Rebecca, who had been stomping her feet in joy for quite some time, ducked her head with her face turning bright red under my blatant, lecherous gaze.
She belatedly tried to cover her body, seemingly unaware that such a clumsy attempt only fanned the flames in a man's heart even more.
Especially since her ample figure couldn't be fully concealed anyway.
"Well then, shall we get back to the main topic?"
"Y-yes."
"First, about this appropriate compensation... What can you offer me?"
"...W-well, gold coins...?"
"I'm the third son of a duke's family. I've never been short on money."
"Th-then... rare artifacts...?"
"Oh? Now that's a bit interesting. What do you have?"
"W-well, you see..."
After listening to her stammering, desperately racking her brain for an answer, I shook my head in disappointment.
"Just a bunch of useless junk."
Growing anxious at my indifferent reaction, Rebecca raised her voice with determination.
"H-how about free quest vouchers!"
"Free quest vouchers?"
"Yes! For any request from you, Lord Alzen, I'll carry it out without question! Without demanding any payment!"
"...Not a bad deal. How many are you offering?"
"Pardon?"
"How many of these free quest vouchers are you giving me?"
"Uh... um..."
Her orange eyes darted around busily.
It wasn't calculation for profit or loss; she was desperately trying to please me.
"...H-how about a hundred times?"
"Oh? Quite generous. You sure that's okay with you?"
"Of course."
"Good. Deal struck. Murel."
"Yes, Lord Alzen."
"Go tell the alchemists to clear out of the workshop for the next few hours. Oh, and swing by the magic workshop—sweep up all kinds of magic reagents."
"Understood."
Murel exited the room with graceful, gliding steps, her manners impeccable. Rebecca looked at me curiously.
"Um, Lord Alzen...?"
"Special service."
"Pardon...?"
"I'll make the medicine right here."
She shot to her feet!
"I-is that possible!?"
"Of course it is. I already know the recipe for the healing potion. What's so hard about it?"
In the game, it was implemented as a mini-game content.
Rare disease patients afflicted with mana perforation weren't just Leona; there were others from time to time. To lure or manipulate someone using them as bait, you had to make the potion, so I'd cleared it hundreds of times.
Of course, game and reality are different... but with full knowledge of materials, methods, and order, it should work somehow.
If not, I could just call in alchemists and mages to handle it.
"Thank you. How can I ever repay this kindness..."
"No need. It was a fair trade, wasn't it?"
"...You could have made far greater gains with that information, Lord Alzen."
"Maybe. But this is the bigger gain for me."
"..."
A hint of respect began to mix into her gaze as she looked at me.
She seemed to be misunderstanding something, but it was a very welcome trend, so I had no intention of correcting her.
The more she admired me, the better she'd listen.
"Lord Alzen. Preparations are ready."
"Oh. Quick work. Let's talk on the way."
"Y-yes!"
I stood abruptly, positioning her by my side as she followed. She stumbled along, chasing Murel's heels.
"By the way... Leona fell ill around age eight, right? So she's been suffering for two years already?"
"...Y-yes!"
She stared at me blankly, as if I'd read her mind exactly, then hurriedly nodded.
"Must have been tough. Even with gold-rank status, covering treatment costs can't be easy... You must earn quite a bit."
"Ah, well, we had some savings. We're managing with that."
Mana perforation disease lived up to its name: mana drilled holes through the body.
Muscles, organs, bones—none were spared.
In the modern world, it'd be 100% fatal, but fantasy healing methods defy common sense.
Potions, artifacts, holy magic, and so on.
With enough money, alleviating symptoms wouldn't be too hard.
Still... Rebecca and Leona must have lived in hell during that time.
Leona, never knowing when or where the next hole would open, must have groaned in endless fear and pain. Rebecca, always by her side watching it all, must have endured gut-wrenching stress.
The alchemy workshop was empty, greeting us with vast, vacant space.
"Lord Alzen. You can use this area."
"Yeah. Thanks."
I stood before the table Murel had meticulously cleared, inspecting the alchemy cauldron, tools, and various magic reagents.
"Good. This'll do. Oh, Murel. Fetch some dryad roots and fairy dust from the storeroom."
"Understood."
Gulp!
I swished the liquor in my mouth, savoring the smoky wood scent and faint fruit notes, then swallowed it whole.
"Kuh...!"
The burning heat slid down my throat, sharpening my senses.
Of course, the rising buzz soon had me swaying anyway.
To Rebecca's anxious gaze, I flashed a grin and waved my arm.
"Phew... Alright, let's get started..."
"Um, excuse me..."
"Hm? What?"
Rebecca spoke up, but I didn't stop, mixing magic reagents in precise ratios and stirring.
"Is it okay if I watch?"
"Isn't that obvious? I said I'd teach you. Did you think I'd just hand over the potion and call it done?"
"...!!"
Her eyes widened.
"Heh heh, look at that face... By the way, how you use this info is up to you. Spread it around, sell it to someone... do whatever."
"Wh-why show me such overflowing generosity..."
"Huh? Oh, is that how it seems?"
To me, it was just a fair trade—nothing special. But apparently not to her.
No, setting aside the deal itself, the vast status gap between a commoner and a duke's third son made it inevitable.
Coming from the modern world, I still hadn't adjusted to that.
Nor did I plan to. Anyway.
"I have to treat you well to make those free quest vouchers worthwhile."
"I never betray. Once I give my word, I keep it."
Her voice rang solid and deep, like the pillar of her inner conviction resonating heavily.
"Heh. I know. I know full well."
As I smiled faintly and met her eyes, she flinched slightly, shrinking back.
"Even so, emotions affect motivation, enthusiasm, all sorts of things. This is just a ploy to maximize that. In short, you're being worked right now."
"...Hee hee, I see. Then I'll gladly accept."
I nodded to her gentle smile, then poured the freshly made base potion into the alchemy cauldron.
Or rather, I tried to.
"Urgh... Rebecca. Mind helping with this?"
She burst out laughing at my sheepish point to the base potion.
"You need to build some stamina. So skinny... Eek!?"
Mid-sentence, her face paled; she clamped her mouth and bowed deeply.
"S-sorry! Such rudeness from someone of my station...!"
"No, forget that—pour this in, please."
"Ah, y-yes!"
She effortlessly lifted the base potion keg I couldn't budge and poured it into the cauldron.
"Lord Alzen. I've brought the dryad roots and fairy dust."
"Good. Thanks for the trouble."
I placed the proffered roots on the table, about to chop them finely, then turned to Murel.
No need for me to handle slicing when there's an expert who outshines all others at it.
"Murel, dice these finely."
"...Understood."
She drew a dagger, displaying precise movements.
...Honestly, I half-expected a flashy sword dance, so her methodical slicing like cooking was a bit disappointing.
"Is something wrong, Lord Alzen?"
"No, nothing. Alright then..."
I divided the dryad roots into thirds, steeping each in different reagents, then sprinkled fairy dust into a pre-mixed one. Purple smoke billowed up.
Adding it to the cauldron, it began bubbling without fire.
"Good. Coming along nicely."
Next, add the steeped roots in order and wait. Done.
Knowing materials and steps made it this simple.
Soon, the boiling subsided. I peered inside.
"Perfect. It's done."
A thick turquoise liquid, sparkling like molten high-purity emerald.
"Rebecca. This is the cure for mana perforation."
"Ah...!"
Her body trembled.
"If she takes this... my little sister will..."
"Yes. She can be fully cured."
"...Th-thank you...!"
Tears suddenly streamed from her eyes.
I hadn't imagined her crying; it threw me off.
In the game story where her sister died, she'd honed hatred, not tears... She must have suffered immensely.
"One vial a day. Don't overdo it or there could be side effects—keep that in mind. Two weeks should do it."
"Y-yes...!"
Dividing the cauldron's contents yielded exactly twenty glass vials.
I sealed their mouths meticulously. Spotting Murel offering an alchemy satchel insightfully, I patted her shoulder with a smile.
The thick, quality leather satchel had compartments; filled with potions, it grew heavy.
"Take it. Rebecca."
"Thank you... truly, thank you...!"
Slinging the bag, she sniffled, wiping her eyes repeatedly.
"Hm..."
The sight felt utterly alien and awkward; I wasn't sure what to do.
Should I comfort her...?
"...Rebecca. Don't you want to rush back to your sister? Head out now."
"B-but... sniff, is that okay...?"
"Of course. Go on."
I downed more liquor, shooing her off. She bowed deeply and vanished in quick steps.
"...Tired."
"You've been moving with a body not fully recovered. Let's get you back to your room. Shall I support you? Or carry you?"
"I can walk. Don't cling."
I scowled lightly at her; her lips twitched upward faintly.
Smirking? This fox-like woman...
I clicked my tongue and hurried my steps instead of retorting.
I canceled all subsequent visitors.
Exhaustion and the full liquor buzz hit; I passed out on the sofa the moment I sat.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The lavish, expansive room was now bathed in red sunset glow.
Murel had tidied the table strewn with liquor bottles and snacks. She gazed down intently at Starnassila Alzen, asleep on the sofa.
"Urgh... Heh, heh..."
As always today, he was having a nightmare.
Teeth grinding fiercely.
Cold sweat pouring like a waterfall.
Flailing arms and convulsing body.
Clearly unnatural, Murel activated an artifact from her bosom.
A soft, gentle turquoise aura spread out.
"Hah, hah... hah..."
Exposed to the light enveloping the room, Alzen's symptoms visibly eased.
But she knew this wasn't the end.
"...I'm here. I'm here. I'm... alive here... like this."
Listening quietly to his desperate, earnest, wretched mutterings, Murel gently took his hand.
He clutched it desperately, fumbling it to his mouth and chomping down hard enough to draw blood.
"Remember me..."
Sighing at the pitiful sob, Murel carefully stroked his hair.
"No matter how many times I see it, you look like a wounded beast."
Her hand traced the gaunt contours of his haggard face as she murmured softly.
"This is troubling. I'm weak to things like this, you know. Mmm..."
She licked the dripping blood, then took his other hand.
As expected, it crunched under his teeth again. She continued stroking and watching him.
"Such a strange, peculiar man."
Honestly, when ordered to guard, attend, and monitor Starnassila Alzen, Murel hadn't been thrilled.
His infamous reputation echoed across the continent.
Plus, she'd been summoned due to Alzen's request for "a busty beauty, preferably."
Proud of her strength and skills, she resented being assigned to babysit a trashy wastrel instead of something meaningful.
Urtega wasn't one to treat Shadow Knights like tools; voicing refusal might have withdrawn the order... but she didn't.
It was Starnassila Urtega's command.
She owed him a lifetime's debt.
Power unattainable in decades of effort, revenge requiring a life's devotion.
He'd accomplished it all far sooner than imagined. It felt like her life was complete.
Thus, she could pledge her remaining years to him.
She simply obeyed his orders.
...Though curiosity about why Urtega approved Alzen's absurd demand and sent her—despite his usual coolness even with family—played a part. Recent rumors and feats about Alzen nagged at her too.
Meeting Starnassila Alzen in person... matched expectations closely.
Lustful eyes ogling her body.
Manners lacking noble refinement.
Constant liquor and cigarettes.
Lifeless demeanor devoid of purpose.
Disappointing... yet curiously, his gaze shifted at times.
His aura transformed, piercing with such depth and sharpness that even Murel tensed.
And the information he spouted—things he shouldn't know.
She'd heard his voice via amplification magic during the demon war, but witnessing it firsthand was different.
Seeing others shocked, flustered, shaken by secrets only they should know was like watching riveting theater.
Then, motivation to stay by his side welled up.
How far did his knowledge extend?
What were his goals?
What would he achieve?
She couldn't help wondering.
She wanted to watch until the end.
Body and soul, if needed.
"Mmm, but it's a bit surprising he hasn't laid a hand on me yet..."
Rumors aside—no need for them—Alzen's lingering stares had raked her body since their first meeting.
Hot, intense gazes brimming with primal male lust.
When nude before him, he'd visibly swelled, so not impotent.
Yet her purity remained intact. Baffling.
"I wonder why... Surely not lack of appeal..."
Permission allowed killing him halfway if he demanded her body, but she had no such intent.
She didn't value virginity highly, and to stay by the precarious Starnassila Alzen, it might even help.
Tilting her head in thought, she stroked his sleeping head, smiling like a child with a new toy.
"Hee hee. It'll be fun to tease slowly and see how long he holds out."
She withdrew her bite-marked hand, cleaned it, and healed it flawlessly. Deciding to sleep beside him, the darkening room filled only with their steady, soft breaths.