[Translator – Peptobismol]
Chapter 24 – Coming of Age Ceremony (4)
“…Follow for a mont.”
With those words, the Emperor rose from his seat.
I glanced around lightly.
Isabel and Luna were nowhere to be seen, and conveniently, Rudine was also absent.
I passed the Empress, who was sitting quietly looking at the ceremony, and followed behind the Emperor.
Thud, thud—
Ti passed suffocatingly, and finally, we arrived at the reception room.
“Please, have a seat.”
I nodded lightly and cautiously took my place, bowing my head.
The Emperor glanced at briefly and slowly brought up the matter.
“Alopecia… did you say it can be cured?”
It was a question I had already anticipated.
At this mont, the Emperor harbored almost obsessive trauma about his alopecia.
Hence, every possible resource was poured into researching a cure for alopecia, but naturally, all those efforts had co to naught.
‘He must be desperate to the point of death.’
Overcoming alopecia was not within the realm of simple treatnt.
Strictly speaking, it was closer to the realm of miracles.
However, this world is a world within a ga.
In this world where magic, alchemy, and divine power coexist, overcoming alopecia is possible.
“Yes, it’s possible.”
“Are you serious? Improvents are possible?”
“Not just improvents, complete cure is possible.”
“Then, provide with that treatnt imdiately…!”
“However, the cooperation of the Royal Family is needed.”
At my firm response, the Emperor’s eyes widened.
“…Let’s discuss it in detail.”
“To cure alopecia, a special elixir needs to be made. However, the problem is…”
“The problem is?”
I smiled lightly.
“It requires astronomical costs.”
Astronomical costs.
It ans the cost of producing a single elixir is exorbitantly expensive.
Commonly known as an Elixir.
It heals all illnesses and even restores cellular damage.
It’s the ultimate boss of the pharmaceutical world, capable of reviving even those who have recently died.
The underlying theory is simple.
The black fog that devours the continent.
If not surrounded by divine power, rely touching it would cause the cells in the affected area to die, but with a special process, the destructive nature is completely altered to heal everything it touches.
At first glance, it might seem easy, but in reality, it’s anything but.
The materials required for production, as well as the manpower.
Even with insane costs aside, without the infrastructure of the Royal Family spanning the entire Empire, the attempt itself is impossible.
That’s not all.
Even if success is achieved after nurous twists and turns, the resulting product is minimal.
In other words, it’s impossible to churn out Elixirs like in a factory.
Even if it’s successfully manufactured, there are clear limitations to its usage.
‘In the previous run, I couldn’t even attempt it.’
No matter how good the performance is, what can I do?
There’s no reason to save soone while playing the villain, and the relationship with the Royal Family was at its worst.
But this ti, I absolutely need the Elixir.
Not only because of the Emperor’s favorability rating, but also because now that I’ve completely deviated from the main scenario, I need at least one insurance policy against potential crises.
“…”
“…”
He whispered sothing to the attendant standing next to him.
After a while, the attendant left and entered the reception room with cautious steps.
In the attendant’s right hand was a flask containing a transparent liquid.
“Try drinking this.”
“What is this?”
“It’s a truth serum. It’s usually used when interrogating prisoners, but just understand it for today. There’s no better way to determine if what you say is true.”
Without batting an eyelid, I swallowed the serum.
As the cold serum passed through my throat, I could feel the changes within my body in real-ti.
It was a strangely refreshing and cool sensation, as if tiny threads were crawling all over my body.
A feeling so familiar.
It was the movent of magic.
“Have all the words you spat out until now have been nothing but the truth?”
The Emperor’s firm voice forcibly stirred my mind.
After a mont, my lips moved involuntarily.
“Yes, they have all been nothing but the truth.”
Then, a harsh, forced laughter burst out.
It was the Emperor, sitting there, glaring at with an indescribable look in his eyes.
“…Now I understand. The reason you showed a blank check from the beginning was for this.”
Correct.
When receiving the amount on a blank check, the recipient’s information is exposed.
By shifting that responsibility to the Royal Family, at least, there would be no external pressure on using a blank check as a pretext.
“Haha, haha…”
The Emperor burst into laughter a couple of tis.
I maintained a smile, waiting for his response.
As the Emperor, who had been rubbing his face with both hands, soon parted his lips with a face filled with joy.
“Speak what you desire.”
“I need the full support and protection of the Royal Family. Additionally, this information should not be leaked to anyone other than the two of us. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
Wow, he’s surprisingly cooperative.
I straightforwardly stated my demands.
“I also need unrestricted access to the Imperial Palace. Please grant temporary status as senior alchemists under the Royal Family for the use of imperial research facilities.”
“I will grant you the status of Chief Alchemist belonging to the Royal Family.”
“All manufacturing processes will not be disclosed. Even if Your Majesty requests information, it will be the sa.”
“As long as the results are certain, information is unnecessary.”
A gleam of ecstasy akin to madness flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.
“The procedure through the Elixir we produce will be solely for one person.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
It doesn’t matter.
As long as only he receives treatnt.
The Emperor’s alopecia will be cured, and the remaining elixir will be solely mine.
“Finally, a suitable reward for my efforts is needed.”
“Just na it. I’ll give you the best treatnt under the na of the Royal Family. Seems like you and Rudine are on quite good terms. If you desire, I can arrange a place for you whenever you want.”
He’s really in a hurry.
[Translator – Peptobismol]
No matter what, I never thought the Emperor, known for being doting towards his daughter, would go as far as to use Rudine.
This should be considered a successful deal.
Then, as a final touch…
“What’s this?”
“Oh, you an this?”
I took out the highest-grade Geass I had received from rlin in advance.
“It’s a contract.”
Naturally, I’m suspicious.
****
After concluding the contract, I left the reception room.
It was while passing through the corridor, intending to go down to the ceremony hall to find Rudine.
“Kyle.”
Luna, standing in the dim corridor with perfectly arranged attire, called .
As always, she was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but sigh.
‘When did you co here again?’
I t Luna’s gaze directed towards .
And I imdiately noticed.
Luna’s face was sowhat unusual.
Luna Winfred had also inherited her mories from the previous run.
Did she co here to blabber nonsense again?
I reluctantly spoke up.
“What are you doing standing there?”
“Just that.”
Luna’s imdiate response.
Unlike usual, she seed sowhat disheveled.
“If you have nothing to say, move aside.”
Luna lazily tilted her head.
Her disheveled black hair swayed precariously.
Her slightly exposed eyes seed sowhat gloomy.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
As I was about to leave, at that mont…
“Imperial Palace.”
Luna’s hollow voice rang out.
“Is this the furthest place you’ve managed to find after leaving the Duke’s estate? Just the palace?”
“What?”
“Stop wandering around and co back, to your ho.”
The mont I heard those words, my lips involuntarily parted.
My ho? That’s sothing that doesn’t exist in this world, at least for .
“Back to my ho?”
“Yes.”
“Where is that?”
“Where else, the Winfred’s estate.”
A straightforward answer.
For a mont, reason froze cold.
Suddenly, a realization struck like lightning.
Ah, it’s just a simple mockery mixed with a pun, as always.
“All the problematic servants have all been replaced, and Ian Winfred will also leave the mansion for the ti being.”
“…”
“Your na will confidently appear at all official events of Winfred. Not as a legitimate son, but as the second son, and as a mber of Winfred.”
“…”
“If you want, I’ll arrange for a completely new mansion next to the Duke’s estate.”
My head buzzed as if even my eardrums were pricked.
“There’s no one left to threaten you in Winfred anymore.”
Stress surged at the nonsensical words.
I’m no Kyle Winfred, but I definitely know that the best response to such baseless talk is silence.
Nevertheless, a chilling laughter burst out of control.
“Haha.”
I looked down at Luna with an expressionless face.
“There’s no one left to threaten ?”
“…”
“There is, right here.”
I took a step, then another towards Luna.
“Luna Winfred.”
At that mont, Luna’s shoulders twitched.
“Your re existence is a threat to . Where can I go?”
My stomach turned, as if it were in knots.
Suddenly, a mory flashed through my mind.
— Ah, my brother.
— Wearing the guise of a human, but you are truly worse than a beast.
She’d throw leftover scraps pretending to be food into my room, saying such things.
— Please… Please, it’s too cold in the room…
— Please, at least… a blanket…!
One winter day, all my clothes and bedding were confiscated under the pretext of needing laundry.
Thanks to that, I suffered through a bout of flu.
— Is your body so fragile?
— Now, here are the family knights gathered for you.
— Approach the training with gratitude.
Another day, knights of the family beat under the pretext of training since I had no energy after fasting all day.
Thanks to that, instead of training, my body was aching for several days.
I endured it all.
To raise the progress rate, and to return to my original world.
Yeah, even then, she had this look in her eyes.
Eyes with a dualistic gaze that seed to feel guilt.
I narrowed my eyes sharply.
“What? Go back ho?”
Ridiculous.
And disgusting.
“Sorry, but I won’t return to Winfred as long as you’re there.”
Luna’s pupils shook roughly.
I spat out roughly in a rough voice.
“Ha, damn it.”
Her face twisted as if soone had forgotten how to use facial muscles.
“I’d rather die than go there.”
Luna’s arms, which had been crossed all along, fell weakly.
Her trembling hands shook weakly.
‘Fuck, why do I feel so dizzy…’
My head spun, and my stomach twisted as if the disguise had lted away.
At the sa ti, blood vessels popped in my temples.
Sothing was wrong.
Then, a realization struck my mind like a stake.
‘Ah, the truth serum.’
The truth serum I ingested at the Emperor’s urging.
Truth serum has one characteristic.
It forcibly awakens the magic within the body, causing a boosting effect.
It’s fine until here.
However, Kyle’s body has never used magic before.
The side effect of forcibly awakening magic through the serum.
Magic eruption.
And the aftermath is…
“…Cough!”
Ah, damn it.
This bloody body.
“…Shit.”
My vision blurred.
At the sa ti, my body, which was barely holding on, collapsed helplessly.
“K-Kyle!!”
Luna grabbed my collapsing shoulders and propped up.
A mont later, a scream with a cracked voice rang in my ears.
“No—!!”
[Translator – Peptobismol]
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