Poison in the Water

Why was I the only one getting hit?

Captain Hagrid did it too!

And the golden hair on your own head is pointing at you!

In response to Ivy's verbal threat, Ethan grumbled inwardly.

This burly man was named Hagrid. When he was young, he had dreamed of becoming an honorable Knight, joining the Kingdom Army, and dedicating his strength to the Empire. But he had not even made it to the interview stage. Left with no choice, he returned to Brookwood Town with a sword on his back and, taking advantage of his sturdy build, became a guard.

Captain Hagrid had said all this when he was drunk.

The guard force of over a dozen men under his command formed the town's defenses and also served as Baron Gladin's private armed force.

Not long after arriving in Brookwood Town, Ethan had built a good relationship with this local strongman. Over time, he learned that Hagrid was straightforward in both word and deed, with no ill intentions. As long as Ethan invited him out for a few drinks during his days off, Hagrid would consider him a true brother.

Ivy pulled Hagrid aside and gestured animatedly. "A Necromancy Scroll is a simple form of Spirit Summoning Magic. High-ranking Spirit Summoners in the Imperial Capital write their magic into scrolls. As long as the proper steps are followed, even ordinary people can produce magical effects."

Seeing that Hagrid only half understood, she began explaining the scroll's crafting process in detail, successfully making his expression even more confused.

At that moment, Hagrid felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles. Ivy's earnest explanation made him reluctant to admit that he had not understood a single word, so he could only cast a pleading look at Ethan.

"Simply put, Officer Ivy and I were investigating this man's cause of death."

Ethan found an opening and summarized Ivy's lengthy academic explanation.

In truth, that academic explanation had also revealed plenty of hidden information.

Ivy's family background was definitely extraordinary. Scrollcraft was not widespread in the Empire. Ethan had once heard Hunters at the guild mention that even functional magic scrolls could sell for the steep price of two Gold Lions, nearly equivalent to several months of hard-earned pay for a Hunter.

When Ivy had slapped the scroll onto the man's forehead earlier, she had not even blinked.

What a rich girl!

Now Hagrid understood. "So, did you find anything?"

Ivy said, "He came from Riverside Town and was afflicted by a witchcraft curse. The curse likely originated from Riverside Town's water source. All of his internal organs melted. That was the cause of death."

"Riverside Town!"

At those words, Hagrid's expression changed abruptly. Gritting his teeth, he said, "The Baron wishes to invite Miss Ivy back."

"Since the Baron is looking for you, then I'll—"

"You're coming too."

Ivy gripped Ethan by the shoulder. "You are the town's Occultism Expert. We need your opinion."

Ethan let out a resigned sigh and could only signal for Miss Chloe, who was poking half her head out from behind the cabinet, to wait there.

Baron Gladin had an estate north of Brookwood Town. There were many Maids in the estate, dressed in black-and-white uniforms. As Ethan passed by, they respectfully bowed to him.

After two years in this world, Ethan experienced for the first time what it felt like to be surrounded by Maids.

Baron Gladin had been waiting in the main hall. As usual, he wore a proper tailcoat, no different from when he gave speeches in the town square. He looked somewhat thin and wore a handlebar mustache, perfectly fitting Ethan's stereotypical image of a Noble. When the group entered, the Baron, who had been pacing back and forth, finally breathed a sigh of relief. But then he looked in confusion at Ethan, who trailed at the back of the group.

"And this is?"

Before Ivy could speak, Hagrid stepped forward. "This is Ethan, the guild's clerk. He knows a great deal about occultism. He's a good brother of mine and should be able to help."

The Baron nodded. "This is a traveling merchant who returned to town this morning. He brought back some news about Riverside Town."

Only then did Ethan notice that there was another person in the room besides the Baron. Mainly because the traveling merchant had positioned himself in an incredibly awkward spot—his entire body was curled into a ball, his hands covering his head as he hid behind the sofa. He looked utterly terrified, his body trembling nonstop.

Ethan could tell that the traveling merchant was trying hard to turn himself into an inconspicuous mushroom.

"Dead... they're all dead... everyone's dead!"

As he approached, Ethan could hear the merchant muttering to himself.

The Baron frowned and explained on the merchant's behalf, "When he went to Riverside Town to purchase goods, he found that everyone in the town was dead."

Ethan's heart sank.

When Ivy used the Necromancy Scroll, the corpse had also intermittently said, "They're all dead." But Ethan had instinctively assumed it referred to the man's companions—that the merchant caravan had been attacked on the road and everyone had died. Such things were not uncommon in frontier towns. But for everyone in an entire town to be wiped out...

That had truly scared the life out of him.

He recalled the red moon that night. So someone had merely been conducting a large-scale sacrifice in the neighboring town. And here he had thought his constant fireball practice on the mountain had brought down heaven's wrath!

"When was the last time you went to Riverside Town?"

Ivy's expression did not change, and her tone remained calm.

"T-two days ago."

Thoughtfully, she placed a hand on the traveling merchant's shoulder. "Someone killed every person in Riverside Town within two days. The corpses you saw had no external wounds, but they had bled heavily and covered the place in blood."

The merchant finally raised his head and stared at her in disbelief. "Y-you... how do you know?"

Ivy stated her conclusion. "They died from Curse Killing. Something was wrong with the town's water source. Everyone who drank the water was cursed. That explains why they all died within two days."

It was an exceptionally vicious curse, designed from the start to kill everyone. "Captain Hagrid, investigate the town's water source immediately."

"But how are we supposed to tell?"

Hagrid was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He knew he had to do something, yet had no idea where to begin.

How was he supposed to determine whether Brookwood Town's water source had also been cursed?

Did he have to taste it himself? If he dropped dead like the residents of Riverside Town, would that prove someone had placed a curse on the water?

"Take this."

Ivy tossed him a palm-sized Rhombus Crystal. "If the crystal glows, it means there is a problem with the water source."

"Do exactly as Miss Ivy says, at once!"

The Baron immediately gave the order as well. Only after the guards marched out of the estate in force did the pale-faced Baron stagger back to the sofa and collapse onto it weakly. He adjusted his breathing, trying his best to appear composed. Several minutes later, he finally asked, "The curse you mentioned... do you mean witchcraft like a Witch's?"

"I was not specifically referring to a Witch."

Ivy scrutinized Baron Gladin with sharp eyes. His unusual state had revealed a clue. "But you seem certain that a Witch was responsible. Can you tell me why?"