Cure for the Rare Disease (3)

Eily's younger sister was suffering from that disease, and it was definitely the one I knew.

How did I know? Because I'd seen it countless times in the game.

Purple Corruption.

That was the name of her illness. According to the lore, it was notoriously hard to cure, slowly draining the victim's life force.

"Hmm..."

That must have been why she'd been dying bit by bit until now.

Even in the early-to-mid game, there was an event where an unknown plague swept through a village. That plague was this very corruption disease—the symptoms matched what Eily's sister showed: patches of skin turning a sickly purple. It dragged its victims to a slow, agonizing death.

"Is Martin here?"

But fortunately, I knew the perfect cure for it. I'd played through that plague event countless times, gathering materials and brewing the antidote over and over.

"Young Master Arnold...?!"

"Wh-what brings you here?!"

Leaving Eily's house, I'd come to the back of the mansion where Martin and I often trained. It looked like the guards had been drilling first.

"Are you here to train today as well...?"

The guards were so flustered by my arrival that they couldn't tell if the sweat beading on their foreheads was from exertion ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or sheer panic.

"No, I need to see Martin."

I brushed off their questions and sought out the knight-turned-training-assistant.

"Young Master Arnold, were you looking for me?"

His calm voice came from off to the side.

"Martin. I have a question."

I turned to see him striding over with perfect posture, having just been overseeing the guards.

"Yes, what is it? Do you need a sparring partner again today?"

He seemed to guess my intent, but I shook my head.

"No, this is different. Do you have any spare real swords around? Not practice wooden ones—a proper sharpened steel blade."

"Hmm? You mean spare weapons?"

He looked puzzled at the request for a moment, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Well... if it's something capable of killing, we have plenty of backups lying around—"

After a brief pause, he met my eyes with trust and unbuckled the sword sheath at his waist.

"I can't have you using some junk that's been gathering dust, young master. Here—take my sword."

He bowed deeply, offering it with flawless etiquette.

"You sure that's okay?"

By lore and common sense here, a knight's personal sword was like an extension of themselves—something to cherish and wield with care. Lending it out was reserved for those they truly trusted.

And yet, he handed it over without hesitation.

"Yes. I'd refuse anyone else without a second thought... but I've seen your skill with my own eyes, so I trust you with it."

"No... if a swordsman of your caliber uses my blade, it's an honor for me."

His faith in me was strangely, unshakably high.

"Alright then..."

It wasn't like I'd forced it from him—he offered freely. No harm done, right?

Clink.

I buckled on the sword he'd given me and ran my hand over it.

"..."

The moment I gripped it, a solid, weighty balance settled in my palm. The hilt felt premium—likely custom-forged by a master smith.

"Thanks. I'll take good care of it and bring it back."

"Of course."

If I couldn't even bag a monster with this, it'd tarnish not just my name but the smith's pride too. Visually alone, it screamed top quality.

"That said... may I ask why you suddenly need a sword?"

Having handed it over, he asked out of pure curiosity, no suspicion.

"Gotta do some hunting to save a life—"

I gave him a sheepish grin and answered honestly.

"If memory serves, it should be around here."

Leaving the village behind, I entered the rugged mountains where dangerous monsters roamed. It was a shortcut for merchants valuing time over safety, so they braved it often despite the risks.

"Ugh, this might take longer than I thought."

I was here because my target monster appeared in these parts.

Lamia—half-human, half-snake beastkin.

Why Lamia specifically? They had strong poison resistance. Uniquely, their blood acted as a high-quality antidote on its own, and from the strongest specimens, it fetched top prices as premium medicine in human lands.

Plus, Lamia blood was a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠key ingredient for curing Purple Corruption. I wasn't after run-of-the-mill ones—I needed a powerful specimen.

"Huh? What's that—"

Unlike other monsters, Lamia had near-human intelligence and superior size, making them trickier than Dire Wolves. In the original game, they shredded early-game noobs at equal levels.

"Hmm... smells faintly like something scorched."

As those thoughts crossed my mind, something caught my eye.

"Traces of a fight...?"

Several charred corpses littered the path—bandit garb, by the look of it. A Dire Wolf carcass too.

"This is..."

Signs of a skirmish just hours ago. Ignoring the bodies, the wide scorched earth pointed to high-level fire magic, even by game standards.

Come to think of it, some elite Lamia wielded magic.

"Found it."

Scanning for Lamia signs while recalling their lore, I spotted serpentine tracks branching like a large force on the move.

"This should work."

Focusing on the trail, I cast a spell.

A tracking spell I'd used before—it followed traces to pinpoint the target's location.

"Got it."

I bolted in the direction it indicated.

"...There it is."

Soon, a massive cave mouth yawned at the base of a cliff.

Hiss...

"........."

Two Lamia stood guard like sentries.

"Their lair, huh?"

Seeing these other races for the first time stirred an inexplicable excitement and tension.

Lamia claimed large caves, carving them to suit their needs, hoarding food and resources to endure winter without surfacing. Much like snakes from my old world.

"What to do..."

But lore aside, the key was their strongest led the nest. A powerful one lurked inside—likely deep in the core, like the Lamia-only dungeon in the game.

"Hmm..."

Hiding behind a tree, I weighed my options. Option one: brute force straight in. Option two: negotiate.

They were intelligent enough for talk. I'd brought a weapon assuming the worst, but I wasn't a battle maniac—I'd avoid fights if possible.

"Ahem. Hey."

I chose negotiation.

"Eek, who's there...!"

Even if they weren't human-friendly, communication might—

"A human? Here for revenge?!"

But the moment they spotted me, hatred blazed in their eyes as they lunged.

"Must be that bastard's reinforcements—kill it!"

Spouting nonsense, they thrust their weapons. No room for talk.

"Ugh...?"

"We won't yield anything to you!"

"Alone? Foolish!"

But.

Clang!

"Huh?"

"...?!"

Their first strike meant no compromise.

Whoosh!

"Magic?!"

"Chantless, and instant...?!!"

Time to cut loose.

BOOM!

A deafening roar and massive explosion rocked the cave mouth.

"?! Wh-what...?!!"

"An attack...!"

The startled Lamia turned toward the entrance.

"Hmm."

A lone man stood there.

"That's a human, right?"

"And he took down the guards?! "

The boy stepped casually into their domain, as if passing a yard dog.

"Looks like this is the Lamia den after all."

"Kgh..."

"Where'd this human come from...?"

To them, he was a demon trampling their mighty warriors.

"Remember? Her Majesty wiped out those bandits earlier... This must be their backup."

"Y-yeah... that fierce glare makes sense now..."

They pieced it together.

"Fetch Her Majesty! A human's here for revenge!!"

They alerted their kin, entering combat stance.

"You!"

Whoosh—

One hefted a massive greatsword and charged... but then.

"Eek?! He vanished—"

The man disappeared in a blink.

Slash!

"Wha...?"

He reappeared behind her, slicing her gut.

"...!"

"Just now—"

Like a gust of wind, one fell in seconds.

"......"

Silently flicking blood from his blade, he eyed the next.

"Urgh..."

"Tch, what the hell is this guy...!"

"We need backup!"

Now three blocked him, spread out at varying distances.

"...Hmm."

He gauged the gaps with a meaningful look—then vanished again.

Whoosh—

"He's gone!"

One shouted in near-panic.

Slash—slash—slash!

Too late. They crumpled in seconds, blades claiming them.

"You bastard!"

Stab—

"Bl-block it!"

Splurt—

Arnold's sword rendered the Lamia horde helpless, felling them like autumn leaves.

"Where'd he go? Vanished again...!"

"Th-there—he's—argh!"

Like a natural disaster—unblockable, inevitable casualties.

"Ugh... Arrows!"

"Got it...!"

They opted for ranged fire.

"Hng..."

Eyes fierce, they nocked and drew, tracking his blur.

"Hup!"

Seizing a momentary pause, they loosed.

Twang—

The arrow whistled sharply—thunk.

But it didn't graze his clothes.

"Wha...?"

"No way... he caught a flying arrow with his eyes?!"

Impossible reaction speed.

"Hmph..."

Noting the archer, Arnold's sharp gaze pierced them.

"Eek...!"

Their face twisted like a child facing a monster.

Crackle...

He extended a hand toward the shooter.

Thud! Zap-zap-zap—!

Silent, colossal lightning erupted.

"Wait—"

"Chantless...!"

BOOM—

They registered it, but too slow—the bolt struck true.

The Lamia cave was vast—exploring it felt like shrinking to ant-size in their tunnels. Their domain sprawled with intricate, varied carvings.

"How deep does this go?"

I cut down countless Lamia en route to the core.

"There—grab him!"

Slash—

"Gahk..."

Not particularly strong, but I'd felled plenty. No worthy specimens yet.

"H-her Majesty—!"

How many had I swept aside? A desperate cry of "queen" gave me pause.

"Hm?"

And then—

Roar—

Lightning from a clear sky... no, firebolts from the sealed ceiling.

"Ugh?"

"Ho... dodged that? Not bad for a human!"

A haughty, arrogant voice pierced my ears.

"Huhu! Thrashing prey is always the most fun! Dance for your life!"

I turned to see ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a red-scaled Lamia smirking behind her hand.

"You're—"

"I shan't sully my noble name with a human. Know me only as your queen... and judge!"

She glared with villainous royalty in her tone.

"......"

Compared to the others, her bulk and presence screamed power. Magic user—elite Lamia. She might yield the blood I needed.

"Yeah, you'll do nicely."

Magic-wielding Lamia were level 20+ in my memory...

"Insolent worm! Feel my wrath!"

As I readied myself, she scowled, channeling mana into her staff.

Her eyes narrowed mid-chant; crimson flames like judgment poured from her staff.

"...!!"

Fire filled my vision instantly.

"Hahaha! How's that, puny human?!"

It hit me anew: magic's value.

"My spell shall be your final memory!"

It elevated life... or became the ultimate weapon—a supernatural force.

"Uahaha! Dust by now, surely?!"

Experiencing it firsthand, I truly grasped its danger.

"Serves you right for invading! Repent in hell... huh?"

But.

"...Phew."

"Eh...?"

Weak.

"That your best?"

Pathetic, even.

"Wh-what?! Not a scratch?!"

"My magic?!"

Unscathed, I stood firm. The queen gaped in horror.

"Urgh! Then...!"

Good thing I'd mastered barriers.

Thicker flames than before assailed me.

"Burn!"

A red storm vortex raged.

"......"

Vision went crimson again.

"Hahaha! Dead for sure now? My strongest spell!"

Victory certain, she grinned triumphantly.

"No human survives th—wha?!"

Same result.

"Over?"

Her magic couldn't dent my barrier.

"N-no way... You tanked that?! Why?! Humans are weak to fire!"

She looked ghost-struck, flabbergasted.

"Ugh...! Fine!"

Fury twisted her face as she chanted anew.

Flames erupted around me, not from her staff—a massive ring isolating me in fire.

Roar—whoosh!

The chill cave became an inferno, flames sealing every gap.

"Haha! This time—!"

The red Lamia laughed wickedly, tail rigid, body swelling as she ascended.

"How's that~? Humans need more oxygen than Lamia!"

Clever. Suffocate me. Slow, but sure. Deep cave—fire would consume the air fast.

Soon... no breath.

Clink—

Time for a counter.

"Hmph! What can that little sword do?!"

She scoffed as I lowered the tip to the ground.

"......"

Scraaaape...

I spun, dragging the blade.

Kagagagang!

Whirling it in a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠circle unleashed sparks and a gale-force windstorm.

"Urgrgrgrgh—!"

She yelped oddly in the blast.

Whooooosh—

The wind died quickly, but snuffed her flames with its gusts.

Cling!

"Got anything else?"

Blade reflecting her face in the cooled air, I asked leisurely.

"...Hic?!"

The self-proclaimed queen hiccuped pathetically, her arrogance crumbling to a trembling child's fear.