Coming of Age (4)
The Emperor rose from his seat after those words. I glanced lightly around the room. Neither Isabelle nor Luna were anywhere to be seen, and Rudine had also left her seat at just the right moment. I walked past the Empress, who sat blankly staring at the banquet hall, and followed directly behind the Emperor.
Thud. Thud. The suffocating time passed, and we finally arrived at the reception room.
“Sit.”
I bowed my head lightly and sat down with care. The Emperor glanced at me before slowly bringing up the matter.
“You said… you could cure alopecia?”
It was the question I had expected. At this point in time, the Emperor harbored an almost obsessive trauma regarding his alopecia. He had poured every available resource into researching a cure, but naturally, all those efforts had vanished like bubbles.
He must be desperate enough to die for it.
Overcoming alopecia wasn’t simply in the realm of treatment. Strictly speaking, it was closer to the domain of miracles. But this world was a game world. Even hair loss, classified as an incurable disease for centuries in modern society, could be overcome here—a world where magic, alchemy, and divine power coexisted.
“Yes, it is possible.”
“Are you serious? You can improve it?”
“Not merely improve. Complete cure is possible.”
“Then right now, that treatment method—!”
“However, I require the Imperial Family’s cooperation.”
At my firm answer, the Emperor’s eyes widened.
“…Explain in detail.”
“To cure alopecia, a special elixir must be manufactured. The problem is…”
“The problem is?”
I gave a light smile.
“It requires an astronomical cost.”
Astronomical cost. In other words, producing even a single dose of the elixir was ridiculously expensive. The so-called Elixir. It could heal all diseases, restore damaged cells, and even revive a corpse that had died not long ago—the final boss of all healing potions.
The underlying theory was simple. The Black Fog that devoured the continent. Without divine power, merely touching it would cause the contacted cells to die. But if put through a special process, the property of annihilation could be completely reversed, turning it into something that healed everything it touched.
It sounded easy at first glance, but the reality was entirely different. The materials and manpower required for production were insane. The cost was one thing, but without the Imperial Family’s infrastructure spanning the entire empire, the attempt itself was impossible.
And that wasn’t all. Even after succeeding through all sorts of hardships, the yield was only a minuscule amount. In other words, mass-producing the elixir like a factory was absolutely impossible. No matter how much you made, there were clear limits to its use.
In the previous round, I couldn’t even attempt it.
No matter how good its performance was, what was the point? I had no reason to save anyone while playing the villain, and my relationship with the Imperial Family had been the worst.
But in this round, the Elixir was absolutely necessary. Not just to raise the Emperor’s favorability. Since I had completely deviated from the main scenario, I needed at least one insurance policy in case of unforeseen events.
“…”
“…”
He whispered something to the attendant standing beside him. Moments later, the attendant who had left returned with careful steps. In his right hand was a flask containing a transparent liquid.
“Drink it.”
“What is this?”
“A truth serum. It’s normally used to interrogate prisoners, but bear with it just for today. There’s no better way to determine whether your words are true.”
Without so much as blinking, I downed the potion. As the cold liquid slid down my throat, I could feel the changes in my body in real time. It was a strangely refreshing and cool sensation, like tiny threads crawling all over my body. A very familiar feeling.
It was the movement of mana.
“Are all the words you spoke just now, without a single lie, the truth?”
The Emperor’s firm voice forcefully rummaged through my mind. Soon after, my lips moved against my will.
“Yes, they are the truth without a single lie.”
At that moment, a rough, hollow laugh burst out. The Emperor, who had been sitting and glaring at me with an indescribable look, spoke.
“…I see now. So the reason you showed me a blank check from the beginning was to aim for this.”
Correct. A blank check exposed the recipient’s information when the amount was received. By shifting that responsibility to the Imperial Family, at least the Duke’s household wouldn’t be able to use the blank check as an excuse to apply external pressure on me.
“Ha, hahaha…”
The Emperor let out a couple of hollow laughs. I maintained my smile and waited for his answer. After rubbing his dry face with both hands, he finally spoke with a face filled with ecstasy.
“Tell me what you want.”
“I need the Imperial Family’s full support and protection. Additionally, this matter must not be leaked to anyone except the two of us. Do you agree?”
“I agree.”
What? He’s being surprisingly cooperative.
I boldly stated my demands.
“I also require free access to the Imperial Palace. Please temporarily grant me an appropriate identity so I can use the Imperial research facilities.”
“I shall grant you the identity of the Imperial Chief Alchemist.”
“The entire manufacturing process will not be disclosed. Even if Your Majesty requests the information, the same applies.”
“As long as the results are certain, I don’t need the information.”
A madness-like joy flashed in the Emperor’s eyes.
“The procedure using the manufactured elixir can only be performed on one person.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Of course it wouldn’t. After all, you only need to be cured yourself. The remaining elixir after treating the Emperor’s alopecia would be entirely mine.
“Finally, I require appropriate compensation for my hard work.”
“Say anything. I will treat you with the highest honors in the name of the Imperial Family. I noticed you seem quite close with Rudine. If you wish, I can arrange a meeting for you anytime.”
He really must be desperate. To think the Emperor, famous for being a daughter-obsessed fool, would go so far as to mention Rudine to cling to me. At this rate, the deal was a success.
Then, finally…
“What is that?”
“Ah, this?”
I took out the highest-grade Geas I had received from Merlin in advance.
“It’s a contract.”
I was always quite suspicious, after all.
The Emperor shall provide full support and protection to Kyle Winfred.
All details regarding the Elixir shall remain strictly confidential between the two parties.
Kyle Winfred shall be granted the identity of Imperial Chief Alchemist and free access to the palace and research facilities.
The manufacturing process shall not be disclosed under any circumstances.
Penalty for breach: Soul binding and immediate execution.
After completing the contract like that, I left the reception room. I was walking down the corridor to head back to the banquet hall to find Rudine when—
“Kyle.”
Luna, standing in the dark corridor in perfectly arranged attire, called out to me. As always, she looked so beautiful it made me sigh involuntarily.
When did she even get here?
I met Luna’s gaze directed at me. And then I realized. Her face was quite different from usual—ominous, even.
Luna Winfred had also inherited the memories of the previous round intact. What nonsense was she here to spout this time?
I reluctantly opened my mouth.
“What are you doing standing there blankly?”
“Indeed.”
Luna’s immediate reply sounded dry and cracked, unlike her usual self.
“If you have nothing to say, move.”
Luna tilted her head languidly. Her disheveled jet-black hair swayed precariously. The eyes she slightly revealed looked somewhat gloomy. I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
Just as I was about to leave—
“The Imperial Palace.”
Luna’s hollow voice flew over.
“After leaving the Duke’s residence, the place you went to with such effort was merely the Imperial Palace?”
“What?”
“Stop wandering and come back. To your home.”
The moment I heard those words, my lips parted on their own. My home? Such a thing didn’t exist in this world, at least.
“My home?”
“Yes.”
“Where is that?”
“Where else? Winfred.”
A chillingly plain answer. For a moment, my reason froze over coldly. A single realization struck me like lightning.
Ah, as always, it was just a mocking play on words.
“I’ve replaced all the problematic servants, and Ian Winfred will be leaving the mansion for a while.”
“…”
“Your name will be proudly listed in all of Winfred’s official events. As the second son, not a bastard, and as a member of Winfred.”
“…”
“If you want, I’ll even prepare a brand new mansion right next to the Duke’s residence.”
My head rang as if my eardrums had been pierced.
“There is no one left in Winfred who can threaten you.”
The nonsensical drivel made my stress skyrocket. I wasn’t Kyle Winfred, and I knew that the best response was to ignore such ridiculous nonsense. Yet, an icy laugh that escaped my control slipped out.
“Ha.”
I looked down at Luna with an expressionless face.
“There is someone who threatens me. Why wouldn’t there be?”
“…”
“There is. Right here.”
I took one step, then another, toward Luna.
“Luna Winfred.”
At that moment, Luna’s shoulders flinched.
“Your very existence is a threat to me. Where would I go?”
My stomach churned as if it had been pulverized. Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind.
— Aah, my dear brother.
— Wearing human skin yet truly no better than a beast.
Those were the words Luna had spat when she mixed the leftovers and threw them into my room as if it were a meal.
— Please… please, the room is too cold…
— At least give me a blanket to cover myself…!
One winter day, she had taken away all my clothes and bedding under the pretext that they needed washing. Thanks to that, I remembered struggling on the brink of death from the flu.
— With a body this weak, what use are you?
— Here, these are the family knights gathered for you.
— Be grateful and devote yourself to training.
Another day, when I had been starving all day and had no strength, the so-called family knights had beaten me under the guise of training. Thanks to that, instead of training, my whole body ached for days on end.
I had endured it all. To raise the progress rate. To return to my original world.
Yes, even back then, her eyes had looked like that. Those dual eyes that seemed to feel guilt.
I glared fiercely with wide eyes and snarled.
“What? Come back home?”
Ridiculous. And disgusting.
“Sorry, but unless you drop dead somewhere, I will never return to Winfred.”
Luna’s pupils shook violently. I spat out in a sunken, harsh voice.
“Ha, what bullshit.”
Her face twisted as if she had forgotten how to use her facial muscles.
“I’d rather die than go there.”
Luna’s arms, which had been crossed the whole time, fell limply. Her hanging hands were trembling.
Fuck, why is it so dizzy…
My head spun and my stomach twisted as if it were melting. At the same time, veins bulged on my forehead. Something was wrong.
Then, one realization struck my brain like a stake.
Ah, the truth serum.
The truth serum I had drunk at the Emperor’s suggestion. It had one particular property. A boosting effect that forcibly awakened the mana within the body. That part was fine.
However, Kyle’s body had never once operated mana before. The side effect caused by the forced awakening of mana due to the potion. Mana rampage.
Its aftermath was…
“…Cough!”
Ah, fuck. That’s blood.
“…Damn it.”
My vision blurred. At the same time, my barely standing body staggered helplessly.
“K-Kyle!!”
Luna caught my collapsing shoulders and held me up. Moments later, a scream squeezed out in a cracked voice echoed in my ears.
“No—!!”