Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The City Where Black Rain Falls (6)
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In truth, it wasn't my first time seeing beastkin.
‘Jamil's Red Bear Mercenary Company was mostly made up of barbarians from Altan and beastkin.’
I'd spent quite some time with Catarina, the cat beastkin, in the Ekaitz Republic.
Since I was looking at her calmly without any surprise, Connie's eyes sparkled, as if that reaction was unexpected.
Well, even in Roshan where barbarians and beastkin were common, discrimination was severe... In the Barak Empire, where they were rare, the plight of those from Altan had to be as bad or worse.
It all made sense now—why Connie had kept her hood up the whole time, why she'd hesitated before revealing she was a beastkin.
"P-People usually find it unpleasant... As expected, you're different, Saint."
"Call me Theodor, Connie. And what reason would there be to feel unpleasant about it?"
What was so different about having ears or a tail...? If anything, wasn't it an advantage? Beastkin each had distinct personalities, features, and diverse abilities. For someone like me, it was undoubtedly an 'advantage.'
Not out of some grand ideology or noble cause—just purely because it was 'useful.'
Besides, to me, coming from the real world, every being in this pseudo-medieval land was equally alien and bizarre. Humans who used magic or humans with ears and tails—they were all equally strange!
‘Anyway, that's not the point.’
Right. Whether Connie had ears and a tail or not, that wasn't what mattered.
Even the priests with knowledge closest to 'medicine' in this pseudo-medieval land couldn't identify the nature of this epidemic...
Uncovering that was the top priority.
Only by driving out the irrational chaos and fear filling this city could we approach the secrets hidden behind it.
"People from Altan don't get sick..."
At my mutter, Connie nodded vigorously.
"No malice intended, but aren't most from Altan part of the city's underclass?"
"...Yes. That's right."
It was unfortunate, but that was the reality. Barbarians and beastkin who left the harsh lands of Altan and settled in foreign countries were usually enslaved or scraped by as the underclass in the city's slums. They typically eked out a living doing the dirty, hard, dangerous jobs that ordinary folk recoiled from.
‘So, people from Altan should be the most vulnerable to disease...’
It was strange.
Poverty, ignorance, poor hygiene and nutrition from that—those were prime conditions for an 'epidemic' to take hold. Yet, these people from Altan, with all the ideal conditions, weren't getting infected?
That meant...
‘It might not be an epidemic after all.’
It might not even be a real 'disease'—that much was uncertain.
"Where do people from Altan live?"
"That area is a bit..."
Connie hesitated to answer. She seemed worried about what might happen if she took me to where barbarians and beastkin gathered.
"It's fine, Connie. I've done a lot of mercenary work. Everyone here can protect themselves."
Elle nodded enthusiastically. Yeah, even Elle, who used to drag around a sword too big for her, was now a proper swordsman who could defend herself—no need to worry.
After some hesitation, Connie finally nodded. Since I'd spoken so firmly, she couldn't object anymore. We packed lightly, donned raincoats, and left the temple.
The black rain was still pouring over the entire city. We passed dark shops with locked doors, houses in similar straits, then narrow alleys that grew ever tighter... The roads worsened as the alleys narrowed—no paving stones, no gravel, just dirt paths pocked with puddles everywhere. The lord's care clearly didn't reach this far. Not even basic maintenance...
The irregularly scattered houses here were barely worthy of the name. Connie led us through them with familiarity.
"..."
The atmosphere was bad. Unlike the city center with locked doors, people here openly eyed us outsiders warily. The barbarians from Altan, shaped by the wasteland environment, mostly had pumpkin-orange eyes that glowed eerily like lanterns in the dark.
"Try not to make eye contact."
At Connie's words, I withdrew my scanning gaze and quietly followed her. The place she led us to was a small building with a round courtyard and a well—it seemed to serve as a village hall.
"Mr. Draven."
Connie waved at a middle-aged man drawing water from the well. He had the orange hair and pumpkin-orange eyes typical of Altan barbarians, and a sturdy build. He transferred the black water from the well into a wooden bucket, giving only a slight nod.
"Long time no see, Connie."
"How have you been?"
"As you can see."
"I have some people to introduce."
"From the temple?"
"Ah, no. Mr. Theodor is..."
I cut off Connie's flustered words and joined the conversation.
"I'm Druid Theodor. Feel free to call me Theo."
"..."
The man called Draven narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down. I had to stand awkwardly with my hand extended for a handshake until his scrutiny ended.
"A druid?"
"...Yes."
Draven didn't take my hand, just nodded curtly in greeting. I sheepishly withdrew my hand. Well, not hard to understand. Anyone would be on high alert in this situation.
"Mr. Theodor, Mr. Draven is this place's..."
"Connie. As I've said many times, I'm just a resident here."
"B-But Mr. Draven..."
"Listen, druid. Let's not waste each other's time. Get to the point and be done. So, what do you want from coming all the way here?"
If he was going to be direct, it actually made things easier. I didn't like beating around the bush either. I smiled faintly and spoke.
"Mr. Draven. I've come here to uncover the truth about the epidemic plaguing this city. It's said people from Altan don't get the disease, right?"
"That's right. Quite the strange blessing, isn't it?"
Draven chuckled as he transferred more black water from the well into the wooden bucket.
"They say the epidemic started spreading with the black rain. So the people of Dehid hate even touching water mixed with black rain, let alone drinking it. But you're different."
"We're in no position to be picky. We just use this water because we have no choice."
That made perfect sense. As Draven said, the poor had no options. Unlike city folk, they couldn't get clean water supplies or leave the city.
"In the wasteland, even muddy water is precious. This isn't so different."
"I see."
"Whatever it is, it's a gift from our god, so we accept it gratefully."
Draven clasped his hands and murmured a short phrase. Probably a prayer from Altan. Barbarians and beastkin from Altan worshipped their own savage gods, not the Twelve Gods of the continent. Their faith remained strong even after leaving Altan.
These people feared the black rain too. They just used it because they had no choice.
"Then, why are you safe from the epidemic?"
"..."
Draven fell silent for a moment. Connie bit her nails anxiously. What was with this atmosphere?
"There's a rumor in Dehid that eating an Altan heart makes you safe from the 'black rain.'"
"..."
"Ridiculous rumor. But there are fools who actually believe it and attack us over it."
"That must be worrying."
"Utter nonsense. We don't get the epidemic—not! We learned that thanks to these idiots..."
"Learned?"
"...Follow me."
We followed Draven inside the building. He led us to a small room without even a door. What we saw there was...
"..."
A child lying ill.
A child whose fingers and toes had turned black.
"That child..."
"Kidnapped two days ago, came back last night. Started feverish then, and today it's like this... So, what do you think? Now you know even Altan folk get the epidemic..."
"...My condolences."
"They tried to rip out that little one's heart. The humans in this city are the real barbarians."
"May I examine the child?"
"Go ahead."
I carefully knelt and placed my hand on the child's forehead. Burning fever. To ease it even a little, I used [Natural Healing], then crushed currants made with [Forest's Gift] and trickled them into the child's mouth. Fruits enhanced by [Forest's Gift] held magical power—even a small amount restored stamina and gave enough vitality to last a day or two. I could only hope it helped...
Fortunately, the child's breathing seemed a bit more comfortable. Though the root problem remained unsolved. Draven clenched his fist in frustration and said,
"I want to tear those humans apart right now, but I can't do a thing... If we act, they'll have an excuse. The lord would drive us thorns in his side out of Dehid. And if that happens..."
"Those 'humans'—who exactly are they?"
"...The overseer couple here. Though they do no actual overseeing."
"I see."
I gave the child's head one last stroke before standing.
The rumor about Altan hearts being a panacea didn't spread for nothing. Someone must have spread it intentionally.
"...I'll go meet them."