Ha!
“My arm dropped. It’s because I have the habit of looking down so quickly. Always focus on the enemy’s gaze.”
Tanya corrected Lishe’s posture while giving advice.
It had been a week since we recovered the Holy Sword. We were at the training ground of the Second Barracks affiliated with the Moonlight Palace. I had recommended that Lishe receive swordsmanship training from Tanya.
‘Lishe’s symptoms classify as multiple personality disorder. It can be categorized as a mental illness.’
The case is rare, and not much research has been done on it. It is presumed that trauma or PTSD is a major cause, but Lishe is not one of those cases.
The special function of the Holy Sword caused the illness. It could be said that experiences from the future became the cause, not the past.
There’s a unique element intertwined, similar to Acella’s curse. Just like how surgery, artifacts, and the Haeju spell were needed back then, medical treatment and the mysteries of this world are also required.
‘Unlike Acella’s case. It can’t be seen as a physical injury.’
Surgery would probably have little effect. Moreover, the area in question is the brain.
Brain surgery is difficult. The failure rate is high. It’s not an area that can be restored with a healing spell.
If there were advanced equipment, we could skip the craniotomy, but at this stage, the risks outweigh the benefits.
‘The best treatment for mental illness is outdoor activities.’
That’s just how the human body’s mechanisms work.
Our bodies haven’t evolved from the primitive days when we hunted Paleolithic wild animals. Staying indoors and not getting sunlight disrupts the hormonal system.
Lishe had been particularly accustomed to outdoor activities. There was a possibility that changing the environment could worsen her symptoms.
‘The real treatment is here.’
―――――――――――
○ Medicine B
· Diagnosis A – Blood Test B
– X-ray B
– MRI B
· Prescription B – Prescription Writing C
– Second Opinion C
– Counseling C [NEW]
· Emergency Treatment B – Surgery (Basic) B
– Surgery (Laparoscopy) B
―――――――――――
Several new skills had opened up.
In the Emergency Treatment route, skills like plastic surgery or dental nerve treatment could be learned. Neither of those is my specialty.
The one I chose from among them was the [Counseling] skill in the Prescription route.
―――――――――――
· Counseling C: Displays helpful options to gain essential information needed for a prescription during conversations with patients.
―――――――――――
I still hadn’t used it. Lishe doesn’t recognize that she has another personality, nor does she have any mental trouble.
When dealing with the Lishe from the Holy Sword, it would be helpful.
‘And for medication prescriptions.’
Although I still need to identify the exact cause, there’s a risk that the Holy Sword could be destroyed whenever the personality related to it activates.
Stabilizing Lishe’s mental state is crucial.
This requires enhanced medication made through alchemy.
Maybe something like Magical Serotonin?
The Holy Sword itself is classified as a world-class artifact. It’s more than two tiers above legendary—one of a kind in the world.
To deal with that, I have to prepare potions that transcend chemistry or common sense, bridging into the realm of the mystical.
“Hey, Gothberg. How’s the Hero?”
As I was pondering this, Lau tapped my shoulder and asked.
“What brings you to the Second Barracks?”
“I’m also a heir of succession. I can take a look around where the Hero is.”
“Still looks the same.”
“You’re working hard. So cute.”
Lau smiled and watched Lishe.
Lishe, drenched in sweat from following Tanya’s intense training, was struggling but didn’t stop moving.
Then suddenly, she glanced my way, slackened her face, and bit her tongue.
She raised her hand timidly. Is that a greeting?
“Oh my.”
Seeing this, Lau suddenly crossed her arms with a mischievous grin.
“What are you doing, Your Royal Highness?”
“Just wait a moment.”
Watching Lau, Lishe oddly became deflated and refocused on swordsmanship with Tanya.
Her movements were more desperate than before.
“Gothberg, have you met Acella, the Hero?”
“Yeah. We even conducted operations together.”
“Hmm… You two have to be careful for a while.”
“What do you mean?”
Lau smirked mischievously and left the training ground.
*
While Lishe was honing her sword skills, I decided to elevate my alchemy prowess.
In the Inner Palace office, there were various medicinal materials I had accumulated.
“Well, this level won’t do.”
I took out a small vial. Inside were two tiny, transparent crystals.
Chloe, passing by, sensed something unusual and leaned over my desk with wide eyes.
“Teacher, what’s that?”
“It’s Siren’s Tear.”
“Whoa? That’s an incredibly expensive magical ingredient! If you auction it off, mages will come all the way from the Mage Kingdom!”
“Just hearing that makes me feel more secure.”
Messages from the Status Window.
[You must use rare materials to gain experience.]
This rare material must certainly apply.
I placed the Siren’s Tear on the slate and drew a circle for alchemy.
“Wow. The circle is a lot more complicated than when you normally restrict it.”
As Chloe said, I felt like I needed a bit more advanced technique, so I ended up drawing three circles.
First, I assessed the properties.
―――――――――――
· Siren’s Tear
– Legendary material
– Stable compound based on carbon structure
– Used to manufacture materials that organize unstable forms of magical circuits and mana flow
―――――――――――
Stabilization. Effects that may have considerable practical applications.
“Can I enhance this?”
I drew the circle and tried to circulate the mana.
Crackle!
The spell failed to complete and sparked midway, causing Chloe to jump back in surprise.
“Gaaah!”
“Is my understanding too low to enhance it?”
I wanted to try using just the core substance with the effects, not the raw material.
“Extraction.”
I drew a new circle and cast the next spell.
Light flashed, and the crystal was refined into a shape resembling a tiny diamond.
A perfect hexagon. It looked mystical, with no blemish even when held in hand.
―――――――――――
· Crystal of Stabilization
· Legendary material
―――――――――――
“With this form, it will be easy to combine when making potions.”
At that moment, the skill window sparkled.
―――――――――――
· You have gained experience handling rare materials.
· You can now acquire a new skill in [Alchemy].
· [Enchant] [Elementalization] [Synthesis] are pending acquisition.
―――――――――――
“Alright, let’s see.”
Enchant is a skill present in magic as well. It enhances weapons or armor by imbuing the properties of materials.
Originally, this world’s alchemy primarily serves as a supplementary skill for blacksmiths who handle minerals.
That would indeed be very practical for the original purpose, but it is not particularly necessary for me.
“Elementalization. I don’t think it’s the elemental concept I know; it seems to reference the five great elements.”
It looks like a skill for decomposing substances. There’s probably something like reconstruction afterward, so it may be a prerequisite skill.
“Rather than that, Synthesis. This one is needed right now.”
To create new substances that cannot be made through chemistry and expand into potion creation, the path that branches from [Synthesis] might be the answer.
I touched to acquire it.
Suddenly, a dazzling list appeared in front of me.
―――――――――――
◎ Synthesis List
· Mithril = Iron + Copper
· Mercury = Freshwater + Iron + Copper
· Obsidian = Mercury + Dragon’s Blood
…
―――――――――――
“Wow, this finally feels like true alchemy.”
I could combine all sorts of materials.
Not just metals, but also quite a number of special materials were possible; some required rare materials or higher ranks for crafting.
And at the very bottom:
[Elixir = ??? + ??? + ???]
As the final secret of alchemy, the panacea and the potion of immortality, the Elixir stood prominently.
‘I’ll be able to make it someday.’
I felt quite intrigued.
While looking for something I could make from the rare items, I found one that caught my eye.
[Potion of Sanctification = Crystal of Stabilization + Stabilizer + Analgesic + Freshwater]
Since it was a skill attributed to my talent, there were ingredients required even in the medicines I had been making.
Without waiting, I immediately prepared the materials and cast the Synthesis.
“I’ll draw four circles this time. Let’s try connecting them in the air.”
Imperfect but imitating the method Acella had used, I drew the circles.
Unlike before, the mana wasn’t just glittering; it was bursting as it operated.
Fwoosh!
The result was splendid.
Before me stood a flask filled with a transparent liquid.
“It feels like a potion with a mysterious ambiance.”
Chloe’s assessment was accurate.
After all, since it was a stage for testing Synthesis, I should try the effect directly. It’s a clinical trial.
I instantly gulped down the liquid in the flask.
The taste was just okay.
“Hmm.”
There were no significant changes in my State Window other than gaining the passive [Sanctification].
“Chloe, did anything change in me?”
“Um… I’m not sure.”
What does Sanctification ultimately mean? It might have been a potion effective during battles.
“The experiments can end here.”
I would need to level up by gathering various materials until I could create an effective potion for Lishe.
With that thought, I headed to the Moonlight Palace for my afternoon duties.
*
“Aah, Teacher!”
When I arrived at the Moonlight Palace, Lishe greeted me cheerfully.
“Hero, thank you for your hard work during training.”
Lishe scratched her head awkwardly.
“Hehe, you watched me, right? Thanks to you, it was fun. Though Tanya the Commander’s guidance was a bit tough…”
She stopped speaking suddenly as if she had caught a whiff of something delicious, her eyes widening.
“What’s wrong?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thought I sensed a nice smell.”
Lishe wandered around like she was enchanted, glancing about before returning to me and taking a deep breath.
“You’re right.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, actually, ever since I touched the Holy Sword, I’ve felt really… uncomfortable.”
It was only natural, as she had to be affected by the mental state of her opposing personality.
“But just now, it felt completely… so much better, and I feel good.”
“That’s great. It’s probably because you moved around a lot.”
“No, it’s because of you, Teacher.”
Lishe said with conviction.
“I feel better when I’m near you.”
Unbeknownst to herself, she took a step closer to me, seemingly dazed.
Could this be the effect of ‘Sanctification’?
Maybe it’s a potion meant to protect comrades from mental attacks or something.
“Hero, just a moment.”
“Gothberg… no, Las Teacher. Please, just a little…”
Lishe finally zeroed in on me, closing the distance to nothing.
“…Haa.”
Being her first time, it was awkward as she awkwardly draped her arms around my waist and took a deep breath.
“Hero, I understand what the situation is. I’ll briefly step back, and I’ll explain…”
“What are you doing with my attending physician?”
A cold voice settled in my ear.
Turning my head, I saw Acella glaring at Lishe with a terrifying expression.
“Your Royal Highness, um…”
Lishe seemed to try to justify herself while not letting go of me.
Seeing this, Acella grew angrier and took a step toward us.
Then, a message appeared in my State Window.
[Your talents are developing significantly.]
[The debuff ‘Faint’ has activated.]
“Of all times, now.”
I felt the strength leave my body as I began to collapse.
“Las, Las!!”
Acella hurriedly rushed toward me, and that was the last thing I saw before darkness closed in.
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