Side Story: Canopus, the Guard Knight (300 Years Ago) (2)

The disease ravaging Sutherland showed no signs of abating, just as we had feared.

The envoy sent repeated letters requesting Seraphina-sama’s dispatch, then came to visit again barely two weeks after his last trip.

“The situation is only getting worse! We can’t afford to wait another moment! Please, please send the Great Saint-sama to help us!”

He must have ridden here at full speed, sacrificing sleep. Even in the darkness, I could see the bloodshot look in the envoy’s eyes.

“I understand how you feel. I, too, want the Great Saint-sama to go. But she is simply too busy. We can’t occupy her for three weeks. And no matter how we submit the request, the earliest she could go would be a year from now. That would be too late. ...We need to look for another solution.”

“We summoned renowned Saints from all over the kingdom! But not one of them could cure anyone! Even if the Great Saint-sama came, there’s no guarantee she could cure them—but we have no other options!”

The envoy pleaded desperately.

“Yellow Mark Disease is spreading at an abnormal rate. At this pace, our people will be wiped out in less than a year. Please, please help us. Please send the Great Saint-sama!”

The envoy fell to his knees and pleaded as if he were clinging to me.

I understood how he felt all too well, and could say nothing more. I fell silent...