April 2340.
Shuuki Tsetse arrived in the Leonard Kingdom accompanied by five disciples.
The journey leading there had been anything but easy, marked by a continuous series of hardships. Their carriage had long since broken down, and crossing the mountains on foot had been a grueling, painful ordeal.
Eventually, they reached Habione, a small city located far to the west of the capital, Karnag. The people of the Leonard Kingdom embraced the ideology of the Magus and sympathized with his mission. It was here that three more magi joined his ranks as disciples.
April 5th.
"Magus-sama, where shall we head today?"
After breakfast, Tora, one of his disciples, asked the question.
"Well, I have heard reports of an illness breaking out in a village to the north. I intend to go and see the situation for myself."
"Understood. I shall accompany you."
As a former medical student, Shuuki Tsetse could not turn a blind eye to the suffering of the sick. Fortunately, some of his disciples had a talent for Healing magic, which allowed them to cure the majority of common ailments they encountered.
Taking two of the new recruits and three of his senior disciples—bringing the group to six in total—Shuuki set out for the north. On April 7th, they arrived at their destination: Shaia Village.
"...This is terrible."
Shaia Village was a small community of about twenty households and roughly eighty residents, but more than half the population was bedridden.
"It is undoubtedly dysentery."
Observing the high fevers of nearly forty degrees, the abdominal pain, and the bloody stools, Shuuki made his diagnosis.
"We must quarantine this village immediately."
Dysentery was an infectious disease caused by bacteria, typically transmitted through food or water contaminated by fecal matter. While it could be either bacterial or amoebic, Shuuki determined this specific outbreak was bacterial.
"Listen well. This disease is transmitted orally. Do not forget to disinfect your hands."
The Craft Magic spells Cleanup and Sterilization had already been perfected, and all of his senior disciples were capable of using them. Furthermore, of the three disciples he had recently taken on, two showed a high aptitude for medical work; one of them, Kelly, had mastered Sterilization almost immediately after joining.
Shuuki himself could not use magic, but for some reason, his body possessed a total immunity to all diseases. Nevertheless, he took meticulous care to ensure he did not carry the infection from one person to another, exercising extreme caution as he personally tended to the patients.
His primary method of treatment was to have the patients drink large quantities of water to alleviate the dehydration caused by the diarrhea. This was followed by the application of the magic spell Healing to the digestive organs. At this stage, he had not yet perfected the advanced internal medicine spell, Medicare.
"Hang in there. You're going to be all right now."
"Ah... th-thank you..."
Almost everyone who received treatment in time survived. However, for three villagers who were already in critical condition when Shuuki's group arrived, even their most desperate efforts proved futile.
"...If only we had arrived one day sooner."
"Master, please do not blame yourself," his disciples said, trying to comfort him as they saw his grief.
"That's right. Every person in this village is deeply grateful to you."
Just then, his long-time disciple Beth arrived with fresh news.
"I’ve heard there is another small village further north called Balbora Village. Apparently, the situation there is even worse."
"I see... Very well. I shall head there tomorrow. As for this village... Tora and Fesmife, I want the two of you to remain here."
Tora was a veteran disciple proficient in Healing magic, and Fesmife was a promising newcomer who had mastered Sterilization since arriving at Shaia.
"Tempest and Kelly, follow me."
Tempest was a senior disciple, while Kelly was a new recruit. Both were highly reliable. Tempest was the most skilled healer among the disciples, and Kelly was the talented novice who had mastered Sterilization right away.
Leaving Shaia Village at dawn, the three men walked with a sense of urgency, managing to reach Balbora Village just before sunset. However...
"...We were too late."
Not a single soul moved within the village. The settlement of fifteen houses and fifty people was already silent.
"...If only we had arrived two days—no, even one day sooner."
It was a lament shared by healers in every age—the bitter taste of one's own powerlessness.
In that heavy silence, Kelly suddenly whispered, straining his ears. "Master, do you hear that?"
"Hmm?"
Shuuki and Tempest listened intently. Faintly, carried on the breeze, a sound reached them.
"...Is that a cry?"
"Let's go!"
The three moved toward the sound.
"Over there!"
It was coming from a small shack on the edge of the village. When they threw open the door, they found a young woman suffering from severe dehydration, an infant clutched in her arms. It was the baby who was crying.
Shuuki hurried forward and scooped up the child. At the same time, he checked the condition of the young woman.
"... dri... ana..."
Her lips were parched and cracked, and her eyes were sunken deep into her head. By any clinical measure, she was beyond saving. Yet, Shuuki refused to give up.
"Use Healing magic!"
"Y-yes! Healing!"
Tempest hurriedly cast the spell. However, the basic Healing spell lacked the power to turn the tide; the woman's condition showed no sign of improvement.
"...The dehydration is too advanced. Quickly, get some warm water—no, there's no time. Plain water will have to do. Get her to drink."
"Yes, Master!"
Kelly produced a canteen designed for such emergencies. It featured a spout shaped like a feeding cup, allowing them to administer water without spilling a drop. After she had taken some water, they tried the magic again.
"Healing!"
Whether due to the hydration or the magic, the woman finally managed to form words.
"Ah... the...?"
Assuming she was asking about her child, Shuuki spoke clearly to her. "The baby is right here! She's safe! Stay with us!"
They had managed to give the infant a few drops of water as well. Upon examination, Shuuki found that the child had miraculously avoided contracting dysentery—likely because she was still being exclusively breastfed.
"Please... take... care... of... that... child..." the woman whispered, gathering the last of her strength.
"Healing!"
Despite their efforts, the basic spell was simply not enough. The light that had flickered back into her eyes began to fade rapidly.
"I... beg... of... you..."
"Stay with me! Don't give up!"
She was already slipping away. All Shuuki could do was offer words of comfort. Hoping to spark even a sliver of the will to live, he brought the infant close to her face.
The woman’s eyelids fluttered open one last time as she gazed at the baby.
"Please... take... care... of... Adriana..."
With those final words, she drew her last breath.