"Hmm, this place."
The place I am at now is an intermediate area. It's where the middle class resides.
Compared to the lower areas, the streets are immaculately clean. The houses are respectable as well. It's that much of a good place to live.
And right here lived my second mentor. Though of low status, he had made a considerable amount of money.
But.
The house in front of me was a bit different.
No, it was very different.
Because the walls were full of creepy graffiti written in red paint.
- A bastard lives here.
- Die!
- Garbage beyond redemption.
- Just disappear to hell.
Graffiti that made one frown just by looking at it. Most people would hesitate even to approach.
But I smiled.
A treasure in the mud, known only to a very few users.
How could I not smile when such a treasure was in front of me?
Thump thump!
I knocked on the door without hesitation.
There was no response from inside.
Thump thump thump!
I knocked on the door again, harder this time.
Finally, the door creaked open slightly.
"Who the hell are you?"
A rough voice burst out. One could tell it was not a person who had lived an easy life just by that. A burly, bald man stood there.
He had a ferocious look. One to instinctively be on guard against.
And another thing: his forearms were incredibly thick. Huge muscles were attached.
Intimidating enough to make one feel overpowered.
'Seeing it in person, it's even more brutal.'
I sneered inwardly.
The bald man's name was Godwin. Originally from the Parene Kingdom, he was an executioner who had allegedly killed a thousand people. But in truth, I knew that the official number of executions was just that, and if one were to include the secret executions carried out in the shadows, the number was nearly double.
And now he was here in the holy city.
Why?
Because he had developed a severe mental illness and was seeking treatment.
It was impossible to cure with medicine, so he was pinning his hopes on the divine power of the church.
However, I knew that too was ineffective. The method was right there.
"Revelation? A revelation, you say?"
"Yes. Perhaps your prayers have been heard by God. That's why he sent me this revelation."
Godwin looked lost in thought. Torn between believing this absurd story or not.
But he had heard it clearly—that I had precisely mentioned his symptoms.
And, desperate to cling to any straw, this had to be it for him.
"Damn it, I can't believe it, but come in. Let's at least talk."
Eventually, Godwin opened the door wide.
"You should have done that earlier."
I smirked and entered. Walking confidently ahead into the house, Godwin looked dumbfounded.
Inside, it was somewhat better compared to the graffiti-ridden outside. A messy place to live for a sick person, but unavoidable.
I sat down comfortably in the living room as if it were my own house.
Then I said.
"Let's talk."
Godwin stood by the doorway for a moment, seemingly unsure whether to throw me out or listen. His large hand trembled slightly as he closed the door behind him with a thud. The sound echoed through the sparsely furnished room, and I could feel the tension thickening in the air.
He walked over to a worn-out chair across from me and sat down heavily, the wood creaking under his weight. His eyes, bloodshot and weary, locked onto mine with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
"Talk, then," he growled, crossing his arms over his massive chest. "But if you're lying..."
I smirked, unbothered by the threat. "I'm not lying, that's for sure.
There was silence for moment as Godwin staired down at me.
"So what is it? What's the cure?"
Godwin got straight to the point, as if he didn't want to engage in a private conversation.
I would have done the same.
"Medicine."
"Medicine?"
Godwin frowned fiercely.
"You're saying 'medicine,' after all this time without taking any?"
It seemed he had a significant distrust of medicines.
It had probably only been a waste of money so far.
"That's other people's medicine, not mine, right? Is there a guarantee that my medicine won't work?"
Godwin seemed a bit taken aback by my forthright attitude.
There would hardly be anyone who could speak so freely and unabashedly to someone's face.
"Cough, that may be true, but..."
That's why my words had more impact.
I could feel Godwin taking a step back.
"So what is this medicine?"
"I can't tell you that."