The Greatest Warrior of All Time Returns-Chapter 373

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Chapter 373

According to Isna, Garlan—who betrayed the Watchers, triggered internal conflict, and then seized control—was a rather meticulous and calculating man.

Well, considering everything he had been through, there’s no way he would have done all this without a plan.

Whether Isna eventually executed him or he got smashed to bits fighting me, he must have realized that ordinary methods wouldn’t work.

The most dangerous aspect of that man is the knowledge he possesses of the Closed World.

Isna knows more about that than I do, of course.

But even she can't easily guess what exactly Garlan is aiming for now.

“There might still be people alive.”

Rebecca, who had been running around tirelessly ever since that day, came to find me and said so.

“People alive?”

“Yes. Back then, when Garlan betrayed everyone, I thought all our fellow Watchers had died. But… a few bodies were missing. They must have faked their deaths and hidden themselves.”

There was rare excitement in her eyes.

“And so?”

“Rebecca, that’s enough. I’ll explain.”

“Leader…”

“Don’t call me that anymore. The Watchers are finished. Just call me Isna.”

“Yes… Lady Isna.”

As if having made up her mind, Isna looked at me.

“Leon. I’m going to gather the ones who are still alive. I don’t need anything else, but just lend me a few of your flying undead—the wyvern-type ones.”

“That’s no problem.”

Since I already agreed to help, lending a few spirits was nothing.

I pulled out several undead wyverns I had stored in the shadows, and even Dagon slipped into hers as well.

“Is this enough?”

“Dagon… Fine. Anyway, thanks.”

“Are you leaving immediately?”

“I have to. Considering Garlan’s nature, if he finds any survivors, he won’t keep them alive.”

There was determination in her voice—she meant to secure them before he could.

“Anything else I can help with?”

“No. Just live as usual.”

With that, Isna left Cascadia with Rebecca.

Melissa watched her departing figure with a complicated expression.

“What’s with that face? You already look ugly, but now you really look like a spiky pufferfish.”

“I’m just stunned. Who would’ve thought the leader of the continent’s most notorious criminal organization—the Moon’s Watchers—was… Lady Isna of Miellephon?”

Isna was normally a very cat-like person.

Whimsical, unpredictable, impossible to guess what she would do next.

But when she acted as the leader of the Watchers, she was serious, with no hint of mischief.

“Which one do you think is the real her?”

The mischievous girl who did whatever she wanted?

Or the composed figure from moments ago?

To Melissa’s question, Luna answered plainly:

“Both aren't fake.”

“…So both are her real self.”

Melissa seemed quite shaken as she processed the truth about Isna—

Her role as the leader of the Watchers…

And the Closed World she had experienced.

Of course, when she also learned that I had been the “traitor of humanity” in that world…

She said:

I knew it. You Adelie-penguin-like psychopath bastard.

She says things like that, yet she tries—awkwardly—to hide the fact she’s worried about me.

“I’m going back to the Academy. I’m really busy preparing for graduation.”

Melissa, who had re-enrolled at the Academy, was already close to graduating.

Her skills were outstanding, so she was graduating faster than normal.

At the Imperial Academy, there were currently two students slated for early graduation.

One was Melissa.

The other was Ashuria Abelgard.

The genius mage Ashuria was apparently devouring credits like a crazed person to finish as fast as possible.

“Melissa.”

“Hm?”

“How’s Ashuria doing?”

Just in case, I asked.

She shook her head vigorously.

“She’s basically a grade-devouring monster now. Don’t forget—you’re the one who promised to teach her magic after she graduates. And don’t forget she used to be totally ignorant of basic common sense.”

Even though she’s learned a lot at the Academy, she’s still pretty much a blank slate underneath. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Well… having a disciple isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

That was all I needed to hear.

“Oh, right! Leon!”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t you dare touch the documents stacked in my office. They’re important, so absolutely do NOT touch them, okay?”

Important documents?

At this time?

Smells extremely suspicious.

She pointed her index finger straight at me, shouted it again, and disappeared.

Luna and I exchanged a glance.

Then we both glanced at Arsha, who was reading a picture book to Grivy.

“She’s definitely hiding something.”

“There is absolutely something.”

“Big sis is definitely trying to hide something.”

Then we have to check.

With a wicked smile, I left my room and marched toward Melissa’s office.

To my surprise, two maids were standing guard at the entrance with stiff faces.

“Ah! Young master!”

“Why are you guarding here?”

“B-because the head of the house ordered us not to let anyone inside…”

To think she’d go this far?

My curiosity only flared hotter.

For me, things like this—these very human, petty secrets—are more than simple fun.

They’re gigantic dopamine hits.

“Open the door! Now!”

“Y-you can’t! Even if it’s you—young master…”

The maids trembled as they tried to stop me, but my will was firm.

“I’ll give you a week off! No consequences whatsoever!”

“B-but this is the head of house’s direct order…”

Seeing them desperately try to stop me only made me more curious.

So I nodded.

Melissa is the head of Cascadia.

Her orders take precedence in this house.

I respect that.

But I cannot ignore my curiosity.

Back in my room, Luna, Arsha, and I put our heads together.

“I have to get in there somehow.”

“M-me too… I’m curious…”

“Bribery?”

Unfortunately, the servants here loved Melissa far too much.

“Bribery won’t work, big sis.”

Arsha shook her head emphatically.

“The maids and attendants all adore her.”

“The best approach is stealth. There are lots of ways to sneak in silently.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Sure.

There’s no way the servants could block every window.

But that option didn’t appeal to me.

“That ruins the fun.”

“That’s true.”

“U-umm… that’s how this works, big brother?”

“Arsha. We’re not trying to torment Melissa. We’re just trying to break through fair and square.”

Like pre-scripted wrestling.

If we manage to enter Melissa’s office despite her defenses, we win.

If the servants stop us, Melissa wins.

So all we need is to offer something so desirable that the servants have no choice but to let us pass.

“Okay, everyone propose an idea.”

Luna raised her hand.

“Bribery.”

Grivy raised both tiny hands.

“Play with me!!”

Then Arsha, after thinking very hard, spoke timidly.

“If we look at the shift schedule of the attendants guarding the office… Valgard’s shift should begin soon. And recently… Valgard has been extremely stressed because he’s going bald at a young age. If we give him something good for hair loss…”

Her voice faded, embarrassed by her own idea.

But all our eyes were already on her.

“Uh… that’d be impossible, right? Baldness is incurable, after all.”

I grabbed her hand and lifted it high.

“Employee of the month.”

Luna nodded approvingly.

Arsha only looked confused at the situation.

“O-big brother?”

“Let’s make a hair-loss cure.”

* * *

Hair loss occurs when the hair follicles die.

The cells that produce hair die, so treating hair loss is basically the same as resurrecting the dead.

That’s why this continent has never once seen a real baldness cure.

Minor damage can sometimes be healed, but natural baldness?

No cure.

“Honestly, it’s funny. Fairy Wood, mines, paradise artifacts—none of those are as profitable as a hair-loss cure.”

Because no method can revive dead follicles…

Which leaves only one option.

Throw away the dead follicle cells and create entirely new ones.

I plucked one of my own hairs out by the root and twirled it between my fingers.

“Just wait. I’ll make a prototype soon.”

I read the genetic information in the follicle and adjusted it.

If many people are going to use it, I’ll have to account for genetic variations.

But humans fall into a relatively narrow range—manageable.

“Side effects?”

“If conditions aren’t met, the formula simply won’t activate.”

This is nothing new.

I’ve made similar things back in Labyrinthos.

“Looks like we’ll need mandrake…”

As I pondered, Luna pulled something from her spatial pocket.

It was… too big to be a mandrake.

“That?”

“That’s… really a mandrake?”

“Yes.”

Mandrakes are usually chubby humanoid-looking herbs that scream horribly when pulled from the ground.

But this one was different.

It had the imposing aura of someone saying real men don’t scream.

And instead of pudgy flesh, it had… muscle.

The insane herb was literally flexing its body, moving as if doing strength training.

“…Never mind. I’m not asking.”

Despite wanting to say a thousand things, I held back.

The moment I grabbed the mandrake from Luna—

Its arm moved and grabbed me.

Then it tried to overpower me with surprising strength and precision.

Normally, someone would’ve been pinned instantly.

But I simply watched.

“What? Going to try something?”

The mandrake’s body jolted.

And then—

—SKIEEEEEEEEK!!!

It tried to scream, but I had preloaded a small wooden berry into its vocal cavity.

“You’re resorting to screaming now that brute force didn’t work? That’s not very manly of you.”

The mandrake writhed in indignation.

“There are many like it. I was bored anyway. Can I grow these in R'lyeh?”

“…Not sure it even counts as a mandrake anymore, but sure. Do what you want.”

At least I knew this thing’s potency was far above average.

Of course, the cure I was making wouldn’t work for everyone.

There were still improvements to be made.

The one I made long ago only worked on me—clinical trials are needed for others.

But at least there would be no side effects.

I headed straight to my workshop, mixing the countless reagents and herbs stored there.

I had mastered genetic information long ago in Labyrinthos.

I activated Heart of the Machine God.

Multiple seemingly ordinary liquids began to swirl and react, eventually turning into a clear solution.

It took six hours to reach this point, but it was worth it.

“Big brother, what is this?”

Arsha poked the now-shriveled mandrake and asked.

I answered proudly.

“A hair-loss cure. Prototype.”

If the continent hears that baldness can be cured, countless people will lose their minds.

In every world, the blessings of a full head of hair—and the despair of losing it—are universal.

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