Dead-End Villainess Who Makes Medicine

 

—Crash!

 

With an intense metallic sound, Julion’s and Roxis’s swords collided.

 

Roxis, seemingly not expecting his sword to be blocked, raised his eyebrows and glared at Julion.

 

Julion’s hand gripping the sword tightened.

 

Roxis was pushed back a few steps, and Julion spat blood on the muddy ground.

 

Blood pooled inside his mouth from biting his lips to endure the pain.

 

“Impressive. At first, just swinging the sword felt incredibly difficult, as if I would die soon.”

 

He appeared to be alluding to the initial wave of pain experienced after coming into contact with the poison I created.

 

Now, for some reason, he didn’t appear to be in pain.

 

‘Did Cassian help you?’

 

The mysterious purple smoke also seemed to be the work of Cassian’s apothecary.

 

However, it seemed they couldn’t create a cure that would completely heal Roxis.

 

If they could, Roxis wouldn’t have attacked me now.

 

‘It’s probably just temporary relief. Roxis will reach his limit soon.’

 

Once the effect of Roxis’s medicine wears off, he will likely be tormented by pain again.

 

Can Julion and the knights be able to hold out until then?

 

‘But why am I okay?’

 

There are two possible explanations I can think of.

 

Either my illness has recurred for some reason, or…

 

‘It could be that I’ve developed resistance to the poison..’

 

The former scenario is highly unlikely since I was perfectly fine until a moment ago.

 

In that case, did I develop resistance to the poison?

 

I fell ill from working with all kinds of poisonous herbs.

 

Even if I succeeded in treating it with Aperium, my body had already been subjected to the poison once.

 

It wouldn’t be strange if I had developed resistance to most poisons.

 

Crack.

 

A nearby rock shattered, breaking in half.

 

Before I knew it, Julion and Roxis had engaged in dozens of exchanges.

 

Despite being pushed back, Julion, blocking my path, drew his sword.

 

“Rohiriel, are you okay? Didn’t I tell you to go inside?”

 

Droplets of blood fell to the muddy ground as Julion breathed heavily.

 

His chest, rising and falling, was stained with red.

 

“Julion, are you hurt? How bad are you hurt? Are you okay?”

 

I tried to get closer to check, but Julion firmly gestured for me to step back.

 

Beyond Julion’s arm, amidst the dust, I could see Roxis’s bluish hair as he walked out.

 

“That’s weird.”

 

Roxis, who had been thrown far away, had a long wound on his arm. He glanced at his tattered arm and tilted his head to the side.

 

“How can he move like that?”

 

Roxis’s silver eyes lit up with questions.

 

Staring intently at Julion, he quickly closed the distance by propelling himself forward.

 

With a lighter sound than before, Roxis’s sword blocked Julion’s attack once again.

 

Up close, Roxis’s face showed a hint of anxiety.

 

‘He’s reaching his limit.’

 

That potion, whoever made it, has too short a duration.

 

Swallowing dryly, I observed Julion’s condition.

 

He was bleeding, but not much.

 

Julion’s sword pushed Roxis back once more.

 

Without missing a beat, I immediately asked Julion.

 

“Julion, how much longer can you hold out?”

 

“Until… you are safe.”

 

“What……, be realistic! To plan, we need to assess the situation here first—”

 

Before I could finish speaking, Roxis’s sword flew with a sharp slicing sound.

 

Julion struck away the thrown sword from a distance, and I naturally moved back behind him.

 

Approaching swiftly, Roxis shifted his gaze towards me rather than Julion.

 

“Rottie, come to me. And make medicine for me.”

 

“…talking about making medicine while causing this chaos. You must have lost your mind, Roxis.”

 

As I replied sharply, a tinge of frustration appeared on Roxis’s face. However, he soon narrowed his eyes and formed a sly smile.

 

“If you come to me now, I’ll forgive that remark you just made. I’m a generous older brother, after all.”

 

I almost vomited with disgust.

 

I wanted to throw a string of curses right at him, but I pressed down and glared at Roxis.

 

Then, as if he thought I was also suffering, Roxis, even more smugly, reached out to me.

 

“Rottie, you must be suffering too. Give me the medicine. Then I’ll give you the antidote.”

 

“Do not listen to him, Rohiriel.”

 

Julion, with a voice even lower than before, firmly blocked the space between Roxis and me again.

 

However, regardless of Julion, Ares and other knights had long reached their limits.

 

At this very moment, knights, unable to bear the pain, were collapsing one by one.

 

It was already remarkable that they had fought this long.

 

Only a few, including Ares, were still holding on.

 

‘Soon the sun will set.’

 

As a precaution for unforeseen circumstances, I had already instructed Zenid to send reinforcements if we did not return to the palace by the time the sun had completely set.

 

‘I need to buy time until then.’

 

There is only one road from Count Rivolain’s estate back to the imperial palace.

 

If we wait here, we are bound to meet reinforcements.

 

After much thought, I took out the medicine I had prepared in advance from my pocket.

 

“Roxis, if I really give you the medicine, will you hand over the antidote?”

 

“Rohiriel!”

 

As I hesitantly asked, Julion desperately tried to stop me while Roxis smiled broadly.

 

“Of course. So you have already made the medicine.”

 

“I had intended to make a deal with you. But now… it seems it’s not the time.”

 

“A wise decision, Rottie.”

 

As I approached Roxis with the medicine, Julion desperately grabbed my arm.

 

“You mustn’t, Rohiriel. Didn’t I tell you it’s okay?”

 

Julion’s hands holding me were trembling.

 

His golden eyes were stained with pain.

 

I pulled my arm away from Yulion’s grasp and shook my head.

 

“No, it’s not okay. Besides, are you the only one here? What about the knights and Ares? They’re all suffering.”

 

“I’m sure they don’t want you to do this …… either.”

 

“It’s my mistake for not calculating Roxis’s moves. I’m sorry. I’ll definitely… get the medicine, so please bear with it a little longer.”

 

Julion’s face twisted like that of someone abandoned.

 

I wanted to explain in more detail, but all I could do was send a reassuring look to Julion.

 

‘I can’t let Roxis get suspicious.’

 

I put on my best grim face and held out the vial to Roxis.

 

“Just one sip, and you’ll be instantly liberated from the pain.”

 

Roxis’ silver eyes strangely sparkled as he received the medicine bottle.

 

He examined the medicine bottle for a moment, then tossed it to the subordinate standing beside him.

 

“Try drinking it first.”

 

Thoroughly cunning.

 

It seemed like he was considering experimenting on his subordinate, just in case I’d gotten some other poison.

 

The subordinate who received the medicine bottle also seemed to be suffering from pain, judging by the contorted expression.

 

After receiving the bottle, he hesitated for a moment, but soon opened the cap and poured it into his mouth.

 

Everyone in the vicinity focused their attention on Roxis’s subordinate.

 

After a few seconds, the lifeless eyes of the subordinate, resembling those of a dying fish, began to regain vitality.

 

“……!”

 

His eyes widened, and his hands scanned every inch of his body.

 

Then, with an expression of relief, he handed the medicine bottle back to Roxis.

 

“Master, it worked! The pain has completely disappeared!”

 

Upon receiving the report from his subordinate, Roxis finally smiled with satisfaction.

 

“Yes, this is how my Rottie should be.”

 

After taking a sip, Roxis casually tossed the remaining medicine to another subordinate. 

 

Watching him, I had to exert all my effort to suppress the corners of my mouth from curling upwards.

 

‘Not yet, Rohiriel.’

 

Feeling his body returning to normal, Roxis wore a languid expression like a satisfied lion.

 

“The more I look at you, the more I marvel. When did you improve your skills like this?”

 

In a state of wonder, Roxis gazed at me, and this time, I reached out my hand to him.

 

“Now it’s your turn to hand over the antidote, Roxis.”

 

However, Roxis smirked sarcastically, narrowing his eyes.

 

“You think that’s the way to ask for a favor?”

 

“…What do you want, exactly?”

 

“Roxis, please give me the antidote. That’s how you should say it.”

 

My plea went unanswered.

 

As I stayed quiet and fixed my gaze on Roxis, he pushed the situation further.

 

“You don’t want to? Then get down on your knees and beg.”

 

Roxis’s hand slowly moved closer to my face.

 

Pretending to blink for a moment, I glanced at the subordinate who had drunk the potion first.

 

‘It’s begun.’

 

The subordinate, with his mouth slightly open, was staring firmly at Roxis with a stiff expression.

 

Once again, I blinked and shifted my gaze to Roxis in front of me.

 

“You’ve become quite dull since you grew up. Back when you were younger, you were more…”

 

With a swish, Roxis swept away the strands of hair that had fallen across my eyes.

 

“You cried so well back then.”

 

“You lunatic.”

 

“Heh, it’s not the time for such tantrums, is it?”

 

“Why don’t you go to the field over there and say that? There must be plenty of friends willing to listen to your words.”

 

I brushed off Roxis’s hand and gestured towards a distant field with my chin.

 

The fields around here were known for being a habitat for wild dogs.

 

Understanding the meaning of my words, Roxis crumpled his expression with anger.

 

“I was trying to be nice, but…”

 

Roxis shouted with an angry tone, raising his hand as if he were about to strike me.

 

“You’re really out of your mind, Roxis Cassian.”

 

Suddenly, Julion approached, grabbed Roxis’s arm, and gritted his teeth.

 

Although it was a simple action, Julion’s breathing sounded harsh and strenuous.

 

As if on cue, Roxis tried to draw his sword with his other hand.

 

However, Roxis’s hand stopped in place while still gripping the sword hilt.

 

Not just his hand, but Roxis’s entire body stiffened in the posture of drawing his sword.

 

Roxis’s silver eyes were dyed with horror as his pupils dilated to the fullest.

 

“W-What is this?”

 

Barely managing to spit out a word, it was the last thing Roxis said.

 

“How did this happen? Is this some kind of… illusion?”

 

Julion, one step away from the frozen Roxis, asked, still puzzled.

 

It was only now that I let out the laughter I had been holding back.

 

Roxis’s gaze shifted slightly, following my movements.

 

“Roxis, do you think I would hand you the antidote without any safety measures?”

 

 

 

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