After learning that this world was indeed the same as the one, he remembered from that novel. Aish decided to start planning for things that could help make him stronger.
After that thought, the gears in his head started rolling, and he started crossing out the options that he could not take.
' I cannot learn aura yet; that would take too much time. Plus, I do not think I am ready to start running around the whole mansion or to keep swinging my sword at golems for hours—too troublesome for someone lazy like me.'
'I cannot learn mana before awakening.'
' There are some things that can help me get stronger—pills and potions, which are all available in the Floren Family. But there are also things issued for the protagonist by heaven itself that are even better, so I should just steal them.
' The problem is Artemis will not allow me to leave and I do not trust anyone here to explain everything.'
Aish looked back and saw Myra, who was sitting there with her eyes closed, and thought, 'If only I could convince her to help me. She is loyal and will not betray me, but the problem remains: she will tell Artemis everything.'
' Damn it, if only I had at least one person who was loyal to me—wait, someone who is loyal only to me.'
Aish was cursing his luck at the lack of someone whom he could trust when he thought of something, and he slapped his head and thought, 'Why the heck did I forget that it might work?'
A smile came to his face, and he felt like he had found the missing link to a solution that could solve all his problems.
_
After getting out of his thoughts, Aish started writing something on paper and then, without looking back, threw it at Myra, which she caught without opening her eyes.
Aish waited for her to open her eyes and say something, but she never did: 'She is thinking I threw that paper as a joke to see if she was sleeping or not. Am I that childish in her eyes? I mean, I know that original Aish used one of his treasures to draw circles on her face, but that was like 2 months ago.'
"Hmm hmmmm," Aish cleared his throat and said, "I need the items on that list by tomorrow morning. Be sure to get them all."
It was only after hearing his voice that Myra opened her eyes and looked at the paper in her hands. There were the names of some herbs written there. At first her reaction was normal, thinking Aish just wanted to test some alchemy formula he might have come across in the books until she saw the names of the last 3 herbs: Brugmansia, aka The Angel's Trumpet, Asphodel, aka The Soul Flower, and Bezoar, aka The Rusty Stone.
One of them was a deadly poison; the second was an herb used for purifying souls; and the last was something found only in dryads' forests, used to dull the senses of anyone.
Myra could not figure out the uses even after she read the whole list again, but aside from those 3 names, all the other herbs were general herbs that are used in potion making. Though slightly rare but nothing, a Duke's family could not get anything.
Aish looked at her changing expression and thought, 'Though I know she will tell Artemis, but fuck it, I do not have any other option. I need that potion if I want to start my plan.'
Myra looked at Aish with questioning eyes, but he just ignored it and started making his way towards the exit.
_
While reading those books, Aish had decided to deal with the last traitor, Chiron, as well. Since Myra, who is a Limit rank Assassin, is following him, it will not be hard to deal with a retired Aura Berserker.
This is something that Aish needs to get from Chiron as well. The key to getting the legacy of a swordsman, which the protagonist uses in mid-parts of the story. Though Aish did not care for that sword art since he knew where to find a much better one, he decided to steal it anyway, just because he did not want to give it to someone who was supposed to kill him.
_
Chiron, who was preparing for the dinner, had a bad premonition in his heart. He felt like something very wrong was about to happen, but he could not figure out what.
If Aish knew about this feeling, he would have saluted destiny for trying to help her minions even before the plot started, but he was busy planning out the details for a smooth execution of his plan.
He had planned to deal with all traitors the moment he learned about the curse; he could not take the chance of someone doing it again, as it was not mentioned in the novel.
_
After getting out of the mansion, Aish started walking towards the staff's lodging—that was where all the maids and servants who worked in the mansion stayed. It was made between the mansion and soldiers' barracks. It could be interpreted as Floren's being generous and having them stay where they could feel protected due to barracks near them. Or it could also be interpreted as Floren's keeping them in the middle to use as a meat shield in case the barracks failed to stop an attack.
Anyway, it did not matter to Aish. He had far too many important things to do than worry about people's perspectives on a place where they could live for free.
Myra, who was still mulling over what I would do with the poison herbs, finally could not stay silent anymore and said, "What're you planning to do with the herbs?"
Aish looked at her and said, "I think I found a new recipe for a cleansing potion. I'll try to make one."
Myra wanted to ask something else too, but then she heard Aish continuing his words, "It was from one of the singular books in the library, and I've already translated it."
## _ _ ##
INFO: Singular books are books that were found in dungeons or towers. They are mysterious books that could be written in any language, and if you are successful in translating them, they will disappear. What is the content or rank of the book cannot be judged by anyone. It depends solely on where you found it and your luck.
This is also the reason any single book bought or acquired from someone else could either be your highest rewarding possession or your worst mistake.
Every singular book has its own way of translation. Some can be read as if they are in any existing language of Arcadia. Some would require blood lineage to understand it. Some could just have their own will, while for some you will have to do research for every word written.
It could take a single moment to a decade to never be able to translate them; it all depends on your capacity and luck.
## _ _ ##
Myra was surprised to hear Aish's words. As the family of a Duke who has been the leading figure against the towers and dungeons, it was normal for them to have many singular books, which they have not been able to translate till yet.
Being able to translate a singular book and that too about the recipe of a potion that could have miraculous effects was a massive thing.
_
Aish did not care about the results of his actions. Though he knew the effects of that potion better than anyone and how it would take over the whole market if it was made public. But he did not have any other option; he needed to take that potion himself to get stronger, and for his future plans to work, the excuse of singular book was the only thing he could produce—he could just say he was lucky, and no further explanation was needed. Otherwise, Artemis would never allow him to take any kind of poison willingly. Plus, the fact that it would make his new family rich and more influential if they decided to sell the potion helps him too.
_
Myra looked at Aish and saw that he was puffing out his chest and looking at the sky with the same expression as before, like he did not care about what he said at all. But his actions in Myra's eyes looked like that of a kid asking for praise.
Myra had seen Aish and Amelia grow up in front of her while following Artemis. She even considers them as her own family, and the kids love her too. Though she could not spend as much time with them as she hoped to, she still plays with them every now and then.
She wanted to smile at his actions, hug him, and say she was proud, but she stopped when she saw some servants gathering around and bowing their heads.
She looked around and asked Aish in her serious tone, "So, what are we doing here, young master?"
Aish, who was busy looking at the sky, thinking if fate or heaven would stop him from what he was planning to do now, took a deep breath, and said, "We are here to kill the traitor who has betrayed our trust and is working for our enemies."