Chapter 20 : The Alchemist of Adela (4)
A short while later, a pleasant conversation unfolded between Pollak and me in the Guest Room.
“I have heard plenty about the side you have shown recently, Young Master, but seeing you in person today, I realized that the rumors actually fail to convey your true worth. Haha.”
“Rumors. I wonder what you are referring to. I suddenly became curious.”
In terms of the quality of lineage, I, who inherited the blood of the ducal family, was a much higher ‘top-grade product,’ but.
Since I did not have an official title yet and the Viscount was much older, we were speaking to each other with formal respect.
“Haha, what other rumors could there be? It was the rumor that you have become incomparably dignified compared to before, Young Master. Haha.”
“Did people say that? That I have at least started to act somewhat like a human being.”
“Act like a human being? You are too modest.”
“Well. Honestly, I do not know. I just lived as I always did. It is surprising that people see me that way.”
“Oh my, look at this, you are even humble. Hahaha.”
Watching Viscount of Adela, who laughed heartily over and over at my words which were not even that funny, I muttered inwardly.
‘Rat-like bastard.’
In fact, I had done some investigation on ‘Pollak,’ the noble ruling Adela, before coming here.
‘Pollak’ was a noble who took the commercial city of ‘Adela,’ located in the southwest of the Reichart territory, as his domain, and he was famous for his stout physique and a cunning nature that did not match his appearance.
Adela was not large in scale, but as a city located at a strategic point connecting the Reichart territory and the capital, it was valued quite highly due to its geographical advantage.
Because of this, the situation was such that both Reichart and Vispon were beckoning to Pollak, who ruled Adela.
And Pollak, who knew this situation all too well,
‘Is sweating profusely while walking a tightrope.’
Was busy going back and forth between Reichart and Vispon to gain various interests.
However, since his skills and actions in gaining those interests were so base, my gaze toward Pollak could only be crooked.
But I was smiling while hiding those inner thoughts, and it was the same for Pollak, who showed a smile while concealing his true intentions.
‘So this guy turned over a new leaf recently? Thanks to that, the expectations placed on him by the Duke’s faction have grown quite a bit, and conversely, Madam Vispon’s side is gnashing their teeth at him…….’
Like Pollak, who was famous for being quick-witted, he knew the recent trends within the Reichart family inside out.
And he also knew well what role I played in creating that turbulence.
That is why Pollak was trying to sound me out by heaping all sorts of sweet talk on me, who was acting as the ‘eye of the storm’ in the typhoon originating from Reichart.
Of course, while paying special attention so that no words that would directly offend the Vispon Family were mixed in those sweet words.
‘You two families need to keep waging a war of nerves like now. That way, there will be something for me to gain.’
I evaluated Pollak as being like a rat, but in fact, Pollak was at least a figure amounting to an old fox.
After conversing with the old fox for a while, I brought up the main topic when I thought the atmosphere was ripe.
“Lord Adela, in fact, the reason I came here is not simply to greet you.”
“Haha, then are you saying there is another reason why you visited this humble place, Young Master?”
“That is correct. Lord Adela, I will speak straightforwardly. I heard there is a trouble in your family recently?”
Pollak’s expression stiffened for a moment at my words that hit the mark.
No matter how seasoned a fox he was, he could not maintain perfect composure even regarding his child’s problem.
“In fact, my father already knows what problem exists in your family.”
“Haha, for the Duke to take interest in a trivial problem of our family? It is too excessive…….”
“And he sent me here to solve that problem.”
“He sent you to solve the problem, Young Master?”
“Yes. That is correct. In fact, I had a brief interest in Magical Alchemy when I was younger, so I have some learning in that field.”
“……Is that so? Haha, I did not know that fact.”
Even if he became somewhat human-like recently, a guy who was a complete scoundrel until not long ago is well-versed in Magical Alchemy?
Pollak forced a smile, trying to hide his disbelief.
“So, if it is alright, may I take a look at your son’s condition?”
“You yourself, Young Master?”
“Yes. In fact, I came after hearing various advice from Sir Bolpar and the family’s attending physician before coming here. Would you give me a chance to examine your son?”
Hearing my proposal, Pollak was lost in thought for a moment but soon nodded his head.
“I understand. Since a noble person like you is willing to put in the effort yourself, and moreover, there were the Duke’s words, how could I refuse?”
Of course, it was not that Pollak completely trusted my skills.
The reports that I was showing a significantly changed appearance recently and the Special Official Pass issued by Redin, who never did anything in vain, made him make the decision.
Furthermore, didn’t I say that the attending physician of the Reichart Family, who is renowned in this area, gave advice?
“Thank you for trusting the lacking me. Then will you guide me to your son?”
“Of course, I should. Look here, is anyone there?”
As soon as there was Pollak’s call, the servant waiting outside the door came in and bowed his waist.
“Tell Jueskint. Tell him to be ready as I will be bringing a precious guest.”
The servant left the Guest Room with quick steps.
A short while later, Pollak rose from his seat and guided me.
Following behind the unusually obese Pollak, I muttered inwardly.
‘Jueskint…….’
***
“I greet you, Young Master. I am called Jueskint Mello, who is receiving the stipend of the Adela Family.”
What welcomed me upon arriving at Pollak’s son’s room was a scrawny middle-aged man.
“He is the friend who is serving as my family’s attending physician.”
“Nice to meet you.”
I paid little attention to Jueskint and immediately approached Pollak’s son who was lying in bed.
“…….”
And Jueskint was not taking his eyes off my back with that peculiar hysterical expression.
Wheeze wheeze.
Whether he was asleep, the breathing sound of Pollak’s son, ‘Baum,’ was relatively calm, but his face was pale.
“Hmm…….”
I felt the sleeping boy’s pulse, checked his condition, and then asked a few questions.
And immediately made a diagnosis.
“It is Dorapin Syndrome. Looking at the patient, it seems about three months have passed since the disease progressed.”
“Did you say Dorapin Syndrome?”
“Yes. As far as I know, Baum was recently preparing to enter the Magic Academy, is that true?”
“It is true, Young Master.”
“Hmm, then Baum must have consumed a lot of medicines good for the body recently?”
“Yes. Since the Entrance Exam is ahead, I did acquire and feed him a few Elixirs known to be good for mana enhancement. But are you saying that caused the problem?”
Pollak nodded his head and asked back.
“Well, rather than the Elixirs themselves being bad for the body, should I say the problem was that Baum’s age is too young to handle that much nutrient? Hey, Jueskint.”
“Did you call? Young Master.”
“What is your thought?”
“I apologize, but my knowledge is shallow so regarding the name of the disease you mentioned…….”
I, who was examining, suddenly asked for Jueskint’s opinion, and Jueskint blurred his speech with a somewhat uncomfortable expression.
“Is that so? You mean your knowledge is shallow.”
I showed a beaming smile and scribbled something on paper.
“In fact, Sir Bolpar has mentioned to me. That considering the circumstances and symptoms, the disease Baum is suffering from is highly likely to be ‘Dorapin Syndrome.’”
“Then, Young Master, Sir Bolpar has…….”
“Yes. Since Sir Bolpar has already told me the prescription, Baum will be able to show improvement soon.”
“Oh, how grateful I am!”
A short while later, I handed the paper densely scribbled on to Jueskint.
“Here, prepare the medicine exactly as I wrote.”
“……I will follow your orders, Young Master.”
Jueskint accepted the Prescription I gave him with a polite posture.
But my sharp gaze did not miss it.
The trembling of Jueskint’s eyes upon checking the content of the Prescription.
“Do not blame yourself too much.”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, do not blame yourself too much for not uncovering the name of Baum’s disease. This is originally a disease name difficult to uncover for someone without knowledge of magic.”
“Thank you for your comforting words, Young Master.”
“Ah, just in case, it is very, very important to follow the order for this Prescription. So, you must absolutely never violate the or. der. I decided. Understood?”
“I will keep it in mind…… and keep it in mind again, Young Master.”
At my words daring to emphasize the order, Jueskint’s eyes shook even more violently.
Watching Jueskint’s back as he hurriedly left the room, I burst into a sneer inwardly.
‘I knew it would be like this.’
In fact, my words that I had knowledge in Magical Alchemy were not a lie.
Like the one who achieved the stage of Archmage in the previous life, I had some learning in Magical Alchemy and medicine as well.
Therefore, the moment I faced Baum, I could be certain.
‘Someone pulled a trick.’
Although Dorapin Syndrome was a rare disease, it was never a serious illness impossible to cure.
Furthermore, there is no way Gabriel would have messed up a prescription that I could simply estimate, right?
Then, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that someone tampered with Gabriel’s prescription.
Among them, the most likely suspect was highly likely to be the attending physician overseeing the Adela Family’s health issues.
And looking at Jueskint’s expression and demeanor, my guess seemed to be true.
‘He probably chose a method like switching the manufacturing order rather than ignoring Gabriel’s Prescription entirely. That way, it would have been easier to shift the blame when something happened later.’
The reason Jueskint showed a particularly more hypersensitive reaction to my order to strictly observe the sequence must have been because of this as well.
Like that, after about an hour had passed.
“Viscount, I have brought the medicine.”
The medicine prepared according to my order came up held in Jueskint’s hands.
And about 30 minutes after Baum took the medicine.
“Oh oh! How can this be!”
Color began to return to Baum’s pale face.
“I do not know how to express my gratitude to the Duke and to your grace, Young Master…….”
“Don’t mention it. I did not do anything great, so you do not have to say such things.”
Confirming that his son’s condition had improved, Pollak was jumping with joy, clasping my hands and bowing his head over and over.
I smiled while meeting Pollak’s eyes.
Of course, inwardly…….
‘It seems he has quite a talent for walking a tightrope while reading the room, but to not even know what kind of human the family attending physician is. It seems he has an eye for seeing money streams but no eye for judging people.’
Although I was wearing a cold sneer.
“I suffered so much heartache because there was no improvement in that child’s illness all this time. In fact, since last month, I even called all the famous doctors and Alchemists in the vicinity to hear their opinions.”
“Ah, did you?”
“Haha, although it all ended in vain. Anyway, I truly, truly thank you.”
When Pollak said he had called competent Alchemists from the vicinity, my gaze was resting on Jueskint.
“…….”
Jueskint had to tremble as if he had been struck by lightning.
After several greetings were exchanged like that.
“Viscount, if it is alright, may I talk with Jueskint for a moment? In fact, there are a few things I need to request regarding Baum’s recuperation.”
“Of course, you must do as you please, Young Master. I am only grateful if you care that much, haha.”
“Thank you. Jueskint, I would like to talk in a quiet place for a moment.”
“……I will guide you.”
Jueskint guided me while biting his lip.
The moment I faced Jueskint alone in the Attending Physician’s Private Room we eventually arrived at.
Grin.
A sharp smile formed on my lips.