Chapter 156: Visiting the Sick

Good, good, good.

Decided: from today on, Zombie Selina must come to the ranger's cabin every night to observe combat and write five hundred to one thousand words of reflection the next day.

No pain sensation, huh? Then I'll have to torment you mentally.

The elf Kalist stared at Luo De coldly.

Pull the tree spirit to another location to continue setting up the 【Spring of Life】 for the other mutated sand willows.

Luo De looked at Selina, still pretending innocence where she stood.

He stormed over and grabbed her chest hard.

But after fumbling around, he only gripped overly loose clothing, leaving him with a bored expression.

The zombie's anger immediately surfaced.

As expected, Selina's zombie body was currently her most cherished concern.

Luo De didn't go too far.

He'd intended to wake up Tally, who had fainted from the meal, and forcibly extract another vial of essence for research.

But the lazy fool shut her eyes tight and feigned sleep.

Helpless, Luo De lifted her into the air and used her as a Fiji cup.

Don't say it—don't you dare say it.

This limp, weightless sensation had a peculiar charm, especially when Tally's legs dangled helplessly in the air.

But those lacking strength or stamina are advised against using it.

Of course, Selina must also write this battle observation reflection.

"?"

Upon learning she had to write a reflection, the zombie's face remained expressionless, but her lips twitched slightly.

Luo De's mood instantly brightened as he handed her the fully filled vial of essence.

Because the neck was too narrow to aim properly, the vial's outer surface was also smeared with plenty.

"Be careful not to ingest it—I'm not sure if zombies are affected by 【Enchanting Fluids】. If it works on you, I won't help you—you'll have to solve it yourself."

Luo De sensed she was about to lose control again.

He quickly grabbed her hand, preventing her from crushing the vial.

Selina returned to the lab to study.

Luo De noticed the scheduled time to treat the dog-tribe girl Sharon hadn't arrived yet.

So he thoroughly patrolled the forest.

In the afternoon.

Luo De arrived at the southern outskirts of Shi Ying Town.

Unlike the northern mining zone, this area was mostly farmland, quiet and still, with only insect chirps and bird calls—truly serene and elegant.

The witch Dimeya had a standalone villa here, where the dog-tribe girl Sharon was recovering.

It was not far from Windwall Forest; Luo De picked fresh fruit as he walked, taking twenty minutes to arrive.

At the entrance stood a magical automaton.

It was Dimeya's guard, placed here.

The magical automaton scanned Luo De, then opened its wooden abdomen, revealing a ball of Bai Guang.

Luo De threw a wisp of spiritual energy upward into it.

A click sounded—the automaton verified him and granted access.

No two leaves are identical, nor are two spiritual energies; thus, inputting spiritual energy is commonly used to verify identity.

"This magical automaton is interesting. I should get one someday."

Luo De felt mildly intrigued.

This thing differed from the purely mount-type automatons like Gnome Pete's.

It was made of special alchemical material and could even serve as a casting medium for 【Simulacrum】.

【Simulacrum】 is a clone spell: if you engrave the spell array onto such an automaton in advance, you can remotely activate the clone within a certain range, as if descending upon the target.

Witch Dimeya used this method to regularly visit Sharon.

He pushed open the door.

Luo De walked straight into the bedroom and was startled.

He hadn't expected it to be packed with people.

Not only was Witch Dimeya here, but also the half-deer girl Xiao Ke and the pony-girl Bond.

"Luo De!"

The pony-girl's eyes lit up at the sight of Luo De, and she lunged forward.

But Xiao Ke hastily clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Quiet! Bond, there's a patient here!"

Luo De smiled and patted Bond's head, noticing she had grown taller again in just two days.

"Why are you all here?"

Sharon, lying on the bed, provided the answer.

She was utterly unlike the energetic puppy she'd been before: deep dark circles under her eyes, a pale, weary face, her once-light golden hair now dull and faded.

A long scar ran along her left arm, as if crudely stitched after a deep slash—twisted and profound.

"Miss Xiao Ke and Sister Bond have visited me many times, each time bringing wild fruits—but unfortunately, my sense of taste hasn't returned yet; I can't tell sweet from sour."

Luo De placed the wild fruits he carried on the table—they were identical to those Xiao Ke and Bond had picked.

Everyone exchanged a quiet smile.

Soon after.

Xiao Ke and Bond went to the living room to wait.

Luo De and Dimeya began the next round of treatment.

"I'm troubling you again, Mr. Luo De."

"It's nothing—we're friends. But my domain power can only repair your body; it cannot affect your magical pathways."

Sharon's magical pathways had been mostly severed by this plague; her magical accumulation could never advance further.

"I'll find a way."

Dimeya looked at Sharon's face and spoke firmly.

Sharon, by contrast, was far calmer.

She smiled faintly and said: "Don't worry, Dimeya—I won't abandon magic. Even if my accumulation is capped at third stage, I'll keep going."

The Journey of Dread seemed to have finally forced her to confront her past cowardice; she no longer claimed to give up magic, but instead resolved again and again to walk the path anew.

Unfortunately, her current condition no longer permitted her to proceed.

"I heard plague mages study magical pathways deeply—could we ask them for help?"

Luo De had heard this from Kalist.

In truth, though plague mages have a terrible reputation, their medical skills are formidable—they're among the strongest healers on the continent.

But most are eccentrics: while treating you, they secretly introduce newly developed pathogens into your body, treating you like a petri dish.

"I've been searching for plague mages who are friendly and have good reputations, but…"

Dimeya shook her head.

She wasn't narrow-minded; she didn't fear plague mages to the point of panic.

"Also, I heard the Ruins Brotherhood of Dusk Hill has recruited a plague mage. The plague Sharon contracted is unusual—he might be interested. Dimeya, be careful with your defenses."

Luo De warned.

At this, Sharon's expression subtly darkened with concern.

The witch's face grew serious.

"I'll increase security."

"I'll visit more often in my spare time."

"Thank you, Mr. Luo De."

"We're friends."

After a few more casual words, the two stepped out of the room, leaving the dog-tribe girl to rest.

Since the patient needed rest, Luo De, Xiao Ke, and Bond had no reason to stay and took their leave.

Dimeya would remain to care for her.

No sooner had they left the recovery villa than Xiao Ke grabbed his hand.

Her expression was tense.

"Someone is targeting Shi Ying Town."

"What's going on?"

The half-deer's prophecy was always among the most unignorable words on the continent.

Luo De immediately grew serious.

"I can't see clearly—it's too chaotic… like war. There's the smell of sulfur, and rituals beneath the earth."

No sooner had he finished speaking.

Luo De felt a disturbance from something inside his spell satchel.

He pulled it out—a red crystal stone.

This was the communication crystal left to him by Land Naga Eve.

As spiritual energy flowed into it, a message instantly entered his mind.

(End of Chapter)