Chapter 146
The Battle
of Those Left Behind ① - An Untimely Arrival
Translator : PolterGlast
From this point on,
events on the Eastern Border, where Takuhir is, and in Teigun, where the
remaining individuals are struggling, will unfold in parallel. The subtitles
indicate each scene.
---------------
【⚔️ History of Solis
Barony ⚔️ The Ladder of Ruin】
Kyle Calendar Year
509: A Great Calamity Comes to the Land of Estol
On a freezing winter
day, the God of Death appears in the mountains that have long been a shield
against monsters.
The descended God of
Death wields the scythe of misfortune over the land of Estol.
The land is covered in
a death-inviting mist, and messengers from the underworld arrive.
The messengers bring
fever and thirst to the people, inviting them to the underworld.
Many people, upon
their departure, invite friends, and those who join the procession to the
underworld ceaselessly increase.
Those who remain
behind grieve greatly, and the earth is wet with tears of mourning.
---------------
While Takuhir and his
forces were celebrating their victory in the initial battle on the Eastern
Border, some individuals were moving towards Teigun in the Southern Frontier.
"Phew, just a
little more. Once we pass through the checkpoint ahead, Teigun will be right
ahead!"
Leading the way, Rosa,
a girl with platinum blonde hair flowing in the pleasant breeze, having shed
her cloak to avoid the increasingly strong sunlight, encouraged her companions.
She was accompanied by a young priest and several nuns dispatched from the
Royal Capital's Central Church, along with a few female apprentices and their
guards.
Originally, the
Church, formed by the clan presiding over Holy Magic, held a high status for
Holy Mages. However, in and around the Royal Capital, where the Central Church
was located, most of the rare Mages were protected by great nobles. Even if
there were Holy Mages among them, the Central Church could not intervene if the
other party was a great noble.
In such a situation,
Rosa, despite belonging to the Solis Barony, was a rare individual who
proactively chose to learn under them. Even if the Central Church wished to
keep her close, it was understandable. However, one day, Rosa abruptly
announced her temporary return to the territory.
She had been warning
the Church about the impending plague, urging them to sound the alarm and
proceed with preparations and countermeasures. However, the Church's movements
were slow and not as she wished, causing her increasing frustration.
Exasperated by this, she departed for the territory concurrently with her
master (Takuhir)'s expedition to the eastern border.
At this juncture, the
Church, realizing the importance of their connection with Rosa, hastily
dispatched selected individuals from the Church to accompany her, ostensibly
for support. The selected companions, other than the young priest, were all
young women, such as nuns. This was due to the Church's calculation that a
person of the same gender and similar age would likely be able to establish a
connection with her more easily. Furthermore, the selected individuals were not
only capable but also received secret orders from the Church: to bring Rosa
over to the Church's side and to investigate Teigun's internal affairs. The
group would constantly act with Rosa, serving as her hands and feet, to gather
more information and send it to the Royal Capital's Central Church.
※
"News from the
New Checkpoint! Rosa-sama's party will arrive soon!"
"Thank you. Could
you please also inform Father Grace? For their reception, let's use the city's
inns as previously arranged. But... it's surprising how considerate she's
become."
Claire, who received
the report at the administrative office, smiled. Claire had known Rosa since
she was an apprentice working at the infirmary in Est. At that time, she was
just a naive 14-year-old girl.
"Yes, you're
right. The Royal Capital is a front line swirling with spies and schemes. She
must have been fighting every day," Miseri responded.
Rosa, from the moment
the Church forced companions upon her, had secretly sent a messenger by fast
horse. The message stated the possibility that they were spies from the Central
Church, and that it was necessary to inform Father Grace and for the
administrative office to be cautious.
"Well, it's certainly
helpful that we have more hands who can actually perform the manufacturing and
rituals," Yoltia also chuckled. At this point, they, including the others
entrusted with Teigun's fate, had some leeway.
Preparations were
steadily progressing, and everything planned was proceeding smoothly. Viscount
Gorman and Margrave Hastburg had also dispatched their own messengers directly
to Teigun, and the necessary information sharing with them was complete. From
Est, Chrisia, acting on Claire's orders, had visited Teigun and completed all
information sharing. They felt confident that a full response system would be
in place by winter, before the anticipated arrival of the plague.
※
At the same time, a
pioneer family, a mother and child, were visiting the Teigun infirmary.
"I'm so sorry!
Please, please, examine this child! Her high fever hasn't subsided for three
days... Please, please save my daughter!"
The daughter, carried
on her mother's back, looked utterly limp, struggling with shallow, rapid
breaths. They were immediately escorted to a room set up inside the infirmary.
At that moment, Clara,
a Holy Mage who happened to be at the infirmary, received a report from the
person who had attended to the mother and child, and felt a hint of unease. She
was the newest among the Holy Mages, having undergone aptitude confirmation and
become a Mage along with Masrur and others just before Takuhir's departure for
the Royal Capital. However, already 30 years old, a married woman and mother of
two daughters, she was the oldest among the Holy Mages, and indeed among female
Mages, and even among all Mages, including men, placing her among the older age
group, giving her extensive life experience.
"It's common for
children this age to develop high fevers... but there are some troubling
signs."
Based on her
experience raising two children, she compared the child's condition to what she
knew. The child, who had a high fever and repeatedly suffered from diarrhea and
vomiting, had slightly sunken eyes and cold limbs. She performed a skin and
nail check as described in the manual and thought, This seems to match the case
described as 『dehydration』...
She made a decision,
quickly left the sickroom, and informed those around her.
"I am now
classifying her as a Class A reportable case. Anyone who has come into contact
with the mother and child must immediately isolate themselves and perform
disinfection and gargling! Those interacting with them must also take the
prescribed measures. Someone, please hurry and run to the administrative office
to report!"
Saying that, she
pulled the lever of a container labeled 【Disinfectant】 nearby, rubbed the
sprayed liquid onto her hands, and then, putting on a cloth described as a 【mask】 in the manual and kept stocked in the infirmary, returned to the
sickroom.
"I hope it's just
my unfounded fear, but the infection might have already spread around the
mother and child... We need to confirm the situation as quickly as
possible."
※
And the messenger
Clara dispatched immediately, rushed to the administrative office.
"Excuse me for
interrupting! Clara-sama from the infirmary just reported a Class A case!
Details to follow!"
"!!!"
Miseri, Claire,
Yoltia, and Rosa, who had just arrived from the Royal Capital, stood up.
"No way! It's not
even summer yet..." Miseri cried out involuntarily. Claire and Yoltia also
looked anxious, unable to hide their agitation.
"Class A. It's
not yet Class S, meaning the situation isn't confirmed. I'm in the middle of a
meeting, but I'm heading to the infirmary immediately. Sister Claire, could you
please guide the Church people who accompanied me to Father Grace? I need
Father to immediately prepare for the purification ritual. Miseri, Yoltia,
please prepare to issue warnings and send messengers everywhere. And... please
summon all Holy Mages. It's alright! We've been preparing for this day all
along!"
Saying that, Rosa
quickly left.
"She (Rosa) ended
up encouraging us instead. We can't be outdone. I'm also heading to the Church
now. Please handle the rest of the arrangements."
Claire chuckled a
little self-deprecatingly, then regained her composure, returning to her usual
self.
※
By the time Rosa
arrived at the infirmary, the prescribed responses were already being
implemented. Those moving about covered their mouths with cloths called 【masks】, and something called 【disinfectant】 was placed everywhere
inside the infirmary.
"Rosa! You're
back from the Royal Capital! I'm sorry to ask immediately. The report... should
I give it to you, Rosa?"
"Yes, Clara-san,
thank you for your prompt initial response. That's very helpful. Um, yes,
please report here."
Rosa invited her into
a familiar room within the infirmary.
※
At the administrative
office, key individuals were gathering one after another in response to
Miseri's summons.
"So, what's the
situation now? Has it been confirmed as Class S? We can't understand anything
just sitting here!"
Christoph, unable to
hide his frustration given the complete lack of information, raised his voice.
The same frustration was visible among everyone gathered there, merely waiting
for a report.
"Christoph, calm
down! What good will it do if we get flustered?! Rosa will be back from the
pioneer village soon. Let's wait for her."
Claire, acting like an
older sister among the Mages, gave a sharp reprimand.
"I apologize for
my impatience. Unlike battle, I think I was just frustrated by being unable to
do anything..."
Even as she
reprimanded him, Claire thought. Perhaps Christoph, who is usually so calm,
deliberately played the fool to calm everyone who was anxious and frustrated.
Indeed, seeing Christoph's demeanor, everyone suppressed their frustration and
began to exercise self-control.
After receiving
information from Clara at the infirmary, Rosa examined the girl who had visited
the infirmary with her mother, and then took them (the mother and child)
directly to the Church. After entrusting the mother and child's care to Clara,
she immediately headed to the Fifth Pioneer District, where the mother and child
resided. She said she would compile the investigation results and hold a report
meeting that night.
Currently, the
conference room where Claire and the others are gathered includes key Mages,
all Holy Mages except Marianne and Lanatoria (who are on the battlefield) and
Clara (who is managing the infirmary), and key administrative officials.
"Everyone, thank
you for waiting!"
After a while, Rosa
returned to the administrative office, out of breath.
"First, I must
tell you this. I am classifying these symptoms as Class S. All of you will now
proceed with the prescribed response."
It's finally here!
Everyone thought, steeling themselves as the meeting began.
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