Chapter 209
In the end, Helion, unable to do anything, buried his face in the table with a sulking expression.
At times like this, only one person came to mind. The one who always offered solutions and a helping hand whenever he was in trouble.
“Still… I can’t just rely on willpower every time.”
Sniffling, Helion returned to his herbal research. He tried to steady his mind, but in the grim situation, he couldn’t help but think of that one person.
“Hii… what should I do?”
“What do you mean, what should you do? You start over from the beginning.”
“…!”
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind!
Helion hurriedly turned around, his eyes widening. Soon, a bright smile appeared on his lips.
“Ceres!”
“Ugh…”
“Hey, why are you getting up?”
Duke Elcain, who had been standing guard by Duke Schweiss’s side, frowned sharply at him as he tried to lift himself from the bed.
His right arm, revealed as the blanket was pulled back, was stained black.
‘It’s worse than I’d heard.’
Even she, who had only been there for a few days, could tell that the area of discoloration was steadily spreading.
“Why are you getting up in that state?”
“Haa… haa… the communication orb…”
“…Hey, you crazy idiot.”
Was now really the time to be looking for the communication orb?
“I won’t give it… ugh… move aside.”
“Haah.”
Seeing him trying to fully lift himself from the bed, Duke Elcain let out a long sigh and picked up the communication orb from the side, handing it to him.
She already knew why this madman insisted on finding the orb even in this condition.
‘I hate that Ceres worries about me too…’
But seriously, why are you caring about that in this state!
‘Should I just smack him unconscious?’
While she genuinely considered it, Duke Elcain eventually connected the communication orb.
Uncle.
“Yes.”
When Ceres’s voice came through the orb, he took a deep breath and spoke in a calm tone. Not a trace of pain could be heard in his voice.
“Crazy bastard.”
So ruthless, so harsh.
Duke Elcain, clicking his tongue in exasperation, was forced into silence under the icy gaze of Duke Schweiss, who was staring at him sharply.
Are you alright?
“Alright. Nothing happened.”
Really?
“Yes.”
Then… if I come now, you’ll greet me warmly, right?
“What?”
Clack.
“You said nothing happened.”
You said nothing happened.
“…!”
A voice came not only through the orb but also from right in front of him.
Slowly lifting his head, Duke Schweiss saw someone entering through the door, his eyes widening more and more.
“…Ceres.”
“…”
Seeing Duke Schweiss barely leaning against the head of the bed, a heavy sigh escaped from Ceres.
Did he really call me every time in that condition?
“…”
Thinking back to Duke Schweiss’s calm voice over each communication, pretending not to be in pain, Ceres let out another long sigh, trying to suppress the lump rising in her throat.
“How did you get here…?”
“Sorry.”
Still unable to shake his surprise, Duke Schweiss turned his head again at the familiar voice.
Seeing Duke Norua smiling awkwardly and waving his hand, Duke Schweiss let out a long sigh.
Somehow, he had a rough idea. He probably ended up telling Ceres everything. Even though he had asked for it to remain a secret.
“Let me take a look at your wounds.”
“No. You don’t have to worry… ugh…”
“Lie down first.”
Ceres quickly approached Duke Schweiss, who seemed too weak to sit any longer, and gently laid him back on the bed.
‘The color…’
Examining the wounds on Duke Schweiss’s body, Ceres clicked her tongue silently.
What kind of poison could do this?
The symptoms—fever, color, spreading pattern—showed signs of almost every poison a monster could inflict.
“Uncle, get some rest first.”
“Yes.”
Taking his hand firmly as he tried to respond nonchalantly, Ceres left the room.
“Ah… so this is the poison symptom from the Stow monster.”
“Exactly.”
“Then the Katula fruit…”
That day, Ceres listened to Helion explain the treatments she had used so far, filling in the gaps and working toward the antidote.
‘I could turn back time…’
The fastest and easiest way to treat Duke Schweiss would, of course, be to turn back time. It would solve the problem simply.
‘The problem is…’
Could she deceive all three of them if she used that power?
Like last time, when she cured people during the epidemic and claimed it was the work of Irien and Tamer artifacts…
‘Would they believe it?’
These aren’t ordinary people—they have experience, intuition, and sharp eyes… could she fool all three of them?
‘Uncle’s life is at stake.’
In a crisis, she’d have no choice but to use it. Saving him first is the priority.
She would need to explain later where this power came from and when she acquired it.
But excuses and fabrications have never been her strong suit.
‘Sigh.’
Making the antidote in time would be the best approach.
‘But here’s another problem.’
Other poisons can be cured…
“Damn Arct.”
“What’s that?”
“There’s a cursed monster full of poison.”
Arct is an S-rank monster from the Black Forest. The monster itself isn’t strong, but its poison is extremely lethal.
The problem is that curing this poison requires a rare herb.
“Eskela.”
“Eskela? What’s that?”
Helion tilted his head, unfamiliar with the name.
“A herb.”
It’s essential for countering Arct’s poison, but extremely rare. Even in Grays, she’d only seen it once.
A silver flower emitting a gentle glow.
She had tried to make a substitute but failed.
‘What now?’
In the end, she might have no choice but to turn back time. She needs to carefully explain to the older people how this power suddenly appeared…
Tap, tap.
“…?”
At that moment, Ceres heard an unfamiliar noise. Turning her head to locate it, her eyes widened slightly.
“What is that?”
…A puppy?
A pure white puppy was tapping the window with its paw, holding something in its mouth.
‘How did it even get up here?’
The herb room Helion used was on the third floor.
‘…Wait.’
…What’s it holding in its mouth?
No way!
Snap!
Ceres hurried to the window and opened it. As if waiting, the puppy jumped inside.
Plop.
The puppy dropped what it had been holding in front of Ceres.
A softly glowing silver flower.
“…Eskela.”
The herb she had been searching for so desperately.
Ceres looked at the white puppy with a slightly baffled expression.
[….]
Through its pure white fur, its striking blue eyes stared directly at Ceres.
Its tail wagged enthusiastically as if greeting her.
“Who are you?”
Plop.
The puppy pushed the Eskela flower forward with its paw, as if delivering it. Then it sat quietly, wagging its tail.
“….”
Ceres let out a silent sigh as the puppy stared at her expectantly. She gently patted its head.
The puppy pressed its face against her hand, nuzzling her softly.
‘Sigh.’
…Looks like another animal might be joining her.
‘I really might need to make a proper enclosure.’
Another long sigh escaped Ceres’s lips.
