The Quack Lady - Chapter 93

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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 93

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After the commotion had settled, Pairon stared blankly at Rtemeia, who was sleeping with Hanel’s knee as her pillow.

Her delicate face, small hands, and especially her small mouth that moved slightly—she was unmistakably a child.

Realizing this fact anew, Pairon sighed once more in frustration and buried his face in both hands.

Hanel, who was watching this, felt just as anxious inside.

He desperately hoped that Pairon, who now knew all the facts, would say something—anything.

‘I must endure whatever anger comes.’

Why did you deceive me for six years?

Why didn’t you tell me all the facts?

Even if resentment came, it was something he had to bear.

However.

“…Making time flow slowly. That means the pain would be minimal too, right?”

The first words from his mouth, which had been closed for so long, were not words of resentment.

Hanel swallowed and answered carefully.

“Yes.”

“…”

Silence descended as if it had been waiting.

After thinking for a moment, Pairon asked quietly.

“So that was why? Why you suddenly offered to help with my work, why you mainly searched for unusual medicinal herbs.”

“…Yes.”

At first, it was simply a kind of sense of responsibility because he was also involved.

But every time he faced Pairon’s suffering, he wanted to save the child somehow.

“…If it’s a guild, you’d be able to obtain many good medicinal materials.”

No matter what methods he tried, magic had clear limitations.

He couldn’t save the child through the flow of magical power.

“In the end, I thought medicine was the answer. I wanted to create medicine that could save someone even after losing a lot of blood.”

“…”

Pairon listened silently to Hanel’s words.

Hanel clenched both hands tightly and spoke slowly, as if confessing his sins.

“I thought if magic and medicine were combined, the child could be saved.”

His shoulders trembled slightly.

It was his fault for not anticipating it would take this long.

“Seeing you collapse, I wanted to somehow save her and return her to you.”

It was sincere.

Pairon had already been shattered once, and in that situation, Hanel couldn’t tell him all the facts.

‘Even if I went back.’

He would still make the same choice.

It was tragic.

“I know.”

Then, Pairon’s calm words reached him.

Surprised, Hanel raised his head.

His eyes were already a mess of tears.

“Because I think I would have made the same choice.”

“…!”

“You would have wanted to solve it somehow…”

At first, he thought he could somehow manage with magic, but the child’s condition was more devastating than expected.

“…The body’s flow was so messed up that there was nothing I could do with magic. I searched through every magic book but couldn’t find a method.”

“…”

He didn’t want to give up.

No, more precisely, he couldn’t give up.

“Even pouring out all my magical power, the best I could do was make the child’s time flow almost to a stop, but I couldn’t heal her.”

“…”

“The power of medicine is needed.”

A voice filled with conviction like faith echoed through Pairon’s study.

“But… that thing called surgery.”

“Yes.”

“We have to put a blade to the child’s body.”

“…It will hurt.”

After finishing his words, Pairon squeezed his eyes shut.

‘Is performing surgery really worthwhile?’

Amela was the most precious child to him to gamble her fate on something uncertain.

Moreover…

“Most of all, if Rtemeia fails the surgery… I’m not confident I won’t resent that child.”

He buried his face in both hands weakly.

It was raw emotion.

“Even when my heart swells with hope, it plummets before I know it. To entrust Amela to surgery without a definite answer… I don’t want to make Amela suffer.”

“…”

Though he had a mouth, he couldn’t add any words.

‘He must be afraid.’

This wasn’t a normal situation.

Hanel spoke with difficulty.

“Fate can be changed. The child’s life is because of me…”

He felt the weight of responsibility.

Soon, tears began flowing from Hanel’s eyes too.

“Because of me…”

Through his deeply bowed head, Hanel’s tears fell incessantly.

“So… please allow it. I’ll also do my absolute best to help. Amela’s surgery…”

Despite his desperate words, his voice grew smaller and smaller.

If even he was in this much pain.

If even he was this sad.

He couldn’t even dare to imagine what Pairon’s heart must be like.

He even understood the feeling of not wanting to make the child suffer again.

His one and only daughter, whom he could proudly call his everything.

To have to wound that small body once more…

Then, Pairon turned around.

Under his reddened eyes, teardrops that seemed ready to fall at any moment had formed.

“By any chance, did you ask Rtemeia?”

At his question, Hanel shook his head.

“No, she offered to help first.”

“…”

“She said she would help because treatment can’t be done alone.”

He looked at Rtemeia sleeping with her head on his knee and chuckled softly.

“Treatment is only possible when many people’s prayers and efforts come together.”

Recalling Rtemeia’s words, a faint smile also appeared on Hanel’s lips.

“The child has changed, Pairon. It seems the incident at the marquis’s mansion became a catalyst for her.”

He calmly recounted what had happened at the marquis’s mansion.

Everything she had done for the duchess and the marchioness.

Even the tears she had shed after losing the duchess despite everything.

“It seemed like no words could comfort her. But this child…”

“I’ll make sure no one in this world suffers!”

“So that no one feels the same pain I did… I’ll heal them all!”

Hanel recalled what Rtemeia had vowed.

“She overcame it. In her own way.”

“….”

“Do you know what this child’s dream is?”

Suddenly, Hanel asked Pairon.

When Pairon gave no answer, he gently stroked the hair of the sleeping Rtemeia.

“To ensure that no one in this world suffers.”

“….”

It was an impossible task.

That was a fact that the two people present knew better than anyone.

However, Hanel found such a Rtemeia incredibly endearing.

“The courage to dream even while knowing it’s impossible.”

“….”

“That heart is changing the world. Just like how you and I, who know the dangers of surgery better than anyone, are contemplating this matter.”

Hanel looked at Pairon.

“Won’t you consider helping with this absurd dream?”

“….”

Instead of answering, Pairon squeezed his eyes shut.

Thinking of the small child made his heart collapse once again.

“Father!”

At that moment, the image of the child who used to run and play while gathering herbs with him suddenly came to mind.

“Father! I love you!”

“I want Father to be happy!”

The love whispered through those small lips.

The feeling that small breath gave him was so overwhelming he couldn’t express it in words.

He shuffled over and collapsed in front of the sleeping Rtemeia.

And then….

“I’m sorry… Rtemeia. I’m truly sorry…”

He knelt before the sleeping Rtemeia as if pledging his loyalty.

Tears were falling endlessly from his eyes.

“I’m sorry for placing such a heavy burden on you…”

At Pairon’s words, Hanel turned his gaze away.

‘This is why I didn’t want to say anything.’

Rtemeia was already a precious child to both of them.

If they chose surgery, it would put tremendous pressure on Rtemeia…

‘If we don’t perform the surgery, they might end up resenting Rtemeia.’

Whatever choice was made, Rtemeia was as entangled in this matter as the two of them.

“Please… please take care of this, Rtemeia.”

The moment he pictured the child.

In the end, he just wanted Amela to stay by his side.

In any way possible, he wanted her to live and be with him.

‘There’s nothing I can do.’

Overwhelmed by the helplessness that engulfed him, Pairon grasped Rtemeia’s hand and wept silently without end.

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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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