Chapter 440 - Episode 423: Hero
The Grand Duchy of Arqvist won the gamble.
By stuffing all the infected into the clinic and sequestering newly occurring cases one after another, new infections vanished in approximately two weeks.
After another three weeks or so, all the infected sequestered in the clinic had either recovered or died.
In the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Lordberg, the infection was also heading toward containment, but it was still difficult to say that the epidemic had ended, and it was decided that the border closure would continue for a while longer. Although the Herzgenheim disease had entered the Grand Duchy of Arqvist later than the Kingdom of Lordberg, the Grand Duchy ended up overcoming the disease faster than the Kingdom of Lordberg.
A few days after the clinic's lockdown was lifted. At the estate of the Nordheim Baronet family in the fortress city of Aspida. Baronet Pence Schoenberg was visiting his old, ill-fated friend, Baronet Radley Nordheim.
"Yo, you near-corpse."
"Shut up, you piece of shit. Cough, cough, I'll kill you."
As soon as Pence faced him, he cracked a joke, and Radley replied bluntly while coughing lightly. This symptom of occasional coughing was very common as a sequela of Herzgenheim disease, and it was said to last for several months at most.
The reason their choice of words was so rough as to be somewhat imprudent for this time of year was precisely because there were no other eyes on them. Both Pence and Radley, who had now become nobles of a nation, returned to the sensibilities of their mercenary days only when they met like this, just the two of them.
"What's this? I heard you were suffering from sequelae, so I thought you'd look more miserable, but you seem fine. I wasted my time coming to visit you."
"Tch, as if I'd mope over a little coughing. I'll be returning to forest patrols within the month... More importantly, you came to visit and didn't bring a gift?"
"I brought one. A damn expensive distilled liquor from the Kingdom of Reuveland to celebrate your survival. But Gina snatched it away before I could get into this room. She says strong liquor is off-limits until that cough of yours is cured."
"...Is that so. If Gina said it, it can't be helped."
Radley muttered this while snorting dissatisfiedly. Seeing the figure of his old friend—hailed as the strongest warrior in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, yet unable to stand up to his wife—Pence let out a small, bitter smile.
For a while after that, the two indulged in idle chatter. The topic that came up, as expected, was the recent Herzgenheim disease epidemic. Especially since Radley had been inside the locked-down clinic as a patient, he told Pence about the conditions inside.
The inside of the clinic had been harsh, but it was not gruesome. Support from outside the clinic, including the distribution of food and other supplies, was generous, and they were able to exhaust the best means realistically possible. That was what Radley said.
"In the end, this shitty plague was contained. Lord Noein's decision must have been a wise one."
"Yeah, there's no room to doubt that... well, I'm glad you're safe."
"What's with that? It's gross. That's not like you."
"No, just for once. Since not everyone made it safely."
Pence said, scratching his cheek as he felt embarrassed.
Radley was renowned for the robustness of his body and had survived numerous fierce battles. There was no way he would die easily from something like a plague. However, it is the way of the world that there is always a "what if." He might have heard the news of his old friend's death today or tomorrow.
When he heard that Radley had fallen critically ill, Pence truly thought so. Every time a liaison soldier from the fortress city of Aspida visited the Grand Ducal estate, his heart grew restless.
"...True. Since I barely survived. For the sake of those who didn't make it, and the people who helped me, I've gotta get this cough cured and get back to work."
Radley muttered in a somewhat sentimental tone.
In the end, Radley survived. However, there were those who did not.
In the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, the cumulative number of infected by this Herzgenheim disease epidemic was 284. Among them, 31 died.
Among those 31 was the doctor, Selfers.
Selfers strove to care for the infected inside the locked-down clinic, and in the process, he himself became infected and died as his strength failed. In this epidemic, he was the final casualty.
.....
"I see. Selfers-sensei was for the infected until the very end..."
"Yes. Even while suffering from a high fever, he continued to give me instructions regarding the use of magic potions and the treatment of the infected. After witnessing the recovery of the last infected person, he breathed his last the following day. Perhaps thanks to the magic potions, he departed peacefully without suffering at the end."
Noein, who had been preoccupied with the aftermath even after the containment of the infection and the lifting of the clinic's lockdown, had finally reached a lull after several days, and was now listening to a detailed account of Selfers' end from Bishop Hasel.
"...It is regrettable. Truly."
"I feel the same, Your Excellency. But please, do not regret your decision this time."
Bishop Hasel spoke in a gentle voice, but with a powerful gaze.
"Without a doubt, because of Your Excellency's decision to accept Selfers-sensei's suggestion, many lives were saved, and the infection in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist showed early containment. And Selfers-sensei remained in the clinic according to his own beliefs, supporting and saving the infected. The fact that the teacher passed away... this alone is the will of God, and there is nothing we humans can do. However, the teacher must have had no regrets. As one who chose a way of life dedicated to serving society, regardless of position, I can assert that."
Therefore, Bishop Hasel told him that His Excellency should not regret it either.
Noein paused in silence, then nodded.
"I understand. I will not regret it. I will move forward believing that everyone did what they could, and what they should have done. And I will mourn Selfers-sensei, and rejoice that there are lives that were saved... Bishop Hasel. I am glad you are safe. You survived well."
"Thank you. God has not yet called me to His side. He must be telling me to work while observing God's teachings in this world, in this land. If so, I shall simply follow God's will. I look forward to your continued guidance, Your Excellency."
Bishop Hasel wore a smile.
Despite remaining in the clinic and striving to care for the infected, he ultimately did not become infected until the end. The fact that such things can happen quite normally is the inexplicable nature of epidemics.
"...Liris. You all worked hard as well. As the head of the Grand Ducal house, I thank you."
"Yes, Your Excellency,"
Liris, who had visited with Bishop Hasel to report on the aftermath, answered and nodded in a calm voice.
As the primary disciple of Selfers, she would henceforth become the person responsible for medical care in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist. There was no way she wasn't sad to lose her teacher, but at least for now, she was behaving bravely.
"We, the doctors of this country, were taught and learned everything Selfers-sensei had to offer. Inheriting the teacher's will, we will now devote ourselves to the Grand Duchy of Arqvist."
"As long as you, the disciples of Selfers-sensei, are here, I have nothing to worry about. Let us protect the Grand Duchy of Arqvist together from now on. I trust you."
Liris was no longer a young, timid girl. After more than ten years, she had become a full-fledged doctor. Finding her reliable, Noein wore a smile full of affection.
.....
A few weeks after the containment of the Herzgenheim disease epidemic in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist, the epidemic also subsided in the northwestern part of the Kingdom of Lordberg.
In the various noble territories of the northwest, which had been hit directly by an epidemic for the first time in about a hundred years and whose response had been belated, there was considerable damage. Fortunately, however, there were no victims among the nobles close to Noein or the merchants with deep connections.
Taking the opportunity that the epidemic had subsided in their own country and neighboring regions, and the worry of reinfection had become infinitesimally small, a ceremony was held in the Grand Duchy of Arqvist to mourn the dead from this epidemic.
The central plaza of the capital city, Noeina. Under the leadership of the Grand Ducal house and the Milleon Holy Religion Church, a ceremony to pray for the repose of the souls of the subjects who lost their lives was solemnly carried out—and after that, a state funeral for doctor Selfers was held.
"...He was a benefactor. For all of us."
In the center of the plaza, before an altar buried in flowers. On the platform installed there, Noein spoke to the gathered subjects.
Beside the platform, Matilda, Clara, and the children, dressed in black mourning clothes, stood quietly, and the platform was surrounded by vassals and Guard soldiers. In the front row of the populace were the doctors, including Liris.
"Those who have lived here since the time this land was still called the Arqvist Baronet territory likely remember well. He saved us many times. When we suffered from illness and were wounded in battle, he came from the neighboring territory to save us."
When Noein collapsed from Eld Heat. When many citizens were injured in battles with bandit groups. Selfers rushed from Retovik and provided treatment.
"And, he chose this land as the place to spend his final years... He told me that he wanted to spend the rest of his life watching happiness be built in this land. I remember it even now. I will never forget."
Deliberately shifting his first-person pronoun, Noein spoke.
"Even after becoming a member of this land, he saved us countless times. By treating our illnesses and injuries. And by raising new doctors, young and excellent doctors."
Saying so, Noein pointed with his hand toward Liris and the others in the front row of the populace. Among those looking down and those letting out sobs, Liris kept her face held high with dignity, though her eyes were red.
"...By saving people's lives, he showed a great contribution to this land. And he will continue to save many lives. His teachings, those who inherit his will, will save countless lives."
Noein spoke while enduring the urge for tears to fall and for his voice to tremble. Liris, who likely held the greatest sadness, was behaving bravely. He could not afford to start crying.
"He is a hero. His achievements will not vanish. His will will not vanish. Let us together pass down the story of how he... doctor Selfers lived here, and what he accomplished here."
Noein concluded the speech thus.
Bishop Hasel ascended the platform in Noein's place and chanted the holy verses of prayer. Noein, standing alongside his family, repeated the holy verses together with the vassals and subjects as a believer of the Milleon Holy Religion.
Finally, he performed the believer's bow, prayed quietly, and stood up.
"...Teacher. Was I able to meet your expectations?"
Noein said as if whispering. Matilda and Clara gently grasped Noein's hands from both sides.
As of this day, the Grand Ducal Noeina Clinic was renamed the Grand Ducal Selfers Clinic.
This concludes Chapter 16. Thank you for reading this far.
In the next Chapter 17, a major event will occur. Please look forward to it.[Author's Note]