“So… even if they are asymptomatic, there’s a way to identify infected individuals?”
I blinked, not immediately understanding.
Part of me doubted whether my mother meant what she said in a literal sense.
But my mother replied in a dignified tone.
“Yes. As soon as they become infected, we detect certain components in their tears, and there has never been an exception.”
“How do you know all this in such detail… And there were no exceptions? Does that mean you’ve tested a lot of people with this disease?”
“I don’t know what your definition of a lot is.”
My mother tilted her head with a blank expression.
At that moment, I sensed that this disease might not be a natural occurrence.
My mother seemed to be too knowledgeable about it.
If she had this much knowledge, she would have told me about it before.
‘But this is the first time I’ve seen it.’
It wasn’t documented in my mother’s records.
That meant she acquired this knowledge after… after her death and resurrection.
‘At the very least, if we confirm terminal symptoms, we can know for sure.’
Most diseases exhibit distinct characteristics in their terminal stages.
However, early symptoms often overlap among various illnesses, making them difficult to distinguish.
I suppressed the urge to ask my mother further questions.
Right now, the most pressing issue is identifying the infected.
After preparing the reagents, I quickly inquired about testing methods and conducted tests.
It turned out to be simpler than I thought, and I was able to confirm the results in no time.
Myself, Zenid, Mother, and even Descartes all received the same result.
“Thank goodness, none of us are infected. But are you sure about this screening method?”
“…There have been no exceptions.”
Mother reiterated.
Considering that it was Mother saying this, I chose to believe her words.
“Alright. Now, the remaining task is to test the residents and travelers of Rangel.”
Even if a lockdown was out of the question, a tear test was worth a try.
“Zenid, contact the guilds.”
“Which ones, and how should I contact them?”
“All three. I want you to prepare a sum of money that will make the Lord of Rangel’s eyes roll.”
“……?”
Zenid responded with surprise at the unexpected request.
I smirked at her reaction.
“When else would we spend all that money we saved, if not on something like this?”
For the exile fund and a comfortable and luxurious future, three guilds worked diligently.
Wales, Ryzitan, and Koperekona.
The size of the three merchant guilds was enormous, and the amount they earned could buy an entire territory.
‘I’ll give them so much gold they won’t be able to refuse.’
For both the residents of Rangel and all who passed through here, conducting tear tests was feasible with enough money.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
The Lord of Rangel was even more obsessed with wealth than I had imagined.
At first, the Lord of Rangel, who stubbornly refused to do anything unreasonable for just a few coins, became as polite as a servant when endless chests full of gold coins were opened before him.
‘He was said to live solely for the pleasure of amassing wealth, with no interest in politics.’
Thus, some people sarcastically referred to him not as a noble but as a “money lord.”
Regardless, the Lord of Rangel’s pursuit of riches worked to my advantage.
Having emptied a chest full of gold coins, the Lord of Rangel stationed knights and physicians at every entrance and exit.
My mother and I instructed other physicians on how to test and treat the initial findings.
Physicians who refused to use syringes or were unfamiliar with them were assigned only to testing, while those who knew how to use them were instructed to administer the same treatment as Mother had done.
They issued an order for all travelers and residents, not just passersby, to undergo a complete examination. This resulted in people constantly gathering and restlessly discussing the situation.
“I wonder what whim the Lord has now, causing such a commotion all of a sudden.”
“Indeed. It’s a pain. What’s all this testing nonsense?”
“Still, it’s fortunate that they’re not drawing blood with those scary needles or whatever.”
“Isn’t that how you’re supposed to be treated if the tests show you’re infected?”
Passing through the South Gate, I unintentionally overheard the conversations of farmers.
Almost everyone seemed to be discussing similar topics.
‘At least Rangel is at peace.’
Now, my concern has shifted to other territories adjacent to Mormic.
I couldn’t be certain that there weren’t others like Descartes.
In fact, it would be strange if there weren’t.
‘It’s likely spreading…’
With that in mind, I couldn’t help but consider visiting other territories before going to Mormic.
But in order to formulate a cure, I need to see patients with serious symptoms.
Early patients, such as Descartes, could receive adequate treatment simply by drawing blood, making them unsuitable as samples for making treatment medicines.
I only discovered that mere proximity to an infected individual was insufficient for transmission.
There had to be some other intermediary.
‘To find that out, I need to prioritize going to Mormic.’
Having completely exited the checkpoint, I turned onto the road leading to Mormic at the last intersection.
In truth, even though it seemed unlikely to be spread between people, I couldn’t be completely sure, so I wanted to go alone.
‘My mother can’t be separated from me and…… Zenid is so stubborn.’
I couldn’t go without the two of them.
We conducted tear tests daily, and if someone was identified as infected, they could immediately start treatment, which was a small relief.
So, that’s how I ended up making a new plan and moving to the Mormic territory.
The situation on the territory was far worse than I had imagined, rendering my plans almost useless.
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While Rohiriel was busy moving around the Mormic territory,
Two men arrived at the west gate of Rangel.
Julion and Ares pulled their hoods down in case anyone recognized them.
“Why isn’t this line moving?”
Ares complained while glancing around to check the front.
“I didn’t know Rangel was such a popular town.”
It had already been an hour.
Although they were slowly moving forward, it seemed like they would have to wait twice as long as they already had.
Julion looked around in disbelief.
Looking at people’s expressions, no one seemed puzzled, although some were getting impatient.
“It seems like the situation has changed.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“I mean, there seems to have been a significant change in Rangel while we were up in the mountains.”
Julion and Ares chose the rugged mountain path to Rangel in order to arrive as quickly as possible.
Naturally, they didn’t encounter a single traveler along the way, so they were unable to hear any news about Rangel.
“Just how significant of a change could it be for a small territory like Rangel to be like this…”
Ares muttered in disbelief.
Then, someone standing in front heard them and turned their head to speak.
“Brothers, haven’t heard the news, huh? It’s not that Rangel has become more popular; it’s just become a lot harder to get in.”
“Harder to get in?”
“That’s right. They’re testing everyone for some kind of illness before letting them in.”
“Testing everyone for what…”
When Ares reacted with surprise, the man became more excited and continued explaining the situation in Rangel.
“I don’t know what illness it is, but they do a tear test. I came here yesterday for work, and it was so hard to squeeze out tears. And if they detect something, you have to go straight for treatment.”
The man was almost done talking now.
Ares awkwardly raised the corner of his mouth and glanced at Julion, but Julion remained impassive, showing no response.
…No, let me correct that.
It was an impassive expression, hiding intense obsession and madness.
‘He must be thinking about her highness. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have such an expression.’
“Don’t worry too much, folks. As long as you did not come from Mormic, it should be fine.”
He started by calling them “brothers,” but now it was as if he had become one of them.
Ares wanted to say something, but he just pursed his lips.
Meanwhile, Julion seemed lost in his own thoughts, paying no attention to how the man had spoken.
“Mormic…….”
Julion murmured a few times, recalling memories from the past.
It was undoubtedly Mormic, the territory that had strongly requested the dispatch of medical personnel.
And not too long ago, they had requested it again, and he had sent another.
But now, an unknown disease has emerged there.
In the neighboring territory of Rangel, traces of Rohiriel were vivid, and actions not typical of the Lord of Rangel were being carried out.
Perhaps this is also Rohiriel’s doing.
So, at this point, if it were Rohiriel, what would she be trying to do?
“Leon?”
As Julion frowned in deep thought, Ares cautiously called out to him.
Having finished his thoughts, Julion licked his lips slowly and then decisively broke away from the line.
“Hey, where are you going? We’re almost there!”
Confused and unable to break free from the line, Ares asked.
“It’s a waste of time to go to Rangel.”
“Yes? No, then where are you going?”
“Mormic.”
With a firm and confident look in his eyes, Julion’s gaze pointed southward.
