[BL] Accidentally Becoming the Healer of the Deranged Archduke-Chapter 215: The Sleeping Poison

Xion almost dozed off in his crooked position on the chair when the system alerted him.

"Found something. You’re going to like this... or hate it. Probably both."

Xion had to force his eyes open. "Speak."

"There is a fungus known as Mycosera glacialis. It grows only in the Caverns of Haldris, way up north. Very rare. Harmless in its original state. Actually, used in ancient remedies for blood purification, though it’s extremely bitter and hard to cultivate outside its habitat."

"But?" Xion muttered, already sensing the catch.

"But a new entry was recently appended to our updated system archive. A mutated strain: Mycosera tenberis."

"Tenberis? Do we have any information about it?"

"Yes. The data suggests that the spores mutated after prolonged exposure to high-intensity mana."

The system projected an image in front of him. A purple flower with its stems stretched like a spider. It had a red hue at the center, making it look both mesmerizing and oddly creepy.

"The corrupted mana didn’t just mutate the fungus. It weaponized it. What used to be a detoxifying agent is now a designer toxin. It enters the bloodstream, literally starving the body of oxygen by bonding to the iron in the blood."

"That’s why the blood turns black. Those are oxidized remnants of hemolysis and internal decay," Xion finished the sentence on the system’s behalf.

"And here’s the kicker: the poison stays dormant unless triggered by body heat or certain alkaloids. Guess what’s in the chill-relief tea?"

Xion’s face darkened. "...Mild alkaloids."

"Bingo."

If Mycosera tenberis truly was awakened by alkaloids and heat, then it had likely already been ingested far more widely than just by the merchant’s daughter.

The difference was, hers had been activated.

He tapped a finger against the counter. "So, it’s not poisoning in the classic sense. It’s a reaction. Like setting off a trap."

It was like a sleeping poison which only woke up when knocked by external agents.

"Which means," the system said as it displayed another screen showing the blue flower turning dark almost black. "You can’t treat it like regular poisoning. An antidote won’t help unless you also neutralize the trigger condition. Or it would affect the patient again and again until he or she dies."

"And isolate the source," Xion finished grimly. "As fast as possible. But for now, all we can do is ask them not to eat alkaloids."

Anyone could consume mild alkaloids in their diet. Just based on this fact, he possibly could not condemn anyone, especially not someone like Lady Norva.

Xion had never met the lady personally. And if he had to judge her by her husband, lord Varnehold’s personality, that would be wrong in so many ways.

Just because he had a good impression of someone, he would be the biggest fool to project that onto the other family members as well.

He silently combed through every possibility he could think of.

Airborne exposure was possible, but unlikely unless the spores were cultivated and then spread. Which led him to a worse conclusion.

"Someone found it and thought it was the original detoxifying herb... Or someone wanted it to spread."

He exhaled, pinched the bridge of his nose, and made his next decision.

"I need a map of this Haldris caverns. We also need to find the fungal growth zones around it. If what we thought was not wrong, then we might have to look for special cultivation areas as well."

"We don’t have it. We never set foot in the northern territories in the first place." The system had already opened the map.

With the updated system, Xion only needed to step into a location to unlock its full map.

However, on the screen, where should have been the Northern maps, the area was dull grey.

"We have nothing to even start with." Xion sighed.

However, he also could not just sit still.

With heavy steps, he moved out of the system space and inside the hospital lab.

"Why don’t you take a nap first? If you go out right now, you won’t rest until midnight."

Xion rolled his stiff shoulders. Staring at the lens for hours sure put a lot of strain on shoulders not to mention his tired eyes.

"I’ve slept enough," he muttered, mostly to himself as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You didn’t sleep. You slumped over for seven minutes. I counted." The system was also at its wits’ end. It wasn’t the first time Xion had neglected his health.

"Thanks for the totally useless stats," Xion replied dryly.

And that irked the system. The higher-ups had told him to take care of this little mortal.

So, the system came up with a brilliant plan.

"Xion, be good and sleep."

A low baritone voice with a slight huskiness at the edges crept into his ears, making them itchy.

"System."

Despite the obvious warning in his tone, the system shamelessly uttered the next sentence.

"It’s either that or I kill the entire village so there wouldn’t be any more imbeciles to bother you."

Xion, "..." Nah, why does it sound like something Darius might actually say?

Even when they were in Myrthiana for a short time period, he had never heard the archduke blatantly terrorizing others.

Forget threatening — Xion had never even heard Darius raise his voice at anyone.

Perhaps that was why even after so many years, when Xion heard the same cold voice, he instinctively straightened his spine.

"If you leave me, I will hunt you down and kill you with my own hands."

That was the only time Xion had heard Darius make a threat.

And now, hearing the system mimic that same voice with eerie accuracy...

"Don’t do that again," Xion said with a shudder, recalling that gaze that somehow still made his chest feel heavy.

"Are you sleeping, orrr should I continue—"

"Sleeping, damn it! I am sleeping," Xion huffed. "Change your voice back."

He took a turn back inside his system lab and obediently went to sleep on the fluffy bed.

The moment he fell, the mattress sank under his weight.

"Have a sweet dream, Xion," System spoke in a hushed voice.

It was as if Darius was whispering near his ears. He didn’t move, nor did he scold the system for being shameless.

Soft breathing filled the room. Only the red tint on his ears and the back of his neck betrayed Xion’s true thoughts.