During the examination, Manon transmitted the diagnostic data to Laojun via her built-in manacam.
Laojun analyzed the data at ultra-high speed, conveyed its conclusions to Manon, and advised her on how best to phrase the explanation.
Taking the advice, Manon addressed the room.
"Inside His Majesty's body, there is a mysterious pathogen destroying his vitamins."
"What?"
"Because this pathogen destroys vitamins, no amount of dietary therapy has been able to improve his condition."
"How could that be...?"
Upon hearing Manon's explanation, the Principality's officials grew somber.
However, Nanaria reacted differently.
"...Um, Manon-sama, is it possible for you to eliminate that pathogen?" she asked.
"If you were able to discover its existence, then perhaps you can eradicate it as well...?"
Hearing that, the Chancellor, Minister of General Affairs, Foreign Minister, and even the lady's maids latched on to the possibility.
"If you can, please!"
"We beg of you, please heal His Majesty!"
"We will pay any price our country can afford!"
"Manon-sama, please! Save His Majesty, we beg you!"
Manon raised a hand, gently calming them down.
"I have no intention of using medical treatment as a bargaining chip. Naturally, I will treat him."
She glanced over at Jin, who gave a silent nod of approval.
"Oh, thank you so much...!"
The Chancellor and the other ministers bowed with profound reverence.
"Now then... 'Extraction.'"
Extraction was originally a magi-craft spell meant to separate and extract specific components. Fundamentally, magi-craft could not affect living biological tissue.
However...
Manon maintained the precise execution of magic that only an automata could perform.
Generally, it takes roughly twenty seconds to a minute for blood to make one full circuit through the human body.
For approximately twice that duration—two whole minutes—Manon sustained the Extraction spell without interruption.
Finally, she concluded the spell.
"It is complete."
She then cast Diagnose once more to inspect the Duke's body.
"He will be fine now. The pathogen has been eradicated."
"Oh, ohh!"
"Truly...? Ah, thank you so very much!"
The relief and joy felt by the assembled retainers and his fiancée, Nanaria, knew no bounds.
Tears of gratitude welled in their eyes.
Waiting for everyone to regain their composure, Manon spoke again.
"This is the remnant of the extracted pathogen."
Before them lay the wreckage of the extracted nano-golems.
Indeed, the true cause of the Duke's illness was none other than nano-golems.
The only reason Manon had been able to remove them using Extraction was precisely because they were artificial constructs rather than living tissue.
Since such advanced nanotechnology could not possibly exist in the modern world, Jin deduced that it had to originate from the Origin Clan.
And the only nation known to have—or to have had—any connection to the technology of the Origin Clan was the Jagus Principality.
"...Did you happen to consume anything that came from the Jagus Principality?" Jin ventured to ask.
"Well, nothing in particular comes to mind..."
No one seemed to have a clue.
However...
"Ah, wait..."
Nanaria suddenly seemed to remember something.
"...Your Excellency, what about the wine sent every year as a New Year's gift?"
"Indeed, there is that. But that wine is produced in the Shouro Empire, not the Jagus Principality. They merely send it as a formal greeting. In fact, returning the courtesy only adds to our expenses."
"Still, what if the pathogen was introduced into the bottle through some means?"
The possibility was certainly not zero; if anything, it sounded highly suspicious.
"However, that bottle has already been finished."
Since it was just a single bottle, no one other than the Duke had drunk any of it.
"...It remains a distinct possibility," Manon noted, deciding to bring the unproductive discussion to a close. "In any case, please exercise extreme caution with any imported goods from abroad."
Without the actual bottle, there was no way to verify it.
"Next, let us revitalize the cells in his body. 'Behantoran.'"
This Healing spell, utilized in both internal healing magic and surgical healing magic, stimulated cellular activity and accelerated natural recovery.
With it, she restored a measure of vigor to his weakened frame.
"Jin-sama, do you happen to have any Persica juice on hand?"
Manon turned to Jin, requesting some of the highly nourishing beverage.
"Yeah, we keep some stocked on Hurricane....Will ten bottles be enough?"
"Yes, that would be wonderful."
With the Chancellor's permission, Jin dispatched Reiko to Hurricane to retrieve ten bottles of Persica juice.
Carrying the written permit provided by the Chancellor, Reiko darted off.
She returned in about five minutes—it had only taken that long because running through the Royal Palace corridors was forbidden.
"Father, I have brought them."
"Thanks....Manon, here you go."
Jin handed the ten bottles of Persica juice to Manon.
"Thank you very much....Nanaria-sama, this is a nutritious juice belonging to Jin-sama. Please have His Majesty drink one bottle with each meal."
With that, she handed over a three-day supply of nine bottles.
The remaining bottle was given to Duke Gilberto de Darato to drink right away.
"Here you are, Your Majesty."
"Mm... What a pleasant aroma."
Taking in the fragrance of the Persica juice, Duke Gilberto took an initial sip.
"Mmh...! Delicious!"
He then emptied the rest of the bottle in one long draught.
"That was exquisite. I would love to have a bit more, but I presume that is out of the question?"
Manon answered firmly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Please consider your recovery first."
Since his digestive system was still delicate, drinking too much at once carried the risk of an upset stomach.
"Gil... Your Majesty, please be patient for just a little while longer."
Hearing Nanaria's gentle reprimand, the Duke relented.
"I suppose... you are right. Very well."
Though he gave in somewhat grudgingly, he yielded nonetheless.
Despite being nearly ten years older than Nanaria, the Duke was clearly already wrapped around her finger.
"Even so, I already feel as though the heavy fatigue in my body has lifted somewhat."
"That is wonderful to hear. In three days, I expect you will be able to walk again. Once you reach that stage, please begin moving your body little by little."
Manon carefully went over the precautions.
Watching Nanaria nod earnestly beside the bed, Jin felt confident that the Duke was in good hands.
"Manon-dono, Jin-dono, we cannot thank you enough. You are the saviors of our nation...!"
The Chancellor, Minister of General Affairs, and Foreign Minister bowed deeply to Jin and Manon in heartfelt gratitude.