Chapter 123

“Guh…!”

Pain courses through my entire body.

Nerves ache on their own, muscles throb separately.

The unexpected pain momentarily stopped my brain as if in shock.

▶Status Ailment: Suffering from Muscle Pain Stage 3!◀

▶Status Ailment: Suffering from Nerve Pain Stage 3!◀

▶Status Ailment: Dizziness and Headache occur!◀

Thump!

I couldn’t control my body from the sudden status ailment.

Then, a chill started to assault my whole body.

“What the…!”

-Ding!

In the middle of unbearable pain that made it impossible to discern what was happening, a status window unfolds before my eyes.

▶Supplementing player information.◀

※Defeshan Syndrome

[ A debuff that occurs in the west region corrupted by mana, causing those who cannot adapt to the corruption to lose stats periodically. ]

[ Drinking a decoction made from Iselef Leaf and Amperik Root will create a defense mechanism in the body that adapts to the corruption of mana. During this period, the subject will fall into sleep, and accumulated fatigue will be relieved, potentially leading to longer rest periods. ]

‘I already knew that!’

Harnei explained everything, so why would I need any further explanation?

It should have ended there.

Why do I have to endure this agony again now?

As I pondered this internally, the system opened another window.

-Ding!

[ However, rarely, due to sensitivity to the mana in the leaves and roots, a secondary Defeshan Syndrome may occur. ]

[ In this case, excruciating pain will spread throughout the body, accompanied by chills, dizziness, headaches, nerve pain, all symptoms experienced in the primary condition. ]

[ This condition has a latency period, so it manifests after a few days. During this time, if the body can’t support itself properly, death may result. ]

‘Oh, death might result…?’

My hair stood on end.

There were no such explanations when Defeshan Syndrome first appeared.

So, I thought it was merely a debuff that drops stats and needed to be removed.

But now, it turns out there’s a secondary manifestation that requires preparation?

“Damn it!”

I’ve never seen something like this in a game.

After removing the simple debuff, no text appeared, and it wasn’t worth much attention.

But now, I can’t deny its existence.

-Ding!

▶Status Ailment: Dizziness, headache, nerve pain, muscle pain, etc.◀

▶Warning! Immunity stat temporarily decreases!◀

▶HP drops below 40%!◀

Right now, I’m on the brink of death being consumed by this unknown game setting called ‘secondary Defeshan Syndrome.’

-Ding!

▶Chill spreads throughout the body!◀

▶HP drops below 30%!◀

▶Physical sluggishness increases! Voice penalty prevents speaking!◀

But what can I do?

I know nothing about this ailment.

If I rashly try anything, it might worsen the injury. So, I don’t know what measures to take.

I can’t even speak, and trying to move to seek help makes my vision blurry, making it hard to distinguish anything.

‘I wish Harnei were here…’

-There’s a schedule, so I need to go to the Merchant Guild for a bit. Wait until I return… No, why are your eyes like that? Are you planning to leave me behind and start without me?!

This was said yesterday.

Harnei, who had been watching over me for days, advising and monitoring my sleep, is currently away due to her schedule.

Now, of all times. The one who knows Defeshan Syndrome well is absent.

There’s no choice.

I can barely sit, let alone stand; crawling is the best I can manage.

In this situation where I can only move my hands slightly, there was only one thing I could do.

“Guh…!”

-Clink!

▶Throwing objects worsens the condition!◀

▶Glass shards scatter! Shallow cut appears!◀

▶HP decreases by 3%!◀

HP decreased, but there was a positive side:

-Tap tap tap!

Hearing this sound, someone must be rushing over.

That means I also have something to do.

▶Bleeding status ailment!◀

▶HP decreases by 6%!◀

▶Warning! Continuous HP decrease continues.◀

Bleeding, who cares?

Anyway, I’m bound to die if I stay like this. This cursed game wouldn’t let Carsein off easily, so I need to write in blood.

Secondary Defeshan Syndrome.

After writing those words, my ears started ringing.

Through the ringing, someone’s voice could be heard.

“Hey, ───! ── Help me! ──”

Unable to distinguish the voice, I don’t know who it is, but thankfully, there’s no one in Rusmaier who opposes me. If they knew my situation, they’d help me right away.

▶Fainting status ailment!◀

With that window, I lost consciousness once more.

-Ding!

▶Sub Episode updated!◀

***

“…Sigh.”

Claire suddenly sighed inside the carriage.

Claire learned about this yesterday.

“What?! Carsein became the lord of Rusmaier?”

Arina was shouting in the hall, demanding some documents from Butler Heron, so Claire inevitably heard this news too.

Carsein’s trip was expected.

With the appearance of Kebia Fruit in the meal, it was clear he was not invited to the tea party, which was more than enough reason for disappointment.

Still, his trip was too long.

‘You fool. Was this the reason you didn’t return to the Duke’s mansion?’

Hearing Arina’s exclamation, Claire grabbed her forehead.

“Sister, I’ll bring him back.”

“Why are you doing this, Claire?”

“…There’s a reason.”

Mumbling, Claire got on the carriage to bring Carsein back, but.

“If I knew this, I would have kept it a secret from you too.”

Claire suggested allowing Carsein’s trip to some extent.

She believed understanding Carsein’s hurt feelings upon not being invited to the tea party with Kebia Fruit was necessary.

Thus, Arina did not receive the news of the villa tea party, leading to this situation.

Since the matter grew, there was no choice.

If Carsein was taken by Sister, Claire’s secret would become even more serious.

“So, I have to handle this myself.”

Perhaps scolding her sternly would be better. Only then would she not argue with Arina and let it slide.

With this resolve, Claire boarded the carriage and headed straight for Rusmaier.

A little later.

Claire received the coachman’s call sooner than expected. Surprised at the news of arriving at Rusmaier, she truly found herself within the territory.

But whether fast or slow, it didn’t matter.

First, she had to meet Carsein and give him an earful, so she started moving.

Grabbing a villager, she asked for directions to Carsein’s house.

-Clink!

Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass was heard.

What is this? Why am I hearing this?

Claire’s steps quickened.

Opening the door was immediate.

Then, Claire’s eyes widened.

“Carsein…?”

This isn’t a mistake.

Carsein is lying down.

“Hey, Carsein! What happened? Get up!”

Approaching the fallen Carsein, Claire shook him vigorously with both hands, but there was no response.

“Damn it. What the hell is going on! What kind of problem…!”

Unconsciously cursing, Claire examined Carsein’s body. Broken glass pieces and cuts on his palms didn’t seem to be the problem.

Then, she touched his skin.

“…Why is his body temperature so low. Could it be…?”

Claire began to suspect the cause of Carsein’s collapse.

-Swoosh.

When she tried to use a little mana on Carsein, he reacted violently.

Claire swore and immediately stood up, heading straight for the fireplace to pile up logs.

“Damn. Seriously!”

Running a boutique, she had heard of these symptoms before.

Defeshan Syndrome.

She had heard that in severe cases, especially when mana awakening accompanies it, a secondary Defeshan Syndrome occurs.

-Primarily, it causes chills. Beyond that, it brings headaches, dizziness, nerve pain, muscle pain, and other symptoms, requiring a recovery phase. If the body isn’t protected during this time…

You die.

That’s what she heard.

At first, Defeshan Syndrome wasn’t something she cared about, but recalling what she had heard about it from others made her heart sink. She couldn’t help but curse.

“Damn it. Hurry up, warm up! Why isn’t it working?!”

After piling up the logs, she used magic to ignite them.

The fire roared, but it didn’t seem enough to warm the cold skin she just touched.

So, she poured magic on the logs and set them ablaze.

Once the fire was roaring.

Carsein’s body temperature began to rise, indicating it was moving away from the state of a cold corpse.

Claire’s trembling hand, which couldn’t bear the sight of Carsein’s pale skin, finally relaxed when she saw his temperature returning to normal.

The bead of sweat on Carsein’s forehead.

This was the reason Claire could finally relax.

It took a while, but the traces left by Carsein on the floor caught her eye.

[Burn it for me.]

“…Damn. Should have checked this first.”

But her heart still pounded uncontrollably.

Her hands were shaking too.

Claire held her trembling hands and could only watch over Carsein, unable to touch him.

Then, without realizing it.

Claire covered her eyes with her trembling hands.

-Ding!

▶Sub Episode. Transaction Statement content changes.◀

▶This episode upgrades to Main Episode.◀

▶Claire’s Affinity increases.◀

[Current level: 61%]