Then, an ugly middle-aged man sitting in the middle spoke to Raymond.
âTry to fill in the heals.â
It was a high-handed tone.
âIs this Count Garrinson, whoâs in charge of this test?â
Raymond noticed the identity of a middle-aged man.
âAlright.â
A candle-like light rose faintly. The judges laughed even more at the white light that seemed to be going to be extinguished at any moment.
Count Garrinson and the other judges laughed at him.
âIâm embarrassed to see this.â
âIsnât that much worse than an F grade? That can be stated to be a healing power even.â Count Garrinson spoke in a sharp tone.
âI donât think youâre even qualified to take the promotion test. What are you thinking about taking the promotion test with that healing power? Is it funny to treat a patient?â It was a touch of sadness in his tone as if pitying Raymond.
Another apprentice would have turned pale.
However, Raymond was not expressing a speck of anxiousness even.
âI was expecting this.â Raymond thought to himself.
Itâs a test interview.
So it was obvious that the attack would be focused on his healing power.
So Raymond had thought of an expected answer to how he would respond when this situation came.
âThe question is, how much convincingly I could present my argument.â
âI was fortunate to have the help of the heart of steel.â
âOtherwise, I would have been so nervous that I couldnât even bring it up properly.â
âI have to speak as coherently as possible.â
Thinking so, Raymond breathed in.
To be honest, he was not a talker. Not even an eloquent speaker. What can he say so well when heâs always been criticized all his life?
Calmly, his oratorical skills were average.
âThatâs why I prepared for this.â
Raymond thought to himself.
Just in time, there was a skill that fits this situation in the market, so he bought it in advance.
âIâll answer your question.â
It was the moment when the story he had prepared came out.
A message came to his mind consequently.
[The skill âSpeechâ is manifested!]
[Speech]
Classification: Auxiliary Skills
Rating: Normal
Proficiency: D
â Youâll be able to talk better.
â Synergizes with the heart of steel when serving the patients.
Raymondâs voice became calm and firm without realizing it.
As soon as the examiners were startled, Raymond continued with a remarkable intensity and appeal to the speaker.
âFirst, Iâll answer the question of whether itâs funny to treat a patient. Itâs not funny. How can you think of that as a therapist? A therapist who has watched a dying patient by his side at least once would not dare to even think of such an idea.â
The examination room became quiet.
Raymondâs voice was heavy while containing the sincerity of thinking about the patient.
The examiners could no longer laugh lightly at Raymond upon seeing his heartfelt appearance.
Count Garrinson was also momentarily speechless before opening his mouth.
ââŚâŚyou know that your healing power is not qualified, right?â
âI know.â
âMy heart is pounding.â
Raymondâs heart raced.
âI couldnât believe that I was making such a proud and wonderful argument.â
âIâm too aware of my own shortcomings. So I tried even harder only to save my patients. As much as I lack, the more I tried so hard.â
There was a moment of silence.
They were overwhelmed by Raymondâs words.
Count Garrinson frowned.
Count Garrison was going to give Raymond the lowest score in the interview by pressuring him but things were going unexpectedly.
âIt doesnât matter how hard you tried. The important thing is whether we can really save the patient or not.â
It was a cold answer, but Raymond responded rather like this. âYouâre right. I agree with the Count.â
ââŚâŚ!â
âWhat kind of mind I have, how much I have tried, etc. is just a matter of my own. Whatâs really important is the ability to save the patient! Knowing that well, I studied and tried to save the patient somehow.â
The examiners asked while swallowing their saliva.
âIs that the ancient art of medicine?â
âYes.â
Raymond looked around the examiners.
âAs Count Garrinson said, the only important thing for a therapist is to save the patient. So I thought the ability to actually save the patient was more important than healing grade. Knowing that, I tried and studied medicine to find a way to save my patients. Donât the examiners agree with me?â
The examiners gave no answer to the question.
Because Raymond was not wrong.
Heals are meant to save the patients. To regard healing grades, which are merely a tool, as more important than his ability to treat actual patients is a complete overthrow.
The examiners who had been slapped by reality shut their mouths. The atmosphere at the examination site completely shifted toward Raymond.
Now they will no longer find fault with Raymondâs healing power rating.
Of course, that didnât mean that the promotion test was over. The most important stage remained.
âYouâre a good talker. Yes, the ability to actually treat patients is more important than the healing grade. But Lord Raymond, can you say that you have such ability?â
Raymond looked silently at Count Garrinson.
It was a silly question.
âIâm here to prove it.â
ââŚ.âŚ!â
âPlease let me know which patient I need to treat.â
Count Garrinsonâs lips wriggled at Raymondâs outspoken attitude.
âWeâll see. Will you still be able to make such a cheeky face after seeing a designated patient?â
âGo to the Alpin family on Lexington Street. The patient youâre going to treat is there.â
âAlright.â
Raymond bowed his head and turned his back.
Count Garrinson frowned at Raymondâs back.
Raymondâs imposing manner offended him.
âA cheeky fellow.â
Garrinson wanted to instill despair in his arrogant face.
âArenât you curious about the patientâs disease?â
âWhat is it?â
Count Garrinson spoke in a conciliatory tone.
It was as if he was telling him not to be scared after hearing it.
âItâs bedsore.â
Pressure ulcer?
As soon as the word spread, an infinite amount of heavy air fell on the test site.
âBedsore?!â
âTo think that he had to treat such a difficult disease in the promotion test.â
The examiners swallowed their salivas.
Not all examiners knew the name of the patient Raymond needed to treat.
Some examiners, who had not yet known the name of the disease, looked horrified.
âIf he is going to take the test and itâll be bedsore, then he might as well just fail now.â
How scary is a pressure ulcer?
It is a disease caused by the skin and tissue being crushed. It can only be slightly cured by using heals.
But for a while, it is a disease that decays and recoils and only worsens endlessly.
Wouldnât even a B+class healer failed treating this patient?
But what caught them, even more, surprised is Raymondâs reaction. He heard the terrible name of the disease called pressure ulcer, but there was no response.
Rather, he gave a strange distinct look.
ââŚbed sores?â
âYes, Iâm telling you in advance, itâs absolutely impossible to change the test patient. If you fail to treat the patient, you fail on this test.â
âIf I get to treat this patient, Iâll pass, right?â
ââŚâŚwhat?â
Count Garrinson looked at him wide-eyed.
Raymond didnât look desperate at all. Itâs more like he is welcoming the challenge.
He even questioned this as if he was checking.
âIt is really a pressure ulcer patient, right?â
ââŚâŚYes.â
âIf I manage to treat this patient, I will definitely pass?â
Count Garrinson frowned.
âYes, if you treat the patient, youâll pass, butâŚâŚ.â
âYou canât do that! â
It was the moment to say that, but Count Garrinson didnât do so.
Raymond bowed his head with great joy.
âYes, thank you! Then Iâll go and treat the patient!â
ââŚâŚ.â
The examiners looked blankly when they saw Raymond, who disappeared with excitement.
âWhat is thatâŚ? What is that?â
They muttered in confusion.
ââŚâŚDid he not know how difficult treating pressure ulcers is?â
âWhy didnât he even try pulling his hair due to frustration?â
They had no choice but to wonder all on their own.
***
Of course, Raymond knew what a pressure ulcer was.
He knows it in much more detail than anyone else on this continent. Certainly.
âWhat a relief!â
Raymond thought that Count Garrinson would flag when he heard it.
But Raymond meant it.
âI was worried about which patients would be assigned to me. If itâs bedsores, thereâs no need for me to worry.â
âIf it was a pressure ulcer, it is possible to treat it with the skill of a ânovice residentâ!
In âEarth,â bedsores are often treated exclusively at the resident level.
But for one reason, this is not an easy disease to treat for heals. Apparently, even a B+ class senior healer failed.
âBut because I am doing this, it will surely work.â
With that in mind, Raymond arrived at the patientâs place.
âThis is the place.â
When he opened the door and entered, a skinny old man was lying on the bed. The acrid smell pierced his nose almost instantly.
âIt doesnât smell good. Iâm sorry.â
Franc, the son of an old patient, said apologetically.
âI heard your bathroom stinks. It sure does smell bad.â
Raymond thought to himself.
âWhat I knew as âknowledgeâ and what I actually felt were the difference between heaven and earth. An unpleasant feeling came in.â
But Raymond didnât show his heart on the surface.
If he shows dislike, they will surely get hurt.
âItâs okay. Itâs only natural because of the disease. I think the patient seems to be suffering a lot because of this.â Rather, Raymondâs answer, who was worried about the patient, made an admiring face. So far, all the other therapists have frowned on them. âI am going to be different,â
Raymond asked then. âDoes your father not move at all?â
âYes, itâs been a long time since. He had been lying down like that because of old age.â
Raymond nodded.
It was a typical case of pressure ulcer patients.
âLetâs look at the wound.â
The employee who followed him along guided him to the patientâs body.
Itâs somewhat in the hip area. To be exact, there was a big hole in the flesh of his tailbone!
It was a horrible sight to look at!
The exposed flesh was full of inflammation and turned dirty. Not to mention the yellow pus flowing out. There were parts that turned black because they rotted here and there already.
âHmmm.â
Raymond swallowed his saliva.
The condition was worse than he thought.
It was hard to look at because of his stomach, but I held it in.
âBut itâs a relief. No bones have been exposed yet. Thatâs enough. Itâs level three. I can cure it with my skills.â
If bones are exposed and infected, treatment becomes very difficult. There were times when bones had to be cut.
Fortunately, it didnât seem to be in such a worst condition.
âWith this grade, he can recover quickly if he takes good care of it.â
âOh, what do you think?â asked Fran, guardian, in a trembling voice.
Since the therapist who had been spooned so far failed, he seemed to be very worried.
âIt can be cured.â
âReally?! Is that true?!â
Franâs eyes grew wider by the second in disbelief.