The Laziest God Mortal Reincarnation

It had been just over two weeks since I arrived at the border, and today...

Finally.

I closed the thick apothecary book with a quiet thud, the weight of its brown cover pressing against my small hands. The scent of herbs and parchment still clung to my fingers, a ghost of the countless hours spent studying every root, leaf, and compound detailed in its pages.

I let out a long breath, my body sinking back against the simple chair in the tent. The exhaustion in my bones was real, but this time, it carried a sweetness I couldn’t deny. My eyes drifted to the small table where the remnants of my last practice lay, measured powders, neatly cut stalks of dried herbs, and vials of liquid sunlight waiting for use.

My entire world had become this quiet dance of precision, patience, and focus.

A smile tugged at my lips. I had done it.

Not just finished the book, but understood it. The connections between theory and practice now flowed naturally in my mind. And more than that... I had finally grasped the hidden truth behind Master Valerian’s relentless nightly training.

The dagger, the blood, the exhaustion, it was never just about healing wounds. It was about making my mind and body one with the act of healing, teaching me to feel mana as naturally as breathing, to listen to pain and answer with precision.

He had been forging the foundation of not just a healer, but a true master of life and recovery.

As I set the book aside, a familiar shimmer flickered into being before my eyes.

[ New Attribute -> Apothecary : Lv 1 ]

For a heartbeat, I just stared at the glowing panel, my chest swelling with something warm and bright. Then the smile I’d been holding back finally bloomed into a wide grin.

All the effort, all the sleepless nights, every moment spent balancing between herbs and blood, theory and practice, it had paid off.

I laughed softly, the sound barely louder than the whisper of the evening wind against the canvas walls.

***

Returning to my tent late that night, I found Master Valerian already waiting for me.

I changed in the bathroom, the tent had one, courtesy of magic, and when I stepped back out, he began my particular training at once.

By then, two weeks of the same routine had made words unnecessary.

I immediately began healing his wound, guiding my mana into the torn flesh until the strain in my core warned me I was close to exhaustion.

But this time, before I could drain myself completely, I pulled back.

The gash on his forearm remained, but it had narrowed, the bleeding slowed, and the worst of the damage was mended.

Then I reached into my storage ring and took out the potion I had prepared earlier in the apothecary.

Handing it to him, I said nothing; after two weeks of this, he would understand exactly why I had stopped, and what I was offering in its place.

He didn’t drink the potion; instead, he used his own power to heal himself perfectly.

He then looked at me with a pride-satisfied smile.

"You finished the apothecary book."

I noticed he didn’t say it as a question but as a matter of fact, so I just nodded, a proud smile tugging at my lips.

"Tell me the exact conclusion you reached."

I sat on my bed, hugging my pillow close, and began to speak.

"It doesn’t matter whether I have enough mana or not. Before healing an injury, I need to assess the situation first. I have to determine whether the patient urgently requires a full, immediate recovery or not. If they don’t, I should heal only the most critical part of the injury and then support their recovery using apothecary methods instead."

Valerian’s brown eyes gleamed with quiet approval as he listened, his expression unreadable yet somehow satisfied. "Good. Always remember, healing is about understanding, precision, and balance."

He then looked at me with an amused grin.

"I guess you earned a good rest. You can sleep until tomorrow night if you wish. I won’t disturb you."

His words were like soft magic, wrapping around me with the promise of peace and stillness. My entire body, aching from days of exertion and late-night training, seemed to sigh in relief at once.

I hugged my pillow to my chest, feeling its familiar softness beneath my fingers, and sank into my bed without hesitation.

The sheets were cool and smooth against my skin, the air faintly scented with herbs and the lingering warmth of the day.

For a few moments, I simply lay there, eyes half‑closed, letting the comfort seep into every corner of my being. My mind, usually restless with thoughts of quests, attributes, and the weight of the Akashic Key, drifted toward the edges of dreams.

In that blissful haze, I thought I heard the faint whisper of the system, almost amused itself, but even that sound slipped away as sleep claimed me.

For the first time in weeks, I surrendered to the simple, unbroken luxury of rest, my world fading into the quiet embrace of dreams.

***

"Hey."

I felt a warm pressure on my shoulder shaking me from my peaceful dream. It was gentle but insistent, the kind of touch that would not be ignored. My eyelids fluttered open to the dim glow of the lanterns.

"Master... didn’t you say that I could sleep until tomorrow night?" I mumbled lazily, my voice heavy with drowsiness as I clutched my pillow tighter.

Valerian’s brown eyes glimmered faintly in the lantern light, his calm expression betraying the smallest hint of amusement. "Your tomorrow night," he said softly, "is now."

My sleepy mind struggled to process his words, and I tilted my head, still halfway in the realm of dreams. "...What?"

He chuckled quietly and straightened, the faint shadow of his figure cast long on the tent wall by the flickering light.

"It’s been a full day and night since we last spoke. Even your precious pillow must be tired of this indulgence."

I buried my face in the pillow for a moment, grumbling softly. "...I don’t think my pillow agrees with you."

Valerian sighed, though I sensed the faintest smile tugging at his lips. He extended a hand toward me.

"Come. Tonight, we begin the next stage of your training. Your mana control is improving, and your understanding of apothecary methods is sufficient. It’s time for physical training."

I groaned but finally sat up, my silver hair messy from sleep and eyes still heavy. "Can’t we start in the morning?"

"Morning," Valerian replied calmly, "is for soldiers who fear the night. A true healer must be ready when the world is at its darkest. Now, move."

With a long sigh, I slipped off the bed. I grabbed my pillow instinctively and followed him out of the tent into the crisp night air.

The border camp was quiet under the moonlight, the distant torches flickering like fireflies against the shadows. The murmurs of soldiers on patrol and the soft rustle of the wind were the only sounds that carried across the stillness.