Chapter 78

False Divinity, obeying obediently for once in a while.

Roan first slowed down the patient’s blood flow through overall blood flow control.

Without relying solely on False Divinity, he also simplified the magic circle as much as possible based on what he had realized in his lesson with Taedi.

Since the internal bleeding was severe, addressing that was the very first step.

‘And decay.’

Decay, along with paralysis, was one of the basic spells of the curse category.

Normally, it would make the flesh and the entire body rot away, but,

Hummm─

If he weakened the output and applied it only over the wound, it became a ‘disinfection’ that removed germs and inflammation.

Of course, that was easier said than done; in reality, it was a task that required such meticulous control that one couldn’t even attempt it without Roan’s level of talent.

‘…After all, flesh burst is indeed the best for the rest.’

Although flesh burst had a minor (?) issue previously, he weakened the output and simplified the Hilonian language and symbols significantly.

Thanks to that, the wound healed rapidly, but on the other hand, the patient’s complexion also worsened at the same time.

It was the characteristic of the black magic category, which exerted its effect by absorbing the target’s life force.

Using it on himself was fine, but using it on someone else caused this side effect.

‘Berserk.’

Therefore, Roan used the Berserk curse along with it to recover the patient’s vitality faster than it was depleted.

Berserk was the most basic of the curse category used when making berserkers or strengthening familiars.

It paralyzed the target’s reason to some extent while significantly strengthening their physical stats for a short time.

Naturally, there would be side effects, but at least it looked much better.

“Ugh…”

At that moment, perhaps because the patient’s consciousness had slightly returned, he began to twist his body, letting out a painful groan.

The side effect of Berserk was immense pain!

‘Naturally, since originally, the reason was lost so the target wouldn’t feel the pain.’

It seemed that as he weakened the output, only the pain remained as is.

Because Atoga might notice if he left him like that, Roan took quick action.

‘Since it is natural to feel pain given how badly hurt he is anyway. Paralysis.’

“Mmph─”

The patient froze stiffly, unable to move or even groan.

To outward appearances, it would look roughly like anesthetic holy magic.

…Naturally, there would be side effects of paralysis, but Roan didn’t care much.

‘In any case, the buff of Akerandir will resolve the side effects of basic magic!’

He had something to rely on in his own way.

Ultimately, only saving the patient mattered; how painful it was in the process was a secondary concern.

It was the same for Roan and the patient.

At any rate, as he quickly repeated the basic spells, the patient’s condition soon returned to normal.

‘Still, it is quite decent now that I have studied.’

By the time he finished the treatment, Roan could tell just how absurd of a stunt he and the authority had pulled in the last class.

There was absolutely no need to translate basic magic into such complex holy spells.

It was the reason why Roan must not neglect learning holy magic along with his main job of black magic.

Wiping away the sweat flowing down his temples before he knew it, Roan spoke to Atoga.

“Now, we just need to apply splints to the broken bones and let him rest…”

But the atmosphere was somehow familiar.

─ …….

The lecture room was silent, just like in the first class.

‘Did you cause a ruckus again?’

Roan naturally suspected False Divinity.

Hummm──!

False Divinity was violently aggrieved.

You saw it too!

Just as the authority said, this time, Roan had not concentrated entirely on his inner self but watched the entire process with his own eyes.

There was nothing that would particularly draw others’ attention.

However, before long, Roan could see the reason.

─ He actually saved him?

─ Was it true that he learns healing holy magic in order to beat up anyone who gets in the way and destroy evidence?

─ T-To that extent?

Leaving aside the flashiness of the holy magic, the issue was that what Roan had accomplished was simply too amazing.

Along with surprise, wild rumors about Roan spread like wildfire.

‘These bastards, even though they have never been beaten by me…!’

Roan was driven crazy by the injustice of it all.

If he had actually done such a thing, he wouldn’t even feel this wronged; saving a dying person only to face this was too much, wasn’t it?

At that moment, Demona exclaimed in surprise.

“Uh, huh? I’ve experienced that before!”

At the words of Demona, who was considered Roan’s closest associate (?), the rumors naturally gained even more traction.

No, because it was Demona’s words, the aftermath was even larger.

─ Even Wychronon was hit!

─ Come to think of it, I saw her being beaten up together with Trian last time!

An attractive rumor always harbored some degree of truth.

“I-I was never beaten!”

Trian, who suddenly became the subject of the rumor, flatly denied it.

“Y-Yes… Roan has never done that.”

“That’s right, Darc didn’t do that.”

Even though Lafia and Hector diligently acted as spokespersons, the controversy did not die down easily.

─ Didn’t Kedan and Pavilto treat Wychronon back then?

“W-Well, that is true, but…”

─ Did he even train his friends to avoid dirtying his own hands!

To make matters worse, as even Lafia and Hector shut their mouths at the pointing out of someone with needlessly good memory, it was like pouring oil on a burning house.

“…….”

In the midst of all this, Zion quietly kept her mouth shut.

Although she wasn’t sure since they weren’t close yet, she definitely had a memory of seeing something similar.

In any case, as the lecture room became noisy in an instant, Atoga, unable to just watch, stepped forward.

“Stop! What on earth are you all doing right now!”

When Atoga, who always had a neat and gentle vibe, grew genuinely angry, the room fell silent immediately.

“Will you still babble nonsense like that even after knowing with what kind of heart Student Darc treated a black mage?”

─ It was a black mage?

─ Darc treated a black mage?

Meanwhile, Roan clenched his fists upon hearing Atoga’s words.

‘I knew it from the moment he said teaching aid!’

Roan asked Atoga reluctantly.

“Was it a black mage?”

Atoga looked at Roan in confusion instead.

“Of course. Who else but a black mage could be injured like that?”

“…….”

It was a reason Roan had to acknowledge.

Indeed, as Atoga said, it was difficult for an ordinary person to be injured that much in Akerandir.

But for a black mage, it was fortunate that they were still breathing at all.

“For treatment and healing holy magic, you must be prepared to lay hands even on your family’s enemy without hesitation like this. Bear in mind that revenge is revenge, and a patient is a patient. Everyone, apologize to Student Darc!”

─ We are sorry, Darc.

─ I didn’t know it was like that…

Apologies followed, muttered from here and there.

“Sob… Darc…”

Zion was even so moved that she pulled out a handkerchief from somewhere and lightly daged her tears.

If someone like that was not a specimen practicing Hiloa’s teachings with all their heart and soul, what was?

Zion resolved to devote herself even more as a Saintess candidate in the future.

‘No, in the first place, you didn’t tell me he was a black mage, so what does it matter?’

Thinking about it, it was not something for Atoga to get angry about, nor was it something for the students to apologize for, but Roan decided to just remain quiet for now.

There was no good in stepping forward for no reason.

“Now, Student Darc. You did really well today too. I can see traces of you deeply contemplating my advice last time. It was simple yet had a well-preserved originality.”

Atoga praised him like that, pulling out 15 Talents and giving them to Roan.

He might as well have given 10 Talents like last time, or 20 Talents altogether.

Despite having saved a dying person, Atoga insisted on giving one 10-Talent bill and one 5-Talent bill!

To Roan, who possessed over 20,000 Talents, it held no particular meaning, but since he was offering, he took it anyway.

‘No matter how I look at it, this won’t even cover the treatment cost, but…’

If he needed money, it seemed better to just make a holy power source and sell it to Woolly.

Roan returned to his seat like that.

Regardless, since he had gained not a little from this class, he was reasonably satisfied.

“The other students, continue treating the patients! Once all patients have been treated, we will conclude today’s class.”

As Atoga spoke, the eyes of the students blazed with determination.

***

After the healing class ended, Roan and his friends headed to a restaurant in the commercial district for lunch.

Naturally, the topic of conversation on the way was already set.

“As expected of Roan~ Even Professor Atoga probably never imagined you would revive a corpse.”

“…It was not a corpse, but a clearly living patient.”

Demona spoke proudly, as if she had treated the black mage herself.

Roan corrected her in an annoyed tone.

And it was clear that Professor Atoga had brought the patient expecting Roan to succeed.

However, there was no way his friends knew about such circumstances.

No matter how hard Roan tried to prevent the exaggeration of the incident, his friends kept praising him continuously.

“It was truly amazing. To heal a black mage yourself… even the Holy See used to avoid such things. Indeed, to reconstruct a family, one must have that level of resolve.”

Zion had been treating Roan like some tragic protagonist since before the class.

‘…Am I a tragic protagonist? It’s true that I have bad luck.’

It was a bit ambiguous, but in any case, it didn’t please Roan at all.

As he thought earlier, Atoga had revealed the fact that he was a black mage only after all treatment was finished.

The problem was that Atoga himself had been moved without knowing that.

It felt even more uncomfortable to hear such words from Zion of all people, who normally should have been one of the most unfortunate characters in Akerandir.

But the biggest problem lay elsewhere.

“But where did you learn that kind of healing holy magic?”

“Yes, at that level, you will be sufficiently well-received in actual combat.”

If someone asked like Lafia did, how should he answer?

Roan frowned deeply and thought for a moment.

No matter how much he pondered, there was no proper answer.

‘Anyway, because of that foolish authority, things have been off since the very first class!’

If he hadn’t caught Professor Atoga’s eye back then, this class would have passed really normally.

Ultimately, the answer he could give was set.

“…If only I could have used healing holy magic like this at the time of my family’s ruin…”

Even though he didn’t like it, since the effect was good, he had to exploit it!

“Sob…”

“Darc…”

At Roan’s ambiguous reply, the eyes and noses of his friends were already flushed red before he knew it.

“But Roan was only one year old back then, wasn’t he?”

Except for Demona.

Under the current circumstances, Roan didn’t even need to administer punishment himself.

“You wicked heretic bastarrrd!”

“Apologize to Roan! Apologize!”

“Darc, cover your ears!”

“Heretic!”

Because the other friends launched a collective barrage on their own.

Thoroughly panicked, Demona ran away quickly, shouting.

“I-I meant you didn’t need to feel guilty!”

Demona was now being attacked even when she tried to offer proper comfort.

In any case, raising such a racket, Roan and his friends arrived at the restaurant.

This time, it was a place called ‘Edelan’s Frying Pan.’

Edelan was the god of abundance, cooking, and home, and was a name quite frequently used for restaurant names.

As a restaurant focused on ordinary set meals with reasonable prices, it was usually somewhat filled, even if not always packed.

“For me…”

Choosing a suitable table to sit at, just as they were about to order starting with Demona, it suddenly became noisy outside the restaurant.

─ Gold!

─ Pick it up, sweep it all!

─ It’s mine!

As could be understood by hearing all kinds of shouting.

“Darc, what a truly amazing coincidence.”

Coo─!

Zorv Richmond and the Yellow Iron-Scale Bird entered the restaurant, leading a crowd of students.