Chapter 100: CH 111

Chapter 111

Translator: Yonnee

RP: Haebaragi_syk

—

“We’ve arrived, Lady Reina.”

As she was notified of their arrival, Reina opened the carriage door and took a careful step outside.

But before she could even fully get out of the vehicle, words laced with astonishment left her lips.

“Is this… supposed to be the place?”

The knight captain bitterly shook his head.

“Without a doubt, Milady.”

“But why…”

Disconcerted, Reina mumbled the question as she scanned the village.

The sky above was covered by a thick haze, bringing down pressure with its heavy humidity, and though the edifices all around had various colors, they nonetheless looked desolate for some reason.

Right. It was as if the entire village was completely devoid of any spirit. And what’s worse, the atmosphere in the area was packed with such a musty air that felt like exhaust fumes.

Then, the gloomy voice of an old woman interjected between Reina and the knight captain.

“Though the area was unruly, it was still once a village filled with life.”

Turning her head, Reina found an old woman with wrinkles.

“It is an honor to meet the rose of the nine great noble households, Lady Reina of the family that rules the western sea, House Chantra. I am Crea, chief of the Launcer Village.”

After roughly exchanging their greetings, Reina quickly broached the topic, not wanting to delay it another second.

“Where are the patients?”

The people around her tried to stop her attempt, but if there was one single person in the world who could pose as a hurdle to her, she wouldn’t have been able to come to this village in the first place.

“Let me check the patients’ conditions first. Mary, follow the knights to our accommodation and unpack our things. Wait there and don’t go out recklessly.”

* * *

She entered the temple, where the patients were. Just as much as pained groans vibrated all throughout the space, so too did the smell of sticky sweat, blood, and pus.

Unknowingly wincing, Reina looked behind her and gave an order to the knights.

“Just as I’ve instructed you all earlier this morning, cover every part of you except your eyes. Never let the patients’ bodily fluids or blood splatter onto your bare skin. And also be sure not to touch anything without your gauntlets or gloves.”

“Yes, Milady.”

As Reina was fully alert, she covered half of her face with a handkerchief and put on a pair of gloves. Then, she approached a trembling patient who wasn’t breathing evenly.

“Save me, please… Uuurk… I-I beg of you…”

The patients here were in a much worse condition compared to the patients at the Thurn Village. One hand clenched into a fist, her fingernails dug deep into the flesh of her palm. She forced herself to pull herself together.

“May I please know your symptoms?”

Perhaps the severity of the situation was getting to her, but as she asked the question politely, her voice trembled unknowingly. Thanks to that, the patient did not answer as though frightened.

In the end, it became apparent that she needed to lift the patient’s clothes to get a closer look. Karbon and the other knights stopped her.

“It’s dangerous, Milady.”

Looking down at the sword that was blocking her, Reina soon raised her gaze again.

“Stand back, Captain.”

“Going any closer proves dangerous. Please let us check instead.”

“No. It’s less dangerous for me to do this. I had already taken care of the patients at the Thurn Village.”

“However—”

“Besides that, I am also currently under the Ministry of Health. I am more qualified to look after patients compared to you all, who hold swords in your hands.”

“……”

“Captain Karbon. Wouldn’t it be better to let me see the patients quickly and efficiently so that we can leave the temple right away? If you’re still anxious, then grant me a healing blessing.”

Karbon looked at Reina with a heavy gaze, but eventually, he nodded once at the other knights.

“…Understood. Instead, please promise that once you’re done checking this patient, we will leave the temple.”

“Alright.”

Karbon did the best to pour as much divine power into Reina that he could, yet,

“You have to leave enough to protect yourself, Karbon.”

“…But, Milady—”

“If anything happens to you in here, that would only cause trouble.”

“…Huu. I understand.”

With the knight captain’s blessing of healing coating her entire body, she immediately approached the patient.

“I’ll be examining you for just a moment now.”

When the patient’s clothes were slightly lifted, a humid, sweaty stench wafted out. He was so soaked in sweat that it was as if someone had poured water all over him.

Reina began to examine the patient, enduring the thick stench of pus hitting her.

However, less than a minute after checking the patient, the hand that was holding the patient’s clothes trembled.

Becoming like stone as if she had touched something that she shouldn’t have touched, she immediately stepped back in surprise.

“…All of the knights. Get out of this temple right this instant.”

“What?”

“Now…!”

Taken aback for a moment by the incomprehensible command, the knights turned around.

“Please leave the temple as well, Milady.”

“Yes, Karbon, but before that…”

As the knights started heading for the exit one by one, Reina enhanced her eyes so that her vision would become clearer, then she scanned all the other patients whose affected areas were exposed.

“You promised to leave as well after seeing only one patient, Milady.”

“Yes. Just a moment, really. It’ll be quick.”

Mumbling back in response, Reina headed deeper into the temple before Karbon could even stop her.

Then, she muttered in disbelief.

“…It can’t be.”

The patients’ neck and armpits, which were all swollen and had large abscesses, all looked similar.

However, the problem was this: some patients were showing the symptom of black spots on their bodies. Necrosis.

“It can’t be… Why… Why is it like this. There weren’t any reports about this…”

Reina muttered nervously to herself, then she caught a priest who was passing by.

“Reverend, are any patients showing symptoms of hands and feet turning black?”

“No, there are no such symptoms, ma’am.”

As soon as the priest said this, a sigh of relief left her lips.

‘The only thing to avoid the worst is—’

“Ah! Apologies, that’s not the case.”

“…What?”

As if reproaching her relief, the worst case scenario that she had been fearing… was soon confirmed by the priest.

“Come to think of it, there haven’t been any mistakes in the treatments of the patients, but… there were some sinners whose fingers and toes had turned black when they died.”