4 - I Healed the Male Lead's Trauma
Episode 4
1. The Male Lead Doesn't Need Trauma (4)
At that one word, the Count's body flinched.
However, he was not one to back down easily.
"Did you just say assault? Did you say assault?"
"Count, it would be better for you if I didn't get any angrier."
"So, an Evolved Being attacking a non-Evolved Being is something that can just be overlooked! Guards! Arrest that crazy woman immediately!"
At the Count's shout, two other guards approached and put handcuffs on me.
It was already painful because of the Control Stone Bracelet, and the handcuffs tightening around my wrists only added to the pain.
"Liliop Ortiz, unauthorized use of mana is a serious crime, regardless of the reason."
Count Lorraine smirked at the stern guard's words.
But that triumphant expression wouldn't last long.
"However, the reason you mentioned deviates from the national law established by His Majesty the King."
The guard stared coldly at the Count and continued,
"As of today, all members of the Count's family are forbidden from leaving the mansion until further notice from the higher-ups, and an immediate investigation will be launched into the truth of the accusations made by Liliop Ortiz."
At those words, the Count was visibly shaken.
Even a little digging would reveal how the Count's family had treated Hiakin.
Especially with so many people like that servant, who lacked backbone and were easily swayed by those in power.
"If found to be true, the Count will be stripped of his title, all assets will be confiscated, and he will be sentenced to a minimum of five years imprisonment, and a maximum of death."
The color drained from Count Lorraine's face at the guard's statement.
"W-What are you saying! I was doing it for the sake of the royal family! Because that boy still hasn't shown any signs of Manifestation…!"
"Even a potential Evolved Being is considered national property, does the Count not know fear? To dare to damage His Majesty's property. But before that."
I nodded to the guard, who turned back to me, as if to say it was okay.
"Liliop Ortiz will be directly detained by the Evolved Being Management Bureau."
No sooner had she finished speaking than another guard, who had been holding me, channeled mana into my Control Stone Bracelet.
I would probably lose consciousness for a while now.
Hiakin would probably be startled, but well, I wouldn't die from this.
'Besides, I'm confident I won't be severely punished.'
However, despite the guard's words, Hiakin's eyes changed when he heard that I would be detained.
It was very faint, but an ominous energy was detected.
That was because I, as a guide, was most sensitive to the mana of Evolved Beings.
A strange sense of pressure, as if the surrounding air was being sucked towards Hiakin.
'...An abnormal reaction?'
But it was strange.
Why didn't the other guards seem to notice it yet?
'But there are definitely signs of an abnormal reaction?'
Before undergoing First Manifestation, potential Evolved Beings can vaguely gauge their grade to some extent even before awakening.
Just like now, an abnormal reaction like drawing in the surrounding mana.
This is a phenomenon caused by the body of a Transcendent Being attracting mana.
It often happens with high-grade Transcendent Beings….
Hiakin, of all people, was causing an abnormal reaction.
'As expected, Hiakin is likely to Manifest as a high-ranking Transcendent Being, just like in the original story.'
When my brother, of all people, showed a disturbed and ominous reaction, I quickly met his gaze.
"Hiakin, calm down."
"But you're…!"
"It's okay, you can calm down."
I reassured Hiakin without much worry.
It was a situation where I couldn't calmly explain it to him.
'Who would dare to mistreat the sister of an S-grade Transcendent Being?'
Looking at the expressions of the surrounding guards, it seemed they had now noticed the mana reaction around Hiakin as well.
Well, he would probably be subjected to formal questioning and interrogation.
But this matter would definitely be reported to the higher-ups, and then the royal family would soon crack down on the Count's family and protect us both.
So, I hoped he wouldn't worry about me.
Whether he knew my heart or not, Hiakin raged, trying to tear the guards away from me.
I muttered again, watching his fierce appearance.
"No, I'm telling you to calm down…."
I wanted to say something to stop him, but my body wouldn't cooperate.
The heat from the bracelet grew hotter and hotter, and in an instant, my vision blurred.
At the same time, my consciousness snapped.
'...He's not already turned dark, is he?'
I saw Hiakin, who had kicked away the guard, running towards me.
* * *
Even though it seems like I do everything without thinking, I actually have a plan.
If Hiakin is going to Manifest as an S-grade Transcendent Being anyway.
I was going to make that tremendous ability a means to protect himself even before Hiakin Manifested.
…But.
"Hello?"
"Um, hello."
As soon as I opened my eyes, there was a disgustingly handsome human sitting in front of me, waiting for me to wake up.
'He looks like a big, yellow, large dog….'
Perhaps because of his gentle impression, his curly, light honey-blonde hair went well with his mature face.
He was wearing an earring on only one side, and the blue jewel of the earring made his amber eyes stand out even more, but it didn't seem to be just for decoration.
"I came because I received a report of unauthorized mana use and an abnormal reaction, but why was the information that the suspect was such a beauty missing?"
What nonsense was this?
I became serious and slowly distanced myself from the unidentified man.
However, I was not free because I was surrounded by Control Stones on all sides, and my hands were handcuffed.
In addition, an additional Control Stone bracelet was attached to one leg, making my movements sluggish as if I had been anesthetized.
It was a special solitary cell made for Awakened Beings.
"Who are you to suddenly flirt with me? I was already bored from dealing with uninteresting advances right before this."
When I questioned him with an unpleasant expression, he smiled.
"Ah, I'm a prince of this country. Call me Isadore. My older brother is the Crown Prince, though he's insignificant, do you know him?"
And he added.
"For reference, if an unforeseen accident were to happen and my brother were to die or if there were a major disruption to the succession to the throne, I would receive the first right of succession.
Ah, I see.
"Nice to meet you, Your Highness. You were very witty just now."
A reflexive response popped out at the grim explanation that didn't sound like a joke.
"Cough…."
"It seems Your Highness is also amused by my wit. I'm glad."
"No, cough, you're just too shameless."
Amused?
I'm embarrassed.
'Suddenly a prince.'
Was it because Hiakin was adopted as the Crown Prince's son in the original story?
I was trying to remember if there was any connection when our handsome Highness spoke.
"It's fun to flirt with you, but I don't think this is the time to exchange jokes. Shall I ask you directly?"
"Please do."
"Is there another reason why you deliberately made such a big deal out of this?"
He was quite sharp.
Maybe this Second Prince, not the Crown Prince who was the root of all evil, should succeed to the next throne.
No, politicians would die quickly if they didn't have quick wits, so this was only natural, right?
The Second Prince seemed to have already figured out why I had openly turned the Count's family into enemies.
"What is your younger brother's expected grade?"
He asked with a calm but sly smile.
I was a little relieved at those words.
The prince's intervention. Such a golden spoon background.
It seemed the Count's family would pay a more severe price than expected for messing with my brother.
* * *
Of course, it is impossible to find out the expected grade of all potential Evolved Beings.
'It shouldn't be possible if possible.'
If that were the case, this country would have gathered only high-grade potential Evolved Beings and brainwashed them from a young age to instill loyalty to the royal family.
Anyway, this crazy country.
It's fortunate that it's technically impossible when considering ethics and morality.
'But there are times. When you can estimate the expected grade of a potential Evolved Being.'
Just like the mana abnormal reaction from before.
Like what Hiakin almost caused at the Lorraine Count's family.
That phenomenon that rarely appears even though they haven't Awakened.
Transcendent Beings who are naturally able to draw in external mana directly, operate mana directly with their bodies, and use it to display amazing abilities.
Their bodies, which are the very miracle of life itself, are specialized in handling this mana.
'That's why they sometimes unconsciously operate mana even before First Manifestation.'
I plan to use this setting mentioned in the original story to take advantage of our prince.
Based on Hiakin's abnormal reaction, I would say that my child shows the potential to Manifest as a high-ranking Transcendent Being.
'It's never bad to have a powerful person backing you up. No, it's actually essential for Hiakin.'
But before that, I had to find out if I could trust this person.
Pretending to be troubled, I deliberately kept my mouth shut, and the prince kindly started talking to me in a gentle voice.
"Ortiz, I'm not trying to use your brother. I'm trying to protect him."
Usually, people who say that take advantage of people and suck them dry.
I didn't say these words out loud and only thought about them quietly.
"Protect?"
"Yes. It's strange. You suddenly applied for a leave of absence during the semester, not at any other time, to come and see your brother. What's the reason? Did you suddenly find out about your brother's abuse? If so, how did you find out?"
He smiled as if he was already reading my thoughts.
It's just because I possessed an extra in the novel and realized I was going to die.
The prince, who didn't know this, was imprinting a misunderstanding keyword on me, who was just an extra.
"Didn't you know that your brother would Awaken as a Transcendent Being? I don't know how you found out about the Lorraine Count's family's actions, but you must have judged that something terrible could happen if you continued to leave your brother in that situation."
"……."
He tapped his temple with his index finger and said.
"Transcendent Beings' minds are like glass, aren't they? So, as soon as you found out about the Count's family's atrocities, you ran to prevent a possible accident… yes. To protect your younger brother, who you didn't know what he would do."
"……."
"Oh, were you surprised because it's exactly the truth? Your grade, B-grade guide, isn't high, but it's not low either."
"Your Highness…."
"Since you came to find your younger brother in such a hurry, I couldn't not know. Your brother is at least the same grade as you, or even higher. Too much for you to handle alone…. Isn't that right?"
"Not that far…."
I couldn't close my mouth in surprise.
As my lips parted, the prince chuckled and admired his extraordinary brain, but I was surprised by something else.
That far….
Thank you for misunderstanding.
I'm grateful that you're matching the plausibility on your own.
With this, I no longer needed to spread propaganda and fabricate lies.
For this extra, he was interpreting everything by fitting it together on his own.
I hadn't directly revealed the grade, but our prince, who was caught in a swamp of misunderstandings and misinterpretations, was already convinced that Hiakin was A-grade or S-grade.
"I won't bother saying your brother's expected grade out loud. It seems you've already acknowledged it."
I didn't. He's S-grade, though.
"Therefore, I'm going to connect you and your brother with a family that is more suitable."
What is he talking about?
The prince, who was bewildered, clasped his hands together and rested his chin on them, smiling at me.
