Chapter 82
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I'll purchase divine power with money.
Chapter 82
"Good heavens...."
The situation inside was far more dire than I'd anticipated.
Rosetta clapped her hand over her mouth in shock at the anguished moans echoing from every corner.
Three physicians moved about frantically, yet it was painfully clear their efforts were insufficient.
"High Priestess!"
Monica and Victoria Lawrence came rushing in alongside the priests at that very moment.
I issued orders immediately.
"Monica and the priests—assess the critically wounded first. Have the Holy Knights and attendants handle patients treatable with potions."
"Yes!"
Those who received the command dispersed in perfect unison.
It was fortunate I'd brought an abundance of potions, just in case.
"Thank you, thank you, High Priestess...."
As golden divine power radiated softly throughout the ward, Rosetta wept openly, bowing her head repeatedly.
Ricassa too had his lips pressed firmly together.
"I'll accept your gratitude later. For now, we need more hands—please summon the maids and servants. They're perfectly capable of administering potion-based treatment."
"We, we don't have potions...."
Rosetta's face flushed with embarrassment.
The reality that they couldn't participate in treatment due to lacking potions clearly frustrated and exasperated her.
What was the problem with that?
"The potions are right here."
I abruptly produced the spatial pouch I'd been carrying.
It was brimming with Sun God brand potions.
"Such precious items...."
"They're not free. I'll be charging for all of them."
There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Especially not when our Potion Production Team burned through their very lives to craft these.
Yet rather than being taken aback by my words, Rosetta burst into laughter, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Yes, yes! Of course! We'll pay for everything! We'll buy them all!"
Why was she delighted when I'd just said I wouldn't give them away for free?
"I'll summon the people at once. Thank you!"
Rosetta wiped her tears and departed with renewed vigor.
I turned my gaze toward Ricassa beside me.
He stared at the Medical Ward where treatment was unfolding, his eyes unwavering.
From that gaze and his firmly set expression, I sensed much.
"Everyone will be fine soon. Don't worry."
"...What should I do?"
His question overflowed with determination to do whatever was necessary.
There was one thing I needed from him right now.
"Tell me everything that happened during the battle with the monsters."
Whether the sudden rampage of monsters matched the original story.
Whether it was less severe, or far more catastrophic.
I needed to understand that point first.
* * *
Seeing the situation, it seemed unnecessary for me to participate directly in the treatment, so we decided to talk outside the quiet Medical Ward.
Seth Noel, whose abilities were concentrated entirely on offensive power with almost no healing capability, was with us as well.
"My wife departed for the Western Region immediately after this regular expedition concluded."
Ricassa began speaking slowly.
The territories of the Southern Region typically set dates and take turns launching expeditions into the Desert.
This time it was the Flu Family's turn, and having been warned by the previous commander to prepare carefully as the number of monsters had increased beyond usual, they set out with thorough preparations.
"But the numbers were far greater than anticipated, and my wife, sensing that the situation was grave, departed immediately for the Western Region."
"She made a swift decision."
"Since my wife is also from the Southern Region, she quickly grasped that this was no ordinary occurrence."
Moreover, because she had shown keen interest in the Sun God potions being sold by the Lumen Merchant Guild, she was able to move even faster.
"But not long after my wife departed, we received word from the Guardian Family. The monsters had suddenly multiplied tenfold."
The Guardian Family of the Southern Region.
If the Sheary Duchy stood to the west, then the Duke Kali Family held the south.
Everyone revered and praised the Duke Kali Family, calling them the Guardian Family, for slaying the monsters of the Desert and protecting the Empire.
"I led my knights to the locations where expeditions were possible, as ordered to come at once...."
Ricassa squeezed his eyes shut.
Pain, rage, fear, and dread surfaced across his face.
"...It was my first time. I began subjugating monsters at fifteen, but in twenty years, I had never witnessed such a sight."
"...."
"The vast expanse of desert sand, which I had always believed could never be completely filled no matter what, turned pitch black...that sight, I fear, I shall never forget for the rest of my life."
Even with the assembled forces under the Guardian Family's command, it was nearly impossible to manage.
"Had Duke Kali not taken the frontlines herself, we might have been annihilated entirely."
Duke Kali is one of only three individuals in the Empire who could be counted among the most formidable in raw power, alongside Lute Sheary.
Had she not been there, I would never have had this conversation with Ricassa.
"It is serious indeed."
Yet it wasn't at the level of despair. After all, seeing that both Ricassa and his knights survived, it seemed less severe than the original story.
But that wasn't something to be relieved about.
Monsters filling such a vast desert—that was supposed to happen around the midpoint of the original story....
Why are they rampaging already? What could be the reason?
Without knowing the reason, I couldn't devise a countermeasure.
In any case, the flow of events seemed to be accelerating faster than expected, so it appeared I too would need to grow stronger quickly.
"The Crown Prince was in the Southern Region—could this also be connected to that matter?"
At that moment, Seth Noel, who had been listening quietly, asked Ricassa.
"That is correct. Duke Kali reported to the Imperial Court, and the Crown Prince himself came as an investigator."
"It could be dangerous, yet His Highness took action himself. That is remarkable."
"He is a splendid person. He will make an excellent sovereign."
Ricassa nodded. There was nothing better for a subordinate than having an excellent superior.
"High Priestess!"
Just then, Monica burst out from the Medical Ward. The moment I stiffened at her urgent cry, she shouted.
"One of the patients has suddenly taken a critical turn! They're about to stop breathing any moment now, and we simply don't have the power to——!"
But when I checked just moments ago, there wasn't a patient in such dire condition?
I immediately rushed past Monica into the Medical Ward.
At the far end, physicians and priests were tangled together, shouting urgently.
I headed straight there.
"Be careful the blood doesn't block the airway!"
"Press down harder on the limbs!"
"We can't stop the bleeding!"
"The pulse keeps dropping!"
The patient lying among those shouting urgently was in grave condition at a glance.
The bandages wrapped around their entire body were soaked crimson, and blood flowed ceaselessly from their mouth.
The most critical injuries were on the upper body.
The bandages wound around the side and left shoulder were so saturated that blood dripped steadily.
The shocking sight left me rigid.
To be precise, it wasn't because of the wounds.
What was far more serious was——.
"Commander!"
At Ricassa's cry, I snapped back to attention.
This injured person was apparently the Flu Family Knight Commander.
"When the wounds were first inflicted, they weren't this severe. But as time passed, the wounds kept opening wider, and eventually it came to this——."
Ricassa couldn't continue and clenched his teeth.
At that, one of the priests treating him spoke urgently.
"These are wounds from a high-rank monster. The monster's venom is burrowing into the wounds and worsening them."
High-rank monsters.
I immediately asked Ricassa.
"Were there many high-rank monsters?"
"About three——."
"Were there any highest-rank ones?"
"There were not."
That's fortunate. Besides, if there had been a highest-rank monster, Ricassa wouldn't be standing here either.
"Move aside."
I grabbed the physician holding the patient's convulsing arm and pulled them back.
"High Priestess!"
The forcibly displaced physician was about to voice a complaint when they heard the priest's cry and closed their mouth.
"All of the sacred power is being consumed purifying the monster's venom, so we can't perform the actual treatment we need."
"The patient is also so weakened they can't endure much longer. If we don't find a solution immediately——."
At the two priests' explanation, I nodded.
"I'll purify the monster's poison first. Treat the wound immediately once purification is complete."
"Yes!"
At my command, the priestesses responded without hesitation, their voices ringing out in unison.
Ricassa let out an exclamation of admiration at how perfectly coordinated they were.
It wasn't anything special—they were simply people who had experienced my tyranny firsthand.
"Beginning now."
I placed my hand directly on the wound.
In that instant, an unexpected System Message appeared.
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