Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Achievement Unlocked (1)
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As they rode Mikel out of the Nardan Jungle, Amelin reminisced about Aren's exploits in the battle against the Venom Anaconda.
It had been awe-inspiring how he'd stabbed his sword into the rampaging beast without falling even once, climbing all the way up to its head.
She knew she could never pull off moves like that.
But what shocked Amelin even more came right after.
She'd assumed that after Aren was flung into the sky, Mikel would catch him and they'd put some distance between them and the snake.
Instead, Aren had asked Mikel to let him go again and plummeted straight back toward the Venom Anaconda as it spewed its poison.
And what followed was something even a mage like Amelin could hardly believe.
With his left hand, he'd recklessly conjured flames to evaporate the poison the Anaconda spat, while his right hand, extended behind him, prepared the Flames of Judgment.
Even if one spell was cast without a proper incantation, the courage to unleash two mid-level spells simultaneously in that situation was staggering.
Above all, the sheer mana required to pull it off left Amelin stunned.
'Even with Your Highness's mana reserves, is that possible? No, but with the mana recovery speed he showed today... maybe? Really?'
Her curiosity as a mage piqued, Amelin finally turned to Aren, who was holding her from behind.
"Y-Your Highness!"
"What's up, Amelin?"
"How did you do that thing when you fell?"
"Oh, that? Yeah?"
Aren answered her question immediately.
But his response only muddled her mind further.
'He adapted Sir Gillek's secret technique in that situation? Huh? What?'
Using a secret technique and magic at the same time wasn't impossible in principle.
But it all depended on the difficulty of the magic or technique involved.
To Amelin's eyes, Gillek's secret technique was one that demanded considerable skill to handle.
And yet, to adapt it while casting two spells simultaneously?
'Is that even possible?'
At least, no one in Amelin's memory had ever managed it.
Just as her common sense was about to shatter again thanks to Aren, her mind triggered a defense mechanism.
'Heh, heh heh. It's His Highness, after all. Of course he can do it.'
She gave up trying to think it through.
She decided there was no point in a mage obsessing over something incomprehensible and unknowable—just accept it as a phenomenon and move on.
We found the Manlenesia on the same day we arrived in the Nardan Jungle, allowing us to return to the mansion in less than a week round trip.
"Lord Aren!"
The first to greet me warmly in the mansion's garden as I dismounted was none other than Ridel.
"I'm back, Ridel."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I'm fine. Better than fine—I was the star of the show."
"You don't need to star in anything as long as you're safe. That's what matters most. But please, tell me all about your exploits."
"Of course."
"Did you find the Manlenesia?"
"Yeah, it's in my inventory. More importantly, has the doctor arrived?"
"No, he should arrive in two days."
Even with the Manlenesia in hand, we couldn't just crudely stuff it into Kirigumo's daughter's mouth to fix her.
We needed the proper technique to use it as an ingredient in a real antidote.
I'd asked Kirigumo, but he'd said that acquiring the Manlenesia itself was so difficult that he planned to find an apothecary to make the medicine only after obtaining it.
Upon hearing that, I'd immediately asked Ridel to send a letter requesting a visit from one of the imperial physicians.
The pretext was that since I'd fallen from a tree recently, they should come examine me just in case something was wrong.
Imperial physicians could leave the palace for house calls without issue anyway, so I figured they'd set out as soon as they got the letter.
After all, imperial family members weren't just overflowing with talent—they were fundamentally healthy too.
Unless a royal had some incurable disease, the physicians only got truly busy once the emperor entered his old age.
But the current emperor—
My "father"—was still hale and hearty, not yet in his dotage. So the imperial physicians were in a lull right now.
Besides, if I outright wrote that I needed them to come make medicine with Manlenesia, rumors might spread in the palace and draw unwanted attention to me.
'I can smooth over the secrecy once they arrive and talk it through.'
"Got it. Then prepare a bath for me, Ridel."
"Yes, Lord Aren."
Rather than washing in a stream or using water magic, I wanted to soak properly in prepared bathwater and clean up thoroughly.
After the maids helped me bathe, I headed to my room.
And there, I saw—
"Huh?"
Ridel, dressed in an outfit similar to Amelin's.
"Did you wash up refreshingly, Lord Aren?"
"Yeah. But what's with the outfit?"
"It's that 'promise.' You seemed to really like Amelin's clothes."
Come to think of it, Ridel had made me a promise.
If I returned safely, she'd show me something "nice."
And indeed—
"Yeah, it looks great. You make it look stunning too, Ridel."
"Hee hee, I'm glad to hear that."
"But what's with the choker?"
In addition to the witch-like outfit Amelin wore, Ridel had a thick choker around her neck.
"If it's too identical, it gets boring, right? As your personal maid... I wanted to emphasize that I'm your possession. What do you think?"
As she winked while saying that, I had only one thing to say.
"Perfect."
And so, Ridel stood by my side in that outfit for the rest of the day.
Of course—
"Eek!? L-Lady Ridel? Th-that outfit is... what...?"
Amelin was startled upon seeing someone dressed similarly to herself.
"I tried on the exclusive mage outfit. Does it suit me?"
"Y-Yes! V-Very much so!"
"Next time, you should try my clothes, Amelin. I bet Lord Aren would love that."
"Oh, now that's something to look forward to?"
"P-Pardon!?"
We were teasing Amelin together with Ridel when—
"Your Highness!"
Kirigumo approached me in the hallway, dropping to one knee and bowing his head.
"Thank you! Truly! Thank you so much!"
"Kirigumo, you've thanked me dozens of times on the way back."
"Even so, my gratitude knows no bounds, Your Highness!"
Kirigumo lifted his head, tears streaming down his face.
He hadn't cried the whole way back, but apparently, after washing up and immediately seeing his daughter, his emotions had overflowed.
"Your Highness! If there's anything you wish to learn from me, right now—I'll teach you everything! No need for payment! Just let me repay this grace by your side from now on!"
"Kirigumo, I helped cure your daughter with the intention of hiring you as a tutor. So I'll formally employ you as such once she's fully recovered. And..."
I placed a hand on Kirigumo's shoulder and continued.
"I don't want to be known as the penniless prince who doesn't pay his hires properly, so take the compensation as agreed."
"A-Ahh...! Understood, Your Highness!"
And two days later—
The imperial physician arrived.
"It's been a while, Your Highness Aren."
"Yes, it has."
I'd met the arriving imperial physician a few times before.
After welcoming him to the mansion, we started with the pretext examination I'd summoned him for.
Naturally, there was nothing wrong with me, so it wrapped up quickly.
However—
"You've... truly bulked up impressively since last I saw you, Your Highness."
"I've been exercising diligently since leaving the capital."
"I see. In any case, you're in perfect health."
"Good to hear. While you're here, I have one more favor to ask."
"What is it?"
"Want to try making an antidote with Manlenesia?"
"...Pardon?"
I explained the prepped story to the imperial physician.
While out on a picnic carriage ride, I'd run into Kirigumo by chance, heard his tale, and felt deeply sorry for him.
He had the legendary flower Manlenesia, but no reliable physician to turn it into medicine despite barely obtaining it.
Touched by his plight, I'd called an imperial physician under the guise of my own check-up.
If other royals said something like that, it'd smack of ulterior motives.
But—
"I understand."
Since it was "me"—rumored to be so merciful—the physician accepted it without question.
"Writing about their story in the letter would indeed draw 'excessive interest' from others."
The physician nodded, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"For what?"
"If you'd mentioned this reason in the letter... the other imperial physicians would have fought over who got to come."
A flush rose to the physician's cheeks.
"Ah, ah! That legendary antidote, passed down only in theory—its recipe existed, but without the key Manlenesia, it could never be made! And now, I get to brew it myself with my own hands! How could this not be the greatest joy?!"
"Uh, yeah. Glad you're happy."
Maybe it was his exceptional skill that made him an imperial physician.
His passion for his profession was intense.