Chapter 538: The Real Treatment Begins
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 538: The Real Treatment Begins
“Phew...”
After devouring the food in the blink of an eye, I patted my stomach and leaned back in my chair.
The Tower Lord had barely touched anything besides a single plate of steak, so I had essentially polished off twenty servings all by myself.
No, considering the extra dishes she made in between, it was probably closer to twenty-five.
I hadn't intended to eat this much.
But I couldn't help it; I felt this pressure, as if I had to keep eating.
Thanks to that, the table was completely empty.
Click.
“Ah, thank you.”
The Tower Lord placed a cup of black tea in front of me, then quietly returned to her seat across the table.
I wondered if that was really necessary, but it seemed to be her way of showing she wanted to keep her distance outside the bedroom, just like before.
There was no need to throw a wrench in the works, so I didn't try to force the distance between us to close.
“You could seriously open a restaurant. Did you learn to cook as a hobby?”
I asked the question knowing she'd likely give a curt reply, as always.
But my expectation was splendidly proven wrong.
“...I suppose you couldn't call it purely a hobby. I started learning because I wanted to feed Ana delicious food, since she couldn't go outside.”
“...”
I hadn't expected such a serious answer, and I was slightly taken aback.
“You're a good parent.”
“A good parent...”
The Tower Lord stirred the teaspoon in her cup with a self-deprecating smile.
“That's far too generous a compliment for an incompetent parent who can't even cure her only daughter's illness.”
“You don't have to blame yourself. It's not too late. Besides, that's why I'm here.”
“...Right.”
It seemed that line worked, as the Tower Lord's expression thankfully softened.
Riding the momentum, I decided to get to the main point.
“Speaking of which, there's something I'd like to discuss.”
“Hm?”
“It's about this: could you yield your time with Lady Ana to me until the curse removal?”
Twitch.
For a moment, a frown creased the Tower Lord's brow.
“...Your reason?”
“In four days, Lady Ana and I will be having se—... I mean, sexual intercourse, won't we?”
Grit.
This time, I heard the sound of grinding teeth.
While worrying about the Tower Lord's dental health, I carefully chose my next words.
“Before then, I want to lessen her aversion to me as much as possible. To do that, we'll need time to get to know each other, don't you think?”
“...Are you saying I can't be there?”
“Yes. It would be difficult to have a sincere conversation otherwise. More importantly, I also intend to briefly explain how the curse will be broken. But if you are present, Lady Ana will be embarrassed in many ways. She'll feel pressured, too.”
For the record, this was an excuse.
My plan wasn't just to talk; I intended to advance my relationship with Anastasia to the point just before sex over the next four days.
Of course, if you were to ask if this was for my own selfish motives, I'd say you're about half right.
But the other half was purely for Anastasia's sake.
This is because during the curse removal, Anastasia needs to open her body and mind to me to some extent so that I can fully concentrate on breaking the curse.
However, if I explained that openly in front of the Tower Lord, it was obvious I'd end up slammed into a wall again, just like yesterday.
'...I'll have to drink a bottle of Holy Water and get some sleep later.'
Just how hard did she throw me? My entire back was still throbbing.
She was nothing short of a monster.
'If the Tower Lord is this strong, just how powerful was Iris in her prime?'
Truthfully, in terms of pure firepower, Elemental Magic is superior, but for one-on-one combat, Concept Magic and Spirit Magic are considered the strongest.
However, since every user of Concept Magic wields a completely different and unique form of it, there are naturally huge variations in its power and application.
Some display abilities specialized in crafting or support, like Alchemy Magic, while others, like Sister Lael, boast absurd levels of strength.
It was awkward to even group them in the same category.
Therefore, the current magic world recognizes Spirit Magic, which can reliably produce high-level results, as the strongest.
“If it bothers you, please think of it as a doctor's consultation. Communication with the patient is important, isn't it?”
“...”
The Tower Lord reacted hesitantly, as if she wasn't at all pleased with my request.
I couldn't tell if she was displeased that I was taking away precious time with her daughter, or if there was some other reason.
Soon enough, however, the Tower Lord gave a quiet nod.
Knowing the importance of this matter, it seemed she couldn't bring herself to refuse my request in the end.
Thankfully, her approval didn't come with a warning not to try anything funny, so I could now lay my hands on Anastasia with peace of mind.
*
Knock, knock.
“Lady Ana. Did you just cough?”
-Ah, yes! Please, come in!
Leaving behind the clearly uncomfortable Tower Lord, I went to Anastasia's bedroom and turned the doorknob with the same good-natured smile I always wore.
Inside the room, which had a tranquil atmosphere, Anastasia was leaning against the headboard in her sleepwear, looking at me.
“Good afternoon. How are you feeling?”
In response to my question, Anastasia gave a bashful smile, a spoonful of shyness in her expression.
It wasn't just her looks; her whole aura was like that of a princess from some kingdom.
“I feel so good it's almost awkward.”
“That's a relief.”
“Usually, even just sitting up for a moment makes my body feel heavy and shivery, and I get anemic spells all the time. But ever since you started treating me, Sir Hyun-woo, none of that has happened.”
Reflected in the eyes looking at me was pure respect and an affection she had yet to realize.
I'd felt it before, but she was as pure a person as Iris.
“Um... but, is my mother not coming?”
Anastasia looked around, searching for the Tower Lord.
I pulled up a chair and sat beside the bed as usual, then organized my thoughts for a moment before speaking.
“The Tower Lord won't be coming. I asked her not to. I requested that she give us some time alone for a while.”
“...What?”
I adjusted my posture and leaned forward.
As the distance between us closed, Anastasia's eyes trembled faintly, as if she were slightly flustered.
“In four days, we will perform the ritual to break the curse placed upon you, Lady Ana.”
“Ah...”
At my words, Anastasia's expression became complicated.
It seemed to be a mixture of anticipation at being freed from the curse that had tormented her for so long, and a vague anxiety stemming from the word 'ritual'.
“It's not particularly dangerous, so you don't need to worry. Well... it might hurt a little, but I'll do something about that part, so it will end without any issues.”
They say the pain of defloration hurts, but that was something I could overcome with effort.
For someone like me, who has taken the virginity of twenty-one women, it's possible.
“Um... then, could I possibly know how the ritual will be performed...?”
“Of course.”
Seemingly reassured by my confident answer, Anastasia's expression brightened considerably.
“As you know, curses usually take root in a vital spot like the victim's brain or heart. However, the curse on you, Lady Ana, has unusually nested in your womb.”
The merits and demerits of this are clear.
In exchange for the casting process being extremely difficult, the curse cannot be broken by normal means.
“Fortunately, I have the ability to absorb the curses of others. For the next four days, I plan to continue the same treatment as before to get your condition into peak form.”
“Four days...”
Anastasia looked pleased, yet at the same time, her expression was complicated.
Well, having suffered from the curse for twenty-three long years, she must want to escape its shackles as soon as possible, down to the last minute and second.
“And I'd like to conduct one other treatment alongside it. In a way, you could say it's the most important part of the ritual.”
“Is there anything I can do to help?”
At her very proactive response, I pretended to think for a moment, pausing deliberately.
“It might be difficult for you.”
“...I'm prepared. If it means I can break this curse, I won't be afraid, even if I have to risk my life.”
“Even if it means feeling shame?”
“Shame...?”
Anastasia tilted her head, and I reached out my hand toward her.
Slide—
“?!”
“This is what I mean.”
I suddenly sat on the edge of the bed and intertwined our fingers, causing ripples to spread through Anastasia's wide eyes.
She was clearly flustered.
We had held hands a few times before, but every single time, it was under the good pretext of treatment.
But not this time.
“For your information, physical contact is necessary to absorb another's curse. If the curse were located in the heart or brain, contact through the skin would have been enough, but...”
I trailed off, placing my hand on the flustered Anastasia's lower abdomen.
“Hic?!”
In that moment, Anastasia's body went rigid.
“The womb, by its very nature, requires more direct contact.”
Regardless, I paid her no mind and moved my hand.
Perhaps because of her thin slip, I could clearly feel its soft texture even through the fabric.
“D-direct contact, you mean...”
“Sex.”
“...”
Fwoosh—
Anastasia's face instantly turned bright red.
So red that I thought if the Tower Lord saw her, she'd be pleased that her daughter's complexion had returned.
Sniff, sniff.
Pressing close to Anastasia's side, I focused on the fragrant scent of her body.
It wasn't provocative like the Tower Lord's, but it was a cool, refreshing, and soft scent of skin that made me want to keep smelling it.
It felt like lying in a field of daffodils in full bloom.
Even though I was blatantly smelling her and stroking her lower abdomen, Anastasia said nothing.
No, to be precise, she couldn't.
She was cute, frozen stiff like a hamster before a cat.
If I had my way, I'd tease her a little more, but I decided to stop here for now.
It's not like I have a lot of time.
“Since I know your full circumstances, Lady Ana, I have no intention of cowardly asking for your permission.”
Anastasia had no choice.
If she refused the treatment, she would soon die.
“Instead, would you answer just one thing for me?”
I brought my face close to Anastasia, who was still red as a beet, and gave a faint smile.
“What do you think of me?”
“...I-I think you're handsoooome...”
Pshhhh—
It was as if steam were rising from the top of Anastasia's head.
I stroked her hair and pulled her slender waist into an embrace.
Thump, thump, thump.
The sound of her heart pounding in her ample chest was so loud it reached my ears clearly.
“A good answer.”
Flump.
Gently laying Anastasia down on the bed, I slowly slipped my hand under the covers.
