Guided by Ricardo, we entered a room located on the upper floor of the Agatha Sword Emperor's Palace.

The room was spacious. It was covered in luxurious carpets, and it was furnished with elegant tables and countless pieces of decor. In the center stood a large bed, on which a young girl was sleeping.

"......Mm..."

As if awakened by the sound of us entering, the girl slowly turned towards us.

Her long, flowing red hair was striking. The girl with the dignified features looked at us curiously.

"I've just returned, Sylvia."

Ricardo spoke with a gentle expression.

"Welcome back, Father. Who are these people?"

Sylvia, despite having just woken up, inquired in a dignified tone.

"They came from the surface. I couldn't get the medicine today, but this person says he might be able to cure your illness."

Ricardo pointed at me with his hand, as if introducing me to his daughter.

"This is Anos Voldigoad-dono."

"Nice to meet you."

As I spoke, Sylvia sat up in bed. She bowed her head deeply.

"I'm so sorry for the trouble. I am Sylvia Arbishop, a dragon knight and a close advisor to King Diedrich. It's nice to meet you."

I took the hand she extended and shook it. As I did, I focused my Demon Eyes on her.

The flow of magic power was stagnant. As expected, it seems she has a serious illness.

"I apologize. I haven't explained yet, but my daughter's illness is called "Ketsu-Ryu Byo" (Dragon Deficiency Disease)..."

"It's a disease where magic power leaks out of the body as if there's a hole in a vessel, leading to death. The bracelets on both of her wrists are designed to seal the magic power from its source to prevent it from overflowing, but it's not completely effective."

Ricardo looked at me in surprise.

"Perhaps the same disease exists on the surface...?"

"No, I just examined her. It seems it's caused by an organ that only dragon people possess. Demons can not have this disease."

I peered into the depths of Sylvia's illness.

"Hmm, a part of your magic power organ is in a runaway state, I see. It's no wonder your source magic power is overflowing."

"Wh-what... You can identify the symptoms and cause of Dragon Deficiency Disease in a matter of seconds...?"

Ricardo breathed out in astonishment.

"If I heal your magic power organ, Dragon Deficiency Disease will be cured."

"Cured... is that possible...?"

Sylvia's voice rose, as if she was half-believing and half-doubting.

"Yes."

"B-but, Anos-dono. Dragon Deficiency Disease is an illness that cannot be cured even if you use the power of the God of Regeneration to heal your body. No magic, except for the giant dragon's medicine, has any effect."

Ricardo said.

"The giant dragon's medicine doesn't completely cure it either. It only temporarily alleviates the symptoms. Right?"

Ricardo nodded, awestruck.

"Yes. The effect lasts for about a year, and if you use a large amount of magic power, the symptoms will worsen."

"To be precise, the giant dragon's medicine is poison. It has the effect of paralyzing a part of your magic power organ. It just so happens to coincide with the magic power organ that is going haywire due to Dragon Deficiency Disease, so it can suppress the symptoms."

I drew a magic circle around Sylvia's body.

"The reason the power of the God of Regeneration can't heal it is because this magic power organ is considered normal. God is order, you see. It can regenerate broken things, but it can't regenerate things that are working according to order."

"My magic power organ is going haywire, yet it's normal?"

She asked me, as if she didn't understand.

"Would it be easier to say that your magic power organ is overdeveloped? It's become so strong that it's beyond it's own control."

"......I see."

"There's one more thing. The source has the memory of the body. It's also designed so that it cannot be rewritten. That's where the anomaly lies. The God of Regeneration doesn't interfere with the source."

With a hint of hope, Ricardo asked hesitantly,

"......How can we... fix this...?"

"We just need to cut off the bad part of the source. It'll be a bit painful, but not as painful as death, shall we say?"

Sylvia, as if she had made up her mind, said,

"It's fine. I'm a knight too. I will endure any pain. Do it."

"Good attitude. It won't take long. It'll be over in an instant."

I applied <Vebzud> to my right hand and pierced Sylvia's chest with my black fingertip.

"......Ah... uu..."

I focused my Demon Eyes on the illness.

It's difficult to say for sure because it involves magical treatment, but if I expressed it in terms of physical size, the illness would be about one-billionth the size of a heart.

The part I'm going to cut off is the center of the source. If I make a mistake and cut off too much of the source, there could be some aftereffects.

Aiming carefully, with a delicate touch and manipulation of magic, I split the source in two. Then, I cut off the inner illness and immediately joined it back together.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

A large scream escaped Sylvia's mouth. When I pulled my hand back, she fainted.

I applied <Ei Chael> (All Magic Complete Healing) to heal her wounded body.

"Hmm, it's a success. The source is a little damaged, but it will recover soon. She should wake up in a few hours."

"Is she cured...?"

"See for yourself."

I sent magic power with my fingertip and removed Sylvia's bracelet.

Until moments ago, the magic power that had overflowed without the magic tool was now circulating normally throughout her body.

"Wh-what..."

With tears welling up in his eyes, Ricardo bowed deeply to me.

"What a miracle. I don't know how to repay you. Truly, I can't find words to express my gratitude. Thank you."

"Raise your head. I've only repaid my debt for ruining the medicine. I feel a little uncomfortable when you thank me so much."

Sasha, who was behind me, laughed triumphantly, and Misha looked at me with warm eyes.

"That won't do. Anos-dono is my daughter's benefactor. Please tell me what I can do for you. Whatever it takes, I will repay this debt..."

He suddenly stopped talking and his body slumped forward. I caught him with my hands.

"......Gah... u, ah...!"

He coughed painfully. Blood was oozing from his mouth.

"Hmm, I thought you might be injured, but Ricardo, you're also sick. Since we're at it, I'll cure you."

"......No, that's not necessary. It's not an illness, it's just a matter of lifespan."

Hmm, that's strange.

"You don't look that old?"

"Dragon people sometimes have short-lived species. I'm a species that ages quickly. For a normal dragon person, I'm already old. I've been pushing my body, but I wouldn't be surprised if my time comes at any moment."

"I'll take a look. Maybe I can prevent a relapse."

I focused my Demon Eyes on Ricardo's body, searching for the illness. It's true that there's no visible cause, and it looks like old age at first glance.

"Oh my, you're in such a terrible state. It's amazing you could fight dragons with a body like this. As you said, you're about to reach the end of your lifespan."

He must have been pushing his body with magic power.

"If you can, I would like to ask you something..."

"What do you want to know?"

"......With your diagnosis, Anos-dono, will I be able to live for another week?"

"Well, that's a tough one. Is something wrong?"

"Do you know about the Royal Dragon, Anos-dono?"

The dragon that Ahid stole.

"You mean the dragon that eats the source and gives birth to Child Dragons?"

Ricardo nodded.

"......If I can live for another week, I can offer this source as a sacrifice to the Royal Dragon. Then, this life of mine, which has no future, can become the power of a new child dragon, a sword to protect Agatha, and a foundation..."

Faced with death, his wish is for his country's prosperity. He's a true knight.

"Did Diedrich say anything?"

If it were Nafta, he could see Ricardo's future. The man must know the outcome.

"The Sword Emperor, who is a prophet, can see everything, but he can't make everything into a prophecy. Especially bad prophecies, he has decided not to speak of them."

"Why?"

"Prophecy is absolute, and the people of Agatha will not doubt it. However, if they see death, many will lose their will to live. If you tell them a prophecy of death, they will either cut their own lives short before it arrives or, if not, they will lead a pitiful life. Being able to see the future is tantamount to despair, the Sword Emperor said."

That's right. If it's a good prophecy, it's fine.

If you hear a bad prophecy, a bad future will come at that point. Dieldrich can see that the best future will be achieved by not speaking.

"Hmm, then, you were saved because you weren't prophesied to die?"

"......Saved? What do you mean...?"

Ricardo looks at me with questioning eyes.

"It's a Senility Disease. It's a disease that spread in a part of Dilhade two thousand years ago. It looks like death from aging. The pathogen is a Old Worm, a magical bug that has mutated magic power. It can only parasitize babies who lack resistance."

Only babies can be parasitized, so that's probably why there's a short-lived species.

"The Old Worm is a formless magical bug. It merges with your magic power from infancy and becomes one with you, so its existence is hidden. It's believed that this magical bug rarely occurs naturally."

"Then...?"

"It's only possible if someone created it with magic."

But ultimately, Dilhade could not definitively conclude that it was magic. The user was never found.

If Diedrich couldn't stop it, then the Old Worm was created before he made his pact with Naphta.

Or perhaps the one who created this Old Worm in Dilhade two thousand years ago and the one who brought it to the underworld are the same person.

Naphta, due to her order, can only see the future. She may not even remember her own past for too long.

He must have seen a future where I talk about Senility Disease here, but well, if there's nothing we can do about it, there's no point.

It was probably better to let him be a short-lived species.

"Anyway, there is healing magic."

I drew a magic circle around Ricardo and applied <Wazzworth> (Senility Disease Healing) magic to cure him. In an instant, the Old Worm inside his body disappeared. There's no chance of the Senility Disease getting worse.

"Is it cured...?"

"It's cured. Your body is back to its state before it aged. I'll borrow your memories for a bit."

I drew a magic circle and used <Liknos>.

"My memories... how...?"

"Just answer my questions randomly. Alright, let's hear about Sylvia. Since she's a Child dragon, she's not your real daughter."

Ricardo nodded.

"Child dragons are born from the Royal Dragon, so they don't have parents who raise them. That's why a foster father or foster mother takes them in and raises them. I met Sylvia eighteen years ago. As a Royal Guard, I was ordered by the Sword Emperor to raise a dragon knight."

The memories and thoughts of Ricardo eighteen years ago flow into me. That would be the perfect origin.

I drew a magic circle around Ricardo's body and used <Rivide> to rewind time locally. In other words, I made him younger.

"It's done. Stand up."

As he was told, Ricardo stood up. He moved his limbs and looked up with an unbelievable expression.

"It's like I've returned to my younger self. No, my body feels even lighter than it did before."

"The magic power that was taken by the Old Worm is now available. You can live like a normal dragon person. You don't need to be a sacrifice to the Royal Dragon, so protect your country with your own hands."

Ricardo's face was filled with gratitude, and he opened his mouth.

"Truly... what with my daughter and all, I don't know how to thank you... If there's anything I can do for you, please tell me. I'll do anything, anything to repay this debt..."

Ricardo bowed deeply.

"Don't worry about it. It was just a little side job."

As I said that, I was about to release <Liknos>, but Ricardo's voice echoed in my mind.

"——Now I can become a sacrifice for the Royal Dragon——"