Crown Prince Sells Medicine

Zap!

A tingling sensation shot down Raciel’s spine.

He felt a controlled and weakened electric current running along his back, causing his shoulders to jerk involuntarily. Raciel clenched his teeth.

‘Endure it, just like before.’

He had experienced a similar sensation earlier that morning when he had gone to Zanetis for experimentation. Now, he had to endure, accept, and absorb it. With unwavering determination, he began rotating the circle.

Sssss…

The rotation of the circle surrounding his heart intensified. Its innate ability to absorb mana from the surroundings activated, and Raciel directed all its absorption power to his back.

Screeee-!

The absorption power of the circle captured all the mana from the electric magic stimulating his back. It absorbed, compressed, processed, and transformed it into a small bead of mana, about the size of a bean. Raciel continued to tightly pack the power of electric magic into this tiny bead.

It felt like charging a battery.

‘I’m like a transformer,’ he chuckled to himself, or perhaps a charger would be a more accurate description.

He found amusement in this peculiar sensation, feeling like a charger as he received the electricity (?) shot at him by Court Magician Zanetis, adjusting the voltage and charging the mana bead.

‘Anyway, it’s progressing well.’

Everything was going according to his practice. If he continued charging like this for about 30 minutes, he believed he would accumulate enough power.

‘A single electrical stimulation doesn’t make sense in the context of micro-neuro stimulation. It should provide a lifetime’s worth of usage after one procedure. To prevent epilepsy until this child grows old and dies, continuous electrical stimulation is necessary.’

To achieve that, he needed to store an electrical energy that could last a lifetime, perhaps even decades. It was undoubtedly a challenging task.

‘But I can do it.’

Let’s continue smoothly. With a prayer-like sentiment, Raciel charged the mana bead with electric magic.

Meanwhile, time passed.

Five minutes, ten minutes, and twenty minutes.

The child’s sister received the news and hurried over. Many others gathered as well, including Demian and Gardin, gladiators of the Special Duty squad, bodyguards, and a few palace maids. Everyone stood at a distance, silently watching the procedure, clenching and unclenching their fists. Fortunately or unfortunately, no one caused trouble by claiming, “The Court Magician is zapping the Crown Prince with electric magic!”

‘They must be curious about what I’m doing.’

In their eyes, it must have been fascinating. The Court Magician shooting electric magic at him while he endured the shocks, inserting a spine into the child’s neck. It was undoubtedly an extraordinary spectacle.

And what about Raciel?

He was satisfied.

‘This is how it should be. It should be more of a spectacle.’

If the child could be cured through this new, fresh, and innovative method, if he could be freed from epileptic seizures…

The spectators present would serve as witnesses. They would spread the word that the Crown Prince had treated the child using a brilliant method, making it a lifelong topic of conversation. Whenever they met relatives, neighbors, or friends, they would discuss it.

That would generate word-of-mouth promotion.

‘What better voluntary viral marketing could there be?’ Raciel grinned with satisfaction.

Successful viral marketing.

A promotional jackpot.

He could envision the scene where numerous patients flocked to the Star Palace Oriental Medicine Clinic. He could vividly imagine himself treating them methodically and reaping significant bonus life.

‘Ah, how fulfilling.’

Just the thought of it made him feel content. While smoothly charging the battery(?) Raciel continued to curl his lips into a smile.

However, in the midst of this…

Zap…!

“…Huh?”

Suddenly, he felt an unusual flow of mana. At first, he thought he might have made a mistake while charging the mana bead with electricity. He considered the possibility of accidentally causing a voltage surge.

But it wasn’t that.

The sensation of the strange mana flow wasn’t originating from within Raciel’s own body. It was coming from the neck of the child, George.

Zap… Zap…!

“…..”

‘Wait a minute. Could this be…’

“It’s powerful.”

Raciel quickly focused his mind, observing the flow of mana within the child’s body. And then it hit him. The micro neuro nerves in the child’s neck were harboring unstable and menacing mana.

As soon as he realized it…

Raciel’s brows furrowed deeply.

‘Damn it.’

Things had taken a turn for the worse.

The child’s micro nerves.

Unstable neural signals were emerging from there. The pattern of those signals felt strangely familiar. In fact, they were the same neural signals he had witnessed the day before.

Specifically…

‘The explosive signals that trigger epileptic seizures.’

And now, feeling those signals meant?

‘It’s about to erupt. The seizure is about to start.’

Raciel swiftly examined the child’s condition—his breathing, facial expressions, and the movement of his pupils.

“…..How much longer do I have to continue this?”

Perhaps sensing Raciel’s unease or detecting something amiss, the child asked hesitantly. Raciel responded with a forced smile.

“Just a little longer. We’re almost there, so please hold on a bit more. Can you do that?”

“Yes.”

No, he couldn’t. The child might not know it, but an epileptic seizure would soon take hold.

‘At most, within 3 minutes.’

The child’s micro nerves were becoming increasingly active. Unstable neural signals were growing stronger with each passing moment. Judging by the progression, it was almost certain that the seizure would begin within a maximum of 3 minutes.

‘In the worst case, 1 minute.’

Before that happened, Raciel had to complete charging the mana bead inside. The fully charged mana bead had to be inserted into the child’s micro nerves.

But could he do it in time?

‘There’s not enough time.’

Completing the charging process would require at least 10 more minutes. During that time, the epileptic seizure would inevitably begin. Once the seizure started, any further procedures, including electrode placement, would become impossible.

‘Should I stop now?’

Raciel fell into deep contemplation. With so little time remaining, he needed to make a swift decision.

He shook his head.

‘No. If I stop now, nothing will be accomplished.’

He could sense it—the tension and anxiety the child experienced during the procedure. This mental state was stimulating the micro nerves, resulting in unstable neural responses.

The implication was clear.

‘Even if I halt the procedure now, the same situation will arise when I attempt it again. The same precursor to a seizure will manifest.’

Perhaps, given enough time and familiarization, he could stabilize the child psychologically. But during that time, his own time would be depleted.

‘I don’t have time.’

Raciel had a mere 158 days of expected lifespan remaining. To soothe and reassure the child, stabilize him psychologically, succeed in the procedure, wait for the word to spread, and eventually have patients flock to the Star Palace…

‘I cannot estimate how long that will take.’

It might require more time than his expected lifespan allowed. And that was unacceptable. When his lifespan reached its end, he would die.

‘Therefore, I must prevail now.’

The conclusion was clear.

But the method?

An idea came to mind.

Raciel steeled himself and turned to Court Magician Zanetis.

“I apologize for what I’m about to ask, Mage Zanetis.”

“…Yes?”

“Use your lightning magic, but three times stronger than before.”

“Your Highness?”

“Hurry. I will explain the reasons later.”

“But, Your Highness.”

“I won’t die from that alone. You should know.”

“…It will be extremely painful.”

“I don’t care.”

“…..”

Zanetis clenched his mouth shut.

‘Your Highness….’

His trembling eyes fixed on Raciel, filled with a mix of emotions. Was it because he was witnessing the Crown Prince enduring pain to treat a child? Was it due to the noble sight of compassionately considering the patient’s suffering? Or perhaps a bitter realization creeping up his nose?

No.

Absolutely not.

‘Sheesh, being royalty is tough.’

In all honesty, Zanetis wasn’t particularly enthusiastic. He worried about the consequences if the Crown Prince made a mistake or misused his power. But he had no choice.

He was an underling. Making a living by serving others was no easy task. And the person giving the orders was not just anyone, but the second most powerful individual in the Empire.

The anguish of following orders reluctantly! The plight of an employee forced into overtime by a cruel employer since dawn!

‘Since this was commanded by His Highness and many are watching, nothing should go wrong.’

It shouldn’t.

Zanetis focused every nerve in his body to control his mana. He increased the output just enough to avoid killing the Crown Prince.

Zap!

The lightning magic, three times stronger, struck Raciel’s back.

“……Argh!”

Did it feel like being hit by a taser gun? Raciel’s entire body convulsed involuntarily. His vision briefly went black. Sparks filled his field of view. Again, his vision blacked out. More sparks flew. The cycle repeated over and over.

He felt on the verge of fainting.

Raciel gritted his teeth, determined not to lose consciousness. A compassionate heart understanding the patient’s pain? A noble vow to save even an ordinary child?

There was none of that.

What stirred in Raciel’s heart was…

‘……Ahhh! The treatment! I will succeed! Absolutely! Without a doubt! Spread the word! Viral marketing! The clinic will flourish! Extra life bonus! A royal life of longevity!’

He was determined to succeed. He would prove himself by healing the child. And then, he would reap all the rewards.

‘……Wealth and honor! Let it pour down on me! Flex!’

He shouted, fueled by his desires.

He injected himself with boundless egoistic motivation. He pumped himself up. He summoned the courage and ignited an unwavering will for wealth, honor, abundance, and flexing.

He held on tightly.

He pushed his Asrahan Core Technique to its limits.

Kiing-!

The mana circle roared.

The rotation speed exceeded its limits, drawing in mana with fierce intensity. It absorbed, compressed, amplified, and processed the energy. The charging speed for the lightning magic surged dramatically.

Kiaaaa-! Zap! Zzzt!

The pea-sized lump of mana began radiating a white glow. Powerful sparks emanated from it.

Charging was complete.

‘But… it’s not over yet!’

The most challenging stage was about to begin. Raciel bit his lips until they bled. He countered pain with more pain. He summoned his last ounce of concentration. He meticulously processed the electrical signal within the charged mana lump.

‘I can’t apply electrical stimulation randomly inside the child’s body.’

After all, the goal was to suppress epileptic seizures. To achieve that, he had to gain control over the unstable neural signals originating from the micro nerves.

‘Those unstable neural signals are also forms of biological electrical stimulation. If I apply electrical stimulation with an opposite signal, matching the intensity and timing…’

He could dampen the unstable neural signals within the micro nerves.

‘I can do it. I can accomplish this.’

He encouraged himself.

Recalling the pattern of the child’s micro neural signals etched into his memory, he processed an electrical stimulation signal that was the complete opposite. He embedded it within the mana lump.

‘Done.’

He meticulously crafted a finely designed mana electrode, completing it in about 40 seconds. Raciel checked the child’s condition.

“I… feel strange.”

The child clutched at his clothes, his face having turned pale.

Raciel sensed it.

‘There’s less than 30 seconds until the seizure begins.’

It was unfolding just as it had the day before.

The same scenario repeated itself today.

His hands moved swiftly.

‘Hurry.’

He grasped the spine inserted into the child’s neck and guided the charged mana electrode through it.

Zap!

A small, pure white electrode passed through the spine and entered the child’s neck. Raciel directed its path using the Asrahan Core Technique.

‘The placement location for the electrode is… the carotid artery.’

He could sense the carotid artery running alongside the micro nerves. Meanwhile, the unstable signals in the micro nerves grew uncontrollably strong.

’15 seconds remaining.’

He felt it intuitively.

The seizure would commence in 15 seconds.

His movements became even swifter.

He elongated the mana electrode.

He wrapped it around the carotid artery once.

Carefully, meticulously, yet swiftly. It was akin to defusing a time bomb, allowing no room for error.

Precisely. He maneuvered, extended, wrapped, tightened, and secured it. He refined the connection.

“I… ugh… euh…?”

The child’s eyes gradually rolled back. His limbs grew rigid.

‘5 seconds.’

Fizzt! Buzzt!

The micro nerves began to go haywire. Meanwhile, Raciel hastened to complete the procedure.

“…Euh!”

The child’s back arched.

The convulsion had begun.

It spread from the nape of his neck.

Like an inevitable earthquake.

Like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Yet, Raciel did not evade it. He moved forward with a determined resolve to halt it definitively.

‘3 seconds.’

The electrode installation was complete.

“…Eugh.”

Foam started accumulating in the child’s mouth.

“2 seconds.”

A pronounced pulse throbbed in the carotid artery.

“…Euh.”

The child’s head tilted backward.

‘1 second.’

The pulse caused the wall of the carotid artery to swell. The movement stimulated the mana electrode. The activated electrode responded to the stimulation.

Zap!

The first electrical signal was unleashed, invading the child’s micro nerves. It collided with the dominant unstable neural signals within the micro nerves.

Raciel witnessed the spectacle unfold before his eyes.

Fizzt!

Neural signals and electrical stimulation.

Two forces clashed.

Striking each other.

Reverberating.

Toppling.

And ultimately neutralizing one another. The two signals offset each other upon collision. The unstable neural signals in the micro nerves were cleanly eradicated.

‘0 seconds.’

As Raciel mentally counted down to the final moment…

“Eugh, uh, hmm… uh?”

The tension that had seized the child’s limbs abruptly dissipated. His head, once tilted back, straightened. The eyes that had rolled back returned to their rightful position.

“…Brother?”

The child gazed up at Raciel with properly focused black pupils. Gradually, an incredible smile graced his face. At that very moment, as surprise and astonishment flickered in the eyes of the onlookers…

A new message appeared before Raciel’s eyes.

Ding dong!

[You have pushed the Asrahan Core Technique to its limits in resisting the intense stimulation inflicted upon your body. In this process, you have successfully shattered the confines of your own limitations.]

[The level of your Asrahan Core Technique has increased.]