Chapter 47: Panicking

"Waaaaa!"

Kai’s eyes snapped open the instant he heard the cry. His mind registered something was wrong even before his eyes fully adjusted. Elara was hurting.

He immediately straightened and turned toward his right. Sure enough, his little girl was already in tears.

Jean was in the middle of removing her clothes as she muttered, "She has a rash on her neck. Can you get me some mildly cold water and a clean piece of fabric?"

She received no response. Turning around, she found Kai staring at his daughter with an expression of utter distress. The sight made her feel even more helpless than before, and she quickly reassured him.

"She’s fine, Kai. Her neck is just irritated, probably from sweat or her drool. This has happened before too."

Neck rashes were fairly common in small children, especially because of sweat, moisture, or friction from their clothes. This was already the third time Jean had dealt with something like this, which was why she remained relatively calm.

For Kai, however, this was the first time he had witnessed his daughter crying because she was in pain. Seeing her like this had left him frozen until the realization struck him that he needed to do something.

He hurried out of bed, nearly tripping in his haste, before grabbing a small pot. He filled it with cold water, then checked the temperature carefully to make sure it wasn’t too cold.

Then came the real problem.

He needed something soft enough to clean her skin.

"Not this... not this..."

Kai searched through everything in the kitchen. Tissues were out of the question, and so were the rougher wipes. He clicked his tongue in frustration.

’Tch, how can I be so careless?’

"Waaaaah!"

Elara’s cries grew louder, and Kai’s desperation spiked.

He rushed to his cupboard, pulled out one of his shirts made from an exceptionally soft, feather-light fabric, and tore off the sleeve.

Jean flinched at the sudden sound of ripping fabric.

"What are you doing?"

Kai didn’t answer. He quickly dipped the freshly torn sleeve into the water, squeezed out the excess, and brought it over to her.

"Please... help her."

His voice trembled faintly.

Jean didn’t ask any further. She could see the worry etched across his face, and there was no mistaking how badly he was struggling to keep himself composed.

"Please hold her chin up so I can clean it."

Kai nodded and climbed back onto the bed, his attention immediately returning to his daughter.

The tears spilling from Elara’s eyes and the broken wails escaping her hoarse little throat were heartbreaking to watch.

He gently slipped a hand beneath her chin and tilted her head upward.

Then his eyes widened in horror.

Her tiny neck was covered in red bumps, and they looked painful enough to make his chest tighten.

"Shouldn’t we take her to the hospital?" he asked immediately. "I have a friend who can bring an ambulance for us."

Jean gave him a faint, reassuring smile and shook her head.

"Just wait a few minutes. She’ll be fine. This happens whenever she sweats too much. I’ve already had her checked once, and the best thing we can do is keep the irritated area clean and let it breathe."

As she spoke, Jean gently dabbed the damp fabric against Elara’s neck, careful not to rub the irritated skin. Once she had cleaned the area, she used the dry side of the sleeve to pat it gently.

The process was slow and careful, but by the time Jean finished, Elara’s cries had already softened considerably.

Kai continued holding her head at a comfortable angle, occasionally blowing gently over the irritated skin in an attempt to soothe her.

He had already adjusted the air conditioner, lowering the temperature slightly. The weather had been somewhat cloudy the previous night, so they had initially kept the room warmer. But sometime later, the humidity must have risen enough to make Elara uncomfortable, eventually leaving her with the rash.

Kai could only watch her now, his worry refusing to fade even after her cries had quieted.

"She couldn’t have slept soundly. I should never have left the AC on the automatic setting."

Kai regretted his decision almost immediately, silently reminding himself to be more sensible in the future. He wasn’t living alone anymore, where he could leave a window open, endure the heat, and simply deal with it himself. There were two other people in this house now, and one of them was still too young to even tell them what was wrong.

Children were delicate. They needed to be watched over carefully, especially during those early years when they couldn’t speak and had no way of expressing what was troubling them.

"Kai, you’re panicking. But I understand that reaction. I was crying myself the first time I saw those rashes," Jean said warmly as she watched him continue blowing gently over Elara’s neck.

Elara had calmed down by now. Her eyes were closed, her breathing had evened out, and the tiny fists that had been clenched in distress were finally beginning to relax.

Kai shook his head.

"I never knew someone else’s pain could make me feel this miserable." His gaze remained fixed on his daughter as he spoke. "I’m sorry, baby. Your father will take better care of you from now on."

The sight was strangely endearing to Jean.

Despite living in harsh surroundings and working in a profession that could easily make someone lose their faith in the world, Kai had somehow managed to retain this gentle side of himself.

She slowly raised her hand and rested it over his.

Kai looked up.

"I know I’ve said this before..." Jean’s voice softened as she smiled at him. "But Elara is a lucky child to have a father like you."

Kai gave her a faint smile before lowering his gaze again.

Seeing his daughter finally become a little more comfortable was all the relief he needed.

Then his vision was suddenly interrupted by the familiar sound of the system.

[Task: Be the family man who takes care of his loved ones in their time of need.]

[The host has fulfilled his duty as a partner and a father exceptionally well.]

[Reward: Medical Monarch]

[Rank: SSS]

[Description: Based on the situation and severity of the trouble, the host will gain the medical expertise required to treat the wounded or afflicted. From complex surgery to applying basic bandages, the host will acquire the necessary skills according to the situation.]

Kai stared at the notification, feeling both annoyed and relieved.

He certainly hadn’t wanted a reward after watching his little Elli cry in pain. Yet, at the same time, the skill was something he couldn’t deny appreciating.

Having the knowledge to understand whatever problem Jean or Elara might face in the future, along with the ability to treat it himself, was an invaluable safeguard. It was the kind of knowledge that could one day make the difference between helplessly watching someone suffer and actually being able to save them.

Kai lowered his gaze toward his daughter.

He gently caressed the top of her head, his fingers moving with the tenderness only a father could possess.

"I can’t promise I’ll be able to keep you from crying again," he murmured under his breath. "But I’ll always find a way to help you."

°°°

A/N:- Feels sad to see her cry because of RASHes. 👀