Peaceful Life System: I only need to live peacefully-Chapter 54: A Harsh Message

"Okay. Please." Elera answered with a small, slightly hesitant nod.

Riku focused, calling upon his basic healing magic – the same gentle light he’d used to mend minor wounds in Elowen. A soft, warm golden glow enveloped his hands. He reached out slowly, placing his palm just above one of the crimson patches on Elara’s arm.

The light flowed, and Elara gasped softly, not in pain, but in surprise at the warmth. Riku concentrated, pushing the healing energy towards the mark. But nothing happened. The crimson stain remained, vivid and unyielding beneath the golden light. If anything, it seemed to pulse faintly, almost mockingly.

He tried again, focusing more intensely, channeling more mana. The golden light brightened, but the result was the same. His healing spells, which he was sure would have cured a torn limb already, seemed to have no effect whatsoever on these crimson manifestations. It was like trying to wash away a dye that had seeped into the very fabric of her being.

Lila watched, her brow furrowed with concern. "It’s not working?"

Riku pulled his hand back, a frown creasing his forehead. "No. It’s... resistant. This isn’t a simple wound or infection." He thought back to Vintross, to the overwhelming power of Thymia’s healing melody that had cleansed an entire city. That was a level of divine intervention, far beyond his current capabilities without resorting to...

An idea sparked. He still had the "stones" from the monk, the conduits he’d used to call upon Axia and Varr. Perhaps...

System, he thought, channeling protocol for summoning divine aid, targeting Maiden of Mending, Thymia. Focus: Curse Cleansing.

He reached into his satchel, his fingers closing around one of the familiar, potent stones.

Ding!

This time, the system’s response was not a helpful prompt, but a slightly aggressive, block. A crimson warning panel flashed in his vision, far more intense than the usual blue.

[CRITICAL SYSTEM WARNING! Peaceful Life Mandate Violation Detected!]

[Attempting to invoke High-Tier Divine Intervention for a localized, non-existential threat is a severe breach of operational parameters! Repeated reliance on powers undermines core principles of self-sufficiency, sustainable development, and the cultivation of genuine, earned goodwill!]

[Spell Invocation: BLOCKED.]

[Further attempts to bypass systemic limitations for such purposes will result in escalating penalties, including prolonged skill cooldowns, goodwill point forfeiture, and potential revocation of advanced system functions.]

[Host is strongly advised to seek solutions aligned with the Peaceful Life System’s intended progression: innovation, community building, and personal growth. The heavens help those who help themselves – and their communities – through earnest effort, not by repeatedly calling down gods for every inconvenience!]

Riku recoiled mentally, stunned by the system’s uncharacteristic vehemence. Blocked? Restricted? Penalties? He’d never received such a forceful rebuke. The system was usually so... passively helpful, or vaguely encouraging. This was a slap on the wrist, and a clear drawing of a line.

System, what happened? Why this aggressive stance? What is the use of being the strongest if I cannot help others?

[The host has been given access to strength in order to fulfill his unfulfilled desires of living his life peacefully. However, the host cannot rely on using their most powerful spells to solve every problem they encounter. Goodwill earned this way is not what this system is meant to offer.]

But what about the mission you gave me earlier? How am I supposed to fulfill it if I cannot do anything?

[The host can use his skills, however, in a limited fashion. For example, in this case, if the host could figure out the exact reason for this curse, they would be able to solve it even after using a spell much weaker than the one they just used earlier.]

[The system cannot allow the host to use divine spells at will, as this is not what the system was designed for.]

But system, why can’t you allow me to help her this once?

[The host might meet hundreds of such people in the near future. Does the host plan on stopping only after curing the person in front of them?]

...

Riku, who had no answer, sighed and slowly withdrew his hand from his satchel. The unactivated stone suddenly felt heavy. He couldn’t call Thymia. He was on his own with this.

Lila saw the shift in his expression. "Riku? What is it? Did you think of something?"

Riku forced a smile, though it felt strained. "Just... a dead end. The methods I was considering... they’re not suitable for this situation, or perhaps beyond my current ability to control safely here." He looked at Elara, who was watching him with a mixture of hope and trepidation.

"I’m sorry, Elara," he said softly. "My usual healing doesn’t seem to work on these marks. And the stronger methods... I can’t use them right now. I need to find out the cause of this before I can treat you."

Elara’s face fell, but then a flicker of her earlier resilience returned. She managed a small, brave smile. "It’s okay. You... you already saved my life. That’s more than anyone else has ever done."

She touched the crimson marks on her arm again. "They hurt sometimes, but... I can bear it. As long as I’m not... not going to be burned..." Her voice trembled slightly at the memory.

"You won’t be," Riku said firmly. "Not while I’m around." He felt a fresh wave of determination. The system wanted him to find another way? Fine. He would. "We’ll find out what this is, Elara. And we’ll find a way to help you. I promise."

Elara looked at him, then at Lila’s comforting smile, and a genuine, if small, sense of hope seemed to settle in her eyes. "Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for not giving up on me." ƒгeewebnovёl.com

"So, what’s next?" Lila asked.

"We need to find out more about what is causing this ’Crimson Creep’. Elara, could you tell us more about how you lived before, and how you acquired this thing? Were there any specific incidents or triggers that you might attribute to your condition? I heard the villagers earlier talk about your father."

Hearing Riku bring up her father, Elara’s face fell once again.