The Medical Society (1)
“Hugo, how about comparing them like this?”
After that, I focused primarily on the curse research with Hugo's team for the time being. We had plenty of data from the emperor's case and the battle with Camilla to use as control groups.
Right now, more than anything, I wanted to operate on Asella.
“What do you think of this hypothesis? If the shape of the adhesion site determines the effect. Can't you see the denaturation pattern?”
“Indeed, that's a promising theory. Let's verify it with the other cases right away.”
Thanks to Hugo, the research was progressing nicely. I figured we'd soon dissect the true nature of Asella's curse piece by piece and establish countermeasures.
“For now, I want to prepare something to handle Asella's acute episodes.”
No. 101: Mana Overload 13% → 14%
Asella's symptoms were gradually worsening. For now, she could hold out with the painkillers I'd made, but there was no telling how long that would last.
“Plus, they work better when I administer them personally.”
I had the [Prescription] skill. When Asella took the medicine alone without me, its effect was naturally diminished. I couldn't stick to her 24/7, so we needed something stronger.
“It's a matter of ingredients. Willow bark has its limits.”
No matter how much I altered its properties or synthesized it, I couldn't create medicine from nothing.
The ultimate painkiller...
“In the end, it's narcotics.”
While general painkillers dulled the nerves transmitting pain, narcotic analgesics damaged specific receptors in the brain, preventing it from even recognizing the pain. They were dangerous, but undeniably effective—a necessary evil that could turn a writhing, near-death patient calm as if nothing had happened.
“Morphine isn't addictive. If made for medical use, we can minimize tolerance buildup too.”
Maybe I should look for opium poppies.
As that thought crossed my mind, a summons from the emperor arrived, drawing me to the Heavenly Palace.
“I commend you for your feats in the black magic purge, Gotberg.”
“I am deeply honored, Your Majesty.”
For him to make time and praise me in person was a tremendous honor. It'd make for a great drinking story back home for years.
“Kunter has finally come to his senses too. Entrusting the Imperial Medical Office to you all was the right choice.”
“It was Your Majesty's keen insight.”
Ambrosia chimed in with agreement.
“I wanted to call Asella too, but they say her health is poor. Who knew Camilla harbored such malice. I should have acted sooner, but I held back.”
The emperor clicked his tongue.
“As the rumors said, I picked up Camilla on a whim. It was during the conquest of the silver-worshipping kingdom of Yeongam. Her village was being used as a national sacrifice. Camilla was the sole survivor.”
“I see.”
“Looking back now, it wasn't a one-sided sacrifice—it seems like infighting among black magic factions. Camilla was a black mage herself, young as she was. At first, she was good. She devoted herself to the empire to repay my silver.”
The emperor's judgment wouldn't be wrong.
So Camilla hadn't been evil from the start.
“She was capable. She brought great benefits to the empire, without a doubt. But at some point, I sensed danger and distanced myself. I didn't show Asella affection because of Camilla too.”
“May I ask when that was?”
“After Asella was born, Camilla became unstable. Sometimes, an inexplicable malice seeped out. And eleven years ago, she changed completely. That's when I sent her to the Moonlight Palace.”
Hm. Eleven years ago, there was another incident: when Asella gained her second magical talent—and the debuff curse along with it. The great witch's soul had manifested in this imperial family.
I needed to dig into this.
“It's not that I didn't love Camilla. But I love Sharlot and Heleiad just as much. If she's my enemy, there's no need for affection, is there?”
The emperor of the superpower had his own unique way of loving women. I could never match that. One woman was enough to fill my head already. Right now, changing the ending and my duties as a physician came first—I hadn't given romance much thought.
“I missed the time to give Asella affection.”
The emperor stroked his beard.
“I'll entrust her to you, Gotberg.”
Wait, to me?
Asella and the emperor never acted like father and daughter, treating each other like strangers, so I'd forgotten for a moment. Come to think of it, in the current situation, this man was my father-in-law.
With our engagement, he must fully trust me. This statement meant he recognized me as a proper son-in-law.
'This is bad.'
If we broke off the engagement, would the emperor chase me down? Well, I had planned more safety measures anyway.
And that tied into what I'd request as my reward this time.
“Gotberg, I commend your achievements and bestow a medal and reward. What do you desire? Ah, last time you wanted to publicize medicine. Ambrosia, how's the preparation?”
“The review will soon conclude, and the chief physicians' conference will convene.”
“Understood. Speak, Gotberg. Mountains of gold, land, even a new palace if you wish.”
I bowed politely and replied.
“A presumptuous request, Your Majesty.”
“What is it?”
“I seek independent military authority for the Gotberg family.”
“Hm.”
The emperor gravely lifted his chin.
What I'd asked for was a tremendous right beyond money or land. In the empire's centralized system, only the imperial family could maintain brigade-sized knight orders. Even the western grand duke of Shvartsshubaiku didn't have overwhelming forces—he had to hire adventurers to fight kingdoms at the borders.
The reason was obvious: nobles with great military power risked seceding from the state. It was the only way a great power could endure.
I was requesting an element that could destabilize the nation.
'It was a shot in the dark anyway.'
Asella wouldn't grant my family military rights, so I needed to build strength now while I could. The future was uncertain. I couldn't keep the family under the empire forever.
What if Georg suddenly became the next emperor and doomed the empire? Ah, then even the demon king's army couldn't be stopped.
Anyway. To protect the family from demons or barbarians, we needed military power. Expanding the marquisate into a duchy and gaining independence was the ideal picture. That was about ten years away—no emperor to worry about then.
Securing knights would take time, but without the right, I couldn't even start.
To the emperor, it was an outrageous demand, though.
“Very well. I grant the Gotberg family military authority.”
He accepted it coolly.
He was giving it to me.
“Overwhelmed by Your Majesty's boundless grace, I offer my deepest bow.”
“I expect continued service to the empire.”
“I shall not fail.”
With Tanya already there, we'd recruit knights gradually.
“We'll hold the conference this afternoon.”
After the audience, Ambrosia relayed the message. It was in the same conference room as the prior hearing, but sitting in the head seat felt entirely different this time.
“The seat next to Master Gotberg is mine.”
“Tch, seats have hierarchy. That's my spot—move aside.”
Aside from Palkenhain and Alverich bickering noisily, it was satisfactory.
“I am Boyshu, chief physician of the Golden Book Palace, presiding over this meeting. The agenda is adopting medicine as a foundational practice in the Imperial Medical Office.”
Boyshu, Rauga's chief physician, opened the discussion.
“Having reviewed the textbooks from the Moonlight Palace, we can organize the curriculum. It's an imperial decree, so no chief physician objects, right?”
Boyshu smiled brightly. It was a charming, boyish grin that made him seem like he'd come running with snacks. Hard to believe he was at least ten years my senior.
“But we need some supplementation, Master Gotberg.”
“Supplementation?”
“Yes. Regarding the fundamentals of this thing called medicine.”
Boyshu tapped the medical textbook with his palm.
“Where on earth did this technology come from?”
Where else? It was humanity's accumulated wisdom, built by historic physicians over generations.
Ah, right—this world had no such history. Ancient folk remedies had flickered briefly before the theocracy burned all records.
“Boyshu, are you doubting Master Gotberg now? How many patients has he treated and proven it with?!”
Alverich slammed the table in fury.
“No, that's not it. I admire Master Gotberg so much. Bishop, you really need to work on that hot temper.”
“Urk...”
“Still, the healers of the Imperial Medical Office and the public need a reliable history to trust it. Healing arts are a gift from the goddess—anyone can believe in and use them. The canon proves it.”
“A valid point.”
Ambrosia agreed.
I thought so too—it wasn't baseless. I knew medicine's full history, but to them, it must feel like a child's toy suddenly revealed as a Transformer.
Even the circulatory and surgical tools we used now drew on dwarf craftsmanship, but my mechanical engineering knowledge was in there too. No digital elements, but the clockwork mechanisms were precise. Overtechnology in this world.
“Come to think of it, I haven't heard the details. Master Gotberg, didn't you say you learned from a teacher?”
Palkenhain addressed me.
I had said that.
“Hm, yes.”
“Just one teacher?”
“Well... there's a Medical Society—people who advanced folk remedies into medicine.”
“Such people exist? Where are they now?”
“Hmm. Their formal name is the 'Non-State Medical Society.' They mainly provide various medical services to commoners who can't afford healing arts... probably?”
“Noble souls. I'd love to meet them.”
“The young ladies may not know, but rumors might already be spreading among the masses.”
“Then we'll contact the Medical Society to record medicine's development and gather folk tales too.”
“Agreed.”
Wait, this was veering off strangely.
Back at the office, I urgently assembled the healers.
“Chloe, you have those folk remedy books you're making, right?”
“Y-yes! I was planning to print them like ancient tomes for public distribution...”
“Mass-produce them and scatter them across the continent immediately. Ah, age them to look about a century old. And the handyman doctors.”
“Yes.”
“From now on, wear these masks and do volunteer work. Go anywhere with patients. Isolated areas without healers are best. I'll fund teleporters and escorts.”
Before us stood a row of beaked masks shaped like crows—plague doctor masks I'd made just in case.
I emphasized, “But absolutely! Don't let your identities slip. No leaks outside, so sign a geas each before going.”
“What about field allowances?”
“Double pay.”
“We're off!”
Rumors would distort anyway, and the timing would be vague, so the era didn't matter.
“S-Sir, you're going too?”
“Of course.”
On the way out, I'd hunt for opium poppies too. Strictly for medical use.