“I have so many enemies, it’s hard to guess. Who is it?”

“…There’s no need to worry about it in advance. It would be better if you remain unaware.”

“…”

“But if someone appears and tries to persuade you to leave with them using sweet words, be very cautious. Make sure to inform me immediately.”

Why is he being so serious about this?

This was someone who would normally respond with “you reap what you sow” if an enemy came seeking revenge, but now he seemed somewhat anxious.

Is this a powerful enemy that even Duke Ortega is tense about? Interesting.

‘I really want to befriend them though.’

Calliphe shrugged with a smirk.

“I understand for now.”

“You must.”

“I said I do.”

“You must.”

“I already told you I understand!”

“Promise…”

“Stop it!”

Calliphe pushed away Lynen who was acting uncharacteristically clingy.

Lynen, seeming to realize he was being excessive, reluctantly backed off. He looked somewhat dejected.

‘What’s this, acting cute just because he got scolded a little… Oh God! Calliphe, you!’

Calliphe, who had been feeling pleased, grimaced in self-disgust at her own thoughts.

“…I should return to the hospital room. I need to inform the Vice Archmage about what we’ve discovered so far.”

“Let’s go together.”

However, an unexpected situation had unfolded in the hospital room.

“Kuk, ugh…”

“Marquis?!”

Marquis Offensa was having a seizure, convulsing violently. Foam was dripping from the corners of his mouth.

Upon returning to the hospital room and witnessing this scene, Calliphe urgently patted the Marquis’s shoulder.

“What’s happening all of a sudden? Marquis! Wake up!”

First, she patted his shoulders while using her ability.

[Magic Power +0.5]

[Magic Power +0.5]

“Ugh!”

But it had the opposite effect. Until now, using her ability to increase his magic power had restored his pallid complexion.

For some reason, her ability wasn’t helping this time.

Lynen quickly assessed the situation.

“Calliphe. How much have you treated the Marquis’s mana deficiency so far?”

“Almost completely… I think. I’ve been working non-stop for three days. His breathing has become stronger and his complexion has improved. It’s practically like reviving someone who looked like a corpse. But why is he suddenly like this?”

“If your ability is the only variable, then your ability must also be the cause of this seizure.”

“What? You’re saying it’s my fault?”

Lynen spoke calmly but quickly.

“You mentioned before that Marquis Offensa definitely opened his eyes but closed them again on his own. You suspected brainwashing.”

“And…?”

“I think the Marquis is under brainwashing that tells him ‘he cannot recover.'”

“…”

“But your ability keeps trying to wake him up…”

“So his brainwashed mind is conflicting with it?”

“That’s right.”

Calliphe bit her lip.

Who would have thought such an obstacle existed!

‘Come to think of it, the Marquis looked directly at me but didn’t recognize me.’

He had mistaken her for Porsche. He had mumbled about walls and other things without being asked.

‘His mind has weakened from being brainwashed for so long.’

Just then, Marcel appeared, having detected the abnormality in the hospital room.

“What’s happening? G-Graham! Good heavens!”

After hearing Lynen’s explanation of the situation, Marcel employed every emergency treatment he could.

However, the seizures only worsened. At this rate, they would lose Marquis Offensa before even waking him up.

It was an accident they hadn’t anticipated, and even if they had, there was no adequate countermeasure.

‘D*mn it, isn’t there anything I can do?’

What could she do? There had to be some solution!

Calliphe desperately searched through her system messages, hoping to find something useful.

Thanks to that, she discovered:

[1 Unconfirmed Event]

‘What?’

[You have not yet confirmed the mini-event that occurred due to the explosive blooming of the Fairy Mint.]

‘Right, I forgot about this!’

The mini-events that occasionally occurred in “Marino” when making special discoveries or achievements.

She had thought they were just part of the game’s story.

‘But thinking about it again, it’s not so strange.’

Fairy Mint is a special flower revered by elves. It’s a mysterious flower that connects them to their forest homeland’s energy no matter where they are.

If thousands of these flowers bloomed at once, how powerful would that energy be?

It wouldn’t be strange if some magical event occurred.

‘I need to check this right away!’

[Mini-event in progress…]

[Fairy Mint possesses a mysterious power that can transfer vitality to weakened individuals.]

[This attribute of Fairy Mint becomes a blessing bestowed upon you!]

[Blessing of Fairy Mint: You can enter the subconscious of a weakened target and infuse them with vitality.]

[The method of infusing vitality depends on your choice.]

[Would you like to use it?]

‘What does this mean?’

Thinking she should try something, Calliphe placed her hand on Marquis Offensa’s shoulder.

Whoosh.

Calliphe’s consciousness was pulled into Marquis Offensa’s dream.

※※※

Marquis Offensa was still holding Porsche’s portrait.

However, the once ordinary room had transformed into something threatening.

The walls on both sides had changed into thick iron doors that were slowly consuming the floor space.

Grrrk—

At this rate, he would be flattened between the doors.

“D*mn it, no!”

Marquis Offensa tried to use magic. He also tried kicking the doors.

But his magic didn’t work, and the doors remained undamaged.

After struggling violently, Marquis Offensa eventually became trapped between the iron doors, unable to move.

Resignation settled in.

‘Right. What’s the point of living when I’ve lost my family. Perhaps it’s better…’

Just as he was closing his eyes:

Ugrrrk!

The iron doors that had been tightly shut without a single gap were slowly opening.

“…?!”

Looking closely, someone was forcing them apart from the outside with their hands.

‘Who could have such incredible strength?!’

Soon the door panels were roughly torn away. The person who destroyed the doors grabbed the Marquis and pulled him outside.

The figure dusted off their hands.

“Must be because this is a dream, I’ve become super strong.”

“Y-you are…”

The Marquis was dumbfounded.

The person before him was undoubtedly that person.

“P-Porsche? It’s you, Porsche!”

Calliphe frowned.

“You still see me as Porsche?”

“Drop the horror theater dialogue. Porsche, thank you, thank you so much for coming to save me. But when did you build up all these muscles?”

Calliphe clicked her tongue softly.

She needed to awaken the mind of Marquis Offensa, who was like a blind man with his eyes open.

‘It said I could infuse vitality. They should tell me how!’

Then another system message appeared.

[The method of infusing vitality depends on your choice.]

‘So I have to figure it out myself?’

In that case, swift action was needed.

Calliphe snatched the portrait of Porsche that the Marquis had been cherishing. And then.

“Porsche can go to h*ll!”

Crack! She broke the portrait in half with her knee right in front of the Marquis.

It didn’t matter since it wasn’t the real memorial portrait anyway.

“Ugh! Porscheee! You fiend! You’re not Porsche!”

The Marquis roared, grabbing Calliphe by the collar. At least his vitality was definitely surging.

Perhaps thanks to his fury, the Marquis’s previously dull eyes gained strength and focus.

“Wait… you are?”

His eyes widening gradually, he stammered:

“…You’re Calliphe?”