Leave The Medical Stuff to Rumel

I was only able to log back into Leclaire World Navigator later that afternoon.

After making sure Rumel was okay, I went back to sleep. When I woke up in the morning, I threw myself into work.

I’d had to put several of my requests aside because of the NPC System, so today was my catch-up day. I spent a couple of hours adjusting multiple characters’ poses and attack-animations for an indie game.

While I was polishing a specific animation of a 3D model, my phone buzzed on the desk.

ZZZZ!

I picked it up, expecting an auto-notification for something like an anticipated new anime episode or game coming out.

But I smiled when I saw Sachi’s name pop up.

Sachi: Hi, All-Day Busy Michio-kun

Me: Hey

Sachi: How‘s it going?

Me: Fine thanx

Sachi: Whatcha doing? Playing?

Me: Not yet. Doing a request. Gotta fine-tune damn 3d characters and weapons

Sachi: Oooo

Sachi: What characters and weapons? I want to be inspired :3

Me: Some berserker guy with a double axe

Sachi: Wild huh

Me: Yep

Me: What you need inspiration for? Can't you draw, maybeee? <:p

Sachi: I can, mind you >:I

Me: Then?

Sachi: It's hard when it’s a cool important moment

Sachi: Every character is here at one place and they have problems to solve

Sachi: And there’ll be fight scenes

Me: Sounds awesome =D

Me: I know you'll figure it out

Me: Your good at this

Sachi: Thanx

Sachi: You're still getting your head beaten >:p

Me: Couple more days

Sachi: See you then!

Yeah, that’s how Sachi is. Always full of energy, even when I’m getting beaten to a pulp.

I laughed to myself, then looked at the time.

It was shortly after lunch that I finished wrapping up and sending back everything to the devs. The afternoon sun was already slipping past the window,

I may have been busy, but when I could, I kept looking at the compass-crescent icon on my desktop. Every time I checked even for a second, I felt the same pull.

Not to lure me in, but like it was trying to show me something new.

After what happened at night, I couldn’t allow myself to be away from that world for even one day. Also, I was now already able to talk to NPCs, even if it was only in their minds.

Things were getting more interesting, and I was here for it. I wasn’t ready for everything yet, and I needed more abilities.

So after I was done, I logged right in.

◆ ◆ ◆

Ente & Ovia was a vibrant place not only at night, but also during the day.

Inside, there were just as many guests at the bar and tables, keeping the atmosphere lively without pause. The barmaids were busily bringing menus and carrying platters.

It was as if what had happened at night had only been a bad dream, forgotten.

Rumel wasn’t around now. She probably sold tea at her stall like every day before getting back at late-afternoon. However, I suspected that Tara-sama hadn’t let her go easily today.

She’d almost been robbed yesterday—she had to take care.

Adiel was the only familiar face among the staff, hurrying between the tables.

One of the maids called from the kitchen, a short girl with tiny horns on her head, probably a succubus.

“Adiel! The two noodle soups for table twelve are ready!”

The elf-girl went over, picking up the tray with the soups on it.

“Thanks, Bethy!”

She headed straight for the table on the far side of the tavern. Two boys a tad bit younger than me were sitting there, having a nice chat. What caught my eye were their thick leather vests.

“I’m telling you, it’s all bollocks in there.”

“Oh I know that! I’m hearing all sorts of things.”

“You heard the same thing? What did they say, exactly?”

“There was some commotion this morning. Something was wrong, people were missing—”

That's when Adiel came in with the soups.

“Hi! Sorry to keep you waiting, here’s your order!”

“Oh, it's nothing!”

They waved politely as she put down the two bowls of noodle soups in front of them.

Adiel’s eyes were then visibly caught by the boys’ clothes, recognizing it.

“You guys are doing archery?”

Of course! She's an elf, and elves are famously good archers. She’d recognize a fellow archer if she saw one.

The two lads were lit up at the question, sharing a laugh.

“Yes! For sport, not for hunting.”

“We train several times a week on the Capitol’s training grounds. I mean, after this, we might not because there have been rumors since this morning.”

I raised a brow. What’s this rumor now?! Did I miss something?

Adiel seemed to be interested in this too, but she got called away at that moment as a new meal was ready to serve.

“Sorry, got to go!”

The two lads didn’t mind, as they dug into their noodles without a word.

For a while, I didn’t pay much attention to this. I enjoyed the fact that at least in this little corner of the Empire, everything was as fine as it could be.

It wasn’t long before some interesting guests arrived.

Through one of the tavern’s front windows, I spotted two knights appearing on one side of the crossroads, amid the clatter of hoofbeats.

Passers-by went about their errands around them, though a few stopped to ask the knights. Those who stopped walked away afterward with worried faces, not looking back.

And these two, with their horses hitched, headed straight for the tavern.

CHIME!

Why, what have I got now?

«Urgent: Unlawful atrocities have been committed»

Excuse me?!

By the time I’d made sense of it, still checking several times to see if I had misread it, the realization left me breathless. Something was wrong.

Then the little bell above the door rang, indicating that the two men had entered already. Neither the music nor the cheer had died down, but the two of them looked around gloomily.

Seeing them from up close wasn’t any more reassuring. I hadn’t seen either of them before, but I’d have bet that they were at the escort yesterday morning, for they arrived on the same armored horses.

One of them had red hair tied up in a wolf’s tail, the other had short silver hair.

“Welcome to Ente & Ovia!” a barmaid greeted them, her voice shaky, maybe her first time seeing knights up close.

The redhead stopped her gently.

“Sorry to interrupt, we’re not here to order. Could we have a word with your boss?”

Startled, the maid gave a quick nod and led them to Tara’s office in the back.

Soon the dragon appeared. The two knights discussed something with her quietly, then turned to their guests as she turned the merry music down.

The red-haired knight spoke first.

“Good afternoon. Apologies for our intrusion. We’re here in the hope that you could give us answers regarding a series of terrible crimes that happened today.”

All eyes turned to them. I hovered nearby too, gauging their expressions.

“This morning, several Consuls were found dead in their homes. No signs of injury, struggle, or break-in. Nothing. Also, some Senators have been given death-threats in the form of letters, with similar letters found next to the dead Consuls.”

My hand froze to the mouse.

Since yesterday I knew very well this wasn’t a game-world. I couldn’t let my guard down just because I was watching through a computer like some streamer.

This world was separate from Earth, but similar to it in that there were evil deeds done here every day.

But why this? And why now?

This tavern was the least important place to search for answers.

The silver-haired knight continued, producing a small scroll he began to read.

“As it stands, the number of the dead is three. Consuls Idris Berro, Dante Bella Hamil, and Marso De Cameron. The threatened are many more, and their families may as well be in danger.”

Murmurs began to spread.

Consul Berro?

It hit me as I remembered the goatee guy from yesterday. He was in a good mood before the Senate meeting, then he went all on Magne.

Weren’t those other two his friends?

But what sense does it make to kill a group of friends?

“We are currently looking for the killer, probably the writer of the letters. All we know is that they used poison, mixed into the Consuls’ drinks. Any help is welcome, especially from someone who is familiar with medicine.”

Tara then began to think about something, and I knew exactly what it was.

“One of my maids could be of help. She’s skilled in herbal teas and remedies. I tell you, her work does wonders.”

The redhead turned to her, intrigued.

“Is she here now?”

Tara shook her head, hands folded.

“She sells tea as a side job at a market street, about a ten-minute walk from here. She’ll be back late, but I’ve asked her to come early.”

“And why is that?” he asked.

“Because someone tried to rob her last night.”

The room went still.

“You’re chasing Consul killers, but I suppose you don’t have time to get the ones who come after the common folk?”

The knight snorted heavily, clearly restraining himself from anger.

Boy, Tara was good.

“We were only ordered to investigate this case. Everything else, unfortunately, we weren’t ordered to.”

“Yeah, right,” Tara said, her gaze sharp. “Well, the maid in question will be along shortly. Do you want to wait or—”

The two men exchanged glances.

“No need. We’ll be around anyway, asking around some more, see if we get any news. We’ll be back before long. Thank you.”

Nothing more to say, the knights made their way out. They didn’t mount their horses, continuing on foot down one of the crossroads.

◆ ◆ ◆

Waiting for Rumel after that seemed like an eternity, yet it was barely ten minutes before I saw the cat-eared girl from the window.

She was smiling as always. But every now and then she’d shuffle behind her and pick up the pace. How could she not, deep down she must’ve still been worried about what had happened last night.

Oh, for goodness sake, somebody give her a hug already…

“I’m back!”

No sooner had the door closed behind her than she sensed something in the mood was different. Tara-sama and Adiel stood in front of her, leaning against the wall, deep in thought.

“What’s up? Why’s everything so weird around here?”

“The guys with the swords were here,” Adiel began. “They said some serious stuff.”

She tilted her head. “What exactly?”

Before telling her anything, Tara gestured for them to a table.

“Let’s sit down for this, first.”

They settled at a table away from the noisy guests, where they could talk in peace. Rumel sat down slowly, cautious, her tail tucked up beside her legs.

I was next to them, on the empty spot of the bench.

Tara fidgeted a little, picking her words.

Then finally, she began telling her what they’d learned from the two knights, careful with her words, not wanting to burden her unnecessarily.

Rumel listened, but with every passing minute she understood less.

It was as if this made it a little easier. I suppose she probably wondered why a matter involving Consuls and such would be important here, in a tavern that not a single Consul ever visited.

Exactly what I was asking myself.

“They suspect poisoning,” Tara finished. “And they might need some help.”

Rumel moved in her seat.

“Yeah, I think I get it. But I don’t know what I can help, though. Poisons aren’t exactly my field.”

“But teas and medicines are.”

Rumel chuckled a little at Adiel’s comment.

“That’s more like it. Still, I make herbal teas to help people sleep better, or to relieve aches and pains. This has nothing to do with poison.”

Or does it?

Then something clicked in her mind—her eyes widened.

“Wait, so you mean that poison is...”

Mixed into tea. That's it, right?

“Put it in a drink and no one notices until it's too late. Most likely.”

“We could use your knowledge about herbs, to see if you could find out what poison they were using,” Adiel said. “That should reveal a lot.”

“Things like plant habitats, vendors, buyers,” Tara listed. “Any guesses you have, about ingredients, or anything, even if you’re not sure. If there’s that much more chance that the guys with the swords will be satisfied and won't bother us with their business.”

Rumel cleared her thoughts. She was very unused to being asked to do this, but she suspected Tara and Adiel were right. Although not her area of expertise, she might know at least something that could be of use.

“Let’s see… I don’t know many poisonous plants… Less so those used for tea or drinks… There aren’t many in the Empire.”

On a whim, Adiel asked. “Are there any that are otherwise harmless?”

Otherwise harmless?

“What do you mean? A plant that is sometimes poison, sometimes not?”

“Sort of... like, if used properly, it’s a medicine—not necessarily for drinks. And if not handled properly, it could be a poison.”

I didn’t follow, but Rumel grinned brightly, flashing her cat-teeth.

“Comfrey... Not a common plant, the extract made from its leaves and roots is used for skin care. It’s forbidden to put it in drinks, because it’s said to cause severe illness in a short time if you drink it.”

Tara and Adiel looked at one another, admiration in their eyes.

It was a solid idea.

“Do you know where to get it?” Tara asked.

Rumel held back a little, sighing.

“Its extract is rarely sold because it’s hard to make. So... I recently got the plant and made an extract myself... I needed it for my skin.”

Adiel kindly took her hand.

“What does it matter why you have it? It’s not like you're using it for bad things!” she turned to Tara. “Should we show it to the armored guys when they get back?”

“Well, if Rumel doesn’t mind...”

“I can get more of the plant if I need to,” Rumel said. “I’d be happy to give it to them. It’s in my bedroom.”

No more questions needed, they knew what to do.

She and Adiel stood up and made their way to the stairs with quick steps. I followed them upstairs, where the noise below quieted a little.

They reached her bedroom and got inside. Kneeling before the drawer, they began searching through its contents.

I had a bad feeling, last night somebody else had tried to take something from there.

Rumel quickly took out some vials and passed them to Adiel. “Could you hold these for a bit?”

“Uh-huh.”

She shoved four more vials at the elf-girl until her hands were full.

“How exactly do you recognize Comfrey?”

Rumel was halfway in by then, her voice muffled.

“For one thing, it has this lovely yellowish-brown extract, like the color of autumn leaves. Plus, it has a rather foul, earthy smell that hurts your nose a bit.”

At that, she paused for a beat, and quickly crawled out of the drawer, holding a vial of the juice as described.

“See?” Rumel smiled, then put the vial under her nose.

She took a sniff, then another.

Then she looked at it oddly, eyebrows raised. Adiel and I didn’t understand.

“So, this is it… right?”

That didn't convince me either.

She popped the cap without a word. She sniffed it one last time before taking a sip and a swallow.

“Why are you playing alchemist right now, isn’t that poison?!”

I had to talk to her, as I couldn’t guess what she was doing. I wasn’t worried about Adiel hearing me—my voice probably only existed in Rumel’s mind.

Though I wasn’t certain that she would always acknowledge it. I mean, anybody could ignore their inner voice, regardless of whatever it says.

Rumel’s pupils quivered.

“This isn’t Comfrey's extract. The color’s right, but the smell isn’t. It’s just colored water.”

She poured it on the floor.

“Problem is, that there was Comfrey extract in this vial yesterday…”

That could only mean one thing and I didn’t want to know. Even thinking about it made me shiver down to my core.

She really had something stolen last night.

That damn Birdman stole that extract and replaced it with a fake one so no one would notice.

I got up from the computer while the app was running, and began pacing in the bedroom, thinking, anger boiling in me.

A thief using dark magic steals a potential poison, plus he clearly knew what he was looking for to put a decoy in its place, and more importantly, knew who to steal it from.

And the next day, out of nowhere, three people die of poisoning.

I held my head, frustrated, realizing the connection.

Her medicine was the murder weapon, and that damn thief could get through walls. He could easily poison whoever he wanted without leaving a trace.

Maybe I was too shocked to notice, but I got multiple new messages.

«Urgent: Adiel senses a serious threat»

«Urgent: Rumel is in danger»

Not again!

“We have to tell Tara about this!”

Adiel immediately rushed to the door, Rumel stayed there, startled.

“Let’s go!”

“My medicine… is that what killed those people?”

She grabbed her arm and helped her up.

“Come on! We’ll deal with this!”

What’s going on? She can’t be in danger, she didn’t do anything!

They went back down together, but by then the music had stopped once more.

As they descended the stairs, Rumel saw the two knights approaching Tara.

They were about to say something to her when they saw the girls at the bottom of the stairs, coming toward them.

Adiel was about to tell the tavern keeper what they had found upstairs, but then something else happened.

Time seemed to slow down. In a split second, the two knights’ eyes locked on Rumel, as if they recognized her.

Almost instantly, they drew their swords and pointed them at her, their faces stern and cold.

“So you, little girl, are the murderer we’re looking for.”