Episode 12

The party headed for the quarantine facility where those felled by the current epidemic were being housed. Several members of the headquarters accompanied them.

“…What are you doing?”

“I’m carrying him! The one you roughed up—the man in charge of the countermeasure HQ… the former man in charge, Yan!”

Yan was slung over a soldier’s back and being transported. He was breathing, but still unconscious.

“Are you stupid? If there’s no proper treatment, leaving him on the floor over there is no different. Don’t make extra work.”

“It is different! Who leaves a sick man on the floor? …The policy is to gather patients in one place and look after them.”

The soldier’s face twisted.

About a month had passed since the epidemic began. Considering how long it took for the truth to come to light, the damage might have started earlier.

“Is it guilt for finishing him off? What a useless regret.”

“I told you, that’s not it! When he wakes up… I’ll apologize properly.”

This soldier, Mauve, was from Apion. Born and raised in Apion, after coming of age he became a town soldier.

In his youth he’d been dissatisfied at times. Unlike a big city full of entertainment, life here felt dull, unchanging, and he was sick of it.

You couldn’t make a name as an adventurer when there were no nearby dungeons and few monsters. Mauve had some martial skill, but there were limited ways to use it.

“Hah. With people who’ve been asleep over a month, you’re awfully optimistic. What guarantee do you have he’ll wake?”

“Tch! I know that… That’s why everyone’s desperate, doing everything they can!”

Many of the young left town seeking stimulation. Mauve had thought the same, if the chance came—but in the end he chose to work here as a soldier. He hadn’t had a clear reason, but in hindsight he must have loved this town, Apion. That unchanging daily life felt precious to him.

“And the result is this wreckage? A whole month and nothing to show for it. In the end you lash out at a ducal brat and scream… Pathetic.”

“Guh… That’s… well…”

Mauve knew it himself. At the very least, Ciel—who had only arrived today—was not at fault. He ought to have bowed his head and thanked her. Ordinarily no one would choose to walk into a deathtrap on behalf of strangers.

But he couldn’t stop. He had to vent that anger with nowhere to go. His hometown, his family, his friends were facing an unprecedented crisis. Day after day he spun his wheels, wanting to fix it.

“Whatever. That’s your limit—useless lot that you are. …I could handle it far more efficiently.”

“…What’s that supposed to mean? And who even are you? What’s your position here?”

“I’ve no obligation to answer. …You want to curb the spread of the ‘epidemic,’ don’t you? Then it’s simple. Put them all together and process them.”

“Yeah, hence a quarantine facility… much as I hate it for the patients.”

Mauve grimaced. When the idea of isolating patients had first been raised, there had been an uproar. But as their numbers grew, they had no choice.

“Cut it off at the root. …Incinerate the epidemic en masse. Then it won’t spread needlessly. Keep going until the last patient.”

Zeke spoke flatly, without expression. His eyes were fixed on what must be their destination—the quarantine facility.

“Wh—! Kid, are you serious? There are jokes you don’t make! What are lives to you… Don’t tell me you plan to do it with your magic!?”

“How dim. Why should I use magic for your sake? If you want to do it, do it yourselves.”

“Like hell we would—!!”

Mauve shouted, making those around them stare; Luke could only give a wry smile.

“Hmph. It would be efficient… if it were truly an epidemic.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? Hey! Don’t ignore me!”

Zeke strode off, leaving Mauve behind. Whether he’d grown sick of dealing with him—or something else—

“This is the quarantine facility. It used to be a hospital.”

Guided by Mauve and other locals from Apion, they reached a relatively large building—likely the town’s principal medical center.

“They look completely worn down. It doesn’t seem they can keep up.”

“There are too many patients for the doctors and nurses.”

Not only were patients failing to be discharged—their number kept increasing—and people who had been helping with treatment suddenly found themselves on the patient side. At this point, the official staff could be counted on one hand.

“There are only so many wards and beds… We’re scrambling to set up other isolation sites.”

“…Even if you do, it’s meaningless without people to tend them.”

“Exactly. It’s only a matter of time like this. I assume you’ve checked the obvious, but we’ll have to try magic and medicine ourselves. …Ciel-sama, is that acceptable?”

Ciel didn’t answer Golton’s prompt; she seemed miles away.

Luke—and Zeke—both turned their eyes to Mauve.

“…H-hey, brats. Why are you looking at me? What’s with those eyes!?”

Luke wore a troubled, faintly reproachful look. Zeke—was staring at Mauve with open scorn.

“I get the blond kid, but what’s that look from you!?”

“Do you have no sense? Mind where you shout. It’s disgraceful.”

Mauve hastily clamped his mouth shut, though his face still showed displeasure.

“…Well, uh—sorry. For running my mouth. You aren’t the ones at fault.”

Ciel didn’t react. Only when Stille addressed her did she stir.

“Ah! My apologies as well… Let’s check the patients’ condition.”

A nurse led them to the ward where patients lay.

According to the explanation, there were no major differences among symptoms: all had lost consciousness and were comatose. They had tried administering drugs, recovery magic, and even higher-tier healing magic, but nothing had produced notable results.

“This is… awful.”

“Yes. Seeing it in person…”

A great many patients lay in their beds. They were not sleeping—they were comatose. The scale of the damage was stark.

“Damn it… the number’s up again.”

Magi and Church personnel were casting, but there was no change. Patients were human, and so were those treating them. Stamina and mana had limits. Everyone present looked completely spent.

“At this rate… Zeke, before we came you said we ‘might see something interesting.’ What did you mean?”

“Yeah—you said that earlier, too. What is it?”

“…”

Arms folded, Zeke stayed silent. To an outside eye he might seem indifferent, but his gaze was carefully taking in the surroundings.

Mauve started to speak again, but Luke stopped him.

“…Hey, Astera girl. Don’t you sense it?”

“Eh!? Sense what?”

Ciel was flustered by the sudden question; she couldn’t grasp what he meant.

“…Huh? What are you talking about?”

Even Zeke—who had asked—looked nonplussed. Seeing an expression he’d never seen on his friend, Luke was startled.

“Impossible… Are you truly… of the ducal house—of the royal line?”

She couldn’t have missed it—if she was Ciel Astera.

He hadn’t felt it upon entering Apion, but the moment Yan collapsed, he had sensed it clearly.

—That small wrongness. And after visiting the quarantine facility, standing among so many victims, he was certain.

This was not an epidemic. This was—a curse.