Chapter 33
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Reunion with the Princess (1)
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"Luck's on my side. Selling high-end underwear at a discount like this—who'd have thought? The imperial capital really is something else."
As Mone sorted through Clay's luggage at the inn, she realized the underwear she'd packed was subtly short. After getting her pass, she headed to the capital's market.
The streets were quite complicated, but she'd memorized the necessary paths on the way to the inn, so it wasn't a big issue.
On top of that, Mone was the lucky sort who'd never gotten lost once in her life, so she walked without hesitation.
'Probably nothing else to buy, right?'
After stuffing the underwear into her bag, Mone turned to head straight back to the inn.
But the inn required crossing the busiest street, and for someone as slight as Mone, it was no easy task.
As she forced her way through the surging crowd—
"Kyaa!"
A shrill scream rang out from somewhere.
Mone reflexively turned her gaze, and there was a small child sprawled on the ground.
'That kid...'
It was the boy she'd glimpsed on the way here.
His skin tone was distinctive, so she remembered him clearly.
'He was selling fruit around here, I think.'
The boy had been peddling various fruits from a small basket, but now they were scattered on the ground, and he was shoved around by the crowd, unable to move properly.
What was surprising was that no one helped him. Instead, they spat curses as they passed, as if annoyed.
"Tch, filthy Ain tribesman."
"Ugh, better not touch him or I'll catch something."
Mone was startled by the voices around her.
'I'd heard about the Ain tribe, but I didn't expect discrimination this bad!'
Ain tribe.
A catch-all term for races that weren't human but resembled them.
They were rare in the Talua Kingdom, so this was Mone's first time seeing one.
"Are you okay?"
Unable to leave the fallen boy, Mone hurried over and helped him up.
"I-I'm fine. Thank you, sis."
The boy barely stood, then bowed politely to Mone.
'Poor thing.'
Mone rummaged in her pouch to give him a gold coin.
"Wait. Giving that boy money so casually could get him in big trouble."
Then, a low baritone voice came from behind her.
Mone whipped around and gasped in shock.
"G-Goblin?! Oh, no—it's a mask."
"Haha! Sorry about that. I deal with kids a lot, so I always wear one of these."
Mone patted her racing heart.
The tall man laughing heartily was a gentleman in a black brimmed hat and suit.
The odd part was the comical mask covering his face.
It caricatured a goblin, and the boy beside Mone burst into a grin.
"Uncle Edward!"
"Yeah, I came to help, but a kind lady beat me to it."
The man called Edward ruffled the boy's hair and spoke kindly.
They seemed to know each other.
After greeting the boy, Edward turned back to Mone.
"You're from out of town, miss?"
"Ah, yes."
"Before I explain, let me introduce myself. I'm a doctor who helps kids in the Draeg slums."
Slums?
In Draeg, the capital of the Asktalin Empire.
It was hard to believe such a glamorous capital had slums.
And...
"A doctor? That's amazing."
"You're the first to say so."
Doctors were an extremely rare profession.
Compared to the healing magic priests of the temple could use, their efficacy was far inferior.
Thus, those who became doctors were people without priestly powers but driven to help the poor.
Having grown up her whole life in the Banheart Count Family, this was Mone's first encounter not just with an Ain tribesman, but with a doctor too.
Edward gave a wry smile at Mone's admiring gaze and continued.
"Discrimination against the Ain tribe in the empire is worse than you imagine, miss. You were about to hand him a gold coin just now, right?"
"Ah, yes."
"Ain tribesmen can't use gold coins. Pull one out carelessly, and they'll think it's stolen—or it'll get snatched right away."
"No way... I was short-sighted."
Mone reflected deeply on her near-mistake.
Watching her, Edward raised a hand to his mask.
Was he taking it off?
In that instant, the mask changed.
From a plain goblin to a smiling goblin.
"Face-changing. Learned it from an Eastern acrobatic troupe that passed through the capital by chance. The kids love it."
Mone's eyes widened in surprise, and Edward explained in a gentle tone.
Only then did Mone realize he'd used the trick to cheer her up.
"Thank you."
"Not at all, kind miss. Oh, let me give you a gift."
Edward pulled out colorful candies from his pouch.
"Here, pick one each."
The boy beside her beamed and chattered excitedly—he must get these often.
"Uncle Edward! I want this one!"
"Oho, lucky you. That one's delicious."
Watching their heartwarming exchange, Mone pointed to a purple candy.
"Can I have this one then?"
"Oh..."
Edward sighed softly as Mone popped the candy in her mouth.
"You're not so lucky, it seems."
Unlucky?
Mone had never heard that word directed at her before.
This sweet, tasty candy—did it have some issue?
"Well, we'll be off then."
She meant to ask why, but Edward had already blended into the crowd with the Ain boy.
A vague unease lingered, but Mone melted the sweet candy in her mouth and turned away.
She had to hurry back to finish her errands.
* * *
[Chapters 84~92, 'The First Disaster.']
The incident where Fabian first became aware of the 'disasters'—monstrous entities.
"It's an event midway through the Founding Festival arc."
[So the Founding Festival gets canceled?]
"Judging by other episodes, yes."
Canceling the empire's Founding Festival is no small matter.
It's an event to proclaim the empire's authority and might far and wide—nothing short of dire would cancel it.
[That big? And it's just the first disaster—already that strong?]
"...I don't know."
That was all I could say.
The 'First Disaster' wielded power utterly unlike the Dragon Calamity I'd faced before.
==
[Chapters 84~92 'The First Disaster']
During the Founding Festival, people suddenly start collapsing.
At first thought to be a mere epidemic, Fabian realizes it's been deliberately spread.
Shockingly, neither holy magic nor detoxification spells can cure it.
The empire plunges into chaos at this impossible contagion.
At the same time, Michel receives a divine revelation: beings aiming to destroy or dominate the world have appeared.
Michel calls them 'disasters.'
She informs Fabian that the one who unleashed this plague on Draeg, capital of the Asktalin Empire, is the first—the 'Plague Disaster.'
Fabian then tracks the Plague Disaster and uncovers key facts.
The epidemic was long in the planning, and it's already spiraled out of control.
In this desperate moment—
Fabian finds the key to resolution through Mone.
==
[Plague Disaster?]
As I explained the synopsis in more detail, Gransesia looked uneasy.
[This is trickier than I thought. Which episode is this in the synopsis?]
"Third episode. The prior two tie into the Founding Festival."
[And those two?]
"They're about investigating and resolving the first disaster."
It was lengthy, but mostly chronicled Fabian's exploits.
[No other side stories?]
"There are, but..."
Fabian learns the disaster's identity and is horrified, but triumphs in fierce battle.
"...In summary, that's it."
[Spill the identity—that's the shocking part!]
"Sigh, that's exactly my point."
The core was missing, but I'd gleaned vital info.
First, the Draeg plague defies priestly holy power.
Second, the Plague Disaster is an unexpected figure that horrifies Fabian.
"...And finally, Mone is key to this incident."
[Who knew the luck totem would play such a big role.]
As Gransesia said, I hadn't expected Mone's name here.
"Gransesia, what's the exact difference between priestly healing magic and Divine Blood's healing?"
[Hm? Simply put, healing magic attacks and removes harmful substances in the body. Divine Blood makes it as if they never existed—less healing, more resetting the state.]
"I see."
I don't know the disease's mechanism.
But per her explanation, with Divine Blood, it shouldn't be too tough for me.
The issue is if it escalates uncontrollably like in the original.
Even if Divine Blood cures it, treating millions with my blood is impossible.
'Think.'
Per the synopsis, Fabian succeeds. So there must be a non-Divine Blood method.
One where Mone plays a key role...
'What could it be?'
What could Mone do against the Plague Disaster?
I couldn't guess.
[Anyway, it's a headache. An epidemic will cause massive chaos, per the synopsis.]
"True. The contagion itself is the biggest problem..."
Draeg was flooded with crowds from across the continent for the Founding Festival, including dignitaries.
An incurable disease here would ripple across the continent.
A world-ending disaster indeed.
"If only we could warn the empire..."
Preemptive control could minimize damage.
But...
"Impossible."
Spreading rumors during the grand festival? I'd be lucky not to get arrested.
In the Asktalin Empire, I'm just a powerless noble. No one would believe baseless claims.
[It is possible.]
"What?"
[If a high-ranking imperial helps, it's doable.]
"That would work. But who would believe me...?"
I trailed off, closing my mouth.
One person came to mind—
No, a dragon.
* * *
During my free day, I scouted the capital for traces of the Plague Disaster.
Found nothing. Returned to the inn late at night.
'Well, inn—it's twice our Banheart estate's size.'
Practically a mansion.
Three such places for festival guests.
"Mone, if anything catches your eye while we're in Draeg, tell me right away."
"Something catches my eye?"
Back at the inn, I told her immediately. As the key to this incident, better forewarn her.
Mone pondered, then her eyes widened as something clicked.
"Oh, yeah—I met a weird doctor today."
"Doctor?"
"Yeah. Wore a goblin mask, super nice guy. Helps slum kids... Gave me candy too."
Plague Disaster. Goblin mask. Doctor.
These connecting keywords unsettled me.
I hastily checked Mone's settings. My eyes widened.
'Wait, this...'
Incredibly, her settings had changed.
A new line in 'Special Notes'—absent this morning.
Now I understood how Fabian overcame this.
'Thanks, Mone.'
I grinned at the puzzled Mone.
Things looked like they'd go smoothly.