Chapter 67: Tinnitus (5)

Actual surgery requires extremely expensive equipment and specialized knowledge.

Evan had none of that.

He had only been an ordinary university student to begin with, and his grades weren’t even good enough to catch a professor’s eye.

All he possessed was alchemy.

The fortunate part was that alchemy surprisingly didn’t require separate specialized knowledge.

They say you have to memorize knowledge, but he just remembered it upon seeing.

Even without memorizing separately, he realized everything through analytical vision.

Some say that power disappears with age, but Evan didn’t care.

By then, he’d be enjoying retirement.

Why would he be doing alchemy?

He’d just enjoy it as a hobby.

That was the lighthearted attitude Evan had been approaching it with.

That’s why this surgery right now was a major operation that made him sweat quite a bit.

Touching a human body.

Increasing height, no less.

Originally, bones were broken and such…

Fortunately, alchemy didn’t require such painful or complicated processes.

Just concentrate and done!

He only had to make sure it didn’t look strange.

Evan let out a long sigh.

The Godfather still deeply asleep.

He didn’t seem to feel any pain.

Good.

He had almost slipped and the bone nearly grew wrong; if he had felt pain, it would have been a disaster.

“It was a success.”

Evan removed his white gloves.

Lapis had asked, “There’s no blood anyway, why wear these?” and Evan naturally ignored her.

Well.

Why.

“It did grow.”

Felix looked the Godfather up and down.

“But it’s subtle. Does it mean anything?”

“Yes.”

Felix was extremely tall. At least over 180, so Evan had to look up.

Evan said while wiping his hands.

“People who are short all know. How joyful it is to grow even a few centimeters and change their mid-rank position. He has gained one of the things he never had—how happy must he be?”

“That’s…”

Felix made an expression as if he hadn’t thought that far.

He even admired Evan for thinking of such a grand meaning.

“As expected of the young master…! Even such profound thoughts!”

“It’s not that impressive.”

Evan stated firmly.

But regardless.

Felix was busy praising him, knowing full well Evan would deny any praise.

He had already grown accustomed to Evan.

***

“Umm.”

The Godfather slowly awoke.

Strangely refreshed.

Though sleep grew shorter with age, fatigue had unknowingly accumulated.

The Godfather spent all his time except sleep thinking about how to manage and grow his money.

Having risen with nothing, he always strove to protect his position, his chest heavy.

In the process of checking if Evan’s medicine was addictive and not a drug, quite a bit had been lost.

Guilt for daring to doubt him, and fear of what Evan might do.

It always felt like suffering nightmares, but all of that had vanished.

‘…That I would open my eyes.’

When Evan proposed increasing his height.

Unlike the thought that he could fix a lifelong flaw, the first thought was so it has come.

Increasing height?

Suddenly?

When told sleep anesthesia was necessary, he had been subtly certain.

This was the end for him.

That Evan would deal with him for crossing the line.

He thought he would never open his eyes again.

Yet he had opened them clearly and could see the ceiling.

‘…Ah. What a merciful ruler.’

The Godfather already considered Evan the next successor. 

It seemed Duke Cabaro quietly favored Evan too. 

Though with that blunt personality, he wouldn’t show it.

‘It wouldn’t be bad to have a drink after a long time…’

If possible, with Duke Cabaro.

He wasn’t sure if the busy man would accept his invitation.

The Godfather slowly rose.

It didn’t matter if it failed.

He planned to be grateful just for surviving.

But the moment he set his foot down—

A strange awkwardness made him stagger for a moment.

“Urk!”

Instinctively, he reached for his cane out of habit.

The position felt oddly different.

Barely the difference of a finger joint, but for someone who lived his whole life at the same height, it was a big change.

The Godfather’s eyes trembled parrr.

He slowly took a step and walked.

Stride, step length, height—everything had changed subtly.

No way…

“You’re awake.”

Evan, quietly sitting on the bedside.

Staring at him with the usual expressionless face and unreadable eyes.

“How is your body?”

“…No issues… it moves well. How on earth…”

“Good. It succeeded.”

Increasing height seems simple at a glance but is never simple.

Hadn’t he realized it while learning alchemy to research his own medicine?

Analytical vision that grasps by seeing something.

Its base is surprisingly talent.

With outstanding talent, more knowledge is accepted, and ingredients and effects can be analyzed at once.

Accumulated knowledge helps, but with outstanding talent, it’s possible even without that base.

Touching a human body was never easy.

Though better than internal injuries, to succeed like this…

“Ah.”

He collapsed into his seat.

Evan asked without a change in expression.

“Are your legs awkward?”

“No, no…! It’s just…!”

He simply couldn’t overcome this overwhelming sensation.

The Godfather knelt and bowed his head.

Evan looked at him without expression and handed over a packaged box.

“Take this.”

“This is…”

“Your body has suddenly changed, so this potion will speed recovery. And the treatments for the illnesses you said were gone.”

Ah!

He had been worrying lately about his hair thinning again.

No matter how much money he had, he couldn’t overcome time.

The Godfather hurriedly took the box.

“Take them one by one. Taking more is fine, but then you will see me often every three months.”

“I will keep it in mind…!”

The color seemed slightly different, but anyway.

To the Godfather, this was no different from salvation.

Clutching the box tightly to his chest, the Godfather vowed.

Until his lifespan ended.

He would swear loyalty to Evan!

***

The Godfather’s gaze had changed.

It had been fearful of Evan, but now it was the look one gives a respected person.

Yes.

This is how it should be.

This is the attitude toward a benefactor.

‘Finally, recognition has normalized…!’

Evan knew his ability was quite outstanding.

The comparison targets were too strong, and he couldn’t make what was needed.

But being constantly mistaken for a mastermind was unfair.

Wasn’t it something to be grateful for, curing those illnesses even for a few months?

What could he do about lacking skill to eradicate them completely?

Did he do it on purpose?

He didn’t want to either!

He just wanted to make big money and be done!

Wasn’t curing even temporarily a good thing?

He hadn’t demanded separate payment.

Rather than thinking Wow! 

Mastermind! upon seeing a doctor who saved his life, wasn’t Oh! My benefactor! the normal thought process?

‘Good thing it’s finally normalized.’

“Wow. This is damn tough.”

Aegis trudged into the carriage.

She lay down on the temporary bed inside and groaned.

“You… how do you really make these medicines?”

“Yes? It wasn’t that hard, was it? It’s not mass production, just tailored to one person.”

“I’m seriously starting to fear you.”

Aegis said no more.

She just passed out.

Lapis glanced over, put a finger to her nose, and nodded.

“She’s dead. Evan.”

“Don’t lie.”

“Ehe.”

“I’m hungry.”

Sloth, Royan, muttered while chewing jerky.

And so.

All the incidents ended.

***

The return journey was fortunately quiet.

For some reason, the thoroughly intimidated third-in-command had very quietly opened the path back.

The portal to return to the mansion.

They couldn’t enter the mansion directly.

Duke Cabaro was vigilant even here against counterattacks and such.

Portal opening rights were held not only by Duke Cabaro but also by those around third-in-command level.

If someone with malice invaded the mansion?

They wouldn’t dare be devoured by them, but honor would be sufficiently tarnished.

That’s why the portal was installed outside, and thanks to that, they had to walk more.

‘Ah… still, it’s home.’

The mansion visible far away.

No, closer to a castle than a mansion.

No wonder Cabaro was called one of the richest dukes.

Moreover, Evan’s home was in that mansion.

Evan’s expression naturally relaxed.

Precisely, only inside.

His face remained stiff from too much tension.

Ah, I tensed too much…

“Evan. Should I announce there?”

“We have to open the gate anyway. Just ask the guards.”

“Yes!”

Lapis clenched her small hand, manipulated something, and nodded.

“Done!”

BWWOOOOOOOO!

At that moment, the trumpet sound from far away.

Evan’s eyes twitched ever so slightly.

No.

Wait.

No way?

Young Master Evan has returned!

Open the gates wide and greet the young master!

Aaaaaagh!

What is this!

Evan had no time to say anything in shock.

The gates opened wide, trumpets blared, welcoming Evan.

Felix sensibly urged the horses forward.

Suspicious gazes poured onto the unfamiliar carriage driven by an unfamiliar knight.

…At this rate, won’t they stab the carriage with swords?

Evan swallowed a sigh.

Come to think of it, the carriage had changed too.

If they thought it was impersonation, they’d stab immediately.

No choice.

Evan reluctantly stood, forced himself up, and stepped outside.

“Ahhh.”

Descending from the opened carriage door, a noble young man of dignified bearing.

Evan Alkart.

Second son of the ducal house.

And within the ducal house, subtly called “Drug Manufacturing King,” a figure everyone feared and suspected.

He looked around with shining golden eyes.

What on earth had happened in that short time—his gaze had deepened further.

‘…Ah. I’m tired. I just want to lie down and sleep.’

In truth, Evan was simply unable to overcome fatigue.

“You’ve returned.”

At that moment, Leo came out to greet him.

Was it really a greeting?

Irritation mixed in—it seemed more like he came to be wary.

“Who is that unfamiliar fellow? Did you bring a vassal without permission?”

“Not affiliated with the family. A knight I hired separately.”

“Knight? A knight?”

Ah, right.

He had to report about Felix separately too.

“An ordinary knight. Upper-rank, so not bad.”

“||”

“…What?”

Shock filled Leo’s eyes.

Too low?

‘Still, he had risen from mid-upper rank.’

The pilgrimage path, or something.

Felix, who had reclaimed the path a knight must walk and started walking again, had stepped into a higher realm.

With just a bit more time, he might reach top-rank?

‘…Where on earth did he find such talent?’

Leo was dumbfounded.

What?

Upper-rank knight?

Not bad?

What was this.

No matter how high the average was, an upper-rank knight’s value was never low.

And young.

So young that calling him youthful rather than young wouldn’t be strange.

‘Evan…’

Just what was he plotting?

No. What had he done?

“Young master. Just a moment…”

“…What?”

Leo’s eyes trembled drr after hearing from the butler who approached from behind.

Usually just a brother he kept in check.

But now it was a bit different.

He was genuinely starting to fear.

‘…He dominated the Knight Kingdom?’

It was too absurd to dismiss, because rumors with far too much credibility had reached his ears.