STM 88

Of course, Tairok also returned half-dead. However, as soon as he regained his lost Swordmaster powers, he recovered with remark able speed.

And after two weeks, he was able to use the aura like that.

“There’s no news of Adeye Lu leaving the mansion, but insider sources say he’s still moving. Well, with all the best healers in Tubain gathered here, wouldn’t he be running around by now? More than that, Adeye will probably send another pile of thank you gifts with a thank you letter…”

“Send them back.”

“…Yes.”

Rick sighed in frustration, then looked up at Tairok, who still hadn’t moved. Why was he acting like that? This was news of the curse he’d been waiting for.

“Your Grace, let’s go now. Your friend is waiting for you.”

Tairok’s gaze naturally turned to the castle.Even in the bright sunlight of midday, it was shrouded in pure white fog. Only by lifting the curse could it disappear.

He stared coldly at the fog that reminded him of his responsibilities for a moment, then turned around. Then, he received an unexpected offer from a friend he met in the study.

“Take me as your partner.”

‎

‎

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Just as the rumor goes that even the dead can be brought back to life in the Adeye family, I was able to walk again after two weeks even though I had my side scratched by a monster.

But by far the biggest contributor to my recovery was this pale soup in front of me.

“Ah~”

As I took a big sip of the warm soup straight from the bowl a sound of admiration came up from my core. Bone broth is the best for restoring your body.

This was already good enough, but I added some more salt and green onions to adjust the seasoning, then scooped up a big spoonful and drank it. There was someone who looked at me with more pride than anyone else while I did that. Of course it was Doctor Kim.

“How is it?”

“It is rich and good. It would be perfect if I sprinkled some chili powder…”

I blurted out my personal preference without thinking and then froze. I realized my mistake and checked her expression, but it was already too late. Doctor Kim was frowning with her eyes closed, seemingly trying to hold back her anger.

“This cursed land.”

“At least we have scallions.”

“Yes, in my first year here I comforted myself like that too.”

The look she gave me made it feel like she was warning me, saying,I am your future.” The future where I would become a crazy herb hunter searching all over Tubain for chili. A chill ran down my spine. I hurriedly asked,

“Is Baron Owick having any results?”

“Not yet.”

Damn, I will ask the Poison Spirit later if it has any spicy poisonous herbs. It won’t understand anyway. While I was making plans alone Doctor Kim casually passed along some news.

“Tomorrow the imperial palace is finally gathering everyone under the name White Branch Meeting.”

I nodded. Yesterday I had heard the whole situation from Solongo. The contractor of Borhumi’s divine beast had died, and the widening monster rift was all blamed on the vile dark mage.

The Borhumi family hid Zav’s stupidity thoroughly for the family honor and status. So people still didn’t know that Tairok had actually killed the dark mage.

The will of the other divine beast families, who didn’t want Kun to get the credit, matched perfectly with that.

But even the ostracized Kun will be gathered now?

“They are faster than I expected.”

“I am wondering about that too. Stopping the monsters appearing in Borhumi should be urgent, but they are so busy checking each other they won’t support monster hunting. And yet they want a meeting.”

“What are they checking each other for?”

“The chance to take Borhumi. Rumors say the Borhumi divine beast has disappeared.”

Of course Doctor Kim knew the truth because I had told her everything.

The Borhumi divine beast returned to its homeland, and its contract with the Borhumi family simply ended. Because of that she calmly took a sip of balloon flower tea.

“Montaine, the only family with a divine beast left, is coveting Borhumi. Sarne, who is greedy, is holding them in check because they are worried Montaine will grow stronger.”

“But for now Montaine looks like the winner.”

“Yes, to the ones who don’t know the truth.”

Clack. She put down her teacup and asked me.

“By the way, you are the one who has to decide who will use the Borhumi divine beast power, right?”

“Yes, but there is nobody I can give it to.”

“Right, there isn’t. Even if you want to give it, almost no human can accept the divine beast power.”

Then she gave an analogy.

“If you think of a human as a bowl it becomes easier to understand. Except for a very small number of people the bowl breaks just by touching the divine beast power.”

Breaking probably means dying. Right, that is why people look up to the divine beast families. But something in her subsequent explanation bothered me.

“And as far as I know each divine beast power can only be accepted by someone who inherited that family’s blood. You can think of it as the shape of the bowl being different for each divine beast.”

“Then the easiest person to look for is someone of Borhumi blood…”

I stopped mid sentence when something felt strange. Wait, then what is Tairok?

“Huh? But Tairok used it properly.”

When I trailed off with confused eyes Doctor Kim nodded like she understood.

“That point was very strange to me too, but I don’t know everything about divine beast families. Maybe Tairok accepted it because it was a small amount of power.”

Ah, maybe.

“Right, the Borhumi divine beast was very weak then.”

“Yes, otherwise Tairok would have an absurd ability to accept other divine beast powers too.”

Silence passed between us for a moment. Then we both shook our heads at the same time.

“No way, it can’t be that person.”

“Right, if that jerk was even born with something like that the world really isn’t fair.”

We put all our energy into badmouthing Tairok again with perfect unity.

“Exactly, how can one person have all the ability dumped on him like that, he isn’t a webtoon protagonist, it doesn’t make sense.”

“Right, the Borhumi divine beast probably knows Tairok can’t accept its full power.”

“……”

“Why?”

“…You sounded like you were saying I can give it to Tairok.”

After another silence Doctor Kim frowned and reached a conclusion.

“The divine beast doesn’t know anything.”

“Exactly.”

So we treated a divine being of Tubain like an ignorant fool just to bring down the hope of the world.

“And besides he already refused.”

I frowned as I remembered the time he faced Dorgo by the lake.

“He pushed my hand away really hard and wouldn’t even listen.”

When I swung my arm to reenact the moment Doctor Kim made a disgusted face.

“What, everyone in this world is desperate because they can’t get divine beast power, so why is he the only one who refuses it?”

“Right, that is what I am saying. His pride is stronger than you can imagine. His stubbornness is awful.”

“His temper is awful.”

“His mocking is unbelievably awful too.”

“He probably does nothing but give awful smirks.”

Yes, that annoying smirk of his is the best. I nodded and Doctor Kim returned to the main topic.

“Anyway, everyone is expecting Montaine to make some big announcement tomorrow.”

“She won’t say dhe will take the throne herself, right?”

“Of course not. She will just borrow someone else’s mouth.”

Right, being raised up by others looks better.

“But the other divine beast families won’t just sit and watch.”

“That is why it is strange. Makes me think Montaine is hiding a card. But the divine beast families aren’t what matters to us right now.”

Doctor Kim stopped and looked at me seriously.

“There is someone else who wants Montaine not to take the throne more than anyone.”

Of course. I had already thought of them too.

“The traitor is probably getting pretty anxious right now.”

They must be desperately hoping Tairok saves Tubain and takes the throne.

“So the thing is.”

“Yes.”

“There is someone unexpected on the attendance list for tomorrow’s White Branch Meeting.”

“Who is it?”

“High Priest Cheki.”

“…..”

“You said her disciple Ariona was suspicious, right?”

Yes, I did. I fell silent as I pictured the handsome young man with blue eyes.

“Why, is he not?”

“Solongo said Ariona doesn’t match the conditions. But now that I think about it, I also… feel something is off. I don’t know exactly why…”

I felt like I was missing something.

“You don’t need to waste energy worrying. You will find out tomorrow.”

“Huh? I can go too, to that meeting?”

“Do you want to go?”

Of course I do! I answered with my expression first, then opened my mouth but stopped.

Doctor Kim was looking at me with serious eyes.