Lifting the Curse (2)
“Gotberg-sensei!”
It was a booming voice that sounded like it had boiled a train whistle. Hugo, sweating profusely, looked quite urgent, though I could guess the reason.
The kid he's holding is his daughter.
Checking Hugo's medical records, every treatment he'd received at the Imperial Medical Office had been for his daughter. I'd seen plenty of families crumbling under medical bills back home, but I hadn't expected it here too. Hard to believe he'd been an Imperial Medical Office healer until recently—his clothes were threadbare.
I grinned and waved at him.
“I get the rush, but look at all these patients. Gonna have to line up?”
“L-Line up, sir?”
Hugo sighed at the long queue but obediently shuffled into place. Maybe because he hadn't turned to black magic yet, he was surprisingly meek.
“Knight.”
“You called, sir?”
I asked the Moonlight Palace knight standing by Tanya.
“Water and a blanket for the pediatric patient that guy was carrying.”
“Yes, sir.”
[No. 025 Black Hand's Curse 21%]
Hugo's hatred stems from his daughter's death. Pediatric survival rates aren't great in this world, but to someone, she's their only child. You can't just shrug it off with statistics. And honestly, I don't want to see a cute little kid die either.
Hugo's daughter needs a thorough checkup.
“Next patient. Diagnosis: cold. Take some aspirin and a mask, and wash your hands regularly.”
I continued the examinations.
Hugo stroked Eri's back as he waited in line. Midway, a guard knight approached and handed him a blanket and a clean water bottle.
“From the teacher, sir.”
“For me?”
“He said your daughter looked exhausted and offered this kindness.”
The knight delivered the message curtly and left. Wrapping Eri in the soft blanket and giving her sips of water seemed to ease her a bit.
Did he spot that in a glance?
Hugo found it astonishing. Imperial physicians don't even see common patients directly, let alone pay individual attention.
He stole a glance at Gotberg examining patients.
“Aigoo, sir, please take good care of me.”
“Ah, you were here three days ago. No secondary infections. No more antibiotics needed—just keep washing your hands.”
“Thank you, sir, but what about the treatment fee...”
“Fee? What fee? I don't gouge like a flea-sucking parasite. Forget it, I'll take your gratitude. Here, candy for the kid.”
He handled patients tirelessly, looking almost joyful while treating them. Hugo thought there were all kinds of strange people. From using his own techniques to not caring about money.
The Imperial Medical Office was full of healers chasing promotions through results.
Unlike others, Gotberg's line shrank fast thanks to his speed. Yet no repeat patients complained.
This man might be the one.
Hugo clung to that straw. Finally, it was his turn to face Gotberg.
“Next. Ah, the loud voice guy. Both hands contaminated.”
“I'm fine, sir. Please see to my daughter.”
“Knew it. Captain Tanya, if you would.”
The guards brought a simple bed. As Hugo laid Eri down, Ras examined her seriously. Moments later, his expression softened, and he spoke lightly to her.
“What's our princess's name?”
“Cough, Eri.”
“Eri. The teacher's gonna check where it hurts now. When we're done, this is yours.”
Ras pulled a candy from his pocket. Eri's eyes widened, her lips curving into a smile as she nodded. But soon, harsh coughs wracked her—gasping, near-suffocating.
“Diagnosis,” Ras said curtly, peering into her mouth. Using a glowing artifact, he checked every corner before turning to Hugo.
“Chronic tonsillitis. Some are born with it. Most recover after childhood, but this is the critical phase. Did you have symptoms as a kid?”
“No, sir. Her mother was frail, but Eri wasn't like this from birth...”
“Weakened immunity led to multiple infections. High fever, cough, general debilitation. Sore throat's bad too. She's holding on bravely.”
“Is it serious?”
“Let's ease the cough first. This'll help.”
Ras gave Eri cough syrup. Her coughs subsided with the effect.
“Ooh...”
Healing spells barely booked appointments and took ages to work. Ras's methods were swift and precise. Hugo took interest.
“Aspirin's iffy for kids. This'll restore her energy better.”
Ras pulled out a notebook.
Whoosh.
Pure white energy flowed slowly from his fingertips, misty waves gently enveloping Eri's small body.
Healing spell!
Hugo couldn't hide his awe. Ras's spell was cleaner and stronger than any he'd seen, proving his healer prowess.
“Whew.”
Afterward, Eri's complexion brightened—vitality returned, stamina restored.
“You okay, sir?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
Ras chugged water. No exhaustion, but sweat beaded on his forehead.
Bad memories with healing spells?
Hugo understood. He himself struggled more with them lately—not physical, but mental. Each use distanced him from healing Eri, breeding aversion.
Maybe he's had similar experiences.
Still, gratitude welled for using it unhesitatingly for Eri.
“Just improved symptoms—no root fix. Relapse in weeks, maybe. How many years like this?”
“Yes. Treated at the office each time.”
“Let's take a photo.”
“A photo?”
Ras led Hugo and Eri into a nearby tent. He did something with her, then sat Hugo down and showed a crystal-orb projection.
“Take a look. This is Eri's throat interior now.”
“Interior photo?”
“Yeah. See what it is?”
Hugo nodded. Dealing with curses often, he'd seen bones. He recognized Eri's skull instantly.
“Jaw here, throat inside.”
“Better than expected. What about this?”
Ras pointed with a rod. A long, white-marked something in Eri's throat interior.
“Not sure. Feels out of place compared to surroundings.”
“Right. Foreign object. Thorn, needle-like. Iron, from the image.”
“Foreign object! Stuck in Eri's throat now?”
Ras nodded.
“Precisely, inside the tonsil. Pediatric angle—barely visible without care. Constant irritation shortens tonsillitis cycles; now peritonsillar abscess.”
“Abscess means...?”
“Pus pocket. Needs removal. Healing regenerates around it—useless here.”
“No way.”
Hugo clutched his head, bowing over the table.
“Whew... So that's why Eri's suffered. How much pain from that tiny thing.”
“Not your fault. Hard to spot. Healing regenerates over shrapnel. Object keeps causing issues. Dissection's illegal, so unknown.”
As he said, cutting live bodies marks villains—black mages mostly. They use corpses too; dissection strictly forbidden.
“Sir, what now?”
Ras tapped his temple a few times.
“Hugo, how open-minded are you?”
“Eh, you know my name?”
“Why not? Saw you at the office.”
“Oh... Didn't think you'd remember.”
Hugo scratched his head, embarrassed by his current state.
“Open-minded meaning?”
“If I said I'd cut into Eri to fix her, would you believe me?”
“Cut... into her?”
Hugo swallowed hard. Knives on people mean threat, attack, harm.
But Gotberg spoke. He'd healed many innovatively. His patient demeanor was light but never frivolous.
“...I trust you, sir.”
Hugo steeled himself, eyes fierce.
“Please. Fix Eri—any method!”
He bowed sharply. Ras smiled faintly.
“Good. Leave your daughter to me. I'll fix her for sure.”
“R-Really?!”
“Now, payment.”
Hugo's hopeful heart sank.
An imperial physician spending this time on a commoner? Fair fee expected. But he had nothing.
As he pondered giving up, Ras gripped his shoulder.
“You do exorcisms, right?”
“Pardon? Ah, yes... Only that.”
“Got an advanced curse to lift. Top-tier, maybe? You judge. First, exorcise this serpent dragon.”
Hugo couldn't believe Ras's proposal.
“Still no exorcism on the serpent dragon corpse? What are you lot doing?!”
Alverich, finally grasping the situation, stormed underground and berated the exorcists.
“Useless wage thieves. Don't you know a dragon corpse's value? Princess Heike's hounding us...”
Bang.
The underground foundation door opened. Backlit, a group entered. Alverich squinted at the fluttering white coat.
“You, Gotberg! Dragging our healers into personal outings? How long will you run the office as you please?!”
“Hey, enough. Move aside. Here for the serpent dragon corpse.”
Alverich sneered at Ras's nonchalance.
“Ha! No basic sense. Corpses can't leave unexorcised. Curses might leak!”
“I know. Taking it exorcised, of course.”
Ras stepped aside. Behind him, a burly Black Hand healer in a matching coat strode in confidently.