Thoma spat into a bucket inside the shop. He'd carried Ellie all the way to a pharmacist in the capital. The pharmacist himself looked surprised, and slapped Thoma's back.
"You crazy…! Just what are you doing?! You've come in and asked me to help a sick woman, but it looks like you're about to die yourself! Just how much blood did you cough up?"
"I'm fine…" Thoma insisted, "so please look at the Sister's condition…"
"You're crazy! I'll just diagnose you first-"
Thoma cut him off. "I don't have the money for myself."
"Ha!" The pharmacist let out a short laugh. "I don't need money! Watching you like this hurts me!"
"Haha, you're quite friendly. I am a first time patient, after all."
The pharmacist frowned.
"I am a pharmacist. First time or not, it's my job to save people! No matter how callous the world has become, I wouldn't abandon someone in your state!"
"Haha… Thank you, but… still the nun first…!"
"…Ugh! So stubborn…! I understand. Don't die on me! Don't even drink water, just in case!"
The pharmacist left him with those words to look over Ellie. He felt her forehead, then removed her top to feel her belly. He wore a strange expression before tilting his head in disbelief.
The Pharmacist then touched her back, disbelief written across his face.
'She has such a frail body, and she's this cold. She's also stiff all over as well. These symptoms…'
The Pharmacist gulped. He peeked over at Thoma before looking back to Ellie.
'Narcotics?'
Her symptoms matched with those caused by that new drug spreading through Lania, the one which was considered heresy within the Holy Kingdom.
'For it to have gotten this bad, this wasn't taken just once or twice. She's been taking it for a long time…!'
"Why are you looking at her like that?" Thoma asked, noticing the pharmacist's worried gaze. "Is she okay?"
The pharmacist replied without looking at Thoma, panic evident in his voice.
"It's very serious."
"What?!"
"It can't be solved with medicine, but… she's fine for now. She'll recover if he receives regular healing magic from the priests at a nearby church or abbey. It'll be expensive though."
Thoma let out a sigh of relief. It was unfortunate that medicine wouldn't help, but it was possible to save her through magic.
"I-I see."
First, the pharmacist redressed Ellie, and then approached Thoma. He looked at the content of Thoma's vomit and frowned. He began to feel Thoma's body in the same way as Ellie's.
'Blood clots. The stench. Torn muscles and ragged breathing. These are symptoms of another narcotic, although, that's not the only reason he's like this'
There was a rare disease that stiffened the body. If he had been taking the narcotic while suffering from that disease, it was only natural that his symptoms would get worse.
'He must have relied on the drug because it's an incurable disease! He probably wanted to lessen the pain, even if just a little.'
The pharmacist shook his head.
'His body is a mess. This priest… will die soon.'
It wouldn't be strange for soon to have meant right this instant. What was strange was the fact that this man was even able to move at all. Coming to a decision, the pharmacist spoke to Thoma with disgust in his eyes.
"Leave my pharmacy."
"…Huh?"
Thoma could only look back dumbly at the pharmacist's gaze.
"I don't need money. Leave now."
'Why… is he acting like this?'
Thoma wanted an answer to this question, but it didn't seem like he'd get one from the pharmacist. He ended up leaving the shop in the same way he'd arrived, with Ellie on his back. Watching the priest walking away down the street, the pharmacist began to mutter profanities.
"You crazy bastard! You call yourself a priest while using drugs? Using a narcotic that's forbidden in the Holy Kingdom! You're too full of yourself!"
'I'm going to report him to the authorities and have him handed over to the Court of Heresy right now! I don't know which church or abbey he's from, but anyone working there must be crooked! I hope there aren't any children there, because if there are, they're surely being abused!'
The pharmacist hurriedly closed his store and left for the nearest church.
***
Pope Salem Gottchuranche, who was sitting on his throne within the palace, smiled with his eyes. He was proud of his grand palace. Within the throne room there were giant statues-turned-pillars in the shape of men holding up the palace's ceiling and rows of Holy Knights arranged on either side of the long path leading up to his throne. Each Holy Knight wore golden plated armor, bearing the crest of the Holy Kingdom.
Before him was the envoy dispatched by the Kingdom of Lome, lead by the 3rd successor to the throne, Prince Pygni Lome. He was a young boy who had just turned 10. Despite his young age he was quite large, his body soft and pudgy with fat. His eyes were unfocused and his face heavily freckled. He was having trouble keeping himself steady, while clumsily kneeling in front of the Pope. Despite all of this, he was busy looking at all of the nuns around the room with a dirty smile. The prince's disposition was not a good one. Not only did he sexually harass his servants, but he also stepped on and abused those that made mistakes. His misdeeds were egregious enough that even the king had scolded him and banished him from the country for a few months as punishment.
Knowing all of this, Salem looked at the boy with a pleased smile.
'He's a stupid child. Dumb enough to be used by women as well. Should I consider it a good thing that he still lacks sexual experience?'
If he was actually lusting after women, wouldn't he have had to give up some of his cute pets to this filthy swine? Salem thanked God for his fortune.
'For such an idiot to be born in the Kingdom of Lome, known as the Kingdom of Wisdom… Well, nobody should have expected much of a bastard prince born from some crazy bitch from the countryside? This is truly a joyous event, seeing as the powerful Kingdom of Lome will be reduced to a slave state paying tributes to the Holy Kingdom. It's an alliance in name, but I can use this foolish prince to form many beneficial diplomatic relationships. Also, if I can place him on the throne of Lome, his usefulness would be endless. With the Holy Kingdom supporting him, it shouldn't be too difficult to have him crowned king.'
"You are truly a wise prince."
Words contradicting his thoughts flowed forth naturally from Salem's lips. Prince Pygni looked surprised, then began to scratch the back of his head in embarrassment.
"Hahaha…! I hear that quite often, Your Holiness!"
'…Yes, I'm sure you do.'
With his background, the little prince couldn't help but only hear nice things. Nobody would dare say otherwise.
At that moment, one of the priests quietly approached Salem and whispered in his ear.
"… What do you mean?"
Prince Pygni was surprised by the sudden intrusion on their conversation and tilted his head out of curiosity.
As the priest continued whispering into Salem's ear, a deep smile formed on the Pope's face.
"Is that so? It's sooner than expected. Yes, proceed."
'I wanted to wait until Oskal and Akareal left before proceeding, but Oskal can be kept busy here while Akareal is too preoccupied with her research…"
Salem savagely spat out a single command. "Step on him thoroughly."
"… I understand."
Once the priest had retreated, Salem fixed his expression before turning back toward Pygni.
'In any case…'
Salem looked at the Royal Knight standing right beside Pygni. His face was covered with a helmet, but… Salem was aware of his identity.
'Are you going to play dumb, Oskal? Hah! You must really want to avoid me. Yes, I too share that sentiment. I truly hate you who remained close to the Hero, even after learning of his true identity. Thinking of a mere slave as your friend… I doubt your sanity. I'll have you stay in the palace for now so you can't interfere in my plan!'
"You must be tired, Prince Pygni. Please stay and rest here for a while. I am a bit embarrassed to admit it, but there has been an increase in crime in the capital as of late."
"Eh!?"
Pygni looked alarmed, and Salem held his head feigning concern.
"Many criminals have been making quite the ruckus recently. There's even talk of slaves daring to assault nobles. It's a concerning situation to say the least. Since even nobles were targeted… I don't think your status as a royal is enough to keep you safe."
Oskal frowned upon hearing Salem's confession.
'… What are you plotting?'
They were from the allied Kingdom of Lome, and the prince was right in front of him. This was a situation where both parties should be trying to impress each other, yet Salem was painting the Holy Kingdom in a negative light with his unprompted confession. His words held no benefit to him as the Pope.
'There's only one reason he'd say something like this.'
While Prince Pygni still looked quite startled, Pope Salem rose from his throne.
"So, I hope you will remain within the palace for the time being, where it is safe."
Oskal grit his teeth.
'…You're not asking him to stay where it's safe. You're telling him to obediently stay here.'
"Of course, so you won't be bored…"
Nuns and maids of the palace quietly approached Pygni and brought their bodies close to him. Pygni made a dumb expression as his face turned beet red. Salem smiled at the young boy pleasantly.
"I hope the prince enjoys the party."
— Ω —