Chapter 67: The Wound Heals

In a dark, hidden room, Choi Ha-neul and I sat facing each other. In my hand was the circlet Savos Aren had given me.

'The circlet? Oh, right...!'

"Ha-neul! Hurry, put this on! You have to become human again!"

As she stared at me blankly with those crimson eyes, I shouted at her and tried to place it on her head before she could even answer.

"Mister, I think living as a vampire suits me much better."

But Ha-neul refused. It wasn't the blunt, brainwashed tone from before; it was her original, energetic voice.

"What are you talking about...?"

"Exactly what I said! Vampires don't have to worry about what others think—we can live however we want! We can slaughter to our heart's content and eat as much human flesh as we desire!"

Huh?

What kind of nonsense is she spewing now...?

"Do you want to be a vampire too, Mister? If you do, we can go on adventures together again, you know?"

Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. When I thought about it, I didn't really know why I had this conviction that being a vampire was unconditionally evil.

Perhaps it was just people's prejudice. What was actually wrong with it? If I could just have fun adventuring with Ha-neul, it didn't matter if I became a vampire or a zombie, did it?

"Yeah, Ha-neul. Turn me into a vampire."

I tilted my head, exposing my neck completely. I made it easy for her to drink my blood.

"Hehe, good choice!"

With that, Choi Ha-neul's sharp fangs pierced my throat—

***

—Crash!

"Gwaah! Was... was it a dream?"

Consciousness snapped back to me instantly.

'Where is this? An inn?'

However, the bed and furniture were far too high-end for a common inn.

Regardless, I shoved the covers aside and checked my condition. My body was drenched in sweat.

"Are you awake?"

Turning toward the voice, I saw Serana sitting in a chair beside the bed with an indifferent expression. It seemed like a faint smile played on her lips when our eyes met, but I didn't pay it much mind.

'Don't tell me she's been nursing me.'

A water jug and a damp towel sat on the bedside table.

It was pitch black outside, yet there wasn't a hint of sleepiness in her eyes.

"How are the wounds?"

At her words, I hurriedly inspected my chest.

The lacerations left by the monster—no, by Choi Ha-neul—had fortunately stopped worsening, but they had left behind three dark, long scars.

"I think I'm okay..."

'Actually, I'm not okay at all...'

"Is that so?"

Serana grabbed my head with both hands. She scrutinized my face from various angles.

"From what I see, you look far from okay."

'Does she have a lie detector spell active or something?'

In the end, I confessed my true feelings.

"Truth is, I'm not okay at all..."

"Figured as much."

Releasing her hold, Serana silently began wiping my body with the wet towel.

"Ack, cold!"

"You need to clean up regardless. You've been lying here for two days."

"Yeah... wait, two days?!"

As the cold water soaked into my skin, my memories began to resurface.

'Right, what about Lydia and Eloise?'

Serana looked fine, so I didn't need to ask about her.

"What happened to the others?! And Ha-neul and the vampire with her??"

Serana explained calmly.

"Calm down. They retreated. They're not here anymore, so don't worry about that."

When I asked about my party members, Serana gestured for me to follow her without a word.

I slowly dragged myself out of bed. My limbs moved without issue.

"Phew..."

I steeled my heart and followed Serana.

"Holy shit!"

After leaving the room and looking around the building, I realized I was in the Jarl's Longhouse in Falkreath.

But that wasn't the important part. Eloise and Lydia were in the room right next to mine.

And their condition was unspeakably horrific.

"Eloise...?"

"Mmph..."

Eloise was covered in bandages from head to toe. Her mouth was also bandaged, leaving her able only to mumble incoherently. Tears welled in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.

"How can this be...?"

"Hmph, mmm..."

Her jaw must have been injured too, as she couldn't even form words.

In a world with actual healers and potions, I couldn't understand why she had been left in such a state.

"It's because of the war. All the healers and potent medicines are conscripted to the front lines. You won't find them easily in an outlying city like this."

Right, there was a war going on. Come to think of it, Legate Rikke had mentioned something about when I was supposed to report to Windhelm.

Whether I became a deserter or not, I didn't care. When my precious companions were broken and dying like this, what did I give a damn about a war?

"Mister Bart..."

Lydia was in the next bed. Fortunately, she was conscious.

"Lydia, I'm glad you're safe..."

But it was only her consciousness that was 'safe.' Lydia's left arm was gone, as if it had been ripped clean off.

"Dear Gods... your arm..."

"I am sorry... With my arm like this, I do not think I can accompany you on adventures anymore..."

—Thud.

I collapsed to the floor right there, spiraling into a full-blown panic.

'Why is this happening only to us...?'

After a while, I regained enough composure to hear the detailed explanation from Serana.

Serana had been easily winning her fight against the vampire named Salonia, but the moment she moved to finish her off, Choi Ha-neul had snatched Salonia and flown away.

When Serana found them, more than seventy percent of Lydia's left arm had been torn away, and nearly every bone in Eloise's body had been shattered.

Afterward, the townspeople and guards helped clean up the mess. Since the inn had collapsed during the aftermath of the fight, we had been moved to the Jarl's residence.

Resources were scarce in the town due to the war, and above all, because their healer, Eloise, had been knocked unconscious, treatment had been delayed.

Luckily, an elderly priest had provided emergency first aid, so all three of us survived, but I didn't know if this was a situation where 'lucky' was the right word.

"That's what happened. For now, rest. You haven't fully healed yet."

"Yeah..."

"I say, are you the leader of this party?"

As I sat on the floor with my head in my hands, lost in thought, someone called out to me.

"As the Jarl of Falkreath, I wish to express my gratitude for driving those vampires away."

It was Siddgeir, the Jarl of the city. He was remarkably young compared to other Jarls—probably around my age or perhaps even younger.

"I am Siddgeir, Jarl of Falkreath. I am a man who repays a favor with a favor. See to it that these guests are treated as VIPs for the duration of their stay."

""Yes, my Lord.""

The steward and housecarl standing beside the Jarl responded. They seemed quite well-disciplined.

"By the way, you were quite impressive, chasing off that ferocious beast."

"Haha, no..."

I hadn't chased her off; I had been one-sidedly toyed with. But I didn't bother to correct him. More than anything, I just wanted to be alone.

"If you're willing, would you like to become a Thane once your treatment is finished?"

"Thank you for the offer, but I must decline."

I rejected Siddgeir's offer and rushed outside to try and settle my frantic heart.

Serana watched me leave but didn't try to stop me. She knew I needed time alone.

—Sssssshhh

Outside, a torrential downpour was falling.

'Even in the game, it rained unusually often in Falkreath.'

I hadn't even grabbed my boots. I walked aimlessly down the street, my bare feet squelching through the mud.

—Thump.

But I couldn't walk far before my legs gave out again, and I fell to my knees.

"Dammit! I'm such a pathetic bastard!"

—Wham!

I slammed my forehead hard against the ground, which was filthy with mud and gravel. I knew doing this wouldn't bring Choi Ha-neul back or fix Lydia's arm. It was nothing but self-loathing.

—Wham!

—Wham!

—Wham....

"Huff, huff..."

Rain and blood mixed together, seeping into the earth.

'A Skyrim veteran? Don't make me laugh!'

Despite knowing so much about Skyrim, I had failed to prepare properly and had led my party into a catastrophe.

And now, my innocent companions were the ones suffering for it.

Of course, Lydia and Eloise didn't blame me, but that only added to the crushing weight of responsibility I felt. I could have prevented all of this.

I tilted my head back toward the cloud-choked sky. Raindrops leaked into my eyes and the corners of my mouth.

"Cough."

Perhaps it was the constant exposure to the freezing predawn rain, but I began to feel a chill.

"I should at least find some cover..."

I trudged toward the eaves of a nearby building to take shelter. The rain showed no signs of letting up.

I pulled my legs close and shivered. Even after getting out of the rain, my body temperature was dropping rapidly.

'Are you just going to keep cowering in the corner like a loser?'

"If she were here, that's exactly what she would have said to me."

Right. Wallowing in this won't change anything.

Eventually, wounds heal. The gashes on my chest and the scars in my heart will all heal one day.

Sadness and despair can wait until after the job is finished.

Above all else, I will become stronger—by any means necessary.

Then I will take back Choi Ha-neul and make those Volkihar bastards pay for what they did to us.

I'm a Skyrim veteran. Whether it's through cheats, exploits, or the straight and narrow, I know every single way there is to become powerful.

'I wonder if the glitches will work here too.'

Even if the in-game bugs don't function, there are plenty of other methods.

I clenched my fists, hardening my resolve.

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