Regressor Of The Fallen Family [EN]: Chapter 243

A plague is a general term for rapidly spreading and highly fatal epidemic diseases.

Indeed, empires have fallen in the past because of plagues.

Therefore, the McClean Kingdom was bound to be in an uproar.

“A plague?! Where?!”

Suddenly, what’s happening?

Logan thought, confused. “This plague… it didn’t happen before.”

The report came: “It’s in the southeastern territory of Raftan. It started four days ago…”

“Why, of all times?!”

And it had to be at this time…

Logan bit his lip until it bled as he listened to Damian’s report.

Logan was taking a big risk to make the kingdom stronger. He didn’t expect this plague. It could ruin all his plans.

“You must take action as quickly as possible!”

“It’s uncertain whether the royal family’s power alone can stop the spread. We must also get help from the nobles!”

“Call a grand council! Immediately!”

The aides who heard the news lamented the seriousness of the situation, and soon Logan’s command was delivered to the nobles.

All the nobles residing in their mansions in the capital gathered at once.

The nobles were very worried. This was a disaster for them.

“What is going on all of a sudden…”

“These are the end times.”

“The old saying goes that if the king is immoral, disaster will strike…”

“Hey. Don’t say things that will get us in trouble!”

The nobles gathered at the grand council murmured, each expressing their anxiety.

Then, soon…

– His Majesty the King enters!

At the knight’s cry from outside, the murmuring nobles simultaneously closed their mouths and focused on the main gate of the grand hall.

Creak.

Thud, thud.

Logan strode quickly across the center of the hall and sat on the throne, let out a short sigh and looked around.

“Thank you all for coming. An unexpected event has occurred, and I have urgently called this meeting to seek your cooperation. Prime Minister, explain the situation.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Roberts Floyd stepped forward and began to read from the long document in his hand.

“One week ago, a corpse was found in a village in the Raftan territory, having bled from every pore of its body. And in just three days, more than 30 people have died with the same symptoms, and about a hundred residents are experiencing unusual high fever and skin rashes.”

“Only three days?”

“Crazy…!”

“What nonsense is that?!”

Even if it was a plague, people died only three days after getting sick!

At that unbelievable news, the grand hall was once again in turmoil.

“Quiet, quiet! Listen to the end!”

It was understandable that the nobles were so shocked, but Roberts had not yet finished speaking.

“The temple said this plague is like the terrible Lestabum plague from 70 years ago. Lestabum destroyed fifteen areas before. They added that they are not completely sure if it’s the same.”

The nobles were already very upset and didn’t hear the rest.

The fact that it was similar to the plague that had destroyed many territories in the past was enough to convey its danger.

“What about a cure?! What about the priests?!”

“We must immediately ask help from the temple!”

“We must seal off the Raftan territory!”

The grand hall began to become as noisy as a marketplace.

“Silence!”

Logan slammed his armrest, instantly calming the overheated atmosphere.

“Prime Minister. What is the progress of the plague?”

“Currently, the village in the Raftan territory has been sealed off, and entry is prohibited. However, two days ago, initial symptoms appeared in another village.”

Even though he had already heard the report, Logan squeezed his eyes shut.

“What are the specific symptoms?”

“Along with a high fever, the whole body turns red, and after a day, the person loses consciousness. After three days, they vomit blood from their eyes, nose, ears, and mouth before dying.”

Ugh…

A groan began to spread throughout the grand hall.

“As you have heard, the situation is very serious. I intend to end this situation as soon as possible by getting support from the royal family and all of you. If you have any opinions regarding this, please speak up.”

Logan spoke while thinking about support measures, but…

Zac Huahn spoke up quickly. He had a bad idea.

“Your Majesty. The intention to save the plague-stricken territory is commendable. However, no plague in history has ever been completely conquered.”

“I know that it can be treated with divine power.”

“There is a limit to the number of priests. Once the plague starts spreading, there is no answer.”

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“…We must use the nation’s forces to seal off the Raftan territory and burn everything inside.”

“What?!”

A terrifying suggestion to wipe out an entire territory.

However, many nobles agreed with that extremely radical nonsense.

“That’s right!”

“If sacrificing one territory saves the fate of the country, it’s a worthwhile deal!”

“I strongly support it!”

The grand hall became noisy in an instant, and Logan’s eyes were bloodshot as he watched the nobles shouting with veins popping out of their necks.

Bang!

“Silence!”

The commotion inside the grand hall quieted down in an instant at the overwhelming force that the aura user began to emit.

Logan was angry. “Are you nobles really saying we should kill 30,000 people just because of a plague? Have you forgotten your duty? Nobles are supposed to protect the country and its people!”

“But the plague is a national disaster, Your Majesty. You must end it with a small sacrifice before it spreads to the surrounding areas!”

“We can stop it before that happens! Tell me about ways to save people, not to wipe them out!”

The grand hall fell silent at Logan’s firm voice.

And a deep voice that echoed from right below the throne broke that chilling silence.

“You should order the lords of the nearby territories to seal off the border of the Raftan territory and prioritize support for the lacking troops.”

The nobles started talking again when the Sword Master spoke.

Logan’s gaze, with his brow furrowed deeply, turned to his teacher.

“Grand Duke. Are you also suggesting annihilation?”

“Of course not. I am merely saying that we must block the possibility of infection and begin rescue operations.”

The Sword Master made it clear he disagreed with the other nobles, saying that he was only suggesting a way to do what Logan wanted.

Many nobles frowned, trying not to let anyone see.

Among them, Zac Huahn smiled faintly instead.

He quickly changed his face because he knew he should look serious. But the Sword Master had already seen his smile.

‘That bastard…’

Just as his brow furrowed.

“I will ask the temple to send priests and give the order to seal off the territory. I will tell the surrounding lords to send troops, food, and supplies! All nobles must give goods and money for relief! The royal family will pay the rest!”

“Your Majesty?!”

Dwayne’s eyes went wide when he heard this. He had been listening quietly. But the nobles were still worried.

“What if it spreads to other territories…”

The air in the King’s hall was thick with worry. People whispered to each other.

“Raftan is not so far…” one voice murmured.

“Will this become a terrible disaster?” asked another.

King Logan listened. He knew they were all thinking of themselves. He understood their fear, but as their King, he felt only disgust.

Bang!

“I have decided! The Royal Family will do everything to stop this sickness and save Raftan. I expect all nobles to help willingly!”

Logan was about to finish the meeting with the leaders when…

“Your Majesty, forgive me for speaking plainly. If this sickness spreads, it will be a disaster for the whole country. You will be sorry you didn’t control Raftan better before this. It will be too late then.”

Jacque Huan, looking worried, spoke loudly.

A cold smile touched Logan’s lips as he looked at Jacque’s neat, worried face.

“Are you blaming me?” Logan asked.

Everyone looked at him, and Jacque Huan looked away.

“Ah, no, how would I dare…”

“Well, do as you wish. But remember, a noble or a king who abandons their people is not worthy of their title. If you are a true noble, remember your duty and be careful what you say!”

“…I will keep that in mind.”

Jacque Huan’s face hardened, and the meeting ended.

“Ugh, just when the mana stone work was almost finished, and I could finally rest…”

“So, are you saying we shouldn’t help Raftan because of this?” Logan asked, frowning.

“No, no! That’s not what I meant!” Dwayne cried. “It’s just… why is everything so hard? Why can’t we have some peace?”

Dwayne’s complaint seemed to match Logan’s feelings. Logan sighed and held his head.

‘This didn’t happen in my past life. Damn it, what went wrong?’

This unexpected problem made his headache worse again.

Epidemics are always terrible because we don’t know what causes them.

Instead of looking for the cause now, he needed to find a solution.

“First, find resources to send to Raftan, like supplies and food. And make the nobles help. They have to give something for a cause like this.”

“…Yes.”

“Send priests from the temples and some soldiers too. What else can we do?”

“There’s also the healers’ guild. They don’t seem as effective as the priests, but poor people go to them more often.”

“Ah! That’s right. They exist.”

“So, we should ask them too…”

“Yes. Ask them to help and tell them we’ll pay them well!”

“Yes, I understand.”

The palace was busy preparing to help Raftan. But inside the temples, people were saying things that would cause an uproar if they were heard outside.

“Volunteers to go all the way to Raftan to treat a sickness that might never end? Who would want to go?”

Bishop Roop Teian (Bishop of Agni, god of wood and life) frowned, and the other bishops agreed.

“The old records show that even mid-level priests died during the last big sickness. It could be dangerous for them…”

Praha, the bishop of Adga, the god of earth and death, made the bishops even more worried.

If mid-level priests could die, then high-level priests had to go to be safe. But high-level priests were just below the bishops.

Sending such important people to a faraway place with no end in sight? It was crazy.

“Still, if the sickness spreads, the country will be in trouble. As children of God, we must do our duty.”

Ilia, the bishop of Amunda, the god of the sea and change, was the only woman among the bishops. She spoke like a priest for the first time, but her words only made the others think harder.

“Hmm. First, find out how many priests each group will send. Then I will tell the King.”

Pamiel Gernheim, the Archbishop of Aion, the god of water and agriculture, ended the meeting that way.

When Logan saw the list of priests, he held the back of his neck in frustration.

“Eighteen people? Only one high-level priest? Are they joking?”

Logan’s voice was quiet, but filled with deep anger.

A city of 30,000 people had a sickness, and they were only sending eighteen priests. It was like they were making fun of him.

“Luckily, the Healer’s Guild has over 300 people who want to help…”

“Enough, I’m going to the temple now. Get the knights ready!”

“Yes?”

Logan left Dwayne confused and went straight to the Grand Temple of Gran.

North of Gran’s outer castle, Temple Street began. It was different from the rest of the outer town.

Here, the buildings were made of white marble, shining and grand. Huge temples stood side by side, all within one white wall.

But the people of the outer town walked around Temple Street, not through it. Even though the temples were meant to be for everyone, ordinary people felt unwelcome there.

‘Even in my past life, poor people couldn’t even dream of getting help from a priest.’

Logan realized that things hadn’t changed at all, even after his return. He urged his horse toward the temple.

Dozens of knights followed him.

“Y-Your Majesty?”

The King had come without warning, with knights. The soldiers guarding the temple turned as white as the temple walls.

“Tell the Archbishop I’m here.”

“P-Please wait a moment!”

The soldiers ran inside in a panic. Soon, Logan was facing the Archbishop.

“It’s been a while, Archbishop.”

“Haha. It’s an honor to see you, Your Majesty…”

“Send more priests to Raftan. Eighteen people are not enough!”

Logan interrupted the Archbishop’s polite greeting and got straight to the point.

Pamiel looked awkward and avoided his gaze.

“We have our own problems… Haha.”

Logan frowned at the Archbishop, who was laughing awkwardly.

‘In my past life and now, the only thing that moves these priests is money.’

Logan sighed and played his trump card.

“The Royal Family will be generous too.”

“If you mean generous…”

“Ten million gold coins. What do you say to that?”

If Dwayne had heard that, he would have collapsed. Ten million gold was the yearly budget of a good-sized earldom.

The Archbishop’s eyes widened.

“Hmm,” he said slowly. “If you are so generous… I will talk to the other bishops again.”

‘Ha, this guy?’

To talk to the others meant he would start the meeting over.

Logan wasn’t paying that much money for such a small result.

If the sickness spread, the country would be ruined. If he destroyed the area, he would face terrible anger.

He needed to stop the sickness early, no matter what.

So, Logan played a card the Archbishop couldn’t refuse.

“I will go to Raftan myself! The Royal Family will use all its power! And the temple will help too!”

The Archbishop’s eyes grew even wider.

“Your Majesty?!” he gasped.

The knights behind Logan were also shocked.