Unbeknownst to Me, I am Secretly Dating the Emperor - Chapter 170

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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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Episode 170
After observing Ibeta’s Holy Power lessons a few times, I realized there were certain things that Holy Power could not accomplish.
‘Since this scheme was targeting Ibeta, she would have made sure the problem couldn’t be solved using Holy Power.’
Thinking about it in reverse, that meant the illness could only be treated with something other than Holy Power.
‘The Magician Girl said she cured the illness, so it must be something impossible with Holy Power but possible with magic.’
The most notable thing that was impossible with Holy Power but possible with magic was the removal of Buff effects.
Through my exchange with Ibeta, I gained certainty.
I rushed to Kyle, leaving a bewildered Ibeta behind.
He was the only mage I knew.
“Kyle! Kyle!”
Kyle, busy defending against the Temple’s relentless onslaught, turned to me with vacant eyes.
“Is there a magic that nullifies both Buffs and Debuffs?”
He looked flustered at the abrupt question, but after a moment’s thought, he answered.
“There is such a thing as Nullification Magic, but…….”
“Can you use it?”
“Yes, it’s possible.”
That was all I needed.
I asked Kyle carefully about what effects Nullification Magic had on the human body, then made my request.
“What if we tried using Nullification Magic on the patients?”
As expected, Kyle pointed out that Nullification Magic had been used in the Former Crown Prince’s medical records before.
Since Nullification Magic was effective even against curses, it was only natural in a way.
“But according to the records, he felt excruciating pain when it conflicted with other existing treatments.”
Yet his words only strengthened my conviction that the fairy tale I’d found a hint in might be the answer.
The story mentioned how the prince in the tale wept bitterly in pain while receiving treatment from the Magician Girl.
I persuaded Kyle calmly.
Since it was a fairy tale from the Ancient Empire period, it was likely embellished, and I explained my theory about how an illness resistant to Ibeta’s Holy Power could even manifest.
Eventually, Kyle admitted that it might be possible to endure the pain and continue using Nullification Magic through to the end rather than stopping midway.
Now it was time to attempt the method.
I went to Coni with Kyle.
Coni was one of the most critically ill patients and also the one most likely to trust my word.
After hearing my explanation, Coni’s lips quirked upward.
“Whenever you make that face after finishing an exam, you always get a perfect score.”
As expected, Coni believed my reasoning without doubt.
“I don’t like being in pain, though.”
Though she did complain a little.
“Wouldn’t it be better to get all the pain over at once?”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Fortunately, she was persuaded.
Coni accepted the idea of trying Nullification Magic.
* * *
To prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, Kyle insisted on casting the magic himself.
Similarly, Ibeta was present to be ready for any emergencies.
“Then I’ll begin.”
Kyle stepped forward, gripping his Staff in both hands.
Concentrated as he was, Kyle’s usually smiling face had gone blank.
Coni let out a low groan and flinched backward, crying out.
“Wait!”
At Coni’s cry, Kyle, who had been raising his Staff solemnly, hesitated.
“Do you have, I don’t know, a Nullification Magic certificate? A license? You do have something like that, right?”
Coni spoke rudely, her face desperate.
Fortunately, it struck Kyle’s sense of humor.
His expressionless face returned to its usual smile.
“I don’t.”
Though his answer only fed Coni’s anxiety.
Coni, who had been so weak with pain that her reactions were duller than usual, startled visibly.
“Call a licensed mage!”
She cried out as if screaming, clutching at my sleeve.
I swept my hand across Coni’s feverish forehead and answered.
“No such mage exists.”
Though the Academy had a magical studies department, it issued only simple diplomas—no detailed, field-specific licenses like that.
Mages typically trained in the Magic Tower through an apprenticeship system.
Moreover, according to Kyle, Nullification Magic was quite an advanced art; no mage would bother getting a specialized license just for that alone.
It was a thought befitting a Ministry of Finance official, where a first-class accounting certificate was essential.
“Ah, I suppose that makes sense. It is a bit odd, though.”
Fortunately, whether from the fever or simply because she’d talked herself out, Coni quieted quickly.
Kyle wasn’t petty enough to take offense at something a patient said.
With renewed resolve, Coni squeezed her eyes shut and made a request of Kyle.
“Um, while I have my eyes closed, could you count to three for me?”
Once Kyle agreed, Coni quickly added.
“But don’t cast the magic right when you finish counting to three—cast it whenever. I want to have no idea when it’s coming.”
Though she was a demanding patient, Kyle proved to be unexpectedly kind to his patients.
“Then I’ll count.”
After confirming Coni had her eyes closed, he began.
“One.”
True to Coni’s wishes, he cast the magic right at one, making it completely unpredictable.
Though I couldn’t see it—lacking both Holy Power and Magical Power—something from Kyle flowed into Coni, and she convulsed in agony.
“Ugh! It’s not the illness—I’m dying from the pain! Waaaaah!”
I removed only the Artifacts that would interfere with the spell’s execution and held Coni tightly.
“Just hang in there. Please.”
Ibeta gripped Coni’s hand, tears welling in her eyes.
“Coni…….”
Kyle’s claim that this magic was difficult to cast proved no exaggeration; beads of cold sweat formed on his intensely focused brow.
“S-stop.”
Unable to bear the pain any longer, Coni pleaded in a trembling voice, and Kyle immediately lowered his Staff.
“Any further would be impossible.”
According to Kyle’s assessment, the Nullification Magic hadn’t caused abnormalities in Coni’s body.
The severe pain came only from the conflict with whatever had originally been afflicting her.
However, both her body and mind had reached their limits, making further casting difficult.
Especially after suffering for so long, Coni might go into shock if pushed harder.
I held Coni even tighter.
“W-would it be all right if I tried using Healing?”
With Coni still groaning even after Kyle had stopped, Ibeta stepped forward.
Then, an idea suddenly struck me.
“Wait! Holy Power and magic don’t repel each other, do they? Could Ibeta use Holy Power to reduce the pain while using Nullification Magic at the same time?”
Kyle considered deeply before nodding.
“In theory, that should be possible.”
It seemed there were no exceptions, even for Nullification Magic, which Holy Power lacked.
That was fortunate.
“Lina…….”
Coni clutched at my sleeve.
“What? Are you hurting too much?”
I worried whether I’d pushed someone so prone to complaining too hard.
Coni’s hand, gripping my sleeve, was trembling.
But the words that came from her mouth were completely unexpected.
“Why are you only thinking of that now!”
The girl who had been writhing in pain moments before shouted with all her strength.
At her seemingly indignant expression, I apologized to Coni repeatedly.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think of it until just now.”
Coni seemed embarrassed by my apology, even with tears in my eyes, and quickly brushed her nose with her index finger.
“I suppose it couldn’t be helped.”
Her intensity diminished slightly.
Brightening at the thought that she could help too, Ibeta’s expression became radiant.
After waiting for Coni to calm down, Kyle and Ibeta took turns unleashing the Nullification incantation and Healing upon her.
“Hngh.”
Coni clenched her teeth.
Still, compared to before, the pain Coni felt had noticeably diminished.
Just as Coni, Ibeta, and Kyle all had sweat beading on their brows from intense concentration, the three of them suddenly brightened simultaneously.
With a clarity that came suddenly, Coni offered her impression.
“Wow, I’m going to live.”
At last, we had found the solution to this grinding ordeal.
I embraced Coni.
My eyes burned with tears, but for a different reason than before.
I hadn’t shown it in front of an ailing Coni, but I had been terrified of losing my dearest friend.
Coni’s shoulders grew damp with something other than sweat.
In any other situation, Coni would have recoiled and pushed me away, but now she awkwardly patted my back.
And spoke in an equally awkward voice.
“Thank you. I’m alive because of you.”
“What did I even do.”
In that instant, something caught in my throat, and my voice trembled more with each word.
“That’s not true.”
Ibeta spoke with uncharacteristic firmness.
“Lina did everything.”
“Thank you, Ibeta.”
As I tried to brush it off lightly, grateful as always for her kind words, Kyle added.
“I agree. Without Lina, we wouldn’t have even had a thread to pull on this problem.”
My ears burned hot.

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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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