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Chapter 166: Saint Hill (9)
"Pulse stabilized! Heartbeat is becoming regular."
"Body temperature is rising to a normal level. The dangerous condition has been avoided."
"Skin color has improved… and more importantly, their eyes look less frightening now."
Listening to the flood of reports, Walker remained silent for a moment.
The potion’s effect was outstanding, especially considering it had been created in just three days.
Thanks to it, over a hundred victims had been transferred to a temporary medical facility for treatment.
"That’s a relief."
Oscar, who had been verifying the results alongside him, muttered.
Even though he had made this potion once before, the time constraints had been tight this time.
"How did you determine the necessary ingredients?"
"Well… after making enough potions, you start to get a feel for it."
"Have you treated a similar case before?"
At Walker’s sharp question, Oscar responded without even blinking.
"As if. Where would I even find people infected by demonic energy to treat?"
"…Haa."
Walker let out a deep sigh, prompting Oscar to look at him curiously.
"Why the sigh? The victims have been successfully treated."
"There’s just… something about it. Aren’t you exhausted? You didn’t sleep at all for three days while making the potion."
"I’m fine. I’m not the type to enjoy sleeping much anyway."
"…Is that a joke?"
"It’s the truth."
Walker frowned slightly as he stared at Oscar.
It was the look of someone observing a strange individual.
‘But there’s nothing I can do about it.’
Though Kiri had given him a protective talisman, it was meant to be used only in absolute emergencies.
In other words, his inability to sleep remained unchanged.
"Wow, this is incredible!"
At that moment, a voice from behind made Oscar’s eyes widen in shock.
‘…They were able to move without triggering my magic detection?’
That meant this person was at least a Level 7 expert, specialized in concealing their presence.
Quickly turning around, Oscar saw a man wearing a uniform similar to Walker’s.
His gaze sharpened.
‘Something about him feels… off.’
The man’s eyes and mouth were smiling, yet there was an undeniable sense of unease.
Perhaps it was the strong scent of blood, which even heavy perfume couldn’t mask.
‘Definitely not someone I want to be near.’
From past experience, people like this were never compatible with him.
The man scanned the patients lying in the temporary medical facility before turning to Oscar.
"I heard rumors about a genius alchemist, and it looks like they weren’t exaggerated."
"…Do you know him?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Clicking his tongue, Walker stepped in front of Oscar as if to shield him.
Then, in an ice-cold voice, he asked:
"What are you doing here?"
"Come on, Chief. Isn’t this a bit harsh for an old subordinate?"
"I won’t ask three times. Answer me—why are you here?"
Walker’s immense mana began to flow, signaling that he was ready for battle if necessary.
But the man, still smiling, simply shrugged.
"You already know, don’t you? People like us don’t have reasons. We just follow orders."
"…Orders from above?"
"That’s right. I happened to be passing through the area when I received an urgent command."
He glanced past Walker’s shoulder at the patients before continuing.
"Confirm whether Oscar Crucian’s potion can truly cure those infected by demonic energy."
"…."
Walker’s powerful mana, which had been surging ominously, gradually settled.
At the same time, Oscar also unconsciously relaxed the tension he had been holding.
‘Well, considering it’s the Imperial Court…’
They doubted everything and avoided risks at all costs.
That’s why they had sent yet another person to verify the situation firsthand.
Still, since the victims were all successfully treated, there shouldn’t be anything to worry about.
Or so he thought—until he heard a familiar sound from behind.
Schlaaash!
Oscar immediately recognized that sound.
It was the sound of blood gushing like a fountain when a vital point was pierced.
"…"
Slowly turning around, he saw over a hundred crimson fountains erupting into the air.
The air was so thick with the metallic scent of blood that it made his head spin.
At the same time, Walker’s mana exploded in fury.
"Sever Harben!"
For the first time, Oscar heard Walker shout in rage.
A massive explosion followed as Walker’s sword clashed with black thorns sprouting from the man’s fingertips.
Still grinning, the man curled his lips even higher.
"Hahaha! It’s been a while, Chief’s sword!"
"…!"
Clang!
As more thorns erupted from the ground, Walker swiftly retreated, glaring at the man.
The one called Sever Harben adjusted his disheveled uniform before speaking.
"Confirm whether Oscar Crucian’s potion can truly cure those infected by demonic energy. And eliminate every single test subject without exception."
"…"
"That was my order. Right now, you’re obstructing an official mission."
Walker’s grip on his sword trembled violently in anger.
"An order from the Imperial Court?"
"You know how it is. The Imperial Court despises uncertainty."
"The treatment was already a success. You saw it with your own eyes."
"Perhaps. But can you guarantee it with 100% certainty?"
Sever tilted his head slightly.
"Can you say for sure that they won’t relapse in a year, ten years, or fifty years?"
"…"
"For the safety of the Empire’s citizens, isn’t it best to eliminate any possible risk? The sacrifice of a few for the greater good."
Walker couldn’t refute him.
No matter how successful the results seemed now, no one could predict what might happen decades down the line.
"You know, this is surprising. Of all people, I didn’t expect this from you, Chief. Are you getting sentimental in your old age?"
"…"
"Or… now that you’re following His Majesty’s direct orders, does the darker side of the Imperial Court suddenly seem disgusting and vile to you?"
Sever smirked as he taunted Walker, whose silence only deepened.
"If you don’t like the Imperial decision, feel free to argue as soon as you return. Not that you would, of course."
"……."
Walker remained silent again.
There was an inexplicable loneliness in his slouched figure, sword hanging loosely by his side.
Oscar, watching him quietly, finally spoke.
"You really have a way of pissing people off."
"…Are you talking to me right now?"
Sever pointed at himself with an incredulous expression.
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Oscar nodded and, despite facing a Level 7 mage, let out every thought he had.
"And if you needed certainty, you should have talked to me first. I could have given the Imperial Court whatever results they wanted."
"Ah, well, that could have been an option."
Sever nodded, blinking.
"But… why go through all that hassle? Killing everyone would have been much simpler."
"What meaning is there in peace and security if it comes at the cost of innocent lives?"
"Hahaha!"
Sever burst into loud laughter before continuing.
"Meaning doesn’t matter. Peace and security hold value in themselves."
"……."
Oscar couldn't agree with that, not even for a second.
The world he wanted to protect was one where such values and justice still existed.
‘I've always known how the Imperial Court operates, but…’
Experiencing it firsthand again made him feel disgusted all over.
Sever, watching the still-silent Walker, offered his own advice.
"You've softened, Senior. No, maybe I should say you’ve finally become a little more human?"
"……."
"But don't change too much. War is coming. What the Empire needs right now is the bloodless, tearless Senior Walker, not the warm-hearted and sentimental Walker Blackion."
"Get lost."
At Walker’s clear dismissal, Sever raised both hands as if he had no intention of arguing further.
"Well then, I'll take my leave. See you both next time."
With that, Sever vanished from sight.
Not that Oscar ever wanted to see him again.
"I never want to see him again."
"……."
So, they think alike.
Oscar glanced at Walker, who seemed strangely gloomy, and asked,
"You know him well?"
"He used to be my direct subordinate."
There was clearly more to the story, but Walker kept his explanation brief.
"…Back during a mission in the Red Mountains, he was left behind. I didn’t go back to rescue him."
"Because of personal feelings?"
"Of course not. Back then, it was the choice that saved the entire team."
So that's why he resents him.
Or rather… does he actually admire him?
"He was never normal, but after surviving that, he became even stranger. Almost like…"
Walker trailed off, but Oscar could already guess what he wanted to say.
‘He's trying to imitate the old Walker.’
Oscar, having been through countless wars, understood why.
Sever must have clung to Walker’s past mindset because it was the only way he could endure.
If he could justify being abandoned, maybe he could move forward.
‘Not that it matters—he’s still an insufferable bastard.’
Oscar coldly gazed at the cooling corpses around him.
They had fought so hard to save these people, and yet it had all been for nothing.
‘No… maybe not for nothing.’
At least now the Imperial Court knew that it was possible to reverse someone corrupted by magic.
No doubt they’d find a way to exploit that knowledge.
"Take your people back to the White Tower. We'll handle things here."
With a cigarette in his mouth, Walker spoke, the dark circles under his eyes looking even deeper than before.
* * *
The ride back to the White Tower was quiet.
In the backseat, Veronica and Killian stared out the window in silence.
They weren’t bickering as usual—they seemed lost in thought.
"What's up with them?"
Blocking out the backseat noise, Oscar asked.
Fran shrugged.
"They just seem to have a lot on their minds. Killian didn’t do anything after getting captured, and Veronica was completely outmatched by that knight."
"I see."
So, they were starting to realize their own limitations.
That meant good news would likely follow soon.
‘Level 5, huh. Not bad progress.’
Self-doubt was the first step toward real growth.
Realizing their weaknesses would push them forward.
"Oh, and I’ve got a question."
"What is it?"
"It’s about Wind Form—when I used it in full-body mode…"
Oscar was listening carefully, but he couldn’t help interrupting.
"Wait, ‘Wind Form full-body mode’? What the hell kind of name is that?"
"What? It sounds cool."
"…Forget it. Keep going."
"Right, so when I used it, I could see an enemy who had completely erased their presence. Any idea why?"
"Hmm."
Oscar thought for a moment before answering.
"It’s because of your spirit."
"My spirit? You mean that low-grade one I implanted in my body?"
"Yeah. Your whole body turned into wind, so in a way, you became a spirit yourself."
"…That actually makes sense?"
"It does."
Fran’s eyes, and probably even his senses, had temporarily merged with the spirit’s perception.
He was able to detect things beyond human perception.
‘That’s… an unexpected development.’
Maybe Fran’s potential was even higher than Oscar had predicted.
After a brief moment of thought, Oscar glanced at the rearview mirror and muttered,
"It’s going to be quiet for a while when we get back."
Fran, Killian, and Veronica—
All of them would be too focused on training to bother him.
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