Chapter 64

Chapter 64

Chapter 64.“A plague?”

I wrinkled my expression.

No, is this bastard trying to kill someone?

If a disease circulates in the castle should have said in advance.

If so wouldn't have stepped even a foot near here.

Developing the Tragia Plain or feeding the Emperor is also good, but more important than that was life.

“Calling us even to a place such a disease spreads. Meaning want to die?”

When Lus asked fiercely, the Menisd Duke waved his hand.

“No, no. Don't glare that much, scary. Confirmed all outsiders don't catch.”

“Still dangerous. Seems better older sister returns first.”

Lus looked back at me.

“That's the same for you Lus too. What kind of plague is it?”

Perhaps a disease that appeared in the original.

“Don't know the cause of the disease. The castle's scholars are investigating, so will be revealed soon.”

“How are the symptoms?”

“Ordinary symptoms. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting. What such. Cases going to death are rare, but because spread to so many people.”

“So called us?”

“Right. Honestly speaking the troops available in our castle now are less than half of usual. If this fact is revealed the Lockwood Marquess will immediately come to attack us.”

“Did everyone eat spoiled food?”

He shrugged his shoulders meaning don't know.

“Anyway originally most of the mages prepared for the Duke caught the disease so seems have to wait a bit until the mages in charge of handling demonic beasts outside come. Heard rode a boat how arrived this quickly? Would have been hard to come because of demonic beasts.”

Lus cut the Menisd Duke's words and answered.

“Anyway this side also can't wait until when. No thought of wanting to stay here long either.”

“Know. Know well. Thanks to that I also busy these days finding out that cause. Haa, really bothersome.”

He sighed with a tired face.

“Three days. Can't wait more than that.”

“Three days... tight. For now got it. I'll prepare.”* * *We first returned to the annex.

Thought if handling the demonic beasts quickly and returning would do but the plan went awry.

“For now have to send communication to the butler that seems will take longer than expected. Didn't know the work would twist like this.”

“Rather well. Even if going together with other family's people would only be a hindrance.”

“But the knights we brought aren't many. If there's a mage would be helpful.”

“Being good at magic and facing demonic beasts are different. Even if the number is many without skill only cumbersome.”

Hearing Lus's words I burst into small laughter.

“Suddenly why laughing?”

“No, just.”

There was a scene saying like that in the original too.

When young wondered when our Lus would grow reliable like the original, somehow amazing and the mood was strange.

I avoided Lus's gaze of not knowing the reason, and lifted the teacup.

Then at that moment, Blackie said.[Can't drink, Master.]

“Yes?”[Poison is in it.]

“What?”

Putting down the teacup, Lus asked.

“Why, older sister?”

“Blackie said poison is in it...”

Blackie flapped his small wings and sat on the table the tea was placed, and carefully looked into the teacup.[The amount of poison isn't many. Diluted in water so won't die immediately. Okay to eat once or twice but not good for the body so no need to eat necessarily.]

“Only mine has poison mixed? Lus?”

Blackie looked at Lus's teacup.[This side is also the same. Poison is mixed.]

Lus ground his teeth, and held the sword.

The red eyes shone fiercely.

“What guy daringly... that Menisd Duke guy? Called to subjugate demonic beasts, using dirty methods.”

“Calm down, Lus. Still nothing accurate. Perhaps not the Duke but that subordinate did.”

“Saying was won over?”

“There's possibility. Of course there's also possibility the Menisd Duke instructed. Neither side is certain, so for now have to investigate who mixed the poison.”

“Who brought the tea today?”

“It was Bella.”

No way Bella mixed poison in the tea.

If received persuasion to mix poison a loyal maid to the extent of coming to me and saying ‘Madam! That person gave me money to mix poison!’ right away.

Might shake if the other party offers a large amount, but absolutely no way.

Because we unconditionally give double the amount the other party offered as reward money.

I immediately called Bella.

At the question whether you prepared the tea she readily nodded.

“Yes, I brewed the tea.”

“Poison was in the tea.”

At my words Bella's face instantly turned pure white and was startled.

“Yes? P-poison? Is Madam okay? Didn't drink, right?”

“I'm okay. Knew before eating.”

“Fortunate.”

Bella let out a sigh of relief and stroked her chest.

“Then by chance calling me...”

“Not thinking you did so reassure. So speaking can you tell the people met while brewing this tea?”

Probably one among them is the culprit.

“Um... too many people encountered. Just the time preparing the meal so many people in the kitchen.”

“No separate people encountered while coming?”

“Met a few knights working in the castle, but everyone exchanged greetings from afar. I continuously held the tea.”

To mix poison have to approach closely, so the servant working in the kitchen was suspicious.

If a matter that happened in the Valfruga ducal castle could bring all servants and interrogate or search the room, but unfortunately here wasn't the Valfruga ducal castle and if acting carelessly the culprit might hide the tail.

“For now let's go to the kitchen. Perhaps Blackie might find some remaining traces.”

I took Bella and headed to the kitchen.

The servants working in the kitchen saw me and asked politely.

“Duchess, what brings you here?”

Whether the Menisd Duke firmly instructed, even at the sudden visit the servants welcomed us without surprised air.

“No, just. These days no appetite so came to see if there's something to eat. Don't care and do the works comfortably.”

I slowly checked the kitchen materials.

There were also materials commonly seen in our territory like tomatoes or corn, and unique materials coming out only in the west.‘Would be good if Blackie can find something...’[Master.]

Then, Blackie called me.

Unlike always calm a flustered voice.[All the water used here is contaminated with poison.]

“What?”

Too surprised so without knowing made a loud sound, the servants around's gazes headed toward me.

I hurriedly cleared my throat hmm hmm pretending nothing and exited the kitchen.

And confirmed no one around and whispered to Blackie.

“What does that mean? All the water used in the kitchen is contaminated with poison? Not someone mixed poison?”[From the water coming out of the faucet was contaminated.]

“Isn't it someone smeared poison on the faucet?”[Can think that but... Master, go to that fountain once.]

According to Blackie's request I headed to the fountain decorated in the garden.

Water fell with a cool momentum from the flashy decoration.[As expected. Here also the water is contaminated.]

If the kitchen might know, no need to mix poison in the water in the fountain.

I took Blackie and went around the bathroom or other kitchens to confirm again.

The result was the same.

All the water used in the castle was contaminated.

“Who on earth did such a thing? Trying to kill all people in the castle? No, wait. Then perhaps the cause of the plague circulating in the castle is the water?”[Possible. Because this water is not good for humans. Full of impure things mixed. If eating such for a long time the inside of the body will become ragged.]

“Did someone intentionally mix poison to torment people in the castle? Lus! For now have to tell Lus not to drink water!”

I hurriedly returned to the annex we stay, and issued a ban on drinking water to the family people.

Knowing the water is contaminated can't just let them eat.

“How about drawing water from the village outside the castle?”

At Lus's words I shook my head.

“The water in the village is also contaminated the same. Said the village people also caught the disease.”

I first made water for the family people to use using Blackie.

When Blackie opened his mouth like a fountain decoration, clear water flowed trickling between that.

“This really okay to eat, right?”[Yes. The water I make is the cleanest and highest purity among water.]

“That I know but...”

Trying to eat what Blackie spat from the mouth the visual a bit...

Still now wasn't the time to care about such.

Blackie who filled as many as three large water buckets curled his body whether tired.

“You worked hard, Blackie. Really fortunate you are there.”

Stroking the white scales, Blackie shook his tail.

“Lus, distribute this to the knights. With this level can endure for a day or two right away.”

“Isn't older sister also overdoing too much?”

Lus worriedly wiped the sweat flowing on my face with a towel.

Pulling Blackie's power to the limit so tired.

“I'm okay. Don't know when will use Blackie's power again, have to make water when leisurely.”

But couldn't endure like this forever.

Can't use Blackie as a water purifier substitute every day, and also worried about the Menisd ducal territory people's health.

Resting for a moment and recovering stamina I immediately looked for the Menisd Duke.

Headed to the room the knight informed, but no knight guarding in front of the door.

Knocking the door tok tok the Menisd Duke's voice was heard from inside.

“Come in.”

And opening the door and entering I realized something went wrong.