A Crusader with System in the Middle Ages

"Hallucinogenic? That’s not surprising. Wait, are you saying..." Delang had just waved his hand dismissively out of habit, but then a thought struck him. He stopped and looked at Eric.

"Perhaps Seric was seeing a vision when he died. Perhaps he didn’t think he was committing suicide at all."

"That..."

"Of course, it’s just a guess," Eric reminded him, seeing how nervous Delang looked.

"You’re next! You! You! Everything here is cursed!"

Suddenly, a man burst out of the bushes to the side, rushing between Eric and Delang.

The man had short, pure white hair, but it seemed to be his natural color, as he didn’t look old. He was about the same age as Delang.

His eyes were ringed with black, the whites shot with blood, and he stared wide-eyed at Delang.

His name was Belenga, the Dean’s assistant, in charge of managing the library.

"Seric was the first victim! Haha! The Demons have their eyes on this place now. A Demon resides in the library. We’ve angered them. We have all sinned, committed grave sins," Belenga screamed, nearly hysterical, at the group.

Then he threw himself onto a pillar next to the Church, a pillar which bore the image of a Demon.

The Demon carved upon it had taut muscles on its flanks and limbs like a dying animal. Its mouth gaped open, its snake-like tail was coiled into a ball, writhing ceaselessly, and its flame-like tongue twisted and curled.

Both Demons had wings and halos around their heads, indicating they came from Heaven. Despite their ferocious and terrifying appearance, they were not creatures of Hell.

"Belenga, what nonsense are you spouting? That’s just a statue of a Demon!" Delang said, exasperated. He then explained to Eric, "He hasn’t been mentally sound recently. Pay him no mind."

"No, it’s a Demon! How can there be a statue of a Demon in the Church!" Belenga shouted.

"Huey of Saint Victor tells us that only through the most distorted things can we see God," Eric said softly.

"Hahaha, I know of that school’s sophistry! But the people who depict and carve these Demons take pleasure in the very essence they represent, deriving joy from it. Guided by the Demons, they forget God and fall into eternal damnation.

We must not walk the path of Demons! We must return to the source, revere God, and distance ourselves from the wisdom of Heresy!" Belenga declared loudly.

Then, shouting "Revere God," Belenga ran off.

Delang told them not to mind him and continued leading Eric to his laboratory.

The laboratory was not far from the refectory. Whether it was due to its poor location or not, the laboratory was very dark inside.

Inside were many distillers and other glassware, as well as mortars, bowls, and so on. Next to the door, long rows of shelves lined the wall, filled with numerous bottles and jars containing substances of various colors.

"You have quite a collection of herbs," Gwen said. "Did you grow them all yourself?"

"No," Delang said. "Many herbs are impossible or very difficult to grow in this climate. They were brought to me over the years by Cultivators from all over the world. I have many rare and precious medicinal materials, as well as many herbs that are easily obtained from the local flora.

Like this... Obtained Herb and Red Peony Root are from the East, a gift from a learned Arab. Indian Aloe Vera is most effective for healing wounds. Salt grass can revive someone from a coma.

Arsenic is a very dangerous poison; anyone who ingests it will die. Sherpa glass bead is a plant beneficial to the lungs. Agastache rugosus can treat head wounds. Frankincense Resin treats pulmonary congestion and pleurisy. Myrrh..."

"A gift from the Three Eastern Doctors?" Eric asked, and gave Gwen a light pat.

He was signaling for her to not go too far.

She was looking rather sneaky right then.

"Yes. But now it’s used to prevent miscarriages. It’s collected from a tree called Impatiens. This is ’Mumia,’ very rare. It’s produced when a Mummy decomposes and is a miraculous medicine. Medicinal Mandala, which helps one sleep..."

"And arouses carnal desires," Eric added.

"There is that saying, but they don’t have that use here, as you can imagine." Delang chuckled. "And look at this," he said, picking up a small glass bottle. "Impure tutty, it works wonders for the eyes."

"And what’s this?" Eric asked in a clear voice, touching a stone on the shelf.

"That? I got it a long time ago. Apparently, it also has medicinal properties, but I’ve yet to discover what they are. Do you know?"

"Yes," Eric said, "but this is no medicine."

He pulled a small knife from his Monk’s Robe and slowly brought it close to the stone. As the knife in his hand drew near, the blade suddenly jerked as if Eric had twisted his wrist, though his hand hadn’t moved at all. The blade struck the stone with a metallic clang.

"You see," Eric said, "it attracts iron."

"What is it used for?"

"It has many uses, which I’ll tell you about later. For now, Delang, what I need to know is if there’s anything here that can kill a man."

Delang thought for a long moment. "Many things. As I’ve said, the line between poison and medicine is very fine. The Greeks used the same word for both."

"Has anything been moved recently?"

Delang thought for another moment, as if to emphasize his words. "Nothing recently. Now then, let me prepare a cold remedy for your companion."

Saying this, Delang picked up a nearby distillation apparatus.

"Aldred told me that Seric was very close with the Dean’s assistant," Eric said.

"While I don’t like Belenga, there’s no denying that. In fact, they were a little too close." Delang, who was preparing a cold remedy for Gwen, looked up at Eric. "This might be a bit profane, but I saw the two of them embracing one night."

"Embracing?" Eric repeated, as if a thought had occurred to him.

"Don’t tell anyone I said that. In any case, they were close."

"Did you handle Seric’s body? According to custom, it should have been examined, correct?" Eric asked another question.

"Of course. But there was truly nothing unusual. No other wounds on the body, just injuries from the fall. However..."

"However what?"

"The Dean was in a hurry at the time. Customarily, I should have a full day for the examination, but with Seric, I only had an afternoon. Oh, right. There’s this left. It might be of some help to you.

I found it in Seric’s pocket at the time. There’s writing on it. I thought it might be a message Seric wanted to convey to us, so I kept it." Delang opened a nearby drawer and took out a palm-sized piece of parchment.

Eric took the piece of parchment from Delang’s hand.

It was in Greek: [A wise man learns from his enemies: knowledge, pleasure, even everything.]

This line is from the comedy *The Birds* by the Greek playwright Aristophanes.

"May I take it?"

"Of course. After all, you’re the one in charge of this. I don’t want to believe Seric’s death was a suicide either."

"I’ll do my best."

"Oh, right. I remember your former Dean was named Brand. How has he been recently?"

"I’m not sure. Rumor has it he’s gravely ill with something contagious. The new Dean has him quarantined."

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