Chapter 138 : Now Who Runs the Healinghut
Now Who Runs the Healinghut
After parting ways with Rugar, I headed to the healinghut with Serena.
Worry filled my mind as we walked, but I tried my best to stay calm.
After all, it was true that Melissa had 'Pale-Violet Mistweed.' The symptoms that herb caused matched those of the epidemic.
So, I couldn't let my emotions sway me. I needed to focus only on the facts.
"Uh, um."
Just in case something happened, Serena accompanied me.
Her combat skills surpassed even those of a barbarian, to the point of being called a 'human hunter.'
"We've arrived."
When we reached the healinghut, Serena spoke.
Though it was a scene I'd seen before, coming here with a purpose made it feel different.
"Taron, are you okay?"
From inside the healinghut came Melissa's voice, who had just stepped away earlier.
"Hang in there a little longer."
Melissa put a damp cloth on the forehead of the groaning barbarian.
Anyone could see she seemed utterly devoted.
'Is she acting?'
I couldn't tell. If she was, it was quite impressive.
"Melissa."
When I spoke up, she turned her head. There was a trace of bewilderment in her eyes, though she had been tending patients.
"You're... the barbarian who finished the Journey of Proof."
"I am Dmihtan Elvar."
"I am Serebrina Lightbringer."
Once we gave our names, melissa asked for the patient's pardon and then stood up.
"I'm Melissa. As you see, the healer of the Red Wolf Tribe."
Melissa introduced herself gently yet firmly. Hearing her voice, I felt that the title 'healer' suited her well.
"But, why have you come here?"
Just as we were about to speak, she expressed her questioning.
Why have you come here? That was the question she held.
"I have something to discuss."
"Something to discuss?"
Melissa tilted her head.
"Is it about the epidemic? I heard you spoke with the priest."
Half right, half wrong.
It was true I'd come to discuss the epidemic.
But it wasn't about the treatment.
"I found this in your herb storeroom."
At my words, melissa's expression subtly changed.
A flicker of anxiety crossed her face. Watching her closely, I took out the 'Pale-Violet Mistweed.'
"Do you recognize this?"
"I'd be a poor healer if I didn't know my herbs."
When I handed her the mistweed, she swept her hands through it.
Some powdery substance fell from the well-dried herbs. Likely just crumbling leaves.
"Mistweed."
What are its effects?
"It has a sweet aroma, but holds many poisons."
That's correct.
"If ingested, it causes a mild fever, and later, hallucinations and delusions."
"Those are the same symptoms as the epidemic afflicting the tribe."
I looked directly at Melissa.
"Healer."
I took a step forward.
"I saw you put this in the well."
A lie.
I hadn't actually seen it with my own eyes.
I'd only followed a lingering scent at the well to get here.
Still, I needed to say this to pressure Melissa.
"Why did you do it?"
At my question, melissa's eyebrows twitched.
A moment's silence.
Then Melissa spoke again.
"Now that you've come this far, excuses won't work."
She spoke with resignation.
"I tried to spread the epidemic in the tribe. What other reason could there be?"
At her blunt confession, I was taken aback.
Is she crazy? Wouldn't most people make excuses or try to run?
"The reason?"
"As for that reason..."
Melissa gave a slight smile. It was a mocking smile, utterly unlike the devoted figure she'd shown in the village till now.
"Perhaps you should hear it later?"
With her confession, melissa scattered the 'Pale-Violet Mistweed' into the air.
A thick mist of herbs began to fill the surroundings, and at the same time, melissa slipped a hand inside her clothes.
A swift motion.
By no means was this a posture of surrender.
She was clearly about to take something out — a last desperate move.
"S-sorry!"
Before I could react, Serena sensed something off, pushed off the ground, and tackled Melissa.
Just as Melissa pulled something from her clothes, Serena grabbed her wrist.
No, 'grab' was an understatement.
She twisted it.
Crack.
"Ah, ahhhhh!"
A sharp scream burst from Melissa's lips. Everyone in the healinghut, the tribal members and barbarians alike, watched us in shock.
Crash!
From the pain of her twisted wrist, melissa dropped the glass bottle she'd just pulled out.
The liquid inside shined with an ominous violet tint.
"Is, is that poison!?"
Looking at the bottle, Serena spoke. Even then, she kept Melissa pinned by pressing her knee into her back, twisting her wrist.
"Who knows what could happen, so for now, it's best not to approach!"
Utterly subdued, melissa could only stare at the broken bottle with a vacant expression.
"So, this is how it ends."
Even in defeat, melissa was smiling. Strangely, a faint sadness glimmered in her eyes.
In that moment, hearing the commotion, barbarians began to rush into the healinghut.
How was I to explain this? As I pondered, I saw the priest enter right behind them.
"From the looks of things, there's nothing left to ask."
Rugar pointed at Melissa and spoke.
"Healer Melissa, as the one who spread the epidemic in the tribe, you will be detained."
Once the barbarian moved in, Serena stepped aside.
And so, the barbarians restrained Melissa.
I looked closely at her face as she passed.
Her face was clouded with complicated emotions, but there was no fear of her coming fate.
A calmness.
Because of that, uneasiness began to well up inside me.
* * *
After Melissa was taken away, the healinghut drowned in confusion.
The tribespeople stared at one another, disbelief on their faces.
Understandably so.
To learn that the dedicated healer was the cause of the epidemic — it was too much to believe.
"I did not wish for this, yet this is how it ends."
Rugar called out to me.
"Melissa is one of the tribe's few healers. I was always impressed by her devotion to the tribe."
He wore a bitter smile that didn't suit him.
"But the others will be even more confused than I am. There are those who were directly treated by her."
"What will happen to Melissa?"
At my question, rugar quietly closed his eyes.
"We'll find out who is behind this, and why she did such a thing."
I nodded to his words.
The relationship between the epidemic and the Seven Abyssal Brands.
Unless we revealed that, melissa's capture would be meaningless.
After all, my purpose in coming here was for the 'Seven Abyssal Brands.'
Suddenly, with heavy footsteps, someone ran into the healinghut.
It was Gor.
With a pale face, his eyes flashed with confusion.
"Sa-sage!"
He looked around frantically before rushing to me.
"Gor."
When I called his name, Gor looked me straight in the eyes.
Though he seemed to calm slightly in the presence of the priest, the turmoil in his pupils was nowhere near gone.
"Sa-sage, I just heard. Melissa...!"
With a trembling voice, Gor spoke.
"Melissa's been captured!"
"I know."
"W-why!?"
With questioning eyes, Gor asked. I could not hide the truth from him, so I began to explain what the healer named 'Melissa' had done in the tribe.
"H-how could this be...!"
Gor clenched his fists.
"I-I was with her every day. I saw her tending the villagers..."
"Gor, calm yourself and do not think rashly."
I put my hand on his shoulder.
"None of this was your fault. No one could have foreseen it."
"That's right. Melissa hid it thoroughly. Outwardly, she seemed truly devoted."
"Outwardly..."
Gor bowed his head. Silence fell around us.
Everyone seemed to know, at least vaguely, about Gor and Melissa's relationship.
After a while, Gor raised his head.
"Brother."
"What is it?"
"I want to speak with Melissa."
Meeting my eyes with a serious look, Gor asked. I glanced at Rugar for an answer.
As the priest, he looked down at Gor and spoke.
"I refuse."
"Priest!"
"You and Melissa were close. I can't let you go; who knows what you might do."
He spoke coldly, but Rugar then sighed.
"So I will go with you."
"Thank you... priest."
"I will go as well."
Saying that, I looked up at the sky.
Though not much time had passed, I felt as if the sky was growing darker.