Chapter 38

In the Head Apothecary's Office, located outside the main castle of Eurasia.

There, Loen Favre calmed her breathing and focused her mind.

‘Finally, the last step.’

Her hair was roughly tied up, her cheeks were sunken, and dark circles reached down below her eyes.

To create the secret medicine, she had been taking short naps and frequently skipping meals for the past month, leaving her looking a mess.

However, her eyes shone with a brilliant light.

This was the effect of her having overcome her slump and recently succeeding in forging a 7-star Mana Heart.

The Mana that had reached the realm of a Superhuman was constantly invigorating her body.

Moreover, the Mana, which had transformed its properties upon reaching the 7th star, had even affected the efficacy of the spiritual medicine that maintained her youth.

It was an unexpected event, but thanks to it, despite her haggard appearance, it wouldn't have been strange to say she was in her mid-30s.

The recent frequency of invitations from the three Matriarchs was likely not unrelated to her appearance.

Hoo.

After letting out a breath, she infused Mana into a beak-shaped magic tool.

A top-grade magic tool procured through the Sepia Merchant Guild, ‘Cheonghwabu.

It was an item crafted to allow a skilled Mana user to produce a Blue Flame.

Fwoosh.

A Blue Flame rose from the tip of the magic tool that had absorbed the Mana.

Chiiii.

As the poisonous energy leaking from the Magic Stone was burned away by the blue flame, the unpurified poisonous energy became Evil Energy and scattered throughout the laboratory.

‘How dreadful.’

Loen frowned.

If her level had remained at the 6th star, she would have been poisoned by that Evil Energy alone.

If that had happened, the head's condition, unable to take the ‘Heart Break Herba’, would have become irreversible.

She let out a sigh of relief as the Blue Flame maintained a stable state.

‘I never thought I'd be handling a Magic Stone of this magnitude.’

The Arch Lich's Magic Stone, now processed with medicinal preparations and its original form unrecognizable.

It had been a month since she had been handed this item.

The expression of Escardo, who had returned to the family estate alone using a Warp stone, had looked urgent.

“Head Apothecary, you must make the medicine quickly.”

His neat black hair was disheveled, and his face and armor were spattered with blood of unknown origin. Unstable Mana, not fully under his control, was radiating from his body.

“Lord Escardo, please calm down first.”

Escardo's complexion brightened considerably after he drained the top-grade recovery potion she handed him.

“You left the family in such a hurry… by any chance, did the subjugation fail?”

As far as Loen knew, the family had planned to proceed with the subjugation by appointing Demian as the overall commander.

In the midst of that, Escardo had suddenly left the family using a Warp stone, and the head had also led the Red Knight Order to the Kurt Mountain Range.

It was not difficult to guess that something had gone wrong.

“The Knight Slayer was a Chimera created by an Arch Lich.

Its numbers were also greater than what the family had identified.”

Worry clouded Loen’s face upon hearing Escardo’s words.

That the Knight Slayer was a Superhuman-level monster was within the scope of expectation, but if it was a Chimera created by an Arch Lich and there were many of them…

“The ruler of the mountain range was an Arch Lich.

A monster that had reached the 8th star… but fortunately, the head cut it down.”

Escardo took out a black box from the backpack he was carrying.

It was a 7-star magic tool that blocked contact with the outside.

Click.

When he opened the box, what was revealed was a Magic Stone exuding a chillingly poisonous energy.

It was larger and emitted a more sinister aura than any Magic Stone she had ever seen.

“This is the Arch Lich's Life Vessel.

The head extracted it with as little damage as possible… but its toxicity is so strong that it has not yet been treated with medicinal preparations.”

Escardo explained the situation as he closed the box.

“What is the condition of the young masters?”

“The Second Young Master is seriously injured, but thankfully his life is not in danger.

The First and Fourth Young Masters seem to need rest for a while due to muscle ruptures and reflux symptoms.

The Bastoni family has agreed to help with their treatment, so it will take a month for them to return to the family estate.”

“…That’s a relief.”

“Are you worried about Killian?”

“……”

“As I thought, Head Apothecary, you knew about that child's abilities.

Why didn't you say anything?”

Escardo, meeting her gaze, asked quietly.

He wasn't blaming her.

In the first place, it was his own fault as the Commander of the Knights for not properly assessing the Young Master's skills.

Killian had done his best in the subjugation, saved the lives of many knights, and privately, even saved Lorenzo Bastoni's life.

‘If the Fourth Young Master hadn't played his part, the head's plan to deal with the ruler would have been disrupted.’

It was necessary to hear the thoughts of this elder as well.

Loen, reading Escardo's mind, opened her mouth.

“Because I thought that's what he would have wanted.”

“……”

They were words he had not expected to come from the strict Head Apothecary's mouth.

Escardo had many more questions he wanted to ask, but for now, he had to be satisfied with that answer.

“We will speak of Killian's matter separately later.

More importantly, the head's medicine is the priority. How much time will it take?”

Loen looked at the black box on the table.

The Arch Lich's Life Vessel.

Previously, it would have taken several months even with the assistance of a high-ranking apothecary, but now that she had reached the realm of a Superhuman.

“One month will be enough.”

She said with eyes full of conviction.

“One month… If it's that long, the head should be able to hold on somehow.

His symptoms have worsened considerably while dealing with the Lich.”

“There is no time, so I will begin the work immediately.

Please prohibit outsiders from entering the Apothecary.”

“Understood.”

With those words, Escardo left the room and did not set foot in the Apothecary again for some time.

A week passed after that, and the head and the Red Knight Order returned, and news of the subjugation began to circulate.

The First Young Master's boldness, the Second Young Master's valor, the Third Young Master's wisdom.

Words praising the three young masters circulated throughout the family, but there was no mention of the Fourth Young Master.

Loen, who had been lost in thought for a moment, shook her head.

‘The Fourth Young Master is no longer a being that can be hidden.’

Killian's confident face came to mind.

She couldn't suppress her smile, anticipating how much he would have grown after overcoming the crisis of the Knight Slayer.

Fwoosh.

For three hours, she concentrated on the flames of the Cheonghwa.

The secret medicine to control the head's Heart Break, the Heart Break Herba, was finally complete.

***

“You've worked hard.”

Escardo examined the potion Loen handed him.

Compared to a normal potion, its size was about five times larger. The amount was closer to a decoction than a potion.

“Where is the head?”

“He has entered the Pyeongwandong.”

The Pyeongwandong was a large training hall established in the main castle.

It was a place used for Simon's training, a space accessible only to the family's elders and the Annihilation Squad.

“Have his symptoms worsened?”

“He already used his Mana to its limit when he subjugated the Arch Lich.

It's a miracle that rumors haven't spread until now.”

“In that case… this is serious.”

“……?”

“If he's in such an unsound state, there may be difficulties in digesting the secret medicine.”

“Are you perhaps talking about the danger of rampage… Oblivio?”

“That is correct.”

At Loen's answer, Escardo's face turned ashen.

Oblivio referred to the state of unconsciousness that occurs just before a rampage.

A vegetative state where one might or might not go on a rampage.

‘If the head, the best swordsman in the family, goes on a rampage, no one will be able to stop him.’

The head had already reached his limit, so there was no choice but to take the secret medicine.

‘But even if I risk my life, I can't guarantee… if I can stop the head's rampage.’

Against a 7-star, perhaps, but there was not much 6-star knights could do against an 8-star knight.

He had to resolve it at his level, one way or another.

“What should I do?”

“Immediately after taking the Heart Break Herba, the head's heart will gradually stop moving. The Mana Heart will take over its role, but eventually, the head will fall into a state of unconsciousness.”

It was a secret medicine created by processing the Arch Lich's Magic Stone.

It would surely have more than enough power to do so.

“After that, the Mana circulating within his body will naturally seep into his heart.

If that happens…”

“The head's heart will be strengthened to the point where it is not affected by the 8-star Mana Heart.”

“That is correct.”

A method of fighting poison with poison.

If successful, the head would be able to stabilize his 8-star level.

“If Oblivio manifests…”

“Even so, there will be no problem with the medicine's efficacy. However, for about 10 minutes, you must watch over the head to allow his Mana to circulate. The problem is the rampage…”

If one had to circulate the Mana of a rampaging person, it meant only one thing.

“If that happens, you, my lord, must draw your sword and clash your Mana against his.”

“So, if I endure against the head for 10 minutes, his heart will naturally be strengthened. Is that what you mean?”

Loen nodded.

Then, with a rather resolute expression, she continued.

“I will help as well.”

“……?”

“It is embarrassing, but I too have recently reached the 7th star.”

At the first revelation of her achievement, Escardo's eyes widened.

It was because he knew she had suffered for a long time, unable to break through the wall.

“Congratulations, Head Apothecary.”

“Although I cannot assist in the attack, I should be able to imitate some simple Shik magic.”

Loen was an apothecary, but she had self-taught a few basic magics.

Contrary to her modest words, the magic she used possessed a density that would be difficult for anyone less than a 6-star knight to handle.

It could have a great impact on a battle between Superhumans.

“Drink this.”

Loen handed him four potions she had prepared.

After emptying the enhancement and recovery potions, Escardo's complexion brightened noticeably.

It was an hour after that when they visited the Pyeongwandong.

In the center of the training hall, a haggard-looking Simon sat cross-legged.

As the two approached, Simon's mouth opened.

“It seems the medicine is complete.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Loen bowed her head respectfully.

Now that she had entered the realm of a Superhuman, she could feel it.

Just what an unbelievable level the man before her had achieved.

She could also tell that the slump he was experiencing was on a level incomparable to what she had gone through.

Escardo approached Simon and placed the medicine down.

“If you drink it in your current state, there is a high risk of experiencing Oblivio.”

He explained the process of how the medicine would take effect, just as he had heard from Loen moments before.

The corners of Simon's dry lips rose.

“Oblivio… It seems I have shown a shameful side to the two pillars of the family.”

“What will you do, my lord? Perhaps another day…”

“No.”

Simon, cutting Escardo off, picked up the potion and downed it in one gulp.

“M-my lord…!!”

“……!!”

Seeing the flustered faces of Escardo and Loen, Simon burst into laughter.

“I will trust in you two.”

With those last words, Simon closed his eyes.

His head drooped in time with the slowly decelerating sound of his heart.

“……”

“……”

Escardo, meeting Loen's eyes, nodded.

Sssss.

Red Mana flowed out from his body.

As the knight who had mastered the 7th star unfolded his Carpe, the Mana instantly dominated the space and surrounded the head.

About two minutes passed like that.

Slowly, Simon raised his body.

Around him, ashen Mana rose like a haze.

Escardo quietly drew Escardo Schtenberg's Sword.

“……!!”

Clang.

He instinctively parried the sword swung at him.

A sword manifested from Mana was now held in Simon's hand.

‘Did he form it unconsciously…!!’

For something like that, it possessed a strength not inferior to a famed sword.

Gulp.

Escardo swallowed dryly.

D-d-d-d.

His Carpe, which was controlling Simon's Mana, was trembling.

Clang!

He blocked another of the head's strikes.

Even after that, without a single step of retreat, he continuously swung Escardo Schtenberg's Sword, clad in red Mana.

It felt as if his ears would be torn apart by the resonating sound created by the clash of Superhuman Mana.

Had he blocked about twenty strikes like that?

Boom!!

“Keuk…”

Blood trickled from the corner of Escardo's mouth as he stumbled back five or so steps.

Heart Break.

It was the result of a reflux phenomenon caused by contact with Simon's Mana.

At this rate, he wouldn't be able to last for the remaining time.

“My lord, I will be rude for a moment.”

Grrrr.

As Escardo Schtenberg's Sword, filled with killing intent, let out a cry, the Carpe was further strengthened.

If it was to put the rampaging head to sleep, he could not afford to hold back his sword.

Eurasia Style, Red Thunderbolt.

Bzzt.

As Escardo Schtenberg's Sword, imbued with red Mana, clawed at the head's body, blood spurted from him.

A moment later.

“Keok…!!”

“Lord Escardo!!”

Loen had no choice but to cast a shield magic for the Commander of the Knights, who was rolling on the floor.

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