In the Name of Mankind

—The Royal Capital, Parnam—

"Gerula has come," I said as flatly as possible.

Gathered around me in the governmental affairs office were Liscia,

Hakuya, and Yuriga. Because Liscia and I have been together a long time

now, she gulped, realizing from my expression that the circumstances were

extraordinary this time.

"He's the envoy who came from the Spirit Kingdom, right?" she asked

on behalf of the group.

"Yeah." I nodded. "And apparently he was infected with the Spirit

King's Curse."

"Ah! The disease you promised Sir Fuuga you'd help fight?"

"Oh, no... Are you saying he brought it to this country?" Yuriga asked.

I nodded slowly.

"It would mean that, yes. The medical teams I sent to the port town, and

Hilde and Brad who've read their reports, tell me it doesn't spread from

person to person though."

"I-I see... Okay then," Yuriga said, relieved.

That was our one salvation. We'd be in serious trouble if this disease

spread between people via air, droplets, or contact. If that had happened... I

don't think I'd be able to forgive Gerula for it. If someone close to me died

of this disease, even if it was inevitable, I would have resented the Spirit

Kingdom and the high elves.

I took a deep breath to quell my anger before continuing.

"Still, we don't exactly know how the disease works. It seems to

happen as a result of fighting monsters, but we can't be certain. The

reasoning behind becoming unable to use magic is unclear too. Because of

all these unknowns, we can't rule out person-to-person transmission."

"That's true..." Liscia agreed. "So? Where is Sir Gerula now?"

"In a town near the border. I've sent an envoy to collect him, and he'll

be quarantined in a facility run by the state outside the castle walls. I intend

to have the envoy and Gonzales quarantine at home for a week following

this. We'll also ask around in the places he's been, and see how much

contact people had with him... Yuriga."

As I called her name, Yuriga jumped and stood up straight.

"Y-Yes!"

"Gerula must have come into our country through our border with the

Great Tiger Kingdom. It seems he was taken into custody soon after, so I

doubt he went many places on our side of the border, but...on your side, that

can't be true. I'll relay what he tells us of his route here, so please ask

Fuuga to investigate."

"O-Okay. I'll definitely let him know."

While Yuriga was somewhat shaken, she put her hands together in front

of her and bowed her head.

"I'm counting on you, Yuriga."

"Sire, Sir Gerula is seeking an audience with you. Will you see him?"

Hakuya asked.

Scratching my head, I replied, "I've got to meet him, right? There are a

ton of things he needs to tell us, and some of them will require me to make

decisions as king."

"That's...worrisome," Liscia said, her expression pained.

It killed me to see her like that, but I still had to go. For her sake, and

the children's as well.

"I intend to take every precaution against infection, of course. But we

have Enju and Leon who were only just born, Juna and Roroa who are still

weak from giving birth, and Cian and Kazuha who are still little. I'll be

self-quarantining in some corner of the castle after I meet with Gerula."

Having a big, sprawling castle was useful at a time like this. If I used

my Factory Arms, I could do my work without ever meeting anyone. It'd be

lonely not being able to see my family though...

Chuckling, Liscia cupped my face in her palms.

"Then maybe I should touch you while I still can."

"Uh, no, can you wait till we're done here? Hakuya and Yuriga are

watching."

I glanced over at them. Hakuya looked like he was done with this

nonsense, and Yuriga was looking away, a little red. Awkward...

Peeling Liscia's hands off of me gently, I ordered, "Hakuya, contact

Hilde and Brad. They'll be seeing Gerula, I'm sure."

"Is that all right?"

"I promised to tell them anything we discovered. If the patients come to

us, I can't not let them see him. We want all the information we can get,

after all."

"Understood."

And with this, the Kingdom made preparations to take in Gerula.

◇ ◇ ◇

Some days later, I received a report that Gerula Garlan had arrived at

the facility (or quarantine site, rather) that we had prepared for him. Once I

had accounted for everything I could think of, I went there to meet him.

This time, I had refused to allow my usual guards, Aisha and Naden, to

accompany me. Instead, I brought two of the Black Cats. Aisha was really

against letting me go without her, but I didn't want any more of my family

having to quarantine, so she had to put up with it for now.

When I arrived at the facility, my guards and I donned cloth masks and

disinfected our hands with alcohol at the entrance. In my old world, there

would have been non-woven masks and protective suits, but this was the

best we could manage in this country currently.

Once we were inside, they led us to Hilde and Brad, who had arrived

ahead of time to examine Gerula.

Incidentally, their daughter Ludia had been deposited at the castle's

nursery with Tomoe's mother for safekeeping. When I met them in what

looked like an examination room, they seemed troubled. I asked them about

Gerula's condition.

"I can't believe he crossed the continent in this state. He could have

collapsed at any point," Hilde said with a face that said, Is he stupid?

"That bad, huh?"

"It's more than just bad! In the state he's in...he could die any second."

"Under that robe, he was practically just skin and bones," Brad, who

was resting his back against the wall, said. "He's living pretty much on

force of spirit alone. Once it comes this far...frankly, there's nothing we can

do."

"It's that bad..."

"This is why I hate warriors. They don't value life, even when it's their

own," Hilde complained, a sad look in her eyes.

She was feeling the frustration of being unable to save her patient.

But...I don't understand.

"If he's in such bad shape, why come here? Did he think our medicine

would be able to cure him or something?" I asked, but they both lowered

their eyes.

"I think...it's better you hear that from him yourself," Hilde said.

"Yeah," Brad agreed. "It's not for us to say."

I decided to meet with Gerula in his room on the east side of the

facility. Knocking and entering, the first thing I saw was a sheet of glass

bisecting the room. On one side was the entrance door while the other

contained his bed. There was another door that allowed people to traverse

between both sections. This seems like a prison visitation room.

As I walked in, Gerula was sitting in bed, gazing out the window. I sat

on a chair nearby, and he slowly made his way over to me.

There was none of the suffering of a diseased man; no lamentation of

his fate in his expression. He had the look of a man who had accepted

everything. It reminded me of former General of the Army Georg Carmine

when he was in prison.

"Sir Gerula."

"Sir Souma."

We addressed one another. It felt a lot different from when we'd first

met. There was no arrogance from him now. If anything, he came off as

quiet and meek.

As I struggled to decide where to start, Gerula bowed his head.

"It's been some time since we last parted... I'm glad to see you."

"Glad, huh? Can't say I feel the same. You did drag a disease in here,

after all."

"I apologize. The circumstances are very much regrettable."

"Is it the Spirit King's Curse?"

"Yes. That is what I am afflicted with," he replied, looking straight into

my eyes.

It didn't seem like he had some secret motive here, or any hint of

darkness about him.

I rested my elbow on the armrest as I said, "You've changed a lot since

I first met you. Back then, you were more..."

"Arrogant?"

"Well...yeah. You didn't seem suited to negotiating."

"I was immature. Even after living more than a century. And so was my

country..." With a smile too peaceful to call self-mocking, Gerula shook his

head. "However, I can understand my immaturity now. When I sensed the

final stage approaching and reflected on myself...I thought, 'How immature

I've been.'"

"The final stage... You're talking about your symptoms?" I asked, and

Gerula nodded.

"I have seen many die of the same disease. And I know my own body

better than anyone. I'm sure I don't have much time left... We high elves

may be long-lived, but it means nothing in the face of such a disease."

He sensed his impending death. Does this peace come from his

acceptance of it? I decided to ask him what I'd asked Hilde before.

"Why did you come to this country? Was it because you thought we

could treat you here?"

At this, Gerula silently shook his head.

"No. Despite incurring this disease for so long, we still have yet to

figure out what causes it. I can't imagine you have the medicine to treat it

here where it doesn't even occur."

"Then why?"

"I thought that even if you don't have it now, if anywhere was going to

make a cure, it would be this country. To that end, I came here to do what I

can with this body and life of mine."

Gerula pointed at a table. On it, there was a single letter. Is he telling

me to read it? Walking over, I picked up the letter and read through it.

"Huh?!"

I was speechless. This is... It's just...

After a few seconds, I managed to say, "Are you...in your right mind?"

"I will donate my body to researching this disease." Gerula nodded. "I

don't have much life left in me, but I will cooperate with any sort of

examination or medical experiment. And when I am dead, I wish for you to

dissect my body, and discover the true nature of this disease. That letter is

written permission for you to do with my body as you see fit. It bears the

signatures of both myself and Spirit Kingdom King Garula."

In other words, we had royal assent to perform an autopsy on him. Like

he was a lab rat or guinea pig.

This is what Hilde and Brad didn't want to talk about...

"Why go...so far?"

"Because I saw this country for myself," Gerula said with a slight

smile. "You have things here that others don't. Well-maintained roads,

recreational broadcasts, foods I've never seen, songs I've never heard...and

people who welcome and celebrate all of these new things. I was surprised

at first. While the Spirit Kingdom has been closed off, so much new culture

has been born in the outside world."

I remained silent, allowing Gerula to continue.

"At the same time, I envied it. Resented it. Back then, I thought the

perspective of the Spirit Kingdom was everything, and these shallow things

were ill-suited to us high elves... I was too narrow-minded. If I'd been more

flexible and accepting, I could have built a better relationship with your

country, and requested your assistance with fighting this disease more

sincerely."

"Sir Gerula..."

Getting back to the topic at hand, he shook his head.

"It's much too late now... I'm just trying to say that I sensed these new

things, and...perhaps the ability to develop a cure for the Spirit King's Curse

may be something that only this country has. That's why I thought I'd offer

my body to help your research. And now that I've returned to your country,

I am certain of it. Sir Gonzales told me about your doctors and hospitals. I

think your country can give my death meaning."

"Oh, I see now."

A death not in vain; that was what Gerula wanted. It was why he

pushed on to return to this country despite his disease. He did so in hope

that, with his life, he could save those of his countrymen. You could even

say that he came to this country to die.

I let out a small sigh. I couldn't approve of his decision to cast his life

away. But still, I wasn't so cold-blooded that I could tell him that.

"Fine. Let's do it your way," I told him, and Gerula reacted with

obvious delight.

"Ooh, thank you so much."

"I'm sure you've met them by now, but Hilde and Brad are the best

doctors our country has to offer. This may not be much condolence,

but...between your body and their abilities, I'm confident we can find a

solution to this disease."

Gerula nodded firmly at that.

"I believe so too."

"Well... I'll be going now."

I rose from my seat. This is probably the last time I'll ever see him

alive. I sensed that keenly as I looked at him.

"If you have anything you want, just tell the people here. I'll tell them

to grant your wishes to the degree we're able."

"Thank you for your consideration. Please be well."

"Yeah... May your stay here be as long and peaceful as possible."

And with that, I left Gerula's room.

It wasn't long after that I received word of his death. Mankind's

advances in the field of medicine were a constant repetition of this sort of

thing. Those involved in the field studied out of a desire to save as many

people as possible. Those who fell to the disease hoped that at least their

death would not be in vain, and wished for a world where others wouldn't

die the same way. In many cases, with the donation of the patient's body,

things became clear, and a path to a cure was found.

We could fight the disease, crossing the boundary between physician

and patient, and between countries as well.

Yes, in the name of mankind.

◇ ◇ ◇

After weakening day after day, Gerula awoke, unable to tell day from

night any longer, and saw a woman standing on the opposite side of his

room.

Clear white skin. Sharp ears. Red eyes. These were the traits of a high

elf.

"Why...is there a high elf here?"

"Oh... You're awake."

Approaching the glass, the woman said, "I never expected to meet one

of my kind in this country."

"Who are you?" Gerula asked, and the woman pressed a hand to her

chest and bowed slightly.

"I am Merula Merlin. One who broke the taboo of leaving the island."

"Ah...I see. So you're Merula."

A complicated expression crossed Gerula's face, but it quickly passed

and his features slackened.

"That's right. I'd heard you were in the Kingdom..."

"Yes. For the past few years."

"And? What are you doing here?"

"Hilde called me here. She wanted a healthy high elf's blood to study

the Spirit King's Curse. And you and I are the only high elves in this

country."

She had actually been asked for saliva and urine samples as well, but

being a woman, Merula didn't mention that.

Gerula took a long breath.

"I see... I'm sorry to trouble you."

"Tell me about it," Merula said, resting her hand softly on the glass. "To

think you'd push yourself to come here in that state..."

"I thought this country was the only place that could discover a cure.

And Merula... Your presence made me sure of it."

"I'm not a doctor or anything of the sort, you realize?"

"An eccentric like you is able to live normally here. That fact alone lets

me sense this country's academic efforts," Gerula said with a small smile.

"After you left the country, the number of young people who aspired to be

like you increased, and we struggled to suppress them. But looking back at

it now...you may have been right. While our country was closed, the outside

world has advanced so much."

Merula smiled wryly and shrugged.

"This country has advanced too much, so it's not quite right to use them

as your benchmark."

"It's fine. I'm sure our country must change..." Gerula said, and Merula

lowered her eyes.

"I left our home during the reign of the previous king. He had two sons;

the elder Garula was a warrior, and the younger Gerula was brave and wise.

Your brother has inherited the throne now, right? Do you think he can

change?" Merula asked.

Gerula nodded with a peaceful expression. "It won't be a problem.

Garula isn't a stubborn man with nothing but power now."

"You're sure about that?"

"Yes... That girl, Princess Elulu is wise too... The Spirit Kingdom will

be fine..."

Gerula's consciousness was blurring, and his eyelids looked ready to

fall at any moment.

"Sir Gerula!"

"Merula... See this through to the end... The end of the disease..."

As Merula watched, the strength faded from Gerula's body. All that

remained was an empty face, set free from all pain and responsibility.

Sensing what had happened, a tear streamed down Merula's cheek.

Wiping it away, she pressed her hand to the glass and said, "Good night,

Gerula."