Chapter 310 - First Story: Northern Gram's Isolation Facility
By the end of June, the days are long and the mornings are early. This is even more so in Northern Gram, located in the northeastern part of the island.
Stepping out from the window onto the terrace, the cool air feels pleasant against my skin. The room is on the third floor, so the view is also good. Beyond the well-maintained garden is a forest. Mist rising from the river thinly covers the surroundings, giving it an atmosphere where mythical animals like unicorns might appear. The chirping of early-rising birds can be heard.
The terrace is wide, with two bronze tables and chairs. I return to the room, take a bottle of cider and a glass, and decide to have a wake-up drink.
Returning to the room, seven people are sleeping in luxurious beds. As usual, Will's sleeping posture is terrible. A large feather pillow has fallen to the floor. It's a refreshing morning. I'll try not to look as much as possible and return to the terrace with the bottle in hand.
I stretch with all my might and breathe in the fresh morning air deep into my chest. The scent of wood and grass permeates my body.
I sit in a chair and enjoy the cider.
There aren't many times when a glass of cider feels this delicious.
"Jeanne! You were awake!"
From the floor above, Saxburg, dressed as a pure white unicorn, descended while gripping a rope.
The floor above should be the attic. She must have come out of the dormer window on purpose. Seeing it tied at her waist, there must be a servant above pulling with all their might. Hard work for them.
The wonderful morning atmosphere is ruined, but I'll refrain from complaining. The opponent is the master of this house.
"Good morning, Saxburg. You're early."
"Geez, I thought I'd surprise you."
Naive. You shouldn't underestimate an early-rising priest.
And also, a Sertoria Central Army soldier, a former Queen's direct subordinate, and a scout under the Nakanohara town head.
"It's alright. It's Saxburg."
When I call out into the room, Beowulf, Will, and Bonnie come out.
"Good morning, Saxburg."
"I almost threw a throwing knife. I can't approve of such a surprise attack."
"I wondered what it was."
The other four are sleeping soundly. But these three are trained differently. Ah, no, Lyudmila is peeking through a gap in the sheet she's covered her head with. You shouldn't underestimate an early-rising agricultural researcher either.
"Well, as expected. It's my complete loss this time."
She shrugged her shoulders while suspended by the rope, saying "too bad."
"I've been found out."
She called out to the top and landed on the terrace with a suton. Her horn and tail sway.
The servants who have to go along with this also have it tough.
"As expected of those my mother-in-law recognized. You're quite good."
A familiar voice can be heard from above. When I lean out from the terrace and look up, Eleanor-sama, Magdalena-sama, and Aira were there. Of all things, the ones pulling the rope were Sertorian royalty. The male servant next to them is looking on, seemingly out of breath.
"Perhaps it would have been better to hide our presence after all."
"But if a knife were suddenly thrown, Saxburg would be in danger."
If you don't behave, you'll really be scolded.
After that, Aira in a bandit-style with long blonde hair, wearing light green men's trousers and a fur vest over a tunic of the same color with a sword on her back; Magdalena-sama with a green marble bandana wrapped around her head like a brigand; and Eleanor-sama dressed as a peddler descended in order. Magdalena-sama came down the rope alone, and Eleanor-sama came down on a Wind Barrier disc.
Apparently, Magdalena-sama had intended to make a solo surprise attack. She's a former light cavalry soldier. She'd do that much easily. Hearing that, Aira and Saxburg apparently volunteered, saying they wanted to do it too.
Knowing those two, they must have talked on purpose so Aira and Saxburg could hear.
"Once in a while, this kind of adventure is necessary."
"That's right. As royalty, one must train oneself at all times."
(Since we can't do this kind of thing at the royal palace, it has to be at a time like this)
"I think so too."
The four of them smile at each other, saying "right?"
Yes, yes, it's good that the royalty of each country are on good terms.
Last night, there was an engagement ceremony for Eowyn-sama and Aira, and Beatrix, Will, Mary, Fiona, and I attended while surrounded by the royalty of various countries. The other companions were sightseeing in the capital. The next day, we slipped out on Eleanor-sama's bowl under Saxburg's guidance. The ceremony is over, but the dinner party continues. The key person, Aira, is leaving, but the main part is apparently about politics and money-making. A princess's absence seems to be common, and Eowyn-sama sent her off readily.
The total itinerary this time is seven days and six nights. It became a foreign trip for the entire Class of 175. Flora participated carrying Glory's basket, and Fiona participated after getting a vacation. Officially it's longer, but Wilson-san is hiding on the navy ship. Since we move on a high-speed medium bowl instead of taking the ship for the outbound and return trips, the travel time can be significantly shortened.
I have to do scroll-making as side work. In that sense, I'm very grateful.
The first night was the night before the ceremony, staying at an inn in the capital. The Kings and Queens who came by ship stay at the royal palace. I was also recommended to stay when we met offshore, but I declined. On the second day, the debut dinner party, staying in the capital. We'll stay at the villa for two nights. After that, returning to the capital, Eowyn-sama and Aira will go to report to the two ghosts at the border. Fiona and I will be with them. The next day, the King and Queen and Mary will go to the Finis capital by ship with Aira. We'll go to meet the Water Dragon on Eleanor-sama's bowl once we're offshore. Since Eleanor-sama's bowl has been an open secret in Finis since the war, we'll use it without reservation.
This time, it's a girls' night out, so Henry-sama hasn't come from the start. He's probably doing his best at the royal palace as a proxy for the King who participated in the ceremony.
I wake everyone up and give morning greetings. After a toast with cider, we had a morning aerial tour on Eleanor-sama's medium bowl, and then I dragged Beatrix, who was trying to go back to bed, to the dining hall on the first floor.
On the large table covered with a white sheet, there were several baskets of wheat and rye bread, plates piled with bacon and ham, and fruit was also arranged. Along the wall, frying pans for cooking eggs and shallow pots for making shell-less boiled eggs called poached eggs were prepared, and several bottles of drinks were placed. There were ten servants, both men and women.
"Is this okay? So much. It's quite a feast for morning. There's no way we can eat it all."
This is Matilda's first time having a royal meal. Banquets aside, when it comes to breakfast, she thinks she must eat everything served because it's a waste otherwise.
"It's alright if you don't eat it all. The leftovers will be placed in a wooden box for decay prevention and transported to the facility further ahead."
In Northern Gram, in the name of research for Eowyn-sama's disease, there is apparently an isolation facility for Just a Disease in the forest about half an hour's carriage ride from the royal family's villa. Currently, since the treatment method has been established, a workshop has also been established and they are apparently experimenting toward independent management.
"I see. Then I'll eat until I'm eighty percent full."
With Matilda's words as a signal, we all sat at the table at once.
"Hey, Matilda. Throw that small bottle of salt!"
"Here!"
"Cider, refill!"
"Look, Lyudmila. You're spilling it."
The servants are taken aback by the noisy meal, just like at the orphanage, but I suppose it's fine.
The four royals and Mary, who have changed properly, are eating while maintaining good posture and having elegant conversations, so it's a good balance.
Dune and Fiona are drinking wine from a barrel in broad daylight.
While having a lively meal, there was a brief explanation from Saxburg about today's schedule.
After inspecting the facility for half a day, she seems to want to do monster subjugation in the forest for the remaining half day.
Since Saxburg is here, there are escort soldiers. Since it's a former hunting ground, there should also be an employed hunter. There's no need to do it with us. I said that, but she said no.
"Because of my brother Eowyn's disease, my sister and I were not allowed to enter the forest. That's why everyone is reluctant to enter the forest with me. They probably think they'll lose their jobs if I get even a scratch. But if I enter the forest with all of you and build up a track record, it might be alright."
She looked down.
She's the type to dress as a unicorn and try to make a surprise attack by hanging from a window. She must have an active personality by nature. She might have read her favorite fairy tales and dreamed of herself drawing a sword and fighting monsters.
"What, is that all? Fine, let's go together. We'll start with normal animals. How about it, Bonnie, you can probably hunt at least a rabbit, right?"
"Really!"
Saxburg stood up.
"I have permission from my father and mother. If it's alright with all of you, please!"
"Even if you get hurt, if it's just a scrape from falling, it'll heal if you put some spit on it. Fine, let's go. I'll teach you how to use a mace. You have to punch and knock down a charging boar!"
Matilda. That's too extreme. The servants' faces changed color.
We decided to stop the one-on-one with a boar and start with rabbits. We also decided to have her experience hunting using leftovers and pots, and the group not going to the facility in the morning, together with Eleanor-sama, decided to prepare traps.
After breakfast, we go to inspect the isolation facility. The participants are the three royals and Saxburg's attendants, plus Lyudmila, Mary, me, and the spirits.
Since Eowyn-sama is involved, the facility, surrounded by a royal-managed moat and stone wall, seems to be well-maintained, with several stone buildings lined up. There was also a church, though small.
First, we greet the Bishop of the church. He is the head of the church within the facility and also the person in charge of epidemic countermeasures in this country.
"Priest Jeanne. Welcome. Oh, the famous Eleanor-sama, and Magdalena-sama is also with you."
We give our first greetings. He seems to be acquainted with Aira, as they were exchanging words familiarly. I heard that after the marriage, the villa will be handed down to the bride and groom. They will surely devote themselves to the maintenance of the facility.
First, we go to the ward and examine the patients.
The past two report meetings seem to have been useful, and those involved in the treatment of patients are wearing dedicated treatment clothes made by connecting bat wings. There are bathtubs with the Anti-Sepsis magic circle drawn on the bottom and several barrels, and mold-prevention water is also plentiful. The scrolls I put magic into were also properly stored. They are also using Holy Water, but as a result of the experiment we did in Higashinohara, it was found that Holy Water has no effect on curing the disease. In other words, so-called miasma and the disease seem to be unrelated.
There are about a hundred patients, which is a lot for the population. Since trade with the continent is flourishing on the east coast, there are likely many patients. In addition, the isolation facility in Old Gram seems to have been extremely poor, so they apparently evacuated them here.
Saxburg and Aira are also known to the patients, so everyone is gathering and kneeling.
"Everyone, how are you feeling?"
"Thanks to you, we are getting better day by day."
"Today, I brought guests. Everyone knows Aira. She'll be my sister-in-law next year."
A grand applause rises. Everyone probably knew, but there must have been no formal greeting from the person herself. Aira gave a greeting while being bashful, and it erupted again.
Next, those who came from Sertoria were introduced.
When Saxburg said Queen Magdalena-sama had come, it erupted, and when she said Eleanor-sama, the former Queen and former hero, had come, it erupted.
And when it was my turn, everyone knelt and asked for a blessing.
"Jeanne-sama. Your magic saved us. I don't know how to thank you..."
When I crouched and took the hand of the patient at the front, they started to cry.
"It is magic granted by the Goddess. Please convey your thanks to the Goddess."
That's right. It's originally from the Goddess. And the Undead magic too...
"Priest Jeanne. If you had felt like it, you could have built a fortune by using magic only for wealthy people like royalty and nobles. But you didn't do that. That alone is reason enough for the patients to thank you."
"I am a priest, after all."
"It is a splendid mindset."
It should be natural for a poor priest not to think about lining their own pockets. Despite that, being told it's splendid... does that mean that what's natural is not natural? Isn't that more of a problem?
Since there's no point in starting an argument with the Bishop, I just keep my head lowered.
I've heard from Price-sama that priests in charge of isolation facilities or epidemic countermeasures have been removed from the promotion track in many countries. What's necessary for promotion seems to be political power to make money. It's probably because they don't think about making money that they became the person in charge of epidemic countermeasures.
"Bishop, you are the one who is splendid. Your name was mentioned at the Council of Lords. We will also do our best to support the activities of people like you through the cooperation of various countries."
I heard that the Archbishop in Nakanohara was appointed Archbishop for his activities in life-saving during disasters. I heard that the Archbishop of the Primordia Royal Capital Great Church, whom I plan to meet soon, is also a famous researcher of epidemic countermeasures on the island.
Maybe we can expect something from Magdalena-sama's words.
The ward is now used as a rest area and sleeping quarters until private rooms are completed, and everyone works or exercises in a separate building during the day.
The patients also all seem healthy, and those who are expected to fully recover or those who have fully recovered and continue to live there were making woodwork and fine crafts in the workshop.
"Is there no processing plant for fur or dried meat?"
It's Mary.
"It's a forest, after all. If you hunt, there will be boars and bears. Fox and wolf fur and boar and bear dried meat can be sold at a high price on the continent. Since you can trade with the continent at the port near the Old Gram capital, it's a waste if there are magical beasts nearby."
Saxburg replied to this.
"The patients have no experience. It would have been good if we had treated them as warriors like in Finis, but in Northern Gram, we were just isolating them."
"So Saxburg herself wants to learn hunting?"
When Magdalena-sama said "that's wonderful" and hugged her, she laughed and said "yes."
"Let's start by setting traps and hunting squirrels and rabbits. Since the hunters know about such traps, why not have them teach you how to make and set them?"
"Yes. We've reached the point where we've secured a budget to hire a dedicated hunter. After that, it's whether we can secure enough profit to be able to manage independently."
"That might be something we can judge in this afternoon's practice."
"Yes. I look forward to it."
Saxburg is replying to Magdalena-sama's words.
Saxburg, for her part, seems to be thinking about various things.
The facility was luxurious, with a medicinal herb garden and even a hot spring.
"This medicinal herb garden is wonderful. It's well-managed."
Flora took the bait. It must be very well-managed.
"As you know, medicinal herbs said to be effective for epidemic diseases, starting with those effective for Just a Disease, are very expensive, so we've layered various efforts to be able to obtain them continuously and have finally become able to cultivate them."
Since many plants grow in high altitudes, the temperature must not be too high. Here, the altitude is higher than at the seaside and there is a lot of mist. In addition, it's much further north than half of the island. The conditions must have been met.
However, cultivation outside the medicinal herb garden seems to be impossible, and the number of cultivated plants is small.
"Cultivation is relatively easy in Finis. Unlike here, there are many high mountains and obtaining them is easy, and the temperature of the land itself is low. However, it might be difficult in the south of the island."
Aira said.
How is it? I'll ask Flora.
"Hmm. If the conditions are met, I think it'll be fine even in the south of the island, but I wonder if humans can judge whether those conditions are met."
That's the problem. Until the cultivation method is established, it might be impossible for humans.
"Is there no legend that spirits reside in this area?"
It's Mary. It might be a detour, but in the end, this is faster. If there's an Alraune, the cultivation method will also be established.
The Bishop says that in a corner of the vast forest spreading from the northwestern mountain area, there is a legend that the Dryad's Forest exists. If there's a Dryad, there might be an Alraune too. However, the surrounding area is the territory of monsters, and it seems they cannot approach. It's also close to the border of Finis and former Septanaquila, and also close to the place where the Demon Lord appeared.
"As you know, we have connections, so let's take it back to Sertoria and consider it."
"We'll tell you the result later."
At the words of Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama, we all nodded.
Even if we fly there suddenly in a bowl, we won't find it. There might be Elves in the Dryad's Forest too. It's best to consult with the spirits.