Chapter 226
I lay down on the bed carrying fatigue that seemed like I could faint at any moment, but I kept dozing off and waking up repeatedly. I thought I had been tossing and turning for quite a while, but the barracks with sunlight streaming through were still bright.
I knew I should rest a bit more, but I’d probably continue in this state. Not being able to see Luwen was likely the cause of my restlessness.
Eventually, I got up clutching my aching head.
“Why are you getting up already? You didn’t even sleep properly.”
The leader spoke to me in a rather caring tone.
“My head hurts…”
“Oh my. Wait. I’ll call a medic.”
“No. I’ll go myself.”
It seemed better to move around while also checking where Dwean might be. When luring the monsters, if the soldiers were in poor condition, casualties would increase, so I was hesitant, but since I wasn’t just planning to flee but also kidnap the 3rd Prince, I intended to execute both plans simultaneously.
‘It’s an enemy nation anyway. It’s fine. It’s fine…’
The fact that they weren’t at fault kept bothering me in one corner of my mind, so I had to repeat it to myself like self-brainwashing.
“Let’s go.”
As I tried to get down from the bed, the leader extended his hand to me. I relied on him to get up and left the barracks. It was fortunate amid misfortune that the leader continued to monitor me.
‘It’s Kans. I heard he expressed his intention to naturalize to Tuaso. This guy is an imperial noble. Originally, you couldn’t even see the face of such a noble among nobles.’
‘Oh. Is that so?’
‘I’m going to take this person to Tuaso. If you monitor him reliably during this time, I’ll guarantee compensation.’
‘That much is easy. He looks weak.’
‘However, you mustn’t hurt him. Can you do it?’
‘Of course. How could I refuse when a noble bastard who made me like this has been captured as a prisoner?’
The 3rd Prince had deliberately revealed my identity to him. He seemed to judge it appropriate personnel placement to have Kans, who held a grudge against nobles, monitor me rather than soldiers who were confused about joining the rebellion. It was truly a grateful misunderstanding.
As I left the barracks, the gazes of nearby soldiers poured down on me. I didn’t know there would be this much interest. Moving secretly would be difficult.
“Where’s the medical unit?”
I asked the leader, ignoring the glancing stares.
“Over there.”
A short chin gesture came back with an impudent reply. That series of actions was quite natural. I had felt it when talking with the 3rd Prince too, but his acting skills had improved considerably while I hadn’t seen him. There was a time when I told him not to say anything because he couldn’t act properly.
“Huh?”
A familiar voice came from behind me. Though it was an unwelcome person’s appearance, considering my importance, they wouldn’t have left surveillance only to Kans, so in a way it was a natural result.
I maintained the most indifferent expression possible and turned around.
“Where are you going? Is it okay to leave the barracks carelessly?”
Ethan stood there waving a pitch-black sword.
“I didn’t sleep properly. My head hurts, so I’m going to find medicine. Isn’t that allowed either?”
“Oh my. You haven’t forgotten your position, have you? You’re a noble young master, so you wouldn’t lack such basic common sense.”
“Really? Then ask the 3rd Prince.”
“Oh dear. Just because our Highness shows you favor, aren’t you being too unreasonable? Even your way of addressing him. He’s not your friend, is he? Right?”
I stood askew and tilted my head.
“Come to think of it… the 3rd Prince was talking about friendship with me. You’re a subordinate, and I’m a friend, aren’t I? So who would be higher in rank?”
“Of course!”
Ethan’s pupils rolled diagonally in circles.
“Huh? That’s right. By Tuaso status, I’m above the young master, but the young master is still a young master. And you’re His Highness’s friend… Huh?”
Isn’t he stupid? It’s an enemy nation, so what status is there? Right now, naturally I, captured as a prisoner, am at the very bottom. Thanks for being stupid, you bastard. Of course, the reason he’s confused is ultimately because of how the 3rd Prince treats me. Still, stupid is stupid.
“If you heard the reason the 3rd Prince captured me, you couldn’t act so high-handedly in front of me.”
“Oh my, when did I ever act high-handedly? How disappointing. We went through life and death together last night, didn’t we? Right?”
He sheathed his sword with a click and rubbed his hands together like a flatterer while giving coy smiles. I snorted at him and demanded boldly.
“Guide me to the medical unit. My head hurts like I’m dying.”
“Of course, of course. I’ll escort you there!”
I followed behind Ethan who took the lead, taking in the surrounding scenery. Unrefined chaos still remained. And contrary to my expectation that the attention would increase even more due to Ethan’s appearance, no one looked this way.
‘The food storage is over there…’
The armory is on the opposite side. Based on the information I heard from the leader, I completed a map in my head. While planning the route to lure monsters and the kidnapping and escape route, we reached the medical unit quickly.
“Ah, hello. Count Nois.”
“The guest says his head hurts. Do you have medicine effective for headaches?”
“Yes. Could you wait a moment?”
I cut in before Ethan could answer.
“I’m also a doctor, so let me find it myself. I have my own combination method that suits me.”
“Hmm? Is that so?”
Ethan, suspicious of me, asked the medic.
“Depending on each person’s constitution, it can actually become poison, so it’s not wrong.”
“I drank poison when I was young, so my body condition is different from ordinary people. That’s why I always only took medicine prepared by my master. If you want to confirm whether it’s a lie, ask the 3rd Prince.”
I don’t know how much information about me the 3rd Prince knows, but at minimum, he would remember that drinking poison was something I told him. It doesn’t matter how he interpreted that. Right now I need to hide my schemes, so I have to be bold. Well, I didn’t really lie either.
“Hmm. Couldn’t the young master just tell us what medicinal herbs you need?”
“The types of medicinal herbs that grow in the Empire and Tuaso are different. I want to look directly and gather what I need to make them.”
Ethan tilted his head and stared intently at my face. He seemed intent on probing my inner thoughts, but being brazen at times like this was one of my few strengths.
“Very well then!”
After a short exploration time, Ethan smiled brightly and straightened his head.
“Where’s the medicinal herb storage?”
“This way.”
Thanks to Ethan’s permission, the medic guided me without objection. Ethan left the leader outside and followed me around.
Regardless, I quickly examined the types of stored medicinal herbs. Thanks to my master’s diverse interests, I knew Tuaso medicinal herbs to some degree, but it was basic common knowledge level. So I passed on what I didn’t know and gathered the medicinal herbs I needed.
‘As expected, there’s Dwean.’
There were boxes made into powder after drying, but I confirmed they also stored Dwean that was still fresh, probably collected directly from this area. I noted the location to explain to the leader later, then began manufacturing medicine with the medicinal herbs I gathered.
While I was concentrating, my ears suddenly perked up without warning.
“Where is the young master?”
Because I heard Luwen’s voice.
“It’s Duke Tualen!”
Starting with an excited soldier’s voice, murmuring spread. I was about to rush out immediately, but Ethan grabbed my arm and stopped me.
“Whoa whoa. Calm down.”
“I need to see Luwen. Let go of this!”
No matter how stubbornly I shook my arm, he didn’t budge. Rather, only my body swayed, making me dizzy.
“Ugh…”
I feel sick. Whether the headache was a signal, even my stomach felt queasy.
“Oh my. So the young master really was sick.”
“Why would I, ugh… lie about that.”
Of course I’d lie if necessary, but not now. I exhaled with difficulty and staggered. Ethan extended another hand to grab both my arms and support me.
“What to do about this. You said you couldn’t eat anything carelessly. Haven’t you finished making the medicine yet?”
“Almost… done… but…”
I frowned much more exaggeratedly than my actual symptoms and clutched at my chest.
“Huh? This is troublesome. Are you that unwell?”
“I need… to lie down… for a bit…”
The medicinal herb storage and the bed were separated. It wasn’t that far, but the important thing was that the bed’s location was close to the barracks’ entrance.
Ethan lifted me up and sat me on the bed.
“Should I help you lie down?”
“Rather than that… the medicine… I almost finished making it, but if you add about 3g of Karon and pound it, it’ll be done. Could you just do that for me?”
“Of course. Please put in a good word with His Highness later. Got it?”
“Okay.”
I smiled weakly and watched Ethan return to the medicinal herb storage. Then I heard his voice asking the medic who remained in the storage to find ‘Karon.’
There’s no way it exists. Because there’s originally no medicinal herb with that name.
After briefly eavesdropping on the conversation between the confused medic wondering if it was an imperial herb and Ethan scolding him for not knowing such a thing despite being a medic, I felt like attention had turned away from me, so I ran.
‘Moving slowly would get me caught anyway.’
Sprinting at full speed is effective. Once I leave the barracks, Luwen will be there. I just need to see him briefly and confirm he’s safe. After that, it didn’t matter if I got captured again. I only needed a moment.
Flutter-!
Still, still okay.
I urgently looked around. The direction the voice came from… ah, found him! I could see Luwen.
“Luwen!”
He looked fine without any injuries. Except that his body was tightly bound with very sturdy-looking chains.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
