The Chief Physician Exam (1)
The head maid finished preparing herself at the crack of dawn to attend to her lady. With the emperor's sanction, imperial royals were no mere humans like commoners—they were a superior race unto themselves. When one royal took a single step, countless retainers prepared for that sole purpose had to move in unison: knights, secretaries, attendants, and chief physicians. The current emperor had brought over twenty royals into the imperial household. The specialist staff to support them numbered dozens of times that, by simple calculation.
The Imperial Knights were the empire's finest fighting force, and the Imperial Medical Office—gathering chief physicians and their factional healers—boasted immense skill and authority. Among the emperor's kin, heirs apparent held an especially privileged status. Factions within the palace inevitably divided along lines named for them: the First Prince's faction, the First Princess's, and so on. Asella was the youngest among the heirs, but she was steadily building her own forces, from knights to personal retainers.
Her lack of a chief physician stemmed from a special reason. The head maid, who had cared for Asella since childhood, knew it well: healers couldn't withstand her mana and collapsed.
'Even the famed healer house of Gotberg would be useless to Her Highness if they sent mediocrities.'
Worse, for some reason, Asella seemed to secretly wish for that wastrel to be selected. When the head maid heard the rumors, she couldn't fathom what change of heart had come over Asella, who had so despised the engagement before.
'I must oversee the exam properly. For Her Highness's sake.'
She had received an important mission. The head maid resolved not to blink during today's practical exam.
With that thought, she took position in front of the first floor of the east wing where Asella resided. Guarding before her lady awoke was basic etiquette for a maid. With her strong professional pride, she hadn't been late a single morning in the eleven years serving Asella. Bathing, changing, and grooming upon rising—all fell to her.
But then—thud!
A dull sound of something falling echoed from Asella's room. Sensing trouble, she boldly flung open the door.
"Your Highness, pardon the intrusion."
Sure enough, Asella had tumbled from the bed and lay sprawled on the floor. Cold sweat beaded her forehead as she clutched her abdomen. Her half-lidded eyes remained expressionless, but her breathing was ragged.
"Your Highness!"
The head maid rushed to her, reaching out carefully. As she tried to lift her, Asella curled up like a turtle in rejection. Touching her recklessly would worsen the pain. In the end, the maid could only support her head to make her slightly more comfortable.
'This again...'
It had happened sporadically since her childhood. Asella lived with constant abdominal agony. They called it the price of her magical talent, but the maid, lacking such gifts, couldn't imagine it.
Sometimes the pain intensified overnight, jolting Asella awake until morning. Seeing her writhing silently on the floor made the torment's severity obvious. What pained the head maid most was that Asella had never once screamed.
Thus, even she couldn't detect it until morning.
'When will this end...'
Countless healers had tried easing her pain, all in vain. That was why Asella had no chief physician to this day.
'Lately, the episodes have come more frequently.'
The maid understood Asella's increasingly sharp tongue. A fourteen-year-old girl in perpetual suffering couldn't help being irritable. Her mother, Empress Camilla, merely demanded stoic endurance as the due cost of talent.
The maid chafed at this helpless situation. That's why she pinned such hopes on this chief physician selection. She prayed a capable healer who could cure Asella would be chosen.
'But if that wastrel gets picked...'
The head maid even suspected Empress Camilla had orchestrated this for political gain.
Only after about thirty minutes did Asella's breathing steady. At last, the maid could ease her back onto the bed.
"Rest a bit longer, Your Highness. I'll inform Her Majesty the Empress that you'll start your schedule slowly today."
"Then I'll get scolded."
Asella replied, lips moving laboriously.
"Your precious health comes first. But this sudden flare-up... Did you perhaps go on an inspection of the streets?"
Asella fell silent at the question.
"It must have been the day you went to meet Young Master Gotberg. My oversight."
"Has nothing to do with that."
"You mustn't overexert yourself."
"It was still fun, though."
"Fun?"
The maid was baffled. Asella often slipped out for inspections, eager to see her subjects. But commoners always disappointed her—she'd never called it fun before.
"Yeah, fun. The coffee was nutty, there were all sorts of commoners, and Young Master Ras was..."
Asella trailed off fondly. Knowing her place, the maid asked no more.
"Go supervise."
"Yes."
What Asella wanted from her was the practical exam's outcome. The head maid handed off to the other maids and headed for the mansion's north gate.
"My lord, formations are complete."
Tanya reported to her father. He nodded and checked the lineup: thirty knights from the Condeburg Order, divided into six squads of five. He addressed us healers, including me.
"Candidates will pair up per squad. Monster subjugations inevitably produce casualties. We'll evaluate your responses to select the finalists."
Father was deadly serious. The healers matched his tension—no one slacked.
Well, except one.
"Monster hunts? I'm no adventurer. Tsk."
A healer grumbled under his breath. Father caught it like a ghost and shot back instantly.
"A chief physician must heal their lord in any situation—even in the heart of a battlefield under monster assault. If you can't accept the format, get out, Lucio!"
"N-no, sir!"
The named healer snapped to attention.
"We'll pair by written scores for balance. Captain Tanya, lead on."
"Yes."
Tanya began assigning the twelve healers to squads. All were top talents from the marquisate's academy, graduation pending.
'Desk healers, though.'
They'd spent lives studying faith and divine power, not adventuring or private practice. Now chasing the imperial chief physician post under power's sun, they craved no monkish obscurity.
"Young master, you're with us."
Tanya beckoned. Her squad awaited me.
"Hmph! A fine lineup."
One irritant was already glaring: Gis, the academy ace who'd bungled Max's choking incident.
"You like it?"
"Yes. You wedged into this exam without qualifications, didn't you? As the princess's fiancé, I figured some deal was afoot."
Gis's glare was venomous. He'd spun wild theories solo.
Exhausting life he leads.
"But same squad means anyone can see our skill gap. No complaints here—I won't drop unfairly."
"Haha, of course not."
I grinned back.
"Don't worry, I'll convince them thoroughly before you fall. The gap? I'll show it plain."
"Urk...! Have you ever attended a single lecture or service? I'm shattering records daily this generation!"
Gis thumped his chest, properly hooked.
"Yours isn't confidence—it's arrogance. I've done countless practical drills at the academy. How's the perpetually lazy young master beating me?"
Ah, practical drills. Real combat bored me now. If a hero party spot opened in the future, I'd recommend him eagerly.
"No disruptions mid-operation. You're paired by scores: Gis first, young master last—written exam skipped."
"Averaging like that, huh. Fine by me. Squadmates don't matter."
—Rustle.
I pulled honey candy from my pocket. Unwrapping carefully lest it shatter, sweet aroma wafted. Popping it in, stamina recovered, mind whirred. Mood lifted too—time for mercy.
"Your squad knights are lucky. Fight without injury worries."
"I'll give my all. I'm in command—follow orders strictly."
Oh, Tanya took my joke seriously. Made me the embarrassed one.
"Naturally. No worries, as young master says. On the academy's honor, this Gis will guard the rear solidly!"
Gis thumped his chest, brandishing his holy book confidently before joining the knights. Early twenties, valedictorian-bound, brimming with cocky vigor—the type tiring everyone pre-debut.
Ugh, annoying.
But candy-mellowed, I saw no need to raise my voice needlessly. As I moved to step off—tap. Tanya gripped my shoulder lightly.
"Young master, I expect more from you than the others."
Her gaze burned fervent. Such sudden pressure...
Tanya stepped forward, briefing the knights.
"Monsters from the northern forest have damaged our lands lately. Reports of attacks on farmlands and roads beyond the walls."
Separate from the exam, monster hunts were routine knightly duty. They surged seasonally by type.
"What kind?"
"Goblins."
"Just goblins?"
"Not tough foes."
"Will we even heal?"
Healers relaxed, unfamiliar with monsters. I clapped sharply for attention.
"If mere goblins need knights, it's at least hobgoblins—horde acting under a leader. Underestimate, and you'll get mauled."
My threat didn't faze them much. No combat experience, naturally.
"As young master says. Child-level wits and strength solo, but en masse? They'll rip you apart. This is war—stay sharp!"
Thud— Tanya stomped. Healers finally startled, gulping.
"Especially you healers—no combat skills, so beware. I trust no inept healer gets hurt before the frontline knights."
They eyed her nervously. Whoosh—Tanya drew her sword, pivoting toward the dark forest ahead.
"Move out!"
On her signal, knights and healers formed lines and marched. Rear guarded by Father scoring the exam, academy healers, escorts—and one more: Asella's self-appointed supervisor head maid.
"Goblins, huh."
I knew their counters well. Compared to demon armies, they were toddlers. No plans to fight myself—this was chief physician exam, not knighthood. Still, protect thyself.
I drew my sword over the holy book.