“It’s done.”
After a few experiments, the result was finally achieved.
The efficacy was confirmed after testing it on some selected volunteers.
‘I didn’t have time to test for side effects since it was made in a rush.’
Upon reviewing the formula, there didn’t seem to be any elements that could cause problems. Now, as long as people don’t get addicted to the antidote, everything will be fine.
“You finished faster than expected. Usually, making such an antidote takes at least a few months.”
Well, that’s because I have returned. I just laughed off Ethan’s admiration.
‘Of course, I can’t tell him that.’
Ethan’s eyes sparkled as if he was looking at a genius. Well, anyone would be amazed if a six-year-old had this much medical knowledge.
‘But honestly, it was easier than I thought.’
If my memory serves me right, the ‘Angel’ in the records was a rather troublesome thing. No wonder even a branch of Wita intervened.
However, compared to its notoriety, the solution was surprisingly simple.
I created a sleep aid with varying intensities in stages. During the first week, a very strong dose was used, and from the second week onward, the dosage was gradually reduced over an eight-week treatment process.
‘And during this period, they’ll take this antidote at intervals.’
In reality, I won’t be able to monitor the eight-week treatment period, so I can’t guarantee its actual efficacy.
But, well, even if problems arise, the Navy’s 103rd Division, which will arrive soon, will handle it.
‘At least the formula isn’t toxic, so it should be fine.’
Similar treatment methods have been used in other places. There was no need for further anxiety, so Ethan and I nodded wearily.
“Now we have to go inform the village about the method of administration.”
A few hours later, Ethan and I headed to the village with large baskets. Thanks to the families who had already gathered all the villagers in advance, we could start the explanation right away.
“Whoa, my princess. You’ve prepared quite a lot~”
Nereus chuckled as he helped me onto the platform. At that moment, someone muttered from the crowd below.
“What’s this? It’s just a kid?”
“Shh, quiet.”
“When they said they were helping us, I thought it’d be someone different. But now, they’re just using us as their playthings.”
As one man spoke, murmurs began spreading among the crowd.
“Well, I mean…”
“What would a little kid even know?”
“So now, we’re just slaves to another group…”
‘I can hear everything.’
Well, it’s understandable to feel despair. If a random group suddenly appeared, claiming to help, only to put forward a child and insist they take medicine made by that child, anyone would feel suspicious.
I could fully understand their feelings.
‘Ah, why do my eyes feel warm all of a sudden?’
Was it because the wind was too dry? My eyes stung, and I rubbed them. But today, even the messy pigtails Nereus had tied for me were unusually calm.
Beep–!
Suddenly, a piercing sound hurt everyone’s ears. It was Nereus accidentally activating a magical loudspeaker.
“My daughter has something to say.”
“…………”
“You can decide what to do after listening, but is this really the attitude you want to show to people who’ve come to help you?”
We’re not heroes, so it’s rare for us to offer favors without expecting something in return. He continued speaking with a faint smirk, as if drawing a perfect circle with his words.
Looking around, I noticed that the other Caelum family members were still watching me.
‘I’m not sure what they’re thinking…’
The fact that they were looking at me with serious expressions somehow made my previously stinging eyes feel better. It was strange. Just being seen by someone made it feel as if the wind that had seemed to blow directly at me earlier was no longer there.
“Lala, are you sure you can speak?”
Nereus turned to me and asked.
“If you really don’t want to, you don’t have to. It’s not like this is something we’re obligated to do.”
That’s true. We’re pirates, not people who sail to heal others. Still, I glanced between the basket filled with medicine and the islanders of Odlo.
It seemed like some children had come along too. Among the familiar faces I saw yesterday, a few were staring at me with frightened expressions.
“I’ll speak. I have something to say.”
“Really? Then go ahead.”
Nereus slid a footstool in front of the magical loudspeaker and stepped aside. I slowly walked up, careful not to trip, ensuring my pace wasn’t too fast or too slow.
“Ah, ah.”
A quick mic check. After lightly tapping the magical loudspeaker a few times, I decided to cut straight to the point.
“You have the nerve to be so suspicious when you’ve been shamelessly exploiting child labor to survive all this time.”
“………”
Gilbert shot Nereus a glare, his eyes practically burning. Nereus muttered under his breath.
“Where on earth did she learn to talk like that? I thought I’d been careful with my words…”
I ignored the reactions around me and rattled off the words I wanted to say.
“You must have suffered because you were addicted. Some of you might not have been in your right minds. But even so, why didn’t anyone stand up?”
As I began to speak firmly, the crowd started lowering their eyes.
“Were you afraid the children would get hurt? Doesn’t seem like it. If that were the case, at least some of the children would’ve sought help. The fence around the Kacho Tree Plantation had a hole, after all.”
There was indeed a hole, and the twins called Tirkan and Tete took turns using it to rest for a day at a time.
Those kids had at least a day of freedom, yet none of them ever asked for help.
‘Because they didn’t trust anyone.’
That alone told me everything about the attitude the islanders of Odlo had shown all this time.
“This medicine isn’t being given because I pity you or feel heartbroken every time I see you.”
“……….”
“We’re helping because your children asked for help. You’ve already lived your lives indebted to these young children multiple times over. Do you understand?”
Sigh.
Had I ever spoken to anyone like this before? Honestly, I was a bit nervous. Glancing to the side, I saw Nereus smiling at me as our eyes met.
‘It’s okay.’
His expression reassured me that I hadn’t done anything terribly wrong. I pointed my finger toward the far side of the village.
“If you can’t trust me because I’m a child, then just leave. We pirates don’t care about the lives of people like you. Even if you leave, we won’t retaliate.”
Then, pointing downward, I continued speaking.
“But if you want to hold on to even the slightest chance of living like human beings, then stay.”
We Caelum are pirates. Even if we live differently from other pirates, our essence remains the same.
We don’t cling to saving every single person. Family comes first, always. Ourselves first. The only reason we stayed this time was because all of us, as a family, agreed to stay.
The adults of Odlo Island hesitated at my words but couldn’t easily bring themselves to leave. I took a deep breath.
“…Then I will take it that you’ve agreed to receive the medicine and begin the explanation. Let’s start with the addiction mechanism of Angel…”
I carefully explained a few medical concepts in a way that ordinary civilians could understand.
No, to be precise, I explained it in a way that even a 10-year-old child could grasp, adjusting the explanation to their level. That way, everyone would understand that what I brought wasn’t poison or some experimental concoction, but medicine created through systematic research and approach.
Initially filled with suspicion, the faces of the people gradually changed from disbelief to surprise, and eventually, trust.
‘Of course. I explained the ‘Godneus Theory,’ which even confuses Wittar’s third-grade scholars, by replacing it with terms and principles from ‘Basics of Alchemy I.”
Even so, it still made me uneasy. Trusting me with just this much?
‘That’s probably why they were so easily deceived and exploited.’
Since I’ve decided to treat them, ensuring they aren’t tricked again can also be considered part of aftercare.
‘So, what should I do?’
Yes, that approach should work.
***
“This treatment method was devised over a hundred years ago by a doctor named Dheil Esto, who belonged to Wittar…”
The village chief of Odlo Island, Castia, was astonished.
‘Is this child really only six years old?’
“I created the medicine by applying these three treatment methods. The ingredients used include the horn of the horned rabbit, Devoir mint…”
Polaris spoke clearly and methodically, explaining the treatment method, the process of creating the medicine, and its effects on the body in a way that was easy to understand. Everyone’s attention was fixated on her.
“…That concludes my explanation.”
When Polaris finished speaking, all the people of Odlo Island were left dumbfounded. It was as if they had been enchanted by a mermaid.
“She must have just been reading something someone else wrote for her…”
One of the skeptics mumbled, his face red with embarrassment. Perhaps some agreed with his words, but even so, no one could dismiss the medicine as child’s play.
This was because Polaris had demonstrated mixing the medicine’s ingredients and showed how the completed medicine produced the same reactions when combined with other reagents right before their eyes.
It was a level of composure and preparation unimaginable for a six-year-old. Moreover, the pirates, who appeared to be the child’s guardians, simply looked on, smiling casually, as if everything was perfectly natural.
Some even seemed proud or impressed.
If this tiny child had indeed developed all of this, it went beyond mere genius—it was almost terrifying.
‘How can she smile so effortlessly?’
Those who lived with her must have easily noticed her exceptional abilities.
The members of the Caelum pirate crew standing at the front were gazing at Polaris with a sense of pride, as if looking at a precious treasure.
