Chapter : 45

He really looks like a wizard-!

That was my first thought upon seeing the Great Sage of the Forest.

The wizard who opened the door and entered was an old man wrapped in a long robe that hung down to his legs.

The rather thin old man had a magnificent white beard and held a staff as large as his own height.

A truly typical image of a wizard.

"Oh!"

"?"

"Ah, my apologies. Welcome."

Realizing my rudeness, I quickly smiled and welcomed him. The wizard grinned and gave a slight nod.

"I understand. It's a pleasure to meet you, Margrave. I am Agpiel, a wizard of the Arpen Forest."

Wizard Agpiel was relaxed, as if he had often received such curious and wary gazes.

"So, what brings you here? Wizard Agpiel."

"I was on my way to solve this epidemic problem at the request of the Canton City Council. But I saw the Margrave's banner in this village, so I came here."

"Oh?"

The Great Sage of the Forest.

Wizard Agpiel was a unique NPC who moved freely in [Pangea Universalise]. A sort of Hua Tuo from the Three Kingdoms?

A cheat-like character who solves problems when special events occur. And he's here?

It seems the Canton City Council wasn't just sitting on its hands. To be able to move such a big shot.

"I have been delegated the authority of the Canton City Council and have been given full power to temporarily quell this situation. That is why I have come to this village."

"Ah-! So you came here for treatment?"

"That's right. I saw the Margrave's banner and was worried you might have been infected, so I came here in a hurry."

"Hmm…."

At Agpiel's words, I awkwardly twitched the corner of my mouth and glanced at Captain Konrad and Bishop Marco.

They seemed quite perplexed as well.

"Mehehehe."

"……."

"Ahem."

What should I say to this?

Should I tell him that I have already dealt with the curse? Wouldn't that make the wizard feel embarrassed?

I just met this precious wizard, and I want to get friendly with him. Thanks to that, an awkward silence filled the room.

Fortunately, it was Agpiel who broke the silence first.

"Why, has the Margrave also been infected with this disease?"

"Hmm, that's not it."

"Then? Why is that? Everyone is looking at me with an awkward expression."

As expected of a wizard, he was really quick-witted. I cleared my throat and cautiously opened my mouth.

"Ahem, about that epidemic, Agpiel."

"Yes."

"I am grateful that you have come this far, and I am thankful that you were worried about me, but I have already solved everything."

"????"

"The epidemic in the village has already been completely cured."

"????????"

* * *

In the past, nobles did not look upon wizards with a very favorable eye.

Unlike the noble society, which was tightly bound by the vassal relationship of loyalty and honor, the thoroughly calculating and meticulous wizards were on the opposite side.

So, just the fact that this young Margrave had shown him a favorable (though it seemed to be more mixed with curiosity) gaze was enough for Agpiel to give him a high score.

But to be so mischievous?

It seemed this person was just like any other noble.

Agpiel smiled bitterly and said.

"Hmm. The Margrave seems to enjoy playing pranks."

He probably expected him to apologize and feel embarrassed for the prank around this point.

However, contrary to Agpiel's thoughts, the young Margrave's expression remained unchanged.

And so did the vassals around him.

'Could it be…?'

Did he really cure the epidemic? While he, the Great Sage of the Forest, was just about to come out of seclusion to solve it? But it seemed this guess was true.

Just in case, he followed the Margrave's guidance and surveyed the village, which had already been freed from the threat of the epidemic.

Thanks to this, for the first time since becoming a Great Sage, Agpiel could only let out a hollow laugh of futility.

"Hah…. Haha."

* * *

"They say you are a performer of miracles, and you truly are amazing, Margrave. To stabilize an epidemic in such a short time…."

"Ahem. Where did you hear that from?"

"That goat beastman over there told me. Hoho."

"You don't believe it, do you?"

When I asked, Agpiel grinned and shrugged.

"I don't know what method you used, but it does seem like a miracle. How on earth did you cure it? This epidemic."

"Oh? You knew it wasn't a curse?"

At that, Agpiel replied as if I had said something absurd.

"If there were such a powerful curse that could be applied to such a wide area, would we be able to be here like this? Besides, curses don't work in this form."

"Oh-!"

"Furthermore, the symptoms I confirmed are typical of an epidemic. Although it's a bit unusual that there's only diarrhea and vomiting without high fever or other symptoms."

"Mmm, mmm."

It felt like I had met a true intellectual after a long time. A person who makes such rational judgments!

Until now, I felt like a two-eyed person in a one-eyed country, but finally, there was someone I could talk to.

I nodded my head in awe, filled with emotion.

"……?"

'This young Margrave seems a little strange, unlike the rumors.'

Of course, the gaze of the Great Sage Agpiel looking at me seemed a little strange.

"So how did you cure it? If you tell me the method, I will reward you. In particular, I will answer any question you have."

"Oh?"

"That damn 'oh.' Why do nobles always have the same reaction?"

Agpiel grumbled, perhaps because I was being too blatant. I let out a hollow laugh in embarrassment.

"Ahem. My apologies. Isn't magic something that is hard to come by?"

Wizards were so rare that even a great noble like me had a hard time seeing one.

In [Pangea Universalise], wizards were not hireable characters but event characters that you just passed by.

In that sense, it was only natural to be amazed to see a wizard in person!

"Actually, it's nothing special, Agpiel."

"Hah. Even if it's nothing special, I will listen carefully if you explain it to me."

Agpiel urged in a subtle voice. In fact, he had come to quell this situation at the request of the dwarves, but he had not yet found a proper solution. It was a matter of considerable loss of face.

'What's with this guy?'

Of course, for me, who didn't know this fact, it was just puzzling.

"Curing the epidemic was really nothing special. In fact, this disease is not fatal."

"Not fatal? For that, everyone was suffering and dying from it, Margrave."

"Have you tried giving them water? People need to constantly replenish their fluids, and this disease is one that continuously drains fluids."

"Of course, I did. I even boiled the water and gave them cooled water."

Agpiel said as if it were a matter of course. Even at a medieval level, a wizard intellectual called a Great Sage had that much common sense.

Of course, that was as far as it went.

"Did you just give them water?"

"Then? Should I have given them something else? When I gave them food, they just vomited everything, so it was useless…."

"No. Didn't you mix something else in the water?"

Agpiel replied as if disappointed by my answer.

"Hmm? Are you talking about things like spices or myrrh that the fake mystics on the street talk about?"

Mystics from the East claimed that fragrance could heal all things, but to Agpiel, it was nothing more than a trick to sell the already expensive spices at a high price.

If the Margrave's treatment method was that, it would be very disappointing.

Noticing Agpiel's thoughts, I smiled bitterly.

"Of course not. I was asking if you added things like salt and honey or sugar."

"????"

"What's with that expression?"

"Ah, no, it's not that. It's just that you mentioned salt. Isn't salt used to purify wicked things? I was just wondering if it was a real curse."

"……."

For some reason, my trust in Agpiel suddenly dropped. As if reading my thoughts, Agpiel hurriedly said.

"Ah, of course, it wouldn't be a curse. You also think it's an epidemic, don't you? I think so too. Ahem."

"Yes, well, that's right, but…."

"Still, it's surprising! Salt and sugar? Why on earth? Is there a reason?"

Agpiel was curious, but it was difficult for me to explain the details.

'I have to explain the basic parts of modern medicine…. To be honest, I don't know enough to explain it.'

Well, it couldn't be helped. I had to give a plausible answer that would suit the people of this era.

"Why is human blood often compared to wine?"

"Hmm, that's right."

"The loss of fluids means the loss of human fluids, which is the same as saying that our body's most important blood is disappearing. Therefore, we must drink water that is as close to our blood as possible."

'Hmm…. Is it working?'

I wondered what kind of nonsense I was spouting, but I tried to explain it as plausibly as possible. To my surprise, Agpiel nodded his head.

"Oh, I didn't know the Margrave knew about the four-humor theory. It's quite plausible. Since it's a disease where a lot of bodily fluids are lost, it can be cured by drinking water similar to the bodily fluids, that is, blood-! It's a great discovery."

"Do you understand?"

"Is there a more rational answer than this? It's much easier to understand than the miracles people talk about."

Well, for me, the four-humor theory and miracles were both close to superstition, but fortunately, it seemed to suit Agpiel's taste.

"Hmm, then have you found the answer to the treatment? Agpiel."

"Well, I've found the answer, but…. it's not certain yet, is it, Margrave?"

"Hmm?"

"Won't you go with me to Canton City? If you help me treat the people there and prove the treatment method, it will be very certain, won't it?"

"……."

"No, I'm not trying to change my words."

Agpiel said hurriedly, having seen my expression.

"Isn't what you want to know what magic is, and how to learn it?"

"Oh?"

How did this guy know?

"The questions that young nobles like you ask are always the same, aren't they? Especially when I see those curious eyes, I can tell at a glance."

Agpiel grinned and replied. The way he answered so quickly showed that this was not the first time he had experienced this.

"I will slowly explain the questions you have about magic on our way. In return, please help me. Canton City is being devastated. To be honest, I can't do it alone."

"Hmm…."

"If you help, I will give you a special reward in addition to this one. What do you say?"

-Tiriring!

[You have received a proposal from the Great Sage of the Forest, Agpiel. If you help him stop the epidemic in Canton City, you will receive a great reward.]