I Possessed a Game Where I Die If I Don’t Clear the Tower - Chapter 70

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 70. Countdown
“My lord?”
Noticing something odd in her reaction, Netanel Fragma called out to Camilia.
Camilia instinctively feigned indifference and responded.
“It’s nothing. I was merely dizzy for a moment—pay it no mind.”
Though Netanel Fragma clearly knew better, he said nothing more.
The perceptive Priest was certainly someone to watch.
‘Whether there’s a spy or not, now isn’t the time to be distracted. I need to deal with the Plague Lord first.’
If I failed the Quest by focusing on the wrong thing, it wouldn’t just be my Territory’s reputation that suffered—my progress through The Tower would be compromised as well.
‘But seriously, what is that spy bastard doing, conspiring with the Pantheon and demons alike… No, stop thinking about it! The Quest comes first!’
Camilia suppressed her spiraling questions and headed toward the Office.
Thanks to Rohengreen Ashen’s swift movements, all my allies had gathered in the Office.
Zehar Al Rashid, as expected, pushed Netanel Fragma aside and guided her to the seat of honor, asking, “My lord, I heard from Lord Ashen that the Plague Lord has appeared?”
Camilia gave Rohengreen Ashen a light nod of acknowledgment and answered.
“It seems the source of the plague was scattered in the Sewers.”
Nashu Shumel muttered anxiously.
“Oh, a demon-spread plague—I heard those are incredibly dangerous. Will we be all right?”
Vlad, standing beside her, responded in an indifferent tone.
“It appears every year in Stellabein. It’s nothing serious.”
Vlad was right. The Plague Lord appeared so frequently that the capital of the Fallum Empire, Stellabein, even had a dedicated department to handle plagues.
“If it had already spread, that would be one thing, but the source before it germinates isn’t that dangerous.”
Mina Alkes added to Vlad’s point, turning her gaze toward me. Then she raised her voice slightly.
“If the plague source hasn’t germinated yet, I can be of help. I’ve dealt with it before.”
Netanel Fragma, pushed back by Zehar Al Rashid, brightened his eyes.
“The plague source? That’s interesting. How did that come about?”
Mina Alkes stammered, apparently not expecting to be questioned by anyone other than me.
“Yes? Ah, my Master was quite interested in that field.”
“The plague? Quite an unusual alchemist. Might I ask their name?”
“That is… well….”
I cut in to rescue Mina Alkes from Netanel Fragma’s characteristic curiosity.
“That’s enough of that topic, Netanel Fragma. Mina Alkes, you said you’ve dealt with plague sources before?”
Mina Alkes, who had been pressing down cat ears that had nervously popped out due to the awkward question, quickly responded.
“Yes, my lord. I have dealt with them.”
“Do you also know how to eliminate them?”
“Of course. I can even create a potion to prevent the illness the source emits.”
It wasn’t bluster—it was fact. Mina Alkes’s alchemical potions were particularly effective against plague.
That’s why I made it a point to recruit her almost unconditionally during the Summer Festival.
If a plague event happened to trigger in the first year, the difficulty would vary drastically depending on whether Mina Alkes was present or not.
I was genuinely grateful that I had brought her into my service early.
Camilia settled into the chair in the Office.
“We’ll enter the Sewers in two days. Can you prepare a preventative medicine by then?”
“Yes. Fortunately, I have all the materials. It’ll be tight, but I should be able to make enough for about thirty people.”
“Good. Do that then. Zehar?”
“I’ll select capable alchemists from our ranks to assist.”
Words and deeds aligned perfectly. Camilia gently patted the back of her capable Steward’s hand before leaning against her chair to check the urgent Quest window.
Time Limit: 67 hours 48 minutes 4 seconds
Not much time remained.
But as the saying went, the more urgent the situation, the more thorough the preparation needed to be.
“Some of you have never faced the Plague Lord before, so let’s cover the basics first.”
I gave a brief explanation of the Plague Lord.
Naturally, it was extremely concise.
Just as one wouldn’t recite the transmission routes of influenza when getting vaccinated, what they needed wasn’t the Plague Lord’s history but the method to defeat it.
“S-so… if we destroy the mosquito eggs or whatever that the Plague Lord laid in the corrupted water, the plague won’t spread, right?”
Thanks to the simple explanation, even Nashu Shumel grasped the situation immediately.
Even a simple explanation deserved a reward for those who listened intently and earnestly.
I retrieved a candy from my inventory and handed it to Zehar Al Rashid, who passed it to Nashu Shumel with practiced ease.
“Wow, g-grape flavor!”
Vlad, watching the delighted Nashu Shumel with a lukewarm gaze, raised his hand.
“Question. How did you even know the Plague Lord appeared?”
Zehar Al Rashid’s eyes sharpened as if he found it rude, but only Mina Alkes seemed to notice.
Both I and Vlad exchanged words without hesitation.
“How? Obviously because it was there, so I found out.”
“But nobody else could find it. How exactly did you discover it?”
Since I couldn’t mention the Quest window, I resorted to my usual excuse.
It meant I stared meaningfully and smiled with an air of mystery.
As always, it worked perfectly.
“Fine, fine. If that’s how it is, then that’s how it is. No point trying to understand if I don’t want to.”
Vlad grumbled but seemed convinced, lowering his hand.
I patted Zehar Al Rashid, whose eyes remained sharp as he glared at Vlad, to calm him down.
“All of you might be mobilized for investigating the plague’s source. So stay alert.”
Having been betrayed more than once or twice before, I decided to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
Though I’d told Netanel Fragma it wasn’t necessary, I planned to mobilize some priests from the Golden Scales as well.
I’d also requisition personnel from the Adventurer Guild to assist.
I’d bring the Adventurer Guild Master along.
Sword Mages had high resistance and knew many status-ailment removal spells, making them perfect for situations like this.
This much should suffice, but since I was preparing anyway, I wanted to be thorough.
‘That old elf Malorik really needs to come through.’
Elves possessed one of their overpowered racial traits: ‘Disease Immunity,’ so if I could bring him along, he’d definitely be invaluable.
As I tapped the armrest of my chair, contemplating whether the plan would succeed, Zehar Al Rashid carefully opened his mouth.
“Lord Camilia, you’ll be going to the site directly again, won’t you?”
I could guess what Zehar Al Rashid wanted to say. He wished to accompany me.
I would have decided the same even without his words.
In a situation where anything could go wrong, no profession proved more useful than a mage.
“Very well. It seems I must impose upon you this time, Zehar Al Rashid.”
Perhaps he had resigned himself to remaining at the Castle alone, for his eyes widened in surprise.
“Myself as well?”
“What? Do you object?”
“Of course not. I stand ready to do whatever you command, my Lord. However….”
I could anticipate his next words, so I preempted him once more.
“Whatever you say, I shall go. Demons have crawled into my Domain—I cannot simply sit idle.”
“But how could I permit you to set foot in such a filthy place….”
Zehar Al Rashid’s eyes glistened with moisture as he approached with a pitiful expression, clearly desperate to dissuade me.
‘Yes. Simply avert your gaze when he moistens his eyes.’
Having learned the method to resist his beauty, I subtly turned my gaze away.
“I will hear no objections. Instruct the Mage Order to prepare thoroughly.”
“…Yes, my Lord.”
Unwilling to challenge my authority before his peers, Zehar Al Rashid swallowed his displeasure once more.
After issuing several additional instructions, I commanded the dismissal.
Zehar Al Rashid and Netanel Fragma were the first to be sent out.
Both had much to prepare.
“Your health is not robust, so you must rest while we make our preparations. You will retire immediately, yes? Yes?”
Zehar Al Rashid lingered even as he left the Office, fretting over whether I might overexert myself.
“I shall rest without concern.”
“Yet you say such things while never actually resting.”
In the end, I had to practically push him out.
“It seems you refuse to trust that I know my own condition best.”
I sighed before the remaining attendants and rose to my feet.
Then I stumbled slightly.
Not from dizziness—merely from treading upon my own hem.
Yet it appeared quite different to the others’ eyes.
Rohengreen Ashen’s face drained of color in an instant. He approached with a solemn, resolute expression.
“…My Lord. Would you permit me to escort you to your Bedroom?”
No, that was not it at all… I simply caught my foot….
But explaining would take too long, and truthfully, I was weary.
I had always despised the trope of a protagonist causing worry to their companions through overexertion—yet here I found myself in precisely such a situation. I swallowed my sigh and extended my hand.
“…I grant permission.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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