Just the Right Dosage of Medicine
“So, why are those bad guys here?”
“They must want something they have or can't live without.”
“Even so, taking someone else's stuff is wrong! The people who get robbed will be so, so sad.”
Heungmi puffed out her cheeks in discontent, her two tails standing straight up.
“Guys who do bad things like that need to be punished! Right, Rune-nim?”
“Yeah. They do.”
Rune patted Heungmi's head in approval.
Even in this unpleasant situation, Heungmi was sharp at distinguishing right from wrong.
Judgment is a skill that needs training.
Rune handed over a few more vials of medicine to the soldiers, adding a caution.
“Use these on the ones who are still in decent shape. They'll help snap them out of it.”
“Th-thank you……”
The soldier looked dazed.
The other nodded gratefully, panting silently.
They glanced at Belianus, who nodded back, and took the vials.
Belianus straightened his posture and fixed the soldiers with a steady gaze.
“What are your names?”
“Campbell Guardon, sir!”
“M-Merlin Forel, sir!”
The young elf soldiers stood as tall as they could and replied.
“Right. Campbell, Merlin. What of the king?”
“We…… don't know exactly. He hasn't shown his face much for a long time, and we're not in a position to see him easily……”
“I see.”
Belianus placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
“We'll find the king. Campbell, Merlin—for now, use this medicine to save as many other elves in the castle as you can.”
“!”
Light gleamed in the elves' eyes.
Their hero from the past war that led to victory. Belianus.
His request, an idol in their hearts, filled the soldiers with a surge of confidence that they could achieve something.
“Leave it to us!”
“Of course!”
Pride and self-respect reignited in their sparkling eyes.
“Save as many elves as you can. If it looks bad, don't skimp on the medicine.”
Rune chimed in at just the right moment.
To prevent them from hoarding it and missing the full effect, their expressions turned resolute.
“Thank you, little one.”
“We'll leave it to you. Please help Belianus-nim well.”
Rune nodded silently to the soldiers.
Meanwhile, he covertly signaled Heungmi.
[Heungmi, stick a little watcher on those guys. If they spot anything unusual, let me know.]
[Yes!]
Heungmi nodded and placed her hand on the pendant.
The elf soldiers, distracted by Belianus and Rune, didn't notice the tiny fire lizard vanish into their belts.
“That kid knows a lot about medicine—Belianus-nim must have found him.”
“Has to be. Honestly, I believed the High Chancellor would return.”
The elves left without suspecting Rune was a dragon hatchling, touched by his innocent actions.
Rune waved goodbye without turning his head.
“It suits you.”
“What does?”
Rune tilted his head up slightly.
“High Chancellor. Or something even greater.”
Belianus chuckled softly.
“Heh. For a young heir to already voice such impressions.”
In truth, Rune's words could be seen as a threat to the elf king.
Belianus brushed it off as childish observation with a laugh, and Rune's lips quirked up.
“I'm set to become an elder of the Shadow Clan, after all. I pick up on things.”
It was a smooth, rounded response.
Wrapping up his thoughts on Belianus, Rune tucked away his pouch.
Shifting topics, Belianus recreated the path of wind and asked.
“Speaking of, are you sure? Not revealing your identity.”
Dragons were long-lived, but this was a young hatchling.
He had every reason to boast after such generosity.
Yet the Shadow heir showed no regrets.
“It's fine. Telling them I'm a dragon would just make them uneasy. We can reveal it after things settle.”
“Hmm. Very well.”
It was remarkably mature.
Like a thousand-year-old schemer lurked inside.
As Belianus recast Wind Runner, he mused.
Brothers they may be, but the Shadow heir has a very different temperament from the Fire heir.
Calling him hyung meant he was younger than the Fire heir.
Yet he didn't feel childlike at all.
Knowing the Black Dragon Clan was extinct, he'd first thought it was trauma from losing his kin.
Forced maturity, perhaps born calm.
But something about him felt inexplicably profound.
Belianus felt like he was looking at a peer or slightly younger friend.
To feel like a friend or close younger brother. What a strange heir.
His maturity, clashing with his appearance, kept drawing Belianus's gaze.
The oddly familiar vibe was truly peculiar.
Thud!
Belianus checked the presences following them and stepped onto the wind path.
They reached the second floor, where the cafeteria was.
From beyond the closed door came the aroma of vegetable soup and baked bread.
It even felt warmly comforting somehow.
And this wasn't just from the food smells.
The demonic energy is especially faint around here.
Rune knocked on the door.
“Who's there?”
A portly elf baker type flung the door open.
He gripped a frying pan like a weapon in his other hand.
The straw-haired elf faced a plump white bird.
“Peep?”
“?”
The elf in chef's clothes twitched his nose.
The scene was odd enough: a boy with a bluebird on his shoulder, a beastkin girl blinking innocent pink eyes, and a red-eyed, red-haired boy with a fierce glare.
“What kind of gathering is this?”
He muttered, taking in the wrinkled middle-aged elf last.
Then, a frantic female elf shouted from inside the kitchen.
“Jeffrey! If it's more weirdos, chase 'em off quick!”
“Y-yeah! They're weird, but…… different!”
In the castle thick with foul demonic energy, these were the only vibrant souls.
Rune slipped past Belianus, who was about to politely introduce them, and entered the kitchen.
“Excuse me for a sec.”
“Hey, kid? What're you doing in here?”
Flabbergasted, the chef elf instinctively stepped back.
A small creature brushed his leg, and in that gap, the others hurried in.
“Heungmi's coming too!”
“As am I.”
Heungmi hopped in lightly, and the rest entered like it was their home.
The chef elf twitched his mustache in disbelief.
“Mind if I join?”
His tone was soft, but his posture and polite speech carried an air of privilege.
The straw-haired elf's brow furrowed under the overwhelming presence.
“Can't leave you out alone, so come in…… but.”
He scratched his head under his chef's hat and reluctantly allowed it.
As he stepped aside, Belianus bowed lightly and entered.
“The more I look, the stranger the group. Who exactly are you people?”
As he closed the wooden door, Belianus answered.
“I am Belianus. Just returned from leave to resume duties at the castle.”
“Huh?”
“What did you say? Belianus-nim?”
The straw-haired elf let out a stunned hum, and the green-haired wife stirring soup in a huge pot whipped around.
She had chubby cheeks and a sturdy build.
“Good heavens, Belianus-nim! In this humble kitchen!”
The middle-aged green-haired elf looked ready to rush him barefoot.
She clutched her skirt hem, hurrying over to scold her chef husband.
“Honey! What are you doing? Bow your head!”
“Uh?”
“Greet him! Oh, hello. Belianus-nim!”
Under her sharp urging, the elf couple bowed hastily in greeting, leaving Belianus aside as Rune quickly inspected the ingredients.
They'll handle greetings and draw attention.
He looked like a curious boy eyeing the kitchen, but his gaze was sharp.
I need to find something that matches the forest energy inside me.
The wine rack and beer barrels filled a dedicated storeroom.
In another, aged cheeses and dried meats were neatly stored.
Freshly harvested meats or veggies won't do, of course.
Elves, nature-loving, had impressive preserved stocks.
Plenty lived here originally, though now isolated as patients or vanished.
Elves in the desert heartland lived richly off nature's bounty.
Lucky. I worried there might not be enough.
Rune found honey, dried tea leaves, spice herbs, and more, deeply satisfied.
Exactly what he needed, in abundance.
This is a treasure trove.
Rune smiled, holding up a glass jar of herbal tea leaves.
Among them, he grabbed a very aged wine bottle and a wheel of cheese, slinging them to his waist, and exited the storeroom.
Belianus was still caught by the fussy elf couple.
And Perdikion approached Rune emerging from the storeroom, as if waiting.
His eyes narrowed at the wine bottle in Rune's hand.
“Rune, I thought you had some plan going in there. You planning to drink in this mess?”
“……Kinda.”
“What?”
Perdikion's glare filled with suspicion.
But Rune placed the cheese and wine on the table with a faint smile.
“Hyung, ever thought about what the elves here eat and live on?”
“You mean the meals at Belianus's mansion where we were hosted?”
“Yeah.”
As Perdikion pondered the food, Heungmi toddled over.
“Rune-niim.”
The young fox beastkin tugged Rune's sleeve.
“What?”
“Uuum. Those elves you asked to deliver medicine earlier—they're making the ones who vomited demonic energy take more medicine!”
“……”
“They're working super hard. But…… I worried if the medicine runs out, so I thought I should tell you.”
Rune watched Heungmi tilt her head.
I should've told them dosage only.
Time was tight, so I skipped it……
“It's okay. Better to overdose and get the full effect.”
Blink.
Her round pink eyes held questions.
Rune's reflected face bore a satisfied smile.
“Just found some good stuff, perfect timing.”