Chapter 332: Book 25(2)
Chapter 332: Book 25(2)
Compared to my family, my physical growth was on the slower side, but I was far from "frail."
For starters, I had never once suffered from a dangerously high fever, nor had I ever dealt with even a minor ailment.
While this world possessed divine power, medical science was still underdeveloped, leaving people vulnerable to disease. I’d heard that the Empire had once been in grave danger due to a plague.
The concept of "hygiene" had been realized early on, but biological science was lagging far behind.
However, with the exception of my mother, my family was practically immune to illness. Not just Dave and Nicole, but my father as well—none of them had ever been sick.
In fact, given the nature of my father's profession, he was frequently wounded by cold weapons or the claws of beastkin. In other words, he was constantly exposed to tetanus and various other infections.
Whenever he trained shirtless, his entire upper body was a map of scars. The most impressive among them were the deep gouges left by a beast's claws.
Of course, as the Commander of the Navy Knights, he would have had access to medical supplies. But during his service, the border region was a literal war zone.
In terms of my previous life, you could compare it to Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, or at worst, Stalingrad. A living hell where soldiers were wiped out day after day.
In such places, even with solid logistics, supplies are bound to run thin—so imagine how scarce medicine must have been. Yet, my father never contracted tetanus, let alone a common cold.
On a stagnant front, far more people walk slowly toward death due to infectious diseases and horrific hygiene than from actual combat.
Whether it’s because we truly inherited a hero's bloodline or not, our family's physical specs are remarkably superior to others, be it in immunity or potential.
Even as my body grew rapidly afterward, I never fell ill. Furthermore, I am currently saturated with divine power, making me even more distant from the concept of sickness.
"Cough. Wheeze. Ugh..."
But as of today, I think I have to take that back. After channeling both Luminous and Mora simultaneously at the temple, I collapsed as soon as I returned to the dormitory.
In less than an hour, my temperature skyrocketed, eventually worsening to the point where I could barely move. The dry cough that made my throat ache was an added bonus.
Perhaps because I hadn't been sick once since reincarnating, the pain felt even more acute.
"Are you alright?"
In a situation where I could barely lift a finger, a beautiful voice pierced through to my ears. I struggled to open my eyes and turned my head.
Hair as white as fresh snow and blue eyes that looked like embedded sapphires. If she only had wings on her back, she truly would have been an angel.
I forced a smile as I looked at my worried fiancée, Marie.
My head felt dizzy as if someone were rummaging through my brain, and my body was as hot as a fireball, but I could manage a small smile.
"It's tough, but I'm o— Cough!"
I tried to say I was okay, but a cough burst out. My throat was stinging from coughing so much.
Swish—
Once the coughing fit subsided, something was placed on my forehead. A cold sensation traveled through my burning brow.
Struggling to open my eyes, I shifted my gaze to see Adelia in her maid uniform.
It seemed she was the one who had placed the wet towel on my forehead. It was a gesture of sincerity and effort to lower my fever by any means.
She, too, was looking at me with sky-blue eyes filled with worry. Since her love for me was second to none, she must have been even more heartbroken.
Unfortunately, however, this fever wouldn't subside easily. It wasn't a fever caused by a simple illness.
"Is he truly going to be alright?"
Marie asked about my well-being again. The difference was that she was asking someone else, not me.
The person she addressed wasn't Adelia, who was nursing me, but Kate, who stood right beside her. Kate had also rushed over the moment she heard I was unwell.
The fact that she looked as if the world were ending the moment she saw me groaning on the bed was a given.
"Yes. It is merely a 'Divine Fever' caused by the clashing divine powers of Lord Luminous and Lady Mora. It is absolutely not a disease."
As expected of a priestess, she had diagnosed my condition faster than anyone. The name of my affliction, according to her diagnosis, was Divine Fever.
It was similar to the "Divine Descent" that shamans experience. However, in this world, Divine Fever occurs when one receives an excessive amount of divine power.
When receiving an 'Oracle,' it isn't just anyone who receives it; specific believers, like priestesses, do. If an ordinary clergyman were to receive an oracle, they would suffer from Divine Fever.
Someone of the rank of Pope or Cardinal could receive one alone without much trouble, but even they only receive ambiguous oracles.
In other words, cases like mine—where direct conversation is possible and, furthermore, the future can be revealed—are extremely rare.
"I also suffered from Divine Fever when Lord Luminous bestowed his grace upon me. The traces of it remain on my body today as a Stigma."
"I think I've heard of that. Don't Incarnations also possess Stigmas?"
"That is correct. However, that does not mean I am an Incarnation. An Incarnation is, quite literally, a mortal whose body the gods borrow to exercise their authority and perform miracles. Excluding the Demon War, there has never been an Incarnation until now."
As Kate explained, Incarnations only manifest when the world is on the brink of destruction. Historically, they haven't appeared outside of the Demon War.
I wanted to say something after hearing that, but I didn't have the strength left, so I just listened in silence.
Even though I wanted to sleep, the dizziness in my head made even that difficult.
"Isaac said that the divine powers of Lord Luminous and Lady Mora were clashing. What does that mean?"
"It's simple. For some reason, Lord Isaac channeled both of them simultaneously. It is difficult enough to handle just one, so it's no wonder he's suffering from Divine Fever after channeling two at once."
"Two at the same time..."
"It's a good thing it was Lord Isaac. If it had been anyone else, their entire body would have been incinerated by Holy Fire. They probably wouldn't have even felt pain."
Is it because they'd burn so fast that there's no pain? Burns are one of the most agonizing pains a human can experience, so saying there's no pain makes no sense—
"Because their mind would collapse first, turning them into a vegetable. Since they can't feel anything, there's no pain."
That's terrifying. To think I ended up like this in less than a second. No wonder I had a nosebleed and dizziness.
Goosebumps broke out over my skin at Kate's chilling explanation.
I couldn't even fathom what would have happened if Luminous had been even a moment later in breaking the connection. It would have been better to just pass out.
"Then, can he recover?"
"You need not worry. Although the divine powers of Lord Luminous and Lady Mora repel each other, they are both descendants of Lord Hirt. Before long, they will gradually merge into one, and he will regain his stability."
"Thank goodness..."
At Kate's explanation, Marie breathed a sigh of relief. Looking to the side, Adelia had a similar reaction.
Then, only one problem remained: whether to inform the outside world of my current condition or keep it a secret.
While all my basic needs could be met within the dormitory, I wouldn't be able to engage in any outside activities.
If word of my condition were to leak out, it would cause a massive uproar. That was a slight concern.
"Um... Kate."
"Yes. Please, speak."
"When will this... get better? Cough."
I asked with great effort. Since the fever was so severe and my body was aching, I didn't think I would recover quickly.
To make matters worse, I was even starting to feel a sore throat, a symptom of the flu. I hope I don't start coughing up blood.
Kate thought deeply about my question, then tilted her head and answered.
"I'm not quite sure. I recovered in three days, but in Lord Isaac's case, the divine powers of Lord Luminous and Lady Mora are mixed..."
"...Three days? That long?"
"You don't need to worry. I was in so much pain that I passed out, and when I woke up, three days had passed."
I'd appreciate it if you didn't say things like that with a smile. The words reached my throat, but I swallowed them back because it hurt too much.
Still, that method might actually be the best one for now. It really, really hurt.
'Once I get better...'
I'm going to the temple to give Luminous a piece of my mind. Or rather, I'll demand to know if he has anything to say for himself.
Actually, the fault lies more with Mora for barging in, but since Luminous provided the opening, they're both to blame.
Perhaps they're getting scolded by Hirt, just like Mora was last time. They almost lost an excellent believer due to their mistake.
But putting that aside, the important thing right now was whether or not to inform the outside world.
"Then, about me being sick... Cough. What should we do?"
"Let's see how you are and then decide. If it's the same tomorrow, we'll have to let people know. It's better than just disappearing without a word."
"Before that, what the Young Master needs is absolute rest. Don't even think about leaving this bed for the time being."
"Okay..."
I let out a faint smile at their concern. My body was burning as if I might pass out at any moment, but thanks to their sincere love, I felt a little more at ease.
I knew well from my previous life that being alone when you're sick is the most miserable thing. The memory of being depressed because I had no one to complain to about my pain was etched into my mind.
I wanted to reach out and touch their faces. The problem was that I didn't even have the strength to wiggle a finger.
'After I sleep...'
I'll probably feel better. I felt my consciousness sinking, not into sleep, but into a deep void, and I slowly closed my eyes.
If I just sleep deeply like this, I'll feel better. As Kate said, it might be better to just stay unconscious for a few days until I'm fully recovered.
Rumble, rumble—
"Huh? What's that?"
"There's a vibration..."
It happened suddenly.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
If only it hadn't been an earthquake.
"W-what? Why is this happening all of a sudden?"
"It-it's an earthquake! Quickly, the Young Master...!"
At the sudden shaking, not only Marie but even Adelia began to panic and fluster.
Even in the midst of it, I felt them covering me to protect me by any means necessary, but unfortunately, I couldn't move a single finger.
Furthermore, they had no idea how to deal with an earthquake, having never experienced one in their lives. They were merely desperate to shield me.
Rumble, rumble—
Was it a stroke of luck in the midst of misfortune? The earthquake subsided in less than ten seconds.
It seemed to be a light aftershock, but there was still something I didn't quite understand.
In the nearly 500-year history of the Minerva Empire's capital, the number of earthquakes could be counted on one hand.
'Is Lord Hirt angry...?'
Luminous and Mora had explained it before. Hirt was the Goddess of Nature, and depending on her emotional state, natural disasters could occur.
The earthquake just now felt like "anger." Not the "fury" of a volcanic eruption, but more like a light scolding.
I let out a faint chuckle, remembering how Mora had been scolded by Hirt last time.
For some reason, I could imagine the twin siblings kneeling side-by-side and getting lectured by Hirt.
'I'll have to ask later...'
For now, let's just sleep. As soon as the earthquake stopped, I quietly closed my eyes and sought sleep.
Fortunately, unlike Kate, who said she was out for three days, I woke up the next day feeling perfectly fine after sleeping all day. However, I did have mild dehydration from sweating so much.
Still, thanks to the people nursing me right by my side, I was able to recover quickly. After receiving another diagnosis from Kate, I headed straight for Luminous's temple.
Naturally, it was to demand an explanation for this incident, and also because I had some questions.
'Do you have anything to say to me?'
[...I am sorry.]
'The earthquake yesterday was Lord Hirt being angry, wasn't it?'
[Mora and I were kneeling side-by-side while she scolded us.]
So it was true.
*
Which country had the biggest reaction after Volume 25 was released? Scholars of anthropology and theology would be in an uproar regardless of their nation.
But without a doubt, it brought the greatest shock to Albenheim—or more accurately, to the Elven race itself.
Originally, the Elven myth of origin was about exile due to pride, but the Xenon Biography had completely overturned that.
It wasn't an exile, but a supremely sacrificial and righteous act of tearing off their own wings to better the world.
The narrative also explained the Elves' characteristic pride by including their "chosen people" consciousness, and further clarified why they received divine blessings all at once.
This raised concerns that it might strengthen nationalism or lead to the same arrogance seen before the Race War.
And for good reason—the newly established Elven myth in the Xenon Biography was enough to inject a massive dose of "racial pride."
The old myth was a story of being cast out, which was negative in many ways. It was strangely inconsistent, but everyone had accepted it because it was the myth they had believed in firmly until now.
But not anymore. A magnificent myth had been born—one where they didn't get exiled but tore off their own wings and descended by choice.
Even scholars, after analyzing it a few times, nodded in acceptance, and the gods themselves raised no objections.
If it had been an absurd myth, they would have stepped in directly to deny it. Since it wasn't just ordinary history but mythology, they couldn't help but be sensitive.
Yet, their silence meant they tacitly acknowledged it. In other words, the act of tearing off their wings and descending was the truth.
[There was a reason we were blessed by the gods!]
[We are not exiles! We are the descendants of great angels!]
Consequently, such voices began to grow louder within Albenheim. If this had continued without a brake, many problems would have arisen, but...
[Have you truly learned nothing from the Race War?]
[Clearly distinguish between vanity and pride.]
[Our greatest enemy is none other than pride.]
As Arwen offered such advice, the flames gradually died down. There wasn't a single thing wrong with her words.
However, even Arwen could do nothing about the pride—the "high"—injected into the Elves. The same applied to Arwen herself, as an Elf.
Although she was a half-blood and not a pure-blood, she was practically the same as a pure-blood. Elven racial traits manifest up to at least a quarter-blood.
Thus, like Cecile's demonization, she wondered if wings might sprout from her as well, according to the myth...
"It's not working. I should give up."
After several attempts resulted in nothing—not even a flutter, let alone wings—she immediately gave up. In the first place, only the myth had changed; it wasn't described in the Xenon Biography like demonization was.
Unless the next volume featured Pride, Lucifer, with wings, the myth was just a myth.
So, she was able to give up cleanly and focus on state affairs. Being a half-blood rather than a pure-blood made it easier to let go.
Knock, knock, knock—
Just then, the sound of someone knocking on the office door reached Arwen's ears. She spoke without even looking up.
"Enter."
As Arwen gave permission in her characteristic tone, the door opened cautiously, and an Elf appeared.
It was Keir, who had been appointed as her guard knight and chief secretary. He stood quietly and waited until Arwen looked up.
"Yes. What brings you here?"
Arwen asked Keir as she set down her quill. She was busy dealing with the situation caused by the hidden Elven myth in Volume 25, so she intended to handle this quickly.
Keir met Arwen's silver-gray eyes, cleared his throat, and spoke in a soft voice.
"The item you ordered, Your Majesty, has arrived."
At those words.
"I-Is that true!"
Arwen bolted upright and shouted. Her silver-gray eyes went wide, and her face was filled with nothing but surprise.
Watching her reaction in real-time, Keir gave a subtle smile and nodded in affirmation.
"Yes. It is on its way here now."
"I-I see. Finally...!"
Arwen clasped her hands together at the center of her chest, her face full of anticipation. It was the reaction of a young child receiving a new toy.
Keir let out a soft laugh at her reaction, then looked curious.
"But what kind of item is it that requires such materials? Silk from silkworms that were fed World Tree leaves, and satin made from that silk... It's quite difficult to fathom."
"Y-You don't need to know that! More importantly...! Ahem."
For some reason, Arwen's face turned beet red. She coughed to hurriedly change the subject.
She then patted her chest to calm herself down and gave Keir an instruction with a determined expression.
"...I suppose I can announce it now."
"If you mean the announcement..."
"Yes."
Now, only one thing remained.
"The time has come to give Xenon his gift."
It was time to give Isaac a gift that was more than just a gift.
