I arrived at the site of the injured. Outside the walls of the Imperial Capital Carter, a rescue tent had been set up.
Inside, many injured individuals lay on the ground.
“Ow… it hurts so much…”
“Cough cough! My lungs are burning…”
The injuries could be broadly categorized into two types: those who had lost limbs, and those who were coughing violently.
“Let’s distribute potions. Lisia-chan, Hermes, help me out!”
I retrieved a large barrel filled with potions from the box. I scooped some potion into a cup and sat down next to an injured person.
“It might sting a little. Just bear with it.”
I splashed the potion onto the wound of a person who had lost their right arm.
“Wha—my arm! It’s growing back!?”
The potion seemed to be working perfectly.
“Anyone whose injuries have healed, please help distribute the potions! We need more hands!”
“““Y-yes…!”””
Potions are incredibly convenient; they can heal people even when healing magic isn’t available.
As I continued to treat the injured, I suddenly felt a sense of unease.
“Doesn’t something feel off?”
“Off? What do you mean, Mika?”
The loss of limbs made sense; they could have been blown off by enemy attacks.
“But what about the people who are coughing? Is it related to Kyuuki?”
An elderly soldier nearby spoke up.
“Kyuuki is known as the evil god who prescribes diseases.”
“Prescribes diseases…?”
“Wherever Kyuuki appears, a major epidemic always follows. It’s believed that Kyuuki spreads the illness from there.”
I see…
“How exactly does it prescribe diseases?”
“Kyuuki wields sharp needles. It stabs with them.”
That doesn’t sit right with me…
While I pondered this, I successfully finished treating the injured and the sick.
““““Thank you so much!””””
The soldiers bowed their heads in gratitude. The elderly soldier stepped forward.
“May I ask where you acquired such wonderful potions?”
Lisia-chan was trying to invite merchants from the Empire to her territory.
If there’s nothing appealing about her land, the merchants won’t be interested.
Time for the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) to shine. As I prepared my notes, I spoke.
“In Dead End, thanks to the clean air and water, we can harvest high-quality medicinal herbs. These herbs enhance the efficacy of the potions.”
“““I see…!”””
I merely read off the information from the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet).
“I’ll buy a lot!”
“Me too!”
Great, this will surely spread the word about Dead End’s medicinal herbs throughout the Empire.
“…Hey, Mika.”
Hermes whispered to me.
“Isn’t it because you made those potions that they’re so effective?”
“No, it doesn’t seem that way.”
According to the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) information…
Indeed, the land of Dead End is said to yield high-quality medicinal herbs and pure water suitable for potions.
～～～～～～
Reasons why Dead End’s herbs and water are of high quality:
→ The Living God (Mika) resides nearby.
Mika unconsciously purifies the surrounding air and water, resulting in the herbs and spring water at the foot of the mountain becoming high-quality.
～～～～～～
“In the end, it’s really you who’s amazing!”
Well, it seems I’m like an air purifier and water filter…
“More importantly… we need to deal with Kyuuki. If we leave it be, more people will suffer from injuries and illnesses.”
I used the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet) to search for Kyuuki’s location.
…Wait, it’s really close by?
“Everyone, stay in the tent. Hermes, let’s go.”
Hermes and I stepped outside the tent. Before us lay a vast grassland.
In the distance, there was a forest, and at its entrance… stood a beast.
“Woooooof!”
A howl, reminiscent of a dog, echoed across the grassland. I decided to observe Kyuuki closely.
At first glance, it resembled a mop. A large body covered in whitish fur.
But upon closer inspection, it was more like quills, like those of a porcupine, protruding from its entire body.
Its face was also covered in quills. However, it had horns growing from its temples, giving it a bovine appearance.
“Woooooof!”
Suddenly, the quills bristled up. Then… whoosh! Countless quills shot toward us.
“Like I’d let that hit me! Barrier magic!”
Hermes cast a wide-area barrier.
“Wha!? It slipped through the barrier!?”
Countless quills charged at us. I pushed Hermes down and shielded her with my body.
Thud!
“M-Mika!? Y-you protected me… what should I do… I’ve caused you a serious injury… I’m sorry!”
“It’s fine.”
“Whaaaaaat!?”
I got up from Hermes. Not a single quill had pierced my back. Instead, the quills were embedded in the ground around us.
“How are you unscathed!?”
“Well, I have an infinite level.”
No attack can affect me.
“W-woah!”
“You took a hit from quills that could easily blow off our limbs and came out unscathed!”
The soldiers peeked out from the tent. It seemed Kyuuki was only targeting us.
The people inside the tent were unharmed…? I picked up one of the quills.
I snapped a photo with my smartphone.
“Derived Skill: Hacking.”
I analyzed it using the Omniscient and Omnipotent (Internet). Just as I thought.
“I understand now. Kyuuki doesn’t seem to be a bad creature.”
“Wha?! What are you saying!? It’s because of that thing that we have injured and sick people!”
I showed the quill to Hermes.
“This curse embedded in it causes lung disease.”
“A curse! So, Kyuuki really does have the power to prescribe diseases!”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Huh!?”
“Kyuuki is just shooting the quills. The curse is simply attached to those quills.”
“So Kyuuki is casting curses… wait! Hold on!”
Since I wasn’t getting anywhere, I walked straight up to Kyuuki.
“Woooooof!”
A gust of wind blew from Kyuuki. Countless quills surged forward with the wind. But it didn’t affect me. I’m at infinite level, after all.
Eventually, I reached Kyuuki’s side and said,
“You… are cursed.”
I took out Holy Ash from the box. The sacred ash, created using the flames of the Vermilion Bird, possesses the power to dispel evil.
I threw the Holy Ash at Kyuuki.
“Gyaaaaaaaah!”
A black mist emerged from Kyuuki’s body.
Gradually, it took on a human form, resembling a skeleton draped in tattered cloth.
“! It’s Elder Lichy!”
～～～～～～
• Elder Lichy
→ The form of an evil sorcerer who has turned into a curse after death. Wields powerful curses.
～～～～～～
“Kyuuki was merely possessed by that Lichy. In fact, Kyuuki was trying to drive it away.”
Though legends say Kyuuki spread diseases, my interpretation differs.
Kyuuki didn’t cause the epidemic; rather, it went to where the disease was spreading, trying to help.
“It was using those quills and wind to fight off the evil.”
“I see… and in the process, Kyuuki ended up cursed.”
“Fuhaha! You’ve seen through my splendid scheme, witch!”
The Lichy began to speak.
“To uncover the grand strategy of this Lichy is no small feat! Now, let us have a duel.”
“Turn Undead!”
I cast a light magic spell that sends undead monsters to the afterlife.
“Fuhgyaaaaaaaah!”
The Lichy was instantly vanquished by my magic. Weak.
“W-whoa… you defeated an Elder Lichy in one hit…”
“Why are you surprised? That was just a weakling, right?”
“Not just a weakling! It’s an SS-rank monster!”
“I don’t really understand the ranking system.”
I’d prefer it if they used levels.
“Wooooof…”
Kyuuki nuzzled against me. Its fur felt damp, like a wet rag, and it had a peculiar smell.
“You should take a bath, buddy. Want to come to my place?”
“Woooof!”
Kyuuki continued to nuzzle against me. It seemed quite affectionate. I approached the Imperial soldiers.
I explained the situation. The quills were shot in an attempt to defeat that Lichy.
While it’s not good that it accidentally injured people, I hoped they could forgive it.
“If the savior of our lives says so!”
I was relieved they were willing to forgive.
“To think that one of the Four Fiends has managed to command Kyuuki! I am truly in awe!”
Well, it’s not like I’m actually commanding him or anything.
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