Ch.243Chapter 243. Retreating to Border, Aftermath (8)

“……Anima?!”

Yurie rushed to Anima who was lying down, gasping for breath.

“Yu……rie, d-don’t come close.”

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

“I’m fine……”

Cough, cough!

After a few loud coughs…… red blood came from Anima’s throat.

Yurie’s eyes widened in shock at the sight.

“Th-this is……!”

“Don’t worry. It’s just…… I’ve been pushing myself too hard lately. After resting for a few days, I’ll be…… fine soon, so don’t worry about someone like me……”

“What are you saying?!”

“It’s a critical time…… We don’t know when Chel might appear again…… We need to, make the first……”

Cough, cough!

“First, let’s return to the palace. Wait here.”

As Yurie said this and took a step, Anima grabbed her sleeve, squeezing out what little strength she had.

“No…… If we waste time here, we’ll be giving Chel more time…… Somehow, we must act… Otherwise, Ern’s spirit……”

“Anima.”

Yurie looked at her with the most serious expression she had ever shown.

“I cannot lose you too.”

“Yu……rie.”

“……Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

Yurie gently laid Anima down on the bed, then quickly walked away.

* * *

Mirage Castle, once territory of the Chel Army, now territory of the Aeshus Army.

After admitting Anima to the hospital, Yurie was hearing unexpected news from the doctor in charge of her.

“Did you say… plague?”

“Yes, that’s right. The symptoms match almost exactly with those of an illness that seems to have broken out about a week ago. I believe it’s reasonable to consider it a plague at this point……”

“What are the details?”

“I cannot explain with certainty about its contagiousness or danger. However, given how similar the symptoms are, it would be reasonable to consider it a plague. Currently, there are about twenty reported patients in our territory, including your advisor……”

“……”

She barely restrained herself from demanding why she hadn’t been informed earlier.

Yurie herself knew that after losing Erinandorf, she had neglected internal affairs and pushed forward like a war demon, forcing marches to annihilate the Chel Army.

“Of course, I cannot definitively conclude it’s a plague yet, but I would advise my lord to keep some distance from your advisor for the time being.”

Right.

If this was indeed a plague, and if she caught it too…… she would have no face to show Anima.

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

“Well…… I cannot be certain.”

The doctor fidgeted nervously, sweating.

“In the recent conflicts across the central continent, numerous corpses have appeared…… and perhaps the inability to dispose of them hygienically might be the reason……”

“……What?”

“No, no! I’m not saying that starting the war is the cause……”

Of all the bad luck, a plague at this timing…… and it’s spreading because of the war?

“……Are you sure?”

“No! I’m not sure. It’s just speculation…… in the realm of conjecture, I should say. After all, we don’t even know for certain if this is a plague……”

“……”

Yurie said nothing and quietly walked away.

After leaving the hospital.

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

‘Erinandorf…..’

She hadn’t even avenged Ern yet.

Although the war was dragging on longer than expected, their Aeshus Army was stronger, so it was only a matter of time.

If she could take just a few more steps forward, she could have displayed Chel’s head on the castle walls.

‘I can’t be held back here……!’

Yurie lowered her head from looking at the sky, closed her eyes, and prayed to someone.

Although she had vowed to trust her comrades rather than believe in gods after the massacre at the academy, in this situation, all she could rely on was a god whose existence was uncertain.

A ruler begging a god in troubled times when religious facilities were gone and only a handful of priests remained…

She found her own situation quite ridiculous, but still sent her wishes to the high heavens.

‘Please, let this pass without harm…… Please, don’t let it be a major plague……!’

If the Aeshus Army had been destined to unify this continent, her wish might have been granted.

But…… she was not a chosen one who could be.

The cold fact that such a person could not defy “absolutely correct predictions”…… Yurie continued to pray meaninglessly, unaware of this truth.

* * *

Naturally, Yurie’s wish was not granted.

“Over 300 infected people…?”

Yurie’s expression crumbled at the bad news that came in just one day.

“Yes. I think it would be best to consider it a definite plague now.”

“What about a cure?”

“There isn’t anything specific yet…… Many herbalists are gathering to discuss based on previous plagues, so please wait a little longer. And, I recommend operating a separate ward for the infected.”

Yurie accepted the proposal and followed the doctors’ advice as much as possible.

But once a plague spreads in this era, it begins to spread quite rapidly.

The fortunate thing was that this wasn’t just a problem for the Aeshus Army. And the infection rate was much lower than diseases recorded in history books.

At least, the transmission speed wasn’t that fast. It spread frighteningly quickly up to about 2000-3000 people, but after recognizing it as a plague and making preparations, the rate of new infections noticeably decreased.

Crucially, Yurie, who had been in close contact with Anima when she first fell ill, did not contract the disease.

And as mentioned earlier, plagues know no borders. The Chel Army also had the plague spreading within their territory, so the ongoing battles naturally entered a lull. This also meant they could somehow prevent further spread of infection.

Of course, this didn’t mean the end was in sight or that the outlook was full of hope.

The Aeshus Army, which had been forcibly continuing battles with the Chel Army, was suffering devastating damage.

“You’re saying the infection is mainly among soldiers?”

“It’s just a tendency, but…… from what I hear, the Chel Army is in the same situation.”

Whether because their physical condition had weakened due to the prolonged war, or just by coincidence – the regular soldiers were suffering the most from the plague within the Aeshus Army. They clearly had more sick individuals than the territory’s civilians.

After the doctor left.

Epinel, who was temporarily serving as advisor in place of Anima, carefully spoke.

“It seems there are plague patients in the Kalintz Army too.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. I think for a while…… we won’t be able to do anything. No war, no conscription, no internal affairs.”

“How is Anima’s condition?”

“The same. The doctors say they’re prioritizing testing various treatments, but…… there’s no sign of improvement.”

Epinel said this while resting her forehead on her hand.

“Yurie. Can we overcome this? Can we…… avenge Ern?”

Epinel, who always showed a positive attitude, was uncharacteristically shaken.

“Shouldn’t we just…… abandon the territory and return to Valhalart Castle now? If we continue like this, the foundation of our army might really crumble.”

“But…… I haven’t avenged Ern yet.”

“I know that. Of course, I’m not saying we should end the war with the Chel Army. Just that we should take one step back. It’s a given that they can’t do anything because of the plague either.”

“But the path back goes through Chel Army territory.”

“We can take it!”

“How?”

“……”

Epinel sighed deeply upon hearing those words.

“If it were Anima, she might have had a plausible story to tell…… but I don’t know.”

“Then at least-“

At that moment.

‘……!!!’

“What’s wrong, Yurie?”

Epinel questioned as Yurie suddenly stopped speaking, her eyes wide with shock.

“……It’s nothing. I think I’m just a bit tired. Anyway…… alright. I’ll consider your opinion. Epinel, could you check on the ward? ……You can switch with Emma.”

“……Alright.”

Epinel seemed concerned about what Yurie had been about to say.

But she didn’t press further and quietly walked away.

And Yurie, leaning against the nearby wall as her strength drained…

‘I was.’

She reflected on what she had been about to say.

-Then at least, could you be quiet?

‘What was I…… about to say to Epinel.’

Tears began to flow from Yurie’s eyes.

Although she had barely stopped herself from saying it out loud…… the very fact that she had unconsciously almost said such a thing to Epinel, who was one of her most precious comrades, was shocking to Yurie.

‘Calm down, Yurie. You must not take out your frustrations on your comrades…… above all, on my family.’

Having lost Erinandorf, with Anima fallen ill, and the troops she had gathered for a great cause scattered without significant results, unable to even properly achieve her revenge…

Though she hadn’t expressed it, she too was pushed to the extreme.

But how could she take out her frustrations on Epinel, whom she valued more than blood relatives?

Yurie lightly bit her tongue. She had considered biting hard in anger, but…… that too would just be venting her frustrations.

‘……Think positively. It’s called a plague, but the infectiousness is low. There haven’t been any deaths yet. So, with time, we’ll surely get through this without much trouble. Revenge…… can be prepared again later. The Chel Army is probably in the same situation as us anyway.’

Thus, Yurie composed her heart that had nearly collapsed.

And, after a few more days.

Finally, the plague claimed its first victim. He was a young soldier. After suffering from coughing and high fever, he eventually passed away, it was reported.

His body was immediately cremated. Though they called it cremation, it was more like quickly burning the body to dispose of it. It couldn’t be helped. He had died carrying the plague.

And, starting with that soldier’s death—

—they came to realize, whether they wanted to or not, that while this disease might not be highly contagious, it had a high mortality rate.