Chapter 122

Throughout the medicine-making process, Tiron's mind was troubled.

"Dad, is that mister a nobleman?" 

Jane whispered in a small voice.

"His clothes and accessories... He doesn't seem like an ordinary person."

"Well..."

"Hmm, maybe not? I guess a real nobleman would be in the safe capital. And he wouldn't have so many scars."

Jane was only seven years old but unusually perceptive for her age. Because she had experienced things she shouldn't have at that age. Tiron felt sorry for her.

Stroking the child's head, he spoke gently.

"Whether he's a nobleman or not, right now he's just a sick person."

It didn't matter whether the mysterious man's status was high or low. To Tiron, the man was simply a patient who needed treatment. Wasn't that why Tiron had been forced to leave the safe capital and wander through dangerous places—to treat injured people?

Therefore, what was complicating Tiron's thoughts wasn't the man's identity.

'Does he know? About his condition.'

Tiron returned to the cabin with the medicine.

The man was sitting quietly, just as before. Though Tiron didn't pay much attention to people's appearances, there was no doubt the man was an uncommon beauty. Not only was his appearance excellent, but he also had an aura that strangely captivated one's gaze.

'But oddly, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before.'

"Ahem, is your headache still severe?"

Standing blankly at the doorway, Tiron deliberately cleared his throat to make a sound. Though it was out of consideration for the blind man, the calm response suggested he already knew Tiron was there.

"It's better now. I'm sorry for causing you concern."

"Do you remember anything?"

The man slowly shook his head. Disappointment shadowed his pale face.

"I've tried to recall, but I have no recent memories. I don't even know why I was collapsed there."

"There's no need to force yourself to remember. Though there were no wounds on your head, you might experience this after a traumatic event."

In truth, Tiron could somewhat guess what traumatic event the man might have experienced. What he had found on the man's body wasn't just scars. Though young Jane hadn't noticed, the marks blooming like heat flowers were clearly traces left after intercourse.

The man was a beauty who would inevitably draw anyone's gaze, but he couldn't see. If someone had tried to force him, it would have been difficult to resist. If he had experienced such an unwanted event...

Tiron didn't ask further and handed over the medicine.

"I'm glad your headache has improved, but please take this medicine. Since you've lost a lot of blood, it's best to continue taking it for a while. However, be careful as the taste is quite terri..."

His voice faded. Surprise spread across Tiron's face. The man had downed the medicine in one go. With an unfazed expression.

Tiron asked dubiously.

"Isn't it... bitter?"

"It's fine."

Something seemed a bit strange. Tiron observed the man carefully. No matter how well someone could handle bitter things, they couldn't be as unfazed as this man. Unless they had lost their sense of taste...

"Perhaps you can't taste well?"

The man slowly blinked. Though he didn't answer, Tiron read the answer in his silence.

"You already know about your condition, don't you?"

"That I don't have much time left, you mean."

Even while speaking of his terminal condition, the man remained composed. As if it wasn't his own situation.

"Yes, I know. It seems you have about one season left. Perhaps even less."

He had asked because the man's pulse was so weak that he hardly seemed alive, and he was right.

"What kind of illness..."

Though Tiron had been a distinguished doctor at the kingdom's capital medical center, it was difficult to accurately diagnose the man's condition without precision diagnostic tools. But from outward appearances, the man didn't look like someone with only a short time left to live.

Perhaps the man was mistaken. Or even if he knew correctly, it might be an illness that could be cured depending on the doctor's skill. That's what Tiron thought, but.

"Demonic energy poisoning."

Upon hearing the man's answer, he couldn't help but let out a groan.

Demonic energy poisoning. It was a disaster no doctor could cure.

'Why does something as terrible as demonic energy exist in this world?'

Releasing the tension from his unconsciously clenched hand, Tiron muttered.

"I didn't know. You don't look like it."

"In my case, it's starting from the inside, so fortunately, my outward appearance is still fine."

Tiron was at a loss for words. Of course, when poisoned by demonic energy, the most common case was skin rotting and falling off, so saying he was lucky wasn't wrong. But whether outside or inside, the pain felt while deteriorating would be similar.

"Then your eyes too, perhaps..."

The man, who nodded, suddenly touched his neck. More precisely, he seemed to be touching something hanging around his neck, a habitual action.

After feeling around his neck and nearby areas several times, the man tilted his head curiously. Only then did Tiron recall the necklace that had been around his neck.

"Ah, are you looking for that necklace? I removed it temporarily because it was in the way, here it is."

Tiron found the necklace in a box stacked beside the bed and held it out.

The elaborate jeweled necklace, if not a fake, could have been called a treasure of any kingdom. It was no wonder Jane had suspected he might be a nobleman for wearing such a thing. Tiron half-thought so too, but after conversing with him, the man's unpretentious attitude made it puzzling.

"Um, your clothes were already torn and stuck to your wounds, so I had no choice but to cut them. It seems they'll be difficult to wear again... I'm sorry."

"It's fine. They were clothes I couldn't wear anymore anyway."

The man, having received the necklace, fiddled with it for a moment as if recalling something, then held it out to Tiron again.

"Please take it. As thanks for saving my life."

"What?"

Tiron stared blankly at the glittering necklace, then hurriedly waved his hands.

"No, it's fine!"

"It's something I no longer need anyway. You can keep it, or sell it."

"No, really, it's fine."

"Dad, just take it!"

A clear voice suddenly interjected between the two arguing people. It was Jane, who had appeared without notice.

"We don't know what might happen in the future, and we need money! You're completely broke because you always treat people for free. If Dad doesn't want it, I'll take it!"

Though Tiron tried to stop her, Jane had already received the necklace. Unlike Tiron, who covered his forehead at his daughter's rude behavior, the man merely laughed.

"Your daughter is very clever."

"My dad's a pushover, so I have to keep my wits about me."

"J-Jane! What kind of language is that."

"But that's what people say. That you took in an orphan like me at such a young age because you're a pushover."

Jane's voice was excessively clear. Since it wasn't something to say in front of others, Tiron swallowed a groan.

"We may be hiding like this now, but someday all the magical beasts might disappear and the city could be restored. If we go back to the city, we'll need a lot of money."

At Jane's words, the smiling man's expression momentarily hardened.

"Wait, isn't this the Kingdom of Hairak? What do you mean by the city being restored..."

"Ah, you don't remember that part either."

Recalling that the man's memory wasn't intact, Tiron began explaining.

"The number of magical beasts has increased so rapidly that it's been beyond the kingdom's capacity to handle for a long time. All cities except the capital have been destroyed by magical beasts, and most survivors, like us, are hiding from magical beasts in places not contaminated by demonic energy."

The man slowly blinked.

"Is that... true?"

"Why would I lie? Having wandered here and there before settling here, I've seen and heard a lot. I've heard that not just here, but other countries are in bad situations too. Though the Kingdom of Hairak is in the most serious situation."

Magical beasts had always appeared, but this time the problem was their number. It was like floods and droughts occurring without pause. With magical beasts continuously appearing no matter how many were killed, there was no way to respond.

The place where the most magical beasts appeared was the Kingdom of Hairak. Already two-thirds of the kingdom's territory had been contaminated by demonic energy, becoming uninhabitable land.

"Jane also lost her parents to magical beasts. I left the capital with a doctor's mission, but after meeting this child along the way, I decided to settle down. If it weren't for Jane, I would have been killed by magical beasts somewhere or died from illness due to demonic energy."

"...What about His Majesty? If the capital is intact, couldn't you request help?"

"Haha, the king, you say?"

The question, ignorant of worldly matters, made him laugh hollowly. This man truly had lost his memory. Otherwise, he wouldn't suggest asking the king for help.

"The king abandoned us long ago. The capital is sealed off, and the kingdom's knights only protect the rich and nobles."

At that moment, Tiron saw a crack form in the composure of the man who had been calm even while discussing his own death. But that crack was very brief, returning to his original expression in the blink of an eye.

Tiron stroked Jane's hair as she gazed at the necklace with sparkling eyes.

"Anyway, I can't just wipe my mouth after receiving something like this. Nine, was it? Stay with us until you decide where to go."

"Would that be alright?"

"If someone with incomplete memories went out and became food for magical beasts, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night. This place is still safe because magical beasts haven't entered yet."

Tiron added in a troubled tone.

"Though I don't know if it will remain that way."