Once the cause of the illness was identified, the investigation progressed quickly.

During the process, the suspicious insect was temporarily named Ledaniplus.

The patients’ illness was also named after it and called Ledaniplus disease.

The imperial family extensively captured Ledaniplus and conducted various experiments.

I also participated in this, and as a result, we were able to discover a few facts.

The insects were fine in cold places but quickly died in warm places.

This explained why the south was unaffected, unlike other regions.

Also, Ledaniplus showed a severe rejection response to artifacts.

When I tried holding a necklace near them, the insects bit it as per their habits but soon became ill and died.

My prediction that Ledaniplus was imbued with magi was correct.

So, we also conducted experiments on the effect of necklace-type artifacts on the disease, but unfortunately, even when artifacts were given to already infected people, no significant changes were observed.

It meant that artifacts could be used for preventing the disease but were difficult to utilize as a means of treatment.

‘Still, it’s fortunate that we found out for sure that the insects and magi are related.’

I also tried giving the patients the medicine made from elain grass, which was left over from treating the Duke and Duchess Belvedere, who had previously been consumed by magi, and fortunately, they showed improvement.

A treatment method found more easily than expected.

Now I thought curing the patients would be quick, but reality wasn’t so simple.

Elain grass, which has magi resistance, only grew in limited places like in front of portals.

So it wasn’t easy to obtain the main ingredient for the medicine. The quantity was also small.

‘What’s certain is that even if we scrape together all the elain grass across the empire, it will be insufficient to treat all the sick people.’

Realistically, it was difficult to treat everyone.

It would be nice if prevention was at least possible, but distributing artifacts to people was also unrealistic.

Making them also required elain grass.

The most the imperial family could do in response was to urge the imperial citizens to be cautious of Ledaniplus and strive to eradicate the pests.

Although Ledaniplus seemed unaffected by common pesticides, they had the characteristic of being vulnerable to high temperatures, so killing them wasn’t difficult.

The imperial family hired magi engineers to devise a device that would attract Ledaniplus and kill them all at once.

Afterwards, the devices were supplied to all the affected areas.

Thanks to these efforts, the number of pests seemed to be gradually decreasing, but then a problem arose.

Ledaniplus kept being introduced from somewhere.

Veronica suspected that the demons were intentionally releasing the pests somewhere in the north.

However, there was no way to confirm it at present. An investigation team had been dispatched, but the results had not come out yet.

There wasn’t much we could do while waiting for the investigation team.

Just performing our respective duties and occasionally attending meetings.

And today was another day for a meeting.

If the situation allowed, everyone would have attended, but unfortunately, only Dietrich and I responded to Veronica’s summons today.

The remaining members had urgent matters to attend to.

The meeting was shorter and more concise than ever. After sharing the information each of us had discovered through our investigations, Veronica and Dietrich immediately rose from their seats.

I was also about to follow them out when Trian, who was outside the door, came in and handed Veronica a few documents.

“Your Highness, I think you should urgently review this.”

After checking the title of the documents, her eyes momentarily widened in surprise. Then, with a serious expression, she flipped through the papers.

Sensing the unusual atmosphere, I stopped in my tracks and waited in front of her.

Dietrich did the same.

“What could it be?”

“I don’t know. It doesn’t seem like good news though.”

Dietrich and I whispered softly enough not to be heard by her.

‘The situation is already unfavorable, could there be an even bigger problem?’

With an anxious heart, I waited for her to finish reviewing.

After a moment of silence, Veronica’s mouth finally opened.

“I don’t know if this should be called good news, but it seems the investigation team has completed their task and returned.”

Have they already discovered something? While the earlier-than-expected report was welcome, tension hung in the air due to the princess’s dark expression.

“Apparently, demon movements have been detected in the mountainous region between the north and the capital. The investigation team followed their trail and confirmed that there is a portal inside a hidden cave.”

I continued to listen intently to her words.

“The problem is… every time a certain period passed, tens of thousands of Ledaniplus poured out of that portal.”

Only then did I understand why Veronica’s expression was dark.

“It means Your Highness’s prediction was correct.”

She nodded her head with the corners of her mouth turned down.

The fact that Ledaniplus came out at specific times meant that someone was intentionally releasing them.

And the fact that the insects were coming out through the portal meant that someone in the demon realm was doing it.

‘Since the only intelligent beings in the demon realm are demons… it’s now certain that the spread of Ledaniplus disease was the demons’ doing.’

Even though the suspicion had turned into complete certainty, it was difficult to simply rejoice.

It was not easy to deal with the demons beyond the portal.

‘We can’t even block the portal…’

If Ledaniplus continued to flow into the human realm like this, humans might someday become extinct.

We had to somehow stop those insects from crossing over through the portal, but no good ideas came to mind.

Veronica and Dietrich felt the same way.

The only one who could remove the portal was Siegfried, who had created it.

Unless he had a change of heart and destroyed it, or died, the portal would be maintained indefinitely.

The former had no possibility, and the latter was also impossible for now. Because the holy sword was not yet in my hands.

‘But we can’t just wait until Melphis brings the holy sword.’

We didn’t know how much longer it would take.

If we only waited for the holy sword, half of the imperial citizens might die in the meantime.

Knowing full well that it was the demons’ will, we couldn’t just stand by and watch.

‘But what should we do?’

When I was frowning because no suitable method came to mind, Veronica hesitated slightly and then offered a suggestion.

“…It’s dangerous, but it’s not like there’s no way at all.”

“What is it?”

“The portal discovered this time is probably connected to the Ledaniplus breeding ground. And the demons would have spent a considerable amount of time creating that breeding ground. It’s not easy to raise that many insects.”

“Right?”

“If… we can destroy that breeding ground, we might be able to prevent the insects from being produced for a while. In other words, even if we can’t cure the people who are already ill, we might be able to prevent the occurrence of additional patients.”

“Your Highness, that’s absurd. That would require going directly to the demon realm. It’s too dangerous.”

Dietrich rejected her statement with a resolute voice as soon as she finished speaking.

“Yes, I’m aware of that too. It’s just that this is the only thing that comes to mind…”

Veronica rubbed her forehead with a troubled expression.

“Please forget what I said. We’ll find another way somehow.”

Silence was about to descend again, but I did not allow it. There was something I had to say.

“I’ll go to the demon realm. I’ll go and destroy the breeding ground.”

“Wait, Lady Vivian. Are you serious?”

I put on a determined expression in response to Dietrich’s urgent question.

Realizing that I had made up my mind, he shook his head in disbelief.

“The demon realm is no joke. You almost lost your life when you went to the Black Forest. And now you’re saying you’ll go directly to the enemy’s camp? That’s suicide!”

“Still, I have to go.”

Realizing that I had no intention of changing my mind, his voice rose.

“Lady Vivian, please… Preventing the disease, yes. It’s important. But more important than that is your life. The demon realm is filled with magi. The demons there will be much stronger than the ones we faced in the human realm. And even if we put the demons aside, what about the magi? Is there any guarantee that you won’t fall into a Lima state?”

At first glance, it might be mistaken as him being angry with me, but every word he uttered was filled with sincere concern.

Dietrich pleaded for me to change my mind to the point of being desperate. But unfortunately, my answer remained the same.

“That’s all the more reason why I have to go.”

“If you really won’t change your mind, then I’ll go instead. That should work, right?”

I held his hand and calmly shook my head.

“No. I’m the one going. Because I’m the only person with divine power.”

After receiving the memories of the goddess, I learned a few more facts about divine power.

People who can use divine power do not fall into a Lima state.

It didn’t matter how dense the magi was. Brainwashing by demons was also impossible.

‘That’s why Siegfried didn’t even attempt brainwashing when I confronted him in the past.’

I found it strange at the time, but he already knew. He knew such attempts would be futile.

“I understand why you’re worried, Dietrich. I’m so grateful for your concern.”

“Then don’t go. Please value your life.”

“But if things stay like this, the empire is finished. You know that too, Dietrich. There’s no other way except this method.”

He seemed to be at a loss for words and ruffled his hair in frustration.

Still, I didn’t mind. I had no intention of changing my decision.