Crown Prince Sells Medicine

The realm of taste boasts remarkable diversity.

Especially when it concerns cuisine, flavors exhibit even more striking variations. Some individuals savor the combination of mint and chocolate, while others daringly adorn their pizza with pineapple. They fearlessly drizzle sauce over sweet and sour pork, demonstrating a bold culinary audacity.

Furthermore, there are those who intentionally prefer carbonated beverages gone flat. In fact, there are individuals who take the unusual step of rolling rice into their cola!

In this regard, the world of palates can be likened to a dimension of boundless diversity. And it’s not just humans who exhibit such diversity; even social insects like hornets share this trait. At this very moment, a swarm of Vesparos hornets displayed a similar inclination.

…Screech?

Suddenly, the charging swarm of Vesparos hornets hesitated. They extended their antennae, sensing a potent stimulus that had triggered their olfactory centers.

So this is… alcohol!

…Screech?

The lead Vesparos pivoted its body, facing the direction where Raciel had just tossed a bottle of liquor.

That marked the beginning.

The others followed suit, turning their bodies one after another. They began to hop around, and some even took to the air as they hopped.

They all rushed toward where the bottle had landed, reminiscent of commuters making a dash for closing subway doors during rush hour. Watching this unfold, Raciel clenched his fist.

‘…It worked!’

It was a success.

He was certain of it.

The plan had executed flawlessly.

‘I had my doubts whether this would succeed.’

Suddenly, memories of his time in Korea flooded back to him.

The representative of a supplier who delivered herbal ingredients to Oriental medicine clinic. A kind older man, with whom he occasionally shared meals that included a bit of drinking.

During one of those meals, the representative had bragged.

He had mentioned beekeeping as his hobby and spoke of setting up a cabin in Gangwon Province to visit on weekends, complete with beehives in the backyard. Yet, the beehives were constantly plagued by hornets, and he had ingeniously solved the problem.

At first, Raciel hadn’t been overly interested, responding with a casual “yes, yes.” However, when he heard the solution, he couldn’t help but be impressed.

‘The method was incredibly straightforward yet effective, leveraging the differing preferences for alcohol between honeybees and hornets.’

Honeybees detest the scent of alcohol, while hornets are drawn to it like they’re under a spell.

Using this taste preference discrepancy, a simple trap had been devised.

And that was…

‘They called it a makgeolli trap.’

All it entailed was filling about one-third of a 2-liter plastic bottle with makgeolli and hanging it around the beehives.

And then?

Everything would be fine.

In a matter of days, you’d find hornets floating lifeless in the makgeolli.

‘I wasn’t sure if this would work here. But I tried it, just in case…’

It had worked.

It was a success.

Seeing the swarm of Vesparos hornets now distracted by the alcohol and not attacking them, he was certain. They had gained some precious time. Had the rest of the group grasped the situation?

“Now’s the moment!”

“Run!”

Everyone began to sprint as if this was their sole chance at escape. However, Raciel had a different plan in mind.

“Everyone, halt!”

Swoosh!

He blocked the path of a knight attempting to flee, reaching out to the guide soldier. The knight who almost collided with him urgently shouted.

“What are you doing!”

“We should all make our escape now!”

The guide soldier also had visible veins bulging on his neck, but Raciel stood his ground. He locked eyes with them and spoke swiftly.

“If we attempt to flee now, we’ll all meet our end.”

“…!”

“Do you honestly believe that running during this brief distraction will make a difference? How far do you think you can get by running aimlessly?”

“What, what are you saying!”

“It’s a simple fact. Right now, they’re drawn to the scent of the alcohol I just threw. But alcohol evaporates rapidly into the air, especially when it’s in small quantities.”

“….”

“It’s just a small flask of alcohol. How long do you think that scent will linger once they start licking it or when it’s exposed to the air? Do you think you can put enough distance between yourselves and them before that happens?”

“….”

Everyone came to a grim realization.

It was futile.

No matter how swiftly they fled, they couldn’t outpace those winged creatures. The Vesparos would soon catch up, and a massacre awaited them.

A chill ran down their spines.

“So, can we hide somewhere?” one of the knights inquired.

Raciel shook his head.

“No. We coated ourselves with pollen, so hiding is out of the question. They’ll spot us right away.”

“Then what’s the plan?”

“Start a fire.”

“Excuse me?”

“Do all of you have the torches you prepared? Take them out.”

There was no time to waste, and Demian appeared to be the first to grasp the urgency.

“Understood.”

Silently, Demian retrieved his torch. The other knights followed suit, and even the guide soldier reluctantly produced his torch.

They ignited the flames.

The torches blazed brightly.

“Throw them!”

Eight strands of fire descended onto various parts of the forest. Initially, there was no reaction. Then, the scent of burning filled the air, and…

Whoosh!

The fire caught on, spreading rapidly and engulfing trees and shrubs. The forest transformed into a sea of red. That’s when the swarm of Vesparos, previously drawn by the alcohol scent, reacted.

Screee?

However, it was too late. Their momentary distraction came at a high cost.

Woosh!

A rush of scorching wind swept in!

The swarm of Vesparos descended into chaos. Their olfactory antennae were overwhelmed by the smell of burning, and their infrared sensors went haywire in the intense heat. Instinctual fear gripped them.

Screech!

They attempted to take flight.

But they couldn’t. The rapidly advancing forest fire generated an intense upward heat, causing their thin membranous wings to stick together and wither like plastic in a fire.

The result was a crash.

Screech!

The swarm of Vesparos let out cries of distress.

They struggled to flap their wings harder.

Yet, they couldn’t ascend; their wings shriveled before their eyes due to the searing heat. They plummeted, futilely flapping their now diminished wings, crashing to the ground.

Boom! Crash!

Sounds of impacts reverberated throughout.

Unfortunate Vesparos fell straight into the blazing infernos. They writhed and fought desperately before succumbing to the flames. Some met their end impaled on sharp stumps.

The remainder crashed to the earth.

Of course, they didn’t emerge unscathed.

Screech! Squawk!

The swarm, boasting substantial bodies and considerable weight, had sustained multiple fractures and injuries during the fall.

The forest echoed with the cries and struggles of the injured Vesparos, but it was short-lived. The fire expanded further, becoming a raging wildfire that devoured both the forest and the Vesparos struggling on the ground.

This, of course, included Raciel’s group, who were desperately trying to escape.

“Run! Move it!”

“Head in the direction of the wind!”

“…Cough! Cough, gulp! Can’t breathe!”

They sprinted.

They ran while avoiding the intense heat.

Demian yelled out.

“My lord, this way! Hurry!”

“Cough, cough… Can’t breathe! Gulp!”

“Take my hand!”

“Huff, hoo!”

Raciel struggled to regain his composure. The fire had seemed like a good idea initially. The plan had succeeded, wiping out the swarm of Vesparos.

‘…But now, my breathing is compromised?’

Raciel panted heavily.

The fire had spread far beyond what he had anticipated. He had never imagined it would escalate to this extent. He had believed that a small fire and a bit of smoke would be enough to confuse the Vesparos’ senses.

But the flames were too fierce, and the smoke was overwhelming. The surroundings felt like a hazy mix of air and smoke.

Amidst it all, he felt like he was on the brink of suffocation as he struggled to catch his breath while running. It was real. Violent coughs erupted every time he inhaled. His throat felt scratchy, but even worse, dizziness overwhelmed him in real-time.

His internal organs seemed to be in chaos.

Ding-dong!

[Your internal organs are alarmed by your breathing condition.]

[Heart: What’s happening? Hey, Lungs, why are you acting up?]

[Lungs: Huh…uh…pant…pant…]

[Large Intestine: Guys, our body is suffocating, okay?]

[Liver: Is this the end for us today?]

[Stomach: Ending the day with a carbon monoxide mukbang LOL]

[Your internal organs sense a serious crisis.]

[Your internal organs provide you with 500 HP.]

[Your current HP: 6,000]

“…Cough! Cough! Wheeze! Spit!”

The messages didn’t quite register. Breathing was agonizingly difficult. The wheezing from his throat was a classic symptom of asthma.

‘I’m low on oxygen…’

His vision blurred.

The line between earth and sky became uncertain. It was disorienting. If Demian hadn’t reached out his hand just in time, if he hadn’t steadied him, Raciel might have collapsed.

Thud!

“Snap out of it!”

Slap!

His cheek stung, but it wasn’t enough. He was still dazed. Demian’s expression turned grave, as if he had made a decision.

‘He’s not planning to leave me behind, is he?’

That thought crossed his mind.

“I’ll carry you.”

With a swift movement, Demian turned around, bent over, and extended his arms to pull Raciel toward him. Raciel leaned, or rather, collapsed onto his back.

Thump.

Demian’s sturdy back provided support for his entire body. Instantly, he felt lighter, as if he were being carried by Demian.

“Hold on tight.”

Before he could even respond–

Whoosh-!

“….!”

The world accelerated around him. Demian was in full sprint. The fiery forest rushed past, and a searing breeze brushed against his cheeks.

It was scorching.

So was Demian’s back.

Within his foggy consciousness, a thought suddenly surfaced. It was a dangerous situation.

‘If Demian is in danger…’

Then it’s truly dire.

He prayed it wouldn’t come to that.

‘First, let’s make sure we get out of here safely…’

It seemed like no one was falling behind, not even the knights assigned by the princess or the guide soldiers. Everyone was gasping for breath but still sprinting. Seeing this, Raciel felt a sense of relief.

As long as everyone continues to run like this.

If they all just make their escape like this.

‘Everyone will be safe.’

Yes.

That’s good enough.

He was content with just that when–

Roar-!

Suddenly, the sky erupted in noise. Even in his disoriented state, it pierced his eardrums.

‘…What was it?’

At that very moment–

“It might be the end of the line for us.”

Demian’s voice broke in. Somehow, the end of his sentence quivered with tension.

Why?

Why was he so on edge?

Raciel would soon find out.

Rumble-!

A ground-shaking roar. The tension transmitted through Demian’s back, where he was riding. Then, he caught sight of something over Demian’s shoulder. A silhouette loomed amidst the blazing flames and heat. It was the silhouette of a Vesparos.

But it was enormous. Much larger than the Vesparos they had encountered earlier. If a regular Vesparos were the size of a rhinoceros, this one seemed to be at least as massive as an elephant.

“… “

Was it a hallucination due to his dazed state? It wasn’t. The following roar shattered any such hope.

Roar-!

“….!”

It was the first time he felt physical pain from a sound. Did the rest of the group also experience a similar overwhelming sense of dread?

“Ah, Aaaah… Qu, Queen Vesparos!”

The guide soldiers slumped down, murmuring to themselves. The knights took a step back, their faces drained of color. Every muscle in Demian’s body tensed up.

Since Raciel was being carried by Demian, he could directly sense the tightness in his muscles. Simultaneously, a feeling of impending crisis coursed through his spine.

‘This can’t continue.’

His previously hazy consciousness snapped to full attention. They say that staying vigilant can help you survive even when faced with a tiger. Just as holding onto your stock investments during a market downturn rather than impulsively selling can yield better results in the long run.

Therefore, fear couldn’t overpower him right now. This principle applied to everyone in the group, but it was especially crucial for Demian.

‘If even Demian becomes tense and retreats… That cannot happen.’

Demian was the group’s most dependable sword and the sturdiest shield. If he were to falter, it would spell disaster. So, Raciel’s first task was to ease Demian’s tension.

The moment he realized that,

‘Meridian Scanning!’

He would analyze the flow of Demian’s Qi, identifying the acupoint that would most effectively relieve his tension through a straightforward acupuncture technique. Raciel fortified his determination and focused his gaze.

Ding Dong!

[Option ① for Palpation Skill: Meridian Scanning is activated.]

[Searching for a Lock-on target.]

[Lock-on target search is completed.]

Zing—!

The word <Lock-on> appeared at the edge of his field of vision, accompanied by a green arrow underneath. However, the target indicated by the arrow was…

‘Queen Vesparos?’

Raciel’s eyes widened.

He had activated the option to scan Demian, yet for an inexplicable reason, Queen Vesparos had been designated as the Lock-on target. He quickly understood why.

‘Could it be because I’m being carried by Demian… and the first thing in my line of sight is her?’

It seemed plausible. That’s why it was all the more surprising. It was an entirely unexpected outcome.

‘But… do insects have acupoints too?’

Upon reflection, it made sense. After all, they were living organisms with their own physiological processes. However, it was something he had never considered before.

‘Could this be…’

A glimmer of possibility shone like a beacon in the midst of utter darkness. Raciel unconsciously clenched his fist. If he could discern the flow of Qi in Queen Vesparos. If Demian could act according to his intentions.

If that were achievable.

‘Survival would no longer be the primary concern… If things align, we might even have a chance to defeat Queen Vesparos today?’

(To be Continued)

To read ahead 👇

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