Chapter 2: My First Treatment Can't Possibly End Like This
[Name: Gallon]
[Race: Human]
[Stamina: 3 (Near Death)]
[Spirit: 8 (Normal)]
[Skills: Modern Medicine (Beginner)]
[System Rating: Rookie Doctor, survival probability below 1%]
[Novice Mission Complete: First Cross-Species Treatment (Minotaur Hoof Rot Disease)]
[Mission Rating: Rank-C (crude tools and rough procedure, but effective result)]
[Rewards: Minotaur Gru Affinity +20, Attribute Point +1, Spin Point +1]
A translucent panel appeared in Gallon's mind.
Gallon immediately spent the Attribute Point on Stamina.
Higher Stamina meant he could run faster.
[Stamina: 4 (Weak)]
It was better than nothing.
Gallon's gaze fell upon the spin wheel.
A colorful Virtual Spin Wheel materialized before him.
[Scalpel], [Sterile Gauze], [Penicillin], [Epinephrine]...
In this other world, these medical supplies from Earth were as valuable as divine artifacts!
Gallon's heart pounded in his chest.
Spin!
He commanded it in his mind.
The pointer on the wheel stopped on an unremarkable square.
[DING!]
[Congratulations, Host, you have received: Inhaled Anesthetic (Enhanced) x3]
[Item Description: A single drop is enough to put a Dragon into a deep sleep for one hour. During this sleep, the target will enter a dreamworld constructed by the words of those around them.]
Anesthetic? The kind that makes you dream? What the hell is this supposed to be used for!
Was he supposed to knock out the princess and then whisper "You're not afraid of blood, you're not afraid of blood" in her ear?
Besides, he only had three doses.
If the treatment failed, and he wanted to use this to knock out the guards and run for it, it wouldn't even be enough.
Gallon sighed. He could only place his hopes on his professional knowledge.
Whatever. He'd just have to treat it like a last-ditch effort.
「The next day.」
The iron gate of the dungeon was pulled open.
The Minotaur, Gru, stood outside looking at him.
"The Lord wants to see you."
Walking through the passageway, Gallon saw the inside of the Lord's Castle for the first time.
Finally, they stopped before a massive black iron door.
Gru pushed the door open and respectfully stepped aside.
"Go on in, human."
Gallon walked inside.
The main hall was dimly lit.
A middle-aged man in a black noble's suit, his face pale, was seated on a high-backed chair.
This was the Blood Clan Lord, Sein.
Beside him was a young girl in a white lace dress.
Like the Lord, she had snow-white skin and long silver hair.
However, her face was colorless, her lips pale.
This was Princess Camilla.
The moment she saw Gallon, a trace of pity actually appeared in her eyes.
Gallon's gaze swept over the wall behind her.
A grayscale portrait hung there.
The woman in the portrait bore a seventy-percent resemblance to Camilla and had a gentle smile.
Gallon had assumed that an occasion like treating the princess would be very private.
But he was wrong.
Both sides of the hall were lined with Blood Clan members of all shapes and sizes.
They stared at Gallon.
Their gazes were like those of people looking at a dish about to be served.
Gallon's heart sank.
So many of them?
Even if he used all three of his anesthetic doses, he could only take down three.
The rest could tear him to shreds!
No, I have to find a way to clear them out.
He cleared his throat and bowed to Lord Sein above.
"Respected Lord, I am the doctor, Gallon."
"The treatment process requires an absolutely quiet and private environment. Moreover, for a more accurate diagnosis, I may need to perform some... necessary physical examinations on Her Highness, the princess."
He intentionally emphasized the words "physical examinations," implying there might be physical contact, and perhaps even the need to remove some clothing.
He hoped these Blood Clan nobles would voluntarily leave to avoid any impropriety.
Lord Sein snorted coldly.
"That won't be necessary."
He raised his hand and waved it lightly.
Whoosh—
The bodies of the dozens of Blood Clan members on both sides of the hall instantly contorted, and they all transformed into black bats, flying up to the ceiling.
Then they covered their eyes with their wings.
Cling, Clang! A dense series of metallic collisions rang out.
The corner of Gallon's eye twitched.
He had clearly seen that when several bats were transforming, they lost their grip on the knives and forks in their hands, which then fell to the floor.
Well, I'll be damned! You all really were planning to have a feast! You even brought your own silverware!
Lord Sein looked down at him from on high.
"Is it quiet enough, and private enough for you now?"
"Begin. Cure her, and you live. Fail..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was self-evident.
Gallon felt cold sweat run down his back.
He pulled out the short knife the Minotaur had given him.
To everyone's astonishment, he raised his left hand and slashed his own wrist with the blade!
Crimson blood dripped from his wrist onto the floor.
"Gack!"
A dry heave broke the silence of the hall.
Princess Camilla's face turned ashen.
She covered her mouth, her body trembling violently.
It really is hemophobia!
And a severe case, by the looks of it.
Gallon had made his judgment.
"Insolence!"
From his high seat, Lord Sein shot to his feet.
"How dare you defile my daughter with your filthy blood!"
His voice was laced with killing intent.
The black bats on the ceiling began to stir restlessly.
Gallon didn't spare Sein a single glance.
He walked over to Camilla and held her by the shoulders.
"Lie down, quick!"
Camilla had already lost the ability to think, and she instinctively followed the force of his hands, falling onto the cold floor.
Gallon knelt beside her and quickly took out an oil-paper packet from his clothes.
Inside the packet was the leftover from last night.
Gallon pinched a small amount of rice and stuffed it directly into Camilla's mouth.
"What are you doing! How dare you feed her such lowly food!"
Sein's roar echoed through the hall.
Camilla began to chew instinctively.
Miraculously, in just over ten seconds, her breathing gradually stabilized.
All the Blood Clan members, including Sein, got shocked.
Gallon brushed the rice grains from his hands and looked up at Lord Sein.
"Respected Lord, this isn't lowly food. At this moment, it is the only medicine that can save Her Highness."
"The princess's symptoms are due to a disorder in her bodily functions caused by extreme fear. This reaction rapidly consumes the sugar in her body. Rice can replenish this sugar the fastest and alleviate the symptoms."
He paused, his tone calm.
"This is only a temporary fix to stabilize her condition. A complete cure will require subsequent measures."
He already had a complete plan in mind.
A vampire's hemophobia was physiologically almost identical to vasovagal syncope in humans.
Since the pathology was the same, the treatment plan could naturally be the same as well.
Psychological desensitization therapy!
And with the special anesthetic from the system reward...
The success rate was very high!
Lord Sein's face was grim. He sat back down on his throne without a word, giving his tacit approval.
Gallon no longer hesitated. He took out the small metal vial.
[Inhaled Anesthetic (Enhanced) x3]
He twisted open the cap while simultaneously covering his own mouth and nose with a cloth.
This action made everyone's nerves tense up again.
"The treatment will now officially begin. To prevent Her Highness from being stimulated again, I need an absolutely… empty environment."
Before he had even finished speaking, he slammed down the spray valve!
Pssshh—
A thick, sweet-smelling white mist, so dense it couldn't be dispersed, erupted from the vial's opening like a bomb, instantly filling the entire hall!
The dose was far greater than anyone had expected!
High up on the ceiling, the black bats didn't even have time to let out a shriek. Like moths struck by raindrops, they plummeted down, splatting onto the ground in pools of black ooze.
On the high seat, a flicker of shock crossed Lord Sein's eyes. He tried to stand, but his body swayed, and he finally collapsed helplessly back into his chair, falling into a deep sleep.
The entire world fell silent.
Gallon stood in the middle of the ruined hall, taking a deep breath of the cloth-filtered air.
He didn't run.
He walked to the side of the sleeping Princess Camilla and slowly knelt down.
He gazed at her peaceful, sleeping face, his lips moving slightly as he whispered a few words in her ear, at a volume only the two of them could hear.
Camilla's eyelashes trembled slightly.
In her sleep, a captivating blush appeared on her fair cheeks.
Then, her delicate brows furrowed tightly, and her body began to twitch restlessly, as if she were having a nightmare.
But soon, the twitching stopped, and her knitted brows relaxed.
A serene smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
It worked.
Gallon stood up, walked to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, and stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the scarlet moon outside.
Everything was under control.
Just then, a cold voice sounded behind him without any warning.
A sharp, intense pain suddenly shot through Gallon's neck!
His body stiffened, and he slowly lowered his head.
Two lines of blood were trickling down his collar, forming a small pool at his feet.
Lord Sein, who had somehow appeared behind him, had already sunk his cold fangs deep into his neck.
"Your little toy is indeed impressive, but for a Blood Clan member of my level, the effect... is greatly diminished."
Sein's voice carried a hint of mockery, and a hint of satisfaction from tasting something delicious.
"Now, tell me, are you ready to accept your death?"