Watching Imina leave, Leinas' deep blue eyes relaxed. A glimmer of fragile hope surfaced as she took a step forward.
"I've heard… the alchemical potion you created can heal any injury."
Her voice trembled slightly—barely noticeable, but real.
Since the day she was cursed, Leinas had exhausted every known method: healing magic, holy water from temples, rare elixirs from noble estates… none had worked.
It wasn't just the decay of her flesh that tormented her. It was the betrayal. Her once-loyal family abandoned her. Her fiancé annulled their engagement. That—more than any physical rot—was the true scar.
Minori's expression didn't change. "The rumors are exaggerated," he said calmly. Then, as her eyes dimmed, he added, "But… if the condition isn't congenital, I can most likely fix it."
Her eyes lit up again with cautious hope.
"There's no need to be anxious," Minori said, gesturing politely toward the courtyard. "Since you've helped us before, consider yourself a guest. Please, sit."
Leinas took a breath to calm herself and followed him to the stone table.
She had waited days, investigating the strange man who'd brought miraculous potions to the capital. She hadn't come until she was sure—absolutely certain—that his alchemy defied common sense.
Minori looked serious now. "Let me see it."
"It may be unpleasant," Leinas warned, lifting her right hand to brush back the thick golden hair that had shielded half her face.
A faint, unpleasant smell wafted out.
Her skin, or what was left of it, was grotesque—corrupted by a festering rot. Patches of bloodshot tissue throbbed faintly, pulsing with unnatural movement.
Leinas bit her lip. She had long since grown used to fear or revulsion in others' eyes. She braced herself for Minori's disgust.
But it never came.
Aside from a brief frown, Minori's expression remained oddly… thoughtful. Almost curious. Even—if she wasn't imagining it—excited?
A strange thought entered her mind: Aren't alchemists supposed to have eccentric hobbies?
Minori examined the rot with keen interest. This didn't match what he remembered of Yggdrasil. A "Cursed Knight" shouldn't suffer side effects like this. Was it a local mutation of the class?
He shook the thought away. "Apply this to your face."
From his sleeve, he produced a clear, transparent potion.
Leinas took it without hesitation and poured it directly onto the decayed area.
Sizzle—
It stung. She inhaled sharply, suppressing the pain. It was as if a hundred ants were gnawing on her cheek.
But then—something changed.
The first time anything had ever changed.
Her eyes widened. She quickly pulled a small mirror from her robe and checked her reflection.
Minori arched a brow. She carries a mirror? Well… I guess vanity is universal across worlds.
The corruption began to recede—slowly. Much slower than with other wounds the potion had healed. But it worked.
Minute by minute, the decayed flesh knitted back together. Color returned. Skin reformed.
Three minutes passed before the process ended.
She touched her face in disbelief. Her eyes misted over. Then her expression shifted to joy.
Until—
"Don't celebrate yet," Minori said.
The joy on her face froze. And then, before her eyes, the rot began to return—flesh blackening, reforming pustules.
"No…"
Her hands trembled.
Minori leaned back in his chair. "It's not a regular injury. That's a curse, isn't it?"
She didn't answer, but her expression said everything.
Minori nodded to himself. The potion had done all it could—it healed physical damage, not status effects. Especially not something so deeply tied to the soul.
"And a curse this localized… only the right side of your face?" He narrowed his eyes. "That sounds less like a typical affliction and more like it's tied directly to you. Can you show me the curse itself?"
Leinas hesitated. Then, with a faint breath, she stepped back.
Boom—
Dark, oppressive energy flared around her, radiating with corrupted magic. Even in the quiet night, the darkness she exuded was heavier than shadow.
Grass beneath her feet shriveled instantly.
"I'm sorry… I haven't fully mastered it yet," she said. "Would you like me to demonstrate again?"
Buzz—
[Skill "Dark Wave" detected. Requirements: Advanced Class "Cursed Knight". Condition not met. Cost: 3 skill points.][No prerequisite class. Alternate path: Cost 6 skill points.][Basic class "Warrior" detected. Conditions met.][Do you want to consume 6 skill points to learn this skill?]
Minori's eyes narrowed.
"No need," he said.
Bingo.
This had gone smoother than expected. He hadn't planned to stay in the Empire this long—but this alone made it worth it.
So, six skill points?
He recalled that acquiring the intermediate class "Sword Master" had only cost three. His "Magic Swordsman" class had come for free due to meeting the requirements naturally.
He didn't click 'learn' yet. Last time, his mana had become unstable when he acquired a new class. Who knew what a cursed one would do?
"I'll need time to evaluate your case," he said, standing.
"I can wait," Leinas replied without hesitation.
Minori nodded and turned toward the house's interior.
"Oh, and if either of you plan to stay," he called to Leinas and Imina, "there are guest rooms on the first floor."
Later, alone in his room on the third floor:
Minori took a breath and whispered, "Study."
Buzz—
[Skill Points: 39 → 33][Skill "Dark Wave" acquired. Advanced Class "Cursed Knight" unlocked.]
Class: Cursed KnightLevel: AdvancedEffects:
Passive: Curse Resistance – Immune to all curse-based effects.
Passive: Dark Resistance I – Reduces dark-element damage by 20%.
Passive: No Rest – While using cursed power, equipment below level 40 loses less durability. Legendary gear (below level 80) wears faster (2x loss).
Active Skill: Dark Wave – Emit a field of cursed energy that inflicts "Fear" and "Curse of Weakness" on enemies. After impact, enemies take double damage and debuffs vanish.
Lv3: Healing spells below advanced tier cannot remove this curse. Recovery is suppressed.
Lv5: Curse has a chance to cause instant death.
Stats per level up: +15 HP, +15 P.ATK, +15 P.DEF, +15 M.DEF
Class Lore: A twisted knight cast from the world's grace. Clad in tattered armor, cursed by fate, doomed to walk forever in shadows.
Minori exhaled.
"…Holy shit."