The Damn Family Is Back Again

210 – 210. The Enraged Ones (10)

The time to test Karsein and explore his inner self has ended.

Now, what remains for Talphon and Lilpeton is to settle the debts of the past and willingly establish diplomatic relations with the lord of Shatren.

Though exhausted from the decided battle, they can’t return to Shatren right away, but once he wakes up, the news will be promptly shared, and they plan to move at the desired time.

However, as of the day after. It wasn’t Karsein who came looking for Talphon, but Harnie.

“Karsein isn’t waking up?”

“Yes…”

Harnie nodded uneasily.

“I’ve been watching over him since he lay down on the bed, but even when I woke up, Karsein hadn’t.”

“Hmm… It shouldn’t have been a serious injury.”

Both had fought with all their might, so there were scratches and wounds from flying debris. Besides, there were signs of battle all over their bodies, like sword energy grazing by or clothes being torn and scraping the skin.

However, it wasn’t a severe injury.

Talphone, who had crossed swords with Karsein, knew this best.

Even with various wounds all over his body, it wasn’t an injury that would make one sleep for a whole day. Especially since he, the one who was defeated, was moving around so freely.

Still.

“It wouldn’t hurt to check.”

There was no reason to doubt the words of his fiancée, Harnie.

After all, she was the one who had been watching over him all this time.

Talphone promised to check on Karsein’s condition and if it seemed dangerous, he would take action himself. With that promise, he headed to the sleeping Karsein’s room.

As he opened the door and entered, Karsein, just as Harnie had said, showed no signs of movement.

However, the cause was guessable.

“Harnie. You said you’re Karsein’s fiancée.”

“Yes, I did.”

“As his fiancée, you must be together often. That’s why I’m asking. Has this guy ever suffered from Dephian Syndrome?”

“How did you…?”

“Hmm. I thought so.”

It was curious that he possessed mana but it hadn’t manifested properly or his awakening was delayed.

“What’s the method to adapt to the eroded lands of the West?”

“I gave him a decoction to drink.”

“A decoction, huh. Then if there was any accumulated fatigue, it would have been resolved then. What was his reaction after that?”

“He fell asleep like today. It seemed like he slept deeply…”

Just as I thought.

Those who have lived in the West for a long time wouldn’t have a problem since they’re adapted, but the eroded lands of the West typically affect humans too.

Therefore, it’s necessary to take measures to resist the erosion and prevent mana from being consumed, and unfortunately, Karsein’s constitution was the issue.

But it seemed that wasn’t the end.

“However, it wasn’t just the fatigue that was relieved; Karsein’s body was also enveloped in a chill.”

“What? That can’t be…!”

“Yes. It’s the aftereffects of the Depashion Syndrome.”

The aftereffects of Depashion Syndrome?

‘Is it not just a unique constitution but an extremely rare one?’

Normally, the body naturally develops defense mechanisms when measures are taken to resist the erosion from the west. The resistance to erosion that comes with rest is exactly that.

At this time, one would typically experience minor reactions such as fatigue, sleep induction, and loss of strength…

But the appearance of an actual disease should not be taken lightly.

“So, the aftereffects will come again this time.”

“What?”

“Mana was leaking as I entered the room. It seems the resistance to erosion is dulling due to the constitution, and mana is being consumed again.”

“What should we do then…?”

From noble mtl dot come

“When Karsein first suffered from this disease, you must have administered the right remedies, including herbal potions, right?”

…The right remedies?

That’s true, but…

“It would have been problematic originally, but since she’s your fiancée, there shouldn’t be a big issue. Well. It’s not difficult. Just take the same measures you did at the beginning. Who the first subject is, that’s what’s important.”

“…”

Harunie, who had been silent for a moment, gently grasped the hem of her skirt and asked.

“Is there, by any chance, no other way…?”

“There isn’t.”

“Are you, really… sure?”

“Yes. With such a constitution, Karsein cannot shake off the Depashion Syndrome on her own. Moreover, in this case, recovery is impossible without the person who helped during the first onset of the disease.”

At those words, Harunie’s shoulders shook with a start.

“Hmm. It seems more mana is starting to leak out. If it continues like this, the aftereffects from that time will soon return. It’s better to take care of it in advance during this period. Let’s get it done quickly.”

“Ah…”

“Hmm? What’s the matter? You rushed here worried about your fiancée, which even I can see is still noble.”

“It’s not that, it’s just…!”

There’s a very important circumstance.

Too embarrassing to even speak of!

“Well. You’ll handle it in time, I’m sure. Remember, the important thing is that it needs to be as similar as possible to the initial treatment. From the initial symptoms to the full-blown ones, they must be identical.”

Unaware of Harunie’s feelings, Talphon answered nonchalantly and left, as Harunie’s face flushed red.

‘Is he going to do that again here too?’

I understood that I had to write it down beforehand.

However, it’s not like that’s going to happen, so I shouldn’t say it.

Just like before.

I have to hold him naked like this!

Haruni’s face turned bright red.

But… I have to do it.

-Click.

I locked the door and drew the curtains.

The only ones left in the room are her and Karsenic. There’s no one watching.

-Whoosh.

I take off my clothes.

I’m going to be embarrassed, so I slowly take off my outer clothes, starting from my shoulders to my hips.

“Ah…”

I’m really embarrassed that I have to do this again.

Haruni’s face turned even redder, and her cheeks spread out.

Later, when Karsenic wakes up, I’ll have to tell her about this too.

But I won’t say it out loud.

“Waaah! It’s not like that now-!”

Haruni’s face twitched as she moved slowly, her pale skin exposed.

I won’t get up right now.

I’m worried that it will be unnecessary, and my chest tightened as I trembled.

Suddenly, Karsenic’s bed is right in front of me.

“…Exactly like the first time, right?”

Slowly peeling back the blanket…

His body was enveloped. Two hearts pressed against Karsein’s body, and the close contact of other flesh was fully felt.

It was maddeningly embarrassing, but it was certainly like this at that time.

Just spend time like this until Karsein’s body recovers.

-Thump. Thump.

Ah. My heart starts to pound wildly again.

It would be a disaster if he were to wake up now.

But why is it?

While I’m embarrassed, I start to feel a bit relieved.

This emotion, I just can’t figure it out.

Like that night together with Karsein, Harunie fell asleep.

***

“Defashion Syndrome.”

Talphone, arms crossed, pondered deeply.

In the western lands deeply eroded by magic, adapting to it naturally leads to various ailments. Defashion Syndrome is one such disease, not so common.

On the contrary, it means that the westerners who have adapted to the erosion usually do not suffer from such diseases.

That point gave Talphone certainty.

“What a matter. You’ve come all this way to find me after sending such an urgent letter.”

Polux came to Talphone, who was waiting.

As Polux extended his fist, Talphone did the same. Their greeting, typical of the west, remained unchanged.

No need for any trivial preamble.

It was Polux who had brought Clare and changed Talphone’s mind. The question that would come was already set.

“So, how was it meeting her?”

Naturally, it was about Karsein.

Talphone shook his head first.

“I was too stubborn. Your words, and the request from that person called Nui. Meeting in person, I realized there were misunderstandings on this side too.”

“Huh. I figured as much. She must be qualified, right?”

“Yes. To capture the Scorpion King alone. Tsk. Such madness isn’t even attempted in Lilpeton.”

“What? Hahaha!”

Polux laughed as if delighted.

“So, what happened with Karsein?”

“Well, we decided to establish diplomatic relations. But it seems a rest is needed for now.”

“A rest?”

“After our duel, he collapsed from exhaustion and slept through the day. Upon investigation, it turns out his constitution isn’t great; he’s suffering from Defician Syndrome at stage three or higher.”

At that, Pollux’s expression hardened slightly.

“Hey, isn’t that serious? If it’s stage three or above…”

“Yes. From stage three, one needs the help of others, but only the mana from the first person who transferred mana works effectively. If it’s not the same person, there’s no recovery, and the condition keeps recurring, leading to death by withering. But there was no need to worry.”

“Oh, I see.”

Because the first person was his fiancée, Harnie.

There’s hardly any risk of the engaged couple being separated.

“It turned out that way, huh? Hehe. They really should stick together.”

“Anyway, we’ve decided to establish relations with Karsein. Starting tomorrow, I’ll probably move to Shatren and accompany him.”

“What? Talphon, did you come all this way just to tell me that?”

Pollux stroked his chin and laughed with a resigned expression.

“No. That’s not the news I came to deliver to you, Pollux.”

“Hmm?”

“First off, that guy… he had a strange scent.”

At the mention of a scent, Pollux’s expression became serious again.

The olfactory sense of Lilpeton.

It must mean he smelled the scent of Karsein’s mana.

“What was it?”

“In the duel with Karsein, a mad rush of loneliness and pain came over me. But strangely, no other emotions were felt beyond that.”

“…I see. That boy, it felt like a chill as if trapped inside a massive glacier.”

“You dueled him too, it seems.”

“That’s right.”

I remember because I crossed swords with him in the west.

Perhaps it’s not Lilpeton who’s better at judging people by the scent of mana, but Aipheros. They have the power in the realm of touch, obtaining all information through combat.

“Karsein is falling apart. He’s losing his emotions, being captured by the monster called reason.”

“Hmm. So the lack of other emotions following loneliness and pain was because of that.”

“If left alone, it would be dangerous, but it seems his fiancée will be able to solve it.”

“Hmm.”

It was certain.

If one were to follow the person right next to them, they might awaken to the most intense emotion yet to be realized. At a glance, the two made a well-matched pair of man and woman.

“Right. Then I should tell the second story.”

“…What is it?”

“It’s certain that it smells of the Kingdom of Wederos. But strangely, that guy. He’s got Dephian Syndrome.”

“…! I see. Certainly…”

“A Westerner getting Dephian Syndrome is unheard of. An Imperial, maybe. But for him, hailing from the Kingdom of Wederos, to have Dephian Syndrome is a contradiction.”

What does that imply?

The truth Talphon wanted to convey was this.

“That guy. He smells of a foreigner. Like that prophet I encountered in the past.”