Avoid 19-rated content

Chapter 34

"Your body temperature is too low."

He knew he had taken a potion, but even considering that, it was excessively low. Why is that? Does his constitution not respond well to the medicine?

"This could be dangerous."

As Cain muttered, Hunter's complexion quickly darkened. Normally, he would tease the prince whose poker face was broken, but Cain wasn't in the mood for that now. He couldn't afford to lose this precious experimental subject.

"We should take him to the Magic Tower. Your Highness, hand him over to me, no, the future Crown Princess."

"Treat him here."

"To stabilize the mana, I need my tools. We also need air rich in mana, and there's no other way but to go outside the Magic Tower. This is not asking for permission. I am notifying you. If you want to kill this person, go ahead. Be stubborn until the end."

Hunter bit his lip at Cain's words, and his lips already seemed torn.

Cain was slightly surprised inside. Was this stubborn rock genuinely sincere of the future Crown Princess? Cain wondered what expression the prince would have if he knew that this cute mana jar had personally taken medicine for Mana Deficiency. However, Cain quickly pushed that thought aside. His priority has always been magic.

"When everything is done, make sure to send him back."

Finally, Hunter opened his mouth. His gaze was fixed on Del's face. The way he looked at Del with such affection and pain was so intense that even Cain couldn't bring himself to talk nonsense.

"Well, I'll leave that up to him to decide when he wakes up."

Cain shrugged and grabbed Del's wrist. He spoke to her.

"Let's go before it gets more dangerous, Mana Vessel."

And just like that, Cain and Del disappeared from the spot as if it were a lie. The Head Mage, amazed at the teleportation ability, which was not achieved by using a staff or chanting a spell, could only stare. Meanwhile, Hunter, with his lips still bitten, stared at the empty bed.

"Come back, Prince Del."

Hunter's favorability rose again over his head, but Del was already gone.

***

It's too cold. Lonely and desolate.

I was lying alone in my studio apartment. Various cup ramen containers were stacked like a tower on the floor, and half-eaten snack bags and triangular kimbap wrappers were scattered around. A few books and clothes formed a tomb-like pile on the bed, and I, hunched over like a cocoon inside the blanket, simply tucked my neck lower and tried to get some sleep.

I didn't really care that the surroundings were dirty. I had long become indifferent to things like smells, and as long as there were no bugs, I considered it fine. In fact, even if bugs appeared, it wouldn't have had much of a problem as long as you could swat them away whenever they showed up.

I was just too lazy. I didn't have the energy to clean the room or take care of myself. It was nearing the end of my return to school, and diligently commuting to my current part-time job was draining enough.

"Can you please wake up?"

Even if someone tried to wake me up like this, I didn't want to respond. It's cold. It's hard. Just let me sleep a bit more. I applied more force to my eyelids, trying to sink into a deeper slumber.

"Hey, Mana Vessel. If you don't get up now, you might never wake up."

So what? I don't want to go back to school, and there's no one waiting for me. The only ones waiting eagerly are the game protagonists waiting to attack me. That game is too much for an adult game, it's a game you can't proudly say you're playing. My life isn't particularly trashy, but it's not shining with hope either. So, can't I just sleep a bit more? There's no urgent reason to get up.

"Hmm, you're even more out of it than I expected. Should I try giving you a suppository? Well, first, I need to turn your body over..."

・・・・・・A suppository? Isn't that a medicine meant for the anus?

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine, and my eyes snapped open. As soon as I opened my eyes, I was faced with a familiar-looking Westerner.

"Ah!"

"Oops, surprised you there. Why are you screaming?"

A man with red hair wearing a white robe picked one of his ears with his finger.

Looking around, I saw various scientific-looking and inexplicable experimental tools. Just next to the bed where I was lying, a long and winding, opaque blue glass tube was hissing and emitting steam.

I looked back at the man. Above his head floated the words: [Cain / Lord of the Magic Tower/ Whimsical Genius / Favorability 3].

It was only then that I remembered I had been in this damn game for quite a while, and I had ingested the medicine causing Mana Depletion symptoms with my own hands.

"Prince! What about His Highness the Crown Prince!"

As I frantically looked around for Hunter, Cain snorted.

"The royal folks can't enter the tower. Because of the Tower's sovereignty."

He raised his long arm and made an 'ah.' Every time he moved, there was a cracking sound like his bones cracked.

"When I said I was taking you, they were so serious. You should be thankful. I even gave you the medicine for mana depletion, doing the activity for you, and bringing you here in person... The Mage Lord's labor is cheap. Very cheap."

I sighed in relief. My relationship with Hunter was finally over. It was my choice, and I still didn't regret it, but my heart felt strangely agitated. As I stared at a corner of the blanket in silence, Cain sat at the edge of the bed.

"The Crown Prince said to send you back when you're fully healed."

I looked up and gazed at Cain.

"If you want, after my research is done, I can bring you back. Anyway, he doesn't know yet that you lied."

Lie. Yes, I lied. 19+... No, I didn't want to get involved any further, so I deceived Hunter and ran away. That meant there was no going back.

"But to do that, we need to start the research, right? Lie down. Mana Vessel."

Cain gave my shoulder a light push. It didn't seem like he used much force, but my body suddenly tilted backward. He chuckled softly while wearing thin gloves.

"It might hurt a bit."

"Just a moment... um, wait a minute?"

Right now? Here? I'm feeling down as I reminisce about Hunter, and amidst this?

"Kuhahahaha......."

Cain started laughing like a mad scientist, and I...

"Save me! Save the Daffodil of the Empire!"

I immediately began regretting coming to the tower.