Surviving in Easy Mode in Another World - Plague
“I can’t believe it… I still don’t know if this is real.”
To win the princess’s trust, I pulled out the documents the plague-ridden man named Mers had shown me while he was hiding in the capital.
Of course, they were fabricated documents that perfectly imitated the handwriting—crafted to the utmost using the Chicken Mode and the Apostle’s authority.
“It might cause quite a stir in the royal palace. But if these are this accurate, I get the feeling the dispute will be settled quickly.”
Both of them stared at the documents I had forged with stunned expressions.
“When the new moon arrives in the kingdom, countless starlights will rise in the night sky. Those countless starlights will harmonize with them to welcome a new moon, and that existence will be called the Black Moon.”
The princess read the words from the documents I had given her aloud.
The Fiona Kingdom’s symbol is the moon.
Because of that, the new moon is commonly used in a rather negative sense in the kingdom.
Moreover, the term “Black Moon,” meaning a total lunar eclipse, is actually an expression implying the existence of someone aiming to overthrow the lunar-themed Fiona Kingdom.
It was a truly meaningful and dangerous phrase.
That was precisely why the meticulous Prince Theodore would never have left such a sentence in the documents.
Then why had the princess read that sentence aloud?
“It’s a fair contest of incitement and fabrication, Prince Theodore!”
Because I had forged it.
“It’s the principle of presumption of guilt, this.”
The situation was already prepared with over ninety percent credibility.
In that situation, a document accusing the prince of being the culprit was discovered together.
From that moment, the prince would have to prove his innocence.
But was that even possible?
“How am I supposed to prove my innocence?”
Even on Earth, where there are CCTVs, proving innocence is difficult in reality.
But how could I prove my innocence in such a perfectly woven trap?
The only way to escape this perfect trap was the pansrun option.
However, in a situation where information was controlled, the pansrun option was difficult to choose.
In this situation, I had received the king’s order.
When I felt the situation was going awry, it would already be too late to back out.
“From the moment the control tower leaves the royal palace, the storm begins.”
When the control tower, Prince Theodore, left the royal palace, His Majesty the King would act according to the content written in the attached letter.
Soon, the shadow of the Apostle of Pestilence that had infiltrated the Fiona Kingdom would be completely eradicated.
“It took a while.”
It felt like a chronic illness that had been lingering for about two or three months was finally subsiding.
“If there was such accurate information, why have you been silent until now?”
The princess asked a question that was far too natural.
“I thought it was a matter that required great caution.”
“Indeed, it is… but.”
The princess repeatedly checked the documents I had given her several times.
Then she sighed as if she had given up.
“From the circumstances, it seems there’s no one but Theo.”
The princess sighed and began to explain the royal affairs I didn’t know.
“The first prince, Prince Hendrix, is a warrior type. There’s even talk that he should have been born in Blaze.”
Because of his aggressive and cheerful personality, he was a man who might turn to the western front at any moment.
Therefore, he was the most unsuitable person for the intrigues happening in the royal palace.
“The second prince, Prince Julian, is a bohemian. He has talent in the arts, but he wasn’t interested in anything else.”
Julian is said to have fled to the north as a runaway prince.
This person was also unsuitable for the intrigues in the royal palace.
“Thinking about it, it was strange that she suddenly got sick. Could it be that Theo…?”
There’s a saying: “Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles.”
It is the most famous quote from Sun Tzu’s Art of War, meaning that if you know the enemy and yourself, you will not be in danger even if you fight a hundred times.
I don’t remember the rest, but I know it means it is dangerous not to know the enemy.
To me now, the third prince Theodore is only information that he is a dog who contracted with the Apostle of Pestilence.
It might be that a battle could break out, so I needed to obtain more information about him.
“I don’t know much about His Highness Theodore. That’s why I had no choice but to be cautious until the end.”
“Yeah, that makes sense…”
The princess sighed again and slowly began to speak.
“Theo has been a weak child since he was born.”
The princess has been very busy because she is called the reincarnation of the founding king.
But because her youngest brother was weak, she said she took care of him whenever she had time.
“He really loves nature. When I asked what his dream was, he said he wanted to ride on an animal’s back and roam the forest.”
The princess sighed and looked out the window.
“That was seven years ago, Lloyd.”
Prince Theodore is fifteen years old, the same age as Lucas.
Seven years ago, that would be when he was eight years old.
“And the princess got sick six years ago.”
If Prince Theodore is the mastermind behind all these events, it means that guy has been casting a shadow over the kingdom since he was only nine years old.
That is realistically impossible.
But from the circumstances, everything is pointing to him as the culprit.
The princess looked troubled by the situation.
“Frankly, it’s strange.”
But being a human who contracted with the Apostle of Pestilence is what it is.
The Apostle of Pestilence is an existence that provides power that can be called an “authority” transcending human understanding.
It wouldn’t be right to judge a human who contracted with such an existence by human common sense.
That is a phenomenon that only I, who have directly experienced it, can truly feel.
“Then, will you tell me the plan you thought of?”
“There’s nothing special. I was just going to push these obvious documents and put pressure on His Highness Theodore.”
Exactly, I was thinking of strangling his neck when the opportunity arose, but speaking such words in front of royalty would have been cautious.
“Anyway, as long as I separate Theo from the royal palace, it will be a success. The royal family that received this document will move.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
While the control tower was away for a moment, all the threads hiding in the kingdom would die.
No matter how clever a way Prince Theodore took to escape, it was a state where revival was impossible.
“Are you thinking of fighting here? Or Crescent?”
“I’m thinking of moving to Crescent with Theo.”
Crescent is still an undeveloped land that doesn’t even have proper walls.
On the other hand, this place could cause enormous casualties if the plague spreads.
Perhaps the Apostle of Pestilence might make a move, so I need to move to a place where I can minimize human casualties.
“By then, Grandfather should be able to help as well.”
Time was on my side.
“If Theo is really the culprit…”
“He must have done something suspicious with the Tears of the Moon.”
“Possible. He must have reported it as medicine.”
The medicine that leads to the panacea would become a terrifying poison.
Of course, with many eyes watching, at first it wouldn’t be noticeable, but he would have done something to make the illness worsen rapidly later.
Something suspicious that only someone who contracted with the Apostle of Pestilence wouldn’t notice.
But I have a microscope.
By analyzing the Tears of the Moon that he brought with the microscope, I can notice the tricks he played.
Even if it’s not the case, it’s fine.
Just by shouting “Microscope” with my microscope, it’s over.
How scary fabrication was.
***
Bringing the plague guy to my hometown.
That was quite a dangerous thing, so I needed to prepare sufficient defenses accordingly.
The first thing to do was to minimize the damage to Crescent, which might become a battlefield.
I assigned this role to my subordinates.
“Understood. Got it?”
- Yes, Your Highness!
There is a temporary Blaze ducal house built in Crescent.
Like that, I need a mansion to welcome a precious guest, so help the workers build a luxurious mansion first.
After this mission is over, leave only the minimum personnel and retreat from Crescent to Howard.
That was the end of the command I gave to my subordinates.
It was a really simple command, but since Crescent was a frontier land, there were fewer people than Howard.
With this, I could definitely prevent casualties.
“…What did you say?”
“You heard it properly. His Highness Theodore, the third prince, is estimated to have some connection with the forces aiming at Princess Anastasia.”
Then, I told Grandfather about the recent events while he was busy with the handover of lord duties.
“Believe me. It’s not just any word, it’s what you’re saying, Lloyd.”
Grandfather initially looked doubtful, but soon he calmed down and said he would believe me.
“Your very existence is a miracle. Is there any reason to doubt what comes out of your mouth?”
That was Grandfather’s answer.
It was really reassuring.
“Since there might be unknown situations, I need to prepare.”
Grandfather took out a lot of gem batteries he would use as mana batteries.
The amount was so immense that even I, who had become a pauper, was shocked.
“Show you the power of Spencer, Lloyd.”
With that much, even if it’s not a ley line, I could fight sufficiently.
The appearance of a mage who can fight equally with a master was really reassuring.
Next, I went to see Scarlet.
“I am Anastasia’s sword. I will prioritize Her Highness no matter what situation, so don’t worry.”
Scarlet, the master knight of the Blaze Ducal House, who is called one of the three powers of the Fiona Kingdom, is my best card.
If she unsheathes her sword without hesitation, it would be more reliable than Olivia, who has been on bed rest for five years due to illness.
Scarlet swung her sword with a colder gaze than usual.
Even using the third authority of the Apostle of Pestilence, it was a realm of complete nothingness where she couldn’t read a single thought.
“It’s reassuring.”
The last one was Princess Anastasia.
“Then, I guess I’ll just act as a patient?”
“For now, yes.”
“And I’ll subtly leak the secret only to Theo?”
“Yes, it’s a very important role.”
The one welcoming Prince Theodore is the princess.
Her natural response was the most important thing.
“Don’t worry. It’s something I’m familiar with.”
A princess who has been bedridden for five years with a fatal illness.
There couldn’t be a more perfect role than this.
“Now, everything is ready.”
It was time to wait for Prince Theodore.
……
……
…
And finally.
A carriage and a group of people arrived at the Spencer County with the Fiona Kingdom flag.
“Brother! Are you okay?!”
The appearance of Prince Theodore, still with a red mark on his head.
“Plague, you bastard.”
It was indeed a plague befitting someone who hosted the Apostle of Pestilence.