Chapter 39

Injury treatment, the banquet, and a simple dinner party afterward.

By the time the three young masters, including Killian, had completed all their schedules and returned to the family estate, nearly two months had passed since the end of the subjugation.

“Congratulations on the young masters’ safe return.”

Upon arriving at the family's main castle, the guard at the main gate welcomed the young masters' return.

Demian raised a hand in response to the welcome and immediately handed over command of the knight order to Vice-commander Las.

He then ordered the subjugation squad to disband to Julian, who was dismounting from his horse.

“Commander of the Blue Knight Order, you’ve worked hard.”

“The Overall Commander has also worked hard.”

Demian met eyes with Killian, who was standing back behind Julian, but he only gave a slight nod.

After Demian left with the White Knight Order, Julian belatedly looked at his Tactician.

“Good work. I will be going to report to the Commander of the Knights shortly.

How about you come with me?”

Originally, it was a private report for the commander, but Escardo would not mind Killian's visit.

‘To win Killian’s heart for certain, I need to take better care of him.’

It was a statement made with that thought in mind.

“It is a place where you should stand out, brother.

There is no need for me to be there.”

“R-really? In that case, get some good rest.

I will call for you separately later.”

“Understood.”

The place Killian headed to after parting with Julian was his bedroom.

A month for the subjugation, and another month for the events and rest afterward.

He had only been away from home for two months.

And yet, he felt a sense of comfort as if he had found his own home at the end of a long journey.

‘Is Haman in the Apothecary?’

It was while he was taking off the light armor he was wearing, piece by piece.

“Young Master!! You've returned!!”

The door opened without a knock, and his one and only chamberlain entered.

Killian grinned and accepted Haman’s greeting.

“Yes, you look well.”

“Young Master, I heard your body was… Huh? You seem to be in better shape than I thought.”

“Well, I’ve gotten much better. By the way…”

Killian replied ambiguously and grabbed both of his chamberlain's arms.

“……!!”

Before the bewildered Haman could react, Killian, having checked all the muscles in his upper and lower body, stood up.

“Not bad. You haven’t been slacking on your training, have you?”

“O-of course not.”

Gulp.

Haman swallowed and took three or four steps back.

Seeing that, it truly felt like he had returned to the family estate.

“Have you been well?”

“You’re asking now of all times!”

Haman’s grumbling was brief.

“What could have happened in the daily life here? More importantly, are you really alright, Young Master?”

“Hm? What is?”

“I heard the rumors circulating in the family.

That you were seriously injured in the subjugation.”

The family had been in an uproar when Paian, the Second Young Master and a 5-star knight, returned with one arm severed.

He said he was so shocked to hear that the Black Knight Order had been annihilated that if the Head Apothecary hadn't informed him of the situation separately, he would have gone to the Bastoni Family himself.

Haman went on and on about his loyalty.

“Such a fuss.”

“What do you mean, a fuss! Even the Head Apothecary said that although your life wasn’t in danger, you were definitely seriously injured.”

“Yes. The apothecary of the Bastoni said I wouldn't be able to use Mana for a year.”

“…Mana?”

“If a knight can't use Mana, that's a serious injury.”

“Ah…”

Haman's expression became complicated.

“Enough with the sympathy. Let's hear the family's news.”

Thud.

Killian, having taken off all his armor and lying down on the bed, tilted his head.

Haman sighed and sat down beside him.

“Well… the Head has entered seclusion after his return.

There's no official announcement, but they say it seems he gained a new enlightenment during the subjugation.”

‘He went into seclusion to manage his Heart Break.

Is the secret medicine not yet prepared?’

No matter how skilled Loen was, it would take several months to turn the Arch Lich's Magic Stone into a secret medicine.

Unless she gained some new insight, it would be difficult to create the Heart Break Herba in a short period.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have accepted Sharle Cornelia’s offer.’

There was the fact that he didn't want to get tied up in troublesome matters, but in truth, he was able to refuse that offer because he trusted the Head Apothecary's skill.

If the Head Apothecary was still struggling, it was now necessary to help her, even if forcefully, to overcome her wall.

“Rumors of Young Master Demian's and Young Master Julian's exploits are rampant throughout the family.”

“I suppose so.”

“What do you mean, you suppose so? There's no mention of your contributions at all.”

Haman knew Killian’s skills better than anyone.

He was also not unaware that the current situation was the result of the Matriarchs’ schemes to keep him in check.

That was why his heart ached all the more.

“What's so important about my contributions?”

“Young Master… weren't you aiming for the competition for the headship?”

“Haman, a man must sometimes know how to paint a bigger picture.”

“There you go with your Zen-like questioning again.”

Haman sighed and told him about the minor incidents happening in the family.

Other than the head entering seclusion again and Paian's prosthetic arm maker frequenting the estate, there was nothing to be particularly concerned about.

“There will be people looking for me.”

“Don't worry. I will inform you immediately.”

“No, refuse them all.”

“What? Why?”

“The more you make them wait, the higher the chance a better card will come in.”

“Ah…”

Since Killian woke up from his coma, his words had never been wrong.

Haman silently nodded his head.

“And I plan to focus on training for a while. Prepare recovery potions for me morning and evening.”

“What? You’re not even in good shape, what kind of training…”

Haman, seeing Killian smiling at him, hurriedly swallowed his words.

“…I will be on high alert so that the Young Master can focus on his training for the time being.”

“Haman.”

“As for meals, I will have the guards deliver them quietly as before.

Do you have any other instructions?”

“You too, now…”

“Well then! I will see you again tomorrow morning.”

Patter.

Haman rushed out of the room as if he couldn't hear Killian's words.

His well-trained lower body movements were not lacking even for a knight.

“As if someone's going to eat him.”

Killian sat up, straightened his back, and crossed his legs.

His head grew cool and his heartbeat calmed.

How long had it been since he had maintained a calm mind and immersed himself in mental imagery?

[Grrrrr.]

The image of the Knight Slayer appeared before his eyes.

He was now so used to this process that he could even replicate its growl.

A battle that had been repeated countless times since the first day of the banquet.

The day of his return to the family was no different.

“Let's begin.”

Killian, holding an iron sword instead of the Cheonghwageom, walked towards the Knight Slayer.

As he had in the past thousand battles, he unfolded his Carpe.

And charged straight at the Knight Slayer, which was scattering its intimidating aura.

***

“Hoo…”

I opened my eyes with an exhale.

The end of the long battle was, once again, mutual destruction.

As a result of repeating this training several times, his win rate was now around 30 percent, even with an iron sword.

If he used Carpe with the Cheonghwageom as a medium, the win rate would go up to 70 percent.

It was close, but it was safe to say he had reached his initial goal.

‘It’s about time I went to see the Head Apothecary.’

Just then, the door opened and Haman entered.

“Young Master, I've brought painkillers and a Vitality Recovery Potion.”

“Your timing is impeccable.”

Killian drained the two decoctions in one go.

Perhaps because expensive ingredients were used, his breathing immediately calmed and his vitality recovered.

“Not bad at all. At this rate, you could pass for a real low-level apothecary.”

“Ah, that is… Head Apothecary Loen gave me some advice.”

Haman let out an awkward laugh. He thought she was doing it to win Killian's favor, an elder of the family acting in such a way.

“It seems the Head Apothecary has taken quite a liking to you.”

“She must have taken a liking to you, Young Master, not me.”

“No, Haman. In my opinion, you…”

“Excuse me for interrupting, Young Master, but that very Head Apothecary is waiting outside the door right now.”

“……”

“She asked me to call her in as soon as you drank the decoction.”

He was just about to visit her himself to talk about the recovery potion anyway.

Killian stood up and lightly threw on some clothes.

“Show her in.”

“Yes.”

A moment later, Killian, who met Loen's eyes as she entered, could not hide his surprise.

It was because she looked five years younger than when she was in her best condition.

‘Is she going to become younger than me at this rate?’

Killian recognized by the degree of her rejuvenation that she had overcome her slump and entered a new level.

“Have you been well, Fourth Young Master?”

“It's been a while.”

“Were you in the middle of training?”

The smell of sweat that filled the small room had not yet been fully ventilated.

It was due to the intense image training.

“You seem to be doing well too, Head Apothecary.

Congratulations on breaking through your wall.”

“Your eye for things… is as sharp as ever.”

While the two sat on shabby chairs and talked, Haman prepared tea.

“Aren't you visiting a bit too often?”

“It's only natural for an elder of the family to seek out a contributor to the subjugation.”

“You've changed.”

“Thanks to someone.”

Loen didn't back down an inch as she sipped her tea.

“Have you perhaps decided to take my side?”

“Seeing you joke around, I suppose there's no need to worry.”

Loen’s eyes shone as she confirmed Killian’s body, which had become even more robust.

A knight who had mastered the 6th star in less than two years, Killian was an unprecedented genius in the history of Eurasia.

‘He brought Julian into the trajectory of the competition for the headship with just one subjugation.’

It even occurred to her that his actions might determine the fate of Eurasia in the future.

“I'm still a long way off.

For now, I'm just doing my best as the Tactician of the Blue Knight Order.”

“You jest with an elder of the family.

Unfortunately, I have visited for another reason.”

Saying so, Loen took out a potion from her bosom.

“What is this?”

“I heard you're suffering from reflux symptoms.

Am I wrong?”

She knew from Escardo that Demian and Killian were suffering from reflux symptoms.

And that it was a major injury that would prevent Killian from using Mana for a year, and Demian for half a year.

“Thank you.

I was just about to visit you and ask for a favor.”

“This is no ordinary recovery potion.”

“……?”

The corners of Loen's mouth rose as she watched Killian's reaction.

“This is another one of my masterpieces, created during the process of preparing the head's recovery medicine.”

‘Masterpiece!!’

“For the record, I'm not favoring you.

I am merely helping an outstanding knight who will bring profit to the family.”

Loen, having emptied her teacup, stood up.

“The competition for the headship.

I hope I can get an answer from you the next time we meet.”

She left the room, escorted by Haman.

Killian's expression turned serious as he looked at the potion, which was emitting a divine light.

In human history, there might be thousands of Superhumans who had reached the 7th star, but less than a hundred apothecaries had reached it.

This was a Reflux Recovery Potion made by such a person. It would be a lie to say he wasn't looking forward to it.

“Young Master, what is this?”

Haman, who had returned, asked as he looked at the potion in front of Killian.

“Haman, close the door.”

“What? Again?”

“No nonsense.”

“…Understood. I will tell the guards to forbid anyone from approaching and will come in to check after twelve hours.”

Haman now handled it with familiarity.

Killian took off his sweat-soaked shirt and once again sat cross-legged.

In the short time he had talked with Loen, his vitality had sufficiently recovered.

When he opened the stopper of the potion, he felt the illusion that the temperature in the area was dropping.

The color of the contents was also a black he had never seen before.

‘Surely, I won't go on a rampage or something, right?’

For a moment, such a question arose, but.

“If there was such a risk, the Head Apothecary would have told me in advance.”

He completely washed away his doubts with the thought that the meticulous Loen would not have forgotten such a precaution.

‘Head Apothecary, let me see just how amazing this medicine is.’

Gulp.

Killian swallowed the pitch-black liquid.

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