Male Lead Is Obsessed With My Health - Chapter 133
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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 133
“If there’s anything else you want, speak freely.”
Trembling.
“Use what I’ve given you as you see fit.”
The Regent had won this battle of wills. I’d certainly wrung him out for everything, so why did I feel this sense of frustration, sorrow, and hollow emptiness?
“This is strange. These are rare items, difficult ones to obtain, so how did you bring them so easily?!”
The mystery resolved itself quickly.
“It appears His Excellency opened the imperial treasury of Phytale.”
…….
My opponent was the de facto power holder of an entire nation.
“Ugh. Ciel, I’m frustrated!”
If I’d known this beforehand, I should have asked for something mythical, not merely rare or difficult items!
I held in my hands the wish list that all mages burned with desire to possess, yet I felt no joy whatsoever.
I only resented the Regent for handing it over so casually.
“Fine then, use it freely.”
These were things I’d have needed to obtain eventually anyway.
The items I’d planned to coax out of the Sperom twins, Mehren, or my father—obtaining them this easily left me deflated, but well, good is good.
“First, I’ll enhance the artifacts.”
I strengthened the entire series of Auxiliary Artifacts for Mages with Low Stamina, now my second greatest treasure.
Such artifacts were wonderful in every way, except that they shattered if not maintained regularly—and they were terribly expensive, which was a shame.
“And next…….”
I pulled out the diary I’d found by accident at an auction house and never let leave my side since.
“Breaking the seal on Laplace’s Diary.”
The proper way was supposed to require using a paired item called Laplace’s Pen.
“But it seems I can manage a shortcut.”
All the key items had converged into my hands. It was all thanks to the Regent.
In the original novel, the original owner of Laplace’s Diary was Ciel in the latter half of the story. It had high synergy with Ciel’s Golden Eye and proved quite useful.
Still, I hesitated: did I have the right to possess this item?
“No, I decided to get healthy.”
To become healthy, I needed Laplace’s Diary.
『A demon sleeps in this place』
The inscription that still appeared when I opened to the first page.
“There is indeed a ‘demon’ sleeping here.”
Though not a literal demon.
There exist what are called the Four Great Demons of Science History.
Sleeping within this diary was Laplace’s Demon—an entity possessing infinite intellect, one that knows all current information and can perfectly infer both past and future based on those values.
It resembled the Akashic Record, which supposedly contains the complete history of the universe, yet possessed a different quality.
In any case, this diary served as a medium to summon that ‘demon’—in other words…….
‘I could form a contract with it.’
I wrote my name in the diary with the Quill of Truth, arranged the items I’d extracted from the Regent, and presented them to the entity.
Next came the utterance of the prescribed incantation.
“Laplace’s Demon, reveal to me all truth.”
The moment I spoke the correct incantation, the diary trembled, erupted with light, and began consuming all the items I’d offered.
Whiiiiiing—
I watched in a daze as the diary scattered into individual pages, forming a vast magical circle.
A spectacular sight.
Regardless of the items’ origins, my purpose in obtaining this had been singular.
‘It knows all current information.’
In other words, it was a kind of…….
Status Window.
[User confirmed.]
One that could answer anything.
[Synchronizing…….]
[Please input your question.]
Of course, at this moment, my first question was already decided.
“How much longer can I live?”
[Collecting information.]
[Inferring future…….]
After a brief moment passed.
The window flickered and delivered its answer.
[D-521]
A terminal lifespan that was insane.
* * *
“The forces of Halbern and the Saren Knights have been deployed along the border adjacent to Albrecht.”
“The Grand Duke of Halbern is requesting a private audience with the Regent.”
In stark contrast to the tranquility of Rock Castle, the international situation deteriorated by the day.
Even within Phytale, whispers of concern had begun to surface, yet the Regent Ludwig showed no signs of wavering under pressure from all sides.
Rather, he let out a hollow laugh and muttered to himself.
“So they’ve made their decision.”
Something that hadn’t happened six years ago is happening now?
Halbern’s open show of military force could only make him laugh.
And on top of that.
“The Sky Tower has appeared above Phytale’s airspace…….”
“They are requesting residency permission.”
While Halbern’s forces remained at the border, unable to enter, the mages’ Sky Tower was visible even to commoners, moving at heights that posed a problem.
The mages weren’t generally concerned with warfare, but who knew? Perhaps they would be.
“The people’s hearts are in turmoil.”
“Leave it alone.”
Ludwig chose to ignore it.
Both were entities not easily touched, and above all, what concerned them was not war with Phytale but something else entirely.
“What of Arelin?”
“She is behaving herself today, sir.”
“Is that so?”
Ludwig found himself anticipating what trouble his wayward daughter might cause next to disturb his peace of mind.
Had it been another person, it would have been irritating, but when it was done by a young child bearing Sione’s likeness, or perhaps because the mischief was so transparently calculated, it only amused him.
He felt neither displeasure nor annoyance—only amusement and willingness.
How could he possibly know what to do with his daughter’s naive belief that, if she caused enough trouble, he would eventually tire of her and send her away?
‘Sione was never that naive.’
Naive?
Ludwig laughed at the thought of a word that least suited that woman.
The sharp, blade-like sensation and pain of flesh tearing that he’d always felt when recalling Sione had grown dim.
All changes that began when he brought Arelin.
The Phantom Pain—something that every physician, the High Priest of the Holy Temple, and even the high-ranking healing mages of the Magic Tower could not cure—was gradually improving.
‘How could I possibly let her go like this?’
The change was not limited to that alone.
Ludwig was a man with excellent self-awareness. He knew better than anyone that his emotions had withered.
Half of it was due to Sione, who had cast him into an abyss, and half was his inherent nature.
He had thought it impossible for him to feel something as soft as thinking another person cute or lovely.
Yet sometimes, watching Arelin chewing steadily on food with that intense focus, or seeing her little feet patter across the floor, he felt unfamiliar emotions rise within himself.
Had I ever harbored such trivial sentimentality? Had I been the kind of person who indulged in such thoughts?
Is this what people call ‘peace’?
As he watched Arelin playing with an expression that laid his every thought bare, he found himself occasionally overcome with the conviction that if only he could live like this, nothing else would matter.
Ludwig was well aware that his subtle softening had allowed the castle’s people to breathe more freely, raising overall satisfaction throughout the household.
“What of the international lawsuit?”
“The matter is currently under review in Lemuren City-State, where the International Court is located. They have indicated that due to the gravity of the case, they will proceed with care.”
“Have you been able to determine who will serve as the judge?”
“No, sir. The city-state is handling it with the highest security classification, making it difficult to obtain that information.”
This matter had been receiving considerable attention from Ludwig.
“Separately, a request has come from the city-state asking that we submit conclusive evidence to confirm blood kinship.”
“Are they daring to doubt that she is of my blood?”
Ludwig’s displeasure became evident. His aide faltered.
“I presume they mean that greater certainty is preferable. Since we already went through proper verification procedures when her name was entered into the noble register and Family Records in Halbern.”
“Good. Prepare it.”
* * *
[D-521]
Less than two years remaining?
The shock passed quickly, replaced by indignation.
“What do you mean?! I exercised that much?! I consumed that many Elixirs?! You said my health was good! Was this a scam?”
What was all my effort supposed to amount to?!
Contrary to my outrage, the flickering window delivered its cold answer.
[Cooldown until next question: 5 hours]
“Heartless thing…….”
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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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