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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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I remembered the Saintess’s touch. The warmth of her hand, like the gentle spring sun, enveloping mine. Divine power, considered proof of the gods’ existence. The feeling of that sacred energy flowing into my body.
“Deron? Deron, are you alright?!”
The Saintess’s cry and an unfamiliar voice brought me back to my senses. My mind reeled, and bile rose in my throat.
“Huweeeek!”
Vomit, mixed with blood, splattered on the floor. The sensation was still unpleasant, though I’d grown used to it. I didn’t know why I was coughing up blood this time.
Rebecca looked at me with concern, her hand glowing with divine power. Ready to bestow her divine blessing upon me at any moment.
But I waved her off and consumed the Grand Tiger Elixir. The auctioneer simply stared, dumbfounded, unable to stop me.
A month’s worth of lifespan flowed into my body, strengthening me. The elixir’s effect caused my muscles to swell. But my mind still felt hazy.
It seemed each elixir had its own specific healing properties. The Blue Jade Elixir for the mind, the Grand Tiger Elixir for the body.
I discreetly checked my lifespan.
264 days.
It hadn’t decreased. I wasn’t as desperate as I’d thought.
But my current state was similar to when my lifespan had dropped to double digits. The world spun, and darkness crept in at the edges of my vision.
Then… a light pierced through the darkness.
Rebecca was gently holding my hand. The divine blessing flowed into me.
A warm, comforting energy, like basking in the sun. But…
“Cough!”
More blood erupted from my mouth. This time, it wasn’t tainted with black.
Instead, it was tinged with gold, almost… pure.
Then this was…
“Let go.”
“Deron! I’m channeling divine power, so just…”
“I said, let go!”
Rebecca released my hand at my outburst. The warm energy vanished, and the bleeding stopped.
Now I was certain.
My body rejected divine power. It expelled it the moment it entered.
I had to abandon my naive plan of using the Saintess to heal my terminal illness.
Rebecca looked at me, bewildered. From her perspective, she had been trying to save me by channeling her divine power.
“It seems my body rejects divine power.”
“But… that’s impossible. No one can reject divine power.”
“You just witnessed it.”
I wiped the blood from my lips and stood up straight. My body returned to normal once the divine power was gone.
Damn it.
Did this mean I couldn’t even be healed? As my mind cleared, I recalled the voice that had woken me.
An unfamiliar voice, yet one I’d heard somewhere before.
‘Where did I hear it?’
As I pondered, the auctioneer approached me.
“Um… Young Master?”
“Ah, here’s 500 gold.”
I had consumed the Grand Tiger Elixir without permission, so I had to pay for it.
I tossed the auctioneer a pouch containing 500 gold. He caught it but continued to eye me expectantly.
As if he wanted something more.
Then, I noticed the slave.
“Ah, my apologies. My mind is a bit… preoccupied.”
“It’s quite alright. I understand. I witnessed the incident myself.”
The auctioneer waved his hands dismissively. He wasn’t in a position to question the eldest son of the Philasia Dukedom.
“How much was that slave?”
“You won the bid at 8,000 gold.”
He rubbed his hands together, the quintessential image of a merchant. I watched him for a moment, then asked,
“You have a communication crystal, don’t you?”
“We do. But why…?”
“May I borrow it for a moment?”
“Certainly! Please, feel free.”
Someone brought a blue crystal from the auctioneer’s side. I led Rebecca to a private room.
I had to choose my words carefully now.
“Saintess.”
“Yes?”
“I’m going to contact my father.”
“What?!”
Rebecca’s eyes widened in surprise, which I understood completely.
“It’s nothing serious. I just need you to show your face and… appear to be acquainted with me.”
“Why would… Oh, is it because…?”
“My father is… a rather unusual man.”
I hadn’t explained the details, but Rebecca seemed to understand. The Duke of Philasia’s personality was well-known.
A man of business, who always repaid favors. He generously rewarded those who benefited him.
His calculations were so meticulous he was often said to carry a scale in his hand.
That was Deron Philasia’s father.
The crystal glowed with a green light. I knew the direct line to the Duke, but this wasn’t the time to use it.
The green light revealed the face of an elderly man.
“Who is this?”
“It’s me, Uth.”
“Young Master?!”
The old man looked surprised. It was Uth, the butler who had served the Philasia Dukedom his entire life.
“Aren’t you at the academy? How is life there?”
“It’s… tolerable. A little tiring without a butler, though.”
“I was a bit worried even with Petra accompanying you, but it’s good to hear you’re well.”
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, I felt the Saintess’s gaze on me. She had been listening to our conversation, her expression uncertain.
Not wanting to endure her scrutiny any longer, I got straight to the point.
“Uth, is Father there?”
“He’s in his study. Shall I inform him?”
“Yes, please.”
Uth nodded. The crystal glowed green once more.
It would take a little time to connect.
“You seem close. Is he your butler?”
“Yes, the head butler of the Philasia Dukedom. He’s been serving the family since before I was born.”
“…I see.”
The Saintess’s gaze was… cool. Her golden eyes, or rather, gentle lemon-colored eyes, observed me.
She was drawing a clear distinction between Deron the sick young man and Deron, the powerful Duke’s son. Her discerning gaze made me uncomfortable, so I turned away.
With a crackle of static, the image of a middle-aged man appeared on the crystal.
“What is it?”
A commanding voice, accompanied by a captivatingly handsome face. Impeccable attire. Even I, a man, couldn’t help but stare. He possessed an overwhelming aura of dignity.
…Cartrell Philasia.
He scrutinized my face as if appraising an item, his gaze sharp and discerning, like a sharpened blade.
“I asked, what is it?”
“I need your help.”
“Help?”
My father, Cartrell, frowned slightly.
“Have you forgotten our agreement when you left for the academy?”
“I remember it well.”
“And yet you ask for my help.”
His blue eyes, tinged with black, fixed on me. I gritted my teeth against the pressure of his gaze, even from this distance.
“This isn’t just for me.”
“…Explain yourself.”
I turned and gestured to Rebecca. She nodded and moved into view of the crystal.
“The Saintess?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Duke Philasia.”
He scrutinized the Saintess, just as he had me. As if evaluating her authenticity.
Finally, Cartrell spoke.
“Does the Saintess require my assistance?”
“I’ve won the bid for an elven slave at the black market.”
“An elven slave? Is this about your… noble ideals, Saintess?”
Cartrell’s words pierced Rebecca like daggers. She winced but nodded.
“So the rumors about you opposing even the enslavement of other races are true. And what do I gain from helping you?”
The Duke of Philasia held the scales. He always repaid favors, but he expected something in return. We had to offer him something of equal value.
“What do you desire?”
“I asked the question. The Saintess should be the one to answer.”
He wouldn’t reveal his desires, even when subtly prompted. Rebecca seemed to be thinking hard.
“The contract. Do you remember it?”
I spoke, reminding him of the agreement we had made before I entered the academy.
Cartrell nodded curtly.
“You said I should make a name for myself as Deron, the student, not Deron of the Philasia Dukedom.”
“Indeed. And have you accomplished anything of note?”
“I have.”
I didn’t want to reveal it, but I had no choice.
“Lenox’s Dungeon. I conquered the hidden dungeon of the Magic Swordsman.”
Cartrell’s eyebrows twitched. Rebecca looked surprised.
It was understandable. It was Lenox, after all. The legendary Magic Swordsman’s hidden dungeon.
“Is that enough?”
I looked down at my father with a confident expression.
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