Chapter 437 - Episode 420: Spread of Infection ②
"Fifty bags of salt for this week. Is that correct?"
The border between the Archduchy of Arqvist and the County of Koenitz in the Kingdom of Lordberg. Beyond the stone pillar that served as the border marker on the highway, a senior member of the Miles Company asked this from the Lordberg Kingdom side.
"How is it, Philip-san?"
"...Yes, it's fine. There are fifty bags."
"Understood... no problem. Fifty bags of salt, duly received."
After confirming that Philip, the head of the Skinner Company and official merchant to the Archducal House, nodded, Baronet Bart Heidemann, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, replied to the Miles Company executive. They maintained a generous distance from one another, conducting the exchange using 'Voice Amplification' magic items.
"Now then, here is the payment. Please verify it."
When Bart placed the bag of silver coins on the border line and stepped away, a young Miles Company member picked it up and delivered it to the executive.
"............Yes, there is no problem. Thank you for the trade."
"The thanks are mine... difficult times continue, so please take care."
"Please take care of yourselves as well. I pray for the safety of the Archduchy of Arqvist."
The Miles Company executive bowed, and the other employees followed suit. Bart, Philip, and the others on the Arqvist side responded by bowing as well.
"...This salt trade has become the only remaining commerce connecting the Archduchy of Arqvist to the outside world, hasn't it?"
"Yes. It is truly sad. Both as a merchant and as a human being."
Bart and Philip exchanged words while watching the retreating backs of the Miles Company members returning to Retovik.
"Bart-san, everything is loaded."
The one who called out was Alain, who had led a single platoon of Claymore to load the large quantity of salt into the wagons.
Golems were being utilized in this manner to keep personnel to a minimum and to ensure that the salt bags touched by people from the County of Koenitz were not touched directly. The salt transported today would only be touched by humans after being stored in the warehouse for a while.
"Good work. Now then, everyone, let us return to the capital, Noeina."
Even simply acting in groups was a risk now. This was especially true for key figures of the Archduchy like Bart and Philip, or valuable combat assets like the puppet mages.
Following Bart's instructions, the party returned to the capital, Noeina, walking quickly while maintaining distance between one another.
.....
"Yes, this is Konrad, Honorary Retainer of the Archducal House of the Archduchy of Arqvist."
Konrad, who was stationed in his own office at the Archduchy's Military Headquarters, answered the 'Far-Talk' connected from the County of Koenitz in the Kingdom of Lordberg.
Now that the borders were almost entirely sealed and direct contact with people from the Lordberg Kingdom side had become extremely difficult, Konrad, a dialogue mage, was the only one capable of detailed communication with the outside world without the risk of infection.
"Yes... yes, I see. It seems things are still difficult on your end... Yes, then let me tell you our side. The current number of infected in the Archduchy of Arqvist is—"
He exchanged words with a dialogue mage of the Royal Mages stationed in Retovik, the County of Koenitz, with whom he was already acquainted. He listened to the infection status in the northwestern and northeastern parts of the Lordberg Kingdom and conveyed the situation of the Archduchy of Arqvist.
Since 'Far-Talk' with Retovik, which was nearly twenty kilometers away in a straight line, consumed a fair amount of magical power, they could not speak for long. After both finished their brief reports, Konrad informed them that he would contact them again in a few days and took a breath.
"...Sigh."
While sipping from a cup of water, he transcribed the notes of the information heard from the County of Koenitz's dialogue mage onto another piece of paper. After reading through it quickly and confirming there were no issues with the content, he stood up to report to his lord, Noein.
.....
Honorary Retainer Konrad, who had visited the Archducal mansion, and Noein met in the reception room.
Since both were minimizing contact with others, and Konrad specifically continued a life where he did not interact with anyone outside his family, there was almost no worry about Konrad transmitting Herzgenheim disease to Noein.
Because Konrad had to conserve as much magical power as possible for emergency contacts when necessary, ordinary reports like this were conducted face-to-face through a pane of glass.
"The situation on the Lordberg Kingdom side seems to be the same as ever. In the County of Koenitz, the number of infected has exceeded five hundred and is still increasing. The dead are nearly a hundred. However, it was reported that everyone in the Koenitz family is safe. Other than that, the situation in every noble territory in the northwestern Kingdom is similar... and the northeast is slightly better. In the County of Nordlingen, where the infection first occurred, it seems the infection is showing signs of subsiding."
"I see, finally in the northeast... I hope it settles down in the northwestern Kingdom and here in the Archduchy of Arqvist as well."
Since the initial response had been delayed, it was unlikely that things would settle down peacefully in the northwestern Kingdom. It was expected that the epidemic would flare up once more.
The Archduchy of Arqvist had been more successful in its initial response, but since the disease had entered from the adjacent northwestern Kingdom, it was unknown how severe the outbreak would become. It was slightly better than the situation where the future was completely invisible, but one could not be at ease at all.
"Konrad, thank you for the report. Good work... I imagine it's depressing for you too, but please take care of your health and keep doing your best."
"Thank you for your concern. I am still doing fine, so please do not worry... Now then, I shall take my leave."
Konrad saluted and left the room.
.....
After Konrad's departure, Noein visited Eleos.
However, it was impossible to touch his beloved son directly. Eleos, the heir to the Archducal House of Arqvist, was isolated in a room deep within the mansion, spending his days in a state close to confinement to ensure that he would not be infected with Herzgenheim disease even by some slim chance. Noein's conversations with Eleos were also conducted through the door.
"Eleos, are you doing well?"
"Father! Yes, I'm doing great! Are you doing well, Father? You haven't gotten sick, have you?"
When Noein knocked on the room where Eleos was and called out, a cheerful voice was heard from beyond the door.
"Ahaha, I'm fine too, thank you... Eleos, aren't you lonely?"
"Yes, I'm lonely... It's a little lonely not being able to see you, Mother, and Philia, but Laura is always with me, so I'm okay."
"I see, that's a relief."
Laura was the personal maid assigned to Eleos starting this year. She was a young maid of thirteen, only in her second year of working at the mansion, but she became his personal maid because she was the one Eleos was most fond of.
"Laura, I imagine you're tired in this situation, but please take good care of Eleos."
"Leave it to me, Master!"
Laura's energetic voice could be heard from beyond the door. Perhaps because she had worked under Mary until becoming Eleos's personal maid, her speech and behavior were somewhat similar to Mary's.
"Well then, Eleos, I'll come call on you again."
"Yes, Father, please take care."
"...I'm sorry. Because I am powerless, I've put you through this."
"That's not true. I and everyone else know that Father is doing his absolute best."
Hearing Eleos's words, Noein laughed softly. When had he learned such a difficult phrase as "doing one's absolute best"?
However, being encouraged by his own child provided a considerable amount of salvation.
Next, Noein headed to the room where his wife Clara and daughter Philia were. Philia, who had finally turned four this year and loved to cling to her mother, was spending her isolated life together with Clara.
"Philia, are you awake?"
"!? Father! Father—!"
As soon as Noein knocked and called out, Philia's voice was heard. The voice calling "Father" approached the door in an instant.
"Father, I want to see you! Can I open the door...?"
"Ahaha, I want to see you too, Philia. But I'm sorry, I can't open the door yet. The disease is still spreading in the city, so we have to make sure you don't catch it."
"...Uuu~, Father~"
Hearing the crying voice through the door, Noein felt his chest tighten.
"Now now, Philia, your father has come all this way, you mustn't trouble him... Matilda-san, has there been any change in your health?"
"I'm fine, Clara."
"No change for me either, Clara-sama."
Noein and Matilda answered Clara, who had likely asked while picking up and soothing Philia.
"How about you two?"
"I am the picture of health. Philia is also full of energy, as you can see, enough to throw a tantrum and cry."
"Ahaha, that's good... How many weeks has it been now? I want to settle this situation quickly and touch you all."
Noein started to reach out to touch the door, then pulled his hand back. It was a door that Clara and the others might touch. He hesitated to touch it even through gloves. He had to ensure that the still-young Philia would not be infected with Herzgenheim disease by any chance.
"We feel the same... Truthfully, I miss you so much I feel like I might cry."
Clara's voice trembled slightly.
"................I'll come call on you again. I love you both."
"We love you too. Please take care, you and Matilda-san."
As he left the room where his beloved family stayed, Noein let out an exhausted sigh.
"It really is tough when it drags on this long."
"I sympathize with your mental strain, Noein-sama. I feel inadequate that this body of mine can do nothing for you."
Matilda said apologetically, gently leaning her shoulder against his.
"That's not true... Rather, it's because you are here that I can remain undaunted even in this situation."
Noein stopped walking and turned toward Matilda. He buried his face in the chest of the woman who had also stopped, and let her embrace him gently.
"How long will this really continue..."