THJDM 77

Office of the Imperial Knights’ Spirit Division

The members had just finished their morning training and were taking a short break when their captain, Roy, brought up a topic.

“Have you all heard? The epidemic spreading in the south doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all.”

“Of course. That’s all the newspapers are talking about. I heard there are even mutations appearing now — people are really starting to panic.”

Anxious murmurs broke out among the knights.

Lubyana, completely drained from a week of basic combat drills, sat quietly and listened to her comrades’ conversation without saying a word.

Roy spoke again.

“If things get worse, they’re planning to send a second relief squad. Apparently, our division might be included.”

“Ah… so it’s come to that.”

The knights’ expressions darkened all at once.

As a unit specialized in combat, the Spirit Division didn’t enjoy being sent on missions that had nothing to do with fighting.

The recent flood recovery mission in the eastern provinces had been one such unpleasant experience.

Before the atmosphere could get any gloomier, Roy hurried to add,

“But that region gets frequent pirate attacks. If we go, it sounds like we’ll be assigned to coastal defense duty. Nothing’s set in stone yet, though.”

At that, everyone’s faces brightened again.

“Oh, that’s a relief.”
“Yeah.”
“Exactly. It’s hell dealing with sick people without divine power or medical skill. I’d rather roll around in the dirt and fight till I bleed.”

Most nodded in agreement.

‘An epidemic in the south… that wasn’t in the original story.’

Lubyana searched her memories of the novel but found no mention of any epidemic.

In fact, there wasn’t even an episode where the Crown Prince personally carried out an imperial mission.

‘Don’t tell me… this is another scheme orchestrated by the Empress?’

It was a reasonable suspicion.

As she thought about how the current situation had completely diverged from the original story, she recalled what Carcea had once told her —

The novel, she said, was just a “door.”

The world Lubyana was in now and the one described in the story were completely separate realities.

Until now, Lubyana had assumed Carcea was wrong.

But hearing that the Spirit Division might be dispatched to the south made her wonder if Carcea had been right all along.

And that realization scared her.

‘If the original story doesn’t matter anymore… then all my knowledge is useless. And so much for any “reincarnator advantage.”’

Goosebumps ran up her arms as she thought about it — she might not receive the love, the affection, or the happy ending the original Lubyana had.

‘No. That can’t be true.’

Holding on to the faint hope that the main storyline would remain intact even if minor events changed, Lubyana gulped down a glass of cold water.

Late at night — nearly midnight.

Elion made a discreet visit to the Imperial Palace.

“I greet Your Majesty.”

“Ah, Elion. Come in. What brings you here at this hour?”

Emperor Christopher greeted his younger brother with a mix of warmth and tension.

Elion’s face was grave as he got straight to the point.

“Brother, do you remember the group of dark magicians who broke through the capital’s barrier — the McKinnon Guild?”

“Of course. If I recall, they cleared out their hideout in the capital and fled afterward.”

“While tracking them, I discovered a few weeks ago that they headed south.”

“The south?”

Christopher frowned.

He had a bad feeling about what was coming next.

Elion continued his report, his expression unreadable.

“Soon after that, an epidemic began spreading through the southern regions.”

“You mean to tell me… McKinnon is behind this outbreak as well?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Elion handed over a stack of documents.

As Christopher flipped through them, his hands began to tremble.

“Are you saying this poison is the same one used in the Kurmon Incident?”

“That’s correct.”

Christopher remembered reading about the Kurmon case in the history books — a grotesque, fearsome incident that had terrorized the capital’s nobility fifty years ago.

“I sent a few physicians in secret to verify it. They’ve completed all their tests. I only delayed my report because they were finalizing a treatment. My apologies.”

“What? You mean they’ve developed a cure?”

“Yes, brother. They’ve prepared not only a remedy for the original Kurmon disease, but also for its mutated strain. If you assign me to the second relief squad, I can ensure it’s deployed immediately.”

“Half the Imperial Physicians’ Corps is already down south. You’re saying the doctors you sent did what they couldn’t?”

Christopher’s tone was incredulous.

Elion had a reputation for accomplishing the impossible — and though that made the Emperor proud, it sometimes stirred an uncomfortable envy.

This, however, was almost unbelievable.

“They’re exceptional physicians,” Elion replied calmly.

Christopher let out a dry, incredulous laugh.

The imperial doctors were the best in the Empire — yet Elion had found people even better? And those physicians were working under him?

“Finding and recruiting such talent… that’s just like you,” the Emperor said, smiling faintly.

But Elion didn’t return the smile.

He knew that once his next report was delivered, that smile would disappear completely.

Christopher turned another page.

“McKinnon wouldn’t have done all this without a reason. Who’s backing them?”

“Their benefactor is still under investigation. We’re gathering evidence and witnesses carefully. However, there was… another incident.”

Elion handed over a second report.

Christopher flipped through it quickly — and then his face contorted in fury.

“Lady Payson was attacked?! Those bastards!”

“She wasn’t injured, but she suffered considerable psychological trauma.”

“…I can imagine.”

Christopher scowled and kept reading.

By the time he reached the final page, his face flushed an angry red.

“The assassin who poisoned McKinnon’s men was paid in imperial gold coins?!”

“Yes. Which leads me to believe that McKinnon’s backers may have ties to the Imperial family.”

Christopher’s jaw tightened; his teeth ground audibly as rage flickered in his eyes.

Elion continued evenly,

“Alternatively, they may be attempting to frame the Imperial family — using imperial coins intentionally to mislead us.”

“…”

“I have no solid proof yet. I intend to investigate further, keeping all possibilities open.”

“No proof, perhaps… but you must have a suspicion.”

Christopher’s sharp gaze pierced his brother.

Elion nodded slowly.

“I do. But I don’t have enough yet to trouble Your Majesty with details. Once I’ve gathered sufficient evidence and witness testimony, I’ll report back.”

“…Very well.”

After Elion left, Christopher remained alone, reading through the documents again in silence.

Every piece of evidence was airtight.

From sabotaging the capital’s barrier and summoning monsters, to attacking an innocent young noblewoman, to spreading an epidemic in the south — all of it led back to the McKinnon Guild.

And behind McKinnon… possibly someone from the Imperial family itself.

Christopher stared hard at the line mentioning the imperial coin.

Elion had said it could either mean a traitor within the family or someone outside trying to incriminate them.

But Christopher chose to focus first on the internal possibility — there were fewer suspects that way.

If the puzzle still didn’t fit after that, then he’d assume the latter.

‘Who in the Imperial family would order something like this? What could they possibly gain?’

The motive was unclear.

Destroying the capital’s barrier and unleashing monsters had sown terror among the people.

Now, spreading disease in the south was plunging them into chaos and despair.

‘It looks like an attempt to shake the Empire’s foundation — to attack the throne itself…’

Christopher drummed his fingers against the armrest.

‘But what about the assault on Lady Payson?’

That act didn’t fit with the others.

‘Her life or death wouldn’t affect the Empire or the throne… unless— ah. Unless it’s because she was Elion’s betrothed.’

Technically, Lubyana had been a future member of the Imperial family.

Which meant the attack could still be part of a plot targeting the royals.

“…No. Wait.”

Christopher muttered and shook his head.

He stood, poured himself a glass of whiskey, and drained it in one go.

The liquor burned down his throat — and in that heat, a new thought flashed across his mind.

‘What if… the attack on Lady Payson wasn’t aimed at the Imperial family… but at Elion himself?’