The Quack Lady - Chapter 79

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 79

The child didn’t ask anything.

Perhaps that felt disappointing. Eruten found himself speaking without realizing it.

“We got entangled in something unpleasant before.”

Just as he thought it was an unnecessary comment and felt regret after speaking.

“With that handsome man?”

“…Is being handsome what’s important?”

“No, that’s not really it.”

Mia quickly wiped her mouth clean and asked.

“Do we need to run away or something… something like that?”

At her curious eyes, he subtly averted his gaze and answered.

“It’s not like that… but unpleasant memories are tied to that man.”

“That can happen.”

“Huh?”

“Well, everyone has bad memories.”

“…”

Despite her curious look, she only offered gentle comfort, saying it could happen.

That comfort felt disappointing yet also so like her, so Eruten could only smile.

“I worried you over nothing. Now I’m fine…”

“You’re about to say you’re fine again, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Saying you’re fine doesn’t make you fine. Eruten.”

Rtemeia’s eyes were so straightforward as she said those words.

That sight sparkled so unbelievably bright.

He couldn’t look away.

“Tra… no, wounds big enough to cause shock can’t be solved by saying you’re fine. Because that’s in your head… Eruten?”

“Just stay like this for a moment.”

After gazing for a while, he wanted to get closer.

Without realizing it, he leaned his head against Rtemeia.

Rtemeia seemed flustered but didn’t push him away.

Instead, gentle hands stroked his hair.

“Wounds aren’t natural. They need to be treated.”

“…”

“So for your sake too, don’t say everything is fine.”

It was a touch like stroking a pitiful small life.

That touch was deeply sad yet so wonderful that he helplessly crumbled.

As always.

As if proving that the place I should be is by your side.

No matter how much he suppressed it, his bursting heart was directed in one direction.

“Yeah, I will.”

A happy smile spread across his face as he closed his eyes tightly.

* * *

Rowen’s eyelids slowly lifted as he lay in the bedroom.

A dry expression settled over his sculpted face.

“Lifne…”

He covered both eyes with one hand.

Soon realizing even that action was meaningless, he laughed helplessly.

“I won’t raise my child in Quaisga!”

“If you really love me, let me go… Rowen. Please.”

The strangely vivid memories were spiteful.

Was it because he left the manor?

Today especially, the memories that clung persistently stabbed at his heart.

-Knock knock.

Then, with a neat knocking sound, Srentte appeared and carefully spoke.

“Your Grace, I’ve finished the investigation you ordered earlier…”

Uncharacteristically, he trailed off.

“What is it.”

At the dry voice, Srentte steadied his breathing and slowly continued.

“Well… according to that knight, it was a girl with light beige hair…”

“…”

Another one.

Since the day Lifne left him, he never passed by any child with light beige hair.

In case they might meet by chance.

In case she might be looking for him.

…It was the hope that the child might have the same feelings as him.

But now that 12 years had passed, he knew all too well that all of it was meaningless.

“…So.”

“Well… how about going to see for yourself once?”

“…?”

Rowen’s head turned toward Srentte.

He stared at him with narrowed eyes.

Noticing his displeasure, Srentte hurriedly waved both hands.

“Ah, I mean this time seems different somehow. If a young child really did write a prescription…”

“…”

A young child writing prescriptions.

Quaisga was a family that had produced many geniuses for generations.

Since the fields were diverse, he turned his gaze away as if it wasn’t surprising.

The world was wide, and seeing one or two smart children wasn’t particularly amazing.

“More importantly, it’s strange that after seeing you collapse, she figured out what medicine you were taking.”

“…”

Rowen’s eyes found their place again, swept by some indescribable feeling.

‘Come to think of it…’

The girl in his dream gave off a feeling very similar to Lifne.

Srentte asked Rowen, who was lost in thought for a moment.

“So how about checking it out yourself? Even if she’s not of Quaisga blood, if she’s a skilled pharmacist, she might know better methods.”

He said while glancing at the medicine placed by the bedside.

‘It has definitely gotten worse lately.’

He had noticed it was withdrawal symptoms, but there was no clear solution.

If only he could suppress the pain ringing in his head.

He could even offer his soul.

“…Where is the child.”

He asked Srentte as he got up from his seat.

* * *

I waited for Eruten to stabilize while conducting drug research. But it was hard to concentrate for long.

“I’m not okay.”

“…Again?”

Like a young child saying “not okay” for the first time, he kept saying he wasn’t okay.

“Are you just playing around? You’re not even a child, why are you like this?”

“But I am a child?”

He shrugged his shoulders while saying that.

Though what he said was true.

‘I can’t exactly cover his mouth to stop him.’

The first few times were fine, but after frequent repetition, I began to understand.

That he was acting unusually clingy toward me.

“Ah, I really don’t feel well.”

When he said things like this with that grinning smile, I would inevitably approach him and ask.

“Where does it hurt?”

“Here.”

The spots he pointed to were different each time.

His arm, hand, head…

‘What is this, a general hospital?’

After enduring it for a while, I struck his back with all my strength.

“Ugh!”

“You’re fine. So stop calling me.”

“But it really hurts?”

This time he pointed to his back while grinning sheepishly.

‘This won’t do.’

At this point, there was only one method I could use.

“Fine. Eruten, then I’ll go visit Tenoa.”

“…”

“I need medicinal herbs.”

I smiled slyly while picking up and shaking a flask that needed refining.

“…You’re doing this on purpose.”

“It would be nice if you two got along well while we’re at it.”

At my words, Eruten rolled his eyes.

Then, he muttered as if grumbling.

“…I’m still in pain though.”

“Really? Then I’ll…”

“Never mind. I’ll go.”

Though he was making a rather displeased expression.

‘Seeing how he’s willing to go like this, I guess he doesn’t really dislike Tenoa.’

I nodded my head with satisfaction, but Eruten only let out a frustrated sigh.

“You really…”

“Hmm?”

“It’s nothing.”

He looked at me as if watching a clueless child, then soon began walking away.

Seeing his neat gait made me chuckle softly.

‘See, he’s not hurt at all.’

But then something strange caught my eye. Earlier when Eruten was leaving the research lab, it seemed like he unconsciously tried to open the door and let me go first before stopping himself.

‘…Since when did that mercenary have such habits?’

Well, he’s naturally well-mannered. I suppose that’s possible.

After that, I hummed a tune while heading to my desk for the next research.

‘He really did work hard.’

Looking around the interior of the research lab, I could feel it.

The drug research materials piled high on the desk and even large medical texts.

‘…’

However, a momentary feeling of emptiness enveloped my entire body.

‘I suppose I did well.’

Though I had set a clear direction, my chest felt heavy with regret that I ultimately couldn’t save her.

I know it couldn’t be helped, but.

“Sigh, let me just get to work.”

Just as I was trying to shake off those thoughts, I heard footsteps outside the door.

‘Don’t tell me he couldn’t stand it and came back already?’

I let out a hollow laugh as I turned around.

“Eruten, you’re really too much…”

However, my words couldn’t continue.

“…”

Because a man was standing in front of the door.

Dark black hair, and beneath it, deep blood-red eyes.

The man composed entirely of vivid colors stared at me with wide eyes, as if he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

Of course, the same was true for me.

“Huh? Drug deal…!”

I desperately covered my mouth.

He had looked frail when he was collapsed, but now that his eyes were open, he was definitely handsome.

His prominently raised nose, or his dryly deep eyes.

But.

‘Huh? What’s this?’

Facing me, he just stood in front of the door like a wooden statue.

I tilted my head in confusion.

It was well past the time for the medicine to take effect.

‘Ah, does he perhaps not remember?’

Having no choice, I decided to calmly explain the earlier situation.

“Are you feeling alright? I happened to see you in the forest earlier, and you seemed to be in pain. I happened to have medicine with me…”

“What is…your name?”

Finally, he asked very carefully with a voice full of moisture.

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