After Retirement, Living a Stud Life in Another World - 160

Episode 160: Clara, Alive

Beato’s words finally made it clear to me, even with my dull understanding.

I hurriedly checked my neck, and the small stone-carved deity that was supposed to be there had shattered completely. The figurine Clara had given me was a cursed magical tool that would take on any disaster that befell me, a frightening one. That’s why Gretel and Beato, despite their surprise, told me to “always keep it on.”

“So, Clara…”

“It looks like the dagger was enchanted, and it’s draining her life force from the wound. Even Gretel would have a hard time healing it.”

“What?!”

As I shouted and touched the dagger embedded in my chest, it slid out effortlessly as if nothing had happened, and no bl00d even came out. Clara must have taken on everything. I rushed over to Gretel, who was desperately casting spells.

“No, even my healing magic won’t be enough…”

“Margarete-san… Please, don’t worry about me. Just save the baby…”

“No!”

As Clara clung to her with a hoarse mezzo-soprano voice, the platinum aura enveloping Gretel swayed significantly. The wound inflicted by the enchanted dagger couldn’t be healed even with her magical power.

“Lutz, please, help!”

What to do… Of course, I knew. I clung to Gretel’s back, trying to stay as close as possible to her, to transmit as much magical power as I could.

“Supreme God, grant me strength! Hahh!!”

With another high-tone yell, the aura surrounding the girl I was holding grew even more radiant. The light from her hands then reached Clara’s body… and soon, Clara’s lower abdomen, where the baby was, began to shine brightly.

“The outflow of life has stopped… Princess Clara! This child says it won’t let you die! Hang in there!”

“This child… Lutz-sama’s child, is saving me…”

“Yes! So hold on!”

“Yes, I’ll do my best. I want to live… I want to hold this child…”

“That’s it! Lutz, let’s go again! Hahh!”

“Hah…”

The platinum flash enveloped them once more, and everyone around squinted at the dazzling light. After the light slowly faded… Clara lay quietly. Her shallow, pained breathing had calmed, and her previously contorted expression had changed to a peaceful one.

“Hey, Gretel… what’s this…”

“Yes, it’s okay now. Princess Clara has regained her strength to live.”

“…Thank you, it’s all thanks to you, Gretel.”

“That’s not true. The dagger was not just magical, but a powerful curse. Breaking curses is the specialty of light magic, but… my magical power couldn’t remove it. It was because you charged your magic infinitely and, more importantly, this child helped. If magic couldn’t be activated from within the body, this case would have been difficult.”

At the spot she pointed to, Clara’s lower abdomen still faintly glowed.

Clara’s child, being of C-class magic, though my seed might only be A-class at most… If what Gretel says is true, then despite being a fetus, the child absorbed Gretel’s powerful magic and healed Clara from within. Could this child perhaps use light attribute healing magic? With my “stability” parameter, I’d expect the child to be of the gold attribute.

“Oh, Princess is saved!”

“Princess Clara, you’re safe!”

“You did well, Marquess Hannover’s daughter!”

Just as we sighed in relief, the stunned nobles from Clara’s faction, or rather the anti-Beato faction, pushed us aside to surround Clara. Well, to them, losing the ceremonial figure, no matter how insignificant, would be problematic. Even so, the assassin earlier clearly targeted Beato. There’s a high chance the mastermind is among these newly gathered people…

“Hmm, the priest’s crime is extremely serious, including attempted murder against the next royal consort. He should be immediately sentenced to death.”

“Exactly, the impudent fool who desecrated the sacred ritual. As the Chief Justice, I shall take custody.”

What are these guys saying? Essentially, they’re talking about silencing this priest who is currently unconscious to prevent him from revealing anything. Alright, I’ll remember the faces of these two high officials.

“No. This priest will be in my custody!”

Gretel’s firm declaration made the plump woman claiming to be a justice frown.

“What… You don’t have the authority as either a marquess’s daughter or as a consort of the next royal consort…”

“I do!”

“On what grounds…”

“Don’t you know? Let me tell you, who defeated and captured this priest that none of you high-ranking nobles could touch? In other words, anyone who didn’t act at that moment is a suspect. No one other than Lutz and me is qualified to interrogate this woman. Any objections?”

Gretel’s sharp rebuttal was incredibly cool. I couldn’t help but fall for her again.