The Immortal Duke’s Physician Is an Internist - Chapter 55

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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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What do you think of the Duke?
I didn’t deliberate long before answering.
“The Duke is…… handsome.”
“Huh? That’s all?”
Debright, whose eyes had been gleaming with anticipation, deflated visibly. Clearly, that wasn’t the answer he’d been hoping for.
“There’s nothing else?”
“Well…… he’s wealthy too? Tall.”
“No! Lionel, you’re just stating objective facts right now. I’m asking for your subjective opinion. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Debright thumped his chest in frustration. I scratched my chin.
“Even so…… ”
“Then let me rephrase. What was your first impression of the Duke?”
At that question, I recalled the day I first met the Duke.
Admittedly, knowing the Original Work helped color my recollection, but back then the Duke was genuinely unhinged. He’d been radiating an aura that screamed, ‘I’ll kill you where you stand!!’ from every fiber of his being.
But now, after several months had passed, his impression had shifted considerably. No—changed dramatically.
At least now I was confident he wouldn’t try to kill me under any circumstances.
And sometimes…… in ways that hurt my heart.
“My first impression was terrible, but…… he’s changed a lot now. He has a delicate side, and I don’t think he’s quite the heartless man the rumors made him out to be.”
“Well, that’s a relief. I was starting to worry the Duke was putting on some kind of solo performance.”
“A solo performance? What do you mean?”
“Never mind. In any case, the Duke clearly treasures you very much. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have summoned me for this expedition in the first place.”
The chatty Debright proceeded to spill all the details without my even asking.
“He’s got someone from the Western Region working at his Manor. So for this Western expedition, he kept emphasizing that we need to be careful, incredibly careful—that if any problems arise, we need to handle them cleanly.”
Which meant, effectively, that he’d summoned the Magic Tower Master himself for my sake, being from the Western Region.
It was overwhelming attention, but I didn’t take it seriously. Couldn’t, really.
“I’ve been useful in various ways around the Manor lately. So I suppose he’s just looking out for me from an employer’s perspective.”
I’m a sensible working woman.
So when a young female employee receives a bit of kindness, I don’t fly off the handle like some middle-aged man posting on the internet.
‘Besides, the Duke will meet the female lead soon. I’ll make sure of it.’
Debright exhaled a long sigh. He rested his head on his hand and muttered.
“The Duke’s got it rough too, doesn’t he……”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing. I’ll stop meddling. Is that the Well over there?”
And here he was, the one who’d brought up the Duke in the first place.
Regardless, the pressing matter was at hand, so we approached the Well.
The pump of the Well, worn by the passage of years, was covered in severe rust. Debright surveyed the surroundings as he spoke.
“Out of curiosity—did your village ever have a mage living here?”
“Pardon? Why would you ask that?”
“Because I’m sensing strong Magic Power coming from this Well. Not just sensing it—it’s absolutely gushing forth.”
This time, I was the one caught off guard.
“A Well overflowing with Magic Power in a Rural Village where no one even lives anymore?”
“I’m as confused as you are. But it’s so powerful—my whole body’s tingling—and something about it feels wrong.”
Debright, who’d been energetic until now, grew visibly pale, and his expression darkened further. He knitted his brow as he approached the Well and finally peered inside.
I trembled as I spoke.
“Mas, Magic Tower Master. Surely—there isn’t a, a ghost……”
“No. Not a ghost, but…… there’s definitely something in there.”
Debright raised his hand. Threads of brilliant light converged around his palm, weaving into a long steel chain.
He issued a command as though the light itself were alive.
“Bring it here.”
Whoooosh——!
The Chain of Light plunged endlessly into the Well.
After it descended for some time, Debright flicked his hand again. The chain began to reverse direction, pulling back toward us.
Just as the long, impossibly long chain was nearly fully withdrawn—
“Stop!”
Marseya, bursting from the grass, shouted at Debright.
“Stop it at once! You can’t pull that out!!”
“What……?”
Debright called back, but it was already too late.
Bang!!
Whatever was wound tightly in the chain shot upward with force, shattering the Well’s ceiling. Debris scattered in all directions as Debright staggered backward.
“What—what is that……!”
A moment later, something transparent and reddish-glowing, about the size of a newborn child, rose into the sky above us.
Debright, who had been watching the heavens intently, recognized what it was and nodded.
“A Magic Stone. And a rather large one at that—swollen from absorbing foul Magic Power.”
“Really? Magic Stones can grow that large?”
“They can. Though I confess, this is the first time I’ve seen one of this size.”
“No…… what have you done…… what have you done!! We’re finished now!!”
Marseya’s face had drained of all color, and he clutched his head in his hands. I still didn’t understand what was happening, but Debright seemed to grasp the situation and spoke up.
“Marseya. You knew about the Magic Stone hidden in this well all along. That’s why you came here—to retrieve it. And those empty Magic Stones in your backpack……were meant to transfer its power, weren’t they?”
“What good does any of that do now! You’ve ruined everything!!”
Snap!!
As if answering his cry, the Chain of Light that had bound the Magic Stone shattered. It began to emit a sickening sound.
Thrummm—thrummm—thrummm!
Screee—screee…….
The cacophony of clashing strings assaulted my eardrums. Even someone like me, who knew nothing of magic, could sense the foul aura pouring from that Stone.
For a moment, the sound radiating outward ceased.
I breathed a sigh of relief, but then the ground began to shake. I looked around frantically.
“What…… an earthquake?”
“Oh, oh no…… they’re coming, they’re coming…… we have to run! We have to run!!”
Marseya let out a shriek and bolted in some direction. Watching his pathetic flight, Debright turned to me.
“Lionel, can you stand?”
“Y-yes…… Is the earthquake from the Magic Stone?”
“No, not an earthquake. That’s the sound of monsters drawn to the Stone’s power converging on us. The number…… perhaps several hundred?”
His tone was as calm as if he were reciting this morning’s menu, but the content was terrifying.
“Good heavens, what do we do…….”
“Teacher!”
“Teacher!!”
While I gaped in shock, the Duke and Everain appeared from the direction we’d come. Debright greeted them both.
“Welcome. Seems we’ve embarked on a rather larger treasure hunt than intended. Care to join us in welcoming this Monster Party?”
The Duke, needing no lengthy explanation, nodded in understanding.
“Can’t be helped. Everain, get ready.”
“Yes, sir.”
Everain drew his sword at once. The Duke reached into his coat and pressed something into my hands.
“And Teacher. I have one request for you.”
I recognized it immediately—a Movement Scroll, the same kind Kaelen had once used.
“Find Theo, who should be somewhere in this village. Explain the situation and tell him to come here at once. Then use this to return to the Knight Order Temporary Quarters.”
“You want me to run away alone? That’s not—”
“We can fight with peace of mind only if you’re not here.”
“Yes, that’s true enough. I won’t be stubborn about it and just—I’ll withdraw without delay.”
There was nothing I could do here anyway.
So I wouldn’t play the stubborn heroine from some Romantasy Novel and make things worse. With that resolution, I quickly accepted the Movement Scroll.
“They’re here!”
Debright pointed at something. At some distance from us, a pack of Werewolves snarled in our direction. There had to be at least dozens of them.
“Now the full picture becomes clear. The Magic Stone is what’s drawn so many Werewolves to this area?”
“Seems likely.”
Debright drew his Staff from his coat and raised it high.
“Hey, Duke! Don’t block my path! I’m not saving you!”
The Duke was just as spirited, raising his hand. Blue light gathered around him.
“That’s my line!”
The lead Werewolf growled and barked viciously, lunging forward. The others followed.
“Arrroooo!!”
The alpha Werewolf charged ahead. The rest surged after it.
The Duke roared.
“Go!”
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
I ran at full speed in the opposite direction.

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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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