The Doctor Cured The Villainess And Ran Away-Chapter 16: Personal Physician Examination (2)

Even in broad daylight, the forest was dark as dusk, the thick foliage blocking out the sun.

“Ah—!”

Gis, walking beside me, tripped again and let out a short scream. That made four times already.

“Keep your mouth shut. Are you trying to advertise our presence to the monsters?”

One of the knights, apparently having reached his limit, snapped at him. It was the same knight who’d been standing guard the day I visited the garrison—his name was Boris, if I remembered correctly.

“I can’t even see my footing. What are we, savages? Can’t we just light a torch?”

I let out a dry laugh at Gis’s whining.

“What did I just hear? Why don’t we go all out and hand out flyers while we’re at it? ‘Fresh human meat, free samples, now open for business.’”

A few of the knights snickered at that. Gis scowled deeply.

“If you’re trying to throw me off my game with intimidation, it’s no use. I know very well that goblins are low-tier monsters.”

“I told you, we’re dealing with hobgoblins—they’re moving in coordinated groups. Don’t underestimate them.”

“I’m not buying it. Either way, all I need to do is prove my healing skills. I’ll be the one to become the princess’s personal physician and secure a place in the Imperial Medical Division!”

Gis declared boldly, brimming with self-confidence.

But confidence doesn’t mean much during a monster subjugation.

“Shh.”

Tanya, leading at the front, raised a finger to her lips.

The five knights spread out silently, signaling to one another and gripping their swords tight.

“Advance!”

At Tanya’s command, the knights burst forward through the underbrush.

“Hup!”

“Kyeeek!”

The thud of blades cleaving flesh echoed between the trees, followed by guttural, sputtering screams.

When the forest grew quiet again, we moved in to find three goblins lying on the ground, cleaved clean in two.

Their performance was proof enough of the "Sword Expert" title Tanya bore.

“From here on, we’re in goblin territory. Stay alert and eliminate them before they can call for reinforcements.”

Tanya’s command was sharp. The squad following behind quickly understood and moved with purpose.

“Is this really what you’d call a group? Do we have to be this cautious just to hunt goblins...?”

Gis looked puzzled as he eyed the goblin corpses.

Still doesn’t get it, huh.

I kicked at a pile of branches scattered between the corpses and pointed something out.

“Look at this. It’s a fire pit. Either they were planning to camp here, or they spotted us and tried to send a signal to their main group. Goblins aren’t smart enough to do that on their own.”

I turned to Gis and nodded firmly.

“This is clear evidence that they have a leader. So stop your whining.”

“When did I whine...? And since when did you become such an expert on monsters?”

“Excellent deduction,” I replied smoothly. “You’ve clearly studied hard. Let’s keep moving.”

Tanya affirmed my conclusion. Only then did Gis clamp his mouth shut.

We continued deeper through the brush marked by goblin tracks. Any lone creatures we encountered were swiftly eliminated by the knights.

Eventually, we discovered a pitch-black cave entrance carved into the cliff face.

“This must be where they’re coming from.”

“Goblins living in a cave? That’s rare.”

“Master, from this point forward we’ll need torches. The risk of the operation will increase. Shall we proceed?”

Tanya’s question gave Father pause. He consulted with the senior healers serving as examiners.

While they deliberated, I examined the area around the cave entrance.

“Found it.”

I picked up an animal skull and held it out for my father to see.

“Take a look at this.”

“A leftover from a meal?”

“No, it hasn’t rotted—it was carved deliberately. Not for food. It was used in a ritual.”

“A ritual?”

“There’s a possibility a shaman, not a hobgoblin, is controlling this group.”

The knightly ranks stirred at my words. The healers, on the other hand, seemed oblivious to the gravity of the situation.

Gis asked, “A shaman? You mean a goblin that uses magic? What’s the difference?”

“The difference is massive!” Boris snapped. “If they’re enhanced by magic, we’re dealing with a goblin army. Even adventurers differentiate between hobgoblins and shamans—they’re ranked D and C, respectively.”

Tanya offered her assessment.

“We don’t know for sure yet, but if a goblin shaman really is inside, we’ll have to prepare for casualties. Of course, our knights can handle it. But we can’t guarantee the safety of the healers.”

The healers flinched, shoulders tightening with fear. My father nodded solemnly.

“An imperial physician must be able to heal their master under any circumstances, that much is true. But that doesn’t mean we can take unnecessary risks during an exam.”

He came to a swift decision.

“The shaman subjugation will be handled by the guild later. For now, the exam will continue with clearing the surrounding monsters.”

It was the right choice, considering we had healers tagging along who weren’t trained for combat.

Still, something I noticed bothered me, and I raised a question.

“Then when will the subjugation be carried out?”

“The guild will need to post the request and hire adventurers, so... in a few days, I’d guess.”

“And if the kidnapped residents aren’t alive by then?”

“What did you say?”

I ran my fingers along the cave wall.

Sticky blood clung to them.

“Judging by the coagulation, it hasn’t been more than six hours. It seems the goblins abducted someone and dragged them inside.”

“Hmm...!”

My father’s expression grew grave.

Gis, of course, protested.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s human blood, right? It could be from some animal they brought in for food.”

He’s fully entered the stage of objecting for the sake of objecting now. Probably praying for just one thing I say to be wrong.

Keep going, then. Let’s see if I’m ever mistaken.

―――――――――――

Diagnosis D activated.

Injury status: Bleeding

Injury location: Left forehead

―――――――――――

The diagnosis wouldn’t have triggered unless the blood belonged to a human.

It’s rather convenient how it activates just from seeing part of the injury.

I turned to Gis.

“You’re a healer—shouldn’t you be able to tell human blood from animal blood at a glance? Look. It’s human. And if we go back now and miss the golden hour, are you going to take responsibility?”

“Th-that’s...”

When I held out my blood-stained finger, Gis faltered.

I turned back to my father.

“What will you do? The cave is clearly their den. It’s true that sending this squad inside would be risky.”

“Hm. Healer Las, are you certain that blood is human?”

Since this was an official setting, my father used my title.

I responded without hesitation.

“I’m certain.”

“Understood. Commander Tanya, prepare for entry.”

“Yes, sir. All units, form a defensive formation. Place the healers in the center to prevent ambush.”

The knights moved quickly, forming a protective ring around the healers. A few lit torches.

“We’re entering. Don’t let your guard down.”

We began to move.

The moment we passed the entrance, the air grew thinner and darkness closed in, making it hard to breathe.

The scouting team at the front used long spears to feel the structure of the walls as they advanced.

Behind them followed Tanya’s main squad.

...Tension filled the air.

No one dared to speak. Not even a whisper.

Shadows flickered along the cave walls.

The torches were swaying—air was flowing in from somewhere. This cave wasn’t sealed.

“Commander, a fork in the path.”

“Hmm.”

Tanya seemed uncertain about which path to take.

Perhaps I should help.

“Cave-dwelling goblins always make multiple exits. It’s so they can escape at any time.”

“Young Master.”

“But if they’ve taken humans from the outside, there’s no need to keep the prisoners near an exit.”

I licked my finger and held it up between the two tunnels.

Wind was blowing from only one direction.

“The hostages are more likely to be in the blocked path. I recommend exploring the right side first.”

Tanya’s eyebrows shot up.

“You’re quite knowledgeable. I’m impressed. Have you ever worked as an adventurer?”

“Nope.”

I’ve had more than enough of hero parties. Brutal job. Wouldn’t recommend it.

“Then we’ll proceed right. Watch for traps at the front.”

The path narrowed, forcing us to slow our pace and move more cautiously.

With the formation harder to maintain, we broke off into squad units again.

Before long, Gis pointed urgently at the end of the passage.

“There! I see them!”

He ran ahead, thrusting his torch forward. In a dark corner of the cave, alongside a pile of animal corpses, two people lay slumped.

“Wait! Don’t break formation!”

Tanya shouted, but Gis had already sprinted toward the collapsed commoners.

They did look in bad shape. Their clothes were shredded and their bodies bruised all over.

A man and a woman—blood streamed from the woman’s head. It matched the injury I’d seen through the diagnosis.

“Oh merciful Goddess above, hear my plea! Your lamb lies here in need of your compassion—”

Gis opened his sacred book and began chanting a healing spell.

You could say he was being diligent, but it was reckless under the circumstances.

—KIEEEEK!

—KREEEK!

Goblin shrieks echoed through the cave.

Suddenly, from the shadows, a swarm of goblins emerged with clubs in hand. Their bald, wiry bodies and grotesque expressions were as disgusting as ever.

“Ugh!”

Startled, Gis fell flat on his rear. The goblins rushed in like cockroaches, ready to pounce.

“Hup!”

A bastard sword slashed through them in a single sweep.

Tanya’s blade.

“It’s an ambush!”

“All units, prepare for combat!”

The knights drew their weapons, and the narrow cave instantly turned into a battlefield.

“W-where the hell did they come from all of a sudden?!”

Gis trembled, arms shaking. I smacked the back of his head.

“Leaving bait and using it to lure in prey with traps — that’s textbook goblin behavior. Their bodies are small, so they move through hidden passages or crevices. Focus already.”

“Ugh—y-yes, sir!”

Gis wiped the sweat from his brow and returned to casting his healing spell.

The other healers joined him in treating the wounded villagers.

I glanced around, assessing the situation.

The Gotberg Knights were performing admirably. Tanya had trained them well. Even caught off guard, they could handle goblins easily.

The escort knights were protecting my father without fail.

And the head maid who’d come as Asella’s proxy—

...Hmm.

Even in this chaos, she didn’t seem fazed in the slightest. She was standing in just the right spot to avoid the ambush, as if she’d anticipated it.

Well, as long ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) as I protect myself—

“Haaah!”

No point in holding back. I let out a sharp breath and swung my sword with all my strength.

—KIEEEEK!!

A goblin charging at me took a direct hit to the head and went flying.