These days he can't even sleep for fear the Court Count might send assassins.
Saying he should be inducted into the 8 Heroes.
While it's true Obern once dread of that, it was when he was very young.
Having gained so self-awareness, he no longer dreams such futile dreams.
Now he doesn't even have the snake with him.
Obern leaned back in the waiting room chair, taking deep breaths.
"Patient, please co in."
Then a nurse called for Obern.
Obern didn't give his na. Well, many visitors to such places prefer not to give their nas.
The only problem is the cost, it's a place frequently visited by nobles and officials who don't worry about expenses.
Opening the door revealed a space more like a reception room than an examination room.
Wood-toned walls and floor.
Antique furnishings and furniture.
A very plush velvet sofa, and a doctor wearing a suit rather than a gown.
"Patient... Yes, you say you're experiencing severe anxiety?"
The bespectacled doctor asked in a gentle voice.
"Yes, that's right."
"How are you sleeping?"
"...I can't fall asleep at all."
"I see. Once you do fall asleep, do you sleep deeply?"
"I wake up every hour. And when I wake up, my whole body is drenched in cold sweat."
"Hmm..."
Yes. What Obern visited was a psychiatric clinic.
In the capital Solion Impel, there were even clinics specializing in treating only ntal illnesses and suffering.
They say it's especially frequented by officials overwheld by heavy workloads...
"Why are you so anxious?"
"...I feel like everything is about to collapse. Everything I've built..."
"Do you usually have a heavy workload?"
"Yes."
"There are various causes for anxiety becoming excessive... heavy workload being a pri example."
The doctor said a few routine things.
But Obern couldn't listen seriously to the doctor's words.
Because there was a clear cause for his anxiety.
'The Court Count is going to kill .'
The Court Count will destroy Obern.
There could be dozens of thods swirling through his mind as he sat in the dimly lit study, each possibility more intricate than the last. The weight of the decision pressed down on him like a physical burden.
He could send assassins to do it cleanly, or use the fact that he killed Cobent to throw him in prison.
"Never mind... just give dicine."
"Well, alright. First, juice extracted from herbs to help you sleep well, and for anxiety..."
Just as the doctor was about to write a prescription half-heartedly.
"Ah! Aah!"
"W-what's wrong?"
"Aren't you Professor Obern!"
The half-hearted doctor suddenly jumped up.
And hugged Obern tightly. Explore more at empire
Obern shuddered, getting goosebumps for a mont.
"I'm Eddie Lapis's father!"
"Eddie..."
"The second-year student whose life you saved in the arena!"
He couldn't rember.
But the doctor's expression was so bright he had no choice but to nod.
"To have the chance to serve a hero at my hospital... Oh my, perhaps a detailed examination..."
"No, that's fine. Just give the dicine."
"But that's... Ah, right!"
And he hurriedly pulled out paper and pen.
"Um, perhaps an autograph..."
"..."
Obern's chest tightened and his hands grew clammy as anxiety crept through his body. The familiar sensations of an impending panic attack made him want to flee the sterile dical office.
But in the end he had no choice but to give an autograph.
Because the doctor waived the expensive consultation fee.
Being poor was truly pitiful, a constant reminder that even minor kindnesses ca with strings attached. The indignity of trading on his fading fa just to access basic healthcare made his stomach churn.
"Haah..."
He walked with heavy steps.
Returning to Erald School, he headed to the professor research wing.
The stairs up to his research room felt especially high today.
And in front of the research room.
There was a sign posted on the door.
'Absolutely No Entry. -Obern Grimoire.'
Posted to prevent even cleaners from entering.
But sure enough.
Thump, thoom.
There was commotion inside.
Obern frowned and opened the door.
"Kuhoong!"
And inside, an armless gorilla was spinning round and round.
Where arms should be, a snake that had grown to the size of gorilla forearms was hanging.
"Saak!"
"Ah, got it boss!"
And the gorilla swung the snake attached to its arm like its own fist.
At a human-shaped scarecrow.
Bang!
The snake's head collided with the scarecrow's head.
The scarecrow's neck snapped but.
"B-boss!"
The snake also passed out, going limp.
Obern was dumbfounded.
'What in the world is this nonsense.'
The snake, returned to its original size, regained consciousness after a mont.
It naturally climbed onto Obern's shoulder.
"What were you doing?"
'We were experinting with being Lady Gorilla's arms.'
"And?"
'Looks like we'll need helts to do it properly.'
The seriousness made it even more absurd.
The snake had succeeded in helping escape the gorilla that had broken the Second Prince's limbs.
And of all places, hid that gorilla in Obern's research room.
Since they couldn't smuggle her outside, it couldn't be helped.
The problem was that Obern had to take care of the gorilla's ss.
The gorilla mumbled sheepishly.
"P-professor. We're out of food..."
Obern had to regularly bring in enormous amounts of food and bananas.
Even more terrible was the bathroom issue.
The gorilla's size was enormous, so both intake and output amounts were trendous.
He had to unclog the toilet several tis. Because of that, he had borrowed a plunger three tis just this week.
Unsavory rumors that Obern ate huge amounts of bananas and had huge bowel movents were about to spread in the academy.
"Haah..."
Just as Obern sighed and looked at his desk.
He was startled.
A red envelope was placed on the desk.
"W-who ca in?"
'No, soone slipped the letter through the door gap and put it on the desk.'
Obern sighed in relief, stroking his chest.
"Who would..."
'It's from the Chancellor.'
"The Chancellor?"
'Yeah, I didn't open it politely so I don't know the contents, but it's probably a duel letter?'
For a mont Obern thought he had misheard.
A duel letter?
The Chancellor, sending him a duel letter?
But the bright red envelope, the crossed swords drawn on the envelope's surface.
The Chancellor's seal sealing the letter.
It was unmistakably a duel letter.
Obern hurriedly opened the letter.
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