Paternity Test (1)

While heading north, I continued exchanging ideas with Hugo inside the carriage.

"You gotten used to using the amulet?"

"Yes. I can handle it more skillfully than before."

Hugo demonstrated his control over a small high-grade curse he'd arbitrarily generated with the amulet's power. The curse in the flask twisted and turned at his command before vanishing with a pop alongside the antidote.

During the emperor's emergency, it had been his first time handling one, so he wasn't familiar with it then. As expected, no one handled curses quite like Hugo.

"The artifact you need looks like this."

"It fits perfectly into the amulet's socket."

"Stormstone. Combine it with this, and you'll be able to manipulate even top-grade curses."

"But since the soul acts as the medium, the fact that it has its own ego could introduce variables."

"Speaking of that soul, the info about it being the Great Witch's is just testimony for now, right?"

"That's correct. It's not confirmed."

"Do we even need to know whose soul it is?"

"The more details you know about a curse, the easier it is to control."

"Hmm."

If we're talking ways to identify someone, fingerprints are the easiest. Medically speaking, dental records work too. Everyone's teeth are as unique as fingerprints, and you can pinpoint individuals based on treatment history. Well, no records like that exist in this world, so it's useless. Genetic testing is the same issue. No prior samples, and good luck testing a soul's genes anyway.

We traveled at a good clip and reached the Gotberg Marquisate in just ten days.

"Oppa, welcome back!"

Ah, it felt like coming home. Seeing Neria bouncing around with that bright smile instantly put my mind at ease.

"Haha, you've grown a lot, Neria."

"Really? You see me after so long and the first thing you do is tease me. You're so mean, Oppa."

She puffed out her cheeks in a pout, lightening the mood right up. Hmm, she really hadn't grown much taller. She definitely didn't have the growth stunt debuff. Her frame and face had matured a bit, though, which tricked my eye.

"Ras, I heard the news. There's an imperial decree to use medicine alongside healing arts in the capital. Impressive."

"No big deal. His Majesty just fell head over heels for me."

"Is that so? Hmm, I should brag to the other nobles."

Father shrugged and got to the point.

"I've prepared the troops. One platoon of blessing-specialized healers to support the knights in close combat, and two squads of adventurers for scouting. Do you need our knights too?"

"No, that's plenty. What about the route?"

The Rock Tribe had been stationed in the empire's northwest, clashing with Blücher County, while the Thunder Tribe operated mainly just north of the Gotberg Marquisate. I'd asked Father ahead of time to scout beyond the fortress walls and forest.

"We've found a path avoiding the forest beasts, but we can't enter the highlands above it yet. It's blizzard season."

"Blizzard, huh."

The Thunder Tribe occasionally clashed with our knight order in the beast forest, but not often. The blizzards lasted long enough to bisect the terrain.

"When does it end?"

"Only in winter does the wind shift to bring them. Right on the seasonal change, so in two days, they predict."

"We'll be stuck until then. Perfect timing. Our troops are worn from the march anyway—let them rest."

"Oppa, want to tour the factory in the meantime? Tell me palace stories too!"

"Sounds good. Let's go, Neria."

No point rushing the impossible. Since we had to wait anyway, I decided to rest up properly for two days.

"It's been a year, and it's already come along nicely."

"Foundations always take the longest. It'll shoot up from here. The pharmacist training's going smoothly too."

Neria puffed out her chest proudly as we watched the factory under construction. Ambrosia did the same—did all short girls love thrusting their chests out like that?

"Indeed, this should produce enough medicine to supply the entire empire without issue."

There was a familiar face on-site: the western duke, whose life I'd saved at the party and who'd invested heavily in our house.

"Fancy meeting such an esteemed guest. Long time no see, Your Grace."

"Healer Gotberg! The rising star of the court these days. I hear about your exploits constantly."

The duke visited the marquisate now and then to check business and bond with Father.

"Thanks to the emperor recognizing medicine, the Gotberg name is the talk of noble circles as the next-gen rising stars. Once someone tries aspirin ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or the digestive aids, they can't go back. We're honored to have forged ties first."

"The honor's ours to have met Your Grace."

He'd see solid returns on his early investment in our house. Same for Moonlight Palace. We'd structured the contracts upfront, so once profits stabilized, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the house's shares would cover it.

"Haha, it's going great. Really great."

Unlike his words, worry etched the duke's face, leaving him a bit gaunt.

"Something troubling you?"

"Ah, personal matter. Sigh... just can't seem to resolve it."

He sighed, then suddenly perked up and asked me something.

"Ah, as an expert on the body, mind if I ask one thing?"

The duke whispered in my ear.

"Any surefire way to prove parent-child relations?"

His question made the situation crystal clear. His wife had a history of infidelity.

The duke's daughter, Frieda, was as bold and unhinged as Asella.

"It's possible."

"Oho, really?!"

Draw blood from both and compare genes? Sure, but it was a hassle. More importantly, would people here even accept blood draws? No skill let me analyze patients from hair alone either. And I had to explain the principle at least roughly for the duke to buy it. Not yet. Not quite.

Blood tests won't cut it for genetic markers here.

Besides blood, fingerprints, and teeth, this world had one more way to identify someone uniquely: mana.

Any living being had mana circuits like blood vessels, circulating mana. It leaked out constantly, like sweat. Everyone's mana type and traits were unique, analyzable for identification.

Mana as a genetic proxy? That could work for paternity.

Too ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠focused on curses and surgeries lately. This could be a fun brain-teaser to unwind.

"I have an idea. Are the duchess and Lady Frieda here too?"

"Ah, yes."

"I'll collect mana samples from all three of you. I'll research from there."

"W-Well, it's not necessarily about me... but if you're offering, I won't refuse."

The duke scratched his head but seemed pleased enough. A big-shot duke running a duchy, commanding armies against kingdoms—and helpless against family drama.

"Doctor, it's done."

I'd explained genetic testing theory, and Hugo had results in hours.

"Fast work."

"Dolph was researching mana scans, so I got his help."

"You're a bit of a cheat, Dolph."

Dolph scratched his head sheepishly. He usually organized and analyzed my imaging data, managed equipment too.

"Anyway, results?"

"Match. The western duke and Lady Frieda are definitely parent and child."

Hugo showed me the graph. Jagged lines contrasted sharply. Mana held tons of owner-specific info, like genes. No XY chromosomes for sex, but plenty else: affinities among the four elements, depth in each, brightness levels, affinity to nature, sensitivity, mutability, stability, etc.

Calling these mana genes, no child traits appeared absent in both parents. Like real genes, they combined to form new ones. Even low-mana parents could birth a mana tank.

Pretty fascinating.

"Duke'll sleep easier. Whip up a certificate like an authentication doc. I'll stamp and issue it."

Official Imperial Medical Office paper should carry weight. I snuck it to him with the news, and he lit up like a kid.

"So it is! Frieda's my girl after all! Who else's spawn could that lunatic be? My cross to bear. Damn that harpy wife, scaring me half to death."

Recent spat where his wife bluffed threats? Keep this up and I'll take the girl and leave? You don't even know she's not yours?

Anyway, a fulfilling break.

But then—

The next day, messenger birds swarmed in. The duke must've spread the word among nobles.

"Heh."

"Doctor, what now?"

I tossed the letters aside at Hugo's question.

"We'll start a paternity service through the house later. Leave it to the local healers."

I climbed to the northernmost wall and gazed at the distant mountains beyond the forest.

"Blizzard's easing. Prep for departure."

"...Ugh."

Asella groaned, opening her eyes. Sweat beaded her forehead, but the bed was dry. Someone had tended her overnight.

"Ras?"

Groggy from meds, she called his name first. But the figure by the bed wasn't Ras—it was her head maid.

"Your Highness, are you awake?"

"Lucy. What time is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it? I'll get up."

"Your physician instructed pre-rise hydration and checkup."

"I see. Alright."

Asella sighed, recalling her last talk with Ras. She'd snapped at him too harshly. Ignoring him led to this mess. She needed to hear his side. Calmer now, she was ready to listen.

The door clicked open. Her physician entered for the exam.

"Y-Your Highness... Ex-Excuse meee..."

But it wasn't Ras—it was Chloe. Asella narrowed her eyes.

"Where's Ras?"

"W-Well..."

"Where did Ras go?"

Lucy calmly answered her question.

"...What?"

Asella's pupils trembled at the news. Unbelieving, her lips quivered as she kicked off the covers and bolted upright.