Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: EP.96 Blocking and Being Blocked - 1
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"Where should I start?"
"H-Hiiik... D-Don't touch meeee..."
It was a desperate plea. It had been bad before, but it seemed even worse now.
She wasn't just feeling guilty toward me—she was practically terrified.
I examined Evangeline, checking the mental illnesses she was afflicted with.
The biggest one was defeatism.
And... hmm. Self-harm disorder as well.
The hallucinations and such seemed to have been absorbed into the defeatism, so no major issues there.
The rest were just minor mental disorders or status ailments that didn't require attention.
"Hyunwoo."
Veronica, her mood soured, spoke to me coldly.
Was it because my hand was on Evangeline's head?
But this was how the examination had to be done.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Huh? What else? Treat Evangeline's mental illnesses, of course. Using Pain Absorption to take them onto myself seems like the best option."
Treating defeatism in an elf was no easy task.
There were restrictions on the treatment location—it could only be done in the elf forest—and the treatment period was long.
Even based on my game experience alone, it took months of recuperation in the elf forest to cure it.
It might even take over a year.
But the story changed if it was a non-elf race afflicted with defeatism.
Elves, who always pursued perfection and superiority over other races, suffered massive penalties from defeatism.
Humans, however, lacked that pursuit of perfection and sense of superiority.
So, it didn't have such dangerous effects on humans.
I'd experienced it several times myself, so I was confident it would naturally heal in a day or two if transferred to me.
And self-harm disorder? A human-specific treatment potion would clear that up in a day or two as well.
"Is something wrong?"
"...It's efficient, but you'll suffer for it."
"It's nothing much."
Veronica's eyes sharpened.
I was in for another scolding.
*Wall of the Heart. I believe in you.*
The door burst open.
No need for the Wall of the Heart to activate. Cyrene had entered.
"What? You said you'd take her with you for treatment."
"I'm just examining her right now, not treating."
The moment Cyrene saw her, Evangeline's eyes trembled. She slowly lowered her gaze.
Cyrene stared intently, her expression gradually shifting to one of delight.
"Look at you, tail tucked between your legs like a whipped dog. Suits you perfectly."
Mockery.
Cyrene, who had seen her as a rival and envied her greatly, seemed thrilled at this broken state.
She approached Evangeline, trying to meet her eyes, but Evangeline averted her gaze and hunched her shoulders each time.
"Puhuhu... To think you'd end up like this... Kuhuhu... Haha. Hey, Sage. Evangeline only has defeatism?"
"Self-harm disorder too."
"Puhahat! Living like you were all that, only to be ruled by some mental illness? Ahahaha!! This is gold!"
They say others' misfortune is one's joy, but isn't she enjoying this a bit too much?
Evangeline flinched, head bowed deeply, at a complete loss.
In the past, she would have pointed out Cyrene's exposure or shot back at her rough speech.
But the current Evangeline couldn't manage that.
Cyrene's taunts would only amplify her defeatism.
"As expected~! You're amazing, Sage!"
Flashing a perfect, refreshing smile, Cyrene clung to me.
Her large brown breasts pressed against my chest. Her long arms wrapped around my body.
Naturally skinshipping me with a beaming smile.
"I'm seriously falling for you..."
"Uhng...!!"
"...Huh?"
A groan came from the bed. Cyrene slowly turned her head. And then.
"Puhahahahaha!!"
Seeing Evangeline's flushed face twitching, she burst into maniacal laughter.
Don't laugh at someone else's tastes.
Your exhibitionism is just as laughable, in my opinion.
"Ahahaha!! Seriously!! You've really hit rock bottom, huh?! You!"
"Uh... Uhnng... Nng..."
"How about this? This? Huh?"
Cyrene grinned even more lecherously, hugging me tight and rubbing her body against mine.
What is this, a shaman dancer from the ritual mountains?
As she blatantly rubbed her near-naked body against me in seduction, Evangeline stared at us with a contorted face, unable to even blink.
"This is real. I wanna do even worse things..."
"...Enough."
"Ah. Sorry."
Such killing intent in her voice alone?!
Cyrene, who had been about to slip her hand inside my robe, froze at Veronica's voice.
She gave an awkward smile and slowly pulled away from me. Veronica approached and pinched my cheek hard.
"Ow ow."
"Why are you grinning like that?"
"Well, I can't cry, can I?"
"Ugh...!! And why are you just standing there?!"
"I owe Cyrene one, don't I?"
"Ughhh!!"
Stamping her feet, Veronica tightly hugged my arm and glared at Cyrene. Cyrene backed away, looking even more troubled.
"H-Haha. Well, I'll head out then."
Fleeing like, Cyrene left the room. Now only Veronica, me, and Evangeline remained, and Veronica stared piercingly at me.
"Understand."
"I don't know how to understand this..."
"Anyway. To transfer Evangeline's mental illnesses to me, I need someone to assist with the prep work, so let's get going soon."
Veronica puffed her cheeks. Could I ask her for help?
I thought for a moment and shook my head.
She'd suffered so much just from seeing the infantile regression; that would be too much.
And there was already someone nearby who could help.
"I need to bring in Sixman. And grab a priest from the church... Need a mage and shaman too."
"...You're not asking me to help?"
I poked her forehead.
After all that hardship with the regression, she wants to do it again?
"Nope."
"You owe me one, right?"
"Huh?"
"I'll use it here."
Veronica's expression was serious. Wait, use it here?
"Why go through the trouble?"
"...Someone else is already doing it. If something goes wrong, we need a healer on hand, and rather than calling someone else..."
Veronica clenched her fist, her face grave.
"...Better if it's me."
Tch.
If that's how it is.
Still worrying, I'll secretly call one more person.
"N-Nooo. Don't... tr-treat me... H-Hyunwoo. I... I..."
Evangeline desperately refused treatment. No, specifically, refused treatment from me.
Probably because she'd heard how I'd do it.
She rattled the chains on her wrists and ankles, meant to prevent self-harm.
But her opinion wasn't necessary.
We decided to do the treatment at night, and I immediately went to meet Sixman for preparations.
"O~ Sage. Looking all better? Tough break."
"The others did the hard part."
"You mean your mental strain. So? Here for an adventurer quest? Guild doesn't have anything good right now, though."
"Nah. Need to treat one more. Could use your help."
"What?"
"Defeatism and self-harm disorder."
"Defeatism? In a human, that clears up quick. What, did you catch defeatism, Sage? Doesn't look like it."
I roughly explained the situation, and he looked reluctant but nodded.
"If that's it, sure. But self-harm too... Didn't something similar stack before?"
Self-harm disorder was common enough that I'd caught it a few times adventuring.
Once, it had combined with defeatism by chance, and I'd gotten help from Sixman, Cyrene, and a few other adventurers to treat it.
"Yeah. You know how to handle it, right?"
"I do, but... Short on manpower?"
A warrior like Sixman could physically block attempts at self-harm.
But the rest was beyond his strength.
As he pointed out, I sat next to him and gestured to Rachel, munching on fish dish.
"Shaman stuff: Rachel. Could use you to block some. For magic... With all the mages in the duchy, can't find one?"
"Nya? Not hard, but couldn't Cyrene do it, nya?"
"She could, but I'd rather keep them out if possible."
"Healing?"
"Grabbing a decent priest. Veronica offered, but I'd rather not leave it to her. I'll hit the church and grab materials, then meet at night."
Found the helpers. All that's left is making the potions?
Defeatism aside, self-harm needs potions for quick recovery.
Problem is, the duchy lacks some ingredients.
Not a big issue for me.
With teleport, what's the problem?
Just go alone.
Haven't been to the Cursed Wasteland in ages.
***
Veronica watched the people in the room with a sullen expression.
Sixman, Rachel.
Fine, up to them.
Hyunwoo called them himself.
"...But why are you two here?"
Cecil and Cyrene.
They hadn't been called but were waiting in the room.
"After sending off Leventia, I had nothing to do."
"Is the Archduke position that idle?"
"Dragon's Curse kept me with lots of downtime before. Redirected that to work, so some spare time left."
"...Hyunwoo didn't call you."
"True, but... Heard self-harm needs treating too."
"So?"
"To cancel magic self-harm attempts from a Sage-level person, the mage needs to match or exceed Sage level. And I'm that level. By the way, why are you here? That high priest the Sage called to the castle earlier greeted you and left."
"...I can heal Sage-level self-harm better than any priest. Way better."
"Don't overdo it."
Cecil grinned, and Veronica finally nodded.
Cyrene was probably here for similar reasons.
Annoying as it was, Hyunwoo's safety came first, so no more complaints.
The door burst open.
Hyunwoo entered.
"Hyunwoo...?"
Joy, hurt, pity, and more.
Veronica was about to call him, laden with emotions, but froze.
His state was awful.
What had he been doing to look so haggard?
Looking like he'd drained a ton of mana and mental strength, the Sage bewilderedly placed his bag on the desk.
"Huh? Why are you all here?"
"I-Is that the issue right now? What happened to you?!"
"Went to the Cursed Wasteland for self-harm treatment potion. Needed to lower mana and mental strength too. Resistance would be a headache."
His tone was eerily calm compared to his worn face.
It made her anger build bit by bit.
*Again, you're shouldering everything alone.*
Veronica quickly healed him.
His face improved a little. Was that why?
"Then just give her the self-harm potion and treat it! Why take the self-harm too..."
"That's tricky. Elf self-harm potions need aging time and are hard to make."
"Treatments vary by race?"
"Some do."
Cecil nodded in agreement, and Veronica bit her lip lightly.
The Sage grinned, pulled out materials, and with skilled hands quickly brewed and downed the potion.
"With this, worst case two days to recover. Anyway, I don't recommend you stay."
The three not called by the Sage.
Veronica, Cecil, Cyrene.
They shook their heads. The Sage sighed, then handed Moonlight, the moonlit staff, to Cecil.
"Huh?"
Robes, armor, temporary market gear, accessories.
All his equipment boosting mana, mental strength, stamina—he distributed it to everyone present.
Their expressions turned bitter.
All except Moonlight.
It looked too ordinary for Sage gear.
*You don't even covet gear. What do you want?*
"With these, my self-harm or resistance will hit harder. Alright. Evangeline."
"H-Hiiik... D-Don't, don't do it... Don't. B-Because of me... You'll..."
"Beginning treatment."
Pale-faced, ears drooping, Evangeline trembled, but the Sage didn't stop.
His hand touched her head. A moment later.
"...Huh?"
No change.
The Sage just silently gazed at the seemingly unconscious Evangeline.
Nothing happened?
Or was his strong mind overcoming the illnesses?
If so?
Veronica approached with anticipation, then halted.
"....!!!"
Black aura rose around the Sage.
Despair, curse, fear, pain.
As the vicious aura enveloped him.
The Sage inside slowly raised his head.
His face bore immense emptiness.
Eyes like he'd forsaken the world met Veronica's before she could step forward.
The Sage raised his hand.
"...Sleep...!!"
-CRACK!!!
He twisted his thumb in an impossible direction.
Author's Note (Afterword)
See you tomorrow! Bye~!