Chapter 83

One day, I noticed the manager of the bathhouse had a dark expression. It was when I was thinking about the special rewards.

“…Do you have some kind of trouble?”

When I called out, the manager hesitated for an instant and cast his eyes down.

“No… it is not so much a trouble… just,”

He cuts his words off.

“…My tooth aches a little.”

He said so, seemingly finding it hard to say.

I let out a small breath. In this world, there is no art to cure tooth decay. If it worsens, in the end, there is no choice but to pull it.

However, a description from a medicinal herb book floats in the back of my mind.

Poppy seeds. An ambiguous explanation that only wrote, dulls pain.

Soak it in water, let a sponge absorb it, and apply it to the mouth. Or, soak it in wine and have them drink it. Neither the amount nor the effect is certain. Even so, it is being used.

I looked at the manager.

“…It cannot be cured.”

I declare that first.

“But, perhaps the pain can be softened.”

The manager started to raise his face, but immediately dropped his gaze.

“…Regarding the treatment fee for that… it would be expensive, would it not.”

He is choosing his words, finding it hard to say. It is understandable; this kind of treatment costs money.

I let out a small breath.

“I will not take money.”

The manager clearly raised his face.

“Will you try it? The treatment fee is unnecessary. In exchange, I will have the progress recorded.”

The manager widened his eyes as if surprised, and then slowly nodded.

“…If the pain will become lighter with that.”

Slight expectation was mixed in that voice.

I nodded.

“Then, let us have it prepared.”

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Doctor’s Record: Treatment for Toothache (Poppy Seed Infusion)

Day 1

By His Highness’s instructions, attempting three kinds of treatments for the manager complaining of toothache.

One, steeped in water.

One, steeped in strong alcohol.

One, directly applying the crushed seeds to the affected area.

For all of them, started with a very small amount. Commanded to increase or decrease while observing the reaction.

First, used the one steeped in water. After steeping for a while, let a sponge absorb it and had him apply it to the affected area.

The patient’s reaction is weak.

“…I feel like it’s a little dull, but.”

The pain remains. There is a change, but it is hard to call it clear. Used it in combination with having him drink it, but the reaction is still weak.

Next, applied the crushed seeds directly around the tooth. He complains of strong bitterness.

“…This is harsh.”

After a while, the stiffness of his face relaxes slightly.

But the effect is not stable. There are times the pain recedes, and times it returns. The duration is also short.

Finally, gave him the one steeped in strong alcohol. Had him drink a small amount, and simultaneously let a sponge absorb it and applied it to the affected area.

After a while—the patient’s expression changes.

“…Huh.”

His hands stop.

“…The pain is, far away.”

Record it. There is a clear change.

The tension leaves his face, and his breathing stabilizes. There is a delay in his responses to questions as well.

“…I am a little sleepy.”

Confirmed dulling of consciousness. Judged there is a danger of overdose.

Suspended here for today. Will place under observation.

Day 3

Continued the same treatments, adjusting the amounts.

Water infusion—effect, weak. About the level of an aid.

Direct application—has immediate effect, but unstable. Short duration.

Infusion with strong alcohol—shows the strongest effect. Confirmed disappearance or substantial reduction of pain.

However, there is sleepiness and delayed reactions. Management of the amount is essential.

Day 5

Had the patient drink the infusion made with strong alcohol before sleeping. When he drank it, he grimaced. Patient’s awakenings due to pain at night decreased. He is able to get sleep.

“…I was able to sleep for the first time in a while.”

Record those words.

Day 7

Able to confirm a clear difference before and after the treatment.

The infusion of strong alcohol manifests its effect a short time after use. The duration is also long.

As a conclusion, poppy seeds have an effect even on their own. However, by steeping them in strong alcohol, the efficacy becomes stronger and deeper.

Notes

His Highness appears to have presupposed the use of wine from the beginning. Did he foresee that water would be insufficient, and direct application would be unstable?

This medicine is dangerous if the usage is mistaken.

Furthermore, His Highness mentioned this medicine separately.

“This erases pain, but—at the same time, it has the possibility to break people.”

He says the components obtained from poppy seeds have the fear of inviting strong dependence. If the usage is mistaken, far from softening pain, it will drown them in pleasure, and eventually weaken people.

“This land does not yet have sufficient laws or discipline. If released, it will eventually be abused.”

Therefore, His Highness commanded to strictly limit the use of this medicine.

Forbidden to handle without permission, and its use is limited to under the supervision of a doctor. Keep records, determine amounts, and uses deviating from the purpose are not permitted.

“Only let those who are trustworthy handle it. Do not spread it.”

Those words were strongly emphasized.

His Highness handles this as something that is a benefit, and at the same time, can become a calamity.

However, if used correctly, it erases pain. It is highly possible that it will be useful in tooth extractions, or other treatments.

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Doctor’s Record: Trial in Tooth Extraction (Use of Poppy Seed/Strong Alcohol Infusion)

Day 1

The subject is the aforementioned manager.

The insect-eating [decay] of the right back tooth has progressed, and it appears to have reached the root of the tooth. Preservation is impossible. There is no path other than extraction.

Normally, we hold them down and pull it out in a short time. The patient endures agonizing pain and suffers for a while even post-surgery. But this time, by His Highness’s instructions, we use the aforementioned medicine.

The infusion of poppy seeds steeped in strong alcohol. The amount is cautious. Based on the previous records, choose a range with no excess or deficiency.

Have the patient drink it. Furthermore, let a sponge absorb it and apply it to the affected area. After a while, changes appear.

“…I feel, hazy.”

There are responses. But they are slow.

His gaze is unfixed, and the strength has left his body.

Ask about the presence of pain.

“…It is still there, but… it is far away.”

Record it. It is not perfect, but it is clearly dulled. His Highness said shortly.

“Now.”

The barber-surgeon takes his instruments. Iron forceps. A familiar tool. He lightly supports the patient’s head. Holding him down was almost unnecessary.

He grabs the tooth. Normally, the patient would thrash and scream here. And yet.

No voice comes out. He puts strength into it, wiggles it, and pulls. With a dull sound, the tooth came out. Blood oozes. But the patient just exhaled.

The barber-surgeon stopped his hands. His face looked as if he couldn’t believe it. The patient kept his mouth open for a while, and eventually closed it slowly.

“…Is it finished?”

Record those words.

The people in the surroundings look at each other’s faces. No one could let out a voice immediately.

The treatment was a success. Post-surgery bleeding is within normal ranges.

The patient complained of light sleepiness and laid down just like that. No major confusion, nor thrashing about.

Notes

This is clearly different from before. It is not that there is no pain. But it can be endured.

The treatment itself changes. The barber-surgeon said.

“…If we have this, we can do more.”

The meaning of those words is heavy.

His Highness said nothing. He just had me continue the recording.

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Manager’s Perspective

After that, the manager of the bathhouse was pressed with questions from his surroundings for a while.

“Did you really pull it?”

“What do you mean it didn’t hurt.”

At the words thrown at him one after another, the manager furrowed his brow, seemingly troubled.

“…I’ve said it many times, haven’t I. I pulled it. But it didn’t hurt.”

The gazes of doubt grew even stronger.

“That’s ridiculous. I hear that hurts enough to die.”

“Aren’t you being deceived?”

The manager shook his head.

“That’s not true. Certainly, I was made to drink something. …He said they were poppy seeds.”

At those words, the air in the place changes.

“Poppy seeds, you say?”

“…Those are expensive, you know.”

Someone said low.

As something that dulls pain, the name alone is known. But its price is high, and it is almost never used for the treatment of poor people.

Toothaches were to be endured, or if they worsened, there was no choice but to pull them; that was the norm.

After falling silent for a bit, the manager continued absentmindedly.

“…I don’t know how I should repay this debt of gratitude.”

He remembers when he voiced the same words after the treatment. His Highness answered easily.

“There is no need to repay it.”

He declared flatly.

But he did not end it with that.

“This is separate.”

The manager raised his face. His Highness directed his gaze to a waiting person.

“Leave a record. That I acknowledge his work as the one entrusted with managing the bathhouse as sufficient.”

Zawa, the surrounding air moves.

“From here on, I delegate a portion of the discretion regarding the bathhouse to him. I will have him hold a certain level of decision-making authority over the placement of personnel and expenses for maintenance as well.”

The manager’s eyes widened.

“…Your Highness, that is…”

“In addition, you have a family, right. We will provide the grains for during the winter. You should have enough leeway to match your work.”

He completely lost his words. His Highness does not continue beyond that.

“This is a reward. Do not mind it.”

The manager could not say anything for a while.

Eventually, he inhaled as if trembling, and bowed his head deeply.

“…I will definitely fulfill my duty.”

That voice was different from before.

---

The surroundings after that were noisy.

“Did it really not hurt?”

“How much did you drink?”

“What else did they do to you?”

The questions were inexhaustible. The manager scratched his head, seemingly troubled.

“…Even if you ask me that much. Honestly, I don’t remember much. I was hazy.”

He gives a slightly bitter smile.

“…Please don’t spread it too much. I’ll be in trouble if the questions increase any further.”

At those words, small laughs leaked from the surroundings.

But at the same time, everyone was thinking the same thing.

(Did it really not hurt?)

That question silently, certainly spread.

And one more thing. How far does His Highness the Third Prince see? He knows a medicine that erases pain, uses it, and gives it unsparingly.

Not only that. He looks at people’s work, rewards it correctly, and moves while gazing ahead.

No one voiced it clearly, but somewhere in their hearts they understood.

That the reason this land is changing lies with that person.