BSPD 19

~Chapter 19~

“…Huh?”

“You could be in danger too, couldn’t you?”

Harry was right. The plague was a highly contagious disease. If I carried out experiments without proper respiratory protection, my chances of infection were high.

“Still… someone has to do it.”

I just didn’t expect that “someone” would be me.

My words sounded noble, but in the end, this was also for my own sake. If I couldn’t stop the plague now, it would spread like wildfire. Then, as the brand-new rookie in Administration, I’d surely work myself to death.

In short, whether I died from the plague or from overwork, it was the same thing.

“Honestly, this is the best way to avoid dying from overwork…”

“…What should I do then?”

“Huh? I told you to leave because it’s dangerous.”

“I’m also part of the Imperial Palace. I can’t just stand by and watch in a crisis. I’ll help as much as I can.”

“Uh…”

Was he serious? But since I desperately needed extra hands, I didn’t refuse.

“Then, can you write the herb names on the glass slides I prepare? I’ll need them when I check the results in an hour.”

Harry nodded. I immediately began grinding the herbs. There was no time, so it was more like crushing than carefully grinding.

I spread the herb juice on the glass slide and applied the vomit from the squirrel spirit beast. In an hour, the results would show.

And I had to repeat this five hundred times.

“Phew…”

I exhaled and moved my hands again without rest.

I lost track of time. I repeated grinding, applying, and observing over and over.

The sun that had been setting rose again to the middle of the sky.

Out of over five hundred herbs mixed with the vomit sample, I managed to narrow it down to those that could kill the plague bacteria.

The trash bin was overflowing with discarded glass slides.

Only five herbs showed any effect at all.

“Uwel stem, Frut leaves, Thorn petals, Norrups root, Kerka stem…”

Among these, the Thorn petals and Kerka stem were poisonous. Since there was no need to take unnecessary risks, I tossed them aside.

That left three. But then another problem arose.

“None of them can completely kill the plague bacteria…”

Even when I tested all three, none completely eradicated the bacteria. The most effective, Uwel stem, only managed to kill about half.

And over time, the bacteria multiplied again, spreading even to the herbs.

It was far too unstable as an antibiotic.

“I’ll have to mix it with something else… but with what?”

I chewed my nails in frustration. The possible combinations from over five hundred herbs were overwhelming.

Testing them all could take years. The thought was disheartening.

“Mind if I take a look?”

“Ah! You’re still here?!”

I hadn’t even realized Harry was still in the room. My heart racing from surprise, I turned to him.

He was studying the labels I’d attached to the five glass slides, clearly thinking hard.

“What about the Kerka stem?”

“It only works about halfway. It’s weak, and its toxicity could cause side effects, so I didn’t—”

“If it’s Kerka’s poison, you can neutralize it with Rancha flowers. And if you’re worried about its weak effect—”

Harry rummaged through the basket of herbs and pulled something out.

“…Sarlail root?”

Sarlail root was useless on its own, just a common weed. But when combined with other herbs, it could more than double the effect of the main ingredient.

So, if I mixed Kerka stem with Sarlail root to boost its effect and neutralized the poison with Rancha flowers—

“Mr. Harry! Give me the Sarlail root!”

I took the root from him, crushed it, added Rancha petals, then mixed it with the Kerka stem.

I combined it with the squirrel spirit beast’s vomit and waited half an hour.

With stinging eyes, I peered into the microscope.

“…Ah.”

A gasp slipped out.

Over 80% of the plague bacteria had vanished. It was an unmistakable effect.

“It worked! This can drive out the disease!”

But there was still a problem. Even though the Rancha flowers should have neutralized the Kerka’s poison, I wasn’t sure the mixture was safe.

Kerka stem’s poison dulled the senses temporarily, and if overused, could cause total loss of sensation. I needed to confirm if the mix was truly safe—

“I guess the only way is to try it.”

“What—!”

Before Harry could stop me, I swallowed the mixture of the three herbs.

“Kerka’s poison shows up within an hour. If I’m fine in an hour, it means the mix is safe.”

“That’s reckless! You’re using your own body for testing!”

“Doesn’t it sound admirable to take responsibility for my own medicine?”

I tried to lighten the mood, but Harry’s expression stayed tense.

“Whatever happens… thank you, Mr. Harry.”

“For what?”

“For helping despite the risk. This disease is truly terrible. I would’ve been terrified alone. I’m glad you… stayed with me.”

“…You’re foolish.”

“Wow, that’s the first time someone’s called me that. I was a good student, you know.”

If I was a fool, what did that make the other Administration staff?

That silly thought made me laugh despite the serious situation.

“Mr. Harry, could you… get me some water? My throat’s dry, but I don’t have the strength to move.”

“Alright. I’ll be right back. Shout if anything happens.”

“Okay…”

I could barely talk, let alone shout. Exhaustion and drowsiness hit me hard. As my head drooped, sleep crept in fast.

How long had passed? The sun had been high earlier—where was it now?

When I lifted my head to look out the window—

Blink, blink.

I met a pair of familiar violet eyes.

“Ahhh!!! You scared me!!!”

“What? You again?”

“That’s my line! Why are you here?!”

I nearly jumped at the sight of Luce standing there with that lazy grin.

I thought I’d never see him again, but here he was, as irritating as ever.

“Why are you here? Don’t tell me you came to collect your debt? All the way to the palace? If they find out what happened before, won’t you get kicked out?”

“Me? By who?”

He was still just as arrogant as ever.

“Is this another coincidence?”

“What do you mean?”

He stepped closer, too close, and I instinctively leaned back.

In his violet eyes, I saw myself—just like in a strange memory that came to me.

[You don’t need to know yet. Forget.]

“Ugh…”

My head throbbed. The man in that memory was definitely Luce. A face like his wasn’t something you’d mistake.

And in that memory, we were standing face-to-face just like now.

“You told me to forget because it wasn’t time yet…? What does that mean?”

The way his eyes widened told me I was right. Luce had said that to me.

“You put a spell on me?”

“As I thought… your magic resistance really is strong. I didn’t think it was this high.”

“Excuse me, this is no time to be impressed.”

From my father’s research notes, I knew memory manipulation magic was forbidden. Yet this mage not only used it on me but acted like it was nothing.

“Don’t you have anything to say? Like an apology?”

“Not really.”

“You erased my memory and you’re this shameless?!”

“Sometimes it’s better not to know.”

“I believe knowledge is power! Why erase my memory?”

“Too much trouble.”

“…You mean you’re too lazy to explain?”

He nodded.

At this point, trying to talk to him felt stupid. I sighed and shook my head.

Luce stared at me for a moment, then suddenly jumped out the window. I figured, being a mage, he wouldn’t get hurt.

He might be talented, but he was always infuriating.

“Anyway… why is Mr. Harry taking so long?”

Where did he go to get water? The kitchen was right there—surely he didn’t go all the way to the well?

I stood up to go look, but dizziness hit me and I sank back down.

Just then, the door opened.

Splash! I heard liquid spill, followed by hurried footsteps.

“Rinnegrim! Are you alright?”

“Mr. Harry…”

“Is it the medicine? Are you losing sensation?”

“No…”

He helped me into a chair. I leaned back against the desk, lowering my head.

“I’m just sleepy…”

I heard a small sigh.

“And the water’s all spilled…”

“I’ll clean it up. Don’t worry.”

I saw water all over the floor and a bucket lying on its side.

So he really did go all the way to the well.

I chuckled and moved my lips.

“Mr. Harry.”

“What is it?”

“Honestly… when I first saw you, I thought you were kind of unpleasant.”

“…”

He didn’t answer. I quickly bowed my head.

“No! I mean I want to apologize. I’m sorry. I was wrong to assume. You’re actually very kind.”

“…As long as you realize now.”

“Oh. Your voice shook just now.”

“You imagined it.”

“Let’s get along, okay? As fellow new hires.”

“New hires?”

“Yes. We both just joined Administration. And now we’re unlucky colleagues stuck in this mess before even starting work.”

“Colleagues…”

“Yep. We’re friends.”

A soft laugh brushed my ear. But when I looked up to see his smile, it was already gone.

“You can call me Harry.”

“I already do… and you can call me Rinne.”

“Rinne.”

“Yes, like that. My full name’s too long anyway.”

“Rinne. Get some rest. I’ll wake you soon. You’ve been up three nights straight.”

Ah, so that’s why I was so tired.

“Wait… I haven’t eaten in three days?”

As a Korean, that was heartbreaking.

“…Don’t you remember?”

“Remember what?”

“While you were busy researching, I personally… never mind. Just close your eyes.”

A large hand came close, covering my eyes with warmth.

I let my body relax. Just one hour of sleep. Just one hour…