Chapter 804 - Chapter 4: Countermeasures in the North
The palace of Finis is the same as Primordia; the Henry Party won't be complained to even if they suddenly fly over the palace. As usual, they appeared near the palace, and while Will was flying around waving the Black Dragon Flag—the crest of the Sertorian royal family—tied to a spear, the King and Queen of Finis flew up on their own bowl.
They met in the air and exchanged greetings of "Ya, ya."
"Henry-dono, it is good of you to come."
"King of Finis, I shall be in your care again."
While the two were greeting each other, Eleanor-sama was meticulously handing over souvenirs to the Queen. It was Miana's new work made with a recipe obtained in South Liber.
When we went to the courtyard as we were, we were told they wanted to talk in the audience chamber.
I wondered why it was different from usual as I went to the waiting room, and I met several Priestesses. The Priestesses are not directly involved with the Great Unity Conference. I heard that is the domain of the Church. It seems work on a national scale is basically led by the Church. It's probably because Priestesses are not involved in the country's politics.
Basically, there is one Priestess in what Sertoria calls a village area. There is a shrine in a large village or town that bundles several village areas, and there are several people there, including apprentice Priestesses. There are over a dozen locations throughout Finis, but the ones I was able to meet this time were only those from around the Royal Capital. I suppose the Church priests and Priestesses will cooperate for the Black Rot countermeasures this time.
"Jeanne, it is good that you have come."
"Everyone, it has been a long time."
"I heard that a bad epidemic has been confirmed on the continent."
I was suddenly asked. As I thought, the Priestesses were called for the Black Rot countermeasures.
"Yes. It's the Black Rot. It seems to be a quite dangerous disease."
"I heard that humans rot black and die. Could you tell us in detail what kind of disease it is?"
Finis and Northern Gram were in a state of being caught off guard even at the Great Unity Conference. I would have been the same if it weren't for the information from Yorg-sama. The Priestesses haven't even participated in the conference. They must have been called for an emergency assembly after being told they have to make more magic water than ever before.
That said, I'm not an expert either. I told them roughly that the infectivity is dangerous, the mortality rate is high, people die one after another, they suffer from high fever, strange lumps form in the groin, armpits, and neck, and finally they die with their fingers and toes turning black. I also said that the blackening is because necrosis is occurring, and it's cured with [Heal], not [Anti-Sepsis].
"And magic water works for that disease, doesn't it?"
"Yes. It's been confirmed."
I certainly cured eight people.
"But I heard that disease was confirmed in a port town in southern West Liber; is it really that urgent?"
"Um, I don't know much about that part either, but it's apparently originally from a far eastern country, and it's spread from there with unprecedented momentum."
I told them what was discussed at the Great Unity Conference, that it seems to be like this.
"Does it jump via trading ships?"
"Yes. So even if it's spreading in a far-off place, infected people appear in a single bound from there."
"That is why you are imposing entry restrictions on ships coming from the continent."
Finis will apparently implement it soon too. It's a good thing.
"It's not just ships. There's a possibility of it being transmitted if you're bitten by parasites that live on rats, but it seems rats move from port to port on ships."
"Rats? Does it spread from parasites on rats to humans?"
"There are diseases you get from being bitten by rats, but the Black Rot is not just that; it seems it also spreads through fleas and ticks. I think humans will be fine with bathing in magic water, but we also have to take measures against rats and parasites."
I told them the story that the patients had flea and tick bites that were turned black.
The Henry Party's report should have gone up regarding this area, but it doesn't seem to have been made known to everyone. I think it should be more thorough...
"Then, we must exterminate the rats that come on ships."
"That's true too, but the difficult part is the parasites. They hide in clothes and bedsheets, so they're nasty. Therefore, we must process not only the people on board the ships requesting entry but even the clothes and bedsheets where parasites might be hiding."
"That is difficult. I thought of cats for rats, but it does not end there."
I see, cats. Come to think of it, there are cases where cats are kept on ships. But do cats hunt all the rats? Won't they be satisfied after catching one and not catch any for a while?
"Um, there is something I would like to ask."
There is something I want to ask the Priestesses. It's what I was talking about with the Wetlands Priestess before.
"What is it? Please say anything."
Since they're listening with a smile, I'll take them up on it.
"Could we deploy ghosts for the inspection of ships that have requested entry?"
Ghosts don't catch diseases. Fleas and ticks aside, they should be able to do rat extermination.
"What do you think? I think rat extermination is the same whether humans do it or ghosts do it."
"I-I see."
Is it difficult after all? That was also pointed out in the conversation with the Wetlands Priestess.
"Then how about that child?"
One of the Priestesses asked the other Priestesses.
"That child?"
"That child in the Water Dragon's shrine. It's Poppy."
Poppy... the black cat possessed by a demon.
"That child would probably use various ingenious ways to do rat extermination for us."
I see. [Charm]. Humans only get caught if they're male, but rats should be fine for both. She can gather them all up. The reason the Priestess said 'use various ingenious ways' is probably because she doesn't want to openly put into words the use of forbidden magic.
But it's a good idea. Demons do not get infected with epidemics that humans catch. Moreover, she can control rats with [Charm]. If we have the ships requesting entry wait offshore, put the demon on the ship, and wipe out the rats in one go before using magic water with insect repellent or insect-attracting water...
"Ah, that child would be good at hunting rats."
Come to think of it, I heard she usually does rat extermination at the shrine in the form of a cat. I'm sure she's using [Charm] too.
"It should be fine to leave it to that child."
"But if that's the case, we have to make a new contract."
"I wonder if His Majesty would show consideration. All the royalty are fond of Poppy."
"Let's do that," they all said to each other, and went to the audience chamber.
When we went to the audience chamber, there were many nobles as well as royalty. The Bishop who is the head of the Royal Capital Great Church and priests were also there. Apparently, they came to hear our explanation. Before the throne, I was asked again about the Black Rot.
The first one to answer was the priest who had participated in the Great Unity Conference. He spoke about the report from the participants from the Duchy of Roland and West Liber that a serious epidemic was showing signs of spreading, that the infection situation of that epidemic was so terrible that the place was in an uproar, and that the final conclusion was that each country would independently work on its own rulers to actively conduct blockades and isolation at highways and ports as spread prevention measures.
"Washing hands and dishes with strong alcohol was also recommended."
Finis is famous for its strong alcohol. They should be able to do it.
"I heard it can be treated with that magic water."
"Yes. That is what we have heard."
Regarding that point, the Church priests don't know. Eleanor-sama stepped forward.
"Regarding that matter, we, who received the request for investigation directly from the Church, shall explain."
She said that and began to explain.
Fine details were, of course, omitted. She just said that as a result of attempting to treat Black Rot patients within the Kingdom of Sertogne, they succeeded in completely curing severe patients. She said that at that time, various things were understood about the patients' occupations, behavior before infection, and symptoms, so they shared them in a report.
"I have heard. It was the blockade of highways and entry restrictions at ports, was it not?"
"That's right. What we, the various countries of the White Island, should work on is the entry restrictions for ships coming from the continent and the provision of magic water to the various countries on the continent."
"I heard that slave trading ships brought the spread, did I not? Our country does not engage in slave trade. Even so, must we conduct long-term entry restrictions? There are those who say we should just have them bathe in magic water on board. Is that not enough?"
The King glanced at the nobles. In other words, there are those who oppose entry restrictions. There must be merchants behind them. They must be receiving bribes.
"I also wrote it in the report to the Church, but the infection route is not just humans. Depending on the cargo, that can also become a route."
Eleanor-sama spoke about fleas and ticks.
"It is highly likely that those bitten by parasites on rats were infected. In fact, several of the patients treated said they had no direct contact with Black Rot patients. However, there were several parasite bite marks on their bodies, and those parts were darkened. Rats that eat up food are common on ships, and parasites like fleas and ticks are common on rats. And fleas and ticks move by sticking to clothes, bedsheets, and cargo. Until the removal of those is finished, entry should be restricted and the landing of crew and cargo should be limited. Incidentally, Sertoria has already implemented it. Of course, ships that have only stopped at the White Island are not subject to it. Fortunately, all ships coming to Sertoria come after passing through other countries, so there are no results at this point."
Eleanor-sama didn't say 'it would be better to do it', but clearly stated 'should'.
"I see. Everyone, what do you think after hearing Eleanor-dono's story just now?"
At the King's question, the nobles looked down. Some were folding their arms and pretending to think. From Eleanor-sama's way of speaking, they probably thought lifting the restrictions would be difficult.
"Then I want to ask Jeanne about the magic water. Is an increase in production beyond the current level necessary? Currently, our country is mass-producing scrolls of [Anti-Sepsis] using multiple beads. We are also making magic water as needed for crew members of ships entering our country and having them bathe in isolation. Also, as you know, the scrolls, including those produced in Northern Gram, are sent to Vectis Island, where magic water is made and loaded onto ships for transport to various countries on the continent. We are also directly transporting magic water made in our country to Engrio and Medioland. During the previous epidemic countermeasures, did we not prevent the landing on the White Island with that? Is it not enough as it is?"
That is true. However, the Black Rot is different in speed and danger.
"I think we must make sure not a single infected person appears on the White Island. For that, a rampart is necessary. By providing magic water to neighboring countries like Sertogne, Germana, Roland, and East and West Liber, and actively recommending spread prevention measures, we will make those countries into ramparts."
What will happen outside the ramparts? We cannot reach places where magic water does not reach, such as southern West Liber, or countries with which we have no diplomatic relations. If those countries have no treatment method, we will be abandoning them. However, we cannot do what we cannot do. Every country must first protect itself.
"There is a limit to the transport volume. The duration of the effect too. Ships cannot be built in a day or two. And it costs money. That said, we cannot take additional taxes either."
There are nobles who are nodding deeply at the King's words. They must be the opposition.
There is an expert regarding this matter.
"Um, is it okay if I speak?"
"Is it Beatrix? You are a knight of our country, are you not? Do not hesitate."
"Thank you. Then, to give the conclusion first, transport is possible."
Beatrix explained that as a result of her apprenticing under Gnome, she became able to jump many times more magic water to the southern tip of Sertogne using [Transport] than before. This story is known to those who know it because she is making enclosures in the Medioland demon realm. Some of the nobles who didn't know were surprised to hear about Gnome, but some were smirking as if they were superior while looking at those fellows.
"If I prepare and use multiple magic circles that I draw, I can jump a large amount at once. Incidentally, since I'm the only one who can do it for now, it'll be a Class of 175 monopoly, but the fee is quite reasonable."
When Beatrix said the fee, the King nodded "Hmm, hmm." Since it's a large-scale magic circle, it's a decent price. Also, it's a little more expensive than the shipping fee. However, that method is for destinations in the far interior of the continent. For close countries like Roland and Germana, or even the coastal areas of East and West Liber, ships are fine as before. In other words, it has nothing to do with current Finis. However, if the conventional supply is not enough, it might become necessary to jump from Finis too.
"I ask Jeanne once more. Must we go that far?"
"I think it is a disease that is that dangerous."
"I see. Understood."
The King nodded with a very serious face.
After that, it was question time for the nobles, but no one said anything.
The explanation before the throne ended and we were dismissed. Since it's a Church instruction this time, there's no dinner party either. After that, we moved to the conference room with the intention of having a concrete talk with the King and Queen, Gwyn-sama and his wife, and the priests and Priestesses.
"It is more difficult than I thought."
That was the first thing the King said after taking a sip of the distributed beer. He probably doesn't have a real sense of it. I didn't either until I actually saw a patient. But I knew at a glance. It was a condition that I would have accepted even if I were told it was a demon's curse. It's nothing but terror that such a thing is infected one after another.
"I think you have already sensed it, but there are those who say it is premature to impose entry restrictions when no infected people have appeared on the opposite shore. That is why I set up that kind of place. I have put the Henry Party and Jeanne to trouble. Beatrix too. I have no words of thanks."
It's just as I thought. But it's a normal reaction if you call it normal. At the point I went to the Inner Sea, West Liber itself wasn't doing it. That's why infected people would appear. Anri-sama's hardships are remembered.
"Your Majesty, I have an idea regarding that countermeasure."
The Priestess cut in. It must be about Poppy.
As a result of proposing it to the King and Queen of Finis, the talk was summarized to confirm her own intention.
"Then shall we go tomorrow? We might as well go with flight magic. It's a race between our country and Sertoria. Of course, it's ultra-high speed."
"That sounds good. Then I shall accommodate one of my magic soldiers for acceleration."
Gwyn-sama immediately responds to the King's words. This kind of vibe is very Finis.