Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Elephant Tranquilizer
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“Well now, big brother. Still carrying on like this?”
I was dumbfounded. What, why was Uncle here?
‘He woke up earlier than scheduled?!’
The man who should have slept for at least a week woke up in just three days!
“Kiddo. Remember this.”
What was even more surprising was that the stream of water sent by Heuk Birang was blocking my eldest uncle's fist, which was wreathed in lightning.
Though he seemed to be struggling a bit.
“What would you have done without me? Magnificent me. The best. Absolutely the best.”
I was bewildered.
‘What’s with this guy? Did he take some kind of medicine in his sleep?’
My friend said the heroine's dad becomes a man full of confidence once he overcomes his narcolepsy…
“Ah, you don't know me. I'm always like this. Because I'm the best.”
Isn’t this a bit narcissistic?
Even amidst all this, my eldest uncle's and youngest uncle's hands were locked in a relentless power struggle.
I saw the streams of water climbing up my eldest uncle's body.
I knew that there were mages among the nature ability users who wielded the power of water, and that Heuk Birang was a water mage.
But seeing it in person was a completely different experience.
“Water against lightning… it’s just too disadvantageous. Then and now.”
After striking away my eldest uncle's hand, my youngest uncle took a large step back. My eldest uncle was bound by the water, unable to move.
“He may look like that, but I can't hold off my crazy big brother for long. Do you have a plan?”
“…Hah, it's almost over.”
The answer came from my cousin. He replied, panting for breath.
“You can tell by his eyes!”
“Aha, got it.”
Water surged behind the grinning Heuk Birang. I also use water as a medium for healing, but…
it was completely different from Heuk Birang's ability.
“So I just need to hold on a little longer, right?”
“Yes!”
The water was now trapping my eldest uncle like a prison, just as mine had done.
“So I just hold on? No, but I might not be able to. I just woke up myself, you know.”
“Uncoo, Biyu knows a way! Just buy us some time!”
My youngest uncle nodded without even looking at me.
“Alright. If it gets dangerous, I'm outta here, got it?”
I nodded, grabbing onto my uncle's sleeve.
“Uncoo, what if you fall asleep?”
“I think I'll probably be fine.”
*Rumble.*
An ominous sound came from above.
“I may have become a bit of a wreck… but I think I can handle this.”
*CRACK!*
A bolt of lightning struck from the sky.
The protective barrier of water surrounding us miraculously dispersed the lightning like a lightning rod.
As Heuk Birang dispelled the water barrier, he said nonchalantly,
“Your medicine was amazing, kiddo.”
The water enveloped me and then set me down a short distance away.
“I told you, didn't I? I can't hold out for long.”
I hurried over to where Heuk Gyewon was.
“Oppa, huwwy!”
I took a red petal from the pouch at my waist and showed it to him.
“Have you seen a wed petal? There should be some awound here?”
“…I have!”
Heuk Gyewon hoisted me onto his back.
“Can't bweathe…!”
“Sorry, hang in there!”
But!
“Cough, waah! Why awe you cawwying me like this!”
“Sorry, it's the easiest way!”
“Nevaw mind! Is there mandwake too?”
“What's that?!”
“That! The one that looks like that!”
“Ah…! I get it!”
My cousin ran with all his might, and soon I was in front of the plant I wanted.
‘Honestly, I don't know if some lunatic was trying to make drugs here, or maybe an anesthetic!’
There are poppies scattered throughout this garden. There are poisonous plants, too.
As if someone had planted them with intent.
“Okay! Put me down!”
I moved quickly.
The water in the bottle I was holding sloshed. Without hesitation, I plunged my hand into the water.
Uncle! Don't fall asleep, and don't die!
* * *
“Sigh…”
Heuk Birang regretted sending Heuk Biyu off the moment he did.
“Just my luck.”
It was good that the kids had disappeared around the corner, but his big brother, who'd completely lost his mind, was too much to handle.
‘He used to be such a good man…’
Facing his living older brother, Heuk Birang thought.
“Go to a better place, big brother.”
“Kuaaaargh!”
“Ah, damn it, you can't even let me get sentimental!”
*CRASH!*
A lightning bolt struck right beside him. This was the result even after deflecting it with water. Heuk Birang's handsome brow furrowed deeply.
“Damn it! The matchup! The matchup!”
It was always like this, even in our childhood.
‘Hahaha, little brother. You're no match for me!’
‘Hahaha, little brother. You're no match for me!’
‘Damn it, just you wait. Water can beat lightning, you know?’
‘Damn it, just you wait. Water can beat lightning, you know?’
But his brother gave him no time to reminisce.
“Go on, just kill your little brother, kill him! You crazy bastard!”
Heuk Birang recoiled, dodging the lightning-wreathed fist, and threw his body back.
A rapier, drawn sheath and all, was now in Heuk Birang's hand.
Heuk Biwon, Heuk Bihu, and himself, Heuk Birang.
Among the children of the family head, the three brothers were the most skilled in martial arts.
‘Unfortunately, every single one of them was struck with a damn incurable disease and abandoned.’
People called the three brothers' fall from grace a disgrace to the family. Some even said it was a sign of the Heuk family's downfall.
‘Isn't their bad luck going to spread to their children? Who knows, maybe the disease is contagious.’
‘Isn't their bad luck going to spread to their children? Who knows, maybe the disease is contagious.’
‘…What did you say?’
‘…What did you say?’
‘K-kuaaargh!’
‘K-kuaaargh!’
Heuk Birang hoped this curse would not be passed down to his daughter.
That was why he had entrusted his daughter to his reliable sister and chosen the path of seclusion by orchestrating an accident.
He thought he might just sleep his life away until he died.
“*Tsk*, did I come here for nothing?”
But he got better. Just a little, but he got better.
Because of that, he saw hope. He could never let it go.
That's why he'd sought out his niece the moment he woke up, unwilling to waste even a second in a daze.
“Big brother, killing that kid would be a loss for us. It seems like she might be able to fix your head too, you know?”
A mere three-year-old, yet clearly a genius ability user. A little kid who introduces herself as a physician.
By the time she's officially certified… she'll become an even more incredible physician or apothecary.
‘I'll protect my own lifeline!’
His brother gripped his sword. The brothers' struggle began.
*Bzzzt!*
“Damn it, look at that lightning! You brutish oaf! Snap out of it?!”
“Grrrr…”
“God damn it, you mad dog! You son of a…! You dare leave a single scar on my face? I'll smack your son around! You hear me?!”
There was only one reason Heuk Birang hadn't drawn his sword. The blade was a last resort.
But just as he was hesitating, wondering if he should just draw his sword since he couldn't win the power struggle, a welcome voice called out!
“Uncoo!”
As if he'd been waiting for it, Heuk Birang knocked his older brother's hand away.
“That, that! Spway it!”
“Spray what? Ah.”
“Uncle, here!”
Something came flying. It was a spray bottle thrown by Heuk Gyewon.
He caught it, but…
Heuk Birang dodged his big brother's kick and lunged forward.
“Ah, to hell with it.”
In their childhood, he, the youngest of the three brothers, was always the first one to be taken out.
‘An opening!’
But his brother, having lost his reason, had grown stronger at the cost of precision. Exploiting the opening, Heuk Birang raised his hand.
*Pssssssht!*
“Kagh!”
*Pssssssssht!*
“Kuaargh!”
“Um, this is…”
Heuk Birang muttered.
*Pssssssssssssht!*
“…Feels like I'm swatting a mosquito.”
Whatever kind of poison (?) this was, it was working!
“Uncoo! The needle!”
“Needle? What needle? Oh.”
Heuk Birang caught what was thrown at him. It was a syringe.
‘What keeps popping out of nowhere?’
“Dada, awtewy! The awtewy!”
“She says the artery!”
She probably means I should stick it in his neck, right?
Without hesitation, Heuk Birang plunged the syringe into his older brother's neck.
“Go to a better place, big brother…”
“Don't kill my father!”
“It's a joke, kid.”
Surprisingly, Heuk Biwon faltered, then slowly collapsed.
It was almost baffling.
Heuk Birang, who had been staring blankly at his brother, looked at Biyu as she ran up.
“Niece… what on earth is this?”
Biyu, who had been panting and looking at her eldest uncle, showed a relieved expression and then broke into a wide smile.
“Anesthetic!”
Her voice was bright and cheerful.
And Biyu smiled even more brightly.
“Enough to take down about ten elephants?”
At those words, Heuk Birang thought.
…My brother isn't going to die, is he?