Ch.246Chapter 246. Proof (1)

First of all, the situation in the Central Continent has become a complete disaster.

Chel’s army somehow managed to successfully defend the capital city of Heizel from Kalintz’s army’s advance.

Kalintz, as he had always done throughout his life, made the wrong choice again at the most critical moment.

Fortunately or unfortunately, no one in the Central Continent could move freely due to the plague.

In a situation where there was no cure for this plague with a low infection rate but high mortality rate, the people of the Central Continent nations had become quiet, as if they had tacitly chosen the most ‘efficient’ method they could.

Isolating all those infected, waiting until they died… and then disposing of the bodies.

In fact, Chel’s army and Kalintz’s army, which had become entangled, had recently been taking such measures.

Giving up on recovery from the infectious disease and waiting for it to subside over time.

Whether one wanted it or not, when faced with an insurmountable situation, there was no other option but to comply.

Those who could avoid the falling blade of the plague were Serpina’s army in the north, which had preemptively blocked the spread of the infectious disease, the nations of the Southern Continent that had enough time to respond due to their distance, and Brans’ army, which, despite being located in the Central Continent, had observed Serpina’s actions and followed suit.

As more time passed, a tremendous number of people died.

By this point, some statistics could be gathered. A mortality rate of about 10%. It was a terrifying plague that killed 1 out of every 10 people.

In this situation, there wasn’t much that humans could do.

Just… hope for all of this to pass.

* * *

“…Yurie.”

In the royal castle of Rainbow Castle.

Yurie sat in a chair, her face buried in both hands, her head bowed deeply.

No matter how many times Epinel called her, she didn’t raise her head.

Epinel, seeming to understand her feelings, didn’t rush her… and slowly sat down next to the lord’s seat where she was sitting.

“I understand how you feel… but you need to cheer up, Yurie. You need energy to be able to do anything.”

“…”

“What would you like to hear first? The hopeful story, and the less hopeful… no, this is no time for wordplay. There’s not-so-good news.”

After asking that question, Epinel waited for a long time for Yurie to answer without saying anything.

How many minutes had passed?

Finally, Yurie spoke in a small voice.

“…The hopeful story.”

The hopeful story.

Yes. She had to tell it anyway. Epinel had a duty to report what she had newly learned to Yurie.

So perhaps starting with the hopeful story wouldn’t be bad… thinking this, she carefully told her what she had heard and seen.

“Anima’s condition is improving a lot.”

“…!!!!”

As soon as Yurie heard those words, she stood up and turned her head to look at Anima.

“R-really?”

“Why would I lie in front of you? It’s true. The attendant said that her high fever has almost subsided, and now she can even talk for more than 3 minutes. The symptoms of coughing up blood have also diminished significantly.”

“Thank goodness… really.”

Hiccup.

Tears began to stream down from Yurie’s eyes.

“I couldn’t do anything for her. I wish I could suffer in her place, but I couldn’t even do that… sob.”

She had lost Erinandorf. And now she couldn’t even avenge him.

In such a situation, if she were to lose Anima too. If Anima, whom she had tried to save even at the cost of abandoning her duties as a ruler, were to die from the plague… she truly thought she might collapse.

Although the five of them together formed Aeshus, Anima was as precious to Yurie as her other half.

“Really, really thank goodness…”

“I told you. That she would be fine. Some people die from the plague… but more people survive.”

“Yes…”

After crying for a while, her thoughts naturally drifted to ‘that point’.

“Epinel. What about Emma…?”

“…”

“How is Emma doing…? Is there any improvement?”

Epinel, who had been explaining about Anima without difficulty, became silent as soon as she heard about Emma.

Yurie slowly examined Epinel’s face. Her complexion had noticeably darkened.

“…Epinel…?”

“Yurie…”

Before she could wonder why Epinel wasn’t answering, she remembered what she had said earlier.

Hopeful news. And… the opposite, not-so-good news.

“…No way…”

“Yurie.”

After being unable to answer for a long time, Epinel seemed to have made up her mind and placed both hands on Yurie’s shoulders, whose eyes were trembling incessantly—

With the most serious expression ever. Yes. With that strict expression she had worn when she was a teacher at the Academy, she said:

“Whatever I say, listen carefully without being shocked.”

“Why…? What is it? T-tell me quickly…”

“…Emma is in danger.”

“Ah…!”

She had expected it.

It was an answer she had fully anticipated, but still, her body went limp as soon as she heard it.

However, she didn’t collapse. That was because Epinel supported her, applying strength to prevent her from falling.

“Listen. Yurie. It’s certainly a dangerous crisis right now, but Emma fell ill later than Anima, right? Just like Anima, it might just be a passing phase. So you shouldn’t think too negatively… you know that, right?”

Even though the mortality rate is high, there’s still a chance of survival.

“…Sob.”

Epinel comforted Yurie who was crying beside her.

From her appearance, which seemed about to collapse, she could once again realize that the situation was more serious than expected.

‘Haah…’

From what she heard, the next three days would be critical for Emma.

After pressing the reluctant doctor for information, she learned that Emma’s chances of survival were… extremely slim.

Among those infected with the plague, nearly 90% of those who lost their lives experienced a symptom—rapid necrosis of the fingers.

The explanation was based on the fact that three of Emma’s fingers had necrosed.

In Anima’s case, she hadn’t experienced this symptom. But Emma’s case was a bit different.

The statement that she was currently unable to even talk to people, and that they should prepare themselves mentally… that was all Epinel had heard.

So, she needed to properly explain the reality to Yurie.

But the terribly heavy weight of reality didn’t seem like something the fragile Yurie could bear right now.

Epinel swallowed the cruel reality without being able to explain it.

Erinandorf’s death. And now, Emma’s death.

No one had expected that two out of the five would die in this expedition.

And not in battle against Serpina’s army. They hadn’t even reached that point. To die in a meaningless battle against Chel’s army… and then from a plague, what a futile end?

‘If only I could do something…’

Of course, there was nothing Epinel could do in this situation.

It wasn’t as if she could make infallible predictions, nor was there anyone with such abilities.

Results were the product of a series of choices.

If this was the result of the ‘choices’ she had made at decisive moments… there was nothing to do but accept it.

The only fact that might comfort Yurie and Epinel was that they couldn’t even know that this was the result of their ‘choices’.

Hoping, please, for a miracle to happen.

Other than murmuring such an unreachable wish… there was nothing else they could do.

* * *

And.

In stark contrast to Epinel’s wish, a few days later——

“…”

The doctor silently covered Emma’s pale face, her eyes closed as she lay down, with the blanket that had been covering her.

And then, slowly… he spoke to the attendant standing nearby.

“Tell the lord.”

“Ah…”

“General Emma… has passed away.”

Emma Adeline.

Without being able to avenge her closest friend Erinandorf, she ended her once brilliantly shining life here in such a futile manner.

Two of the five heroes of Aeshus… had lost their lives in an unexpected place.

* * *

After some time had passed.

The plague was beginning to subside.

The number of newly infected people was rapidly decreasing, and even in the Central Continent, where it had originated, things were becoming quite calm.

Yes.

If things had continued to flow well like this, I too could have been at ease, but——

“Please don’t worry too much, my lord. Didn’t I tell you that this was already within the range of what I had anticipated?”

“…”

The day before departing for Kelstein Castle.

To Serpina, who was deeply distressed, I answered with the best smile I could manage.

“Please focus on internal affairs for the time being. The moral obligation lies with us. So, it’s just a storm in a teacup that will pass.”

“Swen…”

At that moment.

Serpina came close to me, grasped my hand tightly, and said:

“Did I… do the right thing?”

“Of course.”

Not only did she do the right thing.

She also made the best decision for her country.

“But it has always been like this. My life… the more I try to intervene, as if to harm someone I deeply dislike… it rushes in directions I never expected.”

I could feel her voice trembling as she spoke.

Now I could understand what she meant. When no one acknowledges any achievements and when every decision is met with pointing fingers and hatred, anyone would become withdrawn like that.

“So, rather than having you also get caught up in strange rumors-“

“My lord.”

I looked straight into her eyes and said:

“In the end, sincerity prevails. And now, unlike before, I am by your side, aren’t I?”

“…!”

“So, please believe me. I will prove that my ‘inner eye,’ which illuminates the path favorable to you, has not been wrong.”

Why has the situation become like this—

This required some explanation.