Chapter 204

Max helped not because she wanted to be recognized for her good deeds, but because helping in the asylum kept her busy and she preferred that over idling around in the monastery. The physical drain it caused her also helped her sleep at night. Recently, she suffered from severe insomnia. Throughout the dark nights, as she laid alone in her bed, the horribly distorted faces of the fallen knights haunted her mind.

However, since her visits to the charity, she would come back so physically exhausted, that she would collapse in her bed and fall asleep without worrying about nightmares. If possible, Max tried to go there every day and worked like a mule. However, it was troublesome to visit often as they constantly needed to seek permission, borrow a carriage, and find escorts. Not wanting to burden the temple, which seemed to have been hit with the plague, given how frantic the priests and priestesses were running, the ladies had to limit their visit to once or twice a week.

Instead, during their spare time, they would gather in the garden pavilion and sew tunics and blankets out of large pieces of cloth and the maids also helped from time to time. However, no matter how much clothes and bedding they made, after five or six days, they would either turn to rags or disappear. The priests claimed that the vagrants often stole the supplies, but they didnt have the resources to crack down the thieves. Rumors spread about nobles providing support to the asylum and so the number of people seeking help grew exponentially that food, clothing, and space began running out.

Max soon learned that Levan wasnt as peaceful as it appeared. Due to the increase in monsters, the number of refugees arriving in Levan spread like poisonous weeds. The outskirts of the city were infested with refugees from the north to escape the monsters, and with the increase in population, inflation soared. Merchants from around the world came with their seemingly limitless cargoes, but they still didnt solve their food shortage problem, especially since most of the food and supplies were being sent to the allied forces. And with that, the lives of the poor and the common people grew more destitute with each passing day.

Whenever Max went to visit the old asylum, people who were skin and bones walked around the streets like lifeless beings. While homeless people did not frequent the city center or the port due to high security, they were bountiful in the areas near the city walls. As the number of poverty-stricken people grew each day, the priests sighs also increased.

If we fail to quarantine those who are sick, an epidemic might break out.

It was early afternoon when Max visited the asylum with the other ladies. She looked up at the priestm whose face appeared to look clearly exhausted. There were dozens of sick people huddled on the wide floor, and the scent of sour vomit from their bodies could be smelled all over the building. One of the women took a step back and ran out of the building, gasping for air.

Are they p-perhaps contagious?

The priest quickly shook his head.

Dont worry. These people are only sick because of food poisoning. As the days grow hotter, food is more susceptible to spoilage so the number of those getting sick also increases. This happens especially in refuge places. The people here are so weak from malnutrition that a mild illness can cause death.

The elderly priest sighed and clicked his tongue.

It seems that a large number of refugees have already passed away. Since the temple cannot cater for all the deceased and they cannot just pile up, they are being thrown into mass graves that are secretly dug in the forest This is a big problem. Without a proper burial, the rot of death left behind can cause a plague.

The ladies faces immediately paled, becoming as white as dough at the terrible truth right in front of them. As if suddenly realizing that he was addressing women, whose protected lives revolve around their great estates, the priest quickly cleared his throat as a distraction.

Please forgive me for telling you the horrible stories here. It seems my senses have recently become stone-dull due to everything that is happening. To utter such words in front of you noblest ladies

If its like the priest said, then shouldnt the sick be treated as soon as possible?

I earnestly wish we could. However, due to inflation, the prices of medicinal herbs are through the roof so there is no way we can cure so many when we have no funds.

They could only keep their mouths shut. It was already incredibly difficult to supply an adequate amount of food, and with the prices of necessities skyrocketing, even their donations would not suffice for more than a month of sustenance.

A young woman, who for the most part had been quiet, suggested carefully.

How about we send a letter to other noble families and ask them for help?

Idcilla huffed.

With the capital already in this difficult situation, wouldnt it be better for them to go to other estates? The royal family has already raised the taxes to build up the allied forces. Everyone is already at the limit of their wits.

Then what in the world would be a better thing to do? If a plague does happen, surely, the monastery wouldnt be safe.

Alyssa was on the verge of tears. The air grew cold around them and the priest tried his best to appease the frightened ladies.

If we can quarantine the sick, we can prevent the spread of a disease

I saw a lot of lizard grass o-on our way here cant those be used as medicinal herbs?

At her sudden words, everyones eyes flew to Max and she froze slightly at the attention. The priests then asked her with a puzzled expression.

Lizard grass Ive never heard of herbal medicine like that before

Lizard grass is u-usually a very effective medicinal herb for stomach and abdominal pain. When you eat spoiled food and drink its d-decoction the symptoms will soon improve

Max wasnt entirely sure of its efficacy; she was just recalling what she read about in her books on herbal medicine. The priest narrowed his eyes and looked at her curiously.

How does the lady know about herbal medicines.

I-I ama healer. When I started