You Will Be Blessed If You Do Good Deeds¿-Chapter 208

The child lying on the bed breathed peacefully, soundly asleep, unaware of the world.

Next to the bed, Soomyeong knelt, holding the child's hand in hers.

She looked up at me with desperate eyes.

[My child... they're really okay now, right?]

“Yeah, look at this. The poison has almost all been drawn out.”

I showed her the amethyst in the child’s hand.

The amethyst, which had originally had a very clear violet hue, had become quite murky and dull in color.

The amethyst had absorbed all the poison that had been in the child’s body.

‘I never thought I’d be using this item in the field so quickly.’

This was one of the joint creations that I and Han Jaeyoung had researched together in the HP Guild.

While studying the properties of minerals, we discovered that amethysts were particularly good for healing magic circles, especially detoxification, so we happily conducted numerous experiments together.

I never thought I’d be using it here, but at least the item was usable, so I was fortunate.

‘At least I’m lucky that the item is usable.’

Due to the synergy between the formation and magic, casting magic within the city was still impossible, but fortunately, using items wasn’t a major issue.

Han Jaeyoung’s wallet had been significantly emptied, but that was none of my concern.

[Oh, I’m so relieved... thank you so much!]

“There’s no need to thank me. Helping those in pain is just the right thing to do.”

I gave what looked like a very sage-like smile.

“However... I will have to accept a form of compensation.”

Of course, I didn’t actually plan to act like a sage.

I could see the trembling in Soomyeong’s eyes.

[Ah... of course. What can I do for you?]

“Right now, go outside and tell others about this.”

At my words, Soomyeong’s eyes widened.

[What should I tell them? Could it be...?]

The source of this c𝓸ntent is freewebnøvel.coɱ.

“The formation in this city has a problem. I told you yesterday, didn’t I? The time will come when we will pay for our sins.”

Soomyeong’s expression changed dramatically compared to when I first spoke about this city’s impending retribution.

Well, that was to be expected.

After seeing a child suffering overnight, it was only natural that she would take it more seriously now.

“I’m speaking as a sage. If things continue like this, all the weakest children will die one by one.”

It was half true, and rounding it off, I could probably convince her it was all true.

[I... I’m of course thankful for healing my child. But retribution? No one would believe that Hyunam committed a sin.]

And as with everyone in the world, people are different when it comes to receiving help and paying the price for it.

[This is a complete act of treason against Hyunam!]

Soomyeong tried to step back, but I grabbed her hand tightly.

Ah, demons... no, contracts with past demons aren’t so simple.

“I’m not telling you to confront Hyunam directly.”

I gently coaxed Soomyeong.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected much from a weak, ordinary person like her from the start.

If she had the courage to face the truth, she would have pretended not to notice when the foreigners disappeared.

I just needed a small opening.

“Just go and tell the people with sick children. Tell them I can heal them, and they should come here.”

It seemed like she thought it was a cheap price to pay.

Soomyeong’s eyes widened.

[Ah...! You really will heal others too...?]

“Of course. But... the number of people I can heal is not that many.”

I said it with a regretful tone.

It was the truth without exaggeration.

No matter how rich Han Jaeyoung was, he didn’t carry thousands of amethysts with him.

When I checked yesterday, the number of useful items was barely about ten.

“So, can you go get the most urgent children right now?”

[Got it! I’ll go right now!]

Soomyeong clenched her fist and soon dashed out of the inn’s room.

I heard her hurried footsteps as she ran down the stairs.

The child was still peacefully breathing in their sleep on the bed.

Beside the child, Leo was yawning so wide it looked like his mouth would tear.

Well, he must have been tired. He had been running around quite a bit these past two days.

“Just hold on a little longer. You’ll be needed soon.”

“Meow!”

No!

“Well then.”

I picked up Leo to comfort him.

Leo, satisfied, started licking his paws.

After spending time with the constantly crying cubs lately, it seemed like even the others were becoming more clingy.

The system questions your decision, 'Jeong Da-on.'

The quest ‘Good deeds lead to blessings?’ is ongoing.

And this annoying system, like Leo, whined without any charm.

“Well then.”

I sat in a plush chair I found in the inn's storage and mocked the system.

“What did I even do?”

The system claims that "harassing weaker entities" is an immoral act.

“I didn’t hurt him. This city did.”

I had simply instructed Leo to sprinkle ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) the remaining golden powder on the spots that could amplify the formation’s effect.

Thanks to that, the city’s formation became significantly stronger.

At the same time, the influence of mercury, the foundation of the formation protecting this city, grew stronger.

And that influence crashed over the weakest entities in the city like a tidal wave.

The children falling ill overnight was due to the accumulated amount of mercury from living near the canal, which was already significantly present in their bodies.

“It was just a matter of timing. That’s why Jaeyoung agreed with my plan, right?”

To be honest, if I had to pick something I was dissatisfied with, it would be the system.

“I really hate hanging around with good people.”

Because right now, Han Jaeyoung was off looking for minerals that could heal the poisoned people.

Han Jaeyoung had said after hearing my plan:

“It’s a good idea. It’s painful, but if it’s going to happen anyway, this is a good opportunity to reveal the truth of the formation. It could also make people lose faith in Hyunam.”

“Right? So, all we have to do is leave it as is...”

“Well, I’ll go get more minerals to heal the poisoned people. If public opinion shifts in our favor, we’ll need more items.”

“...”

I could only sigh.

If I had come to this city alone, I wouldn’t have cared if people got sick, or rather, I would have ignored it and waited for the public opinion to turn against Hyunam.

In fact, it would be more effective if a few people actually died, and the lack of items to treat the poisoned people would be a good thing.

It would cause unrest in the city.

But Jaeyoung, of course, thought I was doing this with the intention of revealing the truth about the mercury poisoning and Hyunam’s misdeeds, genuinely believing in doing good.

That’s why he thought gathering items quickly was the best chance for us to win.

Ultimately, Jaeyoung does prioritize efficiency, but doesn’t cross the line. Is that the type of entity the system is allowing to join in these kinds of quests?

‘Really, I can’t stand it.’

But despite my feelings, I left Jaeyoung to act separately.

Also, just as I expected, Yuhanul hadn’t returned yet, even though two days had passed since the morning.

At least, this meant I had some freedom to act now.

‘Well, Yuhanul probably didn’t die.’

If he had died, the system would have made a fuss about it.

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if he learned the hard way.

Both Yuhanul and Jaeyoung... they were annoying, pretending to be heroes trying to save the people of this city.

‘Do these people really deserve saving?’

Did the people of this city not know how foreigners were treated?

I didn’t think so.

Like Soomyeong, everyone knew deep down that there was something fishy about this city, but they chose to ignore it.

After all, it wasn’t something happening to them.

Turning a blind eye to things happening in front of their eyes, simply for their own convenience, was a very common thing in human history.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

And it would never change.

Humans don’t change in the end.

It’s repulsive.

How could they be so short-sighted, with two eyes?

[Grandmother...]

At that moment, the child on the bed mumbled in their sleep.

I glanced at the child and stood up from the chair.

A guest had arrived.

Carrying Leo, I went down to the first floor of the inn and locked eyes with the person who was just about to open the door.

They seemed startled, not expecting me to come out first, but they quickly greeted me.

[Hello. I am Jeong Sohwa, a disciple of Hyunam and one of the city’s administrators.]

I briefly scanned the woman who introduced herself as Jeong Sohwa.

Short bobbed hair, neat attire, and a sword at her side.

Clearly, she was an awakened person.

[We came to speak with you.]

And Jeong Sohwa was not alone.

Outside the inn, through the glass, I saw dozens of armed people waiting.

People passing by were murmuring, curious about what was going on.

[Why are there so many administrators?]

[Are they all Hyunam’s direct disciples?]

[Yeah, I’ve never seen this many gathered before.]

I smiled as I observed the scene.

‘Not bad.’

A proper stage had been set.

With a smile, I asked Jeong Sohwa.

“What do you want to talk about?”

[Hyunam heard that another sage has come to the city and wishes to meet you, so we have come to escort you.]

Jeong Sohwa’s suggestion was polite, but she had a commanding presence that made it clear that if I refused, she would forcibly drag me along.

It didn’t make sense that Hyunam wouldn’t know about my existence at this point. She must have sent her disciples to subdue me.

“Hahaha... If I get dragged along, I won’t even be able to pick up my bones, will I? How terrifying.”

[That’s not possible. We’ll escort you properly. Please, this way...]

I allowed myself to be led outside by Jeong Sohwa, pretending to have no other option.

There was no point in arguing inside the building—it would yield no benefit.

Once outside the building, the crowd of people stared at me with curiosity.

[Is that girl really a sage? She looks so young.]

[And what’s with the black cat with green eyes she’s holding?]

[She kind of looks like Hyunam...]

It seemed the rumor that I was a sage had spread among the people.

Leo, still in my arms, yawned again, wide enough to stretch his mouth.

Jeong Sohwa frowned as she saw the crowd.

[Please disperse, everyone. Given the current situation with the plague, you should all head home quickly.]

I was curious about what they would say about the sudden illness of the children that had started yesterday, but it seemed they were calling it a plague.

As the crowd began to scatter, a few people tried to rush forward.

[Wait!]

Cutting through the crowd, someone sprinted toward us.

It was Soomyeong, covered in sweat.

She screamed, desperate.

[Where are you taking the sage?! No, you can't!]

It sounded like something you’d say to a villain.

[There’s a patient! There’s a patient here!]

And Soomyeong wasn’t the only one who ran up. Parents carrying sick children followed her, pushing through the crowd.

All the children, like Soomyeong’s grandson, were struggling to breathe, their faces flushed with fever.

[What’s going on? Why are the patients being brought here...?]

[Here, we’ve brought them! Please heal them!]

[Sage, please! We beg you!]

The people who had rushed forward, including Soomyeong and the parents, ignored Jeong Sohwa and the administrators, handing their sick children to me.

[What’s going on...?]

Jeong Sohwa tried to stop them, but I stepped forward, accepting the sick child, wearing a gentle smile on my face.

“Of course.”

Maybe it was lucky this was a foreign land. Since the system was translating for me, they wouldn’t know that my words weren’t sincere.

I gently wiped the sweat off the child’s forehead and spoke sorrowfully.

“As a sage, how could I leave these sick children unattended?”

As a former demon, I saw telling a white lie for the sake of kindness as part of good deeds.

Otherwise, I wouldn’t feel this disgust in my gut.