Chapter 8

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 8: The Most Necessary Thing (4)

"…Huh?"

The cold mask Fidelina wore shattered, replaced by a dumbfounded expression.

After mouthing soundlessly for a moment, she finally managed to speak.

"This guy's seriously funny, huh? Did he really think he could persuade us with just those words…?"

"Are you that confident?"

"Lord Deputy Tower Master!"

As she yelled out and looked at the Deputy Tower Master, he instead reprimanded her.

"Elder Fidelina, Oscar Crucian came to me as a mage officially affiliated with the White Tower, seeking approval for an investment proposal. Even though you're in charge of the tower’s finances, your current behavior is far too rude."

"…I apologize."

Oscar nodded slightly as he listened to their conversation.

He wondered why she seemed so eager to criticize him, but now it made sense—she was the elder in charge of finances.

‘Alright, that's understandable. To be fair, she has every reason to dislike me.’

For over two years, little Oscar had been receiving research funding, but he hadn’t produced any promising results.

Moreover, he had recently misused some of the funds to purchase illegal potions, which only added to her grievances.

"Let me ask you again. Are you truly confident you can develop a cure for the Cadena Plague?"

"…I checked, and it seems I've received a total of 723,000 Bel over 17 different disbursements over the past few years."

Considering that an ordinary farmer’s annual income, after taxes, was around 20,000 Bel, this was an enormous amount.

In other words, the White Tower had made a ridiculously bold investment, likely because they had high hopes that the once-called genius, little Oscar, would produce something worthwhile.

"I believe it's time for me to repay the support I’ve received, not just with gratitude but with real results."

"…"

"You asked if I’m confident, right?"

Oscar nodded resolutely.

"I have absolute confidence. So please, invest in me."

"…You’re awfully confident. But unfortunately, the White Tower doesn’t have the means to invest in such a venture at this time."

Fidelina, standing next to him, crossed her arms and interjected.

"As of next month, we won’t even have enough funds to cover the expenses of the mages working outside."

"…"

"And yet you went and spent 25,000 Bel on illegal potions… Ha, I don’t even know why I bother."

Oscar hadn’t realized the financial situation was so severe that they had to worry about next month’s budget.

‘If I had started this project just a few days later, the tower might’ve already gone bankrupt.’

While he was sweating coldly, the Deputy Tower Master, deep in thought, took an envelope from his drawer.

Maxim’s face hardened as he looked at it.

"Lord Deputy Tower Master, that money is…"

"Shh."

With a finger to his lips, the Deputy Tower Master began to speak.

"I can invest my own funds in Oscar. But before I do, there’s one thing I absolutely need to confirm."

His eyes on Oscar became deeply serious.

The gaze, filled with wise intensity, seemed to allow no hint of deception.

"Do you have a reason for believing that the flu outbreak in the Vins territory is actually the Cadena Plague?"

"…"

If Oscar couldn’t give a satisfying answer, any hopes of investment would vanish.

Yet, he responded calmly, without any sign of distress.

"I based my conclusion on a single reason that led me to believe it was the Cadena Plague."

"I’d like to hear what that reason is."

"In that case, would you take a look at the newspaper I brought with me?"

At his words, the three of them turned their attention to the newspaper.

"If you look at page 2, you’ll find an article about Archbishop Baldwin."

Turning the page, they indeed found the relevant article.

[Archbishop Baldwin of the El Terra Church alters his pilgrimage schedule unexpectedly, extending his stay in the remote Sirin territory for a blessing ritual lasting up to a month.]

The Deputy Tower Master nodded upon reading it.

"Hmm. I was already aware of this information. But how does it relate to the Cadena Plague?"

"Isn't it strange for an archbishop to stay in a place like Sirin for an entire month?"

This time, Elder Fidelina spoke up.

"I thought you’d say something more significant. Spending a month in Sirin during a pilgrimage isn’t particularly unusual."

"That used to be the case. But now, they only stay for a month in major cities."

The continent’s seven archbishops are far from paragons of integrity.

In fact, they are notorious for their greed, often more so than merchants, as they need substantial funds to secure the coveted position of cardinal.

"Let’s be honest, just between us. The reason they spend a month in a major city while on pilgrimage is to meet with nobles and merchants and receive tribute. But how about Sirin?"

This question silenced all three of them.

With the White Tower in decline, the territory it ruled, Sirin, had no wealthy residents left to speak of.

In other words, spending a month there would yield very little tribute.

It was Maxim who broke the silence, finally grasping the oddity.

"Now that you mention it, that does seem strange. But according to the article, he’s staying to deliver a blessing prayer, isn’t he?"

"Which makes it even stranger. An archbishop giving an expensive blessing prayer in a place with no money?"

With a hint of disbelief, Oscar chuckled and pulled a map of the continent from his pocket, spreading it out on the table.

"As you know, the El Terra Church’s pilgrimage route follows a fixed order. After Sirin comes Mos, followed by Melbourne and Greenvale. And then…"

"…Vins."

Both Fidelina and Maxim spoke the name together as they looked at the map.

Oscar nodded.

"Exactly. According to El Terra doctrine, the maximum stay in each territory during a pilgrimage is one month. If I’m correct, he’ll spend a month in Mos, then another month each in Melbourne and Greenvale. Now, why do you think that is?"

Oscar lightly tapped on the Vins territory on the map as if he were knocking on a door.

"Doesn’t it look like he’s deliberately delaying his arrival there?"

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]

"…!"

The church interprets any unavoidable mishaps or misfortunes during a pilgrimage as a sign of the Great Earth Mother’s anger.

Naturally, someone who offends their deity cannot hope to rise to higher ranks.

This would be almost like a death sentence for the archbishop with ambitions for the cardinal's position.

"I see… So Archbishop Baldwin has already confirmed that the flu in Vins territory is indeed the Cadena Plague and is stalling until it subsides?"

"At least, that’s how I interpreted it."

The looks directed at Oscar changed significantly.

"Well, your analytical skills are sharp enough, as expected from a theoretical mage. Although it's still just a hypothesis."

Even Fidelina, who disliked him, reluctantly acknowledged this much.

Oscar, having made his case, looked expectantly at the Deputy Tower Master.

“Hmm.”

Deputy Tower Master, who had remained silent throughout, slowly nodded his head.

“I can see why you think the flu spreading through Vins is actually Cadena.”

“You mean?”

“I’ll invest. But I only have 30,000 bells. Is that enough to produce the cure?”

“With 30,000 bells…”

Oscar closed his eyes, thinking as hard as he could.

‘Even if I handle every step by myself and only use that money to buy ingredients…’

It wouldn’t be enough.

It would barely be enough to produce medicine for 500 people.

“…Sigh.”

Oscar let out a deep sigh and opened his eyes.

“There’s no other choice. We’ll have to go with Plan B.”

“Plan B?”

“You even prepared a backup plan?”

“Explain in detail. If it sounds like nonsense, I’ll kick you out.”

Oscar looked at each of them in turn before responding.

“As you know, the ones most troubled by the Cadena flu right now aren’t us.”

He tapped on the newspaper article, specifically on the words “Archbishop Baldwin.”

“The ones in urgent need should pay. We’ll use the money you provided to create a sample, then use it to negotiate with the Archbishop for funding.”

“The ones in urgent need should pay... Ha, now that I hear it, that’s quite true.”

Deputy Tower Master chuckled softly and nodded.

“Go ahead with the plan.”

“Yes, then please gather the necessary ingredients for me. First…”

Oscar listed the necessary materials and then bowed his head.

“I’ll go prepare the potion workshop, so please send the ingredients there.”

After he left the room, Fidelina spoke up.

“Maxim, what do you think? Do you think that kid can really make a cure?”

“…At least, he’s not one to lie.”

“Such unwavering trust—you must think I’m foolish for asking. What do you think, Lord Deputy Tower Master?”

“Hm.”

With a meaningful smile, Deputy Tower Master slowly rose and approached the window.

He looked up at a flock of birds flying across the clear sky.

“There once was a bird so splendid that every ruler in the world desired it.”

The two listened silently as he suddenly began this story.

“But when it was discovered that the bird had contracted a terrible illness, all interest vanished as if it had never been there.”

They realized this was Oscar’s story.

“It must have been a harsh blow for that young bird. People who once whispered sweet words and smiled at it turned cold overnight. In the end, the wounded bird locked itself away in an old cage, no longer singing or flying. As if it had given up on everything… at such a young age.”

The wrinkled hands of Deputy Tower Master tightened on the window frame.

“…And now that bird is finally about to spread its wings again. How could I not be hopeful?”

The world had declared that bird finished.

It would never sing or soar again.

‘Oscar, show those who said such things, who wished for it to be true, just how loud you can sing.’

Show them how high you can fly.

* * *

No one knows where the Cadena flu originated.

Some say it was spread by demons from beyond the Red Mountains, while others claim it leaked from a secret Imperial lab.

The one certain thing is that it’s a deadly virus.

“Mortality rate: 3%.”

Some might say, with diseases boasting a mortality rate over 30%, how dangerous could it be?

But what makes the Cadena flu truly terrifying is its transmission speed.

‘If my memory serves me right…’

After the first known Cadena flu case was discovered, it only took four days for the virus to engulf a city of 50,000.

Due to this astounding transmission rate, the Imperial Royal Court classified it as a Grade B “disaster.”

“Hm…”

Upon arriving at the 37th-floor potion lab, Oscar looked around.

Thanks to some upkeep, there wasn’t much dust, but it seemed no work had been done here for a long time. He opened various cupboards one by one and nodded.

‘Dirty, but the tools aren’t broken. They’ll do for potion-making.’

He had the formula in his head, and the tools were in good shape.

Soon, the materials for the cure would arrive, so there was only one thing left for him to do.

“Let’s warm up a bit.”

[Translator - Clara]

[Proofreader - Gun]