What I need to do is simple.
The debuff currently affecting me.
[Health Continuous Decrease E (Growth type. Cannot be removed)]
This is a permanent debuff I'll have to carry for life.
"Let's see, calculating it out, it seems to decrease about 0.1 every two hours, *cough*."
When I cough, a bit of blood comes up with the phlegm.
Not a good sign. It means there's damage occurring somewhere in my lungs or internal membranes.
"Health decrease manifests as internal injuries. That's the key point."
Surgery to remove the symptoms is impossible. It's an irremovable debuff.
In other words, it's an incurable disease.
"Then the solution is simple."
I just need to create and take medicine that treats internal bleeding.
The effect needed: health recovery, more than 0.1 every two hours.
"Fortunately, I have some ingredients in mind."
I immediately left the room. Having slept well, my body felt refreshed.
It's still dawn. I head toward the backyard, caressed by sunlight filtering through the bluish-gray sky.
I run there with a childlike excitement, feeling the cool breeze.
"This is kind of thrilling."
I never thought I'd actually be able to make real medicine in this world.
My steps were as light as when going to buy a newly released game.
"This had a peculiar effect."
Snap, I pick the stem without hesitation.
These are the yellow roses that Asella had carefully plucked one by one.
They're rare to see but not exceptionally precious. I occasionally saw variants in the demon realm when hunting the Four Heavenly Kings.
Tea brewed from yellow rose petals had excellent effects in neutralizing poisons adhered to lung or stomach membranes.
This is knowledge gained from hundreds of regressions and trying all sorts of things.
I searched for every hidden element trying to figure out how to clear the game.
"I'm sure I can use this."
I pick dozens of roses and put them in my bag.
I bring them to my room and lay them out on the table.
After plucking just the petals one by one, a fluffy yellow mountain soon forms.
"This feels almost like deboning chicken breast to make nuggets."
Having the ingredients ready makes me feel good.
Like I've completed my own little factory.
I grab a handful of petals and place them down.
"First, I need to reduce the volume."
My goal is to make it into a pill form that can be taken in one swallow.
"Compression."
I try using Compression, an E-rank Alchemy skill.
The method naturally comes to mind. I instinctively know what to do.
But this...
"It feels like using magic?"
Perhaps it's similar in terms of using incantations.
I open my palm and let mana flow. Pure white mana emerges faintly and envelops the rose petals.
Crunch! When I clench my fist in the air, the petals crumple as if in a vacuum.
"Oh."
I move my fingers around to adjust the shape in detail.
Finally, it's completed in pill form.
"Pretty impressive for a first try."
It's a bit misshapen, but still.
I'm pleased to see the bright yellow pill that looks like medicine.
Let's see what appears in the status window.
―――――――――――
Yellow Rose Petal Health Medicine (Crafted)
Effect when consumed: Heals 0.1 health lost due to internal bleeding over 6 hours
―――――――――――
"Yes, that's it. Just as expected."
The effect is exactly what I wanted.
However, the value is only one-third of what I need.
Then I should use this skill next.
"Enhancement."
I can increase the healing amount of the yellow pill.
With that in mind, I try to cast the skill.
"Huh?"
Unlike Compression, my hand hesitates as I try to emit mana.
I instinctively feel like another step in the process is needed.
"Is there more to it?"
Compression is E-rank, Enhancement is D-rank.
Shouldn't D-rank just require mana too?
"It's not like it needs magical power though."
Magical power is a stat only needed for casting magic.
Alchemy spells are skills that can be cast with mana as long as you have the knowledge.
"Hmm."
I struggled for a while but failed to cast Enhancement.
I'd never failed to cast healing spells before, so this was a bit confusing.
"What should I do? *Cough, cough*."
While I'm pondering, my health decreases again.
Breakfast time has already passed without me noticing.
"I need help."
Someone knowledgeable about spells.
"There is one person."
Beyond knowledgeable—practically at the pinnacle.
But do I really need to ask Asella? It's just a D-rank spell. In magic terms, that's about 2nd Circle, so it's not that difficult.
"I do have something to receive from her anyway."
I'll use that as an excuse to ask her how to cast spells.
I took the pill and went to find Asella's room.
***
"Her Highness asks you to wait."
The head maid blocked me like an iron wall in front of the room.
I'd been diligently looking for Asella, only to waste time.
And I was already delayed after being caught by my father.
—Lars, are you feeling better? Come here, let me cast a healing spell on you myself. You must be tired after doing something you're not used to. It would be terrible if you collapsed again!
I had a hard time getting away from him as he grabbed my arm in a fuss.
With father's skill, he could probably recover some of my health immediately, but my debuff is something I'll have to carry for life.
It's more important that I create a solution myself, and Asella holds the key.
Having arrived at the terrace in front of Asella's room, I waited blankly with nothing else to do.
"Oh, Max. Did you sleep well?"
Fortunately, Max came out first to show affection, so I wasn't bored.
This fellow doesn't seem to realize how big he is. Every time he pushes his face forward, I feel his weight with my whole body.
He probably wants me to stroke his face. I played with Max's soft cheeks for a while until the balcony door slid open.
"So noisy from the morning. What is it?"
Asella appeared.
She looked as impeccable as yesterday, with every strand of hair perfectly arranged.
"On this refreshing morning, I am honored to see your noble presence. I hope your sleep was peaceful..."
"Get to the point."
Asella seemed to be in a low mood.
Is she okay? Did I come to step on a landmine?
If I say "it's nothing" and leave now, that would probably irritate Asella more.
I really shouldn't have come.
"I would like you to teach me how to use spells."
"Did you say spells?"
"Yes."
Asella's furrowed brow relaxed slightly.
She sat down in front of me.
"So you've gained a talent."
"Yes, Alchemy."
"Hmm, unexpected."
Asella's deep golden eyes examine me up and down as if observing.
It feels uncomfortable, like she's dissecting every part of my body.
"Do you know what my talent is?"
"Magic, right? And an extraordinary one at that."
"You know well. I have two."
"What?"
"My talents. I have two in magic alone."
"Ah."
So that's how you can summon Dragon Corps or cause earthquakes that destroy continents with your insane magic.
Of course. As expected of Lady Asella.
"You're not surprised."
"Pardon?"
"I said I have two talents, but you're not surprised."
"Ah, well."
Goodness.
She's coming at me so directly.
"I'm not surprised because I expected someone of your caliber as the Imperial Princess to naturally possess such extraordinary qualities."
"I'll accept that. So, what spell do you want to learn?"
"To be precise, I want to learn how to use spells. I've gained the talent for Alchemy, but for some reason, I can't cast spells."
"Show me."
I took out a handkerchief and gently placed it on the table. The bright yellow pill is revealed inside.
'Enhancement.'
I try to use Enhancement. The mana flowing from my hand fails to take form and quickly dissipates like a mirage.
"This is what happens."
"Try drawing a geometric shape with mana."
"A shape?"
Come to think of it, Asella often mentioned things like shapes and dimensions.
Since I had no connection to magic, I usually let it go in one ear and out the other.
"Watch."
Asella releases mana from the tip of her slender, pale fingers.
Her mana, shimmering with a brilliant golden light.
It forms a line and soon becomes a circle with two layers.
"It's a circle."
"The simplest yet most perfect shape. The number of vertices is zero. When you write a formula in the outer space, that becomes a magic circle."
"Do I have to include a formula?"
"A formula isn't anything special. When you write knowledge in letters, that becomes a formula."
Asella writes something.
It says [Flames rise up].
"It's better when condensed."
The sentence written on the outside combines and changes into a single symbol.
It's a rune character. It means flame.
Two circles, one character.
A very simple mana drawing.
"Rotate it lightly and the preparation is complete."
Tap, Asella touches the edge of the circle, and the magic circle slowly rotates counterclockwise.
"This is activation. When you infuse mana into the circle, that's casting."
Flash!
The magic circle shines brilliantly with Asella's light. It means she injected a large amount of mana.
Then whoosh!
A large flame rises from the magic circle and shoots into the sky. It was like an untimely festival firework.
"Now you try."
She just shows me and tells me to try.
What a kind teacher.
She seems to think everyone is a genius like her.
"Hmm."
Starting with flowing mana to draw a shape.
Since a circle is too difficult and gets distorted, I'll start with a triangle.
"How is it?"
"Hmm."
I don't know what that response means.
Say something, anything.
What do you expect? This is my first time.
I write characters on the outside.
Let's see, what I need is a health recovery effect.
I use the word 'treatment' rather than 'healing.' This distinction is important.
This way, the medicine will work based on my medical skill.
[Increase health treatment effect]
I write the characters with a trembling hand. This seems like a more difficult task.
I should study abbreviated characters too.
"That's wrong. Look, the formula must be placed inside the shape..."
Asella, seemingly frustrated, tried to touch my spell but stopped mid-sentence.
It was the moment our hands brushed.
'Was she that impatient?'
Asella keeps her eyes fixed on the spell formula, not looking at me.
"Your Highness?"
"...Be quiet."
The princess turns her head away.
She must be wondering what to do with this mess of a spell.
She seems so distracted that she's fidgeting with her hand—unusual for someone so composed.
Looking at Asella's hand, I noticed her index finger still wrapped in a linen band.
"By the way, is your wound better?"
When I instinctively reached toward it, Asella quickly pulled her hand away to the opposite side.
"Focus."
"Understood."
Asella is secretly serious about magic.
Even though it's just an alchemy spell, she seems to be getting increasingly annoyed that I'm messing it up.
[No. 056: The Villainess's Hatred 7%]
The bad ending probability hasn't increased.
Thankfully, she doesn't kill people over things like this.
It's good she has at least that much common sense.
I continue casting the spell.
—Flash!
"Oh."
The engraved circle glows with a faint gray light.
It means the casting is complete.
"What? It worked right away?"
It wasn't that difficult after all.
Was she making such a fuss and acting irritated over teaching me just this?
"Your Highness, I succeeded, but..."
Asella blinked a few times. Each time, her long eyelashes fluttered.
"...Well, you should be able to do at least that much."
So it was just that level.
"It's about a 2nd Circle spell. A promising commoner could use it after a few years of effort. Of course, some might cast it on their first try... Where did the additional circle go?"
Asella muttered something.
She definitely becomes more talkative when magic is involved.
Is she amazed that I cast the spell so well?
"Didn't you cast magic on your first try when you first learned it, Your Highness?"
"Of course I did it in one try. Who do you think I am?"
"Of course, you're the unparalleled magical genius, Princess Asella."
"You know well. Keep that attitude."
Asella raised one corner of her mouth in satisfaction with my answer.
If you're going to smile, smile honestly. Why just one side? It's annoying.
Ah, maybe she didn't want me to see it? Looking at how she only raised the left side, which is less visible from my angle.
She really has a strong sense of pride.
'Anyway, I succeeded on the first try.'
I checked the resulting pill.
―――――――――――
Enhanced Yellow Rose Petal Health Medicine (Crafted)
Effect when consumed: Heals 0.3 health lost due to internal bleeding over 6 hours
―――――――――――
Good. It's been completed with specs that can perfectly counteract the debuff.
"Young Lord, did you make that with a spell?"
"Ah, yes."
"What is it?"
I guess she's never seen medicine before.
"It's medicine. You could call it food that has healing effects when consumed."
"Food? There's no cooking spell. It was Alchemy."
"That's right. Please think of it as a mix of medicine and alchemy."
"Really? What's the effect of this medicine?"
"It improves health."
"Let me see."
Asella picked up the rose medicine with her fingers and popped it into her mouth.
Hey, that's my rose medicine.
"Bitter!"
She immediately scrunched her face like crumpled newspaper and spat out the medicine.
"What is this? Where in the world is there food this bitter? Young Lord, did you create poison instead of food?"
Asella hastily gulps down tea.
Seeing her suffer from her own greed makes me feel oddly good.
I can't help but smile.
I shouldn't laugh. I am sad, I am sad.
Sigh.
"Please don't do that with medicine I worked hard to make. I made it for myself to take."
I picked up the rose medicine that Asella spat out onto the table and swallowed it.
Wow, it really is bitter.
The taste that brushed my tongue and esophagus was terrible.
[Health decreases]
[Health increases]
But thanks to it, the health decrease stopped.
The same amount increases as decreases, so health remains constant.
If I make a large quantity, I won't have to worry about the debuff for a while.
But for some reason, Asella is looking at me with her mouth slightly open, a shocked expression on her face.
"Did you just eat what I spat out?"
"It was mine to begin with. I told you I worked hard to make it."
"No, that's... never mind."
"Yes."
Asella avoids my gaze.
Silence fell for a moment.
There didn't seem to be anything more to say, so I stood up.
"Then I'll be going now."
"Where to?"
Why again?
"Um... you must be tired from teaching me spells, so you should rest, Your Highness."
"I need to receive payment."
"Pardon? This teaching was the payment I rightfully deserved."
"You made me eat that bitter food."
You took it yourself.
This is really absurd.
"Young Lord, didn't you say there were many interesting things in the streets below the mansion?"
Did I?
I think I said something like that while bluffing to the Empress.
Asella whispered to me with eyes full of expectation.
"I want to go there."
"But why are you whispering?"
"Because we're going secretly."
It seemed Her Highness had become fixated on something strange again.