The next day.
"I beg your pardon?! You're saying senior treated that patient?!"
Lance exclaimed.
"How is that possible?!"
He was a patient who could be saved if he put all his effort into healing, which would be at least a B grade.
But Raymond, a pathetic flunk who couldn't even make F grade, saved such a critical patient?
'Did he use some kind of ancient secret?'
However, Lance quickly shook his head.
'Even if it is an ancient secret art, it is only a miscellaneous art. There is no way he could treat such a serious patient.'
Miscellaneous.
That was the perception of the Belland treatment center's healers about medicine.
All non-heal treatments were considered miscellaneous, and all healers in the world thought the same.
'There must be some mistake!'
Lance left his seat and headed for the patient's room to see for himself.
And the moment he arrived at the patient's room, he couldn't help but open his eyes wide.
It was true!
The rotten patient who had been brought in yesterday was sleeping peacefully.
Even at a glance, he could tell that he was over the hump.
'How?'
Lance gave an incredulous look.
And the amazing thing was that it didn't end there.
A middle-aged man of very high status was standing next to the beggar patient.
'A noble?'
Lance studied the middle-aged man's identity at a glance.
Expensive clothes, accessories, the jeweled sword on his waist, and casual elegance.
He was definitely a nobleman. Not a lower-class nobleman, but a very high-class nobleman.
It was then that Lance's eyes caught sight of the family crest embroidered on the chest of the middle-aged man. It was a surprisingly recognizable crest.
'Count August of the South! Why is such a great noble here? Is there a patient in the ward that he knows?'
But now, in this patient's room, there was only that incorrigible sick man.
In a moment of disorientation and confusion, the middle-aged nobleman looked back at Lance.
A steel-like gaze that made you nervous.
Lance bent his back excessively in a hurry.
"I am pleased to greet Count August! I am the chief healer of the Belland Treatment Center, Lance."
He looked completely different from his usual demeanor. He was a typical bad guy, strong against the weak and weak against the strong.
There was something strange about the other's reaction.
"..."
There was no reply, just a sharp glare at Lance.
"You're Lance?"
"... Me?"
"The one who left my son to die?"
Lance's face became soul-deadening.
What kind of absurd story was this?!
'When did I leave Count August's son to die?!'
But at that moment, one terrible thought came to mind.
'No way... That beggar is?'
Lance gulped down his spit.
No, no, no. Such a terrible thing could never...
But then someone appeared and left Lance to tell it like it was, what he had done.
"Yes, Count. Lance, the chief healer there instructed me to abandon your child without any treatment."
"...!"
Lance's eyes went wide as he tore them open.
It was Raymond!
Raymond, who had appeared before he knew it, raised the edges of his mouth hatefully at Lance.
He looked as if he were saying this.
- You're already dead.
"Even though he knew that if he left him as he was, he would have no choice but to avoid death, he left him untreated. It was because the young master came dressed as a commoner and looked like he had no money."
When Count August heard Raymond's words, he clenched his fist.
"Because of a few pennies, my son!"
Lance's face turned white.
"S-Sir Raymond! When did I do this?!"
"When? Don't tell me you have amnesia at such a young age? You said it yesterday. Hanson, didn't you hear it clearly too?"
He nudged Hanson, who had just walked in with a nursing towel.
"Yes, I heard it too. Chief Healer Lance told him to abandon the young master. That's when Sir Raymond saved him."
Count August's eyes gradually grew colder.
Lance's complexion changed from white to corpse-like.
He could not take notice of the sudden calamity.
The final decisive blow was unleashed by the party concerned, young master Klein himself.
"That's... right, father. That damn healer left me for dead over money."
Because of the noise in the area, he regained consciousness for a while and gave his conclusive testimony.
"How dare...!"
"N-no, Count. This is some kind of misunderstanding...!"
"Misunderstanding?"
Count August spoke like frostbite.
"You Left my son to die, and all you do is make excuses. Did you say your name is Lance? Do you seem to think there is something funny about House August? You don't seem to know how great a crime it is to insult a nobleman."
"...!"
Lance's body trembled like a porcupine.
He knelt down and begged for forgiveness.
"I-I'm sorry, Count! Please have mercy...!"
But it was too late.
If he wanted forgiveness, he should have asked for it from the beginning.
No, in the first place, he should not have looked at a person's appearance and abandoned them, dead or not. As a healer who deals with human life.
"I swear on the name of Count August, you will not be able to practice medicine anywhere in the Kingdom of Houston. No, you will not be able to work as a healer anywhere in the Cross Federation Empire."
Lance's face was colored with despair.
"C-Count...!"
But the Count's words were not finished.
He was listening to his accompanying aide.
"Exactly what charges can be applied to this guy?"
"The fact that he did not fulfill his duty as a healer and intentionally put the young master in danger of dying. He did not admit to his mistake but denied it, and he insulted the noble Count with his lies. They are all crimes committed against the nobility, so he will face special aggravated punishment."
The Count nodded his head.
"Then process them as you see fit."
Flump.
Lance sat down because his legs were weak.
It was over.
It wasn't just as a healer either. He had to stand in court and it was clear that he would be punished greatly.
"I-I..."
Lance spoke up stiffly, but there was no one to sympathize with him.
Because he had done something wrong, everyone had only a cold look.
Raymond, in particular, thought like this.
'This much is cheap. He's like trash without the qualifications of a healer.'
Thus, the promising young chief healer of the Belland Treatment Center was thoroughly subverted and taken away.
It was unlikely that Lance would be seen in the treatment center from now on.
After a moment of silence, Count August now looked at Raymond.
The look in his eyes was completely different from the way he looked at Lance.
The Count's eyes filled with unbridled gratitude.
"I haven't been able to greet you properly until now because of the lack of circumstances. Thank you so much."
Then Count August bowed his head slightly.
"Ah, no. Raise your head, Count. I just did what I had to do."
Raymond waved his hand hurriedly.
To receive a bowed greeting from the great noble Count August! For a moment, he had this feeling.
'I've made it! I'm glad I'm still alive!'
He was treated like dirt and filth all his life.
A tidal wave of emotion washed over him.
Of course, he pretended to be humble (?) without revealing his feelings at all.
"As a healer, it's only natural for me to treat my patients. So you don't have to worry about it."
There was a reason Raymond said it like such a respectful saint (?).
'I have to create a good image for as many people as possible. That way, good rumors will circulate and patients will constantly flock.'
Raymond had already decided on his own concept as a healer.
- A true healer of this age who thinks of the patients!
'If this image is captured, patients will flock like bees, hehe.'
Could he say it was image marketing?
It was clear that if he was rumored to be a healer who thought of the patient, he would be a hit.
It was an annoying ulterior motive, but what the heck.
He would be happy to be a big hit, and his patients would be happy to see a good healer.
It was a good thing for their sister and their sister's husband.
Behold.
Even Count August in front of him was fooled and marveled so much.
'I can't believe that the ugly illegitimate child has become such a great healer.'
Of course Count August knew who Raymond was.
He just pretended not to know.
He thought it was a consideration for Raymond, who saved his son's life.
"If it weren't for you, our August Household would have lost its successor."
"I'm infinitely happy that the young master is safe."
"You are our Countdom's savior. I don't know how to repay this favor."
Raymond's saliva dried up at the words.
'It's finally here! Reward time!'
How surprised was he to learn that the patient was the Count's successor after treating him?
He thought he was going to die of joy.
'Since I saved the Count's successor, he must give me a great reward!'
To be clear, Raymond was not a saint.
He was for his patients, but at the same time, he had a snobbish side.
Reward? There was no such thing. It was just a thank you.
'This time what I want is set.'
Money?
No, money was good, but he needed to take full advantage of the opportunity to capitalize on saving the successor of a great noble.
'I have to ask for something that you can't buy with money.'
Raymond, who thought so, looked like he didn't want anything.
"There is nothing in particular I want. I'm a healer. I'm just doing what's natural. I don't want any compensation."
Of course, he didn't mean it.
He was laying the groundwork.
"Hoho."
As Raymond intended, Count August was even more impressed.
'I didn't know that he really had such a noble heart, even though he told His Highness such innocent remarks. It's amazing. It's wonderful.'
Count August was determined to pay more compensation.
"I can't let this grace go. Let's talk about anything. I'll listen to anything you say."
The mood was ripe. Raymond, who judged, brought it up.
"If so, I don't need anything else. It's just..."
"Just?"
"If you support me in your heart, I think that'll be enough."
"...!"
Did he understand what Raymond meant?
Count August opened his eyes slightly wide.
He really didn't want him to just support him from the heart, as he said.
Drumroll... He meant that he wanted him to be his backing!
'... Not only does he have an admirable personality, but he's also smart. He knows exactly what he needs most.'
Count August thought to himself.
What did Raymond need right now?
Money?
No.
He was the one who would be his strength.
He clearly understood his position and demanded just the right amount of compensation.
'The more I see him, the better he is. Who knew that the ugly illegitimate prince would grow so outstanding? I'm looking forward to the future.'
After some thought, Count August nodded pleasantly.
Rather, he spoke thus.
"That's nothing to worry about. However, that alone seems to be not enough to repay the favor of saving my son, so I will try to give you a larger compensation."