Solo Swordmaster

Episode #232. What price do you want?

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Repay the favor.

Revenge for grudges.

life for life.

It is a virtue that has been celebrated in many cultures since time immemorial.

Therefore, in the past, it was not uncommon to dedicate one’s life to a lifesaver or risk one’s life to kill one’s enemies.

However, as times have changed, virtue has become a vice, and few people risk their lives for their private favor.

…with very few exceptions.

Except for one princess who has inherited that age-old virtue for nearly a thousand years, and even compels her to repay her if necessary.

[…A life for a life?]

‘Yes.’

[So, instead of saving one person’s life, they force the other person to repay the favor by becoming a slave for a lifetime?]

‘Exactly, it’s about paying the same life price.’

[That’s it!]

Yuna-kyung was frightened.

However, not only Limon, but also Li Qingyu, who was talking with Maia, did not show any agitation.

I just asked calmly, as if to confirm.

“Wouldn’t it be okay to pay for something else?”

“Do you think it will?”

Maia was cynical.

Li Qingyu smiled bitterly.

If she could have paid for the treatment with money, treasure, or something else, Princess Green Dragon wouldn’t have been so shunned.

In that sense, seeing her more like a green dragon princess than any other green dragon princess ever, Li Qingyu murmured quietly.

“…Grace must be repaid, resentment never forgotten, and the only thing equal to life is life, right?”

“exactly.”

Maia agreed without hesitation to the proverb of the green dragon clan that had been passed down for a long time.

Then, with a pessimistic expression, he continued to speak in a low voice.

“There are many people who talk about repaying the grace of saving life, but in a world where most people forget the grace or even repay it with their enemies when the need arises.”

If you show mercy once and treat a disease for free, of course you want it for free the next time, and you curse at me for being shameless just for trying to receive treatment.

After the person who acted as if he would give away all his possessions at the critical moment of death comes back to life, he takes off his pretense.

Even after saving his life, he steals the money and runs away or tries to kill him saying he will keep his mouth shut.

It’s not because they’re evil.

It’s just human nature.

As the princess of the green dragon clan, Maia, who knew that fact well, continued with a cold sneer.

“Isn’t it natural to receive grace in advance if you don’t know when or how it will be eaten?”

That is the law of the green dragon clan.

Even the princess of the Seven Dragons cannot be an exception.

Speaking mockingly, Maia looked at her with eyes as sharp as blades.

“Above all, the author’s treatment is very expensive.”

Herman’s body is forcibly surviving by curing a disease that should have died long ago with the divine lord’s skill.

Although he looked healthy on the outside, the fact that he had a disability was proof that his illness remained intact.

He said that curing such Hermann was something he could not guarantee, and that the price of life was not balanced enough to enslave one or two ordinary people.

Maia, who spoke in a tone that was not like a doctor who treats the disease, cut it off.

“If you are a master level master, 10 years of free service if you are a lifetime level master. I have no intention of providing treatment unless I am promised at least that kind of repayment.”

“It sure is expensive.”

Li Qingyu smiled bitterly.

The masters of the Seven Dragons Association are those who are as strong as the big supply player, and at the same time, they are the head of the family or those who are in charge of major affiliates as elders.

Their free service was an enormous price comparable to acquiring a large corporation.

The same goes for the masters of the major stocks.

Depending on the training, there is of course the possibility of becoming a class master someday.

Only those who can be called geniuses by achieving sufficient achievements in seventy-two kinds and possessing the skills to lead a unit.

To make such people’s entire lives pay for treatment?

There was no such thing as profiteering.

“How are you? Do you still want to ask me for the author’s treatment?”

Maia held back a sneer.

I don’t know if it’s from another clan.

It was because he knew very well that there was no way the fallen Black Dragon Clan would pay such a price.

It was even more so for a mediocre sculptor who had nothing to do with the clan.

“Of course.”

So it was.

This is why Maia raised one eyebrow at the unexpected answer.

However, Li Qingyu, far from being embarrassed or hesitant, continued with a smile on his face.

“Don’t worry about the cost of treatment. Because Maia, you have prepared a price that will satisfy you.”

“You look pretty confident.”

“Yes, I intend to pay it back with my body.”

That moment.

Another silence descended upon the banquet hall.

Yuna-kyung, whose eyes seemed about to roll down, as well as Herman, who couldn’t close his gaping mouth.

On top of that, the musicians who forgot to even play and became frozen, and even Barbara, who blinked in a daze.

Maia opened her mouth after a moment of silence in the space where everyone except for three people had frozen at the unimaginable bombshell remark.

“…Stop the boring jokes, Li Qingyu.”

“Are you serious?”

“If you do, do you really want to be my slave? Are you the Black Dragon Princess?”

“If so, how much will you pay for my ransom?”

“…”

He said his ransom was high enough that he could do everything from paperwork to survival cooking.

Maia raised her eyebrows at the shameless answer she could not have imagined, and Yuna-kyung flicked her beak with a face as if her soul had run away from home.

“Take it easy. It would be fun to play the role of your quarrel for a few months, but I don’t have that much time left either.”

He laughed for a while as if he would have fully considered that if he had had enough time.

Li Qingyu lowered his hand to cover his mouth.

Then he looked at Maia with eyes as deep as obsidian and continued.

“So instead of being a slave, I’ll pay the price in some other way.”

“Another way…”

Maia narrowed her eyes.

Then he tapped his fingers on the table and was lost in thought.

Life is collectively referred to as life, but the way to pay for her medical bills is not just to become a slave.

The important thing is that it was a price equal to the price of life.

In fact, there were precedents where the price was paid through methods such as marriage or organ donation.

Among them, except for those that were impossible for Li Qingyu due to problems such as status or gender, there was only one way left.

“You mean Li Qingyu’s body to be used for clinical trials?”

“The late princess?”

“Did I tell you? I will pay you back with my body.”

“Black Dragon Princess…!”

Barbara was frightened.

No matter how recently the Black Dragon Clan had fallen, it was an absurd proposal for a princess of the same Seven Dragons.

However, Maia was no more agitated.

He just stared at Li Qingyu with his gloomy, sunken green eyes.

“Have you forgotten that those who volunteer as test subjects for our clan are not guaranteed their lives?”

“That’s just for normal people.”

Although there are differences depending on the experiment, the probability of survival for those who volunteer as test subjects for the green dragon clan is less than half.

But that’s just the case with the average person. If it were him, he would be able to withstand most experiments.

Li Qingyu smiled as he spoke lightly, uncharacteristic of a person willing to risk his life for an experiment.

“No matter how much Maia you are, you wouldn’t have had a chance to conduct a clinical experiment on the princess, so I think this is a good enough price. How about it?”

“…”

“Ah, please refrain from dissection. It’s like showing off your inner body with a body that hasn’t even been married yet.”

Is it shameless?

Or are you crazy

Let’s take a moment to look at Li Qingyu, who speaks outrageously with a smile on his face.

Maia nodded slowly.

“Certainly Li Qingyu, if you volunteer for a clinical trial, I think we can do a pretty interesting experiment.”

“…!”

“But I will decline that offer.”

Barbara, who had a faint look on her face after hearing the first words, barely let out a sigh of relief at Maia’s continued refusal.

Li Qingyu, on the other hand, tilted his head.

“Is my body not enough for the price?”

“The price itself is sufficient. But what we need is a test subject that doesn’t mind dying, not a jewel that needs to be carefully kept.”

Maia snorted coldly.

If something goes wrong while conducting clinical trials on Li Qingyu, he will have to make a life-and-death decision with the Black Dragon clan.

But if you’re careful not to have any problems, it’ll be closer to a health checkup than a clinical trial.

In other words, Li Qingyu’s proposal was no different from a seemingly plausible empty gangjeong.

It was truly a fraud worthy of a princess of the Black Dragon Clan.

“You don’t have to be nice to me?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Whatever you say, I have no intention of accepting your offer.”

I don’t know if it’s another princess.

He said he would refrain from being stabbed in the back for accepting such an offer against Li Qingyu.

Maia, who made an exemplary choice as a princess dealing with the Black Dragon clan, twisted her bluish-white lips and put on a strange smile.

Then, pointing to the side of Li Qingyu, he added a word.

“In return, if the author pays for the treatment, I will gladly accept it as a slave or as a test subject.”

[Hehe!]

Yuna-kyung was frightened.

He wondered if Maia was trying to use herself, the talking blue bird, as an experimental animal.

Fortunately, however, the finger was not pointing at Yuna-kyung.

It was Lee, a black-haired young man who silently watched the situation with her on his shoulder.

Of course, that was an act that would frighten Yuna-kyung in its own way.

Li Qingyu, on the other hand, was not surprised.

Of course, as if he knew it would come out like that, he smiled and opened his mouth to reject the offer.

“What are the conditions?”

Li Qingyu stiffened.

And Yuna-kyung looked back and almost broke her neck.

“What conditions do you mean?”

“The length of time I worked as a slave and the conditions when I volunteered for clinical trials.”

However, Limon, who had frozen them, did not care.

He just asked Maia politely and politely, as if knowing the conditions would determine how to pay the price.

Yes.

very politely.

Even writing respectful words.

It was shocking to Li Ching-yu and Yuna-kyung, to the point of confusion that they wondered if that was really Limon.

Conversely, Maia, who had no reason to be surprised because she did not know Limon’s identity, narrowed her eyes.

And after a short silence, he opened his mouth.

“If you’re a slave, I’ll guarantee your life if it’s a one-year clinical trial.”

“If it’s volunteering, a 10-day clinical trial is just like taking medication and taking pulses in 10 days.”

“…You mean you want to negotiate with me now?”

Maia raised her eyebrows as if it was absurd.

As her already fierce eyes became sharper, the sense of intimidation was terrifying.

But, of course, Limon didn’t budge even when he met his eyes.

He just answered with a fresh smile, making Yuna-kyung feel fear and making Li Qing-yu swallow dry saliva.

“If you don’t like it, quit.”

“…It would be nice if you could take a pulse check, take the medicine I give you, and undergo a thorough examination in parallel for a month.”

“Didn’t I tell you to quit if you don’t like it?”

“…”

As if there was no compromise.

He stared at Limon, who answered with a smile that reminded him of someone.

Maia gently closed her eyes.

Then, tapping the table with his fingers, he opened his eyes again after being lost in thought and opened his mouth in a disapproving voice.

“Can I choose between being a slave or undergoing a clinical trial?”

“I’ll give you that much.”

“I won’t say thank you.”

Maia coldly sneered at Limon, who had no reason to concede, but seemed to be willing to give her a choice out of consideration for her face.

“So what price do you want?”

To be a slave for ten days.

Become a test subject for ten days.

Either way it seems like it doesn’t matter.

Maia, who was looking at Limon who laughed shamelessly with gloomy green eyes, opened her mouth quietly.

“The price I want is…”