Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Traces (2)
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"Seven years ago, right? I'm sure Lord Galen remembers it too."
"Seven years ago... Ah, you mean the plague that ravaged the west?"
"That's right."
Cled affirmed Galen's question as he dredged up the memory.
The "west" here didn't refer to the Western Archdiocese—it meant the western region within the Southern Archdiocese itself.
With no media or precise statistical systems, they could only guess based on rumors, but it was a plague so devastating that the "great" prefix was warranted, claiming countless lives.
"But wasn't that pretty unrelated to us?"
Galen tilted his head.
He hadn't recalled it immediately and had needed a moment to think because, even back then, it hadn't felt real to him.
The damage in the southern west had been immense, but fortunately, it hadn't spread much to neighboring areas.
In the Sun Archipelago down south, grim rumors had flooded in, but the disease itself never reached them—it felt like news from another world.
"That's true for us. But Droi was visiting that region on business at the time."
"Ah, I see."
"Of course, he turned right back as soon as he heard the plague was spreading."
"So, did the Family Head contract the plague then?"
"That's... a bit ambiguous."
Cled looked troubled.
"Droi didn't start showing symptoms until over a year after he returned."
"Some diseases can lurk quietly in the body for years before breaking out."
"But the symptoms were different from the great plague that killed people so swiftly, and it didn't spread to those around him. Even with our far superior medical care compared to commoners, would the progression differ that much?"
"Hmm."
Galen let out a low hum.
Truth be told, with zero proper medical knowledge, he wasn't qualified to speculate.
He'd heard of variant viruses before, but didn't they just become vaccine-resistant? Did symptoms change too? He didn't know enough to say.
The people of this world, unaware even of the concepts of bacteria and viruses, knew even less.
"So that's why you didn't see a connection. It didn't look like the same disease."
"Exactly. Even if it was the great plague, nothing would change, so there's no real point debating it."
Plagues typically burned out that way, and this one had ended only because there were no more victims left to claim.
No miracle cure had been found to stop it, so whether Droi's illness was the plague or not wouldn't aid in treating it.
"I'm grateful for your concern, of course, but as I've said many times, I don't expect that much. You've already done more than enough."
"Yes, I understand."
It wasn't that Galen was itching to play hero out of pure kindness, but he didn't bother correcting Cled's misconception.
No need to dredge up that subtle unease—the man wouldn't grasp the nuances anyway, and it'd just breed anxiety.
With that, Galen wrapped up the conversation and left with Lilia. Elisa and Cled stayed longer to tend to Droi.
Back at their annex, Galen summoned a servant.
"Could you fetch me a small vial?"
"A vial, sir?"
"The smaller the better, with a sealable cap. As soon as possible, please."
"Right away!"
The servant dashed off with an energetic reply.
A clump of blood peeked out from Galen's sleeve hem. It was perfectly contained, not a drop staining his skin or clothes.
"You look like some sinister wizard!"
"If I'd openly asked for blood, it'd be even worse."
Galen pouted at Lilia's innocent remark, though not seriously.
"Anyway, I don't think you were wrong, Lilia. It gave me a bad feeling too."
"Any guesses?"
"Doesn't seem demonic. The healers would've noticed if it was."
"Then we're really stumped. Doesn't feel magical either."
If it reacted to holy power, Lilia would've sensed it clearly. If to mana, Galen's status window would've at least flagged it with a question mark.
Maybe it tied to neither, or the trace was too faint to trigger a reaction.
"Hard to judge right now."
"Wish we'd met him when he first fell ill."
"You were a novice then."
"So were you, just a commoner."
"That's why there's no point regretting it. We wouldn't have known anyway—didn't have the skills."
Galen shrugged.
"Let's set it aside for now. If it slips my mind, it wasn't important. If something jogs my memory, we'll chase the new lead then."
"Okay!"
"Rest up—you must be tired from the surgery."
"I'm still full of energy! If you're up for it, Brother, spar with me? It's been ages."
"Sure, why not?"
"You only train with Sister these days. You've abandoned me!"
"Pretty sure we trained together this morning too..."
"That's different!"
"Yes, yes. We'll head out when the vial arrives."
Galen's group stayed in Oceanis for about a month.
Several reasons kept them there, but one—Droi’s recovery—was progressing splendidly.
His condition had been rock bottom, so the improvement seemed even more dramatic, but the Family Head's turnaround was a family celebration regardless.
He'd spent recent days bedridden almost around the clock, but now he could stroll near the estate. How could they not rejoice?
Thanks to that, Galen’s group’s reputation soared.
Elisa’s heartbreaking tale had landed well, successfully painting Rius as the villain at least within the family.
Galen was an outsider with insider history, a blood relative’s ally who’d also slain kin.
Benefactor and enemy in one—a tricky position indeed.
But saving the Family Head tipped the scales toward favor.
Truth be told, the family’s mood didn’t matter much to him, but good reputation beat bad any day.
"This is it, right? Right?"
"Yes. No more worries now."
"Thank you so much, Galen!"
Elisa’s training wrapped up smoothly too.
She’d already reached Gold without realizing it, so awakening her senses took little time.
He’d even laid solid foundations for her future path—like nailing basic concepts in math. With her sharp mind, she’d advance solo from there.
Deeming it tied up neatly, Galen announced their departure.
"I see."
Elisa nodded after a brief silence, as if expecting it.
"Not planning to settle down?"
"Not yet. Want to see more of the world first. Still feel plenty of gaps in my skills."
"Even as a Gem?"
"Greedy, me."
Setting aside new spells, only Water Flow Manipulation among his six was Gem rank.
Wouldn’t it look better if the rest were too?
Hunting whatever came his way beat holing up training.
Elisa didn’t know those details, but his drive came through clear.
"Plus, me sticking around Solta would make things awkward for the family."
"There’s a way to fix that... You know it."
"...Yeah, I do."
Elisa blushed faintly. Galen gave a wry smile.
No noble house in its right mind would welcome a powerful "outsider" camping next to the main estate.
In other words, settling down really meant "joining us."
To bind a lone Gem who’d crushed the family, they’d have to offer nearly everything.
Like... becoming one family with the next Family Head.
"But I doubt you’d pick that. Adults say chase love, but I’ve got eyes."
"I-It’s not quite that kind of relationship..."
"If it wasn’t, you wouldn’t make excuses."
"..."
"You’re both too exceptional—it’d be tough. Still, I’ll root for you."
"...Thanks."
Galen smacked his lips, out of retorts. Elisa grinned and changed topics.
"So, when do you leave?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow already? You could take it easy."
"Got word from Solta’s church earlier. Some bigwig wants Lilia—says to hurry."
"Ah, in that case."
Church business? Elisa let it go.
She arranged a ship straight to Quinis and threw a grand farewell feast.
Thus, Galen and Oceanis parted ways.
The ship leaving Solta carried Galen, Lilia, and Terti.
"You’ve worked hard these past weeks, Terti."
"Work? I barely lifted a finger. Earning like this easy? Mercenary life would top the charts."
Terti grinned.
Galen had paid him a whopping three thousand gold coins for the trip.
Even for a Gold-rank merc, it was absurd—no real action on his part.
Terti had balked at the excess, but Galen paid without hesitation.
His side loot from the New Moon takedown alone topped eight thousand, and Terti had handled the fake commission brilliantly—worth the generous cut.
"Bit late to say, but... Lady Elisa offered me an exclusive merc slot."
"Exclusive? That’s basically..."
"Half-joining the family, yeah."
"So you’re tagging along with us after turning it down?"
"Nah, haven’t decided yet. Gotta report to the Nijerte guild either way."
"Right, you got a ton of backing from them."
"Tons. But this haul clears my debt with plenty left."
Guild support topped out at a few hundred gold—merc industry scale.
Now flush, Terti could repay with interest and still have surplus.
"Figured I’d settle someday... Still mulling it. Wanna build my own house, sure, but can I even run one?"
"You’ll figure it out doing it."
"Ability aside, temperament matters. Not sure it fits me. Even in Oceanis, I’d be treated well... Next head’s solid—good to serve."
Terti had his crossroads worries too.
Knowing he leaned support over lead made it weightier.
No meddling at life’s forks.
Galen kept advice light, but shared plenty on Oceanis life.
The brief three-day voyage ended swiftly at Quinis, where they parted.
"Been a blast. Let’s meet again sometime, you two."
"Take care, Terti."
"Safe travels!"
Terti boarded for Nijerte.
Galen and Lilia took a carriage north.
Four months since meeting Elisa and Belpas. Just the two again, at last.
"No clue why the Archbishop wants me."
"Maybe just to see your face? Our rumors must be spreading by now."
"Wouldn’t she say 'invite' then?"
"Huh? It wasn’t an invite?"
"Summon, actually. For me, not you."
"Makes sense—I’m no churchie. But summons sound like trouble?"
"Never gotten one, so no idea."
Invites request; summons command.
Official church business, then.
A southern archbishop summoning an eastern pilgrim? Galen doubted it was routine.
What could it be?
The answer came ten days later, post-carriage trek.
"Bishop Lilia."
In the solemn church chapel.
A kindly-faced woman asked sternly.
"Do you swear to faithfully serve as vice-captain of the Holy Knights?"
"Uh... no thanks...?"
Lilia shot back with a reluctant pout.