An unknown disease

Ina, brimming with curiosity about everything around her, gladly agreed to accompany the fox-girl Mira and her kin to the nearby goblin cave.

Upon hearing the news, Mira hurried back, elated, to inform her tribe.

Before long, towering beastmen draped in peculiar robes emerged from their houses. Several humans joined them, though they didn't wear the enveloping robes but dressed in regular attire, their hair wrapped in turbans.

As soon as Ina and Mira set off, Luciano asked Ahti, "Why didn't you inquire about which realm she hails from? We might recognize it."

With a neutral tone, Ahti responded, "What would it change? Even if she's from the Moro Continent, isn't she stranded here just like us? I reckon mentioning her past, given this desolate environment, would just bring sorrow."

Luciano hadn't particularly linked Ina to the Moro Continent. All their dragons had been transported to the Relic of the Old Gods. Logically, the dragons of the Moro Continent should have vanished.

"I wonder how Austin's doing," mused Luciano, lost in thought.

"Don't harbor high hopes," Ahti sighed. "Although he's been missing for a while, he might've ended up in a corner of the Old Gods' Relic due to a failed space jump. Finding his way back will be a challenge."

Luciano wasn't truly optimistic. Ever since mastering spatial manipulation in his adulthood, Austin had been trying to leap back to the Moro Continent to fulfill their somewhat immature plan. But he had never succeeded, and everyone had grown accustomed to it.

---

Unfamiliar with the way, Ina let Mira lead. Mira, draped in the same grayish-blue robe, revealed only her captivating eyes. Ina watched the lively tail beneath the fox girl's robe and inquired, "Doesn't that feel uncomfortable?" It must be unpleasant with the tail wrapped inside.

Mira looked puzzled, as this concern seemed mundane to her. Being unfamiliar with Ina and not wishing to offend, she carefully replied, "Spores of the Thorn Ghost Vine might latch onto our fur and burrow into our skin during moonlit nights. They grow within the chest cavity. The host would perish, and the vine would swiftly overrun the village. We wrap ourselves so that, upon returning, a robe inspection suffices. Otherwise, for us furry beast-men, searching for these spores becomes troublesome."

Alarmed, Ina asked, "What do these spores look like?"

Mira attempted to gesture with her hand but realized she had been tightly wrapped by the robe. Resorting to words, she explained, "About half the size of a fingernail, covered in tiny barbs that catch the wind easily and stick to anything they touch."

"In that case, it's larger than I expected," Ina sighed in relief, having pictured microscopic spores similar to those of mushrooms.

There weren't any signs of danger during their walk, so Ina began to wonder why dragons needed to accompany journeys outside. She turned to Mira and inquired, "It's my first time here. What dangers might we encounter on this path? It's always good to be prepared."

From beneath her robe, Mira's voice sounded muffled, "Not much, really. Occasionally, the Thorn Ghost Vine might ambush from below. Then, there's the magma clouds above. If they show signs of 'raining', you could offer your wings for cover." Mira paused, puzzled internally. Most dragons preferred their natural form, finding it more comfortable. Yet Ina remained in human shape. Had Luciano not pointed it out, she'd have mistaken Ina for an ordinary human.

Perceiving Ina's amicable demeanor, the fox-girl curiously posed a question, "Do you prefer staying in your human form? It's rather uncommon among dragons."

"Is it?" Ina casually responded, "I find it quite comfortable, especially when interacting with you all. It prevents me from seeming too enormous and out of place."

Mira couldn't help but giggle. It was the first time she had heard a dragon describe itself as "enormous" or "strange." Dragons usually took immense pride in their majestic and powerful physiques. To be honest, Mira felt slightly intimidated when gazing into their vast, illuminating eyes.

She was starting to really like this approachable Dragon Lady, Ina.

Ina was also fond of the lively fox-girl, especially when she observed her tail - it looked sleek and smooth as if begging to be stroked.

Reaching into her backpack, Ina pulled out a piece of candy. She initially wanted to hand it over directly, but recalling the sight of Mira's wrapped hand, Ina carefully unwrapped the candy herself. Holding the translucent pale-green hard candy by its wrapper, she offered it to Mira's mouth, saying, "It's for eating."

Mira's eyes lit up in surprise. Quickly pulling down the portion of her robe that covered her mouth, she bit into the apple-flavored candy.

"It's so sweet!" Her eyes widened, and her long eyelashes fluttered.

Mira savored the candy, the sweetness spreading throughout her mouth, enriched with a fresh fragrance. When she asked Ina about it, she was told, "It's apple-flavored."

It was evident to Ina that this beast-girl, who had lived in the ancient ruins since birth, had no idea what an apple was. However, Mira just nodded with a smile, refraining from probing further. It wasn't that she wasn't curious, but she didn't want her curiosity to seem impolite.

Ina decided that she would pack more food when she visited next time. If she had an actual apple in her bag at the moment, she'd have happily let the fox-girl experience the real taste of the fruit instead of its candy representation.

The group reached a mountainside with a natural cave. Goblins lived within, primarily cultivating mushrooms. Humans and beast folk often traded flour and thorn-vine powder here for food. As for water, cultivating mushrooms required a significant amount of clean water, which the dragons would deliver exclusively for the goblins.

The beastfolk didn't enter the cave and they knocked twice on the rock wall. They refrained from entering the goblins' dwelling, not because of any strained relationship, but to minimize the risk of bringing Thorn Ghost Vine spores into the goblins' safe haven. It was likely that the beast folk had caught the spores during their journey, and they didn't want to inadvertently endanger the goblins.

It didn't take long for the goblins carrying large bags to emerge. The open bags revealed thick white mushroom caps and stems, indicating high-quality mushrooms.

This kind of trade was routine, and both sides were familiar with the process. Soon, Ina began her return journey alongside Mira.

As they traveled, Ina inquired about the beast folk's daily meals. She learned that oil was a rarity, and mushrooms were usually grilled or stewed with Thorn Ghost Vine powder.

Imagining the taste, Ina cringed. Boiled mushrooms without the right seasoning could produce an unappetizing odor.

Suddenly, alarmed shouts came from up ahead. Ina rushed forward to see massive vines in the air, one of which had wrapped tightly around the waist of a beast-man, attempting to drag him away.

"It's the same Thorn Ghost Vine that killed Uncle Ajel last month!" Mira exclaimed loudly. "It has been lurking near our village all this time!"

Mira could recognize the Thorn Ghost Vine, not only for its parasitic spore behavior but because it also sought fresh blood and flesh. These vines would penetrate flesh, organs, and bones, draining all fluids. The bear-man, Ajel, had met his end to such a vine last month. Mira had horrifyingly witnessed the robust beast-man wither away in mere moments.

If a Thorn Ghost Vine consumed blood from any creature, its main vine would turn a deep crimson. This was how Mira identified this vine as the one responsible for Ajel's death.

"Lady Ina, aim for its main vine! The other tendrils will regenerate quickly and are unharmed," shouted Mira, realizing Ina might not be familiar with the nature of this foe.

The Thorn Ghost Vine was no match for Ina. With a single tug, the tendrils attempting to overpower the beastfolk shattered. However, its main vine quickly retreated underground. It took some effort, but Ina finally unearthed it. Unlike the powerful tendrils, the main vine was defenseless and adorned with numerous light green, barbed, spherical fruits – the spores for reproduction.

After Ina extracted the main vine, the more experienced members of the party took over. They painstakingly chopped the deep-red main vine into tiny fragments, spreading them on bare rock. The spores were meticulously removed and crushed, ensuring no chance of regeneration.

The vines torn by Ina were incapable of reproduction and lay scattered randomly. As she studied the cross-section of the broken tendrils, Ina surmised that the Thorn Ghost Vine powder in the moonlit cookies she had eaten might have come from such tendrils.

Noticing Ina's gaze on the broken tendrils, Mira thought Ina wanted to take some back with her. Hurrying to clarify, she said, "Thorn Ghost Vines that have consumed humans can't be eaten."

Ina initially assumed it was out of respect for the deceased, but Mira continued, "Consuming the powder from such vines can induce madness. Even in the direst hunger, we never collect from Thorn Ghost Vines that have feasted on people."

With a solemn nod, Ina indicated she had taken note of the warning.

The remainder of the journey back to the village was uneventful. Upon reaching the village entrance, the group did not use the same gate they had exited from but purposefully went through another larger gate.

The beastfolk meticulously unwrapped their tightly worn cloaks, hanging them on poles and checking each other for any traces of Thorn Ghost Vine spores.

To fend off the menace of the Thorn Ghost Vines, the villagers had developed a rigorous set of protocols. Life here, while tough, was also straightforward. Once the potential dangers were understood, precautionary measures could be effectively devised.

In the Orlan Empire, Flemington.

Vilanthe was now in utter distress. An unknown disease had erupted in the civilian sector. The first known victim was a commoner who died violently three days after falling ill. The disease raged, spreading across half the district within a week.

Those afflicted suffered severe vomiting and diarrhea. In extreme cases, they experienced dizziness and loss of consciousness. Despite the objections of Viscount Savio, Vilanthe took to the streets, leading efforts against the epidemic.

Boiling water was freely provided on the streets, while consumption of raw water was explicitly forbidden. Doctors, pharmacists, and alchemists were summoned to discuss potential remedies. One alchemist suggested burning the bodies of the deceased victims. This suggestion left many horrified. Everyone turned to Vilanthe, hoping for her disapproval.

In the Orlan Empire, burning bodies held a sinister connotation. It signified the condemned as impure, reminiscent of dark mages and witches subjected to such fiery ends.

Remembering this, the crowd eyed Vilanthe cautiously, fearful she might be reminded of her own mother and react with anger.

Vilanthe looked grave but said, "I believe there's merit in burning the bodies."

Viscount Savio quickly interjected, "It's out of the question! The Flemington outbreak hasn't reached the church's ears. Once we start burning bodies, there will be a public outcry, and we can't cover it up. I fear the church will link the disease to your lineage. There'd be no controlling the narrative then!"

Viscount Savio highlighted another challenge. Public misunderstanding, along with covert moves by the church, could easily tarnish the modest reputation Vilanthe had built in Flemington.

She frowned, countering, "As far as I know, the Silver Empire has several territories plagued similarly. Surely Flemington isn't the only place in distress in the Orlan Empire? I don't buy it. If other areas are suffering like Flemington, the rumor that this plague originated from me is unfounded. If we take decisive actions before the church contains the outbreaks elsewhere, it won't only enhance our stature but also showcase the church's ineptitude."

One alchemist present, clearly not a fan of the church, speculated, "Perhaps the church orchestrated this outbreak. Why else would it only erupt in Flemington and the Silver Empire?"

Vilanthe shook her head, "While you can criticize them for being stubborn, arrogant, and deceitful, they wouldn't stoop so low as to spread disease. Not unless they want to be the enemy of all humanity."

"We need to burn the bodies, as well as the belongings of the deceased. Temporarily close the most affected streets and investigate the origin of the outbreak. Determine if it resulted from spoiled food or some unidentified object," Vilanthe commanded methodically.

"Moreover, I urge everyone to develop an effective remedy promptly. I'll ensure you have whatever materials you require. I'm counting on you all."