Zurrel rushed to the front to assist a nun and a monk as they carefully unloaded a man from a wagon and carried him onto the apothecary's front porch. There was no time for formal greetings or friendly smiles—every second counted if they hoped to save the life before them.
"Diagnosis?" Lefahne asked, her voice steady despite the urgency as she slid a cushion under the man's head while they lowered him to the wooden floor.
"Suspected drug overdose," the nun replied briskly. "Likely pixie crystal."
Zurrel's sharp gaze fell on the bandage covering the man's right eye. "And that? The injury?" he asked, noting the unsettling blue tint of the man's lips and fingernails.
"An old wound," the monk answered, rolling the frothing and convulsing man onto his side to clear his airways.
"He's having a manaflux (seizure)," the nun announced.
"No," Zurrel countered firmly, carefully repositioning the man onto his back. "It's a soulspasm (cardiac arrest). I'll start CPR."
Lefahne raised her hands that started to glow. "I'll manage his blood flow and stimulate the brain's mana signals. Silvie," she turned to her daughter who was already administering a potion to flush the froth and saliva from the man's mouth. "Fetch the usual elixirs—quickly!"
"Y-Yes, Mother!" Silvestia stammered, rushing to comply.
After diligently playing her role, the girl stepped back toward where Fay stood, her gaze shifting to her parents as they worked tirelessly.
Silvestia sighed, her eyes heavy with sadness. "For the past few years, there's been a growing addiction problem in the city. A potent drug has been spreading through the black market, and it seems the situation has only worsened with the looming war."
Her gaze softened as it lingered on her parents who were ceaselessly working to save the man's life. "We've been working closely with the Seraphina Church to help those affected. My parents provide healing and elixirs to counter the addiction, while the church offers counseling and shelter. I guess nothing much has changed since I've been in a coma."
Fay lowered her gaze sympathetically, sharing in the girl's distress.
***
Lefahne sighed, rubbing her brow with the back of her hand. "It seems we're finally through the worst of it," she said, a faint smile forming on her lips.
The monk and nun let out collective sighs of relief.
"With daily doses of this elixir and plenty of rest," Zurrel added, "he should be back to full health within a week."
"That's such a relief," the monk said, a note of joy in his voice.
Lefahne paused, her fingers gently removing the bandage from the man's eye that had been inadvertently healed during the treatment. "…Doesn't he seem familiar to you, Sister Lyra?"
The nun's expression darkened. "That's because we all know him," she replied solemnly. "If you've ever needed a loan or made a deposit or withdrawal, you've likely crossed paths with this man."
Lefahne's eyes widened in shock. "You don't mean—"
The nun nodded gravely. "Yes, that's him. He's the bank teller from the Merchants' Guild. A religious family man, happily married with three beautiful children. A seemingly perfect life."
Zurrel furrowed his brow, deep in thought. "So, in addition to being a holy man, he's financially stable with a family. Seemingly everything one could ever want to be content. In that case, what could have driven him to this?"
The group fell silent, each pondering the unsettling question.
***
Treacherous mountains.
The thought flashed through Lyndoria's mind as her gaze lingered on the supple curves that were perfectly sculpted beneath the silken nightgown. She couldn't help but sink her teeth into yet another helpless handkerchief, her feelings a tangled mess of envy and admiration as she drank in the glorious peaks that made hers seem like a washboard in comparison.
RIPP!
Even though you're just an imposter! She fumed, the handkerchief tearing. You still somehow manage to make a fool of me!
Sensing the murderous aura, Daisuke stirred awake from his slumber. Without a word, he turned his head to the side and wearily held Lyndoria's fiery gaze. "Um. What exactly are you doing?"
"Tch!" the girl clicked her tongue, doing little to conceal the fluffy cushion in her hands that she was clearly planning to use to suffocate him in his sleep. "I was hoping to do us all a favor by getting rid of you while you slept, but alas…"
Daisuke cringed in disbelief. Oi-Oi. Y'know, this is the part where you're supposed to lie through your teeth, pretend you didn't hear a thing, and act all innocent. But nope, not even a shred of guilt here.
"By the way," Lyndoria drawled with an intimidating flair, pulling close to Daisuke's face like a thug interrogating a guilty snitch. "Would you like to explain to me why Princess Lumielle came back this morning wearing different clothes than what she left in? Huh?!"
With an awkward smile, Daisuke raised his hands in surrender and backed away as the girl loomed even closer, grinding her teeth. "About that…"
Before he could utter another word, the girl snarled and attempted to whack him atop the head, but Daisuke effortlessly caught her wrist with a small smile.
"Tch!" Lyndoria yanked her hand free and threw the cushion at his face instead, but even that missed its mark. "You… You're so infuriating! Stay away from the princess!" she warned before storming away.
Daisuke frowned drearily as he watched her leave. "Easy for you to say," he muttered beneath his breath before surrendering to a stretch and a yawn.
Their return from the forest was early in the morning. Despite sleeping in, it felt as though he'd barely managed a few hours of rest. But there was no time to complain. It was his first day in the royal palace, and he couldn't afford the luxury of sleep. The safety of both himself and Lumielle depended on his alertness, and it was crucial that he quickly familiarize himself with the kingdom's current state of affairs.
After a fleeting glance at the common area on the upper floors of Crownspire Tower, Daisuke sank back into the crouch where he'd made his bed earlier, pulling up his Status Window.
[Name: Haxks
Species: Human
Gender: Female
Level: 46 | EXP: 10,453/330,625 (3.16%)
Class: Dual Blader [!]
Affiliation: Adventurers' Guild | Merchants' Guild
Title: Lone Wolf, Pathfinder, Unwavering Spirit, Congenial Denizen, Master of Divine Beast, Devoted Hunter, The Liberator of Races, Master of Djinn, One-Hit Kill
HP: 15446/15446 | MP: 3094/3094
Strength: 108 (+35) | Stamina: 171 (+47) | Agility: 212 (+61) | Intelligence: 56 (+21) | Dexterity: 51 (+95) | Composure: 34 | Indomitable: 19 | Perception: 6 | Stealth: 7
Stat Points: 0
Gold: 360,581]
"Huh," Daisuke muttered, his hand resting thoughtfully on his chin. "That's new—my character window's showing my gender now. Guess it's because I switched sexes recently," he said with a chuckle, though the humor faded into a hint of melancholy. "It's good to know the Status Window's adaptable, but being reminded of the fact that I've lost my manhood isn't exactly uplifting."
He paused for a moment, a thought crossing his mind. "Speaking of wounded pride… I should probably equip that new accessory I got from the Lich. At this point, any little advantage will help, especially since better weapons are still out of reach."
[Sardonyx Earrings +3]
[Rating: Unique
Durability: 11/12 | Magical Defense: +13.4% | Magical & Physical Balance: +14.3%
A pair of standard lobe earrings featuring polished sardonyx stones with crimson and white bands. Though modest in appearance, they radiate a strong magical energy.
▪︎ Attack Damage +45
▪︎ Magical Damage +25
▪︎ Magic Resistance +11%
▪︎ Poison Resistance +52%
▪︎ MP +350
▪︎ Agility +14
Conditions of Use: Lvl 45+]
The poison resistance is pretty much redundant thanks to my blessing from the Goddess of Harmony, Daisuke mused inwardly with a wry smile. Still, this accessory is a major upgrade compared to the one I had equipped before.
All of a sudden, Daisuke glanced down at his awkward posture. He had one hand on his chin and the other across his torso. Except, unlike usual, that arm wasn't flat across his chest. This time, there was resistance—two of them in fact, and they were soft and warm to the touch. It was a bizarre sensation to say the least, and enough to spark his curiosity.
Pushing to his feet, Daisuke peeked around at his flowing hair, and then he turned his attention to his chest. My body definitely feels heavier than before. Is it because of the long hair… and these things?
He gently cupped the soft mounds that protruded from his chest, the sensation sending a wave of warmth through him that made his body go limp. "Ah," he sighed, unable to suppress the reaction.
For some inexplicable reason, his mind drifted to thoughts of rainbows, butterflies, sweets, and ponies. As a contented smile tugged at his lips, Lumielle rounded the corner and caught sight of the explicit scene.
Daisuke's eyes widened in alarm. "Um. It's not what it looks like…"
Shimmering silver hair, butterscotch eyes, plump lips, and silky rose-beige skin. As the morning sun filtered through the windows, casting a soft glow on the voluptuous figure barely concealed by the nightgown, the princess's complexion shifted from pale to a deep, rosy pink.
"Wh-What do you think you're doing?!" she stammered, fumbling with her words. "Don't ever do that again! Ever!"
Daisuke immediately withdrew his hands.
"W-We'll have breakfast as soon as you're done freshening up," Lumielle said meekly, then hesitated, glancing around with embarrassment. "O-On second thought, I-I should probably bathe you myself. It just feels… wrong for you to touch or see yourself unclothed."
"Wait, what?!" Daisuke exclaimed in abject shock, a bit of a blush staining his own cheeks. "Don't you think it's a bit ridiculous that, out of everything that's messed up about what you had me do, this is the part you feel like addressing?"