ABFD CH 11

“I’ve never succeeded even once until now.”

She tried to sound composed on the outside, but in truth Eileen’s fingertips were trembling faintly with fear.

“This time… I have to succeed!”

She had attempted purification or healing on people bitten by zombies a few times before.

But those cases had all involved patients whose transformation had already progressed past half of their bodies.

Because so much of the body had already been mutated, it could not be amputated, and neither healing nor purification worked properly.

Purification magic could slow the spread of the mutation somewhat, but that was all.

Once her mana ran dry and she stopped, the transformation resumed—and they eventually died as zombies.

I can’t kill this person. How am I supposed to kill the male lead? Then who is going to save the world?

The reason Eileen had been able to personally put down her older brother after he returned as a zombie was because his transformation had already been fully completed by the time he reached the territory.

She had never once taken the life of someone who had not fully turned into a zombie.

And she had neither the confidence nor the desire to do so.

How did this even happen?

In the original story, the male lead had been injured while meeting the saint, but he had never been bitten by a zombie.

Is this really because of me? Because I didn’t follow the original plot and die?

If his right arm was lost, he wouldn’t be able to wield a sword. And without it, he couldn’t defeat the Demon Dragon in the ending and save the world.

What am I supposed to do?

Her thoughts churned violently, tightening her chest as if she were being strangled. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

“Lady! It’s secured. Please begin the treatment!”

Caleb urged her anxiously.

Looking at the knights whose faces were twisted in agony and desperation, Eileen spoke.

“Make sure to watch whether the mutation spreads above where it’s tied.”

“Y-yes!”

“And you two—hold His Highness’s legs tightly. When I use purification and healing magic, he’ll struggle from the pain.”

At her command, the knights moved in perfect coordination.

Watching them restrain Tristan as he thrashed in agony, Eileen turned to Caleb.

She hesitated for a moment, then spoke with a grave expression.

“And Vice-Captain… if it looks like I fail to stop the mutation—”

“….”

Even though he clearly understood what she couldn’t finish saying, Caleb couldn’t answer immediately.

He clenched his teeth, breathing heavily. His bloodshot eyes and gritted jaw revealed his anguish.

Still, Eileen pressed him with a firm voice.

“You have to answer before I begin treatment. If I fail, His Highness will become a mutant stronger than anything we’ve ever seen. And no one here will be able to stop him.”

“…Understood. Please begin the treatment!”

At his reluctant answer, Eileen immediately placed her hand on Tristan’s rapidly darkening arm.

First, she needed to stop the mutation with purification magic.

Her lips moved silently as she activated both divine power and mana through her fingertips.

A faint light emerged from her hand, swirling around her fingers before slowly seeping into Tristan’s arm.

At the same moment, he let out a piercing scream and jerked his upper body upward.

“Ghh—! Aaaagh!”

“Everyone, hold him down again!”

Tristan buried his face against Eileen’s shoulder, letting out broken groans.

Unlike his freezing arm, his hot breath brushed against her neck for an instant.

But it only lasted a moment—he was quickly restrained and forced back down.

Eileen held his arm, which was now slightly regaining color, and continued pouring in alternating waves of mana and divine power.

Perhaps because she was draining herself completely, her mind began to go white.

Caleb, watching closely, suddenly shouted.

“It stopped spreading! But the bleeding is severe!”

“Hold it tight so the bleeding stops!”

How long had she continued purification and healing?

At some point, Eileen began to feel her mana and divine power running out.

Tristan’s violent convulsions had nearly stopped.

But the icy, death-like chill still radiating from the wound remained unchanged.

So it’s not working after all…

Her vision blurred and dizziness hit her—classic signs of mana exhaustion.

“No—it’s spreading again!”

“Damn it! Aaaagh!”

Eileen gathered every last ounce of remaining strength and poured it into him.

Please. Please. Please!

A desperate scream burst from her lips.

In that instant, something inside her abdomen surged—both hot and cold at once. It erupted violently, flooding through her entire body before pouring out through her hand gripping Tristan.

Her vision turned white as she lost consciousness.

For a brief moment, she thought she saw his blue eyes flicker in front of her.

Later

“…My lady! You’re awake!”

When Eileen opened her eyes, Marie rushed to her bedside, eyes swollen from crying.

“The prince—no, His Highness—is he…?”

The first thing she asked about was Tristan.

Marie answered casually, as if to reassure her.

“He’s fine. He woke up after you collapsed.”

“…Ah. Thank goodness. And the mutation? His injury?”

“Honestly, my lady, why are you worrying about him? You should worry about yourself first.”

“‘Fine’?”

“Exactly! You were unconscious for three whole days. Lady Carmilda said you used up all your mana and even divine power trying to save him. She said your body might’ve been severely affected.”

Three days.

Eileen flinched.

She had gone close to mana exhaustion before, but never for this long.

“I’m really fine. Just a bit weak. Probably because I haven’t eaten. Bring me something light, Marie.”

She had no strength in her body.

She had never pushed her mana so far before.

What had that strange surge at the end been?

Had her remaining mana and divine power collided?

Whatever it was, it seemed to have worked.

“Honestly… I’ll bring you soup right away. Don’t even think about getting up.”

After Marie left, the room suddenly grew noisy outside.

Voices of arguing knights leaked through the door.

“No. She just regained consciousness!”

“That’s enough. I said I was impatient. Let her rest. When she’s ready, tell her I wish to see her.”

It was Tristan and Caleb.

Eileen quickly straightened her clothes.

“Marie! Let them in.”

“But my lady, your condition—”

“I’m fine.”

With Marie reluctantly complying, the door opened.

Tristan stood there.

“I came to express my gratitude for saving my life. I intended to leave immediately, but I felt I should see that you had regained consciousness first.”

His gaze swept over her face.

Eileen unconsciously shrank under his eyes, her cheeks warming slightly.

“Are you… alright? Your arm?”

“As you can see, I have no injury left. I heard you possess divine power, but I didn’t expect you could reverse mutation as well.”

He rolled up his sleeve and showed his right arm.

It was smooth, perfectly healed, as if nothing had ever happened.

Not a single trace of the horrific wound remained.

“…Even I didn’t know I could do that. I had tried before, but this is the first time it worked completely.”

“I see… then, since I’ve confirmed you are awake, we will depart today.”

His voice carried a faint trace of reluctance.

And for some reason, Eileen felt an uneasy ripple in her chest.

A strange instinct formed.

You shouldn’t let him leave alone this time.

Before she could think, the words slipped out.

“Wait… give me a few days to prepare.”

“What?”

“I’ll go with you.”