Episode 686: Inside Out (8)
Rumors quickly spread about a series of disturbances in the audience room.
The fact that the normally scruffy saint had an audience with the king even dressed in formal attire was enough to deter the nobles for a while.
While they’re holding back over the controversy over the royal punishment.
In Daejeon, a heated protest continued.
A man with a bushy beard, who at first glance looked like a soldier, shouted with his head bowed.
“your majesty! How can you give troops to a person from a foreign country! Isn’t this unprecedented!”
The man’s voice was so intense that it would be more appropriate to say that he was appealing to resentment rather than simply raising his voice.
Other nobles also helped him.
“That’s right! Besides, an investigation into an infectious disease! No matter how much he used to be a saint, he doesn’t even have divine power anymore!”
“What can I do with a body that is only a shell? Please withdraw.”
King Gleiman swallowed a drool at their fierce reaction.
Few nobles still remain in the king’s faction.
Among them, those who could be called high-ranking nobles were all in front of them.
However, even if he received support, he was being strongly denied, making things a little difficult.
said King Gleiman with a loud cough.
“Hmm. That’s too much to say.”
“I apologize.”
“It’s a problem that should be looked at at least once. Are you thinking of making it an issue now?”
The king’s words were worthy of being heard at first glance.
A contagious disease that had disturbed the capital for several years.
If it could be fixed, it would be as refreshing as having a tooth removed.
One problem is that it is not a greeting within the kingdom, but a saint from a foreign country.
That is, even by borrowing troops.
Earl Besson shook his head and dissuaded him.
“Are you trying to create another problem to solve the problem of disease? Please think again.”
Even as he bowed his head as if he was sorry, he insisted strongly without backing down.
There was a reason why he was so against it.
‘If the disease problem cannot be solved, the people’s resentment will be higher than this. Even if the saint solves the plague, it’s a problem.’
It was an epidemic that had settled in the royal capital for over several years, not anywhere else.
If it was resolved, the saint would gain a powerful voice in the kingdom.
In addition, if you ask for a reward appropriate for your merit, it will be a headache.
Following the status of the saint and the king, the merits of the kingdom and the support of the people.
When he had obtained all three, the position would be difficult for them to dare to bear.
King Gleiman let out a small breath and said.
“I’ve already made up my mind.”
“Your Majesty…”
“I’m sorry.”
At that word, the nobles who had been holding back shut their mouths.
All decisions are made by the king.
No matter how much advice he tried, it didn’t work when the king was firm like this.
Earl Besson thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.
“His Majesty said that he would definitely borrow the resources of the nobles to recruit troops.”
“Yes.”
“Then I’d like to step out and see. Please allow me.”
His eyes seemed to burn brightly.
Count Besson is a prestigious family known even within the Kingdom of Gleiman.
In addition, the number of troops he possesses is not small, so if he helps, it will surely be of great help.
‘But I don’t think things will go smoothly.’
King Gleiman let out a small breath.
If you look into Earl Besson’s eyes, you can feel that he harbors a slight resentment toward the saint.
Seeing as he probably volunteered to mobilize troops, it must have been a ploy to catch the pod and bring him out.
before the king even said anything.
The other nobles noticed his intentions and hurriedly agreed.
“If you are Count Besson, you are a prestigious knight. I can trust you.”
“It’s relieved when the Count says that.”
At that, King Gleiman nodded.
“Good. The fact that Count Besson came forward and gave it to me makes Jim feel at ease.”
“I apologize.”
Knowing Count Besson’s intentions, the other nobles did not say anything further.
It’s because it’s obvious that I’ll fall out of my pool anyway.
The discussion that continued in Daejeon ended naturally like that.
* * *
Under the shade of a tree where the ink is still strewn with parchment.
Ray, who was fiddling with the platinum brooch, murmured.
“I never thought I would use this.”
The face of Emperor Lessian, who held it tightly in his hand, saying that it would be useful in case of emergency, shimmers.
I definitely used it usefully, but I don’t have a good feeling for some reason.
What if I ask for a fee?
Shall we make something similar?
A group of people approached him, even thinking of imitating the imperial family.
Knights in half-plate armor stand proudly, and a young nobleman walks out between them.
“Meet Prince Soleil.”
I greeted him politely, but I’m curious to see hostility emanating from all over his body.
Ray stood up, shaking his butt.
“who are you?”
“My name is Count Besson. This time, His Majesty the King has ordered us to recruit troops.”
Whoa.
Did the king use some strength?
I hadn’t even thought that I would get the troops on the second day.
He smirked as he kept the platinum brooch on his chest.
“nice to meet you. I never thought I would be able to recruit people so quickly.”
“I have it set up so that I can move right away. If you just give one name, we can leave in ten minutes.”
It can’t be a very satisfying preparation.
Ray nodded his head in satisfaction.
“Then go straight down to the village. I’ll be waiting for you in front of the castle gate.”
“All right.”
After speaking, Ray picked up the parchment scattered here and there.
When Earl Besson glanced sideways, it was none other than a record of an epidemic.
‘Do something useless.’
It was a disease that shook its head even when several priests came to visit it, along with a famous healer.
It was not something that a saint without holy power could solve.
Earl Besson turned his head and moved on.
* * *
At the gates was a small carriage and five knights on horseback.
And likewise there were five laborers.
The number of personnel dispatched for the purpose of investigating the spread of the disease in the capital is pitifully small.
Count Besson said with a light smile on his lips.
“I was waiting.”
It was known in advance that the investigation process would not be smooth.
However, Rei’s expression was not that of a disappointed person.
Rather, it is surprising that the number greatly exceeds expectations.
“I haven’t seen it like that, but you have a big barrel.”
With a smile on his face, he praised and climbed into the carriage.
Earl Besson looked at him and said, ‘Isn’t that a guy with a weird head?’ I thought.
Except for the five knights who were brought in to protect themselves out of common sense, there were only five workers.
How can you be satisfied with just this amount and move on?
‘Maybe I’m pretending to be okay.’
He drew conclusions that were acceptable to the best of his common sense.
But this was a bad idea.
Ray has been traveling alone so far.
Even when things happened and when I had to investigate them, it was natural to accept ten people as a lot because I had solved it alone.
As Ray, who had gained a lot of labor and was in a good mood, climbed into the carriage and hummed to the tune, Count Besson’s anger rose.
“…Go!”
“yes.”
The carriage rattled off.
Arriving on the royal road shortly after leaving the gate, they first tried to explore the surroundings.
After getting off the carriage, Ray took a look around the streets and decided to explore the alleyways.
“We need to know the extent of the epidemic. If possible, avoid direct contact with the sick.”
“yes.”
Even so, in the royal family, the sick and non-diseased were separated.
There was no way to fix it, so it was quarantined.
He roamed the dark alleys with the workers.
Among them, people with lesions were occasionally seen, and in some cases, all limbs were blackened.
“Wow!”
On one side of the wall, a person can be seen throwing up.
Count Besson frowned at that.
“Mmm.”
The vomit is not cleaned up and the stench is serious.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that more than one-third of the walls were covered with vomit.
Ray watched it closely.
‘It’s a symptom of dizziness and vomiting.’
There are few diseases that cause discoloration of the skin and vomiting.
In addition to that, if it was a disease that caused dizziness to the point that I couldn’t even walk well, I counted it on my hand.
A few illness names flashed through my mind, but somehow I thought they were a little different.
“It’s more like a poison than a disease…”
In fact, poison was the most common cause of skin discoloration and vomiting.
Isn’t that the case with some snake venom right now?
However, it was a little difficult to think that it was completely poison.
That’s because venom isn’t usually contagious.
When you’re lost in thought for a while.
I could see members of the church wearing black robes walking around the alleys.
“Those people…”
“Ah, they are demonic. Sometimes they come and take care of the condition.”
Scared to finish talking.
Members of the church put their hand on the forehead of the sick person and cast a spell.
Then, the expression of the person who had been gripping his chest as if he was in agony just now gets better.
“Thank you.”
“you’re welcome.”
Instead of making the sign of the cross, bow your head lightly with a short eup.
After saying goodbye, let the people of the church leave.
Ray asked Count Besson.
“Are you cured?”
At that, the count shook his head.
“Could that be? It just reduced the pain.”
Does that mean that even the Demonic Church cannot heal?
Ray observed the polite man carefully.
The black spots on his face had lessened a little, but that was all.
However, just knowing that my symptoms were improving was a big win.
“Everyone wait here.”
“Where are you going?”
“I want to check it myself.”
“Yes yes?”
Without even a moment to dissuade the bewildered Earl Besson.
He strode towards the man.
