Only My Magic Levels Up - Chapter 138
Only Noblemtl
Episode 138 Erased Name (1)
Based on Diana’s map, which only covers the northern part of the Southwestern Archdiocese, the origin of the plague is relatively far to the right.
This means that the plague threatens from three directions.
It could either spread northward and threaten the Western Archdiocese, northeastward and spread into the Central Archdiocese, or eastward and become a return to the old Southern Plague.
If it had been a natural epidemic, the three regions could have simply joined forces, but once traces of man-made origins were discovered, the usual response alone was not enough to stop the culprit who had deliberately spread the epidemic.
“In that sense, figuring out the migration route is a really big achievement.”
Diana said in a slightly brighter voice.
“There is a huge difference between being able to prepare in advance and not being able to.”
“Are we sure we understood correctly? If this is part of the criminal’s distraction operation or something… … .”
“I don’t think so.”
Galen reassured Lilia, who was a little worried. Diana nodded in agreement with Galen.
“The traces of blood are top secret information, even their existence. Only the Pope, the Archbishop, and the leaders of the Knights Templar who are sent to the plague area are aware of them. In the first place, only a very small number of people can confirm the traces, so it is difficult for them to leak out.”
“Aha, we don’t know, so the other person doesn’t know either?”
“Yes. Even if the wizard knew that his magic left traces, I think it’s very unlikely that he would have noticed that we noticed it.”
“If he had intentionally left traces, he probably wouldn’t have left them like this. He could have just dropped them so that no one could guess the path. There would have been no need to draw a linear pattern like this to provide clues for tracking.”
Galen, who had supplemented his comments, added a word.
“Furthermore, it’s impossible for the culprit to know that I and Lilia have the ability to find traces. If he calculated that far, then he’s no different from omniscience. I don’t think the culprit is that good.”
“Brother, you are right!”
Lilia clenched her fist.
“When he doesn’t know anything, I’ll hit him hard on the back of the head!”
“I really want to do that too.”
Galen smiled brightly and looked back at Diana.
“But figuring out the ‘past’ path and predicting the ‘future’ path are slightly different issues. Just because you monitor a place where it’s likely to come doesn’t mean it’ll necessarily come there. Is that okay?”
“Don’t worry about that. The circumstances you have discovered are enough to convince the church to move.”
Diana said confidently.
“Whether the criminal is alone or has a support group, he cannot escape our determined actions.”
* * *
It was around sunset when a group of peddlers arrived in a small village of less than fifty households.
“You want to make a deal?”
“If the village chief permits.”
The squinty-eyed man, who was said to be the leader of the peddlers, smiled faintly and bowed.
The village chief tilted his head. His eyes were dull and plain, but they held the wisdom of his years.
Since there was no proper market in such a small village, most goods were traded through peddlers who visited the village.
But for the same reason, such a small town would not have much to offer, so it had no special appeal to peddlers.
In short, it meant that only the regular peddlers came. It was rare to see new faces.
“I probably finished dealing with other places around early winter, so I don’t have much to hand over to you… … .”
“We don’t expect much either. We just wanted to know if there’s anything you need… … .”
“Is that really all you need?”
“… If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to rent an empty lot on the outskirts of town for just one night.”
As expected, that was the reason. Only then did the village chief nod.
It’s a small town with hardly any outsiders coming and going, so there’s no inn or anything like that. They’ll let one or two people stay, but they’ll never accommodate that many.
Even so, considering the threat of wild animals and such, it would be more convenient to camp within the village fence, so I ask you to do so.
“Ahem, as long as it doesn’t cause any trouble.”
“I won’t go anywhere inside the village.”
The squinty-eyed man who said that took out his pocket.
The village chief’s old eyes brightened only at times like this. The silver glittering inside his pocket was quite thick.
The village chief, who was fond of the quick-witted peddler, said as he packed his bags.
“Stay and go.”
“Oh my, thank you.”
The squinty-eyed man smiled brightly. But his eyes did not grow wide.
Before we parted ways after finishing our business, we chatted for a while. Even though it was just chatter, it was important to the village chief. It was a time when he could hear news about the world.
“I heard the plague was that bad.”
“Oh, so the village chief knows too.”
“Just because you’re old doesn’t mean your ears are always blocked. There have definitely been more travelers passing through the village recently than before.”
“It’s probably because there are so many people fleeing. We’re also on the way out without being able to do business properly.”
“Is there anyone in your group… … .”
“Oh, there are no patients. Really. If there had been anyone sick in the first place, the whole party would have been knocked out.”
“Well, it’s not usually a serious disease. If you get it, half of you die, right?”
“Actually, I can’t say it’s safe here either.”
“… That much? Isn’t this place not too far from Cairo?”
“It is rising so rapidly that it may even spread beyond Cairo and even to the west.”
“Well, before that happens, the church will step in.”
“Well, I heard there was a great plague in the south seven years ago… No matter how great the church is, it can’t prevent all natural disasters, right?”
“… Now that I think about it, there’s no need to make a deal. It’ll be safer that way. Just keep your promise.”
“Yes. I will only stay in the empty space you have provided.”
The village chief, suddenly frightened, regretted for a moment that he had accepted it for nothing, but his greed overcame his worries.
Even though he was ignorant of medicine, the village chief knew that if he was near a patient with the plague, he would also get sick.
In other words, isn’t it safe to not go near it? If I let it sleep overnight in a corner of the village and then send it out, nothing bad will happen.
It was a truly foolish idea.
Of course, there was no point in arguing about it because the outcome wouldn’t have changed much even if the village chief had wisely refused.
The peddlers and the mercenaries who had been quietly resting in front of the townspeople as promised, showed their true colors as soon as the sun went down.
“Is everyone ready?”
“yes!”
“Let’s get started.”
As soon as the cross-eyed man gave the order, his subordinates scattered in all directions.
No one carried a torch, as if the faint moonlight was enough. The figures moving stealthily and quickly in the darkness were definitely not peddlers or mercenaries.
The man also walked leisurely into the village.
While the residents were unaware of anything, his men took up positions surrounding the outskirts of the village.
Charrrrrrung— Charrrrrrung—
After a while, a strange sound was heard.
A sound similar to the sound of small bells or bells ringing simultaneously.
When I first heard it, it gave off a sense of a charming atmosphere.
The sound, though small in volume, spread strangely far and wide, enveloping the entire village, overlapping and layering together.
“Ah, ah, ah, ah!”
“Ugh, ugh, ugh.”
There was a mixture of wailing and crying from all directions.
The townspeople came out of their houses, their heads covered, or staggering like drunks, with screams coming from their mouths.
More than a hundred people, regardless of age or gender, staggered along as if possessed by something. Their eyes were unfocused and drool dripped from the corners of their mouths.
The direction is the village’s central square.
The squinted-eyed man was calmly watching the horrifying sight.
Charrrrrrung— Charrrrrrung—
There was no reason to be afraid, since it was a phenomenon he had created in the first place.
As the squinty-eyed man shakes the heavily decorated, unidentifiable object, the sound continues to build and build.
The power that was strangling the townspeople’s spirits grew stronger and stronger.
A satisfied smile appeared on the man’s lips as he watched the ceremony proceed smoothly. It was really easy.
That was when.
Hwaaaaaaaah!
A sudden flash of light illuminated the dark village.
Flames burst out of a building on top of a low hill, the highest point in town.
“… … ?”
The townspeople must be all being manipulated. Did the subordinates do something wrong? But how could it burn so brightly without pouring oil on it first?
As the squinted-eyed man thought so, a line of light shooting up toward the sky entered his field of vision.
Wheeeeeek!
It was a fire arrow. The kind often used for signaling.
“… … .”
The squinty-eyed man’s small eyes became even narrower.
Even if the fire was a miss, would his subordinates shoot fire arrows because they were crazy?
Looking closely again, the shape of the burning building became familiar. The roof was particularly pointed. It was a church building.
In such a small town, at most, one or two deacons would be dispatched from a nearby city.
Is the priest who resisted the bell ringing going to throw a tantrum? Who would come to ask for help from outside in this village? There is nothing around, so it is a remote village. That is also why the ritual site was chosen here.
“Go and check it out.”
“Should I kill you?”
“Just keep your mouth open.”
“ancient.”
It was an order given with the thought that they would catch him quickly.
Chaeng! Chaeng! Chaeng!
The resistance seemed rougher than expected.
It was not the kind of resistance that a subtitle, whose only role was to purify and vitalize, could provide.
Something was definitely off. I needed to get it checked out.
At this point, there would be no more villagers left to escape. The squinty-eyed man was about to give the order to lift the meaningless siege and send more men toward the burning church.
Knock knock knock knock
A faint echo was picked up by the man’s hearing. He was able to recognize it because the sweet sound of the bell was mixed with noises other than the sound of swords.
The man turned his head to find the source of the noise that should not be heard in this place at this time.
His eyebrows twitched.
There’s a light approaching quickly from far away.
It wasn’t the color of the torch.
Bright gold. The brilliant hue of platinum was the color he resented the most.
Was that the true nature of the ominous feeling? It may have been an overreaction, but the man did not ignore his intuition.
“Everyone, gather together.”
Although not very loud, his voice was heard clearly throughout the village, mixed with the sound of the bell.
As the subordinates scattered all over the place began to gather at the town square.
“Kwaaak!”
A scream was heard, clearly belonging to one of the subordinates.
The light of the holy power that had come close in an instant must have passed through the village entrance and instantly killed the subordinates there.
Soon the priest’s identity was revealed to the cross-eyed man.
It was really white.
A woman wearing pure white robes and riding a pure white horse came running, her platinum eyes gleaming and her long platinum hair fluttering.
Papapapapat!
A blazing spear that burned the darkness grew brilliantly in her hand.
Wheaaaaaaaaa!
A ray of light shot from Lilia pierced through the space.
* * *
A stylish teahouse located almost immediately after passing through the southern gate of Cairo.
On the second floor of a shop on the main street with a view of the city gate, Galen was leisurely enjoying his afternoon tea time.
It was truly the first time in a long time that I enjoyed some alone time.
‘… I’m not sure if I’m enjoying it.’
Have I ever been away from her for so many days since Lilia began her pilgrimage?
I felt very empty without her, who always chattered by my side.
But it would be an act of conscience to keep Lilia, who wants to help the church so hard, just because she needs someone to talk to.
It wasn’t like Galen was just hanging out here.
He was a kind of last resort.
If the culprit, who is almost certainly moving north, manages to escape the church’s eyes and break through the net, Kairouan will be targeted without fail.
Galen was here waiting for the worst.
If the culprit is definitely discovered and the pursuit begins, it is not too late to join then.
Of course, it’s okay to be playing around right now, but there’s no need to be so nervous already.
“Lord Galen.”
For that reason, a young man naturally approached Galen, who was leisurely spending time looking around the street.
He came closer like a servant reporting to his master and whispered softly.
“They say they have discovered the tracks of those they are tracking.”
“Where is it?”
“It’s a town about two hours away by horseback.”
“I guess I should go and see right away.”
“I have prepared the words.”
It might be a little annoying to have to ride a horse for two hours straight, but I’ll have to endure it.
If we leave now, we should be able to join Lilia by sunset.
“then-”
Galen, who was about to get up from his seat, stopped.
“Why are you doing that?”
Galen turned his head away, not answering the young man’s question.
His gaze was fixed on the carriage that had just passed through the gate.
A carriage that looked completely unremarkable. Even the windows were open. A middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance could be seen inside.
Galen beckoned to the young man. He spoke softly.
“Do you see the carriage passing by down there? The red-brown roof.”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
“Please attach someone.”
“yes?”
“Let’s postpone departure for a bit. Go after them now. Make sure you don’t get caught.”
“Oh, I see!”
The young man, sensing something ominous in Galen’s firm words, quickly ran down the stairs.
Galen looked at the carriage again and got up.
The sense of control over the water flow was quietly crying.