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Mana scarcity was a very unusual and incurable disease. First of all, there were no special symptoms other than losing strength from their body.
However, it was a disease that would end in death if treatment wasn’t continued.
Although outbreak was more frequent in the empire due to the influence of the magic circle, it was a disease that appeared everywhere throughout the continent.
“Mana scarcity…!”
“What?!”
Harmin tea was the medicine that helped to prevent death from mana scarcity before adulthood. Sometimes, however, people contracted mana scarcity as they aged, even if they had survived before thanks to Harmin tea. Both of them must be unlucky to catch a disease like that.
“You can cure it. I can even make money now!”
“Zecko…”
There was one way to manage mana scarcity. It was to inject mana steadily through mana treatment.
It was natural that a huge amount of money would be spent in the process.
It was unfortunate if it occurred to a noble who could pay for those treatments, but it was a disaster for the commoners.
“Ordinary people like us can not afford that.”
“But …!”
Zecko’s mother began to cry as well. Their situation was pitiable.
[Karmen Kasselov]
Thoughts: They have mana scarcity? How could that be? Besides, I don’t think they’re old enough to develop mana scarcity…
The most common occurrence of the disease was in the elderly. In addition, the frequency of mana scarcity in elderly was similar to that in the other empires and continents as well.
Therefore, doctors diagnosed that the influence of the magic circle could be overcome with Harmin tea for some time but couldn’t beat natural constitution.
“Do you know how to treat it, Karmen?” asked Siervian hastily, watching the situation from the side.
Karmen glanced sideways at her and quietly opened his mouth. He didn’t feel comfortable watching this family full of misfortune.
“They need constant mana treatment. If they want to live like normal people, they should get treated at least once a week.”
“Ah…”
If it was that much, it would be a difficult treatment process without wealth to support it.
Then, Zecko’s father, who quietly tried to calm down, opened his mouth, “I want to spend some time with my son before I go.”
“Don’t say that!”
They said they chose this extreme method because they feared that Zecko would be evicted.
They wanted to take care of their child for the rest of their lives. But they were worried about his situation after they died.
If he was ousted from the foundation, they thought he couldn’t go anywhere else.
“How could…”
Zecko shed tears at his parents’ choice.
Karmen had silently watched their reunion next to him then clicked his tongue and used a magic spell.
In an instant, their space warmed up.
“But what happened when I was kidnapped?”
The reason why his parents didn’t visit him was definitely shocking, but they were convinced. However, it was unclear why he had to wait for his parents in the slums after he was kidnapped.
His father, recalling the time when Zecko disappeared, also shed tears.
“I’m embarrassed, but I was trying to make a living. I got a big debt under my name.”
“Was that why you were running away?”
“Yes, but you disappeared when we went to where you were waiting.”
The couple, realizing that some of the children had been kidnapped that day, had searched desperately for Zecko.
However, he could not be found after being dragged to the southern continent.
As they continued to explain, they suddenly knelt down and bowed their heads toward the crown prince.
“Thank you very, very much for saving my son. Ugh.”
As the air warmed up, their frozen heads could move a little bit.
Siervian had identified herself as a princess. So it was easy to assume that the blue-eyed man next to her was the crown prince.
“Get up, everyone,” said the crown prince, who was equally uncomfortable observing the child’s family reunion.
Even if they cleared up the misunderstanding, they couldn’t cure their illness.
“I knew it. You guys didn’t abandon me, did you?”
“I’m sorry, we shouldn’t have hidden so far away.”
“Yes, we shouldn’t have done it recklessly because a good opportunity came.”
Siervian felt strange hearing the words of the man who spoke mournfully.
At the moment when she felt she needed to inquire about it, someone else asked the question, “A good opportunity?”
“Yes… I heard that there was a way other than mana treatment, so…”
The crying couple continued to answer, “Well, thankfully, there was someone who wanted to give us some Harmin tea.”
Karmen and the Crown Prince exchanged glances at the sudden mention of Harmin tea.
Siervian, who continued to observe the couple, also frowned.
They weren’t lying, but it was an unbelievable story. They couldn’t have been given the Harmin tea just like that.
“You were swindled.”
When Karmen spoke firmly, the couple looked at each other again and were about to say something. Hearing those words, they hesitated for a while before saying, “No, I went to the duke’s mansion myself.”
“…!”
The crown prince urgently questioned the details.
They borrowed money to receive mana treatment several times. One day, the couple who wanted to borrow money met a person from the duke’s family who said that if they took Harmin tea, they would be able to slow the progress of the disease.
With incredible luck, the couple decided to immediately head to the treatment center provided by the duchy.
However, the duke’s family instructed them to keep it a secret, and in the process, they had to keep moving as if they were running away without being able to pay off their debts.
“That was what happened. I was separated from Zecko in the process. I never imagined that he would be kidnapped while I took my eyes off him for a second. Then, after a while, I heard rumors that the crown prince had returned with the children.”
Of course, they were going to meet Zecko again. However, the people of the duke’s family found the couple again in a timely manner.
They said they would give them the treatment they wanted then. When the couple said they would go to their son, the person didn’t stop them. They just said something strange.
“…They said that if Zecko knew that his parents were alive, it would be difficult for him to receive support.”
“……”
The unexpected statement stunned Siervian.
The duke offered those who were allergic to Harmin tea. They didn’t know he was doing such a thing.
However, when she glanced sideways at her brother’s status window, she had to be serious.
[Damian Elverdotte]
Thoughts: Using Harmin tea even though it’s adult mana scarcity…? No way.
Siervian suddenly remembered the mission she had entrusted to the Justice Guild. Everything surrounding the duke was suspicious.
“I didn’t know Zecko’s parents would be involved.”
It was a strange coincidence.
Anyway, Siervian managed to come to her senses and rushed to the knights behind her for help.
However she could, she intended to take Zecko’s parents out of this cold place. “Help them!”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Zecko’s parents were further weakened by the cold and only moved with the help of the knights. At that time, the Crown Prince had been thinking about the matter and suddenly came up with a question.
[Damian Elverdotte]
Thoughts: But how did Siervian know they were here?
‘Oh my.’
Siervian felt nervous seeing his questioning. She had taken off as soon as she saw the fraudster’s status window, but it must’ve looked suspicious.
[Damian Elverdotte]
Thoughts: Did she receive some help from the intelligence of the guild?
Fortunately, her smart brother came up with a plausible excuse on his own.
‘I need to be more careful.’
That was how the incident ended.
* * *
A few days later, Siervian visited the Welfare Foundation.
This was because she had heard that Zecko wanted to meet her, saying he had something to tell.
As she entered the upper chamber where Marco was, she noticed Zecko, who was very nervous.
“Princess.”
Siervian had something to negotiate with Zecko as well.
When she asked how he was doing and sat face to face, Zecko looked more nervous. Then he told her straight away.
“I was, in fact, acting as a spy. I was also worried about hiding this fact until the end.”
Fortunately, Zecko began to confess with a sincere look on his face.
“…I was secretly reporting the movements of the Princess Palace.”
“I knew it.”
“……!”
Siervian responded calmly with relief.
Zecko looked at her in surprise as if he hadn’t even thought of it. Then, realizing that all the adults near him knew this, he lowered his head again.
“I’m sorry…”
Marco and Madeleine exchanged looks as they listened to the apology.
They had been surprised when the Princess suddenly said that Zecko was acting strangely.
They wondered if it was okay to leave the safe door open on purpose.
When Zecko stole the money bag, they didn’t expect this turn of events.
However, as a result, Zecko found his parents. So they thought there must have been a misunderstanding. But he was really a spy?