Chapter 87

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According to the ancient ones, the true identity of the self-destruction disease we have been pursuing all along is the "Demon King."

It's a story I never would have thought of, and even now that I've heard it, I can hardly believe it, but it seems that Mr. Reinhart and the others are convinced of it.

"Are you saying that the self-destruction disease was caused by the Demon King's parasitism? That the Demon King was stealing and amplifying the magic power of its host, causing those symptoms?"

I couldn't help but confront Mr. Reinhart, asking him in a rush. Mr. Reinhart nodded slowly without changing his expression.

"We have been searching for a cure for the self-destruction disease. I learned alchemy for that very reason."

He paused for a moment, then glanced at the back door where Iris and the others had gone out. Perhaps he was on guard in case they returned.

"Iris was supposed to be one of the investigators searching for a cure... but after we noticed your existence, we urgently asked her to aim for the position of a royal apprentice alchemist."

I had a vague suspicion that Iris was an investigator sent by the people of Rustu to get close to me. However, I'm not sure when the people of Rustu first took an interest in me. I discovered the spirit water only recently—towards the end of my first year as an apprentice. If that's the case, it really was a sudden change.

Whether Iris was assigned to me by chance or due to some other influence, the latter seems more natural. But perhaps there are people within the royal palace who are in league with the people of Rustu.

"We have the perfect conditions now. You've discovered the spirit water, the people of Rustu are in the capital as alchemists, and Elvira, the patient, is also staying in the capital. We can't afford to miss this golden opportunity."

I nodded slightly at Mr. Reinhart's words. It seems that today, Iris brought me here in a hurry to seize this opportunity.

The people of Rustu are probably trying to seal the Demon King again before it can revive.

Mr. Reinhart stood up and came to stand beside me. Then he bowed deeply.

"I would like to ask for your cooperation, Ms. Laura. For the sake of this world, for the future."

"Of course. I will help."

There was no reason to refuse. In fact, working with the people of Rustu would be a great support to me.

I nodded firmly, and Mr. Reinhart's sharp eyes softened slightly.

The self-destruction disease—how to expel the Demon King from Elvira's body and seal it again.

Initially, my goal was simply to cure the disease so that Elvira could travel with Lucius. I never imagined that the goal itself would become defeating the Demon King.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the back door, and Iris's face peeked through the gap.

"Are you done talking?"

From her words, it seems that Iris had gone outside with Basilio to buy time.

I turned to Mr. Reinhart. He smiled wryly and nodded to Sieg and Leon on either side.

Leon approached Iris and seemed to be having a quiet conversation with her. The next moment, the back door opened, and Basilio entered the room.

Meanwhile, Sieg disappeared into the kitchen, perhaps to prepare more tea. As he passed by,

"We'll talk about the details tomorrow."

He whispered in my ear.

For today, it seems we've reached this point. I understood and stopped thinking about the self-destruction disease for the moment.

There's still a lot we don't know. It's pointless to strain my head with incomplete information.

After that, we started the training session. Using the herbs Iris and Basilio had brought, we conducted alchemy in a different laboratory—

"Hey, how about a mixing contest between Teacher and Laura?"

"Cut the crap, Iris. Alchemy isn't a contest."

"Ugh! You look so irresponsible, but you're actually very serious, Teacher."

"Huh?"

We repeated the alchemy noisily, and before I knew it, the day had turned to night. We were treated to dinner and then settled into the guest room that was prepared for us.

The afternoon was so peaceful that I almost thought the truth about the self-destruction disease revealed earlier was just a dream.

The Demon King, which is currently parasitizing and resting in Elvira's body. The spirit water seems effective against the Demon King, but if it doesn't leave Elvira's body even after weakening and suppressing the symptoms of the self-destruction disease, it's meaningless.

I need to think from a completely different perspective, and I was feeling a bit overwhelmed—

"Laura, are you there?"

Suddenly, there was a knock on the guest room door. Along with it, I heard Iris's voice, as if checking on the situation.

"Iris? Is something wrong?"

I opened the door. Iris slipped in through the gap and plopped down on the bed. Then,

"...I'm sorry, for lying to you about so many things."

Iris looked down and said this with a trembling voice.

I hurriedly approached the bed where Iris was sitting and knelt down, looking up at her face.

She wasn't crying, but her brows were furrowed, and her expression was tense, as if she was trying not to cry.

"Why? I don't think you lied to me."

"But, the reason I aimed to become a royal apprentice alchemist was to get close to you... of course, I also thought the knowledge of an alchemist would be useful..."

Iris's words reminded me of what Mr. Reinhart and the others had said earlier. She was sent by the people of Rustu to get close to me, an investigator of sorts. She seemed to feel guilty about it.

I, too, had once struggled with this. Even now, it occasionally pricks at my heart. Was it right to aim to become a royal apprentice alchemist for such a selfish reason—to leave my village?

"People who aim to become royal apprentice alchemists have various reasons and circumstances. For me, the initial reason was to leave my village."

I, too, don't have a grand reason. Of course, the desire to save people around the world is admirable, but it doesn't change anything on its own.

What's important is not the past, but the present and the future.

"I hope we can continue to get along. And, I need your help, Iris."

Iris's face lit up at my words. She smiled and nodded vigorously.

"Sure! I want to help Elvira too."

Hearing Iris's words, I remembered that she and Elvira were close. She must have developed a sense of purpose while interacting with Elvira, who suffers from the self-destruction disease.

Even if getting close to me was her initial goal, Iris genuinely wants to save Elvira now. That's all that matters.

"Let's work together."

Iris's smile deepened. Then, she hugged me. I embraced her small, warm body, as if to catch her.

Iris must have felt relieved to finally confess everything, and gradually, the tension in her body eased. I called out to her a few times, but—

"Iris? Did you fall asleep?"

Iris was already breathing softly.

I looked up at the ceiling, wondering what to do. Should I carry the sleeping Iris back to her room, or just sleep here together?

As I was being hugged by the warm Iris, I started to feel sleepy too. Gradually, my resolve to carry Iris to her room weakened—

I decided, "It's fine," and climbed into bed with Iris still in my arms. I adjusted my hold on her and whispered softly,

"Good night."

Iris's relaxed expression was endearing.