I don’t know for sure.
But this guy wants to build a friendly relationship with us.
It probably does have so kind of purpose.
But no matter what that purpose is.
This guy didn’t have any hostility toward us.
And to build that friendly relationship, it was bringing us benefits.
‘This apocalypse is far too harsh for humanity to endure alone. I’ve known that for a long ti.’
Then.
‘The more allies you have, the better.’
I looked at the scenery outside the window.
-GRAAAHHH.......
Those monsters roaming around outside.
An overwhelming force, enough to fill all of Gangnam.
And the quality of that force wasn’t bad at all.
The downside was that there didn’t seem to be anyone above a certain level of strength, but our unit could handle that.
And besides.
‘It even has overwhelming healing ability that doesn’t even compare to our unit’s healers.’
An awakened person’s abilities are definitely powerful.
But.
Those martial artists from the [Cheonsan Mugwan].
And the dwarves buried in the [Underground Mine].
And Borjin of the [Green Mane], who spent an entire life communing with spirits, and others like it.
Compared to the otherworld beings with specialized abilities in their own fields.
It was true that awakened people’s abilities were lacking in so ways.
And.
‘There was a lot to learn from them, too.’
Our unit’s fighters grew trendously through the teachings of the [Cheonsan Mugwan].
Our engineers and mages went through revolutionary-level technological developnt through the knowledge buried in the [Underground Mine].
And Jeong Sua gained enlightennt in spirit arts through Borjin.
Exchanges with otherworld beings specialized in their own fields.
Brought explosive growth to our unit.
‘This guy is the kind of existence that could give our healers a huge breakthrough.’
If that was the case.
Even setting aside that army.
That alone was more than enough value to justify building a friendly relationship.
Instead.
To do that.
‘I need to confirm it.’
What its purpose is.
And.
“Why would you go that far, even becoming enemies with an existence that strong...... just to help us?”
What it was hiding.
{......I attacked you wrongly before. There was a clear reason to repay that mistake, yes, but.}
“That can’t be all.”
It wasn’t really my place to say, after being helped.
But helping soone while opposing an existence like that [Matron] isn’t easy.
And yet it helped us.
That thing that hated wasting its army that much, dropped countless troops into that Matron’s territory just to help us.
{.......}
When I asked that question.
The taste I felt from it changed sharply.
The emotion in that taste...... a faint bitterness.
‘Flustered.’
And then.
......a very thick, scorching spice.
‘Extre...... rage.’
And in response to my question.
{I find those things that call themselves Divinity and whatever else...... utterly disgusting.}
“What?”
It answered.
In an extrely earnest way.
Its strength drained away, and the monster slumped over the table.
It was sprawled there weakly, but the words that ca out of its mouth—
{They’re all liars.}
Were unmistakably.
Nothing but truth.
*****
“......So? What happened?”
After the treatnt ended.
When I asked that into empty air—
-There was nothing.
An answer ca from beneath my feet.
Through [Taste Bud Enhancent], I’d confird it didn’t have hostility.
But you never know.
I was still wary of that doctor.
“Nothing happened? Are you sure?”
-Yes. Just like the first surgery, those monsters ca pouring out and perford your surgery, master.
With a hideous appearance like that.
And just looking at the monsters it drags around.
It isn’t normal.
There was no way I could trust sothing like that easily.
-If we sensed malice, we would’ve reacted, but.......
“So it was normal treatnt...... that’s what you’re saying.”
-Yes. The surgery itself was kind of...... how should I put it...... hard to watch.
In case it tried sothing strange while treating .
I’d ordered Ariella and the vampires to examine the treatnt process in detail.
But it didn’t seem like anything like that happened.
“That’s a relief. Still, just in case, don’t let your guard down. If you feel like sothing’s wrong with my body...... you know, right?”
-Yes. Even if I don’t want to, my body will react automatically, so don’t worry.
The Oath of Retainers prevents a retainer from doing anything that would harm the master’s body.
If a situation arises where it seems like a problem might occur, that oath will react imdiately and protect .
‘So far, it doesn’t seem like it’s trying anything....... It definitely has sothing in mind, though.’
Even as I stayed wary of what it was thinking.
I continued the deal with it.
[Trait - ‘Ingredients Identification (Enhanced)’ activates.]
[Blood Great Monster, Powro]
The next thing we hunted was.
A grotesque monster that looked like a massive, beating heart that could move.
-Tsk...... disgusting.
‘It says that thing is a blood great monster. Isn’t it basically the sa kind of monster as you?’
-Oh my. Are you comparing us refined nobles to that kind of beast? Later, I’ll have to slowly educate you on just how flourishing noble civilization was, master......
The blood vessels sprouting from that heart attacked us, moving like enormous snakes.
They were obviously blood vessels, but they were so tough and hard that even blades didn’t bite properly.
{It seems the source of the Legion Commander’s vitality cos from that blood.}
“It does. But you said it too, didn’t you? If I use too much of this blood, I’ll.......”
{Step beyond humanity. I know. But...... there’s a way where you don’t need to increase the amount of blood.}
Those blood vessels.
Replaced my blood vessels, which—by the doctor’s expression—had beco “like a rag.”
{The blood flowing through the Legion Commander’s body is certainly mighty, but the vessels containing that blood were far too fragile. The flow will be much smoother now.}
Slice.
I took my knife and lightly cut my arm.
But the wound regenerated instantly.
‘The recovery that weakened after we returned from Gyeonggi...... ca back.’
No, it wasn’t just “back.”
It was much faster than before.
‘Looks like even a beast like that is pretty useful.’
-.......
And.
After each surgery, there was always a short recovery ti.
In those monts, I—
“About what you said last ti.”
{That again?}
Decided to throw questions at it.
When I started talking.
The doctor answered with obvious irritation.
{It’s true that trust between doctor and patient is good, but there are many opinions on whether you need to share even the private domain. For the record, I’m against it.}
“Why are you reacting so sensitively? I’m just asking because I’m curious.”
{It doesn’t seem like that’s the reason.}
Whether it liked it or not.
I thought through my next question.
‘Honestly, there’s a question I ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) want to ask more.’
But I feel like it’ll refuse to answer that part.
No matter what, this treatnt is sothing I need too.
It’s not good to ask sothing weird too recklessly and have the treatnt stop.
So I decided to ask a different question first.
“The reason I ca looking for you was because I’d heard a rumor.”
{A rumor?}
“There was a rumor there was an outstanding doctor in Gangnam.”
The reason I ca looking for it was.
The power of the [Blue Bird of Rumors] that Jang Youngwoong gifted .
And that blue bird’s ability is literally to tell rumors.
“You don’t seem like the kind of guy who interacts with humans, so I was curious how a rumor like that spread.”
{Ah, that.}
At my question.
It answered calmly, considering how much it had acted like it disliked the topic.
{It’s nothing special. Even before eting the Legion Commander, there were a few cases where I made similar deals.}
“Deals?”
{If soone could pay a price appropriate to the treatnt, I treated them.}
“You treated...... other people?”
{Not with materials as precious as the ones I used on the Legion Commander, of course. But that was when I obtained knowledge about you...... natives, and information about the Legion as well. For the price of so treatnts, I received information.}
Apparently.
This thing had contacted humans other than us before.
[Wraith Sword Demon]
[An old warrior’s wraith who wanders the world with only bones remaining.]
Next.
The creaking I’d felt in my joints disappeared completely.
“......You said you’ve t humans. Then let ask you.”
{Hm. What is it.}
“Maybe.”
I asked it, my voice trembling a little.
“Did you ever betray those humans......?”
{......Betray?}
“I’m curious what happened to the humans you dealt with.”
This thing is a monster.
And besides.
Looking at the monsters wandering outside.......
I can guess how it built up its forces.
‘Not through any normal thod.’
I wondered if.
It betrayed those humans after the deals.
But.
{What happened...... they recovered healthily and left.}
“.......”
I didn’t sll any lie in its words.
So it didn’t betray those humans.
{If you’re asking what happened after that, I don’t know either. I fulfilled my responsibility to treat them, but there’s no reason for to take responsibility for follow-up managent after that.}
Well.
I do know how it ended.
Because there are no living humans on this land now.
“......Those humans were sothing else. No matter how badly they needed treatnt, to try to make a deal with a guy like you.”
This thing’s appearance was grotesque enough to not lose to any monster I’d ever seen.
Most people wouldn’t even think to speak to it.
I could roughly guess how desperate the people who dealt with it must’ve been.
But then.
{......A guy like .}
At my words.
The ‘doctor’ answered in a tone like it found it ridiculous.
{What’s wrong with , exactly?}
“......Uh.”
{It’s hard for to say it myself, but...... I’m diligently treating the Legion Commander, and I’m honestly answering questions outside of work as well, am I not.}
And.
When I noticed the taste of emotion coming from it, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
Because this thing—
{I’ve invested a lot for the Legion Commander...... and yet the Legion Commander calls “a guy like you.”}
“......Are you feeling hurt?”
{Is that not allowed?}
At sothing I’d thrown out without thinking.
It was feeling hurt.
*****
{It was like that from the first eting.}
The voice echoing in my head didn’t waver much.
But.
{It’s true that the first eting between the Legion Commander and I was bad....... But I rember apologizing for that trouble, and in my own way, trying to help by giving advice as well.}
“That’s true.”
That part is true.
Because thanks to that advice.
We were able to approach the identity of that otherworld.
{But even then...... the Legion Commander spoke as if you just wanted to fight first.}
“That’s...... also true.”
That part was true as well.
It wanted to withdraw from the battle.
But I was the one who held it back and said we should fight.
{After that, even when I saw that the otherworld layered over this land was shaking, I sent my children there without hesitation and helped the Legion Commander.}
“.......”
That was true too.
Without that army, we probably wouldn’t have even been able to hold out until the Matron chose to withdraw.
{And yet the Legion Commander...... even while requesting treatnt from , you only harbored suspicion and kept getting angry.}
“Hey, that’s—”
{Does the Legion Commander know how many troops I committed to help you? This land...... this region called Seoul is filled with strong enemies. Even I don’t have a completely safe position here. And yet I helped you while accepting that much damage.......}
“So—”
{Because the Legion Commander’s body looked bad, I even recomnded you co for treatnt later. And when you actually ca, I guided you to the best treatnt I could provide...... yet the Legion Commander did nothing but get angry at the fact that I could not restore your body to its original state.}
Amazingly.
Everything it was rattling off......
{Even though I gave proper treatnt, you got angry and accused of making you step beyond humanity....... Honestly, I should be receiving thanks, so I wondered why I had to have my dical art—sothing I’ve trained my entire life—belittled.}
Was.
Not a single lie—just facts.
And.
As I listened to it, I thought.
‘What the hell is its angle?’
To suddenly express hurt like that.
What kind of ulterior motive was hidden in that behavior.
To figure that out, I forced my brain to spin as fast as possible.
‘......Ah.’
And.
As I thought it through, I realized one fact.
‘It’s not hiding an ulterior motive.’
I opened my mouth, my voice shaking.
“Don’t tell , you......”
For .
It was honestly unbelievable.
“You don’t have so hidden ulterior motive?”
{......That’s absurd.}
This thing.
Wasn’t hiding anything from .
{Have I ever told even a single lie to the Legion Commander up to now?}
“.......”
This thing was treating .
With absolute honesty.
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