Chapter 317
Chapter 317: Clue and Prayer
Why on earth am I using holy magic to disinfect from insects?
You might think, “Why not just wash the sheets normally?”
However, currently, securing clean water in this town is becoming increasingly difficult.
— This is largely due to the influx of refugees from the former Defteros Kingdom, which has crammed the city’s water supply capacity.
There’s no luxury of using it for daily life, and public health seems to be deteriorating. Unlike the Defteros Kingdom, there are no large rivers in the Tritus Kingdom… Food is somehow being imported from neighboring countries, but it’s a painful issue when it comes to water.
I didn’t just volunteer for insect disinfection at this orphanage, but also at other Holy Church facilities like the poor house, yet that’s merely symptomatic treatment and doesn’t address the root cause.
I understand that.
But still, that doesn’t justify the reason to not do what I can right in front of me.
“Thank you, big brother!”
“The bugs are gone!”
The children at the orphanage were delighted. They wouldn’t be able to sleep if they were all itchy from insect bites; I totally understand how they feel.
“Hey, everyone, I want to ask you something…”
I crouched down to the children’s eye level and asked.
“Do you know someone named ‘Isabella’ or a girl named ‘Nina’?”
— There’s another reason I’m helping out here.
I made a promise to a skeleton soldier— a man named ‘Kaito’— to help his wife and daughter.
Since neither of them were in the Evaroti Autonomous District, they must have escaped from the former Defteros Kingdom.
Or perhaps they have already passed away, but… I have confirmed that they cannot be summoned through necromancy.
Are they still alive?
Or have their souls already vanished?
…I want to believe they are alive. It’s a bit presumptuous for me to say, having taken the lives of countless comrades or watched them perish.
In any case, if they are alive, both should have escaped as refugees. Many of the people from the Defteros Kingdom have taken refuge in the Tritus Principality and are scattered across various towns.
If that’s the case, asking others in similar circumstances would likely increase the odds of finding them.
After doing a surprise inspection around town with the priest Edgar—of course, the Demon Lord’s Prince was nowhere to be found—thanks to Edgar’s introduction, I am visiting the Holy Church facilities as Hero Alexander.
“Isabella and Nina?”
“Don’t know…”
“I haven’t heard of them.”
“Oh! I’ve heard the name Nina before!”
One of the children raised their hand.
“Really!? Where?”
“Um, the butcher’s wife has that name!”
“Oh… how old is she?”
“I don’t know. About the same age as the butcher, I guess?”
So it was Aunt Nina, not little Nina…
“I see… Well, it might be a bit different, but thanks!”
Just to be safe, I’ll check later. Just in case.
With the insect disinfection for the shabby orphanage done—killing bugs in the children’s bedding as well as under the floor, in the storage, even termites— I popped my head into the kitchen.
“Thank you, young lady!”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Next to the seasoned cook stirring a pot, Leila was smiling as she peeled vegetables. She seemed to be helping with the cooking. She was quite skilled. The training for Virosa’s social adaptation is really paying off! Um… her training…
“At least let’s have a meal together…”
“No, please enjoy with everyone.”
“But since Leila helped us…”
“Really, it’s fine!”
We both hesitated. I had a quick glance at the storage and didn’t feel we should be depriving them of their meager food supplies.
After saying goodbye to the children and the trainee priest, I left the orphanage.
“It was a nice place.”
While waving back at the children, I muttered to myself.
Though the children have it tough, there were smiles there nonetheless. It’s proof that support is robust, and the people at the orphanage are treating them well.
But what happens when they become adults? Once they leave the orphanage, they’ll have to fend for themselves. Many of them are likely to be incorporated into the demon lord’s army frontline in some way.
Of course, that’s assuming this country even exists by the time they come of age…
“…”
There are many shabby-looking people around here. Refugees who fled with only the clothes on their backs or those unable to work due to injuries or illness. Support isn’t keeping up—they simply lack supplies and manpower.
I can’t help but feel the difference compared to neighboring countries. That nation still has a bit of a pastoral vibe even while feeling tense.
“I need to do something about this.”
“Yes.”
Leila replied to my musing.
No matter how much I throw myself into charity work here, it won’t lead to a fundamental solution.
As long as the Demon Lord’s army exists, this situation will continue to fester like a disease in the alliance district.
— There’s no solution other than to destroy the Demon Lord Kingdom.
“Um, I heard the butcher’s wife’s name is ‘Nina’…”
“Does your wife have something she wants?”
“I think it’s likely a case of mistaken identity…”
When I visited the butcher, a very hefty, strong-willed woman came out. She looked older than the skeleton soldier Kaito. Thought so—she really was different. But just in case…
I asked the butcher about Isabella and Nina too, but it was a bust. With no other options, I headed straight to the Cortera Trading Company branch in this town.
“Hey. I was asked to deliver a letter from an acquaintance.”
I smiled while pulling out Ixel’s letter to talk to the bodyguard.
“Could you hand this to a person named ‘Paulo Hoentz’?”
Honestly, even without me getting involved, he’d probably be drafted soon… Insect extermination is best done sooner rather than later…
“Ah… Paulo isn’t here right now. He went off to the capital. Sorry about that.”
The bodyguard shrugged while scratching his head. Oh man, I was totally thrown off my game.
“Well… when will he return?”
“He went along for regular meetings with the branch chief.”
“He usually returns in about a week’s time.”
The duo of bodyguards informed me.
“I can hold onto the letter…”
“No, we’re actually heading to the capital too, so we’ll deliver it directly.”
“I guess that’d be better then.”
It seems the spies here have temporarily relocated.
To the capital… It’s the centre of the Tritus Principality, and a place where several other night elf spies are hiding; sounds perfect. I’ll clean house all at once…!
So that day was spent searching for Isabella and Nina until dark, but I found nothing. If the locals and even the Defteros refugee community have no leads, then it seems they aren’t in this town.
Because I had left my luggage at the Holy Church, I ended up spending the night not at an inn but at the Holy Church.
“No one would believe that the Demon Lord’s Prince is being taken care of by the Holy Church…”
Even I wouldn’t have believed that in my heyday!
Fortunately or unfortunately, the staff members of the Holy Church in this town were so busy with various things that they didn’t have the time to pry into my background, maintaining a respectful distance.
“Oh, fancy meeting you here again.”
Just as I was thinking that, I unexpectedly ran into Edgar, one of the few exceptions.
“How did the search for the person go?”
“It was a no-go. It seems they aren’t in this town.”
I shook my head weakly.
“I see… That’s too bad. Do you have any other leads?”
“For now, I’m thinking of heading to the capital tomorrow. I can only pray that I find them safely there. It was a short time, but thank you for guiding me, Edgar.”
This guy seems not only to have a sharp intuition but also interest in me and Leila’s situation, which is quite a nuisance.
He’s not a bad guy, though…! For now, I’m relieved I could slip away.
“Ah, so you’re going to the capital?”
But for some reason, Edgar smiled and nodded.
“What a coincidence, I was also planning to head to the capital tomorrow. There’s space in the carriage, so why don’t you join me?”
Aaaaahhhhhh!!!
And so, I ended up heading towards the capital of the Tritus Principality—Todomarl—alongside Edgar.
