Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The 300 Gold Elixir
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Magic Tower Medical Wing.
Morning had broken, but the corridor was already buzzing with noise.
"What's that?"
"They say it's from the Goldwin Merchant Guild."
"Goldwin? That Goldwin?"
"Yeah. Word is, a carriage arrived at dawn."
The researchers murmured among themselves.
In the middle of the corridor sat a box wrapped in golden silk.
Atop the box gleamed the emblem of a golden lion.
Goldwin Merchant Guild.
One of the Empire's three great trading houses.
"Who’s it for?"
"No idea. But check out the size of that box."
"That silk—is it real? The packaging alone must be worth a few gold coins."
One of the servants picked up the box and headed toward a patient room.
The researchers trailed after him in a cluster.
Gawking, of course.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opened.
The servant entered, holding the golden box.
"Good morning, Young Master."
"Yes. Good morning to you."
"Something arrived overnight."
"Arrived?"
"It's from the Goldwin Merchant Guild."
Goldwin Merchant Guild?
Lirian?
Why?
"Just set it down for now."
"Understood."
The servant placed the box on the table.
The golden silk shimmered. The golden lion emblem stood out sharply.
The packaging alone was overwhelming.
'Smells like money.'
Murmurs drifted in from beyond the door.
He glanced over.
The researchers were clustered outside, craning their necks to peer inside.
Spectators.
"........."
Best to open it first.
He unwrapped the silk and lifted the lid.
In that instant.
A red glow burst forth.
Whoosh—
The entire room bathed in crimson light.
"............!"
Exclamations erupted from beyond the door.
"Insane."
"What is that?"
"It's glowing. Glowing."
Inside the box sat a single small vial.
Red liquid swirled within, alive-like. It emitted its own luminescence.
He checked the label.
[Millennium Lingzhi Essence]
[Supreme Recovery Elixir]
"............"
What the hell.
"Th-that's..."
One researcher outside muttered.
"Isn't that Millennium Lingzhi Essence?"
"What?"
"Worth 300 gold coins."
"............"
"............"
Silence.
Then.
"What?!"
"300 coins?!"
Chaos erupted.
"No way—that's a year's worth of my research funding in one sip!"
"A year? Try three for me."
"Insane. As a get-well gift?"
"Goldwin's money must be rotting away."
"............"
Too noisy.
He shut the door.
Slam.
Back to the box.
A letter lay beside the vial.
Plain white paper. Simple. It stood out against the golden box.
He opened it.
'I heard you were injured.'
'Fighting a monster with a chair leg, they say.'
'How brave.'
'Hope this helps.'
'- Lirian'
"............"
Chair leg.
She had to mention that.
"............"
But.
Sending a 300-coin elixir?
What’s her angle.
A merchant giving away 300 gold for free?
Nothing's free in this world.
Especially not from merchants.
She's after something.
But what?
"............"
His head hurt.
Then.
Bang!
The door flew open.
No knock.
"Young Master Kasian!"
A booming voice.
Blond hair, broad shoulders, sparkling eyes.
It was Kael.
"Are you alright?!"
He strode in.
"I was so worried!"
Kael stopped.
His eyes fell on the box atop the table.
Golden silk.
Glowing red vial.
"............"
"What's that?"
"Ah... A get-well gift."
"A get-well gift?"
Kael approached. He peered into the vial.
"Ooh..."
His eyes widened.
"Isn't this Millennium Lingzhi Essence?!"
"You know it?"
"Of course! The knight order only uses it on the severely wounded!"
"I see."
"It's worth 300 gold coins!"
"Yes. I know."
"Who sent...?"
Kael spotted the letter. Goldwin emblem.
"Hold on."
Kael looked at him.
"Goldwin Merchant Guild..."
"Yes."
"Lady Lirian?"
"Yes."
"Lady Lirian sent this to you?"
"Yes."
"............"
Kael's expression hardened.
"............"
The sparkle faded from his eyes.
Those shining eyes from moments ago.
Fading.
Dying.
"Young Master Kael?"
"............"
"Young Master Kael?"
"I've never..."
Kael spoke.
His voice was small.
"Pardon?"
"...received a gift from any woman besides my mother."
"............"
"Not once."
Kael's shoulders slumped.
"Ah. Right. I have from my sister."
"Yes."
"But that's family."
"............"
"From a lady my age..."
"Not once..."
Kael gazed out the window.
Far.
Very far.
"............"
Then.
His eyes shifted to the chair on the table.
He fiddled with the chair leg.
"Young Master."
"Yes?"
"Do I need to pick up a chair leg too?"
"............Pardon?"
"Pick up a chair leg... to get their attention?"
What the hell.
"If I pick up a chair leg too..."
"Will ladies send me gifts?"
He was serious.
Dead serious eyes.
Genuinely pondering.
"Young Master Kael, that's a bit..."
"............"
Kael shuffled to the corner of the bed.
Thud.
He plopped down.
Knees together, curled up.
"Young Master Kael?"
"Are you okay?"
"Colder than a Northern winter."
Kael muttered.
"My life's colder still."
"............"
The man who'd cleaved a 4-meter beast was crumbling before a single letter.
Pathetic.
Truly pathetic.
"Um... Want some bread?"
"The tower's bread is delicious."
"............Thank you."
Kael trudged to the cart.
Grabbed a loaf.
Took a bite.
Crunch crunch.
His eyes looked misty.
[Breaking] Did you see what just got snapped at the Magic Tower?
(Attached photo)
Goldwin Merchant Guild sent Galju a 300-gold elixir
lololololol
Look at that packaging
Golden silk, straight gold
Insane, that's Millennium Lingzhi Essence
300 gold as a get-well gift? lololol
Lady Lirian's flex is unreal
Ah, that homewrecker! Charging in again
[Gif] But what's with Kael's face next to him lololol
(Attached gif)
Galju receiving the elixir
Saw Kael's soul leave his body? lolololol
lolololol light fading from his eyes
Isn't that Young Master Kael? The Northern knight
Yeah lolol why's the guy who sliced a 4m beast like that
Giftless baby pup ㅠㅠ
Northern sad wolf lololol
Young Master Kael is too pitiful ㅠㅠ Let's send him something
Galju gets a 300-gold gift
While he's pathetically munching bread next to it ㅠㅠ
Sis sending 100 handkerchiefs—drop your address
lololol so pitiful it's funny
I'll send gloves too ㅠㅠ North is cold
Don't crush our baby knight's spirit
Send parcels to Magic Tower entrance for Kael—he'll get them?
lololol for real sending?
Let's do it lololol pity funding starts
Imperial Palace.
Irene's office.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the window. Dust motes drifted lazily in the beams.
Irene sat at her desk, pen in hand, reviewing documents.
Her scribe stood beside her, clutching a stack of papers.
The usual afternoon scene.
"Next report."
The scribe flipped a page.
"Eastern territories tax revenue. Up 3% from last year."
"......"
Irene skimmed the document.
Checked the numbers.
Lifted her pen.
Signed.
"Next."
"Western border patrol report."
The scribe set it down.
"No incidents. All clear."
Signed.
"Next."
"Southern grain harvest forecast. Bumper crop expected this year."
"......"
Signed.
"Next."
Birdsong from outside.
A breeze rustled the curtains.
Irene didn't look up.
Just the papers.
"Next is..."
The scribe hesitated.
"......"
His hand holding the documents stiffened slightly.
"What is it."
"......Your Highness."
The scribe spoke carefully.
"A report on the Northern Grand Duke's second son has come in."
"......"
Her pen paused.
One second.
Two.
It moved again.
"Speak."
"Monsters attacked the ball in Edelweiss Village."
"A 4-meter-class beast. Highly dangerous rank..."
"Young Master Kasian was injured."
"......"
Irene's expression didn't change.
Her eyes unchanged.
She just read the paper.
"Current status..."
"Being treated at the Magic Tower."
"The Tower Lord's daughter brought him there herself..."
"......"
Signed.
Pushed the paper aside.
"Next."
The scribe blinked.
He'd expected more reaction.
None.
"......And."
The scribe continued.
"Reports of a get-well gift arriving."
"From Goldwin Merchant Guild."
"Millennium Lingzhi Essence. 300 gold coins' worth."
"......"
Irene's face remained impassive.
She lifted her pen.
Signed.
"Next."
The scribe pulled the next document.
"Imperial southern road maintenance budget."
Irene took it.
Skimmed the numbers.
"Zone 3 is overbudget."
"Ah, that's..."
"Cut 10%. Resubmit."
"......Understood."
Signed.
"Next."
"Magic Academy new student selection report."
Flipped page.
Signed.
"Next."
"Imperial Guard personnel transfer report."
Signed.
"Next."
The work proceeded steadily.
Scribe presents.
Irene reviews.
Signs.
Next.
Signs.
Next.
Sunset tilted the sunlight outside.
Shadows lengthened.
"......Next is tomorrow's schedule."
The scribe flipped the page.
"Finance meeting in the morning, diplomatic envoy in the afternoon..."
"......"
Irene paused mid-review.
"Scribe."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"How many days until the filming."
"......Pardon?"
The scribe tilted his head.
Sudden confusion.
"Filming?"
"Fate's Red Thread filming."
"Ah......"
The scribe calculated mentally.
"Two days from now, Your Highness."
"......"
Irene's pen stopped.
"......"
The corner of her mouth.
Twitched upward. Ever so slightly.
"That works."
"......?"
The scribe blinked.
"Better to deliver it in person."
"......Pardon?"
Deliver what.
To whom.
The scribe didn't get it.
"Y-Your Highness, if I may..."
"Next."
"......Ah, yes."
The scribe flipped the page.
"Next is the imperial garden maintenance budget."