Chapter 162

Chapter 162
Chapter 162: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

“You seem to be putting the pieces together. Indeed. I am powerless to reverse the other one.”

His tone, exceptionally subdued and heavy, carried a mix of complex feelings.

Lion could make an educated guess regarding the nature of those emotions.

Still, he refrained from asking further questions or offering any remarks.

That was the bare minimum he could do.

A curse.

Half a century had passed since the conflict with the Demon Race concluded, yet there were still humans who employed demonic arts.

The prime manifestation of this reality was curses.

A form of sorcery designed to inflict unending agony upon a target, ultimately resulting in mortality, in exchange for a “suitable price.”

Fitting for their malicious nature, the components required to cast curses were equally heinous; even the lowest-grade curses demanded substantial quantities of blood and flesh.

‘Perhaps the affliction plaguing the first prince belongs to this category.’

Even without looking further, isn’t the second prince currently enduring such severe agony that he coughs up blood?

Yet, consider that forearm belonging to the second prince.

The emblem of the affliction, which likely spanned his entire physique, was of a superior grade.

-The components necessary for a superior-grade curse consist of human souls.

This was a detail Lion had previously encountered within literature at the library.

A similar passage existed within a tome housed in the temple.

However, to compound the misfortune, the second prince suffered under the influence of two active curses simultaneously.

This phenomenon was generally considered impossible.

Ordinarily, once an individual fell victim to a curse, a second one could not be applied unless the initial spell was first lifted.

This occurred because the curse itself functioned as a tether tightening around the soul.

‘Yet, this case is different…’

One notable exception existed.

-I inherited a curse at the moment of birth.

This phenomenon was designated as a cursed birth.

Furthermore, the individual who cast the spell was most likely…

‘The biological mother of the second prince.’

Though for what underlying reason, he remained unaware.

‘An ordinary human would have lost their sanity from the suffering or chosen to end their own life.’

Despite this, the second prince persevered through the torment and a bleak existence.

Such endurance defied normal expectations.

What kind of narrative could possibly drive someone to withstand even a curse?

Alternatively…

‘…This is hardly the moment for idle theories.’

Lion halted his train of thought and exhaled softly.

“What do you mean by stating you cannot undo it?”

“Precisely as I phrased it. The individual responsible for casting the curse no longer exists in this realm.”

Lion nodded in acknowledgment.

Two distinct methods existed for lifting a curse.

The first involved forcibly breaking the spell through external means.

The second required the afflicted individual to directly eliminate the caster.

‘I had a feeling something like that was the case…’

It appeared the caster had met their demise.

The second prince conveyed this information with remarkable composure.

Even assuming he harbored no initial affection for his maternal parent, how long must it have taken for him to address the topic with such detachment?

“I understand.”

Lion preserved his steady demeanor while rapidly assessing the situation.

The person who initiated the curse was already dead.

Consequently, the sole remaining path forward was to forcibly dismantle the spell.

Under typical circumstances, he could have rushed directly to the temple.

Even a superior-grade affliction involving the soul would be treated by the temple free of charge.

‘Because they view demonic forces as entities that oppose the divine will.’

For a curse of such magnitude, an Archbishop might have intervened personally.

However.

‘He is unable to go.’

The second prince lacked the luxury of visiting the temple.

He could not afford to draw even the slightest scrutiny.

Should the faction supporting the first prince uncover the presence of this congenital affliction…

‘I shudder to think how they would tear him apart.’

Aren’t those factions far more ruthless than actual demons?

Regardless, that was likely the primary reason he appeared so relieved upon locating me.

‘And he seemingly operates under the assumption that I am simply a traveling priest.’

Lion observed the face of the second prince, now bare of its disguise.

A complexion drained of color and hollow cheeks. Chapped lips. The coarse, weathered texture resembled tree bark more closely than the refined appearance expected within the grand Imperial Palace.

The surrounding air felt akin to someone performing continuous funeral rites in solitude.

Even so, his gaze alone remained strikingly sharp.

Those crimson irises gleamed with a chilling, blood-like hue, yet simultaneously carried the intensity of a blazing star or a smelting furnace.

They belonged to an individual who desperately clung to existence while pursuing retribution.

The fact that he revealed such a gaze to me…

‘…serves as a declaration of intent.’

A statement signifying that he would secure my cooperation by any means necessary to carve out his own destiny.

‘Hm, how should I approach this dilemma?’

Lion sank into deep contemplation.

Regardless of how pitiable the circumstances of the second prince appeared, the situation hardly warranted revealing his true identity to provide assistance.

‘Though it will inevitably come to light later on…’

Just not at the present moment.

Even so, he could not flatly refuse and feign ignorance.

The reason?

‘…Because reversing the curse appears entirely feasible.’

While further investigation was required, success was achievable through a combination of the second prince’s cooperation and Lion’s mastery of alchemical principles.

‘Though the undertaking will undoubtedly involve considerable hardship.’

This was no ordinary spell, but rather a high-tier affliction.

Acquiring the necessary components alone presented a formidable obstacle.

Yet, why bother assisting him?

As noted previously, the decision stemmed partly from compassion, but also…

He recognized the reality instinctively.

‘If I were to successfully lift the curse from the second prince…’

Once entirely liberated, a hidden truth would inevitably surface.

The ancient vessel.

More specifically, details regarding its contents.

‘I must gather even the most minor fragment of a clue.’

As these scattered hints accumulated, a comprehensive picture would undoubtedly emerge.

However…

‘The real challenge lies in managing this second prince afterwards.’

Suppose Lion proceeded to remove the curse.

What transpired next?

The prince would undoubtedly demand further favors.

Alternatively, he might attempt to bind Lion as a close confidant, leveraging the situation for control.

In fact, that outcome felt entirely certain.

‘If that happens, I will be utterly drained.’

Furthermore, he would find himself plunged headfirst into the political mire.

That prospect held zero appeal.

‘I have no desire to embroil myself in troublesome affairs any longer.’

Lion shivered internally at the thought.

And with that, he reached a firm conclusion.

Indeed. He had no choice but to lift the second prince’s curse.

Only through that path could he secure a crucial clue… but!

He harbored no intention of allowing himself to be manipulated by the second prince.

The sole saving grace was that he remained the one in control of his choices within this dynamic.

‘Ah, I suppose there is no alternative.’

Lion released a heavy, internal sigh and steeled his resolve.

Very well.

‘I shall resort to a harmless falsehood.’

He would project the image of an inherently compassionate individual while subtly establishing firm boundaries.

Ultimately, once the curse was resolved, he would simply vanish!

‘If necessary, I can always spend a few months taking a sabbatical in the Elf Country.’

Since nobody suspected his identity as Lion Asteri, the plan remained entirely viable.

‘The approach feels slightly questionable, but…’

Still, shouldn’t those destined to survive be given the chance?

His mind made up, Lion summoned the demeanor of a seasoned negotiator and spoke as calmly as possible.

“Before we proceed, there is a matter I wish to clarify.”

“Speak of whatever you desire.”

“Once you ascend to the throne as Emperor, what are your intentions?”

The crimson gaze of the second prince pierced through the strands of hair falling over his forehead.

He appeared to be probing for underlying motives.

Lion remained completely unfazed by the scrutiny, awaiting the response.

“You are well aware that discussing imperial succession while His Majesty draws breath constitutes an act of treason.”

“I am.”

“And yet, you persist in asking?”

“Precisely.”

“Did you not claim earlier that matters of politics and authority held no interest for you?”

“That is correct.”

“…Then what is your true objective?”

Ultimately, Kyle found himself compelled to reiterate the question.

“You would disbelieve the truth, so I see no point in answering.”

“Are you implying you will refuse to lift my curse? You surely realize the implications of such a choice.”

A palpable wave of killing intent radiated from the physical form of the second prince.

The pressure was sharp enough to cause a prickling sensation across the skin, yet Lion stood his ground without flinching.

After all, he remained confident that the prince could not afford to harm him right now, regardless of how menacing his posturing appeared.

“…”

Kyle sank into silent thought.

He remained entirely incapable of deciphering the true intentions of the other man.

Did power genuinely mean nothing to him?

If so, what drove him to initiate contact in the first place?

Was his involvement merely the result of scientific curiosity regarding the curse?

‘Unadulterated benevolence does not exist in this world.’

Kyle had experienced both the absolute lowest strata of society and its highest pinnacles.

The depths seethed with raw survival instincts, while the summit of the hierarchy housed ambitions gazing down from the clouds.

Furthermore, had this very individual not explicitly admitted the point?

That he possessed a distinct purpose.

For the moment, Kyle chose to address the inquiry.

“Have you ever ventured into the slums? People subsist day-to-day through begging and petty theft, and even then, the majority perish from starvation.”

“…”

“At the very least, I refuse to tolerate citizens starving to death in the streets. That will serve as my primary initiative upon securing the crown… though.”

The second prince exhaled softly and rubbed a dry palm across his face.

“That hardly satisfies the answer you were hoping to hear, does it?”

To think circumstances would reduce him to voicing such sentiments.

He had believed every shred of his pride was discarded long ago, yet engaging in strategic dialogue within such a setting apparently resurrected fragments of dignity he thought lost forever.

“I simply wish to survive.”

“…”

“Does a more accurate answer exist?”

“…I see.”

Lion stared blankly into the empty air.

『Updating data concerning the ‘Mark of the Curse’.』

『Mark of Benevolent Affliction』

-A spell etched with the agony of a severed bond, suffused with profound care and devotion, at the cost of one’s cherished offspring’s vitality.

-Yet, has the moment not arrived to genuinely part ways?

-The answer may reside far closer than anticipated.

Just as surmised.

The text manifested in a format that enabled the progression of a secondary objective.

However…

‘Hmm…’

While his prediction regarding a hidden secret proved accurate, the nature of the revelation differed from expectations.

‘What is meant by the phrase ‘time to part ways’?’

Lion’s thoughts raced.

A benevolent curse, combined with the necessity of parting.

‘…Hold on a moment.’

A working hypothesis began to take shape in Lion’s mind.

‘The required price for a superior-grade curse involved sacrificing one’s own soul.’

Based on the descriptive text, Kyle’s mother had indeed cast the affliction for his sake.

The act was likely intended to shield Kyle from a threat far more terrifying than the curse itself.

In that sense, the motivation was rooted in genuine care.

It confirmed that she loved her child deeply enough to surrender her existence.

However.

‘Was the soul utilized as a component of the curse truly destroyed?’

Consider the possibility.

What if the nature of the spell warped her initial maternal instincts, transforming the mechanism into a source of continuous torment for her child?

‘Such a scenario remains entirely plausible.’

Furthermore, as expected, regarding the true origin of the second prince’s affliction.

Meaning, the mother of Kyle…

She may have anticipated this exact turn of events.

Even so, resorting to a curse represented her final desperate safeguard.

‘In that case, the clue described as “nearby” must refer to…’

A direct piece of evidence, or perhaps a physical artifact.

“…State your terms. I shall provide whatever you demand to eradicate this curse.”

Oblivious to these realizations, Kyle released a weary breath and pressed for a decision.

“Are you asserting that my conditions will be met, regardless of their nature?”

“Indeed.”

“Very well.”

Lion finally articulated his desires, raising his index finger.

“First. Make no attempt to uncover my true identity.”

He then extended a second digit.

“Second. The exact timing and methodology regarding the removal of the curse remain entirely under my discretion.”

“How exceptionally self-serving.”

This stipulation served as an essential safeguard to keep his background concealed.

“And third. Inform me of the room number assigned to your quarters.”