Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Achievement Unlocked (2)
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Imperial Physician.
Before making the medicine, Dertis asked me,
"Your Highness, by the way, where is the person who brought this? I'd like to meet them in person and ask how they harvested the Manlenesia! And where on earth did the Manlenesia...!"
"They're with their sick daughter right now. Could you check on the patient's condition before making the medicine?"
"Of course!"
I took the physician to Tenka's room.
In Tenka's room were a maid tending to Tenka alongside Kirigumo, and a priest who came every day to check on Tenka's condition.
As we entered, Kirigumo, who had been watching over his daughter, jumped to his feet upon seeing us.
"Your Highness! Could this be...!"
"Yes, the imperial physician I promised."
"I'm Dertis."
"Kirigumo Kazuki! Please! Please save my daughter...!"
"First, I'll examine the patient. And afterward, I'd like to hear all the details about the Manlenesia."
"I'll tell you everything! Just save my daughter!"
Dertis nodded to Kirigumo and approached Tenka to check her condition.
"She's extremely weakened. Priest, have you investigated this patient's symptoms?"
"I examined her before my brother arrived. To start with the symptoms..."
After hearing the priest's investigation of Tenka's condition and symptoms, as well as the treatments prescribed, Dertis looked at Tenka in surprise.
"It's a miracle she's still alive. With such a potent poison deeply rooted in her body, nothing short of Manlenesia could have cured her. But to hold on this long... she has a remarkably resilient constitution."
"Tenka... if not for the poison, she would have become the greatest hunter of her generation by now!"
"First things first, we need to make the antidote quickly. Kirigumo, was it? Where's the Manlenesia?"
"Right here."
I pulled five stalks of Manlenesia harvested from the Nardan Jungle out of my inventory.
"Oh! This is it, Ma-Manlenesia! And there are so many! The roots are perfectly intact too!"
"I stored them in my inventory for preservation. This should be enough, right?"
"One stalk is plenty for the antidote! But just in case, may I take all five?"
"I have more left, so it's fine. Please hurry and make the medicine."
"Understood! Then, Mr. Kirigumo! Come with me! I want to hear the story while I prepare it!"
"Very well."
Dertis led Kirigumo out of the room.
Watching them go, Ridel spoke to me from beside her.
"He'll talk properly, right?"
"I've prepped him with exactly what to say, so he should be fine."
Before the physician arrived, I'd told Kirigumo exactly what to answer if questioned.
He could reveal the location of the Manlenesia, speculation on why it grew wild in the Nardan Jungle, and its reactions when uprooted.
Of course, framing it all as something he barely obtained thanks to his vigilance and caution.
There'd be a Venom Anaconda corpse in front of the cave, but over a week had passed.
By now, it would have rotted away or been devoured by other jungle monsters, leaving only bones—no evidence of our battle.
An hour later, Dertis returned with the completed antidote.
"You made it that fast?"
I hadn't expected him to finish in just an hour.
"I already had all the necessary ingredients and tools in my inventory."
Inventories—standard for royals, but imperial physicians responsible for royal health carried them too, for storing medicines and tools.
I hadn't realized he had every ingredient for the antidote as well.
'Even before fully active duty, he keeps everything prepared.'
"No mistakes in the making?"
"None! I've always memorized the formula because I dreamed of making a Manlenesia antidote someday, so one stalk was enough. But, Your Highness! The remaining Manlenesia..."
"If Kirigumo's fine with it, take it. He gave me some anyway, and I have leftovers."
"Understood! Mr. Kirigumo!"
"If it saves my daughter, it doesn't matter."
"Heh, heh, hehehe! Research time as soon as I get back to the palace!"
"Research away, but be careful not to let word spread to my other siblings unnecessarily. It's a sensitive time; I can't afford to give them any 'worries' about me."
"I'll keep that in mind!"
"Kirigumo, could you wake your daughter?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Kirigumo immediately went to his sleeping daughter and began waking her.
"Tenka! Tenka! Wake up, Tenka!"
"Mm... Father?"
"It's here! The antidote is finally ready! Come on, drink up!"
"Is that... really it?"
"Yes. First, let's sit you up slowly."
With Kirigumo's help, Tenka sat up, and Dertis brought the bottled antidote.
"Drink it slowly."
As she brought the bottle to her lips, Tenka began sipping the antidote.
After finishing, Dertis helped her lie back down.
"Now that she's taken the antidote, her body should gradually improve. We'll monitor for three days. Patient, the antidote will consume stamina while neutralizing the poison. You might feel extremely hungry after sleeping, so don't be alarmed."
"Under...stood..."
After replying, Tenka closed her eyes and fell asleep again.
She'd been forcibly awakened in her weakened state, so sleep came quickly.
And so, we decided to observe Tenka's progress.
To start with Tenka's progress: it was excellent.
She recovered at an astonishing speed.
Upon first waking, she blinked in shock at her own condition.
The constant helplessness and pain had diminished dramatically.
And as Dertis predicted, she was ravenous—her stomach growled thunderously.
Though we'd prepared porridge in advance, as a sign of recovery, Tenka devoured bowl after bowl relentlessly.
"Oh! Ohhh! Tenka, who struggled to finish one bowl! Eating so heartily! Ahhh! Tenkaaaa!"
Seeing clear proof of his daughter's improvement, Kirigumo burst into tears.
"Just as Dertis said."
"Mm, y-yes. It seems the patient has quite the healthy appetite to begin with."
Her voracious eating surprised him, apparently.
The next day, she could eat solid food, and by the day after, she was well enough for rehab training.
"Whoa, I didn't expect recovery this swift."
Even Dertis marveled at her recuperative powers.
Kirigumo's claim of her potential as the top hunter of her generation wasn't exaggeration.
And as Kirigumo's daughter ate and trained...
Kirigumo Tenka expressed her gratitude to me repeatedly whenever she saw me.
"Thank you, Your Highness! I will eat with your grace in mind."
"I won't let Your Highness's benevolence go to waste! I'll focus on recovery!"
"Nom nom nom nom! I want to recover quickly and repay Your Highness alongside Father!"
When weakened, she'd just lain there listlessly.
But watching her during recovery, her resemblance to Kirigumo was unmistakable.
For rehab, Tenka wore casual clothes, but true to her father—nicknamed "Salty Ninja"—she sported a classic kunoichi outfit.
Blue kunoichi garb with fishnet stockings and a red sash.
The boldly plunging neckline was personally quite appealing.
And a week after taking the antidote.
Dertis declared her recovery so advanced she could walk outside, needing only good food and rest for full cure, then returned to the palace.
With Tenka healed, I finalized the deal to hire Kirigumo as a tutor.
"If that's your wish, I'll teach you everything I know! And please, I beg you! Even if not as tutor, take me in! This Kirigumo Kazuki wishes to serve Aren Highness for life!"
The moment I mentioned tutor, Kirigumo dropped to one knee and pledged his service.
I'd heard this before returning to the mansion, so it wasn't surprising.
"I too wish to devote myself to Aren Highness! For saving my life, I offer this body and soul in repayment!"
Even Tenka declared her full devotion.
"I saved your life to hire your father as tutor, though..."
"Even so! This grace endures! Please! Let me serve as your vassal!"
"I beg you too, Aren Highness!"
Kirigumo bowed beside her, pleading as well.
It started for learning secret techniques, but gaining fully loyal people wasn't bad.
No—having more who would act freely for me in building strength or handling tasks was ideal.
"Alright then. Looking forward to working together. As my people, drop the formalities—okay?"
"Of course! It pained me that Your Highness, who showed such grace, still used honorifics with me!"
"Please speak casually to me as well!"
"Got it. Looking forward to it, Kirigumo, Tenka."
"Yes! Your Highness!"
"Yes! My lord!"
New members joined our mansion.
And a few days later.
An unexpected visitor arrived at my mansion.