VDBO 48

Chapter 48

After staring at me for quite a while, I finally asked,

“…No, it’s nothing. You just look much better than back then—never mind. Come sit.”

He had been bold just moments ago, yet now he rubbed the back of his neck and avoided my gaze before striding over to the sofa.

I followed him and sat on the opposite couch.

“Hey, go make some tea.”

“Did you really find the drug’s ingredients?”

“Why are you in such a hurry? Let’s talk over tea.”

“I have to be back within an hour.”

“Ah, still under surveillance? What a tiring life.”

The way he spoke made it sound like he genuinely pitied me, so I let out a small laugh. He wasn’t wrong.

Only after one of his subordinates brought the tea could we finally talk properly.

The fragrance lingering at my lips told me he used quite high-quality tea leaves.

“It wasn’t a drug that weakens the heart or anything like that.”

“Then what was it?”

“The herbs used were ridiculously rare. Just identifying two of them took me months.”

“Then what is it used for?”

Shale, who had been speaking leisurely with his back against the sofa, straightened up.

“A shaman.”

“A shaman?”

I could only repeat it dumbly. It was completely unexpected.

Why were shamans suddenly coming up here?

“You mean herbs that shamans drink?”

“No. Herbs that shamans use.”

“Stop talking in circles and explain properly.”

I finally set down my teacup and urged him on.

“Before that, let me ask you something.”

“What?”

“Are you some kind of bloodkin? Or a half-blood?”

How did he even know that?

“I don’t know. How would I know something like that?”

“Really? This drug thickens bloodkin blood. But it also contains ingredients that slightly numb the senses.”

“Numb?”

“Yeah. Fen—what was it, Pendelium? It only grows in polar regions. It forcibly thickens bloodkin blood and draws out their power. I didn’t even know drugs like that existed.”

“Forcibly thickens it?”

“Yeah. Bring that drug over here.”

When Shale gestured to another subordinate, they brought over a long wooden box. Inside were the medicine pouch I had given him, dried herb leaves, and broken twigs scattered about.

“This is the drug you asked me to analyze. It dried out over time, but I used about half of it to identify the ingredients.”

“These herbs were used to make my medicine?”

“Yeah. One of them took a long time to confirm because I couldn’t be completely sure.”

Shale named each herb one by one and explained their general effects.

On the surface, they looked like herbs used for painkillers, sedatives, or paralytics. But when combined using a shaman’s ratios and methods, they produced an entirely different medicine.

“…So this is a method used by people learning shamanism?”

“Yeah. Either the person who gave you the drug is studying shamanism, or they hired someone who is.”

“And it thickens the blood of special bloodlines?”

“Yeah. It’s complicated. I don’t know if it’s because they have their own separate world or what.”

Thickening bloodkin blood… Was it because I was only a quarter of the Ferenya line?

“Are there side effects?”

“Yeah. Not sure if I should call it a side effect, but it’s pretty scary. If you stop taking it after long-term use, your blood temporarily flows backward. Seems like it gives the heart a serious shock.”

“…A shock to the heart.”

The crushing pain came back to me. I had thought I was going to die—it turned out my blood had been flowing in reverse. I’d thought my heart was being squeezed.

That shock continued even after I left the country. It wasn’t as severe as the first time, but there were several occasions when I collapsed from exhaustion about twice a week.

And then… my power awakened.

“So that’s it.”

“What is?”

They waited until my blood had thickened enough, until the power of the reverse brand showed fully and the failure rate dropped—then forced my awakening.

But how did Mother know all this so well? She wasn’t even part of the Ferenya bloodline.

“Thank you for looking into it.”

I brushed aside my thoughts and thanked him.

He stared at me blankly for a moment, then grinned.

“For something like this? If you’re really grateful, how about going on a date with me?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“I helped you for two years without asking for anything. That’s cold.”

“I said I’d pay you back. You’re the one who refused every time I sent something.”

Over the two years we stayed in contact, we’d grown fairly close. Every time I offered compensation, he turned it down—yet now he joked like this.

“Honestly, the first time we met was better.”

Shale said it like he was reminiscing. It was clearly half a joke. Our first meeting had been a complete disaster.

Still, it was true that he’d helped me immensely after I recovered his mother’s pocket watch.

“Anyway, thank you.”

“So let’s date.”

“No. I’ll repay you properly later. Since you’ve already helped, can you do one more thing for me?”

“Getting shameless now, are we?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”

“Fair enough. What is it?”

I spoke without hesitation.

“The only special bloodline I know is the Ferenya family. I heard about them when I was young. Can you check if there are other bloodlines? Even records or documents would be fine.”

“That’s easier than analyzing drugs. When do you need it?”

“As soon as possible. The more information, the better.”

I paused, then shrugged.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

More than thirty minutes had already passed. It was time to leave.

As I stood up to say goodbye, he spoke first.

“You know.”

“Hm?”

“You shouldn’t trust Schwald Rivacher too much.”

“Mr. Schwald?”

“Yeah.”

I stared at him for a moment, then nodded.

“I know. But what can I do? For now.”

“You should throw away what needs to be thrown away.”

“Thanks for the advice. I’ll remember it.”

I waved casually and turned to leave, but Shale’s voice followed me again.

“Blake Ariandel.”

“….”

“Looks like she’ll be entering the country soon. I checked while I was at it. Do you have anything prepared?”

Later than I expected.

I glanced back.

“I will now.”

Blake is coming back.

If this body disappeared without a trace, it wouldn’t be a problem—but that was far too unrealistic.

She hadn’t said it directly, but Mother clearly wanted me to use my ability on the First Prince. Years ago, she’d also said she would eliminate Valerie.

Before facing that, I was trying to find a way to block everything in one decisive move.

“What should I do…”

Mr. Schwald probably knew to some extent. He was watching me constantly while I used this identity.

Before I left, Shale mentioned casually that Blake Ariandel’s body was in very poor condition, which might be why it took so long.

I hoped that was true. But if it wasn’t…

My worries only deepened.

I said I’d rest as soon as I got home, but I must’ve fallen asleep.

I woke up to an eerily cold, unfamiliar sensation.

“Oh, you’re awake, unni?”

A bright, high-pitched voice rang out.

With a dull ache in my head, I turned.

A girl with vividly red, flowing hair sat cross-legged on a chair. She looked about my age at most.

Blake Ariandel?

Why was she already here? Where even was this place? And what on earth did Ian do?

“I tried to meet you several times, but something always came up. Don’t you ever get tired?”

“….”

“You’ve been living quite dangerously, unni. It was interesting, so I let you be.”

“….”

Her clear voice sounded almost affectionate, as if she’d been thinking about me. It felt unsettling—but she was undoubtedly Blake Ariandel. She looked exactly like the portrait I’d seen.

“And then you disappeared. I thought you’d run away, but guess not.”

The corners of her eyes curved slyly. Yet unlike her pretty smile, her deep green eyes held no emotion at all.

The real Blake stepped closer, crouched in front of me, and gently wrapped my hair around her finger.

“Was dyeing it difficult?”

Even dyed, it’s still soft.

She murmured while holding my hair.

I slowly closed my eyes, then opened them.

Forcing myself up, I found my body heavy—like soaked cotton, like being stuck in sand.

“Say what you came to say.”

“Red doesn’t suit you.”

I told her to get to the point, and she spouted nonsense instead.

“Want me to tell you what color suits you?”

“What?”

“Black. Very—deep black. That suits you. Red doesn’t.”

“….”

“So, how was my life? The life Blake lived. I’m curious.”

Then, without warning, she stabbed me swiftly with a sharp knife.