632,

Cyclone didn’t understand this feeling.

It was as if, behind his reason, some kind of conviction was driving him forward.

It wasn’t until Hilmirya spoke that Cyclone understood what he truly wanted.

“I—I found it…”

Inside the church was something Hilmirya recognized—the medical kit used by the church’s resident doctor.

The hand Cyclone was using to press down on the wound felt a pulse unlike anything he’d ever felt before.

“If we take her somewhere farther away, we might be able to buy a little time…”

Eileen tried to offer a suggestion.

“Impossible… With the amount of blood she’s losing, we can’t move her anymore…”

As Cyclone’s primary nurse, Yuna had witnessed a great many wounded people.

So with just one glance, she’d already gotten a rough understanding of Eumerika’s condition.

Cyclone’s hand, pressing down on the bleeding wound, had indeed helped keep Eumerika alive.

But the magic gun’s power was astonishing. A single bullet had torn through the flesh, and the wound wouldn’t stop bleeding.

Fortunately, the bullet hadn’t passed all the way through her body. It had struck bone instead, lodging itself inside her.

That meant there was only one wound, so the blood loss wouldn’t be too severe.

There were two options. The first was to use fire, forcibly cauterizing the wound to stop the bleeding, then remove the bullet afterward.

The second was to perform surgery immediately, remove the bullet, and then close the wound.

Given the current situation, the former method was clearly the proper choice. After that, they could save Eumerika.

But if things were really that simple, a tycoon wouldn’t be a tycoon.

A black rune was flickering. From Yuna’s deduction, it had been caused by the bullet inside Eumerika’s body.

Who knew what other special effects the bullet had besides tracking its target?

Watching Eumerika struggle in agony, not removing the bullet now would be like placing her life on a huge gamble—betting everything on the bullet not having any instantly fatal ability.

Hilmirya set down the medical kit. Unlike Yuna, she was determined to save Eumerika.

That was the duty of a believer in the Water Shrine—and of a nurse.

What about Cyclone?

Cyclone was a half-trained doctor, the son of a farmer. He had no particular duty as a physician.

“Honey!”

“Cyclone…”

Yuna stood to his left, and Hilmirya to his right.

Cyclone knew that he had to make a decision now.

“Cyclone…”

And between the two of them stood Elyse, her belly swollen with pregnancy.

Looking at Elyse, Cyclone understood.

There was only one answer for him.

It wasn’t a question of right or wrong, nor was it a question of willpower.

It was something purer. A much simpler thought.

As a man, and as Elyse’s husband, Cyclone had something he ought to do.

“I can’t leave her behind.”

“But?!”

Cyclone raised his head and gave Yuna a helpless smile.

“I understand… I know this is extremely dangerous… and it’s not something I’d normally do…”

Cyclone looked back at Eumerika. A wounded person was lying right in front of him.

“Feng’er is about to be born… and I’m a man who’s about to become a father…”

Looking at each of his wives, Cyclone clearly voiced his thoughts.

“I’ve always felt that I can’t go on like this… At the very least… I don’t want Feng’er to think his father is the kind of man who could save someone, but ran away just to protect himself.”

At that moment, Cyclone took his hand away and picked up the scalpel from Hilmirya’s hand.

“So… I’m staying…”

He glanced at the scalpel, then at Eumerika’s wound.

“I’m going to… perform this surgery!”

With a determined look in his eyes, Cyclone made his decision. First, he would perform the surgery on Eumerika. First, he would save the person in front of him.

In that moment, Cyclone chose to welcome his soon-to-be-born son as a doctor.