Chapter 72 A Salvation Story
--------------------------------------
Translator: JayM
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: A Salvation? Story
------------------------------------
The temple courtyard was bathed in the harsh sunlight.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood there silently.
A scam?
After all the effort he put into obtaining that magic stone?
A treasure earned through blood and sweat, and now this?
"T-Tell me more. Who stole the magic stone? What exactly happened?... What are you talking about?"
Jeong Yoo-shin stammered.
"Ah! The magic stone wasn't stolen or anything."
Snout replied.
It wasn't? His confusion deepened.
Snout took the magic stone out of his backpack and showed it to Jeong Yoo-shin.
"The appraisal confirmed it's a high-grade magic stone. However, about half of its mana has been used up, so the purity isn't very high anymore."
What in the world did that mean?
There was something he couldn't understand about Snout's explanation.
Jeong Yoo-shin frowned.
"Someone drained about half the mana from the magic stone. I understand that, but why does that affect the mana's purity?"
"Impure energy has settled in the empty space within the magic stone."
Mion stepped in to fill the gap in the explanation.
"I see. Thank you, Priestess Mion."
Jeong Yoo-shin thanked Mion while grinding his teeth inwardly.
'Oswald, that bastard screwed me over?'
He had thought it was strange that Oswald had given it to him so easily.
Acting all cool and generous, only to give him a used item.
That sly bastard.
He had thought that he had gained some experience in Labyrinth City. He was wrong, it seemed. This was the first time he'd seen someone so brazenly tamper with a magic stone.
He felt incredibly pissed off.
Cain then interjected.
"This is ridiculous. You were acting all solemn and heroic just a moment ago, and now this embarrassment? I'm ashamed of you."
Jeong Yoo-shin's face flushed with shame and anger.
He couldn't refute it. It was true.
It was like bragging about paying for dinner, taking his beloved girlfriend to a fancy restaurant, and then realizing he hadn't brought any money.
He wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Older brother! Skar is working so hard to help the weak, and instead of supporting him, you're only criticizing him? I'm disappointed."
Mion stepped forward to defend Jeong Yoo-shin.
Cain stumbled.
"Mion, I'm sorry. Your older brother made a grave mistake."
Jeong Yoo-shin shook his head and spoke.
"No. Cain’s right. This is all my fault."
He bowed his head and added.
"I hope you both have a good time. I apologize for wasting your time."
Cain quickly changed his expression and waved his hand dismissively.
"Just go."
Just then, Mion spoke up.
"Skar! There's a way."
A way?
Intrigued, Jeong Yoo-shin raised his head.
"What way?"
"We can use high-purity mana. Of course, there are other things we need to check, but..."
"Mion, where are we going to find high-purity mana?"
"Skar's mana is highly pure."
"..."
A moment of silence passed.
"...Mion, how do you know that?"
Cain finally spoke.
Mion froze for a moment. Then she fidgeted with her fingers and spoke.
"Uh... That's because I treated Skar before, when the monster mutation incident happened in front of the labyrinth. That's when I found out."
"Hmm... Is that so?"
Cain tilted his head.
"A-hem! I heard Edel used up her fortune for treatment. If that's true, I think there's still some high-purity mana remaining in her body. That's probably why she's still alive. It's definitely worth a try."
Mion concluded.
"...Priestess Mion!"
Jeong Yoo-shin's eyes were filled with gratitude.
"Skar, let's give it a try."
Mion said with a gentle smile.
"Yes!"
Jeong Yoo-shin replied energetically while looking at Mion.
If there were saints in this world, they would be like her.
Kind and... well-endowed.
But…
One small question remained.
Why would Mion, with such an angelic heart, steal his underwear?
His thoughts were interrupted by Cain's urging.
"Let's go quickly. We have a lot to do today."
"Alright. Snout, lead the way."
"Yes, Skar!"
Jeong Yoo-shin, Mion, and Cain followed Snout through the streets.
They soon arrived at the shabby house after passing through an alley.
Knock, knock.
Snout knocked on the wooden door.
"...Who is it?"
The voice of a fox beast-person came from beyond the door.
Luna's voice.
It wasn't the cheerful voice he had heard in the inn's common area while playing with the slimes.
It was laced with caution and fear.
"Luna, Skar and his friends have come to see Edel. Can you open the door?"
"...What?!"
Crash!!!
The wooden door flew open as if it had been broken.
Luna stood there.
Her eyes were red, as if she had been crying.
"Uh...!"
Luna rubbed her eyes, wiping away her tears. Then she cautiously spoke.
"Who are the people behind you?"
"Hello, Luna. I'm Mion. I'm a priestess of the Earth Mother Goddess. And this is Cain, a knight of Labyrinth City."
"W-What brings you here?"
Jeong Yoo-shin interrupted.
"Luna, we've come to treat your mother. Will you take us to her?"
Luna's eyes widened for a moment, then narrowed.
"R-Really? But... all the doctors said there's no cure. And Mom is sleeping right now. She was coughing all night before finally falling asleep..."
Luna replied hesitantly. Her voice was tinged with distrust.
"Luna."
Jeong Yoo-shin knelt down and met Luna's gaze.
"Trust me, just this once."
At Jeong Yoo-shin's words, Luna clutched her skirt tightly.
"Y-You're asking me to trust you now? When my mom was sick, people came and l-lied! They said it was a high-grade magic stone! That it was expensive! Mom even sold the shop to buy it! Sniffle! And then they all pretend nothing happened afterwards!"
Luna's voice rose towards the end.
So that was what happened.
"Adults are all liars!"
Jeong Yoo-shin quietly observed Luna's face. She wouldn't meet his eyes and was staring at the floor.
There was no logic in Luna's words. But there was raw emotion.
She called him daddy before, yet she didn't trust the help he was offering them.
That was why she was acting like this.
She wanted to rely on him but couldn't fully trust him, caught in a painful conflict.
"Luna, do we have guests?"
Edel's voice came from beyond the door.
Luna's body stiffened.
"Follow me."
Luna slumped her shoulders and opened the door to Edel's room.
Creak.
The inside of the room was the same as before. The only difference was Edel's complexion.
She was even paler than yesterday.
"Cough. We have many guests today. The Knight-Commander and a priestess, no less."
Edel said with a weak smile.
Jeong Yoo-shin approached Edel's bedside and knelt on one knee.
"Edel, I'm afraid I can't grant your request about the godparent thing."
"Oh...!"
A gasp escaped Luna's lips from behind him.
"...Is that so? I apologize for asking such a difficult favor. Cough."
Her voice was filled with disappointment.
Edel's face darkened considerably.
Jeong Yoo-shin took out the magic stone.
"Instead, I've come to treat you. To be honest, I'm not sure if it will work. That's why I brought some trustworthy acquaintances with me. Would you mind if they examined you?"
"...Skar."
Jeong Yoo-shin and Edel briefly made eye contact.
Edel seemed to have something to say, but she simply nodded silently in the end.
Mion stepped forward and gently took Edel's hand.
"Then, let's begin the examination."
After about ten minutes, Mion spoke.
"I think it's possible. As expected, there's some high-purity mana remaining in your body. And your mana wavelength isn't too different from Skar's."
"What should I do?"
"Please give me the magic stone. I need to extract the mana from it and then circulate it through her body."
Jeong Yoo-shin handed her the magic stone.
Mion carefully moved next to Jeong Yoo-shin and pressed closely against him.
Her plump, childbearing hips bumped against his.
"Mion, aren't you a little too close?"
Cain pointed out, but Mion ignored him and continued explaining the treatment procedure.
"Edel, I'll remove the blanket for the treatment. And it's going to take a while. About six hours, in fact. Since I need to concentrate, could everyone except Skar leave the room?"
"Alright."
"Tsk."
Snout and Cain agreed, but Luna hesitated.
Did she want to stay by her mother's side?
Mion looked at Luna.
"Luna, can you promise to be quiet?"
"Yes."
Creak.
Snout and Cain left the room.
The preparations for the treatment were complete.
Mion took a deep breath, held the magic stone in one hand, and took Edel's hand with the other.
Mana slowly began to flow into Edel's body.
"Ugh!"
Edel's body trembled in pain.
Luna covered her mouth and quietly watched her mother.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Five hours passed.
Edel bit her lip and writhed slightly.
Mion's brow furrowed slightly.
"As I expected. There's not enough mana."
Mion put down the magic stone and held out her hand to Jeong Yoo-shin.
"Skar, please hold my hand and relax."
"Yes."
Jeong Yoo-shin reached out and took Mion's hand.
A soft hand.
He felt a warm sensation.
Mion's mana crept towards him.
It was a strange feeling.
How should he describe it?
It was familiar.
It was difficult to put into words.
In short, it was Mion's mana.
Jeong Yoo-shin relaxed, just as Mion had instructed, and entrusted his body to her mana.
Guided by Mion, Jeong Yoo-shin's mana flowed into Edel's body.
Just then.
Something unexpected happened.
A cry escaped Edel's lips, who had been silently enduring the pain all this time.
"Hee!"
Edel's body convulsed.
It was the sound of someone startled by a new sensation.
"Edel! Just hold on a little longer. We're almost done!"
Mion said urgently.
"S-Suddenly, this... What?!"
Edel's slurred voice trailed off.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Her soft, yellow fox ears twitched.
"W-Wait a moment, Priestess Mion! Something's strange...! Hooo!"
Edel cried out.
Jeong Yoo-shin felt uneasy.
Could it be that his mana wavelength wasn't compatible with Edel's?
"Bear with it!"
Mion said firmly.
"Mom!"
Luna, who had been restless, finally rushed to Edel and grabbed her other hand.
"Mom! Don't go!"
Tears streamed down Luna's cheeks.
"Hooooot?!"
Edel's thin body lifted slightly.
Her lower body moved back and forth vigorously, as if yearning for something.
"J-Just... a moment?!"
Edel stopped speaking as she breathed heavily with her lips rounded.
Her eyes glistened with moisture.
Her tongue, loosened, couldn't form proper words.
Her pale face was now flushed red.
Her nightgown was disheveled from her writhing.
Jeong Yoo-shin and Edel's eyes met.
"Edel, hang in there."
"Skar! This is...! Hoooot?!"
Edel's eyes rolled back.
"Mom!"
"N-Not like this! Luna is watching! N-No!!!"
Edel bit her lip, trying to resist, but it was no use.
Jeong Yoo-shin's faint mana rampaged through her body, targeting her weak points.
Poke.
As Jeong Yoo-shin's pure mana pierced the dam of hardened mana.
Everything crumbled.
"Hooooong!!!"
Edel arched her back and screamed, her groin thrusting upwards.
"Mom!!!"
Luna screamed as well.
Thud.
Edel's limp body fell back onto the bed.
"Pant. Pant."
Her face was bright red, and her tongue was lolling out as she gasped for breath.
Tears streamed down her cheeks from the sheer intensity of the experience.
Jeong Yoo-shin watched Edel, his heart pounding in his chest.
Was the treatment over?
"It's over. The Mana Sclerosis is completely gone."
Mion said while wiping the sweat from her forehead.
"Then?!"
"Yes. Luna, your mother is completely cured."
"Sniffle! Thank you!"
Luna rushed forward and hugged both Mion and Jeong Yoo-shin.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked at Mion.
"Priestess Mion, thank you. I don't know how to repay you."
"No. I'm just glad I could be of help to you, Skar."
Mion smiled benevolently.
Jeong Yoo-shin looked down at Luna.
"Luna, you can call me Mister from now on. You don't have to call me Daddy. I'll help you anytime you need it."
Luna looked up at Jeong Yoo-shin's face and silently rubbed her face against his chest.
Jeong Yoo-shin stroked Luna's head.
Creak.
Snout and Cain, who had been waiting outside, entered the room.
"Is it over?"
Cain asked.
"Yes, older brother."
Cain Landisher started to say something, then stopped and held out a wooden cup.
It was filled with strawberry juice. He must have gone to town to buy it.
"Good work. You too, little one. Drink this. And wipe your nose."
Cain took a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped Luna's face, and handed her the juice.
"Thank you."
Luna bowed her head to Cain.
Cain scratched his cheek awkwardly and handed the handkerchief to Mion.
Jeong Yoo-shin stood up, tidied the room, and covered Edel with the blanket.
Edel seemed to have lost consciousness and was now sleeping peacefully.
"Snout, stay here and look after Edel and Luna."
"It would be my pleasure."
Snout's eyes were red.
Jeong Yoo-shin patted Snout's shoulder and left the room.
As evening approached.
The three of them walked down the street.
Cain spoke.
"Mion, good work."
"Thank you, older brother."
"You should rest today. You must be tired."
"Yes. I'm sorry. You took a vacation because of me, and yet..."
"It's fine. There are days like this sometimes."
Cain smiled and patted his chest.
Jeong Yoo-shin stopped walking.
He intended to return to Dalmong's inn now that it was evening.
"Thank you both for your help today. Thanks to you, we were able to save Edel and Luna."
Mion smiled silently.
Cain cleared his throat and patted Jeong Yoo-shin's shoulder.
"You worked hard too."
"Then, I'll be going."
"Alright."
Mion and Cain watched Jeong Yoo-shin's receding figure for a moment.
"So? Skar is a good person, right?"
"Hmm! He's not a bad person. A bit intimidating, though."
Cain cleared his throat and revised his assessment of Jeong Yoo-shin.
The siblings smiled faintly and continued walking down the evening street.
--------------------------------------
T/N - Aw, what a happy ending for Luna and her mother. Though there were some sus stuff happening at the end of that treatment.
Also, I feel like the high-grade mana stone is a clue for how Oswald’s stealth skill works. Most likely, his skill needs mana stones to work, and it drains the mana stone’s mana while the skill is being used. The reason why Oswald was okay with giving it to the MC was probably partly due to the mana stone being halfway drained, so it wasn’t as valuable anymore.