534 "Poisonous Devil" (1/2)

Because he was capable of many marvelous magics, Lucien was very confident about the wines he checked, but his confidence turned out to be a fatal mistake today. He had drunk a cup of 'Sky Blue' that was mixed with terrible poisons and weird curses.

No, not just the wine!

Lucien looked at Camil. As a level-eight radiant knight whose responsibility was to protect Natasha, she wouldn't drink or eat anything on such occasions. Still, her face was dark, and her body was quivering uncontrollably. She intended to turn into 'Tide', but the blue ripples disappeared immediately after they surfaced. It was obvious that she had been poisoned and cursed!

Where was the source of the poisons and curses?

Lucien suddenly smelled vague but sweet fragrance of flowers, like that outside, except that it was more sweet and intoxicating.

Something was wrong with the fragrance!

There must be a spy, or something who was manipulated, that brought the item which emitted such fragrance in. When it was mixed with the wines that had also been played tricks on, the wine and the air became unimaginable poisons and curses. No wonder he did not detect anything during the examination!

But it was not the time to look for the spy or the accomplice. Lucien wobbled to Natasha, with everything fuzzy and shaking before him.

Thankfully, Lucien had the Congus Ring which dissolved the poison. He was unlike Camil, James or the rest of them, who were not only dizzy but also weak, even unable to stand on their feet.

Count Henson, who did not activate the strength of a knight, collapsed and fell into 'hangover'.

Lucien's body still had strength. He gradually approached Natasha like a drunk man. If his heavy head and soul still remembered things correctly, 'Sword of Truth', the ultimate bloodline that could cut everything, was immune to curses. Therefore, Natasha should be only poisoned, with strength fading from her body, but her head should still be clear. As long as she put on 'Health Belt' and activated it, the poison in her should be relieved in no time.

The level-eight magic item was also immune to the poisons below legendary!

As for the Congus Ring, even if Lucien wanted to give it to Natasha, she couldn't use it.

Count David, the second weakest of all, collapsed like Count Henson, but he hadn't completely entered 'unconscious' yet, but moved his eyes anxiously.

Power from the curses spread out from his lungs and his stomach and extended upwards, affecting Lucien's brain and soul. It made his head swollen and his heart race. He was unable to cast a single spell or activate any item.

After he staggered to Natasha, Lucien took off the belt and put it on her.

Natasha said in a low voice, as if talking was difficult for her. ”I cannot concentrate my will… I can't use any magic item. Go… go now. Their target… should be me…”

As if not hearing anything, Lucien buttoned the Health Belt on the back of her waist, before he said with a numb tongue, ”Try to… control yourself… The poison… hasn't been completely activated yet… There should be a chance… to use magic items.”

Natasha did not waste time or give up. She tried to get her body under control, while she urged again, ”Hurry and leave… You still have strength… Ask for the reinforcement… of the nobles outside…”

At least, Lucien would not die with her.

Then, she would be able to seek the slim chance of survival without concerns.

Applause echoed from the gate. ”What a touching couple. I hope that you will stay together after you die.”

Lucien raised his head, only to discover a weird, green-haired man at the gate. There were no pupils in his eyes but only the devastating whiteness. His clothes were quite eccentric, too, because he was wearing a black cloak that covered his entire body even though it was a hot day.

The weird man who appeared to be in his thirties bowed and said, ”Your Majesty, allow me to introduce myself. I am Primous, 'Poisonous Devil' of the Dark Congress.”

'Poisonous Devil' Primous was the expert who ranked 62nd on the Cleansing List, a level-nine dark night, and a descendant of the Demon Lord. He was best known for poisons and curses. While he ranked lower than Lucien, he was definitely stronger than Lucien.

Natasha did not respond to him but tried to focus her attention, and Lucien resisted the power of curses with his spiritual power, too.

Primous, however, did not attack immediately, but chattered on, ”You don't know me? That's alright. All you need to know is that I'm here to kill you. It's been a while since the Congress waited for the South Church to declare war on the Congress of Magic. After learning that Your Majesty also chooses balance, the old men sent me here.”

He seemed to be affected by his bloodline, or maybe he was confident of his victory, so he appeared rather hysterical.

”As long as I kill Your Majesty, Mr. Lucien Evans, Duke James and the rest of them and pretend that it was done by radical night watchers, the Church and the Congress of Magic will definitely burst into war. Right, I'm good at simulation. I think I'm capable of making the legendary sorcerers and saint cardinals believe that 'Cursed Angel' Grunwell of the night watchers did all this.”

Hearing his neurological chatter, both Lucien and Natasha tried to dissolve the power of either the curse or poison in their body, but it seemed that they were stronger and stronger as time went by. Neither of them could stand on their feet anymore.

Primous seemed to be unaware of their efforts, and nor did he care that Duke James and the rest of them could not reply because of lack of strength. He continued on happily, ”In order to kill you, I spent tremendous efforts on controlling the servants and gardeners to slightly change the vegetation in the garden. If you were truly a flower lover, Duke James, you would've realized it a long time ago. It's a shame that you are just a show-off. So, when you walked into this chamber with the fragrance of flowers, the previously harmless ingredients in the wine turned violent.”