<Episode 173>
Rue looked curiously at me in my pajamas, like looking at a hamster spinning in a wheel. And too for quite a while.
I had bravely taken off my clothes to gain his trust, but Dian’s human body had its limit when it came to enduring the cold.
“Hurry up and give me permission! I’m cold!”
There was no response. I cautiously approached him, hoping for some sort of response, but he only turned his head slightly to the other side, no longer threatening me.
Feeling that it was the right time, I started applying disinfectant around his forearm.
‘I guess it’s good that he’s calm, but.’
What a stubborn guy. Can’t he at least tell me to put my clothes back to do the treatment?
“Oh, it’s cold. I can’t do this. I’m putting my clothes back on.”
Without listening to his answer, I quickly put on the clothes I had taken off.
“I’m telling you this in advance, don’t say things like about me treating you because of the poison or something like that. Because it has nothing to do with that.”
A mocking smile appeared on his thin cheeks.
“Don’t talk bullshit. Do you really think I’ll believe that… Ouch.”
Rue, who couldn’t finish talking, gently bit his lower lip. I took off my finger, which had been pressing firmly around the deeply carved wound.
“Oh, sorry. I made a mistake.”
“…You.”
Rue crumpled his brows to the fullest and threw me a murderous glare, then frowned even more harshly before turning his head away.
‘Could it be that he can’t look at me properly because I’m not dressed properly?’
Well, Dian was a man.
The surroundings were very dark, so even if you looked really closely, it would be difficult to distinguish between man and woman here. Dian was also really skinny.
If I touched his lower body, I’d probably be kicked, so I started disinfecting and treating his upper body. Finally, I wiped his muzzle clean and stood up.
“I’ll come tomorrow, too.”
As I put on the gloves on my hands that were reddened from the cold, a hoarse voice came from behind.
“What’s your purpose?”
Rue asked fiercely, clenching his hands hanging on the wall several times in frustration.
“You said it wasn’t because of the poison, right? Then does your master know you’re doing such an idiotic thing?”
Do you understand?
‘I want to tell you all about who I am, but…’
Unless they were insane, no one would believe my claims.
I looked at Rue with a complicated mind, sighed, and turned my back again. When you can’t find a suitable answer, it’s best to keep your mouth shut.
‘But still, I’m glad I could treat Rue’s wounds. I feel a bit more at ease.’
Maybe I’m actually a prodigy in medicine? Next, I should try preparing some pills.
…Or so I arrogantly thought to do.
“Achoo!”
I caught a cold right away.
Thanks to that, I had to come straight back to my room and immediately sat where I was supposed to be lying down. It was because I couldn’t sleep well with my runny nose flowing like water.
I’m sorry for using your body recklessly, Dian. I never expected to catch a cold like this…
“Sniff. Let’s see, was there some medicine in the desk drawer?”
While rummaging through the desk, I suddenly realized something.
‘All the books Dian studies are related to medicinal treatments.’
Come to think of it, all the drugs stored in the pharmacy were also almost brand new.
The types of labels and usage marks were mostly related to poisons, so I thought he was greatly interested in toxins. The books related to toxic substances in the pharmacy were clean as if they were new, while the books on medicinal treatments were heavily worn as if he’d studied them hard.
“Is this really the work I have to do? Was I born only to create poisonous drugs that kill and torture people?”
As expected, was he being forced to manufacture poison?
“…Ah, here it is.”
I carefully examined the brown glass vials stored in the second drawer.
Upon inspecting the notes attached to the lids, I realized they were all medicines exclusively Ash. Ash ointment, Ash digestive aid, Ash antidiarrheal, and so on.
‘Dian really treasures Ash.’
Fortunately, among the many medications belonging to Ash, I found the ones I needed. Cough syrup, nasal drops, headache medicine, and…
‘Back ointment?’
Curious, I opened the lid and noticed numerous traces of use. It seemed like it had been used quite a lot, or rather, extensively. Wondering where exactly it had been used, I approached the mirror and rolled up my clothes.
The sight that followed made an involuntary sigh escape out of me.
“What is this…?”
Countless scars.
Long and gruesome scars covered Dian’s entire back, as if he was whipped. I cautiously traced the wounds with my fingertips. Had he applied ointment here already? It seemed to have healed a while ago as I didn’t feel any pain.
‘Who could have done this?’
The first face that came to mind was the Patriarch. Considering his filthy nature, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was teaching his children through violence.
A household that not only forced indirect murder but also engaged in brutal violence.
“Ash.”
“…”
“What kind of things has Dian endured in such a household?”
“…”
The sleeping hawk didn’t respond.
* * *
I woke up with a start to icy cold water being poured over my head.
“Gasp!”
The sudden chill left me no time to assess the situation. Already in poor health, having cold water added to my body made me feel like my organs were shrinking.
“Cough, cough! What is this…?”
What the hell was going on?
“Dian Serenier.”
At that moment, someone roughly pulled me up by the collar.
I blinked my eyelids several times, trying to recognize my opponent’s face.
“How dare you fall asleep when your brother is talking to you?”
This ugly bastard…
‘Isn’t he the one who kept picking a fight with me at dinner?’
Moreover, this place wasn’t Dian’s bedroom. The ugly guy and I were alone in the relatively small parlor. Looking at the blue sky outside the window, it was around 5 p.m. It seemed that Dian was brought here and fell asleep, so I took over.
‘I feel like my limbs are tingling for some reason.’
Could it be that this supposed brother of Dian’s not only poured cold water on him but also resorted to violence? While I was still in suspicion, without warning, a large hand slapped my cheek.
Snap!
“You little shit, didn’t I tell you not to mess around? Do you really want to die, you weak and pathetic bug? Huh?”
Has this guy gone insane? Whose cheek did he just slap? When I shot a look at him, he shook my collar like he was having a seizure.
“What are you looking at? If you don’t want to die, speak up right now!”
“Cough, cough… What the hell do you want me to say?”
“Tell me how you’re training that monster in the tower!”
With that one sentence, I immediately understood.
‘He’s trying to steal Dian’s ball.’
Still, I couldn’t believe he was resorting to violence. He didn’t look that young, but his thinking was so short-sighted.
“I don’t want to.”
“What? Ha! You think you can act all arrogant with father on your back? That’s not going to work. I’ll make sure you come to your senses.”
It’s almost time to go apply ointment to Rue. I’m getting tired of dealing with this ugly guy.
‘Sigh. I can’t do anything about it since he’s Dian’s family.’
I tapped the hand of the ugly guy gripping my collar and warned him.
“Enough. Let go of my collar. Before I tell everything to father. He would be so delighted to know that you’re hindering me like this, don’t you think so?”
Contrary to my expectations, the ugly guy didn’t seem flustered at all by my threat.
He sneered as if mocking me and then approached the window, revealing an object hidden behind the curtain.
“Look at this, you bug.”
A dome-shaped cage with a small bird chirping inside.
“If you do that, I’ll kill this crying little bird right in front of you. You remember the last time this happened, don’t you?”
It was Ash’s cage.
‘…When it happened before.’
Those words reminded me of the vials stacked in the drawer. I did think Dian felt more anxious about Ash’s health than necessary…
Snap!
A sharp cracking sound echoed. In the ugly guy’s hand, there was suddenly a long whip instead of the cage. With wide-open eyes and a sinister smile, he commanded me.
“Crawl over here, Dian Serenier. Show me who you should listen to.”
A Whip.
..Ah, I see. It was because of you.
“You’re the reason Dian’s back looks like that.”
“What?”
I slowly lifted my body up, pushing my wet hair behind, water dripping from my body.
It was cold, but I could still walk. Dian may be weak, but he’s not as fragile as a bug.
“Have you been ignoring me since earlier, you crazy bastard? Can’t even listen when I tell him to crawl… Ack!”
The ugly guy, with my fist stuck in his solar plexus, knelt down with a pale face.
“Ugh, ack.”
I looked down at his writhing figure on the floor, unable to breathe properly, with a cold gaze.
‘Is it okay to do this?’
He’s Dian’s older brother.
He shared the same blood as Dian. What if Dian suffers damage later?
He’s Dian’s brother…
Dian’s…
“Sigh. I don’t know anymore.”
“Ah, aah!”
The ugly guy, whose shoulder was stepped on, thrashed violently.
I’m sorry, Dian.
But it’s an unavoidable choice. This wasn’t a brother or family, was it? Family is supposed to be someone who nurtures you, not someone who wields a whip at you. Yeah, whips are usually used against enemies.
“So, from now on, you’re my enemy, you ugly bastard.”
This was the conclusion I reached through union of mind and body.
Although it felt a bit unstable since it wasn’t my own body, it was sufficient enough. Even though my strength was lacking, I could vaguely replicate the technique.
“Hey.”
“A-Ah! Let go of me! You insect-like…!”
“Shut up and get hit for now.”
Daisy just like me fr
I’ve known Dian for five minutes now but if anyone tries to hurt him i will hunt them down
Thank you for the chapter!
At times like these, I am truly glad Daisy throws her first so easily. As an internet once said, if violence doesn’t solve the problem, you aren’t using enough of it.