Chapter 18

The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away – 018

EP.18 The Physician Exam (4)

“Phew, how long do these guys intend to live cramped up in this narrow cave?”

Boris grumbled as he wiped the sweat from under his rugged helmet.

They had already vanquished their third goblin horde.

Even though Father had bestowed the blessing of vitality, everyone was starting to feel weary.

“Any knights who were injured in the recent battle should report to the healers immediately to receive treatment.”

Tanya issued the order.

Just as a knight was about to approach Gis for treatment, Boris tapped his shoulder and urged him on.

“Hey, go see Young master.”

“Young master?”

“Yeah. Whatever he put on my shoulder earlier works wonders. It feels incredibly refreshing. Just stings a bit when you apply it.”

“Really? I’ll give it a try then.”

Upon Boris’s recommendation, the knight came to me. I immediately used Diagnosis.

…It didn’t activate.

‘It’s not even a serious scratch, just a bit of goblin blood. Some people really try hard to get an honorable injury.’

Still, fake patients suit the quack physician just fine.

Welcome, dear customer.

“Here, look at your stomach.”

“Like this?”

I dabbed the red medicine onto the exaggerated knight’s belly. It glowed orange as the healing effect kicked in.

At least there’s some minimal health recovery effect.

“Oh, it feels really cool. Thank you.”

“So, Young master, your skills are quite impressive, aren’t they?”

“Indeed, surprisingly so.”

“Surprisingly indeed, excuse me for my rudeness.”

Boris tapped the back of the knight’s head. He then tucked the red potion into his pocket and asked him,

“Boris, you weren’t particularly fond of me before, so what’s with the sudden friendliness?”

“Well, haven’t I seen you and the captain training every morning? It’s because I drew the short straw this week.”

Boris laughed heartily, causing his shoulders to bounce.

“Seems like Young master is quite sincere about this test. Being the eldest son of the Gothberg family, your skills are certainly trustworthy.”

“Your flattery is quite impressive, Boris. I’ll remember your name.”

“Haha, what are you talking about? I only just realized why Young master is so sincere now.”

“Why?”

Boris muttered to me as if sharing a secret.

“Oh my, I only saw the princess’s grace yesterday. She’s already overflowing with elegance, so imagine how stunning she’ll be when she grows up.”

Why is Acella being brought up all of a sudden?

“Even someone like me would prefer to directly serve such a wife in her medical needs, even if it means risking my life!”

“Risking your life? Don’t speak so casually about that.”

Do you even know how many times I’ve risked my life? One or two instances won’t cut it.

“Don’t be embarrassed. I have a fiancée too. We’ve been childhood friends, but she’s quite mischievous. She’s nothing like a lady of high standing like the princess.”

Boris began to chatter excitedly about things I didn’t ask.

“In fact, after today’s expedition, I plan to hold a small ceremony. Oh, it’s like a sudden growth spurt, isn’t it?”

Hold on a second, stop.

“I still haven’t saved up much money, so I was planning to work as a knight for another five years before marrying leisurely, but it was quite sudden.”

That’s a flag for death, you know.

“Young master, you should also be careful. Children are like Fenrir. They’re most dangerous when you least expect it. They can suddenly jump out from nowhere.”

“Commander Tanya, why is the Gothberg Knights’ discipline like this?”

When I complained, Tanya, who had been watching us closely, casually nodded.

“They’re not part of the system or the royal family, they’re just a local order of knights. Their skills are reliable, so please bear with it.”

“What was that?”

Honestly, it’s so absurd I can’t help but laugh.

Well, they’re just a bunch of country bumpkins who can swing a sword, after all.

Tanya, being polite, forgot, but most knights were quite rough around the edges.

“However, Boris, refrain from idle chatter during operations.”

“What, will I be punished by military law?”

“No, but I have the authority to dock your pay.”

“I’ll keep quiet.”

Boris shut his mouth and adjusted his helmet. Tanya knew well how to handle rough men like a true commander.

“We proceed to the next area. Don’t let your guard down.”

Following Tanya’s command, the squad moved forward.

The cave grows deeper and darker.

The lack of oxygen makes it hard to breathe, feeling like suffocation.

“Living in a place like this must be tough. I want to finish up and get out of here quickly.”

Boris complained openly. He was about to say something else when—

“Halt!”

Tanya shouted urgently, raising her fist.

At that moment, boom! Flames exploded from above, engulfing us.

“Retreat! All units, fall back!”

The rear unit retreated along the path they came from.

But our unit, positioned at the front, found the path blocked.

“Magic, is it? Indeed, there’s a goblin shaman!”

“My Lord, please take cover!”

“Ugh…!”

The guards surrounded Father, entering a stance to protect him as their top priority.

If the enemy has magical abilities, even the healers in the rear are not safe within the protective zone.

“We need to take down the shaman immediately!”

“I can’t see ahead because of the smoke…!”

The knights panicked.

They couldn’t swing their swords recklessly for fear of attacking allies.

“Cough, cough.”

As oxygen dwindled and hot smoke filled my lungs, it wasn’t doing me any favors.

Why did they have to lure us into such a deep cave?

It’s a stupid idea typical of low intelligence creatures.

“Shall I use some of the saved Divine Power?”

I took out a candy from my pocket and bit into it.

“To the pitiful Goddess Pingchang, I beseech thee.”

I offered a prayer as it came to mind.

There’s no harm in it. Prayers help maintain faith and lubricate Divine Power smoothly.

“Protect us from the raging flames.”

However, the purpose must be clearly stated.

A skill tree containing healing spells.

These skills are based on faith and use Divine Power as a resource.

The higher the faith, the more powerful the spell, and even the same spell becomes more effective.

However, just as one cannot cast magic without mana, if the total amount of Divine Power is low, one cannot use divine spells, including healing spells.

“My Divine Power is at 22, so this skill has its limits.”

Once I use it, it’s depleted.

But conversely, once is enough.

There may come a situation where I need to counter magic, so it’s wise to conserve Divine Power.

“Blessing of Flame Protection.”

– Crack! –

Divine Power emanates from my body, enveloping all units.

A subtle wave spreads, increasing the flame resistance value.

The heat subsides, and breathing becomes easier.

“What, is this…?!”

“Young master can use blessings!”

The knights, who were covering their noses and mouths with their arms due to smoke, were startled and quickly resumed their combat stances.

‘When fighting the Demon King’s army, protection blessings against evil attributes were mainly effective.’

Unlike magic, healing spells or divine spells don’t require intricate gestures.

It’s more like thinking of the spell you want to use while praying, and the gesture forms naturally.

“The heat has diminished!”

“We can charge now!”

“Let’s crush those goblins’ skulls right away!”

The heat ignited not flesh but the fire in their chests, and the knights, with fire in their eyes, began to charge.

“Blessings? How on earth can you use such advanced techniques?”

Gis asked me in an amazed tone.

“Wouldn’t it be basic for a Royal Physician?”

“Right, of course…! I-I’ll go too!”

Gis stuck out his tongue and ran after the knights, casting healing spells fervently.

I don’t have the Blessing skill in my skill tree right now.

But thanks to countless uses before the regression, my mind naturally remembers it, like pedaling a bicycle without conscious effort.

‘Oh, feeling dizzy.’

However, there’s a risk involved.

My current Divine Power doesn’t support casting high-level divine spells.

Memories of the dreadful activities in the hero party flooded back, making me nauseous.

“I see the bastard!”

Boris shouted as he leaped forward with vigor.

I could also see it.

Among the mass of goblins, there was one unusually large figure swinging a gnarled branch like a staff.

“If you dare use a staff, you must think you’re a wizard, you monster!”

Boris charged towards the goblin shaman, cutting through the small goblins effortlessly. With a powerful swing of his sword, he swiftly approached.

– Krkrk!! –

– Swoosh—thud! –

However, as the shaman swung his arm, Boris was sent flying and crashed into the wall with a heavy thud.

“Argh!”

Boris fell to the ground with a fierce cry.

The shaman, holding both a staff and a vicious club in his opposite hand, swung it menacingly.

It seems Boris rushed in with the mindset of facing an ordinary goblin. But the shaman, being the leader of the pack, was on a completely different level in terms of size and strength, not just because he knew magic.

If handled properly, he could be considered a weak ogre.

“Boris!”

Tanya entered gracefully, wielding her sword.

“Knock the staff away!”

Upon my command, Tanya immediately responded. She knocked the staff out of the shaman’s hand with her sword, disrupting his stance, and swiftly struck him with a blunt angle, efficiently drawing a thick line across his body in a single blow.

– Krkrkrk!! –

Following her lead, other knights also launched their attacks.

Unable to cast any additional spells, the shaman lost his means of defense and eventually met his demise.

“We’ve subdued him!”

“It’s a success!”

The knights dealt with the remaining goblins.

It was time for me to fulfill my duty.

“Boris.”

I rushed to Boris, who had taken a strong blow.

“Urgh, it hur⋯!”

Boris, in agony, clenched his teeth and struggled to suppress his screams.

There was no need for diagnosis.

I could tell from the way his left calf was broken, the skin protruding in a bulge, that it was a severe fracture.

“Y-Young master… If I can’t make it back, please tell Ney…”

“Don’t exaggerate, man. Who’s setting up a flag for you anyway?”

I slapped Boris’s forehead, silencing him. It was meant to help him regain his senses.

The blow wasn’t too strong, but the angle at which he hit the cave wall wasn’t favorable.

“I’ll heal him!”

Gis rushed over and barged past me, seizing my shoulder.

It was a chance to earn high points with such a significant injury. There was no way I would miss it.

As Gis cast the healing spell, the effect was immediate. Bright particles gathered around Boris’s wound.

However.

“Urgh, aaargh!!”

Boris couldn’t bear the pain and began screaming.

It was evident at a glance what the reason was. During the healing process, Boris’s broken bone was bending in the opposite direction.

There’s nothing more agonizing than shattered fragments piercing through internally.

“I can’t, I can’t take it! Please stop for a moment!”

Unable to endure it any longer, Boris pushed Gis away and collapsed. I caught him by the shoulder.

He was breathing heavily, his forehead drenched in sweat.

“Isn’t this the goddess’s blessing? Pain accompanies healing, please endure a little longer!”

Gis rebuked Boris instead.

I immediately tapped Gis’s forehead with a stick.

“Huh? What’s this?”

It was the leftover stick from the candy I was just chewing.

“From now on, I’ll take over. Patients also have the right to refuse treatment.”

“What difference does it make if you do it, Young master? The pain is the same with that red medicine…”

“There’s something more valuable.”

I pulled out another bottle from my pocket.

————–

+2 Enhanced Willow Analgesic

Effect: Nearly eliminates pain for 5 minutes.

————–

It’s a specially crafted miraculous analgesic that took several hours to make.