Case 03: The Poisonous Lamia

Case 03:
The Poisonous Lamia

No matter what happened, Glenn couldn’t shut down the clinic…however bad things got, even if Sapphee was no longer by his side.

Despite how sad he was, Lindworm’s residents would get sick or injured. Patients would come to the clinic to be examined regardless of Glenn’s personal issues.

“I saw the City Council bulletin, Doctor,” said an older dryad woman, a regular patient of Glenn’s. Dryads were plant monsters known for their strong trunks. As they got older, their branches and leaves grew everywhere. It wasn’t a problem when they were young, but as trees aged, they became more vulnerable to worms and moss. To prevent those, dryads required regular pruning. It was the equivalent of a human getting a haircut. Glenn used hedge trimmers to prune them.

“It must have been terrible in the canals,” she added.

The mere mention of the incident startled Glenn. “Oh, er…it was fine. The poison wasn’t strong, and the affected patients have all gotten better. We were lucky that Skadi responded quickly.”

“Oh, the Draconess is always so on top of things. But you worked hard, too, didn’t you?”

“No, I just did my job, as always.”

Glenn had told Cthulhy and Skadi everything about Sapphee, her family home, and the poison that a Neikes relative had seemingly created, not leaving out any details. He figured they would discover the truth eventually, even if he didn’t volunteer the information.

If I’m going to have to talk about this, it’s better to do it sooner. It’ll help the Council respond, too, and that’s the best way to protect the health of Lindworm’s citizens.

Glenn prioritized his responsibilities as a doctor; he believed it was what Sapphee would want.

“Anyway, who was it that spread the poison?” asked the dryad. “It sounds like the work of someone who really hates Lindworm.”

“I have no idea.” That wasn’t true, though.

Since Glenn had communicated Sapphee’s disappearance to the Draconess so quickly, Skadi was able to control the information that got out. The latest public bulletin issued by the Lindworm City Council read:

While there is a strong possibility that a group with expertise in assassination and destruction is behind the poisoned canals, this has not been confirmed or proven. The Central Hospital and the clinic are doing everything in their power to mitigate the poison’s effects. Effective immediately, Skadi will lead the patrol team in pursuit of the culprits.

“They say the Draconess’s guard, Kunai, will be patrolling the town,” said the dryad, “and we should call out if anything happens. Poison is frightening, but Kunai looks as though she would be unaffected, so maybe it’ll be all right.”

“Yes, that’s true.” In addition to Kunai, warriors from the arena were also patrolling. Everyone was on alert to report it if they saw anyone suspicious.

But Glenn knew the truth.

It wasn’t likely that the Neikes assassin would be back. Their objective remained unclear, but they’d successfully brought poison into Lindworm undetected, and spread that poison throughout the city without any fatalities. They had an extraordinary amount of stealth and skill. Glenn didn’t think anyone would be able to trace them.

“Is it true that the culprit is an aristocrat from the east? That they hired assassins?”

“I’ve heard that rumor as well. I don’t really have any idea.” Glenn remained vague in his responses.

It wasn’t public knowledge that the poison came from Sapphee’s family home. But another rumor had run rampant—that the suspect was from the eastern human realm. This rumor wasn’t published in the City Council bulletin, but in a private newspaper—one that had a reputation for printing articles based on gossip. The article claimed that the true perpetrator was an aristocrat from the east with a strong hatred of Lindworm. The newspaper even speculated that this aristocrat could be the powerful Souen, who’d recently taken down his superior during talks with Skadi.

Glenn thought that this particular rumor might have started from Lorna witnessing a suspicious person, but he hadn’t expected his brother to be named as it progressed.

“I’ve heard that Souen is pretty despicable,” said the dryad.

“Yes…”

Glenn and Souen shared a surname, but no one in Lindworm knew that they were related. The name “Litbeit” was common in the human realm. They were also worlds apart. Glenn was a town doctor, and Souen was a powerful man in the east. No one would think to link them based on their last name. Their relationship would be evident if anyone investigated their sister Sioux, who’d recently moved to Lindworm. However, no one had done that yet.

“Don’t worry,” Glenn said. “I’m sure Skadi will take care of it.”

“Oh, yes. The Draconess will keep us safe.” Even in casual conversation, the respect Lindworm’s residents held for Skadi was always apparent.

“Okay, you’re all done. I hope that feels better.” Glenn put down the hedge trimmers and picked up the branches he’d pruned.

The dryad stretched slowly. Dryads were nimble when young, but as they aged, their limbs got stiff and their movements became sluggish. It was said that they laid down roots and eventually stopped moving or talking, changing into something almost the same as a tree. Searching for a place to lay down roots was something dryads looked forward to in their old age. They were a strange species.

“Mmm. It feels great. It’s so much better when you do it.”

“Thank you very much.”

“You’re doing a great job, even though your pharmacologist left. That’s quite an accomplishment.”

Glenn could only nod in response. There were very few people who truly knew what was in his heart.

He saw the dryad to the door and prepared for his next patient.

I’m not doing a great job at all.

Glenn couldn’t stop thinking about how the poison connected to Sapphee’s family, and how the rumor in the streets was that Souen Litbeit, his own brother, might be behind it. None of that boded well for the clinic.

He wished the truth would come to light soon. However, if that happened, Sapphee would never be able to regain her honor. He thought it might help if everyone understood that Sapphee had no relationship with the Neikes clan, but he didn’t know how to make that happen.

Despite what she’d written in the letter, Glenn wondered whether Sapphee would ever come back. He quickly pushed such wishful thinking from his mind.

Thankfully, he still had help running the clinic. First of all, there were the fairies. Although they seemed unhappy that Sapphee was gone, they helped Glenn out, and they were far better at running errands than he was. Arahnia also came by often. Besides having experience assisting with surgery, she did household chores for him. Glenn was grateful for this, as he tended to prioritize patients and neglect his own life.

Tisalia didn’t come over to help, but she did send Kay and Lorna at times. They weren’t able to assist with medical treatment, but they could do chores, or help in the clinic by lending the patients a friendly ear.

Glenn sighed loudly. He’d gotten through another day of examinations somehow, with the help of those around him. Sapphee wrote in her letter that Glenn was doing a great job on his own, but that wasn’t the case at all. It would’ve been impossible on his own. If it weren’t for all the help he received, he would have shuttered the clinic long ago.

Sapphee…

Glenn knew now, more than ever, what a vital presence she was to him.

“Sapphee… I can’t do it. I can never do this by myself.”

He didn’t voice these complaints to anyone. He bottled up all his weakness and directed it at the walls of his room when no one else was around. Arahnia had come to help him that afternoon, but she’d already gone home. She put aside her design work to give him more of her time.

“Marriage…”

The marriage certificates—one with Tisalia’s name and one with Arahnia’s—were still in Glenn’s office. He just needed to add his own name and submit the documents to the City Council, and he could marry either woman. Still, there was only one person he could imagine spending the rest of his life with, and that one person was no longer by Glenn’s side.

Should he remain single and run the clinic on his own? Or should he choose one of the women who clearly loved him, and have them help with the clinic?

“Ahh…dammit. My mind is just spinning in circles.”

There was too much going on.

The situation around him was changing dramatically, but not a single thing was going his way. Glenn could only scratch his head and wonder why. He was even losing the motivation to do his work, which now included preparing medications and completing paperwork that Sapphee used to take care of.

For now, Glenn decided, he’d do the minimum amount of paperwork he could get away with and go to bed early. He went to the clinic’s entrance to hang the “closed” sign.

He suddenly had the urge to drown his worries in alcohol, even though he normally didn’t drink at all. He suppressed it, telling himself that such thoughts were pathetic.

“Brother! Brother!”

Glenn looked up and saw someone running down the street. It was a young girl in a patrol uniform—the demon girl, Sioux. His sister. Worried about Glenn becoming depressed with Sapphee gone, Sioux came to the clinic to check on him from time to time. She couldn’t help out the way Arahnia did, so she brought simple meals and tried to cheer Glenn up by talking with him.

“Brother! It’s terrible!” His sister tended to make a big fuss about things. Glenn sighed, turning to look at Sioux as she ran toward him.

“What is it, Sioux?” What could be more terrible than Sapphee leaving?

“It’s… We cannot speak outdoors! Umm…inside?”

“Sioux?”

She entered the clinic before Glenn even had time to ask what was going on. He followed behind her, and she quickly closed and locked the door.

“What is it?”

“Shh! Brother! Did you see the town newspaper?”

“No, I didn’t, but…”

“Read it quickly, please. Here!”

“What is it?”

When Glenn opened the paper, the first thing he noticed was how far printing technology had come. The quality of the type had improved, and the paper was written clearly in the continent’s common tongue. Then he saw it.

Souen Litbeit, a powerful authority in the human realm’s council of statesmen, will visit the dragon city. He has departed the human realm and is on his way to Lindworm for an exclusive interview with this publication.

Sources say that humans were involved in spreading poison through the canals. There are rumors that Souen was behind the incident, but Skadi, representative of the City Council, only had this to say: “I’m not concerned.”

This newspaper will continue to cover the story as it unfolds.

“What the hell is this?”

“Isn’t it horrible?!”

The private papers were being irresponsible as usual. They made it sound like Souen was an evil mastermind.

“Brother Souen’s being treated like a criminal! It’s terrible!”

“Settle down. Wait, is our brother really coming to Lindworm?”

“He didn’t say anything about that in his letter!” Sioux was panicking. “Brother, what should I do?”

She always called their oldest brother by name, and only called Glenn “Brother.” She probably felt more comfortable with Glenn, who was closer to her in age.

“He wouldn’t come all the way to Lindworm just to check on you,” she continued. “No, Brother Souen would never do something like that. He would summon me to him before spending money on travel!”

Harsh as that sounded, Sioux was right. Souen knew that money and power made the world go round, but what made him truly cunning was his ability to go about his business without ruffling anyone’s feathers. He knew that when people developed grudges, no amount of logic would change their minds.

“This city’s residents would never even have heard the name ‘Souen’ as an official of the council of statesmen! Why is he all over the news?!”

“How should I know?!” Glenn threw the city newspaper down.

This was all too complicated. He didn’t know what to think. Hadn’t the poison been spread by a lamia assassin? Or possibly a group of them? If Souen had hired them, then why?

“I have no idea what’s going on, either!” Glenn cried. “Now Sapphee’s gone, and everyone’s just tossing around whatever rumors they want! What am I supposed to do?!”

“Brother…”

Glenn had raised his voice in frustration, but nothing would be solved by shouting at Sioux. “I’m sorry. Please, forget it.”

“Brother, about Sister Sapphee… She…”

“It’s fine. I don’t know what Souen’s thinking, but I’m sure he would only come here on business. Hopefully, Skadi will take care of it.” Glenn had heard that Skadi and Souen had spoken in the east.

Still, if the people’s suspicions spread to the clinic or Sioux, it would be bad. Glenn needed to pretend that he and Sioux were unrelated to their older brother. Souen could put out his own fires.

“I’m sorry. I must be tired. I’m going to get some rest.”

“Brother, I’m sure Sister will come back. Please trust her.”

“Yes.” Glenn knew that Sioux said this to try and cheer him up. But Sapphee had made it clear that she wasn’t coming back, and he knew very well that she didn’t change her mind easily. He wished he could’ve at least spoken to her once before they’d gone separate ways.

Glenn didn’t have words for Sapphee anymore, however.

“Hrm…”

There was a loud, metallic sound. When Glenn looked up, the door Sioux had locked was ajar. Through the gap, he saw a woman with blue hair.

It was Skadi Dragenfelt.

“Are you busy?” she asked.

“Draconess?!” Sioux cried out.

Skadi’s appearance was that of a young girl, but in her hand, she held the lock that Sioux secured moments earlier. From the metallic sound, it was clear that Skadi had broken it.

“I was in a hurry. Heh.”

“It’s not funny,” said Glenn. “Just use the door like a normal person!”

Skadi stuck out her tongue, but her expression didn’t change. “What happened?”

“I should be the one asking you that. No one told me that Souen was coming.”

“Well…we didn’t know, either.”

Glenn sighed.

“I certainly didn’t think he’d come all the way out here while a rumor about him committing crimes is going around,” she added.

“It’s pretty bad, isn’t it?”

“It’s actually quite convenient.” Skadi was nonchalant.

“Convenient? What do you mean?”

“Well, he chose this time to visit Lindworm, despite the fact that he’s never once come to sightsee or even to visit his dear siblings. Next, he’ll take the blame… No, he must take the blame. It’s perfect timing.”

“Isn’t that a bit harsh?”

“You don’t want your brother to be villainized?”

Glenn thought about it. A number of things crossed his mind. For example, when he entered the Monster Academy, Souen had schemed to damage the relationship between Glenn and his parents. He considered Glenn his rival and a nuisance.

“No, I don’t really mind.”

“What about you, Sioux?”

“Long ago, he blamed me for breaking a vase! I insisted that I didn’t do it, but… I hate Brother Souen!”

“Okay, then.”

Skadi had decided to make Souen the villain so easily. Thinking back on all the problems his brother had caused him, Glenn reasoned that a false accusation now wasn’t such a big deal.

“Well, I’m sure Souen already anticipated all this, although he always ignores our struggles!” Sioux added.

“That’s true,” Glenn said.

“I see,” said Skadi. “Well, if his family agrees, then let’s proceed.”

“U-understood.”

Despite everything, Glenn was glad of the chance to talk to his brother. Even though he wouldn’t give it up easily, Souen was bound to know something about what was going on in Lindworm. There was no way he would’ve chosen to visit now if not.

“Dr. Glenn?”

“Yes?”

“I know you’re sad that Sapphee’s gone, but you can’t take it out on your sister, okay?”

“M-my behavior was shameful,” Glenn said. Skadi was right. He’d made Sioux feel bad.

“I am fine!” said Sioux.

“I understand what it feels like to lose someone close to you. I have lived for a long time.”

“Draconess, what do you do to get over it?” Sioux asked.

“Well, at the moment, I boss Kunai around.”

“Isn’t that taking it out on her?”

Glenn thought as he listened to his sister and the Draconess converse. He’d exchanged letters with his brother not too long ago, but hadn’t actually seen him in a very long time. He wished he had time to really sit down and talk to Souen, but the situation wouldn’t allow for it.

“Skadi, please take care of our brother,” he said.

“I think I’ll need your help getting him to talk. Souen will be here the day after tomorrow. Be ready.”

“Huh? The day after tomorrow?” That was sooner than Glenn expected.

Skadi had probably discovered the date with the aid of the City Council’s information network. The newspaper made it sound as if nothing was being done, but Skadi was a politician with foresight.

“I told you, Dr. Glenn. Someday.”

“Hmm?”

“You told me to live. You asked me to try living.”

“Oh, yes.” Glenn remembered. He’d used those words to persuade Skadi when she was ready to succumb to her illness.

“Did you truly understand what you were saying to me? I was tired of living. Then you cracked the whip and inspired me. It was all because of you, Dr. Glenn.”

Glenn was silent.

“You can’t say that to me, then not follow through when it comes to yourself. You asked me whether I’d like to live a long time, and you used your medical skills to ensure that would happen. Now you’re going to give in to despair in your short, human life, just because you lost Sapphee?”

Glenn didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t even imagine what Skadi’s future held. There would surely be tragedy, stress, and boredom in the long years that awaited her. After saving her, though, shouldn’t he face life head-on the same way he’d told her to?

“No matter what, you need to live and keep looking forward. Isn’t that the responsibility of the Dr. Glenn who cured me?”

“You’re right.”

“If you do that, then you can make sure that even your short life is fulfilling, right, Big Brother?”

With those parting words, Skadi giggled and left through the door with the broken lock. Having the Draconess, who was much older than him, speak to him like that always made Glenn feel as if his insides were twisted into knots.

“‘B-Big Brother’?” Sioux cried. “Brother Glenn, when did the Draconess become your little sister?!”

“N-no, it’s not like that.”

“Ohhhh, I hate that! I am your only little sister!”

Sioux was shouting, but the Draconess was already gone. As usual, Skadi had just dropped in to stir up a quick disturbance. The City Council representative came and went like a storm.

But she was right.

“Sioux, we get to see our brother again. I don’t get along with him, but…”

“Ugh… I do not like him, either.”

The Litbeit siblings’ faces were glum.

***

“It’s been a long time, Glenn. Such hospitality. How are the famous dragon dumplings?”

This was Souen’s opening. Glenn’s older brother had come all the way from the east with his arrogant attitude intact.

“Shouldn’t you be thanking me?” Souen added. “Oh, and if you have a letter for our parents, send it yourself. Don’t expect me to take it. I just want good food and some local sake.”

“You’re…” Glenn had no words. He knew that anything he said would just be wasted on this man.

Souen Litbeit was dressed in traditional eastern clothing with light blue thread for decoration. Its color indicated that he was a high-ranking official. Glenn wondered whether he’d been promoted again. Souen’s face—framed by his long hair, worn in a fashionable style—resembled Glenn’s, but it was also completely different. It wasn’t so much their features that differed, but their expressions. Souen’s was full of confidence and fearlessness. If you removed Glenn’s humility and replaced it with money and power, then you might have had Souen.

“Well, this drawing room is small, huh? Why did you pick this place?” Souen asked.

“Because of the rumors about you!”

It had been a lot of work to get Souen to come this far. Both humans and monsters all over Lindworm suspected him of being the mastermind behind the poisoning incident. They hadn’t gone as far as throwing stones at him, but there was still an uproar when he arrived, and a reporter from the town newspaper followed him around, trying to speak to him. All the inns and shops shut their doors at the sight of him. Glenn had heard that Souen had trouble finding a place to sleep. Supposedly, he was staying at an inn used by City Council members.

“This is the only room where we can avoid being seen. Neither Sioux nor I want to be observed meeting with you.”

“Oh, I see. You have your clinic, and Sioux is on the patrol team, right? You probably can’t afford to damage your reputations.” Souen chuckled.

If he knew that, then he shouldn’t have bothered asking. His attitude was exactly the same as when he and Glenn were children. It annoyed Glenn to no end.

“Sorry the room’s so small,” someone said. Two petite figures entered—Skadi and Sioux. Souen stood up, somewhat flustered. His expression was slightly stunned, a rare sight on him.

“Th-this… Miss Draconess, er… I thought this room was nice and quaint.”

“I won’t reject your flattery, but you should practice a little more,” replied Skadi. “It’s just uncomfortable when you’re that blatant.”

“Ah. You’re right.”

Glenn frowned. Souen had spoken sternly to his younger brother, but he was completely humble when Skadi was around. That quick change in attitude might be necessary to politicians and merchants, but it was infuriating to see a family member act this way.

“I was the one who set up this meeting,” Skadi continued. “Souen, you’ve become quite popular in Lindworm. Well, in a bad way, of course. The citizens think you hate monsters and poisoned the canals.”

“Yes. I am aware. In any case…” Souen flipped back his long hair. “I was the one who spread that rumor.”

“Whaaaaaaat?!” Glenn and Sioux both cried.

Skadi also seemed surprised, opening her eyes uncharacteristically wide.

“Wh-why would you do that?” Glenn asked.

“Why? Don’t ask such silly questions, Glenn. The poison introduced into the canals…it was from the Neikes family, right? Once that fact becomes known, Sapphee’s reputation will suffer. Even your clinic will come under suspicion. I protected you by spreading a rumor with no proof or basis whatsoever.”

“That’s a lie! You’d never protect us by doing something that didn’t benefit you!” Glenn was surprised at the certainty in his reply. Sioux, sitting next to him, nodded in agreement.

“Is that any way to speak to your brother? I mean, it’s not as if I thought this would turn out well. You can see how easily rumors fool both monsters and humans.”

“Souen…I won’t overlook this.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s enough for me. I’ll be going now. Sapphee’s not here, but I’m sure she’ll come back very soon.”

So, Souen knew about that, too. “Hrm…”

Souen must have used his political power to gather information around Lindworm. Then he came to visit in order to achieve his objective, whatever that was. He’d probably hired the suspicious man that Lorna saw in the canals.

“I don’t really know,” Skadi replied grumpily. It was unusual for her to show such discomfort. Perhaps she didn’t like people who put up smokescreens to confuse, like Souen. Glenn felt the same way. “Please explain your actions and objectives in a manner that’s easy for even dragons to understand.”

“Ahh, very well. I’ll tell you, despite your presumptuous behavior. First of all, directly after the poison spread through the canals, I received a letter from the Neikes family at my home in the east. Apparently, the Neikes assassins received an order to assassinate Souen Litbeit.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I don’t know all the details, but the Litbeits and the Neikeses once established an alliance to end a war. Thanks to that relationship, they inform me whenever they receive a particularly strange request.”

As part of that alliance, there had also been an exchange of hostages. Sapphee, daughter of the Neikes family’s head, was sent to live in the east with Glenn’s family.

“By the time I received this information, the poison had already been spread throughout the canals. While trying to confirm that the order really was for my death, I learned that there was some sort of…internal dispute among the assassins. They planned to blame me for the poison attack.”

“Huh?”

“So, I took the initiative and spread the rumor that I was the one behind the poisoning. I thought it might help me find the real culprit. Anyway, now Lindworm’s attention is focused on me.”

“I see…” said Skadi. “It seems you’ve been quite successful, Souen.”

“Danger is an opportunity to be seized.”

Someone had instructed the Neikes assassins to spread the poison. That person had fraudulently used Souen’s name, but they must have been unaware of the Litbeit and Neikes families’ alliance.

“I heard that there were no deaths associated with the poison,” continued Souen. “The situation was kept from being fatal on purpose, yes?”

“That’s the conclusion we came to.”

“Whoever caused this must be punished appropriately. I came here to catch the true culprit and clear my name,” Souen explained.

Perhaps because Souen’s plot was so complicated, Sioux—sitting next to Glenn—had a sour look on her face. She groaned, and a trickle of steam curled upward from her horn tips. Apparently, she developed fevers not only from exercise, but also from difficult conversations.

“That is all I have to say. I had my own motivations,” Souen stated.

“And if I suggest you were simply protecting your siblings?”

“Ha ha ha! I’m not that kind of person.”

Even if some small part of Souen had that intention, he would never admit to it, even under torture. That was just the sort of individual he was.

“It’s just as you heard, Glenn.”

“What is?”

“I acted of my own accord. My next step will be to find the true poisoner. Maybe you should try thinking for yourself sometimes.”

“What are you trying to say?” Glenn fumed. Why couldn’t his brother just speak frankly?

“Hey, don’t start feigning ignorance now.”

“Feigning ignorance?”

“You want to go look for Sapphee, right?” His brother could read him like a book.

“I, umm…” Glenn tried to deny it.

“You should go follow Sapphee. It wouldn’t be hard to find out where she is. Why don’t you go?”

“I’m in charge of the clinic. I can’t just abandon it.”

“So, you’re going to wait for her to come back eventually?”

Glenn was silent. Souen must’ve been gathering information about Lindworm for a long time. With his clout, he no doubt had plenty of people who could do his bidding.

Including Sapphee.

Including Glenn.

Souen knew something. “Brother, what are you trying to say?” Glenn asked.

“I’m just thinking of you, dear brother. What’s wrong with following the woman you love?”

“Sapphee said she wouldn’t come back. That’s why…that’s why I have to give up.”

She’d said she had no intention of returning. She must have gone back to her family home to speak with the Neikeses’ leader. What would that accomplish, however? It wouldn’t change the fact that the Neikes clan spread the poison, and it wouldn’t save her from sharing the blame.

“And you’re really okay with that?” Souen narrowed his eyes. “You’re free to make your own decisions, of course…but, as a Litbeit, I wish you’d have a bit more pride in your choices.”

“Brother?” Glenn was confused.

“Souen…” Skadi opened her mouth. “Am I in your way here?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re hiding something.” Skadi looked at Souen with her childlike eyes.

Souen grew silent. There was sweat on his brow. Glenn had never seen this man, this…cold-blooded animal, lose his cool.

“I’m sorry for making so many demands, but may I speak to my family alone?” he asked.

“Yes, of course,” Skadi replied. “Is that going to make things better?”

“I’ve already discovered the whereabouts of the person who poisoned the canals. One of my subordinates should be telling the Draconess’s guard as we speak.” Leaving out important details was a bad habit of Souen’s.

“You should’ve said that at the beginning,” Skadi growled. “I thought you were someone who only acted with your own benefit in mind?”

“That’s not true. Well, it’s not entirely true. Regardless, I’d like to speak with my siblings in private now.”

Glenn had no idea what was going on. Why did Souen seem cornered?

“He has a secret he doesn’t want to reveal in front of me,” Skadi said.

“Draconess!”

“It’s probably unrelated to the poisoned-water incident. Perhaps it’s something about your heart, Dr. Glenn. Make sure you listen carefully. Now, I’ll leave you alone with your family, Souen.”

“Thank you very much.”

Skadi slipped out of the room, her long tail swaying.

“So, what is it?” Glenn asked.

“Glenn, Sioux, I have something important to tell you.” Souen’s face was serious as he looked at his siblings. Sioux, who seemed to struggle to follow the conversation, sat up straight.

Souen strode to the window, checking for eavesdroppers.

“I have fallen in love.”

Glenn gasped.

Sioux was so surprised that she shouted. “Huuuhhh?!”

“Idiot. Keep your voice down. Make sure this doesn’t get out to anyone.”

“Love? I thought you had no interest in that sort of thing,” said Glenn.

“I’ve never cared for frivolous talk. But it’s the strangest thing… A woman expressed interest in me. Before I knew it, I had feelings for her, too. We’ve been together about five years now.”

The man who only saw people in terms of how they could profit him was now saying he was in love. Moreover, he said it unprompted. For possibly the first time, Glenn saw a human side to his brother.

“B-Brother Souen! I’ve never heard such a thing!”

“It’s not something I can admit easily. Also, this woman has Demonitis.”

“Huh?”

“So, we can’t live together yet. She lives secretly in a manor on land that I own, with others who also have Demonitis. We only see each other a few times each year. But I want to marry her someday. Sioux, you’re no good at keeping secrets. Now that you know, I must ask you not to come back to the human realm for a while.”

“I-I do not even want to go back.”

Glenn understood. How would Souen be received in the east if he said he wanted to marry a demon? Once Sioux had grown horns, she had trouble simply living in the human realm, which was why she moved to Lindworm.

“If I wish to marry a woman who’s become a demon, then I must quell the discrimination in the east. People with Demonitis are deprived of the right to marry. Can you believe it? It’s despicable. I must change the law in order to be with the woman I love.”

“Is that why you’ve been working with the council of statesmen, Brother?” Sioux asked.

“That’s right. Gaining political control is the fastest way to enact change.”

Glenn had thought that Souen always acted according to his own ambitions. Well…he was trying to change the law to serve his personal goals. Still, Glenn never imagined that his brother’s ambition might stem from love.

“S-Souen, I thought you only cared for power and control.”

“I was just playing a part. I can’t let anyone, even my family, discover my true intentions.”

“Because…you can’t marry her?”

“Right. Of course, that’s not all. My desire to be with this woman has consumed my desire to succeed.” Souen spoke without fear. He was putting everything in his life on the line for the woman he loved.

“Brother… Perhaps you shouldn’t have told us.”

“I’ve kept it secret from you until now. I took my boss down, and I rose in the ranks as a result, but there’s still a long way to go. So, why do you think I told you?”

Glenn was silent.

“Glenn, if you don’t chase the woman you love, you’ll never have her.”

“Er…”

“I’m fully prepared to change the human realm’s way of life for a woman. What about you? Don’t you want Sapphee?”

“But… Sapphee… I don’t think she wants that.”

“The woman I’m going to marry has said similar things many times. ‘Don’t take risks for me,’ and, ‘You should live how you want to.’ But I am living exactly how I want to. How about you, Glenn?”

“Er…”

What did Glenn want?

What could he do for Sapphee now?

“Demonitis isn’t an illness. It’s genetic. More and more people in the human realm say we should reconcile with the monsters of the west. Someday, I’ll be able to marry my sweetheart.”

“Brother…”

Their brother was the type who got everything he wanted. But what about Glenn?

“Show some ambition once in a while. Like when you said you were going to become a doctor no matter what, and ran away from home to join the Monster Academy.”

Of course, their parents had opposed that. Souen was happy to kick Glenn out of the house so he wouldn’t have to fight over who would succeed their father later. He’d actively encouraged Glenn to leave.

But what made Glenn want to be a doctor in the first place?

“Ah!” Glenn hit the desk with his hands and stood up. Sioux looked startled. Her shoulders quivered.

“Are you finally ready?” Souen chuckled, as if he was enjoying himself.

“Yes, Brother.”

Glenn had first decided that he wanted to become a doctor when he was young, and Sapphee caught a cold. If he was going to be a full-fledged doctor, then he needed Sapphee by his side.

“I’m going to get Sapphee.”

He didn’t know how he was going to do it. There was no guarantee that Sapphee was even somewhere he could reach. Still, if he didn’t at least try, he might lose her forever.

Sioux saw Glenn’s determination and nodded her head vigorously. “Yes, I agree! I believe this is a good idea!”

No matter what Sapphee was thinking now, she’d told Glenn that she loved him. Glenn had to see her at least one more time so he could give her his reply.

“We can finally get down to business.” Souen took out a piece of paper. It was covered in writing in the eastern language. “Now, after I received the Neikes family’s letter, I did a lot of research. A criminal has escaped from prison in the human realm.”

“A-a criminal?”

“That criminal has a grudge against me and the Draconess. He’s got both money and power, complicating the issue. He has supporters, and was able to escape by using a body double. One of my contacts discovered that he’s now staying in Lindworm. He’s the only plausible culprit behind this poisoning incident.”

Glenn tilted his head. “Where is he? If he’s in Lindworm, then we need to tell Skadi right aw—”

“Think, Glenn. There’s only one place in this city where you can go overnight without giving your name or identity. They let anyone stay, from thieves to murderous demons. It’s outside the city walls, but I’m sure it’s part of Lindworm.”

Someplace where anybody could stay, no questions asked? Glenn had never heard such nonsense.

Then he remembered. There was a place that was part of the city, but had a completely different atmosphere. The area had shifted its focus to tourism lately, and more and more outsiders came to visit.

“The graveyard city. Deadlich Hotel.” Glenn spat the words.

“Just the other day, I heard that an albino lamia had crossed the monster realm’s border and taken the road to Lindworm. They would’ve arrived in the graveyard city yesterday. They’re either preparing something…or waiting for an opportunity.”

“Brother!” Glenn exclaimed. “You even know that?”

“The web of information between merchants stretches far. Anything else to say? Have I laid it out enough for you?”

Glenn nodded. He burst out of the small conference room like a gust of wind.

“Ugh. My little brother requires so much care.” Souen let out a deep sigh.

Sioux didn’t say anything, but she patted her eldest brother on the back.

***

Saphentite Neikes had been raised as an assassin.

The Neikes family and all affiliated clans put on the public front of being pharmacologists. However, they had a history of using their pharmacies to conceal their assassination business. The current family head, Sapphee’s mother, had never put much emphasis on assassination work. She didn’t flinch from it either, but in this peaceful era, it was better for the Neikes family to focus on pharmacology. Times of peace made very little work for assassins. However, there would always be a venomous fang available, just in case it was necessary. That was Sapphee’s mother’s approach.

But would her mother do such a rash thing as spread poison in Lindworm? Sapphee returned to the Neikes village with that question on her mind.

Her mother gave her an icy stare. “Perhaps one of the lower houses took the order. I have no idea.”

She looked exactly the same as when she’d taught Sapphee both the art of assassination, and how to prepare pharmaceuticals. She had to be getting up there, age-wise, but showed no outward sign of it.

“Since the assassin didn’t kill anyone, the client must’ve been either reckless or rude,” Sapphee’s mother added. “Our family would never end a job without completing the client’s request…unless, of course, they offended us. We have nothing to gain from making waves in Lindworm.”

Her mother only saw Lindworm as a booming emerging city. Sapphee was sure she held no special sentiment for it. To Sapphee, though, Lindworm was where she’d spent her days with Glenn. It mattered to her.

“That’s why I can’t grant your request, Saphentite. The assassin only did his job as directed by the Neikeses. We neither criticize nor punish perpetrators.”

Sapphee didn’t say anything. She knew her family would never reveal who’d ordered the canals poisoned. This was the Neikes clan’s livelihood. Could she seek out the culprit on her own? If she succeeded in that, she might be the next one assassinated. Sapphee’s mother would be diligent in her pursuit if her own daughter turned traitor to the family, perhaps even more so because it was her daughter.

Sapphee’s only option was to find the client—not the assassin—and kill them.

***

And so, Sapphee returned to Lindworm’s graveyard city.

She laughed at herself in the dark. This is so silly. The incident’s already over. The assassin only did his job, and peace has returned to Lindworm. What’s the point of killing the client?

She clutched her favorite poisonous knife in one hand.

Pulling away from the man she loved tore Sapphee apart. The least she could do was make sure that the poisonor was punished appropriately.

Sapphee had hidden herself in the Deadlich Hotel’s ceiling. She peeked into one of the rooms through a crack.

A guest from far away was staying in this room. Sapphee had stolen a glance at the hotel’s guestbook and learned that his name was Souen Litbeit. Of course, Sapphee realized it was a false name. This middle-aged man with his chubby physique was a far cry from the slender Souen she knew.

Sapphee prepared herself and slapped her tail on the ceiling. The deteriorating tiles, kept that way to maintain the graveyard atmosphere, broke easily.

She slipped into the room, wriggling her snakelike body as she landed on the floor. By shaping herself into a spring, she softened the impact. The fat man screamed at the sight of her.

“Souen Litbeit—no, you’ve borrowed that name, haven’t you, former Duke Auchraw?”

“Er.”

The man cowered before her. His legs had become completely useless. Even if Sapphee wasn’t trained in the art of assassination, it wouldn’t have been difficult to stop him.

Deadlich Hotel was, well, dead and deserted. This was intentional. The building’s spooky atmosphere attracted tourists—and, of course, criminals using false identities. The hotel allowed anyone to stay under any name, be they criminal or not, as long as other guests weren’t harmed. This was a nuisance for those living in the city, but as far as Sapphee could tell, it had been the way of things since the previous manager.

Besides, almost all the graveyard city’s residents were dead. Getting into downtown Lindworm from here required passing through the customs gate. That was probably why they thought keeping a guestbook was sufficient.

In her head, Sapphee chided Molly for being so lax about her duties.

“I know everything,” she told Auchraw. “You were a statesman in the east, but Skadi ousted you for selling harpy eggs. You were arrested, but you had a guide, didn’t you? You held a grudge against Souen and Skadi—no, all of Lindworm—and made an order for the city to be poisoned.”

Auchraw wailed. He’d never had any dignity, even when he was a statesman.

“If you behave, I won’t take your life.” Sapphee couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. “What am I saying? I probably will take your life.”

Auchraw ran around the hotel, trying to escape. Sapphee took her time following him.

There was no need to hurry. Sapphee’s eyes sensed heat, so she could tell where the man was, even through the walls. Pretty much everyone else in the graveyard city was already dead.

“Hmm?” Sapphee tilted her head.

The single heat source she’d been tracking was blurred. It seemed almost as if two heat sources had overlapped. Someone else had come to this floor of the hotel.

“It couldn’t be.”

Sapphee stopped in her tracks. She didn’t know whether she should keep following Auchraw or run away. But before she could decide…

“Hey.” The voice was exactly as Sapphee remembered it. “We made it, thanks to Molly.”

The heat source she saw through the wall revealed himself.

His temperature was high—he must’ve run. He was breathing heavily, too. Sapphee’s ears hadn’t betrayed her, however. It was, indeed, the voice of the man Sapphee loved.

“Dr. Glenn.”

The town doctor appeared in front of Sapphee with a smile.