Despite the advantage of being able to easily subdue the rebels, my reason for deciding to help Yulid was simple.

‘If Yulid loses power here, those orphans won’t be safe either.’

I couldn’t face Noah with a clear conscience if I turned my back on these children.

Besides, I needed Yulid to rescue the Vice Archmage.

That’s all there was to my decision to help.

Footsteps approached. The subordinates who had gone to get medicine were returning.

I quickly advised Yulid.

“I’ve made up the excuse that it’s indigestion, so after you take the medicine, we’ll return to your room. You can deal with the pain afterward.”

If I said he needed rest until the medicine took effect, we could buy some time.

“Is that your idea of a ‘solution’? My expectations were too high.”

“I do have a plan… ugh, I really want to hit you just once.”

“What?”

While Yulid was still processing what I’d said, the subordinates returned.

“We’ve brought the medicine!”

“Give it here.”

“Yes. One bottle of this should cure you immediately.”

I took the digestive medicine from the subordinate.

Unlike the fever reducer I had given the child, which came in an old bottle, this one looked expensive.

‘Wait, this is a recovery potion from the Magic Tower!’

It seemed to have been diverted through illegal channels.

“We brought a recovery potion from the warehouse. It works for headaches, colds, and of course, indigestion.”

“You brought ordinary medicine earlier?”

“How could the medicine for the boss be the same as what those kids use?”

The subordinates narrowed their eyes and snickered.

“Minor illnesses disappear completely with just one drink of this. The same should apply to the boss’s ordinary indigestion.”

“…”

Their intention was clear: they wanted to confirm whether it was really just indigestion.

‘Did they conspire together when they left earlier?’

If so, their next move would depend on the outcome.

If the potion had no effect, meaning Yulid was genuinely weakened by some unknown cause, the situation would become extremely unfavorable.

Glancing at Yulid, I could tell he had reached the same conclusion.

But rather than panicking, he smiled coldly.

“Hand it over.”

He snatched the potion from me and began drinking it, slowly moving his hand toward his waist where his dagger and throwing knives were tucked.

‘Is he planning to kill his subordinates to silence them?’

However, these subordinates had endured Yulid’s temperament longer than I had.

Having conspired together, they must have anticipated Yulid’s reaction.

Sure enough, they maintained a subtle distance from us, seemingly prepared for an attack.

‘Unless they completely let their guard down, subduing them won’t be easy.’

Even if it were possible, if one of them escaped, it would all be for nothing.

But all of this would be meaningless if Yulid recovered.

‘Time to use my ability!’

I placed my hand on Yulid’s back while he emptied the bottle.

His back muscles were tense with anticipation of an attack.

The subordinates’ gazes grew sharper as they watched us.

In the midst of this, I deliberated.

‘I’ll use my ability, but…’

The question was which ability to use.

Should I increase his anti-magic resistance with the Parenting Method, or use the application technique to kill the insects?

‘If I use the Parenting Method to increase anti-magic resistance, it would definitely help. It would give him the strength to resist corrupted mana.’

But since abilities only increased by 1 point at a time, or even less in unlucky cases, it might take time to see results.

That’s why I had planned to buy time using the digestive medicine excuse.

‘But they brought a Magic Tower recovery potion, so if he doesn’t recover immediately with this, conflict will break out right away.’

On the other hand, what about using the application technique?

‘The insects in Yulid’s body reacted to the monster cores. That means they’re monsters themselves.’

So this approach should be effective too. Even the powerful familiar that Henrik had sent before couldn’t handle getting hit by me, so I should be able to kill these insects.

If the insects died, the pain would disappear, which would look like the potion was working.

However, the problem was…

‘I can’t hit the insects directly.’

I could only strike them indirectly through Yulid’s body. I had never tested this kind of situation before, so it was uncertain how much impact the insects inside his body would receive.

There was a possibility that inadequate stimulation might backfire, causing the insects to become more agitated.

‘A certain but mild effect, or high risk with high return?’

While I was deliberating, Yulid finished drinking the potion.

He gripped his dagger, and the subordinates leaned forward, preparing for combat.

If I was going to use my ability on him, it had to be now.

‘I’ve decided!’

Thwack!

“Ugh?”

Yulid, suddenly slapped on the back by me, made a startled sound.

“Boss, digest it slowly. There, there.”

“What… are you… doing?”

Not just Yulid, but all three subordinates were looking at me with incredulous expressions.

The more they stared, the more shamelessly I acted. There was no time for them to react.

[Using the application technique of the ability ‘Villainess’s Parenting Method’.]

[When striking an opponent, you can release corrupted mana latent within you rather than regular mana.]

[Target is eligible for striking.]

The ability I chose was the application technique.

An ability that releases corrupted mana from within me to crush targets that possess corrupted mana weaker than mine.

However, I was concerned about the effectiveness of an indirect strike.

‘If the effect seems weak, I just need to hit harder!’

“Boss? Did you get indigestion again? Why did you drink the potion so hastily!”

“Ugh, stop it—”

I clenched my palm that had been patting Yulid’s back. Then I struck his back repeatedly with all my might.

“Boooooss!”

[You can inflict a body-splitting impact on corrupted targets.]

Oh right. That effect existed too.

“Ugh, argh! Cough! Hack!”

Yulid coughed up blood.

‘Wow. He looks like he’s in more pain than when the monster cores were present?’

Along with the dark red blood, a few tiny insects came out.

I quickly stepped on the insects to hide them from the subordinates while making an even bigger fuss.

“Boooss! Did the potion get stuck in your throat? Let me help you! Swallow it!”

“…Hack! Cough!”

“I love you, Boss! Don’t die!”

Hang in there, you b*stard Yulid! Hahaha…!

“Um, Secretary. Don’t you think you should stop now?”

“She’s insane… she’s smiling.”

The subordinates, who had dropped their guard, tried to stop me with disgusted expressions, but I continued to beat… no, pat Yulid’s back.

The effect seemed to be working, as Yulid’s coughing gradually subsided.

“Boss, are you alri— Ugh!”

Gak. He grabbed my throat with murderous eyes.

“I told you to stop. If you lack ears, shall I make you a third ear hole?”

Even while choking, I examined his complexion. Then I forced a smile.

“…You seem better now?”

“…!”

Realizing it just then, Yulid released my throat.

Once the body-splitting impact from my ability disappeared, he belatedly realized that the pain from the insects was gone too.

He discovered one of the insects mixed in his blood and crushed it under his foot.

“You…”

His golden eyes, full of unspoken words, turned toward me.

But instead of speaking immediately, he stood up and instructed the orphans who were huddled together.

“Clean this place up. Bring some rags.”

He seemed to be assigning the task to the orphans to ensure any unnoticed insects in the blood puddle would be dealt with.

The nodding subordinates hesitantly asked.

“…Was it really just indigestion?”

“Were you hoping it wasn’t?”

“N-no, sir!”

Seeing Yulid looking so perfectly fine, the subordinates scattered quickly. Fortunately, their conspiracy had come to nothing. For now, at least.

Yulid turned to me.

“You and I need to talk. Now.”

…Somehow, the gleam in his eyes directed at me looked like he was licking his lips in anticipation.