"Young Master, is it true? Can my mother really be cured?" Aurelia asked, her voice trembling as tears gathered around her eyes. She looked at me desperately, clinging to the fragile hope that her mother's suffering might finally come to an end.
"Yes. Though I know the cure has not yet been invented, and it may sound absurd coming from an almost four-year-old child, I can assure you that I can find one. It will, however, require some experimentation. That is why I ask you this—will you trust the almost four-year-old child standing before you if you truly wish to be cured?" I said calmly, my eyes fixed on Aurelia's mother, Lourel, as I sought her trust.
Lourel, frail and weak as she lay on the bed, turned her eyes to mine. She wanted to say it was impossible, to tell me there was no hope. But when she met my gaze, she saw something different—an unwavering certainty, an absolute resolve that told her I was speaking the truth. Though she could not be sure, she felt it deep down, I was sincere in my words, truly believing I could cure her—if only she would place her trust in me.
"I will trust you," Lourel said softly. She didn't know why those words left her lips—perhaps she simply wanted to indulge the child before her, despite knowing the grim reality of her illness.
Hearing her response and knowing she still held little trust in me, I simply nodded and turned my gaze towards Aurelia.
"I will need your help," I said calmly, meeting Aurelia's gaze. "You know this town far better than I do, since this is my first time here. I'll also need your help carrying me around… and tell me, how much money do you have on hand?"
"Thirty-two gold coins, fifteen silron coins, and seven copper coins," Aurelia replied calmly.
Hearing her response, the first thought that crossed my mind was, Wait, they actually use gold and copper coins, and even silron? I couldn't help but be a little surprised. Wow… this empire must be incredibly wealthy.
Actually, perhaps I should find a book about the kinds of minerals or materials that exist in this world. Even though I played the game, I never really paid attention to the names—I just went about it like any casual player would…
"Alright, let's go," I said calmly as Aurelia lifted me and carried me out of the old building. Though I hadn't mentioned it aloud, I knew her mother's condition was dire—she could very well die within the next few days. From what the caretaker had told me, those afflicted with Awakeners' Degeneration—or Aura Degeneration, as it's called here—rarely last long. Judging by how frail and weak Aurelia's mother looked, I suspected the end was near.
The sooner we find a cure, the better her chances of recovery. And perhaps, if I succeeded, I might even earn a valuable favour. After all, anyone capable of surviving ten years with that much aura still lingering in their body is certainly no ordinary person. I couldn't help but suspect that Aurelia's mother's true identity might be far more significant than she appeared.
As we walked through the streets, weaving between the afternoon crowds and the chatter of merchants, Aurelia finally broke the silence with a question.
"Young Master, what are we looking for?" Aurelia asked, unable to hold back her curiosity any longer.
"Three Mana Glow Flowers, one Heatbloom Flower, a few eggs, and some herbs. Also, I'd like to buy some poultry," I said calmly in reply to Aurelia.
As we strolled, we approached a florist's stall. I glanced at several bunches of Mana Glow Flowers, each one glowing with a light that ranged from bright to dim.
"How can I help you? Are you admiring these Mana Glow Flowers? They're quite lovely—perfect as natural night lamps, glowing beautifully in the dark. Are you interested in buying some? Each one costs three silron coins," said the florist, a woman who looked to be in her mid-forties. Her calm tone and manner suggested she had spent many years selling flowers and knew their qualities well.
'Greed, I'll need your help,' I thought to myself.
"All right," Greed said in my mind, his tone carrying a hint of greed.
With Greed exerting his authority, my pale golden eyes began to glow faintly, allowing me to perceive the true value of the flowers before me. It wasn't just the flowers—the pots, the soil, and everything within my sight were outlined with a golden light, each hue reflecting its worth. Most of the Mana Glow Flowers emitted only a dull shimmer, their value evidently poor. Yet among them were a few that shone with a brilliant golden radiance. Spotting these, I selected the three brightest, certain that their quality surpassed the rest.
"I'll pick these three," I said calmly to the florist.
"That will be nine silron coins. You've got a good eye, child," the florist said with a smile. She clearly knew I had chosen the three finest flowers, yet she still charged me only the base price.
Aurelia paid the florist nine silron coins, and we moved on to our next stop—an alchemy shop that sold a wide variety of ingredients.
As we stepped inside and took in the shelves of ingredients, I surveyed the various materials on display. My eyes fell upon a Heatbloom—and beside it, a large egg roughly the size of a jar. While I was examining them, a sound from the shopkeeper caught my attention, and I turned my head towards him.
"Can I help you? If you're looking for the toy shop, it's a few doors down," said the shopkeeper, who appeared to be around twenty. His expression carried a hint of annoyance, clearly assuming we had wandered into the wrong place—perhaps mistaking Aurelia for a young woman escorting someone else's child.
"Hello, I'm looking for a Heatbloom Flower. Also, what's that egg beside it? I'm rather curious about it. Judging by its shape and size, I suspect it might be a cockatrice egg—but I can't be certain," I said calmly.
"Yes, we do have Heatbloom Flowers. They're right beside the egg you mentioned—and you're correct, it's a cockatrice egg," the man said. "I must say, it's impressive that you recognise both. You've quite the alchemical mind for a child, but best not dabble in such things; alchemy can be dangerous."
Then his tone shifted, his gaze sliding towards Aurelia. "That woman's got quite the figure… Hey, lady, how about we grab a cup of coffee—and maybe head to my place after? As for the kid, I know a place that looks after children."
When Aurelia heard his words, anger flared in her eyes, and she was about to strike the man before her. I quickly reached out and held her hand, silently signalling her to stop. Then, turning my gaze towards the man, I responded to his remark with calm composure.
"I admit, the lady beside me is indeed beautiful. She has quite the figure—an elegant form and a graceful presence. If I were an adult, I might have said something similar. As a man, I understand the sentiment, but it's best not to voice such foolish remarks aloud. After all, this lady is a Destenebres Knight, and you might want to be careful with your words," I said calmly with a sharp gaze, subtly flattering Aurelia's beauty while warning the man before me, concealing the truth that she was still an apprentice knight.
"My apologies, I did not realise she was a Destenebres Knight. As for the items you requested, I shall fetch them at once," the man said, backing down nervously as my words sank in. He clearly understood the weight the name Destenebres carried—insulting one of their knights was as good as insulting the family itself.
How amusing, considering the head of that very house even wishes to kill his own 'talentless' son.
"I understand him though, I mean, that girl is really beautiful," Lust commented in my mind, his voice dripping with amusement and desire.
Shut up. Nobody cares about your opinion.
"That's not what you're really thinking," Lust teased playfully, his tone indicating that he knew exactly what was on my mind—Aurelia's figure.
Just mind your own business, I thought silently, forcing my thoughts to quiet while trying to ignore his smug laughter echoing inside my head.
As the man fetched the Cockatrice egg and the Heatbloom flower, he announced that the price was ten gold coins. Upon hearing this, I asked Greed to use his Authority, knowing he could wield it with precision. My eyes shimmered faintly as I gauged the true value of the items—they were indeed of good quality, so I accepted the price. Then, turning to the man, I spoke.
"By the way, would it be possible to include an alchemy set as well? And perhaps you could reduce the price to… let's say, three gold coins," I said in a calm tone, a faint smile forming on my lips—one far too sinister to be mistaken for genuine kindness.
"What?! Three gold coins? That's far too little! I'd be losing profit!" The man protested angrily, his voice rising as he glared at me in disbelief.
"Well, let's compare: which is better, losing a little profit or losing your life?" I asked, my smile unchanged, but my gaze sharpening as if it could kill. It was a clear reminder that I had not forgotten his lewd remark about Aurelia, whom I'd presented as a Destenebres Knight, a lie he did not yet realise.
"Argh… fine," the man said at last, his tone beginning in anger but petering out into reluctant defeat. Grumbling, he gathered the alchemy set and retrieved the egg and the flower, clearly displeased yet unwilling to risk provoking the Destenebres—whose displeasure could very well mean death.
As soon as he gathered the alchemy set, the Cockatrice egg, and the Heatbloom flower, Aurelia handed him three gold coins and collected the items. Once everything was secured, we left the shop. I could feel the man's simmering anger behind me—furious over the profit he had lost. Well, that's what he gets for saying something so foolish that I simply couldn't resist taking advantage of, hahaha.
"Young Master, were your words about me true?" Aurelia asked calmly as we walked towards an herbal stall, her tone composed but carrying a faint trace of curiosity.
"Yes… sorry about that. It must be strange, having a child compliment your beauty and figure in such a crude way," I said calmly, keeping my eyes averted from hers.
Although I replied to her question, she remained silent. I suppose I must have annoyed her. We continued walking until we reached a herbal stall, where we purchased several herbs I deemed important. After that, we headed to a butcher's stall and bought some poultry—cheap, yet rich in protein—its value confirmed through Greed's Authority.
After completing our purchases of herbs and poultry—which cost six silron coins and seven bronze coins—we had twenty-nine gold coins remaining. With everything settled, we made our way back to the old building where Aurelia's mother resided.
As we stepped into the building, we saw Nimmy tending to Lourel, who was coughing up blood—her condition clearly worsening. Aurelia's expression filled with panic, and she was about to rush to her mother's side, but I weakly grasped her hand, signalling for her to help me first. The sooner we acted, the better our chances would be.
Understanding my signal, Aurelia helped me set up the alchemy kit, which included a cauldron, a metal spoon, several glass tubes, and a stone mortar for grinding. I instructed Nimmy to cook the poultry, as it would be needed shortly. Aurelia stood beside me as my assistant, uncertain of what I intended to do but ready to help nonetheless.
"Before I begin, I need you to promise me something," I said calmly, locking eyes with Aurelia. "Nimmy is busy in the kitchen, so she won't see what I'm about to do—but you will. I want you to swear that what you're about to witness will remain a secret from everyone, even my mother. Can you do that?"
"Alright, I can promise that," Aurelia said, her expression firm with determination. She wasn't entirely sure what I was planning, but she likely thought it was nothing serious—just the whim of a curious child attempting something unusual. In truth, I was preparing to create a cure, though what I truly meant by keeping it secret was something she had yet to realise.
I took the three Mana Glow Flowers and called upon Gluttony for his aid. Holding the flowers together in a prayer-like manner, I focused my will. Soon, a faint dark glow emerged, and wisps of black smoke slipped through the gaps between my fingers. The sight made Aurelia tense—she was beginning to understand why I had asked her to keep this secret. To her eyes, it must have looked like the work of a dark arts practitioner.
As the process finished, I opened my hands to reveal three pure white, non-glowing flowers—the original state of Mana Glow Flowers before they absorb mana. These flowers now possessed mana-absorbing properties without holding any mana themselves. Normally, extracting mana directly from a flower was impossible, but with Gluttony's Authority, I consumed every trace of it, leaving behind these Manaless Non-Glowing Flowers.
...What a terrible name. I've always been told I'm awful at naming things.
I then placed the Heatbloom flower into the mortar and asked Aurelia to grind it. She did so diligently while I struggled to crack open the Cockatrice egg. My childlike arms made the task difficult, but after some effort, I managed to break it open and pour its contents into the cauldron. Once the Heatbloom powder was ready, I added it in as well, followed by several herbs to counteract the strong, unpleasant odour of the Cockatrice egg—though even with the herbs, the smell was still overwhelming.
The Heatbloom's lingering vitality caused the mixture to release faint waves of heat as I stirred it. I then instructed Aurelia to grind the Manaless Non-Glowing Flowers into powder. She complied, while I continued stirring the cauldron, swearing to myself that I was like some sinister dark arts practitioner concocting a deadly potion.
When Aurelia handed me the powdered flowers, I added them to the mixture and stirred it a few more times before scooping out a portion of the thick liquid and pouring it into a glass tube. Handing it to Aurelia, I wrinkled my nose slightly. Even with the herbs, the stench was atrocious.
"It's recommended to drink a cup of water after taking it," I said with a weary expression, the foul stench still clawing at my nose. Gods, someone save me from this smell, please.
Aurelia nodded, then took a cup of water along with the potion and walked over to her mother. I followed behind, carefully climbing down from the chair and making my way towards Lourel. Thankfully, Nimmy had just finished cooking the poultry and was bringing a plate of it over at that very moment—perfect timing.
"Mother, please drink this," Aurelia said softly, her voice filled with worry as she brought the potion to her mother's lips. I could see Lourel struggling—not from her illness, but from the wretched stench of the concoction. Her expression alone said it all: enduring the sickness was one thing, but enduring the smell was another ordeal entirely.
"Erm, sweetie, do I really have to drink this? It smells awful, hahaha… Ah, fine, I'll just drink it," her mother said, attempting to laugh it off. She clearly wanted to refuse, but the moment she saw my pitiful, feigned expression, she sighed in defeat and reluctantly brought the potion to her lips.
"Gulp, gulp." Lourel forced the potion down, drinking it all in one go despite the foul taste that twisted her expression.
As she finished drinking, I signalled to Aurelia to give her the water. Catching my cue at once, Aurelia gently lifted the cup and helped her mother drink, ensuring she took slow, steady sips.
After finishing the entire cup, Lourel showed little to no reaction. Aurelia watched anxiously, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face—believing that all our efforts today had been nothing more than a waste of money. Nimmy seemed to share that sentiment, though a small part of her still hoped it might help.
Lourel, however, smiled weakly at me, as if to thank me for trying despite how dreadful the potion had tasted.
Yet, while the others seemed resigned, I remained calm. I knew this stillness was merely the calm before the storm. Turning to Nimmy, I instructed her to get ready. She looked puzzled, not understanding—until…
"Arghhh—ahhh!" Lourel screamed in agony as her body convulsed, the pain surging through her like wildfire. It was as though her very flesh was burning from within, her body instinctively waging war against a foreign intruder that had invaded her system.
"Mum! Are you all right? What's happening?" Aurelia cried out in confusion, her voice trembling as she watched her mother writhe in pain, unable to comprehend what was happening to her.
"Right now, the potion she drank is absorbing the aura within her body," I explained calmly, my tone detached as I observed Lourel's pained expression. "That's why she's in agony—because aura is essentially a refined form of mana, one that has been adapted to the body through specific breathing methods. It nourishes the muscles and organs, eventually forming into aura, but at its core, it's still mana nevertheless.
The Manaless Non-Glowing Flower that was ground into the potion is absorbing that aura—the mana in another form. As for how the flower's properties were preserved, that's because of the Cockatrice egg. Its yolk and essence are filled with strong life energy that flows into the drinker, restoring some of their vitality and helping their body handle the potion's effects. It also allows the properties of the Manaless Non-Glowing Flower to last longer instead of fading away.
With the Heatbloom flower's natural heating property, the body's digestion process is accelerated, helping it absorb the potion more effectively. The herbs I added play a minor role—they enhance the overall effect slightly and, more importantly, mask the stench. Though… not very well."
Hearing my explanation, Aurelia couldn't help but look confused. To her, everything I said sounded far too complicated, like I was mixing nonsense with logic.
"In simpler terms, it just means the potion is quickly absorbing the aura inside her body. The water you gave her helps it digest faster," I said calmly, simplifying my explanation for Aurelia.
As I explained, Aurelia's mother, Lourel, looked exhausted, though not as if she were dying. Instead, it seemed as though the illness within her had weakened, leaving her body drained but slightly more at ease.
"Thank you, Young Master," Aurelia said, her voice trembling as tears welled in her eyes. She looked at her mother, whose condition was visibly improving, relief and gratitude softening her expression.
"Nimmy, make sure to feed her the chicken now. While the potion helps weaken her illness and restores some of her vitality, she still needs to eat meat to regain her strength," I said calmly.
Nimmy nodded and began feeding Lourel the cooked chicken. After a while, Lourel felt the painful weight in her body ease slightly, a sign that her condition was improving bit by bit. Seeing how late it had become, Aurelia realised it was time to bring me home. Before we left, I told her that there was still plenty of potion left in the cauldron, and that she could give it to her mother again after heating it up—though the effects would be weaker. I also reminded her that her mother should drink water after taking the potion and eat a meal with meat to help her recover her strength. Aurelia took note of everything carefully, then left Nimmy to care for her mother while she accompanied me back home.
After some time, we finally reached the building nestled within the forest. Aurelia escorted me inside and met my mother, politely requesting a few days of absence. My mother agreed, though she couldn't help but notice the expression on Aurelia's face—one filled with hope, which puzzled her. After all, Aurelia's mother had been diagnosed with a deadly, supposedly incurable illness. My mother wondered if Aurelia was simply smiling while hiding her pain, yet she still granted the absence.
Aurelia thanked her and said her goodbyes, determined to return home to care for her mother. Now that she had found a way to help her recover, she wanted to be by her side until she was well again—something only I truly understood.
Afterward, I returned to my usual night routine before going to sleep. As I lay in bed, I could hear the devils in my mind chattering away. "Let me sleep… thanks, guys," I muttered inwardly.