Chapter 147
The Battle
of Those Left Behind ② -
Declaration of a State of Emergency
Translator : PolterGlast
"Just a moment
ago, I was conducting an investigation in the Fourth Village of the Fifth
Pioneer District."
"The village
closest to the Demon Realm, then! ...No, forgive me for interrupting. Rosa-dono,
please continue."
"Yes, as Gale-san
said, the Fourth Village is right next to the Demon Realm checkpoint. Not only
that, but there's also a secret staircase leading down into the valley... It
has been confirmed that children from the Fourth Village were playing near that
staircase. And though their symptoms vary, all of them have high fevers.
That staircase leads
through the valley bottom, and also into the Demon Realm. And in the previous
battle, many fell into the valley bottom and died, and it's unclear if all of
them were properly buried. I suspect that the source of the Monster Disease,
rodents like rats, came from there."
"Indeed, we also
split up and handled the recovery and burial, but I think there are probably
still bodies remaining on the cliff face and unrecovered bodies. There's a high
possibility that those could be the cause of the infection. Does this mean...
the infection has already spread?"
"Yes, Elan-san.
It's not just the children. Some adults are also feeling changes in their
physical condition. I believe it has probably spread to some adults as well. I
think symptoms will emerge en masse in a few days. Therefore, after consulting
with the four village chiefs of the Fifth Pioneer District, we have sealed off
all villages from 1 to 4, prohibiting entry and exit. We have also arranged for
similar measures to be taken in the adjacent Fourth Pioneer District for a few
days, just in case."
"Thank you,
Rosa-san. Since it has been classified as Class S during the on-site
investigation, according to regulations, I will now issue a state of emergency.
Everyone, please take your predetermined actions."
Miseri looked around
at everyone and continued.
"I will now issue
notifications to all relevant parties. Messengers will be dispatched at dawn to
Lady Chris in Est, Margrave Hastburg, and Viscount Gorman to report. Of course,
I plan to send a messenger to Takuhir-sama as well, with the message, 『Please rest assured and leave it to us』. He should focus his efforts on the battle before him
now. Are there any opinions or points of concern from anyone regarding this
matter?"
"No, I think
that's fine. Takuhir-sama is currently on the battlefield to clear his name of
baseless accusations. For us to cause him worry now would be a sign of our
incompetence."
Gale replied on behalf
of everyone, and the others nodded in unison.
"Thank you. First
thing tomorrow morning, we will convey Takuhir-sama's letter to the citizens.
Therefore, we must set up communication centers everywhere immediately.
Gale-san, I apologize
for the late hour, but I request you arrange for the transport of supplies now.
From tomorrow, I also want to request the garrison to transport patients, so
please prepare for that as well.
Christoph-san, please
oversee the self-defense force and, in cooperation with the mercenary corps,
arrange and operate patrol units. The self-defense force will likely be
stationed at the communication centers in shifts.
Kaoru-san, please
handle the transport of supplies between the territory and the New Checkpoint.
For now, we have reserves, and Teigun has achieved self-sufficiency, but in the
future, we may need to transport supplies to other regions.
Claire-san, please
organize the Water Mages, Fire Mages, and Wind Mages to purify the entire sewer
system with magic. Before fire processing, first, flush them out with water. I
grant permission to open the moat's sluice gates. Please prioritize this operation
from the Fifth Pioneer Village.
Elan-san, please
handle the response on the New Checkpoint side. Please contain the flow of
people and the inflow/outflow of infection there. I grant you command authority
over the soldiers stationed at the checkpoint.
Rosa-san, I leave the
response for both the infirmary and the Church to you. Multiple liaison
personnel will be assigned to you. Also, all Holy Mages, please place
yourselves under Rosa-san's command.
Yoltia-san, I entrust
you with the management of relevant supplies. Please manage replenishment to
each communication center and production. Please also keep an eye on the state
of food.
Kiira-san, please
command the Demon Realm side checkpoint while Christoph-san is on duty.
With Commander Weiss
absent, the Frontier Knights..."
"That is no
problem. Although temporarily, Commander and I have agreed that they will
operate as the same organization as the garrison. The Frontier Knights, in this
situation, have no choice but to stay in the city. They will be entrusted with
the defense of the Fran side New Checkpoint and the Demon Realm checkpoint, and
the management of the forts under construction."
"Gale-san, thank
you. Furthermore, even in this situation, the collection of medicinal herbs
must continue. We haven't yet reached a safe reserve level. This task will
proceed in parallel. Now, please immediately carry out what I've just
stated."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Everyone stood up in
unison. And as they were all about to move, someone stood in the doorway,
blocking their way and stopping them.
"Right! Everyone,
from now on, please use the disinfectant and wear your masks!"
Rosa, the only one
wearing a mask, gave additional instructions to everyone. This liquid, called
disinfectant, they had seen in manuals before, but it was unknown to them. This
liquid was something Takuhir had secretly created through trial and error with
the Holy Mages, and its production method was kept secret. They had only been
instructed to make it by pulverizing oyster shells burned at high temperatures
and dissolving a prescribed amount in water, but even the limited few who knew
only knew that much.
And this disinfectant
was contained in a vessel with a nozzle, which was called a 『spray bottle』. Miseri and the others also knew that Takuhir had explained the
principle of this spray bottle to Foreman Karl, who had then commercialized and
mass-produced it through trial and error.
"So, our master
had been creating such things and preparing for years. He truly is remarkable.
Everyone, he prepared all this for us. If we do nothing, we won't be able to
face Takuhir-sama. We will protect this city, no matter what, in his
absence!"
Christoph exhorted
everyone present, including himself.
※
The next morning, the
administrative office, led by Miseri, sprang into action. She climbed the tower
located on the top floor of the administrative office and asked a Sound Mage to
use magic to make her voice reach the entire city. Then, as an emergency
announcement from the administrative office, she publicly announced the
circumstances and that Lord Takuhir's letter would be read throughout the city.
"To all residents
of Teigun. This is the second time I've entrusted you with a letter like this.
I apologize for being absent whenever something crucial happens. For that, I
sincerely apologize. Now, Teigun, no, not just Teigun. The entire southern
border region, including Estol Territory, is facing a new crisis. It's not a
war against the Empire or monsters; it's a battle against an invisible enemy, a
plague.
Just the other day, an
ancient document in the Royal Capital revealed the possibility of an epidemic
called Monster Disease occurring after a large monster outbreak. I believe you
all know that a large monster outbreak occurred after the Imperial army's
invasion in the previous battle.
When infected with
this plague, one suffers from persistent high fever, repeated diarrhea, and
vomiting. During this time, the body loses the water necessary for life,
leading to death, starting with those who are the weakest. And this plague
spreads to those nearby, becoming an even more terrifying illness, with many
successively falling ill with the same disease.
But rest assured. Our
distant ancestors, who founded this Kyle Kingdom, also fought and won against
this plague. And my comrades and I have been preparing and responding to it
based on this tradition, adding new countermeasures. If we handle this
correctly, we can surely overcome this plague.
I have three requests
for you to win against this plague. First, please remain calm and follow the
countermeasures we have prepared. It's not difficult.
First: Report. No
matter how mild the symptoms, if you have a fever, please report it to the
communication centers set up in each region. After reporting, please do not go
out and wait at home. Carriages will come to pick up the sick in order and take
them to the infirmary. We plan to proceed quickly with the response, so please
wait calmly for pick-up. In addition to treatment, you will be guided to the
Church for a purification ritual to overcome the plague. You cannot receive
this ritual by directly visiting the Church. Please keep that in mind.
Second: Isolation.
Those who have an infected family member, those who have come into direct
contact with an infected person, or anyone who has been in the same room for
even a short time, please refrain from going outside and spreading the
infection to others until permission is given. This is because there is a
possibility of being infected even if symptoms have not appeared. For those who
need food, please hang the yellow cloth, which will be distributed to everyone,
in front of your house. Patrol units will check for yellow flags and arrange
for food delivery. Furthermore, entry and exit from the entire Teigun area will
be prohibited for the time being. The checkpoints are also closed, so you
cannot pass through even if you go there. Allowing entry or exit would likely
spread the infection to other towns or bring infection from other towns. Do not
think, 'I'll be fine.'
Third: Prevention. In
addition to the yellow cloth distributed by the administrative office, I want
everyone to use the three items distributed for prevention.
First, the 【Holy Water (Disinfectant)】. You should eliminate the cause of the plague on your
hands at all times, not just when eating. The usage is simple. Just apply the
holy water to your hands. Furthermore, those who have come into contact with
sick individuals should spray this holy water all over their clothes.
Next, the 【Holy Cloth (Mask)】. Even those not infected with the plague should cover
their mouths and noses with the distributed holy cloth when going out. This
holy cloth also has the effect of preventing the plague from entering the body.
And finally, the 【Purification Salt (just rock salt)】. When returning from outside, please use this to
gargle with salt without fail. This salt, purified at the Church, has the
effect of cleansing the inside of your mouth.
If everyone reliably
carries out these three points, we can defeat the plague! I believe that. So,
please remain calm and follow the instructions from the administrative office
and the communication centers. I apologize, but if anyone fails to follow these
instructions, or carelessly causes a commotion and induces chaos, they will be
detained as someone who might spread the plague.
By order of the
administrative office, taverns, brothels, and shooting ranges will be closed
for a while. I ask for everyone's understanding that you will have to endure
this for some time. Of course, during the closure, business profits will be
guaranteed under the Lord's name, so please continue to employ your staff. We
are considering having the administrative office prioritize placing orders for
meals and recruiting collaborators from each establishment.
Everyone, please
cooperate to save many lives. To ensure that not a single victim of the plague
emerges from Teigun."
This broadcast was
made throughout the Teigun area. And in conjunction with the broadcast,
temporary communication centers were set up in various locations.
Afterward, those with
fever and suspicious symptoms were successively transported to the city's
infirmary. Since preparations had been made in advance, there was considerable
room in the various holding facilities.
The temporary
prisoner-of-war camps near the Demon Realm checkpoint, in Teigun's Fourth
District, and in the post town, all of which had already been sufficiently
renovated, were now functioning as infirmaries. And the isolation ward at the
New Checkpoint was also almost complete.
Under the guidance of
the Holy Mages, those working at the infirmary began to move as one. Those from
the Central Church who had accompanied Rosa also began to work under Father
Grace.
Those remaining in
Teigun sprang into action to fulfill the mission entrusted to them.
The battle against the
unknown plague had just begun.
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