Episode 260
“Is this even humanly possible?”

The Ministry of Magic’s only two healing mages were scolding Akorella. The magical energy radiating from her fingertips was anything but normal.

Her mana pulsed irregularly, unstable and faint, as if it could snap at any moment—and worst of all, its warmth felt cold. It was no different from the state Beric was in, whose insides had been completely turned upside down.

“It’s a side effect of the mana amplifier…”

“You know that’s not the only problem.”

“True. There’s no way I’m unaware of all the side effects. It seems like a complex reaction based on that, doesn’t it?”

The mana amplifier had caused cracks in her body. Yet, in the meantime, she’d been experimenting with Idgal, a mana-absorbing substance, and even gotten close to the sacred artifact, Dragon Kaglin. The healing mage poked at Akorella’s side, grumbling.

“Ugh, this is embarrassing.”

“Cut the crap. Your scales are starting to rise.”

“Wait, really?”

Along her waistline, scales were emerging. Beneath them, her skin was torn and bleeding. Akorella gingerly touched the area, frowning in confusion.

“This is it. A hypersensitive reaction to dragon antigen-antibody.”

“…You mean an infectious disease? Do the scales hurt?”

“Not yet.”

“…You should take painkillers preemptively.”

The rough, alien texture confirmed her immune system had definitely weakened. She didn’t even remember hearing from Hale, and now this physical reaction was happening. This was pushing her limits to the extreme.

She flopped back onto the bed, clearly fed up with everything.

“It’s going to hurt more soon, right?”

“What on earth have you been doing all these days you were sick?”

“Don’t know. When you’re stuck in the basement, you lose track of time.”

“…And despite your condition, you kept taking those weird medicines you made yourself.”

The mage pulled a small vial from Akorella’s pocket. They’d begged her to stop taking strange concoctions, but this mad scientist seemed to think government-approved medicine was just for show.

When the mages shot her fierce glares, Akorella put on protective goggles and blocked their eyes.

“I feel like I’ll die if I don’t take it.”

“That’s why you’re dying now.”

“…I’m the captain, you know.”

“Captain or not, if you die, none of that matters.”

At least she still had the energy to talk back. Probably thanks to Hale continuously pouring mana into her while bringing her here.

She wiped the corners of her mouth with a towel on the table, the bitter, metallic taste of blood lingering unpleasantly.

Knock knock.

“Ian.”

“Akorella, how’s your condition?”

She looked tired, but that was all. She didn’t look like someone who had just hung twenty-one corpses in the square, allowed the crowd to pelt them with stones, and confirmed the heads of the remaining bloodline heirs of the seven noble houses.

At Ian’s question, Akorella rolled her eyes as if she were about to die.

“How will you treat this?”

“Well, it’s a complete mess.”

“This? You’re calling this a mess?”

“It’s based on the side effects of the mana amplifier, so we’ll take measures, but the physical complications have already progressed a lot. That part’s best left to the doctors.”

“I heard your memory keeps fading.”

“Since the middle of the trial, my memory’s been completely gone. I seem okay now, but who knows what’ll happen if my condition worsens again.”

“Oh, I get it now. You were being rude because you knew you’d lose your memory?”

“Please, Captain.”

“Ha, just kidding.”

Akorella lifted her side to show the scales. The coughing up of blood had stopped, but now the area was soaked in blood. Romandro, who had followed in, gasped and covered his mouth in shock. What was that on human skin?

“Do you know what this is?”

“Never seen it before.”

“These are dragon scales. They used to be common, but I guess you don’t know. It’s an endemic disease usually found near dragon habitats. When the pathogens dragons carry infect humans, scales like these appear…”

Ian tilted his head in confusion. Dragon scales weren’t flat like this. The ones confiscated in the Chetur district were so three-dimensional they could be mistaken for raw gems. Akorella tapped her side and continued.

“If these fester, they swell and harden—like that black obsidian.”

“Akorella! Why are you talking about this like it’s someone else’s problem?”

“Romandro, it’s okay. This disease was common when dragon breeding was reckless, unsanitary, or involved strange crossbreeding. Nowadays, it’s well controlled and hasn’t been seen for a while. I’m not sure if the cure is still kept, but the recipe definitely exists.”

“Is it contagious? Is it safe for us to talk like this?”

“Wow, that’s a reasonable question—I can’t argue with that. Hehe. Yes, it’s safe. It doesn’t spread between people; you have to have direct contact with Kaglin. I just happened to catch it because my condition’s lousy…”

“Lousy condition makes it easier to catch?”

“Exactly. Children and the elderly are vulnerable too.”

“We’re all in bad shape right now!”

“Hahaha. Romandro, you look fine.”

While Romandro fretted wildly, Ian stood quietly, rubbing his chin.

According to Akorella, the Kaglin confiscated in the Chetur district was problematic, and its source was likely the root of this outbreak.

Ian brushed his half-down hair back and asked. After a busy day, his neat morning appearance had become somewhat disheveled.

“Should we destroy all the Kaglin confiscated from Chetur?”

“That would be best. As for the black armor already made, I’m not sure. I’ll investigate.”

“Captain!”

“Not me, my subordinates. Mm-hmm. Yes.”

Akorella raised her hands in surrender and flopped back down. It was unfortunate, but there was no choice. If mismanagement caused an epidemic, who would clean up the mess?

Especially if the palace itself was ground zero, things would get even more complicated.

“Romandro.”

“Yes?”

Romandro hurried out to carry out Ian’s order to destroy the Kaglin immediately.

Akorella spat blood-tinged saliva into a bucket beside her and requested,

“Anyway, Ian, since I’m like this, give me a paid leave. And a bonus. In Luron stones, please.”

“…What about the memory loss?”

“Don’t know. No idea what’s causing that symptom.”

She guessed it was a reaction from the clash between the mana amplifier and the absorber Idgal, but she wasn’t certain. Once her condition improved even a little, she’d start researching immediately. Maybe she could even develop a potion to erase memories!

Hugging her pillow, Akorella chuckled. Perhaps sensing this, a fellow mage snapped sharply and slapped her protective goggles.

“No basement access.”

“What!? Are you crazy?”

“The crazy one is the captain. Don’t you understand what leave means? Get your act together and take care of yourself. Ian too. We’re already short-handed and overwhelmed—what are we supposed to do if the captain’s like this? Right? Ian, I’m sorry to bring this up, but you didn’t call us when you were bleeding last time, did you?”

Damn. Ian tried to slip away.

They were the ones who had run around the most during the two recent incidents. And there were only two of them. Naturally, they were sensitive to the captains’ fatigue and injuries.

Squeak.

“Ian! Ian!”

“Akorella, your leave is approved.”

“Where are you going? Hey!”

“Rest well and get treated.”

Bang!

Akorella reached out to Ian, pleading for help, but the door slammed shut mercilessly.

Her hand froze in midair. She giggled and lay back properly on the bed, then furrowed her brow in dizziness and fumbled for the bucket.

“Ugh—”

Akorella kept coughing up blood. Tears welled up reflexively, but the reflection on her goggles hid them. The healing mage sighed, gently patting her back and infusing her with mana.

“How’s Captain Akorella doing?”

Meanwhile, Ian met Jin in the hallway. The child looked deeply worried, hands clasped tightly. Ian knelt down lightly to meet his gaze.

“She didn’t look well at all.”

Though she joked as usual, her complexion, uneven breathing, and trembling voice were clear signs. The bucket full of blood beside her said it all. She’d only just passed the worst.

“Really? Sigh, what on earth is going on?”

“Please don’t worry, Your Highness. Akorella is strong. But for now, it’s best you avoid coming here.”

“Why?”

“She doesn’t want you to see her like this. Also, although it only spreads through direct contact with Kaglin, it’s still worrying. It’s dangerous for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immunity.”

“Then Ian, you should be careful too.”

“Yes, of course.”

Soon, they would investigate the infection status of the Mana Stone Management Department members who had been near the Kaglin, as well as the palace guard and related personnel.

Since only Akorella was affected, it seemed the amplifier acted as a trigger for the outbreak. Others were probably fine, but there was always a chance.

Tap tap tap!

Jin, who had been walking ahead, suddenly spun around. While he was concerned about Akorella, there was something else on his mind that bothered him just as much. Ian nodded, silently encouraging him to speak.

“I heard it’s customary for the heir to personally write the invitations to the foreign guests attending the succession ceremony.”

“Oh.”

Usually, the succession ceremony took place after the coming-of-age ritual—so, roughly at Marib’s age. By then, it was natural for the heir to have built relationships with heirs or high-ranking officials from other countries, so sending handwritten invitations wasn’t just tradition; it was a natural practice.

“Your Highness, do you happen to have any foreign envoys you maintain personal ties with?”

Jin was young, had been considered a cursed child until recently, and just days ago, Arsen had been in power. Naturally, he wouldn’t have any foreign connections. Jin gently shook his head, answering the question with a shy smile.

“No, I don’t.”

“In that case, there’s no need to send handwritten invitations. If you happen to form connections later, it would be best for you to write the invitations yourself for the coronation.”

The coronation—the day he would ascend to the throne. By then, Jin would personally invite the guests.

The child’s blue eyes sparkled brightly. Ever since meeting the empire’s people earlier that day, the throne had become something truly precious to him.

“Okay. I understand.”

“But these are your guests, Your Highness. Instead of handwritten letters, a warm personal welcome will suffice. Wouldn’t it be good to prepare for that before they arrive?”

“Of course! Ian, you’ll tell me everything!”

Jin lightly jumped and grabbed Ian’s sleeve.

Unfortunately, Ian wasn’t well-versed in foreign affairs either. While he had a general grasp of history, he knew almost nothing about who held power now, their personalities, or their characteristics.

“My apologies. Since I’m not well-informed either… hmm. When Romandro returns, shall we study it together?”

“Romandro? That sounds good.”

To move the pieces on a chessboard, you have to know what they are, how they move, and when they can move.

Ian motioned to Xiaosi.

“Tell Romandro that once he’s finished with his tasks, he should report on the relevant information. Also, begin tidying up the family affairs and preparing for the succession ceremony.”