Chapter 74

Chapter 74

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 74: Demonic Disease (2).

The disease was commonly known as the Demonic Disease.

It was a random event that frequently occurred in Guild Master. Since it was entirely random, even Allen couldn’t predict who would contract the demonic disease. The damn game loved randomness so much that, even after hundreds or thousands of rounds, while the main context remains similar, the minor scenarios were always different. Even important named characters in each chapter could suddenly die without any warning.

Anyway, the cause of the devil’s disease was the demonic seeds spread across the continent. If one of these seeds wandered and parasitized a human body, that person would immediately contract the devil’s disease.

Although it was said to be random, named characters often contracted the devil’s disease. The demonic seeds were selective about their hosts. Naturally, they preferred excellent hosts if they were going to take root.

‘…Still, I never expected Natasha, that woman, to be infected.’

The unfortunate soul who contracted this demonic disease was none other than the mentally unyielding female swordsman, the Lioness of Markas.

Natasha Gondor Viya…

Though small in stature, her explosive swordsmanship made her renowned across the continent, and it was unthinkable for Allen that a female swordsman, who had been recruited into one of the top mercenary groups in the latter half of the game, would be struggling with the demonic disease.

Especially in a game already notorious for its difficulty, adding random elements only made Guild Master hear complaints about it being a game entirely dependent on luck.

Still, it was a stroke of luck that the Allen-Mercenary Group was heading north towards Markas, not south where the Holy Kingdom was located, and that they had managed to keep the Blind Saintess, who was planning to leave for the Holy Kingdom as soon as Chapter 1 ended, with them until the end. Moreover, since the perception of the demonic disease wasn’t good, it was common not to talk about looking for a healer, but the Count had announced everywhere, disregarding his dignity, that he was looking for a healer to save his daughter, and it was effective.

This was a product of coincidence and effort.

If Natasha survived this ordeal, it would truly be divine intervention. After all, the demonic disease in the early part of the game was practically a death sentence.

Of course, just because they figured out the cause didn’t mean they could unconditionally solve it. The demonic seeds, the stronger the host it is rooted in, the more powerful the monster that consumed its vitality became.

[Attributes]

Strength: 20

Agility: 20

Stamina: 15

Intelligence:16

Magic: 24

[Traits]

♦ Genius

♦ Indomitable Will

♦ Reckless

♦ Narcissism

♦ Sensitive

♦ Frail

♦ Insomnia

♦ Hatred

♦ Distrust

♦ Panic

The demonic disease wrecked Natasha’s stats. Of course, there wasn’t any guarantee that overcoming the disease would perfectly restore her to her former level, but she was still a desirable person. The trait [Genius] was proudly listed, and later, she would be noticed by a top 10 group leader and be recruited, so there was absolutely no doubt about her talent. …In fact, if it weren’t for the demonic disease, they wouldn’t even have the chance to run into her like this.

Shocked, she had lain on the bed for a moment before getting up again. Then, she looked straight at the man she had just embraced. Allen, too, did not avoid the gaze of the one examining him.

‘…Something is different about these two.’

Natasha felt certain that these two, a man and a woman, were different from anyone she had met before. What she had just seen was not an illusion. That terrible being inside her…!

“How do you feel?”

“I’m okay now. …For a moment.”

The Lioness of Markas was emaciated, but her intense eyes still burned with a will to live.

“You said you found out the cause, right?”

“Yes.”

“What is the cause?”

The Count’s face was also filled with curiosity. Knowing the cause would also create a possibility to overcome the demonic disease.

Allen exhaled sharply and pointed towards the door with his hand.

“…For now, shall we go out together? There’s something we need to find first….”

“Does that include my daughter?”

“Yes. We must go out together.”

When the Count looked at his daughter Natasha, she nodded eagerly as if to say there was no problem. Even if there were to be issues, this time, she had to go. Somehow, it felt absolutely necessary.

Thus, Natasha emerged from the room, wrapped from head to toe in a shawl, carried on the back of a servant. Removing her blindfold once again, Ordnung followed the long, black line emanating from Natasha, and the rest of the group trailed behind her, step by step.

The group entered a long-neglected, gloomy corner within the Count’s castle. The Count couldn’t understand why the nun was heading there, but he silently followed her for now. He would find out why later.

After walking for a while, the pinkette saintess stopped abruptly at a clearing overgrown with bushes. It was a place that somehow felt eerie. Right there, Ordnung was staring intently at a spot on the ground.

“…It’s here.”

The blind saint put on her blindfold again and tapped the featureless grassy ground with her foot. It was a place that seemed utterly unremarkable to anyone, yet the Count ordered someone to bring a shovel immediately.

The servants began to dig earnestly with their shovels where the blind saint had marked with her foot. Without stopping, continuously. Until the order to stop came from their master.

The rest stood silently, solemnly watching the scene unfold.

And when they had dug down to about the depth of a knee, one of the servants startled with an “Oh,” feeling something catch on the end of his shovel. …It was definitely not a rock.

“Ma, Master, there’s something here—!”

As the servant, drenched in sweat under the scorching sun, cried out, the others who had been watching the diggers exchanged glances. And Allen nodded his head as if he had expected this.

As the nun said, realizing that there truly was something there, the Count barely managed to suppress his rising excitement and ordered to investigate what it was more thoroughly. The servants dug through the soil frantically upon receiving the command.

Shortly after, the identity of it was revealed.

“It’s a door. A door made of iron…!”

“A door?”

Why would a door suddenly appear from under the ground?

Allen roughly speculated about this question.

“Perhaps it was a warehouse or something of the sort, used for some purpose long ago and then abandoned. It seems to have been forgotten as time passed. …Certainly, it seems like a place where the demonic seed could secretly bear fruit.”

“Can you explain more in detail?”

Prompted by Group Leader Allen’s meaningful words, the Count asked for an explanation. The young man looked directly at the lord and continued to explain clearly, word by word.

“The demonic disease that your daughter has contracted is due to the evil aura of a demonic seed that roams the continent. It just so happened to parasitize your daughter’s body and take root. …Of course, this is content that is hardly known to the public.”

As if to prove the group leader’s latter words, the Count had also heard this information for the first time.

In fact, he, too, had sent a large sum of money to the Mage Tower to seek advice on the demonic disease, but what returned was not the eagerly awaited answer but the dizzying news that the Mage Tower had been destroyed. Just when he was lamenting his luck, or rather the lack thereof, Group Leader Allen appeared out of nowhere, like a prince on a white horse.

“So, does that mean the seed that is sucking the life out of my daughter has, in fact, borne fruit right there?”

“Yes, it usually bears ordinary fruit in a very secret place that is hard to find unless you are quite determined. Your daughter’s seems to be over there.”

It was a place that would have never been found if it weren’t for Group Leader Allen.

“Could it be that this fruit is a demon?”

The Count threw another question, almost certain this time. In fact, as soon as Allen mentioned it was an evil aura, it was easy to guess that the fruit was likely a demon.

“While it’s not always the case, most of the time it is. However, I cannot guarantee exactly what is inside. Therefore, it should not be hastily opened. …It would be best to make all preparations before checking.”

The Count now fully believed Allen’s words. How could he not believe him when he discovered this suspicious place in a location no one could have guessed?

He closed his eyes once and then opened them, asking calmly again with an intense gaze.

“So, if that is eliminated, my daughter can live? Is that what you mean?”

“…I believe so.”

Oh. Everyone was already happy as if everything had been achieved.

However, the Count still couldn’t relax his serious expression, he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.

It was a clue they had barely managed to find after truly terrible hardships. …But it wasn’t over yet. Rather, it could be said that now was the real beginning.

Finding a solution was important, but the means were equally important.

“You said you were a mercenary group leader, right?”

“Yes.”

“……If I were to hire your mercenary group, would you agree?”

If he could find a cure for his daughter’s demonic disease so quickly, he must undoubtedly be a leader of an excellent mercenary group.

Such a mercenary group couldn’t be hired with money alone. Sponsorship and trust, perhaps even something more, were necessary to employ them.

Allen, too, understood the weight of this mission and thus did not readily agree.

“As a father with a daughter, I ask you… please, can you help me?”

The group leader sighed deeply.

“…It’s not an easy task.”

“I know. I’ll provide all the support I can. I’ll pay three times… no, five times the usual fee. And, of course, I’ll give a separate reward for coming this far.”

Still, with no response, the Count offered more.

“If you want, I’ll become your patron… So, just this once, help me…”

A truly earnest voice.

Allen glanced briefly at Natasha, who was wrapped in a shawl, then looked back at the count.

Reviving the character named Natasha… The pendulum that had been weighed back and forth finally tipped somewhere.

“……I understand. However, there’s no guarantee of success.”

“Of course. I’m aware. I’m not so irrational. Even if it fails, the responsibility is entirely mine. Naturally, I’ll pay the fee as agreed. …Would I ever ignore the benefactor who worked hard for my daughter? Never. I now consider you my comrade. ……Thank you. Truly, thank you.”

The lord of Markus, Count Viya, gripped Allen’s arm to express his gratitude.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Count was undeniably a likable figure. Of course, Allen couldn’t help him at a loss, but still, with a generous reward, he felt the desire to do his best.

With the support of the Count’s family, becoming a patron, and even up to five times the employment fee—!

‘…I have to bite onto this.’

Apart from anything else, if it was five times the employment fee, it would almost amount to three thousand gold coins. It was a considerable amount of money, but a Count’s family with a territory wouldn’t be without such funds.

Just thinking about the money made his heart race wildly, but Allen tried his best to calm down. There was no need to spoil what was already a done deal.

However, as much as he liked money, Allen had no intention of taking on this mission alone. Since he didn’t know exactly what that fruit was. It would be a wise decision to share the risk as much as possible with a few other mercenary groups.

The host hadn’t died yet, so it might not be an unbearable level, but still, it was a fruit that grew by consuming Natasha’s vitality. At least, it would be difficult to handle by any ordinary person.

“We must hire other mercenary groups besides us. We don’t know what terrifying thing might be down there.”

“Understood. We’ll do as you suggest.”

“…And we should occasionally check on your daughter’s condition. May we move our mercenary group’s lodging here?”

“Of course. You’re welcome to stay as long as you need.”

Thus, the Allen-Mercenary Group joined the Count’s household.