The priest Livio walked through the streets of the system, savoring the scent of a new land.
The atmosphere was distinctly different from the Kingdom of Law he grew up and studied in.
The streets and buildings were splendid yet tidy. The faces of the Empire’s citizens were generally cheerful.
Now, he was about to step onto the stage of the inner palace, not some small temple in the provincial areas of the Kingdom of Law.
But Livio felt little excitement. Success, wealth, and fame were far from his happiness.
As he walked, he spotted a boy in the park making a model sailing ship from twigs.
“Hooh.”
Is he the son of a carpenter? The model he was making was quite impressive.
He carefully cut, shaved, and twisted every twig until it looked like a piece of art.
Drawn to the almost completed model, Livio spoke to the boy.
“That’s wonderful.”
“Uh? Ah, thank you!”
The boy scratched his head, feeling bashful.
“I spent five months making it. It’ll be finished once I attach the stern.”
Seeing the proud boy made Livio smile as well.
“I’ll buy it.”
“Excuse me?”
“I want to buy that model.”
“Um…”
The boy exhibited a look of confusion.
He had poured so much effort into making that model. Being suddenly asked to sell it filled him with more confusion than joy.
“I’ll give you three gold coins.”
After a moment of hesitation, the boy’s eyes widened at Livio’s proposal.
Three coins could cover two months of living expenses for his family.
“Is that not enough? Then let’s make it five coins.”
“Th-That’s enough! I’ll sell it!”
Five gold coins dropped into the boy’s palm.
Livio carefully cradled the model ship.
“Make sure to decorate it well! Don’t forget to oil it as it may warp when it dries!”
The boy, delighted to have his skills recognized, beamed and waved Livio off.
Back at his mansion, Livio went down to the basement and placed the model ship on a table.
“Fascinating. It’s artfully crafted with intricately cut twigs. I can feel the affection.”
Livio gazed at the model with satisfaction.
After admiring it for a while, Livio walked over to a wall hook, a grim hammer in his hand.
Thwack!!
With a single swing, the handcrafted model shattered into pieces.
All that was left were scraps of wood, unrecognizable as anything.
“Ooh.”
For the first time, Livio showed emotion, soaking in the thrill and clenching his hands tightly.
Destroying a masterpiece right before completion—this was the only way he could experience pleasure.
Due to this bizarre tendency, he had once caused an incident in the Kingdom of Law.
He had killed a person via a deliberate medical accident.
The patient was a commoner, the son of a farmer, who had honed his swordsmanship for a lifetime and was on the verge of being knighted.
Before the tale of the would-be hero could reach its “completion,” Livio could not hold back and smashed it.
He manipulates the side effects of healing spells.
“Healing spells merely restore the body to its original state, disregarding the process.”
Livio accurately understood the principles behind healing spells that seemed miraculous.
Healing was akin to a kind of time-reversal magic that replaces damaged parts of the body with new ones, erasing the prior injuries.
For example, if the insides were damaged, the healing spell would grow a new interior to replace it.
As the destroyed insides cease to be part of the body, they are therefore violently ripped out and obliterated.
When broken bones twist or foreign substances invade, if the healer lacks skill, they may not have enough force to dispel the remnants, resulting in grotesque recoveries.
Healing processes are often concealed by a bright divine power and most detailed studies are considered blasphemy and forbidden.
Healers merely believed it to be a miracle bestowed by the goddess, with almost no one truly understanding the principles of healing spells.
Livio exploited this fact and inflicted additional wounds on a patient who had sustained injuries during training.
The immense pain caused during the healing process was too much for the patient, leading to shock death.
At that moment, he felt the greatest joy of his life.
Being a teenager at the time and possessing talent and skill, he received only a minor punishment of demotion to the province.
The incident was buried in darkness.
After more than ten years of quietly developing the region, he was once again recognized for his abilities and achievements.
The past incident was now treated as a minor mishap. He had now risen to a position where he would be recommended as the chief healer of the Imperial Palace.
Livio, steeped in ecstasy, tilted his head back.
“Even a boy’s model he took five months to create could be destroyed like this.”
In his mind, plans for ultimate pleasure were already forming.
“If I can bring an end to the Empire’s golden age, which has been achieved over hundreds of years, with these hands…”
How immense would the pleasure be?
He couldn’t even fathom it.
In the darkness, Livio’s shadow flickered along with the candlelight, grinning alongside him.
*
“Recently, the First Prince’s faction seems to be gaining momentum.”
While I was giving general treatment at the inner palace, Hugo shot me a glance.
In just a month since Livio had come to the inner palace, he had already gathered quite a number of healers into his faction.
His skills as a healer were beyond question. It’s hardly an exaggeration to say he was one of the best on the continent.
Livio possessed a subtle yet compelling political acumen to draw people in.
“Feel free to come back anytime if you experience discomfort. May the goddess’s blessing be with you.”
“Thank you, priest!”
Livio had been treating the commoners somewhat nearby, and indeed his hands were swift.
‘How should I respond?’
Livio was the type that left no evidence.
He appeared perfectly fine on the outside, so it would be absurd to start a conflict out of the blue.
‘Assassination is out of the question.’
If he, a representative of the Kingdom of Law, were assassinated, it would escalate into an international issue. If it were discovered that I had orchestrated it, I would lose everything.
‘Livio’s goal is just the emperor himself.’
Blocking him from approaching the emperor seemed the most realistic method.
Even if the emperor had three attending physicians, he still desired another healer.
The greed for health is limitless.
Especially as one ages.
‘I need to ensure the emperor does not consider Livio for the position of deputy physician.’
If I manage just that, most of Livio’s routes to assassinate the emperor would be cut off.
Historically, the emperor had been the health advisor and managed various things regarding food, so he would have had many opportunities.
If I bind his hands and feet, he would probably resort to forced measures, and catching him in the act then seems the most appropriate response.
‘I hope the emperor doesn’t trust Livio’s healing spells.’
Upon reflection, the method was simple.
Make the emperor favor medicine over healing spells.
After determining the direction, a chance arose a few days later.
“The emperor wishes to hear the opinion of the former chief physician of the inner palace regarding his health direction. What happened in this audience should not leak outside.”
Ambrosia summoned all the chief physicians of the inner palace.
Though he wasn’t the current chief, Falkenhayn was more than qualified to accompany us.
We all bowed our heads before the emperor in the imperial palace.
“Your Majesty, we have arrived.”
At Ambrosia’s words, the emperor examined us from head to toe.
“I shall ask the continent’s best healers. Recently, my movements have been uncomfortable.”
The emperor, seated on his throne, maintained his position.
Speaking of which, I think he said that the martial arts tournament will not be held this year.
Is it now difficult for him to move?
“What would be the appropriate response?”
In the court, no one found it easy to speak up.
The first to open his mouth was the seasoned Alberich.
“Your Majesty, to widely proclaim the Empire’s peace and prosperity across the continent, your health must be safeguarded above all else. I propose to enhance your faith to elevate the responsiveness of healing spells.”
“That may hold some merit, but I have built this Empire by trusting myself rather than the goddess. Present me with practical methods.”
When Alberich was rebuffed, the room fell silent again.
At that moment, Livio stepped forward.
“May I offer a suggestion?”
“It’s Livio. I have heard of you. The healer capable of revitalizing Gunter.”
“I appreciate the compliment, Your Majesty.”
Livio bowed and continued.
“The prescription I provided for Prince Gunter was somewhat different from the typical healing methods known so far.”
“How was it different?”
“I am able to receive revelations.”
Revelation—a kind of prophecy.
It can only be used by high-faith clergy and predicts specific future events over universal ones.
“I can foresee where Prince Gunter’s body will falter. Instead of healing after health declines, I can weave divine power around the potential decline to keep it from worsening.”
“Hmmm. That’s a new approach.”
“Yes. This healing method is unique to me. I also call it ‘protective spell.’”
Protective spell—
A unique skill only Livio could perform due to his ability to receive revelations.
“Can that restore my health?”
“Discomfort from aging is a common truth of existence. While it cannot return to its previous state, it is possible to ensure it doesn’t worsen.”
“Hmmm. Ambrosia, what do you think?”
“Livio’s protective spell has been famous in the Kingdom of Law for an extended period. I believe it has been validated through Prince Gunter.”
As expected.
Livio’s method for sweet-talking his way into the emperor’s advisory role was just that.
A remarkable individual indeed. If I had not known of his schemes, I might have nodded along in agreement.
‘It’s all an act, huh?’
Thinking that, I began to see him as a formidable foe.
Then I must act upon it.
“Your Majesty, may I offer an additional suggestion?”
“Gothberg, I was wondering when you would speak.”
Perhaps I had already gained enough favor.
The emperor seemed to have hopes for me from the start, showing a tint of cheer.
“I feel as though my mind has been cleared since receiving your devised dining table. The medications have shown great effectiveness as well.”
“Ha ha, I am merely happy to assist Your Majesty in any small way.”
“Go ahead and speak.”
I smiled at the emperor and activated my diagnosis skill.
‘High blood pressure and osteoporosis have improved significantly with ongoing medication. Ah, a new injury has appeared.’
[Injury: Degenerative Arthritis]
[Location: Knee]
“Your Majesty, I would like to present a document.”
“What’s it about?”
“It’s a catalog of medical devices.”
I pulled out some design sketches of various devices I had drawn in my notebook.
Upon seeing the knee brace for arthritis, the emperor focused his attention, appearing intrigued.
“What is this, Gothberg?”
“Indeed, Your Majesty, this is something you need most at the moment.”
The degenerative arthritis at the knee made him uncomfortable in his movements.
It is a disease caused by the cartilage wearing down due to aging.
Healing spells can fix physical injuries but can’t rejuvenate an aged body.
“I will briefly explain with a drawing.”
Falkenhayn quickly prepared a blackboard. I infused some mana and created images.
The structure of the leg bones and cartilage appeared.
“Your Majesty, the softness of this bone has worn down, causing discomfort in your movements. You must feel sharp pains or chills with each movement.”
“Indeed, that’s accurate.”
“This soft cartilage cannot regenerate, but strengthening adjacent muscles and incorporating physical therapy can lessen its degeneration. Moreover…”
I quickly drew an additional line between the knee and the leg.
“The support device you inquired about disperses the stress experienced in this area when worn. This would ease the burden on your knee, allowing you to walk as you used to.”
“You’re saying it wouldn’t just prevent symptoms from worsening, but could lead to improvement?”
“Exactly. I will also prescribe medications to alleviate the pain, so you may stroll through the palace garden as you wish.”
“Ooh.”
The emperor flushed with color as if imagining that scene.
He stroked his chin and commanded me.
“Gothberg, make it.”
“I am honored. I shall obey your command.”
I knelt and showed reverence.
As I stood up, I noticed Livio staring at me with a broad smile, his mouth drawn in a straight line, like a ghost.
That sent chills down my spine.
‘Livio completely understands healing spells.’
Earlier, he had only responded that he could prevent symptoms from worsening, not healing them.
He is certainly skilled.
“Gothberg, are there any other medical devices you would recommend for me?”
“It would be remiss of me not to mention them.”
A VIP customer had arrived.
“This nasal CPAP machine eliminates snoring and ensures deep sleep. It would also be good to keep some muscle pain relief pastes handy. And a mouthguard would prevent teeth grinding.”
“Hmm. Have everything made.”
“Everything, Your Majesty? Since it’s for your health, I would drop everything and start, but the budget is a bit…”
As I hesitated slightly, the emperor interrupted.
“Ambrosia. Provide Gothberg with as much as he needs.”
“Understood.”
Inside, I cheered.
Does this mean I could make any devices I wanted with the emperor’s money?
What an excellent opportunity.
‘Let’s equip an ambulance while we’re at it.’
I wonder if I can find something like a pegasus anywhere?
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