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Chapter 18: We Need a Variable (3)

The priest examining Rachel couldn’t hide his flustered expression. The illness she suffered from was an incurable disease that resisted divine power and worsened over time, ultimately leading to death.

Yet now, Rachel’s condition visibly improved.

“What on earth is happening?”

The priest, taken aback by this unprecedented sight, quickly infused divine power into Rachel.

“Oh, goddess!”

He repeatedly exclaimed in amazement.

Previously, every time he tried to infuse her with divine power, the disease would fiercely resist treatment, but that was not the case now.

It was absurd.

Having treated Rachel a few times before, he knew how vigorous the disease’s resistance to divine power was.

But now, Rachel’s body was accepting divine power without refusing it, like cotton soaking up water.

After a long while of pouring divine power into Rachel, the priest stood up, dazed.

“I can’t believe it… It seems the disease has improved. This is a miracle! The goddess has bestowed a miracle! Oh, benevolent goddess! To grant such a blessing in the den of demons!”

As the priest made a fuss, he started praising the goddess. The gist was that Rachel’s sins had been forgiven by the goddess and she was granted a miracle for healing.

Though he should not have stayed long, the priest kept getting up and sitting down as he recited prayers.

Seeing that he seemed unwilling to leave, Ghislaine interjected with the knights.

“Send him home.”

With the knights forcibly dragging away the priest, who was stubbornly trying to stay for more miracles, Ghislaine was finally convinced. Rachel’s sickness truly had been cured.

His heart raced and his legs trembled; he could hardly stand rationally.

Kneeling, he caressed his daughter’s face, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Oh, oh… Rachel…”

With her pain alleviated, a peaceful smile appeared on the sleeping Rachel’s face.

After years, seeing his daughter so serene made Ghislaine break down in tears.

How long had it been since he had seen that smile?

How much had he wished to see it again?

This was a miracle.

“Unbelievable, unbelievable…”

After crying for a while, he quickly gathered his wits and stood up, looking at Ghislaine with desperate eyes.

“Is it possible that my daughter’s illness can truly be cured?”

“Perhaps, if she continues taking the medicine for a month or two, she will fully recover.”

“W-what? How can an incurable illness… be treated… when divine power couldn’t do it?”

“Divine power only boosts physical vitality and enhances regeneration abilities. It gives the strength to overcome the disease. That’s why there are surprisingly many diseases that cannot be cured, but people don’t seem to realize it.”

Ghislaine answered haughtily.

Gillian was left speechless. What could he say when the one who healed his daughter was right there?

Coming back to his senses, Gillian asked, “What is it that you want? You must have come looking for something.”

“What can you give me?”

“All I have left is this useless body. If you want me as a dog, I can be a dog; if you want me as a slave, I can be a slave.”

Gillian was sincere. For his daughter, he was willing to offer anything Ghislaine desired.

Ghislaine chuckled and shook his head.

“That’s not necessary. I only need the original you from the past.”

After a brief pause, Gillian remained silent, then finally managed to speak.

“If I refuse, what will happen to my daughter?”

“Well, I will still heal her if you refuse, so don’t worry. As for money… I don’t particularly intend to take any.”

Gillian looked at Ghislaine in disbelief.

To offer such goodwill without any conditions? Such people do not exist in this world, as he had experienced countless times before.

As if sensing Gillian’s thoughts, Ghislaine continued with an easy expression.

“Don’t believe me? It’s something trivial for me. It’s not as significant as you think. It’s not hard to give this much.”

Ghislaine’s words lacked convincing power.

He knew of the treatment for an illness that no one knew about and sought out a complete stranger like Gillian.

It was suspicious, to say the least.

“Honestly, if you refuse, it would be regretful, but I have no hobby of forcing those who don’t want to comply. What can I do if you dislike it?”

Gillian stared at Ghislaine for a long time.

Despite his innocent appearance, there was a strangely mature calmness about him. A pure conviction shone in his eyes.

‘What kind of dreamer is he?’

Gillian solidified his gaze, took a deep breath, and picked up a dagger.

Snip.

Then he gathered his hair that had grown to his shoulders and cut it all off in one swift motion.

As his slumped shoulders and back straightened, his body appeared more robust. The lifelessness in his eyes ignited into a blazing fervor.

It was a completely different presentation from when they first met.

The startled knights instinctively gripped their sword hilts at his intense presence.

Belinda narrowed her eyes and reached for her own weapons, thinking he might threaten Ghislaine for more medicine.

The knights blocked Gillian’s path as he strode toward Ghislaine, who stopped in his tracks and locked eyes with Ghislaine.

Gillian, standing about two spans taller than Ghislaine, now looked down at him.

Even in such a casual stance, an amazing aura of intimidation emanated from him.

Gillian asked in a heavy voice, “Is there anyone else besides those present who came with you or might come?”

“No, we are all here. No one else to meet, nor anyone else to come.”

Listening in on their conversation, Belinda slowly pulled a dagger from her belongings.

Questioning the number of companions they had or whether they were expecting someone was suspicious enough. Due to his sudden shift in demeanor, it sounded somewhat threatening as well.

Yet Gillian, unfazed by Belinda’s wariness, narrowed his eyes and asked Ghislaine, “Is there someone who holds a grudge against you?”

Ghislaine smirked as if he knew exactly what Gillian meant.

“Oh, there are those who bear grudges. There will only be more in the future.”

With that answer, Gillian suddenly picked up a spear from the corner and tied it to the end of a long rope.

Then, without uttering a word, he threw the spear hard at the door.

Boom!

The spear shot through the door and zipped away. Soon after, Gillian released his mana and pulled the rope back forcefully.

From beyond the shattered door, a man in a gray robe was dragged in with the spear stuck in his shoulder.

“Gah!”

Seeing the writhing man in pain, Ghislaine couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“Oh, look who’s been caught!”

The man, pulled in an instant, looked up at Gillian with eyes filled with fear.

To have someone who seemed invisible attack him without warning raised his disbelief.

Belinda and the knights stared wide-eyed in amazement at Gillian’s shocking throwing skills.

What he demonstrated required not only mana but also fine control over muscle movements.

Ignoring the astonished reactions, Gillian held the man’s head in one hand and dragged him over to Ghislaine.

Ghislaine looked down at the man coldly and asked, “Who sent you?”

“I, I am…”

The man trembled, unable to complete his sentence.

He couldn’t comprehend how he had been singled out like this.

He had been loitering nearby pretending to pass by like any other passerby.

Yet, to be targeted and attacked so accurately was beyond his understanding.

Belinda stepped forward, hastily patting down the trembling man.

But all that surfaced was a dagger coated with poison and several concealed weapons, with no actual indication of his identity.

“What should we do?” Gillian asked, and Ghislaine paused before looking back at the man.

“Are you planning to speak up or not?”

“……”

The man hesitated but ultimately remained silent.

Ghislaine shrugged his shoulders with a look of regret.

“What a shame. It would have been better for us both if you had come clean easily. On a fine day like today, I didn’t want to resort to force.”

It was necessary to have a reason, even a minor one, to kill or spare someone. Especially for those met as enemies.

This had been Ghislaine’s principle since his days as the Mercenary King.

Still looking down at the silent man, Ghislaine spoke to Gillian.

“I think I know who sent him without asking. I’m not particularly curious about anything else, so it’s best we see that uninvited guest off.”

Gillian nodded before dragging the man to another room.

Creak.

A chilling sound echoed from beyond the door, followed by an oppressive silence. Soon, Gillian returned with an indifferent expression.

The knights were completely awed by Gillian’s decisive action, taking action without needing to confirm things again.

‘Was he really that kind of person? How could he suddenly change like this?’

‘There’s no hesitation in his actions. The Young Master seems to be here to handle dangerous individuals.’

Gillian had looked frail and helpless like a sick puppy when they first met, but now he exuded a completely different intimidating aura.

Ghislaine said to him, “From your actions, it seems you’ve made up your mind.”

Gillian took a deep breath and slowly knelt.

“I pledge my loyalty to you, my lord.”

“Won’t you regret it?”

“I have already fulfilled my lifelong wish. I will live the rest of my life for you, my lord.”

Resolve resonated firmly in his tone. Ghislaine helped him up with a satisfied smile.

“Good to hear. Rachel will be looked after in the territory. Naturally, the remaining treatments will be taken care of.”

“Thank you.”

With a playful expression, Ghislaine changed the subject. “By the way, that was impressive. How did you manage to pinpoint and bring him in like that? Our knights didn’t even notice.”

At that statement, Belinda and the knights’ faces flushed red.

While they had realized someone was outside the house, it was hard to determine whether those people were friends or foes.

Even in such a sparsely populated outer area, there were bound to be a few individuals moving about.

But Gillian had noticed right away that the man was suspicious and apprehended him.

“Well, I could do it if I really set my mind to it, you know? I just got caught up in watching the treatment!”

Belinda shouted in frustration, feeling wronged.

Ghislaine shrugged.

“It’s alright. I didn’t know either.”

“Don’t say that like it’s a given!”

While Belinda rampaged, Gillian answered with a blank expression.

“I’ve just been staying home for a long time. If you remain in one spot for too long, you easily catch onto suspicious movements.”

Belinda’s pride was hurt, and she pouted.

“Still, it’s possible to make mistakes or misunderstandings, isn’t it? No one can be perfect.”

“What’s more important is the safety of the Young Master. If it’s confirmed that he is not a threat, we can handle it then.”

Gillian replied stoically.

Belinda and the other knights’ faces turned pale.

The knights couldn’t act so recklessly. A mistake could tarnish the honor of the one they served.

And once lost, honor wouldn’t easily be restored.

But Gillian’s attitude suggested that it wouldn’t matter even if the man he had just killed turned out to be an innocent guest.

“Tch, taking care of the Young Master is my job to do.”

Feeling somehow robbed of Ghislaine’s attention, Belinda sulked inwardly.

Gillian’s feelings were understandable.

He had been on the brink of despair, doing nothing beside his dying daughter, waiting to die.

With Ghislaine saving that daughter, how grateful would he be? He would surely give his life if asked.

“Even so, I didn’t expect him to change this much.”

The fervor he exhibited was overwhelming. Such a person would undoubtedly draw attention, positively or negatively.

“I hope nothing disastrous happens.”

While Belinda harbored worries, Ghislaine patted Gillian’s shoulder and said, “Good job. I’ll be counting on you moving forward.”

Gillian bowed his head.

“I will never disappoint you.”

The moment Gillian joined the group, a variable prepared by Ghislaine was set in motion.

 

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