Chapter 28
“The Magic Cure and the First Real Gratitude”
A few days later, in the Emperor’s office—
“Is this true?”
Haah… Lukas sighed deeply after reading the report Cain had submitted.
He tossed the paper onto the table. His eyebrows furrowed deeply, and no matter how much he tried to smooth them, they didn’t relax.
“This is driving me crazy.”
Seeing Lukas click his tongue in frustration, Cain also wore a grim expression.
The results had just come in from studying the black panther statue recovered from the shady shop a few weeks ago.
After all that time and research, they only got one sheet of findings—and it said they couldn’t identify any of the materials.
In short, none of the statue’s components came from this world.
A statue made from substances never discovered before… with mysterious shop workers… What did all this mean?
Now that he thought about it, there was something else not of this world.
Lukas looked sharply at Cain and asked,
“What happened to the corpse of the demon beast?”
“Lady Rosedale placed a preservation spell on it, so we can keep it in good condition for now.”
Cain added quickly,
“But it’s still releasing demonic energy, so ordinary people can’t even touch it.”
“That thing’s persistent, even in death.”
Lukas tapped the desk with his fingers, looking down.
The statue’s investigation had led nowhere. The beast’s body couldn’t be handled. And the store employees still hadn’t regained consciousness.
Nothing’s working out.
The appearance of the beast… the suspicious store… They seemed unrelated, yet both were giving Lukas a headache.
Still, he had no choice but to do what he could, step by step.
Lukas pressed a finger to his tired eyelids and continued,
“First, we need to get those guys to talk. Is the treatment helping?”
“Yes. But… lately they’ve started saying strange things.”
Cain frowned and tilted his head slightly.
“They’re begging for their lives, saying ‘They came to kill us.’”
“They…?”
No one but the ones Lukas had personally approved could enter the pitch-dark underground prison—not even a single ant.
So for them to say they were coming to kill them… Either they were insane, or they were terrified of some hidden group behind the scenes.
Right now, Lukas had to hope it was the latter.
His voice grew lower and firmer.
“Double the security. Add more guards and keep a close eye on the prisoners. I want eyes on them at all times.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Cain bowed and accepted the order.
Back then, neither of them knew yet…
that an unimaginable event would soon occur in that prison.
Later — In the audience hall of the central palace
“Hey, um, would it be okay if I punched you?”
Rosedale asked Cain with a sweet smile.
Cain’s face went cold at the unexpected question—especially because her tone was so gentle.
“Why would I be honored to receive a punch from Lady Rosedale?”
Thanks to the cursed binding pact, Cain said things completely opposite from what he was really thinking. But by now, he was used to it and continued smoothly.
“How could I possibly allow someone as precious as you to touch a lowly body like mine? Please, hit someone else.”
“…Boring.”
Rosedale clicked her tongue and lowered her raised fist.
Lukas, who had been watching them, chuckled quietly in amusement.
He had wondered why Rosedale had suddenly requested a formal audience. And now here they were—in the grandest hall of the central palace—having a silly comedy skit.
Behind the smiling Lukas, the other magic researchers were nervously gulping.
It was their first time in the imperial audience hall, and they were clearly terrified. Noticing their discomfort, Rosedale decided to get to the point.
“Your Majesty, I’ve come to report that the magic medicine I mentioned before has been completed.”
She gestured, and the researchers hurried forward, placing finished products on the table before rushing backward again like they were fleeing.
Rosedale continued,
“The round metal container holds ointment for burns and severe wounds. The liquid medicine is for internal injuries. Depending on the person, it can work as fast as a few hours.”
She spoke confidently.
After all, this was made using her mana and the combined knowledge of the human researchers. Even she was excited to see the results.
Cain picked up the ointment and the liquid and examined them.
“So these are the so-called magic medicines? They look ordinary.”
“You’ll see once you try them.”
Suddenly, Lukas cut his palm with a dagger.
“Your Majesty!”
Cain rushed forward in panic to check Lukas’s hand.
Rosedale also ran toward him, horrified—but Lukas looked completely unbothered.
“Calm down. This is nothing.”
“What kind of emperor cuts himself just to test a medicine?!”
Cain clutched his chest in frustration, while Rosedale looked like she was about to cry.
“I’ll heal you with magic, Your Majesty. Just hold on—”
“I said I’m fine.”
Lukas let out a small, deflated laugh and gently wiped the tears from Rosedale’s eyes.
“If you heal me, then what’s the point of the experiment?”
“Your Majesty!”
“Cain, don’t make a big deal out of this.”
His face turned serious again—his usual emotionless look returning.
“I can use aura, so I’ll be fine. It’s more efficient for me to test this than to risk any of you or Iberia’s valuable people.”
The magic research team was moved to tears.
While they were inwardly chanting “Long live our emperor,” Cain sighed and opened the ointment jar.
“I just hope the medicine works well, since you’re using aura.”
“It will. Who do you think made it?”
At those words, Rosedale smiled through her tears.
Cain carefully applied the ointment to Lukas’s wound.
Everyone—including Cain, Lukas, Rosedale, and the researchers—watched his hand closely.
The medicine’s sharp scent stung their noses for a moment. Then the thick green ointment melted and was absorbed into the red wound.
“The bleeding stopped!”
One of the team members shouted.
Just as he said, the black-red blood from Lukas’s hand stopped immediately, and the once-wide gash began to close.
“Oh my god…”
Cain stared, mouth open in shock.
Even Lukas let out a quiet laugh of amazement.
“It really deserves to be called magic medicine.”
“Since Your Majesty is a swordmaster, it probably works even better on you.”
Rosedale saw how quickly his hand healed and finally felt her tears stop.
“At this rate, even regular humans could heal small wounds in just a few hours. Deeper infections would take longer, of course.”
“This is more than enough. I don’t even need to try the internal medicine—I already trust it.”
Lukas opened and closed his hand, now almost fully healed.
“This is truly impressive, Lady Rosedale.”
Rosedale snorted.
“Sounds like you’re saying you didn’t believe in me before.”
“Of course not,” Cain said, shrugging with a sly grin.
Rosedale laughed in defeat.
“Rozi, how long would it take to mass-produce it? I want it distributed as soon as possible.”
“If we use magic circles, it’ll take about 3 or 4 days of overnight work. But we need more herbs. Could you give us a larger field?”
“Of course. Cain, prepare all the land in the north palace for growing herbs. Use every worker you can. And grant Rozi whatever else she needs.”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
Cain stood quickly to carry out the order.
He paused for a moment, then awkwardly bowed to Rosedale.
“Thank you, Lady Rosedale. I truly mean it—I’m glad you came to us.”
“….”
Rosedale blinked.
That wasn’t the effect of the pact.
There was no sarcasm. No teasing.
Just genuine gratitude.
Coming from Cain, of all people—someone like Elpis who never gave compliments.
It left Rosedale speechless.
“We’re thankful too.”
Philippe’s voice brought Rosedale’s attention to the magic researchers.
Like Liamson, they stood with hands clasped and eyes full of tears.
“If you hadn’t come, we never would’ve felt useful like we do today. We would’ve kept living as ignorant nobodies.”
“Today’s the first time I’ve ever felt like I mattered. I’m so happy.”
“Thank you—for being here with us.”
Liamson bowed, and the others followed, kneeling in unison before her.
“….”
Rosedale wanted to joke—say this was nothing.
But her throat tightened. Her eyes stung.
She couldn’t speak.
It was a feeling she’d never experienced.
And in that moment, someone gently took her hands and met her gaze.
It was Lukas.
“Rozi.”
He comforted her trembling body with his warmth.
“You don’t have to be afraid. Don’t doubt anything. Just accept it all as it is.”
“….”
Afraid? Me? Why?
Rosedale swallowed hard.
She realized…
It was her first time being recognized for something.
She was trembling—not from fear, but because she was so happy.
But also… a small part of her was scared it might all disappear.
I see now…
I’m so happy, I’m even scared of losing something that hasn’t happened yet.
“Rozi, just by existing, you make me happy.”
Lukas whispered gently to her—the girl who had once felt guilty for failing him, the girl who had promised to make him smile.
“Thank you—for coming to us.
For being here, in front of me.”
“….”
Rosedale quietly gripped Lukas’s hand tighter.
All the love in his gaze… all the warmth in his touch… overwhelmed her.
For the first time in her life,
Rosedale learned what it meant to be so happy, it brought tears to her eyes.
