The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

8 – Talent Awakening (2)

“A saint instead of a holy maiden?”

Hwangbi asked me in return.

I answered while tapping on the artifact.

“This chalice is an item that can awaken talents. If a holy maiden is born from the alliance between you, Hwangbi, and our family, it would create an unparalleled opportunity.”

“That’s true.”

“Gutberg blood runs thicker in me than in Neria. Look at my hair.”

I leaned back and tilted my head, gesturing for her to take a good look.

Pure silver hair.

White hair is a characteristic of our noble lineage, which is imbued with divine power.

And to anyone’s eye, I was much closer to white than Nelia.

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“If I open up my talent, wouldn’t the probability of being chosen as a saint be much higher?”

The expression on Hwangbi’s face was a little uneasy at my statement.

Well, anyone would be surprised when the person who pricked his hand during the day suddenly becomes very cooperative in the evening.

Hwangbi’s confusion is my purpose.

Was the incident with the crown during the day just an action without much thought?

Was pricking his hand just a simple mistake, or is this guy just a really stupid troublemaker? There may be all sorts of doubts.

When someone appears easy to handle, people tend to let their guard down.

What Hwangbi needs is material that will definitely be held under himself politically.

He must have chosen Nelia because she seems docile.

But it’s easier to handle a stupid troublemaker than someone with a just and upright character.

When he becomes the troublemaker he wants him to be.

“Do you want this artifact?”

“Not really. Statistically speaking, that’s true.”

He shrugged and answered.

“Las, being a saint comes with a lot of responsibilities.”

“Oh, I don’t really know about that. Even if there’s a problem, my father will take care of it, right?”

“Um….”

“Father, don’t retire from the governing position until I’m grown up, okay? You know I hate troublesome things.”

I smiled and patted my father’s shoulder. I drank the wine straight from the bottle and slumped in my chair.

“Hey, the wine’s gone! Be quick and fill it up without me having to say it!”

He shouted like a drunken man.

Hwangbi looked at me with a disgusted expression.

Well, I’m a docile troublemaker who won’t betray anyone and will stay in this house for the rest of my life. I put the collar on myself.

I continued to laugh and said to Hwangbi.

“Hey, Hwangbi, you’re laughing now, too. You’ve only been talking about difficult things, and I was getting tired. Have you ever been to our territory? The street food is amazing. If you have time tomorrow, let’s go together…”

“Wait a minute, Gongja. Let’s finish talking about this artifact first.”

Hwangbi hurriedly interrupted me. He must be really anxious and restless.

That’s why he can’t hold a position in the royal court.

He exposes his underlying emotions too much.

“Then, do you plan on using the Holy Grail, Confucius?”

“Well, they say it’s good for your health, so why not receive a small thing?”

“…Do you know how much this artifact is worth?”

“Oh, how would I know about such things? But is it really that good? Wouldn’t it be more fitting for the eldest son, Jangnam, to use it before Neriah?”

He subtly hinted that he would take offense if Neriah were to give it to me.

It’s not something I should possess, but I can’t stand being ignored.

She acts like a spoiled child.

Watching back and forth between Hwangbi and the artifact, she asked her father,

“What do you think, Viscount?”

“If that is Lord Ras’ will, then I have no intention of opposing it.”

At that moment, Asella interjected,

“Giving it to Gongja?”

She, who had been bored all this time, now seemed slightly interested.

“Gongja indeed has stronger divine power, and I think he is destined to become a saint.”

Asella’s eyebrows sink slightly.

“It would be fun if he becomes my patron.”

“…Let me think about it.”

Hwangbi took the artifact and left the banquet hall. Knights and attendants followed her.

Asella raised the corner of her mouth toward me and also followed behind.

After they left, my father, Neriah, and I also had a short conversation in the lounge.

“Ras, I thought your actions earlier were an act. What was your intention?”

“That artifact is called the ‘Chalice of Revelation.’ It can uncover hidden talents, but one must pay a price for it.”

“A price?”

“In this world, there is nothing that can be obtained without a price. If you think of it as being cursed, then that’s the idea.”

Asella said something similar, too.

By the way, what should I ask in return? I’ll think about it later.

If I use the Holy Grail as I said, I can unlock the skill tree of talents, but a debuff will also be applied.

The type of debuff is random, so if the talent’s level is low, the artifact becomes more of a disadvantage to use.

However, as someone with an S-level talent locked away, it is advantageous for me to use it even at the cost of accepting the debuff.

“Brother, um…”

Neria called me.

Her face had a slightly frightened expression.

“Thank you….”

For what?

When Neria wears that, it’s to enhance her sacred talents and eventually be chosen as a saint.

But the debuff she receives is stunted growth.

Neria will remain the same age and appearance even after 10 years.

“With that kind of debuff, it’s a total loss.”

And to make it worse, I have two talents.

Buy one, get one free promotion.

How can I endure this?

To obtain that artifact outside, I have to pay at least 5000 gold, and there’s no listing, so I have to wait endlessly.

This is a good opportunity.

I hope Hwangbi can’t stand it and quickly presents the artifact, but my father patted my shoulder.

“Las, that was truly a meaningful action.”

Really?

“We didn’t have enough reason to openly refuse Hwangbi’s proposal. If Neria accepts, it’s an inevitable situation. You sacrificed yourself, knowing everything and in place of Neria. As a father, I’m ashamed.”

I only thought about taking advantage of the situation.

“Neria is still young and has a bright future. We can’t let her use a dangerous artifact. As her older brother, it’s only natural that I protect her.”

“Las…!”

My father, moved, placed his hand on my shoulder.

He’s such a naive person. If it weren’t for that Hwangbi, he would have lived peacefully and comfortably managing this rural territory for his whole life.

With a knock, the door opened and the butler reported to us.

“My Lord, Master, Miss. Hwangbi has made a decision.”

The old fox has finally made a move.

“Let’s go, father.”

Confidently, I walked towards the banquet hall.

***

Neria Gotterberg was the daughter of a spy.

Her father was a powerful noble, but her mother was a commoner, and even an innkeeper.

When Neria had come of age, she was already the beloved daughter of a respectable Viscount.

She had never been discriminated against for being a concubine’s child.

Her father had passed away more than ten years ago, and her half-brother was all that remained of the Gotberg family’s situation.

Compared to other noble families, they were quite ordinary and quiet.

However, because her mother had not entered the family, Neria grew up feeling somewhat lonely.

Her father was taciturn.

But it was tolerable.

However…

“…Father is frightening.”

At any opportunity, he would drink and cause a ruckus on the streets.

At night, if screams echoed from the mansion or the sound of something breaking could be heard, the culprit was undoubtedly him.

Fortunately, there were guards in the mansion, so he never resorted to violence or anything of the sort.

Her father took care of him promptly and isolated him in a separate building, ensuring that there were no issues with Neria.

That’s why Neria, who had to meet him directly today after almost three years, was trembling in fear.

“Let’s make sure not to stand out. Let’s not become anyone’s concern in the family.”

It was evident that her father would dislike someone like herself, a concubine’s child.

With that thought in mind, Neria adjusted herself multiple times, took a deep breath, and entered the reception room.

After exchanging greetings, she immediately regretted it.

Without thinking, she had averted her gaze because his sharp eyes were too intimidating.

What if he insults me? My heart is trembling. But he spoke with a gentle voice.

“The dress suits you well. It makes you look taller.”

“Oh…?”

Neria slowly lifted her head and examined his face once again.

Her bad-boy-like half-brother whom she knew.

His angry and furious expression had mostly disappeared from his face, and a kind smile was faintly etched on it.

Without realizing, her worries about him diminished a bit.

But the tension did not dissipate.

She still remembered the fear she felt towards him, and today was an important day when she had to show respect to the royal family.

“You must be hungry since it’s mealtime, right? Have one of these. Eating something sweet will lighten your mood quickly.”

However, her half-brother placed a candy in his palm and held it out to her.

What does this mean? Is it really bitter and they’re just playing a prank on me?

Those suspicions vanished as soon as the candy hit her mouth.

The sweet aroma of honey spread throughout her nose.

Sugar rushed into her head and her eyes widened.

“Is Father a magician?”

Neria felt fascinated by the sudden rush of joy.

However, that good feeling didn’t last long.

It was because of the talk of her becoming a saint.

The first picture that came to Neria’s mind was the legend of the warrior party fighting with the demon king she heard as a child.

They fought bravely and sacrificed their lives to bring peace to the continent.

“I don’t want to die….”

She didn’t want to fight demons either.

Why did Empress Hwangbi bring up this story to someone she had just met?

Do adults usually talk about such things?

Father is just staring at me.

I can’t help it…I have to answer.

“…if it’s for the family’s sake…”

“Just wait a minute.”

A voice interfered at that moment.

Neria heard his bold and gruff voice and was convinced he was on her side.

“hehehehe….”

Neria held her chin and looked at Rass, who was acting against Empress Hwangbi.

Although she knew it was a bad habit to eat snacks right after meals, Neria unconsciously grabbed the candy Rass had given her and put it in her mouth.

“Father….”

The plump cheeks of the girl were already filled with trust in her father.

After the meal, Hwangbi brought up the matter while sipping tea.

“Can Gottberg Gongja really awaken as a saint by using this artifact?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I’ll start lecturing if you keep talking unnecessarily. I was born with an exceptional divine power. Even the six-sense cultivators crawl before me.”

Upon hearing my words, Hwangbi made a decision.

“Alright then. Let’s transfer this artifact to Confucius.”

Good, it’s done.

“Hmm.”

Father coughed, as if he was displeased.

“The appointment will be in two days. How about you, Marquis?”

“In two days…”

Father hesitated. It seemed like he had caught on that the debuff I had mentioned was similar to the concept of a curse.

I scared him too much.

I intervened to alleviate the situation.

“Do you have something to wait for? Since we’ve brought up the topic, why not do it right away?”

Everyone was surprised and looked at me.

There isn’t much time left until the medical examination. What’s going on in two days?

You should close the deal when it’s been mentioned. People’s minds change in just one day.

“Right now? Is that…?”

“Is there a problem?”

Hwangbi couldn’t refute my question.

She glanced at Asella.

Asella looked at me and raised the corners of her mouth.