The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

Chapter 42

42 – 42. The Princess and the Chief (3)

A dragon so large it covered the arena, with wings as black as night.

I couldn’t possibly mistake my hundredth time seeing Wilhelm’s face.

I’ve fought with him countless times.

He wasn’t even wearing Adamantium armor, and he looked smaller than what I was used to.

He’s still growing before becoming the Four Kings.

“Why did this one suddenly appear?”

I speculate.

The Recall spell that Asella just cast.

A spell that could bring other creatures to the caster’s side.

Even ten years later, only Asella could use this spell.

She must have developed Recall further to summon a dragon army and raise her rank.

“Someone who just witnessed Asella’s spell mimicked it and cast it with even more powerful force than Asella is capable of.”

Someone who can understand and utilize a new spell at first sight, with even more powerful capabilities than Asella – a sorcerer.

Since Seymour didn’t attend the combat tournament, there’s only one suspect.

“It’s Queen Camilla.”

I’ll have to inquire about her motives later for why she did this.

“As for Wilhelm, Asella mentioned something about him.”

– Next up is the subjugation of the dragon. It was about 10 years ago when Jim competed against that pitch-black reptile. If he knew he would become a high-ranking officer of the Demon King’s army, he definitely would have taken it out back then.

– So what, since you have heroes, you shouldn’t have any trouble easily subduing creatures like that.

It’s not easy to put it into words, but even Wilhelm has memories of being wiped out five times.

This moment was the race that Acella had mentioned.

And I know well that her words were just a boast.

The image of Acella in the distance was quite different from the description of her boasting about her greatness and telling endless stories ten years later.

With hunched legs, hands tightly gripping the cane, teeth gnashing as if they would shatter.

The muscles, filled with terror, are frozen, unable to move.

Subconsciously, she creates an awkward posture, protecting her upper body and belly.

It was an instinctive posture taken due to the considerable pain felt in the abdomen.

‘What a breathless situation. You managed to survive somehow.’

[No. 101: Magic Burst 4% → 71%]

[In progress]

The probability of Acella’s death causing a magic burst ending is increasing exponentially.

It was clear that the dragon posed a great threat to Acella’s life.

‘I can’t just watch.’

If Acella dies before her condition is treated, magic will go on a rampage.

At the very least, it is a force that can easily blow away a system.

Even I, entangled in it, cannot guarantee absolute safety.

So this is purely self-defense.

Acella stood alone in front of the menacing dragon, trembling, so there was no sympathy or cheap compassion to help her.

Her noble relatives are busy protecting themselves, leaving Acella to fend for herself. Even if they disregard her, it doesn’t concern me.

She was the woman who ultimately killed me.

Sympathy is a position I should be in.

With no combat ability whatsoever, I have no means to defeat the dragon directly.

‘But still, well…’

As a physician, taking care of the patient’s well-being is my duty.

After regressing, I have received considerable support from Acella.

Thanks to becoming the royal physician, I’ve enjoyed various privileges and found it easier to practice medicine.

So for now…

No, at least until the contract ends, I should support Acella as much as possible.

It comes with a price.

“Your Highness!”

I almost reached Azella and shouted, but it seemed that she couldn’t hear my voice.

I was extremely tense. In a state of panic.

In such moments, I needed some external stimuli.

Slapping her cheek would be the most effective method, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I grabbed her wrist and pulled her.

“Princess.”

Finally, Azella looked up at me.

Golden mana swirled in her eyes.

“Ras.”

“Yes, I’m here.”

“…What are you doing here?”

A voice filled with deep confusion.

“I told you to take it when you’re in pain.”

I took out a vial from my pocket and handed her a painkiller pill.

“No, I don’t want it. It’s bitter.”

“Listen to your physician.”

I brought the painkiller close to Azella’s mouth.

She understood as I extended my finger. Her breathing was rough and hot.

She was struggling much more than I had expected.

If she refused, I had planned to force it into her mouth without hesitation.

However, Azella accepted the pill I placed between her lips without much resistance.

She swallowed the painkiller along with a dry sip.

“Phew…”

Her breathing gradually calmed down.

I gently wiped off the sweat on her forehead with a handkerchief.

“Are you feeling better?”

From Noble mtl dot com

“My head feels dull.”

“The painkiller will take effect, and since your mana is depleted, that’s why. Luckily, I have a mana replenishing potion. It’s disposable, but with what you showed earlier, you can use it about three times.”

I took out a syringe-like potion from my pocket.

While Azella’s mind was still foggy, she asked foolish questions.

“Did you see my magic?”

“Yes, I saw it clearly from the spectator seats.”

How was it?

“Elegant, powerful, and impressive.”

“…Is that so?”

Assela laughed without reason, as if she could fall asleep right away with her eyes.

“It’s a bit disappointing for the final magic, though.”

“The final one, you say?”

*Kwaaang!*

A black sphere exploded from the audience seats. It was a dragon’s attack.

The knights who were there were engulfed in curses and flew through the air.

Impatient individuals threw spears towards the dragon, attracting attention and paying the price.

The dragon turned its gaze towards us.

It seems to be particularly interested in Assela.

“Look at that dragon. It will soon unleash a massive curse upon all humans present here. You’re unlucky too, Las.”

I chuckled and grabbed both of Assela’s shoulders from behind.

“What…are you doing?”

I pushed her slightly forward, making her face the dragon squarely.

“It’s just that the compatibility of the ice magic you used wasn’t great. Dragon Vilhelm, the strategy to defeat it is not that difficult.”

While speaking, I secretly injected a mana potion into my neck.

“Brr, it’s cold.”

“We’re ready to fight.”

Assela’s eyes widened.

“Fight? Do you expect me to defeat that thing?”

“Yes.”

I confidently replied.

“Isn’t Princess Assela the greatest magician in this place?”

You have to defeat that thing.

Show me what you’ve got, Assela.

***

After the magic performance ended, the first emotion that pierced through Asella’s mind was confusion.

Her thoughts were in disarray with countless questions.

Why wasn’t my magic acknowledged?

What kind of existence am I in the royal family?

Did Amamama really give up on me?

Will everything get better if I become the emperor?

…But above all, the most curious question was why Lass was here,

That was the question.

No, come to think of it, the answer to that question came easily.

Lass had always been by Asella’s side.

Since they first met in a flower garden filled with yellow roses.

Was it because he was her fiancé? Or was it because he was her personal physician?

Every morning Asella wakes up, she meets Lass.

Even before going to bed every night, she meets Lass.

And even now.

“…Why are you always by my side?”

It was right beside me.

I couldn’t possibly demand an answer.

That’s what I thought, but if his actions, whose intentions were unreadable, were to change.

It felt like the relationship with Lass would be ruined, so Asella held back her question.

All her subordinates who followed her had clear intentions and were easy to understand.

Loyalty brings sweet rewards.

In this modern era, there is nowhere to find someone who protects honor without material gain.

Officials adhere to regulations and gain affiliation and stability.

Knights gain status and power as the future Emperor’s close aides.

But Lass is different.

While seemingly loyal to Asella, he always puts himself first and constantly resists her orders.

He flatters well but doesn’t show up until asked. It’s at the level of bowing down completely.

Whether it’s money or power, it didn’t seem like he stuck around Asella because she was a princess who could bring him benefits.

Then is he a desperate scoundrel who wants to use the fiancé relationship?

It would have been better if it was like that.

If the foolish husband had imprisoned her in her quarters, Asella could have moved more freely in high society instead.

He was far from being called a worthless person and always sincere.

Every day, he created new things with medicine, then suggested manuals.

What exactly is the purpose of this man?

That’s why Ashella first became interested in Las.

It was the first time she had met someone who couldn’t read her innermost thoughts.

Despite his good appearance that differed from rumors, it became even harder to know his sincerity.

So if you ask him a wrong question now…

For example, “Why did you come here to die?”

“Why do you go so far?”

“Are you on my side?”

Carelessly asking such questions might ruin the delicate balance that has persisted so far.

Asella discovered that she was afraid of herself without realizing what she was afraid of or why.

Ironically, thanks to her fear,

“I can fight.”

In front of a dragon filled with ominous black energy, he could wield his cane.

His mind is foggy due to the potion’s influence.

But Ras’s voice was clearer than ever in his ear.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Asella nodded her head.

It was Asella’s pain that no healer could cure.

Ras made it disappear with just a tiny pill.

If this isn’t magic, what is?

His voice echoes in her mind.

“Your Highness, listen carefully. Elemental magic is not effective against dragons. Even among dragons, Serpents are different in lineage. Their elemental immunity and resistance are immensely high.”

Ras spilled unfamiliar words for the first time.

“Using a different attribute of magic would be more effective. Light attributes are better. He’s still young enough to subdue easily.”

“Using my magic, that dragon?”

“Of course.”

Las confidently responds with a determined face.

…Why is that?

Asella had lived her whole life as a princess, perceiving everything in the world without missing a single detail.

But in that moment, all she could see in her vision was Las’ face.

A face that believed in her with confidence.

A face of the unwavering court physician.

“Hoo.”

Asella calms her breathing.