Chapter 42
“Wow….”
For the first time, Eden had some free time to wander around Hagen’ti’s castle, and she was aimlessly roaming the enormous castle that was almost scary in its size.
The castle was eerily quiet and desolate, devoid of any life, yet it was remarkably well maintained.
Not a speck of dust could be found anywhere, and the items placed throughout the castle were preserved without being worn or broken.
Eden recalled the detached gaze of Hagen’ti. There was no way he would have polished this vast place with such a lackluster expression, so it must have been the power of magic.
“Great Mage is pretty good, huh?”
Eden murmured as she looked around, spotting a dimly lit room and running toward it eagerly.
“…Hagen’ti?”
Even when she cautiously called out again, no answer came.
However, she could feel a faint warmth emanating from the room where the light was spilling out.
This warmth was distinctly different from the chilling atmosphere of the corridor; the chances of Hagen’ti being inside were high.
“I’m coming in…?”
Eden hesitantly opened the large door and stepped inside. A vast study unfolded before her.
“Whoa….”
It was more of a library than a study, stretching to incredible heights that were unimaginable from outside.
Eden tilted her head back, seeing towering bookshelves that seemed to reach at least five stories high.
“Wow….”
It was truly a sight straight out of some fantasy movie or game.
Completely captivated by the magical scenery, Eden forgot her mission to find Hagen’ti and was engrossed in exploring the study when she noticed a book glowing mysteriously in blue tucked away in a corner of a shelf, and she abruptly halted.
Eden frowned and read the bizarre title engraved on the blue book aloud.
“Exciting Egg Cookbook?”
What a fancy cookbook, right?
Curiosity piqued, Eden was tiptoeing and straining to pull down the book that was way above her head when…
“……!”
A heavy presence was suddenly felt behind her, and a hand shot out above her head, effortlessly snatching the book she was trying to reach.
Startled, Eden quickly turned around to find Hagen’ti standing right behind her, expressionless, holding the book.
“……Hagen’ti.”
Calling his name felt like releasing a breath she had been holding, and Hagen’ti’s eyes darkened subtly.
With her third call, she finally got a response.
“I didn’t think you’d come.”
The quiet reply was unexpected, causing Eden to freeze momentarily before quickly offering an explanation.
“Ah… well, I had some stuff to do. I was a bit late, right?”
Hagen’ti stared at her intently, then suddenly offered the book he had just taken from her, the very one she had been struggling to pull down.
The book was literally glowing with its own light, with the ridiculous title <Exciting Egg Cookbook> still embossed in gold leaf.
When Eden instinctively accepted it, Hagen’ti added nonchalantly,
“If you want it, take it.”
Then he turned away without a second thought. Flustered, Eden instinctively grabbed his arm, causing Hagen’ti to pause and look back at her.
His eyes, still indifferent, somehow held a hint of hurt, making Eden’s heart ache unexpectedly.
Could it be… he was waiting?
Eden hastily placed the book on a nearby shelf and gripped Hagen’ti’s clothes tightly with both hands.
“I really had some things to take care of. A monster appeared at the western border.”
“…….”
“I was delayed dealing with it. It was a monster called Seruka. You’ve never seen one, have you? It’s really huge! Almost dinosaur-sized. It was eating people.”
Although it was unlikely that someone like Hagen’ti, the Great Mage, who isolated himself in the castle, would care about Seruka or the people being eaten, Eden rambled on, desperate to hold his attention.
Hagen’ti remained silent, seemingly uninterested, but he didn’t pull away from her grip. Eden cautiously gauged his reaction. He didn’t seem angry.
“Sorry for being late.”
Even with her careful apology, Hagen’ti didn’t respond.
“You’re not hurt anywhere, right…?”
As her worried question broke through his stubborn gaze, he slowly turned his attention toward Eden. Unlike last time, she was now completely covered in scars.
Hagen’ti’s indifferent gaze lingered on Eden’s cheeks, which were swollen and blistered red.
“Ah, this is….”
Realizing he noticed, Eden hesitated, almost spilling the whole story about Chupi, then glanced at Hagen’ti.
In that moment, a ridiculous thought crossed her mind.
‘Could it be….’
As she slowly caught her breath, her heart began to race in contrast, understanding something significant.
“You… asked me last time if I was a healer, didn’t you?”
When Eden murmured in a dazed voice, Hagen’ti’s gaze shifted slowly from her cheeks to her eyes.
It was as if his eyes were asking, ‘So what?’ and Eden couldn’t help but break into a beaming smile.
In this world! To realize it only now!
“Hagen’ti, look.”
As she let go of his arm, Hagen’ti’s attention shifted to her hand releasing him.
“You should focus here.”
When Eden firmly stated this, Hagen’ti returned his gaze to her face. Raising her right hand, she gently touched her right cheek.
As her hand made contact with her severely bruised skin, searing pain washed over her, but she held on and looked at Hagen’ti.
Then, like the experiment in her room earlier, a faint light shimmered beneath her eyes, and she felt the pain that clung to her cheek dissipate all at once.
Without even needing a mirror, Eden could feel that the wounds on her cheek had completely vanished.
Eden smiled brightly at Hagen’ti.
“See?”
Hagen’ti looked slightly surprised, but he didn’t seem shocked. After all, he possessed this level of ability as well.
However, Eden didn’t feel disheartened by his weak reaction; she spoke confidently,
“This is just the beginning, and I’m going to improve even more.”
Since the skill was called <Beginner’s Healing>, it wasn’t hard to predict that there would be skills like <Intermediate Healing> or <Advanced Healing>.
Yet, Hagen’ti still remained indifferent, seeming to ask what it mattered.
“So what I mean is….”
Eden reached out and firmly grabbed Hagen’ti’s hand. At her touch, his pupils flickered slightly.
“I can heal you.”
With that, Eden beamed with excitement, as if she had already healed Hagen’ti’s illness.
‘Yes, now I get it. The way to stop Hagen’ti’s rampage.’
If the story followed the script the production team created, witnessing Hagen’ti in such pain that day was not just a coincidence.
Which means, I have to grind like crazy to level up and gain <Advanced Healing> to cure Hagen’ti’s illness.
If <Beginner’s Healing> is this powerful, then <Advanced Healing> skills would surely surpass any healer’s abilities.
After all, only the hidden character ‘Eden Liliat’ possessed such a skill, so the only way to clear the game is to obtain this hidden character, which is precisely why no one had managed to clear it.
But I’ve finally found that route.
“I’ll definitely heal you.”
Having realized the strategy for the game, Eden looked at Hagen’ti with pride, her eyes brimming with affection.
Even while listening to such an extraordinary tale, the handsome face that remained expressionless was just adorable.
If I can prevent Hagen’ti’s rampage, that’s half the game done.
“…….”
While Eden rambled on, Hagen’ti merely gazed at her blankly, as though trying to comprehend the meaning of her words.
“By the way… where does it hurt? Do you know why it hurts?”
Eden anxiously asked, gripping his hand tightly, fearing he might vanish at any moment.
Finally, his previously sealed lips parted.
“No.”
Huh?
Eden’s face stiffened at the unexpected response. Hagen’ti looked at her with a face devoid of expectation and continued to speak.
“I don’t know. Why it happens.”
After casually saying that, he easily withdrew his hand from Eden’s grip and turned away.
For a moment, Eden stood there dazed, watching Hagen’ti walk out of the study, then quickly followed him.
“Uh, since when has that been the case?”
“…….”
“What are the symptoms? Can you specify exactly how it hurts?”
“…….”
“Is it periodic? Do you know when it hurts?”
Ignoring Eden’s persistent questions as if he were a doctor, Hagen’ti continued walking.
Eden refused to give up, staying close and bombarding him with questions.
The two of them exited the study and walked down the long hallway, their footsteps echoing throughout.
Torches that would never extinguish hung everywhere, and moonlight seeped in through the large arched windows, resonating against the sound of their footsteps.
“Are you taking any medicine?”
“…….”
“Oh! How about visiting a doctor? I know a great one; do you want to check it out tomorrow? You don’t have any special plans tomorrow, right?”
Eager not to miss the opportunity to complete the remaining quest, Eden’s relentless straight-ahead approach made Hagen’ti come to a sudden stop.
Seeing her expectantly looking at him, Hagen’ti slowly turned around to face Eden.
His cold, grey eyes, devoid of warmth like the desolate corridor, met the light brown eyes that shone alone in the darkness.
“The way to end this pain is…”
His low voice settled over the eerily silent corridor, where even their footsteps seemed to fade away. The hope reflected in Eden’s face slowly dimmed in Hagen’ti’s emotionless gaze.
“Only to die.”
