Volume 8 Chapter 2 Part 1 (1/2)
The next day, s.h.i.+n contacted Schnee via Mind Chat after breakfast.
”(and so, I'm going to help them for a while. I'm sorry, but please take care of Hermie and the others.)”
”(Don't be, we're just waiting for the s.h.i.+p to reach port here. I doubt that the s.h.i.+p will be attacked again like yesterday after all.)”
s.h.i.+n told Schnee that he was going to help Kanade and entrusted Hermie and the others to her. Even if they were subjected to an attack of similar magnitude, they had enough fighting power to withstand it, so he wasn't particularly worried.
s.h.i.+n ended the Mind Chat with Schnee and spoke to Kanade.
”Lady Kanade, about what we talked about yesterdaycould you tell me the name of the herb you went looking for?”
”This? It's called Dead Snake Gra.s.s. Depending on the concoction, it can become a potion, or so they say.”
Hearing the name of the herb, s.h.i.+n was more and more confident that the situation could be just like the quest he remembered.
”I apologize in advance for such a personal question, but could you tell me in detail what symptoms your sister has? Ever since I saw that medicinal herb, something was bothering me, and I finally remembered what it was. I might be able to help in curing your sister's sickness.”
As s.h.i.+n finished his sentence, Kanade and Karin looked at him with astonishment.
”I am nothing but thankful for such a proposal, but are you sure? We essentially fled from the main house, I doubt we can properly reward your a.s.sistance.”
”I realize this might seem suspicious, but there is nothing in particular that I want. A friend of mine lost her life because of a sickness, so I am weak to such circ.u.mstances.”
The shadow of Marino, s.h.i.+n's pa.s.sed girlfriend, appeared in his mind. He also thought that he being too kind, but he couldn't ignore a situation like this after all.
”I see.to be frank, we would grasp at any straw in our current situation. We gladly accept your offer.”
Maybe because she felt something in s.h.i.+n's expression, Kanade spoke about her sister's symptoms after a few moments of silence.
Karin had probably felt how serious s.h.i.+n's expression was too, as she did not even try to stop Kanade.
A few minutes later, Kanade stopped talking. What s.h.i.+n heard was extremely close to the quest he had remembered.
”I seethis is difficult for me to say, but if what I know is true, the medicinal herb you have will be of little use.”
”!? What do you mean?”
”Sir s.h.i.+n, please do explain!!”
s.h.i.+n calmed down the surprised women and proceeded to explain.
”Lady Kanade, you think that those leaves come from Dead Snake Gra.s.s, correct?”
”Indeed I do, but from your words, I suppose you mean that this is not the case?”
”I do not know if you have been deceived or the person who sold it to you did not know either. But that is Mimic Dead Snake Gra.s.s, not a medicinal herb but a poisonous one. If you doubt me, please have someone with the skill Appraisal examine it.”
”What did you say!?”
Yes, Dead Snake Gra.s.s was an herb used to make grade 4 potions, but Mimic Dead Snake Gra.s.s was nothing but a toxic herb, which would inflict the status ailment Poison III to anyone unfortunate enough to ingest it.
”The merchant who sold it to us said it was Dead Snake Gra.s.s, without a doubt.”
”The appearance is almost completely the same, after all. The base of the leaves, here, is colored purple, isn't it? The real one is red though.”
Looking at the explanation displayed by Appraisal, visible only to s.h.i.+n, he explained the difference between Dead Snake Gra.s.s and its Mimic counterpart.
”How can this be”
”Sir s.h.i.+n. Do you have any idea where we can find a replacement?”
”I have some myself, but not enough to make medicine with. I could ask some acquaintances, but is it really not possible to find within Hinomoto? I heard that it should grow spontaneously near the peak of sacred mountain Fuji.”
s.h.i.+n mentioned his game knowledge as if he had heard it from someone.
In the quest history page, one could find the locations items had been retrieved in as well.
As the geography was now different, most information was not useful anymore, but if the location corresponding to the original map was still there, there was still a chance.
However, Kanade's answer was not a hopeful one.
”That is indeed so, however”
”Is there a problem?”
”The peak of Mt. Fuji is a forbidding area, which does not allow human presence. It is shrouded by mist at all times, which sways the senses not only of humans but of monsters too. In olden times, many brave warriors challenged the peak, but none returned. Even now it is one of the most perilous zones of Hinomoto, where no one dares go to.”
Karin explained the current status of Mt. Fuji's peak for Kanade. But when s.h.i.+n had looked at the mountain he had seen the peak too, without any mist, so he felt somewhat doubtful.
”If from afar, looking at the peak is possible. No one knows the reason why though.”
Kanade answered while shaking her head when s.h.i.+n revealed his doubts. s.h.i.+n could not remember any quest corresponding to the situation the two had described.
”In any case, it seems that the only way of saving Lady Kanade's sister is to go to Mt. Fuji. That mist you speak of intrigues me too, so I suggest we pa.s.s by it on our way back.”
”What are you saying now? To willingly go to a place none have ever returned from is pure folly. I am thankful for your concern about our circ.u.mstances, but do not be hasty. I do want my sister to heal, but I would never just send you to your death so easily.”
s.h.i.+n's casual proposal had prompted Kanade to stop him sternly. Her eyes showed how she couldn't believe what she had just heard.
”I'll try to go, and if it looks like things won't work out, I'll give up. If we could at least get rid of the mist we wouldn't get lost. I will contact my acquaintances about it too of course.”
In the game era, the monsters on Mt. Fuji were around level 500. Their unique characteristic was that the level increased together with the alt.i.tude. The boss monster was a phoenix-type residing on the peak, Kagutsuchi.
This was an important monster, as it dropped an item essential to learn the skill s.h.i.+den Kagutsuchi, which Filma had used in the battle against the demon Adara.
At the very least, the typical monsters wouldn't be a problem.
What s.h.i.+n was concerned about was the presence of unique monsters such as the Skullface Lord, which he had encountered in the past at Wraith Plains. The situation was different now from that time, but as a phenomenon not present in the game era, it was still on his mind.
”Milady, I propose that we at least try to go there. From the battle on the s.h.i.+p, we clearly know that sir s.h.i.+n's fighting prowess is out of the ordinary. There might even be the chance to break through the mists.”