Hector’s power instantly transported Tanner to Daymond village. Exactly five minutes later, Audrey and Tanner were summoned back.

Although Audrey was a Diamond-level woman, this was no time to be picky.

They needed any doctor who could examine Charlie.

Audrey immediately went to Charlie, not caring what kind of magic it was.

Hector did not leave Charlie’s side.

“This is…!”

Audrey’s face darkened as she examined Charlie. Her condition was more serious than expected.

“Has Charlie ever been hit by an attack spell?”

Hector recalled using his dark power in the past.

And at that moment, it felt like his heart dropped to the floor with a thud.

“I used a binding spell. Is that what caused this?”

“No. If it wasn’t an attack spell, she wouldn’t have internal injuries. Then why….”

For a Zero, identifying the cause was crucial since the flow of mana couldn’t be read. Especially internal injuries, since even minor mistakes in treatment could be fatal.

But there was no time for a thorough examination.

Even now, Charlie’s pulse was rapidly dropping.

Then, Hector remembered the moment Charlie flew toward him.

To others, it might have looked like a mere gust of wind, but Hector, a Grand Master, knew it was a magic attack that had missed its mark.

“She has been attacked before.”

Audrey’s face turned ashen as she hurriedly opened her medical bag.

“Do you know what kind of magic it was?”

“It was Wind Arrow.”

Medicines were thrown as if there was no time to set them down. Audrey’s urgent actions made even the onlookers sweat.

Audrey rolled up Charlie’s sleeve and administered the appropriate magic coagulant.

Sensing something unusual, Hector asked again.

“What’s wrong?”

“A Zero can die from an attack spell of that level. They can’t detect internal injuries, so it spreads throughout the body if left untreated.”

“……!”

Hector’s eyes widened. The same went for Tanner and Leon, who were watching.

Wind Arrow was a basic attack spell that even children at the Master level could perform.

To think a life could be in danger from such a minor spell. It was a wonder she was still alive, like a candle flickering in the wind.

“It has already turned toxic.”

Audrey’s fingertips trembled as she rechecked Charlie’s condition by absorbing magic.

“We need to remove the magic that has permeated her body quickly. The highest….”

Audrey’s gaze turned to Hector but she couldn’t finish her sentence.

The higher the magic level, the better the absorption ability.

However, absorption magic brought more pain than the price paid for using abilities.

The primary treatment for Zeros was usually magic absorption. That’s why the doctors refused to treat Charlie as soon as they heard she was a Zero.

Who would sacrifice themselves for a Zero? Moreover, losing consciousness meant that the magic had already permeated her body.

While the doctors turned away, the magic in Charlie’s body not only spread but also became toxic.

It was beyond the level that Diamond-level Audrey could treat. Even for a Master, the impact would be significant.

“I will do it.”

Leon stepped forward.

No matter how much of a Grand Master Hector was, purification was not easy. Whatever it was, Leon could purify himself, but Hector would bear the pain.

“No, I will do it.”

Hector, who had been watching Charlie, raised his hand to stop Leon.

“Your Grace!”

“Everyone, leave.”

“But…”

“I said leave.”

* * *

I feel like I’m going to die.

That was the first thought Charlie had when she regained consciousness.

“Save… me…”

She desperately wished someone would save her, to pull her out of this burning pain.

“…ra. Almost…”

A voice pierced through her hazy consciousness.

Immediately, a cold sensation enveloped Charlie’s entire body as if she were submerged in water.

At the same time, the blood that had been boiling as if it would burn her whole body calmed down, and the pain that twisted her internal organs disappeared.

It felt as if all the pain inside her body was being extracted.

“…it.”

A low, deep voice faintly reached Charlie’s distant consciousness.

Charlie instinctively leaned her face into Hector’s hand, which was placed on her forehead.

The hand hesitated for a moment but then gently embraced Charlie.

“…done, when…”

What is he saying?

Ah, I don’t care. This hand feels so good.

Ignoring the incomprehensible words, Charlie buried her face in Hector’s hand.

“Purification… not yet…”

Purification? Who cares.

Feeling as if she were a baby in her mother’s womb, Charlie’s lips curled into a smile.

It was a warm and secure feeling.

As proof, Charlie’s pheromones were incredibly pure.

“…go.”

A soft, laugh-filled breath was heard.

But Charlie didn’t have the consciousness to think about it.

It just felt good.

The careful touch that moved her wet hair away and the gentle caress on her face felt incredibly warm and pleasant.

Wriggling.

Charlie’s face squirmed in Hector’s palm.

“…!”

Finally, when her small, soft lips touched, the large hand flinched in surprise.

And at that moment, a scent Charlie had never smelled before tickled her nose.

The scent was so pleasant that she felt like she was floating on fluffy clouds.

‘No, don’t go!’

Charlie gathered all her strength to hold onto the hand that was trying to pull away from her cheek.

The large, kind hand seemed to understand her intention and soon stopped moving.

“…ve.”

You bark, I like it.

“He—”

Charlie, who had wedged Hector’s hand between her pillow and face, twitched her cheek.

It felt like heaven.

Maybe she had died and come to heaven for her third life. Or perhaps God was rewarding her for all her suffering.

“…t.”

Did God just curse at me?

Well, who cares if he curses. This feels so good.

Charlie, intoxicated by the comfort she wished would last forever, smiled blissfully.

How much time passed like that?

Charlie, who had regained complete peace, fell into a deep sleep.

Charlie’s rough breathing had stabilized into a calm rhythm. Her cold sweat had stopped, and her fever had completely subsided.

Hector gazed steadily at Charlie, who had fallen asleep leaning on his hand.

Her pale face was small enough to fit in one hand and looked so fragile.

“A purification guide…”

When Hector absorbed the mana from Charlie’s body, a pain as if his heart was being torn apart surged through him.

But as soon as Charlie leaned on him, that pain disappeared instantly.

Originally, purification accompanied a feeling of cleanliness as impurities left the body.

But the purification he felt from Charlie was different. It was more like eliminating rather than expelling. And then, strangely, the purification energy weakened again.

Just enough to alleviate his headaches, like a Silver-level.

‘Is it because she’s a Zero? Or a temporary pheromone outburst due to mana?’

Moreover, his contact with Charlie wasn’t unpleasant at all. It was rather enjoyable.

But he didn’t feel any s*xual desire or the urge to have s*x.

Whether he opened Charlie’s pheromones, purified just now, or made contact, it was the same.

‘I can’t understand.’

In any case, additional medical examination would be necessary, so Hector reluctantly got up.

“Don’t die.”

The black shadow moved away from Charlie.

“…without my permission.”

* * *

Tanner’s expression in front of Hector was subtle.

It was understandable since it was Hector who had stepped forward to absorb Charlie’s mana.

What on earth happened? The room was filled with the intertwined pheromones of the two, and Hector appeared more intact than expected. Charlie, too, had improved.

“Are you talking about the attending physician……?”

Moreover, Hector was now suggesting that Audrey, a Diamond-level woman, should be Charlie’s attending physician.

The Hunt family had strictly controlled the entry of outsiders for generations. Especially since Hector became the head, no woman had ever been allowed entry except for purification rituals.

Of course, Zeroes without pheromones like Charlie were exceptions.

“Prepare a residence in the capital for her and pay her as much as she wants.”

“That would mean frequent visits to the mansion.”

“I don’t care.”

Hector unfolded a teleportation magic circle.

“If she refuses, kill her.”

In an instant, a black light surged. It was a dark power that left no trace.

“……Where are you going?”

Tanner looked at Hector with worried eyes.

Using more power after absorbing Charlie’s magic would be too much. But Hector disappeared into the pitch-black darkness.

* * *