[Your patients have become extremely dissatisfied with you. They have completely abandoned your treatment plan.]
[Your Stress Value has slightly increased. Your current Stress Value is 70/100.]
[When your Stress Value exceeds 100, a Stress Collapse event will be triggered.]
[Your stress is mounting daily. Although this pressure is far from shaking your pursuit of your dream, you may now need to find some way to alleviate it...]
Looking at the text on the light screen, Natasha sighed with a hint of resignation.
In truth, she had long anticipated this situation.
As the de facto leader of Wildfire, the entire state of the Underworld held no secrets from Natasha... She was perfectly clear about the reality they faced.
The lives of the Underworld's miners were getting worse and worse.
The Fragmentum corrosion was gradually spreading. Cities were annihilated and reconstructed under its influence, becoming places no ordinary person could set foot in. People were forced to flee their homes, losing everything they had to become destitute wanderers.
Many ore veins had been depleted through years of excavation, and some mines had suddenly collapsed due to environmental changes, becoming unworkable and losing all economic value.
Natasha opened a panoramic map. The map on the screen encompassed the entire Underworld, but the vast majority of it was shrouded in a deathly, gloomy haze. Only the area around Boulder Town and the vicinity of the Furnace Core were lit, emitting a soft glow.
The once-vast Underworld had been reduced to this small glimmer of light by years of Fragmentum corrosion. There was scarcely any room left for the people to even survive...
Wanderers fleeing from other towns would squeeze into the living space of Boulder Town's residents, and Boulder Town's own capacity was far from sufficient. This internal friction only caused the situation to deteriorate further.
Moreover, because a mine in the Underworld had recently collapsed, the amount of Geomarrow submitted to the Overworld was decreasing month by month. Although a new vein had been found, excavation had not yet begun. In response, the Overworld had mercilessly reduced the total amount of supplies allocated to the Underworld.
The supplies were simply not enough for the people to live stable lives.
The wages paid by the mining teams were shrinking, while the cost of goods in the Underworld was soaring...
To survive, the people of the Underworld had learned to find joy in their suffering, mixing the moss from the edges of the mines into a cold dish and making aspic from rats even scrawnier than themselves... They were gradually turning anything and everything into sustenance.
Under these circumstances, it was only natural that they would reject Natasha's treatment plan.
After all, although Natasha had poured all her efforts into improving the Underworld's medical standards, she was hamstrung by a lack of resources and could never quite succeed.
Currently, the vast majority of the medicines in her clinic were concocted from cheap formulas developed through years of experimentation, using substitute medicinal herbs found in the Underworld. Natasha rarely charged money for these drugs, even though the substitutes were sometimes not easy to find.
It would be one thing if the patients' illnesses could be cured by these medicines, but unfortunately, Ore Toxinosis, the most common disease in the Underworld, required drugs that were heavily dependent on supply replenishments from the Overworld. Natasha had not yet developed a new formula.
As for Fragmentum corrosion, there was even less to be said. It couldn't even be considered a disease. Without the protection of a Path's power, it was exceedingly difficult for ordinary people to dispel the Fragmentum's influence. It was simply impossible to restore their health without using the precious resources of the Overworld...
If things continued like this, the only end for these people was to be pushed to a dead end by the Fragmentum corrosion over time, dissolving into scattered Imaginary energy and vanishing from the world... just like the monsters that died within the Fragmentum.
At this thought, Natasha couldn't help but sigh again. As a Pathstrider of The Abundance, Natasha adhered to the philosophy of selfless dedication and salvation, and she had always felt great compassion for these patients.
She absolutely did not want to watch these patients die just because of the hardships of life...
But she was powerless to solve the root problem, able only to sigh at the departing backs of her patients.
"I must create the perfect 'Snowstorm Immunity' as quickly as possible..."
"If only we could become completely immune to the snowstorm, completely conquer the cold and the Fragmentum..."
Natasha solidified the thought in her mind and looked at the light screen, only to find a new line of text appearing:
[Ron has arrived at your clinic.]
[He can see that you are blaming yourself for the patients' departure and decides to say something to you.]
The text on the screen faded, and a new scene emerged:
"Natasha, do you know what disease they truly have?"
Standing at the entrance of the clinic, Ron gazed at the backs of the departing patients. His eyes were profound, as if he could see the entire starry sky within a single person.
Natasha shrewdly sensed the hidden meaning in Ron's words... He wasn't talking about the patients, but something much larger.
Belobog was sick.
He was pointing out Belobog's chronic, deep-seated illness.
Natasha fell silent for a moment but didn't expose Ron's true meaning. Instead, she went along with his words:
"Each person's illness is different, but the vast majority suffer from Ore Toxinosis due to mining Geomarrow. A portion of them also wandered into the Fragmentum by mistake and have been severely corroded by it..."
But before Natasha could finish, Ron interrupted her:
"No. They all have only one disease."
"What disease?"
The smile on Ron's face vanished, replaced by a solemn expression.
"When a miner who has nothing appears, even if he is perfectly healthy, it is as if he is already terminally ill... When he truly falls sick, the end of his life will rush toward him even faster."
"The symptoms are many and varied, but in the final analysis, it is all just one disease... and that is the Poverty Disease. There is no cure for the Poverty Disease."
"Studying medicine alone cannot save the Underworld, Natasha."
The scene on the light screen paused, and a choice box glowing with golden light popped up:
[Ron has pointed out Belobog's chronic illness to you, but you were actually already aware of where Belobog's sickness lay.]
[His words have already hinted at his intentions—he wants you to shift your focus away from medicine and toward a direction that can better save Belobog.]
[He awaits your choice—]
[1. "It seems I have indeed taken the wrong path."
You are awakened by Ron's words and abandon your extreme pursuit of "Snowstorm Immunity." You will devote most of your energy to controlling the entire Underworld, using its power to revitalize all of Belobog.
Your philosophy has been changed by Ron. You will obtain a new Trait: "From Healer to Stateswoman."]
[From Healer to Stateswoman (Gold): Under Ron's persuasion, you understand that studying medicine is not the most urgent matter. Any foolish and weak populace, no matter how physically robust, can only serve as meaningless material for public display and as spectators.
To save the world from peril, perhaps only iron and blood are the true path.
Henceforth, your Stress Value increase will be permanently reduced by 50%, your administrative processing speed will increase by 50%, and the execution rate of your decrees will increase by 20%. Your people will find it easier to identify with you, and your ability to influence their thinking will be greatly enhanced.]
[2. "If I do not treat the chronic illness of this land, who else will walk this path?"
You understand everything Ron wants to tell you, but you feel that you cannot follow him down his path.
You are confident that your dream can cure this land's chronic illness, dispel the snowstorms and Fragmentum that plague the people, and allow the fading flame of civilization to bloom once more on this frigid, snow-white planet.
You have affirmed your philosophy. You will obtain a new Trait: "The Healer's Conviction."]
[The Healer's Conviction (Gold): You have solidified your beliefs and have not given up the pursuit of your dream. The chronic illness of this land is difficult to cure, but no matter how many people despair, as a doctor, you will not give up the hope of healing.
Upon this snow-swept land, you will bring warmth and light to a shivering civilization.
Henceforth, your Stress Value will no longer increase, your medical research speed will increase by 50%, and the growth of your [The Abundance] Path Progress will increase by 100%.]
Gazing at the golden choice box on the light screen, Natasha was momentarily lost in thought.
This was an option she had never seen before, but just by looking at the golden frame, she could sense its importance.
She had almost never seen a Golden Trait in the Life Simulation Game... She had only ever seen them on Ron.
And Ron's abilities had been completely proven over the last few simulations; there was no room for doubt.
What she hadn't expected was that this time, with just a few sentences, Ron could plunge her simulated self into a wondrous choice, where either option would grant a Golden Trait...
Natasha sank into contemplation.
The effect of the trait from the first option was extremely powerful. As the current leader of Wildfire, Natasha knew exactly what kind of situation would unfold if she had this trait and focused nearly all her energy on leading the Underworld's development.
Though it was a bit embarrassing to say, Natasha had always considered herself a very capable person. With the buff from this Golden Trait, she was confident she could fight her way back to the Overworld within a year and bring the entire place under her command.
This was a confidence born from her years as Wildfire's leader, from being able to steer the organization's direction and maintain stability in the entire Underworld, all while spending most of her time on medical experiments and consultations.
If she chose this, she could easily replicate the ending Seele achieved in the last simulation, and perhaps even develop a new future from it, securing a Jarilo-VI that wasn't forcibly occupied by the Interastral Peace Corporation...
However... Natasha was not prepared to choose the first option.
The trait "The Healer's Conviction" accelerated medical research and the progress of The Abundance Path. Everything existed for the sake of a perfect "Snowstorm Immunity."
With this Golden Trait, Natasha believed she could rapidly research the complete "Snowstorm Immunity" and create a world where no one feared the cold and everyone could live safely in the snow.
Besides... the second option had another, hidden benefit.
If Natasha, the current leader of Wildfire, solidified her goal and decided to devote all her energy to researching "Snowstorm Immunity," then Wildfire's future would need someone else to take the helm...
And the candidate for that position was now glaringly obvious.
She remained silent for a moment, then, without hesitation, she tapped on the second option.
The choice box on the light screen gradually faded, and the scene resumed playing:
At the clinic's entrance, Natasha leaned against the door, watching Ron in silence for a long while.
Then, she suddenly spoke, her tone devoid of any hint of retreat.
She looked into Ron's eyes and said earnestly:
"You're right, actually. There is no cure for the Underworld's Poverty Disease, but Ron... I am a doctor. I can only do what I am supposed to do."
Seemingly sensing the stubbornness in Natasha's tone, Ron frowned and spoke gravely:
"What you're supposed to do? What you're supposed to do isn't to be a doctor diagnosing and treating patients..."
"Are you going to keep using these scarce resources to try and save people from their physical ailments, while ignoring the broader situation in the Underworld and failing to resolve the fundamental conflicts in people's lives?"
Hearing Ron's question, Natasha shook her head and said:
"If this disease were truly incurable, I certainly shouldn't devote myself to medicine... but what if there is hope for a cure?"
She pushed open the clinic door, pulled Ron inside, and picked up a thick research record from a desk in the corner:
"This is the research record for 'Snowstorm Immunity'... The Cold-Dispelling Medicine I distributed earlier was a simplified version of it."
As Natasha spoke, her voice filled with yearning:
"Ron, I want a world where the snowstorms no longer threaten people, where the Fragmentum no longer annihilates them... I look forward to taking back the entire world and making it as warm as spring."
"When that time comes, the people who have reclaimed their world will have everything. They will no longer fall gravely ill due to poverty..."
Natasha smiled at Ron as she spoke.
"I know this must sound like an empty fantasy to you, with almost no chance of success... but that is my conviction as a healer, one that I will never change."
Her tone gradually grew solemn as she continued:
"This world is afflicted with a chronic illness—the people struggle to survive, yet they hover on the brink of despair."
"Even if everyone is convinced of this, even if they know this city is stepping into despair and the land's deep-seated malady is spreading, I will never admit it—"
"I will not admit that this disease is incurable."
As she spoke, Natasha extended her hand to Ron, offering him an invitation:
"For a warm and bright world... are you willing to support me, Ron?"