Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: As Expected, Dia Likes Ganeghan (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"What?"
I asked back, sounding a little puzzled.
"Heehee. I'm just curious. About all the drugs you have, Mr. Ganeghan. No, about you too."
The problem was the vibe Sua was giving off.
It wasn't like she was in pain somewhere. It felt more like she just wanted drugs and was demanding every last one I had. That unique discomfort made me recoil.
"What I just said is true. I have so many sore spots, and I'm already taking all these drugs."
She rummaged in her bosom and laid out various pills on Abera's desk like they were treasures to show off. There were pills, syringes, and even powdered drugs.
'As expected, something's off.'
I hadn't let my guard down around Abera either, so it was only natural to be wary of someone she brought in.
I answered her lowly, without dropping my guard.
"The one you just got is enough to hold you for a while. Drugs aren't snacks. They're not something you just shoot whenever you feel like it."
"The one I just got. You said that, but what's its name?"
She showed an interest in drugs that was unbecoming of a maid.
A drug made by just tweaking numbers wouldn't have a name. I bluffed.
"It's just a nutritional supplement. No name."
"No way."
"Really."
"Then what about the one you gave Dia? The one that suppresses Sao's effects."
"No name for that either."
"You made it yourself, right?"
"Yeah."
"Don't lie. I want the names of both."
But her gloomy green eyes bored into me. She said nothing, just stared. That was how Sua demanded an answer.
The silent pressure had some force to it, putting me in a spot where I had to name the drugs on the fly. I even considered slapping names on them right then, but shook my head.
Like it or not, Sua would be following me around this mansion from now on.
So I needed to prevent problems right here, right now.
"Sua."
Called by name, Sua looked up at me blankly.
A spark of life flickered in her green eyes above the heavy dark circles. She seemed expectant of my answer. But I planned to be a bit firm.
"I'll say it again. These drugs have no names."
"But this one is a po—"
"And one more thing. I'd prefer we both focus on our own duties for now. We're strangers, and isn't it too early to pry into each other's work?"
It was a chilling attitude, borderline too much, but a necessary measure.
If I had to discuss drugs with Sua every day in this mansion, I'd soon have dark circles under my eyes too. Better to draw a clear line, even if it meant being a little harsh.
"...Aha."
Then Sua smirked slyly. A bit cheeky.
Was this the right reaction? She continued.
"I'm just a maid, so don't interfere in your business. Is that it?"
"Yes. And I won't interfere in yours. If you keep meddling, I'll tell Lady Abera I don't need a maid like you. Or ask for a replacement."
"No. There's no one else but me who can be your maid, Mr. Ganeghan."
No matter what I said, her lips stayed curved up like she was enjoying it.
I felt mocked, and it soured my mood. Giggling "heehee," she repeated that she was the only one who could be my maid.
Of course, it was nonsense.
"Ridiculous. I don't need a maid in the first place."
"True. Maybe you need a witch more than a maid."
Her smirk widened even more. Her face mixed satisfaction at finding something she truly liked with a manic obsession. It was chilling.
As I stared blankly to process it, she suddenly pulled my bag toward her.
"What?"
I asked back, but she just replied with that unfamiliar smile.
"A doctor making mystery drugs to toy with two noble ladies... Even a witch couldn't pull that off. Or should I call the heretic inquisitors? What's your goal anyway?"
Her sudden shift in tone heightened my bewilderment.
Sua deftly opened my bag and rummaged through it.
But the ordinary syringes, a few sleeping pills, bandages, and antiseptics inside weren't what she wanted.
"As expected, not here."
She muttered, then approached me, as if wanting a closer look at my flustered face.
I pushed her away with my hand when she got so close our bodies touched. In the process, I shoved her massive breasts, but neither of us had time to care about that.
Witch or heretic inquisitor—neither was something a maid should mention.
"Why push me away, Mr. Ganeghan?"
"Who are you?"
"Your personal maid, Sua."
"You're no maid. Tell me your real identity."
"Okay. But first."
Sua straddled me as I sat. Like a bird, she cocked her head and sniffed around my body.
But only for a moment. She suddenly hugged my neck with both arms and continued.
"You answer first. Two questions. How do you make those drugs? And what’s your intent in approaching the Menesil ladies?"
"I don't know what you're talking about. Get off before I force you."
"You know exactly. Heehee. You know, I know every drug there is."
With that, Sua lifted the hem of her shoulder cloth.
That spot was horrific. Skin that should be soft was covered in needle marks. The bruises looked permanent.
"See? But your drugs are weird. They give narcotic effects without narcotics. That's... horrifying just to imagine. But you actually made them. There was a drug I didn't know. Fun. So much fun."
"Why is making non-narcotic drugs horrifying?"
"Because... customers will drop. If my artworks get ruined, that's a problem. Even if it's for fun, I need pay."
"Artworks?"
Then Sua burst into laughter—heehee, heehihi! She blinked rapidly and spoke.
"Yes. I craft them meticulously. You know one too, Mr. Ganeghan. The most expensive commission lately... Dia de Menesil?"
"Dia... No, you don't mean?"
"Heehee, heehihi. Heehihi! Right. The drug that put Dia in slow suicide mode. I made it. He, heehee! Heehihi!"
The moment I heard that, almost reflexively, I shoved Sua away with all my strength.
She hit the floor with a thud but kept laughing, even giggling louder.
"What the... You made Sao?"
"Yes! I did! Pheehee, heehihi! Heehee!"
Lost in mad giggles, Sua swept back her messy hair and stared straight at me.
Her face said she had already won, brimming with triumph.
"So answer me. That drug suppressing Sao's effects. How? It shouldn't be possible. No, whatever. Doesn't matter. Make the ultimate drug with me! With me! I'll do anything you want!"
"You're insane."
She approached again, trying to straddle me once more.
"No! I'm serious. If we make drugs together, something huge will happen. Imagine. We're sucking lives out with syringes. Isn't it romantic? We control others' lives!"
"Stop... I said stop!"
This time, I stood and shoved her hard.
She slammed into the wall with a bang. My strength wasn't weak.
Yet, nose bleeding, she wouldn't stop laughing.
"Heehee... Knew it. Knew you'd react like that."
She wiped the blood across her face with her palm, smearing it like makeup, and continued.
"Knew it... but why tell you everything? Guess why?"
"Shut up. I don't know how you became a maid, but I'll tell Lady Abera and get you kicked out. Stay away from this mansion."
"Hee, heehee! Go ahead. If you can."
"...What?"
Sua quietly pointed her index finger at Abera's desk.
The desk still had various drugs scattered, but the white powder was gone.
"Notice? The powder's gone. I spread it in the air. Strong sleeping drug. I have tolerance, but you? Time's up. Eyes heavy yet?"
"What...?"
"Heehee! Heehihihi! Ganeghan. I knew you'd refuse! I searched your room, your clothes, and now your bag. No narcotics at all! You really only use your talent for patients. Never thought you'd make only cures! That's no fun. I can't forgive it!"
"What are you even..."
"So... So! I'll torture it out! How you make drugs! Or enslave you to make narcotics forever! Ah! Thinking about it makes me so happy! Maybe crack open your brain!"
Sua hiked up her maid skirt and pulled a syringe from her stocking.
"Heehee. Don't be scared~ Don't resist~ Oh, you can't anyway? Yeah. Sleep for a bit!"
She advanced on me.
"This one's packed with max dependency crap. Made it fresh for you. Love it! Now you can't live without me. Want more? Obey me!"
"What the hell are you saying."
A sharp smack echoed in the room.
Sua froze, clutching her cheek. Simple—I'd slapped her full force.
Her eyes widened in shock.
"What... You, how...? Im... Impossible!"
"Sleeping drug my ass."
Exactly. I wasn't sleepy, no fatigue at all.
'Thanks to my physical stats? This too?'
Whatever the reason, the situation favored me. No reason to fear.
"No! Impossible... Impossible!"
Sua flung open the door.
She grabbed a maid cleaning a picture frame by the neck and yanked her inside.
"Wha, what! Who? What's... Huh...? Ungh..."
The maid inhaled the room's air and collapsed.
Now I understood Sua's panic. Dangerous sleeping drug was indeed in the air.
Sua slammed the door shut.
"See! Normal reaction... But you... No, wait!"
She charged me, trying to force a shot into my neck.
But with my superior physical stats, she couldn't match my strength.
"Don't resist! Just, just take it quietly!"
"No."
I snatched her syringe and jammed it into her neck instead.
As expected, she thrashed wildly, but couldn't overcome me.
"Urgh, grr! Useless. It's my drug... Ah! Poking myself periodically... St-stop!"
"Yeah?"
Made sense.
If she dosed herself regularly, even high dependency wouldn't bind her much.
"Then how about this."
I whipped up a drug with dependency cranked to 10 and jammed it into her neck too.
Holding her tight with my arms, one more shot was nothing.
Self-defense for survival. We were attacked first.
"Uh, ah, a-ah?! Useless. I, Asbidal... know! No drug without my tolerance... Huh...? Wha...?"
Contrary to her words, she passed out right after.
Asbidal, was it? I committed the name to memory, repeating it twice.
'Now to clean up...'
Abera's room.
Me, one passed-out maid, one knocked-out Sua.
How to handle this? My head already throbbed.
Then, someone started opening the door.
"Mr. Ganeghan! What's going on in there? I heard a scream!"
Abera's voice. I yelled the moment I heard it.
"No! Don't open it! Lady Abera!"
"Eh...? Ungh..."
Naturally, Abera collapsed the second the door opened.
This was insane.