Chapter 593 - Chapter Eleven: To the Duchy of Naonent ②
The people who gathered heard Bishop Lloyd's explanation and finally noticed the effects of Anti-Sepsis and magic water, and the difference between treatment and prevention.
"Anti-Sepsis is nothing more than something like a fast-acting medicinal soup. First, we prioritize the treatment of the sick. And just because you bathed in the light emitted by Jeanne-bishop, it doesn't mean the danger of infection will disappear forever. The effect is only temporary. We will make the improvement of the living environment of the sick and the houses where the sick appeared the preventive measure."
"Then, are you saying that examining the patients on the ship comes first?"
"Yes. The disease spreads from the infected to the healthy. If all the infected are completely cured, such a thing will not happen. After that, please be careful about cleanliness daily so that new infected people do not appear, and pray to the God you believe in. Everyone will work together to prevent the spread of the plague."
These words of Bishop Lloyd also seemed to reach the heathen priests. Those who were keeping their distance slowly approached.
"Oh, is it not the priest? Are you the head of the church in this land?"
The mustached noble spoke. Since almost everyone in West Liber is a believer in monotheism, the nobles must all be so.
"Yes. Today I have come to see the rumored heathen magic."
Perhaps thinking they would be shut out, they seemed quite timid.
"The patients to be treated today should all be believers of your church. Please, stand by. And if you would like, please help. The important thing is to save the patients from the disease. There is no difference in religion there. You must have your own ways of confronting the disease. Let us stand together hand in hand."
Bishop Lloyd demonstrated the spirit of great unity. Receiving those words, the heathen priests offered that they would like to provide their own church as a treatment location. The people dispatched from the Royal Palace seemed to have heard the story in advance and are saying there's no problem. Originally, we were planning to use the church on this side, but when we asked the nobles the number of people they brought, it's quite a number at forty-seven. It seems they can't possibly accommodate everyone. The targets of this treatment have no connection to the religion here. The patients will also feel more at ease if they have the God they believe in watching over them. So, it was decided to have them accommodate the relatively mild cases.
When we were guided to the bank where the ships were tied, four are lined up. Except for one ship where the flags being hoisted overlap, it's likely one ship per family. The one who put out two ships is the noble who came to Sertoria for negotiations, and he's waving from the bow. So this is what he meant when he said he wouldn't cross the border himself.
Several huts are built on the bank, and there are guard soldiers. Hearing about it, they were apparently built as a place for treatment. Since this is a direct territory, the Duke of Naonent must have ordered them built. Three barrels of magic water to be used for hand washing were placed in the huts.
The ships are tied to the pier built on the riverbank with ropes. Since I was told there's no problem as long as they don't set sail, I boarded.
"How is the infection prevention for the sailors carrying the patients?"
"It's that."
What he called 'that' were several barrels piled on the deck. They seem to be filled with boiled water that has been cooled.
"The ships carrying the patients are connected to this ship with ropes. Since it's a river, if we release them from the bank, they'll flow downstream. Therefore, the only sailors are those who take the helm. Like that, they cover their faces with cloth soaked in boiled water for a long time, leaving only their eyes out."
Certainly, the person taking the helm at the gunwale is covering his face with cloth, with only his eyes showing.
Hmm. They're doing what they can.
I decided to have the guard soldiers and the helmsmen wait just in case. Because if symptoms appear, they'll become targets for treatment.
First is the interview with the patients. Bishop Lloyd and the other priest group put on infection prevention clothes made of bat wings. The heathen priests don't have them. Since this would be bad, Bishop Lloyd was handing over the spares he brought. When we actually boarded the ship, the disease is what it is. The smell is terrible. Since the heathen church, which knows the number of people, has prepared changes of clothes, we decided to leave it to them.
Each patient has one piece of cloth, and they are all lying down with it spread on the deck. They apparently came from places that can be reached in a full day's ship ride at the furthest. According to the talk of the nobles and the wealthy people, in order to achieve the quota of ten people, they apparently gathered them by starting an investigation request to the local church and doing a total sweep of the territory.
When Bishop Lloyd and Sianya actually examined them, not even half were infected with the plague they were wary of. Probably, it's a stomach ache for another reason, or the plague that affects the lungs with strong symptoms like a cold that spreads in winter. However, there's no doubt that there were target plague patients among the people close to the patients, and some apparently died in the summer. It's natural to suspect infection.
As Bishop Lloyd's treatment, it was decided to first divide the forty-seven patients by symptoms. The first group was the target plague patients, and eighteen were thought to fall under that. The second group was the plague patients affecting the lungs, and that's eleven people. The nineteen people in the third group are probably not plague. However, the second and third also came on the ship together with the plague patients. Since those without symptoms might also be infected, they were put under observation. And the fourth group consists of the sailors and guard soldiers involved in this procedure. They also need bathing.
There are several huts on the bank. We assigned the huts to each group.
The second group cannot be cured with magic water. Bishop Lloyd talked with the heathen church head and decided to just do infection prevention and leave everything to them. Harris-sama unleashed Holy on one barrel's worth of barreled magic water to strengthen it. After finishing hand washing, face washing, and gargling with the strengthened magic water, it would be good to have them become naked one by one and wipe their bodies with a towel soaked in magic water. We left this also to the heathen priests. They also knew the types of herbs and the church had spares.
The third group is not particularly urgent. Since there's no problem if they don't develop symptoms, we decided to have them rest slowly after the infection prevention measures.
The fourth group just needs to return to their duties after doing the infection prevention measures.
The problem is the first group. Of course, immediate treatment.
There are eighteen people. We will stay for three days, including today. Complete recovery will be impossible. We decided to cast magic in order starting from those with severe symptoms.
"Jeanne-bishop, I have a proposal."
It's the Archbishop of the Naonent Great Church.
"Let's make this hut a shrine to the Goddess. We have brought the Goddess's image. A simple ceremony is necessary, but it won't take that much time."
"Does making it a shrine do something?"
"The effectiveness of magic will improve."
Is that so? As expected of the Goddess. Even her image has power.
If the effect of magic becomes stable, there's no reason not to take the offer. Moreover, if the Archbishop himself will perform it, there are no complaints. I decided to ask him immediately.
When I examined the state of the patients again together with Bishop Lloyd, it turned out that four people were in a quite dangerous state. The condition must have worsened.
Looking at the hut, the shrine-ification seems to have finished successfully. We put the patients on wooden boards and carried them in.
"Harris-sama, I will use Eight-Volley for these four people."
"Is that okay?"
"If I steady my breathing, four times is possible. However, after that, I think I won't be able to use magic for a while. Therefore, please strengthen the magic water with Holy and have the patients bathe."
"Understood. Don't push yourself."
After that, I asked them to prepare meals for the patients and decided to enter treatment.
The patients are limp because they have fevers. I had them take off their clothes and purified their bodies with holy water brought by the local church. During that time, the Archbishop was giving a prayer, and other priests were chanting along. I looked at the Goddess's image and recited a passage of the prayer while looking at her smile. Just like that, I held the staff with both hands and steadied my breathing.
"Anti-Sepsis!"
It was Eight-Volley, but what was actually emitted from the staff was a yellow log-like light of about Holy level. As expected, it dropped to high-level. Even so, sweat beaded on my temples.
The emitted yellow light enveloped the patient's body.
"It's warm..."
The patient who closed his eyes muttered.
When the light disappeared, I urged the patient to open his eyes.
"How do you feel?"
"It's much easier."
The patient who opened his eyes looked around and put his hand to his forehead.
"H-have I been cured?"
Just like that, he sat up.
A stir of either admiration or amazement rose from the people around. It was a success.
"Treatment is still necessary. It's not like the source of the disease has completely disappeared. Also, I emitted the magic with the highest power among those that can be emitted here. Accordingly, it also places a burden on your body. Please, rest quietly and slowly."
"Th-thank you. It's much, truly much easier!"
Since he was about to cling to my hem, I crouched down and held him back. The symptoms have lightened, but he's not cured yet. From here on, it'll still take time. He has no choice but to bathe in the magic water Cadogan-sama provided, drink the medicinal soup prepared by the church here, and eat sufficient meals while slowly recovering his physical strength.
"I thought, I thought I was going to die. Thank you so much."
"It's okay. Please rest assured. There are also people here who serve the God you believe in. The God you believe in should also be watching over you. You will surely get well. It'll be okay."
Saying that, I look at the heathen priest. The priest seemed to understand, and coming to the patient's side, he took his hand and offered a prayer.
I was able to successfully emit high-level magic. It was as the Archbishop said. I've immediately found something to report to Anri-sama.
I took a sip of wine from my canteen, steadied my breathing, and started treatment for the second person and onward.
I was somehow able to alleviate the four emergency patients. Partly because I had never emitted Anti-Sepsis in Eight-Volley before, my feet are a bit unsteady. I'm drenched in sweat. Perhaps unable to watch, Hermit-sama crouched down and showed his back, so I let him carry me on his back just like that and left the hut.
As soon as I came out, I was surrounded by applause.
The nobles, the wealthy people, and the guard soldiers had apparently been watching from outside.
"Jeanne-bishop, that was magnificent!"
"Truly wonderful. And the coordination with the priests who serve our God."
"Indeed. Usually, exclusive people carry weight, but I must reconsider a bit."
"After all, for those who have never seen magic since they were born, they probably cannot understand."
They praised me one after another. More than anything, the atmosphere that seemed to resonate with the spirit of coexistence and co-prosperity was joyful.
The nobles told me to drink some wine for a pick-me-up, so I accepted. It's top-quality mainland produce. Marcelo-san, who's been making good money lately, has started drinking only this kind of thing, and I can well understand that feeling. Since it would be a waste, I drank it while savoring it little by little.
By the way, how is the infection situation in the territories of these three nobles?
When I asked for reference, they drew a simple map on the ground with a wooden stick and explained.
Looking at the map, the river flows from the east when seen from where we are now. From here, one station's worth is the border line with Sertogne. Beyond that, both north and south of the river are apparently West Liber.
The three nobles who gathered patients this time—the noble who came to Sertoria has his territory directly opposite where we are now. The west is by land, and the north is adjacent to Sertogne across the river. The mustached noble's territory is to the east, and further east of that is the third noble's territory. At the territory of the noble furthest to the east, the river turns south. The east of the river is mountainous and has poor transportation. In other words, if the three nobles work hard, they might be able to stop the infection of the plague into southwestern West Liber to some extent with the river.
"The places where it's okay to cross the river and where it's okay to dock ships are decided. And we are always keeping an eye out with patrols along the river. Even though it's during a truce, it's wartime now. I have said that anyone who tries to cross the river without permission should be killed on the spot if found. However, people who trade with the other side of the river are absolutely necessary. Since we have to cross the river, we have to put out ferries and have people cross. Accordingly, although it's only a very small amount compared to the northern coast or the Royal Capital, infected people have appeared. We must somehow stop the epidemic. Jeanne-bishop, please give us your guidance."
I asked about the situation north of the river. It's a wide plain area and is apparently a strategic point where highways connecting the West Liber Royal Capital, the current Duchy of Germania, Sertogne, and northwestern West Liber gather. Since the north is the Duchy of Germania and the west is the border with Sertogne, it's probably safe. The northern and northeastern parts are low mountains covered in forest. In other words, the northeastern part also has restricted transportation with the coastal areas of northern West Liber. And because it's that kind of terrain, they apparently haven't sent soldiers to the war with East Liber under the pretext of protecting that area. Surely, they are connected with Sertogne behind the scenes. The prospect was that the plague would not spread rapidly from the coastal areas.
The problem is that the Royal Capital is to the east and is connected by the plain area. Soldiers traveled back and forth around the Royal Capital and the eastern coast of the current Duchy of Germania territory due to the battles on the coast and the battles with the East Liber main army. And the connection with the Royal Capital cannot be severed. In the summer, patients thought to be infected through that route apparently appeared in a relatively large town north of the river. And considering the effective period, magic water might be fully occupied by the Royal Capital. The three nobles had a sense of crisis that it would come to their own territories next year.