The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

50 – 50. The Hearing (2)

“Teacher Gotberg.”

As Falckenhein stood up and walked solemnly towards me.

As soon as he approached my vicinity, the other head physicians couldn’t see us and relaxed their expressions, whispering quietly.

“Is there really a medication that can bring back hair?”

The desire for hair is stronger than any greed or lust for power.

My attention completely turned to the hair loss treatment that I had discreetly applied. It became fully on my side.

From now on, it was essential to involve Alberic in my testimony.

“Depending on the case, it’s possible in the Feldkampfain situation.”

“Oh!”

The diagnosis for Feldkampfain was ‘androgenetic alopecia.’

It wasn’t a debuff of talent but a condition that occurred due to aging.

“There are two types of hair loss. Male pattern baldness with receding hairline in an M shape, and circular baldness where the crown gets thinner.”

“Yes, I have circular baldness.”

“It seems like it hasn’t progressed much. At most, six months, right?”

“Exactly. It’s been five months.”

Male pattern baldness is hereditary and cannot be treated. Hair transplantation is necessary.

However, circular baldness occurs due to stress or environmental factors, so it can be delayed or, if lucky, restored.

Because Feldkampfain only started experiencing circular baldness at a late age, his overall health is good, and he has fewer baldness genes.

I handed Feldkampfain a carefully prepared bottle.

“It’s a medication that inhibits the effects of hair loss enzymes in your body. Simply put, it works faster than the rate at which your hair falls out, so you’ll see recovery within a few months.”

It’s a version imitating a hair loss medicine called finasteride. Though there are slight differences in the ingredients, the enzyme inhibition ability has been enhanced.

“Goodness! Such a treatment exists. I’ve never seen anyone who regrew their lost hair in their lifetime. If I can only regain my hair, I’d make a deal even with the devil.”

“I am not the devil; I am a doctor. It’s a month’s supply. There are side effects, so you should split the pill in half and take it once a day. Taking more won’t improve the results, so be careful.”

“I will remember that. You truly deserve to be called a saint, Teacher.”

After holding the bottle dearly close, Feldkampfain returned to his place.

“Dr. Feldkampfain, what about now?”

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“I have verified some suspicions regarding Dr. Gotberg. Proceed with the hearing.”

Feldkampfain confidently answered the questions from other attending physicians.

It was a signal that he had prepared to defend me.

Alberic continued his statement.

“Dr. Gotberg, even if your medications appear to cure patients immediately, they are undoubtedly an extension of folk remedies.”

Alberic was ready to pounce on me like a wolf.

“He must be deeply devoted to religion.”

While healers like Feldkampfain serve the goddess, they also seek personal gain.

However, if you were a bishop of the empire, you would completely reject any methods other than healing arts like this.

I thought there might be some confrontation at least once, but I didn’t expect to be pressed like this out of the blue.

“The healer you hired was dismissed for using private methods prohibited in my clinic. Were you aware of this fact?”

“Yes, I was aware.”

“Then you must have utilized the skills of that healer to create a substance called medicine, correct?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Is that so? Up until now, causation is clear. A reasonable explanation is needed for rebuttal.”

At this point, it’s necessary to make it clear.

“I utilized my own knowledge. It’s called medicine, a field of study. That healer had potential, but I instructed them.”

“You admit it!”

Alberic abruptly stood up and struck the cane. Quite an ill-mannered old man for a first meeting.

“It wasn’t the healing arts, but heretical techniques that disrupted the system of my clinic. You denied and insulted the goddess’s benevolence, and you destroyed the faith of the people of the empire. You are not even a physician, let alone a healer!”

It’s an exaggerated interpretation, but I understand his strong rhetoric as well.

If you want something, start with something significantly big to achieve your goal.

“It seems like you want to tarnish my credibility.”

Alberic looked surprised.

“What misunderstanding is this?”

“The one who advised me to use medicine was none other than the goddess herself.”

“…What did you say?”

Of course, it’s a lie.

Seeing the physicians in uproar, I succeeded in causing confusion.

They are all competent physicians, and while not all, most of them have devoted themselves to the faith of the goddess, diligently nurturing their religious beliefs.

No one can underestimate the weight of claiming to receive divine revelation.

“The goddess instructed me to use that technique.”

“She told you to use that technique?”

“Yes.”

“So, are you saying that you are a healer who possesses such faith that you receive divine revelation?”

“I possess that faith.”

Alberich, who found a gap to attack me, became energized by an unexpected harvest.

“It is a serious disqualification to insult the goddess within my territory. You should know that.”

I apologize for Alberich’s expectations, but I have insurance.

“Surely you don’t lack even that much common sense. Coincidentally, someone who can prove my faith is present here.”

“Exactly.”

Falkenhain replied as if he had been waiting, and began his persuasive speech.

“As you all know, I have a talent. I possess eyes that can see faith. It is easy to identify who is an excellent healer. Through this, I have trained to keep my faith unwavering, enabling me to come this far.”

Falkenhain made a strong argument with an unwavering voice.

“Teacher Gotberg is a talent I personally trained in my nurturing center. I will clearly testify to this fact.”

Falkenhain spoke with conviction, extending his palm towards me.

“The teacher has a stronger faith than any other healer I have ever seen in my entire life. Even now, the sincerity in his heart burns more passionately than anyone else.”

Alberich protested with displeasure.

“Falkenhain, during this critical inquiry about the grave offense of blasphemy, can you take responsibility for the truth? Can you?”

“Responsibility? Are you asking if someone like you, Alberich Bishop, can be held accountable for questioning me, the chief physician of Tojin Palace?”

Falkenhain also raised his voice.

He is the leader of the Second Prince faction of healers. He cannot remain silent when dealing with his subordinates.

“Are you doubting the talents bestowed upon me by the goddess?”

“I never doubt the goddess. I doubted your distorted faith that is more devoted to the sovereign than to the goddess.”

“Are you saying that I am protecting Teacher Gotberg falsely under the orders of the sovereign? hahahaha, it seems you’re slow in understanding how the palace works.”

“Is that so? Do you think it makes sense that this young healer, who appears so naive, possesses the strongest faith in this place?”

“In my eyes, you too are an inexperienced fool.”

“Fool? It seems this old man finally lost his mind. Did you pull out all your hair because the blood in your brain dried up?”

“Before all your hair falls out, you will cross the River Styx before I do.”

“No matter how short my lifeline is, it seems longer than yours, who will be gone in a day or two. If you have dementia, retire and let your grandchildren change your diapers.”

The scene of the old men arguing, spitting out saliva like children, was quite amusing.

I had no intention of stopping them because it was interesting.

“It’s just empty words anyway. Isn’t there no evidence that Gotberg has such strong faith?”

“Well, show me my evidence.”

Falkenhain took out the Bible. Holding it tightly in his arms, he raised his other hand and devoutly closed his eyes, swearing.

“I respectfully swear to the revered goddess, with all sincerity, that Doctor Gotberg, seen with sacred eyes, possesses faith much deeper than Bishop Alberich.”

Ah!

A strong light burst out from behind Falkenheimer, illuminating his figure. The powerful divine energy emanating faintly from his body forms a halo of light.

This is a phenomenon that can only be seen in highly skilled healers and clergy.

“A pure divine energy.”

“No flickering in the backlight.”

“It means he hasn’t sworn any lies that could tarnish his faith.”

“Is Gotberg the Chief Physician really such an outstanding talent?”

Other physicians murmur.

“Just for such a trivial matter to make an oath….”

Even Alberichi was taken aback, not expecting Falkenheimer to come to this extent.

I should have taunted him a little more appropriately.

I took a step forward and spoke.

“It seems to be proven. As I mentioned, my engagement in medicine is not a heresy.”

“It’s not just a matter of degree. A healer is one who prays, not one who administers poison to patients!”

Alberichi still clenches his fists.

That’s when it happened.

The door of the chamber opened with a bang, and the sound of heavy boots echoed throughout.

A young lady confidently walked in, her cloak fluttering.

The 1st Princess, Heike.

All the physicians conducting the hearing bowed their heads in respect. I did the same.

Heike looked around at the council and gave an order like a soldier.

“Everyone except Alberichi and Gotberg, leave.”

The physicians immediately vacated their seats.

Hmm, I almost forgot the weight of my presence because I was with Rau earlier.

This was the weight of words spoken by the bloodline of the royal family.

“I ask you, Alberichi. Why did you convene this hearing to dismiss Chief Physician Gotberg?”

“Your Highness, this gathering was not meant to dismiss him, but rather to dispel doubts and verify his qualifications….”

“Isn’t that the same thing? Don’t waste our time. I have already wasted time visiting Gotberg’s office.”

Heike came to find me herself.

I definitely didn’t have a good feeling about this.

When Lau comes once, she pours out a month’s worth of conversations from an ordinary person and leaves, leaving one’s head spinning.

It was clearly a bothersome task.

“Ask again, why did you open this hearing?”

Alberti replied slowly, as if explaining while sweating coldly.

“…Because Your Highness seemed to be checking the healing budget of the Moonlight Palace and being wary of the growth of Princess 3’s faction.”

“In a broad sense, that is correct.”

“Hmph, then isn’t there no problem with this position?”

Thud!

Heike rolled his foot and stared fiercely. Alberti was startled and shook his head.

Even I would avoid that gaze within a second.

If Asella had eyes that seemed to be filled with malice, ready to kill, then Heike felt like an emotionless killing machine that had mistakenly pressed the wrong button to exterminate me.

“Bishop, what is your profession?”

“…I am a court physician.”

“Does it seem like a court physician can entrust political judgment to the baggage?”

“Well, would that really be possible?”

“Are you Jhim’s henchman?”

“No, I am not.”

“Did Jhim command to reduce the healing budget of the Mokhwi Palace and restrain the Moonlight Palace? That judgment was made by Jhim. Is he wrong?”

“You are right a hundred times.”

Alberti couldn’t help but bring his lips together and affirm all of Heike’s words. The heavy mental stress even caused dark circles under his cheeks.

“Well then, Dr. Gottberg.”

“Nice to meet you, Princess.”

Finally, you have found me.

Based on their conversation, it seemed to be related to Penicillin.

“I want to recruit you into Jhim’s faction.”

An unexpected proposition came up.

Alberti, too, was taken aback by Heike’s sudden action and froze in place.

“May I ask for your sincerity?”

“It’s literally a love call. Jhim wants you. Become his deputy court physician and introduce a new healing mechanism.”

Bringing in manpower from other factions must be a common occurrence in the royal palace.

The Royal Knights’ factions change frequently.

I don’t think being Asella’s personal physician is a big deal for Heike.

It seems like they are just taking something away from their younger sibling to play with.

There’s a gap of more than ten years between us.

“Does that mean you want me to use medicine?”

“Yes. I will actively utilize medicine, develop drugs, and provide an environment for production and monopoly.”

Hmm, one of Heike’s subordinates.

It’s not bad when you consider the conditions. They are the most influential faction in the palace, and if Asella can’t become the next Empress, Heike has the highest chance of taking that position.

She’s a woman who calculates profits clearly. When loyalty is shown, the rewards are guaranteed.

However…

“I apologize, Your Highness. I have already pledged my allegiance to Princess Asella.”

Deeply involving myself in the royal palace wouldn’t bring me any benefit if it’s a loss.

Once you sink yourself into a swamp up to your waist, there’s no way to get out.

My goal is only to remove the bad ending. Once I join Heike’s faction, troubles will only increase, and it will make it harder for me to go back home for no reason.

“Why? Isn’t it just being the personal physician according to the contract?”

“hahahaha, I am a personal physician, but also a fiance.”

“Is it a marriage arrangement set by the family for political reasons?”

Heike penetrates through the flow and looks for gaps to dig into.

“Do you desire the nominal alliance with the royal family?”

“Well, not exactly…”

“Coincidentally, Jim doesn’t have a fiance either.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s common sense that premarital conflicts and remarriage arrangements between families occur as frequently as eating rice. Gotthberg, the personal physician.”

Heike looks straight at my face and asks in a serious tone.

“Do you want it?”