The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away

The enemies that the Hero Party had to fight were not just the Demons or the Demon King’s army.

When we defeated the Demon King, there were also events where foreign assassins were sent due to concerns that the Empire’s status would become too elevated.

The Hero couldn’t be assassinated, and if he truly died, the fate of the continent might hinge on it, so the main target was mostly me.

There were indeed some foolish individuals who would send assassins, even when it could weaken the party’s strength and lead to the failure of the Demon King’s defeat.

And yes, there really were, countless times.

They tried to get their healer into the dead scene to raise their prestige, or something like that for political reasons.

The assassins that come after me belong to a group with the simple name “Shadows.”

They are the most skilled assassins active in every country on the continent.

If you die to them, you’ll see the bad ending of [Assassin of Shadows].

That was the reason I had to ensure a watchman in the party at all times. Whenever everyone was tired and collapsed, I had to stay awake myself.

Avoiding that bad ending isn’t too hard. Eventually, I got used to it and managed to catch these guys to interrogate them.

They’re a group that moves for money, so the clients they dispatched changed each time: Kingdom, Kingdom of Law, Magic Kingdom, Principality, Underworld Kingdom, Water Kingdom.

I was targeted by all sorts of countries.

However, there was one time an assassin was sent from the Empire as well.

“Craaack! I-I’ll tell everything! Acella! Empress Acella sent me!”

“Stop lying. What benefit would the Empire gain by sending an assassin to the Hero Party?”

“The goal is just one healer! They acted like they didn’t know during the last audience…!”

Even if he talked about being an ex-betrothed, I’d be executed with a serious face.

I figured Acella really hated me.

Anyway, thanks to this, I also realized Acella had connections with the Shadows.

And now I understand the reason.

Acella must have had an experience where someone hired Shadows to assassinate her.

At that time, rather than punishing the organization, she might have thought of using them.

“I guess Acella has a chance of surviving even if I do nothing.”

[No. 101: Magic Explosion 4% → 52%]

The status window indicated a 52% chance of Acella’s death in this incident.

That’s close enough for a coin toss.

The struggle for succession within the Imperial Family happens annoyingly frequently.

It’s a wonder how Acella survived and rose to become Empress.

Ten years later, I must have been above all those probabilities.

If it lands on heads, I can’t just sit back and relax.

I should toss that coin into a lake, for real.

“Prince, what’s wrong?”

Acella, whose wrist I was holding, looked flustered.

“We need to get to a wider area. Knights, Princess, stick close and watch the surroundings. Assassins are nearby.”

“Yes!”

Currently, there were two Moonlight Palace guards with us. They immediately drew their swords and glared ahead with all their might.

“Assassins, huh.”

“I’ll explain later. It’s dangerous when the darkness settles. Outside…”

Whoosh!

Before I could finish, all the lights in the party venue went out.

My eyes, unable to adapt to the sudden drop in brightness, could only perceive the pitch-black darkness.

“Ahhh!”

“Turn the lights back on!”

“Where did the attendants go?!”

The hall, already filled with a tense atmosphere from the poisoning incident, fell completely into panic.

It was a sound-reflective indoor venue that made it difficult to recognize the surroundings amidst the screams and footsteps of the young ladies.

“Prince!”

“Princess, stay close to the knights.”

Since I was holding Acella’s arm, I could roughly gauge her position. I shoved her between the two firmly positioned knights.

“Prince, you too…!”

I felt Acella pulling my body with her free arm. In the darkness, her grip must have turned frantic.

“Here they come!”

The guards were excellent. One of them seemed to sense something amidst the pitch-black and took a defensive stance, igniting their energy to protect all directions.

“Gah…!”

But it was only for a moment.

The weight from one of the knights we were close to suddenly drained away, and I felt it pass down.

Scalding liquid splattered onto Acella’s dress. It was definitely blood.

“Barren!”

The other knight, sensing his comrade’s death, gripped his sword even tighter.

“Hah, hah.”

I could feel Acella’s hot, ragged breaths from close by.

With the adrenaline from fear coursing through me, I was getting too excited.

This was not good in a crisis. I wrapped my arms around her neck and pulled her close.

“Ugh?!”

“Princess, stay calm.”

Acella tried to breathe deeply in response to my words, but it didn’t seem easy.

This is the main assassination method of the Shadows.

They prefer to attack in places filled with light.

Naturally, when the surrounding light suddenly vanishes, people become most vulnerable.

The poison must surely have been their trickery as well.

The attendant who brought the champagne was probably a disguised assassin.

Considering the Imperial Family, they must’ve tried to play it safe, but in the end, resorted to their most effective methods.

However, I had faced them countless times before.

The Shadows are essentially an organization of black magicians and thieves.

The black magicians cast spells to enhance the thieves who carry out the acts.

Even the deadly poison is a dark magic-based trick.

Their darkness is somewhat special in that it doesn’t allow light to spread far and drifts like fog.

First, we need to eliminate this.

“Princess, we need light to survive.”

“Light, light.”

Acella murmured and immediately drew a magic circle.

Though her trembling hands couldn’t quite create a perfect circle, there was no issue with casting.

“Enchant, Light.”

Bam!

From the fallen knight’s sword, a blinding light burst forth.

And in that moment, I also saw the assassin’s face transformed into a skull from being cloaked in black magic.

Clang!

The scene of his sinister dagger clashing with the knight’s sword followed.

“Ugh…!”

Acella squeezed her eyes shut and trembled as she caught sight of the assassin.

As a result, the spell she had cast trembled, and the light dimmed.

‘Acella is afraid of the assassin?’

That was a bit unexpected for me.

I could understand her fear when facing the dragon from the martial arts tournament.

Since it’s true that ordinary demons are far from commonly encountered in the city.

After all, it was not just an ordinary demon but a dragon.

But this time, the opponent was an assassin, a human.

Sure, it was a dangerous situation, but.

Until now, the Acella I had seen was arrogant and confident in everything.

But the Acella in front of me… was so scared she couldn’t even cast her special magic.

It felt a bit like an ordinary girl her age, which slightly surprised me.

‘This isn’t the time to be sentimental.’

I grabbed the glowing sword that Acella had enchanted.

The light was gradually fading and about to go out.

‘Is it a magic that turns the sword blade into a luminescent object?’

Though I can’t understand the magic, I can predict its chemical reaction.

I can’t delve into the principles of mana, but I can enhance the properties of luminescent substances through alchemy.

“Gah!”

The last of the guarding knights was also struck down by the assassin, collapsing with a brief scratching sound.

Next, Acella would be the target.

“Lars!”

As she called my name, I swung the sword and cast a spell.

The shape was a 64-sided polygon, just as Acella had taught me.

“Enhancement!”

Bam!

A brilliant flash burst forth, striking the assassin in the abdomen.

“Ugh.”

The assassin let out a short groan. I didn’t inflict significant damage, but blood trickled from his eyes as he writhed in pain.

They increase the amount of light that enters their eyes to identify targets in darkness.

That’s why strong light becomes their weakness.

Exposure became too much for him, causing him to bleed and scream in agony.

Given that his entire body and face were likely puppeteered by dark magic, it made sense.

“Princess, run!”

With a shimmering sword in my right hand, I grabbed Acella’s hand with my left, and we ran.

It was the perfect brightness for us. The path to the building’s exit was visible.

Rustle!

The assassin who hesitated immediately pursued us.

The ballroom was still filled with chaos in darkness. No one realized there was an assassin, let alone asked for help.

“Faster!”

I frantically moved my legs. Even if my thigh muscles burst, I had to speed up.

“Aah!”

Having confirmed the route to the exit, I threw the sword at the assassin.

Seizing the chance while he was momentarily confused, I turned the corner.

The exit was just 10 meters away.

“Lars…!”

“Almost there!”

My steps quickened, and finally.

Thud!

Acella and I successfully exited the ballroom.

Outside, the torches were spaced out, but it was still dark at night.

The sound of cicadas in midsummer deafeningly assaulted my eardrums.

“Just a little more!”

We wouldn’t stop.

Just then, I sensed the assassin had closed in behind us.

“Cough.”

Swipe!

I twisted my body and pulled Acella into a dive into the bushes.

At that moment, the assassin’s sharp dagger barely brushed past my ear.

“Good reaction speed. I didn’t expect it to be this hard.”

The assassin stared at me and Acella with his gaunt face, making it all the more chilling.

“Assassination has failed. The guards will come rushing over. You won’t survive.”

“That’s true. But we will complete our mission.”

The assassin swung his dagger at us without hesitation.

Even if he’d get caught and killed, he intended to finish his mission for the shadow organization.

“Lars!!”

Acella clutched my clothing and tightly shut her eyes.

And then.

Clink!

“Ugh… huff…!”

The assassin dropped his dagger and staggered back, clutching his chest.

Acella slowly opened her eyes.

“Lars? What happened?”

“We just needed to get this far. That was close.”

I gazed up at the statue of the goddess above us.

“Why… ugh!”

The assassin took slow steps backward. He couldn’t approach us any further.

[Injury Status: Burns]

[Injury Location: Whole Body]

My whole body would feel like it was roasted chicken.

That must be terrible pain.

The strategy of the Shadows is simple.

When the black magic enhancing their bodies is countered by light, they are completely neutralized.

Around the goddess’s statue, several beneficial effects occur, including a low-grade black magic enhancement.

Since I learned of their existence, I’ve always carried an artifact with enhancement abilities.

“Over there!”

I heard the sound of the knights rushing in armor.

The assassin, flustered by this noise, fled as the knights chased after him.

[No. 040: Deadly Poison Trap 86% → 0%]
[No. 086: Assassin of Shadows 75% → 0%]
[Deleted]

[No. 101: Magic Explosion 52% → 4%]

The crisis had passed.

I was completely drained. I laid myself back against the bushes.

“Lars, Lars.”

“Just a little more… I’m tired.”

“What? Wait! Hey, Lars!”

I closed my eyes to Acella’s shout as if it were a lullaby.

It wasn’t so helpful since it was so loud.

*

“Hm.”

When I opened my eyes, the familiar scenery met me.

My room, my bed.

Technically, it was the Moonlight Palace’s room, but it felt so familiar now.

“This isn’t comfortable at all.”

I felt heavy all over, as if something was pressing down on me.

There was the assassination incident.

Did I get poisoned or something?

Thinking that, I lifted my head and looked down, and I was shocked by an incredibly strange sight.

Acella was snuggled up against me, sound asleep.

---