"Cough! Cough cough!"
"How do you feel? Do you sense your energy returning after eating?"
"Ah, my lord... why do you treat a mere commoner with such respect?"
"Now is not the time to worry about formalities. Just tell me, are you feeling alright?"
"I feel my energy returning quickly, but my head is spinning so much that I could collapse at any moment."
"You're lacking stamina! Heyze, use your basic healing magic to assist. I'll link our healing spells, so save your magic power. We have a long journey ahead."
"Understood, my lord. You’re not having any issues with your own magic, right? You can’t suddenly faint or anything!"
"I could use healing magic every day of the year and still be fine, so don’t worry."
"Haha, that was a foolish question."
As I and Heyze moved among the refugees, we were helping those in urgent need of treatment. We had brought all the extra master potions we had set aside to this place, the Sanare district, for the refugees. Those showing signs of infection were all placed into a quarantine area to completely block the spread of the disease.
Around the quarantine area, I had drawn clean magic circles using high-grade spirit stones, placing dozens of them to create a barrier. Even if the infectious pathogens were blown by the wind, they would be completely eradicated upon passing through the magic circles. I had drastically increased the power of our defenses.
In my hurry, I had forgotten that I was a nobleman and was speaking formally to commoners. I didn’t particularly mind, but the people around me seemed utterly shocked — perhaps because this was an unprecedented situation for those living in this world.
In this place, where life and death were at stake, I did not wish to waste time on frivolities like etiquette or public appearances. My genuine desire to save the sick refugees was real. I was also sincere in my strategic reasons for welcoming them into the Sanare district.
I was proud of my feelings; I was not pretending to be a saint, nor was I treating them with any kind of pretense.
At that moment, two men and women rushed toward me and knelt down together, speaking in unison.
"My lord! I want to help you! Please allow me to work in the quarantine ward!"
"I earnestly beg you! Please let me repay the grace you have shown me!"
It was the Maroon siblings. The reason I remembered their names was that they were the first patients I had treated in the Sanare district.
Their special talents were as follows:
[Special Talent: Comprehensive Medicine A / Radius Theology B / Healing Herbology B]
[Special Talent: Psychology A / Counseling Healing B / Therapeutic Hypnosis B]
The brother, Maroon, was skilled in medicine and potion-making, while the sister, Marie, excelled in psychological therapy. At first, I thought they might be nobles of the kingdom, but upon checking, they were not. They had learned all their medical and psychological knowledge on their own, treating people in their village and gaining experience from there.
Though they lacked the qualifications to be ‘vassals,’ they were perfect for a control tower role in this situation.
"Maroon, Marie. If this is your wish, I will grant it. But be careful not to let your passion rush you ahead. After you enter the ward, you must make sure to purify yourselves fully on the clean magic circles. Do you understand?"
"Yes, my lord! We will do everything we can to help the patients recover!"
"I will also make sure to be their companion and comfort their weary minds and bodies!"
Maroon and Marie were full of enthusiasm, very much like eager interns ready to prepare for their training.
"You can use the master potions as you see fit. Don’t worry about the budget or inventory. Feel free to use them proactively if needed."
I Empowered Maroon and Marie. In truth, I had been quietly observing their efforts over the past few days, and I felt confident that they could handle this level of responsibility. Moreover, I couldn’t just remain focused solely on this location.
Ten minutes later. After handing over responsibilities to Maroon and Marie, I went to the outskirts of the quarantine area with Heyze to take a break. The water we drew from the well in the center of the quarantine area was very clean thanks to the spirit stones with the clean magic circles embedded in them, and it tasted sweet and refreshing.
"Heyze, you’ve worked hard. Your divine power has been a tremendous asset in treating the ill patients. Without you, it would have taken us three times longer."
"I’m so glad I could help you, my lord! I was really surprised too; it’s the first time I realized how much of a blessing divine power can be for others!"
With awe, Heyze created and dispelled healing orbs in her hands repeatedly. Just 19 months ago, she was an ordinary maid — though she did have latent potential — and now she had developed exceptional healing abilities to the extent that she could claim it as her profession.
Especially significant was the necklace that she acquired after raiding the demon's hideout, which amplified her divine power threefold. Thanks to this, even though Heyze was equivalent to a ‘Divine Three’ with three-class magic standards, her healing magic was on par with ‘Divine Six.’
By using the master potions, supporting with healing spells, and finalizing with amplified intermediate healing, the unity of our methods produced top-notch results, easily suppressing the outbreak in less than half a day.
"I want to see your further growth as a healer. Constantly challenge your limits and overcome them."
"Leave it to me! For my lord, I am ready to put in any effort!"
As Heyze stomped her feet in excitement, clenching her small fists, I couldn’t help but feel one thing was lacking — she still hadn’t undergone her first awakening. For some reason, even with multiple opportunities to boost her loyalty, she never reached the maximum.
It always stopped one point short.
Her loyalty was stuck at 99, no matter how many chances arose to increase it. Even when issues occurred to push it over, it still remained at 99.
To be honest, considering her boundless affection for me, she should have gone through not just the first awakening but even up to the tenth by now.
‘Could it be that she has a defense mechanism in her heart that keeps this from showing?’
I was convinced there was something unresolved in Heyze’s heart, some barrier, which she had to struggle to overcome somehow, leaving her with that final point to fulfill.
‘Perhaps the answer is simple.’
By thinking rationally, the answer came to mind easily. The single issue tying Heyze down was her feelings for me.
Her unwavering love had always been one-way, and I had never truly reciprocated it in kind.
‘Then...’
I wanted to provide a stepping stone for Heyze to grow. It would benefit me and be undeniably advantageous for her, having embarked on the path of a healer.
"Ahem."
Clearing my throat a couple of times and gathering my voice, I spoke seriously to Heyze.
"Heyze."
"Yes?"
"I’ve been pondering how to properly express my gratitude for all the hardship you've endured since coming here."
"Ah..."
The atmosphere grew serious, and Heyze clasped her hands tightly, looking up at me with eyes full of wonder. It was almost like a cheat code! A kitten looking up at me, and I felt dizzy just from that glance.
"I’m not sure if this is a proper reward, or if it’s just me trying to take advantage as a lord..."
"I don’t know what you are trying to say, but it’s definitely not that! Everything my lord does is absolutely right, and your heart is always admirable!"
"In that case, I’ll express my heartfelt thanks like this."
In the next moment, just as I finished my sentence, I was already leaning in, my face close to hers.
And then, a soft smooch.
It wasn’t as deep as the kiss I once had to give to Isabel when she was a demonic spirit to form a contract, but this kiss was filled with genuine affection and gratitude.
"Hah."
Heyze let out a small sigh after the kiss, her cheeks turning red instantly.
At that moment:
[Heyze has acquired the title “The Kiss of the Prince on the White Horse”! The psychological defense mechanism that had held her inner self back collapses completely!]
[Loyalty maximum increased from 100 to 200, 200 to 400, 400 to 800 in three stages!]
[Loyalty surged immensely, achieving an immediate maximum of 800!]
[The target simultaneously enters first, second, and third awakening states!]
‘What... what is this! What is this quirky title, and what’s this three-stage awakening? Is there even a title for a kiss? I didn’t know that!’
Of course, I couldn’t know. In reality, I had never had opportunities to kiss another user in <Paradiso>, right?
Ah! I had once, during my beginner days when I was tussling with an orc, and we accidentally kissed after a missed attack. Suddenly, I felt a wave of dizziness.
"My lord... I suddenly feel so weak all over."
Thud. As I was startled at the sight of the system message due to her comforting nature, Heyze, entranced by the sweetness of the kiss, turned red and collapsed to the side.
"Can something this immense occur just from a single kiss?"
I quickly rushed to support Heyze, my expression dumbfounded. The power of a kiss!
Thus, with my kiss, Heyze began her monumental third awakening — a level of awakening I had never even experienced in my past life!
Heyze didn’t need treatment; rather, she needed rest as she entered the state of great awakening, so Jared laid her down in a resting area. He also asked Marie to look after her.
If it were up to him, he would have liked to stay close, but he had plans he aimed to fulfill today.
‘To make Sanare district the holy land of the Radius Doctrine, I absolutely need this item.’
[The Platinum Holy Grail of Radius] was one of the five great sacred relics of the Radius Doctrine. Jared was aiming for it.
"Hoo. Is this my first journey across the sea?"
With a sigh, Jared gazed toward the distant north. The destination was none other than the lands of the Dark Elves — Tatar Island, which could only be reached by crossing the sea.
Whoosh!
With the spell of flight, Jared soared high into the sky. Looking down from above, he saw refugees busily preparing to settle all across the Sanare district. He also spotted the military, diligently patrolling throughout the district, exerting their efforts to keep order.
"Good! Everything is going smoothly. I just need to insert the final puzzle piece. I’m going to bestow the undeniable divine blessing upon the Sanare district using the sacred relic!"
Zooming at max speed, Jared flew northwards, further and further, until he vanished from sight.