“Yes, I went over to help Percy run away, but he smacked me on the arm and bit me on the leg.”
The fact that they tried to run away together makes it highly likely that it was after the disaster had occurred. And the cat’s slapping of the arm seems to indicate a state of mood, but the actions leading up to the bite seem more aggressive than usual. If the cat was normally fed, I don’t think it would have bitten someone’s leg, but since it’s a stray cat and not a pet, it’s hard to say for sure.
Besides, if it was a monster, it wouldn’t just bite and be done with it. On the contrary, it would rip out the victim’s throat and take the life out of him.
“It would be better to infect them with mushroom disease just in case. The Saint can purify them now. A bite is scary, but a scratch from a claw can also turn you into a monster, and there are cases where the effects are immediate and cases where it takes time for the effects to begin to appear, so we can’t say for sure that you haven’t been turned into a monster just by reporting it.”
As I was thinking about what the cat that attacked him was like, my father gave me some advice from next to me. That’s true. Even if it’s not a monster, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t being transformed into a monster. There’s no research into how animals turn into monsters, so I don’t know the characteristics of animals in the process of being transformed into monsters. However, if humans don’t turn into monsters in an instant unless they’re at the center of the maga, then it’s probably similar for animals.
“There’s no guarantee that the cat that injured him hasn’t already been transformed into a monster, so he’s at high risk of becoming one. At present, we know that the progression of monsterization can be halted by infection with mushroom disease, so would it be okay to let him become infected with it until he can receive proper treatment in the village?”
“Huh? Mushrooms? Ah. Yes. If that will help, then please.”
The boy was too young so we tell his mother, but she looked confused. I guess she probably didn’t understand what I was talking about when I suddenly told her it was mushroom disease. But as soon as I told her it would help him, she agreed with the treatment.
Infection with mushroom disease occurs when the spores are inhaled or ingested. The boy was told that if he became infected, his mother, who was nearby, would likely become infected as well, and that he would be easily cured if he returned to the village because there was a cure. After explaining this, the boy was made to inhale the mushroom spores.
“Cough cough!!”
Popopopon!
“It’s alright–huh?!”
The mother was stroking her child’s back as he choked and coughed on the spores, but within a few seconds she opened her eyes wide and froze when she saw what had grown on his head.
On the boy’s head is a red mushroom with white polka dots that looks like a poisonous mushroom. It’s cuter than a shiitake mushroom… no, more poisonous than cute.
“Cough cough!!”
“Uh… sorry.”
Hearing the boy choking, his mother frantically pats his back again, but her eyes are clearly fixed on the mushroom, and it seems she is doubting whether he is really okay.
“Um… it will heal, right? Will it leave a scar or something?”
“It’s okay. There is a cure in the village, so if you receive treatment you will recover quickly and there will be no scars. However, you will remain like this until the treatment for monsterization is over.”
It certainly looks strange with mushrooms growing out of the head. Seeing his mother looking anxious, the boy also feels anxious and touches his own head.
“Oh. It’s a poisonous mushroom, so don’t touch it too much.”
It won’t cause a rash, but it can cause food poisoning, so it’s best not to touch it in the first place and avoid eating it.
“This carriage will leave for the village while there is still daylight after loading the other patients, so if you are in a hurry you will have to walk yourself. What will you do?”
“…May I join you?”
After checking her own feet and her child, the mother decided to take the carriage, even though it would be late. With her current feet, she could not carry her child on her back and run.
“The carriage will stop a little closer to the town. There will be someone left in the carriage, so please rest assured.”
Although they had come all the way here, they couldn’t just prioritize the child. Instead, they were going to take measures to stop monsters from getting too close. The mother looked a little relieved to hear his words.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.”
We picked them up and drove the wagon again. As the wagon swayed, the child was tired and soon fell asleep with his head on his mother’s lap. Or maybe the mushroom disease was inducing sleepiness. Theo had no changes other than the mushroom growing on his head, even though he was infected with the mushroom disease, but Alfie seemed to be sleepy all the time.
“Now that I think about it, it seems like not many people have fled to the village, so is the town in a pretty bad state?”
Someone had called for help while I was climbing the mountain, so the first people to escape had already reached the village. This parent and child were probably slow to escape due to their injuries. There was a child, so it makes sense that they would be slow to escape if it had happened at night.
However, it seems like not many people come from the town to the village.
What is the cause? Maybe it’s a terrible situation that is almost impossible to escape, but just knowing in advance can help you prepare mentally.
“I think everyone probably didn’t flee from the north gate, but from the south gate where the road to the royal capital is located. We did our best to escape, so we left through the nearest gate.”
“Ah, I see.”
Certainly, if you are going to flee, it would be better to head for the royal capital.
The royal capital is too far away, so there’s no need to head that far. If you leave from the south gate, there are many roads that connect to other towns. On the other hand, the roads that connect from the north gate end at my village.
“Also, I heard people shouting that it was dangerous from the south gate…”
“When people gather, monsters also gather in search of food. When they first become monsters, they are especially hungry and aggressive. I guess they crave a lot of nutrition due to the changes in their bodies.”
Monsters have an image of being ferocious, but when you hear that it’s because their bodies have changed, it makes sense. Just as the amount of food eaten by children and adults differs, monsters who grow larger than normal will be that much hungrier.
“And when there isn’t enough food, the monsters start coming out.”
The reason why no monsters have appeared around here yet may be because what they perceive as food is near the south gate and so they have not come to this area, which is the opposite direction.
It would be a real disaster if monsters came to the village, so it’s not like I want them to come out, but imagining the reason why they wouldn’t come out made me feel an indescribable discomfort in my stomach.
“When will the Saint come?”
“Wasn’t it after the damage reached the royal capital?”
“It might not even come out.”
In response to the woman’s words, the village men looked as if they thought there was no point in waiting. This was probably because the saint had never come to the village before. On the other hand, the woman, who had expected help to arrive someday, looked pale at the men’s words.
“Will the Saint not help?”
“Right now there are several places that have become like the neighboring towns. … Anyway, for now we just have to do what we can on our own.”
My father thought for a moment, but rather than worry, he talked about what he could do.
Even if they were worried, it was the temple and the king who would decide whether or not to send the saint. If the refugees flowed towards the royal capital, it was unclear what the priority would be, but they would at least give it some thought.
“Let’s stop the wagon around here. Amelia, set up an insect repellent magic item. Although we’re not in the forest, there’s a good chance that they’ll come out of town because they’re short on food.”
“Okay.”
Insects coming out of the town.
That’s… the kind of thing you shouldn’t imagine. I definitely can’t let it near the wagon I’m taking home.
I set up the magic tools I often use in the forest on the wagon.
“They won’t hurt you if you touch them, but please don’t let your child touch them in case they break them.”
“Understood”
After I finished setting up the magic tools, I put on my luggage and goggles and a mask.
“Amelia-chan, you look fully protected. Aren’t you hot?”
I’m wearing my usual gathering clothes, but the others, including my father, are lightly equipped. In my father’s case, his robe has been given a lot of resistance.
“I can adjust it with earrings so it’s fine.”
“I see. I thought you would be wearing more wizard-like clothing.”
He smiled to cover up what I said, but then shrugged, thinking that his expression was hard to see because of the mask and goggles.
“There’s a good chance there will be insects.”
I’ve decided to be fully defensive.
If a little more time passes, the numbers of monster insects will decrease accordingly, but right now it’s better to think of the many household pests that are turning into monsters all at once.
If you can’t resist the sight of bugs, it’s best to limit your exposure.
“Amelia, can you use wind magic to spread the mushroom spores? And if you can’t handle the situation by yourself, including rescue, light the red signal.”
Nodding, I mentally check the items in my bag. No problem. The signal light is there too.
“Put aside the collection of the bodies for later. If you find any, sprinkle glowing mushroom spores on them. Any monsters that eat the bodies will become infected with them.”
The word corpse made my stomach clench.
If they are left alone, they will become undead or become food for monsters. So if possible, I would like to bury them as soon as possible. But right now, we don’t have enough people or time to dispose of the bodies.
“Put your safety first and don’t push yourself too hard.”
My father patted me on the head and then went over with the uncles to confirm the final details, such as the timing of swapping people who would stay on the carriage, and that we would leave for the village first if something happened.
My father and I, who are magicians, have to go into the town to sow mushroom spores, rather than just watch over the luggage in the carriage.
I took a deep breath to clear my mind.
Sorry for the slow updates.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!
