Chief Physician Exam (3)
Crack! ―Krrrk!
The goblin struck by my sword slammed its head into the ground, gurgling like boiling phlegm. I'd hit it dead-on, but it wasn't an instant kill. My weak strength was to blame.
“Ow.”
If anything, my hand was the one throbbing. I'd basically clubbed it with the flat of the blade like a stick, not slashed it properly. Swords really weren't my thing.
I decided to hold out until the knights sorted things out.
“Hup!”
A basic trick Tanya had taught me. Low-level monsters like these usually backed off when you looked big and intimidating, wasting time gauging their approach. She'd told me to just swing the sword wide to buy time—she'd handle the rest. A parry into a windmill spin.
―Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—thwack!
My wild swings whipped up the air before gouging the earth. The goblins recoiled a step, grinding their teeth, eyeing me warily for an opening.
“Ow, my arm hurts.”
It worked, but I couldn't keep it up long. Still, since Tanya taught it, it hit the mark perfectly.
“Young master!”
Just as expected, spinning my arm like a kid playing made Tanya swoop in out of nowhere, wiping out the rest in a flash.
“Aigoo, my arm. Next time, handle it quicker.”
Tanya smiled at me.
“I knew you'd fight well. You used it flawlessly in real combat.”
“What, so you held back on purpose?”
“Hee-hee, of course not.”
She said that, but it felt loaded with aftertaste. This girl.
“Hey, thanks to you, I missed my chance to show off my healing skills. The territory folk already had six healers on them, and the rest backed up the knights—what was I doing?”
“Thanks to you, the other healers got to shine. In real battles, judgment is key. I'm sure the marquis knows that.”
I glanced at Father. He gazed back steadily.
“Oh, back to your senses?”
“Healing spells incoming!”
“We can make it home alive now!”
The healers' clamor meant the territory folk were coming to.
“If it weren't for you, young master, we wouldn't have even known they were kidnapped. That's a big contribution.”
“Then what good is it? This is the chief physician exam, not an adventurer test.”
Tanya replied confidently.
“The goblin shaman hasn't been taken down yet. Now, properly support our knights.”
She clapped my shoulder toughly and returned to the main group.
At least the territory folk rescue wrapped up successfully. With time, the healers revived them fully.
“Thank you so much! Our farm's up north—we came near the forest hunting fertilizer and got ambushed.”
“I thought we were done for... sob. I don't even know how to thank you.”
The pair were a young couple from the recently independent lands. They bowed repeatedly to Father.
“M-Marquis! For someone so esteemed to come here himself... it's an honor.”
“Protecting the people is the lord's duty.”
“Without you, the marquis, knights, and healers... we'd be dead....”
“We almost missed you captives and headed back. Thank him too.”
Tanya cut in, pointing them to me.
“Pardon?”
“Young master Ras spotted your danger first. That's how we planned the rescue.”
“Young master Gotberg!”
“Thank you! You're our lifesaver.”
The couple rushed over, grabbing my hands and bowing frantically. Haha, no need to get that emotional.
I'd just done my duty as a doctor.
“Your wounds aren't treated yet—don't run around. You're low on blood; you'll faint from hypotension. Go home, grill some meat first.”
“Hypotension...? You know such elegant words, young master.”
“Yes, we'll remember that.”
If basic medical knowledge spread to commoners, it'd be great. Folk remedies are full of errors—right info first is key. Seeing patients bounce back made me a bit proud too.
Tanya assigned a knight to escort them to the entrance. The main group pressed on.
Back at the fork, we took the left path.
“An ambush means the goblins scouted us. Stay extra vigilant.”
“Mm.”
Father tensed at Tanya's words. I added,
“Plus, it means hidden small lairs everywhere, out of sight. Assume ambushes anytime.”
“Got it. Need to protect everyone here.”
Father raised his rosary and chanted—not a healing spell. Reciting scripture, his body glowed faintly. A lifetime of faith reacting with divine power, forming a proper incantation.
“...Grant aid to pierce the dark veil, bestow your blessing.”
Tiny stars twinkled over the knights. A [Blessing]-line spell, unlocked late in the healer skill tree, usable only by top-tier healers.
[Blessing] activated on all knights.
“Ooh, a blessing!”
“Feels much lighter.”
The knights cheerfully raised swords and shields. The exam healers gawked at Father's skill.
“Blessing? Most healers train a lifetime without mastering one.”
“On all these knights... As expected of Marquis Gotberg.”
“Gotberg isn't the premier healer house for nothing. Unlike the young master....”
I felt their sidelong glances.
“He was swinging a sword instead of healing earlier.”
“Old habits, probably.”
Tsk, whisper properly if you're gonna gossip. I could hear everything, you know. My ears were sharp from nights straining for monster attacks.
“Less chitchat, more scanning the surroundings.”
Tanya snapped at the healers. They quieted and followed the knights.
We resumed scouting the cave path. I stuck to the front with Tanya, directing overall.
“Goblins!”
Sharp-eyed Boris shouted, sparking combat. Bigger goblins than before charged in formation, clubs raised.
“No more hiding—they want open war!”
Clangs of sword on club, thuds of heavy bodies against walls filled the air.
As fighting dragged, our wounded piled up. Even marquis knights took hits from goblin swarms—scraped arms, bruised legs, dislocated shoulders from falls.
Healers' job: heal fast to keep them fighting.
“Ugh...!”
Some shook in fear, botching spells. Terror shrinks faith-built divine power. Weaker spells follow.
Now the real grading began.
“The ancient earth split, goddess descended, leaving three scriptures!”
Gis chanted fine, but wrong target.
Diagnosis.
I scanned the knights. Mostly those swarmed or less skilled.
> [Injury Status: Bleeding]
> [Injury Status: Fracture]
> [Injury Status: Bruise]
> ...
Status windows layered up—one per knight.
Tanya's... fine.
Fracture guy first. I tapped Gis's shoulder.
“Young master? Don't interrupt!”
“That way—start with the armband guy. Red one.”
“What?”
“Captain Tanya's uninjured. Treat patients, not healthy folks.”
“Can't see under armor—how'd you know? In battle, heal anything suspicious!”
One healer pain point: vanguards take random hits, so spam spells for instant effect. Random spots anyway—brute force best on-site.
“Just do it. His foot bone's cracked. More strain or hits, it'll shatter—takes longer to fix.”
“Then you do it!”
“Got something better.”
I pulled a vial from my pocket. Red liquid shimmered inside.
“What's that?”
“First time? Famous cure-all.”
Shimmering red liquid disinfects on contact.
Effect:Disinfects applied wound area.
Special:Adds injury healing for soldiers.
Army cure-all. Red potion, aka povidone-iodine disinfectant. Normally chemical-synthesized, no reagents here.
But we know the 2nd-gen version. 1st-gen used mercury compounds.
Mercury's quietly common as a magic reagent.
Mansion had plenty. Tweaked with [Property Alter] skill—worked. Based on my medical knowledge, added soldier-only healing. Knights count as defense duty, broadly.
Battle ended; knights regrouped. I diagnosed around.
Sentry Boris fit.
> Injury Status: Abrasion
> Injury Location: Left Shoulder
“Boris, shoulder hurt? Let me see.”
“Pardon? Oh, yes.”
I soaked the swelling, smeared thick on the wound. Boris flinched at the novel feel.
“Aigoo, startled me! What's this?”
“Hold still.”
Moments later, the baritone red turned soft orange glow—like body paint. Healing kicked in.
“Ho, this is...?”
A grading senior healer approached, intrigued.
“Ooh, definitely healed. New method. Knight, how's it feel?”
“Wound feels refreshingly cool. Pain's easing.”
I explained.
“Biggest plus: stops wounds worsening. Bright color IDs treated spots fast—saves time.”
“Indeed. Holy water?”
“Alchemy potion.”
“Alchemy, huh... Oh-ho.”
He looked stunned—understandably new. He conferred with graders, flustered by the unfamiliar treatment.
Father watched approvingly, as if expected.
“Next knight, abrasion too—you'll heal with red potion. Next, fracture—apply first. You, cold—neck it.”
While others healed one knight, I handled five. Huge efficiency. Only three needed disinfectant really, but points galore. Many hands make light work.
“Regroup done. Moving out.”
At Tanya's order, we advanced. The cave boss felt close.