Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 41 : Calamity of Disease and Demons (2)

Calamity of Disease and Demons (2)

The massive ward.

Currently, it was filled with those confirmed to have ingested the Crystal of Disease.

Especially among them, a majority were still children—most of them Demihuman children.

"Uh, when can we go home?"

"D- did we do something wrong?"

Ordinary children would have broken into tears out of vague fear.

But these children, coming from slums and having suffered countless persecutions as Demihuman, did not cry easily.

Rather, after spending several days here and being treated kindly, they were instead eyeing those around them with suspicion.

"If there are no problems after another week of monitoring, you'll all be able to return home."

"R- really? But big sis, why do you have horns on your head? Are you Demihuman too?"

At one child's question, the surroundings froze.

It was because the person asked was none other than this empire's royalty, the princess known as the Empire's Treasure.

"Oh my, I've never thought of it that way... But now that you mention it, maybe I am."

"Y- Your Highness! You mustn't say things like that so carelessly...!"

"But it is a fact that I have the blood of a dragon, isn't it?"

Riya said that and flashed a gentle smile.

"... This could be quite useful."

No one except me, who was closest to her, seemed to have heard her last, muttered words.

[Come to think of it, you two really resemble each other. The first thing you both think of when something happens is whether it can be used.]

'You make it sound like I'm some kind of opportunist.'

[Maybe not an opportunist, but you are pretty sensitive to getting benefits, aren't you?]

'Well, that's true.'

All of this was because I grew up running around to save my impoverished house.

"Ahem, anyway, it seems the remedy is effective."

"Yes! And that's all thanks to you, Count, for discovering the method to make it!"

The scholar grasped my hand tightly, speaking with emotion.

"I merely found the document Edward left in the bell tower."

"If you had not discovered that, by now... Huff, it's too horrible to imagine."

Thanks to obtaining Edward's medical knowledge through Setting Addition, I was able to mass-produce the remedy more quickly than planned.

First of all, those residing in areas where the Crystal of Disease was expected to have spread, as well as those who had contact with them, were given the remedy.

"Thanks to you, we were able to save many people. Once again, thank you sincerely."

"No, it was thanks to everyone's efforts. You all worked very hard."

Resolving this matter smoothly was absolutely not my achievement alone.

If the scholars and mages of the Magic Tower hadn't worked through the nights, or if the empire's knights hadn't swiftly controlled the crowds and prevented its spread, the capital would already have become an epicenter of the plague.

"Then with this, is everything ready now?"

"Yes. Everything will be decided in tomorrow's final."

I answered absentmindedly, and Riya stared intently at me.

"Are you sure you're okay? Shall I just—?"

"I'm fine."

I said, looking confidently at Riya.

I knew what worried her, but the stage was already set.

And I was the one to finish this.

"Definitely."

* * *

The day had come.

The day to decide who would be the main protagonist of this year's Imperial Tournament and Founding Festival.

It was the day when the most people gathered in the imperial capital, and the most full of life.

"Who do you think will win today? My bet's on Sir Sylvest!"

"Hey, come on! That way it's not even a bet!"

Amid the lively crowd, most talk was about predicting today's victor.

One of the continent's greatest geniuses, Ian Sylvest.

And Clay Vanhart, a count of the Kingdom of Talua.

Certainly, Clay's performance had been remarkable, but the consensus was that he still fell short compared to Ian.

'Clay Vanhart...'

A man, listening to the conversations, repeatedly turned over that name in his mind.

He had met Clay face-to-face before.

'To think that man was Clay Vanhart...'

Should he call this a coincidence?

Edward slowly shook his head.

'There's something more to this.'

There was no way he would have come here with the knights of the empire for no reason.

Maybe...

'Maybe it's related to the fact that the plague hasn't broken out yet.'

Yesterday, and today as well.

Draig, which should have been thrown into turmoil by the plague, was still full of laughter, and the Founding Festival continued without a hitch.

'Could it be that the crown prince noticed something and set that guy into action?'

No, that couldn't be.

The crown prince wasn't that sharp.

Besides, if he had known about the plague, he'd have tried to kill or capture him, not help.

"And now, we will begin the match to decide the hero of this Founding Festival!"

"Waaaa!"

At the judge's shout, the whole coliseum erupted with deafening cheers.

Edward stared at the crowd and quietly surveyed his surroundings.

Once every four years, the single day that draws the biggest crowd to one place.

There were no less than thirty thousand spectators present.

'They'll think they've stopped my plague...'

If left as is, the plague couldn't be spread anymore.

In that case, another method was needed.

'If it's here, I could increase the number of infected in one stroke.'

A hand, hidden under Edward's long sleeve, began to turn into smoke.

Slowly, and as inconspicuously as possible, he intended to infect those present.

"Sir Clay Vanhart, where are you? Please come up to the arena immediately!"

The judge's urgent cry rang out.

Only then did Edward realize that only Ian Sylvest was in the arena.

"What? Did he give up?"

"No way... If he did something like that here, the empire wouldn't let it go."

If Clay failed to show up for the final, it would ruin the Founding Festival.

The empire would never allow that.

As expected, Edward's face grew visibly troubled.

'Tch. Looks like I'm out of time.'

If the final was canceled, there wouldn't be enough time for the disease to spread.

He needed to hurry...

Thud!

At that moment, someone grabbed his shoulder.

"Aren't you being a bit hasty with your plan?"

"...!"

When Edward checked who'd seized his shoulder, his eyes widened.

"You—! Why are you here...?!"

"Your disguise today is really something. I almost walked past thinking you were just another spectator."

Standing right next to him, when he ought to be on stage, was none other than Clay Vanhart.

* * *

"I suppose your habit of always wearing distinctive outfits was in preparation for situations like this."

I sat down next to Edward with an easy smile.

As I said, Edward looked completely different from before.

A goblin mask and black doctor's robe.

He likely wore such flashy attire to fix his image as 'that person'.

Now, no one would recognize Edward just by appearance.

'Except for me.'

As long as I could read profiles, no one could hide from me.

[That's an Inpimyeon-gu mask he's wearing. You can only get those in the East.]

'Really?'

[They're mostly used for disguises.]

I kept a wary eye on Edward's sleeve-covered hands and spoke calmly.

"The plague didn't spread as you'd hoped, so I guessed you'd come here. There's no place this crowded anywhere else, is there? If you release the pathogens here, you'll create a mass infection in no time."

"How... did you find that out?"

"As I just said, simple deduction."

"No. I mean, how did you know about me?"

His voice even rang with hatred.

He must have realized by now that I was the one who had ruined his entire plan.

"Is that important right now?"

"It is important."

"Hmm. But I think there's something else you ought to worry about."

"Something else?"

"For example, maybe..."

With an odd look, Edward stared back at me. I flashed another grin.

At that very moment, a flash of crimson swordlight swept past his neck.

"Like a sword flying in from behind... Oh, sorry for not warning you sooner."

Edward's head was instantly severed and rolled across the floor, his body tipping sideways and collapsing.

"Ah! Aaaah! Someone's been killed!"

In the sudden commotion, people nearby screamed and ran away.

Thanks to that, a wide space cleared around headless Edward.

"Wh- what's going on? Ah, is that...! Sir Clay Vanhart?!"

In the unexpected uproar, even the judge shouted at the sight of me.

He wasn't alone. Curious audience members trying to understand the situation now focused their gaze on me as well.

"... Count Vanhart, well, I've done as you asked, but can you clean up this mess?"

"Her Highness the Princess will handle cleanup."

"Hmm, her Highness...?"

Count Ribina glanced at Edward's corpse with a complicated expression.

He'd made a similar expression when I first explained the plan.

If not for Riya, smiling brightly at my side, he probably wouldn't have agreed to something like this. More likely, he would have told me just to prepare for the final.

This is why connections are so important.

"Anyway, since he's been eliminated..."

"Count Ribina."

"What now?"

"Don't be so quick to decide."

Count Ribina narrowed his eyes at my words, but I explained no further.

He'd see with his own eyes soon enough.

"Usually, when you ask if a problem's been dealt with, that means things are just starting."

KWAANG!

Green smoke exploded from Edward's collapsed body.

In an instant, I was shrouded in smoke, while Count Ribina instinctively leapt back, beyond its range.

Had there still been people nearby, there would have been heavy casualties.

"Guh?! This is...! Count Vanhart, are you alright?!"

Of course I was. In fact, I'd deliberately led things to this situation.

『No force of man can stop me.』

Edward's body scattered like mist.

His voice echoed through the swirling smoke, which then began spreading rapidly with a greenish glow.

"Wh- what is that?!"

"Get back! Run!"

People further away who had been watching now tried to flee the spreading smoke, but it was too late. No one could outrun the smoke.

"Right, for ordinary people, it's impossible."

『It's all your fault. I was going to proceed more carefully. Now, the hellish spectacle unfolding will all be on your hands...』

Edward's words cut off.

The smoke, which had been advancing rapidly, suddenly stopped, as if blocked by something.

"Th- this barrier... what is it?"

Someone almost touched by the smoke stared in confusion at the transparent wall in front of him.

『What is this...』

I kindly explained to a flustered Edward.

"But not everyone here is human, you know."

THOOOM!

The coliseum shook violently.

My gaze went upward, and with it, so did Edward's.

And there stood a dragon.

The former calamity of the dragon, Riya Asktalin.