Diving from a height of ten meters can be disastrous if not done correctly; in the worst cases, it can even be fatal.
Rodrigo was no exception. He slammed into the water's surface and was instantly knocked unconscious.
"...I understand the sentiment, but he’s certainly a handful," Jin muttered.
He couldn't help but think it would have been better if the man had waited until the altitude had dropped a bit more. Still, Jin realized that Rodrigo likely knew nothing about high-diving and had simply acted out of pure, desperate concern for his daughter. He supposed it couldn't be helped.
Jin lowered the altitude further to check on the pair. Marcia lay on the deck of the Cygnus, while Rodrigo floated in the sea nearby.
Both were unconscious. Marcia, in particular, looked to be in a precarious state; a severe injury marred her right thigh, and her face was deathly pale.
"Reiko, bring them up here."
"Yes, understood."
Utilizing her force generator, Reiko was able to carry both of them into the gondola without incident.
"It looks like Rodrigo-san is just unconscious. The real problem is Marcia."
The bleeding from the laceration on her right thigh seemed to have stopped, but despite being in a warm current, she had been in the water for a long time. She was on the verge of hypothermia.
"...I'll provide first aid, then leave the rest to Elsa."
In addition to the knowledge she had gained from Jin, Elsa had received tutelage from the master healer Sally Mileshann. When it came to healing, her skills now surpassed Jin's own.
Jin performed emergency treatment, using Sterilization to disinfect the area and Recover just to close the surface of the wound.
"Arrow, you did well. Good girl."
Jin praised the golem wholeheartedly. She had found Marcia faster than anyone else from Hourai Island.
"We'll treat Marcia here. Go back and tell the others at the workshop not to worry."
Jin instructed Arrow to return to Port Rock, making sure she had a message for Jeremy and Baccus.
"Understood, Creator-sama."
"Alright, let's head back at full speed."
The airship gained altitude while the Cygnus began its own journey back.
"Let's use the force generator as well."
Fortunately, since Rodrigo was unconscious, they could travel at maximum speed without worry. Using a wind-shielding barrier in tandem, Jin pushed the airship to two hundred kilometers per hour—well past the safety limits. They covered the sixty kilometers from the wreck site to Port Rock City in just under twenty minutes.
Once land was in sight, he slowed to about thirty kilometers per hour and landed directly in the courtyard of the Guest House.
Guards, clerks, and maids came swarming out to meet them. Among the crowd were Reinhard and Elsa. Judging by the time, their official duties must have already concluded for the day.
"Elsa!" Jin called out the moment they touched down.
"Jin-nii... The person who was shipwrecked... Marcia-san!?"
"Yeah. We'll talk details later. I need you to examine her right away."
"Mm. Diagnose."
Elsa performed an examination on the spot.
"...The artery isn't damaged. But her pulse is weak, and her body temperature is low. I believe it's a combination of excessive blood loss, mild hypothermia, and the onset of hyperkalemia."
There were several potential causes for hyperkalemia, but in this case, it was likely due to the effects of hypothermia combined with the potassium inside her cells leaking into the bloodstream through her severe injury. The symptoms included arrhythmia and muscle weakness.
"We need to treat her quickly."
"I understand....You there, please lend us a room for treatment," Reinhard requested of a nearby official. The request was granted immediately, and Marcia and Rodrigo were carried inside the mansion.
"First, we must warm her body," Elsa said. She held her hands over Marcia and utilized a unique healing spell. "Warming."
With this, Elsa began to gradually raise Marcia's core temperature.
To replenish the fluids lost through bleeding, Elsa prepared to give Marcia some Persica juice—a Hourai Island specialty she kept for emergencies. She needed a feeding cup, but since there wasn't a suitable one nearby, she had a block of silver brought to her. Using Forming, she shaped it into a cup, filled it with warmed Persica juice, and began to give it to Marcia bit by bit.
This would warm her from the inside while providing much-needed hydration and nutrition. Once these initial measures were taken, Elsa applied more powerful healing magic.
"Genesung."
This was the highest-tier internal-medicine-type healing magic. It restored the function of internal organs weakened by the cold. While it couldn't instantly replace lost blood, Marcia’s color visibly improved.
"Diagnose."
After treating the hypothermia, Elsa moved on to a more detailed examination of the leg injury.
"...It's all right. As I thought, no major blood vessels or nerves were damaged. Jin-nii's first aid was perfect."
"That's a relief," Jin said, letting out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Elsa focused on the wound and began the final stages of healing.
"Heilung."
This was a mid-level surgical-type spell. She chose mid-level magic because the wound was quite large; healing it all at once risked causing adhesions or misalignments that could leave a scar or result in lingering pain. Instead, Elsa repeated the spell, carefully monitoring the progress to ensure the tissue knit together perfectly. It was a display of delicate consideration for Marcia’s well-being.
"Heilung... There. That should do it."
The wound was healed beautifully, leaving no trace of a scar. Released from the pain, Marcia’s expression softened into a peaceful sleep, though she had yet to regain consciousness.
Meanwhile, there was the matter of Rodrigo, who had knocked himself out with his dive.
"Diagnose...!?" Elsa’s eyes widened in surprise.
"...Subluxation of the lumbar vertebrae and cracked ribs..."
"What!?"
The injuries were far more severe than Jin had anticipated.
"It must be from the impact of hitting the water. The loss of consciousness was due to a concussion... but there don't seem to be any abnormalities in his brain. He should wake up soon. Völlig Genesen."
"I'm relieved to hear that." Jin let out a long sigh. He had been on edge ever since the number of casualties had doubled.
"Jin-nii, thank you for your hard work."
"You too, Elsa. Thanks."
Reinhard approached them then. "It looks like the treatment is finished. I've just reported the situation to the Marquis. He was quite gracious and told us to use this room as a sickroom for as long as necessary."
"That's a huge help."
As they spoke, Rodrigo finally began to stir.
"Ugh... Mar... cia..."
The fact that his first thought was of his daughter proved he was a devoted father.
"Rodrigo-san, you were incredibly reckless. You had a spinal subluxation and cracked ribs, you know?" Jin said, wearing a deliberate scowl.
Rodrigo sat up in bed and scratched his head, looking sheepish. "I have no excuse. I saw my daughter and just... I lost my head....So, how is she?"
"She's safe. Her treatment is finished, and she's sleeping right over there."
"What!"
Rodrigo looked where Jin was pointing and saw his daughter.
"Ma—"
He caught himself before he could shout, swallowing the rest of her name. He stepped out of bed and walked over to her side, staring intently at her sleeping face. Large tears began to glisten in his eyes.
"I expect she'll wake up soon. Please watch over her quietly until then," Elsa said softly. She nudged Jin and Reinhard toward the door, leading them out of the room.
"Marcia..."
Left alone, Rodrigo looked upon the daughter he had searched for so desperately. He watched her breathe, silent tears of relief streaming down his face.