The Quack Lady - Chapter 90

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

Episode 90

* * *

As expected.

Mr. Hanel had frozen like a stone at my deduction, just as I expected.

I could tell just by looking at his bewildered gaze.

“H-how did you…”

“Know?”

I shrugged my shoulders as I answered.

“It was strange that not a single bloodstain was found despite falling from such a height. No matter what happens, blood that seeps into stone doesn’t disappear easily.”

Nevertheless, there wasn’t even a small bloodstain near the cliff.

So much so that it made me doubt whether this was really where she fell.

They probably didn’t even think to check for such things back then since they were in such a panic.

“So I thought someone had taken her away without a trace. Just like how you lifted me up and floated just now.”

Honestly, I had my doubts too until I saw your magic.

‘Who would have thought such a thing was possible.’

But it was clear that you were someone who could use magic quite freely.

“Lastly, when I thought about how you told Mr. Pairon that she would definitely return, what if you had been at that scene?”

“….”

“I thought it made sense. If it were you.”

To summarize my deduction:

Somehow Mr. Hanel was nearby, saw Amela’s fall, and spirited Amela away.

Then he probably told Mr. Pairon not to worry too much since she would return soon.

“What on earth were you thinking?”

I finally asked him the question I most wanted to ask.

He let out a deep sigh and lowered his head.

As his long white hair fell downward, he muttered:

“…because it seemed like.”

“Pardon?”

“Because it seemed like it was my fault, I tried to do something about it somehow.”

When he raised his head, his eyes contained indescribable sorrow.

“If only I hadn’t released the butterflies that day… No, if only I had told the child that Sevian was dead…”

“Pardon?”

“Sevian was my fiancée. She who was especially fond of Amela died. She was later reincarnated as a Pianess.”

What is this about now?

Feeling like I had heard something I shouldn’t have, I couldn’t say anything and just rolled my eyes around.

Then, he suddenly asked:

“Do you know what magic stones are made from?”

Then he instantly summoned a butterfly from his fingertips like magic.

The butterfly emitting blue light calmly landed on his hand.

“Magic stones are generally made by condensing magical power, but rarely they’re made from other materials. Like this Pianess, for instance.”

This was a story I had heard before too.

When people die, the purest souls become Pianess, and magic stones made from those Pianess hold tremendous value.

“And I’m a mage who can handle those Pianess.”

“You are?”

Even hearing it with my own ears, I couldn’t understand.

You can handle souls?

“Yes, so I tried to give these Pianess their freedom. Like a proper mage.”

Soon, as he swirled his hand, the Pianess disappeared like dust.

“And that day was also the day Amela had her accident.”

I could understand the rest without hearing it.

He continued speaking relatively calmly.

“Anyway, I tried various magics to somehow save her, but none of them worked.”

“The magic didn’t work?”

I was so surprised that my mouth fell open.

“Right. Even trying to infuse just a little magical power made her body unstable as if it would shatter.”

“….”

“I couldn’t… do anything.”

He spoke with a face full of guilt.

But I didn’t let those words pass by.

“Then she’s really still alive?”

“…?”

At my words, he looked up at me, lifting his head from his hands.

Thinking he might be misunderstanding, I frantically waved both hands.

“Ah, you were speaking as if she was almost dead.”

“…Then do you think I would have not only put my friend’s child in danger but even killed her?”

I quietly averted my gaze and quickly shook my head.

Right, that would be crossing the line.

“Amela is ‘still’ in a living state.”

“Still, you mean…”

He bit his lips as if he had been pondering for a long time.

“Because magic is based on time, it cannot heal a body that has already been injured.”

After that, he briefly explained about magic.

Roughly, it was about how you can’t go against time, so you can’t return to before the injury occurred.

I didn’t understand it all, but I nodded quite diligently as if I understood.

“I’ve held that child’s time with my power, but the situation is so bad and she doesn’t seem likely to come back to life, which is the problem.”

“You hold time?”

Could you actually hold something by saying you’re holding it?

‘That’s totally cool!’

“…Can’t you do something about that look in your eyes?”

He suddenly pointed out the look in my eyes.

“Don’t even dream about it. Time cannot be handled carelessly. At best, I just made it flow very slowly compared to other people.”

“Then couldn’t you make time flow extremely fast to make her recover?”

At my words, he looked at me as if looking at a truly ignorant child.

“Illnesses don’t naturally heal on their own unless treated. Even if you make time flow faster, it’s only possible if proper treatment is carried out as a result.”

“…What. Magic isn’t omnipotent either.”

“….”

When I muttered with a deflated expression, he clenched his teeth.

Then he soon let out a long sigh and muttered:

“Still, I did my best…”

Seeing him, who was always confident, looking dejected made me feel somewhat satisfied but also sorry for him.

‘He must have suffered mentally.’

The psychological stress must have been considerable too.

“What about me then?”

“What?”

“It seems like you did your best.”

“…?”

“How about I try stepping in now? I haven’t even started yet.”

I grinned at him.

* * *

Clint kept watch beside the Emperor, who still hadn’t regained consciousness.

‘Your Majesty… please regain consciousness.’

Despite his loyal retainer’s concern, the Emperor remained unconscious as if fallen into a deep sleep, his white hair hanging down.

“The meal and medicine are prepared.”

At those words, Clint carefully stepped aside.

The maids who appeared with their bodies covered skillfully poured holy water into the Emperor’s mouth.

Soon the holy water trickled down from his mouth.

Nevertheless, the maids paid no mind and slowly poured medicine into his mouth following the holy water.

Even after seeing it dozens of times, it was a bizarre scene.

“Must we really feed him medicine like this?”

At his question, the maids only exchanged glances with each other.

As they looked around uncertainly, not knowing what to do, Zenhauer appeared at just the right moment.

“I thought you’d be here, Count.”

He smiled elegantly as he glided inside.

Beside him was Riven, the head of the Imperial Physicians responsible for the imperial family’s health.

“Thanks to the Imperial Physicians consistently offering medicine ‘this way,’ His Majesty’s health improves daily. He may awaken soon.”

“…”

Zenhauer answered with a leisurely smile, not bothering to hide that he had heard everything from outside the door.

Clint, finding his attitude thoroughly unpleasant, averted his gaze.

“Riven, the Count seems to have many concerns, so why don’t you explain His Majesty’s condition?”

At his words, Riven stepped forward and bowed to Clint.

“I am Riven Semitrick.”

“…”

He was an Imperial Physician newly hired after the Emperor collapsed.

Contrary to expectations that such an unprecedented genius would naturally be from the Quaisga family, he was from the Semitrick family.

Though it was now a fallen count’s family, his noble bearing remained.

“How is His Majesty’s condition?”

At Clint’s question, Riven bowed his waist.

“Since you returned to your manor, Count, His Majesty has remained unconscious until now. Currently, His Majesty is sustaining his life through the divine power contained in the holy water.”

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