I Opened an Illegal Animal Hospital in Another World - Chapter 123

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

123

Chapter 25. How to Distinguish Between Dreams and Reality (1)

I stared for a long time at the spot where Maria had been hanging.

At least he keeps his contracts properly, so there was no need to doubt that Maria was now safe.

How long had she been trapped here? The Maria I remembered was bright, cheerful, and lively, but her gaunt body and sunken eyes made her look like a completely different person. It meant she had suffered that much.

Tears welled up again, so I roughly wiped them away with my palm.

“Damn it, tears just keep coming shamelessly…”

What did I do right to deserve to cry?

Maria being captured was all my fault. If I could take her to a safe place with just 10 years of my lifespan, it was a cheap price to pay.

Cordelia had talked excitedly about Maria. I could feel how much Maria had adored that child. But Maria had to witness Cordelia’s death. How difficult must it have been, how painful? It was the first time I’d seen Maria cry like that.

Even though I didn’t want to cry, I couldn’t control it well.

When I looked down, I still needed to take a breath. I endured the rising nausea and lowered my head.

Seeing Cordelia lying neatly, her brother, and the faces that remained in my memory, this time my breath caught. Even my tears dried up.

I had pretended to be fine in front of Maria, but I had actually almost fainted several times. I was used to blood from treating severely injured children, but this was the first time I’d seen dead people.

I hate sick people.

I hated sick people, and I hated seeing sick people too.

I actually didn’t like Father who cared for Mother, or Mother who was ill for so long. Because Mina and I were left alone and lonely.

But what I hate even more than that is someone dying.

I had never thought that someone would die because of me. I had prided myself on living without causing harm to others, but that belief was completely denied.

“You stupid bitch…”

Why didn’t I do anything during that whole year when I couldn’t contact Maria?

I had even felt disappointed and hurt by Maria, who said she’d be back soon but gradually contacted me less. I felt so stupid, childish, and pathetic that I thought I’d go crazy.

I pressed my knuckles against my burning eyes and fell into thought. I felt so sorry for Maria and Cordelia, but sitting here wouldn’t solve anything. Now was the time to actually think with this naive head of mine.

This guilt was something no one else could resolve for me. It was a problem I had to solve myself.

‘Think, think… Let’s try thinking. Surprisingly, there’s something called a brain inside your head.’

I haven’t used it for 18 years, so I don’t even know if that function exists. My self-hatred exploded. Are you there, brain? This is your chance to show your presence.

Is this my fault?

It is my fault.

Did I do something wrong?

“That’s not it.”

No matter how steeped I was in self-hatred, wrong was wrong. If there was any fault, it would have to go back to the very fact that I was born.

Then what should I do?

“What should I do? Either destroy everything, or I should die.”

No, this isn’t right. I almost got swept away by emotions.

First problem: Should I treat Prince Nathan?

Am I crazy? It was Nathan who imprisoned and tortured Maria and killed Cordelia. Whatever his reasons, it was clear he had been committing crimes all along, and I was looking at the results right before my eyes.

Show sympathy? My heart might soften if I talk to him?

“There’s a limit to how stupid you can think someone is…”

I can show sympathy. In front of his grave if he dies, or while he’s locked in prison if he doesn’t. Treatment my ass, not a chance. Even if I have to bite my tongue and die, I won’t do it.

Second problem: How do I destroy that bastard Seth?

Seth still had no intention of returning me to my original body. The power dynamic was clear. He was playing with me like a toy, and I was in a position where I could only be unilaterally manipulated.

But even so, I could choose not to do what he wanted.

I couldn’t stand how much I wanted to hurt Seth. I wanted to know how to crumple that smirking face of his. I felt like I could do almost anything to achieve that.

I thought that mysterious man might hate me even more than Nathan, more than Matthias.

“Ah, ah, ah. Really, ugh! So frustrating!”

I clenched my fist and hit the wall with all my strength, and surprisingly, the wall cracked and crumbled rather than my knuckles. I really am strong. The slight stinging pain relieved my frustration a little.

“Good, they say when you’re depressed, move your body.”

I slapped both my cheeks with my palms hard enough to make a sound. It hurt more than I expected because I was too strong. I hit them to make my tears go away, but it almost made me cry instead.

Rather than thinking about what I should do, let’s do what I can do!

Soon Mother, Father, and the Prince Rescue Team would come, so I had to escape before then. Raven knows I’m Shana, so if I’m trapped here, he won’t be able to attack freely.

Fortunately, this body was a bit sturdier and stronger than my own body, so there were several times more things I could do.

‘Cordelia, I’m sorry.’

I’ll definitely come back later and bury your entire family in a sunny place. I will, definitely….

Even if I can’t promise revenge, I’ll at least make them regret doing this to you. I won’t give them what they want. No matter what happens.

That’s when it happened. The prison door opened.

“Come out.”

It was Matthias. If it were just Brandon, I’d try to fight back. As if reading my thoughts, he smiled faintly.

“Why don’t you try attacking me.”

“I’m not interested in a dog’s death.”

“…Ah. I suppose you’re shocked by your kinsman’s death? You’re speaking quite tartly.”

“….”

Speaking tartly—what a perverted old man expression that was.

‘Does he not know that Maria is gone?’

I didn’t answer and kept my mouth tightly shut. Either Seth had done something, or perhaps his lordship wasn’t interested in mere hostages. Matthias shrugged and grabbed both my wrists behind my back, dragging me along.

Ah, let go! I tried to resist but couldn’t budge at all.

Brute. Just how strong is he. I glared at Matthias with blazing eyes. Would a groin kick work on demons too?

“Originally, Brandon planned to use you as Nathan’s parts or toy.”

Oh, is that so. I thought it would be great if the body Seth made became Nathan’s parts and caused all sorts of side effects.

I’ll become a tumor for you.

“But now that we know you’re connected not just to Seth but to the Prince as well, we judged it too risky to carelessly let you near Nathan.”

Despite looking cold-blooded as hell, he seems to worship his contractor like a god.

‘Ah, you said he had nanny qualities.’

I sneered crookedly.

“It seems you sent that healer Maria somewhere.”

“Gasp.”

So he did know.

“That human already fulfilled her role. She bought us enough time. This entire manor is a giant trap. Our plan was to lure everything here.”

What a meticulous plan indeed.

Because of the constraint of ‘not directly harming humans,’ it had been secretive enough to make their moves hard to read. Most importantly, saving Nathan was what mattered.

‘How admirable. I suppose he can’t bear to see his precious child suffer.’

I suddenly remembered Mother’s analogy about Nathan being like the protagonist of a tragic story.

An ill-fated prince who couldn’t enjoy his birthright and glory due to his sickly body. A loyal retainer who even made a contract with demons to save him, and a traditional, conservative noble family.

If their desperate struggle to survive hadn’t led to cruel crimes, or if it were just one of many stories, even that could be packaged nicely as quite a dramatic device.

I thought that Nathan, drunk on his own misfortune, probably saw himself as the protagonist of that wonderful story.

Just like protagonists are always good, righteous, and ultimately triumph after overcoming all hardships.

That’s why Nathan could smile benevolently and act spoiled with ‘Sena,’ showing his pitiful self without hesitation. Because such a self was righteous.

Perhaps compared to me, who received a new life without any suffering and was born with amazing healing power to live selfishly as I pleased, Nathan and those around him probably think it would be much more… fair if he had everything.

Seeing the group united around Nathan, I became certain.

So Raven and I are the corrupt forces who had everything from the start, the villains to be defeated, the axis of evil that sucks the lifeblood of the people?

What bullshit.

“Since it’s something Seth did, whatever his scheme is, it’s probably not a proper idea. I don’t even want to know.”

From what I can see, that guy doesn’t really think much.

“But since Seth took away one of my toys, Seth should have one taken away too.”

Don’t tell me that’s me. Seth’s misconduct has troubled me again!

“Now, go in.”

“Where is this? Hey, you should at least tell me! What are you planning to do with me!”

“Shut up. You’d prefer having a living companion over corpses, wouldn’t you.”

“Such uncharacteristic consideration, ugh!”

Matthias must think I’m a soccer ball.

Whether a groin kick would work or not, it seemed worth trying. I gritted my teeth and stretched out my leg. Matthias could have easily dodged but just looked down at me.

“It was squishy, ugh!”

There was a thud sound, but Matthias’s expression didn’t change at all. Only my mood got worse. Matthias grinned and said,

“This place is going to explode soon.”

“What?”

“Now, let me tell you why you’re going to die.”

I opened my eyes wide. I didn’t even have time to look back. What spread before my eyes was the sight of ‘Shana’ lying down. Ack. Ahhck.

Why am I coming out from over there!

“Lady Shana…”

…Why is Evelyn coming out from here…

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————