Irene's pleading eyes proved to be hard to surmount. But he had decided to save them anyway, after he had realized he was no longer an ordinary man.
Anthony pulled away from her gaze and summoned the system. He navigated to the shop and did so with a sense of urgency.
He went to the medicine tab and browsed for an antidote. After several swipes, he found the section for the anti-venom, and as what was advertised, every type of venom was in it.
The gush of relief was short-lived, as there were different antidotes for different snakes. And so, he must ask a question and receive an answer.
Anthony inserted himself into the crowd. Once they saw who it was, the villagers made way. The boy's mother noticed him before the hunter and village chief did.
"My lord, is there something you can do?" she said the similar words, but with tears and despair. "Doesn't the king heal anyone he touches?"
"You are of noble blood! Please do something!"
He remembered that the world was set in the medieval ages, where such superstitions still abounded. The king's touch wasn't any more special than a touch of a peasant.
His husband probably knew that his son was as good as dead, as he had kept his tongue. His hand was on his temples, covering his eyes, but the tears could be clearly seen.
"What was the snake that bit him?" Anthony knelt to the ground before the boy, who was fighting to stay awake and was noticeably having a hard time to breathe.
"We… we don't know. His playmates just saw him collap-."
Before the village chief could finish his answer, the boy vomited out blood, and it had also come out his nose. Even if there was an anti-venom, it was already late.
The mother wailed, and screamed. Blurting out words to the gods and goddesses, as she held her dying son.
There was nothing to be done. It was beyond saving. Anthony remained where he was, just to simply provide consolation.
"Gods, goddesses, mages, or devils, please hear me! I'll do anything! Just save my son." the mother refused to give up and didn't mind becoming a mumbling fool. If she could be heard, she will do everything that was needed to be done.
And she was.
At the mention of the mages, Anthony was reminded that the virtual shop had magical items in it. There was a medicine section, but there was also a separate potion section.
Anthony opened the shop and headed directly where he wanted to be. As he expected, he was shown a plethora of otherworldly concoctions. Yet, he was presented with another dilemma, most of them were foreign to him, and he could not afford to read their descriptions one by one.
He was so into it that he forgot he was surrounded by people. Even the mother stopped her screaming when she saw him mumbling and making gestures in the air.
The people whispered to each other, none of which would reach his ears.
Anthony resorted to his video game knowledge and tried to find a familiar potion.
"Potion of … potion of…" he unconsciously worded out every potion he saw and knew which only made the murmurings louder.
Then he found it.
[Potion of Recovery
Instantly restores 20% health and an additional 80% over 10 minutes. Cleanses the body of all abnormal effects.]
It was a potion that combined the potion of healing and potion of cleansing. Perfect for the situation. Because if it was only the former, then the boy's health would return, but the still-present venom would decrease it just as instantly. And if it was only the latter, then the venom would be eliminated, but the body would remain unrepaired.
[Are you sure you want to buy Potion of Recovery x1?]
[You have spent Tokens x5,000]
The people looked on in both awe and fear, as he pulled out a small bottle out of thin air.
"Here, quickly!" he handed the potion to the mother, but seeing his wife's shaking hand, it was the father who received it.
The hunter squatted down, and administered the potion to his child, while the mother opened his jaw.
The crowd waited in anticipation. All the villagers had now gathered, and the whispers have turned into loud conversations. Only then, had Anthony realized what had happened.
He scanned the crowd, and the only face that did not show fear was Irene. Their eyes met, and she gave her an encouraging nod.
Whether it fails or not, he didn't know how the village would react. He was ignorant of how the world viewed mages. What he knew was that on medieval earth, witches were burned.
The child coughed and everyone quieted down. The unconscious child had regained consciousness, a good sign.
As what had been indicated by the description of the potion, aside from the instant 20% health recovery, it will take a few minutes before the full effect is felt.
His skin gradually regained color, and he was soon able to speak, much to the delight of his parents. When five minutes have passed, they were sure he was on the path of recovery. And when ten minutes have been fully spent, they were surprised to see him as good as new.
When the child rose up from what seemed certain death, all heads turned to the miracle worker. Anthony's fears had been quelled when, instead of stones and sticks, only words of praises have been thrown at him.
"A mighty mage is among us!"
"Hail Lord Anthony!" the chant was started by the jubilant crowd, and Irene was more than happy to join in.
The hunter knelt before his feet and prostrated. Anthony immediately went down to grab his shoulders and make him stand up, but his knees remained rooted in the ground.
"I will serve you and your house for the rest of my days, my lord. This is a debt I cannot repay."