Part 396: Deadly Poison

Wait, that's...!

Nanami stares in shock, her eyes wide, at my hands that have turned into a grotesque image, emitting white smoke in a hissing sound.

Hehepero

"No, it's old. It's not funny... What is this? What happened?"

Well, I'm afraid I made a bit of a mess of things.

The reason I'm somehow managing to stay calm is this one thing.

That's because I had a suspicion about the nature of the poison infecting me.

"It's probably the effect of one of the thief's skills—'Poisoned Blade.'"

"You know about it?"

"Yes."

Thanks to memories inherited from my previous life, I'd already thoroughly studied the effects of basic job skills and their countermeasures.

"Still, this isn't the standard 'Poisoned Blade.' I only held the hilt of the 'Sword of Light,' after all."

"So what does that mean?"

"It's been 'cheated.' The enemy must be a 'Hungerman.'"

"...So you're saying there's someone like Hamada, the one we met in the 'Mirror Country'?"

"Yes."

Nanami shudders slightly, recalling that moment. Adorable, in a way.

"In his case, it was 'Thunder Magic III,' but this time, it seems to be transforming 'Poisoned Blade.'"

Overwhelmed by the revelation, both Nanami and Satori break out in cold sweat.

From this situation, the conclusion was clear.

Shizukawa Reika and "The Hungry One" were working together.

The fact that she deliberately abandoned the children of the "Immortal Squad" might have been because she didn't want them to learn this truth.

"Uhh... that woman's way deeper in the shadows than I thought."

"Yeah."

"But for now, it's just a short-term issue. What should we do about this hand?"

"Please, don't worry."

I proudly puffed out my chest, confident to the core. I couldn't afford to show any panic right now.

"The effect of 'Deadly Poison Blade' is delayed. It will almost certainly kill anyone who's injured, but the actual death occurs days later. Even if it's been enhanced, the effect should last for several hours."

"Dead...?...That can't be..."

Nanami gasps.

"No way! You're not scared!? C-Can't you just use a Healing Spell...!"

"Unfortunately, Healing Magic doesn't work against this poison."

"Then, then what do we do!?"

"Thieves have several skills that poison their opponents... and each of them shares the same method of recovery."

"What do we do now?"

"We drink a specially crafted antidote made using the skill 'Antidote Technique'."

"'Antidote Technique'..."

Nanami placed her index finger briefly against her temple,

"Oh, right... The girl who's always with the 'Gambling Master'... She was definitely..."

"Yes. Let's have Tamachan lend us her strength."

"Understood. If it's come to this, I can't stay under that woman's protection for even a second longer. We'll launch a full-scale war."

"Oyashu."

Thanks to the step-by-step explanation, the conversation seemed to progress quite smoothly.

Nanami-san is contacting people promptly and efficiently.

That's good enough.

Even if I fall now, the "Gambler" will defeat Shizukawa Reika for me.

Then, Tsumari furrowed her eyebrows.

But, Mr. Anonymous, what do you mean by going alone?

"Fighting the 'Hungering Ones' isn't something you can rely on level differences for. If the matchup is unfavorable, we could be wiped out in an instant. We want to avoid such a situation."

"But..."

"I will definitely kill the 'Hungering Ones,' even if assistance doesn't arrive. The two of you should wait for 'The Gambler' to arrive, then follow behind....If I fail, use this to negotiate."

As I spoke, I pulled out something that looked like a lump of gold from my "Magic Pocket"—the "MacGuffin."

—When offered during a trade, this would seem irresistibly appealing to the other party.

With this, the coup was surely going to succeed.

"Is it really alright... giving up something so valuable?"

"It's fine. I came here just to play rock-paper-scissors."

Besides, in this situation, I'm the most suitable pawn to be sacrificed.

I'm not just being careless about this.

Even if something goes wrong, I firmly believe that the duo of a "gambling expert" and a "playboy" will surely find a way out of this difficult situation.

"So, I'm off then."

As I say this, casually heading to the convenience store near my house to pick up a bento, Natsuri gives me a pained expression and says:

"Ah...! Please... I'm begging you..."

"?"

"Please... take care of... Kazahana Yuuki..."

He seemed to know those words were shameful, selfishly putting his own desires first, yet he couldn't help but say them.

I tried to respond with a firm thumbs-up, but my fingers wouldn't seem to cooperate.

"……………"

"Um… are you alright, ‘Nameless’-san?"

"N-nothing at all."

Carefully avoiding letting my companions notice, I wrapped both hands tightly with the bandages I had brought.

Yet... Miss Shizukawa Reika.

Of all people, joining forces with the "Hungering One."

I thought you were an odd one, but what kind of reasoning leads you to do something like this?

Still, this might allow me to understand the "Demon King's" true intentions.

As someone who carries memories from a previous life, I can tell.

This "Demon King"... seems to be completely different from the person I saw in my past life.