Chapter 791 - Chapter 7: Expedition to Southern Liber ⑥
The drunks returned not at midnight, but before dawn. Moreover, the number has increased by five.
"No, I feel good. Taverns of modern humans are quite something."
The Vice-Chieftain is satisfied. It might be better that he hasn't revealed his Dragonewt form.
"We are glad that Philning-sama enjoyed tonight's banquet. It was worth inviting you."
"Philning-sama's words just now are the greatest honor for us!"
"Indeed, indeed. It is more than we deserve."
The three nobles are completely wasted.
"No, it was a pleasant night. What do you think? Henry-dono, Eleanor-dono. Why not create taverns like the one we visited tonight in Sertoria? The bond between us and humans will become stronger than ever."
"That is a good idea. I shall speak to Magdalena, who is in charge."
"It sounds interesting. If it's successfully realized, please do come by all means."
"Of course. At that time, let us call the Chieftain and the young ones who have been helpful and have a grand party."
They're getting excited about a new topic! But I might want to go too.
"Sorry, Jeanne. Only we enjoyed ourselves."
He finally started pestering me too. Drunks are the same whether they are Dragonewts or humans.
"N-No, thanks to that, I was able to rest enough here."
"I see, that's good. Rest well tonight."
Forget tonight, it's almost dawn.
"After all, tomorrow night will be busy. We're going to snatch five people at once."
Eh?
"Bishop Jeanne. Gathering information went well. We have identified one location where there are severely ill patients of Black Rot Disease."
Ancelotti-sama is excited. He's not just drunk.
Apparently, in the town on the opposite shore, a mood of self-restraint is drifting because multiple people infected with Black Rot Disease have appeared. The tavern they went to was also empty and on the verge of closing. There, the Duke of Naonent and the three nobles, carrying leather bags filled with gold coins, pushed in and chartered the whole place. The four of them gave their names, said they had brought acquaintances from far away, and demanded the best wine and best food, ordering them to keep bringing more. After all, the Vice-Chieftain and the Wetlands Priestess are there. There's no way it would go to waste. The people at the tavern, whose business had been failing, were overjoyed. The manager himself put his heart and soul into preparing the wine and food. Around the time it was quite lively, Ancelotti-sama started making small talk with the people at the shop. To the shop, he's a top customer. They apparently answered various questions one after another. And he ended up getting truly useful information.
The flow of information gathering apparently came together immediately after entering the tavern, analyzing the situation, centered around Eleanor-sama and Yorg-sama, and involving the Duke of Naonent and the three nobles.
As expected. They're usually playful, but they really do it when they have to.
"It also matched the information my subordinates obtained. There is no mistake."
Apparently, they joined up with the subordinates before going to the tavern and were making a fuss together. Occasionally, they would pretend to go to the toilet, slip out of the shop, and run near the site. Then, the Wetlands Priestess apparently saw the current situation with her own eyes. After that, considering the withdrawal of the subordinates, they reportedly brought all five of them. They must have judged that any more would be dangerous.
"It's worse than expected. The one we pulled yesterday was the same, but they've already given up on treatment."
According to the Wetlands Priestess, the infected are sailors from the southern peninsula who came by ship. They are reportedly thrown into a locked room and no treatment is being performed. It can't be helped since it's said there's no cure. There are no guards. No one approaches because they are scared. It's convenient for those snatching them, but as a priest, it's not something that can be accepted.
"Spread might be a matter of time. It seems the countries of the peninsula have begun to close their borders and ports."
It's Yorg-sama. It must be information gathered by his subordinates.
Apparently, even if a ship arrives, a proposal has been made to make them wait offshore for dozens of days. The tavern they went to was frequented by many people who came from abroad, such as sailors and pilgrims. The tavern itself gathers various information. They made quite a lot of money from this banquet. They are even considering closing the shop until Black Rot Disease settles down.
"Tomorrow... it's already today. When night falls and everyone is asleep, we will snatch five people. And we'll treat them to some extent here. If it goes well, we withdraw."
At least six people can be saved. I want to do something for them.
After the drunks made a fuss for a while, they finished their bathing in order. It wasn't warmed. Moreover, at this time of year. Everyone who soaked in it seemed to sober up and settled down all at once.
It's about time. I had everyone move to the hall and sit in a circle. Yorg-sama's subordinates sat behind Yorg-sama and the Jeanne of Sertogne, who was sitting next to him, out of modesty.
Then, I explained what I talked about with Wilson-san to everyone, starting with Ancelotti-sama. I omitted the part about mice protecting humans... no, monsters protecting humans... because the explanation is complicated.
"I-In other words, are fleas, lice, and ticks the cause?"
Ancelotti-sama is excited. He's lifting his hips. His face is a bit close.
"It is just a conjecture, a conjecture. We inspected the patient sleeping over there, and there are apparently bite marks from fleas and ticks."
Since he was still bringing his face closer, I held his shoulders with both hands to stop him and had him sit properly.
"Unless we send body fluids and some waste to Primordia for confirmation, we won't know, but in addition to the possibility of infection from a patient's body fluids or waste, the possibility of infection by being bitten by insects is also possible. That is what I think."
"I-I see. We must also be careful of parasites."
"Yes. And once the next five people we bring are out of danger, why don't we take them back to Naonent? There's a limit to bathing with magic water here, and everyone here now is in danger."
In a sense, it would mean exposing Naonent to the risk of spread, but if we say that, no one will be able to return anymore.
"Then, let us return with my guidance. I would like to ask for treatment in a remote place within my territory."
The Duke of Naonent is calm. And he gave a sufficient answer.
"Then, Philning-sama's hospitality is on hold until the series of treatments is over. Once that is finished, I would definitely like to invite you to my mansion."
"Stealing a march is not admirable. I was also thinking of inviting him to my mansion."
"Indeed, indeed, please do come to my mansion as well."
Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, and even the Duke of Naonent are clapping their hands in joy.
"Is that alright?"
Even the Vice-Chieftain is eager.
Hey now. Just how many banquets do you all intend to have?
To recover their strength, the drunks went to sleep on their own. Wilson-san and the Wetlands Priestess said they would watch the patient, so I also rested.
We woke up around noon, and after eating, everyone went outside and basked in the sunlight to their heart's content. Since the Vice-Chieftain applied Camouflage, we explore the island.
The island is indeed a gentle rock-like island. However, in one place, something like a groove between rocks that continues from near the summit continues to the sea. According to Yorg-sama, when it rains a lot, rainwater gathers in the groove and becomes a small stream. Following the stream, there are places where medium-sized trees grow. Going further, there are places where it's just a little flat on both sides of the groove, and there's a small lovely sandy beach... or rather, a shingle beach. The opposite shore is visible, and it probably wouldn't be used as a port for waiting for weather.
"Are they doing something at the ports of West Liber before foreign ships enter?"
Yorg-sama is asking Ancelotti-sama. Apparently, in the southern peninsula region where infected people have appeared like on the opposite shore, they are setting restrictions on the landing of sailors and such.
"The declaration at the Great Unity Conference has already been conveyed to the lord. However, he is not very enthusiastic, and the reality is that it is being ignored..."
Because the leading great lord is in such a state, the small lords who have small ports along the Inner Sea connected to him are apparently deciding to wait and see.
That's bad. At least let's completely ban the slave trade.
"What about the leaders of you three?"
The Duke of Naonent asked the three nobles. The three nobles' leader should have been a Margrave with territory in southwestern West Liber.
"The Margrave has listened to our opinions and had sent a priest to the Great Unity Conference. The Margrave's duty is to prepare for the western neighbor and Sertogne. He has not sent troops to this war. Because a two-front operation is a foolish strategy, he is dedicating all troops to defense. Therefore, he can also allocate military force to the ports. Furthermore, he can spread the threat of Black Rot Disease to the western neighbor and set up a plan to block the opponent's invasion. He said he would also carry out border closures and port landing restrictions. I believe he is surely doing so."
"That is admirable."
"However, since we are separated from the western neighbor by high mountain ranges, there probably won't be much of an invasion anyway."
The bearded noble smirks. The other two nobles are smirking together.
In other words, the western neighbor isn't a threat at all, and they are trying to maintain a state of non-war using Black Rot Disease. It must also serve as a demonstration for that. It's subtle, if I say so myself, but if it's helping to prevent the spread of the epidemic and prevent war, then that's fine.
"As expected of a man known as a wise general."
Naonent shares a border. From what I hear, he also excels in martial arts and is a trump-card-like existence for the Kingdom of West Liber. That trump card is implementing non-war diplomacy to prevent spread. The Duke of Naonent must also be relieved. He's reliable.
That night, they really brought them. And seven people at that. Two more than planned. They reportedly rescued everyone who had been thrown into the dungeon. The poor jailers were apparently punched and knocked unconscious by those claiming to be messengers of the dragon, including the Vice-Chieftain who suddenly deactivated the Camouflage he had been hiding with and revealed his true form. Since they had anticipated a large number of people from the start, they had brought several barrels. Consequently, the bathing water tanks became one, but it couldn't be helped. As a result, the fever went down for all seven. The enhanced magic water is quite effective. Since it would be a hassle if they woke up midway, they reportedly tied them up on the spot, put bags over their heads, and snatched them.
"No, it was thrilling."
"We were truly messengers of justice. No, messengers of the dragon."
"Indeed, indeed, the brilliance of Philning-dono's movements. Was it 'fierce one'? It was a movement befitting that name."
Are they misunderstanding something?
"I definitely wanted Bishop Jeanne to see it too."
Even the Duke of Naonent? I am a priest.
"No, it is wonderful. We should also take direct action like tonight. Let us consult with the Knight Order once."
It's Priest Ancelotti. He said the monotheism on the continent has a Knight Order made up of priests.
The next day, despite the significant increase in personnel, the Vice-Chieftain flew up. Even though the barrels of magic water were gone, this is an astounding thing. Eleanor-sama is sighing deeply. The foundation is different. It can't be helped. However, I obtained information that training from childhood is important. I'm somehow worried about the children, but will they be okay?
Because it became larger, the speed seems to have dropped, and the number of break points increased by one. When coming, we passed over the sea while looking at the base of the continent from above, but we proceeded along the coastline and rested once in the mountains near the base. To put it the other way around, the Vice-Chieftain was flying while calculating that far. No matter how you think about it, we can't match him. Eleanor-sama seemed to have the same impression, and she honestly admitted defeat to that caution and thoroughness, asking how he could perform such accurate flight. It's because she usually measures the passage of time with candles.
"Intuition, I suppose. When you've been flying for thousands of years since birth, you somehow come to understand."
"A difference in experience."
Since Eleanor-sama started flying in a bowl after being taught by Paul-san, it's only been about ten years or so.
"There is nothing but practice."
"Umu. Even if your lifespan is short, it is not as if you cannot do it at all. If you think you can do it, you will somehow become able to."
"I shall take those words to heart."
They are laughing with each other.
Somehow or other, they just hit it off.