I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 91
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Adelio had just finished speaking when, all of a sudden, he pulled Yeshion into a tight embrace.
It didn’t seem intentional—because the moment Yeshion let out a pained “Ugh,” Adelio startled and quickly loosened his grip.
It looked like his mental control had slipped again, just for a moment, like another fit had tried to take over.
“…Didn’t you just get treated by the Saintess?”
“…Her power doesn’t work anymore.”
He exhaled deeply, voice full of resignation.
‘It’s not getting better?’
Of course, even in the original novel, Rosaline alone couldn’t fully resolve Adelio’s affliction.
But—
‘Didn’t you say sleeping together was the only thing that could really suppress it?’
Adelio’s curse could be subdued through their intimacy.
If things were going according to the book, the two of them should’ve shared a bed by now. So then… what about now? Had Adelio and Rosaline done it?
According to the novel, after Rosaline took in Adelio’s size, there was even a description about how she couldn’t walk straight.
But the Rosaline Yeshion had seen was anything but struggling to walk—more like a restless rabbit, hopping about all over the place before and after meeting Adelio.
“Maybe it was just first aid. Maybe it’s already worn off.”
“About that treatment… what exactly did it involve?”
“Treatment? Nothing special. Just like any priest healing a believer—holding hands, channeling divine power.”
That was different.
Yeshion hadn’t read ‘In The Name the Saintess’ with the greatest attention, but the scenes involving the divine always stood out. He remembered them clearly.
Every time they met, their so-called “treatment” was practically an excuse for s*x. And every time, the frequency of Adelio’s episodes decreased.
It hadn’t cured the curse completely, but it gave him a chance to breathe.
‘But you’re telling me they never had s*x?’
Yeshion’s expression shifted, confusion clearly written on his face as he carefully asked,
“You… didn’t try any more physical contact? Like… a kiss, maybe…”
“Why would I kiss someone during treatment?”
“W-Well, I heard that when pouring in large amounts of divine power, sometimes it helps. Like… when the Archpriest hugged me to treat me…”
Yeshion trailed off, rambling a bit, and Adelio shook his head.
“I didn’t, and I don’t want to.”
His tone was so firm, Yeshion was left gaping.
‘It’s changed this much…?’
Was this okay?
If things had veered off course this badly, then Adelio wouldn’t be able to suppress the curse.
And if he lost control, eventually that carefully guarded secret of his would be exposed to the world.
‘Wh-What do I do…?’
He’d never imagined that just by staying alive, such a huge butterfly effect could unfold. He thought if he kept his distance, things would eventually follow their path.
But now, Rosaline wasn’t going to the imperial palace, and the event where she shared a bed with Adelio was gone. Their entire relationship had changed.
“Yeshion.”
While he was inwardly panicking over the utterly derailed plot, Adelio called out to him in a serious voice.
“Y-Yes?”
Still holding his waist, Adelio hesitated for a moment, then spoke.
“I think… you might be able to heal people too. That time, when I bit your neck, the curse got pushed down almost instantly.”
Yeshion glanced away awkwardly, then slowly nodded.
Just a short time ago, he would’ve flatly denied it. But after the purification work, after realizing that divine power really did dwell within him, he could no longer refute it.
“But… why?”
“I want you to treat me.”
“M-Me?”
“Yeah. If it gets any worse, I think I might actually start acting like a beast right here.”
Even as he spoke, Adelio was clenching his fists and pounding the sofa, gritting through the rising urge.
The arm still wrapped around Yeshion’s waist felt increasingly hot.
“…Yeah, doing that here would definitely be a problem.”
And more than anyone, it would be his problem. Every time Adelio lost himself, he’d lunge for Yeshion, hands wandering in all the wrong places.
‘Well… it’s not like trying will hurt anything.’
He’d passed out more times than he could count while learning to control his power, but he’d finally figured out a method.
‘Consider it as practice.’
If he was going to keep working at the temple, he’d have to face all sorts of patients.
He still wasn’t confident in using divine power, and there was a chance he’d faint again—but he was inside the duke’s mansion. Even if he collapsed, his life wasn’t in danger.
And if passing out meant the treatment worked, then Adelio would surely protect him.
“I’ll try.”
Yeshion reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, he made a quiet wish.
If his divine power could even slightly relieve Adelio’s suffering— If it could go further and cure him entirely—he wanted that.
As the small wish settled in his heart, a faint light began to glow from Yeshion’s fingertips.
That weak, gentle light—so faint it looked as if it could heal no one—spilled forth and was drawn directly into Adelio’s body, rather than illuminating the space around them.
Thump.
The moment the light faded—
“Haa—!”
