Episode 217

The event set to take place in Paris was, strictly speaking, not a council.

It was more of a commemorative event than a formal meeting, and unlike the Council of Jerusalem, there was no need for every monarch to attend.

Sending representatives was sufficient, and in reality, only two kings from neighboring countries had expressed their intention to attend: King Richard of England and Heinrich VI of the Holy Roman Empire.

Still, most other countries were expected to send royal representatives, and since I would be attending in person, the success of the event itself was not in question.

However, there was one thing weighing on my mind.

How was I to prophesy the impending disaster at a gathering meant to celebrate the unification of religions and the completion of a new scripture?

Neither Philip II, Richard, Heinrich VI, nor any other leaders would anticipate a foreboding prophecy to emerge from this event.

It might seem as if I were casting a shadow over a joyous occasion.

Especially since it would be coming directly from the great prophet himself.

For Philip II, who had been diligently preparing for this unification event while I was busy establishing a succession line in Byzantium, it could be particularly irksome.

He might even think I was deliberately trying to undermine France, so it was necessary to coordinate our words in advance.

In fact, the Archbishop of Constantinople, who traveled with me to Paris, and Anna, who remained in the capital, had already been informed of my prophecy.

As a result, the Archbishop was nervously watching me, trying to gauge my mood.

“Prophet, will you tell everything to His Majesty Philip II?”

“I must. At the very least, I need to inform him of what I intend to say so that he can prepare.”

“But I’m worried about how he will take it. This could be perceived as a curse on a global scale.”

“Indeed.”

The reason prophets who foretold impending disasters were often executed in history is simple.

A foreboding prophecy can, by its very nature, incite social unrest and unsettle the public.

When a crow flies, a pear falls. If a grim prophecy spreads through society, it leads to rampant speculative interpretations.

Even trivial matters get linked to the prophecy, blown out of proportion, and cause chaos.

Thus, a prophecy that can incite social unrest is essentially a curse that eats away at a nation, and it’s only natural for a state to suppress such individuals.

Of course, no one would dare to arrest me, but the problem is that my prophecy carries an impact far beyond ordinary ones.

The Archbishop is likely concerned about this.

Naturally, I wouldn’t overlook something the Archbishop is aware of.

That’s why, upon arriving in Paris, I requested a private meeting with Philip II.

“Then I’ll go have a word with him. Meanwhile, you should engage in conversation with the cardinals from the Vatican. As you know, no official stance has been taken yet, so refrain from discussing the prophecy.”

“Yes, I’ll be careful.”

The key now is how Philip II will react to this shocking news, but he greeted me with a bright smile, having no idea what I was about to say.

“Welcome! It’s been a while, and you look even better than before.”

“Thank you. Your Majesty seems to be in good spirits as well.”

“I heard your wife had her coronation in Constantinople. Will you be staying there from now on?”

“For the time being, yes. There are matters I need to keep an eye on. I’ll likely be traveling frequently between Damascus and Constantinople.”

Just as I was wondering how to broach the subject, the perfect segue presented itself.

Philip II probably asked about my whereabouts, thinking it might shift the balance of power globally, but that’s not a concern for me.

“Traveling between Constantinople and Damascus? Is there some conflict between Rome and the Ayyubids that I’m unaware of?”

“Fortunately, that’s not the case. It’s just that I aim to prevent an upcoming disaster centered around those two regions.”

“An upcoming disaster? Are you suggesting another invasion like the Mongols?”

“If only it were that simple. We could just unite and drive them out. But what’s coming is more troublesome and terrifying. In fact, I requested this private audience to discuss how to announce it.”

”…You’re planning to announce it at this unification event?”

Philip II’s eyes, which had been smiling, subtly wavered.

Who would be pleased to hear a prophecy of disaster at a grand festival prepared over years?

But there’s no choice.

The prophecy must be delivered when the world’s attention is focused to maximize its impact.

“I’ve thought long and hard, but there’s no other option. This is the most opportune time. That’s why I’m seeking your understanding and hoping to gather wisdom together.”

“Hmm… I understand. Let’s first hear about this disaster and devise a plan. I’ve never seen you so cautious, Prophet, so I’m curious. And a bit frightened.”

“Sigh… It’s troubling for me too. Please, don’t be too alarmed and listen carefully. The next disaster will be a plague. The worst kind we’ve never experienced before, coming from the East.”

“The worst? Worse than smallpox?”

Philip II, well aware of the devastation smallpox wrought on Europe, turned pale.

He hoped I would deny it, but unfortunately, I could only nod.

In terms of cumulative impact, it might not surpass smallpox, but in terms of short-term fatalities, the Black Death of the Middle Ages recorded unparalleled numbers.

“Regrettably, that’s how it is. If we don’t prepare, we must assume that about a third of Europe’s population will perish. In severely affected areas, entire towns or cities might be wiped out.”

”…A third? How could…”

Even the ever-composed Philip II couldn’t maintain his calm in the face of such an unbelievable prophecy.

It’s a natural reaction for anyone.

If a third of a nation’s population were to vanish, it would be a crippling blow, almost impossible to recover from.

And if this were to happen across an entire continent?

It would be an unprecedented catastrophe, even beyond what someone like Philip II could comprehend.

“Have we committed some sin? Otherwise, why would God send such a disaster…”

“No, this isn’t related to our sins. The seeds of this great disaster were sown long ago in Asia. Now, the time is approaching for it to reach us. It could happen in our lifetime, or perhaps a hundred years from now.”

“This is no small matter. I understand why you’re so cautious, Prophet. But given the gravity of the situation, this could cause immense chaos. The moment your prophecy is spoken, the world might be thrown into turmoil.”

That’s exactly my point.

If not handled properly, nearly a third of the population could die.

This is an average estimate, meaning that in areas where the disease spreads, most people will likely perish.

In Eastern Europe, in particular, society could be paralyzed by fear.

“The rulers and nobles of countries bordering the East will react strongly. Some might even believe you’ve cursed them, Prophet. How the message spreads initially will be crucial.”

“Exactly. That’s why I wanted to use this occasion. With the world’s attention focused here and representatives from all over, my words will be less likely to be distorted.”

“In that case, I understand. If we can steer the narrative to make this a historic prophecy, it could even be beneficial for me. The Prophet made this significant prophecy here in Paris, and it was I who made Paris the stage for it.”

Even in this situation, his ability to plan for self-promotion is somewhat reassuring.

The cooperation of Philip II and other monarchs is essential for this prophecy.

“First, please share your thoughts on how the prophecy should be delivered.”

“To do that, I need to know the characteristics of this plague. Can you tell me?”

“Of course. The vision I saw was of the Black Death engulfing all of Europe. I clearly remember the symptoms of those afflicted. There will be severe fever, chills, headaches, and hemorrhagic spots. It’s not just a fever; the symptoms will be evident throughout the body, making it easy to identify.”

“You said it’s more deadly than smallpox, so how dangerous is it to people?”

“Once contracted, it’s nearly impossible to treat with our current means. Death could occur as quickly as six hours, or within five days at most. Most concerning is the Black Death’s incredibly rapid spread, so without knowledge, by the time someone is known to be infected, the entire village might already be affected.”

With such detailed explanations, Philip II’s complexion grew increasingly grim as he listened.

“If it gets severe, people can die in less than half a day? And it spreads quickly too? This could really bring down entire nations if we’re not prepared. It might even make people think of the apocalypse. But is it truly incurable? Smallpox was thought to be incurable too, but didn’t the Prophet receive wisdom from God? Can’t we prepare in the same way this time?”

“We do know the cure. The problem is that we currently lack the technology and knowledge to reach it.”

The plague, after all, is a type of pestilence, and the most effective treatment is to administer antibiotics at the onset of symptoms.

In other words, we need to closely monitor for symptoms, isolate any patients immediately, and administer antibiotics.

But with medieval infrastructure and technology, how could this be possible?

If we could produce antibiotics, we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

“You mentioned this disaster might not hit for another hundred years. Will it still be impossible then?”

“If we consistently make the right choices and progress, we might be able to develop a rudimentary treatment. But even that would require a miracle. More realistically, we should focus on preventing the disease from spreading. That seems achievable with our current technology.”

“I see. Still, if the Prophet knows the symptoms and transmission process in such detail, we can minimize societal chaos. We can also prevent baseless rumors from spreading.”

“Exactly. That’s the most important thing.”

“First, we should document the Prophet’s words accurately in a book. Distributing it to each nation would be wise. If any other stories circulate, we can dismiss them as rumors, which will help control public anxiety.”

I hadn’t considered distributing a book, but it seems like a solid plan.

It was definitely a good idea to consult with these intelligent individuals in advance.

Combining the IQs of Philip II and myself must be close to 300.

If we can just get through this plague, the order I establish will become an unshakeable truth for a thousand years.

This isn’t just a prediction; it’s an objective fact that it will unfold this way.

So, I’ll use everything at my disposal to address this.

Religion, power, and if necessary, even people.