So I'm a Snake, Who Cares?

By the time Obern managed to heave the Margrave onto the bed while grunting, Oliver returned.

He brought a wooden box.

Inside were various herbs and liquids of unknown purpose.

Oliver took the Margrave's hand and pricked his thumb with a needle.

He carefully collected the drops of blood.

He placed them on a glass plate then used a dropper to drip something from one of his glass vials onto the blood drops.

The blood and liquid mixed and clumped into globules.

Oliver clicked his tongue and repeated a similar action.

After two more failures.

Just as we were starting to worry the Margrave might stop breathing first.

"Got it."

A different reaction appeared than before.

Instead of clumping into globules, the dark red blood changed to a healthy bright red.

And what Oliver took out was clearly a 'syringe.'

Though it looked crude and the needle didn't look very hygienic.

Sizzle.

After sterilizing the needle tip by heating it in candlelight, he drew up the liquid from the vial.

Then boldly injected the liquid into the Margrave's arm.

Though it seemed questionable for someone who wasn't a doctor to do this.

"The swelling seems to be going down a bit."

The Margrave's face had been swollen purple like a zombie.

That changed to look a bit more human.

'Is it done Oliver? Will he wake up now?'

"Not sure yet."

Oliver must have been concentrating too, beads of sweat had formed on his forehead.

"Whether he regains consciousness is up to heaven now. We'll need to watch him at least until tonight."

'Haah...'

It wasn't over yet.

What excuse to make when he wakes up was one problem, but him not waking up was the biggest problem.

"I'll go get some other supplies for a moment. Please watch the patient here. Massaging his limbs will help."

I grabbed Oliver's hand with my tail.

And said with complete sincerity:

'Thank you Oliver.'

"...I just did what I could."

Oliver smiled awkwardly.

How cool.

No wonder Rania follows him like an uncle.

My evaluation of Oliver went up even more.

I even thought about learning more hunter skills from him next time.

While Oliver was out of the carriage, we sat beside the Margrave hoping he would wake up.

But...

'...When is he coming back?'

Oliver didn't return.

We expected him to appear soon but he didn't come even after waiting a long time.

The anxious Obern said he would go get him and left the carriage.

Obern ended up returning alone.

And falling to his knees, he wailed.

"Th-the hunter ran away!"

'Wh-what!'

"Waaah we're doomed, we're all going to die...!"

Oliver had fled.

Even he couldn't be certain the Imperial ambassador would survive.

That was quite a bold and quick decision though.

To do what he could, but since he wasn't sure of the outcome, to flee without saying a word.

My respect for Oliver went up a bit more.

But this time you made the wrong choice Oliver.

If the Imperial ambassador ends up dying, there's always the option of testifying that you, who ran away, were the assassin...

I harbored such evil thoughts.

"Uhuuung."

"Saak!"

I slapped the cheek of the sobbing Obern.

We have to do what we can.

Can't give up already.

Mental strength is what's important.

I had Obern massage the ambassador's limbs.

He said this would help spread the medicine's effects and prevent blood clots.

Since his body was so huge, even that took a lot of effort.

We stayed up almost all night.

And such mental strength was rewarded.

"Ah, his color is coming back a bit."

The Margrave's complexion had improved a lot.

Seems like we've passed the crisis.

"But he still won't wake up."

The problem was that he showed no signs of waking.

Even slapping his cheeks with my tail had no effect.

"Quite a nasty poison."

Pelerian evaluated the condition despite not being a doctor.

"He might never wake up and die."

Still, wouldn't this reduce it from Imperial ambassador murder to Imperial ambassador manslaughter?

That's when.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked on the carriage door.

Obern was so startled he almost did a flip.

"Margrave, breakfast is ready."

Morning had finally come.

The servants had brought breakfast.

'What do we do!'

'Wh-what should we do!'

I didn't know what to do either.

Obern cleared his throat and said.

"He's still sl-sleeping..."

"Mr. Obern...? Um, please let him know it's clear soup with radish and beef."

Obern cursed at the servant.

Who cares if it has radish and beef.

He stood up abruptly and knocked over a liquor bottle.

Strong whiskey spilled all over the floor.

"Then I'll leave it here."

And the impudent servant even tried to open the door.

Obern quickly stuck his face in the opened doorway.

"Ah!"

"Haha, the Margrave drank too much... he simply won't wake up."

"I-I see."

The Margrave lying on the bed behind him. The carriage reeking of alcohol.

Obern, who rarely smiles, said so with an awkward smile.

The servant smiled brightly too.

"You had a good night then. Well."

Then just left like that.

Obern closed the door while smiling but soon made an expression like he'd lost his country.

"...Most shameful moment of my life."

After roughly putting away the beef and radish clear soup.

We pondered how to wake the Margrave.

And came to a conclusion.

"Hmm, giving another electric shock seems right."

'Heavenly Thunder Spirit it is.'

Seems like forcefully shocking him awake is our only option.

Obern grabbed my tail and pleaded.

"Please don't kill him again!"n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

'I never killed him.'

This time I'll control the output really well.

Something between static electricity and lightning, I'll inject neural energy into the baihui acupoint on his crown.

「Using Heavenly Thunder Spirit Lv2」

Blue sparks flickered at my tail tip.

Just as I was about to zap the Margrave's crown with it.

Zap!

The Margrave's body convulsed slightly.

At that moment.

A commotion was heard from outside the carriage.

"What do you mean! The Margrave has never once refused clear beef soup after drinking!"

"He seems to have drunk too much..."

"Have you ever seen the Margrave drunk?"

It was Dana.

Truly excellent guarding.

To know the Margrave so well.

Before we could do anything, the door burst open.

The Margrave lying down.

And me and Obern beside him.

Our eyes met with Dana and Rahan's.

"Mmm..."

The Margrave finally opened his eyes.

And got up to look alternately between us and his guards.

We were anxiously waiting for him to shout something like 'How dare you bastards!'

But what came from the Margrave's mouth was something no one present could have imagined.

Looking at Obern...

"Ubaba?"

"...?"

Question marks appeared in everyone's minds.

"Babababa?"

Something was wrong.

Very wrong.