noveltune Chapter 76
Chapter 76
Choi Gang-hu moved Ryu Jeong-ah’s body to his neighboring house without asking anything. Though the institution expressed concern, they couldn’t stop the will of the bereaved family backed by a powerful figure.
After setting all the temperature control items installed throughout the mansion to below zero, Ryu Seo-ha gently laid his sister on a sun bed by the indoor pool. He had to complete all preparations before the body began to decompose.
He took out items he had bought in advance on his way to work and laid them out on the floor. An underwater breathing mask and scuba diving weight belt. A brush for special solution and liquid semi-permeable membrane, one S-grade magic stone and a swallowing assistance device, and a magic power activation accelerator. Then he hesitated as he was about to lift his sister’s blood-stained clothes.
“Could you step out for a moment?”
“...I’ll keep my eyes closed.”
When he quietly asked for understanding, Choi Gang-hu firmly shook his head and leaned against the glass wall, closing his eyes. As expected, he didn’t ask what Ryu Seo-ha was trying to do. Perhaps he thought it was some kind of funeral rite.
He carefully applied the liquid on the brush to his sister’s skin. Soon after, a thin, wobbly membrane like an egg’s inner shell formed, enveloping Ryu Jeong-ah’s entire body.
He lifted his sister wearing the underwater breathing mask and stepped directly into the pool water. Choi Gang-hu, who opened his eyes at the loud splash, strode to the water’s edge.
“Don’t tell me you’re planning to follow your sister.”
He was grabbed so tightly his arm hurt. It seemed Choi Gang-hu had mistakenly thought he had bad intentions.
“That’s not it.”
“Then.”
“...Please let go of my arm first.”
“Answer me first.”
His sharp reaction paradoxically made Ryu Seo-ha feel warmly embraced.
“I’m going to bring my sister back to life.”
Even though he clearly stated his purpose, the hand strongly gripping his arm didn’t budge. He must have thought it was the recklessness of a boy who had lost his judgment.
After all, even first-generation S-class healers couldn’t revive the dead. Even Emily Kitlova, the world’s best existing healer, couldn’t achieve resurrection.
The same goes for the elixir, even if it’s called a panacea. An item that’s only S-class at best couldn’t overcome confirmed death.
“I told you before. That I know more than you think.”
But Ryu Seo-ha believed. That it would be effective. If he added the hint he discovered to the consumption method that Dr. Han Gangseok would soon figure out.
“I’ll do it instead.”
Choi Gang-hu, who had followed him into the water with a splash, declared while wrapping around his waist like a snake from behind.
“You don’t even know what I’m trying to do.”
“Whatever it is.”
He had been watching him act as he wanted all along, as if telling him to release his pent-up resentment. But now he seemed to have judged that he could no longer leave him be.
“This requires healing abilities.”
The concern was appreciated, but it was a task no one else could do for him.
“Let me go. There’s no time.”
He was in a hurry. If the decomposition progresses too far, it might require more magic power and more precise control. He needed to attempt it as soon as possible.
“Then do it like this.”
❖ ❖ ❖
As soon as he opened his eyes, he scanned his surroundings out of habit. A space entirely papered in white, faint smell of disinfectant, cutting-edge medical equipment whose purpose he didn’t know.
It seemed to be a room set up as a treatment room next to the pool. If not for the large, soft bed and the greenhouse scenery visible through the open window, he would have thought it was a hospital.
“You need to rest more.”
As he tried to remove the IV needle stuck in his arm, a calloused palm restrained him. He also saw Park Je-hyun shaking his head with a stiff expression.
“What about my sister?”
“She’s been revived safely.”
“I need to see for myself.”
After finally pulling out the IV, he got out of bed but staggered greatly. There was no strength in his entire body. As if he had stopped breathing once and then woken up.
Even after leaning against the wall and waiting for a while, his trembling legs wouldn’t stabilize. Suddenly he felt empty. Usually at times like this, Choi Gang-hu would support his body instead.
“...Where are you?”
Without realizing it, he blurted out a question wondering about his whereabouts, then caught himself. Even just from the original work, he was someone who had been busy without a moment’s rest.
He had just become too accustomed to it, but it wasn’t a given that Choi Gang-hu would be with him. He felt embarrassed for acting like a thoughtless child.
“She’s in the treatment room right next door.”
For better or worse, Park Je-hyun seemed to think he was asking about his sister’s whereabouts. Ryu Seo-ha didn’t bother to ask again and slowly moved his feet.
Ryu Jeong-ah was lying neatly on a soft bed, sleeping quietly. His heart sank as the image of her lying on the cold shrouding table overlapped.
Only after putting his finger under her nose to confirm she was indeed breathing could he shake off the fear that had swept over him like a wave.
“Sis...”
Ryu Seo-ha collapsed next to the bed as if crumbling. After hesitating, he took her hand and it was warm. Relief filled his heart. This was enough.
Status: Remaining lifespan 4 days 16 hours 15 minutes
After checking his remaining lifespan, he closed his eyes tightly. His heart started beating unsteadily again. It’s okay. There was still one last method left to try.
Comforting himself like that, he got up. First, he took out a magic stone from his space expansion pouch and grasped it. Then he moved to the bathroom and entered the shower booth.
“You’re not yet...”
Park Je-hyun tried to stop him again, thinking he was going to wash, but he closed the glass door of the booth without answering. It was to block external interference and disturbance for a moment.
Park Je-hyun standing at the bathroom threshold, and Lust who would be hiding nearby, would rush in as soon as they saw his next action. He leaned languidly against the tiled wall.
Characteristic ‘Sanctification’ is activated.
As always, he felt the protective barrier gently enveloping his body. He put the magic stone he was holding into his mouth and swallowed it just like that. Without any hesitation.
“What are you-!”
Buff ‘Healing Regeneration’ is granted to the designated target (caster himself).
Buff ‘Status Ailment Removal’ is granted to the designated target (caster himself).
Almost simultaneously with activating the buffs, Ryu Seo-ha lost his grip on consciousness.