Hacking the Game Didn't Go as Intended

CHAPTER 89: The Devs Strike Again - Potions & the Healer Class

As they journeyed back to Wonderelle along the road, Daisuke stole a glance at the hulking nun effortlessly bearing the lighter Amara on her back. As fatigue crept in, Daisuke couldn't help but curse his chivalrous obligations for shouldering the heavier burden.

As he mused about being strangled by Morgana if she could hear his inner thoughts, Gloria began to speak, her voice breaking the silence. She unraveled the shaman's sinister schemes—from calculated kidnappings, alliances with bandits, to the twisted psychological conditioning of his offspring to nurture evil inclinations.

"But that monster made a crucial mistake," Gloria remarked, the disapproving furrow in her brow softening. "It allowed the toddlers to remain with their mothers. Despite the circumstances, the girls did everything in their power to shower them with love and affection and instill in them a sense of right and wrong."

Daisuke's expression darkened as Gloria informed him that the shaman had claimed sole authority over fathering the children based on his supposed superior DNA among the goblins. As for the nun herself, her confinement stemmed purely from her healing abilities—she was tasked with the responsibility of tending to the girls and aiding them through childbirth.

Despite the unsettling revelations, one nagging question still lingered in Daisuke's mind. "Morgana was selected to be another host, right?" he inquired, his brow creasing with curiosity. "Then, out of all the others, why was she the only one who lost her leg?"

Gloria pursed her lips, contemplating the unsettling notion. "From what I understand, when Morgana and her companions were initially confronted by the goblins, she managed to defeat many of them, including a revered champion among the tribe.

Now, this is merely speculation on my part, but it's possible that the monster couldn't control the goblins through reason alone. Given their wild and uncivilized nature, a degree of violence and savagery may be necessary to maintain the power dynamic."

Daisuke felt a lump form in his throat as Gloria searched for the right words to convey the grim truth. "It's possible that her leg was offered to the tribe as a tribute to pacify their wrath," she said, her tone heavy with sorrow.

A brief silence lingered before Gloria shifted gears, injecting a note of hope into her words. "However, I've heard whispers of skilled blacksmiths capable of crafting prosthetic limbs from metal. With such advancements, Morgana's life as an adventurer may still be well within reach."

Daisuke's lips curled into a faint smile, his gaze drifting to Morgana's peaceful visage resting on his shoulder.

It wasn't long until the towering walls of a familiar town materialized in the distance. The welcoming sight of Wonderelle brought a sense of relief, a beacon of safety after their harrowing ordeal.

After leaving the unconscious adventures at the monastery and being reassured by Gloria that they would be thoroughly looked after, Daisuke bid her farewell and promptly took his leave.

***

It had been nearly a month since Daisuke last graced the town's cobblestone streets, hopelessly ensnared in the throes of a perilous adventure. If he had failed to escape the dungeon's clutches, would anyone in this bustling town even notice his absence?

As he surveyed the busy plaza—people flickering in and out through the teleportation gate, players bellowing requests for party members, and merchants' caravans flowing ceaselessly in and out of town—he couldn't shake the weight of his deep-seated pessimism.

When was the last time I got a proper night's rest in a comfortable bed? He pondered inwardly. It feels like ages ago. Right after that dungeon escapade, I pretty much made a beeline for Elmridge Village. My inventory's bursting with loot I haven't had the chance to sort through yet. Might as well take care of it all before retrieving Zephyr. First up, a visit to the apothecary.