The method that Nigel attempted for the longest time and was the least effective in treating mana addiction was the mana addiction treatment pill called Amolio.

The main ingredient of Amolio was red sunflower seeds, which only grew in the mild southern regions all year round. Due to the red sunflower’s habit of preferring to obtain nutrients through sunlight, it secreted substances in its leaves, stems, and other organs to prevent mana from entering its interior.

Therefore, taking Amolio would stop the absorption of external mana, just like the red sunflower.

However, holy power was an exception.

Mana followed the will of its owner and remained docile unless given separate orders, but holy power acted as if it had a will of its own.

Therefore, even if the blocking path was suddenly blocked, unlike mana, holy power would break through with its deep concentration.

Noah Beselion…… It was fortunate that his mana was so docile that it didn’t run out.

‘Why in the world are you taking this? Why……!’

The glass bottle in Nigel’s grip shook violently, and the pills inside clattered as they collided.

Noah Beselion taking this pill while suffering from severe mana deficiency was no different from weighing his life day by day.

‘That…… can’t be. I must have been mistaken. I must have taken it by mistake.’

Tick, tick, clatter.

Nigel’s hand trembled so much that he eventually dropped the pill bottle, and the pills rolled on the floor.

Why?

Why did he do something that risked his life?

Why would you, who lacks nothing, do this?

His mind was dizzy. It felt like the more he tried to untangle the tangled threads, the more tangled they became.

Noah Beselion was…… taking Amolio?

No, that can’t be. Amolio must have accidentally gotten mixed in with the mana pills.

If he used mana, Leparo, Beselion would surely be healed.

Nigel struggled to move his trembling hands and took out the Leparo he had brought just in case.

“Nigel, that’s……?!”

Allen, who immediately recognized the Leparo bottle, widened his eyes like a rabbit’s.

Nigel paid no attention and approached Noah.

Noah Beselion, who was lying still like a dead person.

Only after hearing his intermittent, ragged breathing could one feel that he was alive.

Nigel parted Noah’s lips and dripped the golden liquid drop by drop between them.

Hoping for even a small change in Noah.

Hoping that his thoughts were wrong.

Nigel prayed and prayed fervently.

However……

No change occurred.

But it was…… fine.

If he used mana, it would surely be different.

Nigel’s hands quickly created a mana flame, even as they trembled.

And he carefully injected that flame into Noah’s body. Hoping and hoping that the small flame would bring about a big change.

The moment the mana flame tried to enter Noah’s body, it felt as if it was being blocked by something.

‘I must have thought wrong.’

Nigel didn’t give up and continued to inject the mana flame into Noah’s body.

Each time it was repelled, he increased its intensity and density.

But no matter how many times he injected it, the mana couldn’t pass through Noah’s body.

Still, Nigel’s hands, unable to give up, continued to ignite mana flames.

……Tap.

“Nigel, that’s enough.”

Allen, his eyes moist, grabbed Nigel. His voice was gentle, but his actions were firm.

He hated it.

He didn’t want to stop.

But he already understood in his head. That Noah Beselion had been taking Amolio.

The flame in Nigel’s hand slowly died down.

The moment he experienced once again that all his efforts had been in vain.

The dark light of this unfamiliar despair and helplessness enveloped Nigel.

“……Allen.”

A strained voice came from between his tightly bitten lips. It was a struggle to keep his emotions from coloring his words and actions.

“Sorry, but could you go rest in the lounge for a bit? I think I found a way to…… heal Noah.”

Allen showed a look of relief at Nigel’s words that followed his forcibly raised lips.

Greatly relieved, Allen failed to notice that Nigel’s breathing, which was always quiet, had become rough, and he left the room.

Click.

As soon as Allen disappeared, Nigel, who had been holding his breath, slumped to the floor.

He had pondered the original story countless times, but there was not a single instance in his memory of Noah Beselion taking Amolio, no, of Amolio even appearing in the original story.

Then, something glinting caught his eye on Noah’s right hand, which he had looked up at resentfully.

Quickly approaching and examining it, he found that it was none other than a thin silver ring. A thin ring that wasn’t noticeable from the outside.

As he slowly removed the ring, Noah’s bottomed-out mana immediately revealed itself.

His condition was so severe that it was hard to believe he had been walking around with Nigel as if nothing was wrong just yesterday.

“This is crazy……”

With this level of mana, it must have been not mana but willpower that he had endured and endured with.

The question of why he had been wearing this ring was quickly resolved, unlike with the Amolio.

This ring was meant to interfere with mana detection. In other words, it was a measure he had taken in case Allen, who was sensitive to mana, might notice his mana flow and worry.

Nigel’s face was filled with concern at the commotion within the thoroughly planned scheme.

If he had taken it without knowing, it would be over once he was told not to take it, but the fact that he had been doing it systematically for nearly two months, even wearing a mana tool, meant that he had a purpose for which he absolutely had to take the pill, even at the cost of his life.

Sighs constantly escaped Nigel’s mouth in the frustrating situation.

What on earth was the purpose for which Noah Beselion was willing to sacrifice his life, to the point of lying here so foolishly?

Out of frustration, he shook Noah’s shoulders, who was lying down, two or three times.

That’s when it happened.

Thud.

The sound of something blunt falling under the bed was heard.

Nigel reached out his hand toward the sound.

“Got it……?”

Nigel succeeded in grasping an object wrapped in soft cloth. However, the object that fit snugly in one hand strangely had a texture and weight that Nigel knew all too well.

Swoosh.

As Nigel carefully unfolded the familiar white handkerchief, a dirt-covered locket was dirtying the handkerchief and glinting haughtily on top of it.

The locket was found wrapped in Noah’s handkerchief.

“He picked it up by chance, right? He couldn’t have collapsed while looking for the locket, could he?”

Nigel uttered an absurd hypothesis.

But as if mocking his own words that it was absurd, Nigel’s mind began to find evidence to prove the hypothesis one by one.

……First, the day of the Valein at the beginning of the school year.

There was one fact that he had forgotten due to being distracted by his secret being discovered.

For the first few weeks after meeting Noah, whenever Nigel brushed against Noah, his mana would seep out.

But now, unless Nigel took off the ring and used holy power, touching Noah was fine.

And that timing…… matched Allen’s words that Noah had started taking the medication in mid-March.

Moreover, Noah, who would be startled and strongly oppose whenever Nigel occasionally mentioned treating his mana deficiency, Noah, who would speak as if swearing to keep Nigel’s secret.

Noah from various time periods continued to echo in Nigel’s mind, shouting.

The reason Noah started taking Amolio was none other than because of Nigel.

Stop.

Nigel painfully clutched his head.

The pain that made him aware of the present stopped Nigel’s thoughts.

Nothing had been revealed yet. Whether Noah had taken Amolio because of him, or whether he had collapsed while searching for Nigel’s locket.

Nigel sat down on a chair and stared intently at Noah, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully, then slowly removed the ring.

The dazzling golden light swept through the room once, and then it became quiet as if nothing had happened.

Nigel wrapped the locket back in the handkerchief, placed it in Noah’s hands, and rushed out of the room.

“Noah, is Noah okay?”

Allen, who had been sitting in a chair in the lounge, greeted Nigel with quick steps.

“Yeah. His complexion has returned. But it seems like Noah’s physical condition is not good, so he’ll need more treatment for a while.”

Nigel answered in an emotionless voice.

“T-then, it would be much more convenient to tell Noah directly and treat him……!”

“No.”

The flat tone cut off Allen’s words.

“Actually, this is a secret, but Noah has a rare disease.”

Perhaps because there were rumors that Noah had a rare disease since he rarely showed his face in social circles, Allen didn’t seem very surprised.

“As you can see from him collapsing today, Noah doesn’t seem to have much intention of treating that rare disease. So if he finds out that I’ve treated that disease, he’ll stop the treatment right away. Then Noah will be beyond saving.”

This was the best method he had found.

A selfish way to secretly and slowly restore his body without Noah noticing, while distancing himself from the truth behind why Noah had taken Amolio and the guilt that bound him.

Nigel’s violet eyes met Allen’s green eyes.

“Allen, please cooperate. So that I can secretly treat Noah.”

Those innocent eyes wavered, met his eyes straight on, and nodded.