Chapter 58: Nith’s Preparing for the War… Wars
It had been two days since Nith’s conversation with Kyouka.
He sat in Medusa’s living room, hunched over the table, handling papers and shredded resources he’d gathered through Medusa’s connections. Most of it consisted of various leaves, but other fantastical resources, similar to tar, were also present.
As he rolled the filler into the paper, Nith’s smile widened. He recalled Valora’s expression when he told Kyouka not to sacrifice anything. He could also tell that Kyouka more or less understood his intent.
The banquet that would happen in seven days… would be explosive!
Sitting across from him, Medusa sliced the leaves Nith had prepared. She still didn’t know what he would create out of them, but he seemed close to a final product.
Soon, he raised his hand and studied the rolled paper settled between his fingers.
“It’s a cigarette, by the way,” Nith said, noticing Medusa’s curious stare. “I took inspiration from your plan to make proper alcohol—or rather, to take it back to how it used to be.”
He placed the cigarette between his lips and lit it, inhaling the first dose. A moment later, he exhaled a white smoke that drifted to the ceiling and disappeared.
Reclining on the sofa, Nith tilted his head back, observing the invisible poison wafting through Medusa’s living room.
She followed his gaze, narrowing her eyes. “I can’t see it… but I feel Aspha Toxin up there.”
“I call it Asphyxiation Toxin. Yes, it’s effective at slowing down enemies by reducing oxygen intake. In large amounts, it renders muscles useless. We need that sweet, sweet oxygen. The core of my cigarette is this lovely toxin. Before the war begins, we’ll distribute cigarettes and have our enemies foolishly gather Asphyxiation Toxin above their heads.” Nith cracked his neck and sat up, though his hunched back barely allowed for a proper posture.
“If it’s not cool—” Medusa extended her tail toward the ceiling and widened her eyes in surprise as the invisible toxin was… cold! “Heat comes from cigarettes, and Marcus uses Ice Blade! All that’s left is for us to force him to use as much coldness as possible. He’ll unknowingly lead himself to doom.”
Nith scoffed, “Not bad. You can see this far ahead in my plan.”
“I’ll turn my house into a small factory and call my people here to work on these cigarettes. Thanks to my position in The Alliance, I’ll be able to secretly spread your cigarettes in the Inmate Gang’s territory. If they’re like alcohol, I assume they’re addictive?” Medusa asked as she stood up, offering her full support.
“Yeah.”
“What about my people? Will Aspha Toxin affect them?”
“I’ll prepare an antidote so that it doesn’t,” Nith replied.
Nodding, Medusa walked toward the door to call her people but paused, turning back to look at Nith.
“Have you thought of stealing the dungeon’s core?” she asked.
Nith didn’t answer.
Though he’d been honest with this woman for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, he would never share all his plans with her.
She could see through him well, though.
Nith wanted to escape the dungeon prison, but after seeing Kyouka and noticing how Valora tried to manipulate her, he intended to ruin the kingdom’s prison dungeon operations.
He smiled at Medusa. “I’m not the chosen one.”
“I see,” Medusa replied. “You may not have noticed, but you’ve been more invested in your project since returning from the inmate visitation. You threw resources when you failed and burned them to a crisp.”
“…I happen to get uncontrollable fits of anger,” Nith replied, recalling the summoning scroll he hadn’t had a chance to use due to the requirements!
“Isn’t it because you’ve expanded your goal?” she smirked as if she had read him perfectly. “No need to worry. I’m not one to pry into your business. We’re partners in crime, and I offer you everything I have here, out of respect for your skills. As Medusa, I can’t let you do all the hard work. One day, I’ll reciprocate by enhancing your knowledge of poisons. Maybe… over a drink?”
She smiled sweetly before leaving Nith alone.
Once the door closed, Nith reached for a cigarette and lit it, inhaling so deeply that nearly half of it burned in a single go!
He exhaled and muttered to himself, “Fucking bitch just tried to seduce me, knowing I only recently got into a relationship.” He took another drag of his unique nicotine and spat with mixed emotions. “Hanging out with Medusas is too dangerous. They don’t give a damn, it seems. And I don’t need more of this worst poison.”
For Kyouka, he’d steal the dungeon core and give the whole kingdom the middle finger. If he got closer to Medusa, he’d end up defying many others.
In theory, it sounded fun.
So fun that he wouldn’t mind yielding to her seductions. The women he’d encountered were all noble, knowing that men with potential were either destined to be alone or surrounded by many women.
The world’s view and Nith’s perspective weren’t the problem.
What pissed him off was his inability to think rationally about those he held dear.
He rolled a new cigarette and lit it. “I have noble blood, and so does my bitch, and now a queen of a fallen race is after me. How fucking lovely. People change too damn fast,” said Nith, who initially didn’t even want to touch Kyouka. Now, not only did he want her, but he also wondered about the ministrations Medusa’s tongue could offer!
Not that he’d admit it to himself, though.
If he did, he’d never say it aloud or accept it.
He’d go with the flow until frustration overtook him, pushing him to take matters into his own hands.
–
Meanwhile, Medusa left the house and headed to her apartment block, where all her people lived under her protection.
She had gentle, scarlet patches on her cheeks, which made her face look softer and more adorable. What swirled in her head, however, was the image of other Medusas vying for Nith’s lips and the victorious ones sneaking their tongues into his mouth.
What those women had said also echoed in her mind.
After that event, and with a clearer head, Medusa could now say with confidence… “Nightshade’s countenance is… ravishing.”
A venom she had taken a fancy to.
A venom that filled the hole in her heart.
