I Woke Up from Hibernation and Found a Husband - Chapter 80

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 80
Ian Lloyd’s publicly known ability was ‘Healing.’
The power of the Lloyd family that had bestowed immense wealth upon him. Yet in truth, he possessed one more hidden ability.
‘Enhancement.’
An unprecedented power to amplify the abilities of others and elevate their capabilities.
Ian’s father and Hector had contemplated this ability and thought to themselves.
‘If this power becomes known, even the Emperor might covet it.’
If Ian were to carelessly receive a title and enter the Imperial Palace, it was certain he could never again engage in the lucrative ability trade as he did now.
Ultimately, they decided to conceal Ian’s second ability.
But for men born with such greed, it was nearly impossible to bury gold and simply leave it untouched.
‘With such an ability, shouldn’t we expect an even higher position?’
Eventually, through Hector’s forceful insistence, they began selling the ‘Enhancement’ ability to their regular wealthy clients as well.
And it was then that the Empress, Bianca, approached them.
‘If you can enhance the First Prince’s ability, I will grant you wealth of an entirely different magnitude.’
Aaron, born as the legitimate heir between Verus and Temper, had been assured to become the next Emperor. Yet he inherited neither Verus’s ability nor that of his maternal house, Temper. Only a trivial flash of light manifested—a pathetic ability at best.
‘The future Emperor cannot be like this.’
Bianca silenced all who witnessed Aaron’s manifestation, concealing the truth, then through Umbra, who had proposed a deal to her, grafted a lightning ability over his existing power.
‘Through the deal with Umbra, I forced the ability into him, but its power is still far too insufficient.’
She could not be satisfied with an ordinary ability.
The future Emperor of the Empire could not possess an ability weaker than a commoner’s—the image simply would not hold.
‘They say he is still too young to safely inject additional abilities, so another method is necessary.’
If she could not give him Verus’s ability, then she would grant him an ability so formidable that it would silence everyone’s doubts.
That was Bianca’s pride and her goal.
‘How did you come to know of this ability…?’
‘There is no need to know. You need only decide whether to seize this opportunity or let it slip away.’
Since the secret was already exposed, there was nowhere to retreat. Lloyd accepted Bianca’s proposal, and from that point forward, as he began exchanging with Marquis Temper and earning vast sums of money, even the last traces of unease vanished.
From then on, Ian was summoned periodically to the Imperial Palace under the pretext of attending to the young First Prince’s health.
‘Poor child.’
Ian’s first impression of Aaron was of a small boy dressed in ill-fitting clothes, pretending to be an adult.
Always intimidated by his mother’s pitying gaze, yet unwilling to let it show, he deliberately sharpened his demeanor.
And yet, beneath it all, he was a child starved for affection more than anyone.
‘This is not Your Highness’s ability.’
As I enhanced Aaron’s ability, I sensed an incongruity within it.
An ability, being part of one’s soul, should naturally be unified with its owner, yet in Aaron’s case, the power oddly floated on the surface, like oil and water separated in a single cup.
‘What have they done to such a young child.’
Anger welled up, but regrettably, there was nothing I could do for Aaron.
Before I could attempt anything, Bianca arrived with someone to find me.
‘Trust is necessary for any transaction, after all.’
A man cloaked entirely in black robes, with only his lower jaw slightly exposed.
‘Do not worry. Our agreement will simply become a bit more binding, that is all.’
The outstretched man’s hand clamped over Ian’s mouth.
“Mmph!!”
A crimson aura surged relentlessly into his throat. It was an inescapable curse.
* * *
“I discovered that Ian and Veronica were pursuing some organization, but as long as such an unknown curse was placed upon them, I couldn’t interrogate them.”
Claire organized her thoughts as she listened to Ilya’s explanation.
‘Is that why Angela didn’t know the details either? Because of the restriction?’
The truth about her parents had always been shrouded in secrecy’s wrapping.
At first, I thought they were hiding it because I was young, but now I began to suspect there was more to it than that.
‘The only remaining clue now is that key.’
Suddenly, Veronica’s keepsake that Angela had given me came to mind. The only remaining clue about the two of them.
It was the moment my resolve solidified to find its purpose no matter what.
“From what I saw during this ball, I can make an educated guess. You’re pursuing them, aren’t you? This incident was their doing as well.”
After losing her son, she nearly lost her nephew to Umbra’s hands. Having lived in regret ever since sending Geo away, she refused to repeat that same regret twice.
“Please, let me help. I will burn this ability, my very life if necessary, and let it burn away alongside them.”
* * *
“We’re going to the Beast-Human District?”
“Yes, the Convent has a high population density, so there are more beastmen than in other cities. That’s why there’s a separate district where beastmen have settled.”
Claire, Theodore, Kenneth, and Ebon.
The four of them traveled by carriage toward the Beast-Human District in search of clues about Grant.
“When I nearly died after my twin brother stole my ability, there was someone who saved me. My injuries were severe and I couldn’t see their face clearly, but those horns on their head—they were definitely a beastman.”
The one who had saved me in the worst of circumstances. Ebon had always wanted to find them for reasons different from his brother Matthew.
“So I’ve always kept an eye on places where beastmen are said to gather.”
“You saw Grant there?”
Ebon nodded at Kenneth’s question. After Claire and Theodore became busy with ball preparations, he had visited the Beast-Human District frequently in disguise using his ability. Upon learning from Kenneth that the potion’s ingredient was beastman blood, he grew concerned and visited once more.
“Now that you mention it, I understand why their vigilance toward humans was more severe than usual.”
In a world where some humans kidnapped beastmen and called it ‘chaining,’ using them like pets.
It was only natural that resentment toward pure humans would arise.
“Have there been any investigation results on the beastman that went berserk?”
“Not yet. They’re so preoccupied with investigating the potion that they haven’t even dared to touch that.”
Despite its horrific side effect of turning humans into something inhuman, the potion had actually drawn out an ability.
Greedy humans, upon witnessing this, coveted the manufacturing principles and launched a massive investigation.
‘What chaos will unfold once they discover the ingredient is beastman blood.’
Claire swallowed a sigh internally.
“We should get down here and walk. Entering the district by carriage would draw too much attention.”
Using Ebon’s ability, the four of them had transformed into unremarkable young men.
“It’s been a while since using this ability.”
Kenneth touched his unfamiliar face. Claire agreed and adjusted her clothing.
“I’ll lead the way.”
As I followed Ebon, the atmosphere of the city shifted dramatically.
The Convent I had seen until now felt like a meticulously planned city, but as we approached the Beast-Human District, the buildings became increasingly irregular and low-rise.
“Can a beastman recognize another beastman?”
At Kenneth’s question, I scratched my cheek.
“If they’re in completely human form, it wouldn’t be easy to tell, would it?”
Anthony and Hannah—if they hadn’t revealed their animal forms, I would never have realized they were beastmen.
“Since I spent so long alone, I may simply lack the ability to properly sense the difference in aura between beastmen and humans.”
I answered that way and looked around the surroundings. The residents found us foreigners strange, but none of them reacted with aggression or tried to drive us away.
“As long as we don’t provoke them first, it seems there won’t be any major problems.”
Ebon said this and raised his hand, pointing to a shop.
“We’ve arrived. It’s right there.”
“Here?”
“Yes.”
Following his gesture, the three of us turned our gaze. Before us stood an old butcher shop—a building whose red brick walls suited it perfectly.
Ding.
Just as our attention focused on it, the door opened and a man carrying a trash bin emerged.
He was a person of such massive build that he had to bow his head to exit through the shop’s doorway.
‘Wait a moment.’
A sturdy frame with broad, powerful shoulders. Brown cropped hair. An indifferent, expressionless gaze directed at us.
“Doesn’t he look somewhat like Claire…?”
Someone murmured.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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