Chapter 474
Wiing-
The mana device emitted a gray glow.
“An infected individual has been found in Midi! Their condition is critical, an elder found in a hotel!”
Wiing-
“Infected found in Midi! In the initial stage, their condition is relatively good, and they say they are being moved to the quarantine zone.”
Wiing- Wiing-
The mana device constantly emitted light, transmitting news from various locations within the two cities.
“…….”
Advisor Ed’s expression grew increasingly hardened.
Sagak sagak.
The expressions of the officials from the two cities and the Demon King’s castle officials, who were recording the incoming information onto documents with pale faces, also paled.
<Emergency Measures Headquarters>
That was the name of the spacious meeting hall in Midi’s lord’s castle. Normally, the place was empty and had a desolate atmosphere, but now it was in a state of maximum tension, with a threatening atmosphere, as if a war was about to begin.
Wiing- Wiing-
The continuous vibration of the mana device. All the officials thought:
‘So many…!’
More than they expected. The death of the child who had the seed in the ruins. Many demons infected as a result.
‘I thought there were already many infected in the Gray Tree village!’
They thought that more than two hundred was already a large number. But the most popular ruins in the Demon Kingdom attracted far more people than Telia’s fruit stand. And above all…
‘They’ve hidden many cases.’
Midi and Mika. The demons of these two cities, more than Advisor Ed had imagined, didn’t trust the Demon King’s castle and had hidden their illnesses. Or their guardians had hidden them.
‘The number of infected has increased.’
Therefore, the number of infected had increased. Of course, this was new information. Ed opened his mouth.
“With this, it has been proven that the disease can infect other demons even without killing them.”
He calmly continued:
“Saliva, blood, anything that touches the infected and is absorbed by another demon will cause a new infection.”
When they were in Telia, there had been no further infections. That might be because Cale had performed the purification in time, and the illness of the potential infectees hadn’t manifested.
But this time, the guardians and acquaintances of the potential infectees and the infected also became infected. In most cases, this happened when they tried to stop the infected’s nighttime convulsions, and absorbed their saliva or blood.
“…As expected of the Third Emperor.”
Divine World, Heavenly Kingdom, Demon Kingdom. One of the Three Calamities said to exist in these three places. Chaos contamination. Advisor Ed’s serious expression didn’t relax.
“Although it’s called the gray disease, it is Chaos contamination. It’s a natural result.”
Advisor Ed tried not to think about the desperate situation that came to mind, and opened his mouth.
“It’s possible we won’t be able to identify all the infected before sunset.”
He looked out the window. Meeting room. A huge window overlooking the city of Midi. Cale was looking at the city from there.
“…….”
Cale remained silent. But…
‘Damn it!’
His insides were churning.
‘Aren’t these zombies?’
They look like real zombies. After the Jiangshi, now zombies!
‘Damn it!’
That they can’t find all the infected before sunset? If the body of one of those infected explodes, especially if there are many demons nearby…
-Cale. This is horrible.
As Super Rock said, something horrible will happen. That’s why the High Priestess transmitted that premonition to Cale even while losing consciousness.
Tok tok tok—
At that moment, another official hurriedly entered and said:
“We’re preparing food, but there isn’t enough.”
The food preparation for the festival or feast. They had prepared enough ingredients for the purification ceremony, but there wasn’t enough time to cook them. This wasn’t a small amount of food, but food for a festival that could feed the two cities and the ruins, so the quantity was considerable.
“We’ve secretly brought in cooks from the territory, but I think we’ll need more people. To prepare the necessary amount before sunset, we’ll have to bring in more citizens…”
At the official’s words, Advisor Ed opened his mouth.
“Impossible.”
Bringing in more citizens than expected to the lord’s castle?
“They might discover us.”
They were already carefully managing the territory’s troops and identifying the infected as discreetly as possible.
‘Third Emperor.’
This was because of the premonition that the Third Emperor might appear. Of course, avoiding what would happen at night was more important than the premonition, so they were searching for infectees discreetly but quickly.
“The purification ceremony cannot be discovered.”
They couldn’t let them discover the purification ceremony. If they did it wrong, their cooperation with Cale and the Demon King would also be discovered.
“We must be as discreet as possible until we find the Third Emperor.”
“But, for the purification…”
The official who was speaking with the advisor had witnessed the purification in Telia. That beautiful scene. If that sacred scene were to be repeated here, everything would be resolved. He wanted to believe that.
“Do it however you can.”
At Cale’s words, everyone turned their gazes towards him.
-Human, the old dragon and Choi Han still haven’t found them!
Cale was worried. Considering the content of the premonition and the information they had obtained so far…
‘It seems an army of zombies will destroy the city tonight.’
And the Third Emperor will appear to interfere.
‘I don’t know how all this will unfold.’
He still hadn’t understood the reason for all this. Especially, as he could no longer trust the Demon King’s castle’s administration and control over these two cities… He had to start from scratch.
‘Where, how, when…’
Cale, who was continuing his thoughts, paused for a moment.
“Cale-nim.”
Advisor Ed used the honorific “-nim” while speaking to Cale.
“Instead of performing the purification ceremony before sunset, wouldn’t it be better to survive today and perform the purification ceremony tomorrow? And I think the search should be done more discreetly and without attracting attention.”
To be honest, Ed thought this was the right thing to do the more he thought about it.
‘There will be more victims during the night.’
Suuk. Ed confirmed that everyone in the emergency measures headquarters was an official from the lord’s castle and direct officials from the Demon King’s castle sent from the Demon King’s castle, and continued:
“I think it would be better to perform the purification after everything has been resolved.”
Tonight, without our relationship with the Third Emperor being discovered…
‘Even if the infected have convulsions and overrun the city…’
To be honest, we can kill them beforehand. If they don’t know anything and something happens, they won’t be able to respond and will face chaos.
‘Midi and Mika’s troops, and the Demon King’s castle troops, are enough to deal with the infected.’
Furthermore, if they hide their bodies and avoid the possibility of infection, they will be able to get through the night relatively easily. Also, if they are lucky, they will be able to save them without killing them, by tying them up. Advisor Ed couldn’t erase the idea that this was the most efficient.
“…….”
“…….”
Silence fell over the emergency measures headquarters. As they were here, most of them were very intelligent people. Even though no one was saying anything, everyone understood the meaning of Advisor Ed’s words.
“C-counselor-nim…”
The official in charge of food supply opened his mouth again.
“…….”
Advisor Ed stared intently at the official. The official clenched his fists. He couldn’t say anything, and bowed his head at Ed’s cold gaze and said:
“…I’ll go to the dining hall to continue the work.”
“Alright.”
At that monotonous voice, the official turned towards the door. His bowed face was distorted.
‘As expected, you don’t know.’
Advisor Ed. Only the Demon King and the Demon Kingdom. Or rather, the Demon King who will become a Demon God and the Demon Kingdom that will become something greater than the Divine World and the Heavenly Kingdom. Advisor Ed only looked at that. He had a lot of information in his mind and was intelligent.
‘But this is my home…’
Midi. This advisor didn’t know that this was his home. Even after having worked by his side for over five years.
‘Damn it!’
The people from the Demon King’s castle! The words that the elders of his hometown, Midi, used to say, surfaced in the official’s mind. The words of the elders of his hometown that the people from the Demon King’s castle couldn’t be trusted.
‘Alright. The counselor-nim is trying to find a way to save as many people as possible with the least amount of damage, and obtain benefits.’
His proposal isn’t bad. Only two hours remain until sunset. With that limited time and limited personnel. Plus, a hostile location. This might be the best they can do.
‘Still…’
Still, anger builds up. He feels betrayed. What should he do?
‘No, at least…’
If he at least said that he would try his best! The face of the official, who was opening the door, sank into a coldness beyond anger. It was then.
“Counselor-nim. There are many errors in what you’ve said.”
Cale’s indifferent voice reached his ears.
“…Eh?”
When the counselor asked with a serious face, Cale opened his mouth while looking at the scenery outside the castle.
“What the High Priestess saw was the night.”
Why? Cale told the counselor who was showing his doubt:
“But, can we conclude that the mass infection began at night?”
“!”
Cale continued to think while standing there. That suddenly an army of zombies appears at night? Does that make sense?
“It’s more likely that the mass infection occurred when an infected person exploded somewhere before night, before sunset.”
Yes, simply having several infected who are sleeping in their homes or hotels escape won’t cause that situation.
“Where is there a large concentration of people right now?”
The moment Cale uttered those words, Advisor Ed couldn’t say anything. Instead, Cale answered:
“This lord’s castle. And the troops.”
If someone explodes in those two places, a mass infection will occur. That would be the perfect situation for a zombie army.
“And I’ve confirmed a new infection route.”
It wasn’t enough to only search for the infected from the Demon God’s ruins.
“As they say that saliva and blood also cause infection, you must also check the uninfected who are in the medical center and the quarantine zone.”
Telia was lucky.
“Hurry. I’ll go to the ruins to perform the purification first, and I’ll look for the Third Emperor’s subordinates.”
“……! And if the Third Emperor…”
Cale shook his head at the counselor’s words.
“My companions haven’t found them so far. To find the Third Emperor’s subordinates, we have to use a decoy. It’s better to do it before nightfall.”
When Cale starts the purification in the ruins, the Third Emperor’s subordinates will come upon sensing that energy. It’s better to catch them in this situation.
-Human, don’t worry! I’ll find the Third Emperor’s subordinates!
Alright. For Cale, it’s better to create a scenario and control the situation than to wait. Cale left the emergency measures headquarters as if he had nothing to lose.
Fuii— A gust of wind pushed Cale’s wheelchair. It was Raon’s magic.
“I’ll take care of this.”
While walking, he took a mana device.
“Immediately notify me if there is any urgent communication.”
Cale headed for the door. An official stared at him, but Cale didn’t have time to worry about that.
“!”
Cale, who had grasped the doorknob, raised his hand and stopped, startled at the sight of the official moving aside.
“Ah.”
He turned his head and said the last words he had to say to Advisor Ed. This counselor, I don’t like him at all. Yes, this guy doesn’t fit. I understand, but I just feel he doesn’t fit.
“Counselor-nim. All operations will follow my orders.”
Counselor, your master, the Demon King, said so.
“I have all the power.”
You must follow my orders until tomorrow morning.
“So, follow me.”
Ah. While saying this, Cale realized why he didn’t like him. The Third Emperor. The Dragon King is very powerful.
“Still, how can we let demons die just because we’re afraid of the Third Emperor?”
The Demon King is also very powerful.
“……!”
“!”
“!!”
Amidst the surprised gazes, Cale honestly expressed his feelings. He’s not sure he can defeat the Third Emperor.
‘So what?’
The Demon King will fight the Third Emperor. I won’t fight the Third Emperor. The Demon King will. What if our cooperation with the Demon King is discovered? Honestly, Cale will lose an option, but as the Demon King and the Wanderers’ family will be defeated, there’s nothing bad for Cale. Alright. It’s something to keep in mind, but there’s no need to be afraid.
“How powerful is the Demon King?”
Whether or not they follow the Demon King… That much they know. The Demon King, who has the highest probability of becoming a Demon God.
“It’s good to try to avoid the premonition as much as possible. Let’s trust the Demon King.”
The Demon King is someone who acts important. What if that guy lets the Third Emperor escape?
“Even in the worst-case scenario…”
If a zombie army appears…
Even if the Third Emperor comes here…
“The Demon King will face the Third Emperor. If that happens, I will be able to purify the infected even in the middle of the night.”
Performing the purification ceremony doesn’t harm my body. My body even improves.
“I’ll purify relentlessly all night.”
It will be hard to go all night without sleep. But, other than that, my body will probably improve a lot. The Glutton Priestess’ indigestion will be largely resolved. Even for myself…
“No demons will die.”
How can I let the demons who will help me regain my digestive ability die?
“So, simply, do as I say.”
Cale left the emergency measures headquarters without hesitation.
“…….”
The official looked at the open door with a dazed expression. Advisor Ed’s face was also dazed. Seeing that, the official left the headquarters and started walking. His step was energetic.
“…….”
He looked out the window of the hallway. The blue sky, two hours before sunset. That sky reminded him of the sky after the purification ceremony in Telia.
And in the hallway, Cale Henituse was seen moving in his wheelchair.
‘Alright. I must also do my best.’
Someone who is not a demon says that he will perform the purification ceremony all night. With that weak body.
“…It will be alright…”
Yes, it will be! At that moment…
Kiiik.
Cale’s wheelchair stopped. The official could see a knight running hurriedly from the end of the hallway.
‘Eh?’
Something’s wrong. Suddenly, he felt anxious after feeling hope.
Balzak.
The headquarters’ door burst open. Advisor Ed shouted with a worried expression:
“An infection has occurred in Mika’s military camp! The infection speed is very high, and it’s rapidly transitioning from initial to critical! At this rate, it might explode soon!”
Damn it. Cale had to go to Mika’s military camp immediately.
‘Things aren’t going to be easy!’
Cale’s face wrinkled.
“Alright. Let’s purify everything.”
From now on, I’ll simply purify everything I find. I can create a festive atmosphere if there are people gathered, right? If they survive, they’ll be so happy they’ll hold a festival!
-I’m thirsty.
As there was no time to waste, Cale didn’t pay attention to the Glutton Priestess’ words.
The Wanderer siblings Cho and Ryeon. As they had lived for a long time, they were very intelligent. Especially Ryeon, who was very intelligent. She saw many soldiers trying to hide it, but they were increasing in number.
That’s why they stopped a soldier heading to Mika from the ruins, where the Third Emperor had last been. That soldier was in charge of the ruins. The soldier’s foot in Wanderer Cho’s hand. The foot, without shoes, was gray.
“…Chaos contamination?”
A gleam appeared in Wanderer Ryeon’s eyes.
One of the soldiers sent from the lord’s castle to protect the vicinity of the ruins, that soldier didn’t know he was infected. He hadn’t realized that the blood of the infected, which had fallen to the ground while they were moving the unconscious infected, had penetrated a small wound on his hand.
“…The situation is strange.”
Wanderer Ryeon’s gaze went from the lord’s castle to the ruins. Her steps headed towards where the soldier was heading.
“They said they were going to the military camp.”
“Yes. They said they had to conduct a thorough investigation.”
The Wanderer siblings headed towards Mika’s military camp. And at that moment…
“Haha. You won’t regret coming to the medical center.”
“Thank you, priest-nim.”
“Haha.”
Clopeh Sekka smiled as he brought the potential infectees to the medical center of the Gray Tree tribe village near the ruins.
Wiing-
A message reached him.
<Those who are free, to Mika’s military camp!>
At the message sent by Cale through Raon, Clopeh Sekka decided to go to Mika’s military camp as if it were natural. And the Wanderers Cho and Ryeon were heading there.
“Will I survive?”
At the demon’s question, Clopeh answered with a sacred expression and kind tone, despite being busy.
“Yes. My master will purify everything. You just have to trust him.”
Singut. Clopeh had a very happy expression.
“Another legend is being created.”
I’m going to witness another legend created by Cale-nim. I’ll do whatever it takes for that. Clopeh smiled as he proudly looked at the scars remaining on his body that was healing, under his wide priestly robe.
“What?”
Cale, who was heading to Mika’s military camp, felt a chill at the nape of his neck. No, he felt uneasy.
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