I Proposed to My Childhood Friend After Regressing - Chapter 35

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

After Regression, I Proposed to My Childhood Friend
Chapter 35
“Miss Kruger, this way.”
“Oh, yes!”
At the gate leading out of the Marquis estate.
Beatrice hurried toward Cassian, who stood waiting with all preparations complete.
Today was finally the day she and Cassian would visit the Treatment Facility.
‘Phew. That took longer than I expected.’
Unlike what she’d thought—that Cassian would immediately begin touring the Marquis Territory with her—he proved surprisingly cautious.
He’d been delighted when Beatrice accepted his proposal, yet he’d waited patiently for her to prepare properly.
Basic information about the Marquis Territory, analytical reports exchanged thus far, and summaries of the current situation.
As if to prove his request for her counsel was genuine, he’d made considerable preparations to ensure she could view the circumstances from the same perspective as himself.
‘Though I did spend a few days cramming like an academy student in finals because of it…’
Still, she’d definitely gained confidence now that she wouldn’t flounder about confused.
Clutching the Notebook she’d studied diligently, Beatrice trailed after Cassian.
Beyond the estate’s walls, the landscape of Youngdo spread before them.
It was a sight she hadn’t properly observed when she first arrived, given her circumstances then.
‘Wow!’
A city with a quite different atmosphere from Hartwell County or the capital caught her eye.
People moved ceaselessly along roads where dust hung lightly in the air.
From street stalls piled with leather and dried medicinal herbs, to families naturally shopping for children’s bows, to merchants arranging packaged food at their stands.
Given the circumstances, everyone seemed to maintain a certain tension, yet strangely, the atmosphere felt free.
And what caught Beatrice’s gaze most was…
“Oh, Cassian!”
“Good day to you, young master! Has the Marquis gone to the Border?”
“Oh, Cassian. It’s been so long since the defense battle. The lady behind you—wait, have we met before?”
The distance between Cassian and the territory’s residents seemed closer than she’d expected.
‘Even my territory and Dalton Dukedom don’t have quite this feel.’
It was said that when the granary is full, leisure follows—and Hartwell County was famous throughout the empire for its unhurried, generous character.
Dalton Dukedom was a place where the people overflowed with pride.
Both houses maintained good relations with their subjects, so Clyde and she’d grown up fairly beloved, yet this place felt different.
‘How would you describe this… tight-knit?’
Yes, that was the feeling. As if they could understand each other without words, as if they could trust each other with their backs.
Perhaps the frequent Monster Attacks and the localized warfare at the Border created such relationships.
‘Come to think of it. I was curious even before the regression. Even if it was sealed as a Cursed Land, I wondered how there could be only one escapee.’
With a trust so close as this, it seemed plausible.
Cassian turned to Beatrice, opening his mouth after responding briefly to everyone who’d spoken to him.
“I apologize. My interactions keep delaying our progress.”
Beatrice waved her hand at Cassian’s words.
“It’s fine! I mean, since I arrived, I’ve been cooped up in the estate the whole time. In the prison, or the conference room, or the guest room, and…”
She deliberately mixed humor into her tone as she laughed lightly, as if this was actually welcome.
“Seeing it directly like this will be much more helpful.”
“Thank you for saying so. Would you mind if we walked about and had a light meal on the way?”
“Yes!”
How much further did they walk?
Once they turned onto a quieter side road past the main street, the surrounding noise gradually subsided.
Buildings that seemed to serve various purposes depending on circumstances stood scattered about—from hastily constructed warehouses to hastily converted lodgings, to a small workshop with medicinal herbs laid out before its door, and a warehouse crammed full of automatons.
“This place is…”
“Because the situation in the Marquis Territory changes frequently, we keep spare spaces available.”
“I see.”
“Currently, as you can see, they’re filled with medicinal materials for treatment and automatons we recovered recently. Ah, the Treatment Facility should come into view shortly.”
Beatrice’s gaze naturally drifted forward.
After walking a bit further as Cassian said, a building bearing the Kalvaron Temple Flag came into view.
The sound of groaning from not far away and the distinctive smell of simmering medicinal herbs caught her nostrils.
“Looking at the crowds gathered at the entrance, it seems we’re short on space again.”
At Cassian’s tone as if this were routine, Beatrice recalled the report she’d reviewed before arriving.
[Characteristics: Symptoms manifest differently in each case. Some are accompanied by high fever, while others collapse without warning or display convulsions and vomiting.
Commonly, in the terminal stage the skin turns dark, and the eyes become clouded white.
Furthermore, when treatment is attempted, patients report severe pain.]
[Remarks: Patient numbers are increasing rapidly. Currently investigating whether recent discoveries of Orharkon’s Magi or similar influences are responsible.]
To speak honestly, she now understood why this disease was called the “Unidentified Disease.”
All the symptoms differed, and both the timing of symptom manifestation and the timing of disease progression varied.
‘Recalling memories from before the regression, the only thing I remember clearly is that patient numbers in the Border Zone were far greater than in the Central Zone.’
As Beatrice searched her memory to see if anything else came to mind—
“Cassian!”
“Oh, it’s Cassian!”
The voices calling to Cassian from the crowd gathered at the Treatment Facility pulled her from her thoughts.
People rushed toward them like finding allies in a strange place, surrounding Cassian and Beatrice as they began voicing their grievances.
“Cassian, my child has started running a fever. It’s just a slight fever now, but I want to get treatment before it gets worse, and they told me I have to wait…”
“This bizarre disease is certainly a problem, but while we deal with this, treatment for the injured is being delayed. That fellow Isop, who lost his leg defending against a Monster Attack recently, still has his leg bound in bandages, they say.”
“Cassian! There’s a rumor that this disease is because of monsters… do you get infected by touching a monster? The Treatment Facility had my entire unit of the Defense Corps, including my wife, quarantined as a precaution, and it’s been three days, so I’ve come because I’m worried.”
Worried their voices wouldn’t reach him, people kept drawing closer until the distance between Cassian and Beatrice gradually narrowed.
Cassian’s silvery-grey eyes turned toward Beatrice again, filled with apology.
“Miss Kruger, I’m so—”
Before he could say anything more, Beatrice shook her head as if to say it was fine, then suddenly raised her hand and raised her voice.
“Excuse me, but could you all make a little space? At this rate, your precious Cassian is going to be completely flattened! Same with me.”
She deliberately stepped forward and pushed the crowd back with her body, speaking quickly before complaints could arise.
“First, about that friend of Isop’s—His Highness the Crown Prince has deployed medical personnel, so that should be resolved soon. I saw Miss Sharon moving about busily yesterday. It looks like they’re setting up an additional Treatment Facility in the Eastern District, so try going there.”
“Who are you…”
“An aide! And you sir, whose wife is in the Defense Corps—I believe the quarantine period is three days, so your wife should be released today. Head back together and get her something delicious to eat! And the baby’s mother?”
“Oh, yes, yes!”
“This place could be more dangerous, so if it’s just a slight fever, observe her condition at home. Brew Frost Herb and have her drink it—the results are fantastic!”
At her relentless stream of words, the crowd’s attention scattered for a moment.
Spotting the gap that appeared among the bustling people, Beatrice’s eyes sparkled.
‘Now’s the time!’
She grabbed Cassian’s hand and pulled him forward with commanding vigor.
“Let’s go!”
I’ll clear the way!

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