CHAPTER 15

“Mm, mmmph!”

Eric’s lips twisted in a strange way and started melting.

Like hot wax, his melted lips stuck together, sealing his mouth shut.

I was a little surprised.

He was a spy from the Poison King Cult. He should’ve been resistant to poison—but this worked really well. Compared to him, my red swollen hand was nothing.

“Mmmph! Mmm!”

“It hurts, doesn’t it? Now I understand how much my sister must have suffered that day. Like her whole body was melting. But she didn’t even scream. Because she didn’t want me to worry.”

I smiled and put my hand back into the red orb.

“So I need to hurt too. And you too.”

Eric’s eyes looked at me like I was insane.

I liked that.

That’s what I wanted to see deep in my heart.

“Good. This is so good. I thought I’d never be able to say this out loud to anyone. But I found a way. Thanks, Eric from the Poison King Cult. If that’s even your real name.”

To show my thanks, I gently touched Eric’s body.

With the same hand I had just taken out of the orb.

“Mmph! Mmmmmmph!”

He twisted his body like a fish being sliced alive or a frog boiling in a pot.

His skin melted. His muscles melted. Even his bones started to melt.

So this is the true power of condensed Vein Poison. Just touching it did this much. If someone from the Poison King Clan used this power to strengthen their body… they would become terrifying.

“Oh right. Is this what I saw in that vision? Using Vein Poison for Poison Strengthening… That’s why the body swelled up so horribly.”

“Mmmph! Mmm!”

“Be quiet. Do you think I like this either? But I don’t have a choice. If I can’t get stronger the Sword King way, I’ll have to do it the Poison King way. I don’t have aura. I can’t use aura. Just swordsmanship alone won’t be enough. So to destroy the Poison King Cult completely—no, wait. That’s not what matters right now.”

I looked into Eric’s eyes again.

We should focus on the present.

That’s what Tiber always said.

So we should enjoy what’s in front of us. I looked at Eric’s suffering face and enjoyed it with all my heart.

“Mmmph!”

This is good.

“Mmmph! Mmmmmmph!”

Really good.

Humans are strange. We can enjoy watching another human melt.

Then suddenly, his reactions slowed down. I panicked and quickly pulled my hand back.

“No, wait! Not yet. We just got started. Come on, you can still hold on, right?”

“Ugh…”

“If you have any decency, hang in there. Do you know how many people were in that poison cave? Hundreds. All of them suffered before dying. So you should too. Even if you can’t match all of them, at least a few dozen, right?”

“……”

“How about three days? I lasted that long without dying. Or even five days? I’ll stay with you the whole time, even if I miss the school ceremony.”

So please…

Make me enjoy this more.

But, just like always, fun things don’t last long.

“Ugh…”

Eric died within seconds. His eyes rolled back, and his breathing stopped.

“Haa…”

I sighed.

Too bad. Next time I’ll be more careful.

Fun time is over.

Now it’s time to get real information.

“Everyone, can you hear me? Can you help me out?”

I asked, stepping away from the body. The red orb floating nearby opened up like a blanket and wrapped around the body.

Fwoosh!

As expected, we’re like family. It knew what I meant even without me saying it clearly.

Well, actually I did command it… but that’s okay. I can still feel my siblings’ presence inside it.

Ssshhhhh…

The orb absorbed everything—Eric’s body, blood, poison, everything.

All of it got turned into pure essence inside the orb.

Just like in the poison cave.

Even the emotions in the dead body got absorbed.

That’s the power of Vein Poison.

That’s why my brother, sister, and Tiber’s souls are still in that orb.

And I can command it.

Because I was once the Poison King.

More memories were returning to me. The moment I accepted the soul of the first Poison King, Kainens.

That’s why I could control it. I’m sorry, brother and sister, but I need to do this now.

Bubble…

Nothing was left. No body, no blood, not even the poison in the air.

All of it was now inside the orb—which had grown a little bigger.

“I’m sorry, everyone. For making you do something so unpleasant. But I know you understand. I felt it earlier when I touched the orb. You all still care about me. Oh, and Tiber—you too. I’m sure there’s a good pumpkin pie shop around here somewhere.”

“And Eric? Why don’t you come out for a bit?”

A faint, pale mist came out of the orb.

Ssshhh…

Like smoke.

Or like a ghost crying.

“Let’s start with your name again.”

“E-Er… Eric…”

The smoke answered weakly.

Good. He’s listening.

I wondered, can others hear this too? Or is it just me?

“Whatever. Anyway, Eric, tell me your real name. The one you used in the Poison King Cult.”

“E… Eric…”

“Not Eric. The real one.”

“Bal… Baldinger.”

“Baldinger?”

“Y-Yes…”

“That’s a weird name. So, you were sent here as a spy, right?”

“Y-Yes… N-No! I mustn’t talk!”

The smoke shook with pain. I reached out and grabbed it.

“Yes, you must. You already failed.”

“F-Failed…”

“You guys tried to bring back the first Poison King and failed, right? That’s why you caused all that chaos. But why were you sent here? Who sent you?”

“Ugh…”

The smoke flickered like a candle about to go out.

That was Eric’s soul made from poison. After a long struggle, it finally spoke again.

“W-Why… am I like this? A-Am I… dead?”

“Now you get it? Yes, you’re dead. So give up. Stop resisting and answer me.”

“Agh… damn it… I hadn’t even started my mission yet…”

“Mission? What mission?”

“My… mission was to cause chaos in Bryce. Pretend to be a student, sneak around at night, kill people… spread fear…”

“And?”

“Gather info on key targets. And if any dangerous ones showed up… assassinate them…”

As expected.

“How many of you are there?”

“From the Poison King Cult… I know of five…”

“Just the Cult? What about the Poison King Clan?”

“I don’t know for sure… but at least ten…”

“What’s the relationship between the Clan and the Cult? Why do they work separately? And who’s the key target?”

“The Cult… Agh, it’s so unfair… I only killed three people in Bryce so far…”

“Wait, three?! Who?”

“Just some homeless people in the slums… Ugh… I didn’t gather enough info yet… Poison King… I’m sorry… Vice Leader… I failed… Ahhh!”

Suddenly, Eric’s soul vanished like smoke.

So weak.

I wanted more answers. Especially the name of the key target.

But all that was left was the poison essence.

Eric—no, Baldinger—was now truly gone.

Still, I learned something important: how powerful the spirits of my family really are.

That’s why they remain in the orb. For me. Or maybe because of their dreams they couldn’t fulfill while alive.

“I know. I understand.”

I smiled at the orb.

“It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything. I know what you want. I’ll make it happen. Even if it doesn’t fix everything…”

But just then—

“Ugh…”

My vision twisted and blurred again.

Another vision?

It was the same destroyed city I saw before—Bryce’s future.

But something was different.

The end was still destruction, but the timing changed. And this time, the Sword King Clan fought harder in the final battle.

Not a big change… but a change.

That means my actions just now… changed the future.

Spy hunting.

Is this the answer?

Eric said there are many spies from the Poison King Clan and Cult hiding in the city.

If I find and destroy them all, maybe I can stop the city’s destruction—or at least change its fate.

Thank goodness.

I finally have a clear goal.

People say revenge is pointless. But look how good it feels.

Hmm-hmm…

I started humming.

Grrrgle.

And I got hungry. Right after melting a person to death. Seriously?

But it always happens. Every time I see a vision, my stomach empties and I get super hungry.

Even this future-seeing power… runs on food?

Problem is—I don’t have much money left.

The money Inspector Pale gave me was mostly spent on travel. I still need to buy my uniform before the entrance ceremony.

I thought the dorm would have food, but this place is empty like a haunted house.

Looks like I’ll have to feed myself until school starts.

What should I do?

Maybe wash dishes at a restaurant in exchange for food?