Chapter 208 : Chapter 208
Chapter 208 : Terminally Ill Swordsmen (2)
Severed Meridians Syndrome.
It is a serious meridian disease that occurs when the balance of Yin and Yang within the body is destroyed due to the severance or blockage of the meridians, thereby blocking the circulation of Innate True Qi and hindering the flow of Qi and blood.
‘Karim interpreted the concept of this Severed Meridians Syndrome more broadly.’
What that meant was that not all cases of Severed Meridians Syndrome looked the same.
Depending on the number and location of the blocked acupoints, and the degree of the blockage, different symptoms appeared and caused complications.
Karim classified various symptoms that could be diagnosed even by general medicine, such as the deterioration of visceral functions and various failures caused by this, as diseases derived from Severed Meridians Syndrome after all.
‘Of course, the generally known Severed Meridians Syndrome…….’
It was correct that it referred to that fatal hereditary disease in which the mechanism for maintaining vitality itself rapidly collapsed, leading to sudden death or a short life.
Well, for example, the Nine Yin Severed Meridians or the Nine Yang Severed Meridians.
This famous Severed Meridians Syndrome, caused by the blockage of nine acupoints which leads to the bias of Yin or Yang energy toward one side, is something most martial artists in the Empire are well aware of, and it is an incurable disease I have also heard about like common knowledge since I was young.
Occasionally, some ignorant people talk as if it were a rare constitution given only to geniuses endowed by heaven, who can awaken infinite potential if they only overcome it…… but that is truly a statement made by those who speak without knowing anything.
‘……Well, I was like that too.’
I slowly scanned the members of the Springeus family sitting densely in front of me.
When I looked into their acupoints through the ‘Blood Point’ obtained from the decisive battle with the Blood Devil, it was clearly revealed that the majority of them fell within the detailed stages and various types of Severed Meridians Syndrome as defined and expanded by Karim.
‘Since they are all gathered here in one place, it is natural that a pathological body odor would linger.’
Somehow, I felt like I had become a skilled physician.
I thought that the idea of experienced physicians being able to tell where someone was sick just by looking at the patient's complexion was truly not an exaggeration.
“I will ask point-blank. Why have you come here, Bihen Benkou?”
The middle-aged man sitting in a noble posture at the highest seat of the tiered semi-circular table directly across from me.
I couldn't help but notice he was the Head of the Springeus family even without being introduced.
I rubbed the tip of my nose with my index finger and then answered.
“I came here to end the War of the Roses.”
The room stirred greatly. I looked around at the scene once again.
Just a moment ago, all the seats had been empty…… while I was worrying about how to persuade them, my brain cramped and my eyelids grew heavy, so I had ended up falling asleep for a moment.
So, did I find the answer? No.
Coldly speaking, I do not have such talent.
No, in the first place, if it were easy to stop a war with one's tongue, there would be no reason for the scent of blood to fill the world.
I decided to just do things my way.
“Cut the nonsense and let's get to the conclusion. I am looking for the one called Deganelo's attendant who transported the young lady's body to this place. Tell me where that person is now.”
“W-what did you say……?”
“Deganelo is the culprit who drove a wedge between Springeus and Windermere.”
Was there a need for a long-winded explanation?
When they directly hear the truth flowing smoothly from the mouth of Deganelo, who has been driven to the edge of a cliff like a third-rate villain, they will also change their minds on their own.
“You baaaaastard! Shut up―!”
Kwang!
It was an old man with a thick white beard next to the Family Head.
He seemed to be a family elder.
“Where do you think you are to blather such nonsense! How dare a mercenary of the Empire insult the Right Camp Leader of the Imperial Capital Knight Order!”
“…….”
“Family Head! You must cut that man's arrogant tongue immediately to rectify the prestige of the family and the Imperial Capital!”
I pointed at him with my index finger.
“You must be a direct lineage elder.”
“Ahem! It is commendable that you managed to recognize me, but you will not escape severe punishment because of that! Words are things that cannot be taken back once uttered―”
“Did you not put down your sword early on? It must have been even before you reached the age of twenty. Before that, you must have been called a genius and received all the expectations of the family.”
The face of the man, who had been acting solemn all along, instantly turned red.
It was to the point that I could see his pupils trembling.
He was not the only one astonished.
The Family Head next to him also wore an astonished expression as if a family secret had been discovered.
“H-how do you know that……!”
“There is a way to know everything.”
If I were to diagnose the degree of the Severed Meridians Syndrome the elder was suffering from based on Karim's theory, how severe would it be.
‘The blocked areas missed the mark ambiguously.’
The vital meridian that supports life is intact, but heartlessly, only the acupoints that serve as the path for True Qi, which a swordsman must train and promote, are blocked.
‘I have to consider that the body for using a sword has already collapsed long ago.’
If there is any luck, it is that the blockage did not progress further, so a balance of Yin and Yang is barely being achieved.
In other words, while his life as a swordsman ended long ago, he can somehow enjoy the rest of his life as an ordinary person……
“Consider yourself lucky.”
“……W-what?”
“I am telling you to be grateful for your life.”
Kwa―ang!
On the other side, a young family member struck the table and jumped up.
“Bihen Benkou! Do not blather recklessly! This is Springeus!”
I know that too. And I know that I am doing something off-point right now.
However, while I see a crowd of patients suffering from such a rare disease right in front of my eyes, how can I just ignore them and move on.
It's not like I'm blind.
Still, I really should hold back―
“You, you must have suffered quite a bit with frequent fevers recently. Every night must have been a real ordeal.”
……This can't be helped.
The young family member I pointed out blinked his eyes.
From his gradually opening mouth, it seemed the words asking how I knew that were about to burst out any second.
“……Since you don't have much of your life left, it would be good to settle your surroundings gradually.”
I can say at least this much, no, I should say it.
Starting from this―
“This, this bastard is insulting me?! Family Head! Please permit a duel with that man!”
Fierce finger-pointing at me poured out from all directions along with loud shouts mixed with curses.
There were even those trying to restrain them, so the Grand Assembly Hall truly became a scene of absolute chaos in an instant.
“Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!”
The Family Head struck the table and silenced everyone.
Honestly, I could clearly see what kind of ailments he was suffering from lately along with the degree of his Severed Meridians Syndrome, but I decided to keep my mouth shut.
“I did not know the rumored Sword Fiend would turn out to be a skilled physician.”
“I am not quite at that level. I just happen to have overheard a few things.”
“No, it is correct that you are miraculous. Even the renowned physicians of the Imperial Capital would not be able to pinpoint our family's hereditary disease so instantly just by looking at us.”
At that moment, lamenting and resentful voices calling the Family Head burst out from all sides. They were filled with agitation as if the family's secret had been exposed.
“I will ask again, Bihen Benkou.”
The Family Head lifted his chin. Authority was dwelling in his gaze.
“If you have come as a swordsman, you will not be able to leave this place on your two feet, and if you have come as a physician, I will politely request a house call from you as the Family Head after the war ends.”
“…….”
“Which is it?”
Before answering, I met the eyes of the family members slowly once more.
Most of them were extremely wary of me.
Well, the fact that such a meeting was arranged is evidence of that in itself.
Normally, there would never be a case where the entire family gathers to interrogate a single ronin.
‘It is because of the name Conwell.’
And it also means the entire Kingdom now knows that such a Conwell and I are deeply intertwined.
‘Since things have turned out this way, I should make it clear.’
It would be troublesome if we became each other's shackles.
“It is neither.”
“……Then?”
“I have come as the Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”
The room stirred once again.
Occasionally, I heard words like Solari or something, but I pretended not to hear them.
Since it would be equally troublesome for Solari to get involved.
The Leader held up one hand as if telling everyone to shut their mouths.
Silence fell once more.
“Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? Is it the name of a military faction from the Empire? Or a newly emerging magic school?”
“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult is made of people who embrace those wounded in an era of violence and move forward to advance toward a better world.”
The Family Head's complexion gradually stiffened. He seemed to be worrying about how to take my words.
“That is to say, it does the work of the people, for the people.”
I stared directly at the Family Head.
Thanks to this, another new doctrine was created.
“Therefore, I cannot help but value ties.”
“What does that……”
“Sword Saint Luke and Masa guided me to this place.”
The room became solemn.
***
During the return to Windermere, Isaac heard about the events that had transpired from Roxy inside the carriage.
Isaac's expression couldn't help but stiffen.
“Roxy, I will tell you once more. You must erase what happened at Brakenport from your mind. No, in the first place, you never went to Brakenport, and you never moved together with Masa. Do you understand?”
“Brother! How can I say something that happened didn't happen―”
“Those Springeus bastards have blared to the world that you instigated Masa's death!”
“I, I never did such a thing―”
“I know! Of course! There's no way my sister would do such a thing! But not everyone will take your words at face value! Because it doesn't matter what the truth is!”
Tears soon filled Roxy's two large eyes.
Before she knew it, her kind brother had changed into a completely different person.
Roxy felt like that was somehow her fault.
Isaac let out a sigh.
“……I-I am sorry, Roxy. I wasn't getting angry at you.”
“Uwaaaa!”
Where exactly did things start to go wrong?
There were too many things that had become tangled between the siblings.
“Ahem, Young Lady. Are you alright?”
Bolero's voice was heard from outside the carriage.
He was following alone on horseback, escorting the carriage.
“I-I'm…… okay.”
“…….”
Even while delivering the shocking truth that Deganelo had assassinated Masa, Roxy had not revealed the identity of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult until the very end just in case.
In other words, she did not mention her ties with Bihen Benkou and Noser, let alone Bolero.
Therefore, Isaac listened to Roxy's words for the time being, but he did not believe them at face value.
There were many parts that didn't make sense here and there.
Leaving aside the absurd conclusion that Deganelo killed Masa at Brakenport, the very idea that two young ladies who grew up as precious as gold and jade stayed in such a rough place for several days didn't make sense.
“Roxy, listen well. Right now, all sorts of rumors and speculations are rampant. It is a situation where trivial rumors on people's lips are shaking the justification for the war.”
Roxy couldn't help but feel wronged.
The family had always treated her as a flaw and a disgrace to the family.
That was why she had disappeared as they wanted, yet now she was a justification for war.
‘It's really annoying…….’
Tears dripped onto her thighs.
It was the same for Isaac, who felt frustrated and upset.
He was the one who empathized with and protected Roxy and Masa's circumstances more deeply than anyone else.
“Ah.”
Just then, Roxy snapped her head up as if she remembered something.
Her long, wet eyelashes sparkled.
“That man at the Pretoria mansion earlier.”
“……Ah, y-yes. You're not hurt anywhere, are you? I'm only asking now because things have been so frantic. An intruder's break-in, I really never could have imagined―”
“Is he perhaps someone you know, Brother?”
Isaac's eyes grew large. Because Roxy shouldn't have recognized Raven.
The surprise soon gradually turned into anger.
‘Raven, that fellow, just how did he handle the work for it to be like this…….’
Isaac managed his expression belatedly.
“N-no. That couldn't be. He was a guy I saw for the first time.”
“Hmm, really?”
Roxy tilted her head. Isaac carefully read Roxy's reaction. His mouth went dry.
“W-why do you ask? What kind of connection could that intruder possibly have with me……”
“No, remember when I went to your villa with Masa to play. At that time―”
Oh no. Isaac closed his eyes tightly. Adam's apple bobbed.
Heeeeeeing!
The carriage suddenly came to a stop.
Roxy's body lurched forward at the sudden stop.
Isaac was equally surprised.
It wasn't time to arrive yet.
The coachman's voice was heard beyond the wall.
“Young Master, it is the Duke of Conwell.”
Isaac's eyes widened immediately.
“Why is the Duke of Conwell here……”
Isaac jumped out immediately.
A group of people on horseback were blocking the front of the carriage.
At the center of the dozens of men and horses was Adeline, armed in plate armor.
Isaac quickly assessed the situation.
Judging by the numbers and the state of their armament, it didn't seem like a formal deployment.
“Your Grace the Duke. What brings you here? To meet like this by chance.”
Adeline's gaze, which had been looking straight down at Isaac from above the saddle, moved slowly to the side.
Her eyes, which had been as cold as a sheet of ice, soon began to gradually soften.
“It has been a while.”
“……Pardon?”
Isaac's brow furrowed.
It has been a while? No, in the first place, were they on such friendly terms that they would exchange greetings like that?
“It seems so, Your Grace.”
Isaac quickly turned his head back.
It was Bolero, who had been behind.
He dismounted his horse, passed by Roxy and Isaac, and approached Adeline.
“Really, everyone, it has been a long time.”
Adeline, Joel, Jayden, Janson, Bill, Ayan, Bonnie and Clyde, and even Declen and Linda.
They were comrades-in-arms reuniting after a long time.