36 - As Medical Doctors

At Lucille’s call, the doctors within the city gathered in the castle’s parlor.

“Now then, Doctors, I would like to recruit volunteers to attend to this Old Man’s town,” Merle said.

“Your Majesty, what are your intentions?”

“This Old Man’s town is stricken by disease and about to collapse. It seems that the risk of infection has cut off trade with other settlements so they’ve got neither doctors nor medicine.”

“Isn’t that Fort Coast?”

“The one and the same,” Page said.

Just the name makes the doctors scream in terror.

“Your Majesty, I’ve heard of that place. It’s said that it’s too far gone, the illness has spread and killed so many of them. I don’t think you’ll find many doctors willing to go to such a town.”

At the doctor’s words, Page clenches his teeth and makes a fist. Beside him, Ramiel looks down sadly as she puts a hand over it.

“I don’t think that’s the case,” says the oldest doctor among them. “There should still be hope. What is the town doing for the moment?” he asks Page.

“As said, we have no doctors there, so soon as we earn some money, we send over medicine to try to save their lives,” Page replied.

“Hmm, no doctors, no medicine,” the old doctor said. “Your Majesty, let me go to this man’s town.”

“Thank you, Dr. Grandpa.”

He chuckles. “I don’t have long to live, at any rate. If I’m going to die, it’s going to be for the sake of others, as a doctor should wish.”

“If you need anything, you can take it with you,” Merle said.

“I’m satisfied with being given the order,” the old doctor says. “Can I take these young ones along with me? I would like to know the specific conditions of their facilities.”

“That’s all you need? Then take both of them.”

“Right away!” Page said. “Old Man! Your Majesty! Thank you! I’m speechless!”

“My word does carry serious weight,” Merle said.

The old doctor walked out of the parlor with Page and Ramiel, one of the remaining doctors raised his hand.

He was still young; however, you could see the passion to make a difference in his eyes. “Your Majesty! I would like to get permission to accompany them! I’m not formally a doctor yet but I’ve no intention of losing my will to help others!”

“Then you have my permission,” Merle said. “Is there anyone else?”

“In that case, let me go as well,” said yet another young doctor.

“Wait!” the first doctor says as he stops him. “What are you going to do about your position at the hospital here? Aren’t you already tenured?”

"

"

“I’ve thought about that,” he replies as he scratches the back of his head. “You have always pushed me to do these sorts of deeds, Big Brother. I’ll be fine, we should get going soon.”

With his younger brother’s consent, the elder brother turned to Merle, adjusted his glasses with a finger, and said, “Your Majesty, we’ll be preparing to journey to the town. We’ll likely require quite a lot of medicine and supplies. And once we’re there, we’re likely to become carriers of the disease and will be unable to return for quite some time.”

“It’s a lot to ask you to go on such a difficult and lengthy journey,” Merle asked. “When you return, your reward will be increased appropriately.”

He laughed and shook his head. “That’s not what I’m asking. Fewer doctors mean fewer patients can see them; if something goes wrong, I want you to support the doctors remaining in the city.”

Merle’s taken aback, impressed by his altruism. She chuckles and says, “Everyone seems to have such passionate hearts. I should head out myself, then; there’s a lot of work to do from here on out.”