The Damn Family Is Back Again - Chapter 286



Chapter 286. The Prophet of Wederos (5)

Just by the fact that I had paid to create a grace period, it was clear that this quarter would inevitably mean some form of loss for me.

It was the same regardless of how the player acted.

The execution period for the alternative plan to achieve the designated goal was fixed within Chapter 3, and the game’s system would do everything in its power to hinder the player.

This law was inherited as is, directly influencing the choices presented.

Lines I had never seen in a situation I was completely unfamiliar with. And yet, an unexpected question followed, but to escape significant loss, I had to find the answer within this context.

‘There, the medicine.’

Fortunately, I had gleaned a clue.

It seemed like an out-of-the-blue line, but it wasn’t entirely so.

I thought nothing would change significantly until the grace period was extended on the first day.

But perhaps around noon on the second day, I received an item from Camilla.

‘Was that what it was?’

■Items in Possession■

◆???

[ When used on a wound, it restores a small amount of HP and grants regenerative abilities while ignoring pain-related status effects of Level 2 or lower. Moreover, it suppresses the effects of magical erosion, doubling the effect if in an eroded state. ]

The item delivered from Camilla was said to have been sent from the Duke of Vagrand’s household.

The effects contained everything I desperately needed right now, possessing excellent functionality that mostly eliminated the pain accompanying wounds. At first glance, it was clear it was a consumable.

However, an item with such effects wouldn’t simply arrive at my hands without reason. While it wasn’t dangerous in content, it could still be poisonous in its own right.

Of course, I was wary. The very fact that they hailed from the Duke’s house could serve as an in-game disruption.

So, I intended to express my refusal and send them back.

– What? You can’t tell who sent it?

– Yes… They didn’t mention who it was from, so I’m unsure how to return it…

Camilla had shown her discomfort in that moment.

If I were to insist on sending it back despite this, it would lead to disaster.

There were instances where I was reprimanded for hastily returning items from the Duke’s house, or where the servants faced scolding due to the forced return of such items, resulting in a loss of rapport. Those were prime examples.

Thus, I had merely set it aside for the time being.

But it was Flora who sent this?

The pieces began to align.

‘…If I had thought a bit longer, I could have taken action sooner. This is a misjudgment.’

Through the ointment enclosed, along with simple bandages and high-quality gauze, I could easily deduce the situation.

Shea had mentioned that Flora had developed an interest in pharmacology and was researching various things.

Well. The fact that I hadn’t applied the ointment would have been easily inferred from the visible wounds.

‘In any case, I must choose an option, yes?’

The option of not having received it.

The option of having received it but not knowing how to use it.

The option suggesting it had gone to another territory, casting doubt.

There were several others, but the answer I had seen within the game did not exist there.

The difficulty had risen considerably, and the future was hardly predictable.

I had to carefully sift through the choices, pondering the traps I was unaware of.

Yet, I did not deliberate for long.

[ 6. (Wrapping my hand around the wound as if to conceal it)── ]

Was there a need to hide the wound? No.

It was fine to expose it.

Because.

[ 6. (Wrapping my hand around the wound as if to conceal it) This level of injury doesn’t require medicine. ]

“It’s unnecessary.”

This was the answer of Kim Min-hyuk, not of Karsein.

*

Flora clung to her mother, panic-stricken by the news of the beast’s appearance at the gathering place.

Each time the hall echoed with the clanging of metal and the unsettling roars of the creatures, struck by magic, she squeezed her eyes shut and had to cover her ears.

She simply held onto Isabella’s hem.

Waiting, believing only in the promise that her sisters would stay by her side.

When the cacophony finally quieted and the light began to seep in, she could at least open her eyes. Her gaze fell upon her sisters, their figures coming into focus through her dampened lashes, but one was missing from the scene.

This was the only place safe from the beasts, yet she was not here…?

Her heart sank with a heavy thud.

Though there were whispers of hope that they might have joined the royal party or banded together with others to survive, the memory of that day still haunted her.

– It’s your fault.

The image of Carsein, drenched in blood and filled with resentment, lingered in her mind.

Since that day, she had grown averse to blood.

What had once been merely an unpleasant color and smell had transformed into something far more sinister.

Just seeing it now filled her with revulsion.

The acrid scent made her want to block her nose.

Her chest tightened as if suffocating, every hair on her skin standing on end as fear crept closer.

Hemophobia.

Sheyden had diagnosed Flora with such a condition.

Yet, Flora did not give up.

She refused to turn her eyes away from the reality she had always shunned.

No matter how terrifying blood was, she endured it, forcing herself to push through.

For that day when Carsein would truly be in pain, and she would step forward to heal him.

Thanks to that resolve, even if she was still just a child, the lessons learned under Sheyden had not vanished.

Though no one noticed, Flora could sense it faintly.

‘Carsein… were you hurt?’

Following the advice that no small detail should be overlooked.

The principle that a healer must always maintain a broad perspective and examine the whole body.

The young girl’s eyes caught the red stains hidden beneath Carsein’s clothing.

After that incident, she made her way to the apothecary.

Wounds upon the body are a given, no need to speak of it. I set about crafting a remedy to mend them.

‘No radical recovery potions.’

No matter how effective, one must endure the pain that accompanies the healing process. Thus, it must be a gradual restoration, designed to ease that suffering.

‘Even if healing the wounds, the right herbs must be used.’

Karsein does not fare well with certain components, including the Kelvian fruit. I meticulously checked Shaden’s records and selected the herbs with care.

‘Surely, these wounds are from battling the beasts.’

I must employ a method to purify the corrupted magic and restore the body to its original state.

The potion I toiled over through sleepless nights took a full day to confirm through clinical trials, yet sending it to Karsein in the territory was no challenge.

However.

Karsein did not use it.

“I don’t need it.”

Not needed…?

“What do you mean by that?!”

I grasped Karsein’s garment in frustration.

“You were hurt that day! You were wounded while fighting the beasts!”

Flora shouted, exasperated.

With her tiny hands, she fumbled and pinpointed the places where Karsein bore stains from his injuries.

“Here, here! You were hurt! You need to apply the medicine properly to heal!”

In case it was needed, I pulled out another vial of the potion I had prepared, and Flora immediately attempted to apply it to Karsein’s wounds.

But Karsein firmly seized her hand.

“I told you I don’t need it. Why are you making such a fuss over a scratch?”

“What…?”

“Compared to the wounds sustained by the Westerners in their battles against the beasts, this is but a drop in the bucket.”

What nonsense is that?

A wound that bleeds enough to stain one’s clothes is nothing to scoff at?

No. It was a wound, after all.

If one is injured, they must heal properly.

So why…

“It doesn’t hurt at all, so stop your pointless fuss and put it away.”

With a resolute voice, Karsein released Flora’s hand and walked away, leaving her in stunned silence.

“…”

I could not comprehend.

A storm of questions surged within me.

Yet, despite it all, I could not grasp Karsein.

Before I knew it, tears had gathered in my eyes.

From my dampened gaze, droplets began to fall.

“Now… it’s not to torment you, Mariya…”

Truly, I wished for you to feel no pain.

Because you were hurt. That’s why I wanted to help.

Can you not trust me, just this once?

Alone, I muttered in a clumsy whisper.

“Ugh, ugh…!”

I knew better than anyone.

That the torment I had inflicted upon Karsein was my own karma.

– Dding!

▶Flora’s character-exclusive hidden episode. You have cleared ＜The Unopened Ointment＞.◀

▶Synchronizing…◀

▶An event will occur if the target discovers the Key Memorial.◀

[ Key Memorial: The Ointments in the Drawer ]

*

The conversation with Flora had concluded successfully.

The green light hovering above was unaffected, and my intimacy with her had not diminished directly.

However, there was one slight difference.

▶A non-recoverable penalty has been incurred!◀

“…No, what.”

In this game, recovery methods are of utmost importance.

Excessive expenditure of action points leads to related status ailments, and stamina can also result in conditions like fatigue and exhaustion, imposing restrictions on the player.

And of course, HP is a matter of life and death.

In any game, when HP reaches zero, it leads to demise.

Thus, recovery is a crucial element indeed.

▶HP recovery penalty has been imposed.◀

▶You can no longer receive Flora’s medicine.◀

▶You cannot recover by showing that wound to any of the physicians, including your primary doctor, Shayden.◀

▶It becomes impossible to visit the apothecary marked on the map for treatment.◀

[ Duration: 30 days ]

Among all this, the absurd penalty of being unable to recover HP loomed large.

“Ha, damn it. It’s been just a few days since I tasted the event where the beasts invaded, and now this nonsense pops up?”

There was no choice.

The only way to lift the penalty was to clear the sub-episode.

▶To proceed with the penalty-lifting sub-episode, please move to the designated location.◀

“There’s still time before the episode starts… I should be fine.”

All because of one choice I made when I met Flora—what a hassle this was turning out to be.

Just thinking about how much I’d lose this time made me feel dizzy already.

I set aside my irritation and moved toward the location marked on the mini-map.

But then.

There it was, a strange object floating.

“…Could it be?”

-Ding!

▶You have discovered the conditions to lift the penalty.◀

[ Memorial found at the designated location ]

▶You automatically acquire the memorial!◀

A wave of white light surged forth.

After that wave passed…

Unpleasantly, it was not the memorial of Karsein that emerged, but a very old memory of mine.

*

“Beneris!”

“…Talpon.”

Upon hearing the news that the prophet of Wederos had come, Talpon hurried to find him.

It wasn’t that there was no joy in the reunion.

How could one not feel joy at the arrival of a benefactor who had aided not only the Peselros Empire but also the Westerners?

He, too, was a friend who had come to visit after a long time.

It wouldn’t be strange to clink glasses and share various tales after such a long separation.

Yet, Talphon could not feel pure joy.

For he was none other than the prophet of Wederos, Beneris.

Swallowing hard, he sensed the weight of unease and tentatively asked,

“…Has the prophecy been delivered? Beneris.”

The man with hollow eyes, Beneris, gazed at Talphon for a brief moment.

– A nod.

Very slight.

He nodded his head.

—