Chapter 4: Consuming Everything
“I personally cut this venison. It’s fresh and delicious, and I really want you to enjoy it,” Duke Dragnote said, sporting a big smile as he introduced the main course of the dinner—roasted venison.
As he described it, the venison had a rich flavor and emitted a wonderful aroma. I could tell it would be delicious even without taking a bite. Seal and Suzume stared at the dish with glistening eyes, unexpectedly revealing their carnivorous sides.
The table was adorned with a variety of other dishes. There was stew made from sheep raised within the duke’s territory, steamed oysters from the Adastera Sea, boiled trout with seasonal herbs from Lake Toya, red meat beetroot with walnut sauce, and much more.
The bread, as white as a jewel, was likely made from high-quality wheat. Although the soup seemed ordinary at first, it had an herb-infused taste that melted in my mouth, compelling me to have multiple servings.
Even at banquets in the royal palace, there were elaborate dishes, but they often felt overly extravagant and didn’t suit my palate. In contrast, the food in the duke’s mansion was undeniably luxurious, yet it was crafted to cater to the common people’s preferences.
Perhaps the original order would have been appetizers, soup, fish and meat dishes, and dessert, but they seemed to have skipped that to avoid making the guests anxious.
We were encouraged to eat whatever we preferred, in any order we liked, and I appreciated this considerate gesture. The fact that Luna María had a separate section for vegetarian dishes displayed Duke Dragnote’s thoughtfulness. It became clear that he was more than just a figurehead as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Canaria.
And so, the dinner commenced with hope and enthusiasm. Both my companions and I were delighted by this splendid feast.
“Oh, the stew and bread complement each other perfectly. And the walnut sauce is simply exquisite,” I murmured my thoughts, receiving an enthusiastic nod from Suzume, who sat beside me.
She seemed to agree.
Although we were informed that seconds were allowed, Suzume hesitated to make the request in the presence of the maids.
Understanding her predicament, I attempted to raise my hand to inquire on her behalf, but at that moment…
A sharp sound of something breaking reverberated through the dining hall.
Turning my gaze towards the source of the sound, I noticed Claudia gripping her chest in pain at the table. Fragments of white porcelain and scattered seafood dishes lay at her feet.
“Clau!?”
Astrid, seated next to Claudia, immediately changed her expression and hurried towards her younger sister. Not only Astrid, but also their father, the duke, and the maids, all rushed to her side.
Claudia responded, her voice trembling.
“…I’m sorry…my hand slipped…a little… Guh!”
Claudia’s slender frame convulsed along with a pained cry. And it wasn’t just once—twice, thrice, four times… Claudia desperately covered her mouth, but the agonizing sounds escaped through her fingers.
Witnessing this, Astrid attempted to support her younger sister’s body with a pale face, likely planning to escort her to her room.
But just before Astrid’s hands could reach Claudia…
“…..Uhh…..Uhhhhhhh!”
Claudia curled her body into a “く” shape, letting out a strained cry. It was likely her last resistance against the sudden pain.
However, that resistance was shattered, and in the next moment, the girl’s agony transformed into a deafening scream.
“…..Uwaaaaaaaaaa! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurttttttttttt!”
“Clau, Claudia! Hang on!”
“Ahhhhhhh…..Ahhhhhhh!!”
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Her scream reverberated through the room, surpassing all expectations. I was truly taken aback to hear such a piercing cry from the tomboy princess. How much pain was she experiencing to produce such a sound?
Astrid quickly gave brief instructions to one of the maids, who promptly rushed out of the dining hall.
“Father, what’s happening here—”
“Indeed.”
Upon hearing Astrid’s voice, Duke Dragnote looked at us with a sorrowful expression.
“My dear guests, I apologize for startling you. It seems Claudia has become overly agitated.”
Duke Dragnote instructed us to return to our rooms, promising to bring the food later.
Naturally, we had no choice but to comply. Observing Claudia’s current state, any appetite we had previously dissipated.
Furthermore, it was evident that the duke wished to keep us at a distance. If we weren’t doctors or priests, our presence would be of little help. Even with my secret ability, I wasn’t sure if I could provide assistance.
As we left the dining hall, the maids swiftly began cleaning up the shattered porcelain and food scattered across the floor.
The faint echoes of Claudia’s cries lingered in the corridor.
“Master, there’s something I need to report.”
Once we returned to our room, Luna María spoke with a serious expression. Seal and Suzume were in their respective rooms. It seemed she judged it necessary to keep them from hearing.
I could tell from her grave demeanor that the contents of her report were far from ordinary. I furrowed my brow and continued the conversation.
“What is it?”
“When you and the others were absent, Duke Dragnote asked me if it was possible to neutralize the poison in the Tanasia herb using Jiraiya Oaks.”
“Tanasia herb? Ahh, the raw material for the sleeping pills… I see, so they’re using that.”
The name of the herb rang a bell—I frowned at the mention of that poisonous plant.
Sleeping pills were said to be analgesics, but in reality, they were deadly herbs that halted the body’s functions, inducing pain and eventual death. They eliminated the pain and suffering while lulling the person into a sleep-like state, ultimately leading to their demise.
To put it frankly, it was akin to consuming a limb to stave off starvation. If I had learned about this before the dinner, my anger would have been difficult to contain.
…However, after hearing Claudia’s screams, I couldn’t blame Astrid or her father.
“So, what is your opinion?” I asked Luna María.
“We haven’t fully grasped the effects of Jiraiya Oaks, so we cannot provide a definitive answer. However, even if Jiraiya Oaks could completely counteract the effects of the sleeping pills, once the body is consumed by the poison, no part of it can be revived. Each intake of the sleeping pills brings the person closer to death. It’s not something that can be prevented with an antidote. That’s what I conveyed to Duke Dragnote,” Luna María, an elf and sage, spoke with a pained expression. After witnessing Claudia’s suffering, it was difficult for her to present this conclusion outright.
Claudia had to take the drug to alleviate her pain, but each dose brought her closer to death. Even Jiraiya Oaks couldn’t prevent this outcome.
Certainly, Jiraiya Oaks could minimize the drawbacks of the sleeping pills, prolonging the time until death.
But that would only prolong Claudia’s suffering. I involuntarily bit my lip.
“…..A curse, huh? I should have studied spells for situations like this. Speaking of which, with your spiritual sight, did you notice anything unusual?”
Unfortunately, there was no clear indication. However, there was something intriguing.
“Something intriguing? What was it?” I inquired.
“Well, just before Claudia-sama collapsed, I felt a peculiar pressure in my ears.”
Leaning in closer, I listened attentively.
“A pressure in your ears? Did you hear a strange sound?”
“I didn’t hear anything distinctly… but, Master, are you familiar with a dog whistle?”
“Yes, it’s a tool used by trainers.”
A whistle that only dogs and wolves can hear. Skilled trainers can control a pack of wolves using this whistle.
I had asked Astrid about it, and it turns out that the Dragon Knights have a similar item called a dragon flute, which allows them to give instructions to their dragons or summon them from a distance. She couldn’t provide me with more details since it was confidential information of the Dragon Knights.
In any case, Luna María’s experience at the meal resembled the sensation of a dog whistle.
“However, I’m not sure if it’s related to Claudia-sama’s condition. If it were connected, it would be strange that all of us in that place didn’t experience it…”
“That’s true. But it’s too early to conclude that it’s unrelated. Seal also has sharp hearing, right? We should ask her if she heard anything.”
“Understood. I’ll go fetch her imm—”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
I halted Luna María, who was about to leave the room. I gestured towards the elf, who looked at me with a doubtful expression.
Though her doubtfulness deepened, I gently grasped Luna María’s slender shoulders as she obediently approached me.
“U-Um, Master? Is something the matter?”
“Now, we’ll conduct an experiment.”
“An experiment?”
“Yes, I intended to be more cautious, but now is not the time for hesitation.”
Of course, the experiment involved transferring souls into another person.
Even if I succeeded with Luna María, who was an elf, the outcome might differ with a human. Speaking of which, Seal was a beastkin girl, and Suzume was a Kijin. I didn’t have the time to return to Ishka and test it with Miroslav, let alone Iria, who was in Melte. Therefore, I had to conduct the experiment with Luna María here and now.
I expected Luna María to resist when I suddenly mentioned the experiment, but to my surprise, the blonde elf didn’t. She relaxed her shoulders and gazed at me intently. Her emerald eyes reflected the image of a man who was somewhat confused.
“What should I do?”
“Just as usual,” I replied.
In response to my voice, Luna María gently closed her eyelids. Pushing aside my internal confusion, I pressed my lips against hers.
“I feel nauseous.”
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