CHAPTER 17: I need a variable (2)

"What did you say?"

Belinda looked utterly incredulous.

As they spoke, red blotches continued to appear and disappear all over the girl's body, like petals blooming and withering. Some spots swelled until pus oozed out, while others faded as quickly as they had come.

Belinda watched Gillian's daughter for a moment before speaking.

"This disease is definitely 'The Eternal Punishment.'"

Ghislain nodded.

'The Eternal Punishment' was a brutal illness that couldn't be cured, not even by holy power.

Clerics claimed that it was a punishment reserved for people who had committed grave sins in their past lives.

Remembering that, Ghislain clicked his tongue in frustration.

"Those clerics always annoyed me… always ranting about sin and virtue, just like the saintess… Never mind. Just old memories."

Seeing the others looking at him in confusion, Ghislain quickly changed the topic.

"Anyway, this is just an illness. It's not a divine punishment or a lifelong curse. It's an illness that can be treated."

Belinda couldn't help but frown at his confident attitude.

"Something no one can cure—how are you, of all people, going to cure it? Not even holy power works on this illness."

Holy power could cure most diseases, but this illness was an exception.

Pouring holy power into the patient might bring brief relief, but the symptoms always returned, leaving the patient worse than before.

"Holy power only suppresses the disease temporarily, and even that has its limits. And ordinary people can't afford continuous holy treatment anyway."

The temple rarely provided holy power, except during major relief efforts. For wealthy nobles, it was accessible, but to the poor, it was a luxury beyond reach.

"You've probably used up all your assets already, haven't you?"

Gillian nodded weakly.

In the past, he'd made a considerable amount of money, but caring for his sick daughter had drained his entire fortune.

He had spared no expense trying to cure her, only to feel like he was pouring water into a bottomless pit.

"Let's just leave now. There's no reason for you to stay here any longer, young master."

Belinda wanted nothing more than for Ghislain to keep his distance from the girl.

Even if the rumors of contagion were false, the thought of staying made her uneasy.

She wasn't alone; others were quick to avoid contact with anyone suffering from this disease.

Catching it would lead to a lifetime of suffering, so even if it was a rumor, no one wanted to take the risk.

"No, I have to treat her. Fortunately, it's not too late."

But Ghislain shook his head firmly.

He understood why Belinda was trying to dissuade him, but he hadn't come all this way just to turn back.

He was lucky he remembered Gillian and came to find him just in time.

In his previous life, Gillian's daughter had died soon afterward, and Gillian, heartbroken, had taken his own life.

If that had happened again, Ghislain would never have been able to find him.

"You're going to treat her yourself?"

"I'm the only one who knows how to treat this disease, so of course, I'll do it."

Seeing he wouldn't budge, Belinda sighed and raised her hands in defeat.

Ghislain had been this stubborn ever since he was a child. Once he made up his mind, not even Belinda could dissuade him.

Watching him, brimming with confidence, Gillian was speechless.

If this incurable disease could truly be cured, it would be a miracle. But was that even possible?

Still, Gillian was too exhausted, both physically and mentally, to believe or doubt.

Just then, his daughter began trembling violently in pain.

"Ah… Ahh…!"

"Rachel!"

Gillian rushed to his daughter's side, calling her name in desperation.

'The Eternal Punishment' brought sudden high fevers and unimaginable pain at any moment.

"Aaaargh!"

Unable to bear the sound of her anguished screams, Belinda and the knights turned away with pained expressions.

No matter their fears of the disease, watching her suffer was heart-wrenching.

Her hands were shredded and bloody from gripping the bed sheets so tightly.

The dark, dried bloodstains on the sheets were a testament to the suffering she'd endured.

When blood began to trickle from her mouth, Gillian quickly lifted her upright to prevent her from choking.

"Aaargh! Ahh!"

"Rachel… It's okay, it's okay…"

Rachel writhed in agony, frothing blood from her mouth, while Gillian, equally tormented, clung to her, trembling helplessly.

Belinda clenched her teeth as she watched Gillian, powerless to do anything but hold his daughter, shaking with grief.

'There isn't much time left.'

'The Eternal Punishment' wasn't always as severe as Rachel's case. In the beginning, only a few red spots would appear on the body, accompanied by mild fever.

But as time passed, the condition worsened until even holy power became useless, leaving nothing but relentless, excruciating pain.

Looking at Rachel now, Belinda could see she was already near the end.

"Ugh… Ah… Dad… I… it hurts so much… please… I want to die… please, Dad… please…!"

"Rachel… Rachel…"

Gillian held his struggling daughter tightly, preventing her from hurting herself, as tears finally began to fall from his eyes.

In his gaze was a desperate wish to end this nightmarish suffering once and for all.

'This is unbearable.'

'I can't hold on any longer.'

'Let's die together.'

'I'm sorry, Rachel.'

He had thought about ending it so many times but never had the heart to go through with it.

But now, seeing the end so close, a cold resignation settled in his eyes—the look of someone who had given up on life.

Belinda and the knights, unable to watch any longer, turned completely away.

Only Ghislain watched the scene, his expression solemn as he took in every tragic detail.

As Rachel's spasms began to subside, Ghislain finally spoke.

"Belinda."

"Y-yes?"

Sniffling, Belinda quickly lifted her head and approached him at his gesture.

"We need to start treatment as soon as her seizure stops. I'll write down a list of ingredients—get them all without missing a single one."

Ghislain glanced at Rachel, piecing together his memories, then pulled out paper and a pen and quickly wrote down the list.

Belinda took the list and gasped in surprise.

"Fairy's Blessing?"

"That's right."

Fairy's Blessing was a flower worth several times its weight in gold.

It was so rare that only the wealthiest individuals could afford even a glimpse of it.

"But, young master, why would you use something so expensive…?"

"It's the most important ingredient. We don't have time to waste. We need to make the medicine before she has another seizure."

Belinda, reluctantly, left to purchase the ingredients. The knights also followed Ghislain's instructions to gather the necessary tools.

While Gillian tended to his daughter, who had finally calmed down, he watched in a daze as Ghislain and the others prepared.

He was too physically and emotionally drained to intervene or question what they were doing.

When Belinda returned with the ingredients, Ghislain immediately began making the medicine.

'Though it's considered incurable now, a cure was discovered in the future.'

The cure had been famous enough that Ghislain remembered the ingredients.

Though it required outrageously expensive materials, the preparation was straightforward, requiring no advanced skills.

Thankfully, this meant that even someone like Ghislain, who had no background in pharmacology, could pull it off.

Ghislain carefully mixed the ingredients according to his memory.

Everyone watched with a mixture of doubt and curiosity.

They didn't truly believe he could cure her, but seeing Rachel's suffering, they hoped it might bring some relief.

Gillian watched him with weary eyes and finally asked,

"I met you today for the first time, young master. Why… why are you doing this?"

He couldn't understand why Ghislain was suddenly so determined to cure his daughter's illness, even going so far as to buy rare ingredients and make the medicine himself.

Without even looking up, Ghislain focused on his task.

"Why? Because I'm going to cure her. Do I need some grand reason to help someone in pain?"

"…"

It sounded like something a con man would say.

But at this point, Gillian didn't care if it was a scam. Any sliver of hope was worth clinging to.

As if mocking the resignation he'd built over the years, a small spark of hope flickered in his heart.

But he also knew that hope often led to greater despair.

Caught between conflicting emotions, Gillian could only watch Ghislain with trembling eyes.

"All done."

The liquid in the small flask was a deep violet, almost like molten amethyst.

Ghislain held the vial and approached Rachel.

Supporting her head, he carefully poured the medicine into her mouth.

Seeing no immediate change, the others looked disappointed.

"Oh, come on, don't start looking so dejected already. It's not magic—it's not going to work instantly."

Ghislain pulled up a chair by Rachel's bedside, crossed his arms, and sat down to wait.

With no other choice, the others sat beside him, waiting patiently.

"Ah!"

Hours later, Belinda, who had dozed off beside Ghislain, was startled awake by a sudden exclamation.

"What is it? Are we under attack?"

The knights were staring at something in shock.

"Is that… real?"

Gillian, too, looked stunned.

"T-this medicine… it's actually… working…"

A satisfied smile spread across Ghislain's face.

"It's working. Honestly, I was a bit worried."

Belinda's eyes widened in astonishment as she saw that the red spots on Rachel's face and body were slowly disappearing.

Even when holy power was used, the spots might lighten, but they never vanished.

But now, aside from some scabs, the red spots were visibly fading.

Belinda moved closer to Ghislain, her voice trembling.

"Is… is she truly cured? Are you sure?"

Gillian held his breath, waiting for Ghislain's response, his heart pounding with newfound hope.

"She won't be fully cured in one go, but she should be much better. We'll have to confirm it, of course. Here, take this money and bring a priest."

One of the knights took the coins from Ghislain and quickly ran off, eager to see if the cure had really worked.

Soon, a rather plump priest arrived, following the knight with an air of arrogance.

As he entered, he wrinkled his nose and looked around in disgust.

"Hmph! The goddess values cleanliness… This place is filth incarnate. It's like a living hell. Are you all demons for living in such squalor?"

Everyone ignored the priest's ramblings. Ghislain let out a small chuckle and gestured for him to come closer.

'This brat… gesturing at me like I'm some commoner,' the priest thought, but he kept his annoyance to himself, silenced by the hefty payment he'd received.

"So, who's the patient? I'm here out of sincere devotion, but I won't be able to stay long. I'm very busy."

At the priest's words, Ghislain inclined his head, gesturing toward Rachel.

"This girl…?"

The priest recognized her immediately. He had attempted to treat her before at the temple.

"Ah, I see. But you should know by now that this illness cannot be cured by holy power. I've told you this multiple times—it only suppresses the symptoms for a while… Wait, what did you do?"

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