Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Encounter
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I'll visit soon.
One line.
Just a single line.
Integra, peering at the letter over Luther's shoulder, blinked in surprise before asking,
[Is that really all there is?]
"It... seems like it?"
Luther flipped the letter over and held it up to the light, just in case, but he couldn't find anything beyond that one sentence smack in the center.
[No signs of special ink, either.]
[There's seriously just that one line.]
"Can't we figure out anything else?"
[Like what?]
"Well, maybe guess the sender's gender, build, or age from the handwriting or something..."
[Master, even I have my limits.]
[I'm not a god. I can fix baldness, but that's it.]
"Hmm... fair enough."
In all honesty, fixing baldness already felt pretty godlike.
But if Integra was saying that much, it seemed there really wasn't any more info to squeeze out of the letter.
[It is a weird letter, though.]
[Anonymous, says they'll visit soon, but no details on when or where.]
[It doesn't even qualify as an appointment.]
[Best you can do is mentally prepare like, 'Oh, someone's coming by soon, huh?']
Luther had to agree.
So the real question was: who sent it?
[Maybe the man in the black mask?]
The mysterious guy who'd secretly contacted the High Priest and the Queen.
It wasn't impossible, but Luther shook his head.
There just wasn't enough evidence to pin it on the black-masked man.
"Guess we won't know for now. It's too nagging to just laugh off, so I'll file it away in my head: 'Got this weird letter.'"
[Understood.]
[Like you said at first, slipping it in after the inspection means they can roam the palace freely.]
Luther had drawn the whole capital's attention in a single day, so it wasn't out of the question that some pranksters might pop up—but that was still just speculation.
"Anyway, let's stay cautious."
[Good plan.]
[First, block those shady princesses from getting too close.]
[You think so too, right? Right?]
"Yeah, no."
Luther and Integra wrapped up the banter with a joke to lighten the mood, then turned to the rest of the letters.
* * *
Among those desperate for Luther's healing, quite a few wielded massive wealth or immense power.
Baldness didn't discriminate.
"He's a god!"
"Hic, thank you. Thank you so much!"
"You've given me a new life."
Watching them weep tears of joy made Luther's heart warm.
But Integra furrowed her brow and said,
[Master, it feels like all we've done yesterday and today is treat bald guys.]
'It's not a feeling. That's exactly what we've done.'
All five patients from the past two days had been bald.
[Master, I'm all for building influence in the capital.]
[But at this rate, you might get known as the miracle baldness healer instead of just a miracle healer.]
Luther had to concede the point.
He'd volunteered as a healer in the palace not just to build influence, but specifically to treat the King of Malkuth.
'And the King of Malkuth isn't bald.'
So to make a case for treating him, Luther needed achievements beyond baldness cures.
'Surgical stuff should be pretty fixable, right?'
Integra nodded at his silent question.
[Yes, Master.]
[Diseases are a stretch for me, but hormonal imbalances or anything treatable with surgery? We can handle almost all of them.]
Luther didn't quite grasp the nuance of that difference, but since they'd picked the next patient together, it shouldn't be an issue.
'Count Lionel's daughter.'
According to the letter, she had lung problems.
Unlike the bald nobles who could come to the palace, she couldn't move, so Luther was on his way to make a house call at Count Lionel's estate.
And two companions tagging along.
"Why are you coming, sis?"
"You're the one who's grounded, aren't you?"
"I can go out in the capital now?"
"Oh? I can go outside the capital."
Inside the carriage.
The two princesses sat side by side across from Luther.
They shared plenty of sisterly similarities, but differences too.
Especially right now.
The elegant First Princess Yoru teased her little sister with graceful poise and expression, while the Second Princess Aru fumed red-faced.
[The popular princess can't handle her big sis, huh.]
'Tell me about it.'
Aru seemed like a totally different character when Yoru was around.
From poised and seductive lady to pitiful little sister who'd taken too many Ls from big sis?
"Luther's my guest. My benefactor."
"He's my guest too. My benefactor."
"Is your life the same as your constipation?"
"Aru, don't cross the line."
Yoru's eyes sharpened ever so slightly from their refined elegance, and Aru flinched instinctively before turning to Luther.
[That's a 'help me' look.]
[So pitiful.]
[She forgot you're my one and only partner, Master.]
Luther felt even more awkward as Integra gloated, but he had no choice.
Picking a side rashly here would spark a bigger storm.
"We should be almost there."
In the end, Luther changed the subject, but Integra clicked her tongue.
[Master, we've still got fifteen minutes.]
Whatever. Close enough.
Clearing his throat, Luther glanced out the window, then turned to Aru as if struck by a sudden thought.
"By the way, Aru, I've got one question."
"For me? Hehe, what is it?"
Aru's downcast face lit up instantly.
She seemed thrilled that Luther asked her, even with her sister right there.
Luther glanced at Aru—bright—and Yoru—slightly miffed—and continued.
"It's... well, kinda obvious, but with all the nobles in the capital, and royals too."
It was so obvious it barely qualified as a question, but this was Malkuth Kingdom, not the Holy Empire.
The sharp Aru got it right away.
"Oh, you mean why merfolk live more on land than underwater?"
"Yes, exactly."
From his investigations over the past couple days in the capital, most Malkuth nobles lived clustered on the central island—the nominal capital.
Even though the real capital was underwater.
'And the royals, minus the King, all live on the central island too.'
The King himself would've stayed there if not for his illness, so calling the central island the "nominal" capital felt nominal itself. The real capital was the island.
Yoru smiled elegantly at Luther's question and answered in her refined voice.
"Simple reason. You can do things on land you can't do underwater."
"What do you think? Not something naughty, btw?"
Buoyed up, Aru winked playfully in her usual mischievous mode.
Something impossible underwater, doable only on land.
Luther pondered briefly, then blurted his epiphany.
"Cooking?"
"Correct!"
Aru clapped delightedly as Yoru explained calmly.
"No fire underwater. Can't even season properly. So nobles who love fine dining prefer land life."
It made solid sense.
One of the big three urges—appetite, sleep, sex—satisfied.
"FYI, my fave dessert is whipped cream cake. You?"
Aru beamed, so Luther grinned back.
"I like ice cream."
"Ice cream? What's that?"
Aru tilted her head, matched by Yoru's puzzled expression.
Guess Malkuth had no ice cream.
"A sweet treat from heaven. I'll let you try some next time—look forward to it."
Aru and Yoru—especially Aru—sparkled with anticipation at Luther's words.
And one other.
[Master, so I'm making that in the end, right? Right?]
You know it.
Luther answered with a sorry smile instead.
* * *
Treating Count Lionel's daughter went smoothly.
Just surgery, as Integra predicted.
After handing the grateful count a packet of meds, Luther sent the two princesses back to the palace and headed into the capital alone.
He needed to meet Ash once more before the ritual.
But barely ten minutes after leaving the estate,
[Master, the people within fifty meters are moving oddly.]
Even on the outskirts, inside the capital, the streets emptied like a lie.
As if someone had deliberately cleared the area.
[Ten life signs approaching—five from front, five from back.]
Just as Integra said.
Masked, cloaked figures blocked the narrow alley ahead and behind, flanked by buildings and walls.
[Doesn't seem connected to the black-masked man.]
Luther agreed. But no time to think—the encirclement complete, attacks flew from the rear.
[Nanosuit deploying!]
[Night Wing! Shield mode!]
Luther's black coat morphed into a vast black shroud, spinning to deflect the barrage of crossbow bolts from behind.
"What the—?!"
"Don't flinch! Hit him! He's just some healer punk!"
The masked foes swapped crossbows for swords and maces, charging.
Integra shouted again.
[Invisibility mode activating!]
[10!]
Gone.
The imposing black shroud vanished like mist, freezing the masked attackers in shock—just as Luther and Integra hoped.
-Papapapapang!
Energy rounds poured from the flank, dropping the rearguard before they could react.
"Over there! He's there!"
Someone spotted Luther's exposed position from firing, but too late.
Luther spun his palm cannon faster than they could turn.
-Papapapapang!
Another volley sent masked figures crumpling with screams.
The impact rounds didn't kill, but bones broke and flesh bruised somewhere on each.
And right then.
[Master!]
At Integra's urgent cry, Luther whipped around.
His visor HUD pinged a massive life signal.
'Azrael?!'
The last of the three spy suspects: the Grand General.
He charged with a massive greatsword at terrifying speed.
Was he the spy after all?
"Integra!"
[Night Wing! Combat mode!]
Black wings unfurled wide as Clairheim Morr, hidden within Night Wing, materialized in Luther's right hand.
The Grand General doesn't know about the vibroblade.
Cut his sword on the first clash for tactical superiority!
[Limiters off! Level Ten!]
[Vibroblade! Engaging!]
[11!]
Pure white blade aura surged from Clairheim Morr's pitch-black edge.
But just before impact, Luther realized.
The Grand General wasn't aiming at him.
No hostility at all from that sword.
[Master?]
Luther halted his blade despite Integra's question.
The Grand General barreled past, swinging his greatsword through empty air.
-Kakakakakakang!
Air shattered like glass despite the miss.
Luther spun, startled—the masked attackers included one clutching an artifact-like device, glaring.
"No chance!"
The Grand General roared, slashing again. Glass-shatter sounds rang out; the artifact exploded into shards.
[Grand General just shattered the energy from that artifact.]
Luther saw it too.
So what was that just now?
Had the Grand General rushed in to help?
Even if so, how?
Luther powered down the vibroblade but kept a wary stance, eyeing the Grand General.
The Grand General sheathed his greatsword, stared at the masked figure felled by the blast's backlash, then turned to Luther.
"Glad you're safe."
Luther released his visor and met the man's eyes instead of answering rashly.
Understanding the suspicion, the Grand General raised his hands lightly.
"Remember the anonymous letter? 'I'll visit soon'?"
As if Luther could forget.
Luther nodded slowly. The Grand General lowered his hands gradually and continued.
"That was from me. Sent to pinpoint your location. It had a tracking spell—for the reader. Time-limited, and it's gone now, so no worries."
Luther felt even more uneasy at the explanation.
Didn't sound like a spy, but why approach like this?
"Wanted to contact you secretly. Then I spotted these guys ambushing you."
[The story checks out logically.]
[Voice analysis: less than 5% chance of lying.]
Listening to Integra, Luther glanced at the fallen foes.
The Grand General did the same.
"Probably hired by the High Priest or the temple. They monopolized healing in the capital. A miracle healer popping up must irk them."
Contempt dripped from his voice.
He clearly harbored resentment toward the High Priest and temple.
"Why seek me out?"
Luther asked, still gripping Clairheim Morr. The Grand General hesitated, shoulders slumping slightly.
"Got a patient I want you to see. You're their only hope right now."
The Grand General Azrael, visiting in secret.
A sick acquaintance of his.
Only Luther as hope.
[This is... a cliché?]
The one where you get super close to some bigwig.
But if that bigwig's one of three spy suspects?
"Let's hear the story first."
Luther stowed Clairheim Morr in Night Wing. Grand General Azrael exhaled deeply, his face weary, and began.