EPISODE 2

<Veterinarian Druid Episode 2>

“Is it true?”

“Yes, My lord.”

“Hmph, even if he’s crazy, he’ll go crazy in style. He actually fed sugar preserves to a living horse?”

Upon hearing of his youngest son Marcus‘s escapade, Count Ulysses grabbed his head.

"That, that rascal, where is he now?"

“I believe he is still in the stable.”

"Bring him here, immediately!"

In response to the count's thunderous rage, one of his knights rushed out.

Thud!

The Count slammed his desk with both fists.

"How dare him!"

He told him to behave, and now he's causing trouble.

Wade Ulysses, the head of the Ulysses family, was furious to the core.

"Buzz!"

"Yes."

"When did they say the support for the Border Defense Unit would end this year?"

The count's knight, Buzz, replied.

"It's until the end of this month."

"Put him there."

"Our young master is only 17 years old. He has another year left before he can answer the Empire's call. Besides, isn't he currently unwell?"

In the Elarotus Empire, once someone turns 18, they have a mandatory obligation to serve their country for 2 years. They can be deployed as knights or soldiers or serve in alternative roles. Among them, most nobles from knightly families support the Border Defense Unit.

The mandatory service system played a crucial role in establishing the Elarotus Empire as the dominant power in the Torinu continent.

Buzz doesn't like the youngest master. Well, it's more accurate to say that he dislikes him.

The youngest master, who is disrespecting the name Ulysses, the pillar of the proud Eagle Knights, is not well-liked.

The eldest Master, Fred, entered the Eagle Knights at the age of 13 with confidence. His younger brother, Jaden, became an Eagle Knight at the age of one year older.

The third son, Marcus, also had to become an Eagle Knight. It was only natural for him, being of the Ulysses lineage. However, Marcus couldn't fulfill that role.

Perhaps he had the potential to become a knight. But Marcus, who was naturally lazy and loved to play, couldn't be properly disciplined at the moment.

Even so, the Count didn't want to push the youngest master into a corner.

"Please reconsider."

"With his bizarre behavior, our family's honor has been dragged through the mud."

The Count saw this as an opportunity.

At that moment, there was suddenly a commotion outside.

"Who's there? Has Marcus arrived?"

"The second master has returned from the training grounds."

"Let him in."

Before the Count could give his permission, the second master, Jaden, burst through the door.

Still catching his breath, it seems he had come in a hurry.

"Father, the horses have collapsed."

"Again?"

The Count stood up abruptly.

"How many is it this month?"

Count Ulysses asked, his expression turning fierce.

Overwhelmed by the oppressive pressure that pervaded the room, even Jaden could only bow his head and remain silent in response to his father’s questioning.

After a moment of silence, the Count spoke up.

"Jaden, is the symptoms the same as last time?"

"Yes."

"Everything else is fine, but it can't stand up?"

"...Yes."

"What on earth is the cause?"

The Count asked the horse healer, Dan, who was standing behind Jaden.

"Well, it's not clear yet..."

Bang! The Count slammed his fist on the desk in his study. It was an action he wouldn't normally do in front of the healer.

It meant that Count Ulysses was extremely upset.

"Healer Dan, not just one or two, but already seven horses have collapsed. And yet, you still haven't found the cause?"

The Count's booming voice instantly froze the study.

* * *

"Hey, steward, when did we start feeding this fodder?"

"Yes? Steward?"

"I mean, this hay. It has beans stuck to it."

"I brought it from the hay merchant. It's a place we always trade with, and they said this hay is trendy these days. They said all the prestigious families have switched to using it."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. The horses eat it well. They also seem to gain weight nicely. It seems that expensive things are always better."

The horse caretaker smoothly explained why the horses had collapsed.

"But, Master."

Seigan looked at me with a strange expression.

"Why?"

“Are you going to keep the front legs of the fallen horse in that position?”

"Oh, I forgot to tell you about that."

I turned my head towards the horse caretaker.

"You saw what I did, right? Do the same thing twice a day... No, I'll do it in the morning and evening. Instead, just leave Terry in the stable. Put some straw on the floor."

"Terry?"

"The horse I just treated."

"Ah... Yes, young master."

The person responsible for the horses answered me and quietly asked the stable keeper.

"The horse, did it have a name?"

"I've never heard of it either."

I learned for the first time today that horses also have names they use to call each other.

I walked towards the stable where Terry was lying.

Terry was still looking a bit dazed.

-I'm leaving. See you in the evening. Oh, and don't eat grain feed, just eat hay. Also, don't drink cold water.

[Tsk, you're the weirdest guy I've ever met.]

I smiled and left the stable.

Suddenly, one of the attendants came running toward me.

"Young master-nim, the Count is calling for you."

"My father?"

"Yes."

"I'll go right away."

I returned to the main house with the attendant.

"Did you call for me?"

"Marcus, do you know what you've done?"

Why is he suddenly yelling and causing a scene?

"Yes. I treated the hooves..."

Before I could finish my sentence, the Count waved his hand.

"Ugh, there are more than just one or two problems, and now I have to deal with you too. Just sit down and wait."

I went to a table set up in one corner of the study and sat on a chair.

Looking around, I noticed that not only the Count, but everyone in the room had a worried expression.

Among them, there was a familiar face.

Huh? Isn't it Jaden?

Not only Jaden, but even Fred, the eldest brother, didn't like me, the youngest. To be more precise, he despised me...

The reason is simple.

They don't like seeing the youngest tarnish the family name.

Considering their personalities, they would usually pick a fight with me at first sight. So, what's going on?

Seeing even Jaden's stiff expression, it seems that something serious has happened, just like the Count mentioned.

"It seems to be the doing of Duke Olif."

"Olif?"

"In my opinion, it seems like the mischief of Third Prince Feloton."

Heh, a Duke and even a Prince. What on earth happened for such influential figures to appear?

This situation has become intriguing.

The conversation continued.

"They are undoubtedly trying to disrupt the upcoming Eagle Knights event in the fall."

"That's plausible. If rumors like that spread, it will undermine the morale of the knights."

"That's exactly it. That's what they were aiming for."

"I think they were aiming for our upper ranks more than anything."

"What does the collapsed of horses have to do with the upper ranks?"

"Not just one, but it keeps spreading, doesn't it? If we say there is an unknown epidemic spreading, everyone will believe it."

"An epidemic?"

The Count's expression became serious.

Wait, so if I summarize the conversation, it means that ‘The horses had collapsed due to an unknown disease caused by an epidemic.’ And someone with ill intentions within the Ulysses family caused the outbreak of the epidemic.

Surely it's not as exaggerated as Terry's collapse from laminitis, right?

It seems like there is also a veterinarian present.

I fell asleep while the conversation continued. Because, in a place where even broken bones can be healed instantly, it seemed that medicine and veterinary science were highly developed here.

But...

Why is the conversation going off track? It's fine to talk about an epidemic, but at the very least, shouldn't there be someone who suspects the feed or hay poisoning?

Unable to bear it any longer, I suddenly stood up.

"The horses at the training grounds and the ones at the mansion, they receive the same feed, or rather, the same hay, right?"

Everyone's gaze focused on me.

The Count answered with a surprised expression.

"That's correct. They are supplied from the same hay supplier."

"Then, does the training ground have a pasture as well?"

"Hey, Marcus. Are you kidding?"

Jaden protested, but the Count waved his hand at him and spoke.

"Sigh, it seems you've truly lost all your memories."

Looking at the Count who sighed at me, I shrugged my shoulders.

Well, it's true that he doesn't know anything.

"These days, when the weather is good, we let them rest in the pasture. And also let them graze on the grass."

Ah! I have to see it for myself, but I have a guess.

It's obvious that the cause of the horses' collapse here is laminitis, caused by overeating on the nutrient-rich feed.

"Can I tell you what I saw in the stable today?"

“Given the seriousness of the situation right now, you’re…No, tell me. I want to hear what exactly you did over there.”

* * *

The Count looked at Marcus with frustration in his chest.

Seeing his son not able to come up with anything, he longed for the days when he would just go out recklessly.

While the Count reminisced about his son’s melancholic past, Marcus began his narrative.

“….So the horses have contracted hoof disease.”

“…”

After Marcus finished speaking, silence filled the office for a while.

The one to break the silence was none other than Jaden.

"Damn it, even though you're my brother, I can't listen to this. I've never heard of such a ridiculous explanation in my life."

"W-well, yes. It's unbelievable. I've never heard anything so absurd before."

"That's right. I've heard stories about horses starving to death because they couldn't eat high-quality feed, but I've never heard of them getting sick because of it."

As Jaden argued, the others who accompanied him chimed in with their opinions as well.

"What do you think, Healer Dan?"

The Count asked the horse healer.

"I've never come across anything like what the young master has described in any literature."

"Do you realize how absurd your words are?"

Jaden laughed at Marcus.

"But now that I've thought about the young master's words, I must admit there is some logic to it.”

The horse healer reverses his opinion.

"This is ridiculous..."

"But it's true. Just like the young master said, there have been cases where horses in the pastures would overeat grass, especially after intense matches. Last year, three horses collapsed before the event."

* * *

A healer. A profession that can heal both humans and animals and gain wealth and fame. Dan specializes in horse healing and is an indispensable figure in the Ulysses family. He showed interest in my treatment method.

"Oh, is there such a treatment method?"

"It's difficult in advanced cases, but it's effective in the early stages. There are horses in the stable right now with laminitis, and I just treated them as I mentioned earlier."

"I want to see how you do it. I want to see it firsthand."

"I'll go back in the evening, so let's go together then."

"Sounds good."

Dan, being a person who treats animals, quickly joined my side.

In fact, Healer Dan started to persuade those people as well.

"As the young master said, it wouldn't be too late to make a decision after seeing the progress of the horses in the stable."

"Are you saying you'll listen to the words of that crazy person? Healer Dan, that doesn't seem right."

"Everything starts with a beginning. When Wolftop created the widely used bone healing potion in the noble circle, what did people say?"

“But isn’t he a great healer? That guy is just…”

"When Wolftop created that potion, he was only 20 years old."

The conflict between the Count and Healer Dan continued.

"I dare not compare this guy to a great leader like Wolftop."

In this atmosphere, it might be difficult to continue treating Terry.

I decided to touch on a more practical aspect.

"Don't you think there's nothing to lose?"

"What?"

"Just change the feed a little, and do a simple treatment twice a day. And if this method works, it's a huge benefit."

"A benefit?"

"What kind of horses are in the training grounds? Aren't all the top horses gathered there?"

"Hmm."

"If you dispose of those horses, it not only affects the military strength but also causes immense financial losses."

The Count's expression hardened. Because my words were all correct.

Judging from his anger, it must mean that more than one or two horses have collapsed.

"...Youngest master is right. One of the horses that collapsed today is worth over 300 million gold."

Interestingly, the prices here are similar to my previous world, so roughly 300 million won? I guess the reputation of the Eagle Knights is quite remarkable.

If that's the case, the loss must be more than just that.

At that moment, Jaden spoke up.

"Father, I don't know about the rest, but we need to make a decision quickly. If this turns out to be an epidemic and spreads to the griffins in Training Ground 1, we might have to give up the event."

"That is not an option. If we cancel the event, it will tarnish the honor of our family. It is something that must never happen."

Not only the Count who blurted out those words, but the atmosphere in the room became serious.

Seems like it's an important event. But Griffins, could it be the same one I know?

After the Count made a pensive expression for a while, he called me.

"Marcus!"

"Yes."

"Prove that what you said is true. But the horses in the stables need to improve.”

"Father!"

Jaden shouted in surprise.

"I don't believe this guy's words either. But if it's what the Healer Dan said, then I can trust it. As you know, who is Healer Dan?"

"Well, he's the renowned horse healer in the Empire, isn't he?"

The Count turned his head towards me.

"Marcus, I'll say it again. Prove your words. But..."

The Count cut off his words and stared at me.

"If what you said is a lie, you will spend this winter in the Border Defense Unit."

Suddenly, the atmosphere turned tense.

"Gasp!"

"Sigh."

"Well, do your best if that's what Father means."

Jaden, with a satisfied expression, patted my shoulder and spoke.

"Well, you'll like it there, where there are monstrous creatures like Spica. It'll suit your taste."

Jaden, that guy really seems to dislike me. Or maybe he just dislikes his lazy and stupid younger brother? Well, maybe that's the case.

Putting that aside, judging from the atmosphere, if it's the Border Defense Unit, could it be the military?

Suddenly, my mind cleared.

The military... I can't go to the military twice in my lifetime. Absolutely not!

I had a new goal in this life.

I have to cure Terry. So that I won't be dragged into the Border Defense Unit.

"Understood."

I clenched my fist tightly.