[Mass Release: 6/10]
...
"Your Highness, please calm yourself. I believe our actions were too rash, and that may have angered him. Once he's finished healing the Sword Saint, we can test his capabilities and restrain him afterward." The elderly mage in a white cloak spoke calmly beside Flare, trying to ease her fury. Slowly, the princess forced herself to take a breath and regain her composure.
"You're right… we should observe him first. That man, Takumi, is strange. The information on the appraisal paper…" Her voice trailed off as she shook her head.
"No, it's impossible." She pushed away the thought that the reading might have been accurate—that his level truly was ninety-nine. The idea was absurd; he had just awakened as a hero. It couldn't be true.
The following morning, Flare personally escorted Takumi into the royal inner court. By her original plan, she had intended to use him to help her female knights break their level limits one by one. But that could wait—once he was under control, she could breed him like cattle if necessary.
The thought made her lips curl into a gentle, saintly smile, masking the madness behind it.
"Takumi, this lady before you is the Sword Saint, Kureha Clyret."
Following Flare's gesture, Takumi raised his gaze — and froze for an instant. A woman with long silver-white hair stood there, her posture calm yet proud.
A single strand of hair curled upward adorably, adding a touch of liveliness to her flawless face. Her porcelain-smooth skin seemed almost to glow, and the teardrop mole beneath her right eye added a seductive grace.
She wore a simple white shirt and black trousers; the fitted leather corset at her waist accentuated her soft curves and slender figure. Only her empty right sleeve, hanging loosely at her side, marred that perfect beauty—like an angel who had lost one wing.
As Takumi's eyes lingered, Kureha turned toward him. Her clear blue eyes reflected both gentleness and strength. "You must be the Hero of Healing, Mister Takumi. It's an honor to meet you."
Her voice was soft, polite, and utterly sincere — a sharp contrast to Flare's condescending tone. Takumi smiled faintly in return. "The honor's mine, Miss Kureha."
Kureha glanced at her missing arm and sighed lightly. "During a battle with a high-ranking demon, I lost this arm. Not even the Elixir of All Life could restore it… I can only rely on your power now." Her words carried hope but also hesitation. She didn't truly believe her arm could be healed — yet she had no other choice.
Takumi stepped closer and gently placed his hand over the scarred end of her shoulder. Her skin was warm and smooth to the touch, unusually sensitive due to the severed nerves.
The moment his magic flowed into her body, Kureha trembled, her breath catching in her throat as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. The strange warmth that spread from his palm made her heart race uncontrollably.
While she struggled to remain composed, Takumi's Jade left eye glimmered, revealing her information in detail:
[Name: Kureha Clyret]
[Class: Sword Saint]
[Level: 45 (Upper)]
[Traits: Sword Saint (Purple), Master Swordsmanship (Blue), Favored by Fortune (Blue)]
[Sword Saint] (Purple): Born with unmatched talent and understanding in the way of the sword.
[Master Swordsmanship] (Blue): Countless battles have engraved refined swordsmanship into your very being.
"Her talent is equal to any so-called hero," Takumi thought to himself. "Only her level cap stops her at fifty-one."
"Restore."
A brilliant light enveloped Kureha's right shoulder, and before her astonished eyes, a new arm grew in place — smooth, whole, alive. At the same moment, a flood of memories and agony crashed into Takumi's mind: the searing pain of countless sword wounds, the despair of losing an arm, the years of relentless training and battle.
His entire body tensed, drenched in sweat as he endured it all.
[Ping! Acquired Trait: Master Swordsmanship (Blue)]
"Tch… that really hurts like hell…" He hissed through his teeth, suppressing the violent spasms coursing through him.
Kureha, however, could barely contain her joy. Tears welled in her eyes as she stared at her restored arm. "It's healed… my arm! It's really healed! This is—this is a miracle! I can fight again!"
Overwhelmed, she bowed deeply to Takumi, her voice trembling with gratitude. "Thank you, Lord Takumi. You've given me back my sword. I'll never forget this debt—" She froze as she saw his pale face.
"Lord Takumi! Are you all right!?" She hurried to his side, supporting him with her soft, snow-white arms. Her chest pressed against him as she steadied his body, the warmth of her touch making it difficult to focus.
"I'm fine," Takumi replied, forcing a faint smile. "When I heal, I experience the same pain the patient once felt. It's… unpleasant, but nothing serious."
Hearing that, Kureha's eyes filled with guilt and deep respect. Before she could say anything, Flare stepped in, brow slightly furrowed yet smiling with false concern.
"Kureha, Mister Takumi seems exhausted. You may go for now."
Kureha hesitated but nodded politely. "Then I'll take my leave." She gave Takumi one last lingering look before walking away.
Once the Sword Saint had gone, Flare turned and exchanged a glance with the old mage beside her. Pretending to fetch medicine for Takumi's recovery, the two retreated into a shadowed corner of the chamber.
"Useless," Flare muttered, her gentle mask slipping away to reveal contempt. "What kind of pathetic healer faints after casting one spell?"
The old mage shook his head, eyes gleaming with manic excitement. "No, Your Highness. This was no ordinary healing. His magic isn't simple restoration — it's creation, or even time reversal. He's not accelerating natural recovery, he's rewriting existence itself. That's the domain of gods! The agony he endures must come from the strain of touching such forbidden power. If I could uncover his secret, if I could harness it myself… then I… I would become—"
A cold voice cut him off.
"You sure know a lot for an old man."
The mage froze. The voice came from directly behind him.
Flare turned sharply—and her heart skipped a beat. Takumi was standing there, calm and expressionless, his shadow falling over them like a blade.
...
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