Chapter 150: A Small Accident
Mrs. Weiss opened the door and welcomed Rhode and Elfman inside, offering them tea with practiced hospitality.
Though the house was modest and neatly kept, it gave off the impression of a family that had once been stable but had recently fallen into hardship. This assumption was quickly confirmed.
The person in need of the herb was Mr. Karut, who lay bedridden in the adjacent room, too weak to get up. As Mrs. Weiss explained, Karut had worked as a long-distance coachman, taking freight and passenger routes that earned him a decent living. His strategy had always been to take one big job and rest between trips, rather than hustling daily at the local market or transport guild.
However, he had fallen ill after returning from his most recent assignment. Their savings had already been drained in attempts to treat him, and in desperation, the family sold their carriage and horse. Despite all of this, his condition continued to deteriorate.
Only yesterday did a doctor from another town diagnose Karut with a rare pulmonary infection, likely caused by inhaling miasma during one of his journeys. The only known cure was Divotian grass, a rare herb that grew solely on the treacherous Galantos Snow Mountain.
Unfortunately, that mountain was home to a vicious beast known as the Labon. For ordinary people, venturing there was a death sentence. Their only hope now lay in the hands of mages from the guild.
"The current reward is all we have left," Mrs. Weiss admitted, her voice shaking slightly. "I know it's not enough for the danger you're facing, but..."
She bowed her head and clenched her fists tightly.
"If you would allow us, I can work to repay the rest over time. I'll do any job, as long as you accept the commission. Please..."
Rhode observed her quietly. Her face was drawn and pale, her fingers worn and cracked from housework. Her clothes had a smudge on the hem that suggested she had neither time nor strength to care for herself. Despite her exhaustion, she remained composed, her desperation muted by dignity.
Mr. Karut, it seemed, was fortunate to have such a devoted partner.