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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Xrecker
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I recalled what Evangeline had told me about her younger sister.
“She’s an alchemist, I believe.”
“Yes. She’s a promising alchemist, even among the Lightwing tribe.”
As the plague began to spread, she had been researching and creating medicine, coming into frequent contact with patients. And she had eventually contracted the plague herself.
Even so, she had continued her research, pushing herself to the limit, until the disease had progressed to the point where she was beginning to turn into an undead.
By the time Lorelia had finished her explanation, we had reached a group of armed elves, surrounded by a barrier.
And beyond them, a village.
A picturesque village, built around a massive tree that seemed to pierce the sky.
But the village, as large as a city, was shrouded in an aura of death, a stark contrast to the vibrant life of the forest.
This was the epicenter of the plague, the Lightwing village.
“Chieftain.”
As Lorelia arrived, the elves on guard turned their attention to me. Lorelia, as if understanding their suspicion, raised a hand and stopped them.
“This is the one they call the Sage. He knows about the plague, and he knows the cure, so stand down.”
“But…”
Despite her words, the elves’ gazes didn’t waver. I couldn’t blame them.
To them, the plague had appeared out of nowhere. And then some human shows up, claiming to know all about it. Who would believe him?
And they were elves, steeped in a superiority complex.
Their disdainful, arrogant gazes seemed to say, As if a mere human like you could cure a plague that even the elves couldn’t.
So, I had to ask Lorelia,
“Should I just go back?”
“Hmm… It’s fine. I’ll go with you.”
“Chieftain, it’s dangerous in there.”
“If the Chieftain were to get infected… We don’t even have any priests right now… At least wait until Deputy Commander Yeonhwa returns…”
“I can use holy power. Heal.”
The Heal spell I cast enveloped one of the elves. The elf winced.
The reason was simple. The skill I used was holy power from the Church.
He was displeased that a holy power, not based on the Healing Tree, the main religion of the Elven Forest, had touched him.
Truly an arrogant race.
I couldn’t just smack them…
“Human, don’t be so insolent.”
“Hmm, well, if you call this insolence, I have nothing to say.”
“It seems you do possess holy power. But the Chieftain cannot go. There will be others inside, so join them.”
I didn’t need to go with Lorelia, so it didn’t matter. The elf I had healed bit his lip and opened a path for me. A small opening appeared in the blue barrier. As I was about to enter, I approached the elf who had been provoking me.
“What is it?”
“Well, I was a little offended by your tone, considering I came here to help. What’s your name?”
Threatening to kill him now would only cause more trouble for me.
The important thing was to cure the plague.
But once I had the cure, the tables would turn.
The elves’ lives would be in my hands. Then, I could use them to deal with this guy.
So, I needed to know his name.
“…Rankin Preyd.”
“Good. I’ll remember that.”
I’ll deal with you later.
I took another look at his face, then entered the barrier.
Inside, the aura of death was even stronger.
And I felt a slight heaviness in my body.
The plague debuff was taking effect.
If I didn’t use a holy barrier, I would get infected after a certain period of time, right?
I immediately cast a holy barrier. The heaviness in my body disappeared.
Alright, let’s go.
“You there! Human! What are you doing here?!”
Not long after I entered, a group of elves in green armor rushed towards me. Paladins of the Healing Tree tribe. As they were about to raise their weapons, a voice came from behind them.
“The Chieftain brought him. He’s called the Sage outside the forest.”
Who was that? An elf I hadn’t seen before was acting like he knew me.
Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a high-ranking member of the Lightwing tribe…
“Chieftain Lorelia sent me in her place. She can’t enter due to a meeting of the Elven Forest Council.”
“Oh, really?”
Whatever.
“The Sage? You mean Hyun-woo, the Sage?”
“Huh? You know me?”
“I’ve heard of you. The unofficial companion who helped defeat the Demon King… and…”
“And?”
“They say you know all things.”
Then you’ve heard all the important parts.
As I nodded, he sighed heavily and held out his hand.
“Rotelo, a ranger of the Land of Plenty tribe. I have some knowledge of alchemy, so I came to help.”
“I’m the Sage. So? Where is the elf who is turning into an undead?”
“This way.”
Thanks to Rotelo, I was able to proceed without any further interruptions. The elven deputy commander, who, like her chieftain, seemed to have a penchant for exhibitionism and was wearing a slingshot bikini, stared at me with curiosity.
“What are you looking at?”
“No, I just… you’re more impressive than I thought. Ah, I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Yeonhwa, of the Lightwing tribe. Chieftain Lorelia’s first deputy.”
“Your naming convention is the same as the Healing Tree tribe. Did you come from there?”
“Yes, that’s why I was allowed in.”
“I see.”
Her personal history wasn’t important, so I just moved on.
As we walked, they filled me in on the current situation of the plague, its progression, and the number of casualties. We arrived at a large building.
It seemed they had gathered all the infected here to treat them.
“Most of the elves in the Lightwing village are infected. Some have mild symptoms, like a cold, but there are many severe cases as well.”
“I see. And the most severe case is…”
“Yes. Rudhi, the younger sister of Evangeline, a member of the Hero’s Party.”
I glanced inside the building. Priests and alchemists, armed with holy power and artifacts, were tending to the elves, but it seemed they were unable to cure them.
They were just using holy power and medicine to slow the progression of the disease…
But that was just a temporary measure.
“Some of the alchemists and priests have been infected as well.”
“Really? This is serious…”
–Cough! Cough!
Just then, an elven priest coughed violently and collapsed. I went over to him. He was burning with fever.
“This is really serious.”
If the priests and alchemists got sick and couldn’t slow the progression of the disease, the plague would spread like wildfire.
The barrier could only hold for so long.
“Sage, how long will it take to cure them?”
“Well, I need alchemy equipment to make the cure. Perfect timing. Bring that priest over here.”
A few of the elves looked displeased at my command. But perhaps because of Rotelo and Yeonhwa, they complied. When we arrived at the alchemy workshop, a few of the elven alchemists looked at me, surprised.
“You’re…?”
“The Sage?”
I had sold a recipe for a high-grade mental recovery potion during the main storyline to make some money.
It was a recipe that was only discovered after the Demon King’s defeat, so it was quite valuable at the time. I had received a handsome sum for it, and my name had become known in the Alchemist’s Guild.
Even proud elves needed to exchange knowledge to advance in alchemy.
So, the elven alchemists, who must have visited the Alchemist’s Guild, recognized me and wiggled their ears in excitement.
“The great alchemist, the Sage, is here…”
“This is a relief… haaah…”
The priests looked surprised at the alchemists’ reaction. They probably didn’t expect me to be so renowned.
Anyway, the important thing was…
“Draw some of that priest’s blood. And can I use this equipment?”
“Ah, please, use this.”
“You can use these catalysts and reagents.”
It was a strange sight.
Proud elves,
Alchemists who cherished their equipment and ingredients,
Willingly offering them to me.
I had seen it a few times in the game, but I had never seen elves act so subservient in person.
Pushing aside the novel feeling, I immediately began to prepare the cure. A moment later, I dropped a few drops of red blood from a syringe into a petri dish.
–Sizzle!
As the blood reacted with the cure, a black mist rose from it and dissipated. The alchemists’ eyes widened, and they grabbed me and asked,
“Was that… the aura of death?”
“Yes. This plague was caused by a curse. I explained this to Chieftain Lorelia.”
“But we didn’t know it was true.”
“So, to cure them, we need a blessing, a curse removal, and something to boost the body’s immune response…”
I shared my knowledge with the alchemists. They listened intently, not blinking an eye.
It felt like I was giving a lecture.
As the elven alchemists, who were getting a free lecture they couldn’t have gotten even with money, exclaimed in admiration or snapped their fingers, I finished preparing the cure and injected it into the collapsed priest’s arm.
“Is it really alright to just inject it like that?”
Yeonhwa exclaimed, surprised, but I ignored her. The important thing was the cure’s reaction.
“Ugh…”
“His fever is going down.”
“Let’s lay him down and monitor his condition.”
“Yes, sir!”
The others looked surprised as the alchemists obediently followed my instructions. But it was only natural.
An alchemist’s status was determined by their knowledge.
“Then let’s leave this for now… Ah, and reinforcements from the kingdom and the Church will be arriving in a few days. I’ve already informed Chieftain Lorelia, so please share your knowledge with them when they arrive.”
“Understood.”
“Then…”
I clenched and unclenched my fists, stretching. Rotelo, watching me, asked with a puzzled expression,
“What are you doing now?”
“I’m going to go and treat Rudhi. You said she’s turning into an undead, right?”
“Uh… yes, but… Why are you warming up? Are you going to fight?”
He was sharp. I nodded and secured Moonlight, which I had pulled from my bag, at my waist.
As I began to arm myself, a few of the elves tensed and gripped their own weapons. I smiled at them.
“No, Sage, now…”
“Alright, let’s go. Based on Rudhi’s condition, she should be…”
–CRASH!!
–ROAR!!!
Just then, a loud crash and a monstrous roar echoed through the building. The startled elves turned towards the source of the sound.
I felt an overwhelming aura of death and said,
“…going berserk right about now. We should probably calm her down first, right?”
“…How are we supposed to treat that?”
I smiled at their surprised question.
They thought it was difficult, but the cure was surprisingly simple.
“Physical therapy.”
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