MADWD 56

Chapter 56

“It’s chaos out there! Absolute chaos! People are paying whatever price we ask! They’re hauling in chests of money!”

The gnome was frantic.

“Especially the herbs that stop bleeding, reduce inflammation, and ease pain—those are selling the best.”

Across the Demon Realm, wars were still raging, and countless soldiers were being injured every day.

Epidemics were also common.

Whether it was the Demon Realm or the Human Realm, medicine was always in high demand wherever people lived.

Even those who didn’t need the herbs right away wanted to stockpile them, especially the high-ranking demons.

“I’m sorry, but the supply is limited. This is the most we can provide for now.”

Ariella shook her head with a regretful expression.

Neither Ariella nor Geru showed any sign of budging, and the gnome, frustrated, turned toward Ludwig.

“Your Majesty!”

The ruler of this land was Ludwig, the Demon King.

No matter what his subordinates said, he was the one with ultimate authority.

If Ludwig intervened, maybe the situation would change.

The gnome stared at him desperately.

But Ludwig just gave him an uninterested look and replied,

“If Ariella says so, that’s how it is. Why are you looking at me?”

“……?”

The gnome was speechless.

Not only was the answer dismissive, but Ludwig’s tone was firm and final.

So… he’s basically saying he trusts her completely? That all decisions are up to her?

That’s exactly how it sounded: whatever Ariella decided, Ludwig would support without question.

Geru ended the meeting sharply.

“Payments… are always… up front.”

“Yes, understood! I’ll pay as much as needed, just… please, increase the supply if you can!”

But in the end, the gnome had to leave empty-handed, with only a promise of the next shipment.

* * *

“Hey, there’s a notice from the Demon King’s castle!”

Ariella had placed strict limits on the amount of herbs that could be exported outside the territory.

But her policy for Ludwig’s people was completely different.

“I heard about it too. They’re telling everyone to gather in front of the castle gates. Do you know why?”

“Not really… but I heard they’re handing out herbs or something.”

“Herbs? Those precious things? And for free?”

“Of course. Didn’t they also distribute free food last time?”

At that moment, the citizens assumed the herbs being handed out were the common kind they were familiar with.

Even that alone was enough to make them grateful.

After all, in the harsh Demon Realm, medicinal herbs were difficult to come by.

Even when people deliberately went out to gather them, they often came back empty-handed.

So normally, they had to pay a high price whenever herbs were needed.

If they couldn’t afford it, they had no choice but to endure their illness and hope to recover naturally.

“What’s happening in our Demon King’s land these days?”

“Since the Contractor arrived, so many changes have happened, haven’t they?”

Among the cheerful chatter of the citizens, Ariella’s name was spoken with reverence.

Both she and the Demon King were being praised more and more.

Such admiration would have been unimaginable just a few months ago.

* * *

When Ariella first came to the Demon Realm, one of the things that shocked her most was just how backward the standard of living was.

Maybe it’s because this is the southern region? They say the northern territories are different…

Her favorite book, A Traveler’s Guide to the Demon Realm, was written by Kimmelt and mostly described life in the north.

It only briefly mentioned the south, dismissing it as “lands of barbarians.”

That book was written ages ago, and even back then, the north was more advanced than this place is now.

It was true that magical power was abundant here, and there were many skilled sorcerers. That alone made this world incomparable to the one she grew up in.

But outside of magic, there were many areas where this society lagged behind—especially in medicine.

Maybe it’s because there are no temples here?

In the Oinos Kingdom, temples dedicated to the goddess could be found in every city, and priests actively served their communities.

Clerics would heal the sick and injured, boosting the influence and reputation of their faith.

Demons have priests who worship demon gods, but they’re incredibly rare. Ludwig himself has never even met one.

Healing magic was uncommon to begin with, which meant herbs and medicinal ingredients were the primary hope for those in need.

And now, Ariella had introduced high-quality herbs to this world.

Within Ludwig’s territory, she was distributing them for free—a truly shocking policy.

* * *

“Dad, are you feeling a little better today?”

In a small farmhouse within Ludwig’s territory, a kobold family sat huddled together.

The young daughter looked at her father with worried eyes.

He had been bedridden for weeks, coughing from a severe lung illness.

“If I just sleep a few more days, I’ll be fine.”

He spoke weakly, trying to reassure her.

But the truth was, his condition was serious. Expensive herbs were far beyond what a farming family could afford.

And even if they had the money, herbs had been nearly impossible to purchase lately because supplies were scarce.

The little girl turned her back so her father couldn’t see, wiping away tears.

What if he never gets up again?

She had already seen several neighbors die from illnesses they couldn’t treat.

One of them had been someone very dear to her.

What if it happens again? Like it did with my sister…

She hadn’t always been an only child.

Her older sister had fallen ill three years ago. She wasted away slowly and passed on without ever receiving proper treatment.

The family hadn’t been able to do anything for her.

The little girl could still vividly remember her parents’ desperate cries of grief that day.

She had screamed and cried until her throat was raw.

And now, the thought that it could happen again crushed her heart like a heavy stone.

“I’m home.”

The girl’s mother entered, returning from a trip to the Demon King’s castle.

Her father struggled to sit up.

“So, what were they handing out?”

He was too ill to leave the house and hear the news himself.

“They were giving away herbs. If you have a sick family member, you’re supposed to use it right away. Otherwise, just keep it in the house in case of emergencies.”

The girl’s face lit up.

“Really? That’s great! Then we can give it to Dad right away—”

But her mother’s expression wasn’t very cheerful, despite having brought back the herbs.

A moment later, the girl understood why.

“What? This is all they gave you?”

The herbs her mother handed over barely filled her palm.

The girl shook her head in disbelief.

“This won’t even last a day.”

Her father had been suffering from this illness for a long time.

From their perspective, herbal remedies needed to be boiled and taken daily for at least ten days, sometimes a month, before there was any real effect.

The girl mumbled softly, her face clouded with doubt.

“Will it even help if we boil it all at once…?”

Her father cut in, trying to change the mood.

In his hoarse voice, he forced himself to sound positive.

“Still, isn’t it a blessing to even have this much? In the old days, we wouldn’t have even dreamed of it.”

The girl couldn’t argue with that.

Yeah… it’s better than nothing.

Even though she didn’t expect much, she carefully brewed the herbs into medicine.

Then she watched her father drink it.

“It’s hot, so be careful. Don’t spill. Drink slowly.”

Moments passed.

“…Huh?”

Her father’s eyes went wide.

“What? My coughing… it stopped?”

Her mother gave him a pitying smile.

There was no way he could be cured so quickly. This illness had tormented their family for too long.

Surely he was just pretending to spare them worry.

That’s what she thought.

“There’s no need to pretend.”

“No, really. I’m serious. I feel fine. Completely fine!”

With that, the farmer suddenly tried to get out of bed.

The girl gasped and tried to stop him.

“Dad! You shouldn’t push yourself—”

But she froze mid-sentence.

Her mother, standing behind her, also covered her mouth in shock.

“See? I told you!”

The kobold who had been lying sickly in bed just minutes ago now stood tall and steady.

He wasn’t lying.

“Dad!”

“Dear?”

His dull, grayish complexion now glowed with color, and even his fur looked healthier and shinier.

“What… What is this…?”

The family stared, stunned, before slowly realizing this was real.

“Thank you…! Thank you, O Great Demon God!”

Tears streamed down the little girl’s face.

She wouldn’t lose her father. Not this time.

She wouldn’t have to watch him fade away like her sister.

Overwhelmed with joy, the family embraced each other tightly, whispering words of gratitude.

This miracle had come from the herbs distributed by the Demon King’s castle.

And at that same moment, across Ludwig’s entire territory, similar miracles were happening everywhere.