Chapter 12
“Omar, a kiss? What kind of nonsense is that? These are a noble knight and a refined lady—there’s no way such a thing could happen! Even if it’s for treatment, please, at least stay within the bounds of common sense!”
“Now, now, calm down and hear me out.”
At some point, the smile had disappeared from Omar’s lips.
“Between a noble knight and a refined lady who aren’t even lovers—holding hands for an hour or kissing for one minute— which would feel less awkward?”
“Well…”
Hailey hesitated.
She thought holding hands would be better than a kiss, but an hour was far too long.
Omar smiled faintly again and continued.
“I’m only suggesting we conduct an experiment. Even I can’t promise it will work. So, what do you say, the two of you? Would you like to give it a try?”
In response to Omar’s question, Rubiana and Elion spoke at the same time.
“I’ll try.”
“Absolutely not—”
Rubiana and Elion’s gazes clashed sharply in midair.
Lady? What are you thinking? Have you lost your mind?
We have no choice. Just try it.
Kissing to transfer magic power? That’s way over the line.
So what? It’s just a medical act. In the end, isn’t it the same as holding hands?
Their eyes locked in a standoff, neither willing to yield.
You said you’d help me, didn’t you? So please, help me this time too.
…
Elion was the first to avert his gaze in the silent battle.
If he didn’t, she might end up kneeling before him again.
“…Fine.”
Elion exhaled a sigh and spoke in a low voice.
At his short answer, Omar’s mouth curved back into a broad smile, and Hailey bowed her head deeply.
The next moment, Elion cupped Rubiana’s cheek with one hand.
Startled by the sudden closeness, she flinched and drew her shoulders in.
Soft, warm pressure touched her lips.
W-wait, I’m not ready for this…!
Rubiana’s mind went completely blank.
Thump-thump, thump-thump—her heart pounded wildly.
But the shock and embarrassment lasted only a moment.
She soon felt an enormous surge of magic flow into her mouth all at once.
It was incomparable to when they had held hands.
It felt as if an electric current coursed through her entire body.
She felt full—overflowing.
She wanted more. Even more.
Before she realized it, Rubiana was leaning in, gripping Elion’s shoulder.
“Oh-ho-ho!”
Omar’s exclamation grew louder.
Excited by the scene before him, Omar even clapped his hands.
How much time had passed?
At last, Elion pulled his lips away.
Wiping his own mouth with the back of his hand, he looked down at Rubiana with an indifferent expression.
“Is that enough?”
“Ah…”
“Or… was it not enough?”
“…”
In that instant, Rubiana’s face flushed crimson, hot enough to burst.
She almost blurted out that it wasn’t enough—that she needed more.
“N-no. That’s enough. I’m fine.”
Ashamed to show her reddened face, she lowered her head.
Elion turned to Omar this time.
“What about you? Is there anything else you want to see?”
“No, this will do. Thank you very much.”
Omar’s smile widened again.
“As I suspected, the amount of magic transferred through a kiss is astounding. I’m sure you both felt it.”
“…”
“How you choose to exchange magic is up to you. Do you have any other questions?”
Rubiana quickly seized the chance to ask.
“How much magic should be exchanged? Do we have to do it every day?”
“Ah… that’s something the two of you will need to figure out through careful experimentation.”
At Omar’s answer, Rubiana and Elion both looked troubled.
Experiment? Carefully?
The road ahead felt daunting.
Nothing was going to be easy.
“What I can tell you is… for a female patient, the gap between body and soul will gradually close, reducing the amount of magic needed.”
“…”
“However, if some stimulus causes the gap between body and soul to widen again, you’ll need a larger amount of magic once more.”
At the thought that the gap between her body and soul could widen again, Rubiana swallowed hard.
She nodded to show she understood.
Omar then addressed Elion.
“And as for Your Grace, on days when you haven’t used enough magic—or when you’ve used too much—especially in these two cases, transferring more magic to you will make your body feel more at ease.”
“…Understood.”
The part about needing to release magic on days when he hadn’t used enough made sense.
But even on days when he had used too much? That part Rubiana didn’t quite understand.
She glanced at Elion.
He was nodding, so he must have understood.
That was enough for her.
She didn’t want to add any unnecessary questions.
She had a more important one.
Rubiana quickly cut in.
“By any chance… would a body leaking magic be prey for monsters? I’ve been attacked twice in the past week.”
“Of course.”
Omar’s tone suggested it was something she should have known.
“Just as carnivores hunt humans to tear and eat flesh, monsters hunt humans to consume magic. And just as carnivores are adept at detecting the scent of human flesh, monsters are adept at detecting human magic.”
“…”
“And for someone whose magic is leaking profusely, they’d be a hundred times more likely to be targeted than the average person.”
“Ah…”
Now what am I going to do…?
Rubiana was in despair.
Soon the capital will be swarming with monsters.
The thought of those ferocious things drooling as they charged toward her made Rubiana shiver.
It felt like a death sentence.
Sensing her worry, Omar spoke lightly.
“But don’t worry too much. The barrier around the capital is strong enough that monsters can’t break through. Ah…?”
Omar suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if remembering something.
“But you said you were attacked twice in a week? Why would that be…?”
At his words, Elion’s face twisted into its most dangerous expression yet.
In the carriage back to the ducal estate.
Hailey’s gaze, full of worry, was fixed on Elion.
Reclining deeply in his seat with his eyes closed, Elion slowly opened his eyelids.
“If you have something to say, then say it.”
“Omar Posin is not to be trusted, Your Grace. He is a dangerous man.”
Elion’s emotionless eyes rested on Hailey.
Her concern continued.
“If Omar can satisfy his curiosity, he will act for good—or for evil—without hesitation.”
Elion listened quietly, then finally spoke.
“Whether he is good or evil doesn’t matter. He diagnosed my condition accurately and found a treatment method. What matters is that he may even be capable of finding a complete cure.”
“…”
Hailey pressed her lips together.
She had no rebuttal.
She hadn’t been able to properly diagnose Elion’s illness.
But Omar had done it in a single minute.
She had no idea where to even begin with treatment.
But Omar had said he would try.
Though he’d modestly told them not to expect too much, his voice carried a hint of confidence.
Before Omar, Hailey felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness.
Not since he had dropped out of the medical academy ten years ago and vanished had she felt this powerless.
Well… except during the two years they studied together, when she’d felt it every single day.
In the end, Hailey lowered her head.
“…Understood, Your Grace.”
“I’d like you to cooperate with him. You know my condition better than anyone.”
“As you command.”
Having said his piece, Elion closed his eyes once more.
