Chapter 69
Chapter: 69
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>Translator: penny
>Chapter: 69
>Chapter Title: Gray Plague (5)
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>Dasha. She was one of the top operatives even among the secret agency composed solely of elite intelligence agents.
That was why, until now, she had been secretly overconfident, thinking there was nothing to fear as long as it wasn't a Decaron Knight-level threat.
But now, a young prince with what felt like barely squire-level aura activation was staring right at her every time she arrived, waiting expectantly. It was utterly exasperating.
"Welcome, Dasha. Got any new intel?"
It was even more infuriating that he had no idea what he'd accomplished and was just staring blankly like it was no big deal!
Dasha made a briefly resentful face before quickly bowing curtly and launching into her report.
"The academy students have been freed from the plague doctors' hands thanks to Sir Francis's intervention. They've halted the bloodletting treatment and undergone procedures to remove the eggs by palace physicians. They still haven't regained consciousness, though."
They'd managed to survive this long. Good.
"They say if it had been even a little later, their lives would have been in danger from blood loss."
Those damn quacks from Liora!
But the next piece of information was completely unexpected.
"In the midst of relaying Your Highness's message to His Holiness, I received startling news from the intelligence bureau. The plague discovered in the tribunal wasn't a new outbreak from yesterday."
Not the first?
"It had been popping up sporadically around the capital for months. It mainly spread to people living alone, so the initial symptoms went unnoticed."
"For months?"
"Yes."
Dasha nodded, her eyes sharpening slightly.
"The intelligence bureau is already calling it the [Gray Plague]."
Gray Plague.
The name came from how survivors' skin turned an eerie grayish hue all over their bodies.
It mostly appeared in hermits, vagrants, or the chronically ill, so early cases had gone undetected. Victims would suffer alone in some corner for days, then emerge fully transformed before being discovered—if at all.
The bizarre disease first reported months ago by an inquisitor stemmed from a village resident's claim that an old man had gone mad from a curse. The man, who lived alone after losing his son and daughter-in-law, had suddenly lost his mind after a few days.
When the inquisitor arrived, the old man was drooling from his mouth, his eyes unfocused. He couldn't speak or understand, his skin turned rigid and gray like dried leather, walking stiffly like a wooden doll.
He died within a week, unable to eat or drink.
After that, reports trickled in from around the capital of madmen turned gray. Initially suspected as demonkin curses, they were imprisoned in the heresy tribunal for investigation, but no demonic evidence emerged. It was concluded to be some mysterious plague.
Seongjin tilted his head at that point.
"They don't know the initial symptoms, right? How do they know it's the same disease?"
"One of the inquisitors who investigated that case observed the students' procedures."
At the prince's valid point, Dasha nodded unconsciously, brushed back a stray lock of hair, and continued.
The inquisitor had noted that the discolored skin on the students' chests resembled the gray plague victims' skin changes.
He also recalled similar hard stone fragments found in the same chest location in deceased plague victims—presumed to be calcified eggs from magical beasts over time.
Ah. Seongjin suddenly realized.
They'd autopsied all the previous plague victims.
"Moreover, the priests sensed the same aura from these newly discovered magical beast eggs as those stone fragments. As Your Highness knows, priests are highly sensitive to the energies of corrupt entities, aren't they?"
Francis had said the same.
They could tell if it was demonkin just by feel. And that the magical beast eggs and the Bantra Moth larvae gave off the same vibe.
"So, what's the plan?"
"Separate from discussions at the Holy Council, His Holiness has ordered a dedicated task force. Inquisitors, exorcists, and relevant experts are being mobilized in droves. They're likely to officially name these corrupt abominations [magical beasts]. It's all thanks to Your Highness's message."
"......"
Hmm, subtle.
It was a countermeasure, sure, but it didn't feel proactive—like they were just reacting because things had escalated this far.
Wait, no way this guy...
Seongjin furrowed his brow slightly, but Dasha, oblivious, added in an excited tone.
"This is all thanks to Your Highness and Sir Francis identifying the plague's cause early."
"You seem pleased."
"Why wouldn't I be? I achieved a major result just one day into being your dedicated agent. This must be what they mean by 'work worth doing.'"
Dasha flashed her signature refreshing smile, white teeth gleaming.
"Oh, and a message from His Holiness."
From Father?
"[Do it if you want to.]"
Do what?
As Seongjin looked baffled, Dasha gave a cryptic smile.
* * *
At that moment.
Some people were plunged into great chaos by the unforeseen turn of events.
"This is bad. Palace physicians extracted the seeds from those academy students."
"I heard. So suddenly... How the hell did they figure it out?"
The elderly man and youth whispering head-to-head wore the white robes of the Orthodox Church. Even in the dim light, the divine emblem etched on their garments shone clearly.
The old priest clutched his head with both hands, groaning.
"It was a mistake. In our joy that harvest was near, did we sow too recklessly? It's my fault."
"No, it's not! Prisoners suitable for seeding—those without aura or divine power—don't come along that often. And who could've predicted the tribunal prisoners would be moved out in just one day? Don't blame yourself."
"True, but..."
They both sighed deeply.
"So what about the harvest now?"
"Brother Clemens went to see the bishop about that very issue."
"Then let's pray together until he returns. May our task be completed safely. Bethel."
"Bethel."
The two priests stood there, beginning their devout prayer.
How much time passed? A young priest with a weary expression approached. It was Clemens, who had gone outside the palace to meet the bishop.
And the news he brought was even more headache-inducing.
"Someone apparently tried seeding a palace knight by mistake. That got discovered, and it exposed the academy students' seeds too. The bishop is furious."
"Th-that...!"
The old priest's face turned pale.
"Who the hell tries to seed a palace knight?! Unless they wanted to get caught by the Holy Emperor! Didn't the bishop say clearly that seeds can't bloom in aura users anyway?"
"That's why they're checking with the aides outside the palace right now. They claim they only seeded vagrants and drunks. They insist they never touched anyone with high aura activation."
"The results are right there! No excuses!"
The old priest's face flushed red then purple for a moment before he calmed himself with the sign of the cross, murmuring softly. Bethel.
"Whew. What's done is done. What did the bishop say?"
Clemens frowned at the old priest's question.
"For now, proceed with the plan unless His Holiness makes any special moves. Even if they start investigating now, it'll take time to uncover anything."
"What about the exorcists?"
"Full-scale investigation will be tough for them too. They weren't well-staffed to begin with, and now they're handling some inquisitor duties diverted to the southern front."
The young priest spoke worriedly.
"It's hard to say. Who's in charge of the exorcists? That ghost-like Leandro, right? He'll sniff it out and interfere for sure."
"It was a plan accounting for discovery once we're far enough along. If things don't go smoothly, we'll have to harvest early, even if preparations are lacking."
"Harvest early? Is that possible?"
At the old priest's question, Clemens's eyes gleamed seriously.
"I recently met another brother from the Forgotten Order here. If we can get his cooperation, completing the task will be much easier."
* * *
-Do it if you want to.
The true meaning of the Holy Emperor's cryptic message became clear the very next day.
After breakfast, as Seongjin dashed toward the training grounds with his walnut snack in hand, he spotted an unfamiliar man in the Pearl Palace lobby and stopped.
'...Who?'
Marsein stood before him, apparently greeting the guest, but turned back with a troubled expression upon sensing Seongjin's presence.
"Your Highness..."
At the ominous vibe, Seongjin carefully examined the man.
He was a pale middle-aged man in a uniform so dark gray it was nearly black.
Aside from the color, it resembled the Saint Aurelion Order's uniform. But unlike the white with red sword and shield emblem of the Aurelion holy knights, this dark garb bore a silver sword and crossed silver hooks.
The man's face was as rigid as a dried tree trunk, his expression as impassive as the Holy Emperor's—utterly emotionless.
He glanced at Seongjin, placed a hand over his heart, and bowed stiffly.
"I greet the 3rd Prince."
His cracked voice sounded scraped from parched vocal cords.
His mere presence made the air feel uncomfortable.
"This is Sir Leandro, captain of the Saint Terbakia Order, Your Highness," Marsein said quietly.
One of the five holy knight orders, the Saint Terbakia Holy Knight Order.
Its captain and supreme commander of all exorcists, Sir Leandro.
Why had he suddenly come to the Pearl Palace seeking Moreth?
-Soon, an exorcist from Saint Terbakia will visit the Pearl Palace. It's just for consultation, so don't worry. Share what Your Highness knows about the 'magical beasts,' and it'll greatly aid their work.
Katrina had mentioned it before, but who expected the captain himself?
'And this guy gives off a weird vibe...'
Seongjin sharpened his senses toward Sir Leandro. But he only felt something vague and murky, hard to pin down.
What is it? I don't know exactly, but why so unsettling?
Seongjin wasn't the only one sensing something off from him.
[What's with this guy? He's kinda weird?]
'Where?'
[Hard to pinpoint, but something's off.]
What do you even know properly?
One thing was clear: this man was one of the few holy knights granted access to the Pearl Palace by the Holy Emperor.
"A guest here for me? Guide him to the reception room, Sir Marsein. We can talk there leisurely."
Seongjin glanced at the increasingly fidgety Marsein before leading the way to the reception room.
And shortly after.
Seongjin learned why the knight captain had come personally. The magical beast situation had escalated dramatically in just days.
"Under my command, we've formed a dedicated magical beast task force centered on the Saint Terbakia holy knights."
The man explained in a dry tone.
Information Seongjin already knew via Dasha.
"We've assembled not just exorcists, but professors from the theological academy, plague society physicians—every expert whose field might help with magical beast incidents."
Leandro's arid gaze briefly met Seongjin's.
"I've been informed that thanks to Your Highness's knowledge and insight, we identified the true nature of the [Gray Plague]. You also slew a magical beast yourself at the Degory estate and provided detailed information."
This felt like getting dragged into something troublesome.
Marsein seemed to sense it too, stealing anxious glances at Seongjin.
Ignoring them, the man like a dead tree trunk continued flatly.
"Thus, within the Saint Terbakia Order, the prevailing view is that we shouldn't merely seek advice from a talent like Your Highness but invite you to join the magical beast task force directly. Therefore, I, Leandro, humbly request that Prince Moreth fulfill the [Duty of the Noble]."
"Ah..."
Marsein let out a small sigh.
Duty of the Noble.
Like 1st Prince Owen leading troops at the southern front's forefront.
Like 2nd Prince Logan leading young holy knights to purge heretics across the continent.
Now, he was saying 3rd Prince Moreth should join the magical beast task force to help defend the capital.
So this was what the Holy Emperor meant.
"...Your Highness, the [Duty of the Noble] is just a fine-sounding title without any real compulsion."
Marsein interjected anxiously from the side.
"You've only recently recovered from your fever, and you've just reached squire-level swordsmanship. It's too soon. Please give him time to decide slowly."
Normally, he'd have barked first and reined him in, but.
Maybe because Seongjin had warned him yesterday not to overstep, Marsein's tone now bordered on pleading.
'Right, no compulsion.'
That's why the Holy Emperor said do it if you want.
'But...'
The Holy Emperor, always cautioning Seongjin against trouble, had said [it's fine].
And some strange premonition gripped Seongjin as he stared into the stark Sir Leandro's eyes.
A gut feeling that refusing wouldn't end well.
A vague anxiety of missing something crucial.
The same intuition that had turned Hunter Seongjin—from not initially top-tier—into the last one standing, now seized him strongly.
Unknowingly, Seongjin nodded to Leandro, while deep despair etched across Marsein's face.