Chapter 22

It seems that news of a horde of monsters appearing near the capital has spread throughout the country. Your parents must be worried, so please go back home and show them your healthy face.

Kasper's words prompted me to take a few days off and rush back to Eme's village. The journey from the capital to Eme's village takes more than a day, even with several carriage changes. As I got closer to the village, the road conditions worsened, and it was far from a comfortable carriage ride. However, the moment I saw my parents waiting for me at the village entrance, all my fatigue vanished, and I ran towards them.

"Father, Mother!"

"Laura!"

As I ran to them, they hugged me tightly.

"I was so worried! I heard that the capital was attacked by monsters!"

The voice whispered in my ear was trembling, and I realized how much I had worried my parents. I had sent a letter in advance to inform them of my return, but they were anxious until they saw my face.

"I'm sorry, but the knights protected us, so everything is fine."

I hugged them back to reassure them. The words I spoke were not just to comfort my parents; the capital is protected by the renowned Chvalaria Knights. Although the recent monster attack caused the most significant damage in history, the knights managed to eliminate the monsters before they could reach the capital. Among the casualties, the severely injured Knight Commander Veyk, who lost his right eye, is someone I haven't seen yet. I plan to visit him soon.

"Laura!"

At the sound of a cute voice, I looked up.

"Petra, and everyone else!"

Petra, Yuria, and Radmila, the three girls from Eme's village, were running towards me. I exchanged glances with my parents and left them to join the girls. I would spend more time with my parents later tonight. As I ran to the girls, we rejoiced, holding hands and laughing.

"Thanks for the letters, I always look forward to them."

"I've been working in a nearby town recently, inspired by Laura."

"Laura, you seem more grown-up?"

Yuria, who had become even more mature, Petra, whose tone and appearance had completely changed, and Radmila, who still smiled adorably, were all people I had been corresponding with regularly through letters. It had been months since I last saw them in person. As I looked at their grown-up faces, our conversation blossomed.

However, I noticed that Lukas was nowhere to be seen. I had assumed he would naturally come to greet me, but perhaps I was being presumptuous.

"Where's Lukas?"

"He's at the old master's place," Petra replied.

Why was Lukas at the old master's place? I was curious, but I had planned to visit the old master's house anyway. Since there was no particular increase in work, I decided to visit the old master's house as planned. I enjoyed the conversation with my friends for a while longer.

***

The mountain cabin where the old master lives now feels nostalgic. Although it has only been a few months, the days I spent training here seem so distant.

"It's Laura, I'm back."

"Ah, you're back."

As I opened the creaky door and greeted him, the old master welcomed me with a smile. His smile hasn't changed since the first time I met him. The old master's smile always gave me a sense of reassurance and comfort. I felt a warm sensation spreading in my chest, but I couldn't help but look around. I had heard that Lukas was here, but I couldn't see him anywhere.

"Is Lukas not here? I heard he came this way..."

"Ah, Lukas is out gathering herbs."

The casual way the old master said this, along with his nonchalant expression, made me widen my eyes. I recalled the conversation I had with Lukas when he visited the capital. I wondered if there was a strange friendship between the old master and Lukas, who had grown up together. I had a vague feeling that they were getting closer, but I was surprised that the old master could say that Lukas was out gathering herbs so matter-of-factly. This seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask the old master about "that thing." I straightened my back, thinking it was the right time to ask about Elvira's illness. The old master, a renowned alchemist who once served in the royal castle, might know some treatment or clue.

"Master, there's something I want to ask you."

I deliberately lowered my tone. The old master, sensing my seriousness, immediately lost his smile.

To calm myself, I took a deep, slow breath. Then, in a hushed voice, I asked:

"Is there such a disease called self-destruction disease?"

The old master's eyes widened slightly at my question, perhaps surprised by the rare term.

"Where did you hear about this disease?"

"From my senior's sister."

"That's... a tragedy."

The old master muttered, lowering his gaze to the floor. The real question I wanted to ask was yet to come.

"Do you know how to cure it?"

I asked directly. However, there was no immediate response, and a heavy silence fell between us. The silence felt eternal to me. I wanted an answer quickly, but I couldn't rush the old master, who was deep in thought. When the old master finally looked up, I leaned forward, waiting for him to speak.

"Laura, do you believe in legends and folklore?"

"Huh?"

I was taken aback by the unexpected question. However, without waiting for my response, the old master continued.

"There are legends and folklore about magical beast horns that can cure any disease when boiled and drunk, beautiful and mythical herbs, and omnipotent water that springs from secret places that no one can reach. Such stories exist in various countries and regions."

"Um, what...?"

Confused by his sudden change of topic, I voiced my bewilderment. I didn't understand what the old master was trying to say. He looked at me intently and spoke again.

"Without relying on such legends and folklore, there is no way to cure self-destruction disease at this point."

The shock and despair made my legs wobble. The old master, whom I respect deeply and know to be an excellent alchemist, had clearly stated that there was no way to cure self-destruction disease without relying on legends and folklore. His words weighed heavily on me, filling me with deep despair.

Creating a completely new recovery potion from scratch, without relying on past knowledge, is a daunting task, especially for a disease as difficult as self-destruction disease. Can Arnold and I achieve this? Other people might offer their wisdom if we ask for help. However, even if we gather dozens of people, can we really create a recovery potion that can cure a disease with no known treatment in less than three years? No, I can't afford to lose hope.

I steadied my wobbling legs with my own strength. I have no choice but to do my best. I clenched my fists, determined.

After enjoying my vacation in Eme's village, I will return to the capital and start reading through literature. I need to gather as much information as possible about self-destruction disease. Arnold has probably already done this, so I need to acquire the same level of knowledge as him and start developing the recovery potion as soon as possible.

It looks like I will have a busy time ahead.