Chapter : 108

Ergot poisoning.

If it were an overly severe case, it would be difficult to treat, but otherwise, it was actually easy.

It was simply a matter of not eating the contaminated rye.

No.

‘The best way is to burn it all so they don’t even think of eating it.’

For something that had such a massive impact on people, it was a very simple solution.

However, there was something a little strange about the current situation….

‘But why was the Baroness the first to be afflicted with madness?’

Nobles rarely ate rye. And even if they did, they wouldn’t have consumed enough to bring on madness.

‘Something smells fishy here.’

An abnormal situation.

The scent of conspiracy was very strong.

Then, a memory suddenly surfaced in my mind.

The very conspiracy the King of the Elang Kingdom often used to bring down lords.

If my memory served me right, there was a high possibility that this situation was also an extension of the king’s schemes.

‘Good.’

Having finished my thoughts, I grinned and spoke to Rodric, who still had a flushed expression.

“I will help you.”

“Subjugation! You can’t. Even if you are the Margrave, you cannot cross this bridge leading an army!”

“Now, now. When did I say anything about subjugation? I will literally help you.”

“Pardon? What do you mean by that….”

Sir Rodric tilted his head in bewilderment. It seemed the elf knights and Magician Agpiel were thinking the same thing.

And for good reason.

They had never heard of treating or resolving such a matter.

“I am a Knight of Faith, recognized by the Holy See. The Sacred Guardian of Bellua. As one who shares the same faith, how could I turn a blind eye to this tragic situation?”

“??”

As I suddenly put on the act of a man of faith, the expression of Magician Agpiel, who knew the truth, twisted strangely. But regardless of him, I continued speaking.

“Therefore, I will gladly borrow the power of God to resolve this terrible situation.”

“W-what does that….”

“Ahem. Are you now ignoring the words of me, to whom the Holy See has granted a title?”

“N-no, that’s not it….”

As Sir Rodric sweated profusely, the goat beastman Bishop Marco once again shrieked and interjected.

“Meeeeh! Our lord is a Performer of Miracles! Do you dare not to believe! Merr.”

“That’s right! Human knight. Our lord is one who is beloved by God!”

“He will resolve a mere curse like that completely.”

In the end.

“I, I understand. I will escort you to the lord’s castle.”

Sir Rodric succumbed to the atmosphere. No, in fact, he might have wanted it this way.

That was how bad the situation in the Barony of Vigneux was.

“W-we are moving with His Excellency!”

“Destination: Baron Vigneux’s lord’s castle!”

“Giddy-up, giddy-up!”

And immediately, my attendants and I crossed the bridge and headed for Baron Vigneux’s castle.

I wonder what circumstances awaited there.

As I stepped into the storm of conspiracy, a sense of enjoyment rather than tension took precedence.

‘This is interesting.’

I raised the corners of my mouth and looked at the distant castle of the Barony of Vigneux.

I didn’t know how hard the king must have prepared.

But the fruit of that labor.

‘I will enjoy it well.’

And very deliciously at that.

***

The baron’s castle was not very far.

Twenty minutes after crossing the bridge, a small castle could be seen nestled between the foothills.

Magician Agpiel, now that things had come to this, wanted to resolve it quickly. He swiftly had someone shout to the surroundings.

“The Performer of Miracles has arrived!”

“You who are sick! You who tremble in fear! The devout Margrave himself has come to put an end to this situation!”

“Everyone, clear the way!”

At that, the people who had been on guard, thinking it was an invasion, were startled and cleared a path. No, rather, the people flocked and cheered at the news that someone had come to end the terrible tragedy.

“Ooh-! Merciful Margrave. Save us.”

“Please help us. People are dying.”

At this point, it was the guards gathered at the lord’s castle who were in a difficult position.

“What is going on?”

“What should we do?”

“They are coming in just like this, Garrison Commander! Should we block the gate?”

They thought it was an invasion, but it wasn’t! They desperately requested orders from above, but what came back was.

“N-no. W-wait a moment…!”

It was the voice of the equally flustered Garrison Commander.

‘What on earth is happening?’

‘I heard the domain was sealed off. Did the Baron request support?’

The Garrison Commander racked his brain.

But he could not find an answer to the current situation. All he could do was watch the army approach with a dazed expression.

And in the meantime.

The army arrived in front of the lord’s castle.

***

“H-halt! Who are you to have brought an army!”

“The Margrave, the Margrave of Bellua.”

“?”

At my words, the Garrison Commander’s eyes went wide.

“M… Margrave of Bellua? Do you mean the famous Knight of Faith, the Performer of Miracles, the Margrave beloved by God?”

I was momentarily flustered by the more dazzling titles than I had expected.

“…Yes.”

“But why are you here…?”

Before he could even finish his thought, I quickly opened my mouth.

“On my way, I heard the voice of God. It told me to help the Barony of Vigneux, which is suffering through an unfortunate event. So, open the way.”

“Pardon?”

“Did you not hear me? I said to move aside so I can meet the baron.”

“B-but, the entry of outsiders is prohibi….”

The Garrison Commander stammered. But in times like these, there was always one problem-solver to take care of things in one go.

“Meeeeeeeeh!”

It was Bishop Marco.

“An outsider, you say. Merr!”

“O-of course you are an outsider, Bishop.”

“Meeeh! Our lord. He hears the voice of God and acts as His agent! How can he be an outsider! Meeeeeeeeeeh!”

It was absurd logic, but it was different when the person making the argument was a bishop.

“I, I understand.”

The Garrison Commander, thrown into confusion, could only nod in the end, just like Sir Rodric.

Normally, he should have blocked the way.

There were procedures, after all.

But the Garrison Commander was persuaded by the shameless and confident attitude. Sir Rodric, who had followed along, also seemed to have played a part.

“Please come in. I will guide you.”

On the contrary, the Garrison Commander dismissed the guards and personally guided us. Thanks to him, my army was able to enter the lord’s castle without resistance.

“Hmm….”

The state of the castle was indeed not good. Sick people, suffering from madness, were seen lying on the streets, and the smell of rotting corpses and a pungent, burnt odor filled the air.

‘They said they were waging a war, but the entire domain has been devastated. It will take a long time for the barony to recover.’

Thinking so, I entered the office inside the inner castle.

There was a scuffle with the baron’s attendants at the door, but with the Garrison Commander and Sir Rodric stepping forward, the opposition was easily suppressed.

“What? A-are you mad? And what are you all doing!”

The seated Baron Vigneux shot up as if on a spring. He pointed his finger at the Garrison Commander, Sir Rodric, and me, and flared up in anger.

“Put your finger down. That is quite rude, Baron Vigneux.”

“Uh, ah-?”

Looking at the bewildered Baron Vigneux, I continued.

“I was on my way to meet the Duke of Bourgogne when I happened to hear your story and came to help. I heard you are suffering from a witch’s curse?”

“What is that….”

A look of utter bewilderment was plain on Baron Vigneux’s face. The two domains had had no interaction until now. And yet, for me to show up unannounced and offer help.

Even I wouldn’t believe it.

But what could be done?

My soldiers had already entered the inner castle.

“They say your wife is showing signs of hallucination, yes? I hear she also says strange things?”

“!!”

At those words, Baron Vigneux was horrified. He opened his mouth to shout for his soldiers but couldn’t bring himself to speak and shut his mouth.

The knight and pikemen standing behind me.

My words just now were no different from a threat.

“Just not Alena…. you can’t.”

Baron Vigneux said with a pale face. It seemed he thought I was going to kill Alena, the Baroness.

“You have a rich imagination, Baron Vigneux.”

I chuckled at his words.

“I am only here to help you. I will cure the Baroness. She is merely sick.”

“Sick…?”

“Yes, sick. A very simple illness.”

I nodded. At that, Baron Vigneux’s pale face gradually began to return to its original color.

And I.

“I know how to cure the Baroness. I also know how to break the witch’s curse that has been cast on your domain. So, will you help me calm this situation?”

I said, looking at Baron Vigneux.

As if it were my own domain.

But Baron Vigneux no longer seemed to care. In his half-dazed state, it seemed all he heard was that a cure was possible.

“I will help. If you can only cure Alena! Of course….”

“Good! Then first, please summon your vassals. There are too many things to be done.”

The state of the barony was at its worst, and Baron Vigneux was in a state of confusion over the condition of his wife, Alena.

Thanks to that, it was very easy to temporarily occupy the barony.

***

I immediately sent a messenger to summon the administrator and the baron’s vassals.

Although it was strange for an outside lord, even a high-ranking noble, to give such detailed orders, no one dared to protest.

It was because my soldiers, who had occupied the inner castle, were stationed throughout the lord’s castle.

“Do you really know?”

“Know what, Agpiel?”

“The cure for this madness.”

At Magician Agpiel’s question, I grinned and told him to watch.

And first, I ordered the administrator to burn all the rye.

At the promise that their rye would be exchanged for wheat, people vied with each other to take the lead in burning it.

At the same time, measures for the severely ill patients were also carried out.

“Those in poor condition must be managed intensively and separately.”

“What should we do?”

“Is there any honey in this vicinity?”

“Fortunately, beekeeping is our main source of income, so we have an abundance.”

“Then have them drink water mixed with honey and salt. Their symptoms should improve.”

To feed them expensive honey and salt!

The baron’s vassals looked at me with expressions of doubt. But as time passed and the severely ill patients began to recover one by one, the doubt soon turned into praise.

As the witch’s curse situation gradually calmed down, I made the next preparation.

Curing the Baroness.

The Baroness still had not escaped from her madness.

‘In that case, there’s only one possibility. Someone is still feeding the Baroness contaminated rye.’

Having organized my thoughts, I immediately called for the elf knights.

“Take soldiers and imprison all of the Baroness’s attendants.”

“There will be backlash if we touch the nobles, will that be alright?”

‘Since when did you care about such things?’

I was slightly taken aback but quickly composed myself and said.

“The tide has already turned, who would dare to protest? Still, if they do protest…. beat them soundly.”

“Oh, I understand, Your Excellency.”

As I had expected, there was no backlash.

People simply assumed I had some plan and let it go. Thanks to that, I could see Baron Vigneux was flustered, but that was none of my concern.

And a few days later.

The Baroness, who had been eating clean water and wheat bread, finally regained her senses.

“Thank you, Margrave.”

“Haha, don’t mention it. Are we not neighboring domains? We should help each other in times of hardship.”

“Ah-! Truly…. you are honorable.”

In a way, the curse(?) that had fallen upon the barony vanished so easily it felt almost anticlimactic.

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