Chapter 24 – Coming of Age Ceremony (4)

Chapter 24 – Coming of Age Ceremony (4)

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 24 – Coming of Age Ceremony (4)

“...Follow me for a moment.”

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—

Time 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 me 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 moment, 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 come to naught.

‘He must be desperate to the point of death.’

Overcoming alopecia was not within the realm of simple treatment.

Strictly speaking, it was closer to the realm of miracles.

However, this world is a world within a game.

In this world where magic, alchemy, and divine power coexist, overcoming alopecia is possible.

“Yes, it’s possible.”

“Are you serious? Improvements are possible?”

“Not just improvements, complete cure is possible.”

“Then, provide me with that treatment immediately...!”

“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 means 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, merely 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 numerous 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 someone while playing the villain, and the relationship with the Royal Family was at its worst.

But this time, 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 something 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-time.

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 movement 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 moment, 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 me with an indescribable look in his eyes.

“...Now I understand. The reason you showed me a blank check from the beginning was for this.”

“...”

“Your name will confidently appear at all official events of Winfred. Not as a legitimate son, but as the second son, and as a member 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 me?”

“...”

“There is, right here.”

I took a step, then another towards Luna.

“Luna Winfred.”

At that moment, Luna’s shoulders twitched.

“Your mere existence is a threat to me. Where can I go?”

My stomach turned, as if it were in knots.

Suddenly, a memory 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 me 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 seemed to feel guilt.

I narrowed my eyes sharply.

“What? Go back home?”

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 someone 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 melted away.

At the same time, blood vessels popped in my temples.

Something 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 same time, my body, which was barely holding on, collapsed helplessly.

“K-Kyle!!”

Luna grabbed my collapsing shoulders and propped me up.

A moment later, a scream with a cracked voice rang in my ears.

“No—!!”

[Translator – Peptobismol]