Chapter 153


    Its a lung fluke, specifically Paragonimus westermani.


    In a season that was toote to be called winter and somewhat early to be called spring, Raciels diagnosis was made in a corner of the detached pce garden where cool breezes and warm sunlight coexisted.


    He pointed to Pobokis me fin disy. There, a plump worm, oval and reddish like a kidney bean, was wriggling.


    Do you see? This is indeed the parasitic lung fluke. It has settled in your lungs and is causing various health issues, as it has chosen you as its host.


    Sylvia, the elf, furrowed her brow. Her gaze turned towards the lung fluke, and the moment her eyes met it, the parasite squirmed. She involuntarily recoiled.


    Such a thing? Inside my body?


    Doubt filled her.


    It seemed unbelievable.


    Well, it could be believed, considering it was shown by a Phantom beast. However, she couldnt fathom why such a grotesque parasite had taken up residence inside her.


    Is this true?


    Yes.


    Why?


    Pardon me?


    Ive never fallen victim to wicked ck magic, nor have I been cursed by voodoo sorcerers. When malevolent spirits appeared, I simply dispatched them. And now youre telling me that Im being tormented by such a parasite? How? Through what means?


    She genuinely couldntprehend it. She was an emissary who dealt with external matters for her n, someone who resolved conflicts, disputes, and intricate negotiations with the outside world on behalf of her n.


    She was undeniably powerful.


    A Swordmaster, as humans would describe her? She was confident in her abilities. A Great Mage? She wasnt so easily ovee by their magic.


    Yet, a parasite. Its baffling.


    Indeed, it is perplexing.


    What?


    Sylvias eyebrow twitched.


    Raciel continued hisposed exnation.


    Unbeknownst to you, you ingested thervae of the lung fluke.


    Larvae?


    Yes.


    What are those?


    Well, to provide a concise overview of the lung fluke


    Raciel took a deep breath and, with a calm demeanor, rapidly delivered information that contradicted hisposure.


    First and foremost, the eggs of the lung fluke are incredibly minuscule, about 100 nanometers or 0.1 micrometers. These organisms float in the water as ciliatedrvae (miracidium) and infiltrate the body of their first host, such as snails. Inside, they multiply, mate, and transform into structures known as sporocysts.


    What


    In any case, they then move on to a secondary host, like freshwater crabs or crayfish, which consume the infected snails. There, they await their final host. asionally, they may pass through another creature, like a wild boar, but thats irrelevant.


    Wait. Are you suggesting?


    Are you catching on?


    Sylvia nodded slightly. As she listened to the exnation, she began to piece something together.


    The freshwater crab, crayfish, and wild boar you mentioned, if consumed?


    You got it.


    Raciel grinned broadly.


    Its perfectly fine if you cook them by boiling, steaming, or any method that thoroughly heats them. Even those stubborn lung flukes cant survive in boiling water or intense mes. The issue arises when you consume raw freshwater crab, crayfish, or wild boar meat.


    But I


    I understand. Youre an elf. You have a deep affinity for nts, to the extent that you avoid lighting fires while camping because it requires burning wood. Additionally, not all elves are proficient in using me magic. Learning such malevolent magic could inadvertently lead to forest fires or causing harm to the environment.


    I get it. You cant start a fire while camping, and me magic is out of the question. There may even be times when youre running low on portable food supplies, and in such situations, you might resort to consuming raw wild boar. Its a shame you didnt have any soju.


    Soju? Whats that?


    It exists, at any rate.


    Raciel wiped the smile from his lips.


    Its the raw foods you consumed while camping that are the concern. Because of that, the lung flukervae entered your body and settled in your lungs.


    But is this really such a big issue to fuss about?


    Sylvia argued.


    Raciel calmly countered.


    When we first metst night, I noticed a faint odor on your breath.


    Inmmation is likely to have developed in your bronchial and lung tissues. People with such inmmation often have a distinctive breath odor. Additionally, your breathing sounded slightly irregr, as if air were escaping. That could be a sign of a pneumothorax.


    It was true.


    Thanks to that, he had an intuitive sense that something was amiss with this elf woman right from the beginning. Thats when he noticed it. While remaining vignt, her wrist, which had been holding a dagger at his neck, brushed against the vicr notch on his side.


    He didnt miss that opportunity.


    He quickly employed his Palpation skill, allowing him to discern her medical condition in detail. He identified the root of her illness. But that wasnt all. He could also predict what would happen to her body in the future.


    For now, the lung flukes havepletely settled around your bronchi and bronchioles, leading to an infiltration of inmmatory cells. Theyre quite aggressive. Consequently, an infection has taken hold in your lungs, resulting in the formation of a fibrous tissue capsule that houses the worms.


    Worm capsule?


    Precisely, a worm pouch.


    Inside this worm capsule within your lungs, there are two lung flukes residing together, like a sort of couple. Its bothersome, isnt it? Exasperating? Life is already challenging without bing involuntarily paired with worms.


    Cough, ahem! I apologize for getting carried away there. Anyway, inside this worm capsule, youll find not only lung flukes but also pus, host cells, necrotic debris, and worm eggsa diverse assortment of elements, really. Its quite an efficient package for wreaking havoc on the body.


    So, is it quite serious?


    Yes.


    How serious?


    To begin with, youll experience recurrent chills and low-grade fevers. Youll feel fatigued, apanied by persistent coughing and asional coughing up of blood. Eventually, overall weakness will set in.


    Thats


    Have you already experienced some of these symptoms?


    To some extent, yes.


    Sylvia nodded in agreement. At this point, she had no other option but to trust what this human was saying. In reality, she had been experiencing an unusually severe level of fatigue recently. Each morning brought with it fevers and chills, and sometimes she couldnt stop coughing.


    asionally, the cough even had traces of blood.


    <em>I just assumed it was because Ive been pushing myself too hardtely,</em> she thought. She believed it was a consequence of her excessive activity, ack of adequate rest. She thought that taking a break after this ordeal would naturally lead to her recovery.


    She had beencent.


    But it turned out to be a miscalction.


    It wasnt just fatigue.


    So, heres the deal. If you leave it untreated, it will worsen. A range ofplications is almost guaranteed.


    Complications?


    Yes. Bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumothorax, empyema, and so on. Various lung-rted diseases will develop. The cycle of inmmation and recovery will continue until it culminates in lung cancer.


    Lung cancer?


    Its incurable. It will be fatal.


    So, what do you think? About my offer fromst nightproviding substantial funds and amplebor to restore the burnt forest. Will you ept it?


    And if I decline?


    Then I wont treat the lung flukes.


    Sylvia was left speechless. She finally realized it. This human was using her illness as a bargaining chip in their negotiations!


    How despicable


    She couldnt help but feel a shiver down her spine at the cunning and intent behind his tactics. But at the same time, she grasped another reality. She was already entangled in a web, and she couldnt refuse his offer.


    <em>Ill face the elders reprimand.</em>


    Undoubtedly, the elders of her tribe would express their dissatisfaction with the humans method ofpensationusing him ofcking sincerity and failing to offer a genuine apology. That would likely be their response.


    However, Sylvia believed that, in this instance, it might be wiser to ept the humans proposal. Her reasoning was straightforward.


    <em>I dont want to die.</em>


    Thanks to the Phantom beast, she had full confidence in the humans diagnosis. If his words were true, a dreadful fate awaited her.


    She didnt desire that. After dedicating 200 years to study, training, and striving to be an executor, she didnt want to face an untimely death before fulfilling her mission.


    Furthermore, she still hadunfinished business


    <em>I havent even had a proper chance to meet a partner because Ive been dedicated to daily training. My parents always said, You can date after bing an executor. Then you can date as much as you want.</em>


    But reality was harsh.


    After bing an executor, her interactions with potential partners dwindled even further. Her days were consumed by resolving the tribes disputes and conflicts. In such circumstances, dating seemed like a distant luxury.


    Yet, her parents would chime in again, saying, Its just because youre busy with your new role. It will get better with time. You can date to your hearts content once you be a senior executor.


    <em>Mom, that doesnt seem likely.</em>


    At this rate, she might not even get to date until she became an elder grandmother.


    <strong>Crunch.</strong>


    Sylvia clenched her teeth and made a firm decision. Even if she would face the elders reprimandter, she chose to ept the humans proposal this time. Her goal was to resolve the conflict and regain her health.


    Thats why.


    So if I agree to your proposal.


    Yes. Do you have any questions?


    Um, precisely how do you intend to treat the lung flukes?


    She was curious.


    And somewhat anxious.


    This human prince exuded the aroma of various herbs throughout his entire body. All of them were precious and cherished ntpanions. Therefore, on one hand, she was deeply concerned.


    Youre not nning to create a potion for me by plucking, cutting, drying, and boiling these precious nts, are you?


    She thought of the treatment methodsmonly used by those known as human doctors. She despised that approach. It was dreadful. The idea of sacrificing nts for the sake of her health was distasteful. She needed to rify the treatment method before making a decision.


    Of course, Raciel had already picked up on her concerns.


    Ah, are you worried that I might harm nts? If thats the concern, you can rest easy. The prescription Im going to provide wont involve any nts, at least not ones that youll need to consume directly.


    Really? Is that true?


    Yes.


    Raciel offered a faint smile.


    As if to reassure her.


    As if it couldnt be more agreeable.


    He gestured toward the minotaur, Uruus, lounging in a corner of the garden, chewing and ruminating.


    All you have to do is drink a concoction of Uruus Coffee made from the fecesrhous droppingsof that friend who consumes poison oak, you see?


    His smile blossomed even more brightly.


    (To be Continued)


    To read ahead


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