The Princess and Her Physician (3)
I leaped down into the arena and sprinted straight toward Asella. The massive Death Dragon blanketing the arena in darkness whipped up a sandstorm with a single flap of its wings.
'The Four Heavenly Kings, Death Dragon Wilhelm.'
No matter that it was a dragon—I couldn't mistake a face I'd seen hundreds of times. I'd fought it countless times. It wasn't clad in its adamantium armor, and it was smaller than the version I knew. This was its growth phase, before it became one of the Four Heavenly Kings.
'Why the hell did this thing show up now?'
I could guess. Asella's Recall spell she'd just cast. A magic that summoned any living being to the caster's side. Even ten years from now, only Asella could use it. She'd kept developing Recall, raising its hierarchy until she could summon entire dragon legions.
'Someone who witnessed Asella's spell just now mimicked it and cast it themselves.'
A mage who could comprehend a brand-new spell at first sight and wield it with power surpassing Asella's own. Seymour wasn't at the tournament, so there was only one culprit.
'Empress Camilla.'
I'd interrogate her later about whatever twisted scheme led to this mess.
'Asella mentioned Wilhelm once.'
—Next up is the Death Dragon subjugation. About ten years ago, I believe, I once clashed with that pitch-black lizard. If I'd known it would become a high-ranking demon officer, I would've crushed its windpipe back then.
—What are you saying? You've got a hero on your side. Surely she'll handle a mere monster like that with ease.
Easier said than done. I'd been completely wiped out five times against Wilhelm alone. This must be the clash Asella had mentioned. And I could tell her words had been pure bravado.
From afar, Asella looked nothing like the confident figure boasting of her might ten years hence. Her legs were huddled tight, her hands clenched white-knuckled around her staff, her teeth grinding as if they might shatter. Muscles rigid with terror refused to budge. Instinct had hunched her torso forward in an awkward stance, shielding her belly. Severe pain from her abdomen was forcing her body into that position.
'Crushed its windpipe? You were lucky to survive at all.'
No. 101: Mana Rampage 4% → 71%
[In Flux]
The probability of the mana rampage bad ending—triggered by Asella's death—was skyrocketing. The Death Dragon was clearly a dire threat to her life right now.
'Can't just sit back and watch.'
If she died before I could treat her symptoms, her mana would go berserk. Enough power to obliterate the capital effortlessly. I wouldn't survive the blast either. So this was purely self-defense.
It wasn't cheap pity like, She's trembling all alone against a scary dragon—maybe I should help. Her entire imperial family was too busy saving their own skins to care, abandoning her like she was nothing. That had zero bearing on me. She'd killed me countless times, after all. If anything, I deserved the pity.
I had no real combat skills and no way to take down the Death Dragon myself.
'Still... whatever.'
A physician checking on his patient was just duty. It was true I'd benefited greatly from Asella since regressing. Becoming the imperial physician had granted me all sorts of privileges, making my medical work smoother.
So for now... no, until our contract ended, I'd support her as much as possible. Payment due.
"Princess!"
I shouted as I reached her, but she didn't seem to hear. She was that tensed up. Full-blown panic state. She needed an external jolt. A slap would've worked best, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, so I grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward me.
"Princess."
Only then did Asella look up at me. Golden mana swirled in her eyes.
"Ras."
"Yes, it's me."
"...What are you doing here?"
Her voice was thick with bewilderment.
"I told you to take this when it hurts."
I pulled a vial from my pocket, fished out a painkiller with a clink.
"...No. It's bitter."
"Listen to your physician."
I brought the pill to her lips. Her fingers told the tale—her breathing ragged and hot. She was in far worse shape than I'd thought. I was ready to force it if she resisted.
But Asella accepted the pill I slipped between her lips without much fight. She swallowed it dry, along with her saliva.
"...Hoo."
Her breathing steadied bit by bit. I dabbed the sweat beading on her forehead with my handkerchief.
"Feeling better?"
"...My head's fuzzy."
"That's the painkiller kicking in, plus your mana's depleted. Lucky for you, I've got a mana restorative potion. Single-use, but it'll let you cast that Recall you showed off about three more times."
I drew an injection-type potion from my pocket. Asella, mind still hazy, stared blankly and asked something random.
"...You saw my spell?"
"Of course. Crystal clear from the stands."
"How was it?"
"Elegant, powerful, magnificent."
"...Right?"
Asella grinned dopily, eyes heavy with sleep.
"A bit underwhelming as a finale, though."
"Finale?"
—BOOM!!
A black orb exploded in the stands. The Death Dragon's attack. Knights there were engulfed in curses and flung into the air. Hotheads hurling spears to draw its aggro paid the price.
The Death Dragon turned its gleaming eyes on us. It seemed awfully interested in Asella.
"Look at that Death Dragon. It's about to unleash a mass curse on every human here. Tough luck, Ras."
I chuckled and gripped her shoulders from behind.
"Wh-what are you—?"
I nudged her forward, straightening her to face the dragon squarely.
"Your ice magic was just a bad matchup. Death Dragon Wilhelm? Not that hard to beat."
As I spoke, I stealthily injected the mana potion into her neck.
"Ow, that stings."
"Looks like you're ready to fight."
Asella's eyes widened.
"Fight? You want me to take that thing down?"
"Yep."
I replied with full confidence.
"You're the greatest mage here, Princess."
You've gotta take it out, or we're all dead. Show me what you've got, Asella.
Once the magic demonstration ended, the first emotion flooding Asella's mind was confusion. Her head swirled with questions.
Why wasn't my magic acknowledged? What am I to the imperial family? Did Mother truly abandon me? Would everything change if I became emperor?
...But above all, the biggest question was why Ras was here.
Actually, it was an easy one to answer. Ras was always by Asella's side. From that first meeting in the yellow rose garden.
Because he was her fiancé? Her physician? Every morning upon waking, Asella saw Ras. Every night before bed, too. And now.
...Why are you always there,
right by my side whenever this happens?
She couldn't bring herself to ask. What if his inscrutable motives led him to change? What if their delicate balance shattered? Asella held back the question.
Her followers were straightforward, easy to read. Loyalty came with sweet rewards. No one upheld honor without material gain these days. Servants followed rules for stability. Knights gained status and power as the next emperor's inner circle.
But Ras was different. He seemed loyal yet put himself first. He obeyed absolutely yet constantly tested her patience. He flattered well but never acted unprompted. At this point, she'd prostrate herself in gratitude.
He wasn't after money, power, or perks from her princess status. So was he just a lecherous wastrel exploiting their engagement? That would've been simpler. She could've locked a fool consort away and roamed society freely.
But he was diligent, far from a freeloader. He churned out medical innovations daily, complete with manuals. What did this man really want?
That was why Asella had first taken interest in Ras. No one had ever approached her with motives she couldn't read. His upstanding impression—contrary to rumors—only deepened the mystery.
So asking him the wrong question now—like why he'd come here to die, why go so far, if he was truly on her side—might topple their fragile equilibrium.
Asella realized she feared that. She didn't yet understand what or why, her inexperience blinding her.
But paradoxically, that fear enabled her.
'I can fight.'
Before the Death Dragon brewing curses in its ominous black aura, she gripped her staff.
Her mind swam from the potion. But Ras's voice seeped clearly into her ears, clearer than ever.
"Still hurting?"
Asella shook her head. Pain no healer could touch. Yet Ras erased it with one tiny pill. If that wasn't magic, what was?
His voice echoed to the depths of her mind.
"Princess, listen up. Elemental magic doesn't work on Death Dragons. Different branch from regular dragons. They're immune or highly resistant."
Ras rattled off unfamiliar terms.
"Other attributes hit harder. Light magic's even better. It's still young. You can take it down."
"With my magic? That dragon?"
"Absolutely."
Ras answered with unwavering certainty.
...Why? Asella had lived her life as princess, perceiving the world in flawless detail without pause.
But in that moment, her vision held only Ras's face. Confidently believing in her. Her physician, without a shred of doubt.
"Hoo."
Asella steadied her breath. Four golden magic circles formed. Piercing as one. They spun, they glowed. She chanted calmly.
"Recall."
—FWOOOM!!
The Death Dragon's massive wing vanished in an instant, crashing behind them with a—THUD!!
The wingless dragon plummeted at the same moment.