Crown Prince Sells Medicine

Chapter 106

Surgeries can be quite daunting.

This sentiment is shared by many individuals.

Even with the administration of anesthesia, the apprehension remains.

What if you happen to be one of the rare cases where anesthesia doesnt take effect as expected? What if you regain consciousness in the midst of the surgical procedure? What if an unforeseen complication arises, and you never regain consciousness after being anesthetized? These are the concerns and uncertainties that anyone scheduled for surgery is likely to ponder at least once.

I recall a friend from Korea, Moon Baek, briefly mentioning waking up during a surgical procedure, am I correct?

This occurred during a gallbladder removal surgery. He recounted how his eyes fluttered open in the midst of it.

In a groggy state, he uttered, Um, doctor, and the physician promptly administered further anesthesia to ensure his continued unconsciousness.

In any case, surgery, which involves cutting and sewing flesh, is inherently unsettling, even when anesthesia is employed. It gives rise to various concerns and anxieties. Consider a time before the advent of anesthesia.

So, youre going to be okay now, right? My hands are healing hands~ My hands are healing hands~

Um, alright Whats going to happen to me now? Are you going to amputate my arm?

No. My hands are healing hands

Private Tieri still appeared apprehensive, despite the fact that the healing touch had numbed the pain in his shoulder.

His worry was understandable.

Raciel continued to sing to maintain the skill.

My hands are healing hands~ I wont amputate, just suture. The necrotic tissue is there because they didnt properly cleanse the wound when they removed the arrowhead.

Tieri seemed reassured. Meanwhile, Raciels hands were in motion, stroking the area around the arm slated for surgery.

Perhaps as a result,

Ding-dong!

[You have successfully alleviated the patient Tieris pain. This initial experience has become valuable nourishment for the growth of your skill.]

[The level of the My hand is a healing hand skill has increased.]

A welcome message appeared.

Ah, faster progress than I anticipated. Anesthesia efficiency has improved by 20%.

As an experiment, Raciel pinched Tieris arm more firmly than before.

Pinch!

Tieri didnt flinch. He still appeared numb.

Its certainly working. But lets not become complacent.

After all, the My hand is a healing hand skill only provided localized anesthesia.

He glanced around to divert the patients attention and spotted something suitable on the lieutenants makeshift table.

A chessboard.

Private Tieri, do you enjoy playing chess?

Yes?

Do you like chess or not? My hands are healing hands~

I, I can play a bit. But why

I thought it would be a good idea to have a game of chess during the surgery.

Raciel grinned and decided to share an anecdote that had suddenly come to mind with Tieri.

Long, long ago, there was an ancient and forgotten kingdom called Han. My hands are healing hands. Have you ever heard of it?

No

Well, during the kingdoms decline, there was a general named Guan Yu. My hands are healing hands~ He was struck by a poisoned arrow in his arm, nearly in the same spot as yours.

Is that so?

Yes. My hands are healing hands~ But Guan Yu had it tougher. The poison had infiltrated his bone. Thus, he had to undergo a surgery to scrape the bone clean of the poison. Without any anesthesia.

Is that possible?

Yes, he calmly played a game akin to chess during the surgery. My hands are healing hands~

So, today, were going to do something similar. Lets play chess while we operate. Does anyone here know how to play chess?

He scanned the soldiers around him. One of them timidly raised a hand.

Excellent. Take a seat.

The chessboard was set up.

Raciel assisted Tieri in sitting up carefully while maintaining his My hands is a healing hand skill. He cast a quick glance to the side, where Gardin met his gaze and nodded. It was an unspoken confirmation that all preparations for the surgery had been completed.

Lets get started, then.

Upon hearing this statement, the injured Tieri seemed to take notice. He moved a pawn on the chessboard. Simultaneously, Gardin raised his knife. It appeared less like a surgical instrument and more like a tool suited for torture or slaughter.

However, Tieri remained oblivious to it, his attention fixed on the chessboard. Furthermore, Raciel intentionally blocked Tieris line of sight with the arm he was using for the My hand is a healing hand skill.

People are significantly influenced by what they see. Even if local anesthesia has been administered, the sight of such a menacing and brutal-looking knife could trigger the imagination of the knife slicing through their flesh, causing psychological distress.

If anything were to go wrong, it could disrupt the My hand is a healing hand skill, causing excruciating pain to flood in all at once.

In that scenario?

Whether it was surgery or not, it would be a disaster.

There was a reason why playing chess during the procedure was recommended.

I need to prevent him from fixating on those menacing tools.

Raciel diligently used the My hand is a healing hand skill to skillfully obstruct Tieris view. Meanwhile, he discreetly observed Gardins surgical procedure. Gardins surgical skills were

Swoosh, swish!

Wow.

An involuntary exclamation escaped Raciel. Gardins skills were faster, more precise, and tidier than he had expected. Even from the perspective of someone trained in modern education, it was highly impressive.

Its not just cutting. Before suturing, he meticulously removed only the adipose tissue beneath the cut skin layer. This effectively prevents the spread of bacteria and infection. Truly professional.

The suturing process that followed was equally precise.

Click, clack!

The needle holder moved with remarkable dexterity, akin to watching the deft handling of chopsticks by a Korean. This precision allowed the needle to align the layers perfectly for stitching.

Muscle with muscle.

Dermis with dermis.

Epidermis with epidermis.

Each layer was seamlessly aligned during the suturing process. Even the suturing techniques were exceptional.

Is that?

Raciel squinted as he recognized a familiar technique. It reminded him of his practice in medical school.

Is that a vertical mattress suture?

Indeed, it was. This technique minimized scarring by everting the edges of the wound.

Wow.

Someone in this era could perform such a technique, and it was Gardin. He was undoubtedly a surgical specialist with extraordinary skills.

Gardin didnt become the royal physician at a young age for nothing.

Seeing him now, he seemed like a completely different person. While admiring Gardins expertise, the final knot was tied.

Not long ago, the wound had been ragged, torn during the hurried removal of the arrowhead, with the skin and surrounding tissue suffering damage. Necrosis had started to set in.

But now?

Its completely neat.

The wound was meticulously stitched together. Stitch by stitch, like a finely crafted Italian handbag, the suturing was flawless, with no margin for error. If it healed properly, the resulting scar would be minimal.

Now then, lets proceed to the side.

Yes, my Lord.

After tending to the arm, the next area to address was the side.

Fortunately, the condition of the side torso was similar to that of the arm. The arrowhead had not penetrated the internal organs or the peritoneum. This meant that there was no need to resort to more gruesome surgical instruments. Gardins precise suturing skills could be fully put to use.

Naturally, Raciels healing skill was also working at its full capacity.

If the wound had reached the internal organs or the peritoneum, it would have been a challenging situation.

He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. His healing skill was limited to providing local anesthesia, which could numb only the skin and nearby muscle tissue, not deeper areas.

Raciel was once again mindful of his own limitations. However, the soldiers observing him had a different perspective.

Is that portly military officer for real?

Can that wounded soldier being operated on really not feel pain?

Hes playing chess so calmly while having his flesh cut.

Is this even possible?

How can he be so composed while the needle is piercing his torso?

And so it went.

Raciels healing skill and his well-timed distraction.

Thanks to this, the injured soldier, Tieri, was deeply engrossed in the chess match, almost forgetting about the surgery. As luck would have it, the soldier he was playing against was equally skilled. The unexpected duel on the chessboard further captivated Tieri. His serene demeanor astounded the onlookers.

Did he secretly get him intoxicated?

You fool, didnt you see? Thats not the case.

Well, thats true, but

Thats a miracle. Im sure of it.

Yes, I think so too. If he can do that without alcohol or drugs, then its a miracle that only a select few saints could perform.

Right? We are witnessing something extraordinary.

Yes. But that song hes humming is a bit

Bizarre, indeed.

Amidst the soldiers hushed discussions, the surgery on the side torso was successfully completed. A contented smile graced Raciels lips.

How are you feeling?

Tieri simply swallowed hard.

Was it less painful than you expected?

Yes. But, is it already done?

Yes.

Dont get too comfortable just yet. What truly matters begins now. Preventing infection and facilitating recovery are paramount. Moving forward, its crucial to rest adequately and eat well. When the supplies arrive in two days, Ill also prescribe some herbal medicine for you. Understand?

Tieri gazed at Raciel in silence. Who was this plump military officer, and why was he doing all of this? He had been curious from the moment he was brought here, through the bet between the battalion commander and the officer, and even during the surgery.

Why are you treating me so kindly?

To be honest, he had no clue. From the lord who had brought him to the battlefield to the people in this wounded soldier camp, everyone saw him as just another burden, a wounded soldier consuming supplies while lying down.

But here was someone different.

Officer, youre the first person who has treated me differently. Youve tended to my wounds, comforted me, and given me proper care. So, Im

You dont understand?

To be honest, no.

Tieri nodded.

He wanted to know.

Why had the officer treated him? Tieri thought that knowing in advance might help him prepare emotionally. However, the officers response took him by surprise.

Is there a specific reason to save someone?

Yes?

Youre an injured soldier, and Im an officer responsible for treating injured soldiers. Isnt that reason enough? Do I need any more special justification to care for you?

So, stop overthinking and focus on resting. Understand?

In reality, this was a lie.

The actual reason for treating wounded soldiers? Well, it was certainly for the bonus life! He was doing all of this just for that reason!

However, he kept the truth to himself. Sometimes, ignorance can bring comfort.

Anyway, if your questions have been answered, thats it. I need to check on other wounded soldiers. Goodbye.

He responded casually, his expression unchanged. He believed that was the end of the conversation.

But then, something unexpected occurred.

Heh. Heh. Th-Thank Thank you.

Tieri began to cry. How much suppressed emotion had built up within him, or how deep had his previous fears and despair been? As soon as he finished speaking, Tieri wept like a child.

And it wasnt just Tieri.

Hu, Hoo

Ahem! Hmm!

The camp attendants also quickly averted their gazes. They wiped their eyes with awkward gestures.

What was happening? Could they all be moved by his lie? As Raciel felt a twinge of guilt,

An unexpected message appeared.

Ding-dong!

[Patient Tieri and the surrounding attendants have been deeply affected and touched by your words. They have encountered a new perspective and understanding about wounded soldiers for the first time in their lives.]

[The sincerity of your words is irrelevant.]

[From now on, your story will spread throughout the wounded soldier camp.]

[You will be revered as a saint by everyone in the wounded soldier camp.]

[Furthermore, you will be forever remembered in the history of medicine as the pioneer of a groundbreaking new approach to the care of wounded soldiers on the battlefield.]

[As a special reward for this significant social, historical, and medical achievement, you will receive an additional 5,000 HP.]

[Your current HP: 5,400]

It was just a well-crafted lie, yet it brought tremendous rewards. His heart raced as he came to a poignant realization.

So, from now on

Should I tell even more convincing lies?

A mischievous smile spread across Raciels lips.

(To be Continued)

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