Chapter 240

Chapter 240 - Doctor Maria

In this era, due to the limits of knowledge, unscientific medical techniques overflowed. To point out a representative example, there is finding the cause of diseases in the punishment of God.

- If you bathe in the Holy Land, your illness will be cured!

The number of people who died going on a pilgrimage despite their bodies being unwell, harboring hope in a vain belief, cannot be counted. Naturally, there were also many who died even after finishing the pilgrimage.

There are also healers who prescribe incense saying bad air induces illnesses, or visit epidemic villages filling a beak-shaped mask with herbs.

- Mental illness is due to the possession of evil spirits.

This is something officially proclaimed by the Holy State. Instances of dying from exhaustion doing arduous exorcism rituals for several years, or killing people while beating them with a baptized whip claiming to chase out evil spirits were also common.

There is a country that contributed immensely to driving out such backward medical knowledge, and that is exactly Barcia.

"The humor theory is clearly wrong. To say an illness is healed by draining blood, phlegm, or bile. That makes no sense."

"Yes! Yess!"

"Kyaak!"

Eugene jumped up from his chair and threw an uppercut into the empty air. Maria, who was speaking in a sonorous voice, shrank back cutely at the intense reaction.

"Count?!"

"You really don't know how much I've waited for someone to say that. Humor theory, my foot! Draining blood is only useful when a bruise turns into severe swelling."

"Ahaha..."

Maria laughed awkwardly at the appearance of Eugene rejoicing while holding both of her hands together.

'Warm.'

Maria is a highly prideful noble of Barcia. Except for her older brother Marcus or the Dhampir handmaids, she did not permit physical contact.

Therefore, the body temperature felt from Eugene's hands was a warm yet unfamiliar feeling like a spring breeze.

"It'd be rather better if they were guys who completely didn't know medicine. But since guys who know a decent amount about homeostasis keep insisting mixing in the humor theory, how much of a headache it was."

The Blackhand tribe was excellent enough for even Eugene to let out admiration in pharmacy, disinfection, first aid, physical therapy, etc. They are technicians far ahead of their time.

However, in other parts, sighs came out. Committing atrocities like stone skin training claiming the skin gets stronger if they beat the body. For Eugene who is also capable of basic field surgical operations, it couldn't be helped but be frustrating.

"We Barcia nobles know blood better than anyone else in the world. Through smell, taste, and the secret arts possible only for us. Even children know that good blood or bad blood is an illusion."

Vampires and Dhampirs are also a branch of humans. Like the beliefs of rural serfs, there are no supernatural powers like transforming into dozens of bats or flying through the sky.

Instead, they harbor special abilities that act on bodily fluids including blood. Sensing components, or controlling the coagulation or anticoagulation of blood.

Thanks to that, Barcia nobles became the main axis and were able to drive out wrong medical techniques like humor theory or bloodletting therapy.

"When I was in Sicily, there was even a noble who believed the heart was something like a stove that consumes blood. How frustrating it was."

"The heart only circulates blood. The reason the hot spring culture developed in Barcia is also because the understanding of blood circulation is well settled."

"Indeed. They aren't a powerful country for nothing."

The secret to Barcia's national power isn't just that there are many fertile plains. Having a lot of correct knowledge regarding medicine was also big. Because it is an era where population is exactly national power.

- The blood-drenched hands of a doctor are a symbol of sublimity. To denounce this honorable sight as dirty, know some shame. Anyway, Barcia nobles, tsk tsk!

- The ones who should be ashamed are you lot. A doctor's hands drenched in blood and filth are exactly the assassins that kill the most mothers in childbirth.

- Illnesses generally come from bad air. I have lit as many as 5 highest-quality incense sticks in this delivery room.

- ...Damn it.

It was common for nobles and priests who graduated from university to execute medical arts, which are advanced knowledge.

There are countless instances where Barcia's nobles waged heated arguments with foreign nobles or priests. Such friction might also be one of the causes of having few friends diplomatically. Because they would truly look like uncivilized primitive men.

Even so, Barcia medicine, which proved itself with survival rates in multifaceted treatments, is little by little spreading across the entire continent.

"Lady Maria! The mother pregnant with triplets you mentioned last time has gone into labor!"

Maria nodded her head looking at the tribal woman who hastily ran over.

"Then if you will excuse me."

"It is rather a matter I should be thankful for."

Maria, who bowed in greeting, followed the tribal woman and headed to the delivery room.

Marcus is negotiating with Eugene a draft of a military alliance encompassing continuous military horse trading. In the meantime, Maria was working as a doctor.

While the medical arts of Valda or the tribal witches were concentrated on non-surgical things, Maria possessed medical arts spanning across internal and external surgery in general. The synergy produced by the power to see through and attune bodily fluids combined with medicine was immense.

"I did think she was a smart young lady."

Maria, who was known as a famous doctor even in Barcia society, was the doctor closest to Eugene's ideas.

* * *

"Maria?"

Marcus, having received an unexpected request, asked back.

"I know Lady Maria is a busy person. But if possible, I want her to stay in my castle for the time being."

"Are you finally recognizing that child's charm? You're far too late."

Marcus had once proposed a deeper blood alliance to Eugene in passing.

"That kind of joke is perplexing... She is definitely a charming young lady, but what I paid attention to is her medical arts."

The 2 months the Pierce siblings spent coming to Moving Castle as guests and pushing forward the banquet and military horse trading. Now, Maria had become a more precious guest than Marcus among the residents.

A breech delivery where the baby was turned upside down.

Succeeding in making new flesh sprout up on a necrosed finger from an accident during forge work without amputating it.

Safely extracting parasites through blood domination.

A true doctor. A treatment possible only for a Barcia doctor capable of controlling bodily fluids at that.

"You aren't asking her to work as an exclusive doctor, are you? I'm thankful you appraise Maria's abilities highly, but that child is also strictly a successor."

"Of course not. What I want is the authority as a doctor that Lady Maria possesses. My residents have many wrong beliefs, you see. I am making efforts to correct this, but there are many difficulties."

Eugene is a respected monarch and knight. Even if he gives an order no different from a suicidal act on the battlefield, his subordinates will gladly follow.

However, prohibiting folk remedies passed down through generations of ancestors was a different issue. Because even if they bowed their heads in front of him, they still used traditional methods behind his back.

"That is a wrong method. Because it rather worsens the symptoms, you shouldn't do it. You want Maria to say it like this?"

"Exactly that. Because if I don't borrow her strength, it seems I'll have to keep carrying along dumbfounding treatments in the future too."

Eugene planned to clean up beliefs close to superstitions completely from Moving Castle at this opportunity.

"It won't be a bad deal. You also have a lot of interest in exchanges with outside forces, don't you?"

"There definitely isn't a means to travel the world as safely and quickly as Moving Castle."

The Pierce family achieved great growth with Marcus concluding a trade agreement with Cazador. It is the biggest factor that came to occupy an advantage over their traditional rival, Piranian.

"It's fine if you dispatch more scribes who will progress diplomatic duties in the name of Pierce. I'll even allocate an exclusive diplomatic establishment."

"Hmm."

Marcus, who had been deliberating, eventually accepted Eugene's proposal. It is also a matter he had already envisioned a few times.

"Great. Now we just need to persuade Lady Maria."

"You don't need to worry about that."

"Marcus. It's family business and you are the family head, but still, it's your younger sister's movements."

Unlike the strong bond he usually shows, Marcus speaking flatly. At that appearance, Eugene thought he was indeed like the master of a family.

"It's not like that. I meant there's no need to persuade her. Just one word is enough. Asking her to stay here."

As if anticipating his younger sister's reaction, Marcus laughed delightfully.

"It would be better for you to recommend it rather than me. Maria will surely also be more pleased."

"???"

* * *

Meanwhile, the subject of the story, Maria, was in Valda's quarters.

"So this is the medicine brewed with the Fairy's Crown. I was always very interested in the Elves' decoction manufacturing skills."

In front of Maria is Valda cherishingly holding a black decoction bowl.

Kkulkkeok.

This is not a sound Valda made. It is the sound of the veteran tribal witches swallowing their saliva with clenched fists.

A baby of the Castle Lord couple is a wish the entire citizenry desires with one mind. The narratives of the old half-fairy families passed down like legends always started with the scene of drinking this decoction.

The middle-aged witches strongly advised Valda, who emptied the bowl in one breath.

"Madam. Since you have also had the medicine, how about hurrying to go do your homework?"

"It's still bright daylight, isn't it? My heart is glad, but please endure it."

Valda, who shook her head at the urging witches, looked at Maria as if asking for help.

'Leave it to me.'

Maria placed her hand on Valda's belly.

"Witches. Because it is a precious medicine, I wish to induce it to permeate into the Countess's body without wasting a single drop. Will you excuse yourselves so I can concentrate?"

"If Lady Maria steps forward, it is reassuring!"

When the tribal witches retreated, Valda sighed.

"Thank you. They are people who don't even easily get through to my words, but they follow your words well."

"Don't mention it."

Wrong beliefs regarding pregnancy were widely spread in this era. For the Dark Elves who became highly fertile after settling down, their pride is especially strong.

If it weren't for Maria, Valda would have been in the midst of dressing up under the nominal cause of 'For the future of the Mayer family!' around this time.

Because no matter if she's Valda, it's difficult to ignore the strong advices of retainers who put forward duty, nominal cause, and loyalty as shields.

"Could Lady Maria also please persuade them a bit that pleasure and pregnancy are unrelated?"

"My goodness..."

Valda covered her face with her hands.

"I wish to stop saying with my own mouth anymore that I've even fainted while sharing love with my husband."

"Since to them it would be loyalty, not rudeness, it must be even more perplexing. I will tell them firmly today."

"Even so, don't scold them too much. Because it can be fully understood that everyone is getting anxious since a baby hasn't been conceived for a year."

Producing an heir is the duty of all nobles, but for Eugene and his wife, their retainers' earnestness is extreme due to their specialness.

"I know. Currently, the Mayer family is the one and only central pivot for various races and forces. Its importance is higher than even the royal family of a decent country."

It is also the reason Eugene takes an interest in pioneering the New Continent. Due to the characteristics of commanding various races, complete fusion is impossible no matter how much he tries. Because as the scale of society grows, the differences in races will definitely create dissonance.

Establishing a federation-centric organization in a vast territory was the most ideal. With the Mayer family located in the center as a symbol of unity.

This is an impossible conception on the Old Continent where thousands of flags are already closely planted.

"The Count is a strong knight who will not fall on any battlefield. Still, there is no insurance as certain as a baby inheriting his blood."

The problem is the part that an heir is essential for this conception. Referring to past records, a mere 1 year is not nearly enough for a half-fairy to be born.

Even though humans and Elves are included in the same genus (Homo), the genetic distance was further than other races. Almost as far as end to end.

"First, let us induce the decoction you drank to be received fully."

"I ask of you."

Jjoreureureuk.

Maria dipped Valda's feet into a basin filled with warm water. She massaged her fine legs while wearing thin insulating gloves. So that the medicinal effects could circulate evenly throughout Valda's entire body.

* * *

"Therefore, how about traveling the world together with u..."

"I will gladly comply. Thank you for preparing a place in this beautiful castle."

'I hadn't even finished speaking yet, though.'

Maria accepted it at once before even hearing Eugene's proposal to the end.

Maria smoothly bowed while holding the hem of her skirt. Her doll-like appearance goes incredibly well with noble-style etiquette.

'Anyway, it's a relief it worked out well.'

Whether she was genuinely pleased, a sharp canine poked out between Maria's widely smiling lips. It is a part the neat Maria normally never showed absolutely.

"This is a gift I prepared in the meaning of congratulating your appointment to Moving Castle."

"Is it... clothes?"

To Maria who had a peculiar face, Eugene put the white gown on her.

"A doctor simply has to be this."

Eugene had stereotypes in a different meaning from the tribal healers.

However, there is also a practical part. Around the chest of the gown hung a medal symbolizing a part of Eugene's authority.

"It means I delegate my full authority regarding medical arts. If anyone doesn't listen to your words, show this."

"I will use it usefully."

Maria grinned and stroked the white gown. It was the first time she received clothes as a gift from someone other than her older brother.

For reference, Maria didn't particularly have the need to borrow the medal's authority.

- Goodness! T-To think something like this was really in Queenie's heart?

The appearance of the parasite that had helplessly killed military horses being chased out by the suddenly changed bodily fluids and blood flow. The appearance demonstrating its monstrous guise according to Maria's touch.

That symbolic spectacle helped to grip the Blackhand tribe, a horse-riding people, all at once. Whether it's a rational person who believes in medical arts, or an emotional person who believes in superstitions, challenging Maria's authority will not be easy.

* * *

"I leave her to you."

"There's no need for you to worry. It's the safest place in the world."

Marcus, having shared a deep embrace with his younger sister, led the knights and departed Moving Castle.

Beonjjeok!

Shortly after, Moving Castle, which revealed a presence as if it had been perfectly situated there since the beginning of time, also hid its appearance.

Only the crushed blades of grass spanning a vast area proved the traces of the majestic castle that existed here.