How to Survive as a Genius Spy in the Game Chapter 251 - Divine Doctor (1)

Minteron’s funeral was conducted solemnly and reverently. Chenarus was also immersed in deep sorrow. The respect for Minteron was beyond imagination.

Thinking about it, it’s natural. Not long ago, I was called by the tremendous title of the Empire’s Sword, but… In fact, it would have been more appropriate for other Sword Masters to be called the Empire’s Sword rather than me.

After all, Faorn had been protecting the empire since the previous emperor’s reign, while Minteron and Rudehrn had been doing so since the current emperor’s predecessor.

Mondegreen, who returned to the capital with me, accepted Erendil’s request to wield his sword for the empire after the funeral.

‘He looked quite serious.’

He was said to be a close friend of Minteron. Even though they had been longtime rivals, he seemed quite angry about Minteron’s death.

Erendil, considering Mondegreen’s personality, added the condition that it would be until the fight with the devils was over.

Thanks to that, I could also reduce my worries. With Mondegreen staying by the emperor’s side instead of Faorn, Rudehrn, and Minteron, I should be able to move around freely like before.

And the day after the funeral, I headed southwest on a dragon carriage.

As much as I wanted to go straight south, it couldn’t be helped. The dragon carriage is accompanied by a knight who drives the dragon.

I had learned how to drive a dragon in my spare time. However, dragons are too conspicuous animals.

It’s difficult to hide their appearance due to their size. Moreover, showing up near Haisen would only reveal my connection to Haisen.

‘It would be the same if I drove it myself.’

Even if I rode the dragon alone, I would have to leave it abandoned in the mountains near Haisen while meeting the count. In other words, it meant I had to go via the southwest.

The only fortunate thing was that I had contacted Haisen and set the meeting place between the southwest and the south.

The dragon carriage was to drop me off in the southwest and come back a month later. I was also planning to check on the elves during that time.

Separately, I tilted my head slightly when I heard that Duke Brusek was coming to the area adjacent to the southwest.

‘It might not be the divine doctor.’

The divine doctor was someone who didn’t come even when summoned by the emperor. If they was really a Divine Healer, they probably wouldn’t bother moving just for me.

Of course, there was a possibility that they might come out of curiosity since my symptoms were unusual.

Assuming they really was a Divine Healer, there was a somewhat difficult part. I wasn’t sure if the divine doctor could cure my condition…

When I thought it might actually be possible, it was surprisingly hard to decide easily.

Rationally, it would be better to receive treatment if possible. It means I could increase my usual abilities by almost twofold. But the problem was that the power given by the best condition was quite intense.

I felt endless elation on days when my condition was good. Moreover, I became a Sword Master thanks to the best condition.

‘Would I have become a Sword Master faster if there was no Worst Condition?’

That was an area I couldn’t guarantee. I might have been able to use the power I had normally, but I’m not sure if I would have gained the insight.

It felt a bit regretful. I wanted to get rid of the Worst Condition and keep only the best condition, but that wasn’t possible.

Well, it would be better to treat it if possible. The biggest reason is that the best condition doesn’t come when I want it to.

Of course, I can look to the future. After Sword Master, there exists the Sword Lord that even the founding emperor ascended to.

A realm where even Sword Masters look like mere children, but even with the best condition, I wouldn’t be able to reach that far.

‘Win or lose, the war with the devils will end in a few years at most.’

Of course, it might be wishful thinking since I don’t know if Duke Brusek’s reason for wanting to meet is really because of the divine doctor.

I’ll receive treatment if I can.

First, I planned to meet Al Fahri and Ines, then make contact with Duke Brusek before going to the elves’ forest.

“You’ve come! It’s been a while. How can I be this glad!”

Al Fahri greeted me warmly when I arrived in the southwest.

“Have you been well?”

“Of course. How could I not be, thanks to you? By the way, I heard you became a Sword Master, congratulations from the bottom of my heart.”

He seemed to feel more grateful now than right after I made him Lu Anuma’s Sword.

I thought his feelings might have grown stronger as he truly unified the southwest and reclaimed the western lands.

“Thank you. How is Casmak?”

“Of course, he’s fine. He was saying he wanted to see you. Why don’t you stop by the west while you’re here?”

“That doesn’t sound bad.”

It seemed like I could meet Casmak before returning to the empire after finishing my business. It would only take 2–3 days anyway.

Al Fahri and Casmak. As they had become allies ruling the southwest and west, I needed to manage them as well.

I didn’t think they would betray, but as we were friends, it seemed good to set aside time separately.

“Please send a letter saying I’ll visit in a month. Is he still in the archipelago?”

“He’s been going back and forth between the archipelago and the west, but if you contact him, he’ll be in the archipelago at the right time.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you.”

Al Fahri smiled deeply, saying not to worry.

“By the way, thank you for this time.”

“Are you talking about the platinum herb?”

“Yes.”

The plague that had blown when I left for the east was completely resolved in the north just before Minteron died.

It was thanks to the platinum herb that had been accumulated in the southwest being quickly distributed to the empire.

Since the empire wasn’t entirely without platinum herb, they initially prevented it from spreading too much, and then completely cured it afterward.

“Is there any reason to thank me? You were the one who asked for it.”

“I’m just saying. Don’t take it too seriously.”

Why are you being so particular? We already know everything about each other. Al Fahri laughed heartily when I chided him. It seemed like he was joking in his own way.

“But what brings you to the southwest so suddenly? I was quite surprised to hear you came, and on a dragon at that.”

I wanted to contact them before coming, but I couldn’t. Because dragons are faster than homing pigeons. I headed straight to the southwest right after Minteron’s funeral.

“I thought I’d meet Ines.”

“The shaman?”

“Yes. The devils have crossed over to the east. I wondered if she might see something.”

“I see. I also heard about the death of the Sword Master.”

After briefly greeting Al Fahri, I immediately headed to meet Ines.

He seemed to want to entertain me separately, but since it was still daytime, I told him we’d meet in the evening.

***

“Carlyn, it’s been a while. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Ines greeted me with a light smile when we met again. Despite her young age, she had become the highest shaman of the unified western natives.

On my way here, I heard that she had hit a few prophecies even while I was away. They weren’t big events. Just predicting the timing of sandstorms and the appearance of monster herds.

“Did you see that I was coming?”

“The wind blew last night. They were familiar wind.”

“It’s just like back then. Have you been well?”

“Yes. You’ve had a hard time, Carlyn. I know you’ve been through a lot.”

I furrowed my brow. She knows I’ve been through a lot. It didn’t seem like she had read the newspaper. Could she have seen something?

“I came to visit because there was no contact for a while, but does that mean you saw something about me? I thought I had to meet you in person to be seen, so I came.”

Ines nodded at my question.

“Yes. I saw your image twice. It was precarious.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I felt I shouldn’t tell you.”

I thought I understood what Ines was saying.

“Was it an issue where my choice might have changed because of your words?”

“I can’t pinpoint it exactly.”

Well. It was an understandable part. As a result, I’m alive. Assuming Ines knew that, it would have been better not to say anything.

Especially if it was a warning about danger, not a problem of giving directions like go east or west.

For example, the most dangerous moment was when I was returning after finding Tsukva’s Scythe. I had my side pierced by a devil.

But if there had been Ines’s prophecy, would I have been able to obtain Tsukva’s Scythe and even catch the devilish dragon?

I probably would have been more careful. I might not have gone to the north in the first place, or I might have chosen to abandon Tsukva’s Scythe while fleeing.

If so, the fight with the devils would have become much more difficult. If by any chance Tsukva’s Scythe had fallen into their hands…

That sphere, believed to be related to the Great Devil, might have descended in the form of the Great Devil itself, not just a sphere.

It was the same when I dealt with that sphere. I almost died then too. If I had heard it was dangerous, I might not have known about that sphere at all.

There’s also a possibility that I wouldn’t have thought of leaving for the east at all. Rather than a self-fulfilling prophecy that realizes the prophecy in an attempt to avoid it, an even greater disaster could have occurred.

“I’m sorry. I had no choice.”

“No, I understand. It’s better that you didn’t tell me.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“You don’t need to be sorry or thankful. If anything, I should be grateful.”

I took a sip of tea while checking Ines’s expression.

“But is that still the case now?”

It was a question asking if she had anything more to tell me.

“Well. There’s nothing clear to see yet. The only certain thing is that there’s a deep darkness looming in the east that’s incomparable to anything so far.”

From Ines’s words, I was convinced that the sphere was related to the Great Devil, not just devils.

When I first entered this world, I didn’t believe in shamans, but I felt that Ines was definitely different.

“Thanks to Carlyn, we were able to clear some of that darkness, but it won’t be easy nonetheless.”

“Is that a warning?”

“It’s a concern. Because of that deep darkness, I can’t see many things either.”

I nodded heavily. I knew it would be difficult in my heart, but hearing Ines’s words made me feel even more frustrated. I could understand why she didn’t tell me before.

Anyway, through those words, I became more convinced of Ines’s abilities.

“Ines, have you thought about staying in the empire for a while? Just until this fight is over.”

“No. I need to stay in the southwest.”

“Is there a separate reason?”

“The closer I get to the east, the less I can see.”

“Because of that darkness?”

Ines nodded. Her face was full of confidence. It seemed like she had experimented once before I came.

“Then there’s no helping it.”

“If I see something clearly, I’ll come find Carlyn.”

“Alright.”

“You don’t look happy.”

“I came hoping I could get some answers.”

Now that the devils and their followers have crossed over to the east where they’re plotting something, I too felt at a loss about where to start and what to do.

That’s also why I came to see Ines.

“Ah, I’m not blaming you.”

“I know. But don’t worry too much. You’ll have good news soon.”

“Good news?”

“Weren’t you guessing it in your heart?”

Of course I was. Duke Brusek also told me it was good news. Until just now, I thought it might not be the divine doctor, but…

Hearing Ines’s words, it really seemed like it might be the divine doctor. Well, it looked like I should head straight to the meeting place, skipping Al Fahri’s welcome party.