Apparently, Lucia was stopped by Sage who returned while she was stranded by Kirkill, and was ordered to wait below.

Under the tower. I met up with Lucia, who was waiting with a pouting expression in front of Mr. Kirkill, who was made to sit on the floor.

Outside, a large number of mages were collecting the ashes that had fallen. He quickly pulled Sitri's arm to stop him from heading towards them.

Looks like there's still a part of you left that was ruined by the magic circle. No. Even if you look at me like that, what's done is done.

I walk over and ask Lucia what's going on. Lucia gave me the new information with an expression as if I should know it.

'I can't believe I'm going to cause this kind of trouble--the Imperial Capital isn't my brother's toy box! I'll be asked a lot of questions--'

''Well, well, it's all under control now, isn't it a good thing ......?

'Oh my god!

I couldn't stop the cold sweat now. It seems that the source of the black world tree was the staff that I received from the Sword Saint. Even though it hadn't even been activated, it had sucked in the magic of its surroundings and become that way.
In other words, Professor Sage's words were correct.

...... But isn't that my fault? It's the Sword Saint that's at fault. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's had to deal with this.
I'm sure you're not as familiar with the situation as I am, but Citrie clapped his hands and nodded knowingly.


I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot more information on this subject in the future. ...''

'I see, you can control poison with poison.'

'............ d*mn it! Why are you guys so concerned about others?

You have no sense of reality. In fact, when I think back, there was a very strange flow.

I was planning to stay quietly in the Imperial Capital for a while, but when I gave up the sword that Eliza gave me, it turned out to be a demon sword? But when I gave up the sword Eliza gave me, it turned out to be a magical sword, and the staff she gave me in exchange turned out to be a dangerous creature? On top of that, for some reason, I now have a dangerous potion on hand.

'Come to think of it, is there something wrong with that tree that was attacking that tower so relentlessly?

'...... No. I thought there was something wrong with that tree because it was attracted by strong magic, so I checked it after I turned it into charcoal, but I couldn't find anything in particular--there were traces of something being taken away, but the mage's lab has its secrets. --The mage's lab has its secrets, and since he's hiding it from everyone on the inside, I'm guessing it's pretty big.

'............ I see. It's a strange thing, isn't it, Cry?

'What? ........................ brother?'

Sitri says with a big smile. You're trying to tell me something, boy. Lucia isn't smiling either, but she's trying to tell me something.
There's nothing I can say. The only thing I got out of today was finding out that Lucia was a popular girl.

That's when the sympathetic stone began to tremble again. You always come at a bad time.
Does Franz-san know that I'm the reason for this ruckus? No, it's not my fault, but rather the main cause is the "Sword Saint"...

But everything was settled without incident. There won't be any more disturbances caused by the curse. Even I wouldn't step on an obvious landmine! What's that, a control potion!

I let out a small sigh and activated the sympathetic stone. Franz yells at me from the start.

'I've heard about your ...... story.

'Yeah. I know, it's about that thing, isn't it? Don't worry, so much for the fuss about the curse.

'What? Oh, hey--'

'I'm busy. I gotta go. I'll see you later.

He looked down at the sympathetic stone. He waited for a while, but did not tremble again. It seemed to have given up.

I'm sorry, Franz. I'm a little tired right now. ............ Don't worry, I'll try to prevent any more disturbances.

'Citri, you're in a very good mood. ......'

'That's right, it's my turn now!

Citri was in a good mood, which was obvious to the casual observer. He was stepping and twirling. 'I'm sorry, but you're not going to get your turn.

You're my best friend and I owe you money and I don't want to upset you, but I can't turn my back on you. Let's just say I accidentally threw it away.



I'll say I accidentally threw it away.




'I'll ask you to go with me next time to apologize!

'Oh, I understand. Lucia seems to have been taken care of a lot, and as an older brother, you should be strong. As a brother!

'............ That's right.

After all, it was his brother's correction that saved his life. But now it's Citri's turn.
If you don't take care of the next one, you won't be able to get down on your knees. Trying to do it and forgetting to do it is the worst pattern I've ever seen.


Enter the Clan Master's office. It's off-limits to hunters, but Lucia and Sitri follow me without a care in the world.
Sitri didn't say anything, but his whole body was pleading with us to hurry up and give him a potion. The reason why Lucia followed us with a look of disbelief on her face was probably because she sensed something in Citry's behavior.

Today's Cicely was going to stick around until she received the potion. Normally, I would have given in and given her the potion, thinking that she would be fine.
But I'll never forget the way she clung to me, whimpering.


'Wait here for a moment.


I had Citri and the others wait in the Clan Master's office, and I moved the device and headed for my room. Let's get rid of it before I forget.

My room is designed to be lived in seclusion. It has a collection of treasures, a bed, a refrigerator, a toilet, a bath, and a sink.
You enter your private quarters with a broad back and place the dangerous potion on your desk. Then, my eyes suddenly caught sight of the refrigerator by the bed.

You open the fridge and take out a bottle of strawberry milk from inside. The cake, which was about to expire, was a gift, but the strawberry milk was something that I, a secret sweet tooth, had ordered secretly.

After pouring it into a glass and neatly putting the bottle away in the refrigerator, I compare it with the potion on the table, which is given a funny name.

It looks just like the ............ color, and it smells just like it, too. Is this really such a dangerous potion? I can't believe it.



It's called "Strawberry Blaze," but I wonder if they named it that because it smells like strawberries. Could it be that strawberries are used as an ingredient? There are some really strange potions in this world, aren't there?

I took the water bottle and put it close to my mouth. Then, one of the rings on my finger heated up.
This is the ring of a treasure that has the power to detect danger - the "Disaster Slip". There's no way it would react to strawberry milk, so there's no doubt that this liquid is dangerous.

If it's just an ordinary potion, but if Citri's words are true, this potion is something that has destroyed several countries. I don't think Citri will abuse it, but it's too dangerous to leave it to the bad Citri.
I'm sorry, but I'm going to follow the example of my predecessors and bury this potion in the dark.

I pour the potion into the sink without hesitation. It's the color of strawberry milk, and the strawberry milk-like liquid goes around and down the drain.
Careful not to let the potion get on your skin, you rinse the canteen with water and rinse it thoroughly.

You are now safe. Zebuldia is protected. Level 8 is in full effect.

Now all I have to do is apologize to Citri. You just dumped the potion, but you breathe a sigh of relief that you've done your job. And there I was, staring at the metal canteen.

'............'

He alternately checked the strawberry milk cup and the water bottle on the table.
I casually pick up the cup and carefully pour it into the metal water bottle that I have just emptied.

I check again, but the liquid shaking in the canteen is indistinguishable from the one I just threw away. The only difference is that the treasure ring doesn't appeal to me as a danger. If the container had been the same, it would have been impossible to tell the difference without the treasure ring.

What the heck is Strawberry Blaze, if you can't tell it apart from real strawberry milk when you put it next to it?

While I was in an indescribable mood of admiration and dismay, Citly and Lucia came down as if they had been waiting for me.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's a good idea. ............! What are you doing?

'Uh, this is, uh--'

Sitri sees the water bottle and cup in my hand and rushes over to me.
When he saw the contents of the water bottle and the cup that still had traces of strawberry milk in it, he looked up at me with a shocked expression.

'It's a little low ......, you didn't really ............ drink it, did you!

'No--'

'Oh my God, we have to make an antidote quickly, how can he drink so much undiluted solution ...... If we're not careful, Kry-san will become a meat puppet that just listens to our orders. --What?

'Huh? Sito, what did you just say?

Sitri was pale. The blood had drained from her pale skin, and tears were welling up in her eyes. Perhaps he was confused, but his perspective was not correct. It seems that this thing is more dangerous than I thought, since the always calm and collected Citry changes his color.

Quickly picking up the metal water bottle in my hand and closing the lid tightly, Sitri shouted to Lucia as if in desperation.

'Okay, I'm off! I'll do whatever I can to make an antidote! Lucia, keep Cry at rest!

'Oh, wait...'

Before Lucia could stop him, Sitri ran up the stairs in a single bound. There was no time to say anything. When Sitri arrived, all I could say was, 'Uh, this is, uh,' and 'No.'

In the end, all that was left was me and Lucia. Sitri is a strong man, but he used to be a bit of a doofus. It seems he's just been laying low, but he's not cured.

Lucia's eyes are black and white. It seems that even her sister, who is well known in the school, can't understand this situation without prior information.

'I told you I didn't drink .............'

'Ha, ha............ brother, are you feeling okay?'

If you ask me, I might be a little lazy. ............ Yeah, yeah, yeah. As usual.

Take a glass of well-chilled strawberry milk from the refrigerator and pour it into a glass.
After making sure that the ring is not in danger, you sip it. The sweetness and aroma of strawberries mixed with the richness and fragrance of milk.

Yes, yes, this is it. This is what strawberry milk is all about. But how could even a professional citrine not recognize it at a glance? .......

'I'm off to make a strawberry milk antidote.

'........................ Shouldn't we follow him?

Lucia stared at me in silence for a while, then said with a cold gaze that was no less than her master's.