DMS Chapter 182
DMS Chapter 182
Night had fallen, and everyone in the camp eagerly lined up for another serving of arroz caldo. Hart's men enthusiastically discussed the best combinations and proportions of seasonings to add to their bento boxes, debating how much fish sauce, pepper, and calamansi would produce the perfect flavor.
Flinx smiled to himself when he overheard several of them talking about breakfast the following morning. They had noticed that there was still plenty of arroz caldo left, even after everyone had helped themselves to generous portions.
Once everyone had finished eating, Flinx taught Hart how to replenish the pot by adding more cooked rice, chicken stock, and seasonings to maintain the proper consistency and flavor of the porridge.
Since the weather had begun to turn colder, the arroz caldo wouldn't spoil easily, especially if they kept it simmering over the campfire.
After everyone had settled down for the night, except for the guards assigned to watch the perimeter, Flinx and Hart entered the hut that had previously served as the infirmary.
Flinx intended to remove Hart's serf brand first to determine whether his idea would actually work.
His greatest concern was the procedure itself.
Both he and Hart knew it would be agonizingly painful. To remove the brand completely, Flinx first had to cut away every piece of flesh bearing the mark. Only then could he cast the seventh-circle Cleric spell, Regenerate, to restore the missing flesh.
Flinx purchased a surgical knife from the System Shopping Site.
Hart placed a thick piece of leather between his teeth.
As Flinx prepared to make the first cut, cold sweat formed on his forehead. His hands hesitated.
Hart noticed.
"Stop," Hart said quietly.
The camp leader suggested that Oden perform the cutting instead. Having butchered countless animals over the years, Oden had far more experience with a knife than Flinx and would be better able to ensure every trace of the brand was removed.
Flinx couldn't help feeling embarrassed.
As a healer, he should have possessed the confidence to perform such a procedure himself.
Nevertheless, he gratefully accepted the suggestion.
Hart stepped outside and soon returned with Oden.
After explaining that they needed his assistance with an experimental operation, Oden simply nodded.
Once everything was prepared, Oden showed no hesitation.
He carefully cut away the flesh containing the serf brand.
Flinx watched as Hart's body trembled violently. The man's face turned crimson, and it was obvious he desperately wanted to scream. Only the leather clenched tightly between his teeth prevented any sound from escaping.
The moment Oden announced that every trace of the branded flesh had been removed, Flinx immediately cast Regenerate.
Within seconds, Hart nearly collapsed in relief as the pain disappeared.
Using the light from the solar camping lantern Flinx had retrieved from his fourth tab space, the three of them carefully examined Hart's chest.
Flinx couldn't help smiling.
The procedure had worked perfectly.
Hart's chest had been completely restored, with smooth, healthy skin covering the area where the brand had once been.
There wasn't even the faintest scar.
Hart and Oden both began crying silently.
Flinx purchased a large mirror from the System Shopping Site and handed it to Hart.
The older man stared at his own reflection, gently touching the place where the brand had existed for most of his life.
While Hart continued examining himself, Flinx asked why no one had ever attempted such a method before.
Hart explained that many serfs had tried to remove their brands by cutting away the flesh.
The problem was what happened afterward.
Without powerful healing magic, the wound healed naturally, leaving behind a large and unmistakable scar exactly where the brand had once been.
Combined with a serf's accent and mannerisms, it didn't take much for people to realize what had happened.
Those who were discovered were captured and returned to Nemronor.
Most never survived.
Some had even attempted to scar their entire chest to disguise the location of the brand, but that rarely fooled anyone.
Oden added that a few had sought out healers capable of removing scars, but such magic required high-level healing spells.
No serf could ever afford that.
Because Flinx had completely regenerated the missing flesh without leaving so much as a scar, both Hart and Oden realized they were standing before an exceptionally powerful healer.
Flinx simply shrugged inwardly.
He no longer cared whether they knew.
After everything he had done since arriving at the camp, it would have been impossible for them not to suspect that he possessed abilities far beyond those of an ordinary healer.
Since Oden was already present and fully understood the procedure, they immediately removed his brand as well.
Once Oden had been healed, Flinx decided there was no reason to wait.
The operation itself took only a short time.
One after another, Hart called the remaining men into the hut.
Oden carefully removed the branded flesh over each man's chest, while Flinx cast Regenerate immediately afterward.
Before long, every one of the twelve men stood free of the marks that had defined their lives.
Many openly wept with joy.
They were no longer serfs.
Hart announced that they would leave for Ilioven within the next few days.
Flinx also informed them that he intended to donate enough money to help them begin new lives.
Hart, Kerry, and Oden would use the funds to purchase farmland near Ilioven, where all twelve of them could reunite and start over as free men.
Ordinarily, such joyous news would have kept everyone awake all night celebrating.
Instead, the men quickly became exhausted.
Flinx suspected it was simply the aftereffects of the procedures.
He told Hart that he would keep watch through the night and insisted that everyone else get some rest.
The trust Flinx had earned was absolute by this point.
Hart readily agreed and ordered everyone to sleep.
In reality, it was Pip and the Wind Elemental who truly guarded the camp throughout the night.
The following morning, everyone awoke early and enjoyed another hot serving of arroz caldo.
After breakfast, they began preparing for the journey to Ilioven.
Flinx gave each man three plastic bento boxes filled with arroz caldo so they would have food during the trip.
Once the camp had been cleaned and everyone's belongings packed away, Flinx stored his own equipment before handing Hart two thousand gold coins.
It was enough to purchase farmland for all twelve of them.
He also gave Hart the address of Olivia's Soap Shop, explaining that they could seek Olivia's help if they ever found themselves in serious trouble.
Hart was speechless.
Two thousand gold coins represented an unimaginable fortune, yet Flinx had handed it over without hesitation.
Flinx wasn't particularly concerned about the expense.
He still possessed well over a hundred thousand gold coins in savings, and Olivia's shop continued to generate an enormous income.
Judging by Hart's expression, however, Flinx doubted the men would ever ask Olivia for help unless they had absolutely no other choice.
After everything he had already done for them, they would feel too guilty to seek even more assistance.
Before they departed, Flinx contacted Olivia using the seventh-circle Wizard spell, Telepathy.
He informed her about the twelve former serfs he had helped and explained that they might seek her assistance someday, though only if they found themselves in desperate circumstances.
Olivia assured him that she would know what to do if Hart ever came looking for her.
Flinx had no reason to doubt her.
Olivia understood the people of Ilioven better than almost anyone. The hardships she and her brothers had endured had given them the wisdom not only to survive, but to thrive despite the difficult lives they had once lived.