Chapter 174

Chapter 174
Chapter 174: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

It was genuinely an odd sensation.

I hardly knew how to find my voice.

So many thoughts crowded my mind, surging forward like water backed up behind a crumbling barrier.

‘…Perhaps this truly is my final chance.’

It was painfully obvious that fate would never grant such a moment twice to someone as unfortunate and forlorn as myself.

Driven by that realization, Kyle parted his lips, desperate to utter any words at all.

Right then, a sound echoed.

-To my dearest Kyle.

A voice that felt simultaneously foreign and intimately remembered.

-The fact that you are hearing this now means you have successfully shattered the curse.

The resonance did not originate from the physical vessel he currently held in his arms.

Instead, the sound vibrated softly through the fabric of the dreamscape itself.

Instinctively, Kyle strained to listen.

Indeed, listening felt far more essential than speaking.

Hearing her voice. Hearing her story.

-Where should I begin? First of all… thank you for staying alive. This was the only way I could manage it.

With gentle simplicity, she began to recount the painful reasons why she had been compelled to curse her beloved child.

To spare the boy from greater agony, the tale was told without embellishment.

It focused strictly on the sequence of events and their unavoidable outcome.

Any trace of personal resolve or ultimate sacrifice was omitted from her words.

Even so, she offered her gratitude simply for his survival.

‘Thank you?’

Even though your life was forfeit because I managed to endure?

-My existence gained true purpose the moment you were brought into this world.

As if anticipating his inner doubts, the narrative flowed onward.

Though it was merely a playback of an ancient, pre-recorded letter, Kyle could not help biting his lower lip until it hurt.

Then, curling inward like a newborn infant, he pressed his face deeply against her frail, slender frame.

-Hmm… Mother has a few things she wishes to impart. My little one… may these thoughts guide you as you grow, Kyle.

The maternal voice persisted through the quiet.

It was entirely acceptable to stumble, she reminded him, and he must always cherish his own well-being.

To find joy even in the smallest moments of happiness.

And lastly…

-Do not place your trust too blindly in others. As you already know, this world is unforgiving. Yet… should you happen to cross paths with someone genuinely reliable, hold fast to them.

For a long while, Kyle remained entirely motionless.

He simply absorbed every syllable.

Sealing the advice deeply within his heart, he fought to retain every single detail.

In truth, the guidance felt somewhat disjointed.

Despite knowing these words would only be heard once he reached adulthood, she occasionally drifted into counsel meant for a toddler.

That very inconsistency made the message all the more poignant.

She had possessed no prior experience. After all, she had never been a mother before.

Perhaps she had even been younger at the time than Kyle was now.

Yet, she had made her choice and left behind everything she knew.

There was nothing amusing about it.

Every rambling hesitation, every clumsy worry, and the fierce love lingering between the pauses were woven tightly into the message.

The letter, delayed for so many years, finally reached its concluding lines.

-Finally. Kyle. My baby. Mother loves you dearly. Even when I cannot stand by your side, my affection remains with you always. I pray you face each coming day with strength.

That single word—finally—carried a cruel finality.

“I refuse.”

Kyle clutched the emaciated form as though it might shatter to dust at any second.

From beneath his fingertips, a shimmering luminescence gathered, drifting away into the air as tiny crystal fragments.

“Do not leave.”

Could this truly be the end?

The allotted time felt devastatingly brief.

Anxiously, Kyle searched for his mother’s face.

Though her features remained blurred and shimmering, defying clear sight, one thing was certain.

She wore a radiant smile.

Of that much, he was entirely sure.

The branch-like hand that had been patting his back gently brushed against Kyle’s cheek.

Warm tears splashed onto the back of her hand—a hand whose physical weight he could no longer feel.

As his watery vision cleared slightly, a pair of identical eyes gazed back at him with a firm, bright warmth.

Reflected within them were countless overlapping emotions.

Guilt, undeniably, lingered among them.

Yet, to her very last breath, she offered no apology.

The reason behind this silence was clear.

She wished to spare him from ever feeling shackled by her regrets.

That was why her mother had held back a proper apology until the very end.

And the truth was, Kyle felt the exact same way.

I am sorry for misunderstanding and hating you.

Those were the words he longed to voice.

Of course, the suffering of his past could not simply be erased.

Nor could anyone alter the fact that she had inflicted the curse upon him.

Yet, even knowing the complete truth now, could he bring himself to harbor resentment?

At least, Kyle knew he could not.

Meeting that steady gaze, how could anyone hold anger…

The eyes of a mother whose very name remained unknown to him overflowed with boundless devotion.

“…….”

No further words were spoken, yet mother and son communicated effortlessly within the quiet of their souls.

Mother.

My child.

I love you with all my heart.

The light dissolved entirely, leaving Kyle surrounded by an expanse resembling the Milky Way.

Shadowy, yet illuminated.

Thus, they concluded their second and final farewell.

Left completely alone in the empty dreamscape, Kyle had to spend a considerable time steadying his racing thoughts.

Bathed in the lingering halo of radiance, he did not feel entirely alone.

Eventually, strength returned to Kyle’s legs, allowing him to stand once more.

Even with the burden of the curse lifted, the road ahead promised no easy passage.

It remained a thorny trail populated by numerous adversaries.

Nevertheless.

Since the harsh, barren path had received a touch of moisture, walking it would surely be a little less agonizing.

—

Lion observed as the reddish dagger gradually shifted to a deep, absolute black.

The transfer of Kyle’s curse was proceeding toward a successful conclusion.

Simultaneously, a distinct burning scent filled the air.

The aroma likely stemmed from the disposable artifact exhausting its final reserves of power.

‘It smells precisely like incense.’

The subtle fragrance of a slow-burning flame and a thin wisp of smoke rising beside a memorial altar.

Given that the current atmosphere mirrored a funeral wake, a memorial service, and a final parting for the Second Prince, the scent felt oddly fitting.

“…….”

Reclining silently against the sofa, Lion stared blankly into the empty space.

The aroma stirred a strange sense of unease within him.

It even evoked memories of the cigarettes he had abandoned long before inhabiting this body.

Perhaps the scent simply served as a conduit for old recollections.

Lion drew in a slow, deep breath, then exhaled deliberately.

Prompted by restless energy, he stood up once more to check the Second Prince’s body temperature.

The fever had broken.

While residual warmth remained, it no longer posed a dangerous threat.

“May your journey onward be peaceful.”

Those were the most fitting words Lion could muster.

To handle a farewell with utmost dedication when the time arrived.

Beyond that, trying to force any deeper sentiment proved futile, as genuine emotion could not simply be manufactured on command.

Memory fades with time.

No matter how vividly an event is recalled, the exact emotional weight of that specific moment can never truly be duplicated.

Consequently, all he could do was appreciate the present as it unfolded.

“Oof.”

Exhaling a deliberately audible sigh, Lion rose to his feet.

At that exact instant.

『You have dispelled a powerful curse.』

A notification window materialized in his field of vision.

『You have successfully neutralized the ‘Benevolent Curse’ utilizing gathered clues.』

-Facilitate a final farewell. (Completed)

『Congratulations! You have guided a wandering soul to rest.』

『You have unlocked the achievement ‘Conductor of Rest’!』

『You acquire 100,000 Shillings.』

『You acquire 10,000 Shillings.』

『Additionally, the ‘Netherworld’ merchandise series in the Shilling Shop is now permanently heavily discounted!』

Following the initial prompt, a cascade of glowing notifications crowded his sight.

First came the expected rewards for clearing a hidden quest, offering a remarkably generous payout.

Simultaneously, a new achievement was added to his record.

‘The Netherworld series…’

He recalled catching a glimpse of it previously within the Shilling Shop interface.

If memory served, the item in question was labeled the ‘Netherworld Repair Kit’.

True to its designation, the item functioned as a universal repair tool capable of mending any damaged object.

Exploring the Shilling Shop using ‘Netherworld’ as a search term once he had some spare time seemed like a prudent idea.

And finally…

『You have completed a cumulative total of three hidden quests.』

A sudden alert regarding his hidden quest tally popped up out of nowhere.

‘There is no supplementary explanation provided…’

Lion narrowed his eyes as he inspected the notification box.

Typically, such alerts only manifested when a specific milestone became attainable or had already been reached.

‘Yet no such notice appeared upon finishing my previous hidden quests.’

This implied that the prompt specifically flagged a moment where a hidden objective became accessible, though…

Nothing of the sort had occurred during his time playing ‘In the World’, leaving him uncertain of its exact significance.

From the perspective of a seasoned veteran player, only one logical deduction came to mind.

‘Clearing a few additional quests will likely trigger the next set of clues.’

Reaching a total of five completions would probably cause something significant to surface.

‘Could it be a super-hidden quest trigger?’

Lacking sufficient data for now, he decided to set the thought aside.

With a flick of his wrist, Lion dismissed the notification window.

The completion of the quest signaled that it was time to wake up, meaning he needed to clean up his workspace promptly.

First, he returned the Abgrund Potion Bottle and the carving knife to his inventory, then applied a measured amount of healing solution to his bandaged finger.

After verifying that the laceration had closed completely, he discarded the gauze used for stemming the bleeding.

“Hmm…”

This operation practically resembled the execution of a flawless crime.

Just as Lion was conducting a final sweep of the room to ensure nothing was out of place.

*Flinch*.

The tightly shut eyelids of the Second Prince began to flutter open.

Though his eyes remained glazed with moisture, Lion acted as though he had noticed nothing, addressing him in a calm, neutral tone.

“Did you manage to sleep well?”

“…It was a peaceful dream.”

The Second Prince rasped out a reply, his hand fumbling blindly across the sheets in search of the damp towel resting on his forehead.

“You were running quite a fever.”

“That was merely a side effect of the curse being transferred.”

“I see.”

Fortunately, the situation lent itself to a convenient explanation.

Without wasting a second, the Second Prince used the towel to press away the moisture clinging to his eyes.

Under no circumstances would he allow others to witness him shedding tears; it ran entirely counter to his dignity.

Now that he had returned from the realm of dreams, he had to face reality once more.

He still needed to verify whether his mother’s curse had been completely eradicated, leaving only the secondary affliction to deal with.

Above all else.

He had a debt of gratitude to repay to the person standing before him.

“How is your physical condition?”

At the inquiry, the Second Prince unbuttoned his collar to inspect his skin.

As anticipated, the writhing curse markings that had previously covered his entire body had vanished without a trace.

Fastening his shirt back up, the Second Prince gave a definitive nod.

“The transfer was executed flawlessly.”

“That is a relief. As long as you keep possession of the dagger, outsiders will remain entirely oblivious.”

“…My sincere thanks.”

“Just adhere to the instructions we agreed upon beforehand.”

“I shall. And… would you mind waiting a moment?”

Without waiting for Lion’s response, the Second Prince rose swiftly and strode toward the adjoining bedchamber.

As he nudged the half-closed door open, a pile of various weaponry that had been stacked inside tumbled clumsily onto the floor.

“…….”

Had he literally been shoving them into storage like that?

Feigning absolute ignorance, Lion waited patiently for the Second Prince to return.

Fortunately, the delay was brief.

“Take this.”

Without preamble, the prince shoved a compact object directly into Lion’s palm.

It was a small box, easily concealed within the hollow of a hand.

“What is this?”

“It is the price for saving my life.”

The Second Prince offered the statement followed by a brief clarification.

“I kept it hidden for absolute emergencies. They claim it holds the power to cheat death a single time.”

“Your life?”

Items capable of averting death were exceedingly rare commodities.

Even his primary game protagonist possessed only a single copy, hoarding it in storage because it was far too valuable to expend casually.

And he was handing over an artifact of that caliber just like that?

…Was this genuinely happening?

“Open the lid first. I will outline the proper method of activation.”

Without hesitation, Lion flipped open the clasp of the box.

And immediately, recognition dawned.

“Oh.”

It was the exact item he had so carefully guarded within his main character’s personal inventory.

‘…Wait.’

That realization could only mean one thing.

『Entering Story Mode.』

『This cinematic sequence cannot be skipped.』