Chapter 25

The fever caused by the Poison Butterfly's venom can lead to death with a high probability if not treated promptly.

Sigh was lying down, his face flushed red after inhaling a large amount of the Poison Butterfly's scales. I was quite panicked when I saw him.

"Mr. Sigh, please drink some water!"

The method to deal with inhaling the Poison Butterfly's scales is to drink a large amount of water, as written in the encyclopedia. I did the same when it happened to me.

"…I can't drink."

"Please, drink!"

I lifted Sigh's upper body and forced him to drink the water. Some of the water spilled from the corners of his mouth.

"I'll go and prepare the antidote, so please wait here!"

I wrapped Sigh in two sleeping bags and rushed out of the tent. The Poison Butterfly's venom is a nasty poison that uses the body's antibodies. It enters the body in large quantities as a pathogen, causing a fever that can be fatal. The key is to prepare the antidote. You need to crush the Holly Grass, which has a fever-reducing effect, and the Persimmon Grass, which has a sweating effect, into a thick liquid with water, and drink a cup of it.

I quickly found the Holly Grass and Persimmon Grass, which grow around here, and picked as much as I could. I rinsed an empty can and filled it with the leaves of the Holly Grass and Persimmon Grass. I inserted the mouth of a water bottle and mixed it while occasionally adding some rum that was mixed in with the emergency rations.

"Ha... ha..."

Listening to Sigh's heavy breathing made me feel panicked. This guy must have inhaled the venom on purpose.

I took a deep breath and continued to mix the ingredients, keeping an eye out for any danger outside the tent.

After a while, the contents of the can became thick and had a pungent, grassy smell. But it should be drinkable now. I lifted Sigh and put the can to his mouth.

"…I can't make it."

"What are you saying! Drink this, and you'll be fine, so please hold on!"

"My body feels weak... I pushed myself too far..."

This guy must have inhaled the venom on purpose! If he has the energy to talk, he should be able to drink!

I pushed the medicine into Sigh's mouth, but he kept his mouth tightly shut.

Is this guy just not wanting to drink it?

"Why aren't you drinking!? Don't tell me it tastes bad!"

"It tastes bad. I can't drink it."

Damn! I thought so!

Besides, this guy seems to be quite calm. No, that can't be right. I almost died from a small amount of the Poison Butterfly's scales.

Sigh's breathing is heavy, and his pulse is fast. But why is he so calm?

He can't be so strong that he doesn't need the antidote, right?

No, he can't.

It's definitely better to make him drink it. He's almost dead, so what's going on?

"Please, drink it!"

"I won't."

"…Alright, then…"

I have a plan.

I put the thick antidote in my mouth and pressed my lips to Sigh's.

Yes, mouth-to-mouth. I'll force him to drink it this way. If he gets angry later, that's just too bad.

Ah, my first kiss... I wonder if this is Sigh's first kiss too. Ha...

I'm quite a romantic.

"Un... fu...!"

Sigh, who had his eyes closed and his mouth tightly shut, opened his eyes in surprise at the mouth-to-mouth. His body trembled, and his heart rate increased. His lips were warm and soft, but the bitterness and the fluid in my mouth ruined the moment.

"Un... un..."

Sigh's breath tickled my cheek. He didn't resist, but he didn't seem to be accepting the antidote either. If that's the case, I'll go all the way with him. The bitterness of the antidote is the only downside; otherwise, it's like a reward.

After a while, Sigh gave in and started to swallow the bitter antidote.

I pulled away after transferring all the antidote from my mouth.

"…Ha... ha... you..."

"There's two more mouthfuls! Excuse me!"

"Un...!"

I was desperate. I did mouth-to-mouth again and made Sigh drink the antidote. He drank it with his eyes closed and a twisted face.

"Ha... ha... I understand, it's my fault... so please, let me drink it more slowly..."

Sigh's face was red from the fever, and his heart was beating wildly. He was in a serious condition. I had to make him drink it quickly.

I prepared to do mouth-to-mouth again.

"…Wait, Death Sound. Wait..."

"What is it?"

"…I'm embarrassed, so please close your eyes too..."

"Alright."

What a lie. This is probably the first and last time I'll be this close to Sigh's cute face. I can't miss this chance.

I put the last mouthful in my mouth and kissed Sigh, who had his eyes slightly open. He closed his eyes and accepted it. I slowly poured the antidote into his mouth as he had asked.

Sigh was slowly swallowing the antidote when he suddenly put his hands on my back. Maybe he just couldn't support himself anymore. This situation isn't romantic at all.

When all the liquid had transferred to Sigh, I pulled away. Sigh fell back, exhausted.

"Death Sound... you... you really did it..."

Sigh said, looking at the blurry tent ceiling. His face was still red, and his pulse was fast. The antidote wouldn't work immediately.

"I'm sorry. But now you just need to stay warm and rest. You'll sweat a lot, so I'll go get some water. You need to keep your body warm."

"Alright..."

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After a while, Sigh's fever started to go down. He was sweating a lot, so I wiped it off for him. I only wiped his neck and face to avoid any trouble.

The sweating stopped after about two hours, and I helped Sigh change into clean clothes. Of course, I didn't get to see him change. It was outside the tent.

Next, the symptoms of sweating and chills from the side effects of the Holly Grass appeared, so I had Sigh get into the sleeping bag. I made him wear as many of my spare clothes as possible to keep him warm.

By this time, it was already night. Many monsters become active during this time. I had to be on guard. The tent was camouflaged with leaves and twigs, so I didn't think any monsters would attack. There was no light either. But it's always better to be cautious.

"It's cold. Too cold."

While I was on guard, Sigh muttered from the corner of the tent.

Even with all those layers, he was still cold. It does get cold at night in the desert, but the side effects of the Holly Grass seem to be quite strong. Maybe I used too much. The chills should go away soon.

"Death Sound."

"Yes?"

"It's cold, come over here."

"Come over here?"

"Get in here with me."

"In the sleeping bag? It'll be too tight for two people."

"It'll fit. Come on."

"Uh..."

He doesn't seem very enthusiastic. Because I have a goal of sneaking into Sigh's bed while he's sleeping.

It was pitch black, and I couldn't see Sigh's face.

"Come on, quickly."

"Alright."

I crouched and moved to Sigh.

"Can you see? Can you get in?"

"I can't see."

"Here."

"Ah, I see. But this is impossible. It's too tight for two people."

"It'll fit. Hurry up, it's cold."

I managed to get into the sleeping bag, and it was extremely tight. Sigh and I were pressed together so closely that we couldn't even turn over.

Sigh's soft body felt good, and it was incredibly warm. It was a bit damp from the sweat.

"You're warm. You make a good pillow."

"You're too warm."

Sigh lightly hugged me, and I struggled to suppress my arousal. I would gladly be Sigh's pillow.

"…Death Sound, you did mouth-to-mouth so easily. Have you done this before?"

"No, it was my first kiss."

I wish I could forget that.

"Really? It was my first too. Well, I've done CPR a few times, but with women."

Sigh seems to have had a rather unmanly life. Well, he is scary.

I somehow managed to get along with him quickly, even though he's scary, but it's not the same anymore.

"You must have really wanted to give me your first kiss."

"It was an emergency. Besides, it was like a reward."

"…Do you like me?"

"Eh? Of course, I like you a lot."

He teaches me a lot, is occasionally kind, and is beautiful. Even though he forces me to face death, he's a great teacher.

"Is that so, you like me a lot..."

I felt Sigh's hug tighten slightly.

"I'm going to sleep."

"Alright, good night."

I couldn't sleep. I had to be on guard. It was a torture to be so warm and comfortable but unable to sleep.

After a while, I heard Sigh's snoring. He was still hugging me in his sleep.

I managed to turn over and lay on my back. Then I took the opportunity to gently touch Sigh's chest.

It was my payment for taking care of him today and for the trouble he caused.

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