Chapter 101: The Kiss of Death

Death’s Kiss.

It was one of the quite famous plagues in this world.

Listing the symptoms roughly, it had many similarities to the flu.

Severe headache, fever, chills, muscle pain, and so on.

A more distinctive feature was that the lips of those who died from this disease turned pitch black.

That’s why it was named Death’s Kiss.

‘The bigger problem is that both the infectivity and fatality rate are high.’

Once it spread, it was no exaggeration to call it a catastrophe.

Just like last time when Feltron cursed the employee dormitory.

We made a huge fuss wondering if it was Death’s Kiss.

But this time, it wasn’t a simple prank; it seemed like a real plague was spreading.

Ominous reports were coming in from everywhere.

“It seems certain, Your Grace.”

Steward Miller Xavier, having finished the investigation, said with a somber expression.

All the signs occurring throughout the city pointed to an epidemic.

The Carius Duchy also needed to prepare for the impending disaster.

“What does the government say?”

“They’re in a similar state as us. They seem to have just realized the situation and are preparing.”

“Do they seem to be taking it seriously?”

“Of course, Your Grace.”

It seemed there was no need to go to Chancellor Gilmore to inform him of the plague’s danger.

In that case, we just needed to defend the Carius Duchy and Midias…….

“Ah, wait a minute. Surely the priests aren’t still monopolized or something?”

“Unfortunately, the situation is similar now.”

“Why? The plague is just showing signs of spreading, right?”

“It seems the contracts from last time are still in effect.”

“Damn!”

The timing was truly ironic.

Because of the fake plague incident, we couldn’t get priest support even when the real Death’s Kiss spread.

Of course, that didn’t mean there was no way at all.

Vargas, the sorcerer from Nermeia, was staying in the Carius Duchy.

Mages could also make cures for Death’s Kiss.

‘The problem is that it’s insanely expensive and the materials are hard to get.’

This wasn’t the time to dawdle.

If we just waited for the cure, we’d end up too late.

If numerous people got infected, the medicine would inevitably run short.

So what should we do?

The answer was very simple.

Just follow what we saw during the COVID crisis.

“Steward Xavier?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Hurry and go to Vargas to ask for the materials needed for the cure.”

“I’ll try to secure as much as possible.”

As expected, he got it right away.

Understanding my meaning immediately, Steward Xavier dashed out of the office.

I also hurriedly headed to the textile factory.

When it comes to epidemics like this, something comes to mind, right?

‘We need to make masks first.’

If Death’s Kiss was similar to the flu, the transmission method would be similar too.

It would spread through breathing, conversation, sneezing, coughing, etc.

Masks would surely help greatly in preventing the disease’s spread.

While hastening my steps, something suddenly caught my eye.

Halt!

“Huh? Why stop suddenly?”

When I stopped walking, Cordell McNeil asked.

I stood still and looked around.

“It’s filthy.”

“Pardon?”

“I said it’s too filthy.”

“I don’t understand what you mean at all.”

Cordell shrugged with a puzzled expression.

Then he pointed around and continued.

“Look around. What street in the world is this clean?”

Recognizing the scenery of the Carius Duchy and Midias was easy.

The neatly paved roads were very distinctive.

Flat stones were laid out, and even drainage ditches were made.

No dust flew when carriages passed, and there was no mud when it rained.

Moreover, roads and sidewalks were separated, making passage very convenient.

‘Steward Xavier did really well.’

I’d just conveyed the plans and conditions; the employees actually moved.

Still, the results were quite good.

But the problem wasn’t just what met the eye.

“Do you know what that is over there?”

“A pile of trash, right? When it builds up a bit, workers come and bury it.”

“The Carius Duchy does that, but what about other places?”

“…….”

Cordell McNeil let out a groan.

Just thinking of the nearby capital was like hell.

People dumped waste anywhere, and the city reeked.

Rural areas with cow dung smells had far better air.

“What about the Midias shopping district?”

“It’s quite filthy.”

Where people gathered, all sorts of unclean things stuck around.

To clean up the discarded trash, we had to hire thirty separate employees—that said it all.

If waste piled up everywhere, flies and rats would swarm.

‘Right now, Death’s Kiss is the issue, but later, something like the Black Death could spread.’

Anyway, preventing infection was priority now.

The Midias shopping district would likely be a key transmission route.

Nearly ten thousand people came and went daily.

Seeming to grasp the situation’s gravity, Cordell McNeil nodded.

“However, we can’t control all of them.”

“Of course. And it’s already too late for that anyway.”

“Then what should we do? Surely not close the shopping district.”

“That won’t do.”

Even with a plague spreading, we couldn’t.

Not simply because I’d lose out.

Losing tens of thousands of gold coins wouldn’t be a big hit.

The biggest issue was the people living off my businesses.

The Midias shopping district had become the economic hub of Perias.

So what to do?

“I’ll do another business there.”

“Pardon?”

I let out a chuckle looking at Cordell McNeil’s dumb expression.

The Midias shopping district underwent a sudden major transformation.

Originally, there were no separate entrances; you just entered from the streets.

But today, iron barriers were up, along with numerous guards.

A merchant who came early to buy goods asked with a curious expression.

“What’s all this? Why can’t we enter?”

Then a staff member, face half-covered with cloth and wearing a paper overcoat, replied.

“From today, the Carius Duchy and Midias will be strictly controlled.”

“Then what do we do? If we can’t deliver on time, we’ll have to pay penalties!”

The merchant shouted with a desperate expression.

But the staff’s response was firm.

“Still no. Your attire is too unhygienic.”

“Then what do we need to do to enter?”

“Wear a mask and overcoat like me.”

“Huh? How do we get those right now?”

Instead of answering, the staff pointed to a corner.

There was a large stall set up, surprisingly selling masks and overcoats.

The merchant exclaimed with a shocked expression.

“This is ridiculous!”

“You can wash and reuse the mask, but the overcoat must be worn for one day and then burned.”

“Huh!”

Whether bewildered or not, the staff said what needed to be said and withdrew.

The merchant glared at the stall with an angry face.

What kind of vicious business tactic was this?

If they forced sales like this, complaints would erupt everywhere.

Sure enough, those guided by the staff started chiming in.

“How could His Grace the Duke of Carius do this?”

“Behavior even a third-rate scammer wouldn’t do…….”

“His reputation will hit the ground.”

Most reactions worried about the Duke of Carius.

Thanks to the built-up fame, it didn’t plummet immediately.

But occasionally, there were harsh voices.

“Hah! I knew it.”

“I thought he’d show his dirty true colors someday.”

“Words about caring for commoners were just lip service.”

“Tsk tsk tsk! Good thing we realized now. Never trust high nobles again.”

Quite intense criticisms continued, but not many called them out for being too much.

That’s how bad public opinion was.

However, there were also those analyzing the situation quite objectively.

“But the price isn’t bad? Almost just the fabric cost. The paper overcoat is cheap too.”

“Isn’t something off? Why force us to buy such useless things?”

“Considering His Grace’s actions so far, there must be a big purpose.”

Regardless of what people thought, masks and overcoats sold endlessly.

To enter the Midias shopping district, there was no choice.

At first, everyone was full of complaints, but gradually they felt something strange.

“Didn’t they say a plague is spreading? But why so few sick people?”

“The government is doing quarantines, right? Maybe that’s why.”

“Normally, it spreads like wildfire. Has control ever worked before?”

“From what I hear, very few are infected.”

“Moreover, officials sealing plague areas are all wearing these.”

Death’s Kiss swept the capital every few years.

The only difference from then and now was one thing.

Just the masks and overcoats sold by the Carius Duchy.

People gradually realized why the plague wasn’t spreading.

“There are no plague victims in the Carius Duchy and Midias.”

“I met so many people, but I didn’t catch it!”

“Then forcing masks and overcoats all this time…….”

“Was to prevent the plague?”

“What did I say? I told you His Grace must have a grand purpose.”

“Wait, that guy over there. Didn’t he badmouth His Grace the Duke earlier?”

“Yeah! I heard it too. It was uncomfortable how harsh he was; this is good.”

“Hey! Stop there!”

“Huh? Running? Chase him!”

Those who badmouthed the Duke of Carius vanished in an instant.

Like forest friends fleeing when the truth came out.

People chased such opportunists while shouting.

“His Grace the Duke repelled the plague!”

“I lost my wife in the last plague, but this time everyone can be safe. Thank you, Your Grace!”

“Sniff!”

Those who lost family to plagues couldn’t stop their tears.

Perias was filled with people’s cheers.

But in one corner of the city, something absurd was happening.

“W-what did you just say? To cure the plague, pay 200 more goldens?”

A man was shouting with a desperate expression.

The opponent was a youth in a shabby robe.

The outerwear was poor, but inside was a pure white priest’s robe.

The one demanding money was a priest.

“I’m very busy too. Do you know how many requests are coming in?”

Even though the plague’s spread was suppressed by the Duke of Carius, that didn’t mean there were no infected at all.

This desperate man’s only son was severely ill.

As if his breath could stop any moment.

But there was no way to pay.

How could an ordinary middle-class head of household get 200 goldens?

How much gold had he spent so far on curing the plague?

But right then.

“Cough! Hack!”

“Oh no!”

A choking sound came from the room.

The man who rushed in soon came out trudging with a dark expression.

Then he shot a menacing glare at the priest.

“You! You bastard! Save my son!”