Chapter 27 : The Curse of the Magic Stone

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

In the mansion of the Craystist Barony, Count Craystist responded to the knock with a quiet tone. The servant and maids, who meticulously cleaned the hinges daily, slid the door open to reveal a man.

Failer, a 3rd-class knight of the Craystist Barony, entered.

“······Sir Failer.”

Failer had just finished a rigorous training session with the soldiers, beads of sweat still glistening on his forehead. Yet, the Count’s appearance was far more disheveled. Despite it being midday, the room was shrouded in darkness, the heavy curtains blocking out the sunlight.

The Count sat beside a bed in the center of the room, clutching someone’s hand. Though he was a man in his mid-30s, the stress and grief had aged him, making him appear as though he were in his 50s. His once-pristine white hair, a symbol of the Craystist family, was unkempt, strands fluttering haphazardly. His overall appearance was haggard and worn.

Failer felt a deep pang of sorrow seeing his master in such a state. That sadness was mirrored in the delicate hand the Count held—a hand belonging to his daughter.

“I received a reply from the Justron Church regarding the young lady’s illness,” Failer reported.

“···Let’s talk outside.”

The Count staggered to his feet, and Failer instinctively moved to support him. However, the Count raised a hand to stop him, instead gently stroking his daughter’s hand one last time. The touch, rough and calloused, was a stark contrast to the softness of the child’s skin.

Only after confirming that two maids had entered the room did the Count return to his office with Failer. Once there, the Count slumped into his chair, exhaustion etched across his face.

“What did they say···?” the Count asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“······The Justron Church replied that they cannot cure the young lady’s disease.”

“·········.”

“It is confirmed that Lady Aria’s condition is petrification. However, the clergy capable of treating severe petrification at the church are currently unable to move due to an agreement with the royal family······.”

Failer delivered the devastating news, his voice heavy with regret. The Count covered his eyes with his arm, listening in silence.

“······They suggested that Lady Aria and I visit the church in the capital to appeal directly to the royal family.”

At this, the Count’s composure shattered.

Bang!

“They can’t cure it?! Is that really the answer from the Justron Church?!” he roared, slamming his fist on the desk.

“······.”

“How much money have I sent to the Justron Church at the royal family’s behest?! Did I ask for the world?! Or for the blessing of eternal life?! No! I only asked them to cure my daughter’s illness! And now they tell me to bring a child who can barely breathe to the capital?! Does that even make sense?!”

Failer stood silently, unable to intervene as the Count vented his fury, hurling objects across the room. The Count had placed immense trust and hope in the Justron Church, only to be met with crushing disappointment.

“When they took my money, they promised they could do anything······. Now they say they can’t? What am I supposed to do······?”

The Count’s voice broke as he slumped forward, his head bowed in despair. In his mind, he saw his daughter, still writhing in pain.

Failer wished he could share the Count’s burden, but he knew he couldn’t. If the Countess were still alive, perhaps the Count wouldn’t have deteriorated to this extent. But she had passed away from a chronic illness the day before their daughter’s first birthday.

‘To take the young lady away from the man who already lost his wife to illness… Heavens, is this truly just?’

It had been two years since the Count’s life had unraveled and his daughter had fallen ill. Five-year-old Aria had begged to accompany her father on a territory inspection, and the Count, unable to refuse her, had agreed.

The week-long inspection had gone smoothly—until the final day. They had ventured to the northern mountain of the territory upon hearing reports of newly discovered ore. While the residents worked to excavate the ore, disaster struck in an instant.

A section of the mountain collapsed, burying the Count’s party. Thanks to the presence of several 3rd-class knights, including Failer, they managed to avoid physical harm. But the real danger lay in the mineral exposed by the collapse—a dark red magic stone, a manifestation of the world’s negativity.

The members of the Count’s party covered their noses to avoid inhaling the magic stone’s dust. But Aria, unaware of the danger, had already breathed it in. By the time the Count shielded her, it was too late.

Magic Stone Flower .

The curse took root in her body, causing her flesh to harden and grow cold. The only reason she had survived for two years was due to the efforts of a hired wizard and a priest from the Rehel Church.

[This is the limit of my abilities. Priests are better at treatment, so it would be wise to seek their help···.]

[······Brother. It seems we need to summon a high-ranking priest from the home country to treat her. But considering the travel time······.]

Even these measures were unsustainable, given the Count’s dwindling resources and the political tensions between the Rehel Church and the Justron Church. For the past year, the Count had pleaded with the Justron Church, only to be told it was “impossible due to the royal family’s restrictions.”

Compounding his despair were the recent damages to the territory caused by the red moon and the ensuing famine. The Count felt cornered, his hope slipping away.

“Count, please do not give up. All the members of the Count’s family and the residents of the territory are praying for the young lady’s recovery.”

“·········I haven’t given up yet.”

Of course, the Count had no intention of surrendering.

“I sent Ras to the eastern forest.”

“······Yes?”

“You said you had spoken with him. I sent him to investigate an abnormal phenomenon reported there.”

“If it’s the east······ do you mean Estel Village?”

The Count nodded weakly.

“Not only our territory but others have suffered from the famine. Yet, Estel Village alone had rain and a bountiful harvest. I believe a transcendent being intervened—perhaps a sacred beast.”

“······A sacred beast?”

“And if it is indeed a sacred beast, I instructed him to capture it.”

The Count handed Failer a letter bearing a blue tower emblem in the corner.

“The Magic Tower?”

“The wizard who examined Aria’s condition sent this. He said that with the right materials, he might be able to create a cure for her.”

“Could it be······ are you planning to use a sacred beast as an ingredient?”

The Count neither confirmed nor denied, but Failer understood his intentions.

“But if Sir Ras mishandles the sacred beast, both he and Estel Village could be harmed···!”

“I know. But should I just sit idly by?”

“······.”

“The child’s pulse grows weaker by the day. Sir Failer, before you arrived, I was so terrified that I thought she had died. I… I don’t think my daughter has much time left.”

The Count’s hands trembled as he spoke. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing his daughter.

The anomaly in the eastern forest was his last hope. With the Justron Church refusing to help, he had no choice but to cling to this uncertain possibility.

Failer could no longer argue. He could only offer what little comfort he could.

Blue fields, white mansion. Deep night.

The white-haired girl suddenly found herself disoriented. She couldn’t tell where she was—her body felt both confined and free. She couldn’t recall what she had been doing or why she was here.

But the first emotion she felt was joy. Soon, it was followed by a sense of refreshment, freedom, and coolness.

The girl ran across the blue field, rolling and laughing, feeling as though she could run forever without tiring. The night wind was cool, and the field beneath her feet shimmered like water.

Then, her gaze fell on a distant mountain. An ominous energy emanated from it, a dark red aura filled with resentment, anger, pain, and arrogance. It surged toward the mansion behind her.

Rumble······.

The mountain trembled, and a dark red light began to pour from its base. A terrifying sound, like boiling lava, echoed as something emerged from the mountain and rushed toward the girl.

Panicked, the girl turned and ran. But her legs soon gave out, and she collapsed, unable to move.

The ominous presence drew closer, and the girl shut her eyes tightly.

Then, a brilliant energy erupted from the right. When she opened her eyes, she saw a golden light streaming from a distant forest, shooting into the sky like a beacon.

Her gaze followed the light upward. The night sky, once dotted with stars, now rippled like a sea reflecting the heavens. And in the center of it all, a blue star traced a long, graceful arc.

The girl realized the blue star was approaching her. Unlike the red energy she had fled from earlier, she felt no fear. She stood still, waiting.

Finally, the star filled her vision.