If You Are Suited for the Villain's Secretary - Chapter 66

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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If the Villain’s Secretary Suits Me
Chapter 66
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Aden turned his gaze away from the syringe needle embedded in Iliana’s forearm.
All that remained in his vision was the gray wall.
He was now at the Safe House. With the unconscious Iliana,
“It’s done.”
and the mage Sherwood.
The Doctor had already left. Sherwood had come to obtain a blood sample from Iliana.
“Once we analyze this blood, we should be able to learn about the poison. The poison the Attendant drank was diluted in wine, making it difficult to identify, but since you drank an entire flask of pure poison….”
Sherwood fell silent upon seeing Aden’s face.
His complexion was ashen. He looked like a sculpture before breath had been breathed into it. Every nerve was concentrated in a single direction, as if the slightest touch would cause him to crumble entirely.
A voice, deep and heavy, returned to the speechless Sherwood.
“You must create an antidote within four days.”
It was not a question of whether it could be done. It was an absolute command that it must be done.
Sherwood barely managed to open his mouth.
“I’ll need to conduct a detailed analysis first, but….”
“You must create it.”
“I do have an idea I’ve been considering.”
Aden lifted his eyes.
“It’s a method utilizing the mana suppression agent I developed for you….”
Sherwood continued haltingly.
“Based on your testimony and the results of the preliminary examination, the poison you ingested is one that operates with mana as a switch.”
A preliminary examination using the poison on Iliana’s clothes had revealed the outline.
“It appears that mana encases the poison like a capsule, and that capsule gradually disappears. Based on the amount of mana detected, the initial disappearance of mana should occur after 72 hours.”
“So you’ll administer the mana suppression agent to leave only the poison. Is that correct?”
“Yes. Then this Delphinea flower antidote alone should be effective. …In theory, at least.”
Sherwood pointed to the antidote placed on the side table.
An antidote for the Delphinea flower had already been developed due to a poisoning incident that had occurred in the past.
Immediately upon rescue, I had given Iliana a small amount of that antidote as a temporary measure, but as long as mana encased the poison, its effects would be minimal.
So the plan was to first remove the mana with the mana suppression agent and then administer the antidote.
“What exactly are the symptoms of Delphinea flower poisoning?”
“If the antidote is not consumed, high fever, chills, and nausea occur within 30 minutes. The symptoms resemble those seen with the flu, a cold, or a state of psychological shock. …Like your current condition.”
Sherwood’s words were accurate.
The unconscious Iliana had been suffering from severe high fever all along.
The poison trapped within the mana could not have already taken effect, so it was likely due to shock.
The Director had experienced this before. He had suffered from high fever on previous occasions.
‘It seems his body was originally weak, and now he’s endured something like this….’
Sherwood thought it was understandable.
“Hemoptysis, like the Attendant who coughed up blood, is a symptom that occurs approximately 3 hours later. Given that the general Delphinea flower antidote doesn’t work well on the Attendant, I suspect the poison was designed to cause prolonged suffering…with the mana disappearing in stages.”
“….”
“That’s why we must erase the magical energy all at once, even if it means taking a risk. Only then can treatment be possible in a single stroke.”
Yet The Director, who would normally have asked whether it was safe for Iliana to consume the magical suppressant, said nothing.
The magical suppressant he had developed was closer to poison than medicine. It was like injecting poison to cure poison.
‘I still don’t know what he intended to use it for when he commissioned the recipe.’
Sherwood was unaware of Aden’s magical backlash.
More precisely, he had chosen not to concern himself with it. I’m a pharmacist who makes medicine, not a therapist who listens to others’ stories.
Besides, it involved Aden himself. He lacked the courage to pry into whether The Director was the one consuming it. There were some things in this world better left unknown.
However, he had once wondered if there was some particular reason why this wealthy Director specifically sought out a magical suppressant instead of using Sungsu.
No matter how rare Sungsu was, someone of Aden’s standing should have been able to obtain it.
“What about Sungsu?”
“…Pardon?”
Sherwood briefly entertained the serious suspicion that Aden could read minds.
“By that logic, wouldn’t Sungsu have the same effect?”
“Ah, yes, that’s true, but…”
“Then that settles it. I’ll have Sungsu procured and you’ll prepare the antidote with that instead.”
Aden murmured in a voice that seemed to fade away.
“…I can’t have this person consume something like a magical suppressant.”
Sherwood found himself at a loss for words.
“Yes, understood.”
“Send the prototype to Branch 11 as soon as it’s ready.”
“Ah, you mean Branch 11, not here?”
“Have the Attendant take it first, and if it’s effective, we’ll administer it to Iliana. You’re dismissed.”
Watching Aden speak such chilling words so casually, Sherwood found himself speechless for an entirely different reason, bowed his head, and left the room.
Sherwood departed and the door closed.
After issuing orders to the branch to procure Sungsu, Aden returned to the bedroom and washed his face with cold water.
His emotions churned so violently it was agonizing. He couldn’t be at Iliana’s side in this state.
“Hah….”
Despite taking deep breaths several times, his heart wouldn’t calm.
Even with his eyes closed, it was the same. Iliana’s face drifted before him.
Iliana, rescued two hours ago, hadn’t remained unconscious for long.
“Director, I drank poison. The same poison the Attendant consumed, and hah.”
When they transferred her to the carriage, she suddenly regained consciousness and clutched his arm, speaking urgently.
“The amount was about one flask… they said it has a seventy-two-hour window. And what Crimson demanded in exchange for the antidote was the Black Label documents.”
“Iliana.”
Despite her fevered eyes, she was determined to convey every detail of information.
While Aden remained speechless, Iliana forced the corners of her mouth upward and spoke.
“You must hide that carefully. You understand, don’t you.”
“….”
“If those bastards take it, I’ll feel truly wronged… they even used my father to threaten me… but that was all a lie….”
Then she collapsed.
I finally understood what it meant to have my heart torn to shreds.
Over something so trivial. Over something so insignificant, Iliana had to suffer this.
And yet all I told her was not to let the documents be taken.
‘I should have ordered her to create an antidote. I should have made her hold me responsible somehow.’
…And yet that was all I could say.
‘…She should have resented me.’
I had made Iliana prioritize a warning about document scraps over her own safety.
My heart felt pierced, as if water had carved through it. My chest was tight, and I could barely breathe.
Because the ‘Black Label Documents’ that had forced Iliana into this nightmare were fake.
They were bait I had cast through Jeremy Sand to Crimson. Nothing but a bluff. I would never have created documents with my personal information in the first place.
That single statement had caused all of this. I was drowning in relentless self-recrimination.
“….”
But why was the mana gauge silent again?
It had been active just moments ago. The entire journey to Hallow Street where Iliana was, I felt heat rising in my chest. It was a precursor to mana backflow.
The Holy Knights and Ezekiel were in a separate carriage, so I couldn’t afford to be discovered. I kept telling myself to suppress my emotions, but it was impossible.
The turbulent feelings I had been restraining consumed me the instant I saw Iliana lying bound and unconscious.
Murderous intent toward Kaileb Crimson and self-loathing swirled together, rising to the crown of my head.
“The Director, look at me.”
But then Iliana, whose eyes met mine, spoke those words.
“It’s alright. It will be alright.”
With words that resembled the whispers of someone who always pulled me from the dreams of the abyss, she extended her hand to me, drowning in mana.
And the symptoms of mana backflow vanished.
Though the turbulent emotions remained.
“It will be alright.”
I was confused.
The faceless someone from my dreams suddenly overlapped with Iliana, whose eyes were like a summer sea.
Just as I bit my lip and tried to shake my head, I heard it.
A coughing sound from the bedroom. I moved instinctively, then froze.
“Iliana?”
Scattered across the pale bedding was something red….
“Iliana!”
Blood.
“Iliana, come to your senses. Iliana!”
I knew that hemoptysis was a symptom of Delpine flower poisoning.
But hadn’t mana been enveloping her? Not just by Iliana’s testimony, but according to the preliminary test results, the poison shouldn’t take effect for much longer.
Then why? Why was Iliana coughing up blood now?
‘As if the mana couldn’t protect her at all….’
I glanced at the clock and realized Iliana had ingested the poison exactly three hours ago.
“Please, Iliana.”
Regardless, the reason didn’t matter. I had to administer the antidote.
I seized the antidote bottle Sherwood had left behind and hesitated as I began to pour the medicine.
I couldn’t have Iliana drink it directly while she was unconscious and convulsing with spasmodic coughs.
So then.
“I’m sorry.”
Another transgression to apologize for later.
Without hesitation, I downed the entire antidote and lowered my lips to Iliana’s.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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