Half-step Purgatory

For a long time, Malin always felt that Fate had been quite generous to him. Although he had to face that life-threatening job every day, as long as he had the lovely Leopard Girl cooking delicious food for him daily, and as long as there was meat to eat and cats to stroke, life wasn't too unbearable. Working a bit harder and facing some difficulties on the job weren't really an issue for a man.
Moreover, being able to live two lives meant one shouldn't have too high demands, right, Mr. Different-Kind?
Having said that, and without waiting for an answer, the young man snapped his fingers, and the white flame on his fingertip lit the tobacco in his other hand, then he flicked it towards the non-human entity on the stake.
Welcome to Abield, to witness the last splendor of the steampunk era.
And the madness.

Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

"Lord Marian," Malin approached the old man, his complexion paler than before, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead; yet, he was blissfully unaware of it.


He stood before the old man, "Unwrap your bandages and let me see your wound."


"Why?" The healer looked at Malin, full of curiosity, "Exposing a wound to the air can lead to infection, that's a theory you've espoused yourself."


"But what if the wound has already begun to fester and pus under the bandages?" Malin retorted, looking at the elder, "Please trust me, Lord Marian."


Before the woman could object, a young man by Marian's side had already seized his injured arm and ripped the bandage from the wound.


Inevitably, this action aggravated the elder's injury, who clenched his teeth, holding back curses, and stared intently at his wound—because everyone could see the dark green pus dripping from his suppurating, putrid sore.


"I can't feel any pain from the wound at all," Marian said through clenched teeth.


458: Trouble Comes to the Home (Part 2)