Chapter 76

Zzzt!!

Zap!!

Amidst a massive spark, a cluster of light appeared in the tranquil square of the manor, and the surroundings gradually came into view.

Ordem Manor.

It is located at a considerable distance from Haines Manor and is an area where bands of bandits, who roam the plains and forests without belonging to any country, have started to plunder.

It is also the home of a baronial family with a long history, which once had iron mines and fertile farmland.

Although the manor's finances have been faltering recently due to the bandits' increasing activities, it remains a large and developed manor.

Of course, the atmosphere was more depressed than I had expected.

“Haha... This is quite a sight, isn't it, big brother?”

“Was there another attack already?”

As I amplified my senses, a foul smell of burning flesh immediately wafted over.

The distinctive smell of burning protein was very similar to the smell of burning people.

On the surface, it was just a quiet manor, but the atmosphere was subtly oppressive.

It was impressive that it had managed to grow so brightly in such an atmosphere.

Winry, who had a subtle expression on her face, frowned slightly.

“There's no way... The bandits haven't attacked for a while...”

Winry muttered in confusion, perhaps judging that a large number of people were being cremated.

“Unless it's due to a conflict, there's only one reason to burn so many people.”

I pointed to one side with a somber look.

There, figures covered in red cloths, with red armor, were loading what appeared to be the bodies of manor residents onto carts.

“What... What is this...”

It seemed to be clearly different from the situation she knew.

She muttered, unable to control her trembling pupils.

“Is this... Princess Winry, you've returned.”

At that moment, a man wearing a monocle slowly walked out from among the knights and bowed.

“I have been dispatched from the Central Disease Control Unit. I am Baron Linton.”

His smile seemed infinitely kind, but for some reason, it felt off.

“You are even more beautiful than I had heard. It seems rumors often underestimate the truth.”

“I'm sorry, but there is an urgent matter at hand. We should save the conversation for later.”

“Haha, I would like to, but unfortunately, the situation is what it is.”

He smiled awkwardly, showing a friendly expression.

His appearance gave off an old-fashioned scholar-like vibe.

“First of all, I apologize for entering the manor without notice and allowing the knights to roam freely.”

“...”

He narrowed his eyes, looking at Winry, who was silent with a complex expression.

“First, please come in. The castle where the princess will stay has been disinfected with the magic artifacts of the Holy Kingdom.”

Winry's expression twisted at his words.

* * *

Baris was not in the manor.

He was reportedly absent for some reason.

In the end, they had entered and occupied the lord's castle without the owner.

What do you mean?

It was a dog-like situation.

However, there was a reason why Winry couldn't formally protest any further.

“Sigh, please understand, even if it's uncomfortable. This is a medicinal tea made from beneficial herbs.”

“I don't recall ever transferring the authority of Ordem Manor to Baron Linton.”

“Haha...”

“The lord of Ordem Manor is Baris. But since Baris is absent, the authority lies with me.”

Winry's face was filled with displeasure as she firmly expressed her stance.

“I understand. It is indeed a brazen act for us to come here and make such demands.”

It was like a burglar pretending to be the homeowner when the actual homeowner returned.

“But as I mentioned earlier, we are from the Central Disease Control Unit.”

“...”

Central Disease Control Unit.

I had heard of it by name.

It is a special multinational organization with special authority, authorized by the seals of the three emperors who rule the continent.

“Indeed, the main purpose of the Central Disease Control Unit is to provide free medical services across the continent. It is an organization founded by the three wise emperors with good intentions.”

“I am aware of that, but what exactly are the disease control unit members doing in the manor?”

Winry asked.

She had been unable to shake off a subtle sense of unease since earlier.

-How do you know without using the information confirmation ability?

‘Winry has a habit of tightly gripping the hem of her skirt with her right hand when she's anxious.’

-That's a serious case of sibling love, isn't it?

‘What's it to you if I cherish my sister for being cute.’

Winry is indeed one of the nobles with a high appearance score, even among other nobles.

Her round, large eyes and delicate features had already won the favor of other noble lords in the Round Kingdom.

According to rumors, a prince from another country who visited for an international event fell in love with her and proposed marriage, but was rejected.

I don't know the reason, though.

-Tsk tsk.

Perseus looked at me disdainfully at my explanation, but I ignored it lightly.

“Princess, you are aware that a vicious disease is currently spreading in this manor. We refer to this disease as the Demon's Blood.”

“Demon's... Blood.”

“Yes, it is a highly malignant disease where the victim's body starts to develop dark blue spots, eventually leading to death from vomiting blood. Moreover, it is a very vicious disease known for its extremely high contagiousness.”

Winry's face turned pale at his explanation. It was because the symptoms of Fortna, the bodyguard knight who had begged me to save her, were the same as those of the Demon's Blood.

“This... This is not the time! Big brother! Quickly, Fortna!”

Winry, now in a panic, made a pained expression and sought my help.

“Oh, I apologize for not greeting Prince David earlier. I had heard of you and wanted to meet you. I heard you manifested a holy mark and successfully cultivated the Moonleaf in the manor.”

“It just happened to work out.”

At my calm response, he laughed heartily.

“There is no result without a cause. It must be due to your excellence, Prince. Ha ha, it seems all the outstanding rising stars of the continent are gathered here.”

“Baron Linton, I'm sorry, but I have an urgent matter and need to leave my seat. Lindy!”

She called out urgently, but Lindy, who was presumably her maid, did not appear.

“I apologize, but the servants and knights of the manor are currently under special quarantine.”

“What do you mean?”

With a look of anger, Winry's words made Linton wipe his sweat with a handkerchief.

“It was an unavoidable measure. The Demon's Blood is a highly contagious disease. While it can be managed with proper care, if even a trace of infection occurs, it can lead to an uncontrollable situation. Please understand.”

Winry, with a pale face, hesitated at his bow.

“But this is clearly an overreach...”

“I understand. It is indeed brazen, but please understand that this is an action taken according to the treaty of the nation alliance. In emergencies, the authority of the manor can be delegated, as has been a precedent in the past.”

“Moreover, unfortunately, this disease cannot be treated regardless of the level of holy power. It simply does not respond.”

“That... can't be...”

“That is why we have taken action. Please entrust it to us. We will certainly provide effective treatment and bring you good news.”

His tone was like a false dedication of good intentions.

* * *

There is nothing to be confirmed by talking to him.

I need to see it for myself.

Making an excuse, I entered the treatment facility, where a pungent smell assaulted my nose.

“Ugh...”

“Ah... It hurts...”

The scene in the treatment facility was gruesome.

Horrible moans, sobs from all around.

Even the manor residents who had already succumbed to the disease.

At first, it was just Winry's bodyguard knight, Fortna, but in just a few days, many manor residents had started to suffer from the same disease.

Soldiers in red cloaks carried the dead manor residents on stretchers and continuously cremated them in one place.

-The smell of burning bodies is too strong. My head is throbbing.

‘Me too.’

I moved inside calmly.

Normally, I wouldn't be allowed to enter, but I was permitted due to my knowledge of holy magic and Winry's earnest request.

The treatment facility was a sealed space made by patching together many cloths, where manor residents with different symptoms were isolated and treated.

Or rather, this was more like...

‘A quarantine to prevent the worst-case scenario.’

It was a harsh but, in a sense, a practical solution.

-...

Perseus, in response to my muttering, looked around with a disgusted expression, covering his mouth.

-Even in the original girl's lifetime, there was no such terrible disease...

“This disease shouldn't exist in the first place.”

-What do you mean? And there's a strange smell coming from earlier.

I entered the special isolation room where Fortna was lying.

The peculiar scent became even stronger.

-Ugh...

Unlike her, who instinctively frowned, I walked in calmly or with a determined expression and soon found a woman tied to a bed, lying like a corpse.

Fortna.

She was the bodyguard knight Winry had begged me to save.

“The scent of Blue Moonleaf.”

I finally muttered quietly after a moment of silence.

-Blue... what?

“Blue Moonleaf, in this world, it would probably be called the Tortat flower.”

-I've never heard of such a flower.

“It's a rare flower that grows only in the polar regions, and it's usually very hard to find.”

It had a subtly unpleasant yet subtly addictive scent.

“The Tortat flower is a highly toxic flower.”

A single drop of the liquid extracted from the flower can kill hundreds of people. It's a deadly poison that assassins would love, but it's so difficult to cultivate and obtain that even if it were effective, it wouldn't be used.

Approaching silently, I gently placed my hand on her wrist to feel her pulse.

Thump... thump thump... thump thump thump. Thump...

A very weak pulse was beating irregularly, spreading quickly through my fingertips.

Then, I channeled mana to examine her entire body.

Without advanced equipment like CT or MRI, the only way to check was using mana.

This was an action impossible with ordinary mana control, but who am I?

I have learned all the knowledge of Odin, once called the God of Magic.

Despite her pale complexion, which made her seem almost dead, her pulse was strong enough to show she was alive.

She was exposed to the disease much earlier than the other manor residents, yet she was still alive while others were dying.

“39.7 degrees. Her brain cells will be cooked soon.”

Her skin was cold like a corpse.

However, her organs were in an extremely hot, unbalanced state.

The situation was dire, to the point where it was a wonder she was still alive.

The gruesome symptoms, circumstances, and method of death.

I had suspected as much when Winry first told me about the situation, but a subtle sigh of complexity escaped me.

If she were an ordinary person, she would have already died by the time I arrived.

“I can't understand how this disease could exist in this world...”

-What do you mean? Tell me more.

“It's a disease that was prevalent in another world, a virus created under special circumstances, not like common diseases such as the flu, cancer, leukemia, or the Black Death.”

This disease is a virus created through genetic manipulation. In other words, it's a biochemical terror, not a natural disease.

Even the creators of this virus all died from it.

-You mean it was created?

“Melting Acceleration Virus”

-Mel... Melting... What?

“Fusion Acceleration Virus. The death process is vicious, and it's highly contagious. In my experience, it once killed millions in a short time after an outbreak. And...”

I closed my eyes briefly.

“It took 10 years to develop a cure. During that time, 280 million people died. After the cure was developed, 18 million were saved. We need to create an antibody quickly.”

I immediately grabbed a small scalpel, a tube, and a glass test tube nearby and imbued the scalpel with holy power.

Disinfection is important.

At that moment,

“What are you doing?!”

A wary voice stopped me in my tracks.