After somehow surviving Dr. Hiriluk's unwanted medical "visit"—which felt more like an assault, to be honest—I finally managed to see a proper doctor and get some medicine.
I took it, rested well, and woke up the next morning feeling completely recovered, my fever gone.
No wonder this place is called a Medical Superpower. The doctors are incredibly skilled, and the medicine works wonders.
But knowing what the Original Work says about this country's future...
It's beyond infuriating to think that such brilliant doctors and advanced technology could be utterly destroyed by a fool's tyranny. It would be a national tragedy, a catastrophic loss for the country. Haa...
But even knowing the future, what could a mere citizen like me possibly do? Ah, damn it, the good mood I'd finally managed to get into was already starting to sour again.
There was no point in dwelling on it, so I decided to push it out of my mind for now.
Besides, I'd already seen the female doctor once today.
I told her I was completely recovered, but she insisted I take it easy for another two or three days, just to be safe.
"Even if you feel better, your body is still weak," she explained. "You could easily relapse if you overexert yourself."
She also stressed that even after my symptoms disappeared and I felt completely fine, I needed to finish all the medication she'd prescribed.
It's a common mistake, even in modern times. People often stop taking their medicine as soon as they feel better, thinking, "Okay, I'm cured, I can stop now." But doctors prescribe specific doses for a reason. Even if you think you're healed, you really should finish the whole course of treatment. I think that's how it works, anyway.
As instructed, I took my medicine after lunch. Just as I finished, there was a knock on the door.
"Huh? Yes, who is it?"
"Excuse me, it's me. May I come in?"
"Ah, Dalton-san? Please, come in!"
I opened the door to reveal a burly man in the uniform of the Country's Defense Force. His square face was unmistakable. It was none other than Dalton-san himself, just as I'd expected. Another character from the Original Work.
"Everything alright? I patrolled the area, and it seems peaceful enough today."
"Yes, thanks to you. I'm sorry to trouble you when you're so busy."
"Don't worry about it. It's part of the Defense Force's job. We wouldn't want anyone who's come all the way from another country to have a bad experience here."
Dalton-san was being so kind, his gentle smile as he said such considerate things.
The reason he was being so solicitous towards me? It was all because of yesterday's Hiriluk Incident.
As yesterday's uproar made clear, Dr. Hiriluk was already notorious throughout the country as a troublemaker.
Theft and arson were commonplace for him. He wouldn't hesitate to fire his anesthetic gun, set off explosions, and more.
Worse, he was an unlicensed quack with barely any knowledge or experience, who aggressively examined patients and worsened their conditions through so-called "treatments" that were essentially human experiments.
...When you put it all together, he really just sounds like a common criminal...
His medical actions were driven by pure goodwill, and deep down, he was probably a loyal and kind-hearted person. But then again, kind-hearted people don't usually commit theft, arson, or shoot people, do they?
Anyway, that's Dr. Hiriluk for you, a man officially recognized as a criminal in this country.
Since I almost became one of his victims yesterday, Dalton-san had been focusing his patrols in this area and checking to see if I needed anything, just to make sure something like that didn't happen again.
Man, I'm truly grateful for his concern.
"The doctor told me to rest for a few more days and recover properly," I said.
"That's wise. There's no point in pushing yourself too hard and rushing back into action. Besides, it's probably best to lay low for a few more days anyway."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The clouds and wind are looking a bit ominous," Dalton-san replied. "It looks like the weather's going to turn bad tonight. If we get a blizzard, even going outside in town could be dangerous. You'd be better off resting indoors."
Wow... a blizzard on Winter Island? That does sound scary.
I think I'll take his advice and relax at the inn. I still have two more days of medicine left, so if nothing happens after that, I should be fully recovered, right?
After a bit more small talk, Dalton-san left to return to his work.
***
Just as he'd predicted, the weather started to deteriorate around dusk. By nightfall, the wind outside the window was howling so fiercely it sounded like it was trying to tear the place apart.
A quick glance outside revealed a raging blizzard, not just wind but snow swirling violently. It was intense—the kind of storm that could actually strand you right in town.
Staying indoors was definitely the only sensible thing to do. Day or night, venturing out would be suicide.
So, for the next two days, I stayed snug and warm inside the inn.
While the warmth and comfort were wonderful, the boredom was starting to get to me.
The innkeeper had told me I was free to read any of the books on the shelves, and I'd been passing the time with them ever since I was recovering from my illness. But since I'm a fast reader, I'd already devoured them all.
Then, something unexpected happened that relieved my boredom in a surprising way.
Among the books in the inn was one I'd written myself.
And from the name I'd signed in the guest register, they figured out I was the author.
It turned out there were quite a few fans staying at the inn, and before I knew it, things had spontaneously turned into something like an impromptu meet-and-greet or autograph session.
The inn was already pretty lively, but as the blizzard eased, people started streaming in from other houses, asking, "We heard the writer's here?"
Look, it's great to feel my popularity firsthand, and knowing so many people enjoy my novels is incredibly encouraging.
Still, this sudden fan event caught me completely off guard and left me a little overwhelmed.
But I was genuinely happy, and I gladly signed autographs and shook hands.
If I'd known this was going to happen, I would have practiced my autograph beforehand...
After a while, the innkeeper finally came to my rescue.
"Don't push the girl who's just getting over her illness! Go home, go on!" the innkeeper said, shooing everyone away.
I was starting to feel tired anyway, so I was relieved. Or maybe she sensed I was getting worn out and came to my rescue.
Anyway, it was a fun little incident, like a mini-event.
But I certainly didn't expect it to cause a whole new set of problems.
What happened was this...
"Mwahaha! You're the writer from overseas, aren't you!"
A chubby boy with a distinctive laugh barged in.
Yep, no doubt about it—it was Wapol, the boss from the Drum Arc, the future tyrant who would bring ruin to this kingdom. Even now, his aura reeked of wickedness.
His two cronies were with him too: Chess, the wicked advisor, and Kuromarimo, the wicked magistrate.
It seemed their official titles were still pretty junior. Chess was an Apprentice Officer, and Kuromarimo an Apprentice Official. They were clearly still working their way up the ranks.
Even before their promotions, they were already Wapol's lackeys. I wondered if they'd known him for a long time.
Wapol himself introduced himself as, "I am Prince Wapol of this country!" So the old King was still alive.
The onlookers grimaced, their bitter expressions saying it all. Just watching this scene, you could tell exactly what Prince Wapol's reputation was like.
So why would this spoiled prince come to see someone like me? Simple: "Write a super cool heroic tale with me as the main character!" he demanded.
Apparently, he'd heard rumors that I was a writer of adventure novels, and that my work was quite popular both domestically and abroad.
Apparently, he figured that if he could get a popular writer to write a novel based on him, his own popularity would skyrocket. How naive.
Naturally, I refused.
I've always written exactly what I wanted, exactly how I wanted. I'd rather eat dirt than be told to write something I didn't want to.
Even if I were willing to compromise and take on commissioned work, I'd still insist on writing something I found personally worthwhile. Otherwise, I wouldn't be in the right frame of mind, and the work would inevitably suffer. Guaranteed.
Maybe some writers can compartmentalize writing as just a job, churning out whatever they're told to, but that's not me.
Still, bluntly rejecting him would only cause trouble, so I tried to soften the blow and politely send him on his way. But the Spoiled Prince—true to his name—wouldn't listen to a word I said.
His two attendants chimed in, egging him on with chants of "That's right!" and "It's Prince Wapol's order, you know!"
Just as I was wondering what to do, Dalton-san appeared.
He pulled out a letter and began reading it aloud. To my surprise, it was an official decree from Wapol's father—His Majesty the King of the Drum Kingdom!
The decree stated, "Foreign tourists are to be treated with respect," and "Under no circumstances should burdens be placed on those recovering from illness."
Wapol looked thoroughly displeased but eventually gave up and left.
As I thanked Dalton-san and asked how he'd managed to get such a document, he explained that he'd anticipated this situation and obtained the decree in advance, having voiced his concerns to His Majesty the King.
Apparently, Wapol had heard yesterday that a famous foreign writer was in town. He even tried to summon the writer to the castle, but thankfully, the King put a stop to that. Talk about a close call for me!
Then today, I heard Wapol had gone to the town where the writer was staying. Dalton-san immediately thought, "Oh no, he's going to cause trouble."
When Dalton-san reported this to the King and asked for advice, the King simply handed him the order I'd just received, as if to say, "Here, take care of it."
Honestly, I can't thank Dalton-san enough. How many times has he saved my skin?
Besides... Dalton-san isn't even the Defense Force Captain yet—he's still a rank-and-file soldier, or something close to it. How can he just casually advise the King like that?
He must be rising through the ranks fast or be seen as exceptionally promising for the future.
Well, thanks to Dalton-san, everything ended peacefully without incident, which is a huge relief. Wapol seems to have quietly returned to the castle, so for now, I guess we can relax.
...Relax, right?
I feel like I just jinxed myself by saying that.
***
"Ugh! That hippopotamus Dalton! I was this close to getting that writer to write an ultra-cool story with me as the main character!"
"Exactly, Prince Wapol! If your popularity rises, it would benefit the entire country. How can they not understand that? Dalton, that woman..."
"But we can't disobey His Majesty the King's orders. Let's return for today. Perhaps having the servants prepare some delicious snacks would help you forget about this."
"That's not enough to satisfy me! ...But come to think of it, if we're talking about a snack... I guess I am feeling a little peckish. Alright, let's go grab something to eat!"
"Huh?! But... go where? Are you suggesting we stop at a shop and have them prepare something?"
"No! Now that we've come all this way... I want that shaved ice made from the cave ice at the foot of the mountain we had the other day! Yeah, let's go get some now!"
"Eek! But Prince Wapol! That cave... Lapahn's territory is nearby, and it's dangerous if we run into them!"
"Exactly! And didn't His Majesty the King specifically forbid you from going back there? You got in so much trouble last time!"
"Shut up! Do you think I can just sit here and take this, you stupid hippos?! We'll just sneak in, grab some ice, and sneak back out. If we're quick enough, no one will notice! Now move!"
To be continued...