"Adventurer Alan, is it? I hear you claim you can break the curse placed on my grandchild. What is it you want as your reward? I should warn you — those who have boasted about breaking it and failed have all received... appropriate punishment."
The white-haired old man who had entered alongside the large man with his mask removed spoke in a gentle tone.
Nothing about the actual content was gentle, though.
"One hundred million gold coins. Lump sum preferred, but installments work too. In that case, I'll seal it with oath magic."
"You brat! How dare you address the lord of this house like that! That's beyond insolent!"
The large man glared at me, looking like he could kill me with his stare alone.
But I wasn't about to back down.
"Oh, and two million gold coins upfront as a deposit — for the bit of healing I just did."
The old master answered calmly.
"...Very well. I'll hand you a magic bag with two million coins. The rest depends on results. However, you'll be wagering your life on this."
"Then if I fail, I'll leave myself in your hands."
"Prepare two million gold coins."
The large man standing slightly behind the mansion's master left the room, and after a while returned and reluctantly handed me a magic bag.
◇◇◇
Well then, shall we get started?
First, an explanation for the client.
"Your grandchild is afflicted by three powerful curses. A 'Soul-Grinding Curse,' a 'Body Growth-Stopping Curse,' and a 'Skill Acquisition Prevention Curse' — they're all entangled in a complex web."
"A composite of three curses?! Even my Appraisal couldn't detect that... It takes more mana to break a curse than to cast one, and when they're intertwined like this, even the sorcerer who placed them couldn't undo them! There's no way!"
The healer couldn't help but shout.
Oh, hey! Don't go saying things that'll make the client anxious!
But the mansion owner didn't so much as chide the man for it. Instead, he simply turned to me and asked in a quiet voice.
"Well? Can it be cured?"
"It can. My life's on the line here, after all. Just give me a moment to prepare."
With that, I retrieved from my extra-dimensional storage a staff adorned with the motif of two intertwined serpents, and held it in my right hand.
I then temporarily deactivated the tenfold gravity amplification magic cast upon myself, readying things so the next spell could be deployed at full power.
"Could that be... the Staff of Asclepius, which amplifies restorative magic? ...A lost divine artifact — why is it—"
The healer's eyes went wide.
"You certainly know your things. Better safe than sorry, so I'll be using this today. Banish the curse and return all to where they belong — 'Anti-Curse'! Miracle of life, manifest here and now — 'Resurrection'!"
From Alan's left hand poured forth the dispelling magic; from his right hand, the supreme restorative magic.
Two dazzling lights enveloped the boy, then spread to fill the entire room, forcing everyone present to involuntarily close their eyes.
"Two top-tier spells cast simultaneously... that's the realm of gods..."
The healer's whispered murmur — he was the only one there who could truly comprehend the heights of Alan's magical mastery — was swallowed up by the light.
◇◇◇
Before long, the light subsided. The boy's complexion had returned to a healthy rosy color, and his breathing had shifted from labored and painful to something far more serene.
"That should do it. He's completely cured. Just have him gradually increase his physical activity, and he'll be back to everyday life in no time."
"Verify it."
The big man issued the command to the healer.
"Yes, sir. [Appraisal]! ...Incredible — the curses have been completely removed! My lord, this is nothing short of a miracle!"
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Skills: [Reverse][Divine Eye][Sword God][Fist God][Spear God][Scorching Magic][Frozen Ice Magic][Clear Storm Magic][Stone Iron Magic][Sacred Magic][Dark Magic][Spacetime Magic][Thunder God Sword][Gentleman Thief][Ninja Master][Truth Seeker][Supernatural Frenzy][Pain Relief][Complete Status Ailment Resistance][Dark Spirit's Protection][Hyper Intuition][Heaven's Gate][Abyss Contractee][Magic Hand][Temptation][Eloquence][Strong Luck][10× Growth Speed]
Rank: Orichalcum
Thank you for reading!