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The sea, and the ball.
Just because two big fights have ended one after the other, it doesn’t mean I have a reason to rest.
If anything, now is the time to move faster.
There is less than a week left until the start of Act 3 following the second semester, and a week, although it may seem long, is a very short time.
In a cafe in the central district where you can see the view of the Academy at a glance.
I muttered as I set down my drink.
“Come to think of it, I should meet him soon.”
By now, wouldn’t he have returned from the valley trip?
I should check how much the great hero who will save this world has grown over the summer.
From Noble mtl dot com
With the climax of Act 3 approaching, where he will gradually realize his identity as a ‘hero’ and take a leading role, it’s time.
If there are shortcomings, point them out, and if he’s done well, praise him.
Teach the newbie so they don’t go astray, lead them on the right path.
That’s the duty of a veteran.
With that in mind, as I was about to get up from the cafe.
“Senpai, senpai! Oh! Senpai! You’re here!”
Suddenly, the cafe door swung open, and someone rushed in.
Black hair, school uniform, and a large greatsword hanging on their back.
Unexpected. I didn’t expect them to be the first to find me from over there.
“……What’s going on?”
“Well, um…that, that…”
The person who rushed in said while sobbing.
“Calm down. Take a deep breath and speak calmly.”
“Ah, I understand. Hoo…ha…hoo…okay.”
“Now, go ahead and speak.”
“Yes, um, one of my party members…is sick! Please help!”
….
I sold my sense of duty.
* * *
Erhan.
He was not from the Empire, nor was he born in the small village of Mersch, which was only mentioned once in the setting book.
He was the son of a poor tenant farmer, and he even had a childhood friend he promised to marry.
With a bright and lively personality, he was an extroverted super-insider who didn’t shy away from meeting new people. He was the protagonist of this world, born with the qualities of a great mage and a great hero, and he would become the hero and savior of the world.
He himself had a lot of conflict and hesitation in his heart, but he was also a passionate young man who wielded his sword and moved forward.
At the same time.
He was also the kill switch that would end everything if he died.
That guy came to me and spoke.
“First of all, let me ask, did you go to the infirmary?”
“Of course, I went. They gave me potions and herbs…but there doesn’t seem to be any improvement… When I went back, the infirmary teacher said it seemed worse than being attacked by a monster…”
Fever, chills, vomiting, etc… Up to this point, it seemed like typical symptoms of an illness, but they said that their body was gradually becoming ‘stiff’ from their fingertips and toes.
Hmm.
So, in other words, it’s not just a simple illness, but something like a ‘monster’s condition’ that brought them to me.
“Um, since you know a lot about these things, I thought maybe I could get a hint from you. I-I’m sure it’ll be okay since I brought you… It’ll definitely get better soon.”
He muttered like that and walked quickly ahead.
…As far as I know.
Erhan always seemed cheerful and energetic, but he has a severe trauma when it comes to losing someone in his ‘party’.
I raised my hand to the shoulder of the guy who kept walking ahead.
“Erhan, calm down first.”
“Yes, yes… I’m sorry. I showed you an ugly sight…”
We headed towards Adel Hall, which was not the Merin Hall or the Luvrium Hall, but a premium dormitory for nobles.
Naturally, the current Adel Hall was completely empty like a vacation.
If Luvrium Hall emphasized ‘academics’ and a ‘top student’ atmosphere.
This place seemed to emphasize only luxury and extravagance, with chandeliers and glass tables. Even the marble floor seemed to be filled with nothing but luxury and extravagance.
We climbed the stairs of the first-year dormitory and knocked on the door with the nameplate ‘Marconel’, and we went inside.
“…Ah, you’re here? Ah, Adrian-nim. It’s been a while.”
The magician girl I saw back then stood up abruptly when she saw me.
“Please sit down. We have a patient, so let’s not make unnecessary noise.”
Her name…I think it was Silvi.
In that case…the person lying here is…
#### Translation:
“Senior Vileum….”
Vileum.
Vileum von Markronel.
The shield warrior of the Erhan Party I was with last time.
He is the eldest son of the Markronel family, a viscount family from somewhere in the imperial border. He is an impeccable guy with no flaws as a starting member until Act 3.
Well, since it hasn’t been that long since we last met, I didn’t expect much change.
At this point, there is no other person to add except for Silbi and Vileum.
“Oh, actually, there is one more party member….”
“That friend went to the western forest to find herbs to treat the symptoms.”
I see, so Griner left and another party member came in.
Since that’s not the problem for now, I reached out and checked Vileum’s condition.
The symptoms are fever, vomiting, and headache. In addition, the tips of the toes and fingertips are turning gray.
‘This is….’
I’m familiar with this.
Clearly, this is the result of being attacked by a monster.
In this world, illness is synonymous with abnormal conditions. In this world, even a simple cold is considered an abnormal condition.
And.
There can be no abnormal condition in this world that I don’t know.
‘Emotion.’
I quickly check only the current abnormal condition, skipping the rising ability values and character introductions.
【Abnormal Condition: Full-body Petrification (in progress) / Full-body Petrification complete in three days.】
“…How are you feeling?”
“C-Can you check the symptoms?”
I had a rough idea, but….
…Is this for real?
Why did something like this happen?
“First, let me ask. Erhan, isn’t your ‘exploration’ supposed to be limited to the early stages?”
In response to my question, Erhan hesitated for a moment before answering.
“T-After we cleared the dungeon together, we went to the ‘western forest’ because we didn’t have anything else to do there. But we were attacked unexpectedly on our way to the ‘Scorching Desert.’ But I can swear. We never went all the way to the end of the middle stage.”
I see.
So they went to an inappropriate place without proper preparation just because they took a bus for experienced players.
“What kind of problem occurred there….”
“Erhan.”
I turned my head and looked at the hesitant Erhan.
“The place you explored with your party was strictly speaking, the boundary between the early and middle stages. It wasn’t even the middle stage of the western forest. You guys were about to get into big trouble. If you’re the leader, try to see yourself and your party members more objectively.”
“I’m really sorry.”
…No.
Still, this is absolutely absurd.
Full-body petrification? Monsters that inflict such debuffs never appear in the middle of the middle stage.
There must be something wrong.
“First of all, regardless of anything else, one thing is certain.”
“…What is it?”
“If things continue like this, Billim will turn into stone and die in three days.”
* * *
If things continue like this, Billim will turn into stone and die in three days.
With my words, a heavy silence fell upon the room.
“It’s because of me… Even though I didn’t ask him to join the mission…”
“No, Eran, you also had doubts. I should have stopped you…”
They blame themselves.
Hmm.
It seems like we have gathered good colleagues who don’t blame others.
But I don’t particularly like this atmosphere.
“Just a moment, Billema.”
I walked to the table, took out a piece of paper, scribbled some words, and folded it into a crane shape before throwing it out of the window.
I lightly flicked my finger and manifested ‘Wind Blade,’ causing the note to be swept away by a strong wind towards the training ground.
I hope it arrives on time.
“Three days, yes, three days… How can we heal Senior Billim’s illness in three days?”
“Well, first, we can search for herbs in the western forest…”
“That’s wrong.”
Everyone turned to look at me.
“This is a ‘curse.’ It’s not an ordinary illness. It means there is no way to heal it, whether by digging herbs or drinking potions.”
Well, if we could drink a potion like a 6-star level panacea, we might be able to get better… But there’s no way to obtain it at this moment.
“…Then what should we do?”
“Se… Senior, do you know how to solve this?”
Eran hurriedly approached and knelt in front of me.
“Senior, please. I’ll do anything. Anything, please heal Senior Billim. I can even pay you. Please.”
“Tsk, raise your head, Eran.”
“…Yes.”
“This is not your fault. Something happened that shouldn’t have happened, and you were just there at the wrong time.”
“…Is that so?”
“But objectively evaluating the party’s strength and preparing for all those variables is also the duty of a leader. So, solving this problem is also your responsibility. Understand?”
“Yes, you’re right.”
Eran nodded firmly.
I must say.
It’s not pleasant to see a guy like Eran, who always smiles, is full of energy, and never falls down, acting like this just because one of our comrades fell.
And…
“Above all, it’s strange.”
Monsters that can be turned into stone from head to toe never come out of the area where these guys entered.
If this is not just a simple accident and the ‘main story’ has already begun.
If that’s really the case, then the pace is much faster than I originally thought.
Accurate investigation is needed.
Even though I know that the development has changed from the ‘original’, where and how did it go wrong?
In the meantime, I must see with my own eyes what kind of butterfly effect has been triggered.
“Then let’s depart right away.”
“Uh, where to…?”
“We are going back to the place where you retreated. As I expected, in order to sharpen the blade, we must eliminate that fellow.”
I can roughly guess what kind of monster it is.
However, they didn’t move and just lingered.
“Is there a problem?”
“Ah, y-yes, we can go. However, we don’t have anyone to stand at the forefront now… No, as I caused this situation, I will take up the shield and stand at the forefront to sacrifice…”
“Why do you think there is no one?”
And then.
“Lord Adrian! I heard you calling!”
From afar, she with a large shield, a long sword, and a bundle of belongings on her sky-blue hair, no, ‘he’ ran briskly under the window and saluted.
“You called, so I came running immediately. I brought everything you mentioned in the note.”
“Then go down.”
Leaving the sluggish ones, he went downstairs.
What’s there to hesitate about?
We have the best front line I have raised here.