Chapter 45

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“What is it, Takumi?”

“I just thought of something… no, I should say I remembered something. In the ‘story’ we were discussing earlier, there was a brilliant tactic using a certain medicine that is actually very beneficial to humans, and can even enhance their vitality at times, but conversely, it becomes a potent poison for monsters.”

“Enhancing vitality…? Takumi, does this have anything to do with what happened to my father the other day?”

Ah, crap. I completely forgot about Felix’s dad.

“Y-yeah. Um… I’m sorry, Felix, it kind of feels like I tricked you. The truth is, I had that medicine added to the sweets I gave to your father the other day.”

“No, on the contrary, I should be the one thanking you! Takumi, you really are…! Oops, sorry, let’s talk about this later.”

“So, what is it? Do you have that medicine here?”

“It’s in the luggage on the horse I rode here.”

“Does it have a name?”

“Yes… It’s called Elixir.” That’s right, Elixir.

This miraculous medicine not only heals and increases a human’s physical strength, magic power, and vitality, but when given to a monster, it has the opposite effect, becoming a powerful poison that induces a state of intoxication.

All it takes is applying it to a sword or arrow and wounding the opponent. Even a single wound will cause the poison to last for a long time, significantly slowing down the monster’s movements during the intoxication.

In “Change the World,” the protagonist discovered this secondary effect by accident. After successfully developing the Elixir, it was during a battle that a monster happened to be splashed with the Elixir and died writhing in agony that the effect was discovered.

Using this effect and working together with their comrades, the protagonist went on to win the battle against the horde of monsters led by the Demon King. I had brought all the Elixir that the bespectacled shop clerk had made for me.

“I only brought twelve bottles of Elixir, but even a small amount has a significant effect on monsters. And I’ll have the alchemists of this city create more Elixir.”

“More?”

At Felix’s surprised voice, I nodded affirmatively, “That’s right. This city of Menonu was likely preparing to mass-produce potions. Elixir is more expensive than potions in terms of materials, but the materials should be available here in the city.

“……….I see.”

“If we consider the number of monsters left, twelve bottles should be enough, but having more can’t hurt. It can also be used for treating the wounded.” Well, actually, the proper use is for healing!

“…Takumi.”

“What is it?”

Gazelle was gazing at me intently with a serious face, making my heart skip a beat.

Wh-what? Did I go too far with my outlandish story!?!

However, contrary to my anxiety, Gazelle smiled happily. “At last, you’re sharing this kind of information with us properly.”

“And finally, you’re relying on us. I’m glad, Takumi.”

Being told that, and having my head patted alternately by Gazelle and Felix with their warm smiles, I almost let tears well up but held them back in a hurry.

“Then Gazelle, Felix. With this, I can also return to the battle…”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“That’s not allowed.”

…Returning to the battlefield was denied by the two of them. Moreover, using my own suggestion of creating more Elixir as an argument, “Takumi will stay in the rear and instruct the alchemists on how to create Elixir.”

“It’s a crucial task that holds the key to victory, I’m counting on you.”

With those words emphasized, I couldn’t refuse anymore. But, if I can teach the alchemists the synthesis method, I should be able to return to the southern gate again.

It might be difficult to return to the front lines, and it may not make much difference if someone like me goes back… but I don’t want to be the only one staying back while leaving the two of them alone. Even if it’s futile–I want to be by their side, even if just a little.

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SIDE Black-winged Knights’ Commander Gazelle

“T-this is… amazing…!”

“What an effect! Even that Skoll becomes so sluggish!”

“—Listen up, you guys! Don’t think about defeating the monsters, focus on hit-and-run tactics!”

My words raised the spirits of the surrounding members. The faces of the members no longer showed the impatience and anxiety from before. What was there instead was a definite hope. The hope that we might be able to win this battle. Not only the members of our group, but those of the Yellow-winged Knights and White-winged Knights also felt the same way.

Everyone was initially shaken by this newly devised strategy, but after witnessing its tremendous effect, their spirits were now soaring. The tactic we adopted involved using a miracle medicine called Elixir in hit-and-run attacks. We diluted the Elixir with water and applied it to swords, spears, and arrows, then struck the monsters and quickly retreated. The Elixir, when given to humans, became a great medicine, but when given to monsters, it turned into a powerful poison.

At first, everyone was skeptical about it, but once the battle against the monsters began, the Elixir displayed remarkable effects. The Blue Deer, Skoll, and Mad Bear that had been troubling us until now became sluggish as soon as they were attacked with the Elixir-coated weapons, and eventually fell, retching toward the ground. Of course, not all monsters ended up in such a terrible state.

If a monster had only a slight scratch, its speed in moving and dodging attacks would only decrease. But even so, it was an incredible achievement, needless to say.

“Who would have thought we had such a hidden weapon…”

While slashing the face of a Skoll that was about to pounce on a subordinate, I muttered the name of the young man who was not here. At the same time, I remembered the transparent teardrop that ran down his cheek.

“It’s because… it’s all my fault that things have come to this.”

…I had noticed that something was off with him recently, but I never thought he was that distressed. So cornered that he would resort to such a desperate act. At first, Takumi himself didn’t even realize he was crying. It seemed like he only noticed after hearing my words.

…Every time I recalled Takumi’s bewildered gaze at his own tears, I gritted my teeth at the pain and my own inadequacy.

“It’s not like that. I… originally, in the place where I was, there was a story depicting the fate of this country. This might be hard to believe, but”

“I like the people living in Ritzheim and everyone in the Black-winged Knights. That’s why I wanted to help everyone, so I took actions that weren’t written in that story. Helping the people of Tomi Village, making potions, fighting the Wyvern…”

Up until now, how much of a burden had he shouldered all by himself? Had this situation not arisen, he surely never would have intended to tell anyone. But at last.

“I just thought of something… no, I should say I remembered something. In the ‘story’ we were discussing earlier, there was a brilliant tactic using a certain medicine that is actually very beneficial to humans, and can even enhance their vitality at times, but conversely, it becomes a potent poison for monsters.”

I couldn’t help but feel regret of not noticing what he’d been carrying up until now. But even so, he finally spoke in detail about his past. Finally, he opened his heart and relied on us. And that made me happier than anything else.

“Darn it! With this, we have to survive this battle and return alive!”

Dodging the charging Mad Bear by a hair’s breadth, I slashed at its back with my sword. With that, the Mad Bear’s breathing visibly became erratic.

Using the opening, I put distance between myself and the Mad Bear and applied the Elixir soaked in a paper to my sword. Then, I fed a slash to the Mad Bear as it charged at me again.

“GA, GUAGUGU!”

The Mad Bear began to let out pained groans.

In the blink of an eye, its bristling fur drooped, and the light in its eyes, which had been shining brightly with the intent to fight, dimmed. I motioned for several nearby guild members to surround the Mad Bear and finish it off. Then, as I was about to head towards the new monsters that began invading from the south gate, I stopped in my tracks at the sight that met my eyes.

What I saw was an impossible scene. A little ways away from my location, in front of the inspection area at the south gate, a man in black robes was standing, as if he had been there all along. His face and body were both covered by pitch-black robes, making it impossible to see them. However, judging by his tall height and his physique visible through the robe, I could tell he was a man.

The man oozed of sinister atmosphere. In the midst of this chaotic battlefield where monsters and knights fought, the area surrounding the man was eerily quiet. But that didn’t mean there were no monsters around the man.

On the contrary, it was the opposite. The man had higher-ranking monsters, summoned by Blue Deer and Skoll, attending him on both sides. His appearance was as if it were only natural for the monsters to obey him, as he stood there imposingly.

That scene alone was strange enough, but it was also unsettling that the knights around him didn’t seem to notice his presence. Then, an even more astonishing sight caught my eye, and I held my breath. For some reason, Takumi, who I thought had been ordered to stand by in the rear, was blocking the path of the man in black robes.

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