Symphony for the Insect Princess

“…Eh? Eh? No, what are you talking about… Ugh!”

The headache interrupted Ellen's words. She covered her head again, groaning in pain.

"Stop pretending. Now that things have come to this, what do you want?"

"I... uh... I... have no idea... what you're talking about! And... why are there only a few of you... Molly and Lux? Where... are they... uh! Wua ...

"...?"

"Brother York...wait a minute, she looks weird."

"Um……"

At this time, all five of them realized that Ellen's condition was not right. She didn't look painful, and she seemed to know nothing.

"strangeness……"

Chloe also slowly walked to York's side and whispered, "The magic power she releases is very unstable and fluctuates violently. This can't be faked..."

You can't pretend.

In other words... Ellen didn't lie, she really knew nothing?

But just a few minutes ago she had clearly killed Molly and indirectly killed Lukes. Her eyes were very clear at the time, and York believed he was not mistaken.

Could it be that that wasn't Ellen? Was it the murderer impersonating her? Could it be that the murderer has the ability to disguise himself as anyone?

"in the end--"

Gulu.

The girl swallowed her saliva, hesitated for a long time, and finally made a decision in desperation, even though this decision would definitely destroy everything she had accumulated.

"I know……"

Lillian slowly raised her hand.

Her whole body was trembling, her face was paler than the other four, and both her expression and tone revealed a sense of self-abandonment.

"Lillian, you mean..."

"Yes... I think... I can't hide it anymore."

As she spoke, she glanced at Nelris for some reason.

"Actually, I've already guessed how the murderer did it, but... I... didn't dare to say it... But now it has come to this..."

I already knew how the murderer did it! ?

“Everything is in this book.”

Lillian slowly lifted up her top, revealing her lower abdomen beneath the silky garment embellished with delicate lace.

There is a small booklet tucked away in a hidden pocket inside.

----------------

“Hiss…ha…ow…it hurts!”

Ellen lay in the corner, tossing and turning, holding her head and groaning. Chloe took care of her anxiously, while trying to find out what was causing her so much pain. York and Nelris studied the booklet.

The booklet had a brown cover with many scratches on it, and the pages inside were yellowed, showing its age. The text used seemed to be an early common language, which was difficult to read but not impossible to understand.

The two of them flipped through the small booklet, their eyes widening. Even York, who didn't know much about magic, could realize how taboo this booklet was.

"'Astroy'... who is this person?" York stroked the name engraved on the inside of the cover.

"It's mentioned in books like Chronicles," Nelris frowned slightly. "Astroy was a 'Demon King' who lived four hundred years ago."

"Demon King!?"

York almost threw the booklet away. The devil! The devil's relic! God knows what dangers are hidden in it!

Above the High Magician is a whole new realm—the Wizard. A true Wizard is vastly different from a Magician, a qualitative evolution. Above the Wizard is the Grand Wizard, practically the highest level of existence in this world. Only those who are truly exceptional even among Grand Wizards are given the title of "Sage."

Similarly, in the classification of magic warriors, war spirits correspond to mages, and great war spirits correspond to great mages. The best among the great war spirits will be given the title of war emperor. The war emperor, like the sage, is the most powerful person in this world - Maya.

But not all strong people are respected.

Whether it's "Sage" or "War Emperor," these are honorific titles bestowed upon those powerful individuals admired and worshipped by countless others. There are always those in this world who are incredibly powerful yet feared by countless others, perhaps because of their brutality, their violation of taboos, their numerous evil deeds... for a variety of reasons.

There is a special name for those who "have the strength or achievements to be among the sages, but are generally recognized as bringing disaster to the world" - "Demon King".

"I have that impression as well..." Chloe, who was watching over Ellen, couldn't help but interject. "According to records, Astroy was originally hailed as the 'Sage of Medicine.' He was a research talent. Although he had little combat prowess, he made many significant contributions to the development of potions at the time."

"Then why did he..."

"Later, in his later years, his thoughts became increasingly extreme, and he became obsessed with forbidden experiments, testing drugs on tens of thousands of innocent people... In the end, his title of Sage was stripped away, and he was branded as the Demon King."

"..."

York's hands trembled as he held the booklet. If this was truly the authentic work of the devil of medicine, the knowledge contained in it would be absolutely priceless!

but--

"It shouldn't be his original work..."

Lillian muttered.

"I accidentally found this book in an old warehouse at home. At first, I thought it was the original work of the Demon King, so..."

"so?"

"Anyway, I just did some careful research! Can you blame me? I'm a magician after all, so it's impossible not to be curious about the Demon King's research results! But, but... sigh..."

Lillian suppressed her excitement and sighed.

"I've also secretly done a lot of research and discovered that this isn't the original. It's likely a copy secretly written by the Demon King's disciples or servants. Most of the findings recorded in it are incomplete, with only a few remaining intact..."

Lillian suddenly stopped talking here.

She clutched the hem of her skirt tightly, tears streaming down her face, her lips trembling, and her eyes fixed on Nelris.

"...Lillian?"

"Don't call my name! I...just...uh...anyway!"

She pointed at Nelris fiercely and yelled at the top of her lungs, "If you want me to apologize... I can! You... indeed... if you read this, you might... no, you will definitely want to kill me! But we have to wait until this mess is over! I, I, I won't run away!"

Chapter 18 Banned Drugs

In the middle of the booklet, there were a few wrinkled pages that had obviously been flipped through many times. There were also a lot of notes and annotations next to them, which were obviously Lillian's handwriting.

Let’s skip over the complicated ingredients, ignore the research on dosage, and directly look at the effects of this medicine numbered “n-274”.

““……………………………………………………………………………………””

Nelris fell into silence,

And York was completely shocked this time.

My mind goes blank.

This prescription did not help to break the deadlock. The prescription that could serve as a clue should be still behind, but this prescription that had nothing to do with the current situation shocked him completely.

Is this kind of thing really possible?

This kind of joking effect?

Is Potions such an exaggerated thing?

Or is it because it was created by the Demon King that it is so exaggerated?

Until this moment, all the things that had been confusing York's heart for the past few years were suddenly explained.

why?

Why is Lillian so charming, always the center of attention, so sought after by everyone from common people to princes and nobles, and both men and women are conquered by her charm?

Why is it that her sister, Nelris, who possesses a dreamy and moving beauty that is absolutely superior to Lillian, always exudes a calm and elegant aura, and is a model of intellectual beauty, is not noticed by anyone?

"Potion that can usurp 'Charm'..."

(Author: I know some veteran drivers think of the imperial capital of a certain famous novel... cough cough okay I am also a driver, so stay calm)

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Prototype, number n-274, official name undecided;

The allure and attraction (commonly known as "charm") of subject A's personality, appearance, and other factors to others can be completely transferred to subject B;

Drugs are divided into reagent A and reagent B;

The two users must be of the same sex and of similar age;

The dosage was 10-20 mg every three days. Subject A took reagent A, and subject B took reagent B.

The initial effect will be seen after about one month, and the specific time varies from person to person;

Generally, it will be finalized after half a year;

After the quasi-fixation, the medication should not be interrupted, but can be changed to once a week;

It will be fully formed in three to four years;

After the shape is completely set, the administration can be stopped;

There are many factors that make people attractive to others and liked by others, such as personality, appearance, voice, temperament, actions, hormones, etc. If all these factors are combined into one concept - the temptation or attraction to others, then it is often called "charm".

This kind of plot is often seen in fairy tales: the evil old witch casts a spell to take away the princess's beautiful appearance, sweet voice or youthful vitality... and then is defeated by the prince.

This is actually not groundless. In history, there have indeed been banned drugs that can change a person's appearance or voice, and there are more than one kind.

Since "single factors" such as appearance can be taken away, can "a collection of many factors" such as charm also be taken away?

It was probably this sudden inspiration that prompted the eccentric and extreme Demon King of Medicine to complete this invention. Since his disciples or servants were able to see this prescription and secretly copy it down, the Demon King himself must not have taken it seriously, and it was just a whim.

He probably couldn't have imagined, nor was he bothered to think about it, that four hundred years later, this prescription would be used by a noble girl to satisfy her vanity.

"""""...""""

Everyone was silent.

Lillian's expression was like a death row inmate about to be taken to the execution ground.

"Wait a minute, I need to tidy it up, it's a bit too messy..."

York rubbed his brows. There was so much information that even he felt a little headache.

"In other words, Lillian, you've been secretly mixing a potion based on this book for several years now, and then secretly drugging your irritated third sister? You've been doing this for so long, just to take away her 'charm' as a woman?"

"………………Yes."

"So, over the years, you've become increasingly popular, your fame spreading far and wide, and you've become beloved by everyone, both men and women... but is this actually the combined effect of Nylis's charm, which you stole, and your own?"

"……………………Yes."

Lillian seemed to shrink smaller and smaller.

"So, all these years, Nelris has been treated coldly, ignored by everyone, including her blood relatives. She's not expected, valued, respected, and always alone... And it's all because of you? You actually harmed your own sister for that little bit of vanity!? Tell me the truth about how you drugged her!"

"Breakfast...get up early on the day the drug was administered...go to the kitchen...the servants won't stop me if I go..."

"Tsk... just for such a trivial matter..."

York was trembling all over and took several deep breaths before he barely suppressed the urge to go up and beat someone up.

"As one of those who has always ignored Nyrrhis, I may not be qualified to speak, but forgive me, Lillian, if I were Nyrrhis... I'm afraid I would really want to kill you! I used to think that although you were spoiled and ignorant, you were still good at heart... You actually..."

"Woo..."

Being stared at by York with a scumbag look and scolded with a tone of extremely contempt, Lillian finally couldn't help crying, sobbing and looking very pitiful.

"You... forget it. No matter how much I say, it's useless. Only the person involved has the right to speak!"

York said, turning to Nelris who had been standing silently by the side.

"You decide, Nelris."

"..."

"I... First of all, as the eldest brother, I must apologize to you, but before that, only you——"

"—Hey, so, are we done with the irrelevant topics?"

"You're the only one who has the right to punish Lillian, so... huh? What did you say?"

"I say," Nelris tilted her head as she watched York and Lillian's surprised and puzzled gazes. "This is a critical moment, isn't it? It's more important to find the key clues first, rather than talking about irrelevant topics like seizing the charm, isn't it?"