IHDOE Ch 25
[Clenton] "W-Who……"
The blind elder couldn't look at Satina standing before his eyes.
[Satina] "Drink water first."
She pressed the water bottle she brought against his mouth.
Fearing unfamiliar kindness, Clenton nevertheless drank the offered water frantically. Though half spilled down his dirty shirt, he managed to empty the bottle completely.
In a voice considerably improved compared to before, he asked.
[Clenton] "T-Thank you. But who on earth are you, My Lady…?"
He struggled to pull the blanket, yet even that proved difficult with a body lacking strength.
Satina looked at the frail elder, neglected for a long time, thinking to herself.
Who would take this elder for the herbal expert Clenton?
Clenton Highrenden. He devoted his entire life to researching medicinal herbs. With vast knowledge and relentless effort, he created a cure for an epidemic prevalent during the previous emperor's reign.
Thanks to that, he received a barony from the emperor—a rare feat for a commoner.
After retiring, he lived in a secluded mansion, solely to cultivate and research medicinal herbs directly.
Weeds growing tall near the house were originally medicinal herbs he cultivated personally.
If asked how he ended up like this, one could blame it entirely on his failure to educate his disciple.
Having dedicated his life to research, Clenton had no children of his own; instead, he doted upon a young disciple, raising him like a son. Trouble arose because this disciple was far from an honest fellow.
[Disciple] "Master, this is guaranteed to succeed! If we invest here, we can both strike it rich!"
[Clenton] "Quiet! Read another book on herbalism in the time you waste obsessing over such things!"
[Disciple] "I read diligently, but I am not a genius like you, Master."
[Clenton] "If you are no genius, work harder!"
What Clenton failed to realize was that his disciple had already poured his entire personal fortune into that business scheme, accumulating massive debt.
[Disciple] "Master! Lend me a little, just a little! Please! If this continues, your disciple will die!"
[Clenton] "I warned you not to touch such things! Go file for bankruptcy quietly! I have no money to lend a disciple ruined by speculation!"
At that point, the disciple lost his mind. At this rate, fleeing loan sharks or ending his own life were his only options.
Thus, while Clenton slept, the disciple fed him Red-Horned Snake venom. Waking up in the morning, he realized he had gone blind.
[Clenton] "W-What is this? I can't see. Boy! Boy! Come here! I can't see!"
He called for his disciple, but the disciple had already emptied Clenton's safe and fled.
He tried desperately to climb out of bed to seek help, yet moving a single finger proved difficult under the snake venom's effect.
He lived quietly after retiring, raising a disciple. No visitors came, with only grass and wind nearby. Thus, he died slowly in silence.
Screaming with a raspy voice for anyone to help him, in quiet isolation.
In the game, Clenton ultimately failed to endure the Red-Horned Snake venom and died, allowing the heroine to strike it rich after finding the ointment recipe book he left behind……
Put a living person to work instead, if possible.
Furthermore, an antidote for Red-Horned Snake venom was already prepared.
Satina pulled out the antidote acquired previously, slicing off the tip to place inside Clenton's mouth.
[Clenton] "W-What on earth is this…!"
[Satina] "Eat it first."
[Clenton] "Ugh!"
He helplessly swallowed the snake horn fed to him by Satina. Though he would recover soon even if left alone, a faster method existed.
Use available skills to their fullest.
She held his hand and sang.
[Liv] "Skill 'Song of Healing' activated.
Utilizes holy power to soothe the body and mind of entities within a 1m radius.
Proximity to the player yields higher effectiveness.
Usage count reduced by 1.
Remaining uses today: None"
A hymn flowed from her lips. A tone clear and pure as a temple choir wrapped around Clenton's body.
Ah—
Meeting Satina's pink eyes, tears of deep emotion spilled from his eyes.
I lived.
Not dying slowly in isolation where no one came, nor meeting a futile end betrayed by a disciple while poisoned, but surviving.
The moment Satina's song ended, Clenton shed emotional tears while expressing gratitude, then sought food immediately upon feeling ravenous.
Holy power is effective indeed. Like getting IV fluids.
Satina thought, watching Clenton eat while seated across from her.
Under normal circumstances, his condition required over a week of recuperation, yet seeing him regain energy rapidly and seek food brought relief.
[Satina] "Are you in pain anywhere?"
[Clenton] "Don't worry. Thanks to My Lady, my condition is far better than before."
He laughed heartily, eating the sandwich Satina packed.
[Satina] "I am glad to hear that."
[Clenton] "Please speak comfortably."
[Satina] "Do you know who I am?"
[Clenton] "Are you not Satina Bersabet?"
Correctly identifying her identity without an introduction demonstrated the quick wits expected of an experienced elder.
She smiled, resting her chin on her hand.
[Satina] "The holy power was decisive, wasn't it?"
[Clenton] "Naturally. There aren't many candidates for Saintess."
Setting down his sandwich, he asked.
[Clenton] "Having experienced much through age, I immediately recognize what people desire from me. So what does My Lady desire?"
She spoke, eyeing the sandwich he was eating.
[Satina] "I intended to talk after you finished eating."
[Clenton] "To nobles, isn't time more precious than gold?"
[Satina] "Well, fine. I like that you get straight to the point."
She leaned back in her chair.
[Satina] "I shall speak directly. Any interest in working under me?"
[Clenton] "Do you mean becoming a servant of House Bersabet?"
[Satina] "No, becoming a person belonging to me, Satina."
[Clenton] "A person of Satina rather than Satina Bersabet…… That implies prioritizing your will and interests above House Bersabet. Do you plan to leave the House?"
[Satina] "Who knows what human affairs hold?"
She shrugged. Clenton fell into deep thought with contemplative eyes.
[Clenton] "Honestly, I am exhausted from worrying over power struggles and commercial interests. I wish to live quietly, tending to medicinal herbs."
[Satina] "I understand that feeling."
What she desired was also a peaceful life where no one killed her.
[Clenton] "Even if I only tend to medicinal herbs, becoming your person means a peaceful life like this remains out of reach."
[Satina] "……"
[Clenton] "Yet lying on the brink of death made me miss my past vitality."
He reminisced about past years with wrinkled eyes.
[Clenton] "Though this old man forgot many things with age, I am not wretched enough to forget repaying a debt of grace."
He bowed his head.
[Clenton] "So where should I begin?"
[Satina] "A wise choice. Ordering around someone who just woke up makes me feel guilty, but time presses urgently on my end. Shall we prepare for business first?"
[Clenton] "Business, you say……"
She smiled with sparkling eyes.
[Satina] "Are you interested in an ointment made from Gritanan extract, by any chance?"
The ointment that hit it big in the game when created from the secret recipe book found by the heroine—Satina planned to use it to strike it rich this time.
Around the middle of the game, the heroine stumbles upon Clenton's house at a passing child's request while investigating a murder case. Don't ask for detailed circumstances regarding how that came to pass.
As stated before, she was a girl beloved by God, finding gems even when falling backward.
The heroine discovers Clenton's corpse and finds the secret recipe book for the ointment made from Gritanan extract that he researched.
[Heroine] "This ointment is magnificent! Yet I didn't create this ointment…… Is it alright to sell it as I please?"
When she asked with puppy-like eyes, the Crown Prince—Satina's fiancé at the time—spoke.
[Lexion] "What do you worry about? You returned a deceased person who was nearly forgotten to his grave. He possesses no remaining disciples or family, so you are the rightful owner of the legacy he left behind."
Sharlan was desperate to win the heroine's favor back then, and also spoke.
[Sharlan] "Don't worry. Rather, he will feel grateful upon learning that the medicine he created serves such useful purposes. If trouble arises, I will take responsibility for clearing it up."
Thus, the heroine crafted the ointment, earned a massive fortune, gained Fame, and stepped closer to the Empress' throne.
However, since I saved Clenton, the heroine will no longer find that secret recipe book.
Clenton appeared shocked that she knew about his creation of the ointment, yet he convinced himself that, as a ducal daughter of House Bersabet, she possessed her own information network.
Satina didn't bother correcting his misconception.
[Satina] "The day that ointment is needed will arrive soon. Take care of your health and research diligently until then."
And she returned to the ducal mansion before the morning sun rose.
[Liv] "'Clenton's Cabin' is a hidden episode occurring in the mid-game, yet Liv didn't expect you to utilize it now. Liv understands why the player stated you couldn't be satisfied with merely Sharlan's Affection. Liv admires the player's insight."
[Satina] "It is nothing."
She shrugged, replying nonchalantly.
[Liv] "Did you plan this from the moment you offered to help him with his work?"
[Satina] "Yes."
[Liv] "Which is why you needed to discover the exact problem causing him trouble now."
[Satina] "Correct."
Three potential issues could cause Sharlan trouble during this period. She needed to determine the exact matter harassing him currently.
At last, every puzzle piece stood ready. Now came the time to dispose of the most difficult task.
[Satina] "Now then, shall we go meet our house's bastard?"
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