Chapter 40

The Apothecary's Office, where only a select few from the family were permitted entry.

There, Escardo drained the decoction Loen handed him.

In an immediate reaction, his Mana Heart throbbed.

It was because he had used his sword rather roughly to stop the head's rampage the other day.

Although he was drinking a recovery potion personally prepared by Loen, the aftereffects did not heal easily.

“I heard you went to see Killian.”

“You seem to have a lot of interest in the Fourth Young Master.”

Loen retorted to his words as she handed him a second decoction.

Not even three hours had passed since she had met Killian and given him the recovery potion, yet the news had already reached Escardo's ears.

Escardo drained the second recovery potion.

The Mana he had used to heal his internal injuries quickly replenished.

“Since I have been entrusted with the position of Acting Head, I must not perform my duties lightly.

I heard that Killian shut himself in his room right after you visited.”

“The Fourth Young Master has a rather impatient nature, unlike the First Young Master.”

Loen recalled the expression on Killian's face when he received the Reflux Recovery Potion.

He was a child with a passion for the sword and achievement that was second to none, not even the head.

It would not be strange if he had drunk the recovery potion as soon as she left the room.

“Have you decided to throw your support behind Killian?”

Loen shook her head.

“I am an elder of the family.”

And a person trusted by both the head and the Acting Head at that.

If she were to carelessly support one of the young masters, the succession structure could become complicated.

Escardo was asking if she harbored different thoughts.

“I gave him a Reflux Recovery Potion.

It is an item that was created in the process of refining the secret medicine for the head.”

Unlike Loen, who spoke casually, Escardo's eyes widened in surprise.

The Heart Break Herba was a secret medicine that had made even the head, an 8-star knight, go on a rampage.

‘A recovery potion created in the process of making such an item?’

Moreover, if it came from Loen's hands, it was no different from another secret medicine.

As if she knew what Escardo was thinking, Loen added an explanation.

“There will be individual differences depending on the person who takes it, but it will certainly be able to shorten the recovery period.

I had my subordinate give one to the First Young Master as well, so it's not as if I'm specifically taking sides.”

At the same time she was meeting Killian, she had her personal apothecary deliver a recovery potion to Demian as well.

Escardo was not unaware of that fact, but he had merely probed her to grasp her intentions more accurately.

“You are the same as ever, Head Apothecary.”

“What about you, my lord?”

This time, it was Loen who asked.

The man who, like herself, had maintained neutrality in the competition for the headship, had recently been asking about Killian with increasing frequency.

“I am also in a position where I cannot favor just one person.”

“For the sake of the family, the best picture would be for the Fourth Young Master to help the First Young Master.”

“Hmm… that is true, but.”

The most likely candidate for the next head was Demian.

He reached the 6th star at the age of twenty-six, had an outstanding mind, and had also proven his qualities as a leader while serving as the commander of the White Knight Order.

If he continued to grow like this, he would become a knight comparable to, or even greater than, Simon.

On the other hand, Killian had wasted more than a decade.

He had awakened unexpectedly, but if he, who had no power base to speak of, were to jump into the competition for the headship now, it might hinder Eurasia's grand plan.

What if such a Killian supported Demian, the eldest son of the family whose abilities everyone acknowledged?

Not only the head and Escardo, but also the elders could press forward with the rebuilding of the kingdom with peace of mind.

“The Declaration of the Kingdom will proceed as soon as the head stabilizes his power. It is time to conclude the competition for the headship as well.”

Loen mentioned the grand plan that was just around the corner.

Although the Empire was struggling with the governance of the continent, they would not remain idle as they were now if Eurasia were to declare itself a kingdom.

Therefore, they had to prepare thoroughly before making any rash moves.

The head fully adapting to the 8th star was the first step.

“The sacrifices of the subjugation are painful.”

“That too was within our calculations.”

Escardo replied calmly to Loen's concern.

A considerable number of the Red Knights who survived the subjugation had gained enlightenment, and the Vice-commander, Fred, was struggling just before the wall.

Paian, who had lost an arm, would see his skills regress somewhat, but another young master, Killian, was confirmed to have mastered the 6th star.

‘Come to think of it, Killian is involved in all of these situations.’

Escardo drained the third decoction.

This time, it was a recovery potion with a painkilling effect.

‘The problem is the Annihilation Squad.’

As his body felt much lighter from the effect of the medicine, the family's new concerns naturally came to mind.

“With this, my prescription is finished. And here.”

Swoosh.

Loen took out a new potion from her bosom and held it out.

“What is this?”

“It is the same item that was given to the First and Fourth Young Masters.”

“Why this…”

“Your reflux is also at a level that cannot be managed with ordinary recovery potions.

I cannot say there is no risk, but… you, my lord, should be able to accept most of the medicinal effects.”

“Thank you.

But for an item of this level, wouldn't it be too much for the bodies of those injured children? If they were to go on a rampage by any chance…”

“You need not worry.”

“……?”

“The reflux symptoms will be healed just by calming the Mana circuits engraved in the body.

But seeing the effects of a medicine processed by refining the Arch Lich's Life Vessel is another matter.”

“Does that mean… one also needs enlightenment to fully accept the medicine?”

“Yes.

One without the level of enlightenment of the head will only see the effect of recovering from the reflux.

Therefore, it is closer to a simple recovery potion than a secret medicine.”

Since it was a recovery potion made for the head from the beginning, she was saying that unless one had a 7-star level of enlightenment, 70 percent of the medicinal effect would be lost the moment it was consumed.

“Perhaps you, Lord Escardo, might gain a new enlightenment.”

Escardo chuckled at Loen's joke.

“Even if they only accept 10 percent of the recovery potion, the two young masters' reflux will recover quickly. You, my lord, should focus on accepting at least 50 percent or more.”

“Thank you.

You've set my mind at ease.”

Escardo, putting the potion in his bosom, stood up.

He intended to return as quickly as possible and drink the recovery potion.

“By the way, Head Apothecary, what would happen if the young masters were to digest not 10 percent, but 50 percent or more?”

“……”

Loen, silent at the unexpected question, shook her head.

No matter how much of a genius Demian and Killian were, they were no match for the head.

Not to mention now, when they were injured.

“It is an unnecessary assumption, but if that were to happen, they must be seen as having already reached the 7th star.”

“Is that so.”

After thinking for a moment, Escardo took the potion.

“I will contact you again soon.”

***

Hoooo.

Killian let out a shallow breath.

His body felt like a ball of fire. It was because his heart was emitting a strong heat to manage the reflux symptoms.

‘It wasn't a simple recovery potion, but a priceless secret medicine.’

The moment he drank the recovery potion Loen had given him, his weakened heart began to strengthen.

Even if it was a monster, a Lich was undeniably a mage who had once forged a Mana Heart with a human heart.

That would be the reason why his heart began to strengthen.

That was not all.

“Hooooo.”

To balance the strengthening heart, the Mana Heart, which was recovering from the reflux symptoms, was resisting.

The Evil Energy emanating from the heart, and the high-density Mana to purify that heart.

The two energies were confronting each other tensely.

From Killian's perspective, it was as if he was holding a bomb that could explode at any moment.

‘Head Apothecary… if it was an item of this level, you should have told me beforehand.’

Killian focused his mind and appropriately managed the two energies.

If his understanding of the Mana Heart had not been at his level, he would have blown away 70 percent of the medicinal effect.

‘Since it has come to this, I will not miss a single drop.’

It was another secret medicine born in the process of making the Heart Break Herba.

If he could completely digest a recovery potion of this level, he would be able to make the realm of a Superhuman, which he had reached imperfectly, his own much faster.

Thump.

“……!!”

The moment the heart and the Mana Heart collided once again, he forcibly held back a groan that was about to escape.

He must have bitten his tongue, as he could taste the metallic taste of blood.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

How many times had such collisions been repeated?

Suddenly, his vision was filled with a bright light.

And before Killian's eyes.

[To think that my power would be transmitted even to a brat like you.]

A skeleton, its eyes glowing with a menacing light, had appeared and was looking down at him.

‘A Lich?’

[My name is Harold McKennon. In life, I was called an Arch Mage, and in the final period of my existence, I was a great mage who pioneered the 8th star.]

‘……!!’

The Arch Lich. The ruler of the Kurt Mountain Range that the head was said to have defeated.

‘Don't tell me, the Lich's heart used as a medicinal ingredient wasn't completely purified.’

He didn't think an apothecary of Loen's level would have made such a mistake.

If he were to consider the possibilities.

‘Is it because I accepted the recovery potion too well?’

An overly well-made secret medicine was accepted overly well.

To the point of giving form to the remnant will of already purified Mana.

Even if it was a remnant will, it was the existence of an 8-star Arch Lich. If he mishandled it, he would experience both reflux and a slump at the same time.

Normally, it was a situation where one would have to rack their brains to escape, but Killian was no ordinary knight.

“This is for the better.”

If there was a concrete medium, Mana control would become much easier.

He focused his mind and raised his Mana.

He was someone who had imperfectly experienced the level of the 7th star while fighting the second Knight Slayer.

Sssss.

As Killian took control of the space using Carpe, the Lich, which had been watching quietly, burst into laughter.

[You intend to subdue me and absorb this power completely? Like father, like son.]

Harold McKennon, the being who had now become a Lich, raised his Evil Energy.

He was a tough opponent, but at the same time, his level had dropped to an extent that was hard to believe for someone who had reached the 8th star.

His actual martial power was just over the 6-star master level, barely reaching the 7th star.

‘This is doable.’

Staring into its red eyes, he narrowed his stance and lowered his center of gravity.

[Brat, your greed is excessive.]

Fwoosh.

The Evil Energy that rose from Harold's body seeped into the Carpe.

“Who are you calling a brat?”

Killian recalled his now-broken treasured sword.

Fwoosh.

A blue flame erupted from the Cheonghwageom manifested from Mana.

Even if his level had dropped, his opponent was the monster that had created the Knight Slayer.

He even felt the illusion that he had been repeating image training as if for today's battle.

‘This is too much to be a coincidence.’

Flicker. Flare.

The first sword was Annihilate.

At the tip of the sword Killian thrust out, the Blue Flame concentrated.

***

I opened my eyes.

“……”

Seeing as there was no sound of birds and no sign of Haman, it didn't seem to be morning.

In that case.

‘Is it night?’

It didn't seem like much time had passed.

He belatedly checked his heart and Mana Heart.

‘…….’

He could feel his heart and Mana Heart, which were much thicker than before.

The two hearts, which had been unstable until the morning, were now completely healed.

He looked at his face in the mirror.

His short-cut hair had grown to the point where it touched his shoulders.

“……”

Killian quietly picked up the iron sword hanging on the wall.

Mana flowed through the hand that held the sword.

Fwoosh.

Uncontrolled Mana spread throughout the room.

A deep blue color that the expression ‘blue’ alone was not enough to describe.

He reached out his hand towards his own, now more vivid, Mana.

The Mana, which should have been formless, was caught in his hand as if it had a will of its own.

“I have finally reached it.”

Eurasia, the family of the eastern frontier dreaming of soaring.

At that moment, its fourth Superhuman was born.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.