Chapter 533: 533 Treatment centers and their patients.
I see. ā¦ā¦ makes sense. Unless everyone here is trying to trick me, I guess this is fifteen years in the future.
The previous Dragon and Phoenix Emperor, Ryuma, looked out the window at the cityscape and muttered quietly.
So, for him, he has come to the future.
āMaster Ryuma, ā¦ā¦.
Iām most surprised that youāre Houka. I am most surprised that you are Houka, but I never thought that the naughty tomboy princess would change so much. The passage of time is a terrible thing.
What do you mean, āterrifyingā?ćIāve grown up too!
Iāve grown up too!ā His Majesty the Phoenix Emperor called out in concern, but his cheeks puffed up when the previous Dragon Emperor replied with a laugh. Apparently, His Majesty the Phoenix Emperor was a very active girl when she was a child. Nowadays, both of them look the same age.
āSo, about the future, ā¦ā¦ what will happen to me?
Sitting on a chair, the previous Dragon Emperor looked at His Majesty Emperor Feng and Prime Minister Longshan, who were sitting in front of him.
It is ā¦ā¦ hoped that Lord Longma will return to be the Dragon Emperor again. ā¦ā¦
But it has already been fifteen years since the reign of Feng Hua, right?ćIām not sure what to make of it. Iām not sure what to do. I donāt know whatās been going on in this country or in other countries. I donāt want to be a naive Dragon and Phoenix Emperor.
I donāt want to be a naive Dragon and Phoenix Emperor.ā āThatās something Lord Longma can easily learn from ā¦ā¦!
I donāt want to be a naive Dragon and Phoenix Emperor,ā he said, holding out his hand to stop him.
Iām not sure if youāve heard of this, but Iām sure youāve heard of it. I think itās wrong to give him the throne just because he came back to life. If the first Dragon and Phoenix Emperor came back to life, would you give him the throne?ćTo a man from the past, hundreds of years ago, who has never known this era.
āThatās ā¦ā¦.ā
Well, if the once dead Dragon and Phoenix Emperor were to take the throne again, the world would be confused. I can understand His Majesty the Feng Emperorās feelings, but it would be irresponsible for him to abdicate the throne just because of his own feelings of redemption.
Donāt look at me like that. I will not take the throne, but as a member of the Dragon Clan, I will spare no effort. I will work for this country once again. This time as your vassal.
āLord Longma, ā¦ā¦
His Majesty the Feng Emperor looks down with a complicated face. Iām not sure what to make of it.
Iām not sure what to make of it.
I am truly grateful for the kindness of your country. I sincerely hope that the Dragon and Phoenix Kingdom and the Duchy of Brunhild will be able to build a long-lasting friendship.
It sounds like heās leaving it up to others, but heās not on the emperorās throne anymore, so he couldnāt possibly be speaking to us as a national decision. He only expressed his gratitude and hope for us as individuals.
āYes, of course!ćThe Dragon and Phoenix Kingdom will never forget this favor. As an ally, we will do everything we can.
Now that I had His Majestyās approval, I decided to ask him to share the Moonlight Tree Drops, which were running low.
He said he would hurry up and collect them for me, so I would come back in a few days to receive them. Now I can make another batch of the Golden Potion recovery potion.
āGolden Potion?ćWhatās that?
Itās not the emperor anymore, itās Emperor Longma ā¦ā¦ who interrupted the conversation between me and His Majesty Emperor Feng. Iām not sure what to do.
Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for.
āSuch a thing is ā¦ā¦!ćCan it only be cured by that recovery potion?
āNot at the moment. Oh, no, I can manage to heal it with a recovery magic called ćRecoveryć. However, the only users of this magic are me and Erna here. ā¦ā¦
When I explained this, Erna, who had only been quietly listening to me, suddenly stood up.
Erna, who had only been listening quietly, suddenly stood up.ćIf I can cure them with my magic, I want to be cured!ćIf I can heal them with my magic, I want to!
āWell, ā¦ā¦, if you really can heal them, Iād like to ask you to do so, but ā¦ā¦. The patients are in an abnormal state of mind. Some of them are delirious and may attack suddenly, and are not ā¦ā¦ suitable for children to see.
His Majesty the Feng Emperor glanced over at us, slurring his words.
The Golden Potion is not a drug that causes mental abnormalities. Itās also a great way to make sure you donāt end up in a situation where you canāt get out of it. Thatās why it has a wide range of abnormalities.
If the soul is eroded, the person becomes a walking dead, and if the body as well as the mind undergoes abnormal changes, the person becomes a demon like the half-fish.
If not only the mind but also the body undergoes abnormal changes, it will become a demon like the half-fish.ćI guess His Majesty the Emperor Feng is asking me if I can show such a thing to my children.
However, if the curse is completed, it can no longer be cured by [Recovery] or recovery medicine.
As Erna said, if I can help her, I should help her.
Itās okay. If itās this girl, Iāll protect her.
Else stood up and put her hand on Ernaās shoulder. Iām not sure what to make of that. Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for.
Iām not sure what to do, but Iām sure Iām not the only one. He also told me that if I do it, I should get paid properly. Iāll ask Kosaka-san about that later.
While I was thinking about this, a person from the Dragon Clan knocked on the door and said, āExcuse me.
He approached the Prime Minister, Mr. Ryuzan, gave him an earful, and left the room immediately.
Ryuzan-sanās eyebrows raised slightly as he heard the conversation. Is there something wrong?
Ryuma-san calls out to his friend who has become older than him.
āWhatās wrong?ā
No, I told Ryuuma-samaās awakening to Ryuuya-sama at the Dragon Treasure House, but ā¦ā¦. There was no reply. ā¦ā¦
āā¦ā¦ I see.
Iām sure youāll be able to understand why.
Iām sure youāre aware of that.ćItās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for.ćItās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for.
Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for. Ryuuma-sama is ā¦ā¦.
Iām coming with you. Iād like to see the town for the first time in fifteen years, and if thatās the case, I need to check on the situation.
What?ćYouāre following me?
I couldnāt help but widen my eyes. Even though you were dead until a few hours ago.
Iām not sure what to say.ćYou should rest first. ā¦ā¦
āIām not tired. Iām not tired. Fifteen years have passed, but my time has not passed since the day I died, has it?ćIām fine.
But you need to eat. ā¦ā¦
Donāt worry, Iāll eat in town.
The difference between the troubled face of His Majesty the Emperor Feng and the buoyant face of Ryoma is incredible. Itās a good idea to take a look at the actual information on the web and also the web site.
āMmm!ćYouāre not the Dragon and Phoenix Emperor anymore, so youāre free to go out there!ćWonderful!
Apparently, he was excited to be free from the emperorās throne and could roam around the city freely. Well, I donāt know how I feel about that.
Basically, the Dragon and Phoenix Emperor never goes down to the city and spends all his time inside the palace.
Therefore, there are few people in the castle town who know Ryuuma-sanās face. Even if they did, they would probably think that they had the wrong person, since he had died fifteen years ago.
Mr. Ryuma was assigned to follow the sanatorium as an escort for the Prime Minister, Mr. Ryuzan. Itās a formality, but itās a reversal of master and servant.
His Majesty the Emperor Feng also wanted to come with him, but as expected, the Prime Minister stopped him. I guess he was worried about you, Longma.
As we boarded the carriage to go to the town together, Ryoma muttered to himself as he looked at the scenery outside.
Iām not sure if Iām in a position to be worried about Houka. ā¦ā¦
I can understand why you are confused. Iām not sure what to do. Iām not sure what to do.
Iām sure youāre not the only one. Thatās right, when a child you thought was a child turns out to be an adult, you donāt know how to deal with it.
As an unborn child from the future, I can sympathize a little.
There are a lot of Golems in Orphans, arenāt there?
Hisato asked Ryuzan as he looked out the window of the carriage at the town. You can certainly see a few golems here and there. I feel that there are a lot of boarding type and autonomous type. Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for.
Iām not sure what to make of it. Most of the products are imported from there. Iām not sure what to make of it.
The most widespread source of golden magic pills is the old Isengard. Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for. Itās a great way to make sure youāre getting the most out of your money.
It would not be surprising if someone brought drugs into the country. Of course, there is also a high possibility that the āEvil Godās Apostleā that Yakumo encountered is working in the dark in this country.
The factory has been shut down since Isengard was destroyed, and now the import of golems has been halted. The price of golems is going up day by day, but since they are coming in from the Triharan Empire, it will eventually settle down.
ā¦ā¦ Wait a minute. Isengard has been destroyed?ćIām not sure what to say.ćWhatās the matter?
Iām sure youāll be happy to know that Iām not the only one.
Iām not sure what to make of it, but Iām sure itās a good idea.
Iām not sure what to make of this, but I think itās a good idea. Iām so embarrassed.
Itās not that Iāve done anything embarrassing, butā¦
Iām not sure what to make of it. Erna is a little proud of it. Hisato is ā¦ā¦ unconcerned as usual. Iām a little sad.
Iām not sure what to say. Iām not sure what to make of it.
Iām not sure if itās a remnant, but it seems to be a different organization that gained its power.
I donāt think the Evil Godās Apostle had any direct connection with Yura or that Niet-God. Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for. Iām not sure what to make of it.
While we were talking about this, the carriage arrived at the sanatorium.
As we got off the carriage, we were greeted by a white two-story wooden building. There was no clock, but the building looked like the Sapporo Clock Tower.
There is a plaque with the Dragon and Phoenix Kingdomās emblem on it, though, where I wish there was a clock. So this is the sanatorium of the Dragon and Phoenix Kingdom.
Iāve heard that this sanatorium is already only for patients of the Golden Potion, but just in case, Iāll cover everyone with [Prison] to prevent viruses such as colds and illnesses from entering. This should prevent any pathogens from entering.
This way.
The staff of the sanatorium led us through the entrance and down a long corridor. We walked through the entrance and down a long corridor. The smell of disinfectant, similar to that of a hospital, hit my nose.
We entered a large room with several beds, and were speechless when we saw the lifeless people lying there.
The patients in this room are relatively mildly ill. They may be conscious or unconscious, but they donāt seem to be flailing.
One of the staff at the treatment center told me. One of the staff members at the clinic told me that. All they do is stare at the ceiling with vacant eyes and make incomprehensible little grunts.
When I looked to the side, I saw Erna with a blue face and a tightly knit mouth. I guess she was still in shock. ā¦ā¦
Iām sure youāll be fine.
āā¦ā¦ No, Iām fine. I can do it. Iāll fix you up.
Erna replied crisply to Else, who looked worriedly into her daughterās face.
In the event that youāre not sure what youāre looking for, itās possible that youāll be able to find it in the marketplace.
ā[Recovery].
A soft light enveloped the woman lying on the bed. As the light settled, the woman who had been mumbling with empty eyes stopped mumbling, and before she knew it, her eyes were back in focus.
She blinked a few times and moved her head to take in her surroundings.
āIs this ā¦ā¦?ćOh, am I ā¦ā¦?
I donāt believe it. ā¦ā¦ I donāt believe it. ā¦ā¦!
The staff of the treatment center was surprised to see a woman who was raising her upper body.
Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for and how to get there. Iām sure youāre not the only one. I know how you feel.
Iām sure you can understand.
āYes!
When I urged her, Erna moved to the patient lying on the next bed.
To be honest, it would have been quicker if I had done everything myself, but Erna, who was so shy, volunteered to do it. I want to cherish that feeling.
Else seemed to think so too, and didnāt say anything to me.
One after another, Erna applied ćRecoveryćto the patients.
Iāve never paid much attention to it myself, but the magic power used for ćRecoveryćis quite large. Iāve never paid much attention to it myself, but the magic power used for ćRecoveryćis quite large. Iām not sure if itās the same as a court magician at this point, but itās probably more than that.
Erna has three magical aptitudes. Fire, water, and light. This is the same aptitude as her aunt, Linze.
She also used the light attribute of recovery magic to heal patients who had been soaked in magic potions.
Iām not sure if these people are going to be okay, even though they were healed by Ernaās magic. ā¦ā¦ I wonder if theyāll try to use magic again just because theyāre feeling better.
Else said what I had also been wondering. I think itās safe to say that. The only reason I got involved with golden potions is because I was conned into believing they were good for the Golden Flower Disease, and while they may give me some pleasure, they are not that addictive.
The potion is a curse. If you know youāre going to be cursed, I donāt think youāll go out of your way to be cursed. If you know you are going to be cursed, you wonāt go out of your way to be cursed. Even so, some people canāt stop smoking or drinking even if the doctor stops them. ā¦ā¦
In the meantime, Iāve recorded my appearance before I was cured. I think it would be good for them to see this before they leave the hospital and hear how much they were in danger.
Hisato tells me this as he raises the phone in his hand. When did you get ā¦ā¦.
Itās true that if you see yourself saying that, you might think twice about messing with it again.
What if I still mess with it?
I donāt think the Dragon and Phoenix Kingdom would take care of you that well.ćI thought it was my own responsibility. I think itās wrong for you to think that you can be saved again and again.
Iām not sure what to make of this, but Iām sure itās a good idea. Thatās kind of harsh, ā¦ā¦. Are you really six years old?
Iām not sure what to make of this. A brazen person can be brazen to any extent. When you take someoneās kindness for granted, you donāt deserve to enjoy their kindness.
Itās annoying when people take Ernaās actions for granted. What Kuon is saying is harsh, but I donāt think heās wrong.
Erna eventually finished healing all the patients in the room, but those here were relatively mild cases. The more serious ones were kept in the isolation room in the basement.
The staff took us down the stairs to the quarantine room.
āUgh⦠ā¦ā¦
Who was it that let out that sound?
It was called an isolation room, but it was actually a prison. The patients were placed in iron cages.
Some of them look like theyāre on the verge of becoming fishermen, while others have hairy bodies like animals. They were all different in appearance, and all of them had some kind of physical change.
And all of them could not feel reason. In one of the cages, some of them were screaming and flailing while being tied up in restraints.
Erna clung to Else and endured her fear.
āSister Erna, are you okay?
āNo, Iām fine. ā¦ā¦
Hisato is worried about Erna. Itās a good idea to have a good idea of what youāre looking for.
Iām not sure what to make of this.
The people here will only regain consciousness for a few hours every day or two. Weāve been working on them, hoping that they can still make it. ā¦ā¦
The staff of the treatment center spoke without effort. The efforts of these people are mind-boggling. But this is a curse. This is not a field that can be managed by medical treatment.
Even so, I think it is thanks to these people that the curse was able to be stopped when it could have been completed long ago. The patients were also desperately resisting. They were desperately resisting the thing that was eating them.
Erna, are you okay?
āā¦ā¦, Iām fine. Watch me, Mom.
Iām not sure if itās a good idea, but itās a good idea.
ā[Recovery].
āOh, ā¦ā¦!
The people around her let out a cry of admiration. The man who had been half-fish in the cage was covered in light and slowly regained his original body.
When the light subsided, the patient man collapsed on the spot. One of the surprised staff unlocked the door and went inside to check on him.
Heās alive: ā¦ā¦. Heās fine, heās just fainted.
The staff memberās words made Erna let out a smile as if she was relieved. Else looks happy, too. We are now watching our child grow up.
Confident in her success, Erna frees the patients in the cage from the curse one after another.
All the patients in the cage fainted, but the curses were all lifted and they regained their human form.
In this way, the magic medicine patients were wiped out from Orpheus, the royal capital of the Dragon and Phoenix Kingdom.