June arrived at the Helflick mansion, driving the family carriage. A worried expression painted his face as he hurriedly stepped off the driver's seat and walked towards a certain place.
The size of the mansion made him resent the rule against running or using movement techniques inside the residence.
After twisting and turning through the halls, he finally arrived in front of a room with a giant door.
The maids stood on both sides of the hallway, sharing the same worried expression.
When they saw the newcomer, they bowed their heads respectfully.
"She's inside?" June asked in a low tone.
"Yes, Lord Mathias is also inside," one of the maids answered.
"Alright, thanks," June nodded, standing before the giant door. Staring at the name of the "Daughter of the Core Creation" written on it, he couldn't help but take a deep breath to calm his erratic heart.
Raising his hand, he knocked a couple of times and waited.
After a moment, a voice came from behind the door.
"Yes," June responded, pushing the door open. The smell of incense and medicine immediately hit his nose. Frowning, he stepped inside, his eyes landing on the bed.
The room was spacious, large enough to fit two or three rooms inside. A study table stood in front of a window that overlooked a garden full of flowers. The room was also furnished with bookshelves, another table with a large mirror, and a light brown closet.
The bed was draped with curtains attached to the ceiling, supported by pillars at each corner, obscuring a clear view of the inside.
The curtain stirred in the breeze from the open window, and June caught sight of Bel Helflick lying on the bed, her face pale and her breathing slow.
Sitting beside her was the Head of the Helflick Family, Mathias.
"My lord," June greeted, bowing his head before turning to Mathias. "I heard what happened and returned immediately. Is there anything I can do to help?"
June had been left at the foot of the mountain with just the horses and the family carriage. He stayed there for several days, mostly cultivating and waiting for the exam to end.
However, when the mountain exploded and the three apparitions appeared, fighting against the Alphadusk Shadowtail, like the others, he had fled to a safe distance to watch the battle.
At the time, he hadn't been too worried about Bel's situation, knowing her father was with her. But when he heard rumors and didn't see Mathias fighting the monster, he had a bad feeling, prompting him to rush back.
Mathias, seemingly not hearing the question, gently caressed his daughter's face. Sensing the tension, June wisely fell silent and waited. He was deeply concerned, especially after seeing Bel's pale face.
After a while, Mathias finally spoke. "Bel doesn't have much time left."
June's eyes widened. "Wh-what happened?"
"Poison from a Poison Body," Mathias replied.
"But that alone shouldn't be enough to put her in this state…" June muttered, then immediately realized the gravity of the situation. "Who would dare?!"
"He's dead," Mathias said, glancing at June. "The only thing we can do now is prolong her life, find a cure, and save her."
"Tell me what to do," June said, determination radiating from his eyes.
"Find someone who specializes in poisons, someone who can understand the poison inside her body and heal her," Mathias ordered, standing up. The room was lit by candles mounted on the walls, with plates underneath to catch the wax. "Meanwhile, I'll speak with the Alchemy House manager."
"Don't worry, I'll find that person—no matter how far, even to the ends of the world. I'll find them," June vowed firmly.
Mathias nodded. "Bel's life depends on us."
Meanwhile, in front of the north gate of Klown City, people in expensive clothing gathered, with the mayor surrounded by the visitors.
"I'm very sorry for what happened," Mayor Klown apologized, bowing his head. But before he could lower it fully, one of the visitors stopped him.
"Don't do that. It was the monster's fault."
Klown immediately raised his head. "It's a shame to let such a creature run loose. But fortunately, the Headmasters helped us kill it."
They talked for a while, mostly about the Examination and the ten-tailed Alphadusk. A few minutes later, a man in a white robe approached them.
"How's the situation?" Klown asked.
"It has been stabilized," the man replied.
"What about its body?" Klown stared intently into the man's eyes.
Feeling the pressure, the man avoided eye contact. "T-the Headmaster of the Sword and Shield took it. He said they'll take it to a professional."
Damn it! Klown was fuming inside, but on the outside, he maintained an amiable smile. "That's fine. Go back to your duties."
The man bowed and left the area.
Klown turned to the representative of the visitors from the other city. "Shall we head inside? We'll have a feast at my manor."
The old man shook his head. "My apologies, but I need to return to my temporary residence. I still have to talk with my granddaughter."
"Oh? She's back? Why didn't she come here?" Klown chuckled, his two chins wobbling.
"She's too playful to stay in one place," the old man replied, a small smile appearing on his face.
"Well, she's still young—it's not surprising," Klown laughed.
"But we'll definitely come! Hahaha!" The other visitors and noble families joined in the laughter.
"Haha, then let's go!" Klown led the partygoers, laughing with them.
A carriage was already prepared for the mayor, and the moment he entered it, the smile on his face vanished, replaced by a look of disgust.
"F*cking ants," Klown muttered in frustration. He hated it when people sucked up to him, trying to get on his good side. "If they want my favor, they should cut off their limbs and offer them, instead of running their filthy mouths."
A chuckle echoed inside the carriage, making the mayor turn toward the sound.
"Can't you stop doing that?" Klown frowned at his butler.
"Sorry, I can't help it," Holst said, his eyes and lips stretching into an even wider smile.
"Then you should learn to," Klown snapped.
"I'll try," Holst placed a hand on his chest and bowed before continuing. "Anyway, the matter with the little girl will take two or three weeks before she completely succumbs to the poison."
"But she'll definitely die, won't she?" Klown asked.
"Yes, unless they find someone who can cure her. A great healer and a poison master. But that combination of talents is very rare and hard to come by. And even if they do manage to find one, from what I've gathered, it'll take at least a month to reach them, and another month to return."
Hearing this, the smile returned to the mayor's face. "That's good. And what about the body?"
"It's ready and waiting for your enjoyment," Holst replied.