Limited Extra Time - Chapter 17

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

—— Page 1 ——

“Yes, the Aios Empire was never naturally blessed with artistic talent. The Northern Territory was conquered by the empire later, but the Southern Territory, including the Capital, is home to many exceptional artists.”

“I’m aware. And?”

Duke Millian loosened his grip on his chin and listened intently to Maria’s explanation.

“There exist those who receive this blessing excessively. Typically, those with exceptional talent in the arts fall into this category,

and they often perform what is called a ‘miracle’ through their art.”

“A miracle?”

Millian crossed his arms and questioned further.

Being at the edge of the Northern Territory, he was ignorant of such matters as art.

The Northern Territory itself was a region where artistic development had never flourished.

“Yes, an ability that transcends human limitation—what is also called the power of divinity.”

—— Page 2 ——

“Now that you mention it, when Periel Kalos plays with genuine sincerity, his music does possess healing power.”

Millian spoke, recalling Periel Kalos.

“Precisely. The Kalos Family is a renowned artistic house throughout the empire.”

“Then what is the problem with this artistic affliction?”

Maria paused briefly at Millian’s question.

There were quite a few varieties of artistic affliction.

Some merely weakened the body’s vitality, while others stripped away the senses—sight, smell, touch, and more.

The divine, in its impartiality, demanded a price for miracles: something was always taken away.

The worst case was when miracles consumed one’s very life force with each invocation.

Even so, art sickness that consumed life force was such a rare case that examples could be counted on one hand in related texts.

They say that a truly exceptional physician can discern what type of art sickness a patient has merely by observing their condition for a moment, but unfortunately, Maria had no particular expertise in that area.

His specialty, if anything, leaned more toward trauma and internal injuries.

Since the Northern Territory had many such patients, it was only natural that no one could match him in that field.

However, art sickness could only be treated by specialized physicians in the Capital.

“That’s why families famous for their art have specialized physicians on staff, receive regular examinations, and generally prevent their children from completing works when they’re young.”

“Prevent them from completing works?”

“Yes, if a work isn’t completed, its power won’t manifest, they say.”

Millaion’s expression grew grave at my explanation.

His hand, which had been stroking his chin, slowly descended as he breathed in ragged gasps.

—— Page 3 ——

He gazed at Karina as she slept.

“So you’re saying… no, the Leopold heiress is an artist who possesses the power to perform miracles?”

“Yes, and these faint marks here, from beneath the armpit down the inner arm, are one of the symptoms. Since it’s usually an area people don’t examine closely and the marks are faint, many don’t notice them even when symptoms appear.”

Millaion nearly let out a hollow laugh before his expression hardened.

It was because he had just seen the drawing she had made.

It was so breathtaking that even he, with no deep knowledge of art, felt his hair stand on end and goosebumps prickle across his skin.

With a single pencil stroke, the darkness was dispelled, and I could feel the sunlight pouring through the cracks as if it were tangible.

Despite being a monochrome drawing without color, it contained the vast garden before Leopold Manor, the winding path beyond it, the densely packed forest and mountains surrounding the estate, and the sun rising beyond the ridge.

It was a landscape I had grown accustomed to seeing every day.

I thought it pleasant enough, but I had never felt it was beautiful.

Yet it was beautiful. The scenery she beheld seemed to transmit itself entirely through the painting, as if I could feel it directly.

“So how serious is her condition?”

“…Well, her body is weakened overall, but with my skill level, I cannot determine what type of art affliction it is without asking her directly.”

“Type?”

“Art afflictions typically follow several patterns. Statistically, the mildest manifestation is one that simply diminishes physical stamina. The most common variety, however, strips away certain senses or limbs.”

“Strips away senses or limbs?”

Art, and yet so brutal?

Millaion’s face contorted as he regarded Maria. Maria nodded gravely and continued what he had left unsaid.

—— Page 4 ——

“And though exceedingly rare and uncommon, there are cases where life itself is consumed with each miracle performed.”

“She dies?”

“To put it plainly, yes.”

Millaion’s brow furrowed as he crossed his arms.

Maria, observing his expression twisted in displeasure, opened his mouth once more.

The final case he had mentioned was extraordinarily rare and uncommon—it was only right to consider it nearly impossible.

“However, since it is such a rare occurrence, I believe the possibility is negligible.”

“A rather cruel blessing from the gods, if I may say so.”

“Even the cruelest blessings from the gods exist, I see.”

“It’s a power that transcends the realm of humanity, after all.”

Maria added with an awkward smile, and Millaion nodded in acknowledgment.

The person in question had clamped their mouth shut and fallen asleep drunk, so there was no way to ask them.

His displeased gaze fell upon Karina’s face.

“Is there no medicine that could cure it?”

“From what I know, once Art Sickness takes hold, there is no cure.”

“So we’re just supposed to watch and see whether they lose their limbs or their life?”

“If they wished to live, they could simply abandon that art… but most do not.”

At Maria’s matter-of-fact explanation, one of Millaion’s eyes shot upward. He scoffed coldly.

“Life and that on the same scale? Why can’t they let it go?”

“If Your Excellency were told that you would die or lose your limbs unless you relinquished your sword, would you surrender it willingly?”

“….”

His mouth closed.

—— Page 5 ——

“I apologize. My thinking was shallow.”

He readily admitted his fault.

Millaion—a man who had gripped a sword his entire life, living through hunts, skirmishes, and wars without end.

The blade had already become one of the pillars of his existence.

There was no way he could simply abandon it.

“Those who contract Art Sickness are invariably among the finest in their respective fields. They have devoted more than half their lives to their craft.”

“There was no mention of this during the betrothal ceremony.”

Millaion murmured low under his breath.

If he possessed such exceptional artistic sensibilities that he’d contracted art sickness, he surely would have mentioned it during the betrothal ceremony.

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully before turning his gaze back to Karina.

“For something like this, it would be better to send a messenger to Periel Kalos rather than rely on you.”

Millaion reached his conclusion without much deliberation.

“I suspect it may be the type of art sickness that depletes one’s physical strength, but….”

Maria fell silent.

The problem was that the condition seemed far more severe than that explanation would suggest.

It wasn’t entirely implausible for someone already in poor health to contract an art sickness that drained vitality, but…

‘There was nothing about this in the texts I have.’

He rose from his seat with a troubled expression.

“For now, since your body is quite weakened, I suggest taking precautions. I’ll prepare a fever-reducing remedy before I leave.”

“Very well.”

Millaion tilted his head slightly and nodded once. Maria bowed and withdrew from the room.

“I’m curious what you’re hiding so

—— Page 6 ——

carefully.”

Millaion, his chin resting on his hand, remained seated in that spot, gazing at Karina with a puzzled expression for a long while.

After sending Maria out, Millaion sat in her room until late dawn, changing the water in the pitcher and stepping outside briefly to let in fresh air.

He placed a cigarette between his lips and returned to the embankment, drawing deeply on it.

“…She had that same sorrowful expression back then.”

Millaion sighed as he spoke.

When they first met, she gazed at where her family sat with such a melancholic expression, as if something deeply displeased her.

Only the heir to the next Leopold House and his younger brother sat there; the rest of the household was absent, leaving the table desolate and sparse.

Yet whenever someone approached to greet her, she would flash a smile so practiced and familiar

that it was rather grating to witness.

Unable to bear it any longer, the first words he let slip were that she resembled a quivering squid.

He had expected her to take offense at his cutting remark, but instead she blinked and then laughed foolishly at something she found amusing.

With a cigarette between his lips, Millaion rolled the letter and drawing tightly into a long, thin tube and opened the window to whistle.

A fluttering sound pierced the quiet night sky as a hawk descended and perched upon his outstretched arm.

He placed the tube upon the hawk’s talons. The golden-eyed bird gripped it firmly and soon soared back into the heavens.

“I do hope Periel Kalos sends a reply before the snow begins in earnest.”

Given her nature of brooding alone, it seemed unlikely she would open up easily.

—— Page 7 ——

Still, there was a chance.

Above all, Periel Kalos was renowned for artistic pursuits and might well provide a worthwhile answer.

After finishing one cigarette, Millaion withdrew another and lit it.

He stood in the cold breeze for a while longer, clearing his mind, before eventually making his way back to the room where Karina waited.

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