This heretic cannot be burned, he must be hung up and whipped!

"Just kidding, my life is tougher than you think! You want to take my soul away - haha, I dare to give it, who dares to take it?! Haha!"

Neos noticed Valentine's mask and asked, "Valentin, what happened? Why are you wearing a mask?"

Valentine's voice came through the mask: "Let me make it short. We waited for you for a day after you disappeared, but the order from Rome required us to advance towards Budapest. Our two regiments needed to go north to rescue the large force besieged by the enemy in Budapest. But now it seems-"

He paused, his tone revealing clear uneasiness. "There's a... new pathogen—no, the doctor says he can't find the pathogen. A new disease is spreading through the Chapter. Our two Chapters, including logistics and other non-combat personnel, have a total of 86,000 people. Already, one-sixth of our personnel have been lost in non-combat situations."

"What?" Neos was shocked. Without time to reminisce with his comrades, he quickly took the mask Amos handed him and put it on expertly, his dusty memories starting to resurface.

Don’t ask why you are so skilled. The answer is practice makes perfect. If you ask again, it’s because you are afraid of not being vaccinated.

(Not getting vaccinated refers to the vaccine for the unknown disease in this book. This is not an allusion and this paragraph is just a statement.)

The mask was made of thick cloth, layer upon layer, with some pungent smelling stuff sandwiched in the middle. Judging from the workmanship, it was obviously a makeshift protective device.

Valentine continued, “Our doctor originally stuffed some herbs into the mask, and he said it couldn’t even stop microscopic bacteria, let alone pathogens he couldn’t even see with a microscope.

Chapter Master Ogsger—the Chapter we're currently a part of, the Tenth Plague Procession—heard about your divine intervention in the church and had us make disinfectant strictly according to your standards and spray it on our masks. Although some unlucky souls still contracted the disease, it's still better than not spraying at all."

Neos was a little unhappy: "Why didn't you spray it earlier? If it works, why do you start spraying it now after hearing my story? I've told you many times that you should use your subjective initiative, practice and think more, and don't always rely on -"

"Nyos, don't say that yet."

Valentine was silent for a moment, his eyes sweeping over the respectful looks of the surrounding pilgrims. He then pulled Neos to the corner of the tent and said cautiously, "I'm here to help you."

"The doctor said the disinfectant's ingredients were harmful to the human body and could cause poisoning if inhaled too much. But everyone assumed that since it was a saint doing it, there must be saintly reasons for it. Amos even accused the doctor of heresy after he raised questions. If the Chapter Master hadn't intervened, the doctor would have been nearly burned at the stake!

- Don't tell Amos that I told you this. He is the most fanatical believer in you in the team. I am afraid that one day I will wake up at the stake."

Neos felt a mixture of emotions after hearing this. He looked at Amos, who was busy outside the tent. He knew that Amos's piety and fanaticism were unmatched. He knew that it was his fervent faith that gave him the strength to fight against those evil spirits, but he also understood the dangers of blind faith.

He didn't know how long he could maintain the balance between the power of fanatical belief and scientific and rational thinking, but at least for now, he could still control everything.

At least for now.

Neos pondered for a moment, then spoke firmly, "This won't do. I must know what this disease is. If it's Hell's doing, a trick by those heretics using supernatural powers, I can use my psychic powers to exorcise it. But what I fear most is another possibility."

"What?" Valentine asked as he bandaged Neos's wound.

"Virus." Neos's face was solemn, with a hint of memories on his face.

"Ah! The doctor also mentioned his hypothesis! But he was talking about filterable virus (a term used before 1935 to refer to viruses in the broad sense today). The doctor speculated that it was a pathogen smaller than bacteria. Sulfonamides had no effect on it, but fluids filtered from patients' body fluids using a bacterial filter were still infectious to humans."

I haven't heard such "modern" and "scientific" terms for a long time.

"You actually know this? I'm so surprised—wait, you're conducting human experiments to verify its infectiousness?!"

Well, the second half of the sentence brought Neos' memory back to the present.

Valentine continued, "They used heretic prisoners for experiments. You told us before that we should use scientific thinking and think instead of blindly following others. So I asked the pilgrims to ask the doctor in the chapter. The doctor is the second most knowledgeable person here. He is a doctor of medicine."

"Who is the first? Isn't he willing to explain to you? Who gave him the temper to look down on you?" Neos's hand was ready to move and grab the whip of Priest Amos.

The stinking ninth class (referring to intellectuals) actually looks down on the workers and peasants? It seems that the most educated intellectual in the regiment is a bit reactionary. He should be whipped, hung up with a copper-headed leather belt!

"Well...he's a doctor of theology. In college, theology comes first, and medicine comes second."

"Oh, that's okay, you continue." Neos put down the whip.

"...Honestly, the doctor initially thought the pilgrims were coming to burn him. He was so frightened that he almost picked up an axe and started a fight with us. But then he realized some of the people asking questions couldn't even read, and after talking for a long time, few people understood. So he refused to answer questions other than about medical treatment."

After hearing this, Neos felt relieved, even though his wound still hurt. He patted Valentine on the shoulder and said,

"Well done, Valentine! You and the pilgrims have begun to use rational and scientific thinking to face problems, rather than leaving all solutions to faith. This is exactly what I've been hoping to see. Take me to see that doctor. This time I entered the warp... I gained a lot from entering the Lord's kingdom. Maybe I can help him."

Valentine nodded and led Neos out of the tent. When Neos suddenly mentioned the Warp, he suddenly remembered why he had entered the Warp. He stopped abruptly and asked hurriedly, "Where is my Warmaster—no, where is my Dominican? Did you take her body away and burn it?! I can save her!"

Amos, who was waiting outside the tent, rushed over upon hearing the noise and replied excitedly, "Excellent! You are indeed an apostle of the Lord!

We placed the body of the Dominican swordsman into the Ark of the Covenant carried by the regiment. Those vicious priests said that women could not approach the Ark of the Covenant (this was what the doctrine required) and wanted to put her in a coffin!

She is a Paladin, an apostle of the Lord, and your partner. I believe she will be resurrected by the Lord in seven days, so I made an extended Ark of the Covenant and placed her body inside!

Neos breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. This way I can—it's nothing. This way God can more easily resurrect her in seven days. But now, take me to see a doctor!"

"Yes! Follow the will of the Saint!"

Amos waved his braid, stood straight, and, with his shield raised proudly, walked before Neos. His steps were firm, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, and he was ready to give everything for Neos at any time.

The group marched in a mighty procession toward the medical tent. Along the way, Neos noticed that many soldiers were wearing masks and had serious expressions. When they saw Neos, a glimmer of hope flashed in their eyes.

------------

Arriving at the medical tent, Neos turned to the group of people following him and said, "Everyone, go back and rest. I need to speak to the doctor alone."

Amos said respectfully, "As you command, Saint. We will wait for you outside—please be careful, Dr. Edwin may be a heretic! If you need me, I am ready to go in and rescue you!"

Neos curled his lips, nodded to indicate that he understood, and then walked into Dr. Edwin's big tent alone.

"Om——"

Neos opened the curtain and was startled when suddenly two axes crossed and swung in front of him.

"Stop! Strangers, no one is allowed to enter the laboratory without the permission of the Chapter Master and the Doctor!"

A soldier with scars all over his face and wearing a respirator said, while another soldier who also seemed to be infected with the disease extended his hand to Neos:

"Show me your private clearance, soldier. If you need treatment, please wait outside. Dr. Edwin is performing a dangerous autopsy. No entry without protective equipment!"

Neos looked behind the two soldiers. The curtain was wrapped in rubber and had to be zipped up to enter and exit. A bulky ventilator was working, spewing hot, sterilized air from the vent.

"Clap!"

The curtain in front of him was pulled aside, and a burly figure wearing a heavy full-body protective suit appeared. The speaker hanging under the respirator said:

"Give the Saint a set of protective clothing. Perhaps he can offer some good advice. Mr. Saint Neos, hello! I'm Ogsger, the Supreme Commander of the Tenth Plague Parade. Please put on your protective gear and come in. This disease is indeed a bit strange."

"Yes! Follow the Chapter Master's orders!"

The two soldiers retracted their axes and saluted the Chapter Master. One soldier took a new hazmat suit from a box and assisted Neos in putting it on.

The narrow and cramped rubber protective suit actually had a built-in ventilation system. Neos even saw wire mesh between the layers of masks. He carried the full-body protective suit, which was as heavy as a mine-clearing and explosion-proof suit, and put it on with great effort.

"Om——"

Several zippers closed, a soldier sealed the gaps with tape, pressed a switch on the back, and fresh air rushed into Neos's nostrils.

"What are you doing here? Is this still the same style as World War I?"

Neos complained as another soldier told him the locations of the switches for the microphone, lights, and weapon rack deployment.

"Am I wearing this outfit to perform an autopsy or to fight a corpse?"

His voice echoed through the speakers in the experimental chamber, attracting the attention of Dr. Edwin and Chapter Master Ogsger.

"It seems that our young saint is easy to get along with, Dr. Edwin." The teasing voice of Captain Ogsger came from the protective suit holding a battle axe.

"Your sense of humor is indeed the same as what the pilgrims said." The doctor lying in front of the experimental table put down the scalpel and wiped his hand on the sky blue heavy armor on his chest, adding a touch of blood to the white cross.

"During the last Black Grail Plague outbreak, we actually had to fight the dead before we could dissect them. The living fell in the plague and then got up again. No one knew whether a patient had recovered after waking up or had become a toy for the Lord of Flies in their sleep.

Countless doctors and nurses have died from this sudden transformation, so this is necessary protection."

Dr. Edwin picked up the bone saw hanging at his waist and knocked on the skirt armor.

"...Or give me a trench stick or a shotgun, I'm a little panicked." Neos said.

"Don't worry, Saint, even if there is a Plague Knight on the table, I can chop it up." The burly Captain Ogsger waved the long-handled axe in his hand, ready to chop down the things on the dissection table at any time.

Dr. Edwin turned sideways and pointed to Neos at the half corpse on the table - yes, half. The ribs of the corpse had been removed, and all the internal organs had been cleaned and placed in a specimen jar on the table next to it. Only a pink and white swollen organ remained in the chest cavity of the corpse.

"Is that a lung?"

Even though the blood had been cleaned, Neos still felt a little nauseous when he saw this scene.

"That's right. This new disease has left us helpless. We can't find the pathogen and we don't know how to treat it. Look here." Dr. Edwin pressed the organ and pulled Neos' gloves over for him to feel.

The grayish-white lungs were extremely swollen, and the normal pink color had completely disappeared. Neos could feel through the thick gloves that the texture of the organ had become very hard.

"The patient had just died less than ten minutes earlier. His lungs were severely fibrotic and filled with bloody mucus."

Dr. Edwin cut open a small piece of tissue. The lung had a texture similar to that of a liver, with foamy, bloody fluid oozing out and some alveoli collapsed.

"Severe pneumonia, pulmonary edema, punctate and patchy hemorrhages, severe fibrosis, and at least half of the patients died of respiratory failure.

Their lungs die before people do.”

"Patients have high fevers, vomiting and diarrhea. Some have meningitis. Some seriously ill patients die from organ failure. Their bodies are inflamed, and their immune systems are going crazy. The only effective treatment I know of is to separate the blood of recovered patients into plasma and inject it into the patients."

Neos thought for a moment and asked, "Have you ever heard of the word 'virus'? I believe this symptom has occurred several times in history, but the technology at the time wasn't advanced enough to prove it was different from common bacterial infections."

The doctor's eyes lit up. "I have my suspicions too. You mean a filterable virus? I do suspect it could be the cause of the disease. Decades ago, the Tech-Priests conducted experiments using tobacco mosaic virus, but we don't have the equipment to observe it."

"I don't sense any stench of hell coming from this patient."

Neos cast a psychic spell, confirming there was no Hell involved. He suspected it was influenza. According to his memory, it was during this period in history that the Spanish flu pandemic began, killing over 50 million people worldwide (the actual number was higher, with some suggesting nearly 100 million).

"You're right. I've learned some new things in the Kingdom of the Lord. Viruses are indeed very tiny organisms, much smaller than bacteria. As long as you're willing to improve your microscope technology or adopt new methods, you can observe viruses."

Dr. Edwin looked at Neos. "Thank God—then, how can we deal with this disease? Is there any specific medicine?"

"If I say that with our current level of technology, there is no vaccine or medicine that can treat this disease, would you believe it?"

"I don't believe it," said Chapter Master Ogsger. "You are a saint! The Almighty must have told you what the antidote is. If you require any sacrifice, please let me know."

"I believe it." Dr. Edwin began to pack up his equipment. "Saint, you and I are both highly educated people, but right now, we have no choice but to provide adequate protection and isolation, and let the patients accept the fate that the Lord has ordained for them.

Neos thought again of the knowledge he had stolen from the demons in the warp. He only needed to cast a few psychic spells, appear before people more often, and collect more fanatical beliefs, and he would be able to cast spells to eliminate the diseases of these patients.

As long as he is willing to become a god, all problems will be solved.

The demon called the Observer gave knowledge for free (sure), but fate had already put a price on the free gift.

"Let me think about it."

"Do we need sacrifices?" asked Chapter Master Ogsger. "How many do we need? I'll take the remaining healthy warriors to kill some heretics. If that's still not enough, I'll sacrifice some criminals."

"What if that's not enough?" Neos asked.

"..."

"I know a few proven methods that should be effective."

After saying that, Neos walked out of the tent.

--------------

"Cough—cough cough!" "Huh—"

Neos, wearing his hazmat suit, entered the tent. The air was thick with the scent of disinfectant and blood. He paused, his gaze fixed on several soldiers sprawled on blankets. Their faces were as pale as paper, beads of sweat beaded their foreheads, and their breathing was rapid and heavy. Neos frowned, quickly walked over to a soldier, and crouched down.

"How are you feeling, soldier?"

The soldier opened his eyes slightly and said in a weak and hoarse voice:

"Sir, I...I have a very high fever and can't stop coughing. My chest feels like something is pressing on it and I can't breathe. I'm afraid I'm...dying in my sleep."

Neos nodded and touched his forehead. The burning temperature made his heart tighten. He turned to another soldier and asked about the same symptoms:

High fever, cough, difficulty breathing, extreme fatigue, nausea...

He knew very well that the local medical level was extremely limited and even pathogens could not be detected, let alone the development of vaccines. Smallpox virus could be used to infect cows and make vaccines in this tricky way, but what about this?

The influenza virus mutates so quickly and is extremely contagious. God knows what hell will do with this plague in this world of monsters and demons!

He suddenly felt very tired.

"Don't worry, I will give you some medicine to make you feel better." Neos stood up, patted the soldier's shoulder, and finally made up his mind.

He handed over a vial of plasma, which shone with a pale golden holy light under the light.

"This is Dr. Edwin's new medicine. Maybe it will make you feel better."

PS: From this chapter on, the main conflict of the book begins to unfold. The protagonist faces the same dilemma as the Emperor. In a world with gods, denying their existence and pursuing science is inherently unscientific. However, acknowledging divinity will lead to fanaticism, abandoning the unknown and the spirit of scientific exploration...

This was one of the questions Bei Zhai carefully considered when writing the book's outline, and this contradiction is just one of the many contradictions and conflicts that the book's plot faces. Feel free to offer your thoughts on how to strike a balance, or how to find a way to achieve the best of both worlds, or even a new solution.

If there is a good idea, Bei Zhai will add it to the outline!

PS2: 240 votes, next update 4.5k!