"Young Lord, what on earth is that thing?"
Asella asked me with a suddenly urgent voice.
I thought her attitude was quite strange. But I didn't know why. I couldn't imagine that Asella would be frightened of a needle.
I answered in my usual calm tone.
"It's called a syringe. I plan to use it to collect a blood sample from the Princess for testing."
"What does that mean? You're going to stick that needle in me and draw blood?"
"That's correct."
Asella's mouth opened slightly and she froze.
She can make such foolish expressions sometimes.
"Young Lord, were you a vampire?"
"What are you talking about? If I were a demon, how could I have used the portal?"
"Well, that's true... but where exactly are you sticking the needle?"
"In your vein. The inside of your arm."
I showed her by tapping the inside of my elbow.
Asella's ears trembled as she slightly moved her upper body away from me.
"Princess?"
"You're just teasing me now."
"A doctor never jokes with patients about medical procedures. If there's a misunderstanding that leads to a medical accident, it would be disastrous."
Asella squeezed her eyes shut and rubbed her forehead.
Certainly, seeing something for the first time could cause aversion.
She even asked if I was a vampire, and drawing blood isn't common in this world.
"Just a moment. Are you saying you intend to wound Her Highness's body? This cannot be allowed!"
The head lady-in-waiting, who had been watching, couldn't hold back any longer and interrupted.
Her point was valid.
"You're right. But it's such a tiny needle mark it's embarrassing to even call it a wound, and I'll heal it immediately, so there's no problem. Examining the blood will be tremendously helpful in maintaining the Princess's health."
"Must it be blood? If you used something other than medicine..."
"It was the Princess who offered to provide the environment for using that medicine, wasn't it?"
"...That's true."
Asella agreed, giving weight to my words.
The way she's fidgeting with her lips—does she want to object?
It seems she can't refuse because of her pride, having already given her word.
"If this is standard in medicine, and I'm the one who told you to use it... Sigh."
Asella took a deep breath and steeled her resolve.
"Draw it. Use whatever methods you need."
"Yes."
At Asella's command, it was time for the head lady-in-waiting to step back.
However, she added one more thing.
"But please examine Her Highness's blood right here, and when finished, dispose of it before our eyes."
"Of course, in case it might be used as an ingredient for black magic. I understand completely. I'll do as you say."
After my straightforward answer, there were no further objections.
"Princess, please extend your arm."
Asella bit her lower lip and slowly extended her right arm toward me.
"...Go ahead."
"I'll draw blood now."
I tied a rubber band around the upper part of Asella's arm.
She flinched.
"...Is it over?"
"Pardon? No. I've just tied a pressure band. It makes it easier to locate the vein."
Next, I prepared an alcohol swab.
I'd used alchemy to transform cheap liquor into plenty of pure alcohol.
Alchemy is truly versatile.
So convenient.
When I rolled up Asella's sleeve, her pale, slender wrist was revealed.
I cleaned the inside of her elbow with the alcohol swab.
"...Hic!"
Does Asella not get along well with alcohol?
She made a sensitive sound like someone with an alcohol allergy.
But that can't be right—she enjoyed drinking.
"Is, is it over now?"
"No, I've just disinfected the area. Since this process creates a wound, we need to prevent infection."
"Ugh... what's infection...?"
Asella not only turned her head away but also squeezed her eyes shut.
...I was starting to sense something strange.
I thought there was no way the Golden Witch would be afraid of shedding a single drop of blood.
"Is she really scared?"
A feeling of satisfaction at having gotten to her crept up from deep inside me.
"No, Lars. Get a grip."
If Asella was truly deeply frightened, I might be heading straight for a bad ending.
...Hmm, for something like that, I didn't see any numbers changing in the system.
It should be fine.
I continued with the procedure.
"Please don't move."
Asella's skin was thin, making her veins clearly visible. There was no need to tap her arm.
—Slide...
The blood collection was quickly finished.
I pressed the collection site with an alcohol swab, and Asella slowly opened her mouth.
"...Is it over? Tell me it's really over, please..."
"Yes, it's over. Please wait a moment as there might be bruising..."
"You!"
Asella turned her head sharply toward me with an indignant expression I'd never seen before.
She was huffing like a steam engine about to blow steam from her nostrils.
"Tsk."
Looking into Asella's eyes, I had to desperately fight the urge to smile.
To think that the great Asella would be afraid of a mere needle.
There, there, you did well.
Maybe I should have offered her candy?
Some time passed as I pressed on Asella's arm to prevent bruising.
"...Phew."
Asella exhaled deeply.
The puncture mark had long since disappeared, yet she insisted on having a bandage applied.
The needle was extremely thin, too.
"So, Young Lord."
"Yes, Princess."
Asella still seemed uncomfortable with the arm that had been drawn from, fidgeting with it.
"Since you've taken my blood, I trust you're confident you can produce results worth that price?"
"Of course."
I answered confidently, but suddenly worried about Asella's value system and regretted my hasty response.
"What specific results would you like?"
Asella slightly raised the corner of her mouth.
I'm starting to understand. When she makes that expression, she's usually contemplating something devilish.
"Lucy."
"Yes, Princess."
"Have you informed the Young Lord about the emergency protocol?"
"I was planning to brief him today as he starts his duties."
"Young Lord, based on what you discover from my blood, propose a response strategy."
The head lady-in-waiting bowed and withdrew.
What kind of protocol are they talking about?
She should give me at least some hint—I have no idea what she's referring to.
"Would you like a candy?"
Hoping a bribe might reduce my punishment if I failed to complete the task, I took out a rose-flavored candy and offered it to Asella.
"..."
Hmm, her expression doesn't look good.
I guess such cheap snacks don't suit the taste of someone so noble.
As I was about to put the candy back in my pocket, Asella sharply said:
"Leave that there."
I carefully placed the candy on the table.
Asella unwrapped it and began licking it with her small tongue.
"Then I'll begin the examination."
Blood samples must be used immediately to avoid degradation from temperature and humidity.
Asella's blood, collected in two glass vials, sloshes red. Three milliliters each.
A backup is essential in case my skill doesn't work properly or the sample becomes contaminated.
I shake one vial about ten times and open the cap.
I gently pour it into a petri dish, staining the bottom red.
"I hope it's not contaminated."
If other substances enter before testing and alter the results, it would be useless.
I've disinfected the petri dish in advance, but given the hygiene standards of this era, I still have some doubts.
"Let's try [Blood Test]."
I activate the skill.
I look at the bright red blood coating the bottom of the petri dish.
...Nothing happens.
"Is the usage different from Diagnosis? Let me try Diagnosis first."
Since Diagnosis activates just by looking at an injured person's blood, there should be some response.
———————————
Injury Status: ■■■
Injury Status: ■■■
Injury Status: ■■■
Injury Status: ■■■
Injury ■■: Rank■ insuffi■ent
———————————
The text in the status window began to break apart.
"Ugh."
A sudden headache struck, so I immediately stopped the diagnosis and shook my head.
Asella watched me, resting her chin on her hand, and said:
"Not going as planned?"
"It's going fine. Please be patient."
"You were trying to cast some spell just now, weren't you? Looks like it got deflected."
Asella's attitude was triumphant.
She's thoroughly enjoying my failure.
Though the diagnosis failed, I learned one thing.
Asella's condition isn't normal.
There's an injury caused by a talent debuff.
Perhaps I can't diagnose what the injury is because I can't comprehend the level of talent she possesses.
"I need to use Blood Test after all. How do I activate it?"
In an actual blood test, the sample is brought into contact with a device for analysis.
My medical skills are based on my knowledge.
If I consider myself as the device...
"Hmm."
I roll up my sleeve and dip my index finger slightly into the petri dish.
The tip of my nail becomes sticky with Asella's blood.
Seeing this, Asella was a bit horrified, but well, it's better than disappointing her by learning nothing.
And bingo.
Text appeared in the status window.
———————————
Blood Test activating.
Patient Name: Asella von Württemfelt
Blood Type: B Rh-
WBC: 24.7
HGB: 8.9
HCT: 28.8%
...
———————————
"What is this?"
Endless alphabets and numbers like an encrypted message were written out.
Some terms were confusing, but I tapped my temple to recall the knowledge.
First, her blood type is unusual.
It's quite rare, making transfusions difficult.
"Why are her inflammation markers like this?"
Asella's physical condition was a mess.
Being young and well-fed, there were no problems with nutritional indicators like blood sugar, calcium, protein, etc.
Naturally, her liver function was normal too.
The problem was inflammation.
The white blood cells in her blood had increased tremendously.
There's an injury and infection somewhere in her internal organs, and it's still progressing.
"With this much, she must be in pain."
I glance at Asella.
Her expression is no different from usual.
Even now, and ten years in the future, she shows no signs of pain.
I had heard about it in the future.
Asella had pain as the price for magic, and there was an incident where she went berserk because of it.
But I thought that was irrelevant to both the present and future timeline, before her rampage.
I casually assumed the pain was something acquired upon reaching magical mastery, like my growth-type debuff.
But now.
"Is she enduring it even now?"
It was hard to believe.
She might be experiencing constant discomfort, as if her internal organs were being wrung out.
Without realizing it, my hand reached for the pain medication I kept carefully stored in my medical bag.
It takes a long time to produce, so I only had one pill in stock.
"Princess."
"Yes?"
"Do you have any squeezing or stabbing pain in your chest or abdomen?"
At my question, Asella's expression froze coldly.
As if I had discovered a secret that should never have been revealed.