30. Drug Abuse (1)

"The sage class is ridiculously good."

I muttered to myself absentmindedly while checking my status window in the office.

Continuing my work as chief physician while attending Seymour's spell classes had shot my rank up in no time.

Above all, Property Alteration had become far more intuitive and convenient. Before, it was just crude changes like turning something hard into something soft. Now, I could fine-tune formulas based on my chemistry knowledge.

The Extraction skill had also unlocked, expanding my range of materials even further.

"If I can get my hands on sugarcane, I could make MSG too."

Unfortunately, there was no sugarcane around here. I'd have to look for some if I ever went exploring out of town. I'd been ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠missing that black bean noodle flavor from back home for a while now.

"This has broadened the scope of my pharmaceuticals."

The problem was that I didn't know the exact raw materials or synthesis formulas for every single drug out there. I remembered a few famous ones, but for most, I only knew the basic principles, so experiments were necessary.

"I did manage to make a strength enhancer, though."

I gazed at the transparent liquid in the syringe in my hand.

It was a slightly viscous liquid. I'd extracted hormones from cholesterol, tweaked the formula slightly with alteration, and finished with enhancement. Anabolic steroids that build muscle normally just improve workout efficiency—they're not magic potions that boost strength on injection alone.

But mixing in my alchemy skills had turned it into a genuinely potent elixir.

"One issue: the side effects are a bit rough."

And the duration was ridiculously short. It was strictly for emergencies—like if I got ambushed by a goblin pack again. I couldn't just use it willy-nilly.

The syringe was modified a bit. The needle stayed hidden until I pressed the end, then it popped out and injected. Perfect for sudden situations.

I slipped the strength enhancer into my coat's inner pocket and checked my pocket watch.

"Already this late?"

Time to start afternoon duties. First up: checking Asella's dinner menu.

"But where's Tanya?"

These days, unless I was the one moving, she didn't need to escort me, so I'd told her to train freely at the knight training grounds. She'd initially refused, citing duty, but I'd noticed her eyes light up at the imperial knights. In the end, she'd agreed to train during her free time.

She was always punctual to the second. By her personality, she'd be waiting ten minutes early whenever I had to move.

"What the hell is she doing?"

I needed to start work, so I decided to go find Tanya. Leaving the Imperial Medical Office, I headed for the imperial knights' barracks.

They were stationed at various points along the palace walls, with one barracks per direction—four in total. She wouldn't have gone far, so probably the southern one.

At the barracks entrance, burly sentries blocked my path.

"Please state your identity."

What the hell? Didn't they recognize the insignia?

"I'm the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Third Princess's personal physician."

"Ah, that physician."

The sentries snickered. Hmph, I could guess the vibe easily enough.

"Please write your name and purpose in the log."

"Just confirm it. Is my knight inside?"

"Go check yourself."

"Open the way first."

"Haha, you must be new here and not know—you have to log your name first..."

Oh, for fuck's sake.

"Knight, which faction are you with?"

Even as I showed my irritation, the sentries kept smirking.

"Not sure about factions, but this southern barracks is backed by the Earth Palace."

Earth Palace—the Second Prince's faction. A strong contender for succession in the palace. No wonder they felt bold.

"Knight."

I stepped forward, locking eyes with him up close.

"A second-rank imperial official's actions shouldn't be hindered by petty procedures. Duty outweighs trivial rules. Don't you know that basic protocol while standing sentry?"

Mentioning regulations made them falter, turning into mumbling idiots. Probably some hazing for newbies—messing with a clueless superior. Fun, sure.

But I'd read every palace etiquette and rule on my first day.

"Say the princess's health took a turn, and my delay here cost precious time."

I made a throat-slitting gesture with my hand.

"Get it? Neglect and incompetence could get you watered right here."

"Th-that..."

They shrank back, surprised by my unexpected pushback. Guess they saw the weak faction's doc as a pushover.

Then, clanking armor announced a big knight emerging from inside. High-end plate meant high rank. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠He knew my exact title too—clearly had some brains.

"I'm the captain of the Second Division of the Imperial Knights..."

"Don't care."

"Haha, you should cool your anger. You know the Third Consort's faction has long collaborated with His Highness the Second Prince."

Hm, so that's how it was. Camilla, out of the emperor's favor, had allied with the Second Prince. Georg, was it? Seymour had mentioned it—Georg backing Camilla, maybe even knowing about Asella's talents and debuff.

'No wonder these grunt knights dared mess with me, the personal physician.'

So the Third ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Consort's side had been subordinates to the Second Prince's, Moonlight Palace a vassal to Earth Palace. No surprise they looked down on me.

"You're looking for your escort knight, right? She's inside, actually. Our knights were kindly sparring with her."

Tanya was here, alright. The vibe told the whole story: knights picking on the sword-interested Tanya, using "sparring" as cover for stress relief.

"One correction."

I stepped forward and declared:

"Not Third Consort faction—Third Princess faction."

I hated being seen as Camilla's man.

"Maybe before, but keep that attitude up and you'll regret it big time."

"Hahaha! Regret? Us?"

The captain laughed like the sky was falling.

"If we get hurt, you'll have to fix us, doc."

"Oh, that's one thing I'm confident in."

"...Huh?"

"My healing's the best in the Imperial Medical Office. Come find me when you're injured."

"...Is that so? Quite the confidence."

He scratched his head at my deadpan response.

"His Highness Georg doesn't send Medical Office healers even to our company."

"Yeah, just favors the tournament entrants."

"Shut it! Don't you know the backlash if His Highness hears?!"

The captain barked at his men. But Georg's name didn't scare me. In ten years from now, no imperial family survived—Asella purged them all after ascending.

Mentioning Asella might've spooked me, though.

Then, frantic clanking from inside as someone rushed out.

"Captain? How'd that lady knight do? Report—ngh?!"

The captain expected a status report, but it backfired. Still, the situation was clear: Tanya burst out herself.

"Sir, sorry."

Tanya rushed over and bowed deeply.

"I got carried away sparring with the knights and missed return time. My fault."

"Any injuries?"

"Injuries? No, it was mock combat discussing techniques, so no wounds on me. A few knights got minor scrapes, though."

Thud. The captain stumbled back, armor clanging against a sentry.

"N-no way. We had at least thirty knights in there, and she took them all down? Without breaking a sweat?!"

His jaw dropped in shock. I couldn't help snickering.

Tanya probably didn't even see their taunts as such—just treated it as real sparring. And showed thirty guys what-for before strolling out. The meticulous type, she'd realized it was past time to leave. They must've clung to her.

Taking responsibility as her own fault was so reliably Tanya.

"Now I'm late for work because of you. How'll you make it up, Captain?"

Teasing lightly, she tilted her head.

"That's why I apologized."

"That's it? Unbelievable. Show some sincerity like Boris."

"Delicious food, got it. I'll procure some."

"As if palace grub from you beats imperial cuisine. Big mouth. Carry me up to the office for a week."

"I'll join your strength training in exchange."

"Hey, you ditched your lord's escort for a long trek and now you wanna negotiate?"

"Three days."

"Deal."

Her pouty lip was hilarious—better reward than skipping stairs.

"Alright, let's head back."

"Yes. I'll escort you."

"W-wait a moment!"

As we turned to leave, the captain blocked us.

"You wrecked our barracks and just walk away?"

"Your knights were weak, lost to Tanya. Should've trained 'em better."

"What did you...!"

"Build more strength. You too—just bulked up with stiff muscles. Do some stretching. Want tips?"

He finally exploded, bellowing.

"Insult! That knight must've used some dirty trick! Don't lecture on martial arts, you scrawny twig!"

Stubborn brute. Muscles in his skull too? Stretching's essential—flexible body, flexible mind. Losing to Tanya's no big deal.

Time to wrap this up. And he made a perfect test subject.

Hand in my coat, I pressed the syringe's end. Heat bloomed from my left chest, spreading through my body.

I approached the captain with a light smile and grabbed his arm.

"Don't be so prejudiced, knight."

Crunch...

"Wha—what strength?!"

His eyes bulged as I gripped his arm.