Few of you may wonder – „why is releasing chappy today? He told, he would do so every two day, for he has so much shit to do… does he finally finished his job and now he will focus on writing?”

NOPE! Answer is waaaay simpler -> I am running from responsibilities!

… yes, I am a piece o lazy bum.

… screw this, keep reading

Edited by: KenChi死

The alleys are so dark, an hour before sunrise, as I am strolling through the park, but do not fret my son, and listen to the song of lark, so we…

“Hold it right there! What are you doing in the noble district at this hour, scum?”

Scum?

“The one with manners knows, that before asking for a name, he should say his own…”

I was stopped by a guards. Actually I have no idea why this happened. Oy, my witch robe is not that poor-looking!

“What the… You dare to talk back to the elite guards? Your last warning, either you will identify yourself now, or in prison, and you will not like the second option, you do…” “No, this is the last warning for you, offend me one more time, and they will scratch off your remainings from the floor for a week… and now tell me, good man, where can I find the house of the Blackwood family? I am expected.” “Why would a great family require at this hour a visitation from some stray d…”

My patience was running thin. While shifting muscles in my right arm I raised the vulgar man by his throat in the air. The other one, silent up until now, widened his eyes and raised the alarm. Now, if I am correct, someone more competent should come, I would then politely “identify” myself, the more competent one would show me the way, the vulgar man would gets reprimand, everyone would moves on in their direction.

A happy ending, is it? Buuut, as we are waiting….

“Which part in “do not offend me” couldn’t you follow?... now, how should I end you? Choking to death is waaay to boring? Blow your head? Forge your body with a plant… no, this wouldn’t kill you… Oy, you there,” I said while looking at the other men “Any ideas?” “You will pay for this…” the hanging man whispered through clenched teeth “Well, I have council immunity documents, so I doubt it… but, hey! If you can speak, it means I am holding you to lightly, doesn’t it?”

A small patrol arrived the from left as, another small one from right, and from the main alley a reaaaally big one, lead by a man and woman, judging by armors commander and the girl he picked to do the rest of the stuff and vice-commander… or maybe I am wrong? Doubt it.

“The hell do you think you are doing?” Yup, scary man with scar on face is commander “Just wondering how to kill this idiot… Do you have any ideas? The other guy right here is not much of help” “… okay, lad. You didn’t kill him up until now, so either you don’t intend to… or you are a madman. What do you want.”

I quickly took a look at the choked man. He is red in the face, it means he still can hold there a little.

“This should explain few things…” I told while extending my hand with the letter from the Blackwoods in his direction. The man was cautious. He did not walk by himself for it, he sent another of his men. Him, I like him, not only muscles…. Or practice by dealing with scums most of his life... somehow he got that scar on his face… and because it was leading from his ear up to mouth, probably attack from the back or side.

He looked at me, at the letter, at me and at the letter… probably judging if the signature is was fake or not.

“… Shouldn’t you be heading in the direction of Blackwood family mansion then… sir?” Last word was added after a few seconds. In the end, I am the man asked by a great house to come in the middle of the night, am I? “Oh, I am indeed on my way, I was just asking this kind sir about the way… while teaching him that offending a person you just met may be dangerous…” “… teaching? By killing? He would not use that knowledge for too long, would he?” “He will be smarter in the afterlife.” “… what if I would promise, that I would take care of teaching him… no need to waste your time on one like him, sir… and now, please… he is about to die… and the death of my subordinate is an insane amount of paperwork …which my assistant usually does… wait, it means I don’t care…” “S…sir!” His assistant didn’t like the idea much… now I will ask the real question. She doesn’t like it because the man will die? Or because she would have a work to do?

I looked once again at the man… Holy fuck, I was talking way too long. The men turned from red to pale, and now he is almost violet on his face. I dropped unconscious body on the road.

“So… the way?” I asked while taking back the letter “Through main alley to a park-like crossroad… you will recognize it by the tree in the middle of the square, turn right, walk until you see a fortified mansion with the crest of a black boar. It is impossible to miss it… and thank you for the mercy you have just showed to this fool, I humbly ensure you, that I will not be this kind to him.” “I am also grateful for your assistance… now pardon me… can’t make a cold fish wait, can I?”

See? Within five minutes I did something, I could not achieve with these two morons for an hour.

Lesson for you kids! Violence solves everything!... Violence, some wits and connections… but yes, the most important of those is definitely violence.

In the end you will not win a quarrel using only a logical arguments, if your opponent would pick a hammer and keep bashing your head….

The mansion with the crest of a black boar, the mansion with crest of black boar, the mansion with… Fuck! How am I supposed to see BLACK boar, if it’s dark as…

Never mind. See it. Of course, that they would illuminate something as important as a crest… the other thing, is that “mansion” is the wrong name. Castle? Yes, that is more like what I see.

I wanted to knock on the gate, but literally a second before that, an old butler opened it.

“Mr. Zariel, I presume. We are glad you could make it, The head of the house will be overjoyed to know you are here…”

I bet, that his name is Sebastian. I mean, c’mon! He is a classic Sebastian! Talks like Sebastian, Walks like Sebastian, Acts like Sebastian… An ultimate Sebastian!

Not this kind of misunderstanding of bird I am stuck with… Ehh, yet still I somehow miss the ol’ bastard… Maybe I should summon him? I definitely should…

“Would it be a problem, if I would bring along… a pet?” “As long, as it would not cause any troubles to the other guests, family members, or servants… would not cast any havoc nor damage…”

Snapping my finger I forced a bird to materialize on my shoulder.

“Hey, ol’ bastard. Sorry for not callin’ ya earlier… was busy, ya are not angry are ya?”

I was pecked in the head. So he is angry.

“Well, I will have to live with that.” And I scratched him under the neck.

A hall, a corridor, another hall, another corridor… Please Mr. Butler, do not leave me here, or I would not be able to get back.

And now I was led into something I am calling a “guest room”.

“If you would be kind enough to wait here, sir. I will inform Mr. Blackwood right away. Please, feel free to taste the wine… it will not be long.”

The man bowed, and left. I stayed. I took a bottle of wine, poured it into a glass, anddrank it. I almost spitted it out.

No, the wine was fine. I simply am not a wine person. So why did I do it? Dunno, maybe to look a bit more sophisticated?

They didn’t make me wait long. Actually, because of the way corridors were made and my excellent hearing, I was able to hear footsteps for about a minute before the door was opened once again.

And one more time the butler entered, stopped himself in the door and said:

“Thank you for your waiting, may I present, the head of the H…”

But he was gentle pushed aside.

“Archibald, we have no time for courtesy.”

Archibald? WHO THE HELL NAMED YOU ARCHIBALD!? It’s a insult?! Can’t they see what I see? Please! Release your inner Sebastian! Let em’ see your glory!

Right after the head of the house left our friend, Richard, stepped in. They both sat in front of me.

“… We sent messenger after you… but somehow he was unable to contact you directly… we are still happy you came so quickly.” “The messenger was unable to contact me, because he acted almighty in the guild, DEMANDING to see me. In the guild such an attitude is not… desirable. If he would politely ask for it while mentioning it’s a nice opportunity for me to earn coin, I would probable be woken up. Nooow… Why did you call me so suddenly?”

I already knew I, but why shouldn’t I ask about it? If he would point out how bad the situation is in front of me, I would use it to get a “better” price.

“The condition of my wife… has worsen… I know that you wanted to get access to the library. It will be done. And I already have a hunch of what kind of person you are… and for your service you will be given something extra…”

… Do I really look like some kind of villain? That feeds on someone else misfortune?... I should feel offended… but agreeing on such terms blindly? Is it a true love? Among nobles? How sweet. Well, your reasons are not my concern, so…

“The greatest medics tried their best, they were able to reduce the speed of the illness progress… Let me ask you… can you cure her?” “I haven’t seen her. I have no idea what is going on, I have no clue what is her condition… And you are asking such a question? I would obviously lie, if I would make any statement now. So maybe… You would let me see her?”

The man only raised from his chair, and while giving me a sign with his hand he asked me to follow. Another corridor, another hall, another corridor, oh! stairs! That’s new…

“Her illness started over two years ago, she was just a little weaker, coughing from time to time, she said it was but a cold. Then she get a fever, her skin became pale, the breathing problems started…. And now… just take a look.”

In dark room, full of incenses spreading a nice smell, two men in white robes were standing over a sleeping older (just a bit) woman. One of the priest (I assume they were priests) just looked upon me and said:

“I understand how you are feeling, my lord, but I am afraid that brining another mage would not help her… especially a dark mage… I heard that few fight a curse with another but…” “May I humbly ask you to shut up? You helped us greatly, but even you said, that you have no idea what is going on. I will use whatever it takes to cure her… so just let him work…”

Definitely a true love. But once again, it is not important. Let’s take a look.

Pale skin… no wait, it is slowly turning yellow. Black veins can be seen through the skin, absent and dull gaze, slow non rhythmic breathing… but as we have completely no experience with actual illnesses… Appraise time? Appraise time!

Cecilia BlacwookRace:HumanLevel:8Job:Negotiator/MerchantHp:[18/80]Sp:[4/40]Woman from higher class. Since her youngest day she was being taught by the best teachers.

Non-warrior class, not directly dangerous. Status effects:[Crimson Swan Poison]

Hp loss [Poison effect]

Breathing problems [Poison effect]

Coma [Poison effect]

Fever [Poison effect]

… oh booooy. Oh, boy boy boy… In what kind of shit have I just involved myself….

“… I would like to ask everyone… but Mr. Blackwood to leave…” “How dare you to…” “Wait, there are only friends of family here, feel free to speak.” “I INSIST for everyone… to leave…” “I can’t ask for that” Mr. Blackwood was adamant “I simply asked those people here for so much, that casting them aside would be…” “Very well” I cut him while speaking “It is not illness. She was poisoned.” “ABSURD! For the poison, especially cured, to maintain so long, would need that…” The men became silent. He finally understood “It would mean that she was given poison over and over again. Probably in small doses to make it look like illness, your efforts while healing made her last so long… but someone became inpatient.” “But… when her symptoms became stronger, she was under strict supervision! It would means th…” “That the poison was given by someone close to her… and this is the reason why I asked you out…” “You suspect one of us? It’s ridic…” “The boy is right…” the other priest answered “… only we, family members and a few maids were coming here…” “Oh, you are far too naïve…” a priest will be a priest, he may be good at curing… but skill of planning someone’s dead is out of his reach, well, in my eyes it makes him innocent “let’s say she was poisoned by food given my a maid. Does it means that maid is responsible? Not necessary, she only bring food made by the cook, does it mean that cook is responsible? Not necessary… what if someone replaced, let’s say a sauce with poison… possibilities are endless, and you have started looking from the wrong direction, it will be almost impossible to get from assassin to his employer… it is better to start from wondering who would gain by taking out your wife… and now if you could do me a favor… could you please send someone to bring me a book about Crimson Swan from the library, please? Check in the poison section, in category [Deadly] and probably [Sophisticated] is should be behind [Romance Story for Nobles], next to [Assassination for Dummies]…” “Wait, if you know which poison it is… shouldn’t you also know how to cure it… I am just trying to understand how did you recognize it…”

Ha, indeed it may look suspicious… But I definitely am not going to tell you that I possess a skill, that would make every healer cut off his right arm just to have it for one day… so what do I do in such situation? I lie, of course!

“Someone died because of it… right in my hands… I learned which poison did it when it was already too late… so there was no reason for me to study a poison so rare…”

Aaaand I have no idea if it’s rare. If someone would catch on this lie, well, I may have a few unpleasant encounters…

“Anyway… in meantime, as we are waiting for the book…” I looked at Blackwood to remind him… THAT I AM STILL WAITING FOR IT FOR BLOODY HELL “… would you mind, if we would stabilize the condition of Madam Blackwood? Oh, and you better start wondering, who is guilty, I came here to cure her, not to get dragged into politics… so about assassin… find him on your own… Gentlemen… I hope your magic is compatible with nature healing, is it? Great, can we begin?”