Gothberg Pharmaceutical Factory.
The factory, with several halls, warehouses, and dormitories, was in the final stages of construction.
The main building was ready to go, so the interior could be operational at any moment.
“Brother has ordered a large quantity of ointment. This is a great opportunity for a trial run!”
Neria clenched her tiny fist.
It was time for the pharmaceutical companies dispatched from the Moonlight Palace to show their skills.
First, materials had to be ordered. The price wasn’t too cheap yet since a formal contract with the merchants hadn’t been signed, but Neria managed to negotiate swiftly.
The medications made by the pharmaceutical companies over several days would be packaged, and porters would haul them away while the family knights provided protection.
“Is it the young master’s goods? Leave it to me; I’ll transport them more carefully than my own life. Well, not literally my life…”
Boris would lead them through the Demon Beast Forest, carrying the goods to the main camp.
Adventurers would take over, crossing the gaps of the peaks all the way to the entrance of the Frozen Plains.
“It’s the goods; deliver them to the doctor. Understand? To the hospital.”
The adventurer captain emphasized to the Thunder Tribe member, who scoffed.
“We’re smarter than you!”
“What? You can’t even talk properly! I’m an A-rank adventurer, a magical swordsman, you know? Do you understand magic? It takes both mana and intelligence to wield the mysteries of humanity… Ugh!”
In an instant, the tribe member knocked the captain’s legs out from under him, and he fell face-first into the snow.
“Teleport! Magic!”
“Muscles are intelligence!”
“Look at this guy! He’s lost it! Hahaha!”
As the laughing tribesmen watched, the captain shook the snow off his head and groaned.
They then boldly mounted a demon bear and started pulling their sled loaded with goods.
After quite a while, they arrived.
The destination was the stone tomb in the center of the plain.
For safety, traps had been disarmed. Areas with unremovable traps were fenced off.
As such, many Thunder Tribe members stood with watchful eyes.
In the underground lair of the Heavenly Dragon, the doctors from the Moonlight Palace were providing treatment.
All equipment had arrived. Since the patients were quite large, ladders and platforms had been set up above the Heavenly Dragon.
It looked like they were building a giant fishing boat.
“Please swap out Section 8!”
“Felix, if your Divine Power is restored, please continue the Healing Spell.”
The doctors were busy moving, treating the wounds on the Heavenly Dragon’s skin section by section and recording progress.
“Section 4 treatment completed.”
Hugo wiped off his sweat as he stopped the amulet’s operation. The dark mass of wounds on the Heavenly Dragon’s side crumbled away, revealing red skin.
“Good job. I’ll take care of the treatment for Section 5, so you rest. Here’s the washing station!”
Lars took the amulet from Hugo and hung it around his neck.
“Human, goods!”
Thud, the tribesmen lined up boxes one by one, brought out from the transport.
Seeing this, a bright smile spread across Lars’s face.
“They’ve arrived.”
“Great, let’s go.”
Lars opened the box, revealed the contents, and scooped it up with both hands.
He applied some to the back of his hand, analyzing the properties, and was satisfied.
“With just an enhancement, we can use it right away. Attention everyone! Doctors with free hands, start applying the ointment in the cleaned sections!”
The doctors fluttered their white gowns and moved in unison.
Disinfection was done, ointment applied, and linen cloths were placed over the Heavenly Dragon’s ruined skin.
Followed by the Healing Spells.
As recovery and injuries treaded water, the Heavenly Dragon’s long-lost vitality began to return at this moment.
“It’s working. Observe the effects and report any side effects immediately.”
The doctors answered Lars energetically.
*
Treating the Heavenly Dragon took quite a bit of time.
It was a powerful ancient being said to have created continents.
Considering its size and how much medication and spells it consumed, its health gauge showed no end in sight.
“Still, it looks much better just from the outside. Diagnosis.”
―――――――――――
Injury: Chemical Burn (Mild)
Injury: Contact Dermatitis
―――――――――――
The laceration on its side that wouldn’t heal because of the burn was stitched up, encouraging healing.
The dermatitis showed a marked improvement visually, meaning pathogens had indeed been cleared.
A message popped up on the status window.
―――――――――――
· Diagnosed the great being multiple times.
· Due to a rare experience, [Diagnosis B] has ranked up to [Diagnosis A].
· All abilities of [Diagnosis] have been unlocked.
―――――――――――
“Oh.”
Diagnosis had reached A-rank for the first time.
The skill originally felt like it improved or raised its ceiling with each rank it achieved.
Initially, Diagnosis would show injuries and locations roughly. Later, it separated symptoms from injuries and became increasingly detailed.
Yet, as a basic skill, it didn’t show any dramatic changes.
“Did it have a hidden ability?”
Since I have to use the Diagnosis right away when meeting a patient, it was the skill I used the most. So, it made sense for it to accumulate experience.
Thinking about experimenting on the Heavenly Dragon again, Gishta came to find me.
“Lars, you look busy again today!”
“Yeah, but it’s going smoothly. At this rate, it’ll be fully healed soon.”
“Is that so? Is Mother waking up? I’m looking forward to it!”
I glanced at Gishta.
‘I’ve never used Diagnosis on her.’
She hadn’t had a single scratch until now since she was so tough.
‘Diagnosis.’
―――――――――――
· Name: Gishta KalamuRibe
· Health: 87 / 95
· Status: Healthy, but slightly stressed and tense
· Injury: Minor cut >> View history.
· Location: Back (Left Trapezius)
· Mood: Anticipation
―――――――――――
‘It’s incredibly detailed.’
Having health visible as a number was more than satisfactory. I could intuitively grasp how critical it was.
Having the history organized made it much more convenient.
‘The patient’s mood shows too.’
What a strange feature. Well, it certainly made it easier to understand the patient.
‘She had an injury.’
It was on her back, which didn’t show, and I hadn’t realized since Gishta hadn’t mentioned it.
“Gishta, did you hurt your back?”
“Huh? Not sure. There was a battle with the Glacier Tribe earlier today.”
“Show me.”
“Um…”
Gishta awkwardly hunched her shoulders and scratched the back of her head.
“Do what you want.”
As if having made a great decision, Gishta bit her lips tightly and dramatically threw off her fur.
She only had to pull down her clothes a bit.
Gishta flipped her lush hair forward.
I examined her back. Living in such a cold region, it was smooth and white, almost like ice from the Frozen Plains.
Her collarbone and shoulder blades were prominent, showcasing well-defined deltoids. Though not overly big compared to regular citizens of the Empire.
Must be a different fiber structure. How interesting.
There was a small scratch just under her neck.
“Just a slight scratch. Looks like a claw from a snow creature got through your armor.”
“Oh, there was a big one. That one looks like the chief. If I see it again, I’ll rip its head off… Oof.”
After disinfecting and applying the ointment, Gishta made a funny sound.
I finished by putting on a bandage.
“All done.”
“…Your fingers are long, Lars.”
“I find them quite handy.”
They’re useful during surgery too.
[Blending ■■, ■■, connecting 36% → 52%]
Why did that suddenly increase?
Thinking it was odd, I closed the status window as Gishta hurriedly put her fur back on.
“Um… do you often touch other women like this?”
“Other women?”
Well, I did touch Acella every day.
‘About a month and a half left until Acella’s limit, right?’
It was indeed time to speed up.
If it was now, I could sneak off and steal the Storm Stone to return to the Imperial Family right away. The door is still locked during treatment.
But that would ruin my relationship with Gishta. The Great Demon had to be summoned according to the histories, and I could end up at war with the Thunder Tribe with no chance to negotiate with Gishta.
Once the Heavenly Dragon’s treatment is completed as scheduled, I wouldn’t be late for Acella. I would eliminate the thirteen bad endings happening here, so this is the smart choice.
Having such thoughts made me feel as if Gishta was giving me a sidelong smile.
Her expression looked somewhat complicated.
“What’s up?”
“Haha! I have nothing to hide from friends. Isn’t that the look of someone thinking of their lover, Lars? Were you recalling the golden girl you always talked about?”
“You mean the princess? How did you know?”
“Did you think I wouldn’t? It’s been a month, so you must miss her.”
I didn’t know my expression changed when I thought of Acella.
Given how Gishta had been curious, I slowly began to share stories of the Empire with her.
Of course, to tell the tale of my experiences in the Inner Palace, I would have to mention Acella.
Gishta knew about my relationship with Acella.
“Lars, it’s not good to casually touch another woman while thinking of the golden girl. Won’t that cause misunderstandings?”
“It was a diagnosis! It was work. And I said my relationship with Acella is a bit complicated.”
I had given Gishta a rough idea of things.
I mentioned that political engagements were common in the Empire, that even though we announced it as a romantic engagement, it was still a strategy for Acella’s succession rights, and so on.
I wasn’t sure if Gishta, who had lived in the wild, understood everything.
“What’s so complicated? It’s clear she passionately adores you!”
“Well, she’s a competent subordinate, so I care for her.”
“As a man!”
Gishta emphasized with strength.
“Be proud to be engaged to someone beloved by others. At night, you sleep together without hiding it; that’s already a perfect claim!”
Gishta erupted into laughter.
Certainly, I couldn’t speak about the future yet, so it was easy for her to think so.
Empress Acella was a human who tormented and despised the healer Lars more than anyone else.
‘This recurrence is happening ten years in the past, so things might be a bit different.’
Perhaps Acella would not be as evil as the Empress I once knew.
It felt more like hope than a guess.
However, a difference between pure evil and moderate evil still existed; Acella’s talent and temperament to stand above others wouldn’t change.
She was just born that way.
“What are the Empire citizens thinking so much about? They’ll spend all their time just thinking!”
Gishta got up, clearly frustrated, and swung an axe in a stretching motion.
“Time will pass, and it’ll be too late for regrets. Are you not curious about what the golden girl is thinking?”
What Acella was thinking.
…I was curious.
She had always been someone I couldn’t comprehend, but now she seemed even less like the Acella I knew.
Rather than someone who had to deal with so many bad relationships, Gishta, who could clearly judge according to what she heard, might be truly right.
‘It’ll be a lot of work, though.’
Just a little, I wanted to return to the Moonlight Palace.
*
Before long, good news arrived.
“Teacher.”
In the morning, Hugo reported to me.
“The Heavenly Dragon has opened its eyes.”
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