Chapter 96: Ch 95: Help in exchange for freedom

It was clear that Goddess Paphelia was troubled. And it felt like the right time to make use of her trouble and bargain for a way out.

Aiden was sure that no goddess would turn down help for her people, even if she had to give up something in her possession.

"Goddess Paphelia, what if I can help you with your territory? Can you let me go in return?"

Aiden asked, waiting for Goddess Paphelia to agree outright.

But instead of agreeing, she pouted and made a sad face. She also stomped her foot like a child showing defiance against their parents.

"I don’t want to! I don’t need your help, and I really don’t want to let you go! So don’t even think about helping me out. Aeloria, make sure you keep an eye on Aiden and ensure he does not go anywhere."

Goddess Paphelia ordered her priestess before she left the room in a hurry. She tried her best not to show it, but Aiden could feel that something had gone wrong somewhere.

He turned to look at Aeloria and catch her expression as well, but the female priestess just shook her head and gave Aiden a sorry glance.

"I apologize for my goddess’s reactions. I promise she is not as much of a brat as she is appearing to be at the moment. She is rather young, and we humans are not exactly someone she can play with."

Aeloria sounded sorry for her goddess. But even if she did have a point, Aiden did not see what it had to do with him.

If Goddess Paphelia wanted a playmate, she should look for another god or a supernatural species. Why come looking for Aiden at that point?

"I can tell that you are curious and suspicious, but there is a reason she approached you. I am sure you have noticed as well that you are not fully human...at least, not in a traditional sense. Maybe that’s what attracted her to you..."

Aeloria was a good person and an even better priestess. She was trying to mask her goddess’s flaws with compliments and trying to make Aiden understand her point of view.

Unfortunately, Aiden had no intention of hearing her out.

Aiden crossed his arms and looked toward the door where Goddess Paphelia had disappeared with an unguarded, hostile expression.

"I don’t think I can understand her no matter how hard I try. No, rather...I don’t want to understand, no matter how hard I try."

Aeloria gave him an awkward smile.

"I understand why you feel that way. But please try to be a little patient with her. I won’t ask you for more than that. She’s just...a little too excited."

"Excited enough to kidnap me?"

Aiden asked, raising an eyebrow to show his surprise, and Aeloria fell silent for a moment before she chuckled to hide her discomfort.

"Well...when you put it that way, it does sound rather bad."

"You don’t say."

Aiden sighed before looking around the room.

"Still, if her territory really is suffering from an epidemic, I don’t want innocent people to die because of it. I might be able to help even if she doesn’t want to accept my help."

Aeloria looked at him with surprise.

"You really are kind."

"Don’t misunderstand me. I am not doing this for Goddess Paphelia. I am doing this because this is a chance to spread Goddess Apophis’s name far and wide."

Aiden shook his head, causing Aeloria to smile faintly. She had a knowing look in her eyes, which Aiden did his best to ignore.

"I think that might be exactly why she became interested in you. That being said, I will take you up on your offer of help. I am not in a position to accept and reject anyone here."

Aeloria sighed and gestured for Aiden to follow her. They went out of the room, and Aiden stretched his body for the first time in two days.

He had not even realized how stiff he had become until he was walking behind Aeloria and his legs protested at even the moderate speed.

"So, how do you want to help us out? Do you have a plan to stop this epidemic?"

Aeloria asked, and Aiden looked at her while thinking.

"Hmm, let me check..."

[Scanning information: Type of epidemic found - Yellow Fever.]

[Remedy is available in the shop.]

Just like always, the system was stocked with a solution, and Aiden bought some and handed it to Aeloria.

"Try this medicine on a sick person. It should take them a few hours to start recovering. Actually, can I come with you and check up on the progress? I don’t want to be locked up again."

Aiden asked, and Aeloria looked hesitant.

"I don’t think that’s a good idea. Not only is that place contaminated, but the people might also try and take their rage out on you for the lack of help. It would be for the best—"

"I am sure I will be fine. Goddess Apophis’s protection will keep me safe."

Aiden promised the priestess, who looked even more hesitant but then decided to stop questioning him and nodded her head.

Aiden followed Aeloria through the corridors, keeping his eyes open as they moved deeper into the territory.

The further they went, the more obvious the signs of the epidemic became. There were people lying on the ground, some barely conscious, while others were being cared for by those who were still healthy.

Aiden frowned as he looked at the situation.

"This is much worse than I expected."

Aeloria nodded with a troubled expression.

"It has been getting worse every day. We have tried everything we could think of, but nothing seems to work."

Aiden looked at the medicine in Aeloria’s hands.

"Then let’s see if this can change things."

They soon reached a small room where a few patients were being treated. Aeloria approached one of them and carefully gave them the medicine.

But the local people who saw this decided this was not fair and rushed toward them to try and swipe the medicine away.

"Give it here! My father is sicker-"

"My child! My poor child."