Chương 63: Drawing Conclusions

"Spring water?" Lealia asked, stunned.

"Where is this spring?" I replied, "Hamlett mentioned a stream on the mountain to the northeast of town. It's an old water source for the community, and a few people still use it." Lealia pondered, "Could that be the only source of the poisoning?"

"To be certain, we need to cross-reference with the other patients. It's late now; we'll handle that first thing tomorrow morning." Afterward, Lealia and I returned to the inn. A soldier informed us that Nathan was in Iris's quarters, so we headed there to check on his recovery. Nathan, Iris, and Edgar were all seated in the inn's common area. Judging by his complexion, Nathan was clearly doing better; he was no longer as pale as he had been earlier. Iris appeared quite anxious upon seeing us return.

She asked, "How is everything? You two didn't catch the disease, did you?" Lealia corrected her, "It's not a disease; it's poisoning. We've confirmed this." Nathan added, "Did you two find the cause? It was the tea, wasn't it?" I answered, "It was the water used to brew the tea. Their water source has been contaminated. Tomorrow, Lealia and I will conduct a final verification before reporting the exact findings to the Mayor." Iris covered her mouth in alarm.

"Water? Then the water we've been drinking..."

"Don't panic just yet. We need one more check to be sure. Besides, both you and Edgar have mana-based healing abilities, so you should both be fine." With that, we all retired to our rooms. Because there was so much to process, my night was filled with chaotic dreams. By the time the sun rose the next morning, I woke up feeling as though I hadn't slept at all. Lealia and I left the inn and headed to the Martins' house first. This time, the husband was awake and able to speak.

Seeing us enter the room, he hurriedly asked his wife to help him sit up, then spoke with profound gratitude.

"My wife told me that you two were the ones who saved us. I don't know how to thank you properly." Lealia replied, "It was nothing; it's just what we should do. How are you feeling now?"

"Still a bit chilled, and very exhausted. But I think that's just hunger; after some warm porridge, I feel much better." This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. I asked him, "Tell me, does your family use water from the spring on the northeast mountain for your daily needs?"

"Oh, that... not exactly for daily use. We use it for brewing beer. Brewing with well water doesn't yield a good flavor, so I followed my father's traditional method and used spring water for our premium batches. Any leftover water is usually kept in the cellar for my wife and me to drink while we work." Lealia and I exchanged a look. The couple didn't miss it and immediately asked, "Is there something wrong with that water?"

"Yes. I suspect it is the cause of the illness spreading through town. Is all the beer in your house brewed with spring water?"

"No, only about a quarter of it. The flow of that spring has been dwindling and shortening, so transporting the water is difficult. We sell the spring-water beer at a higher price, and that's also the kind we drink ourselves."

"How long is the period from brewing to consumption?"

"About three to five weeks." Fortunately, since not many townspeople used the spring anymore and the batches brewed during that window hadn't been shipped out yet, the number of new cases hadn't spiked dramatically.

"Alright, thank you for the information. Both of you keep resting, and absolutely do not drink anything that was made using that spring water. We'll be back later." Lealia and I hurriedly visited the other patients - those who didn't brew beer - to question them. The hunter Iris and I met yesterday confirmed that he frequently drank from the spring while in the forest. Even the physician admitted to using spring water to prepare his medicinal decoctions.

By this point, I was certain: the spring on the northeast mountain was the source. The next step was to inform the Mayor and discuss safety protocols. However, as Lealia and I stepped out of a patient's house, I noticed a shift in the atmosphere. People on the street looked visibly anxious, whispering to one another before congregating in the same direction. I quickly pulled someone aside.

"What's going on?"

"The Mayor said the cause of the plague has been found! They're announcing it at the North Square!" My heart felt like it dropped straight from my chest into the pit of my stomach. This kind of information couldn't just be broadcast haphazardly to the public; it would trigger unnecessary panic and unrest. I sprinted toward the North Square. Nearly half the town's population had already gathered, their faces etched with restlessness and worry.

Seeing that enough people had arrived, the Mayor raised his voice from the center of the crowd:"Everyone, please be silent and listen! Thanks to the aid of Miss Iris Malisa and the other Hero Candidates, we have identified the cause of the illness afflicting our town. It is due to a contaminated water source!" The murmuring intensified instantly. Iris took the opportunity to step forward, her voice ringing out:"Please, do not be overly concerned.

We are here, and I promise to use all my strength to heal every person affected by this illness." A man standing nearby shouted, "If the water is poisoned, how are we supposed to survive?" Others joined in: "That's right! We can't live without water!" Iris replied patiently, "Only a small number of people are infected so far. Most of you are still healthy, so I believe it will be alright. If anyone falls ill, I guarantee I will do my utmost to treat them."

The Mayor added, "I will arrange for water to be brought in from elsewhere, but it may take time. In the meantime, please limit your water consumption..." It took forever to shoulder my way through the crowd to the center. I let out a sharp shout to seize everyone's attention:"Wait! What on earth are you people talking about?"