Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Price of Damaging My "Property"
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"So the price for damaging my 'property' will not be light."
"Aahhh!"
"Madam!"
The dagger traced a purple trajectory, unleashing its aura, and struck Lady Mera's face directly. Just as the path was drawn, her face was slashed to ribbons, blood spraying from it.
At the sound of Lady Mera's pained scream, Sir Zed finally moved again, but Beonald's dagger had already finished its work. He had long since taken a suspicious vial from his pocket, splashed its contents on Lady Mera's face, and retreated.
"You dare!"
"She won't die. If you're worried about scars... instead of wasting time fighting me, you'd be better off finding a priest first, don't you think?"
"Sir Zed...! It hurts! Do something, quickly! Ughhhh!"
Leaving those words behind, Beonald didn't even look back as he leisurely disappeared.
Sir Zed, needing to heal his lady's slashed face as quickly as possible, gave up chasing Beonald. He entrusted Lady Mera to the maids and butler and headed straight for the temple where the priests were.
Meanwhile, Beonald swiftly ascended the floors and arrived before a lavishly decorated door. He knew its location but was entering for the first time today. Ignoring the guard knights stationed there, he walked right in.
"Y-you mustn't enter without permission, young master!"
"What... is this commotion? What brings you here?"
"Yes, Count. I apologize for barging in rudely without knocking, but time is rather pressing, you see. As for the commotion... it's related to the knights of the Royen Viscountcy, so could you have these fellows step out? They probably shouldn't hear family secrets."
The place he had entered was none other than Count Callermain's room.
From the heavy sack Beonald was carrying to the mention of the Royen Viscountcy's name, Count Callermain could roughly guess the situation from Beonald's story.
"Fine. I have important matters to discuss with Beonald, so everyone, wait outside."
"Ah, understood."
The knights guarding the Count's room thus withdrew at his command.
If they heard the Royen Viscountcy's name, they would naturally infer it was related to Lady Mera, but as long as the exact details weren't discussed, ordering them to keep quiet wasn't a problem. They were knights working for the family, after all.
"From the looks of it... that Mera woman failed, I see. Tsk tsk tsk... So her limit was just killing defenseless children, was it?"
"No. In terms of ability, she's above average for a noble. The problem was just that her opponent was me, and she failed to properly control her subordinates and retainers."
"That is her limit. Heh heh. So? You didn't come just to report that, did you? What's your business?"
"Even if Lady Mera hates me, I didn't expect you, the head of the family, Count, to dislike me so much as well... Anyway, since my presence seems so disagreeable, I feel it would be rude to stay, so I intend to leave. However, there are a few things I need, so I'd like to make a request."
"...A request?"
"Nothing major. One ring bearing the family seal, one family tree document with my name on it, one map with the capital marked, and if it's not too much, a little traveling money as well. In return, I shall ensure I never return to Callermain territory again."
To the Count, it sounded like an impossibly brazen demand, as if he had a face of iron, yet it wasn't so unreasonable that he couldn't grant it.
Moreover, didn't he say he would never return to Callermain territory? Since he said it himself, if he broke that promise, he could be killed on the spot. It was a sufficiently good condition.
'It's a bit humiliating, though. Just granting this half-breed's request like this...'
His pride was slightly wounded by simply complying with the boy's words, but the Count endured it.
He was a body that had navigated the political arena of the capital, teeming with nobles and royalty of higher status than himself. A small humiliation from a brat was something he could bear.
Besides, wasn't he a blood relative, a grandson? Though a half-breed with weak claim to the family's legitimacy, he was still someone he could yield to a little without feeling too bad.
"Here... a diamond ring engraved with the seal, the family tree, the map, and this is traveling money from me personally."
"You're giving it surprisingly readily. I thought you'd bring up family honor or something on my way out..."
"Hah! Why would I need to say anything when I lose nothing either way?"
'He's not without sense.'
That's right. Even if Beonald left the territory and caused trouble or tarnished the family's honor, the Callermain Earldom had plenty of excuses—"We tried to kill him too, he's trash," "He's a half-breed with no foundation," etc.
Conversely, if he succeeded and brought honor, ultimately the Callermain Earldom name and origin would become known, so the Earldom would suffer no loss at all.
"Anyway, I've given you what you asked for, so get lost now. Never show yourself before my eyes again."
"Yes, of course. Ah, one more thing~ Please ensure that damned mother of mine doesn't lay a hand on my birth parents. And do convey that if she does, there will be a price to pay."
"...I'll pass that along for now."
"Then."
With a final, proper bow, Beonald immediately left without looking back, moving to find Alterio and Sein.
Worried that if he was too late, Sir Zed or Lady Mera might target Sein, he hurried back to his room. Fortunately, she was there with Erazol. However, there was one more unexpected guest.
"Ta-da~ Welcome back. I was waiting and got tired, you know."
"Why are you here? Selina."
"Why, because I intend to go with you, young master, so I was waiting here."
She pointed proudly to the large backpack slung over her shoulder.
Looking again, she wore sturdy boots and had pants firmly tucked under her robe, so she seemed genuinely prepared to follow him.
Flustered by this unexpected person attaching herself, Beonald frowned and asked her.
"Why?"
"Because obviously, following you will yield many gains. A mage from the Magetower is welcomed anywhere, so no need to worry. Ah, right. And I erased the traces from the hideout on Sir Maldrov's private land. Hehe!"
"That's something Erazol could have handled, but... Anyway, won't the Magetower have something to say if you leave on your own like this?"
"That's why I sent a letter first. I said, 'How could I abandon the source of knowledge right before my eyes?'"
"Hoo~ If you won't just get in the way, fine."
"You're actually pleased a mage is joining, aren't you?"
"...Frankly, the merit is too great to deny. Anyway, if everyone's ready, let's go."
And so, together with everyone, Beonald finally left the Callermain Earldom behind.
He was tense, wondering if Lady Mera or Count Callermain might interfere, but he was able to leave quietly without any such incident.
After passing through the castle gate, Beonald glanced back slightly, curious whether Lady Mera would appreciate the 'gift' he had left for her.
A family of the Callermain Earldom's stature would naturally have a healing priest residing in the family mansion.
They served to care for knights and soldiers injured during training and acted as the family's personal physician.
Moreover, thanks to Sir Zed, a knight, moving at great speed enveloped in aura, he was able to bring a priest swiftly.
"My lady! You can relax now. I've brought the priest... Huh?"
"Sir Zed...!"
"My lady! Wait, what is that?"
"That bastard... what on earth did that half-breed do?"
The blood flowing from Lady Mera's face had already stopped; in fact, it now seemed to be in a state of considerable recovery.
Although Sir Zed's combat sense had dulled from being by Lady Mera's side for so long, he naturally knew that the wounds inflicted by Beonald couldn't possibly heal this quickly under normal circumstances.
Meanwhile, Lady Mera was horrified, looking at her ruined face.
For a noble lady, beauty was everything, and even having borne an heir didn't change that.
If she were to become this ugly, leper-like face that seemed to disgrace the family's honor and pride, she would undoubtedly be ignored by Ralt as well. Clinging to Sir Zed, Lady Mera began to plead.
"My face... my face, what on earth!"
Looking closely, the condition was even more severe.
Slash wounds, scabs, pus, blood, and numerous other blemishes remained, twisting Lady Mera's face so grotesquely it looked as if she wore a hideous mask.
Wondering how it could have come to this, Sir Zed suddenly noticed a strange vial rolling on the floor.
"This, is this it? What on earth did that damned bastard put in here...!"
"That's... a healing potion sold at our temple. And the cheapest one at that... the lowest quality potion sold for a few silver coins."
"W-what? If it's a healing potion, shouldn't it heal? Why is my lady's face like that?"
"W-well... because it's the lowest quality, the cheap one, you see. The best ones made at the temple are supplied to knights and nobles, the mid-grade ones to the military and top mercenary guilds, and the leftovers are sold to rag-tag adventurers, thieves, and thugs. Being the lowest quality, its healing power is poor, and to increase the volume, they dilute it with water or mix in impurities like juice from other plants... so... um..."
"That damned bastard!"
Sir Zed's eyes bloodshot with rage as he thought of Beonald, who had likely already left the territory.
He didn't know what the boy was thinking by doing this, but he vowed not to let it slide if they ever met again, and immediately asked the priest to heal her.
"Anyway! Fine! Can you fix my lady's face? Heal her now."
"W-well, you see, it's just that... um..."
"Can't you speak quickly?"
"P-please wait a moment. Almighty and merciful Goddess, here is one in pain who seeks your touch. 'Healing Touch'."
Pressed by Sir Zed's urging, the priest quickly used divine magic to heal Lady Mera's face. A faint green light, like a hand, brushed over her face and began to heal her wounds.
Feeling the warm energy and the gradually fading pain, Lady Mera expected her face to return to its original state.
However, seeing the dark expressions on Sir Zed and the healing priest's faces, she felt uneasy. With a sinking feeling of 'don't tell me...', she moved to find a mirror.
"My lady! Wait! Please wait a moment!"
"What is thiiiiiiiiiiis! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
Though aged, Lady Mera's appearance was sufficiently beautiful, befitting an Earldom.
Distinct features and taut skin. She had spent enormous money and time maintaining this, but the face now healed was not her original one. It was a twisted, distorted, ugly, monstrous visage.
"My... my face, my face... This... how is this..."
"What on earth happened? The healing magic clearly took effect, didn't it?"
"That's... you see... it must be because of that potion. You see, if the wounds had been left alone, they would have healed cleanly, but because parts were 'poorly healed' by that potion... I think the healing magic didn't take effect on those areas."
"W-what?"
Beonald von Neumel, an alchemist and also an excellent physician who became the Emperor's personal doctor and seized power. His rivals were the priests who also wielded power through medical arts. Once, to investigate the existence of gods, he had researched 'healing magic'.
And he discovered that the principle of 'Healing Magic', which relies on the divine to heal, has two effects: restoring wounds on the spot to their original form, and activating the body to boost its natural healing power. He also confirmed that it has almost no effect on flesh that has already been 'healed'.
Yes, the areas 'poorly treated' by the low-grade potion Beonald splashed after slashing with his sword were not targets for 'Healing Magic'. As a result, her face lost its balance and collapsed into ugliness.
It was like a collapsed stone bridge where a few wooden pillars were wedged in, and only the remaining parts were restored with stone, only to collapse again.
Upon hearing the priest's explanation, Sir Zed and Lady Mera couldn't help but shudder at Beonald's cunning, realizing he had calculated all of this before committing such an act.