Dreambreaker

Chapter 103: Half a minute

Noah's POV:

"Four shots. One week. Intravenous injection, subcutaneous injection, intramuscular injection, locoregional injection... Of course, I won't personally administer the shots since it could be rather intimate. But, I can provide detailed instructions to your medical team," I explained to Seraphina.

"In just one week, she will be healed?" she asked, her sunset-red eyes conveyed a mix of hope and bewilderment; her delicate facial features reflected both.

"Yes, she will. The drug possess regenerative properties specifically designed to trigger certain genetic codes," I replied.

"Ah... ", Seraphina murmured. Her voice plucked the joyous strings of my heart.

Honestly, before meeting Seraphina I was scared.

Who wouldn't be? She is the strongest mage in the world.

But after meeting and chatting to her a bit and witnessing her genuine kindness and caring nature— a sense of warmth enveloped my chest.

The way she carried herself exuded an air of grace.

Not to mention, her beauty was breathtaking.

I had never encountered a woman of such mesmerizing allure in my entire life.

Her ruby red eyes held an otherworldly radiance, as if they contained the essence of divine splendor.

Her lips, so inviting and full of love, were impossible for my eyes to resist, though I tried my best to avert my gaze.

Noticing my feeble attempts, Seraphina couldn't help but smirk. But, she followed it with a gentle smile.

Perhaps it was out of pity?

Was she taking pity on me because of my youthful appearance compared to her womanly grace?

Leaning forward, she rested her chin on her hand—a sight that caused my heart to skip a beat.

'Damn, I so wish my body was my age and Seraphina was a bit younger.'

"Before we proceed with the terms and rewards, there's something I need to ask you, Noah. Please understand that it's not meant to be disrespectful, but I must make sure of certain things," she spoke with a voice as smooth as velvet, carrying me to the 12th cloud—a place I didn't even know existed until I met her.

"What is it, ma'am?" I asked.

Seraphina's ruby red eyes glowed like smoldering embers, and she directed a question at me. "Did you truly develop this cure?"

Under normal circumstances, I would have been terrified if someone of Seraphina's caliber attempted to extract truth from me.

Keyword is normal here, because this circumstance is not normal for me.

I gazed upon her enchanting beauty and listened to the velvety tone of her voice.

My emotions were all over the place. If anything, I found myself drawn to her.

Like a moth drawn to flame.

By the way, I possess heightened perceptiveness beyond that of an average human.

Combine that with my [Perception] skill, I can read the intentions of others just by observation alone.

And judging from Seraphina's behavior, it seemed she was currently using some form of lie detection spell.

Ultimately, I made the decision to be honest. "Yes, I am indeed the first person to create this cure in this world. I can confidently assure you that I neither stole nor plagiarized this cure from anyone of this world. I alone am responsible for bringing this cure from the other world to this."

As Seraphina's eyes returned to their usual state, she offered me a faint smile. "I apologize, Noah."

"So, what can I do for you as a token of gratitude?"

I extended four fingers. "I have four terms. I will tell you two now, and you can decide if you want to help me or not," I said, letting it sink in. And then I continued, "I will reveal the other two after one week." —'When your daughter is healed, and you feel too indebted to refuse.' I left that part omitted, only available to my consciousness.

Seraphina elegantly gestured to her maid, directing her to bring tea for both of us.

As the tea was served, she leaned forward slightly, her black-gloved hands poised gracefully. "Very well, Noah. Let's hear your first two terms."

I delivered the pre-planned lines. "You are aware of my chess app."

"Yes, I have heard," Seraphina said, picking up her cup, lifting her pinky, and drinking in an elegant manner.

"I am planning to build more such apps in the future. I want your protection as my backer for every other business-related endeavor I will create in the future. You will be the backer of my company, with full compensation to be discussed and agreed upon by you."

"That is reasonable. It is possible. I will be glad to do it," Seraphina replied while drinking her tea.

"And the second?" she asked.

"Ahem..." I cleared my throat as I revised the plans I made for Seraphina in my head.

I was going to ask for one mythical beast's carapace or a dead body part.

I was also planning to ask for her help regarding the ring. Then, of course, was her support.

And considering everything that would happen in the future, and how beautiful she is, and how much I want to spend some time with her, "I want to be your disciple," I blurted out.

"You want to be my disciple?" Seraphina asked, arching an eyebrow for the first time during the entire conversation.

"Yes."

Her face contorted as if someone was asking for her lottery ticket.

It was an understandable expression.

'When you are ready, the teacher arrives.' There is this saying. It means simply that if you are not worthy enough for a legendary teacher, they won't take you on as a disciple.

And anyone with legendary status would preferably want a genius as a disciple.

But Seraphina can sense my weak mana flow, unlike Liam.

She already knows what's up.

Probably can already feel something is off about my mana core.

"Noah..." She pondered on ways to avoid my proposal, and then her eyes lit up.

"Noah, I don't have a problem accepting you as my disciple, but you have to prove yourself first."

"Prove myself? Sure, what do I have to do?" I asked.

"You have to defeat me," she said with a bright smile.

My face fell, my hopes dashed. "Defeat you? How?" I asked genuinely.

"Not in a genuine sense, haha," she laughed gently. "But if you can last against me for thirty seconds, then I shall accept your proposal—no, I will definitely make you my disciple. Of course, I will be holding back to your level."

Hearing her reply of thirty seconds, I smirked.

She definitely didn't want to be my teacher, did she?

There is no way anyone of my level can hold their own against her for thirty seconds. But she is promising to hold back.

'So, do I have a chance?' I thought as my eyes caught the ethereal wisps of tea dancing in the air.

My gaze landed on the design of a beautiful butterfly in my cup plate.

"Fine. I will try my best," I replied.

"I will give it my all."

"But I will decide when, where, and how we duel," I told Seraphina, stating my terms to make it fair.

"Sure, you decide," she agreed.

***

ONE DAY LATER—

Seraphina basically agreed to a handicap match where I can go all out, and she will hold herself back to my level or lower.

She probably expected me to use everything in my arsenal and hope to last against her for thirty seconds, like a fair fight.

But no! I was not a fool to do that kind of bullshit.

The first thing I did after setting the terms for the duel was to call Edward Wilson. I prepared a tear bomb, a laughing gas bomb (N2O), a stun grenade, and some other gadgets. She didn't ask me for a fair fight; she said whatever goes! I was going to make full use of this opportunity.

The next thing I made sure of was to stage the battle tonight, on a moonless night where she won't be able to see, and I have night vision.

Additionally, I have prepared some other traps, all just to distract her.

After all, I just need to survive for half a minute.

How hard can it be?

Right?