Guided by the staff, the group entered the visitation room. There was already a visitor present, along with Park Chang-joo and his caregiver.
And the moment Jong-sik laid eyes on Park Chang-joo, he knew. He could sense where the faint magic was emanating from.
‘He’s under a possession spell.’
The magic was, without a doubt, attached to Park Chang-joo’s body.
His grotesque form, with skin other than the pupils of his eyes being a bluish-black hue. Add to that the trembling teeth and the red eyes invaded by the magic.
Park Chang-joo was clearly under the influence of a possession spell.
A possession spell refers to a state where a soul is trapped by magic and unable to control the body.
Furthermore, the trapped soul must fight against the demon until death, which is by no means an easy battle.
“There’s nothing as difficult as a fight with no end in sight.”
To say that would be like calling it an incurable disease, but that’s not entirely true.
Isn’t possession a common illness in the continent invaded by demons? So much so that even a ten-year-old child would have memorized prescriptions.
“But leaving him like that until it reaches this point? Without even attempting treatment. What kind of rehabilitation center… are they just leaving him to die?”
Jong-sik muttered under his breath. Hearing his words, Yeona responded with a troubled expression.
“They say it’s a rare disease that hunters get, and since there’s no developed medicine or treatment, they say they have no choice but to leave him like that.”
“A rare disease? This is insane, seriously.”
“Excuse me?”
“This isn’t just a disease you can wait out.”
For a moment, a glimmer of hope flickered in Yeona’s eyes.
Throughout her time with her Uncle, she had experienced several miraculous events. For instance, in the past, didn’t her father recover from poisoning in an instant?
Could it be the same this time too? Yeona eagerly spoke with a desperate heart.
“Does that mean… Uncle knows about this disease? Is that right?”
He said it’s not a disease that you can wait out. You can’t call an unknown disease that. But Jong-sik shook his head incredulously.
“It’s called Maveng’s Disease. It literally means that bad energy is attached to the body… Was it during my second year as a summoner? I also experienced it once back then.”
“B-But Uncle, you’re perfectly fine now, or rather, healthy like this!”
“Of course. It’s a disease that can be cured with just medicine.”
It’s frustrating indeed. To raise a disease that can be cured with just medicine to that extent. Even though I may not know, it seems like it lasted for a few months….
‘He endured well in hell.’
Jong-sik shook his head tremblingly. At the same time, Yeona screamed in frustration. Then, with wide eyes, she ran to Jong-pal’s side.
“Dad-!”
Meanwhile, Jong-pal was saying something to the caregiver.
“There’s still moisture in his hair.”
“Oh, I hurried out in case you were waiting. He can’t speak, but I think the patient would want that. It’s a rare visit after all. No one has visited him for a while…”
“Still, that’s true. Please make sure to dry it properly next time. I’m counting on you.”
“…Yes. I understand.”
Yeona replied politely.
‘Damn it. If I had made a reservation, this wouldn’t have happened!’
However, her tightly clenched fist showed her frustration. The noisy nail parts stuck into the palm of her hand.
“Dad-!”
Seeing the situation, Yeona grabbed Jong-pal’s arm. Jong-pal paid attention to his daughter’s unfamiliar behavior.
“What’s wrong? Why are you screaming so loud? You’re going to scare Uncle. Huh?”
“No, no. It’s not important. Uncle can fix Uncle Chang-joo. He just needs to take medicine!”
“What? Hyung. Is that really true?”
Jong-pal’s reaction was similar to Yeona’s just before. He looked at Jong-sik with wide-eyed astonishment. His pupils shook uncontrollably, and for a moment, silence enveloped the visitation room.
“Cough, cough, cough.”
The one to break the tension was the laughter of the caregiver. No, perhaps it was a forced cough. Unintentionally, Yeona also let out a laugh that sounded like a forced cough.
‘What nonsense. Who do they think they are, saying they can fix that?’
Thinking it was ridiculous, Yeona chuckled inwardly. But she didn’t show it.
They were different from Park Chang-joo and the others. They could be a threat to her anytime.
Yeom Se-ra hastily spoke up.
“Oh, sorry. I think I got surprised. Wouldn’t it be great if we could fix it just like the student said? Phew.”
“Hyung. Hm? Really? You can fix it? What medicine do you need?”
“Dad. Earlier, you definitely said that, right?”
However, Jong-pal’s gaze was still fixed on Jong-sik. At this moment, Jong-pal was only concerned with Jong-sik’s answer.
“Uh, well! I’ll just go now. Enjoy your visit and if you’re done, please contact us through the intercom over there.”
Feeling completely ignored, Yeona muttered under her breath, her lips chewing on her frustration. As she turned away, her expression was quite resentful.
And so, only three remained in the visitation room.
Finally, Jong-sik spoke up.
“We can fix it. We need ingredients to make the medicine, though. They should be available in Korea, probably?”
“Hyung, help me fix Chang-joo. Please.”
Herbal medicine on the continent and on Earth are the same. But their names aren’t. So, Jong-sik searched the internet and listed the necessary herbs.
“The important thing is the proportions. You have to strictly follow the grams I wrote down. You understand what I’m saying, right?”
“Yeah. Got it. I’ll be back soon. Yeona, stay with Dad for a moment.”
Jong-pal opened his mouth, his gaze fixed on his phone. In his inbox was the formula for the potion that Jong-sik had sent. Some of the ingredients were classified as toxic plants, but he trusted his brother.
“Got it. Dad, hurry back! I’ll stay right by Uncle’s side.”
And so, Jong-pal left the hospital to get the ingredients, while Jong-sik and Yeona stayed in the visitation room.
“Uncle Jong-sik, Uncle Park Chang-joo can hear everything I’m saying, right?”
“Yeah. Even if he can’t see, he can still hear. So, you can say whatever you want.”
“Uncle Chang-joo, This is Yeona, and I heard you’re fighting a bad monster right now. My Uncle told me, and he knows because he’s had the same disease you’re having.”
Holding Chang-joo’s hand, Yeona started speaking softly.
“Dad also told us about the medicine that can cure you. He went to get it, so everything will be fine now. So, don’t give up, Uncle. Until then, Uncle and I will stay by your side. Oh! Uncle, Dad retired….”
She continued to pour out trivial stories. From meeting their missing Uncle, moving houses, to opening a new store, and even the YouTube chaos that happened the day before.
After a while, Jong-pal returned from the hospital, carrying the medicine to give to Chang-joo.
Despite trying to maintain her composure, Yeom Se-ra couldn’t stand it any longer. Frowning, she refused Jong-pal’s request.
“I understand your concern for the patient, but this is problematic.”
‘Is it just problematic? If something goes wrong, I might end up being blamed. He couldn’t just administer some random medicine brought from who knows where!’
“I’ll take responsibility. So, please connect the IV line right away. If he just takes this, he can be cured, you know?”
“Again, according to the rules of the rehabilitation center, we can’t…”
“And yet you have those flashy nails? You don’t seem to be someone who follows the rules.”
“That’s different!”
Even Yeona herself revealed her true nature unintentionally. There was contempt in her tone. But oddly enough, Jong-pal felt relieved. It seemed like a weight had been lifted off his chest.
“As I’m saying this, does it look like I’m asking politely? Connect it right away!”
For a moment, an unexpected sternness emanated from Jong-pal. Well, first, they had to save a person.
“It would be better to just insert it.”
Jong-sik also added a quiet remark. And that statement sealed the deal. Eventually, Se-ra had no choice but to administer the potion Jong-pal handed her.
A moment later,
A pack containing turquoise liquid was placed on the floor. There was still no change in Chang-joo’s condition. Jong-pal then showed signs of impatience.
“Hyung, I think it’s all in. But…”
“Let’s wait a bit. It will take a while for the medicine to take effect. Let’s leave now and come back tomorrow.”
Jong-sik reassured his anxious brother. Jong-sik was wearing a calm expression as usual, which helped ease Jong-pal’s worries.
“Yeah, okay. I can’t wait just one day. Oh, right. I’m sorry earlier. I know where you’re coming from, but I was just in a hurry.”
He even found the space to apologize to Yeom Se-ra. Even though he didn’t know what she was thinking.
“Just know what kind of feelings I have. I’ll be fine, so don’t worry about me. I’ll pray earnestly for the patient to wake up.”
“Thank you. If you see any changes, please contact me immediately. Here, I’ll give you my phone number.”
“I’ll do that.”
And so, Jong-sik’s group hoped for tomorrow.
That evening.
Yeom Se-ra, riding on top of Chang-joo, struck his chest with her gloved hand.
“Like this, like that! Why is everyone bothering me like this?”
The rehabilitation center was her little kingdom. She held Chang-joo’s life and death in her hands, making her the queen of the kingdom. But today, that kingdom collapsed.
“How dare you stick needles in my head? Who do you think you are to ignore me like this!”
She remembered the fear she felt a few hours ago. It was embarrassing. Why did she have to go through these emotions? She released her surging anger on an innocent target.
That was when Chang-joo’s fingers twitched. At the same time, someone knocked on the door of the ward. It was a fellow caregiver.
“Yeom Se-ra, stop and come out to eat. You’ll need your strength. Don’t make yourself tired for nothing.”
“Ugh, fine. Is the delivery here?”
“Yeah. I’ve set everything up. So, come out quickly.”
Such conversations seemed natural, as if they had happened many times before. Yeom Se-ra brushed her bangs aside and got off the bed.
“Let’s talk later. This jerk….”
Then she lightly tapped Chang-joo’s cheek. At that moment, she felt a sensation of suffocation. But Yeom Se-ra couldn’t figure out what had happened to her.
It was an event that happened in the blink of an eye.
‘My, my breath!’
When she finally managed to think, she found herself hanging in mid-air, with both legs off the ground.
“Kuh, kuh!”
Yeom Se-ra struggled, her eyes wide open, flailing her arms. But it was all in vain. Her thin neck was already in Chang-joo’s grasp.
“It’s you… you… you bastard…!”
In the quiet hospital room, the sound of boiling phlegm echoed.
