9. Talent Awakening (3)
“Then let’s begin.”
The Empress declared solemnly. It was the prayer room foundation of the small church within the estate grounds, also used for gatherings. Our family’s servant brought two transparent vials. The liquid sloshing inside was holy water.
Father and the Empress wore grave expressions, though for different reasons, no doubt. The Empress was probably sweating bullets over the massive gamble she’d invested in, hoping desperately to unlock a Saint’s talent in me. Father was just worried I might mess up somehow.
Everyone was way too serious. If they stayed this tense, even something that should work wouldn’t.
“If you’ve got it, hand it over quick—don’t dawdle.”
I snatched the holy water from the servant. He watched my hands anxiously, terrified the vial might shatter. Relax, I’m not planning to waste it either.
I uncorked the holy water and sniffed it.
“This isn’t spoiled, is it? Smells kinda sour.”
“Pardon? It’s the finest holy water crafted by our family’s healers. Holy water doesn’t spoil in the first place…”
“Haha, just kidding.”
Without hesitation, I poured the contents straight into the chalice before me. This was to activate the chalice’s power. Plain water would’ve worked fine inside, but they’d gone and fetched the premium stuff just for show.
Might as well have used orange juice. People in this era are vitamin-deficient.
“When the young master drinks the holy water from the chalice, his talent will awaken. What it is will appear as a pattern on the surface of the remaining liquid in the cup.”
The Empress explained. So it shows up as a pattern here. I’d see it in my status window, though.
“Then please recite the prayer.”
The Empress requested of Father. He pulled out the holy book and opened it to the page.
As if chanting that would change innate talent. Like performing a ritual before a lottery draw to get five stars or some folk superstition. The result’s already set.
I didn’t bother listening and downed the chalice’s contents in one go.
“Wait, hold on!”
“Ugh, tastes awful too.”
I wiped my mouth with my sleeve and smacked my lips. The Empress gaped, utterly dumbfounded.
Thud. I set the chalice down on the floor.
“Alright, time to check the results.”
The surface of the remaining sip of holy water rippled, forming a pattern. The Empress immediately prostrated herself, nose to the cup. The sight was hilarious.
Sakura? Sakura it is! The urge to say the obligatory line welled up, but I barely suppressed the instinct and focused on my status window.
Hmm.
The effect of the Chalice of Revelation activates.
The talent lock is released.
A sharp zap stabbed through my head like a migraine, making me grimace. I barely held back a wave of nausea.
That was probably just the holy water’s revolting taste. It was like vinegar fermented for months.
Ah, feeling dizzy.
The status window’s text warped. My eyes wouldn’t focus, vision blurring double.
Whatever good stuff they’re trying to give me, sheesh.
Talent has been unlocked.
Medicine (S) skill tree has been liberated.
“Oh.”
I definitely had two talents. The identity of one was Medicine.
Medicine shouldn’t exist in the original story as a skill tree, right?
It’s a concept that doesn’t exist in this world at all. Did the knowledge and talent I had before possessing this body carry over and turn into a skill?
Now I finally understood why I had two talents.
Nice.
I checked the basic skills I currently had.
○ Modern medical knowledge-based skill for treating targets.
├─ Diagnosis D:Partially assesses a patient’s condition.
├─ Prescription D:Slightly improves the condition of treated patients.
└─ Emergency Treatment Mastery E:Slightly speeds up emergency treatments. ★
Starts at D. Gain experience to upgrade to higher skills or unlock the next one, raising the rank. Means I can go up to S.
The best skills for utilizing my knowledge in this world. Right now, only diagnosis and prescription show, but later maybe dermatology procedures? Among doctors, dermatology’s famous for low workload and high pay.
This is huge. My lips curved up involuntarily.
“It’s out! This pattern is…!”
The Empress shouted, staring into the cup. Oh yeah, there was one more. Not from my mind, but the body’s—Ras Gotberg’s original talent.
Wonder what this one is.
The Empress foolishly didn’t know that talents like Saint or Saintess didn’t exist in the first place. Neria’s so-called divine talent just boosted healing power. Being chosen as a Saintess comes much later.
Might as well make good use of it. Clutching my dizzy head, I scrolled the status window to the next line.
“What is this? …What?”
Anger spread across the Empress’s face after hearing the servant’s explanation. Natural reaction since it wasn’t Saint.
Suppressing a chuckle, I checked the second talent.
Talent has been unlocked.
Alchemy (S) skill tree has been liberated.
Alchemy? Unexpected.
“Alchemy?! That has nothing to do with Saint!”
The Empress shot to her feet, hopping mad. I shrugged.
“Whoops, guess I was born to be an alchemist? Father, should I head to some mine to dig copper right now? Rub my palms together and I’ll be rich in a flash!”
Playing dumb about the gravity, I joked. The Empress clutched her neck.
“My god. To trust this wastrel… Oh dear.”
“Pardon? Did I hear a weird word there, Your Majesty?”
The Empress gnawed her lip.
“You misheard. Congratulations on your talent awakening, young master.”
“Aw, but I’m taking the chief physician exam—how’m I supposed to use alchemy? You hyped it as some amazing artifact, but it’s a letdown. Want a go, Your Majesty?”
I picked up the chalice. It melted away from the handle, vanishing. Single-use artifact, naturally.
“Whoa, called it expensive, but so flimsy. Heh.”
“…I must be mad.”
The Empress spun on her heel and stormed out, footsteps thudding. I checked the status window again.
○ Skill to enhance or alter the properties of target materials.
├─ Enhancement D:Slightly improves one property of a material.
├─ Compression E:Reduces volume while preserving properties.
└─ Synthesis E:Combines two materials into one with both properties. ★
Huh?
Reading the description sparked an idea. In this world, alchemy was a sub-skill for support professions. Compared to swordsmanship or magic talents, it was a dud. Usually limited to metals—like refining iron for cheaper armor production. Mostly a blacksmith side gig…
Not limited to metals?
Works on all materials. Combine with medicine?
It’s basically pharmaceuticals.
In a world where healing magic is the only way to mend wounds? Making drugs? I’d rake in cash by the cartload.
This is huge too.
Satisfied, I stood.
“Ras, are you alright?”
Father asked worriedly. I nodded.
“Yes. Just a bit dizzy so far.”
“Let’s get you some healing first. I’ve prepared it.”
Father seemed hung up on the chalice’s side effects. Grateful for the trust, but I’d rather diagnose myself than suffer inefficient healing magic.
“Resting at home should fix it. Don’t worry too mu—cough, cough. Don’t worry.”
“Hmm… If you say so.”
“Yes. Cough, cough.”
Odd, the coughing wouldn’t stop. Breathing felt labored somehow. I checked the status window.
Stamina Continuous Drain E (Growth-type, Irremovable)
What the hell is this?
“Father.”
“Yes, Ras.”
“It’s nothing much, cough, but maybe I do need a little suppo—…”
“Ras? Ras!”
I blacked out before finishing.
[Stamina has decreased.]
[Stamina has decreased.]
[Stamina has decreased.]
“So, basically.”
Stamina drains 0.1 just from breathing. Hits zero, you die.
“What a hassle. Cough, cough!”
The next day, I woke in my room, coughing up blood-tinged phlegm. Max stamina now 4. Remaining around 2.8. At least sleep’s natural recovery outpaced the drain.
“Neria just grew a bit less tall and called it a day.”
Why am I facing death in days? Already engaged to the villainess out to kill me—life’s rough enough.
“But I unlocked two talents.”
Alchemy and medicine. Neither popped out of nowhere. My pre-possession knowledge skill-ified. Always felt like a hamster on a wheel, but getting validation feels good.
“Bad endings should be easier to erase now.”
But collapsing first makes it pointless. Price of talent?
“Fair price my ass.”
This was pure bullshit. If status showed luck, it’d be negative basement levels.
“Gotta overcome with talent then.”
I’ll fix my own body. Just raise the drained stamina.
“Medicine, alchemy.”
Write a prescription and make meds. Patient: me. Quack doctor’s first consultation.