episode_0102

Repeat the process of swallowing the medicine, praying, and sleeping soundly.

The lives of patients who could not go to work were monotonous.

In the meantime, I watched to see if anything happened to the princess. It wasn’t very difficult.

I had a trustworthy companion, F-Five, and most of all, even without that, no one in Quinine was energetic enough to commit assassination.

Of course, occasionally, if there was a need for a little help, I would help out.

Because I was able to at least take the ‘medicine’ that was given to me and feed it to me, or move the treatment tools.

And after work, I secretly gave treatment to Licia at the church or while traveling around the city.

The magic, which initially burst with bright light, gradually disappeared as practical experience accumulated.

The girl had become so good at hiding traces of her magic that it was only visible in the dark, and even I, who was watching right next to her, couldn’t tell unless I felt something slightly warm passing by.

When we finished up to this point, the sunset was approaching, and after enjoying the view over the castle walls for a while, we returned to the house that the baron had given us.

And then after that.

“… Is this really necessary?”

“The plague may have spread to Raven as well. Isn’t that right?”

In the name of quarantine, Lisia cast a spell, saying it was to remove any potentially harmful substances.

Even so, I know that there is no need to touch him so closely, but is it just a lack of affection?

Heine, who would have been fine just sitting back and watching, seemed surprisingly full of motivation.

Although it is a heartless world, not everyone is like that. The old priest Pippin was like that, and Lycia was like that too. Honestly, I watched it again.

When there is no noticeable change, people lose the impetus for action.

There were already many people suffering from the disease, and since the goal was to improve everyone’s condition little by little rather than treating each person one by one, great changes could not be expected overnight.

Even among the princess’s companions, it was said openly that they had done everything that could be done at this level.

Since Heine himself stepped in to block each time, the argument did not become more heated, but it was clear that everyone was getting nervous.

This wasn’t all that dissatisfying. Because, unlike me, I knew that it was because they were not sure.

Since he remained like that even with the possibility of contracting the disease in mind, it could be said that he had more determination than I had. So, knowingly or unknowingly, I was able to withstand the suspicious stares for a while.

And above all, there was another reason why I didn’t care.

In less than two weeks, the patients’ condition gradually improved.

*****

Heine was a little excited these days.

The reason is none other than the fact that the plan was progressing steadily.

Both Lisia and Raven probably had an idea of what they were thinking and acting on, but they weren’t sure.

As intended, Lisia spent a lot of time with her, and Raven often praised her.

It was heartfelt, different from the exclamations that subjects often make ceremonially. It’s not a compliment, it’s a compliment.

I never received it from my father either.

“Thank you for your hard work today!”

“Yes, thank you. Lisia had a hard time too.”

“I have one last thing to do, so I’ll go in later. Your Majesty, please rest in peace first.”

“What are you going to do?”

“After cleaning up, I plan to stop by the church and pray outside.”

After work was over, I came home, stretched, and reflected on what I had done that day.

The plan went as well as I had imagined.

We gave people medicine, we prayed together for salvation, and then-

“… What is it?”

But why?

Why is it so rewarding?

Feeling awkward for no reason, Heine shook his head to shake off his thoughts. I couldn’t be intoxicated with such a trivial sense of moral superiority forever.

Unless I was going to be on quinine forever, I had to think about some practical issues.

“There is one thing you need to know.”

“Please speak, Your Highness.”

“After the spread of the plague, I asked the church for a copy of Quinine’s funeral record and brought me a copy.”

“Okay.”

The church readily handed over the list without saying anything. It was not a strategic item that even the lord would be reluctant to reveal, and it was not a record of corruption that needed to be kept hidden.

Heine unfolded the parchment, which was still stiff because it had been written recently. He quickly read the contents and then counted the numbers in his head.

The number of people who have died so far is twenty. However, even at low estimates, 90% of dogs are estimated to be caused by plague.

Although he did not know the exact population of this city, he guessed it with an error of about a thousand to a hundred people.

Heine turned his head and asked the attendant waiting in front.

“Do you think the quinine plague problem will be solved?”

“To be honest, I think it will be difficult. Even if that were the case, I think I would have to make some sacrifices.”

“I guess so.”

Twenty was not a large number, but this only counted the dead.

Considering the current number of infected people, there was plenty of room for it to increase. Moreover, this figure did not even include the small villages beyond the castle.

Moreover, judging from the data so far, it does not seem easy to get better.

Even Raven would be shocked every time she saw the faces of people who said they had healed on their own.

Although he himself was a little puzzled as to why his expression seemed slightly astonished rather than surprising.

“Your Highness, shouldn’t you slowly think about the next thing?”

“Is this what Bishop Guiberto is preparing?”

“Yes. Your Majesty and other members of the imperial family will be gathering, so shouldn’t you grace the occasion by attending?”

“I have it in mind. But let’s wait a little while.”

It was true that his treatment was questionable. Rather than medicine, it was like herbs added to a well-boiled stew.

Of course, that didn’t mean it was wrong. At least I am confident that patients will not complain of abnormal symptoms after eating it.

However, as to the question of whether I would get better by using it as medicine, I was not sure.

No matter how you look at it, it’s a tasteless herb stew. In the end, I couldn’t bear the question and asked Raven.

“ Sir, I said the ingredients for this are bread, vegetables, and herbs.”

“Yes.”

“Then just… Isn’t it herbal stew?”

“… It’s similar, but it’s definitely a drug.”

Since he strongly insisted that it wasn’t him, I just moved on for now.

Anyway, it was a matter that only time would prove.

And didn’t he decide to believe it himself in the first place? Even so, if he were to pick up his words even now, he would end up similar to the Pope.

Raven had no intention of repeating the actions that had embarrassed him, let alone himself.

But nothing lasts forever.

The fatigue is building up little by little, but steadily, and my faith is starting to shake little by little.

“The number seems to have decreased since yesterday?”

“The number of people in remission is increasing. It may not have been completely cured, so it is being separated, but the symptoms are much better than before.”

Finally something changed.

Heine was startled and trembled at the reward he felt at that moment.

*****

The owner of a city called Quinine.

People say that the nobleman named Baron Quinine was a nobleman who was unusually quite humane.

As a specific example, he ordered the church to administer medicine generously even before the first death occurred.

He even added that it was okay to use his own money if necessary.

Even though he was a monster with no compassion or altruism, there was no noble who wouldn’t tremble with anxiety as people in the city died.

Before it was a mere human being, it was a person’s property, and it had to be multiplied later on.

Therefore, a cynical person could say that it was just a struggle to buy the future by selling the present, but there were many nobles who did not even do that.

Quinine’s unwavering human spirit despite an unprecedented disaster proved the success of such actions.

Nevertheless, just as he was feeling sorry for himself, he received some news.

“Her Royal Highness said she would help?”

“Yes. How should I answer?”

“Of course, if you are there, you will be of great help to us. I’m just worried that you might get angry for no reason.”

Although he had given half-hearted permission due to concerns, the princess and her party obediently came to Quinine.

I could easily see through the performance behind it, but since it was clearly a form of goodwill, I was happy to welcome it and give it my home.

Nevertheless, to be honest, the Baron did not have high expectations.

Since there were not enough priests added to be helpful, it was judged that it would not produce much success. So, I thought that if things were left like this, the princess and her party would pretend to care for the people for a while and then go on their way.

“Baron, a knight named Raven says he knows the cure.”

“Does that mean that what the church has made so far is wrong?”

“Rather, it is said to be a more improved form. It doesn’t seem like a dangerous combination. Would you give permission?”

Is this a political move made by the princess? That was the first thought that came to the Baron’s mind.

But even if it was just a ploy to gain favor, he had no choice but to suffer. If such a method existed, it should be used and not postponed for political reasons.

And he came to the conclusion that the princess would not intentionally try to disturb him.

If you want to harm yourself, you wouldn’t prescribe the wrong treatment at the risk of getting sick yourself, when you could just leave it alone.

It was an idea that I could have done if I had just a little bit of thought.

And now the Baron can realize that it was definitely a good thing.

The world even called this a miracle with much exaggeration.

Even after removing all the modifiers, the fact that it is great luck does not change.

The process of treating the disease was a kind of battle.

It was a fierce competition to see who would die first between the disease and the person, and who would survive in the end.

And it was not easy to see a disease die and a person survive.

There were countless cases of people taking their lives in the name of aftereffects.

Nevertheless, even those who had been coughing until recently with the threat of spitting out their souls got up and started walking on their own two feet.

When the Baron saw that, he quietly returned to his office.

Suddenly, an old drawer was opened and a letter appeared. The imperial seal was stamped on it.