Chapter 140: Second Ending Spoiler (1)

What is this…

Lloyd tried to open his eyes wide in surprise, but he couldn’t. His eyes didn’t move even though he willed them to. But it wasn’t just his eyes. It was his entire body as well. Suddenly, it became hard to breathe as if something heavy was pressed against his body. Searing heat rushed all over him at the same time, which was accompanied by a severe pang of dizziness.

Am I lying down?

His vision was hazier than usual, so Lloyd tried to make out his surroundings. Just then…

“Javier. It looks like… this is it for me.”

Lloyd’s mouth moved against his will. This Lloyd that was talking was his future self. His voice was coarse, exhausted, and raspy.

What’s happening? What in the world is going on right now?

Lloyd’s heart sank. The words that just came out of his mouth seemed to suggest something ominous. His raspy voice, hot body temperature, and enervated body signaled that something was far from normal.

I think I contracted a disease.

It appeared so based on his observations.

I think I’m lying indoors. And judging from the blurry ceiling… Am I in a bedroom? The room looks somewhat organized though it’s not luxurious.

Future Lloyd was lying in such a place, gasping to breathe and suffering from a high fever. And he stammered when he talked.

I see what’s going on now. I’m saying my last words as I die from an illness.

Lloyd found his heart filling up with relief when he realized so.

Truly, this is the nicest and best ending there is for me. Though it was a little uncomfortable to watch himself dying like this.

But Lloyd soon realized that he didn’t have to make a big fuss out of it. The Ending Spoiler. After all, this skill allows Lloyd to catch a glimpse of how things would end for him. More than that, life always ended with death. No one lived forever. As such, he wasn’t an exception.

Since If he was dying in his sickbed, then it looked like he would at least die an old man after enjoying decades of a sweet and peaceful life.

Lloyd was relieved at the thought. So, he now observed the situation with more ease.

Well, let’s just find out what disease kills me. I might then be able to prevent it. If I’m lucky, I might be able to have a couple more years of the good life.

This was the great thing about the Ending Spoiler. Lloyd concluded that this skill was incomparably better than TV programs that promote health and inform the viewers about diseases. The former allowed him to see how he dies and come up with the most personal disease prevention method possible. Lloyd was closely observing the situation when he heard a voice.

“No, Master Lloyd. Please bear a little more.”

Someone came into Lloyd’s hazy vision. From the direction and angle, Lloyd figured that it was someone who was taking care of him from the side chair.

I know this voice. It’s Javier.

Lloyd’s slightly blurry gaze moved to the side, and Javier’s oval face and silver hair appeared in front of him in pieces like a mosaic.

Dang. He looks handsome even like this. How did he manage to keep that jawline all these years?

Lloyd suddenly grew envious when he saw Javier’s perfectly oval face. The latter’s voice, mixed with a groan, was heard just then.

“You can’t… You can’t leave me so soon.”

Javier’s voice dripped with sadness and anxiety. Lloyd felt his hand being grabbed. Javier was trembling.

This guy. Is he sad because I’m about to die?

Lloyd guessed that his teasing friendship with Javier lasted as they grew old together.

“Just hold on a little more. Please.”

Javier spoke, almost pleading. Lloyd suddenly felt Javier’s grip tighten. At the same time, warm and clean energy flowed into his body. It was mana.

Emergency treatment?

Lloyd was right about it. Javier was sending his mana to Lloyd, and it traveled from his hand through the elbow to reach his chest, expanding its range at every beat and driving away the murky energy in his system. At the same time, it continuously pressed on his heart. Lloyd realized what Javier was doing.

He’s massaging my heart.

It appeared as though this future Lloyd would draw his last breath anytime soon. Javier was striving hard to extend his life at all costs. Lloyd’s heart ached as he noticed how desperate Javier was.

“Master Lloyd. Please bear a little more. The physician will be here soon.”

“No, no,” said the future Lloyd. “Whew… It looks like it’s too late.”

“But Master Lloyd…”

Lloyd’s heart ached at the sight. But his future self was comforting Javier. Later, after some more difficult breathing, Lloyd felt his mouth open slowly once again, and he instantly knew what was coming.

I’m about to say my final words.

Javier kept massaging Lloyd’s heart, but the pain didn’t subside. Mere breathing agonized him terribly. Lloyd suddenly felt a drop in his energy. He had only a few seconds before his time was up. After some last words, he would be dead for good. Lloyd became nervous.

Let’s hear what I have to say.

His future self moved his lips, forming words through his lips and air. Lloyd focused every fiber of his consciousness to not miss a word of his will.

“Last year…”

The words came out with great difficulty.

“I shouldn’t have spent it like that…”

What? Last year? What happened last year?

“After I expanded the reclaimed land… I thought everything was going well. I let my guard down. The freezing cold… I wasn’t prepared for the epidemic… So, really, this is all on me…”

“Master Lloyd…” said Javier.

“The refugees who lived through the harsh winter… Whew… Me too… This spring…”

“No, no, Master Lloyd…” begged Javier.

“I’m sorry… At least… you should flee…”

Every bit of strength in Lloyd’s hand vanished, and it dropped from Javier’s grip. It hit the bed with a thud. And his heart stopped.

“Haah…”

His last breath. He felt like he was being lifted into the air. Lloyd’s hazy vision grew clear for a split second, and he wondered if this was a normal part of the process or death’s last thoughtful consideration. Then, thanks to clarity, Lloyd was granted a full, clear glimpse of Javier, who was tending Lloyd at his side. But it turned out that Javier wasn’t old.

Eh…?

Lloyd halted as he experienced his final moments.

What?

Lloyd wanted to rub his eyes hard. But he actually didn’t need to do that because Javier was already holding his tears as he gazed at Lloyd. But his face wasn’t old. It was young. Not just young, he looked as young as he last saw him. Lloyd’s heart sank to the bottom when a realization hit him.

Hold on. What the heck? Could it be that he stayed young because he’s a sword master? No, no way. Aging is natural even to the sword masters. Javier wasn’t an exception in the novel too.

If Lloyd died sick of old age, it was only natural that Javier was equally old and aged.

But he didn’t. He looks young. That means…

The period of his death he was currently glimpsing at wasn’t very far from the present.

Wait, I’m not dying of old age?

He hurriedly scanned his surroundings, wanting more confirmation. Lloyd then noticed his own hand that Javier was holding. The back of his hand. It was thin but had no wrinkles. No spots were frequently visible among the elderly. Though thin, the skin was sleek and smooth, like a young person’s. That was all the confirmation he needed”

Fwoosh! A blinding light enveloped him. Lloyd shut his eyes.

“…”

Creak. Lloyd was now sitting on a bedroom chair. It was where he had used the Ending Spoiler. But Lloyd didn’t notice what he was sitting on. Instead, he simply leaned forward, propped his elbows on his knees, and covered his mouth with his hands.

Gulp. Lloyd’s Adam’s apple bobbed visibly as he did so. But his eyes were trembling more visibly in fear.

Oh, my freaking gosh. What did I just see?

Thump! Thump! Thump!

His heart pounded and raced, and the tip of his fingers started to shake terribly.

I thought I was seeing myself die of old age.

But it wasn’t. It turned out that he was seeing the near future. Javier was young so was the back of his own hand. There wasn’t any trace of aging.

This is nuts… This is nuts!!

A pang of terror gripped him by instinct. But it came with a sense of relief that he had made the right choice to check the ending. Two contrasting emotions swirled in him. His hair stood in fright.

Haah… Calm down first.

Lloyd sighed at length. He told himself that he wasn’t dying right now. He had in advance caught a glimpse of the future at least for a short while. The situation could definitely be avoided. Thinking such, Lloyd collected his thoughts. His pounding heart and raspy breathing soon found composure.

“Woah. This is nuts.”

Lloyd shook his head and chuckled. He was now calm. The ending scenes started to appear in his head one by one. Afterward, he was able to pick up a few things after coldly observing them.

Some pointers. I died. Died of disease. And this happened in the near future.

A few years later? Or a few months? Lloyd coolly analyzed his last words. And he was able to infer the time period of his death.

Next spring. I’m sure of it.

He had several clues.

I said that I let my guard down after expanding the reclaimed land the previous year. And I mentioned the harsh weather. So, this year’s construction of the reclaimed land becomes the previous year. In other words, this winter is going to be freezing cold.

It appeared so, indeed.

And what I said last really backs it all up. I said that the same thing happened to me in the spring.

A vague picture was drawn as he gathered his thoughts. The construction of the retaining walls and reclaimed land. The unprecedented cold in the winter. The epidemic in the following spring. Then, his death.

The problem is that I’m dying because of an epidemic.

Lloyd clearly heard his last words, how he had failed to prepare against the epidemic. And it was all on him.

The fiefdom will be struck with an epidemic. Countless refugees will perish, and I will too along with them.

What happens after? What happens to Javier? There was no way of knowing that far.

Maybe he makes a tomb for me and leaves the fiefdom to start another adventure of his own. Just like how the Knight of Blood and Iron went in the very beginning.

If that were to happen, he would take a similar path in the story, just like in the novel. Lloyd wrinkled his nose at the irony.

Well, I don’t have to mind that far.

There was a bigger fish to fry. The first thing he had to attend to was the prevention of the epidemic that was expected to come next spring.

Whew… I thought I could finally rest at ease after the reclamation project ended in great success.

But right now, his survival was dependent on whether he stopped the epidemic or not. From then on, Lloyd racked his brain, trying his best to speculate the origin of the epidemic through several clues he had earned from the spoiler. But there was one problem.

I know too little.

Lloyd couldn’t think of anything. He had no way of knowing what kind of epidemic would hit the fiefdom or how it would happen. And so, he was troubled.

Maybe it happens because of the incoming flood of refugees? Possibly. But what if my guess is wrong? What if I work to prevent the event from happening only for the actual source to be from somewhere unexpected?

If that was the case, the ending he had just seen would actualize. He would fall ill at a young age and die without having been able to enjoy life. There was nothing more miserable and unfair than that.

No. A vague and general response won’t prevent anything.

What Lloyd needed was a detailed preparation and response that was accurate, smart, and straightforward. To that end, he had to figure out the exact origin of the epidemic and infection route. And so, Lloyd thought about using the Ending Spoiler again, getting more observations and clues. But it was impossible.

The Ending Spoiler costs 80 CP since this would be my third try. Goodness, how the price jumps!

The second try had cost him 40 CP. It appeared that the price doubled each time he used it. Right now, he only had 60 CP in his pocket.

Haah… What then? How did that epidemic spread?

Lloyd agonized over it, cooped up in his room for half a day. The night came, and Javier visited.

“I came to pick you up since you didn’t come when it was time,” said Javier.

“What?”

“The time for a lullaby,” answered Javier.

“…”

Oh, right. I forgot about that.

Lloyd was supposed to sing a lullaby to this boy every night at this hour. But he was so preoccupied that he missed the time. Lloyd smiled wryly.

“Tsk,” said Lloyd, “Is that why you cried? Because you can’t hear my lullaby anymore?”

“Cry…? What do you mean?”

“You cried, I mean. At the ending.”

“Ending?” asked Javier again.

“There’s something like that.”

Lloyd shrugged and got up from his seat. The hours of deliberation had tensed his muscles. His head felt heavy. So, he decided to take a stroll and get some fresh air since he needed to put Javier to sleep anyway.

A new idea or clue might come up. Who knows?

Lloyd stepped out with Javier, and the two walked toward his quarter without any words.

“By the way,” Javier said as he broke the silence. It looked like something just came to his mind. “I forgot to report something to you this afternoon.”

“Report what to me? What is it?”

“It’s about the human waste at the camps,” said Javier.

“Yeah, what about it?”

“The pit we had dug previously is filled to the brim.”

“Already?” asked Lloyd.

“Yes.”

“Hmm… I see. After all, there are a lot of people.”

Lloyd tilted his head. The refugee camps housed tens of thousands of refugees, and the number of feces and urines they excreted was unimaginable. Lloyd had instructed them not to dump those anywhere as they pleased. A specific hole was dug for that purpose, but now, it was already filled. Lloyd started to get a headache.

The future epidemic is already giving me a headache, and now this. Maybe I should make their meals smaller. That might make them go less. No, that’s too harsh. Dig more holes? Hmm… That seems like a superficial solution.

Since there were tens of thousands of people, the amount of waste produced was unimaginably large. There was a ridiculous amount left over even after using what they could as fertilizer.

There is a clear limit to disposing of them in the ground. Or should I just toss them into the Prona River? The northern downstream isn’t touching the fiefdom anyway. It’s a deserted land. That might be the easiest and cleanest way. Wait a minute.

As Lloyd continued his train of thought, something, an idea flashed across his mind. Lloyd stopped dead in his tracks. His head started to spin fast. Clues came to his mind. One by one, piece by piece, they started to gather and become whole. They connected until it vaguely formed a picture.

Epidemic… Feces and urine… River… Harsh winter… Spring… And epidemic.

The cause of the epidemic. And the feces and urine issue Javier just mentioned. Those two pieces of the puzzle were put together, finally enlightening Lloyd of the clue. This clue was something that actually took place on earth before.

“Winter of 1830. Vienna, Austria. Unprecedented cold. The freezing of the Danube River. And… cholera.”

Lloyd clenched his fists. Finally, he found out the cause of the epidemic.