Chapter 237
The secret texts of the House of Medical Saint were divided into three categories.
First, those concerning medical knowledge.
Second, those about Medical Energy Techniques .
Chris had mastered both of these types.
The third and final type, the secret text that revealed the True Meaning, the essence that turned Medical Energy Techniques into true miracles, was the only one he hadn’t yet learned.
That’s why, despite my Healing Will being 10-star, my Medical Energy Techniques weren’t as powerful as they could’ve been. They were only on par with a high-ranking disciple.
Because he hadn’t attained the True Meaning.
And yet, even without mastering it, Chris had already reached the level of a top-tier healer.
So what if he did master it?
Then I’d wield healing powers akin to a Saint.
Chris was about to embark on a perilous, blood-soaked path.
He would face countless powerful enemies, and it was impossible to predict how many life-threatening trials awaited him.
At such times, the Medical Immortal Codex would no doubt become a secret lifeline.
“There’s something else I wish to give you besides the Codex. The White Medallion of the Medical Saint.”
Chris looked genuinely surprised.
“Wait… that’s…?”
“So you do know. Yes, that’s right. It’s the medallion that grants you unconditional aid from any disciple of the House of Medical Saint across the continent.”
Chris gave a low whistle.
It was a token reserved only for the greatest benefactors of their house.
This too, someday, could become a powerful asset in his hands.
“Even if I was a great help, I’m still a demon. Isn’t this reward a bit much? Surely there was pushback?”
“…Yes, to be honest, it was a bit excessive.”
“Then there’s something you want from me in return, isn’t there?”
“!!”
Ella flinched slightly.
After a moment of silence, she nodded.
“Yes. There’s something I’d like to ask of you.”
“Speak.”
Ella looked Chris directly in the eyes and then said something he hadn’t expected.
“Please teach me how to reform the House of Medical Saint.”
“…What?”
She dropped to her knees before him.
As if a disciple earnestly seeking a master’s guidance.
“I’m not strong enough. Even though I know the clan has lost its way… I don’t have the ability to fix it. Please… show me how.”
Chris was taken aback by her unexpected plea.
Well… it’s not a bad thing, is it?
He’d already believed that leaving the House of Medical Saint as it was would be a mistake.
But he had struggled to find a way to intervene.
Now that she had come to him first, there was no reason to hold back.
“Alright. I’ll grant your request. But there’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
"You must follow exactly what I’ve told you."
Something about Chris’s words made Ella flinch.
He raised the corner of his mouth and continued.
“It’s a bit of a rough method. Are you prepared to become a devil for the sake of your House?”
* * *
That night, he spent hours explaining to Ella the plans that would reform the House of Medical Saint.
Ironically, those very methods were things Ella had spoken of in her past life.
To be precise, they were regrets she had confessed with deep remorse just before her death.
— I should have realized the retainers’ wrongdoings.
— I should never have turned my back on the Carn Empire’s plight back then.
And so on.
‘She’s still inexperienced, but now that she’s determined, she should do better than she did in her previous life.’
Shortly after that, Chris departed from the House of Medical Saint.
There was no time to linger any longer.
“So, where are we headed next, my Lord? Just give the word, your loyal servant is ready, ready, ready!”
Ruina shouted with comical enthusiasm.
Evan frowned at her overly excited behavior, but Ruina paid him no mind.
There was a reason behind her glee.
‘Well, she did just secure the distribution rights to the House of Medical Saint’s medicine supply.’
And not just any rights.
As part of his plan to expand the House’s influence, Chris proposed mass production and distribution of select medicinal products. Ruina’s trading company was entrusted with the job.
Having landed a deal that promised enormous profit, it was no wonder she was over the moon.
But there was one thing Ruina hadn’t considered.
‘Given Ella’s saint-like nature, she probably won’t allow the medicine to be sold at a profit. Ruina’s going to suffer all the work and barely see a return. Eh, no need to spell that out for her. She made the choice herself.’
Unaware of her grim future, Ruina beamed and said:
“Well then, let’s go wherever you want!”
Chris shrugged and replied casually.
“To the Kingdom of Kalbern.”
It was time to take the Lion King Maximus’s head.
* * *
Using the power of an artifact, Chris and his group teleported to the Kingdom of Kalbern and began discussing the mission.
But something felt off.
Ruina’s face had gone pale.
“W-what did you just say?”
“I said, I need you to play your part. I’m counting on you.”
“This isn’t something you say with a smile!”
Ruina yelled in protest.
“You’re planning to use me as bait?! That’ll get me killed!”
Chris’s plan was simple.
He would lure out the Lion King Maximus using Ruina, and assassinate him.
‘They do have a history, after all.’
To be exact, it was a one-sided relationship of exploitation.
Maximus, wielding the power of the Gold Cross guild network, regularly extorted massive sums of money from Ruina.
“He’s used to conducting secret deals, right? Just lure him out under the pretense of a discreet transaction. You’ve met him like that in secret before, haven’t you? It should be doable.”
“It’s doable… but isn’t it way too dangerous?!”
Ruina raised her voice.
“What if I lose my head over this?!”
It was indeed dangerous.
If Maximus realized it was a trap, the first thing he’d do would be to kill Ruina.
But....
“Think about it carefully. Are you planning to keep letting Maximus extort money from you forever?”
Ruina flinched.
Chris continued, his voice low and tempting, like a devil making a deal.
“How much does Maximus take from you every year? If you just pull this off, all that extortion ends here.”
Ruina’s eyes wavered.
It was an enormous amount, enough to justify risking her life a few times over.
And Chris’s persuasion didn’t stop there.
“If Maximus dies, Olivia will take control of the Kalbern Kingdom. And what do you think will happen to Kalbern’s entire trade sector then?”
Ruina swallowed hard at the thought, she could practically smell the money.
“Olivia’s a kind girl. She won’t overlook the contribution you’ll have made. Don’t you think she’ll give you a proper share so you can have a foothold in Kalbern’s economy?”
“Aaaah!! Fine! I’ll do it! I said I’ll do it!!”
In the end, Ruina gave in to temptation.
“But… you have to protect me, all right?!”
“I’ll do my best.”
“No, don’t ‘do your best.’ Promise me!!”
Chris chuckled under his breath and nodded.
“Alright. Then let’s go.”
It was time to sever Maximus’s head.
* * *
Ruina secretly invited Maximus to a villa on the outskirts of the city.
She said they’d met like this several times before.
“He usually asks for a private meeting like this to avoid public scrutiny, all while enjoying some luxury and extorting money out of me.”
Ruina gritted her teeth.
“The amount he’s ripped off from me over the years…”
The numbers were staggering.
If she got on Maximus’s bad side, she’d be banned from doing business across the entire Gold Cross network. So she had no choice but to comply with his demands.
‘He always asked for extravagant entertainment too. These secret meetings were just an excuse to indulge.’
Maximus’s preferred indulgence was mostly Dreamstones, magical crystals that induced euphoric hallucinations.
Since actual narcotics were too risky, Dreamstones became the go-to substitute among the aristocrats of the Alliance for their hedonistic tastes.
Being one of the biggest buyers at the auction houses, Ruina was regularly coerced into procuring only the highest-grade Dreamstones.
“But are we really going to take out Maximus with just the two of us?”
Evan asked cautiously.
“No matter how well we set the trap, it won’t be easy. That man is a 7-Star Knight. The two of us alone won’t be enough.”
But Chris gave an unexpected response.
“Two? No, Maximus is mine to deal with alone.”
“…What?”
“Evan, you’re going to handle his escorting knights. Even if it’s a private meeting, there’s no way Maximus would show up without bodyguards.”
Evan looked completely unconvinced.
However....
“No matter how fierce a lion he once was, do you really think I can’t take out some fool who’s walked into a trap?”
“!!”
“Besides, he’s just an old, feeble lion now. He’s easy prey.”
Chris turned his gaze.
Just then, a carriage could be seen approaching in the distance.
Maximus was riding in it.
Inside the carriage sat a large, obese man, Lion King Maximus.
“…Your Majesty, with all due respect, shouldn’t we turn back today? The current situation is… precarious.”
One of his escort knights cautiously suggested.
The conflict wasn’t yet resolved, and for the king of a nation to sneak off to indulge in Dreamstones in such a remote location, no one in their right mind would call that sound judgment.
Moreover, since indulging in Dreamstones had to remain a secret, Maximus couldn’t bring many guards. That meant he was vulnerable.
“Silence! That wench Ruina is too obsessed with money to even think about betraying me.”
“…That may be, but what if one of the demons from the Magus Empire takes advantage and ambushes us?”
“Do you not know who I am? I am Lion King Maximus! The man who struck down Duke Huam of the Venomous Demonic House!”
The escort knight fell silent for a moment.
‘Wasn’t that thanks to the Ten Saints?’
Not just the Ten Saints, the elite knight corps of Kalbern Kingdom had surrounded Huam and worn him down.
All Maximus did was deliver the final blow, yet he took credit for the entire feat.
“Those cursed fools from the House of Medical Saint! Breaking their promise like this! Hmph! I’ll just forget everything tonight and enjoy myself!”
The escort knight had no choice but to fall back.
‘Let’s just hope nothing goes wrong…’
He sighed quietly and said,
“We’re about to arrive at the rendezvous point, Your Majesty.”
Ruina was already outside, waiting to greet Maximus.
When they entered the villa, it had been lavishly decorated to receive him.
Exotic dishes and exquisite liquor were all prepared for his pleasure.
“Ahem, looks like you went all out.”
“Oh-hoho, but of course. How could I not, for someone as important as Your Majesty? You look more dignified than ever today.”
Meanwhile, Chris, disguised as a servant, watched the scene with a scoff.
‘Dignified, my ass. He’s not a Lion King, he’s a Pig King.’
That old nickname meant nothing now.
It was clear the man hadn’t gripped a sword in ages.
‘This’ll be easier than I thought.’
Maximus, enjoying Ruina’s hospitality, eagerly dug into the food and wine.
Ruina, seasoned merchant that she was, played her part perfectly, not betraying a hint of suspicion as she carefully flattered him.
Eventually, the time came.
“Ahem… so, have you brought the ‘item’ we discussed?”
Ruina gave Chris a subtle signal.
Chris approached, carrying a silk-covered dish.
“Here is the item you requested.”
When he pulled back the silk, a luminous gem was revealed.
It was a Dreamstone.
“This is top-tier. I won’t forget this favor.”
Maximus’s face lit up with excitement as he took the Dreamstone in his hand.
He clearly intended to indulge in its hallucinatory pleasures immediately.
And then....
Right after he succumbed to its effects....
“!!”
Maximus’s eyes flew open.