Chapter 148
Chapter 148
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 148
Chapter Title: Red Rock Cliff
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"The place where the plague first broke out is Red Rock Cliff. Thank you again."
Once we stated our intentions, Bagran informed us of the plague's origin.
Red Rock Cliff.
It was a name that didn't exist back in the era when I played the game.
According to Barundel, it was a rocky area on the outermost edge of Kazandur.
"I'll handle the guiding."
Fortunately, thanks to his familiarity with the local terrain, we didn't get lost.
And so, we arrived at Red Rock Cliff.
"It's kinda majestic."
True to its name, it was a rocky zone shaped like an alley flanked by reddish cliffs on both sides.
A warning sign prohibiting entry was staked at the entrance.
"It's one of Kazandur's famous spots. Well... it's a spot we've claimed for ourselves since other races aren't allowed."
"I see. It definitely lives up to the name scenery-wise."
"Uncle said demonic energy was detected around here."
We followed behind Barundel, moving along the path.
Just as I started feeling like we'd gone deeper than expected.
'Demonic energy!'
My vision, enhanced further by the [Penetrating Elixir], picked it up.
An enormous amount of it.
Whooooosh!
Black demonic energy tinged with a slight turquoise hue spread along the path like mist.
Instinctively sensing danger, I halted the group.
"We should stop here for now. Looks dangerous up ahead."
I still hadn't figured out the connection between that demonic energy and the plague.
Rushing in could mean we'd get infected too.
'Dwarves and elves got infected, so the odds of it affecting humans are high.'
Even if not, Barundel the dwarf was with us.
Which meant we had to exercise extreme caution.
Barundel, who could sense the demonic energy, kept his distance as well, clearly aware of it.
I decided to search the immediate area first.
"Barundel, is there a path up the cliff? I was thinking we could scout from higher ground."
"Of course."
Barundel moved closer and pointed with a couple of taps at the cliff.
There was a narrow path just wide enough for one person, leading from the ground to the cliff's summit.
The group instinctively knew they had to climb it and swallowed hard.
Kayla spoke up first.
"Uh... wouldn't it be better if we searched below?"
"Ah, the lady's right. With four of us, sticking together is inefficient."
Thompson nodded eagerly in agreement.
I got what they were thinking.
"But splitting up is even more dangerous. We haven't properly checked what's here."
"B-but if we stick together, we can handle a certain level of danger..."
"Especially since one of us could get infected. That's all the more reason to stay together. I hear quick action is the best way to boost survival odds."
"...Fine."
Thompson nodded reluctantly, his face begrudging.
Even after all that, his expression suggested he was scared of climbing the cliff.
'I don't get it.'
How many times had I seen Thompson leap into the air and fall?
Compared to that, this cliff seemed like nothing.
Though the man himself clearly didn't see it that way.
As I thought that, Thompson asked cautiously.
"You okay with it, Number One? One misstep on that, and you're done for..."
"Me? Well, yeah..."
"As expected of Number One!"
Thompson proudly gave a thumbs-up.
He seemed to have misunderstood my words.
'...Better to just show them.'
With that judgment, I immediately drew up my mana.
At the same time.
"I'll head up first."
"Huh? Head up first—what does that..."
Fwoosh!
My body vanished and reappeared midway up the cliff.
[Teleport Magic].
I'd felt it many times before, but it was such a useful spell.
Climbing this deadly cliff without moving a step.
I shouted at full volume to the group staring around below.
"Come on up! Hurry!"
My voice echoed back two or three times.
Soon, the group turned toward me.
"..."
And froze.
Kayla and Thompson's faces twisted like rotten fruit.
Like they'd been betrayed by a trusted comrade.
'...Did I say something wrong?'
***
I reached the cliff top first and scanned the surroundings while waiting for the others.
"Nothing special..."
Towering rocks, thick demonic energy below.
And demons scattered here and there.
That was all in sight.
No elements that could cause a plague.
As I scanned around for a while.
"Hup!"
Barundel, the most adept at the cliff path, reached the top.
Not long after, Thompson and Kayla climbed up, huffing and puffing.
"Thought I was gonna die."
"Good work, miss."
Reunited, we surveyed the area together.
"Anyone spot anything weird?"
"...Hmm. Nothing stands out to me, Number One."
"Same here. Looks normal."
Thompson and Barundel didn't see anything unusual either.
Then.
"Isn't that a bit off?"
Kayla voiced a differing opinion for the first time.
Her finger pointed down at the cliff base.
"Demons?"
What Kayla pointed at were none other than demons.
Various types like [Demon Rock Snakes] and [Demon Golems] wandered about.
But that was it.
Still nothing special.
"Just demons, right? What's the issue?"
"No, look closer."
"Hm."
I looked at them again, per Kayla's words.
More carefully this time.
And then.
"Wait a sec."
I realized what Kayla wanted to say.
"Weird, right?"
"Definitely..."
For some reason.
Wobble, wobble—
Some of the demons were swaying faintly.
As if entranced by something.
No.
'Not entranced.'
More like sick.
In this situation, such behavior pointed to one possibility.
"...The plague spreads to demons too?"
"What?"
"...Is that for real?"
Thompson and Barundel asked incredulously, but I was certain.
Those guys were definitely infected with the plague.
Which meant...
"We've got something to verify."
We had something to test.
"This way."
I led the group to the cliff edge closest to the demons.
Then waited silently.
Until a healthy demon met an infected one.
It didn't take long.
A [Demon Golem] and [Demon Rock Snake] passed each other.
The golem was the infected one, while the rock snake crawled normally along the ground.
However.
"Shriririk!"
Less than a minute after passing, the [Demon Rock Snake] suddenly writhed.
Turquoise demonic energy swirled around it, and from then on, it crawled unnaturally, unlike before.
The disease had transferred in that short time.
Without any contact, just from passing by.
"Barundel, you said this is definitely the plague's origin, right?"
"Yeah."
"And the first infected was a dwarf hunting demons here."
"...No way?"
I nodded at Barundel's question.
Of course, it wasn't confirmed yet.
But highly plausible.
I shared my thoughts with the group.
"The demons might be the ones spreading the plague."
"You saying the plague started with demons?"
"It's just a possibility for now. They could have caught it somewhere else too. But."
One guy came to mind.
The one who raises corpses and spreads all sorts of diseases.
'Plague Legion Commander, Bune.'
Somehow, he seemed tied to this incident.
***
"This plague... was spread by a legion commander?"
Bagran was utterly shocked upon hearing my theory.
"...Impossible. A legion commander? We saw no signs of that."
Like the others, he couldn't accept it easily.
Well, as I said, it wasn't certain.
But the evidence was solid.
"It ignores race, has a 90% fatality rate, and spreads without contact. That points to him as the most likely culprit."
Bune's authority was 'Disease Propagation.'
An ability that spreads extremely potent infectious diseases to living beings, with high fatality.
Treating it required power as strong as his authority.
Like something infused with holy power, or something with immense vitality.
Yeah, like the 'Antilian leaves' Bagran mentioned.
'Antilian leaves are plants brimming with vitality.'
Not called 'life herbs' for nothing.
Their vitality surpassed any other plant.
And Antilian leaves like that could certainly treat Bune's disease.
All the puzzle pieces fit perfectly.
"S-so what should we do?"
Bagran pleaded with a desperate look, as if begging for an answer.
He seemed even graver than before.
Why? Because.
"...We've isolated them separately, but infections are rising steadily. The Antilian leaves we've secured so far can't even treat half."
"I see."
The plague was spreading rapidly among the dwarves in the meantime.
Time was of the essence.
Assuming this was Bune's doing, I gave Bagran advice to help as much as possible.
"First, slow the disease's progression. That'll naturally reduce its contagion too."
"Slow the progression... How?"
"The surest way is to lower the temperature."
Crackle!
Tiny ice crystals bloomed from my fingertip.
A chill began to permeate the air around us.
"I can help with that."
"Whew... What a relief."
Bagran sighed in relief, then continued with a realizing expression.
"But that won't solve it, right? Without more antidote..."
"True."
No matter how much I used freezing magic to slow the disease, it wasn't a fundamental fix.
We still needed more antidote.
But that wasn't easy in the current situation.
Since the elves, owners of the Antilian leaves, weren't cooperating.
The good news was there were other solutions.
"There's another way."
"What is it? If us dwarves can do it, we'll handle anything."
"It's..."
I met Bagran's eyes squarely and spoke.
The method was simple.
"Before things get worse, catch Bune."
Take out the root cause who created this mess to begin with.