Chapter 106: |
Chapter 106
Raymond thought to himself.
‘……Don’t tell me I can be stronger than Sword Expert in the future?’
But Raymond shook his head.
‘It’s not important anyway, so I better go and see the patients.’
That’s when he went to the clinic and was treating patients when suddenly dark clouds engulfed the Houston army.
It was an epidemic outbreak!
“It’s a big deal, healer! There’s an epidemic!”
Raymond looked surprised.
Infectious diseases were not uncommon in the military.
Many people live in poor conditions. It was an environment prone to epidemics.
Could it be that mmore people die from infectious disease than from fighting?
‘We have to catch it early. That way, we can minimize the number of patients.’
Raymond headed to the barracks where military leaders, including Duke Raif, are located.
“Are you sure it’s an infectious disease?”
“Yes, all seven patients show the same pattern of spots on their skin.”
Viscount Rand, acting as the head of the healers, spoke in a confident voice.
“If we don’t take action right now, the number of patients will increase out of control.”
“What should we do?”
“They must be quarantined and eradicated.”
Quarantine and eradication!
It is to drive patients to remote places and burn them.
The most common and obvious epidemic containment measures in this era.
The faces of military leaders have become serious.
“That’s a bit…… Let’s eliminate the soldiers.”
It was different from common people.
Eliminating soldiers who are in trouble will have an immediate adverse effect on morale.
In particular, the soldiers who suffered from the epidemic thi time were not conscripts or mustered territorial soldiers, but elite standing regulars who formed the core of the army.
“There is no chance unless it is now in the early stages of the outbreak. If the epidemic spreads further, we won’t be able to do anything. At the worst, it could have an adverse effect on the war situation.”
An adverse effect on the war situation.
They’re talking about defeat.
He wasn’t wrong.
There were more than one or two cases where in a war that should’ve been won was overturned because of a plague.
“What are we going to do, sir?”
“…….”
Duke Raif pursed his lips.
It wasn’t an easy choice.
It was a choice that might have made the difference between winning and losing the war.
At that moment, a voice spread through the hall.
“Can I have a look at the patients?”
It was Raymond!
He raised his hand.
Viscount Rand and other senior healers gritted their teeth with an unpleasant face.
“When a person who uses fake tricks like you steps in…….”
“Oh, yes. So, I solved the plague in the capital and the plague in the south with my fake tricks skills. I wonder what the noble healers did back then?”
The healers became dumb with honey.
Even then, they insisted on eradication.
“I’ll let you take a look.”
When the Duke Raif gave permission, Raymond went to see the patient.
For reference, patients are isolated outside the barracks for fear of contagion.
Raymond examined the conditions of the patients.
‘They have bad rashes on their skin. But do they have fever or anything?’
Raymond noted that the patients were not as bad as he thought.
It was just a severe rash, and it was vague.
Also, there was more to note.
‘Everyone has a rash on the forehead, face, wrist, neck, and other exposed areas. That’s also the erythema and minority guns.’ Raymond, who observed so far, had an idea. ‘Wait. Isn’t this not an epidemic?’ It was different from a general epidemic. Rather than infectious diseases…….’
After thinking, I returned to the barracks where the leaders gathered.
As soon as he returned, a heavy voice asked him.
“Did you find out anything?”
It was the Duke Raif!
Is it because of his bad relationship with Seytil? Raymond’s heart throbbed whenever he faced the Duke.
Fortunately, the “Heart Of Steel” was triggered to overcome the tension.”I think we need to think about other diseases rather than infectious diseases.”
“……!”
“So…… It looks more like a normal skin disease.”
The people in the barracks looked at him in bewildered.
“Skin disease?”
“Is that what you call a horse now?”
Healers, in particular, laughed openly. They looked at him as if saying, “That’s what happened to low-handed mischief.”
But Raymond was convinced.
‘This is never an epidemic. This is an obvious skin disease.’
Then, asked Duke Raif sharply. “Can you take responsibility for what you are saying?”
“……!”
“Pestilence is a matter in which the lives of soldiers are at stake, and it is a serious matter that can make or break a war. But can you take responsibility for your words?”
Raymons swallowed the lump in his throat.
As he felt last time, the pressure of the Sword Master was no joke. It was hard to open his mouth properly.
But He is sure of the answer.
Raymond nodded.
“Yes, this is not an epidemic.”
Raymond then gave the exact name of the diagnosis.
“This disease is contact dermatitis…It’s an hyperensitive skin disease.”
***
Contact dermatitis!
It was a skin disease that caused a rash on the skin by contacting a substance that causes an overreaction!
The symptoms of the contact dermatitis and the soldiers were the same.
Of course, the healers didn’t accept it.
“That’s ridiculous! Why is a simple skin disease the same in so many patients?”
“I’m sure it’s an epidemic!”
It was a natural response.
They don’t know anything about contact dermatitis.
‘If I try ro explain my medical knowledge about contact dermatitis, they won’t accept it.’
The best thing is to prove it.
‘Contact dermatitis is a skin disease caused by skin contact with a toxic agent. I’m sure there’s something that’s causing it, and we just need to figure it out.’
Finally, a quest has occurred.
[Solve the Plague in the Barracks!]
(Medicine Quest)
Grade: Two scalpels
Difficulty level: Low
Quest Description: There is an epidemic of unknown causes in the barracks. Solve the situation with your medical skills!
Clearing Conditions: Identifying and Resolving the Cause of Plague
Quest Rewards: Bonus Level Up, 30 additional skill points
Rewards: Unexpected Extra Credit (?)
“Give me a little time. Not only is this not an epidemic, but we’ll also cleanly address all the patient treatments and identification of the cause.”
With those confident words, military leaders looked at each other.
They all knew Raymond’s past accomplishments.
Then, Duke Raif warned him.
“Baron Penin, what will you do if I follow your words and things go wrong? If that happenes, I will hold you accountable.”
Raymond paused.
Accountability!
It was a heavy word.
If it was a contagious disease, he would be held accountable, and he didn’t know what kind of severe punishment he wold receive.
But he soon nodded.
“Alright. I’ll follow your word.”
‘It’s a one hundred percent contact dermatitis.’
Raymond decided to believe in his ‘medical knowledge’.
He decided to take advantage of the opportunity to face such a situation and take care of what he needed.
“Instead, if I solve this, please give me a prize of my choice.”
“What do you want?”
“It’s the commanding power.”
“……!”
Raymond was more specific.
“Give me the authority to command thirty special men and twenty regular soldiers.”
Duke Raif eyed him.
“What would you utilize them for?”
“I want to bring together junior healers and create a ‘healing corps’ that specializes in healing.”
Currently, the Penin Treatment Center is only runnig with only its existing number of staff, but it was limited due to the lack of hands.
More assistants were needed.
‘In other words, we need medic. Let’s recruit low-level healers from D-level and teach them attributes. Twenty ordinary soldiers are going to be ordered to clean, wash beddings, organize items, and do small things.
‘Also, there was one more great advantage to gaining command.
‘I’m going to be the commander of the healers, so I’m going to be on the same level as the general manager of the ‘Magic Corps’.
‘ Officer-in-chief position! ‘Then no one can easily ignore me.’ What is he thinking?
In terms of officers, it is a rank similar to that of a thousand seals!
‘Then no one will be able to ignore me so easily.’
Duke Raif looked at Raymoned for a moment.
In that very moment, Raymond’s heart throbbed with his blade-like gaze.
“I’ll give you two days.” said Duke Raif in a cold voice.
“Let’s settle it in there.”
***
Duke Raif then returned to the command barracks.
“Why did you leave it to Baron Penin? Isn’t there a risk of the epidemic spreading?”
The advisor asked as if wondering, but Duke Raif replied. “What would happen if i didn’t leave it to him? Then we will be burning the soldiers who are in trouble for something we don’t even know about?”
“Ah…….”
“And.”
He remembered the look in Raymond’s eyes.
A look that doesn’t budge even though he’s scared.
‘·…Is it his undying will towards his patients?’
Duke Raif smiled slightly.
‘Quite a bit.’
Yeah, that was pretty much it.
“Because he was confident.”
“What?”
“His eyes were full of conviction, without the slightest doubt. It’s as if we can trust the innocent soldiers rather than burn them right away.”
There were other reasons than that.
It was a personal reason.
‘I’d like to see how much ability you have.’
After the war began, Raymond caught the Duke Raif’s eye endlessly.
He wasn’t just brilliant as a healer.
He received overwhelming support for taking care of the soldiers warmly, and even greatly boosted their morale.
These were the qualities of a commander, or rather, a leader.
Also, he has an inscrutable swordplay talent.
Duke Raif wondered how capable Raymond was.
***
‘To solve contact dermatitis, we need to find the causative agent.’
As the name suggests, it is a disease caused by ‘contact’ with toxic substances.
‘In other words, find out what toxic substances they’ve come into contact with.’
In this case, fortunately, it wasn’t difficult.
Because they are all soldiers, they are exposed to uniform substances.
‘Their armor!’
All of them developed inflammation in the area where the armor and bare skin came into contact.
‘But why did they get contact dermatitis from their armor?’ Raymond wondered.
‘Why is there a toxic substance in the armor that was still intact?’
And after investigation, he found out one thing.
“They’re all newly supplied armor!”
New armor was introduced, and seven of them developed contact dermatitis.
“Is it a coincidence? Or?”
He felt something squeamish inside of him.
“Student, can you help me with anything.”
“Anything.”
“Cut this armor with your sword. Without using mana.”
Christine looked at him puzzled.
Come on!
Obviously, Christine’s sword did not cut through the armor.
In the first place, the standard of a proper armor is to block attacks that don’t have mana in them.