episode_0093

“Hmm…”

As the closed eyelids lifted, consciousness returned. The gradually clearing vision took in the wooden ceiling.

A bright white star, attached instead of lighting, was scattering light everywhere. Starlight that didn’t hurt the eyes even when staring intently. Asel stared blankly at that light for a moment, organizing his thoughts.

‘Is this the recovery room prepared inside the Magic Tower?’

A place filled with all sorts of healing spells everywhere, felt without needing to detect. A few injured mages lay on beds lined up wherever he turned his head.

No one was severely injured. Perhaps they were severe and then healed.

Even at a glance, these were high-level healing spells. High-level magic that maximized healing effects while reducing pain accompanying the treatment process.

In addition, they even burnt anesthetic incense inside the recovery room to reduce pain entirely, which was no different from eliminating the drawback of healing spells, which is pain. It was also thanks to this that the mages exposed to the spells didn’t convulse in pain.

Asel was the same.

Certainly at the end of the duel. Just before consciousness disappeared, I felt like my arms and legs were bending in the opposite direction. But there was no pain felt now. Seeing that my arms and legs were working fine, it seemed I had already been treated long ago.

Internal organs that were injured… I don’t know. Since I can’t pull them out and check, I just assumed they were treated and moved on. I’ll know for sure when I leave the recovery room.

“You’re awake.”

A familiar voice was heard from the next bed. Asel turned his head towards it.

On the bed lay Ermina, wrapped in bandages all over her body. She chuckled while staring at Asel.

“What a monstrous guy you are. You thought of counterattacking without avoiding it there?”

“It was an attack that couldn’t be avoided in the first place.”

Asel chuckled and scratched his itchy neck. Only then did he realize that he too was covered in bandages like Ermina. His senses were dulled due to the anesthetic incense, so he was late to notice. Seeing blood in places, it seemed he had severe bleeding right before being treated.

On the other hand, there was almost no blood on Ermina’s bandages. At most, a corner of her forehead was smudged, and that was all. Compared to Asel, her condition was much better.

It was natural. The magic unleashed by the two mages at the end, Ermina’s clearly held the advantage, and Asel’s magic merely exploited a tiny gap within it.

Therefore, Asel, who was directly hit by the explosion, naturally had a much worse condition.

‘If my master had seen this, she would have made a fuss.’

Not long after fighting Birsia and returning alive. To have fainted just from a duel. If Ena had seen it, not only Ermina but the entire Magic Tower would have disappeared on the spot.

Just imagining it was terrible. Asel shook off the thoughts, raised his upper body, and asked Ermina.

“How is our condition now?”

“We’re fine. It’s already 12 hours since we lay down in the recovery room. All the injuries have already been treated.”

“Hmm.”

“Or shall I tell you about the state before treatment? First of all, I was fine. It’s natural since I rebuilt the magic barrier. Do you understand? The magic you used last couldn’t even injure me.”

“…You’re really excited after winning against a mere kid.”

Asel retorted with a sour expression. Ermina chuckled and beckoned with her finger.

“If that kid is a guy who stole magic in front of my eyes, created unique ice-type magic, and awakened a magic eye with absurd abilities, then it’s understandable to be excited. Even saying it, it’s unbelievable. How can these things refer to one person?”

“More importantly, how was my condition?”

“Well. You were completely shattered.”

It was an immediate reply.

“Your arms and legs were bent in the opposite direction, your scalp was torn, organs were slightly spilling from your side… Shall I say more?”

“That’s enough. I’ll understand it to mean it was a miracle to be alive.”

“That’s correct.”

Ermina said that, and then continued speaking with a rather apologetic expression this time.

“I did something I shouldn’t have. Putting aside the win, my actions were excessively severe. It was a duel where winning wasn’t even necessary. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I also went all out.”

“Even if a 6th-tier mage goes all out, it’s not something a Great Mage should do, raising the output of high-level magic to its limit and using it. This is my fault, it’s true.”

She took a gulp of water placed on the patient’s table and then spoke.

“It was a duel after a long time, so I got excited. It’s because you’re too amazing. You awakened my dormant competitive spirit and enjoyment.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Then is it a compliment or criticism? Haah, where did a guy like this pop out from. If time regression were possible, I’d immediately go back and make you my disciple.”

“Try telling Lady Ena. Asking if she can raise your disciple.”

“Are you telling me to commit suicide now?”

At Ermina’s absurd-sounding question, Asel chuckled. He leaned his body against the edge of the bed and exhaled a long breath into the air.

‘I gained quite a lot from this duel.’

Simultaneous manifestation of multiple attributes. Acquisition of Star Rank spell formula. Confirmation of ice spell formula power, etc.

I tried using them all in an environment close to real combat, and I also got a sense of how much to adjust the power in a duel. It’s a bit regrettable that I couldn’t use Aleph, but it would have been strange to overtly use a demonic item here, so it couldn’t be helped.

[I am fine, Master, I, Aleph. I am used to waiting.]

Aleph, which he had put in his pocket, immediately reacted to Asel’s thoughts and awoke. Thanks to having etched a telepathy spell, there was no need to speak out loud, so Asel also replied to her words mentally.

‘You’re sulking, aren’t you.’

[Are you referring to me? Ha! Is that what you mean. Although it is true that Master hasn’t sought me out recently, and it’s quite annoying to see you being intimate with other women! I am not sulking. After all, aren’t I just a book? Don’t mind me and do as you wish.]

‘I’ll really do that?’

[Ha. It can’t be helped. If Master harbors such a regretful heart, then even though I wasn’t sulking, I have no choice but to ease my feelings. In return, I’d like you to transcribe some romance novels for me and talk to me more often. Don’t just seek me out when you need me. That’s all.]

Click.

Aleph’s presence disappeared. Asel let out a hollow laugh and lowered his head.

Certainly, when I first saw her, she seemed to have a blunt personality, but why is she becoming more like a human than a human as time goes on? Asel sighed deeply and thought he should carefully select romance novels for Aleph. He felt she would really sulk if he didn’t do it.

And then.

Bang!

The recovery room door opened strongly, and a girl with ash-colored hair flying came running.

“Asel!”

It was Celin. Asel smiled at her and waved one hand.

“Hello. It’s been 12 hours.”

“If you know that, why are you so calm!”

As soon as Celin went in front of Asel, she quickly unbuttoned his shirt.

“Uh, uh.”

Asel was flustered by her very impetuous attitude, but she didn’t mind and completely stripped off Asel’s shirt. Then, she groped Asel’s exposed abdomen with her hand and narrowed her eyes. It was as if she was searching for something.

Asel stayed still, initially flustered, but as her hand moved further up, he was startled and backed away.

“Hey, hey. What’s with you suddenly?”

“Ah, just! Stay still!”

Celin let out a yell and restrained Asel’s two hands with one hand. Asel, with his magic completely depleted, couldn’t shake off her grip, which even used body enhancement.

After subduing Asel, Celin climbed onto his waist and began thoroughly examining his body. As Celin’s slender fingers explicitly traced his skin, Asel flinched and shouted.

“You crazy bitch!”

“What, you crazy bastard!”

“No, damn it. What is this suddenly! I’m a patient! I woke up after 12 hours!”

“If you know that, shut up! I need to check if there are any injuries left on your body!”

“Ah.”

No, if that was the intention, you should have explained it beforehand…

Asel thought that to himself and put on an embarrassed expression. Regardless, Celin desperately fumbled over Asel’s body. Although the scene was strange, Celin’s expression was very serious.

“You, you. Your gut was literally blown away, you know. I, I, seeing that, how much…!”

“Cle, clear throat.”

Ermina, who was lying next to them, cleared her throat and turned her head. Hearing that sound, Celin glared at Ermina with venomous eyes.

“Crazy old hag who’s lost her marbles! How can you use high-level magic that much in a duel?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I know! You adjusted it at the very last moment just enough not to kill him! But what good is that! You should have done it moderately!”

Ermina groaned, unable to do anything.

An old person being scolded by a young girl. The scene was quite strange, but Ermina had nothing to say. It was always the case that people lost their words when hit with facts.

After that, Celin continued to criticize Ermina while examining Asel’s body. Not long after, she confirmed that Asel’s body was perfectly healed and let out a sigh of relief.

Soon, she lay down as if collapsing into Asel’s arms. Saying as she did.

“This. I’ll make sure they compensate you responsibly. I know a lot about what items are in the Magic Tower’s warehouse, you see? I’ll make sure to extract as much as possible. Because it was something I suggested coming here.”

“No, there’s no need to go that farㅡ”

“No, I will.”

Celin raised her head and spoke tearfully with a face full of moisture.

“If I don’t, I’ll feel too sorry…”

“……”

“And… and if I don’t, you might end up hating me and our Magic Tower…”

I don’t want that.

Celin added that and buried her head deeply in Asel’s chest.

Asel thought for a moment, then sighed deeply and stroked her hair.

“…No, I was planning to compensate too, but…”

He ignored the mumbling coming from the side.