Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: "Why Does Everyone Keep Dying?"
Greetings. I am Violia Nico Fortesia. I have decided to sell drugs!
Where will I obtain these drugs, you ask?
From myself! I shall provide them!
"And so, I shall sell my blood as a drug by diluting it significantly."
If I dilute my blood to an extreme degree, it should likely function as a narcotic. I have never tried it, but I am certain it will work!
"...Are you serious?"
"Indeed. It will surely send one flying. They shall see heaven. Though, in your case, you might see hell instead. Would you like to try some?"
"No, no, no! Your blood is, like, that stuff, right!? The kind that makes you rot and fall apart until you die!? There's no way in hell I'm touching that!"
"Where exactly were you planning to inject it...?"
I did wonder if splashing it directly onto one's crotch would be a bit much...
"...Well, it might be worth a shot, wouldn't it?"
While Chesta was squawking, Giovan looked unexpectedly calm. As expected of a man who calls himself the intellectual type.
"Your blood is essentially a magical poison, right, Young Lady? If so, with a little processing, it might actually become a drug."
"Oh, that is good news. In that case, Giovan, would you like to be the test subject?"
"Not a chance, Young Lady. But Doran says he'll do it."
"Giovan. Don't sell me out."
I was only joking. Ohohohohoho.
"I have one concern."
"What is it?"
Just when I thought I had a brilliant idea, Doran had a strangely serious expression. His brow was furrowed.
"Even if it is diluted, is it wise to let so many people ingest your blood? There is a possibility they could develop a resistance. It would be troublesome if an opponent who might eventually become an enemy gained a resistance to your trump card."
Ah, I had not considered that.
"Nah. I think it'll be fine. I mean, the Young Lady's blood can kill a dragon with just a tiny drop, right? ...If you dilute it enough to use as a drug, it'll practically be a different substance. Just imagine it. Even a junkie like Chesta would die if he took ten thousand doses of a drug all at once."
"Yeah, that'd definitely kill me."
"Right? I think the Young Lady's blood works the same way."
Well, that is true.
If someone were to appear who didn't die from a single arrow of my blood, I would simply have to pump another one into them. Ohohohohoho.
...However.
...If such a person were to appear, I might be a little bit happy.
"Eh?"
"It is nothing."
It is not as if I don't have a tiny bit of... longing for that.
"Then, let us try giving the diluted samples to experimental animals and see how they fare. We can adjust it from there."
"And what are these experimental animals?"
"The thugs around here, I suppose."
"...Start with a cow, a horse, or a monster first."
"Oh, very well."
Now then, my plans for tomorrow are set! I feel I shall sleep well tonight!
And so, the next morning.
"Good morning! Come now, Chesta! Let us go! We are searching for experimental animals!"
As soon as I raised my voice upon entering the hideout, Chesta, who seemed to have been sleeping on the sofa, began to stir.
"...Why me? Just take Doran with you."
He seemed quite lethargic, perhaps due to the effects of the medicine from yesterday. But that is irrelevant!
"Doran is Giovan's guard. If they are attacked again right after leaving the shop, it might truly be dangerous this time."
"Eh? Ah... right."
Chesta sat up, but he continued to mope without making any effort to stand. He is quite persistent in his laziness. Does he wish for his backside to be slapped?
"...Give me an hour. I can't. I can't move."
"Honestly, you are hopeless."
However, if he truly cannot move, then slapping his backside won't make him move either. It would be a waste of effort! I have no hobby of slapping a man's backside for no reason!
In the end, we set out after waiting an hour and a half.
"By the way, is it okay for you to be walking around during the day?"
"I have obtained Doran's permission. He said it is fine as long as I hide my face and you are with me."
"Heh."
It might be troublesome if soldiers come again, but for now, there are no signs of soldiers in Elsemarin. I suspect the royal castle is in quite a state of chaos. There will surely be a little more time before they can dispatch troops.
"So, what are you using for experimental animals? Horses? Cows?"
"It would be a waste of money to buy horses or cows, so we shall use monsters."
"...Can you even use the results from monster experiments on humans?"
"Adjustments will be necessary, but we should be able to obtain a rough baseline."
After all, I have never used my own blood in a diluted state. I have absolutely no idea how much I should dilute it. Therefore, the goal this time is simply to get an idea. I am not seeking precise results from the start!
A short walk out of town leads to the plains. And a little further from the plains, one enters the forest.
In this Forest of Great Trees, the trees are, above all else, incredibly massive. Countless trees with trunks wider than a human's height stand in rows, and in various places, such trees have fallen and blocked the path.
However, the inside of this Forest of Great Trees is an excellent hunting ground. To give you an idea of how efficient it is, there are guards stationed there, and entry for ordinary people is forbidden. Ohohohohoho.
...In short, it is dangerous. Yes.
The perimeter of the forest is surrounded by particularly thick fallen trees, making the forest resemble a single fortress. Thanks to that, the monsters inside the forest do not come out.
And this excellent hunting ground has been modified by human hands... a portion of the wall of fallen trees surrounding the forest has been cut away, serving as the entrance and exit to the forest.
"There are guards. What's the plan?"
And so, specialized guards are watching the forest's entrance.
"We shall ignore them. This way."
However, such guards are meaningless.
"I didn't know there was a secret path like this."
"Yes. I made it myself."
It was an inconspicuous corner hidden by thick, tall grass. There was a spot where the wood had rotted and become brittle, creating a natural tunnel. Needless to say, I chose such a place and excavated it myself!
"When did you do this?"
"During my holidays while I was at the Academy. Or, I would sneak out at night on weekdays."
"Heh. You're quite the delinquent."
"Not at all. I was known as an honor student, if I do say so myself."
Unexpectedly, if one is thought of as an 'honor student,' one can do things far more delinquent than an actual delinquent. I took my written exams seriously, but I bluffed my way through most of the practical exams. The reason that was permitted, and the reason no one suspected me even when I went hunting or walked the backstreets every holiday, was all because I was an honor student!
As I thought, one should always be serious where seriousness is required!
Now then. We entered the forest while chatting.
After advancing a little way into the forest, we immediately encountered monsters.
Five goblins. Three horn rabbits. Is that a Green Slime in the back? How extravagant!
"Now then... it is time for some fun!"
I clenched my fist, adorned with a steel ring, and charged toward the monsters!
"Capturing them alive is unexpectedly difficult..."
"Yeah. Ah well, we don't usually hold back like this."
Thinking that I must not kill them, I fought with my bare hands instead of using a bow or a sword. Well, I did have a steel ring on my finger for punching, and my shoes were hidden-blade boots.
...But even so, I ended up killing the smaller monsters unexpectedly... Unfortunately, the horn rabbits and the Green Slime were completely wiped out. I didn't think a single kick would destroy their skulls or cores. I am reflecting on my actions.
"Well, it is fine. For now, let us experiment on the ones we managed to capture alive."
However, I succeeded in capturing several goblins, which are relatively close to humans in size!
Now! It is time for the experiment! First, a 10-fold dilution! Here I go!
"The next one for sure...! The next one will surely, finally, soon...!"
"...I've got a feeling this one's gonna fail too..."
...It was a bit unexpected.
First, when I gave a spoonful of the 10-fold diluted poison, the creature died instantly.
Well, that can't be helped, I thought, and tried a 20-fold dilution, but that also died instantly.
Thinking it couldn't be, I tried a 30-fold dilution, and it died again.
Then, with a prayer in my heart, I tried a 40-fold dilution, and it still died.
...And so now, I am making a 100-fold dilution on the spot and attempting to give it to the last goblin.
"It will work! It shall work! This time! This time, surely...!"
The goblin, having the 100-fold diluted poison of my blood brought to its mouth, struggled desperately to resist! It is fine! You will just get a little high! Probably!
...And then.
"It died!"
It died after all!