Escalation

[Holy Light: Heal]

An even richer golden light than before enveloped Livina.

The moment she was bathed in the golden light, Livina felt as though she were being warmed by the gentle sun of a winter's day. It was incredibly soothing.

The pain in her body melted away as swiftly as ice and snow.

The long-missed comfort made Livina let out a soft moan before she drifted back to sleep.

After a while, Cain dispelled the magic and said to Ruben, who stood beside him,

"Viscount Livina can finally get a good night's sleep."

Ruben said gratefully, "Thank you very much, Lord Cain."

Ruben then led Cain to a guest room. "Lord Cain, if you need anything, press this button and a maid will come to assist you."

Cain nodded to show that he understood. Ruben wished him good night before turning and leaving.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Cain did not immediately go to sleep. Instead, he began to think.

What he had just seen inside Viscount Livina's body felt wrong to Cain, but he could not put his finger on what exactly was wrong.

Just as Cain was about to give up and properly experience how soft a viscount's bed could be,

a flash of inspiration struck him, and he abruptly sat up. Are the others in Mუდorud in the same condition as Viscount Livina?

If they are, then the people of Mუდorud are in grave danger. Judging from Livina's condition, it will not be long before those viral spores cause organ failure and kill them.

If it were only Livina, Cain could heal her with Healing Magic.

But if everyone in Mუდorud was in this condition, then with Cain's current mana, he would not be able to heal them all even in a hundred years.

Fortunately, Cain could do more than magic. He could also make potions.

First, cure Viscount Livina. Then I'll see whether the others in Mუდorud have the same symptoms. If they do, I'll need a laboratory to make a specific medicine.

Having decided what to do next, Cain finally relaxed and began enjoying the viscount's soft, luxurious bed.

The next day, Livina, whose complexion had recovered somewhat, had breakfast with Cain with the help of a maid.

After the meal, Livina first thanked Cain for giving her a good night's sleep, then asked when the treatment would begin.

Under Livina's expectant gaze, Cain said, "Viscount Livina, we can begin treatment shortly. Afterward, may I ask you a few questions?"

Cain's words piqued Livina's curiosity, but she did not refuse.

Cain then cast Holy Light: Heal once more. Feeling the soothing golden radiance, Livina could not help closing her eyes and enjoying it.

Unlike Livina, who had her eyes closed in enjoyment, Cain frowned slightly.

He discovered that many of the spore viruses he had removed with Holy Light: Heal the previous night had returned.

Cain continued channeling the magic circle and only slowly withdrew his power twenty minutes later.

In truth, Healing Magic was similar to a ninja's Medical Ninjutsu. Both accelerated cell division to produce a healing effect.

Therefore, neither Healing Magic nor Medical Ninjutsu completely healed a patient's injuries, because doing so would place too much strain on the body.

However, when Cain's Holy Light Magic healed injuries, it also nourished the body, minimizing the damage to the patient.

Those healed by Cain's Healing Magic usually had rosy complexions, unlike the pallid faces left behind after treatment by other healing Mages.

But the limits of what a human body could endure would not change. Thus, Cain could not remove all the spores from Livina's body in one go.

Feeling much lighter, Livina thanked Cain once again before asking, "Cain, you said earlier that you had a few questions. What are they?"

"Viscount Livina, when I first arrived in Mუდorud, I noticed that there were not many people on the streets. Later, I heard that everyone had come down with some kind of illness."

"Is that illness the same as yours, Viscount?"

Cain asked bluntly.

Livina looked at Cain in shock. "You mean everyone in Mუდorud is sick?"

Cain found it strange that Livina seemed to be hearing this for the first time, but he still nodded.

Livina looked toward Ruben beside her. Only after Ruben nodded did she realize that Cain had not been exaggerating.

Livina's expression instantly turned dreadful. She took a deep breath and said,

"When I first fell ill, I only heard that a few people had the same symptoms as me. I never expected that in just half a month, all of Mუდorud would..."

As though she had thought of something, Livina turned to Ruben. "Could it be that Britney, Miwa, and the others have also..."

Ruben nodded and sighed. "Yes, my lady. Many people in the estate have contracted this illness."

"No wonder. I was wondering why I hadn't seen them in so long." Livina sat back in her chair sadly.

Suddenly, Livina looked at Cain and said excitedly, "Cain, could you please treat them too? Don't worry, I'll increase your reward."

Seeing how agitated Livina was, Cain reassured her, "Viscount Livina, please calm down first. Britney and Miwa are?"

After steadying herself, Livina said, "They are my personal maids. They have served me since I was very young. It has been about sixty years now."

Livina's words made Cain understand somewhat, but he shook his head. "Viscount Livina, if it were only three or four people, I could heal them with my mana."

"But there are simply too many people in all of Mუდorud. I truly cannot manage it alone."

You can ignore everyone else, Livina nearly blurted out, but her reason told her that she could not say such a thing.

After thinking for a while, Livina asked, "Then what should we do now?"

Cain thought for a moment. "We can report this to the kingdom and the Magic Council first and see whether they have any solutions. I will also research these viral spores and see whether I can make a specific medicine."

Seeing that Cain was not simply leaving, Livina felt much more at ease. At the very least, with Cain around, her life and the lives of the others would be safeguarded.

Cain continued, "Viscount Livina, can you give me a room to use as a laboratory? And may I visit the other infected patients?"

Livina nodded. "Ruben, you will handle these two matters."

"Yes, my lady."

Livina said apologetically, "Then I'll have to trouble you with the rest. I'll return to my room first."

Ruben first took Cain to see the infected patients within the estate, then brought him to see other infected patients near the estate.

Sensing that the organs inside these patients were covered in densely packed spores, Cain understood that nearly everyone in Mუდorud was in much the same condition.

The only difference was likely that some were more severely affected while others were milder.

Cain drew several tubes of blood from the infected people, then returned to the newly prepared laboratory in the viscount's residence and began his research.

Meanwhile, Ruben informed the kingdom and the Magic Council of Mუდorud's situation.

Upon receiving the news, King Fiore E. Toma immediately contacted his ministers and convened a meeting.

At the same time, the Magic Council also held an emergency meeting.