It Wasn’t Healing, It Was Training Magic

To understand Akasha’s fanatical belief,
first, it was necessary to understand its background.

As I remember, beastkin have their own gods they believe in, separate from humans, like indigenous beliefs.
Because of this, in the past, conflicts arose with humans who worship a monotheistic god.

A religious war that escalated into an inter-species war.

The beastkin, maintaining their nations in tribal forms, had no choice but to suffer helplessly.
Afterwards, beastkin were captured as slaves and suffered near-extinction level damage.

Because of this, even in the original story, information about beastkin gods is not well-documented.
Of course, I, as a reader, don’t know either.

“What kind of being is God? Can you explain?”

So I decided to ask Akasha directly.

Her firm belief that wouldn’t be swayed by ordinary explanations.
Even if I say I’m just human, she believes it’s an incarnation.

A special measure was needed.
She might understand if I persuade her by comparing the characteristics of the god she knows with myself.

“Of course!”

Akasha smiled brightly at my request.
Her tail wagged left and right as if she looked like a god.

“God is male!”
“…Is that so?”

In this gender-reversed world, even the monotheistic god of the church was a goddess.
The saints and angels appearing in the scriptures were all female.
But a male god?

That’s strange.

“And He can perform miracles! Like how my body was healed.”
“What else?”
“God, as a higher dimensional being, enters and lives in a body of this world!”

Could she possibly mean possession?!
That thought crossed my mind.
No, it must be a coincidence.

I shook my head left and right.
With a quick denial, I asked about other characteristics.

“Is there… anything else?”
“And the name of that incarnated body has repeating characters in it?”
“Ah, shit, is it really me?”

Zick Barbar.
That’s my current name after possession.

It could be a coincidence, but Akasha’s firm belief.
And the fact that all characteristics seem to describe me so similarly that it’s believable, constrains me.
I couldn’t easily deny it.

On the contrary, I was being convinced.
At this rate, it seemed impossible to persuade Akasha.

“Lastly… um, He has the power to bring anyone under His rule and make them strong?”
“That’s… yeah, that’s it! Akasha, unfortunately, I don’t have such abilities. It seems I’m not the kind of god-like being you believe in. Hahaha! Phew.”

Perhaps thanks to not giving up until the end.
I found one point that differed from me.

Listening to the following explanation, that power is,

Perfectly healing the body.

Giving magical talents like disasters.

And can give power to split the heavens and earth.

Can I create such superhumans?
That’s impossible.

The innate magic I possess is healing magic.
Not magic that can dominate someone or make them stronger.

“But you’re taking care of Akasha like this, aren’t you?”
“Isn’t that different from this?”
“You also made me stronger when fighting the robbers earlier!”
“That was the power you originally had, Akasha.”

I somewhat expected it, but
Akasha seems to be firmly mistaken.
It must be her own power, but she thinks it’s my help.

“Then, will God… abandon Akasha?”
“That’s not…”
“Sniff… whine”
“…Not the case.”

Akasha’s eyes become moist.
Trembling pupils and a drooping tail.
Her whimpering appearance looked like a puppy afraid of being abandoned at any moment.

“No, no! I won’t abandon you. It’s just that I’m not the God you believe in.”
“Whine…”
“I definitely won’t abandon you, but in return, just keep one thing. Can you do that?”
“Sniff… yes.”

After persuading her earnestly, the sobbing stopped.

“Call me Zick, not God.”
“How dare I call God’s name? It’s a sacred name.”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about that and just call me.”
“Hah. I understand! Z-Zick-nim!”

Perhaps due to nervousness, Akasha bit her tongue once and shyly called my name.
She seemed to hesitate, but after calling my name, she looked secretly pleased.

Although I couldn’t resolve the misunderstanding about being a god,
for now, just calling me by name should be fine.
At least we won’t be caught here in Marleon.

That’s a relief.

“There’s one thing I’m curious about, was it okay for the thorn tattoo on your neck to disappear?”

It was a question I had wanted to ask continuously.
The thorn tattoo was described as her symbol even in the original novel.
As such, I thought it had an important meaning, so I wanted to ask to confirm.

“Yes! Actually, that thorn tattoo was like a curse. Should I say it was a curse?”
“A curse?”
“It’s a curse that the humans placed on us beastkin, a curse that makes us go mad like beasts. A damn curse that makes our bodies more painful the more we resist it. The reason my body was so severely ill was all because of that curse.”

Akasha’s expression turned cold as she continued her explanation.
It was anger that she couldn’t hold back.
I could see how intense her anger towards humans was.

“Go… no, Zick-nim! Please save the people of our tribe! They’re all suffering, bound by the curse.”

Akasha looked ready to depart immediately.
However, I couldn’t agree.
The village where the beastkin live is in a secluded place far from Marleon.

It wasn’t a distance we could easily travel to and return.
Given that I came here to take the healer’s exam,
it would be best to achieve that goal first and then go afterwards.

“Is that so…”

Akasha drooped her tail and looked gloomy at my answer.

“If that’s Zick-nim’s will…”

Seeing her like that, I smiled and said.

“Still, if Akasha behaves well and stays quiet, I’ll make sure we leave right after the exam.”
“Re… really?!”
“Of course.”
“Yay!!!”

Akasha’s expression, which had looked utterly sad, changed instantly into a broad smile.

“Yes!! I’ll behave well from now on! And I’ll definitely offer half of my food to Zick-nim!”
“No, no, you don’t have to do that.”

After all, all the food going into Akasha’s mouth is being paid for with my money.
I stroked Akasha.

“Just behave well and stay quiet, okay?”

I said this hoping she would follow my words even a little.
Although she seems obedient now,
given that she was called ‘the one with a head full of blood’, who knows what she might do.

And even if Akasha hadn’t asked, I was planning to go now that I knew about it.
I hear there are about 200 or more beastkin there.
Doesn’t that mean I can use magic to my heart’s content?

Not just 1 spell a day, but 200?
I absolutely couldn’t resist that.

After their deep conversation, Zick and Akasha decided to go to sleep.

Zick, who had originally planned to go register for the exam today, decided to postpone his schedule.
It was already late at night and the church doors were closed, and there was still time until the exam started, so it wasn’t a big problem.

“Where… where should I sleep? Go… Zick-nim.”

Akasha asked, fiddling with her tail.
Her slightly averted gaze looked uneasy.

“Here, sleep here.”

To that question, Zick pointed to the other bed as if it were obvious.
This was a double room with two beds.
He had chosen this room with that in mind.

“Is that okay? I’m a woman?”
“But you’re just a kid.”

This is a gender-reversed world.
A single man absolutely does not allow a woman in his bedroom carelessly.
This was like an unwritten rule of this world.

Zick, who vaguely anticipated this fact, didn’t care much.
Even though he had absorbed Zick’s memories, they were mixed with his original world’s memories, so he didn’t take it seriously.

And in Zick’s eyes, Akasha was a young girl.
A little one only half his height.

That’s why he lowered his guard even more.

“I’m actually quite old, you know?”
“Really?”
“Yes! Very, very much so! I’m an adult.”
“How old are you then?”

Zick laughed as if it was ridiculous.

“I’m 40 years old.”
“Come on…”

Feeling Zick’s doubting gaze, Akasha clenched her fists.

“Beastkin grow slowly!”

And then Akasha earnestly tried to persuade him that she was a fully grown adult woman, and Zick was a man.
She said she would sleep in another room, even outside if necessary.

However, Zick stopped Akasha.
It was already late at night,
and Zick was starting to feel sleepy and wanted to go to bed right away.

“Then I’m turning off the light.”

Zick turned off the lamp and closed his eyes.
He fell asleep quickly.

It seems he was tired after having frequent incidents as soon as he arrived in Marleon.

“Hah…”

But Akasha couldn’t fall asleep.
As she had earnestly asserted, she is an adult woman.
A woman in her prime who knows everything and is faithful to her sexual desires!

To allow someone like her to sleep in the same room.
Isn’t this a green light?

Her thoughts became complicated and she couldn’t sleep.

Akasha carefully moved her feet.
She slowly moved to Zick’s side without making a sound.

“Zick-nim…”

She just looked at him for a long time.

‘He’s handsome!’

Although she’s a beastkin, Akasha had never seen such a handsome man in her life.
She thought it was natural because he was God,
but being at a distance where she could reach out and touch him under the moonlight stirred various impulses.

“Hah…”

For a moment, impure thoughts filled her mind, but Zick is God.
Thinking such thoughts seemed like blasphemy towards Zick, so she was restraining herself.

“Sniff sniff—”

A sweet scent tickles her nose.
The soap scent of someone who just washed.
It makes her mouth water.

They say good-looking food tastes good too.
She feels dizzy.

‘It should be okay to sleep next to him, right?’

Akasha, with clouded judgment, lay down next to Zick.

“Mmm…? Akasha? Why?”

Zick, recognizing Akasha in his sleep, mumbled.

Thump thump—

Because of this, Akasha’s heart beat rapidly.
It was a feeling of guilt as if she was doing something forbidden that she shouldn’t.

“I’m scared to sleep alone…”
“O-okay? Mmm.”

Akasha quickly thought of an excuse.
Fortunately, Zick accepted it and went back to sleep, but
she felt embarrassed.

Didn’t she just say she wasn’t a child?
Yet she hid behind a childish excuse.

Sniff sniff—

But she smiles contentedly at Zick’s strong scent.

“Haa… haah…”

That night.
Only Akasha knew what she did throughout the night.

“It feels so good… Zick-nim…♥︎!”
*

Early the next morning.
Leaving Akasha at the inn, I headed to the church.
It was for the original purpose of coming here, to become an official healer.
“May I ask what brings you here…?”
Perhaps because I’m a man.
The expression was doubtful.
Indeed, looking around, I was the only man.
“I came to register for the exam.”
“Could it be, the healer’s exam?”
“Yes.”
Nevertheless, fortunately, I was able to receive guidance from the guide.
Anyone can take the test as long as they pay the fee.
“I apologize. I’ll guide you.”
The guide apologized and continued to explain kindly.
“Please fill in your personal information, including your name, here.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“And this is my address.”
Two pieces of paper handed to me.
I received an application form for registration and an unknown note.
When I looked at the guide with a puzzled expression,
“Hehe.”
I received a wink and she whispered something with her lips.
—As an apology, please drop by when you have time.
I returned a sheepish smile and turned my gaze away.
As I continued with the registration, a voice was heard from beside me.
“Oh! Welcome!”
It was the guide’s voice, highly excited.
And at the following words, I had to turn my head.
“To think that the young lady of the White Night Duke’s family would visit! May I ask what brings you here…?”
And for good reason, the White Night Duke’s family.
That was the family my favorite character belonged to.