Chapter 7
Yulia was in the infirmary checking on the divine beasts infected by the epidemic.
Perfect timing.
I had planned to tell the healer too now that I had found the cause.
I went straight there.
Apparently even more beasts had fallen ill, because groans could be heard all the way down the hallway.
“Hello!”
There was no reason to hesitate.
I pushed the door open wide and went in.
Beds packed with divine beasts filled the room.
“Please look over here too, Healer!”
“Wait a moment. I’ll treat this one first!”
“Healer, my divine beast is dying! Please help!”
“Just a moment!”
The healer looked like ten bodies wouldn’t be enough.
And there was Yulia, standing with a grim expression as she looked over the suffering beasts.
“Yulia!”
[Blegh—.]
With Kallian still gagging under my arm, I ran to her.
She looked at me sharply, like she was far too busy for this.
“I found out why the divine beasts are sick. It’s because of this!”
Seeing all the sick beasts made me even more urgent.
“Lorelia Leon? What do you mean you found the reason? You mean the cause of the epidemic?”
“Yes.”
Yulia looked me over like she didn’t believe a word.
Fair enough.
A mere recruit claiming to have solved the epidemic.
She took the pouch from me.
When she saw the purple fruit inside, her brows tightened.
“This is the fruit from the special meal. You’re saying this caused it?”
“Yes. That fruit does not come from the Divine Beast Forest. And please read the note too. It was written by whoever prepared the suspicious fruit.”
Yulia unfolded the paper.
The moment she read it—
Her face hardened.
“Lorelia.”
“Yes?”
“Where did you find this?”
* * *
“Here.”
I confidently opened the lodging room door.
Earlier I had sneaked in, worried about being seen.
Now—
I stormed into the dining manager’s quarters openly.
“This is… Lira’s room. The dining hall manager.”
Yulia’s already dry voice sounded even colder.
No wonder.
The divine beasts were sick.
Their numbers kept increasing.
The whole management office was in chaos.
And if even one died—
Ugh.
The thought made me shudder.
That must never happen.
But if it did, everyone in the Divine Beast Management Office would likely be punished.
These innocent beasts couldn’t be allowed to die.
If we questioned Lira, we might find a way to cure them.
We waited.
Then—
Familiar heels approached.
Click.
Click.
At the sound, Kallian let out a low growl.
Tiny fangs bared.
Even wrinkles formed over his nose.
He was serious.
“…Yulia?”
When Lira arrived at the door, her narrow eyes quickly took in the room.
The moment she saw Yulia sitting there with arms crossed, glaring at her—
Her shoulders shook.
She understood something was wrong.
“What is the meaning of this…?”
“The divine beasts are deteriorating, so let’s skip pleasantries.”
Yulia held up the purple fruit.
“This. You prepared the special meal, correct?”
Yulia was direct.
She shoved the fruit in Lira’s face.
And Lira’s face turned purple like the fruit.
“I-I did, but what is the problem? It’s a rare fruit from the Divine Beast Forest. Very difficult to obtain.”
[Liar. That disgusting fruit doesn’t exist in the Divine Beast Forest!]
Kallian hissed.
To others it was only animal noises.
“Then can you explain this note?”
Yulia lifted the paper.
Now Lira’s face turned white.
Seeing all the blood drain from her face only made me more certain.
“She’s the culprit.”
“Th-That…”
“Well. You don’t have to explain here. Come with me to the main palace.”
“The main palace? Why would I go there?”
“You still don’t seem to understand how serious this is. Spreading disease among divine beasts reserved for royalty is no different from rebellion.”
“Rebellion?! It’s not like that! I was only doing what I was told—”
She clapped a hand over her mouth.
Gotcha.
When people are cornered—
They blurt things out.
Lira dropped to her knees, trembling.
“I didn’t know it was dangerous fruit! I was just following orders. Please forgive me. Just once!”
So someone was above her.
Lira was just disposable.
The real one was someone else.
Who would dare target divine beasts?
Actual rebels?
Wait.
If so—
Wasn’t the imperial palace in danger?
What if rebels attacked?
While I was busy imagining horrifying scenarios—
Yulia stood and grabbed Lira by the collar.
In an instant.
“You can confess properly before His Majesty.”
“Yulia—Lady Yulia—please spare me!”
“Wow…”
Yulia is strong.
Lira got dragged away without even resisting.
Definitely just a small fry.
Too sloppy.
Leaving fruit in her room.
Leaving a half-written note on the desk.
Careless.
Maybe they intentionally used someone foolish like her.
Whatever the deeper plot—
One thing was clear.
Someone was targeting divine beasts.
Whether rebels trying to weaken the imperial family—
or anti-divine-beast factions—
That was for the palace and the management office to uncover.
I had saved these adorable fluffballs.
My job was done.
I’ve already gotten involved too much.
If I wanted to survive quietly and make money for a long time—
Avoiding dangerous, complicated matters was best.
[But will that woman really tell them how to make a cure?]
“If she values her life, she will.”
[Hmm.]
Kallian looked at the infirmary full of suffering beasts.
Nearby, Meho lay weakly on a bed.
That chicken-brain won’t last long. He’s too weak.]
We caught the culprit.
But not the solution.
If Lira didn’t reveal how to cure them—
There was no way to save the beasts.
“Maybe there was information about the cure in her room?”
[If she left that too, she’d be a complete idiot.]
“…True.”
We crouched in a corner of the infirmary and sighed helplessly.
There was nothing we could do.
Then—
Meho, lying on the bed, motioned weakly with a wing for me to come closer.
“Meho, are you okay? You’re conscious?”
[I… heard something from the rabbit.]
Still speaking in that old-man-like tone, Meho gasped.
[If one accidentally eats the purple fruit that sickens us… drinking the Water of Life that runs through the Divine Beast Forest will cure it…]
“Water of Life? Kallian, do you know it?”
[It’s just river water. A giant river through the center of the forest.]
“So drinking it will cure this?”
[Yes… but to get it, one must enter the forest directly.]
“Wait. Is there really no other cure? We absolutely need this Water of Life?”
[Yes… kghk—!]
The chick suddenly coughed violently.
Then went limp.
[Chicken-brain!]
Kallian sprang up and slapped Meho’s face mercilessly.
Though with jelly-like paws, it probably didn’t hurt.
[Wake up, chicken-brain!]
Slap!
[Wake up!]
Slap!
Even after several kitty punches—
Meho didn’t wake.
“Stop, Kallian! You’ll kill him!”
I grabbed Kallian and pulled him away.
Honestly I couldn’t tell if he was worried—
or bullying him.
But…
if we needed Water of Life…
Did this mean—
I had to go?
Send Chapter 8 whenever you’re ready.
