TVLM 10

Chapter 10 …..

“Haah.”

Around six in the morning, the child opened her eyes, stretched her arms wide, and even let out a yawn.

Then, she suddenly realized that she had fallen asleep on the floor beside the bed.

‘So yesterday, I gave Grandmother the herbal water, watched over her for a bit, and then must have dozed off…’

Angelica recalled the events of the previous night and turned her gaze sideways. Her familiar companion, Sabu, was shaking himself awake.

“Good morning, Sabu. Did you sleep well?”

The child asked as she gently stroked Sabu’s fur. A voice responded.

[Yes. But Rica, you slept on the floor—is that okay? I did bring you a blanket, though…]

Only then did Angelica notice the blanket draped over her body.

“Oh, Sabu brought this for me? Thank you. I slept well.”

A small smile spread across her lips. Then Angelica finished her incomplete stretches and got up.

As usual, her quest window appeared.

[Hidden Quest. Help Grandmother (3)

Details: Take care of Grandmother, whose body has not fully healed, for a few more days.]

Since Hidden Quest 2 had been completed, this one had now appeared as number 3.

‘Come to think of it, Grandmother’s illness was called Mana Poisoning, wasn’t it?’

Angelica remembered Sabu telling her about it while she had been taking care of Grandmother the night before.

Grandmother’s illness was known as Mana Poisoning.

It was a disease that affected those with large amounts of mana in their bodies when they overused it, typically afflicting powerful mages or knights.

Because of this, older mages or knights would try to minimize their mana usage.

However, Mana Poisoning showed no early symptoms, and most cases resulted in sudden death.

Symptoms included heart pain, coughing up blood, and inability to use mana. Once symptoms appeared, death could occur within hours.

‘Still, I’m glad I could give her the herbs before it got more dangerous.’

Angelica smiled as she looked at Grandmother’s face, which had a healthier color than the day before.

Even though she had fed her the miraculous life herb, Grandmother was not fully healed yet.

‘The quest says I need to take care of her for a few more days…’

However, this quest didn’t mention gathering more miraculous life herbs.

Angelica pondered how she should care for Grandmother, staring intently at her face.

Grandmother was sleeping soundly on Angelica’s bed.

In truth, she was called “Grandmother” in the quest, but seeing her in person, it was a bit awkward to call her that.

The woman appeared to be in her early sixties, with neatly tied silver-gray hair and a dignified, beautiful face.

Her physique was also incredibly sturdy, almost like that of a knight.

She didn’t look like an ordinary grandmother—she could easily be mistaken for the ruler of a nation.

Suddenly, a thought struck Angelica.

‘They said Mana Poisoning affects mages or knights with high mana… does that mean Grandmother is a mage?’

Whether mage or knight, that’s so cool!

Angelica’s eyes sparkled.

At that moment, Grandmother’s eyelids fluttered, revealing her gem-like golden eyes.

“Ah!”

Angelica jumped in surprise.

Of all times, she had to open her eyes while I was staring!

‘She might think I’m rude and get mad.’

The child squeezed her eyes shut.

She remembered when she had served the Baroness during the first and second attempts—just meeting her gaze could result in a slap.

But instead of pain, a gentle voice spoke.

“…Are you alright? You look quite startled because of me.”

The deep, soft voice prompted Angelica to slowly open her eyes.

She saw Grandmother sitting up, looking at her with concern.

“Y-yes? I’m fine. You just woke up so suddenly…”

Angelica scratched the back of her head awkwardly as she spoke.

‘This isn’t the Baroness, so why am I nervous?’

Grandmother spoke again.

“Did you happen to save me in the forest?”

“Oh, yes. Are you alright? Does anything hurt?”

Angelica quickly checked Grandmother over. Her color had improved, but she wanted to be sure.

Grandmother shook her head.

“I’m fine. My back aches a little, but it’s nothing like yesterday.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

Angelica exhaled in relief at her answer.

“Really, did you save me? There wasn’t another adult?”

Grandmother asked again while Angelica was debating whether to gather more herbs just in case.

Angelica understood why Grandmother would be doubtful. It would be hard to believe that a seven-year-old child had saved her.

The child smiled and nodded.

“Yes. I live alone here. There are no other adults.”

“Your parents?”

“They’re gone.”

In this game world, the child’s parents were the player. But now, for some reason, the player no longer existed in this world.

‘That must be because I was the player.’

Angelica thought so.

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

Grandmother held the child’s hands and sincerely expressed her regret. But Angelica bravely replied.

“It’s okay. I’m used to it.”

Then Angelica told Grandmother, “Please wait a moment. I’ll make some food right away,” and headed to the small kitchen.

Her fluffy dog followed closely behind.

Grandmother, Olivie, watched them from the bed.

‘I couldn’t believe it, but it’s true.’

Olivie had hidden her surprise to avoid alarming the child, but she was indeed shocked.

Someone who had been waiting for death in the forest had been saved by a seemingly ordinary girl no older than six.

And that girl lived alone in a forest cabin. Her lack of parents seemed natural, as the child had said.

‘Such a kind child living alone in a place like this…’

Olivie felt deeply sorry and immensely grateful. Her life had been saved.

The child could have just passed by, but she had helped. With her small, fragile body, she had done her best.

The evidence was clear from the child’s disheveled appearance.

Her face and clothes were covered in dirt, and her hands and shirt were stained with plant residue from dragging Olivie out of the forest.

Every effort she had made for Olivie was plain to see.

‘How can I ever repay her…?’

As tears welled in Olivie’s eyes with gratitude, the child carefully carried a bowl.

“Grandmother, please eat this.”

Taking the bowl and spoon, the savory aroma wafted to Olivie’s nose.

“It’s potato soup. I can’t guarantee it’s perfect… but I thought you must be hungry.”

“Thank you.”

The child looked away shyly and returned to the kitchen to get her own portion, then sat on the floor.

Olivie patted the empty spot on the bed warmly.

“Come sit here. The floor is cold.”

“Is that okay?”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

The child carefully got up and sat in the empty space.

Angelica took a spoonful of potato soup and glanced at Grandmother.

“Is it to your taste?”

Grandmother nodded, smiling.

“It’s very delicious. Thank you, dear.”

Angelica’s cheeks turned red at the kind praise.

It was just mashed potatoes with water and salt, but Grandmother enjoyed it as if it were a gourmet meal, warming Angelica’s heart.

“By the way, what’s your name?”

As she neared the end of the soup, Grandmother asked. Angelica swallowed the last bite and replied.

“I’m Angelica. And you? Where are you from?”

“I’m Olivie. From the capital,” she answered.

Olivie briefly explained what had happened to her.

After a long time, she had taken a solitary horseback ride, and the beauty of the forest had drawn her in.

As she observed the lush trees, vegetation, and herbivorous animals, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her chest and collapsed.

She had tried to use mana to call for help, but it was impossible.

She lost consciousness and woke up in Angelica’s cabin.

Finishing the explanation, Olivie was struck with surprise.

‘The symptoms I had were clearly Mana Poisoning… and this child healed me?’

Mana Poisoning was untreatable with the empire’s current medicine.

Because symptoms appeared so suddenly, even a renowned archmage could die in an instant from it.

Olivie knew well that the symptoms could appear at any time.

That was why, when the symptoms had struck in the forest, she had accepted death.

Once symptoms appeared, death would follow within hours.

Yet, she was alive.

‘Then… did Angelica really heal me?’

Olivie’s eyes widened in disbelief.

But Angelica did not notice the change in her expression.

She was too absorbed in her own thoughts.

‘The name Olivie… I’m sure I’ve heard it somewhere before…’