“What’s wrong with my body right now… Teacher Gothberg, are you out of your mind?!”
Ambrosia jumped around with her tiny legs, seemingly shocked.
“First, just listen. This is a validated technique. There have already been several patients revived using this method.”
“Could it be that Her Highness Wanda, too?”
“Yes. An emergency surgery was performed.”
Ambrosia’s jaw dropped, and she froze in place.
Trying to regain her senses, she shook her head, asking Falkenhayn, “Are you guys researching black magic, by chance?”
“I swear it’s not, Sister. If you learn the principles, you’ll surely comprehend, Sister.”
“…Since the Saint admits that much, I suppose I can trust you to some extent.”
I pointed to the MRI data, explaining, “The stomach is filled with poison along with a curse. At this stage, stomach washing won’t help. We have to directly extract it to heal and relieve the organ’s constriction for the healing spell to be effective.”
Hugo stepped forward.
“Our expert will handle the extraction. After that, all you need to do is cast a healing spell using your powerful divine power.”
“Still, even so… directly touching the body…”
Ambrosia shook her head, unable to finish her sentence as the mere thought seemed horrifying.
At that moment, one of the emperor’s assistant physicians stepped up.
“I’ve continuously heard of Teacher Gothberg’s exploits. Sister, there’s no other way since you’re currently unable to cast divine spells.”
“…That does hold true.”
“Make a decision.”
Ambrosia looked down at the ground with a serious expression.
As she strained her face, her cheeks puffed up, making her look soft.
If she stretched it, wouldn’t it become like mochi?
“Can the surgery be done right here? The fact that His Majesty is in critical condition must not leak out.”
“For that, sanitation is essential. We’ve brought other equipment with our team.”
“If a clean environment is needed, the girl will assist with blessings. But more than anything…”
Ambrosia raised her hand, squeezing my arm with her tiny hands.
“Gothberg, are you really confident you’ll save His Majesty?”
“Of course.”
At my immediate response, Ambrosia steeled herself.
“I ask of you. Consider that the fate of the empire is in your hands.”
“I will keep that in mind. Surgery team.”
The healers of the Moonlight Palace moved swiftly.
I took off my gown.
*
“Walk.”
With Lars vacating his spot alongside Ambrosia, Tanya dragged Livio out, binding his hands.
She harshly shoved his shoulder, making him walk ahead. Their intention was to detain him in the underground of the Moonlight Palace.
“Expert Swordsman, you are Tanya, correct?”
“There’s no need to let an evil doer know our names.”
Tanya maintained a coercive attitude.
He had essentially confessed to a crime, attempting to assassinate the emperor— a severe, heinous crime. Livio had nothing but doomed days ahead.
“I’ve heard many rumors about you. It won’t be long before you complete your mastery as a Swordmaster.”
“Walk properly.”
Tanya jabbed the hilt of her sword into Livio’s back.
Unfazed, he turned to her, speaking up.
“One thing, I must tell you.”
“Shut your mouth.”
“When I was young, I lost a few teeth thanks to my father. I could have healed them, but I chose not to.”
“What?!”
Sensing the ill-fated vibes, Tanya spun her sword, threatening him.
But Livio was quick too. He bit down with effort, quickly spitting out two of his teeth toward Tanya.
—Boom!!
Tanya’s vision was engulfed in darkness in an instant. A pitch-black explosion erupted, turning the inner palace corridor into chaos.
“Hmph.”
Seizing the opportunity, Livio dodged. The sword swung dangerously close to his neck in the darkness.
Thud, thud, he ran, not caring about his long hair dropping around him.
His goal was his office.
‘I set up the teleport artifact in the office. I can escape.’
Livio sensed victory. His objective was achieved. Now all that was left was to hide and enjoy the sight of the empire crumbling.
Just as he started dreaming of a future filled with pleasure…
—Thud!!
Something sharp impaled Livio’s leg, pinning him to the ground.
“Ugh, ugh…!”
Seeing his garments stained a deep red, like paint spilled on canvas, Livio twisted his face in pain.
Then came the sound of firm footsteps—clack, clack.
“Where do you think you’re going without permission?”
“Acella von Württemberg.”
Livio was taken aback by the unexpected appearance of a powerful enemy. He never imagined she would personally come to catch him.
If the emperor were to die now, it would be a good opportunity for Acella. After all, wasn’t she Camilla’s daughter? Surely, he could pull her into his alliance, Livio thought.
“It seems the information has not reached you, Princess Acella. I…”
Livio couldn’t finish his words. A spear of ice pierced through his mouth, sending chills that paralyzed him.
With her arms crossed and two fingers pointing, Acella demonstrated high-speed casting.
Her eyes gleamed with a deep golden hue. Perhaps it was filled with rage, a fiery red.
“How dare you utter my name, that filthy tongue of yours shall be useless now.”
Acella’s escort knights effortlessly severed Livio’s tendons. He collapsed helplessly to the ground.
Livio couldn’t hide his shock at Acella’s merciless demeanor.
He felt no fear of death. He only lamented not being able to witness the collapse of the empire.
“Your life will be spared for the time being.”
It was as though Acella could see into Livio’s thoughts as she declared, stamping his head with her heel.
“The emperor will survive, and the future you desire will not come.”
Acella mocked Livio, wearing a devilish smile.
“You’ve underestimated my physician, mongrel.”
“Ugh…!”
Acella’s words carried a chilling weight that pierced to his bones.
Overwhelmed by her presence, Livio finally imagined the worst future awaiting him.
Gothberg would save the emperor, and his perfect saga would be complete.
He would merely provide dramatic seasoning to the empire’s history, amounting to nothing while becoming nothing but dust in the gallows.
“Ugh…!”
In that moment, for the first time in his life, Livio was dominated by the emotion of despair.
*
“We’re making the incision. Haeju.”
“Stand by.”
Lars coolly commanded as Hugo placed the amulet on his palm, waiting. Assisting, Chloe secured the opened section.
The anesthesia team maintained circulation while the sanitizing nurse checked the hygiene conditions.
To keep the sterile environment, Ambrosia also attended, casting blessings.
Confirming everyone was doing their part, Lars prepared the scalpel.
Just as human insides function organically, the surgery team operated like a single body.
“Incision.”
With the edge of a B-rank skill, Lars’s hand moved perfectly. The horizontal line he made had an error of less than 2mm.
“Coming out.”
—Fwoosh!
Black smoke surged from the opening. Lars attempted to extract the originating curse directly but quickly deemed it impossible.
“It’s stuck to the stomach wall. Hugo.”
“Activating Haeju now.”
Hugo activated the amulet’s abilities, making mana flash as it made contact with the curse.
“It’s high level. We need time.”
“I’ll hold it here.”
Chloe secured the upper area with assurance.
Clang, as Hugo pieced together the puzzle, the curse’s power waned as if tightening a valve.
“I’ve gained control. Separating now.”
The curse was a mass of fixed mana shaped during spell casting. Its structure was complicated due to the entwined souls or life forces.
“Separation complete.”
“Removing it.”
Lars calmly detached the curse from the stomach wall. With resistance reduced, he could finally grasp it with his hand.
The dark curse clinging to the stomach wall felt unpleasant, like slime.
The nurse prepared a sealed box to contain the removed curse.
At that moment—
—Screech!!
The curse caught in Lars’s hand went berserk, thrashing violently.
“I’ve got this.”
Hugo immediately removed the curse, but it rampaged, scattering debris from its body.
Small shards fell into the incision. With the speed of ink dripping onto canvas, it threatened to spread throughout the body again.
“The curse has dropped onto the liver. Contamination confirmed.”
An accident had occurred.
Lars’s statement caused tension to rise among the surgical team, yet nobody showed it. They shouldn’t make a fuss and disturb the lead physician.
The circulatory duty doctor immediately checked the equipment. Pressure was dropping. It meant the emperor’s heartbeat was slowing.
Without wasting a second, Lars made his decision and reached out.
The nurse instantly understood his intent and handed over the blade.
“Radius three centimeters. Emergency resection.”
Even if part of the liver was removed, it would heal back to normal.
He intended to ensure the curse wouldn’t spread any further.
It wasn’t an environment conducive to concentrating.
A sudden emergency surgery. Moreover, right behind him, Hugo was grappling with the thrashing curse.
“If Haeju doesn’t work, I’ll suppress it with force.”
Thud! Hugo punched vehemently at the curse.
—Screech!!
The curse’s power weakened. Seizing the opportunity, Hugo dove back into the Haeju.
Though it was chaotic behind him, Lars’s concentration did not waver.
His hands moved steadily.
Even without marking the incision area, the angle of the blade sank into the flesh precisely.
Like riding a melody, the tip of his blade drew elegant lines.
He excised the infected area before the fragments could spread further.
“Haeju is complete.”
At the same time, Hugo fully neutralized the curse, sealing the remains in the box.
“Sealing.”
He carefully stitched up the liver where bleeding had occurred.
The stomach was cleaned internally, shifting into the finishing stages.
Lars closed the emperor’s abdomen, and the surgery was finally complete.
“Sister.”
As Ambrosia took over, she immediately cast a healing spell on the emperor.
As her immense divine power flowed into him, the sutured areas of the inner organs began to heal.
“Heartbeat, normal.”
“Whew.”
It was a successful outcome.
The entire surgical team exhaled in relief.
“Teacher Gothberg, is it a success?”
“Yes. Please continue the healing spell. I’ll check for side effects from this side.”
Seeing the emperor’s vigor returning, Ambrosia gasped in amazement.
“I’m astonished. There’s no way to explain it other than miraculous.”
Lars smiled while removing his mask, facing the admiring Ambrosia.
“It’s not a miracle. It’s human skill.”
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