Chapter 13: Rival Healer Challenge

Chapter 13: Rival Healer Challenge

Elder Maeva's initial dismissal of Kray as a "charlatan" and his "pleasure healing" as "quackery" had done little to stem the tide of his growing popularity. In fact, her public pronouncements, intended to discredit him, seemed to have inadvertently fueled the flames of curiosity. The more vehemently she denounced him, the more villagers, especially those suffering from persistent ailments, seemed drawn to the unconventional allure of "pleasure."

Maeva watched with mounting frustration as Kray's clientele steadily grew, her own dwindling slightly, especially amongst the younger generation and the women of Luma. Her herbal remedies, once the cornerstone of Luma's healthcare, now seemed less appealing, less… immediate compared to the whispered promises of Dray's "miracle hands."

She grumbled to herself as she sorted dried herbs in her dimly lit apothecary, the familiar earthy scents offering little solace. "Pleasure healing," she muttered, spitting the words as if they were bitter herbs on her tongue. "Indecent nonsense, corrupting the very fabric of our town!" Her authority, built over decades of service, felt challenged, undermined by this upstart boy and his… sensual methods.

She needed to act. She couldn't let this charlatan continue to peddle his… unorthodox practices, poisoning the minds of the villagers and eroding the foundations of traditional healing. She needed to expose him, to prove to everyone that his "pleasure" was nothing but a fleeting sensation, a deceptive illusion compared to the true, time-tested path of herbalism.

An idea began to form in her mind, sharp and decisive, like the blade of her herb-cutting knife. A public demonstration. A healing competition. Traditional herbalism versus "Pleasure healing." A showdown in the town square, where everyone could witness, with their own eyes, the true efficacy, or lack thereof, of young Dray's unconventional methods.

The next market day, as the town square buzzed with its usual lively chaos, Elder Maeva strode purposefully to the center of the gathering, her imposing figure demanding attention. She raised her voice, her deep, resonant tones cutting through the market clamor.

"Hear ye, hear ye, people of Luma!" she boomed, her voice echoing across the square. "I have a challenge to issue! A challenge to settle this… this… debate once and for all!"

All eyes turned to her, conversations ceasing abruptly, merchants pausing their hawking. The square fell into an expectant hush, everyone sensing the gravity in Maeva's pronouncement.

"This… 'pleasure healing' that young Dray is peddling," she continued, her voice dripping with disdain, "it is a dangerous distraction, a frivolous fad that threatens to undermine the very foundation of true healing! To prove once and for all the superiority of traditional methods, I challenge young Dray to a public healing competition!"

A collective gasp rippled through the crowd. A healing competition? Between Elder Maeva, the respected town herbalist, and Dray, the… controversial pleasure healer? The audacity of it, the sheer spectacle, captivated everyone instantly.

Maeva paused for dramatic effect, letting her words sink in, then continued, her gaze sweeping across the assembled villagers. "We will choose a patient, someone visibly suffering, and both Dray and I will attempt to heal them, using our respective methods. The town will judge, with their own eyes, which healing is more effective, more genuine, more… lasting!"

All eyes turned towards Kray's farm, perched on the edge of the town square, a collective expectation hanging in the air. Would he accept? Could he possibly refuse such a public challenge without appearing cowardly, without validating Maeva's accusations of quackery?

Kray, who had been quietly arranging his massage stool in his makeshift kitchen-clinic, heard the booming voice carrying through the open window. His heart skipped a beat. A public healing competition? Challenged by Elder Maeva? It was both terrifying and… strangely exhilarating.

He hesitated for a moment, a flicker of doubt whispering in his ear. Elder Maeva was a formidable opponent, respected and knowledgeable in her traditional craft. He was… Dray the Quack, turned Pervert Healer, armed with a skill that sounded more like a parlor trick than a legitimate healing art. Could he really compete against her, in front of the entire town?

But then, he thought of Mrs. Gable, now walking without a stick. Of Elara, cough-free and radiating health. Of Bertha, softened by relief. He thought of the steady stream of clients seeking his unconventional touch, the whispers of gratitude, the tangible proof of his skill's efficacy. He wasn't just Dray the Quack anymore. He was Kray, the Pleasure Healer. And he had something real, something potent, something that, despite its unconventional nature, undeniably worked.

A surge of defiant resolve coursed through him, banishing the fear and doubt. He would accept. He would face Elder Maeva, not to prove his superiority, but to demonstrate the validity of his unique path, to show Luma town that healing could come in unexpected, even pleasurable, forms.

He stepped out of his farmhouse, walking with deliberate strides towards the town square, his gaze fixed on Elder Maeva, his jaw set with newfound determination. The crowd parted silently as he approached, their expectant whispers following him like a tide.

He stopped in front of Maeva, meeting her sharp, challenging gaze with his own steadier, more resolute one. "Elder Maeva," he said, his voice surprisingly calm and clear, echoing in the hushed square. "I accept your challenge."

A collective gasp went through the crowd, followed by a low murmur of anticipation. Maeva's lips curled into a thin, triumphant smile. "Good," she said, her voice laced with a condescending edge. "Then let us begin. Let the people of Luma witness, once and for all, the true path to healing."

The town square buzzed with activity as villagers scrambled to prepare for the impromptu healing duel. A makeshift stage was erected, using market stalls and wooden planks. A visibly ailing villager, old farmer Giles, suffering from a persistent cough and chest congestion, was chosen as the patient, his wheezing breaths audible even from a distance.

Giles was helped onto the stage, settling onto a stool, his face pale and drawn, his cough racking his body. Elder Maeva stepped forward first, her demeanor composed and confident, radiating the authority of years of traditional practice.

She approached Giles with a solemn air, her movements deliberate and ritualistic. She produced a small pouch, from which she extracted a handful of dried herbs, their pungent aroma filling the air. She muttered a few low, rhythmic chants, invoking ancient remedies and the healing power of nature. She then carefully prepared a poultice, mixing the herbs with warm water, her movements precise and practiced.

She applied the poultice to Giles's chest, her touch firm and authoritative, explaining the properties of each herb, their traditional uses for respiratory ailments. She instructed Giles to breathe deeply, inhaling the herbal fumes, emphasizing the importance of patience and trust in the healing process. Her methods were methodical, time-honored, undeniably expert in their traditional framework.

Then, it was Kray's turn. He stepped onto the stage, a stark contrast to Maeva's solemnity, his demeanor a mix of nervous anticipation and quiet resolve. He had no herbs, no chants, no elaborate rituals. He simply approached Giles with a gentle smile, his hands empty, his approach seemingly… almost casual.

"Hello, Master Giles," he said softly, his voice calm and reassuring. "I'm going to try something a little different. It might feel a bit… unusual, but just try to relax and let me know if anything feels uncomfortable." He consciously avoided mentioning "pleasure," knowing Maeva was watching, ready to pounce on any perceived indecency.

He placed his hands gently on Giles's chest, just like he had with Elara, focusing on the [Pleasure] skill. The familiar tingling warmth flowed from his fingertips, seeping into Giles's tense chest muscles. He began to massage, slowly, rhythmically, tracing gentle circles across his chest and upper back, his movements fluid and intuitive.

The contrast with Maeva's method was stark. Maeva's healing was external, focused on applying remedies from the outside, relying on the inherent properties of herbs and traditional knowledge. Kray's healing was internal, focused on direct touch, channeling energy from within, relying on the subtle power of pleasure and relaxation.

As Kray massaged, Giles's body visibly relaxed. His shoulders dropped, his tense posture softened, his breathing becoming less labored, less wheezing. Soft sighs escaped his lips, sounds of genuine relief replacing the strained gasps of earlier. The cough, which had been wracking his body just moments before, subsided, fading to an occasional, weak tickle.

The crowd watched in captivated silence, their initial skepticism slowly giving way to bewildered fascination. Maeva, standing rigidly to the side, observed with narrowed eyes, her expression a mixture of disbelief and growing frustration.

After a few minutes of massage, Kray gently withdrew his hands. Giles sat up straighter, taking a deep breath, his chest expanding fully, without the rattling cough that had plagued him earlier. His face, previously pale and drawn, now held a healthier flush, his eyes brighter, clearer.

"Well, Master Giles," Kray asked softly, "how do you feel?"

Giles took another deep breath, then another, his face breaking into a wide, relieved grin. "By the Saints, young Dray," he exclaimed, his voice stronger now, clearer, "that's… that's something else! My chest feels… lighter, clearer than it has in months! The cough… it's practically gone!" He coughed once, experimentally, a weak, almost soundless tickle. "Just a little tickle now, that's all! And… and it felt… surprisingly good, you know? Warm and… and relaxing. Much more comfortable than that cold poultice, that's for sure!" He chuckled, a genuine, hearty laugh that echoed across the square.

A collective murmur rippled through the crowd, this time a murmur of astonished agreement. The change in Giles was undeniable, visible to everyone present. His breathing was clearer, his color healthier, his demeanor visibly improved. And his testimonial, emphasizing both the effectiveness and the comfort of Kray's "pleasure massage," resonated deeply with the assembled villagers.

Elder Maeva, however, remained unmoved. Her face was tight with barely suppressed fury, her eyes blazing with indignation. "Fleeting relief!" she declared, her voice cutting through the murmuring crowd. "A temporary sensation! Herbs and time are needed for true, lasting healing! This… this… fleeting pleasure will offer no long-term benefit!"

But her words rang hollow against the undeniable evidence before them. Giles, feeling invigorated and empowered, stood up from the stool, walking around the stage with surprising ease, demonstrating his newfound mobility and clear breathing. The crowd, swayed by the tangible results and Giles's enthusiastic endorsement, erupted in applause, a spontaneous, resounding wave of approval that washed over Kray, solidifying his victory.

Elder Maeva stood rigid on the stage, her face a mask of furious humiliation, watching as the crowd thronged around Kray, showering him with congratulations, with requests for massages, with a newfound respect bordering on awe. Her challenge, intended to discredit him, had backfired spectacularly, solidifying his reputation, not as a quack, but as a genuine, albeit unconventional, healer.

Kray, basking in the unexpected glow of public approval, felt a surge of triumph, a validation he had never experienced before. He had won. He, Dray the Quack, had won against Elder Maeva, the respected town herbalist. He had proven, in front of the entire town, the power, the effectiveness, the undeniable appeal of his… Pleasure healing. And as he looked out at the cheering crowd, a new wave of clients already forming a queue, he knew that his life, and the life of Luma town, would never be quite the same again. The Pervert Healer had arrived, and his reign of unconventional, pleasurable healing had just begun. But with victory came attention, both positive and undeniably negative. And Elder Maeva, humiliated and enraged, was far from defeated. She was merely biding her time, her resentment simmering, ready to unleash her backlash, ensuring that Kray's path to becoming the best healer, or the best Pervert Healer, would be far from smooth sailing.

----

Name : Kray(18)

Class : Healer

Level : 2 (0/20)

LP (Love Points) : 18+2

---

Skills : [Pleasure : Lvl 2] , [Kiss : Lvl 1], [Ecchi moments : Lvl 1]

---

Read 10+ chapter in advance on Patreon.