Chapter 145 - Episode 7: Greetings from the Ceiling!
Greetings. I am Violia Nico Fortesia.
I am currently peeking secretly through a window into the Royal Castle dining hall, which is packed with Carol, Dactor-sama, and a massive army of Holy Knights.
The time has come for Chris to be useful! He is perfect for the role of poison tester!
...Inside the dining hall, it seems Chris has performed the poison testing.
But he doesn't seem to be collapsing or vomiting. This means it's either a slow-acting poison, or... there was no poison to begin with.
My reading was that since the Royal Family realized they couldn't win with military force, they would resort to other means like poisoning to capture Carol, or simply kill her outright... but it seems they haven't put poison in the food at least.
Well, that's fine. I can mostly read their next move anyway.
"...How was it?"
The one who spoke to me was Doran. He is in his usual attire, clad in Holy Knight armor.
"I have successfully collected the Royal soldiers. I'd like to do a bit more if possible, but..."
Carol is the priority for now. Collecting Royal soldiers is merely a 'do it if possible' matter. On the other hand, guarding Carol is an absolute necessity.
"For now, Chris has just finished testing for poison. Seeing as he isn't dying, there's a high possibility it's at least a slow-acting poison."
"You gave him antidotes beforehand, didn't you?"
"Yes. I believe I've covered most of the poisons that are easy to put in food."
I assigned Chris as the poison tester for Carol, but just in case, I had her take a variety of antidotes beforehand.
When it comes to poisons, I am far more knowledgeable than your average scholar. I even know of several antidotes that aren't generally known.
"...So the problem is when they use a poison that doesn't rely on food."
...My knowledge of poisons far exceeds that of the Royal Family. Even if the Royal Family thinks they're 'outsmarting me,' that's nothing more than the obvious to me.
The Royal Family will surely use poison. To wipe out Carol and the Holy Knights without relying on military force, they will surely use poison.
That would be, for example... an airborne poison.
In deep caves, there are often poisons dissolved in the air. In such cases, people often bring in a lit candle, and if the flame goes out, it's proof that there's poison there... but those 'airborne poisons' are actually quite easy to create. In fact, it's entirely possible to create a poison even more powerful than the one in the depths of a cave.
The wonderful thing about airborne poisons is that they are invisible. Because they are invisible, they are difficult to counter.
Furthermore, they are very effective against opponents who are wary of poisons in food and such. You can choose not to eat food, but you cannot choose not to breathe air. Airborne poisons are effective against any opponent.
Of course, since they are invisible and floating, they are difficult to handle. However, it wouldn't be strange if there were scholars in the castle researching such things. They will likely use it as a state-of-the-art weapon.
...However, there is one thing that bothers me.
That is, 'Does Dactor-sama know about this?' It all comes down to that one point.
To use airborne poisons effectively, the target needs to be inside a room. Since airborne poisons dissolve into the air, if it's a place with too much ventilation, they will just spread and thin out, becoming no different from regular air.
...Well, in short, airborne poisons are meant to be used inside a room... but naturally, if you do that, everyone in the room will fall victim to the poison.
Yes. Dactor-sama should be no exception. If they release an airborne poison into the room in this state, Dactor-sama should also drop dead.
It's possible he was given an antidote beforehand... but in the first place, using poison wasn't the original plan. If we hadn't brought so many Holy Knights, they would have normally suppressed us with force and captured Carol alive.
In that case...
...The Royal Family has likely discarded Dactor-sama, hasn't it?
Well, that's fine. Knowing the enemy's internal affairs is nothing more than 'Oh, is that so.'
What's important to me now is Carol! As for Dactor-sama dying, he can do as he pleases, but I will never forgive them if they lay a hand on Carol!
With that, it's time for action!
"Doran. Can you throw me to the floor above this one?"
"That's sudden. What's wrong?"
"I believe the airborne poison will be generated in the room on the floor above the dining hall."
"I see."
Doran nodded and... holding me, he kicked off the ground.
In an instant, my body floated into the air... and the next moment, Doran was grabbing the railing support of the second-floor balcony with his other hand!
...Come to think of it, this guy had superhuman physical abilities, didn't he... I wonder if it was always this much...
"Go up. You can use me as a stepping stone."
"Oh, then I won't hesitate."
I used Doran's shoulder and such to successfully move onto the second-floor balcony. Doran also pulled himself up onto the balcony without difficulty after me.
"...You're quite enthusiastic, aren't you? Aren't you being quite generous with your physical enhancement magic?"
"It's nothing much. I've just started using the power of the werewolf a bit lately."
Oh. I can't see them because of the helmet, but it seems Doran currently has ears and a tail. I'll touch them later.
"How's the situation inside?"
Leaving Doran's ears and tail aside, for now, it's the inside of the room.
...Naturally, since there was some noise, they were perfectly on guard. When I peeked into the window, I made eye contact with someone inside.
"Charge!"
There's no time to hesitate once you've been spotted! Charge!
Entering the room through the window, I immediately threw something at the head of one of the people inside!
On the other side, Doran moved at superhuman speed and quickly blocked the room's door! Now the people in this room can no longer escape!
"...Tell me what you were doing here. If you don't answer, you'll end up like this one."
I said to the entire room, pointing to the one I had knocked unconscious with the vase! Deprived of an escape and in this situation! Naturally, they all have no choice but to surrender! Ohohohohoho!
"As I thought, you were generating poison here."
After hearing from the people in the room and looking at the equipment... I mostly understood.
As I expected, the plan was to generate airborne poison in this room and then flow it down to the dining hall on the floor below.
The materials being used were things like cockatrice blood, dragon claws, and Dark Purple Slime mucus—all things well-known to those in this field. I have even done this myself.
"...Well, I understand. Thank you for the information."
I said to the group of castle scholars and mages in the room, and then approached the poison generator to destroy it.
With this setup, I just need to remove the dragon claw from the bottle...
...It was then.
"I won't let you! Long live the House of Orchesta!"
Saying that, two mages lunged at me, used some magic... and splashed the resulting liquid on me!
What was splashed on me was deadly poison and acid.
A liquid that invades the skin and seeps into the bones to cause pain, and a liquid that burns the skin, burns the flesh, and even melts iron.
Such things were instantly created by magic and splashed on me in abundance...
"Well, I'm fine, but so what!?"
Naturally, I am fine, so I punched the bastard who splashed acid on me and sent him flying! I naturally have resistance even to magic-based poisons! I haven't trained myself to be harmed by this level of thing!
"M-Monster..."
"Monster is fine! Argh, I'm so annoyed! Don't go around meddling like that! I thought I'd let you live, but I've changed my mind! I'll start by killing you all!"
I've already squeezed all the information out of them, so there's no reason to let them live! Shall I finish them off now!
...I thought, and as I drew my dagger.
"...Eh."
Behind me, the poison generator was rattling.
...Cockatrice blood, dragon claws, Dark Purple Slime mucus, and even things like giant snake scales and salt chunks were in there... well, the poison that was supposed to be generated was likely nothing very rare for those in this field.
However... just now, a completely different poison and acid entered it, didn't they?
I saw the poison and acid that were fired at me enter the poison generator.
...And the poison generator has begun to operate magnificently!
"Doran! Can you break through the floor!? I'm going down from there!"
While I was punching the mages, Doran had also finished off the scholars and such, and he rushed to my side... and with his inhuman fist, he successfully made a hole in the floor!
The second floor's floor is the first floor's ceiling! If I look down, there is the dining hall!
"I'm going down from here! You lead them from the corridor!"
"Understood. I'll focus on leading the Holy Knights. ...Also, your helmet looks like it's about to break. You should be careful."
Told by Doran, I reflexively touched my helmet and found it was about to break, likely due to the acid from earlier. My face will be visible like this! But there's no time to change!
...Then there's only one conclusion!
I jumped down through the hole in the floor and landed in the dining hall!
"Greetings! I am Violia Nico Fortesia!"
Standing before the stunned crowd, I had already cast aside my helmet!
"Run! Poison has begun to spread in this dining hall! If you value your lives, get out of here immediately!"
And I spoke those words clearly!