Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 60. The Setting Sun Over the Capital ②
In the royal capital’s south, at the Royal Capital Cathedral, the clergy members were gathered with worried expressions. When Bishop Powell, who was in charge, appeared, everyone stood up at once.
“Father Powell, regarding the matter we reported the other day. The water in the royal capital is abnormally tainted…”.
The young clergy member then presented several bottles of water. He said he had collected the water from various wells throughout the royal capital.
When the clergy member casts a purification spell on the water, a black mist became visible within it. Removing this with magic purified the water and granted it blessings.
It’s not uncommon for some impurities to mix into the water used in daily life. But, recently, the level of taint has increased to an abnormal level.
“If it’s this murky, it might impact the drinking water of the people living in the royal capital…”
The young clergy member’s voice was somber. Because there was no precedent for this, it was impossible to predict the extent to which it will affect the city’s water supplies.
Bishop Powell nodded with a grim expression and held up a bottle of water, holding it up to the light.
“But why suddenly…”
“Father Powell, I have one more thing to report.”
Another clergy member spoke up.
“Those who go to the slums to do charity work have received multiple reports from residents about missing people. Also… someone saw traces of the undead near the waterway…”
The clergy member’s voice became hesitant and faded towards the end of the report.
“What did you say… Could it be that the undead, has infiltrated the royal capital…?”
As the great church was supposed to be protecting the royal capital, even Bishop Powell’s voice was filled with a sense of agitation.
“Let’s go investigate immediately. The water’s contamination might be from the same cause. And someone, please report this to His Majesty.”
Bishop Powell gave instructions, prepared, and, along with over a dozen other clergy members, set off to investigate the waterways. They investigated the waterway that flowed through the slums, obtained permission from the officials in charge, and even went into the underground waterway.
However, even as night fell, Powell and the others who had gone to investigate did not return. The remaining clergy members reported to the royal castle the following day and visited the entrance of the underground waterway where Powell and the others had gone, only to find it tightly sealed with chains.
Those remaining were increasingly perplexed and directly pleaded with the Knights to investigate, but they were only answered that they would deal with the matter after the viewing subjugation which was scheduled to take place in a few days.
“You’ll need clergy members also for the viewing subjugation…! We don’t know where half of them are, including Lord Powell!”
“If there is anything wrong, it will be more likely after all the remaining immortal monsters have been cleared by the subjugation. Besides, unlike commoners, they can use a variety of magic, so there is a good chance they are okay.”*
A high-ranking knight with an unfamiliar face in the Knights’ Order replied.
Despite the normally mild-mannered clergy members pleading desperately, the Knights’ response did not change.
◆◆◆
Elliot and Emily were strolling side by side through the royal castle gardens. Emily still went to the cathedral diligently every day, so the only time they could spend together these days was after lunch and dinner.
However, the unstable state Emily had shown after the subjugation of the stray undead beasts the other day had faded away. Elliot was relieved by this. Even though they felt awkward with each other these days, Elliot told himself it was just their nerves.
The truths he had heard from Marcus and Richard swirled in his head. Even so, he couldn’t bring himself to question Emily about it.
The fact that she ’ad bestowed the holy sword upon him was the only pillar remaining to prove his choices were right. If he doubted that, everything would break apart, and the fear of it was constantly in the back of his mind.
── After the subjugation spectacle, when everything is over, I will be honest and admit the holy sword has outlived its usefulness…
What filled his mind was a wish that if he could just get through this, he would be free from this suffering. He didn’t know who he was praying to anymore.*
With Count Agreas’s help, the viewing subjugation should be completed without any flaws. He told himself over and over again that he just had to get through it and that was all he needed to do.
When he parted with Emily and returned to his room, his heart sank even more heavily.
The chipped blade of the sword he had stowed in the closet and the truth he had been told by Crown Prince Alexis tormented his mind.
His ears rang, and the words he had spoken when he knew nothing came back to him, further tormenting him.
The words he spoke with bliss, without trying to know anything, without thinking, the voice in his heart, now echoed in his mind, distorted and ugly.