I Have A Damn Family Again - Chapter 123

Chapter 123: A Moment of Respite (3)

“Ugh…!”

Agony ripped through my body.

My nerves screamed, and my muscles spasmed…

The unexpected pain was so intense, it momentarily short-circuited my brain.

▶ Status Ailment: Muscle Pain Level 3 activated! ◀

▶ Status Ailment: Nerve Pain Level 3 activated! ◀

▶ Status Ailment: Dizziness and headache! ◀

Thud!

Unable to support myself, I collapsed to the floor, my body wracked with pain.

Then a wave of chills swept over me, leaving me trembling.

“What’s… What’s happening?!”

-Ding!

The pain was so overwhelming, I could barely think straight.

A status window materialized before my eyes.

▶ Providing additional information.◀

※ Depeshan Syndrome

[ A debuff exclusive to the demon-infested Western region, characterized by a gradual decline in stats for those who have not adapted to the demonic energy. ]

[ Consuming a tea brewed with Iseleph Leaves and Ampiric Roots triggers the body’s natural defense mechanism against demonic energy. During this adaptation process, the subject will fall asleep, and due to the simultaneous release of accumulated fatigue, the sleep duration may be prolonged. ]

‘I know all that!’

Harnie had already explained everything. What more was there to know?

The explanation should have ended there.

So why… Why was I experiencing this excruciating pain?

As if sensing my unspoken question, the system displayed another window.

-Ding!

[ However, in rare cases, the mana contained in the leaves and roots can trigger a secondary Depeshan Syndrome. ]

[ In this case, the subject will experience severe pain throughout the body, accompanied by chills, dizziness, headaches, nerve pain, and all other symptoms associated with the primary ailment. ]

[ Due to its delayed onset, this secondary effect can manifest several days after initial exposure. If left untreated, it can be fatal. ]

‘Fatal…?’

My blood ran cold.

The initial description of Depeshan Syndrome hadn’t mentioned any of this.

I had simply assumed it was a debuff that gradually lowered stats, an inconvenience that could be managed.

But now… a secondary effect? A potentially fatal one?

“Damn it!”

This wasn’t in the game.

Once I had removed the initial debuff, there were no further warnings, no additional information. It hadn’t been a major concern.

But now…

-Ding!

▶ Status Ailments: Dizziness, headache, nerve pain, muscle pain, etc. activated! ◀

▶ Warning! Immunity stat temporarily decreased significantly! ◀

▶ HP dropping below 40%! ◀

I was on the verge of death, succumbing to this unforeseen, unfamiliar ailment.

-Ding!

▶ Body temperature rapidly decreasing!◀

▶ HP dropping below 30%!◀

▶ Body movement significantly slowed! Speech temporarily disabled!◀

What should I do?

I knew nothing about this illness.

Trying to treat it without proper knowledge could worsen the situation. I had no idea what measures to take.

I couldn’t speak, and my vision was blurry, making it difficult to move.

‘If Harnie was here… but…’

-I have some errands to run. I’ll be back soon… Wait, why are you looking at me like that? You’re not planning on leaving without me, are you?!

She had said that just yesterday.

Harnie, the one person who had been by my side, offering advice, monitoring my sleep, was gone. She had errands to run, business to attend to.

And of course, this had to happen when she was away, when the one person who knew about the Depeshan Syndrome was unavailable.

I couldn’t even stand. I was on the verge of collapsing. Even crawling was a struggle.

With my body failing, my vision blurring, I had only one option.

“Ugh…!”

-Crash!

▶ Throwing objects will put a strain on your already weakened body! ◀ 

▶ Flying shards of glass detected! Minor cuts inflicted! ◀

▶ HP decreased by 3%! ◀

My HP dropped, but there was one positive outcome.

-Thud. Thud. Thud!

Someone was coming.

I had to let them know.

▶ Bleeding status activated! ◀

▶ HP decreased by 6%! ◀

▶ Warning! Continuous HP loss! ◀

I didn’t care about the bleeding.

I was going to die if I didn’t do something. This game wouldn't let me off that easily. I had to leave a message.

I used my blood to write on the floor.

Secondary Depeshan Syndrome.

As I finished writing, a ringing sound filled my ears, my hearing fading.

And then… a voice, muffled and distant, reached me.

“Hey, ───! Can you ───!”

I couldn’t understand the words, but I knew it was someone from Lusmire. There were no enemies here. They would help me.

▶ Unconsciousness status activated! ◀

Darkness swallowed me.

-Ding!

▶ Sub-episode updated!◀

***

“…Sigh.”

Claire slumped back in her seat, letting out a heavy sigh.

She had received the news yesterday.

-What?! Carsein is the Lord of Lusmire?

Arina’s shocked outburst, her voice echoing through the hall as she read through the documents delivered by Heron, had reached Claire’s ears.

Carsein's decision to stay out all night had been expected.

After the incident at the tea party, after being served that poisoned food and labeled an unwelcome guest, it was understandable for him to be upset.

But his absence had stretched on for far too long.

‘That idiot! This is why he hasn't come back?’

Claire, listening to her sister’s rant, groaned and intervened.

“I’ll bring him back.”

“You, Claire? Why?”

“…I have my reasons.”

She had deflected the question, but the truth was…

“I should have told her everything…”

She was the one who had suggested allowing Carsein to stay out for a while.

She had argued that they needed to understand his frustration, his anger at being served that Kelbia-laced food.

That’s why Arina hadn't been informed about the tea party, and that’s why this was happening.

The situation was spiraling out of control.

If Carsein was dragged back to the Duchy by Arina, her secret would be revealed, and she would be held responsible.

“So I have to fix this myself.”

She would lecture him, reprimand him, make sure he understood the gravity of the situation. That way, he wouldn’t defy Arina and cause further trouble.

Claire boarded the carriage and headed towards Lusmire.

And then…

The driver announced their arrival sooner than she had expected.

She was surprised, but she was indeed already inside the territory of Lusmire.

But speed wasn’t her priority.

She had to find Carsein, lecture him, and get him back to the Duchy.

She asked a villager for directions and headed towards Carsein's house.

-Crash!

The sound of shattering glass stopped her in her tracks.

What was that?

Her pace quickened, her heart pounding.

She flung the door open, and her eyes widened in horror.

“Carsein…?”

It was him.

Carsein.

Collapsed on the floor.

“Hey, Carsein! What happened?! Wake up!”

She rushed towards him, shaking him by the shoulders, but he didn’t respond.

“Damn it, what’s going on?! What happened?!”

She cursed under her breath, her eyes scanning his body for injuries. The scattered shards of glass and the cuts on his palms didn’t seem life-threatening.

And then, she touched his skin.

“…Why is he so cold? Don’t tell me…”

A horrifying realization dawned.

-Whoosh.

She channeled a small amount of mana towards him, and his body reacted violently, as if rejecting her touch.

Claire cursed, jumping back, and then rushed towards the fireplace, shoving handfuls of firewood into the empty hearth.

“Damn it, damn it!”

As the owner of a successful boutique, she had heard about this.

The Depeshan Syndrome.

And the secondary effect, triggered by mana awakening.

-The primary symptoms are chills, followed by headaches, dizziness, nerve pain, muscle pain, and a variety of other ailments. It requires a prolonged recovery period. And if the subject isn’t protected during this critical phase…

They die.

That’s what she had heard.

She had never cared about the Depeshan Syndrome before, but now, as she remembered those whispered rumors, a wave of panic washed over her.

“Damn it, light up already! Why isn’t it burning?!”

She threw more firewood into the fireplace, igniting it with a burst of magic.

The flames roared, consuming the wood, but she doubted it would be enough to warm his icy skin.

She channeled more mana into the flames, her desperation growing.

Finally, Carsein’s body temperature began to rise, a faint warmth replacing the deathly chill.

Claire, her hands trembling, hadn’t been able to touch him, too afraid to confirm her fears. But now, as she sensed his returning warmth, she let out a sigh of relief.

A single bead of sweat on his forehead…

It was enough to calm her racing heart.

And then, she noticed something else.

A message, written in blood on the floor.

[ Light a fire. ]

“…Damn it, I should have seen that first.”

Her heart was still pounding, the fear refusing to fade.

She clutched her trembling hands, unable to bring herself to touch him.

And then, without realizing it…

She was covering her eyes with those shaking hands.

-Ding!

▶ The contents of the Sub-Episode: Trade Agreement Document have been altered.◀

▶ This episode has been upgraded to a Main Episode.◀

▶ Claire’s Affinity has increased.◀

[ Current Affinity: 61% ]