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Wendy first heard the news around noon.

She hurriedly got into a wagon and headed toward Meikhael University’s affiliated hospital.

Even until then, Wendy couldn’t believe what she had heard.

No, she didn’t want to believe it.

She felt like she wouldn’t believe it unless she saw it with her own eyes.

She thought that when she got to the hospital, he would greet her with his usual relaxed expression.

Wendy, as if entranced, headed to the emergency room. And amidst the bustling healers, she finally found him.

Tristan, lying in the hospital room, covered in blood.

“Co, Count!”

“Wendy.”

Blocking Wendy, who was about to rush into the treatment room, was a woman with a military coat draped over her shoulders.

“He, Helga…?!”

“He’s being treated right now, you can’t go in.”

“Pl, please move! The Count is…!”

“Wendy….”

“The Count has collapsed…!”

“Wendy!”

Startled, Wendy looked up to see Helga staring down at her with a stern face.

“Calm down and listen to me. Even if you go in, there’s nothing you can do.”

“Th, then what should I do…. The Count…. Co, Count…. Sob….”

Seeing Tristan in critical condition, Wendy finally let out the tears she had been holding back.

Surrounded by healers, his condition looked serious.

His white shirt was completely bloodstained, and his complexion was as pale as a corpse.

“Wh, what happened? What happened to the Count?”

At Wendy’s tearful question, Helga let out a deep sigh.

“…You’d better ask the person over there rather than me.”

“Huh…?”

What caught Wendy’s eye was a woman sitting in the waiting area.

A beautiful woman with silver hair and snow-white skin, Princess Bella Izakhel.

Had Bella also come because she was worried about Tristan?

But Bella’s face was unusually dark for a simple visit. Moreover, dried blood was smeared all over her body.

“Pr, Princess?!”

Even as Wendy approached and spoke, Bella remained silent.

She just sat there with a face devoid of all emotion.

By her side, supporting her, was Blanshe.

“Miss Wendy…. You’ve come.”

“Master Blanshe…. What happened…? What happened to the Count and the Princess?”

“That is……”

Blanshe hesitated, the words stuck in her throat unwilling to come out.

Then, a voice filled with anger came from beside Wendy.

“Huh. Why? Can’t they say it themselves? The Count fell into hell trying to save the Princess.”

“Huh……?”

Wendy couldn’t believe her ears.

Hell, the den of demons and the prison for the irredeemable wicked. It was also known as a place from which no one could return once they fell.

And the Count fell into such a place…? Trying to save the Princess?

Wendy, drained of all energy, slumped down.

It was too harsh a reality for her to accept.

“N, no… right?”

Wendy asked in a voice that seemed about to break.

“Princess…. You’re lying, right…?”

“……”

“Our Count, why, why would he go to hell…? That can’t be, right? Someone as kind as the Count couldn’t have fallen into hell…? Right…?”

Even to Wendy’s questions, Bella gave no answer.

Her hands were trembling uncontrollably.

“Princess…. Please say it’s a lie….”

“I’m sorry….”

“Huh…?”

“It’s all…. my fault.”

“Ah…. Th, then….”

It was then.

A man with an armband over his white coat appeared before them.

“Senior Healer Gilbert. Are you Count Ruelberta’s party?”

“Yes.”

Gilbert shook hands with Helga, who asked.

“How is the Count?”

“To be honest…. He’s in a very dangerous condition.”

“…!”

At those words, Wendy’s already shattered heart sank once more.

“He arrived at the hospital too late. We’re doing everything we can with healing magic…. But it’s not enough.”

“Then we have to do something…! If there aren’t enough healers, call more!”

“It’s not a lack of healers. Even if he were conscious, he’s lost too much blood, and his body is at its limit….”

Gilbert shook his head heavily.

“The fact that he’s made it this far alive is a miracle. Now, all we can do is pray….”

“Are you saying we should all pray now?”

“Huh?!”

In an instant, Helga grabbed Gilbert by the collar.

“Listen carefully. What you need to do now is not pray but treat him. If you’re a healer, you should be healing, not telling us to pray. What kind of joke is this?”

“Sorry….”

“If you have time to spout nonsense, go and assist with the treatment. Do everything you can. If anything happens to the Count, not only you but this hospital will be finished.”

“Understood…. Understood, so let go of my collar….”

“Tch.”

Only then did Helga release Gilbert’s collar.

It was then.

Beep-

An ominous alarm sounded throughout the treatment room.

The bustling healers all stopped in their tracks.

Their gazes were all directed at Tristan lying on the bed.

The first to speak was a middle-aged healer.

“What are you all doing! The patient’s heart has stopped! Prepare the resuscitation formula immediately!!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Hurry!! We’re out of time!! You! Prepare for contact! And you, prepare to supply magic power! Now!”

The healers began tearing Tristan’s shirt and drawing the formula on his chest.

The way they moved seamlessly, as if every second counted, clearly showed the urgency of the situation.

And in the blink of an eye, the formula on Tristan’s chest was completed.

“Infuse magic power! Here we go! First attempt!”

“Yes!”

Magic power flowed from the healer’s hand into the formula. Then, as if lightning had struck, the formula flashed.

Crack-!

At that moment, Tristan’s chest jolted from the shock.

Beep-

But the alarm didn’t stop.

The middle-aged healer, without showing any panic, shouted.

“Stronger! Second attempt!”

“Yes!”

Crack-!

Sparks flew from the formula.

Tristan’s chest twitched again, but the alarm still didn’t stop.

“Third attempt, now!”

“Sir! Teacher…!”

The middle-aged healer’s words were cut off by the healer supplying the magic power.

“I’m running out of magic power…!”

“What?! What nonsense is that!”

“Th, that’s because I haven’t fully recovered from the surgery this morning…!”

For the first time, a look of anxiety appeared on the middle-aged healer’s previously calm face.

“Backup! Where’s the backup?”

“He’s downstairs right now…!”

“Damn it! Then bring Teacher Willi from upstairs! Now! I’ll do what I can with my own magic power for the third attempt!”

“Yes, yes!”

“Third attempt!”

Crack-!

“Fourth attempt!”

Crack-!

The resuscitation attempts continued one after another.

But Tristan’s heart still didn’t beat.

“…Fifth attempt!”

Crack-!

The face of the healer performing the resuscitation turned as pale as ice.

It was a symptom of magic power depletion in a short time.

It was the limit.

“Six, sixth attempt….”

But just as he was about to make the sixth attempt, determined to hold on until someone else arrived….

“I, I’ll do it…!”

Wendy burst into the treatment room.

She had been watching and couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Wh, what?”

“You need magic power, right?! I can supply as much magic power as you need! So!”

Wendy shouted with a trembling voice.

But the healers frowned at her.

“This is no time for jokes! Outsiders, wait outside!”

“I, I can do it! I can help!”

“Stop talking nonsense! You’re not even a healer, how could you understand the formula-.”

“I understand the formula!”

“What?! No. Wait-!”

Before anyone could stop her, Wendy placed her hand on the formula and infused it with magic power.

Having learned the formula from Myohail, Wendy could understand even the most complex formulas.

The moment her hand touched it, the formula flashed with a bluish light.

Crack-!!

“…!!”

With the spark, Tristan’s chest twitched.

At the sight, the healers’ eyes widened.

“Huh???”

“Sh, she really succeeded…?”

“Hey!!”

The middle-aged healer, who had been catching his breath, shouted.

“What are you all doing!! You guys, assist her! We’re out of time!!”

“Yes, yes? Yes!”

“Seventh attempt!”

Crack-!

Though sudden, Wendy immediately joined the healers in the resuscitation efforts.

“Eighth attempt!”

Crack-!

Wendy, with her hand on Tristan’s chest, prayed.

Even if his spirit was in hell, she begged for his body to remain here.

For him to stay by her side.

Wendy poured out her magic power without reserve.

“Ninth attempt!!”

‘God….’

Crack-!

‘Please don’t take him….’

“Tenth attempt!!!”

‘Not him….’

Crack-!

‘Please, don’t take him….’

Tristan’s chest jolted again.

‘If you take him from me…. I can’t.’

Perhaps Wendy’s desperate prayer was heard.

The alarm that had been ringing in the treatment room finally stopped.

 

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