Chương 78: Chapter 66. Optics

John Ericsson's Point Of View After breakfast, Anna and I were preparing for the day's travel. I had just finished changing into my simple clothes for the journey, when Warrick had arrived and began to speak to us." Anna. I think you should know that there's a meeting going on in the Eastern garden. I assume that you would like to join the rest of the girls there. We have a free day today so we can use the day however we like." Warrick winked at Anna, she seemed to understand something unsaid."

I should also add that we have the day off. A report arrived and the Hero Party was held up in the Marsh Jungles to the North of us. I thought maybe we would continue on and just spend the free day resting when we were at the Border. However, Aqua wanted to use the free day today. After Warrick had explained the new plans for the day, Anna turned to me and began to speak." Master! I'm afraid I'll have to leave your side for a few hours.

I apologize, but please, understand that this is all to help you in the future."" It's okay, Anna. Take care and be careful on the way there." Anna left Warrick and I at the stables. Warrick looked around and sent a pulse of mana that would be hard to notice if I had not seen him do it first, before speaking to me." So, John. Is there anything you'd like to tell me about?" Warrick may have looked calm on the surface, but something tells me he was angry. I think I know what caused this.

I thought it would be best to be honest about the poisoning incident. I explained to Warrick what had happened. He was definitely angry. Once he had calmed down a bit he began to speak." I'm sorry about this, John. I had assumed that the good word from healing Sarah and I would be enough to cause my People to view you differently from other Humans. It appears that I was wrong. I can't express my remorse enough for that." Warrick seemed smaller than just a few moments ago.

I thought it might be helpful explaining my perspective on the poisoning." Warrick, hear me out. I knew from the moment you Summoned me, that there was a certain view of Humans here in Diablos. The crowd who was there when I was Summoned had a mixture of looks. I thought they were monstrous. It seemed like if I answered wrong, they would take my head off. Because of that, I expected a harsh environment before I could escape and find a way back home."" John...." Warrick still looked disturbed. I continued on."

Now, imagine my shock, that the leader of this group of Monstrous people and his wife. Treated me with respect and asked me, not demanded me, to help them. After I heard your story and why you brought me here, I understood why you brought me here. I felt so terrible for you. I was so glad that I was able to help you and heal Sarah. Now admittedly, all the things that have happened since then involving Sarah, is its own bag of worms. But, in the end, I am happy I'm here. I've found Family here."

Warrick seemed stunned at that part." Don't get me wrong now, I'm not a fan of being poisoned. But I haven't done anything benefitting the common citizen. I'm most likely seen as someone who is taking advantage of the good will of the Royal Family for saving Sarah. That combined with the hatred of Humans, I can understand why they have the attitude they have. Fixing that will take time. And as long as I can heal it with my Spell, I'll have to bear with it."

Warrick started to calm down and seemed to understand what I was saying. After a moment, he spoke in response to what I had said." If that's the case, John, how do you believe you will change the opinion of my People?"" Well, the first thing is this business with the Hero. By defeating him and stopping his invasion into Diablos, that should boost my standing, at least by a small margin. After that, it would be a matter of being seen as an asset by them. How I do this, I'm not sure.

For now, I think I could start visiting hospitals and start healing the sick or injured, I guess?" Warrick began to smile at my response." While that may be good, it will also be time consuming. And there will still be sicker people in cities that you are not in. Perhaps we can begin a program to bring the sickest people across the Country to you. What do you think about that? In the end it will even be good practice for your Magic and Mana Training.

We could probably do it for free and just ask the people to pay the traveling fee."" That can work I suppose? I'll leave it to you to figure out the logistics, Warrick." You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author." Sure, Aqua and I can figure something out. However, to get everything worked out, it might take a year or so. Maybe we can start with the towns we have visited on our way back. So, they can spread the word, would that be okay with you, John?""

Sure, we just need to be careful around Ashneck, right?" Warrick agreed with me. Seems we made a plan that could work out well. Warrick seemed off in his own world thinking about something. In time, Warrick seemed to have finished collecting his thoughts and began to speak." I think we can figure a few ways out, to keep you safe.

Granted, I don't think we will need to worry too much about bodyguards, since I have a feeling Sarah and Anna will be keeping themselves on high alert and have many eyes out for you from now on."" Yeah, it does seem that this event has spooked them. Honestly, I'm grateful for the help. I'm at the point where I think I would lose my head without Anna being around me now." Warrick looked at me with understanding in his eyes." Yes, when it comes to help from a Servant you begin to become more dependent on them.

Granted, someone as dedicated as Anna, is a rare find."" Yes, she is very Special to me. I definitely think she has been spoiling me, but she seems to like to dote on people. From that, we've gotten to this point it seems?"" Hmm, I wonder how I should feel about My Daughter's Fiancé bragging about his other wife?"" Well, I would suppose it would be a problem if she didn't agree to let me be with Anna, but she actually encouraged it, Warrick."" I suppose you win this round, John." We've entered a standstill somehow.

Warrick, after thinking for a few moments, decided to offer an olive branch to me." John, since we have more time, why don't we go and spar a bit?"" Sure, let's not use any Magic though. I kind of want to try winning a match against you with just Swordsmanship. I want to beat you with just sword skills one day." And with that, we began to walk towards a field we saw when we were walking into town yesterday. On our way, we came across a mob of people.

Warrick and I looked at each other and decided to see what was happening. When we arrived at the back of the mob of people, we began to hear women crying and groans from what I assumed were children. Warrick and I couldn't get past the mob and we were being boxed out. After being pushed back twice, I got irritated." OH WOW! KING WARRICK IS HERE!" The people around us kept mumbling "King Warrick" and began to spread themselves out so we could walk through. Warrick was surprised at me and seemed a little flustered.

Might have to try this again when I want to prank him? Let's put this on the backburner for now. We walked through the crowd and eventually made it to the porch of a somewhat large house. as we made our way up the steps, the Lord of the town walked through the big front door of the house." My King! Please, stay back! There is an outbreak of the Green Scourge!" The Town Lord handed Warrick a cloth, he then handed the cloth to me and looked disappointed in the Town Lord.

The Lord apologized and then handed another cloth to Warrick. Once that was sorted out and we found a quiet moment between the sobs of the women that have been audible from so far back and the groans of pain from what sounded like kids. Warrick looked concerned. Warrick looked at me and could tell I had no clue what they were talking about."" Matthew, the Green Scourge is a sickness that mostly incubates in and affects children. Its highly contagious and has a high mortality rat.... GET BACK HERE YOU IDIOT!"

Before he finished explaining, I walked into the house after tying the cloth around my face. I entered the room where I heard the sobs coming from. Warrick's voice either calmed down or was deafened by the sound of the women crying as well as the groans of children that sounded like they were in pain. 8 kids in all were bedridden, the women, who must have been their mothers, were holding their hands and crying harder and harder. In time they noticed the new person in the room." HUMAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"

One mother screamed at me. She was a purple humanoid with one eye and two horns on her head. I decided speaking to her when she was so emotional would be a bad idea. Instead, I got to work. I cast Holy Heal using Multi-Cast. I was able to cast it 8 times, but the difficulty of manipulating the mana was increasing with the higher number of Spells I cast at the same time. Something to remember in the future, I guess. The one who yelled at me began to lunge at me. She must have thought I was trying to kill her kid.

I released more of my mana to intimidate her. She stopped trying to attack me and I began to speak." I healed them. They'll be good as new. I can't disinfect the room, so I'll leave that to the Doctors in the town. Before I leave, I'll heal you as well just in case." I cast Holy Heal again on the mothers. They seemed relieved when they understood my Spell didn't hurt them and by extension, their kids. I left the house when the kids began to wake up and seemed okay. I met back up with Warrick not long after.

I cast Holy Heal on myself before taking the cloth off of my face. Warrick was glaring at me." You can be angry with me, but I'm not going to just let kids die if I can help it."" That's not the point, Matthew. What if it was a trap? Did you even think about that for a moment."" No, I didn't. But, if that did happen, I'll rely on the teachings I got from my 3 great teachers. Speaking of which, do you still want to spar?"" Uhmm..."

Before Warrick could answer me, the Town Lord interrupted us with a dumbfounded sound." Yes?"" What did you do to those kids?" Warrick looked at the Town Lord and I saw a lightbulb go off above his head." What did he do to the children, lord Sybel? Why he just saved those children's lives! He heard the cries of the mothers and took action! That's the kind of man, Matthew the Paladin is!" From Warrick's words, the mob began to talk amongst themselves.

I heard them confirming I walked into the building as soon as I was told it was the Green Scourge. Seems Warrick saw a good opportunity to boost my image. Regardless, Warrick waited a few moments then told me it was time to go. As we walked, I asked him a question." Why wait to walk away?"" I wanted more of the town to walk over and see you there. That, along with the gossip, will cause them to spread the news out across the Town and hopefully, to visitors and the like.

Also, in time, you most likely would have been swarmed. Prepare yourself, the Town Lord is going to ask you for a favor. I can feel it."" We can cross that bridge when we get there. For now, let's just get out of here. Warrick and I made it to the field and sparred for a few hours. By the time the sun was going down, I was dripping with sweat and Warrick hadn't broken a sweat." I think that's enough, John."" Fine." I still haven't landed a blow on him.

When that time would come, was what I thought about on our way back to the mansion.