Chapter 215 : Oliver (3)

Oliver had a time when he was called the worst profligate of his family.

However, to his younger sister Daria, he was an older brother she cherished terribly.

One day, an abnormality occurred in Daria’s body.

It was cancer.

Pancreatic cancer, called the silent reaper.

The only answer was surgical operation.

However, since the probability of even that failing was high, the majority of doctors shook their heads.

Because Daria was a direct descendant of the Family Head, they were afraid of what punishment would be handed down if they failed.

That was the trigger for Oliver to come to his senses.

Oliver dug into the family’s secret arts for her sake.

The driven situation, blood-like effort contained with desperation, and the talent he originally possessed shone brightly.

Like that, he became the family’s best doctor and stood at the operating table.

But the result was cruel.

Because the surgery failed.

“Aaaah!”

Due to the sadness of losing his one and only sister and the guilt of not keeping the promise to save her without fail, Oliver had to suffer from depression for a while.

The reason such a man took off his gown and picked up a travel bag was because the conversation he shared with his sister the day before she died came to mind.

“It’s finally tomorrow, Daria.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s been a long time since you went outside. Once the surgery ends, let’s go outside together.”

“Really? Great.”

“Where shall I take you? Is there perhaps a place you want to go?”

At Daria’s following answer, Oliver had no choice but to be startled.

“Yurad Forest.”

“……What? It’s a joke, right? That place is Frey Empire land.”

“As expected, is it impossible? Hehe.”

“Why? Is there a reason?”

Daria opened her dry lips.

“I saw it in a book, they say somewhere in Yurad Forest there is a field made of Red Forget-me-nots.”

Red Forget-me-not.

It was an herb famous as a mysterious grass.

It blooms only in August out of the 12 months, but since there is not a single piece of known information such as distinct characteristics or habitat conditions, it is an herb that even herbalists who spend their whole lives in the mountains find difficult to meet even once in a lifetime.

However, because it was the most important ingredient that goes into the ‘Tears of the Goddess’ called the Elixir of God, it was also a grass that everyone who handles herbs looks forward to meeting even once.

‘That is a lie. A lie made up because she knows we cannot go.’

However, Oliver couldn’t open his mouth to say it.

That we absolutely cannot cross the border.

Even if we cross somehow, even if we go, there is no such field inside Yurad Forest.

This truth, Oliver couldn’t bear to spit out of his mouth.

Because he thought planting expectation and hope was better than the cold truth.

“Okay. Let’s go for sure. I will take you.”

“Re, really?”

“Yeah. Listening to it, I’m curious too.”

“It’s a promise!”

Oliver pinky promised with Daria’s bony finger.

Now that promise has become a will.

Oliver took off his gown and shouldered his travel bag.

And risking his life, he crossed the border.

To keep the promise he couldn’t keep.

Yurad Forest was a dangerous place one couldn’t enter alone.

So he emptied the jewels he had to hire mercenaries, but finding the unknown that he didn’t even know existed inside a massive hatchery where all kinds of monsters lived was not an easy task.

The mercenaries were also a problem.

Skill was skill, but there were also many robbers who wore the mask of a mercenary and only aimed for Oliver’s pockets.

Not only that, the family, no, the Naimus Empire branded him a traitor and was chasing him.

This journey was the sixth.

It was the last.

Money had run out, and above all, he intuitively sensed that the blade of Naimus aiming for his neck had come right under his nose.

Before long, he would be caught in their hands and face his end.

Before that, the Red Forget-me-nots. He had to find his sister’s wish.

***

“It is Ghost Rock.”

Gorian, who was walking at the lead, raised his hand and pointed to a massive rock mass.

“Wow. Is that a rock? Not a cliff?”

“It is not wrong. Depending on the person, it is also called Ghost Cliff.”

“No wonder. It is hugely big!”

Reina made a fuss while firing off exclamations continuously.

There was no one who looked at that strangely. Now everyone had adapted to her cheerfulness and just accepted it.

Oliver looked around the surroundings.

The appearance of Ghost Rock meant they had reached the end of the Ludain Mountain Range.

At the same time, it meant they were entering Yurad Forest.

He could see the dense forest visible below the hills split wide open like a demon’s mouth.

“Since right in front of this is Yurad Forest, we will reorganize here for 30 minutes and then depart.”

At Gorian’s words, everyone sat down and checked their respective equipment.

Rachel was the same.

She sat down, took out her sword, examined the blade, and wiped it with an oiled cloth.

It wasn’t the Black Sword she had used for a long time.

Because she had completely disposed of the Black Sword when she saved Reina’s life and came out of the Cult and the Darkness Council.

This was something she obtained newly at that time.

An Arming Sword most similar in form and center of gravity to the Black Sword, which she found while going around famous weapon shops in Icata.

On top of that, with Dayle imbuing one magical formula, it was an artifact unique to Rachel that was born anew.

Chatter chatter-

The sound of talking could be heard from not far away.

It was Reina chatting with Karina and Yuria.

Was it because they had a lot in common being women and mages?

In the few days coming to Yurad Forest, the three people became close rapidly.

Reina approached the two people first and treated them amiably, and the two people also liked such a Reina.

Maybe it was because of the fight with the Silver Lion on the first night.

Or perhaps they were fated to become close.

Whatever the case, when Reina had a magic formula or principle she didn’t know while training, she headed towards Gerard without hesitation and would come back after talking there for tens of minutes. As that repeated, now it had changed like a daily routine. Just like now.

“…….”

Rachel was exceedingly uncomfortable with that fact.

Although she couldn’t know yet how the result would turn out.

If they succeeded in the request and passed the exam, they were strictly thieves of Shadow.

Naturally, they were enemies who would have to point swords at each other with those attending the Academy.

If a situation where she had to fight them actually occurred?

Could she face the fight with all her heart?

‘No. Absolutely not.’

Rachel herself had no confidence.

She would fight unavoidably.

However, it is clear she would hesitate at the end.

If even she is like this, how would her younger sister, who has a softer and kinder heart than herself, be?

At a crucial moment, she might cause harm to everyone.

‘As expected, was entering Shadow my greed?’

Although Reina also agreed and she herself said she wanted to pay back the debt owed to Shadow with her own hands.

Reina, whom she watched while proceeding with the request together, did not fit with Shadow.

‘But that doesn’t mean I can pretend not to know that child’s efforts either.’

She was not unaware that Reina was training while losing sleep at night.

The reason for that as well.

In a way, going to find Yuria and Karina was also a part of that effort.

It was awkward to ignore such a heart of hers.

‘Haa.’

Rachel sighed inwardly.

Right. Let’s think positively.

It might be a needless worry.

Shadow is a villain group, but looking only at their actions, they are continuing a heroic path such as eradicating evil, so there might not be a collision with the Academy.

Actually, even now in Icata, the proposition ‘Is Shadow essentially a villain or a hero’ was a hot topic among people.

‘There is no need to worry about things that haven’t even happened. Let’s focus on the task right in front of my eyes.’

She consoled herself like that, but she couldn’t help her brow furrowing every time laughter was heard from Gerard’s side.

“Your expression isn’t good.”

At that time, there was a shadow that approached her.

Rachel, who lifted her gaze and checked the opponent, tilted her head to the side.

The shadow was Oliver.

“What is it?”

“Your client.”

“……If that was a joke, it wasn’t funny.”

“It wasn’t a joke.”

Oliver, who answered prickly, flopped down next to her.

“The sword is good.”

“What is your business?”

“You’re cold.”

“Because it’s strange. That you, who haven’t spoken to me even once until now, came to find me first.”

Oliver admitted it coolly and asked.

“Don’t you want to fix your younger sister’s leg?”

Rachel’s hand, which was indifferently wiping the sword, stopped abruptly.

“What?”

“You heard me. That is correct.”

Rachel stared piercingly at Oliver’s face.

As if trying to penetrate the intention of that question.

“Hmm. A hole will be bored into my forehead.”

“…….”

“Anyway, the method? Did you find it?”

Rachel intended to answer no.

Then a thought suddenly brushed past her mind.

‘He said he was an herbalist, right?’

If so, he might know something.

“By any chance, do you know about an herb called Red Forget-me-not?”

For an instant, Oliver’s expression hardened.

Rachel sensed that change.

“You know.”

“……There’s no way I wouldn’t know. But why do you ask that?”

“I asked for a method.”

“No. It is true that the Red Forget-me-not has tremendous efficacy to the point of being called a panacea, but it cannot reattach broken bones or attach dead muscles, severed blood vessels, and nerves. For that, medical art is the only answer.”

Medical art was the act of fixing a broken person’s body, in other words, the collection of surgical operations.

The mechanism was different from purifying a curse with holy magic, detoxifying poison with a potion, or curing an illness with an elixir.

“It’s not something like that. Listen until the end.”

Rachel continued speaking.

“A certain doctor told me. That there are only two places in this world that can fix Reina’s leg. The Gulta Family. And the Hyde Family.”

“…….”

“The Gulta Family possesses the continent’s best technology in potion and elixir manufacturing, and the Hyde Family is the peak of medical arts; the doctors they produce are called divine doctors who can treat any illness or wound as long as the head is attached.”

When the names of the two families came out, the corners of Oliver’s eyes trembled finely, but Rachel, who was distracted by explaining, failed to notice it.

“However, the Hyde Family belongs to the Naimus Empire territory so it is realistically impossible. The only one to trust is the Gulta Family, but that doctor said this. That I would have to bring a ‘sweet price’ to even bring up the topic.”

“And that sweet price is the Red Forget-me-not?”

Rachel nodded.

“I plan to use that to make a deal with the Gulta Family.”

“……Is that so.”

“Well, for now, obtaining the Red Forget-me-not is the urgent priority. So I will ask, do you happen to know where that mysterious grass grows, or where I can go to get it? You are an herbalist.”

Rachel’s eyes flashed with expectation.

Afterward, the answer that came out of Oliver’s mouth was surprising.

“I know. Because the place I am going to right now is there.”

For a moment, Rachel endured the urge to shout loudly with extreme patience and raised her hand.

“W-Wait a minute. What? You say the place we are going now is there? If so, the herb you said you would get in Yurad Forest is precisely……?”

“It is the Red Forget-me-not.”

Such luck!

Originally, she thought to look into it slowly after entering Shadow.

But, she caught the clue in a completely unexpected place.

A bright color spread over Rachel’s face.

“That worked out well! If you find it, sell it to me.”

“No.”

Rachel asked.

“Why? If it is money, as much as you want…….”

“No. To me, that is a grass with value beyond money. I am sorry, but it is better for you to look for another grass.”

At Oliver’s firm answer, her face eventually crumpled brutally.

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