I left the inn in the morning and headed for Balan's house, following a route I had finally grown accustomed to.
The scent of roasting meat wafted from the wooden homes of the Beastmen. It seemed they preferred a hearty meal to start their day. Their habits were a far cry from those of Humans, who usually settled for light fare like bread and soup.
I spent the walk guessing the various breakfast menus by scent alone; before I knew it, Balan's house was in sight. Smoke rose from the chimney, signaling that the workshop furnace was already lit. A stiff breeze caught the trail, scattering it into the sky.
If only Lina's curse would vanish as easily as that smoke...
With that thought in mind, I knocked on the front door of the main house. Footsteps approached almost immediately, and the door swung open with a bang.
"Sorry to keep relying on you, Walt. Get in here."
Upon entering, I was shown straight to the room of his sister, Lina. She was already confined to her bed, her condition clearly deteriorating. Her face was ashen, and her breathing was heavy and ragged.
"Walt..."
I held up a hand to steady the frantic Balan and took a seat on the stool beside the bed. After pretending to ponder her condition for a moment, I rummaged through my pack, surreptitiously pulling a superior potion vial from my [Storage Space]. It was a higher grade than the ones I had been giving her.
"It's going to be all right," I assured her.
As I helped her drink the medicine, I let my fingers brush against her neck and channeled a potent [Dispel Curse].
A purple mist rose from Lina's skin and immediately dissipated. The moment the vapor vanished, color returned to her face as if by magic, and she let out a long, relieved breath.
"Thank you so much. The pressure... it's gone..."
"I used a slightly stronger medicine this time."
"I can tell! I feel good as new!"
Likely wanting to reassure her brother, Lina flexed her arm to show off her strength.
"Walt, thank you," Balan said.
"I am a [Herbalist], after all. I’m only doing my job."
I studied Lina's complexion. The [Dispel Curse] was definitely effective, but the duration was the problem. The old hag of an Old Curse-weaver who taught me back in that fishing village used to say that strong curses required multiple sessions to break, but this was pushing the limit.
I’d performed [Dispel Curse] on Lina for ten days straight without fail. Yet the curse showed no signs of breaking; if I missed even a single day, her health plummeted.
Just what kind of curse had she been struck with, and by whom?
As I sank into my thoughts, Balan began to fidget restlessly.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Actually, I've received a summons from the guild."
"Did something happen?"
"There’s been a string of mysterious disappearances throughout the Cardinal Territory over the last few days. The 'Steel Fang' has been tasked with investigating the cause."
I see. "Steel Fang" was the most influential guild in the Cardinal Territory, so it was only natural they’d be called in.
"I’ll stay a while longer to monitor Lina. You should head to the guild, Balan."
"I’m sorry to leave this to you..."
Balan glanced back at his sister one last time, gave me a worried nod of entrustment, and hurried out of the house.
Only Lina and I remained in the room. Enjoying her temporary recovery, Lina climbed out of bed and sat on a stool opposite me.
"Lina, there’s something I need to ask you."
She paused, tilting her head curiously. "What is it?"
"When exactly did you start feeling unwell?"
Lina rested her chin in her hand, her expression clouding with effort. "...Well, I think it was a little over a month ago. I just suddenly became overwhelmed by this horrible fatigue."
"Do you remember anything unusual happening around that time? Did you eat something strange? Meet someone new? Or perhaps... go somewhere you shouldn't have?"
The moment I asked that last question, Lina's face fell. Her wolf ears twitched, and her eyes darted away.
It was the unmistakable look of someone hiding a secret. I kept my gaze fixed on her, maintaining a calm, steady tone.
"There are many causes for illness. Usually, it's something caught from people or animals, but your case has a specific origin. Even if we continue with the medicine, knowing the source will help me treat you more effectively. Is there anything at all that comes to mind?"
"Yes..." Lina whispered, her head dropping in resignation. "I’m so sorry. The truth is, shortly before I fell ill, I let my curiosity get the better of me. I went somewhere I shouldn't have."
A prohibited area? "Where?"
"The 'Shrine of the Descending Mist' just outside the city. My friends and I went there on a dare... We didn't find anything inside, but I remember feeling this horrible, freezing chill wash over me."
Now that she had confessed to entering the shrine, Lina looked at me with teary eyes, likely crushed by the guilt of keeping it from her family.
"Are the friends who went with you still healthy?"
"Yes. I’m the only one who got sick. That’s why I convinced myself the 'Shrine of the Descending Mist' had nothing to do with it..."
So the curse had targeted only her? Whatever the case, the shrine was my only lead.
"Thank you for telling me, Lina."
"I'm so sorry..."
Despite the relief provided by the [Dispel Curse], Lina sat huddled over herself, looking small and miserable. A stubborn urge to save her welled up inside me.
My primary mission was to investigate the Count Cardinal's Territory and uncover why the Empire was so interested in this land. The "Shrine of the Descending Mist" was a distraction.
However, no one had said I wasn't allowed to take a detour.
"You're going to get better, Lina. I promise."
"Thank you..."
I stood up and quietly let myself out of the room.