ALL NOVEL Chapter 223
“Everyone has arrived well.”
I gathered the doctors and called a meeting.
“As you all know, the Demon King’s army has officially begun its invasion. The Kingdom is currently in a fierce battle. Hugo, have any reports come in?”
“Yes. Here’s the situation on the ground.”
Hugo projected a video.
On the plains of the kingdom’s border, the sky was already painted black. The magic emanating from the bodies of the demon race spread like ominous dark clouds.
The Demon King’s army was saturating the plains connected to the Mid-World. From the horizon, reinforcements were continuously arriving from the Demon Realm.
The kingdom’s forces were in a standoff with them. Lacking the capacity to build fortifications, over the past two years the kingdom had constructed barricades.
The tense-looking frontline defense unit was mostly composed of high-ranking adventurers and the kingdom’s defense force.
Hoo! Hoo!
The advance units of the Demon King’s army charged, leaping straight to the barricades. The battle commenced, and bloodshed ensued in an instant.
“That’s terrifying.”
“That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Only small skirmishes are occurring at the frontline. They seem to be gauging our strength, looking for an opening. It’s already been a month.”
“It won’t last much longer. The moment they determine there’s a breach, they’ll charge in without hesitation.”
The mood among the doctors grew heavy.
“The demon race isn’t just monsters. They possess intelligence. They are likely cautious about losing troops by carelessly mobilizing their entire army. If we hold strong, we can maintain this deadlock. Extending that period is our goal.”
“We need to buy time for the mage unit to reach the Demon Realm.”
“Exactly. For that support, we will also send doctors and healers. Medic units. Let’s set out with medical supplies as soon as we get volunteers.”
“Leave it to me. I’m confident against black magic.”
Hugo displayed his resolve. He was decided to lead the former country’s medic unit.
“Next, the healers to be dispatched to the Hero Party.”
“There are five final candidates. The head doctor taught them the strategies for attacking the Demon Realm and the Demon King’s castle himself.”
Hugo handed over a stack of documents. The listed doctors had followed difficult lessons that could warrant them being called my apprentices.
All of my knowledge in medicine and healing spells, as well as the experiences I gained from hundreds of resets, were passed on to them.
“Let’s have a final test.”
The final exam was conducted by recreating the environment of the Demon Realm and the Demon King’s castle. We brought in mages to see if they could effectively use healing and purification spells amidst the attacks from the last of the Four Heavenly Kings, Ritch.
And the candidate who scored the highest was decided.
“Gis.”
“Yes! Head Doctor.”
He was exceptionally talented in healing spells, having once competed with me for the position of attending physician long ago.
That was already seven years ago. From what I had observed of Gis since then, he had become quite humble and was very serious about medicine, adapting well to anything I assigned him.
“Do you think you can perform well with the Hero Party?”
“Of course. I’ll bring back the Demon King’s head as a trophy.”
“Isn’t it a dangerous position? Aren’t you worried?”
“I was born a man; should I not carve my name somewhere? For the greater good, my life isn’t worth much.”
He was overflowing with confidence. He still harbored quite a bit of ambition just as he did back then, but I considered it a good thing to have such a clear motivation.
His understanding of strategy was perfect. Even if the Demon King were right in front of him, he could dodge his spells with no trouble.
“Alright, you go.”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
Thus, Gis was selected and dispatched as the healer for the Hero Party.
[No. 005: Demon King’s army victory 19%]
The status window indicated that this was not a bad choice, and all that was left was to leave it to time.
I had changed much history until now. I took down three of the Four Heavenly Kings in advance, formed the Hero Party earlier, and sped up the installation of the teleport gate in the Demon Realm.
The original point at which I confronted the Demon King in the future was three years from now. During those three years, the human realm would be invaded by the Demon King’s army, leaving everything in ruins except for some parts of the Empire.
Thanks to everything accelerating compared to then, I could say the continent remained this intact.
I had a strong intuition that the time to reap the fruits of erasing the bad ending I’d been running toward was near.
Not long after, the Gothberg medic unit and Gis were dispatched. News from the battlefield was relayed in real-time.
It was reported that Ritch had appeared at the frontline. With the first line of defense collapsing under a powerful toxic spell, the main army had to retreat. Thanks to our unit, the frontline’s stamina was increased, leading to another month-long deadlock at the second line of defense.
At the same time, there was good news that the teleport gate was about to be installed.
The Hero Party finally set out and revealed themselves before Ritch, hoping to distract the enemy and ambush the Demon King’s castle.
Neria reported that Rishe had wiped out more than ten units of demons and undead in her first battle.
“Brother, you’re not going to the battlefield, right?”
As I was mixing potions to supply the allied forces, Neria asked me.
“That’s right. Why?”
“Um, I absolutely oppose you going to dangerous places. That… Oh dear, it’s nothing…”
Neria grew restless anytime the war was mentioned. Understandably, I continued my work with her little sister, who hadn’t grown even 10 centimeters taller in the last seven years, sitting on my lap.
Two weeks into the Hero Party’s expedition, news came in.
“Gis has fallen?”
The urgent message flew in via express communication sphere.
It seemed that he had shown unexpected prowess in battle but, overflowing with confidence, had been too aggressive and was struck directly by Ritch’s high-level magic, resulting in instant death.
Since Tanya had sent the report herself, it was undoubtedly accurate.
“Ah, goodness.”
I had warned them not to let their guard down so many times. All my efforts in teaching him were in vain.
In any case, he achieved what he wished for—he left his name as a hero of the Hero Party. To honor his sacrifice, we decided to hold a state funeral.
“What do we do now?”
While there were other candidates remaining, even the most excellent Gis made a fatal mistake in the end. If I counted, I had at least died to Ritch about ten or eight times myself.
[No. 005: Demon King’s army victory 19% → 20%]
Seeing the creeping increase in the bad ending probability, I felt that this wouldn’t do.
I needed to make a decision.
“I think we’ve done all we can to exert influence from the former country over the alliance.”
As a result, the overall probability dropped considerably.
Only routes where the Hero Party faces defeat remained, but this was something I had to control directly at the site.
“Neria.”
“Yes, brother?”
“If I say I’m heading to the Hero Party, you’ll oppose it, right?”
“Ah, um… that’s…?”
Neria furrowed her little fists and pondered for a long while before coming to a decision.
“I really don’t want you to go. But that’s just my emotional wish; I can’t force you… You’d have a lot to accomplish there, and there are trustworthy people to protect you.”
“There’s Tanya, and my other sister, and most importantly, Rishe too. In fact, it might be safer than here.”
“Right. And… um… uh!”
Neria untied a bracelet she was wearing and stuffed it into my pocket.
“It’s a talisman! Oh, this too! And this too!”
Neria took off her earrings, untied her hair bands, and stuffed all sorts of trinkets into my pocket. With this many talismans, I’d be protected even a hundred times over.
“Thanks. I’ll be careful.”
“Yes… You must come back safe.”
Neria tightly grasped my hand. I felt a delightful small and soft sensation.
“Ah, but brother, wouldn’t you being there breach the agreement? I’m sure the Kingdom of Law will raise a fuss about it.”
“They would. Since I’m leaving my position, the Kingdom of Law would undoubtedly be eager to fill that gap. If I, being a national high-ranking official, step in, they would come up with all sorts of reasons.”
“So what will you do?”
“I’m going to wear this.”
I lifted up a mask.
A plague doctor mask shaped like a crow.
A symbol of the physician’s council.
*
“Hero!”
“Ah, thank you.”
Rishe accepted the water bottle Tanya handed over. She gulped it down and took a breath of relief.
“While water is great, is there no meal yet? I’m hungry.”
The elven archer, Valen, complained. Since she was like a parrot when expressing her hunger, others generally ignored her.
The Hero Party was resting in a tent. The second line of defense at the kingdom’s border where they were located was also nearing its limit.
“The Demon King’s army seems endless.”
“Yes. I’ve heard about it, but their numbers are astonishing.”
They were gradually launching attacks with their vanguard, considering their troop losses. With overwhelming numbers, they aimed to exhaust us and push us back bit by bit.
Perhaps it was a blessing that it wasn’t a full-on assault yet. If the entire Demon King’s army filling up to the intermediate world’s horizon launched a total attack, both the kingdom and principality could fall within months.
“Healing is complete. Any more troublesome areas?”
The Saint, Ambrosia, asked.
She gently raised her arm to inspect the surface wounds she had healed with her golden magic.
“Your skills are lacking.”
“I’m left speechless. A girl as young as her should never be called lacking, honestly.”
Ambrosia pouted and jumped off the chair.
The mage, Acella, snorted.
That healer sent from the former country was the same; perhaps healers were always at this level.
Was it too much to expect skills equal to my attending physician?
“The outside is noisy.”
Tanya pulled back the tent flaps. Hugo strode in, heading directly to her.
“What’s the matter?”
“It’s the Kingdom of Law. They insist on sending their own healers to the party, so I chased them out.”
“Weren’t we to send new healers from the former country?”
“Yes. They’re supposed to be arriving soon.”
“It doesn’t matter who comes.”
Acella interjected coldly into the conversation between Hugo and Tanya.
“It’s obvious they’re no better than that fool who has already died. I couldn’t care less; just accept anyone.”
With a thud, the mage Acella stood up, her wand held imperiously.
“Time is of the essence. We have to fight immediately.”
Just then, there was another commotion outside. Hugo checked the situation and stepped out.
When he returned, he was with a doctor.
“They have arrived. This is the new member dispatched from the former country.”
A doctor entered the tent.
The party members fell silent upon seeing him.
Dressed not in white but in ominously dark attire.
A plague doctor mask covering his entire face.
He let out an ominous breath, bowed slightly, and spoke in a low tone.
“Greetings, Hero Party.”
His voice was more suited for a funeral director than a physician, having witnessed countless deaths.
“I am Doctor Faust. I’m here at the request of the former country.”
“Doctor Faust?”
Upon hearing the name, Tanya tilted her head.
“Indeed. I’m affiliated with the Physician’s Council. And…”
Faust nodded lightly.
“I’m the master of Lars Gothberg.”