STM 181

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠⁣⁣⁠⁠⁣⁠⁠⁠⁠⁣⁣⁣⁣⁠⁠⁣⁠⁣⁣ ⁣⁠⁣⁣⁠⁠⁠⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁣⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠⁠⁣⁣⁣⁠Inside the Montaine Castle’s walls stood the main building, connected to four cylindrical towers. The tops of each tower were covered with dark, conical tiled roofs, completing the gray castle.

Perhaps that was why the flag hanging from the tip of the spire caught my eye. It featured a flame in the center, surrounded by decorative patterns.

Yet, atop the monochromatic castle, this sole splash of color symbolized the Montaine family, a family that oppressed others to rise above them.

The path outside the window I was gazing at was just as bleak as the gray hue beneath that splendor.

“So, a non-human entity told you the location of the portal leading to this house?”

I nodded and turned around upon hearing the question from behind me.

“Yes.”

That was right; the informant had created a portal in his office that led directly to his house. To think there was someone who had actually realized the dream every company employee longed for.

Thanks to him, we were able to return to the outer castle. What was strange, though, was that the informant’s house was unusually old and dilapidated. The surrounding houses were much the same, some were even abandoned ruins with collapsed doors and roofs.

But the furnishings inside this house were a bit different. The countless books, furniture, and various items weren’t luxurious, but they weren’t cheap either.

Well, even if he wasn’t in a high-ranking position, working at the interrogation unit meant his income probably wasn’t bad. But why did he live in a place like this? I tilted my head and asked Tairok.

“What do you think of the informant….”

The question died on my lips as I looked at the informant lying on the bed. When Tairok removed his shirt, I saw that the area from just below the man’s left shoulder to just above his wrist was completely black.

That wasn’t the end of it. Black lines resembling blood vessels spread all the way to his chest. The arm in the worst condition looked like dead skin, and black wisps of smoke were rising from it.

It was a mark of black magic visible only to me. The cause was probably the bracelet on his wrist. It was made of small, tightly linked black chains, and the black mist was emanating from there.

“Black magic?”

“It used to be.”

What did that mean? I looked over, and Tairok explained expressionlessly.

“Since magic that controls people is taboo, it used to be classified as black magic. But Montaine exerted pressure and had the bracelet of obedience excluded from the regulations.”

I couldn’t believe it. Just changing the name meant it was no longer black magic? But the situation felt familiar. Where I used to live, those in power would change the laws like that to get what they wanted. People are the same everywhere. Just then, Tairok answered the question I’d asked a moment ago.

“The black magic has reached near his heart.”

He was probably referring to the black lines spreading like blood vessels.

“It wouldn’t be surprising if he died right now, yet he’s managing to hold on. I suppose his healing magic skills are good.”

It was rare for Tairok to praise anyone, so I examined his blackened arm attentively. It was covered with what looked like patterns. Is this healing magic?

But it couldn’t stop it, as the black energy was flowing past his arm into his torso. I looked across the bed with a heavy heart. The starfish was still trembling as it clung to the informant’s side. Was it a being completely devoid of power?

“It seems the non-human entity attached to this fellow is useless.”

Though Tairok had voiced the same opinion, hearing it put that way made me feel a sudden surge of defiance.

“The starfish is very worried. It doesn’t know how to heal him completely, but…”

Shake, shake. The starfish’s horn shook. What? You know? As my eyes widened, a trembling arm pointed somewhere. It was the bag I’d left nearby. Inside was the box containing the herb I’d given him.

“Lu, what’s wrong?”

“I think this herb might be able to heal him.”

“……Is this a Purification Leaf?”

“I don’t know the name. But why are you acting like that?”

Tairok was staring down at the herb with a cold gaze.

“The Purification Leaf is known to be the only remedy that can heal wounds caused by black magic. That’s why I went to such lengths to get it. I wondered if it might even work on curses.”

Ah, the people turned to stone.

“Did it not work?”

“I couldn’t even try. It’s so rare that I couldn’t get my hands on any. Besides.”

Besides?

“The Adeye Merchant Guild had a monopoly on this herb.”

……Ah. That single sentence explained everything. Adeye must have laughed in his face and refused to give him even a single sprig. I quickly looked away.

“My younger sister is obsessed with collecting herbs.”

That part was true, so I was about to reinforce my excuse when his movement caught my eye. He grabbed a few blades of grass, placed it on the informant’s arm, and pressed down with his hand.

For a brief moment, a light emanated from his hand. Could it be divine power? A moment later, when he released his grip, the blackened, charred grass was the first thing revealed.

I brushed the grass aside, but the black, dead arm remained. Just as I was about to feel disappointed, thinking it hadn’t worked, Mo noticed a change.

[Some of the black veins extending from the black skin have disappeared.]

“Ah, the spreading pattern has faded a little.”

“If we use the rest of the herb, he might recover. Then he will survive. Though I’ll have to cut off his wrist.”

He said it as easily as if he were cutting off a strand of hair.

“Why the wrist? Isn’t there a way to remove the bracelet?”

“That’s harder than the treatment. If you touch it the wrong way, it’ll explode.”

Explode? It felt vaguely familiar. There was a lot of black magic stone near Crystal Lake, and they said it would explode if handled improperly.

Is the power of a black magic stone infused into each chain link? I moved closer to examine the bracelet more, just in case, but Tairok stopped me.

“It’s black magic casted to a human body. Unless you’re the caster, you must never touch it.”

“I won’t touch it with my hands.”

I promised and pulled out the Spirit of Poison’s key, which I wore around my neck. It was about the size of a small twig, making it perfect for touching the bracelet. Just as I was turning it this way and that with the tip of the key,

I noticed something in a spot that had been hidden by the ground. Like rising smoke, a particularly dark aura was emanating from one of the chain links.

“Here it is.”

I said while pressing the tip of the key against the chain. I didn’t have high hopes. The key’s power only manifested when it grew into a club, and right now, it was nothing more than a twig the size of a finger. So, I’d be lucky if it didn’t just shatter…

Snap! Clink!

The chain snapped and fell to the floor.

“W-what? Did it really work?”

While I was flustered, Tairok swept the chain aside with his sword and pushed it to the floor. The moment the bracelet hit the wooden floor, it sizzled and burned through every surface it touched.

Tairok and I both looked at the small twig in my hand. After a brief silence, Tairok asked.

“Who’s the spirit that gave you this?”

“The Spirit of Poison of the Owick family.”

“If it’s a gift from a spirit once known as a ‘calamity’ that struck terror into people’s hearts long ago, it’s only natural it would be this powerful.”

What did he call it? A calamity? It was mind-boggling. At this rate, the Spirit of Poison might show up as the final boss. The Owick family was even more terrifying.

They were people who had lost their minds in more ways than one. I’d have to be sure to treat Baron Owick with the utmost respect the next time I saw her. Just as I made that resolution, I saw Tairok pick up the remaining herb.

“Wait a minute. Are you sure he got this herb for his own use?”

“I doubt it.”

“Right, no… wait, what?”

“No one’s stupid enough to betray Montaine again just to get a Purification Leaf.”

Then we shouldn’t use this herb, right? But Tairok disagreed with me.

“Who he uses it on is his own business. We just need to wake him up and get the information.”

“Hmm, he gathered this herb to heal someone else while he himself was dying. I don’t think he’d want us to use it on him.”

“Then we’ll just have to cut off his arm.”

“Where are we going to find a healer?”

“Why do we need a healer?”

“Well, to perform surgery to amputate an arm…”

My words trailed off as I watched him draw his sword. My pupils must have dilated. He chuckled and reassured me.

“I’ve done plenty of amputations.”

“Human bodies?”

“Monsters.”

“……”

“It’s not that different.”

“Yes, I’m sure it’s exactly the same.”

I sarcastically retorted, but he took it as a compliment and tried to raise his sword. I desperately clung to him.

“No, you can’t!”

Setting aside issues with anesthesia or bleeding, this place isn’t even sanitary. I was horrified, but seeing the smile spread across Tairok’s face, I went cold. Are you trying to joke around in a situation like this? I frowned and tried to step back, but he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close.

“No, try begging me just one more time.”