Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 358: Dangerous Medicine
Until the new-moon operation three days later, Tauro and his companions continued visiting the Adventurers’ Guild as usual. Acting conspicuously now would only invite suspicion.
“Oh, Black-Gold Wings! Your timing is perfect. Yesterday’s client was extremely pleased with your work and has asked for you again.”
The receptionist hurried over as soon as she noticed them.
“Another Cockatrice-subjugation request?” Tauro asked warily.
Accepting ordinary work was harmless enough, but the client might be connected to the Assassins’ Guild. They couldn’t afford to lower their guard.
“This time it’s a gathering request. Here is the list of required plants.”
“Why specifically ask us to gather them?”
Tauro accepted the list and examined it.
With [Plant Knowledge] and the pharmaceutical knowledge he had accumulated while making potions, he quickly understood what the client intended to produce.
The listed ingredients could be combined into a powerful poison targeting particular races—especially lizardfolk and dragonfolk.
Judging by the requested quantities, the client intended to make a considerable amount.
Every plant on the list was also rare and delicate. Careless harvesting would immediately reduce its effectiveness.
“The client said your previous work was exceptionally precise, so they hoped you’d collect these materials with the same care,” the receptionist explained.
She clearly wanted Tauro’s party to accept.
“This client must be very important to the branch.”
“I can’t reveal their identity, but they’ve given us a great deal of business lately. We barely dealt with them before.”
Her answer confirmed that the client was both influential and a recent patron.
“Understood. Looking at this list, gathering everything should take several days. If that’s acceptable, we’ll take the request.”
“Thank you! I’ll complete the paperwork immediately!”
Relief spread across the receptionist’s face, and she hurried through the procedure.
“All right. Let’s go.”
Tauro led the others out without explaining himself.
“Tauro, why did you accept that without consulting us?” Ragune demanded once they were outside.
“She’s right,” Ankh added. “With [True Eye] and [Plant Knowledge], you could finish an ordinary gathering request far sooner than several days.”
“Did you notice something important about it?” Malak asked.
“If my interpretation is correct, the collected plants will be used to make a lethal poison for dragonfolk.”
Tauro lowered his voice, his expression tense.
“What?!”
Ragune, Malak, Zumei, and Reeva all stopped in shock.
“Each ingredient is used in harmful medicines. Some are already potent alone, but together they could produce a poison designed to be especially effective against lizardfolk and dragonfolk.”
“Then why did you accept it?” Ragune snapped. “We can’t help them make something meant to kill us!”
“Calm down. That’s precisely why we had to accept.”
“…I see,” Reeva murmured, apparently grasping his intention.
As they walked, Tauro explained.
“I told the guild the gathering would take several days. We can keep the request tied up until the operation begins. If another party accepted it and delivered even part of the ingredients before then, the enemy might produce some of the poison in time.”
“So by holding the request ourselves, we prevent anyone else from completing it,” Malak said.
“Exactly. The client is probably the lord, someone close to him, or the Assassins’ Guild itself. They must have learned that dragonfolk destroyed the guild’s Royal Capital bases and rushed to prepare a countermeasure. Because we handled yesterday’s request so well, they assumed we were unrelated and entrusted this one to us.”
Zumei swallowed.
“Lord Tauro, dragonfolk possess strong resistance to abnormal conditions. Could this poison truly be that dangerous?”
“I can’t be certain. But the enemy’s leaders clearly believe it’ll work. The ingredients probably have to be harvested correctly, kept fresh, and combined immediately, which would explain why they used the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“Then they may possess reliable knowledge of dragonfolk physiology,” Malak said grimly. “That would strongly suggest cooperation from someone with dragonfolk blood.”
“That’s what I think too. We were fortunate to receive the request before anyone else.”
Tauro finally exhaled, then remembered an ability he often overlooked.
“Perhaps [Good Luck] arranged that for us.”