novelraw Chapter 65 : Chapter 65
Chapter 65 : Chapter 65
Chapter 65
At first, it was a hazy light.
It became color, and then shape—
And finally, the world seeped into his eyes.
“Ha.”
The joy that had been blurring vaguely finally took a complete form and became elation.
However, savoring the joy was but a fleeting moment.
“Keoheuk.”
Because bright red blood started to gush from the mouth of the one who had restored his light.
Theo, as if he had already expected it, hurriedly covered his mouth.
The moment he managed to swallow the rising blood and tried to inhale, blood burst from his eyes as if it were an explosion.
Gush, red drops overflowed his eyelids and slid down his cheeks.
It was obscenely hot, as if his eyes had been turned into fireballs.
“Are you okay?!”
“…Be a little quiet.”
He couldn't afford to be caught again and end up in the infirmary.
Theo, barely swallowing the blood that he kept vomiting without any sign of stopping, squeezed his eyes shut.
At his overly calm demeanor, Fel asked Theo.
“It seems you already knew this would happen if you restored my sight.”
“I roughly, expected it.”
Theo answered with difficulty, swallowing the blood that was about to surge up once more.
Although it was a world where magic existed, restoring someone's sight was a miracle only a very few could perform. It was difficult even with a contract with a demon.
Moreover, Fel's sight had been offered as a tribute to God. Restoring it was considered impossible, to the point that even the word 'miracle' was insufficient. In truth, an overload of this degree was getting off cheap.
However, knowing something in your head and seeing it with your own eyes are two different things.
For a moment, the image of his own body, losing strength, going limp, and gradually losing its temperature, flashed through Theo's mind.
“Get someone right now—”
Theo, terrified, grabbed Fel's hem.
Calling someone was absolutely out of the question.
“It'll just be a moment.”
“…How long?”
“30 minutes?”
Fel reluctantly nodded his head.
“Alright, if you're still like this after 30 minutes, I'm taking you to the infirmary right away.”
“Okay, that's all I need.”
Thank goodness. Theo let out a sigh of relief, then vomited blood again.
…Ehei, I'm screwed. This is.
* * *
Fortunately, Fel waited for 30 minutes as promised.
There was no way my father, who wouldn't even let me attend class after finding out about me coughing up blood, would let me participate in the Flowering Festival.
Blood tears streamed down every time I opened my eyes, and after about 30 minutes of keeping my eyes closed, the pain subsided. When I opened them, my vision was blurry.
“Hm?”
This was unexpected.
It wasn't like this when I faced Baal.
Is this a penalty?
“Should I get glasses?”
I never thought a problem with my vision would arise.
Is this the system's own kind of penalty?
Well, honestly, if I can restore a person's sight by just vomiting blood for about 30 minutes, then later on, after I've accumulated more mana, I could restore everyone's sight.
So, it's plausible that there would be some kind of restriction.
“Did something happen to your eyesight?”
“It's just nearsightedness, you know, things that are far away look blurry. It's fine.”
Fortunately, it's not like I can't see at all like Fel.
+++
▷Penalty
Nearsightedness: Things that are far away appear blurry.
※Time limit: 365 days
+++
Because the system window that appeared before my eyes was damn easy to see.
“Uh… Anyway, it'll get better.”
Though it'll take a year.
It was a cheap price to pay for restoring one person's sight.
“I don't know why, but you seem confident.”
At Fel's words after a moment of silence, I slyly averted my gaze.
How could I tell him that a being called the system had given me nearsightedness as a penalty and set a time limit? I had no choice but to vaguely gloss over it.
A moment of silence followed, and with a deep sigh, Fel asked.
“Do you always gloss over things like that?”
“Haha, I really have no idea what you're talking about.”
This is why I hate quick-witted guys!
Grumbling to myself, I whistled, which I wasn't even good at.
“Thank you so much for restoring my sight. You may not believe me, but this much is sincere.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know. I know. So, can you see well?”
Fel's lips parted and closed before he finally spoke.
“It's so good, it makes me wonder how on earth I lived before.”
Then my one year is very much worth it.
I smiled with satisfaction, then remembered one thing.
“Hey, if you have holy power, you can use something called purification, right?”
“It's possible. Do you need something?”
Why am I suddenly asking something like this?
Isn't it simple?
“Can you purify the blood?”
I couldn't guarantee I could handle the aftermath if my father or my other friends found out about this mess.
Especially Lucian. The last time he pointed his sword at Fel, his momentum was quite formidable.
I really didn't want to imagine the aftermath I'd have to deal with if Lucian found out about this mess.
As if he had read my thoughts, Fel muttered.
“His momentum was certainly amazing, worthy of a Hero. I was a little scared.”
“Right?!”
If there was one thing I could agree on, it was this.
I don't know why, but his growth was so remarkable that it was hard to believe he was the frustrating sweet potato hero from the original story.
If I could, I felt like giving him a standing ovation.
“I'll purify it right away.”
A holy light faintly flickered before my eyes for a moment, and the quite stimulating visual returned to normal.
We've finally returned from a 15+ rating to a G-rating!
“We'll have to air the room out, though.”
I was aiming for a perfect crime.
* * *
《Perfect crime, my foot.》
We decided to call this a sharp and stinging remark.
Why do I have to be scolded by an incompetent lizard? And even kneeling in front of the bed! I am wronged!!
《There are other things to be wronged about!》
“Did I say that out loud?”
《It's written all over your face.》
Damn it! Do I have to manage my expression even in front of a lizard!
A complaint rose up to my throat, but for this moment, I kept my mouth shut.
《That human is no different from having offered his eyes as a tribute. You have essentially stolen it by force, so you should be glad it ended with just this!》
“You seem to know something in detail, huh?”
《Even if I am trapped in the body of a lizard, do you think a primeval demon who sees through all things would not know that much!》
Still, you're just a small lizard thumping on the blanket with your feet.
《Originally, he should have offered his life and had everything taken away, but God showed mercy and took only his sight.》
“No, did Fel offer his own life! He just got swept up in it!!”
If there's one thing I had to rebut, it was this.
If Fel truly had immense faith in God and participated in the ritual with the sentiment of 'I live only once, I'll offer it to God!', then I wouldn't know.
He just got caught up in the Pope's scheme, so why on earth does Fel have to pay the price?
《That's why it ended with just his eyes.》
“That's not a price that can be called 'just'.”
《No, it is 'just'. Because he kept his life.》
Albedo's words were as sharp as a blade.
It was a cruelly clear reality.
On that day, Fel's survival was God's whim and a miracle.
“But, that doesn't change the fact that it was a miracle and a price he never wanted in the first place.”
《Then let me be the one to ask. Why did you have to restore the sight of the one who threatens you? There is no reason anywhere for you to endure that pain and help him.》
Albedo's words felt less like a question and more like facing the precisely aimed tip of a spear.
There was nothing wrong with what Albedo said.
There was no reason for me to help Fel.
He was a guy who had infiltrated the Academy to judge my heresy, a tangible threat.
And yet, the reason I tried to help Fel was because I knew all of his darkness and his past. Above all—
“Because I consumed his misfortune as entertainment.”
The lizard frowned as if it couldn't understand.
My goodness, a lizard frowning. It seems I'm seeing all sorts of things after being possessed in a game.
《Those are incomprehensible words. This is the first time you've seen that guy called the Sword of Doctrine.》
“Well, it's not the first or second time I've said things that don't make sense.”
《That much is true.》
There's nothing wrong with what Albedo says, but why is it so damn annoying?
But, just because he's right doesn't mean I have to put up with it, right?
“If you have a problem, then break the contract.”
《Are you threatening me because you feel you're at a disadvantage?》
“Yep, correct.”
I smiled brightly at Albedo.
You can't spit on a smiling face, after all.
My opponent is a demon, so I don't know how he'll react, but the one who's cornered isn't me, but Albedo.
He went so far as to give up the throne of the Demon King and secured a spot next to me, so there's no way he can back down now, right?
《Cunning brat.》
“Hahaha.”
《You may be cursed for stealing what belongs to God. That is the way the world works.》
“I'll just have to bear it.”
The system probably won't just let me be helplessly beaten by God either.
Didn't he say it?
To prepare for the terrible future that is to come.
I feel like if I argue that restoring Fel's sight is also a part of that, it'll work out somehow.
《There's a limit to being reckless.》
“Haha.”
《Do not try to gloss it over with laughter!!》
The infuriated Albedo pounded on the bed.
《Reckless and selfish, it's so infuriating!》
Albedo, who had been screaming his head off, panted for a long while and then let out a sigh so deep it seemed the bedsheets would sink.
《Come here.》
There was no need to follow Albedo's instruction, but this time, I obediently did as I was told.
Seeing him get angry for once, I did feel sorry enough for a lizard's teardrop.
《It has been a long time since I used creation magic, so it is quite difficult.》
A magic circle so complex that just looking at it made my head hurt floated above Albedo's head.
Ugh. As a brief dizziness set in, Albedo grumbled.
《Close your eyes.》
When I closed my eyes as per Albedo's instruction, the dizziness soon subsided.
How much time had passed, I wonder, when something was placed on my face.
“Glasses?”
When I stroked the head of Albedo, who was sprawled out on the bed, with my finger, his tail wagged.
《Can you see properly?》
“Yeah, not bad.”
My blurry vision became clear again.
Even though it didn't seem to have separate lenses.
《Then it is done.》
“…Now that I think about it, couldn't you have just made glasses like these for Fel from the start?”
Then I wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble!
I'm truly wronged!
《Must I use such complex magic for a human who is not even my contractor?》
“Well, no, but….”
《And my identity is a secret, is it not?》
“That's true too.”
The fact that the insides of this strangely cute lizard is actually a heinous primeval demon is a secret.
《Above all, it is because you are my contractor that I can exert this much influence. Normally, it would be out of the question.》
“Is it very difficult?”
《This too is a way of deceiving the eyes of God.》
The system… is surprisingly quiet.
Does it not know, or is it allowing it? I don't know which.
“That's amazing. I'll go buy you the beef jerky you like.”
《The spicy kind.》
“Alright.”
I smirked and stroked Albedo's head one more time.
Leaving Albedo lying on the bed, I immediately left the room to buy beef jerky.
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