The blackface plague finally subsided in the affluent residential and noble districts after nearly three months.
In the end, many nobles sought treatment at my place. I also treated their infected servants.
If they had taken action from the start, far fewer lives would have been lost, but there’s no point in dwelling on what could have been.

On a brighter note, I received generous compensation from the nobles, which significantly boosted my finances.

Many nobles could afford to have the priests’ healing magic used on them repeatedly, but their servants didn’t have that luxury.
Most nobles wouldn’t pay for their servants’ treatments, which meant the majority of the casualties in the noble district were the servants.
They became the sacrificial victims of noble arrogance.

“Word about Sai-sama has spread among the nobles and even the priests after this incident,” the guild master informed me.

Previously, I treated the frontier marquis, Zoldo, who was Rosalia’s father and had suffered from mana deficiency.
Though Zoldo was notoriously eccentric, we hit it off as fellow eccentrics.
Thanks to him singing my praises, more nobles began coming to me for treatment.

The priests, however, likely view me with resentment.
To them, someone who undermines their authority and privileges is nothing less than a mortal enemy.

Some nobles are likely investigating me as well. It’s only a matter of time before some realize I am Saijar, the one who was cast out from the Ardeck Ducal House.
What impact this revelation will have on my former family is uncertain.
It’s possible that nobles looking to bring them down might reach out to me.
However, anyone approaching me with ulterior motives is bound to regret it—I don’t mind using others, but I despise being used.

“The real issue is figuring out why the blackface plague began spreading in this country in the first place,” I mused.

“I doubt it was deliberately introduced by another country,” replied the guild master.
“Without a cure, any nation would risk catastrophe if the plague infiltrated their borders.”

He was right. That leaves the possibility that it arose naturally.
Perhaps dormant blackface bacteria from a past outbreak resurfaced and jumped to humans via animals.

After the guild master left, I was greeted by Pal.

“Good work, young master! Would you like dinner, a bath, or… me?” she teased.

“…Hmm, tough choice, but I’ll start with dinner,” I replied.

“Ehh, you were supposed to pick me!” she pouted.

“I mean, with Pados and the kids around, that’d be a bit awkward.”

Just then, Medis and Pados returned from the fields with the children, and we all sat down to eat together.

Though Pal glared at Pados and the others, I felt it was unfair to blame the kids.
If she must direct her hostility, let it be toward Medis and Pados.

As we ate, the conversation turned to the herbal garden.

“How are the herbs coming along?” I asked.

“No issues; everything is growing well,” Pados replied.

“We’re running low on rokai, though. Make sure to harvest some tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

Pados has mellowed out lately, thanks to Pal’s *education,* which was more like strict discipline.
Though his mother was a drunkard who was often absent, Pados now lived in one of the estate’s auxiliary houses.
He said the arrangement was more convenient since his mornings started early.

Medis and the children also resided in the auxiliary house, making it a lively place.

After dinner, Medis and Pados took the children back to their quarters.

“Now, young master, bath time! Or… will it be me instead?” Pal asked, her playful tone returning.

“I’ll take the bath,” I replied with a wry smile.

“You’re no fun!”

But of course, Pal joined me in the bath anyway.

As expected, she came in and insisted on washing my entire body.
Her touch was as soft and inviting as ever, making it increasingly difficult to resist her charms.

“Enjoy this little slice of heaven,” she whispered, her eyes alight with mischief.

I couldn’t argue with that.

The next day, I worked on making soap using rokai.
Thanks to Pal handing out free samples, it became wildly popular among the noblewomen.
Their insistence that I sell it led me to commercialize it.

With Pados and the others tending the fields, we could cultivate herbs consistently, ensuring a steady supply for the soap.
I decided to distribute it through Bale’s shop.
Bale, who had been Johnson’s chief clerk, was opening his own store, making it the perfect arrangement.

With the blackface plague finally dying down, I set my sights on a new project: building a home for orphans.

This home would include a medicinal herb garden and a soap-making workshop.
The setup would provide both a stable supply of soap and funds to support the orphans.

Conveniently, the land surrounding my estate was still vacant due to the plague halting previous development plans.
I had already secured a portion of it through negotiations with Sandor.

“Sorderic, if any of the orphans at Boronbo’s place are interested in soap-making, teach them the process,” I instructed.

“Understood,” Sorderic replied.

I planned to leave the education of the orphans to Sorderic and Artemis.
I wouldn’t force anyone into anything; I’d ensure their wishes were respected.