Ch.102102. Infiltrating the Octagon (4)

Dawn breaks. Even in this shabby house, dawn breaks, and the morning sun rises, letting sunlight in and out.

Worried that the sunlight might disturb Lumia’s deep sleep, Cain carefully hung a makeshift curtain he had prepared.

After hanging the curtain… he noticed holes visible throughout it. Finding it quite inadequate, he quickly stitched up the holes with thread.

Now they shouldn’t be visible.

With that thought, Cain smiled with satisfaction, but by the time he finished mending the curtain, Lumia was already awake.

Cain’s gentle hands covered Lumia with her blanket again. After brushing aside the hair of the sleeping Lumia, Cain went out to buy breakfast and medicine.

“…”

As soon as she heard the door close, Lumia opened her eyes. She gently touched the blanket where Cain’s hands had been and muttered.

“I wonder where he got hurt this time…”

Though Cain didn’t show it, Lumia had become more attentive to his injuries that he sustained because of her.

At some point, he started arriving covered in dirt, then she noticed bruises, and cuts appeared with alarming frequency.

That’s why yesterday, with tears in her eyes, she had begged Cain to please just give up on her.

This time, his clothes were soaked with blood, so she could easily guess how badly he was injured.

Anyway, when Cain returns, she will scold him.

She’ll tell him firmly to stop getting hurt, and that if he keeps coming back injured, she won’t take the medicine he brings.

She no longer wanted… Cain to get hurt because of her.

After all, she knew all too well that this disease wouldn’t be cured just by taking medicine.

As if hearing Lumia’s thoughts, the door opened.

However, the girl’s bold determination to scold him disappeared like morning dew in sunlight at the appearance of an unfamiliar man.

A man with black hair. Naturally, he was someone Lumia had never seen before.

And the fact that a stranger had visited this place filled her with fear.

The very idea that someone had found this location, known only to Cain and herself, was terrifying in itself.

But she bit her lip tightly and forced herself to maintain composure.

“If your purpose is to take me away, then please do so quickly.”

Lumia finally managed to speak.

Of course, when a stranger appears, one should first ask “Who are you?” but she couldn’t do that.

Lumia was the only noble daughter of a fallen house that had committed crimes. She couldn’t bear the thought of Cain, who had helped her, suffering consequences.

However, the black-haired man leaned against the wall with his arms crossed and said something that crushed Lumia’s spirit.

“Taking you wouldn’t change anything. It’s Cain I have business with.”

“What…?”

What did this man just say?

He spoke as if he knew everything about Cain coming and going from this place.

Come to think of it, the timing was suspiciously perfect. He entered right after Cain left. She couldn’t help but think the worst.

It was as good as being completely exposed that she had been staying here with Cain all this time.

Therefore, Lumia had only one option left.

“Please… rather, rather take me away. I beg you to let Cain go without any punishment…!”

Kneeling down and bowing her head in supplication.

Begging to be taken to detention quickly to prevent Cain from being charged with a crime for saving her.

This was the best she could do in her powerless state.

“Please… please leave Cain alone…”

“…”

She must have spoken with such desperate sincerity.

How could she so readily admit her guilt and ask to be taken away?

Her feelings for Cain were palpably heartfelt, but the conversation couldn’t proceed like this.

First, he should calm her down.

“I didn’t come here to report or accuse anyone.”

Of course, such words didn’t dispel Lumia’s suspicions. In situations like this, one needs to establish clear trust.

“You must have some idea what Cain has been doing. Even today, he must have come back in that state.”

“…”

Judging by Lumia’s reaction, she wasn’t completely unaware. She nodded slightly with a sad face.

“I came because I want you to convince Cain to escape from that place. Along with that, there are other matters to discuss as well.”

“Is that… really true?”

“If you want, I’ll tell you where he’s been going. That guy has become a plaything for nobles at the largest gambling den in Mirpark Province.”

“What?!”

In that moment, Lumia’s eyes filled with shock.

As Junon carefully explained about the Octagon, Lumia bit her lip tightly, revealing her utter dismay.

‘This should be enough to make that girl help rein in Cain.’

And just then, footsteps were heard outside. Soon the door opened—,

“Lumia. Are you awa…”

“You’re back?”

Cain’s face, which had looked happy due to the abundant breakfast he’d brought, immediately contorted upon seeing the unfamiliar man.

“Run away, Lumia!”

The moment he spotted the intruder, Cain’s body moved faster than his mind.

In that instant, Cain’s hands, which had been carrying food and medicine for Lumia, were solely focused on subduing the intruder. He couldn’t even hear Lumia telling him to stop from the bed right beside him.

However, even the frantic Cain could hear her raised voice from the bed.

“I told you to calm down!! Can’t you hear me?!”

The sound of medicine bottles rattling against the wall was followed by a silence that seemed to suspend time in the room.

“He says he didn’t come to report us… so let go of him.”

“But Lumia…!”

How could he believe that? If the nobles had sent someone, Lumia would be reported and sentenced, ending up behind dark bars.

But even the grip on the man’s collar, Lumia wanted him to release.

“If you don’t listen to me one more time, I’ll turn myself in right now. Let go of him quickly.”

“Ah, alright…”

Cain’s hands, filled with hostility, dropped away.

It seems he listens obediently to Lumia if no one else.

‘He’s still wary of me.’

Thanks to that, Cain’s face looked quite disgruntled, but at least he didn’t seem likely to lunge again.

Even if he tried, it seemed Lumia would intervene first.

“Cain, where have you been all this time when you said you were going to earn money?”

“Uh… um? Just some labor work…”

“Are you going to lie to me now? Getting fooled by nobles like an idiot! I hate seeing you come back injured like that!!”

“Well…”

Surely Cain had been lying to Lumia as he headed to the Octagon. Otherwise, Lumia would never have allowed it.

Just looking at her, she clearly has a gentle nature.

…Reminds me of someone, actually.

This conversation will probably take a while.

Lumia seems determined to question Cain thoroughly right here.

“Call me when you’re done talking.”

Junon left with those words, opening the door and stepping out. Normally, he would have eavesdropped, but it didn’t seem necessary right now.

Cain, with his head bowed low, would surely tell Lumia only the truth.

“With this, the conversation should progress reasonably well.”

Still, messing with people’s hearts—it’s really not something I want to do. I don’t want to do it twice.

***

A while later, a subdued Cain opened the door and said he had finished talking with Lumia.

And now back to his senses, Cain bowed his head repeatedly, apologizing. He explained that he had acted impulsively because he thought they were people trying to capture Lumia or report her for a reward.

Given how close the two appeared to be, such concerns weren’t particularly bothersome.

Besides, knowing that Cain wasn’t a bad person by nature, that’s partly why he hadn’t resisted.

Anyway, it was time to get to the main point.

To explain why this situation had occurred, Lumia revealed her name.

‘The only daughter of Baron Penarive, whose family was exterminated two winters ago on charges of colluding with Sirens…’

So, she was Lumia Penarive, a wanted person.

Now it made sense why Cain had lunged forward as if triggered and tried to make her escape.

Two winters ago, when rumors of Sirens abducting people were confirmed by the discovery of several corpses in their living areas, the Penarive barony, accused of complicity, became criminals and was imprisoned.

“We had no choice but to flee all this time. From Lemtert Village to Jakillia Hills, around Tebuzia Coast, and finally we arrived here.”

That’s practically a clockwise tour of Shute Province.

They must have endured every hardship imaginable.

Amidst all that, falling ill and having to depend on her only friend to survive—the mental pressure must have been immense.

If that’s the case, all the more reason to accept this request.

“I understand your situation. But Cain, you should stop going to the Octagon.”

“I don’t care if I get hurt. But Lumia’s illness…!”

“For Lumia’s sake too, you shouldn’t go to the Octagon. I’m not nagging, I’m serious. That’s not an illness that can be solved with money.”

I noticed when Lumia was angry at Cain.

Her lips, which should be red, were bluish despite not having hypothermia, and I also noticed blue spots near her neck and left shoulder.

Those are precursors of that disease.

“Lumia, you used to be able to handle magic, but now you can’t use it at all, right?”

“How did you…”

“…That’s a characteristic of the disease. It’s transmitted through magic, which is why doctors would shake their heads.”

At some point, Lumia must have used magic against that monster, and in the process, she was infected by something that burst out in all directions.

She mentioned hiding in Lemtert Village, but the most likely cause is the location of the Penarive barony in northern Shute.

Why the Great Purge of Shute lasted so long in the past, and why they chose an offensive purge rather than a defensive one, conducting an all-out war.

It was because of that disease Lumia is suffering from.

Commonly known as the Lemtert Plague. Those who fought in the defensive battle at Lemtert Village gradually developed bluish spots on their bodies, their strength waned, and as the disease inside them consumed even their magic, they became unable to function as individual fighters.

And if treatment is delayed, all magic is consumed, leading to death.

Therefore, Lumia needs to be treated with a cure at this stage, but…

‘There’s no way such a cure exists in this era.’

The cure for the Lemtert Plague only spread throughout the principality after the Great Purge of Shute ended.

Even then, it was limited in quantity and had to be purchased by nobles for a fortune.

Before Professor Dalia, who identified the source of the plague, developed a new medicine, even other Tembris members struggled greatly, so this disease resonates deeply.

Cruel as it may be, the reality needs to be conveyed.

“At this rate, Lumia will continue to have her magic consumed until she dies. Do you still intend to go to the Octagon in this situation?”

Lumia will soon die from the Lemtert Plague.

At Junon’s blunt, raw statement of reality, Cain’s eyes reddened again.

“How… how am I supposed to accept that…! Are you telling me to coldly accept that Lumia is going to die?!”

He knew it too, but couldn’t accept it.

“No. I’ll try something. I’ll go to the Octagon, earn money, and buy even unknown medicines that might have no effect. Telling me to just watch Lumia die is too cruel!! Even if you’re my senior, you can’t suppress my will!!”

His resistance against predetermined fate felt quite familiar. It looked very similar to my own denial of reality.

He must have been this desperate when he entered the Octagon.

To Cain, Lumia’s existence must hold even greater value.

If that’s the case, now the conversation should flow better.

“I’ll tell you this. Rather than feeding her such medicines, it would be better if I took action right now.”

“…What did you say?”

“The spots on Lumia’s skin, her blue lips—these are typical symptoms of a disease where magic is being consumed. Why do you think I know this in such detail?”

Cain’s eyes flashed. That sounded like he could cure it himself, so of course he would react that way.

“But it won’t cure her. It only buys time until a cure is developed. I don’t know how much time this will buy even if the disease progresses. Will you still accept it?”

“…”

Cain was silent for a moment, then recalled Junon’s earlier realistic advice and calmed his excitement.

In truth, he knew it too.

Lumia’s disease only worsened, and no matter how expensive the medicines he bought, there had never been any noticeable improvement.

All that remained was targeting rare medicines at the Octagon, where nobles frequented.

Then catching the eye of the host. He was enticed by the promise that such medicines existed, albeit extremely expensive.

In reality, he had gained nothing from the Octagon. He even doubted whether they could solve her illness, and now he was certain. Even if they had a cure, they wouldn’t give it to him.

In that case, this option was better, and Cain composed himself and bowed his head again.

“I’ll do anything. Even just that would be good, I beg you.”

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll choose the side that shows possibility right before my eyes.”

He wisely chose the right option. How about this one?

“Lumia, I’d like to hear your thoughts too.”

In truth, Lumia wanted to ask how much Junon would demand from Cain. Naturally, she didn’t want anything worse than what happened at the Octagon.

But that anxiety didn’t last long.

After all, this entire conversation and information wouldn’t have been possible without Junon’s help.

“I’ll follow Cain’s will. But…”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be too harsh on him.”

“…Thank you, Senior.”

“Then, relax your body, Lumia.”

“Huh? Why my hand…”

“Senior…? What are you suddenly…”

Both Cain and Lumia blinked in confusion as they looked at Junon.

Suddenly he took Lumia’s hand and closed his eyes as if concentrating on something.

They knew he wasn’t someone who would harm them, but they couldn’t understand what he was trying to do. At least not until the effects became apparent.

“Oh, what…?”

“The spots…!”

The spots on Lumia’s skin visibly reduced in size, and her complexion somewhat returned.

The method was simple. He had merely replenished Lumia’s magic that was being consumed.

Of course, one should never do this against the Lemtert Plague, but there are always exceptions when it comes to diseases.

“I’ve only eased the progression of the disease by infusing magic. It’s not cured, so using magic is strictly forbidden.”

“What? But won’t you get infected too…!”

“I’m immune to this disease. But don’t ask anyone else to do this. One wrong move could worsen her condition and infect that person too.”

That was a direct warning to Cain, who looked like he was about to ask how it was done.

I’ve helped with everything I could, and if she can’t hold out even with this, then it truly can’t be helped.

“I’ve done my part, now it’s your turn to help me, Cain.”

It was time to enter the Octagon again.