The horrifying reminded me of a game called Fukuwarai,
In the game where pieces of paper representing the eyes, mouth, and nose are placed on a paper with the outline of a face while blindfolded. The blindfolded nature of the game often results in a comically mismatched face, causing much laughter.
If I were to compare it to what I saw in that hut, it was as if the devil himself played Fukuwarai with the face of a living human.
It was a living decay caused by the poison.
It was an indescribable scene, where the instant poison from a killer would seemed merciful.
What the Ishka official had said before coming here—that it was no longer a stage that medicine could handle—must have referred to this.
No moans could be heard upon entering the cabin, likely because the sick individuals no longer had the strength to make a sound. Perhaps their vocal cords had also been affected by the poison.
I tried squeezing the fruit of the Jiraiya Oaks and placing it in the mouth of one of the sick individuals, but as expected, it had no effect. It seemed that a miracle-level revival was necessary to cure these individuals.
With a heavy heart, I promptly left the cabin and the village.
Riding Clau-Solas, I made my way toward the city of Ishka. The official must have thought that I had escaped.
Indeed, that was precisely what I had done.
The scene from earlier played in my mind repeatedly, causing cold sweat to break out all over my body.
The poison of the Basilisk had been potent, but what I witnessed was far worse than that. There was simply no comparison.
Ordinary poison erodes the body, leading to death.
However, this poison first caused death and then continued to erode the body, as if tormenting it. That was the impression it left on me.
In other words, it was incurable.
Even if I were to devour souls like with Claudia, I didn’t believe it would be possible to cure the sick individuals.
The consequences if this poison were to spread were unthinkable.
“If I don’t eliminate the source of this anomaly, Ishka, and even the Kingdom of Canaria, could be wiped out,” I muttered solemnly in the saddle on Clau-Solas.
Fortunately, it seemed unlikely to be contagious, but that was merely an assumption. The disease could develop over time.
In a way, this new poison posed a greater threat than the stampede. There might be a connection between this poison and the outbreak of the stampede.
Honestly, I had wanted to proceed with my original plan and head to the Tittis Forest. However, I couldn’t allow Ishka to be ravaged by monsters while I continued exploring without hope for days.
Furthermore, if it came to exploration, I wanted Luna María and Miroslav to accompany me. Luna María, being a sage, and Miroslav, being a mage, might notice things that I couldn’t.
I increased Clau-Solas’ speed even further and made my way toward Ishka.
“I’ve never encountered such symptoms before,” Luna María said, her expression a mix of tension and confusion.
Miroslav was deeply asleep, seemingly lifeless, so I didn’t address Luna María directly. According to her, she had been conducting the experiment I had requested—mixing my blood with the antidote and testing its effects—until morning.
Feeling responsible for pushing her to exert herself, I spoke to Luna María.
“If it’s incurable, it’s purely speculative.”
“No, if the master feels that way, there must be a reason. I believe your intuition holds more truth than you think,” Luna María affirmed with a serious expression. The elf had witnessed my Anima, Soul Eater, and understood that my intuition surpassed that of a mere human.
Well, she knows my Anima, Soul Eater. If it’s not the intuition of a human but that of a dragon, it might make sense to lend more weight to the given speculation.
While pondering over these thoughts, Luna María’s expression suddenly clouded. I gazed into her green eyes, wondering what was troubling her, and she began speaking somewhat confusedly.
“Speaking of speculation, there’s something else that comes to mind, Master.”
“What is it?”
“When I heard your speculation, it reminded me of a certain myth,” Luna María said, shaking her golden hair.
“A myth?”
“Yes. It involves something extremely powerful and incurable—a poison that killed a god.”
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The sage proceeded to explain.
By nature, gods are immortal and cannot be killed by poison. However, the poisoned god couldn’t bear the eternal pain and chose to die, relinquishing their immortality.
Legend has it that the invulnerable hero known for their twelve labors resorted to self-immolation, burning their own body with flames because they couldn’t withstand this poison.
The source of this dreadful poison is—
“The venomous multi-headed dragon, the Hydra.”
“…..A dragon. A mythical creature.”
The name rang a faint bell in my memory. Luna María had mentioned it when the Basilisk appeared and a portion of the Tittis Forest turned into a putrid sea.
She had spoken of a large putrid sea to the south of the holy kingdom, caused by the death of a Hydra.
It suggested that a Hydra might have emerged in the Tittis Forest, according to Luna María’s words.
However, Luna María added an additional remark.
“If a Hydra truly emerged, the entire area of Tittis would have transformed into a rotten putrid sea. Perhaps the Hydra is only beginning to emerge.”
Unlike a dragon subspecies like a Wyvern, a true dragon is not born from parentage.
It is like lightning. It is like a tornado. It is like an earthquake. Or like a volcanic eruption.
A phenomenon that occurs when the conditions of the world align. A mythical disaster taking shape with blood and flesh. That is a dragon.
On the contrary, if even one condition remains unfulfilled, it cannot appear. That, too, is a dragon.
If the Hydra is in the process of emerging, it means that the final obstacle that had hindered it until now is about to be removed.
—or perhaps that obstacle was removed long ago, and the Hydra has been materializing gradually over time.
If the stampede and the incurable poison are the manifestations of a Hydra surpassing a certain level…
Something terrible is about to happen.
“Yes, assuming that all the current speculations are correct…”
“In that case, let’s hope it turns out to be a mistake. For now, let’s proceed under that assumption and take action.”
Firstly, I need to inform the Ishka administration, the adventurers’ guild, and the slave trade association. I am aware that they are unlikely to believe it, perhaps even scoff at the notion, but I cannot afford to hear them say later, “Why didn’t you tell us?” as that would create serious problems.
Next, I should arrange for the evacuation of Seal and Suzume—perhaps sending them to the royal capital would be the best option. I want Duke Dragnote to be aware of the situation as well.
After that, considering the circumstances, I can allow Seal and Suzume to escape to either the Empire or the Holy Kingdom.
Thinking along those lines, the image of the troubled village of Melte resurfaced in my mind.
That village is also in danger, situated in the basin of the Kale River.
Even if we put the Hydra aside, there is no doubt that the dreadful poison is flowing along the river.
I need to hurry and inform Iria, Priestess Sarah, and the children. If possible, I would like the four of them to evacuate to the royal capital along with Seal and Suzume.
Furthermore, Lars should be heading to the village by now. Despite everything that has happened, it would be a shame if he were to succumb to the poison. I also have my promise with Miroslav.
The stampede remains an issue, but the defensive measures on the road were still intact during our journey back from the village. Therefore, I don’t believe the gates of Ishka will be breached later on.
On the contrary, the longer time passes, the more problematic the stampede will become. If I intend to fly to the village of Melte, now is the time to do so.
With these thoughts in mind, I swiftly began my preparations.
“Master!”
I heard that voice just as I was about to depart for the village of Melte.
Turning my head while still seated on Clau-Solas, I saw Miroslav rushing towards me.
Her disheveled hair and wrinkled clothes indicated that she hadn’t been concerned about her appearance. It seemed she had jumped out of bed and come straight to me.
It wasn’t just to exchange morning greetings. With that in mind, I dismounted from the saddle.
“I apologize for interrupting you while you’re in a hurry…”
Miroslav spoke, catching her breath. Upon closer inspection, I noticed she was clutching a large tool bag in her hand.
Could it be that she has completed the improved version of the antidote I requested?
Curious, I inquired, and Miroslav nodded in response.
“I confirmed that the effect has improved, and there were no adverse effects on the human body. It’s far from perfect, but at least it’s more useful than the antidote provided by the association.”
“You confirmed it? In such a short time?”
It had only been a day since I tasked Miroslav with enhancing the antidote. From her current statement, I could deduce that she had conducted a preliminary safety check. Even so, the speed at which she completed it was impressive.
Typically, it takes time to confirm the effectiveness of an antidote on poisoned patients. Experiments usually begin with small animals like rats, gradually progressing to human testing, but—
“I confirmed it by testing it on myself with poison. There’s no doubt,” the red-haired mage revealed, shocking me.
Apparently, her deep slumber was not due to fatigue alone. She had conducted a human experiment using herself.
Frowning involuntarily, I gazed at Miroslav.
“No one asked you to go that far.”
“The situation demanded it. I couldn’t simply start calmly with mice, could I?” Miroslav chuckled mischievously. However, her dark circles appeared to be in pain, noticeable even from afar.
Had she noticed my concern? She shook her head, assuring me that there was no need to worry.
Then, she added something of greater importance.
“Master, there’s no doubt that your blood has a tremendous effect on the human body. Depending on how it’s utilized, it could serve as a powerful trump card against the deadly poison Luna mentioned. However, be cautious about sharing it too easily. Your blood is incredibly potent.”
“Too powerful? What do you mean?” I inquired.
“Please consider it as an extremely potent medicine. If administered to a weak patient with low physical strength, it can harm their body, even to a fatal extent,” Miroslav explained.
“Hmm, really?” I contemplated.
“Yes. Furthermore, there is a risk of triggering any latent diseases within the patients. While it is said that dragon blood can cure all ailments, it may not always be convenient for it to solely eliminate the disease. There is always a possibility of triggering other illnesses. Please keep this in mind,” Miroslav cautioned with a serious expression.
“I understand,”
I affirmed firmly in front of Miroslav’s warning.
According to Miroslav, if the dragon blood is mixed with a suitable antidote or potion, its effects can be tailored. However, making such precise adjustments would not last for just a day or two.
In this case, Miroslav went through the adjustment process herself and confirmed its safety.
What Miroslav provided me with was the result of her own life.
Expressing my gratitude, I mounted the dragon once again.
“Take care, Master. I will be eagerly awaiting your safe return,” Miroslav bowed deeply.
Facing Miroslav, I issued an additional instruction.
“Likewise. And I must emphasize that human experimentation is no longer permitted, understood?”
“Ah… yes. I understand!”
Miroslav replied, her smile filled with happiness. It seemed she had picked up on my thoughts and intentions.
Ordering Clau-Solas to ascend, I sought to escape from that gaze.
…At this moment, my primary concerns were the “stampede” and the “deadly poison.”
I had temporarily set aside “Onigashima” since it would take at least two months for news of Jijinbo’s death to reach the island and for the Mitsurugi family to send a replacement.
Considering the nature of the current head, I doubted they would take the empire’s request seriously, especially since it did not involve the island’s defense.
I never imagined they would have selected the personnel to be sent on the day of Jijinbo’s demise.
Furthermore, I could not foresee that those individuals who arrived at the royal capital would perceive the need to intervene amidst the stampede…
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