Bab 141: Chapter 141: The City Where Black Rain Falls Part 6
In fact, it wasn't the first time I had seen a beastman.
The Red Bear Mercenary Group of Jamil mostly consisted of barbarians and beastmen from Altan.
I had also spent a lot of time with Katharina, the cat beastman of the Echaits Union.
As I looked calmly without any surprise, Connie's eyes sparkled. Perhaps he found my reaction unexpected.
Well, discrimination was severe even in Roshan where barbarians and beastmen were common. In the Barak Empire, where they were rare, the situation for people from Altan was probably worse than in Roshan.
I understood why Connie always wore a hood and hesitated to reveal that he was a beastman.
"Usually, people feel uncomfortable… but you are different, Saint of Purification."
"Call me Theodore. And what's there to feel uncomfortable about?"
Having ears or a tail didn't make much difference… it was rather an advantage, wasn't it? Beastmen each had unique personalities and diverse abilities. To me, it was clearly an "advantage".
Not because of some grand ideology or cause, but simply because it was genuinely "useful".
And in the first place, for someone like me who came from Earth, all beings in this pseudo-medieval land were foreign and strange. Whether it was humans who used magic or those with ears and tails, they were all equally strange!
Anyway, that's not the important thing.
Right. Whether Connie had ears and a tail didn't matter. What was important was something else.
The true nature of the plague was something that even the priests, who had the closest thing to medical knowledge in this pseudo-medieval land, couldn't identify…
Finding that out was the most urgent task.
Only by dispelling the irrational chaos and fear that filled this city could we uncover the hidden secrets.
"People from Altan don't get sick…"
Connie nodded his head enthusiastically at my muttering.
"I'm not saying this out of malice, but aren't most people from Altan the lower class in the city?"
"…Yes. That's right."
It was unfortunate, but that was the reality of things. Barbarians and beastmen who left the wastelands of Altan to settle in foreign countries were often enslaved or lived as the lower class in the corners of cities. They usually made a living by doing filthy, hard, and dangerous jobs that ordinary people avoided.
So, people from Altan should be the most prone to a disease…
It was strange.
Poverty, ignorance, and the resulting poor hygiene and nutritional conditions. These were the perfect conditions for a "plague" to spread. Yet, the people from Altan who had these perfect conditions weren't getting sick?
That meant…
Perhaps, it's not a plague after all.
Maybe it's not even a "disease" at all.
"Where is the area where the people from Altan live?"
"That place is a bit…"
Connie hesitated to answer. He seemed worried about what might happen if he took me to the area where the barbarians and beastmen lived.
"It's fine, Connie. I've been a mercenary for a long time. Everyone here knows how to protect themselves."
El nodded her head enthusiastically. Yes, even El who used to drag around a sword that didn't suit her had become a capable swordswoman who could protect herself, so there was nothing to worry about.
After hesitating, Connie finally nodded his head. I had spoken so firmly that he couldn't stop me anymore. We made some simple preparations, put on raincoats, and left the temple.
The black rain was still pouring over the entire city. We passed through darkened shops with locked doors and houses in similar conditions. As we walked down narrow alleys…. the narrower the alleys got, the worse the roads became. There were no stones or gravel, just muddy paths with puddles everywhere. It seemed the lord's care didn't reach this far. It was obvious that even basic maintenance was neglected…
The houses that were irregularly scattered here and there were hardly worthy of being called houses. Connie led us through them as if he were familiar with the area.
"..."
The atmosphere wasn't good. Unlike the city center, where doors were locked, the people here openly watched us with suspicion. Most of the Barbarians of Altan had amber eyes due to the influence of the wasteland environment, and they were bright like lanterns as they shone eerily in the darkness.
"Try not to make eye contact."
Following Connie's advice, I withdrew my gaze from my surroundings and quietly followed him. The place Connie led us to was a small building with a round yard and a well; it seemed to be serving as a village hall.
"Draven,"
Connie waved at a middle-aged man who was drawing water in front of the well. He was a well-built man with orange hair and amber eyes, typical of the Barbarians of Altan. He nodded slightly as he poured the black water he had drawn from the well into a wooden bucket.
"It's been a while, Connie."
"How have you been?"
"As you can see."
"I have some people to introduce."
"Are they from the temple?"
"Ah, no. Sir Theodore is…"
I cut off Connie's flustered words and joined the conversation.
"I am Theodore, a druid. You can call me Theo."
"..."
The man called Draven narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down. Until his scrutiny ended, I had to awkwardly stand with my hand extended for a handshake.
"You are a druid?"
"…Yes."
Draven didn't take my hand; instead, he nodded slightly to greet me. I withdrew my hand awkwardly. Well, it was understandable. Anyone would be cautious in such a situation.
"Sir Theodore, Sir Draven is of this place…"
"Connie, as I've said many times, I'm just a resident here."
"B-But, Sir Draven…"
"Look here, druid, let's not waste each other's time with unnecessary formalities. Let's get straight to the point. So what do you want to gain by coming here?"
If that's how it was going to be, it actually made things easier. I didn't like beating around the bush either. I smiled faintly and began to speak.
"Sir Draven, I've come here to uncover the truth about the plague that has befallen this city. They say the people of Altan are immune to the plague?"
"That's right. It's a rather peculiar blessing, isn't it?"
Draven chuckled and transferred the black water he had drawn from the well into a wooden bucket.
"The plague started spreading when the black rain began to fall. So, the people of Dihid neither drink nor touch the water mixed with black rain. But it seems different for you."
"We have no choice. We just used this water because we couldn't avoid it."
It was completely understandable. Just like Draven said, the poor had nothing to begin with. Unlike the people of the city, they couldn't get clean water or leave the city.
"In the wastelands, it was common to drink muddy water. So, this isn't much different."
"I see."
"Whatever it is, we are grateful for what our god provides."
Draven clasped his hands and murmured a short phrase. It seemed to be a prayer used in Altan. The barbarians and beastmen from Altan worshipped their own gods rather than the twelve gods of the continent. Even after leaving Altan, their faith remained strong.
The people here feared the black rain too. They just didn't have the option to avoid using it.
"Then, why are you safe from the plague?"
"...."
Draven was silent for a moment. Connie bit his nails nervously. What was this atmosphere?
"In Dihid, there is a rumor that eating the heart of Altan makes you safe from the 'black rain'."
"..."
"It's an absurd rumor. Yet, there are indeed foolish people who believe it and attack this place."
"You must be very worried."
"It's truly ridiculous. We aren't immune to the plague! Thanks to those idiots, we found out…"
"Found out what?"
"…Follow me."
We followed Draven inside the building. He led us to a small room. As we entered the tiny, doorless room, we saw…
"...!"
A child lay sick.
The child's fingers and toes had turned black.
"That child is…"
"A child who was kidnapped two days ago and returned. She started falling ill last night, and today, she's like this… So, what do you think now? Do you realize that even those from Altan can catch the plague?"
"…I'm sorry to hear that."
"They were planning to tear out that poor child's heart. The people of this city are the real
barbarians."
"May I take a look?"
"Go ahead."
I carefully knelt down and placed my hand on the child's forehead. The fever was intense. To make her a bit more comfortable, I used [Nature's Healing] and crushed some currants created with [Gift of the Forest], letting them trickle into her mouth. The fruits imbued with [Gift of the Forest] contained magical power so even a small amount could restore some strength and provide enough energy to endure for a day or two. I could only hope this would help…
Fortunately, the child's breathing seemed to ease a bit. The fundamental problem wasn't solved though. Draven clenched his fists in frustration and spoke.
"I want to tear those people apart right now, but there's nothing we can do… If we step in, it will just give them a good excuse. The lord will expel us from Dihid. If that happens…"
"Who exactly are 'those people'?"
"…The caretakers of this place. They don't actually 'take care' of anything, though."
"I see."
I gave the child's head one last gentle stroke before standing up.
The rumor that the hearts of Altan natives were a panacea didn't spread by chance. Clearly, someone spread it with an intention.
"…I'll go meet them."
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone