Chapter 77

31. Joining the Medical Front!

"What are you doing?!"

It was a stern and cold voice, filled with anger.

At the same time, the owner of the voice grabbed my hand that was holding the blade.

"I asked what you're doing to a patient who is about to die."

The man who blocked me was wearing a red uniform and had a stern expression.

He covered his nose and mouth with a red cloth and seemed to be suspicious of my presence, who had entered without any protection.

"This area is off-limits to non-relevant personnel. Who are you to be here?"

In response to his question, I took out a small badge from my pocket and showed it to him. Being a member of the royal family has its advantages.

"I am Prince David All Round of the Laun Kingdom."

"Cough... I apologize for the late introduction. I am Baron Gorneo. I hold a seat in the Central Disease Management Council, though I am not a prominent member."

As he introduced himself, I noticed that he was indeed wearing a red uniform with a distinctive emblem, similar to Lord Linton's.

"I see."

"However, even as a prince, you cannot be here. Please leave, I'm sorry!"

Despite his firm stance, I put down the blade I was holding and asked.

"Am I not allowed to be here?"

"The disease spreading in this manor is transmitted through the respiratory system under special conditions... Oh! First, cover your nose and mouth with this! Hurry!"

He seemed to realize that I had nothing covering my face and quickly pulled out a small piece of cloth from his pocket, offering it to me.

"The infection rate is low outside, but there are many infected people here! Hurry!"

In response to his forceful request, I silently took the cloth, and he immediately pushed me forward.

"I heard that you came to this manor due to this incident! You have a holy mark, I understand. But this disease cannot be cured by the power of a holy mark!"

As he spoke firmly, I stopped him.

"Have you confirmed that it cannot be cured?"

"No, I haven't. It's rare to find someone with a holy mark. However, a high-ranking priest with divine power advised me that it wouldn't work. So..."

"AAAAAAH!!!!"

At that moment, a man's agonizing scream echoed in my ear as he pushed me.

"Ah!"

Baron Gorneo, who had been blocking me, rushed to the patient, forgetting about me, and shouted.

"What happened?!"

"That... that..."

"Bring a painkiller! Calm him down first!!"

Despite his panic, he gave a firm order. I ignored his actions and silently observed the patient's condition.

-It's terrible...

"Blood foam from the mouth, tears of blood from the eyes, and irregular spots all over the body."

-David?

She called out to me, her eyes wide with concern, but I boldly stopped the person bringing the tube and vials.

"What... what are you doing...?"

"If you administer that now, the patient will die."

"Wh-what?!"

"Give me the tube."

I grabbed the sterilized tube and boldly stepped into the group of screaming patients.

I grabbed the screaming man's mouth and used my fingers to remove the blood foam that was gushing out.

It was a dangerous task, as a wrong bite could sever my fingers, but his jaw wasn't strong enough to crush them.

"What... what are you doing?!"

Just as Baron Gorneo was about to shout at my sudden intrusion, I ripped his shirt open, causing him to widen his eyes in shock.

What are you doing in front of a critically ill patient?

'Two lumps... no, three.'

My eyes narrowed as I noticed the bubbles.

The virus-infected blood was pooling in his lungs. If not removed immediately, he would die.

'8mm from the bottom, 3mm from the right. Even a tiny error will kill him.'

I took a deep breath and focused all my senses on the sensation in my fingertips.

I muttered to myself, feeling the man's ribs with my index and middle fingers, and then boldly lifted the sharp tube.

Swoosh!

At the same time, a faint light began to emanate from my hands.

Once from the hand holding the patient, and once from the hand holding the tube.

Hum...

Divine magic is a type of magic, just with a different method. Double casting is quite difficult.

In an instant, two divine spells activated, and I mercilessly pushed the tube past his ribs and into his lungs.

Thud!

The sound of flesh being pierced was chilling, and the patient writhed in pain.

He couldn't even breathe properly, just screaming and thrashing.

'A little more!'

I pushed the tube in accurately and slowly, then more boldly.

Baron Gorneo, shocked by my bizarre actions, grabbed my collar before I could let go of the tube.

"You!! What do you think you're doing with a person's life!!..."

His anger was palpable, intense.

It wasn't that he felt his job was being taken, but that I was treating the patient too carelessly.

Indeed, to an outsider, my actions might have seemed more like killing someone than treating them.

In response to his anger, I silently nodded toward the patient.

"Try to say something..."

Did my action make him even angrier? He seemed ready to hit me, but then his gaze followed my chin and he froze.

"Cough... cough..."

The man, who had been struggling to breathe and in agony, now lay limp, coughing weakly.

Squish...

From the tube I had inserted, a dark blue liquid began to flow out.

Without this liquid being removed, the patient would have difficulty breathing again.

"Give me that."

I shook off the stunned Baron Gorneo and took a small test tube from the doctor nearby, collecting the liquid without hesitation and closing the lid.

"Stop the bleeding and stitch him up. By the way, if you administer painkillers, including painkillers, within 24 hours of the symptoms appearing, the patient will go into shock and die. Don't administer them. And..."

My gaze, trailing off, met Baron Gorneo's wide eyes.

"Those with a holy mark are immune to most diseases."

The power of a divine class is not to be underestimated.

Ignoring the people who were staring at me in shock, I left the room with the test tube of dark blue liquid.

The people inside the treatment center remained frozen in place until I left.

* * *

After the commotion at the treatment center, I returned to the manor and headed straight for Winry's room, where she was likely grieving.

"Oh, big brother!"

As soon as I entered, Winry, who had been covering her face with her hands and looking distressed, jumped up, her eyes wide.

"You're here."

And beside her, Julius sat with a gentle smile.

Winry, blushing and flustered, seemed to be hiding something.

"Big... big brother, did you... hear anything?"

"What?"

"No... no!!"

She shook her head in shock.

Feeling the strange atmosphere, I turned to Julius, but he just smiled silently without saying a word.

Winry, the blushing and flustered girl, and Julius, one of the most sought-after bachelors on the continent...

Indeed, a girl of her age would likely blush and develop a crush.

So, Winry is just a girl after all.

So, raising a daughter is useless, they say!

-So, that child is not yours!

Perseus's shout didn't reach my ears.

"I found out a few things. There are two council members of the Disease Management Team currently in this manor: Lord Linton and Baron Gorneo. By the way, the ranks after their names are their past ranks; they are now council members of the Central Disease Management Council."

"Council members?"

Winry, looking tired and staring at her herbal tea, seemed puzzled.

"Yes, I should explain the Central Disease Management Council first. Is that okay?"

"I was just curious about it."

"Ahaha, I'm glad I found out."

He smiled happily and then picked up a quill pen and drew on a piece of paper.

He drew a large circle, then three smaller circles below it, and fifteen even smaller circles below those.

"First, this is the hierarchy of the Central Disease Management Council. It's more efficient to explain the larger parts."

"Hmm..."

"The Central Disease Management Council is an organization created by the Three Emperors' Conference, with the purpose of medical treatment, as you know."

"I know that much."

It's the largest official medical organization on the continent.

"The hierarchy consists of one chief, three presidents, and fifteen council members. Below them are knights and many other medical professionals. The important ones are these."

"Are the three presidents the Three Emperors?"

"You're quick. And the one chief is none other than the Pope of the Holy Kingdom of Balshas. He joined to support this noble cause."

Physical injuries can be healed quickly with recovery magic, but diseases have many gaps.

Thus, the purpose of creating the Disease Management Council was quite transparent and constructive.

"Below them are the fifteen council members. Most of them have achieved great accomplishments or possess exceptional medical skills recognized by all. However, to exclude personal matters, all their personal information has been erased."

People who erase their own information to achieve a single goal.

It's almost fanatical.

"There are two council members in this manor now: Lord Linton and Baron Gorneo. The ranks after their names are now just titles, with no real meaning."

He smiled bitterly as he trailed off.

"The important thing is that they have been given authority by the Three Emperors and the State Alliance. Lord Linton's words have legitimacy."

In other words, their actions to contain the epidemic in this manor are legitimate.

Of course, that doesn't mean they can kill all the manor residents indiscriminately.