Of course, Raymond doesn't know what these stats mean, only that he feels very light and his senses are heightened.
The iron mace was as light as paper, so it must be very strong.
"Are you trying to rebel? Awww, that's cute."
White Sox twisted the corners of his mouth and drew his sword with a growl.
It was a short sword.
For the record, he, like Black, was an expert in the field of diplomacy and espionage.
However, he also possessed excellent sword skills.
He was a powerhouse on the verge of reaching Sword Expert, with skills as high as a Mana User.
With a skill level comparable to that of an advanced member of a small or medium-sized knighthood, he could easily take down an unskilled healer.
"I'll just take one of your arms for now, because it's up to His Highness to take your life."
Boom!
The short sword flew into Raymond's right hand.
Raymond screamed in terror.
"Argh! Help me!"
Elmud screamed in a torn voice.
"Healer, oh, no!"
'I'm a coward, letting my benefactor get like that!'
Elmud couldn't help but feel like crap. Raymond was his benefactor.
He came to the manor despite the risk of contagion to himself, and he saved the people who were like family from burning to death.
He's worthy of his life, but his cowardly nature puts him in danger.
But he can't bring himself to wield a sword.
More precisely, he was afraid to see blood on it.
'I thought I was over it. Fuck! I'm a piece of shit.'
Even in this situation, Raymond was still standing in his way.
He was telling him to run and stay alive because he would sacrifice himself to stop them.
Elmud was so ashamed and disgusted with himself that he couldn't stand it.
He wanted to die.
'No! I'd rather do it myself!'
It was at this moment that he vowed to throw himself out of the way and take the sword for himself.
Then it happened.
Wham!
Raymond had dodged White Sox's sword.
Lightly.
"Huh?"
"Hmm?"
"...?"
A moment of silence.
Everyone blinked in confusion.
Raymond had dodged the sword too easily.
White Sox blinked for a moment, then smirked.
"You're lucky. Let's see how long that will protect you."
He thrust his blade out again. It was a swift thrust, aimed for the shoulder.
But.
"Aagh!"
This time, Raymond screamed and dodged.
He even dodged a follow-up slash to the leg!
"..."
"..."
"..."
There was silence again.
It was a strange feeling of silence unlike before.
'Is this... What happened?'
'Wasn't he a healer?'
Raymond himself was surprised.
'How am I dodging?'
He moved instinctively in terror, and he dodged.
Or, more accurately.
'I see the attack. And how to dodge it.'
In retrospect, the attacks weren't that fast.
No, they were definitely fast, but were they dodgeable, or even that threatening?
'Those attacks weren't threatening? Are you out of your mind, Raymond?'
Raymond looked dumbfounded.
But it was real.
And it wasn't the first time he'd experienced something like this.
In the ruins, when he'd faced the demon, when he'd dueled Seitil.
He had felt similar to this.
He was terrified and screaming, but in retrospect, the attacks weren't as threatening as he thought.
'Are you telling me... I've gotten stronger?'
Raymond swallowed hard.
He had a hunch.
[Stats]
[Stamina: 36 → 46 → 49.5
Senses: 33 → 38 → 41.5]
These stats have increased his physical prowess to an incredible degree.
Almost as strong as a knight!
'I'm really strong?'
At that moment, the red-faced White Sox raised his sword eerily.
"Let's see if you can get away with it this time."
Pow!
Brown mana surrounded his sword.
It was the Mana Sword, the symbol of a mana user, and it was attacking with all its might out of pride!
'Hyuk.'
Raymond's heart sank when he saw the Mana Sword.
But then, something unexpected happened.
"Stop! Stop!"
Boom!
An intense beam of light.
A mana sword with an intensity that could not be compared to White Sox's mana sword!
It was Elmud!
"Keuk?!"
White Sox managed to block, but the impact was too much for him.
He flew backwards, coughing up blood.
"M-My lord?"
Raymond looked at Elmud in surprise.
Elmud's eyes darted about like waves, then he made another sudden move.
"My lord Raymond, allow me to raise my sword for you!"
"... suddenly what?"
"I think I can overcome my fears for you!"
Raymond made a dumbfounded face.
But Elmud was serious: Raymond did a double favor.
First, by rescuing the people, who were like family to him, and second, by defending him against the fierce swords of his enemies.
Even more heartening, Raymond did so without regard to the danger to himself.
Both times.
'How can a man have such a heart for others? How can there be such a noble man in the world?'
Elmud bit his lip bitterly.
For the sake of that noble Raymond.
He felt like he could overcome his fears!
Meanwhile, Raymond was.
"Uh... yes."
'What's wrong with him?'
He was scared out of his mind, and now he's suddenly willing to hold a sword for himself?
It was weird.
Not just weird, it was seriously weird!
"Uh, anyway, please defeat them."
"Yes, sir!"
Just then, White Sox's men stepped forward.
"You cowards."
"Put down your swords if you don't want to get hurt, kid."
Boom!
Dark mana swords erupted from their swords.
Surprisingly, they were all early to intermediate Sword Expert powerhouses.
They had been sent by Archduke Berard to escort the White Sox on their mission.
But Elmud glanced at Raymond, raised his sword, and boom, a blast of light.
"Keuk!"
"Kuk!"
The finesse of his swordplay, and the strength of his Mana Sword, they were no match.
After only a few moves, the enemies all fell before Elmud. Raymond was stunned.
'What the hell, that's not even intermediate, that's an expert level, isn't it?'
Elmud gasped.
"I, I did it!"
For the first time in his life, he had succeeded in defeating an enemy!
Unable to contain his overwhelming joy, he knelt before Raymond.
"I did it, healer, and it's all because of you!"
"Ah... Yes. C-congratulations. I... Let go of my hand."
Raymond stumbled backward.
Is this what geniuses do?
He had a strange feeling in the pit of his stomach.
'Let's not get too involved.'
Just then, he heard a shout in the distance!
"Whoa!"
"Are you okay?!"
It was Klein!
Anxiously, he rushed over with his soldiers.
That was the end of the terrible plague.
***
The water was analyzed and mercury was found.
Raymond's guess was correct.
And not just any mercury, but a mercury compound that had been alchemized to maximize its toxicity.
The captives were taken to the capital.
They would be interrogated and brought to justice.
"You have done a great job. I'm sure His Majesty will greatly appreciate your work."
It was Klein.
Raymond knew he had done a great job.
He had saved countless lives from falling victim to the Drottons' shenanigans, and now that he had the evidence, they would be in a much better position in any future conflict with the Drottons.
His work will be spread throughout the kingdom, and his reputation will be greatly enhanced.
Of course, the Penin Healing Center would be positively affected.
But he wasn't as excited as he should have been.
Too many patients had died.
Many of those poisoned by mercury had died in agony, and those who survived also suffered major aftereffects.
'I can't help it. I've done enough, I can take the 30,000 pence I was promised and leave.'
He thought, but his heart was still heavy.
'Healer, it's not good.'
Raymond sighed.
If only he could just make money in peace.
He had to feel the pain every time a patient was this bad.
He didn't even get used to it.
He felt the same way every time.
'Let's splurge and de-stress.'
He looked at the check in his hand. It was for 30,000 pence!
It was a dream come true!
He was going to spend it in a way that made him feel good.
'I'll show you how good I am at wasting money!'
He decided to spend it without thinking.
First, he paid for the funeral.
The estate had been razed to the ground, and people were unable to afford proper burials.
Then he paid the families of the victims for their comfort, and he gave the survivors, who were suffering from the aftermath of their illnesses, money for future medical treatment.
"No, Baronet?"
The boy lord, Elmud, opened his eyes wide.
He looked like he was about to say something to thank me, but he closed his mouth.
"It's not really a favor, sir, just a luxury."
"What?"
"I have some money left over, and one of my bucket lists is to splurge when I make a lot of money, so don't judge me."
But even after saying that, why?
Elmud's eyes filled with water.
"T-thank you very much. Ugh. Heuk. You've done so much for us."
Raymond looked humbled.
Yes, to be honest, it was a favor.
He could have just pretended he didn't see it, but that would have made him feel even worse, so he did.
'I'm going to be a super rich guy, so I can afford all these luxuries.'
What's the good thing about being rich?
You can spend as you please.
Raymond had no intention of becoming a tiny bit rich.
He was going to be the greatest healer in the world, and he was going to have all the wealth in the world.
He was going to be a fancy rich man, and he was going to spend it all.
"Let's have a beef party."
"What?"
"According to ancient knowledge, beef increases your resistance to disease and lifts your spirits when you're feeling down, so I'll do the shooting, and you get the best and most expensive cattle from the nearby estates. Oh, and make sure the liquor is good, too."
And just like that, a beef party was born.
A bonfire was built in the square in the center of the estate and the beef was roasted.
The men laughed and talked and forgot their sorrows for the day.
No, they tried to forget: to live happily ever after, because that's what would please the dead the most.
"Sounds like a mourning festival."
One of the gentry muttered, watching the smoke from the bonfire.
The smoke from the bonfire rising into the sky seemed to comfort the souls of the dead.
"Yes, they can all close their eyes in peace now, all thanks to the prince."
The villagers looked at one figure.
Raymond, the man who had saved their lives, the man who had done them a favor they could never repay.
His face was etched deep into their hearts.
They would never forget him.
Forever.