<Chapter 127>
#15. Epidemic (1)
“Khaack, ptui. These goddamn bastards.”
James, who spat phlegm on the ground, exhaled rough breaths with a fierce scowl. He was one of those who had moved to Padrian due to the sudden drought crisis, though his family had farmed and lived on the Spangky family’s territory for generations.
“They say they’ll provide a solution soon.”
“Solution? What kind of solution? I knew this would happen! I thought these bastards were suspicious from the moment they gave us residences in the outskirts!”
James raised his voice, brushing off John’s hand as he patted his shoulder and offered words of comfort. When he was first assigned a residence here, James hadn’t felt particularly bad.
There were more people who had flocked here than expected, and the explanation that it was difficult to provide residences in the central area for everyone was understandable enough. Anyway, at that time, he was relieved to have been safely assigned a place to live. But that was in the past.
With strength in his eyes, James glared at the wooden barrier. Standing prominently in front of it were guards with swords at their waists.
Ah, damn it all to hell.
James muttered another harsh curse and spat phlegm on the ground again, filled with dirty and petty feelings. His gratitude for a place to live and distributed food had lasted for only a brief moment.
Now he was furious at this unreasonable discrimination against them. Until just a few days ago, there had been no such barriers or guards. In other words, they had been able to easily enter the village square where supplies were gathered and had maintained smooth communication with people.
But now they were being thoroughly controlled. No one could accept such unreasonable treatment when the reasons weren’t even properly explained.
The guards weren’t just preventing them from going inside. They were also strictly prohibiting them from leaving Padrian territory. As security tightened, the original residents of Padrian territory, who had been comfortable before, naturally began to distance themselves. A chilly atmosphere developed between the existing residents and the new immigrants.
Moreover, as rumors spread that Padrian might be using the refugees as test subjects for poisonous herbs, some people attempted to escape at dawn.
“There must be some reason.”
“Oh, come on! Haven’t you heard the rumors? They’re experimenting with poisonous herbs! Poisonous herbs!!”
With a sharp exclamation, he irritably rolled up his sleeves. Although part of him thought ‘no way,’ there wasn’t a person who hadn’t heard the ominous rumors related to Padrian. Among them were rumors about torturing healthy people or using them as test subjects for poisonous herbs.
“I shouldn’t have come here in the first place! What kind of wealth and glory did I expect to enjoy by coming here…”
He clicked his tongue roughly and glanced toward where the guards were. Some people had just risen up shouting, ‘Why are you imprisoning us!’ and ‘Don’t treat us like contaminants!’ But even that had ended quickly because they were subdued by Calix Padrian and the guards stationed here.
“Didn’t they say earlier that Padrian would soon make some announcement?”
“Whatever! They’ll just spew nonsense. Why trust such people? They treat people like cargo!”
As he raised his voice in outbursts, he scratched his neck irritably. The gaze of John, who was nodding and agreeing beside him, fell on his neck.
“What, why?”
“No, you… there’s something on your neck?”
“What’s there? Ah, no wonder it’s been so itchy I could die.”
His hand became even rougher as he scratched his neck while spitting out irritated words. Blisters that had risen in a mottled pattern along his scratching motion burst one by one.
“My wife’s been the same. Says she’s dying of itchiness.”
“Really? Could it be some kind of disease?”
At John’s worried question, James wrinkled his face sharply.
“What disease! As if it isn’t bad enough watching those Padrian bastards now acting cruel, don’t say things like that! What if rumors spread! Who knows what those guys will do using this as an excuse?”
John quietly nodded at his angry outburst. Certainly, James had a point. These people were already treating them like infectious disease patients, so nothing good would come from spreading such talk.
“By the way, where’s Amel? Haven’t seen him lately?”
John looked around, remembering someone else belatedly. Only then realizing that someone he often saw was missing, James scratched his itchy body and spoke.
“Well. Maybe he’s busy dating? That guy’s been burning hot with Mari lately.”
“What are you talking about? Mari runs a flower shop near the central square. How could they date with things so strict?”
At John’s question, James giggled and placed his arm on his shoulder.
“You naive fool. Hey. You think they can’t get in just because they block it like that? It’s not easy, but there are ways.”
“…Really?”
“Of course!”
James glanced at the guards and giggled. While answering that they were obviously having a good time, he didn’t forget to constantly scratch his neck. Following his vigorous scratching, the blisters that burst and oozed fluid quickly spread sideways.
***
Calix, with a face soaked in fatigue, combed back his hair and clicked his tongue briefly. Angel, who had been watching his every movement that revealed irritation, placed documents on the desk that briefly summarized today’s incident.
“Fortunately, it was resolved quickly.”
“It may be so for now.”
Calix took a deep breath. Though the speed of outbreak and violent actions were close to a riot, fortunately, the number of people who caused trouble wasn’t large. Thanks to rapid suppression, the disturbance could be stopped, but there was no certainty that such incidents wouldn’t continue in the future.
“Will infected people really emerge among those people?”
At Angel’s words, deeper wrinkles formed between Calix’s brows. The disaster Calix had discovered on the way here could have been a coincidence, or Sarvie might be spreading false rumors.
“I don’t know. But when resolving issues, you must always consider the worst-case scenario. What if those people really cause an epidemic? Will everyone die?”
“That’s… true.”
Angel, at a loss for words, rubbed the back of his neck. Calix, who had been glancing at Angel as he let out an awkward laugh, exhaled deeply.
“That village we discovered during travel seemed artificially created.”
Though he hadn’t hastily brought up the topic where everyone’s eyes and ears could reach, there was nothing to hold back in the current situation where only the two of them were in the room. Angel’s expression grew serious at Calix’s confession.
“What do you mean by artificial?”
“Looking at the state of the land, it was definitely due to Avartia. But there was no sign of Avartia anywhere in that village. There’s no explanation other than someone removed it.”
“…Wow. Whoever it is, they’re malicious.”
Angel, who already knew that this drought crisis was artificially created, openly showed his distaste.
“Then perhaps that place is the first point of distribution…”
“I’m not sure.”
There was nothing that could be confirmed. With furrowed brows, Calix sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. He was getting irritated by the issues that kept arising without rest, as if someone was orchestrating them.
“When the problem first occurred, I didn’t think much of it.”
When he took on the investigation of the drought, he had simply thought, ‘A troublesome matter has arisen.’ Likely, in the early stages, people from other families had similar sentiments. But when it escalated to the possibility of an epidemic, things became complicated.
“At first, I thought it was an act committed without targeting anyone specific. Now I feel like this person has something they’re aiming for. And damn it, one of those targets is Padrian.”
Angel quietly nodded in agreement to Calix’s opinion, which was delivered as if grinding through teeth. Normally, there wouldn’t have been so many refugees flocking to Padrian. Moreover, at the Botenta mansion, Padrian had even been suspected as the murder culprit.
The Botenta mansion incident was resolved well, but if suspicions hadn’t been cleared then, it would have been enough to isolate Padrian. Especially if the Tuanivel family, who had lost their daughter, turned hostile, there would be nothing to say.
“Anyway, that’s enough. For now, there’s no other way but to isolate them properly, so check to prevent unnecessary rumors from spreading. Provide supplies without shortage.”
“Yes, understood.”
“What about Melty?”
At Calix’s question, which came as soon as he finished urgent work, Angel calmly answered.
“Malek-nim is with him. Given the ominous atmosphere, he even insisted on returning to the Crosel family immediately, but…”
Calix, easily guessing why Angel trailed off, held a deep smile.
“Did our hamster refuse?”
“Our hams…”
Angel’s mouth gaped open at Calix, who had removed all irritation from his face. They say all people in love are cringeworthy, but this was truly ‘ugh.’ Still, Angel, who barely managed to hold back from vomiting in front of his money source… no, his boss, forcibly raised the corners of his mouth and continued as if he hadn’t noticed.
“Yes, well… Anyway, I heard he’s been depressed since arriving at the mansion.”
“Really? Did he say if he’s sick or uncomfortable?”
“I’m not sure. I heard he had a hearty meal that could feed three people as soon as he arrived. Jenny-ssi laughed, saying his appetite seems to have grown due to the journey.”
Calix nodded silently at the opinion of Jenny, who had been guarding the mansion while they were away. With a slightly serious face, Calix looked at Angel and said:
“I’m asking this because I’m genuinely concerned. Do hamster beastmen usually experience such sudden increases in appetite? Just in case, maybe a doctor should…”
“If he were sick, his appetite would decrease, right? I don’t think an increase is problematic… And all the doctors in the mansion are currently racking their brains about the cure.”
When actually seen, Melty’s cheeks were overflowing with vitality. Angel waved his hand lightly and emphasized that the most important thing was to establish measures to solve the epidemic. Because his words weren’t wrong, Calix nodded obediently.
“Still, just in case, if there’s anything even slightly unusual, have him examined by a doctor immediately.”
“Ye-es.”
Though inwardly grumbling about overprotection, Angel conveyed an obedient response. Calix, chuckling at the displeasure evident on his face, hurriedly stood up.
“If the report is finished, I’ll go see Melty…”
“Uh, wait a moment.”
“What is it?”
Calix frowned, his path to his lover obstructed. With Angel sweating under his murderous gaze, he brought up a matter he hadn’t reported earlier.
“Um… Johaim Kun Sarvie is currently in the reception room.”
