Chapter 23

Chapter 23

It hurts.

Demian pondered the cause behind it.

Was it due to the grudges held by those wounded by his sword? Or the lingering effects of relentless training, leaving no room for rest? Perhaps it was because his purse remained empty despite his struggles in battle.

One thing was certain: when the pain struck, he desperately needed medicine. Some called it painkillers, others deemed it a cursed drug.

But who is he

Demian wondered, as an unfamiliar man entered the waiting room, clutching the container of medicine. Moreover, he spewed nonsensical remarks while eyeing the contents.

Tsk tsk. Its unfortunate. Why settle for such cheap painkillers? Can you find solace in these?

What? Demian Cayenne felt taken aback.

This man was a stranger. How had he managed to enter the room? Was he an arena official? He didnt give off that impression; rather, he seemed dubious at first glance. Demian struggled to comprehend.

Who are you? he asked, his gaze growing cold. The mans response came swiftly.

I am someone you will need.

Are you here to sell medicine? Demian queried, considering that possibility.

Many gladiators endured pain, and painkillers became an integral part of their lives. Consequently, there were individuals who sought to deceive by claiming to possess superior medication for gladiators.

As expected, the stranger nodded readily. Well, close enough. Your intuition serves you well.

Demians interest waned. He had already encountered enough of these individuals and saw no reason to entertain him further. A scowl formed on his face.

Leave before I sever your wrist. Set the medicine down. If its about medicine

I have plenty, you think? Are you satisfied with such cheap medicine? Really?

What the hell are you Demian began, growing increasingly irritated.

I didnt come here to spout nonsense.

Ill kill you.

Then youll never be rid of that tingling pain at the back of your head for the rest of your life.

Typically, the symptoms start at the occipital region. Numbness and tingling spread to the back of your neck and head. The pain may extend to your entire cranium and even reach your shoulders.

When its severe, the pain radiates to your forehead and the corners of your eyes, following the path of your temples. Your skin breaks out in goosebumps, and you perspire profusely. The agony becomes unbearable, as if your eyeballs are about to burst. Strangely, the pain arrives in waves, repeatedly tormenting you. Its a hellish experience where the hope of relief is shattered, only for the torture to persist.

How Demian faltered, shocked by the accuracy of the mans description.

How do I know? Raciel smirked.

How would he know?

Because he read the novel.

So I nearly recited the sentence describing the symptoms word for word.

For the first time, Demian, who had been irritable throughout the encounter, displayed a flicker of reaction. It was a promising development in their conversation, or so it seemed.

So this is the moment?

Raciel resolved to be even more audacious.

Raciel donned a triple-embossed steel plate across his face, exuding an air of shamelessness.

Such symptoms, so evident. Its trauma, anemia, renal deficiency causing circulatory disruption along the neck vein. Thats what it is.

But you never even consider addressing the root cause of the pain. Thats why you continue to suffer like this, relying solely on narcotic painkillers. Is a painkiller truly medicine? No, absolutely not.

This is a recurring pattern. There are quite a lot of people subtly suffering in the same way as you.

Raciel expressed genuine regret, clicking his tongue.

The foolishness of only looking for painkillers when in pain. It wasnt only Demian to blame. In retrospect, he had seen a lot of cases like this in Korea too.

They would search for painkillers whenever pain struck, juggling the responsibilities of raising their children and working. The high costs of big hospitals often deterred them, leading them to rely on painkillers and patches to endure, inadvertently exacerbating their conditions.

So what Im saying is, can you simply cover up spilled soup on the floor with a blanket and call it done? No. If youre in pain but refuse to address the underlying cause, relying solely on these narcotic painkillers, youll only suffer more. Isnt that true?The source of this content nov(el)bi((n))

If you have a voice, answer, you pitiful and foolish person.

Demian felt an uncontrollable surge of anger. He was on the verge of exploding in rage. He felt unjustly accused. He was merely following his usual routine, seeking rest after defeating a troll. He had only considered taking medication to alleviate the customary post-battle pain.

And now, this stranger he had never seen or heard of before had not only barged into the waiting room but also commenced lecturing him.

Why me?

He pretended to be indifferent.

He really acted as if Demians promoter, Kusman, had sent him so convincingly that Demian couldnt help but scrutinize Raciel.

Something felt amiss.

The way he spoke, it didnt seem like he belonged to their side. But what was even more peculiar was that this individual knew about his connection with promoter Kusman.

That was the most baffling part.

Only the gladiators who signed a contract and key personnel in the gladiatorial arena should be aware of Kusmans existence.

Yet, he casually mentioned Kusmans name. Not only that, he even referenced specific incidents that had occurred between Demian and Kusman.

Suddenly, a memory from a few days ago resurfaced in Demians mind. It was the evening after he had triumphed over twenty goblins in the arena. He had approached Kusman, requesting more painkillers.

He had mentioned that the medication hadnt been as effective recently.

He had been having trouble sleeping.

But Kusman had appeared displeased.

He had explained the challenges in obtaining extra stock these days, as it was difficult to divert it from the allocations of other gladiators under his management. With it not being the season for opium poppy harvesting, acquiring additional supply had become a struggle.

But that conversation this person just repeated it word for word.

The meaning became clear.

He truly was the person dispatched by Kusman. Finally, Demian set his sword aside.

So, are you telling me that you have brought a new medicine that isnt a painkiller?

No.

Raciel grinned mischievously.

His ambitious deception had proven successful. With unwavering conviction, he had crossed the line.

You cant rely on medication to overcome the pain youre enduring. Trust me, you must address the root cause.

The cause If its removed, does that mean the pain wont return?

Yes.

You seem to be making that guarantee too easily.

Why dont you verify it for yourself?

What method are you referring to?

Raciels playful smile grew wider. First, remove your shirt and lie down.

What?

You need to undergo treatment. Dont worry, it wont endanger your life. Are you afraid?

Of course, thats

Well, I insist that you take it off.

Demian regarded him skeptically while Raciel casually met his gaze. Eventually, Demian sighed deeply and complied. He removed his shirt, revealing his sleek and well-developed upper body adorned with numerous scars.

How many times had he fought in the underground arena? His body bore the evidence. However, Raciels focus was not on Demians muscles or scars. Instead, he zeroed in on a distinctive mark etched on Demians left back.

The mark branded in the arena.

The mark of a gladiator.

As I suspected, its there.

Just as described in the novels illustration.

That mark was the underlying cause.

It served as the origin of the excruciating pain that tormented Demian in the earlier part of the story. The occipital neuralgia he experienced was merely a symptom that manifested as a consequence. Raciel quickly composed himself, masking his expression and gaze before speaking again.

Why are you staring blankly? Lie down on the bed. Relax and let go of your tension. Thats the only way we can begin the treatment.

Are you planning to give me a massage or something? Demian questioned suspiciously as he lay down.

Its not that, Raciel replied, his smile carrying meaning.

The mark engraved on Demians back.

It needed to be eradicated.

However, it couldnt simply vanish. Cutting it with a knife or peeling off the skin would be futile. It held a curse within.

To eliminate that curse, there was only one method.

Since it was seared with a hot iron, it must be heated in the same manner, like this.

Raciel reached into his pocket and pulled out the secret weapon he had prepared for this moment. It was a mysterious, dark green substance, about the size of half a fist. Tapping the bed with his palm, he presented it with a cheerful beam.

Welcome, is this your first time experiencing moxibustion?