Chapter 12

'It's not enough to be recognized.

Recognition was just an appetizer before the main course.

The real reward was something else.

"Like I said, I don't want gold or silver, but I do want to be honored as a healer."

Raymond took a deep breath.

"If your majesty will permit, please grant me the Order of the Bringer."

"...!"

The crowd gasped again.

It was an unexpected request.

"The Order of Bringer?

"That's it?

The people in the room didn't understand.

The Order of Bringer is just a medal.

It's awarded to those who have distinguished themselves to the Crown.

It was purely a medal of honor without any reward.

'What a pure healer, to accept an award, let alone a reward.

"What a great healer, a dirty bastard who didn't deserve it.

Their admiration prompted a message.

[Some people admire the player's care for his patients!]

[Your reputation is rising!]

But it was all a misunderstanding.

Why would the snobbish (?) Raymond want such a non-nutritive reward?

The Medal of Honor included a very important injury.

"With the Order of the Bringer, I can be knighted with honor.

Raymond chuckled inwardly.

'Even if it's only a single knighthood and has no authority, I could be a noble!

Nobility! Nobility!

What a sweet word!

It was the ultimate reward that could only be earned through this opportunity.

Luckily, King Auden didn't just grant her request.

In fact, he even asked

"Are you sure you want no other reward but a medal?"

"Yes, sir, I did what I was supposed to do as a healer, and what other reward could I ask for? The medal alone is enough for me."

The humble (?) answer was met with admiration.

[Additional fame!]

Auden nodded and spoke from his seat.

"Very well, I will make you a member of the Order of Bringer."

"Thank you!"

And with that, Raymond was duly recognized as a physician, and knighted, albeit with a single honorary title.

* * *

After Raymond had departed.

Only King Auden and Chancellor Galman remained in the room.

"You've changed a lot."

Chamberlain Galman said, glancing at the spot where Raymond had been.

"...."

King Auden had no answer.

Perhaps not expecting an answer, he continued.

"I don't recognize you."

Of course he knew about Raymond.

"He was a poor kid.

Born illegitimate to a king, treated like filth, and forced to suffer countless hardships.

The chancellor, Galman, was unusually compassionate toward Raymond.

'He was the illegitimate son of the noblest of kings, and I could do nothing to help him.'

Raymond would not have suffered so much if he had been the illegitimate son of some lowly country nobleman.

He had to suffer all the more because he was the taint of the most honorable of men, respected by all, and I could do nothing to help him, even if I felt sorry for him.

'I heard that even after entering the apprenticeship, you were persecuted for your lack of talent, but by the help of heaven, you have found Qi Yan, thank goodness.'

He thought back to what he had just seen of Raymond.

He was nervous, but he told his story with conviction.

He admired the way he cared for his patients.

There are so many greedy therapists these days. It's hard to find a therapist who cares about his patients as much as Raymond does.

...It was a misunderstanding, of course, but Raymond's facial expressions were so good that even Galman was blindsided.

'It's a pity he hasn't awakened Hill's talent. I don't know what kind of healing it is, but it can't be as good as Hill's. There must be limits.

It's impossible for a non-Hill to excel at healing.

That was the common knowledge and belief of the people of this world.

They'd seen him save a princess before their eyes, but it wasn't enough to break down the walls of prejudice that had formed over hundreds and thousands of years.

"I'm guessing that even if she's a low-level ..., her abilities are similar to those of a mid-level healer?

Merchant Galman guessed.

"At least that's enough to keep you alive. I'm glad.

That eased the pit in his stomach a little.

A decent living.

That was a great success for a bastard.

Bastards were ostracized everywhere, and it was hard to get a job.

"Anyway, it's a bit of an oddity, but it's nice to have the ability, isn't it?"

"...."

King Oden still had no answer.

Galman clicked his tongue.

"Whatever. You'll be damned.

Galman was an old friend of King Auden's.

He knew the king's true feelings better than anyone.

It wasn't that King Auden had no affection for Raymond.

How could he have any affection for a child, even an illegitimate one, who was born of his own blood?

But he neglected Raymond completely because it was the right thing for a king to do.

'Not that your behavior was wrong, of course.

A king is supposed to be an example to all.

The king was not wrong to neglect Raymond, as he would have faced great criticism if he was seen to privately embrace his illegitimate son.

"But that doesn't excuse the hurt Raymond had to endure.

Lord Galman thought bitterly.

'Will your Majesty one day come to regret his actions?

I doubt it.

Lord Galman shook his head.

It seemed unlikely that such a day would ever come for the foolish king, who could be poked with a needle and not draw a drop of blood, but he still hoped.

One day, he hoped, the foolish king would reflect on his actions.

If only for his own sake.

* * *

Raymond never saw Princess Sophia again.

All visits were forbidden for her safety.

'Well, the royal healers will take care of her. And Count Helienne.

Count Helien!

A triple-A healer, the best healer in the Kingdom of Houston.

The great Count Helien will be working closely with you, so you won't have to worry too much.

'My surgeon can't do much more than that.

We don't know what caused the heart attack.

Was it just an isolated event, or is there something else going on with your heart.

To figure that out and treat it, you need to be at a higher level.

'I'd have to be at least a residency level and a 'specialist' level to do that.'

In other words, I had to work my way up through the ranks.

"I'll keep working hard.

Raymond pumped his fist and headed back to the Belland clinic.

When he returned, he was a different man.

From a bumbling rogue to a hero who saved a princess!

"Les, Sir Raymond."

The people at the healing center greeted Raymond in disbelief.

Raymond was now a minor noble.

Sure, it's only an honorary title, but he was no longer a commoner.

His position had been reversed in an instant, and his former tormentors were at a loss for words.

"It's nice to be a noble.

Seeing that the people who had always looked down on him with contempt were so eager to please him, he honestly felt that... was a real accusation.

"Well, I don't intend to retaliate.

Raymond was well aware of his position.

He was a noble in name only. He had no power, no authority.

Trying to retaliate in such a situation would only backfire.

"You're not even a licensed healer yet, so you should take care of yourself. As soon as I get my license, I'll leave this shitty clinic. Lance, call him in quietly and give him a pat on the back.

Of course, that didn't mean I didn't retaliate.

I retaliated in my own timid way.

"Don't worry. I'm always grateful for what the therapists teach me."

"Go, thank you."

"By the way, don't you say hello properly?"

"...."

"I don't really mind, but it seems to be against kingdom etiquette."

At the sound of genuine concern, the healers hung their heads in shame.

"Sin, I'm sorry."

Raymond chuckled at the sight.

"You're just being aristocratic with this flavor.

Raymond purposely stalked the healers, and they could only bow their heads in awe whenever he appeared.

"Sir Raymond."

"Meet Sir Raymond...."

"Sir Raymond...."

I never got tired of hearing it!

It was a real treat, especially to see his former tormentors turn red and bow their heads.

The most overwhelming reaction came from Lance, the head therapist.

He turned bright red and bowed to Raymond.

"Ray... meet Lord Mond."

"Huh? What did you say, I can barely hear you?"

"Greetings...."

"What? Could you make it a little louder and more polite?"

Ding.

The grinding sound could be heard all the way outside.

"What? What are you going to do if I stare at you?

Raymond was frying meat in sesame oil. It was a bitch.

That's how Raymond was greeted. The more vicious he was, the more he was greeted, and the most he was greeted by Lance.

Bam!

Lance gritted his teeth until he thought he might break them, but what could he do?

Raymond wasn't the super kid he once was. There was nothing he could do about it.

Once he'd blown off some steam, he focused on the patient.

"Are you sure you don't want me to look at this patient, therapist?"

"Oh... that's...."

"I think I might be able to cure this patient."

Because of his knighthood, therapists weren't as quick to dismiss Raymond as they had been before.

This gave him plenty of opportunities to see patients.

[Gain experience!]

[Gain experience!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

[Level up!]

I was able to build up my stats smoothly.

[Player Status].

Name: Raymond

Class: Surgeon (SSS)

Profession Grade: Beginning Resident

Level: 15

Experience : 25/50

Skill Points: 85

Title: Filthy Bastard

Secondary Profession: Not Active

"Good.

You're now level 15.

"Now I just have to get to level 40 and upgrade my class.

My stats have improved a lot.

[Stats]

Stamina: 3

Senses: 16

Intellect : 17

?? : 1

My senses have finally reached 16.

My hand movements are definitely better than before, and I've gotten much better at killing things.

'Now I'm going to start raising my other stats, I can't just keep raising my senses.