Chapter 91
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Scene 091: Transplant
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Count?! What on earth do you mean?!
Bound Helga looked up at me in bewilderment.
Avoiding her gaze, I asked Albert.
So, can you do it?
Theres nothing saying I cant. Ive handled and applied rites more than most healers... But if we do that, the Counts left eye...
Thats what this ointment is for.
This ointment?
Albert wore a puzzled expression.
I explained calmly to him.
Transplant part of my eye into Helga. Albert, if youve made a rite for it, you can do the transplant without rejection. Then regenerate each of our eyes.
Hmm... Part of it... If we regenerate partial pieces for each...
Albert mulled over my words before suddenly slapping his knee.
I see. Thats not entirely impossible.
What are you talking about, Grandpa?
Vanessa tilted her head.
For her sake, who hadnt followed our conversation, Albert explained.
To put it simply, we use a rite to cut the eye in half and transplant it. Then regenerate the eyes with recovery rites and this ointment.
Aha...
Helgas eyes had lost their sight long ago.
Transplanting half of my eye into hers and healing it should restore her vision.
My remaining half could then be healed back to normal with the ointment.
If we liken it to plants, its like splitting a seed in two and planting it. The ointment would be the fertilizer to grow the seeds.
But the key to this surgery lay in the rite to split the seed in half.
Vanessa seemed to realize that too, as she asked Albert.
But Grandpa, is it really okay for you to do something like this? Transplanting is tough enough, but splitting it in half? Isnt this hard even for expert healers?
Yeah. Of course its difficult. It takes multiple rites to activate, and one mistake could spell disaster... We might never recover the sight.
Albert glanced at me gravely.
He had no choice, knowing full well how dangerous what Id proposed was.
And the one to react most sensitively to that danger was, predictably...
Thats right! Theres no reason for the Count to take on that kind of risk!
Helga cried out as if shed snap the chains and leap up any second.
Tied to the bed, she looked utterly pitiable.
I told her calmly.
Helga. Do you intend to defy my will?
If thats the Counts will, Ill defy it a hundred times over!
Then Ill simply command you a hundred times.
No! I wont listen to that command!
Helga shouted as if vomiting blood.
Why does the Count have to go through something like that...! Why sacrifice your precious eye...! Why for my sake?!
The thick chains binding Helga clinked noisily.
Truth be told, that was why Id bound her in the first place.
Id figured shed defy my orders.
Chains like these...!
Crackle!
Sparks flew from Helgas eyes.
Her mana-enhanced physical abilities could unleash explosive power.
Forgetting the pain in her left eye amid the surging mana, Helga strained to rip the chains apart.
Stop.
...!
Helgas mana halted in an instant.
Helga, you always try to treat your body so carelessly.
I approached Helga.
At my words, she reflexively suppressed her mana and looked up at me like a meek lamb.
Count...
I caressed Helgas left eye.
The eye, bloodshot from just now releasing mana, had beads of blood forming.
Does it hurt?
N-No. A wound like this is nothing...
It hurts me.
Pardon?
Ive told you time and againyou belong to me. If you carelessly damage whats mine... I cant help but feel pain.
I sat on the edge of the bed and peered into Helgas trembling eyes.
Do you intend to hurt me?
...How could I? You know how precious you are to me... my brother... no, Count...
Her loyal subordinate, gazing only at meTristans reflection shone in Helgas eyes.
With such devotion, shed stay by my side until the very end.
I commanded her.
Then accept me. And cherish it as you would your own body.
From now on, part of me would become part of her.
I wont allow you to hurt yourself any longer.
By the time she realized it, the blood flowing from Helgas eyes had turned to tears.
Thats unfair... When you say things like that... How could I possibly refuse...
Helga spoke in a choked voice.
As if shed given up all resistance, she lay obediently on the bed and nuzzled her cheek against my hand.
I didnt refuse her, clinging like a spoiled child.
I simply wiped her tears away in silence.
As I did so for a moment, voices came from Vanessa and Albert standing behind us.
Youre making even us onlookers hearts race...
Ahem... Back in my day, I made plenty of women cry too.
Werent you the one crying after getting rejected by all those women?
You brat!
Id ultimately succeeded in convincing Helga.
I asked Albert.
Can I entrust the transplant to you?
Hmm. Not exactly something Im thrilled about... Using my rites on people again... Feels like committing another sin... But since Ive decided to work under you, I was prepared for this.
Albert thumped his chest.
Leave it to me. Ill restore light to her eyes.
Mm.
Preparing an ointment like this shows youre dead serious. And to think youd ask a craftsman like meI never even imagined it.
I read through documents and books to investigate. This is hardly preparation.
Heh... Seems the Count knows more about rites than I do.
It was one of the countless knowledges Id mastered with Greed.
My theory held not a shred of error.
Even so, Albert couldnt help voicing his concern to me.
Then the remaining issue is the Count himself. Even with rites, it doesnt change the fact that were carving out a healthy eye from a living body.
Albert warned me.
Itll hurt like hell, no doubt. You might even pass out from the unbearable pain. Still want to go through with it, Count?
It doesnt matter.
Helga, dying amid a hail of arrows, must have hurt far worse.
For her sake, I could endure anything.
With utmost Pride in my voice, I declared.
There is no pain I cannot endure.
Heh... What confidence... Ive definitely warned you.
Yes. I heard you clearly.
I see...
Albert shook his head.
As if resigned, he spoke in a voice that had steeled itself.
Very well. I stake my craftsmans life on making this a success.
!
Get lost.
Isabella coldly slapped away Dmitris hand.
Why are you doing this? If Ive done something wrong, just tell me, Princess.
I dont want to talk to a man like you, Dmitri.
Dmitri ended up kneeling before Princess Isabella.
I even lost weight for you, became a better man. All to be worthy of you, Princess...! I thought at least youd understand my efforts...
Well said. Who told you to lose weight?
What?!
Isabellas gaze was icy.
Dmitri couldnt meet that frigid stare and lowered his head.
T-Thats...
Im disappointed, Dmitri. It doesnt matter to me if you gain weight or not.
Isabella grabbed Dmitris necktie and yanked it.
She whispered sweetly in his ear.
But if you go losing weight on your own like that, worthless people start eyeing you. Be honest, Dmitri. You lost the weight to make me jealous, didnt you?
P-Princess?! Its a misunderstanding...
A misunderstanding?
Isabella shoved Dmitri away.
Ever since you slimmed down, all of high society talks about nothing but you. Did you think I wouldnt notice? Your little scheme is obvious, Dmitri.
Dmitri clung desperately to Isabella with a dazed expression.
No...! Youre the only one for me!
Liar. How can I trust you? You went and lost weight without asking.
Believe me...! Isabella, what do I have to do for you to believe me...?
Then kiss me.
Isabella sat in the chair, gazing imperiously at Dmitri.
And Dmitri gladly leaned in to press his lips to hers.
Slap!
?!
Who said you could kiss my lips?
Dmitri, suddenly slapped by Isabella, clutched his stinging cheek and asked.
T-Then...?
Isabella stuck out her leg.
Kiss my foot. I wont allow a cheeky man like you anywhere near my lips.
...!
Quiet. Kiss my foot until my mood improves. Otherwise, Ill never speak to you again.
Ugh...!
Dmitri prostrated himself to kiss Isabellas pale foot.
As Isabella watched the scene with satisfaction
Knock knock.
Miss.
A calm voice from outside the door. It was Blanche.
Bella didnt panic and set the teddy bear down on the bed.
In an utterly composed voice, she replied.
...What is it?
Dinner is ready. I came to fetch you since you havent come down.
Oh...
Checking the time, Blanche was rightit was a bit past dinner.
Ill be right there.
Yes. But...
?
She could sense Blanche hesitating outside the door.
Never mind... Ill wait downstairs.
Alright.
Whatever it was, Blanche withdrew without pressing.
Bella stretched.
Then her gaze fell on the ring adorning her finger.
The ring Tristan had given her before, able to hold mana.
Staring at it for a moment, Bella puffed out her cheeks.
Tch... I liked him first...
Lately, the way people looked at Tristan had changed a lot.
Partly because hed become one of the Seven Stars, but more than anything, his transformed appearance after losing weight was the big factor.
The problem was hed become too handsome.
Agh... Whyd he have to go and lose weight for no reason...
Because of it, Bellas days were filled with restless fidgeting.
She grew inexplicably anxious seeing women stare at Tristan.
Bella looked at the mirror beside her.
There stood a flawless beauty without a single shortcoming.
Shed once had absolute confidence in her looks, enough that even Tristan had proposed to her.
She was surely the one most suited to him.
With that thought, Bella slapped her cheeks with both hands to psych herself up.
Ahem! Get it together...!
As she reached for the teddy bear to tidy up, Bella froze.
Dmitri?
The button eye on her beloved teddy bear had fallen off.