Chapter 434 - Episode 417: Countermeasures Meeting
If possible, Noein wished that the outbreak of Herzgenheim disease would not reach the northwestern part of the Lordberg Kingdom. He hoped that the containment would succeed in the northeast alone.
But Noein's wish was in vain, and as March began, infections started to be confirmed in the northwest as well.
First, in the noble territories on the eastern side, starting with Count Marcel's territory. Then, gradually in the noble territories on the western side. Rumors of infections occurring in familiar lands, such as the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, Count Shuvalov territory, and Baron Oggoren territory, began to reach the Grand Duchy of Arqvist via the Count Koenitz territory.
A regular meeting was held at the Grand Ducal residence in mid-March. The agenda brought up was, as expected, the response to this Herzgenheim disease.
"Since infected persons have appeared even in the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, it is only a matter of time before the damage spreads to the Count Koenitz territory immediately to the west. Assuming there are already infected persons in the Count's territory, there are very many people traveling between that land and the Grand Duchy..."
"...So it means that while the onset of symptoms hasn't occurred yet, Herzgenheim disease has already entered the country at this point, I guess," Noein continued, following the words of Bart, who had been continuing to collect information regarding Herzgenheim disease outside the country.
"At the point where the infection spread to the Marquis Bechtolsheim territory, travel to and from the Lordberg Kingdom side has been forbidden for everyone except merchants, right?"
"Yes. But from now on, it would be better to forbid that as well, or at least restrict it significantly. To prevent a large-scale infection within the country, it will be easier later if we keep the influx of infected persons as low as possible," Anna stated her opinion while nodding to Christy's question.
"However, whether the merchants will be satisfied with that... I believe the merchants on the Grand Duchy of Arqvist side will cooperate, but I am worried about the backlash from the merchants on the Lordberg Kingdom side. If handled poorly, it may affect trade even after the infection has subsided."
"But I don't think we're in a position to be saying things like that anymore. If we don't take the initiative, it'll be a disaster later," Henrik countered when Philip, attending the meeting as the representative of the Merchant Guild, expressed his concern.
Considering that both the prevention of further influx of infected persons and harmony with neighboring countries were important, Noein opened his mouth after a moment of thought.
"One week. We'll set that as the deadline and forbid import and export trade other than food and resources. If we say it's a preventive measure for only one week, the merchants on the Lordberg Kingdom side probably won't show such strong backlash. And regarding the trade of food and resources, we'll set up a location outside the city walls of the capital, Noeina, and conduct it there. We'll make sure people from the Lordberg Kingdom don't enter our urban area. How does that sound?"
"...If that's the case, I believe we can somehow get the Lordberg Kingdom merchants to show understanding."
"If we don't let the merchants from that side into the urban area of the capital Noeina, contact with the subjects will also be significantly reduced. I believe the effect of preventing infection will be great."
The first to answer Noein's question was Philip. Furthermore, Anna, the head of internal affairs, also agreed.
"In the first place, it seems likely that in one week, we'll be in a situation where we have to continue the restrictions on merchant travel."
"Well, yeah. To be honest, that's partly what I'm aiming for."
The infection was spreading day by day, and the situation would change in a week. By then, infections would likely occur in the Count Koenitz territory, and depending on the case, even in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, and the restriction on merchant travel conducted with a one-week deadline would be extended in a sliding manner.
Noein explained that this travel restriction was a measure to buy time until the inevitable arrival of the infection explosion and to suppress the initial damage to the Grand Duchy of Arqvist as much as possible.
"And since it's likely that we cannot completely prevent the infection even in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, we need to consider the response after the infection occurs... Selfers-sensei, please."
Prompted by Noein, the elderly quarter-elf physician Selfers, who was the director of the Grand Ducal Noeina Clinic, bowed to everyone gathered in the meeting room and spoke.
"Then, as a physician, I shall speak regarding the method of responding to Herzgenheim disease... As many of you may know, based on past cases, it is thought that Herzgenheim disease is transmitted by coming into contact with an infected person."
Selfers' voice was not particularly loud, but it carried well through the room strangely.
"The prevailing theory is that the infection spreads when things that have come out of an infected person's body—such as saliva, nasal mucus, sweat, or tears—enter another person's body through the mouth or nose. Therefore, preventing others from directly touching food or cups used by an infected person, clothes or beds stained with an infected person's sweat, or furniture touched by an infected person, leads to preventing the spread of infection."
"...But while that may be the case for retainers like us who have large houses with the interior divided into multiple rooms, wouldn't such measures be difficult in the houses of commoners?"
Selfers nodded at Kenooze's point.
"You are correct. Therefore, to reduce contact with infected persons even indoors, it becomes effective to cover the nose and mouth with cloth and wear gloves on the hands."
As a rule, cloth and gloves are to be worn always when going outdoors, and also when indoors in a house where an infection has occurred. Cloth and gloves are removed only during eating and drinking, and hands are washed thoroughly with soap and water before and after eating and drinking.
By doing so, the spread of infection can be considerably suppressed, Selfers explained, incorporating specific past examples.
"It will certainly be effective in preventing infection... but the backlash from the people will likely be great. Considering that it will get warmer from here on, the farmers working in the fields will especially dislike it."
"The craftsmen also do work that involves moving their bodies and using physical strength! Even for me, gloves aside, it'd be tough if I were told to work with a cloth over my mouth!"
Zadrek, who managed the Grand Ducal family's vast farmlands, and Damian, the head blacksmith, spoke.
"Yes. Therefore, we can say that cloth is unnecessary when performing farm work or craftsman work. In short, the most dangerous time is when spending time face-to-face in a cramped indoor space. There isn't that much risk of infection during the work of farmers or craftsmen."
"...And by reducing the infection like that, we'll just have to let those who do get infected do their best with their own physical strength. Since there's no fundamental cure."
Noein said with a difficult expression, crossing his arms.
There is no fundamental cure for Herzgenheim disease. Only symptomatic treatment to suppress symptoms such as fever and coughing can be done using medicines employing medicinal herbs or magical plants.
"What about the borders with the neighboring countries other than the Lordberg Kingdom... the Lancel Kingdom and the Reveland Kingdom?"
"Hmm, taking a response that aligns with the intentions of both countries... is probably the best move. Did either country say anything?"
When Noein was asked by his wife Clara, Dant, who had been entrusted with the mining city of Kilde, spoke first.
"Regarding the Reveland Kingdom, it is said that the merchants visiting from there mentioned they would like to refrain from coming for a while if it seems the disease will spread to the Grand Duchy. Since it consists of many small countries, it seems the capacity of each country to deal with epidemics has limits... they seem to want to avoid the influx of Herzgenheim disease at all costs."
"That means the intentions of the Reveland royal family will likely be similar... Let's prepare now so that we can take measures to continue the import of resources, especially salt, in a way where the two parties do not come into contact."
"Understood."
Since it was during a meeting, Dant did not salute but gave a light bow.
"As of now, the Lancel Kingdom hasn't said anything in particular."
"In the case of the Lancel Kingdom, depending on the situation, they might wish to continue trade prioritizing the economy... but since the trade routes with the Lordberg Kingdom side are being temporarily closed, the Lancel Kingdom merchants, who cannot move goods, will eventually be forced to significantly reduce their trade."
Philip answered on behalf of Radley, who was entrusted with the western fortress city of Aspida but was completely useless at anything other than military matters.
"Does that mean we should also prepare for the backlash from the Lancel Kingdom merchants?"
"Regarding them, I don't think the backlash will be that great. There are also trade routes on the southwestern side of the Lordberg Kingdom."
"Then, assuming no major response to the Lancel Kingdom is particularly necessary... does anyone else have any opinions regarding Herzgenheim disease?"
When Noein asked, Yuri, Mai, and Edgar lightly raised their hands.
First nominating Yuri, who held the highest position among the three, Yuri spoke with a somewhat grim expression.
"If an infection occurs within the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, especially during the period when infected persons are still few, there is a possibility that the infected person and their family will receive slander and abuse for 'bringing in the disease.' During the outbreak nineteen years ago, such situations occurred in various places in the southeastern part of the Kingdom. Not only verbal abuse and acts like social ostracization, but the occurrence of violent incidents and the possibility of the domestic society being divided between the families of infected persons and others are also concerns."
"Ah, I was thinking of making the same suggestion."
"...Me too."
Mai said after hearing Yuri's suggestion, and Edgar, who also looked slightly surprised, continued.
"While women's society is basically strongly united, it is also fragile once a crack appears. It's especially dangerous when problems involving life and death, like an epidemic, are involved... Not to mention the initial infected persons, there's a concern that residents of surrounding houses will all gather to attack the house where the first infected person appeared in the neighborhood."
"Farmer society... the so-called village society is the same. When faced with a crisis like an epidemic, there is a possibility they will try to protect their unity by making someone take responsibility and attacking them together. I'm worried not only about the rural areas, but also the farmers in the capital Noeina, Kilde, and Aspida. Although they are city residents now, many of them were originally from rural villages... In a small village, the village head's family can suppress the farmers so they don't get too overheated, but with the scale of this country, it's honestly too much for just me and Kenooze to handle."
"I see, so there are those concerns too... it's difficult."
Noein put his hand to his forehead and let out a sigh.
The hearts of the people are weak against crises, and combined with crowd psychology, they are easily driven by anxiety. That anxiety is sometimes converted into aggression.
If it were an easy-to-understand crisis like an invasion by foreign enemies, that anxiety and aggression could be used to unite everyone and face it, but with an invisible epidemic, that is also difficult. Those in the weakest position... namely the infected persons and their families, could become targets of attack for the sake of obtaining temporary relief.
"Everyone from the former mercenary group. In the noble territories of the southeast that you saw during your mercenary days, how did they deal with such situations?"
"...Generally, nothing good."
"Picking a few infected slaves, making it seem like they brought the disease from outside the territory, and publicly executing them to satisfy the resentment of the residents... things like that."
Hearing the statements of Yuri and Pence, Noein's face became disgusted.
"Setting aside other regions, that's an out-of-the-question method in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist... For now, I guess I have no choice but to step forward and go around speaking to the subjects so they don't run wild."
"I believe that will be the most effective in the end. All the subjects respect and love you."
"At that time, if Your Excellency shows yourself wearing a cloth over your mouth and gloves, I believe it will lead to awareness for everyone. From that perspective as well, I think it will be very effective."
With the approval of Clara and Selfers, Noein decided on the immediate countermeasures.
The week following this regular meeting, the first infection occurred in the Count Koenitz territory. The closure of the border was decided to continue for the time being.
Furthermore, in the following week, the first infected person was confirmed in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist.