Witch vs. Fool (8)
I told him about the future at the top of the golden tree that I had seen in my past life, with some modifications.
Nicola, who had been listening to me with his mouth wide open, slapped his knee.
"No, how did Young Lady notice the reason why the upper class survived? You are truly amazing!"
"No, I think other people thought the same thing."
"I thought it was fortunate that at least one person survived?"
"..."
"More than anything, you bought perfume with your own money just to find out! I felt the grace of God at this point! If it was you, Rahon, you would never have imagined it..."
Nicola, who had been talking excitedly, trailed off. His shoulders slumped in despair at the sight of Rahon's gaze.
"Yes, it's something I can't even imagine. I'm crazy about money. Isn't that right?"
"Not to that extent..."
I looked at Ian carefully.
Contrary to expectations, his complexion was not very good. I could sense a heavy aura about him.
Should I ask what's going on? While I was thinking about it, I arrived at the lockdown area.
The containment area was completely sealed off from the outside by a wooden wall over 3 meters high.
In front of it, a tent was set up for the volunteers, and it was crowded with horses carrying luggage and people coming and going.
I took Ian's hand and got out of the carriage.
"Your Highness, what's the matter? You haven't spoken to me all this time."
Ian's sunken golden eyes turned to me.
"When I visited yesterday, were you checking out the perfume?"
"Ah, I'm sorry I declined your visit. I was so busy looking for perfume."
"I guess you rejected me because you didn't want me to see you in pain."
"..."
Ian lifted the fur hat that had fallen down to my eyebrows. His faint smile looked bitter.
I was speechless because I was so sorry. I just didn't want him to worry about me, I didn't realize it would hurt him.
"Young Lady paid a price the moment you were chosen as the guardian. Do not help others at the risk of suffering."
I became a Guardian and lost my eyesight in return.
But that's from my last life. I'm no longer a Guardian.
Yet I was deceiving everyone and pretending to be a guardian. To change the future and find my benefactor.
So it was only natural that there was a price to pay. The few times I felt nauseous from smelling the perfume was not even worth it.
"It was definitely hard work to smell the scent, but I felt good after it was over. There's something like that in a knight's skill. It's like the pleasure you get when you can use the swordsmanship you learned with difficulty."
"..."
"I feel so good right now."
So don't be sorry.
Ian stared at me blankly and then raised his arm. His large hand cupped my cheek without hesitation, taking my breath away.
"I won't stop you. But you must tell me. Otherwise, I will..."
Ian stopped talking and gently stroked my cheek with his thumb.
I couldn't move until he took his hand away. The moment he touched me felt like eons.
"Try to smile."
"... Yes?"
"Try to smile."
"...You haven't given up yet?"
"Do you think I'll give up?"
Ian smiled awkwardly again. He smiled softly and lowered his hand.
"You must change your clothes before entering the containment area. Vivian will guide you."
"All right."
"Then let's meet inside."
Before the ball he had touched had even cooled, the carriage carrying Vivian and Nadia arrived.
As soon as they got off the carriage, Rahon threw something at Nadia who was running towards me.
"Nadia, take it."
Nadia opened her eyes wide as she grabbed it with both hands in a panic.
"What is it?"
"It's an ointment that temporarily numbs the sense of smell. Apply it under your young lady's nose."
"Is this serious enough to warrant applying this?"
"After applying that, she needs to wear a mask and a hood."
"...All right."
As I entered the women's changing room, the volunteers who were busy changing their clothes looked at me.
The gazes were not kind. But no one openly questioned me or got angry.
Silent hostility. That was the feeling they were sending me.
I changed my clothes calmly. I put on a hood, mask, and gloves, and wore a large gown over my clothes.
After that, Nadia sprayed water with a strong medicinal smell all over my body. They said that the infection rate was greatly reduced thanks to the disinfectant made by Rahon.
"Miss, I'll put some ointment on you."
I put some ointment under my nose and went outside. Ian, Rajon, and Nicola were waiting for me.
As Ian nodded, the soldier guarding the blockade shouted. The heavy log doors opened on both sides.
"Ah."
Inside the blockade, dozens of barracks were set up at regular intervals. The interiors were all filled with patients.
"The symptoms of the contagious disease are similar to those of food poisoning but different. Repeated vomiting and diarrhea occur for no reason, and when you lose all your energy, it becomes difficult to move."
If you dry out so slowly that you can no longer even swallow food, you will die.
I knew about the symptoms even without hearing Rahon's explanation.
"When an epidemic spreads this far, even power alone cannot handle it. If you cure one person, three more people will fall ill the next day. That's why a cure was so desperately needed."
Thanks to Rahon, there have been no deaths yet, but most of them will die within half a year. Because if you get this disease, you won't live more than a year.
This was the result of my neglect of my duty as a guardian. Is this why God sent me back? Because death was not enough to pay for my sins.
I stopped for a moment and caught my breath.
Even though my sense of smell is paralyzed, I still think I smell blood from somewhere.
At that moment, a person who was walking briskly stopped in front of me.
"Millenia."
It was a dry, dull voice that did not fit in with this harsh place.
His gray eyes, the only thing visible on his face completely covered by his hood and mask, looked at me.
"Mr. Armian?"
"Yes."
"I guess you're early."
"Yes."
She answered briefly and pointed to Ian, Nadia, and Vivian.
"Follow me."
Nadia looked back at me with a puzzled look on her face. When I nodded slightly, we had no choice but to follow Armian.
"Let's go, assistant."
Rahon grabbed my hand. Nicola followed behind him, carrying a large bag.
The barracks we headed to were filled with patients ranging from young children to those in their late teens. Adults who appeared to be their guardians were looking after the children with tired faces.
As I entered the barracks, I could see why there was ointment under my nose.
Even though my sense of smell was paralyzed, I could still smell something strange. It was the vomit the children had thrown out.
"There are no critically ill patients here, so you don't have to be so nervous."
"Yes..."
"Because of the epidemic, we are restricting the entry of guardians. Instead, we have to take care of children without guardians."
"What should I do?"
"Now, go around with Nicola and talk to the kids. If they can't respond properly or their fever seems high, remember their names and report to me. Can you do that much?"
"Yes, I can."
"Yes, let's get started."
Nicola and I went inside the barracks.
"Vanessa, the uncle is here."
A five or six-year-old child lying alone without a guardian weakly raised her head.
"Priest?"
"Did you eat breakfast? I told you not to skip it, didn't I?"
"I ate it."
"Good job. Can you stand up for a moment? I'll change the sheets for you."
"Yes."
The child stretched out her arm toward me.
I think it means she wants a hug.
As I stood there without reacting.
Nicola stopped changing the sheets, picked up the baby, and handed it to me.
"Vanessa. you have to tell this pretty girl, 'Please give me a hug.'"
"Ugh, hug me."
I didn't have to worry about missing it, because the child hung on to my neck.
I wrapped my arms around Vanessa's skinny back. The child was so light it hurt my heart...
"Vanessa, what did you have for breakfast?"
"I ate soup."
"Have you eaten everything?"
"Yeah, but I want to stop eating."
"Why?"
"I eat that all the time."
"Is there anything you want to eat besides soup?"
Vanessa shook her head...
"No, if I eat anything else I'll throw up."
"Rahon is making a cure. If you eat it, all your ailments will be cured."
"Really? I don't throw up even if I eat cake?"
"You want to eat cake."
Vanessa nodded and vomited, something hot running down my shoulder.
"Oh my, Vanessa, did you throw up?"
Nicola fidgeted and wiped my shoulder.
"Are you okay? Give the baby here. I'll hold her."
"It's okay. Do you have any more gowns? I don't think it would be good for other patients if I walk around like this."
"I'll bring it to you!"
Nicola ran out to get the gown. Vanessa whispered in my ear.
"Sister, I'm sorry..."
"It's because you're sick. It's not something you should apologize for."
"Still..."
"When you get better, shall we go eat cake?"
"Really?"
Inside the barracks, all I could hear was Vanessa and I whispering.
The patients and their guardians were staring at me with their mouths shut. They seemed worried that I might do something bad to Vanessa.
After that, I changed the gown three more times while checking on the children with Nicola because some of them suddenly vomited or had a bowel movement accident.
As time passed, my doubts grew stronger.
Does Rahon really need me?
Checking the children's symptoms was something Nicola could easily do on his own.
Rather, his work only increased because he had to bring me along. I was just a burden to him.
I returned to Rahon, feeling somewhat depressed.
"I think Vanessa has a slight fever. She just vomited a little while ago. Kate vomited this morning, but she's feeling better now. Her voice is good. I couldn't check on Perry because she was asleep, but she didn't have a fever, and her breathing was calm. I think it would be good to check on her anyway. Luther..."
Rahon, who had been quietly listening to my story, snickered.
"Good job."
"Really... Am I being of any help? I feel like I'm just being a nuisance."
"Nicola's memory only goes to two people. If you knew how upset I was when I was being reported to by him, you wouldn't say such things."
Just as Nicola was blushing and about to explode, an unfamiliar voice was heard from behind him.
"I..."
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