Chapter 2: Amid Thiasanare
“Liang Yuejun, you’ve grown up and actually learned to understand the deity among the kin!”
“...”
Looking at Hestia, who was petite and had her arms wrapped around his neck, the genuine smile in her pale blue eyes was unmistakable.
Though the way she praised him felt somewhat odd to Liang Yue, whose body housed an adult soul.
Alright.
Putting aside issues of physique and appearance, from the perspective of actual age, there was nothing wrong with what Hestia said.
She did not hesitate or hesitate over him going to the dungeon.
“I can agree to let Liang Yuejun venture into the dungeon.”
“But on the condition that you have the consent of a healer, proving that the disease in your left hand will not affect you in the dangerous battles of the dungeon.”
Since Liang Yue had made a final decision, the deity should not interfere but rather respect his choice.
Hestia naturally acted accordingly.
Infected with some kind of plague virus, she did not know the extent of the suffering it caused Liang Yue. Even during the kin’s difficult times, besides herself as the deity, only Liang Yue remained.
They lived in an abandoned church, ate leftover food from street stalls, yet still trained diligently in swordsmanship every day.
The reason he wanted to venture into the dungeon was simple.
“To truly possess strength and not be a burden to the gods.”
Seeing the illness restrained by black shackles, Hestia’s heart was filled with complex emotions, mostly out of care for her family.
If only he had as much wealth as Hephaestus, would the situation of this “child” before her be much better?
She had no appetite to continue lunch.
From the basement of the abandoned church, she found a grayish-brown cloak that could completely conceal the obvious mutation on Liang Yue’s left hand.
“Let’s go.”
“First, to see the doctor.”
Looking at the slender youth, whose delicate features belied his slight frame, Hestia patted her hands in satisfaction and led the way.
Noticing Liang Yue’s continued silence, she did not turn her head but spoke with loving warmth.
“Also... I’ve never thought of Liang Yuejun as a burden to the kin. To me, you are more like family.”
——
Following Hestia’s steps, Liang Yue gradually understood the main purpose of this outing: to head to the prosperous northern district of Oralee.
A major potion merchant’s faction.
Amid the Diancait Kin, the leader Amide Teasanare was a legendary figure in Oralee, singlehandedly supporting the kin’s prosperity.
She wielded high-level healing magic.
Her magic could heal wounds, restore stamina, dispel toxins, remove curses, and perform mass healing.
She could even separate recovery, detoxification, and curse removal into distinct effects—a versatile magic of all meanings.
Once called the Saintess of the Battlefield, her team could conclude battles with zero casualties, even against enhanced foes.
Not even powerful floor bosses were exceptions.
Even as a level 2 adventurer, she was a figure desired by all dungeon exploration teams in Oralee.
She was the healer Liang Yue was to be examined by.
With all these titles and accolades.
——
The cost of consultation was certainly not low, though it felt somewhat wasteful considering the mutated ghostly hand infected by Kazan Syndrome.
Liang Yue knew there was no cure, but seeing a doctor was an indispensable step to smoothly begin dungeon adventures.
The magnificent building before them was constructed entirely of pure white stone, symbolizing the Diancait Kin’s light orb and herbal emblem.
Close to noon, there were few patients seeking treatment here.
Hestia brought Liang Yue to the reception hall and reassured, “Amide is the strongest healer in Oralee.”
“She will definitely solve your problem.”
“Hopefully,” Liang Yue nodded lightly, memorizing the location of the Diancait Kin’s base firmly. Injuries were inevitable in dungeon exploration.
Treatment would surely be necessary.
Not long after, a figure entered the reception room—a girl whose face was as delicate as a finely crafted doll.
Her uniform was white with pink accents, typical of the kin’s healer attire, subtly hinting at her profession.
Her silvery-white soft long hair scattered as she bowed, her pale purple eyes with slightly upturned lashes glanced at Hestia.
She clearly remembered this deity who sold fried potato chunks on the North Street stalls.
What truly caught Amide’s attention was the boy sitting beside Hestia—a distinctively Far Eastern face.
Yet his pupils glowed an unusual crimson.
She sat gracefully on the sofa opposite Liang Yue, lifting her skirt slightly. Her cold gaze was exceptionally calm as she said, “Lady Hestia, how may I assist you?”
“It’s Liang Yuejun.”
“His left hand is infected with a plague virus, yet he insists on venturing into the dungeon. We’d like to ask Amide to see if it can be cured.”
At Hestia’s signal, Liang Yue removed his gray-brown cloak, revealing the white ghostly hand with a corrective brace.
A patient’s emotions can influence a doctor’s judgment. He lifted his head with a relaxed smile: “This is the problem with the arm.”
Even though she was mentally prepared, upon seeing the oddly white arm, Amide couldn’t help but furrow her slender brows. The ghostly hand extended to the nearby shoulder brace, but showed no signs of further spread.
This strange symptom was a first in her career.
Since it was caused by a plague virus, she asked in detail about Liang Yue’s illness: “When were you infected with the plague?”
“About half a month ago.”
“Did you have any symptoms before infection? How is your arm now?” She even took out a notebook.
Amide questioned thoroughly.
Knowing Kazan Syndrome was incurable and respecting the doctor’s professional ethics, Liang Yue answered honestly.
“No symptoms at all; the mutation happened suddenly.”
“The arm has no other adverse effects, just occasional headaches. I can confirm it’s not contagious.”
“...”
“Strange...”
Liang Yue’s latter words basically confirmed that if it were contagious, it would have erupted fully long ago, not just now being discovered.
Amide murmured, noting that the black shackle at the arm’s end seemed to be a containment measure. “May I take a closer look?”
“No problem.”
——
To finish the examination process quickly so there would be more time to explore the dungeon, Liang Yue did not refuse Amide’s request.
He lifted his ghostly left hand.
Adhering to her medical professionalism, Amide observed carefully, noticing the grotesque veins beneath the pale skin.
The arm showed no necrosis; rather, it seemed stronger than a normal person’s?
This reached beyond her knowledge.
“Could it be... some kind of curse?”
The cost of treatment was actually unimportant—she understood just how impoverished Hestia was.
Her professional ethics as a doctor would not allow her to ignore this. She couldn’t refuse treatment just because there was no money.
What truly angered her was not the lack of payment, but that Liang Yue had waited half a month after infection to seek help at the Diancait Kin’s base.
Allowing the condition to worsen!
“Drop of healing, tear of light, eternal sanctuary, summon the cure through this chant. The healing rite will save all, dispel evil. In the name of the gods—by my hand, be healed!”
Amide chanted the high-level spell “Dia Frater,” attempting to remove the suspected curse from Liang Yue’s arm.
A soft light continuously emerged.
Yet when it touched the strange white ghostly hand, it dissipated immediately. Even her most prized magic brought no change.
“This...”
Her furrowed brows never relaxed. Facing Hestia’s expectant gaze, Amide’s tone suddenly grew somber.
“Sorry, this... disease, I cannot cure.”
“There is an extreme option: amputate the diseased area of the arm and then use a custom prosthetic.”
“Whether it will spread to the right hand, I cannot say.”
“If it does not affect normal life, conservative treatment is recommended. Losing an arm will impact your life somewhat...”
“Really, really no other way?”
The question was not from Liang Yue, but from Hestia, who was already prepared to borrow money.
If even the “Saintess of the Battlefield” could not cure it, then in the labyrinth city of Oralee...
There would definitely be no other treatment!
Amide said nothing; her silence spoke volumes, revealing her helplessness in her field of expertise.
Her mood was poor as well.
Instead, Liang Yue’s cheerful tone broke the silence: “This arm hasn’t affected me. Actually, I want to trouble Doctor Amide.”
“Could you help explain to the deity that my current state still allows me to safely adventure in the dungeon?”
“......”
This was irresponsible, but seeing Liang Yue’s sincere and pure gaze, and considering the kin’s difficult circumstances, perhaps he wanted to ease the deity’s burden?
After a moment of silence, Amide found herself unable to refuse: “Liang Yue’s left hand has not yet necrotized.”
“Starting an adventure normally shouldn’t be a big problem. This is a relatively objective assessment. If you still insist on this path,”
“please be mentally prepared to bear the consequences!”