Free Web NovelWHIRR—
The mana orb gave off gray light.
“Midi! They say they’ve discovered one infected person! Status is Urgent. An old man, found at an inn!”
WHIRR—
“Infected person discovered in Midi! Early infection stage. They say the condition is comparatively stable, and the person is being moved to an isolation space immediately!”
WHIRR— WHIRR—
The mana orb kept shining without pause, carrying reports from every part of the two cities.
“......”
Strategist Ed’s expression grew stiffer by the second.
Scratch, scratch.
The faces of the two cities’ officials and the Demon King’s castle officials, who had been recording the incoming information as documents with pale complexions, were turning white as well.
<Emergency Countermeasure Headquarters>
That name had been attached to the vast conference room of Midi’s lord’s castle.
Normally, it was empty enough to feel desolate. Now, it radiated a murderous atmosphere, as if the clouds of war were gathering before a battle.
WHIRR— WHIRR—
The mana orb’s vibrations continued.
Every official thought the same thing.
There are so many......!
There were more than expected.
The death of the child who had carried a seed at the ancient site.
The many demons infected as a result.
I thought the infected currently in the Gray Tree village were already a large number!
Two hundred alone had seemed considerable.
But the Demon World’s most popular ancient site was a place that drew a number of visitors on an entirely different scale from a fruit shop in the city of Telia.
And, more than anything—
They hid far too many.
Midi and Mika.
The demons of these two cities trusted the Demon King’s castle even less than Strategist Ed had imagined, and they had hidden their illnesses. Or their guardians had hidden them.
The number of infected has increased.
And so, in the meantime, the number of infected had grown even further.
Of course, this was new information.
Ed opened his mouth.
“With this, it has been proven that an infected person can infect demons even without dying.”
He continued in a calm tone.
“Saliva, blood, or anything else from the infected. If it touches a demon and is absorbed, that demon becomes infected in turn.”
Back when they had been in the city of Telia, no additional infected had appeared.
That might have been because Cale had purified them in time, preventing the illness in the suspected infected from breaking out.
But this time, the guardians and acquaintances who had hidden suspected infected or infected people had also become infected.
Most of them had been infected while trying to restrain infected people during their nightly seizures, when saliva, blood, or the like had been absorbed into them.
“...How fitting for one of the Three Calamities.”
One of the Three Calamities, the three disasters named across the divine realm, heavenly realm, and Demon World.
The corruption of chaos.
Strategist Ed’s hardened face showed no sign of easing.
“They call it gray sickness, but it is the corruption of chaos. This is only natural.”
Strategist Ed tried not to think about the despairing situation forming in his head as he spoke.
“It may be impossible to identify every infected person before sunset today.”
He looked toward the window.
The conference room.
The enormous floor-to-ceiling window looked out over the cityscape of Midi.
Cale was looking down over the city from there.
“......”
Cale said nothing.
But—
Damn it!
Inside, he was far from quiet.
What is this, a zombie outbreak?
It really was like zombies.
After jiangshi, now zombies!
Damn it!
They might not find every infected person before sunset today?
If one of those infected people’s bodies exploded, and if there were many demons around them—
—Cale. It’s horrible.
Just as the Ancient Tree said, something horrible would happen.
That must have been why the priest had delivered that dream prophecy to Cale even while losing consciousness.
Knock, knock, knock—
Just then, another official entered in a rush and spoke.
“We are preparing food, but the quantity is insufficient!”
Food preparations for a festival, or a feast.
They had prepared enough ingredients for the purification ritual, but there was nowhere near enough time to cook those ingredients now.
It was not a small quantity of food. This was food for a festival large enough to cover two cities and the ancient site, so the amount was considerable.
“We secretly brought in cooks from the territory, but I believe we will need more people. To match the quantity to some extent before sunset, we will have to bring in more residents of the territory—”
At the official’s words, Strategist Ed opened his mouth.
“Impossible.”
Bring a certain number or more residents of the territory into the lord’s castle?
“We would be discovered.”
Even now, they were operating the troops within the territory carefully, trying to identify the infected as covertly as possible.
The third Emperor.
This was because of the prophecy that the third Emperor might appear here.
Of course, preventing what would happen at night mattered more than that prophecy, so they were proceeding with the infected search covertly but quickly.
“The purification ritual must not be discovered.”
It would be troublesome if they found out the purification ritual existed.
At worst, even the cooperation between Cale and the Demon King would be exposed.
“Until we discover the third Emperor’s subordinates, we must remain as covert as possible.”
“But to perform the purification—”
The official speaking to the strategist had witnessed the purification that had unfolded in the city of Telia.
That beautiful sight.
If that sacred scene unfolded here, everything would be resolved.
He wanted to believe that.
“We’ll do it however we can.”
At Cale’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to him.
—Human, the gold old man and Choi Han still haven’t found them!
Cale thought.
Judging by the contents of the prophecy and the information they had obtained so far.
Tonight, a zombie army will bring down the city.
And the third Emperor would also appear and interfere.
But I don’t know the process.
He still had not grasped the reason behind everything.
Especially now that he could no longer trust the administrative power and control the Demon King’s castle had over these two cities.
Everything had to be considered from zero.
Where, how, and when—
Cale, who had been continuing that thought, stopped for a moment.
“Sir Cale.”
Strategist Ed addressed Cale with that title.
“Rather than performing the purification ritual before the sun sets, would it not be better to endure today and then perform the purification ritual all at once tomorrow? And I believe the search should also be carried out more covertly, with as little exposure as possible.”
Honestly, the more Ed thought about it, the more he believed this side was correct.
Casualties will increase overnight, but.
Slide.
Ed confirmed that everyone in the emergency countermeasure headquarters was either an official dispatched from the Demon King’s castle to the lord’s castle or an official directly under the Demon King’s castle, then continued.
“I think it would be better to purify after the entire situation has been settled.”
Tonight, without letting the third Emperor discover their relationship.
Even if the infected suffer seizures and try to cover the city—
Coldly speaking, they could be killed before that.
If the matter happened without them knowing anything, they would fail to respond and be plunged into chaos.
But with the forces of Midi and Mika, along with the troops from the Demon King’s castle, we can respond to the infected sufficiently.
On top of that, if they covered their entire bodies and removed the chance of being infected by them, they should be able to get through tonight more easily than expected.
In addition, with luck, they could bind the infected without killing them and save them.
Strategist Ed could not erase the thought that this side was more efficient.
“......”
“......”
Silence descended inside the emergency countermeasure headquarters.
Most of the people here had excellent minds.
No one said anything, but they understood the true meaning behind Strategist Ed’s words.
“Um, Strategist—”
The official in charge of procuring food opened his mouth once more.
“......”
Strategist Ed stared quietly at him.
The official clenched his fists. He could not say anything, and soon lowered his head under Ed’s cold gaze.
“...I will go to the dining hall and continue the work.”
“Do that.”
At that dry voice, the official turned and headed for the door.
The face of the man walking with his head lowered was twisted.
So you really don’t know.
Strategist Ed.
Only the Demon King and the Demon World.
To be precise, only the Demon King who would become the demon god, and the Demon World that would become greater than the heavenly realm and the divine realm.
Strategist Ed looked only at that.
He held a great deal of information in his head and was brilliant.
But this is my hometown—
Midi.
The strategist did not know that this was the official’s hometown.
Even though the official had worked at his side for over five years.
Damn it!
Those bastards from the Demon King’s castle!
The words the elders of his hometown Midi had always said bloomed in the official’s heart.
The elders of his hometown had said that the Demon King’s castle could not be trusted.
Yes. The strategist must be trying, in his own way, to save as many people as possible with the least damage and find a path that brings profit.
His proposal was not bad.
There were now two hours left until sunset.
A limited amount of time and a limited number of support personnel.
In addition, they were in a hostile place.
This might be the best they could do there.
Even so—
Even so, anger surged up.
He felt betrayed.
What was he supposed to do?
No, even just saying it—
If only he would at least say they should try as hard as they could!
The face of the official who grabbed the doorknob and stepped outside settled coldly beyond anger.
That was when it happened.
“Strategist. There are a lot of errors in what you just said.”
Cale’s indifferent tone reached his ears.
“...Pardon?”
When the strategist asked back with a hardened face, Cale opened his mouth while looking at the scenery outside the castle.
“What the priest saw was night.”
And why did that matter?
Cale spoke to the strategist, whose doubt showed on his face.
“But can we conclude that the large-scale infection begins at night?”
“!”
Cale had been standing here the whole time, thinking.
A whole zombie army suddenly comes out at night?
Did that even make sense?
“It seems most likely that, before night falls, before sunset, an infected person will explode somewhere and cause a large-scale infection.”
Yes.
A situation like that would not happen just because a few infected people sleeping in houses or inns escaped.
“Where is the place where people are currently gathered in large numbers?”
The moment Cale said those words, Strategist Ed could not say anything.
Cale answered instead.
“This lord’s castle. And the troops, I suppose.”
If someone exploded in those two places, a large-scale infection would occur.
That would be precisely what created a situation fitting for a zombie army.
“And we have confirmed a new infection route.”
They could not simply search for the infected from the demon god’s ancient site.
“You said saliva and blood can also infect. Check the uninfected people in the treatment center and quarantine center as well.”
Telia had been lucky.
“Hurry. I will go out and purify the ancient site side first while also looking for the third Emperor’s subordinate.”
“......! If you do that, the third Emperor might—”
Cale shook his head at the strategist’s words.
“My companions haven’t found them until now. We need to throw out bait to find the third Emperor’s subordinate. It’s better to do that before the sun sets.”
If Cale began purifying at the ancient site, the third Emperor’s strings would appear after seeing that aura.
Catching them would be better in this current situation.
—Human, do not worry! I will definitely find the third Emperor’s subordinate!
Yes.
Rather than waiting, opening the board first and controlling the situation suited Cale more.
As if nothing could get in his way, Cale left the emergency countermeasure headquarters.
Whoooosh—
A strand of wind pushed Cale’s wheelchair.
It was Raon’s magic.
“I’ll take one of these.”
As he moved, he picked up one mana orb.
“Contact me directly for anything urgent.”
Cale headed for the door.
One official stared at him, but Cale had no time to pay attention to that.
“!”
Instead of the startled official who moved aside, Cale grabbed the doorknob, then lifted his hand for a moment and stopped.
“Ah.”
He turned back and brought up the last thing he needed to say to Strategist Ed.
He did not like this strategist very much.
Yes, something about this guy did not fit. He understood him, but for some strange reason, he only felt that they did not fit.
“Strategist. Every operation right now will be done according to my will.”
Your lord, the Demon King, said so, did he not?
“I have full authority.”
Until tomorrow morning, follow my words.
“So follow my orders.”
Ah.
As Cale said this, he realized what exactly he disliked so much.
The third Emperor.
The Dragon King was very strong.
But the strategist in front of him seemed not to know.
“And no matter what, it’s not right to let demons die just because we’re watching out for the third Emperor, is it?”
The Demon King was also very strong.
“......!”
“!”
“!!”
Among the gazes that stared at him in shock, Cale spoke honestly about how he felt.
The third Emperor. He was not confident he could beat that bastard.
But so what?
The Demon King would fight the third Emperor.
Cale was not going to face the third Emperor.
The Demon King would do it.
And if the cooperative relationship between Cale and the Demon King was exposed, so what?
Honestly, one of the cards in Cale’s hand would be reduced, but in the end, it would mean the Demon King and the Wanderer families were breaking apart, so there was nothing bad about it for Cale.
Yes.
He needed to be wary, but there was no need to be afraid.
“How strong is the Demon King?”
Whether they followed the Demon King or not.
They were certainly feeling that much.
The Demon King with the highest chance of becoming the demon god.
“It’s good to try to avoid the prophecy as much as possible. But let’s trust the Demon King too.”
Was the Demon King not the kind of bastard who struck every possible pose?
How ridiculous would he look if he lost track of the third Emperor?
“Even in the worst situation—”
Even if a zombie army appeared.
Even if the third Emperor reached this place.
“The Demon King will deal with the third Emperor. If only that happens, then I can purify all the infected, even in the middle of the night.”
Performing the purification ritual did not strain his body.
On the contrary, his body improved.
“I’ll purify all night long, without resting.”
Staying up all night would be tiring.
But apart from that, his body would probably get much better.
A significant portion of the gluttonous priestess’s indigestion would be resolved.
For his own sake too.
“No demons will die.”
How could he let demons who would help him recover his digestive ability die?
“So just do as I say.”
With those words, Cale left the emergency countermeasure headquarters without hesitation.
“......”
The official, who had been staring blankly outside the open door, turned his head.
Strategist Ed’s face was blank too.
The official looked at him, then soon left the headquarters and moved forward.
His steps were full of strength.
“......”
He looked out the hallway window.
Two hours before sunset, a blue sky.
That sky made him think of the sky after the purification ritual ended in Telia.
And in the hallway, he saw Cale Henituse moving in his wheelchair.
Yes. I should do my best too.
Someone who was not even a demon said he would perform purification rituals all night long.
With that sickly body.
“...It will be all right......!”
Yes. It would be!
Just as he firmly steeled himself.
Screeech.
Cale’s wheelchair stopped.
The official saw a knight rushing over from the end of the hallway.
Huh?
Something felt ominous.
Just as he had felt hope, unease suddenly seized him.
Bang.
The door to the countermeasure headquarters opened.
Strategist Ed shouted with a desperate face.
“Infected person outbreak at Mika city barracks! The infection speed is extremely fast, and they say it is rapidly progressing from the early stage to Urgent! At this speed, it may burst soon!”
Damn it.
Cale had to hurry to Mika city barracks.
As if anything would ever go smoothly!
Cale’s face crumpled.
“Fine. Let’s purify everything!”
From now on, he would just purify everything in sight.
As for a festival atmosphere, well, as long as people gathered, they could make one somehow, could they not?
Once they survived, everyone would be happy enough to throw a festival anyway!
—I’m thirsty.
Because every second was urgent, Cale could not listen to the gluttonous priestess’s words.
*****
The Wanderers Cho and Ryeon.
The two siblings were quite clever, having lived for long years. Ryeon, in particular, was rather sharp.
In her eyes, she saw soldiers who tried to conceal themselves but were gradually increasing in number.
Because of that, she caught one soldier leaving the ancient site where the third Emperor had last been and heading toward Mika.
That soldier was someone assigned to the ancient site.
The soldier’s foot was held in the Wanderer Cho’s hand.
The foot, stripped of its shoe, was gray.
“...The corruption of chaos?”
A strange light passed through the Wanderer Ryeon’s eyes.
As one of the soldiers dispatched from the lord’s castle to guard the area near the ancient site, that soldier had not known he was infected.
He had not realized that the infected person’s blood, which had gotten on him while he was moving a fainted infected person, had seeped into a tiny cut on his fingertip.
“...The situation is strange.”
The Wanderer Ryeon’s gaze moved from the lord’s castle toward the ancient site. Her steps shifted in the direction the soldier had been heading.
“He said he was going to the barracks, right?”
“Yeah. Said they had to do some kind of full inspection.”
The Wanderer siblings’ steps headed toward Mika city barracks.
And at that same time.
“Heh heh. You will not regret your decision to come to the treatment center.”
“Thank you, priest.”
“Heh heh.”
Clopeh Sekka was smiling as he let a suspected infected person into the treatment center of the Gray Tree clan village near the ancient site.
WHIRR—
A message arrived for him.
<Anyone available, to Mika city barracks!>
At the message Cale had sent through Raon, Clopeh Sekka naturally decided his next destination would be Mika city barracks.
And that was where the Wanderers Cho and Ryeon were coming.
“Um, I can live, right?”
At the demon’s question, Clopeh answered even amid his busyness with a sacred face and a gentle tone.
“Yes. My lord will purify everything. You need only believe in him.”
Smile.
Clopeh’s face was utterly joyful.
“Another legend is being made.”
I will witness another legend that Lord Cale will create.
He would do anything for that.
Inside the wide priest robes he wore, Clopeh proudly looked at the scars left behind as his wounds healed, and smiled.
“What is it?”
Cale, on his way to Mika city barracks, felt an odd chill on the back of his head.
No, it felt unpleasant.
