A Maiden’s Unwanted Heroic Epic
chapter-235

***Arc 10 One Who Doesn't Acknowledge, Chapter 235 Feel***

After returning home, she explored every possible means.

Pure medicines, magical training, and magic formula.

There had been some improvement, and the progress has been slightly delayed――but it was still not a complete cure, and the situation had not improved.

One month, two months, six months, as time passed, Bery's seizures got worse and worse.

A dimly lit room with books and medicines lined up on the shelves.

A girl wearing a one-piece dress was holed up in a laboratory in the basement of the royal castle, her hand hidden behind a transparent cylinder.

Magical power that decomposed the magic crystal and liquefied it――something that was said to be the water of life in books.

Floating inside the cylinder filled with it was the nude body of a woman.

Convert semi-spiritual magical power into matter.

Creating flesh and organs from scratch, recreating a human.

Long red hair――the girl, almost identical to her beloved servant, her eyes closed, showing no reaction as she floated within the liquefied magic.

Dark circles around her eyes, she adjusted her breathing.

Krische closed her hand and shuts off the magic she is releasing.

She gulped, and for a few moments.

Krische stared at it, but as if betraying her expectation.

"ah……"

The Sleeping Beauty she created melts from the edge into the water of life and disappears.

For a while, she stared at the now-empty cylinder in a daze.

"Hg...!"

She clenched her right fist in frustration and banged on her desk.

The board was distorted and blood seeped from her hand――the girl with her eyes downcast just trembled.

The door behind her opened and a face that looked exactly like hers appeared.

The girl approached, swaying her golden hair that sparkles with red.

"...was it no good?"

"It's a failure. The body couldn't handle it."

A cold voice.

Kreschenta looked at Krische’s right hand and frowned.

Kreschenta took out a handkerchief and silently wrapped it around the wound.

She had already tried everything she could do to Bery's body.

However, she was unable to find a fundamental solution, and her next idea was to create a new body.

But that didn't go well either.

Creating one is not difficult if she took her time.

However, she was unable to create a perfect body.

The body built with magical power had a very strong magical quality.

Unless it was maintained from the outside, the body couldn’t be maintained as a physical body, and it returns to magical power.

After several trials, she came to the conclusion that it would be better to just fill the surrounding area with magical energy, and this time――but the body still disappeared into the magical energy.

There was nothing more mentally taxing than wasted effort that was done in a rush.

Krische staggered, and Kreschenta hurriedly embraced her.

"Onee-sama...you should get some rest."

“...How is Bery?”

"...She seem to be doing well now. It seems like she couldn't sleep this morning though."

Kreschenta said and sat Krische on the sofa, which had become Krische’s bed.

"Even if there is some risk, we should stop time after all. If even after we do all this and have no results, then after all――"

"Results are there, it just fall bit short."

"If it's really just a little bit, I won't go against Onee-sama’s opinion either."

Kreschenta said and stroked Krische’s cheek.

"...I'm worried about Onee-sama."

Krische looked away.

"...It's no good. If Krische stop now, what will happen to Bery's body? Besides Kreschenta also...it won't stop it."

There was also the option of stopping time.

The problem was the altered dragon magic within the berry.

Now, that magical power was consuming the surroundings magical power.

Like a hungry beast eating its prey.

If there was not enough, even blood and flesh would be converted into magical power.

The magical power possessed by Bery, two types of properties, were at work, disintegration and reconstruction.

The dragon part sought out magical power, and the magical power of the person who originally possessed it supplemented it――that was how it seemed to maintain the balance.

Regalave words "meal" were accurate.

The reason why dragons live deep in the mountains was because they absorb magical power from the veins of the earth.

They don't eat meat, but instead live off magical energy.

Then, the increased magical power is discharged, the amount of magical power within the body is adjusted, and it is circulated――the problem was that Bery, which had a human body, couldn’t do this.

The magical power that had transformed even her flesh and blood was intertwined and bonded together――and the magical power she produced was no longer that of a human.

Even if she vomits out her magical power, body generates magical power that has the properties of a magical power eater, and couldn’t maintain itself unless she took in magical power from the outside.

If space was cut off and time was stopped, physical time would stop.

However, it was not possible to completely stop the movement of magical power that could be called semi-spiritual.

――The two of them came to the conclusion that magic exists according to laws different from those of this world.

"Even if we were to create a new, perfect body, and then transplant the brain, that would still be risky. If we can stop time and it works, at least it will give us time to figure out the world."

Even if time was stopped, the magical power moved slowly.

There is no doubt that the magic eater would consume the magic power derived from Bery, and there was also a possibility that it would disintegrate her blood and flesh.

Even if that were not the case, there was no way to interfere from the outside.

Once Berry's magical power is consumed, Bery's body would disintegrate the moment time moved.

The situation was different from last time.

"As long as the body doesn't disintegrate before it's released, we'll have as much time as we want."

"...What if it gets disintegrate?"

Kreschenta stared at Krische and said.

"Onee-sama. I and Onee-sama are doing everything we can. I'm sure we'll be able to figure everything out someday. ... Onee-sama should also know that the only thing we don't have is time.”

“……”

"Not sleeping well and stay holed up in a place like this...If Onee-sama keep going like this, Onee-sama will end up worse than Argan-sama."

Krische looked at Kreschenta, smiled, and kissed her.

Then she said ‘sorry’.

"Krische know Kreschenta is worried about Krische. But it's okay, Krische is used to a bit of lack of sleep... Kreschenta should go to Bery's place. For now let’s give up on the body and search from another direction――”

Krische glanced away, and Kreschenta spoke.

"Isn't the promise with Argan-sama that Onee-sama will take a day off once every three days? It's already the fifth day."

"But, there’s still no..."

“Onee-sama said that regardless of whether the results come out or not. …Isn’t it because Onee-sama don’t want to worry Argan-sama?”

Kreschenta continued.

Krische nodded silently.

She was bathed, feed a meal, and her injured hand was tended to.

She didn't do anything and just went to bed like that.

Because Krische had a fever.

"...sorry. Next time, from a different direction――"

"Please don't push yourself too hard. Take a break today...if you're tired, you'll have trouble thinking."

"Next time, Krische, will, right away,..."

Bery kissed her, then pressed her palm over her eyelid.

She caressed her hot forehead and made closed her eyes for a while.

After a while, as the sleep-inducing medicine took effect, and Krische finally fell asleep.

Berry looked at her with a worried expression, placed a damp cloth on her forehead, and Crescenta, who had been watching, said,

"The medicine has probably worked, so Onee-sama will probably rest for tonight."

"...I see. I'll have some soup ready for when Krische-sama wake――"

"You're going to bed too. I'm asking Arne-sama to prepare it. Please don't let a sick person suffer with such a pale face. I can't handle two selfish people."

Kreschenta glared at her, Bery met her gaze and nodded.

Like Krische, Bery hadn't been sleeping well lately.

Her body was not healthy due to chronic anemia, and her complexion was pale.

She reluctantly sat down on the bed and her eyebrows furrowed.

Kreschenta looked into her face.

"The painkillers, is it not working?"

"...No. It's a little easier."

Kreschenta stroked Bery's abdomen and narrowed her eyes.

Her physical condition was worsening day by day.

"Any stronger than this one is a no. Please endue it."

She looked away and told her.

Pain is an indicator.

There was a risk that if the patient was given a drug strong enough to erase the pain, it would delay the patient's recovery.

The reason you feel intense pain at the moment your body is decomposed is because the situation is so critical.

She couldn't give her a drug strong enough to make her unable to feel it.

Bery stroked Kreschenta’s cheek.

"I'm sorry. I caused Crescenta-sama a hard time as well..."

"I knew you were useless, but I never expected for it to go this far."

Kreschenta sat down next to her and grabbed her arm.

"What a deadweight," Kreschenta continued, resting her head on her shoulder.

"……yes"

"You eat and sleep every day, and even though you are a servant, you. On top of that, you are being taken care of by the Queen. Do you understand?"

‘Yes’ she answered and pulled out arm out.

Lifting up Kreschenta’s body and placing it on her lap.

"……you"

"Fufu, I feel more comfortable doing this... Please forgive my selfishness."

Just like that, she gently hugged her and giggled.

‘What a helpless servant’, Kreschenta muttered.

"Still, you're in a good mood. I guess this is the punishment for your rude behavior this far. I don’t mind if you wailed and cried in a pitiful manner."

“Fufu, I wonder if Kreschenta-sama will pamper and soothe me when I cry.”

Bery laughs and continued.

"But I rather prefer pampering than being pampered. I'm sure it's because of my personality and mischievous die."

She chuckled, her usual modest laughter.

Kreschenta lowered her eyes and her his head back, saying ‘You won’t even pass as a jester’.

She placed her hands on Bery's shoulders and raised her hands to cradle Bery's head.

"I was thinking of hurting you and killing you, but what a shame. Even though I was planning on punishing your sin personally."

She scooped up her red hair, let it flow, and played with it.

Rubbing her cheek against hers.

"...I wonder what it feels like to be getting closer to death every day. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear it."

She lowered her long eyelashes as if to feel her touch.

After a while, Bery opened her mouth.

"It's not scary as expected. Just..."

Then she continued.

"...I'm a little worried and lonely."

About what, she didn't say it.

But neither did Kreschenta asked.

Reaching for the bedside table, she touched the magic crystal.

A complicated formula was carved from her fingertips, and the magic crystal melted into the glass that was placed there.

"That's good to hear. You might as well savor the pain a bit more. Like diluted wine."

She took the glass and offered it to Bery.

Bery smiled and took it, pouring it into her mouth.

Magic filled her body――at least she could live another day of pain.

Her days were a repeat of that.

Kreschenta took it silently and placed it on the table.

She pulled her body onto the bed and crawled into it herself.

With her back turned, she hugged her arms.

Bery smiled and patted her head lovingly.

――And then midnight.

Kreschenta turned around as she felt the arms tighten around her.

Bery's face scrunched up and her brow furrowed.

She looked out the window, gauging the time from the moon's position, and thinking about how much time had passed since Bery last took the medicine, she quickly grabbed the vial from the bedside table.

Then, she liquefied the magic crystal in a glass, dissolved it, put it in her mouth, lightly touched Bery's cheek, and pressed her lips to hers.

"..."

Then, she manipulates the liquefied magic power inside her mouth and poured it straight into the back of her throat.

She rub her back to make sure she didn’t vomit it, check on her body condition, and adjust her magical power.

――Fortunately, it was not too bad.

The usual seizures.

Bery woke up a lot, especially at night.

It's probably a matter of consciousness.

At the very least, Bery was excellent as someone who handled magic.

While she was awake, she took care of herself, controlling and manipulating the magical power within her body.

However, she could not be so alert while she was asleep.

She often woke up with pain and repeated shallow sleep.

Kreschenta caressed her cheek again as Bery’s empty eyes, filled with tears, stared at her.

She slowly parted her lips and said, ‘It's okay’.

Bery nodded silently and calmed her breathing.

As Kreschenta looked at her, the magic liquefied in her mouth once again.

She kissed Bery and letting it flow, and Bery swallowed it on her own.

Kreschenta just stares at her with her violet eyes and caressed her cheek, licking off the corner of Bery’s mouth with her tongue.

"...Sleep and get some rest."

Bery nodded and closed her eyes.

She continued to stare at Bery’s face and caressed her cheek until she fell asleep.

Until the wrinkles on her brow disappeared and she breathed her peaceful sleep.

“……”

Then she traced her own lips.

Kreschenta lowered her eyes and she pressed her face into Bery’s chest.