Episode 27 — Leon’s Recovery

Several days have passed since Leon collapsed.

The news that arrived from Gustav’s manor this morning was a huge weight off my chest.

The sugar-coated antibiotics worked wonders. The reddish-purple spots on Leon’s body have completely vanished, his fever has broken, and apparently, his appetite has even returned.

(…Good. That’s a relief.)

As I was thinking that, the gate intercom rang.

Gustav and Lene were standing at the gate.

Both still looked tired, but their expressions were world’s apart from the despair I’d seen the other day. Lene’s eyes were still a bit red, but she looked genuinely bright.

Only—

“…Are you guys still wearing those?”

When I spoke, Gustav immediately straightened his posture.

He was wearing the disposable masks I’d given them—two of them, layered on top of each other. Lene was doing the same.

“Y-Yes! Just in case! There is still a possibility that I am a carrier…!”

“I am wearing mine as well… since I was in such close contact with Leon…”

(I’m pretty sure you’re fine by now, but whatever…)

I gave a short nod and invited them into the living room.

“Mr. Zect… Leon said he was hungry this morning. For him to actually want to eat… it’s been so long…”

Gustav’s voice was trembling.

“Truly… thank you so much!”

Lene wiped her eyes and bowed repeatedly beside him.

“Mr. Zect… the boy actually smiled. Once the fever left him… he said, ‘Mom, I’m hungry.’ To hear that voice again…”

Gustav caught his breath behind his masks. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke quietly.

“Mr. Zect. To be honest… before Leon collapsed, he had been drinking water from the well. He often used an old well near the playground…”

(…Ah, I see.)

I had a bad feeling about this.

“How often is that well used?”

“Hardly at all. The water quality is poor… but since it’s near where the children play, they tend to…”

Gustav clenched his fist in regret.

“The sanitation in Felsen… if I am being honest, it is not good. The wells are ancient, the drainage ditches are clogged, and whenever it rains, the waste overflows… The citizens have simply grown accustomed to it.”

Lene added softly.

“The night Leon collapsed… his hands were stained with mud from the well. I thought he was just playing, but looking back now…”

(…Well, no wonder people are getting sick.)

I leaned back into the sofa and crossed my arms.

“Gustav. What’s the sewage situation in Felsen like?”

“…We have basic ditches to carry away rainwater, but that is all…”

“What about the water supply?”

“Only wells and water hauled from the river. Sometimes the mages purify the water, but it’s not a constant supply…”

(…Just as I thought. Pure medieval-level sanitation.)

I let out a long sigh.

“Alright. Let’s change the priorities of our urban reform. We start with ‘water.’”

“Water…?”

“Yeah. We’re going to install a proper sewage and water supply system. We’ll use waterwheels to pump water from the river and create a network that flows throughout the whole town. We’ll run waste pipes underground to flush the sewage outside the city limits. If we pull this off, the number of illnesses will plummet.”

Gustav’s eyes widened.

“Is… is such a thing even possible…?”

“It’s possible. In fact, if you don’t do it, Felsen is going to be swallowed by a major plague eventually.”

Lene placed a hand over her heart, her voice shaking.

“…So Leon’s collapse… was also a failure of the city itself.”

“Exactly.”

After a moment of silence, Gustav bowed deeply.

“Mr. Zect… please. Continue to lend us your wisdom to save Felsen… to save this city.”

Lene bowed beside him.

“Please… so that no other child has to go through what Leon did…”

I shrugged.

“Well, I live here too. I’d rather have a clean town than a filthy one.”

Tama hopped onto my lap and flicked her tail.

“Mrow. (Deep down, you’re just a big softie.)”

I lightly stroked Tama’s head.

(…Alright. Time to get serious about this city-building thing.)

Leon’s recovery was only the first step in the Reformation of Felsen.