Chapter 152: Epilogue 1

POV Aslan

Two weeks later, we finally had all the ingredients we needed to brew the potions required to heal the sick. Yuna returned a week ago and Kron three days ago. While Yuna didn't have the right ingredients with her, Kron was able to purchase the last missing ingredient in Tyros. I got the rest in Lightburgh. We also knew someone in Lightburgh who had enough alchemy knowledge to make the potions. Thanks to our status as adventurers. He was also trustworthy enough not to ask any detailed questions.

We hurried back to camp as quickly as possible. We had high hopes that we could heal our companions. Hopefully we would arrive in time and nothing worse had happened.

We approached the camp and were amazed at how much they had improved the fortifications. Our companions had been busy. Now we wanted to show them what we had achieved.

We approached the palisade and waved to the guard. He let us pass immediately. Will quickly came to greet us.

"So, how did it go? Do you have the medicine?" <Will>

“Yes, we do. I hope we're not too late and no one has died.” <Aslan>

“No, not yet. But Mimi is in critical condition.” <Will>

“Why Mimi? She wasn't sick at all.” <Aslan>

"Unfortunately, she also fell ill while you were away. She's the worst off of all of them. She's bedridden and unconscious." <Will>

“And the children?” <Aslan>

“Unchanged.” <Will>

“At least that's some good news. Where's Eliza, by the way? She probably didn't take the news about Mimi well.” <Aslan>

“We don't know.” <Will>

"What do you mean, you don't know? Isn't she here?" <Aslan>

“No, not anymore. She arrived here a few weeks ago. She rushed straight to her mother and burst into tears. That's why we left her alone. The next morning, she had disappeared without a trace.” <Will>

“She just left? I can't imagine that. She's extremely emotionally attached to Mimi, especially with her background.” <Aslan>

"We have no other explanation. Her backpack, which she dropped in Mimi's hut, was still there the next morning. Along with everything that was in it. Only the things she was wearing are missing. Even all the money is still there, and that's no small amount. In the backpack is a large bag of mana cores that must have come from monsters beyond floor 20. Some even look like they came from floors above 30." <Will>

“That's a huge fortune. She must have worked very hard and fought a lot to get it. I'd like to know how much sweat and blood it cost her. I'd like to ask her now.” <Aslan>

“Me too, but I can't change that now. She's nowhere to be found, and she's second only to Yuna when it comes to surviving in the wild.” <Will>

"You're right. Plus, she has a huge head start on whatever she's up to. Let's hope she's okay. Come on, Will. Let's do what we can and find out if the potions we brought with us actually heal." <Aslan>

“I want to know one more thing. How did you find out what the disease was? Eliza only left us a note with the name and a list of ingredients when she disappeared. And those ingredients are completely different from the ones we wanted to find.” <Will>

“We have Eliza to thank for that. I don't know how she did it, but she obviously has access to a large library. After several days of research, she presented this solution. If it's true, we owe her a lot.” <Aslan>

“That's right. Come on, let's not keep the sick waiting any longer.” <Will>

I went with Will and the others to the sick to give them the potions. Everyone from the community followed, because they wanted the sick to get well just as much as we did. Fortunately, the potions worked. The children who were only slightly ill improved immediately. The others improved within a day. Only Mimi was the exception. We had some trouble giving her the potion. In the end, one of us had to feed her the potion mouth to mouth. Fortunately, her swallowing reflex was still working.

The next day, she stirred again and opened her eyes. From then on, she was able to eat and drink again, and after four days she was able to leave her bed. She told us that she had been bitten by a rat, but the wound had not become infected. Therefore, she had not paid much attention to it. She only remembered that the rat was unusually aggressive and wondered where it had come from. There were no other rats in the camp. Will immediately ordered that the children also be questioned and examined. It turned out that they had all been playing outside the city when a rabbit dropped dead right in front of them. Not wanting to let the food go to waste, they decided to put their knowledge of food preparation to use and skinned the rabbit, then roasted it over a small campfire. The meat tasted a little strange, but they didn't think much of it. Two days later, they fell ill.

The rat itself was never found. We assumed that the rat was sick and had bitten the rabbit as well as Mimi. Apparently, it was more dangerous to be bitten than to eat the meat. We didn't know why, and after everything turned out fine, we forgot about it. Unfortunately, Eliza didn't show up either, and Mimi in particular was very worried.

Somewhere in the realm of gods

“Hello Luna. How are you?” <Feylania>

“Oh, hello Feylania. Not so good. It's been many months since I've heard from Eliza. Has something happened to her?” <Luna>

“Nothing will have happened to her. You don't hear from Ayla for years either.” <Feylania>

“Years is an understatement. Her last message was decades ago. But they're both still alive. I would have heard about it. Still, I'm worried.” <Luna>

“At least I know she didn't arrive in the realm of the elves. I would have been informed.” <Feylania>

"That would have surprised me too. The journey from the Empire would have taken many months. The uncertainty still makes me uneasy." <Luna>

“Calm down. I will instruct my subjects to keep an eye out. Unfortunately for you, there aren't many shrines of yours in my empire. That makes it difficult for her to contact you, should she be among the elves after all.” <Feylania>

“But she learned ritual magic and can at least communicate. That's why I'm surprised I haven't heard anything. She was traveling in the center of the empire the whole time and had access to two shrines.” <Luna>

“You're really worried, aren't you? It's been ages since you've been so emotionally attached to a single person. I don't recognize you anymore.” <Feylania>

"Yeah, yeah, make fun of me. I can't help it. I can get emotional too, even if I wanted to avoid it when it comes to a mortal. The last time didn't end well." <Luna>

“I remember. It took you almost 200 years to come out of your shell and talk to me again.” <Feylania>

“Spare me that. I promised to do better, but please let's leave the old story alone. Come on, let's visit Angrim. Maybe he knows more. The dwarves are the closest to the Beastkin in terms of living among humans.” <Luna>

"At least when it comes to the east. In the south, you're more likely to encounter a demon. Even if they're disguised and living incognito among humans. Even in the city-states or among the coastal pirates, there are few beastkin or dwarves, let alone elves." <Feylania>

“You're right. Let's go.” <Luna>

"By the way, a word of warning to you. You should be more careful about what you tell Eliza, especially when it comes to the dungeons or the development of her soul. Justizia is still silent, but she is strict and enforces the rules of your competition. You know her and her pride. There are already rumors about both Lumos and you." <Feylania>

“I don't care. First, I want to know if Eliza is okay. I'll worry about the rest later.” <Luna>

“Don't say later that I didn't warn you. Even though I understand you well. Let's leave it at that and visit Angrim.” <Feylania>

“Let's go.” <Luna>

Somewhere else in the realm of gods

“I have to do something. This is all going too slowly. How can it be that after 18 years, my champions have only visited three dungeons and are still stuck in their base class? I urgently need to make a new oracle to my followers. They need to put more pressure on the four. I can't lose under any circumstances.” <Lumos>

Elsewhere in the realm of gods

"I'm bored. Nothing ever happens here. And the competition between the two of them is boring too. Especially since they've both forbidden me from interfering. Pff, where's all the fun in that? Hmm, maybe I've just had a great idea. Maybe I should take part in the competition too, without asking them, of course. Where's all the fun in that? Unfortunately, reincarnation is not an option. It would take far too many years for them to grow up. That leaves only hero summoning. Hmm, sounds good. Now the only question is, in which realm should they be summoned? I would also have to teach them the appropriate ritual magic. What can I use instead? Hmmm, hah, that's it. I'll just hide a scroll with the appropriate formula in a dungeon or labyrinth. A labyrinth is better, it's easier to place the scroll as a reward in the last room. Yes, that sounds good. Then I'll look for a suitable labyrinth and get started. I'm already excited. It's going to be great. As always, I have the best ideas. Smile." ???