Chapter 133
Chapter 133
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Parasite (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To an outsider, it was a river so vast it could be mistaken for the sea, its far shore visible only as the horizon.
That was the most fitting description of the Eldarin River.
And the land perched atop that enormous river transcended mere vastness to become truly majestic.
To the people of this world, rivers were both their lifeline and an object of fear.
A river passing through an estate provided a vital water source that sustained a large population, akin to a vein pumping lifeblood. Yet beyond the purification zones, rivers were the domain of mighty aquatic magic beasts.
Perhaps because water alleviated the burden of gravity, aquatic magic beasts were far larger and more powerful than their terrestrial counterparts.
Even the four-legged whale Arsen had seen as a child turned out to be a formidable magic beast that even knights hesitated to fight.
Fortunately, unlike land-based magic beasts, aquatic ones never entered purification zones, so no one in the estate ever got devoured by them while approaching the river.
In any case, the Eldarin River was ruled by such aquatic magic beasts, making it impossible to float any kind of boat. Thus, no human could cross the Eldarin River.
Except here in Baltres.
"Impressive..."
"It's actually floating!"
Bazkal and Marun whooped from behind.
There was no need to scold them for minding their dignity. Everyone else was just as stunned, mouths agape as they stared.
Several meters above the upper reaches of the Eldarin River floated a colossal island stretching several kilometers long.
It wasn't entirely detached from the land. The entire estate bobbed gently on the river, connected to the shore by a bridge dozens of meters wide.
As he'd heard before, that land likely extended all the way across the Eldarin River.
[Floating Island Almanon... First time seeing it with my own eyes. Always dreamed of visiting as a tourist. Never thought it'd be like this.]
"Did something like this exist back then too?"
Arsen muttered, almost to himself.
Catching it, Bakran replied boastfully.
[Of course. Almanon itself was lifted by our ancestors to anchor a major purification magic circle. They packed an insane amount of floatstone inside the island.]
Anticipating the question, Bakran explained that floatstone repelled gravity and shot into the air, a mineral brought from their ancestors' homeworld and nonexistent on this planet.
Amazed anew that this majestic sight was man-made, Arsen relayed the fact to Eloise via her earring.
She stared at the massive floating island with eyes wide in disbelief.
Their awe was short-lived. Now they had to ascend to that enormous island.
March, and march some more.
How far had they advanced toward the estate when Bazkal looked up at the sky and shouted?
"Brother, something's coming from up there!"
Looking up at his words, Arsen saw what appeared to be a giant bird flying toward them.
At first glance, it seemed like a magic beast, but closer inspection revealed a bizarre shape.
A bird made of metal, with someone riding atop it.
Only as it drew nearer could he confirm its identity.
"A flying Jin... I thought it was just a rumor, but it really exists!"
Anun exclaimed in admiration, confirming what Arsen saw.
Just as he said, the thing circling overhead was a bird-shaped Jin, ridden by a knight.
In other words, air force straight out of a bygone era.
[A chilling sight...]
If there were many riders on such Jin, and they attacked from above with projectiles, his side wouldn't even mount a proper counter before being routed.
The enemy would strike with gravity's aid for extra force, while his side struggled against it.
Plus, while linked to a knight, the Jin shared some magic resistance, making spells ineffective.
Then, a stifled laugh reached Arsen's ear.
[Can I be honest? It's hilarious watching you gawk at that relic.]
Bakran chuckled about how he'd piss himself seeing his era's supersonic vehicles.
He seemed oblivious to how his side couldn't counter without those relics.
Then again, what would a student with no combat experience know?
Arsen could understand, to some extent.
If the positions were reversed, he'd laugh at medieval knights freaking out over early motorcycles or cars.
Brushing off Bakran, Arsen focused on the knight atop the flying Jin.
Unlikely as it was, if the foe attacked without warning, the damage could be severe.
The knight on the Jin circled the group, gradually descending.
Close enough now, Arsen saw the rider raise both arms high, proving no weapon in hand.
Arsen raised one hand, signaling the group.
"Everyone, step back a few paces. Lower weapons."
Then Marun, puzzled, flipped open his book and groaned.
"Hmm."
"What's wrong?"
"No, it's just odd. The book says Baltres is friendly to outsiders due to lots of external traffic, but they're so guarded... Maybe because we're such a big group?"
A hint of hurt crept into his voice.
Arsen had heard the same from Marun before.
Baltres was the sole passage linking estates separated by the Eldarin River.
To cross elsewhere, you'd have to go far east to Narvik, then south.
Thus, it saw heavy traffic, with well-equipped facilities for travelers.
The description reminded Arsen of the ruined city of Satien.
But this knight's actions were overly tense for an estate used to outsiders.
"Well... with our force, caution's warranted."
Once the group fully stood down, the airborne knight finally landed gracefully.
The motion was so elegant and light that the landing barely made a sound.
Hard to believe a several-hundred-kilogram metal hunk had settled.
The knight stayed mounted on the Jin, keeping some distance—just enough to take off if they charged like bandits.
In a raspy voice, he called out.
"Second Knight of Baltres, Vidon! I don't know where you hail from, but our estate can't receive guests right now. I advise you to turn back!"
"What the hell is going on?"
Marun muttered in disbelief.
Arsen stepped forward and bellowed.
"May we ask what's happened?"
The knight shook his head at the question.
As Arsen wondered if it meant he couldn't say, the knight suddenly hacked violently.
After dozens of coughs that left him breathless, he spoke in an even raspier voice.
Only then did Arsen understand the knight's cautious approach.
"It's a plague!"
* * *
The group kept their distance as Second Knight Vidon explained in detail.
According to him, Baltres—from commoners to soldiers, knights, even the estate lord—was gripped by an unidentified pestilence. To prevent spread, they barred all outsiders.
Removing his helmet revealed a young man with a sallow, sickly face, proving his words.
After the ill knight remounted his Jin and flew off, the group slumped before the estate.
They couldn't enter a plague-ridden hellhole crawling with demons, as it were.
Even forcing entry was futile; they wouldn't open up.
Claiming they'd just pass without contact wouldn't fly either.
Weakened by illness, their vigilance against outsiders would be sky-high.
"What a clusterfuck."
Bazkal squatted and spat in exasperation. Looking every bit the thug, Arsen lightly stepped on his foot to remind him of dignity.
Remembering his broken toe, Bazkal yelped and yanked back.
"Eek, don't! Scary when you step on feet, brother."
"What do we do?"
At Anun's question, Arsen shook his head.
"Not sure... Need to think."
Lately, Arsen juggled multiple headaches.
Sneaking past hostile estates amid fights, preparing for a showdown with Byolburmi via secret talks with Ratys Elder, and topping it off by snagging a sphere from a mystery ancient.
Just as one issue resolved, another cropped up. Arsen wanted to scream.
"Plague? Nothing we can do, right? Unless magic cures it."
Hearing Bazkal's mutter, Anun asked Arsen directly.
Not a mage himself, he knew Arsen was versed in such lore from childhood with Luden and Eloise.
"Can magic cure plagues?"
"Impossible. Poisons can be neutralized with antidote spells, but plagues are different. Not all poisons yield to antidotes anyway, and some resist. Reasons unexplained."
He'd once theorized about antidote spells: they halt harmful chemical reactions in the body, so biological invaders like parasites couldn't be expelled.
Thus, virus-based plagues were untreatable.
Luden later praised the hypothesis's plausibility and used it to craft anti-parasite spells, though finicky.
Then Rino, who'd listened quietly, piped up.
"Funny thing, actually."
"Hm?"
"That knight said symptoms are yellowing face, severe coughs leading to blood, then chills before death, right?"
"Yeah."
"I've heard of this plague."
All eyes turned to Rino.
Even squatting Bazkal shot up.
Anun pressed.
"When? Where? Cure?"
"When we crossed the mountains, we aimed for the estate south of Manar, but plague forced us through Darkwood Forest instead."
"Right... No way?"
"Yeah. Exact same symptoms as what we heard then."
Arsen stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Bern Estate, which they'd bypassed due to plague, was vastly distant from Baltres.
Maps were vague sketches, but at least thousands of kilometers—he was sure.
In a world of isolated estates, plagues didn't spread that fast over such distances.
"Weird..."
Thinking Arsen mused to him, Bakran replied.
[Doesn't sound like a plague.]
"Hm?"
Arsen reflexively echoed, then excused it as a hunch amid stares.
He stepped out of camp to think alone.
"Say that again. What?"
[Not a plague. Looks like coldflame parasite infection. Famous one.]
Arsen knew, but Bakran kindly explained the parasite concept.
Unique chilling symptom made it notorious.
[Common in rural waterside areas, but I've never caught it. Antiparasitics cure it.]
"How to make them?"
[No clue!]
Arsen sighed softly.
Fair enough—even he'd never known Earth's antiparasitic recipes.
"Damn history buff."
[I concur, somewhat.]
Still, the info enabled inferences, like spread origin.
Bern and Baltres shared one trait: bordering the Eldarin River.
Pinpoint the source, and a fix existed.
Rushing back, Arsen ordered immediate movement.
Hearing the destination, Bazkal gawked.
"Down the Eldarin River south?"
"Yeah. Castle or estate, doesn't matter—find one using the river as water source. Check for same symptoms."