LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 95
“If you strike yourself in the vital point with your power, you’ll be healed.”
“……What?”
Princess Adeline’s gaze faltered. She struggled to grasp the meaning behind the words.
‘What is the intent behind this individual’s words?’
Aiming at oneself?
Targeting a vital area?
Is she meant to carry out this action on her own, and would it truly alleviate the discomfort from gallstones?
“……”
Her countenance became more resolute.
She had a fleeting desire to believe it, but it appeared to be a cruel jest. This individual seemed intent on deceiving her until the very end.
The trust she had been building towards Raciel rapidly crumbled. In fact, it was in the process of crumbling when Raciel intervened.
“I will utilize extracorporeal shock wave therapy to address your gallstones,” Raciel stated.
“Extracorporeal shock waves?”
“I will overlay my Asrahan Core technique onto the mana that you emit with your power. I will direct the trajectory of the mana shockwave. This should make it feasible.”
“……”
What was he discussing? The princess was perplexed. Raciel continued with his explanation.
“As you are likely aware, the Asrahan Core technique possesses a specialized ability to absorb or direct mana. Consequently, if you release a small amount of mana towards your critical point, I will guide it.”
“Guide it? To where?”
“To the gallstones in your gallbladder.”
A meaningful smile graced the corners of Raciel’s mouth. He simply needed to guide the mana to precisely strike the gallstones. After a few strikes, the gallstones would fragment. Such was the foundation of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).
‘Extracorporeal shock waves. A term familiar to those who have endured shoulder pain or kidney stones.’
The history of ESWT wasn’t extensive. It emerged around the era of World War II.
On the battlefield, it was revealed that a soldier who hadn’t sustained direct physical harm from an explosion could still succumb to the shockwave. People began contemplating ways to apply this principle in diverse fields, including medicine.
As a result, scientists made numerous attempts, and eventually, a scientist backed by the German Department of Defense achieved success in human trials. In 1984, it gained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The technology underwent refinement and enhancement.
Hence, ESWT came into existence. It was a therapy that projected artificially generated shock waves from outside the body onto specific internal areas, facilitating the breakdown of stones or aiding tissue recovery.
‘And it’s viable here as well. I’ve practiced it with Demian.’
Prior to the princess’s arrival in the Star Palace, Raciel had enlisted Demian for practice sessions. They had undergone multiple trials and errors.
‘We conducted experiments using a sizable piece of pork. I had Demian unleash a mana shockwave at the meat, and I guided it with the Asrahan Core technique. I directed the mana to collide with a pea measuring 5mm attached to the rear of the meat.’
Initially, it presented challenges, but gradually, he mastered it. Ultimately, he managed to strike only the pea without causing any harm to the meat in front of it. Not even a faint bruise remained on the meat. It was an unblemished success.
‘The pivotal factor for success is delicate control. It’s imperative to maintain focus while guiding the mana to its destination.’
Similar to a Terran ghost guiding a nuclear launch in a video game, or to accurately reporting a traffic violation through a citizen’s reporting app to precisely issue a fine.
Raciel possessed confidence in his ability to guide the mana accurately. He was certain he could eliminate the gallstones. And with that self-assurance and conviction, he asserted,
“You can accomplish it. You can eliminate the gallstones. You can regain your health.”
“……”
Adeline felt perplexed.
She was already in good health. She jogged 15 kilometers every morning. She could currently lift 300 kilograms effortlessly. If she were tossed into any den of bandits, she could easily subdue them on her own.
Yet, Raciel’s audacious persuasion persisted.
“It’s too soon to give up. It’s too early to relinquish hope.”
“……”
“There are still numerous wonderful things in the world.”
“……”
“Please.”
“Please, what?”
“Consider trying the extracorporeal shock wave therapy.”
“So, you’re asking me to strike my crucial point by myself, as you mentioned?”
“Yes.”
“……”
The prince nodded with confidence and composure, as if it were an evident course of action.
However, Adeline wasn’t easily swayed. She opted to transform this situation into an opportunity instead.
“If I consent to your extracorporeal…”
“Shock wave therapy.”
“Yes. If I agree to the extracorporeal shock wave therapy, you’ll need to fulfill one of my requests as well.”
“A negotiation?”
“Yes.”
“What is your request?”
“If the supposed gallstones are cured, allow me to return to my homeland. Even if the six-month period hasn’t transpired.”
“Accepted.”
Raciel promptly nodded. Adeline’s brow furrowed slightly.
“Why are you agreeing so readily?”
“Because once your gallstones are cured, there’s no reason to detain you any longer.”
“……”
“So, you agree to the treatment?”
“……Yes.”
She felt as though she had been lured into something. Adeline’s brow furrowed even more.
“So, what am I supposed to do now?”
“Begin by turning around.”
“Like this?”
Adeline complied with his instructions and turned around. The crown prince approached her from behind and rested his palm on her back.
Startle!
“Do not move unless instructed. Hold your breath momentarily. I need to ascertain the size and location of the gallstones.”
“…”
“Alright, you can resume breathing. Now, form a fist with your right hand.”
“Like this?”
“Yes, position your fist close to your solar plexus on the right side.”
“…here?”
“A little lower. Just a tad. Slightly to the left. Yes, that’s right.”
“…”
What’s the purpose of this?
Adeline sighed as she positioned her fist to the right of her solar plexus. It seemed somewhat wasteful to comply with this peculiar request. She could be engrossed in reading or training instead.
A profound frustration, one that seemed to penetrate the depths of her soul, began to emerge. And then, it happened.
“Now, I will guide you through the self-acupressure technique I mentioned earlier. However, there’s something you must remember.”
Raciel continued.
“You need to focus the mana you release from your hand into an extremely fine point. Think of it like a needle – sturdy and sharp. Imagine directing all your attention to a single point.”
“…”
“Can you manage it?”
“Yes, undoubtedly.”
It posed no difficulty for her. She concentrated her thoughts. The core of her mana awoke within her chest.
Kuuuu…!
The mana technique of the Anbouaz dynasty roared. The weighty and unwavering mana surged through her veins. Slowly but surely. It gained momentum. In leaps and bounds. Faster and faster. Charging ahead.
Kuggeuk!
Adeline’s fist clenched firmly. Her hand brimmed with mana. Then Raciel signaled her.
“If you’re prepared, release.”
No need for verbal confirmation.
Tookun!
Being her first attempt, she exercised restraint. Given her lingering mistrust towards the crown prince, she controlled the force of the emission. She dispatched her mana towards her solar plexus and involuntarily squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Hup!’
Regulating her breath, she inhaled deeply and exhaled from her abdomen. She engaged all the muscles in her core, bracing for the formidable impact about to strike her solar plexus.
‘I understand my own strength better than anyone else!’
Although she restrained herself, this was no trifling strike. A proper hit could knock the wind out of someone. An unfortunate strike might even fracture a rib. She steeled herself for it.
‘It’s reminiscent of endurance training.’
She steeled herself to endure. Determined, she gritted her teeth. But to her surprise, nothing occurred.
“…”
What was that?
It felt like punching a sponge, or perhaps more akin to swinging at empty air.
‘What’s happening?’
She sensed nothing in her abdomen. Undoubtedly, she had released mana from her hand, aiming directly at her solar plexus.
But there was no pang.
No hammer-like impact. No sensation of her internals being jolted and overturned. It seemed as though the mana she had unleashed had been absorbed somewhere, vanishing without a trace.
“…”
How peculiar.
Just as she pondered this,
“Great job. You aimed well. Can you see the display in front of you?”
“…”
Lifting her gaze at the prince’s voice, she beheld a hovering holographic screen. It bore a resemblance to the medical screen she had observed earlier, depicting a detailed view of her gallbladder and the multitude of gallstones within. One stone had been magnified, revealing a minuscule crack on its surface that hadn’t existed before.
“The crack you’re observing on the gallstone is a result of the mana you just unleashed,” the prince elucidated.
“…”
Could it be true?
“Repeat the process, just as before. Emit your energy.”
Adeline unwittingly adhered to the prince’s directive. Her fist harbored greater potency than before. She channeled a substantially larger amount of mana than previously and set it free.
Thump-!
What would transpire this time?
Curiosity brimmed within her.
Hope blossomed.
Yet once more, she perceived nothing within her abdomen. Instead, the stone on the display of the Poboki’s flame fin quivered profoundly, as if it had encountered a robust impact.
…Crack!
The crack had slightly enlarged.
“…”
Now it was confirmed. It appeared the prince’s statements held validity.
“Good. You’re making excellent progress. Let’s persist.”
“…”
If that was the case, she welcomed it wholeheartedly.
Adeline offered a faint smile.
It was from then on.
She tightly gripped her fist. She bore a more substantial amount of mana than previously. She directed it repeatedly towards her crucial points. Despite her efforts, she encountered no impact and observed the steadily widening crack in the stone on the display, marveling at this remarkable occurrence.
She unleashed it, then unleashed it once more.
Thud! Thump!
How many times had she targeted her crucial points? How many times had she suppressed her astonishment? She hadn’t kept an exact tally, but it seemed like she had done so more than twenty times. In that instance, the stone on the screen finally fragmented.
Crash…!
‘Phew!’
She had succeeded.
Adeline experienced an indescribable refreshing sensation. The elation of shattering that repulsive mass that had formed within her abdomen. The unexpected opportunity to witness it happening in real time lifted her spirits.
A profound sense of accomplishment washed over her. The prince’s commendation, voiced from behind her, further buoyed her emotions.
“Alright, that’s sufficient. As you can observe, the stone has been completely broken. You did exceptionally well for your first attempt.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The fragments of the shattered stone will naturally be expelled through your bile duct, so there’s no need for concern. We’ll conclude today’s session here.”
“What?”
…Already?
It’s concluded?
Adeline experienced an odd tinge of regret. Since she had already commenced, she pondered whether she could shatter just one more stone. Let’s do more. Let’s break all of them today. She wished to convey this to the prince. She turned around, and only then did she notice.
“…What?”
The prince’s countenance was as pallid as a sheet of white paper. Cold sweat trickled down his visage, resembling someone teetering on the edge of collapse.
“…Why? What transpired?”
Initially, she was taken aback.
Then, she experienced a sudden recollection. The surge of mana she had aimed at her vital points, coupled with her lack of sensation despite doing so. She had assumed that the shockwave had vanished entirely.
Yet had it truly vanished?
“…”
She hesitated.
It hadn’t vanished. It couldn’t have. It defied possibility. Even a regular impact, akin to striking a desk with the palm of one’s hand, inherently disperses to the surroundings.
But if she hadn’t felt any impact in her abdomen? Had the shockwave generated by striking the stone simply dissipated without cause?
If it hadn’t dissipated, then where had it gone?
“Could it be that you…”
A weighty realization struck her in an instant. Her eyes quivered with astonishment.
(To be Continued)
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