第１７３２堀：仲良くなるために教えて (Part1)
Chapter 1732: Tell Me So We Can Get Along
Side: Eris
"Yes. Do you feel any discomfort?"
"No, there is no problem at all."
The exchange was taking place between Rurua and Queen Dana, the wife of King Oue. Beside me, Princess Suena watched the proceedings with a look of concern.
To explain what was happening: we were performing a check-up on the pregnant Queen Dana. Because Yuki and Rurua had healed King Oue and Captain Martin, the royals had clearly pegged us as experts in recovery, leading them to request that Rurua examine the Queen.
Incidentally, Yuki was currently explaining the military forces Stasia had brought to King Oue and Captain Martin.
"...Um, what am I supposed to do?"
"I'm in the same boat, so just bear with it."
Just as Stasia had arrived, Kagura and Enora had joined us as well. Since Enora was a beastman, she had accompanied Yuki to the front lines as a member of the medical support team. Kagura had come to verify the summoning arts, but since she couldn't exactly ignore Princess Suena or Queen Dana, she was left waiting for Rurua’s examination to conclude.
Well, I was here partly for Rurua’s sake, and partly for the newly arrived Kagura. Since the two of them were humans and I was an elf—the same as King Oue and his court—it was decided that this arrangement was for the best.
Ratz, meanwhile, had returned to prepare the supplies. Once those supplies were handed over, the army would move, and things would become chaotic; this strangely idle time was just a fleeting moment of peace.
While I was lost in thought, Rurua pressed her stethoscope to the Queen’s abdomen and used magic to conduct her examination, jotting down notes on a chart. It was a familiar sight to see Rurua at work, but watching her remain so composed while facing a belly containing a new life—it really made you feel like you were in the presence of a true doctor.
"There we are. Since this was the first examination, we will need to continue these sessions. I ask for your cooperation starting tomorrow as well."
"I would be delighted. We are truly grateful that you have treated the King and humored my daughter’s unreasonable requests."
"Not at all. There have been many complications, but cherishing one's spouse and child is only natural. Now, I would like to speak with your personal physician, so please, do get some rest."
After briefly requesting further cooperation, Rurua moved to speak with the Queen’s personal doctor. It made sense; to a physician who had been caring for the Queen until now, having a stranger—a human, no less—suddenly step in to assess the Queen’s condition would normally be considered madness.
There was also the matter of the doctor's professional pride. If we didn't communicate properly and ended up interfering, it wouldn't just be our reputation at stake—it could jeopardize the lives of Queen Dana and her child. In such a case, our position would become precarious, so a discussion was absolutely essential.
While they talked, Queen Dana left the room with her attendants, leaving Princess Suena to begin the discussion with the personal physician.
"Now, once again, I am Rurua. At the request of King Oue and Princess Suena here, I have examined Queen Dana and her child."
"Thank you for your polite greeting. I am Chinau, the Queen’s personal physician."
The initial exchange wasn't particularly icy. It seemed the doctor wasn't overly hot-headed.
"First, I must offer an apology. I have encroached upon the domain of you, Chinau, who has been responsible for the Queen’s health until now."
"No, no. I cannot say I have no thoughts on the matter, but I understand why His Majesty and the Princess insisted. After all, you healed the King and Captain Martin. Even I and the other healers had given up hope."
So replied Chinau, an elderly female elf healer. The term "personal physician" implied that the concepts and techniques of medicine existed here as well. However, the lack of hostility was likely due to having witnessed the healing of the King and the Captain. After all, having seen that, our skill was beyond doubt.
"Having seen that, I could never doubt the capabilities of you and your colleagues, Rurua-sama. You have offered such excessive apologies, and under normal circumstances, I would have expected nothing but insults from you toward those of us who could not heal them."
"Haha, there is no 'good' or 'bad' when it comes to the desire to heal others. Though, I will certainly speak up if I see a treatment I believe is incorrect. For that very reason, I want to align our information. I recognize that you and I live in different places and possess different knowledge regarding medicine. If we proceed without understanding those differences, it will only lead to mutual distrust."
"Indeed. This time it was only an examination, so I have no particular complaints, but when it comes to actual treatment, the lives of the Queen and her child are at stake. It is far better to discuss it here than to clash in the moment."
That was certainly true. Being told to stop during a treatment could be a matter of life and death for the patient, and for the person who stopped it, it was usually because they believed the original treatment would cost the patient their life—a situation where neither side could back down.
Still, we were just sitting here with nothing to do. As I thought this, I caught Princess Suena’s eye. It seemed she was bored, too.
In that case...
"Hey, Rurua. I know healers might have a lot to talk about, but we’re just sitting here with nothing to do. Would it be alright if we chatted with Princess Suena?"
"Oh? Ah, yes, that’s true. It’s a bit boring when the conversation turns to technical matters, isn't it? You aren't exactly busy either, so as long as we’re in the same room, is that alright?"
"Yes. Well, I’m sure you can handle it, Rurua."
"Please, don't say that. Ah, Princess Suena, how about you?"
"Oh, yes. I must admit, the technical talk is a bit beyond my understanding, so I would be happy to speak with Eris-sama and the others."
And so, while the two of them aligned their plans for the Queen and her unborn child, we began our own conversation.
"Then, to introduce myself again, I am Eris. I am in charge of accounting for Weed—I’m not sure how you would phrase it here, but I manage the finances."
"I am Kagura, in charge of magic research and diplomacy for Weed."
As we finished our introductions, Princess Suena greeted us in turn.
"Thank you for your kindness. I am Suena, Princess of the Oue Kingdom. I am truly sorry for the immense trouble we have caused, and I thank you deeply for hearing our request."
She bowed her head deeply. Yes, it really was an incredible amount of trouble. What they had done was essentially pick a fight not just with Weed, but with the Intercontinental Exchange Alliance. With the Alliance already on edge due to the kidnapping of villagers, the fact that the summoning-abduction was true had only made matters worse. And yet, to have Rurua herself look after their sick and injured—it was a situation that would make any other nation envious.