Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Farewell to Tristy
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The incident Ouriel had caused came to a swift conclusion.
She had injected the current Tristy Family Head, Porto, with poison of unknown origin, plunging him into a critical condition.
On top of that, she had teamed up with the Wonderland member known as the Pastry Witch to kidnap Haniel and attempt to murder Zephyr.
Even setting aside all the crimes she had committed up until now, this alone was more than enough to warrant the death penalty.
- The crimes committed by Lady Ouriel could have caused unprecedented chaos not just to Tristy, but to the entire kingdom. Therefore, in accordance with the kingdom's constitution, our Public Security Force will now thoroughly investigate all her offenses and ensure she faces the strictest punishment possible.
Ordinarily, each territory had its own laws, and crimes committed within a territory were handled by the lord or vassals appointed to judicial roles by the lord.
However, for heinous criminals like Ouriel, who violated public law, the Public Security Force—a dedicated judicial organization—would drag them away for trial.
It was said that unspeakable horrors occurred in the process.
The security officers might have friendly-looking faces, but they reeked of blood from head to toe.
In short, Ouriel was as good as dead.
She was highly likely to receive the death penalty, after all, so these would be tough times for her in every sense.
In any case, the security officers dragged Ouriel away.
It marked the miserable end of the eldest daughter, who had terrified me the most alongside Kenneth back in my childhood.
I felt no pity.
There had never been any fondness to begin with, and a criminal had to pay for their crimes.
It would have been perfect if everything could wrap up just like this.
But we still had one massive problem left.
Specifically, with Tristy.
"Ah, there you are."
Zephyr stepped out from in front of the charred remains of the mansion and waited for Haniel.
The sight of the house where we brothers had lived all this time reduced to ashes in an instant stirred up strange emotions.
Refreshing yet regretful, perhaps—like growing attached to something you once hated.
"Father is currently unconscious. We don't know when he'll wake, and with the territory in such dire straits, I've called you brothers here to appoint an interim Family Head for the time being."
That was why Zephyr had summoned us: to select an interim Family Head.
Unfortunately, Porto was comatose, and the territory was in chaos from the plague.
In such an urgent situation, it was unrealistic to simply wait for Porto to recover.
"What do you brothers think?"
Right here, in this modest gathering, Tristy's new leader was about to be born.
I exchanged glances with Haniel.
My sibling and I had already decided on our answer.
I turned the question back on Zephyr.
"Why do you want to become Family Head, brother?"
"Hm?"
"It just popped into my head. I'm curious."
Zephyr was the only sibling we had left.
Felix was MIA on the battlefield—dead or alive unknown—Kenneth was dead, and Ouriel had been hauled off by the security officers to face judgment.
"A reason, huh... I didn't expect you to ask that."
Zephyr smiled awkwardly.
"It's like how a hungry person wants to eat when they see food. My heart just moved on instinct. Nothing special. That's how dreams are."
He listened intently while gently clutching the necklace he'd returned to him.
I, too, believed that having a dream didn't require some grand catalyst.
It felt ordinary.
Maybe because I'd seen my brothers lose their minds amid all these major events, but I thought it was honest and admirable.
"Congratulations, brother. You've achieved your dream today."
Zephyr looked at Haniel.
"I knew you had no interest in the Family Head position... but Haniel too?"
"Yes. I no longer have any reason to cling to it."
Haniel quietly placed both hands on my shoulders, essentially saying she hoped Zephyr would take it.
He could become a good lord, after all.
I felt the same as Haniel.
I hated the family, but I didn't hate the people living in Tristy.
It was only natural to want many people to be happy.
Zephyr could make that happen for them.
"Alright. Thank you. I'll do my best to become a lord who serves the greater good."
"Just don't turn out like Father."
"...Yeah."
We shared bitter smiles.
Though so much had happened with our family, it was a relief that at least two people remained with whom we could smile easily.
In any case, we no longer had any business in Tristy.
All that was left was to return to the capital and enjoy life as wealthy idlers.
"Young master. We just received an urgent message from the Blue Tower saying the fermenter has broken down and asking you to come back immediately."
...Well, first things first, stabilize this antibiotic production somehow.
"I'll head there right away, so tell them to open a portal. And Dalpi."
"Yes."
"Take this to the Red Tower and sell it."
I patted the empty Hell Tank.
Come to think of it, we'd nearly had it stolen by those terrorists.
Forget my precious 10 billion credits—even if that had happened, it could've led to something truly horrific.
Better sell it off quick...
"Don't take less than 10 billion, no more, no less."
"...Is it really that expensive?"
"The materials alone cost 10.9 billion. 10 billion is a steal."
Dalpi stared at the tank in shock before effortlessly lifting it with both hands.
No way was that a weight a person could handle...
Seriously, the more I saw of her, the more absurd this maid was.
There were a million things to nitpick, but.
It seemed more worthwhile than teaching her to drive, so I let it slide.
For now, my heart was at ease knowing we could finally bid eternal farewell to this wretched Tristy mansion.
And so, we began preparations to truly move to our new home.
***
The plague that had struck the eastern region of the Justina Kingdom was eradicated at a rapid pace.
Contrary to the medical community's predictions of unprecedented casualties, deaths were extremely rare.
Various factors surely contributed, but the biggest share undoubtedly went to the antibiotic and mana suppressant invented by Ester Tristy.
Among them, the antibiotic was nothing short of a miracle drug.
-Let's try this antibiotic on other patients too. It might work.
It proved highly effective not just against White Plague, but against pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, boils, bacterial dysentery, sepsis, and more—the diseases that commonly claimed lives.
Since it could even conquer tuberculosis, which had a 70% fatality rate, word spread quickly among doctors working outside the east, causing demand to skyrocket.
This was the expected sequence.
The Blue Tower produced the antibiotic exactly according to Ester's mass-production process and secured distribution routes across the kingdom.
Through partner merchant guilds, the drug spread smoothly throughout Justina Kingdom, laying the foundation to save countless lives even after this plague.
-So, the person who developed the drug that saved our daughter is this Ester Tristy?
Ester Tristy's name quickly became known not just in the kingdom's medical community, but even among ordinary folk with no interest in magic.
And that wasn't all.
The invention of this antibiotic was a paradigm shift in itself.
The discovery of pathogenic bacteria had taught everyone the importance of disinfection and hygiene, but just 20 years later, a mere 15-year-old boy had armed doctors with a weapon to eradicate the great evil known as disease.
-We must focus on and research this antibiotic from now on.
-If this miracle drug reaches perfection, humanity might triumph over disease even faster than our war against the demonkin.
Quite a few mages from the Blue Tower, which researched life magic, became enamored with the antibiotic.
With Noctias's permission, they collaborated with doctors on various clinical trials, beginning research to further develop it.
The kingdom's future looked bright.
King Bimark announced with a satisfied expression at a gathering of all his ministers.
"To commemorate the defense of the Polar Point and the eradication of White Plague, we shall hold a grand banquet in Logness."
At the king's order to send letters to local lords and key kingdom figures, everyone anticipated a massive event.
"Also, prepare a ceremony to honor all who contributed from the Polar Point incident onward. In the letters, make it clear that not a single one is to be absent."
The ministers immediately grasped who the star of this banquet would be.
'Wonder what reward Sir Ester will receive.'
Even though they themselves weren't the recipients, they couldn't help but be curious about what compensation the king would grant Ester for an achievement that would echo through kingdom history.
"With that territory stripped of its title last time, he'll probably get at least a barony."
"I doubt he'll grant governing rights to Sir Ester, who already stands to inherit a territory. Likely an honorary marquisate and some office."
"Wanna bet?"
"You're on."
With that, they headed off to draft the letters, looking forward to the festival in a fortnight.