A few days later, in the afternoon after lunch, Aurelia returned to the building.
As she returned, Sana and Rina greeted her while on their usual patrol.
They chatted for a while, with Sana and Rina expressing their concern about Aurelia's mother and asking a few questions about what she had been doing over the past few days at home. Aurelia reassured them about her mother's condition and answered their questions, also thanking her friends for their concern—it meant a great deal to her to know how much they cared.
After their conversation, Aurelia entered the building. As she made her way towards her room to change and put on her gear, she noticed me walking towards the library. Seeing me, she decided to greet me.
"Good afternoon, Young Master Ragnar. Are you on your way to the library?" Aurelia asked as she greeted me in the hallway.
"Yes, I'm currently walking there right now," I replied calmly.
"I see. Would it be all right if I accompanied you there?" Aurelia asked in a calm tone.
"If that's what you want, then sure. It would be nice to have someone to walk with for a moment," I replied calmly as I accepted her offer.
As we walked towards the small library room, Aurelia glanced at me, quietly observing my posture and gait. It struck her that this child did not move like a child at all but rather like an adult long accustomed to the bearing of a noble. His eyes, however, looked weary — as though he had not slept well.
Meanwhile, as we walked, my mind was elsewhere.
These past few days, whenever I trained my body and mind, my slumber each night brought healing through the authority of Sloth. It used the mana within me to regenerate my body, gradually making it stronger — though the process came with relentless pain as it repaired and reinforced itself. Yet, as its name suggests, the authority of Sloth also urged me towards rest, making me crave sleep more and more. Fortunately, I could resist its effects by strengthening my mind, but this body's mental endurance was still that of a child. As a result, I slept far longer than I should have — so much so that Yukino had to wake me. Had she not, I might have slept until the afternoon. These thoughts lingered in my mind as I walked beside Aurelia.
As soon as we reached the library, I waved goodbye to Aurelia, since she had only accompanied me that far. I noticed a book that caught my interest and went to move the ladder leaning against the shelves to reach it. But before I could, Aurelia — who was supposed to have already left — took the book down herself. I looked at her as she turned and held the book out to me.
"Young Master, is this the book you wanted?" Aurelia asked kindly as she crouched down to hand me the book.
"Yes, it is. Thank you," I said calmly, taking the book from her hand.
I glanced at the book's title — The Beginner's Guide to Potion Making.
If I could improve the growth and healing of my body and mind more rapidly with Sloth's influence, without experiencing prolonged pain, then learning to craft potions from the herbs and plants of this world may be essential. With that knowledge, I could recover and strengthen myself without worrying as much about the consequences of training.
"It's my pleasure. I'll get going now," Aurelia said calmly, giving me a polite nod before turning to leave the library. She headed back to her room to change into her uniform and gear for her patrol.
Once Aurelia left, I sat down with the book and placed it on the table before me. Flipping it open to the first page, I began to read carefully. As my eyes moved across each line, I analysed the contents and absorbed the information into my mind. The fundamentals of potion making described in the book were familiar, much like what I had already known in my previous life. The only difference lay in the plants and herbs unique to this world. As I continued reading, I gradually learnt how to utilise these ingredients for proper potion crafting. Time passed quickly, and by the time I neared the final chapters, the sunlight streaming through the window had grown thin and golden—the sign that the sun was about to set.
After finishing the book, I stood from my seat, moved the ladder, and climbed up to return it to its original place on the shelf. As I descended, I noticed Rina standing at the library entrance. Seeing her, I walked over, and together we made our way to the dining room. When we arrived, everyone was already there—the maids and Yukino were setting the table, arranging dishes and cutlery, while the others were already seated. As I approached my usual place, Yukino, who was standing nearby, gently lifted me onto my chair. Although I had grown used to it by now, it still felt somewhat strange to be picked up and placed into my own seat like that.
Once the maids had finished setting the table and taken their seats, we began our meal. It was delicious—truly. I had to admit, my mother's cooking had improved quite a lot; the mini apple pies she made were far better than the last time I'd tasted them. This time, I could proudly say they were genuinely delicious, as I found myself eating them as though they were the last treats left in the world, finishing them rather quickly.
After we finished our meal, everyone went their separate ways, though I could tell my mother was the happiest of us all. I understood her reaction—today, everyone who tasted her apple pies was surprised by their flavour and texture, each one expressing how delicious they were. If I were the one cooking and people praised my food like that, I'd probably hold my head high with pride too. After all, it feels good when your hard work is truly acknowledged.
Aurelia escorted me to my room. We walked in silence for a while until she was the one who finally broke the silence.
"Young master, how have you been?" Aurelia asked calmly as we walked.
"It's been good. However, the days you were gone were rather dull—I missed seeing you patrolling around," I replied, trying to sound like a child making conversation. "By the way, how are you, Aurelia? Did something happen to your mother? I heard from Sana that she was ill, but I don't know what kind of illness it was."
Hearing my response, Aurelia was taken aback that I said I missed seeing her. However, when I mentioned her mother, she was even more surprised that Sana had spoken to me about it, though not in detail; the single word "ill" was enough to reveal her mother's condition.
Aurelia wanted to deflect the question, to say something that would keep me from worrying. But when she met my gaze—steady, patient, and quietly expectant—she hesitated. For reasons she couldn't quite explain, the resolve to hide the truth faltered, and instead, she found herself wanting to confess everything.
"My mother was diagnosed with Aura Degeneration…" Aurelia admitted softly, her voice unsteady. She wasn't even sure why she had said it—perhaps it was the calm, earnest look in my eyes.
"Aura Degeneration? What is that?" I asked curiously, for I had never heard such a term before—not in this life, nor in my original life. Yet, from the name alone, I suspected it referred to a certain symptom I already knew of.
Aurelia began explaining Aura Degeneration to me in detail, answering my curiosity about what it truly was and how it affected a person. At first, as I listened, I hoped her explanation would clear away the suspicion I had about the symptom I was thinking of. But the more I listened, the clearer it became that my suspicion was not misplaced—if anything, her explanation only confirmed it.
"It is also, at present, an incurable illness…" Aurelia said weakly as she finished her explanation.
"There's no cure for it?" I asked in shock, finding it hard to believe that the illness I suspected could be incurable in this world.
"Yes… all the best doctors in the world have tried to find a cure, but none exists…" Aurelia replied weakly, answering my question.
"Thank you for telling me this. It must have been hard," I said calmly. It isn't easy for someone to speak about an illness deemed incurable—especially when it afflicts someone they love.
After we reached my room, Aurelia took her leave, having fulfilled her duty.
I began to think about several things, one of them being the term Aura Degeneration. From what Aurelia had told me, it was an illness that only affected Aura users. However, in my original life, this condition was known as Awakeners' Degeneration. It occurred only in those who possessed inner energies such as mana, aura, or other forms of power. Each energy type had its own cause of degeneration within the wielder's body, but Aura-related cases often stemmed from one major factor: overexertion.
I could only assume that Aurelia's mother had once wielded Aura and must have pushed her limits too far, triggering the condition. It was a common ailment among Awakeners, as many tended to overuse their strength and internal energy.
What truly baffled me, though, was that there appeared to be no cure for it in this world. How could such a common affliction be considered incurable here? Could it be that the illness known as Aura Degeneration was something similar, yet fundamentally different? I would need to see Aurelia's mother firsthand to know for certain.
I did not dwell on it for long, knowing there was nothing I could do at the moment. Instead, I continued with my usual nightly routine—Yukino helping me wash up, as always, fearing I might somehow drown in the bathtub, then helping me dress afterwards. Once she left, I began my usual mana cultivation, completely naked, before washing up again and putting my clothes back on.
As I slept, the Sloth authority began its work, regenerating my body and gradually strengthening it. The process, however, was never painless—my muscles tightened around my bones, and every fibre of my body throbbed with the ache of rebuilding itself throughout the night.
The next day, during the afternoon, I was in the dining room having lunch with everyone—except Aurelia, who had been called away earlier that morning after breakfast. The meal went on as usual until, all of a sudden, Aurelia came rushing into the dining room. She looked exhausted, her face pale and filled with worry. Panting heavily, she turned to my mother and bowed slightly before speaking, her voice trembling as she requested permission to leave—she had received a letter concerning her mother's health, and it seemed to be something serious.
Hearing Aurelia's request and the reason behind it, my mother immediately replied, "Alright," her tone urgent and understanding. She knew all too well what that illness meant—and perhaps feared that this might be one of the last chances Aurelia would have to see her mother alive. Everyone in the room, aside from the maids, also understood the gravity of the situation. A quiet, uneasy silence filled the air as they bowed their heads in sympathy and prayer—until I slowly raised my hand.
"Let me come too. I want to see Aurelia's mother," I said in an innocent tone befitting a child. I spoke that way deliberately, so they would think I only wished to visit out of simple curiosity or concern. But my true purpose was different—I needed to see the illness for myself. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was something I could do to help.
My mother looked as though she wanted to deny my request, but Aurelia, who noticed the determined look in my eyes despite my innocent tone, spoke up first. "Alright, young master," she said calmly, assuming I truly wished to visit her mother out of concern. Seeing that Aurelia had accepted my request, my mother sighed softly and relented, giving her permission for me to accompany Aurelia.
Aurelia carried me as we left, holding me as though I were a fragile, ailing child in need of urgent care. Knowing her situation and the worry weighing on her, I chose not to comment and simply let her be. When we reached the main gate, the Destenebres guards hesitated. They knew of my existence and the strict rule that I was not to leave the estate's grounds. Aurelia, however, quickly assured them that I only wished to visit her mother and that we would return shortly. She even added that if we did not come back, they could punish her accordingly. After a brief but tense moment, the guards reluctantly opened the gate, allowing her to carry me out towards the nearby town beyond the Destenebres Estate.
We soon arrived at an old, weathered building that stood quietly before us. Aurelia carried me to the door and gently set me down, allowing my feet to touch the ground. Without hesitation, she knocked urgently, her voice trembling with worry as she called out, "It's me! Please open the door—please!"
Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing what seemed to be a caretaker. She appeared young, with brown hair tied into a rope-like braid and soft brown eyes touched with a faint orange hue. Dressed in the modest garb of a commoner, she gave Aurelia a strained, worried smile before stepping aside and motioning for her to come in.
Aurelia rushed inside while I walked in calmly. The interior looked quite clean, though it is an old building, its inside was clean. It looks like the caretaker must have done well. I glance at the frail-looking woman on the bed, with Aurelia grabbing the woman's hand in worry.
"MOTHER, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?! PLEASE, MOTHER, SAY SOMETHING!" Aurelia cried out in panic, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes. She rushed to her mother's side, her expression twisted with fear and desperation at the sight before her.
"I am alri... cough, cough... right," her mother said weakly, forcing a fragile smile as she looked at Aurelia, her voice barely above a whisper.
The caretaker brought a cup of water to Aurelia, who carefully helped her mother drink it, tilting the cup with trembling hands so not a drop would spill. The caretaker then stepped back, stopping beside me as we both quietly watched the scene unfold.
"May I ask who you are?" I asked softly, turning my gaze towards the caretaker standing beside me.
"I am Nimmy, caretaker of Miss Lourel. And I'm also happily married," she said with a gentle smile, subtly raising her hand to show the ring on her finger—something I had already noticed when I walked in. "May I ask who you are?"
"I am Ragnar, the younger brother of Aurelia's co-worker, Rina," I said calmly. I wanted to give my full name but decided against it—if my true identity were known, my father might step in and try to have me killed. So, using Rina's constant teasing about being my 'big sister' as an excuse, I borrowed her name for cover. "Could you tell me when Miss Lourel first fell ill? And… if it isn't too much, I'd also like to know about their family's situation. I'm genuinely curious—and worried for Aurelia's circumstances as well."
Nimmy hesitated for a moment, clearly intending to offer a half-truth, but when she met my gaze, her resolve faltered. For reasons even she couldn't explain, she found herself speaking honestly. She told me everything she knew—how Aurelia's mother first fell ill, how Aurelia's father had died in service as a knight, and how Nimmy herself was later employed through the life savings he had left behind to care for Miss Lourel and assist Aurelia. She went on to explain how long it had been since Miss Lourel's health began to decline and described the current state of her worsening condition in quiet, pained detail.
Hearing Nimmy's explanation, I walked toward Aurelia's mother. As I approached, she turned her head slightly and noticed me. Despite her weakness, she managed a faint, gentle smile in acknowledgement of my presence
"Who do we have here? A child?" Aurelia's mother said weakly with a teasing smile before turning her gaze to her daughter. "Aurelia, don't tell me you've gone and found yourself a husband and had a child without telling me?"
Her tone was playful, clearly trying to lighten the mood, though Aurelia—still trembling with worry—didn't quite share the humour.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am. I am Ragnar; it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance," I said calmly, greeting her with the poise and manner of a noble.
"Ooh, what a polite young boy. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm sorry I can't offer you anything... cough, cough... Are you here to see me? If so, thank you kindly for your visit," she said with a gentle smile, her eyes soft with warmth as though she were looking at a sweet, kind-hearted child.
As she spoke to me, I quietly observed her condition, maintaining a calm expression. Gently, I placed my small hand over hers, beside Aurelia's. The moment I touched her, I could feel it—the aura within her body was raging, clashing against her own life force as though it were something foreign invading her.
So my suspicion was right. This truly was Awakeners' Degeneration.
The term might differ in this world, but the essence was the same. As I focused, I began piecing things together in my mind. It wasn't that the illness itself was unique—it was that the herbs and plants here were different from those in my world. Yet, if the underlying cause was the same, then a cure should be possible. I recalled the herbs and ingredients mentioned in the botany book I had read, and cross-referenced them in my memory with the potion-making techniques I'd learned recently. It could be done.
Then another thought came to me—technology. That must be it. The reason no one in this world could cure it wasn't because it was impossible, but because their level of medical alchemy hadn't reached the point where such a cure could be created.
In my world, the cure had been discovered by a single man—a brilliant, eccentric genius. I couldn't help but wonder how he was doing now, probably still lost in his obsessions, tinkering away at whatever new creation caught his fancy… perhaps even continuing to build his so-called artificial intelligence "robot harem," as he proudly called it.
Wouldn't surprise me. That was exactly the kind of man he was.
As those thoughts drifted through my mind, I looked down once more at Lourel, Aurelia's mother, her weak smile still faintly lingering despite the illness consuming her.
"Ma'am, do you wish to be cured of this illness?" I asked calmly, my eyes meeting Aurelia's mother's with a steady, almost unreadable gaze.
"Young man, this illn—" Lourel began softly, her gentle smile carrying the weight of acceptance, as though she had long resigned herself to her fate and wished to tell me her illness could not be cured. But before she could finish, I interrupted her.
"It can be cured. Why would I say this? Because I know the way to cure it. So, do you wish to be cured of this illness?" I said calmly, my expression unwavering. The dark circles under my eyes only deepened the impression of my seriousness, making it clear that I was absolutely dead set on what I was saying.
Everyone who heard my words initially thought I was joking, but the look on my face told a different story. My expression was so grave and unwavering that it left no room for doubt. Aurelia, who had long abandoned any hope of seeing her mother cured, stared at me with wide eyes, tears welling up as a faint spark of hope flickered back into her heart.