Chapter 17

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 17

Chapter Title: The Golden Lion's Treasure and the Polluted Water (1)

-----------------------------------------------------------------

(17) The Golden Lion's Treasure and the Polluted Water (1)

Late November.

The capital city of Selsar in the Torkan Grand Duchy was bustling with preparations for the Star Festival, set to begin in December. Held over fifteen days starting from the second week of the month, the Star Festival was a celebration to bid farewell to the chilly season in good health and pray for abundance in the coming new year.

Torkan, located in the southwest of the continent, rarely saw snow even in the depths of winter, with temperatures mild enough that a thin coat sufficed. But for the people of Torkan—who took after their lord's fondness for revelry—the festival was of utmost importance.

Normally, even the grand ducal palace would set aside official duties at this time to focus on festival and party preparations. But this year, circumstances were far from ideal. The ministers and knight order captains gathered in the conference room, along with Floyd himself, all wore expressions shadowed by deep concern.

"Even nearby villages have reported victims."

Security Minister Konrad Viertlen Marquis spoke in a heavy voice.

"We warned everyone to stay away from the water's edge, but four children sneaked off to play by the stream without their parents knowing and met with tragedy. The parents who carried the fallen children home collapsed as well, from water splashing on their bodies."

Floyd, staring darkly at the table, asked,

"Are the children still alive?"

"...They died shortly after being brought home. The parents who collapsed haven't regained consciousness, so they don't even know yet."

A month ago, reports came in of people succumbing to an unknown illness—breaking out in rashes and high fevers, then oozing pus from their skin as they died. At first, they thought it was a contagion and dispatched investigation teams with countermeasures. But the teams returned saying it seemed related to "water."

-"There aren't many survivors, so it's not precise, but the common thread was contact with water right before collapsing—drinking it or immersing themselves in streams."

It sounded absurd. Water was so essential to daily life that hardly anyone went a single day without touching it.

-"Moreover, nearby plants and animals are showing similar symptoms and dying. Plants along the riverbanks have turned pitch black, and we've found beasts that collapsed after coming to drink."

By that point, water had to be the culprit.

The river crossing Torkan was vast and deep; a mere dash of poison wouldn't cause this. So Floyd investigated personally this time. In the forest near the affected village, he sensed the presence of a magical beast.

The beast was clever enough not to show itself before Floyd. Despite scouring the area with his knights, they only detected its presence—no sign of the creature itself—so they had no choice but to scoop up buckets of river water and return.

Researchers analyzing the water confirmed demonic energy had contaminated it.

-"The silver lining is that the river is wide and deep, and this is near where tributaries converge, so the demonic energy isn't overly concentrated. If it were denser, all life in the vicinity would have perished."

Not everyone who touched the water fell victim. Some were lucky enough to emerge unscathed. But with the magical beast surviving and spreading its taint, the river's pollution persisted, now reaching even the capital near the sea.

Arsen spoke up.

"Knights continue searching, but they only find traces—no sign of the beast itself. One knight glimpsed it fleeing between trees just once; it was small and swift, impossible to catch."

"Unbelievable. A magical beast fleeing from humans..."

Adrian muttered in a flippant tone, but Floyd didn't rebuke him. Floyd felt the exact same way.

Magical beasts varied in intelligence—some cunning, some dim-witted—but he'd never encountered one that fled from humans. They polluted their surroundings merely by existing, so if they started scurrying like rats, the damage would be catastrophic.

"A clever one. It knows contaminating the water will trouble humans—focusing on the river proves it."

Floyd nodded at Hexston's words and turned to Prime Minister Liam Brown Marquis. Liam let out a deep sigh before speaking.

"I've urged everyone to stockpile drinking water, but household reserves won't last a week. We've stored some in warehouses too, but not enough for the whole city. A decision must be made."

Floyd rubbed his dry face with his heated palms.

"Last sighted in the forest, right? Arsen, no luck luring it out?"

"None, Your Highness. No matter the provocation, it won't show."

"Fine. Then burning the entire forest it is."

Everyone's faces darkened at his words.

The forest-dwellers sustained themselves on its animals and plants. Floyd's flames could eliminate the beast, but it would devastate those communities. Unlike ordinary fire, his burned the land barren, resisting new life. Once, after incinerating an area to hunt a beast, he'd planted trees and fertilized for years—nothing grew for three.

"Many villages rely on that forest. Burning it would create hordes of refugees."

Floyd scowled fiercely at Forest Minister Somethro Marken Count's words.

"Better than dying to demonic taint. I'll cover shortfalls by hunting more beasts and selling parts. Prepare the capital for refugees."

"Announce it immediately?"

"If people move, the beast might too—so kill it first. Alert villages to prepare to evacuate. Give them time to pack, then we subjugate in three days. Those coming with me, gear up in fireproof suits."

The lengthy meeting dragged on before concluding. Ministers rose and left first. As Floyd glared heavily at the table, Steward Marquis Jenail whispered quietly in his ear.

"Your Highness. The Lily Palace is now adorned with Adelia Flowers."

"Ah, good. I'll go see."

As Floyd departed with Jenail, Adrian propped his elbows on the table and muttered,

"I can't fathom what our lord is thinking. Word is that woman's recovered enough to wander the garden—shouldn't we send her off soon?"

Arsen nodded.

"Yeah."

"Everyone in the palace knows she bears a slave brand. Even Lily Palace staff are grumbling; it's bound to cause issues inside and out."

"It will. Mouths can be sealed among servants, but it'll leak eventually—reach Lucas's ears too."

"Ugh, it irks me. Looks like our lord picked up Lucas's castoff. Outsiders might think he's smitten. Hell, I can practically hear Lucas mocking him from here."

The knight captains closest to Floyd never imagined he harbored romantic feelings for Roxiana. He seemed to care for her for some other reason, but they couldn't fathom what.

Adrian turned to Kirshan.

"Shan, why don't you talk to him? He listens to you."

"He hates even the mention."

"Then Kain, share a drink and broach it gently..."

"You're all too much!"

Hexston, feet propped on the table since Floyd left, bellowed.

"Isn't ganging up on a mere twenty-year-old girl too harsh? She just lost her family—yet you're all itching to boot her out. Cruel!"

"Mere twenty-year-old? She's already twenty. Old enough to be married with one or two kids."

Adrian retorted, but Kain—who'd been sullen since Roxiana's name came up—said,

"You're twenty-five and unmarried, childless."

"Not couldn't—wouldn't, little brother. Too many ladies to choose from. Get the difference?"

"Nope. Ladies say you're fine for dating, never marriage."

"I'm gonna kill you."

As Adrian and Kain bickered, half-drawing swords, Kirshan rose and headed to the window. Both Adrian and Hexston had points.

But he couldn't say if sheltering Roxiana—whom they'd saved from death—was worth risking ties with Gania Kingdom.

The Whinasel region in the continent's southwest, home to Torkan, was famed for its fine weather. Weeks into her stay, Roxiana could count gloomy days on one hand.

Today, the sky was a piercing blue, and children's voices by the pond rang clear and bright. Roxiana sat on a bench by the water, watching them.

Since first meeting them in Lily Palace, the children visited the garden almost daily. Sometimes they'd pick flowers for her; other times, share lunches their mothers packed.

Each glimpse of them stabbed her heart with indescribable longing. Despite the ripping pain, she found herself drawn to the garden whenever their voices called—unable to explain why.

"It's getting quite chilly now. Coming out dressed like that will catch you a cold."

A low voice came from right behind, but Roxiana didn't turn. Only after something heavy and soft draped over her shoulders did she glance back slightly.

Confirming it was a thick blanket, the children cried out in unison,

"My lord!"