The first feast in Ashu’s village held special significance. Regardless of its scale, the fact that residents could spend a lively night beneath the setting sun, floating various lanterns into the sky, brought a sense of great liberation.

“Mom, it feels like there’s a big firefly flying in the sky.”

“Dad! Can we stay up late tomorrow and the day after tomorrow too?”

“…Sure. You can look at the stars at night, even exchange greetings with the moon.”

The pure joy of the children moved their parents. Touched by both emotion and joy, people clinked their glasses.

Now, it was no longer just a hidden village; it swelled with anticipation as it became known as a territory.

“…”

Only one person.

In the village, Shar-ti alone stayed in her lodgings, gripping her fist with a serious expression.

‘Why doesn’t anything work?’

In front of Shar-ti lay the crimson venomous herb she had collected during the day. She was currently experimenting with half of the antidotes she had collected.

Shar-ti, wearing sleeves rolled up and gloves to cover her entire arms, looked at the antidote bottle in her hand.

‘My antidote isn’t universal, but not a single one reacts to this extent?’

Among the various antidote bottles she had taken out of her bag, not a single antidote showed a reaction to the crimson venomous herb. It wasn’t a matter of the herb having a strong poison.

Literally, no antidote worked.

‘Why doesn’t the village know the danger of this poisonous herb, despite it being so dangerous?’

After collecting the crimson venomous herb, Shar-ti immediately went to find the village chief.

Despite being busy with festival preparations, the village chief, thinking of Shar-ti’s curiosity and interest in new herbs, made time for her.

[The previous village doctor, or rather, the overseer, had informed me. It contains a strong poison, so be careful not to touch it recklessly.]

Even after hearing the chief’s words, the question remained unresolved.

The crimson venomous herb was scattered throughout the village to the extent that children could unknowingly touch it, and the herb, with its appealing appearance, had likely been touched at least once by curious children.

[Yes. There was an incident where the children used that poisonous herb for a prank. However, there has never been a case where the children suffered or faced any significant trouble due to the poison.]

‘It doesn’t make any sense.’

Why did the doctor, despite knowing it was a poisonous herb, only issue a warning and not remove it from the village?

Why were the children who played with this dangerous herb unharmed?

Shar-ti touched the venomous herb with the gloved tip of her fingers.

‘For now, it seems the poison is in the roots.’

The tiny beads of the herb’s roots were so delicate that they couldn’t be pierced with a needle. Although they looked like fruit at first glance, as time passed, the beads gradually shriveled and sagged, revealing an intact root shape.

It seemed like they were naturally withering as they consumed nutrients from the soil until there was nothing left to absorb.
“I should dry these roots and try to make powder. That should make it more certain.”

She had in mind the possibility that the poison would only take effect when ingested, not when touched.

“Considering that we might need antidotes later, it’s better to hurry, right?”

Until now, the hidden village had strict control over the entry of outsiders, but that was about to change. Many would come to the village, and its secrets were soon to be widely known. Naturally, external constraints or intentional harm would follow, and the indiscriminately spreading venomous herbs within the village could be exploited for malicious purposes.

“If someone takes this venomous herb and mass-produces it, it could be a big problem.”

As a doctor, Shar-ti had to be prepared for emergencies.

While absorbed in her thoughts about the new venomous herb, Shar-ti suddenly turned her head at the lively laughter coming from outside the window.

Unbeknownst to her, time had passed, and the night sky stretched out.

“Is Ren outside?”

Ren had momentarily vacated his place for Shar-ti, who was focused on the new venomous herb.

Of course, there was a slight conflict.

“You want to touch the venomous herb? Then I’ll do it.”

Ren, refusing due to the reason that it wasn’t a task for beginners, expressed his displeasure.

“But why do it now? Sha, haven’t you done enough? You didn’t accept gratitude, rejected the celebration, so at least enjoy the feast they prepared.”

When Ren looked at her, Shar-ti was not the one who had resolved the issue. She, who was no different from a sinner, tried to hide alone, making it frustrating.

“It’s not that I’m not disappointed…”

While it was okay for the residents of Ashu’s village and even the Crople Mercenary Corps, Shar-ti was a bit hesitant about the Matab. It was okay for ordinary magicians belonging to the Matab, but the Matab Master or Sub-Master was a burdensome existence.