Chapter 96

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Chapter 96: I Can’t Save You

Midnight.

Shadows flitted through moonless darkness.

Lin Yu flattened herself against Stealth One’s thorax as they raced through terrain, the ant’s rapid pace threatening to dislodge her.

Stealth One’s increasingly labored breathing made Lin Yu flush with embarrassment.

Have I actually gained weight?

The salt provisions did improve my appetite recently…

But so what! Ants look better with some healthy plumpness anyway!

…

After an hour’s journey, Western Village One materialized in the gloom.

They halted before Jilly’s dwelling.

Leaving Stealth Three, Four and Nine as lookouts, Lin Yu vaulted over the wall astride Stealth One.

Momentum from landing sent her sprawling across the ant’s shuddering abdomen.

"Ngh~"

"Are you injured?"

Lin Yu scrambled upright immediately.

"N-no problem."

"…Good."

But was that truly so? What caused that peculiar sound earlier?

Since when could Stealth One vocalize so… endearingly?

The gray ant lay prone with trembling legs, ventilating rapidly through abdominal spiracles…

Though B-ranked Stealth Ants possessed exceptional stamina – their strength legendary – this one seemed exhausted…

An unbidden memory of Lvzi’s antics made Lin Yu shudder violently.

"Recovered?"

"Affirmative."

Stealth One rose despite heaving flanks, compound eyes fixed on Lin Yu with unsettling intensity.

So what exactly is the matter?

The white ant being stared at intensely couldn’t help but avert its gaze.

"Let’s go then."

"Yes, Mom."

Lin Yu had Stealth One walk ahead.

This was the small courtyard of Jilly’s house, not spacious and containing nothing but some firewood.

Stealth One repeated the familiar tactic, inserting its forelimb into the door crack to break the latch before turning to Lin Yu.

"Should I enter invisibly first?"

"Mhm, alert me if anything happens."

Stealth One nodded and pushed the door open.

The interior layout resembled a carpenter’s workshop, though devoid of snoring sounds.

Stealth One opened the left-side room.

It happened to be the bedroom.

On the innermost wooden bed slept a sallow-skinned, emaciated woman, while a small girl lay curled at the bed’s edge.

They should both be deep in sleep at this hour.

Stealth One retreated outside.

"Mom, I’ve located them. They appear to be sound asleep."

"Good, take me inside."

"No. If Mom enters alone, the movement might awaken them."

For light sleepers, even slight noises could rouse them – but I still need to get in.

"I’ll be cautious."

"Mom could… ride me."

Without waiting for Lin Yu’s response, she lowered her head and crouched down.

"…Alright."

Riding Stealth One would indeed utilize the "Silent" effect from the "Stealth" skill to prevent any noise.

But… she’s already crouching before I even agreed.

Seems Stealth One’s been picking up bad habits from Red Pupil.

Lin Yu climbed onto Stealth One’s back, feeling subtle tremors course through the ant’s body with each movement.

This physical reaction made Lin Yu concerned about potential mishaps.

Fortunately, Stealth One remained dependable.

The two ants successfully entered the house and approached the bedroom bed.

Lin Yu first observed Jilly lying at the bedside.

Even in sleep, the girl’s forehead remained tightly furrowed, her eyes swollen and cheeks streaked with dried tears – a pitiful sight that tugged at heartstrings.

Lin Yu then examined the bedridden woman and activated Appraisal.

She briefly scanned the woman’s attributes before focusing on the status column: [Weakness], [Poisoned], [Drowsiness], and [Inability to Act].

Without hesitation, Lin Yu cast "Dispel" on the woman.

[Inability to Act] status removed.

[Weakness] status removed.

[Drowsiness] status removed.

[Poisoned] status… remains??

Why?

Lin Yu instinctively cast "Dispel" again.

/Skill activation failed.

Failed?

Can’t dispel?

Impossible… The other statuses were removable…

Refusing to concede, Lin Yu tried once more.

/Skill activation failed.

Still ineffective…

"Mom, she’s waking up."

Stealth One’s warning froze Lin Yu mid-action.

Woken up? Who?

She turned towards the bedside.

Her gaze met a pair of hazy, hollow-looking eyes.

Startled!!! She’s truly awake!

"You must be Sister White Feather that Jilly mentioned?"

A hoarse yet gentle voice whispered.

The tone made Lin Yu suppress her instinct to knock the woman unconscious—even with her focus on intelligence and Magic Value, a Class B Monster’s strike would easily overpower an invalid.

『Can’t you see me?』

"My vision’s nearly gone, especially at night."

Poison-induced, then? Though "Blindness" didn’t appear on the status panel yet, it might manifest within days…

At least there’s no need to incapacitate her if she can’t perceive me or Stealth One.

The woman’s condition seemed improved after having three debuffs Dispelled.

She paused mid-breath as if recalling something.

"Thank you for looking after Jilly these days. She never intended to tell me about you—I forced it out of her from worrying too much."

"That child’s been bottling things up for ages. Lately, she talks of nothing but you daily."

A tender smile surfaced as the woman stroked her daughter’s hair by the bed.

"Once this girl sleeps, nothing rouses her till dawn. We’re fortunate it’s you visiting tonight. Had it been thieves… we’d have been doomed."

『I can’t save you.』

The icy mental voice froze the woman’s expression. Her lips quivered imperceptibly.

"I know…"

She recomposed her smile.

"You possess the Dispel skill, yes? Cyclops Spider venom becomes incurable even by Dispel after the first month. Please don’t blame yourself."

"Also… Dispel is high-tier and rare. Best keep it hidden from others."

『Hn.』

Only curable within a month? But Jilly’s mother had been poisoned over three months when we met…

"If only… we’d met sooner."

『…』

Lin Yu remained silent, unequipped to offer comfort.

"I’ve perhaps days left. After I die, my daughter—"

The woman cut herself off with a sigh.

"—She’ll likely hunt down those two wretches for vengeance."

『Vengeance? Your poison was…?』

"Jilly didn’t tell you? I was deliberately poisoned. The culprits fled town long ago."

"I just want her to live peacefully… but she’ll chase revenge despite any dissuasion."

"If possible… please counsel her. She adores you—might actually listen."

『…Agreed.』

The stifling atmosphere pressed on Lin Yu until she excused herself after prolonged silence.

…

Inside the house:

"An ant monster using Psychic Call…"

The woman murmured ten minutes after Lin Yu’s departure.

Her toxin-dimmed vision still permitted blurred sight.

Fingers combed through her daughter’s hair.

"No wonder she hides her eyes… You’ve befriended quite the peculiar sister."

Gentle strokes paused.

"Dispel… She wields Dispel… Why… Why couldn’t it have been sooner…"

Plink… Plink…

Drops pattered against the bedframe.

Palms smothered the woman’s contorted face.

"My child… My precious child…"

Then came the sound of suppressed weeping.