Reincarnate as Prince: Change Magical World with Industry

49 Growing Concerns

The next morning, before Janus could even finish his meal and arrange his papers, Father Galvan appeared on his doorstep. The old man looked weary, as he usually did when he approached Janus.

"Oh good morning Father, what brings you here at this hour of the day?" Janus said, still scratching his weary eyes.

"Why my dear prince, his hardly early. The council has already finished their meeting. Looks like you overslept again, might I suggest you take it slow for a bit?" the priest said.

"I appreciate your concern, Father Galvan. But alas, many immigrants have come to our settlement. I need to do my best to accommodate them as best as I can."

"About that..." The priest pondered for a moment. "Yes, forgive me your Highness but I would like to speak to you about this matter. As you know the Herald Almighty--"

"As I recall, the Herald Almighty has tasked us, humans, to tame the so-called 'lesser races' under our rule. Isn't that right? Are we not doing what the Herald specifically commanded us to do?" Janus said, trying to hide his irritation.

"Yes, of course, your majesty. I have nothing against us welcoming other races into our settlement, indeed some have come to our church to worship in the doctrine of the Almighty. Well, some of them also came only to dance and sing but that is beside the point. The reason I came to you today is with the matter of the infirmary. It has enough space to care for the sick and the wounded, but a few diseases have been cropping up amongst different races and there are disputes as to how to help all of them."

Janus was taken aback. Again he had judged the clear intentions of the priest unfairly, just because of his traumatic experience with the Holy See.

"I am terribly sorry, come in here Father, and let's discuss the matter over tea."

Father Galvan explained the situation to Janus who kept writing the details in another roll of parchment. The barrel beside him was almost full.

It was a problem indeed, with every new race comes with them the various diseases they can potentially carry. And then there was the matter of how to treat them. Remedies made for humans hardly ever worked for dwarves, and dosages for dwarves required three times if not more than the normal human sickness. The goblins can and usually do take care of themselves, and with the emergence of Yashiek's snake tribe, they were able to concoct antidotes for poisons and insect bites.

The problem fell on the Blunthammer dwarves and the I'reen. The priest reported that Ramstead had been helping them with cures and remedies for dwarves, but Ramstead's constitution was different from Blunthammer's surface dwellers. As for the I'reen, no one knows how to treat them save for themselves. That simply wouldn't do. Illnesses like colds and rashes were emerging among the folk, and the priest who was skilled in healing humans was getting overwhelmed by the whole affair.

"We cannot afford an outbreak of disease your highness. Pray, we need a better solution. We've lost five of our folk this week. Two of the I'reen to and three Blunthammers caught a disease."

"Bah!" the priest exclaimed. "If only there were other spellcasters around, did you know that out of every tribe that joined us there is----"

"Yes Father, I am aware that we have no other spellcaster, save for yourself."

"Yes, and I am only able to do healing spells at that. There is however a spell that could universally heal each disease regardless of race, but the reagents are hard to find and the spellbook is only allowed for the higher ranks in the church. It is fueled mostly by faith and devotion to the Almighty which I have enough of, but alas I do not know it, and I have no such reference."

"Unless..." Janus said.

"Why yes your highness. It is possible that the castle library has a copy of the tome. Only the highest of the Bishops can administer the spell, but I'm sure I can do it with enough practice and devotion. Mayhap you have come across this? It is called the "Holy Cures from the Herald Almighty, fifth edition if my memory is true."

Janus excused himself, saying that he needed to check and it would take him some time. He moved into another room where a pile of books was stacked with no sorting or management. He had haphazardly collected books on the histories of the dwarves and the I'reen as well as the Mairobi to learn more about their cultures, but he didn't have time to read them yet. It was silly of him to research about their culture when his first priority was to search for ways to heal them in this dangerous land full of beasts and illnesses.

A few clicks on the Golden Library and he had found the tome with the healing spell on it, thankfully he had collected a lot of points while visiting and inspecting each tribe's settlement.

He handed the tome to the priest, much to the old man's amazement. He tried to make up a story on the fly, hoping that it would suffice.

"I brought this with me from the Castle Library due to its unique cover design. I would have never thought it useful as I don't have a single magic capability in me. I am handing this to you in the condition that you will heal anyone and everyone within this village to the best of your ability."

"Thank you, your highness, oh what a great coincidence this is! What are the odds that you have brought the exact same tome with you? Truly we have been blessed by the Herald Himself to go on this journey. With this, I will serve you and every other race that swears allegiance to you. Say only the word, your highness. I am at your service."

The priest bowed as he took his leave, clutching the tome-like a kid who got away with the best prize at the carnival.

A universal cure for all diseases, manifested by a few incantations, reagents, and the power of faith in the Herald. This world was coming up with new surprises.

#

Janus finished his breakfast and walked towards the Great Hall, where a mass of people from every tribe and race was slowly gathering.

 He had written the letters last night, informing every leader to send their best warriors and fighters for a meeting.

Master Ringo and the council must have found it and distributed it while he was sleeping on his desk. They didn't even wake him, they were being too kind.

The Cockatrice was only the first attack. They were lucky enough to have only suffered minimal losses.

Janus was feeling this land starting to bite, and if they didn't do anything to improve their defenses, they would not survive.

As the crowd grew in number, he ordered the meeting to be held in one of the clearings near Lakeside. They had setup a kitchen along with refreshments for everyone in attendance.

Every group was represented. Among the humans were the off-duty guards from Wayward Manor, the original settlers led by Captain Caleb, holding their spears and halberds and donned in breastplates newly forged from the smiths.

Sir Arthan had been busy in the past few weeks, scouring every-abled man who was willing to fight and defend within and beyond the walls, recruiting former guards as well as normal village-folk alike. With him were twenty-five squires he trained every day in between patrols and hunts. He had called this group the Stalwart Knights and had adapted a sigil of a mountain and a forest as their flag. Their impressive formation and discipline contrasted with every other group.

The Mairobians were led by a man called Kalbu, who had a large turban on his head and a well-trimmed beard that reached his chest. The Mairobians were unarmed by the Empire of Mydir, but they developed martial arts that made use of their body, using fists and feet as well as their elbows and knees. One of the few things that they were still adept at was the use of daggers and chakrams. Weapons that they could conceal in their pockets or keep in their wrists as bracelets. There were around twenty-five of them with a few apprentices who were in training. With their vests and their colorful trousers, they reminded Janus of warrior monks.

The Merrimen were the final group of humans. A Ragtag band of adventurers who were previously armored in bone and wooden plates. They had since adapted goblin and dwarven craftsmanship in their armory. After defeating the Cockatrice and helping the snake charmers in the past, both races have been providing then with various gifts. This made Janus even more excited.

Hakkar's group was not to be denied. They numbered in a hundred at least. All sniveling and raising their spears as if gearing up for a battle. Arthan tried to calm them down but to no use, they only smiled and gave him rude gestures. Janus could even see one shaking his butt at the Knight. He could see members of the snake-charming tribe intermingling with Hakkars group. They held daggers in each hand made from snake fangs, they also carried blow darts and small vials arrayed in their leather belts. Janus knew these were filled with harmful toxins.