Luciliano covered an entire wall with sheets listing the names of various medicines and medicinal herbs, as well as their mixing instructions, then began his explanation.

“I must wonder what ails me? Analyzing the medicine you gave me took much longer than expected,” he lamented. “This medicine’s components have been thoughtfully and skillfully mixed to achieve the intended effects, but the remarkable thing is that its potency has been suppressed. Because of this, the patient who takes it continues to perceive it as medicine rather than poison. No matter how much of this medicine the patient takes, they will never acquire the ‘Poison Resistance’ Skill, and the medicine will never lose its effectiveness.”

Broadly speaking, medicines and poisons were the same thing. The only difference was that compounds with beneficial effects on the body were called medicines, and compounds with harmful effects were called poisons.

Although the ‘Poison Resistance’ Skill existed in this world, there was no ‘Medicine Resistance’ Skill. Potions—in other words, medicines that healed the body—still affected those who possessed the ‘Poison Resistance’ Skill.

Given the above, it could be concluded that it was possible to prevent poisons from taking effect in this world, but preventing medicines from taking effect would be more difficult.

“Of course, there are exceptions. If one possesses the ‘Poison Resistance’ Skill, it is more difficult for them to become intoxicated by consuming alcohol… Depending on the Skill Level, alcohol might not have any effect at all. Sleeping pills and laxatives become less effective, too. But their effects are not suppressed to the extent that poisons are,” said Luciliano. “This medicine has been prepared using advanced techniques by someone who understands that.”

He placed a pill on one of the plates lining the table in front of him.

“And because it is a medicine, there is no antidote. At the very least, no medicine exists that could immediately restore a patient’s weakened brain functions, restore their lost memories, or return their personality to what it was; nor is it possible to create such a medicine,” Luciliano concluded. “Isn’t that right, Director?”

He was speaking to the hospital’s director, who had been seated in one of the chairs around the long table draped with an extravagant tablecloth.

“W-what does this mean?! Who are you?!” the director demanded.

But he wasn’t alone. The other doctors, the clerics, and the hospital workers, who served as both nurses and janitors—almost every single employee of the hospital—were bound to a chair at this table.

“Let us go! Do you really think you can get away with this?!” one of the doctors demanded.

“Help me! Please, I don’t want to die!” one of the hospital workers screamed.

They had suddenly fainted while working, then found themselves in this room. The walls, ceiling, and table were all a single shade of white, and they were made of a material that wasn’t stone or ceramic. Upon realizing what it was, the director and his employees began trembling.

This building’s furniture was all made of bone. It wasn’t belts that were restraining the director and his employees to their chairs—skeletal hands were holding them in place.

“What in the world is this place?! SAVE US!” the director screamed.

“I realize this may be difficult, but could you please calm yourselves? I have gone to the effort of presenting this information properly, as a researcher should, so I would like you to allow me to finish,” said Luciliano. “Well, I’m sure you would like to speak freely during your last moments, so I won’t force you to be silent.”

“’L-last moments?!’” the director repeated. “You’re going to kill us?! W-wait! The nobles of the kingdom won’t stand for this!”

A boy wearing a chef’s hat appeared, pushing a cart… The hospital’s director and his employees all knew his face. It was Vandalieu Zakkart.

(And so on…)