Deboa had contracted a very rare disease. It was an illness that caused her organs to harden like stone.
“There are magic healers. If you don’t have enough money, I’ll sell my clinic to help. Please get treatment.”
Leber was willing to sell even his own body to contribute to Deboa’s treatment costs.
At those words, Deboa gave a faint smile.
“They say it can’t be treated.”
Even the most extraordinary magician can’t bring back the dead.
Sigh. Leber let out a long sigh and his head dropped. His clenched fists trembled.
Why did it have to be Deboa?
When his parents abandoned him, when he was beaten for no reason in the square, Leber didn’t blame God.
But now he hated God. He resented Him.
However, resentment doesn’t cure illness. Treatment is the doctor’s job.
Leber raised his head. His face was already a mess with tears.
“I’ll cure you.”
“What?”
“I’m going to heal your disease.”
“How can you do that when there’s no cure? Don’t waste your energy and just focus on your work.”
Deboa acted like someone who had already given up on the future. Leber got angry. So for the first time since meeting her, he shouted.
“If it can’t be cured, we can change it! Like replacing broken parts! So live hard. Eat good things, do what you want to do, and… just live happily… waaah.”
In the end, Leber grabbed Deboa’s shoulders and cried his heart out.
“Hey, even I’m not crying… Stop crying. Hey, people are staring.”
Leber’s tears wouldn’t stop. With no other choice, Deboa patted Leber’s back to console him.
“Alright. I’ll really live selfishly and have fun from now on. I won’t die and I’ll live tenaciously until you find a way to cure me. So Leber, don’t cry.”
From that moment on, Leber became even more tenacious. And then he met Elise.
“I’ll support any research you want to do without limits. And I’ll legally protect you for any treatment you do. Will you come with me?”
Leber took Elise’s hand.
All for Deboa.
****
“I want to know for sure what Deboa’s condition is. Deboa told Your Majesty, didn’t she?”
Elise snapped out of her reverie at the urgent voice. Her gaze unconsciously met Leber’s eyes. That desperate look shook Elise’s heart.
“Yes, she told me.”
In her second life, Elise, who had become close to Deboa, had been wondering when to pretend to know about her illness.
But there was no need for that.
Deboa confided about her illness to Elise first.
Deboa was worried about the newspaper company after her death.
The newspaper should report facts, maintain an objective view, and play a role in checking power.
That was the right journalism Deboa dreamed of.
Thanks to her efforts, the Phon newspaper company had taken on quite the shape Deboa wanted.
Deboa hoped that the Phon newspaper company would continue to be a lighthouse that brightens the eyes of the people of the Bedrokka Kingdom.
For that to happen, someone who shared Deboa’s vision needed to take responsibility for the Phon newspaper company after her death.
Deboa judged that person to be Elise.
“Jasmine is too fragile. And emotional. I can trust and leave it to Elise.”
The smile on her face as she said she was writing her will at the time stuck to Elise’s retina for a while.
“The situation doesn’t seem too good.”
Elise explained Deboa’s appearance at the New Year’s party in as much detail as possible.
Her panting after dancing for about ten minutes, avoiding alcohol, and her flushed face.
As the explanation continued, Leber became more serious.
“Deboa will come here in a month, Leber.”
The reason for holding a banquet to celebrate the establishment of Leber’s medical academy was solely for Deboa.
It was to call her out, who only went between home and the newspaper company as her health deteriorated, to create a purpose for her to undertake a long-distance journey.
Although it can’t be said for certain that Deboa’s feelings for Leber are the same, she also went to great lengths for Leber’s work.
As expected, Deboa very gladly accepted Elise’s invitation.
“How far have the Ivory Tower and the transplant surgery research progressed?”
After Ragnaros died, the Ivory Tower sent a letter saying they would actively help if each country requested assistance.
It was an aspect of acknowledging the damage caused by Iris and Ember.
At that time, Elise sent a request for help with Leber’s research.
Although Leber had been persecuted by magic healers until now, he actively accepted the Ivory Tower’s support with the determination to save Deboa.
And there was one more thing he prepared for Deboa.
“Ragnaros’s organ signals are not good, Your Majesty.”
Leber was in charge of dismantling and storing Ragnaros.
At first, Leber was dismantling the large corpse out of concern that leaving it to rot would cause an epidemic, when he discovered something unusual.
“The organs are still beating.”
Although the heart had stopped, blood was circulating, causing the organs to function. The faintly circulating mana was making the organs beat.
The moment he saw that, Leber had a sudden realization.
He could replace Deboa’s stone-like organs with Ragnaros’s organs.
With the help of several people, he moved Ragnaros’s organs to the laboratory and has been preserving them well until now.
Karan’s help was the biggest. It was because he periodically injected mana into Ragnaros’s organs.
“It means we need to perform the transplant surgery as soon as possible. I agree, Leber.”
“But it’s not perfect. The size is large, so we need to cut it several times and research more to prevent side effects during transplantation.”
“Will Deboa’s organs be able to withstand it?”
Leber lowered his head.
“Leber, we have to try anything. If not now… we might lose the chance.”
Elise wanted to save Deboa. In the past, it was to keep Leber in Tetris, but now she genuinely didn’t want to lose Deboa.
Because she’s her friend.
‘Friend.’
Elise rolled the word in her mouth and opened it.
“Let’s try. I’ll also look for magic circles that can reduce side effects.”
It must be somewhere.
If there’s a magic circle that can turn back time, wouldn’t there be one that reduces transplant surgery side effects?
There might not be an exact match, but there should be something that can be applied.
There had to be.
****
A week passed. Elise practically lived in the Tetris library.
Elise skimmed through mountains of magic books over and over. They were all magic books sent by David.
From popular books to specialized ones, and even special books hard to find in the market, she skimmed through them all, but couldn’t find the magic she was looking for.
Elise sighed and collapsed onto the pile of books.
Then she fell asleep for a moment.
Even in her dreams, Elise diligently wandered between books. Then, she heard a voice calling her.
“Elise, you should sleep in your room.”
The call wasn’t a dream, but real. Karan had come to fetch her when she didn’t return despite waiting.
Elise’s eyelashes fluttered.
“Shh, you don’t need to wake up. I can carry you.”
Karan stroked Elise’s back and lifted her effortlessly.
Awake but still without feeling in her hands and feet, Elise entrusted herself entirely to Karan.
“Did you wait?”
She asked in a small voice instead.
Karan pulled Elise’s upper body towards his chest and kissed her forehead.
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Quite a while. Do you know what time it is?”
Elise’s head shook slightly.
“It’s past midnight. You said you have a schedule from the morning tomorrow. You’ll have to get up at dawn.”
“I can sleep from now.”
Karan’s brow furrowed. For the few days Elise was buried in the library, Karan couldn’t even touch her body.
Of course, light touches were allowed, but that was like offering salt water to someone who is thirsty. His thirst for her only intensified.
He doesn’t want to put her to sleep. But he has to.
Karan barely managed to lay Elise on the bed while battling his desires.
However, an even greater temptation was waiting for him.
“I need to wash up.”
Elise flailed her limp limbs trying to get up. Karan quickly slipped his arm between her body about to collapse and the bed.
Elise hung on Karan’s arm like laundry.
“I can’t tell if you’re asleep or awake.”
“I’m fully awake.”
She speaks well. Karan shook his head.
“You can’t sleep unless you wash up, right?”
“Yes.”
Elise answered docilely. Karan looked at the straps and sighed.
It’s too late to call someone.
To be honest, he doesn’t like entrusting Elise to someone else. Especially Elise in such a defenseless state.
“Wait a moment.”
Karan put a pillow under Elise’s head and headed to the bathroom.
It seemed he would be the one staying up all night today.
“But that’s okay.”
If Elise finds the answer quickly with a clear mind, there’s nothing better for Karan.
****
“I found it!”
The next day, Karan’s wish came true.
