Chapter 90
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Chapter 90: Jilly
The family’s funds were insufficient for both detoxifying herbs and food provisions. She needed to work harder to support them.
These past days she’d only scavenged the forest’s outermost edges, competing with village children and novice adventurers for scant remains.
Perhaps venturing deeper despite the risks…
Jilly glanced at her mother lying unconscious on the bed.
The woman lying on the bed had a sallow complexion with dark circles under her eyes, her brows slightly furrowed even in sleep.
Seeing her once heroic, vibrant mother reduced to this state filled Jilly with anguish and deepened her hatred for those two men.
Three months ago, her mother had entered the forest with two male adventurers and another woman. During their expedition, disaster struck when they encountered a powerful Class B monster – the Cyclops Spider, said to be capable of destroying human settlements single-handedly. As Class D adventurers, they stood no chance against such a foe.
The other female adventurer had her neck snapped by the spider’s bite, dying instantly.
When Jilly’s mother turned to urge her companions to retreat, she found the two panic-stricken men shoving her forward before fleeing.
Though she reacted swiftly, the Cyclops Spider sank its fangs into her arm.
Had it not been for a teleportation crystal gifted by an advanced adventurer ally, her mother would have perished that day.
The Cyclops Spider’s venom, though slow-acting, permeated every fiber of the body moments after injection. Ordinary detoxifying herbs could only delay its spread, not purge it entirely.
The sole cure lay in the "Dispel" skill – an immensely powerful ability rumored to be obtainable only by divine favor.
To their knowledge, only the kingdom’s Chief Mage in the capital possessed this skill. Yet someone of their lowly status could never approach such an eminent figure, much less request assistance.
Inquiries with village elders and pleas at the Adventurer’s Guild yielded nothing. The guildmaster knew of no other "Dispel" users besides the Chief Mage, though he did provide additional detoxifying herbs and coins out of sympathy for Jilly’s well-liked mother.
The two treacherous men had vanished after their betrayal. Jilly vowed to someday end them herself.
…
The Granville Monster Forest – one of the continent’s largest and most perilous woodlands, as her mother often recounted.
Though they’d lived on her mother’s savings and guild aid for three months, funds were nearly exhausted. Her mother’s waking hours dwindled daily despite forbidding Jilly from adventuring.
Common detoxifying herbs couldn’t cure the poison, but they might slow its progression. Perhaps with continued use… maybe… just maybe…
She was an adventurer’s daughter after all, trained in swordsmanship by her mother. Monsters held no terror for her!
After preparing medicinal soup and arranging neighborly care for her mother, Jilly shouldered a pack and set out with her mother’s dagger.
A day’s arduous journey brought the girl to the forest outskirts beyond their village.
Her triumph at finding two detoxifying herbs shattered when rustling undergrowth revealed monsters – three goblins emerging with crude weapons.
…
This was it. Three of them.
Despite her brave words, Jilly’s limbs turned leaden at the sight of the green-skinned creatures brandishing stone axes and clubs.
"Stay back!" She slashed wildly with her dagger.
Their jagged teeth glinted. If they bit her… And that thing between their legs – weren’t goblins supposed to…?
No! No! NO!!!
They lunged.
"Die!" Her blade found flesh.
The wounded goblin’s shriek startled her as its companions attacked. The dagger stuck fast in bone – a stone axe gashed her arm, pain swallowing consciousness whole. Agony exploded in her skull.
_Mom…_
Darkness claimed her.
…
Consciousness returned to blackness.
"What’s… Ah! What is this?!"
Her eyes were bound tightly beneath viscous slime. Had the goblins done this?
How disgusting, how disgusting, how disgusting!!
Just as I was about to tear off the binding over my eyes, a voice suddenly resonated in my mind.
"Don’t move! Your… your eyes were injured. I applied medicinal herbs."
The voice sounded frosty, almost chillingly detached.
It was a woman’s voice, more mature than mine, and it spoke directly within my consciousness…
Psychic Call?!
Is she an advanced adventurer? She saved me!
…
The sister who rescued me was undoubtedly an advanced adventurer, and she didn’t deny this.
Though her voice carried icy undertones, she turned out to be incredibly kind!
Not only did she save me and stop my bleeding, but she also treated my wounds. Though I don’t recall injuring my eyes, those viscous substances must be medicinal salve?
The previously wounded spot on my arm also felt coated with this ointment – no pain remained, just a soothing coolness.
She mentioned knowing where Ganerdor Grass grows, but warned of numerous monsters making it perilous… If even this sister who effortlessly eliminated goblins and possesses Psychic Call considers it dangerous, the place must be truly treacherous.
Yet she ordered me to stay put while she risks gathering Ganerdor Grass for me.
Though I immediately shouted to stop her after regaining composure, her footsteps vanished too quickly.
Will she be alright?
But… why show such kindness to a complete stranger?
Regardless, I’ll never forget this debt of gratitude.
…
After indeterminate time, footsteps approached again.
"Sister?"
"It’s me."
"Thank goodness! Are you unharmed?"
"Minor injuries. Nothing serious."
"Injured?! You’re hurt?!"
Sniff… Sniff…
The metallic tang of blood hung thickly. Could these be "minor" wounds?
"These scratches mean nothing. How long will these herbs last you?"
Something pressed into my hands.
Ganerdor Grass? This quantity could sustain Mother for five or six days!
"They should last nearly a week, but Sister… why help Jilly?"
In Jilly’s mind materialized a stern-faced young woman standing tall despite bloodstained garments, her noble bearing undiminished.
Emotion momentarily quivered in her response:
"Because I too have a daughter."
"You… have a daughter?"
But she sounds so young!
"Take these herbs home first. Return in five days – I’ll likely procure more Ganerdor Grass by then."
She clearly avoided elaborating about her child.
Could her daughter share Mother’s condition…?
Is that why she helps me? But…
"You’ve done enough already. I can’t impose further…"
"Come when summoned. We’ll meet here again – but wear an eye cover next time. And speak of this to no one."
"Eh? Why?"
After weighted silence came the glacial reply:
"All who saw my face lie dead."
So… so heroic!
Wait – then covering my eyes wasn’t really for treating injuries?
