Chapter 601: Way to Overcome (2)

“What does that mean? Are you talking about Hyung-nim?”

The large pig definitely had good timing. He asked obnoxiously as if he already knew everything and to just tell him the story.

“I am healthy. I’m really fine now.” I insisted. I then looked at Cho Hyejin’s reaction to what he said.

“That’s what you think. You were passed out for four days this time, so that says something… there are definitely some aftereffects. Even if you say that your body is fine, you still fainted. If that is not enough proof, what would be? I couldn’t speak because I hadn’t had a chance… but you need to pay more attention to your health.”

“I have already been fainting since before… and I keep saying that it has nothing to do with that power. In fact, I feel like I’ve gotten a little bit healthier recently… I just feel a bit tired physically. It’s been a while since I’ve felt other side effects…”

“What I’m saying is that your head may feel that way, but your body may not. That’s how the human body works. When I was young, I had an uncle that lived next door who was very healthy, but he suddenly came down with some kind of illness, and then three months later he crossed the Jordan River.”

“… …”

“I’m saying this for everyone. It would be better to pay attention to your health in advance. Shouldn’t you all live until you’re pooping on the wall? And my weak Hyung-nim is the one that worries me the most… I’m just saying this because it came up… but are you really okay?”

“Helena and Heeyoung said that there was nothing wrong with my body, but why do you keep-“

“I mean, it’s just because I thought that it might be possible. What other meanings would it have? It’s also weird to overreact like this… Aren’t you really hiding anything?”

‘No, I’m saying I’m not, you bastard.’ I thought crossly.

It was quite the spectacle to see him pushing forward so hard with a far-fetched argument without any evidence. Nevertheless, was it only my imagination that I felt like I couldn’t refute?

Looking around, I noticed everyone listening to Park Deokgu’s words. Jung Hayan seemed to already be having bad thoughts; I could see her holding back tears. Yuno Kasugano was also looking at me with a questioning face, and Han Sora was biting her lip hard. She must be thinking about what would happen if something were to happen to me. If it was revealed that there was something wrong with me, she would receive the most damage… so, wouldn’t it be just natural to have such a reaction?

In the meantime, I could see Cho Hyejin’s pupils shaking. She was deep in thought. I didn’t know if she was debating whether or not to speak out from the beginning, but I felt like she was falling for the moment’s temptation. Seeing her trying to ride in the atmosphere created by Park Deokgu, I was naturally getting cold sweat.

There was no problem if Yuno Kasugano, Park Deokgu, or Han Sora would know about it, but if Jung Hayan were to hear about it, I was scared of what her reaction would be. The newbie black wizard was already praying with both hands together, and Jung Hayan was clutching me with an impossibly strong grip.

‘Hyejin… do not do that.’ I pleaded to her in my mind.

Was this what Ito Souta and Jin Qing, who had entrusted their fates to me in the past, felt? I had to look at Cho Hyejin with my eyes full of sorrow. When I gave her a look that said that I could endure it alone, not to speak out and that I was causing trouble to the Blue Guild members, I noticed her avoiding my gaze.

I started to wonder if my short dream would end like this before Cho Hyejin slowly began to speak.

“… No. I didn’t mean it that way.”

‘Yes, Hyejin. I believed in you. When it comes to trust, it is Cho Hyejin, and when it comes to Cho Hyejin, it is trust. Let’s really go with our faith.’

“Of course, I am indeed concerned about the health of the Vice Guild Master, but… I think the urgent fire was put out. As I heard from Helena, he is improving, and I believe that he will continue to improve. I’m referring to the others who are suffering from the aftereffects of what happened after the 27th Legion crisis.” She continued.

“I guess there are some people who are still experiencing aftereffects…”

“The temple is supporting them, but manpower is extremely short. Priests in charge of the mental system are rare…”

“Oh, really?”

“Does it make sense that one priest has at least 500 to 1,000 patients to deal with? It is hard enough to chant the divine power once for normal treatment. In my case, it is correct to think that I can quickly regain stability due to Helena. But other people aren’t in as good an environment as me.” I explained.

“…”

“From those with post-traumatic stress disorder, those exposed to the energy of the demon, to those who are cursed… Don’t forget that it’s only been a year.”

“Even though you appear to be completely recovered… the wound wasn’t healed yet. Shaman, Celia is in a similar situation?”

“Celia is probably better off than the rest of the others.”

“…”

The words I said to Park Deokgu were not at all made up. In fact, these problems had already been on the rise in recent years. Of course, it couldn’t be denied that this was a corps that eats negative emotions. Wasn’t that what the demons were aiming for in the first place, to leave a deep scar on the continent? The situation was so bad that there were many people who started getting sick just by hearing the sound ‘Bel’ of Belial.

The 27th Legion’s recognition within the continent had already grown to the point that they dealt significant damage to the depths of the human soul. I couldn’t even say that they could definitely be healed even if we brought in a priest from the mental system. It was hard to say that I needed another expression. In the end, I had no choice but to wait for the time to solve it.

“The Vice Guild Master is right. I thought maybe we could create a means to heal the people suffering in this place…”

“Is that possible?”

That was absolutely possible. It was exactly the development that I wanted to happen.

“Well… honestly, I can’t be sure, but… I don’t think it’s impossible… It’s hard to come to a conclusion as we haven’t seen this whole place yet. I think it’s going to be particularly hard in the mental part… However, there may be a way to treat the victims exposed to dark energy.”

“One thing I can be sure of is that I can see it as an advantage.”

“I guess.”

As I looked around at the members, I saw Han Sora nodding.

It seemed that she was thinking she could move here if she were lucky, but I wonder if Jung Hayan would be here with her.

‘Because then I’ll be staying here too.’

“Well… I’m glad it’s a good thing, but… aren’t you going to eat?”

“I’m finished,” I answered.

“How can you say you’re finished after eating like a bird? It’s not good for your health, so eat some more.”

“No, I can’t eat anymore.”

“These are all good food.”

“Come on, eat it already.” Hyejin piped up.

“Hyejin is telling you to eat more, too.”

“Come on, eat.”

“No, really.”

“Come on, eat everything.”

“Ah… Okay.”

I was going to skip the food, but her voice and stare were bothering me. It was true that I actually couldn’t eat anymore, but my body still accepted the food.

The quick meal ended, and once again, I began to gain momentum from the stagnant work. Given that there was a reasonable goal and an excuse made by Cho Hyejin, I was able to investigate the traces left by the demon contractors step by step without having to hide anything and get bigger things than expected.

In the meantime, Cho Hyejin called me to give advice. My mind, already filled with trust in her, nodded in approval. I once again confirmed that she would not tell anyone, but she presented me with some of her conditions. If there was no improvement after a certain period of time, or if my symptoms worsened, her intention was to intervene actively.

I laughed at Cho Hyejin’s hope that this place might really be a breakthrough, but it was something that was not bad at all for me.

‘I can concentrate on research now.’

I could stay here as an excuse to cure myself, so what else do I need? I will also have time to study the homunculus or chimera and explore black magic in-depth with Sora and Hayan. Whether or not it can be used with full power immediately can be confirmed only by observing the research’s progress, but the quality of manpower running the infrastructure is different.

Han Sora was the best black magic authority on the continent, and Jung Hayan was called the incarnation of magic itself. It was natural to think that even if I failed, they would find a way to do something about it.

‘Oh, that’s good. Good job, Hyejin, really.’

Her eyes, which were continually shining, were bothering me, but… Grabbing my torn heart, I had no choice but to endure her pain.

‘I’ll treat you later, Hyejin. Let’s really succeed this time, for real.’

When I was preparing to return after my investigations, Cho Hyejin opened her mouth and asked.

“Then will you stay here from now on?”

“No. Actually, I still have a lot to do besides this. For now, I think it would be better to leave this place to Sora.”

“Hmm…”

“She will do well. She’s much more competent than you think, especially in this field. As soon as the former owners’ research infrastructure is restored, I will join her as well… Of course, I will go out to do other things in the meantime… You just need to act as a bridge. Please do as much as possible so that the people around us can rest assured.”

‘Especially Kim Hyunsung.’ I added in my head.

“That won’t be a problem… Remember what I said clearly, Vice Guild Master.”

‘Of course, there’s no way I could possibly forget.’

I could just say that I was improving when the research had made some progress. Showing proof that I was all better would be too easy…

“Then from now on…”

“Oh, I think I should also stop by the temple first,” I said.

“The temple?”

“Yes, I feel that Benignore is calling me strongly.”

“I hope it’s good news. Please… I hope it’s good news.”

It was nice that she hoped that something beneficial to me would come out, but unfortunately, I felt that it would be something more important.

I was sure that she made a decision to save humanity. The results were as expected.

The next morning, with a great burst of light from the sky, a magic sword-no-the holy sword was stuck in the sacred ground and began to wait for its owner.

It was looking for a noble figure, much like the legend of Excalibur.