Chapter 136 : The Problem Was the Herbs
The Problem Was the Herbs
I hid my body behind the totem, holding my breath.
Melissa.
The tribe's healer was standing in front of the tribe's well in the middle of the night.
She was holding a small pouch in her hand. Judging by the contents peeking out, it was a bundle of herbs.
A sudden thought crossed my mind—what were those herbs for?
She surely wasn't casually wandering around with herbs at this hour. Which meant she had some purpose.
Moreover, the place where she stood was one of the wells used by the entire tribe.
'No way.'
Was it that woman who was spreading the plague?
Melissa looked around.
Carefully.
It seemed like she was making sure no one was watching.
Fortunately, the totem where I was hiding blended well with the darkness. Her gaze swept past here, but she didn't spot me.
'Suspicious—nothing less.'
My suspicion started to take firmer shape.
Seven Abyssal Brands.
If it wasn't Rugar, then I was beginning to think Melissa was likely a follower of that creed.
Her role as a healer.
The trust of the tribespeople.
And, her position, which allowed her to be closest to the patients of the plague.
While I was organizing my thoughts, melissa began to slowly open the pouch. Inside, I could see the herbs that Gor and Kid Boulder had been searching for recently.
"Melissa...!"
Just then, a low voice rang out.
Of course, it wasn't me. Melissa spun around, startled, at the sound coming from another direction.
"Gor!"
Melissa murmured the man's name. Stepping out from the darkness was Turtle kid. No, the barbarian Gor.
'Wait.'
Both of them?
Don't tell me they were working together to spread the plague?
Gor had supposedly gone out gathering herbs with Kid Boulder.
But what if that was just a cover? There was a possibility he was conspiring with Melissa.
Even 'Kid Boulder' had once mentioned that there was something suspicious about the relationship between Gor and Melissa.
Thinking of it that way, I started to feel a bit betrayed.
Turtle kid.
No, Gor!
I thought of you as a brother!
Even if I had only learned your name recently!
The two began to converse quietly.
Their voices were too low to make out clearly, but there was no tangible tension that suggested illicit doings.
On the contrary—
'What's with this mood?'
It was strange.
Melissa still clutched the pouch, but she showed no sign of putting it into the well.
Instead, Gor had come closer and was whispering something to her.
I listened closely.
"Melissa..."
Luckily, even though the distance was a bit far, I could hear the content of their conversation.
"That's enough."
What did that mean?
Was he saying that the level of the plague in the tribe was enough?
"You don't have to push yourself any further."
Maintaining my tension, I continued to follow their conversation.
"You've done enough."
"But, the plague is still spreading."
As I watched their rendezvous in silence, I could sense that the atmosphere was gradually becoming strange.
Secretive.
And, though I had thought they were conspiring slyly about something, their gazes grew increasingly earnest.
"If only I'd tried a little harder..."
"No one in the tribe has shown as much dedication as you. Day and night, you cared for the patients and searched for herbs."
"But it's not enough."
Melissa bowed her head and spoke in a trembling voice. As if tears had fallen, Gor took her hand.
"Melissa, whenever I look at you, I think—"
"Gor?"
What the hell.
What's going on with this atmosphere?
"If you get sick, my heart aches just as much!"
With those words, Gor put his other hand on hers.
"I love you, melissa!"
Uh.
From behind the totem, I blinked in confusion.
What did Turtle kid just say?
Love?
A confession?
Now, of all times?
"Gor..."
Even as I struggled to make sense of the situation, their conversation continued.
"I still have things I must do."
"I know. I'll wait for you."
Gor smiled bitterly.
"When the plague subsides, then maybe we can—"
Gor trailed off. At that moment, melissa stood on tiptoes and pressed her lips to Gor's.
'Huh.'
My eyes widened.
Okay, I get what's happening now, but why—
Of all places,
Did they have to do this in front of the well?
Gor stared at Melissa, wide-eyed with surprise. But soon, he embraced her.
Beneath the moonlight, their silhouettes became one.
Damn.
I knew I wouldn't get any answers about the 'Seven Abyssal Brands' by staying here.
And yet—
I couldn't bring myself to leave.
So this is why people watch dramas! You just end up watching!
"This is my answer."
Melissa's voice was soft.
"I'll wait, too. No matter how long it takes."
"Thank you, Gor."
Her expression was hard to see in the darkness, but her eyes shone in the moonlight.
"Don't overdo it."
"You too, go home, Gor. It's late."
"You as well."
With those brief farewells, the two of them slowly walked off in different directions.
'Haaa.'
I stepped out from behind the totem and gazed at the well where the pair had disappeared.
So it wasn't a secret rendezvous after all. Well, I guess it was a rendezvous. I still didn't understand why they had to meet in secret, though.
Anyway, now that it was over, I felt foolish for doubting 'Seven Abyssal Brands'.
I'd better go back to the hovel.
If Serena had woken up, she might be worried.
I could think about it all tomorrow.
Just as I began to walk away, a sudden thought made me stop.
'Wait.'
The well.
Melissa had been standing in front of the well.
With a suspicious pouch of herbs in her hand.
Surely not.
Given her relationship with Gor, just doubting Melissa now felt like a 'betrayal'.
Turtle kid, who had come of age together with me.
My Turtle kid, who had risked his life for my plan. Gor.
'No.'
That's that, and this is this. I need to be sure about things like this.
I approached the well.
Please, let me be wrong.
Please, let my Turtle kid's pure heart not be in vain.
That's what I hoped.
I looked into the well, but it was only an inky darkness. I couldn't see inside at all.
I wasn't even sure there was any water.
'As expected, I really can't tell.'
Just as I was about to walk away—
"Sniff, sniff."
A subtle scent began wafting up from above the well.
Sweet, yet slightly bitter.
An oddly blended fragrance.
'This is...?'
No doubt about it. This wasn't ordinary water. Something was mixed in.
The faint scent faded away soon after, but it was clear that 'Melissa' had put something in.
* * *
The next morning. After a simple breakfast, I left the hovel.
"Brother Dmihtan, where are you going?"
Serena, who lived in the hovel with me, tilted her head curiously as I headed out early in the morning.
I simply replied, "I have some business to take care of."
As if it was only natural, Serena began following behind.
"Th-then let's go together. I don't really have anything else to do here."
She was coming with me? I supposed it didn't really matter.
"So, where are we headed?"
She was following even without knowing?
"I'm going to the infirmary."
"The infirmary? Oh... Is it to try to find out more about the cause of the plague?"
"That's right."
Truthfully, it wasn't to find out the cause. It was just to confirm something.
Since it was early morning, the village was still quiet. A few barbarians had already risen, but they didn't really pay attention to us.
"Is that the infirmary?"
Serena pointed at a large tent, and I nodded.
We headed straight inside the tent. Inside lay many barbarians ill with disease.
"They've sorted the patients by the progress of their illness..."
With just a glance, Serena seemed to analyze the structure immediately.
The sound of coughing.
Moans.
And a heavy atmosphere.
"They're really not in good shape."
Serena muttered quietly.
While we were looking around, a female tribeswoman caring for the patients spotted us.
"Ah, brother Dmihtan!"
I put my finger to my lips.
"I don't want to wake the patients. By the way, do you know where Melissa is?"
At my question about Melissa's whereabouts, the woman shook her head from side to side.
Melissa wasn't here.
Good timing.
"Where's the medicine preparation room? I'll help with the brewing."
At my request, the woman pointed emotionally toward the back of the infirmary.
Thus, Serena and I arrived at the herb storage area as if it were the most natural thing.
The cauldron where decoctions for the patients were being brewed. When I opened the lid, I saw brown liquid inside.
'The smell is....'
The bitter scent of herbs.
Far from the sweet scent I had smelled yesterday.
"Is there any particular medicine you're looking for?"
As I continued to sniff around the room, Serena grew curious.
"I'm searching for something."
"What sort of herb? I only have some basic knowledge of herbalism, but I'm better than the average person."
It was hard to explain. I was searching for an herb with a faintly sweet aroma.
"Hmm?"
Sniff, sniff.
Sniffing around the herb storage just like a dog, this time I definitely caught a familiar scent.
That sweet fragrance I'd smelled at the well. The faint fruity aroma tingled at my nose.
Like a bee drawn to a flower, I naturally gravitated toward the herb.
"Is it this herb?"
Probably.
I nodded to Serena's question and deeply inhaled the scent from up close.
This herb—it was identical to what I'd smelled at the well.
Pale-Violet Mistweed
Grade: Common
【Hallucination】 1
【Slight Fever】 2
【Sweet Scent】 1
【Decreased Resistance】 3
Looking over the herb's properties, I could see it was no ordinary thing.
Hallucination.
Slight fever.
Clearly options that could be related to the 'plague'.