Chapter 16 — The Sleeping Curse
The harsh, bitter taste of cheap beer lingered in his mouth from the night before.
Lain opened his eyes as morning sunlight streamed through the window, spilling across the floor.
He rolled over and sat up, rubbing his slightly throbbing temples. Looking around, Kraft was nowhere to be seen.
He barely remembered returning to his room after talking with Kraft late into the night.
"So cold."
As soon as he pulled back the covers, Lain shivered violently and quickly snuggled back under the blankets.
"If only I had learned that spell from Frieren to warm the body…"
He took a deep breath, yanked the blanket off, and leapt out of bed.
Grabbing the twin swords that rested beside his pillow, he strapped them to his waist and pushed open the door.
The hallway was eerily silent.
Knock knock!
He knocked on the door of the neighboring room.
No response.
Given her personality, that girl should have been shouting to get breakfast by now, sun glaring on her back.
"Hey, Captain."
Lain knocked harder.
Still nothing.
"Elily?"
He pressed even harder.
Nothing. Absolute silence.
A sense of foreboding crept up his spine.
After spending several days with her, Lain knew she would never sleep this soundly. Normally, even a single call of "Breakfast is ready" would have her teleporting to the door.
"What the hell… is she in a room thinking about…?"
Lain pressed his ear against the door but couldn't hear a single snore.
Not good.
He quickly stepped back, lifted his leg, and kicked the door lock.
Bang!
Wood splintered, and the door screamed as it crashed inward, raising a cloud of dust.
The scene inside was laid bare.
Elily lay sprawled on the bed, half of the blanket kicked off, arms and legs stretched out in an unguarded "starfish" position.
She seemed to be sleeping soundly.
Too soundly.
The rise and fall of her chest was so slight it was barely noticeable. Her normally chatty little mouth was shut tight, and her face was as pale as paper.
Lain quickly stepped to the bed and reached out to check her breath.
It was faint—barely a whisper of life.
"Don't bother. You can't wake her. I just walked around the inn and found no one awake."
A calm male voice came from behind.
Lain turned to see Kraft standing at the door. "What do you think? Poisoned?" he asked.
Kraft stepped inside, lifting Elily's eyelids to check her eyes, then took her wrist in hand.
"The symptoms are the same as the others."
He released her hand and tucked the blanket around her. "It's the Sleeping Curse."
He stood straight, scanning the room. "And it's a large-scale, indiscriminate one."
"The whole inn?"
"Probably more than that."
Kraft moved to the window and pushed it open. "Look outside."
Lain leaned over, and froze.
On the streets, several people lay sprawled in the snow—early morning vendors, patrolling guards. Even a stray dog by the roadside was motionless.
The entire town of Nirlace had lost all signs of life.
"Did this… come from demons and monsters?"
Lain's hand tightened on his sword hilt, nerves on edge. He was always uneasy around unseen threats, though with his curse-resistant body he wasn't affected.
Kraft, being a monk, naturally had some resistance to curses as well.
"I've heard of a monster called the Chaos Flower. It can put people into a deep sleep, but a spread this large is rare."
Lain recognized the name—Frieren and Sein had dealt with one in the anime.
"Can it be dispelled?"
Lain asked.
A monk capable of Goddess Magic should have some countermeasures.
"Without knowing the source of the curse, it's troublesome. We should investigate first."
The two left the room and descended to the first floor.
"Good morning, you two."
A sultry female voice rang out from the hall.
Lain froze, his right hand immediately gripping his sword.
From the shadows of the staircase emerged a woman.
She wore a long, purple silk gown and held a folding fan, partially concealing her face. Only her eyes, curved in a smiling arc, were visible.
"Who are you?"
Lain's gaze hardened.
He could sense a vast magical power. If she wasn't a powerful mage, she could only be a demon.
And when dealing with demons with no humanity, only one solution applied—cut them down.
"I am a first-rank mage of the Northern Branch of the Magic Association—Sairel. I was commissioned to investigate the Nightmare Vine."
The woman closed her fan and lightly tapped it in her palm, her eyes scanning Lain and Kraft. "And you two? Who are you?"
"Passing adventurers."
Lain kept his hand on the hilt.
"Regardless, your constitution must be special; otherwise, you wouldn't be able to resist such a potent Sleeping Curse."
Sairel's tone carried admiration.
"What exactly is this Nightmare Vine?" Lain asked.
"It's an ancient magical plant. Its pollen can plunge people into eternal slumber."
She pointed with her fan toward the western side of the town. "If its root isn't destroyed soon, those who are asleep may never wake."
Her gaze swept over Lain and Kraft again. "Though I am a first-rank mage, this plant is accompanied by many troublesome monsters. Since you two can resist curses, would you assist me? The Association will not skimp on your reward."
"No problem."
Lain relaxed his grip and bowed politely. "It's an honor to assist a first-rank mage."
Kraft nodded slightly.
"Thank you then."
Sairel smiled. "No time to waste. Let's go."
The three stepped out into the cold wind.
Sairel led the way, with Lain and Kraft following.
"Lady Sairel," Lain hurried to match her pace. "When did you become a first-rank mage?"
"This year."
"I heard the exam for first-rank mages is extremely rigorous. Especially this year—Lady Serei oversaw it."
"Yes."
Sairel didn't look back. "Lady Serei's authority still makes me shiver. That exam eliminated many talented candidates."
"I had a companion who also took it."
Lain casually lied. "He said Lady Serei's courtyard was full of thorned roses, and the scent could induce hallucinations."
Sairel paused, lightly chuckling. "Your companion observed carefully. Those roses are indeed dangerous."
Lain squinted slightly.
Back then, in Lady Serei's courtyard, there were all sorts of flowers—except roses.
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