Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Chapter 16: The Source of Evil
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And the moment his eyes opened again.
“Ugh…… Uwaaaah!”
A scream he hadn’t managed to let out burst forth reflexively. What the hell just happened? I thought I was dying!
…….
But right now, nothing really hurt? Except for his legs throbbing a bit.
“Prince! Are you alright? Prince?”
Didi, who had been stuck right by his side, urgently asked after him. He nodded, catching his breath.
“Hoo…… I’m fine, I’m fine. Just a moment ago, I really thought I was a goner.”
“Hmm, not just a moment ago.”
Then Regal, on the opposite side, snorted as he spoke.
“You were out cold for three full days. You probably didn’t realize, but your body had a poison in it that doesn’t exist in this world.”
And a silence fell for a moment.
Three days?
Had he really been unconscious for three whole days? Hadn’t he just blinked?
But the poison in his body—if that was it, it should’ve already been dealt with?
“I did get poisoned by something before. But over the last few months of hard work…….”
“All detoxified? Wrong.”
The wolf flatly denied his words.
“You probably thought a powerful antidote had taken care of it. But part of the poison dodged the antidote and hid deep inside your body. In your joints or nerves.”
“The poison hid like it had intelligence to avoid the antidote?”
“That’s why I said it’s a poison that doesn’t exist in this world. Of course, I’ve seen something similar before…….”
Regal fell into serious thought. Then he shook his head and got back to the point.
“The reason you passed out was that the absorbed core reacted with the hidden toxins. Must’ve been agonizing.”
“Not just agonizing—I really thought I was dying. My consciousness just blanked out for a second.”
“It was one hell of a vicious poison. Even with the core’s power, it took two days to fully purge it. And then another variable popped up.”
“What now?”
“Besides the poison, your body had a massive buildup of some elixir’s components.”
Elixir? What elixir?
“Elixir? I’ve taken so many over time, I don’t know which one you mean.”
“One that artificially promotes physical growth.”
Ah, then it’s the Growth Elixir.
“Yeah, I chugged a ton of that recently. Didn’t seem to do much, though.”
“Human elixirs have advanced a lot. Even elves can’t make something like that.”
Regal clicked his tongue and continued.
“And unfortunately, the elixir’s effects kicked in right where the poison was lurking.”
“Oh, so?”
“The poison had blocked it, so the elixir couldn’t work and just kept piling up. But once the core’s power wiped out the hidden poison, the accumulated elixir suddenly activated. Ferociously. That’s why you were out for another day.”
“The Growth Elixir worked properly? Then…….”
He shot up and checked his body, then freaked out.
“What the hell!”
Holy shit!
He’d grown taller!
Proof: the hem of his pants that used to cover his instep now reached his ankle!
“I grew! I shot up in height in that short time!”
“Congratulations, Prince. We could see your body growing even while you slept.”
Didi, standing beside him, bowed his head in greeting. He impulsively hugged Didi—who was now two finger-widths shorter than him—and yelled.
“Thanks, Didi! I really grew! I was about your height just before, but now I’m taller!”
“Congratulations once more. But is everywhere else alright?”
“Elsewhere? My arms and legs still ache a bit…….”
“That’s growing pains.”
Regal, nearby, said with an amused look.
“Watching a human grow at a visible speed was an interesting sight. Still pretty tiny, though.”
“No? You just don’t get it.”
Hah, this wolf has no idea what he’s talking about.
“This is huge. This damn body wouldn’t grow properly no matter what I did for decades.”
“Decades? Didi said you’re 16 this year?”
“Well……. I mean, it felt like that. Anyway, this is a massive growth.”
For nearly a century of past time, he’d always been small, smaller. Hoo……. Thinking back made tears well up suddenly.
His height, around 148cm before, was now about 155cm!
Sure, 155cm at 16 was still short.
But in all nine previous regressions, he’d never once been this tall.
Anyway, now that his channels were clear, with natural growth added, maybe he could aim for 160cm or even 170cm later?
“You seem really happy, so I’m glad too. It’s the first time I’ve seen you this joyful, Prince.”
Didi, unusually smiling, offered congratulations again. He grinned widely and nodded vigorously.
“Yeah. Glad you get it. That big lump of a wolf couldn’t understand the woes of us little creatures.”
“Sorry I don’t get it. But you’re still small, skinny, and have pathetic physical abilities.”
The wolf asked with a truly baffled face.
“Sure, it’s a huge improvement from three days ago. But even accounting for that, your body’s still weak as hell. Is it really worth celebrating like you’ve conquered the world over this?”
“Shut it. I feel like I’m flying right now. Don’t ruin the mood.”
He shot Regal a glare and grumbled. The key wasn’t just the height.
First off, he’d been completely wrong about himself until now.
He’d thought the steady Detoxification Elixir had cleared the fog in his head, but actually, he’d just been content with barely being able to distinguish things.
But now was different. His mind was crystal clear, like a bright autumn sky.
Everything around him looked sharper, like the resolution had cranked up. Shame it was a filthy underground sewer that got so vivid.
Anyway, he felt completely reborn.
His physical condition was totally different—like shedding a waterlogged blanket, his whole body felt light.
Ah, so that’s it…….
This was a truly normal person’s body.
In all his past regressions, he’d never once been fully detoxified from Jes’s poison!
That’s why he’d lived thinking abnormal was normal.
Look at these smooth joints. No pain rolling his shoulders, and he could clasp his hands behind his back!
“What’re you doing all of a sudden?”
“This never worked before, so it’s amazing it does now.”
Wow, he’d really lived in a horrific body all this time.
Like realizing it’s spring only after the flowers fall…… no, realizing how abnormal he’d been only after his body normalized. Sob sob. Tears for real.
“Hmm, too cringe to watch.”
Regal shook his head repeatedly, still looking uneasy about him.
“Your body’s too weak after all. I can’t in good conscience let you take on those monsters alone.”
“Huh? I can handle it myself.”
“Never mind. I’ll take you to the destination.”
“Destination?”
“There’s a spot where the monsters occupying the sewers originated. I’ll get you there, and you destroy that place with magic at the last moment. As an Arch Wizard, you can muster that much firepower, right?”
“Well…….”
He nodded reflexively. Regal crouched down, then opened his massive maw wide and said curtly.
“Get in.”
“Ride in your mouth? Can’t I just climb on your back?”
“Your puny hands can’t handle my speed. So hop in quick. Or are you scared I’ll eat you?”
Chomp chomp.
Regal worked his jaws like he was chewing something. Feeling chills down his spine, he glanced at Didi.
“Didi? Is this okay?”
“Regal’s just joking. No need to worry.”
“Even so…….”
Frowning, he peered into the wolf’s gaping mouth. Then, with a sigh, he cautiously slid inside.
“Never thought I’d willingly walk into a wolf’s mouth in my lifetime…….”
* * *
The wolf raced through the sewers like the wind.
Holy crap, even riding in his mouth, the speed was insane. If he’d been on the back, he’d have been flung off for sure.
“Grab something so you don’t shake loose. My teeth or whatever.”
He immediately gripped a canine. Hearing the voice from inside the mouth echoed like in a cave.
“Doesn’t it bother you having my feet near your throat? Should I pull my legs in more?”
“No big deal. More impressive, you’re one weird human.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, you.”
“Why?”
“The emperor’s son not only comes down to the sewer bottom himself, but hops right into a wolf’s mouth? You think that makes sense?”
“What’re you saying. You told me to get in.”
“Even so, just hopping in? What kind of life have you lived?”
The kind you couldn’t even imagine, full of horrors. He sighed and shook his head like it was nothing.
“Didi vouched for you, so I trust you. You helped me grow taller too. And I’m weak to new events.”
“New events?”
“I kept repeating the same stuff over and over. So when something new pops up, my curiosity goes nuts.”
“Repeating the same things. Sounds familiar.”
From his tone, this guy had been starved for stimulation too. Makes sense—stuck in sewers for decades, must’ve been boring?
Of course, he hadn’t hopped in unprepared.
If needed, he’d instantly activate Shield of Light to protect himself, and follow up with flame magic to roast him from inside.
Anyway, he was hunkered on Regal’s tongue. The mouth was slightly open, so outside air rushed in fast, but it was pitch black all around, so he couldn’t see the scenery properly.
“It’s too dark. Mind if I light a fire with magic?”
“Flame magic in my mouth?”
“No, not that.”
He quickly cast the holy magic Light. Now, through the gap in the teeth, the dingy sewer landscape came into view.
“Neat trick. Holy magic and elemental magic at once. You a mage and a priest?”
“Something like that. You know a lot about the human world for a wolf? Didi teach you?”
“Opposite. I taught Didi about the human world.”
“How?”
“I’ve been in these sewers over 50 years.”
Regal paused, then continued.
“You hear a lot about the world above down here. I’ve got sharp ears.”
“You can hear surface folks’ chatter from the sewers?”
“If it’s a house’s first floor connected to the sewer pipes.”
“Impressive. Any favorite spots?”
“Interesting stuff usually comes from guilds. Magic Guilds, Knight Guilds, Mercenary Guilds, merchant guilds. Or nobles’ mansions.”
What? Turns out the empire’s top intel source was right here?
If this got out, the whole empire might flip. He marveled inwardly and asked.
“Fancy hobby. Ever hear about me?”
“Stories about the mad youngest prince’s antics? Been hearing them for years. Waving a weapon drunk and nearly killing a proxy? Rampaging in casinos daily.”
“Erm…….”
“Lately, rumors say you’ve changed. Anyway, doesn’t sit right that a guy like that has Didi.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve straightened up and been doing good lately……. Whoa!”
Suddenly, Regal sped up. He ducked as strong wind leaked into the mouth.
“Why the sudden—?”
“Kill the light, Prince. Danger zone from here.”
He canceled Light immediately. At the same time, Regal’s pounding heartbeat and muscle tremors around him began to fade.
Like silent mode, everything went eerily still.