Ch. 6: Dream Medicine (MOON)
I peered into the cup Sakia had handed me as the purple liquid bubbled and popped.
Sakia: "I finally completed…the medicine…I’ve dreamed about…"
OO: "Dream…medicine?"
This poisonous color was in a dream…?
Sakia: "Go ahead…drink…"
OO: "Y…yeah."
Ignoring my own trepidations, the pungent smell stung my nose as I drained the glass of Sakia’s medicine in one gulp.
OO: "…!"
I-it’s so bitter…!
Sakia: "It’s alright…it has a really bad taste…but I promise…it’s very effective…"
OO: "Ah…"
My body feels light for some reason…
And the pain is disappearing…it’s amazingly effective. But…
I was suddenly assaulted by exhaustion and my mind became cloudy…
Sakia: "Let’s name it…Sakia No. 2…"
As those words echoed in my head, I released my hold on my consciousness…
…
OO: "Nn…"
I opened my eyes to a bright light coming in through the window.
Huh, I…I’m sure I drank the medicine Sakia mixed for me.
My body felt heavy as I stood up, but I realized the pain in my foot had completely vanished.
Where did…Sakia go?
I decided to try checking his lab, and as I entered the courtyard…
Sakia: "Ah, OO…"
Sakia came over on unsteady feet.
OO: "Sakia. Were you up all night researching again?"
Sakia: "Yeah…I wanted to work more on the medicine I gave you yesterday…"
Sakia’s voice was thin, and his gaze dropped to my foot.
Sakia: "…seems like your ankle is all better."
OO: "Yeah, the pain is completely gone. Thanks."
As I said it…
Sakia: "It’s thanks to Sakia No. 2…"
His lips lifted up in a bold smile.
OO: "S-Sakia No. 2…?"
Sakia: "The medicine you drank…it was a mixture of the three deadliest poison plants…"
OO: "Eh…then, you’re saying it was poison…!?"
Sakia: "No…it’s alright…I researched it thoroughly…the combination was flawless…. You can rest easy having drunk it OO."
My body does feel much better than before…
Sakia: "Nobody would have thought…that deadly poisons can make people happy…"
OO: "Yeah, the effect of medicine made from deadly poison does seem to be unlikely…"
Sakia: "And also…the naming…is good too, isn’t it…?"
…what a thing to say.
OO: "What does…Sakia No. 2 mean?"
Sakia: "No. 2… like it’s a part of me… inside you OO…it …saved you…."
OO: "…eh?"
Sakia: "I’m…inside…of you…"
Sakia’s cheeks are red…is he embarrassed?
Sakia: "I’m really glad…the medicine seems to have worked."
OO: "Y-yeah. Thanks to Sakia No. 2…"
Sakia: "…"
OO: "Sakia?"
Sakia: "Besides making poisons…I…wanted to research…specific medicines…. But…there is no medicine…that surpasses poisons…after all…. It’s like they say…fight fire with fire…"
OO: "Is that…what came of your research?"
Sakia: "Yes, luckily…thanks to you, my theory…was proven correct."
OO: "Eh…"
Sakia: "And … I’ll report this to Father…. We shouldn’t do anything…that could destroy the poison industry."
Sakia’s expression broke and he gave a delighted smile.
OO: "S-Sakia…? Does that mean I…was your guinea pig…?"
Sakia: "Guinea pig…no, you were the first to experience Sakia No. 2…"
That’s the same as a guinea pig…
However, I couldn’t say anything more as Sakia seemed so happy.
Sakia: "Poison creates, poison heals…that is the way of thinking in the Land of Poisons. I have to improve No. 2 even more… it’s a part of me…"
He spoke and suddenly grabbed my hand between his.
Sakia: "Of course…OO, you’ll keep working with me right? Hahaha…"
OO: "M-me…!?"
Sakia: "It won’t work if you’re not here…you’ll always…be with me…right…"
OO: "Y…yes…"
Sakia’s smile was a little frightening and I replied without thinking.
Sakia: "My poisons will spread even further now throughout the world…. I will spread throughout the world…hahaha."
What’s going to happen now…
However, as Sakia smiled suspiciously…I felt more alive than I had since the first time we’d met.
END