“What’s this?”
As I laid out the bottles filled with colorful liquids, Charles showed interest.
“What do you think it is?”
“It smells really good. And… it feels familiar.”
“I thought you might like it. It’s great even if you take a deep sniff.”
Charles sniffed one of the flasks and her expression brightened.
“Aha, it’s alcohol.”
“Yes.”
The liquids laid out were various liqueurs, distilled spirits, and ingredients for synthesis.
Charles needed treatment to reduce her stress. The medication prescribed for Lishe wouldn’t be enough to treat her too.
Simply strong medication wasn’t the answer either. It influenced the nervous system, causing severe side effects, and it could have a negative effect on Lishe, who shared her body.
Moreover, unlike Lishe, whom I could fully trust, Charles was unpredictable just by her recent behavior. She might refuse the prescription.
After considering various medications, I found the solution: something she loved—alcohol.
At the same time, it would serve as counseling.
Since I kept the ingredients in my room, I asked Tanya to bring them to me.
“Did I ever mention I liked alcohol?”
“You mentioned it in passing. What do you want to do first?”
“Don’t you have any ice?”
I cast the [Property Change] spell on the water in a tub.
As I altered the molecular structure, crackle snap, chunks of ice appeared.
“That’s hilarious. It’s my first time seeing you use that spell.”
Feeling cheerful, light laughter escaped Charles’s lips.
“But can you really just give me alcohol like that? My head might go crazy, and I wouldn’t know what I’d do.”
“I won’t just hand it to you. I’m not taking orders. Just drink what the bartender gives you.”
“Let me see it.”
I opened my status window.
―――――――――――
◎ Synthesis List
· Ale + Elf Honey = Superior Mild Wine
· Groot + Holy Water + Serotonin = Reunion Wine
…
―――――――――――
There were many amusing options for drinks I could synthesize. Among the items that could reduce Charles’s stress, there were types she would accept without hesitation.
I decided to make the mild wine first.
Drawing a spell circle around the two flasks containing the ingredients, a delicate, vibrant liquid filled the empty glass.
―――――――――――
· Superior Mild Wine
· Stress -2, anger decreases.
· It’s quite sweet.
―――――――――――
“Let’s have a drink first.”
“Huh, sounds good.”
Charles raised her glass, skillfully spinning it before taking a sniff.
After a sip, her eyes sparkled.
“It’s good. Especially love the honey taste. It’s clean without any aftertaste.”
“I’m glad it suits your taste.”
Charles gulped her drink down in one go and grimaced.
I offered her a slice of lime.
“Feeling good…”
Charles leaned her face on the table and peeked up at me.
“Lars, do you know?”
“I do.”
“Really? You know…”
Her expression soured. Must’ve been the alcohol already kicking in.
“I’m joking. What is it?”
“Yeah. You might not know, but… I sometimes used to drink with you like this?”
I had quite a few experiences like that. There were occasions when it was Charles, not Lishe.
“Usually, if I fell asleep, that would be the end of it… I’d try hard to stay awake.”
Lishe sometimes lost her memory when we drank the previous night—it must have been Charles back then.
“That’s a shame. If it were me, I would have made a hangover cure in the morning.”
“Exactly! You’re supposed to drink until dawn and then have a hangover cure. Ugh, all the good stuff is monopolized by Lishe…”
Thud, I set down the next glass.
“Today, I’ve prepared the hangover remedy, so finish your drink and sleep.”
“Really? Is it okay?”
“Yes. It’s a feast, as you mentioned.”
“Lars…”
Charles laughed frivolously and chugged down the second drink I prepared.
Shrugging her shoulders, she giggled absentmindedly, looking nothing like the hero who fought on the battlefield.
[No. 010 : Holy Sword Destruction 96% → 92%]
There was quite an improvement. Given the reduced probability here, her stress must have significantly decreased.
“Shall we check your arm next?”
“Oh, right. Yes, please.”
I examined Charles’s right arm. I scanned it with MRI to understand the structure.
“Aha, that tickles.”
Though her appearance looked fine, issues arose when the healing spell reconstructed her tissues.
“The nerve is buried in your biceps. Lifting your arm touches the nerve and causes pain.”
“Yeah, that really hurts. But Lishe just endures without saying anything. I can deal with it, but it’s been like that for a while.”
“She’s a remarkable person.”
“…I used to be like that too, didn’t I? I can’t remember.”
“You are remarkable. You fought to the point of that level for the world, right?”
Charles pressed her cheek into the table, staring at me intently.
“This time, let Lishe take care of it; you just rest. If you need more drinks, I’ll gladly pour you another.”
“Rest… I never thought I’d get to rest in my lifetime.”
Charles blinked her eyes.
“You’re the same as always, Lars. I wonder how I ended up meeting you here. I’m curious. Can I touch this?”
Charles handed me the hilt of the Holy Sword.
I grabbed it, acting like I didn’t quite know what it was, shrugging my shoulders.
“It won’t come out just like this… What a bummer.”
“What do you mean?”
“Just what I said.”
Charles repeatedly gulped down her drinks and said to me.
“Fix my arm, while I’m here.”
“Right now? It needs a minor surgery.”
“That’s fine; I won’t feel a thing since I’m tipsy.”
Charles grinned and grabbed the lime slice.
Tough girl.
“It’ll just take a moment.”
Even so, I couldn’t slice into the flesh of a sober person, so I partially anesthetized her and carried out the simple procedure.
I made a small incision below her forearm and returned the tendon to its original position. The healing was quick. After suturing the cut and casting the healing spell, it closed up instantly.
“Oh, I got it now.”
As I finished up and organized my tools, she spoke.
“Lars, Emperor… have you known Acella for a long time?”
“Kind of.”
“That’s intriguing. You’ve been hissing without being able to catch her.”
Charles seemed to contemplate for a moment.
With a serious air about her, she gathered the resolve to ask me.
“Do you like Acella?”
In the moment, I figured I could answer that question directly.
“Kinda, I guess.”
“Hmm… Got it.”
Charles smiled faintly, seemingly resigned, and then stood up.
She stumbled and threw herself onto the makeshift bed.
“I’m sleepy, I’m gonna sleep.”
“Thank you for your hard work. If you stay like that, I’ll move you to the bedroom.”
“Okay. See you again.”
Saying that, Charles slowly closed her eyes.
―――――――――――
Target: Charles
Stress Stabilization ■■■■■□□□ Tension
Autonomic Nervous Parasympathetic ■■□□□□□□ Sympathy
Blood and Health Fatigue ■■■■■■□□ Fatigue
―――――――――――
Stress had significantly decreased, and the autonomic nervous system’s response was returning.
The treatment was showing effects. I hoped it would stay without issues.
CougH!
While I was checking the status window, suddenly a coughing sound echoed.
“Ugh, Teacher…? I’m not feeling well… I think I’m cursed…”
“Oops.”
If Charles had fallen asleep, I didn’t expect Lishe, who had just woken up, to be lingering with a bad taste in her mouth, constantly licking her tongue and grimacing.
I had thought she was still asleep.
“It’s a hangover. Drink this and sleep. You’ll feel better when you wake up.”
“A hangover…? But I haven’t drunk… Ah, ugh… I hate you, sis….”
Lishe took the hangover remedy I handed her and collapsed.
*
“Whew.”
Acella took a deep breath.
As usual, she was having her own magic practice time after work.
After over a week of practice, Acella had become proficient in spell synchronization.
Once it had left her hands, the magic was just hiding for a while, not having escaped anywhere.
“Secondary, write.”
Today, Acella was finally going to challenge her limits.
She was about to break through the wall of the fifth rank, which she had been unable to open.
Casting a high-ranking spell required paying a price.
To execute her scenario, it was essential to demonstrate high-ranking spells at the martial arts conference.
For that time, she needed to familiarize herself with the sensation once.
First, she started with a familiar spell.
The specialty magic she had cast many times.
She arranged the circle for Clairvoyance.
‘…From here on, I’ll pay with my lifespan.’
Although Seymour had said it wasn’t a significant amount, it depends upon the skill of the caster and the number of doors to open; usually, the lifespan required for a single spell doesn’t exceed one month.
For that, Acella was more than willing to pay.
She wasn’t a fool either.
No matter how much of a sorceress she was, she wouldn’t blindly destroy herself when lost in magic.
Breaking through the ranks was something to do only when truly necessary.
Like now.
‘…Clairvoyance.’
As Acella cast the spell, the circle glowed.
The moment her mana flowed into the fifth circle…
Thump!
“Ugh.”
In the first circle, connected to her heart, together with the mana, something was being sucked away.
Understanding the principle instinctively, Acella felt her vision spinning.
‘…Aha.’
Unintentionally, a smile emerged on Acella’s face.
Before her was a clear, shining light of a tree.
It was the timeline.
So distinct, she could observe every branch in detail.
She realized how perfect her Clairvoyance had been cast this time.
‘This is where I am.’
Acella quickly found her position.
As she looked up slightly, countless branches split off.
‘I need information on what will happen at the martial arts conference.’
Though it wasn’t a calendar, so there wasn’t an exact number written down, she had to choose somewhat by intuition.
Acella pinpointed a position she estimated to be about 6 to 10 months later, grabbing it firmly.
Fwoosh!
Her vision changed.
‘This is…’
Acella found herself in her room.
…It’s not night.
Early evening?
The crimson sunset dyed her bedroom with a bloody hue.
“Your Majesty.”
At the familiar voice, Acella turned her head sharply. A wave of joy washed over her.
Lars had come to welcome her.
He was even in his white attire. The Lars she recognized.
Unlike before, where she only saw countless possibilities that branched off a long time ago, she could now clearly see the future that was unfolding from the present.
“I have something to tell you.”
Thinking he had come for a checkup, Acella suddenly realized this wasn’t a usual scene.
Lars appeared serious, and there was a slightly ominous heaviness in his expression.
This wasn’t typical.
When he spoke his next words, Acella’s heart dropped.
“I wish to resign from my position as the attending physician.”
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