[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 175: Too Late for Redemption

The moment the orcs’ jagged teeth inched closer to the panicked servant’s throat, Xion knew he was too late.

Even as his mana blast tore through the beast, sending chunks of flesh and bone scattering into the mud, the damage was already done.

A sickening gurgle escaped Joy’s throat as blood spilled from his neck, pooling beneath him. His fingers twitched once ... then went still.

Those lifeless eyes stared right at him as if silently accusing him.

Xion staggered from the sheer pressure weighing on his chest.

If only I had acted faster... If only...

But there was no medicine for regret, especially not for regret.

He needed to get away. Not to his lab — no, not really. He just needed to escape, even if only for a moment.

The archduke’s presence was suffocating.

So, when they set up camp at the valley’s edge, Xion took his chance to slip away.

Under normal circumstances, slipping away alone was near impossible.

But when the Archduke became engrossed in discussions with Ray and the others, Xion knew this was his moment.

Still, he wasn’t reckless enough to wander off alone. So, when he asked the soldiers stationed under Ray if they could accompany him, they readily agreed.

"Of course, Lord Xion. Just tell us how many you need."

Xion glanced at the tall man, Mike who addressed him with respect.

They used to call him Young Master. When had that changed? When had the simple title shifted into something as distant as Lord?

Xion smiled just the way he would to his patients, "Just two will do."

But the soldiers, secretly warned by their captain to both protect and watch over him, wouldn’t dare comply so easily.

Was that not just asking for a beating from their captain?

Sir Knight Captain was ruthless. Every recruit knew that well.

So, in the end, Xion ended up with four soldiers and one servant.

"My name is Joy, my lord," the servant had introduced himself with a polite bow. His fluffy, curly hair fell over his forehead with his actions.

Joy was no more than twenty, or perhaps it was just the way his face looked. Age in this world was a very hard thing to guess if one based it on someone’s face.

Xion used the excuse of gathering some herbs. Before leaving he left a handwritten note for the archduke stating that he would return in at most two or three hours.

This would prevent them from directly following him.

Fully prepared, Xion handed the soldiers a list, ensuring they could recognize the herbs before setting out.

Even as they stayed close, they still needed to search separately to be efficient.

"We need to find them quickly and return. How about we spread out? We’ll stay within earshot, so no one will miss a call for help."

Joy looked at the afternoon sun which would soon settle down. They indeed need to hurry back.

He was the first to agree, prompting the others to follow suit.

As they searched the forest, Xion slipped away.

Finally back in his lab, he directly slumped on his chair. With one motion he tossed his ring and Darius’ green pendant on the table.

The two artifacts hit the wooden board with a sharp clink before tangling together like an ill-fated omen.

"Alright... let’s start." He forced himself to focus, to shove aside the emotions clawing at his mind.

He had been draining His Grace’s mana constantly. It had visibly weakened the archduke, yet Darius never stopped him.

Although he was doing it with good intentions, it was still too much that Darius did not even question him. Not even once.

"If you trust me this much ... just how much did you trust that Ethen?"

Ray had told him about some Ethen guy, his Grace’s friend before he betrayed Darius.

Xion did not know the details. But somehow, the mere thought softened something in his heart.

The same heart that trembled at those legal documents declaring him as His Grace’s

Shaking off the intrusive thoughts, he flipped open the mana book. Its worn pages felt familiar under his fingertips.

Then, he began experimenting with the cluster of different manas, blending the old instructions with his own knowledge to test their limit.

However, this time he made sure to set an alarm for him.

He would return, check in with the soldiers, then slip away again.

The last time he returned, no one even noticed his absence. That gave him confidence. If a few minutes went unnoticed, then surely, fifteen wouldn’t raise suspicion either.

This time, he was wrong. By the time he returned, he walked straight into Joy’s death.

If only he were one minute, or even one second earlier that might have saved Joy.

His gaze remained fixed on the bloodied corpse, unable to look away.

A smaller orc, no bigger than a child, leaped onto the corpse. Tearing into the still-warm flesh, it gnawed hungrily, splattering blood and bits all over the ground.

Xion swallowed the bile rising in his throat. Don’t be a coward, Xion. Not now. Get up and fight!

The group of six was now five. And if someone hadn’t shoved him aside in time, that number would have dropped again.

"Lord Xion! Run!"

A soldier’s voice cut through the chaos just before he rushed forward to meet the attacking orc.

The impact of the fall jarred Xion’s skull. The sharp pain thrummed in his forehead, nonetheless, it snapped him back to his senses.

He leaped forward, shaping his mana into twin knives before launching them at the nearest beast.

One more orc fell.

The blood trickled down from Xion’s forehead, trailing down to his eyes. His half vision turned crimson.

If one looked at him, they might think that Xion was crying tears of blood. Or perhaps he really was.

His gaze flickered around. The soldiers were fighting off with two or even three orcs while he was standing at the center.

They all were protecting him. Even when Joy died in such a gruesome way, none of them thought of running away.

They could have saved themselves easily if not for him.

[Host, you are experiencing heightened stimulation due to the gruesome sight. You should retreat to the lab. I’ll alert you once the situation is under control.]

At any other time, this childish voice might have tried to tempt Xion into buying more potions or weapons.

But now, even the merit system was cautious. Its voice was filled with a hint of obvious worry.

Xion took a deep breath, forcing his erratic heart to steady.

’No. We will fight. And we will win.’