Chapter 47
Hmm, yes. It tastes good.
Even though I ate it under threat, it was delicious. Yes, there’s no poison, so I have to eat it.
Utiath, who had been staring at me while I ate the soup, spoke again.
“Kae, is there nothing you want?”
“For now… I just want to return to where I was earlier.”
Utiath chuckled at my words and traced a circle in the wine glass in front of him, muttering,
“I want more power.”
His gaze shook as he looked at me.
Just as he was about to speak again…
Rumble rumble rumble!
The building shook violently.
Was it an earthquake? Dust fell from the ceiling, and the books on the neatly arranged shelves rattled.
“You’re here.”
Utiath smiled lightly, and with a psh sound, a hole appeared in one of the walls.
“Utiath…!”
A terrifying voice came from the hole, and Davien stepped out, red aura blazing around her.
“Oh my, Davien, you’re a bit late. You don’t seem as strong as before,” Utiath teased.
Crazy man! If he kept provoking Davien in that state, she might destroy this entire building. I wanted to shut his damn mouth.
“You… want to die, don’t you?”
Davien’s cold voice sent chills down my spine. Yet Utiath just smiled as if nothing had happened.
“Please, sit down. The chef at the Mage Tower worked hard because the princess and Kae are coming.”
But Davien didn’t respond. Her anger was obvious.
Utiath might be in serious danger if Davien lost her temper.
Still staring at her, Utiath continued, as if nothing was wrong.
“Davien, not everyone in the Empire thinks the same way as the Emperor and supports you.”
At his words, Davien’s aura suddenly vanished. She approached the table with a stern face, slammed herself into the chair, and yelled at Utiath.
“What do you mean by that?”
Utiath winced as if his ears hurt.
“I mean, many people don’t like the Helderios family having too much power,” he explained.
Davien slammed her fist on the table.
“Do you think there’s only one or two people like that in the Empire? Stop beating around the bush—who are you talking about?”
Utiath shrugged and replied,
“The one you were worried about.”
Davien’s eyes flickered slightly.
“They seem to be planning something, but I’m not sure what. Hm… Lloyd often goes to the palace, so ask him when you return to the mansion.”
“Tch, that’s your idea of information?”
Davien scoffed. Utiath smirked and continued,
“Aren’t you curious why the top scorer didn’t appear in this healer exam?”
Davien felt him glance at me. When our eyes met, she shook her head slowly, pressing down her frustration.
“You hid Kae’s power, didn’t you?”
I was surprised and asked Utiath,
“Hid my power? What do you mean?”
Utiath smiled and said,
“Surely, Kae, you don’t really think your ability is only that of a senior healer, do you?”
Of course, I once believed my power was equal to that of the Grand Healer. I had the power of the villainess who destroyed this world.
But after living with the Helderios twins, my power seemed small.
And seeing many people in the capital, I began to think there might be healers stronger than me here.
Even Grand Healer grandfather, who restored my body from being corrupted by Bondragon soup using divine power, was incredible. Though his mind seemed half gone, his skill was top-notch.
So when I only got a simple certification, I thought, “I was just a frog in a well.”
But Utiath had hidden my power.
“Wow, you really think that, huh? Humble, perhaps? I like that even more.”
Utiath’s smile widened, his crazy eyes sparkling at me. Strange how he admired that.
“Stop staring and just answer my question,” Davien said firmly.
Utiath chuckled lowly.
“If the Helderios family hires one of the few top-tier healers in the Empire, do you think they’d leave Kae alone? I don’t want another rival appearing.”
Davien’s face hardened further.
Who could he mean? With Ibeliana gone from this world, who is she worried about?
No matter how hard I tried, I could only recall the major points from the novel I read ten years ago. The details were lost.
“Shall we finish our meal? The food will get cold.”
Utiath grabbed a knife and cut the steak in front of him. Blood flowed freely from the meat.
Raw meat… really?
“I like rare meat. I specially requested the chef. Do you like rare meat too, Kae?”
This wasn’t how I normally cook meat. Seeing Utiath eat it with satisfaction made my appetite disappear. I shook my head hard, horrified.
I want to go home, Davien.
I sent her a pleading look…
“Ha, let’s eat first and think later.”
Whether she understood or not, Davien began eating. I just waited for the meal to end.
Finally, the long meal was over. Utiath quickly issued a dismissal.
“Thank you for the meal. I have a meeting at the Mage Tower, so I must leave. Be careful on your way.”
Bang! He pushed us out and slammed the door. We were stunned.
“What… what was that?”
We had been kicked out in an instant.
What a crazy man…
Davien broke the silence.
“Let’s go, Kae. He’s always like this.”
Apparently, this wasn’t unusual.
Looking around, the desolate field had only this single tower standing alone.
“Where are we? This isn’t the capital, right?”
“This is the Mage Tower’s space. I don’t know the exact location. You can’t come or go without a scroll made by the Mage Tower.”
So only the wealthy who can use return scrolls can access the tower? Poor people couldn’t even dream of it.
Davien rummaged through the space and pulled out a scroll.
“To the Helderios mansion.”
The empty field transformed, and the Helderios Duke family mansion appeared.
“I’m saved.”
Seeing a familiar space, my tension eased. I just wanted to get into my room and rest.
As we entered, Davien spoke seriously.
“Kae, be careful of Utiath. He’s dangerous.”
Even without her warning, I knew that. He had the guts to kidnap me right next to Davien.
“Should I get some self-defense items?”
Could this world even have pepper spray or electric shockers? Or something similar…?
Davien frowned and said,
“Self-defense items… maybe. The question is if they’d work on Utiath. Let’s think about it together.”
Utiath was born into a great family, with strong power and all the love and attention one could receive. Prophets praised his power, and his parents were happy. His short childhood was full of joy.
As a child, he could use strong power even at a young age, as the prophet said. Everyone in the family loved him, seeing him as their pride. The family’s future seemed limitless.
But his happy childhood ended there. Many feared the family’s growth.
Misfortune began.
His parents were killed in an accident staged before his eyes. Those who loved him soon lost their lives as well. In an instant, a noble family collapsed.
Only one child remained.
The young heir, Utiath, was left alone.
He lost everything and was abandoned on the streets, surviving in cold, hunger, and violence. Every day was hell. People were killed right in front of him, and he could have been next.
The love and happiness he had received were gone. Just surviving was a struggle. He used any means to survive.
Those harsh years shaped him into a demon.
Growing up on the streets, he learned to read people and use them. People were just tools. Nothing was impossible for him.
Though powerful, he constantly sought even greater strength.
“I will put everyone in this world under my feet.”
Utiath’s ambition silently coiled within him.
