"I have no objection to that. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
King Odin nodded without a word.
It was a sign of approval.
'Very good. I have to end it here.'
Now was the important part.
The previous words were just an introduction.
"There's just one catch."
"Hmm?"
"It's a rule of the Tower of Healing. It states that any healer who treats a patient must be paid a small fee."
Raymond shook his head hastily.
"Of course, that doesn't mean I'm going to accept payment, which is of course ridiculous in a time of war, though I would be grateful if the cost of herbs and such could be covered by the military if possible."
At this, Raymond threw down the gauntlet.
"In exchange, please give credit for every patient I cure, one by one."
"...!"
"That should be more than enough to cover the cost of the treatment."
Taking credit for treating patients!
This was Raymond's game plan.
'If I do this, I can make a lot of money.'
It was a hard sell.
How could this be a way to make money?
But with a little thought, the answer was clear.
What is merit?
It's a great honor and the basis for post-war rewards.
Raymond had earned his merit by healing countless patients, and he was going to demand more than just the cost of his treatments!
'I'll ask for the yolkiest of the Rafalde estate, with a mine or something.'
Even so, Odin promised Raymond that after his victory, one of the Rafalde provinces would be sealed off.
The province of Rafalde varied.
After much merit, he would be granted the most lucrative yolk lands.
The cost of his healing would be incomparable.
War is an opportunity, and this war will make him the richest lord, the Super Rich!
His heart was pounding just thinking about it.
Then Lord Galman asked.
"Why are you making such a request?"
Raymond replied in a determined voice, hiding his greed.
"I'm greedy, too."
"Greedy?"
"Yes, the greed of wanting to do the best for the kingdom."
"...!"
"I want to do more good for the Kingdom of Houston than anyone else. By serving them as a healer."
Is it the 'silver tongue' skill?
There was no hint of greed in his voice, only determination.
Naturally, Raymond made the gullible Galman blink.
"It seems that Baron Penin's intentions are indeed noble. What do you think, Your Majesty?"
It was then that Odin gave an unexpected reaction.
He expected him to nod in approval, but he didn't do so easily.
"It's well-meaning, but it's unprecedented and needs to be reviewed. It could be seen as favoritism."
Raymond was stumped by the unexpected opposition.
Luckily, the gullible Galman stepped in.
"What's favoritism when it's for the good of the patient? And what's a little favoritism when it comes to Baron Penin after all he's done?"
'You couldn't be more right, Your Excellency!'
"If Your Majesty is unwilling, I will see to it that the establishment is authorized by my office as Lord Prime Minister."
Finally, King Odin nodded.
"On one condition."
"What is it?"
"That you participate as a healer in the victory ceremony in a few days."
Raymond looked puzzled.
'A victory ceremony? What is that?'
He'd never heard the word before. Galman, on the other hand, was surprised.
"Your Majesty, are you serious?"
"Yes. Since he's so eager to make a mark for the Kingdom of Houston, I'm sure he'll be able to pull off a victory ceremony."
Galman beamed.
"Congratulations, sir. What an honor to be entrusted with such a task!"
Raymond looked puzzled.
"What is the victory ritual?"
"Slaying a demon."
"... Pardon?"
Prime Minister Galman explained excitedly.
"To be precise, it involves entering the Gir Mountains and slitting the throat of the 'Shabel Tiger' the symbol of the Drotton Kingdom."
"...!"
Raymond's face went white.
'How am I, a healer, supposed to catch something like that? You want me to die?'
At that moment, Galman waved a hand as if to say, "Don't get me wrong."
"Of course, His Majesty will capture the Shabel Tiger himself, along with the Royal Knights. It is a royal rite of passage."
"And me?"
"You will be assisting His Majesty as a healer."
Galman beamed with satisfaction.
"That is the highest honor a healer can receive, and I congratulate you. For the opportunity to serve His Majesty."
To serve King Odin exclusively, an honor only available to Count Helien, the court physician!
It was certainly the highest honor, but Raymond stiffened.
'I'm supposed to serve His Majesty?'
His eyes caught King Odin's impassive face, and every time he saw it, he couldn't help but think of the countless suffering he had endured as a bastardized child.
Raymond bowed his head, suppressing his emotions.
"I am most grateful for the honor of serving Your Majesty..."
King Odin looked at Raymond for a moment.
A flicker of unidentifiable emotion flashed across his hard face.
But with his head bowed, Raymond didn't catch a glimpse of it.
And so, for the first time, Raymond served King Odin in person.
As a servant.
As a father and son.
It was a first.
***
"Why did you ask Raymond to participate in the victory ritual?"
Galman asked after Raymond had left.
It made sense that it would be Count Helien, a courtier at the palace.
But Odin had no answer.
After Galman left, Odin, alone, lifted his gaze and looked out the window.
"It's... time to 'decide.'"
Decide.
What to do with Raymond going forward.
He'd been indifferent and distant, but he couldn't do that anymore.
Raymond was becoming too prominent for that.
It was time to make a decision, one way or another, and this "victory ritual" was the "test" to make that decision.
The outcome of the test would determine Odin's decision.
***
Meanwhile, outside the capital, the residence Duke Laverne.
Duke Laverne, head of one of the most powerful families in the Kingdom of Houston, was in trouble.
His heir, Alfred, had run away, afraid to go to war!
"Have you found Alfred?"
"I-I beg your pardon, Duke. Not yet."
"No."
The Duke of Laverne groaned.
His only son, a wretch.
Studying is an afterthought.
He indulges in wine and women and gambles away the family fortune and even this time he has run off with his lover for fear of war.
'So I was going to give Christine the family name, but then she suddenly became a healer. Mm-hmm.'
Something didn't add up.
"Find Alfred somehow! The heir to the dukedom has run away for fear of war!"
"Yes, sir!"
Just then, a commanding voice rang out.
"No need for that, I'll fight the war."
"...!"
It was Christine!
"What does that mean?"
"Instead of my brother, I'll go to war on behalf of the family."
"That's ridiculous!"
"Why? Why not?"
She raised her dark blue eyes to meet the Duke's.
It was a provocative gaze.
"You know, Father, that I am far more worthy of being duke than that wretch."
The Duke could not deny it.
Suddenly, Christine drew the brand-new sword at her waist.
Paaat!
Her sword glowed brightly.
It was a mana sword!
Surprisingly, in addition to her healing powers, Christine had the sword skills of a mana user!
"After seeing me manifest this Mana Sword when I was a child, you decided to make me your successor."
"... That's in the past. You chose the path of a healer."
"Why can't I take over the family name if I choose the path of a healer? Even a cowardly scoundrel is trying to inherit the family."
Christine said bluntly.
"I'll go to war and prove myself, and I'll show you that I'm perfect as a healer and as the heir to the family name."
The Duke of Laverne cleared his throat.
"... Why have you suddenly made such a decision, haven't you given up on carrying on the family name?"
"That's..."
Christine closed her mouth.
'To be of service to some fool who only sees patients.'
Some fool.
Just thinking about Raymond made her angry and frustrated.
'I'm not going to be a helpless burden anymore. I'm going to be his strength somehow. I'm going to make him depend on me.'
That was her resolution.
Of course, she didn't talk about it.
"I'm sure my cowardly brother would be happy if I went in his place, but I have one request."
"What is it?"
"Please pretend that there was no engagement story with the 2nd Prince Kairen."
"..."
Christine said with natural virtue.
"Don't you think I'm too good to marry a psychopathic prince like that?"
"... It's not an easy decision to make."
"Well, if you don't want to break the ice, then have him marry sister instead, she's been wanting to be a princess since before this, hasn't she?"
A psychopathic prince and a vanity-fueled evil sister.
It would be a good match.
'I don't have time for a psychopath like that.'
She was busy.
Being the best healer she could be.
To be of any use to some idiot who only knew his patients.
'It's a start.'
And with that, Christine's entry into the war was decided.
***
Raymond participated in a victory ceremony.
The location was in the eastern part of the kingdom.
The Gir Mountains, a lair of monsters.
Upon arrival, he was greeted by an enormous group of figures.
'Hyuk. Marquis Aris, Count Dutton.'
The leader and vice leader of the Royal Knights!
Both of them are Sword Expert superpowers.
However, even at the same rank, Marquis Aris was said to be slightly higher.
'They say he's halfway to mastery. He's sure to become a Sword Master in a few years. He's really handsome, by the way.'
Statue Aris.
That was Marquis Aris's nickname.
Handsome, indeed.
Despite being over fifty years old, he only looked to be in his late thirties.
His brilliant silver hair tumbled.
'He looks so much like Elmud from the other day.'
"Mr. Raymond, allow me to take up the sword for you!"
He remembered Elmud's cry as they parted, and a chill ran down his spine.
A knightly oath of loyalty to himself when the Marquis's heir is a bastard.
'If Marquis Aris finds out, he'll try to slit my throat.'
As he sobbed, he locked eyes with Marquis Aris.
Aris's sculpted mouth softened.
Surprisingly, he smiled!
"Baron Penin?"