disease.] [Comprehensive Diagnosis for Your Health, Personalized 1:1 Treatments] [Director: Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano] [Specialist: Royal Physician Piero Gardin] [Consultation Hours: Open All Year Round] Hundreds, even thousands of leaflets like these were distributed throughout the Imperial City, adorning countless walls. Finally, the long-awaited morning of the Star Pce Oriental Clinics grand opening had arrived. Whew. Im feeling nervous. As the morning sun rose, Raciels eyes snapped open. He had spent a restless night, unable to sleep. He was excited. And filled with anticipation. Yet, there was also a part of him that felt apprehensive. What if no one shows up despite all the promotion and preparation? After all, this was the Star Pce, the royal residence where the Crown Prince himself resided. What if people were too intimidated to seek treatment here? What if the opening day passed by without a single patient, leaving only the buzzing of flies? Ugh, I feel like I might get PTSD from this. Memories of the moment when his oriental clinic in Korea went bankrupt shed through his mind. Raciel quickly shook off the chill running down his spine and got out of bed. Anxious steps led him to the window, where he threw open the curtains. Whoosh-! In the distance, he caught sight of the entrance to the Star Pce beyond the expansive garden. Please. Please. He hoped to see crowds of people who hade after hearing rumors or seeing the leaflets. He nervously bit his lower lip and continued to gaze at the garden and the entrance to the Star Pce. 10 minutes passed. Then 20 minutes. Followed by 30 minutes. But the vast garden remained serene. And the entrance to the Star Pce remained uneventful. Only the pce guards continued their regr patrols, and the pce servants busied themselves with garden maintenance and cleaning. Not a single patient in sight, visiting the Star Pce. Tsk. Had the promotion been ineffective? Was it not enough to ovee peoples sense of intimidation? Disappointment weighed heavily on him. An involuntary sigh escaped his lips. Im done for if it stays like this. Should he have opened a separate clinic in the city? Or perhaps take the risk of going directly to the slums, despite the high chance of infection? Burdened by these deepening worries, he moved away from the window and changed into fresh clothes. He needed to clear his head. Lets take a walk. He had to identify the problem ande up with a solution. He resolved not to sumb to despair or disappointment but to think while walking. With that determination, he left his bedroom, passed through the corridors, and descended the stairs. And there, his eyes widened in surprise. Huh? Unexpectedly, at the bottom of the stairs, in the grand hall of the Star Pces first floor, a crowd had gathered. Whats happening? He was initially taken aback. Then it dawned on him. They were not adorned in the splendor of the Star Pce but instead wore in clothes. Some wore pained expressions, while others were supported by their children. The lobby hall was teeming with people from all walks of life. It seemed like there were around two to three hundred people. Even more astonishingly, each person held a paper queue number! So, this is Before I even looked out the window, before the sun rose, they hade early in the morning and were waiting like in line at a popr restaurant? These people To receive treatment from me? These people theyre all my patients? A realization washed over him, and a wide smile of sess spread across Raciels lips at the opening of the Oriental Clinic.I Next Chapter 42 Chapter 42I Next The pace was incredibly hectic. The grand opening had turned into a resounding sess. The Star Pce was teeming with patients, or rather, customers. This is why they say the opening is crucial for business! Raciel celebrated his triumph. First impressions matter in everything, much likending the initial punch in a fight or debuting a new song. The opening of a business sets the tone for how it will fare. What follows, such as stamina and maintaining performance, is secondary. The primary objective is to make a big ssh during the opening. If the opening isckluster, the subsequent progress tends to be as well. But now? Its a tremendous sess, Raciel couldnt help but shiver with excitement. Unintentionally, his enthusiasm startled the patient whose pulse he was reading. Oh, sorry I apologize, Your Highness! The elderlydy with thinning hair was flustered. Even though the treatments were free and did not differentiate based on status or wealth, the fact that this ce was the Star Pce and that Raciel was the Crown Prince seemed to impose a burden and pressure that could not be entirely dismissed. However, Raciel didnt show any signs of it. He didnt insist that it was alright or ask her not to be apologetic. On the contrary, such a reaction would only add to the burden. When someone tells you not to do something, it often makes you want to do it even more. Thats human psychology. Saying not to feel burdened can sometimes have the opposite effect. If a CEO of a major corporation pats your shoulder and says with augh, Dont feel burdened, haha, the employee facing thatughter wouldnt actually feel any less burdened. Thats why Raciel simply smiled gently. He acted as if he hadnt noticed thedys reaction at all. Fortunately, your pulse is normal. However, Ive noticed that youve been sneezing in the morning and evening, experiencing nasal soreness, and constant tearing of the eyestely, am I correct? Yes, yes Your Highness, thedy responded, bing even more nervous due to Raciels kind manner of speaking. Being addressed respectfully by the Crown Prince must have been overwhelming. But Raciel didnt deliberately change his way of speaking. It felt natural to him. After living as an oriental medicine doctor for a significant amount of time, when he finally opened his Oriental medicine clinic and faced his patients in this space Like a seasoned physician, his former gentle way of speaking flowed effortlessly. It was the consultative mode of beingpassionate and attentive, a skill almost indispensable for oriental medicine doctors. Just tell me about your symptoms without feeling burdened. Right now, Im a medical professional, not the Crown Prince. And you are a patient. By the way, do these symptoms usually worsen in the spring and fall? Has it been happening every year? How did you know? Ive experienced the same symptoms. Its rhinitis. Rhinitis? Its a chronic condition, so aplete cure might be difficult. Instead, Ill provide you with a prescription to alleviate the symptoms. Swoosh, scratch! He prescribed Xiaoqinglong Decoction, a form that suited the olddys constitution, which he discerned from her pulse. Your metabolism is generally sluggish. Its referred to as stomach water retention, where water umtes in the stomach. You often experience gurgling sensations, especially after consuming hot soup. Am I correct? Yes? Yes, youre right. The prescription contains various ingredients. Ephedra and cinnamon will help with dispersion, while peony and omija will provide astringent effects. Ginger and licorice will contribute to warming. Ephedra, omija, and licorice also have anti-allergic properties. Oh, I see Now, please follow the instructions on the prescription and take the medication ordingly. Pay attention to the rmended frequency and timing. Thank you, thank you, sir. Youre wee. Just take it consistently ande back in ten days. Next patient! The next patient entered the clinic. In this manner, Raciel assessed pulses and made diagnoses. He administered acupuncture to those in need and asionally utilized moxibustion. However, his primary focus was prescribing herbal decoctions. Throughout the morning, a steady flow of patients sought his expertise. It was an unending stream of consultations without respite. Phew. I feel a bit dizzy. His stamina was still low, causing asional lightheadedness. But Raciel persevered through it. Amidst the flurry of activity, something unexpected urred. Ding dong! [You have gained sufficient experience by treating a certain number of patients.] [Based on this experience, your skill has improved.] [The level of your Palpation skill has increased.] Oh, wow. His silent hopes were answered as his Palpation skill level increased. Raciels eyes lit up like a puppy anticipating a treat. [Skill Name: Palpation Level 2] [You can diagnose the health status by sensing the targets pulse. The results of Palpation can be clearly recorded in the . Furthermore, your awakened Five Viscera and Six Bowels canmunicate with the corresponding organs of the patient to diagnose more detailed symptoms.] What? Raciel tilted his head in confusion. His awakened Five Viscera and Six Bowels couldmunicate with the patients organs? Initially, he thought it was nonsensical. But in the next moment Ding dong! [The Five Viscera and Six Bowels are engaged in the Palpation.] [Heart: The body is rxed.] [Lungs: Taking deep breaths.] [Large Intestine: The Seven Star Eels Ascending Dance is evident.] [Liver: A significant amount of fatigue recovery medicine has been prepared.] It was utterly absurd. However, what was even more absurd was the fact that his Five Viscera and Six Bowels genuinely began consulting with the patients organs. [Heart: Guys, its a blind date. Prepare for battle.] [Lungs: Excited Hoo Pahak] [Large Intestine: Dont miss the blind date! LOL] [Liver: Guys, focus! The other party is a grandpa!] What was happening? Raciel contemted the absurdity while waiting. After a while Ding dong! [The self-consultation results of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels are in.] [Heart: Weve been fooled. Theres nothing wrong with the heart.] [Lungs: Hoo Puhoo Nothing abnormal.] [Large Intestine: Mild constipation has been identified. No other abnormalities.] [Liver: Found traces of hepatitis in the grandpa. Should he quit drinking?] Hepatitis? Alcohol? Raciel inquired with the liver. Is the liver in poor condition? The response came swiftly. [Liver: Yeah, LOL. This grandpas liver is crying. Has been suffering from chronic fatigue for 50 years from dealing with alcoholing in daily since the age of 10. If he continues like this in another 5 years, his liver will undoubtedly fail, LOL.] I see. This is truly amazing. Raciel experienced a newfound sense of fulfillment. His awakened Five Viscera and Six Bowels could directly assess the condition and history of the patients organs. He had never expected such a feature to be added to his Palpation skill. I need to awaken the other Five Viscera and Six Bowels that are still dormant. However, Raciel had no idea how to achieve this. Perhaps, by diligently treating patients, encountering various triggers, the dormant organs would awaken? Then I can receive more support from my awakened Five Viscera and Six Bowels. The scope of consultation they can cover will expand, allowing for more urate diagnoses and treatments. urate Palpation and treatment were of utmost importance. The greatest fear for medical practitioners was misdiagnosis. Misinterpreting a condition and subsequently prescribing the wrong treatment could lead to overlooking the actual illness. Sir, your liver is severely damaged, Raciel exined to the patient. Really? Yes, thats why you feel constantly fatigued and have a sallowplexion. Your liver is exhausted. For now, Ill prescribe Xia Chai Hu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) for you. Take it for ten days, and depending on your progress, we can add Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon and Poria Pill). And- Raciels gaze sharpened as he looked at the elderly patient. From today onwards, you must absolutely stop consuming alcohol. What? Because your liver is damaged. If you continue drinking, you wont live for more than five years. But I Are you unable to eat without alcohol? The elderly patient vigorously nodded his head. But Raciel firmly stated, This is not only a rmendation as a medical practitioner but also an order from the Crown Prince. If you disobey, you will be imprisoned. Do you understand? Nod, nod! The elderly patients nods became even more vigorous. Satisfied with his rare (?) misuse of power, Raciel weed the next patient with a smile. Three days had passed. During that time, Raciel treated numerous patients. Fortunately, none of them had severe conditions yet. Most of the patients sought relief from neuralgia, joint pain, liver ailments, colds, general difort, and simr ailments. Thats the issue. On the evening of the third day, Raciel reflected on his treatments and frowned. The problem was not that serious patients, who could provide a significant boost to his lifespan, had not arrived yet. No, that wasnt it. Its because they still dont fully trust my medical skills. Most patientse with a cautious mindset for now. Thats understandable. Once word spreads about my effective treatments and more cured cases umte, the issue will gradually resolve itself. By then, more patients with severe conditions will starting. The real problem lies in whates next. When a truly critical patient arrives. When a multitude of such patients begin seeking treatment. He needed to establish a stable system to care for them. If things continue like this, its going to be difficult. After running the Star Pce Clinic for three days, Raciel keenly felt the urgency. The most pressing matters were the preparation of herbal decoctions and the care of the patients. I attempted to delegate the preparation of decoctions to the maids, but well They seemed somewhat clumsy, likely due to their unfamiliarity with the field. Tasks such as preparing herbs, regrly inspecting stored herbs, adjusting the fire while simmering the decoction, cooling, heating, and straining all required experience and sensitivity. But theyre struggling with it. While I could continue guiding them, and they would gradually improve, using patients as practice subjects for the sake of their learning feels wrong. There was a risk of providing poorly prepared decoctions, which could harm the patients. Raciel was notfortable with that. Furthermore, if patients requiring care begin umting in the ward that would present a problem given the current circumstances. At present, Raciel had assigned the misceneous tasks of the clinic to the servants and maids. However, they were primarily pce staff ustomed to general duties andcked the expertise of professional nursing staff. We need nursing staff avable around the clock. We require trained professionals to be stationed in shifts in the wards. It would have been ideal if Nurse Kim and Nurse Lee were here. The thought of the staff from his Oriental medicine clinic crossed Raciels mind, but such resources were a luxury in this setting. Here, the concept of nursing doesnt exist. Thats what Raciel discovered. In this world, there was no dedicated profession or concept of nursing. Only specialized doctors were recognized. Disciples or assistants who apanied doctors were present, but there were no individuals specifically trained for nursing and patient care. It was disheartening. We have no other choice. We must identify individuals with potential among the maids and servants. Suppressing his growing hunger, Raciel sat down at the table, ready to eat. However, just as he was about to take the first bite Your Highness! Bang! The door suddenly swung open, and Gardin rushed in with a panicked expression. He shouted before Raciel could even inquire about the reason. We have an emergency patient! Raciel didnt respond. Instead, he ced his spoon down and stood up. Side by side, Gardin and Raciel hurried down the hallway. Who is the patient? She was just admitted to the clinic. Shes a 58-year-old woman, and her fever is extremely high. A high fever? Yes. What could be the cause of her illness? It was impossible to discern from their conversation alone. Various factors could contribute to a fever. I hope its nothing serious. Wishing silently to himself, Raciel quickened his pace. When they arrived at the clinic, a womany in bed. I greet Your Highness A woman approaching 60 years old. She appeared to be from a noble family. Her once neatly arranged hair was now disheveled with sweat. I am the eldest son of the Dinraier family. Your Highness, please save my mother. I beg you. The young man who identified himself as a member of the Dinraier family pleaded. Raciel inquired, How long has she been like this? It started in the afternoon. She was fine before that, but as the sun began to set, she started experiencing chills, and now shes in this state Hmm. It was evident that her condition was severe. Her breathing was shallow andbored, and she was on the verge of unconsciousness. Raciel began by taking Mrs. Dinraiers pulse, utilizing his Palpation skill and even employing the internal organ counseling feature. Throughout the process, he fervently prayed, hoping it wasnt a grave illness. He wished for a disease that he could treat within these walls. However, he soon realized that his prayers went unanswered this time. A rash typhus. Finally, the diagnosis of the womans illness. Just before that revtion, Raciel bit his lip hard. It was an epidemic typhus. A deadly acute febrile disease caused by infection with the bacterium Rickettsia prowazekii. Furthermore, it was a disease that had decimated Napoleons army of 400,000 soldiers during his Russian campaign.I Next Chapter 44 Chapter 44I Next Why have youe to see me at thiste hour? The emperors office exuded opulence, befitting the ruler of the empire. Its grandeur was enough to dwarf even thergest living rooms, making them seem like small studios. But at that moment, the room felt constricted, all because of a single question posed by the emperor. The emperor, as imposing as ever Oh boy, Raciel thought, feeling a slight shiver run down his spine. The emperors remark carried immense weight, and his casual inquiry was noughing matter. He truly embodied the stature of an empires ruler. Yet, Raciel quickly brushed aside any intimidation. The secret to hisposure was simple. Back in Korea, when I was struggling to pay rent Thendlord I encountered in the hallway, right in front of the bathroom, was way scarier! He recalled the time when his oriental medicine clinic was on the brink of bankruptcy. It was a period filled with financial hardship and worries over rent. How had he felt when he unexpectedly came face to face with thendlord? Like a frog in front of a snake. Like a trainee standing before an armymander. Or, as if he were a piece of pork belly in front of a wrestler who hadnt eaten in ten days. Dear me, lets not dwell on that. He quickly dismissed the looming PTSD, and in doing so, he managed to shake off the pressure from the emperor as well. Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano presents himself before the rightful ruler of the empire, he greeted with proper etiquette. The emperors gaze grew even more scrutinizing. I didnt ask for a mere customary greeting, he remarked, his voice tinged with displeasure. Why did youe to see me without prior notice, at this hour? Emperor Asterions tone carried a touch of unhappiness, mirroring the way he regarded the crown prince. But in reality? It was only an act. The emperors true thoughts as he looked at Raciel were slightly different from before. Interesting. Deep within the emperors eyes, concealed behind his fussy demeanor, a faint sense of curiosity and anticipation stirred. Have you evere to see me willingly? No, you havent. But today, an unprecedented event had urred. Raciel had sought an audience without prior notice. At first, the emperor found it hard to believe. He assumed it must be a mistake, perhaps an error made by the pce chief. Yet, after confirming the request, he realized it was true. Raciel had indeed asked for an audience. Consequently, he had promptly summoned him to his office. What could this guy, who has been engaging in peculiar activitiestely, be nning this time? The emperor recalled some recent news. He had treated a child suffering from seizures. He had spread rumors and opened an oriental medicine clinic within the Star Pce, offering treatment to patients regardless of their social status. What is he up to? What is he thinking? The reports he received were difficult toprehend. The emperor was curious about when Raciel had acquired such medical skills. He also struggled to understand his eldest sons intentions. Was it an attempt to win the favor of the people, or did it serve some other purpose? Even when he tried to discern the answer, he couldnt pinpoint a clear motive. It was truly a peculiar course of action. I had nned to summon him soon and inquire about various matters. And just like that, the guy hade to him on his own ord. It was fortunate. A satisfying change. However, the emperor was like a lion who pushes its cub off a cliff. He showed no hint of the bubbling joy inside him. On the contrary, he wore an even more stern and imposing expression, clearly conveying his dissatisfaction. Answer me, Crown Prince. If you have nothing to say, leave immediately. He exerted pressure with his gaze. The Crown Prince responded. I have a request, Your Majesty. A request? Yes, Your Majesty. Raciel nodded calmly. Tonight, I would like to gain ess to the Imperial Archives. The Imperial Archives? Yes, Your Majesty. Why? In the face of the Emperors question, Raciel took a deep breath. This was the beginning of the negotiation. He answered honestly. Recently, I have established an Oriental medical clinic in the Star Pce. Fortunately, many patients are seeking treatment there. However, three days ago, a noblewoman with a severe illness came to the Star Pce. A severe illness? Yes, Your Majesty. She is suffering from a disease called Typhus. I have never heard of such a disease. It is aplicated illness that causes high fever and can be fatal, Your Majesty. And? What does your patients illness have to do with essing the Imperial Archives? There might be something in the Archives that could help in treating her disease. Raciel wasnt certain, but if there was any possibility, it would be found in the Imperial Archives. He stated his conviction. However, the Emperor was not easily convinced. He immediately presented a counterargument. Hmm, I find it difficult to believe the truthfulness of your reasons. The Emperors voice grew more irritable. It all sounds suspicious. Typhus? I have never heard of it. I am not even sure if your diagnosis is urate. Furthermore, are you using the patients illness as an excuse to gain unrestricted ess to the Imperial Archives? The Emperors piercing gaze felt likesers shooting from his eyes. In the face of that gaze, Raciel had to swallow his inner doubts. Was it because of the pressure the Emperor exerted? Or perhaps his consistently skeptical and prickly attitude? No, it wasnt just that. Tsk. This old man is enjoying this situation. Raciel subtly sensed the Emperors intentions. Based on his experience treating numerous patients in Korea and dealing with all sorts of people, he could sense the underlying atmosphere. This was often the case in the novel. Before Raciels death, the Emperor did this to him. After Raciels death, he did this to the second prince. He deliberately tested them to assess their fitness as his sessor. It was like someone relishing in giving a test and anticipating a perfect score. Raciel could sense that the Emperor was deliberately setting him up. Damn, really. Taking advantage of nepotism is so challenging. Raciel grumbled inwardly. It was great being the crown prince, but having an Emperor who excelled in testing peoples trustworthiness was tough. People say you should use your connections well to lead a sessful life. Why is it so difficult to live by that adage? Lifes difficulty level, sigh. However, he couldnt justin. Raciel immediately counterattacked. But, Your Majesty, at this very moment, the patient I mentioned is teetering on the brink of life and death. That may be true, but can you prove your diagnosis of spotted typhus? It is urate, Your Majesty. How can you prove it? Well, um I dont understand. You have been frail since birth, and as a result, you spent most of your formative years bedridden, unable to receive a high level of education. The Emperor nced at him. His eyes narrowed. You barely attended basic lessons in etiquette, culture, history, philosophy, and so on, and that too while lying down. What about advanced courses in imperial studies, military strategy, business? You didnt even begin those. Not to mention medicine. Tsk. Is this like getting scolded for your education? Raciel felt indignant. If only he could, he would love to counter with a neatly summarized PowerPoint presentation of his days studying Oriental Medicine in Korea and the sessful career he built afterwards. But the Emperor couldnt be aware of his situation. The Emperors ruthless criticism continued. Strictly speaking, you have never been exposed to medicine. Naturally, you would becking in knowledge and experience. Yet, how can you, without any qualifications, open a clinic, ept patients, and dare to treat them? Thats Are you perhaps deluded by the notion that you have be something extraordinary, wanting to care for others bodies and health? Lost in a false sense of superiority, arrogance, and stubbornness? I doubt whether you genuinely care for the patients. Whether I can trust your diagnosis. The Emperors eloquent reproach came to an end. Raciel lifted his head and looked directly into the Emperors eyes. He could naturally sense the Emperors intentions. I understand. So, Your Majesty, you wish to test me. Is that correct? That is correct. Did the Emperor just smile faintly? Was he satisfied because Raciel immediately grasped his intentions? It was difficult to tell. Meanwhile, the Emperor continued speaking. I will give you one test. It is to determine whether you are qualified to treat patients and whether your diagnoses are urate. What kind of test is it? The Emperor raised his hand and pointed at the man who had been standing silently next to him, Roberto, the captain of the Emperors guard. The content of the test is simple. Recently, the captain here has been suffering from a minor ailment. I ask you, what is the disease that afflicts the captain? Diagnose it here and now. Here and now? Yes. Are you not confident? No. I just want to ask for one promise. A promise? Yes, Your Majesty. If I correctly diagnose the captains ailment and pass your test You want permission to ess the Pces Archives. Is that correct? That is correct, Your Majesty. Very well. I promise. Emperor Asterion nodded. At the same time, he was certain. The disease that gued the captain recently. Raciel would never be able to diagnose it. Of course. There is no way he can get it right. It is a disease that is difficult to detect even with sophisticated examinations. Especially here and now. The Emperor smiled confidently. Even he, who spent every day with the captain, was unaware of the mans health issue until the captain recently revealed it cautiously. How will you diagnose and get it right? There was no way Raciel could be correct. Not even the worlds best doctor could. It was inevitable. The Emperor thought with certainty. Meanwhile, Raciel approached the captain and grabbed his wrist. He closed his eyes and remained silent for a while. The Emperors smile deepened. However, at one point, Raciel opened his eyes and calmly spoke, turning towards the Emperor. Captain, it appears you have alopecia areata. Ah, ah The captains eyes filled with a mncholic moisture as Raciel hit the mark with the correct answer in no time.I Next Chapter 45 Chapter 45I Next Captain, it appears you have alopecia areata. Raciels response came swiftly and with uracy. The once solemn and weighty atmosphere in the emperors office turned somber in an instant. Unbeknownst to him, Captain Roberto, with his superhuman patience and self-restraint, clenched his fist. If not for these qualities, he would have disregarded the prejudices associated with his status and position and delivered a powerful blow to Raciels face. But Roberto maintained hisposure. Silently, he mourned the daily loss of his hair. As tears welled up, he raised his head, forcing a slight smile to prevent them from flowing. Why am I like this because of such a thing. Sigh. If it were the Crown Prince, it would be possible. The captain concealed his tears, stealing a moment of vulnerability in secret. Meanwhile, the emperor felt a sense of horror brewing within. Are you saying that the captain indeed has alopecia areata? Yes, Your Majesty. But look. The captain still has a full head of shiny hair. Its because he wears a wig. . Raciels matter-of-fact response hit the mark. The emperor had no choice but to admit Raciels answer. This was because Captain Roberto had recently been struggling with severe hair loss and had spoken about his troubles. However, only Robertos wife and the emperor himself knew the full extent of the captains daily struggle with baldinga secret that remained hidden from the world. But how did you deduce it? A perplexed question filled the emperors eyes as he looked at Raciel. The deduction was impressive, yet peculiar and difficult toprehend. Curiosity drove the emperor to inquire further. Did you possess extraordinary insight, perhaps? No, its not that. Raciel responded promptly. Captain Robertos wig is wless. Even a keen observer would be unable to tell that its a wig. I simply examined captain Robertos pulse. Examined his pulse? Yes, Your Majesty. Raciel continued. If you touch the inside of your wrist, you can feel the pulsation of blood flowing through the arteries. Using the Asrahan Core Technique, I sense, feel, and analyze that pulse. Hmm, it may sound like a bluff, but its usible. Thank you for considering it, Your Majesty. So, what did you diagnose to deduce Captain Robertos alopecia? Its quite simple. Raciels answer flowed effortlessly. I diagnosed captain Roberto as physically robust, with highly active mana. Particrly, the energy in his heart and small intestine was the most vigorous. The heart and the small intestine? Yes, there was a significant surge of fire qi from those areas. Fire qi. Such energy tends to rise upwards, like a me. Are you suggesting? Yes, Your Majesty. Your spection is correct. The highest point of the body is the top of the head. The vigorously rising fire qi within Captain Roberto reached the highest point of his bodythe top of his head? Indeed, Your Majesty. Raciel nced back at the captain. The fire qi concentrated on the crown of his head, directly exposing the hair roots to intense heat, much like grass withering on a drought-stricken prairie. Sniff. Listening quietly, the imperial guard captain, Roberto, teared up. The emperor sympathetically clicked his tongue. Damn. The diagnosis seemed usible, prompting the emperor to nod in agreement. As I reflect upon it, there is some truth to Raciels words. Robertos family has produced exceptional knights for generations, and naturally, Roberto has learned the Core Technique passed down in the family. This Core Technique umtes mana energy in the heart, making it exceptionally strong and fervent. Suddenly, a memory shed through the emperors mind. It was of his training sessions with Roberto. The mana that surged through the swords when they shed was rough, untamed, and intense. That means he possesses such potent mana in his heart, and that energy stimtes the crown of his head. As he pondered, he realized that many men in Robertos family had a tendency to be bald. Whether it was a hereditary coincidence or a side effect of the Core Technique, he couldnt say for certain. But one thing was clear. Regardless of the secret, he truly answered my question. The emperors gaze shifted to Raciel. He still had numerous questions about how the young prince acquired such medical knowledge and insight, but for now, he had no choice but to acknowledge it. Very well, I understand. For now, his words held truth, and his im wasnt entirely unfounded. The emperor didnt know what Raciel intended to achieve, but I hereby grant Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano ess to the lower section of the Imperial Pces archives tonight. Thank you! But, you will only be allowed to ess the lower section and obtain one item. Pardon? Didnt you hear me? I heard you clearly. Then whats the issue? I didnt say there was an issue. Then why are you tilting your head like a puppy who doesnt understand human words? I understood what you said. Its just Just? Im not entirely sure I understand. What dont you understand? The emperor furrowed his brows. He had asked a question, and the child had provided an answer. He acknowledged it and granted him ess to the Imperial Pces archives. So what was the source of his dissatisfaction? Has he always been like this? The emperor pondered. Raciel hadnt always been so brazen. In fact, he used to be so shy that he couldnt even make eye contact. What changed recently that made him so audacious? The emperor found Raciels transformation both annoying and intriguing. He waited for the boys response. Raciel spoke up. Your Majesty, the great emperor, please consider my perspective. Havent I passed the test by working diligently and solving the challenging problem you presented me? I didnt observe any exceptional effort on your part. But I solved it, didnt I? Yes, you did. So why am I only allowed ess to the lower section of the Imperial Archives? Did you expect to have ess to the middle, upper, and special sections merely by answering that level of question correctly? Yes. You didnt mention that I would only be able to see the lower section When you posed the test, you simply referred to the Imperial Archives And now, after I passed, the wording has subtly changed Ahem! So, are you now requesting that you be granted ess to all areas of the Imperial Archives? Not exactly requesting. Then what? Just being a bit more persistent I apologize. This approach wasnt working. Raciel swiftly lowered his head, sensing the emperors unyielding determination. It seemed futile to push any further. If he pressed too hard now, he might even lose the privilege of essing the lower section. Therefore, he decided to settle for the current arrangement before the emperor changed his mind. Anyway, hes quite strict. Ill have to strive for ess to the middle, upper, and special sections next time. Raciel, with a mixture of respect and disappointment, swiftly left the office before the Emperor could change his mind. The once-noisy office returned to a calm atmosphere, and the Emperor stroked his beard. Heh, indeed. His gaze lingered on the spot where Raciel had stood, and a natural smile graced his face. He was genuinely pleased. Just being able to see him up and about is enough to make me happy. He has be so audacious, even whining and clinging to me. Raciel had been on the verge of death, abandoned by countless doctors. Seeing him now, acting like a normal person, brought immense joy to the Emperors heart. His constant desire to aplish things, his audacity to approach and negotiate with him, and even his shameless requests for more rewardsall of it delighted and made the Emperor proud. Yes, continue doing that. Challenge me further. Every time you do, I will test you. He would embrace Raciel with open arms. Children grow by challenging their parents. Through these challenges, they recognize and expand their limits. It was the role of a parent to help their child practice safely, preparing them for the time when they would face the world. Heh, heh, heh. The Emperor contained hisughter within his heart. Outwardly, he maintained a solemn expression, stroking his beard. However, his attention was suddenly drawn to an unusual sightthe captain of the Imperial Guard shedding silent tears. Roberto, why are you crying? Your Majesty The Emperor asked in surprise, and the captain of the Imperial Guard replied with a sob. Earlier, didnt the Crown Prince urately diagnose my condition better than expected? Yes, he did. But why, Your Majesty, did you not inquire about my hair loss treatment before the Crown Prince left Huh? (Cough) Oops. Well,ter on, go to the Star Pce and receive treatment separately. Take a day off too. The Emperor could only pat the back of the captain of the Imperial Guard in silence. Phew. My legs are feeling weak, so weak. Are you alright? No. Do you want any help? No, its not that serious. Demian asked about Raciels well-being with a serious expression. Raciel couldnt help but chuckle at his sincerity. Its so strange, so strange. Demian, who had been assigned as a guard tonight, and the Emperor, who had been engaged in a mental battle just a moment agothey were all characters he had encountered through illustrations and texts in a novel. He had seen them speak, experience events, and sometimes even die in his imagination. But now? Now, they were vivid realities right in front of him. asionally, it felt overwhelmingly real, and Raciel couldnt help but feel a strange sensation, just like now. That Emperors power is no joke. I should avoid him unless necessary. Whenever he faces the Emperor, he gets as nervous as when he meets thendlord. Raciel shook his head, pushing away his PTSD, and followed the courtdy. Here we are. After walking for about 20 minutes, they arrived. They had traversed countless corridors, passages, stairs, and corners. When Raciels weak legs were on the verge of giving in, they finally reached a deep basement within the Imperial Pce. There stood a semi-transparent door, the entrance to the heavily protected treasure store known as the Imperial Pces Archives. The courtdy handed Raciel two nes. Your Highness, please take these. What are these? These are your ess passes to the vault. The courtdy provided a straightforward exnation. Only those wearing these nes can enter the Archives. What happens if I dont have one? All the attack magic installed within the vault will be triggered. Also, these nes operate by entering the permitted reading time each time. If you exceed the allotted time What happens if I exceed it? Once again, all the attack magic installed within the vault will be triggered. By the way, the reading time entered in the ne you received, Your Highness, is until dawn. Wait a moment. That means I only have a few hours left, right? Yes, you should hurry. The courtdy smiled as Raciel hastily put on the ne. He nced back at Demian. Lets go inside. Yes. They entered through the milky, shimmering semi-transparent entrance. As Raciel passed through the magic circle at the entrance, his body swayed, and a slight wave of nausea washed over him. Ugh. His sensitive Core Technique reacted to the mana within the magic circle, but it subsided quickly. After stepping through the entrance, a vast space opened up before them. Oh The sight reminded Raciel of a local Home Depot or IKEA store. The interior of the warehouse was evenrger than most big-box retailers. Countless shelves were scattered throughout the immense space, each filled with various items. This is going to be a busy night. When would they find the time to examine all of this? The view before him seemed to blur slightly, but there was no time to waste. Demian. Yes, Your Highness. From now on, we need to search for what we need here. What should I be looking for? Items rted to coldness. Potions, magic orbs, and simr objects. Check everything. Heres a notepad and charcoal pen. Lets divide the area exactly in half. You take this side, and Ill search the other. Note down the location of the items I mentioned. That way, I can quickly review the items you checked after I finish my search. I understand. There was no need for further exnation. Time was of the essence. They immediately set to work. Demian went to the designated area, while Raciel meticulously examined each item in his section, sorting them as he went. Please,e forth. Show me the suitable item. They needed to find a potion or artifact that could enhance Yin energy, allowing him to restore the energy of the patient suffering from Typhus. Raciel moved swiftly, making a silent promise to himself. He rolled his eyes, scanning the items thoroughly, as if searching for a midnight snack in the refrigerator. However, even after scouring the entire left section, Raciel couldnt find a suitable item. Surprisingly, there were very few items with unique energies. Most of them were simply fine swords, armors crafted by renowned artisans, or beautiful decorative pieces. Is it because this is the lower part of the warehouse? Hopefully, the right section will be different. It had to be. Suppressing his growing anxiety, Raciel headed towards the right section where Demian had been searching. He coincidentally ran into him just as he finished his task. Did you write down everything as I instructed? Yes, here it is. What is this? I marked the locations of items rted to coldness, just as you asked. But its hardly legible. You need to make sure its understandable. I did my best. Do you have poor handwriting? Demians face turned slightly red, but now was not the time to dwell on it. There was a more pressing matter at hand. Is there only one item marked here? Yes. There were very few items rted to coldness. The same goes for the side I checked. Raciel let out a sigh. There were no items rted to coldness in the left section at all, and only one in the right section that Demian had searched. In other words This single item thats marked its ourst and only hope. Raciel felt a surge of nervousness. He set out to find the shelf where the item was located, and his gazended on a shield. Perennial Snow? Raciel looked up at the shelf. There, he saw a shield named Perennial Snow, but its appearance was utterly underwhelming. Is this really a shield? It appeared feeble. It was far too small to be a shieldbarely the size of a palm if one were being generous. It resembled a t circr lump with a handle, simr in size to a mobile phone or a caf call bell. But Raciel refused to be prematurely disappointed. Lets read the description below. Each shelf in the warehouse provided brief information about the disyed items origin and purpose. Raciels eyes quickly scanned the description. [Name: Perennial Snow] [ssification: Shield] [Acquisition: Unknown] [ssification Level: Low] [Use: When the user injects mana, the core in the center transforms the mana to create and deploy a shield of coldness. The cold shield shatters upon receiving a certain amount of impact.] [Precautions when using: The fragments of coldness that fall off when it shatters are pure mana crystals. They will naturally disperse over time, so please be careful not to touch or consume them.] Wow This was it. As Raciel read the final part of the description, his eyes lit up as if he had just undergone LASIK surgery. Trivia: LASIK, orser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a type of refractive surgery that uses aser to reshape the cornea, the clear front part of the eye. This can improve vision in people with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.I Next Chapter 46 Chapter 46I Next Amazing. Raciels eyes widened as he pondered over the instructions of the shield he had just read. Gradually, the truth dawned on him. This shield is far from ordinary. Infusing it with mana creates an ice shield. Superficially, it appeared quite mundanea t, round object about the size of a palm. It resembled a vibrating bell with an unnecessary handle attached. However, what happened when one grasped the handle and infused it with mana was extraordinary. It transformed into an ice shield. I cant resist this toggling ability! Various ideas for utilizing the shield started to form in Raciels mind. Countless possibilities and feasible strategies unraveled before him. Raciel made his decision. Ill go with this. After all, he had already perused all the low-grade items avable. In this particr situation, it was the sole item rted to ice. He had no other option but to choose it. But I need to verify the information in the instruction manual first. Raciels gaze sharpened. Naturally, it wasmon sense. It was imperative to confirm the authenticity of any item before acquiring it. Does the items features align with the product manual? Are there any inherent defects or fatal ws? Is it suitable for his purposes? Is it not a defective product with hidden damages? Are the reviews not filled withints? Is it not an extravagant purchase devoid of practicality? If the items operation method is unique, it requires even more meticulous inspection. Isnt it necessary to check if a pair of $2 gloves from a supermarket fits properly? After all, this wasnt an easy opportunity to obtain. Its a chance granted to me by persuading the Emperor to grant me ess to the Archive. Tonight, he could only select one item from this ce. The task at hand was to decide on that one item. Raciel cautiously extended his hand, opened the ss lid of the shelf, and gripped the handle of the shield, the Perennial Snow. Ah, its cold. The chill permeated his senses, reminiscent of holding a freshly extracted piece of ice with bare hands. Raciel endured it. He lifted it up. He recalled the instruction manual. The user infuses mana, and the core in the center here converts the mana into coldness. He activated the Asrahan Core Technique. The Mana Circle awakened. Keiiiing-! The ring encircling his heart spun, amplifying and circting the mana within his body. Raciel focused his mana on his right hand, which held the Perennial Snow. He infused the handle of the Perennial Snow with mana. But tzzzzz? No ice formed. Instead, the core of the Perennial Snow vibrated intensely, resembling a real vibrating bell in a caf. Boooong-! It felt as if he should rush to get his iced americano right away. Raciel swiftly dismissed the nostalgic sensation that arose and concentrated. I cant simply infuse it with mana at random. As he held the handle, the truth became apparent. With each infusion of mana, the vibrations of the handle increased or decreased in real-time, depending on the quantity of mana. Through this feedback, Raciel could intuitivelyprehend. Mana cannot be pumped recklessly. Theres a precise amount required to generate an ice shield. It was akin to driving a car, adjusting the pressure on the elerator to maintain a stable and optimal RPM, thus achieving fuel-efficient driving. Or it was like ying hard to get, maintaining a certain level of intensity to sessfully evade remaining single. The situation mirrored this scenario. Feel the vibrations returning through the handle. Strong. Then weak. He perceived the fluctuations and captured the sensation of the most appropriate mana input. Suddenly, his mind wandered to the shower in the rental house where he lived in Korea. That faucet was mysterious. The extremes between hot and cold were quite pronounced. Slightly turning the lever to the left would release scorching water akin tova. Shouting in surprise and nudging the lever slightly to the right would result in icy water that could make one feel like a Neanderthal taking a cold shower with an ice pick. Consequently, every time he showered, he had to be a master of faucet control. Bncing between coolness and passion. Navigating the realm of cold and warm water. An exquisite equilibrium that allowed no room for error, not even a millimeter. He had to precisely position the faucet lever within that hair-thin zone to enjoy afortable shower without scalding or frostbite. It was thanks to those days of rigorous training. Now, those intense experiences from the past unexpectedly proved to be helpful. Ive found it. After feeling the returning vibrations through the handle for about five minutes, he finally managed to input the precise amount of mana. The vibrations gradually ceased. Maintain this input. He held it steady. He waited. He anticipated. And then, the reward of his patience arrived. Pazsusus! A chilling sound emanated from the t, round center. White frost, resembling the smoke of dry ice, billowed out, forming a circr ice shield with a diameter of 1.2 meters. Sess. It was truly astonishing. The moment he seeded in utilizing it, Raciel could sense the true value of this shield throughout his entire body. It provided a wide defensive area that was immediately visible, yet it felt incredibly light. Despite the shield being deployed, he only felt the slight weight of the small core in the center and the handle in his hand. Furthermore, his vision remained unobstructed. When using arge shield, the width of the shield would limit the view on the sides, but this shield did not suffer from that drawback. Thanks to the semi-transparent shield formed by the cold air, he could clearly see the other side, as if peering through a cars front window with 80% tinting. Hah. This is truly a remarkable item. But I can understand why it was ssified as low-grade and discarded here. Was it due to its poor quality? Certainly not. Having experienced it firsthand, he knew. Ordinary individuals would never be able to wield this shield. Firstly, the shield only activates if you inject precisely the right amount of mana. And to maintain it, you have to continuously infuse the exact amount of mana. In reality, it was an incredibly challenging task. No, for ordinary swordsmen, it would be nearly impossible. Normally, mana is used to wield a sword and unleash sword energy. Or its utilized to momentarily enhance physical abilities. This was often emphasized in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Thats the case for most people. Ordinary swordsmen use mana explosively. But delicately controlling and continuously emitting a specific amount of mana like this? They simply cant. Unless theyre Sword Masters. Only a Sword Master could aplish this. However, would a Sword Master rely on a shield like this? Never. Raciel chuckled and shook his head. Ordinary swordsmen withmon martial artscked the finesse in mana control to use this shield. And those who could control mana, such as Sword Masters, had no need for a shield like this. Thus, the conclusion was clear. This shield presents too high of an entry barrier for those who require it, and only those who dont need it can use it. In other words, its a deceptive and ambiguously functional piece of junk. That must be the reason behind its low-grade ssification. But for him? It was slightly different. I possess the Asrahan Core Technique. Raciel could delicately control mana, a distinct characteristic and specialty of the Asrahan Core Technique. Thats why he could use this shield. Furthermore, the main body of the shield was small, making it highly portable. Previously, I crafted a metal shield topete with the second prince, but it was toorge and cumbersome. That shield became a burden to carry around. These days, it serves as a stand for trimmed herbs in the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. Nevertheless, this Perennial Snow is the perfect item for me. Raciel grinned widely. The verification process wasplete. He was confident. With this, I can do it. Mrs. Dinraier, I can heal you. A thread of possibility caught Raciels mind. He tugged at that thread, exploring ways to utilize the ice shield, Perennial Snow, and revive Mrs. Dinraiers weakened yin energy. He pondered and dedicated himself. He calcted and devised. He reyed simtions in his mind. Finally, he reached the conclusion that it was worth a try. He turned to the side. Demian? Yes, Your Highness. Demian, who had been silently standing by Raciels side, appeared. Raciel addressed him. I think I might need your assistance again. What kind of assistance? Ill exin when we reach the Star Pce. Understood. Demian nodded and observed the prince as he eagerly packed the Perennial Snow shield. He truly is an extraordinary individual. Demian couldnt help but think this every time he encountered the prince, perhaps from the very beginning. Is he exceptionally selfless? He reminisced about their first meeting when the prince saved him and the diators without any apparent reason. The prince healed his chronic pain and helped him ovee withdrawal symptoms. It was something Demian was immensely grateful for. But it wasnt just those acts of kindness. He heals people without expecting anything in return. Whether its a child suffering from seizures or a noblewoman with a fever, he genuinely cares for them without discrimination, and he continues to do so. It wasnt just superficial efforts. He even challenged the emperor and, in the end, earned the privilege to ess the Imperial Archives. He was now collecting the treasures from the Archive. But for his own personal gain? No. Its all for the purpose of healing Mrs. Dinraier. That seemed to be the ultimate goal. Yet, why did the prince go to such great lengths? There didnt seem to be any significant benefit for him. Why did he exert so much effort to help others? My admiration for him grows with each passing day. Initially, it seemed somewhat peculiar. However, the more Demian observed, the more he understood. This prince was genuine. He didnt expect any form ofpensation. He didnt even consider the slightest reward. He simply worked wholeheartedly and sincerely to heal people. Demian wondered how many individuals in the world could exhibit such selflessness. To be honest, he couldnt help but admire the prince. Warmth filled Demians gaze towards him. Of course, Raciel could sense that gaze. Why are you looking at me with such sentimentality? No, its not like that. What do you mean its not? Your gaze was just wistful. . Are you sleepy because you were dragged out in the middle of the night? Of course not. Then lets get moving. We need to go see the patient no, collect the bonus lifespan. Bonus lifespan? Oh, I meant to take care of the patient. It seemed like something else. Its not. What are you dawdling for? . Is it really not that? Demian shook his head and followed Raciel out of the Archive. The journey back was swift, and they arrived at the Star Pce. However, instead of heading to see the patient, the prince led him to a tranquil spot in the Star Pce garden for some unknown reason. He took a seat and turned to face Demian. Listen closely to what Im about to say. Yes, Your Highness. Demian understood. When it came to Raciels words, the prince who wholeheartedly helped patients. When it came to hismands, the prince who tirelessly pursued altruistic beliefs. Regardless of themand, Demian would follow without hesitation. So Please give me yourmand. Well then, draw your sword. Patsusu! The prince raised the Perennial Snow shield. He deployed the ice shield as before and extended it towards Demian. With a calm expression, he spoke. Can you strike me until this shield shatters? That Are you serious? Demian felt his admiration for the prince decrease ever so slightly. For the first time, a small seed of doubt unknowingly took root within him. Our prince. No, this guy. Perhaps hes a little bit entric. Trivia: Neanderthals, an extinct species or subspecies of archaic humans, inhabited Eurasia until approximately 40,000 years ago. Physically distinct from modern humans, they possessed thicker skulls, more pronounced brow ridges, and a shorter stature. However, Neanderthals had brains that wereparable to, or evenrger than, those of modern humans. They exhibited advanced capabilities in tool usage and social organization. The exact reasons for their extinction remain a subject of debate, with hypotheses including climate change,petition with modern humans, or abination of various factors. Neanderthals are believed to have evolved in cold climates, and they possessed several physical adaptations that aided their survival in such conditions.I Next Chapter 47 Chapter 47I Next Can you strike me until this shield shatters? . This Crown Prince. No, this man. What kind of absurdity is he suggesting? Could he have lost his mind? Demian tilted his head in confusion for a moment, then sank deep into contemtion. He wondered if the Crown Prince had recently suffered a severe head injury or disyed signs of excessive stress or sleeplessness. Upon reflection, none of these possibilities seemed usible. Thus, Demian remained perplexed. Do you mean you want me to strike that shield the one you are holding, Your Highness? Yes. The Crown Prince nodded, his expression calm as if it were a matter of course. I did mention that I might need your assistance, didnt I? Yes, you did. Well, this is it. . If you strike this shield, Mrs. Dinraier will survive. . And the Star Pce Clinic will avoid bankruptcy. . Of course, my longevity will also be secured. . And the royal family will not copse, understand? .So, you want me to strike that shield? Yes. . What is going through this mans mind? Demian furrowed his brow. However, a part of him also sensed that there was more to the story that the Crown Prince was not revealing. Could you please provide a more detailed exnation? Of course. The Crown Prince grinned slyly. You saw the manual for the Perennial Snow in the Archive, right? Yes, I saw it. Then you must rememberthe instructions and precautions for using the Perennial Snow. Yes. The text mentioned that a powerful impact exceeding its limit would shatter the Ice Shield. Correct. Do you also recall the warning below that? Of course. Demian nodded. He easily recollected the warnings contents. It stated that the shards of ice released when the shield is damaged are pure mana crystals and that they naturally disperse over time. It also cautioned against reckless contact or ingestion due to their potential significant effect on the human body. Am I correct? Correct. Well done. Apud yourself. . What? So, is there a connection between the warnings content and yourmand for me to strike you? Indeed. Prince Raciel affirmed. We intend to employ those ice crystals as medicinal herbs. Wait, there was a warning about their significant effect on the human body The warning only mentioned a significant effect; it didnt specify whether it would be positive or negative, did it? . So, we must collect and study them to determine whether they benefit or harm the human body. To achieve that, we first need to deliver a forceful blow that will shatter the Ice Shield. But why do I have to Among those capable of delivering a powerful sword strike to shatter this shield, you are the most reliable. . Me? Why? Demian swallowed the question forming in his throat and raised a different objection instead. So, I must strike the shield while you hold it? Cant I just strike the shield once you ce it on the ground? Hmm? Why cant I strike the shield once its on the ground? Oh, thats not possible. Why not? Because of this. The Crown Prince deliberately released his grip on the Perennial Snow, allowing it to fall to the ground with a thud. Simultaneously, the Ice Shield that had been deployed vanished without a trace. A smirk appeared on the Crown Princes face. As you can see, the Ice Shield disappears when the mana supply is cut off. Therefore, in order to sustain the Ice Shield, I must hold it without fail. So, let me confirm: youre asking me to carefully control my strength to break only the Ice Shield without causing you harm. Thats correct. Exactly. . Just so you know, Im not doing this because I enjoy it. Honestly, its frightening. Its not just you, Your Highness. Im scared as well. Why is that? Because this act could potentially be seen as treason. So, I have one condition. A condition? Yes. What is your condition? The Crown Prince responded to Demians question, and Demian replied sincerely. For every strike on Your Highness shield I request a special allowance. .What? The Crown Prince tilted his head, his expression contorted oddly. Nevertheless, Demian voiced his thoughts. As you know, my sword is ruthless. It is unforgiving. Yet, you expect to withstand its blow with just a single shield, until the shield breaks. Isnt that an enormous risk for me? Isnt it a risk for me as well? . Are you concerned that if you were to harm me, you would be charged with treason? Yes. Hmm. So, when I strike at Your Highness shield, I am also taking a significant risk. Huh. Thats why I believe a special allowance, or rather, a hazard pay, should be granted for each blow. Huhhh. Prince Raciel stuck out his tongue. So, you want to bepensated for each strike? Yes. Do you think Im a golden goblin? An adversary who spews money when struck? I I have never heard of a golden goblin. I dont understand what an adversary is, but my proposal is an honest opinion. So, you wont strike my shield without hazard pay? Yes, Your Highness. Demian nodded with a serious gaze. Simultaneously, he pondered. This was a suitable opportunity to secure more ie. Prince, I see you as a benefactor. I admire your actions of caring for others without expecting anything in return. But apart from that I should take the money that I can from you. Money. Just the thought of it made his teeth grind. Reflecting on the past, all the sources of misfortune in his life were tied to money. His mother, who had single-handedly raised him. His mothers tragic end. Being left an orphan in a back alley. The numerous hardships he had faced alone at a young age. Ending up in the underground diatorial arena. The days he couldnt escape from the arena. The pain during those times was rooted in money. If he had possessed more money. If he had been even slightly better off. It was an unhappiness he didnt have to endure. Thats why. I respect you. But I need to secure the money. Im uncertain how long youll remain in good health like this. I dont know how long I can serve you. The Prince had been bedridden until recently. He had regained some health recently, enough to move around without difficulty. But Demian realized he didnt know when his health would deteriorate again. So, can I serve you for ten years? At most, ten years. Or maybe five years. Or perhaps even less. When he realistically and rationally considered it, thats what it was. He wanted to prepare for the day when the Prince would fall and he would have to leave his side. He wanted to be ready for the day when he would involuntarily lose his position. By saving as much sry as possible by then. By umting as much money as possible. That seemed to be the best preparation. And it remained the same now. I need to take the sry every opportunity I get. Loyalty and money are separate matters. Working without pay out of loyalty or respect for someone is foolish. Demian looked at the Prince with a resolute gaze. In response to that gaze, Prince Raciel could only chuckle. Ha. Demian, this guy, just like in the novel. Suddenly, the memories of the novel Devil Sword Emperor shed through his mind. Among them, the actions of the protagonist Demian, who was followed until the middle of the story, came to the forefront. That guy in the middle was unexpectedly stingy and obsessed with money. He held a grudge against wealth and always prioritized money above all else. So its the same now. Exactly the same. The audaciousness of his demands. That resolute gaze. He could feel it all. Oveying the image of Demian from the novel, he understood. Unconsciously, a smile formed at the corners of Raciels mouth. Well, if thats what you desire. Really? Yes. You shall receive a days sry for each strike. How does that sound? That works. Shhhing. Finally, Demian drew his sword. Raciel took a deep breath and raised his Perennial Snow shield. He summoned the chilling air to form the shield. Buzz. Proceed. Understood. Demian tightened his grip on the sword. For safety, Ill start with a light strike. Okay, thank you. Raciel firmly grasped the Perennial Snows handle. He lowered his stance and awaited the sword attack. In that moment, Demians sword seemed to vanish. No, it moved with such speed that it was imperceptible to the naked eye. Thunk-! ! Stars danced before Raciels eyes. The world momentarily darkened. Soon, his vision returned along with a dizzying sensation. However, Demian now stood several steps back. No, it wasnt Demian who moved back Huff. It was Raciel. As he lowered his head due to the dizziness, he finally realized it. Two feet ahead, a trench had been carved into the ground. So this meant Incredible. Was I pushed back several steps just by blocking a single sword strike? And this was Demians idea of a light strike for safety? What about the shield? Raciel inspected the Perennial Snow, hoping it had shattered in one blow. However, it remained intact. The cold air shield still held its strength. Whether Demian was aware of his struggle (?) or not, he calmly stated, It seems it wont break at this level. Let me try again. Huh? Here I go. Hey, wait Thwang-! Ugh. Once again, stars exploded in front of his eyes. When his senses returned, he realized he had been pushed back even farther than before. The aftermath of the dizziness was even more severe. However, the cold air shield remained unbroken. What on earth Hold on tight. What? Thwack-! Ugh? It felt like a meteor had collided with his face. But Demian didnt halt his assault. Perhaps he was determined to fully (?) exploit this opportunity for extra payment. His sword strikes grew more powerful. Raciel barely managed to withstand them. The sensation of being turned into a tenderized piece of meat overwhelmed him. Ugh, this is insane! He hadnt expected it to be this intense. While he knew Demians sword strikes would be formidable, experiencing them firsthand was a different matter. He worried that it wouldnt be his shield that shattered, but rather his shoulder, waist, or knee. Yet, Raciel persevered. The task at hand had alreadymenced. Sess was necessary to obtain the cold energy crystal. With that crystal, he could attempt to revive Mrs. Dinraiers yin energy. To bring her back to life. To continue the momentum of establishing a medical clinic. To umte additional bonus lifespan. Longevity, wealth, and honor, a royal life! Lets go! Amidst enduring and promising himself a bright future, something unexpected happened. Crack-! An unfamiliar sound resonated from the shield, akin to a giant pot lid cracking. Demians storm-like sword attacks came to an abrupt halt. Thud, thump Something fell. The sound of an object rolling on the ground. Raciel instinctively opened his eyes and followed the noise until he finally saw it. Ah. Were those shards of broken ss? No, rather, they were chunks of ice. Several transparent, crystalline piecesy on the ground. It was the coveted chilling crystal he had longed for. Sess. With trembling knees, Raciel clenched his fists and swiftly retrieved a handkerchief from his pocket. Worried that the crystals might vanish, he carefully gathered them. Are you alright? Yes, for the most part. Raciel couldnt help but smile at the concerned expression on Demians face. He sat down on the grass for a moment to catch his breath. However, he didnt have much time to waste. Ugh, I feel numb. Raciel stood up. With Demians assistance, he made his way to the pce, heading for the kitchen that doubled as a decoction-making room. He retrieved the necessary ingredients for a decoction. Dried kudzu root. Ephedra and jujube seeds. Peony and licorice root. Ginger root and cinnamon bark. After meticulously portioning the ingredients, hebined them and boiled purified water. It was the usual decoction he always prepared. However, this time, he added an additional step. What will happen if I include the chilling mana crystal? Raciel retrieved the cold crystal he had obtained earlier, feeling the intense cold even through the protectiveyer of the handkerchief. He gently ced the smallest piece into the decoction. Plop. As the frigid chunk melded into the mixture, the rising steam subsided instantaneously. Frost formed swiftly, and beads of sweat trickled down Raciels forehead. Please, let it be sessful. Let it work. Raciel fervently hoped for this experiment to yield positive results. He yearned for a herbal concoction that could revitalize Mrs. Dinraiers yin energy. He wished and wished once more, pouring his heart into his prayers. And he prepared to consume the decoction. By ingesting it and circting it through my body, I can examine its primaryponents. A minute quantity, passing through a small opening. Just enough to ensure safety for his body. By analyzing its effectswhether harmful or beneficind its potency in stimting yin energy, he could gauge the oues, all while maintaining a calm state of mind by checking his own pulse. However, just as Raciel was contemting this Ding-dong! An unexpected notification chimed, apanied by an even more surprising message that materialized before him. [You have developed a new recipe based on traditional decoction-making: Galgeuntang.] [As a result of this new recipe, you have sessfully concocted Special Ice Galgeuntang.] [This bold experiment has provided you with a valuable experience.] [Your sessful experience serves as a stepping stone, unlocking a new skill.] [The skill Decoction Making has been unlocked.] [Skill Name: Decoction Making Level 1] [The herbal concoctions you prepare now possess a 10% increase in efficacypared to conventional concoctions. Additionally, you will be able to urately assess the effects, side effects, and toxicity of the ingredients on the human body.] . This is unbelievable. Unbeknownst to him, Raciel gasped. A new skill had been unlocked in apletely unexpected moment. Upon reading the final part of the message, a single thought dominated his mind. Jackpot. Trivia: Galgeuntang () is a traditional Korean medicine (TKM) soup made with galgeun (), also known as Chinese knotweed root or Polygonum multiflorum root, as the primary ingredient. Galgeun has a bitter and astringent taste and has been used in TKM for centuries to treat various health conditions, including fevers, coughs, and sore throats. It is believed to have immune-boosting properties and promote overall well-being. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 48 Chapter 48I Next Jackpot. It was mind-blowing. Truly mind-blowing. Raciel swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the message window. He had no choice but to believe it. So youre saying that the herbal decoctions I create will have a 10% increase in efficacy? 10 percent? Some might consider it a small increase, a mere 10%. It could appear as a slight improvement in effectiveness. But it was far from that. Absolutely far from it. Anyone aware of the immense investment and research modern pharmaceuticalpanies dedicate to achieving even a 1% increase in drug efficacy would understand the monumental significance of a 10% boost. And there was something even more astonishing. I can determine the medicinal effects, side effects, and even the toxicity of the decoctionsponents? The skill of decoction-making was an unexpected gift, and this aspect seemed to be its core essence. To be honest, when I added the cold crystal to the Galgeuntang decoction I had no idea what medicinal effects it would have. So, what happened after making it? He had nned to experiment, to try it himself. He intended to store the ice Galgeuntang decoction in the circle slot and gradually release small amounts into his body to avoid overwhelming it. That way, he believed he couldprehend the effects, side effects, and precautions of the ice Galgeuntang decoction through self-trial. But even if I had tried it, I wouldnt have fully understood its effects. Mrs. Dinraier doesnt have much time left. So, the time I would have had to test the efficacy would be no more than a few days. Developing a new drug required an enormous investment and effort. However, the subsequent clinical trials were equally daunting. Because its a drug people will consume. It absolutely cannot have any negative effects. The same applied to decoctions. People may not realize it, but various decoctions also undergo numerous clinical trials andponent analyses. Raciel would have done the same this time. He would have found out, even if he had to use his own body as a test subject. But now, he no longer needed to, thanks to the decoction-making skill. Nevertheless, Raciel suppressed his excitement. It wasnt the time to revel in joy yet. It wasnt the time to feel relieved either. Lets test it first. But how does one conduct aponent test? Surprisingly, the answer was simple. By merely gazing at the container filled with ice Galgeuntang decoction, a reaction urred. Ding dong! [Your self-made decoction has been detected.] [Would you like to activate the Component Analysis option of the Decoction Making Skill?] [YES / NO] Naturally, the answer was yes. Raciel nodded, and theponent analysis option was activated. [The Component Analysis option of the Decoction Making Skill is now activated.] [Scanning] [3 2 1] [Scanpleted.] Ding dong! A clear and pleasant sound resonated throughout the world. Immediately after, details about the ice Galgeuntang decoction appeared. [Ice Galgeuntang Decoction] [Active Ingredients: Concentrated water qi mana, isovonoids, glycyrrhizin, iso-glycyrrhizic acid, saponins, coumarin, phytosterols, betulic acid and more.] [Appearance: Dark brown liquid] [Efficacy and Effects: Restores water qi among the Five Elements, reduces fever, increases cerebral blood flow, expands coronary arteries, enhances the immune system] [Administration Method and Dosage: 200ml per serving, three times a day after meals] [Precautions: Not suitable for patients with kidney and urinary diseases] [Side Effects: This decoction enhances the bodys water qi, which can asionally overstimte the functions of the kidneys and dder. If symptoms such as dder pain and hematuria ur during use, administration should be immediately discontinued.] [Storage Method: Keep in a cool environment between 1-10] [Expiration Date: 3 days from the date of manufacture] [Manufacturer: Raciel Adria Magentano] Excellent. Truly excellent. This skill is real. It feels like he can see almost everything about Ice Galgeuntang in such a clear and organized manner. Its like reading a simplified version of the instructions thate with Tylenol and Gatorade sold in pharmacies. Its thatprehensive. So, Raciel trusts it. Especially, the first thing mentioned in the efficacy and effects section is recovery of Su-qi (water energy). Thats the most urgently needed medicinal effect. I can save her yin energy. Mrs. Dinraier. Her bodys yin energy is particrly weak. But what if we can boost the water energy? The kidneys and dder affected by Su-qi will recover, and ording to the principle of Su-saeng-mok (water generates wood), the wood energy will alsoe alive. And when the wood energy gains strength? The liver and galldder will gain vitality. All body organs definitely influence each other. When the liver and galldder revive, the heart and small intestines will also gain vitality. Then the spleen and stomach will be active. Eventually, the lungs and colon will function properly. In that way, the immune system will take up the sword. Finally, it can fight against disease. Its worth a try. He can do it. Lets go then. Raciel quickly packed the just-finished Ice Galgeuntang. Demian looked at Raciel skeptically. Youre going to administer it right after making it? Yes. Is that safe? Yes. Demian remained silent. As he followed the Crown Prince into the corridor illuminated by the morning sun, he pondered while heading towards Mrs. Dinraiers ward. What could it be? What kind of person is the Crown Prince he serves? How can he be so certain? There must be something I dont know. He heard that the Crown Prince had never studied medicine. Yet, he diagnoses patients skillfully and creates medicine. He did the same when treating him and the diators. The more he thought about it, the more incredible it seemed. But regardless of what Demian thought, Raciel simply focused on his work diligently. Knock knock? Iming in. He entered the ward. Mrs. Dinraiers son, who had been dozing off, quickly stood up. Your Highness. How is your mother? She fell asleep after having some porridge. The fever, um, is still there. He checked Mrs. Dinraiers pulse. There has been no improvement sincest night. No, to be precise It has worsened. The pulse was significantly weaker. It felt like the body was losing the energy to fight the disease. This medicine has to work. He gently woke up Mrs. Dinraier. He helped her sit up and spoon-fed her the Ice Galgeuntang slowly. It might be a little cold. Take it slowly. Thats it. Ugh Its too bitter I brought some candy, dont worry. Thank you, Your Highness Fortunately, Mrs. Dinraier consumed all the Ice Galgeuntang without spilling a drop. As he watched her fall asleep again, Raciel prayed. Please let the medicine work. May the effects identified in theponent analysis be 100% effective. He prayed, waited, and observed. And then it began. Raciels intense battlemenced. Take 200ml per dose, three times a day after meals. He strictly adhered to the rmended usage and dosage. He prepared the Ice Galgeuntang for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. After preparing each batch, he always conducted aponent analysis. Only after the test waspleted did he administer the medicine to Mrs. Dinraier. But that wasnt all. He also had to manage the newly opened Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. During the day, he had to attend to the patients who came in. He couldnt afford to take any of them lightly. I might copse before anything else. His body was still in a weakened state. With such a condition, he treated the general patients and provided special care to Mrs. Dinraier. Running around all day felt like running a marathon that quickly drained his energy. He was on the verge of copsing. But he persevered. When he felt drowsy, Kozumi would prick his thigh with a brown spine. When he felt dizzy, he would supplement with sugar from candies. When he wanted to give up, he motivated himself. Someday, I will reap the rewards of my hard work! He was determined to live a life filled with joy. He vowed to live a life of luxury and sess. With that resolution in mind, he fought tirelessly. His actions began to stir quiet emotions in the hearts of the Star Pce members. Was our Crown Prince always like this? Everyone wondered. Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. What kind of person was he? When he was bedridden due to his illness, there was no one more sensitive than him. It made it hard for the people around him to even breathe properly. But now? He seemed like an entirely different person. Even when he brought the diators, even when he cared for the child with seizures he was never this devoted to helping others. Our Crown Prince, who tirelessly cared for patients day and night. Our Crown Prince, who personally prepared medicinal decoctions, enduring fatigue and hardship. Our Crown Prince, who stayed up all night to watch over the patients. Your Highness! You mustnt push yourself too hard! Gardin, unable to bear it any longer, eximed. But the Crown Prince silently shook his head. No, its something I must do. That was his only response. He continued to take care of the patients quietly, as if it were a natural part of his duties. The people of Star Pce became increasingly amazed by his actions. This must be genuine. It must be sincere. Admirable. The head steward of Star Pce. The servants and maids. The royal guards. All felt a heartwarming emotion that couldnt be expressed in words. They sent their apuse to Raciels dedication. In their hearts, they praised his noble actions. Of course, they didnt know. They didnt know that deep in Raciels heart, there was not an ounce of service, dedication, orpassion. His only motivation was the promise of wealth and glory! A life of luxury in the royal court! Days passed amidst everyones slight misunderstandings and admiration. Two days, three days, five days, ten days And finally, the fruits of hisbor appeared. Ding-dong! In the early hours of the morning, withthe waning moon hanging in the window frame, Raciel was dozing off next to Mrs. Dinraier. An alert jolted him awake from his light sleep. Hmm? Raciel opened his eyes, roused from his doze. And soon, he saw it. [You have sessfully treated the patient: Mrs. Dinraier, who was suffering from Typhus Fever, by administering Ice Galgeuntang and providing dedicated nursing care. She has ovee the severe fever and will regain her health safely with appropriate rest.] [In this process, your exemry devotion and service, putting the patient first, have been witnessed by all. They send you their heartfelt respect, apuse, and praise.] [The Praise Bonus effect is added to the treatment reward.] [The effect of the Medical Billing (Lv.2) skill is applied 1.5 times.] Finally, the bud of the fruit was blooming right before his eyes. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 49 Chapter 49I Next [The Praise Bonus effect is added to the treatment reward.] [The effect of the Medical Billing (Lv.2) skill is applied 1.5 times.] What? Raciels eyes widened as he repeatedly read the reward message that appeared before him. Praise Bonus? It increases the effect of the skill by 1.5 times? In the meantime, additional messages continued to pop up. [Patient: Mrs. Dinraier has gained an extended life expectancy of 27 years and 3 months due to your prescription of Ice Galgeuntang Treatment and heartfelt care. As a result, you will receive a bonus lifespan calcted at 1/1950 of 27 years and 3 months.] [A bonus lifespan of 5.03 days has been calcted.] Up until that point, it was simr to the bonus lifespan settlement messages he had seen before. However, a new message was added below. [The effect of the Praise Bonus has been included in the rewards.] [The bonus lifespan granted to you has increased by 1.5 times.] [A total of 7.546 days of bonus lifespan has been calcted.] [The minimum unit for calcting the granted lifespan is 1 day.] [The granted bonus lifespan will be rounded up.] [A total of 8 days of bonus lifespan will be awarded.] [Your estimated life expectancy: 146 days.] Raciel took a deep breath as he read the messages, his fist clenched tightly. Its real. The praise benefits have increased the bonus lifespan reward. Originally, he was supposed to receive a bonus lifespan of 5 days. However, with the 1.5 times increase, he gained an additional 3 days of bonus lifespan! Hehe, hehehe. Joy filled Raciel as a smile spread across his face. Three days. That was no insignificant time. With three more days, he could nt apple trees before the impending end of the world. If he ate one chicken for every meal, he could enjoy a total of 9 of them. Three days had the power to make life more meaningful, precious, and valuable. Well, regardless, Ive learned something from this. Raciel summarized the information he gleaned from the messages. Receiving bonus lifespan through praise and admiration from the people around you results in an inted reward, rather than simply receiving the bonus lifespan. It was clearly stated in the message. So, from now on? I should pay more attention to those around me. Even when treating the same patient, he would do so with even greater dedication. Care for the patients with such heartfeltpassion that it would bring tears to the onlookers eyes. By doing so, he could obtain more bonus lifespan for himself as well. It was a natural calction that came to mind. Just like this time. He had put considerable effort into treating Mrs. Dinraier. Next time, he vowed to pretend to put in even more effort. And with that, he closed the message window and lifted his gaze. Mrs. Dinraiery in a deep sleep. Her breathing sounded noticeably more rxed than before. Raciel gently touched her forehead and felt her pulse. The fever had subsided considerably, and her pulse had be stable. Weve ovee the crisis. Indeed, it seemed that the recovery was approaching, just as the message had indicated. Suddenly, a smile formed on Raciels face, his happiness unintentionally shining through. Now, I can finally take a break too. To be honest, he was truly exhausted. He had exerted so much effort to save this elderlydy. Finally, a sigh of relief escaped him. More than anything, he felt genuine happiness. I did it. While the bonus lifespan was certainly a cause for joy, what made him even happier was knowing that someone had survived because of him. The knowledge that a family and a household would be happier brought a sense of fulfillment. It might be a simple sentiment, but at least for now, it brought him genuine happiness. Unbeknownst to Raciel, a smile graced his lips, illuminated solely by the moonlight streaming through the curtains. Several days had passed, and during that time, Mrs. Dinraier made astonishingly rapid progress in her recovery. You have fully regained your health. On a sunny spring morning, Raciels face beamed with joy as he checked Mrs. Dinraiers pulse. Congrattions. You arepletely healed now. Really? Is it true? Yes. Nodding emphatically, Raciel was certain. The results from his Palpation skill confirmed it, and his Sixth Sense conveyed a clear message. [Heart: Consultation with Mrs. Dinraiers heart confirms no abnormalities! Recovery is confirmed.] [Lungs: Mrs. Dinraier has made a full recovery. Impressive huff huff] [Colon: Cant help but celebrate aplete recovery. LOL] [Liver: Hiyah! It worked.] [Heart, lungs, colon, and liver congratte you on the sessful treatment and donate 200 HP.] [Current HP: 1,400] Both the Palpation appraisal and the Six Senses appraisal affirmed Mrs. Dinraiers recovery. Raciel happily epted the donated HP and spoke. You arepletely healed. You can be discharged immediately and resume your daily life. However, please be aware that your energy levels havent fully returned, so take it easy and avoid excessive alcohol for the time being. And what about the follow-up? Everything looks good. Eat well and get plenty of rest. Th-Thank you Sniff Thank you! Tears welled up in Mrs. Dinraiers eyes. Just a few days ago, when her fever was raging, she had arrived at the clinic in a semi-conscious state. At that time, she believed her life was hanging by a thread. The pain was excruciating, and even the act of breathing felt like a challenge. She had resigned herself to the belief that no doctor in the world could save her. Weary from suffering and agony, she had nearly lost all hope. But everything changed when she came here. It was the Crown Prince himself who took care of her. He personally administered the cool and refreshing medicine. He tended to her day and night. Thanks to him, she had survived. She had regained her health. It was a miracle she never expected, a miracle she had given up on. He had be her true savior. And it wasnt just Mrs. Dinraier who was moved. Her son, the Young Master Dinraier, wiped his eyes with his sleeve. Your Highness, thank you. I never imagined that you would care for my mother and save her like this Sniff The Young Master Dinraier bowed deeply, his tear-streaked face filled with earnestness. Your Highness, you are the benefactor who saved my mothers life. How can I repay this debt? Well, theres no need for repayment. No, I truly wish to repay you. Perhaps I should cover the medical expenses. How much would that be? Medical expenses? Yes, Your Highness. But you need not worry about that. Really? Did you know that medical expenses at this clinic arepletely free? Havent you seen it written in the brochure? Yes But why would I ept medical expenses? That would make the brochures contents false advertising. Patients, or rather, guests, would be disappointed. But Your Highness? Yes, what is it? I still wish to express my gratitude! Raciel fell silent. While he had no intention of epting medical expenses, Dinraier Young Master was persistently insistent on repaying the favor, more than Raciel had anticipated. That prompted a thought in Raciels mind. He is so determined to repay the favor. Perhaps I should offer him something. That thought slipped into Raciels mind. It seemed like a waste to let Dinraier Young Master leave without giving him something in return. Is there something I can get without facing usations of false advertising? Raciel tapped his mental calctor vigorously, working his brain toe up with an estimate. He activated his cerebral cortex, searching for a way to ask something of Dinraier Young Master without falling into the trap of false advertising. He pondered over it Finally, an idea shed in his mind. Raciels smile deepened, and he spoke, How about this? A meaningful smile appeared on Raciels lips. I heard that you aspire to be an artist, is that correct? Yes? Is it true? Can you draw? Yes, Your Highness. But why? Dinraier Young Master nodded, visibly flustered. Raciel suppressed augh. Its not thatplicated. Your mother has been bragging about her son while lying in the hospital bed. Both Mrs. Dinraier and Young Master froze simultaneously. Observing their reaction, Raciel stifled his mischievous smile. His words were true. She was so worried about her son. Memories of the past few days shed in Raciels mind. After oveing the crisis, Mrs. Dinraier gradually regained her strength day by day. During that time, they had shared deep conversations. She was just like any other mother in the world, always prioritizing her sons well-being. She mentioned that her son has a talent for painting and dreams of bing an artist. She felt conflicted. On one hand, she thought it would be better for him to study and pursue a stable career to secure his future. However, Mrs. Dinraier always ended her musings with a smile. She said she supports her sons dreams. It was thanks to that sudden recollection that a usible n formed in Raciels mind. Well, if youre eager to repay the favor, how about doing a little job for me? A job? Draw me. Pardon? Dinraier Young Masters eyes widened in surprise. You mean Your Highness? Yes. It would be wonderful if you could capture me in a painting as I care for a patient. Ideally, depict me in a dignified and noble manner. You can go into detail I mean, add as much detail as you like. Can you do that? I-I can do it. Excellent. And beside me, draw the nurses who work tirelessly, also contributing to the noble cause of patient care. Nurses? Yes. Portray them as devoted assistants in pristine white uniforms, faithfully supporting the princes noble intentions. Can you do that? Y-Yes, of course. Great. Lets start right away. Now you mean, immediately? Yes. Is there a problem? No, none at all. Good. Bring your drawing supplies. Well begin right away. Ah, I understand. Ill go home and get them. Dinraier Young Master seemed flustered by the sudden proposal. He hurriedly left to retrieve his art supplies, and the artwork began. The process continued for three whole days. During that time, Dinraier Young Master diligently captured various poses and expressions. Admittedly, there were moments that felt a bit cringe-worthy, but Raciel endured it. And in the end, they achieved a wonderful result. Ohh. Raciels eyes gleamed with excitement as he gazed at thepleted artwork. It turned out even better than I expected. Thank you, Your Highness. No need for thanks. But, Your Highness, is this eptable? Hmm? Whats the matter? The depiction of Your Highness face in the painting It looks different from reality You mean you shaved off too much of the chin? Yes Its alright. Its alright. Its like artistic interpretation, you know? But even the proportions of the body You think the legs are too long? Yes. Oh, its fine. Thats not the important part. Really? Were going to hold an exhibition with this. Really? Youve been working on sketches on your own until now, right? Gather them all, and Ill organize a solo exhibition, with this artwork as the centerpiece. Really? Dinraier Young Masters eyes widened like saucers as he stared at Raciel, unable to grasp the meaning behind his words. This prompted a mischievous smile to escape Raciels lips. Now it was time to unveil the essence of the n he had devised. There will be many visitors. It will be excellent publicity. Great publicity? Well also include a recruitment notice for nurses at the Royal Infirmary. Pardon? Even before Mrs. Dinraier was admitted, we realized that there was a severe shortage of professional nursing staff. So, you see this part of the painting? Up here, well add some vibrant and eye-catching typography. Typography You mean adding text? Yes. Are you truly nning to include a promotional message for recruiting nurses? Exactly. Thats the n. Finally, they were starting to understand each other. A sense of satisfaction welled up within Raciel. In that case, what kind of message would you like to include, Your Highness? Young Master asked the question. Raciel chuckled brightly. Show me the nursing. Pardon? And so, the unprecedented specialized nursingpetition, sponsored and hosted by the Crown Prince, Show me the nursing, was about tomence. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 50 Chapter 50I Next Hey, have you heard? Heard what? Theres an exciting nursing opportunity. Why are you giving me that strange look? Its not unusual. Oh, I was just curious. Hmm hmm! Well, heres the scoop: the Crown Prince is organizing apetition to select professional nurses. Nurses? Yes, nurses. Apetition for nurses? Thats interesting. But why are you telling me this? I have you in mind. Me? Yes, Ive noticed youve been searching for employment for the past five years. Why would myndlord concern themselves with my job situation? Isnt that overstepping boundaries? Have I ever beente with the rent even once? Not once, but twice. I apologize. Well, anyway, about the nursingpetition. I thought you might want to give it a shot. Me? Yes, you. You want me to be a nurse? Yes, the pay is quite substantial. How much are we talking about? Its enough to cover your rent for two years. Im in! Ill seize this opportunity! The young mans eyes widened. Thendlord chuckled. Youve made a wise decision. Now head to the public hall in Prontera Square. The public hall? Yes, theyre currently holding an art exhibition there, and the main artwork provides detailed recruitment guidelines. Oh, thank you, sir! If I manage to secure a job, Ill buy you a new outfit! Hehehe, just go already. It was a lovely spring morning on Magenta Boulevard. The news quickly spread throughout the city, drawing those who heard it to Prontera Square. An exhibition was taking ce in the public hall, showcasing the works of a talented up-anding artist, Dinraier Young Master, who was making a name for himself in the art world. At first nce, the exhibition appeared ordinary, with nothing particrly remarkable. However, one painting hanging at the center of the public hall caught everyones attention. It was a piece titled The Healing Crown Prince and Nurses, serving as the centerpiece of the exhibition. Is that the Crown Prince? Nah, it cant be. Hes not that handsome in real life. Right? And his legs are definitely not that long. The exhibitionyout was cleverly designed. Every visitor had to pass by The Healing Crown Prince and Nurses at least once. Consequently, everyone who attended the exhibition halted in front of that artwork. But what are those phrases written on the painting? What do they mean? Peoples eyes widened as they took in the bold and provocative typography inscribed above and below the painting, firmly capturing their attention. You can be an angel in white too The Crown Prince ensures fullpensation! They swallowed hard. The sry offered by the Crown Prince himself was enough to make anyones mouth water. Isnt that on par with a decent jobs pay? And theyre willing to give it just for nursing patients? Everyones thoughts aligned. Its worth a shot. Its practically free money. Plus, with the Crown Prince as the employer, there wont be any sry issues. Honey, Ive made up my mind. Yes? It turns out my childhood dream might have been to be a nurse. Really? The hearts of the spectators were filled with uncertainty and hesitation. They collectively experienced cognitive distortion and manipted their own memories, altering the career aspirations they had cherished since childhood. Adding to their wavering sentiments, the clever arrangement of the exhibition hall dealt a final blow to their uncertain hearts. A strategically ced boothbeled Show Me the Nursing was set up near one of the halls exits. [Nurse Selection Test Application] A sign on the table. A never-ending line formed in front of it, with people even attempting to cut in. Fueled by the inted expectation that nursing might not be too challenging and the allure of a generous and stable sry, they believed it was worth a try. Some hoped that this opportunity would improve their fortunes. More than half of the exhibitions visitors eagerly queued up to register their names for the nurse selection test. It was the oue that everyone, including Raciel, had anticipated. Hehe, hehehe. Hehehe, hahahaha. Hehehehe, haha. Your Highness. Ah, what is it? Why are you so delighted? Why shouldnt I be? Raciel smiled widely and gestured toward the towering stack of documents on the table. Just look at how many candidates we have for the nurse selection test. He said to Demian. There must be talented individuals among them. With this influx of nursing staff, our clinic will operate smoothly. More patients will receive treatment efficiently and recover from their illnesses. In return, he would gain an extended lifespan, living for a thousand years with the additional time. Why shouldnt I be delighted? I understand Demian admired Raciel wholeheartedly. The Crown Prince he served was no ordinary person. He sincerely strived to treat patients without seeking anypensation. Hiring more nurses was a noble endeavor aimed at healing and bringing happiness to more patients. What an exceptional individual. Slightly misunderstanding the situation, Demian nodded in agreement. Ignoring the misunderstanding, Raciels smile grew even more proud. The days passed with their mismatched smiles. The five-day exhibition came to an end. And on the sixth day. The Show Me The Nursing professional nurse selectionpetition, sponsored and organized by the Crown Prince himself, took ce at the Star Pce. Surprisingly, the method employed was quite simple. Now, attention! Gather numbers 1 through 50! In the square outside the Star Pce gates, hundreds of applicants congregated. Among them, those assigned numbers 1 to 50 came together. A guardsman addressed them. We will nowmence the first task of the nurse selection exam. The first task is Charge, to the Interview Hall. The applicants tilted their heads in confusion. What was this nonsense? However, the guardsmans subsequent exnation offered no mercy. Starting here, you will follow a designated course through the garden and proceed to the main building of the Star Pce, where the interview hall is located. However, the course is approximately 3 kilometers long, and only the first 10 people to swiftly reach the main building will be eligible to take the interview test. What? Excuse me? Wait, what about the other 40? The startled applicants inquired. The guardsman cut them off sharply. The remaining individuals who dont make it into the top 10 will be eliminated. This was absurd. They hade for a nursing examination, so why were they being subjected to a physical test? Confusion engulfed everyone. But then, the starting signal abruptly sounded. Begin! ! And so, it all began from that moment. 50 individuals sprinted frantically, without discrimination based on gender or age. Shortly after, the top 10 winners emerged. gasp! pant! pant! cough! cough! wheeze The 10 winners, somewhat ceremoniously, stumbled into the interview room. There, Raciel and Gardin greeted them. Gardin addressed the applicants. You have all worked hard to reach this stage. Now, we will proceed with the next task. The candidates were not given a moment to catch their breath. Gardin pointed towards the 10 tables arranged in the spacious room. On each table, you will find six different types of medicinal herbs. Indeed, as he had stated. Gardin continued his exnation. One of these six herbs has been improperly stored and has deteriorated. Your second task is to identify the spoiled herb using your sight, smell, and touch. Uh, okay, understood Still panting, the candidates took their positions at the tables, their faces flushed and perspiring, straining to identify the spoiled herb. In the midst of their efforts, something unexpected urred. pant! pant! gasp! groan Perhaps due to pushing himself too hard during the race, a burly applicant began to waver, relying on the table for support. Suddenly, with no one to catch him, he copsed and fell to the ground. Crash! The table toppled over, scattering the herbs in every direction. The other nine candidates flinched at the suddenmotion. All eyes turned to the fallen man, but the concern onlysted for a brief moment. The candidates exchanged nces. Is he okay? Whats happening? Why isnt anyone helping him? Shouldnt the guards or someone from the pce assist him? Where is the organizingmittee? Anxiety filled their darting eyes. Uncertainty raced through their hearts. Yet, the candidates soon realized that, apart from themselves, nobody seemed to care about the copsed man. Silence fell. An unspoken consensus formed among them. After all, this was apetition. The fallen man was unfortunate, but it was a part of thepetition. From that moment onwards, the nine candidates stopped paying attention to the fallen man. They redirected their focus to the herbs before them. Raciel smirked at the sight, exchanging a knowing nce with Gardin. That will suffice. Lets conclude here. Pardon? The candidates flinched at Gardins words. They hadnt even identified the spoiled herb yet. Confusion clouded their eyes, but Raciel paid them no heed. He had seen everything he needed to. Gardin made an official announcement. We have observed your efforts in identifying the herbs. That will be all. We will inform you of the results at ater time. You have all worked hard. With bewildered expressions, the nine candidates left the interview room. Some held onto a glimmer of hope, believing they might have passed. Once all the applicants had exited the room, the man who had previously fainted rose up, seemingly unscathed. It was Demian. Phew, fortunately, they all fell for it. Indeed. I was slightly concerned because you seemed excessively dramatic during your copse. Did I? Yes, it felt somewhat awkward. ? You should work on your acting skills. If youre going to do it, do it properly. ? Anyway, thanks to everyone falling for it, the evaluation has been made clear. So, what happens to the nine individuals who just participated? They all failed. Raciel stated matter-of-factly. They passed the basic physical test. Taking care of patients requires much more physical strength than one might imagine. It bes even more challenging when you have to attend to multiple individuals rather than just one or two. However, the issue arose during the second task. No one paid attention to me. Yeah, at first, they were cautious, but soon they stopped caring. There was someone who had copsed right next to them. But they shouldnt act that way. You can acquire the knowledge to distinguish medicinal herbs and other skills through education So, youre saying their existing character is more important. Yes, exactly. cing others before oneself, an altruistic and dedicated mindset. Raciel believed that was perhaps the greatest virtue of a nurse. People tend to reveal their true nature when pushed to their limits. Just like now. They were physically exhausted, struggling to breathe. In that situation, they felt the psychological pressure andpetitiveness to pass the nurse selection exam. So, their true nature was exposed. Exactly. They dismissed the copsed person, not as someone to care for, but as apetitor. Thats not right. Its not fitting for someone who aspires to be a nurse. In reality, the true task in the interview room was a test of character and qualities. The medicinal herbs ced on each table? They were all in perfect condition. There was no herb that had been stored improperly and deteriorated. It was, in fact, a hidden camera test to assess the applicants character. And at the same time, all the special guard members have been taking turns in mixing with the physical test applicants. How did it feel to run 3 kilometers? It was easy. Im sure it was. By now, Sergio is probably among the next 50 applicants running. Most likely, that was the case. In the next group, another special guard diator would be among them, and in the following group, the next diator in line would participate. They would be among the first ten to arrive. And they would test the character of the remaining nine by feigning a copse, just as Demian had done. Keep up the good work. And dont forget to change your disguise. Understood. Demian departed. A mischievous smile appeared on Raciels face. Now, lets see everyones true character! The test continued thereafter. However, the results were disappointing. What is this? After the interviews concluded, Raciel, who remained in the interview room, felt incredulous. Not a single applicant had paid attention to the copsed special guard. He had expected at least a few to express concern. He wondered if this was the level of empathy in this era. Truly, unbelievably, shockingly, not a single person had cared for the copsed individual! Sigh, is this real? Raciel let out a deep sigh. I suppose the test mattered more to them than the copsed person. But regardless, this is a somewhat bitter oue. A bitterughter escaped him. He even began to ponder if the pessimistic viewpoint held some truth. So, what should I do? Should I select a few reasonable applicants from the participants? However, he quickly shook his head. No, that wouldnt be right. It would be far better to train the pce maidens and attendants who were currently fulfilling the role of nurses. We wouldnt have organized this selectionpetition if we were going to choose mediocre candidates. That was not the purpose of the selection event. Raciels desire was to find genuinely exceptional candidates. But what can I do? Almost everyone in the city who might be interested in nursing probably attended today. Was there not a single outstanding applicant? Was there no truly reliable candidate to whom he could entrust the patients? The problem gnawed at him. His head throbbed. He felt the need to take a walk and breathe in some fresh air. Should I take a walk? He strolled through the garden with Demian. Perhaps due to his sense of regret,his feet naturally led him towards the outer gate of the pce, the very ce where the Show Me The Nursing applicants had gathered. As he reached the gate, a somewhat peculiar scene unfolded before him. Please let me in. Huh? I want to participate in the test too. I submitted my application, so why cant I enter? Ive already told you multiple times. Only humans are eligible. But Im also! Hey, do you think you can raise your voice here? Do you need to be forcibly removed toe to your senses? There wasmotion outside the gate for some reason. Whats happening? Judging by the voices, it involved a young woman and a man. The woman was protesting while the man reprimanded her. From the conversation, it seemed The woman is an applicant, and the man seems to be a gate guard. Despite having submitted her application, she was denied entry. She couldnt participate in the test because she wasnt human. Whats going on? Did someone get turned away at the entrance without me knowing? Considering how valuable every candidate was, how could they dare to do that? Feeling a deep and profound irritation, Raciel quickened his pace. Finally, as he reached the gate, he witnessed the applicant who had been turned away for not being human. Huh? Raciels eyes widened at the sight of the applicant. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 51 Chapter 51I Next Huh? Raciels eyes widened in disbelief. It was unavoidable. The woman at the gate, engaged in an argument with the guard who questioned her, appeared entirely ordinary. Just a human? No matter how he observed her. No matter how he pondered. It defiedprehension. What in the world? She lookspletely average. Clearly in her mid-twenties. Could she be an elf? Yet her earscked the characteristic pointiness. Not an elf either, then. Perhaps a dwarf? Unlikely, considering her body proportions. What on earth is she? Raciel was bewildered. Just then, Demian, standing beside him, suddenly spoke up. That woman is a werewolf. A werewolf? Yes, Your Highness. How so? Raciel tilted his head, further perplexed. The novel, Devil Sword Emperor, did mention the existence of the werewolf race. But didnt it state that even in human form, they possess long and bushy tails? The woman disyed no visible tail. Demian pointed at her pants. Its because shes wearing trousers of that particr shape. Indeed, it was as he said. The womans pants were peculiar. Not extremely baggy, but puffy from the buttocks to the thighs, resembling a pot. From the knees down to the calves and ankles, the fit became tight. A truly unique design. Demian continued with his exnation. I dont know the specifics, but werewolves are highly reluctant to reveal their tails. Hence, they intentionally wear pants shaped like that to conceal them. Is that so? Yes. At some point, werewolves started adopting such trousers, and people began avoiding them to prevent being mistaken for werewolves. As a result, those pants became associated with werewolves, naturally. Indeed, Your Highness. Hmm. This was a detail not even mentioned in Devil Sword Emperor. The novel merely touched upon the werewolves ability to transform, their tremendous physical strength, and their dog-like sense of smell. So Wait. Raciel paused, revisiting a thought that had unconsciously crossed his mind. Hold on. This The robust physique, the keen sense of smell They are ideal qualities for a nurse working at an Oriental medicine clinic. His brain suddenly kicked into overdrive. Neurons fired rapidly as he engaged in radical spection. Robust physique? That means she wont tire easily while nursing. Nursing is an arduous profession. Its extremely demanding. Its not just about caring for a single patient. In South Korea, on average, a nurse attends to 15 to 20 patients. Constantly monitoring patients without respite, and not all of them are calm individuals. Theres a diverse range of people. Additionally, theres the responsibility of tending to the patients families. These duties are performed almost every day, across three shifts. D-shift starts at 7:30 am and ends at 3:30 pm. E-shift is from 2:30 pm to 10:30 pm. N-shift spans from 9:30 pm to 8:30 am the next day. Although technically an 8-hour shift, in reality, theres an additional 1 to 2 hours for handover. Its an incredibly demanding schedule and workload. Hospitals couldnt function without nurses. They are the unsung heroes, the backbone of the healthcare system. Nursing is that rigorous and exacting. Thats why possessing physical strength is crucial. And what about a werewolf? Wouldnt they possess strength that could rival professional athletes? She would excel based on her physical strength alone. Moreover, her exceptional sense of smell She quite literally possessed the olfactory acuity of a dog. The condition of the medicinal herbs for the decoction, the quality of the mugwort used for moxibustionboth could be determined with a single sniff. Moreover, while simmering the decoction, she would be able to gauge the perfect moment to adjust the heat using her acute sense of smell. Not only that, but while caring for patients, she could detect changes in their condition in real-time through the bodily smells she senses. The more Raciel pondered, the more astounding it seemed. The more he considered it, the more she appeared as a captivating talent. Now, what about her character? Raciel took a decisive step forward, approaching the gate where the ongoing altercation between the werewolf woman and the pce guard ensued. Why is it such a big issue if Im not human? I can speak the samenguage, walk, think, reason, and act. So why am I being denied the opportunity to take the test? Here, it clearly states in the recruitment guidelines. Only people residing in the imperial domain are eligible to apply. But I am also a person. No. Youre a werewolf. I am a citizen protected by thews of the empire. But you sometimes transform into a beast-like form. The transformation only alters my outward appearance. Dont you lose control and kill chickens at the poultry farm? Thats a stereotype. It never happens, absolutely. You dont lose control? No. I am the same as I am now. But youre ring at me with furious eyes as if youre about to bite me any moment. Thats because of your current Provocation? You im not to lose control. Then you should remain patient now. The womans lips trembled, while a smug smile appeared on the guards face. Raciel couldnt bear to witness this any longer. Enough. Thats sufficient. His words caused both the woman and the guard to startle. Their gazes simultaneously shifted towards him. The woman appeared surprised, while the guard turned pale. Prince Your Highness? The guards expression froze with astonishment. His face resembled that of a private encountering a three-star general while half asleep. Where had his smug smile from earlier disappeared to? A ssic case of being strong against the weak and weak against the strong. His attitude only served to further irritate Raciel. What is your rank and name? Your Highness, its an honor to meet you! I am on duty, and everything is in order! There seems to be a problem. I asked for your rank and name. Um Im Blint, a senior infantryman assigned to the 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment of the Royal Guard, Your Highness! Very well. Senior Infantryman Blint, do you understand what you did wrong? The guards face turned ashen. Raciel recalled having seen this individual a few times before. He was stationed at the remote pce. However, Raciel couldnt simply overlook grant rule-breaking happening right in front of him. When I held the nursing contest, I explicitly stated in the recruitment guidelines that anyone residing in the Empire could participate. Therefore, doesnt a werewolf residing in the Empire fall under that category? That is I am aware that werewolves have their civil rights legally protected. I apologize You should apologize to this woman for your impoliteness, not to me. . The guards shoulders slumped. Raciel shifted his gaze from the guard to the werewolf woman. I overheard everything as I approached. On behalf of our soldiers rudeness, I apologize. I am Anise, daughter of Hashinto. It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness. The werewolf woman, introduced as Anise, bowed. However, her face still remained flushed, perhaps due to her lingering anger. Of course, anyone would be infuriated in her ce. Now, it was time to allow her to vent her anger through the test. So, you wish to apply for the nursing test? Yes, Your Highness. Good. Let usmence the test immediately. Pardon? Anise seemed taken aback by the sudden prospect of being tested on the spot. A faint smile crept onto Raciels face. As a werewolf, you should possess ample physical strength. However, I have yet to witness it firsthand. Furthermore, the test must be fair for all other candidates. How about a runningpetition with this individual? As Raciel said this individual, he raised his hand, pointing at the guard who had been arguing with Anise just moments ago. Your Highness? The guards gaze reflected surprise. Anise, too, shared the same expression. Raciel addressed her. Despite being a werewolf and confident in your strength, our guards are among the finest in the empire. It will be a fair match. Do you see therge fountain in the inner garden near the gate? She nodded. That distance is approximately 400 meters. Run to the fountain and back. If you return before our guard, you pass the physical test. Understood. Anise nodded swiftly. The guard hesitated, seeking cues. What are you waiting for? Get on the starting line. Only upon hearing this, the guard hastily dropped his sword and removed his helmet. Soon, Anise and the guard stood side by side at the gate. Anise stole a sideways nce. The same guard who had insulted her earlier. She made a silent vow to surpass him with flying colors. As she steeled herself, the Crown Prince gave the signal. Start! She burst forward, her feet pounding against the ground. Swift eleration, reminiscent of the ancestral spirits running through open fields. Racing onward, she carried on the legacy of her revered ancestor who once served as an aide to Emperor Calidus. The surroundings blurred past her. The rushing wind roared in her ears. There was only one destination. That fountain! Anises gaze remained fixed on the fountain, not wavering for a moment. As she drew nearer to the fountain, she did not slow down. Instead, she leaped. She propelled her entire body upward, reaching for the top of the fountain and grasping it tightly, filled with the momentum. Her body traced a wide arc around the hand clutching the fountains edge. Centrifugal force wrapped around her, surging through her body. With a release, she soared through the air, propelled in the opposite direction toward the gate where the Crown Prince awaited. Executing a wless 180-degree turn without losing speed, shended firmly and pounded against the ground once more. With unyielding determination, she elerated once again. And in that moment, she noticed a sluggish figure approaching from ahead. Huff! Hoo! Hook! It was the guard who had mocked her earlier, still making his way towards the fountain. He ran with all his might, refusing to fall behind. Among humans, he was indeed swift. So slow. She couldnt help but chuckle at his false sense of superiority. Ive won. Anise nned to breeze past the guard, leaving him in her dust. But then Huh? Was it mere coincidence? Or had his desperation to keep up with her caused him to lose his footing? The guards sprint became entangled, and he stumbled over his own feet. His bnce faltered, and he tumbled forcefully to the ground. In that moment, Anise surged past him. Uh! The guard looked up at her, struggling to rise. But his movements were peculiar. Anise didnt pay it much attention. She continued running, leaving the human who had scorned her in defeat. She raced onward, the gate drawing closer. Yet, the closer she got, the more unsettled she felt. The strange movements of the guard, his struggles to get up, lingered in her mind. It seemed like his shoulder dislocated when he fell. The more she dwelled on it, the more uneasy she became. Damn it. Anise cursed. It didnt feel right to continue running like this. If shepleted the race in this manner, rumors would surely circte. She sensed that the guard might use his dislocated shoulder as an excuse. She didnt want that. She wanted to utterly crush him with her abilities, leaving no room for excuses. And so She halted her sprint. Merely 10 meters from the gate, she abruptly turned around, cursing under her breath, and retraced her steps toward the guard. In a way, it was a small opportunity for revenge (?). Fixing a re upon the guard, she spoke. Weak human, daring to challenge me. Stay still. Huh? The guard, who had been struggling to relocate his dislocated shoulder, gazed up with a vacant expression. In that instant, Anises forceful hand grabbed hold of his shoulder and arm. With a sharp motion, she realigned his dislocated joint. Arrgghhh! The guard let out a cry of intense pain. Raciel, who had been observing from the gate, murmured to himself. Wow. In the next moment, the pass ne in Anises hand glimmered and shimmered. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 52 Chapter 52I Next Sparkle. Anise gazed at the ne tightly held in her hand, deep in thought. She considered herself fortunate that she didnt have to sell it. Meeting the crown prince before running out of travel expenses was indeed a stroke of luck. Just hold on a little longer, everyone. She thought about the people who had requested her to sell the ne for travel expenses if needed. She remembered her obligations towards them. Determined, she tucked the ne into her pocket. Then, she raised her eyes. Before hery the Crown Princes office, a room filled with antiquated grandeur she had never witnessed before. However, it was a simple white sheet of paper that caught her attention. This is an employment contract. Read it carefully, the Crown Prince said, extending the paper to her. A contract? Anise questioned. Of course, if youre going to work, youll need to sign a contract, right? Anise picked up the contract. Its contents were moreplex and extensive than she had anticipated. It detailed her role as a nurse in the pce, the necessary training she would undergo, and specified her working hours. It also covered matters such as sry, rights, and other important aspects, all meticulously described in tiny print. Uh. Whats wrong? Is the contract tooplicated? Its a bit overwhelming, Your Highness. Dont worry. Contracts are meant to be like thaplicated and headache-inducing. But carefully scrutinizing and checking them helps prevent future regrets, like realizing youve been deceived. Pardon? Make sure to go through the contract thoroughly, Raciel advised sincerely. Checking a contract before signing it was crucial. Once you put your signature on the document, theres no turning back. Even if you discover something unfavorable or unjustter on,ining wont do any good. So, the special-duty diators struggled for half a day, worrying about the contracts contents, he reminisced, recalling the sight of them in distress. However, seeing Anise in front of him evoked a sense of regret. What a shame. It would be wonderful to have a few more talents like her. Anise, the unexpected werewolf woman, possessed incredible potential that had caught his eye. Her athleticism oh my. She had surpassed the royal guard effortlessly, even without transforming into a wolf. Furthermore, her caring attitude towards the injured guard had left a deep impression. She stopped before crossing the finish line, unable to abandon him. And then she went back to attend to the guards injury. Theres nothing to criticize about her character. And what I like even more is that she didnt y dumb. Just moments ago, he had clearly heard it. Anise, who had abruptly halted just before the finish line, had muttered a curse. Simultaneously, a fierce and ruthless smile had appeared on her face. That expression A calcting revenge against the guard, he concluded with certainty. She would tend to the guards injuries and then? The confidence that she could win again if she raced afterward,bined with the anticipation and excitement of inflicting significant harm while treating his dislocated shoulderher expression epassed all these calctions. Yes. I cant resist a sweet revenge either. Furthermore, she swiftly tranted her intentions into actions, leaving no room for hesitation. This meant she wasnt easily swayed. It couldnt be more perfect. There are quite a few difficult patients, especially those who underestimate nurses and act bossy. If such people encounter this woman oh, it will be worth watching. Physical strength and a resolute characteran idealbination. And her exceptional sense of smell. The woman before him perfectly embodied the archetype of the ideal nurse he had been searching for. Thats why he felt regret. Finding such talent is wonderful. Phew. But seeing her now makes me crave for more. Having one exceptional nurse wasnt enough. It would be better to have more. Thats why he had opened up a public recruitment for nurses. To find the best nurse? Thats one way to look at it. But now, we need to recruit as many good nurses as possible. That way, the oriental medicine clinic in the pce wouldntck capable hands. And then, at that moment, Anise, who had been contemting the contract, raised her head. She directed a rather imposing gaze at him and spoke. Ive thoroughly reviewed the contract you provided. How is it? Its good. However However? I find it difficult to proceed with the contract in its current form. Hmm? He wondered what she meant. Anise continued, unfazed. Im satisfied with the contracts contents. However, theres one thing I would like to add. You want to include a condition? Yes, Your Highness. What kind of condition? The truth is, I am the leader of my pack. A pack? And youre their leader? Yes. Its a mid-sized tribeprising around 50 individuals. Do they also wish to take the nursing exam? If so, please bring them as soon as possible. Oh, thats not it? No. . If you could include the condition I propose as a special use in the contract, then I will agree to it, and my tribe will also participate in the nursing exam. Is there a special use? So, what condition do you want to propose? Raciel leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. Around 50 individuals like Anise? I cant resist 50 Grade-S nurses! It exceeded his expectations. If he could recruit all of them, he could consider it a resounding sess right then and there. With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Raciel eagerly awaited Anises condition. Please address the inherent problem that gues our tribe. Your Highness? Ah, I see. An inherent problem, Raciel replied. It must have been quite challenging. But Im having trouble understanding what it is exactly. Its not rted to food or something simr, is it? No, its not about food. Then what is it? Its our tails. Tails? Yes. Tails? What on earth was she talking about? Anise continued to exin. To put it simply, our werewolf tribe faces numerous disadvantages in human society because of our tails. Why? Are you teased or discriminated against because of the shape of your tails? Its not about teasing. Then what is it? Our tails move on their own. On their own? Yes. Like how a dogs tail automatically wags back and forth? Thats exactly what I mean. Anise nodded. Her expression grew solemn. Depending on our emotions, our tails move involuntarily. When we encounter something frightening, our tails hide, and when were happy or excited, they wag noticeably. And thats a problem? Yes. Why? Because we cant conceal our emotions. Ah. Without realizing it, Raciel pped his knee. Their tails made it impossible for them to hide their emotions. He could already envision the potential issues arising from this. So, youve be easy targets for human swindlers because of your tails. Thats correct. Our emotions are so transparent that we often fall victim to many humans. Anise forced a bitter smile. Raciel understood the message behind her smile. If their tails wag vigorously when theyre happy or excited, they cant hide their joyous emotions. That could be seen as a good thing since theyre being honest. But the world isnt that forgiving. Suddenly, he thought of South Korea and his social life there. It felt like surviving in a jungle. Someone too kind-hearted? They might receive praise, but theyd eventually be taken advantage of. Those who cant conceal their emotions and are overly honest? Theyre often seen as pushovers or ostracized. Sorrow is halved when shared, and joy grows when shared? What a joke. Sharing sorrow recklessly only bes a weakness. And sharing joy generously? It may bring apuse and praise on the surface, but it also invites jealousy and resentment. It only attracts more potential enemies. Moreover, living without the ability to hide ones joy that would be a jackpot for fraudsters. The more Raciel pondered, the clearer it became that this wasnt just an ordinary hardship. But what if the entire race had such tails? What if they were unable to conceal their feelings? So, is that why you hide your tail in those baggy pants? Yes, thats correct. But even then, the tail moves so intensely on its own that we cant hide our joy. What if you tie the tail to your leg? It unties itself quickly. How? The tail unties the rope by itself. Is it a self-controlled muscle? I suppose so. What about cutting off the tail? We tried, but it was impossible. Why? When we cut off the tail, it seemed to affect the muscles in the hips and legs, and we couldnt walk properly. Everyday life became impossible. Plus, it regenerated in less than a month. The tail? It grows back? Yes. Its simr to a lizards tail. So, I implore you, Your Highness. Ive heard that you treat numerous patients without discrimination. Thats why I came to you. Please find a solution for our tails. If you do, I and my race will willingly be nurses in this ce. Goodness. How was he supposed to treat a tail that couldnt be tied or cut? For the first time, Raciel felt overwhelmed in front of a patient. This is a challenging case. He was in a dilemma. So, he proposed a solution he had considered. What if I be your social protector? What do you mean by that? Im suggesting that I be the social guardian of your race, using my position and authority as the crown prince. In other words, Ill prevent situations where you could be cheated or face various disadvantages in social life. That should do it. What fraudulent individual would dare to mess with someone whose guardian was the crown prince? Raciel believed his proposal made sense, until Anise shook her head. I appreciate the offer, but I decline. Why? Because its not a fundamental solution. Hmm. Do you understand? If anything happens to you, Your Highness, or if you change your mind our race will go back to the same situation as before. Or it could even be worse. After experiencing life in human society with your support, we would have to go back to watching from the sidelines, just like before. That would be the worst. I dont want that oue. I didnte to you seeking a temporary solution. You want a permanent solution? Yes, Your Highness. Hmm. Alright, I understand. Youre not seriously agreeing, are you? I have no choice but to ept it. What else can I do? Whats the method? To be honest, I dont know yet. Cant I think about it from now on? Alright. Anise nodded. She knew very well that the condition she proposed was extremely challenging. If the crown prince had confidently imed, Thats easy, she would have been disappointed. This crown prince, hes honest. The crown prince admitted he didnt know how, but he would think about it to find a solution. His honest approach was trustworthy. Then Ill wait for your update. Yes, please stay here at the Star Pce. Dont go anywhere. May I? Youve passed the test, so you deserve that much. Raciel smirked. He wanted to keep Anise close. Even after she had left, his thoughts remained the same. Wow. It would be such a waste to let this opportunity slip away. The best nurse and a group of fifty family members with simr abilities. He would regret it if he let this chance go. He didnt want to lose it under any circumstances. But how could he catch them? How am I supposed to deal with that tail, seriously? A tail that couldnt be tied or cut off. How could he stop that peculiar and troublesome autonomous muscle tail? Frankly, it was daunting. Thats why. Even after dinner, throughout the evening, he couldnt stop worrying, but no solution came to mind. Perhaps it was because he had been frowning all evening due to these concerns. Finally, Gardin, unable to bear it any longer, spoke up. Theeen heeee-! Whoa, damn. You startled me. Thats not eptable! Are you doing this on purpose, Gardin? No, Your Highness! Then what is it? Whats yourint now? If you frown too much, stress umtes in your body and can lead to various diseases, Your Highness. I feel like Ill get a new disease from being startled by you all the time. No, Your Highness. Why do you get to decide that? Moreover, if you keep frowning, youll get wrinkles, Your Highness. Are you not even listening to my response? I am listening very carefully, Your Highness. You always have a response ready in times like this, dont you? No, Your Highness. What do you mean no? Its true. Is there anything else, Your Highness? Huh. Why? Once you have wrinkles, you cant get rid of them, so it might be better to keep your face rxed. Is that so? Yes, Your Highness. Phew. But thanks to you, my mood is better. Hm? No, just saying. Raciel gave a faint smile. Come to think of it, he had been frowning all evening. Maybe thats why he felt like his dinner hadnt digested properly. Perhaps Gardin had noticed and stepped in, just like he always did. Hes clearly trying to lighten my mood. Its so obvious, but its both embarrassing and nice. What a good person Gardin was. Raciel was grateful to him. Thats why. Feeling like he had momentarily set aside his worries or like he was joking around with a friendly uncle, he said to Gardin. Its fine. Whats the big deal about wrinkles? You can always get fillers or Botox. Hm? Gardin tilted his head. Filler Botox What are those? Of course, he wouldnt know. Because he hadnt been to Korea. Theyre things. Great for improving and preventing wrinkles Raciel said with a slight smile, then suddenly paused. Huh? Improving wrinkles? Preventing them? Thanks to that something crossed his mind. Wait. A sh in his mind. An idea emerged with a thud. It took root in the crevices of his frontal lobe. It sprouted leaves, extended stems and branches. The problem that had upied his thoughts all evening. A way to stop the autonomous muscle tail of the Werewolf n. Suddenly, the secret that bloomed before him was Botox injections. Raciel tightly clenched his fist. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 53 Chapter 53I Next This is it. Raciels hand clenched instinctively. Ideas flowed into his mind like a rushing river. At the center of it all was Botox. Botox. A term known to anyone living in the modern 21st century. The moment you notice crows feet forming around your once-smooth eyes. The moment smile lines start to etch themselves onto your once-youthful face. Its the injection that crosses everyones mind at least once. Botox injection. I could use that. Raciels thoughts raced. What happens when Botox is injected into muscles? The muscles rx. Wrinkles smooth out. Or when calf muscles are toorge for your liking? You can reduce their size by paralyzing parts of the muscle through injection. Its simr to how muscles atrophy after being in a cast for a few months. The same principle can create slimmer legs. Sometimes, its even used to reduce the muscles of a square jawline to create a V-line. And the secret? Its incredible toxicity. In fact, Botox is an incredibly potent paralyzing poison. Botox. Its full name is Botulinum toxin. Its not just any toxic substance; its undeniably the most toxic substance ever discovered or developed by mankind. The venom of a cobra or a ck mamba? Theyre like a mild brothpared to the nuclear hot chicken that is Botulinum toxin. The deadly venom of a pufferfish? Its like a novice boxer trying to challenge Mike Tyson. Compared to Botulinum toxin, pufferfish venom is at least 10,000 times weaker. The median lethal dose (LD50) of Botulinum toxin? If inhaled, its around 10 nanograms per kilogram. So, for a 60-kilogram adult? Only 600 nanograms. 0.6 micrograms. In other words, inhaling just 0.0006 grams is enough to earn a spot in the career counseling ssroom of the king of hell. In fact, thats an overestimate. When inhaled through the mucous membrane, the quantity required to kill an adult male is about 0.0000005 grams. Its an astonishingly small amount. Pufferfish venom, on the other hand, requires about 0.15 grams to have the same effect. That famous and dreaded radioactive tea? Youd need at least 0.01 grams to kill a person. So, in a simple calction, if you have around 400 grams of pure concentrated Botulinum toxin? Thats enough to wipe out all of humanity. Thats how deadly Botulinum toxin is. But humans use it for cosmetic purposes like reducing wrinkles. Where is the limit of mankind? Thinking about it made Raciel feel slightly dizzy. He shook his head. Anyway, its time to apply the principles of Botox injection. I can do it. Even if its not as potent as Botox, if I use a substance that causes muscle paralysis through a simr mechanism, and apply it through acupuncture Its usible. The unruly tail of the werewolf n that caused so many issues on its own. He should be able to induce a localized paralysis effect on the tails muscles. It would fulfill 100% of Anises requirements. I happen to have the perfect poison for it. Raciel lifted his head. He addressed Gardin. I just remembered something. I need you to fetch something for me. Yes? What do you need? Kusmans lethal capsules. Ah, do you mean the promoter we arrested during ourst raid on the underground arena? Yes. The lethal capsules we confiscated during that arrest. Are they still securely stored in the safe? Yes. Of course, Your Highness. Gardin nodded. That was a relief. Then bring them. Immediately. Yes? If I may ask, what are you nning to use such dangerous capsules for Im going to use them for a good cause. Gardin, concerned for Raciels safety, worried that he might be endangering himself with the poison. He seemed genuinely concerned. But Raciel gave him a meaningful look. Eventually, Gardin reluctantly left and returned with 30 lethal capsules. Meanwhile, Raciel organized his n. Now that I have the idea, I need to utilize the paralyzing poison in Kusmans capsules. Inject it into the muscles to induce localized paralysis. But to do that There were two problems that needed solving. The first issue is the injection site. He couldnt just inject the poison anywhere. Where should he inject it to ensure the paralyzing poison had the desired effect? And how could he avoid potential side effects? He had to consider these factors thoroughly. Therefore, Raciel called for Anise. Whats happening in the middle of the night, Your Highness? Anise, who had been resting in the guest quarters, was summoned. Her voice held a slight tension. Raciel spoke casually as if it was nothing. I seem to have found a way to meet the requirements you mentioned earlier. So I need to examine the injection site. What? Just sit down and stay still. He made her sit down and ced his palm on her back. Her shoulders flinched for a moment, but he paid no attention. He activated the Asrahan Core Technique. Just like when I treated the brain seizures. Kiiing-! He fully activated the technique. The mana circle surrounding his heart spun fiercely. His senses became extraordinarily sharp. His ability to perceive mana became more precise. He focused that heightened sensitivity onto the area of Anises back where his hand rested. He could feel the warmth of her body through her back, the tension of her skin and muscles under her clothes, and even the flow of blood within her. He began to understand it all. And thus, he activated his unique Asrahan precision diagnostic method, akin to an MRI. Good. I can see it. The Asrahan Core Technique specialized in absorbing and processing mana, granting it exceptional detection capabilities. Mana was naturally embedded in the body of a living creature. Skin and muscles. Blood vessels and nerves. Fascia and skeleton. Even the deepest parts, like the bone marrow. Mana flowed through every inch of a living being. Thanks to this, Raciel could meticulously grasp the flow of mana throughout Anises entire body. I can see it, I can see. When he closed his eyes, a whole new world unfolded before him. Streams of light flowed within. It felt like looking down at the city of Seoul at night from the top of Namsan Mountain. He could see countless waves of light moving as if following a road. The roads were the blood vessels, and the flowing lights represented the mana. In particr, Raciel paid attention to the flow around Anises waist, buttocks, legs, and tail. As expected, the flow here is slightly different from humans. The tail was an organ that remained only as a vestige in humans. But for werewolves like Anise, it functioned just like a humans arms and legs. He anticipated that theposition of blood vessels around the tail would differ from humans. And upon examination, his assumption proved to be somewhat correct. But its not as different as I expected? Perhaps because even humans possessed a vestigial tail, most of the blood vesselposition did not differ significantly from humans. The position of the Governor Vessel is slightly different, though. Especially the Changqiang point and Yaoyu point in the buttocks are further apart verticallypared to humans. And between them theres apletely new blood vessel stretching towards the tail, which humans dont have. The tail, absent in humans, possessed a unique blood vessel that Raciel had never seen before. Still the structure is simpler than I thought. After continued observation, he had a notion of where to insert the needle. But the examination wasnt over. Now, can you transform? What? When you transform into a wolf, the position of the blood vessels will change. I need to examine and understand that as well. It was only natural. Perhaps due to his earnest demeanor, Anise obediently nodded. Alright. Kududuk! Under the moonlight streaming through the wide-open window, the transformation urred in an instant. No longer an ordinary-looking woman, Anise stood in her cea brown-furred werewolf wearing human clothes on two legs. Phew. Your size doesnt really change, does it? But you do resemble Jindol. Kkueong? Oh, its the name of a dog I used to have. Urrrung. Im sorry. So, you cant speak because the structure of your mouth changes? Now, give me your hand. p. When Anise offered her hand, or rather, her forepaw, it shot up reflexively. She seemed to realize her own reaction a momentter. Grrrrr! Her gaze became considerably fiercer as she red at him. Raciel shrugged his shoulders with augh. Sorry. I was just curious to see if it would actually work. Grrrr! I apologize. Lets continue the examination now. Anise nodded obediently. Raciel resumed examining her body, now in its transformed wolf form. This allowed him to understand the changes in her meridian configuration after the transformation. Afterpleting the examination, he sent her back. Alone in the bedroom, Raciel reviewed the results of the precise diagnosis. Its a relief. There arent many differences. The basic human-like body structure seems to have helped. He had determined where to apply the Botox acupuncture. However, there were still lingering problems. Ive solved the first task of determining the treatment area. But the second task is a bit tricky. Raciel found himself consumed by worries. The second task for Botox acupuncture was determining the appropriate amount of paralytic toxin to use. This is just as crucial as determining the treatment area, if not more important. Indeed, it was. This treatment involved using poison, not medicine, and required injecting a powerful toxin that caused muscle paralysis. A rough estimate of the amount could lead to dangerous side effects, something that must be avoided at all costs. I need to fully understand it: theposition of this deadly poison created by Kusman and the safe and appropriate amount needed to induce a localized paralysis effect while minimizing side effects. It was a necessary process. But figuring out how to acquire this understanding proved daunting. Should I ask Kusman, the one who made it? It shouldnt be too difficult. Kusman, the promoter from the fighting arena, was imprisoned in the royal pce. He could simply approach him and ask. However, Raciel quickly dismissed the idea. No. I cant trust that guy. Kusman was never a trustworthy individual, to begin with. Moreover, he likely harbored animosity towards Raciel, making it difficult to expect a truthful answer. He might deliberately provide incorrect information. That would be highly dangerous. Thus, questioning Kusman was not a viable option. Raciel furrowed his brow in thought. Should I try it myself? He considered ingesting the poison and storing it within his mana circle. Then, he could experiment with theponents by circting an extremely small amount within his body. However, as soon as he entertained the idea, a loud message appeared before his eyes. Ding dong! [Your Five Viscera and Six Bowels are rmed by your dangerous idea.] [Heart: Did you all hear that? He wants to try the poison himself!] [Liver: Oh hahaha!] [Lungs: Self-experimentation, is it? What a noble pursuit.] [Spleen: If you consume it, Ill have to detoxify and process it all Why dont you feed it to a Phantom Beast instead? Are you crazy?] The Five Viscera and Six Bowels made amotion, voicing theirints and adding some sharp words. Raciel rolled his eyes and addressed the most vocal of them, the spleen. Feeding the poison to a Phantom Beast? Isnt that a bit harsh? Theyre notb rats. Almost immediately, a rebuttal came. [Spleen: There are Phantom Beasts specialized in testing poisonous ingredients, you know?] What? A frown formed on Raciels forehead. At that moment, as if waiting for the opportunity, Spleen chimed in with an exnation. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 54 Chapter 54I Next What? Raciel furrowed his brow in disbelief as Spleen revealed something astonishing. A Phantom Beast with the ability to consume poison for ingredient analysis? Like ab guinea pig? [Spleen: Yep.] Spleen continued nonchntly, as if it were a trivial matter. [Spleen: I saw it in the system waiting room. Its true. Theres a Phantom Beast whose primary skill is consuming anythingbe it poison or medicinefor ingredient analysis.] You saw it in the system waiting room? [Spleen: Yeah.] Whats the system waiting room? Raciel grew even more puzzled. The concept of a waiting room was foreign to him. Spleens forting exnation held the answer. [Spleen: Its exactly what it sounds likea waiting room. Kind of like a locker room, but a ce where you wait before being chosen. Thats the best way to put it. I was sleeping there before you woke me up. Heart bro, Lung, and Large Intestine were all there too.] So, the remaining five organs that havent woken up yet? [Spleen: Exactly. The Phantom Beasts awaiting summoning are there as well.] Raciel fell silent for a moment. What exactly is this system? There were so many peculiar aspects to it. Its strange that only I can see and hear this. Its as if it was all set up for me. What is it? Curiosity surged within him, but there was no way to satisfy it at the moment. [Spleen: Anyway, dont ask any more. I dont know either. Even if I did, I wouldnt be able to tell you.] You cant tell me? [Spleen: Its against the rules. Theres a prohibition on it.] What about the Phantom Beasts? Can you tell me about the ingredient analysis-specialized Phantom Beast you saw? What it looked like, its characteristics? [Spleen: No, absolutely not.] Thats harsh. [Spleen: If you dont like it, why dont you handle everything yourself, hahaha] Tch. It seemed Spleen genuinely couldnt provide him with the information. Raciel ceased his inquiries. Nheless, he found sce in the unexpected gain. So, choosing a Phantom Beast is the solution, right? If Spleens recent hint held true, all he had to do was choose a Phantom Beast. Then he could analyze the paralysis-inducing venom of Kusman. With that analysis, he could determine the dosage of poison for Botox injections. Lets give it a try. A glimmer of hope pierced through the overwhelming situation. Raciel made up his mind to pursue it. He opened the system window and selected the Choose Phantom Beast option. The friendly notification he had seen before reappeared. Ding dong! [You have selected the option for Phantom Beasts Selection Draw.] [You can invest a certain amount of HP to draw a Phantom Beast.] [Strong and unique Phantom Beasts will exhibit unwavering loyalty to their summoner and provide various abilities.] [Cost for the 2nd Draw = 1,500 HP] [Current HP: 1,400] [You have insufficient HP.] [You cannot proceed with the 2nd draw of choosing a Phantom Beast.] What? Raciel frowned. He hadnt anticipated this obstacle. He was precisely 100 HP short. Moreover, he could even hear theughter of the five organs in his ears. [The Five Viscera and the Six Bowels are thoroughly enjoying the current situation.] [Heart: Lololol, did you guys see this?] [Lung: Haha I cant even lol] [Liver: What were you doing all this time without saving any HP, human? Lol] [Large Intestine: Lol, I bet he was just flexing his quadriceps.] Why did he feel so flustered and oddly irritated? It was as if he had confidently boarded a bus, only to be met with the humiliating announcement of insufficient bnce. But Raciel didnt disy those emotions. His HP was running low, and the first order of business was to replenish it. He suppressed his inexplicably bothersome feelings. Hold on. Listen up, guys. He spoke with tightly shut eyes. Look, Im in a bit of a hurry. Can you lend me around 100 HP? No one responded. Raciel tried again. Hey. I know youre all listening. Just lend me 100 HP, okay? Finally, there was a response. Ding-dong! [The Five Viscera and the Six Bowels are astonished by your request.] [Heart: Woah. Did you hear what he just asked?] [Lung: Haha Unbelievable lol] [Large Intestine: Did he seriously ask for some HP? Lol, thats crazy.] [Liver: He might as well ask for a loan.] The response was far from what he had hoped for. Actually, it was quite infuriating. How dare theyugh at a humans request? His blood pressure surged, and he felt the need to assert his dominance. He had to remind them who was in charge, who held the power. He was determined to make them understand. Alright, fine. And so, it began. He took a deep breath. So, youre not going to give me any HP, huh? He held his breath, waiting for their response. Soon, their reactions came. Ding-dong! [The Five Viscera and the Six Bowels are taken aback by your actions.] [Heart: What the What is he doing? Lol] [Lung: Huh Hah?] [Large Intestine: Is he threatening us?] [Liver: Seems like it. Lol] Despite their initial reactions, Raciel continued to hold his breath. Gradually, their responses started to change. Ding-dong! [The Five Viscera and the Six Bowels are confused by your actions.] [Heart: Uh? Uhm? Are we running out of oxygen?] [Lung: Hu Hah Huh] [Large Intestine: Is he turning red? Lol] [Liver: Well, he must be in pain too. Lol] Of course, it was bing increasingly difficult for him to continue holding his breath. But he persisted. Ding-dong! [The Five Viscera and the Six Bowels are utterly dumbfounded by your actions.] [Heart: Hey? Hey, hey? Why are you doing this?] [Lung: Huh Ha H] [Large Intestine: He seems to be losing color, doesnt he? Lol] [Liver: Wow, is this a real threat? Damn.] But this was a game of chicken that Raciel had initiated. He kept holding his breath until his face turned red. And finally Ding-dong! [Lung: Hu! Ha Ha Ha Ha!] [The Lung, sumbing to your threat, has granted you 100 HP.] [Current HP: 1,500] The threat had worked. Huff! Ha! Phew! Raciel finally exhaled, feeling a sense of relief. The HP extraction and the threat were sessful. As he fought off dizziness, he chuckled in satisfaction. In his mind, the protests of his five internal organs, who seemed to have surrendered, rang out. [Your organs are grumbling.] [Heart: Hey! The liver is dying, you idiot!] [Lung: Heheh ] [Large Intestine: Wow, that gastric muscle gave me goosebumps.] [Liver: Lets justugh it off, guys.] But Raciel ignored theirints. After all, they would still provide HP if he did something they deemed worthy. Besides, there was an urgent matter at hand. He reopened the Phantom Beasts Draw system window. Ding dong. [Cost for the 2nd Draw: 1,500 HP] [Current HP: 1,500] [Would you like to proceed with the Phantom Beasts Draw?] [YES / NO] Finally, the selection window for the Draw was active. Without hesitation, he chose YES. [Proceeding with the Phantom Beast Selection Draw.] Along with a familiar notification, his 1,500 HP waspletely depleted. A dazzling holographic instruction floated in the air. Paah-! [Please specify the desired function for the Phantom Beast before the selection draw.] [The Phantom Beast candidates presented in the draw will be tailored to the desired function.] The desired function was clear. Raciel remembered the tip he received from Spleen earlier and spoke. A Phantom Beast with the specialty of ab guinea pig, capable of consuming and analyzing theponents of poison or medicine. [Your requirements have been registered.] Whoosh-! The instructions were enveloped in a radiant light. The light spun and transformed into three separate cards. Soon, a brief introduction appeared on each card. Whats with these options now? He red at the introductions written on each card. Meanwhile, an additional message appeared. [You have been presented with three candidates from the Phantom Beast Selection Draw system.] [The three candidates reflect 100%, 50%, and 0% of your requirements respectively.] [The choice is yours.] [Once a Phantom Beast is chosen, it cannot be exchanged, returned, or refunded. Please choose carefully.] As expected. The rules were the same as the previous Draw. It was clear what they meant. This time, the three cards represent jackpot, middle, and miss. Raciel carefully examined the three cards. He only had one chance to choose. If he made a careless decision, it could result in a significant loss of his hard-earned HP. He suppressed the rising tension and pushed his cerebral cortexs reasoning ability to its limits. Lets go through them one by one. The first card says Sometimes I shed blood tears? He tilted his head in confusion at first. What could that mean? Is it a metaphor or analogy? Then suddenly, a piece of knowledge resurfaced in his mind. Ah, could it be the Horned lizard? He remembered seeing it in a documentary once. It was a small lizard that lived in the desert. Its unique defensive behavior when facing predators came to mind. It shoots blood from its eyes, like a squirt gun. It startles or confuses its predators and then makes a quick escape. Thats its survival strategy. So, could the first cards statement of Sometimes I shed tears refer to a Phantom Beast? Perhaps it was something based on the Horned lizard. I might be wrong with my inference, but it seems usible for now. Then the conclusion was simple. The one that spouted blood from its eyes had nothing to do with analyzing poison or medicinal ingredients. In other words, itpletely disregarded his requirements. So, the first card is disqualified. Raciel confidently dismissed the first card and shifted his attention to the second one. Aah, dying again? What could this mean? He took a moment to think. But he couldnt figure it out. Sigh, its too vague. Lets move on to the next card. When you dont know the answer, move boldly to the next question. He recalled the strategy he used during his college entrance exams. He shifted his focus to the third card. A water-drinking hm. Fortunately, this one is easy. It clearly refers to a water-drinking hippo. It was a rtively straightforward question. He could make some guesses about the water-drinking hippos abilities. It probably likes water and drinks a lot. So it might have an excellent ability to analyze theponents of water. As he thought about it, he found himself slightly drawn to it. Should I choose this one? Most poisons or medicines use water as a solvent. It might have the ability to analyze the ingredients of poisons or medicines dissolved in water. What if that were true? It would be a jackpot. A creature capable of analyzing all substances dissolved in water. The more he thought about it, the more useful and appealing it seemed. However, Raciel didnt rush to a conclusion. But what if it only analyzes water? What if it was fixated on water or had an extreme water-rted obsession? That would be troublesome. What he needed now was the ability to analyze all poisons and medicines, not just the ability of a water enthusiast to analyze water alone. If thats the case, choosing it would ruin the Draw. When I think about it, it makes sense. Dissolving the substances I want to analyze in water and feeding them to it? Theres no guarantee that it would be possible. Thats why. The identity of the second card, which he hadnt figured out yet, continued to bother him. Two cards remain. One fulfills 50% of my requirements, and the other fulfills 100%. Which one should I choose? It felt like facing an unknown question on an important test. Was this what it felt like to gamble ones life on a guess? Raciel tried to maintain hisposure as he thought hard. Then the answer came to him. Right. I asked for the ability to analyze poisons or medicines, not a water-specific ability. So, in a way, it was a probability problem. When viewed from that perspective, it became simple. The water-drinking hippo probably fulfills only 50% of my requirements. Raciel reached out for the second card. His heart raced as if he were gambling. He touched the card. Ding dong! [You have chosen Candidate 2: ] A message popped up. The selected card began to radiate with a bright glow. Whoa! Then the card flipped over. On the back, a ck silhouette was etched. It appeared t and round, with something fluttering, like wings. The silhouette started shining brightly. Fizzle! Fzzt! Sparks erupted from the card as a magic circle activated, and a new creature emerged. In that moment, something burst out of the card. Pzzt! A baseball-sized lump flew out with a shockwave. Boop! What? Raciel instinctively caught it with both hands. It was a new Phantom Beast that hade into existence through his choice. First, he examined its appearance. This is Phoenix Sunfish? Raciel murmured, almost unconsciously. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 55 Chapter 55I Next Phoneix sunfish? Raciel murmured unknowingly. He couldnt help but utter those words when he saw the Phantom Beast he had just summoned. It appeared strangely familiar yet intricate. Boop-boop! The creature immediately responded to his voice. It was about the size of his palm, round and t like a spread-out seed pancake. However, it was no ordinary sunfish. It had fiery fins that resembled wings, fluttering and hovering as if they were pping. What did I just summon? Did I urately draw what I intended? Doubt briefly clouded Raciels mind, but he soon shook his head. I dont know yet. Lets find out. Could its uniqueness be in its vulnerability due to being a sunfish? What kind of role could it fulfill with that ability? He asked with a sense of nervousness. Hey, um Boop? Do you happen to have a manual? Like a note with instructions? Boop-boop? You know, something that tells me how to take care of you? Boop! The creature nodded and then appeared to be sick. It started retching. Boop Boop Booooo- With a forceful(?) heave, it coughed up a small note. Ah, gross, Raciel muttered as he unfolded the note, feeling a tinge of sorrow. [Pobokis User Manual] [Poboki is an adorable and delicate phoenix sunfish. Please care for it with love.] [Poboki exhibits unwavering loyalty to its summoner. A Phantom Beast is a lifelongpanion and an additional family member. Please never abandon it.] [Poboki cannot utilize sunflower seeds for miniaturization/ergement transformations, unlike other Phantom Beasts.] [Erging Poboki is only possible under special conditions.] [Oh no, Im dying (Lv. 1)] [Revive! (Lv. 1)] [Diary Writing (Lv. 1)] [Poboki utilizes the skill and the skill together to umte an ergement stack. When the stack reaches 10 times, the ergement is automatically activated.] Did he make the right choice? Looking at the skill list, Raciel found the purpose of this creature, Poboki, even more perplexing. He started to worry. No matter how he examined the skill list. No matter how he read the other exnations. Nowhere did it mention the ability to analyze herbalponents or poisons. Did I draw a useless creature? If that were the case, if he had summoned a worthless being, this draw would be ruined. Raciel nervously spoke up. Hey, um, Poboki? Boop-poo! You have these skills, right? Boo! Oh no, Im dying, what does that mean? Booppoo! Boopoo! Huh? You want me to bring you something to eat? Boop! So youre saying you can eat anything without any preferences or pickiness? Boopoopoo! Poboki nodded vigorously all over its body, seeming somewhat confident. It appeared to be showcasing its abilities now that it had been born (?). Its asking for something to eat. Raciel looked around the quiet and spacious bedroom in the middle of the night. There wasnt anything readily avable to eat. Do I have to go to the kitchen to find something? Thats quite a hassle Oh, I remember. Then something came to his mind. It was a few days ago, right? Perhaps due to constantly attending to patients and enduring a grueling schedule, he had an unusually sore throat. He had been coughing since morning, and it hurt whenever he swallowed. I had some bellflower root brought in. When you have a cough, bellflower root is the best remedy. Among the medicinal herbs he had, there happened to be some bellflower root. He had it brought for making tea. But I never actually drank it. I was too busy. Anyway, I put it somewhere around here Ah, there it is. Raciel searched through his belongings and found the bellflower root tucked away in a drawer corner. He cut it into a suitable size and offered it to Poboki. Can you eat this? Boop! Poboki eagerly opened its mouth and chewed on the small piece of bellflower root. Boop! Boop! Booooup! It vigorously chewed on the bellflower root and eventually swallowed it with a gulp. Then, unexpectedly, it copsed and appeared to be lifeless. Boo..oo..pp! Ding dong! [Poboki is activating the skill ] p! . With a single shriek, it clutched its chest and fell onto the table. The mes on its fins extinguished, giving the impression that it had truly perished. It remained motionless. It was an awkward sight. Hey? Hey? No matter how much he poked it, there was no response. Its eyes turned white, and its tongue stuck out. . Oh no. Was this a selection failure? Did he truly choose a defective creature? Just as curses were about to escape his lips Boop? Poboki blinked its eyes wide open. Ding dong! [Poboki is activating the skill ] [1 stack of Pobokis ergement has been umted.] With a powerful message, it promptly stood up. Then, it let out a deep sigh, as ifmenting its fate (?). It drooped its shoulders and plucked one of its fins. It even pulled out a small tooth. Next, ity down on the floor and spread the plucked fin like a notebook. It held the plucked tooth in its mouth like a pencil. Ding dong! [Poboki is activating the skill ] . Diary writing? What was this creature up to? Raciel observed its actions. Meanwhile, Poboki diligently wrote something on its fin notebook. Boobbobop! Boopoop! Boooop! What could be causing such dissatisfaction? It piqued Raciels curiosity. He sneaked a peek over its shoulder to read the contents of the diary. The entry read [Todays Diary] [Met a new owner. I was happy. The new owner gave me bellflower root. I was happy. But the bellflower root tasted awful. The tycodigenin was too salty. The polygcid acid was sour and bitter. tycogenic acid A and saponin tycodin C42H68O17, along with inulin and phytosterols, tasted too bitter, it was unbearable. It was truly disgusting. It was so disgusting that the phoenix part of me died. And so the phoenix part h h and then this and that h h] Raciel was left speechless by the content of the diary. tycodigenin? Polygcid acid? Those areponents of bellflower root, arent they? His eyes raced through the diary, gradually widening in astonishment. He couldnt help it. Unbelievable. Its listing all theponents it just consumed. Not only that, its documenting every detail, including lethal dosages, using its innate ability? It was mind-boggling. No, it was more than mind-boggling. Incredible. Finally, Raciel grasped the situation. He seemed to understand how this peculiar creature, abination of a phoenix and a sunfish, fulfilled its role. Thats it. This guy, whatever it eats, it dies. It simply dies. Thats the sunfish trait. Then, it resurrects due to the phoenix trait. And after that, it records the properties of the substance that caused its demise in its diary. In reality, sunfish are not fragile creatures that die easily. They are remarkably resilient beings. However, this creature appeared to possess the characteristics of the easily dying sunfish depicted in inte memes. Anyway, this is insane. Its incredible. His fist involuntarily clenched. A creature capable of analyzing theponents of anything it consumes. Guinea Pig, a creature specialized in experimentation. He had truly obtained it. Which meant I could analyze the muscle paralysis poison confiscated from Kusman. It seemed impossible, but he desperately wished it could be done. And now, it had be a reality. Meanwhile, the creature continued writing in its diary. Booopooo! Bopo! Boooo! Was it still disgruntled by the bellflower root it had consumed earlier? It sighed deeply and shed more fins. Comining incessantly, as if documenting the event, it tirelessly wrote in its extensive diary. It seemed to beposing a thesis on theponents of bellflower root. Once it finished writing, he would have it analyze the poison. For now, Raciel reluctantly left the creature alone and went to sleep. Morning arrived, and as Raciel woke up, he found the creature sleeping beside him. The elder(?) creature, Kozumi, was also present. Bopopo. Pooo. Koooo kkoooo! Had they be friends, giving each other nicknames without him realizing it? It seemed so. Raciel chuckled briefly, but the moment passed quickly. I have so much work to do. If he wanted to lead a healthy life from now on, he needed to revive the oriental medicine clinic. He had to treat more patients and umte bonus lifespan. To achieve that, he needed excellent nurses. And to acquire a nurse, he had to administer Botox injections to paralyze Anises tail! The process and oue might seem bizarre, but thats the reality. So, creature? Booop? Do you want to give it a try? Boop? Its something delicious. Booopooo? Boooo! At the mention of something delicious, Pobokis eyes sparkled eagerly. A brief pang of guilt passed through Raciels conscience, but he put on a determined smile. He administered a drop of Kusmans paralysis poison sample to Poboki. As expected, Poboki died. Booopoo Poooo! Fooled! Poboki red at Raciel with a betrayed expression while taking itsst breath. Of course, it resurrected shortly afterward. It grumbled at Raciel numerous times, documenting its findings in a diary, or rather, a poison analysis report. Thanks to that, half a dayter, Raciel received the analysis results. Its done. This is it. He carefully reviewed the diary written by Poboki. The paralytic poison created by Kusman. He now had detailed knowledge of almost all its characteristics and specifications. I didnt expect this, but its a milder version of Botox, specifically targeting its weakness. The toxin directly binds to neurons in the nervous system blocking the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Isnt its mechanism of action almost identical to Botox? Fortunately (?), the toxin was much weaker than botulinum toxin. Its even weaker than the diluted type A toxin used inmon cosmetic surgeries. Just right. Not too excessive. He could calcte the precise amount needed to paralyze a tail without causing side effects. In other words, he could determine the safe dosage with uracy. There was no reason to hesitate any longer. Raciel decided it was time to call Anise for the procedure. Gardin? Yes, I Eh? Whats the matter? Why are you so surprised? Th-The Phantom Beast again! Upon seeing Poboki, Gardin was taken aback. Raciel deliberately acted nonchnt, as if it was nothing out of the ordinary. Or as if making a fuss about it was ridiculous. Oh, it showed up unexpectedlyst night. Dont ask me why. I dont know either. It seems Phantom Beasts have a tendency to gravitate toward me. Uh, hehe. Why are youughing? Well, its just that I remembered a certain nobleman from a history book. A nobleman? Yes, His Highness Lloyd Frontera Oh, the estate designer who lived during thete period when this empire was still a kingdom? Yes, exactly. He was the nobleman who became the kings right-hand man and achieved numerous aplishments. I recall reading that he also had five Phantom Beasts under his care. Really? He must have been an impressive individual. He practicallyid the foundation of the empire. I see. But for now, its not so important to discuss historical tales, right? Yes? Call Anise. Do you mean Miss Anise? Yes. Were starting the procedure. Of course, sess was not guaranteed. Unexpected challenges might arise during the procedure. However, Raciel was fully prepared. It was time to take action. For the recruitment of an S-tier nurse. For the prosperity of the Star Pce Clinic. And for the wealth and longevity of his royal life. I control my own destiny. Thus, for the first time in continental history, a local anesthesia procedure based on Botox acupuncture began. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 56 Chapter 56I Next The tail. Every werewolf possessed onea tag they carried throughout their lifetime, unable to be torn off. It was an undeniable expression of their emotions. When sad, it drooped; when happy or excited, it wagged vigorously. Like a dogs tail responding to the prospect of a walk or a treat. Their inability to conceal their emotions made them vulnerable in human society. They were easy prey for cunning scammers. This weakness had umted over generations, giving rise to stereotypes about their kind. Werewolves were seen as easily deceived, unable to hide their inner feelings. Were there any other races as susceptible as them? Haah. Anise sighed. She was no exception. Thanks to her tail, which exposed her emotions, she had formed strong bonds of friendship. But there were countless humans who sought to exploit this weakness. During her time as a mercenary, she hade close to death. It was not umon for members of her race to be deceived and used by humans, leading to their demise or severe injuries. But can I stop this tail? This bothersome tail. This curse-like appendage. Was it possible to bring it to a halt? Could the rumored crown prince truly hold the solution? It would be wonderful if it works. Honestly, her expectations were not high. She couldnt help it. She had tried restraining it, even attempted severing it. But the tail remained stubbornly uncontroble. No matter how tightly she tied it, the tail would wriggle free on its own. Even cutting it to the base proved futile, as it would regenerate within a month. The dreadful experience of being unable to walk properly without her tail, as her legscked strength, was an added torment. But the crown prince imed to have found a way. He had said so. He had asked her to wait and, surprisingly, he imed to have discovered a solution even before a day had passed. He instructed her toe to the consultation room without dy. Silently, Anise made her way down the hallway. Piero Gardin, the middle-aged man apanying her, guiding her, emitted an odd sound. You must be quite nervous. Well, its written all over your face. You didnt check my tail, did you? Um, well I thought so. I apologize. Its fine. Im used to it. By the way, I dont believe weve properly introduced ourselves. Im Gardin, Piero Gardin. I serve as the personal physician to the crown prince. Im Anise. As the sessor of Robo and the daughter of Hachinto, I hold responsibility for the Dalgureol tribe. I see. But, Miss Anise, may I offer you a piece of advice? Hmm? Anise tilted her head. Advice? What did he want to say? Please, go ahead. She decided to hear him out. Gardin smiled kindly. Thank you. If I may be so bold as to advise you, whatever treatment method the crown prince suggests, please try not to be too surprised. Why shouldnt I be surprised? She furrowed her brow. Was he asking her to trust blindly? However, Gardin provided an unexpected answer. Because theres a high probability that the moment you hear the treatment method, youll think the crown prince has gone mad. Wasnt that a dangerous statement? But Gardin seemed unconcerned. It has always been that way. I, too, initially thought the same. Our pce maids, servants, even the royal guards and special duty guards had simr thoughts. You regarded the crown prince as a madman? Yes. To be honest, we genuinely believed so. And now? As you can see, I am leading Lady Anise to the crown princefor treatment. Anise remained silent. What kind of outrageous treatment methods did this person known as the crown prince employ to prompt a physician to speak such words? Of course, her doubts didnt linger for long. She soon arrived at the crown princes treatment room. As she entered, she overheard the method of treatment proposed by the crown prince. I will delicately prick your tail with this needle, targeting the nerves. Then, I will inject a controlled amount of poison through the needle. Pretty cool, huh? Cool, my ass. Is he out of his mind? She couldnt help but think so. It was inevitable. Paralyzing the tail by pricking it with a needle? And injecting poison too? It was an unfamiliar treatment method, one that didnt inspire trust in the slightest. Anise briefly questioned if her journey to the imperial capital had been in vain. It was then that her gaze involuntarily shifted towards Gardin, who had apanied her to the treatment room. He nodded subtly. So thats why he had given her that advice earlier. Anise pondered for a moment, but the decision had already been made. I may not have much faith in it, but lets give it a try. She didnt hold high hopes for sess. However, she felt that there was significance in attempting it, no matter how slim the chances might be. If, by some chance, it truly works, our tribe wont have to suffer because of our tails. Even if its a bit unconventional I should face the danger first. For the sake of her tribe. For those who trusted her. Anise was prepared to endure any sacrifice and pain. Understood. Lets proceed. Anise nodded, following the instructions of the Crown Prince. Gardin left the room, and three maids hurriedly entered in his ce. As the Crown Prince turned away, inspecting the wall, Anise undressed with the maids assistance andy down on the bed. They covered her with arge white cloth that had a hole for her tail, concealing everything except that appendage. Finally, the Crown Prince turned back to face her. Now, lets begin. As she was about to undergo the procedure, a sudden anxiety washed over Anise. Her entire body tensed visibly. However, Raciel paid no mind. The more anxious the patient, the calmer he needed to be. I must remainposed for the patients sake. Raciel took a deep breath and activated the Asrahan Core Technique. Kiing-! The mana circle surrounding his heart spun vigorously, amplifying the mana within his body. Simultaneously, he became acutely aware of the mana surrounding him. Raciel focused most of his sensory ability on his fingertips as he touched Anises waist, as if feeling her pulse. This was the Asrahan precision diagnosis method. And then, he felt it. I can see it. As his hand made contact with her waist, concentric circles of mana radiated outward. He sensed the flow of mana coursing through Anises body, following the path of these expanding circles. It was as if he were scanning, observing the visible, detectable movements of mana. The meridians of the human body They truly exist and function as they are meant to. Raciel scrutinized Anises body meridians with renewed fascination and a sense of mystery. In his days studying Oriental medicine, he had memorized the meridians, familiarizing himself with their arrangement and harmony through practice. However, they couldnt be seen with the naked eye or observed through modern medical equipment like X-rays or CT scans. The existence of meridians was inferred based on centuries of experiential knowledge. Honestly, that was the most regrettable aspect. He believed in the existence of meridians, dedicating his studies to them. But he couldnt see them, nor could they be empirically observed. The only foundation supporting their existence was millennia of umted experience, which he found disappointing. It frustrated him that the precise principles and mechanisms behind acupunctures effects on the human body hadnt been clearly established. It was undeniably effective, but the reasons and principles remain unexined. It was simply a treatment carried out based on the umted sess of many cases over thousands of years. While the positive oues were evident, the mechanisms behind them were not. It was a situation simr to modern medical treatments like deep brain stimtion for epilepsy, where the positive effects were observed, yet the exact workings remained unclear. Thus, he asionally harbored doubts about the existence of meridians. Was it truly real? Theck of certainty bothered him. But now? Things were different. I can see it. I can feel it. Thanks to the precise diagnostic method using the Asrahan Core Technique, he could now detect the meridians through the movement of mana. He had gained a small measure of certainty. I wasnt mistaken in my studies. His knowledge was correct, and the time he had devoted to it had not been in vain. Moreover, he could now perform procedures while monitoring the real-time response of the meridians, just like he was about to do. Swish. He held a thin white acupuncture needle, aiming for the first meridianSuspended Pivot Point, the central pir of the Governor Vessel, located in the hollow area below the first lumbar spine. Thud! He precisely timed Anises inhtion, lightly inserting the needle to a depth of 5 millimeters. Simultaneously, he activated the circr slot. Whirr! [Activating emission function of slot 1.] [Please set the emission volume.] 0.01 milliliters. [Releasing 0.01 milliliters of muscle paralysis poison from the circr slot.] Prick! With a gentle press, the minuscule amount of paralytic poison was released. It traveled through the circle slot, coursing through Raciels fingers and into Anises Suspended Pivot Point. Um. Anise involuntarily flinched, a reflexive reaction as her muscles responded. Raciel watched intently, observing the effects on the Suspended Pivot Point and the surrounding meridians. And there it was. The carefully administered dose of poison disrupted the flow of mana along the spinal acupoints. Mana, which originally flowed in a unidirectional manner, now encountered a barrier, halting its progression. Instinctively, mana sought an alternate path, meandering erratically. Raciel decided to guide it. Next are Mingmen and Yaoyangguan. He focused on two acupoints along the spine, situated below the spinal acupoints. With precise breathing and Bosa techniques, he performed acupuncture, simultaneously utilizing the circle slot. A minute amount of the appropriate poison was injected. Once again, he observed the alteration in the flow of the acupoints. Tssrrrrt! A new pathway emerged for the mana that had struggled to bypass the spinal acupoints. It cascaded downward, following the spinal erector muscles on both sides. Along the way, certain spinal nerves became inactive, specifically those responsible for tail movement. At that moment. Sssooooo.. Anises tail underwent a transformation. Once tense and rigid, it lost its strength and drooped. Subsequently, it remained motionlessa sessful local paralysis. Good. Its going as nned. Unbeknownst to Raciel, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Wiping them away, he refocused. The initial phase of tail paralysis had been sessful. However, this was just the beginning. No, the real challenge starts now. The crux of the procedurey not only in paralyzing the tail but also in maintaining that paralysis for the remainder of the patients life. That was the true key. And now, the next step is crucial. The artificially manipted flow of mana had to be controlled. Left unchecked, the effects of the procedure would gradually fade. The body will detect the anomaly and attempt to restore the manipted neuralwork. Its a natural healing response within the human body, simply following its course. To counter this, Raciel had to deceive the body. He needed to make it believe that no paralysis had urred, thus preventing the initiation of the natural healing response. But how? Like this. Raciel reached for the final acupuncture needle. However, just as he was about to proceed, something unexpected happened. Rrrrr! Anises previously paralyzed tail began convulsing. Raciels eyebrows twitched. A healing response? Already? It was unforeseen. The speed of the bodys response was astonishing. Truly a werewolf, unlike ordinary individuals. The regenerative abilities were no mere exaggeration. Anises body had swiftly detected the changes in her nervous system, triggering its inherent self-repair mechanism. The precise diagnostic method clearly indicated this through mana flow. Yet Raciel remained steadfast. He had anticipated this development. Calmly and swiftly, he retrieved the acupuncture needle and pricked Anise. Tuduk! The needle pierced 1.5 cun on either side of the fifth lumbar spinous process, targeting the Yaoshu acupoint surrounding the spine on the left side. His hand continued to move. Tuck! The final needle was expertly inserted into the back of Anises head, precisely into the Brains Hollow acupoint on the right side of the ipital center. As the needle prated to a depth of 3 fen Ah? Anises left leg jerked, simultaneous with the convulsing tail. The nerves responsible for tail movement, which had been on the path to recovery, were once again quieted. A new neural pathway had been established, deviating the flow that should have reached the tail. From the waist, traversing through the buttocks, it swept along the left femoral muscle, descending further downward. Progressing through the calf, it passed the ankle bone and the edge of the left foot, eventually reaching the little toe. And at that moment, Fidget, fidget. In ce of the immobilized tail, the left little toe began to stir. It twitched and fidgeted, resembling the movements of a tail. The instant Raciel confirmed this, It worked! He tightly clenched his fist. By deceiving the spinal nerves, the little toe had been sessfully recognized as the tail. It was a moment of magical sess for the ingenious neural interference pseudo-procedure. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 57 Chapter 57I Next Twist. What is this strange sensation? It feels as if her tail has been reced with her little toe. Squirm! Why does she feel like theres a tail inside her sock? . Anise furrowed her brow as shey down, perplexed. It was an odd feeling. It was bizarre. Why did it suddenly seem like there was a tail attached to her foot? The reason for such a grotesque sensation was beyond herprehension. This suspicion extended to the princes treatment process as well. Did that man just stick a needle in the back of my head? It certainly seemed so. Several needles in her back and waist, and finally, one in the back of her head. It felt like arge thorn had been inserted. It was absurd. I asked him to stop my tail, so why target the back of my head? Anise couldnt fathom it. She wanted to get up and protest immediately. How dare he act so kindly only to subject her to this? There must be limits to teasing and toying with someone. Regardless of her being a werewolf, or him being the prince, is it right to treat people as experimental subjects? Is it eptable to take advantage of someone in a desperate situation? She wanted to seriously question him. Then, at that moment Phew. Were almost done. You can rx now. The princes voice reached her ears, sounding somewhat smug as if he had aplished something. Is it over? The procedure. It was sessful. . Sessful? Already? Anise hesitated for a moment. Was this sess truly what it appeared to be? But she didnt have much time to contemte. The prince swiftly removed all the thorns. Now, slowly turn around and try to get up. . As she turned over, Anise noticed that the prince had his back to her. With the assistance of the maids, she put on her outer garment and stood up. However Isnt something strange about your tail? Only then, while the prince smiled and observed her, did Anise realize her condition. .Ah. She nced back. Her tail hung limply. It didnt move at all. But why hadnt she noticed it before? I paralyzed your tail and tricked the nerves in your body. Huh? Your left little toe. I rerouted the tail nerves there. . What was he talking about? Anise didnt immediately understand. The princes smile took on a deeper meaning. Instead of your tail, your little toe will move. When youre sad and your tail droops, itll be your little toe. And when youre happy and your tail wags wildly, itll also be your little toe. . Admitting that she understood everything would be a lie. Anise felt her tail tense with anxiety, but the tension actually resided in her little toe. The real tail hung limp without a flicker. The prince spoke as if he knew everything. Just now, didnt your little toe feel strange? . Thats why its a sess. Now you can live without revealing your inner feelings or mood through your tail. . Of course, there might be some side effects. Your pinky toe might move on its own, recing your tail. It will react ording to your emotions. It may take a month or two to adapt due to the initial strange sensation. But it wont interfere with your ability to walk or run. Oh, and trimming your toenails might be a bit inconvenient. Your toe will move freely ording to your emotions. Trim your nails when youre as calm and still as possible. Practice some meditation before trimming. Otherwise, you might end up bleeding. That covers the side effects of the procedure. So, what do you think? Anise remained silent. No, she couldnt find words to respond. Instead, her body responded, or rather, her pinky toe, which now carried the sensations of her tail. Wriggle, wriggle! Her pinky toe began to twist inside her shoe, wriggling with enthusiasm. It was an unbelievable oue of the procedure. Anise had sensed the potential for a new life from the very beginning. Heh, heh heh? Anise chuckled, and her pinky toe wriggled even more vigorously in response. It was a strange and captivating sensation. The prince smirked and spoke. Oh, theres one more thing to be cautious about. Wear thick socks or dont remove your shoes during important meetings or in front of someone you want to conceal your emotions from. Well, that shouldnt be too difficult. And another thing. When you transform into a werewolf, your tail will regain its mobility. I couldnt do anything about that. The flow of vital energy changes significantly during transformation, and I didnt dare to interfere with it. Well, considering you cant speak due to the altered oral structure during transformation, having a moving tail might actually help withmunication. Anyway, the bottom line is, your tail has been reced with your toe. Tada? Ha. Ha ha. Anise still couldnt respond. Instead,ughter bubbled up within her without her realizing it. Her gaze fixed on her wriggling toe. Her eyes had be moist. It was an unexpected procedure she hadnt held much hope for, yet its sessful oue was a surprising gift. It was at that moment she realized. Heh, sob! Suddenly, tears burst forth. All the umted sorrows from her childhood flooded in. The prejudice and disdain towards werewolves, the hardships her n had enduredall came rushing to her mind. From now on, she wouldnt have to bear such sadness. The hope and joy for a new life turned into unstoppable sobs. Heh, sob! Sob! Tears continued to flow. However, there was something she had overlooked. The prince standing before her wasnt as kind-hearted as the rumors had portrayed, always serving others. Hey, I understand that youre happy. But now that the procedure isplete, we should make a contract, shouldnt we? Ah? Anise paused. Through her tears and blurred vision, a white piece of paper was thrust in front of her. She hastily wiped her tears away. Upon closer inspection, it was an employment contract for a nurse at the Star Pce Clinic. Do you remember? You requested a special use, didnt you? You said that if I could solve your tail problem, you would sign the contract and be a nurse. Furthermore, as a bonus, you mentioned bringing your entire n, right? Lets get the signature first. Anise realized that this had been the princes aim all along. In that moment, she understood. She could see it. The Crown Prince standing before her wasnt a simple man. He was far from being someone who selflessly served others. Its so different from what the rumors say. Free of charge? That was something she could never expect from this Crown Prince. Nevertheless, a contract was a contract. I understand. In the end, Anise had to not only sign the employment contract but also affix her seal to it. Hehe. Hehehe. Huhuhu. Huhuhuhu. Huhuhuhuhuhu. Is it really that amusing? Absolutely. The employment contract, freshly signed and still with wet ink, was swiftly rolled up by Raciel, who wore a satisfied smile. There was no way he couldnt be pleased. Excellent. With this, one problem is definitely solved. He felt a sense of contentment. The recently established Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic was thriving. The number of daily patients seeking treatment was noticeably increasing. However, there was a severe shortage of staff to handle the influx. The need for a professional nurse was particrly pressing. But now, with this, the problem is resolved in one fell swoop. Raciel smiled with satisfaction. Anise stood before him, along with the promise of 50 werewolves she would bring. The thought of training and working with them as professional nurses made him feel prosperous. It was as if a farmer were gazing upon a golden field, or the anticipation one felt while unwrapping a freshly delivered package with the aroma of a roasted chicken. Anyway, you must call your tribe as promised, right? Yes, thats correct. Then Of course, once they arrive, we will proceed with the tail paralysis procedure. Thank you. For what? If you be a nurse and work diligently, it will benefit me. Now, how do you n to summon your tribe? Should we wait until nightfall? What? Because youre a werewolf. Waiting until midnight, transforming when the moon reaches its zenith, raising your head toward the sky, and letting out a majestic howl Isnt that how you call them? No, its not. Then? I will write a letter. . Why? Never mind, I apologize Raciel offered an awkward smile, while Anise, too, smiled and fiddled with her toes. That afternoon, the swiftest horse departed from the Star Pce, carrying a letter. And just five dayster, the 50 werewolves who received Anises letter arrived at the Star Pce. Upon their arrival, they underwent a testa basic assessment of physical strength and a personality evaluation to gauge their capacity for selflessness andpetition. Fortunately, everyone passed. As a reward for their sess(?), they received the tail paralysis treatment. From that day onward A busy time awaited Raciel. In the mornings, he opened the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic as usual and attended to the general patients who came seeking treatment. In between, he also cared for the inpatients. But the day didnt end there. In fact, it only grew busier. He spent his time training Anise and the 50 werewolves to bepetent professional nurses. Oh my, its so busy. He had to teach them the basics of patient care, emergency treatment, identification and preparation of herbal medicine, decocting medicine, managing moxibustion, and even running the inpatient ward. There were numerous things that had to be taught one by one. But it was rewarding. The true joy of education and nurturing? Not quite. After this training isplete, things will ease up, wont they? They will be able to attend to the patients themselves and swiftly prepare the decoctions. All Ill have to do is take pulses and make diagnoses. asionally, Ill perform acupuncture. Its like setting up an auto-battle while ying a game. Once the werewolf nurses were fully trained, the automation(?) of the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic would be a reality. Raciel could focus on the easier tasks while treating patients. The bonus lifespan would naturally umte. Thats why having a system in ce when you work is crucial! It applied to everything in the world. Even in social life. There was a reason why a queen antid eggs abundantly and indulged in hearty meals. There was a reason why professors mentored graduate students and set them up for auto-battles. In the same vein, Raciel nurtured a grand dream of automating the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. Gradually, Anise and the werewolves, who were initially clumsy, grew more ustomed to their nursing training with each passing day. They adapted to the paralysis of their tails and the constant movements of their toes. And finally, after about a month had passed Ding dong! [You have sessfullypleted the localized paralysis treatment of the tails for patient Anise and the 50 werewolves using precise acupuncture. Anise and the 50 werewolves have fully adapted to their toes moving in ce of their tails and will not face social difficulties in their interpersonal rtionships.] [As this procedure does not directly extend lifespan, the Medical Billing (Lv. 2) skill has not been activated.] [However, the Five Viscera and Six Bowels apud your unique and innovative acupuncture technique.] [Your heart cheers.] [Your lungs breathe heavily.] [Yourrge intestine chuckles as its villi shake.] [Your liver waves a glow stick and dances.] [The liversmotion triggers the principle of Mokgeokto ().] [A new member of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels with an Earth () attribute wakes up grumbling due to themotion.] [Your stomach awakens.] (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 58 Chapter 58I Next [Your Stomach Awakens.] Hmm? Raciel blinked his eyes. It was an unexpected message that popped up at a time he hadnt anticipated at all. The stomach? A new member of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels has woken up? But the timing was odd. Anise and the fifty werewolves. There was no message that popped up after he sessfully paralyzed their tails. But now, a monthter, this appears? It must mean that the true effect of the procedure has justpleted. It must have been a procedure that required the patients adaptation. He paralyzed the tail and tricked the body. He had the little toe move in ce of the tail. There must have been some inconvenience, of course. That adaptation is nowplete, and thats why Im getting this reward now. But that reward is a new member of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels. An unexpected anticipation welled up. What kind of creature is the stomach? He gulped down a mouthful of the sd he was eating for breakfast. Then, an immediate response came back. Ding Dong! [The Stomach responds to the food you have ingested.] [Stomach: Boo hoo, I am a baby Stomach! I hate greens! Give me something tasty!] . What is this thing? Throwing a tantrum about side dishes as soon as its born. Raciel moved his fork with a strange feeling. He chewed a few sausages. Swallowed. The Stomach immediately responded. [Stomach: Ugh, isnt there something tastier than this?] Something tastier? Raciel chuckled. The Stomach replied. [Stomach: Pork cutlet sweet and sour pork chicken pizza, please. I feel like Im going to faint.] . [Stomach: And also a roll of kimbap Ddeokbokki with lots of sauce. Jajangmyeon on the side, and for dessert, donuts rolled in sugar and syrup? Is that okay?] . After a few words, he understood. This thing has the pte of an elementary school kid? He let out an involuntary chuckle. But there was nothing he could do. He didnt really have a way to cater to the Stomachs requests. Sorry, but theres no food like that here. I miss kimchi, gochujang, and doenjang just as much as you do. It was a typical sentiment for Koreans. In reality, after eating only local food here, he often cravedte-night snacks. Especially the tangy taste of kimchi, or the spicy, savory vor unique to Korean food, sometimes keeping him up at night. But Im dealing with it. Theres nothing we can do. So, you should endure it too, okay? [Stomach: Sob then at least give me candy.] Tsk. Fine. Got it. He pretended to give in and picked up a candy that was on the te for dessert. He rolled it gently in his mouth until it melted, then bit into it hard. [Stomach: Sweetness! Yay!] [The Stomach cheers at the sweetness celebrating its birth.] [The Stomach has donated 300 HP to you.] [The Heart, Lung, Large Intestine, and Liver rejoice at the birth of the youngest member and donate 500 HP.] [The Liver is particrly happy about the junior and donates an additional 200 HP.] [Current HP: 1,000] Phew. Unexpectedly, he received a ton of HP donations. In addition, it will be easier to treat patients in the future. The consultation range of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels has expanded. Itll be easier to diagnose diseases rted to the stomach. His mood naturally brightened at the thought. But the reward didnt stop there. Ding Dong! [The level of Asrahan Core Technique increases.] Hmm? Apparently, today was a day when all good things happened at once. Raciel let out a sigh of joy. He watched the additional message that popped up. [You have adjusted and released the substances stored in the circle slot in microgram units during the process of performing local paralysis on the tail of the werewolf tribe. This meticulous control, which has been repeated, has be a great asset, promoting the growth of Asrahan Core Technique.] [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Stage: Single Circle Lv. 3] [Absorbs surrounding mana. The absorbed mana is processed/amplified in a circle around the heart and operated. The amplification rate increases significantly as the number of circles increases.] [Mana Amplification Rate: 150%] [HP required for next level-up: 1,500] [Current HP: 1,000] Up until here, it was almost the same as the previous level-up messages. But after that, there was a special additional message attached. [As Asrahan Core Technique grows, the mana circle you possess is also affected.] [The storage space of the mana circle is expanded.] Oh? The capacity of the circle slot was expanded. It was the moment he was reading that message. Whoooosh! Suddenly, a change urred in the circle surrounding the heart. It felt as though a small water balloon was bulging inside his chest. Eventually. Ding Dong! [Slot 1 has been expanded.] [Maximum capacity of Slot 1: 10 liters -> 12 liters] The message concluded, announcing thepletion of the circle slot expansion construction (?). Raciel was just eating breakfast and received an unexpected reward. Wow, Im full, and I havent even finished my meal. It was like finding a 50-dor bill in a winter coat pocket that youd forgotten about fromst year. Or maybe it was the feeling you get when you receive a message from a friend offering to set you up on a blind date while scratching your stomach and watching TV at home. A smile of satisfaction came out naturally. Anyway, the basic system is set up now. The Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic, opened with difficulty. At first, he wondered if it would go well. Still, he pushed ahead with hope. After many twists and turns, he opened the clinic, focusing on viral advertising. Word spread, patients flocked in, and he even recruited professional nurses to cover theck of manpower. And so he has finallye this far. Now its the season of harvest. Every day passed with the dream of collecting bonus lifespans from the influx of patients. Anise and the werewolf nurses began their internship. They started looking after patients in the clinic and inpatient rooms. Their ability was beyond imagination. Your Highness, the patient in Room 6 is not well. Hmm? Whats wrong? A young werewolf nurse ran into the clinic while Raciel was treating a regr patient. He spoke with a serious expression. The patients scent has changed. I think hes about to get a fever. Is that so? Raciel followed him to the patient. When he felt the patients pulse, indeed, there were precursors of a fever. The liver was filled with fatigue. It was because of the slightly strong medication. So he changed the prescription. He also felt a surprise inside. He detected a change in the patients condition without even reading the pulse. Whoa. Is this even real? An incredible ability. Moreover, the werewolf nurses had ample physical strength, as expected. 3 shifts like human nurses? They didnt need that. Your Highness, this is Anise. We have made a new work schedule after a discussion. Hmm? Please take a look at this. When Raciel saw the new schedule handed out by Anise, he couldnt help but be astounded. Why are the working hours 24 hours? Well We find that more convenient. So, you want to work for 24 hours straight, then rest the entire next day, and keep doing that in alternating shifts? Yes. Wont that be exhausting? We find it easier than switching between day and night shifts every day. No, what Im asking is, will you be alright working for 24 hours straight? To be honest, we considered working 48 hours and then resting 48 hours. Do you approve? Well, if it doesnt affect your work and yourefortable with it, then sure. Thank you, Your Highness. It was like that. In a word, the werewolves seemed to be a race born for nursing. All their physical talents were optimized for nursing. Thanks to that, the system at the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic became more solid. Gradually, bonus lifespans began to be calcted for regr patients. Over a period of ten days, Raciel received six days of bonus lifespana modest but satisfactory increase. He understood that progress couldnt be achieved all at once and reminded himself to be patient. The dream of automating the Oriental Medicine Clinic grew stronger as his confidence in the process increased. However, during this time, the werewolf nurses started their on-the-job training. Amidst their training, the pce steward of the Star Pce paid a visit to Raciel while he was in the middle of a consultation. Hmm? What brings you here, Steward? Are you feeling unwell? No, Your Highness. Actually Actually? I have a grave matter to discuss, so I took the liberty of visiting. I see. Just give me a moment to finish this consultation. Yes, Your Highness. Curiosity swirled in Raciels mind. What could be so serious that the pce steward needed to discuss it personally? He spected whether it might be a problem he wanted to consult about or if he had a health issue he couldnt share with others. After finishing with the patient, Raciel turned his attention back to the pce steward, who appeared resolute and serious. So, what is it that troubles you so much? Your Highness, I regret to inform you that the Star Pces operation budget is nearly depleted. Hmm? Raciels head tilted involuntarily. The report seemed absurdhow could the Star Pce, the royal familys domain, be running out of funds? Thats unlikely. Raciel couldntprehend the situation fully. As the crown prince of the empire, with no significant upheavals or changes in the royal family, it was puzzling that the pce budget was in dire straits. It doesnt make sense. Is this a legitimate report? Raciel wondered if it was some kind of joke or prank, but the pce stewards demeanor remained solemn. Your Highness, I assure you, this report is entirely truthful and urate. The Star Pces operation budget is truly insufficient. Really? Yes, Your Highness. Youre not joking? Not at all, Your Highness. The pce being strapped for cash seemed ludicrous. An urgent question escaped Raciels lips. Why? Do you wish for a detailed exnation? Absolutely. He needed to know what was happening; there had to be a significant problem at hand. Without funds, the Oriental Medicine Clinic, along with everything else, wille to a halt. Finances were essentialbe it for purchasing medicinal herbs, paying the nurses wages, or covering the patients food expenses. Without money, the progress made in setting up the Oriental Medicine Clinic would be squandered in an instant. This is unbelievable. Whats going on? Raciel couldnt help clenching his teeth. He had already experienced bankruptcy in his clinic back in Korea due to insufficient funds, and now, he was faced with another financial crisis. Tell me everything in detail. Leave nothing out. This wasnt a normal situation; there had to be something he didnt know. Someone might have sabotaged the finances or devised a scheme. Whatever the case, there was more to the story. That was the suspicion thatpelled Raciel to ask the pce steward. Finally, the pce steward began exining. Yes, Your Highness. As you instructed, I will provide a detailed exnation of the matter As the pce steward revealed more information, Raciel started to realize exactly who was responsible for the current financial crisis. Raciel, what have you done? He gritted his teeth at the original owner of his current body, the frail Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano, as depicted in the novel. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 59 Chapter 59I Next Raciel, what in the world have you done? Raciel, or rather, Lee Han, clenched his teeth, feeling cornered. It all started with the unsettling tale the house steward was recounting. I apologize for informing you in this manner, Your Highness but I distinctly recall thatst fall, you personally requested His Majesty to significantly reduce the operating budget for the Star Pce this year Raci I mean, did I really make such a request to the Emperor? Yes, Your Highness. Why? Could it be that you know the reason behind my decision at that time? May I speak candidly? Please do. At that time, Your Highness seemed to have lost hope for recovery Thats how I interpreted it. So, I was in such despair? Yes, Your Highness. Was it that dire? You were bedridden every other day for a ten-day period. Consequently, there was a substantial surplus from the Star Pce budget umted at the end of the year beforest. So, I made the budget cut request myself? Yes, Your Highness. What a fool! Pardon? No, no, Im not angry at you. Im just venting my frustration. I apologize. To sum it up,st fall, I was in a terrible state, had given up hope of recovering, and requested a budget cut for this year? Yes, Your Highness. Sigh. This must be the karma that Raci no, that I brought upon myself. I apologize, Your Highness. But isnt your health much better nowpared tost year? That alone is a reason to be happy, isnt it? No, its not enough to make me happy. Theres no money to be happy about. Darn money, money, money. Its so frustrating. Raciel gritted his teeth and sighed deeply as he realized the situation. Raciel Adria Magentano, why are you doing this to me? The former version of himself had lost all hope. He believed he would perish without exhausting the budget for this year. With this bleak mindset, he had requested a budget cut from the Emperor. And he must have secretly felt satisfied with his decision. Surely, he did. He must have been proud that he didnt squander the valuable funds collected from the empires citizens. What an idiot! What a fool! The more he ruminated on it, the more curses he spat out. Of course, he could empathize with how Raciel felt back then. With a surplus in the Star Pce budget, Raciel had no need for money. From that perspective, it made sense. He was bedridden, unable to partake in the activities of other royals or nobles. Hobbies like hunting or horseback riding? All-night parties? They were mere distant dreams for him. He barely left the premises, so he must have spent significantly less on clothing, jewelry, and luxuriespared to other royals. The only areas where expenses were incurred were doctors fees and medications. With such an abundance of surplus in the budget, he might have perceived it as wasteful for the nation. Of course, it wasnt an entirely unfounded thought. It could have been a rational decision considering the circumstances. But now, from his current standpoint, it only seemed like he had caused unnecessary trouble. Ah, truly Raciel swallowed hisints. Grievances wouldnt resolve the matter. He inquired with the house steward. Let me ask one thing. About this years Star Pce operating budget. Yes, Your Highness. Can we request additional funds? He dared to hope, but the stewards reply was firm and cold. Thats impossible, Your Highness. Why is that? Because it vites the proceduralw of the Imperial Family. ording to the Royal Familysw, all departments and agencies of the Royal Family can only apply for their annual budget once, at the end of the previous year, Your Highness. At the end of the previous year? Only once? Yes, Your Highness. That is the standard procedure. However, there is one other way to request additional budgeting, but its quite limited What is it? It can be considered in the case of war, natural disasters, or other major events that could impact the survival of the nation, Your Highness. This is exactly that! Its a major event affecting the survival of the nation! Im serious. If we run out of money, well have to close the doors of the Royal Hospital. Then I would die. Isnt that a major event affecting the survival of the nation? Your Highness, I fail to see how the closure of the Royal Hospital and your death are rted. True, it didnt seem logical. He wished he could exin it, to show them the Bonus Lifespan System window. But there was no way to demonstrate or make them understand. Raciel asked with a tinge of regret. But still, as a member of the royal family and the crown prince, dont I have the authority to request additional budget? He held onto a glimmer of hope, but the steward remained firm. That is also not possible, Your Highness. Does that also vite the royal familysw? Yes, Your Highness. In the Empire, only His Majesty the Emperor possesses the super-legal authority to act unrestricted by thew, Your Highness. Really? Yes, Your Highness. Well, thats wonderful. Excuse me? This isnt the time to dwell on it. We need to act quickly. Close the clinic for today. Its almost closing time anyway. Hang the Out of Service sign. I must go to the Imperial Pce. Your Highness, what business do you have at the Imperial Pce? I need to utilize my nepotism benefits. Raciel smiled as if it were an obvious course of action. If the emperor had super-legal authority, why not ask him to employ that power? It failed. A spectacr failure, to be precise. Sigh. That damn emperor. As Raciel walked down the corridor outside the emperors office, he let out a deep sigh. I never expected him to outright refuse like that. He recollected what had transpired just moments ago. The financial crisis that the steward had apprised him of. He had sought an audience with the emperor to find a solution and requested additional budget allocation. He had believed it to be entirely feasible. After all, the emperor possessed super-legal authority, and the empire was thriving with ample financial resources. He had assumed that the emperor would grant a small (?) increase in the budget. But he had been mistaken. It was a perfect miscalction. That damn emperor, hes definitely testing me in every conceivable way. During the exnation of the situation, Raciel had inadvertently revealed his intentions. He had mentioned the insufficiency of the pces budget and the difficulties in managing the clinic. He had politely requested the possibility of arranging a special additional budget, expressing gratitude for any consideration. He had respectfully sought the emperors cooperation. And the emperors response to his request? A gentle smile. The gaze he received was akin to It was exactly like the look I got from my homeroom teacher when I got caught sneaking out of night study in high school. Back then, his homeroom teacher had given him a chance to provide 50 valid reasons for sneaking out, with the promise to let it slide if he seeded. Of course, he had failed. He couldnte up with 50 reasons; he hadnt even had a single valid one. Besides, it wasnt possible to find 50 reasons in the first ce, especially when physical punishment was still a part of the school system. He had received a sound thrashing on his behind and was forced to run around the yground multiple times as punishment. But the emperors gaze from earlier? It was exactly like the teacher asking for the 50 reasons. Even their reactions were simr. List 50 reasons for requesting additional budget Are you out of your mind? So, what did he do? He actually listed 50 reasons. He mentioned the care of patients, all of whom were subjects of the royal family, the peoples sentiment, and so on. He made up reasons as he went, valid or not. But after hearing all of that, what did the emperor do? He smiled even more significantly as he rejected the request from the Crown Prince. If he was going to reject it, why did he even ask for reasons in the first ce! It felt like he was being mocked. Simultaneously, a bitter realization dawned on Raciel. The Emperor has always been like this, even in the novel. He puts the Crown Prince in difficult situations and observes how he escapes from them. Thats how he always treated the heir, with such harshness. Todays rejection must have been for the same reason. I cant rely on dad, can I? He had already been turned down. There was no point in expecting more from the Emperor. A deep sigh naturally escaped him. Sigh. I thought I wouldnt have to worry about money here. Memories of thest few months in Korea flooded his mind. The time when the clinic was barely surviving because of COVID. Due to its prime location in the city center, the rent was exorbitant. He even emptied his security deposit for housing to afford the hefty rent. He moved to a small monthly rented room and used the deposit to cover the rent. However, he still couldnt make ends meet. Damn money. The thought made his teeth grind. Yet, even here, as the Crown Prince, he encountered a simr problem. An inexplicable frustration welled up in his heart. I cant let the clinic close down again because of money. It was alright to fail once, but not twice. Regardless of the method or means he had to employ, even if he had to resort to trickery, he refused to be defeated by money. Think. Think, Raciel. Lee Han. Utilize everything you have. Remember all your capabilities and try to piece them together. As he left the pce building, strolled through the gardens, and boarded the carriage, his mind was consumed with thoughts on the way back to the pce. He pondered, contemted, analyzed, and assembled. The resources he had, the means he could mobilize, his possessions, and the items with potential. Various elements he had seen in the story of the novel Devil Sword Emperor crossed his mind, and among them, he searched for things that could be useful and applicable. Gradually, ideas began to emerge. He started to see angles. So, when he arrived back at the pce, Raciels expression as he got off the carriage was much more rxed. Without a moment of hesitation or doubt, he immediately called for the steward and ordered, Steward? Do you happen to have a list of the pces assets and furnishings? Pardon? Do you have such a list? Especially valuable items, luxury items, and artworks. Of course we do? Great. Bring it to me. Pardon? Were going to have to sell them all. Excuse me? The loyal and frugal steward of the pce began to panic at the prospect of such drastic changes. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 60 Chapter 60I Next Excuse me? The head stewards heart sank heavily. What he had just heard, what His Highness the Crown Prince had just said, was so unbelievable that he questioned his own ears. He wished he could confirm with his eardrums and cochlea if they had heard correctly. He even considered turning a deaf ear to it. Sell all the treasures, luxuries, and artworks of the Star Pce? Why on earth? For what reason? Countless questions flooded his mind like price tags. But the reality was unyielding. His Highness the Crown Prince reiterated his decision. Didnt you hear me? I said were going to sell everything. All the treasures, luxuries, and artworks everything, Your Highness? Yes. . Hmm, why are you whining? Your Highness, its just that I am filled with questions. Do you want to know the reason? Yes, Your Highness. Because we need money. . You told me earlier, right? That the operating budget for the Star Pce is running out. That were out of money. That additional budgeting is impossible. You said, Your Highness, you would ask His Majesty for help. I failed. . Im sorry. . Dont make such a sad face. I know, okay? I know how diligently youve been managing the items of the Star Pce. But what can we do? This is the most efficient way to put out the urgent fire. Understood, Your Highness. The head stewards shoulders slumped. The treasures, luxuries, and artworks filled in the Star Pce were all the things he personally managed and decorated. Because he simply liked them? No. It was for the dignity and authority of the Star Pce. Merely stacking up expensive items and arranging them randomly wouldnt create dignity or authority. The most beautiful objects required the most beautiful space and arrangement. Implementing and managing them appropriately was necessary. Only then could dignity be created, impressing visitors and provoking imitation. Leading the trend of the upper ss. That was the reason why treasures, luxuries, and artworks adorned the royal pce. And it was the reason why the head steward devoted so much effort and care in managing them. But now, hes going to sell all of itMy precious things The head steward hurriedly wiped the tear drops welling up at the corners of his eyes. He prepared a list of items to manage as per the Crown Princes order. From then on, Raciel disyed a bulldozer-like determination. From that evening until two dayster, he gathered all the luxuries, treasures, and artworks listed in the Star Pce. Simultaneously, he invited famous collectors and high-priced buyers from the empire. Then, he sold all the items. In the midst of the head stewards evaporating blood, sweat, and tears, countless paintings and sculptures, jewelry and perfumes, ornamental armor crafted by renowned craftsmen, even tableware made of gold and silvernothing was exempted. Even the golden-handled cup, which had made him realize his changed form when he first entered Raciels body, was no exception. The head steward was even more saddened. Your Highness? Yes, what is it? If we sell everything like this how will we eat? Why is eating a problem? . You can still drink water without a golden handle on your cup. Your, Your Highness but still Still? Even so to use cups with wooden or iron handles! Is that a problem? . The taste of the water is the same anyway. After eating, it alles out in the end, doesnt it? . Anyway, lets get rid of everything that has gold or silver on it. .Hic! All pleas from the pce were in vain. Expensive tableware was reced with ordinary metal and wooden ones. This was thanks to an extreme inventory clearance, selling off all luxury items. Quite a substantial amount of funds were raised. Raciel allocated most of these funds towards the operational budget of the Star Pces clinic. Naturally, this bold decision astounded many. Have you heard any news about the Star Pce? The Star Pce? You mean where the Crown Prince resides? Yes, thats right. Is there any new news? Indeed. Well, apparently, the Crown Prince has sold off all the valuable and luxury items in the Star Pce. Really? Why? Why, you ask. Apparently, to operate the clinic. The Star Pce clinic? So they say. ording to rumors, the clinics operating budget was insufficient. It was even having difficulties receiving patients. Wait, so are you saying that he sold off luxury items to gather funds to take care of more patients? Thats right. Isnt it incredible? Yes. Honestly, its almost unbelievable. I agree. I had the same thought when I first heard about it. Yes, truly. The Crown Prince is an extraordinary person. Indeed. Who else could act like this? Probably very few. Even if we scoured history, it would probably be rare. I agree. was the kind of conversation they had. The Crown Prince who sold all the valuable items in his pce. The Crown Prince who used that money to care for patients. It was a beautiful and heartwarming anecdote. A rare act of kindness. At first, people were surprised by this news and couldnt believe it, but after confirming the truth, they were astounded. They were moved. They praised it. Naturally, they began to develop an affection and respect for Raciel. However, people didnt know yet. Raciels action of selling off the luxury items to put out an urgent fire. This beautiful act of kindness that drew out the praises of many people. In fact, this was just part of a muchrger, craftier, and more cunning n that Raciel had in mind. Im going to sell medicine. Excuse me? Im going to manufacture and sell medicine. . What in the world is he saying? Demian, themander of the Crown Princes special guard, instead of responding, shut his mouth. He then gazed at the Crown Prince who was smiling faintly after finishing his morning treatment and eating lunch. We need to make money. So youre saying youre going to sell medicine? Yes. With a thud, Raciel stabbed a sausage with his fork. Taking a big bite, he said. Weve put out the urgent fire by selling the luxury items. But thats just a temporary solution. You mean youre already preparing for whats next. Of course. He gulped down the sausage and nodded. It was a matter of course. If he looked at his own experience, it was indeed like that. In Korea too, I moved to a monthly rental house after settling the lease due to the rental fee. I paid the rent with the lease money. It wasnt bad as a temporary solution. But the problem was that there was no next step. Looking back, it was like that. Using the lease money to pay the rent was merely a temporary solution. In the end, it was nothing more than eating into his own flesh. It was literally like peeing on ones foot. It wasnt a fundamental solution at all. The cause of the financial crisis was not resolved. There was still no additional ie. That was the problem. The failure to create a continuous and safe additional source of ie. That was the fundamental reason why the clinic had failed during the COVID-19 crisis. And when he looked at his current situation? It felt eerily simr to then. The clinic that couldnt pay the rent and the Star Pce clinic whose operational budget was running low. The past when he supplemented the rent with lease money and the present when he filled the operational budget by selling luxury items. The intersection of the past in Korea and the current situation here was so uncannily precise that it sent shivers down his spine. He was determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past, nor let the clinic meet the same fate. And heres the reason. This moment, where weve managed to carve out a brief respite, is crucial. If we dont establish a stable, long-term source of funding now, well eventually copse once our makeshift funds run dry. That was the lesson learned from experiences in Korea. He exined this with a sly grin, and Demian tilted his head in curiosity. So, youre considering selling medicine to secure funding? Yep. But that seems unusual. Whats unusual about it? I heard that you obtained a considerable amount of funding by selling luxury goods. Wouldnt that be enough to sustain the clinic until the end of this year? Yes, it is enough. Then why The problem lies with next year. What? A puzzled expression on Demians face. Raciel smiled bitterly at the young man. I suspect that the Emperor may cut the operating budget for the Pce Clinic next year. Demian remained silent. Raciel was certain of it. If its the Emperor, hes undoubtedly capable of doing so. The Emperors gaze when he had rejected his nepotism benefits remained vivid in his mind. It was the look of someone who had found an intriguing toy to test, or a professor observing a graduate student ideal for maniption. Its definite. Next years Pce Clinic budget? He will further cut it. Hes not the type to generously distribute funds. He would likely continue testing his abilities. A somber hunch surged within Raciel. Hence, he spoke up. We cannot rely on the vain hope that next years budget will be abundant. If we solely depend on the funds gained from selling luxury goods without any n and try to endure, we will copse next year. We need to establish an independent and stable source of ie before that. Creating medicine alone wont suffice. Promotion is necessary. A saleswork must be established. It will take time for the established saleswork to stabilize. Therefore, we must set the n into action immediately, while its still spring. However, Demian still seemed to be grappling with the concept. But Your Highness, if funding is the problem cant we just charge the patients a small treatment fee? Rejected. Why? Because then the number of patients will decrease. Raciel exined matter-of-factly. If he only cared about money, he could adopt Demians suggestion. Charging the patients would ensure a stable source of ie. However, that did not align with his purpose. I need to see many patients. To gain as much bonus lifespan as possible. Thats the ultimate purpose of running this clinic. Thats the goal. What happens if they start charging a treatment fee? It creates a barrier to entry for the clinic. The number of visiting patients would inevitably decrease. No, we cant do that. Reducing the number of patients by charging a treatment fee because the clinks funds, while our objective is to see many patients and gain bonus lifespan? Thats absurd. In essence, the means are devouring the goal. Its a reversal of priorities, akin to only eating the stick of a popsicle and discarding the main part. Hence, he spoke up. I wont charge a treatment fee. I have no intention of doing so. Instead, Ill sell medicine. It will be expensive but highly effective, satisfying the desire to show off merely by owning it, like a luxury item. A luxury item? Yes. A brand productunched by the Crown Prince himself. Like a high-end household medicine that any noble of middle and upper ss, any family with some wealth and pride, would want to keep at home as a matter of prestige and proof of their status. Is there such a medicine? Hmm. What kind of medicine is it? Demians ears perked up. A confident smile appeared on Raciels face. A medicine using the gallstones of a Minotaur. Mino Pardon? Didnt you hear? I did. But what exactly are you nning to make with that? Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. How is it? Nice, isnt it? The Crown Prince, who grinned with delight as he looked at him. Demian kept his mouth shut. And quietly pondered. His Highness, the Crown Prince whom he served, strangely seemed today, more than usual, like a cunning con-man selling fake medicine. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 61 Chapter 61I Next Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. How is it? Impressive, right? Impressive my foot. Demian remained silent, contemting to himself. Is he out of his mind? The Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, he wasnt entirely sure what it was. It might be some remarkable and potent medicine, but at the same time, a thought crossed his mind. So, you n to create medicine from the gallstone of a Minotaur and have people consume it? Yes. The Crown Prince seemed confident, nodding affirmatively. Demian questioned him further. Do you believe people will actually take this? Absolutely. Raciels confident demeanor was contagious. They will consume it without a doubt. Why do you think so? Because they will perceive it as a rare item. Peoples psychology works that way. That was indeed true. How many simr examples had he witnessed in Korea? Silkworm pupae were believed to be good for health. Deer antler extract was considered exceptional. Consuming certain items was thought to lower blood pressure. The list was endless. Even today, numerous unknown medicinal herbs, and even things not officially recognized as medicinal herbs, were being mass-sold merely based on rumors of their health benefits. This phenomenon existed in South Korea. In reality, this psychological response was quite simr no matter where you went in the world. Peoples psychology remainedrgely consistent. This ce wouldnt be an exception. Furthermore, the foundation of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, the Clear Heart Pill, is a medicine with proven effects. The effects are proven, you say? Yes. Raciel nodded. What he said was urate. Anyone in Korea would have heard of the Clear Heart Pill at least once. It was a medicinal pill that many people referred to as the Pill. Actually, Pill was the name used in China, while in Korea, it was formally known as the Clear Heart Pill. Thats the name we strictly use in the Precious Mirror of Eastern Medicine. Nevertheless, the Clear Heart Pill served as an excellent emergency medicine for treating and controlling initial symptoms of brain disorders, heart diseases with palpitations, high blood pressure, acute and chronic gout, mental anxiety, neurotic diseases, and autonomic imbnces. It exhibits a potent tranquilizing effect simr to benzodiazepine drugs. In the modern era, it was often dismissed as outdated, but in the past? It was one of the hottest and most sought-after items by Qing Dynasty officials in China. Thats because the efficacy of the Korean Clear Heart Pill was widely recognized. Among them, the core medicinal ingredient, ox gallstone, especially those from Jeju Ind, had fantastic effects. In actual experiments, administering ox gallstone toboratory mice for 4-8 days proved to prevent seizures and induce a sedative effect. It was also proven to lower blood pressure when administered to hypertensive rats. Additionally, taurine contained in ox gallstone also exhibited a blood pressure lowering effect. It even showed excellent results in protecting and improving liver function. Anyway, were going to use Minotaur gallstones, which are even more potent than ox gallstones. That should ensure both efficacy and symbolism. Symbolism? I mean, it will bemercially viable. That might indeed be the case. How about a catchy slogan like, Experience the mighty force of the Minotaur for yourself!? Either way, it will sell. Hmm, hmm. Your Highness the Crown Prince. Yes? Ive never heard of the Clear Heart Pill or its effects. Is that so? Yes. Demian nodded. Its my first time hearing about it, so its puzzling. Whats puzzling about it? If its such a fantastic medicine with proven effects, shouldnt it be well-known? Do you find it strange that youve never heard of it? Yes. Its simple. Raciel grinned. He spun a tant lie, his face a perfect poker face, and delivered a point-nk statement. It was a renowned medicine in an ancient kingdom that fell long ago. An ancient kingdom that fell? Yes. What kingdom was it? It existed. It was called Joseon. Ive never heard of it. Exactly. I first heard about it in a dream. Did you know? I acquired all my knowledge of acupuncture and herbal medicine through dreams. I remember you mentioning that to Sir Gardin. You didnt actually believe I meant it literally, did you? To be honest, I did. Well, its the truth, whether you believe it or not. If it werent true, would I be able to practice medicine Ive never formally learned and treat people sessfully? Demian raised an eyebrow, looking a bit skeptical. It sounds highly improbable. Hearing this im multiple times felt peculiar. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed far-fetched. Maybe Sir. Gardin bought into these words, being so naive and devoted to the Crown Prince. Still, Demian wasnt entirely convinced. He noticed several inconsistencies, but he didnt want to make it an issue. As long as he doesnt harm anyone, its none of my concern. He wasnt interested in where the Crown Prince gained such medical knowledge and skills. As long as he received his sry regrly, that was all that mattered to Demian. He decided not to fuss about it any further. Nevertheless, he does seem a bit entric. Suppressing a wry smile, Demian couldnt help but make a remark. Hmm. So, youve been treating people confidently without a medical license? Why is that? Do I really need a license? Is it necessary? Yes, of course. As far as I know, theres a medical licensing exam. I assume Sir Gardin would have passed it too. Didnt you know? Yes. Could this cause problemster? Well, for now Even Raciel fell silent. A medical licensing exam he had no knowledge of it. It wasnt mentioned in the details about society in the novel. Tsk. This might cause problems in the future. The thought of preparing for potential situations crossed his mind. For now, they brushed aside matters concerning the medical clinic as if they were mere childish games of the Crown Prince. However, if someone in a political position stumbled upon this issue It would surely be a headache. So, he decided to prepare gradually. Raciel raised his head, devising a n. Well, regardless, there are more pressing matters at hand. The priority was to resolve the funding issue. They needed to produce a sample of the Minotaurus Clear Heart Pill first. Thus Should we acquire Minotaurus gallstones first? Shall we send someone to the Imperial Medicinal Market? No. Raciel shook his head. When west stocked up on medicinal herbs, there were no Minotaurus gallstones avable. Even cow gallstones were missing. Perhaps they dont use cow gallstones as medicine here. Then how Well need to buy a live Minotaurus. Im going to Cremo City. Its said to be the center of northeastern logistics in the Empire, and one of the top monster auction houses is there. Youre going alone? Of course. I must assess the condition of the Minotaurus and the gallstones personally. It was only natural. The ingredients for the product that would sustain the medical clinic were at stake. Not checking them personally would be absurd. Raciel smiled faintly and said, So, lets start packing. Lets go. Is this person somewhat insane? Demian, the true protagonist of the novel Devil Sword Emperor, was unaware of his real identity. He was beginning to seriously worry about the mental health of his master, the Crown Prince. The preparations for departure were swiftly done. In fact, there wasnt much to prepare. The luggage was quickly loaded into the Crown Princes long-distance travel carriage, the Grand Tourer. The entourage was also simple. Demian, the entire special duty squad, 20 pce knights, and Anise. That was all. Raciel didnt want more people. The more people, the more luggage, and consequently, the slower the journey. Of course. We need to save time. Time is more valuable to me than gold. His life here was still on a deadline. Living day by day, extending his life little by little with daily bonus lifespan, was no different from a hardworking life. So, he didnt want to waste time on traveling. He wanted to save every possible day. Thanks to that, the departure preparation waspleted in half a day. Of course, there was someone who fiercely opposed this sudden departure and personnel arrangement. Zeunhaaa-! .Youre not surprised anymore? No, Im used to it now. Didnt you lose your hearing? Fortunately, no. Maybe my ears are bleeding inside? .Our Gardin has be quite the joker. I guess you think weve be good friends? Ah, I apologize. Sorry, my ass. Anyway, whats up? Why did youe so urgently? Well, thats. Thats? Why are you trying to leave me behind, Your Highness! .So thats why? Yes, Your Highness. So, you dont want to be apart from me? Yes, Your Highness. Ew, gross. Whats the reason? Because I am Your Highnesss personal physician! Upon asking, Gardin responded immediately, an air of severity cloaking his middle-aged, flower-like face. It is my most important duty to watch over Your Highnesss health and always stay by Your Highnesss side! Ah, is that so? Yes, Your Highness! Hmm, but heres the thing. If even you, my dear Gardin, follow me to Cremo, who will look after the patients admitted to our clinic here? .Pardon? Who will take care of them? Well, the werewolf nurses will But we should still have at least one trustworthy doctor around, shouldnt we? I, Your Highness? Yes. Furthermore, arent all the admitted patients citizens of our empire? Right? YesThats right? Then all the more reason for you, dear Gardin, to stay here. .. Gardin was at a loss for words. Raciels silver-tongued argument yed out perfectly. Gardin, think about it. They are the citizens of our empire. What is the founding principle of our Magentano Royal Family? The safety of the people is the safety of the royal family.. Exactly. Therefore, caring for our admitted citizens is equivalent to caring for the royal family, and by extension, for me. Dont you think? Thats not.. Come on. It is. .. Isnt it? ..Ah! Sob! Although it felt wholly untrue andpletely unreasonable no matter how he looked at it, he couldnt find the words to counter. It was unfair, and he felt cornered. In the end, Gardin had no choice but to swallow his tears and nod. Alright then, well be off. ..Your Highness! Well bring back souvenirs. Ah! Sob! Between the scattering teardrops of Gardin, the carriage moved, and they departed the Imperial City. To the east. To the north. Towards the rising sun, towards the frosty winds of the Northern Sea. They passed by towns and fortresses, swept across ins and fields, skirted the edges of forests, crossed valleys, followed river courses, and brushed past mountain ranges. During this time, Raciel waspletely absorbed in enjoying the exotdscapes he was seeing for the first time. It felt like he was touring Renaissance-era Switzend. On the other hand, Demian watched Raciel with a peculiar look. asionally, frequently even, he thought the crown prince was strange. A bit like a madman with his mind gone? No, like someone who has mastered the world in a bizarre way. Whenever he observed the crown prince, he would get such a peculiar feeling. As if he was someone who had borrowed the eyes of a god to survey this world once? That was the impression he got. He couldnt tell why. It must be just my imagination. Hes just an unusual person. The more he observed, the more intriguing he found this man. Thinking so, Demian quietly stood by Raciels side. And so one day, two days, five days, and a week passed. And finally. Your Majesty, a port can be seen beyond the hill. Its the Port of Cremo. A scout knight who had gone ahead came back and reported. On the 8th day since their departure from the Imperial City of Magenta, the party reached their destination, the city of Cremo. Of course, nobody knew at this point. In a few days, this historic port city would forever bear the achievements of the crown prince. Neither the citizens of Cremo. Nor the members of the party. Not even Raciel himself. None of them had the faintest premonition. Trivia : 1. (Niuhuang Qingxin Wan) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription. It has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and calming the mind. It is mainly used for symptoms such as chest tightness, mental confusion, and stuttering caused by umted heat in the body. The literal trantion of is Ox-bile Clear Heart Pill. 2.The name Joseon was chosen by the founder of the Joseon dynasty, Yi Seong-gye, in 1392. He wanted to name the new dynasty after the ancient Korean kingdom of Gojoseon (), which was founded in 2333 BCE. The name Joseon was also meant to evoke the idea of a new beginning for Korea, after the chaos and instability of the Goryeo dynasty (918-1392). The Joseon dynastysted for over 500 years, until it was annexed by Japan in 1910. During this time, Korea experienced a period of great cultural, economic, and political development. The Joseon dynasty is often regarded as a golden age in Korean history. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 62 Chapter 62I Next I must say, this isnt exactly what I was expecting. I share your sentiment. A touch of unease was audible in Demians voice. Hearing this, Raciel nodded his agreement. He looked out at the scene unfolding before him in the monster auction house. It was as silent as a library. The typical bustling atmosphere one might associate with an auction house? An energetic auctioneer leading the proceedings? Buyerspetitively raising their voices to ce bids? None of these familiar sights could be found. Everyone was quiet. Those bidding didnt raise their voices, instead, they wrote their bids on small chalkboards the size of an A4 paper and held them aloft. Thats how they ced their bids. The auctioneer, upon seeing this, would update the bid for the item. Then, silently sending out a look that asked, Are there any higher offers? It was an entirely different picture than the typically noisy and chaotic scene one might imagine for an auction house. Do you think this is because its a monster auction house? It seems that way. If the people were too noisy, it could stimte the monsters. Tsk, they already look like theyve been heavily sedated. Indeed, the monster currently up for auction seemed to be sprawled out on the ground like a discarded trash bag. With that sight, Raciel suddenly remembered an incident about 30 minutes ago. The mayor of Cremo was just as flustered. Had it been when they first arrived at the city gates? Their arrival had caused a bit of an uproar. It was unavoidable. Out of the blue, the Crown Prince pays a visit. The Crown Prince and his entourage appeared without any notice or prior indication. From the perspective of the soldiers and officers guarding the gate, it must have felt like a bolt from the blue. Of course, it was the same for the Mayor of Cremo. Hearing the news, the mayor hurriedly rushed over. He looked like a battalionmander who had unexpectedly received a visit from the divisionmander. Raciel felt a little sorry for him and somewhat burdened. Thats why he said, Theres no need for additional escorts. You dont have to worry about that, Mayor. But Your Highness! Ill see you at the mayors residenceter, okay? brushing off the Mayors offers for escorts. A grand wee? An extraordinary reception? He didnt dislike it, but it felt burdensome. Bing the Crown Prince was too sudden, a recent event. He often woke up in the morning, wondering if he had returned to his ordinary life as a local oriental medicine doctor, Lee Han. Thats why he hastily left the mayor behind and went directly to the Cremo Monster Auction House with his entourage. Sigh, sorry. He let out a bitterugh thinking about the Mayor of Cremo. His unexpected visit must have given the mayor quite a shock. He hoped he hadnt been too much of a nuisance. I should quickly take care of my business and return to the pce. Raciel resolved as he lifted his head. He observed the bustling auction house amidst the pervasive silence. In the meantime, multiple auctions continued. Various monster products were presented and sold to someone. However, Raciel was not interested in any other auctions. Is there no Minotauru? His goal was solely to obtain a Minotaur. He needed to obtain a Minotaur gallstone. He had to make and test the Minotaur Clear Heart Pills. If sessful, it would provide a stable source of ie for his clinic. That way, I can gain plenty of bonus lifespan! Reaffirming his resolution, he eagerly awaited the moment a Minotaur would be presented for auction. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, the moment finally arrived. ROOAAARR! For the first time since he arrived, a monstrous roar reverberated throughout the auction house. Everyone in the auction house flinched at the sound. Raciels eyes darted to the source of the roar. Then he saw it. Whoa. Eight horses were pulling a massive wagon. On top of the wagon was an evenrger special cage. A super-sized cage that could easily be 10 meters in width, length, and height. Is that a dinosaur? It was a cage big enough to hold a dinosaur. Inside was a 7-meter-tall Minotaur. Its massive size was truly reminiscent of a dinosaur. What the Its buffalo-like head was as big as a person. It seemed like one could make a hundred servings of a local dish, sundae-gukbap, with its head alone. Besides, its body was even more aggressive and crude. Looking at its human-shaped body covered in ck fur, one could easily imagine it lifting three tons in a local gym. The Minotaur was disying its powerful presence beyond the iron bars. No, it was roaring. ROOOAAARRR! Its mighty roar, strong enough to make even Park Hyo-shin from the mid-2000s and MSG Wannabe bow down, shook the entire auction house. It was truly an overwhelming force. One could tell immediately. I have to get it! Meanwhile, the auctioneer held up arge chalkboard. The board read: [Todays Main Item] [Species: Minotaur] [Size: Extra Large] [Condition: Excellent] [Temperament: Extremely Ferocious] [Special Notes: This is the finest product that has been captured after a three-month chase and luring effort by the top monster hunting group, an alliance of seven teams operating in the East Mountain Range. We highly rmend it for special purposes and ornamental use.] ROOOAAARRR! The Minotaur roared once again. Even though it should be deeply under the influence of anesthetics and sedatives, it could roar like that. The beast was impressive, that feeling instantly hit Raciel. How incredible would its gallstones be? If he made Clear Heart Pills with it, how potent the medicinal effect could be? The more he thought about it, the more he wanted it. He absolutely didnt want to let it go. I will catch it. I will buy it. I must absolutely get my hands on it. But then it happened. The auctioneer scribbled something else on the ckboard. He held it up. The moment Raciel saw the content, he had to seriously doubt his own eyesight. [Auction starting price: 50,000 Majen] He was dumbfounded. It was unbelievable. He nudged Demian beside him. Hey, you know. Yes, Your Highness. Isnt there something wrong with the starting price the auctioneer wrote? Pardon? Didnt the other monsters go for a final auction price of 5,000 Majen, 6,000 Majen? Yes, they did. So why is that one starting at such a high price? Why are you asking me about that? No, its just so unfair. But even that should not exceed the funds youve prepared. I suppose so. At least for now. Raciel grimaced. Yes, at least now it was fine. 50,000 Majen? He can handle that. He brought 100,000 Majen with him. But that one, the price will definitely go up. Its an auction after all. There will surely be a pricepetition. Especially for such a forceful item, its bound to happen. Ah, its bitter. I really dont want to lose it. Raciel felt his taste sour. He desperately wanted to get it. But it seemed challenging. He could sense it by sneakily looking around. Everyones gaze is no joke. It wasnt untrue, the atmosphere of the auction house had changed significantly the moment the Minotaur appeared. The heat of the people went through the roof. The man who looked like a professional monster wholesaler. The gentleman who looked like a high-ranking executive. The fat collector who seemed rich. All of them, everyone, their eyes were sparkling like the teenage fans at the concert of the idol group, BTS. Seeing that, a desperate realization hit Raciel. An ominous certainty welled up. I wont be able to buy that at this rate. Calctions quickly ran through his mind. The total funds he brought was 100,000 Majen. Thats already a huge amount. Compared to the cost of living in Korea? Its an enormous sum enough to freely buy several high-end brand apartments in Gangnam, Seoul. But it wont be enough. The starting price is already 50,000 Majen. Considering thepetition that will take ce the final auction price will definitely exceed 100,000 Majen. Raciel would have to forfeit due tock of funds. But he didnt want to let go. So, what should he do? Think. Rack your brain. Stay strong, cerebral cortex! Raciel struggled hard, contemted deeply. He thought intensively, squeezing out all his creativity. And finally, he came up with a brilliant scheme. Demian. Yes, Your Highness? Listen carefully to what Im about to say. Raciel lowered his voice. He pulled Demian closer. He whispered in his ear. Whisper, whisper therefore like this and like that thus prattle prattle while yada yada do so. Got it? Upon hearing the instruction, Demian was at a loss for words. He looked at the Prince with disbelief. Are you really going to do that? Of course. Are you serious? Absolutely. His too calm demeanor once again left Demian speechless. Unable to hold back, Demian eventually uttered a word. Your Highness. I hesitate to bring this up, fearing how it may sound, but the order you issued, truly Hmm? Its a devious n. Huh, and? A crafty strategy. Uh-huh, so? I shall proceed. Good, go ahead. With that, Demian left his seat. Meanwhile, Raciel waited, arms folded, seated and patient. The Minotaur auction began. A serene yet fiercepetition unfolded. The moment the auction started, bids soared from every corner of the room. Bids went up consecutively. 50,100 Majem. 50,500 Majen. 53,000 Majen. 55,000 Majen. But all the while, Raciel did not partake in the auction. His eyes sparkled, waiting like a patient hunter. Just like trying to predict where a seat might open in a crowded subway during rush hour. Or scanning for the biggest and most heavily topped slice the moment a pizza box is opened among friends. He waited patiently. He waited for the moment his trick, as directed by Demian, would materialize. And finally, the moment arrived. Your Highness! Truly, I am infinitely grateful for your kind consideration! A loud voice disrupted the quiet auction room. Everyones attention was drawn by this unexpected outburst. Everyone looked towards the source, finding the Mayor of Cremo rushing in. He was hoping to score points in the princes eyes. Perhaps today would be a turning point in his political career. With a thumping heart and palpable excitement, he arrived with a carefully prepared 100-man special escorts for His Highness. Thump, thump, thump! The Cremo mayor with an exaggerated expression, the special escorts with imposing authority, entered the auction. Nobody dared stop them. They surrounded Raciel instantly. Like a mother bird protecting her final egg. Or like saving thergest piece in a bowl of instant ramen, as if its a treasured relic. They approached with such care and dedication, as if protecting the worlds most precious treasure. Thanks to that, everyone in the auction understood. The person the Mayor of Cremo referred to as Your Highness, the young man looking weak in the center of a hundred guards, that young man was Why is the Crown Prince here? Just as everyone was struck by this huge question and severe shock, Raciel, who had been biding his time, finally raised his bid. [Raciel Adria Magentano: 60,000 Majen] Simultaneously, Raciel thought to himself. Now that they know who we are, theyll all back out voluntarily. No one will dare oppose the princes tant abuse of power(?). Thus, the auction race itself will end here. If I have power at my disposal, why not use it! A bit unscrupulous, but what can you do? Raciel, feeling a victorious premonition, savored a wicked grin. At the same time, everyone in the auction sighed, and they showered Raciel with the highestpliment one can hear from apetitor, making any Korean beam with pride. That bastard really knows how to screw up an auction. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 63. Chapter 63.I Next Damn, that guy is messing up the auction! Everyone in the auction house had the same thought. Feelings of injustice rose like waves, and regret sprouted fiercely. Why werent they born with royal silver spoons in their mouths? Why wasnt their father the emperor? They savored a fleeting desire for a ssless society and the realization of equality, despite the stark reality of their status. Then, they all came to a realization. If that guy really is the Crown Prince Were screwed. Damn it! The situation was beyond saving. The mayor of Cremo, no less, rushed in with a flustered expression. The mayor respectfully addressed the man as Your Highness. Impersonating a royal in the Empire was a crime punishable by death. So, what does that mean? Either the mayor of Cremo had a momentarypse of sanity, consumed some drug he shouldnt have, fell into a severe midlife depression, or was seeking a novel way tomit suicide due to some other reason. Otherwise, it was unthinkable for the mayor to publicly address just anyone as Your Highness. So, he really is the Crown Prince Damn it! Sighs heavier than a concentrated espresso slipped from everyones lips. Those present in the Monster Auction House were no ordinary citizens. They were people with substantial wealth and social standing minor nobles, top-tier businessmen,ndowners. Thus, they were well aware of the dangers of power. They knew how their family, business, ornd could fall into jeopardy if they fell out of favor with those in power. These risks were all too clear to them. I guess Ill have to give up on this collection. Damn! I was nning to resell it and make a profit. Sorry, darling. Ill get you a different gift for your birthday. The wealthy bidders who were excited about the Minotaur auction started to back off. No one dared to bid higher than the 60,000 Majen that Raciel had bid. The auction house, which was always as quiet as a library, became even quieter, like an exam room. The auctioneers gaze swept through the silence. The auctioneer looked around, hoping someone would offer a higher price. He scanned all directions and bit his lip in anxiety. This auction cant end here! He shouted internally. He was serious. It was a high-grade Minotaur. Its size was a whopping half bigger than an average Minotaur. It would be a shame to let such a grand item go for a mere 60,000 Majen. But still, no one seemed willing to step up. Is it over? A sigh escaped from the corner of the auctioneers eye. Thats when it happened. Suddenly. In an unexpected moment, when everyone was sighing over the Crown Princes abuse of power, someone raised a card. [Gunes Desang: 70,000 Majen] ! The auctioneers eyes widened. The eyes of those who had withdrawn from the auction also widened. Raciel, who had been sure of his victory, felt his heart drop. What? 70,000 Majen? Raciel was shocked. He turned his gaze toward the person who had just raised the card. A lean, stern-looking old man stood there. Who is he? He didnt recognize the face. But the murmurs around him revealed the old mans identity. Isnt Isnt that Gunes? Gunes? Yes, the wealthy merchant who is highly favored by the King of the South, Anbouaz. Ah, Gunes, the wealthy merchant from Anbouaz? The name Gunes, the wealthy merchant from Anbouaz, piqued Raciels interest. The murmurs continued to beat upon his eardrums. Heh, if its Gunes of Anbouaz, he wouldnt need to bow to even our Crown Prince. Right, hes not a subject of our Imperial Family after all. To be precise yes. Hes a top manager from our rival nation, so he doesnt need to look out for our royal family. Right. If the Crown Prince tries to exert power here, it could potentially lead to diplomatic issues. Is that so? The murmurs around him continued. But right now, isnt Gunes our hope? Why do you say that? Hes our savior who can defeat our detestable Crown Prince! Quiet, your voice is too loud. Why? There are rumors that our Crown Prince holds grudges. Is Is that so? Yes, so be careful. If the Crown Prince hears you, he may retaliate. I can hear you, you know. Raciel let out a grunt, his appetite spoiled. Thanks to the surrounding murmurs, he could identify the thin old man. In short, he is a foreign tycoon who my authority cant touch. Raciel cast a quick nce at the old man. The old tycoon, Gunes, also looked this way. Their eyes intertwined in the air. Raciel felt it in an instant. That old man is no ordinary opponent. But, he didnt think of backing down for even a second. I must get that Minotaur, no matter what! Whoosh! With a firm resolution, he wrote 71,000 Majen on the board. And he thought. There are still many bullets left. Even if he is a foreign tycoon, he wont be a pushover. After all, he is the imperial prince. So, bring it on! Come and get me! Raciel raised the board, reaffirming his resolution. He was determined to win by any means necessary, to secure victory no matter what. His resolve was rock solid. he failed. He just failed spectacrly. Damn it, damn it, damn it. Leaving the auction, Raciel looked up at the sky. And he recalled the number he had seen earlier. [Gunes Desang : 250,000 Majen] It was the number written on the board raised by Gunes, the tycoon of the Anbouaz Kingdom. Is it a fiercepetition? There was nothing like that. Right after he wrote 71,000 Majen, Gunes looked at him and smirked, raising his board. The bid written on it was a whopping 250,000 Majen. The enormous Minotaur was sold to Guness for 250,000 Majen. What about him? He had to watch the Minotaur being delivered, his heart burning like watching an ex-girlfriend with a new boyfriend. To add insult to injury, Demian poured oil on the fire. Its a good thing you lost, Your Highness. Huh? Good that he lost? That didnt make sense. Demian, with a grave face, added. If you had poured the prepared 100,000 Majen into one Minotaur, it would have been very inefficient. You mean its not cost-effective? Yes, Your Highness. Plus- Plus? If you waste funds inefficiently like that, there wont be enough to pay me, which is why Im saying this. Ugh. Raciel stuck out his tongue. Demian dared to say this in front of him. Demian was definitely not a sane person. I saw his obsession with money in Devil Sword Emperor, but its even worse in reality. A bitter smile naturally came to his face. And a counterargument naturally came out. If your sry gets dyed, are you going to quit and leave? Yes. Ugh. The only reason I protect you, Your Highness, is a stable and generous sry. If that condition is not met, there is no reason for me to stay. Are you serious? Yes. Dont you have any gratitude for me saving you from the underground fighting arena? Of course I do. But that feeling is separate from the sry issue. So, gratitude and money are separate? Absolutely. Demian, nodding as if it was obvious, finished his point. In fact, with my skills, I can earn more money wherever I go. . Raciel was at a loss for words. He couldnt argue with Demians point. It was a clear fact, truth, and an undeniable reality. Thats right. Demian is already at the intermediate level of Sword Expert during this period in Devil Sword Emperor. Sword Expert Intermediate. It was a significant level if viewed that way,mon if you think of it as a minimum requirement for a royal guard. In a local territory, it was enough to be considered among the strongest. Thats where Sword Expert Intermediate stands. Then, what about Demian? He was beyond that standard. His reflexes were beyond those of an ordinary human. He had an innate ability to wield a sword, coupled with abative spirit akin to wildness. Even though he was at the intermediate level of a Sword Expert, he could engage in battle equally with those a rank higher. In essence, he had already acquired the skills of a superior Sword Expert at this point in time. Superior Sword Expert thats a position close to a Sword Master. People who stand at the boundary between human and superhuman. Thats what I heard about Superior Sword Experts. If one is at such a level, they would be mentioned among the strongest even in arge mercenary group. How much would such an S-rank mercenary earn in a year? Its an astounding amount. The sry I give now? He could earn that much easily. No, if things go well and his reputation increases, he can expect even more. In fact, Demian, the protagonist from the novel Devil Sword Emperor, did earn money like that. So his im is certainly not false. The moment Demian feels the sry Raciel give is inadequate, or if its dyed even a little, he would leave without hesitation. That could be problematic. The protagonist Demian, who he cheered for while reading the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Could there be anything more reassuring in this world than having him by his side? Considering his potential for growth in the future, Demian was the number one person Raciel wanted to keep by his side. Because the strongest person in this world will be my bodyguard. Suddenly, he remembered the plot of the original Devil Sword Emperor. Raciel dies. The emperor falls. The second prince bes the emperor. The empire gets swept up in chaos and copses. Although such extreme events would not happen here, you never know with people. Thats why I must keep him by my side as insurance. Moreover, theres not just one reason to keep him around. He must live a stable life by his side. Only then everyone would be happy and safe. Raciel reminded himself of that fact and made a resolution. He smiled thinly at Demian. Dont worry. There will never be a dy in your sry. Can I trust that? Of course. But considering the shady tricks you used at the auction house, I dont really trust you. Moreover, seeing you lose miserably even after resorting to tricks I dont really trust you. And yet, seeing you still confidently act shamelessly I dont really trust you. Cough. Lets go back to the mansion and sleep. Lets get rid of the hangover. It was shameful to have lost at the auction even after using tricks. Being brutally hit by facts, or rather, bombed by Demian, bitterness surged up as if he was experiencing acid reflux. If another Minotaur is up for sale tomorrow, he will definitely buy it. Swallowing the tears mixed with resentment and his resolution, Raciel did not realize. Today, the defeat at the auction would be a blessing in disguise. Right now, a significant and dangerous change was happening to therge Minotaur that the tycoon Gunes had bought, which nobody noticed. He also didnt know what great advantage this change would bring to him tonight. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 64 Chapter 64I Next Hmm, it looks even better up close. The depth of the night had set in. A wealthy tycoon in Anbouaz, Gunes, wore a look of admiration. It was inevitable. Just moments ago, a gigantic cage had been brought into the hotel basement. Anyone would marvel at the sight of the behemoth caged inside. Groooowl A low, hefty sound came from within, like a wounded beasts suppressed groan. A beast numbed with tranquilizers. It was a Minotaur. Thump Thump! The Minotaur in the cage sensed his gaze. It lifted its drugged eyes and heaved a rough breath. A ruthless smile crept onto Guness face. Indeed, its worth every penny spent. If only you could see the look on Prince Magentanos face when this creature was taken from him. Shall we begin the work immediately then? Absolutely. The tycoon nodded, turning to look at the man whod asked the question. Thats why I called you here in the first ce. Youre the best taxidermist in Cremo. Im ttered. As long as you pay me well, Im just grateful. May I ask what style of taxidermy youd prefer? Hmm, make it as majestic as possible. Majestic? Yes. This isnt for my personal collection. Its to be unveiled at the Kings birthday party. Ah, so you want it to make a strong impression when revealed. Is that correct? Hehehe, exactly. The gasps of surprise and awe from the party guests will surely multiply His Majestys pleasure. It will elevate my prestige as well. I understand. I will do my best to meet your purpose. However Hmm? What else is on your mind? Its about the wizard I asked you to prepare in advance. Oh, of course. Ive arranged for one. Gunes grinned. Naturally. All preparations were in ce. The Kings birthday wasnt far off. Considering the time it would take to create the taxidermy and transport it to the capital, there was little time to spare. But Ive been curious since you first asked why do we need a wizard to create a taxidermy? Gunes asked. The taxidermist replied, To cleanly kill the Minotaur. Cleanly? Yes. The taxidermist continued. As you may know, Minotaurs are notorious for their tenacity. Like other monsters, they often struggle for a long time before dying even when mortally wounded. So, if we clumsily try to kill it Try to kill it? The Minotaur may go berserk, causing serious damage. I see, so it might damage the skin? Yes. For a creature this size, we only keep the skin, horns, and teeth, discarding the rest because filling it with sawdust or simr materials wouldnt maintain the shape. I see. We create a replica of the same size and shape and cover it with the skin. Therefore, the condition of the skin is more important than ever. If the skin is damaged, the value of the taxidermy decreases significantly. What if we use poison? Its not much different. As theyre dying, they may scratch themselves all over, damaging their skin. So, thats why you said we needed a wizard? Yes, exactly. We need to cast strong sleep and paralysis spells multiple times to handle it properly. How do we proceed then? From my experience, a vacuum spell is the cleanest. Vacuum spell? Yes. Its a spell that thins the air within a certain range. They lose consciousness and slowly die as if falling asleep. This leaves no external injuries, which is ideal for creating taxidermy. Hmm, that makes sense. Gunes nodded in satisfaction. He was d he had called an expert. A littleter, the summoned wizard arrived and received instructions from the taxidermist. The taxidermy process soon began. Meanwhile, Gunes sat at a safe distance, observing the process. Hmm, hahaha. A tune naturally slipped from his lips. The Minotaur was muchrger than usual. The resulting taxidermy would be impressive. He grinned thinking about the delighted King receiving the taxidermy. The thought of flourishing business with the Kings support filled him with pride. The ughter for taxidermy was underway. Hmm! The wizard began to weaveplex signs. The cement of fingers and palms, the sequence and array, disruption and maniption, with mana cunningly twisted within. The artificially twisted bnce of mana had created a contrived flow. The stem of mana moved along a calcted path, performing its purpose with precision. Sleep magic poured out toward the head of the Minotaur. Whoooooosh .Moo. Even without this, the Minotaur had been steeped in tranquilizers. As it was hit helplessly by the sleep magic, its eyes began to close. Then, paralysis magic was added to the mix. Finally, vacuum magic was deployed. Wooooooosh! A sound like wind escaping filled the air loudly. The air inside the Minotaurs cage became thin. The pressure dropped dramatically, even lower than the highest hignds, nearly as thin as at an altitude of 50 kilometers in the stratosphere. As a result, the oxygen also thinned out drastically. .Moo. The Minotaur quickly fell into hypoxia. The supply of oxygen transported to the brain was dramatically reduced. This led to a deeper state of unconsciousness, and extreme stress took over the Minotaur. Its massive body reacted, squirming. Months of confinement, days of forced feeding while lying down steeped in tranquilizers had made it oversized. Fat stuck to its veins, inmmation spread. All this time, countless stresses, despair, and rage had umted. All of these things blocked the coronary arteries surrounding the heart. The flow of blood to the heart was obstructed, causing severe chest pain in the Minotaur. Even with sleep magic. Even with paralysis magic. The Minotaur was suddenly overwhelmed by the pain of angina pectoris that couldnt be fully removed. Moo It writhes as ast-ditch effort, but inevitably whimpers weakly. Like a fledgling dying in its nest. Moo. Is it because its nearing death? Or is it because of the unresolved grudge it has been carrying? Suddenly, shes of memory pierced its retina like a dagger. They were old memories. Yes, It was the king of the Minotaurs, roaring across the mountain ranges. Were those days happy? Green fields and hills abounded. Leading the herd, living in peace. Grazing on grass, protecting the territory at times. Embracing the calves, as innocent as newborns. Then came intruders in those happy days. Humans. Many humans. Greedy humans. At first, It was just on guard. But that caution turned out to be in vain. The humans did nothing. They were considerate, mindful of their presence, seemingly peaceful. They continued like this for three months. Perhaps it was because of their demeanor, its guard was lowered. Not all humans are deceitful, there are exceptions like these, it thought. It was a mistake. It was a fool to have let its guard down. The peaceful facade of the humans was maniptive. The newborn calf, a baby whose ck eyes sparkled especially when it suckled its mother. When it realized its 56th child was taken by these humans, it regretted its naivecency to the bone. Blinded by rage, it pursued them. It scoured mountains, streams, and hills until it finally found traces of them. A canyon. A narrow canyon. Its baby was in the deepest part of it. Fortunately, it was unharmed, no injuries. It thanked the gods of sky and field. Holding the baby, it hurried to escape the canyon. But then A rain of rocks fell from the sky above the canyon. Dozens, hundreds, innumerable rocks, falling, falling endlessly. It was the brutal force of gravity. The sky above the canyon was no longer visible. Or rather, through the gaps between the numerous falling rocks, the top of the canyon was fleetingly visible. The humans were there. The ones who pretended peace, the ones who took its calf. They were relentlessly dropping rocks. Theyughed and jeered at their helpless iling. At the sight of them, its vision blurred. But there was nothing it could do. Normally, it could have broken through such a rain of stones, even getting injured here and there, it could have escaped the canyon. But that day was different. It held its suckling baby. It had to protect the baby. It roared, it rampaged. But it wasnt enough. It couldnt escape the canyon. When thest rock fell, it had already lost everything. The baby in the arms was dead. It no longer sparkled its ck eyes. Its arms that held the baby, the legs, all were crushed. Then, the humans descended through the dense dust of despair. Theyughed and celebrated their sessful capture. Tears of blood flowed. It roared in madness. But all it could do with its crushed and broken limbs was to roar. And so, it became the possession of humans. Months passed. Time went by. Its physical wounds healed, but the shame of that day never faded. And today, it was dying powerlessly, squirming like an insect. It found this too unjust. Mooooooooo! King Minotaur, Uruus, snapped open his eyes. A rage was stirring deep within his chest. The agonizing pain of encroaching heart disease, a characteristic trait of the Minotaur species. The destructive instinct that kicks in when facing death. His ferocity was triggered. The sleep magic was broken. The paralysis spell shattered. Crack! As if to mock the humans who had underestimated and toyed with him, the magical chains that had bound Uruuss limbs were severed in a single breath. Thud! Raciel was tired. He was utterly exhausted. Ugh, I feel sick. Raciel gritted his teeth in his sleep. Despite thefortable setting of the mayor residences bedroom, with its soft bed, sheets, and pillows, he was in pain, to the point where it woke him from his sleep. Did I overdo it. Half-asleep, Raciel grumbled. Indeed, this body was the problem. The slightest exertion always led to a physical breakdown. His poor stamina was at a critical level. Not only that, but every part of his body was constantly screaming in real-time. Ding dong! [Your organs are condemning your overworking schedule.] [Heart: Hey, why are you pushing yourself so hard? Arent you resting? Do you have infinite stamina? Are you Superman? Cant you see your lung is taking a hit because of you?] [Lung: SighI cant] [Large intestine: If you keep this up, we wont stand for it either.] [Liver: Big bro intestine, lets just copse on the bed. Fully.] [Stomach: Im tired! Give me ate-night snack!] . This is real. Who would socially bury themselves like this? Without realizing it, Raciel clenched his abdominal muscles. But even amidst all this, a smile found its way to his lips. Im tired. A little movement throws everything out of whack. But stillits better than not knowing when I could die before. Little by little, he will improve. If he continue to gain bonus lifespan, extending his life bit by bit, gradually, slowly, one step at a time, he will surely get better. Just like when he was earnestly living in Korea and dreaming of the future. I wish I had Tylenol or something. Should he get up for a moment and apply a hot pack? As he was thinking about this Knock Knock Knock Knock! Suddenly, someone was knocking on the bedroom door. . Whats going on? Before he could even ask, someone outside shouted. Your Highness, the Crown Prince! Wake up immediately! Theres a crisis! Whoosh! The two mayor residence guards hurriedly opened the door and ran in. Raciel grimaced as he sat up. Demian ced his hand on the hilt of his sword and asked. Whats all the fuss about? Its not a fuss, Your Highness! You need to find a safe ce to hide! A safe ce? Demian frowned. The guard spoke urgently, but his outcry was drowned out by a sudden loud noise that pounded against the bedroom wall. Boom! ! Would it sound like this if a siege weapon hit the wall? Or if a dump truck rammed into a building? One side of the bedroom wall was shattered. The bricks flew out like shards. Simultaneously, Demian moved like the wind, blocking the view. He drew his sword. What followed was a flurry of shes, no, sword lights. Swoosh! The iing fragments and bricks were swept away and crushed by the sword light. Then, a storm-like dust came swirling in. Demian turned his gaze toward Raciel through the dust. Your Highness! Retreat to the back Thump! The huge fist that suddenly flew in was the one that struck Demian, and it all happened in an instant. Crash! Demian was sent flying and crashed into the wall a few meters away. He copsed. But there was no time to watch him. The space where the ferocious fist swung through, the storm-like momentum dispersing the dust, a giant head emerged from it. . A head resembling a buffalo. Explosive exhales. Bloodshot eyes. Raciel locked eyes with the colossal creature. A Minotaur? For certain. It was the same Minotaur that had slipped through his hands at the auction house earlier that day. Gulp. Without realizing it, Raciels throat clenched. Was it because his body froze in fear when their eyes met? Or was it because he was tense due to the unexpectedly rming situation? None of these. The Minotaur, who had suddenly invaded his bedroom and was rampaging in a fit of rage. The moment he locked eyes with the beast, he subconsciously felt something. The eyes looked familiar. As if he had seen them many times before. But where? In Korea. At the clinic. So that look in its eyes Is it the same as the patients who walk into my clinic in pain, not knowing what to do? (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 65 Chapter 65I Next Raciel witnessed a sight he had seen many times before. The shattered bedroom wall filled with thick dust revealed the eyes of the Minotaur, and a strange sense of familiarity washed over him. Was he going crazy, or did he simply have an exceptionally good memory? That look, in Korea He had encountered it in the past. A suppressed memory surged to the surface, taking him back to the first year since he had opened his clinic. There was an elderly patient, a grandmother in her eighties, suffering from neuralgia. She had visited numerous hospitals seeking relief, but none could identify the cause of her pain, let alone provide proper treatment. When that grandmother first came to my clinic Thats when Her expression mirrored that of the Minotaurs the look of someone in excruciating pain with nowhere to turn, a desperation born from utter helplessness. But why does the Minotaur have that look? A question arose, but a more fundamental inquiry took its ce. Why is the Minotaur here? Raciels curiosity was piqued. What was happening? He was barely conscious, weighed down by exhaustion after several days of journeying, feeling as though he were groaning from illness. Suddenly, with a loud bang, chaos erupted as the bedroom wall shattered. The Minotaur thrust its massive head inside, its eyes burning with overwhelming anger and desperation. Huff! The King Minotaur, Uruus, huffed heavily, questioning his own presence here. He had been pursuing a skinny old man who had attempted to deceive him. His mind was clouded with pain and rage, but a vague memory resurfaced the moments between his near-death experience and themencement of his rampage. Fragments of the events that urred right after swirled in his mind. Huff! Hufhuff! He had sworn to kill all the humans before him, and in that moment, his eyes changed. The chains that bound him broke, and the cage enclosing him shattered. Humans screamed, but one figure stood out among them the old human who had bought him and messed around with him. The man called a tycoon among humans. He wanted to kill him first. He charged forward with a roar, but the old man fled early, and the guards obstructed his path. Uruus dispatched them effortlessly and pursued the tycoon relentlessly. The old man mounted a horse and rode off, heading towards the most heavily guarded and fortified building in the city. Uruus continued his pursuit and rampaged through the garden of thergest building, where the man had sought shelter. But, in the end, he lost him, fueling his anger further. Determined to destroy everything, he charged at the nearby buildings side. And there, he encountered another target besides the old man he had vowed to kill. Huff! The intensity in the Minotaurs eyes as he stared at Raciel heightened. Gazing at the young human reminded him of an earlier encounter at the auction. This was the same human who had vied with the old man to buy him and had expressed regret over losing the bid. In Uruus eyes, he was no different from the old tycoon another human who needed to be eliminated. Moooooo! Uruus voice boomed. With a mighty swing of his fist, he aimed to strike Raciel, just like the one he had attacked earlier. The punch was enormous, akin to a gym balls weight, wielded by a 7-meter-tall monster the size of a two-story building. Raciel knew he couldnt take the blow head-on. Do you think Im going to die here?! Realizing the threat to his life, Raciel frantically attempted to dodge, but the Minotaurs punch was swift and overwhelming. He couldnt avoid it in time. Im screwed. The realization hit him. He braced himself for the impact, fearing multiple fractures or internal organ damage. In his panicked state, he had a fleeting, nonsensical thought Would a fly feel this way while being hit by a swatter? But just before the colossal fist could strike him, something forcefully pushed Raciel aside. Thump! Augh! He felt his body twist in a painful reverse-S shape, and he suspected that his left rib might be broken. The shock sent him flying sideways. And then Whoosh! The Minotaurs colossal fist sliced through the air, just missing Raciel by a hairs breadth. It was akin to witnessing a high-speed train zooming past, leaving him in awe of the monsters power. Beyond the flying fist, Raciel caught sight of Demian with one leg raised, as if he had executed a side kick. In that moment, the realization dawned on him it was Demian who had kicked him to safety. Ugh! He hit the ground hard, but he couldnt afford to dwell on the pain. Roll! Demians urgentmand rang out, and Raciel instinctively rolled away. Momentster, the Minotaurs fist crashed down, right where he had been lying a moment ago. Why is it targeting me? Raciel wondered, feeling like the Minotaur had singled him out. Paying no heed to the sharp ache from Demians kick, he swiftly got back on his feet and dashed towards the bedroom entrance. But a fierce roar erupted from behind. Lie downnnnn! The thunderous sound of something massive hurtling through the air spurred Raciel to nce back. A rock the size of his torso was hurtling straight towards him. Ah, seriously! he eximed, hurriedly dropping and rolling again. The whistling wind of the flying rock grazed past his head with an eerie sound. Crash! The rock smashed into the door, causing the wall to crumble, and the exit was now blocked by debris. Really? Raciel grumbled in disbelief. Had the Minotaur thrown the rock to trap them? It seems, Your Majesty, we are trapped here, Demian remarked, ready to defend their position with his sword drawn. He emitted an intense aura, staring down the raging Minotaur. Well, add one more Minotaur to the party, Raciel quipped, attempting to inject humor into the dire situation. Otherwise, screams of fear might have escaped him. As the reality of their predicament sank in, Raciel couldnt help but wonder how they had ended up in this dangerous situation with no chance to escape. Trapped in a confined space, engaged in a deadly encounter with a rampaging Minotaur in the dead of night, his spine shivered with dread. Your Majesty, I have something to tell you, Demian said, his tone serious. If we survive this situation today- Survive? Please grant me a special allowance. What? If we manage to survive this tense and dangerous situation, and I protect you. Dont you think that reward is fair? So, you want a special allowance? Yes. And if I dont give it? Ill run away on my own. Damn. Raciel nearly swore, but Demian swiftly continued,ying out a n. Listen carefully. When I count to three, Ill attack the Minotaur, creating an opening for you to escape. Escape? Where to? Through the bedroom wall the Minotaur just smashed. Raciel nced at the wall. Indeed, there was another way out. Beyond the broken bedroom wall, he could see the night sky, and below it This is the second floor, isnt it? It doesnt matter. Just jump. What if I break my leg? Its better than lying here and dying. Judging from the sounds outside, guards have gathered below the outer wall, attacking the Minotaurs legs. Though it doesnt seem to be having much effect. Even if I fell and broke my leg, they would save me and move me to a safe ce? It seems to be the only way out at the moment. .. Demian smiled wryly as he looked at Raciel. The realization sank in, and Raciel understood that jumping out of the broken wall might be his only chance at survival. The Minotaur, wary of Demians attacks, was waiting for an opportunity to strike. . Huff! Roar! With a loud crash and crack, the Minotaur leaned forward, causing part of the bedroom floor to copse. Its massive arms reached out menacingly. In the midst of this tense moment, Demian shouted the count. One, two, three! Now! The count felt too rapid, leaving no time for objections. Raciels body instinctively responded to the perceived danger. Tah! Without hesitation, he followed Demian, who was leading the charge. Demians afterimage blurred as he moved at incredible speed. Chatter chatter chatter chatter! The afterimages dispersed to the left and right, and streaks of sword light illuminated the darkness. In the moonlight, dozens of sword strikesnded on the Minotaurs forearm and wrist, leaving cuts and shes. However, the Minotaur wasnt passive either. Roar! In pain and fury, it let out a ferocious roar, shaking its massive head. The menacing horns seemed poised to pierce Demian. Yet, Demian countered with his sword. Crash! Upon the collision of sword and horn, a powerful shockwave rippled in all directions, pushing Demian back several meters while jerking the Minotaurs head backward. Nows the time! Raciel sensed the opportunity the moment he saw it. The Minotaurs head was tilted, and its posture was disrupted the opening Demian had mentioned earlier. Tah! He ran, passing by the Minotaur. A gaping hole in the wally ahead his escape route. He kicked off the ground, heading towards the only exit. Heunched himself into the void, but at that moment Huff! The Minotaurs snorting sound reached his ears. It was trying to shake off the momentary dizziness. Abruptly, it vigorously shook its head, causing its torso and arms to tremble, obstructing Raciels view. He couldnt dodge anymore; he was already airborne from kicking off the ground. Ugh! In a split second, he instinctively swung his hand and grasped the hair on the Minotaurs arm. He ended up hugging the beasts arm while it thrashed around in a frenzied rage. Ugh! He considered letting go and jumping down immediately. Surely, the Minotaur wouldnt interpret this as a friendly hug. But before he could release his grip in a hurry Ding dong! An unexpected alert sound rang in his ears, and an even more unexpected message appeared before his eyes. [You have made physical contact with an emergency patient.] [The palpation skill you possess automatically responds to the patients vital signals.] [Starting the palpation.] Huh? Emergency patient? Performing a palpation on a Minotaur? What? In this situation, the message seemed absurd. Nheless, the palpation skill activated automatically. [Scanning.] [3 2 1] [The palpation results are out.] [Please check the below.] Soon, aprehensive examination report of the Minotaur appeared, finally revealing the cause of this chaotic situation. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 66 Chapter 66I Next The loud chime of a bell echoed relentlessly, jolting Raciels senses. Suddenly, aprehensive examination report materialized before him, partially obstructing his view. What caught him off guard was that the report pertained to the Minotaursprehensive examination. Whats going on? The Minotaur had been in a state of rage, and Raciels palpation skill had instinctively responded to its critical vital signs, triggering theprehensive examination. But this Raciel swiftly scanned the contents of the Minotaurs examination form. [Basic Comprehensive Examination] [Subject: King of Minotaurs, Uruus] [Species: Minotaur] [Gender: Male] [Age: 48] [Height: 7,120 cm] [Weight: 14,923 kg] [Blood Type: C2] . The physical specifications were remarkable, at least in terms of the numbers. However, the various indicators below raised concern, particrly the heart, which had a red g hovering over it. [Heart Function: F] What? While other organs didnt disy significant abnormalities, the heart was assigned an F grade, indicating a severe condition. Raciel quickly skimmed through the overall assessment. [Overall Assessment: The physical bnce is disrupted due to prolonged imprisonment, sedation, and forced grain intake. Abdominal obesity is detected. Hyperlipidemia is detected. Cholesterol levels in the blood vessels have reached a dangerous level. There is concern about high inmmatory reactions and metabolic dysfunction due to severe stress. There is <1> Emergency Report.] [Click here to expand the Emergency Report.] At the end of the overall assessment, there was a phrase he had never encountered before. Emergency report? As instructed, he shifted his gaze to the emergency report and heard an urgent exmation from the heart. [Heart: Emergency! Weve got a patient!] What? [Heart: What do you mean, what? Didnt you just pulse-check the patient? That guys heart is in serious trouble.] In trouble? [Heart: Its angina. Stable Angina Pectoris. The chest pain is severe. Theres a blood clot in the coronary artery, and its party time for atherosclerosis. If we leave it like this, itll definitely lead to myocardial infarction.] Raciel fell silent. If it was true, it was a severe condition. Angina means his hearts blood vessels are half-blocked. Such a condition could potentially lead to a heart attack. In severe cases, it might even cause cardiac arrest and death. It dawned on Raciel why the Minotaur had gone on a rampage. The chest pain from angina is excruciating. It feels like a car is crushing your chest repeatedly. No wonder hes in agony and rampaging. A terrible pain must have triggered the rampage. The stress from prolonged imprisonment and other factors had likely contributed to this explosion of fury. Understanding the situation, Raciel couldnt help but feel a surge of pity. The Minotaur must have its own story. This is truly unfortunate. Such a pity. Tsk, tsk But it doesnt seem like I can treat you right now. Why? Because right now, Im more pitiful than youuuuueeeeaaaargh-! Boooooom-! The mighty King Minotaur, Uruus, swung his left arm with immense force. Raciel, holding onto that arm, was flung around wildly. Ar, aaaaaaaaaah! An intense gravitational force gripped his entire body. A Viking ride? The Blue Dragon roller coaster? The sensation was several times worse than those experiences. It felt like all the blood in his body was rushing to his toes. But he couldnt let go. If I let go while being swung like this And if I get thrown No matter where I crash, my entire body will be smashed! He would be crushed like a strawberry thrown against a wall at full force. ttened or squashed, either way, he didnt want to die like that. Summoning all his strength, he clung desperately to the hairs on Uruuss forearm. He held on for dear life, but the more he struggled, the more violently Uruus moved. His grip was gradually weakening. To make matters worse, Uruus made eye contact with him. Mooo! In a moment of shock, Raciel stood frozen as Uruus raised his right hand, ready to strike him with force. Boom-! Raciel felt as helpless as a mosquito squashed while clinging to a human forearm. Uruuss massive palm,rge enough to engulf Raciel entirely, came down, extinguishing any hope of escape. F*ck. Should he close his eyes? But before he could decide Whish-! A brilliant sh of white light streaked across, hitting Uruuss horn with a thud. ng-! A fierce spark erupted from the horn. The swift sword strike caught Uruus off guard, just as he was about to strike Raciel. The Minotaur Kings bloodshot gaze turned towards the source of the attack, revealing Demian. Tsk! Demian retracted his sword, regret apparent on his brow. Originally, his target had been the eye, not the horn. Rushing to protect the crown prince, he disrupted Uruuss posture, but he managed to halt the Minotaurs attack. Your Majesty, hold on just a bit longer. Ill save you! Demian shouted and swiftly closed in on the Minotaur. His eyes glinted with determination. The nk and the armpit. With precise shes, he targeted these vulnerable areas, not needing to cut too deep but aiming to create hesitation. In that momentary gap, he nned to rescue the crown prince, who hung from the Minotaurs arm. The battle n formed instantly. Demian utilized his stride, leaped, drew his sword, and timed the Minotaurs reaction almost perfectly. Swish! nk! Twice, the swords light shed. Uruus roared hesitantly. Everything was going ording to n, except for one thing Demian hadnt considered: the frail grip strength of the crown prince. Ugh! Someone, help! Boom! As Uruus swung his arms due to the sting of the sword strike, Raciels grip reached its limit. He couldnt hold on any longer. Despite his will, his hand loosened, and he lost his grip on Uruuss fur. His body was flung through the air. Whoosh! Ahhhhh! Raciel cried out desperately. The moment he let go of Uruuss arm, he was released into the centrifugal force, flying towards the outside of the bedroom and crashing into the Mayors mansion garden. What, what? At first, he felt like it wasnt real. His entire body was spinning in the air. He saw the moon in the night sky, then thendscaped objects filling the garden, then the moon and stars again, and finally, the lush trees and grass in the garden. So, right now, he was? He was spinning while flying in a parabolic trajectory from a height of 15 meters! Holy shiiiiiiiiiit! Was this how a fiercely hit home-run ball felt? Then where would the end of this parab be? He felt a chilling sensation. The dizzying intercrossing view of the sky and the ground. Meanwhile, the ground was getting closer and closer. A pond or a fountain? There was no such hope. It was just bare ground. The bare ground was weing him. It got closer and closer. Even closer. In a blink of an eye. Close. Plummeting from several meters high, the ground that would knock him down was rapidly approaching! ! He tightly shut his eyes. Soon, a rough shock overcame his body. Thud-! Ugh! A choking sensation enveloped him as if his spine had been rearranged into two lines like a train track. Strangely, that was the end of the fall. He didnt lose consciousness, which would have been the case had he hit the ground directly, resulting in instant death. Did I manage to grab onto a branch or something? He wondered as he cautiously opened his eyes. Thanks to that, he could see. Grr, huff huff! A wolfs face and eyes met his. As soon as the wolf-human Anise saw him, she stuck out her tongue and happily panted, as if saying, Im d. In a daze, Raciel asked, Anise? Huff huff! Anise nodded, and only then did Raciel realize. Just before I crashed into the ground Anise rushed over and caught me. Indeed, upon closer inspection, he found himself in a princess carry, held securely by Anise. He felt alive. A sigh of relief flowed out btedly. The royal guards and special duty guard members rushed to his side. Your Highness! Are you unharmed? This is not the time. Quickly, over there! The safety of His Highness is the top priority! Run! Grr! Huff huff huff! With Raciel safely cradled in her arms, Anise swiftly ran through the garden. The royal guards and special duty guard members, who were on horseback, ran alongside, acting as her escorts. In this manner, the princes party swiftly fled across the garden, getting farther away until they disappeared from the sight of the dumbfounded King Minotaur, Uruus. Hmph! Uruuss breath became even rougher. It was absurd. The human who had tried to purchase him at the auction had vanished in the most ridiculous manner. Uruus seethed with anger, his eyes rolling in fury. He wanted to beat that scoundrel to death for making a fool out of him. Roar! Hee-haw! Hee-haw! Uruuss bloodshot eyes darted around in search of a new target to vent his rage. And naturally, a human stood before him the one with ck hair who had dared to point a sword at him and interfered persistently. I really need hazard pay for this, Demian muttered, meeting Uruuss harsh gaze with a bitter smile. He had sessfully evacuated the Crown Prince, and now it was his turn to escape. Can I make it? The Minotaur blocked the only exit from the room. To leave, Demian had to get past him. Lets try. He tightened his grip on the sword handle, knowing he had to survive to earn todays hazard pay. Just then, it happened. Roar! Boom! Uruuss massive fist came hurtling towards him. Demians eyes shed with quick thinking. SHIIIK! He swiftly moved to the side, sidestepping the extending fist. His sword followed suit, aiming to strike in a straight line from the Minotaurs wrist to the arm. But then Snap! Uruuss fist, which had appeared to extend, suddenly stopped, retracting in an instant. A feint? Demians eyes widened in astonishment. At the same time, the Minotaurs massive head swung around. Boom! ! He barely managed to block the horn, his body shaking as he was pushed back. The real punch came immediately after. Boom! Krgh! From then on, Demians sword fiercely tore through space. Uruuss fists, arms, and horns shed, tearing through the air. Their sword and horns tangled, striking and pushing each other. They stabbed, shed, tore, and swung. The room became a blur of sword shes and horn rages. ng-ng-ng-ng-ng-ng! Their rapid exchange left no room to breathe. King Minotaur and Demian engaged in a tight battle. The oue was decided by a minor difference. Creak! Their ferocious collisions sent shockwaves through the room, causing the ceiling to crack. The cracks quickly expanded and widened. Crash! The ceiling came crashing down, burying Uruus and Demian under a pile of wood and stone. Hee-haw! Uruus took the impact of the stones on his head and shoulders. While it was a significant shock, the pile of stones wasnt too heavypared to Uruuss immense weight. However, for an ordinary (?) human like Demian, it was a different story. Krgh? Demian hurriedly tried to run back, but with the collision with Uruus in front and the entire ceiling copsing, there was no suitable ce to escape. He didnt even have the leisure tounch a sword strike upwards. In the end, the ceiling structure fell directly on top of Demian. ! Crash! The room was filled with dust. When the dust finally settled, Demian found one of his legs buried under the pile of stones. Krgh. Was it broken? Or crushed? A shock as if arge hammer had struck his calf rushed through him. He couldnt get up, as his leg trapped in the debris wouldnt budge. Lifting his head, he met eyes with the Minotaur. Uruus shook off the pile of stones on his head and shoulders before blowing a rough breath in Demians direction. . I cant end like this, can I? Demian clenched his sword, vowing to fight to the end even if he couldnt stand up. But reality was harsh. Roar! The Minotaur roared and raised his two fists. Was he going to smash down like this? The shadow cast by the Minotaurs fists covered Demians face, and the massive fists, resembling battering rams, descended. Boom! ! Demian lifted his sword. He would block it somehow. He would fight to the end. A sense of crisis filled his chest, and he gritted his teeth in response. The Minotaurs fists covered his entire body as they charged down. An unprecedented strange palpitation was about to leap in his heart. But then Kozumi! Body m! A strange shout echoed through the room an unexpected shouting from the Crown Prince. Simultaneously, something gigantic fiercely flew. Koo koooo-! At that moment, Demian witnessed an unexpected spectacle. It was Kozumi, the phantom beast, now grown to an impressive five meters in size, vigorouslyunching a body m attack on the Minotaurs back. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 67 Chapter 67I Next Kozumi-! The startled cry reverberated, apanied by the sight of a five-meter object streaking across the night sky like a full-speed fastball. The projectile collided with the sturdy back of the Minotaur with a forceful impact, almost appearing to impale the creature. Bang! Muooo! The Minotaurs roar filled the night air, and in that moment, Demian finally recognized what had happened. Kozumi? The object that flew and embedded itself in the Minotaurs back was none other than the Phantom Beast Kozumi. It retained its usual round and spiky appearance, resembling a chestnut burr, but now it had grown to almost five meters in size. Did Kozumi possess such an ability? Demian had always believed Kozumi to be a mere phantom beast that supplied spines for the Princes acupuncture or was carried around like a leather pouch. He never imagined it could transform and be used as a projectile. But why is Kozumi here? And who threw it? An inconceivable thought crossed his mind, and his gaze quickly swept across the copsed outer wall, scanning the pce garden. There, he found the answer. It was Prince Raciel, caught in the act of throwing something. What is he doing there? A surge of injustice and anger welled up inside Demian. I went through all this trouble to help him escape. He couldnt fathom why the Prince would return here and take such action. Unconsciously, Demians fists clenched, mirroring the gesture of Raciel, who locked eyes with him. Great! It hit the target! Prince Raciel took a chance, gambling on an idea that seemed improbable but was worth trying. He remembered the red sunflower seed he received when summoning the Phantom Beastan item known to dramatically increase the creatures size when fed. Trusting Kozumis assurance, he fed it the seed and hurled the now-erged beast with all his might, as if tossing a grenade with the pin pulled. The n seeded as Kozumi grew mid-flight and struck the Minotaur King, Uruus, right on target. d its not toote. Raciels mind wandered back to the moments before, when he was fleeing while being held by Anise. He couldnt shake off the concern for Demian, who was left behind in the bedroom. Although Demian was strong, facing a Minotaur twice the size of an ordinary one left him cornered and isted. Even Demian might not stand a chance against that. But Raciel couldnt leave him behind. It wasnt just because Demian was the protagonist of the novel or due to any human bond they shared. Demian had be an incredibly valuable and indispensablepanion. Raciel had worked hard to acquire him and didnt want to lose him now. I need him to survive for the sake of my peaceful retirement and future! Just as Liu Bei of Three Kingdoms had Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. As Barcelona FC has (or had) Lionel Messi. As the peak-time Chicago Bulls had Michael Jordan in his prime. Just as chicken is essential when watching a World Cup game, and you need to bring your best looks for a blind date. He absolutely needed Demian. Hold on Kozumi! Hurry! His urgent shout reached Demian. With resolve, Demian gripped his sword and swung it down with force. Kwajak! The rock pressing on his leg split in two. He struck again. And again. With each swing, rocks and debris shattered and scattered. Eventually, his trapped leg was freed, but not without experiencing pain. Ugh. Was it twisted? Or was it broken? His calf and ankle were unresponsive, but Demian couldnt afford to focus on such minor pain. He forced himself up, lifting his head to face the bellowing Minotaur above him. Muooooooooo-! With its broad waist, the Minotaur raised its arms and yanked Kozumi out of its back. Pop-! Due to the thick cowhide, there was minimal blood. However, Uruuss hands, gripping Kozumi, were stinging more than he expected, and he struggled to hold it properly. Muo! In his anger, Uruus had twisted too hard, leaving his palms, forearms, and chest searing hot, akin to grasping a chestnut burr bare-handed. Reflexively, he contracted his hand, inadvertently letting go of Kozumi, who rolled onto the floor. Kooo! Kooooo! Kozumi, as it fell, called out to Demian and rolled toward him. Understanding its intention, Demian reached out and grabbed one of Kozumis thorns. In that moment, Kozumi transformed out of its chestnut burr mode, embedding Demian between the spikes on its back, revealing its four legs. It sprinted at full speed, escaping through the copsed outer wall. It was faster than it appeared, catching Uruus off guard, who couldnt react quickly enough to its sudden escape. Muoo? Uruuss ordeal was far from over. As Kozumi hurled itself beyond the outer wall, Demian, riding on its back, drew his sword and swung it with all his might. A fierce sword aura manifested and struck the third-floor outer wall of the Mayor residence. Took-! The building, already weakened by the Minotaurs rampage, couldnt withstand the power-packed sword strike. The structure gave way, resulting in a full-blown copse. Crash! Thud, thud-! Whoa! A portion of the five-story building crashed down on Uruus. Despite the Minotaurs formidable physique, it couldnt withstand the weight of dozens of tons falling upon it. Uruus was crushed beneath the debris, and a cloud of dust billowed along with his screams. Meanwhile, Kozuminded safely on the garden ground and quickly rejoined its group. Raciel greeted both Kozumi and Demian. Well done, Kozumi. Koooo! And Demian, are you alright? Of course. You dont look okay with your leg. Even so, I can still move enough not to fall behind. Thats good. Lets run to a safe ce where we can take care of your leg. That Minotaur, its not dead yet. It seemed likely. Judging by how it had been rampaging until now, it didnt seem like the sort to die easily just because it was crushed under a 5-story building. Well, it could die from an aggravated heart condition. Still, its a shame. The galldder bile spit out alive by Uruus is the best. Tsk. It would be such a waste if that thing died. Would I really have to split its stomach and retrieve it? A sense of regret filled him. If it was a mighty Minotaur like that one, the galldder bile it carried would be the finest quality. If he couldnt get it alive, it would be such a waste. But dont overdo it. Raciel shook his head. Now was not the time to be greedy. It was not the time to y hero. If something went wrong, instead of the galldder, he might find himself conversing with the King of Hell. So, todays courage ends here. Lets get out of here for now. Understood. They began to make their way out of the city Mayors garden. Along the way, they encountered the city mayor and his party. Your Highness! Are you safe! The disheveled city mayor of Cremo, wearing his nightgown, rushed over and breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing their safety. I will escort you from here. This way! Where are we going? Were thinking of going to the safest ce in the city, Your Highness. The safest ce? Yes, Your Highness. Its the sea. The sea. Please board my ship. Once we set the ship off the coast, no matter how viciously that Minotaur rampages, it will not be able to harm a single hair on Your Highness. The n to escape by ship seemed reasonable to Prince Raciel. Alright. Lets move quickly then. Yes, Your Highness! Following the city mayors party, they left the city mayors residence entirely. Rushing down the hill and passing through the chaos in the city, they arrived at the dock where a sailing ship was preparing for departure. That is the ship, Your Highness! They boarded the ship, but to Raciels surprise, the city mayor did not join them. Perplexed, Raciel looked at him, and the mayor, left on the dock, smiled wryly. I will not run away, Your Highness. Why? This is the city I am responsible for. The prosperity and safety of numerous people depend on my shoulders. How could I, in such a situation today, run to a safe ce alone? . So, please take refuge, Your Highness. I will stay here andmand the guards. The mayor of Cremo, still in his nightclothes with disheveled hair, looked dignified for a moment despite wearing only one slipper. His sense of responsibility and determination impressed Raciel, evoking a momentary feeling of shame. For the same reason, probably. A prick of conscience nagged at Raciels mind. The mayor was staying to face the danger, while as the Crown Prince of the Empire, Raciel was seeking safety. Was it really okay? Struggling to find words to respond, a voice came from beside him. Demian had quietly approached. We must set sail now, Your Highness. But. There is no need for guilt, Your Highness. Demian interrupted Raciel and shook his head. Everyone has their own roles to y. . Is that so? I understood what he was saying. The role of taking responsibility for this city lies with the mayor. The role of protecting you lies with me, the Royal Guards, and the special duty guards. And for him I suppose Im responsible for surviving and taking charge of the royal family. The Crown Prince. And the royal family. Honestly, the role he ended up being thrust into somewhat reluctantly is a burden. But right now, Demians words are correct. Okay, I understand. Raciel nodded at Demian and gave a thumbs up to the mayor on the dock, who responded with a serious and proud expression. Raise the anchor! A sailors cry. The anchor was raised, and the ship was pushed away from the dock. The dock slowly receded, first gradually and then more definitively. The sight of the shrinking dock finally sank in. I survived. A sense of relief washed over Raciels legs. The recent events shed through his mindthe bedroom wall suddenly breaking, the attacking Minotaur, and his narrow escapes from death. Huff. He wondered if he would suffer from PTSD. Maybe he should consider some selfforting treatment. Silly thoughts swirled in his mind. What? A shocked sound escaped from one of the sailors, but he wasnt the only one taken aback. Whats that? Another sailor nearby chimed in. Even the Royal guards were puzzled, frowning, tilting their heads, and staring at the dock that was receding. Whats going on? Everyones reactions left Raciel curious, and he followed their gazes towards the dock. There, he heard it first before seeing it. Roooar! ! A familiar roar echoed from the dock, growing louder and clearer. Soon, a recognizable silhouette emerged, running towards them. Rooar! Thud-thud-thud! The massive figure, boasting a dinosaur-like appearance, was none other than the giant Minotaur charging towards them. And it wasnt just charging, it was charging towards the sea, from thend, past the dock, leaping into the night sky at an unbelievable speed and height, momentarily obscuring the moon. Soaring up. Then, as if being impaled. Crash! Itnded on the deck of their ship, or rather, crashed onto it. ! The ship shook violently, and the sailors shouted in rm as deck nks shattered and scattered. Amidst the chaos, the giant Uruus raised its head while crouching down, locking eyes with Raciel. In its eyes, Raciel saw a clear message: it was after one person. So, right now, that one person is me? He couldnt fathom why it was targeting him. However, a chilling realization washed over him, giving rise to goosebumps. Tonight. Either that creature or him. One of them would meet their end. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 68 Chapter 68I Next Tonight, Raciel faced a chilling realization: either he or that bastard would meet a dire end. To end this night, such a confrontation had to happen. But Raciel couldntprehend why he was the sole target. He couldnt find a usible reason, and it left him puzzled and frustrated. At that moment, the Minotaur, Uruus, let out a powerful roar. Moooouuuu! Uruuss scarred body trembled, and despite the excruciating pain in his chest, it only fueled his ferocious spirit further. One clear goal was etched in his mind to annihte the humans in this ce. This was war. Huff! Huff! Amidst his reddening vision, Uruus considered the two universal ways to win a war. The first was to obliterate the enemys forces, and the second was to capture and kill the enemy leader. And now, that enemy leader stood right before him Raciel. Mooou! Huff! Uruus was certain. Raciel, the repulsive-looking human, was the one. His instincts told him that all the humans were trying to protect this man. Uruus had observed their behavior clearly. Raciel was the leader of the human group in this city. If Uruus captured and killed him, he could secure victory in this war. Huff! Uruus snorted and reached out with his gigantic arm, seizing the ships main mast, known for its toughness, and snapped it like a straw. The half-spread, massive sail now became a giant fan in Uruuss two arms, and his bulging shoulder and bicep muscles resembled anacondas. Moohh! With a whoosh, Uruus swung the entire main mast. At that moment, Raciel instinctively shouted. Everyone, get down! Everyone came to their senses at his shout. His warning snapped everyone to attention. Gasp! Get down! Everyone rushed to throw themselves down onto the deck just as a typhoon passed over their heads. Crack! Crunch-! The second and third masts were obliterated by the force of the swung mast. The stern of the ship didnt escape either, as it was crushed along with the structures above it, including the helm used for steering. Crack-! In a mere three seconds, Uruuss swift action turned the ships deck into chaos. Cough! Cough! Ugh! Raciel coughed from within the dust and raised his head, but his vision remained blurred. The sail of the second mast covered the entire deck, including Raciel himself. Insane. He hadnt anticipated the Minotaurs leap onto the ship. What should I do? Raciel frantically searched for a way to survive, but no clear solution presented itself. Running away seemed like the best option, but there was no escape route. The only chance would be swimming, but I cant swim. If I try jumping into the sea, Ill drown. He briefly considered asking Demian or others to swim and carry him, but the distance to the dock was too far more than 100 meters. And if Uruus decided to swim after them, they would be caught swiftly. What about the lifeboats? Raciel peered out between the torn sails and saw two lifeboats crushed together across the wrecked deck. There was no way to escape. The ships helm at the stern was broken, leaving the vessel drifting aimlessly. However, the direction it drifted in was away from the dock, further from thend. The realization of their dire situation weighed heavily on Raciels mind and body. Ding dong! [Your organs are unstable due to the sensed crisis.] [Heart: Hey, cant you think of a way to escape? What are you doing, brain?] [Lungs: Oxygen supply to the brain Ah lung failure!] [Large Intestine: Guys? I think the stomach isnt feeling good?] [Liver: Shush, my body is feeling even worse!] [Stomach: Hehehe, thest supper chew.] It seemed even his organs couldnt find a definite answer. There was no way to escape the Minotaur, and reconciliation seemed even less likely. The conclusion settled in his mind: he had to face the end here. Then, someone reached out from the side, gently pressing on his shoulder. Shh. Keep your body low. ! Startled, Raciel turned to look, finding Demian whispering with a calm expression. The sail falling over is actually good. Crawl over there. Stay close to the wreckage at the stern and dont move. That way, you wont be noticed. You mean hide? Yes. Thats probably the best option for now. What about you? I have a lot to receive from His Highness tonight. What? Its about hazard pay. I even injured my leg, so its an injury sustained in the process of performing my duties. Its clearly an upational injury, so I should bepensated adequately. So, youre saying I, your employer, need to survive for you to im all that money? Thats an urate summary. Well then. What? Smack! Demians hand pushed Raciel roughly. Ill draw its attention, take advantage of that, and move. Quickly. Their eyes met for a moment. Demians words sounded like a joke, but his gaze was cold and solemn. He understood the situation better than anyone else, leaving Raciel with no room to argue. All he could do was nod in response. Please. Dont overdo it. Raciel hid beneath the sail that spread across the deck like a gigantic nket. Demian suddenly ripped the sail and stood up, limping to the other side of the deck. Roar! Uruus gaze fixated on Demian. Seizing the opportunity, Raciel paddled hard in the direction Demian had indicated. Sweat trickled down his forehead, and his breath grew ragged. Finally, he reached the wreckage of the mast and hid in a corner. Peering through a torn hole in the sail, he widened his eyes in surprise. Huh? Everyone was fighting. Demian wielded his sword, Anise in her werewolf form bared her fangs and leaped, the royal guards moved with precision, and the special duty guards filled the gaps and shoutedmands. Even Kozumi charged with its spines raised. Everyone disyed fighting spirit and shouts. In front of them stood the Minotaur, a wall of despair. It warded off everyones attacks,ughing and brushing them aside. Roar! Roar! Bellowing like a wild bull, its massive head swung around with its bulky weight. At the end were a pair of magnificently curved horns. Unstoppable. The horns charged like a bulldozer, shattering five guards shields and smashing six special duty guards swords. .Kerk! With one powerful charge, the Minotaur incapacitated five guards and six special duty guards. Anise bravely leaped onto the Minotaurs back and sank her fangs into its thick hide, but it didnt cause a fatal wound. Undeterred, she attacked with her ws, leaving marks on the Minotaurs back. However, the Minotaur swiftly retaliated by grabbing Anises tail and swinging her around like a fly swatter, causing her to crash onto the deck and faint. Now convinced of its dominance, the Minotaur scanned the deck, seemingly searching for something or someone. Its looking for me. Raciels heart pounded as he realized the Minotaurs intent. Just then, the Minotaur lifted one leg and stamped down on a spot covered by the sail, where something had been. .! His heart thumped loudly as the Minotaur ripped through the sail and found a t, smashed box underneath. Mooooo! The Minotaurs breath grew rougher, and it became clear that it intended to trample and check all the bulges under the sail to find him and crush him to death. Chills ran down Raciels spine as the Minotaur continued its destructive movements. Roar! Mooo! Moooo! Bang! Crash! Thud! The Minotaurs relentless trampling left a trail of destruction all over the deck, without any careful scrutiny. It didnt care about the damage it caused to the ship; its only focus was to find its target. Damn it! Hiding in this limited space on the deck was futile. He knew he had to find a better hiding spot to survive. The cabin at the front of the copsed stern seemed like the best option. Desperately, he searched for a passage leading to the cabin, but it was difficult to spot amidst the chaos. Other sailors nearby were also struggling to find a safe hiding ce, their faces filled with fear. The Minotaurs relentless trampling drew closer and closer, leaving Raciel with little time to act. Moooo! Roar-! Crash! Bang! ! The situation was bing dire, and even Demians efforts to stop the Minotaur with his sword were falling short due to his injured leg. The Minotaur only grew more enraged by the feeble attacks and continued its rampage. Crazy! Crazy! Ahhh! Raciels mind raced, desperately trying to avoid being crushed by the raging Minotaur. He hade too far to meet such a gruesome end now, but the Minotaur showed no mercy in its wild onught. Roar! A fierce bellow reverberated just above him, jolting him into immediate action. ! Without a second thought, he rolled his body to the side, narrowly evading a colossal hoof that came crashing down on the spot where he hadin just moments ago. Hold on! He couldnt die here. Desperately, he rolled and crawled under the safety of the sail, but the relentless trampling seemed to pursue him relentlessly. Crash! Bang! Thud-! It was like a frantic cockroach trying to elude a human in a midnight kitchen. He kept rolling, crawling, and seeking refuge beneath the sail, all while maintaining hisposure and rationality. He knew that fear and instinct would only lead to predictable movements, and he couldnt afford to be predictable. He needed to stay sharp, analyze his opponents every move, and capitalize on any small opportunity. Keep your eyes open, Han! he yelled at himself amidst the deafening cacophony of destruction and roars, determined not to lose consciousness. With his senses on high alert, he observed the moonlight filtering through the thick sail and used it to predict the Minotaurs next actions. Every subtle cluethe giant silhouette blocking the moonlight, the direction of its movement, the sound of its roars, and itsbored breathingwas analyzed and considered. To enhance his abilities, he tapped into the Asrahan precision diagnosis technique, causing the mana circle to spin at its maximum capacity. He sensed the mana in the surrounding air and even the vtile mana nearby, using it to detect and analyze the flow of energy. This extreme experience pushed him to the brink. Ding-dong! [You have encountered an unprecedented danger.] [In this situation, you have poured all of your instinct to survive and your reason into sensing mana through your mana circle.] [This extreme experience has dramatically enhanced the Asrahan Precision Diagnosis you have been using.] [The ability of the Asrahan Precision Diagnosis you used is expanding.] [Asrahan Precision Diagnosis evolves into an official option of your skill, .] [Option function is added to the skill.] [Skill-specific Option 1: Meridian Scanning Within a range of 10 meters, you can scan and understand the movement of meridians flowing inside the targets body in real time. (Limited to living creatures / Number of targets that can be locked on at once: 1)] ! Suddenly, a message popped up in front of him, and he began to perceive every single meridian, the flow of energy, and the predicted movements of the rampaging Minotaur beyond the sail. It was as though he had activated a map hack. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 69 Chapter 69I Next Raciel was astounded. Every detaily bare before his eyes, as if he had activated some sort of map hack. He could perceive every aspect of his opponent in real-time, an ability he couldnt believe was real. I cant believe this His first reaction was skepticism. Initially, he had acted purely out of survival instinct. Facing the Minotaurs overwhelming violence, he had desperately rolled and dodged, fearing a miserable death in that perilous ce. However, it seemed that his frantic efforts had borne unexpected fruit. At the most critical moment, he acquired an essential ability. Meridian Scanning? The Asrahan Precision Diagnosis It evolved into a formal skill option? Raciel hastily examined the message that appeared before him. [Skill Exclusive Option 1: Meridian Scanning Within a range of 10 meters, you can scan and understand the movement of the meridians flowing inside the body of the target in real-time. (Limited to living entities / Number of targets that can be locked on: 1)] He nced up. Through the thick sail that covered him like a nket, he saw green text floating in his line of sight, indicating . Below it, the imposing figure of the Minotaur was outlined in green. Yes, the Minotaur whose name appeared on the health check was Uruus. . Raciel could observe every movement of Uruus. He saw the basics, such as the movements of its muscles and joints, but he could also perceive the flow of Qi within its body. He could discern the route taken by mana, which meridian it lingered in, and where it flowed. The function of the mana flow stimting nerves, moving tendons and muscles in certain parts, and even how its breathing process worked. Heart and lungs. Small intestine andrge intestine. Stomach and liver. He could see the harmonious functioning of all these organs and how this harmony affected the creatures actions. Raciel could see everything clearly andpletely. Unbelievable. Isnt this like a cheat? He couldnt help but think that. Muoook! Uruus roared from above, and Raciel could see the Qi flowing down its spine. Just below the seventh thoracic vertebra (T7), there was a spot hollowed out underneath its spinous process, which, in humans, would be the location of the Zhiyang point. It was shining brightly. The light flowed through the muscle shrinking point on the ninth thoracic vertebra (T9) like an electric current. It then swiftly settled into the Fengshi point on the outside of its right thigh. At the same time, Uruus raised its right leg. Its going to stomp! The moment the Yanglingquan point, located in the hollow where the kneecap and the top of the calf bone meet, glowed brightly, Raciel could predict where its right hoof wouldnd. He knew the angle of muscle movement. The point and timing of impact. All of this was evident to him, without the need for any calctions. Whew! Raciel rolled his body twice to the left. Immediately afterward, Uruus right hoof crashed down exactly where he had been lying. The timing was precisely as he had predicted. Tuquazzuck-! Now he understood the power of this option, Meridian Scanning. Its unbelievably potent! It was indeed real. No exaggeration or bluff. Its an insane ability. Despite the intense tension and sweat-inducing moments, he couldnt help but marvel. And for a good reason. The Asrahan Core Technique he had used for mana detection was fundamentally different. Before, I could only detect a patients mana. When treating Georges brain disease or Anises tail, I used the Asrahan Core Technique. Thanks to the Asrahan Precision Diagnosis, I could detect the flow of mana in the patients meridians in real-time. But this Meridian Scanning option? Its on a whole other level. The Asrahan Precision Diagnosis and its evolved form, Meridian Scanning, felt worlds apart. The Asrahan Precision Diagnosis could only detect stationary targets within a range of less than 1 meter. Moreover, using it demanded intense focus, as if taking an important exam. He had to concentrate solely on detecting mana, and sustaining that concentration was aborious task. But now? I dont have to concentrate like that anymore. By simply activating the option, it automatically detects mana for me, right? Thanks to this newfound ability, Raciel could roll and move freely without losing focus on his detection. Also, the range is 10 meters. I can fully analyze the Qi of a moving target. This is a huge difference. This evolution was like an explosion of power, igniting a faint spark of confidence within him. I can do this. I can evade. I can survive. Kwang! Kwajack! Kwagudek! Muoook-! Hooves dropped, fists smashed the ground, and horns tore through the deck, but Raciel could foresee every move. He knew where the Minotaur would strike and the methods he would employ. He carefully studied every detail, sessfully evading Uruus relentless attacks. As he observed, Uruus roar grew fiercer. Phew, isnt he getting tired? Raciel sneaked a peek at Uruus heart. It seemed to suffer from angina, as the blood flow appeared ragged. Yet, due to its inherent strength, it remained surprisingly active. In fact, it seemed almost frantic. Seeing this heightened Raciels anxiety. This cant go on. Suddenly, he realized that merely dodging would lead to no resolution. That was the natural conclusion. Theres limited space to escape here. Unless I jump off the ship, Ill have to keep avoiding him within this confined area. But can I do that? It would be impossible. He was already running out of breath. However, Uruus, the king Minotaur, was still quite energetic. Angina? Im weaker than him. My stamina will deplete first. Even if I predict urately, I need the energy to move my body ordingly. Without the ability to execute those movements, evasion and everything else bes useless. One good hit, and Ill be fatally injured. I cant die like this. So, before his energy runs out, he need a n. Oh, this is crazy. It was the only solution he could think of, the only feasible method. Just thinking about it made his teeth chatter. Ive never done this in Korea! He headed toward the ripped sail while narrowly dodging Uruus fists that struck the deck twice. Reaching the gap in the sail, he stood up, gazing at the cool night sky with Uruus standing tall in front of him. Puruk! Uruus noticed him and snorted vigorously, but Raciel had neither the intention nor the luxury to respond. Ignoring the beast, he ran towards Kozumi. Kozumi, give me one thorn! He rushed towards the helm and shouted at Kozumi, who was present. Had his shout reached it properly? Raciel saw Kozumi curl up, putting strength into his back. Kooooo! Pop! One thorn was plucked from Kozumis back. Throw it here! Koooo! Kozumi threw the thorn. It was quiterge as it had been plucked out in its erged state. Raciel swiftly caught it, realizing that it was nearly 1.5 meters long. Perfect. He gripped the middle of the thorn. It felt like holding a spear. With his other hand, he pulled out a small disk from his pocket. It was the Shield of Frost, Perennial Snow, that he had obtained a while ago. As soon as he pulled it out, he injected mana into it. The reaction was immediate. Patsusus! A chilling sound erupted from the t center of the disk. Simultaneously, a white cold mist, simr to dry ice, spewed out. A 1.2-meter radius frost shield formed instantly. Kagagak! Raciel stopped running and turned his body 180 degrees to face Uruus. Holding Perennial Snow up, he took a defensive stance. Through the gap in the sail, he aimed the giant thorn at the charging Minotaur. His stance was reminiscent of the Spartan warriors he had seen in a movie. Now, ready to treat todays rampaging patient! Merely dodging was not the answer. Instead, he would use his remaining energy to bring this to an end. He would utilize the meridian scanning option to paralyze the Minotaurs muscles one by one by targeting its meridians. With this resolution, Raciel raised his head, and Uruus was already charging towards him. Puruk! Muo-! Kwakwakwa-! Uruus charged with its horns lowered, filling the space with its imposing figure. For a moment, Raciels legs wavered, wondering why he was doing this. But he quickly encouraged himself. Show them. You can predict it. Soyou can avoid it! He thought of the matadors of Spain. Not too hastily. If fear overpowers you and you dodge too early, the bull will easily pursue you. So, maintain a distance where the bull cant react, and only when your safety is minimally ensured, at that precise moment when these two conditions are met Now! Tadat! The bulls movement was visible through meridian scanning. Thanks to this, he could predict the point and timing of the attack. He identified a blind spot and took two steps towards it. Hooong-! One horn whizzed past the side of his head with immense momentum. At that moment, he swiftly bent his waist and rolled forward. Ugh! Boom! Boom! The enormous head and neck of Uruus, along with its throbbing chest muscles and armpit, zoomed past him like an express train. He quickly got back on his feet and turned around. Crash! The Uruuss back plowed the deck floor with its horn, not realizing that it had missed its attack, continuing its charge blindly, swinging its head. In that moment, he saw it. The tender area around the creatures waist. The spleen acupoint (), right beside the edge of the 11th thoracic vertebra (T11). In other words, where the erector spinae muscle line is! That spot filled his vision. He sprinted towards it, putting all his strength into the run, even amplifying the breath he had been holding. [Activating the discharge function of slot 1.] [Please set the discharge amount.] All of it! The circle slot started rotating at full speed in reverse. [Releasing the 12 liters of air stored in the circle slot.] He applied the discharge force to his toes. At that moment, he stomped on the deck. Boom! An air bomb exploded from his toes, propelling him forward like an air rocket. As he soared through the air, he kicked off the ground and pulled back his spear. He aimed at the spleen acupoint, which was approaching rapidly. He thrust his spear into it like a sharp dagger. But then it was blocked. What-? Huh? Despite putting his entire body into the attack, his spear failed to prate the creatures tough skin. He had timed it perfectly, yet his spear couldnt even scratch the creatures hide and bounced off! -Ugh? Boom! The recoil from his full-strength stab surged back through the spear. It felt as if he had sprinted 100 meters towards a solid wall and was flung back. Ugh! Crash! Bang! Helplessly, he was flung back onto the deck, tumbling over three times. He lost his grip on the spear. Everything was spinning around him, and he feltpletely disoriented. Quick, quickly. Despite feeling dizzy, he urgently tried to stand up. He reached out his hand to grab his spear. But then. Mooo. Right above his head, he heard the creatures rough breath. Simultaneously, a giant shadow enveloped him. He looked up immediately, and thats when he saw it. Rooooooar! A massive fist was hurtling towards him. ! Predictions? Acupoint scanning? He could see it all. But to avoid it, it was too Its toote! The moment he realized it, Raciel activated the Perennial Snow, using it as a shield to crouch down and jump back. He should have felt like he was hit by a dump truck. ! But there was neither a loud noise nor an impact. He felt nothing. What. Was he hit? No, he had defended himself. Raciel looked around dazedly. Pieces of cold energy sparkled all around, scattering like beautiful stars in the night sky. Perennial Snow It shattered in one strike. Then what about him? What happened to him? The pieces of Perennial Snow were getting farther away. The scenery around him was moving slowly. He was flying. No, he was being blown away. The crew members stared at him in shock. Demian was half-fallen, shouting something. Then came the rapid approach of the fall. Crash! Bang! ! A scream was beyond his strength. Like a kite with a severed string, he crashed onto the deck. He didnt know how many times he tumbled or in what position he ended up sprawled in. A hollowugh was the only thing that came out in his stunned state. Am I alive? Face down, he barely lifted his gaze. His fingers twitched and trembled. Seeing that, he knew. For now, he was alive. Mostly thanks to Perennial Snow that absorbed most of the shock. But now, it felt like he was about to die. His whole body was unbearably painful. No, pain was secondary. Kuwoong Thud The heavy footsteps were approaching. A violent snort on one side. The silhouette of a victorious monster was getting closer. It seemed that brute intended to make an example out of him. Is this the end? A strong sense of reality. Goosebumps sprouted. His fingertips cooled. He hated it. Dying in a ce like this. Ending up so pitifully. He still didnt want to give up. So, whatever it is. Any sort of thing. Geu, geuht! He tried to stand. With trembling hands, he forced them to move, pushing against the ground. Splinters from broken wood pierced his palms. Uhht! The sharp pain awakened his senses. He could distinctly feel each piece of splinter that lodged into his palm. But it wasnt just the splinters he felt. Something was clutched in his hand. A leather pouch? It was the pouch he always carried. One side had been torn open. He could see the contents spilling out through the tear. Things he had received while summoning a Phantom Beast. Magical seeds that could enhance the physique of a Phantom Beast. Sunflower seeds. A red sunflower seed filled his sight. At that moment, suddenly, an impossible possibility came to mind. Perhaps. Something he had never tried before. But maybe. Really, maybe. Could it be possible? .. Under normal circumstances, he would have dismissed it as madness. Laughing at the idea of such a ridiculous thing. But not now. Phuruk! The Uruus raised its fist above his head. Hecked the strength to avoid it. Something, anything. Now was the time when he had to do it. Grip! He held the seed tightly and brought it to his mouth. He tossed it in and chewed. He fervently prayed. No matter how ridiculous the possibility seemed. Even if it was a vain hope. He wanted something to happen. Please. At that moment. .Hwaaack! The world seemed to shrink. No, he was now at eye level with the Minotaur. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 70 Chapter 70I Next What defines a miracle? Is it an oue gifted during moments of desperate hope? Or perhaps its the unexpected hope found on the brink of despair, defying all odds. Ding dong! The sound resonated fiercely in Raciels head, apanied by a breathless message that popped up before his eyes. But there was no time to read it. Mooooo! A scream echoed, an outcry of danger. A gigantic fist came crashing down. ! Was this the end? Instinctively, Raciel tightly shut his eyes and raised his hands in a futile attempt to protect himself from the inevitable. And then something incredible happened he blocked the Minotaurs colossal fist. Thump-! Huh? An immense shock surged through his arm. His shoulder joint nearly dislocated. It felt as though he had used his arm to stop a massive club, causing a painful sensation that could have easily resulted in a severe injury or, at the very least, a bruise. But wait a second. Did he just block the descending fist of the Minotaur? Am I already dead? Was this a bewildering mix of sensations experienced in the moment of being punched to death? Or was he hallucinating as his life slipped away? However, reality proved otherwise. Huff? The King Minotaur, Uruus, snorted loudly, and his hot breath hit Raciels cheek. Raciel winced in response and opened his eyes. What he saw astonished him. Huh? Uruuss massive face was right in front of his nose, ring at him while snorting roughly. Again, the beasts breath enveloped him in its pungent odor. Ugh, the smell. An intense stench overwhelmed Raciel. There was no doubt about it this sensation was definitely not a hallucination or a misconception. Huff! Huff! Thud! Thud! Uruus, panting heavily, pressed down with his fists. Ugh! The raised arms were straining under the tremendous weight. It felt as though a massive rock was bearing down on him. But what he was holding up with his arms was Huh? Uruuss fists. Raciel was indeed blocking Uruuss fists with his arms. However, something else seemed off. Did this Minotaur shrink? Uruuss fist had been asrge as a rock before, unquestionably bigger than Raciels body. But now, it looked no bigger than a well-ripened melon. Not only his fist. The massive figure standing over 7 meters tall? No, it was now just slightly taller than Raciel, with a back that wasnt significantlyrger. In other words The size difference its gone. What just happened? All Raciel did was struggle to survive and attempted something desperate consuming the red sunflower seed, exclusive to the Phantom Beasts. But the Minotaur that was trying to kill me has shrunk to a size simr to mine? Does that make any sense? The first thought that came to mind was that this event was strange and impossible. But at that moment, it became evident that Uruus was not pleased with Raciels stunned reaction. Huff! Mooooo-! Uruus unclenched his fists, swiftly extending his palm to grab Raciels cor. In an instant, he lifted him effortlessly and flung him around like a ragdoll. Ugh! Boom-! The impact of Raciel hitting the ground resembled that of an overturned dump truck. Not only that, half of the previously intact ship hull was nowpletely crushed beneath his back! What just happened? Raciel was baffled by the sudden turn of events. Uruus now appeared to be of simr size to him, but when he fell, his back crushed the ships hull. This realization led him to an astonishing thought. Did I grow? With urgency, Raciel raised his head and gazed at the night sky with the fleeting moon, the approaching Uruus, and something in between a red warning message. Recalling the earlier ding dong notification, Raciel quickly scanned the messages contents. [WARNING!] [You have unauthorizedly ingested the Red Sunflower Seed for Phantom Beasts!] [The Red Sunflower Seed can cause extreme and sudden side effects on the human body. If ingested, please consult with a doctor, pharmacist, or oriental medicine doctor.] But Im in the wilderness? His shoulders tensed unconsciously, but he forced himself to focus on the message. [The red sunflower seed you consumed has triggered an unstable gigantification effect.] [You are not a Phantom Beast, but a human.] [Therefore, the gigantification effect is limited to 3 minutes.] [Serious side effects will ur after the termination of gigantification.] [You will fall into aa for 120 hours (5 days) after the end of the gigantification.] [Current remaining gigantification duration: 2 minutes 37 seconds] . Putting the pieces together, Raciel came to a realization. Thanks to the red sunflower seed, he had grown to a size simr to that of the Minotaur for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. But when that time ends, he would fall into aa for 5 days. If I cant deal with the Minotaur within the next 2 minutes and 30 seconds, Im done for. In this chaotic situation, he would be utterly powerless. In other words, he was facing a 100% chance of death. Aah! The realization spurred him into action. Raciel forced himself to rise from the ground, enduring the pain from the earlier punch. He noticed that his increased size seemed to be protecting him from fatal injuries. It hurts, but I wont die from this! Previously, even a slight touch from Uruus could have meant certain death or severe injuries. Now, even if he got hit, he could withstand the impact. I remember high school! There was a time when he stood up to bullies. He asked them why he had to do as they ordered. He got beaten up quite badly. The feeling of confronting Uruus now forcibly recalled that past memory(?). This will give me PTSD, for sure! Huff! Huff! Raciel stood up, facing Uruus at their now simr eye level. The Minotaur looked bewildered, and the flow of its Qi, visible through the Meridian Scanning option. Now! Time was running out, and there was no room for hesitation. With approximately 2 minutes and 20 seconds remaining, Raciel swiftly lunged forward, bending his body to pick up the dropped thorn of Kozumi. Uruus responded with a resounding -Moo! and lowered his body, preparing for a headbutt. A headbutt! Realizing the Minotaurs intent, Raciel swiftly jumped off the deck and propelled himself into the air, avoiding the oing charge. Crash-! As fragments of the splintered deck flew around, Raciel soared over Uruus, who was charging with his horns forward, and reached out to grab its tail. Hended and clung onto the rampaging beast from behind. Moo! Uruus retaliated, swinging its elbow towards Raciels face. The blow connected, causing a sh before Raciels eyes, and he tasted the metallic tang of blood. Blood from my nose? Seems like his nose was bleeding. But there was no time to wipe it. The remaining time is 2 minutes 10 seconds! Raciel hung on to the rampaging Uruus from behind. And he raised the hand that was holding the thorn. He thrust it down with all his might. Thump! Maybe it was because he had gotten bigger and heavier. The thorn pierced through the tough hide! It hit the hollow part behind the sternocleidomastoid muscle, diagonally cutting across the neck, right by the side of the throat, urately hitting the Tianyou acupoint. Huff! But it was too shallow. He could see the flow of mana passing through Uruus Tianyou acupoint via Meridian Scanning. The tip of the thorn did not touch that flow. The reason was simple. Damn, this crappy physical strength! Despite growing in size and weight, his naturally weak muscr strength did not allow him to drive the thorn in deep enough. Moo! Uruus, feeling the sting of the thorn, began to struggle violently. But Raciel was determined to survive and refused to give up. He climbed onto Uruuss back, straddling him, and wrapped his legs around the Minotaurs waist, holding on tightly like a rodeo rider. Demian! Raciel called out to Demian, the only one who could assist in the current situation. Demian responded to the cry and came running. Raciel quickly instructed him: Come! Woah! This thorn! Back! Hit! Uruus continued his wild rampage, and Raciel desperately clung to his back, still holding the thorn to the celestial artery. Had he understood his intention? Demian came running with a limp. He threw himself. Whoosh! The sword in his hand shone coldly. He hit hard on the backside of the thorn Raciel was holding. Crack! The impact drove the thorn about 10 centimeters deep into Uruuss thick cowhide. Finally, it properly pierced the Minotaurs celestial artery. Muooooo! Uruuss writhing intensified. But Raciel had no intention of stopping the procedure. Because he had to survive. Because he had to stop Uruuss rampage. Therefore, he first had to calm this guy down. I need to incapacitate him. Killing him? No. Thats impossible for me. Although the size is simr, I am still frail. Because this guy is stronger than me. Ive just managed to pierce the skin with the thorn. So, killing him would be tough. Especially, its absolutely impossible to kill this guy in about 2 minutes left. So, the remaining method is? I have to calm him down. Paralysis? No. Its impossible because he is so excited and running wild. I dont have the poison I used for the procedure on Anises tail. So, the best thing I can do now is to calm down his excited state and end the frenzy. Then I have a chance. Even if I faint, the remaining Demian and the rest of the guards will be able to stand up somehow. He repeatedly made a cool calction. In doing so, he saw the point. Demian and the guards, special duty guards, who are now watching him with shocked eyes on the other side. Thanks to him who bought time while wrestling with Uruus, they seemed to have somewhat recovered from the hit. Thats enough. If he calms the Uruus down, if he ends the frenzy, then they can take care of the rest. I need to calm down the excitement of the nervous system. Lets reduce the excitability of the sympathetic nervous system and activate the parasympathetic nervous system. With a clear conclusion in mind, Raciel knew what he needed to do. Kozumi! Thorn! Holding onto Uruus, he called out, and Kozumi responded promptly. Koooo! Pop! Pop! Kozumi pulled out thorns one after another and threw them one by one at Raciel. As he caught them, Raciel swiftly stuck them into Uruuss body. Cheonlyo-hyeol ()! The thorn was carefully ced into the hollow area at the highest point of the shoulder bone, near the superior angle of the scap. Demian! Without hesitation, Demian leaped into action. He swung down his sword with force, striking the thorn like a hammer. Thanks to his swift action, the thorn prated through the tough cowhide. Muooooo! Uruuss wild rampage intensified, but Raciel didnt stop there. Gye-maek-hyeol ()! Demian! Crack! Another thorn was mercilessly stuck in a point diagonally down from the back of the ear, where Gye-maek-hyeol was located. Raciel saw the acupoint briefly glow as he continued to stick the thorns following the Hand Shaoyang Sanjiao Meridians acupoint flow. Yepung! Boom! The next thorn found its ce a little below Gye-maek-hyeol, and the following one was ced just above the auricr apex. Gakson! Crack! Muooooooo! Did he feel that he was doing something? Uruuss rampage became even rougher. But Raciel also clung desperately. And he repeated to himself as if brainwashing himself. This guy is a patient. A child patient who is throwing a tantrum because he doesnt want to get a shot. But the child is just a bit too robust. Thats all! This mental reframe bolstered Raciels confidence, and a professional sense of duty emerged within him. Stay still and Ill give you candy! Thunk! Thest thorn was aimed at Imun-hyeol. Following the direction from the ear to the face, Raciel fiercely stabbed the thorn into the hollow ce right in front of the supratragic notch, where two ear creases meet to form a valley. With a strong strike from Demian, the thorn was firmly pushed in. The effects were evident. Muuo! Uruuss rampage came to an abrupt halt. The bloodshot lines in his eyeballs faded, and his previously rapid breathing, muscr tension, and internal movements all became calm. His heart rate, too, slowed down. Thump-! Thump! Thump. As Uruuss cardiovascr system, previously partially blocked by a blood clot, began to undergo changes, its coronary artery dted, and the stagnant myocardial blood flow improved. The myocardiums oxygen demand significantly decreased, and the excruciating pain that had gripped its heart vanished as if washed away. Uruuss once fiercely gleaming eyes transformed into a state of calm. Mu, Muuuo? The intense re that Uruus had directed at Raciel, akin to that of an enemy, now slowly and surely softened into the gaze of gratitude, recognizing Raciel as its benefactor for treating its ailment. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 71 Chapter 71I Next .Muuu? Uruus, the king Minotaur, felt something he had never experienced before a surge of intense emotions, a warm sensation he never imagineding from a human. Gasp.Huu! Raciel staggered back from Uruus. Surprisingly, Uruus did not attack him; instead, he looked at him with an unfamiliar wavering gaze. Muuu. Not long ago, Uruus had harbored a desperate desire to kill this human. He knew that Raciel was the leader of the city, and by killing him, he could drive away the rest of the humans and destroy the city, letting out his anger. That was his firm intention to kill that human. But what actually happened? Muuu. His pained chest, which had felt like it was being crushed by a massive iron lump, now felt cleansed. The intense pain vanishedpletely. How? He couldntprehend it. However, it was evident that the pain disappeared after that human pierced him with a huge thorn. It was that human who had healed him. He helped and alleviated his suffering. That human was his benefactor. Pufff! Muuu, Muuu.! Uruuss enormous nostrils quivered. Hisrge, ck pupils began to glisten with moisture. He felt gratitude and remorse. He had wanted to kill Raciel, but despite that, the human took hits to help him. Then it happened. Raciel gazed at him with contented eyes, despite sweating profusely and breathing heavily. Hu, Huu! Has your chest pain subsided? Thats a relief. Raciel said, his bright smile acting like an emotional railgun, striking Uruuss heart directly. Mu. Muuuu! Thump! Uruus kneeled. Raciels smile grew even brighter. He had no choice. He was overwhelmed by the flood of relief. Ah, I survived! Inside, Raciel felt relief. It was the Minotaur who had gone berserk. Raciel had risked his life to calm him down, using acupuncture. And the result? It seemed to be a tremendous sess. What a relief. His excitement has subsided, and the angina pectoris pain stopped at just the right time. Thanks to the Meridian Scanning option, Raciel could see the Minotaurs chest and the coronary arteries around his heart. The blood flow that was tangled up had returned to normal. But in reality, the disappearance of the angina pectoris pain was not solely due to acupuncture. It was just a coincidence. It was luck. The angina pectoris pain happened to subside when the acupuncture ended. Thats the nature of stable angina. The pain could be intense and then disappear. When someone is rushed to the hospital in an ambnce, the pain often subsides by the time they meet the doctor. But thats precisely why stable angina is dangerous. People tend to think they are fine once the pain disappears. They miss the right timing for examination and diagnosis. And it seemed that was what happened with Uruus. Anyway Fortunately, due to the timing of his angina pectoris pain subsiding, he mistakenly believes that I treated him. Judging by Uruuss behavior, it appeared so. In a way, it was fortunate. But still Im exhausted! Huu, huu! Raciel tried to calm hisbored breaths, but wrestling with a giant Minotaur had its aftereffects. He could even hear wheezing from his throat, possibly indicating an asthma re-up after a long time. Ding Dong! [Your Five Viscera and Six Bowels are in turmoil due to the drastic change in your condition.] [Heart: What is happening? What did you consume to grow sorge? The blood cirction and breathing seem abnormal. You might faint soon.] [Lung: Huu.hah] [Large Intestine: As your body grew bigger, the feces I held also increased in size.] [Liver: Thats not relevant now!] [Stomach: Ive be grand.] . Chaos reigned. The remaining time for the giantization was barely enough. He had something important to convey to Demian and the others. Gulp Huck! I have something to say. He tried to speak to hisrades. As soon as I return to my original size in a moment. Then it happened. Ding Dong! [Current remaining giantization time: 0 minutes 0 seconds] A clear notification echoed in his mind. A message appeared before his eyes, resolute and unyielding. [Giantization time has ended.] [The Red Sunflower Seed you took is intended for Phantom Beasts, not humans.] [As the giantization ends, severe side effects ur in your body.] [For the next 120 hours (5 days), you will fall into aa.] [Goodnight-?] ! That was it. The moment the final message appeared before his eyes, his vision rapidly darkened, narrowing until his eyes closed. Its toote There were still things to say. He needed to exin that he would be in aa for five days, that there was no need to worry, and that the Minotaur was now calm. I must tell them all. But he couldnt. His mouth refused to obey hismands. His eyes shut involuntarily. He reached out, but he couldnt feel where his hand was going. Crash! A sound of impact, or perhaps a distant echo reverberating in his head. Was he falling? Was this how he fell asleep? That was thest thing he experienced. Drool, pheeew Returning suddenly to his original size, Raciel sprawled out on the deck. Before anyone could say anything, he began snoring loudly. An eerie silence engulfed the deck. Everyone who had fought alongside Raciel, including Demian, who had swung his sword in harmony, Kozumi, who had been diligently removing thorns to throw, Anise, who had just regained consciousness after being knocked out, the guards tending to their wounds, the special duty guards supporting them, and the rest of the crew. They all questioned what they were witnessing. The crown prince, who had seemed on the verge of death, was pushed by the Minotaur, and inexplicably grew to the Minotaurs size. He then wrestled with the Minotaur and managed to calm it down. And now, he had lost consciousness and returned to his original size. Is this magic? Demian furrowed his brow. The crown prince had never disyed any proficiency in magic, and he had never heard of a growth magic capable of such a transformation. Its perplexing. However, there was no time for further contemtion. The Minotaur, which had been momentarily subdued, began moving again. Mooo, Moooo! Uruus roared. Was it out of renewed anger? Remembrance of his vow to crush all humans? None of that. Uruus roar carried astonishment and concern. Specifically, he was worried about Raciel. Moooo, Moooo! The kind man who had been smiling brightly had suddenly shrunk and copsed, losing consciousness. That alone was enough to cause grave concern. To make matters worse Rumble! Crash, thump, thump! An ominous sound emanated from beneath the ship. Seawater was flooding into the vessel, and desperate cries of sailors trapped in the cabin were audible to all. Pump the water out quickly! Faster! Hurry! Uh, were doing our best, navigator! Move quicker! Huk, huk! How can we move faster here? Find a way, damn it! Over there! Try to block it more effectively! We cant do it here The gap is too wide, whoof! Cough! Navigator! The flooding is getting worse! We cant stop it! We need to get to the deck fast! Otherwise, well all drown here! Hey! Theres a monster rampaging above us! If were going to die, Id rather die above water than be a drowned ghost! Everyone, stay where you are! Cant you hear me? Come down! It was chaos. In other words, the ship was sinking. And it was all his fault. Moooo! Uruus let out a desperate breath. His rampage had caused the ship to sink, but on the sinking ship, the kind man had copsed and lost consciousness. What would happen next? Mo! Mooo! Every human he had encountered so far had been selfish and cruel. Would they take care of the unconscious kind man on a sinking ship? No. He didnt think so. They would prioritize their own survival. In the process, they would likely abandon his benefactor. Eventually, he would die, sinking into the sea with the rest of the ship. He couldnt let that happen. He couldnt leave his benefactor to die. If no one else would save him, he would. He had a debt of gratitude to repay! Roaaar! Mooo! His decision was made. Uruus let out an even more intense roar. With a giant hand, he gently lifted the fallen Raciel. The sight of the Minotaur holding the crown prince caused an uproar among the surrounding humans. His Highness, the Crown Prince-! How dare he touch His Highness! Stop him! ng! Swoosh! In an instant, humans surrounded them, each one wielding a weapon swords, spears, or shields and aiming at Uruus. His eyes grew wilder at the sight, bringing back painful memories. Roar! It was just like when he had fallen into the hunters trap. The baby calf he had carried in his arms, hoping to save it. How desperately he had tried to protect those innocent ck eyes. Yet, humans were so cruel. He had failed to save the calf. He couldnt escape the human trap. Roar Somehow, todays situation felt eerily simr to that day. His benefactor, now in his arms, struggling to breathe. Yet, humans were cunning, blocking him from repaying his debt of gratitude. Roar! Roar! Mooo! Today would be different. He wouldnt allow himself to be crushed like on that fateful day. No matter what, he would protect his benefactor. He made a vow and charged forward. Roar! Thump Thump Thump Thump! He stormed across the deck, charging like a bull. No human dared to stand in his way. Grrr! The swords and spears of the royal guards were shattered instantly. The shields of the special duty guards were broken, and their corbones cracked. Thest one to confront Uruus was Demian. Heugh! Whoosh! Despite his injured leg, Demian moved like lightning, attempting a decisive sword strike at Uruuss lower body. But it was toote. Uruus charged faster than expected. Thud-! ! Uruuss giant horn rushed past Demian, who barely managed to block the attack, and pushed him back. Gruh! Demian regained his stance, attempting to counterattack. But he never got the chance. Uruus, breaking through thest line of defense, dashed past Demian. Roar! Thump thump thump thump! Breaking through the human defense, Uruus charged for freedom, for the safety of his benefactor! He leaped into the sea with Raciel in his arms, disying his impressive swimming skills. But Uruus didnt sink; instead, he quickly floated back to the surface. His broad, triangr body provided ample buoyancy. His dense fur, full of air bubbles, kept him afloat on the waves. Thus, Uruus, who had jumped into the sea, began cutting through the water like a living log, no, like an aircraft carrier, with his powerful one-horsepower (?) strength. Roar! Mooo! Mooo! In case Raciel fell into the water. In case Raciel swallowed water. Uruus carefully ced him on his own head and swam earnestly through the waves. It was incredibly fast. He moved straight out to the open sea, without hesitation. He quickly made his escape, disappearing into the distance. At that moment, everyone left on the ship had to realize. They had just witnessed the unprecedented event of the Crown Prince of the Magentano Dynasty being kidnapped by a Minotaur. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 72 Chapter 72I Next This must be a dream. Raciel knew the moment he lifted his head. In this dream-like state, Raciel, or rather, Lee Han, allowed a wry chuckle to escape him. Its been ages since this scene greeted me. Ate-night junction. Flickering traffic lights. Cabs disregarding traffic rules and driving recklessly. Inebriated folks trying to g those cabs. The night hummed with the peculiar quiet of crowded but silent people, and he was threading his way through them. Weaving slowly. Moving his tired feet homeward, to his dwelling. A little further and hell be there. Once there, he can rest in peace. The pace he maintained, constantly motivating himself. This was just like old times. I endured this every day during my freshman year. He was strapped for cash. It wasnt like he waspletely bereft of his fathers legacy. He also had the life insurance payout his father had left behind. But the majority had been exhausted on his mothers healthcare costs. After his mother also departed this world, the solitude was overwhelmingly painful. Academic grants? Governmental aid? Sure, they were useful. But they werent enough to live on. He was always short on cash for daily expenses. He had wanted to start tutoring, but that didnt pan out. Instead, he took up a part-time job at a local beer house near the university. Thats why I walked non-stop, day after day. Just like now. By the time he finished his shift, it was way past midnight. Bus? Subway? Obviously, they were not in service. The distance to his house seemed monumental. He was too frugal to spend the taxi money his employer handed him. He figured it would be better to save it for living necessities. So, he walked every day. He walked for over an hour to reach home. The all-too-familiar yet wearying nocturnal streets. The crossroads where he dragged his tired feet nightly. He never imagined he would be seeing it again. Yet heughed, even if it was only a dream. And then, it transpired. Rumble! A grating noise jolted the nighttime intersection. The traffic light suspended over the crossroads swayed. The taxi disregarding the signals was flung aside. The intoxicated pedestrians toppled over, and fissures appeared on the zebra crossing. The morning sun seemed to rise from the cracks in the tarmac. Emerging from that radiance, a figure approached him. A well-known silhouette. A silhouette he yearned for. Mom? His high school-era mother was drawing near. The mother who used to rouse him with her voice inviting him to breakfast, she smiled at him warmly. And then she said, Moo-! Ah! Lee Han, or rather, Raciel, jolted awake from his dream, his eyes darting around, his hands iling. Due to that, he ended up confronting it. Moo? Why was there an enormous buffalo, no, a bull, right in front of him? Its shiny ck nose, matched by even brighter eyes, stared at him and offered an inexplicable grin. Then. Slurp? It started to clean its own nose with its long tongue! Ew, disgusting! Was he still dreaming? It wouldnt dare lick him with that tongue, would it? A startled Raciel instinctively backed off. Then, Thud. Something came into contact with the hand he had propped behind him. It was an object that was cool, soft, and squashy. He automatically turned his head to look behind him. The item his hand had just touched was Seaweed? He observed a crushed mass of seaweed. As if it had been ttened by some industrial machinery or a press. Yet, there wasnt just one clump of seaweed. What on earth is this? Raciels gaze darted around in an attempt to assess his situation. His eyes scanned the stone flooring, the dark, moist cave around him, and he could faintly discern the sounds of the sea. Am I in a coastal cave? That was his first thought. Moo? Moo? The bull, having concluded its grooming session, began to move. It reached for a lump of seaweed that was cast aside, rolling it up and squeezing it tightly. Juice seeped out, which the bull began to consume before turning its gaze towards Raciel. Moo? Its expression seemed to question, Do youprehend? It appeared to be trying to exin something. Its elucidation(?) wasnt done. Moo, Moo! This time, the bull joined its hands, shaping them like a vessel, and raised them upwards. It mimicked catching rainwater and drinking from the formed hand-bowl. Is it saying it gathered rainwater for my consumption? And pressed out juice from the seaweed to feed me? Raciel began to faintlyprehend what the bull was attempting to convey. Simultaneously, he recognized anew the identity of the creature in front of him. But this creature, no, Minotaur this thing. Its Uruus. . The remnants of his sleepiness were abruptly washed away. Forgotten memories surged back into his mind. I am. Yes, he remembered. The turbulence of the night, the disintegrating government building, Uruus boarding the ship, struggling for survival, the red sunflower seeds, the monumental transformation, until he finally lost consciousness. where is this? This certainly wasnt the ship. There were no signs of Demian and the others. Phantom Beasts Kozumi and Poboki werent clutched in his arms either. The only upants of this seaside cave were him and Uruus. What happened while I was unconscious? He posed the question, not expecting a genuine answer. However, against all odds, Uruus responded immediately. Moowoo! Moowoo! Uruus rose to its full height, striking an imposing pose. Moowoo? Pufff! Moowoo! The creature joined his palms, and then mimicked a sinking motion. It took a moment for him to understand. Then it dawned on him. The ship? It sank? Moowoo! Nod nod! Uruus bobbed its giant head affirmatively and continued the miming. Mo! Pufff! The creature pointed towards Raciel and snorted. It simted the act of lifting him up, carrying him, jumping into something, and swimming. This signified You swam with me? All the way to this ce? Moowoo! Pufff! Uruus nostrils expelled air continuously. It breathed out in high spirits. It was then that Raciel understood the situation. He rescued me from the sinking ship and brought me here. Memories of the moments before he passed out shed in his mind. His attempt at an acupuncture treatment to soothe the creature. The sudden cessation of the creatures chest pain at the perfect moment, and it gratefully looking at him. He probably believes I cured him. So, does he consider me as his savior? It seemed usible. He swam across the ocean carrying Raciel, cared for him while he was unconscious. It appeared as though these actions were driven by his misconstrued belief (?) of Raciel as a benefactor. Hehe. Hehehe. Understanding the full context, a hollowugh escaped from him. The irony was unmistakable. Ive be the savior of a Minotaur. Indeed, it was a one-sided misunderstanding. However, he had no ns to clear up the confusion. On the contrary, he was considering ways to reinforce the misunderstanding. Absolutely. This is an opportunity! Such a misunderstanding was more than wee. He needed to make sure this belief became deeply rooted and continued to persist. Then, the Minotaur that I coveted even at the auction will apany me voluntarily! A mischievous grin stretched across Raciels face. Free things were always appreciated. Be it free ramen, free cookies, or even promotional giveaways. There was never a downside to receiving something for free. Especially, a Minotaur, an entity that was so sought after that even reservations ended up in a sold-out scenario. Acquiring it free of cost? The situation couldnt get any better. Resisting the urge to break into a joyful dance, Raciel cleared his throat. Then, he looked into Uruusrge, ck eyes, which reflected the echoes of battle cries, and stated, Firstly, my gratitude to you. Moowoo! Uruus breathing grew even more robust. With his palm acting as a shield against Uruus snorting nose, he continued, You came to my aid and took care of me without being asked. I genuinely appreciate it. In return, I wish to assist you as well. Moo-woo? Your chest. Tap tap. He pointed at the creatures heart area. It was causing you significant pain, wasnt it? During my unconscious period, did it cause any more difort? Mooo-woo? Mooo-woo-woo! Nod nod. Uruus shook its head, prompting Raciel to continue. Thats good to hear. But, theres something you need to be aware of. The pain in your chest isntpletely gone. Moo-woo-woo? Currently, the pain is merely dormant. If left unattended, it could be unbearably painful. Moo-woo-woo-woo? Therefore, I propose a thorough diagnosis, followed by a proper treatment n. May I take your pulse? Moo-woo-woo-woo-woo? We are friends, arent we? Moo-woo! Upon hearing the word friend from the being who helped him, Uruus expressed his joy through a quivering smile. Concurrently, a shrewd grin danced on Raciels face. Excellent, if I wish to leverage this creature in the future, its vital to ensure its health. I need to keep him alive. Thats how Ill consistently obtain the finest galldder bile juice. The top-tier bile juice is always procured from a living bovine. Therefore, Uruus mustnt perish. His health should not deteriorate, as it would disrupt the bile juice production. He needs to maintain his health and continue producing bile juice for an extended period. So, once youre under my care, theres no room for death. He wouldnt allow unauthorized illnesses. He would take all necessary measures to ensure health, even if imposed. Reminded of his self-serving resolution, Raciel focused his mind. He activated the Palpation skill and set the mana circle in motion. Ding-dong! [Palpation Skill Exclusive Option : Meridian Scanning is activated.] [The target of Palpation has been sessfully locked-on.] Kiieing! His view altered. The entire world took on darker hues, except for Uruus colossal body, which was highlighted with bright, fluorescent green outlines. Simultaneously, Uruus internal body structure was revealed. The movement of meridians within him, their flow pattern, the smooth flow areas, and the chaotic ones were all vividly visible. Raciels attention was particrly on the condition of Uruus heart and the surrounding coronary arteries. Fortunately the advancement of angina isnt severe. The energy flow in the coronary arteries was slow, likely due to the formation of blood clots. However, it wasnt a critical stage. We couldmence treatment once we return to Cremo. Now, how about the galldder? Raciel shifted his gaze to Uruus right nk, inspecting the galldders location. His eyes widened in surprise shortly after. Its present. Moo-woo? You. Did you notice any swelling in this nk region whenever you chewed for the past couple of years? Mooo, Mooo-woo-woo? Moo-woo! Nod nod! Uruus nodded enthusiastically, unable to conceal his astonishment. The difort he had been silently enduring, believing it to be a males duty to cope with such minor inconveniences, was identified in an instant by his benefactor. This revtion heightened his admiration for Raciel, who continued to exin. Theres something lodged in there. If we remove it, the difort will cease. Mooo? Really? Uruus questioned, to which Raciel responded with a cheeky smile. Ill extract it for you right now. ..Mooo? Now? Here? The thought was somewhat daunting. He wasnt nning on conducting surgery, was he? Raciels smirk broadened, as if he could sense Uruus trepidation. You wont experience any pain. Nor will it be fatal. Just follow my instructions. Mooo? Now, raise two fingers. Moo wooo! Press firmly here. Moo wooo wooo! Apply more pressure. .Mooo! Well done. Now, over here. Mooo! Squeak! Uruus, obediently following Raciels instructions, applied pressure to various parts of his body. He was oblivious to the fact that he was hitting crucial acupressure points. The points included the Yuanxi Acupoint between the fourth intercostal spaces above the mid-axiry line, the Riyue acupoint between the seventh ribs in the chest region, the Wuchu acupoint located 3 cun below the navel, inside the anterior superior spine, and the Zhongdu acupoint on the outer side of the thigh, behind the iliotibial band. Unbeknownst to him, he was pressing on the main points of the shaoyang galldder meridian. The acupressure, with its immense force, significantly influenced the Qi flow. This, in turn, led to alterations that Raciel could clearly detect through the Meridian scanning option. Good. The next point is here. He gestured towards Uruuss forehead. The Yangbai acupoint, a point that ascends from the middle of the eyebrows to the forehead. Mooo! As Uruus pressed down hard on the Yangbai points on both sides of his forehead, he suddenly began hupping. .Mooo? H? H! His eyes widened in surprise, but Raciel merely smiled contentedly, sensing their near sess. He motivated Uruus, exuding assurance. Now, just one more spot remains. Here! He pointed at Uruuss sr plexus. And clenched his fist. Ball your hand into a fist and hit as hard as you can. Do it now! ..Mooo? Hic! Mooo! Uruus paused briefly but had chosen to trust Raciel. Prepared(?) for what was toe, he formed a mace-sized fist andnded a powerful blow on his sr plexus. Boom! At that moment, Mooo? A wave of nausea swept over him. Something sizable seemed to be propelling itself upwards, akin to a forceful salmon swimming upstream, coursing its way up through his stomach and esophagus. And then.. .Ugh. h! He retched. A pyramid-shaped, greenish tetrahedron was expelled, and just as it was about to hit the ground, Raciel reached out. Thud! He caught the chunk mid-air, his face spreading into a wide grin. Done! The mass that Uruus had just disgorged was a sight for sore eyes. Incredible. Amazing. Of the utmost quality, without a doubt. It was the moment when the special S+ grade Minotaur galldder was secured. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 73 Chapter 73I Next There was a time when he should have led a life centered on himself, a life that sought only wealth. When he raised his gaze, realization dawned he was in the midst of a dream. A softugh escaped from Demian, surprised by the familiarity of the scene. It has been ages since Ist saw this scene. The setting was an aged sewer, with decaying wooden nks scattered around. Rats were skittering between them, chased by a hand intent on swatting them away. And he was the one moving that hand. Swinging it to and fro. His frail hand would wave, expressing his irritation, as his brows furrowed. His sole aim was to keep the rats at bay, so he could sleep in peace. The narrative he had fed himself was indeed a banquet of deceit. It felt uncannily like the past. As a child, this was my everyday routine. The sewer served as their home a sanctuary for him and his mother, and them alone. His father was an absent figure. To be exact, he had never encountered him. ording to his mother, he was a man of nobility, belonging to a distinguished lineage. His mother would often say that he should find his father when he grew older. But her words found no resonance in him. It just didnt seem usible. The harsh truth of their existence was too overpowering. The morsels of bread his mother procured through begging? The coins stumbled upon in the streets by sheer luck? These were far from sufficient. The food was always scarce, and his mothers medication was a necessity too. Life was akin to a dposing nk in a sewer, filled with hardship and humiliation. Money was needed, and the thought of resorting to theft crossed his mind, but it wasnt feasible. Instead, he was forced to beg alongside his mother. Thats why I found myself shooing away rats, day after day. Just like now. While begging, beatings were amon urrence. Attempts to shield his head from a kick? His hand would invariably end up wounded. Bandages? Medication? Such things were out of their reach. His hands and fingers were perpetually covered in scabs. Receiving any form of treatment was an impossibility. Even having a clean cloth to wrap around his wounds was a luxury they couldnt afford. So, he cried every day. His sobs echoed in the sewer as he hid his injuries, the rancid odor of the ce serving as a harsh reminder of their circumstances. The disgusting rats that would congregate around his scabs each night He never thought he would revisit those moments, even in a dream. Even though it was a dream, he found it amusing. But then, something happened. Zap! A sharp noise reverberated throughout the humid sewer. The rotten nk in the sewer shook, sending the pestering rats scurrying into the distance. Flies dropped from the air as bubbles began to surface in the filthy water, littered with waste. A cold crescent moon rose from the bubbles. A figure emerged slowly from within the moon. A silhouette he found endearing. A silhouette he longed for. Mother? His mother from those days was approaching him. The same mother who would use whatever rags she could find to keep him warm each night. She smiled wearily at him and said, Youre even sleeping in such a situation. Im not sure whether to call you audacious or shameless. .. Demian awakened from his dream, his cold eyes sparkling. Any remorse over the dream, which was a blend of affection and sadness? Certainly not. Instead, he turned towards the direction from where the voice had emanated. A man with a gaunt face stood there. An interrogator. Three days ago, an inquisitor from the Imperial Pce was dispatched to Cremo. As he faced the interrogators emotionless, or rather, cold and calcting gaze, Demian was left with a thought. He should have led a life centered on himself, a life that sought only wealth. In my two decades as an interrogator, youre the first one to doze off like this. Napping while I stepped out for a bit? Despite being bound to a chair? Ha. The inquisitorughed, seemingly amused by the absurdity of the situation. Then he asked, Your name is Demian Cayeen, correct? Have you still not grasped the seriousness of your current predicament? I have. You have? .. So a person who knows that the Crown Prince has been abducted by the Minotaurus, whose life hangs in the bnce, and is being investigated under the cloud of this suspicion and ountability, can sleep soundly? Really? .. Because you havent allowed me a wink of sleep in the past three days. Youve locked me up in this dank underground cell and subjected me to the same line of questioning under the guise of interrogation. Demian thought to himself. The interrogator scowled. It has been six days since the Crown Prince was taken by the beast. The news took a day to reach the Imperial City, and another two days for me to arrive here. During these three days, you and your fellow alleged conspirators in this ce have squandered precious time pretending to search for him. You havent found the Prince. Worse, you havent found even the simplest of clues or evidence. Where the Minotaur escaped to. Its motives behind creating such havoc. Where is Guines, who purchased the Minotaur at the auction house that day, vanished to amidst the chaos. Youve discovered no leads, you and your lot. Do you have a defense? Or are you going to im that you tried your hardest, but there was nothing you could do? No. From my perspective, its different. You didnt fail to uncover the clues, you overlooked them. Or concealed them. With the intention to harm the Crown Prince. Am I correct? The interrogator leaned forward, close enough to study him with a cold, analytical gaze. Again. The same questions that had been posed to him over thest three days. By now, he could recite them verbatim. Demian posed a counter-question. Do you intend to conclude that I, the mayor of Cremo and all those who apanied the Crown Prince conspired with a mere beast, the Minotaur, to kidnap and harm the Crown Prince? I dont aim to jump to such a conclusion, I aim to expose the truth. With a candid confession. Why? Do you believe its absurd? Of course it is Indeed, I acknowledge its absurd. But, the world often demands a clear-cut answer, even if its nonsensical, particrly when theres a need to absolve responsibility and vent anger. Now is precisely that time. The Crown Prince has been taken hostage by a beast. His survival is uncertain. So, who should shoulder the me? The mayor of Cremo who failed to ensure the citys safety, and you and the others who were with the prince but couldnt safeguard him. You are the ones. You are the ones who should bear the guilt and responsibility of this incident for a clean resolution. Do you think its unjust? Perhaps. But even if you dont confess, there are plenty of others from whom I can extract a confession. The mayor of Cremo, or his family, or the numerous individuals who apanied the Crown Prince. I only require a confession from one of them. So, think wisely. A modicum of mercy will be granted to those who willingly admit their transgressions. Mercy? A swift and painless death will be ensured. Those who adamantly remain silent till the very end will be subjected to the most brutal and terrifying death imaginable. You wont find their bodies intact even in the deepest recesses of hell. Truly, do you wish to encounter such a death? Obviously, I dont desire such a death. Heh, so, are you prepared to admit your wrongdoings? Demian sealed his lips. And he ruminated. What utter gibberish. Coborate with the Minotaur? Intentionally abduct the Crown Prince? That I should mask such a crime for a smooth resolution? What kind of ridiculous assertion is this? He wanted to counter. But he restrained himself. He had been disputing for the past three days. But the interrogator disregarded all of his rebuttals. That man merely wishes to conclude this case without any hitches. In doing so, he likely wants to cement his achievement by pinpointing the culprit. He regretted. He should have led a life centered on himself. A life in pursuit of money, and only money. Had he known things would transpire this way, he would have fled the moment the Crown Prince was kidnapped. He shouldnt haveplied when the inspector dispatched from the Imperial Court requested cooperation. He never anticipated that this cooperation would result in such a ludicrous interrogation. I was too naive. A sigh escaped him involuntarily. Phew. I may not be ready for a confession, but I think Im prepared to share the truth. Ah, the truth, lets listen. The interrogators mouth twitched upward at the corner. A simr smirk appeared on Demians face. The truth I wish to disclose is this: currently, under the disguise of an interrogation, you are actively hindering the search for the missing Crown Prince. Pardon? Thats the reality. Myself, the guards who were at the Crown Princes service, and the special duty guards, all of us are eager to find the Crown Prince more than anyone else. We fervently hope for his safety more than anyone else. Thus, please free me immediately. Please incorporate me into the search team for the Crown Prince. Ah, you desire an opportunity to absolve your guilt? Youre free to interpret as you wish. However, one assurance I can provide. An assurance. What might that be? If you release me, I can locate the Crown Prince quicker than anyone else. He stared directly into the interrogators eyes as he made this im. The interrogator responded with a broad grin. This man, it seems like hes catching on? So, if youre incorporated into the search team, you intend to flee? Busted. Demian, having been figured out, sealed his lips. The interrogator snickered. Well, thats eptable. It appears like youre implying you wont admit guilt this way. From now on, well have to conduct the interrogation in a slightly different manner. Look here, lets present the used! The interrogator motioned. The inspectorate stepped forward. Clink! They hoisted him, still strapped to the chair, and dragged him out into the corridor beyond the basement. Through the dark passageway, he was hauled out in front of the partially demolished mayors office building. The sunlight, unseen for three days, was blinding. Under that sunlight, there was a cart. He could see arge cubical iron cage mounted on the cart. It resembled a beasts cage. He was tossed into that iron cage, still bound to the chair. Kwadangtang! Ck! Whats their n now? Demian clenched his teeth and shot a re at the interrogator. The interrogator wore a broad grin. Dont fret excessively. Yourpanions will join you. The interrogator gestured in a certain direction. There, identical iron bars and wagons were apparent. Anise, Mr. Sergio, and. The special duty guards and the other guards were all entrapped in their respective cages like wild beasts. The solemn-faced mayor of Cremo was also confined. The deplorable condition of everyone was beyond description. The interrogatorughed with greater satisfaction. Will it provide some sce to be incinerated together? What? Get moving! No opportunity for rebuttal was granted. The wagon began its journey. It descended the hill, traversed the city, and reached the dock. There, a stack of firewood awaited. Beside the pile of firewood, there was a colossal post reminiscent of a fishing rod, with chains simr to fishing lines spread out. It was a special crane used to hoistrge cargo onto the ships at the dock. Lets start with this one. The interrogator directed his finger this way. The inspection team proceeded methodically. They relocated the cage containing Demian to the side of the crane. They affixed the cage onto the loop of the cranes chain. Then they operated the pulley. Creak! Creeak! Apanied by the screeching sound of grinding metal, the chain was wound up. The cage he was in was hoisted entirely into the air. Like bait snared on a fishing line. . Demian grasped the severity of his situation. The cage was suspended in the air. He was confined within. And beneath? A heap of firewood. An oily smell emanated from the stacked firewood. They n to immte me alive. Crack! His teeth ground together asprehension dawned. The interrogators pleasedughter filled the air. Have you grasped the situation? Good. Youre not a simpleton, after all. So youprehend whatsing next? I will set you aze. You, ensnared within this cage, will shriek and sob. Until those shrieks and sobs transform into pleas for mercy, into confessions of your sins, the fire will remain lit. . So, its not toote. Speak up. You plotted with the Minotaur to harm the prince. Admit your crimes and beg for clemency. Madness. Demian trembled. He should have lived egotistically. He should have been concerned solely about wealth. He should not have fretted over the captured crown prince. He shouldnt have prayed fervently for his well-being. Is it toote? Should he flee? Regardless of the subsequent consequences. Even if hes deemed a runaway throughout the empire. Irrespective of what bes of those left behind. Should he snap these chains, break free from the cage, escape and never look back, not feel remorse for failing to protect the prince, not concern himself with the princes safety. Should he flee like that? Demian was tormented. In truth, the conclusion was clear. He didnt wish to perish pointlessly in such a ce. My apologies, Your Highness the Crown Prince. He made his decision. Break the chains. Just as he was about to exert force on his wrists. Just as an inspector, catching the interrogators signal, was about to hurl a torch into the pile of firewood. Moooooooo-! Unanticipatedly, or perhaps perfectly, a recognizable (?) outcry resonated abruptly. It surged closer, slicing through the sea ahead. A huge form revealed itself, parting the waves. Whoosh-! .! The crashing wave and water droplets. Bursting through the waves and springing onto the pier was a colossal beast. Roooar-! Minotaur? Demian hesitated. The inspector was taken aback. The interrogator was even more dumbfounded. Everyone congregated at the pier was frozen. Perhaps because it was too sudden. Or perhaps it was too staggering. Everyone was enveloped in an awkward silence and stillness. Meanwhile, the Minotaur moved. Thud, thoom, with a sound that made hearts pound, and then again, thoom. Mooooo! There was no time to hinder it. It extended its arm. The Minotaur seized the cage imprisoning Demian with both hands. Snap, it ripped the chain tethered to the crane. Then a voice echoed from atop the Minotaurs neck. What is this? Whats happening? Why are those who strived the hardest to protect me being treated in this manner? . In that moment, Demian spotted him. Simultaneously, a realization dawned in his heart. He was relieved he hadnt lived selfishly. At least this time, it was beneficial that he cared about others and not solely about wealth. Atop the Minotaurs neck. There stood a man looking down at him with a confident posture and eyes filled with concern. It was Crown Prince Raciel. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 74 Chapter 74I Next The Minotaur towered under the golden glow of the sun. A man perched on its neck, his war cry echoing with tion. Raciel surveyed the spectacle of Cremo dock with an incredulous gaze. Demian was visible, entrapped behind bars. I was right. Coming back early was indeed a wise move. A mutedughter trickled out unconsciously, as scenes from the past day yed in his mind. Unbelievable. Astonishing. The Minotaur rose imposingly, silhouetted by the sunlight. Raciel could barely restrain a cheer as he beheld its colossal form. The cube regurgitated by Uruus a few moments ago. His gaze settled on Uhwang, a hint of curiosity twinkling in his eyes. This is real. A genuine gallstone. He recalled what he knew about Uhwang. Uhwang, a gallstone that originates in a cows galldder. Among such stones, the finest are said to be those that the cow ejects in a hup on the spot. The object in his hand was exactly that. And whats more, its size? It was exceptionallyrge, beyond normal expectations. Usually, Uhwang doesnt exceed 5 centimeters, but this is easily 20 centimeters. It was virtually the size of a volleyball. How it navigated through the duct was puzzling. The enigma of the body, or more specifically, the enigma of the cow(?), seemed beyondprehension. As for the grade? He was certain it was superior to S-grade. To be exact, this grade is so high that its almost criminal to categorize it. Raciel studied the Uhwang. It was light for its size. It exuded a cool, clean scent. Im curious about its taste. He lightly touched the surface with his finger. The surfaceyer crumbled effortlessly. He ced the resulting powder on his tongue. It was bitter at first. However, the aftertaste was sweet and invigorating. Simultaneously, a clear alert resonated in his head. Ding-dong! [You have consumed premium Uhwang.] [A trace of taurine found in Uhwang stimtes blood pressure reduction and sedative effects. Cholic acid and ergosterol alleviate cardiac heat, inducing expectorant effects.] [However, due to the small quantity consumed and the unrefined state of the Uhwang, its effects are negligible.] [Your internal organs are entranced by the Uhwang treat.] [Heart: Strength is elevating!] [Liver: Energy is skyrocketing!] [Large intestine: Adrenaline surging!] [Lung: Vitality soaring!] [Stomach: Sigh. Why do things beneficial for the body always taste so in?] [Your internal organs have sponsored 500 HP for you.] [Current HP owned: 1,500] Hehehe? Finally, Raciel couldnt suppress his exuberantughter. He had unexpectedly received endorsement(?) from his internal organs. This unexpected Raciels smile amplified Uruus response. Muuuu? Puruk! Mooou! Thump, thump! Thud, thud! Uruus pounded its chest akin to King Kong. Observing this, Raciel had a revtion. Its experiencing relief. The sparkle in Uruus eyes, the wide-open mouth, the shaking head, the snorting nostrils everything reflected profound happiness. It resembled someone who had sessfully dislodged a piece of mushroom stuck between their teeth all day. Or a person suffering from severe constipation who finally managed a bowel movement after several days. It made sense, though. Naturally. Having a gallstone of this magnitude inside its stomach must have been terribly ufortable. It must have constantly felt burdened. Probably experienced constant indigestion and frequent pseudo bowel movements. But youre feeling much better now that youve expelled it, right? You feelpletely unencumbered, dont you? Moooouu! Thump, thump! Thud, thud! Uruus nodded in agreement, dancing with a happy shrug of its shoulders. Seeing this, Racielsughter grew more joyous. He felt confident. His n had worked. Now youre under my control. He had secured both the Uhwang and the Minotaur. Now was the time to take the next step. His joyous grin faded, reced by a serious gaze as he looked up at Uruus and dered, Good. Im d your difort has been alleviated. Congrattions. But we need to move. Moouu? We have to return to Cremo. Muuu? The port city where you were wreaking havoc. Its merely a spection, but I believe my friends left there are facing quite a challenge at the moment. Muuuuu? Mypanions, once you get to know them, theyre actually good people. They wont harm you. Muuuuu. Dont worry. If youe back with me, no one will trouble you, I promise. Muuuuu? I assure you. Moo wooo? I give you my word. Mooo woo wooo! At first, Uruus hesitated, but after persistent persuasion, he eventually nodded. Was this a sign of trust? The creature offered its massive back, and Raciel climbed onto it. Mooo wooo! As if reassuring him to hold on tight, Uruus exhaled triumphantly through his nose before sprinting forward. Kukukuakwa-! ! It felt like riding in an open car made from a dump truck, flying over speed bumps at 100 kilometers per hour. They swiftly left the dark and damp cave. Before the refreshing wind could reach Raciels nostrils, Uruus leaped. Moooooooo! Thud-! ! Uruus had leaped to the edge of the coasta cliff overlooking the sea. Whaty below? A terrifying precipice. Thanks to this, Raciel enjoyed a thrilling dive off a 30-meter-high coastal cliff. What, what just happened? Crash! He plunged into the rough northern sea with a magnificent ssh! From that moment, Raciel began an eventful journey southwest riding Uruus. Moo! Mooo! Huff-huff-huff! Uruuss stamina was astounding. He swam tirelessly, even catching fish along the way, like a plump, fresh tuna. Ah, I could really use some soju and pickled shrimp. It had been a while since Raciel had something truly spicy and refreshing. He wondered if his Korean contract(?) would expire if he continued like this for another year. Despite his concerns, he kept filling his stomach. Freshly caught tuna sashimi, enjoyed on the back of a dinosaur-sized cow swimming in the sea! Thanks to this, Raciel continued his journey without suffering from hunger. He also quenched his thirst with the fresh water stored in the mana circle. He kept moving forward day and night. A day passed like this. Finally, he arrived at Cremo. As expected, Im d I hurried back. I had a feeling something like this would happen. Raciel nced around the outskirts of Cremo, seeing many people, soldiers in armor, knights, and soldiers. They were not Cremos guards; he recognized the g fluttering behind them. Its the Emperors direct inspection team. Thankfully, he remembered seeing them in the illustrations of the novel, Devil Sword Emperor. The direct inspection teaman internal agency that only acted under the emperorsmand. Right. As the crown prince, I went missing. They must havee to investigate the incident. And my people must have suffered because of this. He saw piles of firewood everywhere and over twenty cages with faces trapped inside. Everyone was looking in his direction. Demian, Anise, Sergio, and everyone. They were members of the special duty guards and the royal guards, his followers. The Cremo mayors face was visible too. Tsk. Why did this inspection team handle things like this? I miss the scent of my homnd. Somehow, the way they handle idents is very Korean. Suddenly, Raciel thought of the Korean style of handling identsa version of despair. When an ident hits the news, who suffers the most? They usually focus on the easiest target to pin the me onthe likely suspect thates to mind with the least contemtion. They start with them. Proper investigation? Results matter more than the process. Its about catching a criminal, finding someone to me. The media ys a significant role in burying an easy target based on public opinion rather than solid evidence and testimony, using a typical strategy. The witch hunts were like that. The cyber Lynch in the world of the inte was the same. But its the same here. Raciel narrowed his eyes as he observed. Facing that scene, he spoke up. Whos in charge here? His voice echoed magnificently, but no one responded. The outskirts remained engulfed in a strange silence and confusion. A bitter smile appeared. Everyones panicked. Perhaps due to the unusual circumstances involving the Minotaur, Uruus, the crown princes sudden return caught everyone off guard, bringing along the Minotaur as an unexpected addition. Consequently, it seemed like a collective confusion resulted in a brain cell ckout among the onlookers. Well, theres no helping that. Hmm. Raciel cleared his throat and addressed Uruus. Lets help them regain theirposure. Could you ce the cage down and let out a roar? Mooo! Themand and action happened almost simultaneously. Uruus gently set down the cage that held Demian captive and let out a deafening roar towards the people on the dock. ROOOOAR! .! Some were startled, and others paled. The knights from the inspection squad gripped their swords firmly. Raciel asked once again. Whos in charge here? Perhaps thanks to the shock caused by Uruus, an individual who looked like an investigator from the inspection squad finally stepped forward, wiping his forehead with a handkerchief. If youre looking for the person in charge, that would be me. Is that so? Yes. . This investigator seemed a bit tense. Thats what Raciel thought when unexpectedly he was the one being questioned. You, who resemble our Crown Prince and have brought a Minotaur, who are you? Me? Yes. The investigator nodded, maintaining his distance, seemingly apprehensive of Uruuss imposing presence. Our Crown Prince was kidnapped by the Minotaur, and his status is uncertain. Yet here you are,manding the Minotaur as if it were your servant. Hence, I cant help but suspect you. Huh. Are you suggesting I could be an imposter pretending to be the Crown Prince? Yes. The current situation with the missing Crown Prince is urgent and unique, and there are undoubtedly those who would exploit it to harm the royal family. The investigators gaze was stern. Raciel couldnt help but smirk in response. That guy, I dont like him. It wasnt just because of the doubt the investigator had towards him. From his own perspective, those suspicions were reasonable. If their roles were reversed, Raciel would probably have simr doubts. Therefore, whether the investigator questioned him or demanded proof of his identity, it didnt bother him at all. Its no different from getting carded at a convenience store. Only What he didnt appreciate was the way the investigator treated Demian and his followers. A scowl formed on Raciels face as he red at the investigator. Alright. So, you want to verify who I am? Yes. But why havent you properly verified who they are? What? Them. Raciels voice turned as hard as stone as he pointed towards Demian in the cage, Anise, Sergeant Sergio, the knight, the mayor, one after the other. Why havent you acknowledged their sacrifices, struggles, and loyalty properly? What The investigator furrowed his brows, but Raciel didnt care. He dismounted from Uruus and walked to the front of Demians cage. With a gentle gaze, he looked at Demian, who was imprisoned inside. Demian Cayeen. You risked your life to protect me, Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. You shielded me from the Minotaurs fist and nearly died in the process, sustaining injuries to your leg from the debris. Moreover, you bravely fought the Minotaur single-handedly to buy me time to take cover, disying extraordinary courage and loyalty. Raciels quiet gaze met Demians wavering eyes, separated by the cage bars. At that moment. Crash-! Uruuss hand broke through the bars of the cage. The investigator tried to shout, but he couldnt. Because of the intense gaze fixed directly on him. Next, Anise, daughter of Hasinto. Raciel walked towards the cage where Anise was held. The color drained from the investigators face. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 75 Chapter 75I Next Next is Anise, daughter of Hasinto, Raciels solemn voice resonated through the square. The spectators who had gathered to witness the trial of the criminals, the knights and soldiers of the inspection team overseeing the ce, and even the investigator leading them, all fell into silence. Raciels piercing gaze swept across the surroundings, and nobody dared to utter a word in his presence. Perhaps it was the imposing Minotaur standing behind Raciel that intimidated them, fearing that any provocation might unleash the beasts fury. However, the real reason for their silence was the overwhelming presence exuded by Raciel himself, surpassing even the pressure from the formidable creature. An unexinable aura surrounded him, instilling an ominous premonition that anyone daring to interfere would face severe rebuke. With a confident tone and detailed words, Raciel presented his case as the crown prince, leaving little room for doubt. Anise, as my werewolf nurse, you rescued me that night when I was thrown out of the mayors building, clinging to the arm of the Minotaur. Without your swift response and courageous actions, I would have been left as a lifeless corpse. You endured torment and pain when you were caught by the Minotaur and thrown onto the ships deck. All of this was an extraordinary act of bravery and sacrifice on my behalf. Raciel spoke gently, and Anise, confined in a cell, nodded in acknowledgment. Their eyes met briefly, and in that moment, he silently expressed his gratitude. Her actions had saved his life, and he appreciated her dedication during his absence. Crash-! Uruus forcefully broke the iron bars, and following Demian, Anise was freed. Yet, none of the knights from the inspection team dared to intervene. Raciel continued his stride, along with his promation. Sergio, my special duty guard captain. On that night, you were the first to rush forward and escort me as I fled. But thats not all. When the Minotaur attacked the ship, you faced it head-on with your sword, even though it eventually led to losing your weapon and severely injuring your shoulder. Could I have reached safety without such courage and sacrifice? Your Highness. The eldest member of the special duty team, Sergio, was visibly moved. Raciel smiled faintly and nodded. Crash-! The iron bars shattered, and Sergio was freed. Raciels steps continued, and his sincere and gentle praises echoed magnificently in the square. The other special duty guard members, loyal knights, each received Raciels acknowledgment one by one. Montero and Pedro, my devoted twin special duty members. Both of you endured having your right and left arms broken while facing the Minotaur. Montero was thrown back while trying to block its horn, and Pedro was crushed while attempting to protect his brother. Are you both alright? Crash-! The twin diators were set free. Ricardo, I distinctly recall you injuring your knee while shielding me from a flying fragment. And Sir Frandel, you showed exceptional bravery, leading the evacuation of fallen special duty members to safety despite enduring the Minotaurs relentless attacks until you copsed. Your Highness, I I cannot forget the actions of Sir Hamilton. Despite injuring your waist in the Minotaurs charge, you stood up time and again to fight and protect me. Even when you lost your sword and your shield shattered, you fought on with a wooden stick, embodying the true spirit of a brave royal knight. Your Highness One by one, those who had served Raciel were set free. They gained their freedom and reimed their honor, proudly standing by Raciels side. The sight left the citizens of Cremo deeply moved. The words spoken by the crown prince resonated with them, making them feel something profound. That he truly was the rightful Crown Prince. He undeniably carries the demeanor of His Highness the Crown Prince, doesnt he? But how did he manage to return? And how on earth did he tame the Minotaur? Whispers and murmurs filled the air, causing a stir in the previously quiet cellblock. The investigator from the emperors inspection team felt a dryness in his mouth, a sign of growing unease. Why is the atmosphere like this He couldnt shake the feeling that something was amiss from the moment Raciel appeared. The crown prince had been captured by the fearsome Minotaur, a creature far from ordinary monsters. It had been six days since his disappearance, and the chances of him being alive seemed slim. Everyone assumed he had already been devoured by the Minotaur, with no hope of finding aplete corpse. In this grim situation, the me and guilt naturally fell on the princes attendants. It was a customary procedure to identify someone to take responsibility when a person of noble status met such a fate. The investigators mission was to pinpoint the party to bear that responsibility. So, I followed the usual protocol He never bothered whether the used felt unjust or not; he simply preferred dealing with matters without much thought. This method had worked for him in the past, creating the impression of an efficient andpetent investigator to his superiors. The subsequent promotions had been a wee bonus. So, he applied the same approach this time as well. But now, things had taken a twist. Why? How did the crown prince manage to survive? And why is the Minotaur with him? He couldntprehend it. It felt like a nightmare. He desperately wished someone would wake him up from this bewildering reality. Sir, Your Highness! The anxious investigator blurted out, hoping that confirming the princes identity would be sufficient. He was merely following procedure, after all, but Raciel didnt even spare him a nce. Proving his identity to a mere investigator was beneath his concern. Ignoring the desperate plea, Raciel calmly proceeded to the next cell. Jermang, the youngest diator of the special duty guards. Despite your youth, you never lost your courage in protecting me. I saw you trying to stand up even after dislocating your shoulder during the Minotaurs attack. Although you were limping a bit throughout that night. Uh, Your Highness? Dont worry. It was probably because of the ships movement, right? Right, ah! The youngest of the special duty guards, Jermang, blushed and responded. To him, Raciel whispered softly with a knowing smile. Did I forget to mention that you wet your pants then? Th-thank you, Your Highness. nk-! The cell bars shattered, and even the youngest of the special duty guards gained his freedom. Witnessing this, the investigators expression turned even more desperate. Your Highness! Your Highness! He rushed towards Raciel and knelt before him, blocking his path. With his forehead touching the ground, he pleaded, Please forgive me for daring to seek confirmation of Your Highnesss identity! For now, he had to beg. A conviction within him urged him to do so. Raciels mood seemed far from normal, and acting recklessly might have dire consequences. So he chose to appease the princes mood, even if it meant begging. With this single idea in mind, the investigator spoke hastily, And Your Highness, there appears to be some misunderstanding here. However, his response fell on deaf ears. Raciel didnt halt his steps. He simply walked past the investigator, heading towards thest cell. Mayor of this city, Aizel Cremo. I had no inkling of the hardships you were enduring. That night, you exhibited unwavering courage in the face of countless dangers and hardships. Rather than fleeing, you took full responsibility for the city. Even as you arranged for my evacuation on a ship, you chose to remain at the docks until the very end, stating that you could not abandon your city and its citizens. Your actions exemplified the noblest and most meaningful qualities of a true leaderone who wholeheartedly dedicates themselves to their duty. Your, Your Majesty Tears welled up in Mayor Cremos eyes. ng-! The final iron bars shattered, and only then did Raciel turn his gaze to the investigator. Inspector of the Inspection Team. You are Yes, Your Majesty! I did not imprison and interrogate your followers out of animosity! Do you dare to interrupt me without even listening to my words? Uh? I asked if you just interrupted me. The investigator fell silent, his body covered in nervous cold sweat. Raciels words struck like a series of verdicts. Earlier, you asked me to prove my identity by myself. Yes? But it is not I who proves myself. It is those who stood by my side, those who were unafraid to sacrifice everything for me. They are the ones who prove my legitimacy. Yes? Does that rify your query? Your, Your Highness Furthermore! You imed you did not imprison and interrogate my followers out of spite. Yes, Your Highness! But the truth is, you imprisoned and interrogated them because they were easy targets to shift the me and guilt onto. Uh? Enough with the excuses. I already know what you want to say. They were serving me, and yet they could not protect me, so they should pay for their sins, isnt that what you would like to argue? Yes, Your Highness! Really? Yes, Your Highness! The investigator nodded fervently, but Raciel tilted his head inquisitively. It doesnt sound very convincing. Yes? In fact, I overheard your earlier conversation. I know exactly what you said. What Hmm hmm! Raciel cleared his throat and mimicked the investigators tone. So its not toote now. Speak up. You were colluding with the Minotaur to harm the Crown Prince, confess your sins, and plead for mercy. ? The color drained from the investigators face. The words that the crown prince had just uttered They were the exact words the investigator used to extract a confession from someone named Demian. Could it be that Raciel had overheard that? The investigator looked up at Raciel, his eyes trembling, but the crown princes gaze remained icy. That phrase wasnt just about assigning me. Did I misunderstand? You conveniently made someone a criminal, shifted all responsibility and guilt onto them, executed the criminal, and attempted to quickly and simply resolve the troublesome incident, didnt you? Were you trying to handle the case of the missing crown prince, who was kidnapped, in such a reckless manner? Really? I asked earlier, who is the person in charge here. You stepped forward. Do you know what that means? That, that means It means the person in charge bears the responsibility. And you, my dear inspector, must rightfully bear the responsibility for the reckless investigation you have conducted thus far. Raciels cold verdict resounded, and in that moment, the investigator had a sinking feeling. Ah. This is the end for me. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 76 Chapter 76I Next Under pressure, the investigator faced straightforward charges: Intentional negligence and interference in the investigation of the Crown Princes whereabouts. Mishandling the missing case of the Crown Prince was considered a severe crime. If youre unlucky, it could be a death sentence, or at least a lifetime in prison, right? Probably so, huh. I suppose so. Anyway, the Crown Prince is safely back, and here we are, sweating under the scorching sun, tsk tsk. Its exhausting. What are you talking about? Its good for us to have something to do because of this. Well, its been a long time since weve had such a big project. Thats true. Its good for us contractors when construction workse in. The robust old manughed and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The mayors residence was now a construction site, where a Minotaur ran wild a few days ago. Workers could be seen carrying materials and sweating at various ces on the site where they were restoring the damaged buildings and gardens. The elderly construction contractor said, By the way, did you go to the dock yesterday? Huh? No, I was at home. Is that so? You missed a good spectacle? A spectacle? The Minotaur brought by the Crown Prince. Oh, I heard about that. Is it real? Of course. Did you see it yourself? Haha. Of course. The old manughed heartily. All of a sudden, the sea was churning. Then, lo and behold, a Minotaur bigger than a house, cleaved through the sea water and sprang onto the dock. And around its neck, the Crown Prince was seated. You must have been quite surprised. I was. At first, I couldnt even breathe, I couldnt believe it. I thought my old age had gotten to me. And the Minotaur, supposedly rough and fierce, was obediently following the Crown Princesmands. Moving as the Prince gestured, breaking iron bars, moving like an aquatic creature. Really did he really tame it? The Minotaur? The Crown Prince? Yes, sir. I dont know about that. But probably Probably? He subdued it? Subdued it? Yes. But, sir. Hmm? How could a normal person like the Crown Prince subdue a monster like the Minotaur, it sounds a bit Do you think its impossible? Yes. Wasnt the Crown Prince abducted by the Minotaur that night? But to subdue the monster after being abducted it sounds a bit unbelievable. Indeed. I would have doubted it too, if I hadnt heard the testimony. Testimony? The man tilted his head. The old man lowered his voice with a meaningful look. Actually, this is a bit of a sensitive story. Are you confident you can keep your mouth shut? What exactly are you talking about? Shh. Keep your voice down. Its nothing else but, I heard that the Crown Prince can grow as big as the Minotaur. What? Ahem. I said keep your voice down. But how can such a preposterous Its not preposterous. Do you know my nephew? I do. Didnt you say he had joined the crew of a personal sailing ship? He saw it himself. That night, when the Minotaur was running wild. Really? Yes. He said the Crown Prince somehow grew asrge as the Minotaur. He even saw him fighting the Minotaur and stabbingrge spikes into its back and neck. Was your nephew drunk? Rubbish. Did he have time to drink in that situation? Other crew members also saw it. So what Im saying is, it seems like the Crown Prince really did defeat and subdue the Minotaur. Haha.. This is not something tough about. Think about it. What kind of monster is a Minotaur? Isnt it a fierce creature, even more than the brutal Ogre thats known to be fierce? And would such a Minotaur listen to a weaker being? Even if they were polite? Hmm, well, thats true when you put it that way. Right? Yes, I see your point. I just remembered something. What is it? There was a widely spread rumor in the Empire Have you ever heard rumors of the Supreme Crown Prince? Interest appeared on the old mans face. The man continued his story, and the ears of theborers carrying goods around perked up. The Supreme Crown Prince rumor, which seemed usible even without any evidence, spread secretly in Cremo. Far off in the garden area, the Minotaur Uruus was casually grazing on grass, chasing a swarm of flies by swishing its tail. The chased away swarm of flies scattered. One of them caught a sunbeam and flew up. It went up to the window of the third floor of the semi-remaining mayor building. And then it crashed into someones finger. Tic-! But this Minotaur Demian, who had just swatted a fly trying to enter through the window, asked, looking down at the Uruus in the garden below. How exactly did His Majesty tame it? Tamed? Raciel, who was asked, smiled subtly. He petted the little creatures, Kozumi and Poboki, who had been clinging to him like glue since they met again after several days. I never tamed it. It just misunderstood on its own, so I left it be. What? Demian tilted his head. Misunderstood? It was a strange word. In fact, even seeing it with his own eyes, he didnt fully understand. That night when there was chaos, the Minotaur that had rampaged to kill the Crown Prince. But now that it has returned after abducting the Crown Prince? It has changed. It was following the Crown Prince so much that the events of that day seemed to fade. How exactly was it tamed? What trick was used to make the Minotaur follow the Crown Prince like this? That was a question that almost everyone in the city had been pondering since yesterday, not just Demian. But it wasnt tamed. Misunderstood? What on earth could it be? What exactly did the Crown Prince do? As he pondered this, Raciel continued speaking. Do you remember that day when I suddenly became huge? Yes. That event was also full of mysteries. A faint smile appeared on Raciels lips. It was nothing. I had eaten the sunflower seeds that I feed to Phantom Beasts. Dont ask why I ate it. It was a situation where I had to do anything to survive. Anyway, in that erged state, I tried to calm it down with my acupuncture, and coincidentally, the ce where it was hurting got better for a moment. Wait, did it? You get the idea? Did it misunderstand that you healed it? Yes. It sees me as its benefactor. Well, strictly speaking, I wasnt its enemy from the start, was I? Its a good thing if we can get along. Isnt it? Well, I guess so. Of course, its a fortunate thing for me as well. Fortunate? Yes. Demian smiled and nodded. Because the hazard pay that I was supposed to receive that day didnt fly away. Because Im safe? Yes. Am I your monthly paycheck? Whats that? A fool who blindly gives out money? If thats the meaning then its urate. Wow. You dont even bother hiding your focus on money anymore. Arent all employments like that after all? Oh my, youre bing quite shameless. Raciel joked with a smile. A bitter smile appeared on Demians lips. He talked bluntly like this, but in reality, he was bitter. The Minotaur that rampaged that night. He failed to protect the Crown Prince in front of it. I was thinking about the money, but I didnt live up to it. Its shameful. He never doubted his own abilities. He was confident that he would be like that in the future. But it was not. Suddenly, he was confronted with an extrarge Minotaur. He felt his own sword to be powerless in front of the monster. He was not strong enough to protect the crown prince. He was embarrassed. He was ashamed. Lets train more. He vowed never to suffer such humiliation again. He would be a strong man worthy of protecting the crown prince, worthy of his sry. With a firm resolution in mind, Demian changed the subject. The reason I can answer so audibly is because of the pride that I havepleted all the tasks your highness orderedst night. Hm? The task I ordered? Yes. Didnt you assign me a taskst night? Could it be that you have already finished it? Yes. Youve prepared all kinds of medicinal herbs I told you about, in just one day? Yes. Its thanks to the fact that this is thergest port and trading city in the north. Huh. Thats pretty impressive. Raciel clicked his tongue. Yesterday, Raciel had returned to Cremoro and had a pleasant reunion with hispanions after dealing with the intimidating inspection teams interrogator. On the side, he had given Demian a special order to prepare the ingredients for the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. The list of ingredients was extensive and included various rare and beneficial medicinal herbs. But those were not just one or two. Mountain herbs, deer antler, ginseng, cork tree, rehmannia, oyster shell,rge head atractylodes, turkey tail mushroom, donkey hide gtin, baizhu, lilyturf, gold, angelica, saposhnikovia, white atractylodes, schisandra, balloon flower, hovenia, poria cocos, rehmannia, ginseng, musk, hardy rubber tree, cinnamon, phellodendron, white pine mushroom, emia bark, jujube, and honey. In other words, all the Avengers of medicinal herbs were gathered. All the beneficial medicinal herbs were needed. Of course, I left out the mercury-containing injections. Thats too risky. Anyway, because so many kinds of medicinal herbs were needed, I thought it would take at least a week. But he had gathered all of them in just one day. While Raciel was feeling the majesty (?) of the trading city, Demian spoke. Ah, and theres one more piece of news. News? What is it? Its said that the emperor has turned his steps toward the imperial pce. Really? Yes. He heard on his way here that you had returned safely. So, as soon as he heard that I was safe, he turned to the imperial pce? Yes. Hes a cold guy. Raciel chuckled. Thats like Emperor Asterion. But that was rather a relief. That guy, hes a bit burdensome. In fact, Raciel is not his son. Hes just covered in Raciels shell. But he didnt want to share the affection of a father and son, hiding that fact and receiving attention. It felt disgusting to him. No, before that, it was burdensome! Its rather good. It would be best to keep it this way, safe and sound. Raciel made a promise to himself. And he was prepared for what was about to begin. Good. Since his majesty has turned his steps and all the medicinal herbs have been prepared, we can start right away. Start? The preparation of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Raciels lips twitched upward in a smile. All the ingredients had been prepared. The most crucial ingredient, the Minotaurus Ohwang, was also secured as a Special S+ rank. There was no reason to dy the concoction. So, clear out the kitchen of the royal vi right away. I need to prepare the medicinal herbs. Understood. From that moment, Raciels cooking ss(?) began in the kitchen of the royal vi, which was in the midst of restoration. Various medicinal herbs were carefully prepared ording to their specific requirements. The skins were peeled off. They were dried and torn apart. They were roasted and grounded into powder. The jujube was boiled and mixed with honey to make the base ingredients. The remaining ingredients were urately added to the base ingredients in a golden ratio, mixed, and blended. The finishing touch was a high-end luxury brand packaging adorned with gold leaf. Finally, on the fifth day, Finished! The first prototype of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill waspleted. But Raciel was not satisfied with just that. Indeed, medicine is useful only when it exerts proper and urate medicinal effects. Even if it was made with great care, if it has no medicinal effect, its utterly worthless. So, I have to test it first. He ced the prototype of Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill on his palm. With a throbbing heart, he stared at the prototype and activated his skill. Ding Dong! [Your self-made decoction has been detected.] [Would you like to activate the Component Analysis option of the Decoction Making Skill?] [YES / NO] Obviously, yes. As soon as he made the choice, the option was activated. [The Component Analysis option of the Decoction Making Skill is now activated.] [Scanning] [3 2 1] [Scanpleted.] Ding Dong! A clear and pure sound rang in his head. Details about Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill sprang to mind. Then, Huh? The various specifications of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. While reading through it, Raciel paused. His eyes widened at one part. Wait. What is this? An unexpected side effect was discovered during the manufacturing process. But the contents of that side effect Crazy? Raciel swallowed hard. With his heart pounding rapidly like a triple elerator, a premonition of a super jackpot bestseller product bubbled up. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 77 Chapter 77I Next A chime echoed, its purity reverberating within his mind. At the same time, a moment of epiphany washed over him. Crazy? Raciel stood in awe. Before him materialized theponents and intricacies of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. As he perused the details, amazement overcame him. His eyes, brimming with astonishment, darted around in rapid session. [Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill] [Key Ingredients: Cholic Acid, Bilirubin, Vitamin D, Ginsenosides, Protopanaxadiol, Oleanolic Acid, P-Coumaric Acid, and more; including Coumarin, Ramnoliquiritin, Lebedebeoueryol, Hamaudol, Simipugin, Imperatorin, etc.] [Appearance: A gilded spherical pill] [Benefits and Effects: Promotes muscle rxation and vasodtion by reducing calcium ion concentration in muscle cells; alleviates angina, cardiovascr issues, and pain; addresses idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension] [Usage: Adults 1 pill; 115-year-olds 2/3 pill; 57-year-olds 1/2 pill; 2-4-year-olds 1/3 pill; under 1-year-olds 1/4 pill; take once or twice daily, chew or dissolve in warm water] [Precautions: Seek advice from a doctor, Oriental medicine practitioner, or pharmacist if you have: 1. Hypertension 2. Kidney disorders 3. Edema 4. Elderly ailments 5. Symptoms like anorexia or vomiting (these symptoms may worsen)] Up to this point, everything seemed reasonable. It was aligned with expectations for the Clear Heart Pills effects. However, the astonishing revtion came next. [Side Effects: Induces sound, rejuvenating sleep without any bodily strain, side effects, or addictive properties.] Hehehe. Raciel chuckled. Not out of absurdity, but realization. This is incredible. Monumental, actually. It wasnt just impressive; it was colossal. No bodily strain means its safer than over-the-counter sleep aids. And no side effects or addiction? It even surpasses Propofol. But inducing a perfect sleep Could this be revolutionary? The more he delved, the more he pondered, Raciel sensed the gravity of the situation. The therapeutic effect, typical of a Clear Heart Pill, was certainly advantageous. Yet, upon deeper analysis, the value of this side effect appeared mind-boggling. Meanwhile, a rted incident crossed his mindthe significant urrence at a pharmaceuticalpany in the United States. Early 1990s marked the era when a pharmaceuticalpany embarked on the quest for an angina treatment. Progress flowed smoothly until unexpected results emerged from the analysis. Their original pursuit was the creation of an angina remedy. Yet, during the clinical trials, a serendipitous side effect surfaceda surprising shift manifested within the male participants physiology. Incredible. Its remarkably beneficial for men, in a unique manner. The effect possessed extraordinary potential. The pharmaceuticalpany shifted focus to this unforeseen oue, investing in research to refine and secure its safety. Henceforth emerged a historic pharmaceutical marvel, a game-changer for billions worldwide, responsible for diminishing over 50% of seal and reindeer hunting: the legendary erectile dysfunction drug, Viagra. In the wake of its creation, the pharmaceuticalpany experienced an exalted zenith, akin to a thrice-ignited rocket. This triumphant entity was Pfizer, which wouldter pioneer a coronavirus vine. So, today mirrors the Viagra saga. Weve unearthed a tremendously valuable side effect, unrted to the initial intention. Instantaneous attainment of wless sleep seemed to result from the premium Minotaurs Ohwangponent. The prospect dazzled. Its mind-boggling. Utterly astounding. A premonition of an idental foray birthing a supetive best-seller stirred. Raciels chest pulsed with anticipation, sensing that this pill might etch its name in Magentano Empires medical history, even resonating continent-wide. However, his euphoria didnt cloud practicality. Too early to revel. Focus, Lee Han! A double p resounded across his cheeks, rekindling his awareness. No room for celebration. Composure, first. Raciel tossed the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill over the tongue of Uruus. Uruus gobbled it down eagerly. Hold on! Dont rush! Mooo? ce it on your tongue. Try dissolving it slowly. Moooo. Not a fan, eh? Mooo! Weve got to manage, buddy. Mooo. Finished? Moo! Alright, swallow. Gulp! Uruuss cavernous throat undted. Simultaneously, Raciels eyes ignited. Meridian scanning. [ Skill-specific Option : Meridian scanning activated.] [A Lock-on-able target within 10 meters in sight has been detected.] [Target: King Minotaur, Uruus] [Lock-on to the target?] [YES / NO] A nod signified Raciels decision. Instantly, meridian scanningmenced. Screeee-! Uruus, the behemoth who ingested ten Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pills, emanated luminous starlight throughout his form. Every meridian, the flow of mana coursing those channelsthese phenomena unveiled in real-time. The path of the pillsponents recently consumed by Uruus was no exception. I see it. A resplendent golden aura emerged. Its descent within Uruuss lengthy esophagus was evident. It nestled within his stomach. Reiteration? No convoluted processes. The golden radiance absorbed through the stomachs wall surged into the first stomach as it entered. Rapidly, it navigated the bloodstream. Nestling within the heart, it expanded the coronary arteries. Blood clot conglomerates adhering to arterial walls dissolved. As if embarking on a long-awaited spring cleaning. As if purging aged debris with refreshing zeal. Moo, Moo? Uruuss eyes widened in astonishment as the medicines effects continued to unfold. Puk! Puk! Throughout his body, within the inner linings of blood vessels, inmmation that had taken root dissipated rapidly. Vitality surged through Uruuss form, revitalizing him from the toll of prolonged captivity. Muscles united forces. Red blood cells scaled vascr walls. Lymphatic fluid transformed their world into a realm of rejuvenation. A veritable Olympic jubtion enveloped his being. In that very moment, Ding Dong! A crystal-clear notification resounded in Raciels ears, apanied by a weing message. [You have administered the personally prepared Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill to the patient: Uruus.] [The Skill: Decoction Making (Lv.1) has amplified the medicinal efficacy by 10%.] [Patient: Uruus, previously afflicted with stable angina, assorted adult ailments, and metabolic imbnces due to protracted captivity and mistreatment, has, thanks to your Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, experienced total dissolution of coronary artery clots. Furthermore, most adult ailment symptoms have exhibited significant alleviation.] [Skill Medical Billing (Lv.2) activated.] [Patient: Uruus gains a life extension benefit of 79 years and 3 months due to your administration of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Consequently, you shall be rewarded with an added lifespan equivalent to 1/1950 of 79 years and 3 months.] [Patient: Uruus being a non-human, triggers an interspecies adjustment.] [Resultant bonus lifespan reduced by 50%.] [A bonus lifespan of 7.31 days is calcted.] [Minimum lifespan increment: 1 day.] [Bonus lifespan credited after rounding.] [A total of 7 days of bonus lifespan granted.] [Projected lifespan: 116 days] Ohh. Raciels fist clenched in amazement. The oue exceeded his anticipation. Its been cured in one go. Uruuss persistent stable angina had been eradicated entirely. Concurrently, his other minor adult ailments exhibited considerable amelioration. The clinical trials triumph was monumental. To top it off, a bonus life extension was granted! Ding-dong! [Your organs are celebrating your achievements.] [Heart: Could that be a heart-beneficial medicine, by any chance?] [Lungs: Hehe Haha.] [Large Intestine: Ive been feeling a tad sluggishtely, anticipating constipation Taking that, I sense a bout of relief in my near future.] [Liver: Isnt sluggish a term for those generally sessful? Youre perpetually constipated.] [Stomach: Pfft!] [Your organs gift you 600 HP.] [Current HP: 2,100] Hehe? Hahaha. Hahahahaha! A radiant smile graced Raciels face, and an irrepressible dance of joy apanied it. With every scrutiny of his creation, the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, his conviction in its potential as a game-changer solidified. Undoubtedly a specialized remedy for angina. It offers relief for adult ailments too. And considering those earlier observed side effects This product would find buyers no matter where it was introduced. The price tag might be steep, but nobles across the nation would readily open their purses, even wrapping their money in handkerchiefs if necessary. Moreover, today marked another leap forward. Mooo wooo? Mooo wooo wooo Uruus yawned expansively. A wave of refreshment swept over his colossal form, carrying with it the drowsiness akin to basking under warm sunlight in a serene meadow with the rhythmic cadence of waves. Gradually, Uruuss eyes blinked, settling on Raciel. A gratitude-filled gaze emanated from him. SLURP Huh? Uruuss enormous tongue made contact, dousing Raciels upper body. Surprise rippled through Raciel, yet he refrained from pushing Uruus away. He perceived the gratitude Uruus was conveying. Hes thankful Was the soporific embrace of deep slumber, a side effect of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, overtaking Uruus? Despite this, the ebony pupils that met his own carried an unmistakable tenderness. Suddenly, memories of a brown bull from his childhood days on his grandfathers rural estate flooded Raciels mindhow it looked at his grandfather. The unwaveringpanionship it offered for a lifetime. Its staunch guardianship. How it deemed his grandfather its sole friend and master. Enveloped in such warmth, Raciel returned Uruuss gaze with equal gentleness. Quietly, he whispered within his heart. Got a sucker! A Sucker, or ve. He wasmitting to a lifelong bond. nning to exploit this allegiance with even greater dedication. He was cing his trust in Uruus. While the giant descended into peaceful slumber, Raciel solidified his resolve. Simultaneously, he summoned Cremo Mayor without dy. The secret weapon, the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, was now perfected, and its thorough promotion was essential. Huh? What do you mean? Cremo Mayors reaction to Raciels promotional strategy resembled a 16-bit tap dance at hyperspeed. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 78 Chapter 78I Next The steady thumping of drums resonated through the air thump, thump, thump! Startled, a flock of seagulls that had been idling near the quay abruptly took flight, their wings fluttering in response to the unexpected noise. A multitude of citizens had congregated beneath the fluttering wings, their collective gaze converging on a single focal point. Amidst the sea of onlookers, at a podium erected on one nk of the quay square, Raciel made some final adjustments to his shirt cor. Ahem. An involuntary cough escaped his lips; he had already cleared his throat numerous times before. Phew, these nerves. Addressing a crowd was a more formidable task than he had initially conceived. It was particrly daunting to be thrust into the spotlight in front of thousands, as opposed to mere dozens or hundreds. Raciel raised his head, catching sight of a sign hung prominently on the podium. [Commendation Ceremony for the Prestigious Medal of Cremo City.] Uponying eyes on this, a memory from two days prior shed through his mind. Pardon? What are you trying to tell me? Two days earlier, within the garden of the mayoral residence of the city. The mayor of Cremo was summoned in the midst of daylight and involuntarily flinched. Was it due to the astonishing tale he had just heard? Or was it the imposing presence of Uruus, who had consumed the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill and nowy in a profound slumber? It could have been abination of both. A notion sprang forth in Raciels mind, prompting a chuckle to escape his lips. To avoid unsettling the mayor, he proceeded to borate on his scheme. I was contemting the notion of organizing a ceremony to bestow medals as a means to publicize my new medicinal creation. A ceremony for promoting a new medicine? Indeed. The mayor nodded, intrigued. It was precisely as Raciel had articted. There are various reasons, but anyway, Cremo City has recently suffered. Many people were surprised, suffered property damage, and are now facing a difficult recovery due to the Minotaur. So, I thought about awarding medals to those who tried to protect me that night, those who dedicated themselves to others, and those who showed examples of courage and sacrifice. Are you to be the one personally presenting these medals? Indeed. I possess ample justification. Ive contemted coupling these medals with an apanying reward. What might this reward entail? The mayors head tilted inquisitively. Held in the Crown Princes palm was the object he had referred to as this a golden bead, slightly smaller than a candy eyeball. A distinct, tangy yet invigorating aroma emanated from it. The Crown Princes lips curled into a smile. The Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Pardon? A novel formtion, designed tobat heart ailments like angina. As an added boon, it induces a serene slumber that engenders physicalfort much like the profound sleep the Minotaur currently enjoys. Are you implying that you administered this to the Minotaur? Indeed. Your Highness, did you craft this remedy yourself? Affirmative. Given my role in its creation, it is only fitting that I oversee its distribution. Given its precious ingredients, its cost is substantial. Thus, the notion arose to pair it with the medals during the award ceremony. Ah, Iprehend now. Does my intent resonate with you? Certainly, Your Highness. The mayor nodded sagely. A seasoned politician with decades of experience governing a domain, he astutely grasped the Crown Princes intent based on the provided information alone. A medalmemorating the triumph over an exceptional catastrophe, coupled with the celebration of its achievement were such a medicine to be bequeathed alongside a medal bearing the Crown Princes name the nobility throughout the empire would undoubtedly be piqued by the identity of this remedy. Exactly. Youve encapsted the essence. With sinct rity, Raciel affirmed theprehension, eliciting a satisfied smile to grace his features. How intrigued they will be by the medicine bestowed as a prize by the Crown Prince. Its practically a Crown Prince-exclusive edition. A luxury product with the Crown Princes stamp of approval. Yes, I believe so. Exactly. There will certainly be a considerable number of nobles who will feel a sense of prestige just by possessing it. Or those who perceive the trend and wish to acquire it, even if not immediately needed. Once that notion takes hold, further advertising bes almost unnecessary. They will naturally gravitate towards it, money in hand, eager to purchase. This is the allure of a high-end luxury brand. Ive observed this phenomenon a lot in Korea how people can be swayed by the power of a brand logo. In retrospect, it held true. Mercedes-Benz for automobiles. Rolex for timepieces. Objectively speaking, their features werent drastically superior to those ofpeting brands. Nheless, theymanded higher prices than their counterparts. In terms of cost-effectiveness, they might eveng behind. Yet they sold astonishingly well! Consider Mercedes-Benz They say the three-pointed star emblem alone is worth thousands of dors. The same goes for Rolex. People queue up at store openings, grasping for the chance to buy one. But in terms of raw performance, they dont significantly outshine other brands in their ss. BMW and Audipeting with Mercedes-Benz in the automobile sector. Omega taking on Rolex in the realm of watches. To an uninitiated individual unversed in cars or watches, discerning a performance disparity was challenging. In reality, neither consistently demonstrated marked performance superiority. But paradoxically themon popce tends to recognize only the brands synonymous with a particr field. This is the strength of branding. Raciel believed that this principle applied to the current scenario. The nobility, who will form the primary consumers of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill theyck substantial knowledge of medicine. In fact, their understanding may be close to negligible. Thus, this sort of promotional strategy will prove efficacious. Their attention will be drawn more towards the prestigious name behind the brand than the precise ingredients or effects of the medicine. Moreover, the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill wasnt a mere marketing gimmick reliant solely on brand power. It represented a medicine crafted from the finest Minotaurs Ohwang, boasting potent medicinal benefits as well as substantial side effects. Hence, we should capitalize on this opportunity to conduct thorough marketing. To secure an equitable price. This underscores the necessity of the medal award ceremony. In that case, we must execute the ceremony with utmost grandeur. Im even more grateful that you grasp my intentions. Not at all, Your Highness. Should wemence preparations promptly? The mayors response conveyed fullprehension. The more Raciel observed him, the more he found the older man dependable. A contented smile adorned Raciels countenance. I would greatly appreciate that. I shall keep this favor in memory, and Im entrusting this task to you. Understood. Count on me, Your Highness. That was the discussions crux. This exchange had urred a mere two days ago. True to his words, the mayorbored indefatigably. He dedicated day and night to ensure the event assumed the grandest proportions, and his swiftness was remarkable. Thanks to his tenacity, the medal award ceremony transpired a mere two dayster. Raciel raised his head. . Before him, an assemge of thousands of Cremo citizens congregated in the square. Those unable to secure a ce within the square leaned out from windows surrounding the area. Every gaze converged here, upon the podium. Or, to be more precise, upon him. Inhale. He drew a breath. Raciel inhaled deeply. Had he ever been the focal point of so many gazes simultaneously in his life? The answer was a resounding no, certainly not in South Korea. Back there, he had been a run-of-the-mill student, and as he aged, an ordinary local practitioner of oriental medicine. Simply an average individual with no remarkable reason to attract attention. Of course, there were times when I was noticed here Just once. It had urred when he confronted the second prince on the Lloy-Javi suspension bridge of the Imperial Road. Much like now, thousands of eyes had been fixated on the confrontation. Yet, the sensation was different from the present. Back then, I was solely focused on facing the second prince. All my attention was directed there. Hence, he had little mental space to be conscious of the surrounding stares. But today? He was lucid and had to confront the collective gaze of this multitude. To be honest, it felt slightly no, extremely burdensome! But dont falter, Lee Han! Raciel motivated himself. He needed to perform well moving forward. Only then would the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill garner the promotion it deserved. Only then could the financial woes afflicting the Star Pce Clinic be alleviated. Hmmhmm! He steeled himself. Clearing his throat, he gazed forward. Demian, who had ascended the podium seemingly out of thin air, stood before him. It was an umon sight to see Demian dressed in formal attire. Likewise adorned were Anise, the special duty guards, and the pce knights lined up behind him. Those who had dedicated their efforts to safeguard him, poised to be rewarded with medals today. The moment had arrived. Demian Cayenne and 33 others. He spoke softly. His words resonated amplified by the magical sphere, ringing out across the entire square as if a subwoofer had erupted. You all confronted the unprecedented turmoil caused by the Minotaur, stood unwaveringly to defend the royal lineage, and thus, through this ceremony, I, Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano, shall speciallymend your aplishments. He initiated the prepared address. Demian and the rest knelt on a single knee. Moving to each one, he bestowed a medal around their necks. Then, he produced an opulent case. He unveiled the case. Inside rested 34 glistening, gold-ted Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pills, neatly arranged in two rows. Furthermore, as a gesture of gratitude for your valor and dedication, I, Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano, have formted this special remedy. Raciel lifted the container housing the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pills, ensuring everyone across the square could clearly see it. His tone elevated, its resonance intended for all ears present. You are bona fide warriors who confronted the raging Minotaurus. Ergo! You deserve to partake in this unique and potent elixir, crafted from the gall of the Minotaurus. Murmur The square began to buzz with energy. The words crafted from the gall of Minotaurus had piqued curiosity about the existence of a medicine made from such constituents. The symbolism of the Crown Prince gifting the remedy. The intrigue was palpable. If it contains something from the Minotaurus Could it be a potent medicine? It seems usible. Eyes sparkled with anticipation. What if they ingested it? Could they be imbued with formidable strength akin to a Minotaurus? Amidst this collective interest and anticipation, Raciels speech gained even greater eloquence. The moment it enters your system, your hearts will surge with vigor. It will disband blood clots and infuse you with enduring stamina akin to a Minotaurus. Taurine, cholic acid, vitamin D, ginsenoside, and protopanaxdiol will vitalize your veins and animate your spirits! Murmur? Murmur? The crowds excitement grew. Taurine? Cholic acid? Whats Vitamin D? Unfamiliar terms, difficult toprehend. Yet, curiously, that seemed to make them even more usible! Is it beneficial? It seems exceedingly promising? Could it be a form of magical energy extracted from the Minotaurus? Ears perked up all around. Riding this wave, Raciels speech surged with even greater intensity. But thats not all. It extends beyond that. It will bestow the most rejuvenating and restful slumber upon weary and insomniac bodies. Revitalized and invigorated, you shall emerge as even braver souls. Just like the tireless Minotaurus! Upon consuming this medicine, you shall experience a rebirth. A metamorphosis into a new existence. A rustle of whispers ensued. The im was that the medicine would imbue them with courage upon ingestion. A ceaseless flood of potency and vitality would replenish their fatigued forms. However, Raciels torrent of words didnt conclude there. He drew inspiration from a home shopping channel host he often encountered while idly flipping on the TV back in Korea. He employed a session of artful phrases. I am genuinely delighted by your presence here today. Your unwavering loyalty and unswerving integrity enable me to convey knowledge of this remedy to the empires popce. And so,mencing today, for a mere months span just one month a Crown Prince Award Edition, replete with opulence and offered at a reasonable rate, will be made avable! The gateway to public sales shall be unsealed! Chatter! The Crown Prince Award Edition? Were they truly selling such an extraordinary medicine? Raciels words prated the attentive audiences ears. Merely 9,999 Majen! A limited quantity, avable for a special sale! A remarkable price, coupled with imminent prospects of depletion! Solely essible for theing month! The most exceptional package to ever grace the market, an unprecedented offering! This special product shall be bestowed unto you, free of charge. He concluded sinctly. Without superfluous adornment. He revealed only what needed revealing. He terminated his speech with a sense of novelty. In that very instant, spectators pupils quivered. A mere 9,999 Majen? So thats the affordable tag for the limited special sale? What must the original price be if this is considered reasonable? It must indeed be remarkably effective. Thats why itmands such a high price. Its due to its efficacy and value that the Crown Prince is awarding it to the awardees, right? Absolutely! I envy those fortunate enough to procure this medicine. Simr sentiments resonated across their thoughts. A coveted item not easily attainable. Avish luxury that could be unted by mere acquisition. A source of envy. An exclusive Crown Prince edition! Avarice started to fill the gazes fixed upon the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Ah I desire it. Im tempted to indulge. Their eyes shimmered brilliantly, akin to individuals who impulsively make a purchase after browsing a home shopping channel or scrolling through an online store. Observing their expressions, Raciel felt assured. Its working. Todays award ceremony, his strategically crafted words everything had executed wlessly. This very sess evoked a sense of gratifying anticipation for its swift depletion. However, he wasnt content with halting there. Concluding the event with the mere promotion of the new medication? That would be an opportunity squandered. His blueprint wasnt yetplete. Havingmenced the affair, I should capitalize on every aspect! He was determined to extract every ounce of potential from this day. To seize even the intangible. Bolstered by this resolve, he scanned the spectators. He brought forth the next stage of his design, projecting it forcefully into the fray. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 79 Chapter 79I Next Rumors wield a formidable influence. Information travels via word of mouth withinmunities. The uracy or authenticity of such information may not hold significant weight. What truly matters is the mere existence of the rumor itself. Even individuals who consider themselves sagacious are not immune to its effects. They find themselves, albeit minimally, swayed by these circting whispers. Rumors mold initial perceptions and cast a mold for future perceptions. Numerous illustrations of this phenomenon abound in our surroundings. On asion, we encounter firsthand instances that push the boundaries of believability. I found myself in precisely such a situation. Raciel suppressed a sigh mingled with remorse. Each recollection that surfaced brought forth a pulsating ache. It was an ordeal he had undergone back in Korea. A rumor circted within the apartmentplex and our Oriental medicine clinic that a COVID-19 patient had visited there on two separate asions curse it. Just the notion caused his fists to quiver. The trauma ran so deep that he dreaded the potential emergence of post-traumatic stress even during his slumber. And even in the present moment, the injustice of it all still lingered. The patient had merely transited through the premises. Fortunately, on both asions, no one within the clinic had contracted the virus. Stringent protocols for quarantine, disinfection, and preventive measures were meticulously adhered to. In reality, no issue existed whatsoever. However, the perception within themunity was divergent. The rumor that permeated the vicinity cast an image of the COVID-19 treatment center. Folks harbored concerns that stepping inside might expose them to the virus. They chose to journey a bit farther to other ces instead And that marked the conclusion. Once such a notion took root, the most adverse impression became indelible. Reversal became an unattainable goal. Redemption faded beyond consideration. The abandoned clinic stood eerily silent, devoid of any visitors. That final evening in the consultation room, before removing the signboard, Raciel reminisced about the tears he had shed while consuming an entire bottle of soju in solitude. That ordeal had granted him a profoundprehension of the supremacy of rumors. He bore a profound recognition of the kind of sway and oues that rumors and publicity could wield. The present situation mirrored that past experience. A crowd of thousands gathered for the first time in a while. Not just for anything, but to hear my speech. To see the face of the crown prince, which they might see once in a lifetime, they gathered inrge numbers. Hence an opportunityid out before me. Raciel lifted his gaze to observe the throngs of people amassed in the square. Unexpectedly, the square had fallen into silence. They awaited the crown princes speech. He could sense it. They likely anticipate an emotive discourse. That the royal family draws tremendous strength from the prosperity of the port city of Cremo. That they are indebted for the diligent efforts of the mayor, which have steered this prosperity, and even more appreciative of the contribution made by the citizens who have propelled the development of the harbor and the city. That they are moved by the determination of those who rise and pledge to rebuild even when faced with unforeseen catastrophes, and so forth, extolling your excellence, and so on The customary titudes. Presumably, such were the expectations for speeches. Most likely, everyone foresaw such a discourse. This thought prompted a smile to creep onto his countenance. Raciel moistened his lips. He clutched the crystal ball embedded with the sound amplification spell. The citizens in the square, awaiting his oration. Hemenced, uttering the lines he had meticulously prepared. Greetings to you all, citizens of Cremo. As you are already aware, I am Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. And furthermore, I preside as the director of the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. Murmur. His salutation bore an unexpected twist, prompting a ripple of murmurs to course through the crowd. Raciels smile deepened. Today, an opportunityy before him. An optimal asion to propagate the merits of the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. I cant let this chance to promote the clinic elude me! He couldnt afford to squander this opening. Letting it slip through his grasp would be nothing short of imprudent. Promotion and advertising constituted bedrock principles for all enterprises. Even recently inaugurated restaurants in neighborhoods expended efforts to attain visibility, hiring part-time staff to distribute flyers. And now, an opportunity had emerged to promote to a multitude of thousands, devoid of cost, unterally. Such an opportunity demanded exploitation. Every ounce of advantage must be extracted. Truly, this was the creed of a shrewd entrepreneur. With this conviction in mind, he unapologeticallyunched into his sales pitch. He unreservedly delivered the lines he had rehearsed the preceding night. Thus, as the director of the Star Pce Clinic, it would be a disservice if I were to merely discuss the clinic and depart, dont you think? Murmur. The murmuring of the people intensified. The pivotal moment approached. Now is the instance to gently draw them in. Like a fisherman cautiously reeling in his catch, alluringly, he piqued their curiosity, softlyying the bait. Hence, I address you today. What is Cremo? Is it not the most splendid trading hub within the North Sea, the very heart of the northern empire? Yet, who are the true architects of this locale? Who imbue it with a vibrancy teeming with life? It is all of you. If you are in good health, Cremo shall flourish even more. If Cremo prospers, so does the empire. In essence, your well-being bolsters the empires might! Your health equates to the empires power, dear citizens. His voice deftly rose and subtly fell, like a melody crafted to resonate with their emotions. He established eye contact with each individual in the foremost row. I extend my earnest wish for your continued well-being. It is my sincere hope. Thats why I implore you. If any among you here feel even the slightest difort or ailment, I encourage you to step forward. It matters not if the condition is not severe. Be it amon cold, body aches, headaches, toothaches, muscr difort, neuralgia, postnatal difort lingering, arthritis, rheumatism, chronic indigestion, or gastrointestinal issues. I shall thoroughly assess them all, as the director of the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. The susurrus in the crowd intensified! The murmurs within the crowd gained strength. Their gazes shifted to their neighbors. Each individual had a moment of introspection. Did I have an area of difort? Now that I think about it, my mothers knee hasnt been in the best statetely. Can I genuinely seek treatment from the crown prince for such a reason? A substantial number of those gathered in the square found themselves grappling with simr quandaries. In response to this spectacle, a contented smile blossomed on Raciels countenance like a profusion of roses. Oh dear, my patrons no, my valued patrons for extended life. His patrons were grappling with a dilemma. So, what next? The time had arrived to deliver the decisive blow. Raciel moistened his lips. He aimed a definitive statement at the hesitating assembly. Those who step forward now will receive aplimentary treatment coupon, limited to the first 100 individuals. What? Complimentary, firste, first served,mence. What in the! Exploiting the crowds stunned state perfectly, he achieved victory. Raciel had executed an impromptu advertisement and sales pitch for his oriental medicine clinic under the guise of a speech. The oue was a resounding sess. Jackpot. This is a jackpot, haha, lulu! Joy erupted organically. Within the port city of Cremo, every result resembled a series of jackpots. Unexpectedly obtaining a King Minotaur for free(?). Securing the chance to consistently obtain top-grade Minotaur-bile. And not to forget, the prosperous promotion of the oriental medicine clinic. His lips curled into a smile effortlessly. Form a line, form a line! No cutting! Wait your turn! Chaos reigned in the square. Lines of individuals extended ceaselessly. It was akin to the queues forming for theunch of a new seasonal tumbler or pic set at Starbucks, or the lines seen on the morning of a new iPhone models release. Or, as if a store had initiated an almost unbelievable 1+10 promotion, prompting people to rush in like a tide. Raciel raised his head, a sense of contentment enveloping him. He observed the individual seated across from himan unnamed grandmother from Cremo. Madam? Yes, yes, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Your digestion appears to have significantly weakened, am I correct? Yes? Absolutely, youre right. How did you discern that? I inferred it from your earlier remarks. .. In any case, its challenging to enhance digestion that has declined with age. Endeavor to chew your food thoroughly and avoid lying down immediately before and after meals. Oh, at yourmand, I shall do my best. And opt for seafood and poultry over pork and beef. Yes? Could you exin why That aligns better with your constitution. The grandmothers eyes widened. Raciel bestowed a radiant smile. His previous statement held truth. After analyzing her pulse, he deduced that the grandmothers constitution did not favor red meat. Likely, she experienced mild dyed allergies and inmmation each time she consumed it, resulting in a sensation of stuffiness. And furthermore You might have encountered reddish spots appearing on your neck or body, apanied by itching. Am I correct? How did you know about that? Thats an allergic reaction stemming from continued consumption of foods rich in histamine. Endeavor to minimize your intake of aged pork. Likewise, steer clear of ripe fruits and vegetables like avocados, bananas, and tomatoes. Ah, the same principle applies to mackerel. Will reducing my consumption of those items alleviate the itching? Its quite likely. Additionally, please ept this. What is this, Your Highness? A coupon. Really? The grandmothers eyes widened even further. Raciel offered a somewhat awkward smile. I diagnosed your condition on the spot today, without having any Star Pce herbal medicine prepared. I couldnt even write you a proper prescription. Thats why. He gazed warmly into the grandmothers eyes, hoping his sincerity would be transparentlymunicated. He wished for his genuine sentiments to permeate. Present this coupon at Star Pce Clinic, and I shall have a tailored constitutional enhancement medicine crafted for you. Naturally, itsplimentary. Ill even cover all the travel and lodging expenses to and from the Imperial Capital. ! Free. A magical word capable of instantly touching anyones heart in the world. The grandmothers eyes sparkled with a surge of emotion. Observing this, Raciel nodded to himself. He had managed to touch the grandmothers heart. His earnestness had genuinely resonated. Sales sess! Internally clenching his fist, he raised his head. Next patient! Anises voice resounded. A man with a sailors demeanor took the spot previously upied by the departing grandmother. Raciel assessed the mans pulse and activated his Palpation skill, simultaneously utilizing the meridian scanning feature. Your shoulder joint doesnt feel well, does it? When you raise it to this extent, do you sense a stabbing sensation here? How did you know, Your Highness? The sailors eyes widened. Raciels eyes crinkled at the corners, evoking a smile. Allow me to exin when this urs do such-and-such h h and here, ept this. Its a coupon. Really? Swoosh. The culmination of each treatment was invariably marked with a coupon. Given the necessity to diagnose dozens, if not hundreds, of people on the spot, there existed no alternative. Preparing and concocting a substantial volume of customized herbal remedies for everyone was essentially unfeasible. Acupuncture would demand excessive time. Thus, todays focus was solely on diagnosis. If genuine treatment was desired, the coupon was proffered, inviting recipients to visit the Star Pce Clinic. As a strategic maneuver, they even bundled the costs for a round-trip journey to the Imperial Capital. He diagnosed numerous citizens, selecting up to a hundred who seemed to necessitate an actual visit to the Star Pce Clinic, and bestowed upon them coupons. He tended to a total of 481 citizens until dusk. The achievement with the coupons was truly remarkable. Excellent. Truly excellent. A hundred free coupons dispensed. So, even if only 10 percent of those individuals decide to visit the Star Pce Clinic? That amounts to a secured count of 10 patients. However, that wasnt the sole feat. Courtesy of todays gratis treatment event, there was hardly anyone in Cremo City left unaware of the Star Pce Clinic. And Cremo Port, the northernmost trading city, teemed with activity. The oue was evident without necessitating observation. Rumors will traverse by ship and horse, spanning all directions. Within a month, they will permeate the entirety of the northern empire. Star Pce Clinic, overseen by the Crown Prince. Unacquainted? You might even hear whispers from informants. Initially, its crucial to foster recognition. Thats how congregations form, results materialize, and why businesses allocate resources for advertising. Phew. Raciel gasped for breath. It had been a tempestuous day of diagnosing patients, stretching on for a grueling nine hours. Did I perhaps overexert myself? His head throbbed mercilessly. His eyes were parched, and a wave of faintness washed over him. Every inch of his body seemed to ache in protest. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs call for adherence tobor standards.] [Heart: Hey! When are we allowed some rest?] [Lungs: Huff heh heh ] [Large intestine: Nine hours straight without a break? This human is genuinely insane.] [Liver: And what of overtimepensation? What about night shift incentives?] [Stomach: Yeah right If you expect us to perform, at least offer us a meal, ha] Undoubtedly, he was struggling. Nine hours of continuous treatment might not sound too arduous, yet for his frail constitution, it was akin to heavy toil. However, he couldnt reveal it. Raciel gave no indication of his fatigue. All eyes were on him. Ive sessfully promoted andpleted the treatments. Everythings done, so its time for a swift exit. Nows the moment. He must depart withposure. That way, the impression of the promotion would be impable. Fueled by this resolve, Raciel tensed his legs. He endeavored to spring up, but his attempt met with unexpected resistance. Huh? ! Did I possibly strain myself too much? For an instant, the world appeared tinged in yellow. Nausea and dizziness overwhelmed him. Despite his resolve, his legs buckled beneath him. I shouldnt appear like this. Onlookers abound. He must maintain hisposure till the very end. Thus, copsing wasnt an option. Nheless, his body proved uncooperative. Thud! Ugh! He toppled over,nding in a rather inelegant posture. In that moment, Raciel bit down on his lip. Ive ruined it. All eyes were fixed in his direction. His heart sank, and a bitter tang coated his mouth. After executing everything correctly, he fumbled at the finale. He begrudged his ongoing health struggles and his constitutions feeble endurance. Yet, in an unexpected turn, Ding-dong! An unfamiliar notification tone resonated in his ear. An even more unexpected message materialized before his eyes. [You have diligently treated numerous patients in merely half a day. Consequently, you have sumbed to a state of weariness and fatigue.] [Cremos denizens have observed your presence.] [The sight of the crown prince sumbing to exhaustion following his altruistic treatments is profoundly touching the hearts of Cremos inhabitants.] [The sincerity you emanate resonates with Cremos popce.] [Cremos inhabitants are captivated by you.] [The amalgamation of emotionsadmiration andmendationfrom these individuals has kindled newfound potency in your medical expertise.] [The Great Doctor Point (GDP) system is now essible.] (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 80 Chapter 80I Next [The Great Doctor Point (GDP) system is now essible.] What? Raciels eyes widened in surprise. He had spent the entire day tending to patients, aiming to depart gracefully after the long and demanding hours. However, just as he was about to make his exit, a wave of dizziness overcame him. In an unfortunate turn of events, he copsed in a rather undignified manner, an unforgettable instance of shame ying out before a witnessing crowd. In retrospect, he berated himself for tarnishing what could have been a seamless departure, akin to adding a sprinkle of ash to an otherwise prepared meal. His assumption of leaving the scene with an air ofposure and grandeur was shattered; he had merely faltered. And then, out of the blue, an unfamiliar notification materialized. The Great Doctor Point? Almost as if in response to his inner query, sessive messages began to popte his screen. A gentle chime resounded Ding-dong! [The Great Doctor Point (GDP) embodies a reputation-based concept.] [The Great Doctor Point (GDP) stands as a unique metric that rues solely through the cultivation of social renown via medical endeavors. It arises from garnering profound respect, touching numerous hearts, and achieving feats that imprint on the annals of medical history.] Reputation points? Abruptly, his thoughts veered towards RPG games. Within some gaming realms, aparable system of fame had been integrated. The Great Doctor Point seemed to echo such a notion. [Throughout the span of today, you dedicatedly attended to and nurtured a multitude of patients for half a day. Yourmitment remained unwavering, culminating in weariness and an eventual bout of faintness.] [Numerous citizens of Cremo bore witness to this incident.] [The denizens of Cremo experienced a subtle yet profound sentiment.] [Genuine admiration for you stirred among the popce of Cremo.] [Your benevolent actions will propagate your renown organically, augmenting your standing.] [umtion: 101 GDP.] [Present tally of Great Doctor Points (GDP) = 101.] 101 points? GDP? Raciel tilted his head, a mixture of happiness and confusion washing over him as he received these points. What purpose do these honor points serve? How can I put them to use? He pondered if these points were merely meant for amassinga notion that would raise concerns. Naturally! Points must possess utility to qualify as true points! In his view, points ought to function as such. Even the points rued at the local supermarket adhered to this principle. umting them over time only to relish the exhration of theirvish expenditure, akin to an explosion(!), to im aplimentary ice cream or cake! So, what exactly can be achieved with these Great Doctor Points, or GDP? He ardently hoped they werent merely ornamental. At that juncture, Raciel found himself grappling with a tinge of doubt and unease. Ding-dong! A cheerful notification chimed in, promptly elucidating the utility of GDP. [A skillful medical practitioner must asionally veil their true sentiments! Instances arise where you must subdue the patients agony and despair, your own sadness andpassion, maintaining a stoic countenance!] [The newly essible GDP points can be employed to procure a .] What? A Deception Authorization Ticket? What could that possibly entail? Raciel hastily perused the subsequent messages that unfurled before him. [A Deception Authorization Ticket is a voucher acquirable for 100 GDP, limited to one.] [Upon employing the Deception Authorization Ticket, the designated recipient will unwaveringly and perpetually ept one falsehood you proffer.] [The Deception Authorization Ticket possesses single-use exclusivity.] [When deploying the Deception Authorization Ticket, the recipient must be specified.] [The Deception Authorization Ticket is exclusively applicable to a single individual per usage.] [The deception facilitated by the Deception Authorization Ticket is restricted to one falsehood per application.] [Caution during application: Should the intended recipient be of mythic origin or closely linked to such, the employment might be discerned.] Astounding. Should he entertain this notion? Such was the initial reflex of his thoughts. It seemed almost too fantastical to believe, yet it wasnt fantasticalit was tangible. The conclusive line in the message pane affirmed its authenticity. [Current GDP permits acquisition of 1 Deception Authorization Ticket.] Its legitimate. The system window never lied. So this had to be real. Because of this, his lips involuntarily curled up into a smile. Incredible. To induce unwavering belief through the vehicle of one liea concept so staggering. So long as the target isnt a mythical entity, all is well. And encounters with such beings are virtually imusible, allowing me to overlook that drawback. If this tool is wielded with finesse life could turn considerably smoother, wouldnt it? Even a fleeting consideration affirmed this conclusion. Depending on strategy, the potential applications were boundless. If employed skillfully, one could potentially manipte the course of a nation or navigate misdeeds unscathed. Such an extraordinary privilege. The urge to immediately assess its potency surged within him, swiftly quelled by the awareness of its singrity. Patience. I can only buy one ticket, so I have to save it. When the momentes to use it, I can check the effect. Racielposed his thoughts, lifting his gaze to survey his surroundings. Your Highness, are you alright? Demian inquired, providing support as if responding to his sudden copse, his tone brimming with concern. Raciel offered the man a smile. If I were not alright, would you have scooped me up and dashed away? Yes. And where would you have spirited me off to? To a doctor, but seeing you in this state, it appears unnecessary. Indeed? Yes, fortunately. Demian extended his hand, and Raciel sped onto the robust offer, rising gradually with assistance. Then, a realization dawned upon him. But why did you not catch me during my fall? I wasnt able to catch you. Is that so? Yes, your tumble was unexpected. Hmm, I doubt that. Is that truly your perception? Yes, your demeanor contradicts a failure to catch me. You saw through it? Absolutely. Why did you abstain from catching me? Because I saw it as an opportune moment to stage a more theatrical disy. Demians admission carried an unapologetic note. Raciel was left momentarily bbergasted. What? Exactly as stated. Furthermore, considering the manner of your fall and the angle, it appeared rather controlled. Given your well-endowed rear, I calcted minimal harm would befall you. Did you suffer any injuries? Yes. Where are you hurt? My heart. Sigh. To have this man as my bodyguard I will ensure your safety when genuine danger looms. Why not express that as amitment to upholding a steady paycheck? Thats implicit. In any case, I will ultimately safeguard you. Heh. This guy, truly. However, Raciel didnt perceive Demian as reprehensible. On the contrary, he found amusement in the mans responses. He waspelled to, detecting the sincerity beneath it all. Even if he adopts this attitude hes the one whod rush to my aid if the need arose. That evening was testament to this. Amid the assault by Uruus, he had striven to shield Raciel, even at the risk of his own well-being. Understanding the depth of his intentions, Raciel could find mirth in his witty retorts and even partake in a yful verbal exchange. Hush. Daring to mock royalty in my presence? Are you implying execution? Yes. Could you not extend clemency? Why? Who would stand guard over you in my absence? Theres Anise, Sergio, and other special duty guards. There are plenty of guards. You arent exceptional. Avoid delusions andcency. Agreed? Strive harder? Demians countenance soured, while Raciels eyes twinkled with a satisfied gleam. Assisting Demian down the steps, where a carriage awaited, Raciel couldnt help but respond to Mayor Cremo, who stood by the vehicle with evident concern. Are you truly departing in this manner, Your Highness? Mayor Cremo, stationed by the awaiting carriage, voiced his concern. Raciel responded with a sheepish smile. Just a slight twist of my leg and a minor difort in my posterior. No need to worry excessively. But, Your Highness, wouldnt it be prudent to rest a night before embarking? Im perfectly fine. I can restfortably within the carriage during the journey. Isnt it less cozypared to a proper bed? No, its just asfortable for me. Genuinely. Ever since his student days, he had cultivated a knack for dozing off on trains and buses. Anyone from South Korea is equipped with this passive skill where they can sleep soundly as soon as they sit down, but automatically wake up just before their stop. How soothing it is to nap within a carriage. In any case, I owe you a considerable debt for my time here. Todays award ceremony was equally delightful. Your Highness, your magnanimity knows no bounds! Cremos mayor, still disying his concern, bid them farewell as they departed. Waves of citizens, forming a sea within the square, sent them off with vigorous gestures. Climbing into the carriage, the weight of umted fatigue was released with an audible sigh. Ah. With a slight jolt, the carriage initiated its journey. The angr silhouettes of the specialized duty guards and the royal sentinels trailed behind. The trotting Uruus formed a subsequent procession. The partymenced their departure, leaving the bustling square behind. They progressed past the iconic statue of Lloyd Frontera, which for some reason exuded an eerie ambiance. The city gates were traversed, and the urbanndscape gradually receded. This departure marked the conclusion of a remarkable chapter. Rocking along, gliding with ease, Raciel surrendered to deep slumber within the confines of the carriage. The panorama transformed moment by moment. Beyond the hill that granted a vista of the sea, through the dense morning mist draping the grasnds, traversing the refreshing flow of the river and its apanying bridge, and galloping through fields that glistened with the remnants of the nights dew, they advanced. Eight times the sun had risen and set, imprinting the cycle in their eyes. Finally, they reached the Imperial Capital, radiating a luminosity akin to the Milky Way beneath the tapestry of midnight stars. The return of Crown Prince Magentano. Four days had psed since their departure from Cremo. However, once they arrived at the Imperial Capital, Raciel found himself unable to proceed directly to the Star Pce. This was due to an imperial decree presented by the officer stationed at the imperial gate, who had hurried forth upon receiving word of the crown princes homing. Attention! Captain Mikardo of Infantry Battalion 6, Company 2, toon 1, extends his greetings to the Crown Prince! With a salute and a bow steeped in reverence, the captain presented himself. His gaze flitted anxiously towards Uruus within the entourage as he proffered a golden-sealed envelope. And what might this be? Its an imperial decree from His Majesty, addressed to Your Highness. The Emperor? Yes, indeed! The Emperor, that figure. Was he summoning him upon his return for some specific reason? Had he stationed this edict at the gate for that very purpose? Ugh. Its unsettling. Raciels brow furrowed as he epted the decree-sealed envelope. The contents were sinct. [Upon the crown princes return to the Imperial Capital, he is to make an immediate appearance at the pce. That is all.] The sense of unease only amplified. The Emperor wished to see him promptly upon his arrival in the Imperial Capital? This is tricky. The Emperor wasnt a figure to be treated lightly. Within him churned a tempest ofplexity, each tempestuous gust apanied by the roar of a lion. Thus, this summons from the Emperor signified what? There had to be an ulterior motive lurking beneath the surface. Hes not the type to just want to see my face. Yet, the decree couldnt be flouted. Raciel adjusted the carriages course toward the Imperial Pce, all while harboring a quiet resolution. Should the Emperor propose something unusual or transgress his bounds Hed utilize a deception ticket without a moments hesitation, he silently vowed. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 81 Chapter 81I Next All of a sudden, old thoughts pop into the mind. Could it be due to the sound of wagon wheels rolling beneath the dark night sky? The dimly lit streetlights lit up by enchantment? The fleeting tter as they go by. The slightly chilly and damp nighttime breeze. The somewhat tired sensation ofing back somewhere after a long day. Do all these feelings constantly stir a piece of memory? Raciel didnt have the answer. Raciel raised his head. Did I nap for a bit? Evidently, the lengthy journey from Cremo to the imperial capital took a toll. He slept soundly in the carriage the entire day, yet it appears he nodded off once more. Just like back in those days. It brings back memories of my senior year in high school. Initially, his house was close to the school. It remained that way until the second year of high school. However, right before the first semester of his third year, they relocated. From Daeyeon-dong in Busan to Haeundae. During that time, there wasnt a subway over there. By bus? The vivid recollections of buses 40 and 109. It consumed a whole hour and a half just to reach school using them. The same went for the return trip home. As a result, he would often arrive home just before midnight afterpleting his nighttime studies. The sound of bus wheels turning beneath the dark night sky. The faintly illuminated streetlights casting light on the nocturnal streets. The ttering as they sped along. The somewhat chilly and damp night breeze. The weariness ofing home after a lengthy day. It was a daily routine. He was exhausted. Back then, it was genuinely monotonous. So I told a lot of lies. He fibbed to his teacher about getting home toote, about the schools proximity to his house, and how finishing all his nighttime studies would make himte for school. He fibbed to his parents as well. About excelling in his nighttime studies. About theteness being due to theirpletion. He lied and skipped his nighttime studies. He indulged in activities during those study hours and then returned home. The day his father copsed, it was the same. Thats why he received the call btedly. He hadnt even noticed the phone ringing because he was gaming in the PC room. Consequently, when he eventually answered the call, it was all toote. Tsk. Put a stop to dwelling on it. Raciel shook his head to dispel the lingering thoughts. The emperor had summoned him. That particr finicky and irritable man might find something to criticize. So, theres no need to let himself be consumed by gloomy thoughts. He needs to clear his mind and be prepared to face the situation head-on. That was Raciels determination. In due time, the carriage arrived at the pce, and he stepped out. I will lead the way, Your Highness. Follow me. He followed the chief steward who hade out to greet him. After traversing several corridors, staircases, and turns, he reached the throne room. The throne room stood vacant in the midnight hour. The chief steward lowered his head. His Majesty will be here shortly. Thankfully, the wait wasnt long. After only 2 or 3 minutes, the door on the opposite side of the throne room swung open. A familiar yet unwee middle-aged man entered. It was the emperor. In the presence of His Majesty the Emperor, the rightful ruler of thisnd, Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. As soon as he spotted the emperors face, he automatically paid his respects. However, there was no response. The emperor simply walked by without acknowledging him, taking his ce on the throne and regarding him with a cold stare. A gaze thatmunicated, If you have something to say, say it. Those eyes devoid of emotion. Raciel swallowed hard. It was challenging and embarrassing. That man is up to his usual antics. He found it mean. Summoning someone in the middle of the night and then behaving with that attitude, expecting them to speak first. Isnt it customary for the one who summoned to state their purpose first? He genuinely had no clue why the emperor had called him. And facing that attitude right from the start was truly vexing. The emperor must be intentionally exerting control. Raciel refrained from hastily speaking. When the situation is unclear, its best to observe and wait. He made that decision and calmly met the emperors gaze. Perhaps it was due to this approach. In the end, the emperor spoke first. I have a question for you. Why did you act so irresponsibly and ipetently in Cremo, causing our envoys to suffer? So, that was the crux of the matter. He had been summoned to address his actions in Cremo. But irresponsible and ipetent? Which actions from that day was the emperor referring to? As he pondered for a moment, The emperors sharp inquiry continued. Why the silence? Ive heard that the Minotaur attacked the citys official residence. Is that urate? Yes, Your Majesty. I see. Ive also heard that you were caught in the situation, and your life was in grave danger. Is that also true? Yes, Your Majesty. Thats why Im asking. On that day, why didnt you escape more swiftly, needlessly endangering and burdening the agents who were trying to protect you? Thats You might argue that you did your best to escape. But you were mistaken. You should have anticipated the danger and prepared in advance. If youre in an unfamiliar ce far from the secure path of the imperial capital and you understand the significance of your role as a crown prince, you should have taken proper precautions. But you didnt. You approached life in a foreignnd with the same mindset as you would in the imperial capital. Thats why you failed to foresee the impending danger, didnt react proactively, and consequently put those in your service in great danger and hardship. Is this old man trying to convey this message? Yet, he seems to have little concern for him. Raciel felt somewhat unjustly treated. He wanted to respond, but the emperors sharp scolding and lecturing took precedence. You are the one who will inherit my throne, provide guidance, lead, embrace, and bear the responsibility for millions of imperial subjects. Yet, youve overlooked even the minor precautions, carelessly subjecting a mere few dozen attendants to danger and hardship. Isnt this a matter of shame? Raciel kept his lips sealed. It felt profoundly unfair. But somehow, he couldnt counter. The emperors rebuke was entirely urate. So remember this. Reflect deeply on this incident, and utilize it as a lesson for the future. Ensure that you never repeat the same error. Do youprehend? I understand, Your Majesty. Any other remarks? Yes. He promptly replied. He acknowledged that the emperors words held truth. Yet, he wasnt ready to surrender so easily. He desired to offer some resistance. Otherwise, this will continue being a one-sided dynamic. Thats the nature of power struggles. Once you yield, the bnce is set. Once that equilibrium is established, altering or disrupting it bes harder, especially when the other party is the emperor. Ill likely keep getting pushed around unterally. I cant allow that. I must demonstrate that I can push back, at the very least. Thats the key to making things smoother moving forward. With that resolve, Raciel opened his mouth and aimed to prick at the emperors conscience. I will heed Your Majestys words. However, I also dare to ask something. You wish to ask something? Yes. Go ahead. Yes, Your Majesty. May I dare to ask if you have sessfully quit tobo, as I inquired before? What? The emperors eyebrows twitched. Raciel didnt miss this opening and repeated his question. I dared to ask if Your Majesty has stopped smoking. This time, the emperor remained silent. Had he hit an unexpected nerve? If so, Raciel intended to press further with his counterattack. You should unquestionably quit smoking. It would enable you to attend to state affairs in a healthier manner. As Your Majesty mentioned earlier, you are the one who supports, leads, cares for, and bears responsibility for millions of imperial subjects. Hmm. Thats So its imperative that you give up smoking! Because Your Majestys well-being is integral to the stability of the imperial family. It was the truth. Not mere rhetoric. Not a ploy for power. In reality, the emperor suffered a stroke due to excessive smoking and stress. Suddenly, the narrative from the original work Devil Sword Emperor came to mind. This must have urred after Crown Prince Raciels demise. The Emperors smoking had escted. Whether it was due to stress or other factors, he would frequently set aside his sword to reach for a cigarette. Within a year, he sumbed to a stroke. And thats why. I must make him quit smoking. Simply quitting tobo would significantly reduce the risk of a stroke. If he wished to avoid the same fate of his father, who fell ill during his third year of high school, and if he wanted to prevent a family from shattering, the Emperor had to quit smoking. Only then could the empire withstand the impending upheaval. Only then could the imperial family remain intact. Only then could Raciel find sce. He continued to advise with resolute determination. People oftenment that smoking shatters families and disrupts society. My words might echo those sentiments. However, this time, its far from an exaggeration. If Your Majesty falls ill, the imperial family will falter, and the empire will crumble. This is a stark and usible future that looms before us. Your Majesty, you must quit smoking. Raciel locked eyes with the Emperor as he spoke. But at that instant, the Emperors lips curled into an enigmatic smile, and he replied unexpectedly. When ites to smoking, I quit long ago. Pardon me? I said I quit a long time ago. Is that true? Absolutely. The Emperors smile deepened. I stopped the day you dared to admonish me. Is there anything else you wish to say? No. Raciel swallowed his words. The Emperor was undoubtedly no pushover. Yet, Raciel felt relief that he had indeed given up smoking. Avoiding further reprimand, he promptly bowed his head. If theres nothing else, Your Majesty, Ill take my leave. Go ahead. But keep this in mind. Yes? Refrain from consuming the Phantom Beasts food thoughtlessly. It cant be healthy for your body to experience such rapid growth in such a short period. Could he have been aware that he ate the red sunflower seed? Do youprehend? I understand. There was no space for argument now. It was a relief that he didnt face further criticism. Raciel quickly bowed and exited the throne room. Once he departed, the throne room fell silent. Inside, Emperor Asterion let out a soft chuckle. Hehe Hehehe. He was content. He took pride in his sons transformed demeanor. His son, who once couldnt muster the courage to respond to his reprimands, who couldnt even take a breath in his presence, had now dared to inquire if he had quit smoking. So you were that concerned about your father, huh? Hehe, hehehe! He felt gratified. He felt profoundly proud. His sons actions in Cremo facing unforeseen perils, subduing the Minotaur monster, and, most importantly, returning safely. He felt thoroughly satisfied, proud, and ted. It seemed like a modest delight for the Emperor, not as a ruler but as a father. Thats why he wished to provide him with more support. He yearned to strengthen his sons resolve. So, how is that new medicine my son developed faring? The Emperor directed his question to the empty space. A subdued voice responded from the shadows within the throne room. As per your orders, were using the imperial familys intelligencework to disseminate information about the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill extensively. And what are the oues? There wont be anyone in the empire, not even in the remotest noble households, who remains unaware of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Excellent, very good. The Emperor nodded in agreement. His smile was even more content. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 82 Chapter 82I Next Raciel felt content. Its been a while since hes been back to this ce. Its been a while since he had heard this weing voice. Your Highness-! Gardin rushed out, sobbing. He had even lost one of his shoes somewhere. Raciel couldnt believe Gardin was dashing across the yard in his socks without knowing that. Whoa, whoa. Hold on! He wouldnt run toward him and suddenly hug him, would he? Raciel didnt want to encounter such a creepy situation, so he quickly stopped Gardin. Fortunately(?), there was still a trace of reason left in him. He stopped abruptly, leaving a distance of one meter between them. And then he cried out again. Your Highnesssss! Oh, my ears are gonna burst. Yourrrrrr! People will think Im dead if they hear you. But, Youuu! Are you that happy to see me? No! Gardin firmly shook his head. However, he looked very weak. Although he hadnt seen him for just about three weeks, his handsome face had be thin, and he had dark circles all around his eyes. Gardin? Yes, Your Highness! Did you eat something bad? Why is yourplexion so dark? Its because my work has been so rewarding, Your Highness! Rewarding? Yes! What kind of reward? You, Your Highness! You left all those numerous patients at the clinic to me alone!! Ah, right. That was true. But it appeared that Gardin had not neglected his duty. In fact, he might have worked harder than necessary. Raciel gave a wry smile. So, you must have had a tough time alone? Yes, Your Highness! And are you happy that Ive returned? Yes, Your Highness! Do you think you can now rx and enjoy some carefree days ahead? Do you feel a surge of hope? Something like that? Of course, Your Highness! Really? Really? Kuhuhk! Gardins tears burst forth again. But Raciel knew it wasnt an act. He was genuinely happy. Happy that he had returned safely. Joyful and pleased. But he was a bit shy to express it openly. How could Raciel not feel a sense of pride? Raciel smiled contentedly. Anyway, thank you for holding down the fort while I was away. Yes, Your Highness. You look tired from overworking, so Ill prepare some medicine for youter. No, thank you, Your Highness. Im fine. Tsk. Youre not fine. Your cheeks are sunken. By the way, did you hear about the incident in Cremo? Yes, Your Highness. I was very surprised. Really? Well, brace yourself for an even bigger surprise. What do you mean? Gardin tilted his head. At that moment, Moo? Suddenly, a massive shadow enveloped Gardin and Raciel. It approached Gardin swiftly, extending arge tongue. Lick The King Minotaurus, Uruus, licked Gardins garment with his broad tongue. But Gardin wasnt startled. He neither screamed nor fainted. He simply stared nkly at Uruus. And then he tilted his head again. Your Highness? Yes. Am I, by any chance, feeling very sick? Huh? Why? Im seeing hallucinations, and they feel very real. Oh, thats not a hallucination. Its not? No. Thats? Yes. Really? Of course. Say hello. His name is Uruus, and he doesnt bite. Kyaahhh! Tsk. Making a fuss even though youre not that surprised. Did you catch him? Yes. Obviously. The news that I tamed a Minotaur and brought him here has already spread like wildfire. You must have heard all about it. By the way, was there anything unusual while I was away? Nothing much. Thankfully, there were no emergency or critical patients. Oh, there was one thing. Gardin spoke as he wiped his face with a handkerchief. Recently, starting from yesterday, weve been getting odd inquiries at the Star Pce Clinic. Strange inquiries? Yes, Your Highness. They keep asking to for a medicine that doesnt exist The nobles are making quite a fuss about it. The medicine? Could it be? Raciel narrowed his eyes. It seemed too soon. On the other hand, the thought that it could have already happened crossed his mind. Gardin continued, Yes, Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Its the new medicine that Your Highness announced you would develop and sell. How did you manage to spread it all over the country so quickly? All over the country? The rumor? Yes, Your Majesty. It spread that quickly? Already? Yes. Heh, heh, heh. Could this be real? Only eight days had passed since the decoration ceremony in Cremo. Was it truly possible that in such a short span, the rumors about Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill had reached every corner of the empire? Can that even be possible? Raciel found it difficult to believe. He had certainly used the crown princes name to propagate the rumor and had even organized an award ceremony. So he had expected the rumor to gradually spread at some point. However I didnt anticipate it would happen so swiftly. The rumor seemed to have spread faster than he had ever imagined. It was astonishing. And upon closer inspection, it was true. The desk in the directors office of the Oriental Medicine Clinic, where he returned after an extended absence, was filled with inquiry letters delivered from across the country by couriers. These letters were arrivingpetitively, expressing the eagerness to purchase the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. But that wasnt all. On the day after his return to the clinic, the area in front of the pce was bustling from early morning. Are those all messengers sent by noble families? Yes, Your Highness. So, theyve been queuing up since dawn to buy the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill? Indeed, Your Highness. Phew. It wasnt a joke; the line stretched beyond the pce gate. Observing this, the realization truly dawned upon him. An exhrating satisfaction surged within him. Is this what it feels like to own a restaurant where people line up from dawn? Never had he experienced this sensation back in South Korea while managing an Oriental Medicine Clinic. Only here, finally, was he relishing the sensation of a blockbuster sales day. Well then, theres no reason to turn them away. Allow them in ording to the order of their arrival. Understood, Your Highness. And thus, it began. He officiallymenced taking reservations for the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Most of the customers who wished to purchase were either nobles or affluentmoner merchants. It was an anticipated oue. Its a pricey product, after all. Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. It was an item that couldnt be sold inexpensively. Because theres a limit to the quantity of medicinal ingredients that can be produced from the top-grade cow gall that Uruus expelled. Its necessary to endure by selling it in this manner. It would take at least a year before another cow gall could be produced and expelled by Uruus. The amount he could sell in a year was strictly limited. Thats why Raciel employed a strategy to sell the limited quantity at a high price. It was a luxury package. He gave a distinct name to the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill product that would be avable for this year and attempted to package it meticulously. [Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill Crown Prince Edition (Year 987 of the Imperial Era / First Year Special)] Under this name, he included honey-preserved ginseng and various other small medicinal ingredients. And, of course, its much more expensive than selling it separately! Packaging it with silver and gold foil to match the first year special! Thats how packages worked. Special limited editions functioned. The phenomenon of prices doubling the moment items that might only cost a few dors if bought individually at the store are bundled for asions like New Years or Thanksgiving was evident. But they sold. Oddly enough, they genuinely sold. Because its an item avable only at that time. Because its a product purchased for show. Furthermore, this was exclusively the first-year special, a limited edition that symbolized the brandsunch. That means its a sess! Raciel was confident. And that confidence was justified. Reservations exploded. In just two days, the reservations for the entire year werepletely sold out! Is this real? It certainly was real. Was it the influence of the limited edition? The noblespeted even more fervently to make purchases. The symbolism of a medicine crafted and sold directly by the crown prince. The concept of an upscale limited edition luxury item. The fear that they might fall behind the trend if they didnt secure such a luxury item in time. As a result, Raciel was so ecstatic that his grin nearly reached his ears. O God of Money, thank you. He was exhrated and started producing the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. However, he didnt manufacture all the reserved quantities at once. He couldnt. He had to attend to the inpatients and outpatients of the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. In the meantime, he gradually reduced his rest time to create the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Naturally, the production quantity was intentionally kept manageable. But this unintentionally led to another stroke of luck. Your Highness? Hm? The inquiries from the nobles are skyrocketing again? Inquiries? What kind of inquiries? It was when he had just finished the morning treatment at the pce and was trying to catch his breath. Gardin brought unexpected news. So, um, its about the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Weve already filled the reservations for the entire year. Tell them to apply when we open reservations for the next season. No, thats not it. Then what? The nobles who have already made reservations and received waiting numbers are constantly making inquiries. What are they asking? Mostly, the inquiries are about whether they can expedite their reservation number by paying more money, Gardin exined. Heh heh? Gardin continued, Currently, theres a frenzy among the nobles of the Imperial Court. Despite having made reservations for the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, they cant get their hands on it immediately, causing their impatience to go through the roof. Furthermore, word is spreading about a few nobles who have received the medicine in quick session. Word is spreading? Whats being said? A few days ago, one of the nobles, the Duke of Trca, suffered from chest pain, but he recovered after taking the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. Heh heh, did it alleviate his angina? But thats not all. Those who have taken the medicine are all reporting incredible sleep, praising it so much that theyre talking non-stop about how refreshingly they slept. That was the catalyst. The perception of a luxurious image, coupled with enthusiastic testimonials from those who had personally experienced the benefits. Thanks to this, reservations were sold out, and the poprity of the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill soared even higher. However, production was still limited. Thus, an unexpected aura surrounded it. A medicine that was worth waiting for. It carried that premium image. This is like the Honey Butter Chip phenomenon. Suddenly, a memory stirred a snack that had taken Korea by storm. A product that people would patiently anticipate. An item that gained massive recognition just for that reason. This was the impact that Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill was having. Come to think of it, there were simr instances. Like a Volvo, the Honey Butter Chip of the car world, where youd have to wait a year to get one. Or a Rolex watch that required rushing to the store at opening to secure a spot in line. At any rate, it was a favorable development. Thanks to that, Raciel relished the sensation of beingpletely booked for several days. The finances of the Star Pce were gradually replenishing. The treatments were proceeding smoothly. He was even umting a decent amount of surplus. It had been ideal days genuinely content times. He hoped that this flow would persist. He would savor the enjoyable life as a crown prince. The optimistic routine carried on, weing the morning. However, after ten days, unexpected dark clouds emerged. It was the summon from the Emperor, conveyed by Gardin. What? Summon to the pce again? Why? Im not certain, Your Highness. Tsk. Raciel furrowed his brow. The imperial summon disrupted his nned schedule for the day. But there was no way he could disregard it. Get the carriage ready. He removed his medical attire, exchanging it for formal clothing for the audience. He boarded a carriage bound for the imperial pce. Guided by the head steward, he proceeded to the audience hall, using the time to mentally prepare himself. What is he trying to find fault with this time? The emperor was an adversary against whom he could never let his guard down. A minor misstep, and he could pounce on it. Thus, meticulousness was crucial in everything. Raciel made vows and reaffirmed them, reinforcing his determination as he walked. However Isnt this the route to the audience hall? Raciel tilted his head. Not that it wasnt the correct way, but the corridor guided by the head steward diverged from the usual path. Instead of leading to the familiar audience hall, it veered deeper into the pce. Whats happening? A growing sense of unease gripped him, causing him to tightly clench his fist. Eventually, he arrived at the location where the emperor awaited. Here we are, Your Highness. As the door gradually opened, revealing the Emperor on the other side. What kind of vexation would he stir with his cantankerous demeanor today? Raciel sought to fortify his mental preparation as he braced for potential conflict. However, Raciel abruptly halted. He loosened his grip on his fist. Unintentionally, his eyelids quivered. Beyond the open door. Lay the emperor, swathed in white sheets. His facial muscles contorted on one side. Feeble and unconscious. Essentially, this was a very typical Stroke? Comprehension washed over him, apanied by a sinking sensation in his chest. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 83 Chapter 83I Next What is a stroke? The instant Racielprehended this, his heart dropped heavily. Memories from over a decade ago emerged suddenly. He had made an effort to avoid pondering over it. As time had gone by, the recollection had grown dim. The wounds from that period had only left a vague mark. Consequently, he believed he was okay at this point. The past no longer haunted him. That was his self-reassurance. However, at this moment, with no means to manage it, the memory of that day resurfaced forcefully. The day his father copsed. The instant he received the news toote. His pitiable appearance on that day. His regrettable actions. These memories resurfaced vividly, unrelentingly, without end. Damn. He reminisced about that time. How many calls hade from his mother? But he didnt know. He was ying a game. The noise in the PC room that day contributed to it. The game was going exceptionally well. No, rather, it was mostly his pitiful fault. Finally, he dialed his mothers number. He thought of saying he was studyingte and was unaware of her calls. He wanted to im he had put his phone on silent. He prepared these tant lies and then phoned her. Yet, the moment his mother picked up the call. The moment he heard her unfamiliar, trembling voice. All the meticulously crafted falsehoods shattered like fragile ss, turning into mere fragments. His mother informed him that his father had copsed. He was in the hospital. It was a stroke, she said. And in his impulsive response, the first words that escaped his lips were those. He inquired about what a stroke was. His legs were already in motion, though. His heart raced even faster. What did he say to his friends who were with him? How did he g down a taxi and what were his words? He still couldnt recollect it clearly. However, one memory remained distinct. His fathers face, lying in a white hospital bed, in an unimaginable state. And that face, almost precisely Why are you. Emperor, you. Why does your expression mirror the one my father had back then? Raciel took a deep breath. He struggled to steady his breathing. He clenched his lips tightly, enduring the numbing pain that pushed away memories from the past. It pushed aside the even more piercing regret that those memories hurled at him. Get a grip on yourself, you idiot. Is this really the moment to indulge in memories of the past? He scolded himself and regained hisposure. Then, finally, he saw the situation clearly. The Emperor had copsed. He could discern the cause with a quick nce. The muscles on one side of the Emperors face were contorted. Hey helplessly, unable to regain consciousness. His bodys posture was askew and unnatural. The muscles, the nerve signals thatmanded them, all twisted. Stroke. Cerebrovascr ident. Raciel turned to the steward and inquired, What happened? I believe I can provide an answer. The steward cautiously stepped back, indicating a middle-aged man. A face Raciel hadnt encountered before. The middle-aged man bowed to Raciel. I am Pasa, the Emperors personal physician. I greet you, Your Highness. Start with the exnation of the situation rather than formal greetings. How long has His Majesty been in this state? It has been one night. What? An entire night? So, the cause? That is The cause? Last night. Following dinner, His Majesty appeared unusually affected by alcohol. Intoxicated? Unusually? borate. His Majesty only consumed one ss of wine. However, he exhibited all the signs of beingpletely inebriated. His speech slurred, his steps faltered. Consequently, we advised him to retire early. As a result, His Majesty retired to his sleeping quarters. But when we checked on him this morning He was like this? Yes, Your Highness. Raciel tightly clenched his fist. Now he understood. Sudden and inexplicable signs of intoxication. Slurred speech, loss of bodily control. These are ssic stroke symptoms. However, the attending physician had not caught on. He merely attributed the Emperors deteriorating state to other factors. He erred by advising rest. Consequently, during the Emperors period of rest, the critical time frame during which they could have addressed the early stages of a stroke had been fruitlessly squandered. Yet Raciel didnt yield to hasty anger. Now wasnt the time to give in to fury; finding a solution was paramount. He inquired once more, What actions have you taken since discovering His Majestys condition this morning? Initially, I assessed His Majestys condition. What were the findings? I observed pronounced paralysis symptoms apanied by severe headaches. And then? Ah, Ipounded the medications avable to me and devised a prescription. What did the prescription entail? Ibined medicines known for effectively treating headaches and incorporated specific herbs recognized for their efficacy in addressing muscle paralysis. Is that the entirety? Naturally, there is more, Your Highness. I employed a hot water-soaked towel to steam His Majestys arms and legs. It appeared to provide relief. Relief? The distortion of His Majestys facial features gradually ceased, and the condition did not worsen. Raciel was left without words. Such prescriptions and measures fall far short of whats needed. They are significantly inadequate. However, the attending physician remains oblivious to the insufficiency of his response. Im losing my mind. If only someone had urately diagnosed the emperors conditionst night. Then the critical time period wouldnt have been missed. The emperors state wouldnt have deteriorated to this extent. No, even beyond that, the emperor had quit smoking and resumed sword training for the sake of his health. So why has ite to this? Its like a scene out of the original novel Devil Sword Emperor. Out of nowhere, the plot of the original novel, Devil Sword Emperor, shed into his mind. An emperor who falls and sumbs to a stroke. The second prince who ascends the throne. An empire engulfed in warfare. The decline of the imperial family. I cant let that happen. Of course, even if the emperor dies now, the story wont unfold exactly as it did in the original. The second prince wont take the throne. Raciel will be the emperor. But that mustnt be reality. Of course. Then my time will be cut short, and Ill die. Raciel pressed his lips together firmly. Swift calctions raced through his mind. The subsequent events were fairly predictable. If the emperor dies like this? Ill likely ascend the throne as the crown prince. After all, I outperformed the second prince in our sh. Ive demonstrated my capability. But is it truly advantageous for me to assume power now? No. Definitely not. In fact, it will shorten my life. The forecast was clear. Being an emperor is never a simple role. Its a position where political matters haunt you ceaselessly, without respite. A multitude of domestic political dilemmas. Diplomatic tangles with neighboring kingdoms. Intricacies of minor policies and power struggles among the nobility. The captain of the empires aircraft carrier, housing millions upon millions, devotes his life to managing thisplex ensemble. However, if the emperor were to suddenly pass away and Raciel took his ce? Without a proper transition, Id be thrust onto the throne. The volume of work Id be shouldering? It would be beyond measure. From handling the aftermath of the emperors sudden death to addressing the array of domestic and international conflicts and challenges that arise. It was evident. The local nobles? Theyd initiate a fierce power struggle amidst this new politicalndscape. Those ready to pledge allegiance to the emerging authority. Those aiming to exploit that allegiance for their personal gain. Those aiming to wield control. Many would test Raciels political mettle, each pursuing their own interests. Foreign nations need I borate? The numerous kingdoms encircling the empire would test him. Theyd incite international and subtle power dynamics. Theyd gauge the new emperors capabilities. Whether hes a potential threat. Whether hes an easily maniptable adversary. Theyd consistently probe and prod. I cant endure such an avnche of responsibilities. In that case, my tenure would be brief, and Id meet my end. Raciel felt a deep gravity. This wasnt just about evading work; it was an earnest, life-or-death dilemma. Im not even in good health. My body remains frail and ailing. Thus. His life expectancy barely surpassed 200 days. Amidst intensive medical care for numerous patients, he clung to a fragile existence, barely extending his lifeline. But what if he suddenly became the emperor? If he were submerged in overwhelming responsibilities? Would he have the time to care for patients? No, not at all. Raciel vigorously shook his head. Looking at the practicalities, there wouldnt be any room for patient care. The opportunity for an extra chance at life wouldnt arise. The chance to extend life expectancy wouldnt materialize. Death would loom nearer. Evading it was impossible. Halting it was out of reach. Thats the inevitable conclusion. Swallowing hard, the calction was finished. The projection was formed. The decision was made. If the emperor dies, Ill meet my end as well. So, preservation was imperative. It had to happen at any cost. Raciel made a firmmitment and approached the emperors bedside. He steadied his thoughts, then activated the mana circle. Kiiiing! He rotated the mana ring enveloping the heart. Simultaneously, he initiated the meridian scanning function. Beginning with a diagnosis. Tstsstssts-! He intensified his focus. Singr target. His gaze remained fixed solely on the prone emperor. The cause of the stroke is crucial. Please, anything but a hemorrhage. Internally, Raciel fervently beseeched. A stroke is broadly categorized into two types. One is hemorrhagic, caused by the rupture of cerebral vessels and such. The other is ischemic, wherein blood vessels are obstructed, leading to a halt in blood and oxygen supply to the brain due to thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Which presents a higher fatality rate? Generally, hemorrhagic strokes are considered more perilous. Please. Please. Raciels eyes moved rapidly. He meticulously inspected the emperors cranium. Like undergoing a CT scan. Like undergoing an MRI. He delved into every recess within the skull. Yet, he could discern no distinct site of hemorrhage. So, the deduction is an ischemic stroke. But it was too premature to feel relief. Which blood vessel had be obstructed? Thus, in which section of the brain had the oxygen supply been disrupted, causing brain tissue damagereferred to as cerebral infarction? He needed to establish that. Only then could he gauge the prospects of recovery and devise a treatment strategy. Raciel intensified his concentration even more. To an unprecedented level, to the extent that his head ached and his eyes grew rigid. Not a single blink escaped him. He vowed to overlook no minuscule hint, even from the tiniest capiry. He honed his focus. Enhanced his concentration further. Deeper. To the limit. And beyond. And ultimately, he unearthed it. What is this? This isnt a naturally urring clot, is it? With this realization, vigor surged into his grip. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 84 Chapter 84I Next Blood Clot. A mass of blood that has coagted within a blood vessel. To some degree, everyone has tiny blood clots in their bodies. However, what happens if blood cirction decreases, or if blood clotting urs excessively, or if the blood vessels are harmed, leading to the formation of too many blood clots? This undoubtedly results in various issues. It obstructs the vessels and hinders the blood flow. If the affected area is the brain, the situation bes grave much like the emperor lying helpless before their eyes. What is this? Raciel furrowed his brow intensely, focusing to the maximum extent, enough to make the back of his neck stiffen. This enabled him to closely examine the emperors brain and ultimately pinpoint the area where a stroke had urred due to the blood clot. Infarction in the territory of the anterior inferior cereber artery Deep within the brain, in the cerebellum, he could observe that the middle cereber peduncle andteral pons had suffered damage. Where the flow of energy should have been vibrant, it was barely visible. This indicated damage to the cranial nerve. If this urs, theres likely to be apanying facial paralysis, loss of sensation in the trigeminal nerve, hearing impairment, ringing in the ears, and uncoordinated limb movements. Suddenly, he recalled what he had learned as an undergraduate student. Some might assume that Oriental medical students only study acupuncture and pulse diagnosis, but it was different. They also needed to excel in various modern subjects including pathology, biomechanics, physiology, anatomy, histology, microbiology, immunology, medical diagnostics, cell biology, emergency medicine, diagnostic medical testing, neuropsychiatry, and more. Thanks to this background, he was able to diagnose the emperors condition. The location of the stroke was critical, especially the fact that it had urred in the cerebellum. The size of the stroke is precarious. If it continues to grow, it could lead to swelling, putting pressure on the brain stem or blocking the ventricle, resulting in hydrocephalus. This might even lead to respiratory failure. However, thats not the main issue. Raciels brow furrowed even deeper. His gaze was fixed on the emperors cerebellum, on the anterior inferior cereber artery leading into it, and on the clot obstructing it. The shape of the blood clot was peculiar. Why cant I see the Zahn lines in the clot? Zahn lines. They were akin to the rings in a tree, indicating the age of a blood clot. As a person lives, a blood clot forms gradually in the presence of blood flow. Its not an instantaneous process. Hence, the Zahn lines. The formation of a blood clot followsyers, much like the rings in a tree. But why is this blood clot devoid of Zahn lines? A blood clotcking Zahn lines is typically seen in clots that form after death, in postmortem clots. Yet the emperors blood clot was like this, entirely smooth, without any Zahn lines. Logically and realistically, this was imusible. Whats happening here? This was far from normal. There was something amiss. This isnt a naturally urring blood clot. Whether due to external force, drugs, or some other means, the blood clot obstructing the emperors brain vessels was not natural. Who could it be? For what purpose? Could it be someone among those present? From the chambein to themander of the close guard and the attending physician, those closest to the emperor were in motion. Was it possible that one of them had secretly caused harm to the emperor? Doubts began to emerge. However, Raciel wasnt merely fixating on suspicion. Right now, the priority was treatment. Suspicions could be addressed after the emperors life was safeguarded. May I examine the medication prescribed to His Majesty this morning more closely? He inquired of the attending physician. The physician responded confidently, Of course, Your Highness. Here it is. The substance the attending physician had brought was Its a concoction derived from dried aronia leaves. An herb thats effective against paralysis? Yes, Your Highness. It has a remarkable impact on alleviating spasms in the hands and feet, as well as numbness in the muscles. Ive been using this mixture empirically for the past 12 years, treating various patients Thats enough. Thank you. Yes? Unfortunately, this wont suffice. Raciel interrupted him sharply. It was preposterous. The emperors issue was not his muscles at this point. The brain tissue was deteriorating due to restricted blood flow, and the attending physician hadnt identified this at all. This wont address the problem. Perhaps transferring the emperor to the Star Pce Clinic would be a better option. Intensive treatment there seemed more appropriate. However, the bedroom door opened then. An elderly man in fresh white attire entered. The steward gazed at the old man with surprise. Ah, Archbishop, youre here. The Archbishop? That elderly gentleman? As Raciel observed, the Archbishop bowed to the Emperor and then turned in his direction. May the grace of God epass all. Archbishop Bertonah Greets Crown Prince Raciel. I am Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. Are you here to provide treatment for His Majesty? The Archbishop nodded. Yes, Your Highness. Upon receiving the early morning summons, I set forth, anticipating that someone would require my prayers. I did not anticipate it would be His Majesty. The Archbishop approached the emperors bedside. He adjusted his priestly attire and closed his eyes. Was he praying? Or attempting a sacred blessing, as mentioned a few times in the novel? It certainly seemed that way. Perhaps theres a chance. Raciel stepped back, observing the Archbishops prayers and the blessing process. Inwardly, he held onto hope. Please. Whether its divine intervention or some other force, any assistance will suffice. It would be a wee oue if it worked. A positive change in the emperors condition would be a marvelous development. Raciel clenched his fist, filled with hope and aspirations. Meanwhile, he maintained the meridian scanning function, monitoring the potential healing effects of a blessing from a high-ranking clergyman. Screeee-! An sensation of eye strain. The Archbishops blessing persisted. The Archbishop continued his murmured words. Eyes closed, one hand resting on the emperors head. No grand gestures; just beads of sweat forming. Gradually, changesmenced within the emperors body. Zzzzz The emperors cerebellum, ravaged by stroke. Brain cells fading as blood flow diminished. Those intricate andplex tissues Are they rejuvenating? Raciels eyes widened. Initially, he questioned if he was seeing things incorrectly, if he was mistaken. Yet, that wasnt the case. The cells are regenerating. The emperors brain cells, once dying and disconnected from vital energy, wereing back to life. A faint aura of energy was taking hold! Unconsciously Raciel swallowed the dry saliva. Could this be a usible urrence? It seemed unreal. Normally, damaged brain cells are nearly impossible to regenerate Yet this seemingly impossible event was unfolding before his eyes. Witnessing it, hope surged suddenly. Maybe theres a chance to save him. Was this the divine influence of the Archbishop? While he had read about it a few times in the novel, witnessing it firsthand was a different matter. He even felt his own knowledge of traditional medicine waver. As long as the Emperor survives, thats all that matters! Raciel cheered on the Archbishop with tremendous enthusiasm, as if waving a cheer stick, praying for the holy blessing to work at its utmost potential200%. His hope was for the Emperorsplete healing. Wishing earnestly. Desiring and praying. Finally, the holy blessing concluded. Whew! Hoo! The Archbishop tookbored breaths, his hand withdrawing from the Emperor, his face pale and worn-out. He copsed, drenched in sweat, as if he had expended an immense amount of energy to cast the holy blessing. And the Emperor? Raciel turned his gaze back to the Emperor with an anxious heart, scanning the area affected by the stroke in the brain. Tszzz zzst zst The cells that had regenerated sessfully due to the Archbishops holy blessing were visible. They exuded a sense of bright hope, disying vigorous movement for a brief moment. Yet, it was only a fleeting instance. Zzst zs The cells that appeared to spring back to life swiftly lost their vitality. The radiant aura of energy vanished. Raciel discerned the cause at a nce. The clot hasnt been removed. Its still obstructing the blood vessel. Thats why the revived cells are dying once more. Raciel clicked his tongue in frustration. The Archbishops holy blessing had undoubtedly taken effect. It had done more than just thatit had performed a miracle by resuscitating deceased brain cells. However, it hadnt eliminated the root cause of the stroke. I need to eliminate that clot blocking the blood vessel. Thats the top priority. How can I do that now? Raciel mentally reviewed his knowledge, recollecting the principles of pathology and various medical information he had painstakingly learned and memorized for schrships during his oriental medicine studies. He pondered how to apply this knowledge in this context, how to adapt without modern medications, and how to prevent reperfusion injury during the process. He contemted it repeatedly. He strained his intellect. He searched for a solution. Finally, he arrived at a n. I hope youll heed my instructions from this point onward. He addressed the Archbishop and the Steward. He spoke to the Guard Captain and the personal physician. He spoke to them all. Summon the court magician Zis. Pardon me? You mean Sir Zis? Yes. Raciel firmly nodded in response to the Stewards inquiry and spoke with determination. His ability is absolutely essential if we wish to treat His Majesty without any adverse consequences. His ability what are you referring to? Magic. But, Your Highness, the magic used by Sir Zis hardly pertains to healing people. Im aware. However, thats precisely why his magic is necessary. What magic are you talking about? Ice magic. Excuse me? Im considering freezing His Majestypletely for the time being. Pardon me? Astonished gazes from everyone met Racielsposed answer, and he offered a faint smile. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 85 Chapter 85I Next When a blood vessel gets blocked, people believe it can simply be unblocked. They assume that once the blood starts flowing again, everything will be alright. This is themon perception held by most individuals. Even he himself, before taking relevant courses, somewhat held simr beliefs. However, thats not urate. Merely opening the blood vessel can potentially exacerbate the situation. It can lead to more serious tissue damage, bursting forth like an explosion. Its due to reperfusion injury. Raciel recollected. Reperfusion injury is a widespread damage that urs when blood flow is suddenly restored to a tissue that has been deprived of it for a prolonged period. Theres an excess of calcium in the cells, leading to the breakdown of mitochondria inside them. This results in the generation ofrge amounts of reactive oxygen species, such as hydroxyl radicals, which trigger inmmation and an excessive umtion of white blood cells. In short, it systematically dismantles the tissue,yer byyer, in a detailed manner. To use a metaphor? Its akin to feeding someone who has been fasting for 10 days a meal of 100 portions of chicken. Or having someone who hasnt consumed alcohol for 10 years drink 100 liters of vodka in one go. Or instructing a patient with severe muscle atrophy, who has been immobile for 10 years, to perform 100-kilogram squats. And simr actions. In simpler terms, its not something you should do recklessly. Reperfusion injury is exactly that. So, you cant simply unblock a blood clot. Even if its to save the emperor or whatever, it will likely lead to disastrous consequences. Before unblocking it, you need to establish a specific countermeasure to prevent reperfusion injury. With that determination, Raciel scanned the group of people present. Now, Im going to attempt to alleviate His Majestys paralysis symptoms. However, theres a prerequisite we need to address before that. And thats the freezing spell. He stated as if it were self-evident. We must reduce the body temperature prior to addressing the paralysis. Its a necessary step. Its the most effective approach. To mitigate the damage from reperfusion injury? Its crucial to minimize the bodys metabolic rate as much as possible. This approach reduces abrupt changes within the cells, subsequently minimizing tissue damage resulting from reperfusion injury. And to achieve this, theres no more efficient method than carefully lowering the body temperature within a safe range. Hypothermia therapy was a treatment utilized in university hospitals and simr institutions for patients at risk of reperfusion injury. Raciel offered a straightforward and sensible exnation. His Majesty has beenpletely paralyzed sincest night. If the paralysis were to suddenly disappear, the muscles would undergo a sudden shock and potential damage. This could lead to severeplications or disabilities. So, our first step is to alleviate the paralysis while simultaneously lowering the body temperature using a freezing spell. Subsequently, we will gradually warm the body and soothe the muscles. Ah He didnt delve into discussions about thrombosis, strokes, or reperfusion injuries. Using such technical terminology would only create confusion and doubt about the source of his knowledge. Raciel requested someones presence. He urgently summoned Court Mage Zics and then turned his gaze to the Archbishop. I have a question for you, Archbishop. Yes, Your Highness. Please go ahead. The Archbishop replied, catching his breath. Raciel inquired: The divine blessing spell you cast earlier. Yes, Your Highness. Would it be possible to use it again in a few hours? I understand you appear quite fatigued, but Ah, that He asked to be sure. Could they use a freezing spell to remove the blood clot, followed by a divine blessing to regenerate the tissue? Perhaps the emperor could be healed withoutsting consequences. However, the Archbishops expression revealed his concerns upon hearing the question. I apologize sincerely, Your Highness, but thats not possible. Why is that? The divine blessing can only be invoked once a month. I understand. It was disappointing. Upon hearing this, he felt a dyed sense of regret. Darn it. If only I had known earlier, I could have saved that opportunity. Yet, now it was beyond remedy. First and foremost, we need to eliminate the blood clot and focus on rehabilitation therapy for a month. Following that, we can potentially regenerate the damaged brain tissue with a divine blessing, and that might be the solution. Hope still remained. So, they couldnt give up. Raciel resolved himself and presented another question that had crossed his mind. I have another inquirycan I also learn to bestow divine blessings? Oh, are you suggesting that you want tomit yourself to faith? Pardon? Commit to faith? The Archbishops eyes, previously weary, suddenly lit up with fervent missionary zeal. Thats an intriguing question, Your Highness. The truth is, faith is not distant, not even for someone of noble lineage like yourself. Divine blessings, which might seem sacred and somewhat remote andplex, are actually essible to everyone. All thats required is a devoted heart and the determination to act on that devotion. A devoted heart and the will to act, you say? He inquired cautiously. Mastering this might prove to be a challenge, but once aplished, it could offer tremendous assistance. Combining conventional medicine with divine blessings It could make obtaining extra life much easier. No, even more than that, I might be able to heal myself. Excitement surged within him. With a racing heart, he posed the question. So, how does one go about mastering this? Its quite straightforward, Your Highness. The Archbishop smiled benevolently. Its nothing, he seemed to imply. Avoid contact with the opposite sex. Refrain not only from physical intimacy, but also from holding hands. Do not engage in extended conversations, avoid eye contactsting more than 3 seconds, dont stay in the same space and breathe the same air for over 3 minutes. Instead, channel all your focus and affection towards faith. . Just practice this for 30 years, Your Highness. Yes? Its just 30 years. In the name of faith, its not an overly long time. With dedication, youll receive the blessing of divine blessings. What do you think? Doesnt it sound quite manageable? . No way! Even if it were simple, he wasnt willing to live like that. And then, it urred. Your Highness, Sir Zics has arrived as per Your Highnesss summons. A familiar voice sounded from the doorway, and Zics entered. He paused in astonishment upon seeing the Emperors condition. He received a briefing about the situation: the Emperors critical state and the imminentmencement of treatment. His assistance was indispensable for the procedure. So, youre asking me to use ice magic on His Majesty, Your Highness? Yes, exactly that. Are you really talking about ice magic? Yes. As cold as possible without causing fatality. Youve worked alongside me before, right? When treating a child with epilepsy. This situation is somewhat simr. You utilized controlled electrical magic to a point where it wouldnt be lethal, remember? But that was The principle is the same here. Ice magic typically possesses potent and deadly capabilities. However, with your expertise, you can control it precisely enough to avoid causing a persons demise. I need your assistance. Without it, His Majestys peril will only escte. Is what youre saying true? Yes. Why would I lie? Zics stared deeply into the Crown Princes eyes. Initially, he harbored some skepticism. What if the Emperor were to pass away now? The Crown Prince would ascend to the throne. Could it be that he harbored a sinister desire for power? Perhaps he was poised to betray his own blood in his quest for the throne. Maybe he aimed to harm the Emperor through these actions. Such doubts arose but swiftly dissipated. The reason behind this was the recent political moves made by the Crown Prince. Indeed, His Highnesss actions dont align with those of a power-hungry individual. Upon reflection, his behavior was increasingly peculiar. He solely cared for patients within Star Pce and never engaged with the prominent nobles of the Imperial Pce. He never attempted actions like seeking support, severing ties with the Second Prince to form his own faction, or promising rewards in exchange for future allegiance upon ascending to the throne. He was devoid of ambition, or at least, his actions resembled someone who believed he would never hold the throne. It was certainly perplexing. Of course, inheriting the throne alone doesnt guarantee power. To exert political legitimacy and influence, the support of numerous nobles is essential. Yet the Crown Prince paid no heed to this aspect. He formted no strategies, made no preparations. So now it seems rational to trust this unconventional directive. Zics reached his own conclusion. Iprehend, Your Highness. He nodded. He had never anticipated the day he would employ freezing magic on the Emperor. Nor did he expect to be tasked with controlling it to a non-lethal degree. Nevertheless, he felt equipped to handle the situation. Good. I appreciate your trust. A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of Raciels lips. In any case, I can now make an attempt. He promptly initiated the necessary arrangements. Fortuitously, he possessed all the medicines and tools requisite for thrombus removal. Extracting the Minotaur Clear Heart Pill, a standard medication he always carried, he meticulously dissolved it in lukewarm water. This should suffice. It will dissolve the clot. Perhaps we can anticipate an effect akin to t-PA (tissue-sminogen activator) administered in hospitals. It was the Minotaur Clear Heart Pill, already proven effective in treating heart disease clots. Additionally, he received assistance from Kozumi. Kozumi? I think Ill need some spines today. Is that alright? Koo kooo koo! Pop-pop-pop! Kozumi winked and shook his body vigorously. He exerted force from his small, plump rear, causing white spines to emerge. With this, the preparations for acupuncture wereplete. Sir Zics? Im prepared. Zics nodded, his controlled mana frosting over at his fingertips. The setup to safely dissolve the clot within the Emperors head was ready. There was no reason to dy or wait. Letsmence. Raciel uncovered the Emperors upper body. Amid the tense anticipation of everyone present, Zics applied his controlled freezing magic to the Emperor. Shaaaaa! A veil of white frost enveloped the Emperors form. Raciel initiated meridian scanning, meticulously monitoring the situation. The Emperorsplexion grew paler, his mana flow slowed, body temperature decreased, and metabolism eased. Heartbeat diminished. Breathing became shallow. Internal organ activity decelerated. The clot and the surrounding mana flow within the head also exhibited sluggishness. Just as the Emperors state edged towards a semiatose condition. Cease. Maintain this state henceforth. Zics swiftly reduced the output of the freezing spell. Raciel elevated the Emperors upper body and cautiously administered the dissolved Minotaur Clear Heart Pill. Deliberately. Ensuring not a drop was wasted. He confirmed that it was consumed entirely without any issues. Then, he picked up the white spine, aimed at the Emperors body, and took a deep breath. Precision is crucial now. There must be no room for a 1-millimeter error. He perceived every detail through meridian scanning. The constituents of the Minotaur Clear Heart Pill were assimted within the Emperors stomach, dispersing throughout his body and even reaching the clot. The clot started to dissolve. He acted swiftly. This was to avert reperfusion injury following the clots dissolution and the potential secondary harm that could prove fatal. It was to prevent potential damage to the blood-brain barrier, which might lead to brain hemorrhage. Raciels hand moved with lightning speed. He pierced with the spine. Over and over. Tirelessly. Tut! Tutut! Tut! And thus, Raciels silent procedure, or rather, his battle to prevent reperfusion injury and brain hemorrhage within the brain tissue, was underway. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 86 Chapter 86I Next Suppress the emotions. Revive reason. The person lying in front of him isnt the emperor. Hes just a patient. First, save him. Focus only on that thought. Raciel cracked his eyes open a bit. His head felt cool, his touch remained calm. The skill he had perfected wasnt a matter of contemtion, but a refined instinct. Thud! Thud! Thud! He inserted the needle. The first point he targeted was the emperors Shengmen point. Ah! The surprised sound of the attendant echoed. It made sense. The Shengmen point is just below the eye. Its located by feeling the bony edge beneath the center of the eyeball. He had inserted arge needle into it. First, I need to regte the movement of Qi in this area. This point, known as Shengmen, serves as the starting point of the Stomach Meridian of the Foot-Yangming channel, also called Wei Zu Yang Ming Zhi Mai. In simpler terms, its andmark that indicates the beginning of a meridian. So, it must be managed from this point, especially in critical patients. He was about to deliberately alter the Qi flow. The rest of the meridian needed to be prepared by signaling the Qi from the starting point. If not, and if you manipte the most crucial meridian of a weak patient right away? Itd be a disaster, like sprinting a 100-meter race and downing a bowl of ramen with pork belly right after waking up, or mming the gas pedal to the red zone immediately after starting a car in the middle of winter, damaging the engine. Ultimately, the entire meridian gets disturbed. The Qi flow within the meridian bes erratic and unstable. What happens next? Its chaos. No matter how urately you position the needles, its pointless. Once Qi bes disrupted, its impossible to artificially control it until it naturally stabilizes. In other words, the intended impact of acupuncture, which artificially governs meridian flow, is nullified. It merely turns into torment, needling a patient whos already unwell. Raciel took a deliberate breath, steadying himself. Slowly, deeply. Inhale five times. Exhale five times. He waited until the Qi shift through Shengmen propagated along the Stomach Meridian of the Foot-Yangming, preparing the entire meridian. Then he began the actual needling. Next, he aimed for a point a fingers width beneath Shengmen, called Sibai. Thud! Beneath the eyeball. Where the protruding bone slightly recedes. The needle went 2 fen deep into the infraorbital foramen of the emperor. Raciels hand didnt halt there. Thud! Thud! He also needled the Juli on the outer corner of the eye wrinkle, the Dikuang beside the mouth, and the Daying and Jialiao on the lower jaw. With pinpoint precision, he inserted the needles precisely. His sole objective was to regte the blood flow to the site of the clot in the emperors brain, the anterior inferior cereber artery. I must regte the blood flow heading there. Too much blood flow all at once must be avoided. If the clot were to suddenly dissolve, an excessive amount of blood would rush into the already injured stroke area. Then youd get reperfusion injury. It could even worsen the situation. The blood-brain barrier is already severely damaged due to the prolongedck of blood supply. If the blood suddenly surges in, that area will definitely rupture, spreading uncontrobly like a dam breaking. That would be the end. The concern wouldnt be about after-effects. It would be about preserving life. Raciel absolutely didnt want to confront this worst-case scenario. So this process must be meticulous. Thud! Thud! Mind focused. Eyes rxed. Fingertips precise. He needled the Xia Guan below the cheekbones edge. And the Tou Wei right above the hairline on the forehead. He observed the changes using the meridian scanning option. Thanks to that, he saw it. Zzzzzz! The mana of the stimted meridian responded. It reacted, pulsed, creating a small ripple. The ripple flowed along the Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, reaching the Ren Ying point near the carotid artery in the neck. The ripple that entered Ren Ying hit the carotid artery, interfering with the blood flow. The blood flow slowed a bit. The heartbeat followed suit. Ive achieved it. Raciel clenched his fist. The blood flow seemed to have decreased by around 20%. Good. Zics freezing magic is just right. Hypothermia is maintained at a safe level. Ive sessfully managed the blood flow too. Theres hope. He had done what he could. He had tried his best. Maybe theres a glimmer of hope now. So be it. He wished sincerely. He had done everything he could. To avoid reperfusion injury, he employed hypothermia treatment and acupuncture, and administered Minotaur Clear Heart Pill to dissolve the clot. The rest was up to fate and the emperors vitality. Just like the moments of that day he wished to forget. Raciel forcibly pushed down the resurfacing fragments of memories. Since that time, he had been at the emperors side. From morning to afternoon. Until the sun waned and the moon ascended. In the quiet space where everyone was kept at bay, he vigntly monitored the emperors condition. To ensure the blood flow didnt be excessive. To prevent bedsores from forming on the emperors body. In case any signs of change appeared or a critical situation emerged. With a worried heart and an anxious mind, he strained to not miss a single breath. And so, at midnight, it rained. In the early dawn, thunder and lightning roared. He dozed in the soft morning light, jolting awake suddenly, looking swiftly at the emperor and releasing a sigh of relief. It had been a lengthy and silent struggle and battle. But Raciel didnt give up. Even when fatigue numbed him, he vowed to endure a little longer. Every time, old memories resurfaced, like his fathers face lying in the ICU. Back then, he had stayed up all night, hoping his father might wake up and smile as if nothing had happened. Then, he would ask for his allowance, just like always. He had wished for that, watching and praying. Yet, it was in vain. Eventually, his father didnt open his eyes, nor smile, nor crack a silly joke. Initially, he was too shocked to cry. That feeling lingered throughout the three-day mourning period. It all felt surreal. Then, after the cremation, when he received the wooden box containing his fathers ashes. The box felt warm, surprisingly so. He hadnt prepared himself for that moment. Suddenly, like a child, he broke down into tears. He despised that. He never wanted to experience it again. Every time fatigue gripped his body, sleepiness tried to engulf him, or consciousness threatened to fade, he made a vow to himself, a harsh promise. He brushed off his bodys signals of distress and ignored the concerns and admonitions of those around him. He simply endured, and endured some more. Finally, morning arrived. Once more, the sun ascended. Illuminating the noon brilliantly. Until it dipped beneath the western horizon. The first sign of the emperors recovery became apparent as the crescent moon danced with unfamiliar constetions in the early dawn. Uhm Suddenly, a peculiar sound reached his ears. Raciel, who had been napping, jolted awake. Initially, he thought he might have misheard. But he hadnt. Uh, uhm What? Raciel snapped to full attention. He swiftly sat up. At that moment, he could see it. Its done. Through meridian scanning, he witnessed the world of blood vessels. The clot that had obstructed the emperors brain was gone. The surrounding tissues? No additional damage was evident. He had managed to prevent reperfusion injury nearly entirely. As if confirming it, the emperors visage began to transform. The face that had contorted due to paralyzed muscles. The crumpled expression. The pallor. They were reverting to their original state. Slowly, assuredly. Like a glimmer of hope breaking through. Unfolding step by step. Much like the smile he once bore. Like theughter he once elicited. Gradually, it transformed into a peaceful countenance. Soon, his eyes began to crack open faintly. For a brief moment, the emperor pondered. Where am I? Why do I feel so drained? The questions suddenly floated into his mind. However, simultaneously, he sensed the answers. Through the Core technique, he could vaguely grasp what had transpired. It was indeed an odd sensation. A hazy consciousness and blurred vision. A world enshrouded in mist. People around him mere silhouettes. Yet among them, one figure stood out vividly. The person who held his hand with both of his. A delicate child who seemed as if the worlds weight could crumble him at any instant. His son, the one who had caused him concern all his life. It was Raciel. It was him. He saved him today. He knew it when he felt his touch and warmth. He realized it when their gazes met. Until the moment he opened his eyes, he had been ensnared in a nightmare. It had all been a dark snowfield. Lost within that snowfield. It was overpowering. It was terror-inducing. And then, there was a moment. Someone stood beside him. They had approached through the dark snowfield, silently, gently, guarding him. Throughout morning, afternoon, sunsets, moonrises, midnight rains, thunder at dawn, clear light of dawn, and sunsets once again, they stood beside him. Thanks to their unwavering presence, he hadnt surrendered. He managed to break free from the suffocating despair of that snowfield. Ultimately, he opened his eyes and arrived at this very moment. He finally understood. The person beside him was Raciel. His eldest son, who had often been a source of concern, extended his hand and pulled him up. He didnt know the how, but he felt that something had transpired. Hence, he felt gratitude. Regret. And a sense of shame. He could faintly grasp what his son had done for him. It was both astonishing and humbling. He had evolved into a much better person than he had believed, yet he seemed to be the only one unaware of that fact. Such a realization was painfully humbling. Thank you Looking at his son with barely opened eyes, he added strength to their joined hands. It was a weak gesture, but it was his way of conveying his emotions. Its alright. Dont strain yourself. Just rest. Raciels gentle voice. Upon hearing it, his heart eased, and atst, the emperor felt a tranquil sense of relief. Gradually, he sumbed to a peaceful slumber. Huu. A sigh of relief escaped Raciels lips. He released the emperors hand and brushed away the goosebumps that had formed. Im not your son. But the expression in his eyes and the curve of his smile seemed to regard him as the dearest person in the world. Thats what triggered the goosebumps. He forced a smile. I feel inexplicably guilty. But the tender smile of the old man lying on the sickbed. I detest it, I detest it. Eeek. Dont dwell on it; it might haunt your dreams. Focus on the satisfaction of sessfully rescuing the emperor. With a renewed determination, Raciel rose to his feet and beckoned the attendant with a dry voice. He conveyed that the crisis was over and the emperor needed rest, then swiftly departed. Truthfully, he wished to escape that ce as soon as possible. Still tingling with goosebumps and shivers, haunted by the decade-old remorse. If only he had rushed a bit faster that day. If only he had picked up the call slightly sooner that day. If only he had arrived on schedule that day. If only he hadnt been dyed in reaching out to grasp his fathers hand. If only he could have bid him farewell on his final journey. .Ha. He couldnt bear it any longer. He dashed into the corridor. He looked upward, ring at the ceiling for an extended while. Strangely, the tip of his nose began to sting. In a hallway adorned with ceiling and walls, oddly enough, raindrops descended. Undoubtedly, it was a peculiar urrence. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 87 Chapter 87I Next Whew. Raciel took a deep breath. He shook off the turbulent emotions with great difficulty. His head also shook violently once. It wont work. No, no. Get a hold of yourself, Lee Han. If you lose yourposure like this, itll be problematic. Heposed himself. He believed that being level-headed was an essential virtue for a medical professional. He thought it was only natural not to lose onesposure, no matter the situation. Understanding and empathizing with the patients pain is one thing. As a medical professional, you always need to maintain a rational mind. Thats fundamental, and its your responsibility to the patient. That way, one can make quick and urate judgments and responses in any emergency. In other words, the calm handling by the medical professional can determine a patients life or death. Especially when his patient was none other than the Emperor. Weve only just gotten through the worst of it. Whats toe is more concerning. There are still many challenges ahead. He had to keep an eye on the progress. There was no guarantee that secondary or tertiary issues wouldnt arise. He had to check how many aftereffects would ur. He also had to n for rehabilitation ordingly. Just hold on for a month. Then, contact the Archbishop again to perform a divine blessing, andplete healing may be possible. Racielid out the future ns. He steadied his momentarily shaken mind. The past was buried deep in his heart. Thats when it happened. A pleasant notification sound chimed in his ear. Ding-dong! [You have treated the patient through hypothermia therapy, precise acupuncture, effective use of Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill, and dedicated care. Thanks to you, the patient: Asterion Testarossa Magentano has ovee a critical situation, and theres hope for rehabilitation and recovery.] [During the treatment, you are the first in the history of the Lorasia continent to propose the concept of reperfusion injury.] [The concept of reperfusion injury you proposed will be recorded in future medical textbooks.] [Future medical students will despair at the expanded exam scope and curse you.] [You have left a significant mark on the medical history of the Lorasia continent.] [You have earned Medical Points.] [121 GDP has been credited.] [Current Great Doctor Point (GDP) = 222] [Currently avable Deception Authorization Ticket = 2] Heh? The corners of Raciels mouth reached his ears. This was an unexpected reward. He could now buy two Deception Authorization Tickets. He hadnt decided where to use them yet, but they would surelye in handy someday. Raciel felt a joy as if the value of his apartment had doubled and returned to the Emperor. The Emperor was still in deep sleep. Your Highness, you have saved the Emperor. The steward approached. He said, holding back tears. Can you see the Emperors face? Hes back to his old self. How on earth did you manage to do this The Emperor will undoubtedly be proud of you. I think so too. Today, Your Highness, you saved the Emperor and me. Following the head steward, the chief physician also quickly approached. Exactly. Your Highness saved us. No, you saved our lives. I also realized how ipetent a doctor I was, howcent and careless Ive been through this incident Did you realize? Yes, Your Highness. Then I hope you also realize your responsibility. Yes? With a nk face, the chief physician looked at him, and Raciel spoke with a tinge of regret. The Emperor was on the brink of passing away. And you? You couldnt even properly identify the cause. You didnt provide any suitable prescription or response. Am I mistaken? That is Youre inept. You were careless. So, what do you n to do? Take responsibility? Your Highness? No more excuses. Begin introspecting. Starting today, I will personally care for the Emperor temporarily. I, Your Highness? Is there anything else to say? The chief physician bowed his head, but Raciel was indifferent. He believed it was for the best. Truly, this guy is too inadequate. He had failed to recognize the warning signs of the Emperors stroke. If only he had noticed them? Last night, he wouldnt have missed the critical window of time. He could have halted the progression of the stroke or lessened its aftermath. However, this chief physician had failed in all aspects. He had merely administered pain relievers and muscle rxants. Pathetic. If things had continued that way the Emperor would have undoubtedly died. Just contemting it was overwhelming. That someone like this could serve as the Emperors personal physician was unbelievable. Furthermore, there was another reason to dismiss this individual. The issue isnt just hispetence, but also hisck of trustworthiness. The memory of the peculiar blood clot came to mind. It was an abnormal clot without any residual traces. This indicated that someone had interfered with the Emperor, potentially through poison or other methods. It was evident that the abrupt formation of the blood clot had been artificially induced. And thus, I must first suspect the personal physician and the head steward. The probability that the act was carried out by someone in close proximity was high. So, he had to doubt it. Search for evidence. Raciel collected his thoughts internally and voiced his stance. Personal physician Pasaro, you need to reflect on this mistake first. Head Steward? Ensure that news of His Majestys illness doesnt spread. The rest of you can leave. His Majesty needsplete rest. Understood, Your Highness. One by one, everyone departed, leaving only Raciel beside the Emperors bed. Phew As he looked at the Emperor sleeping soundly, he immersed himself in contemtion. How to proceed with rehabilitation therapy? How to uncover the perpetrator? The day passed swiftly, filled with deep thought and worry. The following day arrived. In the meantime, the Emperor had opened his eyes a few times. Thankfully, no unusual symptoms were detected. This allowed Raciel to catch a bit of rest during the night. However, the peaceful respite onlysted until morning. Your Highness? Hmm Your Highness? Hmm hmm. The voice of the head steward was irritatingly persistent in his ears. Raciel squinted. Could it be morning already? It felt like he had barely slept. He had stayed by the Emperors side untilte into the night, managing to shut his eyes for a brief moment at dawn. Ugh, Im tired. Nheless, he needed to check on the Emperor. Raciel rubbed his eyes and raised his head. Phew. Whats the matter? The head steward appeared troubled. Ah, its about the matter Your Highness addressed yesterday. What did I mention? Yes, Your Highness. What was it again? Raciel shook off the drowsiness clinging to his mind. He caught hold of a fading memory amid the fragments of sleepiness dissipating. Ah, did you manage to keep the news of the Emperors illness under control? Absolutely, Your Highness. The head steward affirmed. Weve conveyed to the outside that His Majesty has caught a minor cold and is resting. Who is aware of the truth? Your Highness, me, and those who were present yesterday. Thats all. Good. Youve done well. But is there something else to report now? Your expression seems a bit grim. Ah, thats Speak up. Finally, the head steward let out a deep sigh. The truth is, since early this morning, the ambassador from the Kingdom of Anbouaz has been requesting an audience with His Majesty. The ambassador from Anbouaz? Yes, Your Highness. Raciel fell silent. The Kingdom of Anbouaz. A name he couldnt possibly be unfamiliar with. No, an incredibly significant name. A kingdom with a rtively short history of about 150 years. A rising power that caused quite a stir. And in a few years That stir would transform into a storm. It would fuel militaristic expansion. It would lead to a major war. The war would engulf the Magentano Empire. The thousand-year-old empire would crumble beneath the Anbouaz dynastys might. This was the backdrop of the original novel, Devil Sword Emperor. But why would Anbouazs diplomat seek an audience with His Majesty? Drawing on the contents of the original novel, Raciel asked, his expression reflecting his contemtion. The head steward looked puzzled. Actually Five days ago, His Majesty personally summoned the ambassador from Anbouaz. His Majesty? Himself? Yes, Your Highness. For what reason? It was rted to the incident at Cremo port. No way. Did you deduce it? Hmm. Raciel furrowed his brows. The merchant Guines, whopeted with me at the Cremo ports auction over the Minotaur, hailed from the Kingdom of Anbouaz. Moreover, that very merchant who purchased the Minotaur failed to handle it properly. This led to chaos, and he fled back to his homnd without offering anypensation. Could it be that His Majesty intended to hold him ountable? Exactly. Your understanding is correct, Your Highness. As anticipated. The head steward continued. Upon receiving the news, His Majesty was greatly angered. Consequently, he formally summoned the ambassador of Anbouaz to demand an exnation. The meeting was scheduled for precisely Today, then. Indeed. The head steward lowered his head wearily. Raciel clicked his tongue. Tsk, tsk. Now he understood why the head steward looked as uneasy as a dog needing to relieve itself. Hearing this, the situation appears challenging. We summoned the ambassador, yet His Majesty is still incapacitated. Yes, Your Highness. Thus, Id like to hear your thoughts on how to proceed. How to proceed It might be wise to offer a straightforward apology to the ambassador and send him back. Just send him back? Yes, Your Highness. We could publicly announce in the imperial pce that His Majesty is recovering from a cold? The head steward inquired, but Raciel didnt rush to respond. Instead, he exerted himself mentally. Sending the summoned ambassador away? Thats wasteful. And canceling a formal diplomatic meeting due to a cold? The pretext is flimsy. Far from sufficient. They might grow suspicious. They might sense something amiss, or even specte about the Emperors health. Thats not eptable. This was a potentially adversarial nation, a rival they might face in war within a few years. He didnt wish to disy vulnerability now, nor could he afford to miss this opportunity. The responsibility lies with the Anbouaz dynasty. But if we simply dismiss them today? We wont be able to summon them again with the same pretext. Nor can we hold them ountable. If they send the ambassador of Anbouaz away after summoning him to protest and then attempt to summon him again? It would reflect poorly on their side. It might even be embarrassing to make the call. Releasing the Anbouaz ambassador now seemed like an unwise decision. So, whats the solution? Raciel pondered deeply. On one hand, he engaged in intense contemtion. He revisited the original plot of Devil Sword Emperor. The unfolding storyline. The character dynamics. Heid out these memories like intricate puzzle pieces. Gradually, a path emerged. A usible approach took shape. The bigger picture materialized. A strategy to deftly exploit the present circumstances formted swiftly. The oue was I will meet with the Anbouaz ambassador. Excuse me? I will represent His Majesty in the meeting. Was his statement unexpected? As he gazed at the bewildered head steward, Raciel mused to himself. Perhaps the current situation was a providential opportunity. If handled adeptly, it could potentially avert a major war that might engulf the empire. Only I can aplish this. With his knowledge of the original narrative and the tools at his disposal, he felt a surge of confidence that this was indeed feasible. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 88 Chapter 88I Next Diplomacy ispletely foreign to Raciel. Naturally, he had never attempted it. He had never received any relevant education either. To him, diplomacy appeared as an extravagant and elusive notion. Indirect exposure is all I possess. He had caught wind of international summits on the news, where leaders from different nations gathered and engaged in trade agreements and the like. That was the extent of his knowledge. asionally, he recalls instances like eating chicken while tuning in to breaking news about North Koreaunching missiles into the East Sea. He had even dabbled in diplomatic scenarios within games like Romance of the Three Kingdoms or other strategy-based games. So, contemting diplomatic discussions with Anbouazs ambassador? Clearly, it would be a fools errand. Picking a fight with an expert Thats asking for trouble. Indeed, this encapstes the reality of the world. Experts are experts for a reason. If you recklessly challenge them, youll be swiftly defeated. If the roles were reversed, and Anbouazs ambassador dared him to a duel of acupuncture, wielding a needle and puffing away, how absurd would that be? The same principle applies. I must acknowledge what Ick knowledge in. I dont even grasp the basics of diplomacy. So, attempting to face the impending Anbouaz ambassador with diplomatic schemes and rhetoric wouldnt be wise. He needs to equip himself with his own strategy. He cannot participate in diplomatic negotiations on equal footing. So, whats his next move? I need to bring the ambassador into my realm of expertise. At the end of the lengthy corridor. He finally reaches the conference room. Facing it, Raciel takes a deep breath. He has settled on the attitude and strategy he will adopt upon encountering Anbouazs ambassador. Once again, he reviews the goal he aims to aplish today. Preventing a major war. For the sake of the Magentano Empires peace. For hisfortable life as a member of the royal family and his prosperous retirement as an unemployed individual. With strong determination, he steps forward and enters the conference room. However, he doesnt put on a diplomatic faade. Instead, he employs a form of self-mind control. This isnt a conference room. Its an examination room. My first patient of the morning is waiting. I missed the subway on my way to work, and Im just a minutete. A minor dy. The mental simtion isplete. As a result, a familiar smile naturally graces his face. My apologies for the dy. Have you been waiting for long? The middle-aged man, likely the Anbouaz ambassador, Baron Vengermein, awkwardly rises from his seat. The ambassadors surprise is barely concealed. Did Raciels greeting catch him off guard? Or is he astonished that it isnt the emperor who walks into the conference room? Its likely thetter. The ambassadors astonished expression disappears within half a second. Oh, my apologies. I am Baron Vengermein, the ambassador of Anbouaz. Its an honor to meet the crown prince of Magentano. The ambassador conveys his respect smoothly. His ability to regainposure is swifter than 5G. Clearly, hes a seasoned veteran in the diplomatic arena. Raciel takes his seat across from the ambassador, maintaining the mental simtion he established. He gazes at the ambassador with the scrutiny of a doctor assessing a patient. Um, have you been experiencing sleep deprivationtely? Pardon me? Perhaps his question catches the ambassador off guard. The ambassadors smile wavers momentarily. However, Raciel remains unfazed. He mustnt cease speaking. He mustnt cede control to the ambassador. Allowing himself to be drawn into the diplomatic arena would tip the negotiations against him. With this in mind, Raciel continues without affording the ambassador an opportunity to take charge. Ive noticed dark circles beneath your eyes. Your eyelids are drooping, theres a slight tremor in your fingertips, and a faint staleness in your breath. Do you indulge in drinking and smoking? What on earth are you talking about? Im sure you wake up with a heavy head every morning. The muscles around your neck, particrly the levator scape, must be in a state of chronic tension. You likely experience frequent headaches apanied by a tight sensation in your back, am I right? Thats true, but how does that rte to the current situation? Its relevant. Raciel grinned. The ambassador is a cherished and esteemed guest, vested with full authority from the Kingdom of Anbouaz to represent their imperial court. One could say hes a direct representative of the royal family of Anbouaz. But what should I do if I observe signs of potential health issues in such an esteemed guest? I cant just ignore it, can I? No, certainly not. That would be unforgivable. What exactly are you implying? It means that the ambassadors well-being matters not only to me but also to the Magentano imperial family. So, if you wouldnt mind, may I examine your wrist? . The Crown Princes request flowed so naturally that the Anbouaz ambassador found himself momentarily speechless. He wasnt sure how to respond or what exactly the prince was aiming at. What is his intention? A myriad of questions raced through his mind. In truth, when the Crown Prince initially brought up the dark circles around his eyes and other physical features, the ambassador had taken it as an unusual approach to inquiring about his welfare. A simple courtesy. How have you been? Are your children growing well? Has the property you purchased appreciated in value? He had regarded it as an unconventional take on the usual pleasantries and had responded ordingly, without hesitation, but rather awkwardly. However, that was a miscalction! Thinking it was just a standard exchange, he had acquiesced. Now, he was being drawn into a peculiar line of dialogue! Wasnt it just a regr greeting? Whats this about? What does he want? The ambassadors mind raced. Soon enough, he arrived at a conclusion. Im perfectly fine. My health is overseen by the doctor and staff who apanied me from Anbouaz, so I appreciate your kind concern. The ambassador didnt extend his wrist; instead, he tensed up. He wanted to conclude this odd conversation and transition to the familiar diplomatic discussions. Today, the emperor summoned me to hold me ountable. The ambassador was well aware of the purpose of todays meeting. It concerned his homnd, the renowned merchant Guines from Anbouaz. He intends to protest the inadequate response he witnessed at the Cremo port. It wasnt a mere mishap. It evolved into a significant incident involving the Crown Prince. What if the Crown Prince had perished that day? This meeting wouldnt even be happening. Instead, a full-fledged war might have erupted. Regardless, the emperor would have sought answers from us about that day. He would have demanded reparations. Substantialpensation. Or unteral adjustments to trade tariffs. Exclusive development rights in specific border regions, and more. The ambassador had strong suspicions that the emperor would present such substantial demands. He had prepared himself for the emperors ultimatums. Masterful negotiation and careful consideration of options. Dividing and sharing mutual interests, the ambassador had meticulouslyid out strategies for protracted discussions with the emperor spanning several days. But the reality? He couldnt even y those cards! No, no, thats not urate. Youre content with acknowledging my concern? Are you insinuating that our empirecks divinity and ethics? Imagine if you were to fall ill or copsehow much me would our Magentano imperial family incur? Well, uh Why speak in such a manner? When have you ever shown concern for my well-being? Though the Ambassador wished to respond sarcastically, Raciel remainedposed and adept. The moment the Ambassador raised his hand in frustration, Raciels hand moved with equal swiftness. With the finesse of an experienced practitioner who instinctively seizes the wrists of numerous young patients at an Oriental medicine clinic, Raciel showcased his skill. Clutch. As if the North and South poles of a ma were aligning, Raciel deftly grasped the Ambassadors wrist. There was hardly any room for the Ambassador to react. Raciel swiftly took the Ambassadors pulse and employed palpation skill. Then, he purposefully adopted a sympathetic expression. Hmm, just as I suspected. Youve been indulging in excessive drinking and smoking. Naturally, it must be due to your tireless efforts for the peace and friendship between the countries of Magentano and Anbouaz. No, could you please release my wrist? Well, if I might offer some bold advice, you should consider exercising. Cut back on alcohol and smoking, and dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to walking. Also, incorporating a spoonful of clean olive oil into your mornings would be beneficial. That way, you wont find yourself in a state simr to His Majesty the Emperor. What? Emperor, His Majesty? The Ambassadors attention was piqued. He had been curious as to why the Crown Prince was handling the negotiations in ce of the Emperor. He had been summoned by the Emperor. The abrupt presence of the Crown Prince and his behavior had raised some dissatisfaction. As a result, he had been cautiously preparing to question this diplomatic breach and regain control over the negotiations. Yet, with the mention of the Emperor, Raciel took the initiative. The Ambassadors eyebrows furrowed. Raciel proceeded. Exactly as I mentioned. His Majesty the Emperor has been feeling unwell since yesterday. Whats the matter with him? Hes dealing with a severe cold. A cold? Yes. Due to his demanding workload, hes been under considerable stress. Its been quite some time since hest engaged in his sword practice. Combined with heightened stress levels, hes turned to more drinking and smoking. This may have contributed to his cold and loss of appetite. Ah, so thats why the Crown Prince is representing him at the negotiations? Indeed. Youve hit the nail on the head, Ambassador. Its with a sense of regret that I convey this news, and Ive been entrusted to ry the Emperors message, which includes an invitation to a banquet by way of apology. The Ambassador was momentarily speechless. A cold? Thats the reason for his absence at the negotiations? I didnt expect such transparency. Furthermore, a direct apology. Offering a banquet as a form of apology. This puts me in an awkward position. The Ambassador silently voiced his frustration. He couldnt decide if the Crown Prince was naively straightforward or cunningly strategic. In the world of diplomacy, issuing an apology is generally avoided and almost considered a taboo. The moment you vocalize such words, you relinquish all justifications and cede the upper hand to the other party. From that point forward, your position to contest unreasonable demands weakens, and you find yourself in an exceptionally disadvantageous position during diplomatic negotiations. Consequently, uttering an apology is considered taboo. At most, one might express regreta moderate, neutral stance. Yet, just now, the Crown Prince, while conveying the Emperors message, apologized outright. But its so forthright that its hard to find fault with. Ambassador Anbouaz swallowed his resentment. The Emperor is unwell. His absence is due to illness. Instead, the Crown Prince is present, extending goodwill. He approaches the situation with an attitude of open disclosure. But what if this is questioned? Why didnt the Emperor attend? Could it be seen as a breach of diplomatic protocol? What if theres a protest? It would make us appear petty, crossing a line. Huh! Theyd be relinquishing the moral high ground. Ambassador Anbouaz sighed, foreseeing the clear trajectory of events. Is he effectively nullifying one of my strategies like this This Crown Prince isnt an ordinary adversary. Inwardly grinding his teeth, the ambassador sighed in secret frustration. However, as for Raciel, he paid no mind to the ambassadors internal calctions. In fact, he hadnt predicted the extent to which his candid apology would stir the ambassadors inner sentiments. Im not here for diplomatic negotiations. Negotiating isnt his forte. He had no intention of facing off against the skilled negotiator, the ambassador. So, today, in this setting, he would? I should only present one-sided requests. All he needed to do was make the demands indisputable. He had confidence in that. He possessed the means. Raciel held unwavering faith in his judgement and voiced his thoughts. Regardless, I hope youll take better care of your health moving forward. Now, Id like to delve into the primary topic of todays gathering. I believe both you, Ambassador, and the Anbouaz royal family are well-informed about the incident that transpired at the Cremo port. Indeed. Yes, and so I have something tomunicate. No, its more of a request. What would the Magentano imperial family like to propose? We request that Princess Adeline Boarne Anbouaz, the heir to the Anbouaz throne, reside within the Magentano capital for the uing six months. Pardon me? The ambassadors shoulders twitched. What was he implying? He couldnt possibly be serious. Our princess? Why? Was it an attempt to take her as a hostage? To demean the Anbouaz royal family? It simply didnt add up. Is he contemting war? The ambassadors gaze turned icy as he regarded Raciel. This request bordered on being a direct insult. Itcked tangible advantages or rationale; it was a degrading demand. Had it been a plea to abolish trade tariffs or surrender a portion of the border territory, his reaction wouldnt have been as intense. Yet, Raciels lips curved into a smile as he began to speak. You probably believe my request is absurd. However, theres a valid motive behind it. A logical reason that stands to benefit both the Magentano imperial family and the Anbouaz royal family. What is this reasoning? Of course. Raciel nodded. Absolutely. They needed to avert the looming conflict. Hence, Princess Anbouaz couldnte to harm. She needed to be brought to the capital for half a year. Only then could they stave off war. All could experience tranquility. His royal life and retirement would remain secure. With unwavering resolve, Raciel moistened his lips. Heid a brilliant falsehood upon his tongue. A concealed card was affixed to his lie. Indeed, he had been reserving this deception for asions like this. Ding dong! [You have used 1 Deception Authorization Ticket.] [Designated target: Ambassador of Anbouaz will unquestioningly and eternally ce trust in one of your lies.] (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/weekI Next Chapter 89 Chapter 89 The Anbouaz Princess Adeline Boarne Anbouaz. She wielded the power behind the throne and was next in line to inherit it. She was also known as the Smiling Angel of Anbouaz. Was it due to herpassion akin to that of Mother Teresa? Was it because of her generosity and warm-hearted nature? No. She was a top-notch martial artist, a sword expert at the level of an intermediate knight. Yet, she had an unusual habit inbat. She would sh a bright smile as she defeated her opponents. Hence, she earned the moniker of the Smiling Angel. Nevertheless, despite her distinct personality, she was politically a pacifist, Raciel remembered. He recalled details from the original novel, Devil Sword Emperor. Princess Adeline never made a direct appearance in the novel. Nheless, allusions to her were scattered through dialogues and character records. Piecing together this information led to a conclusion She detested losing and possessed a warrior-like disposition, but surprisingly, she favored peace over war. People also spoke of her wisdom. However, despite these merits, a fatal w marred her. She met an untimely demise, never having the chance to disy her numerous talents. Tragedy. That was Princess Adelines most grievous w. Despite her exceptional health, strength, and prowess, she perished suddenly without ascending to the throne. As a result, another member of the royal family assumed the role of the Anbouaz king. It was unfortunate. It also spelled disaster for Magentano, as the new royal king held starkly different views from Adeline an extremist and a radical expansionist militarist. It was almost an obsession. He acted as though he were destined for war. Consequently, all the resources of the already ascendant Anbouaz Kingdom got funneled into military expansion. Magentano, sensing the threat, escted their vignce, and the tension between the two escted until it finally boiled over. Conflict erupted. It marked themencement of the great war that ultimately led to Magentanos downfall. I cant allow that to ur, Raciel pledged. He began to strategize. How could he prevent the onset of the great war at this juncture? He needed to thwart the ascent of the radical militarist to the Anbouaz throne. The optimal course of action? Princess Adeline must not meet an untimely end. Her survival was paramount. As the rightful heir to the throne, her continued existence would ensure her queenship. The Anbouaz Kingdom would sidestep the path of radical militarism, and the catastrophic war could be averted. Its nearly a certainty. References to this were present in the novel. Raciel recollected the insights provided by historians within the pages of Devil Sword Emperor. Had Princess Adeline of Anbouaz not met an early demise, had she ascended the throne as nned? She would have harnessed the kingdoms augmented might for the popces well-being. She wouldnt have rashly initiated wars, instead, she would have pursued peaceful coexistence with neighboring nations, Magentano included. Consequently, scores of young individuals wouldnt have been drafted and lost their lives in the tragic great war. All I gotta do is make sure Princess Adeline doesnt kick the bucket. Totally doable, thought Raciel. He dug deep into his recollections of the novel Devil Sword Emperor, even retrieving minor details. The cause of Princess Adelines demise came back to him. The exact illness wasnt spelled out, but a vivid ount of her symptoms remained. It hit her out of nowhere, he recalled. One evening, after her usual workout and grub, she started griping about killer stomach pain. She held her upper right belly, sweating buckets, looking like she was in absolute torment In just a few days, she exhibited hardcore jaundice symptoms. Her strength tanked, and she eventually bit the dust. Upon reviewing these specifics, Raciel began to suspect something. Those symptoms Princess Adeline dealt with, seems like gallstone obstruction is the likely suspect. Couldnt see it any other way. In the real world, he knew folks who had weathered the same ordeal. His close pals Won-ho and Eun-soo from his time in Korea. A web novelist he knew through them, a dude named Moon Baek, perhaps. Moon Baek had endured the exact symptoms as Anbouazs princess. One evening, he got smacked with a sharp pang on his right side. He was in the middle of a ser game, clutched his side in pain. Simultaneously, his team mmed in a goal and as he was rushed to the ER, he cheered in joy. That dude had his galldder yanked out eventually, someone said. Day of the surgery, he wrapped up a manuscript in the morning, had his innards removed at lunch, and by evening, he was happily proofreading the manuscript that came back. Yeah, the worlds filled with all sorts of characters. Anyhow, when you line up Princess Adelines symptoms, its practically a lock. The tube that should be sending out bile thanks to gallstones, got itself blocked. She probably faced excruciating pain, nearly on par with childbirth, for days on end. But heres whats scarier than the pain. Normally, bile and pancreatic juices flow through the bile duct into the small intestine. But what if that duct jams up? Its like a backed-up sewer. Bile goes in reverse. And the livers the final stop. Bile infiltrates the liver and messes it up. Liver cirrhosis and fibrosis kick in. Spleen and pancreas go kaput. Eventually, curtains. Sure enough, Raciels acquaintance Moon Baek rocked up at the hospital with a liver enzyme level forty times higher than normal. Gallstones and bile duct obstruction were not diseases to be taken lightly. Neglect them, and its a one-way ticket. No proper care means a fatal disease. So, hes gotta haul Princess Adeline over. Gotta check her pulse, see how shes holding up. If shes got gallstones camping out in her galldder, they gotta go, and then we gotta y defense to stop them froming back. Then, its a done deal. She wont die prematurely. She wont start a great war as a peaceful queen. The Magentano royal family will not copse. Then everyone will be happy. My regal life, all shiny and prosperous, will be in the clear. Got it all figured out. Raciel was low-key thrilled. He eyed the Anbouaz ambassador across the negotiation table. His face was stiff. The poker face barely hid the hint of anger simmering underneath. Probably cause of what just got dropped on their end. Keeping their princess in the big city for half a year. To them, its like holding their royalty hostage. It was obvious. But Raciel didnt give a hoot. Didnt even spend a second thinking about calming the ambassadors rage. Instead, he cooked up a little lie. A lie to bring Princess Adeline of Anbouaz to the imperial capital. Raciel had a Deception Authorization Ticket up his sleeve for this very purpose. [You will expend 1 Deception Authorization Ticket.] [Target: Ambassador of Anbouaz, Count Bang, will unquestioningly and permanently believe one of your lies.] Alright. He was set. Time to see the power(?) of the Deception Authorization Ticket. Raciel licked his lips and opened his mouth. He unleashed a lie that was jam-packed like a jar of caviar. The real deal is, Im all in for a solid and peace-loving friendly bond between our Magentano and your esteemed Anbouaz. .Really? The ambassador hesitated, his expression asking for rification. But that doubt onlysted a fleeting moment. Ding dong! [Ambassador Bang of Anbouaz begins to wholeheartedly buy into your lie.] Is that so? The surprised ambassador inquired. His previously rigid demeanor started to ease up. He seemed to finally grasp the actual intentions from this side. Raciel confirmed it as he observed this. Its working. Perfect. The Deception Authorization Ticket. He had been unsure, but it seemed to be the real deal. Raciels falsehood was gaining traction. Im d you see it that way. Ive been pondering for quite some time. How can we build a closer, friendlier connection between our Magentano and your Anbouaz, and sustain long-term peace. Do you have any proposals? Yeah, actually, I do. Like I mentioned earlier, Im suggesting we invite the princess of Anbouaz to the capital as an honored guest, let her stay here for about six months. And then? By sharing our cultures and values, we can forge a friendly bond. Im even aiming to nurture a personal friendship. Friendship, huh? Indeed. Im the future emperor of Magentano, and the princess is on track to lead Anbouaz. Wouldnt the futures of our two nations be a lot more serene if the next leaders of both sides have a solid personal friendship? Ah, I see. I hadnt realized you had such a n. The ambassador nodded with appreciation. He wasnt the kind of person whod usually agree to such notions. Normally, he wouldve questioned Raciels words, harbored doubts. But not now. Raciel had used the Deception Authorization Ticket, a potent influence that shut down his skepticism and filled him with blind trust in Raciels words, even to the extent of misinterpreting them. Could it be that the Crown Prince of Magentano has feelings for our princess? he wondered, his imagination spiraling. If the princess heads to the capital and hangs around for six months What if, by some chance, the Crown Prince and the princess start feeling the same way? Maybe. It was certainly possible. A robust alliance or even a union through marriage could be on the horizon. A powerhouse empire born from the established might of Magentano and the rising star of Anbouaz. A brand-new grand empire might just emerge. Heh, just think about it His heart raced. The idea that he and the Crown Prince were setting the groundwork for this future empire amped up his excitement. Maybe my name will be etched in history forever. It could happen. The cornerstone of the grand empireid during these negotiations. The illustrious diplomat Bang leading the way! The ambassadors breathing grew uneven. Raciel, observing, had to stifle a grin. This Deception Authorization Ticket is a real winner. The ambassador might be lost in some delusions, but one thing was clear he had fallenpletely for Raciels lie. Raciels confidence surged, and he carried on with his fabrication. Yeah, it wasnt a breeze to bring up this topic. I worried it might be a tough ask. But seeing it from my angle, with aspirations of a constructive future for bothnds, I had to put it out there. Thats how much I crave peace. Thats why. With a slight cluck of his tongue and a measured pace. Then back to full throttle. I wasnt gunning forpensation over the Cremo incident or to single-handedly tweak trade tariffs. Tossing out those demands would relegate our rtionship to mere squabbles and strategic cooperation driven by mutual gain. A truly sturdy alliance would be beyond reach. Heh, never figured youd see it that way Yeah, I know it might catch you off guard. But all I want is this: a tighter bond between our nations through an exchange with the princess. What could be more priceless than that? Dont you think? Raciel shot a pleading nce and sustained his fabrication. Im really going the distance here. Itd mean the world to me if you could seriously think about my genuine appeal. Phew. The ambassador exhaled. Was it due to his difort? His embarrassment? Nah, it was because he was genuinely touched. I never wouldve imagined that the Crown Prince would hold Anbouaz in such high regard. In fact, Im even more appreciative. The ambassadors words were heartfelt. Now, the crown princes sentiments sounded absolutely authentic to him. On one hand, he felt that the preparations he had made before this meeting were far too insignificant. I was only fixated on how to make amends for the Cremo incident to minimize the damage. But I didnt expect the crown prince to be this amicable towards us. Not to mention having such a profound and ambitious vision. The ambassador was indulging in his daydreams. In his mind, the crown prince and their own princess had already signed their marriage certificate and were tossing bridal bouquets. He stood beside them, receiving full respect as a great diplomat who had orchestrated this historic union. How would his name be etched into history? Should he ensure at least one respectable portrait? In any case, the verdict was clear. This was a heaven-sent opportunity. Ignoring this offer would be utter foolishness. The ambassador concluded his calctions in a blissful reverie. I get what the crown prince is saying. Your intentions resonate deeply with me. Is that so? Thats a relief. Yes. So, in response to the crown princes request, as the one vested with Anbouazs diplomatic authority, if I may Go ahead? I believe we can view your request in a positive light. Hmm, view it? Raciels brow furrowed slightly. However, he wasnt disheartened in the slightest. This was a reaction he had fully predicted. Indeed, the ambassadors response was entirely anticipated. Its not just anyone, but our princess whod be stationed in a foreignnd for half a year. Even with diplomatic authority Of course. You cant make that call on your own. I understand. Yes, thank you for your understanding. I must confess, there are aspects that give me pause. Whats worrying you? Yes. The ambassador nodded and proceeded cautiously. I believe in the crown princes sincerity. I have faith and admiration for your audacious decision for the camaraderie of both nations. However Im uncertain if my lord and various ministers in my country will share that belief. No, I can only foresee skepticism. Youre suggesting they wont buy into my intentions. Unfortunately, yes. The ambassadors response was sincere and tinged with regret. There was little to be done. This negotiation had the potential, if handled adeptly, to cement the future of both countries. It was a monumental deal that could elevate him to the status of a historical diplomat. However, the crown princes request appeared somewhat excessive in practical terms. And that was a cause for concern. To request that the heir to the throne, the princess, stay in a foreign nation for half a year? Objectively speaking It was an outrageous ask. He personally believed in the crown princes sincerity and had calcted the long-term gains of embracing the request, but what about others The numerous officials in Anbouaz And his own ruler, the king. Theyd likely scoff. Emotional reactions could even arise, leading to a bacsh that further soured rtions between the two nations. That was the ambassadors chief worry. He felt remorseful. It was a pity that people might not recognize the crown princes genuine earnestness. He desperately yearned for this negotiation to seed. Hence, the pain was even more acute. I wish there were a way for people to see that sincerity. But no such solution came to mind. And then, it happened. Well, its all right. There is a way, you know. As if reading the ambassadors thoughts, the crown prince offered a sly smile. As if it was no big deal. As if he had predicted this very reaction. He casually produced a sealed letter from his pocket. Whats this A letter for the King of Anbouaz. To my lord? Yes. Ive poured my sincerity into it. Please ensure its delivery. That should do it. This has to work. Theres no room for doubt. In this letter to the King of Anbouaz, because I expended myst remaining Deception Authorization Ticket on its contents. Raciels bright smile glinted wickedly. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 90 Chapter 90 How was it? Did the talks go as you expected? Well, okay, I guess? Right after leaving the conference room, Raciel heard a voice. It was Demian, who wasing over and asking him. Raciel gave a slight smile. Thankfully, Ambassador Anbouaz really understood how sincere I was. Your Majestys sincerity you mean? Yes. What sort of sincerity did you disy? I expressed my genuine desire for mutual respect and peace. So, you werent actually aiming to take advantage and deceive? Come on, what do you think of me? The dishonest boss who still hasnt paid the hazard pay you promised back in Cremo What? Raciel stopped, looking at Demian with a flushed face. I havent paid it yet? I didnt? Yes. You said youd pay it as soon as we got back to Star Pce, but you havent brought it up since. Um, well, sorry. I had a lot on my mind. That was true. Upon returning to Star Pce, he immediately had to oversee the Star Pce Clinic, and then the Emperor fell ill. He had beenpletely distracted managing the situation. But it was also true that he had forgotten about the promised hazard pay. There wasnt really a valid excuse. I did notice he seemed a bit off today, and now I know why. Raciel nced at Demian, who suddenly spoke up. Its fine. No need to worry. Even though he said it was fine, his expression seemed to suggest otherwise. Was he bothered? Raciel offered a somewhat awkward smile. I apologize for that. Once were back at the pce, Ill make sure your payment is arranged. And, well Is there something else you require, Your Highness? Yes. Raciel nodded. He had sessfully convinced Ambassador Anbouaz, and he had also dispatched a letter along with the Deception Authorization Ticket to the King of Anbouaz. The matter of the Anbouaz princess was also on its way to being resolved. Things were falling into ce as he had intended. There was no need to worry about that aspect for the time being. So, what now? I need to attend to the Emperor. Its so busy, incredibly busy. Suppressing a sigh, Raciel leaned closer to Demian and lowered his voice. Today, a highly important patient will be admitted to the pce. Yes? Shh. Keep your voice down. Make sure no one overhears. Who is this patient that requires such secrecy? His Majesty the Emperor. Therefore, head back to the pce first. Should I ready the special guards for potential emergencies? Yes. Thats right. Iprehend. Demian nodded, and Raciel whispered with a faint smile. Ive noticed youve been dedicating yourself to trainingtely. I apologize for the disruption. Its alright. Protecting important individuals is my main responsibility, after all. A bitter smile crept onto the corner of Demians lips. Indeed, he had intensified his training recently. Aside from his escort duties, he practically resided within the pce training grounds. The reasoning was straightforward. He was confronting his own limitations. Back in Cremo. I didnt anticipate encountering such a wall. The night he was assaulted by that colossal Minotaur surfaced in his thoughts. Even now, when hey down to sleep, the memories of that night remained vivid. He couldnt erase them. His feeble self facing off against that towering Minotaur. The overwhelming wall and helplessness he experienced in that moment. It was his first taste of defeat and the initial encounter with such humiliation. Hence. Since returning to Star Pce, he had grasped his sword whenever the opportunity arose. He had toiled away in the training grounds, dedicated to rigorous practice. He had pushed himself to grow stronger. However I still cant glimpse the journeys end. Truthfully, it was a tad overwhelming. He couldnt discern the path ahead, the steps he needed to take to ascend further. It was because hecked the familiarity with structured swordsmanship. But by now, trying to learn from someone else is likely futile. A knight who could instruct me? It would be wonderful if such an individual existed, but I havente across anyone like that yet. So these days, he was sweating every day, feeling like he was hitting his head against a solid wall of iron. One day, hed create his own swordsmanship and method of using mana. He diligently worked toward that goal on his own. Raciel also understood Demians sentiments quite well. Why wouldnt I understand? He regarded Demian with a peculiar gaze. The lead character from the novel he had read, Devil Sword Emperor, Demian Cayenne. In reality, the guy wasnt overly strong in the initial stages of the story. He was simply the champion of an illicit underground fighting ring. His level was far from dominant in the context of the entire world. But a single turning point changed everything. The moment the guy recognized his true essence. The instant he grasped a method of utilizing mana tailored to that essence. From then on, everything shifted. He exhibited immense growth and emerged as the ultimate warrior. Is it that time already? Perhaps it was. So, things felt a bit awkward. Raciel wished to dy or impede it as much as possible. That way, the guy would remain quietly by his side. Dealing with his training under that pretext seemed like a solid n. Racielmented, masking his inner thoughts, Regardless, due to that, I need you to temporarily halt your special training and concentrate on your duties. I apologize. Its fine. Just ensure the emergency shift allowance is provided. Absolutely. Please dont forget this time. Ah, I apologize. Is this what unintentionally bing a evil boss feels like? Raciel chuckled wryly. Then Ill return to the pce to prepare. Demian excused himself and departed. Raciel also embarked on his task of transferring the Emperor to the pce. I cant leave him in the pce like this. Im uncertain which of the Emperors close associates might harbor malicious intentions. Additionally, the Emperors condition remained critical. An emergency could arise at any moment. He had to care for him until the cooldown of the Archbishops divine blessing was restored in a month. What if he left the Emperor at the Imperial pce? Id have to be stationed at the Imperial pce constantly. I cant manage that. It would raise suspicions. The Emperor had announced he was merely recovering from a cold. But if he were seen constantly entering and exiting the Emperors chambers, people would grow suspicious. Isnt the Emperors condition worse than theyre saying? theyd specte. Thats why the Crown Prince, who is skilled in healing, is constantly visiting the Emperors quarters, right? Best to avoid that situation. Thankfully, it was rtively easy to discreetly move the Emperor out of the pce. He utilized a hidden passage known solely to the Emperor and his closest aides. He also had a carriage ready at the exit of the passage. This enabled Raciel to admit the Emperor into the Star pce without alerting the pces eyes and ears. Now, Ill tend to you here for a while, Your Majesty. As I previously exined, it seems beneficial for everyone if you recover here. Is that eptable? Immediately after the admission, Raciel inquired of the Emperor, whoy in bed. The Emperors mobility remained limited. His speech was impaired as well. But through his gradually blinking eyes, he conveyed his understanding and trust. Observing that expression, Raciel also nodded slowly. And he pondered to himself, Ive sessfully brought the Emperor to the Star pce Now I must start preparing for the next distinguished guest. The letter dispatched to the king of Anbouaz. The Deception Authorization Ticket concealed within that letter should soon begin to take effect. Raciel thought of the impending arrival of the Anbouaz princess. Papa, no, Your Majesty. I fail to grasp the order youve given me. This is Ambuz, the capital of Anbouaz. Within the castle there, Princess Adeline Boarne Anbouaz furrowed her brow. She dared to meet the gaze of her father, King Merovingian Balua Anbouaz. Suddenly, beneath her lifted head, her well-defined trapezius muscles twitched. Hertissimus dorsi, honed for impact through countless training sessions, also contracted. A discontented question escaped her lips. I truly cannotprehend. You readily acquiesced to the demands of the Magentano Empire. Im expected to remain in the Magentano capital for a full six months. Even though the Magentano Empire wields greater strength than ours, youve chosen to send me, a royal, so readily. Her questions flowed forth like rapid gunfire. She genuinely couldnt fathom it. She was a royal. Simultaneously, she was the sole daughter of the king. She stood as the heir to the throne. Soon, she would ascend to be the queen of Anbouaz. Yet, she never envisaged being held captive for six months within the Magentano Empire. Its unjust. No, its uneptable. Our Anbouaz is a sovereign nation, and the authority and legitimacy of our royal family is acknowledged by neighboring nations. Nheless, you disy such an effortless surrender over minor tensions between our countries. This cannot be. Her words were sincere. Even though the Magentano Empire might hold dominance on the continent, even though Anbouazs strength might not yet match theirs, there was no necessity topromise pride and resort to demeaning diplomacy. Princess Adelines expression revealed a blend of annoyance and exasperation as she gazed at the king. Only then did the king speak. Adeline, my only daughter. Yes, Your Majesty. Do you truly believe that I arrived at this decision solely due to yielding to Magentanos pressure, without any rationale? Well I suppose you do. No wonderprehending my choice is difficult for you. Adeline fell silent. Her attention shifted to the kings hand. Within his graspy a letter a personal letter from the crown prince of the Magentano Empire, Raciel Adria Magentano, addressed to the king. What could be within that letter What prompted the king to make such an perplexing decision? Did the crown prince of Magentano detect some vulnerability in the king? Or was there a form of threat that eluded her imagination? A threat that induced the steadfast king to acquiesce so effortlessly to the crown princes demand. Im curious. She couldnt suppress her concerns. If only she could catch a glimpse of the contents. Yet whether the king was privy to his daughters thoughts or not, he neatly folded the letter and tucked it close to his chest. Then, he regarded his daughter with a significant look. I understand the difficulty in embracing this. I sense your frustration. I also recognize yourck ofprehension regarding your fathers decision, leading you to wish to protest. Nevertheless, I assure you, the day wille when youll fullyprehend and value the choice Ive made. What are you implying That question will be addressed in due time. I will not entertain your objections any longer. But, Your Majesty, I Enough. That concludes it. The kings decisivemand was final. He swallowed a pang of regret. Im sorry. Yet this is the path for you and the kingdom. Suddenly, the handwritten letter from the crown prince of Magentano resurfaced in his memory. The content was astonishingly straightforward. [Dear Father-inw, kindly give me your daughter!] Normally, he would have dismissed such absurdity. It was preposterous; his ire would have surged. But circumstances had altered. Ding dong! [The Deception Authorization Ticket has been sessfully employed.] [Target: King Merovingian fully believes the letters content.] At that precise moment, an alert chimed. The king pronounced solemnly. In the name of the king, I hereby decree. My daughter and future heiress to the throne, Adeline Boarne Anbouaz, shall promptly journey to the Magentano Empire and remain there for six months. Ah, Father? Execute the directive. There was no space for dispute. The royal guards encircling the princess secured her arms. Naturally, a princess well-versed in martial arts wasnt about to let it happen without resistance. Thud! Thwack! Her fists and elbows struck with force. The royal guards faltered. However, it was toote. Prompted by the kings signal, the court magician cast a potent binding spell on the princess. Ugh! Ugh! The writhing princess was rapidly moved outdoors. She was escorted into a waiting carriage. Lets depart. The kings directive resounded. The carriage and attendants were set into motion. From within the carriage, the sounds of the princesss desperate pleas echoed. Father! Father! Thump! Thud! Thump! Her weighty blows reverberated, causing the carriage to tremble. Yet dismantling the tripleyer protection spell surrounding the carriage proved insurmountable. And so, the princess of Anbouaz, Adeline, found herself being forcibly transported to the Magentano capital against her wishes. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Someone is there, and this is a certain ce. Who in the world called her from such a great distance? Princess Adeline Boarne Anbouaz she felt a tumultuous battle of anger and frustration waging within her heart. She raised her head. Beyond the slightly ajar carriage window, she beheld the magnificent sight of an unfamiliar city. It was the Imperial City of Magentano. She never anticipated she would find herself here. She was forcibly ced into this carriage just yesterday, yet it has already been ten days. During that span, she was unwillingly brought to the Imperial City of Magentano. Naturally, she attempted to flee(?). However, she swiftly came to terms with her situation. A half-year sojourn in the Imperial City of Magentano. Such was themand of the king. Even if she managed to escape and return to the kingdom, its likely the same scenario would unfold once again. She came to this realization. She acquiesced, albeit half-heartedly. She figured it might be best to just get it over with, considering she had to go anyway. However, this didnt make the situation any more pleasant. Whew. An involuntary sigh slipped from her lips. Before long, the carriage came to a stop. Was she already at the Imperial Pce? The carriage door swung open, revealing a stern knight. It was the Knight Commander of Anbouaz, who had dutifully apanied her here. Princess, please hold your head high. The knights resolute encouragement. Without a word, she nodded. She mustered all the resolve she could muster. From the moment she stepped out of the carriage, shed be in enemy territory. Apart from the entourage that had journeyed with her from Anbouaz, there was no one she could trust. Dragged here against her will, she would be treated as a war trophy by the enemy. I wont bow my head. As a princess of a prominent royal family, she was destined to be queen and lead Anbouaz. She couldnt afford to disy any weakness to her adversaries, as she carried on the legacy of her ancestors. She tensed her eyes and muscles. Stepping out of the carriage, she took her initial stride into enemy (?) territory. And she fixed her gaze on the first adversary approaching her. It was a silver-haired man with a frail build. Apanied by a considerable retinue, the princesss brow slightly furrowed. That face, it rang a bell somehow You must have had a lengthy and exhausting journey, Princess of Anbouaz. Wee. I am Prince Raciel Adria Magentano of the Empire. Yes, she recalled now. She hade across his portrait while studying the notable figures of foreignnds. It was the face from that portrait. Her head tilted slightly in recognition. He looks notably different from the picture. In the portrait, he appeared ailing. But the prince standing before her now? Not as severe. Thin and delicate in appearance, yet not to the extent shown in the portrait. In any case, hes the one who insulted Father. The princesss gaze grew icier as she regarded Raciel. It was him. He was the one who penned a personal letter to her father. Because of that letter, she found herself here. The contents of the letter were unknown to her. But suspicions lingered. He must have pressured Father. unting the empires might or exploiting Fathers vulnerabilities. Engaging in diplomatic impoliteness and menacing Father, coercing his submission. It seemed likely. If not for that, her father wouldnt have likely dispatched her here so readily. Adeline, a princess entrenched in her convictions, clenched her fists. She exerted self-control to restrain herself from striking the crown prince in the face as she greeted him. I am Princess Adeline Boarne of Anbouaz. Her voice was as frigid as a st of wind at negative 50 degrees Celsius. Yet, Raciel remained unfazed. The chilly pressure emanating from the princess didnt intimidate him. The reason was straightforward: he was well-acquainted with such situations. Getting the cold shoulder from women, Ive experienced it aplenty. Hehehe! It had always been this way in Korea. Be it during a blind date. Or when consulting a fortune teller. Womens reactions to him remained consistent. Therefore, he consistently believed that understanding a womans emotions wasnt all that challenging. I can instantly tell if theyre not fond of me! The situation remained unchanged. Raciel steeled himself with his unwavering resolve and spoke. I understand. You must be fatigued from your extensive journey. Please follow me. He personally led the princess through the garden and into the main edifice of the pce, heading toward the readied banquet hall. A meticulously arranged feast awaited the princess. Please dine first. Subsequently, Ill give you a tour of the pce quarters where youll be residing. However, the princess left her fork untouched. As if she wouldnt consume the victuals of a hostile nation without any defenses, she merely cast a frosty, guarded gaze down the length of the table. Yet Raciel remained unaffected. This was familiar territory for him! Of course. The princess is one of those who doesnt keep to a regr eating schedule. Do all women do this? It was the same in Korea. When asked to partake in lunch or dinner? Theyd im to have already eaten or express difficulty due to dieting. The princess seemed to fit the mold. Sigh. This could pose a challenge. Raciel swallowed a bitter smile. The princesss demeanor toward him was even colder than he had anticipated. Her look was akin to that of an adversary. It was troublesome. Its going to be a struggle to win her over. The rapport between a medical professional and a patient carries weight. Above all, mutual trust needs to be established. Only then can a patient entrust their well-being to a medical professional. Conversely, the medical professional can treat the patient with greater responsibility. Some might question the significance of a mere difference in attitude. Yet, it holds significance. A truly significant one. Without it, any treatment effort bes futile. But the princess harbors more disdain for me than I initially thought. Maybe I should have conveyed a different message to King Anbouaz. He had dispatched a letter to the King, expressing his interest in her. Aiming to strengthen rtions between their respective nations. Desiring to meet the princess. Asserting that it would prove mutually advantageous. He had chosen words that were likely to entice her toe. However, he hadnt anticipated it would breed her aversion. Sigh. Perhaps I shouldve shifted me onto that war-driven prince from the novel Devil Sword Emperor who triggered the Great War. Proposing that the prince was scheming a rebellion and advising the king to swiftly suppress him. Wouldnt that have been simpler? It mightve potentially averted the Great War. He briefly regretted his decision. Yet he shook off the regret soon enough. No, that approach wouldnt be right. Its far too unpredictable. If the war-hungry prince contested the usation, it might spark an actual uprising. That couldnt be allowed to ur. The narrative would stray too far from the original novel. What consequences would result, how it would influence him he couldnt forecast any of it. Thats not a viable path. Indeed, thats why he hadnt opted for that route. Raciel let go of his regrets regarding the unselected option. I need to have faith in my decision. Its the most advantageous course. I brought the princess here; my focus is treating her gallstones. Preventing her demise due to gallstones. That would then lead her to be the Queen of Anbouaz. Naturally, it would avert the eruption of the Great War. So, dont hesitate. Have confidence. First, secure the princesss goodwill and trust. With this in mind, Raciel lifted his gaze and addressed the princess across the table. I apologize. Consuming a meal immediately after your arduous journey must be taxing on your digestion. Thats why I arranged this. Gardian? Gardin entered the banquet hall upon being beckoned from this side. He held a silver tray in his hand and set it down in front of the princess, carefully lifting the lid to reveal a dark liquid in a bowl Its an herbal decoction. I prepared it specifically for you, Gui Pi Tang, which is beneficial for the body. It should help alleviate the fatigue youve umted during your journey here. The princess remained motionless, fixated on the herbal medicine. Her gaze was cold enough to make the medicine bowl feel ufortable. However, Raciel paid no mind. He stood resolute, silently awaiting the princesss response. Perhaps the pressure (?) had an effect. As the steam from the medicine bowl dissipated, the princess finally spoke. What form of insult is this? Pardon? You brought me all the way here and seated me, was that not sufficient? What do you mean? Raciel inquired, puzzled. The princesss brows furrowed slightly. I came here because you summoned me. It required a significant decision on my part, on behalf of Anbouaz. Do you not realize that? Allow me to rify upfront. You instructed a 6-month stay, and I will adhere to that, as requested by the Crown Prince to my father, the king. However, thats the extent of it. Do not entertain thoughts of further requests. Do not seat me at a dining table, do not offer food simply leave me be. Hmm, it appears theres a misunderstanding Theres no misunderstanding. Thats my stance. Swiftly pushing her chair back, the princess rose to her feet. Just then Are you afraid, Princess? Raciels incisive words resonated with the princess. In the midst of turning away, she halted. What did you just say? I inquired if youre afraid. What are you implying I havent done anything untoward. I merely presented a meal and an herbal decoction beneficial for fatigue recovery. What is so rming and disconcerting that prompts your departure? Im not afraid Is there perhaps concern that the herbal decoction might be poisoned? Gardin, bring it over. Raciel gestured to Gardin. Raciel received the Gui Pi Tang from Gardin. Phew. This is quite a precious remedy. With a wistful undertone, he consumed it in one gulp. He disyed the now-empty bowl to the princess. Theres no poison. Reflect on this. Would I, the Crown Prince of the Empire, poison the medicine Im offering to the princess during an official banquet? How could I endure the consequences? Agreed? No, I Its fine. What can be done? The princesscks faith in me and greets me with nothing but icy res. Isnt that the case? Feigning sadness, simting profound injury, he engaged in a full-fledged acting disy. In reality, it was a provocation. Princess Adeline of Anbouaz. Word has it you detest defeat more than anything. While she hadnt appeared directly in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, she had been indirectly referenced numerous times. She was reputed to abhor defeat and hold disdain for cowards and the feeble. Hence, Raciel repackaged the phrase Are you scared and running away? into a more polished form. He openly branded her a coward. It was a tailored provocation aimed at her personality. The impact (?) was significant. The princess pulled her chair back and resumed her seat. She glowered at him from across the table. Unlike her previous coolness, her eyes now zed. What did the Crown Prince just suggest? I said what I said. What instills such fear in you? Ive never been fearful. Yet youck the courage to consume the herbal medicine I presented at this formal gathering. Your words are excessive. Then, shall I offer it once more? Will you partake? Princess Adeline sealed her lips. In the same moment, she grasped that she had walked right into the opponents scheme. What if she declined the medicine once more? She would be branded a coward. She found that unappealing. This only intensified her frustration. What a sly individual. She felt as if she had been maneuvered into a corner where her only option was to ingest the medicine. It was an astute and malevolent setup. Nevertheless, she was now cornered into eptance. Finally, she nodded in assent. Give it to me. But I have a stiption for bestowing it upon the crown prince. A stiption? Enlighten me. This will be the first and final asion. Meaning youll try the medicine I provide? Yes. Attempt it first, then decide. Raciel offered a faint smile and signaled Gardin. He returned with a tray, bearing a bowl of the same decoction as before. The princess, as she took the decoction, wrinkled her nose. It carried an odd scent. Peculiar and off-putting. She observed that the hue of the decoction was a deep, murky darkness. Could she truly consume this? It seemed imusible that it could be beneficial for the body. However, her indecision was brief. She lifted the bowl, guided it to her lips, and tilted it. Gulp. ! For an instant, Princess Adeline was ovee with a powerful urge to spit out the liquid that entered her mouth. Concurrently, she felt an inclination to fling the bowl at the crown princes head a destructive impulse. The reason was uplicated. It was insipid. Utterly vorless! Ugh, ugh! She had never encountered such an acrid taste in her life. And it wasnt just bitter. It was fishy. A strange fishy aroma enshrouded her pte and nostrils. Additionally, she experienced an unusual tingling sensation. The dreadful amalgamation of bitterness, fishiness, and tingling assaulted her taste buds like a nightmarish symphony. It was a dreadful encounter unlike anything she had ever known! .. Ugh! Gulp! Gulp! She managed to suppress the impulse to regurgitate. One sip. Two sips. She struggled against the urge to vomit. Three sips, four sips, and finally five sips! .. Cough, cough! Ugh cough! She set down the bowl with a dismissive motion, barely restraining the urge to retch that wed at her throat. And she ruminated, this wasnt a substance fit for human consumption. It wasnt even food it was something else entirely. The crown prince, whopelled her to drink this, was scarcely human either. She lifted her head with a sensation of cursing him and nced across the table at the crown princes ce. Yet the crown prince was absent. In his stead, right beside her, the crown princes voice caught her by surprise. Now, if youre through, have this promptly. The crown prince, who had approached abruptly, extended something to her. When did he arrive? While she imbibed the medicine? While she squeezed her eyes shut to endure the insufferable vor? But why was the crown prince presenting something to her? And why did he wear such a recognizable and kind smile? Its candy. Its customary to follow up bitter medicine with candy, isnt it? Plum-vored. Unbeknownst to her, the princesss countenance, taken off guard by the unexpected gesture, turned faintly red. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Surprised, Princess Adeline came to a halt. She gazed at the item presented to hera pink candy. Its sweet scent wafted through the air, carrying her favorite plum vor. Her gaze shifted to Raciel. Was this just a coincidence? Or did this human truly understand her preferences? Most likely thetter. Perhaps an attempt to win her favor. Maybe an effort to dismantle her guard. Likely a ploy. The princess furrowed her brows in deep thought. What is this? A piece of candy. Plum-vored. What is the purpose behind this? After enduring bitter medicine, a sweet candy. Its customary. Arent you nning to consume it? Adeline hesitated,pelled by the atmosphere to take the medicine. Eventually, she sumbed. However, it was painfully bitterbitter, sour, and revolting. Did the taste resemble that of licking an elephants armpit? Her stomach churned relentlessly, and the urge to vomit overwhelmed her. But therey a piece of candy before her, and not just any candyit was her cherished vor. Instinct implored her to seize it, to consume it immediately, to chew it without melting it. Yet reason shook its head. Are you out of your mind? To ept that? Her pride smarted. The sensation of being toyed with by the crown prince left her feeling tainted. She longed to p away the slender hand proffering the candy. I Instinct yearned to escape the unimaginable gustatory torture, while reason exhorted her to cling to her dignity. A fierce tug-of-war erupted between the two. Adelines eyes trembled, cold sweat breaking out. Raciels words struck a decisive blow to her dilemma. Here, I also have grape vor. Swoosh! She could endure no more. Adelines hand moved at the speed of light. She seized the two candies Raciel had offered and stuffed them into her mouth in one swift motion. Crunch! Aaah A heavenly sweetness enveloped her pte! The taste that had been trapped in the realm of hardcore displeasure found deliverance. It felt as though the Earths mother was casting a radiant light upon her path. Blessings from the sugar gods in plum and grape form. A smile of relief, as if she had dipped a toe into paradise, naturally spread across her lips. Then, Adeline realized that Raciel was fixated on her. Ahem! Hm! Hm! She hastily attempted to regain herposure, but her flushed face remained conspicuous. Perhaps thats why she blurted out something she didnt truly mean. Hmhm! Magentanos candies are quite underwhelming. I held some expectations due to the familiar taste, but I wasnt prepared for the disappointment. Truly disheartening. Is that so? Yes, indeed. After enduring such ackluster dessert, I believe I made the right choice in declining the meal you suggested. Though I heard you hadnt eaten lunch yet. Its fine. My appetite wanes when faced with subpar fare. Is that the case? Yes. Truly? Yes. Absolutely. Adeline fought to control her expression and nodded with conviction. She met Raciels gaze with a self-assured smile. It was at that moment. Grrrrrrr? Amid the silence, a resounding(?) growl erupted. Her inconsiderate stomach signaled its demand for sustenance. Adeline froze. Then realization dawned. Crown Prince Raciel, who observed her, bore a faint smile in his eyes. Darn it. She wished to disappear. No, she longed to deliver a single punch to that mans face. She had to relish the sensation of being utterly mortified down to the depths of her soul. Yet she managed to conceal it, barely. She rose abruptly, her face slightly flushed. Ive had my fill of both your rmended medicine and dessert. Now, I shall take my leave. Are you departing so soon? Yes. Is there any reason for me to linger? Of course not. The head servant will guide you to your quarters. Rest well. Thank you, Crown Prince of Magentano. Adeline turned as if to shake off her cold sweat. She strode out of the dining room, making a silent pledge. For the uing half-year, her stay at the Star Pce beckoned. During that span, she must endeavor to avoid the crown prince whenever possible. Should their paths cross anew, she might find herself mercilessly trampling upon him. Huff! Her fist clenched, veins pulsating with determination. Naturally, she remained unaware that the vow she was presently making would crumble into fragments in a mere day. A day had psed. In avish room within a peripheral structure of the Star Pce, Princess Adeline awoke to an unfamiliar morning. This was enemy territory, the very heart of the enemys stronghold. She had been thrust into this environment and had to endure here for theing six months. p! Smack! As soon as she emerged from her slumber, she administered brisk ps to her cheeks with the palms of her hands. She steeled her resolve, determined not to sumb to the opulence of her surroundings. Her day began with the same meticulous routine she had upheld in her homnd. She descended to the training grounds linked to the peripheral structure. She drilled with the escort knights, perspiring through the morning practice. Yet, she noticed something peculiar. Whats this? Why do I feel so light? To her surprise, she felt remarkably well. Her body was so buoyant it almost seemed capable of taking flight. It was a curious sensation. After a long journey, how is it possible to feel like this the following morning? She had anticipated considerable exhaustion. Thus, she had nned to moderate the intensity of her training. But her state of being was far better than expected. Could it be? Is it because of the medicine I took yesterday? Suddenly, the memory of the herbal medicine with the elephant-armpit vor came rushing back. She recalled the crown princes words describing it as a potent herbal remedy for fatigue recovery. No, that couldnt be right. It defied logic that a solitary dose of herbal medicine could dispel fatigue so swiftly. Shaking her head, she refocused on her training, banishing thoughts of the herbal medicine and the crown prince from her mind. However, when confronted with the morning meal after her workout, the distressing memory of the previous day resurfaced. This was because the herbal medicine was served alongside dessert following the meal! Take it away. The mere scent made her stomach churn. She scowled and hastened out of the peripheral structure. She embarked on a gentle stroll to facilitate post-training muscle recovery. Fortunately, the garden sprawled expansively, providing an ideal space for walking and mental respite. During this stroll, she espied an odd assembly. Individuals garbed in rather shabby attire gathered in small groups, traversing the garden. Whats urring here? A sense of peculiarity enveloped her. This domain was the residence of the crown prince of the empire. Nevertheless, people of such modest appearance were traversing its garden. Could they be gardeners? But no, there are elderly and children among them. They dont resembleborers either. As she observed these individuals, she discerned a shared characteristic among them. An elderly man limped. A young child, perched on his mothers back, cried, evidently in distress. The middle-aged man trailing them appeared pallid. In essence, they were all unwell. A procession of patients traversed the garden. Their collective destination was unmistakablethe main structure of the Star Pce. What in the world was unfolding? Why were patients en route to the principal edifice of the Star Pce? Her curiosity was piqued. Adeline discreetly followed them from a distance, a decision that ultimately rewarded her with insight. Huh? The scene was profoundly unusual. Scores of individuals who seemed out of ce within the Star Pce milieu. Numerous patients queued up and entered the main structure. Adeline, too, blended in and entered alongside them. Compelled by curiosity, she maneuvered past the line of patients. At the queues terminus was a room. What is this chamber that patients are individually entering? Stealthily, she entered the room. And there, she bore witness. Hmm, the heat in your liver is the cause. For now, abstain from alcohol. Cut down on greasy foods and avoid activities that induce excessive fatigue. Is that so, Your Highness? Crown Prince Raciel sat across from an elderly man, earnestly and kindly exining something to him. Absolutely. So, for todays session, Ill be performing cupping therapy to bnce your qi. Remember to take the herbal medicine I prescribed consistently at the same time every day. Do you have that clear? Ill make sure to remember, Your Highness. Then lets proceed with the cupping treatment. This wayhuh? ! Raciels gaze locked onto someones. Could this individual be up to some kind of mischief again, like yesterday? Just as the woman was about to knit her brows, something happened. Why are you here? Raciels inquiry carried a sharp tone, catching the person off guard. Adeline was taken aback. What? Yes, what? This is a treatment room. Did you fill out the treatment registration form? Are you in the queue? What are you talking about? Adelines perplexity deepened. After all, she was a princess. Could Raciel be displeased because she had disregarded the line of ordinary patients, whose names he likely didnt even know? Raciels response shattered her assumptions. Do you think Im jesting right now? This space is for tending to patients. Its an equitable ce. Everyone, save for the Emperor himself, is treated fairly, irrespective of status, gender, or age. Do youprehend? Well If you intend to enter,plete a treatment registration form first. Get in line and await your turn. Is that understood? Adelines throat constricted. This was an experience she had never encountered before. It felt belittling. Simultaneously, she felt a sense of shame. She found herself resembling those members of royal families who abused their authority and standing. She departed the treatment room as if driven away, but she didnt depart entirely. If I leave like this, itll seem like Ive conceded defeat. That was uneptable. Particrly not to the Crown Prince, not to that man who might form an unfavorable opinion of her. She desired to rectify her error. She aspired to prove that she wasnt that kind of individual. She joined the back of the patient queue and dutifullypleted a treatment registration form in her own hand. Standing in line among the other patients, she endured both tedium and impatience. How long did she wait? Finally, after a prolonged two hours, she received permission to enter the treatment room. Upon entering, she spoke with an usatory tone, I followed the procedure and waited my turn, as you can see. I am not that type of person, not one of those royals who exploit their authority and position. So you wished to demonstrate that? Yes. The prior experience was humiliating enough. Is that so? Well, in any case, wee. I wanted to have a serious face-to-face conversation with you in the treatment room, at least once. Pardon me? Adelines brow furrowed. What was he implying? She felt perplexed. Arent you curious as to why I invited you to the Imperial Capital and requested you to stay for six months? Dont you want to know the true reason? Raciel queried with a smileless countenance. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Why do you think I brought you to the imperial capital and had you stay here for six months? Arent you curious about the actual underlying reason? Raciels expression showed no hint of a smile. Princess Adeline hesitated as she locked eyes with him. The reason he summoned me to the imperial capital? Her brow slightly furrowed, and a feeling of unease began to emerge. She had thought he had simply pressured the king and the royal family, using the Cremo incident as an excuse to embarrass them. However, there was another purpose for bringing her here. What kind of n is he devising? She couldnt even make a guess. She took a seat and gazed at Raciel in silence, almost as if she intended tomunicate that if he harbored any concealed motives, he should expose them. Upon witnessing her demeanor, Raciel concealed a smile within. Its fortuitous that this opportunity has presented itself so early, he thought, a sense of contentment washing over him. Atst, an asion to engage in a substantial conversation with the princess had emerged, a desire he had held since the previous day. I must address her gallstone ailment. The gallstones that likely upy her galldder need removal. But foremost, she must be cognizant of her symptoms. Awareness of symptoms. Identifying where difort resides, acknowledging the presence of the illness, and embarking on the journey of treatmentRaciel held the belief that these constituted the foremost stride in any curative process. Undoubtedly. Despite the efforts of doctors, traditional healers, or pharmacists to grasp onto the patient, if the patientcks the volition to be treated, all endeavors are futile. Primarily, the patient must possess the determination to convalesce. They must adopt a mentality that propels them toward treatment. Only then can the curative course proceed seamlessly. Yet, the princess was currently far from that initial stage. She hadnt even attained the awareness of her diforts location. The rationale behind this was straightforward. Gallstone disease seldom manifests self-evident symptoms. Barely any signs such as excruciating pain in a specific region, elevated fever, or insufferable unease are evident. Such was the hallmark of gallstone disease. In fact, Raciel was acquainted with a Korean web novelist named Moon Baek who had encountered this situation. Moon Baek had been urgently rushed to the emergency room due to intense abdominal pain. Only subsequent to the examination did he realize that a gallstone had obstructed his bile duct entirely. Likely the princess shares a simr experience. Perhaps her sole indication of the gallstones presence is asional bloating post meals. Apart from that, she likely experiences no distinct pain or difort, analogous to Moon Baeks ordeal, much like many others. This enigma is precisely what renders gallstone disease intricate. Most remain oblivious until the condition esctes,pelling them to seek medical attention. In reality, research in the United States has revealed that a substantial 15-20% of the adult poption possesses gallstones. However, a majority of them remain oblivious to their gallstone condition. Naturally, Koreans are no exception. The princess falls within the same category. She doesnt even entertain the notion that she harbors gallstones. But were Raciel to initiate treatment abruptly? Cooperation would not be forting. She would likely scoff. And thus, the remedy. Awareness of her ailment must take precedence. Raciel resolved firmly. This opportunity had been a long time in the making. He meticulously formted his utterances, delivering them with the gentleness one might employ while softly crooning, much akin to the style of Bill Gates Microsoft. Foremost, allow me to impart, Your Highness, that you possess a mere two years before your demise. What? I jest not. Yes, its not a jestits a poor one. Princess Adelines visage solidified, yet Raciel remained unperturbed. Feel free to dismiss it as an inane jest. Nevertheless, its urate. This is intelligence garnered from the imperial familys direct intelligence agency. What? Information of your life expectancy being under two years is ssified intelligence disseminated by the imperial familys direct intelligence agency. Raciel articted, his countenance unwavering. Imperial familys direct intelligence agency? ssified intelligence? Of course, it was an untruth of grand proportions. Nheless, he enunciated it with an unwavering mien, as if it bore the weight of truth. Princess, you might not be aware, but our imperial intelligence agency has eyes and ears in nearly every corner of the globe. Even your actions, as a part of the royal family of Anbouaz, are not exempt from their observation. Thanks to this, we were able to detect and analyze subtle symptoms of an illness that has escaped your notice. What are you implying? You harbor a severe ailment within you, unbeknownst to you. So, youre asserting that I have only two years to live due to this illness? Yes. Ha, really. Princess Adeline retorted with skepticism. It was inevitable. She had stumbled upon this location during a leisurely stroll. Driven by curiosity, she ventured inside, and the ambiance drew her in, leading her to sit across from the crown prince. Prior to this, she had begun viewing the crown prince from a slightly different perspective, having witnessed an unexpected facet of him. Such a multitude of patients. I had no inkling that he would tend to these underprivileged individuals without seeking anything in return. In truth, rumors about the Crown Prince of Magentano had reached her ears long before. Word had it that he possessed the ability to heal. Of course, she had dismissed this as an entric pastime of sorts. Yet, what she had witnessed today was far more profound than she had envisioned. Not a single renowned doctor in Anbouaz had ever managed a medical facility on such a grand scale. This unpredictability led her to perceive the Crown Prince in a new light. She pondered over his intentions. Why did he call her? She spected that she might finally glean a proper exnation. Yet, when that exnation finally emerged, it left her disillusioned. How contemptible you are. Adelines tone turned colder. Raciel responded withposure. Truth can often carry an unpleasant tone. A spy agency? You propose that amid the information they supplied, there exist indications of a grave ailment that I havent even noticed. Do you consider me a fool, Your Highness? Not in the slightest. Do you believe I would entertain such preposterousness? Is deceiving me truly of such importance? This isnt about deceiving you, but rather about healing you. Do you notprehend that your current words are deceptive? Your perception of deceit arises from yourck of belief in me. Would it be an entirely different matter if I could ce trust in you? Then, what if I could make you believe? Raciel countered unwaveringly. At that moment, Adeline grasped the truth. Crown Prince Raciel had been earnest all along. Precisely how do you intend to evoke belief in me? I shall furnish you with evidence. Raciel asserted with confidence. An age-old saying echoed in his words: Seeing is believing. The optimal approach to make someone acknowledge an ailment devoid of outward manifestations is to present them with tangible evidence. This principle held true for all aspects of existence, including human psychology. Even when one is inclined to deny, the act of witnessing canpel eptance. For instance? A bank ount disying merely three digits. The stock value of ones investments plummeting in a steep blue nosedive. And so, Raciel intended to demonstrate this principle to the princess. The gallstones within her. Conspicuously, unequivocally, to the extent that denial would be imusible. Poboki? Raciel inquired, directing his voice toward the coat pocket. A figure emerged from the pocket. Po pooo! The creature was about the size of a clenched fist, with a rounded form and fiery wings fluttering through the air. It went by the name Poboki, a Phantom Beasta phoenix carp, specificallytasked with assessing the chemicalposition of medicines. Addressing Poboki, Raciel began, Have you been feeling restlesstely? Weve got work to attend to. Poo pooo? Pooki. No, no. No treats for today. Poo pooo? Lets initiate by introducing you to our patient. This here is Princess Adeline, our patient for today. Pooki kiii? Poboki turned to nce behind and only then recognized the astonished gaze aimed at it. Pooo pooo? Pooki? Princess Adeline swallowed uneasily, offering an awkward smile to Poboki, who hovered between her and Raciel, its fiery wings flickering. Hey, there. Poo boooo ki! Pookki! Poboki extended a fin, its expression brimming with delight. Adeline hesitantly shook the fin with her hand. Raciels smile carried an air of mystery. This is Poboki. It serves as the pharmaceuticalponent analyst at my Star Pce Clinic. Pharmaceuticalponent analyst? Yes. But today, its role will differ slightly. What might that be Adeline furrowed her brows, her confusion palpable. The crown princes intentions eluded her. He imed Im facing death, that an unnoticed ailment gues me, and cautioned against skepticism. He promised evidence. So why, at this moment, was he introducing an unfamiliar Phantom Beast into the equation? What purpose did he have in mind for this creature? She remained clueless. An enigma in its entirety. Then, Raciel addressed the situation. Poboki, shall wemence? Pooo booo? You know, that thing. Pooo! With a significant nce from Raciel, Poboki nodded, extending its fiery wings as wide as they could stretch. Poooo booooo kiiio! Swoosh! Pobokis wings unfurled in a perfect 16:9 proportion, resembling a floating tablet suspended in the air. Adelines eyes widened, yet the true astonishmenty ahead. Lets initiate the examination now. If you would be so kind as to offer me your hand for a moment. Raciel took a deliberate step forward and extended his hand toward Adelines shoulder. His touch caught her off guard. ! Reacting instinctively, Adeline swatted Raciels hand away. Her gaze turned icy as she stared at him, her eyes sharp and frigid. What do you think youre doing? I apologize. Nevertheless, weve already amassed all the required data for the examination. Kindly bear with us for a moment longer. What? Adeline tilted her head. Data for the examination? Already gathered? What? What in the world is he talking about? Utterly confounded, she couldnt help but specte about the crown princes intentions. Was he plotting something? Or perhaps he was merely a facade of sanity concealing madness beneath. She could no longer contain her exasperation. Swoosh! Adeline shoved her chair aside abruptly and rose from her seat. She no longer wished to tolerate the crown princes peculiar behavior. Her determination solidified: she would exit the examination room without dy, repel any attempts he made to obstruct her, sever all ties with him, and pay him no mind even if they chanced upon each other in the future. Embracing this resolution, she pivoted to leave. But then, in that very moment, .Pooooobobobobobobobobobo! Out of nowhere, Poboki erupted with a hearty cry, and a transformation unfolded across its fiery wings, elegantly stretched in a picture-perfect 16:9 ratio. The mes danced brilliantly, hues shifting in a fric disy. Soon, they started to depict something. A prolonged, pouch-like structure took form. The pouch appeared to undte rhythmically, housing a collection of brown beads within. The beads exhibited irregr, unattractive shapes. Whats going on? Adeline found herself in a state of bewilderment. The crown prince had promised evidence of her ailment. Yet now, what was this peculiar image being presented to her? Princess, this represents your galldder, visualized through a CT scan. What? Adeline hesitated. Raciels enigmatic smile persisted. At this instant, he recollected the meticulous preparations he had undertaken a few days prior in anticipation of todays CT scan. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 94 Chapter 94 A couple of evenings ago, Raciel found himself deeply engrossed in thought, troubled by concerns surrounding Princess Adeline. Phew Scribble, scribble! He was quickly jotting down the ideas that came to his mind onto a piece of paper. Writing, and writing some more. Organizing his thoughts, pondering over them, and then crumpling up the paper to start anew. Time slipped away as he grappled with his contemtions. The hours grewter, and his worries grew more profound. Past midnight, a sense of fatigue began to set in. He could hear his internal organs grumbling. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs express dissatisfaction with your irregr sleep pattern.] [Heart: Hey, arent you going to get some sleep?] [Lungs: HooPhew] [Large Intestine: Sleep quality has been in shamblestely. Im utterly worn out.] [Lungs: I just want to go home!] [Stomach: If youre going to keep this up, you might as well give up on life, hahaha.] It was a chorus of grievances. Initially, he attempted to disregard them, assuming that they would eventually quiet down by themselves. Nevertheless, the noise originating from his bodily organs only intensified. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs are contemting going on strike.] [Heart: Emergency! Fluctuations in heart rate! Mayday! Mayday! Output is decreasing! Deep breathing required!] [Lungs: Inhale! Exhale! Inhale! Exhale!] [Large Intestine: Full rxation of the sphincter!] [Lungs: Release lung function!] [Stomach: Activate your villi!] What are you all up to? Finally, he reached a point where he could no longer endure it and inquired. The response was immediate. [Your internal organs strongly disapprove of your actions.] [Heart: Were doing this so that you will finally take a break.] [Lungs: Hehehe Paha] [Large Intestine: Seriously, were all so fatigued.] [Liver: If youre going to exploit us like this without rest, at leastpensate us with overtime pay.] [Stomach: Midnight snack! Absolutely a midnight snack!] They appeared to harbor a plethora of grievances. And, to be honest, he couldnt fault them. Tch, that makes sense. Ive been having trouble sleepingtely because of the Emperor. Looking after the Emperor, who had suffered a stroke, had been demanding. He had to be with him almost constantly, as he couldnt predict when an emergency might arise. His sleep had been fragmented, and he was running on very little rest. However, tonight, he was staying awake well past midnight, consumed by his thoughts, so it was entirely justifiable for his internal organs to protest. Raciel could only manage a wry smile. So all of you are upset, huh? But what am I supposed to do? I cant unwind and sleep until I resolve this. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs tilt their heads in confusion.] [Heart: Somethings troubling you?] Correct. As if the heart was taking the lead for his internal organs, it responded. Today, a messenger arrived from the Anbouaz Kingdom. It was a reply to the letter I had sent to their king. [Heart: What was the content of the reply?] They consented to dispatch the princess, as I had requested. She should arrive here in approximately three days. Thats why Im concerned. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs brighten up.] [Heart: Are you nning to confess?] [Lungs: Inhale! Exhale!] [Large Intestine: Our villi are feeling quite mighty!] [Liver: Time for a grand public proposal!] [Stomach: Dere your affection for the princess from the rooftop during the first meeting!] [Your internal organs wholeheartedly support your endeavor to escape singlehood and contribute 1,000 HP.] [Current HP: 2,500] No, no, its not a confession. Raciel promptly rectified the misunderstanding. In reality, the princess is unwell. In the event of her demise, a substantial conflict would ensue. I wish to provide her with treatment to avert a war, but Im grappling with how to make herprehend her ailment. Only then would she coborate with the treatment. [Your internal organs are disheartened.] [Your internal organs are requesting a refund of the HP they recently contributed.] No refund. Raciel audibly exhaled through his nose. He was resolute about setting things right and voiced his demand to his internal organs. Nevertheless, this is my concern. If you desire sleep, kindly assist me. Do you possess any sound ideas? [Your internal organs re at you with frigid, fish-like eyes.] Come now. Should I decipher this, slumber wille to me, and you can likewise rest. He addressed them, beseeching for their cooperation. He sought to brainstorm collectively and garner some guidance. The response took a while to arrive. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs have concluded their discussion.] [The heart apprises you of the meetings oue.] [Heart: Could you not merely restrain her andpel her to receive treatment?] [Heart: You did mention she requires treatment, correct? Why not enforce her recovery?] Thats not the way to go about it. [Heart: Why not?] If we handle it like that, thatdy would probably be infuriated to the point of inciting a war. I dont believe I can manage that. [Heart: .] The heart felt like it had been struck with a stick dipped in honey. Raciel inquired, So, do you possess any ingenious and rational treatment ideas, apart from the peculiar notion of restraining and treating her? [Heart: In any case, the princess needs to coborate with the treatment, correct?] Thats correct. [Heart: In that case, I have amendable idea.] What is it? Could this potentially be a suitable approach? Raciel was filled with anticipation. The heart responded, [Heart: Lets employ water.] What? [Heart: Water serves as a universal remedy. If you wish to shed weight, consume water. If your skin isckluster, consume water. If blood stains your garments, immerse them in cold water.] How does that rte to the princess? [Heart: If we immerse the princess in water, perhaps shed be more amenable to cooperating with the treatment. [Lungs: Heh Puff! Ssh! Hoo! Huff!] [Large intestine: This is factual. Ive heard that even individuals with anger management issues achieve mastery over anger control by dousing their nostrils with water.] [Liver: 99.9% of Seoul National University students also consume water daily.] [Stomach: Kiya. Water discerns the correct solution.] [Large intestine: However, you know what? When you submerge a reserved individual in water, they actually be louder.] [Stomach: Thats because you didnt soak them for a sufficient duration!] Seriously? Raciel experienced a profound and intense irritation bubbling up from within, akin to water springing forth from a deep mountain. He directed a fierce re at his organs while emitting a growl. Listen, Im genuinely serious right now, alright? [Heart: Were equally serious.] So your serious response is water torture? [Heart: If you find it disagreeable, why not work on enhancing your Palpation skill instead?] What? Raciel halted, caught off guard by the unexpected suggestion. Enhance his Palpation skill? The heart persisted, [Heart: You mentioned wanting the princess to believe in her symptoms, correct? Wouldnt it be more effective to skip the cumbersome exnations and demonstrate directly?] The proposition intrigued him. Raciel inquired, So youre suggesting that if I enhance my Palpation skill, I can demonstrate it to her? [Heart: Give it a try and find out lol] Raciel closed his mouth, contemting the words left by the heart. He could sense it. There was substance to this. It doesnte across as a flippantment. Suddenly, he recalled the time he summoned the second Phantom Beast, Poboki. During that period, he had been wrestling with concerns linked to treatment. At that juncture, his organs had given himparable advice. Summon a Phantom Beast, they had advised, asserting they had spotted one with the desired abilities in the waiting room. He followed their counsel, summoned Poboki, and his predicaments were neatly resolved. In some manner, it felt reminiscent of this situation. Should I give it a shot? By upgrading his Palpation skill, there might be the possibility of acquiring new functionalities. Even if not, it appeared there would be no downside. After all, he intended to frequently employ the Palpation skill, so improving it now could be advantageous in the long haul. Yes, theres nothing to lose. Lets proceed. Raciel reached a decision and essed the skill information window. Ding dong! [Skill Name: Palpation Lv. 6] [Assess the health of a target by sensing their pulse. The oues are clearly visible through the . Additionally, your awakened organs can confer with the corresponding organs of the patient, enabling a more detailed diagnosis of the patients condition.] [Skill Exclusive Option : Meridian Scanning] [HP required for next level-up: 300] [Current HP: 2,500] Due to his dedicated treatment at Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic, his Palpation skill level had considerably advanced. He possessed ample HP as well. He nced downward. The button was present. Ding dong! [Would you like to invest 300 HP to level up your Palpation skill?] [YES / NO] Obviously, yes. The moment he nodded, a notification chimed. Ding dong! [Your skill level has risen.] [Skill Name: Palpation Lv. 7] His level had progressed. However, no supplementary message followed. There was no mention of newly generated options. The sole alteration that had urred [HP required for next level-up: 350] was that solitary line. Sigh. As anticipated, ascending one level wouldnt prove sufficient. Raciel took a deep breath. Lets push as far as we can. Thump! Thump thump! He repeatedly selected the skill level-up button. The amassed HP was swiftly consumed. In return, his Palpation skill level ascended. From level 7 to level 8, from level 8 to level 9, and onward past level 10. Upon reaching a juncture where he had expended a total of 2,000 HP, his Palpation skill attained level 11. A distinct message materialized. Ding dong! A sound that disrupted his contemtion. The notification sound was so resonant that it snapped Raciel back to reality. He lifted his head. And there, he could perceive. What is this? Princess Adeline appeared bewildered. Her eyes disyed visible tremors. Her gaze was fixed upon a hovering image. This image was being projected, showcasingrge wings resembling mes that extended gracefully in a cinematic 16:9 aspect ratio. The image depicted the oues of a test. Mere moments ago, he had employed the Palpation skill to scan the princesss galldder, briefly touching her shoulder. The image presented the results akin to a CT scan. Flickering mes danced. On the screen, an unusual pouch was depicted. Within this pouch, numerous brown beads were visible. It called to mind the message he had received a few days prior when he had elevated his Palpation skill to an intermediate level. [Your Palpation skill has achieved level 11.] [The grade of your Palpation skill has progressed.] [Beginner Lv.10 -> Intermediate Lv.1] [Through extensive experiences and point investment, your proficiency in the Palpation skill has grown. Now, you can not only peer within a patient through your Palpation skill but also present the findings to the patient.] [New skill options have unlocked as the skill grade advances.] [Skill Exclusive Option 2: CT Output You can exhibit the results of a Palpation scan on an external screen for the patients perusal. However, the external screen requires a consistent light source.] was the content of the message. Thanks to this, he could now disy the state of the princesss galldder without any maniption, in its unaltered form. Is this an image of my galldder? Yes. The princess inquired, and Raciel nodded. If youre skeptical, press down on the right side of your waist. The princess still harbored suspicions that this might be a trick. Her countenance reflected uncertainty momentarily, but she eventually raised her hand. Press! The instant she applied pressure to the right acupoint, a transformation urred in the galldder image projected on Pobokis screen. Squelch! The galldder on one sidepressed. Surprise widened the princesss eyes. She withdrew her hand in rm, causing thepressed galldder in the image to revert to its original shape. Squelch! A trace of doubt receded from her visage. She repeated the action, pressing the acupoint and then releasing it. Every time, as expected, the galldder in the video contracted and then resumed its initial form. The princess fell silent. Observing her, Raciel had an inkling. Its working. Shes beginning to believe. Indeed, seeing is embracing belief. A demonstration outweighs a hundred exnations, and this axiom held true in this instance. The princess continued to press the acupoint, her expression alternating between amazement and astonishment. Raciel couldnt let this opportunity slip by. Now was the moment. He moistened his lips and rapidly delivered his prepared lines. Iprehend your astonishment. Witnessing real-time observation of ones internal organs can be startling for anyone. However, this is reality. This is the prowess of the Phantom Beast. Thanks to it, I can scrutinize your galldder and its contents, even verifying the presence of gallstones. Is this truly? Yes, the gallstones I mentioned earlier. Those formations will eventually obstruct your bile duct. So youre suggesting Im headed for death? Yes. By now, youre likely questioning why I am so determined to heal you. Correct? Yes. Adeline nodded. She was genuinely intrigued. Im baffled. Even if I am unwell, what impels the crown prince to go out of his way to provide treatment for me? Raciels response surpassed her expectations. For peace, he stated. Peace? Yes. Raciel affirmed. I aim for you to be the strong and healthy ruler of Anbouaz. I believe that this will lead to peace for both of our royal families. Thats why Ive brought you here. I intend to convince you. He spoke with heartfelt sincerity, delivering his words directly. Will you ce your trust in me and coborate on this treatment, just this once? Adeline regarded the crown prince. The crown princes gaze met hers, conveying seriousness and sincerity. His eyes seemed to plead, as if the matter was truly crucial, as if it was a path advantageous to all. This might be why she inquired: So, if I agree to cooperate with the treatment, whats your n for my treatment? She asked, her focus unwavering on the crown prince, who responded with a grave expression. Its uplicated. Yes. Youre a highly skilled martial artist, right? Yes? So youre capable of channeling mana through your fists, correct? Ah, yes. To some extent. Perfect. Yes? Adeline tilted her head in confusion. Perfect? What was he referring to? As she contemted this perplexing response, Raciels smile broadened, akin to someone who had found the solution to all the worlds troubles. You only need to target the acupoint with a self-directed mana st from your fists. What? Adelines pupils dted, akin to being struck by a level 10 jolt. However, Raciel paid it no heed and continued to smile even more widely. Concurrently, he thought to himself: With the energy wave the princess emits and my Asrahan technique, I can make it work. He had the capability to make it a reality. He possessed confidence. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy. This is the optimal method to break internal stones. Raciels smile was an exhibition of his self-assuredness. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month5 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$20/month10 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month20 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 95 Chapter 95 If you strike yourself in the vital point with your power, youll be healed. What? Princess Adelines gaze faltered. She struggled to grasp the meaning behind the words. What is the intent behind this individuals words? Aiming at oneself? Targeting a vital area? Is she meant to carry out this action on her own, and would it truly alleviate the difort from gallstones? Her countenance became more resolute. She had a fleeting desire to believe it, but it appeared to be a cruel jest. This individual seemed intent on deceiving her until the very end. The trust she had been building towards Raciel rapidly crumbled. In fact, it was in the process of crumbling when Raciel intervened. I will utilize extracorporeal shock wave therapy to address your gallstones, Raciel stated. Extracorporeal shock waves? I will ovey my Asrahan Core technique onto the mana that you emit with your power. I will direct the trajectory of the mana shockwave. This should make it feasible. What was he discussing? The princess was perplexed. Raciel continued with his exnation. As you are likely aware, the Asrahan Core technique possesses a specialized ability to absorb or direct mana. Consequently, if you release a small amount of mana towards your critical point, I will guide it. Guide it? To where? To the gallstones in your galldder. A meaningful smile graced the corners of Raciels mouth. He simply needed to guide the mana to precisely strike the gallstones. After a few strikes, the gallstones would fragment. Such was the foundation of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT). Extracorporeal shock waves. A term familiar to those who have endured shoulder pain or kidney stones. The history of ESWT wasnt extensive. It emerged around the era of World War II. On the battlefield, it was revealed that a soldier who hadnt sustained direct physical harm from an explosion could still sumb to the shockwave. People began contemting ways to apply this principle in diverse fields, including medicine. As a result, scientists made numerous attempts, and eventually, a scientist backed by the German Department of Defense achieved sess in human trials. In 1984, it gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The technology underwent refinement and enhancement. Hence, ESWT came into existence. It was a therapy that projected artificially generated shock waves from outside the body onto specific internal areas, facilitating the breakdown of stones or aiding tissue recovery. And its viable here as well. Ive practiced it with Demian. Prior to the princesss arrival in the Star Pce, Raciel had enlisted Demian for practice sessions. They had undergone multiple trials and errors. We conducted experiments using a sizable piece of pork. I had Demian unleash a mana shockwave at the meat, and I guided it with the Asrahan Core technique. I directed the mana to collide with a pea measuring 5mm attached to the rear of the meat. Initially, it presented challenges, but gradually, he mastered it. Ultimately, he managed to strike only the pea without causing any harm to the meat in front of it. Not even a faint bruise remained on the meat. It was an unblemished sess. The pivotal factor for sess is delicate control. Its imperative to maintain focus while guiding the mana to its destination. Simr to a Terran ghost guiding a nuclearunch in a video game, or to urately reporting a traffic vition through a citizens reporting app to precisely issue a fine. Raciel possessed confidence in his ability to guide the mana urately. He was certain he could eliminate the gallstones. And with that self-assurance and conviction, he asserted, You can aplish it. You can eliminate the gallstones. You can regain your health. Adeline felt perplexed. She was already in good health. She jogged 15 kilometers every morning. She could currently lift 300 kilograms effortlessly. If she were tossed into any den of bandits, she could easily subdue them on her own. Yet, Raciels audacious persuasion persisted. Its too soon to give up. Its too early to relinquish hope. There are still numerous wonderful things in the world. Please. Please, what? Consider trying the extracorporeal shock wave therapy. So, youre asking me to strike my crucial point by myself, as you mentioned? Yes. The prince nodded with confidence andposure, as if it were an evident course of action. However, Adeline wasnt easily swayed. She opted to transform this situation into an opportunity instead. If I consent to your extracorporeal Shock wave therapy. Yes. If I agree to the extracorporeal shock wave therapy, youll need to fulfill one of my requests as well. A negotiation? Yes. What is your request? If the supposed gallstones are cured, allow me to return to my homnd. Even if the six-month period hasnt transpired. epted. Raciel promptly nodded. Adelines brow furrowed slightly. Why are you agreeing so readily? Because once your gallstones are cured, theres no reason to detain you any longer. So, you agree to the treatment? Yes. She felt as though she had been lured into something. Adelines brow furrowed even more. So, what am I supposed to do now? Begin by turning around. Like this? Adelineplied with his instructions and turned around. The crown prince approached her from behind and rested his palm on her back. Startle! Do not move unless instructed. Hold your breath momentarily. I need to ascertain the size and location of the gallstones. Alright, you can resume breathing. Now, form a fist with your right hand. Like this? Yes, position your fist close to your sr plexus on the right side. here? A little lower. Just a tad. Slightly to the left. Yes, thats right. Whats the purpose of this? Adeline sighed as she positioned her fist to the right of her sr plexus. It seemed somewhat wasteful toply with this peculiar request. She could be engrossed in reading or training instead. A profound frustration, one that seemed to prate the depths of her soul, began to emerge. And then, it happened. Now, I will guide you through the self-acupressure technique I mentioned earlier. However, theres something you must remember. Raciel continued. You need to focus the mana you release from your hand into an extremely fine point. Think of it like a needle sturdy and sharp. Imagine directing all your attention to a single point. Can you manage it? Yes, undoubtedly. It posed no difficulty for her. She concentrated her thoughts. The core of her mana awoke within her chest. Kuuuu! The mana technique of the Anbouaz dynasty roared. The weighty and unwavering mana surged through her veins. Slowly but surely. It gained momentum. In leaps and bounds. Faster and faster. Charging ahead. Kuggeuk! Adelines fist clenched firmly. Her hand brimmed with mana. Then Raciel signaled her. If youre prepared, release. No need for verbal confirmation. Tookun! Being her first attempt, she exercised restraint. Given her lingering mistrust towards the crown prince, she controlled the force of the emission. She dispatched her mana towards her sr plexus and involuntarily squeezed her eyes shut. Hup! Regting her breath, she inhaled deeply and exhaled from her abdomen. She engaged all the muscles in her core, bracing for the formidable impact about to strike her sr plexus. I understand my own strength better than anyone else! Although she restrained herself, this was no trifling strike. A proper hit could knock the wind out of someone. An unfortunate strike might even fracture a rib. She steeled herself for it. Its reminiscent of endurance training. She steeled herself to endure. Determined, she gritted her teeth. But to her surprise, nothing urred. What was that? It felt like punching a sponge, or perhaps more akin to swinging at empty air. Whats happening? She sensed nothing in her abdomen. Undoubtedly, she had released mana from her hand, aiming directly at her sr plexus. But there was no pang. No hammer-like impact. No sensation of her internals being jolted and overturned. It seemed as though the mana she had unleashed had been absorbed somewhere, vanishing without a trace. How peculiar. Just as she pondered this, Great job. You aimed well. Can you see the disy in front of you? Lifting her gaze at the princes voice, she beheld a hovering holographic screen. It bore a resemnce to the medical screen she had observed earlier, depicting a detailed view of her galldder and the multitude of gallstones within. One stone had been magnified, revealing a minuscule crack on its surface that hadnt existed before. The crack youre observing on the gallstone is a result of the mana you just unleashed, the prince elucidated. Could it be true? Repeat the process, just as before. Emit your energy. Adeline unwittingly adhered to the princes directive. Her fist harbored greater potency than before. She channeled a substantiallyrger amount of mana than previously and set it free. Thump-! What would transpire this time? Curiosity brimmed within her. Hope blossomed. Yet once more, she perceived nothing within her abdomen. Instead, the stone on the disy of the Pobokis me fin quivered profoundly, as if it had encountered a robust impact. Crack! The crack had slightly erged. Now it was confirmed. It appeared the princes statements held validity. Good. Youre making excellent progress. Lets persist. If that was the case, she weed it wholeheartedly. Adeline offered a faint smile. It was from then on. She tightly gripped her fist. She bore a more substantial amount of mana than previously. She directed it repeatedly towards her crucial points. Despite her efforts, she encountered no impact and observed the steadily widening crack in the stone on the disy, marveling at this remarkable urrence. She unleashed it, then unleashed it once more. Thud! Thump! How many times had she targeted her crucial points? How many times had she suppressed her astonishment? She hadnt kept an exact tally, but it seemed like she had done so more than twenty times. In that instance, the stone on the screen finally fragmented. Crash! Phew! She had seeded. Adeline experienced an indescribable refreshing sensation. The tion of shattering that repulsive mass that had formed within her abdomen. The unexpected opportunity to witness it happening in real time lifted her spirits. A profound sense of aplishment washed over her. The princesmendation, voiced from behind her, further buoyed her emotions. Alright, thats sufficient. As you can observe, the stone has beenpletely broken. You did exceptionally well for your first attempt. Is that so? Yes. The fragments of the shattered stone will naturally be expelled through your bile duct, so theres no need for concern. Well conclude todays session here. What? Already? Its concluded? Adeline experienced an odd tinge of regret. Since she had alreadymenced, she pondered whether she could shatter just one more stone. Lets do more. Lets break all of them today. She wished to convey this to the prince. She turned around, and only then did she notice. What? The princes countenance was as pallid as a sheet of white paper. Cold sweat trickled down his visage, resembling someone teetering on the edge of copse. Why? What transpired? Initially, she was taken aback. Then, she experienced a sudden recollection. The surge of mana she had aimed at her vital points, coupled with herck of sensation despite doing so. She had assumed that the shockwave had vanished entirely. Yet had it truly vanished? She hesitated. It hadnt vanished. It couldnt have. It defied possibility. Even a regr impact, akin to striking a desk with the palm of ones hand, inherently disperses to the surroundings. But if she hadnt felt any impact in her abdomen? Had the shockwave generated by striking the stone simply dissipated without cause? If it hadnt dissipated, then where had it gone? Could it be that you A weighty realization struck her in an instant. Her eyes quivered with astonishment. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 96 Chapter 96 She made an error. She misinterpreted. No, she should have had a better understanding. She should have realized it from the beginning. She failed to acknowledge the evident. You surely not Princess Adeline couldnt finish her sentence. With trembling eyes, she gazed at Raciel. Raciel was pale. Beneath his sweat-soaked face, even his lips were turning blue. Why? How? The moment sheid eyes on him, sheprehended. Because of me. Instead of her, he bore the brunt of the shockwave. The impact produced by the mana that surged towards the vital point. The jolt of striking and fracturing the gallstone multiple times. Raciel, the crown prince, had taken and endured all the repercussions. The shockwave didnt simply dissipate. In reality, that was anticipated. Even simply mming a desk with your palm spreads the shock around. But how could the aftermath of a powerful mana, unleashed from within, just disappear without reason? Its impossible, such a thing. Any generated shock must be transmitted somewhere. Therefore, the prince endured all of it, exerting all his strength to withstand it, hence his current condition. Crown Prince, are you okay? Adelines voice quivered involuntarily. Raciel couldnt easily respond. He barely managed a faint smile. This is more intense than I thought Breathing was difficult. His head was buzzing. His skin was cold, and his heart raced. He felt so dizzy that he thought he might vomit. This waspletely different from training with Demian. The princesss mana I didnt realize it was this powerful. Using Asrahan Core technique, he drew in the princesss mana. He precisely guided it to strike the gallstone. It was sessful. However, the shockwave inevitably created by the collision of mana and gallstone was the problem. It couldnt be ignored. If the shockwave spread, the galldder and surrounding organs would be directly impacted. The liver, pancreas, duodenum, peritoneum. It would be problematic if other innocent organs were hit. It was essential to block it. Thats why. Using Asrahan Core technique, he drew in the shockwave. Absorbed it. Guided it into his mana circle. Endured and neutralized it. He tried. But it wasnt easy. Cough, choke! Each time he absorbed. Each time he endured. It felt like being hit in the chest with a mallet. The intense aftermath of the mana spread through his veins from his chest. Striking him. Hurting all over. Almost making him faint. Crown Prince? Are you okay? The panicked voice of the princess reached him. He raised his head and looked at her. Thankfully, she looked fine. That was a relief. Lucky He weakly smiled. The princess looked even more anxious. Why? What happened? Had she finally realized what he did for her? Holding onto him as he weakened, she asked. There was only one answer he could think of. Because youre my patient. What? Once you decided to receive treatment youre my patient. Its as simple as that. Between the patient and him. If one of them has to be hurt, it should be him. Patientse to him to alleviate their pain. Its only right. Thats why, right from the start, Raciel made the decision to do this. To endure with all his strength. To withstand and reassure himself. To persevere. Whenever he felt like copsing, he would prod and push himself. Thats how he clung on. And he seeded. He sessfullypleted the initial gallstone treatment. He felt a sense of pride. So now, I need to Rest, he cant endure any longer. The dizziness was overwhelming, and he just wanted to close his eyes. All his strength was draining away. He felt sleepiness creeping over him now more than ever. Crown Prince? His legs gave way. The sensation of gravity pulling his entire body downward. The feeling of being crushed under heavy eyelids. His consciousness blurred. The princesss voice and the astonished cries of others. All those sensations rapidly faded. Darkness engulfed his vision. Would he find peace here? He couldnt be sure. But one thing was certain: He could take a brief respite. Thats sufficient. He felt content. Raciel retracted his previous thought. This isnt satisfying. He had barely lost consciousness, and to confront such a vivid dream was far from satisfying. No, it was rather unsettling. He squinted and surveyed his surroundings. A familiar scene from his memories. The entrance to an old 24-pyeong (approximately 79.34 square meters) apartment. Beyond that, a recognizable living room and kitchen. At first nce, he knew where he was. The house he had lived in from high school to his twenties. Initially with his parents. Later, on his own. This was the home he had left behind. And this moment was one of the most emotionally disheartening days he had spent there. The day he was discharged from the military, he returned home to find no one there to wee him. His mother had already passed away. Why was he experiencing this moment in a dream? sigh. He let out an involuntary sigh. Even in a dream, everything felt too real. His reflection in the entrance mirror, adorned in a military uniform from his twenties, appeared remarkably lifelike. Why am I dreaming about this? He stepped inside. The living room he hadnt seen in a while. A couch covered in ayer of white dust due to neglect. Lost in the scene, he recollected the determination he had forged on that particr day. Yes, I He found it unfair. He lost his father to a stroke. His mother had to be sent away due to cancer. The sudden reality of being alone was unbearable. He felt anger. Why did this have to happen to him? Why was he left all by himself? He wanted to ce me on someone. Did he sit here and cry for an extended period? Ultimately, did he secretly resolve to aid people in simr situations? To save lives? That was when he first vaguely entertained such a notion. Although he wandered for a while due to financial constraints, he eventually mustered the courage to uphold that determination. So he pursued medical school. Became a doctor. But did that determination fade rapidly? He pondered whether he had be overly ambitious. Was it a pure desire to save lives? To assist those like him? He quickly forgot. Navigating the world on his own, surviving, somewhere along the way, he forgot. Hepromised with reality. He became entangled in the pursuit of money, like everyone else. Thats just how life was. He took it for granted and progressed this far. He didnt even know if he had been living as a materialist all this time. I dont want to die. He established a hospital to prolong his lifespan. Gathering people. Thinking of aiding others? It was more like he primarily wished to survive. Grasping onto just that, he lived in the present. But thats not necessarily a bad thing, right? He attempted to rationalize it and smiled. He nced around the old living room. At this moment, he desired one thing. To conclude this dream and experience something different. Because it hurt. Right now, he yearned to feel better. Thankfully, hes okay now. In the serene bedroom, Gardins voice resonated. Princess Adeline released the deep breath she had been holding. Is that true? Is the crown prince really alright? Yes, Princess Anbouaz. Gardin carefully stored his stethoscope and observed the still unconscious Crown Prince Raciel. His breathing and heartbeat are both normal. Theres no fever either. Then why hasnt he awakened? He likely pushed himself too hard in a short amount of time. His body seems to have naturally required rest, leading him into a deep sleep. If thats the case Its best to allow him to rest deeply. There shouldnt be any issues. Gardin offered a faint smile. He was more surprised than anyone else. Was he tending to patients at the Star Pce? He recalled the heaviness he felt upon hearing the news of the Crown Princes copse. He wasnt naturally robust. In fact, he was born with a rather delicate constitution. Is that so? I must have caused significant harm. No, Princess of Anbouaz. The Crown Prince had warned me beforehand. A warning? From him to you? Yes, Princess. Gardin recollected the events of the previous day and spoke calmly. Tending to you might be quite taxing for the Crown Prince. He might even faint due to the strain. Therefore, he asked me not to be overly surprised. Yet, it seems you were surprised. Why wouldnt I be? Gardin sat down and faintly smiled at Adeline. The Crown Prince does this often. Often? Does what? Yes, Princess. He consistently ces the patient before himself. Just like today. As earlier. Is that so? Suddenly, Adeline remembered the powerful surge of mana directed at her vital point and the peculiarck of sensation upon impact. It was all thanks to the Crown Princes sacrifice. Once you decide to undergo treatment you be my patient. The Crown Princes words echoed in her mind. Gardin continued. Thats why Im always concerned. I am the sole physician to the Crown Prince. Its my duty to care for him. Every time I witness him exerting himself so much to care for others, I sigh. Adeline saw it. Tears glistened in Gardins eyes. His heart must ache, yet he couldnt easily dissuade his lord. Perhaps it was because the Crown Princes sincerity was so palpable. Perhaps, thats his nature. The Crown Prince appeared to be someone who selflessly tended to others. A person who willingly made sacrifices for his patients. That seemed to be his character. Thats why he selflessly cared for numerous patients. Thats why he summoned her, revealed her unknown illness, and offered a cure. All his actions were genuine. Otherwise, he wouldnt have made such a sacrifice today. She finally grasped it and felt a sense of shame. Ashamed that she hadnt ced her trust in such an honorable person. Ashamed of her narrow-minded self that had doubted and resented him. Adeline tenderly reached out and touched the hand of the slumbering Raciel. Her perspective on Raciel had transformedpletely. Perhaps that was the reason. Ding-dong! [Your devoted actions toward the patient have touched someones heart.] [In truth, your dedication was a self-serving act. However, the sincere emotions that reached the patient, emotions you werent even aware of, were genuine. This dedication and sincerity will lead to numerous positive changes in the future.] [Patient Adeline: The highest level of medical trust has been established between you two. Now, Patient Adeline will haveplete faith in and follow your treatment. She will not question any of your medical decisions.] [You have sessfully won over the heart of a skeptical patient.] [The Five Viscera and Six Bowels offer their wholehearted support.] [The Five Viscera and Six Bowels have provided a sponsorship of 1,500 HP.] [Your current HP: 2,500] In the consciousness of the slumbering Raciel, before his self-ming eyelids, a warm message was silently etched amidst the stillness. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 97 Chapter 97 The sun began to rise. Raciel regained consciousness shortly after sunrise. Thankfully, he felt quite full of energy. Is the crown prince feeling improved now? Ive been perfectly fine from the beginning. Of course you have. Rattle, rattle. A yful smile formed on Princess Adelines lips. The wider she smiled, the more assertively Raciel prodded at his sd with his fork. However, Adeline paid no mind. Her eyes glistened as she gazed at Raciel from across the lengthy dining table. Do you remember what you said just before you passed out yesterday? It was incredibly embarrassing. No, I dont recall. Of course youd say that. You were staring right into my eyes when you said it. What was it again? Thats all for todays session. If I agreed to undergo treatment Enough. You are my Thats all. patient. Oh,e on. Raciels expression turned sour. Did youe this early just for this? No, absolutely not. Of course you did. Youre teasing me while looking right at me. Whats this called? A well-intentioned visit? Yeah, right. Crunch. Raciel grumbled as he bit into a carrot. Anyway, Im fine. Yesterdays incident was an unavoidable part of the treatment process. So, you dont need to worry about it affecting my ability to treat. That was the truth. The extracorporeal shock wave treatment for Princesss gallstones required him to absorb the shock. He had anticipated that, having practiced with Demian. However, the power of the mana Adeline emitted with her authority was stronger than he had anticipated. Indeed, it had the power befitting a mid-level expert martial artist. The mana emitted by Demian, who primarily used a sword, was different when produced with bare hands. The moment Raciel redirected and absorbed that mana, he felt as if his stomach turned upside down. It felt like the figurine in the hand of a three-year-old on a holiday being deconstructed and then gently and satisfyingly reassembled. The esophagus, the villi of the small intestine, and the pyloric sphincter seemed to join hands in this process. But he had chosen this treatment method. He endured with sheer grit. Then he fainted. Up until then, it was okay. The problem was that he had shown an unimpressive image in front of the patient. This was Raciels main concern. In any case, the treatment will continue without issues. This morning, I have to see other patients, so you cane back at noon. Ill keep the entire afternoon free for your gallstone treatment. Also, for the procedures stability, please fast for at least three hours. Raciel earnestly requested, hoping to shift Princess Adelins focus. Firstly, the princess should not doubt the treatment. She shouldnt question Raciels skills either. She needs to trust himpletely so the treatment can proceed smoothly. So, I must not faint today. Absolutely. He resolved internally. At that moment, Hehe. Princess Adeline chuckled mysteriously. It seems the crown prince is worried I might doubt the effectiveness of the treatment? Was he caught? As Raciel was about to frown, Adeline unexpectedly said, Its okay. In fact, Im grateful. Excuse me? I saw yesterday. How much effort you put into treating me. How much you endured on your own. And how you didnt show any of it. Thats why I trust the treatment you provide. Since that moment yesterday, I have chosen to believe in the presence of the gallstones and that I need to eliminate them to survive. Really? Yes, wholeheartedly. Adeline nodded. It was her genuine sentiment. At first, I questioned your intentions, whether you were attempting to deceive me. From my perspective, it was only natural to feel that way. But now things have changed. I believe in your noble intentions, providing free treatment to countless people in Imperial Capital and your altruistic offer of assistance to the royalty of a potential rival nation. Um, so, why did the Princess visit me so early in the morning? I wanted to express this to you. Thank you. Ahem! Raciel concealed his flushed face with a feigned cough. Receiving such straightforward praise caught him off guard, leaving him both ttered and embarrassed. I thought she barged in during breakfast to voice aint or something. He wondered if she hade to protest. Or perhaps to voice doubts about the uing treatment. So, he made an effort to exin and appeal. But it seems that wasnt necessary. Somehow, he seemed to have received a somewhat favorable(?) misunderstanding. A noble heart and altruistic intent Me? Absolutely not. The reality is the opposite. Treating the people of Imperial Capital? Its just a desperate effort to gather extra lifespan to survive. Bringing the Princess here for treatment? Its to prevent the impending major war and the resulting devastation. In other words, all these treatments are nothing but a personal and selfish investment for him. However, it appears that the Princess views these actions differently. Well, if she sees it that way, theres no need to correct the misunderstanding. Because that would be advantageous. Raciel shrugged. Once he reached a conclusion, his face hardened like a paving block that gets reced every year-end. Sigh. I thought youd perceive it that way, and I was going to pretend not to know. Its embarrassing. I dont think thats it. Ahem! Anyway! Yesterdays incident was a part I naturally had to endure for the treatment. I was prepared. Honestly, I was scared and worried, but the determination to assist the patient was stronger, which made it possible. Well, something along those lines. You seem oddly pleased. Ahem! In any case, it was evident that the Princess had cedplete trust in him. A significant gain. Raciel capitalized on the momentum. From that day forward, he embarked on thorough kidney stone breaking. Every afternoon, he conducted extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Ready? Go ahead. Adeline inquired. Raciel nodded. Immediately after. Thump-! The Princesss fistunched a self-shot towards her right vital point. Powerful mana surged forth. Simultaneously, Raciel acted. He employed Asrahan Core technique to harness the released mana. Guided it. Like the spirit of the Seupta Craft guiding a nuclear missile. Or akin to a great white shark in a pool of fresh blood. He lured it to a single point. And struck the kidney stone. Crack! ! Each time, Raciels face reddened. Yet now he didnt faint as before. His face didnt even turn pale. He had gradually grown ustomed to it. Uh! Oof! Gulp! Gack! Groan! He had developed a method to withstand it. Whenever a shock wave struck, he held his breath. He expanded his abdomen with diaphragmatic breathing, maximizing his intra-abdominal pressure. He employed the Valsalva maneuver utilized by weightlifters and fitness enthusiasts. Concurrently, he expanded his mana circle extensively. The experience itself had be specialized training for him. Ding dong! [You are absorbing potent external mana shocks through Asrahan Core technique.] [In this process, you learned not to passively endure the shock, but to absorb, neutralize, and integrate the shock as your own.] [This series of processes has enriched your expertise in Asrahan Core technique.] [Level of Asrahan Core technique has increased.] While resolutely enduring the shock waves, a congrattory message appeared. Raciel swiftly read the message. [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Level: Single Circle Lv.4] [Absorbs ambient mana. The absorbed mana is processed and amplified within a circle around the heart and operated. As the number of circles increases, the amplification rate significantly rises.] [Mana amplification rate: %] [HP needed for next level up: 1,800] [Current HP: 2,500] Oh! Could there be a better tonic? [With the advancement of the Asrahan Core technique, the circle slots you possess are also impacted.] [The storage capacity of the circle slot expands.] [Slot number 1 has been expanded.] [Max capacity of slot number 1: 12 liters -> 13 liters] As he endured the pain, his mind, on the brink of cking out, grew alert. This enabled him to concentrate even more. Days went by. Every afternoon, without fail, he shattered one gemstone, totaling 15. The Asrahan Core Technique climbed to a single circle level 6. The circle slots capacity impressively expanded to 15 liters. Perhaps it was thanks to this. Adapting to the shock delivered by external shockwaves became less challenging. Like strengthening core muscles, the circle grew more resilient. The circle slot also solidified. His abdominal muscles became slightly tougher. His patience increased. Thankfully, he no longer fainted as easily. Instead, I now only feel queasy but can endure it, like a true man. Ugh- Dont worry. Its just a little nausea Ugh- Why does the Princess keep looking like that Ugh- Could you do that vomiting thing elsewhere? But Uh, I need to check if the gemstone broke properly If you make that noise again, Ill strike you. Understood? The nausea. Yes. Hehehe. Raciel struggled to suppress the urge to vomit as he faced the princess, who towered over him by half a head. Perhaps due to herbat training since childhood, her physique was also impressive. Confronting such a fierce princess, one could only maintain politeness(?). Oh, if only I had my Korean physique! He might have had a slight belly, but he wasnt a stick either. Raciel swallowed his sense of indignation and chuckled. If you continue to threaten me, Ill have no other option. No other option? I might mercilessly wield the power of the Imperial family. How petty. Regardless, the fifteenth gemstone shattered nicely. The process is proceeding smoothly. With a few more days of treatment, we should be able to address all the remaining gemstones. Already? Yes. Raciel nodded. Its thanks to the princesss active cooperation. The shockwaves you emit are so intense and forceful. Does that mean the gemstones break effectively? Yes. Although at times, I feel like my life force is on the verge of breaking as well. Oh, oh. Youre making me feel guilty. Just be appreciative. Your words of gratitude seem to carry an undertone of seekingpensation. Theres no such thing as a free lunch, right? So, what kind ofpensation would satisfy the prince? Well, for example- For example? Not waging war against our Magentano. For a lifetime. He genuinely proposed this idea to Adeline. She hesitated, gazing at him intently with a curious expression. In response to her gaze, his shoulders instinctively tensed. Why? Why was she observing him so intently? Did he overstep with his recent statement? Adeline didnt answer directly, instead offering a more enigmatic response. Well, what you said caught me off guard. What was so unexpected about it? Furthermore, for someone like me its a first. What does she mean by that? He couldntprehend. All he knew was that after her cryptic remark, she gave a faint smile. Anyway, that concludes todays treatment. You put in a diligent effort today. See you tomorrow. Ah, yes Understanding human emotions. Comprehending a womans emotions. Its trulyplex to understand. He had straightforwardly expressed his desires. Why did she look at him with that gaze and wear that mysterious smile? Why did she steal nces at him twice as she left the treatment room? It was puzzling. So he responded with an awkward smile. Naturally, neither of them had any clue. Princess Adeline, who came for treatment every day, and him, who allocated his afternoon treatment time exclusively for her. People within the pce were gossiping about the two of them, and the rumors spread throughout the entire kingdom. Little did they realize that these rumors would eventually reach the ears of the emperor, who was undergoing stroke rehabilitation. Up until this point, they truly remained oblivious. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Is today finally the day? Emperor Asterion opened his eyes. For a month, he had been reclined, gazing at the ceiling of the VVIP ward. Today might mark the final instance he wouldy his eyes upon this ceiling. There would be no justification for his presence here again. It must be so. Your Majesty, we shallmence now. A weathered, aged voice reverberated. With significant effort, the emperor shifted his head, a motion that urred with great difficulty. His eyelids were partially raised. Through them, he beheld an elderly man attired in a pristine white robe. It was the archbishop. Several more figures stood alongside him: the chambein, the captain of the guard, and his eldest son, Raciel. Upon seeing Raciel, a recent rumor suddenly came to the emperors mind. Was it true? If so, how should he address it? The emperor briefly pondered, but his contemtion was short-lived. More pressing matters were at hand. Well, Ill entrust it to you. The emperor faintly nodded toward the archbishop. Today was the day the day when the archbishops divine blessings would be possible after a month of anticipation. It also marked the end of his tiresome time in bed and his month-long intensive rehabilitation. His heart raced. He was also worried. Meanwhile, the archbishop approached the bedside, extending his hand. He closed his eyes. Whoosh! A soft glow radiated from the archbishop. Through his touch, a warm sensation was felt; it tingled across his shoulder, coursed through his chest, spread throughout his body, reached his toes, traversed his spine to his nape, and then from his face to his mind. He felt invigorated. Every trace of illness, even thest bit of distress, waspletely cleansed. The cereber tissue, damaged from the stroke, was restored. The twisted nerve tissues were repaired. Muscles returned to their proper ces. Joints were realigned. Before he realized it, the emperor sat up. Your Majesty! The chambein and the captain of the guard eximed in astonishment. The drained archbishop stepped back. Meeting their gazes, the emperor looked at his hands. His previously contorted wrist was now normal. He felt all his sensations return. Emotions surged within him. The emperor raised his head. Crown Prince. Yes, Your Majesty. When do you n on setting the date? Pardon? Im inquiring about the date. I apologize, but Im not quiteprehending. Raciel slightly furrowed his brow, perplexed. What did the emperor mean by date? A sudden unease enveloped him. Date? Whats the significance of that? Why would the emperor bring up something irrelevant? Could there still be lingering effects from the stroke? But that couldnt be the case. He had been monitoring the emperors condition through meridian scanning and had verified theplete recovery of the emperors cerebellum and nerve tissues, thanks to the archbishops divine blessings. So, residual effects are out of the question. He underwent intensive rehab for an entire month. Then what could it be? Just as the mysterious unease began to overwhelm him, the emperors gaze sharply pierced him. It concerns the princess of Anbouaz. Yes? What do you mean by yes? I heard that while I was bedridden, you were quite crafty. Crafty? I wont inquire about how you charmed the ambassador of Anbouaz. Nor will I delve into how you dealt with their sly old king. Whatever methods you employed, they reflect your skills. However- The emperors gaze turned stern. Did you resort to such tricks and strategies just to flirt with ady? Of course, thats not entirely negative. However, one day, you will bear the burden of our dynasty. You are ountable for millions of citizens in our empire. So, are you suggesting you can enter into such a marriage without any discussion or consultation? Why dont you respond, Crown Prince? Um, about that Raciel forced an awkward smile. As he listened to the emperors reprimand, he realized the serious misunderstanding. Does he think I have some kind of rtionship with the princess? On reflection, it made sense. Initially, even the ambassador of Anbouaz had the same misconception. And recently, the princess had been visiting regrly for gallstone treatments. It wasnt unreasonable for people to misconstrue their interactions. However, he had no intention of correcting the misunderstanding. Because he didnt want to offer a weak excuse. If I were to tell the Emperor that leaving the princess alone would lead to her death from gallstones, and that her death would trigger a political chain reaction resulting in a major war, would he actually believe me? Thats a history known only to someone who read the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Its not something people readily believe when told. Thats why. Rather than a flimsy excuse, he opted for a cheeky response. In reality, I was deceived. What? He outright lied. The Emperor hesitated for a moment. Good. Its working. Empowered with a dose of courage(?), Raciel stepped on the gas. Your Majesty, youre correct. I misjudged. While you were bedridden, I acted on my misguided thoughts. Initially, it seemed sessful. As youre aware, I managed to bring the princess to the capital. But- But? Things didnt go ording to n after that. I was fooled. Really? Youre probably wondering precisely what urred. You were swindled? Yes. So, ultimately? Yes. Tsk, tsk, you fool! If you were going to stir up trouble, you shouldve achieved significant results. Why did you mess up so badly? If you were even halfway like me, it wouldnt have turned out so pathetically. Tsk! Its unjust. In reality, hed never fallen for a con. Raciel suppressed the feeling that he was a tiny speck in the vast universe. On the flip side, he was secretly relieved. He had managed to extricate himself from the mess of summoning the princess with just a bit of scolding. If I can get away with just a few harsh words, then its a win for me. Essentially, hed gained everything. Lately, the princesss gallstones were being sessfully treated. If this trend continued, they could avert a major war. Additionally, the Emperors stroke had been fully cured. That was sufficient. Unfortunately I couldnt identify the entity behind the attempt to assassinate the Emperor. There had to be some entity that had induced an abnormal blood clot in the Emperors body. Hed made extensive efforts to uncover it, even directing Demian and others to investigate. Yet, ultimately, no evidence was found. It was skillfully concealed. Well need to remain vignt for now. Hed informed the Emperor about the unidentified entity a while back. So, the Emperor would exercise caution on his own. And from his side? As he sought to slip away from the Emperors ceaseless nagging, his main objective was a smooth exit. Raciel, eager to conclude the conversation, subtly began to retreat, scanning for an escape route. However, the Emperor wasnt easily deceived. Where do you think youre going? My lecture isnt over yet. Yes, Your Majesty. Even though Ive been confined here, it doesnt mean Ive been oblivious. Why do you seem sockingpared to your brother? Excuse me? Your brother, the second prince. While Ive been here, he visited me nearly every day. But where have you been all this time? I was tending to patients during the day And in the afternoon, you were with the princess. But at night! Did you tend to me? Yes, Your Majesty. So, do you find this scolding unjust? Yes, Your Majesty. Even if its unfair, do you have a better solution? No, Your Majesty. Raciel let out a sigh to apany his growing frustration. Meanwhile, Chambein and the Captain of the Guards exchanged knowing smiles. Having served the Emperor throughout their lives, they were adept at discerning the Emperors true intentions. The Chambein and the Captain of the Guards subtly exchanged nces. Do you see, Captain Roberto? His Majestys left nostril is twitching ever so slightly. Yes, I observed it too. He must be quite pleased. It appears hes quite proud of the Crown Prince. Indeed, he must be. Naturally, Raciel also picked up on the Emperors demeanor. It left him feeling somewhat ufortable. Such yful banter. Such affectionate teasing. Did he truly merit such treatment? He had his doubts. The rationale was simple. After all, Im not your biological son. He wasnt the real Raciel. He was merely a foreign presence that had entered the body of Crown Prince Raciel for reasons unknown. He was an outsider in this world. Embracing such warmth without reservation would cross a boundary. He stared intently at the Emperor. Amid the Emperors constant scolding, there were hints of fondness in his stern expression. It made Raciel feel awkward and remorseful. The realization that he was deceiving the man who regarded him as a son struck him anew. However, he couldnt unveil the truth. Raciel took a step back, as if setting a boundary. I understand your concerns. But I must rise and depart. Where are you headed? There are other patients waiting. Deceiving the Emperor while being treated as a son even though he wasnt one. Engaging in such amiable moments would make him feel disgusted with himself. Hence, he stood up before being detained, bowed respectfully, and exited the sickroom. Phew. He took a deep breath. He hastened to his familiar treatment room. A familiar voice weed him. Youre finally here. A doctor who keeps his patients waiting. You do realize thats impolite, right? Princess Adeline immediately scolded him with a cheerful smile upon seeing him. Somehow, it seemed like being reprimanded was his theme for the day. I apologize. I was finishing up with another VIP patient. Another VIP? Yes, a highly important one. More important than me? Absolutely. My, arent you heartless? If I were any colder, Id be freezing. Did you perhaps consider yourself exceptionally noteworthy? Adeline red at him with intensity, and he responded with a wry smile. Regardless, lets begin. Youre aware, right? Only one gallstone remains. Yes. You mentioned the final one is thergest. You should be ready for it. Shouldnt the Crown Prince be the one preparing? Im always prepared, but But? I might grumble a bit if breaking thest gallstone bes painful or challenging. You dont really expect me to tolerate that, do you? Perhaps just a bit? Not a chance. Oh, how unsentimental. If I were any colder, Id be freezing. Did the Crown Prince think very highly of himself by any chance? Raciel found himself backed into a corner, and his wry smile deepened. Lets begin. Get ready. Start. Alright. Ouch! Upon activating a potent technique, he felt a powerful shockwave engulf him. Yet oddly, his heart didnt ache. It was because hed juste to the realization that he was on his own. Therefore, he should direct his attention solely toward his goals. Tending to the princess. Preventing the major war. Living well and enjoying life. Concentrate on the present moment. Inhale! Raciel intensified his focus even further, enduring sessive shockwaves. Meanwhile, simultaneously, on a road dozens of kilometers away from the Imperial Highway Magenta6. Thud thud thud thud! A rider was racing atop a horse with fervor. He sped toward the Imperial Highway Magentano. It was a messenger from Anbouaz, hurrying to deliver urgent news from the homnd to the Princess. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 99 Chapter 99 Thud thud thud thud! The sound of hooves racing. No, its mana rushing forward. It dashes across the earth, no, its as if its about to shatter the gallstone. It rushes and collides. Bang, and then, ng-! Damn it! Raciel clenched his teeth hard. And he thought to himself. The mana released by Adeline, the mana that struck the gallstone, and the resulting shockwave. Every time he absorbed these shockwaves, it felt as though his esophagus and stomach were high-fiving, as if they were switching out in a game. Is it still far? Raciel raised his eyes, shaking his head slightly. In the floating disy in front of him, a rugged brown bead was reflected. It was thest gallstone inside Adelines galldder. Its almost shattered. Just a little more. A sense of overwhelming relief bubbled up. Sigh. It was a long journey. Exactly 16 days. How many times had he endured the shockwaves of mana released by Adeline during that time? 100 times? 200 times? No, probably around 500 times. I passed out 6 times in total. And felt nauseous countless times. Had he ever experienced such intense days of hardship before? Absolutely not. It was the hardest time ever. But now, the end was in sight. Well, its almost over. Maybe just one more hit. Really? Yes. Thats a shame. Excuse me? No, lets go. Thud-! Ugh! As soon as Adeline finished speaking, the most intense shockwave yet came crashing in. There was no time to prepare or resist. It felt like a vital point had been pierced. In the past, he would have definitely passed out from such a blow. But not now. Ugh! He endured it. He raised his head and first checked the appearance of the gallstone in the disy. Done! The gallstone waspletely shattered. At that moment, a pleasant notification sound rang in his ears. Ding dong! [You have firmly withstood 501 mana shockwaves from outside.] [During this process, you used the Asrahan Core Technique to its limit, trying to absorb and neutralize the shockwaves. This unique history has enriched your mana circle, providing valuable experience for its growth.] [A new option is opened in the Asrahan Core Technique.] [Exclusive Skill Option : Immunity to Stun When activated, the sturdy endurance of the mana circle protects the nervous system. During the time this option is activated, you can withstand any shock without fainting or losing consciousness. (Limit: once a day / activation possible for 5 minutes)] . What is this? It was an unexpected message. Immunity to Stun? So, for 5 minutes a day, I wont faint at all? Saliva automatically flowed. Ding dong! [Your organs cheer for the new skill option.] [Heart: Weve withstood over 500 shockwaves. Weve be strong. Trahahaha!] [Lungs: If we had been hit even 500 times just for fun, we would have had to look for a spot in the market. LOL] [Large Intestine: It was the path our master chose, so we endured it with all our might. LOL] [Your organs have donated 2,200 HP to you.] [Current HP: 4,700] Great! Raciel clenched his fist. On top of that, he received an HP donation. And the Immunity to Stun smelled like a sweet option. Of course. For 5 minutes a day, Im immune to fainting. There will be situations where I feel like I might pass out, but I cant. In emergencies, or when he has to run away after being hit by someone like a princess, it can be useful. Or, even when he wants to eat just one more bite of ate-night snack but feels so sleepy that he might copse, it can be helpful(?). Anyway, it worked out well. Raciel neatly folded away his satisfaction. It wasnt time to be content just yet. He spoke to the princess. Whew, its all over now. Really? Yes. Can you see here? He pointed to the shattered gallstone inside the fin-like disy. The princess clicked her tongue in response. I see. Then the treatment is over. But She turned to him. Ive always been curious, what happens to those broken gallstones? Do they get absorbed into the body and disappear? No. Raciel shook his head. They will naturally be expelled from the body. How? Along with what youve eaten. Erm, well. Ahem, anyway. Congrattions. But its still too early to be relieved. The treatment isntpletely over. Theres more treatment left? Yes. From now on, regr care is necessary. Raciel stated. It was obvious. The treatment of gallstones doesnt end just by removing them. Rather, what follows is more critical. Usually, if too many gallstones form, the best approach is to surgically remove the galldder itself. But Im not skilled enough to perform such a surgery. So, I only removed the gallstones. If you dont take care, gallstones will form again. Theyll form again? Yes. The fact that youve developed such gallstones at such a young age means that youre prone to them. But dont worry. Ill prescribe medicine that helps the flow of bile, so it wont get stuck. So if I take it, I wont get gallstones? If the bile flows well, it wont stagnate, and there will be fewer chances of it clumping together like stones. Even if small particles form, theyll easily be swept away by the flow of bile before they growrge enough to cause problems. It was true. This would be the foundation of her care. Raciel said this with emphasis. So, I will prepare Yinchenhao Tang for you. First, you need to take it consistently for a fortnight to see if it suits your constitution and ensures the smooth cirction and excretion of bile. And if it suits my constitution? Youll have to take it for the rest of your life. Isnt that obvious? Why the face I was just wondering if that Yinchenhao Tang or whatever has a taste like an elephants armpit. Well, medicines that are good for the body often taste bitter. Raciel grinned. Whether Princess Adeline found the taste horrid or not, it didnt matter to him since he wasnt the one consuming it. He immediately began preparing the Yinchenhao Tang. The form was mentioned extensively in both the Shanghan Lun from the Han Dynasty in China and the Donguibogam in Joseon. Especially, it was a favored prescription by the all-time legend in traditional medicine, Heo Jun(?). Its an unparalleled remedy for symptoms of heat in the liver and galldder, jaundice, and signs of damp-heat. It was particrly effective in preventing the formation of gallstones. He took out the pre-processed ingredients. Making Yinchenhao Tang was rtively straightforward. He boiled the herb Yinchenhao vigorously. Timing was crucial. At the precise moment, he added Dahuang and Chija. He simmered it over a gentle me for a while. After some time, vo! Amidst the rising steam, the Yinchenhao Tang was ready. Princess Adeline looked skeptically at the decoction in the bowl. Honestly, she didnt want to drink it. Just its aroma was already overpowering. But the Crown Prince just watched with a yful grin. Here, this is the decoction I made with all my heart. Take it slowly, sip by sip. Do I really have to drink this? Yes. Is there no other medicine without such a terrible smell? Yes. What exactly gets better if I drink this? Would you like to hear? Yes. Adeline nodded. This strange decoction called Yinchenhao Tang, if it was just a one-time drink, she could handle it. But the issue was that she had to take it for the rest of her life. The very thought was dreadful. If possible, she wanted to switch to some other medicine that tasted better. However, her desperate hope vanished amidst Raciels unending 16-bit mono-rhythmic exnation. Let me exin. ording to a research paper that investigated the effects and mechanisms of action of Yinchenhao Tang on gallstone disease, the treatment with Yinchenhao Tang improved biochemical abnormalities in the serum and liver of experimental animals and regted bile imbnce. Moreover, the increased expression of ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 5/8, scavenger receptor ss B type I, and Niemann-Pick C1 Like 1 observed in the liver and small intestine was reversed by Yinchenhao Tang. Based on these experimental results, it can be concluded that Yinchenhao Tang can improve the oversaturation of bile cholesterol and regte cholesterol metabolism in experimental animals induced with gallstone disease by a stone-forming diet. This means it can very effectively inhibit the formation of gallstones. Princess? Yes? Is this exnation satisfactory? I made a mistake. She felt she should apologize first, as she didnt understand everything. All the exnations seemed to enter her left ear, smack her frontal lobe, and then fly out of her right ear. I dont even know what to argue against. In the end, she surrendered and downed the Yinchenhao Tang in one shot. As expected, it tasted bitter. This time, it tastes like the armpit of a sea turtle. Still, it was better than the taste of an elephants armpit. Adeline managed to suppress her nausea and eagerly took the candy that Raciel offered. Just as she started chewing the candy Ding Dong! A wee message appeared in front of Raciel. [You have administered the Yinchenhao Tang you personally prepared to the patient: Adeline Boarne Anbouaz.] [Due to the effect of the Skill: Herbal Decoction Preparation (Lv.1), the efficacy of the medicine has increased by 10%.] [Patient: Adeline has removed all gallstones in her body through your active extracorporeal shockwave treatment. Also, by consistently taking the Yinchenhao Tang you prescribed, she can prevent future gallstones and various diseases caused by them.] [Medical Billing (Lv.2) skill is activated.] [Patient: Adeline has received a life expectancy extension benefit of 67 years and 10 months through your treatment. Therefore, you are credited with a bonus lifespan equivalent to 1/1950 of 67 years and 10 months.] [A bonus lifespan of 12.52 days has been calcted.] [The minimum unit for the credited lifespan is 1 day.] [The bonus lifespan is rounded off.] [A total of 13 days of bonus lifespan is credited.] [Your estimated life expectancy: 176 days] Nice. Good! A surge of energy flowed through his clenched fist. He did it. Finally, the princess was cured. If she consistently takes Yinchenhao Tang from now on, she wont die from gallstone disease. She will safely be the queen of Anbouaz. Then, the great war in the novel Devil Sword Emperor that brought down the Magentano royal family wont happen. It will be prevented. Because the tyrant who caused the great war in the original work, Javillon, wont be able to take the throne. As long as the princess is healthy, it will continue. So he seeded. It was fulfilling and overwhelming. He sincerely wanted to congratte Princess Adeline. But just then Thud thud thud! Suddenly, someone knocked on the door of the consultation room urgently. Could it be an emergency patient? Just as he thought that Princess! Are you in there? Urgent news, urgent news from the homnd! The distinct ent of Anbouaz echoed. A civil war has erupted due to a rebellion led by Javillon, the royal family of the western border of our homnd! (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 100 Chapter 100 The royal family of Banggye in the western homnd, Javillon, has initiated a revolt! Thud! The door to the treatment room swung open. A knight rushed in. A familiar face. He was Princess Adelines escort knight. What? Adelines expression hardened. A revolt? A civil war? What do you mean? Its exactly as Ive stated, Princess. A messenger from the homnd just arrived. They report that Javillon hasunched a rebellion. Many nobles from the west have joined the uprising, mobilizing their armies. There are reports that the Kings central army is currently engaged in a confrontation with them. Continue. Why did he initiate this rebellion? What is his justification? Well Tell me everything. Adelines voice remained eerily calm, radiating an indescribable sense of pressure, sending chills down the escort knights spine. He might have felt the same tension. Uh, understood. Firstly, Javillon imed he would overthrow the current feeble royal family for the greater glory of Anbouaz. Greater glory? Is the current royal family weak? ording to Javillon, yes. Do they have any valid reasons to criticize the royal family? That is Why? The escort knight sneaked a nce at Adeline. Then, with tightly shut eyes, he continued speaking. They are criticizing His Majesty for readily capitting to Magentanos demands. What did you say? Its as I said. They assert that the Kings decision to ept the unreasonable demands from the crown prince of Magentano was a humiliating diplomatic move. They condemn the decision to send the royal family as mere pawns to a foreign nation. Regardless, with these arguments, Javillon dered rebellion. What about the western nobles who joined him? They probably Theyve always been weakerpared to the central nobles in the east. Theyve likely voiced their grievances using this opportunity. Isnt that so? You are correct. The knight bowed. Princess Adeline gazed up at the ceiling with a stern expression. Her arms and fists were clenched tightly. Probably out of anger. The sudden news from the homnd. The audacity of the Banggye royal family, who dared to rebel. She must be furious. Just like the listener. Phew. This is insane. Raciel took a deep breath. Only moments ago, he had been filled with great pride. He had dedicated 16 days to treat the princesss gallstones. In the end, he sessfully removed all the stones and prolonged the princesss life. He had altered history. Prevented the impending great war in the narrative. He was proud of his achievement. But all his joy and sense of aplishment had been shattered by the news from Anbouaz. I saved the princess to ensure her stable inheritance to the throne. I even cleared all the obstacles. And now, a rebellion?Damn it, is this some kind of joke? He felt frustrated. If he could, he would rush and shake Javillon by the cor. Crazy guy. Seriously. But he couldnt afford to just be angry. Heprehended the gravity of the situation. Javillon had always harbored ambitions. Raciel had underestimated him. Instead of a great war, a civil war had erupted in Anbouaz. The conversation between the princess and the escort knight continued. Whats the current situation? ording to the messenger, severalrge-scale battles have already urred. Skirmishes? Yes, unfortunately At first, the Kings central army, under his directmand, had the upper hand. But? After Javillon, the leader of the rebel army, revealed himself on the battlefield They faced a counterattack. Right? Yes, Princess. The knight continued. There was even a time when the Kings central army faced grave danger. Afterward, they attempted to regroup but lost their initial momentum. They withdrew to Balua fortress and established a defensive line. The central army withdrew and set up defenses? Yes, Princess. There were heavy casualties in the previousrge-scale skirmishes. More than expected. They are currently at a standstill, awaiting reinforcements from the eastern and central nobles. How did thise to pass? A sigh escaped Adelines lips. It appeared to be more serious than he had initially thought. Many of the main forces had suffered casualties or injuries. Hearing such news, he couldnt help but sigh. At that moment, a new idea shed through Raciels mind. Huh? Wait a minute? He paused briefly. The new idea that had just brushed his mind. He pursued it, seized it, and contemted it. Anbouz. A civil war in another country. Main forces severely injured? Wounded soldiers? One thought led to another. The previous idea birthed a new one. Slowly, a new concept took root. It expanded. Unreservedly. Countless wounded soldiers Individuals in need of treatment So if I treat them? If I save them? Thats all additional lifespan? A sudden realization dawned in his mind. The stream of thoughts elerated. Certainly, war is tragic. Its a grievous event. But it has already urred, and I cant change that. However, those who are already wounded? I can treat them. I can save at least one more life. If that happens? I can also gain a substantial bonus lifespan. It was akin to having a seasonal business, reaping significant profits in one season. Perhaps, he could amass the lifespan bonus he would have rued from running the Star Pce clinic for years in this opportunity. So this is a golden chance! Raciel became more alert. Upon reflection, the ongoing civil war differed from the narrative of the novel Devil Sword Emperor. The present situation indicated that the emperor was in robust health, unlike the time when the second prince ruled the empire. Even if Javillon sessfully rebelled and initiated a great war, it appeared unlikely that the empire would copse as it did in the novel. In other words, that civil war belonged to someone else. So this was an opportunity. Letting it slip through his fingers would be foolish. No, more like yielding easily. Opportunities like this demanded seizing. If he handled it correctly, he might secure a future without the constant fear of death! His heart raced as his thoughts sped up. As if sensing his thoughts, his internal organs also responded immediately. Ding dong! [Your internal organs are amazed by your idea.] [Heart: Saving wounded soldiers for a bonus lifespan? Man, youre crazy] [Lungs: But isnt treating and saving those injured in their own war a noble act?] [Large Intestine: Thats true. But the notion of turning it into a business is quite legendary, lol.] [Your daring idea has been supported with 100 HP by your internal organs.] [Your current HP: 4,800] Well, criticism was inevitable. He fully grasped and empathized with the tragedy of war and the suffering of the wounded. But he barely eked out a living with the bonus lifespan he obtained from running the Star Pce clinic. Furthermore, the civil war had already urred, and there was nothing he could do to change that. So, Ill do what I can. Treat and save people. And in the process, Ill gain significantly for myself. It was a win-win situation. There was no reason not to proceed. So now, it was time to take action. Raciel made up his mind. Princess. Adeline, who had been in conversation with the escort Knight, turned in his direction. Anger was evident in her eyes and expression. Her countenance betrayed the sorrow from the news she had received from her homnd. At the same time, there was a hint of regret. She seemed like someone who had pressing matters to attend to back home but was trapped by her obligations here. Because of my request, she has to stay in the Imperial Capital for six months. She wasnt a princess here for leisure. Her presence was a result of a request from this side, an agreement between Magentano and Anbouaz. Consequently, even if an issue arose in her homnd and she desired to return, it wasnt a simple matter. Not without my consent. A sinister grin crept across Raciels face. He swiftly concealed his smile and remarked, The news from Anbouaz is indeed disheartening. Its impossible not to share in the sorrow upon hearing it. He spoke with an attempt to sound as sympathetic as possible, as though he shared the princesss indignation. Then, he baited her, saying, So, are you nning to return to your homnd immediately? As expected, Adeline took the bait. No, I cant make that decision on my own, she replied, her gaze fixed on him. I would like to return to my homnd immediately. I want to support Father and lead the central armys vanguard against the rebels. But to do that I would require permission. My permission, you mean? Yes, please, Adeline said earnestly, looking directly at him. Raciel contained a triumphant smile. Permission, you say. Well, I have one condition. Whats the condition? Take me along with you. Pardon? Adeline seemed taken aback by the request; her eyes widened. I mean, when you return to your homnd, include me in your entourage. I can conceal my status appropriately. Perhaps a figure fully endorsed by the princess would be fitting. Adeline remained silent. You must be wondering why Im making this request, Raciel continued. Of course. Shall I exin? Please. I want to disguise myself as a military officer in the rear forces of the Anbouaz army. Excuse me? Its straightforward. We just heard about the civil war erupting in Anbouaz, our close neighbor. I, too, felt sadness and regret upon learning the news. And I had a notion. What was the notion? I want to assist Anbouaz in my own way. Could it be Yes, thats correct. I aspire to serve as a military officer in the rear and provide medical care to the wounded of Anbouaz. I want to save even one more life. I believe thats the most meaningful help I can offer. Crown Prince. Yes? Thank you. Adelines voice quivered. Was she genuinely moved? Raciel couldnt help but feel a fleeting moment of embarrassment, but he promptly brushed it aside. In any case, I understand. Please prepare for your return to your homnd. Meanwhile, I will make some other arrangements. What other arrangements? The emperor, naturally. Raciel smirked. To ensure a safe journey to Anbouaz. And to guarantee he reaps the rewards of this deal. It was time to deal with the emperor. Of course, he already possessed the means to manipte the emperor. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 101 Chapter 101 With red curly hair and freckles on his face, his physical appearance was drastically different. Unlike the slender Raciel, this ck-haired man was, to put it bluntly, chubby. The sole resemnce was their height. It was undeniably strange, almost unbelievably so. Adelines eyebrows furrowed even more. Tsk. No response? I, as the princess of Anbouaz, just asked you who you are. At your service, I am Who? The Crown Prince. Raciel. Thierry Knight? Arrest him. Hes being charged with impersonating the crown prince. The princess called over a knight standing nearby. The knight approached the rotund man with a menacing demeanor. The rotund man eximed indignantly, Wait, Im telling the truth! Have you forgotten the days when we teamed up and diligently shattered 16 magical stones? What? Adeline hesitated. The man continued to shout. I have, ah! Endured over 500 of your mana shockwaves, ah! I even made soup for you that tastes like turtle armpit, ah! Furthermore, I have, ah! Always given you plum and grape-vored candies whenever you took herbal medicines, ah! Could it be? Are you really the Crown Prince? Im telling you, I am! The man disyed a pained expression. And then, a revtion. That man is indeed His Highness Crown Prince Raciel, Princess of Anbouaz. A handsome middle-aged man entered the lodging and spoke. His face was familiar Raciels personal physician, Gardin. Following him was another ck-haired man, Demian, who added, You might find it hard to believe just by looking at his appearance. Gardin and Demian. Both were close confidants of the Crown Prince. Then, it must be true. Incredulity filled Princess Adelines eyes as she gazed at the rotund man, or rather, Raciel(?). How did this happen? What turned you into this? Turned into what? Whats wrong with how I look now? You appear to have been indulging inte-night snacks quite diligently for at least a year. Isnt it a jolly physique? We humans call that obesity. Anyway, if it werent for the testimony of your two close confidants, I would have never believed it. What on earth happened? How did you, the crown prince who was supposed to obtain the Emperors permission, return like this? The princess was genuinely curious. What had happened in the meantime? A mysterious smile appeared on Raciels lips. Well, as I mentioned earlier, the secret weapon I prepared for His Majesty the Emperor worked. I obtained the permission. Permission? Yes. Raciel nodded. Simultaneously, he suddenly recalled when he had approached the emperor for permission. In reality, obtaining that permission was a breeze. Not just easy, but remarkably so. Because all I had to do was align my reason for wanting to go to Anbouaz with the emperors preferences. The emperor had learned about the civil war and the substantial number of wounded soldiers, with more expected. Raciel proposed that he could covertly integrate himself into the Anbouaz Kingdom Army, ostensibly to provide medical aid, with the princesss assistance. This would grant him a unique opportunity to observe and experience themand structure, military administration, operations, and the evolving situation from a rtively secure rear position. He emphasized that such a hands-on experience would be exceptional, and he was eager to learn as much as possible during his time there. That was his pitch. And what happened next? He received a seal of approv ne signifying the emperors consent. All thanks to his request, perfectly tailored to the emperors tastes. As soon as he heard my proposal, the emperor was delighted. Thats just his way. Hes an emperor who constantly challenges his heirs, someone keen on toughening up his potential sessors. And here he was, volunteering to venture to another countrys battlefield to gain valuable experience while assuming moderate risks. Inymans terms, its like a child saying, Mom, I want more English lessons. Mom, can I have another private tutor? A request of that nature. Any parent would be overjoyed to hear such an enthusiastic request from their child, and they would try to amodate it as long as their finances allowed. The emperor was no different. The moment he heard his proposal, he burst into heartyughter. He inquired about the finer details and nearly gave him a standing ovation. So, I asked the court magician for transformation magic. Naturally, His Majesty readily approved. So, youve undergone a physical transformation because of that? Thats putting it a bit bluntly. Lets say Ive be more prosperous instead. So, how many steaks can you devour now? The external appearance is merely a disguise; my physical attributes remain unchanged. In response to Adelines yful inquiries, Raciel let out a snort. Its just a change in appearance. My weight hasnt altered, and my limited eating capacity remains the same because this transformation magic only alters the appearance.'' Ah, I see. Yes. Even a significant physical impact could undo the transformation. How forceful of an impact? Sufficient to render someone unconscious. So, theres no risk of the magic wearing off in everyday life? Correct. Thanks to that, I can maintain my disguise without concern. For example, with this identity. Raciel extended a document, causing Adelines eyes to widen. Whats this? An identification certificate issued by His Majesty the Emperor. Adeline skimmed through the document. Name Rihan Belkin age 23 a descendant of the fallen noble Belkin family, who has excellentlypleted public medical education in Imperial Magentano? Well, its a fabricated identity with just enough credibility. Rihan is quite an unusual name. I came up with it on the spot. Raciel chuckled somewhat awkwardly. Rihan. In fact, it was his original Korean name with a minor alteration. Regardless, thats the false identity Ill be using. A young doctor from a fallen noble family, Rihan, who coincidentally forges a friendship with the Anbouaz princess and joins her with promised support. Sounds like a plot from a novel? Well, a young man with aspirations to hone his skills while serving as a military doctor in the Anbouaz Kingdom Army, all thanks to the princesss sponsorship. Quite ambitious Is there a problem? Yes. Adelines candid words struck a nerve. She then inquired, So, what about these two individuals here? Are they also apanying you? She gestured toward Gardin and Demian. Raciel nodded affirmatively. Yes, these two will address me as Young Master from now on. Young Master? Its the role of loyal followers in a fallen family. Youre surprisingly dedicated to the role. I have to be, for the false identity to be convincing. In any case, as long as they dont draw attention when heading to Anbouaz, everything will be fine. Its only a problem if they are discovered before the civil war ends. Besides, as a low-ranking military officer working in the rear, I wont attract much attention. His n was to diligently care for the wounded until the end of the civil war, reaping the benefits like a seasonal business, much like picking ripe fruit. He intended to harvest only the benefits, as if plucking out chicken legs. Justplete that task and return. Then, I can gain a substantial bonus in lifespan. If I perform well, I might umte a lifespan that would take years to acquire by running the Star Pce Clinic. He had made thorough preparations for this. He temporarily entrusted the Star Pce Clinic to werewolf nurses who could diagnose minor illnesses with their keen sense of smell, often more urately than some doctors. He passed on several herbal medicine recipes suitable for treating various ailments and provided recorded prescriptions for every current inpatient. The clinic could operate smoothly for at least a few months without him. And Crown Prince Raciel will limit contact with outsiders due to health concerns That will be the official statement. So, are we prepared now? Yes, how about your side, Princess? Were also prepared. The princess boarded the carriage, and Raciel followed suit. With that, all the preparations wereplete. The carriage departed. He left the Star Pce, blending in with the princesss entourage. They swiftly exited Imperial Capital Magentano, passing through checkpoints, traversing roads, fields, rivers, scaling hills and mountains, and passing multiple cities and fortresses. Day and night cycled repeatedly, and eventually, they crossed the border between Magentano and Anbouaz. As they crossed the border, Raciel made a personal resolution. Lets provide excellent care to the wounded. He pledged to save as many lives as possible and rue a substantial bonus in lifespan. Nothing else would matter. His sole focus would be on treating the wounded and umting bonus lifespan in theing months. So, keep to yourself and do your job, he vowed to himself, again and again. Little did he know how his personal and self-centered resolution would have a profound impact on Anbouazs civil war, making a significant contribution that would be remembered in the annals of history. At that moment, he had no inkling whatsoever. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 102 Chapter 102 I have a sense of foreboding regarding this. Demian, do you share the same sentiment? Yes, Sir Gardin. That intuition, its likely not a misinterpretation. So what should we do at this point? Is there a solution? We must persevere, one way or another. We willingly pledged allegiance to this lord. The group advanced slowly, the sound of footsteps echoing. At the back of the formation, Demian and Gardin sighed in unison. Their attention was fixed on the carriage in the center of the procession, more precisely, on the Crown Prince inside the carriage. But why is the Crown Prince doing this? Im wondering the same thing. Honestly, I dont understand. You too, Sir Gardin? Yes. Who would willingly understand? A royal volunteering to heal foreign wounded soldiers who have nothing to do with him. Thanks to that, you and I are also involved and dragged all the way here. Sigh. Whew. Their sighs deepened. This is the anguish of employees groaning under the tyranny of a ruthless employer! Sigh. I had ns for next week. Oh? ns? A date. Just a date. You were seeing a woman? Not exactly. Then? Just meeting. Isnt that how everyone does it? If it works out, you date. If you grow apart, you break up. Ive always been like that. About twenty times? Maybe more? Why are you looking at me like that? No, just briefly getting angry, questioning if this is really a country. Hmm? Why? Never mind. By the way, since you missed a date, you must have asked for extra pay, right? Extra pay? Yes. What extra pay? Gardin tilted his head. Demian responded as if it should be obvious. Deployment allowance. Deployment allowance? Yes. Weve followed the Crown Prince this far, all the way to a foreign country, Anbouaz. Thats, thats true. So, this is essentially a long-term deployment assignment. You should naturally get an allowance. Plus, this is a civil war zone, a country at war. You should definitely be guaranteed hazard pay for the work environment. Uh, well Why? No, its just Just what? I didnt know about that. You didnt negotiate for extra pay? Yeah. Heh. 1 win, 1 loss. Damn. Gardin and Demian. A bitter smile formed on both mens faces. Truthfully speaking, neither of them was dissatisfied with havinge all the way to Anbouaz. Rather, they both admired the Crown Prince. He has the medical skills, and there are patients over there who need treatment. Its only natural to rush over and help It should be obvious, but nobody does it. Who would have thought that His Highness would actually do it Gardin felt a swelling in his heart. Suddenly, he recalled the time when he first studied medicine, a time when he was a bit more innocent and naive than he is now. A time when doing the right thing seemed only natural. How does he appear now? He has changed. At some point, he ceased practicing medicine with the same pure-heartedness as the Crown Prince. I still have a long way to go, he reflected. Seeing the misunderstood image of the Crown Prince, he resolved to learn from his attitude and put in more effort. On the other hand, Demian had a slightly different perspective. A Crown Prince who rushes to treat wounded soldiers from other countries. Could such an extraordinary person truly exist in reality? But it appears that such a person does exist, the Crown Prince he serves, no less. He was genuinely impressed. After all, it doesnt concern me. I just need to make sure I get my sry. That was all that mattered to Demian. Meanwhile, the group finally merged with the Kingdom of Anbouazs army. Things progressed swiftly from there. Raciel received support from Princess Adeline, whose endorsement and sponsorship allowed him to work undercover (?) as a medical officer in the Anbouaz army. He was immediately assigned to a camp for wounded soldiers located in the rear. Thank you. Things went smoothly, thanks to you, Princess. No, thank you. Png! Princess Adeline smiled as she shook a small bell. ording to the recipe here, I can make Yinchenho Tang, right? Yes. The herbs in Yinchenho Tang are quite simple, so it shouldnt be too difficult. However Just make sure to take it every day, so it effectively prevents gallstones, right? Yes. Youre almost like a Oriental Medicine doctor now. Well then, take care in the wounded soldiers camp. Its the rear, so there should be no problems. Alright. With Adelines farewell, Demian, Gardin, and about a dozen knights given by the princess departed from the main base of the kingdoms army. The journey continued. It wasnt long before they reached the camp for wounded soldiers. By his sense of distance, Raciel thought, Hmm, from Yonsei University in Seoul to Ilsan? They arrived quickly, but the atmosphere in the camp was a bit odd. Whats with this shabby ce? It was just a half-day away from the main base. Close by, yet the camp looked quite run-down. Raciel nced around the camp. The wooden fences surrounding it seemed quite flimsy. It looked like they couldnt even keep out a petty thief. That was just the beginning. The tents are literally torn, showing hardly any sign of repair. If it rains, theyll surely leak. Something was off. Raciels expression darkened. No way. A piece of historical knowledge suddenly came to mind, quickening his pace. Is there no medic here? p! He approached a nearby tent and lifted its p, asking towards the inside. Right after that, he had to gasp. The reality inside was beyond imagination. No one inside responded. It was natural. Dead people cant answer. Therefore, everyone inside the tent was dead. What is this? Flies in disarray, swarming in the darkness. Underneath themy eight corpses. They werent neatlyid out, but rather tossed around haphazardly. How long had they been abandoned like this? Two days? Three days? Four days? It certainly seemed longer. Some of the corpses were already dposing. Then it happened. Whos there? A voice questioned from behind. He turned around. A seemingly healthy soldier appeared, wearing the uniform of the Kingdom of Anbouaz. Oddly enough, his uniform was not at all tattered, and his expression was calm. Inside the tenty eight neglected, rotting corpses. Outside the tent stood a seemingly healthy Kingdom soldier. Between them, separated by a tattered piece of tent, was a scene of jarring contrast. It was strange. Very strange. Raciel stared intently at the soldier. Before asking who I am, who are you? Ah, are you an officer from the headquarters? I asked who you are. I am the managing soldier of this medical camp. Are you an officer from the headquarters? I am a military officer. A military officer, you say? Yes. Hmm, I havent heard anything about someone like youing. The soldier shrugged. His calm demeanor was far too bizarre. Raciel could no longer hold back and asked. What are you doing here? Are you aware of the situation inside this tent? Eight people had lost their lives, and their bodies had been left unattended for days. It was astonishing, especially within the confines of a medical camp. The soldiers response was even more bewildering. Youre talking about inside the tent, right? Im aware. Theyre all deceased, arent they? What? Ah, is there anyone still alive? That could be problematic. We need space for the next injured soldiers. What are you saying? Ah, perhaps as a military officer, youre not familiar with how medical camps operate. The individuals inside the tent should all be deceased. This way, we can make room and amodate the next injured soldiers. What? So, I came here to inspect the condition of the tent. If everyone inside is deceased, then we can remove the bodies for incineration. By the way, have a lot of flies gathered inside? Why? Theyre a nuisance when were clearing the bodies. Raciel fell silent. A fragment of historical knowledge briefly shed through his mind. Something he had read in a book about the history of the Middle Ages. Medieval Europe. The wars and the treatment of wounded soldiers back then Wounded soldiers were not treated well at all. Conscripted soldiers, brought to the battlefield, were considered expendable, with no proper care or rehabilitation for the wounded. Got a minor injury on the battlefield? Nobody cared. What if you were seriously injured? To the point of immobility? Again, nobody cared. They were simply moved to the rear. Not for recovery or treatment but rather to keep them out of sight, a burden to the rest of the troops, dragging down morale. If we keep the severely injured with the troops moving together bes cumbersome and the morale of the rest of the soldiers drops. Thats why they sent the wounded to the rear. They were thrown away in an out-of-sight location and left unattended. So what became of the wounded who were sent to the rear? It was pitiful. They were mostly left unattended, left to die, even if they received the bare minimum of treatment. Among them, soldiers who miraculously recovered? That was their fate. The blessing of God. Receiving tremendous luck. They were simply sent back to the battlefield! Exactly. Either die on your own or, if youre lucky, survive and get sent back to war. At the time, he was shocked when he read this in a book. It was unimaginable that such a ce could exist. And yet, this wounded soldier camp seemed just like that. Looking at the indifferent soldier before him, or the dead inside the tent, he couldnt deny it. Ah, life, seriously. A deep sigh naturally escaped him. Out ofpassion for the miserably dead wounded? Because of an unexpected culture shock? Of course, that was obvious. On the other hand, there was another reason. Ivee this far, and if the camp is like this, how do I get a bonus lifespan? This is going nowhere. Something has to be done. The atmosphere in the camp needs to change. Attitudes and treatment toward wounded soldiers must be improved. Only then will the wounded survive. Only then will he achieve his purpose foring here, a win-win for everyone. So what should be done? Shock therapy is needed. Determined, Raciel spoke. You said you are in charge of managing the camp, right? Yes? Yes! Full name and affiliation? He asked for their full name and position. Sensing the unusual atmosphere, the soldier hastily answered. I am Corporal Rueno, part of the 21st Support Battalion. Alright, Corporal Rueno. Who is responsible for this camp? Its the battalionmander, sir. Who is the battalionmander? Lord Provence, sir. Is he? Is Lord Provence in this camp now? Yes, he is. Good. Tell him toe here. Excuse me? The corporal hesitated for a moment. But Raciel didnt care. With a chilling voice filled with confidence, he said, Go and tell him. Ill give this battalionmander one minute toe here. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Naturally, the battalionmander didnt respond immediately to the summons. He didnt appear to be paying attention to what was being said on this end either. So, are you nning to go in directly now? Yes, I must. Raciel moved forward with long strides. Demian followed him and inquired, Will you be okay? Hmm? What does he mean by that question? Raciel nced back at him. Youre undercover right now, are you? Ah. So, technically, Im just a military officer, and theres no reason for the battalionmander to listen to me obediently? Unfortunately, yes. Its alright. Raciel shrugged his shoulders. I have a side of me that believes. Demian appeared bewildered. Leaving him behind, Raciel continued his brisk pace. Fortunately, locating the battalionmandersmand tent proved to be quite straightforward. All one needed to do was find thergest, most ornate, and best-preserved tent. Its practically a pce. To exaggerate a bit, it was a tent the size of a two-room apartment he had lived in while in Korea. He entered. p! Excuse me. He greeted those inside warmly, but there was no warm response. Instead, a noticeably irritated gaze met his. Are you the new military officer assigned today? A middle-aged man with a ck mustache sat on a makeshift bed. He seemed to be the battalionmander. Had he just woken up? It seemed likely. A smile formed on Raciels lips. Yes, I am Military Officer Rihan. But didnt you receive the message I sent through the private earlier? I received it. You said for me toe right away, didnt you? Thats correct, but Do you realize how unusual that request was? In what way? Proveng Zajak, the battalionmander, openly questioned him. However, Raciel didnt falter. He calmly replied instead. The battalionmanders mustache twitched. I am the highest authority andmander of this medical camp. Are you suggesting that you, a mere military officer, can order me around? Ah. So you were displeased. Of course. I may respect a military officer, but dont expect any special treatment from me. The tone of the battalionmander grew stern. Had he misunderstood his authority here? It appeared so. How insignificant. Raciel wore an even more pronounced smile. Special treatment? Isnt that what the wounded should receive? What? The battalionmander hesitated. Raciel said to him, I saw it on my way here. No, I saw it as soon as I arrived. I witnessed how the wounded in this camp are treated. Treated? What are you talking about? Theyre not receiving timely treatment. Many are perishing due to what can only be described as neglect. Yet, Mr. Battalion Commander, you were enjoying ate sleep until just now. So, I want to ask. Is this truly a medical camp for the wounded? Of course it is. If there are wounded, its a medical camp. It felt like he had just heard an incredibly absurd answer. Raciel doubted his ears as the battalionmander continued to defymon sense. If there are injured soldiers gathered, then isnt that an infirmary camp? And I am the one managing those injured soldiers. I provide them with a ce to sleep and food and water so they wont starve to death. Isnt that enough? What did you say? Am I wrong? To be frank, theyre injured soldiers. Theyre weak and frail; thats why they couldnt withstand the battlefield and got hurt. If they were stronger, faster, and smarter, they wouldnt have gotten hurt like idiots or ended up dead. Right? So why should I go out of my way for these weak and foolish individuals? If they can sleep and eat, that should be enough. They should be grateful and recover on their own, shouldnt they? Am I wrong? And if they dont recover? Thats not a bad thing either. It reduces the number of useless mouths to feed. These guys cant even return to the battlefield; theyre just consuming food. Its better if theyre gone, isnt it? So, lets just tolerate each other for a while, shall we? I am busy, and Im tired. Im sick of handling the daily disposal of the dead here. I want to get out of this godforsaken job and go back to the battlefield. To reim my honor by cutting down enemy heads, you know? So, Ill be focusing on facility management for a few months, earning merits, and then Ill return to my rightful position up the chain. So, you should also take it easy, okay? You look like a neer to the battlefield. Lets not make life difficult for each other with pointless enthusiasm, alright? Ah Raciel chuckled. His initial inclination was to think of insults he could hurl. This guy is outrageously trashy and authoritarian. After listening to a few sentences, he grasped the situation. He had encountered simr individuals in Korea, especially during his military service. Old-guard officers were just like that. With a bit of care and effort, we could have improved the situation. We could have eradicated various injustices. Everyone could have benefited. But they chose not to. Why? Because it inconvenienced them. Because it didnt directly benefit them. That was the problem. They prioritized only their convenience, regardless of whether their subordinates suffered or not. And it might have been tolerable if it ended there. The worst part they obstructed anyone attempting to bring about change. Time and again, they crushed the desire for reform. They wanted to preserve the status quo, even if it was filled with injustice and irrationality. Why? Because it suited them. It was advantageous for them. So they did. Ive observed this pattern in society too. He recalled a pharmaceutical sales representative who used to visit his clinic. She had shared her grievances about her simrly authoritarian boss. With this in mind, Raciel quickly grasped the battalionmanders motives. Hes cut from the same cloth. His sole objective is to preserve the status quo, no matter how dire the current situation is. This was problematic. He needed to save the injured soldiers to earn more bonus life. And to think the manager of the ce I was assigned to is solely fixated on maintaining the status quo. Well, lets give him onest chance. Raciels gaze turned icy, but his lips maintained a smile. He spoke. Causing unnecessary friction with excessive enthusiasm, you say I understand what you mean. Therefore, I have a few requests. Requests, you say? Yes. Ah, tell me, what are these requests? Firstly, please rece the tents where the injured soldiers are staying with higher-quality ones. What? As I mentioned, I noticed that the tents used by the injured soldiers are in terrible condition. They dont appear capable of effectively shielding against the cold or rain, and thats a problem. The injured soldiers need to rest asfortably as possible to conserve their energy. What absurdity is Its not absurd. Additionally, I will enlist the assistance of the regr soldiers in the camp. The regr soldiers? Why? To organize the injured soldiers. Organize? Yes. Im contemting the implementation of a triage system. Given that we have a mix of patients with varying degrees of injuries, from severe to mild, we need to differentiate between patients requiring immediate treatment and those who can wait. We must establish treatment priorities since we have many patients and limited manpower. We also need to pay more attention to personal hygiene and supplies. I observed the condition of the food provided to the wounded earlier, and it was Stop! Raciel locked eyes with the battalionmander. Themanders face reddened. Heh, didnt you hear what I said earlier? Lets not exhaust each other. And now, what? Recing all the tents? Sorting patients? Hygiene? What about the food? Whats your game? Im trying to save the wounded. Heh. Youre just wearing everyone out. Do you think youre the first medical officer Ive encountered whos like you? Was there more? Of course, there were more. Plenty, in fact. They all arrive at the wounded camp with naive faces full of enthusiasm like yours. They talk about changing the environment and saving more lives. All they do is tire people out. I used to cooperate with them because, after all, saving even one more wounded person isnt a bad thing. But the end result? They all run away in less than a month. No exceptions. The battalionmander clenched his teeth. So, I dont want to cater to naive folks like you. People who have never touched blood or cared for dying people, but think they know everything because theyve read books. Its exhausting for both of us. Are you any different? Why arent you answering? Then lets make a bet. What kind of bet are you talking about? Save a wounded man right in front of me. Then Ill acknowledge your skills and cooperate fully. How about it? Is the battalionmander insane? While Raciel was thinking that, themander summoned a soldier and issued some orders. The soldier hurried out, and soon after, the area outside the tent became bustling with activity. And then Weve brought the wounded man as ordered. Soldiers carried the wounded man into the tent on a stretcher. It was evident that his condition was critical. The battalionmander pointed at the wounded man and said, Look, weve brought the wounded man you care so much about. Now, save him right here. Lets see your skills. The battalionmanders tone had progressively grown more arrogant. Did he believe he could intimidate Raciel? Did he hold him in such low regard? Augh escaped Raciels lips. Heh heh heh. He was the one who established a clinic. He was still the director of Star Pce Clinic. Anyway, seeing the attitude of the battalionmander, he became sure. The negotiations have broken down. To be honest, he had intended to give him onest chance. He had tried to cooperate as amicably as possible, which would have also made things easier for themander. The operational status of this camp, the supply state of various goods, the condition of equipment, the personnel trends of each units medical staffI assume that person knows it all. After all, he was the battalionmander. He was themanding officer. By cooperating, he wouldnt have to concern himself with such trivialities, allowing him to focus solely on treatment. So, he had evaluated the situation for cooperation and given themander onest opportunity. But just now, themander had squandered his chance. Now, the conclusion was clear. The course of action was also clear. Raciels gaze grew colder. Demian. He called out to Demian beside him and signaled towards the battalionmander. Restrain and detain him. Understood. Themand and execution urred simultaneously. As soon as he issued the order, Demian unsheathed his sword. The battalionmanders eyes widened. In the blink of an eye, Demian moved. Whoosh, bang! Ugh! Demians sword swung low, striking the battalionmanders ankles. His legs shot up into the air, and hended t on his back. Argh! The battalionmander writhed in pain. The nearby soldiers recoiled in shock. But they didnt have a chance to react. Demians drawn sword was already pointed at the fallen battalionmander. What in the world is going on?! The battalionmander yelled with a flushed face. Are you out of your mind? Huh! This is my camp, and Im themander here! Do you think you can get away with this, just being a mere military officer? He raged at him, spewing anger with his words. Raciel couldnt help but chuckle. Enough. Lets put an end to this. What? You think Ill stop just because you say so? Especially after you see this. He had heard enough of themanders tirade. He had no intention of following his lead any longer. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and disyed it to the fallen battalionmander. Do you see this? What is this? Its an authorization for theplete delegation of authority over the wounded soldiers camp, directly granted to me by the heir to the throne, Princess Adeline Boarne Anbouaz. And what now? Will you cooperate if I save the wounded? Will you acknowledge my abilities? Are you daring to assess me? Uh, well, thats Thats precisely why when I kindly requested you toe forward, you should haveplied. You should have willingly cooperated when I asked for it. Uh, I, thats Demian. Take him away. He had been patient enough. There was no need to listen to any more excuses. He gave Demian the order, and the battalionmanders flushed face turned dramatically pale. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 104 Chapter 104 The battalionmander was arrested. He had already been offered a final opportunity quite generously. However, he wasted it, and as a result, no one was inclined to provide him with any further leniency. So, did he put up a fight when they apprehended him? He was unexpectedly calm. Calm, you say? Yes. Raciel widened his eyes, appearing surprised. While observing his own crown prince, Demian nodded. He was sighing deeply, hanging his head as if it was all over. As if promotions and such no longer mattered. Well, thats not my concern. Raciel snorted. This was a medical camp dedicated to treating the wounded, nothing else. However, the battalionmander had neglected his duties to the point of almost sabotaging the operation. Despite suggestions for improvement, he had shown a defiant attitude. There was no room for forgiveness. Keep that man locked up for now. Ill inform the princesster. But for now Raciel nced around the tent that had essentially be his own since the former battalionmanders fall. The eyes of a few soldiers flickered with guilt; they were the ones who had brought in the wounded on the formermanders orders. Yet, Raciel didnt dwell on them. First, lets attend to these wounded. He assessed the condition of the injured soldiers. Hmm Their condition was far from good. They had been wounded by arrows: two in the arm and one in the side. The arrowheads had been carelessly removed, and the subsequent bandaging was shoddy at best. But when was thest time this bandage had been changed? Exaggerating a bit, it looked so dirty that it seemed like mold might soon grow on the dried, dark bloodstains. Raciels expression darkened. The wounds themselves arent fatal. However, the level of care is aplete disaster. At this rate, even those who could be saved might not make it. He sighed at the thought. Then, he recalled an episode from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. In it, the situation of wounded soldiers on the battlefield was briefly described as background information. The thought made him sigh even more. By Earths standards, this would roughly be around the 17th-18th centuries. Its no wonder Florence Nightingale became famous. She introduced a whole new approach to managing wounded soldiers on the battlefield. With renewed determination, he gave an order. Demian. Yes, Lord Rihan. Fetch Gardin immediately. Understood. Soon, Gardin entered the tent. Before showing any respect, he was startled; his eyes were already fixed on the wounded. Whats your assessment, Gardin? We need immediate emergency surgery, my lord. I thought as much. Indeed. Gardins eyes shone brighter than ever before. Raciel smiled to himself. Bringing in Gardin was the right choice. He had recently learned about Gardins expertise. A while ago, Gardin confided in me that surgery is his primary skill. He said he felt overwhelmed when other physicians fled, leaving only him by my side. It was a revtion he had only recently discovered. The novel hardly described Gardin, who was just an extra. Naturally, his specialty or his area of study in medicine was never mentioned. But if Gardin specializes in surgery hes exactly the talent I need. Raciel recalled his training in traditional Eastern medicine, which included surgery as part of the curriculum. However, that was the extent of it. He had never gained any surgical experience after graduating, which asionally posed a problem when he operated his own clinic. But if Gardin could provide him with surgical expertise? It can fill my most significant weakness. It will significantly broaden the range of treatments I can offer. If theyre going to treat wounded soldiers on a battlefield with all kinds of injuries, Gardins expertise will undoubtedly be essential. Thats why he had brought him here. It was time to assess his skills. So, can you perform emergency surgery right now? Yes, absolutely. He inquired with anticipation. Gardin confidently nodded and ced hisrge backpack on the table with a thud. He opened it and began neatly arranging his surgical tools on the table. However, the shape of these tools was somewhat unusual. Thump! The first tool that Gardin ced on the table was a surgical knife, but it bore no resemnce to the scalpelsmonly seen in dramas or movies. If he had to make aparison, it looked more like A scythe? Why is the de so long andrge? It even seems curved forward like a machete. It didnt resemble typical surgical equipment at all. Instead, it appeared more like a knife one might use for a gruesome purpose. Perhaps sensing his astonishment, Gardin sheepishly smiled and exined, Its a knife for cutting flesh. Its used for slicing through skin and muscle during amputation surgeries. Is that so? Yes, my lord. The de is heavy and curved forward, which allows me to slice through muscle in one clean, efficient cut. And this is Thump! Next, a saw appeared on the table, and it, too, had an unconventional appearance. It looks like amon handsaw that Ive seen in hardware stores. It bore a striking resemnce to the two-pronged hand saws sold in hardware stores. Gardin continued, still looking somewhat shy. This is a bone saw. Human bones are incredibly hard. When we need to perform limb amputation surgery quickly, this tool is absolutely necessary. Less time means less pain and blood loss. For your reference, I can cut through a long bone in under three minutes. Under three minutes? Yes, I have to be that fast if I want to save at least three out of four patients. Ah, and this is a more specialized tool. Thump! The next tool that appeared resembled an electric saw. Actually, it was an electric saw with a manual handle attached to one side. Feeling somewhat disoriented, he had to inquire, Thats not a chainsaw, is it? How did you know? Its a manually operated saw. Its used to cut through difficult areas of bone or the skull. Its actually one of the newest models. Great. Of course, and this, this, and these Thump, thump, thump! Various other intimidating tools were disyed, each with its own unsettling appearance. From an arrowhead remover that tears open flesh to extract arrowheads, to a leech-like device that draws a significant amount of blood, to an instrument that resembles an execution device designed to prate skulls, and even a rectal dtor to forcibly open the human anus. Amid Gardins awkward expression, these various surgical tools bashfully made themselves known. Upon seeing all of this, Raciel couldnt help but ask unintentionally, Youre not nning to extract top-secret base locations with these, are you? Pardon? Ah, never mind. It was a jest. Just caught me off guard. Anyway, what about anesthesia? He inquired. If one intends to use such brutal surgical tools, anesthesia would be crucial. That much was evident. Yet Gardin replied as if anesthesia wasnt part of the equation. Anesthesia whats that? What? Ah, do you mean a way to lessen the patients pain? We certainly have methods for that. Really? What a relief. He had a sinking feeling when he asked about anesthesia. Raciel breathed a sigh of relief. However, that relief was premature. Typically, we mix opium with strong rum for the patient to ingest. What? It helps the patient be unresponsive, you see. Its better than undergoing surgery fully conscious. The chances ofplications or death are reduced. But in my experience, rum isnt particrly good. So, I use another method. Another method? What kind? Please. Something conventional. Raciel held onto a glimmer of hope, but that hope was dashed soon enough. Vodka is much better. Add some lemon juice and mix in opium. So, whats the improvement? The patients seem to prefer the taste. Faced with a daunting surgery, even a slightly tastier drink can muster a bit of courage. F*ck. Pardon? Never mind, just forget I said anything. So, what kind of surgery are you nning? An amputation. What? Im considering starting by removing the arm that was hit by the arrow. Forget it. Yes? Put those surgical tools away. Raciel ordered sternly. Gardin hesitated. You want me to put the surgical tools away. Does that mean youre not performing the surgery? No, it means you cant. Why? I cant just kill the patient outright. He asserted firmly. The surgery Gardin was contemting was brutal. It involved administering alcohol mixed with drugs. And the wounded soldier they were treating he was already in dire straits. He had a high fever, possibly due to infection at the injury site. His physical strength was at an all-time low, and his immune system was likelypromised. In these circumstances, proceeding with surgery without anesthesia? Especially an abrupt amputation? The patient wont survive. The chances of death are extremely high. Raciel gritted his teeth. He hadnte here to subject living people to such treatments. He wanted to save wounded soldiers through effective medical care. So what now? Anesthesia is indispensable. Whether its an amputation, suturing a wound, or any medical procedure, anesthesia is crucial. He had everyone, including Gardin, leave the room. Left alone with the injured soldier, he began a passionate internal debate and contemtion. I need anesthesia. It must be efficient, quick, and safe. The method Gardin had suggested was absolutely out of the question. So what other options were there? Could he adapt acupuncture? What about the neural disruption techniques he had used on Anis and the werewolf nurses? No, that wont work. That technique merely shifts the sensation of pain from one part of the body to another, but it doesnt eliminate pain itself. It merely transferred the pain from the arm to another location. The pain itself wouldnt vanish. There was no anesthetic effect. What about the paralyzing poison I acquired from Kusman? No, the risks outweigh its ability to block sensory nerves. What should he do? What method should he use to anesthetize the injured soldier? He was deep in thought. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs sense your concerns and show interest.] [Heart: Anesthesia? To alleviate pain? Huh, a feeble spirit. Cant you endure it with determination and bravery?] [Lungs: If pain is inevitable, why not savor it?] [Large Intestine: If youre stuck, why not attempt to use a skill? What are you saving your HP for?] [Your internal organs have encouraged you and granted you 100 HP.] [Your current HP: 4,900] Right. Skills. There might be a way. Raciel contemted the possibility and clicked his tongue. Darn it, I wanted to save my HP. HP was not something easily obtained. It was a precious resource. He didnt want to squander it. Ideally, he wanted to use it to raise the level of a skill in a truly desperate situation. But now? The top priority is to sessfully anesthetize. If that wasnt achievable, nothing else mattered. All the effort ofing all the way to Anbouaz would be in vain. So, lets explore every potential method. Raciel resolved. Each time I unlocked a skill, I gained unexpected additional features. When I obtained the Palpation skill, I acquiredprehensive check-ups and meridian scanning. When I got the Herbal Decoction skill, I could precisely analyze ingredients and effects. And the Medical Billing skill? It provided the most valuable option of gaining additional lifetime. So, lets do it. The skills that he could unlock. Among them, there might be something useful for anesthesia. He sensed the possibility. Determined, he opened the system window. The response was immediate. Ding-dong! [Viewing the list of avable skills to unlock.] Whoa-! His eyes lit up. The message stretched from top to bottom. A neat list appeared before his eyes. [1. Acupuncture] [2. Cupping] [3. Moxibustion] [4. Drug Identification] [5. Herb Search] [6] [7] So far, it was the same as before. But at the very bottom, a new option appeared. [7. My Hand is a Healing Hand] Huh? While gazing at the list, Raciel paused. Suddenly, one possibility shed in his mind like a bolt of lightning. Could it be? (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 105 Chapter 105 When I was young, my grandmother or mother used to do this. If I had a stomach ache, they would gently rub my belly while singing grandmas hand is a healing hand. Childhood memories came rushing back. The wrinkled backs of his grandmothers hands and her palms were like magic hands. No matter what hurt or where it hurt, if his grandmother would gently caress him, the pain vanished as if by magic. So this skill, My Hand is a Healing Hand, could be the perfect skill for my current situation. Cant I get a little preview or description? That would certainly aid in making a selection. Just as he pondered, a new message appeared. [The list of skills that can be unlocked is constantly updated.] [New skills can be generated whenever you acquire new talents, techniques, or knowledge.] [Over the past few months, you have taken care of numerous patients with sincerity. Through your genuine effort and care, you have gained a new ability to understand and alleviate the patients pain.] [The My Hand Is a Healing Hand skill will greatly aid in alleviating patients pain.] This is it! Raciel clenched his fist. His intuition was correct. There was no more reason to hesitate. Good. Select! Based on the description, it was evident. This skill was closely rted to anesthesia. With conviction, he chose the My Hand is a Healing Hand skill. Ding Dong! [You have selected skill number 7: My Hand Is a Healing Hand.] [Cost to unlock skill (3rd time): 4,500 HP] [Do you wish to unlock this skill? YES/NO] What? 4,500 HP? The cost left him speechless. So unlocking this will deplete all my HP at once? He hesitated for a moment. Originally, he nned to unlock My Hand is a Healing Hand, check its options, and then maybe unlock acupuncture or other skills. But that seemed impossible now. All the HP Ive gathered so far is just 4,900. If I unlock one skill, Ill be drained. No more chances left. What should he do? Should he proceed and unlock My Hand is a Healing Hand? Other skills like acupuncture probably have lots of useful features too. But are they rted to anesthesia? No guarantee. So, it would be the wisest choice to invest in My Hand is a Healing Hand, which has at least some relevance to anesthesia. Lets go! After a brief but intense moment of reflection, Raciel confidently selected YES. Ding Dong! [Your experience in caring for patients has been transformed into a skill.] [The My Hand Is a Healing Hand skill has been unlocked.] [Your remaining HP: 400] All the diligently saved HP had been depleted, reced by a new skill. [Skill Name: My Hand is a Healing Hand Lv.1] [By gently stroking the targets body, you can alleviate pain. It can provide localized anesthesia-level pain relief. The intensity, range, and duration of anesthesia will increase with skill level growth. (Activation condition: Must continuously and urately chant the spell My hand is a healing hand~ My hand is a healing hand~ Eh Hey Ya~. Note: If the spells tune is not clear and melodious enough for the anesthesia subject and others nearby to hear, the anesthesia effect will be nullified.)] Ive done it! The bold choice he made resulted in a skill called Healing Hands. Raciel, who had carefully read the entire description, silently cheered. His hunch had proven correct. This immediate anesthetic skill was indeed reliable. Furthermore, the effect was astounding. This can be applied on the spot with just bare hands, without any drugs or tools. Essentially, my hand has be a portable anesthesia device. Raciel was amazed. That wasnt the only astonishing aspect. Theres no danger associated with the anesthesia either. When administering anesthesia in a hospital, the patients weight and health condition must be checked, and the medication amount must be carefully adjusted; otherwise, it could lead to a medical ident. But with this, all I need to do is touch. Even the conditions for the anesthesia to wear off were straightforward. He just had to stop touching! This is almost like a cheat code. You can apply it anytime, there are no side effects or risks, and you can even control when the anesthesia wears off. This was a skill that any anesthetist in any hospital, not just in the country but globally, would go to great lengths to acquire. Of course, there is a condition that I have to sing a strange song. Well, thats a small price to pay. A hint of embarrassment. For such an incredible ability, the cost was minimal. Raciel looked up, pondering this. Gardin, who had been diligently packing things away, came into view. Was it because he had mentioned earlier that surgery was impossible at the moment, and performing it without anesthesia could endanger the patients life? Gardin appears gloomy. Perhaps he felt that his skills had not been acknowledged. Well, it was time to clear up the misunderstanding. The situation had changed. Anesthesia now seemed possible. Gardin. Yes, My Lord? Forget what I said earlier. Raciel offered a faint smile. Wait a moment. I believe we may be able to administer anesthesia to the patient. What do you mean? Should I fetch alcohol and opium? No, just retrieve the surgical instruments. Excuse me? Gardin tilted his head, seemingly unable to adjust to this abrupt change in attitude. But Raciel didnt delve into detailed exnations just yet. First, he needed to verify the skills performance. He approached the injured soldier and knelt down on one knee. Can you respond? Uh The wounded soldier barely opened his eyes. Raciel looked into his eyes and asked, Whats your name? Tie Tieri A low-ranking soldier Alright, good. Low-ranking soldier Tieri. Gardin and I are going to treat you now. Are you going to cut off my arm? No, thats not the n. I intend to avoid any form of amputation. But it will hurt wont it? Ill make it painless. Even the thought is appreciated Low-ranking soldier Tieri managed a faint smile, though it carried a hint of bitter irony. He had been an ordinary farmer, but then war had swept through the country. He was conscripted by the lord and thrust onto the battlefield. Then he discovered who the enemy was. They were fellow countrymen, farmers like him, forced into service as rebels. It was a bewildering situation, but he fought on, driven by the simple desire to survive. He fought, gasped for breath, and ultimately found himself pierced by arrowsthree of them, to be precise. He had been transported here on a cart, and until that point, there had been a glimmer of hope. How fortunate he hadnt perished. How fortunate the arrowheads hadnt pierced his vital organs. How fortunate that only his skin and muscles were torn, sparing his life. How fortunate he could receive treatment. How fortunate he could express his gratitude afterward. It had all been in vain. Being alive was, in reality, a misfortune. Receiving treatment seemed like an extravagant dream. Because he was alive, he would gradually endure the pain that he would have been spared had he died earlier. Today will be no different. Tieri closed his eyes, not anticipating anything. The spot where the arrow had struck throbbed even with his shallow breaths. And then, it urred. Someone touched his side. When he reopened his eyes, he saw the rotund military officer, who had spoken to him a moment ago, wearing a peculiar smile. Hush. Im about to administer anesthesia. What? My hands are healing hands. My hands are healing hands. ? His side felt peculiar, as if the pain were slowly fading away. Whats happening? Initially, he thought it was a hallucination. He was on the verge of bing incensed at the military officer who had abruptly begun rubbing his side and singing a strange tune. Was this how they mocked someone who was dying without treatment? He was on the brink of losing his temper. But then, out of nowhere. Completely unexpectedly. His side no longer hurt. Whats going on Ever since he had been struck by the arrow and had it crudely removed, his side had been in constant agony, a burning pain that persisted all day. But now, the pain had dramatically lessened! It was definitely not a hallucination! What in the world What did you just do? He couldnt help but inquire. The portly military officer responded with an enigmatic smile. My hands are healing hands~ Hows that? Does your side still ache? My hands are heeeeeealing hands~ Uh it doesnt hurt its still a bit sore, but its much better than the burning pain I had before. How did you do this? Theres a way. My hands are healing hands~ My hands are heeeaaaling haands~ Eh Hey Ya~ Injured soldier Tieri sealed his lips. It was real. He didnt understand the secret, but the pain vanished as the plump military officer rubbed his side. It was undeniable. He owed this officer his gratitude. Tieri involuntarily swallowed his dry saliva. A smile yed on Raciels lips. It worked! This skill definitely has an effect. In fact, while massaging Tieris side, he was discreetly pinching the surrounding area with his other hand. It wasnt a gentle pinch; it was firm enough to leave a bruise and a mark. But the injured soldier remained unaware of this. This indicated that the skills effect was exceptional. This should confirm it. He grew more certain. He raised his head. Gardin? Yes, your Hig Uh, I mean, my lord. Anesthesia isplete. Lets proceed with the surgery. First, we need to clean and stitch the wound that hasnt been properly treated. Ah, alright. Gardin quickly began preparing for the surgery. Meanwhile, Raciels calming gestures and peculiar tunes continued. The expression on injured soldier Tieris face rxed as he was liberated from the pain. The apprehension he had felt about the impending surgery disappeared. And among the medical staff in the camp Did you see that? Yeah, I saw it. So, that guy, he made the person in pain not feel it with just his hands, right? Seems like it. So thats what weve only heard about Its a miracle. That officer performed a miracle! The divine miracle, something that only a very few chosen saints could aplish. The misconception(?) that Raciel had performed such a miracle began to circte among the soldiers. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 106 Chapter 106 Surgeries can be quite daunting. This sentiment is shared by many individuals. Even with the administration of anesthesia, the apprehension remains. What if you happen to be one of the rare cases where anesthesia doesnt take effect as expected? What if you regain consciousness in the midst of the surgical procedure? What if an unforeseenplication arises, and you never regain consciousness after being anesthetized? These are the concerns and uncertainties that anyone scheduled for surgery is likely to ponder at least once. I recall a friend from Korea, Moon Baek, briefly mentioning waking up during a surgical procedure, am I correct? This urred during a galldder removal surgery. He recounted how his eyes fluttered open in the midst of it. In a groggy state, he uttered, Um, doctor, and the physician promptly administered further anesthesia to ensure his continued unconsciousness. In any case, surgery, which involves cutting and sewing flesh, is inherently unsettling, even when anesthesia is employed. It gives rise to various concerns and anxieties. Consider a time before the advent of anesthesia. So, youre going to be okay now, right? My hands are healing hands~ My hands are healing hands~ Um, alright Whats going to happen to me now? Are you going to amputate my arm? No. My hands are healing hands Private Tieri still appeared apprehensive, despite the fact that the healing touch had numbed the pain in his shoulder. His worry was understandable. Raciel continued to sing to maintain the skill. My hands are healing hands~ I wont amputate, just suture. The necrotic tissue is there because they didnt properly cleanse the wound when they removed the arrowhead. Tieri seemed reassured. Meanwhile, Raciels hands were in motion, stroking the area around the arm ted for surgery. Perhaps as a result, Ding-dong! [You have sessfully alleviated the patient Tieris pain. This initial experience has be valuable nourishment for the growth of your skill.] [The level of the My hand is a healing hand skill has increased.] A wee message appeared. Ah, faster progress than I anticipated. Anesthesia efficiency has improved by 20%. As an experiment, Raciel pinched Tieris arm more firmly than before. Pinch! Tieri didnt flinch. He still appeared numb. Its certainly working. But lets not becent. After all, the My hand is a healing hand skill only provided localized anesthesia. He nced around to divert the patients attention and spotted something suitable on the lieutenants makeshift table. A chessboard. Private Tieri, do you enjoy ying chess? Yes? Do you like chess or not? My hands are healing hands~ I, I can y a bit. But why I thought it would be a good idea to have a game of chess during the surgery. Raciel grinned and decided to share an anecdote that had suddenlye to mind with Tieri. Long, long ago, there was an ancient and forgotten kingdom called Han. My hands are healing hands. Have you ever heard of it? No Well, during the kingdoms decline, there was a general named Guan Yu. My hands are healing hands~ He was struck by a poisoned arrow in his arm, nearly in the same spot as yours. Is that so? Yes. My hands are healing hands~ But Guan Yu had it tougher. The poison had infiltrated his bone. Thus, he had to undergo a surgery to scrape the bone clean of the poison. Without any anesthesia. Is that possible? Yes, he calmly yed a game akin to chess during the surgery. My hands are healing hands~ So, today, were going to do something simr. Lets y chess while we operate. Does anyone here know how to y chess? He scanned the soldiers around him. One of them timidly raised a hand. Excellent. Take a seat. The chessboard was set up. Raciel assisted Tieri in sitting up carefully while maintaining his My hands is a healing hand skill. He cast a quick nce to the side, where Gardin met his gaze and nodded. It was an unspoken confirmation that all preparations for the surgery had beenpleted. Lets get started, then. Upon hearing this statement, the injured Tieri seemed to take notice. He moved a pawn on the chessboard. Simultaneously, Gardin raised his knife. It appeared less like a surgical instrument and more like a tool suited for torture or ughter. However, Tieri remained oblivious to it, his attention fixed on the chessboard. Furthermore, Raciel intentionally blocked Tieris line of sight with the arm he was using for the My hand is a healing hand skill. People are significantly influenced by what they see. Even if local anesthesia has been administered, the sight of such a menacing and brutal-looking knife could trigger the imagination of the knife slicing through their flesh, causing psychological distress. If anything were to go wrong, it could disrupt the My hand is a healing hand skill, causing excruciating pain to flood in all at once. In that scenario? Whether it was surgery or not, it would be a disaster. There was a reason why ying chess during the procedure was rmended. I need to prevent him from fixating on those menacing tools. Raciel diligently used the My hand is a healing hand skill to skillfully obstruct Tieris view. Meanwhile, he discreetly observed Gardins surgical procedure. Gardins surgical skills were Swoosh, swish! Wow. An involuntary exmation escaped Raciel. Gardins skills were faster, more precise, and tidier than he had expected. Even from the perspective of someone trained in modern education, it was highly impressive. Its not just cutting. Before suturing, he meticulously removed only the adipose tissue beneath the cut skinyer. This effectively prevents the spread of bacteria and infection. Truly professional. The suturing process that followed was equally precise. Click, ck! The needle holder moved with remarkable dexterity, akin to watching the deft handling of chopsticks by a Korean. This precision allowed the needle to align theyers perfectly for stitching. Muscle with muscle. Dermis with dermis. Epidermis with epidermis. Eachyer was seamlessly aligned during the suturing process. Even the suturing techniques were exceptional. Is that? Raciel squinted as he recognized a familiar technique. It reminded him of his practice in medical school. Is that a vertical mattress suture? Indeed, it was. This technique minimized scarring by everting the edges of the wound. Wow. Someone in this era could perform such a technique, and it was Gardin. He was undoubtedly a surgical specialist with extraordinary skills. Gardin didnt be the royal physician at a young age for nothing. Seeing him now, he seemed like apletely different person. While admiring Gardins expertise, the final knot was tied. Not long ago, the wound had been ragged, torn during the hurried removal of the arrowhead, with the skin and surrounding tissue suffering damage. Necrosis had started to set in. But now? Itspletely neat. The wound was meticulously stitched together. Stitch by stitch, like a finely crafted Italian handbag, the suturing was wless, with no margin for error. If it healed properly, the resulting scar would be minimal. Now then, lets proceed to the side. Yes, my Lord. After tending to the arm, the next area to address was the side. Fortunately, the condition of the side torso was simr to that of the arm. The arrowhead had not prated the internal organs or the peritoneum. This meant that there was no need to resort to more gruesome surgical instruments. Gardins precise suturing skills could be fully put to use. Naturally, Raciels healing skill was also working at its full capacity. If the wound had reached the internal organs or the peritoneum, it would have been a challenging situation. He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. His healing skill was limited to providing local anesthesia, which could numb only the skin and nearby muscle tissue, not deeper areas. Raciel was once again mindful of his own limitations. However, the soldiers observing him had a different perspective. Is that portly military officer for real? Can that wounded soldier being operated on really not feel pain? Hes ying chess so calmly while having his flesh cut. Is this even possible? How can he be soposed while the needle is piercing his torso? And so it went. Raciels healing skill and his well-timed distraction. Thanks to this, the injured soldier, Tieri, was deeply engrossed in the chess match, almost forgetting about the surgery. As luck would have it, the soldier he was ying against was equally skilled. The unexpected duel on the chessboard further captivated Tieri. His serene demeanor astounded the onlookers. Did he secretly get him intoxicated? You fool, didnt you see? Thats not the case. Well, thats true, but Thats a miracle. Im sure of it. Yes, I think so too. If he can do that without alcohol or drugs, then its a miracle that only a select few saints could perform. Right? We are witnessing something extraordinary. Yes. But that song hes humming is a bit Bizarre, indeed. Amidst the soldiers hushed discussions, the surgery on the side torso was sessfullypleted. A contented smile graced Raciels lips. How are you feeling? Tieri simply swallowed hard. Was it less painful than you expected? Yes. But, is it already done? Yes. Dont get toofortable just yet. What truly matters begins now. Preventing infection and facilitating recovery are paramount. Moving forward, its crucial to rest adequately and eat well. When the supplies arrive in two days, Ill also prescribe some herbal medicine for you. Understand? Tieri gazed at Raciel in silence. Who was this plump military officer, and why was he doing all of this? He had been curious from the moment he was brought here, through the bet between the battalionmander and the officer, and even during the surgery. Why are you treating me so kindly? To be honest, he had no clue. From the lord who had brought him to the battlefield to the people in this wounded soldier camp, everyone saw him as just another burden, a wounded soldier consuming supplies while lying down. But here was someone different. Officer, youre the first person who has treated me differently. Youve tended to my wounds,forted me, and given me proper care. So, Im You dont understand? To be honest, no. Tieri nodded. He wanted to know. Why had the officer treated him? Tieri thought that knowing in advance might help him prepare emotionally. However, the officers response took him by surprise. Is there a specific reason to save someone? Yes? Youre an injured soldier, and Im an officer responsible for treating injured soldiers. Isnt that reason enough? Do I need any more special justification to care for you? So, stop overthinking and focus on resting. Understand? In reality, this was a lie. The actual reason for treating wounded soldiers? Well, it was certainly for the bonus life! He was doing all of this just for that reason! However, he kept the truth to himself. Sometimes, ignorance can bringfort. Anyway, if your questions have been answered, thats it. I need to check on other wounded soldiers. Goodbye. He responded casually, his expression unchanged. He believed that was the end of the conversation. But then, something unexpected urred. Heh. Heh. Th-Thank Thank you. Tieri began to cry. How much suppressed emotion had built up within him, or how deep had his previous fears and despair been? As soon as he finished speaking, Tieri wept like a child. And it wasnt just Tieri. Hu, Hoo Ahem! Hmm! The camp attendants also quickly averted their gazes. They wiped their eyes with awkward gestures. What was happening? Could they all be moved by his lie? As Raciel felt a twinge of guilt, An unexpected message appeared. Ding-dong! [Patient Tieri and the surrounding attendants have been deeply affected and touched by your words. They have encountered a new perspective and understanding about wounded soldiers for the first time in their lives.] [The sincerity of your words is irrelevant.] [From now on, your story will spread throughout the wounded soldier camp.] [You will be revered as a saint by everyone in the wounded soldier camp.] [Furthermore, you will be forever remembered in the history of medicine as the pioneer of a groundbreaking new approach to the care of wounded soldiers on the battlefield.] [As a special reward for this significant social, historical, and medical achievement, you will receive an additional 5,000 HP.] [Your current HP: 5,400] It was just a well-crafted lie, yet it brought tremendous rewards. His heart raced as he came to a poignant realization. So, from now on Should I tell even more convincing lies? A mischievous smile spread across Raciels lips. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 107 Chapter 107 [A special reward of 5,000 HP will be given for such exceptional social and historical medical achievements.] [Your current HP: 5,400] Heh heh, heh heh heh. Raciel chuckled heartily. He had fabricated a weak excuse tofort the injured soldier, as he couldnt find the right words to say. Whats unusual about a military medic tending to a wounded soldier? It seemed perfectly normal, at least in his own understanding. However, who could have foreseen this chain reaction? The rewards didnt end there. Ding Dong! A refreshing notification sound pierced through his senses, like a gentle breeze on a hot day, followed by a message that graced his tired eyes. [Today, you have disyed an extraordinary ability,pletely relieving the pain of the wounded soldier.] [Multiple camp attendants witnessed your actions.] [The camp attendants were astonished.] [The camp attendants now regard you with a gaze filled with genuine awe.] [News of your achievement will spread throughout the wounded soldiers camp, and your reputation will soar dramatically.] [You have earned 76 GDP.] [Current Status Points (GDP) = 98] [Number of lie vouchers avable for purchase with current GDP: 0] Huh. He thought that was the end of it. But the reward parade didnt stop. Ding Dong! [You have sessfully performed surgery on the patient, Tieri, by actively utilizing your My hand is a Healing Hand skill. This marks the first sessful application of your My hand is a Healing Hand skill, significantly impacting its growth.] [Level of My hand is a Healing Hand skill increases.] [Skill Name: My hand is a Healing Hand Lv.3] [You can delicately touch the targets body to reduce pain. Local anesthesia level pain reduction (+40%) is avable.] Up to this point, it was simr to previous level-up messages. But the following notification was different. [A new anesthesia ability has been unlocked due to the increase in skill level.] [Brachial plexus anesthesia is now essible.] [You can now expertly anesthetize the entire arm area by gently touching the brachial plexus nerves located in the shoulder (trapezius muscle, above and below the corbone, armpit).] [When performing anesthesia with this skill, the usual side effects and risks associated with brachial plexus anesthesia plications to the central nervous system, heart rate drop, cardiac arrest, arrhythmia, pneumothorax, diaphragmatic nerve paralysis causing respiratory distress) will not ur. So please use it freely.] What? His eyes widened instantly. Brachial plexus anesthesia? Just by touching? Is this for real? Initially, he thought it was a jest. But after reading it multiple times, it was undeniably genuine. Incredible. Raciel clenched his fist discreetly. Brachial plexus anesthesia was a technique to anesthetize the nerve trunk passing through the shoulder, effectively numbing the arm. It offered the significant advantage of avoiding physically taxing general anesthesia whilepletely numbing the arm. Now I dont need gimmicks like chess or blindfolds when operating on arm areas. Even the toughest soldier wont feel a thing while watching his arm get stitched. Plus, there are nomon side effects. Is this a dream or reality? His heart raced with excitement. Reaching level 3 and unlocking brachial plexus anesthesia hinted at the possibility of more valuable anesthesia techniques at higher levels. Perhaps epidural anesthesia or spinal anesthesia. Maybe even general anesthesia in the future. If that became a reality, his range of treatments would expand dramatically. Its like moving from a cramped studio apartment to a spacious 34-pyeong apartment in Gangnam! Not just simple surgeries. Advanced, hardcore cupping. Or acupuncture using wasp stingers. Full-body adjustments like building with Lego blocks. Various treatments could now potentially benefit from My hand is a Healing Hand anesthesia. So, this is an opportunity. I should umte skill experience points while I can. Raciel steeled himself. Gardin roamed the wounded camp with his team. He prioritized treating those who could immediately undergo surgery, diligently cleaning and applying anesthesia to their wounds. However, he refrained from performing amputations. ording to the standards of the era, some soldiers appeared to require immediate amputations due to their injuries, often from stabbings or cuts sustained in battle. Each time such a wounded soldier was brought in, Gardin expressed his disapproval. Your I mean, my lord? If we dont amputate immediately, the wound will be infected. We cannot. But I have a n, so begin by cleaning and suturing the wound. Very well. Gardin reluctantly consented. In reality, he wasnt entirely mistaken. Given the medical practices of this world, amputation might indeed be the best course of action for these types of injuries. Such a situation had even urred in the battlefields of Earths recent history. Even during the Napoleonic Wars or the American Civil War in the 1800s, amputated limbs piled up in field hospitals. Not necessarily due to gunshot or stabs, but wounds would fester and turn necrotic even from a simple scratch. This condition was precisely what South Korean military personnel would have referred to as cellulitis at least once. In modern society, these wounds could heal with a bit of Madecassol or antiseptic. Back then, it resulted in a surge of amputation surgeries or even death due to infection. Perhaps Gardin shared this concern. However, Raciel brushed it aside, as he had other ns. Thats why Ive summoned both of you separately. Two days had psed since the urgent surgeries werepleted. Raciel had called Gardin and Demian into themanders tent and addressed them. First, Gardin. Yes, my lord. While Im absent, improve the camps sanitation. Rece all the tents, bedding, and clothing in use by the wounded with new ones. We received supplies today, so it should be feasible. Also, pay attention to enhancing their diets. Understood. But you mentioned your absence? I need to depart for a while, with Demian. Yes? Gardin furrowed his brow, and Demian squinted suspiciously. Where do you intend to take me? To a rather dark ce. Its absolutely necessary. Otherwise, all the wounded will perish. Raciel offered a faint smile. That was the stark reality. Most of the soldiers wounds had been merely sutured. Left untreated, most would sumb to infections, nullifying the purpose of the emergency surgeries. We require medicine to prevent and treat infections. However, antibiotics are unavable here. So, whats our solution? We must create them ourselves. Antibiotics? Gardin and Demian blinked and exchanged puzzled looks. It was a type of medicine they had never encountered before, evidently highly effective. While they shared nces, Raciel continued. Hence, we must gather the materials to produce antibiotics. Cant we simply request supplies or purchase them? No, we cannot. Obtaining them that way is impossible because people here are not yet familiar with these materials. It was a fact. The substance he sought to acquire was something that people in this ce still had no knowledge of. It would only be known several yearster. It was the same in Devil sword Emperor. Suddenly, a scene from thetter part of the novel shed through his mind. It was likely the episode involving the Elf Kingdom, where unique herbs were utilized by the elves for treatments. Thanks to these herbs, Demian, who had been on the brink of death, had been saved. Raciel intended to implement what he had observed back then. Since when? Since leaving the Star Pce and traveling in the carriage to Anbouaz. All the while, I had been contemting and strategizing about preventing infections among the soldiers. He was en route to tend to the wounded on the battlefield. Naturally, trauma care and corresponding infection prevention measures were necessary. So he contemted and came up with a n. Anyway, thats why Im considering leaving immediately. Right now? Demian appeared puzzled and inquired further. Raciel responded as though it were self-evident. We must act promptly. Gathering the ingredients will take time, and even more time will be needed for preparation once we have them. Meanwhile, what about the wounded? What about their injuries? Will they just patiently wait for us? So thats why were departing right away. Remember, patients dont wait for us. But, my lord, you What about me? Antibiotics? Ive never heard of such a medicine. Furthermore, you mentioned its made from unknown ingredients. How do you know about this? Suspicious, isnt it? I read about it in a book. Satisfied? Which book was it? I dont recall. What? Why? Whats the issue? Demian had no more questions, but he didnt retract his skeptical gaze from Raciel. The crown prince is asionally a bit peculiar. That was why he had abruptly decided to travel all the way to Anbouaz. Like soothing the wounded with unusual songs alone, to alleviate their pain. And, above all It seems as if hes looking at this world from a higher perspective, just like now. There were moments when he emitted such an aura. A sensation as if he had already lived in this world once before, or perhaps had the experience of observing this ce from a higher realm. asionally, he emitted such inexplicable vibes. Just like now. However, Demian soonposed his expression. Instead of disying suspicion, he responded as usual. Understood. Ill apany you. However However? Youll need to offer me extrapensation. Deal. The negotiation (if you could call it that) was sessful. They promptly began preparations for their departure. Alongside Demian, Raciel also took six knights assigned by the princess. They also enlisted a soldier familiar with the regions geography. Thus, a total of nine individuals left the camp. Lead us to the most remote forest in this area, where human footprints are scarce, Raciel instructed the guide soldier. The soldier took the lead as they departed from the camp and crossed a stream and a field. They ascended a gentle slope of a mountain, and as the forest grew thicker, the trailsmonly used by people gradually became scarce. Nevertheless, they pressed onward, and eventually, even the remote cabins asionally used by hunters vanished from view. Whoosh The deep forest resembled an abyss. A realm where only the wind and asional bird calls filled the air. No other familiar signs were present. This brings back memories of Gangwon Province. Suddenly, he recalled a trip to Hongcheon. During that journey, he and his senior had gone trekking and unintentionally veered off course. Was it a path from Hongcheon to Yanggu, seldom trodden even by soldiers? The ambiance here was such that one could imagine encountering a wild boar from the Ural Mountains and giving it a high-five. The scenery bore a resemnce to what they were currently witnessing. It appeared the group shared a simr sentiment. It seems like were venturing too deep, remarked Demian, surveying their surroundings. His tone conveyed concern. In a ce like this, we might stumble upon monsters. Especially in such an isted area, we might inadvertently encroach on an Apfros nest territory. Yeah, quite possibly. Yes. Thats why everyones feeling uneasy. Demians observation held merit. The knights dispatched by the princess and the guide soldiers were also on edge. They watched the group, curious about their destination. I need to reassure everyone. Raciel offered a faint smile. He addressed the group. No need for everyone to fret. An Apfros nest? Yes, in a secluded forest like this, we could enter their domain. Apfros are creatures that have extended their colonies from the central region of Magentano to the central-northern region of Anbouaz. Silent nods of agreement followed. He bestowed upon them a more confident smile. But you all know, right? Apfros are generally cid unless someone disrupts their nest orrvae. Thatsmon knowledge, isnt it? Everyone nodded once more. They shared simr thoughts. At least that portly military officer appears familiar with the behavior of the giant honeybee-like Apfros. So, he wont do anything reckless. It seems he has a n given the way he talks. Thus, they wouldnt face grave danger. Some of the anxiety dissipated, and they felt somewhat relieved. Yet, at that very moment, Raciels smile took on an ominous quality. So, Up to this point, it was all about: Preventing and treating infections. Now, the next course of action is From here on out, were going to procure the queenrva of the Apfros nest through abduction. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 108 Chapter 108 [Heart: From this point forward, we intend to abduct the queenrva, hahaha.] [Lungs: Hmmm, hahaha.] [Large Intestine: Impressive, our conscience, hahaha.] [Liver: This individual, this individual, deliberately remained silent until now and then chose to inform. Observe that demeanor, hahaha.] [Stomach: Well, if we disclose it prematurely, they might escape, hahaha.] [The Five Viscera and Six Bowels critique your character and deduct HP as if offering rice cakes to someone they disdain.] [The Five Viscera and Six Bowels have deducted 100 HP.] [Your current HP: 5,500] Theres no rebuttal to such criticism. Raciel intentionally kept them in the dark until now. If he had informed them earlier, they might have all refused to apany him or insisted on returning to the camp. Well, anyway, the n is a resounding sess. A sinister grin spread across Raciels lips. Hispanions were all immersed in a cauldron of horror. Its not unreasonable. Apfros, the giant honey bee, is a fairly strong monster, even when its outside its usual habitat deep in the forest. Each individual bee might not be much of a threat, but they be formidable when they swarm. Suddenly, a recollection from the novel Devil Sword Emperor shed in his mind. It was in thetter half of the book that Apfros was mentioned. Apfros is, in truth, a docile creature. Theyre not typically aggressive. Even if humans or intruders approach their hive, they rarely attack first. But if you touch their nest orrva, its a different story. They be more aggressive than any other monster, pursuing the intruder to the death, ignoring even their own lives. Especially if you mess with the queenrva? That goes without saying. It was an extremely perilous undertaking. But it was more than worthwhile. The substance secreted by the queenrva possesses remarkable antibacterial properties. Thats what Devil Sword Emperor novel stated. Demian survived thanks to that secretion, and the book described how elves extracted it in detail. They used their unique animalmunication abilities. Of course, I cant do that, but Ill find my own way to extract it. So, he had to obtain the queenrva. If he could extract that substance? He could save many wounded soldiers in the camp from infection. He could rescue them. He could extend their lives significantly. He could revel in a luxurious royal lifestyle. He felt a rush of excitement for a moment. But Raciel quicklyposed himself. This was just the beginning. He lifted his head, gazing at hispanions who were still in shock. Why do you all look like that? Is there a problem? Of course, theres a problem, Demian replied with a puzzled expression. Do you realize how perilous it is to suggest kidnapping arva, especially the queenrva? Yep. So, you understand the kind of predicament that will unfold when we put this n into action? Yep. And you still want to proceed? Yep. , Demians expression hardened. I know you asionally undertake reckless endeavors. Ive served you long enough to recognize that. But this is different. Youve crossed a line. Crossed the line? Me? Yes. Who will you assign to kidnap the queenrva? Whoever takes on that role will surely be the target of all the bees in the Apfros hive. Yep, thats likely to happen. And they will probably fail to escape and meet a gruesome fate. Yep, thats a possibility. Youre not suggesting youll assign one of us to this task, are you? Yes, I will. Are you in your right mind? Yep. You cant be serious. Hm? Youre not implying that youll personally undertake this insane task, are you? Nah, of course not. Raciel grinned, causing a crease to form on Demians forehead. Then who will? You. Pardon? You. I said you. I must have misunderstood. Stop pretending. I said you. You. One of Demians eyebrows twitched. Raciels lips also twitched, and he continued with a smile, Its alright. You wont get hurt. You wont die. Theres a safe way to do it. A safe way, you say? Yeah, thanks to this little guy. Thunk. Raciel tapped his chest pocket, and an immediate response came from within. Kooo! Hearing the response, he exined, Speaking of my n, you need to approach the Apfros nest. Then, give it a hard strike on the side with a swordthe swarm of bees in the nest will get angry, right? Most likely. Yes. Then, in front of the swarm of bees that rush toward you, dance for just 10 seconds. That will make them even angrier. Yep, thats the point. Anyway, you have to make the Apfros in the nest as furious as possible. All their attention should be on you. Make them target only you. What about me? You have to run away. As far as possible, and for as long as possible. Lead the entire swarm of bees away. Keep it up consistently. Its a diversion, then. Am I correct? Yes. But I may not be able to outrun them indefinitely. Then use this. Thump. Koo koo kooo! The response from Kozumi came again. Feed this little one red sunflower seeds. It will grow. When it grows, what should I do? Lie beneath it. Pardon? Kozumi will shield you with its belly and erect its thorns. That should do the trick. You cant be serious. You get the idea? Yes. Apfros are sizable, at least a meter they wont be able to prate Kozumis dense thorns. Exactly. Operation Cactus. That way, while you lure all the Apfros from the nest and hold your ground, we will sneak into the nest and capture the queenrva. Understood? But there are still uncertainties. Such as? Even if we sessfully abduct the queenrva, what about me and Kozumi? Apfros are notorious for their persistence when ites to intruders. Thats true. They probably wont relent until they starve to death unless theres a fire in the nest. Have another idea? Lord you are truly a ruthless individual. Yeah, my apologies for being ruthless. Ill just set a small fire, enough to dampen the outer surface of the nest. The bees that were surrounding you will all return to the nest. They can extinguish the fire with their secretions, so they wont be harmed. In that time, you and Kozumi can make your escape. Raciel spoke with a wide smirk on his face, prompting a sigh from Demian. Whew. So, Ill be taking on the role of bait, right? Yes. Do you want to apply for hazard pay? Yes. What amount are you thinking? I think 30 times my weekly sry is fair. Tsk, youre quite greedy. Do you want me to resign today? Is that a threat? Im serious. So, you want to be very wealthy? As much as possible. Lets settle at 20 times. Ill consider resigning. How about 25 times? Thank you. And thats how Demian reached a dramatic negotiation resolution! ***** The party continued to move forward steadily, although they couldntpletely shake off their anxiety. No matter the n, Apfros were still dangerous monsters. However, their trust in Raciel had grown slightly stronger. After all, hes the Crown prince of Magentano. He wouldnt engage in excessively risky behavior, right? thought the knights who had apanied Princess Adeline on her visit to the Empire of Magentano. They were devoted followers who knew Raciels true identity, which is why they didnt lose faith. What about the guide soldiers? I heard that military officer worked miracles. So even if we get injured, he could save us with one of those miracles, right? They recalled the rumor that had spread throughout the camp, describing the portly military officer as if he were a saint who performed miracles. This belief gave them confidence that they would be safe even in dangerous situations. Half a day passed in everyones collective misunderstanding(?) During that time, Raciel made sure everyone understood their roles. And finally. Ive found it. Up ahead, across the creek, I spotted a nest in the clearing near the slope. The scout soldier had located the Apfros nest. Tension filled the faces of the party. Good. Lets verify it first. They crouched down in the tall grass. They moved forward cautiously, and just as the scout had described, they saw the nest. Wow, look at the size of that thing. It wasnt just a beehive; it was massive. Almost the size of a small neighborhood store? At least, thats how big the dome-shaped nest appeared, firmly situated on the ground. Bees the size of Jindo dogs buzzed around it. Buzzing? Thats almost like a motorcycle. It was as if dozens of delivery motorcycles were flying around. Raciel nced back at his party. Lets begin. ording to the n. Everyone nodded silently. From that point onward, everyone moved methodically. They took out wildflowers they had gathered along the way and rubbed the flowers and stems all over themselves. Raciel did the same. His exploration suit quickly became saturated with the juice from the petals and stems. Doing this should make the Apfros less hostile towards us. It was a tip from the Devil Sword Emperor. It would cloak them with the scent of wildflowers, making it less likely for the bees to perceive them as enemies. With this in mind, they vigorously rubbed themselves with the flowers. Next, torches. Were prepared. The knights retrieved their torches and thoroughly coated them with resin, ensuring that a small spark would ignite them. This should work. Raciel took a deep breath and looked at Demian. Do you feel confident? No. But we have to do it, right? Sigh. Pass me the small torch. He was handed the small torch. Demian rxed, distancing himself from the party, his focus locked onto the nest. He observed the Apfros swarm with suddenly sharpened eyes. He familiarized himself with their movements, timed his approach meticulously, and gripped his sword tightly for the most powerful strike. But then, Buzzzzzzz! The movements of the Apfros swarm circling the nest underwent a dramatic change. They became more frantic, their wing beats faster, more aggressive, as if they had encountered an adversary or sensed an intruder. ! Demian flinched. Had they already caught wind of his intentions? Was that why they were behaving this way? He nced back at Raciel, his eyes ring in protest. Whats happening here? Raciel returned the re. Didnt you reveal yourself too soon? Not at all. I kept my presence as discreet as possible. Seems like you didnt do a good job of it. So, whats the n now? Well, given the circumstances, lets go for a hit-and-run. Understood. Tsk. Demian clicked his tongue, gripping his sword once more. This wasnt the time to hesitate. So, lets unleash the most powerful strike Ive been perfecting. Crack! His back, arms, and upper body tensed up, the Mana Heart embedded in his chest roared fiercely. He swung his sword. No, he was about to swing. Kwaaaaa! A sudden, thunderous noise erupted from the sky. A massive silhouette descended, crushing an unfortunate Apfros instantly. It bit, tore, or rather, sliced it. In an instant, without giving it a chance to react. And then it let out a roar. Kiiiiiaaaaak-! ! It was a ho asrge as a rhinoceros. But it wasnt alone. The initial attack was just the beginning. What is this? Before Demian could widen his eyes, dozens of giant hos descended upon the Apfros nest. It was a merciless hunt. The beginning of a massacre. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 109 Chapter 109 Whoooooosh! A deafening noise, a sustained, thunderous mor that appeared to rend the air nearby, resounded. This unmistakably resembles a helicopter, doesnt it? Raciel involuntarily swallowed his parched saliva. He crouched further into the underbrush and covertly gazed upward at the sky. Creatures emitting helicopter-like sounds were present. They were gigantic hos,parable in size to rhinoceroses. what the. If the sound of the Apfros swarm flying around earlier resembled motorcycles, these newly emerged giant hos were truly emitting noises akin to attack helicopters, and they were ruthlessly descending in all directions. Swoooosh! Crash! Thud! They descended like falling meteors,unching an assault on the Apfros, who fought back in defiance. However, the Apfros resistance proved tragically ineffective as they were easily ensnared by the colossal jaws of the giant hos, resulting in a crunch as their necks were severed and their torsos snapped in two. Screeeech! Dozens of these hos were present, dispatching and tearing apart one Apfros at a time with a single bite. The Apfros swarm charged in countless numbers, but it was in vain it was as if a tiger had pounced into a group of defenseless chicks. So, this was not hunting; it was a massacre. Gulp. Raciel nervously swallowed his dry saliva. Where did these creaturese from? Watching them sent shivers down his spine. The massacre was overwhelmingly one-sided. What if they had initiated their operation a little earlier? What if those ho swarms had attacked the nest while they were on the move? We would have been attacked as well. Was it all down to luck? While he pondered that, the soldier lying next to him spoke with trembling words. Uh, uh, Officer? What, what do we do now? What to do? For now, we must conceal ourselves. But, but, sir. Do you know something? If you do, please exin calmly. Well, umthose creatures are simr to hos. They are called Vesparos. Vesparos? Yes, Officer. Those creatures prey on Apfros. A single one can easily dispatch a hundred Apfros. But the issue is, they meticulously clean up the area after their hunts and massacres. Clean up? Yes. Ive heard they gather all the scattered Apfros corpses in one location. During this process, they seek out and eliminate any hidden or surviving Apfros. Wait, are you suggesting After hunting and massacring, they scour the area and leave no living creature behind. That includes us, of course. Raciel fell silent at the soldiers words. It didnt sound like an exaggeration or nonsense. The conclusion was clear: We must escape as far as possible, and we must do it now. Cold sweat trickled down his face. He felt like crying. Alright, I understand. I should run, but what about my queenrva? He had nned to capture the queenrva. He wanted to acquire plenty of antibiotics to treat the wounded soldiers and extend their lifespans economically. But all his ns were unraveling. In real-time, the Apfros nest was being obliterated. Ugh, seriously. Raciel cast a remorseful nce. At this very moment, countless Apfros were perishing. It was like witnessing a beehive under assault by giant hos. The oue seemed inevitable. That nest is done for. Everyone would perish. Neither the queenrva nor anyone else would survive. Thus, their mission here was also doomed. Taking the queenrva here ispletely out of the question. We must leave. But heading to another forest and starting the search anew? Exploring another Apfros nest? Thats impossible. Time was running out. They had already spent more than a day exploring this forest. If they lingered any longer? The wounded at the camp wouldnt hold on much longer. Various infections would begin iming lives. So, this n was clearly a failure. A profound sense of disappointment overwhelmed him. Sigh. I wish I could reincarnate as the Ho Man from Natural Human Episode 57. Dash courageously like him and drive away these hos But that was a fantasy, not reality. Why did such an event happen now, at this moment? It felt too perfectly timed. A fleeting thought crossed his mind. Perhaps this world was intentionally trying to torment and kill him? A sense of victimization briefly washed over him. If this were a scene in a novel, he might even want to file aint against the author for crafting such an absurd plot. But there was no recourse. He wiped away his tears. Before it was toote, he tried to signal everyone to flee. And thats when it urred. Whoooooooosh! The unmistakable sound of a helicopter echoed directly above their heads. It was close, incredibly close. He instinctively looked up and froze in ce. ! Just 5 meters above them, a Vesparos was gazing down at them, almost at the height of a second-floor window. In that moment, he knew they had made eye contact, and then, Screeeee With a deafening roar, the Vesparos dove steeply toward them! Huh? It happened so swiftly, with its massive jaws rushing towards them in an instant. Raciel rolled his body instinctively, and right afterward, the ground where he had been lying was forcefully ripped apart with a thud! The Vespaross jaws plunged into the earth, swinging its enormous head and tearing the ground asunder. Perhaps it had caught a sizable rock in its jaws, and it exerted force with its jaws, resulting in a crack! A boulder the size of a gym ball shattered instantly. What if he hadnt dodged in time? My waist would have been severed. A shiver ran down his spine. Run! He shouted as he got to his feet. As if his shout were a signal, everyone began sprinting away. He attempted to run with them, but it wasnt easy. Whooooo! ! The sound of rushing air came from behind. He leaped and rolled, and, Snap! The colossal jaws closed, slicing through the air just above his head. But there was no time for relief. A massive metal pipe, no, a streetlight pole, came hurtling from the side, striking his entire body with a thud! Ugh! For a moment, the world spun, and his body seemed to float in the air as his consciousness blurred. The front leg? He must have been struck by the Vespaross front leg. He needed to get up swiftly. He needed to run. While he was contemting this, the moment of impact arrived. m! Ugh! It didnt hurt. Or rather, he couldnt tell if it hurt. He was just disoriented. Amidst the confusion, he struggled to rise. However, the Vesparos was quicker in its aggressive response. Screeeee! ! As he attempted to stand and looked up, he saw the Vesparos hovering directly above him. It opened its colossal jaws and swung them downward. Towards him. With enough force to cleave him vertically. But it was toote to evade. Its over A chilling premonition washed over him. His eyes widened as a powerful blow sent him tumbling to the side. Dodge it! Thud! Huh! Ever felt like your body folded like a consonant and soared away? He had. When? In Han River Park. He was walking and got struck by a cyclist wearing Lycra. Now, he experienced the same sensation. Of course, this time it wasnt a bicycle. It was Demian. He saw him extending his leg, adopting a clear and definitive side-kick stance. Again, just like in Cremo? Back then, Demian had saved him from danger with a side kick, right? Thud! Ugh! How many times had he stumbled and rolled today? But there was no time toin. Demian was fending off the Vespaross jaws in the meantime. ng, ng, ng, ng! Demians sword gleamed fiercely with each strike! The Vesparos responded by opening its jaws. Each time Demians sword shed menacingly, it left a deep gouge on the Vespaross jaws. asionally, a wing got severed. Finally, when Demians storm-like consecutive attacks concluded. Screeeech! One Vesparos remained in that spot, desperately writhing after losing both its mandibles and wings. Now is the time! Run! Demian rushed toward him. They sprinted side by side. Behind them, a Vesparos, which had lost its mandibles, was relentlessly chasing them. It resembled an enraged rhinoceros. Raciel didnt want to envision being crushed by that massive charge. He ran even faster. However, things did not go as nned. Kwaaaaaaaaaa-! A new loud noise, or rather, the sound of wings pping, filled the air. He instinctively nced upward. He had to confront an unwee reality. Oh, seriously. This time, more than twenty Vesparos were circling above, ring down at them. And they werent the only ones in dire straits. Ah! Get away! Save me! Over here! Retreat! Shields up! Block it! The guide soldiers were shrieking in terror. The Anbouaz knights were engaged in a fierce battle. Observing this, a sense of despair overwhelmed Raciel. If we continue like this well all meet our end. Simultaneously, a realization struck him. He finallyprehended why the swarm of Vesparos had homed in on their group. The flower powder that covered our bodies during the operation preparation. And the sap from the leaves and stems we rubbed all over ourselves. It was because of those substances. The measures they had taken to appease the hostility of the Apfros had inadvertently caused the Vesparos to mistake them for Apfros. In other words, they had be the same prey as the Apfros. So, whats the n? Mindlessly fleeing was not the solution. Once identified as prey, the swarm of Vesparos would pursue them relentlessly. Conventional methods wouldnt shake them off. So, should we fight? That wasnt a feasible option either. Demian could barely handle around seven of them at most, even with his full strength. Even if the rest of the knights joined in, they might handle about ten. But there were at least dozens of Vesparos. Whats the way out? His fingertips and lips grew cold. Cold sweat poured from his pores. The twenty Vesparos hovering above them, poised to swoop down at any moment. One more Vesparos frantically pursuing them from behind. As he dodged them and sprinted, he thought desperately. He racked his brains. He formted ns. He contemted for his life. He fought to survive. And finally. A spark of inspiration shed into his mind. Thats it! A memory suddenly resurfaced. The owner of a supplier he had dealt with while delivering medicinal herbs to the Oriental medicine clinic. They had a good rtionship and had even shared a few drinks. He mentioned that his hobby was beekeeping. But he alsoined about daily wasp attacks. Then, one day, he proudly unveiled a simple yet effective trap. Maybe that will work. It had to. It was the only way to survive. Backpack! Raciel urgently rummaged through his backpack. He found what he was searching for and pulled it out. It was a canteen. However, it didnt contain water; it held strong alcohol, which he had brought for emergency disinfection. He unscrewed the canteen lid. If you all are also wasps! Youll like alcohol! No, please like it! With all his hopes, he hurled the canteen. The canteen sailed through the air and struck a tree stump. Upon hitting the ground, alcohol spilled out, and its scent permeated the air. At that very moment. Kiiyak? The charging swarm of Vesparos suddenly halted and raised their antennae. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 110 Chapter 110 The realm of taste boasts remarkable diversity. Especially when it concerns cuisine, vors exhibit even more striking variations. Some individuals savor thebination of mint and chocte, while others daringly adorn their pizza with pineapple. They fearlessly drizzle sauce over sweet and sour pork, demonstrating a bold culinary audacity. Furthermore, there are those who intentionally prefer carbonated beverages gone t. In fact, there are individuals who take the unusual step of rolling rice into their c! In this regard, the world of ptes can be likened to a dimension of boundless diversity. And its not just humans who exhibit such diversity; even social insects like hos share this trait. At this very moment, a swarm of Vesparos hos disyed a simr inclination. Screech? Suddenly, the charging swarm of Vesparos hos hesitated. They extended their antennae, sensing a potent stimulus that had triggered their olfactory centers. So this is alcohol! Screech? The lead Vesparos pivoted its body, facing the direction where Raciel had just tossed a bottle of liquor. That marked the beginning. The others followed suit, turning their bodies one after another. They began to hop around, and some even took to the air as they hopped. They all rushed toward where the bottle hadnded, reminiscent ofmuters making a dash for closing subway doors during rush hour. Watching this unfold, Raciel clenched his fist. It worked! It was a sess. He was certain of it. The n had executed wlessly. I had my doubts whether this would seed. Suddenly, memories of his time in Korea flooded back to him. The representative of a supplier who delivered herbal ingredients to Oriental medicine clinic. A kind older man, with whom he asionally shared meals that included a bit of drinking. During one of those meals, the representative had bragged. He had mentioned beekeeping as his hobby and spoke of setting up a cabin in Gangwon Province to visit on weekends,plete with beehives in the backyard. Yet, the beehives were constantly gued by hos, and he had ingeniously solved the problem. At first, Raciel hadnt been overly interested, responding with a casual yes, yes. However, when he heard the solution, he couldnt help but be impressed. The method was incredibly straightforward yet effective, leveraging the differing preferences for alcohol between honeybees and hos. Honeybees detest the scent of alcohol, while hos are drawn to it like theyre under a spell. Using this taste preference discrepancy, a simple trap had been devised. And that was They called it a makgeolli trap. All it entailed was filling about one-third of a 2-liter stic bottle with makgeolli and hanging it around the beehives. And then? Everything would be fine. In a matter of days, youd find hos floating lifeless in the makgeolli. I wasnt sure if this would work here. But I tried it, just in case It had worked. It was a sess. Seeing the swarm of Vesparos hos now distracted by the alcohol and not attacking them, he was certain. They had gained some precious time. Had the rest of the group grasped the situation? Nows the moment! Run! Everyone began to sprint as if this was their sole chance at escape. However, Raciel had a different n in mind. Everyone, halt! Swoosh! He blocked the path of a knight attempting to flee, reaching out to the guide soldier. The knight who almost collided with him urgently shouted. What are you doing! We should all make our escape now! The guide soldier also had visible veins bulging on his neck, but Raciel stood his ground. He locked eyes with them and spoke swiftly. If we attempt to flee now, well all meet our end. ! Do you honestly believe that running during this brief distraction will make a difference? How far do you think you can get by running aimlessly? What, what are you saying! Its a simple fact. Right now, theyre drawn to the scent of the alcohol I just threw. But alcohol evaporates rapidly into the air, especially when its in small quantities. . Its just a small sk of alcohol. How long do you think that scent will linger once they start licking it or when its exposed to the air? Do you think you can put enough distance between yourselves and them before that happens? . Everyone came to a grim realization. It was futile. No matter how swiftly they fled, they couldnt outpace those winged creatures. The Vesparos would soon catch up, and a massacre awaited them. A chill ran down their spines. So, can we hide somewhere? one of the knights inquired. Raciel shook his head. No. We coated ourselves with pollen, so hiding is out of the question. Theyll spot us right away. Then whats the n? Start a fire. Excuse me? Do all of you have the torches you prepared? Take them out. There was no time to waste, and Demian appeared to be the first to grasp the urgency. Understood. Silently, Demian retrieved his torch. The other knights followed suit, and even the guide soldier reluctantly produced his torch. They ignited the mes. The torches zed brightly. Throw them! Eight strands of fire descended onto various parts of the forest. Initially, there was no reaction. Then, the scent of burning filled the air, and Whoosh! The fire caught on, spreading rapidly and engulfing trees and shrubs. The forest transformed into a sea of red. Thats when the swarm of Vesparos, previously drawn by the alcohol scent, reacted. Screee? However, it was toote. Their momentary distraction came at a high cost. Woosh! A rush of scorching wind swept in! The swarm of Vesparos descended into chaos. Their olfactory antennae were overwhelmed by the smell of burning, and their infrared sensors went haywire in the intense heat. Instinctual fear gripped them. Screech! They attempted to take flight. But they couldnt. The rapidly advancing forest fire generated an intense upward heat, causing their thin membranous wings to stick together and wither like stic in a fire. The result was a crash. Screech! The swarm of Vesparos let out cries of distress. They struggled to p their wings harder. Yet, they couldnt ascend; their wings shriveled before their eyes due to the searing heat. They plummeted, futilely pping their now diminished wings, crashing to the ground. Boom! Crash! Sounds of impacts reverberated throughout. Unfortunate Vesparos fell straight into the zing infernos. They writhed and fought desperately before sumbing to the mes. Some met their end impaled on sharp stumps. The remainder crashed to the earth. Of course, they didnt emerge unscathed. Screech! Squawk! The swarm, boasting substantial bodies and considerable weight, had sustained multiple fractures and injuries during the fall. The forest echoed with the cries and struggles of the injured Vesparos, but it was short-lived. The fire expanded further, bing a raging wildfire that devoured both the forest and the Vesparos struggling on the ground. This, of course, included Raciels group, who were desperately trying to escape. Run! Move it! Head in the direction of the wind! Cough! Cough, gulp! Cant breathe! They sprinted. They ran while avoiding the intense heat. Demian yelled out. My lord, this way! Hurry! Cough, cough Cant breathe! Gulp! Take my hand! Huff, hoo! Raciel struggled to regain hisposure. The fire had seemed like a good idea initially. The n had seeded, wiping out the swarm of Vesparos. But now, my breathing ispromised? Raciel panted heavily. The fire had spread far beyond what he had anticipated. He had never imagined it would escte to this extent. He had believed that a small fire and a bit of smoke would be enough to confuse the Vesparos senses. But the mes were too fierce, and the smoke was overwhelming. The surroundings felt like a hazy mix of air and smoke. Amidst it all, he felt like he was on the brink of suffocation as he struggled to catch his breath while running. It was real. Violent coughs erupted every time he inhaled. His throat felt scratchy, but even worse, dizziness overwhelmed him in real-time. His internal organs seemed to be in chaos. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs are rmed by your breathing condition.] [Heart: Whats happening? Hey, Lungs, why are you acting up?] [Lungs: Huhuhpantpant] [Large Intestine: Guys, our body is suffocating, okay?] [Liver: Is this the end for us today?] [Stomach: Ending the day with a carbon monoxide mukbang LOL] [Your internal organs sense a serious crisis.] [Your internal organs provide you with 500 HP.] [Your current HP: 6,000] Cough! Cough! Wheeze! Spit! The messages didnt quite register. Breathing was agonizingly difficult. The wheezing from his throat was a ssic symptom of asthma. Im low on oxygen His vision blurred. The line between earth and sky became uncertain. It was disorienting. If Demian hadnt reached out his hand just in time, if he hadnt steadied him, Raciel might have copsed. Thud! Snap out of it! p! His cheek stung, but it wasnt enough. He was still dazed. Demians expression turned grave, as if he had made a decision. Hes not nning to leave me behind, is he? That thought crossed his mind. Ill carry you. With a swift movement, Demian turned around, bent over, and extended his arms to pull Raciel toward him. Raciel leaned, or rather, copsed onto his back. Thump. Demians sturdy back provided support for his entire body. Instantly, he felt lighter, as if he were being carried by Demian. Hold on tight. Before he could even respond Whoosh-! .! The world elerated around him. Demian was in full sprint. The fiery forest rushed past, and a searing breeze brushed against his cheeks. It was scorching. So was Demians back. Within his foggy consciousness, a thought suddenly surfaced. It was a dangerous situation. If Demian is in danger Then its truly dire. He prayed it wouldnte to that. First, lets make sure we get out of here safely It seemed like no one was falling behind, not even the knights assigned by the princess or the guide soldiers. Everyone was gasping for breath but still sprinting. Seeing this, Raciel felt a sense of relief. As long as everyone continues to run like this. If they all just make their escape like this. Everyone will be safe. Yes. Thats good enough. He was content with just that when Roar-! Suddenly, the sky erupted in noise. Even in his disoriented state, it pierced his eardrums. What was it? At that very moment It might be the end of the line for us. Demians voice broke in. Somehow, the end of his sentence quivered with tension. Why? Why was he so on edge? Raciel would soon find out. Rumble-! A ground-shaking roar. The tension transmitted through Demians back, where he was riding. Then, he caught sight of something over Demians shoulder. A silhouette loomed amidst the zing mes and heat. It was the silhouette of a Vesparos. But it was enormous. Muchrger than the Vesparos they had encountered earlier. If a regr Vesparos were the size of a rhinoceros, this one seemed to be at least as massive as an elephant. Was it a hallucination due to his dazed state? It wasnt. The following roar shattered any such hope. Roar-! .! It was the first time he felt physical pain from a sound. Did the rest of the group also experience a simr overwhelming sense of dread? Ah, Aaaah Qu, Queen Vesparos! The guide soldiers slumped down, murmuring to themselves. The knights took a step back, their faces drained of color. Every muscle in Demians body tensed up. Since Raciel was being carried by Demian, he could directly sense the tightness in his muscles. Simultaneously, a feeling of impending crisis coursed through his spine. This cant continue. His previously hazy consciousness snapped to full attention. They say that staying vignt can help you survive even when faced with a tiger. Just as holding onto your stock investments during a market downturn rather than impulsively selling can yield better results in the long run. Therefore, fear couldnt overpower him right now. This principle applied to everyone in the group, but it was especially crucial for Demian. If even Demian bes tense and retreats That cannot happen. Demian was the groups most dependable sword and the sturdiest shield. If he were to falter, it would spell disaster. So, Raciels first task was to ease Demians tension. The moment he realized that, Meridian Scanning! He would analyze the flow of Demians Qi, identifying the acupoint that would most effectively relieve his tension through a straightforward acupuncture technique. Raciel fortified his determination and focused his gaze. Ding Dong! [Option for Palpation Skill: Meridian Scanning is activated.] [Searching for a Lock-on target.] [Lock-on target search ispleted.] Zing! The word appeared at the edge of his field of vision, apanied by a green arrow underneath. However, the target indicated by the arrow was Queen Vesparos? Raciels eyes widened. He had activated the option to scan Demian, yet for an inexplicable reason, Queen Vesparos had been designated as the Lock-on target. He quickly understood why. Could it be because Im being carried by Demian and the first thing in my line of sight is her? It seemed usible. Thats why it was all the more surprising. It was an entirely unexpected oue. But do insects have acupoints too? Upon reflection, it made sense. After all, they were living organisms with their own physiological processes. However, it was something he had never considered before. Could this be A glimmer of possibility shone like a beacon in the midst of utter darkness. Raciel unconsciously clenched his fist. If he could discern the flow of Qi in Queen Vesparos. If Demian could act ording to his intentions. If that were achievable. Survival would no longer be the primary concern If things align, we might even have a chance to defeat Queen Vesparos today? (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 111 Chapter 111 Is this truly a matter of survival? If today unfolds favorably Raciel might even harvest honey from that Queen Vesparos. This isnt an empty im. Its genuine. Raciel glimpsed an unusual opportunity. Lets proceed. The instant he reached this determination, he fixated his gaze upon the Queen Vesparos. Ding-dong! [The Meridian Scanning Option has identified the Lock-on target.] [Lock-on to the target has been sessfully achieved.] Screech! His perspective shifted. The forest, once engulfed in mes, darkened slightly. Instead, a vivid neon outline cast a glow over the Queen Vespaross roaring form. Everything became evident. The Queen Vespaross folded wings. The flow of its internal energy. Every detail was visible. The arrangement of meridians along the Vesparos body. The direction of the primary energy flow. How all these flows harmoniously intertwined to maintain bodily cirction and equilibrium. I can perceive it all. With rity. Without ambiguity. As if utilizing a high-tech navigation system. Simr to monitoring congested roads or calcting college prospects based on mock test scores. He could discern all the movements and energy patterns of the Queen Vesparos. Impressive. While it was understood that living beings had energy flows, he had never seriously considered that insects possessed simr systems. Its present. Therefore, I can act upon it. Raciel flexed his arm muscles and shouted while maintaining a steady stance on Demians back. I have a brilliant idea! Flinch! Demian, carrying him, visibly tensed. Perhaps he, too, was nervous due to the sudden presence of the Queen Vesparos. His reaction seemed to confirm this. What do you mean? His voice had hardened. Well, that was reasonable. A Queen Vesparos the size of an elephant was roaring with her massive wings extended, emanating an overwhelming aura. Compared to the Uruus he had encountered at Cremo Harbor before, this Queen Vesparos was far more menacing. Its probably because shes the queen. He could sense the innate, lifetime-umted presence of a ruler. Directly gazing at her felt oppressive. Raciel, holding his ground despite his trembling legs, spoke quickly. From this point onward, do exactly as I instruct. If I say walk, walk. If I say run, run. Defend where I specify, attack in the directions I indicate. Follow my instructions to the letter. What are you talking about? If you want to survive, heed my guidance. I will anticipate its movements for you. You can predict that creatures movements? Yes. But how could you Before Demian could finish his question, Get down! Raciel, riding on his back, yelled. At that very moment, Roar! The Queen Vesparos let out a deafening roar. Her massive wings pped once. The air ruptured, pushed away, creating an immense recoil. The colossal body lunged forward. No, it sprang. Smack! An abrupt charge with no prior warning! Gasp! Demians eyes widened in terror. By that point, the Queen Vespaross pincers were already wide open. It descended at an astonishing speed, too rapid to react to. If it werent for Raciels earlier warning, he wouldnt have had a chance to react. Damn! Instinctively, Demian fell to his knees. A horrifying sound erupted just inches above his head. Snap! The pincers, resembling a guillotine, closed just half a foot above him. Sparks flew. Had he been even slightly slower? His body or neck would have been cleanly severed. But there was no time to let the rising goosebumps sink in. Stay down and take five steps forward! ! Raciel yelled. Demian nced up. Beneath the Queen Vespaross head. A gap existed between her head and the ground. He acted immediately. Swoosh! Staying crouched, he rapidly advanced five steps. Right after, the Queen Vespaross jaws, which had shed at empty air, descended. Crash! The ground copsed. What if he had moved not just forward but sideways or backward? What if he hadnt followed the Crown Princes instructions? Even if I had luckily dodged that downward strike all my options for the next evasive move would have been blocked. He sensed it instinctively. At that very moment, the Crown Princes voice echoed again. Forward roll! 2 oclock direction! Between its front left leg and middle leg! ! He rolled immediately. Simultaneously, the Queen Vespaross legs shifted. Its entire body rotated slightly clockwise. Creak-creak! With each step of its log-thick legs, the ground crumbled. He narrowly rolled through in the nick of time. Leap forward! The Crown Princesmand pierced his ears. He pushed off the ground without hesitation. Crash! Just after he took off. The Queen Vespaross leg struck precisely where he had just leaped from. At that moment, the Crown Princes voice sounded again. Twist your body clockwise and perform a horizontal sh at waist level! Huh! Strength surged in Demians waist and core. He twisted his body in mid-air, positioning his sword horizontally for a wide sh. Am I supposed to sh at thin air? A preemptive sh? He wasnt sure. But he did it anyway. Because the Crown Princes instructions were right on target. He didnt sh at empty air. Instead, one of the Queen Vespaross antennae was hurtling toward him at a menacing speed. ! It wasnt just an antenna; it was thicker than a club. The tip resembled a morning star. The impact was the same. ng-! Guh! His shoulder joint nearly dislocated. Just barely preventing his sword from shattering, his body was forcefully pushed back in mid-air. Stablending! Thud-thud! He was thrown more than 10 meters, leaving two long furrows on the ground. The Crown Prince, who was riding on his back, panted and spoke. Well done. Perfect score, 10 points! Lets continue like this, alright? Why? Are you injured? No. But what in the world is happening? Demian swiftly adjusted his stance and inquired, Can you truly anticipate that creatures movements? Yeah, like I mentioned, I can see them. So, just follow my instructions. But how in the world I can just see it, alright? Move forward! Five steps! ! Forward, not backward? He hesitated for a moment. But heplied with themand regardless. Zoom! The moment he pushed off the ground, Queen Vesparos also charged. Its massive body rushed toward him in an instant. Raise your sword! sh its left upper jaw while turning clockwise on your left foot! ng! Zing! He shed. He twisted his body. The queens upper jaw barely grazed past him. It was the beginning. Raciel shouted breathlessly. Jump in ce and strike downward! Use the recoil for a somersault! Roll to your right uponnding! Stick your tongue out as you get up! Dy a beat and stab upward at an angle! Smash! His sword tip pierced the queens second joint on its right hind leg. For the first time, the queen flinched. Its surprise turned into a roar of anger. Screeeeeech-! But Raciels instructions never ceased. His movements flowed like water. It was a life-or-death game of cat and mouse. Draw your sword and step back! Roll twice to your left! After rolling Two steps to the right! Leap upwards and sh! As yound, strike down on the base of its left wing! Crash! This time, his sword embedded into the queens back. Of course, it didnt prate deeply. To fully breach Queen Vesparos tough and thick chitinous exoskeleton was a challenge. But Raciel didnt falter. Draw your sword! Two tap-dance steps in ce! Step on the iing wing from the right! Leap! Fly! Maintain bnce! Zoom! Shaking off the bothersome queen Vesparos that was flying toward him, Demian stepped on its wings. The recoilunched him into the air. Behind you! Land on the tree! Whoosh Fortunately, there was arge tree in the direction he was flying. Hended gently on a thick branch. Wiping off the sweat on his face, Demian scowled. So you can truly anticipate that things movements. After experiencing it, there was no doubt. The Crown Princes consecutivemands were all spot-on. It would have been impossible without predicting the opponents movements. But how? Numerous questions filled his mind, but now was not the time to seek answers. However, if we continue like this, were going to encounter issues. Issues? What kind of issues? My sword cant prate its shell, Demian quickly replied. You must have noticed. While following your orders, I managed to strike a few times. I pierced its leg joints and back. But it seems It doesnt seem to have any effect? Yes. That was the truth. As he thrust his sword, he could feel it. The de couldnt fully breach the shell. Only the sharp tip barely pierced the soft flesh by a few centimeters. If it were a human opponent, even with such shallow injuries, they would umte. But that creature is enormous. A few centimeters of wound depth wont be sufficient to cause any real harm, even if we stabbed it hundreds of times. That was also urate. It was disheartening. However, the Crown Prince appeared to have a different n. Real harm? Its already underway. Excuse me? Just keep following my instructions. Here ites. ! Jump to the top of the tree! Huff! Thump! He clung to the tree branch. Immediately after, Queen Vesparos flew in, colliding with the tree trunk using its body. The tree toppled, and debris scattered over the queens back. Blend in with the debris andnd on its back! Aim for the middle of the third stripe! Crash! A few more centimeters. The swords tip plunged into the upper part of the queens abdomen. Withdraw while rolling to your left! Land on its side! Gruh! Get up and thrust upwards! Target the middle of the fifth stripe! Crash! Roll to the right! Go! Get up, turn around, and sprint away! Run! Huff! Heave! Turn your body! Heave! Stay still! Yes? I said, stay still! The Crown Prince let out a cry. He remained motionless, as he had been instructed. The enraged Queen Vesparos scanned her surroundings. Then her gaze met his. ! However, she didnt immediately charge at them. It appeared she was cautious. A target that consistently evaded every attack. A challenging prey. Was that how she saw them? It seemed so. However, the Queens cautious vignce didntst long, thanks to Raciel. Enchanting pigtails! ! Raciels hand moved. While riding on Demian, he grabbed Demians hair and fashioned pigtails with both hands. He shook them extravagantly. Thanks to that, even Queen Vesparos seemed momentarily disoriented. Quisheek! A deep ancestral instinct etched into their genes to confront their greatest adversary, the bear, which would raid their beehives. An inborn aggression and hostility towards ck fur that all bees possessed. That instinct awakened Queen Vesperas fury. Quiaaaaaak! The Queen discarded her caution and charged forward. Raciel shouted. Run with your pigtails flying! Run! Kruk! Demian ran. He sprinted as if pursued, evading the oing Queen. The sound of the Queens enraged pping wings drew nearer rapidly. However, Raciel didnt undo Demians pigtails. He shook them even more vigorously. The Queens charge grew increasingly intense. Or rather, it became blind. She leapt toward them. Quiaak-! Launching from the ground. Extending her wings wide. She hurled herself at Raciel and Demian with her entire body. She aimed her massive mandibles at the two humans. But right then. Throw the sword! Raciel shouted. A half-foot below the left ovepping eye! In response to themand, Demian swiftly turned. The sword he threw sliced through the air. The swords tip pierced below the Queens left ovepping eye. Kwazat! Of course, it didnt prate deeply. It barely lodged into her thick shell. The de sunk about 3 centimeters into her flesh. It didnt inflict any significant damage. The Queen roared, as if she found it amusing. No, she attempted to roar. But for some reason, the roar didnt emerge. Even more suddenly, strength started to drain from her entire body! Kieek? In the moment the Queens wide-open mandibles trembled in bewilderment, a sly smile spread across Raciels lips. Bingo. It was the smile of an Eastern doctor who had experimentally confirmed the effects of targeting a vital point for the first time. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 112 Chapter 112 Quieeek? Queen Vesparospound eyes twitched. Her antennae started to shake uncontrobly. Despite not intending to, her legs flinched. Even the venomous stinger hidden in her abdomen wavered. Why on Earth is this happening? She couldnt understand. Quieeek? Quieeeek! She hadnt sustained any significant injuries. She had been pricked by a human wielding a sword only four times. Just minor stings. Trivial impacts that didnt warrant any concern. But her world seemed to shake. All her senses went haywire. Up mixed with down, front with back. In a word, she was dizzy. At the same time, her entire body felt drained of strength. Quieeeeak! She violently shook her head. She couldnt afford to copse here. She had led the entire swarm for this hunt. Seeding in this hunt would provide the nutrients needed toy healthy eggs. She could amply feed and sessfully raise the next generation ofrvae. So giving up was not an option. Queen Vesparos red at the humans through her blurred vision, trembling all over. There, Raciel was smiling triumphantly. Bingo! Raciel shouted in delight. It was a sess. And more than he had hoped for. Until moments ago, Queen Vesparos had been ferocious. Now, she shook all over, as if she had been hit squarely by a bug spray! I wasnt sure if this would really work Through meridian scanning, Raciel could clearly see the flow of Queen Vesparos vital energy. Thanks to that, he could predict all her intentions and movements. He could shout orders to Demian for the appropriate action. However, simply dodging wouldnt ensure victory. Thats why hemanded Demian to counterattack. With minimal force. In an efficient manner. Reducing risk to a minimum. Targeting only the queens vital points. And not just any points. The joints in the Queens legs, the upper and lower sections of her chest, and finally, right beneath herpound eyes These were equivalent to the crucial acupoints in humansthe Baihui point on the top of the head and the Huiyin point between the anus and genitals. Points where energy flows in and out. Where it spreads and converges. The beginning and end, and the ces where the processes intersect. Raciel had them specifically targeted. As if he had destroyed those critical acupoints in a human. He wasnt entirely sure it would work. It was his first time dealing with an insect, especially one thisrge. The effects couldnt be guaranteed 100% just by a brief understanding from meridian scanning. The results could differpletely from human subjects. But he went for it. Because it was the best option. The most likely method. It seemed worth the try, and he went for it, reaping much more sess than expected. Just like now. What just happened? Demians startled question came through. Snapping out of his thoughts, Raciel hopped off Demians back with a smile. Well, seems like we sessfully targeted her weak points. Weak points? Yeah. Really? Did you notice? Yes. Demian slowly nodded. The points you told me to prickthose were all predetermined weak points, right? Of course. But how did you? Figure them out? Yes. Demian nodded. He couldnt understand. It was the first time even the crown prince had seen Vesparos. He couldnt believe that hed discerned her weaknesses. But the crown princes forting answer was audacious. I could just see them, you know? Didnt you? Yes? I mean, its obvious, isnt it? Ah, if I hit her there, itll hurt. If I prick there, shell die. Stuff like that. You didnt see that? Really strange. I cant understand it. Try harder. Seriously, try. Neither could understand the other. What he was seeing. What was so obvious to him. But Demian wasnt just lost in doubt. He stood in front of the prince with his body as a barrier. Anyway, step back. Its still dangerous. Whether her weak point was exploited. Or she took a heavy hit. Either way, Queen Vesparos was still alive. She might be trembling all over her body, but there was no telling when she might suddenly charge. Demian tightened his whole body again, aiming his sword and watching Queen Vesparos movements. However, the prince behind him seemed to have a slightly different idea. No, it looks like the dangerous one now is that guy. Dont let your guard down easily. Seriously. But we have no means to easily break through that creatures tough shell. Its too much for the other knights. Even if I do my best Id have to sh at the same spot several times tond a substantial blow. Ah, so you want to know other weaknesses quickly? Yes. I will finish this as quickly and safely as possible. No need. Look up. Yes? What does that mean? He wanted to ask. But just as he was about to ask, Vwooooom! Suddenly, a loud noise came from above the forest. It was the sound of an immense number of wings pping. ! Could it be the remaining Vesparos swarm? Coming to save their queen? Demian clenched his sword, feeling both awe and a sense of crisis. He looked up. And then he saw. Vwooooom! Dozens of Apfros were flying in, piercing through the forest mes and thick smoke. They were rapidly descending as if tond here. Targeting them? No. Queen Vesparos. The moment Demian sensed it. Dozens of Apfros swarmed Queen Vesparos, covering herpletely. Kreeeeeak! The Queen let out a fierce roar. But the Apfros swarm, much smaller than the Queen, didnt care. They clung to her body even more persistently. They neither bit her nor stung her with their venomous stingers. Instead, they pped their wings with tremendous force. Vwooooom! The air in the vicinity resonated and vibrated for a moment, as if there was a localized earthquake. A resonating sound that felt like it could destroy the eardrums, a wing pping at a frequency beyondprehension. The muscles making the Apfros wings p became instantly hot. Their body temperature skyrocketed. And they stuck to Queen Vesparos even more persistently. One clung on, then two covered it, then five covered those. In a circle. Like a ball. So that no air could escape, trapping their rising body heat within severalyers. Vwooooom! The heat from their body temperature turned into a horrific hellfire. The Apfros closest to the Queen began to melt from the heat. Yet they never stopped pping their wings until the very end. Exhausted, Queen Vesparos struggled. But she couldnt shake off the Apfros swarm, weakened by the previous paralysis. For a moment, all her strength drained away. All her senses became dull. Like she was still under the effects of anesthesia, she couldnt muster the strength to act. She was helplessly floundering within the swarm of Apfros that she would usually have easily shaken off. ! No screams came out either. Even her dying moment was drowned out by the Apfros ultra-vibration. The Queens wings and antennae melted. Her exoskeleton was burnt ck. Her antennae were cut off. Herpound eyes were smashed. Eventually, her flesh and muscles, and internal tissues were all cooked. It was a futile end for the Queen, the heart and leader of the Vesparos hive that had roamed the deep forest. However, the Apfros swarm that finished off the Queen wasnt safe either. Buzz Buzz The heat was so immense that it cooked the Queen. The Apfros inside also met their end with the Queen. Those on the outside were also exhausted and began to die one by one. And so, all the swarms vanished. The rampaging Vesparos, too. The resisting Apfros, too. The forest was aze, and the corpses of the swarm filled every corner. Above them, the sky shed its tears. Whoosh! The downpour quenched the mes. The spreading wildfire faltered and soon receded. The forest was left enveloped in silence, filled only with burnt debris and white smoke. Amidst this, the knights of Anbouaz and the guide soldiers cheered. We survived. Thank goodness. They hugged each other and broke into relieved smiles. Meanwhile, Raciel thought, Phew. I may have survived, but its a disaster. He couldnt help but sigh in regret. Whats the point in capturing Queen Vesparos? The Queen Apfrosrva we intended to secure is now beyond saving. He lifted his gloomy gaze. Where his eyes fell, therey the half-destroyed nest of Apfros. The nest was crumpled due to Vesparos assault, the massacre, and the forest fire. Inside the nest, there were no signs of life or sound. Clearly, they had been wiped out. The sad certainty deepened Raciels sigh. Darn. Its ruined. All ruined. The original n was to kidnap the Apfros queenrva. They wanted to obtain the antibiotic substance secreted by the queenrva to treat the wounded soldiers. That way, I could earn a hefty bonus in lifespan. His ns had been thwarted by Vesparos untimely attack. And now, he didnt even have the courage to look for another Apfros nest. To do that, Id have to move to another forest, find a new nest, and that would take several days at least. In the meantime, all the wounded will die. So this n was utterly ruined. The more he thought about it, the sadder he got. Phew. Demian? Yes. Lets at least salvage whats left in the nest. What do you mean by whats left? There should be some honey. Apfros are gigantic honeybees, after all. At least some honey would be left in the nest. If fed to the wounded soldiers, it could help in their recovery. With that thought, Raciel and Demian entered the nest. The inside was dark, but thanks to therge tunnels, movement was rtively easy. As I thought, theyre all dead. In various ces, there were dismembered Apfros corpses. asionally, he even saw Vesparos who had been steamed to death. Of course, dozens of Apfros who had died creating heat were also there. So, wheres the honey? Raciel went deeper into the nest. Following the winding tunnels, like wandering through aisles in a local supermarket looking for a specific item. He expanded his search further in. How long had he wandered the dark tunnels? Creak Creak A strange sound came from within. It sounded like something scraping the walls. A survivor? Apfros? Or Vesparos? Your Highness, let me go first. Demian moved ahead, and they approached the source of the sound. They rounded thest corner and then they saw it. There it was Apfros queen? The queen Apfros was crouched, but she was already dead. Yet at that moment Creak! Creak! The dead queens body twitched. A faint sound came from within, and something pushed its way out of the queens body. Raciel was shocked. Huh? It was an unfamiliar creature. A round face, plump body, bright eyes, and cheerful mouth. Covered in soft, white fur, it looked like a baby seal An Apfros queenrva? Raciel mumbled in disbelief. Therva cheerfully nodded its head. Kyuuu kyuuu! (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Kyuu kyuu! Kyuuu? Raciel remained silent and gazed at the fluffy creature that had suddenly appeared before him. It seems to resemble a banana kick. Or perhaps it resembled a fluffy baby seal. The ck eyes gazing up at him appeared incredibly innocent. Kyuuu! Kyuuu! Wiggle Wiggle! As their eyes locked, the creature appeared delighted and began to crawl toward him. Raciel cautiously backed away. It might be a trick. What if it gets too close? It might suddenly turn hostile and bite. Demian seemed to share the same concern. Should we incapacitate it? He reached for his sword. Just then, Kukyuuu? The queenrva, which had been crawling enthusiastically towards them, suddenly stopped in its tracks. It looked up, tilting its head, its eyes now filled with sadness. Almost as if it were asking, Are you going to harm me? Does it understand what Im saying? With that thought, Kyuuu? Therva tilted its head the other way, making its eyes even more sorrowful. It turned its body, exposing its side, and then rolled towards them suddenly! Eh? Caught off guard, Raciel couldnt react in time to the creatures unexpectedly swift(?) movement. In an instant, it rolled over and presented its belly to Raciels feet. Then it stopped rolling and looked up. Kyuuuu! Still, its eyes remained innocently bright. It didnt bite, or perhaps it had never intended to. Raciel spoke with a sense of relief. Can you understand me? Kyuu? You, can youprehend what Im saying? Kyuuu! Nod Nod! Therva vigorously nodded its head. Could it be true? Raciel tested it further. Right. Kyuu! Left. Kyuuu! It was indeed true. Amazed, Raciel stared at therva with wide eyes. Whenever he said right or left, the creature would look in the correct direction. That reminded him of something from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Wasnt it mentioned that Apfros queens and queenrvae canmunicate with elves? Are they intelligent? Or do they possess some special empathic ability? Raciel scanned his surroundings. It was a cozy, spacious area where the queen would have resided. Now ity in ruins. The fallen queens corpse was even worse. At that moment, Kyuu? Therva, rubbing its head against his shin, did something miraculous. Raciel suddenly began to understand what therva was conveying. It felt as if a real-time trantor had been activated in his head. It was akin to conversing with a Phantom Beasts. Is this some kind of advanced empathic ability? While contemting, therva continued to chirp. Kyuu? Kyuu? Um, so youre saying your mother has been acting strangely? Kyuu! Kyuu! What? Shes been snoring ever since she fought that guy? Kyuu! Therva pointed in a specific direction with a nod. Raciel followed its gaze and spotted a massive figure lying in the dark corner. It was a Vesparos soldier bee. Impressive. The soldier bee was also lifeless, its body riddled with wounds that matched the size of the Apfros queens mandibles. Right in the center of its head, there was a hole about 5 cm in diameter, likely inflicted by the queens stinger. He had a pretty good idea of what had transpired. The Apfros queen had engaged in a one-on-one battle with this monster. They had fought fiercely, inflicting wounds upon each other until their demise. Thanks to the queens valiant struggle, therva had managed to survive. Therva gazed up with its innocent eyes, unaware of the circumstances. Kyuu? Kyuuukyuu! Um, yes. So you hope your mother wakes up soon? Kyuuukkyuu! Kyuu! Because she wont wake up, and youre concerned? Kyuukyuu! Kukyuu? Still, those innocent eyes. Raciel hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. Uh, well, your mother will wake up. Eventually. Itll take some time. Kyuu? Yes, muchter. Your mom had a tough battle with that big bad guy, so shes very tired. She needs a lot of rest. Kyuukyuuu? Yes, indeed. Really. Kukyuuu! He had to fabricate the truth. Seeing the queenrvas pure joy at the thought that her mother was simply asleep, he couldnt bring himself to say, Your mother is deceased. Sigh. Was it eptable to tell such a falsehood? For a moment, he felt a pang of guilt. But it was unavoidable. Theres no other choice now. Since the Apfros group has been wiped out, this one will surely perish if left here. Besides, the reality is that I initially came here to capture thisrva. In any case, the mission had been aplished. Although an unexpected event urred with the Apfros nest being attacked by predators, he was still relieved that at least thisrva had survived. I made the right call by not fleeing earlier. He was truly relieved that he had defeated the Queen Vesparos. Otherwise, even thisrva would have fallen into the clutches of the Vesparos group and be prey. So you should be grateful to me. Kukyuuu? Ever heard of a savior? Kyuu? If you havent, no worries. So, would you like to y with me? Kyuuu? Your mom is fast asleep. If we make noise here, shell wake up. Kyuuuu? So, lets go y with me. What do you think? Kukyuuuu! Therva nodded its head, energetically moving its short, chubby legs as it crawled into Racielsp, snuggling tightly. It was even plumper and more fluffy than expected. Soft and warm to the touch. A refreshing alert chimed in Raciels ear. Ding Dong! [Your internal organs feelforted by the warm touch.] [Heart: Ah so fluffy] [Lungs: Heh hee] [Large Intestine: Guys, isnt this the first time weve felt this cozy in a while? What should we name this fluffy one, Kuku?] [Liver: Kuku sounds good. Thisrva is adorable, just look at its ck eyes. This is pure bliss.] Therva, Kuku(?), rested in his arms as they departed from the nest. He gently covered its eyes the entire way to shield it from the sight of its fallen kin and the devastated, once-cherished nest. Kuku murmured softly in his arms throughout the journey. Kukyuu? Kyuuu? What? Remove my hand? Kukyuuu! No. Kyuuu? This is also part of the game. Kyuu-yuuu? Ill keep your eyes covered, and you guess where were headed. How does that sound? Kukyuu! Lets begin then? Kyuuu! He left the nest quickly, still shielding Kukus eyes, and rejoined hispanions outside. They hastened their steps, continued walking, and didnt stop until the nest was entirely out of sight. They exited the forest. Kuku fell asleep in his arms during the journey. He continued to shield its eyes. Thus, it remained unaware that, after leaving the forest, a tribe had discovered the site of a forest fire and was genuinely outraged. How dare they set the forest on fire It wasnt like this in my time. Our peers couldnt even fathom doing such a thing. These young humans these days The Elf Ranger, who had lived for centuries, stamped the ground and began to passionately follow the trail left by Raciel and hispanions. The return trip to the camp of wounded soldiers proceeded smoothly. A day had passed since they left the forest, and they safely arrived at the camp. Your Higgg-! Shh. As soon as Gardin heard news of their return, he rushed out barefoot but froze when he noticed the stern gaze and realized his impending blunder. Ahem! Ah, have you returned, my lord? Yes. Everything was fine at the camp, right? Yes. How are the wounded soldiers? Theyre resting. But, um What about this one? Gardin cast a nce at therva in Raciels arms. He smiled at him and gently awakened Kuku. Kukyuuu? Kukyuuu? Weve arrived. This is the camp for wounded soldiers I mentioned. Kukyuuu! Kuku lifted its head with enthusiasm, emerging from its slumber. Its eyes locked squarely with Gardin. Kkyuu? Huh? Kkyuuu? Kkukyuu! Kuku beamed from ear to ear, utterly delighted. Raciel spoke to the bewildered Gardin, Its name is Kuku. Its arva of Queen Apfros. A Queensrva you say? Yes. It will be responsible for preventing and treating infections in wounded soldiers from now on. But the surprising thing is, thats not all. Really? What else? Is it heavy, Kozumi? You can put it down now. Heh heh Kkoooo! Raciel addressed the group from the rear. Just then, Thump! The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground reverberated through the earth. Thanks to that, Gardin btedly made a discovery. Huh? A colossal waspy sprawled out. A wasp the size of an elephant! That, that is Its Queen Vesparos. A Queen wasp you say? Yes, I found it on our way here. Found it? What do you n to do with it? To make liquor. Excuse me? Isnt it obvious? Why waste such a thing. Anyway, thats not important right now. Raciel gave orders for Queen Vespaross carcass to be moved to the warehouse. Time was of the essence. The patients couldnt wait, especially those injured on the battlefields. Now was the time to put Kuku to work. So Kuku? Kkyuu? Dont you feel ufortable? Kkyuuu? Aha, what I mean is, I heard that the substance you excrete can heal people. Kkukyuuu? Indeed. Kkukkukyuuu? Yes, truly. Kkyuuuku? Yes, thats correct. Just a bit of your excretion would be ideal. It worked. He convinced him! Raciel felt a surge of hope. However, he had to pause at Kkukus response. Kkukyuuu? Kku? Kyuuuu? What? Youre uncertain if I can use your excretion effectively? Kyuuu! Kkukyuu! Because that substance wont work if used haphazardly? Plus, you can only produce it once a month, so its too valuable to be used carelessly? Kkukyuuu! Um, so you want to hear my n for using your excretion first? Kkukyuuu! Raciel gazed at Kuku. This creature wasnt as straightforward as it appeared. Despite its cheerful demeanor, it seemed to have quite specific preferences. Well, theres nothing I can do about that. Raciel unveiled his n. First, Ill blend your excretion with traditional medicinal ingredients. Kkuu? In Oriental medicine, theres an ointment called Zi Yun Gao (). Its effective for burns and skin recovery. It also has some anti-inmmatory properties. Kkyuuu? I n to mix your excretion into that to create a more potent ointment tailored for wound care. I intend to heal people with it. Kkukkukyuuu? The name of the ointment? Have I decided? Kkukyuuu! Of course, Ive decided. Do you want to know? Kkyuu! Since Raciel created it, lets keep it simple Kkyuuu? Kuku tilted its head. Raciel smiled and said, Radekasol. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 114 Chapter 114 Eeeuuugh Good job, well done, well done. Eeeuuugh Gurgle gurgle! Kukus chubby body gurgled as if attempting to stretch significantly or maybe to eject something deep within it. It coiled up its fluffy body and gathered energy. And then it retched once more. Eeeuuugh However, only the movements and noises were loud; nothing came out. Raciel asked with concern, Are you okay? KkuKyuuu. Hmm, noting as expected? KkuKyuuu! What? Is this your first time attempting to vomit? Kkyuuu! So you dont know how to do it? Kyuuu! Kuku cheerfully nodded its head. Raciel felt awkward. Tsk. This is more challenging than I anticipated. In some way, he had convinced Kuku. He had assured it that the vomit could be used as a valuable material, mixed with medicinal herbs to create ointment for treating soldiers. He had even shared the confidential name he hade up with. Thanks to that, Kuku willingly agreed to cooperate. However, an unexpected obstacle emerged. I never thought it wouldnt know how to vomit. Could it be because its too young? It certainly seemed that way. After all, Queen Apfros was nearly over 2 meters tall. But Kuku? Its only the size of a Welsh Corgi. Its still a baby who has a lot of growing to do. It appeared too young to understand how. This is troublesome. How could he induce this tiny creature to vomit? Should I just punch it in the sr plexus? No, thats definitely not the way. What should I do? Raciel contemted deeply. Then, suddenly, he had an idea. Kuku? Kkyuuuu? Do you want to try acupuncture? Kyuu? Acupuncture is like painless needles. Ill gently poke you in various ces on your body. What do you think? KkuKyuuu? Really, it wont hurt. Kyuukyuu? How can you trust me? Hmm, do you see uncle Demian over there? Im not that old. Please be quiet for a moment. Do you see Demian over there? KkuKyuu! Doesnt his skin look good? Kkyuuu! Thats all because hes been receiving acupuncture from me. Kyuuu? Truly, it is. Kkyuuuu? If you consistently receive acupuncture, your body will be stronger, your mind will be healthier, your family will be stable, society wont fall apart, and the entire nation will be happy, do you understand? Kyuuu? Also, youll be able to vomit as freely as you want. KkuKyuuu? Ill target your vomit center during the acupuncture. Then youll easily go Eeeuuugh Okay? Kkukyuuu! It didnt know what it was, but it seemed like a positive development. With that thought, Kuku nodded. A pleased smile appeared on Raciels face. Excellent, lets begin right away. He retrieved a fine white needle he had been carrying and activated his meridian scanning option. [Skill Option : Activating Meridian Scanning.] [Meridian Scanning has sessfully locked onto the target.] [Target has been sessfully locked on.] Ding! As a cheerful notification sound rang, his perspective changed. A bright outline appeared around Kukus body, and the arrangement of meridians inside Kukus body became visible. The flow of Qi, the intersections, and the bnce they created were all revealed. Hmm, so its like this. Raciel carefully observed Kukus body, which might have felt foreboding to the creature. Kkyuuu? Kuku looked at him anxiously. Raciel reassured it. Dont worry, Kuku. I wont hurt you. Kyuuu? Im determining where to apply the needle so it wont hurt. Kuku gulped nervously. Its esophagus moved, and its stomach shifted, making it easier for Raciel to locate the vomiting center. Its simr to a human but also quite different. Raciel raised the needle and aimed at Kukus nk. Ifpared to a human, he targeted the area corresponding to the Weiryunghyeol () acupuncture point. However, he didnt just insert the needle; he employed the principles of the Yongto Method (), a treatment method that induces vomiting. Thud, thud! While inserting the needle, he gently pressed on the opposite acupuncture points with his hand. Sharp and pointed stimuli for the points being punctured and dull but subtle stimuli for the opposite ones. These contrasting sensations effectively stimted Kukus vomiting center. Kuku, hows your stomach feeling? Kkyuuu? Kyuu? Does it feel strange? Kkukyuu! You dont have to hold it in. Eeeuuugh Gurgle! Kuku curled up its body, and Raciel quickly ced a bowl beneath it. Shortly after, Kuku regurgitated something. Kkukyuuu! ng! Surprisingly, it wasnt liquid but a spherical object thatnded in the bowl. It was a bead slightly smaller than a billiard ball, and for some reason, it emitted a familiar scent. Why does it smell like mint chocte here? A fleeting memory of Korea crossed his mind the woman who proudly dered her love for mint chocte on a blind date. Yes, the blind date failed because of that womans taste. Nothing else matters, mint chocte is unforgivable. Yep, thats it. So, the failure of the blind date was solely due to mint chocte. Absolutely not because he stood up in the caf and emitted a three-tiered fart in perfect harmony with the jazz music. Definitely not that. Therefore, mint chocte is the culprit. No doubt about it. Raciel wiped away the unexpected tears. On one hand, he was genuinely happy to have finally obtained the much-needed antibiotics. I did it! Searching for the Apfros nest, fending off the Vesparos swarm, and oveing unforeseen dangersconsidering the trials of the past few days, a surge of satisfaction overwhelmed him. But Raciel wasnt content. As the old saying goes, Even pearls are worthless if not strung. Even pork belly only gains meaning when grilled. He immediately started crafting an ointment. He had an abundance of ingredients. The supplies sent by Princess Adeline were piled high, including various traditional herbalponents like Purple Root and Dong Quai. Both of these herbs are crucial right now. Purple Root, the root of the Zi Cao nt, was traditionally used in ointments for treating burns and frostbite. Dong Quai, a nt that thrived in damp, humid areas, was a rare medicinal herb mentioned around 500 times in Donguibogam, an essential text in traditional Korean medicine. So Raciel had requested the princess to pay special attention to supplying these two herbs long ago. His n had always been to use them for ointments. Lets get started. He melted the beeswax. Added Dong Quai to the boiling beeswax. Increased the stoves heat until the Dong Quai turned ck, then added the Purple Root and boiled for about 3 more minutes. The mixture of beeswax, Dong Quai, and Purple Root thickened. Finally, when the solution turned a vivid crimson, he added the antibiotic bead that Kuku had regurgitated. Using arge spoon, he pressed it down forcefully five times. The sensation of the bead being crushed traveled up the spoon. The scent of mint chocte wafted from the solution. At that moment, Raciel signaled to Demian. Now! Demian, wearing thick gloves, removed the pot from the fire. It all began from there. Raciel took the spoon and stirred the thickened solution slowly but diligently. Theyers of the solution must not separate. It was a highly concentrated medicinal solution. If not stirred well during cooling, the ingredients could separate or even stick to the bottom of the pot. Just like how you must stir curry carefully while simmering it. Only with such care could you achieve delicious curry. Without any regrets. For the best results, he watched over the pot, stirred at regr intervals. The night grew deeper, the moon climbed high, his shoulders grew tired, and his arms felt sore. But he refused to pass the spoon to anyone else. I have to do this myself. Kuku had mentioned that the antibiotic bead could only be regurgitated once a month. This meant that if he failed to make the ointment this time, hed have to endure a helpless month. Then, during that time, all the injured would sumb to various infections. The thought was horrifying. Furthermore, he was crafting an ointment for his own patients. So he had to be the one to do it. It was his responsibility, and he encouraged his weary body. He forced his heavy eyelids to stay open. The pot cooled down. The solution cooled down. It slowly solidified. Early in the dawn, just as the first light broke, a salve with the unique color palette of mint chocte was finally created. It marked the birth of Radekasol, an ointment for wound treatment crafted by Raciel. Its done! An involuntary cheer erupted, and the refreshing notification sound was an added bonus. Ding dong! [You have sessfully produced the continent of Lorasias first-ever antibiotic ointment, Radekasol.] [Your ointment, Radekasol, will serve as a catalyst for the distribution and promotion of an unprecedented, innovative antibiotic treatment. Furthermore, this aplishment will forever etch your name in medical history as the Father of Antibiotic Treatment.] [Future medical students will grumble as they contend with the ever-expanding content of their exams.] [Your reputation will continue to soar due to Radekasol.] [Your internal organs express both joy and grievances about your achievement.] [Heart: Ah, another achievement. Sure, achievements are nice. But did you stay up all night again? When do we get a break?] [Lungs: Ugh I cant handle this anymore ] [Large Intestine: Given your irregr sleep patterntely, I foresee constipation in your future.] [Liver: Im losing my mind, too. Is there a way to put this human to sleep?] [Stomach: Lets twist the esophagus into a ribbon shape!] [Your internal organs show signs of concern for your relentless drive.] [Your internal organs have granted you 800 HP in sponsorship, encouraging your health-draining achievements.] [Your current HP: 7,300] Phew. He was undeniably tired. It was only natural after staying up all night stirring with adle. However, Raciel felt a profound sense of fulfillment that outweighed the fatigue. Atst, a specialized antibiotic ointment for wound treatment had beenpleted. With it, countless injured soldiers could be saved, not to mention the substantial bonus to his own lifespan. Hehehe! Filled with a spontaneous sense of satisfaction, Raciel immediately took action. He began actively using the antibiotic ointment to treat wounded soldiers. Of course, until that point, he had no inkling. He had assumed that with thepleted antibiotic ointment, Radekasol, he would merely gain a bonus to his lifespan. He had no idea that his Radekasol, the treatment for wounded soldiers, would turn the tide of a fiercely fought war and wield an extraordinary influence that would be enshrined in history. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Several days had gone by. During that period, Raciel remained dedicated to caring for the wounded soldiers. He was consistently the first to rise at dawn. My bonus lifespan! Regardless of his exhaustion or the sensation of his body seemingly melting away, he never skipped a day. His initial priority was assessing the condition of the injured soldiers and administering Randekasol to their wounds. Randekasol was an ointment derived from the traditional herbal remedy Jawoongo, and its effects were naturally remarkable. In the end, Jawoongo itself is quite a beneficial ointment. It was an ointment used for various skin conditions, burns, and injuries. Particrly, Angelica and Rehmannia in Jawoongo had beneficial effects. Angelica supplied nutrients to the skin and encouraged tissue regeneration. It also had mild analgesic and anti-inmmatory properties. Rehmannia could reduce fever, detoxify, and disinfect. Additionally, it contained a natural antibiotic substance provided by Queenrva of Apfros. Its effects were remarkable. Excellent. The swelling has noticeably reduced. Every morning, when he inspected the injured soldiers and removed their bandages, he felt a sense of unease. Was it because of the gruesome appearance of the wounds? Certainly not. His fear was that the wounds might have worsened overnight, that they might have be infected, filled with pus, or inmed, jeopardizing the soldiers recovery and even their lives. That was his greatest concern. Most of the soldiers were severely injured. Bacterial infections could derail their recovery and pose a serious threat to their lives. Randekasol effectively prevented this. It reduced swelling and soothed oozing wounds. New tissue literally sprouted. All right, its time to apply the medicine again. Stay still. Uh ugh Does it sting? Its bearable, Medical Officer. Good. Youve endured it well again today. The stitched areas are healing nicely. Everything was progressing as nned. The injured soldiers were recovering smoothly. This gave him hope. He attended to their needs with even greater diligence, remaining by their side for most of the day. Consequently, his entourage also became busy. This included not only Gardin but also the knights of Anbouaz whom the princess had assigned to guard Raciel. The knights, too, rolled up their sleeves. While caring for the wounded soldiers alongside Raciel and Gardin, they pondered, Why is the Crown Prince of Magentano so dedicated? These wounded soldiers arent technically his subjects, but ours from Anbouaz. Why is he somitted? Had they ever considered caring for the wounded with such dedication? Had they ever thought that their efforts could save lives? No. Never. The knights felt this deep inside and observed Raciel as he inserted a needle into a wound. Suddenly, they felt a sense of shame. They were knights who valued honor, yet they had never paid attention to dying soldiers. They had focused solely on protecting the royal family and enhancing their own honor. What was true honor? Disying bravery on the battlefield? Safeguarding the royal family and their lords? Suddenly, they realized it was more than that. It was a strange and unfamiliar thought and feeling, but it didnt repulse them. Instead, they wanted to learn from it, to change. And they werent the only ones who felt this way. My Lord? Late into the night. Gardin gently roused Raciel, who had dozed off next to an injured soldier. However, Raciel, in a deeper slumber than expected, didnt open his eyes. Eventually, Gardin softly tapped his lords shoulder. My lord? Hmm, ah, hmm? Startled, the Crown Prince awoke. He looked up with a nk expression, showing vulnerability that made Gardin smile faintly. Are you okay? Huh? Me? Yes. Ah, my shoulder. I nodded off. Its fine, its fine. But you were drooling. No, on the other side. Ughh! Raciels sleeve quickly moved. The wrists and forearms visible through the sleeves were slender. He had always had a fairly lean physique, buttely, he seemed even thinner, perhaps from exhaustion while caring for the wounded. Gardin expressed concern. Youve been pushing yourself too hardtely. Im worried. Me? Yes, you might copse. Oh, Im fine. I know my body well. But, my Lord. No, Your Highness. Gardin changed his tone. I didnt n to say this, but I must today. What are you trying to say? Raciels expression hardened. Was Gardin going to object or offer some bitter advice? Youve been pushing yourself quite hardtely. Youve stayed up many nights and barely had time to eat. It was unavoidable. There were more wounded soldiers than he could handle, and too few hands to help. By cutting down on sleep, breaks, and meals, he just managed to care for all the wounded soldiers. Because of this, every part of his body protested daily. Youll copse, they seemed to dere, almost going on strike. And now Gardin wanted to join them in their nagging? If he really nags me, Ill just scold him and ignore it. Thats what power was for, Raciel thought. But then, unexpected words came from Gardin. Ive been doing some deep reflection recently. What? Im sincere. ? What is he talking about? What is he reflecting on? Gardin continued, When I first came here, no, even when I followed you from Imperial Capital to Anbouaz, I was skeptical of your n. Skeptical? Yes. Gardin nodded slowly. I wondered how many soldiers we could save, even if you took charge and I helped. Thats how I felt when I saw the camp after arriving here. To me, these were all soldiers doomed to die. But But? You were different. Gardin spoke with an unusual confidence. You never gave up. You didntpromise with reality or retreat. If there was no way, you desperately found a new one; if that path was treacherous, you led without hesitation. Thats why Ive been feeling a lot and reflecting. I see? Yes, Your Highness. I will continue to feel and learn more. So, I want to take even better care of your health. Gardin spoke with a solemn expression. He was genuine. He used to think that the wounded were best left to their fate, but that perspective had changed. As he followed his master and cared for the injured, and as he witnessed these treated soldiers gradually leaving their sickbeds, he deeply regretted his past indifference. He felt he had never put in enough effort to find ways to save more lives. Please dont leave me behind. I have the audacity to ask this. Uh, can I be brutally honest? Yes, Your Highness. I almost died from cringing just now. My limbs nearly vanished, seriously. Im already exhausted, and here we are in the middle of the night. If you have time to say such things, why dont you go around the camp and check on the wounded? See if any soldiers have a fever, if their breathing is stable, if there are any other emergencies. Shall we get to work? Right? Yes, Your Highness. And so, Gardins slightly cringe-worthy sincerity was promptly suppressed(?). ****** The days of treatment continued. They poured their utmost effort into it. Emergency surgeries were performed, stitches were sewn, lidocaine was applied, ointments were prescribed, and acupuncture was administered to those who needed it. Bnced meals and thorough hygiene were the basics. Day by day, as fatigue umted, the scorching summer days passed by. One day, two days, ten days, a fortnight, a month. During this time, many injured soldiers got up and left. Tiery, the senior soldier who was the first to receive emergency surgery in the camp, was also one of them. I cant believe I can walk again. Is this really happening? On the first day he was able to stand on his own, Tiery lifted his face in deep emotion. The hot sunlight touching his forehead seemed unbelievable. Just the fact that he could walk properly again filled his heart with overwhelming emotion. I never thought this day woulde He had given up on himself. When he was lying on that filthy bed, it truly felt like the end. There was no hope of survival. The festering wound was unbearably painful. I wish this pain would end soon, he had thought. Just hoping that the end would not be too painful, he waited for death, panting day by day. But now, everything had changed. His terrible wound had healed. They didnt have to amputate his arm. His side had also healed. Now he could walk on both legs. He could even dare to dream of a future. Such emotions werent his alone. Many other wounded soldiers also rose, one by one, sharing in the joy of recovery, embracing each other. The entire camp was filled with smiles of relief and happiness. However, there was one person who did not share in this joy: Raciel. On the evening when the thirtieth injured soldier walked away healed, a modest feast was underway in the camp. Raciel discreetly slipped away from the boisterous celebrations among the soldiers and returned to his humble tent. He opened a chest. Inside, he kept an assortment of odds and ends. More urately, they were keepsakes. Remembrances of the soldiers who couldnt be saved in the camp, whose wounds ran too deep, or who had received treatment toote, or despite every possible effort, had sadly passed away. A glove marked by someones sweat. A poignant ne from another. All were items Raciel had gathered from deceased soldiers, intended to be sent to their families as tokens in lieu of their bodies. His eyes drifted over these keepsakes. With each one he examined, he recalled the final moments of the soldiers who had possessed them. Thebored breathing that had ceased, the vacant stares they couldnt focus, the trembling hands that had clung to his own. It all felt as though it had just urred. If only my skills had been a bit better, could I have saved them? There was no way to know. Though he had given his all, his best had fallen short. These were the patients under his care, yet he couldnt ultimately rescue them. This was unfamiliar territory; in his clinic, patients rarely sumbed because they were typically transferred torger hospitals. But here, the story was different. The experience of witnessing patients he was treating pass away, helpless to prevent it, was a new and harrowing reality. Each time a person closed their eyes, it felt like a nail being driven into his hearta nail that would never be removed. It hurt. He felt remorse. So there he sat, alone, tears streaming down his face as he handled the keepsakes of those who had departed. Raciel wiped his tears away silently, sitting alone for an extended period. Meanwhile, numerous eyes outside the tent were fixed on him. These were the injured soldiers who had wanted to express their gratitude to the medical officer, who had quietly slipped away during the feast. None of them could muster the courage to approach him. Seeing the medical officer dealing with the keepsakes of their fallenrades and finally shedding tears, the soldiers own eyes welled up with emotion. Everyone made a solemnmitment. Regardless of whaty ahead, even if they had to face the depths of hell, they would unfailingly follow that medical officer. They pledged unwavering loyalty, forever. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 116 Chapter 116 From this moment forth, I once again pledge my eternal loyalty to His Majesty, the rightful ruler of Anbouaz. I shall now present the current military report. This is Balrua Fortress. It serves as the sole passage through the rugged mountain range in the central region of the Anbouaz Kingdom. Within the august council chamber of this fortress, King Merovingian Balua Anbouaz attentively received the report from his intelligence officer. Deep within him, a zing anger smoldered. This was a newfound rage directed at his own kinsman who had incited a rebellion. Javillon, that scoundrel Javillon mbeur Anbouaz, a member of the royal family with an ancestral lineage. He was also a Swordmaster, a rare and highly prized talent. Indeed, he had been cherished greatly. Especially because the royal family boasted only two Swordmasters. Yet, how does he repay my generosity in such a manner? Truly? Javillon had always been known for his ambition from the very beginning. Some ministers openly voiced their concerns, alleging that he harbored sinister intentions. They recognized his exceptional abilities but cautioned against bestowing upon him excessive authority. However, the king held a distinct viewpoint. He believed that the more ambitious a person was, the wiser it was to keep them close. Overestimating their value could potentially lead to rebellion, making them even more perilous. Instead, he advocated for granting them just the right amount of authority, a move that would inspire them to utilize their talents and, hopefully, moderate their ambitions. Consequently, he had appointed Javillon as themander of the eastern region. For a few years, this choice appeared sound. Javillon had conducted himself appropriately, leading the king to believe that this trend would persist. But the kings judgment had been wed. As Ive reported, at present, aside from minor skirmishes in the northeast, there is no major conflict. It seems that the rebel forces are amassing here, targeting Balrua Fortress. The words of the intelligence officer pierced the kings ears, causing his countenance to darken. So, they are concentrating their primary forces here. It appears they have no intention of avoiding a confrontation with us. It certainly appears that way, Your Majesty. The king emitted a sigh. The impending massive battle with the rebels weighed heavily on his mind. Is there anything else to report? Yes, Your Majesty. Hoping for positive news, the king inquired, though with restrained expectations. Surprisingly, the intelligence officers demeanor brightened. Recently, there has been a field hospital achieving remarkably positive results. Remarkable results? From a field hospital? Yes, Your Majesty. King Merovingian shook his head. A report about the achievements of a mere field hospital seemed inconsequential in light of the impending sh with rebel forces. He couldnt grasp its significance. What impact could one field hospital possibly have? However, the intelligence officers subsequent report seized hisplete attention. In thest two months, the survival rate of the wounded there has exceeded 70%. What? 70%? The king nearly choked in disbelief. It was an astonishing statistic. So, out of ten wounded individuals taken there, seven emerge alive? Thats correct, Your Majesty. Is that truly the case? Yes, Your Majesty. Initially, I had my doubts as well. Considering that the typical survival rate in field hospitals is around 10%, this result was remarkably good. However However? Upon conducting our own investigation, we confirmed that this figure is an unaltered, transparent fact. Is that truly the case? Yes, Your Majesty. In fact, rumors about this particr hospital are rapidly spreading among soldiers of various ranks in our kingdoms army. Rumors? The belief that, no matter how you are injured in battle, if you are taken to the 21st Support Battalions field hospital, you can survive, has spread. Soldiers have even coined a nickname for it. A nickname? Yes, Your Majesty. The intelligence officer smiled in response to the kings question. The soldiers are calling the 21st Support Battalion A Healing Camp? Yes. Why is a Healing Camp mentioned here? Raciel tilted his head and looked at Gardin with puzzled eyes. By any chance, Gardin, were you an avid follower of a certain broadcast? What do you mean? Oh, its nothing. Raciel chuckled. You just mentioned that our medical camp here in the royal army has a unique nickname. And for some reason, you brought up a name that sounded familiar to me. He couldnt help butugh. He had been stationed here for two months now. During that time, rumors about this medical camp had spread rapidly among the soldiers in the royal army. The rumor that if you were sent here, you could survive. They had even coined a nickname for the camp. Its called the Healing Camp, huh. Haha. He shook his head, pushing aside his memories and thoughts about a broadcast from Korea. Then, he turned his attention to the twenty or so individuals standing behind Gardin. Anyway, setting the nickname aside, are you saying that the King sent these people to our camp because he heard these rumors? Yes, my lord. To be precise, His Majesty was highly impressed with our performance. Impressed? Yes. The survival rate of the wounded here is over 70%. Isnt that always the case? No, certainly not. Gardin emphatically shook his head. Typically, a survival rate just above 10% is considered excellent. I see. Yes. Thats the norm. So, in any case, His Majesty was pleased with our performance and sent these people here for training? Thats correct, my lord. These are military officers selected from various medical camps within the royal army. Wow. Raciels eyes, which had previously held a hint of gloom, suddenly lit up. He couldnt help but express his surprise. All twenty of them are active-duty military officers? So, theyre not inexperienced? Thats fantastic. We were short on manpower anyway! He had been struggling with a shortage of skilled medical personnel, with only himself and Gardin being capable. The influx of wounded soldiers seemed endless, and he hadnt enjoyed a good nights sleep since arriving. The King of Anbouaz is certainlying to our aid! Raciel could feel a glimmer of hope breaking through his exhaustion-induced dark circles. Struggling to suppress the fatigue threatening to ovee him, he greeted the officers with a wide, weing smile. Ahem, its a pleasure to meet all of you. Im Officer Rihan. I understand youve been sent here for training. You must be weary from the long journey, but if you could please follow me for now. Ill give you a tour of the camp. Our tents are arranged based on the conditions and recovery status of the wounded, so understanding this will be helpful for your future duties. What are you all waiting for? Something seemed off. Not a single one of the twenty officers responded to him. In fact, they didnt appear to be considering moving at all. They simply stared at him with vacant expressions. Their gazes were somewhat peculiar. It was as though they were silently questioning, Why are you giving us orders? He had a strangely unsettling feeling, and that feeling turned out to be spot on. Excuse me, but wouldnt it be more appropriate to direct us to our quarters for some rest first? One of the dispatched officers, a remarkably handsome and tall figure, stepped forward. His voice carried an air of confidence, suggesting he might be the de facto leader among them. It certainly seemed that way. Officer Rihan? As you are aware, were here on a sacred mission at the request of His Majesty the King. However, the journey was far fromfortable. We endured a forced march for six days. Dont you think its only fair to grant us a moment to rx after such an ordeal? Fair? Yes, I believe its only considerate. Such bold statements. Raciel struggled to contain his astonishment. He countered, So, if I understand correctly, youre suggesting that its inconsiderate of me to have your men continue working without rest? Exactly. Why is that exactly? I beg your pardon? Whats your name, sir? Its Shandre. The officer who disclosed his name still bore an overly confident expression. He resembled someone who orders Jjajangmyeon at a Chinese restaurant and thenins about the absence ofplimentary dumplings. Raciel found himself even more incredulous. Officer Shandre? May I pose a question? Do patients wait for doctors? Excuse me? Imagine theres a patient teetering on the brink of death. Would that patient patiently await the arrival of a doctor? What are you talking about? We have wounded soldiers here, dozens of them at deaths door, and youre talking about the right to rest? Raciels voice took on a stern tone. His frustration surged, and understandably so. Im already swamped! My bonus lifespan is dwindling! He had an overwhelming workload. Instead of attending to the wounded on his rounds, he was wasting time arguing with this individual. Time was of the essence. Yet Shandre, oblivious to Raciels irritation, proceeded to make an even more perplexing remark. Among the wounded who are at deaths door, there cant be many aristocratic officers, can there? What? Aristocracy? What are you getting at? Shandre persisted, Aristocracy. Youre not segregating them, are you? Of course not Tsk tsk. You cant even get that right. Im disappointed. When someone bes excessively absurd, words fail you. Raciel simply shut his mouth. He sensed that if he were to open it, a torrent of curses would pour out. Shandres nonsensical diatribe persisted. Officer Rihan? Despite my presence here for training, theres something I must convey. There are two categories of wounded soldiers: nobles and non-nobles. Those who must be saved and those who neednt be. Thats the gist of it. Theres a rationale behind categorizing the wounded. We have limited medical personnel and an overflow of patients. Thats the harsh reality of a battlefield camp. So, who should we prioritize saving? Who will yield us substantial rewards? Obviously, its the nobility, isnt it? Saving a dying aristocratic officer could bring significant recognition and even sponsorship from their family. On the flip side, if you save amon soldier, what do you gain? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You might even suffer a loss by expending precious time and effort that could have been used to save an aristocratic officer. So, heres my advice. Yourecking in the basics. Phew, we narrowly averted a major problem. The lord would have been terribly disappointed had he learned of this unfortunate situation. Fortunately, we arrived here and pointed it out. Officer Rihan? Why are you silent? Ah, are you surprised? But this is the unvarnished logic of the real battlefield. It seems you stillck experience, so Stop. Enough with the nonsense. Pardon me? Shandres eyes widened. Nonsense? Stunned by the sudden outburst, he was baffled. He believed he was offering valid and helpful advice. Why was this red-haired, portly officer suddenly resorting to curses? But Shandres musings halted abruptly. Smack! ! Raciels punch, fueled by pent-up anger that had exceeded his monthly limit, erupted. Shandres head spun around, and his body executed an elegant triple axel in the air. A tooth soared out of his mouth, glinting in the air. The pupils of the other officers quivered like dancing eels. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 117 Chapter 117 Violence is unjust. One should not wield it recklessly. Raciel always believed in this principle. Even during his time in Korea, he rarely resorted to violence towards others. There was only one exception. Perhaps it was during his years in medical school. He had a minor disagreement with a fellow student. The individual made an insensitive joke, asking if Raciels parents werent around. Since his parents had indeed passed away, and not much time had passed since he had bid them farewell, anger welled up within him. They ended up in a physical altercation, a mutual assault. That was the sole exception. However, now, He hadmitted a more severe act of violence than back then. This time, it wasnt driven by anger; it was a calcted punch. Thump! Gwuk! With an unusual cry, Shandres head whipped around, and even his sturdy mrs flew out, gleaming. Shandre went down in a single blow. It was a perfect knockout. Of course, Raciel had employed the Asrahan Core technique. The punch was imbued with a touch of mana. Shandre might sleep soundly for an hour or two. What? Um, uh? Excuse me, sir? The remaining dispatched military officers mumbled, gazing at them with surprised expressions. Gradually, their expressions shifted to anger. What do you think youre doing? Striking someone, especially a military officer! Do you believe you can get away with this? The objections from the military officers poured in. However, Raciel didnt even snort; he simply sneered. What am I doing? He nced at the officers while flexing his clenched fist. Raciel made eye contact with each one and retorted. It seems you all have a significant misunderstanding. Youre here to learn, not to engage in games, certainly not to spout your absurd dichotomies. But why? Should we separate the injured into two groups? Prioritize treatment based on nobility ormon status? All to line your own pockets? To secure sponsorships? How ludicrous. The very idea of it made himugh. Such despicable motives exist, he thought. However, their perspectives seemed somewhat different. But striking someone openly like this is unjust! Apologize, or we will report this to our superiors. The officers grew more agitated, as if they had seized an opportunity. This only made Racielugh even harder. Report it to your superiors? Under what pretext? Well, obviously, well report it as an act of violence An act of violence? What about the disobedience to royal orders that this man lying here hasmitted? What are you talking about? Did you forget why youre here? Thats You came to this camp following the kings orders, to uncover the secret behind our impressive survival rate among the wounded. Isnt that correct? Then why arent you focusing on learning? Why instead are you fussing about absurd matters? Isnt that already a form of disobedience to royal orders? Youre exaggerating! Exaggerating my foot. Raciel chuckled, his sharp words persisting. You were sent here to learn, but it seems you have no intention of doing so. You im that you dont need what were offering, that your skill lies in segregating patients into nobles andmoners. You even suggest that Im ignorant for not knowing this and insinuate that our king would be displeased with the current situation. Id like to know, where in your words and actions do you demonstrate any willingness to learn? But still! But what? Just because you cant best someone like this Would you prefer I throw you in prison instead? The battalionmander who was imprisoned when I first arrived is probably still there. Would you like to join him? All of you? Tsk. If you have nothing more to say, then leave. It doesnt seem like youll be of any assistance anyway. He meant it. Individuals with such attitudes, even a hundred of them, would be worthless. In fact, he felt relief that they wouldnt interfere. He also understood why only 10 percent of the wounded soldiers they saved survived. Ordinarily, they simply neglect themon soldiers. They only favor officers of noble birth with useful connections and take care of them. He felt repulsed as he contemted it. Their meager abilities. The petty authority those abilities afforded them. They must have relished the power to decide the fates of others based on their selection. Their pitiful arrogance disgusted him. The fact that their actions only served to line their own pockets made it even more sickening. He didnt even feel remorse for striking them. If anything, he regretted not hitting them harder when he had the chance. He felt somewhat disappointed. I thought I had finally secured some manpower. Ive wasted valuable time relying on worthless individuals. It was time to attend to the wounded. With this in mind, Raciel hurried away. He didnt even spare a nce for the fallen military officer Shandre and the others as he swiftly departed the scene. How dare he A man with no background, of unknown origin do this to me? A few hourster, Shandre woke up. The antidote had done its job as he had requested. However, as soon as he opened his eyes, he seethed with anger at Raciel, who had kindly beaten him. It was only natural. The area where Raciel had struck him was swollen, and his knocked-out teeth ached. But beyond the physical pain, it was the humiliation that stung the most. How dare that guy take my ce? Shandre clenched his teeth. He had always been the best. No army medical officer surpassed him. He had believed this all along, and it was true. He had graduated from the kingdoms most prestigious medical school and was the favored student of its most esteemed professor. Even after bing a military doctor, nothing had changed. His camp for wounded soldiers had always been the best. Even before the civil war erupted, he had been the best. He had consistently achieved remarkable results in every war he had participated in. An astonishing survival rate for wounded soldiers: 15 percent. Particrly, the survival rate for noble officers was even higher. Thanks to his prowess, he received attention and sponsorship from numerous noble families. Some had even requested him to be their personal physician after the civil war. He was undeniably the best. Until Rihan, that peculiar individual with no background, came into the picture. Until that unbelievable guy, who had recorded an abnormal 70 percent survival rate for wounded soldiers, entered the scene. He had been relegated to second ce. All because of that guy. Shandre clenched his teeth and surveyed his surroundings. He could see his fellow medical officers who had been dispatched with him, all of them appearing concerned. Even their gazes were humiliating for him, the one who had always been the best. He addressed them all. No need to look at me like that. Im fine. Where is that guy? We dont know. After he attacked you, he simply left. He left? He went to tend to the wounded soldiers. He hasnt returned yet. Hespletely ignoring us. How dare he? A guy with no background or origin, someone who merely lucked into sponsorship from the princess. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Meanwhile, his fellow medical officers spoke casually. But, Officer Shandre? While you were unconscious, we heard some strange rumors from the soldiers here. Strange rumors? Its about that Rihan. Apparently, hes quite skilled. What? Many wounded soldiers im they owe their survival to him. He hardly performed any amputations. No amputations? Yes, I saw it myself while touring the camp. Everyones limbs were intact. There were hardly any soldiers who had undergone amputations. But then how did they achieve a 70 percent survival rate? Ive heard they use various unique treatments. Unique treatments? Yes, they mentioned something called acupuncture. Ah, and theres something else as well, called moxibustion. They bundle up some strange herbs, dry them, ce them on the skin, and then burn them. What is that However, Ive heard that after receiving acupuncture and moxibustion, the soldiers feel incredibly refreshed. Quite a few of them have attested to this. Shandre remained silent. Acupuncture? Moxibustion? These were treatments he had never encountered before. Methods involving pricking the body with thorns or burning dried herb bundles on the skin were entirely unfamiliar to him. As a result, he was convinced. That guy must be a chatan! Absolutely certain. This individual named Rihan had to be a fraud, mastering strange techniques that Shandre had never encountered. He must have enchanted these naive and foolish soldiers with such bizarre sorcery. But what about the 70 percent survival rate? It must have been luck. Maybe they didnt need amputations in the first ce. Perhaps they just happened to get soldiers who werent severely injured. Its the only exnation. When he thought about it, it made sense. What did his professor used to say? No matter how exceptional your medical skills are, on the battlefield, you cant save more than 20 percent of the soldiers. Even the most skilled practitioner cannot surpass that limit. His teacher had been the most esteemed at Anbouazs top medical school. He couldnt possibly be wrong. But what about this guy, Rihan? He had achieved an astonishing sess rate of 70 percent. Shandre simply couldnt believe it. Everyone is being deceived. Not just the soldiers here, but also the intelligence department of the royal army, the king everyone is entranced by his sorcery. Maybe he is even secretly using ck magic. The idea seemed usible. It quickly solidified into a conviction. So, what should he do now? A sense of mission overcame him. I need to uncover the truth about his sorcery. To do that I must prove my own abilities and expose him! Shandre made a firm decision. He would expose every hidden aspect of Rihan. He intended to awaken everyone who had been deceived. With this resolution in mind, he rose to his feet, gathered his medical instruments, and exited the tent. Outside, the night was enveloped in darkness. The midnight moonlight shone brilliantly overhead, but he paid it no mind. In fact, he considered it advantageous. Rihan, the fraud, was likely asleep at this hour. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase my skills without his interference. Without hesitation, he located the tent housing the injured soldiers. He entered confidently and began to assess a soldier who had recently undergone surgery and was in the recovery phase. Just as I suspected. After evaluating the wounded soldiers condition, Shandre smiled with satisfaction. It was even more evident, given the state of the sleeping soldier, how ipetent Rihan was. He didnt even provide the basic post-operative care that should be standard. Hes undoubtedly a fraud. The time hade to fully expose him. With a wide grin, Shandre opened his bag. nk. Various medical tools were revealed. He selected the bloodletting tool from among them and aimed it at the sleeping wounded soldiers arm vein. He solemnly recalled the medical knowledge he had acquired from his teacher. When you are sick or injured, impure blood umtes in your body. To make room for fresh, clean blood, you must remove as much impure blood as possible. Swish. The sharp edge of his bloodletting tool ominously gleamed as he carefully incised the soldiers intact vein. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Squeak. The bloodletting instrument gleamed with an eerie light as it sliced through a healthy vein of a soldier. A determined resolve filled Shandres gaze. Excellent. Evil had to be purged from the body as thoroughly as possible. If negative energy dwelled within, it had to be eradicated. And what was the easiestponent to remove from the body? Blood, of course. Blood was the wellspring of life, the essence that sustained all living beings. Consequently, he believed that when the body was afflicted or severely injured, the blood too became tainted. This wasnt merely his belief; he had learned it in college. His master and his masters master had imparted the same teachings. So, naturally, this method of treatment is the ultimate truth. Extracting tainted blood from the body was the solution. The more blood you removed, the more space you created within the body for fresh blood. But what is life? When theres emptiness, it quickly fills. Thats thew of life. As the tainted blood was removed, a void was created. New, pure blood would upy this space and cleanse the body of its ailments. And then it was done. Any illness would be cured, and even severe injuries could be rapidly healed. Shandre diligently carried out his work with unwavering faith, positioning a bucket beneath the soldiers arm where he had just made the incision. It was a bucket meant to collect the blood. However, at that very moment: Uh, hmm? The slumbering soldier wrinkled his brow. Perhaps the cut on his arm stung. Slowly, he opened his eyes, which widened almost immediately. What? What? The soldier was taken aback. He had been fast asleep. He had been informed that the stitches on his injured leg were holding up well. The muscles had mended properly, and amputation would not be necessary. He would heal if he simply applied ointment and rested. He had even received words of encouragement and constion from an officer known as a saint. So, he had felt at ease. He had been sound asleep. But now he woke up to find his arm bleeding! What? What is this! The bewildered soldier attempted to sit up, but a firm hand gently pressed down on his shoulder. Hush. ! I am Officer Shandre. Do not disrupt the treatment. Officer? A face he did not recognize. The soldier shifted his gaze between his bleeding arm and Shandres countenance. Are you the officer? Yes, you are currently under my care. But, um, Officer? Hmm? I have never seen you before I arrived earlier today. Is there a problem? Well, I underwent surgery earlier today. And? Officer Rihan said I should just rest now Is that so? Why are you here in the middle of the night drawing blood from my arm? Is that so? How dare you, a mere soldier, question my methods of treatment? Shandre narrowed his eyes, and the soldiers shoulders slumped. No, thats not what I meant Then what? I just wasnt informed that Id be receiving this treatment Are you the only one in this camp whos injured? Pardon? There are so many injured people. Do I have to tell each and every one what kind of treatment theyll receive? Even to injured soldiers like you? Thats Are you a noble? No, I am not. Indeed, you are not. Yes, Officer. Then graciously ept any treatment. Normally, someone like you, without a noble background, wouldnt even dream of receiving treatment from someone like me. Consider yourself fortunate. Understand? Do you understand? Understood The soldier lowered his head. To be honest, he felt quite ufortable and irritated. He did not appreciate the oppressive tone and arrogant demeanor of the officer who had introduced himself as Shandre. The attitude of Officer Rihan and Officer Gardin, who had treated him during the day, was entirely different. They were considerate even to a mere soldier like me. Officers Rihan and Gardin were distinct. They were meticulous about inquiring which part was injured and how. They didnt want to miss a single detail about where and how it hurt. They also providedprehensive exnations about the next steps in treatment and what to watch out for. But this Officer Shandre in front of him? Hes acting as if hes doing me a favor. He didnt like it. However, he couldnt openly express it. After all, he was just a lowly soldier with a much lower rank than an officer. Keeping his mouth shut and obeying seemed like the best course of action. But is this treatment okay? The soldier nced at his arm. Blood had been steadily dripping into a bucket below. It felt strange to see his own blood collecting there. His fingertips began to tingle. His toes felt prickly. His lips grew cold. Suddenly, the oilmp that illuminated the interior of the tent seemed to split into two. Huh? Why was he feeling like this? Why was he suddenly experiencing dizziness? He felt like he was going to vomit. The soldier was hit by a sudden wave of vertigo. Sweating profusely, he said to Shandre, Um Officer? Yes. Do you feel a bit lighter? No, actually Im starting to feel dizzy. Dizzy? Yes Tsk. Weve drained the contaminated blood; you shouldnt be feeling this way. Are you sure youre not mistaken? No, Im really not Tsk, tsk! Just endure a bit longer. This is all for your own good, isnt it? But still Hey. Officer I really Now the officers face seemed to contort wildly. Was he frowning? No, the entire world appeared to ripple. The officers mouth, as he spoke to him, looked like five ovepping mouths. Everything was trembling. The candle, the interior of the tent, the bed, and the bucket on the floor. Even the blood pooling inside it. Everything. Ugh. Thud. Unable to bear it any longer, the soldier copsed and lost consciousness. Huh? Hey, you there? Shandres panicked voice echoed within the tent. It was bewildering. The first thought that crossed Raciels mind upon waking up from a deep sleep was, What kind of dream was that? His father appeared in the dream. Telling him to wake up immediately. To open his eyes. Had his father been sternly yelling? This isnt the Stone Age. Raciel chuckled in disbelief. He got up from his cot. Although he wanted to go back to sleep, all drowsiness had vanished. Should I go look at the night sky? It seemed better than restlessly tossing and turning. The night sky in this world was genuinely beautiful, filled with the Milky Way and stars, a spectacle one couldnt see in Korea. He stepped out of the tent. He breathed in the cool night air. Meanwhile, he recalled the events of the day. The officers here are much worse than I thought. Those who had arrived on dispatch earlier in the day. People who didnt make sense ording to his understanding. To differentiate the wounded between nobles andmoners. They openly stated that it would line their pockets and secure strong sponsorship, even if they were thinking that way. Lets not even think about those who arent helpful. So, moving forward, he decided to ignore them. He would fill the dispatch period roughly and send them off. After all, I just need to earn a good amount of bonus lifespan. Thats what he should focus on. The reason he came here. A small smile crept onto Raciels face when he thought about the bonus lifespan. It couldnt be helped. It had already been two months since he arrived in Anbouaz. The bonus lifespan he had acquired so far was quite substantial. [Your Expected Lifespan: 283 days] Heh heh heh. Hee hee hee. When he first heard about the civil war in Anbouaz, his expected lifespan was around 170 days. However, since he had been here for about two months, it had increased significantly. The more he looked at it, the happier he felt. Even revisiting the number brought him delight. If he could continue like this a bit longer? My expected lifespan will probably umte over a year. Then he could live with less anxiety. The pressure of a time-limited life could be significantly reduced. To be honest, it has been kind of like that. This was the first time his expected lifespan had umted over 200 days. Until now, he had been living with it dropping to a hundred-something days, or sometimes even below 100 days. The pressure of dying in just a few months. The stress and fear of living as if being chased. He didnt want to experience that anymore. He had been struggling with simr pressures in Korea as well. It was like that when I was running my clinic. It became incredibly difficult because of Corona. The ie was cut off, yet the rent and loan interest kept draining out. Money in his bank ount was constantly dwindling. How many months could hest? How much money was left now? How much was expected toe in? How much would the next months rent and interest be? He spent days making these draining calctions several times a day. The diminishing bank bnce felt as if his lifeblood was being drained from his body. It was the harsh reality of being a small business owner. It was the same even aftering here. An expected lifespan that reduced by one day even if he just stood still. Calcting it and pondering future ns was no different from his time as a small business owner in South Korea. But now? It was different. Heh heh hee hee hee! The bonus lifespan that umted day by day brought immense joy to Raciel. He relished his nighttime walks, feeling incredibly light on his feet. However, in the midst of his contentment, What? Huh? Huh? A puzzled voice emanated from somewhere in the quiet camp. Raciel abruptly halted in his tracks, nearly in the midst of a joyful dance. Whats happening? He strained to listen, and the sounds grew clearer. Snap out of it. Hey? Huh? Thwack, thwack! A somewhat bewildered voice. Even the sound of pping cheeks. These noises originated from the tent designated for the recovery of wounded soldiers. It was a ce equipped with single-person tents specially prepared for soldiers who had recently undergone surgery and required absolute rest. Odd. Raciel moved in that direction. As he did, the sounds drew nearer. Hey! Open your eyes, will you? Do you dare not to listen to me? Thwack! Thwack! Just a mere soldier! Thwack! Thwack! The voice wasnt unfamiliar. Who could it be? Then, it clicked. The individual who had been muttering incoherently earlier today. The one who had fainted after taking a punch. Wasnt his name Shandre? But why is that guys voiceing from here? Something seemed amiss. Raciel quickened his pace. He located the tent from which the voice was emanating, flung open the tents entrance, and was met with a surprising sight. A soldier, weak from blood loss from his arm and as pale as a ghost, was being vigorously pped on the cheek by Shandre. The soldier turned his eyes toward Raciel. Their gazes locked. Huh? The soldiers eyes widened. Raciels expression turned icy. What are you doing to my bonus lifespan? (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week SAle 119 SAle 119 What are you doing to my bonus lifespan? A voice that sharply dropped in tone. Raciel scanned the inside of the tent with a chilling gaze. The scene within was truly horrifying. A soldiery unconscious, blood oozing from his arm. This was the same soldier who had undergone leg surgery earlier in the day. And next to him was What, what? Im treating him right now. Whats it to you? Shandre retorted without averting his gaze. Raciel noticed the knife in the mans hand. He also noticed the bucket ced under the soldiers arm, already filled with collected blood. He realized immediately. Could it be? Bloodletting? A name suddenly crossed his mind, and he recalled the content he hade across in modern medical history books, not too long ago, just about 200 to 300 years back in the 18th century. During that era, there was a prevailing belief that extracting impure blood from the body would improve a persons health. Even doctors subscribed to this belief. Especially John Brown, a doctor from Edinburgh, Scond. He advocated the Brunonian System theory, asserting that life depended on constant physical stimtion. Therefore, when illness struck, he believed that forcibly extracting as much impure blood as possible would increase stimtion and lead to the bodys recovery. It was an outrageous theory, a preposterous im, but it had been a prevailing trend at the time. Even Franois Victor Broussais, a surgeon who had served in Napoleons army and been promoted to a surgical officer, further developed this theory. He actively employed leeches in the practice of bloodletting. That doctor believed that all diseases originated from the gastrointestinal tract. So, he would starve any patient who came to him, attaching leeches all over their bodies. In severe cases, up to 50 at a time. Broussais believed that by draining blood while fasting, people would recover. Unfortunately, many patients had perished due to this misguided belief. Yet, the doctors of that time showed no remorse. They did not even thoroughly investigate the cause when a patient died after undergoing bloodletting. They simply attributed the death to the patients inability to endure, believing they had provided the most effective treatment. The peak of Broussaiss fervent support for leech treatments had been from 1820 to 1845, approximately two centuries ago from the advanced 21st century. These were indeed times when only the resilient survived. He never expected to encounter something like this here, let alone such a defiant response. Why arent you responding? Im a military doctor too. Im treating the wounded in the middle of the night, despite my fatigue. So, what gives you the right to interfere with my treatment? Shandres voice grew increasingly louder, cutting through Raciels thoughts. Raciel snapped out of his contemtion, feeling a rising anger and involuntary tension in his spine. In a chilling tone that had dropped even lower, he interrogated Shandre, Youre treating the wounded while tired? Right now? With that nonsense? Nonsense? Shandre responded. Yes. What exactly were you doing? Cant you see? I was drawing blood. Why draw blood? Because it will make them healthy! Look, the soldier has lost consciousness, hasnt he? Its proof that his body is fervently fighting since the dirty blood is being drained. So, if he can just ovee this, this soldier will soon Hell die. What? Shandre furrowed his brows, and Raciels icy retort followed, Be sensible and stop the bleeding now, before the soldier actually dies. What are you talking about Step aside. He couldnt bear to watch any longer. While they were caught in this futile argument, more innocent blood continued to flow from the soldiers arm. If left unchecked, he might truly die from excessive blood loss. It might already be toote. Raciel couldnt restrain himself any longer. At this rate, hes going to take a life. The young soldier, not even in his twenties, had a promising future ahead. He was a patient who had received proper treatment and was well on the road to recovery. The senseless extinguishing of this life right before his eyes was unbearable. Taking a decisive step forward, he pushed Shandre aside and grabbed a thick piece of cloth from the medical kit. He pressed it firmly against the soldiers arm, and the cloth quickly absorbed the red fluid. What in the world are you doing? Shandre yelled, his excitement evident. The treatment was progressing smoothly. Why are you doing this? Is this even allowed? You might be apetent military doctor in this camp, but this is incredibly disrespectful! Are you trying to undermine yourpetition like this? Disrespectful, and furthermore, unfair and cowardly. By what authority do you arbitrarily interrupt someone elses treatment? I demand an exnation! Why wont you answer? Have you suddenly lost your voice now that Im objecting? Then step aside immediately! We cant simply halt the treatment without clear cause. The patient is at a critical juncture! A critical juncture? Treatment? Werent you attempting to harm a perfectly healthy person? What are you talking about? What am I talking about? Im hitting the nail on the head. Look at the condition of this soldier. Does he appear to be recovering? Of course, he should be Hes dying. From excessive bleeding. Thanks to you drawing his perfectly healthy blood without reason. Only then did Shandre fall silent. Raciels cutting criticism continued. Let me be blunt. What were you doing before I arrived? I saw it. You were pping the soldiers face, werent you? That was to To wake him up. To get him to open his eyes. You were flustered and inept. I heard it all. Even if you deny it, you must have realized it. That this soldiers condition was deteriorating. Yet, you cant admit it? Cant acknowledge that the patient is dying right before your eyes due to your misguided treatment methods? Raciels words wereced with anger, and his frustration grew with each word. It wasnt solely about the extra lifespan; it was also about Shandres attitude. People like you are always the problem. You might misdiagnose a patients condition. You might choose the wrong treatment approach. I can understand that. Because youre human. Because doctors are human. Everyone can make mistakes. But why cant you admit your mistakes? Why do you persist in denying them to the end? Is it because admitting them would make you a bad person? Is it because it would tarnish your good reputation? Or is it because you want to evade responsibility? Or perhaps, because a deceased patient cant object? Is that truly why? Youre being too Too severe? Thats augh. Considering your actions, my words dont even qualify as severe. In fact, you should be held ountable. If I could, Id revoke your license and have you locked up right now. So, Ill offer you a single piece of advice. And what might that be If you dont want to meet your end right here, then keep your mouth shut. Shandre had no choice but to close his mouth. The sincerity in the man confronting him was palpable. This is serious. The mans eyes conveyed genuine determination, and they had a deadly seriousness to them. Furthermore, every word he spoke was true. He was pinpointing the issue with precision, and it was all urate. Shandre felt a sinking sensation in his heart. He had no counterargument. The other military doctors who had arrived in the meantime shared a simr sentiment. Most of them were staunch believers in bloodletting. They were convinced that the most effective way to promote recovery was by vigorously extracting blood from the patients body. They had applied this treatment method to numerous patients, leading to the death of many from excessive bleeding. However, they had never truly reflected on it. They rationalized it, cing me on the patients for not enduring the treatment. They believed themselves meless. But the words of the stout military doctor made them question their beliefs. Perhaps they had been mistaken all along. Naturally, they resisted the idea. They couldnt possibly be wrong. Caught in the conflict of thoughts, the military doctors fell silent. What would this person do? He had vehemently criticized their bloodletting practices, so how would he save the soldier now? Anticipation and the desire to witness a potential disaster warred within them. Shandre and the officers watched with keen interest for Raciels response. Demian? Gardin? Youve arrived just in time. Raciels expression eased upon seeing the two individuals who had hurried over upon hearing themotion. He swiftly issued instructions. Demian, fetch a thick nket. Cover the soldiers body with it as much as possible. Lift his legs slightly. His legs? So that the remaining blood in his body can circte to the vital organs and head as much as possible. Understood. Demian promptly carried out the instructions. Raciel then turned his attention to Gardin. The vein is severed. We need to suture it. Understood. Gardin swiftly began preparing the suturing tools. Meanwhile, Raciel applied a tourniquet to the soldiers arm and carefully assessed his condition. Palpation. Ding-dong! [Initiating Palpation.] [Scanning.] [3 2 1] [The Palpation result is avable.] [Please refer to the following .] Shortly after, the test results appeared on the screen. Raciels gaze was drawn to the bottom of the chart, where theprehensive assessment of the soldiers condition was disyed. [Comprehensive Findings: Currently experiencing Excessive Bleeding. Approximately 30% of the bodys blood volume has been lost, leading to loss of consciousness due to decreased oxygen supply to the brain. Indications of critically low blood pressure, cold extremities, peripheral circtory failure, and signs of shock have been observed. Immediate measures for blood transfusion are imperative.] This is a dire situation. Raciels brow furrowed deeply. The soldiers condition was far more critical than he had expected. It was aplete catastrophe, and what made it even more discouraging was that there were no immediate resources at his disposal. A blood transfusion is necessary. Yet, there was no way to perform a transfusion. There were no suitable needles to ess the soldiers veins, no tubing to transfer the blood, and no anticoagnts to prevent clotting during the transfusion. None of these essential supplies were avable. Do I have to settle for merely stopping the bleeding and ending the treatment? Should I merely hope for his survival? In reality, no other options seemed feasible. However, he was reluctant to ept that oue. Leaving things as they were? The situation appeared grim, and it was already a perilous state. Most likely, the soldier would not survive without intervention. Raciel was determined not to let that happen. He feltpelled to take action, whether for the sake of extending his own bonus lifespan or for the soldiers survival. Dying because of reliance on an erroneous treatment method is an avoidable tragedy. That was the thing he despised the most. He was determined to save the soldier at all costs. Raciel contemted intensely. In a situation where a blood transfusion was absolutely necessary, yetcking the necessary needles or tubing for conventional methods, even a direct vein-to-vein transfusion seemed unfeasible. What could he possibly do in such a predicament? Was there truly no solution? Think. Please, think. He nervously bit his lip. Perhaps he bit too hard unknowingly, as a trickle of blood started to flow from his lower lip. In that moment, he paused involuntarily. And then, it struck him. Theres a way. A notion, an idea, or perhaps a miraculous treatment technique suddenly dawned upon him. It was a method that only he could execute. The instant this idea crossed his mind, Click! Raciel picked up a surgical scalpel. Without a second thought, he incised the vein on the back of his own hand. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Whoosh! The surgical scalpel made its move. The back of the hand registered a searing heat. Vivid crimson blood seeped from the gash on the back of the hand. The flow exceeded expectations, almost as if it were gushing. Sigh. Did I cut too deeply? Raciel briefly felt remorse, but it was irreversible now. Raciel took pleasure in observing the blood streaming from his hand. Naturally, pandemonium ensued all around. Gasp. The first to disy a startled reaction was Gardin. He stuttered, his expression a mix of horror and the desire to exim: What in the world-! Yet, the words eluded him. Even the hand that had been suturing a soldiers arm quivered. Gardin wasnt the only one reacting in such a manner. Demian, who was lifting an injured soldiers leg, also widened his eyes. So did the military officers, including Shandre. Even the medics gathered around the tent entrance reacted simrly. If youbine all their stares, it was as though they were collectively thinking, [Why is he suddenly engaging in self-harm?] Even the bodys organs seemed to echo this sentiment. Ding-dong! [Your organs are shocked by your bizarre behavior.] [Heart: What on earth are you doing? Have you lost your mind?] [Lungs: I I] [Large Intestine: Friends, it seems like this person is finally losing it, huh?] [Liver: Why is he letting out blood when we have a patient with excessive bleeding? Is he nning to offer his blood to the wounded? Will that even work as a transfusion?] [Stomach: LOL, these days transfusions are done via Wi-Fi LOL] [A million question marks are hovering from your organs.] [Your organs express concern for your mental health and contribute 100 HP of encouragement.] [Your current HP: 7,400] Indeed, chaos reigned among everyone. But Raciel remained unfazed. Regardless of what anyone said, irrespective of the incredulous looks he received or the worried expressions on people breakdancing, he paid no attention. He lifted his wounded hand without a care, brought it to his mouth, and covered the wound with his lips. The metallic scent of blood permeated his mouth as he avidly sucked it in, as if he were someone who hadnt had water for days, consuming every drop. Zing! Zup! As if determined not to waste a single drop, he sucked vigorously on the back of his hand, akin to a person desperately quenching their thirst. He gulped down the blood. Gasp. The concerned gazes from those around him intensified. Yet, Raciel remained utterly indifferent. This had been his n from the outsetthe only way to save an injured soldier on the brink of death from excessive bleeding. He held a glimmer of hope, and that was his motivation. Activate the circle slot. The moment he thought it, Ding-dong! A clear notification sound rang in his ear. [Activating the storage function of the circle slot.] [The circle slot is empty, so you can use the storage function.] [Currently detected substance: Human Blood (Rh +O).] [Would you like to store the detected material in the circle slot?] [YES / NO] Certainly, YES! He activated the storage function. From that point onward, the blood he was consuming ceased to flow into his stomach. Instead, it was stored in the circle slot. [Storing material in Slot 1.] [Slot 1 Storage Volume: Human Blood (Rh +O) 0.1 liter 0.2 liter] Zing Zing! He kept on drinking. The amount of blood stored in the circle slot steadily increased. It crossed 0.3 liters, surpassing the typical donation amount of 0.4 liters in no time. But he didnt stop. This isnt sufficient. More! Since he hadmitted to it, he needed to ensure the soldiers survival. With that determination, he continued to drink. Past 0.5 liters. Finally [Slot 1 Storage Volume: Human Blood (Rh +O) 0.6 liters] Only then did Raciel remove his mouth from the back of his hand. Phew! As he opened his mouth, he firmly applied a bandage to the back of his hand to halt the bleeding. Then, he immediately approached the wounded soldier. Are you okay? Gardin inquired, his face pale. A wry smile crossed Raciels face at the sight. Yes, they probably wouldntprehend what had just urred. A wounded soldier was on the brink of death due to excessive bleeding, and inexplicably, Raciel had engaged in self-harm and consumed his own blood. However, now was not the time for exnations. The soldiers condition was deteriorating. Im fine. He pressed on the soldiers Yongchuan point (). It was the hollow spot at the very center of the sole,monly known as Joksim. Its almost like the second heart of the human body. It marked both the beginning and end point of the Shao Yin Meridian (), the lowest point in the body where energy descends and resides. So, if Im going to infuse mana for transfusion this spot is the best. With conviction, Raciel firmly applied pressure to the soldiers Yongchuan point. Simultaneously, he activated the circle slots discharge function. Ding dong! [Activating Slot 1s discharge function.] [Please set the discharge amount.] 0.01 liters. Not too much. Slow and gentle. But without interruption. [Discharging : 0.01 liters from the circle slot.] Swoosh! The slot opened wide. The mana circle surrounding the heart began to rotate in reverse, carrying the stored blood. The blood flowed through the veins, starting from the heart, passing through the shoulders and arms, and reaching the thumb. Finally, it was directed into the soldiers Yongchuan point. Gulp! 10 milliliters of blood infused with mana stimted the area around the Yongchuan point, providing a slight but appropriate stimulus. Neither excessive nor insufficient. The blood vessels around the Yongchuan point responded, epting the 10 milliliters of blood. Fresh nutrients and oxygen. A small surge of vitality coursed through the blood vessels. Its working! Raciel cheered. It was the glimmer of hope he had dared to entertain. The only method of transfusion he had conceived was indeed effective. Another 10 milliliters! Swoosh! Continuing bit by bit. Steadily without interruption. Just like a gradual transfusion. Until finally, the slot emptied after transferring 0.6 liters. During that time, the transferred blood effectively rejuvenated the soldiers body. It provided the much-needed oxygen and nutrients. It acted as a potent reinforcement for the ailing flesh. The soldiers Shao Yin Meridian also responded. The transferred mana coursed through the Yongchuan point, stimting various other points, until it reached deep inside the chest. The fatigued heart reacted to the stimtion. Thump! For the first time since the transfusionmenced, the soldiers heart beat vigorously. It felt like the prelude to a counter-attack, gripping the atria and ventricles. The robust blood flow left the heart and awakened the aorta, coursing through the carotid artery, ultimately rejuvenating the entire body. Finally, color returned to the soldiers pallid face. His breathing steadied, and his cold hands and feet warmed. That was the moment. Ding dong! [Patient Rangs, who received your emergency transfusion, has surpassed the critical stage of hemorrhagic shock.] [You have pioneered a novel transfusion method using the Asrahan Core Technique. However, this method is exclusive to you and wont be widely known among the public.] The clear notification sound confirmed Raciels conviction. I did it! He saved him. They had crossed the perilous threshold. A bted sense of relief washed over him as he withdrew his hand from the soldiers wound. Was it because he had been tense and suddenly felt relief? Or perhaps it resulted from overexerting his mana circle while employing the Asrahan Core technique? Or maybe it was the loss of a significant amount of blood. Ah. Suddenly, dizziness overcame him. His vision blurred into yellow. Did his legs give way? The world seemed to sink. He felt a dull impact on his backside. Demian reached out a hand toward him, Gardin yelled frantically he saw it all. Only then did Raciel realize his condition. Ah, I overdid it once more. Despite his fragile state, a ticking time bomb of a patient at the peak of frailty, he had acted without recognizing his own limitations. Perhaps thats why he was feeling this way. But at least I saved a person. That alone was satisfying enough. With a content smile, Raciel closed his eyes. A faint notification sound chimed in his ears. Ding-dong [You have exhibited an extreme act of altruism by expending your own blood to save another.] [Moreover, many witnesses have observed a person being pulled back from the brink of death through your healing.] [For those unaware of Asrahan Core Technique and circle slots, this act may be regarded as a holy miracle.] [Your fame is poised to skyrocket] Ah, fame That sounded nice. With that thought, he surrendered to unconsciousness. The world darkened. He hadpletely fainted. A miracle urred? In a mere military medical camp of the kingdom? Inside a dimly lit room, bathed in the glow of a single candle, Javillon, the leader of the Anbouaz rebels, raised his head. He gazed at the man kneeling before him, a military intelligence officer tasked with reporting on the kingdoms activities. Yes, my Lord, the officer affirmed with a nod. ording to the reports, a military officer saved the life of a dying soldier with just a touch, Javillon inquired. Just a touch? On the soldiers body? he pressed further. Yes, my Lord, the officer confirmed. He didnt employ any tools? Javillon sought rification. It was with his bare hands, as Ive been told. Hmm. Could it be an exaggerated rumor? Javillon pondered. It appears not, my Lord. On what basis? Because one of our spies, embedded within the kingdoms army, witnessed it firsthand and provided a report. Is that so? Javillons eyes narrowed, brimming with deep interest. Hmm. The ability to rescue a dying person with a mere touch. Truly, a feat worthy of the title of a saint. Javillons fascination with this power grew, and he was increasingly drawn to its symbolism. What if this person were toe under mymand? The idea kindled his greed. Beyond the capacity to save lives, what if this saint were to align with me publicly? If he were to openly support my cause? The people of the kingdom might view me and my rebel army in a new light. A saint following an army. A saint endorsing a ruler. That alone could reshape the dynamics of this civil war. His calctions ran deeper. Hisck of legitimate authority was his greatest vulnerability, the core reason why the rebel faction struggled to expand. But what if a figure venerated as a saint joined him? Joined the rebellion? The symbolism would be monumental. With determination coursing through him, Javillon tightly clenched his fist. Then, lets proceed in this manner, he dered. He turned to his intelligence officer and issued instructions. Contact that saintly individual through the spy weve ced within the kingdoms army. Meaning, initiate contact? Yes. We must bring him to our side. At any cost, no matter how high. Javillon, the leader of the rebel force, harbored an intense eagerness for this promising talent. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 121 Chapter 121 In any costly circumstance, we must proceed. The rebel leader, Javillon, wore a smile. His eyes shimmered with a yearning for talent. It was also the gaze of a strategist who spotted a window of opportunity. A saint capable of healing with a mere touch. He found it genuinely unbelievable. He hadnt entertained the thought that the rumor could be entirely urate. Rumors are typically embellished, after all. The assertion of exceptional medical skills was likely true. Nevertheless, the idea that he could heal through mere touch had to be a tant exaggeration. Such fantastical urrences couldnt possibly be real. There had to be luck, coincidence, or some form of deception involved. But that wasnt the crux of the matter. What truly matters is how people perceive this saint. It didnt matter if it was an exaggerated bluff. Even if it was a scam, that was eptable. What counted was that people believed it. That held significance. The fact that people revered and looked up to the saint was of the utmost importance. So, I must take that individual under my wing. That alone would lead to sess. Everything would undergo a transformation. Javillon tightened his fist, reaffirming his conviction. He saw this as an opportunity. Yes, an opportunity to reverse theckluster situation. King Merovingian. He cannot continue to rule as is. The same goes for Adelin, the daughter of that cunning old figure. We cannot leave a kingdom and its people under the sway of such a feeble lineage, especially when they send their royalty as hostages to the Magentano Empire over minor disputes. Ah, indeed. Anbouaz is far from weak. His Angbuian people can achieve much more. The reason they havent fully exerted their power is that the feeble lineage has held onto the throne. Unworthy individuals. A disgrace to the kingdom and its people. They must be overthrown. Only then will the kingdom and its people prosper, deserving their rightful ce and demonstrating their superiority for generations. He musty the foundation. He must be the catalyst. But it wont be easy. The resistance from the kingdoms army is much stronger than anticipated. The opposition from the old aristocrats, who cling to their power, is also not insignificant. All because his cause seems insufficient. Crack! A chilling sound escaped from Javillons clenched teeth. I am not merely dreaming of a rebellion. I am a person who sacrifices and strives to put this kingdom and its people on a firmer footing. Yet those foolish individuals dont understand this truth. They are only pursuing small, immediate gains, rights, and stability. Such narrow-minded kin. He felt frustration thinking of the pathetic, outdated people. It was bitterly regrettable that the world didnt grasp his ideals and pure intentions. He needed a broader justification. Or a symbol to attract the masses. Indeed, he desperately needed someone like that saint. If someone who receives such reverence and respect aligns with me If they openly support me The situation will undoubtedly change. He was certain. The eyes of the uninformed public would widen. Finally, they would take interest in the grand ideals he held. Eventually, they would be enthusiastic and rush to join the revolutionary army. Then the attitudes of the old aristocrats would also shift. Because they were a group sensitive to advantages. The moment they realized that this side had overwhelming support from the people, they would willingly change allegiances and join this side. Then I can undoubtedly turn the tide of this war. I will attain victory. He could reshape the future of the kingdom. The great people would fully enjoy their rightful status. For eternity. Forever. If its for that? He would do anything. Even if I have to sacrifice my own life. Or even if I have to yield the throne to that saint. He didnt necessarily have to hold power himself. If theres someone who can strengthen this kingdom and its people, even if its the devil, I would willingly relinquish the throne. I want to win the civil war for that. I want to overthrow the unworthy and weak, and open the doors of prosperity for the kingdom and the people I hold dear. So, no matter what happens, mobilize all resources to bring that person in, Javillon dered, his eyes filled with a profound patriotic fervor. So, are you assuring me of the finest treatment imaginable if I align with the rebels? Thats correct. Heh. Interesting. It was just after dinner. Raciel had barely finished his soup when he returned to his own solitary tent, letting out a wry chuckle. He couldnt believe it. Just when I thought I could finally rx, whats this? It was absurd. He had spent a typical day attending to wounded soldiers and instructing visiting military officers on making tinctures. After such a demanding day, it was time to unwind. But then came an unexpected and audacious visit from a rebel spy. Even more surprising was that the spy turned out to be one of the dispatched military officers. Raciel squinted at the spy with his slightly narrowed, shrewd eyes. Hey? Im all ears. Didnt you like the dinner menu? No. Then, did you forget to take your prescribed medication, or did you take medication you werent supposed to? Neither of those. Then what was that outrageous proposal you just made? He sought rification. The military officer, or rather, the spy, responded without hesitation or a change in expression. Its no jest. Its a formal proposition. The kingdoms army is mired in corruption, casting a shadow over this countrys future. So, join us. Pledge allegiance to my lord. In return, you will receive the highest honor and glory. I understand that this may seem sudden and shocking, but this is in strict ordance with my lords wishes. Your lord? Javillon? Yes. Youre being remarkably brazen. What if I were to shout right now that theres a rebel spy here? I dont mind. Why? If you raise the rm, I have two options remaining. One is to take you as a hostage and attempt an escape, but thats not an option. My lord has specifically ordered that you be treated as an esteemed guest. So, only one choice remains for me. And whats that? To willingly submit to arrest. So youd allow yourself to be captured and face execution? I dont mind. Heh. Raciel clicked his tongue. From the tone of the conversation, it was clear that this was no jest. The spy continued. Its not just me as a spy, in any case. Even if I were executed, someone else would take up the mission and approach you with an offer. This will persist until my lords desire to have you under hismand wanes. Isnt that excessively persistent? Thats not my concern. Raciel fell silent. He couldnt quite believe what he was hearing. To join the rebels, or rather, the self-proimed revolutionaries. To align with Javillon, the leader of the revolutionaries. And in return, receive the best possible treatment. The proposition sounded as though he had been neglecting his duties of caring for snails. Tch. My reputation must have soared too high. Suddenly, he recalled an incident caused by Shandre, a military officer who had opposed him a few days ago. Shandre had performed a reckless bloodletting on a soldier recovering from surgery, sparking amotion. Raciel had barely managed to save the soldiers life. Shandre had been imprisoned, and Raciel himself had gained a reputation as a saint. The rumor had taken on a somewhat burdensome and grandiose tone, suggesting that he could heal people with a simple touch. It had to be because of that rumor. Thats why the rebel leader was so interested in him. Hmm. Once he figured it out, he could regain hisposure. He managed to quell his surprise at this sudden proposal. Thanks to that, the gears in his mind started turning. Anticipated benefits and drawbacks. Possible scenarios. Even a suitable exit strategy. In the end, the conclusion came with a smile After careful consideration, this isnt a bad proposition, is it? No, it was a good proposition. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed that way. To begin with, it seemed like there was little chance of him suffering any loss. In fact, depending on how it was leveraged, there was a chance it could be advantageous. He even glimpsed a feast of benefits unfolding before him. Raciel nced at the spy. The calctions were done. What now? It was time for rification. So, what can you guarantee me if I join the rebels? Excuse me? What can you actually offer me? Well, you see You just asked me to join, that youd treat me the best if I joined your side. So, why arent you mentioning any specific terms? Dont you know how to negotiate? This person doesnt even grasp the basics. Whats going on? What is the Saint saying right now? The spy was engulfed in confusion. To be honest, he hade prepared to die today. His adversary was a military officer known as the Saint. He had never expected such a renowned figure to consider switching sides based on a single proposal. No, he hadnt even dared to hope for it. He probably saw himself as a disposable pawn. His lord likely intended to gauge the Saints reaction through him. Depending on that reaction, they would devise and execute the actual n to win him over. Thats what he had assumed. In other words, he had expected the Saint to swiftly expose him as a spy, leading to his arrest by the royal army and inevitable execution. But now the Saint was disying an unexpected(?) reaction! He was flustered. What should he say in response? He hadnt prepared specific terms because he had presumed rejection was imminent. In fact, he hadnt even received such instructions. He was simply told to promise the best treatment and honor, and nothing more. What should I say? Due to Raciels abrupt change of pace, the spy found himself in a state ofplete mental paralysis. Meanwhile, Raciels audacious words continued to flow, much like a serene stream in the deep mountains. Sigh. If youre going to make a sale, huh? Coming empty-handed like this isnt the way to go, my friend. Do you think this is my first time being approached? Im not expecting a fruit basket, but at least bring some cold beve And listen. Since youve brought up the subject, dont just stand there looking bbergasted. Dont you have any attractive terms to discuss? Terms, you say? Yes. Go on. Can I? Youre the one who initiated the proposal, arent you? But Im just a spy following orders Thats precisely why Im saying, lets hear the terms. Be specific, will you? This Saint must be out of his mind. The spy was starting to feel a sense of dread. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 122 Chapter 122 This individual, the highly regarded military officer, must be out of his mind. The spy was bing increasingly apprehensive. Nheless, Raciels impulsiveness seemed boundless. Hey, lets really think about this, shall we? Youre the one who extended an offer to me, suggesting that I switch sides. This isnt a matter to be taken lightly, correct? Well, thats true, but But consider this: its also an immensely weighty decision for me, isnt it? Id have to betray the side Ive aligned with thus far and join your ranks. That entails significant risks for me. It could fundamentally alter my life, wouldnt you agree? Of course, yes, thats correct. Exactly. Indeed. So why arent the terms clearly defined? If Im going to take the risk and make a decision, shouldnt there be well-established criteria or data indicating which choice would be most advantageous, which one would yield greater benefits, or whether it might ultimately lead to a disastrous oue that turns my life into a nightmare? Thats how you assess things, right? Dont you engage inparisons when making purchases in the market? Of course, I do. Isnt that right? Even when buying the same type of cream bread at a bakery, you carefully observe which one isrger and make your choice ordingly. Why? To get more for the same price. But now, youre presenting an offer to me thats worse than that of a local bakery? Thats because Because what? I sincerely apologize. Does offering an apology solve everything? No. So whats your n? I willprepare. Ugh. The spy winced. Raciels eyes gleamed with scrutiny. If you do this again, just prepare without considering the consequences, will that be enough? What should I Be specific about what youre going to prepare. Right now. Now? Should I say it now? Obviously. Fluff. Racielfortably settled onto the bed, tilted his chin slightly, and fixed his gaze on the spy. His eyes seemed to convey, Go ahead, brief me. The spy found himself caught in Raciels confident demeanor. Stumbling over his words, he began to brief as though reporting to a superior. Um, first as you mentioned, I will prepare the exact marypensation youll receive upon joining the revolutionary army. The total amount will epass the provided mansion,nd, and various valuables. The spy tried to articte carefully and finally concluded his statement. He felt a sense of aplishment. He believed he hadnt stuttered much and did reasonably well. However, his self-satisfaction was shattered by the frown that crept onto Raciels forehead. Ugh, this guy. Listen, do I strike you as someone who can be easily swayed just by discussing money? Of course not Right. Exactly. I appreciate the direct approach with money. Keep going. I will also outline the rank, honors, and the actual treatment youll receive within the revolutionary army. What about safety precautions? I will, of course, take care of that as well. This includes escorts, security measures, and even servants to attend to you. Is that all? Huh? Is there more? The spy desperately racked his brain. Raciels lips curved into a knowing smirk. Confirmation that all the conditions weve just discussed have been approved by your highest authority. Yes. If you present conditions without that, I wont even consider them. Do you understand? Yes, I do. Lets make sure of it this time, okay? Ill keep that in mind. Good. Now, go and get to work. That noble officer has now be not only terrifying but also sends shivers down his spine. The spy felt his brain cells strain. He had never envisioned such a reaction, such a turn of events. However, he also believed it wasnt necessarily a bad thing. Because hes still alive. Because he believes he wont meet his end. Well, then The spy hastily withdrew from Raciels tent. A momentter, Raciel summoned two individuals. They were Gardin and Demian. As soon as the two arrived, he dropped a bombshell. Im contemting joining the rebels. Gardin and Demian hesitated. They exchanged nces, silentlymunicated, and then nodded with meaningful understanding. They both had the same thought at that moment: Ah, Your Highness has been under immense straintely. Hes been working tirelessly without rest; that must exin this behavior. Its alright. Under such pressure, even the strongest may momentarily lose theirposure. This is what they call burnout. Both of them felt sympathy. A wry smile tugged at the corner of Raciels mouth. Im not saying this due to a temporarypse in judgment; Im absolutely serious. Dead serious. Dont you believe me? Yes. The first to respond was Demian. His piercing dark eyes locked onto Raciel with their distinctive intensity. It still sounds like a jest, but if you genuinely mean it, I must advise against it. Why? Because itcks moral justification. Moral? Yes. Demian borated, Your Highness was moved upon hearing news of Anbouazs civil war. You crossed over here with the noble intention of aiding Anbouaz, even tending to the wounded soldiers of the royal army. And now, youre considering joining the rebels. Does that make any sense? It does. Arent the rebel soldiers also Anbouaz citizens? But still And I dont owe allegiance to the kingdom of Anbouaz, do I? Well, naturally Exactly. Who am I? I am the Crown Prince of Magentano. Do I have a duty to be loyal to the Anbouaz royal army? No. To me, both the royal army and the rebels are foreign entities. But still Listen, there are likely many neglected wounded soldiers on their side as well. Just like when we first arrived here. Demian fell silent. He started to grasp what the Crown Prince was attempting to convey. It was difficult to believe. It sounded preposterous. Yet, paradoxically, it was bing increasingly usible. That paradox made it all the more bewildering. Raciel continued, Consider our healing camp. Its been rtively quiet, hasnt it? Few new wounded soldiers are being brought in. Both the royal army and the rebels are locked in a standoff in front of Balua fortress. So, what about our camp? We have mostly the previously wounded soldiers left. But most of them have passed the critical stage and are in stable recovery. Youre not suggesting this simply because of that, are you? Yes. It appears that Ive aplished most of what I set out to do here. So now, I intend to go and tend to the overlooked wounded soldiers there and then depart. Return to the Star Pce of Magentano? Yes. Raciel nodded in agreement. Actually, he had been contemting returning to Magentanotely. Just as he had discussed with Demian, it was because there were fewer new injured soldiers arriving. It felt like the end of a seasonal businessa sense that there was not much more to gain here. When ites down to it, Ive obtained everything I could by being here. Ive secured a considerable bonus of life. Ive acquired new skills. Ive boosted my HP. Its about time to head back to Star Pce. Thinking about it, it had been a while since he left Star Pce Clinic. Thanks to thepetence of the werewolf nurses, it had been running smoothly, but if he stayed away for much longer, there could be issues. It was a clinic he had to rely on for the rest of his life. Troubles could arise if he neglected it. But just as I thought the seasonal business wasing to an end, an opportunity for ast-minute quick win has arisen. That was the rebel armys recruitment proposal. The moment he heard the offer, he knew it. Ah, this was the dessert course following the main course of his extended life in the Anbouaz civil war. It would be impolite not to ept it. So he made his decision. He closed his eyes and chose to join the rebels. Even if just for one month, or even two weeks. He believed it would be enough to tend to the injured soldiers who had been overlooked. Ill savor thest bit of the dessert course, the soup, and the seasoning. Then, he would return to Star Pce. He resolved to do so. Of course, he didnt reveal his true intentions. After all, neither of them knew about his bonus life. Maybe thats why. Gardin, who had been silently standing beside him, suddenly pulled out a handkerchief, wiped his eyes, and sniffled. Your Highness, I am deeply moved. Why, Gardin? Your mindset that patients are neither allies nor enemies I will also reflect on this and learn. Ah, alright. If thats how its interpreted, then thank you. Raciel grinned at both of them. So, were going that way. It wont take many days. Just keep that in mind. Demian reluctantly nodded. Gardin continued to dab at his eyes with his handkerchief. A few days passed. Raciel made preparations for their departure. He met with the spy each night, negotiating the terms of his recruitment. In the meantime, he sent a letter to Princess Adeline. In it, he wrote that he felt his work here wasplete, and he nned to return to Magentano Star Pce. He filled the pristine white paper with vivid, but untrue, details. In the postscript, he added, [Theres a specially made giant-sized Orc barrel in the healing camp warehouse. It contains liquor and the corpse of the Vesparos queen bee. Please have it shipped to Magentano. That will be sufficient to express your gratitude.] With this, Ill be able to enjoy my carefully brewed queen bee liquor. Chirp. Raciel licked his lips and sent off the letter. Hepleted his preparations to leave the healing camp. Early the next morning, he left a letter for the camps medical officers on his tent bed. Then he secretly departed the camp with Gardin and Demian. They met with the rebel spy on the camps outskirts. Its an honor to have you. Ill guide you from here. They followed the spy. They disguised themselves as Free Traders and traveled for about three days, avoiding the points of conflict between the royal army and the rebels. They crossed mountains and rivers. Traversed ins. Finally, they reached the foothills where Balua Fortress came into view. The main force of the rebel army was gathered there. The party was immediately directed to the center of the rebel base. Right this way. A high-ranking officer from the headquarters weed them. They followed the officer, and Raciels heart began to beat faster, bit by bit. Whew, I prepared myself, but its still nerve-wracking. Raciel took a deep breath. There was no chance of his identity being discovered here. The disguise magic by Zis, the magician of the royal pce, was potent. Furthermore, he knew he wasnt in danger in this ce. At least, he could be certain of that. In the novel Devil Sword Emperor, thats how it was. Javillon, Anbouazs fiercely patriotic revivalist. He had an enormous ambition for recruiting talent. Javillon treated everyone fairly, regardless of their background or social status. Whether it was gold or jade, he valued and respected it. He truly was a person free from prejudice, especially when it came to strengthening the country and the army. Thats why he could have toppled the Empire. Now, he was going to meet such an extraordinary figure. His heart rate began to speed up, as if he were going to a job interview. Finally, he arrived at the center of the headquarters. The door opened. At the end of the long curtain, a man sat as if he ruled the ce. Standing at easily over 190 cm tall, he had a fittingly imposing physique. Surprisingly, he had a dignified face, a figure he had seen several times in illustrations in the novel. He was the leader of the rebels, Javillon mberg Anbouaz. Seeing someone in a picture and facing them in reality were vastly different experiences, especially when that person was no ordinary being. He felt overwhelmed as soon as he met him. A strange feeling, as if he were both human and something else. If one were to peel off ayer from his face, it felt like the faces of an angel and a demon would be revealed, half and half. Just then, Javillons gaze fixed upon him. Their eyes locked. He flinched. Javillon suddenly stood up and walked toward him, without hesitation, without giving him a chance to prepare mentally. He reached out his hands. Touched his shoulders. Nice to meet you. And thank you, the military officer called a saint. The gaze looking down at him as he gently held his shoulders was intense. He thought he should avoid it, but he couldnt turn his eyes away. The pressure was immense. However, Raciel was not entirely overwhelmed. Just as he was on the verge of sumbing to the pressure, he remembered the most intense pressure he had faced in his life. That was when he had encountered the building owner in the hallway of his medical clinic, over rent and money. Compared to that day, the pressure from Javillon was nothing. As he thought that, the overwhelming feeling dissipated. The pressure disappeared. Thanks to that, he could muster a faint smile and respondfortably. Im also pleased to meet you, the heart of the revolution. Good. He answered naturally. So, just one more month. Earn some extra life by treating the wounded soldiers and then vanish. He felt content with that n. But then, Javillon, who still towered over him, smiled meaningfully. Excellent. Im delighted that youre willing to join my cause. From now on, you, a saintly military officer, wont have to engage in the perilous work of handling the blood of ordinary soldiers. Excuse me? What did that mean? A sense of unease washed over him. Javillons smile grew warmer. From now on, Im going to entrust you with a more vital and noble task. Specifically, youll be dering to the world that someone as noble as you supports the spirit of my revolution. So, lets build a new world together. What do you think? Isnt it fantastic? Fantastic? No, this seems all messed up. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 123 Chapter 123 What is your n at this moment? As soon as they entered the amodation, Demians voice struck his ears, almost reprimanding him. It was irritating enough to cause difort in his ears. He was well aware that the current situation was far from ideal, or to be precise, they were in serious trouble. However, Raciel remained silent. Instead of responding, he surveyed the amodation they had been led to. True to their promise, the field tent was surprisingly spacious and luxurious. However, itcked security. Shh. He pursed his lips and made a hushing gesture with his index finger. In response, Demian flinched. Just then, they noticed paper, ink, and a pen on an improvised field table. Raciel alternated his gaze between Demian and Gardin, then pointed at the writing materials. Someone might overhear us. Letsmunicate in writing. They nodded. Did they understand? The two of them drew closer. Raciel took the pen in hand. Well, even I wasnt aware of this. Ive apparently gained fame as a saintly military officer, thanks to my exceptional healing abilities during blood transfusions. I assumed the rebels were after me for my healing skills. Ah, darn. He set the pen down at that moment. Next, Gardin picked up the pen. However, Your Highness, as youve witnessed, it doesnt seem like they want to entrust their wounded to you. This is a significant issue. There must be a considerable number of wounded individuals here waiting for your care. Demian swiftly grabbed the pen too. Thats what Ive been saying. Instead of making rash attempts, it would have been wiser to return to the Star Pce. Tsk. Did I foresee this? Raciel clicked his tongue. His pen moved swiftly across the paper. Did I ever imagine that they would use me as a propaganda tool for political purposes? Its unfair to me. I wanted to find a sense of aplishment in treating the wounded here. Thats what I truly wanted. It was a genuine sentiment. He had hoped to continue a life simr to the healing camp of the Kingdom Army even after arriving here. His n was to heal the umted wounded and extend some extra lifespans. But the rebel leader Javillon, that guy, hes something else. He demanded Raciels deration of support for their revolution. He provided a date and ce, and all Raciel had to do was deliver an impassioned speech. No need to deal with rotten flesh or immerse himself in blood. It felt like they were considering him. As if it were the utmost courtesy. How absurdly polite it all seemed. It felt like a mismatch, like something had lodged itself in his throat. He btedly realized the situation. Thats why. He quickly responded, or rather, protested. So I told him I dont like that. Taking care of the wounded isnt difficult. Its not cruel; in fact, I find it fulfilling. So, give me the wounded, not political statements. Thats what I came here for. That was the truth. The moment he heard Javillons shocking statement, he instinctively made such a protest, almost pleading. He had a deep affection for the wounded. If he didnt care for them even for a day, it felt like thorns would sprout all over his body. He couldnt eat or sleep. So, if they brought a few carts of wounded right now, he would genuinely be delighted. Just entrust them to him. He pleaded. He fervently appealed. But it was in vain. Javillon looked his way and gave a meaningful smile. He shook his head ever so slightly and, without even blinking, politely declined. Sacred Officer Rihan, I understand your intentions. I also appreciate your noble sentiments. However, theres a time for everything in human affairs. Time, you say? The opportune moment when something can be aplished. For example You cant be serious. Youve caught on? I appreciate your quick grasp of the situation. Its even better that our thoughts appear to align. So, youre suggesting that I can dere political support now, but tending to the wounded can wait for another time? Exactly. Javillon maintained his polite smile, but his stance was resolute. He couldntply with this request. At this moment, a public political deration was of utmost priority. In the end, retreat was the only option. eptance was also the only option. Raciel continued to write with determination. I have to ept it now. Weve been defeated, utterly defeated. There was no room for negotiation. Javillons resolve regarding caring for the wounded was too firm to be swayed further. Pushing the matter could potentially raise unnecessary suspicion. So, the conclusion was straightforward. Cut our losses. Demian and Gardin looked puzzled at what Raciel had quickly added. Since I dont see any possibility of making progress here, lets wrap it up and leave. Head to Star Pce. I agree. However, theres a problem. Demian snatched the pen and wrote down his query. How do you n to escape? The defenses here are far fromx. Even under the cover of the darkest night, escaping discreetly seems impossible. Uh. I know that too. This ce was a legitimate rebel fieldmand post, and it was the central area where the coremanders resided. The security and defense were oppressively tight, not just because of the number of sentries. All patrol forces had ovepping lines of sight. There were almost 20 CCTV cameras in every corner. Magical detection devices and traps also appeared to be abundant. Escaping from here? Absolutely impossible. Unless Demian became a Swordmaster, it wasnt even worth dreaming about. However, hope was not entirely lost. I have a n. You have a n? Yes. Demian stared intently at him, and Raciel grinned in response. Lets y sick. Excuse me? Perhaps it sounded too absurd, and Demian involuntarily responded aloud. But Raciel didnt reply. He was determined to execute what seemed like the best n at the moment. It began the next day. Raciels feigned illness n was put into action. Ugh, cough! Cough! Choke! Why are you behaving like this, Rihan? Sorry, but Cough! Gag, choke! On the morning after they switched to the rebel g, Raciel began to cough violently as soon as he encountered Javillon. He diligently used internal techniques to heat up his face and forehead. As a result, his face was covered in heat spots, giving the appearance of a fever. Seeing this, Javillon raised an eyebrow. Are you feeling unwell? Im really Cough! Gag! I apologize Gag! He put on quite a performance. While coughing, he deliberately opened his mouth wide. Thanks to spending the night carefully smearing and drying his lips, they cracked perfectly on cue. Blood even trickled down at an opportune moment. Cough, cough! Cough! Officer Rihan. Yes, cough! Choke! Im truly sorry, but I need some time to recover Feigning illness wont work. Are you nning to use illness as an excuse to leave now? No, thats not it. Then? I just dont feel like working today we arrived justst night, and Im still quite tired Then rest today. Well meet tomorrow. Raciel closed his mouth. Javillon smiled faintly, as if he had a clear grasp of the other persons thoughts, and added ament. At the moment, I dont have an immediate task for you. However, maintaining this attitude for another ten days will be a problem. What do you mean by in ten days?'' On that day, I will request a deration of support from you on the in where Balua Fortress is visible. I hope youre in good condition that day. Javillon subtly left a pointed remark and turned away. But Raciel was determined. He didnt give up just because he was brushed off once. Driven by the desire to resign passionately, he attempted a new approach the next day. Excuse me, I have something to discuss. As dawn broke, he sought out Javillon. This time, he didnt resort to exaggerated coughing. Instead, he wore a very serious, solemn, and slightly stern expression. Actually, I have an elderly mother. Your mother? Yes. He promptly answered Javillons question and prepared to deliver his rehearsed lines. However, Javillon spoke just a half beat faster. Dont tell me youre going to say that your mother is very frail, suffering from an incurable illness, and that you need to take care of her. That you feel guilty for not being by her side at a time like this, and you think its inhumane, so youre considering going back home? Exactly. Raciel froze, resembling a mannequin. The corners of Javillons mouth twisted slightly. I know youre not being truthful. Step back. Understood. Another failed attempt. But his efforts didnt stop the following morning. Lord Javillon, the truth is, I have a girlfriend. A girlfriend? You mean a lover? Yes. Doesnt seem like it. I do have one! The more you insist, the less convincing it is. Dont tell me you cant bear the separation from your lover and want to visit her briefly something like that? Thats correct! And you wont return? No, I will. Why did you seem to nod your head just now? Officer Rihan. Yes, My Lord. I understand whats on your mind. Javillons watchful gaze remained fixed on him. Unconsciously, Raciel shrugged his shoulders under that scrutiny. Javillon continued speaking. As I mentioned before, I understand that you want to tend to the wounded. You want to fulfill your role in that way. However, you must also understand that I cannot entrust you with that task right now. Why not? Because it would be problematic if you were exposed at this moment. No way. Youve grasped my intentions again. I appreciate your quick understanding. A satisfied smile appeared on Javillons lips. He inquired, gesturing to that smile. Do you believe that if my involvement is exposed before the political endorsement I have to deliver in 7 days, it will diminish the impact of the endorsement? Youve hit the nail on the head. Javillons smile grew even more pleased. He went on, Your endorsement will be a turning point for the revolutionaries, a stepping stone for aeback. It must be that shocking. It has to be something no one could have predicted. Thats why it would be problematic if your affiliation with the revolutionaries were to be known before your endorsement. It would diminish the impact. I understand. I assume you want to avoid spoilers. But another question has crossed my mind. Why dont you have me make the endorsement right now? Because the timing isnt right yet. What do you mean by timing? Rihan, its when you genuinely hold even the slightest support for my cause. Raciel remained silent. Honestly, it was an answer he hadnt anticipated. Javillon continued, Thats what I believe. Even if a hint of sincerity is evident in your endorsement, that would be beneficial. In fact, its necessary. Why is that? Only then can we truly touch peoples hearts. Only then can we inspire voluntary involvement to the point of moving people emotionally. Only then can wey the foundation for a revolution that will make Anbouaz a great kingdom. Just delivering an endorsement because I instructed you to? It might be doable. But it wont move people. If shallow endorsements were sufficient, I would have employed different methods long ago. What kind of methods are you talking about? I could have used drugs or magic to brainwash you. But that wouldnt yield good results. It might attract public attention briefly, but it wouldnt take long for people to realize that the endorsement wasnt genuine, as thats how brainwashing operates. In the worst-case scenario, it could even lead to a bacsh that negates the value and spirit of the revolutionaries. I dont want that oue. Then So, I wanted you to closely experience the essence of the revolutionaries for ten days and to empathize, even just a little, with my ideals and goals. I had hoped that a degree of sincerity woulde through in your endorsement. However, now I feel that perhaps my thoughts and hopes were somewhat naive, and I regret that. Regret? Hmm. Javillon nodded. Theres something foreboding about it. Dangerous. Why do ominous premonitions always turn out to be spot on? Javillon looked at Raciel as if he could read his thoughts, and with eyes that seemed to pierce through people, he spoke without blinking. So, Ivee up with a good alternative. Officer Rihan? Yes. Be my personal physician. What? Just staying in your quarters wont give you a proper opportunity toprehend and empathize with my ideals and goals. Therefore, be my personal physician and remain by my side 24/7. What do you say? What on earth? Raciel felt like crying. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 124 Chapter 124 Huff! Hah! A man sprinted down an opulent corridor, clutching a stack of documents in both hands, his body drenched in perspiration. His face bore the weight of disappointment as he realized he was running behind schedule, not just any dy. The mans thoughts gravitated towards the individual awaiting his arrival. The Emperor of Magentano. Asterion Testarosa Magentano. The supreme ruler of the continents most formidable nation would not just be waiting; he would be seething with impatience. The mere contemtion of this made the mans legs nearly give way. Yet, he summoned every ounce of resolve, thinking of his children, who cheered him on like enthusiastic rabbits, and his wife, who possessed the strength of a bear. With renewed determination, he hastened his pace. Finally, he reached his destination, the innermost chamber of the imperial pce, the Emperors quarters. Yourete. As he entered, striving to appear presentable, a single word struck him like a heavy blowit was the Emperorsmanding voice. Once again, the mans legs threatened to give way, but he held hisposure and swiftly spoke to save himself. Your Majesty, the rightful ruler of thisnd, Im here to report. I had every intention of arriving on time, but Imitted a grave error by gathering and summarizing additional iing information. Additional information, you say. It concerns the Crown Prince, Your Highness. Proceed. The Emperors tone softened. The man, the empires chief of intelligence, finally felt a wave of relief wash over him. Simultaneously, he harbored a secret resentment toward Crown Prince Raciel. The reason was straightforward. Since Crown Prince Raciel had departed for Anbouaz, the man had been reporting to the Emperor nearly every day. Without fail, the Emperor demanded updates on the Crown Princes whereabouts. Had the Crown Prince arrived safely in Anbouaz? Whom had he met? What had he done today? Had he eaten breakfast? Had he tossed and turned at night? Had he coughed in the changing seasons? And so on. It was driving him to the brink of madness. Now, even the mere mention of the Crown Prince was enough to rouse him from sleep at night. Yet, he had no choice; he was the chief in charge of intelligence, and the Emperor was his employer. So, he dutifully submitted his reports. Today marks the 107th routine report, Your Majesty. To begin, five days ago, the Crown Prince departed from the Anbouaz kingdoms field hospital camp, known as the Healing Camp.'' He left the Healing Camp? Is that so? Yes, Your Majesty. Why? At first, we couldnt discern the Crown Princes motive. So, it took time to collect and analyze additional information. The conclusion weve drawn is The conclusion? Your Highness appears likely to return to Magentano in the near future. Is that the case? The Emperor maintained his impassive demeanor. However, his bare upper body leaned forward slightly. The chief of intelligence continued. Yes, ording to our confidential sources embedded in the Healing Camp, the Crown Prince dispatched a letter about two days ago. This forms the basis for our assumption of his impending return. A letter is the basis. What were the circumstances? We obtained the letter discreetly, checked its contents, and then resealed it before sending it to its original destination. So, to whom was the letter sent, and what did it convey? It was a farewell letter to the Anbouaz princess. Farewell? Yes, Your Majesty. Continue. Your Highness informed the Anbouaz princess that it appears he haspleted all his duties there and its time to return to the pce. Additionally, he requested her to ensure the safe shipment of Queen Vesparos honey wine, stored in arge oak barrel, to the pce. Hmm. Is that so? Yes, Your Majesty. That concludes todays report. I see. You may depart. Your grace is boundless. Following the conclusion of his report, the chief of intelligence exited. The Emperor, now alone, fell into contemtive silence. He pondered the report he had just received and rested his chin sternly on his hand. Then, he nced around discreetly. No one was in sight. It would be safe to allow a smile to grace his lips. Hmm, hmm. From within his thick beard, his lips turned upward towards the heavens. At longst, I can bid farewell to the days of worry and sleepless nights. The Emperor was genuinely ted. His son was on his way back. The son who had ventured into the battlefield was returning unharmed. This simple fact couldnt have brought him more joy. If his attire werent so extravagantly adorned, he might have felt like dancing right there. In truth, he had been terribly anxious all along. When he sent him off, he hadnt expected to experience these emotions. He had merely thought it would be a valuable experience for his eldest. However, unforeseen feelings overwhelmed him after his departure. He had suffered from insomnia for days. Even when he did manage to catch a brief nap, he was gued by nightmares, dreadful dreams of his son encountering some cmity. Anxiety gnawed at him. No matter what he did, it seemed like nothing was going right. His days were filled with worry and restlessness. But then, the news arrived that his eldest was returning. His heart swelled with emotion. The corners of his lips kept curling upward. Ahem, ahem, ahem. But for now, lets smile. He wouldnt be able to show this joy when his son returns. He must maintain a stern countenance for his sake. So, he had to relish this happiness now, secretly, in advance. So, hurry back. Show your father that you are safe and sound. Quickly. Seated on his throne, the emperors imposing shoulders trembled discreetly with excitement. Hehe, hahaha. Morning arrived. Raciel raised his head. As he woke up, he sensed a wise aura asforting as bone broth and gave a small shrug. He thought to himself, How did I end up as the physician for the rebel leader? Life is truly unpredictable. Who would have imagined that he would be the physician for someone he once considered an adversary? And that he would have to rouse that person with a smile? But what choice did he have? If he wanted to survive, he had to. Sigh, such is my fate. He muttered as he got up. Thats when it urred. Youre awake? A courteous voice came from right beside him, startlingly abrupt. When had this person approached? He hadnt sensed a thing. Eek! He was startled and let out an oddly high-pitched scream. Then he turned his head to confirm the identity of the speaker. I apologize for startling you so early in the morning. It was the rebel leader, Javillon. He wore his customary, chilly yet polite smile. How was your rest? Excuse me? How did you sleep? Was it ufortable? Um, a bit. A bit? It was fine. d to hear that. He chuckled. Youre different from me. I tend to toss and turn when I sleep in a different ce. Is that so? Yes. So I was concerned. I wondered what might happen if you didnt find the new amodations to your liking. Should he be grateful for this open consideration of hisfort? However, this man, Javillon, though he always wore a polite smile, his eyes told a different story. If you examined them closely, his gaze was consistently icy. Completely devoid of emotion. As if he were a wolf scouting for prey. Im fine. Well, Ill proceed with the morning check-up. Raciel hastily swallowed the dry saliva he had almost spewed out. In an effort to dispel the impending awkwardness, he recalled his duty as a physician and spoke up. However, Javillons response caught him off guard. No, theres no need for that. Excuse me? You dont have to examine me. But I am a Swordmaster. Youre well aware of that. Yes. Thats why. I know my body inside out, from the most delicate nuances of mana flow to the coordination between muscles and blood vessels, equilibrium, and harmony. Its a privilege reserved for those who achieve a seamless cycle of mana. I understand. So, why did you select me as your personal physician? Curious? During their brief exchange, the on-duty guard efficiently set the breakfast table. In no time, the table was prepared. Strangely, only a ss of cold water was ced in front of Raciel. On the opposite side, there were two slices of bread and a te of fried eggs. Javillon picked up his ss of water and raised it as if to make a toast. Didnt I exin yesterday? Stay by my side 24/7. Observe and gauge my condition, my objectives, and the path Im embarking upon. He then took a sip of the water. Completing his meal with just a sip of cold water, he gestured toward the te in front of Raciel. Eat. Ill wait. Ah, yes It was overwhelming. Extremely overwhelming. While Javillon had consumed a mere ss of cold water for breakfast, he was intently observing Raciel as he ate bread and fried eggs. It was ufortably direct. Isnt this somewhat impolite? But one couldnt outright express such thoughts. This was Javillons domain, and he was a Swordmaster. Even Demian, the protagonist of Devil Sword Emperor, couldnt withstand a direct confrontation with him without significant growth. So what if you rubbed him the wrong way now? Thank you, Ill enjoy my meal! With a sincere (?) desire to survive, Raciel lifted his fork. He ate the bread and fried eggs with exaggerated enthusiasm, focusing solely on the te and food. He didnt want to make eye contact for fear of choking. Um, the bread is, um, sweet. Hmm, the eggs are quite hearty as well. Gulp, gulp. I never knew water could be so refreshing. It has to be. Sweet, hearty, refreshing. The food is made from ingredients we seized and plundered from a nearby farmst night. Uh! Raciel identally spit out the water he was drinking, and it even sshed onto Javillons upper body. He felt a sinking sensation. However, Javillon remainedposed. He remarked, Theres no need for surprise. No reason to feel strange. It was a farm ndestinely supplying the Kingdom Army. As a form of retribution, we ughtered all the livestock and confiscated the grains. We set the farmhouse and barn aze. And what about the people Curious? He hoped he didnt swallow audibly. He prayed his Adams apple didnt quiver. A smirk appeared on Javillons lips. The farm owner? We burned him alive. Along with his pitiful screams, fitting for a man desperately clinging to the remnants of an outdated regime, resisting the dawn of a glorious kingdom and nation. Why? Lost your appetite? Of course. Realizing that the bread and eggs he had been diligently consuming a moment ago were made from the toil and dedication of a farm owner burned alive the previous night, he felt a wave of nausea wash over him. However, he couldnt. Javillon didnt allow him the opportunity to feel repulsed. He suddenly leaned forward across the table and fixed a prating gaze upon him. There was no escaping those eyes. He spoke. Military officer Rihan? Yes. If you dont intend to continue eating, could you answer my question? Whats your question? A simple one. This. It felt as if he had witnessed this scene somewhere before. Slightly turning to one side, Javillon curled the corner of his mouth into a slight smirk. Seeing this, Raciel suddenly had a revtion: this scene felt oddly familiar. It didnt feel out of ce at all. Why? Where had he seen this before? The answer soon came to him. The novel Devil Sword Emperor. The moment that thought crossed his mind, Javillon began to speak. Allow me to pose a question. Imagine you are an officer in the military. You are faced with a choice that could further the prosperity of your nation and its people. He had encountered this question in the novel. One option requires you to make a form of sacrifice. But it wont be a simple or noble sacrifice. Instead, it will lead to the most shameful and humiliating end. Not only you, but your family will also suffer wretched ruin. You will endure the scorn and ridicule of future generations, perpetually. The other choice entails sacrificing others. Roughly tens of thousands or more will be buried alive in a mass ughter. However, you will face no consequences or punishment for this action. Instead, you will be revered as a heroic figure for generations toe. This reverence will endure indefinitely. Both choices promise to lead your nation and its people towards prosperity. So, Officer Rihan, which path will you choose? By now, Javillons face had lost any trace of a smile. He stared intently at Raciel with an unwavering gaze. However, Raciel wasnt returning the gaze. He was immersed in his own thoughts. Was he contemting Javillons question? Not really. Because I already know the answer to that question. Suddenly, memories from the novel flooded his mind. In the novel, Javillon would often pose this very question. It was his secret litmus test for evaluating people. Javillon. He was always distrustful. Even close associates werent readily trusted. So, when he found someone he thought he could keep close, he would inevitably ask this question. He would assess them based on their response. But no one ever provided the correct answer. In fact, even Javillon himself didnt know what the correct answer was. He spent his life pondering and searching for it. Finally, at the very end, he found his own answer. He weed death with a sense of ironic, self-directed scorn. So, he did know the answer to that question. Why is there no answer? Are you still contemting? Javillons voice reached Raciels ears. Javillons gaze had subtly shifted. It was a perilous sign. Raciel knew what that look meant as well. He didnt know the answer to his own question, but he knew the worst wrong answer. That was the failure to make a choice altogether. To waver between the two paths he had presented. If the person he had intended to keep close exhibited such hesitation, Javillon would turn ice-cold very swiftly. Meaning, he would have them eliminated on the spot. Contemting this, Raciel made a firm decision. On one hand, he was curious about how Javillon would react to an answer that even Javillon himself couldnt ascertain. Moreover, he felt confident that providing this answer would pose zero risk to him. Is it possible that you cant reach a decision? The intensity in Javillons gaze grew even more pronounced. His eyes gleamed like those of a predator, poised to strike. In that moment, Raciel discarded his hesitation. He finally spoke up. Are you suggesting that a nation can only be considered virtuous if one is willing to sacrifice themselves and endure disgrace, or if theyre willing to ughter numerous others to attain honor? Thats correct. Javillon smiled with just the corners of his lips, his eyes shining with anticipation. Meeting that gaze, Raciel delivered the response from the novel. Without omitting a single word. Exactly as it was written. F*ck em? Why should I make a decision based on how people judge me? (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 125 Chapter 125 F*ck em? Why should I make a decision based on how people judge me? Raciels cutting words were delivered with a sharpness that pierced through. Javillon couldnt help but take notice of this unfiltered response, and it left an impact on his heart. Javillon felt a sinking sensation in his heart, and his eyes revealed a profound sense of surprise. Huh? It was peculiar. Officer Rihan, renowned as the saint. His response was oddly out of ce. It was an unexpected and unconventional answer, something that wasnt even among the options he had presented. Moreover, it was an extremely rude and offensive response, something he couldnt have even imagined. However, strangely, it struck a chord in his heart. The echo of the reply reverberated inside his chest, repeating over and over. It dominated his thoughts. Why? He should have been angry, but he wasnt. Could he recall hearing such rude words face to face? Not in at least 10 years. Therefore, he should have immediately retaliated against that rudeness, either tearing their mouth apart or inflicting some kind of punishment to set an example and discourage such behavior. But he wasnt angry. Instead, his heart raced even more. It felt as if he had met his ideal type after searching for a long time. It wasnt an illusion. A strange conviction approached him, a bizarre certainty that this rude answer was the answer he had been seeking all alongan undeniable fact and an irrefutable truth. Why should I make a decision based on how people judge me? The more he pondered, the tighter his chest became, and his breathing grewbored. A strange difort made him wonder if he had misunderstood something all his life. Revolution. Changing the world, sweeping away the old, and writing new history. He believed it could only be achieved with bloodshed. He also believed that sacrifices through bloodshed were necessary. Without it, the old system seemed too sturdy, making it impossible to shatter. But am I supposed to be the one to achieve this kind of new order? Really, necessarily, absolutely. Does one really need to shed blood? Can the world only change that way? He wasnt sure. If that was the right thing to say. If the doubt sprouting from within him was correct. Would it feel like this if someone pped him in the back of his head? It felt like another part of him was whispering, telling him he had been thinking wrong all this time. There are many ways in this world, and being stuck in binary thinking is foolish. Before he realized it, Javillons expression had hardened. No, it had be fierce. This made Raciel swallow hard, his throat quivering. This atmosphere is no joke. He subtly stepped back. Javillons demeanor wasnt normal. It seemed as if he would erupt any second or perhaps burst into tears. Actually, it made sense. He must be confused. He recalled Javillon from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. He had longed for the answer to that question, wandering in search of it. Ultimately, at the moment of death, he finally thought of an answer he could ept, facing his end in a state of emptiness. Now, in apletely sane state, he had heard that answer from someone elses mouth. The psychological shock must have been considerable. He probably wanted to deny it. Indeed, the look in Javillons eyes was filled with confusion. Was that answer sincere? I just responded with what came to mind. I see. Alright. A twisted smile appeared at the corner of Javillons mouth. He then bowed his head. Leave for today. Pardon? Try your best not to appear before my eyes. Understood. Raciel, who had already been eager to escape, immediately retreated at lightning speed as soon as Javillon gave the order. He spent the entire day confined to his quarters, asionally perking up his ears because Javillons residence was right next door. Surprisingly, Javillon remained silent throughout the day. However, there was one moment when the sound of something breaking reached Raciels ears. Afterward, there seemed to be a faint sobbing noise, but it was so faint that he couldnt be sure. That was all. The day passed without any significant events. It was past noon the next day when Javillon summoned him. I cannot ept your answer. As soon as their eyes met, thats what Javillon blurted out. His appearance hadnt deteriorated significantly in just a day. He still looked well-groomed, with perfectly arranged hair and meticulously maintained clothes, as if he had obsessivepulsive disorder. However, two things had changed since yesterday. His eyes They appeared clouded, with a clear sign of confusion. And his hand was wrapped in a bandage. What had been a white bandage was now stained with a deep red hue. Seeing this reminded Raciel of the faint noises he had heard the previous nightthe sound of something breaking followed by soft and distant sobbing. Was it not his imagination? As he contemted this, Javillon continued to speak. Ive been thinking about it since yesterday. About that rude and arrogant answer you gave. Ivee to a conclusion. That you cannot ept it? Yes. Javillon nodded forcefully. The blood shed in sacrifice is noble. Sacrifice is inherently pure, whether its a choice or a result of historys course. All sacrifices are valuable and deserve respect. No, they must be respected. They should be revered. I see. Of course. Thats the truth that history teaches us. It will be the foundation that elevates our homnd and race to greater glory. The weight of the bloodshed will make our revolution even more sublime. Its a passionate speech. Javillon is working hard to justify the rebellion he initiated. Whats even more pitiable is that he might have already faintly realized this fact. Thats likely why hes so passionately defending his position. He seems to be suffering from some sort of cognitive dissonance. An answer to his lifes question, not realized by himself but heard from anothers mouth. Its only natural he cant ept it so easily. How many stages of denial and anger must he go through to understand, ept, and acknowledge it? It might be a torturous journey. But Raciel didnt care. After all, he had no affection for him. Rather, it was better for him if Javillon was in such mental turmoil. Any sign of vulnerability, and he would immediately flee using the Imperial Road. It might even be a blessing in disguise. By the way, how did you injure your hand? Raciel asked with feigned nonchnce. As Javillon was fervently speaking, he flinched, looking at his right hand. Well, it was a trivial mistake during training. It was the first time Raciel had seen him stammering. A mistake? A Swordmaster? Injured his hand due to a mistake? Who would believe that? Even Javillon seemed to realize how ridiculous his hastily made-up exnation sounded, as his face reddened slightly. Raciel barely suppressed a budding smile. Should I take a look at your wound then? Theres no need. Even if I am your personal physician? Its such a minor injury that its better left alone. Wasting time on it would be pointless, so dont bother. Understood. What was the point of appointing him as a personal physician in the first ce? Of course, Raciel knew Javillons objective. Javillon probably hoped to influence Raciels views even slightly, wanting him to sincerely support his deration speech in a few days. Thats when it all began. Surprisingly, even without seeking treatment, Javillon kept Raciel by his side 24/7. It was a peculiar coexistence, an unexpected tense standoff. It felt so tense that Raciel thought hed rather share a room with a ck leopard starved for three days. Hes always polite But hes also polite when he kills. Raciel was afraid of when Javillon might snap and reveal his true nature. Therefore, he acted even more cautiously. Three days passed, during which Raciel remained unaware of how Javillons perception of him gradually changed. To think such a person existed in the world It was morning. Javillon, the leader of the Anbouaz rebellion, looked at Raciel with fresh eyes. He found the sight of Raciel, who sat across from him and ate carefully, intriguing. The more he observed, the more convinced he became. Rihan, the army officer, is not a sycophant. He was an entirely different type of person, not resembling any of the subordinates who sought power. It felt strange, yetforting. The more they interacted, the more at ease he felt. It was an unusual experience. He hadnt had a good sleep in a long time. He hadnt ever let his guard down. But ever since he started staying with this army officer known as the saint, he was able to sleep deeply. He couldnt exin why. No, he wanted to deny it, but deep down, he knew. Was the answer this person gave truly the answer I had been yearning for all my life? He wanted to deny it repeatedly. But he couldnt. It was maddening. He felt like strangling the frail neck of this person on the spot. Yet, at the same time, a nonsensical desire arose to get closer to him. Keep him as a close aide? Or as a confidant tomand as if an extension of oneself? No. He wanted to be friends, setting aside ranks and official rtions. Sharing a drink, venting worries, cursing at each other genuinely, and offering sincere encouragement. He wanted to have such a bond, something he had never experienced in his life. Perhaps that yearning was the reason. Officer Rihan, to be honest, I always wanted to be a painter. Pardon? Raciels spoon, which was scooping up soup, halted. The corners of Javillons mouth rose slightly. Really. Ive been interested in drawing since I was a child. Drawing you say? Yes. Believe it or not, I still draw quite well. Is it strange? No, its just that- Just? Javillon inquired. Raciel furrowed his brow slightly. I was curious how, if your passion was drawing, you ended up pursuing the path to be a Swordmaster. Ah, because of the abuse. Abuse you say By my father. Every night, I had to endure being whipped. Still, I remained stubborn, insisting that Id be an artist. But it didnt matter. My father was just as obstinate. Javillons gaze grew more intense. Though he was looking at Raciel, his eyes seemed fixed on a moment from his past. So when I was around twelve, I made a deal with my father. If I passed the entrance exam for the art school, I could pursue my passion. If I failed, Id take up the sword. You didnt pass? No, I did. Then why? My father had my eptance revoked. He used his influence to pressure the dean of the art school behind my back. So my admission was permanently canceled. And ten dayster, my father was dead. You dont mean Youve figured it out again? Despite his reluctance, Raciel asked, Did you kill him? Who knows? Ill leave it to your imagination, Javillon replied with a mncholicugh. Did it evoke pity? Not at all. It felt more like a burden. Why is this man acting so friendlytely? Internally, Raciel shrugged. He wanted to leave this ce immediately and return to Demian, to Gardin and the Star Pce. So, he tried to find an opening, intentionally attempting to disrupt Javillons mental state by dropping the truth hed sought all his life like a bomb. But after that, Javillons behavior oddly shifted. He continued to act friendly, or perhaps he genuinely wanted to be. He shared stories from his past without being prompted. It was bing overwhelming! Tch. This is getting annoying. He needed to find a way out. Instead of finding an opportunity, Raciel found himself listening to Javillons past daily, even though he had no interest in it. He became the patient listener to tales reminiscent of a tragic childhood of a World War II mustachioed killer who failed art school entrance andmitted suicide. Sigh. Is there a way out? Raciel felt inwardly anxious. And then it happened. I guess youre not really interested in my story. Excuse me? Raciel was taken aback, feeling embarrassed. But before he could exin, Javillon spoke up. Well, I understand. Who would genuinely care about someone elses unfortunate childhood? No, I mean Its alright. Could he beupset? Thats when Javillon suddenly extended his right hand towards him. Just as Raciel was about to flinch, Javillon spoke. Please take a look at this wound. What? It seems to be getting worse. Whether its him showing his wound while having breakfast, or Raciel having to inspect it Raciel set aside the piece of bread he was about to dip in his soup. He examined the wound on Javillons palm, which appeared to be slightly infected. It looks like the beginning of an abscess. He decided to start with a pulse diagnosis. Suddenly, he became curious. The character Javillon, who had dominated with absolute force up to the middle of the novel Devil Sword Emperor, now offered a chance to inspect his physical condition. Alright, Ill conduct an examination. Fortunately, Javillon no longer resisted Raciels pulse diagnosis. He cautiously grasped Javillons wrist, feeling his pulse and activated the pulse diagnosis skill. Ding dong! [Beginning Palpation.] [Scanning.] [3 2 1] [Diagnosis results are avable.] [Please check the below.] The pulse diagnosis waspleted. Raciels gaze moved downward, meticulously reviewing theprehensive examination chart. The next moment, he had to widen his eyes in surprise. What? The chart disyed Javillonsprehensive examination results. And Raciel slowly realized, He seemed to have discovered a secretive, physiological trait of Javillon that hadnt even been revealed in the novel. Specifically, Javillons small yet potentially fatal weakness. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Ding Dong! The sound of a notification rings in the ears. Simultaneously, aprehensive medical report appears. Hmm? It was Javillonsprehensive medical report, which he had obtained out of sudden curiosity. At the same time, it revealed Javillons minor and hidden vulnerabilities, never mentioned in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. [Comprehensive Medical Report] [Subject: Javillon mberge Anbouaz] [Ethnicity: Human] [Gender: Male] [Age: 37] [Height: 193.4 cm] [Weight: 91.9 kg] [Blood Type: Rh+ AB] The most striking aspect was Javillons unparalleled physical condition. His cardiovascr and digestive system functions, along with other organ scores, were nearly wless. With such a physique, coupled with his mastery of swordsmanship and mana techniques, he appeared to be a genuine powerhouse. However, Raciel paid little attention to Javillons impressive statistics. His focus was fixed on the Overall Conclusion below. This was because an unexpected weakness of Javillon was listed there. [Overall Conclusion: Every aspect of the body is in exceptionally harmonious and healthy condition. Optimal status is observed in all categories, including metabolic regtion and immunity. However, severe chronic migraines have been detected. Adequate rest and rxation are required to alleviate emotional stress. If the condition continues to deteriorate, it is advisable to consider resigning from the current position.] Indeed, resigning was a straightforward solution to reduce stress. However, that was not the primary concern at the moment. A severe chronic migraine? This detail had never been mentioned in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. The idea that Javillon, a die-hard nationalist and fervent patriot, suffered from chronic migraines was unimaginable. Javillons current expression seemed just that: calm. No, it was almost expressionless. But the Palpation skill doesnt lie. He had faith in his skill. If the diagnostic skill indicated something, then it was urate. Furthermore, his organs also provided the same diagnosis. Ding Dong! [Your organs are almost envious of Javillons but stopped short.] [Heart: Hey, owner! Whos the person getting the checkup? Their cardiopulmonary functions are impressive!] [Lungs: Huh This is amazing] [Large Intestine: Brother Lung over there was shocked by their lung capacity.] [Liver: That liver index is no joke either. Almost fell for it at first sight.] [Stomach: But their stomach seems a bit unfortunate. Always in distress.] [Liver: Looks strong on the outside, right? Actually, its constantly tormented. By the brain. Due to migraines. If I were in that situation, Id have given up within a day. Lol] Raciel listened to his organs diagnosis. Judging from what the stomach mentioned, he had a suspicion. Right. Migraines often lead to nervous indigestion. Especially, they ce a lot of stress on the stomach. He had encountered many such cases in Korea. Numerous patients visiting oriental clinics had simr issues. In particr, many patients who came in with chronic indigestion and were diagnosed turned out to be suffering from migraines. Javillon appeared to be one of those cases. Suddenly, Raciel wanted to confirm. Excuse me, do you happen to have a headache? Javillon stared at him intently. His eyes widened slightly. Was he surprised or irritated? It was difficult to discern. Faced with that prating gaze, Raciel briefly regretted asking. Perhaps he should have acted as if he didnt know. But such concerns were fleeting. One corner of Javillons mouth curled up. Yes, it hurts. It always does. As I contemte how to breach the fortress of Balua. It didnt appear to be that type of headache. It felt more like Javillon was trying to avoid the topic. Raciel naturally got that impression, and he wondered if such a feeling was also evident in his eyes. Did Javillons gaze momentarily waver while looking at him? Ahem! Hmm! Your face has turned red? Why would it? I can see it. Its just a brief cough. My throat feels scratchy. It must be due to the change of seasons then? Of course. Theres sweat on your forehead. As you mentioned, its because of the changing seasons. This years seasonal transition is quite unusual. Yes, it is. me it on the change of seasons, certainly. Please, be honest with me. Did you notice? As you can tell. Indeed, the diagnostic skill was no joke. Javillon, who appeared to be trying to evade the issue, let out a deep sigh. Heh, indeed. Ive always been curious why youre called a saint. I didnt expect to satisfy that curiosity in this manner. I especially didnt expect you to pinpoint my pain in an instant. So, you suffer from chronic headaches? Yes. Javillon nodded. Yes, my head hurts. It always does. Should I call it a migraine? How did you guess this? Ive never revealed this to anyone. I just sensed it. Just? Yes. Heh. Well then. I cant delve deeper into this. Javillon chuckled. It was intriguing. On one hand, it was astonishing. The constant headache that gripped his head 24/7. It had be a pain as natural as breathing. Of course, he had never disclosed this to anyone. It could be exploited as a weakness by adversaries. And yet, his personal secret had been diagnosed in just one examination. Did he really just sense it? To be honest, at first, it was hard to believe. It seemed like a stretch. But the moment he looked directly into the eyes of Saint Officer Rihan, he realized. The officer had genuinely diagnosed him after confirming his symptoms. To conclude, Officer Rihan, your diagnosis is correct. My head hurts. Its not just a simple pain. It feels like its about to explode. Even just breathing feels like a nail is being driven into my head. Its like that even now. Like this, just lightly touching my head makes the other side throb with pain. Tap Tap. He lightly touched the side of his head with his finger. Raciel inquired, When did it start hurting like this? I dont know. Javillons smile turned self-deprecating. Really, I dont. It has hurt since as long as I can remember. Surely not since you were very young? Yes. In my earliest memories, I was in pain. Thanks to that, I was always irritable. Then, by chance, I stumbled upon art. The moments I painted were the only times I felt momentarily at ease. Thats why I aspired to be a painter. But that dream was shattered Yes, by my father. No art school would ept me. I had to reluctantly abandon the brush and take up the sword. But the headache persisted? Of course. Javillon chuckled softly again. No matter what I did, I couldnt rid myself of this pain. Thats why I delved so deeply into swordsmanship. Thanks to a realization. What realization? That a sword is a very effective tool for inflicting pain on others. Surely not. Indeed. At times, I felt so wronged. Wondering why I had to endure this suffering. Why I had to live tormented by ceaseless pain. So I thought, if I cant rid myself of my pain, why not make others suffer like me? It seemed that might alleviate the sense of injustice in my heart. Did it bring you anyfort? Not much. Javillon chuckled bitterly, shaking his head. I entertained such thoughts as a young child, but as I grew stronger, they lost their appeal. Well, in any case, having such twisted intentions and ambitions allowed me to immerse myself in swordsmanship, and I could reach my current level faster than others. I suppose that wasnt all bad. A man who became a swordmaster, driven by his adolescent fantasies(?). Raciel found it quite remarkable. At the same time, he grew even more curious. The story of Javillons headache, his detailed personal history, was never mentioned in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. It was rather intriguing. So, he inquired. Then, apart from pursuits like painting and swordsmanship, have you ever explored fundamental treatments for your headache? Why wouldnt I have? Javillon chuckled softly. Ive tried every remedy known for headaches. Starting from herbal treatments to even drinking poisons. Also, various sleep therapies, meditation, and even peculiar exercises from the eastern continent. Ive experimented with every method known to the world. But the oue is as you can see. So all of them failed. Yes. Furthermore, several doctors who rmended those futile medications met their demise. Swallowing hard, he felt a shiver down his spine. Sensing his unease(?), Javillon quickly offered an awkward smile. Ah, but dont be too rmed. Your head is much more valuable to me when its attached to your body. Th-thank you? Youre wee. Was it just him, or was the sensation of doing nothing and feeling a chill down the back of your neck universally rtable? Raciel involuntarily shrunk his neck. Yet simultaneously, a new idea began to take shape in his mind. Could it be? He saw an opportunity. Javillons severe chronic headache, undisclosed in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, the interwoven narratives, and his personal strugglesall became clear to him. He saw an angle to leverage Javillons headache for an escape from this ce! If executed correctly, he might find a seamless route(?) to the Star Pce! Its possible. It can be done. The odds of sess are quite high. Raciels cerebral cortex buzzed with activity. He examined numerous scenarios and potentialities. He weighed the pros and cons. Ultimately, he arrived at a conclusion. Its feasible. Its certain. Its worth a try. So, you see Raciel began to speak. His previously contracted neck was now held confidently upright. His shoulders squared with confidence. His eyes sparkled with a determined challenge. How about I alleviate that headache for you? What? Had he not anticipated this question? Javillon tilted his head, looking perplexed. You? Cure my headache? Yes. But Ive told you, no medicine or method has ever relieved my headache. Yes, I heard you clearly. Then how do you propose to do it? Theres always a way. Doctors who confidently imed they could cure me all ended up dead. Then Ill say it without confidence. Let me try, and even if I fail, please dont kill me. This isnt some kind of excuse about the effort beingmendable, right? I just dont want to die. Very well. Javillon chuckled. Naturally, he had no intention of harming the Saint Military Officer. He simply felt like granting him the opportunity due to his persistence. If it worked, great; if not, it wouldnt matter. He held no expectations anyway. He didnt even believe it would seed. If he fails, I should offer some constion. Javillon secretly smirked. The Saint Military Officer held a significant reputation throughout the Anbouaz region. He likely took great pride in his medical skills. That was probably why every doctor confidently imed they could cure his headache. And if they failed, their pride would be wounded. They might even be flustered by their failure. Hell console him if that happens. With this in mind, Javillon rxed and followed Raciels instructions, observing his treatment. Lets begin. Youre not using any medicine? No. And tools? This should suffice. In response, Raciel lifted just his bare hands. Upon seeing that, any remaining expectations plummeted. However, Javillon stayed silent, not wanting to hurt Raciels feelings. Meanwhile, Raciels hand approached, gently touching the top of his head. Until that moment, Javillon had wondered what he was doing. Was he going to massage his head? But in the next moment A gentle caress? His hand began to softly stroke the top of his head? What? Javillon was bewildered. He couldntprehend what was happening. Why was the Saint Military Officer caressing his head as ifforting a puppy? The entire situation was perplexing. What are you doing now? Hush. This is the crucial part. What could this be? Is this how he intends to treat the headache? With this seemingly trivial action? I dont know what you take me for, but Javillon began to feel provoked. He raised his head. He regarded the Saint Military Officer with indifferent eyes, contemting whether to p him or perhaps break his neck. How should he exact revenge? Just as thoughts of violence began to fill his mind My hands are healing hands~ These hands are maagical Eheheya~ Raciel started singing an odd(?) tune. The Healing Hands skill had been activated. In that instant, the excruciating headache that had tormented Javillon for years vanished like a leaping fish. ! For the first time in 37 years since his birth, Javillon experienced a sensation of pure relief, causing his eyes to widen in astonishment. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 127 Chapter 127 Mom! Javillon mbeur Anbouaz. Born into the royal bloodline, an ambitious man. A passionate patriot who had endured severe headaches throughout his life. His eyes widened in astonishment. For 37 years since he emerged from his mothers womb, he experienced a sensation of freedom for the first time in his life. Every nerve from his head to the tip of his tailbone was as taut as a bowstring. Every cell in his body joined in a harmonious medley of seven octaves. Inside his veins, red and white blood cells intermingled and performed a tap dance. In summary It was invigorating! He had never experienced anything like this before! What What is this? Javillon squinted his eyes. A portly man in a crimson robe extended his hand toward him. It was the Saint military officer. He was gently caressing Javillons head while singing an odd song. It wasnt a particrly sacred or reverent touch; rather, it was somewhat clumsy. It felt like casually petting a stray dog one might encounter in the neighborhood. In a way, it was subtly offensive. But none of that mattered. It didnt hurt. He didnt feel the headache. A heavenly, refreshing sensation coursed through his body, akin to the fluttering wings of an archangel! How How did you aplish this? He couldnt believe it. Amidst his joy, doubts surfaced. He had to inquire. However, in response to his quivering question, the Saint military officer offered a mysterious smile. Hush. He gestured leisurely with a finger, sang that peculiar song once more, and continued to stroke Javillons head. Ah This is the touch of an expert. Javillon sensed it deeply. That feeling lingered even after the treatment(?) had concluded. How are you feeling? Do you still experience the headache? Javillon gazed vacantly at the Saint military officer. Had he nodded? Most likely, given the satisfied grin on the officers face. It worked. I was concerned, but now Im genuinely relieved. Relieved Yes. How does it feel to be free from the headache youve always had? I I dont know. Pardon? Well, I cant quite describe it. Its strange. I wonder if this is even possible, and also Also? Why am I crying? Drip, drip. Tears streamed down Javillons cheeks, tracing paths across his face and collecting on his chin. Yet Javillon didnt think to wipe them away. Initially, he was stunned, then he burst intoughter. He cried andughed, without concern for potential consequences. Its good. Ive never felt like this. Why Haha, hahaha. Its a sess. Congrattions. No need for congrattions. Thank you. I never thought, never thought you would actually cure my headache. Javillon reached out. He warmly sped Raciels hand. He was truly grateful. To be honest, he was still in shock, but despite that, he felt good. He was simply happy and overjoyed. Until Raciel responded. But its too early to let your guard down. The treatment I provided will likely onlyst for a day. What? What does that mean? Just one day? Afterward, its effects fade away? So, will the pain return? The headache wille back? By tomorrow? Regrettably Yes. But dont be too disheartened. Why? Javillon inquired urgently, as if trying to keep his sinking heart afloat. On the other hand, a rxed smile appeared on Raciels lips. Because you can receive treatment again tomorrow. Ah. So, lets proceed with this. Begin each day with my headache treatment. So, until the next morning, I wont experience any headache? Of course. As long as you dont oversleep and miss the morning treatment. Im confident about that. Ive never overslept in my life. Yes, I know youre diligent. Thats fortunate. Hehe. Hahaha! Yes, its fortunate. Indeed. Hahaha! A refreshingugh burst from Javillons mouth. His sinking heart had returned to its ce(?). Finally, he felt relieved. Yes, just as the Saint military officer had said. Once a day, every morning, get the treatment. Then, theres no pain. Then, Ill rely on you tomorrow as well. Why not? A satisfied smile spread across Raciels face. Was it simply because the treatment was sessful? Of course not. He had his own reasons for being happy. Yes, trust me like that. Be dependent on my treatment! From the beginning, this was his goal. To make him trust even more. To make him cling. And then? Piece of cake. Itll be totally feasible. He wanted to return to his clinic, the Star Pce, as soon as possible. Javillon, the greatest viin from the first half of the novel Devil Sword Emperor, was now under his 24/7 care. Raciel wanted to get rid of him immediately. To do that, he needed a safe escape. He had to get out of here. Every morning, with that goal in mind, Raciel struggled(?). My hands are healing hands~ My hands are healing hands! Phew. How do you feel? Thank you. The headache ispletely gone. As promised, every morning he used his healing hand skill. He caressed Javillons head andpletely eliminated the headache. Every time, Javillon burst intoughter with genuine joy. It was a pure and genuine smile, not something youd expect from a fervent patriot who hadmitted many atrocities. In fact, Javillon felt relieved. Indeed. The Saint military officer was right. Initially, he was somewhat anxious. Would the Saint military officers headache treatment work more than once? What if it was only effective the first time? What if, as he continued the treatments, his body adapted, and the effect diminished? What would he do then? Honestly, he was worried. But after a few days, even that worrypletely vanished. Im still not in pain. Its exactly the same as the first time. Ten days since starting the morning treatment. Javillon finally felt relieved. Despite receiving daily treatments, the effect did not diminish. It was the same as the first time. It was incredibly effective! At the same time, Javillon slowly realized, I cant properly live without the Saint military officers treatment now. He hadnt realized it when he was constantly in pain. Ever since he was born, he has always been in pain. He thought feeling pain was a natural part of life. He believed that enduring and bearing it, gritting his teeth until his gums bled, was all there was to it. He even thought that living like that wasnt too bad. But now? Things have changed. I cant go back to how it was before. For the past ten days, he had lived without experiencing that agonizing headache. The world appeared different. Peoples expressions seemed different. Even the color of a simple fallen leaf on the road appeared different. He felt truly alive. He wondered how he had managed to live before. Part of him became anxious. What if the Saint military officer disappeared? What if he left his side? And as a result, he couldnt receive his treatment anymore? Could he endure it? It was impossible. Javillon had no desire to return to the way things were. The more he felt this way, the warmer his gaze became when he looked at Raciel. His attitude toward Raciel noticeably softened and became more benevolent. Naturally, Raciel noticed this transformation in Javillon. And he smirked with a sense of triumph. Preparations areplete. Everything was now in ce. With this confidence, Raciel initiated the next stage of his escape n. Right after the morning treatment, he moistened his lips. Then, without blinking, he began to fabricate a story. Actually, I have something important to discuss with you today. Important? What is it? Tonight. I feel the need to perform an important prayer. An important prayer? Javillon tilted his head, not in disbelief, but out of genuine curiosity. Good. Its working. Raciel gained confidence and intensified his deception. To be honest, the treatment I provide you every morning isnt free. Its not simply my ability. Its all due to a blessing from the heavens. A blessing? Yes. Once a month, on the night of the full moon, I must offer a sincere prayer to the moon, with pure, cold water by my side, from the moment the moon rises until it setspletely. If I fail to perform this prayer If you dont? Ill lose my ability to heal. It willst at least a month. Until the next full moon rises and I can pray again. Is that true? Yes. I stake my honor on it. Raciel nodded with an expression full of trust and added, Additionally, while Im praying, no one can witness me. Anyone, if someone sees me during the prayer the effectiveness of the prayer will immediately vanish. Of course, the result will be the same Youll lose your ability to treat for a month, right? Exactly. Therefore, I need a high ce near the moon, where I can safely perform my prayers all night without being observed by anyone. Fortunately, I have identified such a location. Id like you to prepare it for my prayers. Throughout, he remained earnest, never smiling. Raciel made sure to maintain a serious demeanor. Perhaps due to such effort(?), Javillons expression also grew solemn. The notion of a blessing that required such prayers was novel to him. Part of him was skeptical. He had reservations about whether to believe Raciels words or not. But that skepticism was brief. What if what the Saint military officer is saying is true? And if he didnt believe and prepare the ce for him? If Raciel couldnt perform the prayers and lost the healing ability? That was uneptable. It would mean a return to days gued by excruciating headaches. That was worse than death. I have no choice. Javillon set aside any lingering doubts and skepticism. He calcted that it would be more beneficial to ce his trust in the Saint officers words. Very well. Tell me the location. Ill have it prepared. Really? If you desire it, shouldnt I assist? Th-thank you. Why thank me? Im the one who should be grateful to you. And so, Javillon granted his permission(?). Raciel directed him to a spot he had chosen in advance. It was a steep hill surrounded by forests. The hill was then made ready for the prayer. Of course, Javillon didnt overlook preparing for any contingencies. If the Saint military officer were to sneak away while hes supposed to be praying That cant happen. Javillon mobilized the soldiers. The hill was encircled on all sides, fiveyers deep. It was a formidable perimeter. However, they maintained a distance of approximately 200 meters from the hill. The soldiers positioned themselves with their backs turned, ensuring they couldnt gaze toward the hill. He even warned that if anyone were to turn around, ording to strict militaryws, they would face execution as a deterrent. Finally, night descended. Then, afterpleting my prayers, Ill see you in the morning. Ill be waiting here. Understood. Oh, and Just before departing for the hill to pray, Raciel paused and nced back at Javillon. If youre concerned that I might leave, theres no need. Perhaps revealing a hint of the doubt he harbored, Javillons shoulders subtly tensed. Raciel offered a meaningful smile. After all, I also find fulfillment in treating your headaches. Thank you. Finally, a warm smile spread across Javillons lips. He was grateful for such reassuring words. With somewhat touched eyes, he watched Raciels figure recede up the hill. Soon after, the full moon ascended. It was from that moment onward. Javillon waited with a contented heart. Right now, his Saint military officer, Raciel, must be offering earnest prayers. Dedicating himself even more to his treatment. Offering fervent prayers to the full moon, even while bing damp from the night dew. The more he thought about it, the more grateful he felt. The more he contemted, the warmer he felt. He should treat him even better in the future. He should hold Raciel in the highest regard. Because he deserved it. Because he was someone he could trust more than anyone else in this world. Javillon waited and waited. The full moon reached its zenith, then began to descend towards the west. Finally, it set. He continued to wait until then, expecting Raciel to descend from the hill anytime. Worried that it should be about time to see him. Withplete sincerity. With a genuine heart. He waited for Raciel and kept on waiting. Soon, the bright morning sunlight rose. An inkling of anxiety that had begun to sprout now grew uncontrobly. Ultimately, he dispatched soldiers up the hill. And a momentter. Report! The Saint military officer, Rihan, has disappeared! The moment he heard the heart-wrenching report, the moment he absorbed the unbelievable shout directly into his ears, he realized. He had been betrayed. His precious treasure had slipped through his fingers and escaped. Crack! Could this raging emotion be equivalent to the warmth he had felt earlier? Or was this what profound loss felt like? Find him! By any means necessary! As Javillon shouted furiously, his eyes burned with an obsession that red up like madness. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 128 Chapter 128 It has been a considerable amount of time, Your Highness. I never anticipated encountering you under these circumstances. Indeed, the sentiment is mutual. The setting was dawn, shrouded in thick mist. Allowing the hoot of an owl from somewhere to drift into his ears, Raciel wore a smirk as he confronted Demian. Subsequently, he brushed away the cobwebs that had ensnared his hair. Oh, a spider. Oh, a bug. The disarray wasnt limited to his hair. His neck and sections of his attire bore the signs of a struggle. Cobwebs were an expected nuisance, and his entire body bore the marks of soil and the residue of crushed moss. This was the result of him maneuvering through a narrow and dimly lit cave in preparation for an ambush. Nevertheless, how did youe to know about the cave in the midst of the hill? Demian inquired. Raciel shrugged nonchntly. Just happened to stumble upon it. By chance, you say? Yeah. I was tailing Javillon, and I overheard some soldiers chatting about a perfect spot to desert. They mmed up pretty fast when our eyes locked. Of course, it was a tant fabrication. The soldiers conversation was pure nonsense. In reality, he had learned about the cave from reading the novel Devil Sword Emperor. In the novel led by Javillon, the Anbouaz waged a great war against the empire. In the early days of that war, a significant battle took ce in this area. Demian had participated in that battle as a mercenary for the empire. Toward the end of the intense conflict, the entire mercenary force had been abandoned by the regr army. They were essentially used as expendable pawns. Consequently, Demian and the mercenary captain were stranded behind enemy lines. Thats when Demian and the mercenary captain happened upon the cave in the middle of the hill. Thanks to it, they managed to hide safely and escape the battlefield without losing their lives. It was said to be the far-left hill of the three prominent ones in front of Balua Fortress. Raciel recalled that scene. He had contemted using the cave and devised a n. He measured the angles and deceived Javillon. He imed he needed to pray, lest the treatments effects wane, a ruse that thoroughly terrified Javillon. It had worked. Javillon appeared somewhat suspicious initially, but in the end, he bought it. He willingly set up a prayer spot on top of the hill, and as soon as the full moon graced the night sky, he attempted his escape through the cave. Thanks to it, he could reunite with Demian and Gardin. But Gardin? Yes, Your Highness? Arent you d to see me? I am d? Then why do you look at me like that? Like youve seen a ghost. Gardins face had indeed turned pale, and his expression resembled sheer terror. Am I frightening? Raciel tilted his head. Gardin shook his head frantically. No, its not that Then what? He took a step closer. Gardin, startled, retreated two steps. Ah, aah, spiders! And you have bugs on your shoulder! Ugh, aaaaah! Hush. ..Sorry. So, youre afraid of bugs? Gardin lowered his head in embarrassment. It appeared to be the case. Raciel furrowed his brow and brushed off his clothes. Do you think I enjoy being in such a state? The cave is so damp and cramped. Is that so? Yeah. I wondered why you didnte out. Eek. I had nned to catch one when it emerged. Theyre quite a potent remedy. Anyway, its a stroke of luck that the n worked out perfectly, and we managed to reunite as intended. He genuinely meant it. It was indeed a stroke of good fortune. Was it just yesterday? There was a time when Javillon had a brief encounter with the rebel leaders. He had a moment of solitude during that encounter, which he seized to his advantage. He penned a message and entrusted it to a small bird. The message contained todays escape n and the rendezvous point. He dispatched it to Gardin. The oue was a sess. Gardin and Demian arrived at the designated time and ce as requested. Not only that, but they also brought Kuku along. Kkukyuu! Yes, its been a while, hasnt it? Kkyuuu! Now that they had safely reunited, it was time to take action. This way. The group proceeded through a misty forest. However, the forest was not expansive. After a brief walk, the density of trees began to diminish, and before long, they emerged from the forest. Suddenly, their view expanded. They found themselves on a in situated between the Balua Fortress of the kingdoms army and the rebels base. Whats the n from here? There was tension in Demians inquiry. He had harbored doubts about this escape, deeming it too risky. The location isnt ideal. Its an open field, so it will be nearly impossible to conceal ourselves and move during the day. A direct breakthrough would be even more challenging. What was the crown princes strategy? Demian turned to Raciel for answers. Raciel offered a faint smile. We must act with precise timing. Timing? The moment when the rebel search patrols shift and change their positions. Surely not. Yes. Ive meticulously nned it all out. Raciel shrugged. I was always at Javillons side, remember? Whether I wanted to or not, I ended up learning. Deployment of each unit, patrol schedules for different areas, precautions during shift changes, and so on. All of this was meticulously recorded in Javillons quarters. He even received regr reports. You memorized all of that? Yes. Imitted the entire timetable to memory, including when the search patrols are least vignt. It was true. This information was vital for their escape, and he had risked everything tomit it to memory. Fortunately, his memory skills were quite adept, making it a manageable task. Now Youre familiar with the constetions, right? Yes. Can you locate the Net constetion? It has recently risen above the horizon. Then, right now. Lets move. Raciel swiftly rose from the underbrush, startling Demian and Gardin. However, Raciel, as if nothing out of the ordinary had urred, took a few steps ahead and nced back at them. We cant afford to miss the timing, can we? Follow me. Quickly. It truly appeared as though he hadmitted every detail to memory. Gardin and Demian exchanged nces and then rose to their feet. They followed the crown prince. Thankfully, the thick fog provided a sense of relief. After walking for some time, Raciel halted at a pile of rocks in the middle of the in. He then slipped into a sizable crevice where two rocks ovepped and gestured for the two to join him. Get inside. We need to rest here. Hurry. If were spotted, its over. The twoplied with the princes instructions. Demian inquired, Your Highness, is it safe here? Yes, absolutely. Raciel grinned and settledfortably in a corner of the rock crevice. Its situated right in the middle of the in. Both the kingdoms army and the rebels keep watch on this area. But that means Its secure. Neither side can exert full control here. Sending patrols directly to this spot would be a gamble. So, well take a rest here today. Raciel elucidated his n. To the east of the in loomed towering mountains and the Balua Fortress of the kingdoms army. And to the west? Vast divisions of the rebel army were stationed. In essence, they were caught in between, like a patty between hamburger buns. We cant find an escape route to the east or the west. So, well move stealthily northward along the middle of the in. Its rtively less guarded there. With that, Raciel reclined where he was. Finally, Demian and Gardinprehended the Crown Princes intent. Hearing and seeing it, the princes words seemed usible. Well, theres no way out to the west or the east anyway. Besides, this seems like a ce where neither the kingdoms army nor the rebel forces would move overtly. Neither side would want to approach due to the mutual deterrence. Yes. Thanks to the rocks, it seems we are safe from both sides view. All they needed to do was stay concealed during the day and resume their journey under the cover of darkness. The two finally felt at ease. From that point onward The group enjoyed a leisurely rest within the rock crevice. They nibbled on bread and jerky. They admired the blue sky and white clouds visible through the gap in the rocks. Aside from the fact that the formidable forces of the kingdom and the rebels faced each other on both sides, it felt almost like a pic. However, that happiness was short-lived. Before the sun reached its zenith, a loud cry erupted from the rebel camp to the west. Come out Rihaaan-! ! The shout, which jolted them from the brink of a nap, was deafening. It resonated across the in like a chorus of hundreds of elephants or as if someone had cranked their headphones to max volume while listening to the radio. Moreover, it was an unmistakable voice. Javillon? They recognized it instantly. Their drowsiness dissipated. Another thunderous cry from Javillon reverberated. I know youre hiding nearby! Not one of our horses is missing! You couldnt have gone far on foot with just your two loyal men! You wouldnt have slipped past my armys surveince at that pace! He was well-informed. It sent shivers down their spines. But the shout that truly sent a chill through them was yet toe. So you must be concealed somewhere on this in right now! Betraying my trust! Like a rat! Crouched and eavesdropping on my words! Isnt that right! He was indeed not to be underestimated. Raciel felt the hairs on his arms stand on end. Javillons furious shout, infused with his unique mana as the Swordmaster, persisted. So,e forward! Ive always treated you with sincerity! It was you who first betrayed my trust! But! I still want to treat you sincerely! Show yourself! Ill forgive you this once! I promise not to take your life over this! I swear! A promise. Forgiveness. Raciel remained silent, feeling the tension in the eyes of Gardin and Demian fixed on him. Suddenly, he recalled the contents of the novel Devil Sword Emperor. He remembered the kind of promise and forgiveness Javillon often spoke of in the story. Right. Hell keep his promise. He wont kill me. Hell probably leave me alive but incapacitated. Perhaps he would sever both legs, leaving only the hands capable of treating his migraines. In that way, Javillons notion of forgiveness would ensure Raciel could never escape again. Once more, he felt a slight chill. Meanwhile, Javillons menacing shouts persisted. Come out! Ill give you a chance! Reveal yourself by the count of three! Your Highness? Gardin asked with evident unease. Raciel nodded. After all, Javillon is just blustering. He doesnt actually know their whereabouts. Hes merely making threats. Three! Javillons resounding shout reverberated. Raciel smirked at Gardin. Dont fret. Hes all talk, he cant really harm us. Raciel was confident. Considering that Javillon had been bellowing across the ins, the royal army at the fortress must have heard him too. Theyd likely be on high alert, preparing for contingencies. Two! If he mobilizes his forces, the kingdoms army will react immediately. They might end up in an unintended battle. So, even though Javillon talks big, he cant act recklessly. Raciel was certain. This was the position he had chosen, relying on that fact. It felt reassuring. One! Javillons shout dripped with animosity. But there was no need for concern. Silence ensued, just as expected. He was bluffing. The assumption was correct. Raciel grinned. However, that tion dissipated when thousands of ming arrows suddenly descended upon the in. Whooosh! In an instant, the autumn-yellowed reeds and grasses of the ins, along with the sun-baked hay piles, were engulfed in mes. The fire rapidly spread in all directions. Soon, a fierce ze devoured the entire in. Of course, the area where the group was concealed was no exception! That lunatic. In that moment, Raciel realized two things. One, Javillon was even more unhinged than he had thought. And the other Maybe today, right here, I might have to confront him. This sudden premonition made his heart pound with vivid and intense urgency. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Hush! A sharp noise, like something cutting through the air, rent the sky. In the vivid blue autumn sky, as noon approached, numerous crimson streaks appeared. These streaks transformed into tunes, igniting into mes, and pierced the ground. Finally, they erupted into fire. Whoosh! The efficacy of the ming arrows was impable. It was already a dryte autumn. Despite the early morning mist, even that had been entirely evaporated by the morning sun. Furthermore, in keeping with the season preceding winter, the earth was covered in yellowed, withered grass and reeds. Wherever the ming arrowsnded, mes erupted. And there were hundreds, if not thousands, of such arrows. Hundreds, thousands of fires spread out, growing in size. Gradually? No, rapidly. To an overwhelming degree. Beyond anyones control. Roar! Unbelievable. Unconsciously, Raciel muttered. Fires had ignited in various parts of the ins. The mes encountered the dry grass of the season and the wind, rapidly growing, engulfing and multiplying exponentially. In no time, they appeared poised to devour the entire ins. Naturally, the nearby rocky area where the group was hiding was no exception. This is insane! That guy is absolutely crazy! Raciel held back his curses. Understanding the situation wasnt difficult. Predicting what would happen next was just as straightforward. If they stayed here any longer? Well end up roasted alive! The more he thought about it, the faster his heart raced. His organs were in turmoil. Ding-dong! [Your internal organs are severely affected by your current situation.] [Your hearts concerns intensify.] [Due to your deepening worries, your heart beats even more vigorously.] [The rest of your organs are disturbed by themotion.] [We all need to adopt a considerate lifestyle to reduce such disturbances. Wear indoor slippers, use noise-reducing mats, and remember that youre sharing space with others. If challenged, youre entirely in the right.] ? What was that message he had just seen? Nevertheless, this wasnt the time to dwell on such matters. Raciel vigorously shook his head. Having set the entire ins aze, he deduced Javillons intentions. Obviously. He must have suspected I was hiding somewhere in the ins and employed this tactic due to concerns about the kingdoms army. When theres a fire? They would be forced to emerge. That was his strategy. Like smoking out prey from a burrow to catch them. Once they came out, the real hunt would begin. He intended to hunt them down in that manner. So, they needed to stay put as much as possible. Moving would be detrimental. However the problem was that staying put seemed impossible. Your Majesty! If we remain here any longer, it will be the end of us! Demians desperate voice reached him, followed by the trembling cry of Gardin. Huuuu! Your Majesty! There was no denying it; the mes were already closing in on them. Their spread was faster than anticipated. The wind wasnt in their favor. If they lingered here any longer? They were likely to meet a fiery end within the rocks. Damn. He never expected Javillon to resort to such madness. Gritting his teeth, Raciel acknowledged his miscalction. Underestimating the opponents level of craziness was a mistake. He made a decision. Lets move, to the north. To the north, Your Majesty? Not to the east? Gardins eyes widened in surprise. The mes were spreading from the west, while the area towards Balua Fortress in the east remained clear. So, Gardin was perplexed. Logically, it seemed safer to flee to the east. Reading Gardins thoughts, Raciel shook his head. Due to the wind direction, the mes are spreading from the west to the east. Escaping with such a fire at our backs would be suicidal. The mes would overtake us. Ah So, we should move as perpendicr to the direction of the fire as possible. Lets move quickly. We dont have time. Indeed, there was no time to waste. Raciel took the lead, leaving the crevice in the rock and sprinting out. Demian followed, and finally, Gardin, carrying Kuku, hurriedly ran. And on the other side of the in, a few hundred steps away, Javillon watched the group with gleaming eyes. Ive located them Javillon felt exhration. At the same time, he experienced excruciating pain. It hurt. Every breath brought pain to his head. It wasnt just a simple ache. It felt as if his head were being split open by an ax while he remained fully conscious. It was as if tweezers were thrust into his temples and twisted around. He felt like his eyeballs might pop out at any moment. The pain was all the more intense because it had been days since hest felt it. When the Saint military officer caressed his head every morning, it wasnt like this. After experiencing the strange song and his touch, he felt no pain for the rest of the day. Those were happier times. But you ran away after abandoning me? He had deceived him. Lied. And fled. Boldly. Without acknowledging his gratitude. Discarded him. Left cruelly, intending to cast him aside like an old lover. It was infuriating. Now, the Saint military officer, whom he had once cherished as a lifelong friend, was fleeing across the ins away from the mes. Hatred boiled within Javillon. He felt resentment. Yet, at the same time, he held affection. He didnt want to let him go. He didnt want anyone else to take him. You are my kin. Thats how it should be. Thats how he would make it. So, he started the fire. With slight suspicion. Despite the improbable certainty. He shouted towards the in and ignited the mes. Thanks to that, he found him. His heart fluttered with joy. The thought of capturing and keeping him forever filled him with ecstasy. Swoosh! Javillon drew his sword. He pointed it at Raciel and his group. Royal Guards, advance! With thatmand, he urged his powerful ck steed, which snorted heavily. Following him, 300 Royal Guards adjusted their helmets. The battle cry of the elite cavalry echoed across the ins. Thud-thud-thud-thud! The path ahead was blocked by roaring mes. But Javillon didnt hesitate. He urged his steed even harder. Understanding its masters intent, the muscles of the ck horse exerted explosive power, elerating further. At the same time, Javillon pulled back his sword. He aimed. The moment his eyes gleamed with madness. Thrust! Even though he pointed at thin air. He cleaved through the mes with his de. Pssh- Whoosh! It was an explosive thrust filled with the aura of a Sword Master. The mes in the path of the sword were extinguished as if struck by a vacuum storm. A temporary tunnel opened up through the mes. Javillon dove in, and the Royal Guards followed. Ha! Forward! Ha! He spurred his steed onward. Carving a path through the fire. Javillon wore a cruelly joyful smile. Seeing the Saint military officer getting closer by the moment filled him with ecstasy. Soon, hed capture him, disable his legs, and ensure he could never escape again. The mere thought brought him satisfaction. So, just a bit more. A little more patience. A bit more running. And this agonizing headache would end. Ha! Haah-! Javillons frenzied shout pierced through the mes. He and his 300 Royal Guards continued their relentless charge towards Raciel and his group in the center of the ins. On the far eastern side of the ins, Balua Fortress stood. Inside, the kingdoms army watched the chaos on the ins with growing agitation. Whats going on? The King of Anbouaz, Merovingian, felt a sense of horror. Simultaneously, he also experienced a worsening headache. He was bewildered. Despite witnessing the situation, he couldnt believe it. It wasnt just simple astonishment. It felt as if he were being struck on the back of the head while fully conscious. He never imagined such an incident would ur. He wanted to rub his eyes vigorously, as if to rify what he was seeing. The sudden actions of the rebelspounded his confusion. Furthermore, the sudden outbreak of a fire across the entire in made it even more perplexing. But, causing all this chaos, sending out the cavalry, all just to pursue three people? King Merovingians gaze turned to the center of the ins. Three individuals were escaping from the mes. They were too distant to identify. However, judging by the fact that they werent on horses It doesnt appear to be a high-ranking noble or a wealthy merchant. A deep voice emanated from beside him. It belonged to the elder who had served the throne his entire life and was a Swordmaster, Lord Idris. He continued speaking. Due to the thick smoke, even my eyes cant make out the details, but they seem to be three young men. Three men? Yes, Your Majesty. Judging by their simple clothing Likely ordinary citizens. It seems so, Your Majesty. Hmm King Merovingian held his thoughts. Rebels who had suddenly ignited the ins. Three ordinary citizens rapidly escaping from the ze. And the rebel cavalry, aggressively pursuing those civilians as if to kill them. How should he interpret this situation? Its perplexing. Could it be that these three citizens are unexpectedly important individuals? However, after careful consideration, he couldnt think of any usible identities for them. In this scenario, no one fitting the description of being ordinary yet pursued by rebel cavalry came to mind. The king inquired of Lord Idris, Did you happen to hear what Javillon shouted just beforeunching the ming arrows? I regret to inform you, I did not. Even with your keen hearing as a Swordmaster? Indeed, Your Majesty. Javillon himself is a formidable Swordmaster. He likely modted his voice, infused with mana, to prevent its content from reaching us. I see. The kings eyes narrowed. His concerns deepened. The rebels actions were perplexing. How should King Merovingian interpret this situation? He contemted it, eventually reaching a conclusion. Javillon, that traitor, is likely attempting to demoralize our army. Thats my assessment as well, Your Majesty. You see it the same way? Yes, Your Majesty. Lord Idris nodded, his anger subtly evident in his gesture. Its clear what Javillon, that damned traitor, intends. By setting fire to the ins and drawing the attention of our kingdoms army, hes showcasing the merciless ughter of innocent civilians as if hes hunting them down. So, hes trying to demoralize our army by making us witness our citizens being hunted. Indeed, Your Majesty. He aims to induce a sense of powerlessness in us and lower our morale. In short, this is tant and despicable psychological warfare, Your Majesty. So, we shouldnt fall for this psychological warfare? Of course not, Your Majesty. Lord Idris responded firmly. King Merovingian nodded. Good. I share your perspective. Lets rescue those vulnerable and pitiable citizens being pursued by the rebels. Should I go personally? No. The king shook his head. You should always stay by my side. Instead, send that young one with my personal guards. Really? Is that eptable? Of course. The king responded with determination. His personal guards should be more than sufficient. They can surely ovee a mere rebel cavalry unit. The king was confident and sure. However, this miscalction arose from his ignorance that Javillon, a Swordmaster, was leading the rebel cavalry himself. In reality, the kings oversight was due to the thick smoke enveloping the entire in. On a regr day, Lord Idris at his side would have identified Javillon, who was at the forefront of the Royal Guard Cavalry, with the exceptional vision unique to a Swordmaster. But that wasnt possible now. Poor visibility due to the fire prevented it. Unaware of this fact, a confident smile graced King Merovingians face. Sending the royal guards to rescue our pitiable citizens being chased by the rebels and having that young one lead them would be symbolic, wouldnt it? It would significantly boost the morale of our kingdoms army. If that is Your Majestys wish I shall follow themand. Lord Idris bowed his head. The order was issued. A short whileter, the gates of Balua Fortress, housing the kingdoms army, swung open. A total of 500 of the kings personal guards, gleaming in their silver armor, set forth. They advanced resolutely to the west, with the goal of rescuing the three pitiable citizens (?) being pursued. Leading these royal guards was Princess Adeline. Ha! Hyah! Ha! She rode her charging steed. She shouted battle cries from its back. Adeline was already on edge from witnessing the citizens being pursued by the rebels. She yearned to rush and rescue the pitiable citizens immediately. Then, an order from her father arrived. She was overjoyed. She felt deeply moved. Simultaneously, she made a vow. To unquestionably rescue the citizens. To boost the morale of the kingdoms army in front of everyone, to crush the enemy, and plunge them into profound despair. She pledged to seed. She vowed, motivated herself, and prepared. Ha! Haa! She urged her horse on even harder. She galloped through the thick smoke. Thankfully, she was closer to the citizens than the rebels. She felt relieved. It seemed she would reach the citizens first. Just a bit more! Faster! She elerated. The citizens were drawing nearer. From behind, she could faintly see the ranks of the rebels chasing them. Her heart pounded loudly. Alright. I can do this. Strength surged through her hands gripping the reins. She encouraged herself. Suddenly, she recalled someone to whom she owed a great deal. Crown Prince, are you watching? Thanks to you, my kidney stones were cured, and now, Im standing up to the rebels to rescue these pitiable citizens. So, wherever you are, please support me. Ill always make efforts, never forgetting my gratitude to you. So! Her heart throbbed loudly. The sound of hooves striking the ground. The rapidly approaching sight of the citizens. And yet, a strangely familiar nape, and that chubby red-haired man with a somewhat flustered expression looking back Huh? Princess Adeline paused in surprise. Her eyes widened in shock. Crown Prince? Didnt he say he was returning to his homnd? He definitely wrote that in his letter to her, right? Thats why she even sent the jar of queen bee alcohol he had left behind to the imperial city. And she used the most expensive express carriage delivery. She sent it quite generously. So why are you here? Feeling a peculiar mix of mncholy and a sense of betrayal, Princess Adeline found herself involuntarily grinding her teeth. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Why are you here? The princesss whisper flowed, or rather, it was no longer a whisper; it was almost a shout. The shout carried a significant distance, eventually piercing Raciels ears sharply. Raciel flinched. Huh? His head, nearly resting on Demians back as they ran, turned abruptly. The voice had originated from that direction. He made eye contact with the princess. . Three seconds of silence ensued. Then, Raciel eximed. Princess! We finally meet again! His voice quivered with emotion. Tears welled up in his eyes, scattering as he hurried toward her, as if he might leap into her arms. Upon this, Adeline was taken aback. What, what! d to see you! d to see you! While Princess Adeline was flustered, Raciel suddenly mounted her horse from behind. She had no opportunity to object or react. What are you doing here, Prince? Why are you in this ce, behaving in such a manner? Theres a reason for everything. A reason? Didnt you say youd return to the imperial capital? Its been more than ten days since you left without any greeting after just sending a letter. There were unavoidable circumstances. What circumstances? We thought you had returned to the homnd. Why are you here, being pursued by the rebels? Dont people have all sorts of reasons in life? So you wont answer? Its tooplicated and lengthy to exin. But I want to hear it. Seated behind her on the horse, Raciel faced the princesss piercing gaze. She was upset. She was shocked. Was it merely because Raciel didnt return to the imperial capital as he had stated in his letter? Did he deceive her? That wasnt the whole story. Why are you wearing the rebels coat? The issue was the cold-weather coat Raciel had on. It was the official uniform of the rebels. It even bore the emblem of the rebelmand unit on the shoulder. That coat, it seems fairly new. Though its dirty with moss and mud, its obvious. Where were you, and what were you doing during the ten days after you left the healing camp? The princesss gaze, now firmly locked onto Raciel, was filled with suspicion. The official coat with the emblem of the rebelmand unit. And the coat appeared to have been issued just a few days ago. A troubling puzzle began to take shape in her mind. Partially convinced, she inquired, Did you join the rebels during this time? Did you lie to me? Yes! Raciel replied bluntly. It was a bold and self-assured response. As a result, Princess Adeline was momentarily left speechless. However, Raciel continued with his strangelyposed retort. Thats right. I was associated with the rebelmand. It was more fruitful than I had anticipated. But joining the rebels was a sacrifice for a greater purpose. A sacrifice? Yes. I infiltrated at great risk! With the intention of striking at the heart of the enemy! To provide even a small measure of assistance to the kingdoms army, to bring an end to this unfortunate civil war sooner, I willingly undertook this mission, oveing my fears. It sounds like an excuse. And a rather pitiful one at that. Did I get caught? Yes. But now is not the time for this. You can scold meter. Lets urge the horse to run faster. Why? Because of the pursuing rebels? Yes. But they appear to be fewer in number than us. It might be better to confront and eliminate them now that weve encountered them. A sardonic smile appeared on Princess Adelines lips. She was confident. The 500 cavalrymen shemanded were the kingdoms elite forces. She believed that they would not be defeated by any rebel unit of a simr size. Furthermore, at the moment, her side appeared to have nearly twice as many troops. So, if they confront them directly, they should be able to defeat the enemy without significant losses. This would set a good example. The rebel cavalry, who had tried to ughter the vigers as if they were hunting prey. The kingdoms princess and her guard had intervened to stop them and rescue the vigers. If they managed to eliminate the rebel cavalry during this process, and if both the kingdoms army at the fortress and the rebels across the ins witnessed this, the morale of the kingdoms army would skyrocket. Conversely, the rebels morale would plummet. This is an opportunity. We should fight here and exterminate them. Thats the advantage. The princess had made up her mind. However, at that moment, Raciel eximed sharply. Well all die if we engage them! Why? Because Javillon is leading them! What? The color drained from the princesss face. She looked at Raciel with surprised eyes. Javillon? Personally? Yes! Thats impossible. Hes the leader of the rebels. Why? To capture me! You? Why? Because Ive be the most important person to him! What on earth did you do in thest ten or so days? The princess found herself imagining all sorts of scenarios. But now wasnt the time for idle fantasies. If Javillon really was leading the rebel cavalry? They absolutely shouldnt confront them. Hes a Swordmaster. Their side would be annihted. She didnt ponder for long. She looked back at her guard following her and quickly gave an order. All units! Retreat! The order and execution happened almost simultaneously. As the princess turned her steed to the right, the entire formation of the 500 guards followed her lead. With nimble movements, they drew their crossbows from their saddles. The loaded bolts were aimed to the left. Fire! Thud-thud-thud-thud! In the fiery scene, 500 bolts fiercely flew. But the princess and her guard did not check the results of their shooting. They immediately guided their steeds toward the fortress. Only then did the princess feel slightly relieved. Were good. Even if Javillon had been charging closely, he would have hesitated after our volley, giving us time to speed up and create distance. So, they couldnt be pursued any longer. They should be able to retreat safely. She was certain of it. Boom-! ! A peculiar explosion sounded from the rear. The sound of a magic bullet exploding? Or perhaps thats the sound when space gets torn apart. The princess, with a bad feeling, looked back. And she had to marvel. Unfortunately, bad premonitions always seemed toe true. Javillon! Javillon charged through the mes. No, his sword was engulfed in a raging ze as he rushed through it. The kings horse carrying the guard? That wouldnt be enough. The kings renowned horse carrying the princess herself? That was also inadequate. Thus, Javillon, without even riding a horse, pursued their formation. From behind? No, from the side. He ran parallel to their formation with a mboyant demeanor. He even smirked as he looked at them, a truly sinister grin. . Raciel sensed it. That guy just smiled at him. He was sure of it. Their eyes met. But, while his mouth smiled, his eyes did not. Every hair from his tailbone to the back of his head stood on end. Is this what it feels like to be pursued by the worlds worst stalker? But there was no time to savor that feeling. Swoosh! From a distance of 10 meters, Javillon suddenly elerated. His figure momentarily blurred. No, he suddenly became muchrger. He was closing in! Were you pleased with deceiving me? .! In an instant, Javillon closed the distance. Now, only 2 meters separated them. His towering presence loomed menacingly. It felt like facing an enraged beast head-on. Yet, there was no opportunity to react. He was already swinging his sword. You wont even think of escaping again. Zing! Was it the adrenaline that made time feel slow in moments of extreme danger? Or was it the fleeting moments of ones life shing by? Time seemed to slow down. He saw Javillons bright smile, his side-swinging sword movement bing more pronounced. Of course, just seeing it didnt mean he could counteract it. All he could do was watch. This allowed him to see what his sword was targeting. My leg. His sword was precisely shing horizontally at the height of his knee. He intended to cut through both the horses body and his leg. He wanted to cripple him, so hed be forever attached to his side. The thought was terrifying. Should he reveal his identity now? Should he shout that he is the crown prince of Magentano? But would that help? Despair struck as he realized it might be over. But then Your Highness! A sharp cry shattered the slowed perception of time. It was Demians voice. At the same time, a fierce force, like a tempest, surged from behind, colliding with Javillons sword. Boom! A shockwave hit all at once. It enveloped his entire body. The heavy impact felt like being struck by a massive water-filled ball. The world seemed to shake, and the slowed flow of time was restored. Cough! He was flung into the air, propelled by the shockwave. So, what would happen to him now? There was no time to think. He instinctively curled up. At that moment, someone yanked him. Bang! Thud! .! His body made rough contact with the ground. The positions of the sky and the ground must have switched at least ten times. He rolled helplessly, raising a cloud of dust. It felt like every joint in his body was being dislocated. He couldnt gather his thoughts. But he had to. Open your eyes! p! .! With a sharp cry, his cheek felt like it was aze. His eyes snapped open. Princess Adeline, blood dripping from her forehead, was yelling at him. Get up, you fool! Had she protected him during the fall? It appeared so. Adeline was covered in dust. Blood streamed from her forehead, and her left arm hung limp. It seemed to be broken. However, this was not the time for sentimental exchanges. Quick! Lets escape now! She urged again. When she mentioned now, she subtly nced to the side. He followed her gaze. Soon he could see it. Boom! Crash! Two beasts were locked in a fierce battle. Demian and Javillon were dueling. No, in fact, it wasnt so much a duel as it was one-sided violence. Javillon consistently overpowered Demian. Demian was barely holding off death, focusing on defense and evasion. Of course, it was expected. Because Demian wasnt a Swordmaster. He was on the brink of advancing from an Expert to a higher level. So, in principle, Demian wouldnt be able to withstand even a single blow from a Swordmaster like Javillon. That would be the norm. Yet, astonishingly, Demian was holding on. Oveing a seemingly insurmountable gap, he was managing to fend off Javillon, despite being on the defensive. It was miraculous. Perhaps even Javillon was equally stunned, as his eyes were wide in surprise. Then, Princess Adelines urgent voice rang out again. What are you doing?! Lets move now! Move? Yes! While your guard is buying us time, we must flee! Adeline, suggesting that they abandon Demian and escape. It was, in fact, a logical suggestion. He is the crown prince of the empire. Demian is just a guard. Guards are meant to fight, even die in ce of others. It seemed Adeline viewed it this way. But not for him. I cant. I cant just leave him. He said, standing up, looking back at Adeline. A sense of iprehension filled her eyes. We need to leave now! She reached out, probably intending to drag him if necessary. But he couldnt follow her suggestion. He couldnt abandon Demian. Thats an absolute no. Because hes merely the protagonist of a novel? Because hes one of the most potent beings in this universe? Because itd be a waste to lose such a valuable character here? Because it would be a loss? No. Raciel shook his head, recalling a scene from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. He spoke to the princess. If we abandon him here, everyone will be in danger. What? A confused expression crossed Adelines face. However, what he just said was true. If Demian gets abandoned here and faces a life-threatening crisis, if he trulyes to understand his essence during that desperate moment Then, both I and you, and even the entire world, will face a danger far greater than Javillon. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 131 Chapter 131 There are events in the world that are better left undone. Sometimes, not all progress proves to be advantageous. Destruction in the name of creation, annihtion to facilitate birthits all equivalent. Often, peoplebel it as an inevitable sacrifice. Its also seen as a crucial foundation for the forting creation and rebirth. But would those who are truly subjected to destruction and annihtion share the same perspective? No. Deep within, Raciel vehemently shook his head. He then recollected the narrative from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. It was a tale of obliteration and genesis. An epic anthem recounting the worlds destruction and subsequent rebirth. Demian stood at its epicenter. The empire crumbled. All semnce of order disintegrated. In the midst of the ruins, he flourished. As he grew, he once again disrupted the world, ushering in a new beginning. This had been his destiny from birth, and he had followed it faithfully. Only in the end did he defy that path, conquering it after enduring countless trials. Thats why. Demian. If I leave you here to face an endless crisis In that crisis, he will eventually discover his true nature. At the very least, he will take the first step. If such a thing truly urs in this world Everyone will be in danger? What do you mean? Princess Adelines voice interrupted his thoughts, bringing Raciel back to reality. Adeline stood before him, with numerous warhorses charging fiercely behind her. They were the Royal Guard. The elite guard of the rebels. Both elite cavalry units from opposing sides shed violently to obliterate each other. They collided, tangled, and chaos reigned as spears crossed, shields shattered, blood spilled, and shouts and screams echoed. Get on now! Adeline extended her hand to him. Pulled by her forceful grip, he mounted the horse. Seated in front of the saddle, she yelled. My arm isnt very strong! Hold on tight! Lets go! In response to hermand, the horse neighed loudly. Could it be that Adeline intended to leave the battlefield with him? It seemed likely. He snapped back to his senses. Wait! He grasped her shoulder. We cant continue like this. Seriously. If we leave Demian here it will spell doom for everyone. What are you talking about? Adeline looked back at him, her eyes filled with confusion. He understood. She wouldntprehend. It was difficult to discern what he meant. But he couldnt exin. He mustnt. Merely speaking the truth could reveal celestial secrets. If he did, the entity that had left Demian in this world might interfere. Thats why Ive been using various excuses to bring him out of the underground arena and keep him by my side. He couldnt confide in anyone. Not even Demian. So, he simply kept him close. To shield him from the hardships and challenges he would encounter, simr to the Devil Sword Emperor novel. To ensure he didnt face such formidable crises. He only wanted him to savor a mundane, peaceful daily existence. He believed that would suffice. Without challenges, there is no growth. He intentionally ensnared Demian in a tranquil daily life. Restrained him. Confined him. Like a flower in a greenhouse. Like a bird in a cage. He thought it could be achieved if Demian remained by the crown princes side, within the serene pce. asionally, he might encounter minor incidents, but with him at his side, he wouldnt confront the same desperate pain and challenges as in the original novel. Thats why he yearned to provide him with a calm and stable life. He sought to hinder his growth. Without destruction for creation or annihtion for birth, he merely wished for the world to move forward peacefully. Because then, he could live too. His life would also be stable. Thats why even in Cremo, when he saved me and was left alone with Uruus, I went back to rescue him, disregarding everyones objections when he was in trouble. However, today, he didnt anticipate him facing such a dire situation. He didnt expect him to confront an overwhelmingly powerful opponent one-on-one. Raciel clenched his teeth. He was resolute. It appeared that he might have to do something daring once again, just like he had in Cremo. Of course, he was afraid, even terrified. Butpared to what might happen if Demian realized his true nature, enduring a brief moment of fear and acting recklessly seemed like the better option. Princess, listen carefully to what Im about to say. Amidst the intense battle between the Royal Guard and the rebels elite guard surrounding them, Raciel locked eyes with Adeline. He spoke with emphasis, each word and syble carrying weight. If we want to save everyone here, you are essential. You must follow my instructions for everyones survival. What? Can you do it? Raciels intense gaze caused Adeline to unconsciously hold her breath. She had never seen such determination in his eyes before, which might have been the reason. She nodded slightly without thinking. It was only afterward that she realized the gravity of her agreement. Am I crazy? She could simply leave the battlefield with the crown prince. Considering that everyone was engaged inbat, now was the perfect opportunity. But why was sheplying with this absurd and peculiar request from the crown prince? She couldntprehend herself. She even wanted to change her mind at this moment. However, the crown prince didnt give her a chance. Alright, thank you. Now listen carefully. What you need to do is Raciel exined rapidly. As she listened to the exnation, gripping the reins, Adeline slowly but clearly understood Raciels intentions, filling her with astonishment. It was astonishing yet awe-inspiring. Zzzing-! A sword sparkled. The swordsman moved as gracefully as a snake. With a sharp and icy determination, it cleaved through the air, targeting vulnerabilities relentlessly. Swoosh! Another de swung. The swordsman responded explosively, akin to a beast. Dominating the space with an intense determination, it tore through everything, tantly disregarding all conventions. Boom-! The two forces collided. The snake-like swordy pushed back the beastly sword, sinking its fangs into weaknesses and tearing at wounds. In that moment, a serpent-like smile crept onto Javillons face. He thought, Its astonishing and awe-inspiring that such a person exists. His eyes, filled with curiosity, remained fixed on his opponent. Demian was there. Revealing his contorted countenance, he unleashed his beastly swordsmanship. He was on the brink of defeat but still held on. It was incredibly thrilling to witness. Judging by his skill level he appears to be at the intermediate level of a Sword Expert. It was indeed true. The man with long, ck hair in front of him was rather peculiar. At best, he seemed to possess a fair amount of minorbat experience, and his skills didnt appear to be highly advanced. His movements, his swordsmanship, and even his mana control all pointed to this fact. When he initially blocked Javillons sword, Javillon thought it was merely a stroke of luck. It had been a casual swing meant to slightly injure the Saint military officer. He hadnt exerted much force into it. Therefore, he assumed that this individual had managed to block his sword by pure chance. He had already aplished something nearly miraculous, but miracles could ur at any time. So, he dismissed it as such. However, as their swordy continued, he realized that luck wasnt the sole factor at y. Swoosh! Javillons sword thrust forward like lightning. Five afterimages weaved together, targeting Demians forehead, neck, shoulders, vital points, and lower abdomen all at once. A typical intermediate-level Sword Expert wouldnt have the ability to dodge or deflect such an attack. The difference in skill was evident. It was likeparing a tiger to a child. Yet, the oue was unexpected. ng! Demian didnt evade or block the sword. Instead, he surged forward, absorbing all the afterimages with his body. It appeared as if he had anticipated the afterimages from the very beginning. Furthermore, he managed to deflect the actual sword strike with his shoulder. Tch! A scratch marked Demians shoulder, drawing blood. However, Demian pressed on. Gritting his teeth, he advanced even more aggressively, his eyes gleaming. He swung his sword toward Javillons waist. Screech-! Ha! A triumphant smile graced Javillons face. He hadnt anticipated this response. It was a surprise that only heightened his interest. He narrowly avoids my attack each time, almost getting hit but deflecting it at thest moment? Is this even possible? He couldntprehend it. It felt like his grasp of reality was crumbling. The idea that a mere Sword Expert could repeatedly thwart a Sword Master like himself and evenunch counterattacks seemed like a joke. But it was also all the more stimting. He possesses an exceptional innate ability to respond to crises. asionally, individuals like this appear. True-born geniuses. Natures anomalies. Buds that promise future growth. And if left unchecked they would continue to grow indefinitely. Such individuals must be suppressed. Remarkable talents are dangerous. If they grow too much, they be threats. They should be crushed while still in their infancy, while theres a chance. Destruction loomedrge in Javillons eyes, alongside his interest. After all, his target today was the Saint military Officer. He needed to capture the man who had dared to deceive him and escape. He needed to bind him for life. So, you should meet your end here. His ytime with this intriguing adversary had to conclude. Suddenly, Javillons eyes turned cold. Strength surged into the grip of his sword-wielding hand. At that very moment. Buzz! His sword emitted a chilling radiance. The unique skill of a Sword Master. Only those who achieved an endless mana loop could unleash this ultimate destructive technique. The final sh. It was an aura. A supreme maneuver. There was no indication of what was toe. There wasnt even a hint of a preparatory motion. Javillons sword trembled ever so slightly. At the same time, the radiant aura before him traced a path of destruction, cutting through space and matter. Demians advancing sword was enveloped by this aura. ! The moment his sword waspletely severed, Demians eyes widened in horror. rms of danger red in his heart, urging him to tilt his body to the side. Whisk-! The auras tip grazed his right cheek and shoulder, sending five strands of his hair drifting into the void. Chills coursed down his spine, but the true crisis came next. The fun ends here. ! An emotionless voice echoed right in front of him. For a split second, Demian saw Javillon, his sword infused with aura raised, aiming the tip directly at his heart. And himself? He hadnt even regained his bnce yet. There was no way to evade or block the attack. A distant sense of despair overwhelmed his mind. Is this the end? Is it truly over? A rising sense of destion made time seem sluggish. No, it created the illusion of sluggishness. I never thought Id meet my end like this. A bitter smile escaped his lips. He hadnt anticipated this. He believed his life held more significance. There were so many things he wanted to do in the future. The idea of dying in such a ce felt utterly hollow. Screech-! The sword thrust forward. In a mere moment, it would pierce his heart. That realization shed in his mind. Thump! As if in rebellion. As if resisting. His heart pounded forcefully. Was it defiantlyshing out in the face of certain death? Thats what he thought, but something felt different. It wasnt just a feeling; it was more like a profound conviction. What is this? Time, perceived as the flickering of lifesntern, flowed slowly. Amidst this, Demian squinted, puzzled. It was truly peculiar. A sword strike that he couldnt possibly dodge was heading for his heart. The remaining distance was mere inches. Not even enough time for a single breath remained. Yet, he wasnt afraid. He wasnt anxious. He didnt believe he was going to die. This realization came after his heart began to beat tumultuously. It felt as though an unknown entity within him had awakened. Not a delusion. It was real. Thump! Boom! His heart beat even louder. The dormant self-awareness within him began to stir. Itughed. At him. At the world. At the approaching sword. As if mocking. I am Demians eyes involuntarily widened. Before he knew it, the whites of his eyes had turned entirely ck. In contrast, his irises had be stark white. An unintentional self-awareness attempted to erode his will. No, it tried to. If, at that very moment, an unexpected shout hadnt erupted, if a massive shadow hadnt descended upon Javillon, Demian might have had to surrender his entire will to the newly awakened entity. Javillon-! ! A shout that pierced eardrums. Upon hearing it, Demian flinched, and his eyes returned to normal. Simultaneously, Javillon jerked and quickly nced upward. Soon, Javillon identified the source. Huh? A deceased warhorse was hurtling toward him. No, it was iling its four legs as it was thrown at him. It was as if someone with immense strength had hurled a stone or as if a projectile had beenunched from a catapult, hurtling towards him as though it intended to tten everything in its path. What is this? Javillon was taken aback. It was vexing. Should he just ignore it? He pondered for a moment and swiftly reached a conclusion. I dont want to get ttened by something like that. Even if the flying horse crushed him, he wouldnt be severely injured. After all, he was a Sword Master. But he would undoubtedly be jolted in the process. This would likely worsen his already bothersome headache. That wasnt appealing. After dealing with that horse, immediately Squeeze! Javillon halted the thrust aimed at Demian. He retracted it. Utilizing the momentum, he swung upwards. The aura-infused sh grazed the midsection of the iing horse. Swish-! The airborne warhorses carcass was severed at its waist. Yet Javillon paid it no heed. Brushing aside the sttering blood with his swords wind, he redirected his sword downwards, once again targeting Demian. But at that precise moment. During the briefpse in Javillons attention, an unexpected figure emerged from behind the divided horses carcass. Hmph! The man who had waited for this precise moment and taken a daring gamble was Raciel. With the momentum of the flying horse, Raciel lunged at Javillon. He reached out. With all his might. Channeling every ounce of his energy. Targeting the momentarily exposed back of Javillons head. Vigorously. He pped. p! Raciels plump palm struck Javillons nape. Javillon flinched. Raciel eximed. My hand is a healing hand! Eheheeya! At that instant. Ding dong! [ skill has been activated.] [Patient: Javillons headache has been relieved.] A refreshing message appeared before Raciels eyes. Simultaneously, Javillons expression changed. Huh? An unexpectedpse, a feeble attemptcking even a hint of menace, an ambush that had gone unnoticed, and the resulting p on the back of his head. Yet it didnt hurt. On the contrary, the persistent headache that always seemed to irritate him swiftly vanished. It was refreshing. Energizing. Liberating. A familiar sensation. It was the touch of the Saint military Officer. Yes, this is the feeling. The moment Javillon unconsciously smiled, Whoo? Suddenly, the aura from his sword vanishedpletely. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Hmm? The corner of Javillons eyes twitched ever so slightly. Even more noticeably, his pupils, which had been slightly quivering, shifted their gaze. They looked towards the de he had been swinging downward. Its gone. The aura has disappeared. The radiant aura that should have enveloped the de was nowpletely gone without a trace. Why? Why? For the aura to suddenly vanish in the midst of his swing was such an abrupt and unexpected event. This was the first time such a thing had happened since he had reached the realm of the Swordmaster. He couldntprehend the reason. Of course, Raciel knew the reason. Bingo! After giving Javillons head a firm tap and activating his Healing Hand skill, Racielnded gracefully on the ground, then swiftly raised his head. Despite the roughnding causing difort in his knees, he wore a triumphant smile. Sess, its a sess. What he had just aplished The Healing Hand skill. He had alleviated Javillons headache with it. He had foreseen that Javillon would lose his aura. When did he realize this? From the moment he initially diagnosed Javillon and detected his migraine. Javillon probably didnt even realize it himself. He waspletely unaware. He didnt grasp the significance of the headache, and how the pain he had endured since birth influenced his swordsmanship. But Raciel understood. The significance of the headache to Javillon. Its a routine. Raciels eyes gleamed. Routine. Sometimes it appears insignificant, a daily habit. However, at times, it holds more weight than one might imagine. The headache was a significant factor in Javillons swordsmanship. Raciel had realized this when he first diagnosed him. Listening to Javillons story about his own headache, Raciel became certain. Javillon has had a headache since the moment he first wielded a sword. Each time he swung his sword, he felt it. Even when he initially unlocked his mana heart, with every advancement to a new realm, he always endured the headache. The headache he had borne since birth had be an inseparable part of his life. It apanied him in every moment of his sword training. The pain that he always had to endure with determination. That pain had be a routine. The process and mental state of enduring that pain had be a routine. Even when he reached the realm of the Swordmaster. That was why. The headache and the resilience to endure it. They had be integralponents of Javillons swordsmanship and mana techniques. However, Javillon himself remained oblivious to this. To him, the headache was just a part of everyday life. Just as people breathe unconsciously, enduring the headache he had suffered since birth was a constant for him. So, he probably didnt know. He must have only now realized the significance of the pain he had always wanted to rid himself of. Isnt that right? Raciel swiftly retreated. Javillons confusion deepened. What is this? He swung down his now aura-less sword. But his de didnt fulfill its intended purpose. If it still had its aura, it would have pierced through the defense and torn flesh, but not now. ng-! Demian deflected the oing de at an angle. The collision between Javillons downward swing and Demians sword generated a powerful shockwave. Demians eyebrows furrowed as the impact felt like his wrist was on the verge of breaking, but he managed to hold on. Hmph! He countered the force, causing Javillons de to slide sideways with a metallic scrape. It brushed past his shoulder and descended. Simultaneously, Demians sword arced upwards in a semi-circle. In a normal situation with a full-length de, such a quick close-quarters reaction would have been impossible due to its unwieldy length. However, Demians sword had been broken in half, making it possible. Swish! Damn! The tip of the half-de narrowly grazed Javillons chin, tracing a short semi-circr path. For the first time, a scratch marred the face of the Swordmaster, leaving a deeper scar on his pride. But Demian paid no attention to such matters. Now! He needed to press his advantage. When the opponent showed even a hint of disorientation, a slight disturbance, one had to relentlessly exploit that opening. It was their slim hope for survival. That way the prince can escape. Kakakakakakang-! A barrage of continuous strikes! Demians half-de gleamed without pause. Maintaining the extremely close range where the shortened de had the advantage, he pushed even closer, nearly sticking to Javillon as he advanced. Stabbing, shing, cutting. Poking, striking, swiping. Blocking, tearing, slicing. All these relentless attacks flowed seamlessly. Like a beast relentlessly assaulting its preys vulnerabilities or someone staking their life in desperation, he pressed forward with unwavering intensity. Yet, all of his attacks were parried. This was to be expected. After all, Javillon was a Swordmaster. Demian had foreseen this whileunching his attacks. So now, escape! He stole a nce at the prince. Escape in this gap. Remain safe. Thats his duty. He tried to convey this with his eyes. Or at least he attempted to. But instead of fleeing, the prince charged toward him. ! You reckless prince! Im buying time for you. Why cant you run? Why, after needlessly entering the fight earlier, are you acting like this now? Do you suddenly wish to die? Is that it? Demian cursed in his thoughts. But Raciel paid no attention. His gaze remained fixed on Javillon, who had stepped back slightly after a brief hesitation caused by Demians relentless assault. The fleeting gap that appeared in an instant. The crack he had calcted and awaited. The hope of escape hinged on that moment. Of course. Javillon is a Swordmaster. Just because he lost his aura for a moment, can Demian and I safely escape? No, absolutely not. It was entirely impossible. His confusion would be momentary. His sense of bewilderment was but a passing breeze. Once Javillon recovered from this brief stumble, he would quickly disy his formidable skills. Because he was a Swordmaster. Even though he lost his aura for a moment, his understanding of the sword, his ability to control mana, his swordsmanship techniques, all remained intact. In other words, Javillon is now like a tank that has lost its main cannon. Does a tank be powerless just because it cant fire its cannon? No. Its mobility and armor remain intact. It probably still has its machine guns. Even with just that, on an open field, a tank could wreak havoc against infantry. The same applied to Javillon now. Even if he lost his aura, he could still overpower Demian. The moment Javillon recovered, Demian would be defeated instantly. He didnt want that. Thats why. Now! In this brief moment of Javillons hesitation, instead of making an escape, he charged forward. Honestly, it was terrifying. It was a risky, spur-of-the-moment decision. He felt every hair on his neck stand on end. But for the sake of getting through this day safely, it had to be done. He steeled himself, pushing harder against the ground. He reached out with both hands. He was just three steps away. He aimed at Javillon. And he shouted. Release! Dingdong! [Activating the release function of slot #1.] [Please set the release amount.] All of it! He activated the circr slot. He vowed to release every bit of the material stored within. The reaction was immediate. [Releasing 15 liters of stored in the circr slot.] Kiiiiiiing-! The circle spun vigorously. The material, Toxic Smoke, that had been stored, converged at his fingertips. The dark toxic smoke he had gradually inhaled while escaping from the fire earlier. ordingly, he released all the umted carbon monoxide and toxic gas in an instant. No, heunched it. Directly toward Javillons face. Pooferooong-! ! Javillons eyes widened in shock. However, that expression was brief, as the ck toxic gas explosively released obscured his view. Internally, Raciel clenched his fist. It worked! It wasnt just smoke. It was a mixture of various toxic gases created due to the fire. Given that it was suddenly directed at his face, he would have inevitably inhaled at least a small amount reflexively. Thats all it takes. Its enough. He would momentarily feel dizziness or have difficulty breathing. That should buy enough time to escape. Princess! Now! Raciel moved, setting the final piece of their escape n into motion. Without looking back, he turned and grabbed Demian by the shoulder. He ran. He waved his hand. Had they seen his signal? An immediate response followed. Tududududu-! Princess Adeline and about ten of her royal guard cavalry were rushing toward them. Everything was unfolding ording to the prearranged n. Throw a dead horse at Javillon, use his healing hand skill on Javillon to erase his aura, release the toxic gas from the slot to buy time, and finally make a timely connection with the rescue party(?). Could it be you nned all of this in such a short time? Astonished by this newfound realization, Demian looked at the prince running alongside him. How deep did this mans cunning go? He was consumed by this distant question that had suddenly surfaced. With great effort, Racielughed and shouted. Heh, heh! I cant even breathe to reply heh! Huh! They were not far from Princess Adeline and her party. Just 5 seconds away? Thats all it would take to reach them. He could mount one of the horses. Raciel clung to hope. At least, he did until a chilling voice reverberated from behind. So, you intend to leave me breathless and flee? ! The whisper in his ear, the breath felt from behind, the voice that seemed to be both whispering and gnashing. It was Javillon. The moment he realized this, a piercing sensation made him reflexively look back. Screeeech-! Something flew at him. It was too fast to identify. Only after being struck hard on his temple could he recognize what it was. Thud! ! It was an elbow. An elbow, packed with the power of a Swordmaster, had struck his unprotected temple. The world spun. Or rather, his head did. The sky appeared yellow. His legs gave way. He crumpled to the ground, tumbling forward. Your Highness! Demians distant shout as consciousness began to fade. Not like this If he lost consciousness now, it was all over. There was no way out. He couldnt. His heart pounded. A sense of desperate crisis surged, but he had no strength to respond. It felt bleak. Desperation consumed him. Then, a memory resurfaced. -Prince? I will now cast a disguise spell on you. However, I have something to ask of you before that. Suddenly, a familiar voice echoed from his memories. Who was it? It sounded like Zis, the royal court magician of the pce. Ah, this was When leaving the Imperial Capital for Anbouaz It was the caution the court magician had given him then. Why would he remember that warning now? Regardless of the question, the voice of Zis in his memory continued speaking. -The disguise spell I will cast on you will remain intact in almost any situation. However, there is one situation you must be extremely cautious of. Namely, when you receive a physical shock strong enough to make you faint. Oh, right. He did say that. If you receive a blow strong enough to cause unconsciousness, the disguise magic will instantly be undone. While the spell might absorb the shock once and prevent you from cking out, it would also expose your identity, for better or worse. Right. He remembered. He did say that. A shock strong enough to make one faint? This seems exactly like his current situation. So, what happens now? Is the disguise going to break? In the midst of these thoughts, Zzzzzt! He felt a tingling sensation at the back of his head, like being electrocuted. A sharp sensation. His fading consciousness suddenly sharpened. The sensation spread throughout his body. From his neck, down his spine, through his limbs, and back up to the crown of his head. And then. Zap! There was a sh. Was the disguise magic undone due to the shock? The brink of unconsciousness was pushed back. His mind was fully alert. He didnt faint. Instead, he opened his eyes. Huh. The first thing he saw when he lifted his head was Javillon, looking at him with a shocked expression. Why would that be? He soon found out. Saint military officer you youre Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano? Javillon muttered, staring at him. His shocked eyes seemed to quiver as if they had undergoneser surgery. Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Ah, Ive been apprehended, Raciel chuckled. Racielsughter was met with a bewildered gaze from Javillon. His expression instantly conveyed an understanding of the current situation. The Saint officer You You were the crown prince of Magentano Raciel AdriaMagentano? Javillons cheeks quivered, clearly taken aback. Even the corners of his eyes trembled. Facing Javillon, it felt awkward to witness such a dramatic reaction. It was reminiscent of a clich morning drama scene, as if he had been abruptly thrust into one. The disguise magic has worn off, Raciel thought, his gaze shifting swiftly to his hand. While he had been posing as Officer Rihan, he had grown ustomed to the plump back of his hand, but now it had vanished. In its ce, a fragile and pale, bony hand was visible. The truth was undeniable. The impact he had just received from Javillon, a blow that would typically have rendered him unconscious, had been absorbed by the disguise magic. Simr to bubble wrap shielding a valuable package, it had soaked up the impact, burst, and vanished. Consequently, his disguise had faded, revealing his true self. Whats my next move? Should I make a run for it, or can I leverage my true identity in this situation? He deliberated swiftly. Being the crown prince of Magentano would that carry any weight with Javillon at this moment? He couldnt be certain. Javillon, this guy is unpredictable. Ideally, things would resolve amicably, and he could retreat without any trouble. However, he held little hope for such an oue. In the worst-case scenario, he might be taken hostage. That would jeopardize the precarious bnce in Anbouazs civil war. The rebels could gain the upper hand. The Magentano royal family might refrain from intervening, which would be the direst oue. Moreover, it would incur the emperors displeasure. It would be a colossal inconvenience, viewed as a catastrophe by the emperor. He definitely wanted to avoid that. The decision was clear. Lets make an escape. He resolved to act before Javillon had a chance to recover. With that intention, he sprang to his feet. But then Ding dong! [Absorbed the Swordmasters full force blow without losing consciousness.] Huh? An unexpected message appeared. In the midst of this urgency, what was this nonsense? It felt as bothersome as a spam call about a loan during a busy moment. However, upon reading the subsequent message, he had to reconsider. [Ordinarily, an average persons body cannot withstand a Swordmasters blow. Nevertheless, thanks to the disguise magic, you sessfully endured this blow without harm. Its undoubtedly a stroke of luck, but it counts as a valuable experience.] [The Asrahan Core Technique engraved in your heart has actively analyzed and learned from this unique experience.] [From the analysis and learning, the Asrahan Core Technique offers a new method for absorbing substantial external impacts and mitigating physical damage.] [A new Asrahan Core Technique option HP Conversion is now essible.] What? HP Conversion? A spark of immediate interest ignited within him. He promptly examined the options details. [Exclusive Skill Option : HP Conversion When activated, you can convert the HP rued from donations from your organs into your actual life force. You can determine the amount of HP for conversion at will, and the efficiency of HP conversion into life force will improve with the growth of the Asrahan Core Technique. (Current conversion rate = HP 10: Life Force 1), (Your current life force: 210/300)] This is incredible. Absolutely incredible. Uponprehending the option, Raciel realized its significance. He swiftly grasped the implications of this newfound option and how it could be employed in the future. It could also impact the current situation significantly. Everything. All of it. Became crystal clear. How to navigate through this situation moving forward, what advantageous choices were at his disposal, and the possibilities he now possessed. The options avable for choice, and the most efficient and proactive way tobine themall of it became unmistakably clear. It was no longer a vague, murky image but a n more precise than any blueprint, a picture so sharp it felt like it exceeded UHD and reached 8K quality. So There was no longer a need to flee from Javillon. Perhaps today, right here, he might even be able to triumph over Javillon. A peculiar confidence welled up within him, giving rise to self-assurance. Perhaps thats why. Even when Javillons biting voice resounded harshly, he didnt flinch. Unlike before, his shoulders remained rxed. Instead, he managed to maintain aposed demeanor. Why did you deceive me? Javillon demanded. He looked up. Javillons distorted face was in view, ring with eyes that resembled those of a demon. His entire body trembled, indicating more than simple anger. He was consumed by rage with every fiber of his being. Saint officer, no, Crown Prince of Magentano. Why? Why did you approach me in that manner? Tell me. Why did you deceive me? Was it merely to mock me? To ridicule my intention of considering you a close friend and wanting to keep you by my side? Was that the extent of it? Upon closer examination, Javillons eyes seemed to glisten with moisture. Is he choked up? Initially dismissed as a misunderstanding, it now appeared genuine. It seemed that he genuinely cared for him. Thus, he must have felt betrayed. His anger might have grown in proportion to the warmth he had felt, now zing into raging mes. But Raciel had no intention of ying along. With a casual chuckle, he responded, adding fuel to the fire. Goodwill, my foot. Whats a rebel from a mere kingdom to me, the crown prince? Keeping me by your side as a friend? Are you out of your mind? What? Snap out of it. Do you still see me as Officer Rihan? You said you wouldnt let me go, even if you had to sever my legs to keep me by your side forever? Geez. Its absurd. Youre obsessed. Its a mental disorder. Thats Was Javillon taken aback by Raciels audacity? Or was he simply dumbfounded? Javillons mouth hung open. Nevertheless, it was apparent that his anger was steadily intensifying. In other words, the tactic was seeding. The situation was unfolding precisely as Raciel had envisioned. So, he pushed a little further. Enough with the excuses. Are you going to keep clinging? What? Will you make a bigger fool of yourself here? What do you mean Back off while Im asking nicely. Dont act close when youre not even on my level. Dont pretend to know me. Try not to even boast about having had a conversation with me. Listen without getting upset. Im saying this because I genuinely care. Javillons fierce expression gradually turned cold. His gaze settled into an eerie calm. This was to be expected. Advice that follows a request not to get upset has a peculiar way of infuriating people. Meaning, Javillon was reacting exactly as nned, provocation and all. Hes uncontroble to begin with. Theyve already crossed a line. Neither of them has a way out. In such situations, its better to elicit a predictable reaction. You really Javillons cold response came as expected, sending shivers down the spine. I hoped it wouldnte to this. Swish! He drew his sword. A menacing aura emanated from him. The intent to kill was unmistakable in his eyes. Staring straight into those eyes, Raciel asked, So, can you handle the consequences? Of course. Step by step, Javillon approached with an emotionless,posed demeanor. Would anyone from the kingdoms fortress recognize your face at this distance? I dont think so. Princess Adeline? The kingdoms guards? If theyre wiped out, there will be no witnesses. So, your fate wont change, even if youre the crown prince of Magentano. Are you nning to sever my legs? Indeed. The empire will search desperately for you, but I have confidence. What confidence? Confidence in keeping you hidden by my side until the end. And if things go awry, confidence in toppling not only this kingdom but the empire as well. At least Javillons words werent mere bluster. Raciel knew that because he had actually carried out those words in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. But that wasnt the most crucial matter at this moment. Youre mad. Truly mad. Are you seriously considering such an act? He took a feigned step back, responding to Javillon with a slightly dismayed expression, hoping to deceive him. And Javillon fell for it. Why? You think I cant do it? As he disyed a hint of weakness, Javillons aggression intensified. He began to wear a visibly sinister expression, eyes like a predator that had detected its preys vulnerability. His bodynguage marked Raciel as the clear target. The tip of his sword dipped slightly toward the ground, his muscles rxing entirely. It was a clear sign of an imminent attack. Raciel had a premonition, and it became a reality. Javillons sword moved like lightning. Swish-! ! A sudden, low sh with no preparatory motiona clean preemptive strike befitting a Swordmaster. However, Raciel wasnt caught off guard. He had anticipated and purposely led to this situation. He even smirked. Swiftly, he moved his hand, discreetly extracting an item and presenting it forward while verbally provoking Javillon. And he activated the Asrahan Core Technique, infusing it with mana. Zzzz Zing-! The shield, Perennial Snow, responded to the mana and expanded. A translucent barrier of cold air blocked the path ahead. Simultaneously, Raciel mentallymanded. Imprable! Ding-dong! [Asrahan Core Technique skill option : Imprable activated.] [Imprable is activated. For the next 5 minutes, the sturdy endurance of the mana circle will protect your nervous system. You will be able to withstand any shock without losing consciousness until the option ends.] [Time left for Imprable effect: 4 minutes 59 seconds] Boom! He felt his entire nervous system be as unyielding as a rock. Was it beforeing to Anbouaz? Suddenly, he recollected the days when he had treated Princess Adelines gallstone. The days when he had to endure 500 shockwaves to eliminate her gallstone. He acquired the Imprable option at the end of that ordeal. So now, for the next 5 minutes, he wouldnt have to worry about fainting. I can do it! Earlier, he had managed to withstand Javillons attack without losing consciousness, thanks to the disguise magic. But now? He would rely on the Imprable option. Raciel clenched his teeth. He prepared himself for the impending shock. Just as he had done in his previous life. He leaned on the Perennial Snow cold shield, making it solid. At that moment, Javillons sh collided with the Perennial Snow. Thud-! ! For a moment, everything went white. Stars filled his vision. The shock was more intense than he had anticipated, pushing him back. But he didnt ck out. The Imprable option protected his nervous system during the powerful impact, preventing him from losing consciousness. However, he was not unharmed. Kuh. He struggled to catch his breath. At the same time, a red message appeared before his eyes. Ding-dong! [Your current Life Points: 130 / 300] Just one blow. A significant portion of his life points had been depleted by that single attack. Nheless, Raciels smirk widened. He immediately activated another option. HP Conversion! Ding-dong! [Asrahan Core Technique skill option : HP Conversion activated.] [Current conversion rate = HP 10: Life Points 1] [Please set the amount of HP to be used for the conversion.] [Your current HP: 7,400] 1,700! He eximed. The response was immediate. [1,700 HP will be converted.] [170 Life Points will be replenished.] [Your current Life Points: 300 / 300] Whoosh! A refreshing sensation, as if applying a healing balm all over his body. An invigorating feeling, as if carbonated water was poured into every pore. The dizziness vanished instantly. His trembling legs regained stability. His blurred vision cleared up in no time. As expected. It unfolded as he had calcted. The envisioned scenario was urate. Today, perhaps genuinely, he might be able to capture him. He was confident. He raised his head, and Javillon, who had just struck him, came into view. Raciel greeted Javillon with a cheeky smile. Couldnt knock me out again? I was worried because youre a Swordmaster, but after taking the hit, its no big deal, is it? ! Javillons sword tip wavered slightly. But this was just the beginning. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Even when struck, he remained standing. Regardless of how severely he was hit, he did not sumb to death. His vitality seemed almost supernaturally enduring. People around the world referred to it as a game-changing advantage. However, at this moment, His physique. Could it be considered the ultimate advantage? Hey, tsk. After taking a hit, its nothing. So, you were a Swordmaster, huh. ! Raciels cunning tone was apanied by a sly glint in hisposed eyes, forming a mischievous smile. Javillons gaze wavered. Whats going on here? It was perplexing. The Holy military officer. No, the Prince of Magentano. Initially, his n had been to swiftly disable his opponent. The circumstances and location were ideal. They were a considerable distance away from Balua Fortress. Visibility was poor due to the extensive fires and thick smoke enveloping the ins. It was likely that the kingdoms forces stationed in the fortress couldnt urately assess the situation here. Therefore, only the princes entourage, Princess Adeline, and the kingdoms guards had a clear view of the unfolding events. They simply needed to be eliminated. Then, whether it was the prince or the Holy military officer, no one would ever know they had fallen into his trap. No, even if they did, it wouldnt matter. If necessary, he would sweep away the entire Magentano Empire, fueled by the might of his homnd and the greatness of the Anbouaz people. His confidence was unwavering, even when faced with the prospect of overthrowing a sprawling empire. And so, he swung his sword without hesitation. His intention was clear: to sever both of his opponents legs in a single stroke. Naturally, the prince sought to defend himself in his own way. A magical tool that emanated cold? A shield? It didnt matter to him. He dared the prince to try to block it, to struggle fruitlessly, all while he sneered. However, he was taken aback. The princes icy shield sessfully intercepted his sword strike. Up until that point, he had been sneering. He had chalked up the sessful defense to mere luck. I didnt expect a second stroke of luck Gulp. Javillons throat quivered as he scrutinized Raciel from head to toe. Nothing. There was nothing to see. The usual and natural reactions he had witnessed countless times as people met their demise at his hands were absent. No signs of fatigue-induced breathlessness, no muscle spasms from the shock of the defense, not even the faintest tremor in the princes breathing. In other words, he was perfectly unharmed! It defied logic. How? It had been a resolute attack. Despite his inability to manifest his aura for some inexplicable reason, the power behind his sword was not to be underestimated. He was a Swordmaster. Mastery of swordy. Understanding of the sword. Mastery of mana maniption. All had reached the pinnacle of perfection. His strike was imbued with such essence. It was not a blow that a mere, slender prince should have been able to withstand, let alone appear so nonchnt after blocking it. How is this possible? Javillons eyes narrowed. There had to be some trick he was unaware of, some secret allowing the prince to remain soposed. Hey, Mr. Javillon. Is that all youve got? Youre weak. Itcks intensity. Arent you a Swordmaster? I thought Swordmasters could split the ground, cleave waves, shatter cliffs, like superhumans. But witnessing it firsthand, it seems thats not the case? Just empty words? Soe on, dont disappoint this time and give it your best shot. Okay? Come on. Fight. Bang, bang! Raciel confidently smacked the Perennial Snow with his palm, even shing a mischievous smile. His tone resembled that of someone encouraging a novice struggling with basic sword techniques. Of course, Javillon fully grasped the intent behind Raciels words. It was a low-level provocation. An overt ploy. Yet, he willingly took the bait. There was no profound reason behind it. He was simply furious. Ill wipe that smug expression off his face! Swish-! His thoughts and charge urred simultaneously. His heart guided his sword, and instinct dictated the direction of his attack. In the blink of an eye, before he could draw a breath, Javillon charged towards Raciel. Zing! A precise thrust! Here ites. Raciels eyes gleamed. His senses were heightened to the extreme. Certainly, he couldnt entirelyprehend or predict the actions of a Swordmaster like Javillon. It was beyond his capability. But he possessed a unique technique. Kreee-! The mana circle roared to life, spinning vigorously, drawing in the ambient mana, and amplifying it. This heightened mana surged through his entire being. It empowered his muscles and connective tissues. His nervous system didnt remain untouched. His vision, tactile sense, and hearing were all pushed to their limits. Thanks to these elevated senses, he could roughly anticipate when Javillon would strike and even infer the direction. Here! ng! With his left foot as an axis, he swiveled his body 70 degrees counterclockwise, executing a pivot turn with his right foot. He then lowered his stance and raised Perennial Snow diagonally, infusing it with mana. Zzzz! The icy shield of Perennial Snow expanded dramatically, nearly enveloping his entire form. It was as though not even a heavy rain could dampen him. Naturally, Javillons thrust was no exception. ng! The sharp thrust met the unyielding icy shield of Perennial Snow. It teetered momentarily but held steadfast. An immense shock rippled through his arm, bearing down on his shoulder. The instant he felt it, he threw himself backward, rolling to disperse the force. Damn! Raciels face twisted in difort. It felt as though a crucial point had been squeezed. He might have dismissed it as unimportant, but blocking such a thrust was no ordinary feat. However, the assault didnt conclude with just one thrust. Here ites again. Thump! Javillon charged towards him with an intense expression, raising his sword. Was he nning to strike downward? It appeared that way. Yet, Raciel didnt raise Perennial Snow. He wasnt naive enough to react hastily to an obvious attack. Meridian Scanning! He shouted. He concentrated on Javillon. Ding-dong! [Vital Point Skill Option : Activating Meridian Scanning.] [Meridian Scanning option has detected the target.] [The target has been sessfully locked on.] Kreee-! A swift notification chimed, and his perspective shifted. Clear outlines materialized around the advancing Javillon. Raciel could now discern the arrangement of vital points within Javillons body with precision. With this enhanced vision, he could discern the flow, sequence, intensity, and synergy of energy within Javillon. Thanks to this insight I see it! Raciels eyes sparkled. In that very moment, he extended Perennial Snow not above but to the front and right. Simultaneously, Javillons raised sword naturally veered to the lower left. The downward strike is a diversion. The real attack is a diagonal sh from the lower left to the upper right! Following the energy flow within Javillon, which Raciel could discern thanks to Meridian Scanning, every movement indicated the solution. He adjusted ordingly. Here! The moment he figured out the solution, it was confirmed. Kwaang-! A jolt akin to a one-ton truck collision! Gasp! This was it. He had sessfully blocked it. Raciel was thrown several meters back, gritting his teeth in frustration. For a moment, his gaze locked with Javillons, who stared at him incredulously, as if struggling toprehend. Indeed, it must have been difficult for him to fathom how Raciel consistently predicted and thwarted his attacks, especially how Raciel seamlessly recovered after each block. HP Conversion. Even while being propelled backward, even before touching the ground, he chanted. The response was swift. Ding-dong! [Asrahan Core Technique Skill Option : Activating HP Conversion.] [Current Conversion Rate = HP 10 : Life Force 1] [Set the amount of HP to be used for conversion.] [Your current life force: 190 / 300] [Your current HP: 5,700] 1,100! Whether it was refueling or HP conversion, a man should always be at his best! He dered confidently. Whooosh! [1,100 HP is being converted.] [110 life force is restored.] [Your current life force: 300 / 300] He felt rejuvenated. Energy surged from the deepest core of his being. All the damage he had sustained from the two attacks vanished instantly. Javillons incredulous look disappeared as well. Gracefullynding, Raciel shot a yful nce at Javillon, much like a freshly opened soda bubbling over. He was perfectly unscathed. Is that all youve got? Give it a little more effort(?). With genuine encouragement and a teasing demeanor, he winked. ! Kwaang-! Javillon, now wearing a more contorted expression, pressed his assault on the ground. With a speed that a regr person wouldnt even dare to attempt to react to, and with a dazzling pattern that made it nearly impossible to predict, heunched an intense attack. Kwaang-! Thud! Kwajik! Tsk! Close! Ouch! Eek! Tight! Every time, Raciel narrowly parried the strikes. Thanks to Meridian Scanning, he remained unperturbed by Javillons intricate techniques. He heightened his reaction speed with the Asrahan Core Technique. With the Stun Immunity option, which still had about 4 minutes remaining, he resisted any potential stuns. After each attack, he replenished his life force to the maximum using the HP Conversion option. And yet, he continued to advance. Ugh! Grunt! Bang! Crash! An unrelenting barrage of attacks, leaving no room to catch his breath. Within them, memories from his past intertwined. He recalled a scene from a protest. A bamboo spear, split at its tip into multiple strands. A menacing tool crafted for protests, designed to pierce through shields and protective gear to target the eyes. He reminisced about the asions when he had deflected such assaults and the times he had vocally opposed the flying Molotov cocktails. However, his relentless advance wasnt solely driven by his experience with the shield. Ding-dong! Ding-dong! [You are actively employing the Asrahan Core Technique options in an intense battle scenario, efficiently managing your life force.] [Such experiences are significantly enhancing your proficiency with the Asrahan Core Technique.] [The level of the Asrahan Core Technique has increased.] [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Stage: Single Circle Lv.7] ! The heart-pounding ebb and flow of the battle. He didnt have a moment to scrutinize the intricacies within it. Nheless, the subsequent cheers from his internal organs echoed vividly in his ears. [Your organs rejoice in the development of the Asrahan Core Technique and your resilience in extreme situations, sending heartfelt cheers and support.] [Heart: Oh! An upgrade! The circle is tightening up!] [Lungs: Ha! Pa! Ha! Pa!] [Intestine: Our bodys performance today is off the charts, isnt it?] [Liver: Open up! Glycogen iing!] [Stomach: Carbs! We need more carbohydrates!] [Your heart beats faster.] [The lungs deliver extra oxygen.] [Digestive organs generously increase blood flow to enhance physical capabilities.] [The high-energy nutrition produced in the liver is amplified through the Asrahan Core Technique and transported to the muscles!] [Your organs rally behind your fierce will to survive and triumph, donating 2,000 HP.] [Your current HP: 6,000] Whooosh! [Due to the rapid advancement of the Asrahan Core Technique, the option features are also improved!] [The absorption and release dy of is reduced!] [The operational duration of is extended by 1 minute!] [The conversion rate of increases!] A deluge of messages surged in like a tempest. Real-time HP contributions. Thanks to this, his life force continued to replenish! I can do this! Raciels eyes gleamed. He brandished his weapon, Perennial Snow, with even greater force. Tearr-! Swordmaster Javillon,unching a furious assault, and Raciel, an ordinary man defending with unwavering determination and enduring like an unyielding force. Their fierce sh persisted. The level of the Asrahan Core Technique continued to ascend. Confronting the unparalleled Swordmaster, Raciels taunts,bined with his audacious confidence and calctions, were propelling his explosive growth. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 135 Chapter 135 Thud-! Reacting instinctively, Raciel blocked the attack, feeling it bounce off him. He endured the shock as if the world itself had struck him. Ugh! He was out of breath. He had no choice but to be. He had sessfully blocked the Swordmasters attack. The cold shield from the Perennial Snow absorbed most of the shock, but his elbow still felt like it was about to fall off. His shoulder joint seemed like it was about to disintegrate into powder. Along with dizziness, his vitality also plummeted. But it didnt matter. Ding-dong! [You have sessfully defended against the Swordmasters attack once again.] [The Asrahan Core Technique has efficiently absorbed the physical/magical shock inflicted on you and stored it as your energy.] [This unique experience promotes the rapid growth of Asrahan Core Technique.] [The level of Asrahan Core Technique has increased.] Each time he sessfully defended, his heart thumped wildly. Was it because he was exerting an explosive amount of effort? Was it because he was gasping for air? No. Each time his heart beat, a message sounded. It was the drumbeat of a blood fight and the bell toll of growth. A deep resonance announcing the evolution of his Core Technique. [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Stage: Single Circle Lv.8] [Mana Amplification Rate: 230%] [Skill Exclusive Options: Circle Slot / Imprable / HP Conversion] [HP needed for the next level-up: 3,000] [Current HP: 6,000] Thump! Thump! His heart throbbed as if announcing growth. Cheers from his internal organs. [Your internal organs sponsor you 1,000 HP in support of your struggle!] [Current HP: 7,000] Real-time HP sponsorship came in with the growth of Asrahan Core Technique. The amount was overwhelming. Thank you! Thank you again! Raciel safely protected his body as hended. He sacrificed his buttocks, the plump part of his body, as a cushion and rolled backward. He responded generously to thevish support of his internal organs. At the same time, the apuse from his internal organs echoed in his ears, giving him strength. He boldly invested more HP. HP Conversion! Ding-dong! He expended 1,200 HP. The vitality that had just dropped while blocking the attack was fully restored. His vision cleared in an instant. His mind cleared. Strength returned to his legs. Vitality returned to the arm holding the Perennial Snow. Squeeze! He gripped the handle, stood up, lifted his head, and saw Javillon charging towards him. The outpouring of murderous intent sent shivers down his spine, but his rising confidence overwhelmed those shivers. He shouted at the same time, veins bulging on his neck and red blood cells throbbing within those veins. Come at me! He roared hoarsely. Javillon responded by raising his sword, and Raciel raised the Perennial Snow in return. He rotated the mana circle vigorously. Screeeeech-! The Asrahan Core Technique, which had been rapidly growing, now infused mana into the Perennial Snow at a significantly higher output level. The cold shield, which responded only to refined mana, responded in kind. With a cold shield 1.2 times wider than before. With unmatched thickness. Fwoosh! ! Javillons eyes widened. The imminent sh followed immediately! Creak! Ugh! It was manageable. He wasnt blown away this time. Strength remained in his legs. Had Javillon noticed his growth? For a moment, his eyes wavered. Raciel didnt miss that. How about it! Isnt it time to let go of that obsession? He quickly remarked. Before Javillons consecutive attacks could continue. Using the gap in between. Intending to distract him. Certainly, Javillon was not easily fooled. Despite the shouts, he silently swung his sword and advanced. Whoosh! ! It was still a tremendous blow. Though his shield had gotten stronger, every time he blocked it, it felt like his soul left his body for 0.1 seconds before returning. Even worse, his attacks were bing more diverse. Perhaps realizing that he had no ability to counter, he openlyunched a barrage of attacks with dozens of different patterns. This wont work. No matter how agilely he responded with Asrahan Core Technique, or even predicted his moves by scanning his meridians, a limit was approaching. He was a Swordmaster. Merely enduring Javillons attacks with defense was suicidal. And so he thought, If I have a limit to enduring with just defense I have to simplify his torrent of attacks! With that determination, Raciel did not cease his provoking shouts. The more fierce Javillons sword became, the fiercer his taunts grew. So why have you been living with such lies? Huh? Crash-! Ugh! I mean the day you lost your father as a child! The stabbing you supposedlymitted! Smash-! Right, that! Wasnt it just a simple mistake? ! Boom-! Ugh! That was a close one. His shield almost broke. Raciel quickly used HP conversion to replenish his vitality. He looked up. Javillon, who had been attacking like a storm, had dropped his sword. He was quietly staring at him. His gaze wavered. Their eyes met. Once more, he deeply questioned. The truth is, it was just a simple mistake. You might have resented your father for having to give up on your dream in art, but you never intended to kill him, right? What are you talking about? Revealing the truth. Javillon closed his mouth. His gaze wavered even more. Raciel silently smiled a knowing smile. He recalled Javillons past from the novel Devil Sword Emperor, his regrets, and the burden of lies he had ced upon himself to ease the guilt of identally killing his father. He remembered that. And said, You never intended to kill your father. You were just inexperienced with the first sword you ever held. Moreover, you didnt even realize your own talent. You didnt know how sharp your clumsy thrust would be. Neither did you, nor did your father. The timing was just unfortunate, right? Your father, who was trying to demonstrate how to block a clumsy thrust from his son, was identally stabbed in the chest. And too deeply at that. How do you know that? Javillons voice trembled. He must have been horrified. Must have gotten goosebumps. Because it must have been his own secret. But Raciel didnt stop. Because he had to hold Javillon here. To give Demian time to recover. Only Demian could deliver a decisive blow to Javillon. It was the only chance to capture Javillon today. And also Because its also a way to prevent Demian from awakening. Only he had to endure Javillons attacks. He had to take on the greatest risk. He had to do that to prevent Demian from facing a life-threatening crisis and awakening his essence. Its a bit regrettable. Even if he was an enemy, it wasnt easy to bring up Javillons traumatic childhood ident, trauma, and wounds. But if he didnt, he would die. And worse, Demian might awaken, and the world would descend into chaos. Raciel made up his mind. Opened his mouth. I found out through some means. You yourself framed that mistake as if it was intentional. To ease your own guilt, you used it as a means to create a fearsome image around yourself. Stop it. You didnt have to go that far. There was no need even to me yourself. Because it wasnt intentional. Because it was just an ident. The same goes for now. Its not toote for you. Enough! ! ng-! A powerful sword strike came flying. He barely managed to block it. But behind the raised Perennial Snow, Raciel smirked cunningly. Its finished. He could feel Javillon bing more excited. His sword strikes became more powerful, but also more predictable. So its done. Now, Demian, all you have to do is get back up. Hurry up, will you? He was responsible for defense, and Demian was in charge of counterattacking. That was the only winning form for today. Raciel cast his eyes in hope for that. Where his gazended. There, Demian was struggling to his feet. It hurts. He never knew it would hurt this much. Demian, who had been lying down, barely raised his head and btedly realized the situation he was in. Did I? Did he faint for a moment? Then he remembered. Just before losing consciousness, he had tried to escape with the Crown Prince. He was rushing toward Princess Adeline and the Royal Guard Cavalry. Did he feel an eerie energying from behind at that moment? Javillon. He heard his footsteps. He came rushing in quickly. He was targeting the Crown Prince. So, he reacted first. He immediately turned around to block him. He didnt even have a chance to deflect the blow. In the end, he lost consciousness as the price for blocking a single sword strike. And only now had he barely opened his eyes. Truly pitiful. Ha. Augh escaped. As heavy as theugh that flowed out, a feeling of powerlessness swept over him. He barely managed to lift his gaze. Then he saw it. In the far distance. The Crown Prince was there. Javillon was there too. Javillon, who kept attacking the Crown Prince relentlessly. The Crown Prince, who barely managed to block his ferocious attacks and hold on. It was strange. It was odd. The Crown Prince, who kept fending off the Swordmasters attacks. It was a sight he had never imagined. At the same time, it was an extremely ominous and precarious sight. To others, it might have looked like the Crown Princes miraculous defense was seeding one after another, but it wasnt so for Demian. Javillon, his aura is trying toe back to life, little by little. He felt it. For some unknown reason, the aura from Javillons sword had disappeared. But now, a faint luminescence was gradually starting to emerge within it. Despite being far away, the unique, tingling aura was ominously closing in. It was still faint. You could barely feel a trace of it. But very slowly, gradually, yet surely, it was taking form. If left like this, the aura would be fully revived in just 1 to 2 minutes. Then it would be the end for the Crown Prince. No matter how strong the Perennial Snow is. No matter how miraculous the Crown Princes defense may be. Because from the beginning, the aura of a Swordmaster is impossible to defend against. Only by facing it with the same aura can you block it. Therefore, I have to move. Demian steadied his trembling knees and stood up. He had to help the Crown Prince quickly. He couldnt just stand idle like this. A newfound resolve filled his chest. Just as many questions also arose. How? How would he help the Crown Prince? How would he confront that Swordmaster? Of course, he knew the answer. Should I do that? He took a deep breath. Since experiencing the feeling of helplessness when dealing with the Minotaur in Cremo, he hadnt been idly wasting time. He had spent time honing his skills in secret. He had also acquired a new insight: a new mana maniption technique that could exert overwhelming power. But its dangerous. To be honest, he hesitated. However, now is not the time for hesitation. If he fails, he wont be able to protect the Crown Prince. Everything woulde to an end as it is. So lets do it. Snap! Demians mrs clenched tightly. With a resolution that ground down his bones, with a determination that set his Manaheart aze, Demians eyes widened. At the same time, the mana flowing throughout his body slowly, yet surely, started to flow in the opposite, more violent direction than what was normal. Krrrrrrr! A technique that Raciel never wanted and always sought to suppress, the forbidden Reversal Core Technique, the strongest and most ominous skill in the Devil Sword Emperor novel, erupted from within Demian Cayennes chest. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Its painful. It always hurt the moment he opened his eyes. The pangs of birth. The agony of blessing. As if resenting the sun that shines on the whole world but never on him, it has always been painful. Of course, even now, he was the same. Demian lowered his head. He focused on his senses. Pain surged from every pathway where mana flowed throughout his body. The lingering effects of a severe shock. The disrupted flow of mana as he blocked the strike of a Swordmaster. But he thought it didnt matter. Now was not the time to worry about minor after-effects. Grit! I wont go through the same ordeal this time. He clenched his teeth. He made a firm resolve. He would never again feel the powerlessness he had experienced in Cremo. He would never allow himself to fall into self-doubt and self-loathing. Thats why. It had been since the battle with the Minotaur in Cremo, since he returned to Star Pce as if nothing had happened. He spent days pushing his body to the limit, honing his swordsmanship skills to their absolute finest. Of course, he didnt reveal this on the outside, but every night he would vomit blood, pushing himself until his mana waspletely drained, and then pushing himself even further. Then, one day, an ident urred. Due to extreme fatigue, he lost control of his mana, causing it to reverse. His heart sank, for mana reversal was an absolute taboo, basic knowledge for anyone learning sword and mana maniption techniques. Reversed mana invoked uncontroble power and could lead to death or a lifetime of dependency on others. He had learned this the hard way. When he first entered the arena, a veteran diator had taught him the rudimentary mana technique. Though that diator didnt survive long, his teachings stayed with Demian. Thanks to that, when he realized his mana had reversed unintentionally, he acted quickly to restore the flow, fortunately, just in time. Still, he worried about potential after-effects. -You fool. I told you. If mana reverses even for a moment, youll be bedridden for days. Who will take care of you here in this kind of arena? So, get your act together. Dont drop your guard and die like an idiot. A rough voice from the past echoed in his mind. He worried about the after-effectsthe loss of control over mana, the momentary reversal. These days, the Crown Prince was upied with Princess Anbouazs gallstone treatment. If he were bedridden due to after-effects, there would be a gap in his protection. Should he rely on the other special-duty members? But something unexpected happened. There were no after-effects, not even a little. No days of being bedridden, no dizziness, not even minor muscle pain. It was entirely contrary to what he knew. Strange and marvelous. It began then. The reversal of mana Grrrrk! Demian focused on his mana heart, interfering slightly with its direction. He began to reverse it slowly and carefully, despite the excruciating pain. It was as if he tested it a bit every day since realizing he had no after-effects from reversing mana by mistake. This time, he pushed it further than ever before. Demian took a step forward, as if walking, pushing the reversal of mana. Is it okay? A bitter smile emerged. His body, which had shown no after-effects even when mana reversed briefly, had an unknown reason. Moreover, there was uncharted territory ahead. Ive never fully reversed the flow of mana Just for a moment. Just for an instant. The time it takes to blink once, exactly that much. The amount of time spent was the longest he had ever attempted for mana reversal. He had never gone beyond this point, and fear and anxiety gripped him. Hecked the confidence to handle what might happen if he reversed his mana for an even longer period. There was also no specific need to do so. If its just a brief reversal of mana I thought the surge in manas power during that short time was more than sufficient. Even with that, he could execute a sword strike with 1.5 times the original power. It was astonishing, and he wondered if this was his natural talent. So, he settled for that level of power. Until now, that had been the case, at least until he felt his limits once again when facing the Swordmaster. 1.5 times wasnt enough. A brief mana reversal fell far short of what was needed. All he could do was barely struggle and endure in front of the Swordmaster. In the end, he would only faint in a pitiful heap. So Lets push the boundaries. Be more daring today. Break through the limits. Demian tightly clenched his fist, and strength surged through his entire body. The mana reversal became even more active. Every trace of mana in his body reversed its course, defying its original direction. He shattered the natural order and disregarded fate. Soon, it turned into an unstoppable torrent. Kwaaaah! It surged uncontrobly, breaking through the barriers like a torrent in a valley, a maelstrom swallowing a in, or a tidal wave covering a mountain range. The arrogant flow of reversing mana became immense, growing distant and surging forward. Towards the Manaheart. He took the final step toplete the first full reversal. ! There was no sound. No sh of light. Only darkness. A tremendous shock and rupture. An unimaginable scream that tore at the soul. Whether it was the shock of the Manaheart breaking, the grim toll for reversing the natural order, or the agony of impending doom, he couldnt discern. However, Demian had to witness it for a moment. Thump. In the darkness, on the edge of the beginning, something pulsed. A heart? He wasnt sure. It was red and dark red, pulsating slowly yet massively. That unfathomable wave seemed to peer at him. It appeared to smile. Whisper? Yes, it was a chilling whisper because it felt inevitable. You are the seed I cast into the world. The seed will eventually grow into a me. It will consume all the creatures of thisnd. And then, I will finally wield you andugh brightly. What nonsense was this? Demian regained consciousness. Simultaneously, he let out a painfulugh. The intensity of his first attempt at aplete mana reversal had been so overwhelming that he might have briefly lost consciousness. Perhaps thats why he had a bizarre dream for a moment. Regardless, this is The pain was excruciating. Every mana vein in his body, and even the Manaheart itself, felt as though they were on the verge of tearing apart. But they didnt. Instead, an unprecedented surge of raw energy enveloped his entire being. It was a premonition of newfound power and an uncharted realm. Sensing the explosively amplified flow of mana coursing through him, Demian grinned fiercely. He opened his eyes and raised his head. The world appeared different. The raging mes on the ins, the tangled battle between the royal guards and the rebel forces, the relentless assault of Javillon, and even the struggling figure of the Crown Princeall of it. The moment he beheld that scene. A faint roar resounded within Demians chest. It was a cry heralding the birth of a new technique, brought to life by the daring and immense leap he had taken with his initial mana reversal attempt. Kraaaa! Javillon bellowed. His sword moved with fury as it struck its target. Kwaang-! Atst! The target trembled, and the shield of Perennial Snow came close to breaking. Raciel, who was holding on behind it, staggered as well. Hisplexion had turned pale suddenly. Demian, arent you ready yet? His eyes darted. Demian, still on the other side, remained crouched. There was no change. Was the blow he had received earlier causing that much pain? Was that why he couldnt rise? If this continues Ill be in trouble! Raciel grew desperate. This situation differed from his calctions. He knew Demian had been struck and fallen, but he hadnt expected the recovery to take this long. It was a dire situation, a significant problem. His anxiety mounted. The activation time for the Imprable option less than one minute remaining now. He cast a quick nce at the timer that appeared in his field of vision. It disyed 27 seconds the remaining time for the exclusive Imprable option of Asrahan Core Technique. So, when that time psed? He wouldnt be able to withstand Javillons assault. Even if he blocked the attack with Perennial Snow, he wouldnt endure the shock and would lose consciousness. Then it would be all over. No matter how extraordinary Asrahan Core Technique was. No matter how well he predicted attacks with meridian scanning. Even if he persisted like a zombie with HP conversion. If I lose consciousness its over. Gulp! His Adams apple quivered with anxiety. He nced at Demian once more. Still the same. Dark clouds of worry filled his heart. This was not what he had envisioned. It was far removed from the scenario he had imagined when he boldly drew Javillons aggro and challenged him. What should I do? Amidst the cold sweat trickling down. In the suddenlybored breaths. Raciel frantically searched for a way to reverse the situation. However, the circumstances were far from favorable, and Javillon wasnt giving him the luxury of time to think. Attempting to find an escape, are you? ! Twu-Kwang-! Javillons sword strikes grew more forceful. The Perennial Snow shield was teetering on the edge, and Raciel realized why. This damn Javillon, hes already regaining his aura. It was evident. The sword he swung and pulled back due to the recoil from hitting the Perennial Snow emitted a faint sh of light. That sh hadnt been there moments ago. It was the precursor of his aura. Already? The skill that used to trigger his aura-inducing headache had been nullified. However, this guy appeared to be adapting to the absence of that customary headache, making him even more formidable. Is he truly a genius, after all? Suddenly, he recalled a passage from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. It stated that all swordmasters were geniuses. Only geniuses could reach the realm of swordmasters. This brought back the time when he read that part and somewhat admired it. So, even in the realm of swordsmanship, talent mattered. So Of course, Javillon is also a genius. Thats why hes recovering his aura much faster than I anticipated. It was crystal clear. He felt a shiver down his spine. If this guy fully restored his aura, it would spell disaster. Aura cant be blocked by Perennial Snow. It could only be countered with the same aura. This knowledge intensified his desperation. However, there was no way out. Twu-Kwahak-! Krk! This time, it was a thrust, and somehow he managed to reflexively block it. Cracks appeared in the Perennial Snow. His unwavering confidence also cracked. Simultaneously, a fierce smile, brimming with the certainty of victory, spread across Javillons face. What? Cant you hold on any longer? Now he wasunching attacks head-on. Whether Raciels previous sessful defenses had wounded his pride or he simply aimed to overpower him through sheer force, he charged relentlessly. But Raciel was helpless. Despair washed over him. I He didnt want it to end like this. He just wanted to live a good life. How had he ended up in this predicament? And then it happened. Ding dong! [Asrahan Core Technique Skill Option : The activation time for Imprable has expired.] To make matters worse. He couldnt hold on any longer. The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water. His heart sank. Suddenly, fear gripped him. He understood that he was in a duel with the Swordmaster. It felt as if he had been carelessly charging ahead only to be rudely awakened. But it was already toote. Backing out was no longer an option! Demian! Help! He gritted his teeth, raised his Perennial Snow, and saw Javillon charging toward him. His figure loomedrger, drawing closer. His eyes locked onto him. The smile tainted with madness. The ragged breath, all of it. At that moment, he leaped forward instead. Kwak! If he couldnt run, then he would counterattack. Let it be! That was the sentiment coursing through him as he went all out, and it led to an unexpected oue. What? Had it been because he had been entirely on the defensive, operating in a kind of turtle-like zombie mode? Had he failed to anticipate a daring counterattack? It certainly seemed that way. Javillon, who had been sliding his sword down, paused for a moment. In that brief window, Raciel seized the opportunity and charged boldly, thrusting the Perennial Snow with all his might. Thump-! .! He made contact! The cold shield of the Perennial Snow struck Javillons wrist, causing his sword to waver. He had done it. Courage surged within him. But that was the moment. Such a trivial trick! Javillons shout burst out angrily. Simultaneously, something shed before his eyes. He instinctively looked up. He should have noticed it at that moment. .Huh? The aura was flickering. Javillons sword was shrouded in eerie lightning. It was a fully restored aura, and that lightning was descending from above his head. He couldnt dodge it. It was too fast. Too close. I Is this the end? A bted realization. The awareness that it was toote to turn back. The impending chill finally closed in. Instinctively, he raised the Perennial Snow in defense. Eyes tightly shut, despair gripped him with the premonition that he couldnt defend himself. Then it happened. Crash! Suddenly, a powerful collision rang out in front of him. However, no shock was transferred to the Perennial Snow he was holding. It was odd. Could it be that he had perished before even feeling the impact? With that thought, Raciel cautiously opened his eyes. Thanks to that, he finally saw it. There was a sword thrust out abruptly. A pathetically broken sword, with just about half of it remaining. That pitiful sword was blocking Javillons aura-infused longsword. What He also noticed the widened eyes of Javillon. Following his gaze, he looked over. There stood Demian. With an exceedingly calm expression, as if nothing had urred. Demian held the half-broken sword in one hand. How? Javillon muttered. He appeared unable toprehend that his aura was being blocked by a regr sword. After all, it wasmon knowledge that aura could only be countered by aura. It made sense. But Raciel he knew what this situation was. He had no choice but to know. Because this happened in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. It shed in his mind. The contents he had securely locked away in the recesses of his memory surged forth and took center stage. That memory informed him. Reversal Core Technique. The most formidable and malevolent Core Technique in Devil Sword Emperor. Its primary characteristic? The utterly absurd ability to overpower a more skilled opponent, even when ones own level was lower. How unbelievable. The moment that thought crossed his mind, an iprehensibly distant sensation, far beyond any chill he had felt from Javillon thus far, engulfed Raciel. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 137 Chapter 137 An unusual sensation permeates the atmosphere. Javillon couldnt help but feel a shiver. Why? Initially, he was perplexed. But soon, heprehended the cause. This individual. What? The dark-haired escort who had appeared before him. The one who had surprisingly held his ground. Didnt the Crown Prince refer to him as Demian? But how? How could this individual deflect his sword? And a sword infused with aura at that. How? Numerous questions swirled in his mind. Naturally, they would. Demians sword exhibited no sign of aura. Furthermore, it was a partially shattered sword. Yet, it had blocked his aura. A sensation ofmon sense copsing. A sensation of defying thews. How, precisely? Inconceivable. Aura can ordinarily only be countered by aura. Yet this person had intercepted his aura with a partially shattered sword, without sustaining any damage and maintaining aposed demeanor. So he couldntprehend. He continually felt uneasy. Because the adversary, standing close enough to exchange breath with, felt impossibly distant, beyond reach. Javillon soon had toe to grips with what he was experiencing. It was fear. Me? Afraid of this insignificant individual? He couldnt fathom. Simultaneously, he was furious. It couldnt be. Conceited! Swoosh! His sword moved, gliding, carrying a luminous aura, traversing along Demians partially shattered de. The target was Demians thumb. Ill sever his finger first! Slice the thumb, gash the wrist, and with the same momentum, pass through the armpit and diagonally behead him. There wouldnt be any time to block, no opportunity to react. Naturally. Demian was only a mid-level Sword Expert. Meanwhile I am a Swordmaster! Swoosh! Javillons sword, brimming with determination, traced a deadly diagonal trajectory. It ascended, its target being Demians thumb, emitting a chilling gleam before rebounding. Screech-! ! In that fleeting moment, Javillon witnessed it. Just as his sword was about to sever Demians thumb, Demians wrist responded with lightning speed. A very brief pause. Within that pause, an immense resilience pushed back the de, deflecting his sword. A sword infused with aura! What is this? Javillons eyes were filled with astonishment. It was scarcely believable that his sword strike aimed at the Crown Prince had been thwarted. But this was the second instance. Once again, a sword without aura had intercepted and repelled a sword filled with aura. So it was undeniable. Is this individual countering aura without aura? Twice is not a mere coincidence. Especially not in the realm of dueling. Javillon rapidly absorbed the current situation inwardly. He ceased pondering the reasons. All that mattered now were the oues. Demian was obstructing his aura without deploying aura himself. That was the fact. He needed to concentrate solely on that fact. From the moment he discarded extraneous thoughts, Javillons vaciting momentum solidified. It became menacing. Finally, he started to reveal the true prowess of a Swordmaster. Extraordinary. Incredibly refined movements. Javillon, towering over 190 cm, moved like a leopard, gliding with fluidity. It was a step that had shed all excess, a step befitting someone who had attained the pinnacle of swordsmanship. His step dictated his bodys movements, his body summoned his sword. The sword indicated, and the body followed; wherever the body went, the steps followed suit. Thought and sword strikes urred simultaneously. All actions flowed seamlessly. An aura shower descended. Screech-! He thrust and shed. Just when it appeared he was shing, he swung. He swung and struck. Striking, he thrust. He moved, twisted, cleaved, dug, struck, pulled, and sliced, stabbing from both ends. All in a single breath. It was a miraculous series of attacks that unfolded in an instant. Previously, when facing Raciel, he had hesitated to reveal his true capabilities, considering the possibility of killing a healer who could have alleviated his headache. Now, he had fully unleashed them. On one hand, he felt confident. Ive triumphed, he thought. And then, he was horrified. This cant be right. Thump-! An almost imperceptible sound resonated. The numerous unleashed strikes came to an abrupt halt, condensing all shockwaves into that brief moment. At that precise instant, he should haveprehended. ! He was thwarted. Completely, utterly thwarted. He couldntnd any blows; his swords aura didnt even graze the edge of the opponents aura. Javillon gazed at his adversary with vacant eyes. Demian stood there, having halted all the strikes with a single movement. As if simply swatting away an annoying insect, he had deflected all the strikes with his fractured sword. Yet he appeared to have sustained no injury whatsoever. The ck pupils of Demian, who turned his gaze toward him. Chills ran down his spine from those emotionless eyes. How? He became bewildered. Then, Your Highness. Shall I kill him? A frigid voice. Demian inquired of the crown prince standing behind him. The crown prince promptly responded, No, capture him alive! Just incapacitate him for now! Understood. An unreal conversation unfolded right before him. He couldnt fathom what he was hearing, but there was no time for anger. Just as Javillon was on the verge of erupting in fury, Demian nced back at him. At that very moment, Javillons vision flickered. ! There was neither sound nor impact. It was the moment something flickered. Cough! Javillon sensed a distant impact. He had instinctively reacted to the sense of danger, defending himself with a sword imbued with aura. But then, it shattered. What? My sword the aura shattered in one hit? He looked up with bewildered eyes. The powerful impact sent him stumbling backward, and fragments of metal soared through the air. His cherished swordy in ruins. It had been reduced to dozens of pieces of scrap metal. His aura had also dissipated, the dazzling, destructive me that only a Swordmaster withplete mana cirction couldmandsh. All signs of such magnificence were obliterated. All from a single strike. Because he had blocked a broken sword without aura. It felt so inexplicable. Does this even make sense? Grrrr-! Javillon, pushed back over 10 meters, just managed to avoid falling. But that was all; only the hilt of his sword remained. In a single strike, the muscles and tendons in his arm were stretched out. He could barely grasp the sword hilt. There was no strength left in him. His waist and legs were no different. Just standing was causing his legs to quiver. Unbelievable Unbelievable! It was like a nightmare. It was utterly unbelievable. Of course, it was. He was just a Swordmaster. He had no knowledge of the martial arts of the novel Devil Sword Emperor. In the face of the Reversal Core Technique, which unleashed the initial roar of mana reversal, in the face of Demians unprecedented power, in the face of the characteristic that Demian exuded, always disying a power level one step above his opponent, all he could feel was absolute helplessness. But Javillon was still Javillon. But dont think this is all Ive got! Javillon clenched his teeth. He was a Swordmaster. Being a master wasnt just about wielding a sword skillfully. It also involved reaching the pinnacle in the management of mana and technique. Of course, he was no exception. Javillon possessed his own specialized mana maniption techniques, separate from his swordsmanship skills. Additionally, he had a secret weapon born from the characteristics of those techniques. Grrrr! Crash-! Maintaining his bnce with great difficulty, Javillon stomped his foot on the ground. He paid no heed to the pain from his injured muscles. He discarded the sword hilt that was all that remained. He charged. Toward Demian. He reached out with his bare hands. Was he recklessly charging in? An act of desperation? No. He had a definite target in mind. If I can grasp him with this hand just once! It would work. Then he could win. He couldpletely reverse the current unfavorable situation. He could defeat his opponent. Javillon was confident of it. He recalled the secret weapon he possessed. His covert weapon. His final trump card. It was a technique that pitted the pure mana fundamentally present in both his and his opponents body. A technique that shed mana by seizing hold of the opponent. And then? Both sides pure mana would collide and be depleted. An intense battle of attrition would unfold. Ultimately, the one whose pure mana ran out first would have their lifeline severed. And Javillon was confident in this form of attritional battle. The reason was simple. The amount of pure mana in a human body is directly rted to its size. Thats why its pure mana. The natural amount of pure mana that the body contains from birth and growth, not amplified or increased by any technique! In simpler terms, the quantity of pure mana was tied to a persons physical stature. And him? He stood over 190 cm tall with a physique to match. He had rarely encountered anyone with arger build than his own. Thats why. Javillon had confidence in his ultimate trump card. He could defeat anyone smaller than him, regardless of the circumstances. This included the Demian before him. With certainty, he reached out. Ive got you! His outstretched palm. Demian showed no signs of caution toward it. He probably had no knowledge of this final trump card. His hand drew closer, almost at the point of grabbing. A burning desire for victory zed in Javillons eyes. But then, at that very moment. Whoa, stop! ! An unexpected voice intervened. The Crown Prince stepped in between Demian and Javillon. Javillons arm suddenly extended, not grabbing Demian but the Crown Prince instead. Javillons eyes widened. What? Startled, he tried to retract his hand hastily, but he couldnt. The Crown Princes outstretched hand had already gripped his wrist. Normally, he could have easily shaken it off, but not now. He couldnt muster the strength due to his injured ligaments and muscles. He couldnt break free from the Crown Princes slender hold! What What the hell! An rmed Javillon eximed. He had already activated his final trump card technique. Once activated, this technique could not be halted. And if he kept holding onto the Crown Prince like this? He would unintentionally end the Crown Princes life, which was not his intent. Do you realize what youre doing by intervening like this? He urgently shouted. The Crown Prince replied calmly. Yes. What? I understand. You cant mean youre sacrificing yourself in ce of a guard? He couldnt believe it. The notion that the Crown Prince was aware of his secret technique seemed like a bluff. But observing his actions, it appeared he genuinely knew. He wondered if this Crown Prince was in his right mind. A sudden self-sacrifice didnt make sense. Why would you choose such a senseless death He was about to ask, but the Crown Prince cut him off. Sacrifice my ass. What? Im not sacrificing myself. I n to defeat you. What? He didntprehend any of it. He had no clue what the Prince was attempting to do. Why was the Crown Prince wearing such an ominous smile? Why was he abruptly putting red sunflower seeds into his mouth? Why was he chewing them with such gusto? He understood nothing. That was what Javillon thought at that moment. Boom-! ! Javillon, who had been so self-assured in his stature of over 190 cm and had attempted to employ a technique that maximized his physical advantage, found himself in an unexpected situation, holding hands with Raciel, who had grown to a towering 600 cm, performing an unusual dance. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 138 Chapter 138 Crunch! A sunflower seed is crushed between his mrs. The sensation of breaking through the tough shell. Raciel lets out a sarcastic chuckle at that moment. I never thought Id have this again. A red sunflower seed. It was a food reserved only for the Phantom beasts, not allowed for humans. He was reminded of the time he had to consume it in Cremo. Back then, he swallowed it to avoid sumbing to Uruus. Today was no different. If I dont eat this now, if I dont do this, Ill meet my end at Demians hands. Its certain. If he remains motionless now, and Demian falls victim to Javillons ultimate secret technique, what would happen next is all too predictable. Javillons ultimate secret technique is a battle of endurance using ones own physique. Suddenly, the story of the novel Devil Sword Emperores to mind. The purges and the great wars that Javillon had initiated were also remembered. During that time, Javillon faced a crisis in a one-on-one duel. It was a duel with Captain Idris, who had remained loyal to the existing Anbouaz royal family. A duel between master swordsmen. It was a match without a clear advantage. They had to engage in a fierce battle for a full two days. In the end, Javillon found himself in a tight spot. A small opening was exploited due to the opponents cleverness. At that very moment, Javillon unleashed his ultimate secret technique. He caught Idris. With his bare hands. Naturally, Idris didnt take it seriously. He believed Javillon was struggling because he had lost his sword and was about to finish him off. That was Idriss miscalction. Javillons ultimate secret technique involved shing his internal mana with that of his captured opponents, an exceptionally brutal and primal method. And that yed greatly to Javillons advantage. The amount of pure mana in a human body is directly proportional to their physique. Javillon stood over 190 cm tall. Given the limited nutritional conditions of this worldpared to modern Earth, he was truly massive. Naturally, it was challenging to find anyone with arger physique. The same held true for Idris. He fell victim to Javillon due to a momentarypse, became entangled in the mana battle, and depleted his mana first. In the end, all his blood vessels were ruptured, leading to his demise. So, what about Javillons current actions? Its reminiscent of that time, the situation when he unleashed his ultimate secret technique on Idris. Demian, who had suddenly gained tremendous power. Javillon, who was utterly outmatched by this formidable Demian. Thrusting out his bare hands as if in desperation. All the circumstances aligned perfectly. He must have concluded that he cant defeat Demian in his current state. Especially now that Demian appears to have acquired the Reversal Core Technique. No, its undeniable. That overwhelming power, the swordsmanship that subdued Javillon, a Swordmaster, even without any aura. And a rather destructive aura. Clearly, it was the Reversal Core Technique. And so, He felt apprehensive. Apprehensive that Demian might fully awaken. That he mighte to understand his true nature. No, even before that, that Javillon might suddenly activate his ultimate secret technique. Truly, he was on edge the entire time. Even if its Demian, even if hes employing the Reversal Core Technique, Javillons ultimate secret technique would disregard all those conditions. Because it only shes the pure mana within the body. That was the frightening aspect. In that case, not even Demian could move. He would inevitably be ensnared in the mana battle and, ultimately, be crushed due to the difference in physique. That must not happen. If Javillon perishes, So will I, and everyone else here. Because the moment he was pushed into an inescapable crisis, Demian will awakenpletely! He couldnt allow that to ur. Therefore, he had to thwart Javillons ultimate secret technique. Raciel made up his mind and devoured the sunflower seed with intensity. He swallowed it down and gazed at Javillon with a determined smile. What? Javillon, his eyes widening as he looked in his direction, felt his grip tighten around the forearm. At that very moment, a red warning screen appeared right before Raciels eyes. Ding Dong! [WARNING!] [You have ingested a sunflower seed that is forbidden for humans and reserved for the Phantom beasts without authorization!] [Rapid side effects may ensue if you consume this food without proper guidance. If you experience any unusual symptoms post-consumption, seek immediate consultation with a doctor, pharmacist, or Oriental doctor.] Sigh, its a good thing Im an Oriental doctor, isnt it? I feel like Ive seen this warning before. While thinking that, a flurry of chaotic messages from his internal organs flooded his mind. [Your internal organs express significant concern about your reckless eating habits.] [Heart: Heyyy! Stop making us expand!] [Liver: Heh! Pfffppppfffpphff!] [Large Intestine: But if we get bigger, does the waste Im holding get bigger too?] [Kidneys: Just let go and break free!] [Stomach: This would be a great concept for a giant Mukbang; views would skyrocket, lol.] [Your internal organs mentally prepare for the impending growth.] [The red sunflower seed you consumed is causing unstable growth effects.] [You are not a mythical creature but a human.] [Thus, the growth effect is limited to 3 minutes.] [Serious side effects will ur after the growth ends.] [You will fall into aa for 120 hours (5 days) after the growth ends.] That moment arrived. ! There was no sound. No jolt. Everything seemed to shift suddenly, and the world seemed to diminish. No, he had grownrger. Boom! Ahh! A roar erupted involuntarily! Javillon, clutching his arm, stared at Raciel with wide eyes. He was in a struggle. Suspended in mid-air. Hisplexion turned ashen due to the sudden transformation. He muttered in despair. No, he swallowed a futile breath. What? Javillon couldnt fathom it. It felt like a horrendous, nightmarish ordeal. What What is this? The prince, who had been seized as a substitute for his final trick, the prince who had seemed destined to be a mere sacrifice, had grown. 5 meters? 6 meters? It appeared to be even more! How? He had no clue. He hadnt even entertained the thought. Naturally, he had no contingency ns. In fact, there was no way to counter it, as he had already activated his final trick. I cant release! Javillon gritted his teeth. His hand still clung to the now-enormous forearm of the prince. He wished to let go. He wished to descend. But he couldnt. The final trick he had employed possessed a suction force. It was as though his hand was glued; he couldnt release his grip! Ah, Ahh! Ahhhh! Struggling proved futile. His heart raced. Beads of cold sweat emerged. A sense of impending doom struck his third cervical vertebra hard. It was over. He was doomed! No, I cant! He contemted his final trick, a technique that engaged in a contest of pure mana within the body, rtive to ones physique. However, now the prince,rger than an ogre, wore a sinister grin. The meaning behind that ominous smile was crystal clear. Im doomed A grim realization struck him at the back of his mind. His final trick began to elerate like a runaway train with malfunctioning brakes. Kwaaaa! All the pure mana within his body surged, deployed, and raced toward the prince. In response, the pure mana within the prince reacted, charging back without hesitation, with a momentum several times greater. Kwang! ! Is this how an egg feels when it smashes against a rock? Or how a pinky toe feels when it ms into a door frame with full force? He repented with a pure heart, prepared to face the consequences. He offered a silent prayer. And he understood. This was the end for him. At that very moment, once again. Crash-! Ugh! St! A spurt of blood gushed from his open mouth. It was undeniable. Just two collisions had shattered his blood vessels. The pure mana in his body was being utterly crushed. This was unquestionably the limit. The end. I was There were so many things he had wanted to achieve. He aspired to elevate this nation, its people, to a more glorious status. He wanted to be immortalized in history as a pioneering figure. He never imagined he would meet such a wretched end in this ce. Truly, he didnt. Heh heh, huhuhu. Heughed. It felt hollow. Relief? He didnt feel that at all. Instead, his attachment to life burned even brighter. He raised his burning gaze. He red at the Crown Prince who held him aloft. He shot him a resentful look. Raciel also felt that piercing gaze. Thanks to it, he hesitated for a moment. Should I end him like this? Suddenly, thoughts of the Devil Sword Emperors backstory crossed his mind. The final moments of Javillon. The ultimate secret technique he had employed in the battle against Demian. But had Demian been cunning? Because of that, Javillon had to seize the battle steed instead and unleash his ultimate secret technique. Thanks to that, he had topete with a horse, whose name he didnt even know with his pure mana. Naturally, he lost because he was in a smaller weight ss than the horse. And so, all the blood vessels in his body werepletely destroyed. He met his demise, cursing his unfulfilled destiny. It was happening once more. If he continued to hold onto Javillon like this? Javillon would undoubtedly meet his end. More certain than anything he had encountered in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. But I cant do it. As much as he desired to, he yearned to bring it to an end right here. But realistically, it was an impossibility. The reason was simple. A message suddenly appeared in front of him, indicating that there wasnt much time left. [Current Remaining Gigantification Duration: 56 seconds] Time had already psed considerably. Yet, Javillon still clung on, refusing to meet his demise. What if he grew impatient and tried to finish him off decisively? There was a risk of a counterattack. If the giant state is released while hes still alive, and Im holding onto him, Ill be the one in trouble. My size will be much smaller than his at that point. He might even lose consciousness due to the disorientation. He would be in a vulnerable state, incapable of dealing with the situation. That was a problem. It would be unwise to be overly ambitious and face the consequences. Well, hes already partially incapacitated. If I release him now, Demian or the kingdoms army will handle the rest. Raciel made his decision. To release Javillon, he grasped him with his other hand and attempted to pull him away. However it didnt go as expected? Huh? He wouldnt budge. The adhesive force from Javillonsst-resort technique was stronger than anticipated. He clung on as if he was glued with superglue. His heart sank. Oh, sh. This is bad. [Current Remaining Giant State Time: 51 seconds] Time continued to tick away. The guy just wouldnt sumb. Things started to feel urgent. Thats why. Let go. Just let go! Raciel raised his arm forcefully. He swung it down with even more power. Javillon, attached to his arm, soared upwards and was forcefully mmed onto the ground below. Bang-! Ugh! But he still remained firmly attached. [Current Remaining Giant State Time: 47 seconds] Oh,e on! Just let go! Raciels movements grew increasingly desperate. He shook from side to side, then upwards, and continued to m downwards. Each time, Javillons 190 cm slender(?) body twisted, soared upwards, and danced the destructive dance as it was forcefully struck against the ground. Let go, let go, let go. Ugh! Argh! Ugh! Bang! Crash! Boom! Just release already. Guh! Crash-! Suddenly, the surroundings fell silent. No, the entire in had gone quiet. The Royal Guard and the rebel vanguard, Demian, even Princess Adeline, had all stopped their fighting in bewilderment. The kingdoms army at Balua Fortress, and the rebels on the other side of the in, everyone stared in nk amazement at the unexpected spectacle. Raciel, now standing at 7.9 meters tall, was clearly visible like a towering billboard. The Crown Prince of Magentano, whose face and expressions were visible so distinctly Everyone swallowed hard as they witnessed him pummel Javillon, the rebel leader and a supreme swordmaster, as if he were dusting off. It was an utterly overwhelming and transcendent spectacle. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 139 Chapter 139 Get off. Get off. Just get off. Ouch! Gah! Ouch! Crash! Bang! Boom! The strikes continued incessantly. As if irritated, Raciels massive arm moved forcefully, as if attempting to rid itself of a stubborn blemish stuck to his finger. However, it proved not as easy to remove as he had thought. Whenever this urred, Javillon, who clung to his arm, fluttered in the air before crashing to the ground. Nevertheless, he adamantly refused to release his grip. Of course, it wasnt by Javillons own choice. I I am Ouch! Its unjust. He had just triggered his final resort. His initial intention had been to conclude the escort with the dark-hair. Yet, he had inadvertently grabbed the intruding crown prince, which was why he couldnt let go. That was all. Why must I be in this situation? Tears began to well up in his eyes. However, before the tears could fully form, they scattered into the air, driven by the strong centrifugal force and gravity. Kwaang-! Gah-huk! He felt suffocated. Was a bone broken? He couldnt discern. His entire body ached, and he couldnt pinpoint what exactly was fractured. Moreover, he wasnt granted a moment of mental respite. The crown princes enormous arm lifted unceremoniously. Just end it right now! Kwaang! Ugh-geuk! It was wretched. Had he spent his entire life just to end up like this? Competing against countless individuals, engaging in covert plots, eliminating most of them, and wing his way up to this point? Initiating a rebellion and sending even more lives to the battlefield? It felt hollow. If he were to meet his end here, what would the lives sacrificed by his hand have signified? The purpose of those offered as sacrifices to his dream? He didnt know. Only a futileughter escaped. Heh Heh heh! Suddenly, a conversation he had with the crown prince disguised as the saint military officer came to mind. Back then, he had posed a question to the crown prince to test him, and the response had been unexpected. Is a country only sustained through someones blood and sacrifice? At that moment, he had been unable to reply due to the unexpected nature of the question. It had struck him to his core, and he had concealed his inner turmoil. But not anymore. Now, he could answer. Because he was ending up like this. Because he was facing his demise like this. Now, heprehended. Originally thats what a country is. It remains the same now. He was the one making the sacrifice. By meeting a pitiable death here, by being engraved in history as a rebel, by bing a symbol of infamy that would endure for generations. He was offering his life as a blood sacrifice. To leave behind a story for this country and its people. Regardless of how that story would be interpreted. Isnt that so? Javillon turned his head, barely having any strength left. He directed his gaze. The spot where his gazended had his adversary standing in shock. The first in line to the throne of the Anbouaz royal family. It was Princess Adeline. She was gazing up at Raciel in utter disbelief. What is this She couldnt believe it. Neither the sudden transformation of the crown prince into a giant, nor the sight of him treating Swordmaster Javillon like a ything and smacking him down to the ground. It felt as if she were trapped in the most absurd and bizarre dream. Thats why. Hey. Thump thump. She raised her uninjured arm and gently prodded the person beside her. Startled, the rebel royal guard knight snapped out of his reverie at her touch. The princess inquired of the rebel royal guard knight, Is what Im witnessing actually happening? It appears so, maam, the rebel knight replied tentatively. The princess gazed at the rebel knight, and he met her gaze. Just moments ago, they had been locked inbat, shing swords and steel gauntlets, as if their lives depended on it. But now? The battle seemed utterly devoid of purpose. If what Im witnessing is indeed real, then it appears its alle to an end. I concur. The rebel knight obediently nodded, the resolve draining from his grip. ng! His longsword fell to the ground with a resounding yet subdued sound. He had willingly relinquished his weapon. The noise roused the other rebel royal guard knights on the field. . ng, ng. One by one, the rebel knights who had been staring nkly at the grim scene also began to lower their swords. They soothed their steeds and dismounted, cing their helmets on the ground. The message was clear. The gesture signaled ack of desire to continue fighting, a sign of surrender. The princess was overwhelmed with emotion. She turned her gaze upward again to Raciel. At that moment, Raciel loaded a massive projectile with one hand, aiming it at the stuck Javillon. Yes, you know how when youre driving and pick your nose at a stoplight, and then a booger gets stuck to your finger? No matter how much you shake your hand, it wonte off. This was the best solution for times like that. Roll down the window slightly and use the projectile from the other hand to dislodge the booger! Recalling his memories in Korea, Raciel raised his arm. The dangling Javillon was hoisted up in a limp manner. He aimed relentlessly at such a Javillon. He exerted force with the fingers that held the loaded projectile. He summoned all his strength, focused it, even condensed his spirit. The remaining time for his erged state was dwindling. [Current remaining Gigantification time: 31 seconds] Just fall off already! He chanted as if casting a spell. He unleashed the concentrated power of the projectile. No, he fired it. Boom! Fu*! That was the end. Javillon, struck by the projectile on his side, tumbled off from the arm. He executed a graceful 1,580-degree somersault in mid-air for about 30 meters, disying a final flourish before crashing. A cloud of dust billowed and then settled. But Javillon couldnt rise. Hey there, resembling a shattered piece of Lego, or a fragment of contemporary art. It marked the woeful downfall of a formidable swordmaster. The kingdoms army at Balua Fortress was agitated by this spectacle. Particrly King Merovingian, who had been observing the situation on the in from the fortress watchtower, inadvertently clenched his fist. Is what I am witnessing truly reality? He couldnt believe it. He wondered if his eyes were deceiving him or if something was amiss with his morning meal. But no. It was undeniably real. Even when he vigorously rubbed his eyes with the back of his wrinkled hand, the scene remained unchanged. How is this possible The man lying in the dust. He hadnt known until the chase began, but now it was evident. Even from a distance, the radiance of the aura he emitted was too dazzling. And there was only one individual in the entire rebel force capable of radiating such an aura. Javillon. The audacious rebel who had brandished a sword at him. A swordmaster not easily defeated. Yet, Javillon had fallen so helplessly. Moreover, at the hands of an unnaturally gigantic being. The Swordmaster guarding the king, Sir Idris, spoke with a trembling beard. Its difficult to believe, Your Majesty, but it seems neither a weing spell nor an illusion. Indeed, which makes it even more incredible. The Kings voice quivered as well. Who could dare to assert that this situation was real, where a colossal man had suddenly materialized and swatted away the rebel armys Swordmaster, Javillon, as if swatting a fly? If someone had arrived an hour ago with such a tale, he might have dismissed it as nonsense and thrown the storyteller in jail. But this was reality. It was unbelievably real. Furthermore, that gargantuan man resembled the Crown Prince of Magentano! That was the greatest conundrum! Why in the world? What was the Crown Prince of Magentano doing here? When had he arrived? What was his intent? Countless questions swarmed his mind, yet answers eluded him. The more he pondered, the more perplexed he grew. Therefore, King Merovingian resolved to focus solely on the confirmed facts. Prepare the army for departure! Whether or not the Crown Prince of Magentano had assumed a colossal form was inconsequential. Why he had manifested in this manner was equally irrelevant. Those matters could be elucidatedter. On the contrary, the civil war? It could end at this very moment. It was an opportunity now that the rebel leader had been defeated. Letting it slip through their fingers would be foolish. Open the gate! The previously sealed gates of Balua Fortress swung open. The marching armys drums reverberated. With each beat, Raciels heart pounded in tandem. Ha, hahaha He had seeded. Rebel knights showing signs of surrender. The kingdoms army preparing to march. He could discern it from their expressions. The rebels are about to crumble. The disheveled sight of Javillon came into view. The once formidable Swordmaster had fallen pitifully. Seeing him, it brought to mind a concept from the novel Devil Sword Emperor. In this world, Swordmasters were an absolute asymmetric force, no doubt. Indeed. In modern Earth terms, a Swordmaster wasparable to a nuclear weapon. Because only a Swordmaster could counter another Swordmaster, it was even more pronounced. If two nations went to war, and one sidecked a Swordmaster? That war would be swiftly decided. A single Swordmaster could infiltrate the enemysmand and eliminate them with ease. So, to deter conflicts, possessing a Swordmaster was imperative. That was an undeniable truth. Yet, the rebel army had just lost its sole Swordmaster. In contrast, the royal army still retained one. Consequently, the odds had distinctly tipped in their favor. Recognizing this, the guards of the rebel leader were likely to surrender. The rebel forces on the far side of the ins were also likely in great disarray. Sigh. A sigh escaped him. A sudden wave of umted fatigue washed over Raciel. In a corner of his vision, a warning window disyed that the remaining time for his giant form was steadily decreasing. Meanwhile, a barrage of notifications filled the other side of his vision. Ding-dong! [You have had a rare experience,peting against the Swordmaster with your pure inner mana.] [Furthermore, you have achieved a miraculous and decisive victory at the culmination of this extraordinary battle.] [This sequence of events has been etched into your mana circle as a special historical moment,ying the groundwork for explosive growth.] [The rank of Asrahan Core Technique has increased.] [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Level: Double Circle Lv.1] [Mana Amplification Rate: 400%] Screeeech! As the notifications appeared, a strand of mana circle surrounding his heart began to whirl vigorously. It roared, bifurcated, and circled his heart, intersecting like an X. An unparalleled, immense power, unlike anything he had ever felt, filled the circumference of his heart. However, he could no longer revel in this power. Additional congrattory messages, reward notifications, and the cheers of his five senses faded into silence. Because a blood-red warning message took precedence, obscuring all other notifications. Ding-dong! [Remaining Time for Giant Form: 0 minutes 0 seconds] A warning sound reverberated in his mind. A warning message dominated his entire field of vision. [The time for being a giant has psed.] [The red sunflower seed you consumed is not intended for humans, but rather a supplementary food for Phantom beasts.] [Severe side effects will manifest in your body as the giant form dissipates.] [For the next 120 hours (5 days) from this point on, you will be in aatose state.] [Goodnight?] Thud! ! A sensation akin to being struck coursed through him. Simultaneously, he felt his strength drain away, leaving his entire body weakened. The world swiftly blurred. The advancing kingdoms army, a fleeting glimpse of King Merovingian at the forefront, and the hurriedly supportive hands of Demian and the princessall registered in his fading awareness. His head drooped. He couldnt sustain himself any longer. His knees gave way. His consciousness plummeted to the ground. But its alright. A smile formed on his lips, unbeknownst to him. He had never anticipated aplishing such feats in a civil war he had only joined to eke out a bit more life. He had never expected to find himself in a situation where he would be unconscious for five days. The more he contemted it, the more absurd it appeared. Yet one thing he could assert: The civil war had concluded. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 140 Chapter 140 tter. A pristine white te was ced on the table. Atop the tey a steaming hot Bangpae Manyeonseol*. The enticing aroma tantalized my sense of smell. The server who brought the Mannyunseol spoke. The gentleman over there has covered the bill. The server gestured to a table across the room. Seated there was a burly man named Javillon, who appeared to have noticed his gaze and winked with a friendly smile. In that moment, Raciel came to a realization. Oh, I must be dreaming. He remained in a state of bewilderment. It was possible that he was experiencing a 120-hour-long deep slumber as a result of some unusual aftereffects, savoring this peculiar dream in the interim. Could this be a lucid dream? Raciel shifted his gaze, observing the oddly fluctuating scenery within the dream. The Javillon sitting across from him was quite a sight. He sported a shy Hawaiian shirt on top, pink shorts below, and slippers. However, the headgear that caught his attention was a spacesuit helmet. Yet, Javillon was just the beginning. Wooosh! Suddenly, the sound of a helicopter reverberated through the party hall. When he looked up, a colossal wasp, Queen Vesparos, the size of an elephant, was hovering. Someone leaped off from her back. It was Princess Adeline. She approached and gave his cheek a p, reminiscent of a scene from a morning drama. Heres a celebratory cake to slow down the growth of your Asrahan Core Technique. Congrattions on reaching the Double Circle. Wow. And heres the bill. . As she handed him a 10-meter-long bill, real-time text appeared. The contents were far from ordinary. It was a detailed exnation of Asrahan Core Technique. [Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique] [Stage: Double Circle Lv.1] [Mana Amplification: 400%] [Your Asrahan Core Technique skill level has increased.] [With the skill level increase, your circle slot will be enhanced.] What? As his dream self widened its eyes, the guide continued. [Skill Exclusive Option : Your Circle Slot has been enhanced.] [Your Mana Circle possesses an independent growth history, with unique slot functions. With the addition of your second circle, the number of slots has also increased.] [ is now open.] [With the opening of Slot 2, the feature is added.] Slot Fusion? Its a feature he had never heard of. What could it be? As he felt excitement, the exnation unfolded. [ allows you to mix substances contained in each slot.] [Example) Water from Slot 1 + Salt from Slot 2 = Saltwater] [You too can do it. Take the challenge anytime. Be the worlds best cocktail creator! Yap Yap Chup Chup.] Raciel closed his mouth. Slot Fusion, huh. The ability to freely mix substances between Slot 1 and Slot 2. This is truly A cheat? If used wisely, this could be an overwhelmingly advantageous function. However, he didnt have the leisure to just admire his newly acquired option. Suddenly, someone tapped on his shoulder. Hey, Crown Prince. An incredibly familiar voice, yet the tone of speech never became familiar. He turned around to find Gardin leaning on his shoulder with an arrogant expression. He lifted his chin and looked down at him as he spoke. Prince, why no answer? Gardin, did you eat something wrong? Tsk tsk! Are you being curt? What could I have possibly eaten wrong? Dont you remember its night study time? Soe on, brace yourself. Thwack! Before he could react, Gardins flicknded on his forehead. It was ludicrous, even though he was aware it was a dream. However, there was no opportunity to retaliate. In an instant, Gardins appearance transformed. Demian. Demian, who gazed at him, wore no smile. Could a soul that had stripped emotion from its countenance disy such an expression? Or perhaps, did the seed of evil sown by the absolute embodiment of darkness in this world weep in this manner? Tears of blood, drop by drop. Demian fixed his gaze upon him with crimson eyes, then gently bit his lips. What have you done to me? He hadnt done anything. What are you meddling with in this world? Did you know from the beginning? Raciel still couldnt respond. He attempted to answer, but his mouth was entirely sealed shut. Gardin, who had materialized out of nowhere, held a suture needle and grinned. Javillon clung to his leg, imploring. Princess Adeline merely smiled faintly. And Demian stared at him with tears of blood. Speak. Did you know? Now he understood. The eyes shedding tears of blood that now fixated on him did not belong to Demian. It was that thing deeply embedded within Demian. It was interrogating him. What are you attempting? Why are you suppressing it? What is your intention? My intention is evidently He tried to reply. Attempted to tear open the thread sealing his lips. But it proved impossible. Swooosh. An eerie sound and sensation. The world tilted. No, his head detached and struck the ground. He btedly tried to open his mouth, but no words escaped. He could only gaze up with dim eyes, like a fish on a cutting board. He could only watch the one who severed his neck. Demian was there. Finally, Demian, who had awakened that thing, cried out sharply. He cried as well. The dream realm crumbled. Thergest brick descended. It crushed his severed head. Ah! Raciel involuntarily screamed. He bolted upright and immediately felt a sharp impact on his forehead. Thud! Ugh! Argh! Stars danced before his eyes. Raciel clutched his forehead and fell back onto the soft bedsheet, cushioning his fall. Yet, while his forehead throbbed, he listened closely. The groan from the other person who had collided with him sounded very familiar. Looking around, Raciel located the other individual. Demian? Just like Raciel, Demian held his forehead. Had Demian been bumped because Raciel had abruptly sat up? It seemed probable. Demian appeared resentful as he peered through the gap between his fingers, which were clutching his forehead. Raciel hesitated for a moment. The dream he had just experienced rushed back to him. It was too vivid to dismiss as a mere dream, yet too eerie to ept as reality. Simultaneously, he recollected what had urred before he had lost consciousness. Yes, thats right. I consumed the Red Sunflower Seed to thwart Javillons final secret technique, grew to an immense size, and then passed out. But what about Demian He had awakened the Reversal Core Technique. This arcane art, unique to Demian, was the most potent and sinister in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. It also marked the initial step toward his awakening. So now This guy, he cant possibly be in an awakened state, can he? The resentful re Demian directed at him merged with the crimson eyes he had encountered in the dream. It left him with an odd sense of unease, his instincts tingling, sensing impending danger. Should he investigate? Just then, Did you do that on purpose? Huh? Demian seemed to inquire with resentment. Why the sudden collision? I was just looking after you while you were asleep. Do you have a problem with that? No, not that. Then what is it? Well, its just Raciel paused for a moment before responding. Let me ask you something. Suppose someone identally or mistakenly harms you, like what happened just now. Whats the first thought that crosses your mind? What are you talking about? Lets call it a psychological test. Option 1, you want to retaliate immediately, regardless of whether it was the other partys fault. Option 2, you seek fairpensation for the injury. You want me to choose between the two? Yes. Obviously, its Option 2. Is that so? Yes. Good. What? Demian furrowed his brow, while Raciel broke into a wide smile. Demians immediate thought was to seekpensation, not revenge. This suggested that he probably hadnt awakened yet. Finally, Raciel felt relieved. But there was no time to fully rx. Zuuuuunhaaa-! From the opposite side of Demian, which meant the left side of the bed, a deep, resonant voice echoed. Without even turning to look, Raciel instantly recognized from the scent in the air that it was Gardins shout. Its truly a blessing that youve awakened, Your Highness! Gardin appeared as if he was about to embrace Raciel tightly. However, he stood at a slight distance, tears streaming down his face. Had he been extremely worried while Raciel was unconscious? His face had visibly slimmed down in just a few days. Should Raciel express gratitude for this? How should he put it? Raciel pondered the awkward dilemma for a moment before settling for a wry smile. Are you unharmed? Yes, Your Highness! Good. Id like to hear a report then. Pardon? Gardin looked surprised, his tearful eyes widening. Raciel couldnt bring himself to say a direct thank you for worrying about him; it felt too sentimental. Instead, he smirked and spoke. I was lying down for about 5 days, right? Yes, thats correct, Your Highness. So, please tell me, where is this bedroom where Im resting? Who provided this ce for our party? What happened to Javillon and the rebels after I passed out? Give me a full ount of everything that transpired. Now, should I proceed? Why not? Should I ask someone else? No, no. Ill tell you. Good. Summarize it as sinctly as possible. Yes, sir. Gardin quickly wiped the corners of his eyes. Demian quietly nodded, perhaps giving him courage. Clearing his throat, Gardin began. First and foremost, the civil war officially concluded five days ago. Javillon has been imprisoned on charges of rebellion, and the rebels surrendered immediately. The various lords, officers, and knights involved will face court-martial. What about the rebel soldiers? We have no intention of holding the soldiers ountable. They were conscripted and sent to the battlefield without free will. The final response didnte from Gardin but from someone else. A voice, deep and steady yetmanding, intervened. Raciel turned his head to see an elegantly attired elderly man. He recognized his identity instantly. I greet the King of Anbouaz. I wee the Crown Prince of Magentano. His hunch was correct; it was King Merovingian of Anbouaz. He nced around, gesturing for his nearby guards and Princess Adeline to step back. Then, he approached them slowly. Gulp. Unconsciously, Raciel swallowed hard and gripped the nket. Meeting the King of Anbouaz without any mental preparation made it difficult to anticipate his demeanor. To be honest, it made him a bit uneasy. Sigh, this is intense. Suddenly, memories from long ago resurfaced. It was the time when he had sent a letter to Anbouaz to treat Princess Adelines illness. What had he written to deceive the King of Anbouaz back then? Father-inw, please give me your daughter! He had probably written something like that. Ah, why did I do that. Raciel felt incredibly awkward. He was embarrassed. He wished he could hide somewhere. No, he wished he could escape. At that time, all he had been focused on was bringing Princess Adeline to the empire at any cost. Therefore, he had acted as recklessly as he wanted. Of course, he had never dreamed that he would one day directly face the King of Anbouaz like this. Even that letter was crafted with a lie Ticket. Thanks to that, the King of Anbouaz probably still firmly believed the contents of that letter. Just thinking about it made sweat pour from his pores. His prefrontal cortex was working in overdrive. Think. Recall the contents of the letter sent at that time ande up with a way to rectify it! He might face some kind of reproach at this rate. Perhaps he would be asked to take responsibility. Seeing the stern countenance of the approaching king, it seemed quite likely. What should he say? Nothing came to mind. Furthermore, wasnt this situation, where a foreign royal was intervening in Anbouazs civil war, technically an internal interference? Im doomed There were so many issues he had to address to excuse himself for both the Lie Ticket letter and getting caught meddling in Anbouazs civil war. Consequently, he became even more anxious. Meanwhile, oblivious to his emotions, the King of Anbouaz approached. Before he could even organize his thoughts, the king stood by his bedside. The king gazed down at him with his customary stern expression. Prince of Magentano. Yes? Thump! Thump! At that moment, when his heart was uncontrobly pounding. The king knelt down, bent one knee, and looked into his eyes. He graciously took his hand. On behalf of our royal family, I express our heartfelt gratitude for your role in punishing the brutal rebels who were inflicting suffering on our people of Anbouaz. The kings solemn voice reached his ears. Simultaneously, a pleasant notification sound chimed. Ding dong! [You have made a significant impact on the Anbouaz Civil War, a historical event in the Lorasian continent, through your selfless actions.] [The royal family of Anbouaz has officially conveyed their gratitude for your aplishments.] [Your organs are hosting a celebration.] [Your heart is dancing wildly.] [Your lungs are setting a rhythmic pace for your breaths.] [Your intestines are forming a splendid string quintet with their muscles.] [Your liver is mobilizing an alcohol detox team.] [Your stomach is rumbling as it searches for ramen, feeling light-headed.] [Your stomach growls, causing a minor disturbance.] [A new organ awakens due to themotion brought about by the disturbance.] [A kidney, the source of life (), celebrates its birth.] [Kidney: Incredible!] (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 141 Chapter 141 [Kidney: I have seeded!] Hmm? Raciels eyes widened. He hadnt anticipated that a new member of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels would awaken at this moment. In the meantime, a rewarding message stimted his visual cortex. [Kidney hosts a personal celebration.] [Members of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels attending the celebration extend their congrattions for your increased power and contribute 1,000 HP to you.] [Current HP: 2,700] Excellent. At least the fundamental HP from the reward pool had been secured. Ding-dong! [You have gained a new member of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels: Kidney.] [As a result, the diagnostic range of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels during pulse examination will be expanded.] [Kidney can diagnose illnesses by directlymunicating with the patients kidneys.] This is significant! Raciel clenched his fists internally. Every time a new member of the Five Viscera and Six Bowels emerged, his HP rewards increased. The same applied this time. Now, the Kidney could directlymunicate with a patients kidneys, significantly enhancing his diagnostic precision. Because with pulse diagnosis alone, I can only roughly identify symptoms. Conversely, when the Five Viscera and Six Bowels consulted directly, even intricate details that were difficult to detect through pulse diagnosis alone became diagnosable. The likelihood of misdiagnosis decreased substantially. When I return to Star Pce Clinic, I can put this to immediate use. Thinking about the numerous patients waiting for him at the Imperial Capital, his heart naturally quickened with excitement. But then Ding-dong! Another notification. Could it be another reward? He tilted his head slightly with that thought. [By awakening the Kidney, youve only left the Spleen toplete the collection of the Five Viscera.] [Special collection quest rewards will be given when you awaken all the organs belonging to the Five Viscera and the Six Bowels.] [Your current collection status for the Five Viscera / Six Bowels] [Five Viscera (4/5): Heart(), Liver(), Lung(), Kidney(), Spleen(X)] [Six Bowels (2/6): Large Intestine(), Stomach(), Small Intestine(X), Gall dder(X), dder(X), Triple Energizer(X)] [The path of collection is long and hazardous, but a splendid reward awaits you at the end.] [Fighting] What is this? Raciel scanned the message with a momentarily perplexed feeling. And quickly realized. This is exactly A collection quest? It felt like something he had encountered in Korean games he used to y. It seemed probable. Could it be that Ill gain new abilities when Iplete both the Five Viscera and Six Bowels? He hoped that was the case. His expectations soared. However, theres no way to confirm it yet. All he can do is await the awakening of the Spleen and diligently carry out his tasks. With this in mind, Raciel shifted his gaze. Rewards are rewards, but at present, there was a more immediate matter before him. King of Anbouaz. Where his gaze turned There stood an elderly man in splendid attire. It was the king of Anbouaz. He expressed gratitude to Raciel and scrutinized him with a serious gaze. It was a probing look. So, how should he respond? First and foremost, stayposed. Raciel wore a faint smile. I, too, would like to extend my gratitude to the rightful ruler of Anbouaz. Its through serendipity and luck that someone as unremarkable as myself was able to provide some modest assistance to your kingdom And for that, Im genuinely delighted. Heh heh heh, is that so? Absolutely. Please, lets not bring up the letter I sent earlier. And lets leave out the jest about the father-inw thing. Raciel offered a graceful smile with a heartfelt request in mind. King Anbouaz, who was observing him, responded with an even warmer smile and crushed his desperate hopes with a single statement. By the way, regarding the letter from the crown prince thest time Oh, please, no. In that letter, the crown prince referred to us as Oh, please, stop. Father-in-l Ahem, ahem! He hastily interrupted with a feigned cough, speaking rapidly and with little regard for decorum. I apologize. I was too hasty at that time andmitted a breach of etiquette. At the time, I meant it sincerely. But after meeting and interacting with the princess, Ivee to believe that its best for us to remain just friends. Is that so? Yes. He nodded resolutely. Since the king had brought up the father-inw joke from the letter, he believed it was wise to address it directly. Otherwise, misunderstandings could lead toplications. For both him and the princess. Misunderstandings on both sides could arise, and that wouldnt be beneficial. He held no personal feelings for Princess Adeline. To entangle her father in a web of misunderstandings and false expectations was both unfair and vexing. It was akin to ying with peoples emotions regarding a marriage proposal. That was uneptable. He had to draw a clear line, even if it meant earning disdain. Determined, Raciel spoke earnestly. I am truly sorry. I cannot express how remorseful and apologetic I feel. I made a significant mistake back then due to my impulsive and immature thoughts. A hasty mistake, you say? Like calling me your father-inw? Yes, I am genuinely sorry. Then, referring to my daughter as the crown princess was equally meaningless. I have no excuses. In reality, he could have mentioned that he saved the princess from the risk of gallstones. But he refrained from doing so. He didnt want to add any unwarranted justifications. Thats why he was ready to shoulder all the me. However, the kings reaction was Heh, heh, heh. Hehe. Hehehehe. Was the kingughing out of anger? Raciel briefly flinched, but it wasnt the case. The kings subsequent words were surprisingly gentle. Ah, youth is a wonderful thing. Pardon? I was the same way. Quick to ignite and quick to extinguish, especially when it came to the opposite sex. Youth is like that, so I wont hold it against you. However- The king gave him a meaningful look. Im concerned that my daughter may have breached decorum due to your fickle nature. A breach of decorum, you say? Yes. Could you please borate? Considering my daughters carefree disposition, did she happen to make any advances toward you? She did. He admitted honestly. I endured around 500 blows, to be precise. It was the truth. He had to undergo daily shockwave treatments to remove the gallstones. But the king appeared to take it as a jest. Heh, heh, you withstood that many blows and youre still standing. You seem much hardier than the rumors suggest. Yes, Im also grateful for that. Anyway- Luckily, the matter concerning the father-inw reference in the letter appeared to be resolved smoothly. Now, it was time to make his exit. Sensing the opportune moment, Raciel moistened his lips. Have you heard the reason for my visit here? Indeed. The king nodded calmly. I learned of it from my daughter. You decided to join the war as soon as you heard about the civil conflict? Yes. Furthermore, I appreciate your deliberate concealment of your identity and yourpassion for our injured soldiers. Also, on your way back to the Empire, I extend my heartfelt condolences for the hardships you endured during your abduction by Javillon. Its not necessary. So, whats be of Javillon? Hes earmarked for experimental purposes. Excuse me? What on earth was that about? Trying to change the subject and ease the tension, he inquired about Javillon, whom he had been curious about, and received an unexpected response. Hes a traitor. Naturally, traitors are not entitled to forgiveness or an honorable death. Additionally, hes a highly valuable Swordmaster. Is that so? Did you notice? While it might appear externally appealing to subject him to a disgraceful end, youre suggesting that his value is too great to simply execute, correct? He mentioned the possibility that had crossed his mind. The king seemed pleased and smiled. Exactly. The robust physicality and mana reactivity of a Swordmaster would be exceedingly valuable for various magical experiments. I see No need to pity him anyway. A miserable end as an experimental subject suits him. Suddenly, thoughts of Javillon, who had been obsessively attached to him, came to mind. He remembered the moment when Javillon spoke of his aspiration to elevate his country and people. Though he was an adversary, he briefly felt sorry for him. But that was it. Tsk, in any case, the issue is the art school entrance exam. If only he had passed it, his life would have taken apletely different path. Entrance exams, whether in this world or Earth, were the problem. With this in mind, Raciel let out a wry smile. I understand. Well, Id like to rest now. Heh, I was about to get up as well. Thus, sessfully diffusing the tension. After King Anbouaz graciously departed, Raciel reclined on his bed. He stared absently at the ornate ceiling. It was the ceiling of a proper building, not a tent, and he was seeing it for the first time in months since leaving the Empire. Finally, it began to sink in. The civil war is truly over. It was time to return to the Empire. His heart naturally quickened. Preparations for the journey back to the Empire consumed a solid three days. He would have preferred to depart immediately, but King Anbouaz did not allow it. He argued that he couldnt casually send off the crown prince of the Empire, especially not the hero who yed the most significant role in the decisive battle of the civil war. As a result, after three days of preparation. Bang! Bang! Bang! On the day of departure for the Empire, splendid fireworks illuminated the Anbouaz kingdoms sky. Tens of thousands of people cheered, showering colorful paper confetti. Hundreds of flower bouquets were tossed. A total of 500 elite knights served as escorts. You must be feeling quite burdened by all this, Your Highness. You know me well. Naturally. Shoulders shrugged and smiling, Princess Adeline stood before Raciel, who was about to board the carriage. He smiled and offered her some advice. In any case, you must take the herbal medicine as per the prescription I wrote for you, without missing a single day. Even if it tastes awful, right? Absolutely. Its the only way to prevent gallstones froming back. However After taking it, can I have one piece of candy? You know me too well. Of course. Princess Adelines smile grew even brighter. However, her smile didntst long. Soon, she regarded him with a mysterious gaze. Im always grateful for everything to the Crown Prince. Is, is that so? Yes. Something felt suspicious. Why was she suddenly so friendly? This wasnt typical of her. He sensed a strange and ominous vibe. And indeed, his intuition was correct. I heard you came up with quite a clever excuse? At the time, you made a hasty and immature mistake, didnt you? You initially, earnestly, referred to my Father as your father-inw, but after meeting and interacting with me, you wisely decided that maintaining a friendly rtionship would be better for both of us. My, my, what was that? I was simply standing there, minding my own business, and I got dumped without even realizing it? Furthermore, whats this? I lost my temper and attacked you? As many as 500 times? Dangerous. That subtle emotion in her eyes as she looked at him it was menacing! Raciel reacted swiftly. It was a pleasure to meet you! I felt fulfilled the entire time! May you enjoy sess and prosperity in the days ahead! Well then, Ill take my leave! He attempted to board the carriage at lightning speed. However, the princesss hand grasped the hem of his clothing, preventing him from leaving. Where do you think youre going? What? He was perplexed. The princess was taller and much stronger. He couldnt break free from her firm grip, and there was no way to avoid her explosive statement. Give me another chance next time. Excuse me? Another chance? Next time? What did she mean by this? He was so shocked that he asked again. However, there was no response. The princess simply released him, wearing an enigmatic smile. She blended into the crowd of people who hade to see him off and vanished. And so, he boarded the carriage. Escorted by the elite knights, he set off down the royal road amidst cheers. His journey back home began. The journey wasfortable. The carriage was spacious and so smooth that it hardly jolted at all. He wondered if flying first ss would feel like this, even though he had never experienced it. But Raciel couldnt focus on the princesss perplexing words or the remarkablyfortable carriage. There was something far more urgent and worrisome. Demian. On the first evening of the journey. Raciel called for Demian. Now, it was time to assess how far Demian had progressed in awakening the Reversal Core Techniquea moment that made his heart race and his skin tingle. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 142 Chapter 142 Demian,e over here and take a seat. . Come on. Pat-pat! The flickering of the quiet bonfire. Under a cloudy sky, as the night deepens, Raciel pats the seat beside him. He then looks up at Demian, who is standing awkwardly. Demians expression bes ufortable. Whats the matter? Whats so odd about asking you to sit next to me? Yes. . Cant you convey what you need to from there? No, I cant. Why is that? I want to check your pulse. . Should I check it remotely from here? Hmm? Why on earth do you suddenly want to check my pulse? Employee well-being. Health check-up. Arent you aware? Im not. Well, now you are. Please sit. Quickly. As if its only natural, Raciel snorts. Demian reluctantly lets out a sigh, but he had no choice. No matter how much he resists, hes just an employee, a subordinate. If the employer (?) orders, he has no choice but to obey. He obediently takes a seat where the crown prince points. However, his unique cold gaze still shines vividly. As His Majestymanded, I have taken my seat. However- However? I am a bit curious about why youre doing this all of a sudden. Its nothing new to be curious about. Youve be an Advanced Sword Expert, havent you? . Demians eyes twitch ever so faintly. It was true. Recently, during his duel with Javillon, he naturally reached the level of an Advanced Sword Expert after awakening a new Core Technique. However, he had not revealed this to anyone yet. How did the crown prince know? A slight smile forms on Raciels lips. You couldnt hide it well. Did you think I wouldnt notice you tossing and turning all night because you couldnt sleep properly? Plus, you frown so hard at the slightest noise. You act just like someone facing an important exam. . So youve developed Swordmaster Syndrome, havent you? Yes. Theres no hiding it anymore. In the end, Demian nods. Raciels smile deepens. Of course. Anyone who reaches the level of an Advanced Sword Expert cant escape that syndrome. All your senses be excessively sensitive to the point of running wild. You cant control it unless you ovee this. Only then do you be a true Swordmaster. You know well. Of course, I do. Thanks to reading the novel Devil Sword Emperor, he knew all too well about the main setting, Swordmaster Syndrome. And so, he decided to use that as an excuse. Your insomnia will likely get worse. Your nerves will be even more sensitive. Thats problematic. In what way? It would cause a hitch in the security. . Your heightened senses will fatigue your nerves sooner. Your focus will asionally break, and you wont be able to sleep, thus leading to a decrease in your condition. That will lower your efficiency in guarding me. . You need to earn your keep, especially as you are employed on special duty, right? . So, lets diagnose how severe your Swordmaster Syndrome and resulting serious insomnia are through pulse diagnosis. Well also prepare an appropriate prescription. Instead of worrying about my insomnia, why not just give me Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pills? That has drowsiness as its most typical side effect, doesnt it? Nope. Cant do. Why not? Its expensive. . Do you know how much one pill of Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill costs? Plus, its seasonal and limited in quantity. Do you n on taking it daily? Can you afford the cost of the medicine? . He countered Demians argument with the cold, emotionless logic of capitalism in one swift move. Ultimately, Demian fell into a profound silence. Raciel wore a smile on his face, but inside, he was tense. Good. At least the atmosphere is set for pulse diagnosis. Now the real work begins. His heart began to pound little by little. Out of anticipation or curiosity? Of course not. Honestly, he was more worried. It felt like checking the remaining time before a time bomb was about to explode. I need to check how far Demians awakening through the Reversal Core Technique has progressed. If his awakening isplete? Everything wille to an end. At the very least, the entire continent will suffer catastrophic damage greater than thebined impacts of World War I and II. And thats an optimistic outlook. First, lets check. Gulp. Raciel reached out with suppressed tension, touching Demians wrist and activating his palpation skill. Palpation. Ding dong! [Starting Palpation.] [Scanning.] [3 2 1] [Pulse Diagnosis result is out.] [Please check the below.] A familiar guide popped up. He moved his eyes downward. [Comprehensive Examination Form] [Examinee: Demian Kayen] [Race: Human(+?)] [Gender: Male] [Age: 3,912 years] [Height: 186.6 cm] [Weight: 79.2 kg] [Blood Type: He+ D] Astonishing results were shown. The question mark in the race column, the astounding age that tempted him to multiply it by three thousand, the unheard-of blood type; they all surprised him. As expected. Things had changed. When he first provided acupuncture to him, it wasnt like this. Back then, the general examination table showed normal human specifications for race, age, and blood type. But not anymore. Is his awakening really in progress? Raciel nervously looked further down where the section was. [General Opinion: The subject is extremely healthy, resilient, and bnced in all categories. However, severe insomnia has been detected due to excessive activation of sensory and sympathetic nerves. Residual damage from a recent excessive use of mana has been found in the body. It is rmended to take appropriate rest and meditation to soothe the sensitive nerves and tired body. Also, some foreign and unidentified tissues have been detected in the blood. These tissues have recently undergone rapid birth and proliferation but have now stopped for unknown reasons.] Raciel read the general opinion five times. He interpreted its meaning and easily reached a conclusion. I survived. He focused on the phrase unidentified tissue mentioned at the end of the general opinion. He knew right away. Thats it. Thats the seed of destruction that would grow in Demians body, a precursor to awakening. But that had stopped proliferating. In other words, the process of awakening had been interrupted for some reason. Its probably because I took the final hidden technique that Javillon was casting. It was highly likely. Throughout his confrontation with Javillon, Demians Reversal Core Technique had been rapidly strengthening. He was approaching the stage of full awakening. However, that progress was abruptly halted when he intervened to counter Javillons final hidden technique. When I jumped in and got caught by Javillon instead, he mustve been startled. He must have snapped out of his trance-like state. His focus would have been shattered. His unstoppable awakening would havee to a standstill. Raciel felt that it was fortunate that he had stepped in back then. On the other hand, he also felt relieved. Fortunately, the awakening has ceased. As long as it doesnt progress further from here. From now on, lets avoid putting him in danger. Minimize such situations whenever possible. Keep him close whenever you can, and let him lead a sheltered life alongside thefortable existence of the crown prince. Raciel reaffirmed his newfound determination. Then he cast a slightly critical gaze upon Demian. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is serious. Very serious. Do you have severe insomnia? Its more than just severe.'' Then? Demian furrowed his brows slightly. He likely had no inkling of whaty embedded within his inner self. Raciel hoped he would remain oblivious for the rest of his life. He genuinely meant it. Raciel set aside his true intentions and regarded Demian with a stern expression. Have you attempted to reverse mana? Do not do it again. Why? Do I really need to exin it to you? Itsmon knowledge. Reversing mana carries consequences. I understand. Manaheart can be damaged. If lucky, it leads to disability; otherwise, death. But I havent experienced any side effects. Youre just exceptionally fortunate. Do not be overly optimistic that luck will always favor you. You may suddenly lose it all. Moreover, even if your Manaheart can withstand it, other parts of your body will inevitably suffer damage. Is that so? Yes. Without a doubt. In truth, that was a falsehood. Demians Manaheart and his overall physical health were unharmed. The side effects from reversing mana were only minor. Ifpared to an average person, it was akin to the fatigue following an intense one-hour workout at the gym. However, if he continues attempting to reverse mana, if he persists with the Reversal Core Technique, his awakening will advance. That oue must be prevented. For once, Raciel spoke earnestly. Frankly, I dont want a person who neglects self-care to serve as my bodyguard. Understood? If you attempt to reverse mana without my consent and end up harmed, I will terminate your employment without hesitation. What about my severance pay? You wont receive any. Isnt that wrongful termination? Take it up with the Crown Prince then. Or lodge aint with His Majesty the Emperor. If you believe you have a legitimate case. Your Highness, youre truly Truly what? Petty? Yes. So what if I am petty? If you deem it unfair, then you should have been born as the Emperors son. Why werent you? Ugh! Irritating. Incredibly irritating. If he could, hed love tond a punch on that smug face. Demians fist quivered involuntarily. Meanwhile, Raciel chuckled as if he were at ease. But in reality, he was anxious. He wanted to confide in Demian, really spill the beans. But he couldnt. If he did, the entity inside Demian might catch on to its significance. And his awakening would spiral out of control. That was something he absolutely couldnt reveal. So, from now on, reversing mana is off-limits. Got it? Understood. Thus, he admonished Demian. Afterward, their journey along the royal road continued. It was a pleasant journey. The carriage was asfortable as first-ss, and the escorts from Anbouaz were exceedingly dependable. They traversed mountains, rivers, ins, and numerous cities. And on the tenth day. They finally reached the gate at the outskirts of the royal road. Phew. Inside the carriage, Raciel held his pounding heart. As the gate drew nearer, his heart raced more and more. Was it due to the excitement of returning home? No, it was closer to nervousness. Or perhaps it was a mental preparation for the storm he was about to face. His Majesty the Emperor is definitely going to raise a fuss, isnt he? It was easy to anticipate. This time, he had created quite a mess. I had nned to live quietly, posing as a military officer and simply enjoying the bonus lifespan. Tsk. When he initially sought permission from the Emperor, he had presented it just like that. But the oue? It had taken aplete turn. Somehow, he ended up personally defeating the leader of the rebels, Javillon, and in the process, his identity was also publicly revealed. On one hand, it was a heroic aplishment and a merit, but on the other hand? It also constituted a significant internal interference in foreign affairs by the royal family. Perhaps as a result, the Emperor, that gentleman, must have been quite upied dealing with matters behind the scenes. He would have had to coordinate various issues with King Anbouaz as well. All of this probably transpired while he was unconscious for those few days. Simply thinking in advance about how agitated the Emperor must be, how much scolding and lecturing he must have prepared, gave him a headache. Oh well. What can I do? Its all my fault anyway. Just as he was on the verge of releasing another sigh, overwhelmed by a wave of mncholy, Thump! The carriage came to an abrupt halt. Soon after, there was amotion from the drivers seat. Whats happening? Raciel opened the side window toward the drivers seat. Whats going on? Ah, Your Highness. Well Sitting beside the driver, Gardin looked at him with a troubled expression and spoke with an even more troubled tone. It appears that, at the gate up ahead Yes, the gate. What about it? It seems that His Majesty the Emperor himself hase out. What? Really? Could this be real? Initially, he couldnt believe it. But looking around, it seemed to be true. It wasnt just their carriage that had stopped. The entire escort force had halted and was swiftly forming orderly lines. Those appearances, that atmosphere, he knew what this was. He had experienced it firsthand during his training camp days. It was reminiscent of the day General Tustar paid an unexpected visit to the training camp. From the officers to the instructors to the trainees, everyone hurriedly scurried about in a fluster. Sigh. Really. He let out an even more profound sigh. The Emperoring out to the gate himself. He didnte out just for a leisurely stroll. Absolutely not. He came out to see him. Is he pleased? Nope. Absolutely not. He must be so furious that he couldnt even wait for me to arrive, so he had toe out here! So, he is in trouble. For real. But theres no way to avoid this. Raciel steeled himself further. He knew he would undoubtedly face a tongueshing today, but he would endure it. This too shall pass. With a heavy heart, he exited the carriage. At that very moment, he witnessed it. Thump, thump! The Emperor was actually sprinting toward him. Leaving behind his guards who were desperately trying to keep up, he raced toward Raciel like a wild boar from the Ural Mountains. Oh, dear. His heart sank. How angry could he be? How intensely would he berate me, like a tempest? He hoped the penalties wouldnt be too severe. In his mind, he prepared himself. The distance with the Emperor rapidly diminished. He lowered his head. He only gazed at the ground to avoid making eye contact. The sound of footsteps grew louder. He assumed the most respectful posture he could. He could even hear the Emperorsbored breathing. Any moment now. The thunderbolt will strike. Thats what he thought. Wham! Suddenly, the Emperor warmly embraced him. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 143 Chapter 143 Crash! Raciel clenched the Perennial Snow firmly, infusing it with mana. He took cover behind a 5-foot diameter ice shield that materialized suddenly. Then, he contemted silently. How did I find myself in this situation? He lifted his pensive gaze, looking straight ahead. Across the neatly paved stone path and fine sand, approximately 15 feet away, stood a middle-aged man holding a hefty broadsword at an angle. It was the Emperor. Are you prepared? No. Thats what he wanted to say. But he couldnt. So, he mustered a smile on his lips and continued to reflect. How did he truly end up like this? Then, in a sudden sh, he recollected something that urred 30 minutes ago. Crash! Suddenly, he felt an embrace encircling his shoulders. A robust figure embraced him warmly, almost toppling him backward due to his slender physique. He managed to maintain his equilibrium with his feeble back muscles, eventuallyprehending the situation. The Emperor? Weed him with an embrace? Initially, he found it unbelievable. He thought the man was insane. However, it was urate; the Emperor, with all his momentum, had hugged him. Consequently, Raciel had to fend off something akin to a takedown by a UFC wrestler. In short? He was suffocated! The embrace was overwhelmingly powerful! Ugh, uh, ah! An emotional embrace between father and son? An exhrating reconciliation between frequently quarreling acquaintances? None of that was present. In reality, he wished it were. At least then he wouldnt feel like his limbs were on the verge of being torn off. Hey, wait! Stop! Enough! He struggled as best as he could. Finally, it appeared that the Emperor noticed his pallor. The Emperors eyes flickered briefly. The passionate, nearly lethal body lockno, the hugrxed. Gasp! Cough! Cough! So, did you return safely? Yes, he returned safely. And he narrowly avoided aplete spinal fracture. But he couldnt mention that. So, he caught his breath and nodded. Ah, Im honored to meet Your Majesty, the rightful ruler of the Empire. Very well. ? Was that all for the greetings? Raciel felt uneasy and nced at the Emperor. Their eyes locked briefly, and he averted his gaze swiftly. Earlier, he thought that awkward silence would be preferable. Now, he realized it was worse. What should he say? He opted for a polite bow. Then, it happened. The Emperor began teasing him. Did my disy of joy just hurt you? Just that much? Tsk, tsk, tsk. Youre so fragile. How can you bear the weight of the throne when you turn pale over something like this? Its utterly pathetic andmentable. I cant help but have doubts. Doubts, you say? Do I have to exin every little thing? He regretted asking and received a scolding in return. Simultaneously, he realized something. It wasnt really about having doubts. It felt like the Emperor was speaking without much thought. On the other hand, he sensed something else. The Emperors true emotions. Hes happy. Happy that he returned safely. Happy to see him in good health. Happy that they could face each other like this. He felt genuinely relieved. He sensed the Emperors joy and contentment. He had felt it ever since the Emperor hugged him earlier, even more so because it wasnt the first time. Father. Suddenly, he thought of his father in Korea. It was during his third year of middle school. He had broken his leg while ying ser during lunchtime at school. He had to wear a cast for a while. Taking the bus was difficult, so his father drove him to and from school. Back then, his father always appeared like that. Heined every day. He would grumble about him getting injured while ying. But his actions contradicted his words. He wouldnt let him carry his bag. Hed carry it all the way to the ssroom for him. He worried incessantly that his injured leg might worsen or not heal properly. He couldnt forget it. He didnt know where he heard some story, but until his cast was removed, their homes fridge was filled with milk and anchovies that his father personally bought. They had at least five different anchovy side dishes on the dining table. I must have eaten a lifetime supply of anchovies back then. Chuckling, a smile appeared on his face. But perhaps he misinterpreted his smile. The Emperors eyebrows furrowed. Whats so amusing? Huh? Are you finding humor in receiving my reprimands? Huh? That wont do. You need a firmer reprimand. Since youve been causing trouble in Anbouaz, prepare for a sparring session in the training grounds. Huh? Training grounds? Sparring? Him? Why? A million questions raced through his mind. But the Emperor didnt wait for his answer and turned away quickly. Thanks to that, this is his current predicament. Meeting the Emperor in the training grounds, crouching behind the Perennial Snow. Oh, why did I have to twitch my facial muscles? It wasnt warmth he felt from the Emperor. It wasnt nostalgia as he briefly reminisced. He shouldnt have lost control of his facial muscles. But regrets alwayse toote. Raciel steadied himself, gripping the Perennial Snow tightly. He could see the Emperor preparing himself. Lets begin. Gulp. He wished he could go in the opposite direction instead. He thought as he swallowed hard. In that moment, the Emperor struck the ground. His figure expanded explosively, no, he surged forward! Swoosh! Ugh! Instinctively, he raised the Perennial Snow. He had been monitoring the Emperors movements with the meridian scanning option. Reading the attack direction wasnt difficult. The intense shock struck the Perennial Snow. ng! A powerful shock that seemed topress his entire body from arms and shoulders to the waist! But he could endure it. There was no need to activate the Imprable defense option that prevented a knockout. Its not as strong as I thought. Was it because of his experience enduring Swordmaster Javillons powerful blows with his whole body, or was it because he had reached the Double Circle grade like the Emperor? Perhaps it was both. The Emperors attacks didnt feel as burdensome as he had expected. The subsequent attacks were simr. Swoosh! Thud! Zzzt! tter! tter! Upper, middle, side, lower, upper, head, shoulders, knees, feet, knees, feet. The attacks rained down like a one-sided shower. Each time, he responded skillfully, blocking them. But the Emperors attacks didnt stop there. In fact, there was a more potent attack than the raining sword strikes. Ugh! Why did you Crash! Break the promise you made with me just before leaving for Anbouaz so easily? Thud! Werent you the one who said you would watch and gain experience in another countrys war process from a safe distance? Swoosh! However, why did you rush into danger so recklessly? Crash! Are you not going to answer? Thunk! Gah! A groan involuntarily escaped. Of course, he wanted to answer. He wanted to retort at least a hundred times. But he couldnt bring himself to open his mouth. The emperors barrage was pouring down like a shower, and just reacting to it was enough to take his breath away. Huk! Hu, hooook! It was obviously his poor stamina that was the problem. All this time, the emperors mental attacks (?) had been apanied by physical ones. Furthermore, you are indeed foolish, and foolish again. Gruh! Kwaang-! Let me ask you. Do youck awareness and responsibility for the position you hold? Is that really the case? Krut! Tookwang-! Have you really not thought about the void and chaos that the imperial family would face, and the severe losses that could arise if you were to make a mistake? Uuh! N, no, thats not it! Jjeokkeok-! Or what were you thinking, challenging the Swordmaster so recklessly? T, that I didnt want to, but it just happened! Tookwaang-! Gack! This time, its for real. A strike filled with genuine emotion. He realized it the moment he blocked it. The emperors expression also turned grim. Was he angry? The re he gave him was no joke. Do you consider the future that this father and the imperial family have ced on your shoulders to be a joke? Is it really? Raciel was at a loss for words and assumed an even more robust defensive posture. The emperors gaze turned colder. He moved with a more aggressive momentum. However, in truth, the emperor was feeling both joy and astonishment at the same time. This child has already reached the realm of Double Circle? Just earlier, unable to contain his happiness, he had identally hugged him. That was when he faintly sensed it through Core Technique. His eldest sons aura had transformed. It was nothing like before. He even tested his sons reaction by giving him a tight hug. From that moment, he had his suspicions. He wanted to confirm them even further. So, he summoned him to the training grounds. He pushed him hard. Thanks to that, he realized. His always frail eldest son had already reached the Double Circle level. Is this a possible rate of growth? It was an astounding pace of development. No, it was an unrealistically rapid rate of progress. He awakened his Mana Circle earlier this year. Not even a full year has passed yet Already a Double Circle. The more he thought about it, the more incredible it felt, especially considering it took him 25 years to advance from Single Circle to Double Circle. But it was a fact. Every time he struck his eldest sons ice shield, that fact became an increasingly vivid reality. It was astonishing, and it was glorious. Of course, as his sons defense grew colder, the Emperors words also turned colder. You are truly pitiful and pitiful again. With such amentable mindset, what will you achieve in the future as the crown prince responsible for the imperial familys future? Tell me. What are your ns with such a low sense of responsibility and duty? Grr, I am! Kwaang-! Another blownded. Raciels leg quivered slightly. The moment he noticed that, the Emperor, holding a sword, loosened his grip just a bit. To avoid making it obvious, to give his son a chance to regain his stance, he waited for a brief moment. Raciel didnt miss that opening. Lets initiate the offense first. It was unfair to keep being the target. He couldnt continue to y defense and be overwhelmed indefinitely. Just then, he noticed the Emperor hesitating. It was an opportunity. Shield strike! Swiftly taking a half step, he moved toward the Emperors chest. He nted his foot firmly, channeling strength through his legs and waist into the upper body holding the Perennial Snow. The amplified power from the Mana Circle was also at y. He aimed to push the Emperor back with his shield and create some distance. Now! Whoosh-! The icy shield of the Perennial Snow rushed toward the Emperor like a steel wall. A sense of a sessful counterattack filled Raciels eyes. Done! The Emperor remained unresponsive. It seemed like a sessful surprise counterattack, at least for a moment. Then, the Emperor turned his gaze toward him. With a slight smile, he calmly stepped backward. Eh? Whoosh? The shield he had pushed forward only met empty air. Consequently, Raciel lost his bnce, nearly stumbling forward. If the Emperor hadnt reached out to catch him, he would have appeared quite foolish. Thump! The Emperors hand that caught him. His face instantly reddened. Attempting a counterattack and ending up in such a situation was somewhat embarrassing. But there was no time to dwell on this humiliation. The Emperor suddenly retrieved a thick bundle of papers from his chest, the contents of which were unidentified, and handed it to him. Take this. What is this? He straightened his posture and reluctantly epted the bundle. The Emperor wore an oddly pleased smile. And then he said something that sounded almost unbelievable. It was a bombshell. Its a collection of marriage proposals sent by various royal families and prestigious noble houses for you. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Marriage proposals? Initially, a million thoughts raced through his mind. Is this insane? Is this even real? It turns out, it was. Its really happening. Ting-ting, ting-ting. In the quiette evening of downtown Imperial capital, a luxurious carriage rolled along. Inside, Raciel let out a deep sigh. His gaze was fixed on the dozens of marriage proposal letters spread out before him. He reminisced about the moment he received them from the Emperor. He had felt how absurd it was back then. He even suspected that the Emperor was ying some kind of cruel trick on him. That guy always tries to test me and fails, so now hes desperate. He must be trying to provoke me even more. The Emperor was someone who constantly tested his sessors. Raciel assumed that these unexpected proposals were just another one of those tests. So he managed to respond calmly. Marriage proposals, understood. He answered withposure. He epted the bundle of proposals,pleted the formalities, bowed, and retreated. For a moment, he felt relieved that todays ordeal was over. But now. As he checked the proposals on his way back to the pce, his heart sank. They were real. Not fake letters for testing from the Emperor, nor cruel pranks. They were just undeniably real! This is certain. Raciels gaze moved to the topmost envelope. The royal crest engraved on it caught his attention. It wasnt a mere design; it was a magical seal, meaning it couldnt be forged. All the remaining envelopes were the same, adorned with various designs and crests from numerous royal and noble families. This surreal scene of dozens of passionate love calls felt almost unreal. . It was unbelievable. A blessing to his life, which had been perpetually single? At first, he was honestly a bit excited, wondering if this was how extremely popr, good-looking guys felt. But upon further reflection this was not good news! Your Highness, what is that? Sitting across from him in the carriage, Demian asked. Perhaps it was because Raciel looked serious; Demians eyes also sharpened. Raciel shrugged. Marriage proposals. Excuse me? Just received them from His Majesty. From His Majesty? Yes. They have been pouring in recently from various royal families and prestigious nobles. All of them wanting to marry me. Isnt that good news? Does it seem that way? Yes. Unfortunately, it doesnt appear to be the case. Why? Perplexed, Demian tilted his head, and Gardin, who had been silently listening, joined the conversation. Is Your Highness trying to decide whom to choose? Gardin asked. Gardin appeared serious yet somewhat excited. Raciel immediately understood why. He had heard about Gardins extravagant love life. In other words, Gardin was eager to offer romantic advice. Unfortunately, Gardin was heading in the wrong direction this time. Raciel gave a wry smile and shook his head. Choosing whom to pick? No, not that. Huh? Thats not it. Then whats on your mind? Im contemting how to reject all of these at once. What? Gardins eyes widened in surprise, and Demian also raised his eyebrows. It was a reaction of confusion, which was understandable. Raciel sent them a slightly deeper sarcastic smile. Most likely, those who have sent the marriage proposals havent sent them to me, Raciel, but to the crown prince who will be the emperor of the empire. Both in terms of social status and future prospects, Im the self-proimed number one groom on the continent, arent I? Of course, Your Highness. Gardin quickly nodded, eliciting another sarcastic smile. So. So what do you mean, Your Highness? Why did no one send marriage proposals before, and why are they suddenly pouring in now? Ah. Did he finally understand his point? A glint of understanding shed in Gardins eyes. Its because of Your Highnesss achievements in Anbouaz, which have spread all over the continent. Am I correct? Correct. Exactly. Raciel said as he picked up one of the envelopes containing the marriage proposal. Before, everyone must have seen me as useless. A sickly crown prince. Someone bound to die soon. Therefore, they probably thought I had no chance of bing the next emperor. Wasnt I treated like a rotten fruit? In reality, everyone did think that way. It was easy to guess even with a little thought. There were even rumors from the pce suggesting that secret marriage proposals were more often sent to the second prince. Of course. If I die, the second prince would inherit the crown princes position and eventually ascend the throne smoothly. But the second prince had rejected all such marriage proposals. Apparently, he had reasons like, My elder brother should be the first, or That is the proper order. Now, things have changed because of what Ive done in Anbouaz. Out of nowhere, revealing my identity in the middle of the battlefield. Even defeating Swordmaster Javillon. None of it was nned or anticipated. Anyway, thanks to that, his capability(?) has been widely, widely spread across the continent. Of course, this has also swept away the skeptical looks aimed at him. Now, everyone sees my value suddenly surge No, everyone has finally realized the value of the number one groom that I originally had. Afraid of losing me to others, they must have sent their marriage proposalspetitively. In other words, at this point, he has be the best lottery ticket on the continent. It was natural that everyone sent marriage proposals so eagerly. But thats the problem! Why? Because I have no intention of bing the emperor! That was his honest sentiment. Bing an emperor was something he didnt want to do. He didnt want to live a stressful life burdened with numerous chores. He simply wanted to enjoy a leisurelyndlords life while benefiting from his royal status. The reason Ipeted for the crown princes position against the second prince was to prepare for a potential major war. But now, with Javillon defeated, the threat of a major war has vanished as well. So, if a few more issues are resolved? He was nning to pass the throne to the second prince. Therefore, I cant ept this marriage proposal! Raciel firmly decided. Gardin, looking puzzled, inquired, But Your Highness, isnt it odd? Everyone is finally recognizing Your Highnesss abilities and potential, so why turn down the marriage proposals? Dont you understand? No. I was wondering if you are upset because you werent acknowledged before. Tch. I apologize. Gardin was taken aback instantly. To rify, he wasnt upset. Absolutely not. The reason he couldnt ept the marriage proposal was clear. If he did, it would be a fraudulent marriage. They sent the proposal thinking I would be the emperor, but I have no intention of bing one. In simple terms, those who sent the marriage proposals were staking their familys future and the brides life on him. But if he unterally decided not to be the emperor, then the person who became his wife would be a victim of deception. He didnt want that. He didnt want to live like that. But Tch. How can I reject all these marriage proposals? Suddenly, the image of the emperor handing him the marriage proposals came to mind. He vaguely recalled it. There was a faint glimmer of expectation in the emperors eyes. He probably thoroughly enjoyed this flood of marriage proposals. But could he unconditionally reject the marriage proposals without a valid reason? No, absolutely not. It was impossible. The more he thought about it, the more his head throbbed. It continued until the carriage arrived at the pce. He couldnte up with a reasonable excuse to decline them. No clear justification came to mind. His head was pounding. Shall I take a walk? The pce garden greeted him with its tranquil night air after several months away. It was a serene and beautiful sight. He felt like taking a walk to clear his head. He walked slowly, having just finished a duel with the Emperor. Perhaps it was too much, considering he hadnt fully recovered from fatigue. Or maybe the night air was colder than he anticipated. Ding-dong! [Your organs condemn your irresponsible act of overworking.] [Heart: Hey! Cut it out with the overtime!] [Lung: I just want to rest now ha] [Large Intestine: Guys, whats quicker to make this human rush to the bathroom, loosening the sphincter or tying it into a bow?] [Liver: Cant we try both?] [Stomach: What if it snaps LOL] [Kidneys: We rule!] At first, he thought they were simplyining, so he intended to disregard their chatter. But then it happened. Gurgle? Huh? Suddenly, his stomach churned, and a sharp pain shot through him. This was Ding-dong! [Large intestine: Oops, did we really loosen it? Hehe.] [Your lower abdomen signals an impending disaster.] Gurgle? Ugh. Raciel involuntarily gasped and clutched his lower abdomen. This was an emergency! He eximed in his mind. Why are you doing this to me? [Heart: Are you asking us?] His heart responded, filled withints. [Heart: Do you know how much work we do for you every day? Your heart beats, you breathe, you digest food. Shouldnt we get a proper break in the evening? At least give us a heartyte-night snack.] No, I understand that, but [Heart: Its almost every day.] Ugh, enough! Im really serious now. Frustrated, Raciel spoke. His head was already throbbing from the timelyints. He wanted to shift the me onto someone else if he could. Just wait a minute. As Raciel conversed with his heart, a clue shed into his mind. He seized onto it, connecting the scattered thoughts. And slowly, the big picture emerged. If I handle this right It could work. He saw the potential to neatly address the marriage proposals andy a solid foundation for his future. So, Intestine, stop it! [Large Intestine: I dont want to] What if I fast for 15 days? Can you handle that? [Large Intestine: Gulp.] Gurgle The sound of the intestine relenting was heard, and the intense pain in his lower abdomen vanished instantly. With renewed confidence, Raciel looked up and addressed Demian, who was trailing behind him. Demian, prepare the carriage we sent earlier. Excuse me? Confused, Demian tilted his head. We need to go to the Second Princes pce. At thiste hour? Yes. He had to go immediately. To put the big picture into action and deal with the marriage proposals, that ce was the most appropriate. When you think about it, those who sent the proposals are essentially sending them not to me but to the future Emperor. So, I can pass these proposals to the one who will actually be the Emperor. Precisely. Its a win-win situation. Everyone will be satisfied. Raciel climbed into the carriage, now with the grand n of Redirecting Marriage Proposals to the Second Prince in mind. The carriage set off for the Second Princes pce without hesitation. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 145 Chapter 145 Thump, tter. A carriage rumbled down the darkening streets. Inside, Raciel gazed nkly out of the window. Suddenly, the carriage passed by a familiar location. Lloy-Javi Bridge. The Majena River, spanning the Royal Road, with its grandest bridge. Constructed by the renowned city nner Lloyd Frontera nearly three centuries ago, it was also the site of his fateful duel with the second prince over the crown prince title. What a coincidence to be passing this ce on my way to meet the second prince. A bitter smile yed on his lips, as he contemted the irony. Upon reflection, he realized it had been quite some time since he hadst encountered the second prince. Is this our first meeting since that duel? It likely was. He had asionally heard news about the second prince through others, but today marked their first face-to-face reunion since that eventful day. Even when the Emperor suffered a stroke and was incapacitated, it remained the same. Whether through strange happenstance or deliberate avoidance, the second prince only visited the Emperor when Raciel was absent. And he would promptly depart, seemingly anxious to avoid any confrontation. Well, Ive been upied as well. Looking back, he had been remarkably productive. He had rescued Demian from the arena, established the Star Pce Clinic, recruited nurses, journeyed to Cremo for fundraising, and had an even busier schedule in Anbouaz. He hadnt found the time to seek out the second prince for a casual conversation. And we werent exactly known for our social visits in the first ce. That had always been the case. Thoughts of the novel Devil Sword Emperor crossed his mind. Raciel and the second prince, Theodor, were half-brothers. Both had lost their mothers at birth. Interestingly, both had endured challenging births, and after two consecutive tragedies, the Emperor left the Empresss throne unupied. In any case, Raciel and Theodor grew up without mothers. However, this shared experience did not bring them closer together. It was an inherent rivalry, whether we liked it or not. By birth. Furthermore, he wasnt the real Raciel; he was simply pretending to be himaplete stranger to Theodor, when you got down to it. He had no desire to visit the prince and act hypocritical. It would be ufortable, and he would feel disgusted with himself. He preferred to maintain his distance. Im not Raciel. He had no familial connection to the second prince. Thiking about it, what had happened to the original Raciel? A thought crossed Raciels mind, or rather, Lee Hans mind, as he clenched and then loosened his fist. He was curious, and to some extent, he felt guilty. After all, he had taken over the guys body, whether intentionally or not. Thats why. Suddenly, he became curious. He wanted to investigate. A ce to inquire also came to mind. He posed the question internally. Hey. There was no response, but he didnt stop trying tomunicate. Can you hear me? Respond, will you? Then, a response came soon after. Ding dong! [Your attempt tomunicate has interrupted the leisure activities of the internal organs.] [The heart has turned off the TV.] [The liver has stopped deep breathing.] [The intestine has stopped skipping rope.] [The kidney is wiping its sweat in the kidney field.] [The stomach is washing off its military camouge cream.] What were you guys up to? He couldnt help but chuckle. However, he sensed it. The organs that had been resting(?) were now paying attention to what he was saying. Do you guys know that Im not the original owner of this body? He asked his internal organs. The response came back immediately. Ding dong! [Heart: Of course. We are the custodians of this body, how could we not know? lol] As expected. They knew. Raciel continued to ask questions. So, Im talking about the original owner of this body. The true Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano. Do you happen to know what happened to his soul? The original Raciels soul. He wanted to know its whereabouts. And once he knew? Honestly he wasnt sure. Depending on the situation, I could be of assistance. Or if he attempts to reim this body, we could reach an agreement that satisfies both parties. It was a given, but he didnt want to simply relinquish the body. After all, he was the one who had revived and nurtured a body that should have been lifeless. So he intended to have a proper discussion or negotiation with the genuine Raciels soul. No, at the very least, he wanted to be somewhat prepared for that possibility. It would put his mind at ease. Nevertheless, with these thoughts in mind, he inquired about the whereabouts of Crown Prince Raciels soul from his internal organs. However, the response he received was [Heart: We dont know~] Huh? [Heart: Seriously, we dont know. How could we? The owner suddenly changed overnight.] To me? [Heart: Yep, to you. We didnt even have a chance to intervene. The transition was so natural. Could you borate a bit more? He asked once again. The organs emitted a mischievousugh. [Heart: Sorry, but we genuinely have no idea lol] I see. [Heart: Yep.] Sigh. Could it be a false impression? It seemed as if they knew something but were subtly concealing it. It was certainly ufortable, but there was no more time to inquire. The carriage had alreadye to a halt. Your Highness, weve arrived. The voice of Demian broke through his thoughts. He looked up abruptly and saw a splendid building through the window. A building he had never seen before. He recognized it instantly. It must be the pce of the second prince. Alright, lets go. He stepped out of the carriage and, despite the chilly winter wind, entered the main pce building. An elderly steward greeted him. I am the steward responsible for the second princes pce household. I wee Your Highness, the legitimate heir to the empire. It waste in the evening, and this visit was unexpected. However, the steward disyed no signs of panic or disarray. Was he working at thiste hour? The question was soon answered. May I inquire if Your Highness has any business with the second prince? Hmm. Very sorry to ask, but the second prince is currently having a meal. A meal? At this hour? Isnt it toote for dinner? Was he having ate-night snack? Raciel tilted his head. A faint sense of awkwardness crossed the face of the elderly steward. Yes, Your Highness. The second prince has been spending a lot of time eatingtely Eating for an extended period? Yes, Your Highness. Hmm, taking ones time to eat slowly isnt a bad habit. Its less taxing on the digestive organs. In fact, its beneficial for the body. Raciel offered a faint smile. He now understood why the steward was dressed formally at this hour. He must have been tending to the second princes meal until a moment ago. He spoke as though it was nothing out of the ordinary. Then, lets wait until he finishes his meal. It would be impolite to interrupt him while hes eating, especially since I arrived unannounced. Very sorry, Your Highness. Its alright. Just inform him of my visit when hes done eating. I shallply. The steward bowed respectfully and withdrew. From that moment on, Raciel quietly contemted his ns in the reception room. I need to deliver the marriage proposal to the second prince. The so-called marriage proposal handoff operation. It seemed quite feasible. A practical execution n was within sight. With the second princes consent and the cooperation of the proposed partner, he believed he could seed. After all, I have no intention of ascending to the throne. As long as we establish a stable royal life, I will pass the throne to the second prince. Therefore, its only right to connect the women who have sent marriage proposals to be empress with the second prince. Thats the correct path. He was convinced. Of course, there would be no shortage of tangled obstacles. The Emperors reaction will be quite intense well, thats a separate matter. He was confident enough to ovee any obstacles. In fact, he has meticulously devised ns to win the Emperors favor. Theres no particr need to be concerned about the Emperors response. Instead, he was likely to receive high praise from him for this endeavor. So, they should organize a banquet at the Second Princes pce. They can invite all thedies from the families who have submitted marriage proposals. Once theyy eyes on the Second Prince in person? The game is essentially won. It will undoubtedly be a resounding sess. Thedies will be utterly charmed. The Second Prince is taller than me, possesses amendable physique, well-proportioned features, is handsome, athletic, has a diligent personality, and refrains from smoking or drinking. Hes absolutely exceptional. Furthermore, he was born into privilege. Upon closer examination, he is the ultimate top-tier husband material. This is his winning card. To put it figuratively, he has the looks of a world-ss idol like a member of BTS, the wealth equivalent to Mansour, and the social status akin to the son of a U.S. President. such were his thoughts at that moment. Ah, I apologize for hearing the newste. What brings you here at thiste hour? Suddenly, a deep voice reverberated in Raciels ears. He raised his gaze. A massive man, drenched in sweat, hurriedly entered the reception room. No, massive doesnt quite capture it. At first nce, he appeared to weigh at least 150 kilograms. It was almost a marvel that he could walk. Beneath his chin, fiveyers of fat wobbled, surpassing even a b of pork belly. His stomach, nks, and entire physique were inted to the point of near bursting. Do I recognize him? Or is he a servant employed at the Second Princes pce? But would they hire someone of such considerable girth? He was entirely unfamiliar to him. Who are you? Raciel found himself perplexed. He had been awaiting the Second Prince, so why had this exceedingly obese man, drenched in sweat as though he were sorry, walked in? In response to his question, the obese man offered an awkward smile, his cheeks puffing up. Its me. Hmm? Its me. Uh? Hahaha With an awkward smile, the obese man was initially challenging to identify. However, upon closer scrutiny, some vaguely familiar features began to emerge, as if hidden within theyers of sedimentary rock from the Cambrian period. So those features belong to I am Theodore, your brother. Its been a while. Ugh. In less than a year, the Second Prince had astonishingly, almost grotesquely, grown robust. Witnessing this spectacle, Raciel could only let out a groan. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 146 Chapter 146 Initially, everything seemed fine. Theodor believed it would be fine, even after losing in that famous duel against his elder brother, the crown prince, at the Lloy-Javi Bridge. He genuinely felt okay. Or so he thought. At first. The second prince, Theodor, shot aplex nce. However, Raciel couldnt perceive that expression. The reason was straightforward. Theodors eyes were concealed behind his swollen eyelids. Nevertheless, Theodor released a deep sigh through his thickened lips. I believed it was fine. It wasnt. The initial three days were like any other. He rose in the morning to practice swordsmanship and dedicated the entire morning to attending various sses, including imperial studies. During lunchtime, he strolled and immersed himself in books in the afternoon. As evening approached, he engaged in meetings with dignitaries and nobles. It was a day that adhered to the typical routine expected of a prince. He was diligent and punctual at every moment, rigorously training, earnestly studying, and approaching every meeting with utmost seriousness. Then, on the fourth day, a sudden realization struck him as he was washing his face, gazing at his reflection in the mirror. He discovered that he hadnt smiled even once in the three days since losing to his brother. It was a startling revtion. He finally grasped it. He was not alright. He had merely been putting on a facade of being okay. Thats when it all began. An overwhelming sense of loss consumed him. Because he had always been diligent, becauseziness had never been part of his upbringing, because he had invested so much effort throughout his life the feeling of loss was as vast as the dreams he had nurtured and the passion he had earnestly cultivated. Everything felt hollow. The dream he once believed attainable. The aspiration to be Emperor. All the daily toil and desperation now seemed in vain, futile. He grappled with a profound sense of defeat. Perhaps thats why. Unconsciously, impulsively, he leaped out of bed in the middle of the night and made his way to the kitchen of the second princes pce. d in pajamas, he devoured fruits and bread. The most delicious food Ive ever tasted. He ate until he was almost sick. No, he overindulged. And astonishingly he felt content! That day, for the first time since losing to his brother, he slept soundly. And upon waking in the morning, he realized he had undergone a profound transformation. Swordsmanship training? He had no interest. Eating brought himfort. Various sses, including imperial studies? Tedious. Eating wasforting. Walking? Reading? What was the point? Mingling with dignitaries and nobles? Socializing? It became bothersome, meaningless. Eating was far moreforting and joyful. From that moment on. In the morning, he sought out bread thered with honey. Fruits, snacks with various creams, fried delicacies, more snacks, and even heartyte-night feasts. From the moment he awoke to the moment he drifted off, he incessantly savored food. He filled his belly. No, he never emptied it. He paid no heed to others opinions. He was content. So he continued this pattern for just under a year. Of course, even now, he was Im doing well, as you can see, Brother. After all, isnt there a saying that men should have a robust physique? In its own way, this isnt too bad. Hahaha. The second prince, Theodor, chuckled merrily. His round cheeks jiggled like water balloons. Observing this, Raciels heart sounded a series of rms. What should I make of this situation? It was awkward. It was perplexing. He couldnt have foreseen that in just a few months of not seeing him, or less than a year, the second prince would transform into this plump(?) figure. On one hand, he could empathize with the mans circumstances. It was thanks to the rough exnation he had just received from the Second Prince. Not too shabby, huh? Just eating all day long? Yes, brother. Its hard to exin, but my mind feels truly at ease. Ah, you certainly appear that way. Dont I? Thats simply absurd. He could discern it with a single nce. This guy is dealing with stress-induced binge eating disorder. The immense disappointment he experienced from failing, despite his unwavering diligence, must have been overwhelming. It was likely his first taste of failure in life, given that he was born as the son of the emperor and had never encountered failure before. He grew up under the weight of high expectations from those around him. As diligent as he was, his mental fortitude resembled that of a delicate hothouse nt. In the end, he had crumbled under the weight of a single defeat. Or rather, he had be excessivelyx. In any case, Raciel recognized the gravity of the situation. Ah, this wont do. His brows furrowed. He had been dealing with numerous matchmaking proposals that hade his way. With the cooperation of the Second Prince, he had devised a n to host a banquet at the Second Princes pce. His intention was to invite potential suitors to the banquet, aiming to foster romantic connections between the Second Prince and the eligibledies. He had been confident that it would be a sess. After all, the Second Prince possessed outstanding qualifications, and his appearance was exceptionally handsome. But now? Handsome my foot! Right now, he could probably barbecue 50 servings of meat, seriously! The n he had advanced with the hope that the Second Princes good looks would be a significant asset was now on shaky ground. No, it was akin to a direct blow to the very core of the n. Ah, life can be quite something. Raciel let out a long sigh. Should he abandon the n? He was reluctant to give up so easily. Hey, you. Yes, brother. Have you ever considered going on a diet? Diet? The Second Prince, whose eyes had narrowed due to puffiness, blinked. From his expression, it seemed like the term diet was foreign to him. Raciel adjusted his suggestion. I mean losing weight. Have you ever thought about shedding a few pounds? Shedding pounds? Yes. Raciel nodded. He had to do it. He absolutely had to help this guy shed those extra pounds to fit him into the matchmaking n! With unwavering determination, he continued his persuasive argument. Im a bit hesitant to bring this up because you seem content with your current state, but Im genuinely concerned. But brother, I am content with my current state. I understand. I get it. However, your current condition isnt conducive to your well-being, and thats why Im mentioning this. Well-being? Yes. He nodded resolutely, using his confident gaze to convince him. If you persist with obesity, youre at risk for various health issues. Like high cholesterol or diabetes. And due to the excess weight, your ankle and knee joints could deteriorate. And thats not all. From hypertension to various endocrine disorders. You could develop a fatty liver or experience narrowing of the blood vessels. There are many more potential health risks associated with obesity. So, youre willing to continue living like this? Yes. Why! He nearly shouted in frustration. The Second Prince stiffened as he spoke. I really am okay. Truly. I know, too. Living like this has its drawbacks in many ways. But Im genuinely fine with it. My mind is at ease. Plus, living this way wont harm anyone, so its okay. So, I understand your sentiments, brother. But I genuinely dont see the reason why I should go through the trouble of losing weight I simply dont want to. No words came to mind in response. What can you do when the other person is unwilling? You cant force someone to lose weight. What a predicament. Raciel bit his lower lip. He had attempted to persuade him, but it had proven futile. It was awkward. Above all, the fact that the second prince disyed absolutely no inclination to embark on a diet was the most exasperating aspect. The most critical element in dieting is ones own determination, motivation, and self-encouragement. And none of that seemed to exist. This couldnt continue. Of course. A diet imposed by others has its limits. Its destined to fail. Thats an undeniable truth. Even if one seeds in shedding some weight, the likelihood of regaining it (yo-yo effect) is 99.9%. Therefore, the motivation to lose weight muste from within. Thats how fragile the process of dieting is. Ugh. What should we do? Raciel cast a troubled nce at the second prince. He didnt have a solution. How could hepel this individual, who was not only overweight but morbidly obese and utterlycking in willpower, to embark on a rigorous weight loss journey? How could he instill that motivation? It was a conundrum. But he refused to give up. Think, Lee Han, think. He pondered deeply, engaging his brainpower. He mentally folded origami. He delved into the recesses of his memory. Then, slowly, an idea began to take shape. Right at his core, this guy is exceedingly diligent. He possesses a strong sense of responsibility. Thats how he was portrayed in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Despite his downfall due to indecision, Second Prince Theodor fundamentally possessed a diligent character. Raciel seized upon that insight. This might work. He had found a piece of the puzzle. He collected his thoughts. He arranged, assembled, and merged them. He formted the magical words that could ignite the second princes determination to lose weight. He encapsted them in a sentence. He moistened his tongue in readiness for the forting revtion. Whew. I understand. I spoke without fullyprehending your perspective. Its alright, brother. Its not alright. Im not alright, you rascal. But soon, you wont be alright either. Raciel concealed his sly smile and began to speak. But, whew. I feel obligated to share this with you. What are you talking about? Actually, you see. He nonchntly paused for a beat, piquing his curiosity. Then he continued with a gentle delivery. Actually, I have reason to believe that I might not live another year. What? The second prince reacted with surprise. But Raciel didnt flinch. In fact, because it was only partially true, he began weaving a brazen, grant lie that was gxies away from reality, as if cing it on a revolving sushi conveyor belt. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 147 Chapter 147 Is that so? The second prince, Teodor, recoiled in disbelief. His ears struggled to ept the words they had just heard, giving rise to doubts. Will my brother not live for another year? Could it be that his brother was ying a cruel prank on him? Thats what first crossed his mind. He would rather believe that. After all, it was his brother, who had defeated him fairly inpetition. It was his brother, who had disyed heroic feats during the Anbouaz civil war. It was his brother, whose well-being was known far and wide. He wanted to have faith in that. However, when Teodor locked eyes with his half-brother, the crown prince, he came to a harsh realization. The words uttered by the crown prince were no jest. Yes. I understand this may be bewildering, and I apologize for springing this on you suddenly. However, its unavoidable. If this truth will inevitablye to light, its better to disclose it to you now. Teodor remained silent. Originally, only my personal physician, Gardin, and I were privy to this knowledge the fact that I have less than a year to live. Is ittrue? Yes. It was not a jest. It was partly true. Raciel nodded serenely. He gazed deeply into Teodors eyes, which were brimming with concern, and remained silent for a moment. That deliberate, awkward silence conveyed a deeper truth to the second princes heart than a hundred words ever could. Then Just as the second prince was bing bewildered, Raciel chose his words carefully. I understand. Its hard to believe, isnt it? I struggle to ept it myself. Brother Honestly, Im frightened. No one knows when I might suddenly copse or be unable to fulfill my duties as a human being. Starting tomorrow morning, I could be incapacitated. Teodor stayed silent. Thats why I began tending to patients at the Star Pce and journeyed all the way to Anbouaz to care for the wounded. Ive been trying to help as many people as possible. Is that rted to your illness? Teodor asked cautiously. Raciel chuckled. He told tant lies. No. He shrugged. It has nothing to do with me. Its more about you. Me? Yes. Teodor was taken aback. He gave Raciel a meaningful look. I thought that if I could spread some goodness in the world, it might benefit my sessor. I cant be certain, but I hoped it would work out that way. Its a kind of vague hope. Then Yes. Who do you think that sessor would be? You cared for and saved countless patients for my sake? Hmm, saying it out loud makes it sound quite awkward. Raciel smiled, but his eyes filled with even more mncholy. In essence, while his mouth smiled, his eyes revealed sadness. So, Im truly sorry. His tone grew even more mncholic, though he didnt make it obvious. Instead, he tried to conceal it, allowing the awkward and lonely atmosphere to seep in unconsciously. He blended truth and lies in a delicate bnce as he spoke. I really had no idea you were suffering such a profound loss. I never imagined you were this shattered. Brother, I No, youve done nothing wrong. If theres any me, its mine. The times when I was indifferent to you, the days when I was lost in my own thoughts. If I had known you were enduring such hardships, I wouldnt have challenged you that day Teodor remained silent. I should have stepped aside that day. I should have heeded His Majestys counsel and passed the crown prince title to you. Then you wouldnt have had to endure such difficult times. I was too selfish. But Brother, this is all my fault. Its not your fault. Teodor hurriedly protested, but Raciel shook his head calmly yet heavily. No. Sighs and words escaped him, a blend of breath and speech, carrying a weight. Then he continued. Its entirely my fault. While youre falling apart like this, Ive shown no concern, and as a result, Ive cast a shadow over the future of the royal family. Its all due to my negligence. Brother Im sorry. Truly. He reached out his hand. Theodor gently grasped it. At that moment, he softly loosened his grip. Yet, as if trying to apply more strength to the hand, he trembled. Im sorry. He uttered the words. Bowed his head. As if to apologize. He bowed even deeper. Thanks to that, he could conceal his expression. It gave his facial muscles, which had been tense from constant acting, a brief respite. Phew! Well done. The result should start to show now. Raciel was confident. Enough emotional triggers have been nted. Its time for them to take effect. So, counting down mentally, three, two, one Its not your fault, Brother! Its not your fault! There it is. The moment Theodors impassioned voice reached him, Raciel shouted in delight. But he deliberately did not react. He just kept his head deeply bowed. Perhaps due to this, Theodor spoke with an increasingly trembling voice. Its my fault, Brother. Theres nothing wrong with you. Its just that Im wed. Just because I lost to you, because I didnt get the position I wanted its my fault for suffering over such trivial matters, Brother. In addition, I didnt even know that you were suffering alone like this. Im the one whos wed, throwing tantrums over petty matters. Im truly sorry. Theodor. Yes, Brother. Dont apologize to me. Yes? When he lifted his head, Theodor was on the verge of tears. He looked straight into Theodors eyes and said, Theodor, you have no reason to apologize to me. But if you do feel remorse, you should direct it toward the great ancestors of the royal family and the countless people of the empire who are entrusting their future to you. And if youre going to carry that guilt, you should also demonstrate how you n to make amends. Yes, Brother. So what do you n to do from now on? I will, lose weight. Good. Very good. Finally, the line he had been waiting for came from Theodors mouth! But Raciel did not prematurely celebrate. Instead, he quietly clenched his fist inwardly. Bingo! He had seeded. By looking into the whites of Theodors swelling eyes, he could be certain. Those were the eyes of willpower ignited by proper motivation. He is true to his character in the novel. He was a diligent and responsible model student. A bit frustrating and indecisive, but he would never abandon his responsibilities and run away. He had perfectly prodded Theodors character. By indicating that he might not live much longer. That Theodor must be the sessor. That if he remained like this, they would all be ruined. He had dramatized the situation to turn his sensitivity into a sense of crisis, igniting his buried sense of responsibility and duty. His intentions had worked as nned. So, Theodor? Yes, Brother. Im pleased to hear that youre going to lose weight. May I offer one suggestion? Please, go ahead, Brother. Theodors eyes shone so brightly they were almost overwhelming. He seemed ready to follow anymand right now. Just perfect. Raciel subtly hid his triumphant smile and said, You,e and live in the Star pce from today. Yes? Since youve decided to lose weight, I want to assist you. Would that be eptable? Of course, it would be. It would, right? Yes, absolutely. Thank you. Thud, thud. He smiled faintly, patting the guys shoulder. With that, it was decided; the 2nd Prince of the Empire, Theodor, would embark on his weight loss journey at the retreat. Youre now confined to this retreat until you shed those pounds. Haha! Thus, persuasion was sessful. It marked the beginning of an arduous diet regimen. But if this darn diet takes too long, thats going to be a problem. The following day, Raciel was deep in thought in the office of the Star Pce Oriental medicine clinic. He gazed out the window absentmindedly. Where his gaze settled, there was a fountain adorning the garden. In the warm water that filled the fountain, he observed a hefty figure wading eagerly. It was the 2nd Prince, Theodor. At this moment, he wished he could have him jogging around the garden. However, with his current weight, such an activity would likely strain his knees, ankles, and joints. That would be a setback for the diet n truly frustrating. So far, hes been adhering to my program. Raciel furrowed his brow slightly. He recalled the previous night when he had brought the 2nd Prince to the Star Pce. He had instructed him to consume only the prescribed meals and perform the specified exercises, strictly adhering to the diet and exercise regimen. Fortunately, he had been following it diligently. However, there was also unfortunate news. He has too much weight to shed. Beforemencing the diet, Raciel had conducted an examination. The result had been staggering. The 2nd Princes weight had measured at 151.3 kilograms. That was nearly 80 kilograms more than when they hadpeted at the Lloy-Javi bridge. It will take at least a few months to lose 80 kilograms without harming his body. Even with a well-structured diet and rigorous exercise routine, it would take that long. And that posed a problem. Can I dy the response to the marriage proposal until then? No, absolutely not. Such a dy would be impossible. Neither the emperor nor the senders of the marriage proposal would wait patiently for their response. Therefore, the 2nd Prince needed to slim down quickly and prepare for marriage. In essence, the pressing issue at hand was finding a way to significantly elerate the weight loss process withoutpromising his health. No matter how much he pondered, no solutions came to mind. Raciel let out a deep sigh. He even contemted using the court magicians disguise magic, but he swiftly dismissed the idea. There could be unforeseen consequences if the magic were to wear off unexpectedly. Sigh, I cant think of a solution. Medicine? If such a remedy existed, it would have likely been marketed already. Unfortunately, none existed. Raciel believed that most of the weight loss medications sold in Korean Oriental medicine clinics were scams. Thus, during his time running a clinic in Busan, Korea, he never offered such medicines. Then what should I do? He spent the day pondering. Meanwhile, he examined and diagnosed numerous patients who hade to the clinic upon hearing news of the Crown Princes return. In the garden fountain, the 2nd Prince continued to walk diligently. Then, in the evening, Your Majesty, a package from the Princess of Anbouaz has arrived at the retreat. Hmm? He was lost in thought during dinner when the clinics steward delivered unexpected news. A package? Sent by the Princess of Anbouaz? Yes, Your Majesty. Then he recalled. Aha, the Vesparos Queen Bee liqueur, it has finally arrived. Shortly before leaving the Anbouaz Kingdoms army to join the rebels, he had requested a favor from the princess. And it seemed that the delivery had beenpleted. He ceased eating and sprang up. I cant resist opening it! He was concerned about potential damage during transit, possible leakage of the brewed liqueur, or the growth of mold due to exposure to air. These concerns made it impossible for him to continue eating. Moreover, he had been burdened with worries throughout the day and needed a mental break. Lets take a look. He proceeded to the storage area where the package had been delivered and spotted arge oak barrel reminiscent of a massive water tank. It was the same barrel in which he had brewed the liqueur with Vesparos Queen Beeponents at the Anbouaz medical camp. With a mixture of anticipation and apprehension, Raciel ascended to unseal the lid. He scooped a small amount of the liqueur with a longdle. Hmm. Thankfully, the color appeared to be fine. The scent was also eptable. Then he addressed something in his pocket. Poboki? Poki! As soon as he called, a response came instantly. Shortly after, the phoenix fish Poboki emerged from his pocket. Raciel extended thedle towards the creature. Its been a while, so I have a favor to ask. I acquired some delicious liqueur today. Poki? I truly want to share the vor with you, my best friend. Would you like to be the first in the world to taste it? Poki? ki? This is genuinely expensive liqueur, you know. Pobi! Upon hearing the word expensive, Pobokis eyes gleamed. Seizing the opportunity, Raciel discreetly offered thedle. Poboki eagerly lunged at it. Poki! Poki! Gulp! Without hesitation, Poboki consumed the liqueur in thedle. And then it keeled over. Po bo ki! Ding-dong! [Poboki the Phoenix Fish casts Skill ] p! Poboki shut its eyes dramatically as it plummeted down. The me on its fin extinguished, and it even stuck out its tongue. But itsted only for a moment. Pokii! Its eyes flickered open. Ding-dong! [Poboki the Phoenix Fish casts Skill ] [A Giant Stack 1 has been umted for Poboki the Phoenix Fish.] Apanied by the message, Poboki let out a deep sigh. Bemoaning its fate of always having to die whenever he indulged in food, it snapped off one of his fins. It also plucked out one of his fangs. And then Ding-dong! [Poboki the Phoenix Fish casts Skill ] Poki! Ki! Ki! Shhhhh! While emitting a concentrated murmur, Poboki diligently recorded a report analyzing the ingredients of the Vesparos Queen Bee liqueur it had just consumed! Meanwhile, Racielle discreetly approached it, squinting his eyes to decipher the tiny report that Poboki was penning. As a result, he had a revtion shortly thereafter. Huh? Is this report Im perusing genuine? It seems entirely authentic. So, does this imply If this Queen Bee liqueur is refined properly could it be transformed into a genuine dietary supplement? Suddenly, a promising future unfolded before him, involving both a new drug clinical trial utilizing the second prince and a rapid weight loss double sess. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 148 Chapter 148 Huh? Raciel hesitated instinctively. His eyes widened in surprise. What is this? His gaze fell upon Pobokis report, or rather, a liquor disguised as aponent analysis. He found the answer he had been contemting all day. The content reads [Todays Diary] [My owner finally gave me something to eat after a long while. Its alcohol, and he lured me by iming it tastes amazing. He even mentioned that hes giving it to me first because its special. I was genuinely excited. However, I was deceived. The alcohol tasted awful. In particr, T-Carnitine was the worst. It was overly concentrated and had a both salty and greasy taste. As soon as I consumed it, it swiftly depleted the fats in my body and converted them into mitochondria. There was no stopping it.] T-Carnitine? It was the first time he hade across thisponent. He was familiar with L-Carnitine, a vitamin Bplex thatmonly aids in fat burning, but T-Carnitine was entirely new. It probably didnt even exist in the first ce. So, what is this? Is it a unique substance exclusive to this world? Raciels eyes quickly scanned Pobokis diary. [Furthermore, they even operated during the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycles. Normally, for simr L-Carnitine, the intake is limited to no more than 2 grams per day, but theres no such restriction here. Its unbelievable. No side effects even with an intake exceeding 2 grams. Life isnt fair, is it?] What? It seemed like a scam. He sensed it as soon as he read it. L-Carnitine, which aids in fat burning, can lead to various side effects when consumed excessively. Thats why there are daily intake limits. But here, there was no limit? And no side effects even with excessive consumption? Really is this some kind of cheat code? The more he thought about it, the faster his heart raced. He had already been contemting ways to expedite the 2nd Princes diet. What a fortunate coincidence this was. Is this too contrived? Could it be a situation intended by someone, like a god or the creator of this world? Otherwise, it doesnt make sense. A slight doubt(?) crept in. But there was no way to confirm it. Well, anyway. Typically, L-Carnitine ismonly found in dietary supplements. But if one can consume this without any limits or side effects Phew. He already envisioned the slimmed-down appearance of the 2nd Prince. On one hand, he glimpsed a bright new future. Vesparos Queen Bee Wine, packed with this deceptive T-Carnitine. What if he refines this into medicine and sells it? It would revolutionize the dietary supplement industry in no time. It would instantly reshape the hierarchy. He envisions the numerous overweight individuals across the continent reaching into their wallets. No, they might evene running with carriages loaded with bundles of money. Raciel takes a deep breath. Well done, Poboki. Poki? Thank you for theponent analysis today. Pobi! Poboki, who seemed to havee back to life, winks with one eye. A satisfied smile spreads across Raciels face. Now, its time to ignite the 2nd Princes fat. Two months have psed. The diet has been grueling. The 2nd Prince has shed a staggering 62 kilograms. Ding-dong! [Comprehensive Examination Report] [Examinee: Theodor Palermo Magentano] [Species: Human] [Gender: Male] [Age: 20] [Height: 184.3 cm] [Weight: 88.1 kg] [Blood Type: Rh+ A] It really worked. Under 90 kilograms, 2-month cut sess! On the 60th day sincemencing his diet, Raciel inwardly cheers as he sees the test results of the second prince. [Comprehensive Opinion: The body is currently undergoing metabolic disruption due to rapid weight loss from an excessively obese state. Ketosis fat metabolism is highly active. There is umted fatigue in the liver and kidneys due to the rapid weight loss. It is rmended to take a month-long rest period for bodily bnce and health.] [Your organs extend both a polite apuse and genuine concerns for your rigorous efforts that led to the second princes sessful diet.] [Heart: Haha, look at the transformation from a mass of fat into a person. So hardcore.] [Lungs: Phewhaha.] [Large Intestine: My fellow organs, the ones on that side must have been utterly exhausted, right?] [Liver: If I were in that situation, I wouldve gone on strike. Haha.] [Stomach: If it were me, I wouldve run away. Life without carbs? No way. Haha.] [Kidney: If our body ever does something like this, Ill create kidney stones as payback. Lets see who gives in first. Haha.] He gets chills for a moment. Well, anyway, this wasnt just a sess; it was a massive sess. If anyone had witnessed the second princes weight loss, gyms and pharmaceuticalpanies would be eager to contact him for a sessful diet case study. This was an overwhelmingly sessful diet. Right? You feel it too, dont you? Raciel turns his head with a sly smile. There stands the second prince, Theodor, looking transformed. Yes, thanks to you, I had to discard all the clothes that used to fit me. The jiggling flesh that once hovered around 150 kilograms has vanished. Hes returned to being a rather robust and handsome man. If he had a slim model-like body before, now he has a bulkier, sturdier appearance. The impact of Vesparos Queen Bee was substantial. The unknown substance, T-Carnitine, had an astonishing effect. As soon as he consumed it, it burned fat like a nuclear fusion reactor. It also contributed significantly to his recovery from physical fatigue! Thats why. Thebination of the Asrahan Core Technique that the second prince originally possessed and T-Carnitine allowed for almost cheat-level physical recovery. It was like giving a full set of male hormones to King Kong and making him exercise. He could fully recover after just a few hours of sleep, even after a day filled with exercise. Thanks to that, he could consistently maintain a strict diet and exercise regimen, including swimming. He also took preventive measures like acupuncture and cupping for muscles, fascia, ligaments, and joints. It was a process simr to sculpting a person out of a block of fat. As a result, the second prince had somewhat regained his former physique. So, arent you grateful to me? Thank you. Truly. See? Yes. The second prince, Theodor, nodded his head. It was sincere. The past two months had been days of literally chiseling away the fat. But could he im that the result was entirely due to his own efforts? The thought crossed his mind asionally. If it werent for Brothers advice, management, and encouragement it wouldnt have been possible. Thanks to relocating to the Star Pce, following dietary instructions, and adhering to exercise routines, all the encouragement and asional nagging yed a crucial role. And the peculiar-tasting alcohol that Raciel personally brewed and aged. That peculiar alcohol. Just thinking about it made it feel as though a million thorns sprouted on his tongue. It was no exaggeration; it had no vor. It was the most tasteless thing he had ever consumed, even worse than any food or idental ingestions. Even dog feces rolling on the street would be sweeter. Seriously. It was that severe. If he had to describe it? It probably tasted like Ogre earwax. From the moment it touched his tongue, he wanted to sever it. When swallowing, it felt as if the esophagus wanted to escape. His stomach churned and twisted as if performing a doomsday serenade. Yet, he wasnt even allowed a piece of candy as a pte cleanser. Because consuming sugar would hinder fat metabolism! How dreadful it was to have to take a spoonful of that alcohol with each meal. He subtly expressed his difort to Raciel. He even inquired about its ingredients. But the only response he received was Hey, its good for you. Just try a spoonful. Trust me, give it a try. that was it. He simply had to trust. He simply had to endure. His faith and patience were not in vain. I genuinely thank you, brother. If it werent for you, for your encouraging words I would still benguishing in the Second Princes pce. Id still be brooding over my failures andmenting my fate. Uh-huh. You surely would be. Yes. Thats why Im even more appreciative. Brother, you didnt just help me shed weight. You saved my future and my life. Uh-huh. Thats absolutely true. So, I am genuinely, sincerely grateful. Uh-huh. But is that all? Yes? Theodore paused. What did his brother mean by that question? He had conveyed his gratitude for the favor he had received. He had sincerely said thank you multiple times. But was that all that was expected? What else could be required? He felt puzzled. Raciel clicked his tongue. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You dont understand the basics of social etiquette, huh? Excuse me? What do you mean? You mentioned that youre grateful to me. Yes, I genuinely am. But are you just expressing it with words? Yes? Who in the world cant convey gratitude with words alone? Even a stray dog could do it a hundred times if asked, right? Thatstrue. Exactly. So, do you think the favor Ive done for you is so insignificant that mere words would suffice? After helping you for the past two months? Is that all its worth? Oh, I hadnt thought about it that way You didnt think, did you? Yes, Im sorry. So, what should you do? I should show my gratitude not only through words but in other ways as well. Thats right. Exactly. Finally, a satisfied smile appeared on Raciels lips. This was the truth. Who in the world would just say thanks and move on? If youve received a favor in this challenging world, shouldnt you at least treat the person to some good food and a drink? Isnt that the proper way? Furthermore, this was precisely what Raciel had been aiming for from the beginning. So, do me one favor. What kind of favor are you talking about? Its not a difficult request. Please, just tell me, brother. A determined gleam shone in Theodors eyes. He was genuine. He was truly immensely thankful. Confined to the Second Princes pce, ignored by everyone, his brother had been the first person to genuinely extend a helping hand to him. He absolutely wanted to repay the favor. He would fulfill any request. He would wholeheartedly assist his brother in reciprocating the kindness. If it was something within his capacity to help his brother with, he would do it earnestly. He made a resolutemitment inwardly. Thanks to this determination, Good. Then, marry in my ce. When Raciel said this with aposed expression, the Second Prince suddenly had second thoughts. Should I just regain the weight? (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Very well. Then, you, go ahead and marry on my behalf. The second Prince, Theodor, fell into silence. There wasnt any grand exnation. He was simply left stunned. He wasnt certain about what he had just heard. He felt like instructing his servant to fetch the thickest cotton swab immediately. If possible, he wished to thoroughly clean his ears and then listen to his brothers words once more. However, fortunately(?), it appeared that his brotherprehended his perplexed state. Why? Dont you understand? Should I repeat myself? Nod, nod. Theodor unconsciously nodded his head. A shameless smile casually appeared on Raciels lips. Im requesting that you marry in my ce. Why are you suggesting this? Oh, youre wondering why? Well, naturally Just a minute ago, you mentioned youd grant any favor I asked. So, was it only lip service? Was that all it was? No, its not that You said youd do the favor. But brother Correct. Thats how the world operates. Where is the sincerity? People express gratitude because it benefits them. Isnt that right? It seems Ive asked something too demanding of you. Ive shattered your sincerity with my unreasonable request. So what? If your sincerity only goes this far, its not your fault. Im the one at fault for not realizing that and acting insensitively. Right? Its alright, its alright. No need to appear so apologetic. Im not upset. Ill simply request something else. Just give me a piece of candy. You can manage that, cant you? After being by your side for two months and putting in all kinds of effort, I should at least receive a piece of candy as a token, right? A piece of candy seems to be just the right measure of your sincerity. Isnt it? Huhuhu! Hey, why are you sniffling? No, its just that Theodor was genuinely perplexed. He truly felt grateful to his brother. However, the favor his brother suddenly asked for was for him to marry in his ce. This exceeded his wildest expectations. He had no idea how to respond. Its because its so sudden and bewildering. Ah, I see. Yes, even now Alright, I understand. Youre bewildered. Youre unsure how to react, right? Yes Tsk, tsk, tsk. Yeah, yeah. Everyone experiences that. Raciel gently patted the second Princes shoulder as a gesture of constion. Simultaneously, he thought to himself, This guy, hes kind-hearted and hardworking, but hes also indecisive and burdensome. Hes like a character straight out of a novel. Now, its time to begin persuading him with my reasons. First, he needed to shake him up, create psychological openings with a touch of guilt, and then smoothly introduce his convincing rationale into those openings. Just as nned, Raciel loosened his tongue and started delivering his prepared lines. Curious why Im making such an unreasonable request? Theodor nodded silently. A faint smile graced Raciels lips as he calmly told a fabricated tale. Didnt I mention it before? I have less than a year to live. Ah. Does it make sense now? Yes, to some extent. Light returned to Theodors eyes. Raciel enhanced the smile at the corner of his mouth. Just as you suspected. My time is limited, but its not public knowledge yet. Despite that, numerous marriage proposals have poured in. That must be incredibly challenging for you. Indeed. How can I marry when my days are numbered? If I were to do so, it would create significantplications, wouldnt it? Then, brother, why not simply reveal the truth openly and decline? No, I cant. Why not? Its best for as few people as possible to be aware of my limited lifespan, especially since His Majesty hasnt fully recovered yet. Ah. Youre aware, right? How critical His Majestys condition was and how miraculously he recovered. Yes, I understand. So, His Majesty, despite appearing outwardly active as before, there are still lingering effects. There are still risks. If he were to experience deep sadness or intense emotions, theres a possibility of a rpse like before. Now, what would happen if he suddenly learned the truth about my limited lifespan without any mental preparation? Hmm. I didnt know there was such a reason. Did you not? I didnt want to resort to this either. Yes, but I have a question. What is it? If I were to marry one of those who proposed, instead of my brother How would such a marriage take ce? Theodor was genuinely curious. After all, the flood of marriage proposals was directed solely at his older brother, Crown Prince Raciel. This meant they had no interest in him. But could a marriage be arranged if he desired one with someone among those proposals? Raciel grinned in response to the question. Its possible. Youll need to make them want it. Them you mean? Yes. You need to make them attracted to you first. Its amon approach, isnt it? Mutual attraction. There will be a ball at the second princes pce. Invite the suitors, and present yourself in the most dazzling way. Then, with mutual attraction, proceed to a marriage that no one can oppose. At that point, Ill step back and y a supporting role. So, can you do it? Yes, but now I think I understand a bit better. Understand what? That youve manipted me right from the start for this favor. Of course. So, do you resent it? No, its not that Then? I feel like Ive been deceived. You caught on quickly. Hahaha. Theodor couldnt help but smirk at such a straightforward response. However, he didnt hold any grudges, as he could sense his brothers genuine concern (?) for the Emperor and the future of the royal family. Ill do my best not to let you down, brother. Unaware that he had been fooled, Theodor made up his mind. The following day, dozens of carrier pigeons flew from the pce, carrying responses to the marriage proposals. The invitations bore a clear message: Firste, first served, limit of 50 people. A few dayster. Royal families from various countries began to stir. Noble families were in an uproar. The reason was simple: it was due to the response to Raciels marriage proposals. What? Firste, first served, 50 people? If youre not among the first 50, you cant attend the party? Is that really true? Seriously? Some royal families shook their heads. Some nobles debated the authenticity of the reply. Soon, everyone arrived at a simple conclusion. This is real! The seal of the Magentano royal family was present, and the carrier pigeons had been sent with powerful magical protections. Falsification was impossible from the start. The answer was clear. This is real. We cant bete! Indeed. The response from the empires crown prince limited attendance to 50 people. This meant that if you didnt attend the party, the chance of marriage would be lost! Prepare the carriages immediately! Royal families hurriedly got to work. Noble families were in a rush. They quickly organized the fastest and sturdiest carriages. The finest horses were lined up. The most skilled coachmen were chosen. Engineers capable of immediate repairs in case of carriage issues were hired. And each countrys strongest cavalry units were added as escorts. ns were also made for the rapid supply of provisions. Lets go! Time was of the essence. Any dy would give an advantage to potential rivals. Thus, noblewomen from various countries embarked on a spirited race for the future of matrimony and family honor. Lets go! Move, move! Tududududu! Dozens of carriages kicked up dust as they departed from their respective starting points. Comfort during the ride? That was not a concern. Speed was the sole priority, and everyone was well aware of it. Even thedies ustomed tovish treatment were no exception. Why are you driving so slowly? Go faster! Hurry! W-what, Your Highness? Like this! Whack! Whack! A princess from a small kingdom showed courage by pushing aside her exhausted driver and taking control of the reins. Another youngdy from a noble family even hiked up her dress to help a carriage stuck in a ditch. In the end, winners and losers emerged. Over the course of a month, thedies gradually arrived at the Imperial Capital of Magenta, their rankings from first to fiftieth clearly defined. And those who arrivedte? They had no chance. They were ruthlessly disqualified, forced to return to their home countries, shedding tears of disappointment. Little did they know how the story of this intensepetition would be passed down to future generations. It was indeed an unprecedented journey where countless women burned with the desire for marriage. Such an achievement was certainly worthmemorating, an event that would eventually evolve into a revered tradition. No one could have imagined that inter generations, humanity would hold this long-distance, multinational carriage race for women every five years, and that it would be called the Imperial Carriage Rally, with the Imperial Capital of Magenta as its finish line. Meanwhile, preparations for the banquet at the Second Princes Pce were alsopleted smoothly within a month. Normally, the royal banquet preparation process would take at least three months. But for Raciel, who was deeply rooted in Korean culture? Three months were simply excessive. Hurry, hurry! Come on, hurry! Throughout the preparation, the attendants and maids chanted hurry, hurry. Thanks to that, the banquets arrangements were neatly finished in just one month. And finally, the grand banquet at the Second Princes Pce began. Meanwhile, Finally, Ive found you. An uninvited guest who hadnt received an invitation to the banquet was sneaking through the winter flowers in one corner of the Second Princes Pce garden, keeping a close watch on Raciel. Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Beneath a brilliant chandelier, an even more radiant smile graced the scene. Avish banquet unfolded within the opulent halls of the Second Princes Pce. The hearts of the many fortunate invitees throbbed with anticipation as they gathered in the grand hall. Princesses hailing from kingdoms, duchies, and small states across the continent had converged here, apanied bydies from noble lineages. Each attendee had endured a rigorous selection process, embarking on journeys spanning hundreds to over a thousand kilometers. Their eyes gleamed with pride, having sessfully secured a coveted spot among the fiercelypetitive 50-person, firste-first-served selection. Yet, curiosity swirled within them. What manner of man is the Crown Prince of Magentano? These rumors had circted for some time. The Crown Prince, gued by illness since birth and seemingly beyond hope, had garnered little attention until recently. This indifference extended to the youngdies assembled in the pce. He had been treated as though he were already deceased or nonexistent. That was the case until a startling rumor began to circte. Is it true that he appeared on the battlefield and bested a swordmaster? Could those tales of his frailty be a faade? Might the Crown Prince be a humble soul who concealed his capabilities? I heard he recently established a clinic in the Star Pce and tends to the infirm free of charge. He must possess greatpassion. Before arriving here, I found it peculiar that the banquet was hosted in the Second Princes Pce instead of the Star Pce. Now it bes clear; the Crown Prince likely wished for the patients in the Star Pce to rest infort. How considerate he must be! and so forth. A myriad of fantasies yed out vividly in their minds, akin to 8K videos. As they eagerly awaited the Crown Princes arrival, their imaginations had swiftly painted Raciel Adria Magentano as the embodiment of an ideal man, blending courage,passion, and thoughtfulness. Then, in that very moment, the melodious strains of the orchestra ceased. We extend our gratitude to all who have gathered today. It is our pleasure to announce the entrance of the Imperial Crown Prince, Raciel Adria Magentano. The formal promation by the master of ceremonies at the Second Princes Pce resounded in everyones ears. The orchestra resumed, flooding the main hall with a majestic, resonant, and splendid melody that stirred the hearts of the assembleddies. Atst, the doors swung open. The womens eyes shone like ultra-bright spotlights, fixated on the open doorway. Finally, the days protagonist made his grand entrance. Leaning upon a cane, with a pallid countenance and unsteady legs Uh-huh~ . The moment a groan reminiscent of an elderly man escaped Raciels lips. The instant he took his initial shaky step upon the crimson carpet. A hushed stillness descended upon the room. Yet, Raciel remained undeterred. Ah, my legs, uh-uh. Tap, tap. He advanced painstakingly, his frail frame quivering. His gait covered no more than about 10 centimeters. It consumed a significant amount of time to traverse even that short distance. His steps were unsteady, akin to a 90-year-old man on the brink of copse, were it not for the cane. On the contrary, the music that had been filling the main hall remained majestic. The melody, capturing the grandeur of a ruler and the daring charisma of a young influential figure, was on the verge of resonating in their hearts but then, it abruptly dissipated. It was all due to Raciels entrance. What is that? Princesses from various countries, along with youngdies from noble families, collectively wondered. Something seemed amiss. There had to be some trickery orchestrated by the event organizers. This was because Crown Prince Raciels appearance was shockingly different! A cane? Does he require it for walking? Why is he moving like that? What happened to him? Is he truly the Crown Prince? Really? Question marks filled the minds of everyone present. The excitement that had initially filled thedies hearts transformed into a full-blown shock. They had no choice but to react this way. Ah, my legs pant, pant. After covering a mere 3 meters on the red carpet, Raciel halted. He took deep breaths as he straightened his back, his actions resembling those of an elderly man taking a leisurely stroll to a mountain spring. His appearance grew even more pitiable. His silver haircked its usual luster. Both of his cheeks appeared sunken. His eyes were in an even worse state; they werepletely overshadowed by dark circles, as if he were a skeletal figure. Hisplexion was so pallid that he could easily blend in at a funeral home. In fact, there was not a trace of vitality to be seen. Furthermore, what about the wrist that barely peeked out from beneath his borately adorned attire? It consisted of nothing but bones and skin. Even his posture was hunched, and his knees trembled like a Chihuahuas front legs ced on an eternal snow-covered mountain! What is this? Is this real? Could this not be a dream? Did I endure all this trouble toe here just to encounter such an individual? Are you kidding me? The rosy illusions that had adorned the 50dies perceptions were instantly shattered. Everyone involuntarily shivered as if doused with icy water. How could they not? The Crown Princes appearance was utterly shocking, to the point of seeming deceptive. As for Raciel? He concealed a hidden smile of triumph. Excellent. Operation aplished! A subtle grin formed at the corners of Raciels lips as he intentionally feigned unsteady legs. The real-time looks of disdain directed at him confirmed his belief that todays disguise had been incredibly effective(?). Indeed. This is the handiwork of Court Magician Zis! Was it before the eventmenced? He had summoned Zis. He had been granted a one-day disguise spell as per his prior request. Thanks to this, he could assume a far frailer physique than his original one. The maids from the Second Princes Pce had applied dreadful makeup to him. And whenbined with his earnest acting? It resulted in a wless portrayal of a ailing persona. Heh heh heh. Feel let down. Grow even more disillusioned as you gaze upon me! Raciel advanced with steps that seemed to cheer on(?) thedies, then deliberately stumbled with his cane. Kk-eung Eehee? He tumbled! He tripped due to mishandling his cane! Simultaneously, he discreetly cast quick nces to the side. Demian, who caught this signal, extended his hand at the right moment and caught him, providing support. Heh heh, th-thank you. From that point on, Demian practically carried and steadied him as they walked, all the while apanied by the grand and majestic music. This made him appear even more feeble and wretched. Consequently, the gazes from thedies grew colder. As he observed their eyes filled with confusion, he experienced a mix of bitterness and satisfaction. Well, Ive received disappointed looks on blind dates before. Its familiar. It doesnt hurt. So K-hup. Raciel firmly suppressed his welling tear ducts. He then cleared his throat, surveying the main hall that had fallen into a profound silence of astonishment. Hmm, k-hmm! Having sessfully stunned everyone into disappointment, was it time? Time to offer them a glimmer of hope. He began to speak, pondering the n. Nice to meet you. I am the host of todays party Cough, cough! Ahem, I am Raciel Adria Magentano. Cough! First and foremost, Id like to express my gratitude to all of you for gracing todays gathering with your presence Cough! Id like to introduce someone who generously provided this venue. This is the real deal. This is the crucial moment now. Raciel moistened his lips. Id like to introduce my esteemed brother, the Second Prince of the Magentano royal family, Theodor Palermo Magentano. He gestured toward the entrance of the banquet hall. The orchestra began to y. All eyes, which had previously grown somber, turned toward the entrance. In due course, the Second Prince made his entrance onto the red carpet. At that very moment, the sound of collective gasps resonated throughout the banquet hall. Steadily, surely He stood at an imposing height of over 180 cm. A robust physique sculpted through rigorous exercise. Dazzling eyes and a handsome countenance. Theodor, exuding charm with his appearance and aura, confidently strode down the red carpet. He naturally met the gaze of everyone in the hall. During this brief encounter, his eyes briefly conveyed an apology and gratitude before vanishing. Hang in there, buddy. Raciel offered a discreet smile and surveyed the banquet hall. It didnt take long to realize that everydys gaze, fixed on the Second Prince on the red carpet, had transformed into infatuation. Heh heh. Heh heh heh. Operation aplished. Now, no one paid attention to him. All the passionate eyes were fixed on the Second Prince. It was only natural. Standing beside him made the Prince even more outstanding. They must be calcting it all in their minds. Given the impression I presented today, they probably concluded that theres no future with me. Who would believe Im healthy, considering how frailly I behaved? They likely assumed that the rumors about my exploits in Anbouaz were exaggerated or false. Furthermore, they probably surmised that I wont live long. And naturally? Interest shifted toward the Second Prince. Thats logical. They would calcte that if he ascended, the Second Prince would be next in line for the throne. Excellent. Perfect. He intentionally set the stage for this reaction. He orchestrated the situation to make the Second Prince shine even brighter inparison to himself. A sessful strategy. He felt quite content. Should I gracefully step aside now? Awkwardness had no ce here. Just as a matchmaker must depart at the perfect moment, he needed to make way so that thedies flocking to the Second Prince could do so without hesitation. History(?) could take its course. Ill be back in a moment. Raciel nced over at Demian, and Demian furrowed his brow slightly. Where are you headed? Just taking a short break. Care to join? Yes. Take a seat. Ill order a drink for myself. Understood. Go ahead. Leaving Demian behind, Raciel quietly vacated his seat. He didnt go far, just out onto a terrace adjacent to the banquet hall. Phew. After spending time in the noisy interior, the cool air on the terrace felt revitalizing. The brisk night breeze was oddly refreshing. When had hest enjoyed a peaceful moment like this alone? Ive been incredibly busy for the past three months. Since returning from Anbouaz, he had to reestablish the neglected Star Pce Clinic, oversee the Second Princes diet, and prepare for this banquet. It had been a hectic three months. He couldnt even recall thest time he had gazed up at the night sky like this. And speaking of which, when was thest time someone had held a dagger to his throat? Hush. Stay quiet. A sudden chill grazed his neck, apanied by an even colder voice. Raciel immediately froze. He shifted his eyes to the side to assess the situation. A pointy-eared woman he had never seen before held a dagger to his neck. What is this? Could she be an elf? But why would an elf point a dagger at him? It was absurd. Stepping out for a breather on the terrace during a banquet, and then an incident like this happening, in the heart of the Second Princes pce with its formidable security, seemed excessively clichd. Despite his reservations, the elf woman, poised to unsheathe her dagger, questioned him with emotionless eyes. Young human, answer me truthfully. Have you recently ignited a fire? Recently? No rhetorical questions. Just answer. He swallowed nervously. It didnt appear to be a joke, so he hesitated. Recently? Had he set a fire? After a brief reflection, his response emerged. Not recently? A falsehood. Her gaze grew even colder. Recently, as in about six months ago, did you not ignite a fire in a forest where the Apfros nest was? Huh? That was considered recent? Wasnt that an incident from ages ago? Perplexed, Raciel had to inquire further. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 151 Chapter 151 Recently, as in about six months ago, did you not ignite a fire in a forest where the Apfros nest was? Huh? Raciel unintentionally replied. The elf womans eyes turned icy. Exactly. The leader of the arsonist gang. Lieutenant Rihan. Its true. He has no intention of denying it. But that wasnt a recent event. Therefore, This feels quite unfair. Unfair? The elf womans eyebrows furrowed. He expressed hisint sincerely. Its true that I set fire to the forest. But youre portraying me as a wicked person with your clever rhetoric. A wicked person? Me? You? Yes. Why? You questioned me with a knife to my throat from the beginning, asking if I had set fire to the forest recently.'' Thats correct. So, I thought. Arson? Did I recently do such a thing? But I should at least remember it if I did, especially if it was recently.'' Raciel calmly interrogated. How did this elf woman infiltrate the heavily guarded Second Princes pce without being detected? She must be a master of stealth techniques. But he wasnt afraid. The reason was simple. From the moment he first saw the elf womans eyes, he sensed that a friendly conversation was possible. If she truly wanted to harm me, she would have attacked me immediately. He remembered once again. He is the crown prince of the empire. Anyone attempting to assassinate him wouldnt engage in a conversation. They would simply aplish their mission and escape. Furthermore, in the novel Devil Sword Emperor, it was stated that elves never interfere in human politics. So, theres no reason for her to harm him. This means the elf woman wants something from him. This gave him confidence. He confidently questioned the woman. The impact was quite assertive. So what now? Are you trying to engage in wordy with me? Youmitted arson recently. Six months ago. Yes. I didnt think you would consider an event from half a year ago to be recent.'' Why isnt that recent? Why is it recent? Its recent because it is. Then, why did youe to inquire about it as if its old news only now, after half a year? I took some time to contemte how to approach you. Their gazes shed in the empty air. Raciel realized that this elfs perception of time seemed to be quite different from that of humans. So, lets first remove the knife from my neck and converse. Why? Didnt youe because you have something to say? Threatening with a knife isnt the best way to make a request. Unless its a robbery. I might rob you. State your demand first. I wantpensation. For setting fire to the forest? Clearly. Did she recall the incident then? The elf womans eyes became fierce once more. It was a beautiful forest. Numerous nts thrived, each with its own unique song. But you, a young human, set it aze. Without anyones permission or understanding, you heartlessly burned innocent nts. Yes, I apologize. I have no excuse. Raciel openly admitted his guilt. In reality, there was no excuse. He had set the forest aze to fend off the giant wasp Vesparos, but arson remained arson. Furthermore, he recollected the characteristics of the elves in this world as described in the novel Devil Sword Emperor. Extremely passionate nt lovers. That was the most striking trait of the elves in this world. They adored nts. It wasnt just fondness or affection; it was an obsession to the point of pampering a ragweed thirty times over. To what extent? To the extent that they wouldnt even consume nts. The elves in this world were not vegetarians at all. They refrained from eating fruits as well. Their diet consisted solely of meat, all in the name of safeguarding nts. Their garments were crafted entirely from animal hides and sinews, even their bows and arrows were fashioned from animal bones, sinews, and obsidian. Even the women were the ones who ventured out of the vige for hunting. Why? Because their lighter bodies caused less harm to the grass when traversing the forest. In simple terms, they were fervent advocates of nt life. The ultimate carnivorous conservationists. That was the reality of the elves. Yet, just like that, a zealous nt-loving elf hade to hold him ountable for setting fire to the forest. He had been apprehended, so to speak. Therefore, denying responsibility would only stoke greater anger. So, I am willing to offer you suitablepensation. Just let me know. Raciel adopted a businesslike demeanor. Acknowledge what needed acknowledgment and provide adequatepensation. He was confident in his ability to handle anypensation as the crown prince. He wielded immense authority and had also amassed considerable wealth from the Minotaur-bile Clear Heart Pill. But the elf womans response was astonishing. Go to the forest yourself and restore it. Pardon? Didnt you hear me? Go to the forest you burned and nt new trees and grass. Are you perhaps an ambassador for Arbor Day? Arbor Day? Whats that? Never mind, its not important. Are you suggesting that I should personally go there and nt trees and grass? Yes. How many trees should I nt? Restore it to its pre-fire condition. So, if I simply nt that many, its sufficient? No. The elf woman shook her head resolutely and made an even more startling statement. The trees and grass that are nted must be carefully nurtured until they grow to resemble their previous state. Thats true restoration, isnt it? Hold on. Listening to this, a strange sensation crept up Raciels spine. He suppressed a looming headache and inquired, So, to sum it up, youre proposing that I should live as a forest caretaker, nting and nurturing trees and grass until the forest is fully restored? Exactly. Do you realize that it would take at least 10, if not 20, years topletely restore a forest after a wildfire? Of course. 20 years isnt such a long time, is it? Unbelievable! Raciel inwardly eximed. It didnt make sense. Twenty years would consume nearly 30% of an average humans life. I mean, I haventmitted some heinous crime deserving a 20-year sentence! He was even more baffled by the elfs nonchnt attitude towards such a substantial amount of time. He barely restrained his mental state, which was nearing the point of despair. Wait, are you kidding me right now? Kidding? Me? Why? Because for your race, which can live for thousands of years, 20 years might not be much. But for me, 20 years is a significant portion of my life. In that case? Cant we find another way to make amends? Like what? I will cover all the expenses required for the forests restoration. Money? Yes. Dont make meugh. A few shiny coins hold no value for us elves. It wont be just a few. What? It will be several crates. If you want, I can provide even more. She hesitated. For a brief moment, the elf womans eyes wavered! Ive got it! He was certain. No matter how noble the forest elves may be, in the face of gold coins, they had to be on equal terms. Because the idea that money had no value was all a facade. Of course. Who in the world doesnt need money? Just look at the elf woman before him. Did she spend every day camping out while traveling from the elf vige to here? Did she sustain herself by catching rats and sparrows in back alleys? No, that was highly unlikely. It was impossible. If she had traveled all this way without any resources, her hair, reminiscent of a hair treatmentmercial, and her well-kept attire wouldnt make sense. Hopeful of convincing her, Raciel spoke quickly. So, how much would it be? I can offer a significant workforce for the forest restoration. Wouldnt that be more convenient for both of us? The Elf womans gaze delved into contemtion. The dagger that had once been aimed at his neck had silently been lowered. Likely because she found his argument reasonablypelling. Sensing the favorable atmosphere, Raciel pressed on. Think about it rationally. Im already filled with remorse. I acknowledge the wrong Ivemitted in destroying this precious forest. So, I want to make the most efficient and effectivepensation. Whats the point if I alone struggle for 20 years to revive the forest? Instead, invest some money, hire more people for maintenance. Then the forest would regenerate much sooner, be healthier, and everyone would be happy. Birds would sing in the clear air, oxygen would fill the atmosphere, it wouldbat global warming wed all rally for Greenpeace, you know. Wouldnt that satisfy everyone? Consider it. He was making progress. He was close. Raciel subtly posed his persuasive question. The Elf womans gaze wavered even further. She pondered, Whats this human? She was perplexed. She hadnt anticipated this response. She had expected him to either strictly adhere to her demands due to the gravity of his offense or tly reject them. It was either one or the other. But it wasnt. He offered a substantial sum of money forpensation, iming it would satisfy everyone. It sounded far-fetched, but she couldnt easily refute it. Struggling to gather her mixed emotions, she spoke. I understand your point. However Youre hesitating, arent you? Yes, I am. How about pausing to think about it? Pause to think? Yes. Raciel nodded discreetly. Its a crucial decision and negotiation, isnt it? Deciding hastily would be strange, dont you think? So why not take a moment to ponder, consider various perspectives, and then we can continue our conversation? It made sense. Caught in Raciels rhythm, the Elf woman found herself nodding almost as if enchanted. Fine. Ill pause and think about it, then return. Youve made a wise choice. Yes. Ill be back soon, so wait for me. Of course, take your time. Raciel bid her farewell casually. The Elf woman disappeared in an instant. Whoosh! Did she vanish into the wind? Or did she meld into the shadows? He couldnt discern. What he did know was Mission aplished. A sly grin formed on Raciels lips. He didnt waste a second before heading back to the banquet hall. The Elfs pause would likely be at least half a day. So now, should I prepare as well? An unexpected appearance by an Elf woman demanding substantialpensation had initially shocked him. However, upon reflection, it wasnt an insurmountable situation. So I should assess my options. Finding a way to turn this incident into a profit. He was confident he coulde up with one. He had plenty of time to think and weigh his choices. A night would be more than sufficient. His cerebral cortex shifted into high gear. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 152 Chapter 152 The morning began, and the sun steadily ascended in the sky. Thedies who had harbored intense jealousy towards the Second Prince during the grand banquet the previous night were now deep in the throes of hangover-induced slumber. The Second Prince himself, exhausted, had sumbed to sleep as well. However, there was one exception. It was Raciel. Ughhh Demian? Yes, Your Highness. Just a bit lower. This spot? To the left, left, no, not that far. Just slightly to the right. Ah, there, there. Here? Yes, thats right. There. A bit firmer. Like this? Eek! Raciel let out a cry as if his nape was being peeled. It was inevitable. Demian, who was massaging his neck, had applied too much pressure. It was almost as if the trapezius muscle was bidding farewell to the body forever. Ugh, thats too strong. I apologize. Lets do it properly, shall we? Demian felt embarrassed. Why was he massaging the Princes neck so early in the morning? And why I wonder why Your Highness doesnt rest; Im concerned. You barely sleptst night attending the banquet. I wonder if theres a need for you to force yourself to stay awake like this Honestly, he was curious. It was baffling and iprehensible. Demian nced around. They were in the middle of the detached pces garden. Unbeknownst to them, thete winter morning sun was casting its warm rays. The Prince was reclining in afortable chair ced in the garden, stretching his legs. What was his intention? Why, from early morning, in the middle of the garden, did he need to be like this? The more Demian pondered, the more questions surfaced like a spring in a deep mountain forest. However, the Princes response only deepened the mystery. A reason? Yes. Because a guest ising. A guest? Yes. An unwee one. A guest who said they would think for a bit and return. But based on my intuition, they will be back by this morning. Thats why Im waiting like this. I dont like to be abruptly awakened to greet them. Who might that be? Does it have something to do with that sign over there? Demian shifted his gaze, growing suspicious. Where his eyesnded, a hastily crafted sign stood. The words Negotiations Wee, scribbled by the Prince himself, were prominently disyed. Negotiations? With whom was the Prince nning to negotiate? There was no way to know. But one thing was clear; this person had a hidden agenda. The Prince Demian had observed and experienced always had an underlying motive behind his actions. Hes a rather enigmatic individual. Demians gaze towards the Prince was filled withplexity. Meanwhile, Raciels eyes narrowed at the corners. Oh my, lost in thought again? Your grip is slowly weakening, isnt it? Make sure to massage firmly, okay? But, Your Highness, arent there other members of the special duty squad? Hmm? Why am I the one tasked with this? Because if there were others, they might cause a disturbance. Excuse me? Thats the truth. Raciel smirked. He spoke as if it were a jest, but it was a clear fact. It seemed prudent to clear the area as much as possible in anticipation of the elfs potential return. This applied to both the guard and the special duty squad. After all, even if they were all here, they wouldnt be able to stop that elf. Suddenly, he recalled the events of the previous night. The elf woman, whose name he still didnt know, had effortlessly breached the stringent security of the Second Princes pce and entered the terrace. Was it merely excellent stealth? It was beyond that. Even Demian was inside the banquet hall. Yet Even Demian had failed to detect the elfs presence. That was remarkable. Demian had reached an advanced level as a Sword Expert, suffering from the Swordmaster Syndrome, which heightened his overall sensory perception. This means the skills of that elf woman surpass Demians current abilities. If I were to guess probably somewhere between an advanced Sword Expert and a Swordmaster? It might even approach the level of a Swordmaster. Therefore, a clumsy confrontation would only lead to chaos. It would be better for both parties if Demian remained by his side, and they engaged in a peaceful conversation instead. That was what Raciel had been contemting at that moment. Whoosh. A gentle breeze swept from somewhere. Ate winter magnolia petal drifted on the breeze, briefly brushing past his vision. He blinked involuntarily. And when he opened his eyes again Ive concluded my brief contemtion. The elf woman had somehow returned, as if she had been there all along,pletely naturally. She stood just three steps away, casting an emotionless gaze in his direction. Thanks to this, Demians massage hade to a halt. ! The hands of the ck-haired escort moved with lightning speed. He reached for the hilt of his sword in a swift motion. He was on the verge of drawing it. Demian, stop. Raciels calm voice arrested Demians movement. His attempt to unsheathe his sword was abruptly halted. He fixed his gaze silently on the elf woman standing there and inquired. Is this elf, by any chance, the guest you were referring to, Your Highness? Yes. So theres no need to draw your sword. Gulp. Demians Adams apple bobbed up and down. He could sense it instantly. This elf, she was formidable. Perhaps, no, most likely more formidable than himself. I cant fathom the extent of her abilities. It was immeasurable. Even by observing her stance, he couldnt get a sense of it. That could only mean one thing: she was a skilled individual beyond his capacity to perceive. When had the Prince encountered such an elf? When had he established a connection with her? It was unknowable. There were no clues to deduce from. Meanwhile, the elf woman spoke. Sylvia. Thats my name. She nced at the sign that read Negotiations Wee after revealing her name. If were going to engage in formal negotiations, its proper to introduce oneself, isnt it? Wee. Youve arrived early, though. I was wondering what I would do if you came tomorrow. That was my original n. After some brief consideration, I realized that more time wouldnt provide any new answers, so I decided toe early. Is that so? Hmm. Perhaps youre not content with just money? What? Sylvias eyebrows twitched slightly. Raciels smile took on a slyer tone. Im referring to the proposal I madest night. No matter how much I think about it, it appears to be beneficial for both of us, quite enticing. But perhaps when ites to epting it, something seemscking. Am I right? Sylvia remained silent. Seeing this, Raciel was convinced. His suspicion was correct. The n he had devised throughout the night seemed to be working. He said confidently. Shall we then improve upon the offer I presented yesterday? Improve? Yes. I will spare your life. Sylvias gaze sharpened. But Raciel remained undeterred. Its not a threat like ept the offer or Ill kill you. After all, without my intervention, it seems unlikely that youll live much longer anyway. What do you mean? Are you aware of the ailment you carry without realizing it? What could he possibly mean? Was it typical deceptive human wordy? Sylvia regarded Raciel with even greater caution. Raciel continued. I sensed it when you first approachedst night. The foreign sound subtly mixed into your breathing. And the faint hint of inmmation with each exhale. Dont you cough up nearly green phlegm every morning? You do. Whats your point? If you ept my offer, in addition topensation in money, I mean I will provide you with treatment. Consider it a sort of bundledpensation. Ha. A hollowugh escaped Sylvias lips. Howughable for a young human to utter such things. Yes, the symptoms you mentioned are urate. I do experience harsh phlegm every morning. Its also true that my breathing has been slightly ufortabletely. But so what? Such mild symptoms can be cured by merely resting for a few years in a ce with clean air. Are you attempting to make a significant deal out of offering treatment for something so trivial? Its not a mild symptom, though. How can you be so sure? Because Ive witnessed it firsthand. What? Sylvia felt incredulous, but Raciel was entirely unperturbed by her reaction. As if he had anticipated this response, he casually reached into his pocket. In his hand, he now held Its been a while, Poboki? Poki! Ppo-ki! The phoenix fish Phantom beast, Poboki, chirped happily. Raciel addressed Poboki with a meaningful tone. This morning, you know. The video I recorded after taking her pulse, can you disy it now? Poki! Poboki nodded its head, hovering up from Raciels palm and unfurling its pectoral fins expansively. Soon, a 16:9 aspect ratio fin disy illuminated brightly. And within it Patzuzzz The result of the palpation skill option CT output, which Raciel had activated briefly when their bodies had made brief contactst night, now appeared on the me fin disy. Pazuzzt! The initial image disyed apletely reddish background. A round, tissue-like cluster of grapes faintly swayed with the flow of air. Do you see? This is the view inside your lungs. What is this Sylvias brows furrowed. She couldntprehend what this young human Prince was attempting to achieve. At that moment, Raciel pointed to one section of the image disyed on the me fin. And here, this entity is the parasite that has taken up residence in your lungs. Parasite? Yes. Since the moment you approached mest night, I detected signs of illness from the sound of your breathing and the aroma of your exhtions and made a diagnosis. Nevertheless, if you continue to harbor this, the condition will deteriorate over time. Sylvia mped her lips together. She harbored no trust for Raciel whatsoever. However, the peculiar fish that materialized before her eyes, she could believe. She realized it instantly. It was a Phantom beast. Phantom beast dont deceive. Suddenly, the words of the ns elder came to mind. The elder had once coborated with a shrewd human named Lloyd Frontera in his youth. He had described it as a challenging period. But because that human possessed a Phantom beast, they could trust him. The elder said, Phantom beast dont deceive. Therefore, the image disyed by this fish Phantom beasts fin must not be manipted or false. The squirming worm resembling a kidney bean, iming to be nestled in her lungs, must also be urate. Then, precisely what is that, what is it? Ultimately, Sylvia couldnt resist asking. At that moment, Raciel beamed broadly, as if he had been anticipating that very question. Or as if he genuinely weed an elf with an incredibly long lifespan as a patient, he stated. Its a lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Its a lung fluke, specifically Paragonimus westermani. In a season that was toote to be called winter and somewhat early to be called spring, Raciels diagnosis was made in a corner of the detached pce garden where cool breezes and warm sunlight coexisted. He pointed to Pobokis me fin disy. There, a plump worm, oval and reddish like a kidney bean, was wriggling. Do you see? This is indeed the parasitic lung fluke. It has settled in your lungs and is causing various health issues, as it has chosen you as its host. Sylvia, the elf, furrowed her brow. Her gaze turned towards the lung fluke, and the moment her eyes met it, the parasite squirmed. She involuntarily recoiled. Such a thing? Inside my body? Doubt filled her. It seemed unbelievable. Well, it could be believed, considering it was shown by a Phantom beast. However, she couldnt fathom why such a grotesque parasite had taken up residence inside her. Is this true? Yes. Why? Pardon me? Ive never fallen victim to wicked ck magic, nor have I been cursed by voodoo sorcerers. When malevolent spirits appeared, I simply dispatched them. And now youre telling me that Im being tormented by such a parasite? How? Through what means? She genuinely couldntprehend it. She was an emissary who dealt with external matters for her n, someone who resolved conflicts, disputes, and intricate negotiations with the outside world on behalf of her n. She was undeniably powerful. A Swordmaster, as humans would describe her? She was confident in her abilities. A Great Mage? She wasnt so easily ovee by their magic. Yet, a parasite. Its baffling. Indeed, it is perplexing. What? Sylvias eyebrow twitched. Raciel continued hisposed exnation. Unbeknownst to you, you ingested thervae of the lung fluke. Larvae? Yes. What are those? Well, to provide a concise overview of the lung fluke Raciel took a deep breath and, with a calm demeanor, rapidly delivered information that contradicted hisposure. First and foremost, the eggs of the lung fluke are incredibly minuscule, about 100 nanometers or 0.1 micrometers. These organisms float in the water as ciliatedrvae (miracidium) and infiltrate the body of their first host, such as snails. Inside, they multiply, mate, and transform into structures known as sporocysts. What In any case, they then move on to a secondary host, like freshwater crabs or crayfish, which consume the infected snails. There, they await their final host. asionally, they may pass through another creature, like a wild boar, but thats irrelevant. Wait. Are you suggesting? Are you catching on? Sylvia nodded slightly. As she listened to the exnation, she began to piece something together. The freshwater crab, crayfish, and wild boar you mentioned, if consumed? You got it. Raciel grinned broadly. Its perfectly fine if you cook them by boiling, steaming, or any method that thoroughly heats them. Even those stubborn lung flukes cant survive in boiling water or intense mes. The issue arises when you consume raw freshwater crab, crayfish, or wild boar meat. But I I understand. Youre an elf. You have a deep affinity for nts, to the extent that you avoid lighting fires while camping because it requires burning wood. Additionally, not all elves are proficient in using me magic. Learning such malevolent magic could inadvertently lead to forest fires or causing harm to the environment. I get it. You cant start a fire while camping, and me magic is out of the question. There may even be times when youre running low on portable food supplies, and in such situations, you might resort to consuming raw wild boar. Its a shame you didnt have any soju. Soju? Whats that? It exists, at any rate. Raciel wiped the smile from his lips. Its the raw foods you consumed while camping that are the concern. Because of that, the lung flukervae entered your body and settled in your lungs. But is this really such a big issue to fuss about? Sylvia argued. Raciel calmly countered. When we first metst night, I noticed a faint odor on your breath. Inmmation is likely to have developed in your bronchial and lung tissues. People with such inmmation often have a distinctive breath odor. Additionally, your breathing sounded slightly irregr, as if air were escaping. That could be a sign of a pneumothorax. It was true. Thanks to that, he had an intuitive sense that something was amiss with this elf woman right from the beginning. Thats when he noticed it. While remaining vignt, her wrist, which had been holding a dagger at his neck, brushed against the vicr notch on his side. He didnt miss that opportunity. He quickly employed his Palpation skill, allowing him to discern her medical condition in detail. He identified the root of her illness. But that wasnt all. He could also predict what would happen to her body in the future. For now, the lung flukes havepletely settled around your bronchi and bronchioles, leading to an infiltration of inmmatory cells. Theyre quite aggressive. Consequently, an infection has taken hold in your lungs, resulting in the formation of a fibrous tissue capsule that houses the worms. Worm capsule? Precisely, a worm pouch. Inside this worm capsule within your lungs, there are two lung flukes residing together, like a sort of couple. Its bothersome, isnt it? Exasperating? Life is already challenging without bing involuntarily paired with worms. Cough, ahem! I apologize for getting carried away there. Anyway, inside this worm capsule, youll find not only lung flukes but also pus, host cells, necrotic debris, and worm eggsa diverse assortment of elements, really. Its quite an efficient package for wreaking havoc on the body. So, is it quite serious? Yes. How serious? To begin with, youll experience recurrent chills and low-grade fevers. Youll feel fatigued, apanied by persistent coughing and asional coughing up of blood. Eventually, overall weakness will set in. Thats Have you already experienced some of these symptoms? To some extent, yes. Sylvia nodded in agreement. At this point, she had no other option but to trust what this human was saying. In reality, she had been experiencing an unusually severe level of fatigue recently. Each morning brought with it fevers and chills, and sometimes she couldnt stop coughing. asionally, the cough even had traces of blood. I just assumed it was because Ive been pushing myself too hardtely, she thought. She believed it was a consequence of her excessive activity, ack of adequate rest. She thought that taking a break after this ordeal would naturally lead to her recovery. She had beencent. But it turned out to be a miscalction. It wasnt just fatigue. So, heres the deal. If you leave it untreated, it will worsen. A range ofplications is almost guaranteed. Complications? Yes. Bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumothorax, empyema, and so on. Various lung-rted diseases will develop. The cycle of inmmation and recovery will continue until it culminates in lung cancer. Lung cancer? Its incurable. It will be fatal. So, what do you think? About my offer fromst nightproviding substantial funds and amplebor to restore the burnt forest. Will you ept it? And if I decline? Then I wont treat the lung flukes. Sylvia was left speechless. She finally realized it. This human was using her illness as a bargaining chip in their negotiations! How despicable She couldnt help but feel a shiver down her spine at the cunning and intent behind his tactics. But at the same time, she grasped another reality. She was already entangled in a web, and she couldnt refuse his offer. Ill face the elders reprimand. Undoubtedly, the elders of her tribe would express their dissatisfaction with the humans method ofpensationusing him ofcking sincerity and failing to offer a genuine apology. That would likely be their response. However, Sylvia believed that, in this instance, it might be wiser to ept the humans proposal. Her reasoning was straightforward. I dont want to die. Thanks to the Phantom beast, she had full confidence in the humans diagnosis. If his words were true, a dreadful fate awaited her. She didnt desire that. After dedicating 200 years to study, training, and striving to be an executor, she didnt want to face an untimely death before fulfilling her mission. Furthermore, she still hadunfinished business I havent even had a proper chance to meet a partner because Ive been dedicated to daily training. My parents always said, You can date after bing an executor. Then you can date as much as you want. But reality was harsh. After bing an executor, her interactions with potential partners dwindled even further. Her days were consumed by resolving the tribes disputes and conflicts. In such circumstances, dating seemed like a distant luxury. Yet, her parents would chime in again, saying, Its just because youre busy with your new role. It will get better with time. You can date to your hearts content once you be a senior executor. Mom, that doesnt seem likely. At this rate, she might not even get to date until she became an elder grandmother. Crunch. Sylvia clenched her teeth and made a firm decision. Even if she would face the elders reprimandter, she chose to ept the humans proposal this time. Her goal was to resolve the conflict and regain her health. Thats why. So if I agree to your proposal. Yes. Do you have any questions? Um, precisely how do you intend to treat the lung flukes? She was curious. And somewhat anxious. This human prince exuded the aroma of various herbs throughout his entire body. All of them were precious and cherished ntpanions. Therefore, on one hand, she was deeply concerned. Youre not nning to create a potion for me by plucking, cutting, drying, and boiling these precious nts, are you? She thought of the treatment methodsmonly used by those known as human doctors. She despised that approach. It was dreadful. The idea of sacrificing nts for the sake of her health was distasteful. She needed to rify the treatment method before making a decision. Of course, Raciel had already picked up on her concerns. Ah, are you worried that I might harm nts? If thats the concern, you can rest easy. The prescription Im going to provide wont involve any nts, at least not ones that youll need to consume directly. Really? Is that true? Yes. Raciel offered a faint smile. As if to reassure her. As if it couldnt be more agreeable. He gestured toward the minotaur, Uruus, lounging in a corner of the garden, chewing and ruminating. All you have to do is drink a concoction of Uruus Coffee made from the fecesrhous droppingsof that friend who consumes poison oak, you see? His smile blossomed even more brightly. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 154 Chapter 154 So, if you prepare Uruus Coffee using dried cattle dung, that should be effective, correct? Silence followed. Raciel disyed a broad smile. Sylvia erupted in heartyughter. Internally, she pondered, Is this guy for real? She nearly let slip a curse inadvertently. She had no other recourse. Her situation was dire and serious. Horrific parasites were infesting her lungs, with the prospect of fatal diseases looming. She felt anxious. She was afraid. She didnt want to meet a meaningless end. Hence, she resolved to entertain this mans suggestion and undergo treatment. She had inquired about the treatment approach, which purportedly posed no harm to nts. But seriously? Uruus? Dried dung? So, Im supposed to ingest boiled cow dung water? The more she ruminated on it, the more difficult it became to digest. She chuckled incredulously. Are you mocking me now? Her expression hardened, her eyes prating Raciel with intensity. She was desperate and earnest, and the notion that this was all a jest sent a shiver of icy rage through her. However, in the next moment, Do I appear to be joking with you? The crown princes response was stern. Thispelled Sylvia to involuntarily furrow her brow. What? In other words, do you think Im treating you lightly and without purpose? Of course. She wanted to retort in that manner. Yet, for some reason, she couldnt voice it. The exnation was simple. The crown princes gaze and demeanor unexpectedly conveyed utmost seriousness. This is no jest. You genuinely need to consume Uruus Coffee. I dont have the luxury of ying pranks on you. You may not be aware, but Im someone who values time greatly. Even a day, which might seem embarrassingly brief to you, is exceedingly precious to me. So, do you believe Id waste time teasing you? No, its not I understand. It must be challenging to ept that boiling and consuming cow dung can heal you. It must sound ludicrous. You likely regard it as some form of quackery, correct? Sylvia nodded. Raciel spoke as thoughprehending it all. However, its an effective treatment method. Its not just any cow dungits from a minotaur that has ingested poison oak. Dung Sylvia suddenly had the urge to cry. She couldnt quite grasp why tears were welling up, but the more this man exined with sincerity, the more it affected her. However, Raciel was dead serious. He held unwavering confidence in the Uruus Coffee he had suggested. Certainly. This isnt just a prescription thrown together on a whim. Its the result of high-quality information obtained through a pulse-diagnosis process, where the lungs directly consulted with the lung fluke infesting the elfs lungs after a fishing expedition. This was a fact. In fact, there had been a previous case of a lung fluke patient visiting the Korean Oriental Medicine clinic. At that time, there was no mention of poison oak or cow dung. The advice given then was straightforward: Go to a general hospital and get tested. It was the logical course of action. The simplest and most effective way to treat lung flukes wasnt at a clinic but at a hospital. You get tested at the hospital, receive a diagnosis, and head to the pharmacy. Then theyll prescribe lung fluke treatment medication. Some of these medications contain an ingredient called Praziquantel. You follow the doctor and pharmacists instructions, taking the medicine as prescribed. Theres nothing more to it. Thats truly the end of the story. But Koreans have a peculiar habit, especially among the older generation. When something in their body aches or feels ufortable? They first seek out something to eat. They look for foods that are good for various ailments like enteritis or joint pain. They keep trying to heal themselves through diet. It was a problematic habit. Particrly for chatans targeting such individuals, it was a habit ripe for exploitation. Tsk. The lung fluke patient who had approached him had been just like that. They had sought treatment for their qi and blood from another reputable healer, believing in natural healing methods that supposedly purify their vessels and eliminate the parasites, and treatments that purportedly boost their vitality. They received baseless prescriptions and missed the crucial timing for proper treatment. That should never happen. Its a lesson one should remember. If someone ims they can treat lung flukes, liver flukes, in other words, distomas, with qi therapy or constitutional therapy, that person is a fraud. You should dismiss such enticements and promptly head to a major hospital. He emphasized once more: you must do so. In any case, the poison oak Uruus coffee I just mentioned would have been an unimaginable treatment method if this were in Korea. Raciel couldnt help but grimace. If someone in Korea had proposed such a treatment method to him? He would have promptly inserted an acupuncture needle into their scalp. No, perhaps he would have called the police first. Theres a con artist here. Take them away in handcuffs immediately. But now, he hadnt anticipated that he would be the one prescribing such a treatment. Yet, he had no other choice. Last night, the result of his pulse-diagnosis skill indicated that this was the correct solution. Right? He silently questioned himself. The response arrived promptly. Ding-dong! [Your five viscera and six bowelsmend the lungs merits.] [Heart: Remarkable, really. Who knew our lungs had such a skill?] [Lungs: Heh Haha Ke.] [Large Intestine: I never would have imagined Lung-bro could fish out a lung fluke from there.] [Liver: Seriously, how did you even think of consulting with a lung fluke?] [Stomach: I seriously never thought lung flukes had such tastes, keke.] [Kidneys: Who would have predicted that, ahaha.] [The lungs, basking in everyones admiration, blushed with pride. Praise can make even a whale dance. So when you want to turn someone into a breakdancer, forget the ointment and ther on the praise instead.] A bitterugh naturally escaped him. Suddenly, he recalled the moment when he was conducting a pulse diagnosis on Sylvia the previous night. During that session, the lungs made an unexpectedly intriguing move. First, the lungs attempted to hold an interview with Sylvias own lungs. Up to that point, it followed the usual procedure when utilizing the pulse diagnosis skill. But then came an unexpected twist. The lung guy, out of nowhere, just started doing a courtship dance. The bronchi were sensually swaying. The lung lobes were gently undting. It looked absurd, but since he had no idea what it was trying to aplish, he allowed it to continue. To his astonishment, that courtship dance worked like a charm! The lung fluke that had taken refuge in the elfs lungs becamepletely infatuated, all thanks to the lungs courtship dance. Utterly head over heels. Thats when the real consultation (?) began between the lungs and the lung fluke. The lung fluke, having already reached the pinnacle of fondness for the lungs, eagerly participated in the consultation. Thanks to this, the lung fluke spilled its guts, revealing everything from its favorite color, zodiac sign, preferred genre, future aspirations, and even its MBTI and Four Pirs of Destiny. Amongst that wealth of information? It also disclosed its most despised thing in the world. It despises the smell of poison oak, particrly loathing urushiol, the primaryponent in poison oak, above all else. It was its most detested scent in existence, especially when urushiol had been ingested and broken down by herbivores with robust digestive systems. It would rather prefer a serial killer. It dered that it would rather flee to the frigid outside world and meet its doom than endure the refined scent of urushiol. Thanks to the high-quality information provided by the lungs, he had devised a treatment method to evict the lung flukes nestled within Sylvias lungs. The nt with the highest urushiol content is poison oak, naturally. And if were talking about an herbivore with a robust digestive system could there be a more suitable creature than an Uruus? Raciel shifted his gaze to the side. There, Uruus was rolling about, contentedly chewing its cud, its belly exposed to the sky, likely digesting the poison oak it had consumed earlier that morning. Anyway, if you brew the dung produced by that creature and consume it, that should do the trick. Admittedly, it wont be a delightful taste, but well, they say good medicine tastes bitter, dont they? Raciel offered a faint smile, while Sylvias wrinkled expression showed no sign of smoothing out. Cow dung, no matter if it was from a minotaur. The thought of brewing and ingesting that made her stomach churn. It was revolting. With the desperation of someone clinging to a precipice, she inquired, Pardon me, I might be willing to entertain the idea that you have a method to treat this lung fluke, but But? What if, just what if, theres another way? Another way? An alternative method to brewing and consuming cow dung. Ah, I see. Sylvia nodded vigorously. Raciel offered a kind smile, as if he fullyprehended her concerns. Of course. I wouldnt easily drink boiled cow dung water either. It would be quite repulsive. Thats why Id like to share something with you. What is it? I hesitated to mention it earlier, fearing it might shock you, but theres another potential risk associated with lung flukes. Another risk? Yes. Have you ever heard of ectopic paragonimiasis? As if she ever would have. Sylvia shook her head, a slight unease creeping over her. Raciels smile took on an even more benevolent tone. However, the words he uttered were far from gentle. Ectopic paragonimiasis urs when the fluke, which is supposed to settle in the lungs, takes residence in an entirely different, unrted part of the body. For instance, right here. Raciel pointed to Sylvias abdomen. Abdominal paragonimiasis urs when the fluke haphazardly infiltrates organs within the abdominal cavity. It can cause havoc in the intestines ortch onto the liver, forming pus-filled cysts. But asionally, you know, the fluke doesnt head into the abdomen; it goes somewhere else. Where would that be? The head. ! Astonishment! Raciels finger directed toward the center of Sylvias forehead, causing her shoulders to involuntarily twitch. The worst-case scenario is cerebral paragonimiasis. Literally, the fluke enters the head. Now, whats in the head? The brain, right? So, what do you think happens if a worm decides to tap dance in your brain? What does happen then? What happens? Its not good. Seizures, headachesthose are just the warm-up acts. More seriously, it can lead to hemiplegia, partial paralysis, vision problems, and even meningitis. But you know whats even worse than that? Theres something worse? The fluke journeys from the brain through the optic nerve and into the eyeball. Thats where the lung fluke ends up. Aaaaahhhhh! Internally, Sylvia screamed without realizing it. She vigorously nodded, unwittingly agreeing to undergo any treatment and to cooperate wholeheartedly. Thanks to that, that evening, she became the first elf in the long and illustrious history of the continent to hastily brew and consume Minotaur dunga truly record-setting event. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Sylvia, As one deeply connected to nature, as a proud member of your n, you are meant to embrace and savor the beauty that surrounds you, indulging in its splendor until natures veryst breath graces your presence. In every fleeting moment Sylvia, the esteemed leader of the elf tribe, slowly opened her eyes, which had been shut in contemtion. Her gaze fell upon the table set before her, upon which rested a pristine white bowl. Within that bowl, a rich, dark brown liquid steamed, wafting an aroma that was undeniably nutty and savory. Hoo, She struggled to suppress the urge to recoil. She couldnt help but grumble inwardly. Hadnt her mother assured her that she would only partake in the finest of natures offerings? That she was an integral part of the great natural world? But did this great beauty of nature truly epass such peculiarities? Reality can be quite perplexing. Never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned herself drinking something like this. She certainly hadnt expected to taste a concoction resembling water infused with dried and roasted dregs chewed by a Minotaur! What are you waiting for? A subtle nudge came from across the table. Raising her eyes, Sylvia was met with the beaming countenance of a humanthe Crown Prince, the very individual responsible for scorching their forest. If it cools, its effectiveness will wane. You must consume it promptly. That, well Do you require a moment to prepare yourself? Tsk. I hadnt anticipated our esteemed leader to react this way. I assure you, I collected and processed it with the utmost sincerity to minimize any difort. That is indeed the case. Raciel offered a rueful smile. Indeed, it was the dregs of Uruus, and collecting and processing them had been no trivial task. The size of these dregs rivaled that of a human, and he hadnt been exaggerating! He had painstakingly gathered and shaped them into appropriately sized dumplings, carefully dried them in the shade, and then roasted them to perfection. The result was the very first batch of a genuine lung fluke treatment potion, known as Uruus Coffee. Well, its certainly not like Luwak coffee, which involves animal cruelty. In truth, Raciel had never sampled Luwak coffee back in Korea. He harbored no intention of casting judgment on peoples preferences, but he had always felt a twinge of sympathy for animals involved in the process. Boiling animal dregs in water seemed somewhat distressing. Pushing aside these fleeting thoughts, he urged, You promised to drink it, to cooperate. After all the effort Ive invested in brewing this, you cant back out now, can you? No, its not that Ah, dont worry. Just give it a try. Come on, take a sip. Sylvia squeezed her eyes tightly shut. She hade this far, and there was no turning back now. With her determination steeled, she lifted the bowl and downed its contents as though it were poison. Pfft! She nearly spat it out, and she desperately wanted to. However, she fought the urge and failed. The Crown Prince had expected such a reaction and promptly covered her mouth with his hand. You can do it! Swallow! Gulp! Blp! She managed it. She swallowed! Mother, I did it! Sylvia didnt shed tears of emotion. Instead, as soon as she pushed Raciels hand away, she started coughing violently. She had choked while forcing the medicine down. Cough! Gulp! Hack! Cough! The intense coughing persisted. Was it because she had choked so badly? But something was peculiar. Typically, when one chokes, the coughing begins initially but soon subsides. This time, however, it was different. The coughing showed no signs of stopping. In fact, it grew worse? Cough! Gulp! Hack cough Gulp! Cough! She couldnt cease the coughing; it was agonizing. It felt as though something constricted within her chest, causing pain and making it difficult to breathe. This was undeniably unusual! Could it be poison? Sylvia shuddered with dread. Amidst the torment of her escting cough, a chilling suspicion washed over her. The Crown Prince, the one who had ignited the forest. To him, she was just an irritating adversary, someone perhaps better off eliminated. But why had she ced trust Why had she believed in that human? Im such a fool Ive been deceived. The chilling suspicion turned into conviction. It was poison. Undoubtedly. The Crown Prince was attempting to poison her to evade responsibility for the forests destruction and rid himself of the nuisance she represented. He had deceived her with talk of lung flukes. That was the truth. All of this had been a vile and treacherous scheme! How dare you! Sylvias eyes zed with fury. Her conviction transformed into rage. She clenched her teeth. Amidst the escting coughing, she suddenly rose to her feet. She drew the dagger from her waist and resolved to swiftly sh the Crown Princes throat. However, her resolve remained unfulfilled. Unbeknownst to her, due to the coughing that had reached its peak, she had coughed up a clot of blood. Cough? Gulp! A lump of blood, the size of a mouthful, surged up her throat without warning. It was unstoppable. She vomited. Cough! The dark stain of blood spread on the sickroom floor. Yet, she paid it no heed. Her conviction solidified instead. If consuming the liquid had immediately caused her to vomit dark blood, what else could it be but poison? Ill end him! Murderous intent red in her eyes. Simultaneously, a sly smile crept onto Raciels lips. Look here! He quickly pointed to the floor. Therey the dark clot of blood Sylvia had just expelled. Raciel clenched his fist and spoke excitedly. Look at this, can you see? Wow, it really came out, didnt it? Sylvia had been on the verge of charging at Raciel. However, somehow, he had managed to steal her timing. Because of this, she came to an abrupt halt in an awkward posture. She also felt perplexed. Came out? Properly? What does he mean? She couldnt grasp his intentions. Perhaps even this behavior was a part of his strategy. Sylvia heightened her vignce and inquired. Whats your game? Game? Justpose yourself and take a look here, would you? Cant you see this? Sylvia narrowed her eyes. She focused her attention on the clot of blood that Raciel was pointing at. Then, something small and wriggling emerged from it? Ta-da. Has a wild lung fluke that had been residing in your lungs made an appearance? What? Since weve made its acquaintance, why not say hello? Really? Initially, she was dumbfounded. However, as she continued to observe, it became undeniable. With her excellent eyesight, she could distinctly see it. Approximately one centimeter in size, a plump, oval-shaped worm was wriggling distinctly in view. It was indeed a lung fluke. Was it real? Was there no attempt at poisoning? Since she had vomited blood, the coughing had ceased entirely. Realizing this, Sylvia finally released the tension that had been gripping her body. Feeling somewhat embarrassed for having been on edge, she asked. So, am I cured now? That would be a relief. Since she had vomited blood and the lung fluke hade out with it, perhaps her lungs were now cleansed. Maybe she wouldnt have to endure that dreadful Uruus coffee any longer. The glimmer of hope that had just started to blossom within her was shattered by Raciels nonchnt response. No? Not at all? It would have been nice if you were cured. Im not thrilled about dealing with cow dung either. But unfortunately, youre not cured yet. Dont look so disheartened. Oops, you truly did ingest dung. Anyway, at least its evident that Uruus coffee is effective. Its quite encouraging that the lung fluke emerged immediately after the first dose. So I have to keep drinking it? Yes. Twice a day, morning and evening, until no more lung flukese out. You wont die from it, it wont harm you. Sob! Sylvia involuntarily let her tears flow. But there was nothing she could do. The treatment had alreadymenced. She faithfully followed Raciels instructions, ingesting Uruus coffee twice a day, every morning and evening. Each time, she experienced violent coughing and vomited blood. And on each asion, one or two lung flukes inevitably emerged amidst the clumps of blood. Day by day passed, one, then two, until finally, the sixth day arrived. Eject! No more lung flukes appeared in the blood clots she vomited. Simultaneously, a joyful notification sound rang out loudly in Raciels ear. Ding-dong! [You have endured intense nausea and personally administered Uruus Coffee to the patient, Sylvia.] [Thanks to the effect of Skill: Potion Brewing (Lv.5), the potency of the medicine increased by 14%.] [The patient, Sylvia, was suffering from typical symptoms of lung fluke infection due to long-term dietary habits, and without proper treatment, she was destined to die from variousplications within 3 years. However, thanks to the potent Uruus Coffee you prepared, all the proliferating lung flukes in her body have been eradicated.] [The Skill: Medical Billing (Lv. 2) is activated.] [The patient, Sylvia, has received a total life expectancy extension benefit of 732 years and 6 months due to your intake of Uruus Coffee. As a result, you are credited with a bonus lifespan corresponding to 1/1950 of 732 years and 6 months.] [Since the patient, Sylvia, is not human, an interspecies penalty is applied.] [The bonus lifespan credited to you is reduced by 50%.] [67.61 days of bonus lifespan are calcted.] [The smallest unit for lifespan settlement is 1 day.] [The credited bonus lifespan is rounded off.] [A total of 68 days of bonus lifespan are awarded to you.] [Your expected lifespan: 376 days] Ha, nice! Raciels eyes gleamed with excitement. He couldnt contain his enthusiasm. Earning a remarkable 68 days of lifespan from just one treatment was a remarkable achievement. Moreover, for the first time, his projected lifespan had exceeded a year! As expected of elves! I knew I could rely on them! After all, werent elves renowned for their thousand-year lifespans? If he continued to treat them, he might live without ever worrying about bonus lifespan. He could even umte an excess of it. Then Ill join the ranks of the long-lived, wont I? He indulged in his budding dreams and raised his head. Congrattions. Youre cured. Really? Yes. You dont have to drink Uruus Coffee anymore. That thats Sob! Sylvia, realizing she was free from her ailment, welled up with emotion. Raciels gaze softened as he observed her, like someone admiring a jar of honey. By the way, do you happen to know of any family members, neighbors, or colleagues who have simr symptoms? Lung flukes? Yes, or anyone suffering from different ailments, not necessarily lung flukes? Im not sure. Why not? Well, its been over 30 years since Ist visited my homnd. Did you run away from home? No, not at all. Sylvia chuckled. I am an executor who handles external affairs. But when you receive a mission or orders, dont you return to the vige? No, thats not how it works. I receive missions in dandelion fluff. Excuse me? The Great Elder blows dandelion seeds imbued with his will. Then, guided by his will, the dandelion seeds travel all the way to me. Enclosed within them is the content of my next mission. What kind of Raciels shoulders slumped. His sweet dream of treating an entire elf extended family and amassing decades of bonus life expectancy had soured in an instant. However, he swiftly regained hisposure. Such opportunities could be pursuedter. There woulde a time when he could visit an elf vige. So, what now? He should focus on other immediate gains that he could secure. Perhaps its time to add a little vor. Pure joy radiated from Sylvia upon being cured of her lung fluke ailment. As Raciel looked at her, the next n he had been concoctingtely came to mind as effortlessly as a sushi conveyor belt. He had prepared the bait for it. Youve got to seize opportunities when they arise. Even if it means squeezing everyst drop out of them! With unwavering determination, he moistened his lips. Gazing at Sylvia with a shrewd smile, he casually uttered a statement as if it were the most natural thing in the world. So, its time for you to settle the medical fee, isnt it? What? Taken aback by the unexpected demand, Sylvia froze in her tracks. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Now, you need to pay the medical fee, dont you? Raciels smile shone brightly. In this world, every action muste with a price. Labor demands fairpensation. Numerous part-time jobs must receive an appropriate hourly wage. Even plucking a white hair from Dads head should fetch one hundred won per strand such is the way of the world! But free medical treatment? That was out of the question. Especially from an elf like this one, I must definitely take payment! Raciel nodded vehemently to himself. In fact, while operating the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic, he had never once epted a medical fee in the form of money. The reason was to allow anyone, regardless of wealth or status, toe and receive treatment without a burden. Indeed, he had reaped considerable benefits from this practice. But now the situation was different. From now on, I have to cough up quite a lot of money to this elf aspensation for the damage of burning the forest. But just giving that away feels like too much of a loss. That was the situation. It hurt. It felt like being unfairly charged. It was frustrating. He would wake up tossing and turning several times, and sometimes the pain was so severe it felt like being held down by a heavy weight. He couldnt stand it! How hard I worked for that money! He had earned it by diligently selling Minotaur Clear Heart Pill. It was the money he had earned after selling all the treasures of the Star Pce. He didnt want to give away such hard-earned money so helplessly. That was why. Surely not, Lady Sylvia? You didnt think the treatment was free, did you? Right? Gulp. Sylvias Adams apple moved silently. She nearly let slip the honest answer that was about toe out and had to restrain herself at thest moment. Free I thought it was. She had thought so. Raciel Adria Magentano. The crown prince of the empire. She had done her own background check on the perpetrator who had burned the forest in Anbouaz. Naturally, she was well aware that the medical fees at the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic he operated were free. Thats why it was unfair. In the end, she couldnt hold back and retorted. I heard it was free? Who said? People? What people? The many who received treatment here That was true. It really was. She was certain of it. Yet now, why was the crown prince saying something unexpected like asking for a medical fee? She didnt understand. Then why are you trying to charge me a fee? Isnt that unfair? She asked sincerely. Raciel retorted as if spouting nonsense through beatboxing. Unfair? Im making a reasonable request, arent I? Reasonable? This is? Yes. Whats reasonable about it? You didnt fill out a medical registration receipt, did you, Lady Sylvia? What? Didnt you hear? The medical registration receipt. You didnt fill it out, did you? Oh, yes So you have to pay the medical fee. Why! Sylvia wanted to scream. Bringing up a medical registration receipt out of nowhere, she couldnt fathom the connection between not filling it out and having to pay a medical fee that others didnt. But as she listened to Raciels calm response, she felt like her head was being gently pounded with a mallet. Theres a use on the medical registration receipt. It states that medical fees at the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic are free. p! Raciel countered, producing a piece of paper. It was the medical registration receipt for the Star Pce Oriental Medicine Clinic. He pointed to a spot at the bottom of the receipt. Here. You have good eyes, so you can see it, right? It says free, doesnt it? So the person who fills out this receipt can get treatment for free, you understand? But you didnt fill it out, did you? So its not free, is it? Sylvia wanted to cry. Isnt this exploitation? Or a deception? She wanted to argue. If possible, she wanted to smack that smiling princes face back and forth thirty times. But she couldnt. Click Before she knew it, she was surrounded on all sides. Demian, the man with ck hair who always stayed by the Crown Princes side, along with the royal guards and special duty forces. And even a giant minotaur. They were all encircling her with stern looks. In other words, this situation seemed more like a shakedown than anything else! Are you saying youll force the money out of me? Ah, tsk tsk. Why do you phrase it like that? I provided high-quality medical services, so isnt it only fair that I receive the corresponding medical fee? Dont tell me. Were you nning to skip out on paying the medical fee? Wow, I didnt peg you as that kind of person. No, I You came to seekpensation for the forest that was burned, didnt you? How did I react at that time? Did I resist? Did I object? No, right? Well, thats What do you mean by thats what? I cooperatively and honestly answered all your pressing questions without any excuses. I also earnestly treated a lung parasite infection that you were unaware of. And this is the thanks I get? No, I mean, I! Will you pay the medical fee? How much is it? 100,000 magen. Absurd! You dont have that kind of money, do you? Of course not! This is extortion. It truly is extortion. But Raciel remainedposed. Realizing the importance of the health insurance system anew, he cornered Sylvia into the trap he had set. So, how much do you have? Dont tell me. You dont have a single penny? Sylvias face turned beet red. As expected. The smile on Raciels lips turned into that of a hunter. However, he concealed his smile while pretending innocence. Ah, that would be a problem. You see, the sumac tree I used to feed Urus was quite expensive to import. Plus, the tools and equipment used to dry, grind, and bake the minotaur dung can no longer be used for anything else. The cost of those tools and facilities is quite substantial. But, but still! But what? This is the Crown Princes private residence, isnt it? So? Doesnt the moneye from the imperial treasury anyway? Not really. What? Perhaps you dont know our Emperor well, but he is excessively interested in fostering independence in his heirs. This private residence doesnt receive a single penny from the imperial coffers for its operation. Then how does this ce operate? Operate? I sell medicine and do business to keep it running. But youre trying to eat up the cost of the sumac tree and the equipment and not pay the medical fee. No, its not that I wont pay. You said you dont have the money. Well, thats Whats the difference between that and outright refusal? I didnt mean it like that. Then what did you mean? Isnt there another way I can pay the medical fee without money? . Bingo. Raciel barely suppressed the urge to do a backflip and drop some beatbox. Maintaining a calm expression as if it was nothing, he spoke. Well, there is a way, um, yes. There is? Yes. Its not something dangerous, dirty, or humiliating, of course. What is it? Hmm, well. You know about the daily banquets being held at the Second Princes pce these days, right? Yeah. I know. Would you be able to attend one of those banquets? What? Sylvia blinked in surprise. To be asked to attend a banquet of the human imperial family was an unexpected request. Whats this about? A thick broth of suspicion stewed in her gaze as she looked at Raciel. It was unexpected but not an unpleasant request, which made her suspicious. It seemed to her that the Crown Prince had some ulterior motive. Attend the banquet and what do I have to do? Just attending is enough. Just attend? Yes. . Theres really no other meaning to it. Just by being present, you will benefit me greatly. Benefit? Yes. What kind of benefit? Lets just say that your presence will make the banquet shine even more. Raciel added with a polite tone. Thats how human banquets are. . Sylvia pondered for a moment. Just being present didnt seem so bad. Standing around didnt seem like a big deal. Although an unusual and somewhat whimsical request, it appeared to be a no-loss situation for her. In fact, it seemed to be an easier task than she thought. It might feel a bit awkward and burdensome to show myself in front of so many humans but I can handle that much. Its far better than paying an amount I cant afford for the medical fee. She had finished her calctions. She made her decision. Alright. I ept your request. Youve made a wise decision. Then, I shall send you the dress for the banquet this afternoon. Mission aplished. Raciel beamed with satisfaction. Observing him, all the guards and special duty soldiers quietly marveled at their Crown Prince. Despite his tough and cunning demeanor earlier, he appeared quite impressive. It seemed as though he never intended to actually collect the medical fee but used it as a pretext to smoothly invite the elf to the banquet. Who would have thought he could create an opportunity to get closer to an elf so seamlessly? An elf attending a human, let alone an imperial banquet? Has that ever happened before? Or has such a request ever been epted? Hes very skilled. Id like to learn from him. They all admired him. And they were filled with anticipation. How would the Crown Prince win over the heart of the elf he had invited to the banquet today? Perhaps the Magentano imperial family would witness the unprecedented rise of an elf empress. While each contemted their thoughts, the day passed by, marked by misunderstandings. Time passed swiftly. It was now evening. At the Second Princes pce, a grand banquet proceeded as usual. The 50 princesses and nobledies invited from various countries engaged in their elegantpetition, disying their charm. The exchange of wine sses and smiles. Melodious music and delectable desserts. Thedies cheeks were slightly flushed from the fragrant intoxication of the evening. It was at this moment that Raciel, who had been silently observing from a corner until now, made his move. He ascended to the stage of the banquet hall. Outside the awareness of most, he subtly signaled with his eyes. . Upon receiving his gaze, the servants of the Second Princes pce sprang into action. They brought in a long table and arranged it on the stage of the banquet hall. But that wasnt all. They neatly stacked a row of luxurious boxes on the table. All these tasks were executed efficiently and without disruption. As a result, the dancing and conversations in the banquet hall came to a halt. Soon, everyones attention shifted to the table with its borately designed boxes and then to Raciel. At that moment, Raciel addressed the assembly withposure. Ahem, I would like to express my gratitude in the name of Crown Prince Raciel Adria Magentano for gracing this asion with your presence today, cough cough! Furthermore, I have organized this special gathering to offer you a wonderful privilege and opportunity. Murmurs rippled through the crowd Everyone nodded and turned their gaze toward the Crown Prince, while some internally pondered the curious intentions of the seemingly unassuming Crown Prince. Privilege and opportunity? What was the significance of the stacked boxes on the table? Their curiosity grew. Their interest was piqued. A self-satisfied smile spread across Raciels lips. Therefore, I present to you, for the very first time, a groundbreaking weight management miracle, the Slim diet elixir, which I have recently developed. Ba-bam! In response to Raciels signal, the band red a grand trumpet fanfare. The curtain behind the stage where Raciel stood was abruptly drawn back. Unveiled behind the parted curtain was the promotional model for the day, an elf named Sylvia, showcasing her well-proportioned figure. All eyes were now fixed on her! Sylvia gritted her teeth, attempting to maintain a forced smile. Crown Prince when you said to attend the banquet and stand there is this what you had in mind? Thus, the intensive marketing of The Slim, a product soon to be celebrated as a miraculous diet elixir made from concentrated Vesparos queen bee extract, took the banquet hall by surprise.
LikeLoading... Sale 20May 29, 2023In "Crown" Sale 159January 11, 2024In "Crown" Sale 23June 6, 2023In "Crown" Chapter 157 Chapter 157 A day has passed. The oue of the home shopping segment was a tremendous sess in terms of sales,pletely sold out. Ding-dong! [The five viscera and six bowels are sending both teasing and cheeringments for your skills in selling medicine.] [Heart: Hahaha, wow, LOL] [Lungs: Huhuhu? Pffft, LOL] [Large Intestine: This person isnt selling medications; hespletely ingratiating himself, LOL] [Liver: Cant believe this is working, LOL] [Stomach: But isnt promoting diet pills with an elf model false advertising?] [Kidneys: So, do all Koreans look like Lee Jing-Jae or Won Ban and buy clothes after seeing those luxury ads? LOL] [The five viscera and six bowels are amazed by your cunning and underhanded tactics.] [The internal organs and bowels reluctantly grant you 100 HP.] [Your current HP: 2,900] Raciel smiled faintly as he listened to the internal organs and bowels chattering away in his head, and he was inwardly impressed with himself. Phew. I never thought that diet medicine would sell out in just one night. Was it during the peak ofst nights party? It must have been when the cheeks of the young noblewomen in attendance were slightly flushed with the scent of sweet cocktails. He felt it was the perfect moment to seize. He immediately took action. He ascended the stage, set up a table, and efficiently established a home shopping sales spot. Then he introduced it. Pulling back the curtain, he unveiled the waiting advertising model, Sylvia. The impact was immense. No exnation was required. Sylvias perfectly proportioned physique, honed through extensive practice and exercise, was a manual and rationale in itself. Thanks to this, he realized for the first timest night that the lukewarm gazes of the young noblewomen could burn so passionately. They all queued up at the consultation table. They were busy signing pre-purchase forms. Consequently, not only the 50 noblewomen but even the knights apanying them purchased the Vesparos Queen Bee Concentrated Diet Supplement, The Slim. He even branded it as the First Royal Package Edition and charged them an exorbitant price! Ive been pondering it all night. Isnt that tantly fraudulent? He was reminiscing about the beautiful memory ofst nights wless sale when a sharp voice pierced his eardrums. Raciel raised his head, which he had been burying in the drawer of memories. Turning towards the source of the voice, he saw a familiar face. What did you just say, Ms. Sold-Out Model? A cool breeze wafted through the morning stroll garden. Amidst such a beautifulndscape, the elf Sylvias cold demeanor transformed into the expression of someone who had encountered a cockroach in the kitchen at midnight. In other words, about a million expressions of contempt were evident in her gaze towards him. Her face twisted as she spoke. Last night, young human. You told me. If I couldnt afford the medical fees, I should do another job. Just stand there at the banquet, you said. Yes, thats correct. But I never imagined that it meant participating in such a deceitful scheme. A scheme? My medicine sales? Yes. If I had known beforehand that your actions involved such deception and trickery You would have declined? Absolutely. She replied, enunciating her words. So Im suspicious. You mentioned that you would generouslypensate for the forest fire with a substantial sum of money. You do intend to keep that promise, right? Of course. Raciel readily nodded his head, a generous smile appearing on his lips. Thanks to Ms. Sylvia taking on the role of the sold-out modelst night, I made a significant amount of money. Truly. I never imagined that the diet medicine wouldpletely sell out overnight. Furthermore, it was a special package, so I charged even more. But, the target customers had deep pockets anyway. That means, after providing thepensation, it appears Ill have some money left over? Sylvia red at Raciel with disapproving eyes. Raciel shrugged his shoulders in response to that scornful gaze. Well, even so, its not as if I only engaged in deception. How so? Ive never even tried that diet medicine or whatever it is. I understand. Because of that, I mighte across as a fraudulent peddler. But if theres one thing Im certain of, its the effectiveness of the medicine I sell. That much is definite. Its genuine. All the data regarding the effects and side effects of the Vesparos Queen Bee Extract were collected and analyzed a long time ago. Ive been diligently giving it to the second prince. Thanks to that, he was able to shed a significant amount of weight. Of course, its not like you lose weight just by taking the medicine. Naturally, a strict diet and exercise regimen must be followed concurrently. And when you add The Slim on top of that It can significantly enhance the effects of diet and exercise. Thats why I can assert confidently. I may not know about other things, but the efficacy of the medicine is real. Of course, detailed instructions on how to take the medicine, the dosage, and precautions to be taken during consumption will be included in the package. Ah, and the advance purchase agreement also includes the particrs of the post-support service. Post-support? Yes. Theres a use stating that if you dont lose weight while demonstrating that youve diligently adhered to the diet while taking the medicine, we will refund the full cost of the medicine. Proving that youve followed the diet Is that possible? Well, the dissatisfied party would have to provide thorough documentation, wouldnt they? This guy, no matter how you look at it, appears to be a genuine swindler. Sylvia couldnt quite conceal her disgruntled expression. However, Raciel remained unfazed. Regardless of her perception of him, he was going to allocate a significant portion of the profits fromst night aspensation to the elf. That was the agreement. And the remaining money will serve as funds for future ventures. He recalled the n he had been recently formting. The remaining funds would be used to materialize that n. Anyway, thats why I need to go and meet with His Majesty the Emperor now. The Emperor? Yes. He summoned me early this morning. Why? Im not sure. I might receive a reprimand, though. A reprimand. You dont seem concerned about that. Because being scolded today would facilitate the smooth execution of my next n. Your next n? Im contemting expanding the royal clinic into arger general hospital. Raciel shrugged his shoulders, and Sylvia fell silent. A general hospital? And he had to receive a scolding from the emperor for that today? It was difficult toprehend his intentions. Just how far ahead is this man nning? Is it all just bravado? However, it didnt seem that way. Maybe Ive gotten involved with someone I shouldnt have. A sigh of regret escaped her lips. She thought maybe she should have delegated this task to someone else. It was a regret that she had taken on this assignment herself. Meanwhile, Raciel respectfully bid her farewell. Then, Ill inform you as soon as we determine thepensation amount and the workforce for forest restoration. Please make yourselffortable at the vi until then. He left Sylvia behind and walked away. Now, it was time to meet with the emperor. Pray tell, why did you treat the marriage proposal I entrusted to you as if it were a joke? In the expansive office,rge enough to be called grand. As soon as he entered, the first thing that struck him was the emperors angry voice. There were no words of wee. Only the stern, fiery gaze pierced his heart. In other words, the emperor was in full-on scolding mode. Probably because of how he had handled the marriage proposals. Raciel inwardly smiled, remaining calm. As expected. He had grown quite ustomed to the emperors prickly demeanor. It used to be incredibly burdensome, but not anymore. He knew the emperors scolding wasnt genuine. He had long realized that this scolding was also a kind of test. So it was okay. He even weed this scolding. If he passed this test smoothly, the pleased emperor would readily agree to any requests he made. So please! Give me a good scolding, worthy of two! Raciel even yearned for it. Perhaps his wish was granted. A warm barrage of the emperors reprimands rained down on him. How unfortunate and yet pitiable. Did you truly believe I was unaware of your recent activities? I entrusted you with the marriage proposal with high hopes. I expected you to make a wise decision. The emperors voice was tinged with irritation, but it was all part of an act to gauge his response. Raciel, knowing this, maintained hisposure. Meanwhile, the scolding continued to intensify. But what did you do? Audaciously, you treated a matter as serious as a royal marriage as a jest, attempting to pass it off to the second prince. Evenst night, at the banquet, you sold a peculiar medicine to young noblewomen and knights from various countries, didnt you? Its unthinkable that you exchanged contracts right there at the banquet. Am I not correct? Yes, Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. I have no intention whatsoever of denying Your Majestys words. Is that so? Yes, Your Majesty. But why would you engage in such behavior? Its because I do not take the royal marriage proposal lightly at all. As if it were the most natural thing in the world. As if he had known all along. He answered confidently, infusing his ordinary words with conviction. The emperor furrowed his brow. Do you truly not consider the royal marriage a jest? What do you mean by that? Do you not already know, Your Majesty? The emperors gaze, heavy as it fell, was met without evasion. He took it silently. Gradually, the emperors expression subtly shifted. Amazement and interest began to show in his eyes and demeanor. Could it be? Yes, Your Majesty. That could it be is absolutely correct. Have you truly understood my intentions? Yes, Your Majesty. Of course. Since when? Since shortly after I received the bundle of marriage proposals from Your Majesty. Then, can you elucidate the intentions you suspect I have? Of course, Your Majesty. The truth is. He has been eagerly awaiting that question. So now, its showtime to pass the emperors test with flying colors, earn a wealth of goodwill, and secure permission to establish the general hospital. Seizing the opportunity, Raciels words began to dance in a captivating and persuasive manner.
LikeLoading... Sale 60August 15, 2023In "Crown" Sale 78September 8, 2023In "Crown" Sale 121November 22, 2023In "Crown" Chapter 158 Chapter 158 Memories sway, Every time he closes his eyes, No, even when they are open, always. This father is immersed in memories, restraining a smile. Striving not to be just a father but an emperor. Each time he gazes upon him, he is transported back to that first moment he cradled him as a tiny infant, and thus, the father grapples with concealing his smile. Ultimately, he chose to remain not as a father, but as an emperor. Even now, the emperor persists in doing so. . The emperor silently lifted his gaze. With stern, resolute eyes, he suppressed his true emotions and cast a nce that feigned cold rationality and severity. Where his gazended, stood Raciel. A child bereaved of his mother at birth. A child too fragile to frolic properly. A child who always tore his heart in two every time he saw him. The fathers heart perpetually ached. The emperors heart was eternally deste. Viewed through a fathers eyes, there was fervent support. Seen through the emperors gaze, there was stern urgency. Always torn between these two conflicting hearts. But what always prevailed was the emperors heart. Even now, it must be so. As the ruler of a vast empire, he must remain unyielding. However, in recent days, it has be increasingly challenging. The fathers heart continually shakes his chest, imploring him to regard that child with a warmer gaze, as if to console. That is why. The emperor hardened his gaze. With an even more stringent tone, he spoke. How dare you? Can you boldly im to haveprehended my intentions? Truly? Yes, Your Majesty. Are you confident? Absolutely, Your Majesty. . Is it true? Has that child truly grasped his intentions from the beginning? In a peculiar anticipation, the emperor covertly clenched his fist. He sternly looked down at his eldest, Raciel. Yet, he could not entirely conceal a trace of delight in his eyes. Thanks to that, Raciel could discern. That gentleman, he is incredibly joyful. It was more than mere happiness. If no one were observing, he might even pump his fist in the air and cheer. The emperors genuine emotions, barely contained, were subtly perceptible. Observing his clenched fist and the faintly trembling wrinkles at the corner of his eyes left no room for doubt. That is why. Raciel felt his heart settle even more. A strange guilt creeping into one corner of his heart. Does he deserve such a gaze from him? In reality, he is not his son. Nevertheless, he set aside that fleeting ripple of emotion. Now was not the time for unnecessary sentimentality. It was not the time to heed the voice of conscience. There was a task to aplish, and he had to execute it. So, its showtime. He readied his heart. He filled the void left by the fading guilt with a confident smile. He gazed at the emperor. He carefully ced the prepared words on his tongue. And heunched them. Actually, from the very beginning, from when Your Majesty personally presented me with the bundle of marriage proposals, I had a faint inkling. It became clearer as time passed. Hmm, what? That Your Majesty had no intention of epting any of those proposals? All of them? By me? Yes, Your Majesty. Thats preposterous. Isnt it, though? On what grounds do you make such a bold deduction? Because, Your Majesty, you did not arrange a marriage for me at an early stage. What? The emperor hesitated. Raciel inwardly suppressed a smile. Bingo. Just as expected. Why didnt the crown prince Raciel in the novel marry early? It was a question he had pondered and thought about for some time. After all, regardless of Raciels poor health andck of attractiveness as a marriage partner, he was still the crown prince. If the emperor had wanted to, he could have forcibly arranged a match for him. But the emperor chose not to do so. Why? It was initially puzzling, but now it seemed clear. If you had married me off early, by now you would have had a grandchild to seed you, bypassing my poor health. If you had stayed healthy, the grandchild would have grown up to be of sufficient age. You could have passed the throne to the grandchild, bypassing me. It was true. If a grandchild had been secured early, the health of Crown Prince Raciel wouldnt have been an issue. The emperor could have passed his throne to the grandchild in due time. However, Your Majesty did not choose that path. The meaning is clear. From the beginning, you had no intention of bypassing me. Therefore you intend to match me with a partner from an insignificant family. Huh. Thats quite a presumptuous spection. At the same time, its an urate spection. Do you dare to be certain of it? Yes. Thats why I dared to guess. Presenting me with the marriage proposals was a test in itself. A test To see how I would handle the marriage proposals, to assess and gauge my capabilities, wasnt it? So, I did exactly as Your Majesty expected. Rejecting all the proposals while also arranging a suitable event and justification to avoid me? Yes, Your Majesty. Raciel nodded calmly. Thats precisely it. In reality, the banquet was merely a convenient excuse for a widespread rejection. It didnt matter if the second prince wasnt engaged to anyone. Of course, it would be preferable if he were. The emperors expression hardened. You have such little confidence. On what basis do you assume that I would consider marrying you to a daughter from a modest family? That, too, is straightforward. Go on. Yes, Your Majesty. The answer is because my health is not yet normal. Health? Yes, Your Majesty. Although I am better than before, I am still frail, and theres a possibility that I might sumb before middle age or pass away. You must also be considering such a possibility. . The emperor did not respond. Considering the possibility of his sons premature death. He had never forgotten that. He had awakened to it hundreds, thousands of times. As an emperor, it was a matter of concern. As a father, it was heartbreaking. But it was also a possibility that could not be ignored. Raciel continued. So, in the event that I do be seriously ill in middle age. If the prince is still quite young at that time wouldnt the family of the empress who bes my partner be of great significance? . If the empress hails from a powerful family, she and her rtives could use the young prince as a puppet to wield the power of the royal family to their advantage. Surely, Your Majesty would not desire such an increase in influence from the empresss external family. Really, you thought so? Yes, Your Majesty. Thats why, since you did not secure an heir by marrying me off early, I assumed that my partner would certainly be a woman from a modest family. Therefore, I considered none of thedies who sent marriage proposals this time to be suitable candidates. Is that all you have to say? Yes, Your Majesty. It seems your tongue is unusually quick. I am deeply honored. . Raciel calmly lowered his head, exuding a confident cunningness in his demeanor. As the emperor looked at that expression, he inwardly suppressed his annoyance. When did this child grow so astute? He had hit the nail on the head, precisely identifying the emperors inner thoughts. The spection and analysis were so impable that they left no room for argument. It was astonishing. A child who had lost his mother at birth. A child too frail to even properly y around. A child who always tugged at his heartstrings every time he saw him. The child who had been perpetually bedridden was gradually bing healthier, causing various incidents and now it felt like he had risen to an impressive level. The emperor had to give credit where it was due. It was hair-raising. And he couldnt help but feel ted. Thats why the emperor hardened his expression even further. To act so self-assured merely by speaking a few words, as if youveprehended my intentions, is truly absurd. I apologize, Your Majesty. Youre not even afraid now? I have simply expressed some thoughts in ordance with Your Majestys will. You persist in relying on your silver tongue to the end, I see. I apologize for that as well, Your Majesty. Hmm. The emperors snort filled the room. It seemed like he was greatly displeased, but in reality, he was struggling to contain the satisfaction that threatened to escape through his nose like a melody. Enough of this idle chatter. You must havee to me today with a request, havent you? That is correct, Your Majesty. Then, lets hear it. Would you be willing to consider my request? Do you dare to make amotion before even stating your request? The emperors gaze grew stern. But Raciel knew the truth. Outwardly, the emperor appeared angry, but deep down, he was immensely pleased. He was ready to reward the one who had urately understood his intentions. And that reward would likely be To willingly grant my request. Raciel bowed with a pretense of respect. Then, if I may dare to make a request of Your Majesty His mind worked quickly and efficiently. He recalled the long-term n he had been nurturingtely expanding the pce clinic into aprehensive hospital. That way I can extend my own life. Had it been during his time in Anbouaz? Serving undercover as military physician Rihan, he had realized something crucial. He couldnt handle all the medical treatments on his own. Thats simply inefficient. Thinking about it, it made sense. No matter how diligently he treated patients, there was a limit to how many he could see in a day. And in the future? As the pce clinic grew and its reputation spread, the number of patients seeking treatment there would only increase. Thats why. I cant manage all those treatments by myself. In fact, its already overwhelming. Besides Gardin, I need other doctors. Internal medicine, surgery, urology, otryngology, and more. He felt the need to hire various specialists. But what about himself? Ill focus on treating critically ill patients who can definitely provide me with bonus life, and delegate the rest to the hired doctors. That would be the solution. He could avoid the fate of being overwhelmed by endless treatments and dying from overwork while trying to gain extra life. It would be much more efficient in umting bonus life. So Based on the achievements Ive umted so far, I request the title of honorary professor at the Imperial Magentano Medical College. Raciels audacious request sent ripples through the emperors heart.
LikeLoading... Sale 83September 15, 2023In "Crown" Sale 81September 13, 2023In "Crown" Sale 143December 20, 2023In "Crown" Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Based on the achievements Ive umted so far, I request the title of honorary professor at the Imperial Magentano Medical College. What? The Emperor eximed. Raciel issued a request with force. He could discern a subtle shift in the Emperors countenance in response to his audacious appeal. Nevertheless, Raciel remained undeterred. The position of an honorary professor is a crucialponent of my forting endeavors. An indispensableponent. In life, regardless of your pursuits, there are fundamental prerequisites that must be in ce. To engage inputer gaming, you require aputer. To pursue graduate studies, one must be prepared to make sacrifices, evenpromising ones dignity. To leave a workce, you must first have a ce of employment. The same principle applied to the n he currently harbored. The qualifications of an honorary professor were absolutely essential. Allow me to inquire further. You mentioned aspiring to be an honorary professor at a medical college. Could you exin the rationale behind such an unconventional request? Indeed, the Emperor furrowed his brow and cast a scrutinizing gaze upon him. This was the question Raciel had been anticipating. He proceeded to present the answer he had meticulously prepared in advance. The reason, Your Majesty, is that the royal clinic I operate is currently operating outside the boundaries of legality. Hmm. Your Majesty, I believe you are aware that I do not possess a valid medical license. Consequently, in ordance with imperial medical regtions, the royal clinic I oversee is considered an unregistered and unlicensed medical facility. Is that so? Yes, Your Majesty. I was not previously informed of this. Thus, if the Crown Prince is openly operating an uwful establishment, we should promptly close down the royal clinic No, Your Majesty! He interjected swiftly. I have learned that an honorary professor at Magentano Medical College holds equivalent status and qualifications to that of a licensed physician. Huh? Therefore, if I acquire the credentials of an honorary professor, it will effectively grant me the legal status of a licensed doctor, and the royal clinic will no longer be categorized as an illegal medical facility. Is that the case? Yes, Your Majesty. You are not making such a request merely to attain qualifications akin to a medical license, are you? That is correct, Your Majesty. Raciel bowed his head, secretly admiring the Emperors discernment. Truly, an Emperor possessed remarkable insight. Now was the time to unveil some of his cards. After a brief deliberation, he continued. I desire to employ additional physicians. More physicians? Yes, Your Majesty. Hmm. If that is the objective It is evident that doctors with official licenses would be disinclined to seek employment at an illicit medical facility. Exactly, Your Majesty. The Emperors deduction was urate. Raciel borated further. ording to imperial medical regtions, unregistered and illegal medical facilities were prohibited from hiring licensed doctors, and licensed doctors themselves were unlikely to seek employment at such establishments. That makes perfect sense. It would be challenging for individuals to gain professional recognition elsewhere for their experience gained at an illicit facility, even if it is overseen by the Crown Prince. Your Majestys assessment is entirely urate. That was the rationale behind his request. To recruit more physicians, the royal clinic needed to transition into a legally recognized medical institution. There were two viable avenues to achieve this goal. One option is for me to obtain a medical license. The alternative is to acquire the status of an honorary professor at a medical college, which confers equivalent qualifications. The more appealing choice undoubtedlyy in obtaining the status of an honorary professor. It required less time and effortmerely a brief reviewand it could be promptly secured. Conversely, obtaining a medical license would entail enrollment, graduation, and a substantial timemitment of at least 4 to 5 years. Raciel was not keen on that prospect. But I do have one more inquiry. While lost in contemtion, the Emperors weighty voice resonated in the room. Raising his gaze slightly, Raciel observed the Emperors narrowed eyes fixed upon him. Iprehend your desire to employ more physicians. However, why? Your Majesty? Why do you seek to hire additional doctors? Are you, by any chance, contemting an expansion of an unusual hobby? Not at all. The operation of the royal clinic is far from a mere hobby. Then what is your intent? The Emperors scrutinizing gaze intensified. Faced with that prating look, Raciel responded. I aspire to save more lives. In truth, he wished to say, I aim to efficiently umte a bonus life span, free from illness! However, he dared not utter those words, so he presented a usible and conventional answer. Yet, the Emperors reply was unexpected. I decline. Your Majesty? Could this be true? Raciel furrowed his brow deeply. The Emperor now wore an enigmatic smile. So, in addition to operating an illegal medical facility, you now employ your cunning words to persuade me into granting you the title of honorary professor? . Truly shallow and pitiful. Do you not consider the toil and dedication of countless medical students whobor day and night to be doctors? But, Your Majesty? Speak. I have already achieved numerous aplishments. I am aware. Then why do you deem me unworthy of the honorary professorship? Because I desire to see you face more challenges. Cough. Damn it. Raciel barely suppressed the curse that nearly escaped his lips. He could discern the Emperors mindset. This man, always the same. After a period of calm, his old tendencies resurface. Was there anyone else in the world as obsessively fixated on fostering the self-reliance of their heirs as this Emperor? It seemed almost pathological, his inability to tolerate his children taking the easy route. However, the Emperor had already entered a state of enjoyment. The inherent status of a Crown Prince. When one relies solely on that and opts for the path of least resistance, can one effectively confront future challenges? Can one navigate the treacherous road of a national crisis that will determine the survival of the royal family with resilience? Oh, give me a break. Therefore, I propose this: instead of the honorary professorship, why not enroll in the final year of medical college andplete the graduation examination honorably? What? What is he even talking about now? Enroll in the final year? Take the graduation exam? Raciel swiftly calcted the timeline. Currently, it was the time for final-year students toplete theirst semester. There were only approximately four months left until graduation. But if he were to enroll in the final year now and sit for the graduation exam? It might be worth considering. Theres a perspective here: one should embrace a favorable offer. Raciel nodded in agreement. I concur, Your Majesty. Is that so? Yes, Your Majesty. Very well. I am gratified to hear that you are content. . He wasnt truly content. What could have been swiftly resolved with the honorary professorship would now take approximately four months. But considering this resolute man, extracting this much is a victory in itself. At least he had achieved his objective. Having obtained what he could, it was now time to? Then, I shall take my leave, Your Majesty. Are you departing immediately after settling your matter? Your Majesty? No, you may go. I shallply, Your Majesty. Raciel swiftly made his exit, wary of bing entangled in another matter. The space where the Emperor had briefly conversed with him returned to its previous solitude. However, the Emperor filled the void with a contented smile. Hoho. Hehehe. He was pleased. The sight of his son boldly making demands, always striving to aplish something, was too delightful to resist. Thats why he had declined the honorary professorship. He wanted to witness how far his son could go on his own. He was excited. However, he didnt want to wait too long for the oue. Thus, he had allowed his son to enroll in the final year of medical college. And I will have a stern word with the dean of the medical college. Lets see if you can pass that formidable examination. He eagerly anticipated the result. He looked forward to it. Unseen by others, the Emperors shoulders quivered with joy. The Dean of the Medical College, Belvedere, extends his greetings to His Highness Raciel Adria Magentano, the rightful heir to the empire. The bear bowed. No, it was the dean of the Medical College who greeted him. . Raciel couldnt help but feel his throat constrict. He had no choice but to. He thought Javillon from Anbouaz was massive, but the dean of the Medical College who was greeting him now was even more imposing. Easily exceeding 2 meters in height, and even his back was formidable. At a mere nce, he resembled a strongman from an Eastern Europeanpetition. A genuine Ural Mountain wild boar. Its a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for the warm wee. Your Highness, you are too kind. Once again, the dean bowed with apparent respect. However, it was evident at a nce that he wasnt genuinely weing Raciel. To put it frankly, it seemed like he harbored some dislike for him. The look in his eyes borders on disdain? Raciel could sense it. Despite outwardly disying utmost respect due to Raciels status as the Crown Prince, the dean couldnt entirely conceal his negative sentiments. Raciel could deduce the reason behind the deans aversion. He probably believes Im leveraging my status and influence to take shortcuts. Thanks to the Emperor, he had been granted enrollment in the final year of medical college. This meant that he, who hadnt invested the five or more years of study like his fellow students, had suddenly acquired the same qualifications. From their perspective, this could appear ringly unjust, considering the effort they had invested. And he likely assumes I practice some unfounded, peculiar form of medicine. Raciel recalled the rumors circting throughout the capital about the royal clinic. Not all of them were positive. There were rumors of the Crown Prince piercing peoples bodies with peculiar needles, applying rolled-up herbs to raw flesh and setting them aze, and so forth. An undercurrent of nder and suspicion was palpable. Naturally, Raciel understood this. To others, traditional Korean medicine might seem quite unconventional. So, in summary, from the deans point of view, I am a member of the royal family who is exploiting his status and authority, attempting to obtain a degree through an unverified and peculiar form of medicine essentially, a dishonorable royal who tarnishes the history, tradition, and prestige of the medical college. Indeed, life was about empathizing with others perspectives. Nheless, Racielprehended the deans sentiments entirely but saw no reason to alter his approach. There was neither a cause nor a necessity to do so. Exhibiting excessive friendliness towards the dean now wouldnt change anything. Then, shall I request your guidance? Yes, Your Highness. Would you like to explore the premises of the Medical College? He would vindicate himself through his abilities. He would demonstrate that he wasnt abusing his authority and position. He would show that he wasnt practicing an unverified, entric form of medicine. Everything needed to be substantiated and confirmed through his skills. Letsmence with the graduation examination that I will be undertaking. To be clear, he was confident about his impending graduation. It couldnt be otherwise. Who am I? I am Lee Han, the second-ranked graduate of the College of Korean Medicine at Korea University, an esteemed institution akin to Seoul National University. A self-assured smile subtly graced Raciels lips. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week
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LikeLoading... Sale 44July 24, 2023In "Crown" Sale 158January 10, 2024In "Crown" Sale 45July 25, 2023In "Crown" Chapter 160 Chapter 160 Here, Your Highness. The medical college exceeded his expectations in terms of size. It wasnt solely the magnitude of the buildings; there were multiple three and four-story structures spanning a considerable area. If he were to draw aparison? Its reminiscent of a university campus. Some buildings were dedicated to practical training, while others served as hospital wards, among other purposes. The clear distinction andyout of the buildings based on their various functions and objectives were quite impressive. It triggered memories. Raciel recalled his days at a university in Korea. During that period, he engaged in a few flirty interactions but never pursued an actual rtionship. . Why am I suddenly heaving a sigh? Raciel forcefully pushed his bitter personal experiences to the back of his mind and continued his brisk walk, focusing on the present. Before long, he reached his destination. It was a spacious training room located within arge four-story building. Please,e in, Your Highness. . Following the deans lead, he entered the training room. Instantly, the gaze of approximately thirty individuals fixed upon him. These people, dressed in white coats, ranged in age from their mid tote twenties. It was evident who they were. Final-year students. They were aspiring doctors, on the verge of obtaining their formal qualifications. However, their attitudes towards him were far from warm. To be precise, they were distant and exclusionary. To put it bluntly, they were unfriendly. It felt as though they regarded him as an outsider who had no right to be there. I could discern it immediately. It appears that my reputation has preceded me to this extent. Raciel couldnt help but smile. The students reactions mirrored the deans. It was as if they were shouting, Like master, like disciple, with their entire beings. They must have heard that the Crown Prince is attempting to use his power and status to easily secure a diploma. Thats why theyre upset. To them, it appears that Im attempting to conveniently obtain the fruit of their years of study and effort without any effort of my own. From their perspective, it was understandable. Hence, he wasnt bothered by their subtle, prickly nces. He calmly turned to the dean. May I request an introduction? Yes, Your Highness. The dean respectfully bowed and then turned to the prospective doctors. Attention, everyone. Allow me to introduce His Highness Raciel Adria Magentano, the Crown Prince of the Empire. Some of you may already be aware, but His Highness will be joining us in the graduation process, so I request your support. The dean delivered his words in a t tone. The prospective doctors responded with mechanical apuse and expressionless faces. Observing this, Raciel couldnt help but smirk once more. They have no intention of treating me as a fellow doctor. It was apparent at first nce. The dean had only introduced him as the Crown Prince. Despite the fact that the dean of the medical college, and likely anyone living in the capital of Magentano, should be aware of the Star Pce clinic, there was no mention of it. Furthermore, he had essentially implied that he couldntplete the graduation process on his own by requesting their assistance. The attitudes of the prospective doctors reflected this sentiment. So, Dean? Does His Highness participate in the graduation exam directly, without going through the usual procedures? A young man among the prospective doctors inquired. He had a head of unruly brown hair and the appearance of a diligent student. Ah, Kelrod? Thats a valid question. The dean responded with a meaningful smile to thement from the brown-haired prospective doctor named Kelrod. His Highness may find our entire curriculum unfamiliar. So, wouldnt it be meaningful to go through the graduation process together, supporting each other? But, Dean? What you just mentioned seems somewhat different from the founding principles of our university that Ive been learning and striving to uphold. You mean the principle that one should possess qualifications before assuming responsibilities? Exactly. There are various paths to acquiring qualifications. I see. Understood. Kelrod appeared reluctantly convinced and nodded. The dean let out a faint smirk, and Raciel couldnt help but find the situation absurd. Ha, look at these individuals. They were openly conversing right in front of him as if he didnt exist. Werent they concerned about the power of a Crown Prince? Apparently not. The dean of the medical college is reputed to be a staunchly principled person, and its certainly true. Thats why he subtly disyed defiance even in the presence of power and status. His students, the prospective doctors, seemed to have been significantly influenced by his principles. As for Raciel? I admire them all. In fact, he was pleased. If the dean had been overtly ttering him, he would have found it distasteful. A medical professional, someone entrusted with human lives, should possess such principles. Instead of easily yielding orpromising in the face of power, they should uphold their ideals and convictions. At least, thats my belief. Back in Korea, an ethical emergency surgeon gained media attention. People like that should thrive. Thats why. Despite his presence before them, the dean and the students boldly and subtly challenged him, which he found rather impressive. To be honest, he was even slightly envious. If possible, he wished to recruit all of them and employ them at the Star Pce clinic. Meanwhile, the dean continued speaking. Setting that aside, he will now disclose the graduation exam assignment to everyone. The entire training room fell silent instantly. Everyones eyes sparkled, and they were so hushed that one could hardly hear their breaths. They must have eagerly anticipated this moment. The dean addressed the audience. This years graduation exam will involve group medical treatment. I know you couldnt have anticipated this, as the content of the graduation exam changes every year. Group medical treatment? Could it be, a group project? Raciel furrowed his brow. Listening to the deans exnation, it seemed his guess was urate. From this point on, you will be divided into groups of six, jointly responsible for one patient. The goal is to effectively and intensively treat the patient until they make aplete recovery. Now, we will draw lots to determine the groups. The dean gestured, and an assistant professor, who had been standing quietly on the side, stepped forward with a box. There are colored papers in this box. Those who draw the same color will be in the same group. Feel free to draw without pressure. Now Your Highness? Would you please start? After the exnation, the dean looked at Raciel. He shrugged and reached into the box, selecting one from among the dozens of papers. Green, huh. The final-year prospective doctors followed suit, drawing their papers one by one. The results of the draw silently brought joy and disappointment. Some were pleased to be in the same group as friends or capable colleagues, while others appeared crestfallen at their group assignments. Particrly those who drew the same green paper as Raciel disyed clear disappointment in their eyes. . Their eyes conveyed it all: a sense of doom. Was his presence that unwee? Raciel observed the other five members of his group. The doctor with the bushy hair is here too. The brown-haired man with unruly hair, who had previously questioned the dean, caught his attention. For a moment, a fleeting expression of disgust flickered in his eyes. He quickly averted his gaze, but the brief yet unmistakable aftertaste of that emotion lingered. As for the others, hmm. Two men, and two women are they twins? So, including him, the group consisted of four men and a pair of twin sisters. The dean addressed everyone. Now that the groups are formed, please proceed to your designated areas. Your Highness, your group will be Group 1. Lets begin by assigning a patient to Group 1. Please follow me. Raciel followed the dean out of the training room. They traversed the corridor, ascended and descended stairs, and entered an adjacent building. This building housed the patients wards. Here we are. The dean led them to a single patient room where critically ill patients were located. A middle-aged many there. Despite his critical condition, he appeared fully conscious. The dean approached the patient. Miguel, how are you feeling today? Well as usual. My legs still refuse to move. The patient managed a self-deprecating smile. The dean patted the patients shoulder and then turned to the members of Group 1. Youre probably familiar with this patient, but since His Highness has recently joined us, Ill provide an exnation. This patient is suffering from lower limb paralysis. Whats intriguing is that the paralysis urred without any ident, trauma, or injury. . The group members listened attentively to the deans exnation, but their expressions were peculiar. If he had to sum up their faces in one word Doomed? They all appeared pale and frozen, as if they sensed an impending disaster. Meanwhile, the dean continued his exnation. Initially, the patient began experiencing symptoms of enteritis along with diarrhea about four weeks before the onset of paralysis. He also reported tingling and numbness in his toes for a few days, which he noted was increasing in frequency. Then, six days ago, he lost the ability to move his toes, and since then, the paralysis has gradually spread upward to the point where he can no longer move his legs. Youre all aware of these details, correct? Yes. Kelrod spoke on behalf of the group. The dean gazed meaningfully at everyone. The fate of this patient now rests in your hands. I hope each of you will work diligently and cooperatively to diagnose the cause of this patients paralysis and provide treatment. With these instructions that also carried a plea, the dean exited the room to assign patients to other groups. Once the dean had left, silence filled the room, and the group members exchanged nces. Eventually, prompted by the unspokenmunication, Kelrod stepped forward. Your Highness, may I have a word with you? Outside? Yes, Your Highness. Was it just his imagination, or did Kelrods demeanor, while still respectful, carry a hint of prickliness now? Raciel shrugged and followed Kelrod out of the room, with the other group members trailing behind. It wasnt until they were a sufficient distance from the room that Kelrod let out a deep sigh. Your Highness, to be frank, please dont even consider intervening on our behalf. . What kind of nonsensical talk was this? Kelrod continued with a sigh. You must have heard the deans exnation. The patient weve been assigned is suffering from paralysis, the cause of which remains unknown. Even the dean couldnt identify the cause. So? Chances are, we wont be able to identify the cause either, just as it has been for the past few days. Thats why I dare to make this request, Your Highness. Dont think about intervening? Yes, Your Highness. What would I even do? Not use your authority to ensure that our entire group passes the graduation exam. Hmm? Raciel couldnt suppress a smirk. Now he grasped Kelrods intention. So, youre requesting that I refrain from misusing my authority? Thats correct, Your Highness. In order to ensure that all graduates receive an impartial evaluation? Exactly, Your Highness. Haha, look at this guy. Raciel burst intoughter. I was wondering what serious matter you were about to discuss with such a solemn expression. But, Your Highness, we are quite serious. And indeed, Kelrods expression radiated earnestness. Examining his eyes, he could discern the kind of person he was. This guy, the more I see him, the more I appreciate him? So, Kelrod and his group members believe theyve been tasked with an impossible mission. They might carry a hint of resentment due to his presence. However, theyre genuinely concerned that he might exploit his authority to manipte the situation. They desire a fair assessment of their abilities, even if it means failing the graduation exam. They dont want to resort to deception or harm other groups. To engage in such a conversation filled with concern and seriousness he wondered where these talented individuals hade from. On the flip side, he also felt a touch of sadness. The reason for his sorrow was simple. Raciel inquired of Kelrod. Iprehend your point. However, regarding our assigned patient you mentioned that no one has identified the cause of the paralysis, correct? Yes, thats urate. Truly? But what if I already know the cause? Pardon me? Kelrods eyebrows furrowed slightly, disying evident disbelief. Raciel shed a meaningful smile at him. I had a suspicion as soon as I heard the deans exnation. Is that so? Without a doubt. It was rather apparent. The progression of symptoms, from enteritis with numbness starting in the toes to the gradual upward spread of paralysis, coupled with the absence of any idents, injuries, or shocks. The actual cause of the patients lower limb paralysis is Raciel dered with certainty. (To be Continued) To read ahead Patreon Subscription Tiers$5/month8 chap ahead + 5 chap/week$30/month30 chap ahead + 6 chap/week
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