Chapter 5 - Medical Sage

The time when the entire Carceron supply routes were compromised and supplies were stolen, months had passed by and the rainy season had arrived. In the encampment that Krist belonged to, he was busy keeping watch, identifying suspicious activity. Disease and pestilence would be your card to play. Isn’t that right, Elf Lord? Kuku. An evil grin appeared on Krist’s face while the rain coated such a beautifully chilling smile.

During this rainy season, Krist was expecting Carceron to spread a disease seeded in the borders of Lukedonia, mainly, in villages and encampments in the fiefdom. The affected villages will serve as an example of Chemical Warfare and will be swiftly treated. In effect, the fealty of Saix, my “Right-Hand.”

Flap opening*

Loutch and Reddas entered the tent designated for patrol guardsmen, “That look on your face says you found them.” Krist could easily read the emotionless expression on his friend’s face.

“We captured those who were about to infect our soldiers,” Loutch pulled his hood. “No injuries or signs of infection.”

“Good. Proceed to extract information from the prisoner. Find out where their agents are hiding and inform Captain Nickson about the pestilence forthwith,” Krist was beginning to see events unfold right before his eyes as if he were a prophet.

All this time, my early herb gathering was for this one event. The disease named, “Ice Demon” would come into play during the rainy season.

‘Ice Demon Pandemic’ was the crisis in the past where symptoms of purple splotches around the eyeballs of the infected were being reported during the initial war between Lukedonia and Carceron. It is said that the infected person’s flesh disintegrates like ice and freezes to death. Due to such symptoms, people had called it a “magical curse” instead of a “disease.”

During the period of the Ice Demon Pandemic, doctors invented innovations in medicine and Alchemy. As a result, the Ice Demon disease had proven to be a disease. The main ingredient for the medicine was something that Krist had already acquired called Etherleaf. Concocting the medicine was relatively easy and Krist had taught such methods beforehand. With other ingredients added to the boiling Etherleaf, the addition of some Starlight Fern and the concoction is complete.

“Sergeant Cross and Sergeant Mondair are aware of the situation. Proceed with caution.”

“Yes, sir,” Loutch and Reddas submitted to the order.

As time went on Krist prepared things on his end while patiently waiting for the impending news. Not even half the month had gone by and orders were sent from the Kenesis Royal Family about the pestilence.

“Krist!” Sergeant Cross entered the barracks.

It’s time. Krist began to act with the sequence of events as if he had no knowledge of the future and assessed the patients in the nearby villages of the reserve encampment.

The teeth turning blue and his palate turning violet. The intermediate stage of the disease.

“Drink up,” Krist administered the medicine.

“COFF!” The infected villager made a sour face.

“Bitter, isn’t it? Kuku.” Krist looked like a saint in the eyes of the patient who had an immediate effect on the cure. I have built a considerable reputation in this camp making them fully in my confidence. All we have to do is wait until the situation clears up.

While Krist went along and gave the troops the medicine to administer to the infected villagers, his eyes were stuck on Saix who was gazing upon the sudden changes, specifically, the immediate effect that the medicine had on the disease.

“How is the situation?” Captain Nickson on horseback had arrived at the hazardous village.

Salute!

“The crisis is now beginning to dwindle as we speak, Captain,” Krist saluted the superior.

Captain Nickson was inspecting the matter and held a neutral expression. Slowly but surely, that blank face soon turned into astonishment.

“It’s true…” Gerald was in disbelief at what Krist had surmised to be a disease as being factual. “Report to HQ. We have much to discuss,” the Commander of the 7th Infantry Reserves dismissed himself and set out.

Salute~

The immediate “order arms” was practiced as is the formal procedure when an Officer from the military leaves, “Maintain and patrol the situation in each infected village.” Krist was ordered to return to HQ but left some contingencies.

“This crisis will be written in history as the solving of the elusive disease, Ice Demon.” And so, after three grueling days of nursing of the infected patients had taken its toll on the soldiers of the Reserve Infantry. They operated as if they were real doctors, but, Krist was the one who solved everything and led as an example. The soldiers merely copied Krist and were garnering the praise of villagers, calling the likes of the 7th Reserve Infantry as “healing soldiers” that knew of Alchemy. Eventually, the praise had reached its peak and they had been elevated to the level of ‘Holy.’ As for Krist, the next scene displayed the result of his meritorious deeds akin to that of a Pope granting the Title of the ‘Medical Sage.’

Leaving the tent as the last known patients were finally treated, Krist and his friends left to rest but were stopped by ongoing praise and cheers.

“Holy Medical Squad!”

“Healers!”

“Priests!”

“Bishops and Archbishops!”

“Medical Sage!!!”

“Medical Sage!!”

“Medical Sage!”

Prominent voices were blurted out as the appearance of Krist and the group was the main attention. They had received praise befitting their accomplishments. The whole of Lukedonia and Carceron came to know of the cure to the disease, Ice Demon, and had spread like wildfire. In effect, Lukedonia had gained quite the respect for being an up-and-coming small country that would dare compete against an Empire.

“Huh~?” Krist proceeded to gracefully accept the praise and admiration as any King should. Looks like they’re overdoing it more than they did in my past life. Kehe! It was a pleasant surprise for Krist to see his fellow soldiers in such a celebration.

While in the shadows gazing upon the upheaval, Gerald made himself known, “Tell me everything. How you know such things as if you are some sort of fortune-teller.”

“Then we need to move to a ‘quieter’ place, Captain, to speak of such things. And, no. I don’t believe in fortunes, only, opportunity.” Krist led the way to the Strategy Room.

“Indeed. The Carceron Empire was probably enraged for having sabotaged their entire supply route, therefore, sending this disease would greatly impede Lukedonia for some time. Even now, they may choose to attack us at any given time. The question is, at which front will they choose to attack?”

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“I’m assuming you’ve made immediate preparation for such an event?” Captain Nickson took the matter seriously and gave Krist his undivided attention. In other words, Krist, who is at the rank of a Sergeant, is given full control of the situation.

“Traps have been implemented long before the rainy season alongside ample resources and healing poultices,” Krist was fully expecting Carceron. After all, he is a Regressor with memories from the past.

“Loutch, how many Rangers are within this Division?” Krist had increased his previous life’s ambitions and had wanted to test for more. In other words, Krist was asking for the presence of the elites who are considered the Special Forces.

“Roger!” Loutch acquiesced to the order and proceeded forthwith.

“Laciel,” Krist beckoned for his friend, the noble who is hiding his birthright.

“Yes, Sergeant,” Laciel remained stalwart.

“Gather a collection of materials written on this scroll,” Krist handed a written note to Laciel. “Other instructions are written in the scroll.”

“Understood, Sergeant.” Laciel had elegantly accepted the order.

“Saix. Destroy the stolen carriages and use the pieces for firewood. That natural strength of yours is perfect for such a role.” This should be good. When midnight arrives, those fools won’t know what’ll hit them. Kaha! Krist was thrilled for the bloodfest that would ensue for Carceron and its precious manpower.

***

“Begin the fire,” Loutch gave the order. Wooden pillars neatly organized for maximum burn efficiency were lit.

Crackle~! Crackle~! Fire. fire.

“The burning flesh would make the enemy think that were burning the infected patients that couldn’t make it, right, Sergeant?” Laciel had figured out the intention of Krist’s ploy against Carceron.

?!

“Perfect, my friend.” Krist gave praise to the intelligence. The “trap” all along was the burning of certain plants and carcasses of the wild animals hunted served as bait for Carceron to bite.

They would never miss such an opportunity. Krist was certain that the future would not change even with the subtle to major changes that had occurred so far. The whole picture had not changed overall, and shortly thereafter, the prediction was inevitably going to be true.

“Enemy forces in sight,” the Carceron Army had infiltrated deep in the encampment to find the person who had sabotaged their supply route.

“All forces charge!”

As the shouts of the soldiers rang the atmosphere, their steps triggered various trap doors.

?

“Aaah!”

“Fuck!”

“Watch out for traps!”

However, it was too late. Captain Nickson alongside Loutch and the Ranger Unit were long prepared, “Archers, loose!”

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Hails of long arrows rained from the sky and hit their marks, “ACK!”

“ARGH!”

“Shit! That’s almost half our forces!”

The Carceronians had planned to ambush the 7th Reserve Camp but the covering of the night played as an adversarial effect. Krist and his friends composed of the elites-of-the-elites, the “creme-de-la-creme,” had organized the troops to encroach upon Carceron in a Blitzkrieg Method.

“Spotted enemy on the right!”

“Another on the left?!”

“Retreat!”

“I repeat! Retreat!”

It was too late. The Ranger Unit led by Loutch did most of the heavy work as their ranged fighting proved extremely successful.

“It’s too late…”

“We’re surrounded!”

At this point, Krist had made the 7th Infantry into his making, in effect, all of the Reserves were at an adept level of stealth. With that said, the encirclement, of the Carceron Army was handled effortlessly.

The battle ensued as the Reserves were seen pressuring Carceron with disciplined and skillful combat. Since when were the Reserves overpowering the higher-ranked Carcerons? Krist was perplexed but satisfied at the same time all the while witnessing the performance of his comrades. This is better than I could have imagined it to be.

“ARGH!” The Carcerons were being demolished individually as the Lukedonians held no casualties so far. Moreover, certain players were openly wielding Blade Energy (Sword Aura).

Characters like Loutch, Saix, Laciel, Reddas, and Captain Nickson sustained their Sword Aura the entire time, whereas, individuals like Sergeant Cross, Sergeant Mondair, and the Rangers activated their respective Aura in short bursts.

“Blade Energy! Watch out for the Aura-Users!” The enemy had recognized the illustrious dream that all warriors covet, Aura. Whoever could perform such a feat was someone elite and prestigious, a cut from a different cloth type of character.

“Hold out for reinforcements!” Some of the Carcerons could perform Blade Energy, but not to the degree that the Reserves were showing. They were simply overwhelmed.

“How funny! You bastards are trying to end us all?” Lukedonia was showing dominance in the battle as a soldier taunted the Carcerons.

In the past, this night invasion sent by Carceron held a generous amount of troops, however, a lot more had shown up in this lifetime. Not only that, Krist had to stall the enemy until the 5th Infantry would arrive on the scene. Quite a few of them this time around. It shouldn’t pose as a problem. Krist was confident that the overwhelming display of the 7th Reserve Infantry would finish the battle before reinforcements could arrive.

Laciel. Krist sent a telegraphic message.

Yes, Sergeant. Being one of the first to have been taught The Divine Art of the Lionturtle Breath by Krist, some time had passed for Laciel to have reached a certain level. At this stage, the ability to breathe through the skin was possible, and a mana pool the size and temperament of a quiet, huge lake had made Laciel able to perceive the extrasensory skill of listening and emitting sound waves through mana. Therefore, he and a few individuals could “telegraph” their thoughts.

Kill their Officers! Krist had wanted to see the newfound skill of someone like Laciel. Out of all the friends and comrades that Krist was inevitably going to meet, Laciel was one of the core members of his life. Other than that, Laciel was also the most talented in killing, having multiple mastered job classes such as an Assassin and Ranger. Not to mention, his noble bloodline which he hides in fear of resentment or judgment from those around him.

Sow chaos among the enemy! Krist was thrilled to have such an elite player like Laciel on his side. Their growth is beginning to show. By then, the battle was leaning on the side of Lukedonia, until, the real leader showed himself.

“Fall back!” Captain Nickson gave immediate orders to the regular soldiers who were not Aura Users to retreat as the tall, and bearded appearance of Carceron’s Knight came into view.

Right when the Reserves had slaughtered the enemy in the initial bout, another wave of the enemy had poured into the camp. At this moment, Krist stopped observing from the sidelines and clasped his lance.

Special Forces! You’ll be playing a “leading” role in this battle. The Captain is occupied with 4 Knights. Krist addressed the members of the Division like Loutch, Laciel, Reddas, Saix, Jarvis, David, the Ranger Unit, and the junior and senior soldiers, all of whom could perform the legendary feat, Sword Aura.

Peak Realm, huh? Around middle-tier. Krist grinned at the enemy leader who was in front of him.

Unlike most countries that abide by the “Star Aura System” which is the orthodox school and study of the immaterial force, Aura, Lukedonia follows their school and methods of how they approach the world of mana. Carceron abides by the Star Aura System and by Krist’s instant evaluation of the enemy leader, a Peak Realm individual would place them around the level of a 2-Star Knight or even a 3-Star Knight. Someone on that level is welcomed in any government.

“Hey, pretty boy, you’re not bad to be a soldier at such a young age,” the enemy soldier openly scoffed at the young kid daring to challenge an older and experienced man.

I’ll end this in one move.

Without replying or even wasting a breath, Krist had performed a skill that was impossible to perform until now, “Doom Burst!” By pulling the lance back and pushing forward with great force, Krist had refined his chi to the level where he could discharge Aura Waves. In this instance, Krist had made his richly condensed chi into a fine point which had carved the enemy soldier without him noticing.

That specific event did not occur in the original lifetime as the enemy soldier was strong enough that the assistance of Saix was required. In the end, the enemy leader died all the same. Lukedonia had been victorious.

“Krist won!”

“Just how did he pull this shit off…” Captain Nickson cursed and was astonished as to how a 16-year-old could perform miracles.

Sergeant Mondair came by and interrupted Captain Nickson’s self-talk, “Commander Nickson, the 5th Infantry incoming!”

The reinforcements had arrived, but, nothing to show for it as the Reserves were already drinking and celebrating their victory.