The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 123

#123.

“……What is that?”

“Merina will explain that, not me.”

As Zakary stepped back, Merina hesitantly stepped forward.

Her face was pale for some reason.

Just looking at her face, Jerakiel was convinced that the situation was not going well and urged her.

“Tell me quickly. What is that unexpected situation?”

Merina flinched as attention focused on her.

But it was a problem that she could no longer postpone or avoid. She took a deep breath, steeled her resolve, and opened her mouth.

“After the Lord’s rampage last time, Cersia’s condition was very unstable. Using power with two pheromones in the first place was dangerous. Moreover, the pheromone used at that time was an unknown pheromone that is difficult to define clearly yet. It is impossible to stop Jabishi’s rampage with only healing pheromones.”

“I knew it, she overdid it back then.”

Jerakiel moved his lips with a thoughtful expression. He had been watching the two of them right next to them during the rampage, so he already knew that the power was not a healing pheromone.

However, he didn’t realize that the power would hurt Cersia. After that, Cersia seemed healthy as usual.

Jerakiel’s heart sank at the fact that she was actually hiding her condition.

Merina watched Jerakiel and continued.

“Fortunately, Cersia’s condition gradually improved, and I assumed it was because of the contract with the Guardian.”

“So, she’s getting better?”

“No. I thought so too. Pheromones usually regain stability on their own when they become adults, so I expected that it would be resolved naturally once the adult transformation was successful. Still, just in case, I inquired about similar cases and found out that there were quite a few beastmen who had two pheromones than expected.”

That was unexpected. There were quite a few beastmen who secretly had two pheromones.

Just as he was expecting that Cersia might be safe like other beastmen, Merina opened her heavy mouth.

“And yesterday, I was on my way back from meeting the family of a beastman who had a similar case to Cersia.”

“Why didn’t you meet the person involved…….”

Jerakiel stopped talking and frowned. He was thinking about the unavoidable circumstances that prevented him from meeting the person involved, and Merina wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and said.

“The person involved already died last year. Unlike my expectations, beastmen with two pheromones often experience severe pheromone collisions when they become adults, and often wander between life and death. They become bodies that may die at any time due to unspecified seizures.”

“…….”

“In the case of the beastman I met this time, he maintained his life for quite a long time even after becoming an adult…….”

“Died? All of them?”

Jerakiel murmured blankly as if he couldn’t believe it.

That meant Cersia might die too.

Cersia looked too healthy to be a sick beastman.

The cheeks that were reddened by the cold were also very lovely with a ruddy complexion.

But she can’t live long after becoming an adult.

Jerakiel’s body trembled at the thought that Cersia might die from a pheromone collision as early as tomorrow.

Seeing this, Zakary said.

“So, Merina is on her way to hear the secret to maintaining life for a long time.”

“Is there a way?”

“Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, or perhaps a little difficult.”

Zakary stroked his forehead and continued.

“‘Aller,’ the eternal snow of the North [a rare ice crystal with medicinal properties], was helpful in pheromone collisions. Of course, even that didn’t work later, but it’s better than having no countermeasures at all.”

“Aller…….”

Aller was a precious ice crystal that could only be extracted from Mount Phase, the northernmost part of the North.

Just maintaining the temperature to prevent it from melting and transporting it cost a lot of money, so it was only used as medicine in the North.

In the South, it was more advantageous to use other medicinal herbs, so it was frustrating.

Of course, it was easy for Jabishi’s wealth to bring Aller to the South, but it was dangerous to let the other side know the reason for buying it.

They might try to bargain for Cersia’s life using Aller as an excuse.

“This matter is so important that I wanted to discuss it with you now because it is an important matter to decide without you. I’m sure you’re angry that I’ve been hiding it, but don’t engage in wasteful emotional fights…….”

It was when Zakary was trying to comfort his son, who was silent. Suddenly, Jerakiel’s eyes flashed.

“……It would be better to purchase Aller indirectly from a source other than Jabishi.”

He looked as if he had been thinking about it all along.

He seemed worried about Cersia. He prioritized solving the problem rather than questioning why he kept it a secret.

“Okay. First of all, it’s important to find a family or merchant who can avoid suspicion and has little connection with Jabishi.”

“If that’s the case, leave it to me.”

“Do you have someone in mind?”

“Yes. There is only one being who is not a noble, so it is easy to avoid suspicion, and it is difficult to associate with Jabishi.”

Zakary was delighted at the unexpected good news.

“There is such a person? Who is it?”

“Yes, there is. A dog that wags its tail when it sees me.”

Jerakiel thought of someone he had prepared for times like this.

Kane Rich, who is now the king of the lawless zone [a powerful figure in an uncontrolled area].

He was his bootlicker who voluntarily pledged allegiance to Jerakiel after kidnapping Cersia three years ago.

Thanks to reigning in an unprotected area that is not protected by nobles, he has been in charge of searching places that Jabishi has had difficulty accessing.

It was a kind of secret organization. Currently, they are disguised as merchants to the outside world.

Through Kane Rich, ‘Aller’ can be easily distributed.

The problem was what came next. Now that he knew that Aller was not a perfect cure, Jerakiel became anxious.

“I will definitely find a way to save Chi Chi.”

* * *

After finishing his reminiscence, Jerakiel stared intently at Cersia, who was bickering with Ivan in front of him.

His heart grew heavy because she still looked so healthy.

“Chi Chi.”

“Huh?”

“How’s your condition?”

Cersia tilted her head at the sudden question.

“It’s hard because it’s cold, but well, it’s not bad.”

“Tell me anytime it gets cold.”

Jerakiel said affectionately, caressing Cersia’s cheek.

At that moment, Cersia felt a sensation of warmth all over her body. The heat that had faded slightly returned, naturally making her feel drowsy.

“You’re a walking hot pack.”

“Hot pack?”

“You’re like a portable fireplace.”

“Aha.”

Cersia smiled brightly and clung to Jerakiel’s arm.

“Hehe, I have to stick close to you.”

Unaware of the turmoil in his heart, Cersia did not hesitate to act boldly.

“Yeah. No matter what happens, don’t stray from my side.”

Jerakiel hugged Cersia tightly. The moment their eyes met.

“Ugh.”

Jerakiel frowned at the sudden intrusion of an unwelcome guest. Ivan stopped gagging and said.

“Ah, I couldn’t help it.”

“Get out.”

Ivan made an unfair expression at Jerakiel’s eviction order. Eventually, Ivan, who had stood up staggering, headed for the door.

And just before going out, Ivan peeked out with only his face, making a lewd expression.

“What are you going to do after kicking me out~?”

His behavior of twisting his body was very hateful.

Instead of answering, Jerakiel frowned and shot pheromones.

Kwaang―!

Ivan, who quickly closed the door, stuck his face out through the hole in the door and teased.

“I guess you can see everything now~ Kyahaha!”

“…….”

“I wonder if this is a sight worth seeing alone?”

It was the moment when Ivan was openly watching and acting flippantly.

Jerakiel smiled.

“Excuse me.”

As if that was a signal, Ivan became serious and quickly moved away.

The only reason he had survived in Jabishi Castle was because of one thing.

Because he knew better than anyone else which lines not to cross.

In particular, he knew that Jerakiel was a beastman who would not tolerate crossing the line, so he quickly retreated.

After a while, when a certain distance was secured, Ivan put both hands to his mouth and shouted silently.

‘Then have a good time~’

Of course, Ivan was the only one who could keep up his frivolous attitude, even if he was beaten.