I nodded and accepted the bowl, though the poison warnings were already flashing in my peripheral vision.
Vivienne smiled and stood to leave. As she turned, a small leather pouch fell from her dress pocket onto the floor.
She quickly snatched it up, looking at me with momentary panic before forcing another smile.
"Just the medicine I use to make your broth," she said hurriedly, stroking my hair. "You should rest now."
She turned to leave, tucking the pouch back into her dress—
Debug Vision.
I activated the skill internally, focusing on the pouch in her hand, before she could put it back.
The familiar interface materialized in front of me.
[Object Analysis - Alchemical Pouch]
object_id: "poison_storage_01"
type: "alchemical_container"
material: "treated_leather"
contents: {
primary_toxin: {
name: "nightshade_extract",
potency: 67/100,
quantity: "47ml",
accumulation_rate: "chronic_buildup",
symptoms: ["weakness", "nausea", "organ_stress"]
},
secondary_compound: {
name: "ironbane_powder",
potency: 45/100,
quantity: "12g",
effect: "blocks_nutrient_absorption",
},
stabilizer: {
name: "willow_bark_tincture",
quantity: "15ml",
purpose: "mask_bitter_taste",
side_effect: "mild_analgesic"
},
catalyst: {
name: "silver_dust",
quantity: "trace",
purpose: "enhance_absorption",
}
}
antidote_weakness: {
primary_counter: "activated_charcoal",
secondary_counter: "milk_thistle_extract",
tertiary_counter: "moonflower_tea",
}
I stared at the data, skimming through the information.
The nightshade was doing the direct damage, slowly poisoning my organs. But the ironbane was the real bastard, it was blocking nutrient absorption, which explained why this body was so malnourished despite Agnes sneaking me food.
Professional work. Vivienne had put real money into this.
But then my eyes locked onto something that made my heart skip.
Antidote weakness?
Activated charcoal, milk thistle extract, moonflower tea.
My mind raced.
I'd seen activated charcoal work before, back in my old life, it was used for poison treatment in hospitals. A universal toxin binder that absorbed poisons in the digestive system.
But more importantly...
"Must flush the toxin first."
That was the key. The poison had built up to 89% in my system. I couldn't just stop taking it, the damage was already done. I needed to actively flush it out while simultaneously blocking new toxin intake.
I could work with this.
"Jin? Dear?"
Vivienne's voice snapped me back to reality. She was staring at me with those concerned eyes, one hand still on the pouch, the other hovering near my shoulder.
Shit. How long was I zoned out?
I blinked and forced a weak smile. "Sorry, mother. I just... felt dizzy for a moment."
Her expression softened with what looked like relief.
"Oh, you poor thing. That's why you need to rest." She tucked the pouch away and patted my head one more time. "Drink your broth and sleep. I'll check on you tomorrow."
The door clicked shut behind her.
Her footsteps faded down the hallway.
I waited until the sound disappeared completely, then exhaled slowly.
"Activated charcoal," I whispered to myself, staring at the bowl of poisoned broth on the nightstand. "Milk thistle. Moonflower tea."
I needed to find those ingredients. Or at least one of them to start with.
But where the hell would I find activated charcoal in a medieval fantasy world?
Think.
I furrowed my brows.
Charcoal was just burned wood, right? Activated charcoal was created by heating it further to increase its porosity—its ability to absorb toxins.
Could I make it myself?
No. I shook my head quickly as the thought formed.
Not in this condition. I could barely walk without Agnes's help, let alone start a controlled fire to create medical-grade charcoal.
I needed help. But who could I trust?
Agnes?
The answer came immediately. She was the only person in this house who genuinely cared whether I lived or died. And she knew about herbs, she'd put healing ingredients in my soup.
But asking her directly about poison antidotes would raise questions.
I rubbed my temples, feeling the familiar throb of exhaustion behind my eyes.
One step at a time, Jin.
First, I needed to confirm what resources were available in this world.
"System," I muttered quietly. "Can you show me a list of nearby sources for activated charcoal?"
[Insufficient level for area scanning. Upgrade required.]
"Of course." I clicked my tongue. "Then what about milk thistle or moonflower?"
[Herbology knowledge locked. Consult local herbalist or alchemist.]
I stared at the useless notification.
This system really was like shitty documentation, technically accurate but completely unhelpful when you actually needed it.
"Fine. I'd have to do this the old-fashioned way."
I murmured and glanced at the poisoned broth still sitting on the nightstand, steam rising from its surface in lazy spirals.
[StatusEffect.Poison]
[Damage: 7HP/hr]
Then I pushed myself up from the bed, my arms trembling with the effort.
And just as my feet hit the floor, my legs immediately wobbled beneath me. The room tilted sideways for a second, edges of my vision blurring.
Shit.
I caught myself on the bedpost, fingers gripping the rough wood until my knuckles went white.
I took one careful step forward. Then another. Until I reached the door and twisted the knob.
The hallway outside was dim, lit only by a few lamps. Their flickering light cast dancing shadows across the stone walls, making the corridor seem longer than it actually was.
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Footsteps echoed softly as I moved through the empty passage. Hand trailed along the rough wall, steadying myself whenever my legs threatened to give out.
After few moments, I reached the end of the hallway and turned left, heading toward the back of the manor where the servants' quarters were located.
A warm yellow glow spilled out from an open doorway ahead.
The kitchen.
I could smell bread baking, mixed with the earthy scent of herbs hanging from the ceiling.
I paused at the doorway, catching my breath.
Inside, Agnes stood at a large wooden table, grinding something in a mortar and pestle.
Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows, and a few strands of chestnut hair had escaped her neat bun, falling across her focused face.
She looked up as my shadow fell across the threshold.
"Young master?"
Her green eyes widened with surprise. The pestle stopped mid-grind as she immediately set it down and moved toward me.
"Why did you come all the way here? You should be resting—"
"I need your help," I said, my voice coming out rougher than intended.
Agnes reached me in three quick steps, her hands hovering near my elbow as if ready to catch me if I fell. "Of course. What do you need?"
I leaned against the doorframe, trying to look casual despite the fact that my legs felt like they were made of wet noodles.
"Do you have any milk thistle?"
Agnes blinked. "Milk thistle?"
"Why do you need it, young master?"
"I read about it," I said, keeping my voice steady. "In one of the books I borrowed from Victor. It said it helps with... like medicine for like liver, digestion."
Agnes's brows furrowed, her head tilting slightly to the side.
Shit. I said it wrong, I think.
My mind raced.
Victor wouldn't lend me books, he'd rather beat me with them.
The silence stretched for a heartbeat too long. Agnes's green eyes searched my face, and I could practically see the questions forming behind them.
But then she just nodded slowly.
She moved past me toward the far corner of the kitchen, where rough wooden shelves lined the stone wall from floor to ceiling. Clay pots, glass jars, and dried herb bundles crowded every available space, filling the air with a mixture of earthy, bitter, and sweet scents.
"We might have a few," Agnes murmured. Her fingers traced along the labeled jars.
She stood on her toes to reach a higher shelf, her hand hovering over several ceramic containers before selecting one near the back.
Then she pulled it down and turned toward me with a small smile.
"Yes, we have one."
The ceramic jar was small, maybe the size of my palm, with a cork stopper sealed with wax. Through the translucent pottery, I could see dried purple flowers and leaves pressed inside.
My heart rate picked up.
[Item Detected: Milk Thistle Extract]
The system notification appeared in my peripheral vision, and I had to fight to keep my expression neutral..
Agnes walked back toward me, cradling the jar carefully in both hands like it was something precious. "This should be enough for a few doses, if prepared correctly."
She paused, her smile fading into something more serious as she studied my face again.
"Young master... are you feeling worse than usual? Is that why you're asking about the herbs?"
Her voice was soft, concerned, but there was an edge of worry underneath that made my chest tighten.
She knows something's wrong. She just doesn't know what.
I forced a weak smile. "Just... wanted to try something different. The usual medicine isn't helping much."
Not a lie. Vivienne's "medicine" was literally killing me.
Agnes's lips pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. "I understand."
I shifted my weight against the doorframe. "Can you prepare it now? I'm... actually hungry. I'd like to have it with a meal, if that's possible."
Agnes's expression immediately brightened. "Of course, young master!"
She moved toward me, and before I could protest, her hands were on my shoulders, firmly but gently guiding me away from the doorframe.
"Sit here."
It wasn't a request.
"I can stand—"
"Young master." Her voice was patient but brooking no argument. "You look like a strong breeze would knock you over. Sit down before you fall down."
She steered me toward a simple wooden chair near the hearth. The moment my legs bent, they gave out completely, and I collapsed onto the seat with far less grace than I'd intended.
"See?" Agnes said, though there was no smugness in her tone. "Rest while I prepare this properly."
She took the jar from my hands and moved back to the main work table.
I leaned back in the chair, letting my head rest against the stone wall behind me.
Agnes worked quickly, her movements precise and confident. She filled a small iron kettle with water and hung it over the fire on a hook. While waiting for it to boil, she measured out a careful portion of the dried milk thistle into a ceramic cup, crushing some of the leaves between her fingers.
"This needs to steep for at least ten minutes to be effective," Agnes explained, glancing over her shoulder at me. "But I'll also make you something to eat. You said you were hungry?"
I nodded.
She pulled out a covered pot from near the hearth and ladled out what looked like vegetable stew. She added a thick slice of bread to the side and brought the bowl over to a small side table, positioning it within my reach.
"Eat slowly," she instructed.
Then the kettle began to whistle softly.
Agnes removed it from the fire and carefully poured the steaming water into the ceramic cup with the crushed milk thistle. The dried purple flowers immediately began to unfurl, releasing swirls of pale yellow-green into the water.
She covered the cup with a small plate to trap the heat and set it aside to steep.
Then she turned back to me with hands on her hips. "Go on. Eat."
I picked up the wooden spoon and dipped it into the stew. The first bite was warm, savory, and so much better than the thin soup and poisoned broth I'd been choking down for days.
My hands trembled slightly as I brought another spoonful to my lips.
[+2 HP Recovered]
The system notification blinked in my peripheral vision, but I ignored it, focusing on the simple act of eating real food.
Agnes watched me for a moment, then returned to the steeping tea. After what felt like exactly ten minutes, she removed the plate cover.
Steam rose in delicate wisps, carrying that same earthy-bitter scent.
She used a small strainer to filter out the flower pieces and leaves, pouring the pale amber liquid into a clean cup. Then she added a small spoonful of honey, stirring it gently.
"The honey will help with the bitter taste," she said, bringing the cup over to me. "But be careful, it's still quite hot."
I set down the stew bowl and accepted the cup with both hands. T
I raised it to my lips and took a careful sip.
Sip!
The taste was... not terrible, actually. There was a slight grassy aftertaste that reminded me of green tea from my old life.
I took another sip. Then another.
Agnes watched me with that same concerned expression, her hands folded in front of her apron.
"How does it feel?" she asked softly.
"Good." I said honestly and continued drinking and set the empty cup down on the side table.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
[Ding!]
[Antidote Component Absorbed: Milk Thistle Extract]
[StatusEffect.Poison]
[Damage: 7HP/hr → 6HP/hr]
[Toxin Buildup: 89% → 86%]
I stared at the notification, my heart suddenly hammering in my chest.
It worked.
It actually fucking worked.
I stared at the notification, my heart suddenly hammering in my chest.
It worked.
It actually fucking worked.
The poison damage had dropped by one HP per hour, and more importantly, the toxin buildup had decreased by three percent. Not much, but it was movement in the right direction for the first time since I'd woken up in this body.
"Young master?"
Agnes's voice pulled me back. She was looking at me with concern again, probably because I'd gone completely still, staring at nothing.
"Are you alright? Does your stomach hurt?"
I blinked and forced my expression to relax. "No. No, I'm... I actually feel a little better."
It wasn't a lie. The constant low-grade nausea that had been my companion for days had eased slightly, like someone had turned down the volume on background pain I'd gotten used to ignoring.
Agnes's face lit up with relief.
"Oh, thank the gods. I was worried the milk thistle might be too strong on an empty stomach, but it seems to be working."
She moved to collect the empty cup and bowl, her movements light and quick.
"I'll prepare more for you to take tomorrow morning and evening. You should return to your room now and rest properly."
I pushed myself up from the chair, and surprisingly, my legs didn't immediately threaten to give out. Still weak, still shaky, but bit more stable than before.
Progress.
"Thank you, Agnes," I said, and meant I it more than she could possibly know.
She smiled warmly. "Of course, young master. That's what I'm here for."
As I turned to leave the kitchen, I caught one last glimpse of the notification still hovering in my peripheral vision.
[Quest Progress: Survive the Poison]
[Objective: Reduce poison damage to below 2 HP/hr]
[Current Damage: 6 HP/hr]
[Progress: 20% complete]
Twenty percent.
Four more HP/hr to go.
I needed to find activated charcoal and moonflower tea.
And I needed to do it before Vivienne realized I was getting better instead of worse.