The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 7: Talent Unleashed (1)

Now that I think about it, I’d never actually heard Asella call me by my name.

In the future, I’d assumed it was because she was looking down on me. Now, I thought it was because she was maintaining formalities.

But it turns out she simply didn’t know my name.

“It’s Lass. Lass Gotberg.”

“Lass.”

Asella repeated my name once, letting it roll off her tongue before starting to walk away.

Her long hair brushed lightly against my face as she passed by.

...A strange scent lingered in the air.

“Young Master, tell me what you want.”

“Pardon?”

She wasn’t using my name.

Then again, suddenly switching to a casual address would seem odd.

“Something in exchange for the roses. Since Mother accepted them, they now hold value.”

Oh, so she didn’t intend to just take them without compensation?

I was genuinely touched by her sense of fair trade.

“It’s fine. Consider it a gift.”

“No.”

Asella spun around to face me, her expression firm.

“I told you — it’s an exchange. If you gain something, you must give something back. It’s the most important law in the world.”

She raised a finger, tracing a simple spell circle in the air. A small flame flickered to life, like a match being struck, then dissipated into the air.

“With a small amount of mana, you can’t cast powerful magic.”

She was adamant over the strangest things.

I was too tired to argue, so I just nodded.

“Understood. I’ll think about it.”

“I’ll wait.”

Asella walked away, moving gracefully like a doll, her steps light and soundless.

***

In the afternoon, I toured the estate with Sievers.

Even the mansion grounds were vast, but once we passed through the walls guarded by knights, the territory extended even further.

To the south lay a small town where the estate’s citizens lived.

To the west, a large river ran through the land — a bit chilly, but ideal for farming.

To the east stood the Healer Training Institute, a small academy with dormitories that also served as a pseudo-church, though its religious influence wasn’t particularly strong.

I wasn’t a boarding student, but technically, I was supposed to attend classes there. Not that I ever actually did.

“Haha! When I heard of Young Master’s exploits, I was truly astonished! The entire mansion is buzzing with praise for you!”

Sievers was being overly enthusiastic, so I waved my hand dismissively.

“Who would believe such rumors? They’re probably cursing me behind my back.”

“Oh no, not at all, Young Master! I, more than anyone, can tell that you’ve truly changed. Now, this area is...”

While following Sievers’s explanations, I pulled up the status window.

“Stats.”

―――――――――――

Strength: 6

Endurance: 6

Magic Power: 1

Mana: 12

Divine Power: 22

Faith: 100

―――――――――――

Wow, what garbage.

Is this a person or a paper doll?

“With these stats, the practical exam is going to be a nightmare.”

I gazed toward the northern forest and asked Sievers,

“That area — is it uncharted territory?”

“Yes, it is. It marks the northwestern border of the empire. Beyond the forest is an unknown land, teeming with powerful monsters. You must be cautious, Young Master.”

“So, the practical exam will likely take place in that forest.”

“As expected, your insight is impeccable. The candidates will be tested on their healing abilities while subduing monsters alongside the knights.”

Monster subjugation.

I’d grown sick of it during my time with the Hero’s Party.

The real problem now was my stats.

At least my mana and divine power were decent, thanks to my bloodline.

But my magic power was a pitiful 1. I had zero magical aptitude.

If I’d trained my body, that might’ve helped, but this wastrel had spent his formative years drinking and lazing around.

Now, my endurance was barely enough to run a lap.

And my strength was nothing special.

“The fact that my faith is still at 100 is ridiculous.”

Just as physical training increases strength, training in healing spells increases faith.

Studying theology or praying also boosts faith.

I was an extreme case of overdeveloped faith.

After all, as someone who’d possessed this body, I knew better than anyone that there was no god in this world.

Ironically, my absolute conviction that gods didn’t exist made my faith unwavering.

Even ten years into the future, my faith stat remained at 100.

The problem was that my divine power was underdeveloped, preventing me from using high-level healing spells.

“Giss probably has around 25 divine power.”

He was the ace of the training institute, so that was a reasonable guess.

“I should focus on using medicine for the exam.”

I wasn’t a licensed doctor, just a quack who’d done a few practical lessons.

“But no matter how much knowledge I have, in this world, what really matters are skills.”

There was one thing that caught my attention.

A part of the status window that had always been blacked out.

―――――――――――

Talents: ■■■ (S)

■■ (S)

―――――――――――

I couldn’t see what they were, as they were concealed.

They could be magic-related or combat-related.

If I could unlock my talents, I could open up skill trees.

The only thing ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ I was sure of was that these talents were top-tier.

Two S-grade talents.

“Usually, a person only has one talent. It was odd that I had two from the start.”

I didn’t know why, but without unlocking them, they were useless.

“Should I open them?”

After all, life was short. Why live as a mediocrity when I could live as a prodigy?

And right now, I had the perfect opportunity.

***

Dinner Time Has Arrived.

It was the formal occasion where the alliance between the Third Empress and the Gotberg family would be discussed.

For nobles, etiquette and procedures were paramount. What a rigid way to live.

My engagement to Asella was also one of the topics to be addressed.

“You look splendid! If this were a ball, all the young ladies from every household would be lining up to dance with you! Hahaha.”

After finishing preparations to step into the main hall, Sievers adjusted my collar and let out a hearty laugh.

Just as I was about to leave the annex, the basket of candies placed on the table caught my eye.

“Ah, they were meant for the Princess, but she refused them.”

“Candy’s nice. Why would she do that?”

Thinking I’d snack on them one by one if things got boring later, I grabbed a handful and stuffed them into my pocket.

I made my way to the designated location.

“Father, I’ve arrived.”

“Lass, you’re early.”

When I arrived at the main hall, my father was looking at me with a pleased expression.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you acting so diligently now.”

“As the eldest son of the family, it’s only natural.”

“Forget about the family. As long as you’re prepared like this, I’ll support you in pursuing your ambitions.”

“I am undeserving of such words.”

Father was the type to be overly kind to the point of being a pushover. If you gained even a little of his trust, he’d sign anything you put in front of him.

That’s why he got completely swept up by the Empress, who was only looking to exploit him.

“Lass, I forgot the promise I made to your mother – that I’d do my utmost for you. Looking back, I realize that I prioritized work too much. But you matured first, and I am grateful for that. You truly are my son.”

“Haha, there’s no need to doubt that.”

“I feel reassured. From now on, I’ll cut back on work and focus more on you and Neria.”

Neria.

The term "you and Neria" was used.

Aside from me, the Gotberg family had one other child – a young lady.

“But what about the examination to become the Princess’s personal physician? It was quite a sudden decision.”

“To be honest, I’m a little worried. If I do enter the imperial court, it would certainly be an honor, and it would look good for me as her fiancé, but...”

“Hmm, but you are my son. I trust you will do well. You have my support.”

Looking into my father’s innocent eyes, I instinctively knew that using any underhanded methods with him was out of the question.

He was the kind of man who would never accept a bribe in his entire life – utterly clueless about the scheming politics of the court.

‘No matter how I look at it, the Third Empress’s faction is a rotten rope to cling to.’

That’s how the Gotberg family ended up being falsely accused of treason and wiped out without so much as a whimper.

If you’re going to hitch a ride, Father, it shouldn’t be with the Empress – it should be with Asella.

That would be a much smoother ride.

While we were talking, someone entered the drawing room accompanied by a maid.

“Father, I’ve come to greet you for dinner.”

“Oh, come in, Neria.”

A petite girl bowed respectfully to my father.

‘Neria Gotberg.’

My half-sister.

There was no denying our familial connection – we all had silver hair, a trait of those born with strong divine power.

Father’s hair was ash gray, Neria’s was a soft gray, and mine was nearly pure white.

Neria was around ten years old, but she carried herself with an unexpectedly mature demeanor.

“Hello, Neria.”

I smiled warmly and greeted her.

But Neria seemed a bit wary of me.

“Ah, Brother... How have you been?”

Neria avoided my gaze. It was a familiar behavior I’d seen often in the timeline ten years from now.

‘Neria is the Saint of the Hero’s Party.’

Right now, she was just an ordinary girl.

She wouldn’t be chosen as the Saint until after the Hero appeared – which was after our family had been wiped out.

One reason I was chosen as the healer for the Hero’s Party was likely because I was Neria’s brother.

I didn’t have any particular grudge against Neria.

Maybe it was because she was the Saint, but she was one of the few people who had treated me kindly in the past.

Though she had always been slightly afraid of me because of the lingering resentment from that time.

Since we’d be seeing each other often from now on, it would be better to get along.

“That dress suits you well. It makes you look taller.”

“Ah, really...?”

Neria glanced down at her dress and smiled slightly.

She was always self-conscious about her height, so being told she looked taller clearly made her happy.

“Now that everyone’s here, let’s head to the dining hall.”

Following my father, we walked through the wide corridor.

Beside me, Neria was walking with her shoulders slightly hunched.

‘She must be nervous because the royal family is here.’

I lightly tapped Neria’s shoulder.

“Ah! Y-Yes?”

I took out one of the candies I had stuffed in my pocket earlier and placed it in her hand.

“Don’t be so nervous. I just met the Empress and the Princess, and they’re nothing special.”

“R-Really...?”

“You probably haven’t eaten anything because it’s mealtime, right? Eat that. Sweet things can lift your spirits quickly.”

“Ah, thank you...”

Neria popped the small candy into her mouth.

A bright smile immediately spread across her face.

“It’s sweet!”

Sugars turn into energy quickly, so her mood would likely improve soon.

At her age, eating as much as possible was the best course of action.

“I really do feel less nervous now. Brother, you know so much!”

For a ten-year-old, she sure used some difficult words. Neria, you’re the knowledgeable one here.

“If you want more, just let me know anytime.”

I gently patted the top of Neria’s head. She flinched like a small animal but soon relaxed.

Neria continued to gaze up at me as we entered the dining hall.

The dinner was lavishly adorned with extravagant dishes.

Though there were only five people – Father, me, Neria, the Empress, and Asella – there were twice as many servants bustling around, serving food and wine.

Asella and I exchanged simple, formal greetings.

From then on, the conversation was dominated by Father and the Empress’s stiff discussion.

I could barely stifle a yawn. I might dislocate my jaw if this keeps up.

It was mostly useless political talk that would soon be irrelevant anyway.

The Empress seemed desperate to rope Father into the imperial power struggle.

Father, on the other hand, was cautiously weighing the pros and cons, resulting in a never-ending back-and-forth.

Father held the upper hand in the conversation, but the Empress outranked him, so he had to maintain decorum.

How long was I going to be subjected to this nonsense?

The Empress chattered on relentlessly, as if she were a court jester rather than a royal mage.

“In the imperial court, having the right pieces is crucial. For instance, let’s say a prophecy of a Demon King’s invasion ten years from now is revealed. What weapon would every faction desire most?”

“A Hero, I suppose. The faction with the Hero would have considerable influence in the imperial court.”

“Indeed. The optimal choice is, of course, the Hero. But doesn’t the Gotberg family possess a second-best option?”

“You mean the Saint. Indeed, our family’s lineage once produced a Saint.”

The Empress shot a pointed glance at Neria, causing her to flinch.

“Lady Neria, what do you think?”

“M-Me...?”

“Have you ever considered becoming the Saint?”

“W-Well... wouldn’t a Saint have to fight the Demon King and monsters and...”

“It’s an honorable duty for the sake of the continent.”

The Empress’s firm tone made Neria shiver and hiccup.

Neria glanced at Father, seeking help, but Father remained silent, as if to let her make her own decision.

Seeing this, Neria misunderstood it as pressure, and with a trembling voice, she finally said,

“If... it’s for the family...”

“Hold on a moment.”

Before Neria could finish, I interjected.

The Empress’s eyes narrowed sharply, and Asella’s expression shifted to one of interest.

“Why only a Saint? Wouldn’t it be possible for a Saint to become a Saintess as well?”

If the artifact was that rare, shouldn’t I get a taste of it too?

Actually, forget that – just hand it all over.

“This is going to be fun.”

Asella’s lips curved into a chilling smile.