The condition of Najas Kahn's father, Viscount Astero de Kahn, appeared to be quite dire.
"Father, these are Her Majesty the Queen's guests: Lord Jin Nidou, the 'Magi Craft Meister,' and his wife, the healer Elsa-sama."
"O-Oh... P-Please forgive... me... for... remaining... in... b-bed..."
Even speaking seemed agonizing, and by the end, his words trailed off into broken gasps.
"'Diagnose.'"
Elsa cast Diagnose before proceeding with any medical interview.
"...Just as I thought. His lungs are barely functioning....What is extracted at your mine?"
"U-Um, he said it was the raw material for aluminum oxide."
It was Najas who answered. Viscount Astero de Kahn nodded weakly in confirmation as he listened.
"...Pneumoconiosis."
It was a condition where inhaled dust accumulated in the lungs, causing irreversible damage to the tissue.
When aluminum oxide dust was inhaled, the symptoms tended to manifest rapidly.
"So that's why."
Jin understood as well.
Visible from beneath the blanket, the viscount's feet showed signs of edema—in other words, swelling.
"The condition has progressed quite far."
"Then..."
Just as someone was about to ask further—
"Najas! What do you think you are doing?!"
The door to the sickroom was forcefully thrown open, and a plump... or rather, round young noblewoman rushed—or rather, waddled into the room.
"Elder sister..."
From those words, Jin and Elsa gathered that this round lady was the third daughter of the Kahn family, Narun de Kahn.
"Cough... cough..."
The viscount also seemed to want to say something, but a fit of coughing choked back his voice.
"I will never allow some complete stranger of unknown origin to examine Father!"
Hearing them referred to as strangers of unknown origin, Reiko stepped forward half a pace.
"Calling us strangers is quite rude. This is the present generation's 'Magi Craft Meister,' an honorary citizen of the Kingdom of Franz, and Royal Honorary Advisor Lord Jin Nidou."
"Wh-What... Wh-Where is your proof?!"
"How thoroughly discourteous....If you claim this is a forgery, I shall have to report the matter to Her Majesty the Queen."
With that, Reiko produced a mithril plate from her apron.
"Ah, ugh... Fine, whatever! Najas, you just remember this!!"
Spitting out the threat, the round young lady stormed out of the room.
"It has become quiet again. Elsa-sama, please continue your examination."
"Mm."
Composing herself anew, Elsa decided to step out of the sickroom first.
Telling everything to a patient could sometimes have an adverse effect.
"Please, this way."
"Mm."
Guided into the reception room, Elsa continued speaking.
"The foreign particles inhaled into the lungs... most likely aluminum oxide dust derived from the raw ore, can be removed using magi-craft. However, the parts of the lungs that have ceased functioning will not recover on their own."
"What...?!"
Najas's shoulders slumped in despair, but Elsa kept speaking.
"...To restore the non-functioning lungs, 'Healing' is necessary."
"I have heard of it. That is supreme-level healing magic, isn't it?...I understand that barely anyone in the entire world can use it..."
"Mm. What's more, a single cast won't cure it completely. Every single day... yes, I believe it must be cast continuously for about a month."
In the past, the treatment to restore Jin's body from one made of magiatoms back into living flesh had also required an extended period of time.
Hearing the necessary timeframe, Najas hung her head in deep dejection.
"O-One month... There is no way a healer would stay for such a long period..."
Healers were rare and valued individuals, and customary practices in the Kingdom of Franz dictated exorbitant fees for their services.
Detaining such a healer for an entire month and paying them daily was simply impossible.
However, Elsa offered a solution entirely beyond Najas's wildest expectations.
"You should do it yourself."
"Ehh?!"
"I told you before. You have the talent of a healer....Normally, one would learn from the basics and take two to three years to master it, but..."
"I will have you master it right here and now."
"Ehhhhh?!"
Najas's eyes went wide in sheer astonishment.
"Of course, since you won't be following the formal process, you won't be able to call yourself a 'healer,' nor will you be able to cast other healing magic as is. Above all, because it consumes a massive amount of mana, you'll probably only be able to use it once or twice a day..."
It was full of drawbacks, Elsa explained.
"...However, if you can keep it up for a month, your father will recover....What will you do?"
"I will do it!"
Her response was immediate.
"Mm, that is what I wanted to hear. You truly do possess the talent of a healer."
And so, Elsa and the others returned once more to the sickroom.
First, Elsa addressed the patient.
"Viscount, I shall begin the treatment."
After saying that, she added:
"'Schmerzmittel.'"
Administering a painkiller just in case, she then cast:
"'Extraction.'"
With that, she drew the particulate matter, such as aluminum oxide dust, out of his body.
"Th-This is...?"
Najas shuddered at the sight of the dust stained a dark reddish-black.
"Foreign matter that was inside his body. This was what was eating away at the viscount's lungs."
If Extraction had been cast immediately after the inhalation, his condition would never have become this severe, Elsa explained.
"But we can discuss that later....Listen, first watch closely....'Healing.'"
A faint light enveloped Viscount Astero de Kahn's chest.
"Ohh!"
When the light faded, the viscount, his complexion visibly improved, spoke without coughing:
"It has become... so much easier. Elsa-sama, was it? Thank you very much."
"The inflamed bronchi and trachea should be healed now."
Elsa checked his condition with Diagnose just to be certain.
"Mm, he is fine. However, since over ninety percent of his lung function has been lost, daily casts of 'Healing' will be necessary from here on. Along with a dedicated invalid diet."
Healing was magic that enhanced natural curative power to the absolute limit. In other words, it activated cells and promoted cell division.
However, the nutrients required for that process had to be supplied by the patient's own body. In short, without adequate nutrition, even treatable ailments would fail to heal.
"Also, medicine....I will hand that over later."
Hourai Island's specially made Persica juice was rich in nutrients, making it ideal for revitalizing the severely ill.
Since it was kept stocked on the Hurricane, she planned to hand several bottles over to Najas afterward.
"Thank you so much, Elsa-sama! You are the savior of the Kahn family! Our greatest benefactor!!"
However, Elsa shook her head.
"No, this is a healer's job. I only did what I could. From here on, please heal your father yourself."
"Yes... Yes!"
Tears welling in her eyes, Najas bowed her head deeply.