Chapter 90 – Chapter 3: Pure Hands – 2
Geek. Kik Geek.
I went up the old stairs.
Every time I step on it, I hear an annoying noise.
When I arrived at the second floor, I opened Posao’s bedroom.
Kkeikik-.
The moment you put your muddy boots into the confines of the bedroom.
“Ugh…”
I feel it.
The existence of a strong ‘memory illusion’.
This is evidence of a sinister past that lurks throughout this bedroom.
I looked around.
The room was clean and tidy, and all the items Posao normally used were the same.
However, if something a little unfamiliar catches your eye.
It was a glass bottle placed in a corner of the room.
It’s strange.
That’s a glass bottle that I use in my pharmacy…
Why is this here?
The moment I pick it up out of curiosity.
Hwaaaaah-!
The remaining memories unfolded one by one.
* * *
Tia was in the pharmacy.
Chin.
After looking around the bookshelf for a while, I found a book and immediately took it out.
I read the title.
〈Herbology Volume 3〉.
Ritz told me to refer to this book right before I collapsed.
Palak.
She turned the pages and found the part she wanted.
Soon, we were able to discover a truly ‘restrictive method for the symptom of vomiting blood.’
Amazingly, it was a medicine that was perfect for the current situation.
At first, I was excited with the expectation that I would be able to treat Ritz soon.
I immediately looked at the ingredients left in the barn to make medicine.
“… “No.”
There were too many things missing.
These were all medicinal herbs that I had seen in books at least once, but they were so rare that even Ritz found it difficult to handle them.
Other ingredients can be easily obtained by going down to the village below.
Something like this… What should I do?
No, no. Let’s think calmly.
Whatever it is, just save it and that’s it.
I decided to organize things first.
I made a list of necessary ingredients and excluded ingredients that were relatively easy to obtain one by one.
“The main ingredients are aschera stamens, whitetail flowers…”
This is also a difficult medicine to find, but if you search the market somehow, you might be able to get it.
The real problem was different.
“Cheonjinju.”
This is the medicinal ingredient that Ritsu was looking for to make medicine to give to her village chief.
I heard that it has an excellent energy recovery effect, but it was very difficult to obtain.
After we crossed the border and searched the Dragonez thoroughly for two days, we finally found one.
Cheonjinju is said to be even more precious because it only comes from mountains and grows in places that are difficult for people to reach, such as cliffs.
It may not be possible in Deseo, but there was a high possibility that it would not exist in Taildon.
Moreover, it is winter now, so the gatherers are not roaming around.
It would be more difficult to find medicinal herbs in the snow-covered mountains.
“But you never know.”
Tia went straight down to the village below.
First she went to the apothecary in Taildon and asked if there were any leftover ingredients.
She was hopeful, but the answer she received was shocking.
“Sorry. “I can’t give you any more medicine.”
“… “Why?”
“I’m cautious about saying why. Hmm, but since it’s you, I’ll tell you something special.”
Her pharmacist stroked her chin anxiously.
“I think a big war will probably break out in the near future. “The lord told me to prepare a medicine with all the remaining ingredients.”
“War?!”
“Uh huh. Shh.”
The pharmacist, who warned her to lower her voice, nodded with a stern expression.
“Okay. The atmosphere these days is no joke. This is also a secret, but five mercenaries were found dead near here a few days ago. The lord told us to just ask without saying anything, so everyone stayed quiet. There is definitely something sinister going on.”
“…”
“Is there anything to be said about the village above? Well, of course you don’t want to say anything?”
“Not yet. “This is my first time hearing about preparations for war.”
“I ask you again, don’t tell anyone yet. It seemed like the lord was waiting to see when the chief of the upper village would arrive. But if rumors spread first, we’ll be in trouble.”
“… I understand.”
Tia came out.
When I put together what I just heard, I could see the general flow.
The aftermath of the ‘noble revolt’ that took place in Deseo has arrived here.
Gordburg, who had previously heard the news, attempted to contact Tailden.
I don’t know the exact details, but the scene where a particularly large number of soldiers were gathered together and the situation where all medicinal ingredients were being turned into ‘military elixirs’…
Here, the ‘Dragonez’ must have been preparing to revolt against Deseo.
Rattling- rattling-.
A cart covered with a tent passed right next to it.
Metal chunks were visible under the slightly gaping gap of the tent.
Although it was rusty and reddish, Tia was clearly recognizable.
What was being carried on the cart was ‘weapons.’
And the place the donkey is heading to is the mercenaries’ home.
It was a ‘liaison office.’
“… War.”
Tia repeated those words blankly.
She didn’t think anything.
Even though he was the one who started the ‘war’ that drove people to death decades ago.
There were no new feelings, no sense of responsibility weighing on my shoulders, or no feelings of guilt.
The only feeling I felt was helplessness.
I didn’t want to care whether war broke out or not.
This was all done to save Ritz, not because of any political greed.
Rather, she felt sorry for herself as she could not obtain ‘medicine’ because of the war.
Tia went to see Uncle Marvin.
The moment she carefully says, ‘I want to climb the mountain.’
“Are you saying that now?”
As expected, the good sound did not return.
People had already decided that ‘Tia’ and ‘San’ should never be together.
Tia also bowed her head in understanding.
All of this. The reason why Ritz got hurt by a bear, the village chief died, the villagers suffered, winter became difficult, and Ruyev left the village…
Because she wanted to climb the mountain.
Uncle Marvin asked, frowning at her.
“Let’s hear the reason. Why do you want to climb the mountain?”
“Ritz is in a lot of pain. She vomited blood. To get better, there is a medicine that can only be found in the mountains…”
“So, what are you telling us to do if something happens again on the mountain?”
The man pointed to the warehouse.
“Now there is no one to go with you. Didn’t Ruyev run away? While you’re out in the mountains digging up medicine and all, how are we supposed to take care of Ritz since we don’t know anything? “I don’t even have time to listen to idle noise because everyone is working.”
“… “I’m sorry.”
“I’m not saying this to hear you apologize.”
The man sighed and crossed his arms.
“I know you’re nervous because Ritsu is sick, but you should just watch her progress for now. “Isn’t there a law that says everyone dies just because they vomit blood?”
“Oh, no! Before Ritsu collapsed, she asked me to do it. She wants me to make some medicine. But when she wanted to make the medicine, she didn’t have enough ingredients… She said she couldn’t give it to me even though I asked for it from the village below…”
“You’re trying to make things bigger again for no reason.”
Tia’s tongue stiffened at her sharp voice.
“Please listen to me, baby. How long are you going to live like that?”
“…”
“Do you still not understand why Ritsu became such a slut? “Isn’t that what happened because we increased the workload for no reason and took on unnecessary risk of doing things that shouldn’t be done?”
No matter what Tia said, she was always bound to be rebutted like this.
Because what she said was not wrong, the girl remained silent every time.
Like eternal shackles.
She was held by her neck and ankles and had to suffer from her guilt.
Tia walked aimlessly up the hill.
Hwieeeeeing-!!
The sharp winter wind brings snow.
A pure white flower was attached to the hem of her cloak.
There is no medicine in the village below.
You cannot climb the mountain where the medicine is located.
“…”
Looking up at the Dragonez Mountain that had suddenly turned white, Tia realized that there was only one place to go now.
She walked, clutching her cloak tightly.
Without a word she left Brisden and headed down.
Snow fell on her red hair, and frost settled on her shoulders.
“Ha-ha-ha-.”
A house visible through hazy breath.
A lonely store standing in a snowy field.
In Tia’s eyes, that appearance is… It was as if she was reflecting her own miserable situation.
It’s as if she can thaw the frozen girl’s body at the same time.
It dazzles red eyes with warm light.
[Modales General Store]
She entered the yard as if led.
Sabak- Sabak-.
Her eyes are crushed under her boots.
However, Tia’s steps were gradually becoming lighter, to the point where the sound was barely audible.
“Ha…”
She lifts her pale hand and leans against her door.
She pauses for a moment, then taps slowly as if she has made up her mind.
Knock. Knock.
A knocking sound that only two people can hear.
And the sound of popularity coming from inside.
Thud. Boom.
The sound of a large bear running is heard.
My heart was racing.
The moment when the bear that attacked Ritz suddenly came to mind, and he stopped breathing for a moment.
Kkeikik-.
The door opened, and a familiar face appeared.
Always with a kind face. And in a soft voice.
Welcome Tia.
“Oh, welcome. Tia.”
The loneliness and fear that had permeated me are washed away by the warm air coming from the general store.
It feels like my heart is melting.
“… Hello. Uncle.”
Tia stepped into the general store.
Crash.
The door was closed tightly.
This place… It was a truly different space.
Even though it was on the border of Brisden, it had a completely different atmosphere from the village.
Unlike those places where you just have to keep your head down.
Inside the general store, I was able to proudly raise my head and see the man’s face.
He smiled.
“Why, what’s wrong? Something on my face… Did you bury it?”
“No!”
My voice returned with confidence.
When I look back, at some point I started slurring my words and speaking incoherently.
Cheerful and cheerful, this is my real voice.
“It’s very cold, isn’t it? Eat this at least.”
“Wow – thank you!”
Mr. Posao handed out a ginger biscuit.
I excitedly took it and took a bite.
As the tension went away, my body melted.
Tia leaned back in her chair and made a happy noise.
The man asked.
“But what… What’s going on?”
“Um, I’m sorry, but I have a favor to ask you.”
“Dog, it’s okay. “Just say it!”
“That is…”
The situation was discussed in detail.
Neither ignoring nor pressuring.
The man listened to me until the end with a serious expression on his face.
Uncle Po Sao, who took the list of medicinal ingredients, nodded his head.
“So… “You mean this is necessary?”
“Yes.”
“Neaaah- my wife, Cheonjinju… This might be a little difficult…”
“Ah… Yes? Hehe- I’m sorry.”
“No! “I’ll try my best.”
Chin.
Posao spoke confidently and placed his hand on his Tia’s shoulder.
“…”
In the past, I was a bit intimidated by that distant behavior.
Now I know that this touch is very warm…
I accepted it as is.
“… Thank you.”
“Don’t worry too much.”
Swoosh-.
The man’s thick hand rested on his white thigh.
I feel a slightly sweaty heat.
It was as if he was trying to wrap my legs warmly after constantly running around to get medicine.
“I only trust myself.”
Tia nodded her head blankly.
“… Yes.”
