It Wasn’t Healing, It Was Training Magic

There are various ways to train a dog,
but commonly, treats are used.

Just like how thinking about delicious food makes your mouth water.
Once a dog tastes a treat, it can’t forget that taste and goes crazy at the sight of treats.

And it starts to devise various ways to get treats.

That’s when you can teach various things using the treat in your hand as bait.
Specific actions like sit, come here, lie down, paw, bang.

I’m not sure if the dog truly understands the actions it’s doing.
But what’s certain is that completing specific actions and commands results in a reward.

That’s why the dog willingly does as told.
To eat the reward, the treat it wants.

Why did I suddenly think of dogs?
The reason was that Morgan, with her gaze fixed on my hand, reminded me of a dog I used to have.

“It was nice to meet you today, Lady Morgan.”
“Of course, I was glad to meet Lady Baekya as well.”

Morgan exchanged greetings with Baekya,
but her gaze wasn’t directed at Baekya’s face.

Ever since discovering the necklace in my hand, she hasn’t taken her eyes off it.
An awkward sight for anyone to see.

Indeed, the curse on this necklace was severe enough to turn a person into a fool,
no, into a dog.

What’s funny is that when I shake the necklace in my hand up and down, her gaze follows.
Even when I draw circles and squares, Morgan’s head follows along, making it comical.

If she had a wagging tail, she’d be the spitting image of a dog.

“Well then, we’ll see you next time. We have some urgent matters to attend to…”

Daeho tried to leave.
The reason was that she felt we needed to deal with the curse on this necklace somehow.

In fact, not just Morgan, but other gazes from around us were gradually increasing.
Many nobles who hadn’t left the auction house were focusing on us.

More precisely, on the necklace in my hand.

“W-wait a moment! Lady, I just wanted to have a short conversation, so there’s no need to rush. I wanted to congratulate you on winning Garcia’s necklace at the auction. I think it will suit your acquaintance well.”

As Daeho started to back away,
Morgan hurriedly tried to stop her.
And spoke desperately.

“Actually, I’ve been waiting for that necklace for a long time… I was planning to wear it at the upcoming banquet, you see? So I was wondering if you could possibly give up the necklace to me? Of course, I’ll pay extra for it. Hohoho.”

Morgan asked with a blushing face.
For the prideful Morgan to make such a request,

It’s unimaginable.

She must have fallen quite hard for this necklace.
Seeing this, my mischievous side was activated.

“I don’t need money.”
“Th-then? Is there perhaps something I can give you? Young man? I’m the First Imperial Princess of this country, I can get anything you want.”
“I’m satisfied with this necklace. I like it. How about it? Does it suit me well?”

I put on the necklace ostentatiously.
And swayed it gently so Morgan could see it well.

“I-it’s pretty…”

Morgan nodded and admitted.

“Is it because I don’t usually wear necklaces? My neck feels a bit stiff… it’s heavy.”
“Then, could you give it to me…”
“But I think I’ll get used to it. It might even be good for neck exercise.”
“…”

This is what’s called teasing.
Morgan, who can’t say anything since I hold the cards, just nods positively.
Her clenched fists showed her frustration.

But, that’s all.
There was nothing the Imperial Princess Morgan could do.

Seeing that sight makes me feel like a 10-year-old indigestion has been relieved.

“Well then, I’ll see you next time. Please guide me then.”

With those words, I turned around.
If I teased the Imperial Princess Morgan any further, she might genuinely get angry and do something unpredictable.
I judged it was time to leave.

Just as we were about to part ways with Morgan,

“Excuse me, do you have a moment?”

An auction house employee blocked our way.
He bowed politely and suggested.

“Of course, if you’re busy it can’t be helped, but the seller of Garcia’s necklace wishes to meet the buyers.”
“The seller of this necklace?”
“That’s right, Lady Baekya. What do you think? Is it alright for a moment?”

Daeho asked me with her eyes.
What do you think?
I nodded at her gaze.

Besides the curse on the necklace, the original reason we came here was in hopes of discovering demons who were up to no good.
Daeho answered with a smile.

“Alright. Please guide us.”
“Thank you very much for accepting the invitation. Ah, and the seller also invited the Princess, how about it? Lady Morgan?”
“S-sure. I’m curious to see who exactly is selling such a magnificent necklace.”
“It’s an honor to have you, Princess.”

Contrary to her aloof tone, Morgan’s eyes sparkled.
Unlike her behavior, it was a signal that she wanted to be taken along too.

And so, we came to meet the seller of the necklace.

The place we were guided to was a luxurious room.
As befitting an auction house where various items change hands, the decorations carved on the furniture all looked like high-quality items made with care.

“Not bad.”

Princess Morgan sat down as if familiar with such places.
As we took the remaining seats, the door opened and a man entered.

A man with brilliant blonde hair and a bright smile.
What stood out was the teardrop mark embedded in his right eye.

He was handsome enough that even a man would recognize it.

“It’s an honor to meet the First Imperial Princess of Arcadia and the Lady of the Baekya Duchy like this.”

After greeting us politely, he sat down opposite us.
Then, looking at the necklace I was wearing, he complimented,

“Oh my, it suits you so well. Is it because your face is handsome too? I almost feel like the necklace is inadequate. Nevertheless, I’m extremely pleased that you’re using our product. The Meister Garcia will be happy that the necklace has found a good owner.”

His unctuous tone gave me an inexplicable feeling of unpleasantness.
It was nothing more or less than a pleasant compliment, but it gave a strange sense of déjà vu.

“Are you Garcia’s seller?”
“That’s right, Princess. I apologize for the late introduction, my name is Mammon.”
“So, Mammon, what business did you have in wanting to see us?”
“I can’t waste the time of such noble people. I wanted to meet you to give you a simple gift.”

At Morgan’s question, Mammon took out an elegant box.
A box with jewels embedded all over.
When he opened the box, there were three rings inside.

“Oho…”

They were as beautiful as the necklace I was wearing.
Yes, these were Garcia’s rings that the demons were distributing.

“It’s a humble gift for the Princess and the Lady, but I hope you’ll accept it. Huhuhu.”

At Mammon’s words, Morgan immediately took out a ring.
As she tried on the ring, a smile spread across her face.

“Good. Good! I like it, Mammon. To think it would be this beautiful!”
“I’m honored, Princess. Now, why don’t the remaining two try them on as well? By the way, since you two seem to be a couple, I prepared couple rings.”

At Mammon’s suggestion, I looked at Daeho.
Then I saw her trembling hand.
Daeho seemed to be conflicted about whether she should take the ring.

“They’ll suit you both very~ well.”

As this Mammon fellow rubbed his palms together while tempting us,
I realized.

Why I felt so uncomfortable.

“Heal—!”

This was similar to the feeling I get when encountering a curse.

What he was using wasn’t a curse but probably demon magic,
judging by Daeho’s reaction, it seemed he was using suggestion.

I used healing on Daeho without hesitation.

“Fire—.”

Daeho, who received the light of healing, activated magic in succession.

“Aaaaarghhhh!!!”

Mammon, suffering as his whole body burst into flames.
His skin melted like leather and his true form was revealed.

“How did you figure it out? Human?”

Purple skin with four horns.
He was a demon as I had initially suspected.
Judging by the number of horns, he seems to be a high-ranking demon, an executive of the Demon King’s Army.

“S-stop—!”
“Fire—!”
“P-please… spare me!”
“Fire—!”

Despite the demon’s pleas, Daeho didn’t stop.
Rather, she fired magic as if she had seen something filthy.

“…”

He was burned to ashes right there.

“Demons never tell the truth. So once discovered, killing them on the spot is the best option. And above all, he wasn’t the one I was looking for…”

Daeho explained with a hardened expression.
I slowly nodded.

It was a fact I knew.
In the original story, no matter how much demons were interrogated, they never told the truth.
Rather, they only spread lies and brought confusion.

As Daeho had been dealing with demons for a long time, she was an expert in this field.
Her judgment was correct.

“Now, the problem is Princess Morgan…”
“It’s so lovely! Beautiful!”

Even though someone had just burned to death right before her eyes,
she seemed oblivious, too engrossed in the ring.

Besides the curse on the ring, it seems the demon’s suggestion had a big effect.
At times like this, healing is the direct solution.

“Heal—.”

I used magic on both Morgan and the ring.
Fortunately, the ring didn’t melt or show any such phenomenon.

It seems to have just turned into an ordinary ring.
It appears only the curse disappeared.

“My ring… Oh! The necklace…!”

Although the healing was clearly complete,
her gaze immediately fixed on my necklace.
Come to think of it, I was still wearing the necklace.

“The necklace…!”

When I took off the necklace and held it in front of her,
Morgan’s eyes followed.
The dog-like Morgan from earlier had returned.

“Do you want this?”
“I-if I say yes, will you give it to me?”

Morgan turned her head coyly.
With her hand outstretched.

She must be asking for the necklace.

If I use healing magic one more time along with the necklace, Morgan will likely return to her original state.
But this pose with her hand outstretched and glancing at the necklace repeatedly.
The image of our family dog keeps coming to mind.

“Paw!”

‘Oops.’

I blurted it out without thinking.
To show such disrespect to a princess.
I would have nothing to say even if Morgan got angry right now.

However, as if entranced, Morgan placed her hand on mine.

“Paw…”

‘Huh? This actually works?’

In the underground sewers of the capital.
In a dark place where no light enters, a mass of slime gathered.

Clay gathered from various places to form a mass, creating a shape about the size of a boy.

“Phew… I thought I was going to die.”

The one who barely survived was the demon Mammon.
He had activated his unique magic ‘Narrow Escape’ just before dying.

It was magic that could be activated once a day, thanks to which he clung to his tenacious life.

“I won’t forgive them!!!”

To dare destroy the tower he had built up so carefully.
Anger rose uncontrollably throughout his body.

The Lady of the Baekya Duchy, was it?
He will never forgive her.

Mammon, determined to take revenge, decided to move locations quickly.

As the Demon King’s Army is currently carrying out operations in the capital,
if he goes to the Demon King’s Army’s hideout, he should be able to recover his wounds to some extent.

“I won’t let the Baekya Lady get away with this! Damn it…”

While painfully moving his body.

“Is it the Demon King’s Army?”

A group approached.
The ones who approached were a group of armed knights.
No, judging by their varied armaments, they looked more like a mercenary group.

They all drew their weapons and pointed them at Mammon.

“Who are you lot!”

Mammon couldn’t believe it.
Looking around, he realized he had been surrounded without noticing.

When did this happen? He hadn’t noticed at all.

But such questions didn’t last long.

“Exterminate the Demon King’s Army!”

Before his thoughts could catch up, he was hacked to pieces.

“Aaaaarghhhh!!!”

After taking down one demon like that, they moved on.

“All of this is for Zick-nim…! Down with the Demon King’s Army!”

It was a unit dedicated to just one person.