Wriggle!
Red mist began seeping out of the king's body, curling and twisting like tendrils of dissipating smoke. The air grew thick with the scent of iron, an almost tangible aura of vitality washing over the room. Roosevelt's sunken skin, once pallid and lifeless, slowly took on a hint of rosiness, a ghost of the man he once was beginning to resurface.
It appeared the pill was working.
"Father-in-law is recovering…"
Niomi's voice burst through the tense atmosphere, her joy infectious as she practically bounced on her feet like an overexcited rabbit.
Hmph!
Damien, however, remained impassive, his sharp gaze locked onto Roosevelt's form. A foreboding sense prickled at the back of his mind.
It couldn't be that easy.
His expression turned grave.
Just as the color had begun to return, Roosevelt's body suddenly caved inward like a deflating balloon. The black veins, previously subdued, pulsed ominously, expanding like creeping tendrils of darkness. They dug deeper into his flesh, splitting open raw wounds that oozed fresh, crimson blood. The stark white bedsheets beneath him darkened rapidly, stained in gruesome red.
Hissss!
Damien inhaled sharply, his body tensing as the realization dawned upon him.
Whatever malignant force had latched onto the king wasn't retreating.
It was feeding.
Feeding on the life-giving properties of the silver rank pill, growing stronger by the second.
Even Niomi, who had been overflowing with joy just moments ago, fell into stunned silence, her smile vanishing like a candle snuffed out by the wind.
"Truly tragic…"
Damien muttered under his breath, his mind racing for a solution. If he continued feeding the king more pills, he wouldn't be curing him—he'd be accelerating his demise.
If Roosevelt had any hope of survival, he would have to fight the affliction himself.
"Let's try this…"
In the next moment, Damien extended his hand, hovering it just above Roosevelt's chest.
"What are you doing?"
Niomi's voice wavered with concern as she watched her husband inch closer to the writhing black corruption. Her delicate brows furrowed in worry.
Damien ignored her. He took a deep breath, his mind honing in on a singular focus.
Time stretched unbearably long.
Damien remained motionless, his palm hovering above the king's chest like an unmoving statue. A cold sweat formed on his brow.
Nothing was happening.
His brows knitted in frustration.
Why wasn't it working?
Niomi's curiosity transformed into suspicion. Her once-innocent gaze scrutinized Damien's seemingly futile attempt.
As time dragged on, her thoughts took a… peculiar turn.
Her gaze flickered downward, landing on her own chest, which was pressed snugly against the fabric of her blouse.
A realization dawned upon her.
Could it be…
Was her husband just a pervert who liked to grope people under the guise of healing?
A deep blush bloomed across Niomi's cheeks, her mind running wild with scandalous thoughts. Unconsciously, she arched her back slightly, pushing her chest forward as if testing a hypothesis.
After knowing could predict Damein next actions.
She had known Damien since childhood, yet he remained an enigma. A puzzle she could never quite solve. His unpredictability both frustrated and fascinated her.
Perhaps… that was why she loved him.
Meanwhile, Damien was completely unaware of the chaotic storm raging inside Niomi's head.
His own frustration simmered beneath his calm facade. He had tried everything—focused his will, channeled his intent—yet his Acceleration Domain refused to manifest.
His fingers twitched as irritation bubbled within him.
"Damn! Fucking hell, why isn't accelerated healing working—"
He froze mid-sentence.
A sudden shift.
A ripple of energy, deep within him.
In the next instant, a silver glow burst forth, illuminating his entire body before flowing into his outstretched hand.
"Husband!!"
Niomi's exclamation cut through the tension.
She wasn't the only one who noticed.
The very air vibrated, thick with mana, creating an unnatural stillness. The world itself seemed to acknowledge Damien's awakening.
She was no stranger to mana fluctuations. As someone who had undergone the talent awakening ceremony herself, she understood the significance of what had just transpired.
But… how?
The formation had deemed Damien talentless.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, her lips parting slightly as if to voice her confusion.
Yet, a heartbeat later, her expression softened.
So what?
He was her husband.
It was only natural that he would defy expectations.
A proud smile curled her lips, her doubt vanishing like mist under the sun.
Meanwhile, Damien was too absorbed in his own discovery to notice her gaze. His accelerated healing was finally working, his mana coursing outward in a steady pulse.
But…
There was no significant change in Roosevelt's condition.
The excitement dimmed in his eyes. A wry smile tugged at his lips.
How naïve had he been?
If even the renowned Priest Theodore had struggled to cure this affliction, what made him think he could succeed with just a meager skill?
And yet…
A flicker of movement.
A notification blinked at the edge of his vision.
[Accelerated Exp gained +100]
Damien's breath hitched.
Ten times the experience he had gained from healing himself?
His gaze snapped toward Roosevelt's chest. The once-pulsing black veins…
They had shriveled, appearing starved of vitality.
"It's working…"
His heartbeat quickened. Just as he prepared to push further, a sharp pain lanced through his skull.
A dizzying wave of exhaustion slammed into him.
His vision blurred, the world spinning wildly. His limbs felt unnaturally heavy, as though his very life force was being drained away.
His mana was completely depleted.
Niomi caught him just as his knees buckled, her arms wrapping around him in a desperate embrace.
Damien immediately cut off his skill, the crushing fatigue lifting slightly, but his skin still felt clammy, his breath ragged.
Niomi's frantic gaze searched his face, worry pooling in her irises.
As she steadied him, her gaze flickered once more to Roosevelt's body. The sight of the shriveled black veins sent a surge of emotions through her.
Shock.
Awe.
Realization.
Her husband was hiding something. Something monumental.
Yet, despite the burning questions racing through her mind, she made no attempt to pry.
She would learn the truth in time.
For now…
She simply held onto him, letting the silence stretch between them, content in the knowledge that, whatever secrets he carried, she would uncover them soon enough.