episode_0243

“… … Anima?!”

Yuuri ran to Anima, who was lying down and panting.

“U… … Let’s go, don’t come close.”

“What on earth is this…? … Are you okay?!”

“I’m okay… … .”

Cough, Cough!

By coughing loudly a few times… … Red blood came out from Anima’s neck.

Yuuri’s eyes widened as he looked at that scene.

“This is… … !”

“Don’t worry. just… … I’ve been overdoing things these days. After a few days of rest… … It’ll be okay, so don’t worry about me… … .”

“What do you mean!”

“It’s an important time… … I don’t know where Chell will appear again… … We, the players… … .”

Cough, Cough!

“First, let’s return to the castle. I’m waiting here.”

After saying that, he grabbed Yuuri’s sleeve as he took a step, squeezing out the strength that he lacked in anima.

“No… … If you waste time here, you’ll be giving time to Chell… … Somehow, take action… Otherwise, the soul of the dead Ern… … .”

“Anima.”

Yuuri looked at her with a more serious expression than ever.

“I can’t lose even you.”

“Yu… … Lee.”

“… … I’m waiting for you. I’ll be there soon.”

Yuuri slowly laid Anima down on the bed and then quickly walked away.

* * *

Mirage Castle was once the territory of Chell County, and is now the territory of Aethius County.

After Anima was hospitalized, Yuuri heard an unexpected story from the doctor in charge of her.

“I said it was a plague… … ?”

“Yes, that’s right. The symptoms of the disease, which appears to have started a week ago, are almost identical to those of the teacher. I guess we can now think of it as a plague… … .”

“More information?”

“I don’t think I can clearly explain the contagiousness or risk. However, if the symptoms are this similar, I think it would be reasonable to consider it a plague. Currently, there are about 20 patients reported within our territory, including the inspector… … .”

“… … .”

I almost asked why he didn’t explain it to me earlier, but I held back.

Yuuri himself knew it. After losing Hernandov, he did not take care of internal affairs and instead went on a forced march to annihilate the Chell army as if he were a fighting spirit.

“Of course, we cannot definitively conclude that it is a plague yet, but I think it would be better for my lord to keep his distance from the inspector for the time being.”

okay.

If this is a plague and I get sick too… … At that time, I felt like I wouldn’t have the courage to see Anima’s face.

“But why… … Why suddenly a plague… … Why?”

“Well… … I’m not sure either.”

The doctor hesitated, not knowing what to do, and broke into a cold sweat.

“In the recent war in the central continent, numerous corpses were found… … Couldn’t the reason be that we couldn’t handle it hygienically? … .”

“… … What?”

“No, no! So, I’m not trying to say that it was the cause that started the war… … .”

As luck would have it, a plague struck at this timing… … That also happened because of the war?

“… … Are you sure?”

“No! I’m not sure. Just a guess… … I think it would be better to say that it is the realm of reasoning. In the first place, we don’t even know if this is a plague or not… … .”

“… … .”

Yuuri didn’t answer and just walked away quietly.

After leaving the hospital.

She closed her eyes, opened them, and carefully looked up at the sky.

‘Hernandorf… … .’

I haven’t even been able to avenge Ern yet.

Although the war was taking longer than expected, our national power was stronger, so it was only a matter of time.

If I had taken a few more steps, I would have been able to hit Chell’s head on the wall.

‘I can’t be held back in a place like this… … !’

Yuuri lowered his head while looking at the sky, closed his eyes, and prayed to someone.

That day, after the massacre at the academy, she decided to trust her colleagues rather than trusting in something like God, but in the end, the thing she could rely on in this situation was a god whose existence was unclear.

A monarch praying to God for mercy in a time of turmoil, with no religious facilities left and only a few priests left… …

Even though he thought his appearance was quite funny, he still sent the wind high into the sky.

‘Please, I hope it passes without incident… … Please, I hope it’s not a major plague… … !’

If Aethius was destined to unify this continent, her wish might have come true.

but… … She wasn’t the chosen one who could do that.

The cold truth is that there is no way such a person could defy an ‘unconditionally correct prediction’… … Yuuri was begging and praying meaninglessly without realizing it.

* * *

Of course, Yuuri’s wish does not come true.

“The number of infected people exceeded 300… … ?”

Yuuri’s expression falls as he hears the sad news after just one day.

“That’s right. I think it would be better to assume that the plague is certain.”

“What is the cure?”

“Nothing exact has come out yet… … Many herbalists have gathered together and are discussing as much as possible based on a plague that was prevalent in the past, so please be patient. Also, we suggest that the wards be operated separately.”

Yuuri accepted the suggestion and followed the doctors’ opinions as much as possible.

Once the plague had spread in this era, it began to spread quite quickly.

The good news among the misfortunes is that this was not just Aishus’s problem. Also, the infection rate was much lower than the diseases recorded in history.

First of all, the propagation speed was not that fast. It spread frighteningly quickly to about 2,000 to 3,000 people, but after recognizing that this was a plague and making various preparations, the increase in the number of infected people decreased to a noticeable level.

Crucially, Yuuri, who had early close contact with the sick Anima, did not get sick.

And, as I said before, the plague had no borders. Due to the plague spreading within the Chell army, the battle that had been continuing naturally went into a lull for a while. It also meant that we could somehow prevent the infection from spreading further.

Of course, this was far from saying that the end was in sight or that the outlook was full of hope.

Immediately, the Aishus army, which had been unreasonably continuing its battle with the Chell army, was suffering a crushing blow.

“Do you mean that mainly soldiers are infected?”

“It’s just a tendency… … From what I heard, it’s the same for Chell.”

Perhaps it was because their physical condition had weakened due to the ongoing war, or perhaps it was just a coincidence – it was the regular soldiers who were suffering the most from the plague within the Aishous Army. There were certainly more people suffering from illness than the territory residents.

After the doctor left.

Epinel, who was temporarily acting as a strategist on behalf of Anima, carefully opened his lips.

“It looks like there are plague patients in Kalinz County as well.”

“Okay… … ?”

“Yes. Probably for a while… … You won’t be able to do anything. War, conscription, internal affairs.”

“How is Anima’s condition?”

“Same. It is said that doctors are testing various treatments as a priority… … I can’t see the road at all.”

Epinel said that and placed her forehead in her hand.

“Yuuri. Can we get through this well? Erne’s enemy… … Can you repay it?”

Epinel, who always showed a positive attitude, was unusually agitated.

“Just now… … Wouldn’t it be right to give up the territory and return to Balharat Castle? If we continue like this, the foundation of our military may really be shaken.”

“But… … I couldn’t avenge Erne.”

“I know that. Of course, I won’t say anything about ending the war with Chell’s army. However, I’m just saying let’s take a step back. Anyway, it is an established fact that the children cannot do anything because of the plague.”

“But, the path back is Chell’s territory.”

“You can take it!”

“How?”

“… … .”

As soon as Epinel heard those words, she let out a long sigh.

“Anima might have been able to tell a plausible story… … I don’t know.”

“Then at least-”

at that time.

‘… … !!!’

“What’s wrong, Yuuri?”

Seeing Yuuri’s sudden shock and pause, Epinel asks a question.

“… … no. I think I was a little tired. first… … okay. I will take your opinion into consideration. Epinel, could you please take a look at the ward? … You can just switch shifts with Emma.”

“… … Okay.”

Epinel seemed concerned about what Yuuri was trying to say.

Without asking any more questions, I quietly move on.

And then, Yuuri lost his strength and leaned against the wall next to him… …

‘I.’

I think about what I was about to say just now.

-Then, can you at least be quiet?

‘I… … ‘What are you going to say to Epinel?’

Tears began to flow from Yuuri’s eyes.

Even though I barely said it out loud, I didn’t actually say it… … From Yuuri’s perspective, the fact that he almost unconsciously said something like that to Epinel, a colleague who was more important than anyone else, was shocking in itself.

‘Calm down, Yuuri. To my colleagues… … Above all, I must not take my anger out on my precious family.’

Hernandov is lost, Anima falls ill, and the troops he has gathered for his greater cause are in vain without much success, unable to achieve even a single revenge… …

She just didn’t express it, but it was like she was pushed to the limit.

But that doesn’t mean he can take out his anger on Epinel, whom he considers more important than his blood relatives.

Yuuri chewed his tongue lightly. I thought about chewing it hard out of anger, but… … In the end, this too was just an outlet for anger.

‘… … Let’s think positively. Although it is a plague, its infectiousness is low. There are no deaths yet. So, as time passes, you will definitely be able to move on without any problems. Revenge… … It’s not too late to prepare again then. Anyway, the situation in Chell County is no different from our military.’

In this way, Yuuri regained his composure, which had almost collapsed.

And, after a few more days passed.

Finally, the first casualties of the plague appeared. He was a young soldier. It was reported that he died soon after, accompanied by a cough and high fever.

His body was immediately cremated. It’s a good thing to say, but it was treated as just a quick fire to destroy it. I couldn’t help it. Because it was a dead body with the plague factor.

And, starting with the death of that soldier-

―Even if you don’t want to know, you realize that this disease is not highly infectious, but has a high fatality rate.