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Chapter 184

In the distant future, a plague known as the Demon Heat spreads. At first, it merely seems like fatigue, but over time, symptoms worsen, bringing pain and paralysis.

Initially invisible, once the Demon Heat progresses to a certain extent, purple mana shoots through the body like lightning, earning it the nickname “Purple Death.”

The most significant characteristic of the Demon Heat is that the greater the amount of mana or aura possessed, the more fatal the symptoms become. This drove countless alchemists to develop a cure, as it was an opportunity for immense wealth and fame.

‘The Tooth Flower became prominent as a remedy because there were no cases of Demon Heat around that village.’

Reaching the conclusion that some vegetation was preventing the plague’s spread, groups of alchemists rushed in to begin experimentation.

Of course, it was unthinkable to destroy the Tooth Flower’s habitat during the experiments; they also moved some plants to other locations.

‘Since then, the Demon Heat has been reduced to a mere cold-like ailment.’

What was once a disease that made awakeners tremble soon became one that, if you felt you might be afflicted while walking down the street, could be cured with nearby gathered herbs.

However, Yeon-woo recalled the initial recipe for the cure. When the final version came to be, it only contained a few types of herbs, but coincidentally, the time she worked part-time was in the early days.

Moreover, since she was a misfit, it didn’t matter to her that she didn’t catch the Demon Heat.

Thanks to that, she made a decent amount of money during that part-time job. Given it was a plague, it could spread through contact, but she was safe to assist with nursing and medication.

As she hummed while skillfully grinding, distilling, and squeezing, Yuri frowned. No matter how she looked at it, the quantity of materials seemed excessive.

“…Does it really take that much material to make one dose?”

“No? I’m making enough for two.”

“Why?”

“Because Master needs to take some too. He doesn’t seem to have any symptoms, but just in case, I brought a useful sleeping potion.”

“What disease could invade an old man’s body? More importantly, are you alright? If an old man can get infected, you might be at risk too.”

“I told Tae-oh not to touch it, but he ate it all anyway….”

Well, ultimately, it was necessary for Yeon-woo not to become a host for spreading the infection. This only happened after some progression of the disease.

“You should be taking it. The Demon Heat doesn’t care about your realm or anything else.”

“…Tsk, if you say so, I’ll take it.”

“Thank you~”

With a smirk, Yeon-woo hurried to the pharmacy. This time, she planned to make it in two different ways: one for Noel to take separately from the Cheongcheondan, and one for Yuri as a casing for a lower-grade potion.

The former had better efficacy. Since the potion was engulfed in various herbs and poisons, it diluted the effects, so while the exterior would melt, the potion would dissolve safely.

On the other hand, since Yeon-woo wanted to preserve the effects of the Cheongcheondan for Noel, she was making it separately. In this case, proper timing for administration was critical, or someone would need to protect the potion until its efficacy kicked in.

Naturally, Yuri was set to perform that role. There was no reason not to use someone capable of doing a fine task while picking their nose.

“…Huh.”

“Are you done?”

“Yes. Then let’s go, Master.”

With the two dark green pills prepared, Yeon-woo and Yuri jumped into the gate.

*

“How are you feeling, patient~?”

“Ugh…!!”

Noel responded to my question with a shy moan that made me feel embarrassed. Indeed, she seemed to be in excruciating pain.

“Hmm, this level of pain shouldn’t be the case…. Is it because of that 4-majang or whatever it is?”

“Stop with the nonsense and feed her quickly. There’s no reason to leave her to suffer when we have medicine.”

Yuri’s gaze reflected concern for Noel as she insisted on hurrying. If she cared, she might have wished to do it quickly, but this old man really needed to learn to express himself better.

“I have no choice. It seems Noel is suffering. Please prepare it, Master.”

“Alright.”

Yeon-woo carefully helped Noel sit up. Just that seemed painful enough to let out suppressed groans.

“I’m sorry, Noel. Just hang in there; you’ll be better soon.”

Did she hear Yeon-woo’s words? Noel’s body relaxed as if she had given in. It seemed her symptoms had worsened more than expected during their time apart. Regardless, she didn’t plan to leave her like this, but with everything going on, they had lost precious time.

‘…But it doesn’t seem like this will resolve easily.’

They could manage to treat it, but the fear of that 4-majang was concerning. It was a variable Yeon-woo could not comprehend.

Of course, thinking about it wouldn’t necessarily resolve anything, so Yeon-woo touched Relin’s Warehouse. She produced a green pill from thin air and placed it into Noel’s mouth.

“Oh, our Noel, you’re swallowing it down nicely.”

Yeon-woo let slip a light-hearted joke to ease the tension. Honestly, she didn’t expect it to lighten the mood, but she threw it out there anyway.

……

“Is it going well?”

“Yes, as of now, she doesn’t seem to have any problems.”

Yuri asked after placing her hands on Noel’s back. It was likely because she couldn’t see Noel’s complexion from that position.

In fact, the signs were not too bad. Violet veins were visibly pooling as they spread down from the knees.

“But I think something might happen soon.”

“What do you mean by that, you punk!? Didn’t you say everything was okay?!”

“There’s no problem with the medicine. The issue is with the concentration of mana. This is definitely abnormal, you know?”

“That’s probably because that trash cursed her. After all, he was called a contaminant even among the Demon King’s army.”

“Contaminant, you say…? That guy, is he a demon with purple skin and protruding horns, all with torn up skin?”

“…How do you know that?”

“Oh boy, I’m screwed.”

Yeon-woo unconsciously cursed. A dumbfounded Yuri gawked.

“What? What’s going on?! Didn’t you say everything was okay?!”

“Not that it’s bad. It can definitely be cured. But I just thought it would end smoothly. Now we’ve found ourselves in an exceptional situation.”

Coincidentally, there was only one case that could be termed exceptional regarding the Demon Heat. Before the regression, there was one exceptional item in the death statistics for the Demon Heat.

‘They didn’t die from the disease, nor did they die because of a defective cure; they were killed by mana that formed suddenly after receiving the treatment.’

Of course, there weren’t no survivors. Several hunters had gathered to repel that manifestation for treatment, and they invariably expressed it like this.

“The Purple Reaper….”

In its existence, the Demon Heat firmly established its title as the Purple Death. Absurdly so.

“It was bound to happen. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner.”

Noel must have been the one afflicted with this illness even before the name Demon Heat existed. She was, in fact, the first host of the mana that caused the Demon Heat.

Technically, the Demon Heat isn’t a disease. It doesn’t cause pain from germs but rather results in death due to mana created to kill.

Thus, this plague wouldn’t mutate due to external environments.

In other words, Noel was also likely the first to experience the emergence of that Purple Reaper. After all, she was the only patient.

And that girl, who struggled just to use her mana, would have succumbed in that way. Ironically, even though she bore the name of a hero, she was taken there when Yuri was absent.

Everything rushed through Yeon-woo’s mind as one result. The mana transferred into a disease became a plague that spread among people.

The hero who could kill the Mana was dead, and humanity was left with no option but to fill that void with a remedy.

Even that remained as the Purple Reaper, continuing to gnaw away at humanity. It became an eternal threat, transforming into an immortal being under the very concept of the Demon Heat.

“Master.”

In a serious tone, Yeon-woo called out to Yuri. Yuri felt a creeping chill, a sensation she hadn’t felt since reaching her realm. Absurdly enough, she felt familiar with this sensation.

“What are you planning to do?”

“We need to wake Noel up quickly. If we don’t, I feel like I’ll be in danger.”

“What do you mean…?”

Before Yuri could finish her words, Yeon-woo’s right arm, colored in a dull, black 2D shade, shot out. There was no sound of flesh being pierced.

As if it were an existence from another dimension, Yeon-woo’s arm pierced through Noel’s abdomen.

It had already been confirmed that Tae-oh could devour the mana that induced the Demon Heat. Then, just as Saturday had endured the curse, it might be possible to substitute someone by absorbing a curse.

With a tap, Yeon-woo felt something the size of a pea at her fingertips. The melted pill, the remedy.

With the conviction of having reached the root of the curse, Yeon-woo summoned her shadow to engulf the mana that had spread through Noel’s entire body.

Hurriedly, Yeon-woo withdrew her right arm from Noel while gripping her left arm, bursting out of the cabin. The sound of her hand pulling out echoed like clear water in the cabin.

No abnormalities were visible on the abdomen that her hand had pierced. There was no blood, nor even any remnants of skin wounds.

“Damn this disciple…!!”

The problem was that she couldn’t leave Noel, who was unconscious, behind like this. Even though it was her decision, attempting to disrupt the mana’s flow would surely result in serious issues for the apprentice.

Not to mention that she was holding the Cheongcheondan. It was clear what would happen if that tremendous force flailed uncontrollably within the body of an unconscious child.

Ultimately, Yuri could only do what Yeon-woo said: quickly absorb the Cheongcheondan and wake Noel up. That was all.

*

From the wrist to the elbow, it felt as if her right arm had been thrust into lava, Yeon-woo thought.

Even Noel, who usually had great patience, let out pained moans due to the Demon Heat. It wasn’t evenly distributed throughout her body, but concentrated entirely in her right hand, so that made sense.

“Choi Yeon-woo, you’ve made it; even catching the Demon Heat…!!”

Desperately spouting out jokes, Yeon-woo sprinted towards a distant cabin that appeared hazy. She would soon find release. Perhaps Tae-oh could digest it, but a child shouldn’t have to endure something like this.

“I remember that the solution was super brutal.”

They say that the pain accompanying the emergence of the Purple Reaper is immense. Sometimes it pierces through the abdomen or can even exit through the mouth.

However, if successful in gathering the mana in one place, it could allow for very brutal methods to be used.

‘It is said that cutting out the area will forcibly make the Purple Reaper pop out.’

Why did she choose to do it with her right arm? Should have done it with her left, Yeon-woo thought as she drew the Doppleganger weapon entwined around her right arm.

“Thanks a lot. This way, I can save hundreds of people. Now, let’s die quietly?”

(To be continued in the next episode)

 

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