ushernet Chapter 63
Chapter 63
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 63: City of Dreamers (3)
Vince, a highland city in the northwest of the empire.
It is often called a natural fortress, and for a good reason.
The city is situated atop a high mountain, with towering walls that make it exceptionally advantageous for defense.
‘In fact, this place held out for half a year against the demon army without any reinforcements.’
Thus, it was a location that could not be overlooked.
For the demons, there were only three possible routes to infiltrate the western empire:
Using the western sea, crossing the vast Desert of Death, or breaching Vince in the north and taking the smooth land routes beyond.
‘Back then, the population was around 5,000, so the demons probably underestimated it.’
But Vince managed to endure for six months, holding the fortress until imperial reinforcements arrived.
‘This is my first time actually visiting this place.’
During the war, he had only heard rumors of a reliable fortress in the northwest.
He had been too occupied defending the frontlines to visit.
“Allow me to formally express my gratitude.”
In the reception room of the Vince estate, Pieta Vince bowed his head as he served a lavish spread of tea and refreshments.
“If it weren’t for you, Lord Oscar, the people of my domain, including myself, would have surely...”
He shuddered, recalling the harrowing memory of the Cadena Flu outbreak.
“We would all be dead.”
“It’s fortunate that such a dreadful scenario was avoided,”
Oscar replied with a soft smile, sipping his coffee.
“Otherwise, I wouldn’t be enjoying this delicious coffee here today.”
“Haha! That’s true.”Nôv(el)B\\jnn
The lord of Vince seemed visibly relieved, as though a lingering burden had been lifted.
“From the moment we received the cure and vaccine, I’ve been meaning to express my thanks. However, I must apologize for the delay—it took us this long to recover and extend this invitation.”
“No need for apologies. But ‘recover,’ you say?”
“Ah, well...”
Realizing his slip of the tongue, the lord hesitated briefly before continuing.
“Well, considering it’s you, Lord Oscar, a genius in alchemy, you likely already know more than I do. But as you’re aware, the Cadena Flu is a type of virus.”
“That’s correct.”
“After the flu swept through, we conducted an epidemiological investigation.”
An epidemiological investigation involves tracking the movements of those infected and identifying their contacts.
“To determine how the Cadena Flu first entered the city.”
“Precisely. Since it has already occurred once, we wanted to resolve it thoroughly to prevent a second outbreak. But... there’s no initial carrier.”
What?
Oscar tilted his head, failing to grasp the meaning.
“No carrier? What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. The first reported case of Cadena Flu symptoms was an elderly woman living alone on the outskirts of the city. She has no family, no caregivers, and except for her monthly trips to the market, she has no contact with anyone.”
“Could she have contracted it through contact with others at the market?”
“Considering the flu’s onset timeline, that possibility is ruled out as well.”
“...”
Oscar’s eyes narrowed.
If what he heard was true, it was as though the Cadena Flu had simply appeared out of thin air.
“There are three possible explanations.”
The first: the Cadena Flu originated naturally in the old woman’s home.
But this was far-fetched.
The odds were practically zero.
‘Influenza viruses already exist in nature, spreading via human or animal hosts through cross-species transmission. They don’t just spontaneously appear in isolated locations.’
The second possibility: the woman had contracted the Cadena Flu long ago, and it had only recently manifested.
However, this was equally unlikely.
The Cadena Flu, classified as a B-level hazard, is notorious for its rapid transmission and quick onset of symptoms.
Families seemed to be the most prominent, likely due to the upcoming Christmas festivities.
What a lovely city vibe.
The sight warmed his heart, and he stared at it for quite a while.
“Oh, I thought this room looked the best...”
Suddenly, the door opened, and someone entered.
Oscar turned slowly to see the intruder, his eyes slightly widening in surprise.
“Veronica?”
“What the... Why are you here?”
“Lord Vince invited me. He wanted to express his gratitude for helping during the Cadena epidemic. And you?”
“I’m here for Christmas delivery duties...”
Her gaze lingered wistfully on the room that seemed to captivate her.
“Were you planning to take this room?”
“Why? Do you like it?”
“...”
Her lips moved as though she wanted to say something but didn’t.
Still as straightforward as ever, I see.
This was a time for the adult to step up.
Shrugging, Oscar said,
“If you want it, it’s yours.”
“Really!?”
Her voice rose for a moment, but she quickly collected herself, seemingly embarrassed, and asked again.
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. There are plenty of rooms left anyway.”
Although he had initially liked this room, he changed his mind after looking around.
Seeing the warm streets below had softened his heart, making him feel at peace and even a little sleepy.
“You take it.”
As Oscar left the room, Veronica stared at the door he had exited through for a long while.
...Did he just give it up?
The Oscar she knew?
Wasn’t he the most selfish person in the White Tower—no, among all four Great Towers?
For him to so willingly give up his room was hard to believe as a pure act of kindness.
Though, based on what happened at the power plant, he did seem a bit more mellow these days...
But could people really change overnight?
Still suspicious, she eyed the door and muttered under her breath.
“Does he... like me or something?”
* * *
Under the fluffy, falling snow that night,
at a remote outpost in the Red Mountains, a soldier urgently shouted into a communicator.
“This is B-102! I repeat, this is B-10... Ugh!”
A sharp blade pierced through his chest from behind.
As the light faded from the soldier’s eyes, he collapsed, and a figure with horns on its head spoke.
“Baron, it’s done.”
“Humans remain as weak as ever.”
A middle-aged man wearing a gray fedora appeared with his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the surroundings.
“To think we once lost to such trash. It’s laughable, even in hindsight.”
Clicking his tongue, he sat in the dead communicator’s seat, crossed his legs, and gazed at the horizon’s edge where mountains loomed.
“Vince...”
The natural fortress that had been the greatest obstacle during their invasion of human lands.
A faint smirk crept up one corner of his lips as he stared at it.
“Tonight, I shall grant you the sweetest of dreams.”
[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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