IRFVS 95

chapter 95

The suspicion was that the poison directed at her might be connected to divine power.

Having thought that far, Elizia immediately asked Finn:

“Did the temple… say anything?”

If it was a poison that only affected those with divine power, then the temple would have likely discovered it first. Even if nothing showed up in the Mage Tower’s tests, the temple might have found something.

To her question, Finn replied:

“They haven’t made an official statement yet, but from what I’ve heard, they also concluded there was nothing unusual.”

“But the Saintess clearly got sick after eating it…”

Prillian, who had so boldly stepped forward, had taken one bite and immediately vomited blood, screaming in pain. Finn, apparently aware of this fact, nodded.

“Yes. At first they insisted it couldn’t have been the food… but the Saintess firmly claimed the food was definitely the cause. Thanks to her insistence, they’re at least investigating it on the assumption that it was poisoned.”

“That means…”

If Prillian hadn’t collapsed after eating the cake, no one would have believed Elizia’s words. She would have been dismissed as a villainess feigning illness.

Thinking back on it made her shiver.

“So we’re assuming it’s a poison that disappears with time, but… the problem is that we don’t have enough samples to study further. Most of what remained was taken by the Imperial family and the temple.”

Not enough samples.

Elizia hid her hand behind her back.

Inventory!

She casually pulled out the poisoned potato she had stored and handed it to Finn.

“Finn, could you look into this one as well?”

Finn frowned as he saw the potato in her hand.

“Where did this come from…?”

“I brought it from home.”

On the first day, as soon as the system had alerted her to the poison, she had stored a piece of potato as evidence. She hadn’t pulled all of them out, only part of it. Elizia added seriously:

“If it’s alright, could you check whether this one is poisoned too?”

Thanks to being stored in her inventory, it didn’t seem spoiled. She could taste it to check, but she had no intention of doing that here.

Finn looked baffled at where she had pulled the potato from but, seeing that questioning her might trouble her, he simply accepted it and nodded.

“I’ll add this to the investigation as well.”

…I’ll have to investigate it myself, too.

With the remaining potato pieces, Elizia resolved to use every bit of her game knowledge to uncover the cause.

A poison that only works on those with divine power…

She had never even heard of such a thing in the game.

Most holy-class characters had weak health and strength, but they came with detoxifying skills or poison resistance. It was far simpler to just kill them directly than to bother with poison.

The more I think about it, the stranger it seems.

If someone really wanted her dead, why go through the trouble of using such a convoluted method? It would have been easier to catch her alone, or use a different poison.

Maybe for someone like the Saintess—but Elizia, before transmigrating, likely had no divine power. So what would be the point of feeding her a poison that only affected the blessed?

It doesn’t make sense.

Elizia rubbed her temples. However she turned it around, it was contradictory.

If the original Elizia had truly been a powerless noble lady, she could have been killed without such a complicated poison.

But if she really was powerless, then a “poison effective only against those with divine power” shouldn’t have worked at all.

Contradictions either way.

Then a thought suddenly struck her.

Could it be… I was actually strong to begin with?

Maybe the pre-transmigration Elizia had been too strong to be beaten physically, immune to ordinary poisons, and even blessed with divine power—leaving this as the only way to target her?

No way…

She quickly dismissed the idea. The only reason she was strong now was because she had carried over all her skills and stats from Seiros Saga. If she had only been the “original Elizia,” she probably would have been killed right away by either an ambush or poison.

But still… none of it adds up.

Elizia rested her chin on her hand, frowning. Come to think of it, she knew far too little about the “game’s Elizia.”

Was she really weak?

Did she truly have no abilities?

All the stories about her being unable to wield a sword or cast magic were based only on “what people around her said.” Who really knew the real Elizia?

Even I don’t actually know for sure.

There was the Elizia who had begged for guards to stay on watch even at night. The Elizia who disliked eating much food. The Elizia who often sent letters to the Crown Prince.

Right, she used to send him letters.

What kind of letters had she sent to Leonar?

She would have to ask when the chance came. Though the thought of that smug prince misunderstanding—“So you were interested in me after all!”—already irritated her. But there was no helping it.

Elizia sighed and set down her fork.

“Not eating anymore?”

“This is enough. I’ll need to eat dinner later anyway.”

As she spoke, another thought came to her, and she turned to Finn.

“Oh, speaking of food… how do meals usually work here? Is there a dining hall?”

Back at the Semperion estate, she could just go to the dining hall or have food brought to her, but this was the Mage Tower—she’d need to follow their rules.

“You can go yourself, but there’s also a magical delivery service. The researchers are usually too busy to leave their work, so you can just request it and they’ll bring food to your room.”

Wow, the Mage Tower really is convenient.

When she had first arrived, her mountain of luggage had been carried in easily by the tower’s transport trays. Apparently meals could be delivered just as easily. Finn noticed her impressed expression and continued:

“Now then, may I give you a simple tour of the Mage Tower, including where you’ll be staying?”

Elizia was about to agree eagerly when she hesitated.

“But… wouldn’t that be a burden, with so many eyes on us? Walking around with me would just cause you trouble.”

She was already a person under scrutiny, flagged for re-examination, and notorious as a villainess. Accompanying her would certainly draw unwanted attention.

“Well…”

Finn tugged his hood back down and gave her a playful wink.

“To be honest, you’re the only one who’s recognized me so far.”

“What?”

That was unexpected.

I recognized him right away, though.

Wouldn’t that seem suspicious? What if people assumed she had some special ability?

Just then, the snow leopard—now visibly plumper from being fed—chimed in.

“Meow meow! Meow! (I recognized him too! Though it was by scent.)”

Ah, right. There’s this guy too.

Elizia quickly covered.

“A-actually, it was this snow leopard. It kept meowing like it recognized you, so I grew suspicious.”

“Really? Then thank you for suspecting me.”

Finn added with a teasing smile:

“I was secretly pleased when you recognized me, you know.”

“….”

Elizia didn’t know how to respond, and while she hesitated, he went on.

“And it’s no trouble at all. I can’t hide forever. I might as well get used to the attention. If you don’t mind… would you give me a few lessons?”

“Me?”

He held out his hand playfully. Elizia stared at him, half incredulous.

“Are you making fun of me for always attracting attention wherever I go?”

She was already gossiped about constantly as the “villainess.” Surely he wasn’t rubbing that in? Narrowing her eyes, she saw Finn shrug.

“Not at all. I’m only speaking the truth. Lady Semperion’s presence is so strong, people can’t help but notice you. Didn’t both the Imperial family and the temple invite you?”

“…That was just because they wanted to check if I had a sacred relic.”

She answered, but her thoughts spun.

But still… why did the Crown Prince and Prillian act that way?

Prillian had begged her outright to visit the temple. The Crown Prince had given her gifts and promised favorable treatment. Neither seemed to be simply after relics. Did they have some other goal?

While Elizia was staring at Finn’s outstretched hand—

Ding!

Thank you for waiting! A bonus quest has been unlocked!

The bonus quest has been determined based on your current situation.

The quests available in the Mage Tower are:

Please choose only one! > <

Bonus Quest

1. Uncover Finn’s true identity!

2. Protect Finn’s true identity!

Warning: Your choice will determine the next main quest.

!Once chosen# it cannot= be revers!ed. Choose carefully.

“…Huh?”