Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Chapter 26 - God Hand #4
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The Moon-Viewing Palace, the residence of First Princess Prel Yoru, lived up to its name as a palace for greeting the moon.
[The Kingdom of Malkuth seems like a nation that's true to its concepts.]
Just as Aru's palace, the Blossoming Palace, was blanketed in flower beds to match its theme of "nurturing flowers," Yoru's Moon-Viewing Palace featured a massive lake in front of the palace, designed to welcome the moon.
"At night, the stars and moon reflect on the lake—it's truly beautiful. They put a lot of thought into the lake's position and all sorts of reflection angles, or whatever you call them. I heard they even built Yoru's sister's room in the spot with the best view of the lake."
Aru, chattering away like a baby bird at Luther's side, suddenly turned to him and flashed a bright smile for no particular reason.
It was as if just talking with Luther like this made her happy.
[Hmph.]
But Integra just gave a relaxed smile, as if she couldn't care less.
And understandably so, since she was planted squarely between Aru and Luther, blocking Aru's view of him with her entire body.
[Hehe, hmph.]
Luther couldn't help but chuckle at Integra's delight in such a childish prank—not that it was much of a prank.
She was just too cute.
Unaware of this, Aru assumed Luther was smiling at her, so she bit her lower lip slightly and broke into another shy smile.
Trailing behind these two—no, three—people, Sandalphon let out a hearty laugh before looking off into the distance.
"Seeing the gates of the Moon-Viewing Palace already wide open tells me just how much Princess Yoru is looking forward to this."
"It's been quite a while since my sister... started suffering from that issue."
Aru gave an awkward smile and quickened her pace a bit.
Then, about ten minutes later.
The group entered the Moon-Viewing Palace and headed to the audience chamber on the first floor.
[Well, it wouldn't be normal to bring guests straight to your bedroom.]
[The first princess seems like the more sensible one.]
Luther somewhat agreed, but he didn't nod.
His connection with Aru was a bit special, after all.
'Of course, saying that out loud would just make Integra nag again, so better not.'
Integra's nagging was cute, but there was such a thing as moderation.
Teasing something cute too much could backfire.
[Master, I have this feeling-feeling that you're thinking something unpleasant?]
'No, I'm not.'
Pulling himself together, Luther refocused on the present.
Their group was a modest one—just Luther, Aru, and Sandalphon—while Yoru's palace was bustling with people.
There were already six guards stationed at the entrance to the audience chamber alone.
"My sister is the crown princess, unlike me."
As Aru quietly explained, the doors to the audience chamber swung open, and Luther let out a small gasp of admiration.
It wasn't quite on the level of the main palace, where the entire ceiling and walls were aquariums, but the Moon-Viewing Palace's audience chamber was still extraordinary.
[It feels like we've arrived on an island.]
Thanks to the waterway encircling the round room, it felt like they were on its own little island.
The ceiling and floor were pure white, and the waterway bed was a vivid blue, giving a clean and pristine impression.
And at the front.
There was no elevated dais like in the main palace's audience chamber, but in its place sat a beautiful chair, where First Princess Yoru was seated.
On a smaller chair beside her sat Third Princess Iru.
[The first princess's heart rate is quite elevated.]
[She must be really looking forward to meeting Master.]
It wasn't just Yoru, either—Iru seemed the same.
Even with her face flushed from shyness, her eyes sparkled as she gazed their way.
"Let's hurry."
Giggling, Aru urged them on, and as Luther strode forward, the eyes of the maids and guards scattered throughout the chamber turned to him.
Finally, before Yoru.
After a brief exchange of formal greetings, Yoru gave Aru a look, and Aru burst into laughter.
"Luther, my sister seems eager to get the examination started right away. How about we skip to that?"
Yoru shot her a glare at the blunt remark, but she didn't deny it.
So Luther chuckled and stepped closer to Yoru.
"Princess Prel Yoru, for the examination, I need to see your hand. Would you mind offering it?"
At Luther's polite request, Yoru hesitated instead of extending her hand right away. She swallowed hard before finally responding.
"Very... well."
Even as she held out her hand, her tension was obvious.
Was she so excited that it made her nervous instead?
[It's just that it's her first time letting an outsider touch her hand.]
[Well, Luther was my first, too.]
Her sly eye-smile as she sent the message spell was downright mischievous.
[Hmph.]
But Integra blocked it with her body again and laughed happily, forcing Luther to bite his lip to hold back his own laughter.
"Luther?"
"It's nothing. Then, I'll begin the examination now."
Yoru, looking anxious as if something had gone wrong, swallowed dryly with a tense expression, and Luther gently took her hand.
It was much colder than Aru's.
[Commencing body scan.]
[Raynaud's syndrome due to poor blood circulation detected.]
[Constipation symptoms due to intestinal dysfunction detected.]
[Injecting nanomachines to treat the blood circulation and intestinal dysfunction issues.]
[Compared to Princess Aru, a greater number of nanomachines will be deployed.]
He didn't know the exact details of the conditions, but they seemed treatable.
Luther relayed Integra's words to Yoru verbatim, and after a moment's hesitation, she signaled to the surrounding maids.
The maids approached and formed a human wall, apparently to shield Yoru from the male guards.
[All this over showing her stomach.]
'She's a princess.'
Aru casually showing hers made her the odd one out.
Once the human wall was up, Yoru swallowed again and carefully lifted her top to expose her belly.
She had probably dressed in separated top and bottom at Aru's suggestion.
"Then... I'll start."
Yoru just nodded once and closed her eyes at Luther's words.
'No reason to get nervous myself.'
It was just placing a hand on her stomach, but her reaction and the surrounding stares made it feel like he was committing some major act.
'Stomach.'
Just a stomach.
Pale and soft, but still, just a stomach.
[Master, no weird thoughts—hurry and treat her.]
Under Integra's glare, Luther slowly placed his palm on Yoru's belly.
Yoru flinched at the touch, making it even more embarrassing, but they were this far in, so finishing quickly was best.
[Injecting nanomachines.]
And about ten minutes later.
"Haaaah...."
Yoru went limp with a dazed, blissful expression, and the maids—not to mention Iru—eyed Luther with curiosity.
Her complexion had visibly improved, and she genuinely looked pleased.
[Since Raynaud's and constipation aren't immediately obvious, I focused more on waste removal, promoting blood flow, and loosening tense muscles for overall condition recovery.]
[The reactions suggest it's effective.]
It really was.
The maids, who had eyed him warily like the guards at the start, now looked at him entirely differently.
[But it still feels a bit lacking.]
[Since neither Aru nor Yoru had severe conditions, it might come off as 'only able to fix minor issues.']
Integra was right.
The results weren't impressive enough yet to volunteer for treating the king.
'Anyone else around?'
Luther stood and slowly scanned the maids and guards watching him, hoping to find someone ill to treat.
'Oh, but that one's impossible.'
Among the guards—specifically, Yoru's personal knights—one stood out.
A tall, handsome young man.
Early twenties, maybe?
Even through his white uniform, his well-trained physique screamed above-average skill.
But that wasn't what caught Luther's eye.
Bluntly put, the other knights were similarly handsome and built.
There was just one reason.
'Bald.'
Yes.
The young man was bald.
The only bald one among the knights, and in his early twenties, no less. Not a skinhead—the stubble on the sides showed it was natural baldness he hadn't fully shaved.
'But still impossible.'
Fixing baldness? No way.
But right then.
[Master?]
[Do you want to treat that person?]
Startled by Integra's question, Luther averted his gaze from the bald knight and asked,
'Does that guy I just saw have some illness?'
'No, nothing in particular. But he's bald.'
No illness, but bald.
Luther flinched at the brutal truth and asked Integra again.
'Integra, so you can fix baldness right now? Is that possible?'
[Yes, Master.]
[Why wouldn't it be?]
Integra's genuine confusion made Luther reflect on himself.
Ninth-generation nanomachine-equipped universal android decisive battle weapon: Luther Lightseeker.
'This is really, really future tech.'
Humanity's technology had advanced to the point of perfectly curing baldness?
[Master?]
[Are you feeling unwell?]
'No, no. Just surprised.'
Brushing it off, Luther took a deep breath and pointed at the bald knight.
"If it's alright, I'd like to treat that gentleman."
The bald knight, singled out, looked shocked.
"Do I have some illness?"
Having seen Yoru's treatment, anxiety flickered on his face.
Proof of how much he trusted Luther's skills.
The other knights and maids looked expectant, wondering what diagnosis and treatment he'd give.
Under all their gazes, Luther slowly shook his head.
"No illness. What I want to fix is your hair."
The bald knight blinked blankly, not grasping it at first, then flushed red with a fierce scowl.
"Even as the princess's guest, if you're jesting...!"
His trembling voice suggested he'd draw his sword any second.
The surrounding stares turned hostile in an instant.
Eyes screaming, "How dare you joke about that?"
[L-Luther, you okay?]
Even Aru sent a worried message spell.
But right then.
"Sebastián, it's fine. Let's trust him once. Sir Luther truly possesses remarkable healing arts."
Yoru, still savoring the afterglow from her chair, spoke softly.
Her eyes and voice brimmed with trust in Luther.
"B-But..."
"If you can't trust Sir Luther, then trust me, who trusts him."
At Yoru's gentle urging, the bald knight gritted his teeth and asked Luther,
"Is it... really possible?"
His strained voice and desperate eyes hinted at years of suffering from his baldness.
He wanted to fix it.
Luther felt a strong urge to help this man.
He glanced at Integra, who still looked puzzled but nodded readily.
"Of course. Come here—no, I'll come to you."
As Luther approached the bald knight, another human wall formed.
Not to protect Yoru this time, but pure curiosity.
[Place your palm on the bald knight's head.]
[Master, this will consume more than double the nanomachines compared to Yoru. Is that alright?]
'No problem.'
Luther firmly placed his palm on the bald knight's head.
"I'll begin the treatment. Please close your eyes."
"Y-Yes, sir."
The knight obediently closed his eyes, and the onlookers swallowed nervously.
The atmosphere was far more solemn and intense than Yoru's treatment.
'Integra.'
[Understood...]
[Injecting nanomachines.]
[Commencing treatment.]
And another ten minutes later.
Luther slowly lifted his hand from the knight's head.
Aru and everyone around gasped in awe.
"Y-You!"
"Your h-head!"
"His hair grew!"
In shock, the bald knight hurriedly touched his head and let out a cry of joy.
"H-Hair! Hair! My hair!"
Sparse strands had sprouted like seedlings on a barren field, but that was enough.
No—such results in just ten minutes was a miracle.
"Uwaaah! Hair! Hair!"
The former bald knight burst into tears, and his fellow knights patted his shoulders or wept alongside him in shared joy.
The watching maids looked deeply moved.
"Truly... a moving moment."
Even Sandalphon reddened his eyes and nodded repeatedly.
Aru, knowing a bit more about Luther's true nature, reacted even more intensely.
[L-Luther! Are you really some archangel or what?!]
[Or a god maybe?!]
[H-How did you fix baldness...?]
Her gaze, already full of affection, now held religious reverence.
And one person.
"As expected of Sir Luther. I believed in you from the start."
Yoru smiled gracefully.
She must have loved Integra's treatment—no, his.
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
As the ex-bald knight sobbed his gratitude, Luther smiled warmly and patted his back and shoulders.
Sandalphon, deeply touched, clapped, and soon everyone joined in applause.
The man crying in Luther's arms, Luther sincerely comforting him, and the people clapping and sharing the joy around them.
[What is this? Why the huge reaction?]
[I just fixed some baldness?]
While Integra alone remained baffled, Luther moved on to the next treatment.
And that same evening.
Tales of the miracle worker—the healer with the Hand of God—who could even cure baldness, swept through the capital.