"The Sage's abilities are incredibly good."
I muttered to myself while checking my status window in the office.
[Alchemy C]
My rank increased instantly after taking Seymour's classes while continuing my duties as a physician.
[Property Transformation C]
[Manipulates chemical formulas of materials. Target materials are limited according to rank.]
Above all, Property Transformation has become more intuitive and convenient.
Before, I could simply change something hard to soft, but now I can manipulate formulas in detail based on my chemistry knowledge.
I also unlocked the [Extraction D] skill, which expanded my range of materials.
"If I had sugarcane, I could even make MSG."
Unfortunately, there was no sugarcane in this area.
I should look for some if I get the chance to explore outside.
I've been missing the taste of neighborhood Chinese noodles for a while.
"Thanks to this, my pharmaceutical range has expanded."
The problem was that I didn't know the exact ingredients or synthesis formulas for all those medications.
I remembered a few famous drugs, but for most, I only knew the basic principles, so experimentation was necessary.
"I did manage to make a strength enhancement drug."
I looked at the transparent liquid in the syringe I was holding.
―――――――――――
Intermediate Strength Enhancement Drug
Effect upon injection: Increases strength for 1 minute. May have side effects.
Drug abuse prohibited!
―――――――――――
It was a slightly viscous liquid. I extracted hormones from cholesterol, slightly altered the chemical formula, and finished with enhancement.
Originally, anabolic steroids that increase muscle don't magically increase strength just by injection—they improve exercise efficiency.
But mixing in the alchemy skill created a truly straightforward potion.
"One thing though. It has some side effects."
The duration is also very short.
It's something I should only keep for emergencies, not to be used carelessly.
For instance, like when we were attacked by a goblin horde last time.
I modified the syringe slightly. The needle stays hidden normally but pops out and injects when the end is pressed.
It's designed for emergency use.
I put the strength enhancer in my gown's inner pocket and checked my pocket watch.
"It's already this time."
It was time to start the afternoon duties.
I need to check Asella's dinner menu first.
"But why isn't Tanya here?"
Recently, I told her she didn't need to escort me unless I was traveling, and that she could train freely at the knights' training ground.
At first, she refused, citing her duty, but she seemed quite interested in the Imperial Knights.
Eventually, she agreed to go train during her free time, like now.
She always kept perfect time.
Given her personality, she would normally arrive and wait ten minutes before I needed to move.
"Where is she and what is she doing?"
I decided to go look for Tanya since I needed to start my duties.
I left the Imperial Medical Office and headed for the Imperial Knights' barracks.
The barracks were positioned at each cardinal direction, four in total, around the Imperial grounds.
She probably wouldn't have gone far, so she must be at the southern barracks.
When I arrived at the entrance, burly sentries blocked my way.
"Please identify yourself."
What are they saying?
Don't these guys recognize the emblem?
"I'm the 3rd Princess's physician."
"Ah, so you're that physician."
The sentries snickered for some reason.
Hmm, I could easily guess what was going on.
"Please write your name and purpose of visit in the registry."
"I just need to check if my knight is inside."
"You can go in and check yourself."
"You need to clear the way for me to enter."
"Haha, you must be new here. You need to write your name in the registry and..."
Ah, really now.
"Soldier, which faction do you belong to?"
Even though I showed my displeasure, the sentries didn't stop their smug attitude.
"I'm not sure about factions, but this southern barracks receives support from Tojin Palace."
Tojin Palace—the 2nd Prince's faction.
He's quite a powerful successor in the imperial family.
Now I understood why they were so confident.
"Soldier."
I stepped forward and looked him directly in the eyes.
"A second-rank imperial official's actions should not be restricted by procedures. The weight of our duties is more important than trivial procedures. Don't you know such basic principles while standing guard?"
When I mentioned the rules, they became flustered and speechless.
They must have been planning to haze the new superior.
Pranking a clueless higher-up. It's quite amusing, I admit.
But I had read all the imperial etiquette and rules on the day I entered the palace.
"Let's say the Princess's health suddenly deteriorated, and my response was delayed because of the time you wasted here."
I made a throat-slitting gesture with my hand.
"Understand? I could hold you accountable right here for negligence and incompetence in impeding my duties."
"T-that's..."
The sentries shrank back when my reaction differed from what they expected.
They must have thought I was an easy target because I belonged to a weak faction.
That's when it happened.
"Let's be generous about the sentries' mistake, Dr. Gotberg."
A large knight in clanking armor walked out from inside the barracks.
Judging by his luxurious armor, he held quite a high position.
He even knew my title correctly. He was clearly someone with intelligence.
"I am the company commander of the 2nd Division of the Imperial Knights..."
"Not interested."
"Haha, you should calm your anger. You must be aware that the 3rd Empress's faction has been cooperating with the 2nd Prince for a long time."
Hmm, so that's how it was.
It seems Camilla, who had fallen out of the Emperor's favor, had chosen the 2nd Prince as her ally in the imperial family.
Georg was his name, wasn't it?
Seymour had mentioned something like that too. That the 2nd Prince was supporting Camilla.
He said the prince might even know exactly about Asella's talent and debuff.
'I wondered how mere low-ranking knights dared to play tricks on me as a physician.'
So that was the background.
In other words, until now, the 3rd Empress's faction was subordinate to the 2nd Prince's faction—Wolgwang Palace was a vassal state to Tojin Palace.
No wonder they looked down on me.
"What you want is your escort knight, right? She happens to be inside the barracks. Our knights were kindly providing her with sparring partners."
So Tanya was indeed here.
From the atmosphere, I could easily imagine what had happened inside.
The knights must have provoked Tanya, who had shown interest in swordsmanship, and were using the pretext of sparring to vent their stress on her.
"Let me correct one thing."
I stepped forward and declared.
"It's the 3rd Princess's faction, not the 3rd Empress's."
I don't like being thought of as working for Camilla.
"I don't know how things were until now, but you'll pay dearly if you maintain the same attitude."
"Hahaha! Pay dearly? Us?"
The company commander laughed uproariously as if it was ridiculous.
"If we get hurt, you'll have to treat us, won't you?"
"Ah, I'm more confident about that than anyone."
"...Huh?"
"My healing skills are the best in the Imperial Medical Office. Come see me if you're injured."
"...Is that so? You have tremendous confidence."
The company commander scratched the back of his head at my calm response.
"His Highness Georg doesn't send medical healers to our company."
"He's only taking care of the knights participating in the upcoming tournament."
"Silence! Do you not know how great the aftermath is when His Highness becomes angry?"
The company commander barked at his subordinates.
Even so, the name of Georg, the 2nd Prince, didn't sound particularly threatening to me.
Because no member of the imperial family survived ten years into the future.
Asella purged them all after her ascension.
If they had mentioned Asella instead, I might have been a bit intimidated.
Just then, there was a clanking sound of someone rushing out from inside the barracks.
"Is that the platoon leader? Let's hear the report on what happened to that female knight... Huh?"
The company commander seemed to expect his subordinate to report on Tanya's condition, but his expectation was completely off.
However, the situation was clear enough.
Because Tanya herself rushed out from inside.
"Doctor, I apologize."
Tanya hurried over and apologized to me.
"I was so engrossed in sparring with the knights that I missed our return time. It was my negligence."
Tanya bowed her head deeply.
"Any injuries?"
"Injuries? No, it was just a practice duel to exchange sword techniques, so I have no injuries. Though some of the opposing knights suffered minor scratches."
Clang! The company commander stumbled backward and bumped into another sentry's armor.
"I-impossible. We had at least thirty knights in there, and she knocked them all down? Without even breaking a sweat?!"
The company commander gaped in astonishment.
I couldn't help but snicker.
Apparently, Tanya didn't even recognize the knights' provocation as such and treated it as a genuine sparring session.
And then she showed thirty men their place and calmly walked out.
Meticulous as she is, she must have realized it was time to return. They probably tried to detain her.
It's just like dependable Tanya to take responsibility by claiming it was her fault.
"Thanks to you, I'm late for work. How will you take responsibility, Captain?"
Intending to tease her a bit, I lightly scolded her, and Tanya tilted her head.
"That's why I apologized."
"That's it? I'm disappointed. Show some sincerity like Boris does."
"You mean delicious food? I'll try to find some."
"Would anything you find be better than imperial cuisine? With your plain taste. Carry me up to the office on your back for a week."
"I'll join you for strength training instead."
"Oh my, are you trying to negotiate after making your lord travel a long distance without escort?"
"Three days."
"Okay."
Tanya's expression, pouting with displeasure, was quite amusing.
This scene was a greater gain than avoiding the stairs.
"Let's head back quickly then."
"Yes. I'll escort you."
"W-wait a moment!"
As we were about to leave the barracks, having finished our business, the company commander blocked my path.
"Are you just going to leave after turning our barracks into a wasteland?"
"Your knights lost to Tanya because they're weak. You should have trained them better."
"What did you just say...!"
"Build up your strength too. You seem to have only built bulk while your muscles have stiffened. Do some stretching. Want me to show you how?"
The company commander finally exploded and shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Such insolence! That female knight must have used some underhanded trick! Don't try to lecture a warrior when you look so frail!"
What a stubborn fellow.
Has his brain hardened into muscle too?
This is why stretching is essential. A flexible body leads to flexible thinking. Why get so angry about losing to Tanya?
I need to resolve this situation.
It would also make for a good comparison.
Let's experiment.
I slipped my hand under my gown and pressed the tip of the syringe containing the strength enhancer.
A warm sensation spread from my left chest throughout my body.
I approached the company commander with a slight smile and grabbed his arm.
"Don't be so prejudiced, knight."
—Squeeze...
"Wha... What strength?!"
The company commander's eyes widened instantly as I gripped his arm.