Chapter 25. Curse
Ah... The twin sisters, Rozalia and Lorelia, couldn't close their mouths at the sight of the palace-like mansion. Her older sister couldn't tell if this was a dream or reality. They had bathed cleanly, donned fine new clothes, and been given a spacious room. For Rozalia, who had always slept on cold wooden floors covered only by a threadbare blanket riddled with holes, this place was nothing short of paradise. To think that a room big enough for at least ten people was theirs alone—!
Rozalia felt her heart sink at how overly generous it all was. She knew all too well that she didn't deserve any of this.
"Sis, this is so nice, right?"
But she couldn't show her unease in front of her angel-like little sister. Rozalia smiled brightly and gently stroked her pretty little sister's hair.
"Yeah, it's amazing. We're so lucky. To have such kind relatives."
"Yeah—! ...So, does that mean you don't have to work anymore, Sis? You can stay with me now?"
"We still have to work. ...We can't just play around and expect to be fed, right? People have to work if they're not sick."
"...Yeah, you're right. Sis is always right."
Rozalia's throat tightened for a moment. But she swallowed back the tears. She couldn't ruin this good day by bawling like an idiot. Besides, she'd been pointed at and called a cursed bitch so many times. If she cried, the master might scold her as some wretched slut.
Rozalia laid the yawning Lorelia down on the bed, patted her chest to soothe her, and waited until her sister fell asleep before quietly slipping out of the room. She was startled to see the steward waiting outside and immediately prostrated herself on the floor, bowing deeply.
"Thank you, thank you."
"No need for that, miss. We're just the hired help. The grace comes from His Excellency."
"Ah... Yes."
She rose slowly, hunching her body as much as possible and keeping her head bowed low. Her body did that automatically in front of people. It had become an ingrained habit.
"Follow me. His Excellency is waiting."
The steward, Durka, led Rozalia to the hero's office. As she stood before the ornate gold-leafed door, her heart pounded wildly. Her limbs trembled, and her mouth went dry.
Durka knocked politely on the door.
"Your Excellency, I've brought the young lady."
- Come in.
Durka opened the door and gestured for Rozalia to enter. She stepped inside cautiously. The door clicked shut behind her. She prostrated herself at the threshold, bowing toward the hero master.
"Rozalia, no need for that. Come here."
She rose slowly and approached the desk step by careful step, as if treading on thin ice. Ji-hyuk could sense indirectly from her movements just how harsh her life had been. Her gaunt, malnourished frame from chronic hunger, her raggedly cut, messy hair, her anxious expression and eyes—they couldn't be hidden even by good, clean clothes.
Ji-hyuk stood from his seat, took her bony hand, and led her to the armchair. He sat her down on the plush cushion, then took the chair beside it.
"Relax against it. It's fine. Go on."
At the hero's repeated urging, Rozalia slowly leaned her rigid back against the soft backrest. She'd never sat in such a cushy chair in her life. ...It felt blissfully good.
Ah...
"Shall we talk for a bit?"
Rozalia's large, fearful eyes darted around before settling on the hero's hand resting on the armrest. She didn't dare look at such a high person's face—that would be a grave offense.
"I-I'm not good with words.... So, when I talk, I'm scared I might commit some huge rudeness..."
Having no experience conversing with someone so exalted, she feared she'd make a mistake.
Ji-hyuk soothed her trembling form gently.
"Don't worry, just speak freely. It's okay. Be casual. Like talking to an older brother. Hm?"
Rozalia wracked her uneducated brain with a groan and finally managed to speak.
"B-But why... are you being so nice to me...?"
Honestly, it made no sense to her. For a filthy, scrawny thing like her, who could barely sweep floors or clean toilets, this kind of treatment was unheard of.
Ji-hyuk smiled and reached out to grasp her small, rough hand.
Ah.
She panicked, not knowing what to do.
"I-It’s a dirty hand..."
"No, it's not dirty at all. It looks perfectly clean to me."
Ah... Rozalia's face flushed bright red.
Ji-hyuk patted the back of her hand as he spoke.
"To be honest, I need you."
"...Me?"
"Yeah. ...You're going to save the world someday."
Her eyes widened in shock. It was too distant a notion for someone like her, who could barely clean.
"I-I don't know anything.... I can't do that, sir..."
Her voice grew smaller and smaller.
"No, you can. You have a power you don't know about. ...I know it."
"...Pardon?"
"Trust me. You have the power to save the world. Would a hero like me lie? No, right?"
"Y-Yes..."
"Of course, you can't feel it now. But you'll learn it step by step."
Rozalia had to believe the hero master. Though a single doubt lingered in her heart, she couldn't show it—not with her sister to think of.
"Rest easy for a few days. Eat hearty meals and recover your strength."
"Yes, thank you. I'll repay this grace."
Ji-hyuk gave a slight smile.
"We can cure your sister's illness too."
!!
Rozalia's head snapped up in astonishment as she stared at the hero. She dropped to the floor at once, kowtowing frantically at his feet.
"Please, please heal my sister's illness. I'll do anything. Anything at all. If you tell me to jump into fire or water, I will. I'll do whatever you command. Just please, heal my sister."
Ji-hyuk looked down at her quietly. This time, he didn't tell her to rise.
"Have you heard of the elixir?"
"...Yes, the legendary elixir."
"Without it, your sister won't recover. At best, she has a year. ...With good care, maybe two."
...Ah....
Rozalia despaired. Her heart, already torn to shreds from watching her dying sister for so long, somehow shattered further.
"To make it, you must overcome great trials and hardships. ...Are you prepared for that?"
The sister gritted her teeth. Then she began slamming her forehead against the floor. She only stopped when blood flowed. Frail as she was, when it came to her sister, she became a strong, resolute older sibling.
"...I'll go to hell itself. If my sister can just heal, I'll be your slave for life. I'll do anything."
"Rise."
Rozalia stood. Blood trickled from her torn forehead, dripping onto the floor.
"No guarantees of success. But I'll do my utmost. ...Is that answer enough?"
"Yes, more than enough."
"No need to be a slave. I don't want that. You're my precious subordinate and comrade. And caring for a comrade's sick sister is my duty."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, thank you."
She bowed so low her nose nearly touched the floor. Ji-hyuk pulled a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the blood from her forehead, and handed it to her, telling her to keep it dear.
"Look at this when your resolve wavers."
She clutched the handkerchief to her chest.
"Thank you, thank you."
"Steward—!"
Ji-hyuk called loudly for Durka, who opened the door cautiously and bowed lightly.
"Take her to Grace. Her forehead's injured."
"Understood, Your Excellency."
Rozalia bowed repeatedly in thanks before leaving the office. Ji-hyuk called for an errand boy waiting outside.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
"Fetch Ludvine from the magic academy."
"Right away."
Ji-hyuk stepped out to the terrace for a moment, letting the cool breeze wash over him. The demon cult's crow army, the cursed human Rozalia, and the elixir. They seemed unrelated, but Ji-hyuk knew the invisible thread connecting them.
After cooling off, he returned to his reports. Soon, Ludvine arrived at the office. Her bushy red hair and cheerful expression were the same as ever.
"Boss—!"
"Ah, Ludvine. You're here."
Ji-hyuk prepared to head out the moment he saw her.
Eh? The redheaded freckle-face blinked her big eyes in confusion.
"Going somewhere?"
"Yeah, got a place to go with you."
At "with you," Ludvine wriggled happily, her voice turning coquettish.
"...Where to~?"
"To meet your mother."
Her rosy smile vanished, eyes widening.
"My mother?"
"Need some advice. She's an expert in alchemy, right?"
"Ah, yeah."
Of course she was—a proper witch.
"Problem?"
"...No, it's just... you know..."
"It's fine. What's the issue? She's my subordinate's precious mom. Right?"
A shy smile bloomed on Ludvine's lips again. ...How could he say even that so coolly?
"Got it. I'll guide you—!"
Her heart fluttered at the thought of introducing such a cool, amazing hero to her mother. The two left the mansion promptly and boarded a carriage. She gave the coachman the street name and number. The carriage jolted once and sped down the main road.
Near the house, Ludvine felt the neighbors' stares. Her nose lifted, shoulders squaring proudly. Their envious faces were obvious.
"Mooom—!"
Ludvine pushed open the waist-high wooden gate, calling loudly for her mother. She dashed to the front door, flung it open, and poked her head inside. Ji-hyuk followed slowly, hands behind his back, admiring the tidy yard.
Soon, the redheaded girl emerged from the front door with someone in tow. The beauty who looked like Ludvine's older sister met Ji-hyuk's eyes.
"Mother, it's Hero Excellency."
The daughter pressed her palms together, pointing politely at Ji-hyuk. The redheaded witch blinked a few times, then flashed a sultry smile.
"Pleased to meet you, Your Excellency. I'm Jeanne, Ludvine's mother."
Despite having a grown daughter, she looked incredibly young—like she could pass for Ludvine's sister.
...Ji-hyuk thought, witches gonna witch.
"Kang Ji-hyuk, hero."
"No need for formal speech. It's embarrassing."
"Alright."
"Please, come in, Your Excellency."
Jeanne led the hero inside, glanced at the nosy neighbors peering over the fence, then shut the front door. She hurried to the kitchen, prepared tea, and brought it to the living room.
"I wasn't expecting you, Your Excellency, so my hospitality is lacking..."
"No, it's fine."
The witch smiled sweetly. Every expression and gesture oozed allure.
"So, what brings you here?"
Ji-hyuk sipped his tea, then set the cup down on the table with a clink. Ludvine looked curious too. He gazed steadily into the witch's pretty curved eyes and dropped one word.
"Elixir..."
At that single word, the witch's smile faded bit by bit.
"Can you make it?"