Doctor Player

Chapter 10

Before long, Sophia got up from her seat again, and Raymond suggested, “Why not take a little more time to rest?”

“It’s fine. I’ll be fine. I can’t rest now anyway.” She sighed softly and disappeared into the main hall, where she was soon surrounded by a myriad of people.

I have a bad feeling about this, he thought, his expression turning grim. There was something about her condition that seemed precarious.

The banquet continued smoothly afterward without anything of note taking place for a time. The attendees laughed and chatted, enjoying the drink, dance, and music. The atmosphere was lively, but Raymond felt more and more anxious as time went by. He couldn’t be sure if it was due to his constant racing thoughts, but it felt to him like an explosion was imminent—like the calm before a storm.

Sophia then took the stage, delivering a speech in honor of the Founder’s Day as the sole princess of the kingdom. “I would like to express my deep appreciation to all who have gathered here for this magnificent celebration,” she began.

She looked as beautiful and serene as a flower as she spoke, completely different from the face she’d shown to Raymond. At the sight of the lovely princess, the crowd cheered with radiant joy, “Long live the princess!”

Sophia’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “I stand before you today to deliver a speech on this joyous day.”

The moment Raymond heard her calm voice, his heart began to race. A growing unease consumed him, as if something terrible was going to happen any moment now.

“First, I wish for the eternal glory of the Kingdom of Huston...”

As she opened her mouth to continue speaking, calamity struck. The princess’s body suddenly went stiff. “Ah...”

The people in the banquet hall looked on in bewilderment as a faint groan escaped her lips. That was the last thing she managed to say.

“Your Highness?”

She collapsed lifelessly like a doll whose strings had been cut, and screams filled the room.

“Your Highness!”

“Heavens! What are you doing? Call for a healer now! Hurry!”

The healers who’d been standing by hurried to her side. These were the kingdom’s top healers, responsible for the health of the royal family.

“Heal her!”

“Quick!”

With a flash, a bright light emitted from the healers’ hands, enveloping the princess’s body in a white glow. True to their reputation as grade-A healers, it was a brilliantly radiant light, but despite the powerful healing energy being poured into her, Sophia’s condition didn’t improve.

The color drained from the healers’ faces. Instinct told them that if this went on, the princess would die.

“No, this can’t be!”

“Use more healing! Hurry!”

“Call for the top court healer, Count Helien! Now!”

More healers rushed to the scene to contribute their own healing, but it was useless. The healers’ faces turned deadly pale.

Just when the jubilant banquet hall had descended into chaos, a strong voice cut through the commotion. “Please step aside.”

The healers all turned in surprise to see Raymond looking down at Princess Sophia with clenched teeth. Damn it. The quest was about Princess Sophia.

For a split second, a deep conflict was visible in his eyes. What should I do? If the patient had been just anyone, he would’ve stepped in without hesitation, but this was the princess of all people. If he intervened to no success, he could face severe consequences. Damn! What should I do?

Countless memories of his harrowing life in the palace and the miserable years he’d spent in the infirmary raced through his mind. Just when he had finally gained a new ability and was dreaming of a better future… his life could come to a terrible end because of this.

I’ll be fine if I play dumb. I’m just here as an apprentice, anyway. But, if he were to do that, Princess Sophia would die.

“You really seemed like such a pathetic little rat before.”

At that moment, what Princess Sophia said earlier flashed through his mind. He bit his lip. I never even got an apology from her, and now she’s dying like this? Hell no! She’s not dying without saying sorry for everything she did! He didn’t know what he was doing, but Raymond acted on instinct. This wasn’t the time or place for logical thought.

“I will try to heal Her Highness.”

The healers were taken aback by Raymond’s sudden appearance, but soon remembered he had been dispatched as a healer. “You’re just an apprentice…!”

“I’m sorry, but there’s no time! Please move aside!”

[You decided to treat an urgent patient despite the difficulty of the situation!]

[Effects of <Heart of Steel> strengthened!]

Uncharacteristically for Raymond, he forced his way through the crowd, pushing the healers aside.

“Argh!”

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

This wasn’t the time for courtesies. Every second counted. Raymond shouted back impatiently, “Please trust me! Otherwise, Her Highness will die! I promise I’ll save her!”

When he reached her, Raymond quickly assessed Princess Sophia’s condition. There’s no pulse! Just as I thought, it’s sudden cardiac arrest. He paled.

Sudden cardiac arrest was a condition that caused the heart to stop, and could result in death or severe brain damage if it wasn’t treated immediately. In this case, healing won’t help right away. I need to get the blood circulating through her heart, now.

Of course, it wasn’t that healing would have no effect whatsoever. Casting it long enough might stimulate the patient’s life force enough to restart the heart’s movement, but that would take too long. If her blood didn’t begin circulating in the next one or two minutes, she was sure to suffer severe brain damage, so how could they just wait for the heart to naturally restart using the healing process?

In situations like this, there was only one option––externally forcing the heart to pump.

“W-what—”

Raymond laced his fingers together and placed them firmly on Princess Sophia’s chest, specifically on her sternum. As everyone’s eyes widened in shock, he began to perform forceful compressions. He was performing CPR.

“Th-that—!”

The crowd erupted in shock, screaming with horror.

“Stop!”

“What is he doing to Her Highness?!”

If he didn’t do something, he’d be dragged away before he could properly treat her. Helped on by <Heart of Steel>, Raymond desperately shouted, “Please, just wait! It’s to save the princess!”

His fervent pleas falling on deaf ears, the knights posted around the room approached to drag him off her, only to be stopped by an unexpected voice.

“Wait one moment.”

“Your Majesty!”

It was a man with stern eyes as cold as steel. The knight-king Odin had emerged to call off the knights.

“B-but, Your Majesty!”

“Speak. Can you revive the princess using healing?”

“That… That’s...” The healers hesitated to respond. Long experience told them how difficult it was to revive someone from cardiac arrest.

“Then there’s no other way. Let him proceed.”

An astonishing scene was unfolding behind him, but Raymond was too engrossed in his work to notice. Damn it! Why isn’t her heart starting?! Enough time had passed, yet the princess’s heart showed no signs of beating again. At this rate, she’s going to die!

Raymond’s face turned ghostly pale. Performing CPR wasn’t guaranteed to save every patient. There were many cases where the heart was unable to recover and the patient died. No! I need to think of a way. He racked his brain. There was no time to waste. He needed to find a way to restart her heart as soon as possible.

Then, like a bolt of lightning, an idea struck him. I need to shock the heart!

Electric shock, or defibrillation, was a technique that delivered a powerful shock capable of resetting the heart’s disrupted electrical signals. But there was a problem. Where can I get a defibrillator here? On Earth, the cradle of medicine, defibrillators were found everywhere for such emergencies, but this was the continent of Lepentina. There was no suitable replacement available.

Think! There has to be a way! Driven by sheer desperation, an idea suddenly sprang into Raymond’s mind. Yes! There’s a way to give an electric shock. Without hesitation, he summoned the status window. Buy skills! Support skills!

[Support Skills Available for Purchase]

- <Basic (grade-D) Ignis Magic>

- <Basic (grade-D) Aqua Magic>

- <Basic (grade-D) Ventus Magic>

- <Basic (grade-D) Electricus Magic>

- <Basic (grade-D) Terra Magic>

A list appeared before him, and Raymond made his choice right away. Buy Electricus Magic!

[<Basic (grade-D) Electricus Magic> purchased!]

[80 skill points consumed!]

[<Electricus Magic>]

Category: Support (Magic) Skill

Magic Rank: Basic

Proficiency: D

- Allows the player to perform electricus magic.

- Increased proficiency unlocks more skilled and powerful electricus magic!

The moment that message appeared, something incredible occurred—knowledge about electricus magic flowed seamlessly into his mind. He now understood the principles of mana and how to manifest it.

Stopping the chest compressions, Raymond extended both his hands, placing one just below the princess’s right collarbone and the other near her left armpit. To everyone else, his actions seemed baffling, leaving them blinking.

He whispered under his breath, “Lightning.”

Due to his low proficiency, he could only manage a very weak electric shock, but it was enough. A precise 220J, no more and no less—that was all the electrical energy he needed.

Zap!

An invisible shock ran from the princess’s right collarbone, streaking toward her left armpit. Her body jolted. The electric shock had successfully been administered.

Did it work? Raymond awaited a response with bated breath. After what felt like an eternity, he sensed a vibration under the fingertips pressed against her carotid artery.

Thump.

It was the sound of a heartbeat. Her cardiac arrest was over. Soon after, the princess exhaled a long breath. It worked!

It had been a close call, but it seemed that he’d treated her successfully. With proper care now, she would recover without any further complications. Raymond swiped at the sweat streaming down his forehead and rose from his position kneeling on the ground.

Only then did he realize the room was collectively staring at him in shock, all eyes fixed upon him in astonishment.