Chapter 101
“The subjugation will start from today. Cromwell’s knights tend to fight safely, so there aren’t many serious injuries, but there are many minor injuries.”
Marco said this right after breakfast. It wasn’t surprising information since I already knew about Cromwell’s combat tendencies.
“The seriously injured will be escorted to the master, but the minor injuries are my responsibility.”
Marco concluded, glancing at my more than half-full plate.
“Use your judgment.”
It was advice that I might be too busy to even eat. Since it was advice born from experience, there was probably a high chance I’d end up starving.
‘It’s not going down well…’
During the march, I ate without even knowing what I was eating just to survive, but now that my body was more comfortable, I could really feel how disgustingly tasteless it was, making me not want to eat more. I knew I wasn’t in a position to be picky about food, but my palate, accustomed to gourmet cuisine, couldn’t suddenly change, which was troublesome.
‘Still, I should eat.’
Not wanting to be a burden due to lack of energy, I dipped the hard bread in the thin soup and took another bite.
Marco’s prediction came true. People with cuts or lacerations, broken arms or legs, stab wounds, and so on. Everyone needed a doctor’s hand, though none were critical.
At first, I just ran errands for Marco, but when I started preparing and handing over the necessary tools for treatment, he entrusted me with the treatments instead. After observing me treat two or three people, he gave me autonomy with strict instructions to call him if there was a patient I found difficult to handle. This happened just before lunchtime began.
Marco’s other prediction that there wouldn’t be time to eat also came true brilliantly.
I thought the knights weren’t participating in the subjugation because only mercenaries had been coming, but when the morning subjugation was finished, knights with minor wounds that they had neglected started arriving. That’s when I realized that the mercenaries had completely withdrawn to the rear even with slight injuries.
Maybe because I was running around frantically, time flew by. The medical unit could only catch a breath after it was completely dark. A late meal was delivered for us. Marco distributed potatoes according to the number of people. It was a simple menu of just potatoes.
As I chewed on the second potato, I couldn’t tell if I was eating food or rocks. Still, I couldn’t not eat, so I held a potato in each hand and mechanically chewed when I saw Luwen lurking outside the tent.
“Marco, can I eat this outside?”
“Friend came?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t mind, but are you only taking that?”
“This is enough.”
“Okay? Come back when you’re done eating comfortably and it’s time for cleanup.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
After bowing slightly, I left the tent, and Luwen, who had been waiting, approached with a bright expression.
“Norman.”
“Are you not hurt anywhere?”
“No, I’m not.”
Luwen turned around once in front of me. Thankfully, he seemed fine. I sat down on a rock near the medical tent and held out a potato.
“Want to eat?”
“No. I don’t want to steal Norman’s dinner. You should eat well, especially since it’s already meager.”
How did he know it was dinner when it was so late? Curious, I asked and learned that the subjugation force only receives fixed rations. There’s no concept of snacks or late-night meals to begin with.
“Did you eat lunch properly?”
I nodded while chewing without enthusiasm, just for the purpose of nutrition.
However, one potato was my limit. I knew I should eat more, but I didn’t want to, so I was just fiddling with it when Luwen pulled out a handkerchief bundle from inside his chest.
“I’ll give you this when you finish the potato.”
Inside were rubiberries, which I used to enjoy at the duke’s mansion. The shiny red berries looked perfectly ripe, making my mouth water.
“How did you get these?”
“I accidentally found a wild rubiberry tree. I saved these especially for Norman.”
“Let’s share.”
“After you finish the potato.”
“Do I have to eat it?”
Why is he so fixated on the potato? It’s even annoying to peel. I’d rather eat the rubiberries than the potato.
“Yes. Norman, you skip meals when it’s difficult, right? You’re lying about eating lunch properly too, aren’t you?”
The eerily perceptive Luwen wrapped the rubiberries back in the handkerchief and tucked them inside his chest. As I stared at this, he took the potato from my hand, peeled it, and returned it to me.
“Eat it.”
“Ugh.”
“Since there’s no food to your taste, you’re probably eating less than usual, so you should at least finish this.”
With Luwen around, it seems I’ll never die of starvation.
“If you finish it, I’ll pick more tomorrow.”
“Are there many berries?”
“More or less.”
Although I didn’t want to, I took a big bite of the potato because I wanted to eat the fruit. After somehow finishing the potato, Luwen finally handed over the rubiberries.
“You eat too.”
“I’ve eaten plenty. This is for Norman.”
“It’s better to eat together though.”
Eating alone is never as tast… Wow, this is delicious. The skin burst in my mouth, releasing the pulp. Even the top-grade rubiberries delivered to the mansion couldn’t compare to freshly picked fruit.
“Tasty, right?”
“Yeah. Really delicious.”
As I ate the rubiberries one by one, Luwen watched me with a satisfied smile. Is it that enjoyable to watch me eat something?
After swallowing, I was about to eat another rubiberry when he suddenly reached out. His thumb gently wiped the corner of my mouth.
Surprised by the unexpected action, I pulled my head back, but-
“There was something on your mouth.”
He followed through to the end, wiping a couple of times before withdrawing his hand.
‘Is, is this okay? He could have just told me…’
My heart was pounding from how flustered I was. It felt like I had suddenly been attacked, so I quickly licked my lips to erase the remaining sensation.
Luwen suddenly coughed and averted his gaze. Had he just realized what he’d done? Seeing him embarrassed made it hard for me to look at him directly, so I rolled my eyes and asked to change the atmosphere.
“So, how was today’s subjugation?”
“Ah. We attacked the Skitters’ den that the reconnaissance team discovered yesterday. It’s been cleared up to about halfway, so we’ll probably go deeper tomorrow.”
At the mention of Skitters, my body involuntarily shuddered. I already hate insects with many legs, and these are not only huge but also move in swarms. They were monsters I absolutely didn’t want to encounter.
“There must be some roaming outside too?”
“Yes. They’re a species obsessed with the smell of blood, so we’re luring and dealing with them using animal carcasses. Still, just in case, you shouldn’t leave the camp.”
As we talked, Luwen’s attitude seemed to return to normal, so I replied comfortably as well.
“Of course.”
I wouldn’t go out even if they pushed me out. It’s Skitters we’re talking about. I don’t want to see those giant centipede-like creatures because they’re so creepy.
“I should head back now.”
I got up and dusted myself off as I saw the workers coming to help with the cleanup.
“I’ll help. Let’s stop by the well before you go to sleep.”
“No, the workers will handle the hard work, so there’s no need to help.”
“Then can I wait?”
“I’d like you to go rest… but it doesn’t look like you’ll listen.”
Luwen quietly smiled. I patted his arm a couple of times before entering the medical tent.
Four days passed without any particular incidents. I got used to the smell of blood and managed to chew and swallow the tasteless food somehow. Luwen picked rubiberries every day, waited for me, and only left after making sure I was in bed after washing up. We had perfectly adapted to the new daily routine.
‘…Looks like I won’t get to see Cromwell.’
I thought I might be able to see a battle at least once, but I didn’t even have time to leave the tent area. It would have been fine if I could slip away unnoticed, but the problem was that the absence of one person was more noticeable than expected.
‘I didn’t anticipate this.’
It was something I missed due to lack of real combat experience. I had assumed that since the medical unit would be chaotic during war, I could sneak out when needed and return unnoticed. But if situations elsewhere were similar to here, that would be impossible.
‘I need to prepare a countermeasure.’
Although I couldn’t achieve what I wanted, discovering an unexpected problem made participating in the subjugation force worthwhile.
“Excuse me…”
I opened my eyes at the voice coming from outside the tent.
“Are you there?”
The shadow cast by the torch wandered around near the tent. Marco seemed to be in a deep sleep as he didn’t hear it.
Carefully getting up and pulling back the cloth, I saw a scruffy-looking man with an unkempt beard standing there. His face looked familiar, and upon closer inspection, I realized he was one of the workers who helped with the cleanup.
