Chapter 171: How to Tame a Saint (1)

Pitter-patter.

I opened my eyes to the sound of raindrops tapping against the window.

Looking out the window, dark clouds were covering the Holy City.

Outside the window, I could see tree branches bending as if they were about to snap at any moment.

It seemed what those dark clouds brought wasn't merely rain.

'Come to think of it, they said a Typhoon comes here instead of Heavy Snow.'

I recalled what the Guild Masters had told me Several days ago.

The Imperial Capital experiences Heavy Snow every winter.

That white disaster that blankets the entire city in pure white silences the bustling city for a while.

The Holy City also had such abnormal weather.

Since this is an area where it does not snow, it came in the form of a rainstorm.

Perhaps because of that, the Holy City also had a Tradition similar to The Capital.

'I wondered why they held the Council around this Time, and it was because of this.'

The Capital handles important work like the Year-end Tax Settlement a few weeks before the Heavy Snow.

Because going outside becomes difficult once the Heavy Snow begins to fall.

The Holy City was similar to The Capital.

It felt like they were quickly taking care of important Agenda items before the rainstorm arrived.

I looked out the window.

The sky flashed brightly, and belatedly, something like the roar of a beast shook the city.

I habitually measured the gap between the flash and the sound of Lightning.

'Three seconds. Did the Lightning strike roughly 900 meters away?'

It was a habit carried over from my Previous life.

Roughly performing a Calculation of the distance the Lightning struck by the difference in the speed of sound and light.

There was no particularly grand reason for it.

Because this little game was appropriate for warming up my brain when I had nothing to do.

Flash— Rumble.

This time it's roughly 1.5 km.

Looking at the direction, it's towards the Cathedral.

'Did the Lightning strike there because the Tower is high?'

I drove away my sleepiness while racking my brain with such useless thoughts.

If it were up to me, I wanted to roll around in bed again.

Since I had no Schedule anyway, I wanted to take this Opportunity to relieve the fatigue that had built up over the week.

But I couldn't do that.

'I can't even sleep in because I'm a Dependent Retainer.'

Right now, I am staying as a Dependent Retainer in the Mansion provided by the Guild Master.

There were too many people watching my daily life.

I had already been Acting tough all this time.

But if I were to roll around in bed and sleep in, what kind of rumors would spread in the Holy City?

In the end, because of my image, I had to present a diligent lifestyle no different from usual.

"Have you risen, Lord Saint?"

As I left the room, the butler and Servants waiting in the hallway bowed their heads in unison.

They were personnel the religious order had arranged.

Originally, I said it was fine because I had Perisia.

But then, what did they say?

Did they say that if a Saint came to the Holy City and the religious order provided no conveniences for the Saint, the religious order's image would be in tatters?

In the end, unable to overcome the religious order's nagging, It couldn't be helped but for me to accept such treatment.

For me, it was a bit regrettable.

Because of these people, I couldn't do any Cooking in the Holy City.

However, It couldn't be helped.

A guest is bound to have the Etiquette of a guest.

I couldn't just take over the Landlord's Kitchen to indulge in my hobby, could I?

"The rainstorm was quite fierce; was your Lodging Uncomfortable?"

"It was fine. Thanks to the room being nice, I think I slept well without even knowing a rainstorm had come."

"The Guild Master would be delighted to hear your Words. Preparation for Breakfast is finished. I will escort you to the Dining Room."

Following the butler's Guidance, I headed to the 1st Floor Dining Room.

The morning menu was bread, Meat Soup,

and the Holy City's specialty, Coffee.

The Holy City often appealed that coffee beans grown soaking up the sunlight had a different aroma.

And it actually was so.

At the very least, out of all the Coffee I had tried in this world, it had the richest Acidity.

Munch, munch.

On the right, there was Gregor, stuffing Egg and Chicken Breast into his mouth.

On the left, Perisia was eating Breakfast.

It was a normal Breakfast consisting of bread, Yogurt, Coffee, and Egg.

But with Pickled Sardines added to this, all mixed together on a single Plate.

"......"

Was the statement that she shot a Survival Vlog in the Demonic Realm Decades ago not a lie?

Her meals were always like this, holding the theory that everything mixes together once it enters the Stomach (organ) anyway.

......But why Pickled Sardines, of all things?

If she considered the balance of Macros, there would have been ham or other Options, right?

So I asked her.

And the reply that came back was......

"The ham has a lot of Expiration Date left, but the Canned Sardines don't have much Expiration Date left, so I was in the middle of Handling them."

"......"

I see.

How truly efficient.

I took my eyes off the Elf who was Passing off Leftovers with an Expressionless Face and focused on my meal.

It was around the time I was finishing Breakfast, cleansing my palate with Coffee.

Rattle! Rattle! Rattle!

"The wind is certainly vicious."

At the sound of the front gate shaking that could be heard all the way to the Dining Room, Gregor spoke while chugging a Milk Bottle.

No one in the Dining Room answered, but they agreed with Gregor's Words.

However, that thought did not last long.

Rattle! Thud! Thud! Rattle!

The urgent sound of someone pounding on the Mansion's Front door as if to break it rang out.

It felt too urgent to be the wind.

Especially with the knocking sound mixed in between.

"......It is a guest."

Only then did the butler realize a guest had come, and he gave A glance to a Servant.

One Servant hurried toward the Entrance.

"Who is it! In this kind of weather!"

From beyond the hallway, the Servant's robust Voice could be heard.

Soon, the Servant muttered something toward the door, then opened the door for that guest.

A moment later.

Dripping with rainwater, that Servant urgently returned to the Dining Room.

With an expression full of bewildered emotions clearly revealed on his face.

"L-Lord Saint. That, a guest has...... come to visit."

"Who is it?"

"That is......"

The Servant hesitated for a moment.

"The Saint of Radiance...... is urgently looking for the Lord Saint."

"That person?"

As soon as I heard those Words, the youthful Saint I had seen at the Council came to mind.

What business did that fellow, who seemed to live for the Thrill of his own superiority, have in this weather?

I briefly put aside my intention to tilt my head in confusion and headed to the Entrance.

In front of the Entrance.

There stood a man drenched in rainwater, looking like a drowned Rat.

Upon discovering me, he suddenly lunged toward me.

'It is dangerous, Lord Yulian.'

"Please step back, Lord Saint."

Gregor and Perisia tried to restrain Lauren as a Reflex.

But Lauren knelt in the hallway before the two could even reach him.

The people in the hallway were flustered.

But Lauren did not care and pleaded with me.

"Please save her......!"

He said with a Voice in which not a single speck of Pride could be felt.

"My Nanny has caught the Demon Disease. She suddenly vomited blood in the Morning, and it worsened after receiving my Healing Magic."

The youthful Saint's Forehead was placed on the Marble floor where a puddle of water had pooled.

I was dumbfounded and said to him.

"What are you doing right now?"

Lauren's body flinched.

He lifted his face, a mess of what was unknown whether it was rainwater or tears, and cried out urgently.

"I know! That I Insulted you and tried to corner you at the Council! I will gladly pay the Price for that Crime somehow in the future. If you want, I will even lay down my Official title of Saint! So please put aside your past Grudge and......!"

"That is not what I mean."

Even the Time to explain was a waste.

I hurriedly put on the Raincoat that was hanging on the coat rack next to the Entrance.

And while putting on the Raincoat, I said to Lauren.

"Hematemesis is an emergency, isn't it? Quickly provide Guidance instead of wasting Time begging."

"......Do you not resent me?"

"I have no reason to resent you, and even if I did, there is no reason it would affect saving the Patient."

Lauren seemed to think I harbored a Grudge against him.

But I wasn't a person with enough free time to pay mind to an Adolescence high schooler's Nonsense.

And even if I harbored a Grudge, there was no reason not to treat the Nanny.

'In a situation where I even treat criminal bastards, why would I refuse an innocent person with no Crime?'

In the Academy Territory, Erika's Party even treated Black Sorcerers.

When Erika beat them half to death, Jenny provided First Aid, and the Infirmary kept them clinging to Life.

Thanks to this, it was good that I could Practice dangerous Surgery that I wouldn't have even dared to try before, but that wasn't what was important right now.

"Provide Guidance. I will listen to the Symptom as we go."

While I was speaking, Perisia and Gregor had already put on their Raincoats as well.

It must mean they were already used to how I would move.

Lauren stared at me blankly.

His pupils were trembling as if he had lost his mind.

I said as if urging him.

"Time is Life. Hurry."

"T-This way!"

At my urging, only then did Lauren hastily raise his body.

***

The stream of rain was becoming increasingly fierce.

Being struck by the rainwater pouring in through the Raincoat, I ran through the rain following behind Lauren.

We did not wait for a carriage.

It was the Fault of the distance to where the Patient was being ambiguous.

In this rainstorm, walking seemed like it would be faster than the Time spent waiting for a carriage.

"Lord Saint, excuse me."

Gregor took the lead, tucking the high school Saint, no, The Saint of Radiance, under his arm.

Perisia followed behind, supporting me.

Thanks to Gregor acting as a massive wall in the front, those of us following could pick up speed much more easily.

On the way.

I shouted at Lauren's buttocks as he was being carried by Gregor......

Well, that's a bit strange, so I shouted at the back of his head.

"Since when did the Symptom start?!"

"She hasn't been able to eat properly for several months, saying her Digestion was poor. Lately, she rapidly lost weight...... and tonight, she suddenly poured out pitch-black blood!"

"Did she drink alcohol yesterday?!"

"My Nanny doesn't drink alcohol!"

The Patient Interview continued even while we were on the move.

"What about the color of the blood?!"

"Wouldn't it obviously be red!"

"Was it not sticky or dark red?!"

"It was! It was sticky and black!"

Lauren only answered what the general Healers of the Meyer Infirmary would have answered on their own when asked specifically about each Detail.

It meant he was still following an outdated Guideline from several years ago.

"Do you know the color of her Bowel Movement?!"

"How would I know that!"

"Did her portion size decrease greatly while she got full easily?!"

"It did!"

"Then did she not seek out food mainly consisting of Porridge, Yogurt, or Oatmeal?!"

"That was also the case! In particular, she frequently blended and drank Fruit!"

Okay.

Hematemesis, loss of Body weight, Early Satiety.

And avoiding solid foods.

Everything was pointing to one thing.

'It must be a Stomach Tumor.'

Considering the Hematemesis, the possibility of it being Stomach Cancer is high.

However, Stomach Cancer isn't the only Tumor that occurs in the Stomach (organ).

And a Tumor isn't the only thing that causes Hematemesis.

It could be Helicobacter Pylori or some other problem, so it was still too early to jump to conclusions.

'Even though the possibility of it being a Tumor is already close to 80 percent.'

While thinking that, we arrived at the Infirmary.

The Holy City's Infirmary was brightly lit even in the rain.

Although it wasn't as large as the Meyer Infirmary, it was quite large as it was once the world's best Infirmary.

As we opened the door and entered, familiar sights caught my eye.

— "The Lightning Electrocution patient's Cardiopulmonary Function has returned! Prepare for Emergency surgery!"

— "A Fall patient has come in!"

Was it because it was a day with a rainstorm?

It was bustling with all sorts of Patients.

While heading to Lauren's Nanny, I hurried my steps while quickly giving pointers on the parts the Healers had missed.

"Do a Fall Assessment on that Electrocution patient. Looking at it, the angle of his neck is a bit strange."

"Huh? Huh? What brings The Black Saint here? Ah! Right! Fall Assessment!"

There was no one who harbored any Doubt about me suddenly appearing here.

Because they did not have the luxury to do so.

In the middle of that Pandemonium.

I arrived in front of Lauren's Nanny.

On the bed lay a young woman gasping for breath with extreme Pallor.

When I first saw her, I thought she was Lauren's older sister, but upon hearing she was an Elf, I understood.

"Nanny!"

Lauren urgently grabbed the Nanny's hand.

"I brought the Lord Saint, so can you answer now?"

"......Lauren. I told you I wasn't that serious. The other people first......"

The Nanny answered while gasping for breath with difficulty.

First of all, she didn't show signs of Anemia.

I knew this by checking her Mucosa and Conjunctiva.

At that time, the Nanny turned her head to me and spoke.

"You are The Black Saint, right? I express my Gratitude for your Worry. But it's not like that. I just vomited a little blood, that's all."

Seeing that detached reaction, it was my turn to be flustered.

What is this. Did he perhaps make this whole Fuss over a little blood mixed in Phlegm?

If it was to that extent, it was a problem that could occur even from swallowing a Fishbone.

Of course, a Fishbone is also enough of an emergency.

'Because Lauren might have just made a Fuss.'

I asked to check.

"How much was the amount when you vomited blood? Could you give me a Metaphor using a cup?"

"About a Teacup......"

"It is an emergency."

Geez.

Just as expected of an Era where Romance still breathes.

Do people here only consider it an emergency if there's a wind Hole in their belly?

"Patient. You are currently in such an emergency that you need to go into Surgery right away."

When bleeding starts in the Throat, it doesn't stop easily, you see.

In the first place, vomiting blood to that extent means a problem has occurred in the Stomach Wall.

Whether it's torn, an Ulcer has formed, or a Perforation has been made.

For now, Surgery seemed inevitable.

"The Saint of Radiance. Do you know how to use Clairvoyance Magic?"

"The Runic formula for that is too difficult, so...... I am still inexperienced......"

Was it because his Divine Power overflowed too much?

He didn't seem to be very close with studying.

How nice for him.

They say if your body is good, your head doesn't need to suffer.

Since his Divine Power is practically limitless, does it mean this kind of Going to great lengths is unnecessary?

'Oops, this isn't the Time for Jealousy.'

I left Lauren alone and gave a directive to the Healers of the Infirmary.

"You there, is there a Healer who knows how to handle Clairvoyance Magic?"

"Yes! I can do it!"

I issued a Summons to a passing Healer.

Even though it wasn't my Infirmary, I felt like I was calling him too naturally, but now was not the Time to nitpick such things.

A young Healer hurriedly stepped forward.

Clairvoyance Magic is a Technique that passes Divine Power through the inside of the subject's body, drawing out the internal appearance based on how much the black Carbon Paper is Purified.

If you adjusted the output value at this Time, it was also possible to capture the shape of the organs more clearly.

"Focus on using Clairvoyance on the Patient's Solar Plexus and Stomach (organ) and capture it. Since it's a Demon Disease, reduce the Divine Power Dosage by about 20 percent, and increase the Contrast of the fat and muscle."

"Could you tell me in terms of units?"

"The Dosage is 250 mSs, and I will write down the Runic formula for the Contrast for you."

The young Healer seemed to have some Skill, as he immediately reflected my request.

While we were adjusting the Clairvoyance Magic in real-time, I briefly looked at Lauren.

He was twiddling his fingers, standing awkwardly like a third wheel.

I directed my Words toward such a Lauren.

"Lord Saint. Can you make Holy Oil right here on the spot?"

"I can make it, but why that......"

"Mix the Olive Oil and the Herb I wrote down, then perform a Blessing on it into Holy Oil. Hurry."

Lauren began to make the Holy Oil without asking for a reason.

In the meantime, the young Healer extended his hand over the Nanny's Abdomen and finished his Preparation to inject Divine Power.

"Do I really inject the Divine Power like this?"

"Since it is a Magic based on Refresh and Purification, the Demon Disease will not worsen that much. I also reduced the Dosage. So do it."

He seemed concerned that the Demon Disease would consume the Divine Power and worsen, but there is no need for Worry about that.

Just as they say you can't make soy sauce if you're afraid of Maggots, Medicine is originally a continuous act of weighing risks and benefits.

Who doesn't know that radiation is harmful to a Cancer Patient?

Even so, Cancer Patients frequently take scans.

Because evaluating the Cancer definitively is more important than radiation exposure.

And even then, one is Going to great lengths by adjusting the radiation dose as much as possible.

It was the same this Time.

'Because Refresh only hurts a little and that's it.'

I didn't base it on Refresh when developing Clairvoyance Magic for nothing.

Soon, a faint black-and-white Outline of the Stomach (organ) was drawn on the Parchment.

Thanks to raising the Contrast of fat and muscle, a picture mimicking a CT scan, even if only very slightly, was created.

'Magic is the best, as expected.'

The Result that came out was exactly as I had a premonition of.

'Is it a Stomach Tumor.'

It was Hematemesis caused by a Tumor.

The white shadow clumped heavily near the Entrance of the Stomach (organ); anyone could see it was a Tumor Lump.

The wall had loosened because of the Tumor, and as that wall tore, she ended up vomiting blood.

Seeing this, Lauren also nodded and spoke.

"It's a Tumor. I heard you just recently gave a Lecture on this to the High-ranking Priests. Then can you treat it right away?"

"I can treat it, but there is still an examination left to do."

For Stomach Cancer, the Stage is important.

If it is Stage 1, you can just cut out that Mucosa.

If it is Stage 2 or 3, you have to cut out the entire Stomach (organ), and if necessary, all surrounding lymph nodes must undergo Removal as well.

And if it is Stage 4......

'Surgery won't be nearly enough.'

This is also the reason why an accurate Evaluation is necessary.

If you open the belly and are evaluating it then, the Patient will die.

That is why you go in after establishing a Surgical Assessment from the outside in advance.

This is also why we don't go into Surgery right away.

Just because it's an emergency doesn't mean blindly opening the belly is the best solution.

'I know there's a Tumor, but the exact shape and depth of invasion are not clearly visible.'

If it were Modern times, I would have taken a CT scan to grasp it in three dimensions.

However, with this X-ray level Magic, the Outline was blurred, making it tricky to formulate a Surgical Assessment.

I carefully observed that examination paper even after that.

Then Lauren asked with a face full of Anxiety.

"Lord Saint? Has something gone wrong?"

"......Is the Holy Oil finished?"

"Ah, it was just finished."

"Please give it to me."

I offered the Holy Oil to the Patient.

"Patient. Please drink the Holy Oil."

"Holy Oil all of a sudden?"

"It is made with Olive Oil, so it should be harmless to the human body."

It will be a bit greasy, though.

Still, what can you do?

It is something necessary for the examination.

The Nanny reluctantly drank that Holy Oil.

I waited roughly 10 minutes, then instructed the young Healer to cast Clairvoyance Magic again.

And looking at the Result that came out, I nodded with satisfaction.

"The assessment has been established."

An image of the Stomach (organ) that was much clearer than before was held like a Photograph.

This was to the point where it could be included in an Anatomy Textbook.

The young Healer's eyes also widened as if he were seeing something like this for the first time.

"With the Divine Power emitted by the Holy Oil itself, you are capturing the shape of the Stomach (organ) clearly!"

"As expected, you notice it as soon as you see it."

"But why Holy Oil, of all things? Wouldn't Holy Water work too?"

"Doesn't Holy Water wash away too easily?"

Holy Water goes straight down without coating the Stomach Wall.

That way, wouldn't you be unable to see the shape of the Stomach Wall clearly?

When I explained that Principle, Lauren, who had been slow to grasp the situation, belatedly let out a gasp of Admiration.

Watching the two's reactions, I felt proud on my own.

'To think I'd get to use the Principle of Barium Radiography like this.'

Even in my Previous life, there was a Technique where one swallowed a glowing liquid to clearly see the shape of the Stomach (organ) on an X-ray.

You can roughly consider it a Technique that paints the organs with fluorescent paint.

However, it was a Technique I almost never had to use.

Because after a superior compatible Technique called CT was developed, Barium Radiography was rarely used in the Diagnosis of Stomach Cancer.

It was only used on people with Esophageal Motility Disorder.

Anyway, after analyzing the result sheet produced through the Another World Contrast Radiography, I spoke to the Guardian, Lauren.

"Saint Lauren. I have relatively good News."

"Can my Nanny live?"

"Yes. We avoided the worst-case scenario."

Not all Tumors that form in the Stomach (organ) are the same Tumor.

Because there is the Cancer we commonly know, but there are also things that are just a simple Lump.

And the Nanny was the latter.

"The Patient does not have Stomach Cancer, but rather a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST)."

"Gastrointestinal...... Stromal...... what?"

Lauren, who was not close with studying, tilted his head.

The other Healers who came out as Onlookers from behind him also naturally tilted their heads together.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor.

To explain it simply, it is a Tumor where muscle has mutated.

However, it is a Tumor that belongs to the 'good' side, as it rarely undergoes Transfer or erosion.

'I used to tell my Patients to think of it as popping a pimple.'

Strictly speaking, it is incorrect, though.

Anyway, as long as the meaning gets across, isn't it fine?

"It means it is not a dangerous Demon Disease. The Surgery will end relatively easily."

There is no need to excise the entire Stomach (organ) for this one.

Because if you just cut out that Part and stitch it well, it's over.

After I briefly explained this, I said to Lauren and the Nanny.

"Do you agree to the Surgery like this?"

"What is there to agree or disagree with? Didn't you say it was an emergency? Please perform the Surgery right away."

"Understood."

The Patient went into Anesthesia immediately.

Looking around at the Entrance of the Operating Room, the Healers had already flocked in to watch the Surgery.

I left the Onlookers standing outside like a Folding screen and naturally occupied the Operating Room as if it were my own.

"Saint Lauren. Stand by for Assistance."

"A-Alright."

Lauren stood at the operating table, hesitating.

While I was making Preparation to cut open her belly, Lauren spoke.

"But how do you distinguish the type of Tumor just by looking at that picture?"

"Ah, you were curious about that."

It isn't very difficult.

"Isn't a GIST a Tumor that grows massively from the 'Muscle layer' deep within the Stomach Wall, rather than the Mucosa on the surface of the Stomach Wall, pushing the Mucosa up? That was revealed exactly in the image."

"......So how do you know that?"

"It's because a GIST has a shape where the edge of the Tumor, that Part, rises up smoothly."

In Epithelial Carcinoma, the periphery of the Cancer rots, so something akin to a moat like a medieval castle is dug around it.

However, a Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor originating from the Muscle layer is different.

The Tumor rises smoothly, creating a ridge like a local mountain behind a neighborhood.

If you're confused, you can just use this Rule of thumb to figure it out.

If the Lump is ugly, it's Cancer; if it's smooth and pretty, it's a stromal Tumor.

"How about it? Very easy, right?"

"......How on earth does the Lord Saint know such things?"

"You get used to it as you see it more."

Even so, my second Major was General Surgery.

I was tricked by my Teacher's Words that if I wanted to go from the Thoracic Surgery Department to Trauma Surgery, it would be good to handle the Gastrointestinal Tract well, so I went that way.

......Because of that, that person pushed all the trauma Surgery around the Diaphragm onto me.

Anyway.

'Since distinguishing Stomach Cancer is what I did for a living in the Gastrointestinal Surgery Department, I can't help but know it well.'

In the meantime, the belly was opened, and the Stomach (organ) became visible.

Using Lauren as a Divine Power Mule, I spoke.

"From now on, after performing Gastrointestinal Hemostasis, I will begin the Wedge Resection of the stromal Tumor. Babcock Forceps."