The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away

I jumped down into the arena and ran straight towards Acella.

A massive death dragon, shrouded in black, flaps its wings, kicking up a sandstorm.

‘Four Heavenly Kings, Death Dragon Wilhelm.’

No matter how many times I’ve faced the dragon, I wouldn’t mistake its familiar face.

I’ve fought against it countless times.

It’s not in adamantium armor, and it’s smaller than I remember.

It’s still in its growth phase, before becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings.

‘Why did this thing suddenly appear?’

I have my suspicions.

The recall magic that Acella just cast.

It’s a spell that can bring other creatures to the caster’s side.

Even ten years later, only Acella was able to use this magic.

She must have developed the recall further and upgraded it to summon a dragon legion.

‘Someone who witnessed Acella’s magic just now is trying to mimic and cast it.’

A wizard who can instantly understand a new magic and use it with stronger power than Acella.

Seymour didn’t come to the martial arts tournament, so there’s only one possible culprit.

‘Empress Camilla.’

I should interrogate her later about what she was thinking while pulling this stunt.

‘I remember Acella mentioning Wilhelm before.’

—“Next is the subjugation of the death dragon. About ten years ago, I had a competition with that black lizard. If I had known it would become a major player in the Demon King’s army, I should have cut off its life back then.”

—“What are you talking about? You have a hero, so isn’t that demon easy to subjugate?”

Easier said than done; I remember being wiped out by Wilhelm at least five times.

This moment was the competition Acella mentioned.

And I understand now that her words were just bravado.

The far-off view of Acella is quite different from her ten years later, boasting of her might.

Cowering legs, hands gripping her wand tightly, teeth clenched as if ready to shatter.

Her muscles, filled with fear, are frozen and refuse to move.

Her unconsciousness has forced her upper body to hunch over in a protective stance for her abdomen.

She instinctively takes this position as she feels significant pain in her stomach.

‘What do you mean, cutting off my life? You’ve managed to survive somehow.’

[No. 101: Magic Explosion 4% → 71%]

[In progress]

The probability of a magic explosion from Acella’s potential death is increasing exponentially.

It’s clear that the dragon poses a significant threat to Acella’s life.

‘I can’t just stand by and watch.’

If Acella dies before I can treat her injuries, the magic will explode.

The power could easily wipe out an entire area.

I wouldn’t be safe either.

So, this is purely self-defense.

I won’t offer any cheap sympathy while watching Acella tremble before the formidable dragon.

Right now, her entire imperial family is busy protecting themselves, leaving Acella to fend for herself.

After all, she’s the one who has killed me countless times.

The one who needs sympathy is me.

I lack any combat abilities to take down the dragon directly.

‘Still, well…’

It’s my duty as the attending physician to care for my patient.

It’s true that I’ve received significant support from Acella since my return.

Thanks to becoming the imperial family’s attending physician, I’ve enjoyed many privileges in my medical work.

So right now….

No, until our contract ends, I must assist Acella as much as I can.

It’s a price to pay.

“Your Royal Highness!”

I shouted as I approached Acella, but it seemed she couldn’t hear my voice.

She was extremely tense, almost in a state of panic.

In times like this, external stimulation is needed.

Slapping her cheek would be the most effective, but since I couldn’t do that, I pulled her wrist instead.

“Your Highness.”

Only then did Acella look up at me.

Her eyes swirled with golden mana.

“Lars.”

“Yes, it’s me.”

“…What are you doing here?”

Her voice dripping with confusion.

“I told you to take this when you were in pain.”

I shook a painkiller bottle that I took out from my pocket.

“…No. I don’t want to. It’s unnecessary.”

“Listen to your attending physician.”

I brought the painkiller closer to Acella’s lips.

As my fingers approached, I could tell—her breathing was ragged and hot.

She was struggling much more than I had anticipated.

I intended to force it into her if she refused.

But Acella accepted the potion I pushed between her lips without much resistance.

She swallowed the painkiller with a dry gulp.

“…Huu.”

Her breathing gradually became steadier.

I dabbed the sweat gathering on her forehead with a handkerchief.

“Are you feeling a bit better?”

“…My head feels fuzzy.”

“That’s due to the painkiller and the fact that your mana is depleted. Fortunately, I also have a mana potion. It’s a one-time use, but the recall you showed earlier could be used about three times.”

I pulled out a syringe from my pocket.

Acella, still groggy, asked a silly question as she failed to recognize the syringe.

“…Did you see my magic?”

“Of course. I saw it clearly from the stands.”

“How was it?”

“Elegant, powerful, and impressive.”

“…Really?”

Acella smiled vacantly, looking as if she could fall asleep at any moment.

“Though I’m a bit disappointed since it was a final spell.”

“A final spell?”

—KABOOM!

A black orb explodes in the audience stand. It was the dragon’s attack.

The knights present were swept away by the curse as they soared into the air.

Impatient warriors threw their spears at the dragon, attempting to grab its attention, but paid the price for it.

The dragon turns its gaze toward us.

It seems particularly interested in Acella.

“Look at that dragon. It’ll unleash a flood of curses on everyone here soon. What bad luck for you, Lars.”

I chuckled and grabbed both of Acella’s shoulders from behind.

“W-What are you doing?”

I gently nudged her forward, positioning her directly facing the dragon.

“The elemental magic you used was just unlucky. Death Dragon Wilhelm, its strategy isn’t that difficult.”

While speaking, I secretly injected the mana potion into her neck.

“Ouch, that stings.”

“Looks like you’re ready to fight.”

Acella’s eyes widened.

“Fight? You want me to take that down?”

“Of course.”

I confidently replied.

“Aren’t you the best magician here, Your Highness?”

You need to take it down for everyone to survive.

Show your skills, Acella.

*

After the magic demonstration ended, the first emotion that invaded Acella’s mind was confusion.

Her mind was a mess of countless questions.

Why wasn’t my magic acknowledged?

What is my status in the imperial family?

Did my mother really give up on me?

Will everything improve once I become empress?

…But most importantly, what puzzled her the most was.

Why is Lars here?

Or rather, reflecting on it, the answer to that question was quickly identifiable.

Lars had always been by Acella’s side.

From the moment they first met in a flower garden blooming with yellow roses.

Was it because they were betrothed, or was it due to being her attending physician?

Every morning, Acella meets Lars.

Every night before she sleeps, she meets Lars.

And even now.

‘…Why are you always here when it matters?’

She couldn’t demand an answer.

Because if she did, and if his behavior changed, she wouldn’t know the reason behind it.

Somehow, Acella felt that her relationship with Lars would change if she did.

Her subordinates, on the other hand, were all clear in their intentions and easy to read.

Loyalty comes with sweet rewards.

In this day and age, there are no true nobility without material gain.

The attendants obey rules to gain status and security.

The knights gain influence and power as the next emperor’s aides.

But Lars was different.

He seemed to pledge loyalty to Acella while still prioritizing himself, and though he appeared to be utterly obedient, he continually contravened her wishes.

He flatters well but doesn’t show himself before she calls for him. At this point, he’s at the level of crawling on the ground and begging for favors.

Be it money or power, it seemed he didn’t cling to Acella just because she was a princess.

So, did he only aim to exploit their betrothal, just a scoundrel?

If that were the case, it would bring her peace of mind.

She could just shut him away in the inner room, while she could move freely in the social circle.

He didn’t fit the description of a mere scoundrel; he was always sincere.

Day after day, he creates new things in medicine and proposes manuals.

What exactly is this man’s goal?

That was why Acella first felt intrigued by Lars.

He was the first person whose true intentions were so impossibly unreadable to her.

With a composed appearance, contrasting with the rumors, it only made her more perplexed.

So if she were to ask him a misguided question now.

For instance, “Why did you come here to die?”

“Why go to such lengths?”

…“Are you on my side?”

If she asked carelessly, she felt the delicate balance that had been maintained would crumble.

Acella found herself afraid of this realization.

She didn’t understand what she feared or why, perhaps due to her inexperienced emotions.

Paradoxically, thanks to that fear.

‘I can fight.’

In front of the death dragon, emitting a menacing dark aura and preparing curses, she found the strength to grip her wand.

The effects of the potion left her mind hazy.

But the sound of Lars’s voice drifting into her ears sounded clearer than ever.

“Does it hurt a lot?”

Acella shook her head.

It was the pain that no healer could alleviate.

Lars had managed to erase it with just a tiny little pill.

If that’s not magic, then what is?

His voice echoed deeply within her.

“Your Highness, listen well. Elemental magic won’t be effective against that dragon. Even though it’s still a dragon, the death dragon’s lineage is a bit different. It’s got high elemental immunity and resistance.”

Lars poured out unfamiliar words at a rapid pace.

“If you use a different element, it will be far more effective. Light magic would be ideal. It’s still a young one. You can definitely subjugate it.”

“With my magic, I can take down that dragon?”

“Of course.”

Lars answered with an assured face.

…Why was this?

Acella, who had spent her life as a princess, knowing every detail of the world, found that in that moment, she could see nothing but Lars’s face.

The face of her attending physician, confidently believing in her.

“Fuu.”

Acella steadies her breath.

Four golden magic circles form.

Pierce through, one.

Revolve and illuminate.

Calmly she intones.

“Recall.”

—Fwooosh!!!

In an instant, one of the massive death dragon’s wings vanishes, and

—Boom!!!

The dragon, now missing a wing, falls behind them.

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