Mana Poisoning

I took one step back from the threshold, and with a thud, the hospital room door slammed shut. I just stood there in a daze, staring at the firmly closed door.

The image of the woman lying on the bed was etched so vividly into my mind that I couldn't move a muscle.

My legs gave out completely, and I leaned against the wall next to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the door.

"……."

Where should I even start? The woman on the bed... Yoo Seong-su's mother... How do I describe what she looked like? The skin swollen purple from head to toe? The bloodshot eyes bulging as if blood would pour out any second? Or the hair bleached completely white like an albino's?

I had no idea. I never imagined Yoo Seong-su had a situation like this....

I knew the name of the disease afflicting Yoo Seong-su's mother. And it wasn't just me—probably no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one in this modern era of cataclysm knew nothing of those symptoms.

Mana poisoning.

Gates, which serve as boundaries between reality and dungeons, emit faint but definite mana waves. Those waves can, at low probability, sicken ordinary people nearby whose bodies can't harmonize with mana.

That's mana poisoning. And it's incurable.

—Mom. I was a bit late today, huh? Something came up.

At that moment, Yoo Seong-su's voice came clearly through the closed door. With my heightened stats improving my hearing, even soundproofing was useless.

—You know, I got to see a gate for the first time today? A super popular player gave me a tour.

Patients with mana poisoning can't move their bodies like they're in a vegetative state, but their consciousness is fully awake. So, she could hear every word Yoo Seong-su was saying, vividly.

...Probably.

—I was so grateful... and it was so cool. I'd only seen players fighting from afar, but up close... it was like a scene from a movie. Ah, no wonder people call players superheroes.

That punk. I thought he was just hamming it up in front of me, but he was serious? No need to brag about me to his sick mom....

Do I have to keep eavesdropping? My face is burning up.

—...How great would it be if I could become like that too?

In that instant, the elated tone in Yoo Seong-su's voice grew slightly choked.

—If I become a strong player and make a ton of money, I could pay for your hospital bills more comfortably than now....

"……."

—And when you wake up later, I could show you what a strong, cool son I've become....

His words trailed off without a period, laced with a sob.

—But you know... I'm doing my best in my own way. Even if I can't be an amazing player, I want to be an amazing son in your eyes. Working hard, not neglecting my studies.... And, and....

Yoo Seong-su's voice, full of sniffles, gradually faded into the distance. He must have been sitting by the bed the whole time since earlier.

If he buried his face in the sheets while talking, his voice would sound like that.

—Later, you have to tell me, okay? That your son grew up cool and strong. So, Mom....

One year later. Even after becoming an S-rank that any player would covet, Yoo Seong-su rarely smiled. No wonder he got the nickname 'Statue.' I couldn't understand why he wandered around with such a dark aura back then, but now I get it.

—Please wake up....

Humans with mana poisoning usually die anywhere from three months to a maximum of half a year after onset.

'I met Yoo Seong-su a year from now...'

So by then, his mother would already have...

—Mom... Mom...

I should stop listening. Eavesdropping any longer would be rude. It's practically committing a sin against that guy Yoo Seong-su.

'He said his dad died in a factory accident. But he always hid anything about his mom....'

I slipped out of the hospital quietly without releasing Stealth.

A heavy weight settled in my chest like lead, and the evening breeze chilled through it.

'Back then, it must have been a story he didn't want to remember or tell anyone.'

What must that have felt like? After his mother passed, when he finally became the S-rank player he'd dreamed of. When he realized he could no longer show her the 'cool son' he'd wanted to become.

I couldn't even imagine the emptiness he must have felt then.

But, 'You think I don't know?'

Yeah. This much, I can say for sure.

'That feeling when you lose your parents—like the world is collapsing.'

The despair and loneliness of being left alone in the world—I know it. Not some half-baked pity...

Yeah. It's empathy. When you realize the other person went through the same thing as you, something indescribable wells up in your chest.

A lump forms.

'She's still alive.'

Three years back in regression, Yoo Seong-su's mother is still alive now. Of course, she doesn't have much time left.

I reunited with my mom through the agent-constellation bond, but Yoo Seong-su hasn't. If his mother passes this time too, it'll be a permanent farewell for him.

I can't let that happen.

'I have to save her somehow.'

For Yoo Seong-su's favorability? Sure, maybe. If things go really well...

The way he looks at me would do a complete 180. And if he manifests that, the flower path of my life would bloom even brighter.

But honestly, favorability is secondary now. Another emotion took precedence.

The pure desire to help Yoo Seong-su and his mother.

'Mana poisoning is incurable now, but in two years, a cure comes out.'

The world's top pharmaceutical company develops a complete cure after long research.

The problem? It doesn't mass-produce until two years later. By then, Yoo Seong-su's mom would already be gone—what's the point?

'Not like I have a way to speed up the development myself...'

Damn. Regression isn't a cure-all. My heart's ahead, but reality lags.

I was choking it down like a whole sweet potato when—

"Suddenly?"

I asked pathetically, like a kid staring blankly at his parents' receding backs.

"W-where you going, Mom?"

And, as expected, a cold silence in return.

Well, fine, step out if you must, but a heads-up wouldn't kill you.

'...Maybe they sell mana poisoning cures at the Honor Hall?'

It's where gods beyond mortal cognition reside, so something like a panacea might exist.

Though whether Mom's God Coins could buy it is questionable.

A moment later.

With Mom's return came an unexpectedly thick message floating before my eyes.

...What? Guest? Out of nowhere? Who the hell...?

Before I could even react, text began appearing in the air. Not as complete sentences like usual system messages, but letter by letter, like someone typing.

Oh my god. Another constellation was actually chatting with me.

Mortal Pet Raising had a feature like this? Wait, more importantly, what do I even reply?

Flustered, I bowed my head to empty air like a lunatic.

"Y-yes, I'm her son...."

Mom. Please, next time give me a heads-up. A heads-up.

Even as I sweated bullets inside, the messages continued building syllable by syllable.

It's fine. I'm going insane from this unfamiliar situation too.

The moment 'cure' appeared slowly in the chat window, I unwittingly swallowed hard.

I wiped the awkward smile from my face and nodded solemnly.

My throat parched and heart raced with every message.

How could it not? Saint. If not just a random nickname, the image it evokes is a 'holy guardian deity wielding miracles.'

I can't confirm her true name, but if my image is right...

'She can definitely solve mana poisoning.'

And from the conversation flow so far, the Saint likes me.

She might even gladly provide the cure...

...Wait. What?

Whoops. Did I let my disappointment show?

Anyway, saying that means there's some way, right?

"Workshop... you mean?"

A primordial water that heals all diseases in the mortal world.

In other words, a panacea. If that exists, no need for a mana poisoning cure.

Who backs down in fear when they know the answer's there? Not me.

"It's fine."

Is that an insult or a compliment, Saint?

Flash! Flecks of light gathered in the air and burst brightly.

Soon, something soft like a feather settled into my hand.

It was a square 'ticket' intricately embroidered with ornate gold patterns and dense unknown script.

Hearing that, I tore the ticket in half without hesitation—rip!

Then...

Crackle! The air right in front of me tore open at the same speed as the ticket, like a gate appearing.

It was actually a swirling 'door' connected to a 'subspace,' just like a gate.

I've already made up my mind, so why keep popping up these choices that make me anxious?

I selected 'Y' without delay.

"……!"

The same vertigo and floating sensation as passing through a gate hit me. I squeezed my eyes shut reflexively, then opened them again to see...

Flap flap—!

Books. In every size, color, and form... countless ancient tomes swarmed like flying insects in a vast white field.

"What is this...?"

Only five? No way. There are hundreds visible already.

This difficulty is too much, Saint.

Like auto-drops from monsters in an RPG, then?

Easier said than done...

And a time limit on top. Perfect.

No time to complain when overstaying means death.

'Tear or burn them, just find the pages.'

Meaning, don't politely check one by one—go wild on everything.

And better to rampage with a weapon than bare-handed.

Pop—! The zipper unzipped, and a beam of light like a tentacle ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shot from inside, wrapping around my hand.

If Pandora's Box has any sense, it'd spit out an AoE weapon. Please.

'Something light for swinging wildly...'

Wobble!

No sooner had I wished for light than a heavy weight slammed into my hand, tilting my body.

Then I saw what was in my hand and lost my words.

My hope for Pandora's Box to have sense flew lightly out the window.

It looked like a heavy machine gun. But at the end wasn't a barrel—a hose with a nozzle.

Yeah. No matter how you look...

"A flamethrower?"

Wished for sense in Pandora's Box? What nonsense. 'Sense' is an understatement. This overflows with it.

I proudly pulled the trigger.

And... ignition!

Whoosh—!!

A massive flame stream loaded with intense heat sprayed out fiercely.

The fan-shaped blaze incinerated every ancient tome in range indiscriminately.

They say playing with fire is the world's most thrilling prank? Hope I don't end up drawing on my blanket tonight. Haha!

I sprayed flames evenly, like watering a flower bed.

The result?

.

.

Among the countless books burning helplessly like moths to a flame, I have no idea which held the 'pages.'

But who cares?

Nice to meet you too, Saint.