The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 182

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“…But Elisha.”

Tesagh, who had been silent for a while, barely managed to open his mouth.

“Even if it’s not a fundamental solution, there is a treatment available. If the purpose was to protect you, wouldn’t it have been helpful to drink it consistently for a long time?”

Tesagh seemed to think I was vaguely blaming myself.

“Also, from what I hear, it seems like the treatment was avoided at the nursing home too. …If that’s the case, it would be hard to say that protecting you was entirely the purpose.”

It was actually a reasonable point.

If Grandfather had forcibly increased the amount of mana in his body as much as possible, I could have seen Grandfather for a little longer.

“Then the person suffering from addiction symptoms would have been me. This time it would have been mana addiction.”

But even setting aside the side effects, Grandfather couldn’t bear to see his granddaughter suffering from headaches.

The mage nodded with an “Ah.”

“I see! When Elisha was young, she would have been more affected by mana. If he controlled it himself considering that, it makes sense.”

Come to think of it, that was true.

Grandfather had no friends. Even with Duke of Alchemiya, who was supposedly a close friend, he only communicated through letters.

With his scary appearance combined with the pawnshop business, there probably weren’t customers who would sit around for long periods either.

‘That’s why Grandfather chose the pawnshop. It would have been easy to obtain holy relics and magical tools to adjust the amount of mana according to the situation.’

Going further back, it would have been the same during his days as a duke.

How could there have been anyone who dared to stay long in Grandfather’s office?

If all of that was Grandfather’s own effort to prevent those around him from falling into mana addiction.

“And the reason he didn’t drink the Root of Blindness tea at the nursing home was probably because he knew it wouldn’t be effective anyway.”

“Ah, it must have been the herbs sent by Elisha….”

“Yes. The herbs I touched while my holy power was manifested would be useless.”

People fell silent.

It would sound like Grandfather had given up taking care of himself because he was focused on suppressing my holy power.

But I thought a little differently.

“Duke, you’re right.”

“What?”

“What you said about Grandfather’s purpose not being only to hide me, you’re right. If he had only planned to keep me completely hidden, he would have chosen a more certain method.”

Like building a secret underground prison in the distant frozen north and shoving me into it.

Tesagh looked at me with surprise at my calm expression.

“Grandfather had a reason why he had to lose his memory. I still don’t know what it is, but.”

I don’t know Grandfather’s thoughts.

But I know what kind of person Grandfather is.

“I told you, didn’t I? Grandfather isn’t someone who would throw away his life. He’s not someone who would run away or give up. …Just like me.”

So I could speak calmly.

“That’s why Grandfather believed I would be able to solve it. That I would eventually figure it out.”

In other words, this was an extension of the treasure hunts I used to do with Grandfather when I was little.

Difficult and hard, but.

“If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t have given me this key.”

A treasure hunt where a reward definitely awaits.

Shaking the pawnshop key, I felt a little relieved.

Yes, Grandfather isn’t someone who would despair over some illness and choose to lose both me and himself. Absolutely not.

‘That’s why Grandfather said those words.’

“The path is within you.”

‘There is a way. A way for Grandfather and me to be together!’

Engraving that fact in my heart, I turned to the mage.

“So, what’s the second reason you’re speculating?”

“Ah, um, it was in case Elisha’s holy power is stronger than we expected….”

He probably didn’t expect me to react like this.

Like the others, the mage who had been staring at me blankly couldn’t collect himself and rambled.

“Is there a way to measure it? Of course, I know that both holy power and mana levels are graded relatively.”

“Ah, yes! Then I’ll bring a magical tool!”

The mage who placed a bead-like magical tool in front of me showed off slightly.

“This is an artificially made mana stone for measuring holy power, it’s a prototype I made!”

He said proudly.

“Whether it’s holy power or mana, it’s affected by the user’s emotions, so please calmly infuse your holy power here. Then I’ll start from the lowest level….”

Pop!

Before my hand even touched it, the mana stone exploded, and the mage, covered in blackish powder, looked bewildered.

“You, you didn’t even touch it…?”

“Next.”

Tesagh, with his arms crossed, gestured with his chin.

It was before the mage, who had carefully placed a low-grade mana stone, could even step back.

Pop!

“Next.”

Pop!

“Next.”

Pop! Pop!

“Next.”

Pop! Pop! Pop!

The test ended in an instant, and the mage, covered in black dust, was dazed.

“…Even though it’s artificially made so there’s a difference in intensity from the real thing, this fast, this helplessly….”

“Isn’t there a next one?”

“Ahhh, that was the last special grade!”

“That means it’s undoubtedly divine-level holy power.”

“Ahhhhh!”

Regardless of what Tesagh was saying, the mage who had been clutching his head and screaming suddenly looked up and stared at me.

“If I may be so bold, Elisha.”

“Yes.”

Would he be afraid of me? Or would he tell me not to touch other magical tools?

I was thinking when.

“…Please keep this secret from outsiders, there’s a demonstration seminar scheduled soon….”

“….”

“Starting from today, if I make them again… I can meet the deadline….”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Sob sob, thank you….”

He was afraid of his bleak future.

Watching the mage who looked ready to roll around after pulling at his hair, Tesagh, who had been clicking his tongue from behind, spoke up.

“Shall we go to the meeting room now? There’s still more to discuss about Rugenote.”

“Yes. Ah, just a moment before that.”

They said Grandfather’s hospital room was prepared at the Duke’s mansion annex.

I probably couldn’t go see him right away.

But.

‘My feelings will reach him.’

I whispered softly to Grandfather in the screen.

“Grandfather. Believing and worrying are separate things, right? Still, don’t worry too much. Look how many people care about you.”

Taking a breath, I smiled and said.

“I’m okay. I won’t cry anymore. So… have good dreams, Grandfather.”

May Grandfather’s night not be long.

Praying in my heart, I turned around.

Tesagh wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and Chloe held my hand tightly.

That was enough.

*

The meeting room was filled with various documents and boxes.

Among them, what caught my eye first was someone’s photograph.

A man with long green hair tied back and green eyes was smiling purely and refreshingly.

But I know. I know who this gentle-looking man is.

And what he has done.

“This is Eivor.”

“Right. Mage, is this a familiar face?”

Chloe, who had been examining the photo when Tesagh suddenly asked her a question, shook her head vigorously.

“I-I’ve never seen him before. I don’t remember such a person. I’ve never seen him at the Magic Tower either, and I haven’t even heard rumors about him…”

“I was just asking. I’m not interrogating you.”

“Oh, um, yes, I’m sorry…”

“I’m not telling you to apologize either.”

“Yes…”

If Milton had seen this scene, I worried he might shed tears of solidarity.

Tesagh spoke without any inflection in his voice, as if he hadn’t particularly expected much from asking.

“There’s been progress in the search for Rougenote. Based on the holy power signals we’ve collected so far, we’ve developed a more sophisticated tracking device, and the test model has pinpointed several locations.”

“That’s great! Where are they?”

“The Imperial Capital.”

I had a feeling, and sure enough.

“We discovered a significant signal at one of those locations and secured evidence. …Along with someone presumed to be Eivor’s collaborator.”

It sounded like excellent news, but his tone was strange.

Seeing my expression, Tesagh nodded.

“They were found as a corpse.”

“Were they killed by Eivor?”

“That’s highly likely, but before drawing conclusions, let me ask you one thing.”

Tesagh’s gaze turned to Chloe.

“You said you manipulate memories with dark magic. You said you can also edit memories.”

“…Yes.”

“Then is it possible to take someone else’s memories with dark magic and implant them into yourself? To mimic another person’s behavioral patterns?”

It was instantaneous.

Wait, I’ve heard this somewhere before…

At Tesagh’s words, something I had seen in my previous life flashed through my mind.

[…Eivor is known to be skilled in disguise techniques and mimicking others’ behaviors…]

It was Eivor’s wanted poster that I had seen just before I died.

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