As everyone explained and filled in the details, Angel gradually came to understand the general outline of the matter.
For some unknown reason, an illness that turned people into madmen had spread widely through Windmill Town. It was also highly contagious. Anyone who had come into contact with a patient had an extremely high chance of contracting the madness.
Even after it had alarmed the wizards of Savage Cave, the illness had still not been effectively treated. The wizards' final solution had merely been to confine the patients in a special hospital, denying them any chance to infect others.
Gloria asked, "So the Iva you mentioned has already been locked up in the hospital?"
Everyone nodded. "Yes. Iva was clearly locked in the hospital. We have no idea what happened for him to appear in the wall cave."
"Could Iva's younger sister have secretly gone to the hospital and let him out?" "Or did something happen inside the hospital?" "Could all the patients in the hospital have escaped? Is all of Windmill Town on the verge of falling?"
They filled in terrifying scenes one after another, growing more frightened the more they thought about it. They raised their heads hopefully, wishing to hear the truth from the two wizards before them. Yet both Gloria and Angel were frowning at that moment, as though pondering something.
"Have you ever heard of a contagious madness like this?" Angel asked.
Gloria pondered for a moment. "So-called madness generally refers to mental illness—either disorder, loss of control, or deviation from an established path. Unless it is caused by physical trauma, such conditions are basically issues with an individual's mental state."
"This kind of illness is not uncommon, but the source of the affliction differs from person to person. So there is generally no issue