"Thank you, Doctor Ver."
As the little girl bowed deeply and left the room, I raised a hand and waved after her.
I had set up a small clinic to make use of the experience I'd gained back on Earth. Adventurers came here to be treated for injuries, and townspeople visited for various other medical needs. It had already been over three hundred years since I first opened a practice in this world.
"Hmm. This is already the thirtieth clinic..."
And yet, this was already the thirtieth time I'd had to start over. Each time, I lost my clinic for various reasons, and this current one was my thirtieth.
Sometimes they were leveled by war, and other times they vanished during monster attacks. Of course, every time that happened, I worked from the shadows to ensure there were no casualties, but to keep my identity a secret, I ultimately had no choice but to abandon the clinic.
"Well, there were times when I went a little wild myself..."
Once, while I was running a clinic, a small epidemic broke out in the country. The king and nobles of that land branded it the "demon's disease." Much like the Black Death in medieval Europe, I witnessed them slaughtering the infected indiscriminately.
Countless people fell victim to a virus no one had ever seen before. Eventually, through global effort, a vaccine was created. But the amount of time it took and the sheer number of sacrifices made in that process was unimaginable.
To kill innocent people simply because they were sick, just to escape the immediate crisis, was nothing less than an insult to me as a doctor—and to the medical profession worldwide.
Consequently, when I was seen treating the sick, those fools called me a follower of demons and tried to kill me. I drove them back instead, shouting,
"What you're doing is subhuman! This is no curse! I will prove it!!"
The disease had many symptoms similar to the plague on Earth, specifically the black spots that appeared on the body, making it resemble the Black Death.
The primary cause of the plague was the rats carrying the disease.
"...Ugh."
The polluted back alleys were overflowing with filth, and rats ran through the streets as if it were the most natural thing in the world. With sanitation like that, it would be stranger *not* to fall ill.
Meanwhile, the lord of the land had shut himself away behind locked doors, with no intention of ever stepping outside.
"...Piece of trash."
"This kind of disease spreads through rat droppings or through the air. I will disinfect this entire district immediately. Everyone, stand back!"
With those words, I purified the entire town.
I summoned the golems I had kept in [Storage] and ordered them to clear away all the animal waste and trash. While they worked, I used small bolts of lightning to scorch the polluted streets, burning away the filth and gathering the waste into a single area for final purification.
Then came the treatment of the patients.
I precisely utilized my skill to shock only the viruses inside their bodies with electricity, curing them instantly.
After saving the town from the plague, I killed that rotten lord with my own hands. Some might call it cruel, but he had already been infected himself. For some reason, I felt absolutely no desire to save him.
I drove a spear through the diseased lord's body, and the fallen nobles who had followed him were made to walk the same path. Since the dead lord had no heir, the townspeople appointed the wisest person in the village to take his place.
"Well, maybe I was a bit too hasty back then."
Anyway, many things happened after that, and here I am with my thirtieth clinic.
The country I am currently staying in is the Great Nation of Ingrasia. Even three hundred years ago, it was worthy of its title, but at some point, it began advancing at breakneck speed. There are many two-story buildings made of wood or stone, rows of tall buildings line the streets, and even the homes of commoners have clear, clean glass windows. Inside, armor and clothing are displayed in shop windows.
I also frequently see shops selling cream puffs, just like on Earth. Sometimes people I've treated give them to me as gifts, and they are delicious.
"I wonder if there are other otherworlders like me?"
Knock, knock.
At the sound of someone knocking on my door, I stopped what I was doing and sat up straight before speaking.
"Come in."
Ingrasia is the most developed nation I have visited so far. Entry is forbidden at the immigration checkpoints unless you present identification, and the outer walls surrounding the city effectively block the invasion of enemies and monsters.
The massive buildings, the houses crafted from brick and wood, and the white castle standing tall in the center—all situated upon the water—make the city feel like something out of a fairy tale.
Knights are stationed throughout the city to maintain order, but I am not particularly fond of their organization.
The Western Holy Church...
The knights belong to the Western Holy Church, based in the Holy Empire of Rubelios in the western part of the continent. They are an organization that worships a god called Luminas.
Their doctrine centers on the extermination of monsters, and above them stands the order of holy knights, the Crusaders.
Nothing good ever comes from getting tangled up with religion.
Whether in history books or reality, the pope's power is often depicted as stronger than the king's, so I avoid the church's people whenever possible. More than anything, I have no idea what would happen if they discovered I was a dragon.
"Let's see... why did I go out again..."
Right. Sweets and candy for the children, and a gift for Milim.
The city is broadly divided into commercial, tourist, industrial, and residential districts, so finding a shop is simple.
The tourist district is filled with acrobatic troupes and street stalls. This country also has an adventurers' mutual cooperative that trains newcomers—essentially a school—so adventurers and aspiring young adventurers are a common sight.
As I was passing by the cooperative, I noticed a crowd gathered in front. Wondering if a celebrity had arrived, I asked the people nearby. I learned that a legendary adventurer known as the Ruler of Scorching Flame had retired and was now working as a teacher at the cooperative. The crowd had gathered just to catch a glimpse of her.
"The Ruler of Scorching Flame, huh... I doubt our paths will ever cross."
Even in my previous life, I had little interest in celebrities or famous figures, so I felt no curiosity toward this legendary adventurer.
Following my original plan, I went to a confectionery, bought candy and sweets, and purchased a separate cake to send to Milim.
"You always have my thanks."
"Hahaha, just say the word anytime!"
Despite his tough, bald appearance, the baker had a kind heart, and his cakes were delicious, making him very popular with the children.
When I returned from my brief outing, I was greeted by a golem in the form of a human woman.
[Welcome home, Master.]
"Yeah, Amrita. Nothing happened while I was gone?"
The golem's name was Amrita. Among the golems I encountered in an ancient ruin, I had given the strongest one the name of that ruin—Amrita. After extensive modifications, she became a Master Golem capable of independent thought and the ability to command all other golems.
Currently, her extermination mode was disabled, but with a single command—"Exterminate"—she would immediately activate it and turn the surrounding area into a sea of fire.
"Is that so? Then that's a relief."
I went into my room and sent Milim's gift to the city where she resides.
By now, she's probably bored out of her mind and spending her time fighting with her subordinates for fun.
...
Several years passed while the Ruler of Scorching Flame worked as a trainer at the cooperative. As I expected, she remained someone I had no connection with. Aside from the occasional visit from adventurers or teachers who had taken students into the forest only to be attacked by monsters, I had almost no ties to the cooperative.
"Doctor! My daughter has a high fever!"
"I was attacked by a bugbear!"
"I fell and scraped my knee!!"
"My child has a cavity!!"
Go to a dentist for a cavity! Wait, is there even a dentist here?
Since this country was a transportation hub, a large number of injured people visited me every day.
"Ah... working nonstop is exhausting."
My method of treatment is a bit unconventional. I provide them with what looks like medicine, but it is actually just ordinary candy. In truth, the moment they eat the candy, I utilize my skill to its fullest to remove the bacteria, viruses, or decay causing their pain.
Logically, it should be impossible, but in a fantasy world, it is a viable treatment.
One day, an adventurer came to me with an arm completely severed. Even for me, regenerating a lost limb is not a simple task. Without extracted information, creation is impossible.
Why not just pour a Full Elixir on it?
However, even the lowest-grade elixirs are incredibly expensive, and a Full Elixir capable of regenerating a limb would likely cost as much as a national treasury.
If the severed arm had been preserved, I could have reattached it, but according to the adventurer, his arm had been eaten by a monster.
Dealing with germs is definitely easier.
With no other option, I crafted a replacement arm for him using golem materials. While it would take time to adapt, the adventurer seemed satisfied just to have an arm again.