I Became the Narrow-Eyed Villain in a Dropped Novel

“Hoo….”

In the headquarters' underground training ground, I looked at the practice dummies I had destroyed.

Some had their heads completely blown off, and others had their torsos completely caved in.

If today's goal had been to relieve stress, it would have been a decent result, but unfortunately, my goal was the exact opposite.

“It's trickier than I thought.”

I took out the Mana Grasp and moved it around, clicking my tongue.

For the time being, this guy is still my main skill.

The Discharge I got last time wasn't bad as an attack spell, but its utility was somewhat lacking.

It was easy to lightly paralyze or completely fry something, but the in-between was difficult.

In that respect, the Mana Grasp was much more versatile.

Today's goal was to practice more diverse applications beyond simply swinging it and throwing things.

Though it didn't go well.

“With just a little more, I think I could use it for piercing.”

You know those characters who use a technique where they thrust their hand forward and pierce through a body.

In terms of power alone, the Mana Grasp is sufficient.

The problem is that if I fail to control the power even slightly, it doesn't pierce but blows away an entire section.

It seems I'll need quite a lot of practice to narrow the range and find the necessary power.

“I should stop here for today.”

I sighed and stood up.

A burning hostility was descending the stairs.

“What's gotten into you, making such a ruckus from the afternoon, Count.”

“Do you need to know, Kaseph.”

“Of course. I need to know what your plan is.”

Along with the raspy voice, the unsightly mask walked out.

Several days had passed, but he was a guy I just couldn't get used to.

“If you're bored, would you like to use this place? I'm finished with my work for today.”

“You mean refining your mana? I didn't know someone of the Count's stature would do such basic practice.”

“The basics are always important. Well then, excuse me.”

I had keenly felt over the past few days that there was nothing to be gained from a long conversation with Kaseph.

I left the basement without a backward glance.

“…….”

I felt an immense hostility from behind me.

What a stalker-like bastard.

“Detection. An interesting spell you're using.”

“What does it matter to you what I use?”

“Isn't it strange to use a spell that searches for enemies while in the headquarters.”

It's because of you.

Two days after Kaseph declared he would stay, I learned the Detection spell.

I had thought I should learn it someday since it was a spell to find nearby enemies, but the reason I learned it so quickly was because of this guy who was persistently following me.

“You're more interested in others than I thought, Kaseph.”

“The Eight Council is a gathering of those who pour their interest into others. Otherwise, they wouldn't follow him. Of course, you are an exception, Count.”

“I'll take that as a compliment.”

Resigned, I headed to the study, and as if it were natural, Kaseph followed.

Even though I had lived normally for several days, Kaseph was persistent.

Is a mere few days not enough for him to accept that Valheit has changed?

In any case, I feel like I'm going to get a neurosis.

When I opened the study door, Doruga, the Head of Strategy, greeted me with a tired face.

“You've arrived. Ah, hello to you too, Lord Kaseph.”

“You know he won't answer.”

I sneered and took the documents Doruga gave me.

The trends of each country this week, the status of the headquarters' funds, and a report sent by Ede were all things I was somewhat familiar with, so I flipped through them quickly.

“Hmm….”

Then, my hand stopped near the end.

A disaster that occurred in a small eastern city of the Empire.

“What….”

“What disaster is this?”

Kaseph stole the words I was about to say.

For a moment, Doruga didn't realize the words were directed at him and stood blankly before coming to his senses.

“Ah, yes. According to the initial report, it seems to be a plague. People are said to be dropping like flies. However, it doesn't seem to be a common disease.”

“Is there anything unusual?”

“Well only the people of that city are collapsing. Outsiders are not affected at all. The doctors dispatched by the Duke also say it's a disease of unknown cause.”

“It's a curse.”

Kaseph stated with certainty.

I don't know how he knew just from hearing that, but I didn't particularly argue.

Because when it comes to curses, Kaseph of the Conflagration is the one who knows best.

“Is there a reason you think it's a curse?”

“A disease is an equal thing that does not distinguish between people. Neither the beggar on the street nor the high-ranking official can escape its touch. But a curse is different. A curse is a product of discrimination. Because it always has a designated target.”

In this world, a curse is like a contract where a superior and a subordinate exist.

“It happened in the Third Duke's territory, so it's not a big concern for us, but I included it so you would be aware.”

I nodded at Doruga's natural words and was about to move on when a withered hand blocked my way.

“Are you planning to just let it go?”

“Is there a reason not to? It has nothing to do with the Eight Council.”

“Salvation is our goal, Count.”

At the solemn voice, the corners of my mouth twisted without me realizing.

I could roughly guess what he was going to say next.

“Your promise, a chance to prove that the things you did in the past will not happen again.”

“What I promised was that I would not do certain things, not that I would do something.”

“Then there isn't a speck of reason to trust you.”

When I turned my head towards Kaseph, the bloodshot eyes behind the mask were glaring at me.

As if they were determined to find out what was behind my closed eyes.

Will I need this guy in the future?

Probably.

Curses are a very peculiar problem, and there are few experts.

If the world's destruction is related to a curse, there would be no one more useful than Kaseph.

“Ron.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

The large butler was already inside the study.

I'm not even surprised anymore.

“Prepare for a trip to the Third Duke's domain. This lanky guy has to ride too, so prepare a rather large carriage.”

For now, I planned to play along.

At least until the Eight Council meeting was over.

***

Kranacht, located in the central part of the Third Duke's domain, was an ordinary imperial city.

The kind of place where a large market is held, attracting merchants and farmers from the surrounding area, and a government office is established to manage the surrounding villages.

Vestol merchants didn't pay much attention to small places like this, so it was also a place that maintained the Empire's unique old-fashioned charm.

In summary, it was a place with nothing unusual except for cotton fields and cotton fabrics.

Of course, its current state, with not a single person on the streets, was far from ordinary.

“These are basic plague response measures.”

The official said, his eyes darting around nervously.

He had been forced to come out at the news that Count Valheit had arrived, but he looked like he wanted to hide somewhere right away.

“When did it start?”

“The plague, you mean? Well it's a bit difficult to tell you if you're not an official.”

Kaseph's eyes twitched under the mask.

The official weighed regulations against fear for a moment and then quickly opened his mouth.

“It was about a month ago. It started in the west of the city and soon the disease spread throughout the entire city.”

“The west. Is there anything unusual there?”

“No. Nothing in particular, Your Excellency. It's just an ordinary residential area. It's not a slum, which is often a hotbed of disease.”

If it were a place where many people gathered, it wouldn't be strange for a disease to spread in an instant.

If outsiders were also infected, that is.

“I heard that outsiders are not infected.”

“Whether it's good luck or not, that's been the case so far. Even though quite a few came and went because of the market day. The doctors sent by the Duke said they don't know the reason either. So, Your Excellency and your guest will probably be fine.”

It sounded like a plea for him to let him go since he himself was not fine.

“Thank you. We'll take it from here, so you may go.”

“Yes, sir! Please just don't do anything too suspi… conspicuous!”

The official, after glancing at the suspiciously tall Kaseph, disappeared as if fleeing.

Normally, he would have said it would be a problem for such a strange person to be wandering around, but right now, his life was more precious than such regulations.

“I will go to the west and investigate. Since it's where the curse began, there should be clues.”

“There's no need for me to follow, is there? I'm not an expert, after all.”

“Are you planning to play around?”

“Of course not. I plan to meet those doctors and ask about the symptoms.”

Kaseph glared at me again.

I was already used to it and met his gaze with a smile.

“It's not a lie. Yes, the Count would be better at that sort of thing. Join me when the time comes.”

“I hope you finish your investigation quickly.”

“Is there a reason?”

“Because the Third Duke, who will soon realize I'm here, will send people to interfere.”

Even if that official just now doesn't report it to his superiors, it will be found out soon enough if I meet the doctors the Duke sent.

Kaseph disappeared without a care.

‘Well, it's not like that man would care about such things.’

Shaking my head, I headed towards the temporary hospital.

***

It was a place that perfectly fit the word "temporary."

Tents were lined up in the city's central square, and patients were laid out on the ground as if dead.

If it weren't for the separate pile of body bags and the foam flowing from their mouths, I would have mistaken all the people lying down for corpses.

“Who are you? You don't look like a patient.”

As I was momentarily lost in the tragic scene, someone approached me from the side.

“My apologies. I am Count Valheit. You can just call me Count.”

At the name Valheit, the other person's face stiffened slightly but soon returned to a grumbling expression.

“Are you a doctor?”

“Yes, the Duke sent me. I'm in charge of responding so that the plague doesn't spread to other places.”

The doctor who answered calmly had the face and build of a carpenter.

Moreover, there was no sign of blood or pus.

Considering the foul smell that emanated from the doctors at the Imperial Capital hospital last time, he was too clean.

“Are there any noticeable features?”

“It's as you see. After a seizure with convulsions, they go limp like a corpse. There are no blisters or boils, and no bleeding. They just collapse… and die.”

It certainly doesn't seem like a common disease.

But it was also not enough to definitively say it wasn't a disease.

“What is your opinion as a doctor?”

“…It doesn't seem to be a contagious disease. That's all I can answer right now, Your Excellency.”

“Is there no possibility of it being a problem other than a disease?”

“What do you mean by that? What other possibility is there besides a disease.”

It was a strangely unfriendly answer.

However, I felt more bewilderment than a reluctance to explain.

Pretending to think while stroking my chin, I cast Detection.

A fairly strong hostility was felt from the doctor.

Not only from the doctor next to me, but also a faint hostility was felt from those moving among the patients.

“Excuse my rudeness, but are you really a doctor?”

“What kind of question is that?”

The doctor snapped.

The hostility rose even more.

Something is suspicious.

I can't explain exactly what, but I felt that he was definitely not an ordinary doctor.

However, for now, I lacked the basis for my speculation.

“My apologies. I'll be on my way now.”

“Take care, Your Excellency.”

The doctor who answered sullenly didn't move from his spot until I was far away.

Only when I was far enough away did he start to move quickly.

A sense of vigilance gradually spread among the tents.

As I thought, they are not simple doctors.

“I hope it's not a big deal.”

I muttered, knowing I shouldn't say it, and headed west.