As they arrived at the Legendary Master of Rejuvenation's abode, they noticed a crowd of people gathered outside. They were a diverse group of individuals from all over the world, including merchants, royalty, aristocrats, and those who came to see the master. They were also Celia's competitors.
Celia's expression froze, and she was even more nervous than before as a cold sweat rolled down on her forehead.
Amidst the bustling atmosphere, the four of them went down the carriage. The Royal Army had also arrived early to supervise the situation and prevent any mishaps from happening.
The Legendary Master of Rejuvenation did not give a damn if any of the contenders were notable individuals who should not be offended. He was an elf who was indifferent to the social status of humans. Therefore, before the examination started, everyone had to wait outside.
They could only go as far as the base of the mountain on which his abode was perched. A magical wall stood between the outside world and the master's private domain, preventing any entry.
After an hour of waiting, more and more people arrived. The twins and Seth did not want to disturb Celia since she was engrossed in reading the books and scrolls that she had brought. When the twins were bored of waiting, they went to play with some rocks on the ground and drew Krytys and other people that they knew.
At that moment, a mother and her son arrived.
The mother wore a tattered blouse and skirt, a shawl draped over her shoulders, worn boots, and a headscarf in soft hues.
Her son was dressed in a cozy romper, knit booties, a bonnet with a bow beneath his chin, a tiny bib with embroidery, a patchwork blanket, and a fabric sling to carry him.
As she carried her son, the mother sobbed and begged the Royal Army to allow her to see the Legendary Master of Rejuvenation.
The boy appeared to be about a year old, and there were obvious signs of skin corruption—dark, shifting shadows that appeared to be writhing beneath the skin's surface.
The Royal Army was yelling at the mother and son to stay away, clearly disgusted and afraid.
The commotion attracted the attention of the others, but no one was willing to come and help the mother and son.
After looking up in her book, Celia turned to face the commotion. “I think that child is infected by the Witch's Curse.”
Noel and Leon had gathered near us with curious faces. “The Witch’s Curse?”
Celia nodded solemnly. “It’s a mysterious and highly contagious disease that instills fear and aversion in others. The ailment earned its name due to the eerie and shadowy manifestations associated with its victims.”
People didn't want to approach them because there was nothing they could do about the disease, and they were also busy preparing themselves for the examinations.
Seth had heard about the disease mentioned in The Summoned Hero; however, he didn’t know the exact treatment.
Then, without hesitation, Celia came up to them. “Hello, the Legendary Master of Rejuvenation isn’t available right now, but perhaps I can help you. I’m also a healer.”
The mother had reached her breaking point as she grabbed Celia’s arm and knelt. “Please help me. My son is dying! For the past few days, he has been having nightmares and screaming nonstop at night, and this morning, he is not responding.”
Celia frowned and immediately stopped the mother before she could kneel. Without hesitation, she touched the boy’s wrist, which had black spots wriggling, to check his pulse. “I can only provide comfort. The shadows resist traditional magical treatment, making it challenging for healers to effectively assess or address the ailment through magical means. Unfortunately, there’s no treatment for this disease yet.”
Celia found it difficult to deliver the bad news; however, she also knew not to give the mother false hope.
After wiping away her tears, the mother spoke. "I know he cannot be cured. Even his father abandoned him after learning that he had this disease. But I still love my child, and I’m unwilling to see him die."
The mother and son caused Celia to feel more sympathy and sorrow. She desired to be the Legendary Master of Rejuvenation's apprentice for this reason. She wished to cure those suffering from complicated illnesses.
When Celia worked the healing magic, the boy's pale face turned ruddier, and his wrinkled eyebrows relaxed.
The poor mother profusely thanked Celia, while Celia bitterly smiled.
While Seth looked at the people around me, he finally caught sight of a man in a hood. He was the Legendary Master of Rejuvenation, and he was staring at Celia.
The original scene that happened in The Summoned Hero occurred. Seth felt relieved.
Soon, the Royal Army called the participants and entered through the magical wall that separated them from the examination area.
Seth wished Celia good luck as he watched her leave.
“Good luck, Miss Celia!” Noel waved at her.
“Do your best!” Leon fist-pumped his hand in the air.
“Thank you!” Celia waved back at them.
Once Seth had ensured that Celia had safely entered the examination area, Noel, Leon, and he got into the carriage and headed home. On the way, he got hungry.
“Let's go eat something.”
The usually dusty and worn streets now sparkled with newfound cleanliness as the townsfolk scrubbed away the grime for the grand celebration of the King’s birthday. Every building had vibrant banners and flags that displayed the royal crest and fluttered in the wind.
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
The town's skilled artisans were hard at work, weaving floral arrangements and constructing temporary arches made of woven vines and flowers that spanned across the streets.
Tomorrow is the King's birthday, which also happens to be a significant plot point that represents the threat posed by the demons in the novel The Summoned Hero.
‘To be honest, I don’t want to go, but I wanted to get the Book of Instant Summon from the auction house and get revenge quickly. If I had remembered the exact location, I wouldn’t have asked for the information from Elizabeth and then promised her that I would accompany her to the King's event.’ Seth thought in dismay. However, he had to keep his promise.
The carriage’s wheel stopped in front of a building.
The name of the establishment was elegantly scripted on a wrought-iron sign that swayed gently in the evening breeze.
As the three of them stepped inside, the door chimed softly. Oil paintings were displayed on the interior walls, with muted, soft colors predominating the decor. A mix of wooden and upholstered furniture, with each table placed with fresh flowers in delicate vases. Soft instrumental music plays in the background. Large windows allow a view of the city outside.
Once they sat down, Noel and Leon eagerly looked through the menu before placing their eyes on Seth.
Seth said casually, “Order whatever you guys want.”
‘It’s not like I’m short of money.’
After placing their order, he peered out the large window.
Ornamental potted plants and wrought iron streetlamps were lining the sidewalk. The storefronts of neighboring establishments had quaint boutiques, bookshops, and artisanal stores lining the streets.
A fountain was located in the middle of the square across the street, which offered a green haven amidst the bustle of the city. Benches beneath old trees provided shade for people to rest.
Further down the street, there was a hidden alleyway with string lights.
A crow was perched atop a garbage can, staring back at Seth with its red, beady eyes.
He tilted his head, and the crow followed suit.
‘Is it an animal reared by a Beastmaster?’ he thought.
Beastmasters could call upon and control animals, either for assistance in combat, scouting, or performing various tasks.
He avoided giving the issue much thought and instead focused on the twins. They were still carefully disguised.
Noel was dressed in a gown of rich velvet and silk, dyed in a deep royal blue that complemented her fair complexion. Silver embroidery embellished the neckline, sleeves, and hem of the gown. Around her neck hung a necklace made of sapphires and pearls. Her hair was styled into a braid and fastened in place with silver hairpins.
Meanwhile, Leon was attired in a doublet and hose dyed in a deep, regal shade of crimson. The doublet was embroidered with gold thread. The hoses ended just below the knee, revealing polished leather boots embellished with gold accents. Around his waist, there was a wide leather belt with a gold buckle. His hair was neatly combed and styled.
They appeared well-fed, with skin that was both ruddier and plumper. They were completely different than when Seth first saw them in the Cursed Village.
It meant that they weren’t mistreated in the manor. Richard looked after them quite well.
Noel looked at the establishment curiously for a while. She then noticed that the noble sitting across from her brother had a faint smile while staring at them. “Mister, you must be in a good mood.”
Seth noticed his lips were raised, so he pretended to be unconcerned. “I’m planning to live a quiet, solitary life in the East after purchasing a home there. While I enjoy my life in the capital, I would prefer to be alone.”
Leon stopped staring at the window as he faced Seth with furrowed eyebrows. “What about us? Are you planning to leave us here?”
Seth was at a loss for words.
Their livelihood was dependent on him, as he was the one who brought them into his house.
Before he spoke, he looked around to make sure no one was listening in on their conversation. “Maline planned to take you outside the kingdom to find your uncle. His name is Jeremy. Do you remember him? He’s your mom’s brother. I’m sure that they will take care of you.”
Their uncle, Jeremy, was the one who assisted the twins in overthrowing the royal family. The only issue Seth was having was not knowing where Jeremy was hiding at the moment. Given the lax security measures at the kingdom's border, Jeremy ought to be waiting in the forest outside Tudela Village. Seth would need to get people to find Jeremy first.
Noel gave a somber nod. “Uncle Jeremy? Yes, we did meet him sometimes. But then he stopped visiting the palace.”
Uncle Jeremy would always sigh and scold their mother, but he was kind when they played with the twins. As the years passed, the number of times he visited decreased, sometimes to once a year. They were still young, so they had a vague memory of him. After their mother passed away, Uncle Jeremy stopped visiting them altogether.
“It’s not that he doesn’t want to meet you guys; it is just that the security at the palace was getting stricter and would not let him. He is probably worried about you two right now.” Seth tried to make them remember and miss their uncle, but they showed no signs of it.
Leon thought of an idea as he became agitated. “What if I tell him that we are doing fine right now? Then he won’t worry about us. I don’t want to go somewhere I don’t know. You feel the same way, right, sis?”
Noel hesitated for three seconds before she nodded. “I also don’t want to go. Sir Richard and the other servants were kind to us. They enjoy playing with us and have never beaten or starved us.”
The servants had followed Seth’s instructions, so they didn’t dare neglect the twins.
“Your uncle's friends will not treat the two of you badly.”
“But…”
Leon wanted to refute it, but the dishes were served. He was distracted and didn’t have the mood to argue. Seth and Noel also tacitly agreed not to continue talking about the matter while they were eating.
Aside from the signature drink, which was a blend of sparkling water, elderflower-infused spirits, and citrus, other dishes featured were Roasted Quail, a salad, roasted boar shank glazed with honeyed mead, and a soufflé made with velvety dark chocolate and served with a scoop of artisanal vanilla bean ice cream.
Seth sampled the Roasted Quail dish. It had a taste similar to honey and spice, with a hint of sweetness and heat.
Fortunately, nothing else happened while they were eating.
Following their departure from the restaurant, they got into the carriage. Seth looked around the alleys as they passed by through the window, but he could not find the Seer, the old woman who could see into the future. Since he had already killed the Birds of a Feather, he wondered if his future would be bright or if there would still be danger for him.
When they got to the mansion, Noel and Leon were still sulking, and they only gave a brief response when Richard stopped by to greet them and inquire about their day.
Acting like a hen ready to defend her chicks, Richard approached Seth with caution. “Young master, what did you do to them?”
Seth only glanced at him calmly as he walked into the mansion. “Get them anything they ask. And do not disturb me this afternoon.”
Richard didn’t know what happened between the three of them. He could only begrudgingly answer, “Yes, young master.”
There was also Karles who waited for Seth’s arrival at the entrance of the mansion.
“Don't let anyone come into my room unless I allow it.”
“As you wish.”
Seth proceeded to go to his bedroom on the second floor. Along the way, he didn't encounter Isaac or his family members.
He found Krytys in his bedroom, eating his lunch, which consisted of grilled meat with sauce.
Krytys didn't ignore the person who just entered the room as he lifted his head from the plate and greeted him. “You’re back?”