Poison King

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[Nagash Arses]

It's been 40 years since I came here. Hahaha, but it doesn't feel like it's been that long.

In the past, I was one of the

most renowned experts in the use

of poison. I even created a martial art based on its use, and formed my own martial arts organization.

Now, those memories

don't even seem real

anymore. This poem is

all I can remember...

As I lay in bed looking

up at the moonlight

It looks like the

frost on the ground.

I lift head up to look

at the bright moon,

I lower my head

feeling homesick.

Ah, have you

heard of this poem?

As I grow older, my

memory also grows worse,

but I really like this poem

and don't want to forget it.

I hope you don't

mind helping me

memorize this poem...

'As I lay [ ] looking up at the moonlight.' In this first line, what word should be in [ ]?

'It looks like the [ ] on the ground.' In the second line, which word should be in [ ]?

Now to see if you see really understand the poem. It's no use to just know the words. They must be a part of you as well.

How would you describe the overall mood and tone of the speaker of this poem?

What do you think is the

major theme of this poem?

Ha ha ha! You understand this poem well! Now, would you repeat the first line for me again?

Thank you for your time,

youngster. Oh, and this is

an old, famous poem written

by Li Tai Bai. You know that,

don't you?

'I lower my head feeling [ ].' Which word should be in [ ]?

Now to see if you see really understand the poem. It's no use to just know the words. To know this poem by heart is to truly take it to heart.

According to the poem,

where is the location

of the speaker as he is

gazing at the moon?

Although this poem is only four lines long, its structure can be easily classified. How would you describe this poem's structure?

Now to see if you see really understand the poem. It's not enough to just know the words. You must know what they truly mean.

In the first two lines, what two images are being linked by the poet?

In this land, the image of the moon often appears in poems expressing separation, longing and homesickness. Why would gazing at the moon offer comfort?

Ha ha ha! You understand this poem well! Now, would you repeat the third line for me again?

'It looks like the [ ] on the ground.' In the second line,

which word should be in [ ]?

'I lift my [ ] to look at the bright moon.' In the third line, which word should be in [ ]?

Now to see if you see really understand the poem. It's no

use to just know the words. They must be a part of you as well.

What do you think is the major theme of this poem?

Why might be one reason why the bright moonlight looks like frost on the ground to the poet?

Ha ha ha! You understand this poem well! Now, would you repeat the last line for me again?

Are you asking me

about my hometown...?

As a Midgardian,

I'm sure you've at least

heard of Morocc...

A city built in the middle of the desert, its founders had to combat the harsh and unforgiving forces of nature everyday.

Yeah, the blazing sun never

seems to leave, and it's a dry,

desert area, but people still

manage to live there.

Ah~ I miss Morocc, my hometown.

I used to be a member of the Assassin organization known as the 'Canine of Desert.' Long ago, I was their poison expert.

Hm? Do you have recent news of Morocc?

[

Yeah, I've got some news you might be interested in.

Ah, I see. Thank you for the news. Now, let me continue my story.

I see! You just said,

Thank you for

telling me the news.

I just told you what 'Canine of Desert' is. Now you tell me what it is. If you were listening, you would be able to.

Correct. You listened to me very well. They are Assassins. Assassins that were abandoned by society.

'Canine of Desert' is the name of that Assassin organization. Don't forget that.

...

......

Bah! I forgot what I was just talking about! This bad memory of mine frustrates me so much!

How could you not know what the 'Canine of Desert' is?! Just how long have you been an Assassin?!

You're supposed to be aware of your origins and your colleagues! Oh, the shame...

Well, I suppose I can't blame you for not knowing or remembering. When you get the chance, find someone wearing a purple suit...

Any Assassin worth his salt should know what the 'Canine of Desert' is.

Wait...

Let me think...

Now how did I becoming interested in the use of poison...?

I tried many things to develop my poison skills when I was young.

I tried to extract poison from Muka's needles and from purple mushrooms. Eventually, I became

an expert of toxins from my efforts.

One time I even injected

a poison into my own body

to fully test it. Yeah...

It almost killed me.

I was recognized as the man who

was most highly skilled in the use of poison in the 'Canine of Desert,' and I was sent on the most crucial and dangerous missions.

One day, I was hired by the Alberta Merchant Guild to assassinate an enemy that had been threatening them. However, I never got to complete that mission.

While I was on the ship to procceed with my mission, we encountered heavy wind and waves and the ship sank. I believe I was the only survivor of that accident.

I was floated helplessly on the ocean and somehow managed

to arrive here, in Luoyang. That was forty years ago.

It seemed that my arrival was rather timely. Luoyang was intruded by huge mobs of dangerous monsters that were even able to infiltrate the Castle of the Dragon.

Since I was one of the best Assassins of the 'Canine of Desert,' I did far more than my share of monster killing.

It was on the battlefield that

I met Bai Long who is now lord of this town. But back then, he was known as the 'Street Knight.'

I remember seeing him surrounded

by enemies, and I dove into thick of battle to keep him from getting killed. We fought back to back and managed to stay alive back then.

You have to understand that it's not easy to let someone back you

up in battle unless there's a solid trust. Those fights... were the greatest moments in my life.

Sadly, many of our comrades,

all of them respectable and highly skilled martial artists, fell in battle. The number of monsters we had to contend with was just overwhelming.

Still, I managed to continue my poison research, even during those tough times. I studied medicine in this town and was able use that knowledge to enhance my understanding of poisons.

I created a new skill based on all of my knowledge, and learned how

to put poison on weapons.

I even learned martial arts in Luoyang, and combined that

knowledge with my poison expertise to create my own unique fighting style.

Well, that's my story.

But now, I just miss my

home town. I miss the heat

of the desert and the glare

of the blazing sun...

Ah, Morocc.

That name brings

back memories of

being an Assassin

in the 'Canine of Desert.'

*Sigh...*

I wish I could see

Morocc just once before I die.

Hm...?

Is there anything

you want to say?

I have news

of Morocc...

I see...

telling me that.

I see!

You just said,

I just told you what 'Canine of Desert.' If you can't remember what I just told you, it's no use for me to explain further. You go ahead and tell me what it is.

Canine of Desert

is the name of an

Assassin organization.

Do not forget that.

Did you just say you

want to learn about the

use of poison?

Why do you want

to learn about it?

Even if I wanted to

teach, I'm too old to

remember everything

clearly...

Go find my last disciple,

Song Zhi Du, as he may tell you something useful. He's working at the doctor's office. If it weren't for him, I'd be starving now.

You're asking me how

things came to be like

this? Life used to be good.

As I told you, I distinguished myself in the battles with monsters. I was rewarded with Luoyang citizenship and given

gifts of money.

I was invited to join a martial arts organization that specialized in the use of poison. I joined them, excited about further broadening my knowledge.

I was stunned by the enormous body of knowledge about toxins that they provided. I tried to learn as much as I could so I could develop my own, unique poisoning skills.

As I studied with them, together we started to clear the town of the remaining monsters. Can you guess the results of our efforts to clean up the city?

Did you even listen to me? It's no use talking to you if you don't even care about what I have to say.

I'm sorry for keeping you from what you wanted to do. Take care of yourself, youngster.

You're right!

We got rid of every

single monster in the city!

Just okay...?

I don't think you realized how powerful we were back then! Eh...

Sorry for keeping you from what you wanted to do. Take care of yourself, youngster.

We got rid of every single monster in the city!

We managed to eliminate every monster that was wandering around Luoyang. At the time, we were the only people brave enough to take on this sort of task.

Unfortunately, other martial arts organizations grew envious of our success, insisting that we were dishonorable for using poison to attack our enemies.

Although we can accept criticism for our use of poison, we were finally blamed for something we never would have done.

Someone put poison into a meal which was eaten by a son of the lord and then falsely accused us!

In the end, our organization was disbanded and I was put in jail.

I suffered through much to escape from prison...

However, because of all the injuries I've had to endure in jail and in my escape attempts,

I can no longer use my

martial arts.

Even to this day, the police are hounding after me. I really want to tell the lord of Luoyang that I'm innocent, but it may be

too late now...

I...

I don't want

to talk about that.

Let's not talk about it.

Yeah, I don't blame you.

I know I look stupid. Legally,

I'm a criminal after all.

I don't any friends and

there's no one I can trust.

How can you sympathize?

I doubt anyone has had

experiences that are

much worse than mine...

Wha--? I haven't wronged you in any way! Why must you be so mean to an old man? You don't even know half of what I've had to go through.

Do you miss your hometown

as much as I do? I'm envious

of you, youngster. You have

the freedom to go

wherever you want.

I'm a wanted criminal.

Even if I were free to

travel, I may not have

the strength to try.

Let's not talk about this any longer. It's reminding me of

my worst memories.

Ah, you look just like I did when

I was young. It seems you know

a little something about poison.

It seems you haven't

perfected your knowledge yet,

though. Oh well, I doubt I can

pinpoint what you need to master.

I'm too old to remember anything. Ha ha ha. Maybe if I saw something related to poison, I might remember something...

No, no...

I think I'm too old

to remember anything.

Anything at all.

If you wish to talk about poison, you'd better go to the doctor's office. My last disciple is

working there.

Now, let me rest.

I am very tired.

I... I hope he doesn't

have any bad intentions...

Aren't you the youngster

I talked to a while ago?

Did you get a chance

to meet my disciple?

How was he?

He was sick all the time when he was young, so he worried me a lot. But now I'm proud of him and he's doing as well just any other fine young man.

I am living only for him,

and hope that he becomes a great healer someday. Recently, I've found that my sole comfort is in treating diseases for other people...

By the way...

You look pale...

Did something happen?

Oh...

But take care

of yourself.

You better enjoy your physical strength when you're young. When you're my age, it's tough to regain your health once you lose it.

Did something happen to him?

I've been worried since he hasn't come to visit me since you last came to speak with me.

Huh!?

Isn't this...!?

I've dreamed of creating

a poison of such potency!

W-where did you find this?

Really...?

Then someone

finally figured it out.

I shared all of my knowledge with others, so I guess a doctor might have figured how to create this.

Now I feel depressed

for some reason...

You tell Nagash Arses how

Song Zhi Du created this Deadly Poison Bottle and his plan to get his revenge on the lord of Luoyang.

Will you...

Will you excuse

me for a second...?

...Nothing much.

Hmm...?

I guess you don't know what is going on. I've heard some bad rumors about him, which is why I'm asking.

I hope he'll be fine.

After all, he's truly

kind at heart.

Oh, you don't?

Well, that can happen

sometimes when you're

in a foreign land for

too long. I hope you

feel better soon.

Recently...

I've been getting

a bad feeling...

I want to blame it

on my solitude, but...

Nagash Arses. He is no longer a well-known Assassin or the martial arts organization of which he was once master has long since disbanded.

Now he is but a poor old man

who is in anguish over his disciple. No matter what you say, he continues to talk about something totally unrelated, as if in a dream.

Youngster...

I beg of you.

Please do not let him

bring any harm to the lord.

If you cannot stop him,

then please interrupt him

from carrying out his plan.

I tried...

To convince myself

that what I had heard

were just ugly rumors.

I was wrong...

I am pretty sure he's been asking you, as well as others, for aid. Even if you do not agree to carry out his plan, I'm sure he will find someone to poison Lord Bai Long.

There is only one way he can poison

the lord. He likes drinking, and has a favorite drink bottle he keeps with him all the time. You must get rid of his drink.

Please, I beg you.

For my sake, as well

as that of my disciple,

Luoyang's leader must live...

So...

What...

What happened?

I made it.

You did?!

Oh~ thank you,

thank you so much!

Thank God I've

lived this long.

And... I just realized

something while you away.

This is a journal that I have been writing for 15 years about my feelings of guilt, and what really happened in the past. I hope you can deliver this to the lord for me.

You obtained

Poison King

Nagash Arses' Journal.

I hope you

can deliver this

to Lord Bai Long...

You gave him the

Letter from Bai Long.

What's this...?

Why, he's invited me

to take the position of

a government official!

I'm truly grateful!

However, please let him

know that I must respectfully decline his offer. I'm afraid that I may be a burden to him once again.

Please tell him that I wish to enjoy the rest of my life here. Also, there are people here

who still need me...

Thank you, youngster.

You've stopped my disciple

and helped me make up

with an old friend...

Nagash Arses put his palm on your back, and you can feel his strength flowing into you.

You grow dizzy, but you also feel like you're becoming more powerful and gaining experience.

Then...

Everything blacks out...

He looks tired

for some reason,

as if he's thinking

of Morocc, his hometown.

You reflect on when he gave you his remaining strength and remember that he told you that he used to be one of the greatest Assassins...

But after all that's happened,

he just looks like an old man who likes treating other people. It seems that he's finally at peace with himself.

My name, Nagash Arses,

is also the name of the poison king in the legend of Arcturus. I have good reason to be proud of my name!