Entering the upper quarantine zone, Kino encountered a variety of patients, their conditions ranging from grotesque to pitiable. Some had skeletal deformities, their bodies resembling walking tumors.
Others bore disproportionate limbs, their skin covered in hardened keratin and bristles, giving them the appearance of humanoid beasts from a distance.
A few showed milder symptoms, with only localized abnormalities—flattened palms, unnaturally long and sharp nails, and other subtle changes.
Kino noticed that the direction of beastification varied among the infected. Some transformed toward mammals like wolves, tigers, dogs, or boars, while others leaned toward birds, reptiles, or even aquatic creatures.
For instance, Kino had just seen a patient with bulging eyes, fish-scale-like keratin covering their skin, a slimy coating, and faint gill-like slits along their throat, producing a constant gurgling sound.
One couldn't help but wonder if this infected individual might survive being thrown into water without drowning.
The buildings in the upper quarantine zone also bore traces of destruction—massive claw marks on walls, low barriers half-demolished by brute force—all likely remnants of the infected's agitation during the Double Moon Ascension.
By the roadside, a patient with a severely curved spine, their upper and lower body nearly folded together, was scratching incessantly at their diseased skin, shedding tufts of fur. Spotting Kino, the infected crawled a few steps forward and offered a dry, hoarse smile. "Spare some moon coins, honorable civil officer."
Paladin promptly kicked him back, gripping his sword as he threatened, "Approach any closer, and I'll take your head!"
The infected chuckled miserably. "That might not be so bad. At least I'd be free."
Kino paid no attention to the minor disturbance and continued his inspection, asking quietly, "How much does blood therapy cost them?"
Paladin answered without hesitation, "The Purified Blood varies in quality. The highest-grade blood can reverse visible symptoms, making the infected appear indistinguishable from ordinary people. It's said to be priced in gold moons, but I've never seen it myself. The lowest-grade blood merely suppresses contagion and requires monthly treatments to remain effective. It costs 160 iron moons per session—that's what our town's upper quarantine zone uses."
Kino cast a glance at the idle, aimless infected. "If they're confined here, where do they get their income?"
"Some beastified infected have greater physical strength than ordinary people and are sent to the mines. They can earn five to seven iron moons a day, more if they're diligent."
"And those incapable of working?"
"If they have family outside, their family can cover the costs on their behalf."
"And if they have no family?"
Paladin fell silent for a moment before tapping his forehead and answering gravely, "Then they can only pray to the gods to rid the world of the beast plague."
"The royal family doesn't care whether they live or die?"
"The number of infected is too vast. Coupled with the war against the Far Eastern Empire, the royal family is stretched too thin to save every life."
The mention of the "Far Eastern Empire" caught Kino's attention. He had come across it in the history books the previous night, though only briefly. The chronicles spoke of large-scale conflicts between Dourland and the Far Eastern Empire, but the details were sparse.
Kino continued walking.
The weather was pleasant today, and the upper quarantine zone had a low population density. Many neighborhoods lay empty, the long alleys silent and serene. The uneven cobblestones, pieced together, guided the path toward unseen corners. As Kino stepped lightly, the crisp sound of his boots on stone seemed to echo the passage of time. Occasionally, a gentle breeze swept through, evoking a bittersweet sense of detachment, as though he were traversing a world apart.
Suddenly, a fluffy kitten leapt down from a tiled wall, stretching lazily before curiously observing Kino and Paladin.
Kino crouched from a distance, studying the small creature. "Can it spread the plague?"
Paladin replied, "Doctors say cats are harmless. These clever little creatures can sense the presence of the plague and never venture into the lower quarantine zone."
Among all animals, Kino liked cats the most. These tidy creatures groomed themselves regularly, ensuring they were always clean. Even stray cats bore no unpleasant odor—sometimes, they even carried a faint scent of grass.
Dogs were another matter. They loved rolling in filth and never cleaned themselves. A week without a bath, and they'd start to reek.
As for pigs, cows, or sheep, they weren't worth mentioning.
Kino extended his hand toward the little cat, his lips curling into a soft smile as he uttered a saccharine sound, "Meow~"
Paladin froze in place, utterly stunned. That imitation was far too accurate.
For a processor, mastering mimicry was a fundamental skill, and imitating animal sounds came as naturally as breathing.
The kitten's ears perked up at the sound, mistaking Kino for one of its own. Overjoyed, it began to meow incessantly, padding over to him with a delighted purr. Pressing its head against his hand, it nuzzled him repeatedly, curious eyes seeming to ask: How did you turn into a human?
Kino took the opportunity to scoop it up, his slender fingers expertly kneading, rubbing, scratching, and stroking its fur in one seamless motion—an unmistakable display of a seasoned cat lover.
The kitten purred thunderously in bliss, burying its head into his chest as if it were a doting lover. It seemed intoxicated by the pleasant scent clinging to Kino, cuddling closer in a fit of affectionate indulgence.
Just as Kino was thoroughly enjoying the moment, the kitten suddenly stiffened, its small body going rigid as its eyes narrowed in caution.
"Hiss!" The cat arched its back, puffed up its fur, and let out an adorably fierce hiss before leaping from Kino's arms and disappearing into the shadows.
Kino glanced down at the stray hairs now clinging stubbornly to his coat and frowned in mild annoyance. The one drawback of petting cats was always the difficulty of cleaning up afterward.
Paladin followed the kitten's alarmed gaze, resting his hand on his sword. "Stay back," he warned sharply.
The cause of the kitten's fright was a pair of raggedly dressed figures—a man and a young girl. Judging by their age and build, they appeared to be a father and daughter.
The father was a towering, burly man with one arm entirely transformed by beastification. His limbs bore grotesquely swollen joints as solid as boulders, his muscles bulging like mounds of stone, covered in coarse gray-brown fur. From afar, his sheer presence exuded a terrifying and oppressive aura.
In his arms, he cradled a frail girl barely older than ten, her delicate features framed by strikingly large eyes, fringed with lashes as fine and long as black feathers. Yet, her pallid complexion betrayed her poor health, likely the result of chronic malnutrition.
The girl's mere presence here indicated that she, too, was an infected patient.
Her condition, however, seemed relatively mild. The beastification was confined to a subtle but noticeable feature—her ears, which stood upright and furry, transformed into pointed animal ears that occasionally twitched.
"Honorable Civil Officer…" The man stopped at a safe distance under Paladin's wary gaze, bowing low toward Kino. His voice quivered as he introduced himself, "My name is Ramos, and this is my daughter, Luca."
Luca's beastly ears folded back slightly as she greeted Kino in a sweet, timid voice, "Hello, Sir Civil Officer."
Kino offered a polite smile in return. "Hello to both of you. My name is Kino."
Suddenly, Ramos fell to his knees, still clutching Luca in his arms. Bowing deeply, he pleaded with trembling desperation, "Sir, I beg you, please save my daughter. She's all I have left."