Deneb 30 kept her eyes on the Great Shama Marshland where Laldus had vanished before turning and breaking into a run. She needed to deliver the dagger to Laojun as quickly as possible.
Her destination was Kaina Village. Not only was the Warp Gate located there, but it was also where Jin was currently staying.
It was roughly 9:00 AM.
Kaina Village was about eighty kilometers away as the crow flies. The poor footing along the edge of the marshland would slow her pace slightly, but she expected to arrive in approximately two hours.
However, her steps suddenly grew heavy.
"!?"
Upon inspection, Deneb 30 discovered her left ankle had sustained minor damage.
"The aftereffects of that 'Distruzione' spell... even though I thought I’d given it a wide enough berth."
The area of effect had evidently been broader than she anticipated.
"...I cannot run properly like this."
Left with no other choice, Deneb 30 decided to contact Laojun.
"I have sustained damage to my left ankle after being grazed by the magic of the man called Laldus."
『Understood. We will send a pickup from Kaina Village.』
Laojun gave his immediate assent.
Since Deneb 30's location was being tracked via magi-radar, she was able to rendezvous with the rescue golems from Kaina Village—Land Y and Land Z—in just over two hours.
She handed the dagger to Land Y. Land Y would return to Kaina Village alone at full speed and use the Warp Gate to deliver the dagger to Laojun, while Land Z would carry Deneb 30 back to the village.
While all necessary information had already been transmitted to Laojun, one could never be too certain. Land Z and Deneb 30 hurried toward Kaina Village.
Meanwhile, Laojun found himself dwelling on the phrase "humans are as weak as ever."
He contacted Deneb 29, who was still stationed in the Town of Rakham.
"I was just about to contact you myself."
A shocking development had occurred.
『Are you saying Earl Walter died of illness?』
"Yes. After a period of malaise, he developed a high fever and apparently suffered intense pain throughout his entire body. He died in absolute agony..."
Laojun had been considering various plans to harass the count in the future, but he realized they had all been rendered moot. However, he felt no disappointment.
『He reaped what he sowed. As they say, when you curse someone, dig two graves.』
With those words, Laojun shifted his focus.
Lishia's sudden illness and Earl Walter's death—it seemed likely that Laldus was the common thread between them.
『I must report this to My Lord.』
With that, Laojun contacted Reiko.
＊ ＊ ＊
After enjoying their morning soak in the hot spring, Jin, Lishia, and Pascoe ate breakfast at Nidou Castle. Naturally, Elsa joined them.
Elsa’s table manners were textbook-perfect. Watching her, Lishia and Pascoe looked on with admiration.
"E-Elsa-san, was it? You are incredibly refined..."
Pascoe’s face was slightly flushed, perhaps from his nerves. Lishia, on the other hand, offered her praise frankly.
"Wow, Elsa-san, you’re so graceful. You could easily pass for a noble daughter."
It was only natural, given her background, but neither Jin nor Elsa felt the need to mention that.
"...My father was a strict man," Elsa simply whispered.
Sensing a certain weight in her tone, both Lishia and Pascoe decided to let the subject drop.
After breakfast, Jin offered to give them a tour of Kaina Village. Jin rode his favorite golem horse, Koma, while Elsa rode hers, Snow. Lishia and Pascoe were provided with Ein and Zwei, respectively.
"W-Whoa... like this!?"
"Whoa, whoa! Gh, so I just do this!"
Though the two were initially bewildered by the controls, they grew accustomed to the golems after thirty minutes and were soon able to walk the horses without any trouble.
The four of them then set out to tour Kaina Village. Technically, it was five, as Reiko was riding in front of Jin.
The starting point was Nidou Castle, right along the banks of the Erme River. First, they headed down to the riverside. In this area, deep pools and rushing shallows sat side-by-side, creating a scenic view.
"Magi-stones can be gathered near that spot a little further away. They serve as a good source of income for the village as the mana source for our stoves."
"Ah, so this is where they come from."
Lishia’s family used two of the Raglann Company’s stoves, so magi-stone sand was a familiar sight to her. Pascoe, however, didn't seem to know what the stoves were.
Leaving the Erme River, they headed back toward the heart of the village. Following the path that climbed gently from the bridge, they encountered a simple wooden fence that marked the formal boundary of Kaina Village.
Inside the fence, a wheat field came into view on the left, backed by a coniferous forest.
"That field over there grows wheat," Jin explained.
While some land in the village remained idle due to poor soil, most of it was used effectively for houses, fields, or storage areas.
"The vegetable gardens are basically for the villagers' own consumption."
Most of the crops were leafy greens, chosen for their short growth cycles from sowing to harvest.
Eventually, the group arrived in front of Martha’s house.
"This is the house where I originally stayed. Lishia-san, you recognize it, right?"
"Yes."
"I've expanded the original workshop and rebuilt the house. This is my home, so to speak. Elsa lives here as well."
Continuing a little further, they reached the village chief’s house.
"As you know, this is the home of Giebeck-san. He manages the village's daily affairs as my bailiff."
Here, Jin turned off the Central Thoroughfare and headed east.
"Beyond here... is the wheat storage, right?"
Lishia, who had visited as a tax collector last year, remembered the location.
"Yes. But there's something else."
Jin pointed to a rounded mound—the cold storage room.
"What is that?"
"It’s called a cold storage room. Simply put, we dig a hole, store the snow that falls in winter, and use it to preserve vegetables and other perishables."
As he explained, they reached the entrance. The four dismounted and parked their golem horses. Jin gently pulled open the door.
"I can't open it too wide, or the inside will warm up."
He stepped inside, followed by Elsa, Lishia, and Pascoe. Jin produced a Light Ball to illuminate their path.
"There really is snow stored here... It's a bit chilly, but this is amazing!"
Lishia let out a cry of admiration at the massive pile of snow and the meat and vegetables stored within the carved-out sections.
"Jin-san, you know so many things. And you use that knowledge to help the village. I truly respect you."
While Lishia praised Jin, Pascoe stared at him with a look of suppressed frustration. It was then that Reiko spoke up.
"Father, it seems an emergency has arisen," she informed him in a low voice.
"What!? Give me the details."
"Yes... It concerns a disease."
Because Lishia and Pascoe were present, Reiko kept her explanation as vague as possible, but it was enough for Jin to understand.
"I see. Lishia-san, Master Pascoe, I'm sorry, but I need to head back immediately."
Pascoe looked utterly confused, but Lishia nodded understandingly.
"If you say so, Jin-san, then it must be something serious. Don't worry about us; please, hurry back."
"Thank you. In that case, please head back to my house at Martha-san's place. Elsa, I'll leave them in your hands."
Jin didn't wait for a reply. He swept out of the cold storage room with Reiko at his side and vaulted onto Koma, making a beeline for his home. Reiko leaped up to ride in front of him.
Lishia and Pascoe, who were still unfamiliar with the golem horses, were left to return slowly under Elsa’s escort.
＊ ＊ ＊
"...Earl Walter died of illness!?"
Jin listened to the report through Reiko as they galloped.
『It is highly probable that the mysterious man called Laldus was a member of the demon race. However, that is not the most pressing issue.』
The demon race—the sworn enemies of humanity who had fought a war for survival during the Great Magic War. However, Laozi insisted that wasn't the immediate concern. Jin urged him to continue as they sped along.
『The problem is his parting gift.』
"Parting gift?"
『Likely a contagious plague.』
"What did you say!?"
『It is the same illness that Lishia-san contracted recently. It appears the count’s treatment came too late.』
The worst-case scenario Jin had feared was becoming a reality.
A pandemic!?