Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Strict Distinction Between Public and Private Matters - 2
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The undead transformation had been lifted, but Rudhi wasn't fully healed yet.
On top of that, the necrotic tissue left over from the aftermath of the undead transformation couldn't just be left alone, so I transformed Moonlight into a dagger.
"Want me to administer some anesthetic?"
The alchemists happened to have some anesthetic on hand, so I loaded it into a syringe as I asked.
Rudhi, lying on the bed, stared up at me blankly before moving her dry lips.
"S... Sage...?"
"Yeah."
"I saw you... at the Alchemist Guild..."
"Is that all?"
"And..."
Her throat seemed parched as she moved her dry lips. I wet them with a damp cloth, and she managed to take in a little moisture.
A gulp—she swallowed the water, which meant her internal organs were probably still fine.
I checked her body temperature, remixed the dosage, and prepared the syringe.
"My sister... told me..."
"What'd she say?"
"...Among humans... the only one... the Sage... you're trustworthy..."
"So, you'll accept my treatment without a fuss?"
Rudhi nodded faintly. Maybe because of the title "Sage" or because she'd heard it from Evangeline, things seemed to be going smoothly.
Not a bad outcome. There were elves who absolutely hated being treated by humans.
Especially high-ranking ones... but she didn't seem to be like that.
"For now, we'll treat the necrotic parts. Here goes."
I administered the anesthetic and monitored her condition. Once her ragged breathing steadied and her eyes closed, Lorellia pushed through the horrified elves and asked worriedly.
"Is there anything I can do to help with the treatment?"
"Not really... Oh. Actually, yeah. Could you block those guys outside from causing a scene?"
The priests from the Healing Tree Tribe would probably voice their complaints outright if they saw me treating her like this.
I'd already undone the undead transformation, but they might insist on handling the rest themselves.
"Got it. Anything else? Any other support needed?"
I sliced away Rudhi's rotten flesh with Moonlight, cast Heal, and said.
"Nope. Rotello will assist with the treatment, so everyone else, out."
Those still lingering left at my command. Rotello, left alone with me, was familiar with this kind of treatment—he wiped away the flowing black blood with a cloth and sprinkled regeneration potion.
After I cut away the rotten flesh several times, the black blood stopped, and bright red blood began trickling out.
"By the way, is it okay to treat her like this? Seems pretty brutal..."
"Normally, no. But if we leave it, we'd have to amputate the limb entirely."
I used the Healer's skill Surgery while combining it with the Priest's recovery spells.
I performed Regeneration, Heal, and Surgery simultaneously, and Rotello watched in repeated admiration before saying.
"I didn't know your medical knowledge was this impressive. Where'd you learn it?"
"At the Healer Guild. Truth is, I didn't train for that long."
"And you're still this good? Impressive."
"I've used it a lot while hunting Demon Kings."
The Demon Kings made monsters stronger, and their minions rampaged, causing tons of deaths and injuries.
In saving them, holy power alone wasn't enough, so I learned healing arts. Using them alongside other skills made me proficient.
"But this isn't perfect either."
I couldn't even use the Healer's ultimate, God's Surgery. I just boosted success rates by combining Priest skills, Alchemist skills, and aids from other classes.
"They say Sages can use every skill... That synergy is incredible."
Spot on.
One reason Sages were considered overpowered was their ability to use any type of skill. It compensated for weaknesses, massively boosting power and success rates—hence the "cheat class" label.
"But still... it's not flawless."
I cut away the missed spots, sutured with thread, and he smiled wryly. I shrugged.
I'm no doctor or Healer by trade, so let's skip that.
After two hours of treatment, we finally excised all the necrotic tissue from Rudhi's body and regenerated the areas.
Sweat-soaked, both Rotello and I stepped back. I confirmed her condition had stabilized before administering the plague antidote.
The fever from the anesthetic-sedated Rudhi's body began to subside slowly. Only then did Rotello collapse to the floor.
"That was exhausting..."
"Good work. Let's grab some food."
"...Insane focus. You sure you're human?"
"This is nothing."
Main story had way worse scenarios.
After finishing the treatment and resting a bit, I heard murmuring from afar.
Looking over, I saw them shoving aside the Light Wing Tribe and alchemists, stomping toward me aggressively.
Figured they'd show up.
Judging by their attire, they were priests. High-ranking ones, at that.
Probably top-tier.
Leading them was a voluptuous golden-haired female elf in an Elven silk priestess robe.
"Tribe Chief of the Healing Tree Tribe. Suhwi."
"Sage. And?"
"I heard you're treating the plague. With some success, too. Well done on that front."
"Doesn't seem like you're just here to praise me. We're both busy—get to the point."
"Fine. Stop the treatment immediately."
Her tone was icy, like winter frost. The Light Wing Tribe elves and alchemists scowled deeply.
Telling me to stop the treatment...
Took them longer than expected.
I'd thought they'd interrupt before I started on Rudhi.
Either way, I couldn't just say "Sure."
"But leaving it alone makes plague treatment impossible. You're not hoping it spreads through the Elf Forest, right? Got some plan?"
"My daughter and Saintess, Seongya, has entered prayer for the Great Holy Spell. She'll emerge soon."
Oh. Great Holy Spell.
Only ultra-high-ranking priests could cast that.
But it wouldn't work.
I recalled the game event. Even when the Pope cast it, the plague didn't get cured.
"That won't cut it."
"How would you know?"
"I'm the Sage. I know everything."
"Hmph. Even so, a noble elf surviving by human hands is unacceptable."
"I've saved plenty of elves so far."
"Outside elves don't matter. Noble elves residing in the Elf Forest..."
She's so rigid. I even used Persuasion skill, but no dice.
Sometimes words fail, and physical persuasion is needed.
But that'd turn all the helping elves hostile and make them leave.
The Healing Tree Tribe held major sway in the Elf Forest, after all.
"Fine, I'll pause treatment until your Great Holy Spell finishes. If it fails, we resume. Deal? In exchange, let us keep researching."
Once kingdom support arrives, alchemists increase, and we can mass-produce antidotes.
So, stall with research in the meantime. I proposed it to her.
It was a big concession on my part, so Suhwi didn't outright refuse. She was showing me respect, in her way.
Or maybe respecting Lorellia who brought me here.
"Hmm... That should be fine. I know alchemists crave knowledge. But we won't need your power."
"Sure. Hope so."
It won't work, though.
Suhwi stared at me briefly before leaving. Some priests glanced slyly, smirking, and followed.
I'll memorize those names.
The list in my mental killbook of elves keeps growing.
With the standoff resolved, Light Wing Tribe members sighed in relief, while alchemists hid their bitterness poorly.
"Sage. Sorry."
"Priests hold high positions in situations like this..."
"Nah, it's fine. Bound to happen."
"Heh. For a human, you're decent, Sage. Want honorary elf status...?"
"No thanks."
"Or how about Elf Friend title?"
Rotello smiled wryly, and I laughed.
"I'm no one's 'Nim' friend."
No need for that crap—just keep researching.
***
Days had passed since the human called Sage entered the Elf Forest.
Thinking of what he'd done, the Healing Tree Tribe couldn't help but feel irritated.
The plague was shifting power from Light Wing Tribe to Healing Tree Tribe, but he was dismantling that balance entirely.
"Lorellia, too. Bringing a human from outside?"
"Easy there. The elves who got that 'antidote' still aren't fully cured, right? Saintess will finish prayer soon and wrap it all up."
Only after Suhwi spoke did the priests stop grumbling and nod.
She was right. Seongya, Suhwi's daughter—the Healing Tree Tribe's strongest Saintess in holy power—was about to end her seclusion prayer.
Once she emerged and cast the Great Holy Spell to cure the plague, it'd be over.
Maybe even better.
Unlike Lorellia, who recklessly fetched a human, they'd earn respect from other Elf Forest elves for saving their kin internally.
Post-crisis, Great Tribe Chief position might shift to Healing Tree Tribe.
"Anyway, Great Holy Spell prep is done. Just waiting on Saintess."
"Yep."
"Congratulations, Tribe Chief! Hahaha!"
Suhwi smiled as the elf priests bowed to her. They were all expectant.
Seongya, the Saintess—her precious daughter, like a second self, her only family—would save the elves with the Great Holy Spell.
And she'd become Great Tribe Chief.
So, she'd make it happen.
She'd elevate elves far more than her daughter.
With that thought, she parted from the priests and headed to the temple to greet Seongya.
A towering ancient tree piercing the sky.
Behind it, in the Water Sanctuary, Seongya prayed alone.
The prayer ends when the sun is high.
Suhwi waited, holding the Saintess robes. Once Seongya emerged, prepared for Great Holy Spell, she'd wield immense holy power.
Channel that into the spell and...
Imagining her golden future for herself and Healing Tree Tribe, she looked up as time came.
"...Hm?"
Something was off. Sun was high; prayer time passed.
Why wasn't Seongya out?
Puzzled, her heart pounded.
Something was wrong.
Something's off.
Suhwi gulped dryly, hung the robes aside, and rushed into the sanctuary.
There, she found her.
A young black-haired elf collapsed, gasping.
Lustrous black hair to her waist, like night sky; skin white as moonlight.
Beautiful girl resembling her strikingly.
Healing Tree Tribe's Saintess, her daughter, the tribe's hope.
Her everything—adorable daughter Seongya.
"...Cough!! Cough! Haak... Haa... Ah... Uh... Cough! Cough!"
"...No... way..."
Showing plague symptoms.
Author's Note
Hello~ Malmulmalmul here ㅎ Fun Friday, huh?
Have a great hot Friday, everyone~!