The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 57

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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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Episode 57
‘Just changing my hair color makes such a difference in how people see me.’
With the elegant uniform Nema had tailored, I looked like I belonged to a powerful household.
I was admiring my reflection in the window when Verity shared something surprising.
“Peks modified the Magical Device for you.”
“He did?”
“This device avoids detection by other tracking devices. We actually tested it in the village, and it works. His skills are impressive—true to his background as a former device technician.”
“Wow, our village is full of talented people.”
I turned to Nema and grinned.
“Someone who can make such beautiful clothes too!”
Nema blushed with pleasure.
We left the Deste Estate immediately.
Only then did Nema voice the question she’d been holding back.
“Those employees we saw earlier… the ones you mentioned before……”
“They’re Undead.”
“All of them?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“……Dalis was terribly upset.”
Nema murmured sadly.
Among the Undead servants were people Dalis had been close to.
The image of her swallowing her tears alone was still vivid in my mind.
‘That’s why I can never forgive the Emperor.’
Whatever scheme was being plotted at the Antema Research Institute, I would stop it—and restore the herb trade to its proper order.
“By the way, miss.”
Verity asked me.
“What about Angel, who can’t put on pants by herself?”
“I sent word the day before.”
“You’re efficient.”
The Deste Territory, visited again, was still bustling with people.
The procession of those coming to pray at the Sacred Shrine had grown far longer. Now the line stretched beyond the fortress gate, disappearing from view.
“All those people……”
“Are they all patients?”
Ian and Nema frowned with sympathy.
Verity and I, meanwhile, felt relief.
“The atmosphere seems better than before?”
“It does. The priests are managing the crowds well now. The territorial residents look much more at ease because of it.”
“This is better?”
Ian shook his head slightly, disbelieving.
We headed toward the Sacred Shrine.
As we drew closer, I could overhear the conversations of those waiting in line.
“The priests here don’t turn away any patient and perform healing magic……”
“After praying and drinking a cup of the Medicinal Spring Water, your body feels noticeably lighter.”
“This is my first time here—Medicinal Spring Water, you say? Isn’t it Holy Water?”
“Holy Water can only be made by saints or holy women. The Medicinal Spring Water here is blessed water that the priests consecrated through prayer all night.”
“With an Angel descending upon this Sacred Shrine, the effects are……!”
From what I overheard, the Deste Temple was doing as I’d asked—keeping both the miracle of the well and Dultebeia hidden.
‘Of course they would. It wouldn’t serve their interests to expose it.’
The Deste Temple was rapidly becoming known as Sacred Ground.
Naturally, more visitors came to the Deste Territory, revenue increased, and the region enjoyed an unexpected economic boom.
‘……But I can’t celebrate that.’
It was a sorrowful thing, turning someone else’s pain into money.
That was when it happened.
A familiar mop of red hair caught my eye.
“Priest! Priest Cherdo!”
“Young lady!”
At first, Cherdo in casual clothes looked at us with suspicion, but he soon recognized me and began swinging his arm like a puppy’s tail.
Behind the priest was a small carriage waiting.
“Thank you for coming. I’ll escort you to the station.”
Once we climbed into the carriage, we exchanged introductions lightly.
“This is Priest Cherdo from the Deste Temple. Priest, these two are Ian and Nema. And this is my faithful butler, Verity.”
“May you receive God’s blessing. Please, call me Cherdo.”
After the introductions, Cherdo approached me with a grave expression.
“Miss Clavis.”
“Yes?”
“Have you seen the newspaper articles recently?”
“About the Southern Region?”
I was familiar with the articles reporting that Crape Myrtle Illness was spreading through the Southern Region.
But what Cherdo brought up was far more serious than that.
“It’s not just the south. Cases of Crape Myrtle Illness are emerging across other regions now, and mutated strains have been reported in some areas.”
“What?”
While everyone recoiled in shock, only Verity narrowed her eyes, her expression darkening.
“…The likelihood of this being false is rather high.”
Cherdo nodded grimly.
“It could be true, of course, but they may be euphemistically describing faster transmission rates due to an initial shortage of medicine compared to the previous year.”
“Which means…”
I narrowed one eye.
“The situation outside could be far worse than we anticipated.”
The Crape Myrtle Illness was merely the tip of the iceberg; there was a strong possibility the truly grave crisis had yet to surface.
That was precisely what troubled Cherdo.
“The fact that there haven’t been any reported deaths so far is almost a miracle, but…”
Perhaps they simply weren’t being reported.
In truth, countless people across the country may already be experiencing terrible despair from their inability to obtain herbs.
“That said, I have a request for you.”
Cherdo asked carefully.
“Would it be possible to distribute the medicine made from Dultebeia to other regions?”
“Of course. Are you not running short on herbs?”
“Thanks to the soil you provided, it’s growing rapidly. We’ve managed to stockpile quite a lot of dried Dultebeia.”
The soil from the Primordial Forest proved effective; when mixed into the garden beds, the Dultebeia was sprouting like bamboo shoots, proliferating wildly.
‘Even if we manage to bring the herb supply back to normal by destroying the research institute, there will still be people so far gone that they can’t be saved by these medicines.’
A disease that could once be treated quickly with cheap herbs now couldn’t be treated except with legendary herbs. What a cruel turn of events.
‘Like trying to block a breaking dam with a hoe.’
Damn that Emperor Jonsina.
The Deste Station we arrived at was equally crowded with people.
We entered the station, built solidly from old brick, and made our way to the platform.
“Hebenia, come here.”
Ian clicked his tongue at the throngs of people and lifted me into his arms.
From the elevated vantage point, something distinctive caught my eye.
‘More people are getting off than boarding.’
And without exception, all of them had pallid complexions. They seemed to have come seeking the Temple as a last glimmer of hope, desperate to find herbs.
A notice was posted on the wall leading to the platform.
[Notice: Additional Train Service]
The notice announced that, due to a recent increase in visitors, additional trains to Deste would be added to the schedule.
At the bottom of the notice was written:
[Clavis Railway Company]
We boarded the train with its diamond-shaped lock depicted in classical style, and as soon as we stepped into our cabin, we opened the window.
Cherdo, who had been searching for us outside, approached the window.
“You’ve brought the ring Saker gave you, yes?”
“Yes.”
I recalled the White Jade Ring I’d placed in my pocket.
“Please convey my thanks to the High Priest. I’ll do my best not to need to use it.”
“When the time comes, please use it without hesitation. Otherwise, Saker will only suffer more.”
A piercing whistle wailed through the station.
Platform attendants wielded batons, forcing space between the train and the crowds of well-wishers.
“I wish you safe travels.”
Cherdo, stepping back, traced the Sign of the Cross.
“Go well.”
The train departed, noisily expelling pale smoke.
* * *
The train ticket Cherdo had arranged for us was a first-class cabin, no less.
The small space, perhaps a third of a standard room, had a door and wall separating it from the corridor within the car, with curtains hung to ensure privacy.
The cabin was spacious and plush enough to nap in if necessary, with wide chairs positioned along each wall.
A small folding table sat at the center of the window, and an iron shelf for hanging a bed was installed in the ceiling.
“I could sleep up there, couldn’t I?”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Ian drew a curtain over the glass window that opened onto the corridor.
I unfolded the folding table, and Ian placed the train schedule he’d received from Cherdo on it.
“When we arrive at Trans Station, the junction point, we’ll wait an hour there before boarding the train to Antema.”
“An hour to kill.”
“Hebenia, you’re not going to sleep and get left behind, are you?”
“If I do, I’ll march straight back to the village and tattle on you to Livy.”
Light conversation drifted between us.
It was deliberately casual.
“Pardon me.”
A porter knocked and stepped inside.
“I’ve come to check your tickets.”
“Here they are.”
Ian produced the tickets.
The porter punched a small hole in each and handed them back.
“I hope you have a pleasant journey.”
With a courteous if perfunctory bow, the porter moved to the next compartment.
Ian watched through the door crack until the porter passed into the adjacent car, then slipped out to survey the other cabins before returning.
“It’s packed. Most look like nobles or wealthy merchants.”
“They were likely passengers who boarded with us at Deste Station—Sacred Shrine visitors.”
“Then….”
Click.
I sealed the space with a barrier at the same moment Verity began a spell to contain any sound that might leak outside.
At last we had conditions fit for honest speech.
“Damn that worthless Emperor.”
I unleashed the curses I’d been holding back, as if they’d been waiting for their moment.
Nema gasped in shock at my colorful language and pressed both hands over her mouth.
“Hebenia….”
Ian shut his eyes tight, then opened them and fixed me with a stern look of warning.
But I didn’t yield.
“Still, the Emperor’s a disaster, isn’t he? How many people are suffering because of that bastard? Honestly, even cursing him feels like a waste.”
“Which is why you shouldn’t curse.”
“…If you put it that way.”
Less than an hour had passed from our departure at the village to boarding the train.
In that time, we’d become painfully aware of just how mad the Emperor’s actions were, and how thoroughly they were destroying the realm.
“…But.”
I hated bringing this up.
Yet it felt like something that needed to be said.
“The country’s falling apart, and yet somehow it’s still functioning. It’s unsettling. Strange, even.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Take this very train we’re on, for instance.”
“The train?”
Nema’s eyes widened as understanding dawned on her.
Ian and Verity came to the same realization.
“This belongs to Clavis.”
One of the properties I was set to inherit.

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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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