IACGD 45

Chapter 45

Harbi had been surprisingly compliant.

He wasn’t the kind of man who would immediately side with someone just because they could make medicine for his grandson.

“The eyes I planted… have disappeared. It doesn’t make sense that the Guildmaster doesn’t know anything.”

Those “eyes” had been placed to roam the mansion, to eliminate a foolish captive in the underground prison and learn something about the so-called fire spirit.

It shouldn’t have been a difficult task.

Yet, there had been no communication—meaning the captive had likely been caught.

With Crea’s medicine, there was no chance of escape.

If they had been caught inside the mansion, Harbi, who had remained there, would surely have noticed something was off. At the very least, he would know that something had happened.

Which meant he was lying.

“Does it really matter? The Noven Guildmaster is firmly under control. We even fed Studiewurm this time. It’s imperfect, but still effective.”

“True. He drank the Flœm.”

The quantity didn’t matter. Even a single drop ensured Studiewurm’s effect.

“No matter what the Guildmaster thinks, he can’t harm us. Then what can the Duke’s estate do? Let him starve to death, that’s all.”

Nerhi still shook his head.

“I’d prefer to avoid variables.”
“You’re thorough. So… what do you want me to do?”
“Release him.”

So that he couldn’t focus on anything else.

“Oh, the medicine you mentioned, Nerhi? We haven’t made enough to spread through the village yet. We need more ingredients too.”

Crea raised her hand and stroked Nerhi’s back.

“We have about a week. Making it should take just a day, right?”
“Of course! As expected of you, Nerhi!”

Crea embraced his neck.

“While we’re at it, can I request some other herbs too?”
“Leave it to me. But… what exactly are you planning to make?”
“I’ll tell you once it succeeds.”

Crea pressed a kiss to Nerhi’s cheek and left the room lightly. Nerhi leaned on his hand and watched her retreating figure indifferently.

‘They said she’s an ambitious woman…’

Given who had introduced her, it was likely true.

Yet, rather than asking for anything else, all her focus was on preparing the medicine. Her flattery was just a means to secure the ingredients.

So the medicine she wanted to make was tied to her ambition.

Nerhi pondered briefly, then stopped.

All he needed was to make good use of Crea’s medicine.

The Fruina territory in the North.

The Duke’s office.

Clemens and Zephyrus were in conversation.

“Why do you look so tired?”

When Clemens asked, Zephyrus looked at her with eyes tinged with slight resentment.

“Did I do something wrong?”
“No, it’s fine…”

Zephyrus turned his gaze toward the door.

“Shouldn’t they be here soon? It’s the first time the physician asked to meet first.”

The people they were waiting for were Airit and Tay.

They said the dragon would come if summoned—and indeed, these two had arrived.

But something was off. One of them dragged their feet along the floor.

Before a knock was even heard, Clemens opened the door.

Airit, with his usual expression so rigid it seemed not even a needle could pierce it.

And Tay, standing beside him, wiping sweat from his face.

“Tay… does it hurt a lot?”

Clemens asked, eyebrows furrowed.

“Ah, no… I’m fine… I don’t know.”

Unlike Tay’s usual sharp and intelligent responses, his eyes, though clear like glass, seemed strangely vacant.

Airit guided Tay to a seat and spoke.

“The medicine’s effect is starting to wear off.”
“Then he’s actually sick?”
“Ah, I misspoke. Precisely, the poisoning effect is manifesting. Soon he’ll want the medicine.”
“The medicine… I need it or it hurts too much. It hurts so much.”

The symptoms appeared in an instant. His face, which had been warming, turned a deep crimson. With no strength left, he slumped in the chair.

“It hurts too much. Something’s wrong. Medicine… please, huff… medicine…!”

Even unable to lift himself, he gasped and searched for the medicine.

“Has this ever happened before?”

Airit asked coldly, watching Tay twist as he clutched his chest, his clothes nearly suffocating him.

“Medicine…!”

The fear born from realizing his condition was abnormal vanished. His mind was entirely consumed by the medicine. Tay flailed and reached out.

Only then did Airit administer the medicine. It dissolved immediately upon entering his mouth—no water needed.

Tay, who had thrashed like a freshly caught fish, immediately calmed. He seemed to have expended all energy and slumped into sleep.

Airit, Clemens, and Zephyrus exchanged glances as Tay lay on the cold floor.

To be precise, Zephyrus stared intently at Airit.

“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Shouldn’t the physician know what to do? Clemens, you stay put…”
“Huh?”

Having acted first, Clemens carefully placed Tay on Airit’s lap. Zephyrus shook his head at her.

“Someone capable should do it. I can’t lift such a sturdy young man myself.”

Airit smirked slightly. Clemens, alternating her gaze between him and Zephyrus, gently seated Tay on Airit’s knees.

“Hold him steady.”

When Tay tried to slide down, Airit instinctively raised his brow at Clemens.

“Why? You said the physician should do it.”
“When did you start listening so well?”
“From now on, I suppose.”

Airit, with a sulky expression, eventually took Tay out. His dragging feet looked genuinely exhausting.

Clemens giggled.

“You have something you want to tell me, right?”
“You knew?”

Clemens laughed again, looking at Zephyrus’s wide-eyed expression.

“Yes. I saw it. Do it quickly before the physician arrived.”
“Isn’t it strange… that something so easy to make wasn’t attempted until now?”
“That’s true.”

Even thinking that Airit had made Tay’s medicine, the speed was impressive.

“The Noven Guild isn’t a place to underestimate. It’s one of the larger organizations in the Empire. Even if the Guildmaster lost his mind because his grandson was sick, he shouldn’t have been outwitted by Nerhi without finding a solution.”

Moreover, even for someone as skilled as Airit, discovering the unknown medicine and finding a solution in such a short time was extraordinary.

Not a week—just four days.

Achieving that in four days meant something unusual was happening.

“Whether the Guildmaster is hiding something, or the physician made the mysterious medicine, or both… it’s suspicious.”

Clemens rubbed her chin.

“You don’t trust anyone?”
“That’s part of why we let the Guildmaster leave.”
“Even without firewood?”
“Which is why you offered to help.”

Food could be rationed. It wasn’t long, but they could manage until Harbi returned.

Firewood? With Clemens’s help, it would be enough. Rumors even said some wood remained in every village.

“Yes. So what do you plan to do with the physician?”
“Interrogate him.”
“Master, you really like interrogations. But will it work…?”

Clemens trailed off at the last remark.

“I didn’t hear the last part.”
“No, what do you want to ask?”

Zephyrus frowned slightly.

“You seem to think differently.”
“I don’t know. But I don’t think he’d make medicine meant to harm someone on purpose.”
“Really… am I too suspicious?”
“You might be right. There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer here.”

After a moment of thought, he nodded.

“In any case, we need to resolve these doubts. Yes, not an interrogation.”

Before the whispered words could fade into the air, there was a knock. Clemens opened the door. It was Airit.

“You came quickly.”
“I left it with a passing knight. Otherwise, I couldn’t have made it back.”

Muttering about how well-developed he was as the son of a wealthy family, Airit continued.

“A medicine to aid growth…?”

He was thinking of a new research task.

But that wasn’t important right now.

“So now, if we clear His Highness’s doubts, that’s considered a success?”

Airit asked indifferently, as if he already knew Zephyrus’s suspicious gaze.