Chapter 70

“A constitution that can’t expel mana…?”

 

At the healer’s strange words, Freyer frowned. Norman, wearing a bewildered expression, asked the healer, “What do you mean by that, Healer?”

 

“Exactly as it sounds.”

 

Everyone stared at the healer with suspicion, as if hearing complete nonsense.

 

“You seem to be having trouble understanding, so I’ll explain in detail.”

 

The healer looked at Lilithia and began.

 

“Since ancient times, the history of mana has existed. Mana is akin to essence itself, and for thousands of years the living beings of the continent have lived while using mana.”

 

Mana is the fundamental element that makes life move and live. Humans, monsters, animals—every living being is said to possess a small amount of mana.

 

“As thousands of years passed, for the sake of convenience, mana-based items such as travel gates, magic, communication devices, and artifacts were created. Everyone living today relies on mana to survive.

 

By nature, mages gather mana in the heart and manifest it as magic, priests turn mana into divine power, and knights express mana as aura through the dantian*.”

 

[*T/N: A vital energy hub in traditional Chinese medicine and practices where life force (Qi) is stored, refined, and circulated, with the Lower Dantian (below the navel) being crucial for grounding, vitality, and core strength, while Middle Dantian (chest) governs emotions, and the Upper Dantian (forehead/third eye) relates to spirit/consciousness.]

 

The healer looked at Lilithia with pity.

 

“Ordinary people also coexist with mana. They absorb mana as they breathe, and release the mana within their bodies through the skin and breath. But not everyone is born with that innate function.”

 

Everyone looked at Lilithia, who was breathing rapidly.

 

“Some people are born unable to take in mana—like this patient.”

 

“……”

 

“If someone with such a constitution is exposed to strong mana, it cannot escape the body and will threaten their life.”

 

Freyer narrowed his eyes as he stared at the healer. He had never heard such a thing in his life.

 

“Across the entire continent, you’d be lucky to find even ten people with this constitution. I never thought I’d see one in person.”

 

Norman asked,

 

“Then are you saying our young lady is one of those ten?”

 

“That is correct.”

 

“If mana can’t be expelled, does it cause problems?”

 

“Of course. If mana keeps entering the body but cannot be expelled, what do you think happens?”

 

“It would… accumulate inside the body?”

 

Winnie, standing nearby, answered. The healer nodded.

 

“Correct. A large amount of mana would build up inside.”

 

“…Then what happens?”

 

“Eventually, when the mana accumulates excessively and reaches saturation, it will affect the person’s life.”

 

“Affect their life…”

 

Freyer’s face twisted deeply as he looked at the healer.

 

“Is there no solution?”

 

The healer raised two fingers.

 

“There are only two methods. The first is to stop exposing the patient to mana entirely.”

 

“And the second?”

 

“To extract the excessive mana through a medium.”

 

“A medium?”

 

“A tool to draw out the accumulated mana. To put it simply, a mage with a mana core would suffice.”

 

The healer shook his head and lowered his hand.

 

“But the second method is close to impossible. During the transfer of mana, the mana pathways—blood channels—of the medium can become blocked, or in the worst case, the saturated mana can explode.”

 

Clicking his tongue, the healer continued,

 

“And judging by how unstable the mana inside her body is, it seems she’s recently been exposed to a high concentration of mana. In her current state, that method should be ruled out entirely. The fact that she even made it back from the Hunting Festival borders on a miracle.”

 

Freyer’s gaze locked onto Lilithia.

 

“If you wish to risk her life right now, then by all means, let a priest or mage treat her.”

 

“……”

 

“I’m speaking harshly to impress the severity of the situation.”

 

Freyer ground his teeth.

 

“The best course of action, then, is to reduce mana exposure in her surroundings as much as possible.”

 

The healer pointed to the magic lamp on the table.

 

“If something like that remains near the patient, it can threaten her life. She will absorb far too much mana.”

 

The instability of Lilithia’s communication device, her collapsing when using gates, the reason mages resented her—everything finally made sense.

 

It had all been caused by Lilithia’s unusual constitution.

 

“Remove the magic lamp immediately, Winnie.”

 

“…Yes!”

 

Winnie hurriedly gathered the magic lamp and moved it away from Lilithia’s bedside.

 

“From now on, please do not keep mana-based items near her. To stabilize the mana inside her body, stability—above all else—is essential.”

 

“Understood.”

 

Norman nodded firmly. But Freyer, still sensing something odd, asked skeptically,

 

“How does an ordinary healer know about such a constitution?”

 

“You misunderstand. I am a mage.”

 

The healer smiled brightly.

 

“A mage…?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“…Then why pretend to be a healer?”

 

The healer shrugged lightly.

 

“I never pretended. I simply practice both. The study of curing people through herbs and pulse diagnosis makes my blood as a scholar boil.”

 

With a truly pure smile, the healer continued, “She seems to have chills and fever, so I’ll prepare and send a remedy good for treating colds and body aches.”

 

“Thank you. Healer—no, Mage.”

 

“Think nothing of it. Ventilate often, and take good care of her. She should be back on her feet soon.”

 

After explaining basic care methods, the healer took his leave. Norman then said to Freyer,

 

“Your Highness, we will take care of the young lady.”

 

“No. I’ll stay by her side.”

 

Norman looked troubled, then spoke carefully.

 

“In that case, we need to change her clothes, as they’re soaked in cold sweat. Please excuse us for a moment.”

 

“Very well.”

 

“Winnie, help the young lady change.”

 

“Yes, Head Butler.”

 

 

***

 

 

Freyer moved to his own room.

 

“……”

 

He ran a hand through his hair. His heart felt heavy and unsettled.

 

Knock, knock—

 

A sound tapped against the window. When he opened it, Derek and Jaybil slipped silently into the room.

 

“You came quickly.”

 

“You told us to come immediately and discreetly, Your Highness.”

 

“What on earth happened?”

 

“I found out why mages resent Lilithia.”

 

Derek and Jaybil tilted their heads.

 

“Truly?”

 

“Did Lady Lilithia tell you herself?”

 

“She has a constitution that can’t expel mana. That seems to be the problem for mages.”

 

“Mana expulsion? Constitution? What does that mean?”

 

“…I’ve heard a story about it.”

 

Jaybil spoke up.

 

“In the village where I lived, there was a fairy tale about the primordial creator god punishing humans by making them unable to use mana.”

 

“There’s a fairy tale like that?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Derek shot Jaybil a displeased look. Freyer nodded.

 

“I hadn’t heard the fairy tale, but Lilithia truly has that constitution.”

 

“Then a mage using magic on Lady Lilithia could have caused serious trouble.”

 

“…That’s possible.”

 

“But I doubt the Crown Prince wouldn’t know about this.”

 

The Crown Prince was always several steps ahead. With his information network, it was unthinkable that he’d be unaware of matters under his control.

 

“That makes sense. It would explain his sudden change in behavior.”

 

“That’s why he’s been sending Lilithia tonics and medicinal herbs.”

 

“To gain her favor.”

 

As expected, his intentions weren’t pure. He had once tried to eliminate both Lilithia and Freyer. Now, Lilithia was a crucial piece in their plans—and those plans had to be stopped.

 

“Keep a close watch on the Crown Prince’s movements.”

 

“Yes. According to information from Martin Babero, the funds that used to flow to the Empress have shifted to the Crown Prince’s side.”

 

“He’s definitely plotting something new.”

 

“Yes. Since he believes it’s to keep Your Highness in check, we’ll continue monitoring him.”

 

Jaybil nodded. Freyer then asked Derek,

 

“What about Guild Leader Ricardo?”

 

“He has taken a gate to Oneren Kingdom. He plans to meet his collaborators there, but an audience with the king may prove difficult.”

 

“…Maintain constant contact and report the situation.”

 

“Understood.”

 

“From now on, reports will be made at the Baimery estate—or via communication device.”

 

Their usual reporting location was the Silvertone hideout. But with new secrets uncovered and new movements underway, Freyer couldn’t predict what might happen to her in her weakened state.

 

He had to protect her.

 

“I can’t leave Lilithia’s side right now.”