Hernán smirked, replying, "Yeah, that's about right. It's like some kinda curse. The moment I'm summoned and step off the ship, it drops anchor on its own and won't budge."
As they talked, the group had wandered pretty far without realizing it. Jeanne, who'd been scouting solo, finally caught up.
"Master," she called out, shaking her head. "I can't get into that cave. It's sealed by some kind of power."
A seal. With the town's crisis handled, that cave was now their top priority. Ritsuka glanced at her crew. "Anyone here know how to break a seal? …Nope."
Looked like they'd need to find new allies. Brute force was an option, but too risky and unpredictable.
By the time the sun passed its peak and started dipping west, Ritsuka and her three Servants were back in town.
It'd been nearly half a day since Nero spotted the first Black Death case. Most of the folks attacked by the rat swarm had already fallen ill. On the lord's orders, they'd been dumped in a long ditch outside town. The rest of the townsfolk were holed up in the church, praying under the priest's lead.
That was the best they could do against the plague. Sure, the town had a doctor, but his only "cure" for the Black Death was bloodletting. Nero had kicked him out—saved them from one more infected, at least.
Nero, of course, wasn't at the church. She was with the abandoned patients, keeping watch. She didn't know squat about curing diseases or handling plagues, but she could at least cool their fevered heads. When she saw Ritsuka return, she let out a relieved sigh and hurried over.
"Miss Hernán, please," Ritsuka said.
No need for words—Hernán was already raising her golden ring. For someone who'd unleashed a plague herself, this scene was all too familiar.
"Its form is lost, its voice is gone, a legend preserved only in the lake's reflection."
Her low chant filled the air as the ring glowed. In the crisp autumn chill, a gentle, spring-like breeze drifted through the town, wrapping it in warmth.
She clenched her fist, declaring with solemn resolve, "The golden land that no longer exists—El Dorado."
Nero and Ritsuka watched the delirious patients closely. As the soft breeze from the ring washed over them, their pained groans faded, and they slipped into peaceful sleep.
"The pathogen's been suppressed for now," Hernán said, glancing at the patients. "As long as no new sources pop up, they won't relapse."
"That's enough," Ritsuka said, exhaling. Nero and Jeanne relaxed too. Nobody here— not even Mephistopheles—wanted Ratvenchi to turn into a ghost town.
Nero stepped forward, checking the patients' foreheads. Their fevers were already dropping. With time, the bruises on their skin might fade too.
"Let's check the church," Nero suggested. "Everyone else is there."
Ritsuka nodded. "Let's go."
The group crossed the quiet streets to the only building still humming with noise. Pushing open the church doors, they found the townsfolk still praying. Nero scanned the room—no sign of the lord.
After a quick huddle, they decided to leave Jeanne behind to calm the crowd. Without a saint like her vouching, the townsfolk wouldn't buy that the plague crisis was over so fast. Once the sick recovered, Ratvenchi should get back to normal.
The rest headed to the lord's manor to find the lord and tell him the danger had passed.
Inside, Nero and Ritsuka met a visibly stressed Baron Ratvenchi. When Nero told him Jeanne was back and had cured the infected serfs, his furrowed brow finally relaxed, and he let out a long sigh.
"Thank heavens you were here," he said. "I don't even know how to repay you."
His gratitude didn't mean much to Nero and Ritsuka, who'd be leaving the Singularity eventually. The only real help he'd given was arranging their lodging. When he insisted on "showing his appreciation," Nero brushed it off but warned him to stay vigilant—the demons were still eyeing the town.
"Naturally. Thanks for the reminder," he said.
"All good," Nero replied.
With that, the Singularity strike team held their third strategy meeting in the manor.
That's when Nero learned about Jeanne's scouting report on the cave.
"Sealed, huh?" Nero's face darkened. Neither she, Jeanne, nor Hernán knew the first thing about magecraft. And Ritsuka? A half-baked mage at best.
If they couldn't find new allies, they might have to—
Nero shot a look at Mephistopheles. "Can you break that barrier?"
Mephistopheles grinned, his tone dripping with provocation. "Oh, I could. But who's gonna pay the price?"
Typical devil—always demanding a cost for everything.
"So we've gotta keep hunting for other Servants?" Ritsuka said, sounding a bit frustrated. "By the way, Miss Hernán, why'd you show up near the cave?"
If she'd sensed the demonic aura there, maybe they could hope to find other Servants in the area.
But Hernán shook her head. "Nah, I was just summoned at sea and kept sailing along the coast. Stumbling on that weirdness was pure luck."
Guess they'd have to keep scouring the wilds and hope for a break. Too bad the Sphinx hadn't shown up since day one. As the arbiter, she'd know where all the Servants were. With her help, they could probably figure out who could crack that pesky seal.
Suddenly, Mash's voice burst through, startled. "Wait, there's a new Servant signature!"
Before she could finish, a figure materialized in the room with a faint shimmer. Faced with the group's drawn weapons, the uninvited guest didn't flinch, only giving a slight nod.
It was the Sphinx. She'd actually shown up.