Chapter 33

The Thurn Village, located in the middle of a mountain that had the same name, was a very small community with a total population of less than a hundred people.

To reach that place, one would have to traverse through the rough mountain paths. However, once you reach the village, there's a certain welcoming air to the sight of it. Any thoughts of the rough roads would be gone as soon as you see the tree houses huddled together and the meadow that was as refreshing as mint candy.

Such a village had very little contact with outsiders due to its secluded geographical location, so they were self-sustained for the most part. They drank the milk from the cows that they took care of, and they ate plants that they had foraged from the mountain.

"In this environment, they're bound to catch the smallpox virus as a close group."

Since their village was located at a narrow part of the mountainous area, rather than making separate barns from their houses, they would just let the cows graze free-range, raising them on the grass field on the slope at the rear of the village.

That's why in this regard as well, if one cow was afflicted with a virus, then the other cows would also have no choice but to catch that same cowpox virus. Of course, the people who were in charge of milking the cows were unknowingly vaccinated and immune against smallpox.

"Right, so all forty-nine people in charge of the cows were able to avoid the endemic disease."

The elderly, the children, and the people who were relatively weak were given the task of either household chores or milking the cows. On the other hand, the strong men and women usually hunted or foraged in the mountainous area.

As she was crouching down while staring at the cow milk, Reina soon stood up straight and spoke in a confident voice.

"Isn't it obvious how some people didn't catch the virus even though they were taking care of the patients at such a close range?"

Ethan nodded in agreement. Seeing him like that, Reina suddenly stopped in place. Then, she inwardly gulped while pressing down on the urge to comment on this.

'Hmm…'

No matter how much she thought about it, it's weird.

"Is there a problem?"

'Yes, there is. You're too naïve.'

It was lucky that things went smoothly and without much resistance. But if she were honest with herself, she was a little surprised.

'You're too open-minded about medical knowledge that you haven't even heard of before…'

Let's think of this the other way around.

If, out of the blue, she were to tell people from modern-day Earth, 'As a matter of fact, the whole world is made up of sugar. What you're seeing is actually one huge chunk of sugar,' how would people react?

'Of course nobody would believe that. They'll think that I'm crazy.'

That's why it's weird. This was too flippant of an 'OK'. Wasn't the Cerulean Freak infamous for his logical approach and sharp wit?

"Miss Reina?"

"…No, it's nothing."

Still though, it worked. Regardless of her own doubts, compared to delaying the decision because of unnecessary arguments, wasn't this the most ideal outcome? Most of all, people's lives were at stake right now.

"By the way, you'll be reporting to His Majesty again, right?"

"In a little while, yes. Can you tell me again about the supplies you need?"

Reina took out a folded piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to Ethan.

"It's a bit rough because paper is hard to come by here."

After briefly clarifying why the paper was so coarse, she soon explained again what the necessary supplies were.

Since she had explained a few times already before this, he listened and nodded without asking more questions. Then, after Reina was done speaking, he took the list and folded it again before he pushed it into his coat pocket.

"I understand."

After diligently explaining, Reina paused for a moment to look around them. Then, she whispered his name very carefully.

"And Ethan…"

Recognizing the cue, he leaned over and offered an ear to her. She stood on her tiptoes and towards his face, she… Oh?

"..."

Well, she was supposed to whisper into his ear, but then…?

Belatedly realizing what just happened, she noticed that he moved all too naturally like this—like flowing water—and so Reina couldn't help but gape a little as she looked up at him.

If he really was committed to this, that he would 'listen obediently while leaning close', then what's greeting her now was a full sight of him like this.

"..."

But what the hell was going on here.

This man never, ever listens to someone else's words, and he usually stays so far away from people to the point that you'd think he has mysophobia, but then… He's 'listening while leaning close'?

'Is the Thurn Village's energy seriously that good…'

This wasn't the Ethan that Reina knew. She knew he was weird, but not this weird.

While Reina was still gawking at him, Ethan eventually turned to face her and made eye contact with her.

But then the distance between him and Reina was barely a hand span.

"!"

Even with blurry eyesight, just looking at him would make anyone faint. So for her to see him up close like this—Reina's breath got hitched.

Feeling her heart skip a beat, Reina moved back. However, this just made Ethan tilt his head to the side and he moved forward to close the distance between them again.

In the end, all she could do was push him away with her fingertips.

"P-Please stand back."

After he did that without any warnings, she was at a loss on what to do. Her heart was beating so fast that she might just die from heart failure.

She pushed him away a little further just for the sake of her mental wellbeing. But because of this, his eyebrows arched up.

"Didn't you have something to say to me?"

"No, I mean, yes—but… If you come too close, my heart just starts beating so fast that I can't think of anything…"

Reina turned her head to the side and averted her gaze. She took one more step back just to make sure.

And then.

"Pfft."

'…W-What the?'

Like a wide-eyed bunny, she looked to see the source of that chuckle, but then the laughter grew even louder at that moment.

"Hahaha!"

Haha… ha?

Was he really laughing?

"…W-Why are you laughing like that?"

It was a weird question, yes. Reina knew it too.

However, if she were to think back on the way he laughed before this moment, out of all the times that he smirked, jeered, or laughed sardonically… This was the best laughter.

Why though? Why was he laughing in the middle of this epidemic-stricken village of all places?