Defected Dark Healer’s Rise to Wealth
“A raid… you say?”
For a moment, I was left dumbfounded by the sudden mention of a “raiding mission” by Demon King Lumac, but no, wait, that doesn’t make sense.
I’m a Dark Healer, after all.
I’d be in trouble if they were relying on my physical strength.
“Your Majesty, if I may, there’s something called ‘the right person for the right job’…”
“Of course, I said a raiding mission, but the main role I want to assign to Kiwi is not the usual type of raid mission as the term suggests.”
Lumac immediately cuts me off, responding to my half-hearted remark, “Shouldn’t you reconsider?”
“Such a term doesn’t normally exist, and both the meaning and role seem off, but what I want to assign you is, if I had to say it, a ‘raiding medical unit.'”
“Raiding medical unit?”
I asked, and Lumac nodded in return.
“A raiding unit is typically a group that operates on the battlefield, without a fixed target, seeking out opportunities and joining in attacks as the situation dictates. I want you to adapt that concept to your role as a military doctor.”
“So… you want me to operate without a fixed medical camp and move the medical unit based on my judgment to treat the wounded on the battlefield?”
“That’s the gist of it. Of course, there’s a rationale behind assigning you this role. Emeralda, please explain the relevant documents.”
Emeralda, who had been quietly standing by, began to move and retrieved several bundles of documents.
“This is the report on Kiwi Alaya ’s battlefield training, compiled and cross-referenced with the report from Giangiville’s battlefield inspection.”
Giangiville? Who’s that? I tilted my head for a moment, then suddenly realized.
If it’s an inspection report, then it must be that old geezer, Hihi-jii.
So “Giangiville” is his real name?!
“In summary, the training on the battlefield was a success. Kiwi’s direct medical staff are already at a veteran level… no, considering all the Dark Healers are multi-talented, it’s clear they’re even beyond that.”
“That’s right. Considering they can be dispatched to any battlefield, it’s not an exaggeration to call them the best military medical unit in the Demon Kingdom.”
“Yes. Giangiville’s report says the same thing in bold letters.”
It was written in bold… I guess even that old man Hihi-jii still finds it hard to accept that a human like me is part of this group.
Well, at least he’s giving me a fair evaluation, which is something to be grateful for.
“What Giangiville particularly focused on was Kiwi’s team’s ‘high independent response capability’ when dealing with the Elves.”
Emeralda continued as if studying me, almost like looking at some mysterious deep-sea creature.
“Kiwi’s team has directly encountered the Elves in battle a total of… 20 times. Most of these battles occurred at frontline medical camps. Only a few teams, like Urklow ’s, have survived after getting involved in so many battles. For a medical unit that’s supposed to be stationed in the rear, well…”
“Mm. That’s enough, Emeralda. Good work on the report. Anyway, this is the situation, Kiwi.”
Demon King Lumac leaned forward slowly. He peered down from his throne, staring at my face.
“To put it bluntly, your survival rate is… abnormal.”
“Huh?”
“And that’s why you’re the most suitable for this raiding mission.”
Lumac smiled with a sense of satisfaction, as if he’d found the perfect actor for a role he had been undecided about. But as the actor who had been cast in this role, I still didn’t fully understand why I was chosen.
“Excuse me. Are you sure I’m the best fit?”
“Stop being modest. If you have a secret to surviving against the Elves, I’d love to hear it.”
I don’t have any secrets.
All the battles in that land came suddenly, like a summer storm. We’d be scrambling to patch up leaks in the middle of the chaos, and then, just as quickly, they would pass. All I did was carry out my duties as a Dark Healer to the best of my ability.
Even if there were some kind of secret, I doubt it would be of any use to the Demon King, who is probably the strongest on his own.
While I was lost in thought, Emeralda spoke up.
“This might just be my own subjective interpretation, based on the reports from Kiwi and Giangiville, but…”
She continued, speaking as though she were making a deep observation about me.
“An unquenchable thirst for knowledge that defies conventional thinking… I believe that is one answer to why Kiwi has survived.”
“What do you mean?”
“For example, I’d like you to see part of the huge stack… of 1,200 reports Kiwi has submitted over the past two months.”
“1,200?! In just two months?!”
Emeralda nodded and flipped through the documents. She showed me one sheet, which featured a stick figure dancing with a stick in hand.
“It seems Kiwi drew this during breaks in the front-line medical camps.”
“Kiwi… did this!?”
“Ah… I sort of vaguely remember.”
I had a memory of drawing something.
It was, I believe, an illustration of the difference in gestures when an Elf wields a staff. Rather than explaining it in words, I had simply transferred the image that was burned into my mind onto paper.
It’s not exactly well-drawn, just stick figures, but the thing is, there are onomatopoeic words like “Bwoooonn,” “Gyurukyuru,” “Gwooon↑Gwiin↓,” and such, so I think it was fairly detailed for what it was.
“The reports that Kiwi submitted… Some of them are in the form of a <picture diary> like this.”
“Wh-why pictures…!?”
I nodded my head as though agreeing with the Demon King’s incredulous gaze, which seemed to be staring at something unbelievable.
“There was too much to think about, so I ended up…”
“A report is…”
“I didn’t have time to verbalize everything. New discoveries and thoughts on how to apply medical practices—there was no time to put everything into words. For example, regarding this drawing, the point I’m making is that the way the staff is wielded differs depending on the holy magic being used. This is something worth exploring. Holy magic used by human priests doesn’t require any particular gestures or movements. So why do Elves require such gestures? My hypothesis is that the activation trigger for their holy magic isn’t the holy text, but the gestures themselves.”
“I understand. That’s enough. The pictures are fine.”
Lumac raised his hand to stop my explanation, then said, looking impressed and slightly amused:
“I see. Indeed, you’re not bound by common sense… and yet, your perspective is not bad. Emeralda’s theory might be correct.”
With a smile that conveyed both disbelief and admiration, he turned to me.
“Anyway, this raiding mission… it seems like you, Kiwi, are the most suitable. Will you take it on?”
In the military, the response to “Do this” is generally “Yes, gladly,” and while I thought Lumac might be a bit more flexible, if it’s a “raiding medical” mission, it’s not too far from my role as a Dark Healer.
I didn’t have any particular objections.
“Yes. I will give it my all.”
“Good answer.”
“Could I confirm something about the mission?”
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“What is the criterion for determining the success of this mission?”
A mission must have a clear criterion for success, such as eliminating the enemy command center or completing it by a specific date. But I hadn’t been told this yet.
Lumac leaned back in his throne and answered:
“This mission will end when the war ends. In other words, it will be equivalent to the defeat of the Eastern Sage Marrow.”
With that, he smiled smugly.
…Huh?
“Um…?”
“I told you earlier, didn’t I? We’re preparing for the final battle.”
“…So, does this mean we, the raiding medical unit, will be running around the frontlines until the Eastern Sage Marrow is defeated?”
“I’m leaving it to you.”
“Huh?”
I asked again, and Lumac, still propped up on his elbow, replied:
“From today until the defeat of the Eastern Sage Marrow, all movements of you and your team are up to you.”
“Does that mean… this includes when we pull back, as well?”
Lumac gave a mysterious smile, then stared at me with his deep cobalt-blue eyes, which seemed to reflect the universe itself, and replied:
“You have complete freedom, Kiwi. Whether you stay on the frontlines or fall back to the rear, you can move as you see fit. Just act in a way that you believe is the best for the Demon Kingdom at that time.”
He said this without a hint of hesitation.
I was left stunned by how resolute his words were, but…
“…Understood. I will do that.”
Having been given that much discretion, I couldn’t question him further. That would basically mean questioning whether his words were truly sincere when he said “complete freedom.”
So, I took it as a sign of trust and decided to respond with results on the battlefield.
“I’m counting on you then.”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave now.”
I bowed and began to leave the throne room, but…
“Ah, Kiwi.”
Just as I was about to leave, Lumac called out to me.
“One last thing.”
“What is it?”
“The mission I’ve given you is officially a ‘raiding mission.’ So, technically, it’s fine if you and your team fight on your own terms. You have my permission.”
“Hahaha, no, no, you’re just joking, right?”
As expected of Demon King Lumac, such a witty joke…
It’s just a joke, right? He’s not actually expecting me to engage in real, intense combat, is he?
I desperately hoped it was a joke.
With that in mind, I left the throne room.
…So, a raiding medical unit, huh? How should I operate it?
Knowing Lumac, even if he says it’s “freedom,” he must be expecting some role from me, which is why he entrusted me with this raiding medical unit.
However, I don’t have much military or battlefield knowledge.
In that case, I should first consult with the specialists and incorporate “orthodox” tactics into the plan.
