Chapter 13

Finally, the beautiful girl appears!

I've kept you waiting for a long time (o*。_。)o Peko

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013＿Curse and Anti-Curse Potion

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I spent about five minutes calming Annelise and giving her some water.

"Are you feeling better? Are you in any pain or discomfort?"

"I'm fine. I'm sorry for losing my composure."

"That's okay, but what happened? You seemed to lose your composure when you saw this potion?"

Annelise stared intently at the clear, transparent liquid and took a deep breath.

"Probably... it's... an anti-curse potion, I think."

"An anti-curse potion..."

I appraised the potion with Detailed Appraisal, of course, making sure to get all the information without being lazy.

▼Detailed Appraisal Result▼

Anti-Curse Potion: A potion that can remove any curse. It tastes extremely bitter and sour. It is not found outside of dungeons, and no one can produce it. It is priceless, and has even been auctioned for 130 million grills.

I understood that it was quite valuable. I think 130 million grills is the highest auction price, but for someone under a curse, it must be something they would want desperately, which is why it commands such a high price.

Annelise was excited because she knew the value of this anti-curse potion. Selling it would make her a millionaire, so it's no wonder she was excited. But was that really the case? Annelise is a slave, so even if she had it, it would belong to me. While it's understandable to be excited about such a rare and expensive potion, there was no need for her to be that excited. So why was she so excited?

Could it be...?

I realized I hadn't done a Detailed Appraisal on Annelise. She's a criminal slave mage who is 318 years old. That's about all I knew about her. I didn't think deeply about her because I thought she would die soon anyway.

"I see, that's what it is."

The Detailed Appraisal revealed that Annelise was under a curse. It also gave me her three sizes, but I didn't think too much about it since I had asked for all the information.

Annelise sat weakly on the floor, leaning against the wall. Looking at her, she really did look like an old witch, but apparently, she is actually 18 years old. She was cursed to age 300 years. If I, a human, had been cursed, I would have died immediately, but she survived because she is a half-elf. She had been researching how to make an anti-curse potion on her own, but when she left home to get food, her house exploded. I had heard it was due to a magical malfunction, but that was probably just a nuanced way of describing it. After that, she was turned into a criminal slave and ended up in my hands through Gorteo's shop.

"Annelise, you can use this."

I'm such a good person that it makes me sick. That's why I was treated badly in high school. But that's beside the point; now it's about Annelise. There's a woman suffering from a curse right in front of me, and I have a potion that can remove it. Why should I hesitate to let her use it?

"You know I'm cursed...?"

"I have an appraisal skill, you know."

Actually, it's Detailed Appraisal.

"But... that's a very expensive anti-curse potion."

"You were trying to make it yourself, right?"

"How do you know that...?"

"The appraisal told me."

"...I see. But even if I use it, I can't repay you, Master."

"I know you don't have anything. I'm not asking for anything, so don't worry."

"But..."

She's being indecisive.

"If you don't want it, that's fine. We can sell it and become rich."

I pulled back the anti-curse potion I had offered, being a bit mean.

"I want it! I need it! Please let me use it!"

Annelise grabbed my arm in a hurry, and her grip was very strong. If she had said that from the beginning, it would have been easier (laughs).

"Okay, good. It's supposed to taste really bad, so drink it quickly."

"Y-Yes."

After hesitating a bit after opening the cork, Annelise decided and drank the anti-curse potion.

"Good job."

"Aaaah... it's so bitter..."

Annelise, who had drunk the anti-curse potion in one go, clutched her throat and writhed in pain from the bad taste. It must be the worst taste ever, being both bitter and sour.

As I watched Annelise writhing in pain, her body began to glow. This must be the effect of the anti-curse potion activating. The light gradually grew stronger, completely enveloping Annelise.

"Ooh... oh?"

When the light faded, there was a beautiful girl standing there, more beautiful than anyone I had ever seen. She was even more beautiful than Luinéza, the elf captain of Gorteo's caravan guard.

Could this really be Annelise's true appearance?

Her skin was so white it was almost translucent, with no wrinkles at all. Her face was incredibly well-proportioned, with each feature being ideally beautiful and harmoniously arranged. Her white hair, which had no waist, turned into golden hair that shone even in the dim dungeon. Her eyes, which had been narrow and droopy, opened wide, and I could see my reflection in her emerald green eyes.

"Are you really Annelise?"

"I... am Annelise..."

Even her voice had become young! It was a clear, pleasant voice that would be perfect for an anime heroine. If she whispered in my ear with that voice, I would be thrilled!

"Can you stand?"

I extended my hand, and Annelise took it. She felt so light.

"My body feels so light."

"That's because the curse has been lifted. Annelise, you're young. It's hard to believe you were an old woman."

"My curse has been lifted. Thank you so much, Master. I will dedicate my life to repaying this kindness."

"Don't worry about that. Just keep teaching me what I need to know, as you have been."

Annelise started crying. She must be happy. I gently hugged her, who was sobbing.

"Let the painful past flow away with your tears. Cry as much as you need to."

I held Annelise, supporting her trembling body, and stroked her back. At a time like this, her body felt incredibly soft. I won't specify which parts, but they were very prominent. When she was an old woman, her body felt hard, but now...

"Thank you. I feel much better now."

After shedding many tears, her eyes were puffy, but her beauty was undiminished.

"Let's go back and rest today. Annelise, you need some time to sort out your feelings."

"No, I'm fine. Thanks to you, I've regained the strength to live. From now on, I will work tirelessly for you."

Her eyes showed her strong resolve. And she's incredibly cute.

This is bad. Being near such a cute girl makes my heart race.

I could use my position to do all sorts of naughty things, but I won't. I have to make a firm decision, or my hands might reach for Annelise's chest.

"O-Okay. Let's move on."

"Okay."

As we were about to return to the original corridor, Annelise grabbed my arm.

"What's wrong?"

"From the appraisal, I understand that you have a curse, but it didn't show that I was trying to make an anti-curse potion."

R-Really...? She's staring at me so intensely.

"I understand that you have an appraisal skill, but that's not what it is. Can you tell me the name of your skill?"

Her face was getting closer. Her beauty is otherworldly. Her white skin seems to cover my vision.

"You're smart, Annelise."

"Please don't try to dodge the question."

"I'm not dodging. I really think you're smart. It's okay, I'll tell you. But can you step back? I'm about to lose my self-control."

"Huh? Self-control?"

Annelise's chest was pressing against me. It's that big.

"S-Sorry!?"

"No, it's not a problem at all. In fact, I welcome it."

"B-But... to welcome it..."

Gah, Annelise's fidgeting is too cute. To think that such a cute Annelise was that old woman... change can be amazing.

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