Paladin of the Dead God - Chapter 20



Only Noblemtl

Episode 20. God of Plague (2)

“plague? “You got the plague?”

“That’s right. “I saw Gebel playing the gold string.”

It soon became known that the heretic inquisitor who entered the monastery had contracted the plague. Needless to say, Geber was putting up a gold cord to prevent entry, and Yebhar was also preparing a prayer meeting to cure the plague.

Preparing a prayer meeting to cure the plague may sound like bullshit to modern people. However, it was a natural thing in this era and was even the most effective treatment.

However, the enemy who spread the plague to the monastery had been preparing for a long time. It was questionable whether the prayer would actually work.

Yevhar also had this fact in mind, so he was preparing bloodletting treatment. The monks also prepared their own preparations for the plague. Preparatory measures included rubbing dried herbs on the face or tying a chicken foot to a string and hanging it around the neck.

In fact, most of these actions had nothing to do with the Code of Light, so it was clear that even the most devout monks were implicitly influenced by superstition.

But Isaac couldn’t accept one thing.

“… … “All the leeches are dead?”

“yes.”

Yebhar, who was giving Isolde bloodletting treatment, was embarrassed. Over the past few days he has been trying to bleed for the 1st time and again for the 2nd time and all of his leeches have died.

In the basement of the monastery, therapeutic leeches were growing in a tank to prepare for such cases. But all the leeches had already disappeared, and instead, only black water was lapping.

“How did this happen?”

‘The tentacles ate it all.’

Isaac, unable to speak honestly like this, decided to cover things up.

“When I put the leeches that drank the blood into the container, they all melted and disappeared overnight. Maybe it’s because of the plague? “It was a disease that even wolves and bears got, so there’s no way leeches can’t get it too.”

Surprisingly, this excuse worked. According to the biological common sense of this era, leeches were something closer to a liquid than an animal. In fact, what was in the water bucket was the residue made by grinding up a few leeches that had eaten most of the tentacles and absorbed the plague.

[It preyed on ‘leeches.’]

[The ‘predation’ perk increases blood absorption efficiency.]

[Health recovery ability slightly increases.]

I got the predatory perk that I didn’t want or expected, but since leeches are digested quickly, I didn’t think it would be of much help.

Yebhar groaned when he heard that all the leeches were dead.

“It’s difficult to go looking for leeches in the middle of winter… … Should I draw blood myself?”

‘No, these people really.’

Isaac quickly stepped forward before Yevhar could do anything crazy with his medical knowledge.

“Abbot, may I give you a little help?”

Yevhar looked at Isaac with a puzzled expression.

“You mean that?”

“yes. Actually, I have seen some medical books from foreign countries before. Gebel and I will do the basic nursing and chores, so I think it would be better for the monks and the director to focus on the prayer meeting instead of worrying about complicated things.”

It is a simple division of roles.

The fact that monks come forward to provide treatment only serves as a hindrance. However, this does not mean that prayer meetings are ineffective, so you just need to concentrate on the prayer meetings.

Isaac planned to focus on quarantine and treatment, which were considered ‘chores’.

Yevhar glanced at Isaac and then nodded.

It was a time when people believed that holding the hand of a saint was more likely to cure them than receiving a diagnosis from a doctor. And in this age where miracles exist, such belief was not particularly wrong.

The plague was already slowly spreading among the monks. The children were quarantined to avoid infection, and even Gebel was showing signs of the plague.

However, Isaac, who carried Isolde on his back, did not even have a cough, let alone an illness.

Yevhar approved Isaac’s actions, not because he believed in Isaac’s knowledge, but because he thought he might have God’s protection.

“good night. “We will focus on prayer, so please trust us.”

***

Isaac immediately took quarantine measures.

First, Gebel, who could be considered a close contact, was quarantined in his room. In fact, it was a natural measure because premonitory symptoms of the plague were also appearing in Gebel. And Isolde’s clothes, which were the main source of the plague, were collected and burned.

When the monks were concerned about burning the Inquisitor’s clothes, Isaac calmly explained.

“This is a measure to purify the plague with fire.”

Even the monks were convinced by the plausible words. All other items with potential for contagion were also burned.

The good news was that the monks followed the instructions of Isaac, who was only 16 years old.

There was some basis for Isaac’s actions, and although it was vague, it was in line with traditional superstitions.

‘It’s not like there is no concept of quarantine at all.’

Just looking at the quarantine, there was at least the concept of not going anywhere near a plague.

Isaac additionally required monks to wash their hands after every meal and ensured that monks’ robes covered their noses. He may not be able to replace the mask, but he could at least stop the spit from flying everywhere.

“Are you asking for separate places for prayer meetings?”

“yes.”

Isaac went one step further and even interfered in the prayer meeting. He requested that instead of everyone gathering in one place to pray, the prayer meeting should be held separately for those who have symptoms of the plague and those who do not.

We live in an age where it is common sense for patients and their guardians to go on pilgrimages across the country to find statues of saints who are said to have healing powers.

Therefore, Isaac thought that the monks would be resistant to the request to separate prayer areas. He planned to turn the chapel, where prayers were held for nearly 24 hours, into a quarantine facility.

“There is no reason for prayer meetings to be held only in cramped rooms. “To follow the principles of the Code of Light, it is right for healthy people to have a clearer voice under the sunlight.”

The symbol of the Code of Light Church is the sun. But is it right to mumble a prayer in your closet while pleading with the Code of Light?

Isaac said that in a reproachful tone.

Although it was an arbitrary interpretation, Yevhar believed it to be correct.

“good night. “I will do that.”

Fortunately, the monks, including Yevhar, obediently followed his words.

This was partly due to the fact that there were no symptoms even after being in closest contact with Isolde, and also because of Isaac’s unique mysterious charm.

Since trust had already been built with Isaac, there was no reason not to actively listen to his requests.

‘Please, this method should work.’

In fact, with the plague already spreading, the monastery was a huge isolation ward. In these circumstances, burning or quarantining belongings may not have made sense. However, I expected that just classifying patients according to their symptoms and paying attention to cleanliness would be meaningful.

Fortunately, Isaac’s measures were having some effect.

Until Isaac took quarantine measures, the plague was spreading rapidly among the monks.

However, as Isaac moved, the number of new infections decreased and the worsening of symptoms slowed.

‘It’s only temporary.’

If Yebhar’s prayer meeting is effective, it may be possible to drive out the plague. However, some people could have died or suffered severe aftereffects before then.

To solve the problem, the source had to be removed.

***

Isolde had not yet regained consciousness and was groaning.

Isaac looked at Isolde’s condition. The affected area was still full of blisters and festering wounds. I thought it would be necessary to amputate it, but it was a difficult method to do in a weakened state.

The only reason she was able to survive was thanks to the healing prayer meeting.

The prayer meeting was clearly encouraging Isolde’s healing powers. He just wasn’t enough to cure the plague. All Isaac could do was block the bloodletting treatment and leave the rest to prayer.

‘This is not good.’

I heard the same thing happened to Gebel and the other monks. Prayer meetings prevent people from dying from infection, but they do not prevent the infection itself. The quarantine measures Isaac was taking were only temporary, and if the fatigue continued, the plague could spread again.

If the number of people suffering from the plague increases, prayer meetings will not be able to use their power properly.

‘It would be nice if the Code of Light used its power to completely heal me before then.’

It’s a world full of magic, gods, and miracles, but isn’t it strange? The problem is that it is questionable whether the patients, especially the Inquisitor named Isolde, will be able to survive until they are purified.

I couldn’t expect a miracle.

What Isaac needed to do was act, not pray.

Isaac made sure there was nothing around and pulled out a tentacle. A tentacle slowly crawled up Isolde’s body.

‘I feel strange.’

I felt like I was doing something wrong, but it was necessary.

The tentacles began to probe Isolde’s affected area. Numerous teeth quickly cut out and swallowed the rotten parts, festering wounds, and blisters. It was a method of removing only the parts that were harmful to the body.

Isaac had decided not to eat humans no matter what, but this was a fine line.

‘So it’s kind of like leech bloodletting treatment?’

Isaac shook his head at the thought of himself performing leech bloodletting, which he thought was so stupid. Isolde flinched every time the part infected with the plague fell off.

After a while, bright red blood flowed from Isolde’s wound, but the infected area disappeared. She had no access to therapeutic alcohol or disinfectant, so this was the best course of action.

Isaac used the leech’s predation privilege once more.

[The ‘predation’ perk increases blood absorption efficiency.]

[Health recovery ability slightly increases.]

The tentacles vomited out bodily fluids and covered Isolde’s wounds. They were made by swallowing Isolde’s blood and flesh. Although it was a temporary measure, the wound was healed as the body fluid with healing properties covered it.

‘I think I’ve done enough with nursing.’

Isaac wiped the sweat from his forehead.

But I couldn’t stop here. This is just a defense.

The Code of Light might soon deal a big blow, but Isaac had no intention of remaining quiet, believing that God would take revenge.

“There should be results soon.”

Isaac muttered and headed to the corner of the room. There was a rat lying there as if dead.

It was a rat whose brain was paralyzed after being infected with a ‘parasite from beyond’. Isaac activated the ‘Son of Chaos’ perk there.

[Son of Chaos / Must have the ‘Parasite from Beyond’ perk. The parasite immediately eats the host and grows explosively, transforming into ‘descendants of chaos’.]

The moment Isaac demonstrated his ability, the rat started convulsing rapidly. Soon the rat made a popping sound and burst like a water balloon.

From the miserable wreckage, something crawled out as if the inside and outside were turned inside out.

It slowly began to take shape as it absorbed all of the rat’s skin, bones, flesh, and body fluids.

At first glance, it resembled a rat, but if you looked closely, the tentacles waving in all directions were clumsily imitating the shape of a rat.

This was the offspring of chaos.

[master.]

A short, clunky message was delivered to Isaac. It was a message sent by the offspring of chaos. Maybe it’s because they used an animal called a rat, but all the descendants of Chaos could only use short and simple words like this.

Isaac gave Isolde’s flesh to the Spawn of Chaos.

“Find the source of this plague. It must have started somewhere on this mountain. “We need to know who’s trying to fuck us.”

The spawn of chaos wriggled its tentacles and snatched up the piece of flesh that Isaac held out. The guy swallowed the flesh with his unknown mouth and ran into the mouse hole.

Isaac hoped that the results of these measures, which had been taken steadily since the beginning of the plague, would slowly begin to show results.

***

[Nameless Chaos is watching you.]

That night.

[master.]

Isaac suddenly opened his eyes to a message he heard.

[plague. start. drawing out.]