Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: A Slightly Different Genre - 2
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As we headed south, the weather grew hotter. Beads of sweat rolled down Sairon's exposed brown skin, and Sixman wiped his glistening hair with a towel, unintentionally giving off a dewy sheen.
"By the way, where was it we were supposed to go again?"
"Haritisna. It's one of the few villages that worships Hariti, the goddess of fertility and protector of children."
"It's really there, right? The cursed doll."
"Yeah."
The request I'd taken from the Adventurer's Guild was from a wealthy family that could afford to be picky.
The couple made love every day and got along great, but for some reason, they couldn't have kids.
They'd checked for curses with priests and shamans, but nothing like that showed up.
After trying everything with no results, they'd turned to the Adventurer's Guild in desperation, but who would take a job like that?
It had sat unclaimed for years until I decided to pick it up.
I wasn't in a position to be choosy, and handling this request came with achievements and skills as rewards, so as usual, I'd taken it solo and headed south.
That's when I ran into these two at the kingdom's southern border.
Sixman, whom I'd met while adventuring after finishing the main story and had stuck with ever since.
And Sairon, one of the Seekers of the Eight Stars.
Sairon was searching for the cursed doll on orders from her sect, while Sixman had long been hunting for a decent axe.
They asked me for info, and in exchange, I had them help with my job.
That was how they ended up coming all the way south, a place even in the game you rarely went.
"Haritisna, huh. It's true you can get an Executioner there?"
I glanced at his axe.
It was the one I'd enchanted for him, but it wasn't fitting for someone of Sixman's skill.
"Yeah."
"Ugh~ Executioner. Well, if the all-knowing Sage says so, it must be true."
'Executioner' was one of the unique axes in the game, exclusive to warriors.
When equipped by a warrior, it boosted strength and unlocked the dedicated skill 'Execution,' which had insane attack power.
Every axe-wielding warrior wanted one.
In the game's lore, only the great warrior Lord had wielded it, and after he vanished, it was lost.
Of course, that was just backstory—you could obtain it by clearing the linked quest starting in Haritisna.
"Huh? Sage, isn't that it over there?"
"Yeah. I see it."
Sairon pointed to one side. A small village bathed in the evening sunset.
The moment they spotted it, Sairon and Sixman bolted ahead like they'd been waiting.
"Shower! I'm taking a shower!!"
"Booze first!!"
I yelled desperately at the two charging recklessly.
"You two look like beggars right now! If you go like that, they'll treat you like bandits—cleanse yourselves first!!"
We entered the village, dropped our stuff at the inn, and headed to the temple at the edge of town. This was exactly what I was after.
"Hariti..."
"You know about her?"
"She was the goddess who protected children and oversaw fertility. I heard she'd fallen into obscurity, but I didn't expect a remnant like this to still exist."
Sairon, being a shaman herself, seemed to know a bit about theology.
I nodded at her mutterings and knocked on the temple door.
A plump woman in her late forties soon appeared.
"Welcome. If you're here to pray to Lady Hariti..."
"We seek Lady Hariti's blessing. And we need the fertility potion..."
"Oh, I see. Then..."
She held out a basket. While Sairon looked puzzled, I pulled a pouch from my pocket and poured its contents into it.
*Clink! Clink! Clink!!*
"Whoa, that's a lot of coin."
Dozens of thick gold coins.
Sairon freaked out, but the woman nodded as if it were natural and offered the basket to Sairon too.
"Ah, I don't really need any blessing..."
"I see. Then we'll bestow it upon your brother. Please return at midnight."
And that was it.
As the door closed, Sairon stared at me dubiously.
"Why'd you pay so much?"
"It builds resistance to all status ailments, curses, and mental illnesses related to 'children,' and boosts natural recovery speed. You should get it too—better than wasting time and gold on treatments later."
"Ugh... I'd rather just go to church..."
Sairon recoiled, and I shrugged.
Suit yourself.
I joined Sixman, who was already deep into a drinking binge, and at midnight, we headed back to the temple.
Everything was prepared.
"We'll give you the fertility potion when you leave. Now, shall we begin the blessing? Are you ready?"
"Yes, High Priestess."
The woman from earlier and a few priests began preparations.
It was simpler than expected for a divine blessing. I knelt before the compassionate statue of the goddess holding a pomegranate while the priestesses sang a hymn—that was it.
As the hymn ended, the High Priestess of Hariti handed me a prepared pomegranate seed.
"Eat this."
I swallowed it without hesitation. The moment I did:
[Achievement: Obtained Hariti's Blessing.]
[Skill: Obtained Guardian of Children Blessing.]
I checked the new messages and stood.
Couldn't end it here, could I?
But the High Priestess approached with a vial, signaling it wasn't over.
"Drink this, and you'll contract infantile regression. If you've received the blessing properly, it will heal naturally within 48 hours."
"Hmm... Can I skip it?"
"No."
In the game, getting this achievement triggered the regression debuff, followed by an event where it healed naturally, explaining the blessing.
I already knew, and the blessing was active, so no need to test it—but the High Priestess looked dead serious.
Part of the ritual, I suppose.
Tch, no way around it in the game either...
Infantile regression, huh. No choice.
I toyed with the vial she offered, then downed it in one go.
.
.
.
"Huh? Isn't that the Sage? What's up? This late at night. Bad dream? Want me to tuck you in?"
My thoughts snapped back. I looked up at Sairon's voice. Somehow, my feet had stopped in front of an open guest room door.
"I need your help with something."
"Whoa, what's this? The Sage straight-up asking?"
Sairon grinned and pointed behind her. There lay Sixman, head in Rachel's lap, getting pampered.
"Gonna ask them too? Or just me?"
"I'd like Sixman's help too, if possible."
"What's it about?"
Infantile regression affected people differently. Some lost all current memories and only retained childhood ones; others kept their memories but acted like kids.
Some forgot the regression entirely; others remembered it clearly.
I was the latter type, and I vividly recalled how much trouble I'd caused not just the Hariti priests, but these two as well.
That's why asking felt awkward.
"Aw~ Come on~ Between us? You forget I've seen you at your best and worst?"
"That's exactly why."
"Eh. No way."
"I need you to do it again."
Sairon's beaming smile froze. She got it. She knew how hard it'd been for them.
"Yeah... Wait, infantile regression?"
"Yeah."
"Why? Out of nowhere?"
"You didn't hear?"
I explained what happened in the trial. Leventia and Evangeline.
After hearing they'd gone through the trial and contracted mental illnesses, Sairon pondered, then nodded.
"Fair enough. But I have a condition. Can I watch when you treat Evangeline? I wanna see how broken she is."
She said it casually with a smirk. Not a big deal.
"Whew... Fine. Can't say no to your request. When do we start?"
Sixman got up without complaint. Good.
When, though?
No point dragging it out.
Might as well now.
I asked the Duchy Knights to prepare a room.
It was the large underground chamber in the castle I'd seen in the game before.
Should be fine here.
"Nya-nya. Then I'll go grab some guild work, nya!"
"Yeah, honey. Tomorrow..."
"No need? Why not come with?"
That's when it happened.
Cecil walked in holding Leventia's hand.
Leventia, fidgeting in Cecil's grip, lit up when she saw me and toddled over for a hug.
"Oppa! Oppa~!!"
"...Get off."
Veronica, who'd followed, said it through gritted teeth and pried her away.
Sixman, watching, fiddled with his slick hair and spoke awkwardly.
"I'd appreciate the help, but... you sure?"
"Whatever Hyunwoo does is fine by me."
Veronica said it calmly but firmly, and Cecil, arms crossed, nodded.
"I owe the Sage my life. What wouldn't I do? I'll keep it secret, no matter what..."
"No, that's not what I mean. I'm saying this for your sake."
"Yeah, exactly. Looks like you two should sit this out."
Even Sairon tried to dissuade them, but it only made them more insistent.
Veronica and Cecil settled in.
"Hey, Sage. Now what?"
"Hmm... It'll be rough. Why not step out?"
One more try, but they shook their heads.
"I've handled regressed kids plenty at church. And, well..."
Her cheeks flushed pink. Whatever she was thinking.
"I've done it a lot running the orphanage."
Under Sairon and Sixman's dubious looks, I shrugged.
If they insist that much, who am I to stop them?
"Alright, get ready. Hey, Sixman. Catch you later."
He left with Rachel, looking bitter.
Now in the room: me, Leventia, Veronica, Cecil, and Sairon.
I sat Leventia down for pain absorption. Placing my hand on her head as she clutched her doll with sparkling eyes.
"Starting."
I cast Pain Absorption, and my vision went black.
***
As the Sage collapsed, Veronica smirked.
She remembered caring for regressed patients at church.
That one who'd clung to her like a child, craving affection.
The others too, and most recently, Leventia.
Kids always craved love.
So what about a regressed Hyunwoo?
'Heh. Hehehe...'
Pink fantasies filled her head.
'Hyunwoo will surely turn to me...'
Veronica was confident she was the one here he could let his guard down with.
So naturally, she'd be the target of that affection.
Savoring the anticipation, a bucket of cold water hit her.
"Um... I think you should leave now. Ah, if you're misunderstanding— I have no feelings for the Sage like that. Just respect for a friend."
"I'm just a friend too."
Cecil, who'd been smirking oddly, switched to a prim expression. As if.
Sairon snorted.
"After reeking of female pheromones? Anyway, you two like the Sage, that's why..."
"So what? He'll just turn into a whiny kid? I've soothed plenty. And I don't care what Hyunwoo does—as a friend, priestess, or... otherwise."
Veronica made her case saintly-like, contrasting her earlier grin, then spoke kindly. Sairon hesitated.
"It's not that level..."
"...Huh...?"
Before Sairon finished, Leventia's voice rang out. She stared at her outfit and the Sage kneeling before her, growing bewildered.
"Wh... Wh-what?!?"
She yelped and fell back on her butt.
Veronica gasped triumphantly.
That reaction confirmed Leventia's regression was cured.
Leventia stared blankly up at Hyunwoo, her face paling as realization dawned.
"Th-this... What's... Y-you... You healed me...?"
The instant her voice sounded,
Sairon squeezed her eyes shut.
She knew what was coming.
Leventia slowly reached for the Sage.
They stared blankly at each other, her hand inches from touching him.
"U... Uuh..."
"...Huh?"
"WAAAAAH!! I HATE IT!! Noona, I HAAAATE IIIIT!!!"
"What, what's wrong? Why's he...?"
"Hyunwoo?!"
The upright Sage suddenly screamed and crumpled.
Sairon rushed to hold him, but Veronica was faster.
"Ah! D-don't..."
"H-Hyunwoo?! What's wrong? It's okay. I'm here..."
"WAAAAAH!! WAAH!!"
The ever-calm, strong Sage's face twisted.
In utter agony.
In utter sorrow.
Awash in tears, his contorted face was one neither Cecil nor Veronica had ever seen.
Only one here had.
Sairon glanced at Leventia with a sigh.
Leventia's face was deathly pale.
"S-sorry... *sniff*."
"Eh..."
"Sorry, *hic*. Sorrysorrysorry*hic hic*. I won't complain about it being hard again. A-ah! No! No! Mommy! D-daddy! *hic!!* *sob!!* I-I'm sorry. Aaaah...! I-it hurts. Please. Please stop. Aaaah. I'm sorry. So please. Please. I hate fighting. P-please. *hic sob... uuuuh... Aaaaah...!! Please. Please. Stop. I wanna go home!!!! Send me back, send me baaaack!!! I'm sorryyyyy!! U-WAAAAAAAH!!! AAAAAHHH!!!"
Less a cry than a scream.
The Sage's wail—never seen before—was no roar of a fierce beast like him, but the desperate plea of a child terrified of pain, fear, and malice, scarred by the world.
Those watching could only freeze, at a loss.
Author's Note
Hello! It's Malmulmalmul!
The holiday's over... ㅠ
It's gotten really cold. Bundle up warm!
See you tomorrow! Bye~!