Chapter 29

"How do I do that, sir?"

Hanson asked, his face pale.

"What do we do?

Raymond bit his lip.

If it was indeed smallpox, it was too dangerous to go out to treat the patient.

"But is it really smallpox?

Raymond wondered for a moment.

"Why all of a sudden after decades? Could it be some other infectious disease with similar symptoms?

The odds were in his favor.

It had been a very long time since the Kingdom of Houston had seen a smallpox outbreak.

It could be that people were panicking and thinking it was smallpox when it wasn't.

As we saw in the case of the syphilis patient, ignorance and fear often led people here to make false judgments.

It was very possible that they were mistaking similar conditions.

Then Kansir said.

"Please stay away from this area for a while, because soon we'll be purifying the patients to be burned."

"How are you going to... the patients?"

"We're going to purify them by burning them."

Raymond's face hardened.

Burn them to purify them.

It was an outrageous act by the standards of modern Earth, but it was common practice on Leipenthaina.

Burning patients and their families before the disease could spread.

"It's practically the only solution.

I caught something.

Was it right to burn people to death when you weren't even sure it was smallpox?

"What on earth are the symptoms, and are you sure it's the Grim Reaper?"

Kanshir looked at the servant beside him.

"Hmph. Let me explain. The patients all have high fevers, horrible blisters all over their bodies, and the Inspirations who have suffered from the Reaper in the past are saying that the symptoms are identical to what they experienced then."

Raymond pondered the description.

"High fever and body blisters? Smallpox isn't the only disease with those symptoms!

Of course, high fever and body blisters are the hallmark symptoms of smallpox.

But the problem was that smallpox wasn't the only disease that had these symptoms.

"I'm sure I could tell the difference with my own eyes.

The problem is, you're taking a risk.

What if it's smallpox?

The risk of contagion increases dramatically when you get close to the patient.

"Ew. I don't want to get smallpox and turn into a gombo, and I don't want to die.

Raymond shudders.

'I haven't even seen the richest movie yet!

I've only had a few steaks, and I've only had a few good drinks!

If I die, I won't be able to close my eyes to the injustice of it all.

"Why don't you stay away for now, smallpox is no match for you, no matter how senior you are."

Hanson said cautiously.

Kansir nodded in agreement.

"We'll burn the patients to purify them and they'll be fine, but you, healer, stay away for a while and then come back."

Raymond clenched his fists.

"What am I going to do?

If it wasn't smallpox, wouldn't they just burn the innocent patients to death?

"I can tell if it's really smallpox just by looking at it.

In the end, it was a choice.

To risk contagion for the sake of the patients, or not.

"I could just walk away and no one would blame me.

In the back of his mind, he was tempted.

Given his goals, it was the right thing to do. It wouldn't cost him any money.

But Raymond couldn't help himself.

How could he call himself a healer if he turned his back on a patient facing an unjust death?

"Damn it. Being a therapist. Why is it so hard?

It was then.

A message popped up!

[A quest is given!]

[Save patients from unjust death!]

(Ninjutsu Quest)

Prerequisite : Minor Physician

Difficulty: Medium

Conditions: Many patients with the plague are about to be burned to death. This is not the right way to treat them. Use your knowledge to prevent their untimely deaths!

Reward: Bonus Level Up, 20 Skill Points

Raymond squeezed his eyes shut and spoke impulsively.

"No, I won't leave."

"You?"

"Healer?"

Raymond said, biting his lip.

"Maybe it's not smallpox. I'll have to check it out."

"What are you going to do if you catch it, you could die. Even if I live, I'll be a gombo, you idiot!

The words pounded in my head, but the water had already been spilled.

I couldn't bear the thought of being burned alive, and I couldn't leave.

No amount of riches would make me feel better.

I thought, "Shit. Is there anything I can do? Save the patient, save myself.

No matter what, he didn't want to spread the plague.

Raymond was desperate.

Save the patient, keep himself safe.

"Think about it! There has to be a way!

Using his knowledge of "general medicine," he recalled how infectious diseases spread.

Smallpox is droplet spread.

It's spread by coughing up a patient's saliva or runny nose.

"Without a professional medical mask, there's no way to physically prevent those droplets from entering the airways.

But that was the moment.

A thought flashed through my mind.

"No, there is a way to stop the droplets!

There are no medical masks in the world that prevent infection.

But there was a substitute.

"Check the market.

A list popped up.

As he leveled up, the list of skills available for purchase expanded.

Raymond opened the list under 'Secondary Skills' and clicked on the item that contained magic.

"There it is!

[Shield (D)]

[Points Required: 100]

He immediately purchased the skill.

[Shield].

Classification : Support (Magic) Skill

Magic Rank: Basic

Proficiency: D

-Defends against physical threats.

-As your proficiency increases, you will be able to defend against more powerful threats!

-Caution: Low mana stat and short duration!

"This spell will stop the droplets from entering my airways, if only for a moment!

By physically blocking the droplets with shield magic, you can also stop the contagion!

'Great, no problem now!

What he's trying to do, anyway, is confirm that the patient really does have smallpox.

It would only take a second, so no problem.

"I understand your concern for your patients. But this is dangerous. Please think twice."

Then Hanson interrupted Raymond.

"It's okay."

"Senior!"

"It's really okay. I have a plan. I just need you to do me a favor."

Raymond put a hand on Hanson's shoulder.

"Get me a thick bandana to use as a mask."

"You mean ...?"

"And gloves. Maybe even a robe to cover my whole body."

Hanson blinked, unable to fathom Raymond's intentions.

"What are you trying to prepare for?"

Raymond answered briefly.

"Space suits."

It was a suit to protect against the plague.

Since he couldn't rely on his shield magic, he'd be bundled up and ready to go.

"The patient is important, but so is my body, and I'm not giving it up to a virus!

* * *

From head to toe.

Wrapped in bandages like a mummy, Raymond headed to the epidemic center.

It was a lonely shack on the east side of the slums, near the treatment center.

People huddled around, holding torches.

They looked like they were about to start a fire, and Raymond shouted urgently.

"Wait a minute! It's me, Raymond."

"No, Prince?"

The people stared at the mummified Raymond in amazement.

"No, not that one, anyway, why are you here? It's dangerous!"

"Please stay away!"

The people in the slums were worried about Raymond.

"I'm fine, but what are you trying to do?"

"The children of this house are infested with the Grim Reaper, and I'm trying to purify them by burning them."

I peeked inside and saw the children crying in terror.

Their parents screamed in despair from inside the house.

"Please, please, please, wait, we're not sure it's the Grim Reaper yet, we deserve to die, please, just these children...!"

The screams made the torchbearers smile bitterly.

"I'm so sorry."

"If the disease continues to spread, many people will die. It's inevitable for everyone."

The people all looked distressed.

They were all neighbors living together in one place.

How could they casually burn their neighbors to death? They were devastated.

"If we let this continue, countless people will be killed, just as they were fifteen years ago. So...."

People were gritting their teeth and about to throw torches.

Raymond lurched forward.

"Oh, wait, wait, wait!"

[Heart of Steel manifests!]

[Speech skill activated!]

[The two skills synergize!]

[Will for the Patient is manifested in Speech!]

Standing in front of the people, Raymond opened his mouth with an intense tone.

"Are you sure you're the Grim Reaper?"

"Healer?"

"Who diagnosed the illness that befell those children as the Grim Reaper, are you sure it's true?"

Raymond's voice was different than usual when his heart of steel and verbal skills manifested.

It had a heavy, gripping ring to it.

"He...."

"It's only smallpox, isn't it, that causes a high fever to boil and hideous spots to come up on your face?"

Horrible spots covering the whole body, including the face.

That's how people usually assumed smallpox.

"Is the grim reaper the only disease that causes spots on the face? What about the red bubonic plague? What about the chicken shavings plague?"

Raymond mentions the names of other diseases that can have a similar appearance.

"...."

No one answered.

Raymond gritted his teeth.

"I'll check it out myself."

"No! It's dangerous."

People jumped up in alarm.

"What if we catch it, no way!"

"Save yourself!"

They were already being persuaded, so they jumped up and down.

"Don't worry. I have a way of not catching the plague."

"Don't lie!"

"Aren't you taking a risk for the sake of your patients?!"

"I know you're a wonderful man who only thinks of his patients, but not this time!"

They all stopped Raymond with faces of protest.

"No, I think you misunderstand something about me.

Raymond thought to himself.

"Let's take this opportunity to score some points with the slumlords.

"Why do you think I'm coming forward when I could be in danger?"

"...?"

"Because my heart is troubled."

Raymond continued, trying to make his words sound as desperate as possible with the help of his Heart of Steel and Speech skills.

"Because I can't abandon those patients, maybe I can save them, and I can't pretend I didn't see it!

"...!"

People's eyes bulged.