Demon Prince 23

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Chapter 23. Healing Magic

 

"Maria is sick?"

"Yes. Therefore, Lily wishes to take some time off. Given the circumstances, I took the liberty to grant her leave for today. Was that alright?"

"Of course, that's fine. But… is Maria that ill?"

"Yes… in fact, Maria has been bedridden for several weeks with the permission of Eliza-sama. Eliza-sama is also very worried."

"I see... That's why Lily has seemed so down lately. Understood. Arrange for a get-well gift and some medicine in my name."

"Certainly. Thank you, Jun-sama."

Maria is sick…

In this world, due to the presence of magic, medicine hasn't developed much.

There are herbalists, so pharmacology is somewhat advanced, but it's still not enough.

Herbalists and those who can use healing magic act as doctors.

"Wait, Noella. Is Maria's illness really that serious?"

"…Yes. According to Lily, it's hard for Maria to even get up…"

"No way… Can't we arrange for a healing magician who can cure illnesses?"

"Jun-sama, in our country, there is no one capable of using healing magic strong enough to cure illnesses. In fact, even if you searched the world, you might only find a handful. Only those with the Saint's emblem or an emblem related to healing magic…"

That’s true.

Originally, demons could only use low-level healing magic.

There are a fair number of half-demons who are suited to healing magic, but few full demons possess such aptitude.

Even the best healing magician in our country can only use mid-level healing magic.

Healing an illness requires high-level healing magic.

High-level healing magicians are only found in other countries.

"I see… Alright. Noella, make the necessary arrangements. Sebas, bring all the books on healing magic to my room."

"Understood."

"Understood, Jun-sama."

If we can't summon a high-level healing magician, I have to learn to use it myself.

I can use low-level healing magic.

I’m confident I can manage injuries with low-level healing magic.

Using the Demon King's emblem, I can manage, even if it takes multiple tries.

But I can't yet use high-level healing magic to cure illnesses.

I must master it before Maria's condition worsens.

"Yuu and Ai, I need your help."

""Okay.""

We go to my room and start training in healing magic.

In my previous magic training, I've mastered most other high-level spells.

To cast the desired spell, I visualize its effect and conjure a magic circle with my mana.

If the magic circle for the spell appears, it means success and the spell can be cast.

With proficiency, one can visualize the magic circle within their body and cast it without manifesting it externally.

In combat, manifesting the magic circle can give away the spell to the opponent.

Experienced magicians cast spells without manifesting the circle.

Also, to make visualization easier, some chant incantations while casting.

Chanting is commonly used during training but not in combat, as it can give away the spell-like the magic circle.

I don’t use chanting outside of training because it feels too cliché.

"So, after a few hours of trying…"

"""No good."""

Like me, Yuu is suited to healing magic, but Ai is not.

Still, we trained together, hoping to discover something, but the results were poor, and we all collapsed into exhaustion.

"I can visualize attack magic easily, though."

"I'm pretty good with attack magic too. My best is support magic."

"The first magic I mastered was attack magic. It's easy to visualize."

Visualization is key to casting magic.

One needs to imagine the effect, the form of the spell, and the process until the result.

Only then, with sufficient mana, can the spell be cast.

"Starting healing magic training again, I realize how difficult it is to visualize healing magic."

"Visualization, huh…"

"Jun, what's up?"

"I wonder what visualization is necessary for healing magic."

For example, fire magic requires imagining something burning, something breaking, or the necessary elements for fire.

"For injuries, maybe the image of closing a wound? Blood clotting and cells increasing to heal?"

"For illnesses?"

"Eliminating viruses, or surgically removing the affected area?"

"How would you sum that up in one word?"

"…Medicine?"

"Exactly. Healing magic requires medical knowledge."

If that's the case, it makes sense why there are so few high-level healing magicians in a world where medicine hasn't developed.

Magic potions exist, but they're expensive and don't cure illnesses.

Demons are generally sturdier and less prone to illness than humans.

On the other hand, they're behind in healing magic training and medical knowledge.

"But even if there are medical books in this world, they aren't very advanced."

"Right, so…"

""So?""

"We'll start by creating our own medical textbook."

It’s a long detour, and I don’t know how much time Maria has left.

But at this rate, even if we manage to learn it, we’ll only reach mid-level.

We have to do it.

"But we don’t have much medical knowledge, do we?"

"We'll rely on Yuu for that."

"Me?"

"With the Sage’s emblem, you can gather various information, right? You probably have the most knowledge from your previous life and you're extremely intelligent. Ai and I will help, but you should lead in creating an accurate medical textbook. Please."

"O-okay."

From then on, day and night, we dedicated ourselves to creating the medical textbook and mastering healing magic.

We even paused our swordsmanship and martial arts training.

Master Cayenne kindly allowed it.

After two weeks of intensive training, I finally mastered the high-level healing magic, [Disease Cure].

"Alright… I'm going to Maria's now."

""Take care…""

Both Yuu and Ai were exhausted from the continuous all-nighters and training.

I was tired too, but I was worried about Maria's condition.

I need to hurry.

"Noella, guide me to Maria's house. Prepare a carriage."

"Yes, understood. Immediately."

"Sebas, come with us."

"Understood, Jun-sama."

We leave the castle and head to Maria's house in the capital.

During the ride, I almost fall asleep.

But if I sleep now, I won’t wake up for a while. Just a bit more.

Maria’s house is on the outskirts of the capital, near the castle.

Maria's husband, Lily’s father, passed away early, so it's just Maria and Lily living together now.

We arrive at Maria’s house.

It's evening, so if Lily is home, she should still be awake.

I knock on the door.

Lily, exhausted from caring for Maria, answers.

She has dark circles under her eyes, looks thin, and her complexion is poor.

She looks like a patient herself.

"Oh, Jun-sama…"

"Lily, how is Maria?"

"Mother is asleep now… but she can't eat anymore…"

"I see…"

Good. I made it in time.

"It’s alright, Lily. Don’t worry. Maria will be fine. I'll save her."

"What? But…"

"Just take me to Maria."

"Y-yes. This way."

Lily leads me to the room where Maria is resting.

Maria looks much thinner than when I last saw her at the castle.

She was always bright, cheerful, and laughed a lot, just like Lily.

"Maria…"

"Jun-sama, mother is…"

"It’s alright, Lily."

I approach Maria and raise my hand over her, using the Demon King’s emblem and all my magic.

"[Disease Cure]!"

"Huh…"

A warm, green light envelops Maria and is absorbed into her.

Maria’s complexion improves.

Her breathing steadies.

Her pained expression becomes peaceful.

"Lily, it’s alright. Maria is fine now."

"M-my mother’s illness is cured?"

"Yes. Maria’s illness is cured. But she’s still thin and weak. She needs to rest for a while, but don’t worry. So you should rest too, Lily. You look terribly tired. You haven’t been sleeping, right?"

"Uwaaaaaah! Thank you so muuuuuch!!"

Lily cries and clings to me.

She must have been very worried about Maria.

She’s so happy Maria’s illness is cured.

Her eyes are red as she clings to me.

"Lily was, sniff, so scared that, sniff, mother would leave, just like father, sniff, thank you so muuuuuch!!"

"You’re welcome, Lily. Calm down, rest now. Noella, I’ll return via teleportation, so help Lily. Sebas, make something delicious for Lily and Maria. You both can come late tomorrow, please."

"Understood, Jun-sama."

"Leave it to me, Jun-sama."

Leaving things to Noella and Sebas, I return to my room in the castle.

For some reason, Yuu and Ai are sleeping in my bed, but I can’t stay awake any longer.

Maria is cured, so I can sleep peacefully.

Good night…