Chapter 114
Chapter 114: It’s Finally Over
‘At last…’
Elena’s golden eyes trembled as she finally obtained the World Tree branch she had longed for.
Once she completed the cure, she could save the northern people from Hyporak.
Though her eyes stung with overwhelming emotion, there was no time to delay.
Having crossed into another world through distorted space-time, they needed to hurry back before the deep blue wooden door closed.
‘I must thank Wiriditas next time.’
The golden key had truly been their salvation when they faced a desperate situation with nowhere to turn.
Anasha, confirming that her sister-in-law had achieved her desired result, flashed a bright smile toward the World Tree.
“Thank you, World Tree! I’ll come visit again!”
Elena, gently patting the head of the child who was enthusiastically waving, also bowed slightly to convey her gratitude.
* * *
Having finally obtained the main ingredient for the Hyporak cure, Elena didn’t emerge from her laboratory for a long while.
She needed to create the cure based on research results accumulated through repeated successes and failures.
All the ingredients were gathered in one place – the herbs and medicines she had researched, and now the World Tree branch.
She carefully brewed the medicine, considering everything meticulously.
She chanted activation words with utmost care, as there could be no margin for error, and paid special attention to prevent the herbs from overflowing.
The completion of the long-awaited Hyporak cure was within reach.
The preparation of the cure, which began in the morning, continued until late night, finally ending as dim dawn approached.
At last, she had completed the Hyporak cure she had yearned for so long.
Just as she had read in the memorandum, the green medicine looked exactly like fresh verdure.
Elena’s senses grew unusually keen from the medicinal smell filling the laboratory.
‘I pray this cure will be effective…’
Clasping her hands tightly in anxiety, Elena soon called for her trusted servant.
Hayden, who was about to head to the infirmary after failing to avoid the curse, came to her with a puzzled expression.
Elena, looking worriedly at the black spots on his neck and hands, quickly handed him the cure.
“This is the cure I made. I’d like to confirm its effectiveness before distributing it to the infirmary.”
“…”
“You don’t have to drink it if you don’t want to. I won’t force you.”
“No, I know your abilities better than anyone, my lady.”
Hayden accepted the medicine, his eyes full of trust.
Though he didn’t show it, Elena spoke with deliberate certainty to him, knowing he must be somewhat nervous.
“Don’t worry. I will definitely cure you.”
Hayden nodded and drank the medicine without hesitation, while she observed his reaction.
Then something remarkable happened.
The black spots across his body gradually faded, returning to his natural skin tone.
“My lady, look at my skin!”
‘Finally…!’
Elena smiled faintly, expressing gratitude to him for being the first to drink the Hyporak cure.
“I’m so relieved, Hayden.”
‘I must distribute the cure quickly.’
With many patients already affected in the North, the cure needed to be distributed as soon as possible.
Elena rang the service bell to summon a maid, prepared to leave, and hurried to the infirmary.
The infirmary was full of critically ill patients suffering from Hyporak, filled with ear-piercing screams and groans.
The knights who accompanied her began quickly distributing the cure one by one.
The patients suffering from the fully spread black markings took the cure without a moment’s hesitation.
After some time passed, Laphine, who was watching a patient beside Elena, opened her eyes wide in surprise.
“My goodness, the black spots are disappearing!”
The same was true for other patients who had taken the cure.
Elena witnessed firsthand their conditions gradually improving.
At that moment, one patient, examining their condition with a dumbfounded expression, began sobbing profusely.
“Thank you so much, my lady!”
Elena consoled the crying patient and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
They had succeeded in proving the effectiveness of the Hyporak cure.
She felt her anxiety subside as her previously constricted breathing eased.
Laphine, who had been organizing medicines in the infirmary, approached her side and smiled faintly.
“I’m so glad the situation in the North is finally being resolved.”
Elena didn’t forget to express her gratitude to Laphine, who had helped with her research for so long.
“It’s thanks to your help, Miss Laphine.”
“No, my lady. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to help so many people.”
Laphine, wearing a satisfied smile, also formally expressed her gratitude.
After successfully treating the patients in the infirmary, Elena spread the cure throughout the North with Nicollman’s help.
As the cure was widely distributed, many northerners afflicted with Hyporak could preserve their lives.
With this, they had barely escaped a handful of the misfortunes that occurred in the original story.
Though the North, once ravaged by the curse, was regaining peace, Elena couldn’t erase the bitterness lingering in one corner of her heart.
Several days had passed since he left the North, yet her worry for the man who still hadn’t returned grew daily.
‘Lupeon, are you… really alright?’
Though the exponentially growing number of patients had decreased significantly compared to before, people were still falling ill.
This meant that Lupeon had not yet eliminated the great demon, which was no different from a curse.
Elena closed her eyes tightly then opened them, thinking of Lupeon engaged in difficult combat with the great demon possessing the Emperor.
Forcing away the bitter smile spreading across her lips, she hurriedly moved to another infirmary with the cure.
* * *
Blood from fallen enemy soldiers sprayed in all directions across the barren, dusty land.
Lupeon, quietly looking down at the Imperial Knights Commander, carelessly wiped the blood on his face.
Then he showed deep mourning – for the many people unjustly killed by that man seven years ago.
With the Imperial Knights Commander killed by the Grand Duke, the Imperial Knights’ morale seemed to break.
Finally, as the castle gates fell, Lupeon, not missing this momentum, overtook the enemy forces.
The Devonshire Knights also joined their superior’s ranks after fierce combat.
Dealing with the Imperial Knights blocking his path, Lupeon moved toward where the Emperor might be.
Surveying the Imperial Palace, he soon stopped before the banquet hall.
He had found the Emperor sitting on the imperial throne in the banquet hall.
Intending to confront the Emperor alone, Lupeon dismissed all the knights following him.
He wanted to prevent unnecessary sacrifices in a situation where everyone gathered there could die.
‘This must have been the place.’
They say the previous Emperor met his end here long ago. At the time, Lupeon could only learn of his parents’ deaths through newsletters.
Remembering what false charges they were killed under, he clenched his fist until his veins stood out.
But unlike then, when he had to collapse helplessly, now he could point his blade at the Emperor.
Having cultivated his revenge for this day for so long, Lupeon resolved to avenge his parents’ unjust deaths.
‘Your world is now completely over.’
With ice-cold eyes, Lupeon climbed the stairs without hesitation and quietly gazed at the Emperor sitting on the throne.
Yet for some reason, he sat alone in the vast banquet hall without a single aide.
The Emperor, showing no particular reaction even face-to-face with his nephew, muttered something quietly with empty eyes.
Sensing something strange, Lupeon listened briefly to the Emperor’s words.
“—no. It can’t be. It’s not my fault.”
‘Not his fault…?’
Before he could understand what those words meant, the Emperor urgently shook his head.
He couldn’t hide his anxious demeanor, shaking one leg and nervously biting his nails.
Lupeon thought the Emperor seemed unable to maintain his sanity after endless acts of slaughter.
Letting a sneer escape his lips, he addressed his uncle.
“It seems Your Majesty’s family has already fled.”
The Emperor, quietly mulling over those words, fixed his gaze on his nephew.
His previously empty eyes now gleamed with contempt and hatred.
