Chapter 2: Amid Teasanare
"Liam-kun, you've grown up, you've actually learned to be considerate of your Familia's Goddess!" "."
Looking at Hestia, who was hugging his neck, her petite figure and the genuine smile in her light blue pupils were undeniable.
It was just that the way she praised him felt a little strange to Liam, who housed an adult's soul within his body.
Alright.
Setting aside the issues of her figure and appearance, from the perspective of actual age, there was nothing wrong with Hestia's words.
She didn't drag things out regarding his going to the Dungeon; she agreed quite decisively.
"I can agree to Liam-kun going to adventure in the Dungeon."
"But the prerequisite is getting a healer's approval. We need proof that the disease in your left hand won't affect dangerous battles in the Dungeon."
Since Liam had already made his final decision, then as a goddess, she shouldn't interfere but respect his choice.
Hestia, of course, did just that.
Infected with some sort of plague virus, she didn't know what kind of pain this would bring Liam, but even during the Familia's difficult times.
Besides herself, the goddess, there was only Liam, this one dependant.
They lived in an abandoned church, ate leftover food from her stall, yet despite this, he still diligently practiced his swordsmanship every day.
Even his reason for wanting to adventure in the Dungeon was very simple.
"To truly possess strength, to not want to become a burden to the goddess."
Looking at the condition restricted by the black manacles, Hestia felt exceptionally complicated inside, but it was more out of concern for her family.
If she could be like Hephaestus, possessing enough wealth, would this "child's" situation be much better?
She no longer had any thoughts of continuing her lunch.
From the basement of the abandoned church, she found a grayish-brown cloak that could completely cover the obvious abnormality of Liam's left hand.
"Let's go."
"First, let's see a doctor."
Looking at the handsome, albeit slightly frail, figure of the young man, Hestia clapped her hands in satisfaction and walked ahead to lead the way.
Noticing Liam, who had remained silent all along, she didn't turn her head, but her tone was filled with affection.
"Also... I've never felt that Liam-kun was a burden to the Familia. To me, you are more like family."
Following Hestia's steps, Liam gradually understood the main goal of this outing: to head to the prosperous northern section of Orario.
The large apothecary-operating faction.
The captain of the Dian Cecht Familia, Amid Teasanare, a legendary figure in Orario, single-handedly propped up the prosperity of her Familia.
She possessed high-tier healing magic.
Her magic could not only heal wounds but also restore stamina, expel toxins, remove curses, and perform group healing, among other effects.
She could even use the three effects of recovery, detoxification, and curse removal separately – a truly versatile magic in every sense.
She was once called the Saint of the Battlefield; any team she was part of could end a campaign with zero casualties, even when facing enhanced species.
Or even massive floor bosses, without exception.
Even though she was only a Level 2 adventurer, she was a sought-after figure by all Dungeon exploration teams in Orario.
As the healer for Liam's consultation this time.
With various titles to her name.
The consultation fee would definitely not be low. He just felt it was somewhat of a waste; the demonic hand, mutated after contracting the Kazan Syndrome.
Liam knew there was no possibility of a cure, but to smoothly begin his Dungeon adventures, seeing a doctor was an indispensable step.
The magnificent building standing before them was constructed entirely of pure white stone, symbolizing the Dian Cecht Familia's emblem of a sphere of light and medicinal herbs.
It was approaching noon, and there weren't many patients seeking treatment here.
Hestia brought Liam to the reception hall, not forgetting to reassure him, "Amid-san is Orario's strongest healer."
"She can definitely solve your problem."
"Let's hope so."
Liam nodded lightly in response, firmly committing the location of the Dian Cecht Familia's home to memory. Embarking on Dungeon adventures, injuries were inevitable.
There would definitely be occasions requiring treatment.
They didn't wait for long before a figure walked into the reception hall. It was a young woman with a face as exquisite as a doll's.
Her attire was a Familia uniform with white as the base and pink accents, easily making one associate her with the identity of a healer.
Her fine, silvery-white long hair cascaded down as she bowed, her light purple eyes with slightly upturned lashes swept towards Hestia.
She had a fresh memory of this goddess who sold fried potato pieces at a stall on North Main Street.
What truly concerned Amid was the young man sitting beside Hestia, with the distinct features of someone from the Far East.
Yet, those pupils glowed with an unnatural crimson.
Arriving at the sofa directly opposite Liam, she lifted her skirt and sat down gracefully, her cool gaze exceptionally calm. "Lady Hestia."
"Is there anything I can help you with?"
"It's Liam-kun." "His left hand is infected with some kind of plague virus, and he insists on wanting to go adventuring in the Dungeon, so I wanted to ask Amid-san to help see if it can be cured."
At Hestia's signal, Liam took off the grayish-brown cloak, exposing the white, demonic hand fitted with the corrective device.
The patient's emotions could somewhat affect the doctor's judgment. He looked up, a relaxed smile on his face, "It's just a problem with this arm."
Even though she was mentally prepared, upon seeing the arm that presented an unnatural white.
Amid couldn't help but knit her slender brows. The demonic hand extended to the corrective device near his shoulder, showing no signs of further spreading.
This strange symptom was a first in her career.
Since it was caused by a plague virus, it was more appropriate to ask Liam for the detailed history of his illness: "When were you infected with this plague?"
"Just about half a month ago."
"Were there any symptoms before the infection? What's the condition of your arm now?" She even took out a notebook she carried with her.
Amid meticulously asked questions.
Knowing that "Kazan Syndrome" was incurable, but respecting the other party's professional ethics as a doctor, Liam still answered the questions truthfully.
"There were no symptoms; the mutation happened suddenly."
"As for the arm, there are no other adverse reactions, just occasional headaches. I can confirm that this condition is not contagious."
"."
"Strange."
Liam's latter statement could basically be confirmed. If it were contagious, it would have completely broken out within the past half-month.
Not to the point where she was only discovering it now.
Amid couldn't help muttering. The black manacles at the end of his arm should be a means of restricting the disease. "May I take a closer look?"
"No problem."
The sooner he completed the entire examination process, the more time he would have left to explore the Dungeon. Liam did not refuse Amid's request.
He lifted his demonically transformed left hand.
Adhering to her medical professionalism, Amid observed it carefully, able to see the exceptionally sinister blood vessels beneath the pale skin.
The arm showed no signs of necrosis; on the contrary, it seemed stronger than a normal person's?
This had already touched upon the blind spots in her knowledge.
"Could it be... some kind of curse?" The cost of treatment wasn't really important; she knew very well how impoverished Hestia was.
Her professional ethics as a doctor prevented Amid from standing idly by. She couldn't just refuse to treat Liam because he had no money, could she?
What truly angered her wasn't the lack of payment.
It was that Liam had been infected with this special disease for half a month before coming to the Dian Cecht Familia's home to seek her help.
Allowing the condition to worsen!
"Healing Drop, Tear of Light, Eternal Sanctuary, call forth the medicinal song here. The Calendar of Healing shall save all things, break the evil. In the name of the gods—be healed by me!"
Amid chanted her high-tier magic, "Dia Frater," attempting to dispel the suspected curse-like disease from Liam.
A gentle light continuously emerged.
Yet, when it landed on the eerie white demonic hand, it directly dissipated. Even her most prideful magic brought no change.
"This..."
Her willow-leaf brows, once furrowed, never relaxed. Facing Hestia's expectant gaze, Amid's tone suddenly became somewhat subdued.
"I'm sorry, this... disease, I cannot cure it."
"Currently, there is a rather extreme method, which is to amputate the diseased area of the arm and then wear a custom-made prosthesis."
"Whether it will spread to the right hand, I am not sure."
"If it doesn't affect normal life, conservative treatment is still more recommended. Losing an arm would have some impact on daily life..."
"Really, is there really no way?" The one who asked the question wasn't Liam, but Hestia, who had already prepared to borrow money.
If even the "Saint of the Battlefield" couldn't solve it, then in the Labyrinth City Orario...
There would absolutely be no other method of treatment!
Amid didn't speak, but her silent attitude already said everything, feeling helpless in her area of expertise.
Her mood was equally low.
Instead, it was Liam's cheerful tone that broke the silent atmosphere: "This arm hasn't affected me. Actually, I wanted to trouble Doctor Amid."
"Could you help explain to Lady Goddess that my current state allows me to adventure in the Dungeon normally?"
"."
This was a very irresponsible act, but seeing Liam's sincere and pure gaze, and thinking of the Hestia Familia's difficult circumstances.
He probably wanted to lessen his goddess's burden?
After a moment of silence, Amid found herself unable to utter words of refusal. "Liam's left hand is not currently necrotic."
"There shouldn't be too much of a problem with him adventuring normally. This is a relatively objective analysis. If you still insist on your idea."
"Please be mentally prepared to bear the consequences!"
(End of this chapter)