Chapter 32
“We have it!”
The priest answered immediately.
“We grow it in the temple’s herb garden, but it’s a wildflower that’s difficult to cultivate, so just one flower…!”
“I’ll take responsibility, so bring Haniel!”
Bathilda turned back to Baeksan.
“Mine, the prescription?”
[Anton Tarnak Schröder]
3 minutes 30 seconds until death.
“One Haniel flower with all parts – flower, stem, leaves, and roots – finely ground, five drops of De Muze extract, three drops of diluted Palidoxos…”
“Bring everything just mentioned!”
Bathilda shouted.
The priests who had stopped channeling sacred power rushed out of the room, bewildered but hurrying.
The priest who had been threatened earlier cried out indignantly.
“If His Majesty dies from this, it cannot be undone, Your Highness!”
Before Bathilda could stop her, Baeksan grabbed his collar.
“Exactly. Because it can’t be undone, we need to move quickly.”
“…”
Under Bathilda’s pressure, the priest couldn’t continue speaking.
[Anton Tarnak Schröder]
3 minutes until death.
“Three minutes left!”
Baeksan shouted.
The priests no longer hesitated. Some approached Baeksan.
“Is there anything else we need to prepare?”
“Should we withdraw the sacred power?”
They seemed to view Baeksan as some hidden medical expert Bathilda had brought.
‘Though there are probably political reasons too, of course.’
Baeksan observed the priest most zealously wiping the Emperor’s sweat.
[Celio Hopsen]
A priest serving the Goddess of the Heights. Is very relieved that you will be the one killing the Emperor.
Ha. Who says that’s happening.
‘He may be a bastard, but I’m saving him! Live long and suffer!’
The ingredients the priests brought were gathered. There was no time to waste.
Baeksan unhesitatingly put the Haniel flower in the mortar and began grinding it before Bathilda and the priests.
With each movement of the pestle, windows began appearing.
[Creating medicine to treat the imperial calamity…]
[Creating medicine for one who betrayed blood relations for ambition…]
Ugh. How disgusting.
Though curses nearly escaped her lips, her hands didn’t stop.
[Anton Tarnak Schröder]
1 minute 26 seconds until death.
[Creating medicine for one who fails to act his age…]
[Anton Tarnak Schröder]
59 seconds until death.
[Creating medicine for a villain whose joy in life is tormenting those blessed by the goddess…]
.
.
.
At some point, all windows except the Emperor’s life countdown disappeared.
‘Let’s see.’
Baeksan appraised the medicine in the mortar.
[Beginner’s Autoimmune Disease Treatment]
An autoimmune disease treatment made using Haniel flower.
Requires long-term use. Being made by a beginner, it probably won’t cure the disease completely…
Though it had “beginner” attached, this was actually better.
Suffer the pain of a long illness, you bastard.
“Give this to His Majesty!”
“I’ll do it.”
Bathilda stepped forward.
Her face showed determination. Understandable, since everything would end if the Emperor died suddenly here.
Bathilda carefully pushed the medicine and water between the Emperor’s cracked lips.
Everyone watched silently, holding their breath.
And after a while.
[Congratulations!]
[Player has successfully treated Orquenina’s tyrant who was at death’s door.]
[The probability of world destruction has increased slightly.]
“…”
Really making people anxious here. This time couldn’t be helped though.
Hiss. Hiss. Hiss…
Meanwhile, the Emperor, who couldn’t even breathe on his own, stabilized.
“…! He’s showing improvement!”
“Keep channeling sacred power!”
While the surprised priests bustled about, the Emperor’s skin, which had been as red as if mauled by wolves, returned to its original color.
The Emperor’s eyelids, which had been closed, lifted along with labored breathing.
“…Kh, huk…”
“Father!”
Bathilda quickly approached.
The Emperor’s red eyes turned to Bathilda.
“…Bathilda?”
“Yes. Can you recognize me?”
“Where…”
“The Grand Temple. Your condition was extremely critical.”
“Ah… I… remember.”
The Emperor tried to cough again but could only make his chest heave, too weak even for that.
His red eyes, wet with physiological tears, turned to Bathilda.
“Did you… save me?”
Bathilda smiled as if suppressing complex emotions.
“I heard rumors of a great physician in the Meteor District. Though I was delayed searching for them, I’m glad it wasn’t too late.”
“Oh, ooh…”
Watching this, Baeksan let out a hollow laugh.
[Bathilda Rohik Schröder]
Is not letting go of the credit for saving the Emperor.
Trust level: 52%
Our princess. Her ambition really has to be admired. To act even at a moment like this.
Fortunately, the Emperor, having just escaped death, didn’t seem to notice.
“So you were… wandering such places… to save me…. I misunderstood…”
“It was my duty as a member of the imperial family and as your daughter. Regardless of any rumors that might follow.”
“Bathilda…”
The Emperor raised his skeletal hand.
Bathilda gently took it.
“This… I won’t forget this…”
“I only pray for your recovery.”
Watching this, Baeksan relaxed her shoulders that had been tense with anxiety.
This much was a success.
Just then, the Emperor’s gaze turned to the back. Baeksan quickly lowered her head.
“Did you… heal me?”
The priests quickly parted to either side.
Though the confrontation was sudden, Baeksan bowed without panic.
“I humbly receive such an honor.”
“I want to… see your face. Co-come closer…”
“Forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty, but I suffered smallpox in my youth and my body is covered in sores and pockmarks. I dare not show such an appearance before all…”
This excuse was possible because her face was covered with cloth.
The Emperor sighed sympathetically.
“So that’s why… you studied… medicine…”
“Yes.”
“Go-good…. Is there anything you want? As a reward for… healing me… I’ll give you anything!”
Quite a tempting phrase.
But a working adult doesn’t bite such bait readily.
“Your Majesty’s health as the father of our nation is all I could wish for.”
Though Bathilda looked at her with exasperated eyes, Baeksan brazenly ignored it.
You did the same thing, miss.
“Hu-huh…! Huhuhu!”
The Emperor, seeming to regain strength, laughed contentedly and said:
“Ch-chief of the Imperial Household…!”
“Yes.”
…There was such a person?
Someone emerged from a corner.
“Gi-give this admirable person 8,000 gold as re-reward…!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
There it is.
Baeksan held back her rising smile.
‘And in this atmosphere…’
[Quest completed.]
As expected.
No sooner had the system window appeared than her pocket grew heavy.
‘Hah. This time was really hard work…’
She had to meet the Emperor, frame Bathilda, cure the Emperor, and avoid revealing her identity through it all.
She felt proud of realizing there was no rule saying she could only complete one quest at a time.
Just then.
[Double Quest Success!]
Huh?
[Special reward will be given. Receive it in a private space.]
…
Baeksan quickly spoke.
“Your Majesty. May this humble one withdraw to discuss the treatment with your physicians?”
The Emperor, in good spirits, nodded readily.
“Not forgetting your duty… good. You may withdraw…”
Baeksan made eye contact with Bathilda.
‘You can handle the rest?’
‘Thank you.’
That was roughly the signal, she thought.
Stepping out of the room, Baeksan sighed. After explaining the prescription to the approaching imperial physicians and priests, she asked:
“I’d like to pray for His Majesty’s health. Might I borrow a prayer room?”
* * *
[Prayer Room]
Quiet and clean. Seems good for prayer.
The prayer room was a white space about 16.5 square meters.
In the center stood a pure white marble statue of the goddess, but strangely, it had no face.
‘So this is the Goddess of the Heights….’
