Alex grabbed a nearby knife, cutting open the fruit quickly.
The effort needed was surprisingly more intensive than he thought, and the knife itself wasn't blunt by any standards. He could feel the muscles in his arm straining with each press, his grip slightly trembling as he dug the blade deeper. The rind wasn't unusually thick, but to Alex, in this frail body, even something so basic felt exhausting.
'This body is stupidly weak…' he thought bitterly, teeth clenched as he forced the knife down.
Finally, the blade broke through. As he sliced open the fruit, he looked at its flesh. Pale citrus-like segments glistened with sour juices, dripping onto his hand. The sharp, tangy aroma hit his nose instantly, making his mouth water despite himself.
'Definitely looks citrus-like.'
He turned to the debt collector, handing one-half of the fruit.
"Take a seat," Alex answered, speaking in the calm, patient tone he used back in the hospital, like he was talking to a sick man instead of someone who could easily beat him into the ground.
The debt collector begrudgingly agreed, lowering himself onto a stool. His strength was waning by the second. His limbs twitched weakly, gums swollen, and his complexion pale—the signs of scurvy had advanced far beyond what the man could tolerate on his own.
"Don't mind the taste."
Alex raised the fruit above the debt collector's mouth, his hand steady, before squeezing the juices out in a stream. The sour liquid dripped down, forcing the man to swallow against his own will.
[Eye of Ophiuchus: Passive]
[Medicinal Effectiveness: 200%]
[User: Alex Mercer]
[Race: Human]
[Attributes:]
Vitality: 4 (+1)
Strength: 3 (+1)
Dexterity: 5 (+1)
Mana: 5 (+1)
[Skills]
Eye of Ophiuchus: Ability (1/10)
Eye of Ophiuchus: Passive (1/10)
'…Wait. Healing others doesn't just help them, it makes me stronger too?' Alex thought, his eyes widening in curiosity.
The moment the juice entered the man's system, Alex's passive immediately began its work. Something that would usually take weeks of slow recovery started instantly. Alex could see it—veins unclogging, gums tightening, blood flowing more naturally. The entire status of the debt collector was being cleansed right before his eyes, annihilating every sign of scurvy.
"Ah, fuck!" The debt collector jerked, spitting out some of the juices. The taste was too much for him to handle, his face twisting in disgust. "I always hated that fruit."
'Always hated this fruit? No wonder you've gotten scurvy.' Alex thought, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, letting out a small laugh at the remark.
Then the man's expression shifted. His breathing evened out, his body suddenly lighter. His joints loosened as he moved, testing his fingers and arms.
"It… It worked?" he muttered, curling his fingers again and again as if he couldn't believe it. His voice shook, louder with each word. "It actually damn worked!?"
Alex grinned. Even the most cruel and arrogant man in the world would feel thankful when suddenly restored to full health after weeks of misery. It was human instinct.
The debt collector stumbled toward a nearby mirror, pulling at his cheeks, inspecting his teeth and gums. What he saw made him freeze—they were healthy again, back to a natural state.
Even Alex was surprised. He had only intended to halt the scurvy's progress, not completely erase it.
But then again, hadn't the roots he ate stopped that poisoning attempt almost instantly too?
What shocked him more, though, was his own reflection as the mirror shifted.
"Can I use this for a bit?" Alex asked quickly, brushing past the debt collector and rushing toward the glass.
Normally, the man would've shoved him away for such disrespect. But right now, he was in too euphoric a state to care, almost obedient.
Alex stopped in front of the mirror. His breath caught.
'Holy crap… I look…' His eyes narrowed, scanning his own face before he frowned. 'Unique…?'
Blue hair—unnaturally vibrant, catching the dim candlelight like crystal threads. Heterochromic eyes—one green, one glowing blue, the latter pulsing faintly like it contained a secret. His face, however, was frail and bony, skin clinging tight as though he hadn't eaten in weeks.
Still, there was something about the face that held potential.
'I guess that's one benefit to this new body… it has potential to be handsome…'
"First time seeing your face?" the debt collector spoke from behind, arms crossed, his voice curious.
It wasn't an odd question. In this world, mirrors were rare. Only rivers reflected clearly, and in the slums, even the rivers were muddy and dark.
"Yeah… I guess so." Alex laughed softly, eyes still fixed on the reflection.
[Eye of Ophiuchus]
[Condition Fulfilled: Heal Another (1/1)]
[Memory Sync]
Suddenly, electricity sparked inside his head. Pain exploded like a needle stabbing his brain. Alex winced, clutching his temples.
"Ah!" he groaned, unable to hold back.
The small noise made the debt collector raise an eyebrow.
And then, like a flood, knowledge streamed into Alex's mind. He staggered but endured, allowing it to imprint. Plants, medicine, magic. Basic survival knowledge. Organizations. Kingdoms. Town layouts.
Erlyn Kingdom. East of the Continent of Pisc. Surrounded by three kingdoms, all allied together to form the Eastern Alliance.
His current location.
It wasn't everything. But it was enough to give him a foothold in this new world.
'I… know the layout of this town now,' Alex realized, a small smile tugging his lips. 'That's a powerful tool for navigating a foreign world.'
"Anyways," the debt collector cleared his throat, his voice more steady than before. He stood taller now, flexing his arms with confidence. "I'm a man of my word. Either that, or I'm just too damn happy to not feel like shit anymore."
He chuckled, almost laughing. "I'll pay your debt for you. Barely a dent in my wallet anyway."
He grabbed a nearby bottle from a shelf, tossing it casually to Alex. "And here's a tip for your quick service."
Then he waved his hand, dismissive but not cold. "Now, get out."
His face hardened back into its usual stern mask, but Alex could sense the difference. Beneath the tone, there was respect. Even a man like him couldn't ignore someone who had just saved his life.
"I've got my eye on you, Mercer. Don't waste that talent."
THUD.
Moments later, Alex stood outside the house, holding the flask-shaped bottle filled with crimson liquid.
[Eye of Ophiuchus: Ability]
[Healing Potion]
[Instantly heals and restores physical condition, does not affect diseases or illnesses.]
Alex raised a brow at the words. His gaze dropped to his own body—thin, yellow-skinned, fragile enough to snap in the wind.
'There's no point in not drinking it, right? Judging by my current state, even a strong gust of wind could take me down.'
He popped the lid and chugged it in one go.
[Eye of Ophiuchus: Passive]
[Medicinal Effectiveness: 200%]
His body pulsed with warmth. Muscles tightened, filling with strength. Bones solidified. His skin shifted from pale yellow to a healthy tone. He blinked down at his arms, shocked.
From fragile to average, in just a moment.
'Ah, so it doesn't cure diseases… but malnutrition counts as a condition. That explains why my body bounced back so easily.'
'And I'm guessing my passive had a hand in that as well…'
He tied the empty flask to his waist with a bundle of weeds, making a crude belt.
It could be useful in the future.
'Physical condition: decent. Next in the agenda… a steady supply of coin.'
An idea sparked.
'I could turn my shack into an apothecary station.'
His hand curled into a fist as he lifted his gaze to the sky. "Anyways, I wonder how Chris is doing…"