The Princess's Magic Lesson

My task was simple. The debuff currently afflicting me.

This was a debuff I'd have to carry for life, permanently.

"Let's see... it seems to chip away about 0.1 every two hours or so. Cough."

A cough brought up a bit of blood mixed with saliva. Not a good sign. It meant damage somewhere in my lungs or internal mucous membranes.

"Stamina loss manifests as organ damage. That's the key point."

Surgery to fix the organs and remove the symptoms? Impossible. It was an irremovable debuff. In other words, an incurable disease.

"So the solution's straightforward."

Just make a medicine to treat the internal bleeding and take it. Effect: stamina recovery of more than 0.1 every two hours.

"Conveniently, I know just the ingredient."

I stepped right out of my room. After a good night's sleep, my body felt refreshed. Dawn was just breaking. I headed to the backyard, where faint sunlight leaked from the dusky sky, caressing everything in its glow. A cool breeze blew through the spot, and I ran there with a childlike excitement.

"Kinda thrilling."

I'd never once imagined I'd actually make real medicine in this world. My steps were as light as when heading out to buy a hot new game release.

"This had some weirdly effective properties."

Snap. Without hesitation, I plucked the stem. Yellow roses—the ones Asella had carefully picked one by one. They weren't rare enough to be hard to find, just valuable. Even in the demon realm while hunting the Four Heavenly Kings, mutant variants popped up occasionally.

Brewing tea from yellow rose petals neutralized toxins adsorbed to lung or stomach linings with excellent results. Knowledge gained from hundreds of regressions, trying every damn thing imaginable to figure out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠how to clear the game—uncovering every hidden element.

"Definitely usable."

I picked dozens of roses and stuffed them into my bag. Back in my room, I spread them out on the table. Plucking just the petals made a fluffy yellow mountain in no time.

"Feels like filleting chicken breast for nuggets."

With the materials ready, I felt great. Like I'd built my own little factory. I grabbed a handful of petals in my fist.

"First, reduce the volume."

The goal: compress into pill form for easy swallowing.

"Compress."

I tried the E-rank alchemy skill, Compress. The usage instinctively popped into my head—like I just knew what to do.

But this...

"Feels like casting magic?"

Similar to spells in that it involved incantations? I spread my palm and channeled mana. Pure white mana flowed out softly, enveloping the rose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠petals.

Squish! Clenching my fist in midair vacuum-compressed them tight.

"Oh."

I fiddled with my fingers to fine-tune the shape. Finally, perfect pill form.

"Not bad for a first try."

A bit squished, but whatever. The bright yellow pill looked welcoming. Wonder what the status window says.

"Perfect. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just as expected."

The effect was spot-on. Though the amount was only a third of what I needed. Just use the skill again to boost it.

"Enhance."

This should increase the yellow pill's dosage. But as I tried channeling just mana like with Compress...

"Huh?"

My hand hesitated instinctively. It felt like there was another step needed.

"Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that simple, huh?"

Compress was E-rank, Enhance D-rank. Shouldn't D-rank just need mana?

"But it's not mana sensitivity."

Mana sensitivity is only for spells. Alchemy incantations should cast fine with mana alone if you know the knowledge.

"Ngh."

I struggled for a while, but Enhance failed. I'd never failed a healing spell before, so it was disorienting.

"What now? Cough, cough."

While pondering, my stamina dropped again. Breakfast time had passed.

"Need some help."

Someone expert in spells.

"Conveniently, one's right here."

Expert? More like at the pinnacle. But did I really need to ask Asella? It was just a D-rank spell—2nd Hierarchy in magic terms, not that tough.

"Plus, I have something owed anyway."

Perfect excuse to ask for spellcasting tips. I pocketed the pill and headed to Asella's room.

"Her Highness bids you wait."

The head maid blocked the door like an iron wall. I'd hustled to find Asella, and now this delay. Father had already grabbed me midway, making me later than planned.

—Ras, how's your body? Come here, let me cast a healing spell myself.

Of course he'd fuss. I'd acted out of character, so he figured exhaustion. If I collapsed again, disaster!

I barely shook off his grip amid the drama. His skills could recover a bit of stamina now, but this debuff was lifelong. Better to solve it myself—and the key was Asella.

At the terrace outside Asella's room, with nothing to do, I waited blankly.

"Oh, Max. Sleep well?"

Luckily, Max bounded out first, demanding pets. The big lug had no sense of his size—his headbutts carried real weight. Meant he wanted scratches, right? I kneaded his squishy cheeks for a good while until—slide—the balcony door opened.

"Noisy since morning. What is it?"

Asella appeared. Impeccably groomed, not a hair out of place, same as yesterday.

"Greetings to Your Highness on this refreshing morning. I trust you slept well..."

"Get to the point."

Asella seemed low-energy. Everything okay? Did I step on a landmine coming here? Backing out with "It's nothing" would just piss her off more. Regret city.

"Please teach me how to use spells."

"Spells, you say?"

"Yes."

Asella's furrowed brow eased slightly. She sat before me.

"You've gained a Talent, then."

"Yes, Alchemy."

"Hm, unexpected."

Her deep golden eyes scanned me up and down like dissecting my body. Unsettling, like she was peering into every corner.

"Know what my Talent is?"

"Magic, of course. Insanely powerful."

"You know it. Make it two."

"Two what?"

"My Talents. Not just one magic."

"Ah."

That explained summoning dragon legions or toppling continents with earthquakes—utterly insane spells. Naturally. As expected of Asella.

"Not surprised."

"Pardon?"

"Two Talents, and no shock."

"Oh, that."

Close call. She went straight for it.

"Why be surprised? Someone of Your Highness's caliber naturally possesses such extraordinary gifts."

"Fine, whatever. So, what spell do you want to learn?"

"Actually, spellcasting basics. I got Alchemy Talent and can use it, but... can't cast the spells for some reason."

"Show me."

I pulled out my handkerchief and gently placed it on the table. The bright yellow pill peeked out.

'Enhance.'

Mana flowed from my hand but dispersed like heat haze, failing to form.

"Ends up like this."

"Draw a shape with mana."

"A shape?"

Come to think of it, Asella often mentioned shapes and solids. I'd tuned it out, no magic affinity.

"Watch."

Asella channeled mana from her slender white fingertip. Her sparkling golden mana formed a line, then a double circle.

"A circle."

"Simplest, most perfect shape. Zero vertices. Inscribe an equation on the outer space, and it's a magic circle."

"Must include the equation?"

"Equation's nothing special. Just write knowledge as text."

Asella inscribed text: [Flames rise].

"Abbreviate for better results."

The outer text fused into a single rune for flame. Two circles, one rune. Simple mana sketch.

"Lightly rotate to prepare."

Tap. Touching the edge, the circle spun slowly counterclockwise.

"That's activation. Pour mana in to cast."

Whoosh! The circle blazed with Asella's light—massive mana input. Then—roar!—a huge flame erupted skyward like festival fireworks.

"Your turn."

Shows once and says go? What a kind teacher. Thinks everyone's a genius like her.

"Sigh."

Channel mana to draw a shape. Circle too wonky—start with triangle.

"How's this?"

"Hm."

What reaction is that? Say something. First try here.

Inscribe text on the outside. Need stamina recovery effect. Not 'heal'—'treat'. Crucial distinction for medicine skill synergy.

[Increase stamina treatment effect]

Trembling hands make it tough. Gotta study runes.

"Wrong. See, equations must go inside the shape..."

Asella, frustrated, reached to fix it but stopped. Our hand backs brushed.

'That aggravating?'

She avoided my eyes, fixated on the spell.

"Your Highness?"

"...Quiet."

She whipped her head away. Puzzling over this mess? Even the cool Asella fidgeted distractedly.

Glancing at her hand, I noticed the bandaged index finger.

"By the way, how's the wound?"

I reached instinctively; she yanked her hand opposite.

"Focus."

"Understood."

She's seriously into magic. Failing her alchemy lesson irks her.

Bad ending odds didn't rise. Good—she doesn't kill over this. Basic sanity intact.

Cast the spell.

Whoosh!

"Oh."

The inscribed circle flickered pale gray—success.

"What, it worked right away?"

Easier than thought. Just this, and she fussed?

"Your Highness, success."

Asella blinked, lashes fluttering.

"...Well, that's baseline."

Just that level, huh.

"2nd Hierarchy spell. Talented commoner could do it after years. Might nail first try. ...Where's the extra circle?"

She muttered. She gets chatty on magic. Was she surprised I picked it up fast?

"Did Your Highness not master magic first try?"

"Obviously. Who do you think I am?"

"None other than the unparalleled magic genius, Princess Asella."

"You know it. Keep that attitude."

Satisfied, she smirked one-sided. Smile properly—why half? Annoying. Hiding from me? Left side, away from my view. Prideful as ever.

'Anyway, nailed it first go.'

Checked the result.

Perfect. Specs fully counter the debuff.

"Young master, you made that with a spell?"

"Yes."

"What's it?"

First time seeing it.

"Medicine. Like food with healing effects when eaten."

"Food? No cooking spells. Alchemy, though."

"Right. Think medicine plus alchemy."

"Huh. Effect?"

"Boosts stamina."

"Let me."

Asella pinched the rose pill and popped it in.

Hey, my pill!

"Ptoo!"

She scrunched like crumpled newsprint and spat it out.

"What is this? World's bitterest food? Young master, you made poison, not food?"

She chugged tea frantically. Seeing her suffer from her own greed? Kinda satisfying. Grin slipped out.

Don't laugh. Be sad, be sad.

Sigh.

"Hard-made medicine—don't waste it. Made it for myself anyway."

I scooped the table-spat pill and swallowed.

Whoa, bitter. Tongue and throat scorched.

But the loss stopped. Equal gain offset it—stamina stable. Stockpile, and debuff worries gone for a while.

Asella gaped, shocked.

"You ate what I spat?"

"It was mine. Hard work, y'know."

"No, that's... whatever."

"Yes."

She dodged my gaze. Silence fell. Nothing more to say, I stood.

"Then I'll head out."

"Where?"

Why now.

"You must be tired from teaching. Rest, Your Highness."

"Time for payment."

"Pardon? This was fair exchange."

"You fed me that bitter crap."

You stole it. Ridiculous.

"Young master, you said the streets below the mansion have fun stuff?"

Did I? Oh, bluffing to the empress.

Asella whispered, eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"I wanna go."

"Why whisper?"

"Sneaking out."

Princess hooked on something weird again.