Ch.243Chapter 243 – The Cause of the Plague

The development and mass distribution of the treatment seemed to take longer than expected.

Along with the Emperor’s decree, the Chancellor provided some assistance.

“Most of the spice trade within the Empire is handled by merchant groups operated by the Imperial family. About four-fifths of the spice business in the Empire is managed by Imperial merchants.”

“Four-fifths would be an enormous quantity, wouldn’t it?”

“More than half of the spices imported via trading ships arrive spoiled or deteriorated. Those would have to be discarded anyway, but since they’re not being used for profit, I’ve arranged for them to be transported to the Academy for just the cost of shipping.”

“Thank you for your help.”

Thanks to the assistance of the Chancellor, the second most powerful person in the Empire, the problem of obtaining discarded spices was temporarily resolved.

However, since there was a considerable distance between the Empire’s trading ports and Glesius Academy, it would take at least one to two months for the carriages to arrive.

“By the way, how is the investigation into the cause of the plague progressing?”

“We’re investigating the cause of the plague with cooperation from the Church.”

“Cooperation from the Church?”

Is the Church’s cooperation necessary to investigate the cause of the plague?

But on second thought, the Church’s help might actually be needed.

Just recently, I visited the Kingdom of Tilasio at Eterna’s request.

There, I discovered contaminated land and learned that people were suffering from inexplicable pain due to a stream flowing through the polluted land contaminating the river.

I remember purifying the contaminated land to free the people from their suffering before returning.

“Do you think the Demon Cult might be connected to this plague?”

“That’s right. You know well that after those bastards caused major trouble before, all Demon Cult forces within the Empire were completely wiped out, right?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s only the Demon Cult forces within the Empire that were completely eliminated. The possibility of cult followers remaining in other countries is still quite high.”

I could only nod at Regina’s words.

The Empire had been monitoring the Demon Cult from the beginning, so they were able to track all their movements and successfully eradicate them in one fell swoop.

But other countries hadn’t suffered damage from the Demon Cult… and above all, not a single noble who received a title in the Gelebrio Empire was a follower of the Demon Cult.

Thinking about it, this makes perfect sense—if the Demon Cult were to gain power, wouldn’t the nobility be the first to disappear?

The Demon Cult wants to destroy the world’s order and restructure it according to their desires.

And there’s no reason for their new order to include the current class system.

Therefore, nobles with titles who receive special treatment in the Empire would never cooperate with the Demon Cult.

What kind of madman would cooperate with them when everything they currently enjoy would disappear in the world those cultists want to create?

‘But other kingdoms might be different.’

I’ve only visited another country once, and the Kingdom of Tilasio could be considered relatively stable.

But what about other countries?

Are other countries running as stably as the Gelebrio Empire or the Kingdom of Tilasio?

That can’t be guaranteed.

Therefore, I can surmise that Regina is trying to cooperate with the Church to determine if Demon Cult followers hiding in other countries might be related to this plague.

It’s just speculation, but honestly, what else besides the Demon Cult could be identified as the cause of the plague?

What other madmen would release a plague in the Empire besides the Demon Cult?

If it’s discovered that someone other than the Demon Cult released the plague in the Empire…

‘They definitely won’t die peacefully.’

The Empire would probably hunt down and exterminate the entire family of whoever spread the plague.

“It’s been a while, Count Severio. Director Regina.”

Three days later, Eterna visited Glesius Academy.

“What brings you here?”

“I came to share the results of our investigation. This plague has spread not just throughout the Gelebrio Empire but across the entire Western Continent, making the investigation somewhat difficult… but we’ve had some success.”

Saying this, Eterna pulled out a pouch from within her robes.

I have no idea where in her loose priest’s garments she had space to hide that pouch.

“What’s inside this?”

“It’s what we suspect to be the cause of the plague. When investigating the first infected individuals, we found they all commonly used this item.”

“What kind of item could it be…”

Carefully opening the pouch that Eterna claimed contained the cause of the plague, I could see what was inside.

“This is… an incense candle, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s something people use to mask room odors or their own body scent.”

“What does this have to do with the plague?”

“When people inhale the smoke produced by burning this incense… they contract the plague.”

“What?”

Eterna was saying that inhaling the smoke from burning this incense causes people to contract the plague.

Regina and I looked at her, and her face showed confidence.

This meant that, according to her, this incense was indeed the cause of the plague.

“If burning the incense and inhaling its smoke leads to plague infection… then some ritual must have been performed during the manufacturing process of this incense.”

“Is that possible…”

I was about to ask Regina if that was possible, but I momentarily forgot what kind of world this is.

In a world with divine power, magic, and gods, it would certainly be possible to perform rituals during manufacturing to infuse objects with curses or diseases.

I think I was being too self-centered in my thinking.

“Did you find out about the merchants who imported these incense candles?”

“Yes. When we asked the merchants selling these candles, they said they were imported from outside the Gelebrio Empire.”

The fact that the incense was imported from outside the Empire suggested a high possibility that the Demon Cult was involved in its production.

Considering the loyalty to the organization shown by Demon Cult followers who willingly sacrifice themselves to buy time for others to escape… they probably wanted to strike a blow against the Empire even if it meant exposing their identity.

I shared my thoughts with Regina and Eterna.

“If it’s the Demon Cult… they’re certainly capable of such things.”

“I agree with the Count’s opinion as well.”

Both seemed to agree with my view.

Now we needed to investigate the country where the incense was manufactured to confirm if it was truly made by Demon Cult followers.

“I think we’ll have to ask Eterna to investigate this incense further.”

“Hehe, don’t worry! We’re experts at this sort of thing! If it’s confirmed to be the work of the Demon Cult, I plan to convene a World Church Assembly to formally hold them accountable for this incident.”

Eterna mentioned that the Church’s priests had also suffered greatly from this plague.

She told us not to worry about the investigation and said she would return to share more detailed evidence if discovered, then left the Academy.

I’m not sure if the Demon Cult is really involved in this incident…

But if they are indeed behind this again… I have no intention of letting them be.

Demon Cult.

For the sake of my safe and peaceful retirement, you need to disappear.

◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈◇◈

As expected, the Demon Cult was indeed behind this plague.

“Is the plan to spread the plague across the continent progressing well?”

“Yes, Lord Eldran. Devout followers who are prepared even for death are voluntarily spreading incense candles infused with the plague’s energy throughout the continent.”

It was happening under the direction of Eldran, the founder of the Demon Cult and the first demon.

With the complete elimination of the Demon Cult in the Gelebrio Empire, Eldran’s plans were on the verge of falling apart.

The Gelebrio Empire’s cult followers, who had the largest presence among all Demon Cult branches, were virtually annihilated.

Even in the Eastern Continent, the Demon Cult was designated as heresy, and its members were being executed whenever discovered…

It was a harsh time for the Demon Cult in every way.

“I hear rumors that a cure for the plague is being developed.”

“We’ve taken care of that as well. They’re transporting materials to make the cure… but we’ve already tampered with those materials. When they make the cure with those ingredients… the plague that has only been weakening people’s vitality until now will become a reaper that takes their lives.”

The materials he referred to were the unmarketable spice crates being transported to the Academy.

“Excellent. You always have a talent for executing my plans beyond expectations.”

“Everything is for the Demon God.”

“The Demon God will remember your devotion. Hahahahaha!”

The laughter of Eldran and his unidentified subordinate echoed through the underground of the abandoned land.

What will be the fate of the continent?